USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > An address delivered at the centennial celebration in Wilton, N.H., Sept. 25, 1839 > Part 4
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This fourteenth day of March, 1781. In pre- $ 8 of the Committee.
Here follow the signatures
sence of us,
JAMES DASCOMB,
WILLIAM BROWN
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Joseph Gray, Christopher Martin, Nehemiah Holt, Amos Holt, Wil- liam Pettengill, Wm. A. Hawkins.
The last three-years' men were, Joseph Gray, Israel How, Uriah Ballard, Timothy Abbot, John Greele, Benjamin Pierce, Daniel Holt, Joel Holt, Asa Reddington, Daniel Barker.
The following men served in 1776 :- Samuel Pettengill, Lieut. Benjamin Pettengill, Nurss Sawyer, Solomon Holt, Caleb Putnam, Peter Putnam, Josiah Parker, Christopher Martin, Uriah Ballard, Nehemiah Holt, Wm. A. Hawkins, promoted to be Captain, May 22, 1779.
Many others were out, among whom was Isaac Fry, who served through the whole war, and at its close returned with the brevet rank of Major.
The three-years' men from Wilton were engaged in 1777, on Hud- son river, against Burgoyne, in the affairs of the 19th September and 7th of October. They were also, in 1779, with Sullivan, in the In- dian country.
The following are the names of those who died in the Revolution- ary service :-
William Burton died at Valley-Forge Spring, 1778; Asa Cram, Jonathan Gray, Jeremiah Holt, Amos Holt, Solomon Holt, James Holden, August 29th, 1776; John Honey, October 24th, 1776; James Hutchinson, Joseph Lewis, at Valley-Forge; Lieut. Samuel Pettengill, 1776; Benjamin Pettengill, his son, 1776; Ebenezer Per- ry, 2d, Ebenezer Perry, Jonas Perry, Caleb Putnam, August 22d, 1776; Peter Putnam, Josiah Parker, October 22d, 1776; Asa Pierce, Isaac Russell, September 15th, 1776 ; Nurss Sawyer, Archi- laus Wilkins, Jr.
The following is the Covenant of Non-Importation and Non-Consumption of Goods from Great Britain. [See Records of Wilton for July 15 and September 8,1774.]
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Wilton, having taken into our serious consideration the precarious state of the liber- ties of North America, and more especially the present distressed con- dition of our sister colony of the Massachusetts Bay, embarrassed as it is, by several Acts of the British Parliament, tending to the entire subversion of their natural and charter rights, among which is the act for blocking up the harbor of Boston ; and being fully sensible of our indispensable duty to lay hold on every means in our power to
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preserve and recover the injured Constitution of our country ; ai conscious at the same time of no alternative between the horrors slavery or the carnage and desolation of civil war, but a suspensic of all commercial intercourse with the Island of Great Britain; d in the presence of God, solemnly and in good faith, covenant and ci gage with each other :-
1. That, from henceforth, we will suspend all commercial inte: course with the said Island of Great Britain, until the Parliament sha cease to enact laws imposing taxes on the colonies without their cor · sent, and until the pretended right of taxing is dropped, and Bosto Port opened, and their and our constitutional rights and privileges ar restored.
2. That there may be less temptation to others to continue in the said now dangerous commerce, and in order to promote industry economy, arts and manufactures, among ourselves, which are of the last importance to the welfare and well-being of a community ; we do in like manner solemnly covenant, That we will not buy, pur. chase, or consume, or suffer any person by, for, or under us, to pur- chase ; nor will we use in our families, in any manner whatever, any goods, wares, or merchandize, which shall arrive in America from Great Britain, aforesaid, from and after the last day of August, 1774, (except only such articles as shall be judged absolutely necessary by a majority of the signers hereof,) and, as much as in us lies, to prevent our being interrupted and defeated in this only peaceable measure en- tered into for the recovery and preservation of our rights and the rights of our brethren in our sister Colonies, we agree to break off all trade and commerce with all persons who, preferring their private interests to the salvation of their now almost perishing country, shall still continue to import goods from Great Britain, or shall purchase of those who import after the said last day of August, until the afore- said pretended right of taxing the Colonies, shall be given up or dropped, (except so much as christian duties require).
3. As a refusal to come into this or a similar agreement, which promises deliverance of our country from the calamities it now feels, and which, like a torrent, are rushing upon it with increasing vio- lence, must, in our opinion, evidence a disposition inimical to, or criminally negligent of, the common safety ; it is agreed, that all such ought to be considered, and shall by us be esteemed, as encouragers of contumacious importers.
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4. We hereby further engage, that we will use all reasonable meth- ods, to encourage and promote the production of manufactures among ourselves, that this covenant and engagement may be as little detri- mental to ourselves and our fellow-countrymen as possible.
Lastly,- We allow ourselves liberty to comply with the result of the General Congress at Philadelphia. Also, we agree to make such alterations in this Covenant as shall be thought suitable by the major- ity of signers, after notice given in a public manner by a committee chosen for that purpose, which notice shall be eight days before the meeting.
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Wilton was embodied and the first Pastor, Rev. Jonathan Livermore, ordained, Dec. 14, 1763. From Jan. 1, 1764, to Dec. 31, 1776, were admitted to the church by dismission and recommendation from other churches, twenty-nine. By profession, one hundred and eighteen. Whole number, one hundred and forty-seven. Number of Baptisms during the same time, three hundred and fifteen.
During Mr. Fiske's ministry, admissions to the church were two hundred and nineteen, forty-eight of whom were admitted by virtue of dismissions and recommendations from other churches. Baptismns, seven hundred and thirty-eight.
In the interval between Mr. Fiske and Mr. Beede, admissions to the church, three. Baptisms, seven.
During Mr. Beede's ministry, admissions to the church, one hun- dred and fifteen. Baptisms, one hundred and ninety.
From Jan. 13, 1829, when Mr. Beede left, to the present time, Sept. 25, 1839, admissions to the church, forty-two. Admitted by recom- mendations and dismissions from other churches, from Mr. Fiske's to the present time, sixteen. Baptisms from Jan. 13, IS29, to the pre- sent time, thirty. Whole number of admissions to the church, five hundred and forty-two. Whole number of Baptisms, twelve hundred and eighty.
The present number of the members of the church, is seventy- seven.
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The ministers settled over the First Congregational Church and Society, have been as follows :-
Jonathan Livermore, ordained Dec. 14, 1763,
Resigned, Feb. 1777.
Abel Fisk,
Nov. 18, 1778, Died April 21, 1902.
Thomas Beede,
March 2, IS03, Resigned, Jan. 13, 1829.
Stephen A. Barnard, " Jan. 13, 1830, April, 1833.
A. D. Jones, installed,
Jan. 1, 1834.
Jan. 1, 1836.
Nathaniel Whitman, the present minister, installed Oct. 5, 1836.
The BAPTIST CHURCH in Wilton was constituted April 7, 1817, con- sisting of eleven members from the Baptist church in Mason, dis- missed for that purpose. On the same day, seven persons were bap- tized and united with the church, and shortly after six others from the church in Mason were added. Fourteen of the members of the church were dismissed a few years since to form a church in Lynde- borough. The present number of its members is eighty-three, of whom fifty-eight reside in the town.
Soon after the organization of the church, Benjamin F. Lane, a Licentiate, was employed as a preacher for a few months. He was followed, June 6, 1818, by Rev. Ezra Wilmarth who was soon after installed their first pastor, and continued with them nearly five years. He was succeeded for a year by Rev. Reuel Lathrop ; after which, for a season, they were supplied by neighboring ministers. The meeting-house was erected by the church and society in 1827, and was dedicated November 7, of the same year. On the same day, Rev. Simon Fletcher was ordained as their pastor, and continued with them three years. He was followed, March 12, 1830, by Rev. Caleb Brown, who afterwards became their pastor for two years. In 1833, Rev. Harrison W. Strong received ordination, and became their pastor for two years. Rev. Jolm Cannon was minister from June, 1835, to June, 1836. Rev. Ezra Wilmarth then supplied their pulpit for a few months. In the autumn of 1837, Rev. N. W. Smith took the pastoral charge of the church, and continued with them eighteen months. Since that time they have had only occasional preaching. At the present time they are enjoying the labors of Mr. John Chick, a licentiate.
The SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized July 18, 1823, consisting of seventeen members. Whole number added to the church since its organization, including the original members, and twenty-one since added from the First Church, one hundred and
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sixty-two. Present number belonging to the church, one hundred and eleven ; nineteen having died, and thirty-two having been dis- missed and recommended to other churches. Baptismns, infant, fifty ; adults, seventeen ; whole number, sixty-seven.
The Meetinghouse was built in 1829, and dedicated January 1, 1830. Their first and present pastor, Rev. William Richardson, was ordained December 15, 1730.
The UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY was established in 1813. It has en- joyed occasional preaching, but has had no settled minister re- siding in Wilton. It is, however, occasionally united with socie- ties in the neighboring towns in the support of a regular minister. We have been unable to ascertain the number of those who consider themselves at the present time as connected with the society.
The following account of the first minister, Rev. Jonathan Liver- more, written soon after his death, has been furnished us by its au- thor, Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, who was a brother clergyman and intimate friend of Mr. Livermore.
"Rev. Jonathan Livermore was born at Northborough, Mass. Dec. 7, 1729, O. S. and entered a student at Harvard College in the year 1756, N. S., and graduated in the year 1760. To qualify himself for the gospel ministry was his professed object in seeking a liberal education. Whether he was prevented applying himself to learning at an earlier period of life by unfavorable circumstances, or that his mind had taken a different turn about that time, is unknown to the speaker. But at his advanced age to commence a preparatory course of study for such a work, appears to be strong proof that he had weighed the matter, and sincerely devoted himself to serve God, and his generation the remainder of his days in ministerial labors. So soon as the year 1763, he was ordained, and constituted pastor of the church in this town ; in which office he continued and labored until the year 1776. And from the estimation in which he was held by his brethren in the ministry, who were acquainted with his labors and manner of life, we have reason to believe that he discharged his ministerial duties with faithfulness. About the year 1776 was a period in which many changes took place, and tender relations were dissolved. At this time of troubles Mr. Livermore was induced to resign his office of pastor of the church in this place. But although his particular relation to this church and people ceased, he did not
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relinquish the work of the ministry. He loved to preach the gospel of Christ ; and willingly labored wherever divine Providence seem- ed to open a door ; and his brethren and the congregations around have experienced many of his labors of love. In his preaching, he aimed not to please the fancy, but to inform the understanding and affect the heart of the hearers. And notwithstanding his special re- lation was removed to another church, and he did not commune with this church at the table of the Lord; yet he constantly, when at home, attended on the public worship of God, and lived in brotherly love with his successor."
" In the family his christian character was conspicuous in the regu- larity and religious order which prevailed, in his great tenderness tow- ards his partner, in the religious education of his children, and in his earnest solicitude for their spiritual welfare. While he labored to teach, he set the example in all religious duties. In the evening of a long life the powers of both his mind and body were remarkably strong and vigorous ; and he contemplated death as near at hand with apparent satisfaction, and as the time of his release. And although cut off at last by a stroke so sudden as to give no opportunity to ex- press his views and feelings in the actual conflict with death ; we must be permitted to indulge the hope that he was ready to open to his Lord."
The following extract gives the character of Rev. Abel Fiske, the second minister. It is from the sermon of Rev. William Emerson, preached at Wilton, March 2, 1803, at the ordination of Rev. Thomas Beede.
" My brethren of this church and congregation, when that God who is too wise to err, and too good needlessly to afflict his children, was pleased to deprive you of your late pastor, you were not the only mourners ; his praise was in every church, which was ever favored with his services, and his merit acknowledged by all who knew him. Some of the earliest impressions, which this heart received, were from his instructive lips ; and here, until it ceases to beat, shall the wis- dom, prudence, moderation, and piety of a Fiske be remembered with melancholy pleasure."
A farther notice is contained in a note appended to the same dis- course, which is as follows :-
" The late Rev. Abel Fiske was born of respectable parents at Pepperell, Mass. May 28, 1752. In 1774 and 1777, he received the
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honors of Harvard College. He studied theology at Concord with the author's father in 1775 and 1776, and during part of the time was master of the Grammar School in that town, where he was beloved by his pupils, and respected by the inhabitants. November, 1778, he was ordained in this place. The faithful discharge of his pastoral functions, and his steady adherence to the principles of order and good government greatly endeared him to his flock, and obtained liim the high regards and confidence of his numerous friends. His death caused by a paralytic affection in the throat, happened April 21, 1802, and was deeply regretted in this part of the country. His intimate friend, Rev. John Bullard, of Pepperell, preached an affecting sermon at his funeral from Acts xx. 37, 38. He was twice married, and has left a wife and five children."
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.
SABBATH SCHOOLS. The first was established in May, 1816, and is believed to have been the first in America, whose leading object - according to the plan now universally followed - was to give moral and religious instruction. Seventy children attended the first season. The text-book used was the Bible, and the Bible only. The number of teachers and pupils now belonging to the Sunday School of the First Parish is about one hundred and thirty. The Baptist and Second Congregational churches have also Sabbath schools connected with them.
LIBRARIES. The oldest public library is the Town Library ; it has flourished and languished alternately for at least fifty years.
The Ministerial Library owes its origin and peculiar plan to Rev. Abiel Abbot, D. D., who, in 1824, presented, for the use of the min- ister of the First Congregational Society, a large number of books to five Trustees, viz. Rev. Thomas Beede, Ezra Abbot, Samuel Abbot, Eliphalet Putnam, and Timothy Parkhurst, and requested them to preserve and increase the library, and when there should be a vacancy in the Board of Trustees, to select some person from said society to fill it. An act of incorporation was soon after obtained. The officers are a President, Clerk, Librarian, and Treasurer ; the last two give bonds for a faithful discharge of their duties. At the annual meet- ing, the boooks are carefully inspected, and written reports made and recorded of the state of the library and of the funds. Accord-
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ing to one of the bye-laws, whoever gives ten dollars at any one time for the use of the library, or books to that amount, becomes thiere- by a Patron, entitled to the privilege of taking out books, during life. There is a permanent fund for the increase of the library, now amounting to $250, of which $100 were given by Rev. Dr. Abbot, $100 by Samuel Abbot, Esq., and $50 by Deacon Ezra Abbot. The interest only of this fund is expended. Donations of books have been made from time to time by Dr. Abbot and others. A few years ago a subscription paper was issued to the young men, and somewhat more than $100 were obtained, of which Samuel Abbot paid $75. This money was appropriated for the increase of the library, which now contains about 600 volumes. Agreeably to the directions of its founder and principal contributor, all ministers of the gospel resident in Wilton may have the gratuitous use of the library ; also, the Con- gregational minister of Wilton may have the gratuitous use of the library established by the same individual, and on a similar plan, in Peterboro'; and the Congregational minister of Peterboro' may have the like use of the Wilton Library.
A Library of 200 volumes belongs to the First Congregational So- ciety. It was opened for the first time in October, 1838. Its foun- dation was laid by a donation of 50 volumes from Deacon Samuel Greele and friends in Boston, and of 100 volumes from Augustus Greele, Esq. of New York. Books of great value have been added to this library the present year. It is open to all the members of the parish.
The Sunday School Library of the First Congregational Society contains 400 volumes. The books were selected with great care, mostly by S. Abbot, Esq.
The Second Congregational Society has also a Library.
SUNDAY NOON READING ROOM. This was opened chiefly by the efforts of Samuel Abbot, Esq. in 1822, for the accommodation of that portion of the people, who, living at a distance from the church, could not conveniently go home during the interval between the fore- noon and afternoon services. It was furnished with books, pamphlets, and papers of a serious kind, suitable for Sunday reading. At first it was in a neighboring hall; but recently the books, &c. were re- moved to the meeting-house.
SCHOOLS. There are in the town, nine school-districts and ten
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school-houses. The sum raised for the support of schools during the year 1839, was $600. The average length of the district-schools is, in winter about two months, and in summer about three months. It is believed that all the children in the town, who have arrived at a proper age, without a single exception, unless prevented by ill-health or some such accidental hindrance, regularly attend school.
The school-right of land was sold June 1, 1769. The interest which the town received on the sum for which this land was sold, amounted up to the year 1776, annually, to &£5 9s. 51d., Lawful money. In 1784, and subsequently, the fund was £67 16s., equal to $226. The interest on this, and also the interest of the Literary Fund, is applied to the support of schools in addition to the annual tax.
REPRESENTATIVES of the town, since July 15, 1774. Jacob Abbot Jonathan Martin, Abiel Abbot, William Abbot, Jr., Philip Putnam, Jonathan Burton, Abiel Wilson, Ephraim Peabody, John Stevens Samuel Abbot, Jonathan Burton, 2d., Joel Abbot, Abram Whitte- more, Daniel Batchelder.
SELECTMEN, since the first town-meeting held under the charter, July 27, 1762. James Brown, John Dale, John Cram, Ebenezer Perry, Jacob Putnam, Ephraim Butterfield, John Burton, Jr., Nathan Ballard, Amos Holt, Abner Stiles, Abiel Abbot, Philip Putnam, Jo- seph Butterfield, James Dascomb, James Maxwell, Jacob Abbot Joseph Holt, Richard Taylor, Jonathan Martin, William Abbot, Jr., Jacob Adams, Simon Keys, Samuel Greele, Joshua Blanchard, Moses Putnam, Archelaus Batchelder, Richard Whitney, Jeremiah Abbot, Abram Burton, Joseph Abbot, Jr., John Dale, Jr., Daniel Lovejoy, Samuel Greele, Jr., Jonathan Livermore, Bar. Abbot, Abiel Wilson, Eliphalet Putnam, William Pettengill, Isaac Spaulding, R. T. Buss, Lewis Smith, Ephraim Peabody, Ezra Abbot, Jonathan Burton, 2d., John Mack, John Stevens, Oliver Whiting, Asa Stiles, Jonathan Parkhurst, Amos Holt, Timothy Abbot, Jr., Abram Whittemore, Joel Abbot, O. Perham, Daniel Batchelder, Jr., Timothy Gray, Oliver Barrett, J. Barrett Howard, Moses Lovejoy, Asa Stiles, 2d.
TOWN CLERKS. Eben Perry, Philip Putnam, John Burton, Jr., Jacob Abbot, Joseph Holt, William Abbot, Jr., Abiel Abbot, Abiel Wilson, Jonathan Burton, 2d., John Stevens, Timothy Parkhurst.
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WAR OF 1812. In this war, Wilton had two men in the regular army. Abiel Wilson, Jr. held a Lieutenant's commission, and Tim- othy McIntire enlisted as a private soldier. McIntire was slain in battle, on the northern frontier, in the summer of 1814. The militia of New Hampshire were called upon to defend Portsmouth, and Wil- ton furnished seven or eight men ; one of whom, named Foster, was taken sick, and died on his way home.
CASUALTIES. The number of deaths by accident has been thirty- nine. Of these, five were killed by falling trees, or were crushed by logs; four were drowned ; five were killed by the fall of the meeting- house frame ; seven were scalded; one was burnt ; three committed suicide, and the deaths of the remainder were occasioned by differ- ent accidents. Of the whole number, twelve were children.
MORTALITY. The whole number of deaths during the last ten years is 162. Average yearly mumber, 16g. Average age, 36. Six persons died over 90. The whole number of deaths during the seven years beginning with 1784 and ending with 1790, was 71 ; births, 281 ; excess of births, 210. Average number of deaths yearly, was 107. The population of the town was nearly the same as now, being in 1786, 1013, and in 1790, 1105. This shows that the average number of deaths in the town has increased more than one third.
POPULATION. In 1739 there were two a milies ; in 1755 there were 70 persons; in 1763, 240; in 1775, 623; in 1786, 1013; in 1790, 1105. Since 1790 the population has remained almost uni- formly the same, varying but little from 1100, and having never been greater than in 1790. The town contains 45 inhabitants to the square mile.
HEIGHT OF LAND. The lowest land in town on which there is a dwelling-house, belongs to the Wilton Manufacturing Company, oc- cupied by Abram Whittemore, Esq. The most elevated land, is owned and occupied by Mr. John Kimball.
FIRES. The only dwelling-houses ever destroyed by fire in town,
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were, Deacon John Flint's, burnt, April, 1810; and Benjamin Par- ker's, burnt, May, 1833. Two barns have been burnt : one set on fire by accident, in 1774, belonging to James Dascomb ; the other belonging to a Mr. Wood, was struck by lightning and consumed in the evening, August 9, 1779.
ROADS AND BRIDGES. The expense of new roads made in Wilton, during the last fifteen years, independent of all the ordinary repairs of the highways, has been above $10,000.
The first bridge over the Souhegan was the one on the interval above French's mills, and was built in 1760, by Henry Parker. It was at first entirely of wood. Its stone abutments, the first in town, were built in the summer of 1793.
PRICES. During the ten years following the Revolution, the ave- rage price of wheat was about one dollar and a half the bushel ; rye, one dollar, and corn seventy-five cents. The usual wages of a hired man on a farm were from forty-five to fifty dollars a year. Eight dollars a month, or forty cents a day, were given to those em- ployed only during the haying season.
SLAVES. There were formerly four slaves in town, owned by Thomas Russell, Maj. Samuel Greele, Alexander Milliken, aud Ar- chelaus Batchelder. Two of the slaves were males; two females. The latter are still living.
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CARRIAGES. The first chaise was introduced into Wilton in 1770, and owned by Rev. Mr. Livermore. There was no other till after the Revolution. The first one-horse wagon made its appearance in 1812. The first sleighs were large double ones, holding ten or twelve per- sons. 'They supplanted sleds as a vehicle for carrying families to meeting. They were introduced as early as 1777, and were soon in common use.
MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, MECHANICS, ETC. There are now eight saw-mills in operation; five grist-mills; three tanneries; two fulling mills; one bobbin factory ; one cotton factory, burnt in 1839 and not yet rebuilt ; one starch factory, owned and carried on by people of Wilton, but itself in the border of Mason ; four blacksmiths; ten shoe-
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