USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton > An historical address : delivered at Hampton, New-Hampshire, on the 25th of December, 1838, in commemoration of the settlement of that town : two hundred years having elasped since that event > Part 4
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In the year 1807, Mr. Appleton was elected President of Bow- . doin College ; and, having accepted the appointment, was dis- missed from this church on the 16th of November, in the same year. He died at Brunswick, Me., Nov. 12, 1819, aged 47 years.
After Mr. Appleton's dismission both churches were without pastors, and it was proposed that they should be united. Arti- cles of union having been agreed upon, the Presbyterian church was merged in the Congregational, from which it had sprung about thirteen years before, and Rev. Josiah Webster was in- stalled pastor, June 8th, 1808, and sustained that office till his death, March 27, 1837-almost twenty-nine years. At the time of his death Mr. Webster was about 65 years old.
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The present pastor of the church, Rev. Erasmus D. Eldredge, was ordained April 4, 1838.
From these remarks it appears that this church, has been or- ganized two hundred years. During that time it has had eleven pastors. Of the first ten, six died in office, and four were dis- missed. The average length of the ministry of these ten was about twenty years ; for although the church, since its formation, has been destitute of a pastor about fourteen years, yet it has enjoyed the labors of two associate pastors for about the same length of time.
What important and wonderful changes have taken place dur- ing the period which we have been contemplating. If we com- pare our condition with that of our ancestors at the commence- ment of this period, in almost every circumstance we shall per- ceive a great alteration. The same sky is indeed spread out over us, which covered them. The same sun enlightens us by day, and the same moon by night. The same stars still beautify the heavens, and the same ocean, too, extends along the east- ern border of the town; but even that is viewed with very dif- ferent emotions from those felt by our ancestors, when they looked upon its broad bosom. Now, many of the little eminences within our borders afford picturesque and delightful views of the ocean and the scenery near it. Pleasant roads lead to its shore; and as we stand upon this shore, and observe the waves rolling forward and dashing upon the sand, and then look abroad upon the ocean itself, our minds are filled with agreeable sen- sations. We see vessels moving in various directions, and oc- casionally a steam-boat passing rapidly along, almost in defiance of winds and currents, having its source of motion within it- self. But let us go back, in our imaginations, two hundred years, and how unlike the present ! Seldom was a vessel seen off our coast ; but rarely was the shore itself visited by the early set- tlers, as between that and their settlement were fens, creeks and marshes, rendering the way almost impassable. When they did stand by the ocean and look abroad upon its mighty mass of waters, their emotions must have been very different from ours.
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They were undoutedly reminded of a place beyond the ocean ; of the land of their nativity. They would naturally call to mind the scenes of their infancy and childhood-the loved scenes, the kind and affectionate friends, they had left behind, and that were separated from them by the world of waters upon which they were gazing. With their other feelings, then, must have been blended those of sadness.
But suppose we go and stand upon the sea-shore during the raging of a storm, when the water is lashed into tremendous commotion by the violence of the tempest; our feelings are indeed indescribable, but those of sublimity or grandeur are predominant. With our ancestors, other feelings must have been most powerful. When they, from their log cabins, heard the noise of the tempest; when they saw the violent agitation of the forest, as the wind moaned among its branches ; and when, in addition, they heard the roar of the ocean, they must have been reminded, even more forcibly than on other occasions, of the separation to which they had been called. They then felt that an almost impassable barrier was between them and their native land.
Besides these great natural objects, how few things there are in which there has not been an almost entire change. Two centuries ago nearly the whole township, except the land bor- dering upon the ocean, and the marshes which skirted the river, was a thick forest, the growth of ages. From the original set- tlement, formed around yonder common, which was early called the meeting-house green, there might indeed have been an open- ing in one direction, where the marshes stretch away to the south, as far as the eye can reach. With this exception, the infant settlement was hemmed in with thick woods. No path lay through them, except such as the wild beasts had formed, or the lone foot-path, made by the Indian hunter in pursuit of game, or as he bent his course to the river in search of shell- fish from its banks. Where are the forests now ? Almost all have been prostrated by the woodman's axe, and in their place we find meadows, orchards, and cultivated fields. Instead of the winding footpath, and the Indian trail, we have good and con-
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venient roads, in almost every part of the town. How differ- ent, too, is the mode of conveyance. Our fathers seldom rode ; never,except on horseback. When the second minister of the town was called to Dover, to advise with other gentlemen in regard to ecclesiastical affairs, history informs us that he went on foot. How is it now ? Station yourselves near one of our principal roads in a fair summer day, and let the scenes you witness, an- swer.
Another change we may notice. When our fathers came hither, the only dwellings they found were Indian wigwams, the smoke of which was seen here and there curling up in the very midst of the forests; their own dwellings, at first, were log- houses, rudely constructed, and few in number. Now, as we pass along our roads, we observe on either side, and, in some places, compactly situated, dwelling-houses of various forms and sizes, some new, and others exhibiting signs of age ; scarce- ly any of them, indeed, elegant ; but nearly all betokening com- fort. In regard to neatness of appearance and taste in their construction and position, there is room for much improvement. Still most of our dwellings are abodes of comfort. In many of them are individuals who are by no means strangers to rural felicity. They do not, indeed, dwell in splendid domes, nor are they vexed with the cares and anxieties of those who usual- ly inhabit such structures. Of many an individual here, may we says in the words of the poet :
" Sure peace is his ; a solid life, estrang'd To disappointment and fallacious hope ; Rich in content ; in nature's bounty rich, In herbs and fruits."
Within two centuries, a great change has also taken place in the inhabitants themselves. When our fathers came hither, they found no inhabitants but Indians. These have all passed away. Not one of them remains. The smoke long since ceased to as- cend from their wigwams, and their wigwams themselves have entirely disappeared. Their hunting grounds have been brok- en up and transformed into cultivated fields, and even their graves are now unknown.
But " our fathers, where are they ?" They, too, are gone.
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Death has been busy among them, and has swept them away. About six generations have gone down to the grave since the set- tlement of the town was commenced. We pass by yonder grave yards, and the stones which affection has erected in memory of departed friends, remind us of the ravages of mortality. But upon the stones themselves the hand of time has not been inac- tive. Many of them are fallen ; some have crumbled with the dust they were intended to commemorate ; from others the in- scriptions are worn away, so that only the position of the stones indicates that a grave is beneath them. The graves of those who died during the first half century from the settlement of the town, are now unknown. Their inmates have mouldered to dust, and will continue mingled with other dust, and undistin- guished from it, until the morning of the resurrection, when their dust, though for ages scattered abroad, shall be collected again, and the bodies, which mouldered so long ago, will be re- animated, never more to decay.
If time permitted, it would be interesting to notice the changes in regard to the means of mental and of moral improvement ; to point out our superior advantages, arising from the multiplica- tion of books; from the improved character of our common schools ; from the academy in our midst ; and from the estab- lishment of Sabbath schools, furnished with libraries, adapted to expand the intellect and improve the heart.
The period we have been considering forms an important portion of the history of the world. I cannot, however, even glance at the mighty political and moral revolutions which have occurred since its commencement, in different parts of the earth. To illustrate its importance, I will merely observe, that, if we go back through a little more than nine such periods since our town was settled, we shall find our Saviour on earth, " going about doing good." And we need not go back through quite thirty such periods, to arrive at the time when " the earth was without form and void ;" when God said, " Let there be light and there was light ;" when " the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."
But on this interesting occasion, it is not necessary to con- fine our attention to the past. Our thoughts naturally and una-
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voidably run forward into futurity. Let us allow them to range freely. Let us pass onward, in our imaginations, through another century. At its close, we may suppose the people here will assemble, as we have this day done, to review the occurrences of the past. And it is probable that the third century of our history will exhibit as great and as interesting changes as either of those already past ? Let us, in imagination, take our stand in the assembly that will then be convened. All will be stran- gers to us ;- not one countenance with which we are familiar. Where then will be the people with whom we are now associa- ted ? Death will have swept them all away. Yes, every indi- vidual of this assembly will then be sleeping in the dust, as our ancestors now are. Not one of us will participate in the exer- cises of that occasion. What other changes will take place within one hundred years, we know not. We cannot doubt that they will be great and important. Their character will, un- questionably, depend in some measure on the course pursued by the present generation. Let us, then, consider well what duties we have to perform, and pursue such a course, that " future generations shall rise up and call us blessed."
APPENDIX.
NOTE A. SEE PAGE 8.
The names of some of the first settlers of Hampton are found in the Massachusetts Colony Records. Dr. Belknap has given them in his history. The following is his list :
Stephen Bachelor,
Thomas Molton,
Christopher Hussey,
William Estow,
Widow Mary Hussey,
William Palmer,
Thomas Cromwell,
William Sergeant,
Samuel Skullard,
Richard Swayne,
John Osgood,
William Sanders,
Samuel Greenfield,
Robert Tucke,
John Molton,
John Cross.
The four names still found in the town, are Bachelor, Molton, Palmer, and Tucke. Three of these names are now spelled in a different manner.
NOTE B. SEE PAGE 8.
The writer referred to, is Edward Johnson, author of a work entitled " Wonder- Working Providence of Zion's Saviour." The following is an extract from this work : " Much about this time [1639,] began the Town of Hampton, in the County of North- ' folk, to have her foundation stone laid, scituate near the Sea-coast, not farre from the
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' famous River of Merimeck, the great store of salt marsh did intice this people to set ' downe their habitations there, for as yet Cowes and Cattell of that kinde were not ' come to the great downfall in their price, of which they have 450 head ; and for the ' form of this Towne, it is like a Flower-de-luce, two streets of houses wheeling off ' from the maine body thereof, the land is fertile, but filled with swamps, and some ' store of rocks, the people are about 60 Families ; being gathered together into Church ' covenant, they called to office the reverend, grave, and gracious Mr. Doulton, having ' also for some little space of time the more ancient Mr. Bachelor to preach unto them ' also."
NOTE C. SEE PAGE 12.
I have niade no attempts to give a full history of the town. It is desirable, however, that some persons, qualified for the undertaking, should prepare and publish such a work. Abundant materials, at present, exist ; but they are every year diminishing. Hampton being one of the first settled towns in New-Hampshire, it for many years formed an important part of the Province. Its history must, therefore, be interesting and useful. Well written histories of the several towns settled at an early period, would be invaluable documents to any person preparing a history of the State.
NOTE D. SEE PAGE 13.
The record of the first vote mentioned, offering a bounty for killing a wolf, is in the following words :
" The 27 : 11 mo; 44. It is hereby declered that every townsman which shall kill ' a wolfe & bring the head thereof & nayle the same to a little red oake at the north- 'east end of the meeting-house-They shall have 10s. a woolfe for ther paynes out of ' the towne-fines ; or otherwise, if noe fines be in hand."
NOTE E. SEE PAGE 25.
The meeting, at which these delegates, or commissioners, were chosen, was held January 20, 1689-90. After a preamble, mentioning that commissioners had been chosen by the people of Portsmouth and of Dover, and that the people of Hampton had been invited to pursue a similar course, the determination of the town is express- ed, as follows :
" We therefore ye Inhabitants of the Towne of Hampton in answer to their request ' have agreed to send thes sixe persons as our comishoners to joyne with ye comishon- 'ers of ye other Towns in ye province to confer about and resolve upon a method of ' Governinent within this province-And what ye sayd comishoners of the whole prov- ' ince or the majer part of them shall conclude and agree upon as to ye setelment of ' Government amongst us-If thes own sayd comishoners (viz) Henry Green Esqre ' Ensign Henry Dow, Mr. Nathaniel Wire, Capt. Samuel Sherrborne, Morris Hobs ' Senior, and Mr. Edward Gove, in discorsing and agreeing about ye same, if they or 'ye majer part of them shall se just cause to comply and agree with the other comish- 'oners as to ye way and method of Government that shall be settled amongst us And 'shall subscribe thereto-We the Inhabitants of ye Towne of Hampton reposing es- ' peaciall Trust and confidence in our sayd comishoners, what they shall agree to, or ' the majer part of them. We shall hould as good and valued to all intents and pur- ' poses ; Hereby obleidging our Selves to yield all ready obeadience thereto, untill ' Their Majesties Order shall arive for ye Setelment of Government over us."
NOTE F. SEE PAGE 27.
" On the 2 of the 2 mo ; 1649 :"
" The selectmen of this Towne of Hampton have agreed with John Legat for this ' present yeare insueing-To teach and instruct all the children of or belonging to our ' Towne, both mayle and femaile (wch are capiable of learning) to write and read and ' cast accountes, (if it be desired ) as dilegently and as carefully as he is able to teach 'and instruct them ; And so dilegently to follow the said imployment att all such time ' and times this yeare insueing, as the wether shall be fitting for the youth to com to- ' gether to one place to be instructed : And allso to teach and instruct them once in a ' week, or more, in some Arthodox chatechise provided for them by their parents or ' masters.
" And in consideration hereof we have agreed to pay, or cause to be payd unto the ' said John Legat the som of Twenty pounds, in corne and cattle and butter, att price ' currant, as payments are made of such goods in this Towne, and this to be payd by us ' quarterly, paying 5l. every quarter of the yeare after he has begun to keep school. "John Legat entered upon schioleing, the 21 day of the 3 month, 1649." Town Records.
NOTE G. SEE PAGE 30.
Rev. Timothy Dalton was once a minister in the church of England. Being a non- conformist, he was obliged to relinquish his office, and leaving his native land he came to New-England. About the year 1637, or 1638, he was admitted as a freeman at Dedham, Mass. Soon after he came to this town, where he was settled in the minis- try in 1639.
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