USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
"Voted to reconsider the vote passed to pay Thomas Steele thirty pounds for fullfilling a contract made by the town to clear, seed and fence ten acres of land for Mr. Annan.
209
Annals of Peterborough.
"Voted that the Selectmen assess thirty pounds upon the poles and ratable estate of the inhabitants of Peterborough and to divide the town into ten classes, so that each class when added up may amount to three pounds." Records, page 144 and 145.
The last mention of this unpleasant controversy on record was when this Committee to divide the poles and estates into ten classes reported, which was June 18, 1787, when the town "Voted to receive the Division of the class. Voted, that the following men whose names are here recorded, are to be the heads of the ten diceys (districts) before mentioned for to clear Mr. Annan's land: Henry For- gesson, Robert Smith, Moses Cun- ningham, Dea. William McNee Jr., Dea. Samuel Mitchell, William Robbe Jr., James Miller, Maj. Robert Wilson, Robert Swan, Charles Stuart, Records, page 145.
Thus closed a dispute which had lasted eight years. Judging by the records, Mr. Annan was clearly in the wrong, and though the town failed for a time to keep some of its contracts with him, there is no doubt but that its failure was owing to his putting forward claims that the people deemed unjust and would not recognize. The choice of one of the Gridley lots in preference to lots 76 and 78, was at his own option and at his request. The agreement was verbal, at least no writing concerning it has been pre- served. It cannot be assumed that the town, in addition to his salary, building for him the parsonage, and clearing ten acres of his new lot, intended to give it to him and also to confirm his title to lots 76 and 78. Mr. Annan's course in the affair shows him in a bad light. Whatever may have been the temporary failures of the town in keeping its argreement, in the end the record shows that it
performed them all. Mr. Annan's subsequent career casts some light on his conduct and motives in this controversy.
But more and worse were to follow. Mr. Annan's intemperate habits in- creased until at last the people be- lieved that some action should be taken. The loss of the lots undoubt- edly embittered him and made him more indifferent to the duties of his calling. Drink seemed to break down his will power, destroy his sense of self- respect, and of the responsibility and dignity of his position. His excesses at last became so offensive that Samuel Moore, one of the foremost citizens of the town and an Elder in the church, drew up the following grave charges. They are in the hand- writing of Jeremiah Smith, then hav- ing a law office in town.
"To the Reverend, the Moderator and the Members of the Presbytery of Londonderry to be holden at Peter- borough on Wednesday, the 30th day of April, anno domini 1788.
"The complaint of Samuel Moore of said Peterborough, Elder, against the Rev. David Annan, Minister of said Peterborough, and a member of your Presbytery, humbly showeth
"That the Rev. David Annan was ordained to the work of the ministry in this place in November A. D. 1778, and that he has remained here ever since. That at his settlement and a year afterward his conduct was such and the affection of the people so great toward him, that your Com- plainant had reason to believe (and it was a matter of rejoicing to him) that Mr. Annan would be useful in this place and do much good among us. And though there were some things reprehensible in his conduct and in the opinion of your Complainant unbecoming the character of a Gospel minister, yet your Complainant with
210
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
the people of Peterborough were ever disposed to ascribe them to the frail- ties incident to human Nature and to cover them with the mantle of Charity and Christian love.
"Your Complainant speaks the sen- timents (of) every sober and well disposed person in the congregation when he says that the alteration which soon took place in the appearance of things in Peterborough was occasioned by an alteration in the conduct of Rev. Mr. Annan. And your Com- plainant thinks himself authorized to say that the errors in Mr. Annan's conduct (a few of which the following catalogue contains) were the cause that interrupted the harmony that subsisted between the minister and people, and which have long since taken away all ground of hope from your Complainant's mind that Mr. Annan, while he pursues the same line of conduct that have uniformly char- acterized the last seven or eight years, can never be useful or profitable in the place.
"The disagreeableness of taking the part of an accuser together with the hopes of amendment which he for some time fondly cherished both hitherto prevented your Complainant from entering any process against the Reverend Mr. Annan, and your Com- plainant has endeavored to pursue the method pointed out in the word of God in such cases. He has often in private waited on the Rev. Mr. Annan and with that plainness and sincerity which the nature of the thing called for and which became a friend to his best welfare, pointed out to him some of the errors in his conduct which gave offense to the well-wishers of religion, but your Complainant is constrained to say that such friendly advice though given in the utmost sincerity and in the gentlest manner, have rather irritated than amended. Your Com-
plainant in pursuance of the Gospel method has taken two or three of the church with him and has conversed with Mr. Annan, but without any satisfaction to himself or to others aggrieved, as may be made appear to the Reverend Presbytery.
"A sense of duty, therefore, a regard for the honor of Religion and the promotion of it in this place and not any personal enmity to Mr. Annan here have at length induced your Complainant to appear before you as he now does and to exhibit the follow- ing charges against the Reverend Mr. Annan, which he is ready to prove to the satisfaction of the Presbytery.
"1st. That the Rev. Mr. Annan as appears from his private conversation as well as his public performances has neglected the study of useful knowl- edge, the reading of good books, and especially of the Holy Scriptures, and hath not given himself to study but has frequently, as he has himself has confessed, gone into the pulpit with- out any preparation, and thus hath served the Lord with that which cost him nothing and hath not by his dis- course edified or improved the flock committed to his care.
"2nd. Mr. Annan has neglected and omitted in a great measure the great and important duties of visiting and catechising and by that means one great means of improvement in knowl- edge and virtue has been denied to the people of his charge and especially to the youth, who so much need the aid and improvement which this part of the presbyterian minister's duty is so well calculated to bestow.
"3dly. That Mr. Annan's conversa- tion, behavior and manners have been of a kind extremely different from those recommended by the Apostle and essential to the character of a Gospel minister who is an example to the flock, his conversation not being
211
Annals of Peterborough.
seasoned with salt as the Apostle expresses it, but generally upon trifling subjects; his behavior not being sober, but light and vain, and his conduct and manners irreverent, sometimes indecent and unbecoming the charac- ter of a Gospel minister.
"4thly. Mr. Annan has frequented the company of light, vain and worth- less persons and thereby has lost the esteem of the sober part of his hearers, and rendered useless many of the precepts he has delivered from the pulpit.
"5thly. Mr. Annan previous to his settlement in Peterborough manifest- ed an indifference to worldly wealth, but since that has used every means in his power and very iniquitous ones to possess himself of the property of the town, namely of fifty-two acres of land though he well knew they never were designed by the town for him, and that they were no part of the contract of the town made with him, and to accomplish his purpose re- specting this land, he has not scrupled on several occasions to deviate from the truth.
"To support the charges contained in the preceding articles almost every person who has attended upon his preaching-who has heard him con- verse-who has lived in the congrega- tion and has been acquainted with his conduct, might be summoned, but the persons to be summoned are William Smith, Esq., Geo. Duncan, James Duncan, Robert Smith, Elder, Mathew Thornton, Esq.
"6thly. Mr. Annan has been fre- quently guilty of drinking to excess, staying at Taverns in light and vain company at unseasonable hours, par- ticularly. At an entertainment at the house of William Smith, Esq., on or about the first day of September, A. D. 1784, Mr. Annan was intoxi- cated with spirituous liquor. Wit-
nesses: John Smith, Jun., and Robert Smith, Elder.
"On the first day of February, A. D. 1785, at the marriage of Elizabeth Morrison, he was intoxicated with liquor and behaved very unbecoming- ly.
"Witnesses-John Gray, Nathan Dix, Silas Pierce and Samuel Mitchell, Elder.
"On the. day of the funeral of his brother-in-law, Thomas Smith, he was intoxicated at a public house (namely Dix and Pierce's) and stayed to an unseasonable hour drinking with company that frequented the house. Witnesses-Nathan Dix and Silas Pierce.
"On the 10th of September last, Mr. Annan at Nath'l Evans' Tavern was Intoxicated with liquor, tarried to a very unseasonable hour and in very rude company.
"Witnesses-Sam'l Houston, Sam'l Spear.
"Sometime. in the month of June, A. D. 1787, Mr. Annan was intoxi- cated with liquor at Amherst.
"Witnesses-Col. Mears, his wife, Robert Swan and Jeremiah Smith.
"On or about the 27th of September, A. D. 1787, drank to excess at Isaiah Taylor's Tavern, and tarried to a very unseasonable hour. Witnesses-John Todd, Charles Taylor, and Samuel Mitchell.
"Your Complainant might have swelled this catalogue with Mr. An- nan's faults as a minister, as a man and as a Christian to a greater bulk, but if he should be able to satisfy the Presbytery that those which have been enumerated are true, he is per- suaded that they will think it needless to address any more proofs that this people as well as your Complainant have just cause to complain, and that Mr. Annan's labors in Peterborough are without profit to the people and
-
212
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
that his conduct has been irregular and unbecoming his station as a minister of the Gospel and a member of your Rev. Presbytery, and that you will proceed to inflict and censure on him as the nature of his offenses merit and as your Wisdom shall direct."
It is not known what the Presby- tery did with these charges, the record of its action being inaccessible. It may have ignored them, or having heard the evidence simply suspended Mr. Annan for a short time and then restored him as they did Mr. Morri- son on conviction for similar offenses. See "Peterborough in the American Revolution," pages 266-269. Evident- ly the Presbytery's standard of con- duct in ministers was not very high even for that age.
However it was, Mr. Annan re- mained with the church until 1792. The only notice of him in the town records is under date of September 17, 1791, when the town refused to in- crease his salary. Whether he was dissatisfied with this refusal, or for some other cause, at any rate the following spring he requested the Presbytery to dismiss him from the church. The town was notified to show cause why it should not be done, and on April 12, 1792, it voted to
"Choose George Duncan, Robert Smith and William Allds to be a committee to attend the Presbytery and show cause why Mr. Annan's dimition should not be granted accord- ing to his request." Records, page 189.
At the same meeting the town again refused to increase his salary.
Mr. Annan retired soon afterward after a ministry of fourteen years, no doubt to great relief of the people. As man and as minister, he does not seem to have had one redeeming trait.
After his retirement, he went to Walkill, New York, and the next glimpse we have of him is through a letter to his wife, which is given here- with.
"WALKILL, Nov. 8, 1792.
My Dear Girl:
With the greatest pleasure I em- brace the least shadow of an oppor- tunity of writing you. After preach- ing at Argyle, Hebron and Galloway one Sabbath at each place, I arrived at Shawngansk, where I was joyfully received. In the meantime, about thirty miles from this place, I met with a sore misfortune. Poor old Jack, my horse, was taken sick. I suppose with the Boots, which oc- casioned my walking twelve miles on foot, by which means I caught some cold. The old horse got sadly bled, blistered, purged and plastered, but he is now upon the recovery. I preached one day at Shawngansk, another at Wall Kill, then went to New York by water, there saw my brother Robert, Mr. Mason having just arrived from Scotland. I was one who helped license him to preach the Gospel. By invitation, I returned to Little Britain and assisted Mr. Smith at the 'sacrament. Preached last Sunday at Wall Kill, will (if God wills) preach here next Sabbath, two more at Shawngansk, and after that another here. The people here have had a meeting, elected some Elders, and are unusually earnest with Shawn- gansk people that I should settle amongst them. They also want me to stay with them all this winter. Should I stay the greater part of the winter with them, which is somewhat likely, probably I will pay you a short visit in time of sleighing and again taste the sweets of conjugal felicity. You must not speak of the design of this people in calling me to anybody except your own people and
213
Annals of Peterborough.
that with secrecy. Do write me your opinion about settling here, write by the Rev. Tomas Proudfit of New Salem, and probably he can forward the letter. It is, however, probable that I will pay a short visit to Penn- sylvania this winter. My brother is fond that I should. Remember my love to David, Sally, John, Polly and Robert. (His young children. J.S.) I wish I could send you about forty dollars. Take your comfort my dear creature, and live in the expectation of happier days though our days have been very happy. Give me your prayers. I do not forget you. My good creature, farewell in the Lord.
DAVID ANNAN.
N.B. Be sure and forbid any slay road through the orchard this winter. D.A.
P.S. Capt. McCord and lady pre- sent their compliments to you, Mad- am."
There is nothing to indicate that he ever had another parish, though he tried to get one, nor how long he continued to preach. His family re- mained in Peterborough, and he re- turned to them not many months after this letter was written. It is probable that he remained here until near the time he returned to Scotland in 1801. Three children were born to him after he left the Peterborough church-one in 1794, one in 1797, and the last in 1799.
But his habits and conduct grew worse steadily. Separated from the church, but not from the ministry, for June 11, 1800, Vol. 11, page 160. his vices at length vented themselves on his family. At last some of the people of the church complained to the Presbytery and sought to expel him from the ministry. The charges were so many and so grave that the Presbytery was compelled to take action. Mr. Annan quibbled and sought delay, but when the trial came
offered no defense and did not appear. The record shows the depths of de- pravity into which he had fallen, I am indebted to Mr. William Moore, of Peterborough, for the partial copy of the records of proceedings of the Londonderry Presbytery in Mr. An- nan's case herewith subjoined. The full record cannot be obtained.
"On the subject of Mr. David An- nan's memorial, etc, etc, etc, voted That every member be solemnly en- joined of as to the voice of public fame or otherwise to the disadvantage of Mr. D. A's ministerial character. Mr. Taggart's oath being required by Mr. D. A. on what he had to say. Said Taggart declared he saw him a day or two before the meeting of the Presbytery, June 11, '99, with evident signs of intoxication on the road to Temple.
"The members in general declared the voice of public fame charged him with intemperance,and some members affirmed that it was equally famed abroad and believed that his wife had sworn the peace against him before Wm. Smith, Esq., in Peterborough in consequence of his disgrace usage to her when he was in liquor and abusing his family.
"Voted, that all the members of Presbytery make justifiable inquiry into the voice of the public on said subject and that Mr. D. A. attend the next meeting to hear said report, etc."
Records Londonderry Presbytery
"At a meeting held in Antrim, Sep- tember 2nd and 3d, it was move'd and voted in the affirmative that Mr. Annan be asked :- Are you con- sciously disposed to acknowledge any inconsistent conduct on your part with respect to intemperance in drinking liquor or any abuse of your wife or family? To which he ans-
214
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
wered in the negative and added- 'You have no business with my con- duct in my family or to my wife. You dip too deep, gentlemen. I am Prophet, Priest and King in my family.'
"After much entreaty with him on above question and subject, he was regularly questioned whether he was willing to stand trial at this session of the Presbytery.
"To which he answered 'No,' nor would he at any future time be willing to stand trial unless he were regularly served with a copy of the complaint we had against him with time and place and names of witnesses at least ten days before the time of trial.
"The Pby. being at a loss with respect to the particular dates necessary for a formal complaint and finding public fame increasing to Mr. Annan's dis- advantage with respect to his still later conduct in Peterborough in several respects, the Presbytery un- animously voted-
"That the Rev. Mr. David Dana, Mr. Jonathan Brown, and Wm. Morrison, ministers, and Mr. Isaac Cochran and Mr. James Aiken, Elders, be a committee to repair tomorrow to Peterborough with all the power and authority of the Presby, for the pur- pose of collecting information as to particular dates of times when, places where such instances of misconduct in Mr. Annan as are alleged by public fame against him took place, with the names of the evidences that may be called upon.
"And as the case may appear to said committee to draw up a regular com- plaint in writing and transmit a copy of said complaint to the Rev. D. Annan with citation to appear before the Presbytery at a Pro-ne-rata (?) or a special meeting of said Presbytery for the purpose of trial on the articles of said complaint, and that said com-
mittee be and hereby are empowered to appoint time and place of said meeting as may appear best to them, provided it be in not less than ten days after Mr. Annan shall have been served with a copy of said complaint. And that the committee be and are hereby empowered to give seasonable notice to all the other members of the Presbytery to attend at said meeting in order to bring the above affairs to some decisive issue." Records Lon, Presby, Vol. II, page 164-5.
The trial of Mr. Annan took place in Peterborough, October 22nd, 1800. Three charges were alleged against him: 1st, Intoxication; 2nd, Grievous abuse of his wife; 3d, Profanity and lying and falsehood.
Mr. Annan did not appear in his own defense. Here follows the evi- dense given by the witnesses who were among the best men and women in Peterborough. We have been unable to obtain a copy of it or the names of those testifying. "On the charge of profanity, he was proven to have said to Dr. Kendall Osgood: G- - you; to Mrs. Abigail David- son, You d ---- - . I'll send you to h -. To his wife at various times: A G ---; AG ---; A G- -- " [The epithets are too pro- fane and vile for print.]
The evidence at the trial was har- rowing in the extreme, especially the evidence in regard to the treatment of his wife, a most estimable lady, the daughter of John Smith, who lived at the South Village, where Mr. John E. Ellsworth now resides. (Mr. Annan lived at the corner where the road from the South Village intersects the old road to Dublin in the house once owned by Mr. Albert Frost(?).
She had promised to obey in her marriage vow, and would kneel down at his knee and ask his forgiveness at his command if she had crossed him.
215
Annals of Peterborough.
The deposition of his sons, taken by order of the Supreme Court at the house of Wm. Wilson in Peterborough, after Mrs. Annan applied for a di- vorce, is here given: 'That at Peter- borough, Mr. Annan's two older sons were awoke in the night by their mother bursting into the room with her youngest child in her arms, pur- sued by Mr. Annan beating her. On her throwing herself on the bed, he continued to beat her in a barbarous manner till she fell on the floor with the child in her arms.
"Mrs. Annan escaped out of the house and held the door lest her husband should follow her. On his asking her to come in, she replied that she durst not for she was afraid he would kill her. He said he would not kill her, but he would cruelize her. Attest, John Smith Esq., Jona. Smith and J. White.
"Mrs. Annan at last fled from the house and spent the last night at home with her baby daughter and her daughter Polly in the barn. In the morning, finding from her daughter that her father had sent for a new recruit of rum, she deemed it not safe to return to the house, but went down to her father's, John Smith's, home.
The result of the hearing was that Rev. David Annan was deposed from the Gospel Ministry, and herewith is the final part of the communication sent by the Presbytery to him after his deposition:
"Whereupon in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ we do de- pose you, David Annan, and you are hereby deposed from the sacred office of the Gospel Ministry.
"In the meantime, suffer us from a deep concern for your. best interests in this world and the salvation of your precious soul in the world to come, to beseech and adjure you as in the presence of the loving God to
consider your ways and doings that are not good. How accountable you are to the final Judge of all the earth for your awful abuse of the honorable and Holy office with which you have been invested in the Church of God, the deep wound you have given to Christ under the mask of official friendship, the extensive dishonor you have done religion in general, and the painful reproach you have brought on this Presbytery in particular, the grief of heart you have given them and the church under their care. .
And all these things we beseech you in the bowels of compassionto consider the injury you have done your nearest relative in life, the dangerous example you have set before your tender off- spring, the abuse of valuable talents both natural and acquired, of which God has been liberal to you, and all this contrary to the most solemn vows and engagements both of a public and private nature.
And we earnestly entreat you to return to the Lord from whom you have deeply revolted in the exercise of sincere humiliation, confession, evangelical repentance and self denial. For however you have fallen as a star from heaven, you are not yet, we would hope, beyond the reach of mercy from that blessed Being whose tender mercies are over all his works.
And with hearts painfully pene- trated with the consideration of your miserable situation, we discharge to you the last duty of this lamentable and solemn occasion. And not willing to give way to total despair of your returning to the path of virtue and re- ligion, we commit you to the sovereign hands of that God who has no pleasure in the death of sinners. While praying for you, we bid you farewell."
The same committee reported a draught of a letter of thanks to the gentlemen, inhabitants of Peterbor-
216
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
ough, which being read, was unani- mously accepted.
"Voted, that Messrs. Taggart and Little be a committee to deliver the letter addressed to Mr. Annan.
"Voted, that Mr. Moore deliverthe letter of thanks to the gentlemen of Peterborough, to Mr. Dunbar that it may be communicated.
"The Presbytery then, after prayer, was dismissed." Records London- derry Presbytery, Vol. II, page 184.
Meanwhile, his wife had filed a libel of divorce against him on the grounds of extreme cruelty. The case was continued from time to time until the
May term, 1801, when it was tried and the divorce decreed with alimony.
There is no occasion to comment on the character or conduct of this man. Dr. Morison (see History of Peterborough, pages 275-277) has summed up both in fitting language which is fully confirmed by official records. It is gratifying to know that he was the last of his kind to minister to the Peterborough church. His successors in the sacred office were scholarly, devout men who adorned their calling and had the affection and confidence of the people to the end of their ministries.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.