History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 41

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 41

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WHEREAS, the conditions of contributing to the Memorial Fund of the Presbyterian church allow the appropriation of whatever fund may be raised to the uses of the congregation wherein raised, there- fore

Resolved, first, that in the judgment of this society it seems to be a suitable time for making an effort to build a vestry as a thank offering to God for his goodness in leading the two branches of the Presbyterian church, old school and new school to an organic union,

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THE PRESBYTERIAN VESTRY.

Resolved, second, that a committee be appointed to consider a plan for such vestry, to estimate the cost, and report at a subse- quent meeting.

Daniel Barnard, Charles Gage, and S. C. Damon were chosen such committee.

At an adjourned meeting, held November 3, the committee reported that it had estimated the cost of a new building, 36 x 26, " the size of the schoolhouse in District No. 1," as $1,000; also that the new store building could be had for $800, and the latter was recommended, provided " a good title " could be secured. A further report was desired from the committee, and an adjournment was made to November 17.

At that meeting, it was resolved that the raising of the money necessary for the object was feasible, and without adopting any defi- nite plan for a building a committee was chosen to solicit subscrip- tions in the several school districts. At another meeting, March 30, 1871, the "religious society " gave the "Presbyterian church and society " permission to build a vestry on their land if needed, and John A. Riddle, Theodore A. Goffe, and Solomon Manning were chosen a committee to secure a plan and estimate of cost of a vestry " both outside of the meeting house and also under the house."

After considering the report, April 13, 1871, that a vestry under the house would cost $1,375, and $200 to raise the house, and one outside of the meeting-house, 30 x 40 feet, $1,500, the latter plan was adopted. Charles Gage, Solomon Manning, and S. C. Damon were chosen the building committee, and Charles Gage, Ira C. Ty- son, H. R. French, Charles F. Shepard, Stillman A. Shepard, Fred- erick Hodgman, James Darrah, John A. McGaw, Solomon Manning, and John A. Riddle, committee on location. A lot of land at the southeast corner of the cemetery, where the house now stands, was purchased for $50 of Isaac N., John A., and Silas A. Riddle. The land must be used for a vestry building or otherwise reverts to its former owners.

The contract for building above the underpinning was awarded to N. R. Bixby for $1,250; Solomon Manning superintended the put- ting in the foundation, which cost $115.95. The total cost of the completed building was $1,475.95. Towards this sum, individuals subscribed $1,070; the Aid society furnished $107.04, and the pro- ceeds of the Christmas festival of 1870, amounting to $187.75, was added. The corner-stone was laid September 21, 1871, and the ceremony was made an interesting occasion. The exercises were

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

conducted by Rev. Ira C. Tyson, assisted by Revs. Wallace, Dean, and Hubbard, and consisted of prayer and remarks appropriate to the occasion.

In the corner-stone were deposited a brief history of the church, sketches of its ministers, the names of its officers, etc., the contract for the building, some lines once written by the Rev. Thomas Sav- age, some souvenirs, and money scrip then in common circulation.

The building has well met the purposes for which it was designed, proving as great a convenience as had been anticipated. Its front bears a stone tablet setting forth briefly the memorial which prompted its erection. A portion of the building is now used for the town library.

The Bedford Messenger.

The Bedford Messenger was a four-paged, monthly paper, pub- lished in Bedford for three years. The first issue was dated Janu- ary 31, 1883, and the last, December 30, 1885, making thirty-six numbers in all.

The editorial committee consisted of the Rev. D. Herbert Colcord, Elder Stephen C. Damon, and Martha R. Woodbury, for the entire time. Its editorial announcement read : "A monthly paper devoted to church and town interests, and news in brief from neighboring towns and churches and old residents."

The subscription price was thirty cents a year, and 500 copies were printed. The volumes contained many articles of reminis- cences by former residents, sketches of distinguished sons of the town, and extracts from Matthew Patten's diary, as special features.

Music in Bedford.

- -

Cant PSALM C Cant.

Bap

The Hundredth Psalm (about 1750) as taken from Francis Bar- nett's book. G of the staff is represented by " g's " (no treble clef); the music (notes) is represented by the initial letter of the old sylla- bles, when the scale was represented by four, Fa, Sol, La, Mi, instead of seven, Do, Ra, Mi, etc., as now.

The first instruction in music was by John Orr, Esq., about the year 1780. There were no books at that time, and the instruction was altogether by rote, but the key was found with a tuning fork.

The next teacher was Ezekiel Gardner. He undertook to give his scholars some idea of time, though no book was then used, except a few tunes pricked off by himself, with the bass and air only, to aid him somewhat in his labor. One of these books as late as 1850 was in the possession of Thomas Chandler, bearing date 1782.

Mr. Josiah Chandler, from Andover, Mass., came to town, and had some knowledge of music; he first taught Thomas and Samuel Chandler at the age of some ten or twelve years; their father bought them one of the old Billings' collection, which is supposed to have been the first singing book in town. A few years later Thomas Chandler himself taught music, not only in the school near his home, but at the center of the town and other places.

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

A Mr. Sherwin from Tyngsborough next taught. He introduced the Worcester collection, and taught by rule. It is believed these were the first books to any extent in town. John Orr, Ezekiel Gard- ner, John Pratt, and many others attended his school in the year 1786.

Mr. Goss, from Billerica, was in town about 1790, and taught one winter. John Pratt occasionally instructed.

Dea. James Wallace, up to about 1790, deaconed or lined the Psalm and set the tune, the congregation joining in the exercise. About 1790 the singers took their station in the gallery, and the deacon's services were dispensed with in that part of the exercise. At the time above alluded to, Ezekiel Gardner was chosen leader of the singers by the town, joined by Phineas Aiken, John Pratt, Thomas and Samuel Chandler, Hugh Moor, David McAfee, Margaret Orr, Susannah, Annis, and Jane Aiken. About the same time a bass viol was introduced into the meeting-house, which caused much dissatisfaction to many of the congregation. Some were so much disaffected in consequence of such proceedings as to leave the house ; ere long, however, these feelings were dispelled, and the innocent bass viol remained to cheer and assist such as were performing an important part in public worship. Its later history is unknown. But in 1849 a double bass viol was bought by the Presbyterian society at the instance of Mr. Elijah C. Stevens, and upon it he per- formed at Sunday service for many years. It cost $42.50.

On March 3, 1790, the town " Voted to adopt the new method of singing for the future," and a letter of Matthew Patten to James Pat- ten, dated December 1, 1790, offers the following explanation :

At last March meeting we Voted to use Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns in public worship. And our Minister, viz, Mr. Pickles, Reads the psalm or hymn and our Singers (who sit in the front Gallery and what that wont hold sits in the side Gallery) Rises and Zeke Gardner who leads the way names the tunes to be sung and then they sound that the harmony may be agreeable and then stops and begins to sing the psalm which they sing generally without reading line by line, as formerly practiced when our singers are generally there they make the grandest harmony of singing that ever I heard in a meeting house. A number in this town hired one Mr. Sherwin from Dunstable two months, last winter, to teach them to sing in which they have much improved.

March 6, 1793, the town "Voted that John Pratt be chorister, and Thomas Chandler assistant."

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MUSIC IN BEDFORD.

After that there was not much done in the way of instruction for several years. About the year 1800 John Pratt was chosen choris- ter by the town, and some other persons joined the choir,-Richard, William, and John Dole, Joseph Colley, Daniel, William, and John Moor.

In 1803 or 1804 Thomas Chandler began to assist the young peo- ple in town in obtaining some knowledge of music. His first efforts were in his own neighborhood. He subsequently taught at the center of the town, and in other places.

About 1808 or 1810, Samuel Chandler and Richard Dole were chosen leaders by the town. The following persons were among the singers of that day : John, Silas, and Nancy Aiken, William, Jane, and Margaret Patten, Asenath and Sally Chandler, Nancy and Jane Moor, William P. Riddle, Daniel Gordon, William Chandler, Thomas Shepard, Alfred Foster, and James French.

Soon after this Capt. William Patten commenced the labor of teaching, devoting several winters to the business in various parts of the town, thereby keeping alive a spirit of social, joyous, and friendly feeling, which should always subsist, in order to success, among a singing community.

March 24, 1814. " Voted that $20, due the town from pew ground, be put into the hands of Samuel Chandler for the purpose of provid- ing musick, and psalm books at his discretion, to be kept in the meet- ing house, for the use of the singers and that the remainder be ap- plied to the selectmen for the repairing of the meeting house."

March 12, 1816. " Voted Alfred Foster chorrister and William P. Riddle Vice Chorrister for the ensuing year."

In the warrant of March 14, 1819, there was an article "To see if the town will vote to appropriate a certain sum of money for the en- couragement of vocal musick in the meeting house, and choose a committee to appropriate the same and report their proceedings at the next annual meeting." A committee of three was chosen, con- sisting of William P. Riddle, William Patten, and Daniel Gordon, and the sum of $30 was appropriated for the use of the singers.

At the town-meeting held April 21, 1820, there was an article "To see if the town will vote to make any alteration in the seats in the gallery of the meeting house for the better accommodation of the singers."

May 4, 1820. Isaac Riddle and Alfred Foster " were chosen a committee to change the seats in the gallery for the better accommo- dation of the singers."

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

About 1820 Mr. Richardson from Lyndeborough, we think, taught one winter at Isaac Riddle's hall, soon after the close of which Daniel L. French was chosen leader by the choir, and continued as such till 1835 or 1836. Many young persons came forward after Mr. Richard- son's school had closed and joined those already in the seats ; among the number was Mary J. Chandler, Louisa Dole, Polly, Susannah, and Jane Riddle. At a subsequent period others were added, viz .: Sarah A. Aiken, Margaret A. and Nancy French, Charles and David Aiken, John and William Craig, Eleazer Dole, Blanchard Nichols, and Isaac Darrah. Alfred Foster played the bass viol some ten years, or until shortly before his decease, which was in 1827, being an efficient member of the choir for many years.

Mr. French, as leader, saw the necessity of keeping up and im- proving, as far as practicable, the singing in town, consequently he de- voted much time in the winter to further its advancement, the result of which was an increase in numbers with some distinguished singers.

Several other persons have taught in town since Mr. French left. We will name such as occur to our mind at this moment: Rev. Henry Little, Ohio; Rev. James Aiken, Gloucester; Mr. Hutchinson of the far-famed Hutchinson family ; Mr. Heath, David Stevens, and one Cheney from Nashua ; James McFerson, Robert W. French.

When Mr. French left town for the purpose of preparing himself for the ministry, he was succeeded by David Stevens, 2d, as leader of the choir, which place he held till 1848, when he, too, left town. During Mr. Stevens' lead quite a number were added, to wit: Eli- jah C., Martha, and Augusta Stevens ; Harriet N. and Mary Ann French ; William, Leonard, Susan J., and Sarah F. French ; Sally D. Riddle, Mary J. Fisher, Ann E. Riddle, Solomon G., Mary Jane Harriet, and Cordelia Stevens ; Julia and Lucretia Savage, Elizabeth and Louisa Gordon, Maria and Sarah Parker, Hugh R. French, John U. French, James F. Moor, Jerusha and Susan Spofford, Lemuel and John Spofford, Alfred McAfee, Margaret Ann Moor, Sewel Stratton, and Stillman Shepard.

At a meeting of the singers in 1849, James McFerson was chosen leader. The winter following a constitution was framed and pre- sented, when most of the choir became members by subscribing thereto.

In 1850 the persons bearing the following names belonged to the choir, and usually sat in the singers' seats at church : Mrs. Jane Mc- Ferson, Mrs. Betsey Kendall, Laura A. Riddle, Margaret A. and Livinia

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MUSIC IN BEDFORD.

J. Patten, Mary Ann Shepard, John O. and David B. French, Henry and George B. Chandler, James T. Kendall, Calvin R. and Emeline Butterfield, Frederick F. French, George Shattuck, Dudley H., Sol- omon, and Lucy Manning, Achsah Houston, Mrs. Jane Barr, Lydia J. Butterfield, Jane Nichols, Lucy Ann Whitford, Martha J. Goffe, Julia Barr, Greenleaf Walker, and Alfred McAfee. Some of the choir were singers and some played on musical instruments. Greenleaf Walker played the clarionet, Chandler Spofford played the bassoon, Adam Chandler played the violin, Henry and John Chandler played violins, and George Byron Chandler played the flute.

It is believed that the services of the choir in this town have generally been very acceptable. Neighboring ministers when they exchanged often spoke of the excellence of the singing.

In connection with the vocal department we will here take occa- sion to remark that in the year 1828 there was an Instrumental Musical society formed in town, regulated by a constitution, which required the members to meet every month for rehearsal and musi- cal exercises. The following names appear upon the record as members thereof: Leonard Walker, Daniel L. French, Adam Chandler, Joseph Lombard, Chandler Spofford, William G. Camp- bell, Dioclesian Melvin, John Craig, Jr., John Parker, Frederic Wallace, Jesse Walker, John D. Walker, John W. Barnes, Joseph Atwood, Greenleaf Walker, and Andrew Walker. The instruments used were clarionets, bugle, French horn, octave flute, cymbals, bass horn, bassoon, trombone, and drums; thus forming the best drilled and most efficient band to be found in this region. They had many calls upon. public occasions to go into neighboring towns where such exercises formed an important part.

At the present time (December, 1850) there is a singing school taught at the town hall by Mr. Willard, of Manchester, consisting of young scholars, under very encouraging circumstances. They are beginners, and their names are as follows :

Willard C. Parker, Orlando Hall, Sylvester Shepard, George Shepard, Hugh R. Barnard, Henry T. Barnard, George E. Woodbury, Charles H. Woodbury, George Whitford, Edwin Whitford, Ellen French, Celia French, Martha R. Woodbury, Mary Ann Manning, Emily Alexander, Margaret Goffe, Lucy Manning, Sarah Manning, Margaret Parker, Mrs. Jane Armstrong.

S. Greenleaf Stevens has the direction of the school as to manage- ment and arrangement.

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

To the above number fifteen more should be added, making a school at present (1850) of thirty-five.

The church music was furnished by the choir until 1866 or 1867, during the incumbency of the Rev. Arthur Little, when a reed organ was introduced. But there were no musical instruments used except the bass viol after about 1852. At the singing of the second hymn the congregation rose and turned around in their places, pre- senting their faces to the choir who then sat in the singers' seats at the east end of the house, and their backs to the pulpit. The pipe organ was bought by the Dorcas society, now known as the Social Circle, about 1881. Its cost was $1,300. For a time after its introduction the choir continued their part of the services without any diminution of numbers, although they were not, as formerly, accompanied by musical instruments. Then, about the time the pipe organ was introduced, they moved from the " seats " into the oppo- site end of the church, taking their places between the organist and the pulpit and facing the congregation. Among those who have sat in the choir since the introduction of the pipe organ have been Mr. and Mrs. Fred F. French, James McPherson, Keziah McPher- son, Dollyette McPherson, Mrs. F. R. French, Mrs. Sally D. French, Mrs. W. B. French, Mrs. John McAfee, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Par- ker, James T. Kendall, Mr. W. B. French, Lyman M. Kinson, and Bertha Gault.

From time to time the services of the choir have been dispensed with and we have had congregational singing at intervals, the choir taking their station back of the pulpit and in front of the organ. Just at this time we have congregational singing without any choir. The hymn books in use were, in 1850, Watts' Select Hymns, but their use was abandoned in 1870, and the congregation used Rob- inson's Songs of the Sanctuary. At present they use Robinson's Selections.

The organists have been Mrs. John H. McAfee, Mrs. Frederick F. French, Mrs. Lyman Kinson, Mrs. James Edwards French.

Mr. James McPherson kept a singing school in the town in the 50's. He taught sacred and secular music. He had some forty pupils. His school was quite successful, and he taught it for several winters. About 1867 a Mr. Little of Antrim taught singing for one winter. Then, in 1879, Rev. Ira C. Tyson opened a singing school. His school was very popular, and there were as many as fifty pupils attending at one time. The price was one dollar a term for twelve

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MUSIC IN BEDFORD.

lessons. In 1880 Mr. Elton French, of Merrimack, a son of Deacon Robert French, opened a school in the town hall. A Mr. I. S. Whitney, of Manchester, also taught for a few years after 1883.

Mr. Arthur Davis of Manchester opened a singing school in the vestry. He taught for two terms. A Mr. Hill of Manchester also opened a school in the town hall. Then U. Leroy George of Man- chester opened a school in the town hall and taught for a time. These latter two were under the auspices of the Patrons of Hus- bandry.

The Ladies' Social Circle.

In the year 1848 or 1849 a juvenile sewing circle was organized under the direction of the pastor's wife, Mrs. Thomas Savage.

The youthful members of this early society took great pride in preparing a missionary barrel which, when filled, was sent to gladden hearts in a home far away. Stored among the contents was a quilt on each square of which was penned the name of the busy worker, and Martha R. Woodbury, while diligently tracing her letters in a frame of oak leaves, little dreamed that more than fifty years later hers would be the only one remaining of the original names to grace the roll of The Ladies Social Circle, now carrying on in its wider field the work so enthusiastically begun by childish hands.

In due time the young folks were led from the minor to the major work of the sewing circle, where they were taught the meth- ods then used in such societies, concerning ways and means of rais- ing money.

Mrs. John Barr, the president, instilled her own soul-stirring energy which soon pervaded the whole, and to the present day her monumental work is visible. Although not under the jurisdiction of the church, love for it and its Christian work were characteristic features, and whatever pertained to its welfare appealed to the heart of each member in the society. So, when the subject of repairing or renovating the building was presented, "all strengthened their hands for the good work." The high pulpit with its ragged, faded covering of damask was replaced by a new pulpit with plush cover- ing and a new sofa, chairs, and carpet took the place of those worn by time and service.

This society kept no record, only continued to work as it had begun, accomplishing little deeds of kindness and acts of love until it merged, December 8, 1865, into the Ladies' Aid society, regularly organized with constitution, by-laws, and board of officers. A sig- nificant feature of this society rested in its foundation, when the framers of the constitution declared "Every meeting shall be

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THE LADIES' SOCIAL CIRCLE.

opened with singing and closed with prayer," thus acknowledging God in all their deliberations, and right here lay the secret of their success.

Any one became a member by the annual payment of twenty-five cents, and a collection of five cents was taken up at each meeting. Sixteen years of earnest work followed, and out of the carefully gathered store from time to time was given $1,113.15.

The secretary's report of May 25, 1881, states that the society voted to change its name to Dorcas society. This was the sole alteration made, but under its new name the society soon found con- genial work to do.

The entrance to the meeting-house was through the basement, and when Dr. Cyrus W. Wallace, on coming to preach, referred to its awkwardness, and begged the people "to change the way of getting into the church rather than by going through the bulk- head," his bit of sarcasm produced the desired effect, for in conse- quence, at a special meeting of the Dorcas society held in June, 1881, permission was obtained from the church building committee to change and repair the building in any way decided upon by the society, provided it pay the bills.

August 10, 1881, saw the first blow struck, and the house was made ready for the workmen.

While the appointed committee, Mrs. Stephen Goffe, Mrs. Horace Townsend, and Miss Martha R. Woodbury, were preparing the interior, Mr. Freeman P. Woodbury entered the church and suggested that "if the society would paint the building inside and out, he would add new windows and blinds." The ladies consulted the men of the town, who agreed to assume the expense of painting the exterior. At the next meeting of the society Mr. Woodbury's proposition was received with great favor, carried by vote, and a committee was appointed to solicit funds and to take charge of the work. Mrs. Freeman P. Woodbury and Miss Martha R. Wood- bury were empowered to act on all questions of inside renovations, while Head & Dowst of Manchester were chosen the contractors and builders. Work was begun in August, 1881, at which time an entrance with vestibule was constructed by steps leading up to the door, and a passage was cut between the two east windows, thus giving ample room and comfortable shelter from storms. The filling in and grading of the ground in front was done by men invited publicly to bring horses, carts, and drags for carrying stone and

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

earth. At the vestry Dorcas society gave a substantial dinner to the workmen whose able, willing hands completed their task in two days.

As all were of the same mind the good work went on, and by early autumn the meeting-house was painted and carpeted, individ- ual interest being excited in covering the floor by the purchase of one yard or more of carpeting as each woman chose, and the secre- tary recorded on September 5, 1881 :

The ladies met at the house of Mrs. E. B. G. Woodbury to make the carpet for the church, and enough were present to complete it in one afternoon.

At a cost of one hundred dollars the pulpit furniture was pre- sented by Mr. George Byron Chandler, and the two chairs on either side of the communion table by Messrs. Gilman Riddle and John O. Parker of Manchester. Senator Zachariah Chandler, Mrs. John A. McGaw, and Gawen R. Gage gave large donations to the general fund, thus enabling the committee to pay all debts contracted by the society for the enterprise, and to meet also the unexpected expenses for painting the outside of the church.

Through succeeding years the Dorcas society courageously pur- sued its busy way, looking forward to the time when it could pur- chase a pipe organ. In October, 1883, a vote was taken that “All money belonging to the Dorcas society be devoted to the church organ fund," and that Martha R. Woodbury confer with the town committee and request them to appoint one person to act on a com- mittee of three to see about purchasing an organ. It was also voted that the session be requested to appoint one person to act as one of the committee before mentioned, that the Rev. D. H. Colcord repre- sent the Dorcas society on said committee. As a place for the instrument was lacking, in September, 1885, an extension on the west end of the church was erected by the men interested, while Messrs. Hugh R. French and Clinton W. Parker, the committee, rendered great assistance by their advice and labor. The purchas- ing committee obtained from George Hutchins of Boston, Mass., a fine pipe organ, which was set up back of the pulpit in the alcove built to receive it, and on the moonlight night of November 6, 1885, an organ recital celebrated this happy event, and assuredly every one felt like singing with heart as well as voice, for bills amount- ing to $1300 were paid, and, thank God, the society could go on with renewed effort quite free from debt. On May 26, 1887, by

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History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 41

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town) Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202