History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 83

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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[We find fourteen members on the church records at the organization, August 17, 1814, as follows : Asa Crosby, deacon ; Josiah Bean, deacon ; Rev. Jacob W. Eastman, James Adams, Eliphalet Sanborn, Sarah Webster, Susan Freeman, Grace R. French, Catharine Badger, Luey R. Freeze, Olive Bean, Mrs Eliza Little, Sally Clark, Abigail Crosby.]

" Mr Cogswell was succeeded by the Rev. Mr Jewell from the Massachu- setts Missionary Society, who continued two weeks and was the same year succeeded by the Rev. Mr Field from the New Hampshire Missionary Society, who labored here about one year, who received a part of his support from the congregation. The Rev. Mr Coe succeeded Mr Field and continued with us about three months. In 1816 and 1817 the Rev. Mr Spofford preached to us about three months and was sent us from the New Hampshire Missionary Society. The Rev. Isaac Jones from the New Hampshire Missionary Society continued about three months with us in 1818 and 1819, and in 1821 and 1822.

" In 1823 the Rev. Mr. Sewall from the New Hampshire Missionary Society continued about one year and received one hundred dollars from this congre- gation. According to Hon. John . Wentworth, 'Rev. Jotham S. Sewall preached in the potash schoolhouse situated near the Little Pond Cemetery (and which was afterwards burnt down and the distriet divided) at different intervals under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society. In 1824 Mr Isaac Willey, a licentiate, was sent by the New Hampshire Missionary Society three months and was afterwards continued by subscriptions about eight weeks.

" The membership of the church was now reduced to eleven, with but two male members. But prospeets began to brighten. God had put it into the hearts of outside individuals to erect a commodious house for public worship, and efforts were now made to erect a meeting-house and various methods pursued, but nothing effectual was done until March 24, 1824, when eleven individuals agreed to build a Congregational meeting-house by sixteen shares.

"These proprietors, having organized themselves, made preparations for erecting a meeting-honse, and having, with various others, on the eighth day of December, 1824, formed themselves into a society by the name of the First Congregational Society in Sandwich, and published the notice of their associ- ation and constitution, on the 28th day of February, 1825, purchased of Ezekiel French, Esquire, and received from him a deed of the plot of land on which the meeting-house now stands, with the common appurtenant to the same.

" The accounts of the proprietors were settled on the 18th and 19th days of

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November, 1825, and the average price of pews being found at forty-one dollars and twenty-five cents (after reserving No. 1 on the cast aisle as a parsonage pew), reckoning the whole expense of completing the meeting-house, with the exception of a stove and of painting. On the 19th day of said November, the pews in said house were set up at public auction to the highest bidder, and also the remnants of the materials for the meeting-house. After which the meeting adjourned to the house of N. G. Norris, and passed various resolves placing the property in said meeting-house under the control of the First Congregational Society.

" On the 30th day of November, 1825, the meeting-house, having been completed in the inside, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Hidden, of Tamworth, assisted by the Revs. Messrs Shaw (Moultonborough), Rankin (Plymouth), Hale, and Norwood (Meredith Bridge).

" Various efforts were made during the winter and spring of 1826 to obtain a suitable candidate to minister to this people and become pastor of this church. The New Hampshire Missionary Society having voted to this society sixty dollars, and the society in Massachusetts ' for promoting Christian knowledge ' having given expectations of assistance, many individuals were willing to tax themselves heavily to procure a stated preaching. Mr David P. Smith (D. C. 1823), a licentiate, commenced his labors with us on the 23d day of July, 1826, for four Sabbaths, and, giving a general satisfaction, was continued by a subscription until March, 1827.

" In March, 1827, a general excitement having taken place, and the ' Society for promoting Christian Knowledge ' in Massachusetts having voted us one hundred dollars per year for five years for the support of a settled minister, a subscription for the support of Mr Smith was put in circulation, and the Church and Society united in giving him a call to become pastor of the church, which invitation was accepted.

SAMUEL EMERSON, PAUL WENTWORTH, JEREMIAH FURBER,

Committee."

"Sandwich, April 13, 1827.

May 20, 1827, Joseph Mason and wife, Jeremiah Furber, Susan Lamson, Susan Cogan, Benjamin Cook, were admitted members by profession, and Paul Wentworth and wife by letter.

May 22, the ordination of Rev. David Page Smith occurred, Rev. David Weed Eastman, A.M., preaching the sermon.

The meeting-house at which this ordination took place was situated not far from Little Pond, between the old Elisha Weed house and the Fairfield house on the opposite side of the road, near and just below where the road turns to the left to go to North Sandwich. It was torn down long since.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

[David Page Smith was born at Hollis, September 20, 1795, and died at Greenfield, October 1, 1850 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1823. He was dismissed from Sandwich June 28, 1832.

Rev. Jacob Weed Eastman was born at North Sandwich, May 29, 1790, and was son of James and Susanna (French) Eastman. He was the first Congre- gationalist clergyman born in Sandwich. He married Mary Webster. He was a celebrated schoolmaster, and Dartmouth conferred the honorary degree of A.M. upon him in 1822. He was ordained December 13, 1815, at Methuen, Mass.] Rev. D. P. Smith was elected clerk.

" March 13, 1828. Met at the house of widow Grace French, and attended to the establishment of Sabbath Schools." In October and December, 1831, thirty-one persons united with this church.

Rev. Giles Leach, a native of Bridgewater, Mass., and a graduate of Amherst and Andover, commenced his labors in Sandwich in October, 1832, preaching two thirds of the time with the First Church, and one third at North Sandwich. He was ordained as pastor of both churches, February 5, 1833, and was dismissed February 26, 1840. He continued occasionally to fill the pulpits until 1842. November 23, 1842, he was installed in Meredith, where he remained until May 23, 1854. His next pastorate was in Wells, Maine : then he went to Rye. He died in Franklin, in the spring of 1885. He was an earnest and fervent preacher, and left a pleasant memory. Rev. Giles Leach acted as clerk during his pastorate ; he was succeeded by Deacon Jeremiah Furber. Calvin Hoyt was the next, and he was followed by William M. Weed.

In the spring and summer of 1842, Mr Otis Holmes preached several sermons with such acceptation that he was called to the pastorate August 15, and installed September 7. He possessed great energy, deep religious feelings, and marked convictions, which he inculcated without fear or favor. He was strongly anti-slavery in sentiment, and a radical in temperance. Intestine com- motion was developed during his pastorate, and some of the principal members were alienated and withdrew. The church, never strong, felt their loss to a marked degree. But Mr Holmes knew no compromise with evil, and slackened not his zeal. He ministered faithfully until April, 1849. In May, Moses Weed and William Cogan were elected deacons.

After the dismissal of Rev. Mr Holmes there was only occasional preaching for some years. " The old meeting house was so out of repair as to be unfit for use. It was feared, first, that unanimity could not be secured in the loca- tion of a new house, and, secondly, that the necessary funds could not be raised. But when efforts were made in the winter of 1856, those 'fears ' vanished to the 'four winds.""

A new meeting-house was built at Sandwich Lower Corner, and dedicated January 1, 1857. Occasional preaching occurred from this time until the

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autumn of 1858, when Royal Parkinson was employed to supply for three months, from December to March. March 10, 1859, he was reengaged and supplied the pulpit two years, then went to Quecchy, Vt. He was not installed here. Records show that in May, 1862, four hundred and twenty- six dollars were raised to pay Rev. David Bean for preaching at the Congrega- tional church at Sandwich Corner. Mr Bean was in Sandwich previous to this subscription and gave such satisfaction that the subscription was raised in order to retain him. But before the winter of 1862-63, he felt constrained to seek another field, as he was a Freewill Baptist.

After an absence of nearly sixteen years, Rev. Otis Holmes again began ministerial labors here, January 27, 1865, dividing his services equally between the First Church and the "North Parish." At this time the membership had diminished from eighty to twenty-seven, as stated by Calvin Hoyt, clerk. Mr Holmes remained until 1868, and is now (1888) in active ministrations at Eliot, Maine. Rev. Charles L. Tappan, a native of Sandwich, commenced labor as pastor June 18, 1871.

Rev. Mr Hall supplied from May, 1878, to May 15, 1879. Mr Headley, an Andover student, was here from May to October, 1879. Rev. Edwin M. Vittum was here from June to October, 1880. Since Mr Vittum preached, there has been no regular Congregational ministry ; prayer - meetings and Sabbath-schools were kept up, however, until about 1883.

The North Sandwich Congregational Church was organized June 27, 1832. For many years prior to this time the families embracing the Congregational faith had enjoyed the occasional labors of Rev. Samuel Hidden, of Tamworth, and to receive the ministrations of the gospel on the Sabbath. For nearly forty years they were accustomed to go to Tamworth, some on horseback, some on foot, and they were very regular in their attendance on divine worship. Mr Hidden used to say, "I love to preach to the people of Sandwich, they love preaching so well." And many were converted and united with the Tamworth church.

At the time of the organization of the North Sandwich church there were fifteen members; among them, the names of Neal McCrillis, Isaiah Fogg, David M. Foss, Joshua B. Smith, David S. Emery, Jonathan G. Webster, Albert L. Emery, Joseph Hoit, have been given us. The society was formed October 8, 1832, and the following were also among its numbers : Jacob F. Moulton, Stephen Bennett, Jr, Isaac Foss, Eliphalet McGaffey, William Weed, Josiah McGaffey. Neal McCrillis and Isaiah Fogg were deacons.

1832, December 19, they voted "to invite Rev. Giles Leach to become our pastor; also, to raise by subscription eighty-three dollars for his services one third of the year in case he accept our invitation ; also, voted to raise twenty-four dollars for the services of Rev. Samuel Hidden four Sabbaths the past year." In 1833 they united with the First Church in securing the labors

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of Rev. Giles Leach, who ministered to them one third of the time for seven years. Under his care the church enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, with frequent additions. After his pastorate closed, two years elapsed without reg- ular services, Mr Leach preaching occasionally for two years. Rev. Otis Holmes supplied the pulpit one third of the time for several years; then for some years there were religious services when a minister could be secured for a Sabbath. For the two years 1854-55 they united with the Freewill Baptist church in hiring a Baptist minister, who held services in their meeting-house one fourth of the time. At present (1889) there are no regular services ; the meeting-house is opened for funerals, and sometimes meetings of other denomi- nations are held here. The members attend and support the Freewill Baptist church. William McCrillis, Larkin W. French, and Alvah Moulton are the only resident male members.

East Sandwich. - There is no church organization at this part of the town, but about 1878 a small, unpretending church building was erected and called Union Chapel, and here "God's people " of various denominations, Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, etc., assemble for worship. The number of people is so small that they are not able to support a preacher entirely and are supplied from other churches, contributing what they can. Rev. J. P. Frye preached at the chapel for three years when stationed at South Tamworth; Rev. David Calley, Baptist, succeeded him for two years; in 1888, Rev. W. A. Mayo, Methodist, from Centre Sandwich, ministered here. At present the pulpit is supplied one Sabbath in each month by Rev. Mr Piper (Adventist) from Melvin village, and the remainder of the time Rev. Mr Wilkins, from Moultonborough, Methodist, officiates.

A small Sabbath-school was organized six years ago, and about four years since a temperance club was formed and called the East Sandwich Blue Ribbon Association. Great interest is taken in all these good institutions by the inhabitants, and they bid fair to grow and prosper.

The Friends.1-In giving a history of the Friends Society in Sandwich we do not propose to give such history as may be a record merely, but an outline rather of the Quaker element of this town, showing briefly what it did and what it was; what molding impress it had on the generations that followed; its influence on communities now far remote, and to whom perhaps a knowledge of their ancestors has never come. As the geologist and the astronomer find " the ancient hills and the morning stars " away back in "the freshness of the far beginning," so we find the Quakers of Sandwich in the very beginning of its history. As early as 1777 there must have been by any reasonable estimate as many as forty members, while in 1802 they had become so numerous that the Salem Quarterly Meeting in Massachusetts recognized it as one of its branches and established it as the Sandwich Monthly Meeting.

1 By David HI. Hill.

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Judge Daniel Beede, though not himself a member, allied himself to this denomination, and not less than seven of his children became members of the society. In New Hampshire the Quakers were not scattered widely, but lived and gathered in quite large numbers together, and were mostly in Dover, Rochester, Gilmanton, Weare, Sandwich, Epping, and adjacent towns. From 1802 to 1833 there were probably not less than seven hundred members of the society in the Sandwich Meeting. This number may at first seem large, but the estimate will not appear extravagant when we remember that among the names enrolled were Hoag, Beede, Varney, Hoit, Meader, Dealing, Felch, Brown, Jewell, Scribner, Wingate, Bunker, Jenness, Folsom, Heard, Hill, Hinds, Marston, Dow, Gove, Bean, Gould, Roberts, Purinton, Plumer, Hanson, Greene, Peaslee, Cook, Samos, Hassletine, Wiggin, Sweat, Frye, Miller, John- son, Tuttle, and if we should continue, the list of names would expand almost "to cloudy legions." Of the Hoags alone there were about sixty members, and probably as many by the name of Beede.

In North Sandwich they were nearly as early as at the Centre, but were organized later, and for a season were part of the general meeting. The first meeting-house at the Centre must have been built soon after the settlement of the town, for it had served its generation and a new one was built about 1816. The record shows this house to have been 50 feet long and 38 feet wide, two stories high, and cost $905. The North Sandwich meeting-house was erected about 1814. In 1802 Enoch Hoag was clerk for a short time, and in the same year Benjamin Frye became clerk and held the position more than a quarter of a century. He was succeeded by Ezra Meader, who was suc- ceeded by Stephen Beede, and these three held the office for about sixty years. Thomas W. Hoag is now clerk. The clerk was presiding officer as well as recording officer, and made his record from verbal expressions without vote, and was himself sole judge of the preponderance of sentiment as gathered from verbal expression, made his record accordingly, and scarcely or never was any objection made to the record. Benjamin Frye's records were admirably written, and he must have been a very methodical man. Ezra Meader and Stephen Beede each in his turn became clerk of the Dover Quarterly Meeting.

Cyrus Beede was one of the most prominent members. He was a man of large comprehension, who was regarded as an oracle to his own denomina- tion, and it is said clergymen of other denominations regarded the opinion of Cyrus Beede on theological questions as about " the end of the law." He was born in 1766 and was among the younger sons of Judge Daniel Beede. He was one of the early Quaker ministers. Ezra Meader was a man of high repute and was long among the leaders of the Quakers. Stephen Beede, in later times, was one of the strong men of this church. He was one of those peculiarly organized men who easily gather from the remarks and argu-

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

ments of others both the weakness and the wisdom of their views, and when the exact time came was able to sum up the whole substance pro and con, to rightly divide the true from the false, and steer with unerring certainty along the line of wisdom and draw entire assemblies after him. None could " pour oil on troubled waters " with a gentler hand or with more certain effect. Among the ministers were Cyrus Beede, Benjamin Frye, Martha Meader, Joanna Miller, Mary Hoag, and, belonging to Sandwich Monthly Meeting though resident in Wolfeborough, Lindley Murray Hoag, a minister of mar- velous power, whose fame always brought out crowded houses. "When Lindley Hoag comes to Sandwich, let me know," was a request of hundreds. His wife, Huldah, sister of Joseph Varney and the late Moses Varney of Wolfeborough, was scarcely less distinguished than himself. Of the men prominent in their time, acting as committees and in various other capacities, were Stephen and John Hoag, Jonathan Wingate, John Folsom, Solomon Hoit, Elijah Beede, Oliver Hill, Noah Varney, Richard Wiggin, Daniel Frye, Joshua, Paul, Russell and James Hoag, Parker Felch, Beede Varney, Ephraim Meader, and many others, of each of whom interesting things could be said, but time and space forbid that we should call them from their long repose.

About 1854 came a tide of emigration, and the Sandwich Quakers followed the "course of empire " westward. Emigration continued, till of the great number who dwelt in Sandwich in 1820 nearly all are gone from the Centre, but a somewhat flourishing society remains at North Sandwich, which ranks in numbers probably second or third among the religious bodies of the town. To that society John B. Cartland, a Quaker minister, preaches with great acceptance almost every Sabbath, and has drawn a goodly number who are not allied to the society to become regular attendants, and, moreover, by his honesty and devotion to duty and unselfish dealing with his fellowmen, as well as by his verbal ministrations, he has placed a molding finger on that community, and made it easier for them to lead honest and unselfish lives.

More than a century has passed since the establishment of the Quakers in Sandwich, and the time is not come to sum up their influence. Their influence has entered new organizations, and, to a great extent, speaks through other people. In New Hampshire they have greatly declined in numbers, but are very numerous in the West and in many parts of the older states. The Quakers spoke for the slave in unmistakable terms, when many were servile or silent ; they spoke for spiritual freedom, when many were bound to outworn creeds ; they spoke for " the Spirit that makes alive," while many could see only " the letter that killeth ;" they upheld the law of human kindness, while with many " the iron heel went down upon the hearts of men." Tending in some cases and in some directions to narrowness, because they did not always interpret aright the teachings of their founders, yet in their cardinal principles

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they were set as bright sunbeams in the orient of a brighter day ; their prin- ciples live in the teachings and practices of many who do not bear their name. The Quakers of this town met twice a week in their respective houses of worship, through wind and storm and flood, and often sat in peaceful silence, and no human voice was heard. Often was it asked, " Why this waste of time ?" But far other judgment may determine that such time was not wasted. In the hush of meditation, in the all solemn silentness of nature, spirit voices oftenest speak. Then comes the solemn contemplation of human and divine relations ; of the vast possibilities of the human soul in time and eternity, and rich and valuable as speech may be, silence may be more golden. In the Quaker burial-ground at North Sandwich, on a declivity that gently slopes toward singing waters, in the land guarded by mighty mountains that keep watch from the skies of the measureless north, the families of four genera- tions are sleeping. With all their human frailties, their work has been done well. By the present generation the names of many of them are absolutely forgotten. But those who sleep in the dust have molded the lives of the living, though they are unconscious of the fact, and who shall estimate their influence ?

EDUCATION. - From its earliest days, the people of Sandwich have been interested in literature and the cause of education. The schoolmasters of "ye olden time " were respected and generally looked up to as more than ordinary men. They were usually dignified in their bearing and courteous in their manners, and these "oldtime worthies " merit recognition in history. William Martin was a teacher early. About 1795, Benjamin Frye taught school in Sandwich and continued here for many years. Nearly ninety years ago (1800) John Donovan (who married a daughter of Bagley Weed) was a teacher at the schoolhouse which stood near the house of Asahel Glines. He was grand- father of Charles W. Donovan, who has been selectman for many years. Natt Burley taught near Sandwich Centre about the same time. Jacob Weed Page, another teacher, was a contemporary ; also Dudley Leavitt, the famous mathe- matician, taught the young the mysteries of figures for several years. Stephen Cogan was a teacher here for nearly forty years, and for many years was super- intendent of schools. Brewster Smith was an early teacher in North Sandwich, and Eli Cook and Eliphalet McGaffey were well-known instructors nearly seventy years ago. Rev. Benjamin G. Willey taught school in the potash or Little pond district in the winter of 1819-20. This was the first school that John Wentworth, of Chicago, ever attended. "Master Ladd " taught in a schoolhouse near the Freewill Baptist cemetery. He was lame, and his scholars treated him with the utmost kindness and consideration, drawing him to and from school on a small sled or carriage. The Beede family have furnished the town with many teachers. Samuel Beede, Huldah Beede (Mrs Leonard Frost), Mary Beede (Mrs Pinkham), Mehitable Beede

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(Mrs Richard Wiggin), Daniel G. Beede, and Nancy MeCrillis were teachers of high repute.

Hon. Daniel G. Beede has had a state reputation for years, standing in the front rank as an educator. He established Becde Normal Institute at Centre Sandwich, and it at once became one of the best training-schools for teachers in the state, besides being a school of high grade for students fitting for other professional and com- mercial life. Ilis students are numbered by hundreds, and all retain esteem and veneration for their old instructor. Mr Beede was much in publie life until advancing years and illness prevented his acceptance of official place. He was town clerk several years, moderator of the annual town-meeting nearly twenty years, school committeeman twenty years, first selectman five years, representative two years, register of probate fifteen years, and state superintendent of public instruction in 1873. Mr Beede has done well what duties have been intrusted to him, and none stands higher than he among the sons of Sandwich. Mrs Beede conducts a high school in the building formerly occupied by the Normal Institute.

Benjamin B. Smith, afterwards missionary in India, was a teacher. " Methodical and exact in all things, thorough in his discipline, leading the stronger intellects rapidly into wide fields of thought, Mr Smith was regarded by his pupils with a feeling akin to reverence." Albert Ethridge was known only a few years in Sandwich as a teacher. His intellect was of a high order. Charles Hoag was formerly a teacher of high reputation, and for several years he and his brother Levi were engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania. Charles afterward went West, where he acquired an extensive influence. Edward G. Hoag was for many years a teacher in the Quaker School at Providence, R. I., long the leading school of that denomination in New England. Enoch Hoag was a teacher in Sandwich long ago.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 83

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124