USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 > Part 21
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
had its full share of the public officers of the state ; so that no resent- ments appear to have been cherished.
Charlestown first became connected with the union movement, by sending a delegate to the Cornish Convention. The town was, subse- quently, represented at the conventions holden at Walpole and at Charles- town. In respect to this movement the town records afford us the fol- lowing interesting facts :
At a legally warned town meeting, held on the 8th day of December, 1780, Colonel Samuel Hunt being Moderator, it was
Voted-That Benjamin West be the person to represent said Charles- town, in the General assembly to be holden at Exeter, on the third Wed- nesday of this instant, (December.)
Voted-that Messrs Samuel Stevens, Dr. (William) Page, Dr. (David) Taylor, William Heywood and Captain (Samuel) Wetherbe, be a Com- mittee to make out instructions, and make a report on this meeting.
Toted-that this meeting be adjourned to Friday, the fifteenth instant, at three o'clock, afternoon ; then to meet at this place.
Friday, December 15th, 1780; 3 o'clock afternoon, met according to adjournment.
The Committee chosen to make out instructions, reported ; whereupon,
Toted-that the representative be desired not to attend the General Court their first sessions.
In the town warrant, dated, at Charlestown, January 29th, 1781, the following was inserted as the 3d article :
3d. To see if the inhabitants will agree to the proposed union of the Grants, on both sides of the Connecticut River, independent of New- Hampshire; and what instructions they will give the members of the Convention to be holden at Cornish, the 7th day of February next.
The article was not acted upon.
In the town warrant, called March 19th, 1781, the following were the 2nd and 3d articles :
2nd. To see if the inhabitants will agree to the proposed union of the Grants on both sides of Connecticut River.
3d. To choose one or more persons to represent them in General As- sembly to be holden at Windsor, in the State of Vermont, the first week in April ensuing, on Condition the articles of union shall be agreed to.
March 23d, 1781, the town acted on the above articles as follows :-
Toted, on the 2nd article, that the proposed union of the Grants on both sides of the Connecticut River be adopted.
- Toted, on the 3d article, that there be two persons chosen to represent
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
said Charlestown in the General assembly, to be holden at Windsor, on Wednesday of the present week, in case the union takes place.
Voted-That Dr. William Page and Captain Samuel Wetherbe be the persons to represent said Charlestown in the General assembly to be holden at Windsor, on Wednesday of the present week.
Voted-that this meeting be adjourned to the sixteenth day of this in- stant, April, at 3 o'clock, P. M., then to meet at this place.
Met according to adjournment, on the 16th day of April, 1781 and
Voted, on the 4th article, that, whereas, this town has since the Com- mencement of the present year been sundry times called upon for beef money, &c. by the State of New-Hampshire, therefore
Voted-that this town will not pay any of said articles to the State of New-Hampshire.
FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
From the Town Records, Charlestown, May 3d, 1781, a list of the persons who have taken the Freeman's oath, required by the State of Vermont :
Joseph Farwell, Samuel Wetherbe, Wm. Heywood, David Hubbard Solon Grout, Simeon Olcott, Jotham White, Samuel Stevens, Thomas Adams, Jno. Rose, Jas. King, Richard Glidden, Wm. Page, Jona. Hub- bard, Jona. Pierce, Jonas Gould, Constant Hart, Seth Walker, James Farnsworth, Timothy Putnam, Elijah Grout, Thomas Brainard, Noah Porter, Moses Wheeler, Seth Putnam, Phinehas Kimball, Jacob Stuart, Peter Labaree, jr., Amasa Grout, Richard Holden, Elijah Parker, Mo- ses Wheeler, Ebenezer Ferry, Paul Cushman, Oliver Corey, John Hub- bard, Jos. Spencer, Thomas Putnam, John Willard, Ebenezer Putnam, Eben'r Farnsworth.
On the 11th of May, 1781, the first town meeting under the author- ity of Vermont, was notified by Thomas Putnam, Justice of the Peace.
The warrant commenced as follows :
" State of Vermont
Washington County, ss.
To the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Charlestown,
In the name, and by the authority of the State of Vermont, you are hereby notified and required to assemble and meet at the school house in this town on Monday, the 11th day of June next, at one o'clock, after-
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
noon, and being qualified to vote in town meetings, to vote and act on the following articles, &c."
Six town meetings were held, notified in the same form, under Ver- mont-the last on the 3d day of January, 1782. This was adjourned to the 7th instant, then to the 14th, then to the 17th and dismissed.
The next town meeting was notified under the authority of New- Hampshire, and was the regular meeting on the second Tuesday in March.
This shows that Charlestown, at that time, considered its connection with Vermont at an end.
I have heretofore spoken of the part acted by the citizens of Charles- town, during the Revolutionary struggle. And I may here add, that during the Controversy just described, both the inhabitants of Ver- mont and of the towns east of the River, who had been connected with it, continued to retain and exercise the same ardent attachment to the General Goverment which they had done previously, and therefore the close of the war found them prepared both to enjoy and happily to reap the fruits of the liberty which the nation had achieved.
At the close of the Revolutionary War, Charlestown had been set- tled forty-three years ; and for nearly twenty-seven years of that time had been a military post. During fifteen of those years, it had been subject to the attacks of the French and their blood-thirsty Indian allies. The forces of the Provinces had also passed and repassed it, as they marched to and returned from Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Quebec. It had been made the place of rendezvous for the Soldiers of Stark, and the store house of supply for various other portions of our armies, as they were on their way to fight the battles of the na- tion. The negotiation of a permanent peace, therefore, produced a great change in the circumstances of its inhabitants, who, it may be supposed had seen enough of war, and doubtless were, in consequence, heartily disposed to comply with the recommendation of Congress to unite with the rest of the nation in the observance of a day of Gener- al Thanksgiving.
Business at the conclusion of the war soon returned to the channels, in which it ordinarily moves in times of peace. The Courts which had held no sessions from 1774 to 1778, and which during the time of the union of the town with Vermont, had been able to accomplish very little, were put in a condition to hold their regular terms, and the law- yers began to gather in a golden harvest, the reaping of which had been long delayed. Mercantile and other kinds of business also pros-
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
pered, and the town soon become a centre of trade; and for half a century exerted a more extensive influence than any other place in the region.
Of the number of voters in the town at the close of the war no cer- tified list has been discovered. The following are the votes for two Sen- ators for the County of Cheshire at a legal town meeting held in the Court Chamber in Charlestown, Tuesday the second day of March 1784.
Daniel Jones Esq., 58. Benjamin Hall, 1.
Simeon Olcott Esq., 59. Samuel Hunt, 1.
Samuel Ashley Esq., 8. John Hubbard, 1.
Mayor John Bellows, 10. General Bellows, 2.
Benjamin Giles, 1.
Colonel Hale, 1.
Thomas Sparhawk, 2.
Previous to this meeting the number of votes cast at any election was not recorded. From this time the number of votes for State and county officers is found in the records, but not for the officers of the town. It is shown by the above vote, that Charlestown certainly had seventy-two voters, March 2nd, 1784; and we are left to conjecture how many more.
At the session of the legislature held from December 13, 1786, to January 18th, 1787, a portion of the town of Charlestown was set off and incorporated into the town of Langdon. The act of incorporation was passed January 11th, 1787. By this act Charlestown was depriv- ed of quite a number of its population ; but the exact number that went to form the new township has not been ascertained.
It appears that Jonas Fairbanks, Samuel Prouty, and others had prepared a petition to the Assembly of New-Hampshire for the incor- poration of a township out of portions of Charlestown and Walpole. This petition the Town of Charlestown at a legal meeting, held in the Court Chamber August 28th, 1786, voted not to oppose. They more- over voted " That there be a Committee to instruct their representative respecting the above petition." This Committee consisted of Dr. (William) Page, Elijah Grout, Jonas Fairbanks, Samuel Prouty, and William Heywood, who reported as follows.
" The Report of the above committee for instructing their represen- tatives.
We whose names are hereunto subscribed, being appointed by the freeholders and the inhabitants of the town of Charlestown, legally assembled, August 28, 1786, to agree upon and adjust matters necess-
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IIISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
ary to be ascertained, previous to a division of the town, agrecable to the petition of Jonas Fairbanks and others, to the General Court of this State, do actually agree, that the petitioners and people, inhabit- ing the proposed district, shall be considered as belonging to said Charlestown in the choice of a representative to the General Court ; that they pay their proportion of all town debts or taxes now due, voted or assessed, or that may become due, voted or assessed, between this and the time of the aforesaid division's taking place ; that they pay their proportion according to the list of 1786 for the support and maintenance of John and Philip Harriman, as long as they shall be supported by the town ; that they forever relinquish all right and title to the donations of Mr. Thomas Swan, and John Church, to the town for the support of a school and the town's poor.
N. B. Whereas, the salary of the Rev. Bulkley Olcott becomes due in the month of February, it is therefore understood, and agreed, that the said petitioners shall pay their proportion of said salary due for the year in which they shall be set off.
JONAS FAIRBANKS, SAMUEL PROUTY, petitioners WM. HEYWOOD. 1 For the ELIJAH GROUT,
WM. PAGE In behalf of the town.
Charlestown and Langdon continued to have the same representa- tive till 1804; in which year each town elected its own. * Langdon was named from Hon. John Langdon.
In 1787, the Legislature of New-Hampshire held three sessions, the 2d of which from September 12th to September 29th was held in Charlestown. Governor John Sullivan was present during the ses- sion, and was entertained at the Inn of Colonel Abel Walker, (see Walker). The fact, that Sullivan received a majority of thirty-one votes in the town, discloses very clearly the political opinions of the inhabitants at the time. No acts having any particular bearing on the interest of Charlestown were passed at this meeting of the Assem- bly. The other sessions of the Assembly, during the year, were at Portsmouth and Concord. The history of Charlestown from this time is like that of most other towns, principally interesting on account of its institutions and families, and cannot well be given in a connected narration. I therefore close the historical narative here.
* Langdon in 1790 contained 244 inhabitants.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
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CHAPTER XIII.
IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY BY MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW-HAMPSHIRE-PROVISION FOR SETTLING A MINISTER IN THEIR CHARTERS-MONEY RAISED AND COMMITTEES APPOINTED FOR SECURING PREACHING, AND VARIOUS MATTERS TO 1754. CALL GIVEN JOHN DENNIS- COUNCIL FOR IIIS ORDINATION AT NORTHFIELD MASS. MINISTRY SHORT- TERMINATES IN A YEAR AND A LITTLE OVER FOUR MONTHS.
HE importance attached by the governments of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire to the Christian ministry may be in- ferred from the provisions for its establishment in all their charters. A township, without the preaching of the gospel and its ac- companing influences, was not with them an idea to be entertained. Thus in the act of Massachusetts under which No. 4 was granted, we find among other conditions the following-" That the grantees do, within the space of three years from the time of their being admitted, build and finish a convenient meeting-house for the public worship of God, and settle a learned, orthodox minister." By the same act the township was to be given to sixty grantees, but there were sixty-three house lots to be laid out ; one of which lots was to be for the first set- tled minister ; one for the second settled minister ; and one for a school; to each of which an equal proportion of land was to accrue in all sub- sequent divisions.
The charters of New-Hampshire contained a clause reserving one whole share for the incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gos- pel in Foreign Parts; one whole share for the first settled minister of the gospel in the town; and one share for a glebe for the Church of England, as by law established ; and usually a share for the benefit of schools.
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
Such was the provision of the governments of these States for a set- tled ministry in all their towns; the effect of which was to establish the preaching of the gospel in them at the earliest date that the circum- stances of the times would allow.
The religious history of Charlestown has commonly been regarded as commencing at the settlement of Rev. John Dennis over the Church, Dec. 4th, 1754. But from what follows it will be seen that the inhab- itants, previous to that time, had enjoyed the occasional ministrations of the gospel. At a legal meeting of the proprietors held at the Block House above Northfield, Sept. 1st, 1742, the following vote was pass- ed, viz. "That Messrs John Hastings, Isaac Parker and Obadiah Sawtle (Sartwell) be a Committee to provide an Orthodox and Learn- ed Preacher to preach to the inhabitants the winter coming."
To meet the expenses of providing preaching, £ 60 were raised.
At a legal meeting of the proprietors, held Oct, 12th, 1743, at the house of John Spafford, Jun., in No. 4, a vote similar to the above to provide preaching was also passed ; and Messrs. John Spafford, Phin- eas Stevens, Isaac Parker, Obadiah Sartwell and Moses Willard were appointed a Committee " To provide and contract with some learned and Orthodox preacher to preach to the inhabitants of the township." A vote to the same effect was passed at a legal Proprietors' meeting at the fort, Nov. 30, 1745, in which the matter of employing a minister, instead of being entrusted to a committee of five, was committed to Lieut. Moses Willard; and the sum of 90 pounds old tenor was voted to be raised and assessed on the proprietors, viz. thirty shillings on each proprietor's right, to pay for preaching past, and to hire preaching for the time to come.
After the commencement of the war, the times becoming troublous and affairs very much disturbed, we find no further record of the ap- pointment of Committees for hiring "a learned and Orthodox preach- er" till the 4th of April, 1750, when Captain Phineas Stevens and Lieu- tenant Moses Willard were appointed for that purpose. The next year Nov. 28th, 1751, "Lieut. Obadiah Dickinson and Captain John Spaf- ford were appointed a Committee to provide preaching for the inhabit- ants of the township for the summer next coming" and the sum of four pounds was voted to be raised and assessed on each proprietor's right; that is 240 pounds old tenor ; a portion of which was to be appropriat- ed to pay their indebtedness for the past, and the remainder was to be devoted to supplying their wants for the future. Up to this time while we are thus informed that the inhabitants of No. 4 occasionally had
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN. :
preaching which, either from the requirement of their charter, or the promptings of their religious feelings, they particularly desired should be learned and Orthodox, yet the name of not one who proclaimed to them the gospel in the first years of their settlement is found on the record. But from other sources we learn that two of these ministers were Rev. Andrew Gardner and Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdell; the former of whom was, for a number of years, Chaplain at Fort Dummer; the latter the well known Colonel Hinsdell of Hinsdell's fort. They were both men, who, if occasion demanded, could handle a musket as well as preach.
On the 30th of April, 1752, we find Lieut. Moses Willard bringing in a bill of 25 pounds for keeping Mr. Brown, and also the following vote, viz. "That Captain Stevens' accompt for what he paid Mr. Brown for preaching and writing for the proprietors be accepted and allow- ed." This bill amounted to £ 97 4s 0. A charge of £ 20 is also made for bringing Mr. Brown from Lancaster.
This was Rev. Cotton Brown who in February, 1748, received a call to Lancaster which it appears he did not accept. He had probably ministered to the people of the settlement in the summer of 1751, in the latter part of which year he died. Little is known of him, except that he was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts; graduated at Harvard College in 1743, and was the Pastor of the Church in Brookline near Boston, and that he was cut off at an age when, had life and health been continued, he might have been most useful.
On the 25th of November, 1752, the proprietors voted to build a meeting-house which was to have the following dimensions. It was to be 45 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 22 feet stud. The house was to be erected and enclosed, though not finished any further than the laying of the under floor, before or by the first of the September following. At the same meeting Mr. Caleb Wright was empowered "To provide some suitable, learned and orthodox person," to minister to them till that time.
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In voting to build their meeting-house the Proprietors had omitted to act on one matter of indispensable importance. They had decided on no spot for its location. This defect in their proceedings was reme- died at a meeting legally held on the 7th of March, 1753, when it was voted, "That the meeting house be set up and stand on the meeting house hill, so called, in the street between the lots, No. 48 or 49 on the west side and the house lots No. 26 or 27 on the east side of the street in the most convenient place."
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
On the 6th of June, 1753, Captain Phineas Stevens was chosen and appointed to provide a preacher, " Orthodox and learned," which were the indispensable qualifications, from which we may infer that Mr. Wright had not been successful in securing a supply, and that the pro- posed meeting house was not erected, is moreover shown from the fact, that, on the 14th of August, 1753, the proprietors voted "That Lieut. Isaac Parker, Captain John Spafford and Mr. Seth Walker be a com- mittee chosen and empowered to provide a convenient place to meet for the public worship of God ;" and also "voted that the sum of fifty pounds in bills of the last emission of this province be raised and as- sessed on the proprietors of this town to pay for preaching past and to come."
Now when we take into consideration the situation of No. 4, and the difficulties with which the early inhabitants had to contend, must we not be satisfied that, though they did not secure for themselves the con- tinuous preaching of the gospel, they accomplished all which, in the circumstances in which they were placed, could have been expected of them. They were neither neglectful of, nor indifferent to their spirit- ual interests ; but were evidently sound hearted and earnest Christian men who desired the ministrations of the gospel for themselves and their children. Their records do not furnish us with many particulars, but as many on this subject as on any other; for they were not men who in the transaction of their business multiplied words, or who made their records with the expectation that they were to answer any pur- pose beyond their own time.
JOHN DENNIS.
The first minister, installed over a church in Charlestown, was Rev. John Dennis, of whom the principal facts, which are known, are the following :- He was of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and graduated at Har- vard College, in 1730. Of his life from that time to 1737, we have no information ; but, in September of that year, he was appointed a Chap- lain in the army ; in which capacity he served the government till March, 1749. While chaplain he also acted as surgeon and physician. Nothing has been ascertained concerning him from the time he left the army till he is brought to our notice by his call to Charlestown.
Action of the Town.
At a legal meeting, held May 13th, 1754, one of the clock, after- noon, it was
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
" Voted-1st, that they will apply to Mr. John Dennis to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town ; and for the encourage- ment of the said Mr. Dennis to settle in this town, in the work of the gospel ministry, as aforesaid,
Voted-That the town will build for the said Mr. Dennis, a log-house of hewn timber, of the following dimensions ; viz .- the house to be thirty-six feet in length, and nineteen feet in width, and sixteen feet, stud ; and to be jutted at the chamber in the common manner ; and al- so to build, and set up a stack of brick chimneys, and a good conven- ient cellar ; and also to lay the lower floors, and find boards for the up- per floors, and set up the partitions and doors to the lower rooms; and also to board and shingle the roof of said house.
Voted-That the town will clear up a three acre lot, No. 14, in the great meadow, fit for mowing ; and that they will plough, fit and sow with wheat four acres of a five acre lot, No. 59, lying in the great meadow.
Voted-That the town will pay to Mr. Dennis the sum of fifty pounds, annually, lawful money, to be paid equal to silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce, if he shall see cause in the work of the gospel ministry in the town, and also to provide his firewood, brought to his house and cut cord-wood length.
Voted-That there be five men chosen to carry and offer the propo- sals of the town to Mr. John Dennis, and to receive his answer, and make return thereof to this meeting.
Voted-That John Hastings, Phineas Stevens, Esq., Mr. Andrew Gardner, Lieutenant Isaac Parker, and Ensign David Farnsworth, be a committee to carry the proposals of the town to Mr. Dennis, and re- ceive his answer as aforesaid."
At an adjourned meeting, held May 22nd, 1754, the following was added :
"Voted-That the town will raise the sum of eight pounds, lawful money of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, to defray the charge of transporting Mr. Dennis' family to this town, if the said Dennis shall accept the proposals the town has made ; and shall see cause to come and settle in the work of the gospel ministry among us."
On the 15th of July, following, a meeting of the town was called to act on the following articles :
" 1st, to choose a Moderator.
2nd, to receive the answer of Mr. John Dennis to the proposals made
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
him by the town for his encouragement to settle in the gospel ministry among us.
3d, to see if the town will agree to make any addition to the yearly salary which they have already voted to give to the said Mr. Dennis."
At this meeting, Captain Phineas Stevens being chosen Moderator, the committee, appointed at a previous meeting, gave in Mr. Dennis' answer, which was as follows:
" HONORED AND BELOVED :- The very hearty, and unanimous in- vitation, which you have given me, to settle in the work of the gospel ministry among you, I esteem as a call in Providence for my compli- ance. I would, therefore, in the fear of God, intimate my acceptance of this, your invitation, earnestly requesting your prayers for me, that I may be found faithful unto death, and in the end receive a crown of life.
I also accept of your offers of encouragement, and in many respects es- teem them generous, and handsome ; only in the article of salary, con- sidering my family is large, and will require an annual demand not less than almost any of yours, and yours are ordinarily supported with that sum : and as you are a growing people, and will have the assist- ance of the non-residents ; and the sum of three pounds, six shillings and eight pence, when divided among many, will be no great additional burthen, I hope you will be willing to divide the honor of giving, with the annual comfort of receiving that sum, in way of augmentation be- tween us, which is all at present.
Yours to serve in the faith and fellowship of the gospel,
JOHN DENNIS.
Charlestown, New-Hampshire, July the 15th, 1754."
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