History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 32
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 32

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).

A meeting of the proprietors in May, 1767, is stated to have been "warned by Reuben Kidder, Esq., a justice of the peace, according

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

to law." He lived in New Ipswich, and at- tended and presided at the meeting, at an ex- pense to the proprietors of eight shillings, as appears by his receipt. Probably the import- ance of the business to be transacted induced them to take this precaution in order to pre- vent all chance for calling in question the validity of their doings. At this meeting they voted to build a meeting-house " fifty feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and proportionable as to the height, " and chose Moses Adams, Henry Strongman and William Greenwood a com- mittee "to take care to effect the work." They also voted to raise four dollars by tax on each right, to build the meeting-house.

They were not precipitate in entering upon the work, however, it would seem ; since, at their next meeting, which was in December, 1768, more than a year and a half afterwards, they tried a vote to see if the proprietors would reconsider their former vote relating to the dimensions of the meeting-house. But they re- fused to reconsider, and voted to build the house of the former dimensions, and also raised three dollars more on each share towards build- ing it.

In February, 1771, they granted five dollars on each right to carry on the building of . the meeting-house. These three assessments, amounting to twelve dollars on a share, or six hundred dollars in the whole, are all the money ever raised by the proprietors for the purpose.

The proprietors of the township had expended about six hundred dollars upon the meeting- house by the year 1773. In April of that year they voted not to raise any more money at pres- ent for that purpose. This was the last meeting held by the proprietors, until, ten years later, September 11, 1783, a meeting was called “ to see if the proprietors would finish building the meeting-house, or give it to the town ; " and it was voted to give it to the town as their prop- erty.

At a town-meeting, held October 13th of the same year, it was voted to accept of the meet-

ing-house as a donation from the proprietors. At the same time they voted to finish the house and sell the pew-ground in it, except one pew on the right hand of the pulpit. Precisely how much had been done to the meeting-house up to that time is not known. Doubtless it was only rough-boarded upon the outside. The pew- ground was planned out in 1773 ; but it is pre- sumed that no pews were built, and probably no pulpit till after the house came into the possession of the town. It had then been used for a meeting-house some twelve years, and Mr. Sprague had been settled six years.

The pew-ground, as it was termed, which was the space upon the floor on which the pews were to be built, was sold, in separate lots, to the highest bidder, with the restrictions that no man be allowed to purchase a pew-lot but an inhabitant of the town; that the purchasers build the pews uniform, with handsome panel- work and a handsome banister on the top; that pews on the walls of the house the owners should ceil up as high as the bottom of the windows; and that the floor of the pews should not be raised above eight inches from the floor of the house. The purchaser was required to build his pew when called on by the committee appointed to finish the meeting-house, or he forfeited his lot. There was a further provision in these words : " Every person that owns a pew shall occupy no other seat in the meeting- house until his pew be as full seated as is com- fortable for those that seat it ; and, if any per- son owns more than one pew, he shall not shut it up and keep people from sitting in it.

The amount expended at this time appears, from a paper entitled "The Account of what the Committee have laid out toward finishing the Meeting-House," to have been about six hundred dollars,-about the same sum that was originally laid out upon it. But this seems no to have fully satisfied everybody, since, in 1788, we find, in the town-meeting warrant, an article, "to see what method the town will take to finish the meeting-house." The article

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was, however, passed over "to some future meeting," and it is a grave question,-if, indeed, there be any question about it,-whether, in fact, the meeting-house was ever finished at all.

The meeting-house was occupied in the win- ter of 1771.

In 1808 it was voted " to build a new meet- ing-house," and a committee of nine were cho- sen " to pitch upon a place to set the meeting- house." This committee consisted of Samuel Twitchell, Esq., Asa Fisk, Jr., Eli Greenwood, Phinehas Gleason, David Townsend, Isaac Ap- pleton, Thaddeus Morse, Esq., John Morse and Aaron Appleton. They were required to make their report in August. No report was made in August, but in March, 1809, an article was inserted in the warrant " to see what method the town will take to agree where the new meeting-house shall be built, or act anything relating thereto." The article was dismissed. In March, 1810, the article was " to see if the town will build a new meeting-house, or repair the old one." This article met the same fate as that of 1809 ; but in August, 1810, the town chose "Esq. Griffin, of Packersfield ; Esq. Farrar, of Marlborough; Esq. Gates, of Han- cock ; Lieut. Buss, of Jaffrey ; and Mr. Oliver Carter, of Peterborough, to pitch upon a spot for the meeting-house to stand upon in this town." This committee reported November 26th, same year, and their report was accepted ; but the record does not say what spot they pitched upon for said meeting-house ; but it is supposed to have been north of Joseph Apple- ton's blacksmith-shop. At an adjourned meet- ing, November 28th, the town voted " to do something relative to building a new meeting- house." What was meant by " something" in the foregoing vote is manifest from the succeed- ing votes: "Voted to choose a committee to let out the putting-up of a frame for a meeting- house. Richard Gilchrest, Thaddeus Morse and Aaron Appleton were chosen for said com- mittee. Voted that the frame should be raised one year from next June. Voted that the said

committee provide suitable underpinning stones and door-steps ; likewise -materials suitable to cover the outside of the frame, and to have it done the same season that the frame is put up.

Voted that the committee have liberty to get timber on the town's lands. Voted that the selectmen procure a deed of the meeting-house spot."

From this time until 1817 the town was in a constant turmoil in relation to the site for the new meeting-house. It was finally located on School-House Hill, and was completed in 1818. This was used until 1852, when the present church was erected.

The first pastor of the church was Rev. Jo- seph Farrar, who was ordained June 10, 1772, and remained until June 7, 1776. He was succeeded by Rev. Edward Sprague, November 12, 1777, who remained until his death, in 1817. Rev. Levi Leonard was ordained September 6, 1820. (He was author of the "History of Dublin," an excellent work of over four hun- dred pages, published in 1855.) He was suc- ceeded, in 1855, by Rev. William F. Bridge, who remained until 1865. Rev. George M. Rice was pastor from 1866 to 1881. Rev. H. D. Catlin was settled in 1881 and is the present pastor.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - In conse- quence of a disagreement of a number of the members of the First Church with the doctrines of Rev. Mr. Leonard, they requested, in 1827, letters of dismission, which were granted, and November 21, 1827, the present Congregational Church was organized with the following mem- bers : Stephen J. Woods, Abijah Richardson, Thomas Hay, Luke Richardson, Martha Woods, Lucy Hardy, Rebekah Hay and Elizabeth Richardson.

While the Second Congregational Society oc- cupied the meeting-house their proportion of the year, the town refused to grant them the use of the town hall ; but, in 1829, the town " Voted that the Second Congregational Society have leave to occupy the Town Hall twelve Sabbaths, and

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that the First Congregational Society have the same privilege."

In March, 1830, the vote of the town was, " that the Trinitarian Congregational Society in Dublin have leave to occupy the Town Hall for purposes of religious worship the ensuing year, on condition that they relinquish their privilege of occupying the new meeting-house on Sabbath-days, and insure the Town-House from injury by reason of their occupying the same." The society took the hall with the above condition, and occupied it till their brick church was completed, in 1836. In the mean time different preachers were employed. The Rev. Samuel Harris remained as the hired pas- tor two years. The church was dedicated in 1836, and the sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Bouton, of Concord, N. H. Rev. James Tisdale, who graduated at Brown University, Rhode Island, was engaged in the summer of 1836, and remained three years. The pastors since that time have been as fol- lows; Henry A. Kimball, 1840-50; Alonzo Hayes, 1851-53; E. F. Abbott, 1855-61; Nathan Sheldon, 1861 ; Oscar Bissell, 1862- 63; Andrew J. Fosdick, 1867-69 ; Amos Hol- brook, 1872-73; John Bassett, 1875; Richard M. Burr, 1877-78; George B. Cutler, June 1, 1884,-present incumbent.

PHYSICIANS .- The first physician in Dublin was Nathan Burnap, in 1776. Others have been,-Ward Eddy, A. Maynard, Benjamin Hills, Samuel Hamilton, Moses Kidder, S. H. Spalding, Asa Heald, Daniel Carter, J. H. Foster, S. S. Stickney, Dr. Eaton, R. N. Porter, J. G. Parker.

MASONIC .- Altemont Lodge No. 26 was char- tered June 14, 1815, with the following mem- bers : Amos Heald, Stephen Harrington, Rich- ard Strong, Adam Johnson, Levi Fisk, Joseph Hayward, Jr., Asa Fisk, Benjamin Hills and Alexander Millikin. A dispensation from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire "empowered the said Amos Heald and others to assemble at Dublin as a Lodge of Masons, to perfect them-

selves in the several duties of Masonry, to make choice of officers, to make regulations and by- laws, and to admit candidates in the first degree of Masonry, all according to ancient customs of Masonry, and to be called Altemont Lodge." This warrant of dispensation was to continue in full force and authority till the second Wednes- day of June, Anno Lucis 5816, unless the lodge was sooner installed. The first meeting, by virtue of this dispensation, was held at Free- masons' Hall in Dublin, July 3, A.L. 5815.

The first officers were Amos Heald, Mas- ter; Stephen Harrington, Senior Warden ; Richard Strong, Junior Warden; Asa Fisk, Treasurer ; Peter Tuttle, Secretary ; Levi Fisk, Senior Deacon ; William Warren, Junior Dea- con ; Aaron Lawrence, Joseph Gowing, Stew- ards ; David Ames, Jr., Tiler.

May 7, A.L. 5816, it was “ Voted to exclude the use of ardent spirit in this lodge, and substi- tute therefor crackers, cheese and cider."

The lodge was subsequently removed to Peter- borongh. The post-office in Dublin was estab- lished 1810 or 1814, with Cyrus Chamberlain, postmaster.

The Dublin Social Library was established in 1793.

Schools were held in the town at an early day, but the first school-houses were not erected until 1778, when it was voted to build two.

CIVIL HISTORY .- The following is a list of town clerks from 1771 to 1886 :

Joseph Greenwood, 1771, '72, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92. Eli Morse, 1773, '74, '75.

James Emes, 1793.

Andrew Allison, 1794, '95, '96, '97.

Cyrus Chamberlain, 1798 to 1826 and 1834.

Joseph Appleton, 1826, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31.

Thomas Fiske, 1832, '33.

Dexter Mason, 1835, '36, '37, '38, '39, '40, '41, '42. Asa Heald, 1843, '44, '45.

Ebenezer Greenwood, 1846 to 1859.

James A. Mason, 1859.

Warren L. Fiske, 1860, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '69, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85.

٢٠٠

Jesse R. Appleton

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Thomas Fisk, 1868, '71, '72. Walter Harris, 1870.

The following is a list of representatives from 1790 to 1886 :

Reuben Morse, 1790. Samuel Twitchell, 1792, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97.

Thaddeus Mason, 1795, '96, '97, 1800. John Morse, 1798, '99, 1809.

Isaac Appleton, 1801, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '12, '16, '17.

Andrew Allison, 1808, '18. Samuel Hamilton, 1810, '11, '13, '14, '15. Moses Marshall, 1819. John Taggart, 1820. Joseph Appleton, 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26. Samuel Adams, 1827, '28. Rufus Piper, 1829, '30, '31, '38, '40. John K. Smith, 1832, '33, '34, '39.

Richard Strong, 1835, '36, '37.

Calvin Mason, 1841, '42. Moses Marshall, 1843, '44, '45, '46. Thomas Fisk, 1847, '57, '58.

Cyrus Frost, 1848, '49. Jacob Gleason, 1850, '51.

Lovell Harris, 1852. Thaddeus Morse, 1853, '54. Dexter Mason, 1855, '56.

Aaron Smith, 1859, '60, '64, '65, '66, '69, '70. Calvin Mason, 1861.

Milan W. Harris, 1862, '63.

Henry C. Piper, 1867, '68. Jesse R. Appleton, 1871, '72.

James Allison, 1873, '74.

Walter J. Greenwood, 1875, '76.

Henry D. Learned, 1877, '78, '83, '84.

Charles W. Gowing, 1879, '80.

Warren L. Fiske, 1881, '82.

1885, not entitled to send a representative,-pro rata town.

DUBLIN AS A SUMMER RESORT .- The high altitude, the invigorating atmosphere and the delightful scenery have caused Dublin to be- come quite noted as a summer resort. Many literary people find it a healthful place in which to rest, and several residents of New York City and Boston have erected elegant summer residences under the shadow of Mount Monad- nock, upon the shores of the beautiful pond and in the village, from which is presented a

charming view of the Lyndeborough Moun- tains and the intervening distance. The at- tractions are appreciated by numerous visitants, whose numbers are increasing annually.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JESSE R. APPLETON.

The Appleton family is well known in New England and elsewhere, and many of its mem- bers are successful men in law, letters and lu- cre. Their names stand side by side with those of Lawrence, Adams and others prominent in Massachusetts.

Jesse Ripley Appleton is a descendant in the seventh generation from Samuel Appleton, who came from England in 1636. Samuel (2), his son, was eleven years old at the time. Isaac (3), fifth child of Samuel (2), was born in 1664, at Ipswich, Mass. Isaac (4), his third child, was born in 1704, at Ipswich ; he married Eliz- abeth Sawyer. His son, Francis (5), married, had children, among them Francis, born May 28, 1759, at Ipswich, and Jesse, who became president of Bowdoin College. Francis (6), when about twelve years of age, removed to New Ipswich with his parents, but, in 1786, he settled in Dublin, N. H., and after three years he married, June 2, 1789, Mary Ripley, a de- scendant of William Ripley, the English emi- grant, who came to America and settled in Hingham, Mass., in 1635, and died in 1656. He had children,-John and Abraham. The line to Mrs. Appleton is William (1), John (2), Peter (3), Peter (4), Noah (5), who married Lydia Kent. (She had nineteen children, of whom seventeen lived to maturity. Mrs. Ly- dia Ripley died in 1816, aged ninety-one, leaving thirteen children, one hundred and five grandchildren and ninety-six great-grandehil- dren). Mary was the fifteenth child ; she was born September 3, 1766, and died August 2, 1840.

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Francis Appleton made a home for himself and his wife on a lot of land worth about sey- enty dollars, given him by his father. He felled the trees and cleared the land by persist- ent and laborious exertions, and brought good, cultivated fields out of the tangled wilderness, and became a farmer, as agriculture was the principal occupation of the people of the last century,-steady, industrious, solid citizens. Mr. Appleton and his wife, soon after their marriage, became members of the First Congregational Church, and, in 1795, Mr. Appleton was chosen deacon, which office he held thirty-six years consecutively. The following from the church records is worthy of place : "November 6, 1831. At a meeting of the church, after divine service, Deacon Francis Appleton tendered his resignation, upon which the following resolu- tion, offered by J. K. Smith, was passed unani- mously : Resolved, That in consideration of the long and faithful services rendered this church by Francis Appleton, in the office of deacon, his request to tender his resignation be accepted, and that, while we express to him our regret for his determination, we also express our gratitude and thankfulness for the fidelity with which he has discharged the duties pertaining to his office." Deacon Appleton was a quiet, unostentatious man, temperate, possessed of good common sense and eminent for his piety. His death occurred July 16, 1849. The children of Fran- cis and Mary (Ripley) Appleton were Mary, born September 22, 1792, married, February 16, 1813, Jonathan Warren ; Betsey, born Febru- ary 12, 1795, died September 11, 1798 ; Ash- ley, born December 23, 1796, married, January 27, 1823, Nancy, daughter of Captain Thad- deus Metcalf, of Keene ; Francis Gilman, born February 24, 1799, married, September 29, 1825, Mary Hayward ; Eliza, born May 28, 1801, married John Gould, of New Ipswich (they both died in 1840) ; Serena, born June 1, 1804, married, June 28, 1823, Thaddeus Morse, Jr .; Sophia, born November 15, 1806, mar- ried, April 13, 1841, Thomas Fisk ; Jesse Rip-

ley Appleton, youngest child, was born April 25, 1809, in Dublin, and married, April 13, 1841, Louisa, daughter of Thaddeus and Ly- dia (Perry) Mason. She died November 3, 1844. He married, second, March 11, 1852, Abbie Sophia, daughter of Calvin and Rebecca (Kendall) Mason. (The Mason family is an old and highly respected one in New England.) Their children were Ellen R., born November 30, 1853, died September 14, 1859, and Charles F., born April 6, 1856, married Lillian G., daughter of Corydon and Abbie G. (Piper) Jones. They have two surviving children,- Ellen E. and Arthur T.

Jesse Appleton was an apt and diligent schol- ar, and was making good progress in his studies when they were interrupted by a temporary loss of his voice, and out-of-door work seemed the best remedy. He left school, became a farmer, and succeeded to his father's estate in 1834, and has occupied the old homestead since, making many changes and improvements. Mr. Appleton became a member of the church be- fore he was twenty-five years old, and has been closely identified with it for many years and is known as an earnest and efficient Sunday-school worker. He was chosen deacon in 1852, which office he still holds. He contributes liberally to religious and benevolent objects. He has been a life member of the Unitarian Association, of Bos- ton, for many years, and is one of its generous contributors. He was a delegate to the Associa- tion at New York, where was organized the National Unitarian Conference ; his colleagues were Rev. Mr. Bridge and Colonel Jonathan K. Smith. From the inception of the Abolition movement Mr. Appleton was in close accord with it, as he believed the holding of human beings in bondage a grievous national sin, and consequently he has been a devoted Republican from the advent of that party into power, and as such was representative for the town of Dublin in the State Legislature for the term of 1871-72.

Mr. Appleton is a quiet, retiring man, of un-

June H. Leonard

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assuming manners, in accord with the better class of the community in all matters tending to advance or improve the interests of his native town. Intelligent, thoughtful, fond of investigation, he keeps himself informed on all matters of public moment, and ever gives his support and assistance to those movements his careful proving shows to be for the public weal. It is from such and through such men that the perpetuity of republican institutions is assured in this country. No idea of personal advance- ment or striving for notoriety swerves them from following the right, and it is a satisfaction to record that the class of which he is a good type is not a small one, but embraces the truly patriotic and thinking men all over our land. Mr. Appleton is especially happy in his domes- tic relations, with an amiable and Christian wife as his co-worker and assistant in all good works.

LEVI W. LEONARD, D.D.1

Of all those born in Dublin, the man of the most original and largely endowed mind was Amos Twitchell. His native faculties, his deep intuitions, his keen and quick perceptions and his wonderful fertility of resources would have given him anywhere in the world a foremost place among the most distinguished men of his profession. But down to the present period, the most valuable citizen of Dublin, the man of the most varied and important practical attainments, the man of the widest and truest culture, the man who has done more than any other for the intel- lectual, moral and religious advancement and elevation of the people, was Levi W. Leonard. He was born in Bridgewater (South Parish), Mass., June 1, 1790, and died in Exeter, N. H., the 12th day of December, 1864. His early years were spent on his father's farm, but an accident unfitting him for the severe labors of the farm, he engaged in the, to him, more con-

genial pursuits of a student. He was graduated at Harvard University in 1815, having held a high position in a class greatly distinguished for intellectual ability and scholarship. He was graduated at the Cambridge Divinity School in 1818, and was two years the preceptor of Bridge- water Academy. Early in the spring of 1820 he was asked to supply the pulpit in Dublin a few weeks. Considering the position he already held as a young man of uncommon ability and promise, it was said to him, " You will not wish to stay long, much less to settle." His reply indi- cated the deeper and more sterling qualities of his nature, in the leading idea of service, by which his life was governed.

"I will go," he said. " Moreover, if I can serve them, if I can do good, should they give me a call, I will settle." The call was given, and on the 6th day of September, 1820, he be- came the minister of the First Congregational Church and Society in Dublin, and continued in the office more than a third of a century.

In the pulpit, in the homes of his people, in the fields and by the waysides, as well as in his home, he pursued his manifold studies, and dis- pensed his rich and varied instructions. He wrote in a clear, compact style, using no super- fluous words, and never wearying his people by the undue length of his services. His appear- ance in the pulpit was that of one too deeply impressed by the responsibility of his position, and too much absorbed in his subject, to care or think about anything else. There was evidently no thought of himself,-the sweet token of hu- mility,-or if any such thought did occur, his manner would indicate an almost painful sense of his own inefficiency. Yet there was evidence of a thorough knowledge of his subject, and a decided conviction of the truth and importance of what he was saying. His intellectual and moral faculties and attainments were of them- selves such that he could not speak otherwise than with authority, though without the least tincture of dogmatism.

His devotion to his people, his all-absorbing

1 With an introduction by Rev. John H. Morison, D.D. 13

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interest in them and whatever related to their well-being, and his constant efforts to do them good in every walk of life, especially his intelli- gent and loving intercourse with the young, and his labors for them and with them, gave him an influence and made him " a power working for righteousness," such as it is the privilege of very few men to attain to. The only instance corresponding to this of Dr. Leonard, that I have ever known, is that of Dr. Joseph Allen, of Northborough, Mass. From 1822 to 1853- thirty-one years-Dr. Leonard's name appears in the town records at the head of the school committee. And it is not too much to say that during the whole period he was the guiding mind and ruling spirit in whatever was done to produce the extraordinary advancement then made by the common schools of Dublin. In the report of 1850-51 he says, " The reading of this report closes the thirtieth year in which the chairman of your committee has been engaged in superintending the schools in this town. He has made to them more than a thousand visits. It has been a labor which he loved, and it will ever remain a source of gratifying recollection. He has not labored alone and unaided.

Let the same harmonious action and the same spirit of improvement continue for another thirty years, and your schools will be so perfected that the period just closed will seem like a day of small things."

How he labored among his people, doing for them the work which he loved to do, endearing himself to them, and indueing them to join him in his work of moral and intellectual improve- ment, till it had become to them also a labor of love, we may best learn from one who was born under his ministry, and who preached his funeral sermon. That sermon, by the Rev. J. C. Learned, then of Exeter, now of St. Louis, Mo., lets one into the secret of his influence, showing us the man and his work. Indeed, the man and his work were one. What he taught, that he did and that he was. "I prefer to speak of the man, less as the preacher of sermons,

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200