History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 36

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 36
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 36

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).

1 Prepared by Rev. J. P. Chapin, of Pottersville, N. H.

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HARRISVILLE.

Church in Richmond, under the pastoral care of Elder Maturin Ballou (the grandfather of the late President J. A. Garfield), the first Baptist minister who preached in town. He preached his first sermon in the house of John Muzzy. He preached in town occasionally till the close of the year 1785.

December 7, 1785, the Baptists in this town were set off from the church in Richmond, and formed into an independent church, composed of thirty members. The church, previous to 1797, held their meetings during summer in a barn ; in the winter around in private houses. After the formation of the church Rev. Isaiah Stone was employed as a minister for a season. Rev. Moses Kinney came next, August 23, 1787, and remained till 1794. He was highly esteemed by the people, and ten were added to the church. The next minister was Rev. Elijah Willard, who came into this region from Fitch- burg, Mass., to keep school, and also preached for the Baptists. They invited him to become their pastor, and he was ordained May 11, 1794, being forty-three years of age, and he re- mained their pastor till 1829, thirty-five years. His was the longest and most successful pas- torate the church ever enjoyed. He was highly esteemed and dearly beloved by the church and by the people generally till the day of his death, which occurred August 19, 1839, in the cighty-ninth year of his age. During his pas- torate ninety-eight were added to the church. In the third year of his pastorate the church built their first house of worship after the usual style of those days,-1797.

After the close of Elder Willard's pastorate Rev. Elias McGregory was sent to labor with the church by the State Convention, the church being in a very low state. Being well fitted for the work by his faithful and well-directed efforts, with the blessing of God, the church was revived. A Sabbath-school was started for the first time in the place, and has continued to the present time, and eighteen were added to the church.

Rev. Mr. McGregory was succeeded by Rev. Clark Sibley, who was ordained June 2, 1831, and he remained about two years, adding fifteen to the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Harrison W. Strong, of whom there is no record.

In 1837 fifteen members were dismissed to form a Baptist Church in Marlborough, which has since become extinct. During the period extending from 1833 to 1839 forty joined the church. February 23, 1839, James P. Apple- ton was ordained pastor, and he took nine into the church, and left May 1, 1840. D. P. French then supplied the church for a short time. On February 27, 1842, Rev. Henry Tonkin became the pastor of the church, and resigned March 29, 1843, twenty-six uniting with the church while he was pastor. In 1844 the old house of worship was taken down and erected on the corner opposite District No. 2 school-house. Rev. E. D. Farr and Milton W. Ball supplied the church during this year and the following year, seven uniting with the church. Rev. Warren Cooper settled as pastor in August, 1845, and resigned in 1848, receiv- ing sixteen into the church. He was followed by Rev. Charles Cummings, who labored with much efficiency to build up the church. The church voted, December 15, 1849, to reorganize for the sake of a closer walk with each other and with their Lord, but the initiatory steps for this measure were scarcely taken before their beloved pastor was suddenly taken from them by death. This sudden bereavement seemed to the smitten flock like a personal affliction, and probably quickened their movements in reor- ganizing the church on a plan he suggested as more efficient in promoting their spiritual en- joyment and growth in grace. Sixty members renewed their covenant obligations at this time, February 2, 1850.

Henry Archibald commenced his labors with the church August 4, 1850, and remained about two years, taking two into the church. Then Lyman Culver was settled as pastor,

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July, 1852, and continued with them until the spring of 1856, receiving ten into the church.

In the fall of 1855, Brother T. P. Briggs, a licentiate from the Baptist Church in Hins- dale, supplied the church for about six months. Although but twenty years of age, yet he was an earnest and faithful servant of Christ, and ten were added to the church.

In May, 1856, Rev. W. W. Lovejoy began to supply the church one-half of the time for that year as pastor, and the next year he preached for them all the time, and remained with them till he died, in March, 1862. During his pastorate a parsonage was built (in 1857) and eighteen joined the church.

In September, 1862, Rev. John Hunt became pastor of the church. In May, 1866, the church held a protracted meeting, and the pas- tor was assisted by Rev. W. W. Clark, of Keene. Nine united with the church while Brother Hunt was pastor.

At the annual meeting of the society in March, 1867, they voted to remove their house of worship to its present locality and remodel it, and also to dispense with the services of the pastor while repairing the house ; therefore Rev. J. Hunt left, having been with them four years and a half. The house was removed and the alterations completed at the close of the year 1868, at the cost of nearly three thousand dollars.

In March, 1869, Rev. G. S. Smith settled as pastor of the church, and remained until Feb- ruary 23, 1873, and nine were added to the church.

In May, 1873, Rev. Charles Newhall became pastor of the church, and resigned in Septem- ber, 1877, but, by the request of the church, he continued to supply them till the close of the year. During the winter of 1874 the church enjoyed a gracious revival of religion, in which the pastor was assisted by Rev. E. A. Whittier, an evangelist from Lawrence, Mass. Thirty were added to the church while Brother New- hall was with them. From August 1, 1878, to

February 15, 1880, J. W. Merrill supplied the pulpit.

In December, 1880, the church invited Rev. J. T. Chapin, of Sutton, Mass., to become their pastor. He was in poor health during his term of service, and in May, 1884, he was obliged to resign, having received six into the church. September 7, 1884, Rev. J. R. Has- kins, the Baptist State Missionary, supplied the church for several Sabbaths, baptizing two.

On December 7, 1885, this church was one hundred years old. During that time it has been served by twenty-three ministers,-fifteen pastors and eight stated supplies.

The names of the deacons are John Knowl- ton, Elias Hemmenway, Charles Cummings, John Sprague, Joel Hart, Amos Sargeant and Micah Howe. Since the death of the two last, which occurred in 1871 and 1883, the church has not chosen any regular deacons.

The whole number who have united with the church (including the thirty who formed the church) from December 7, 1785, to March 1, 1885, is four hundred and ninety-four ; present number, seventy.

LIBRARY .- By a vote of the town at its an- nual meeting, in March, 1877, a public library was established and the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for the pur- chase of books; this, with two hundred dollars donated by individuals, was taken by the com- mittee chosen by the town, consisting of Aaron Smith, Cyrus H. Hayward and Edwin P. Hunt, and four hundred and forty-five volumes were purchased ; since this about one hundred dol- lars annually has been voted by the town, which, with the sums given by individuals, has enabled the committee to purchase new books until the whole number of volumes in library now num- bers ten hundred and fifty-six. For the first three years a room in the house of John T. Farwell was occupied for a library, and Mrs. M. J. Farwell appointed librarian. In 1880, Henry Colony, Esq., of Keene, a former resi- dent of the town, gave a piece of land in the

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most central part of the village for a site upon which to erect a building ; soon after a building owned by the town in a remote part of the vil- lage was moved to this spot and fitted up. The present librarian is Miss Bell Hutchinson. The library is open to all citizens of the town on every Saturday afternoon and evening, and is patronized by nearly every individual in it, es- pecially by the young, to whom it is of inesti- mable benefit.

POTTERSVILLE, OR WEST HARRISVILLE.

This village is situated in the northwest cor- ner of the town of Harrisville, and takes its name from the manufactory of brown earthen- ware, of which a large business was formerly done. Some five or six shops, employing a large number of hands, were at one time en- gaged in this industry. No business of this kind now exists. The cheapness of English white- ware and the low price of tin-ware has driven it almost entirely from the market. Sixty years ago brown earthen-ware was a kind of currency. Farmers in the vicinity of the potteries were glad to exchange their surplus products for it. They carried the ware to various parts of this and adjoining States and exchanged it for cash or such articles as were needed in their families. The first person to engage in the business was one by the name of Felton, from Danvers, Mass., and the last was John Clark, of East Cambridge, Mass. This village is now better known as West Harrisville, since the building of the Manchester and Keene Rail- road through the town, in 1878, and the naming of the station by the latter name.

There are two saw-mills at this village and also two shops where wooden-ware has been manufactured to a considerable extent.

HARRISVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.1 -- In 1838 the population became more numer- ous, and Bethuel Harris proposed to his children that, as he was the first and most prominent cause of increase of citizenship, he did not feel it

to be right for us to bring so many young peo- ple together without making an effort to give them some moral advantages and privileges, there being no church services within four miles ; therefore, the subject of furnishing a suitable place to accommodate occasional reli- gious services was proposed, and arrangements were made for building a house to accommo- date private schools and religious meetings. The building was completed in 1840, said Bethuel Harris contributing over two-thirds of the total expense, which was about one thousand dollars. At the time this vestry was built no one had supposed that a church would be organ- ized in this place for years. Bethuel Harris and his family belonged to the church at Nel-

son. August 28, 1840, on account of existing circumstances, it was thought expedient and necessary by this community that, for the good and advancement of the cause of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, a new church should be organized. Therefore, Bethuel Harris and cer- tain individuals, members of the church at Nelson, nineteen males and twelve females, pe- titioned said church for a dismission for the ob- ject of being organized into a new church at this place; also for the church at Nelson to unite with them in calling an ecclesiastical coun- cil for the purpose of organizing them into a Second Orthodox Congregational Church ; said church voted to grant said petitioners' request September 1, 1840, and chose a committee to unite with them (said petitioners) in calling said council. Said committees voted to invite the following churches to act by their pastors and delegates on said council, viz. : Church at Swan- zey, N. H .; church at Troy, N. H .; church at Antrim, N. H. ; church at Warwick, Mass. ; and church at New Ipswich, N. H.

Said council convened at Harrisville (so- called) September 22, 1840. Organized by chosing Rev. Elisha Rockwood moderator and Rev. Samuel Lee scribe. After hearing re- marks and statements from all interested, the council voted to hold a private session. In

1 By Charles C. P. Harris, Esq.

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

private session the said council voted unani- mously that it is expedient to organize said pe- titioners as a distinct church, and that the coun- cil is now ready to proceed to the public services of organization, which services were held at this date, September 22, 1840. The church chose Cyrus Harris moderator. September 27, 1840, Rev. R. C. Hatch, of Norwich, Mass., acted as pastor, when thirteen were added,-four males and nine females,-making in all forty- four members. The desk was supplied by dif- ferent neighboring pastors from September 27th until December 11, 1840, when the Rev. Jo- siah Ballard was employed as pastor for an in- definite time ; he continued his pastoral services until February 4, 1841, when he resigned. Rev. Mr. Tisdale supplied until April 15, 1841. April 18, 1841, Rev. O. C. Whiton commenced his labors as pastor for an indefinite time. At this time the subject of building a church edi- fice was proposed to the church by Bethuel Harris, with certain propositions, viz .: The church was to raise what they could to defray the expenses, and he, said Bethuel, would sup- ply what might be lacking. The church edifice was erected, a brick structure of good size, and finished by August 11, 1842, and it was dedi- cated at that date. The expense of said house was about thirty-five hundred dollars, Bethuel Harris paying about three-fifths of it. At the dedication of the church edifice the Rev. O. C. Whiton was installed over the church, to the great satisfaction of all interested, both church and people.

When the church gave him a call to settle with this church and people as pastor, his definite an- swer was, after much consideration and prayer for divine direction : "I have decided to live and labor with you, die with you and lay my bones with yours." October 17, 1845, Rev. O. C. Whiton died, greatly beloved by all who knew him ; his remains lay buried in the Island Cemetery, at Harrisville. His pastorate was about four and a half years ; thirty-one new members were added to the church under his

pastorate. November 1, 1845, Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy commenced his labors as acting pastor for an indefinite time; continued as such, giving good satisfaction to church and people for about three years and nine months, when he resigned. Twenty-three new members were added to the church under his ministration.

Rev. Daniel Babcock commenced his pastor- ate January 6, 1850, under contract for one year ; he closed his pastoral labors January 5, 1851 ; one new member was added during his pastorate. Rev. William G. Tuttle commenced preaching under license February 20, 1851 ; was ordained as pastor over church and society April 16, 1851, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of all classes until August 22, 1860, about nine years, when, on account of failing health, he resigned his pastorate, and was, by council, dismissed, August 22, 1860. There were twenty-five new members added to the church under Mr. Tuttle's pastoral labors. Rev. A. Rawson, of Thompson, Conn., supplied the desk mostly to May 1, 1861.

Rev. J. K. Bragg commenced as acting pas- tor for one year from June 1st, and closed his labors June 1, 1862. One was admitted under his pastorate. Rev. Mr. Marshall supplied the desk as acting pastor from August, 1862, to August, 1863, according to contract. Rev. Mr. Cochrane supplied the desk from September, 1863, to September, 1864. Rev. Mr. Dexter (Methodist clergyman), of Marlborough, N. H., supplied the desk from September, 1864, to Jan- uary, 1865, to the satisfaction of all interested.

Rev. Charles M. Palmer commenced preach- ing January 1, 1865, and continued preaching under license from Andover Seminary until December 8, 1868, when he was ordained pas- tor over the church and society ; he continued his pastorate until May 7, 1871, when, by his request, he was dismissed by council. There were twenty-three new members added to the church under his pastorate. Rev. Mr. Palmer was much beloved by the church and people of his charge.

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Rev. Amos Holbrook commenced as perma- nent pastor November 19, 1871 ; he was elected moderator January 1, 1872.

Rev. Mr. Holbrook's pastorate was very ac- ceptable to church and society ; he continued his labors as pastor in a most faithful manner until July 2, 1876, four years and ten months, when, on account of the circumstances of his family, he resigned July 26, 1876. There were added to the church under his pastorate fifty- eight new members. The desk was supplied from July 7, 1876, mostly, to March 20th by Rev. Mr. Coolidge, of Hancock, N. H., to the entire satisfaction of the church and people. Rev. William Thurston commenced his services as acting pastor April 1, 1877, and con- tinued until June 29, 1879, at which date he resigned his pastorate. There were six new members added to the church during his pastor- ate. Rev. George Beckwith commenced his services as acting pastor October 31, 1879, and continued his services until April 1, 1881, when he resigned. There were five new members added to the church under Mr. Beckwith's pas-

torate. Rev. George H. Dunlap, formerly of Charlestown, N. H., commenced his pastoral labors with this church May 1, 1881. There be- ing a union formed between this church and the Congregational Church at Nelson, Mr. Dunlap became acting pastor over the church at Nelson, the same as this church, performing all the pas- toral duties in both churches to the full satis- faction of both churches and peoples. Two new members have been added to the church at Harrisville since Mr. Dunlap became pastor. Total membership since organization is 220, of whom 103 have been dismissed by letter to other churches, 55 have died, and 11 have been excommunicated, leaving, at this date, (April 1, 1885) 61 members in regular standing, of which 20 are non-resident members, leaving 41 resi- dent members. Virtually, this church has been a missionary church, many having come here to labor in the mills, and, after being here for a time, united with the church ; afterwards, mak- ing their residences at other places, they asked ·

and received letters of dismission and recom- mendation to other sister-churches.

HISTORY OF JAFFREY.

CHAPTER I.

Geographical - Original Grant-Early Settlements-Names of Pioneers-Incorporation of Town-First Town-Meet- ing-Officers Elected-Town Clerks-Representatives -Ecclesiastical History - Congregational Church-Con" gregational Church, East Jaffrey-Baptist Church-Uni" versalist Church-Schools-Lawyers-Physicians-War of the Revolution-War of 1812-War of the Rebellion -Post Offices-Banks-Population-Railroads.

THE town of Jaffrey lies in the southeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : North, by Marlborough and Dublin ; east, by Peterborough and Sharon ; south, by Rindge and Fitzwilliam ; west, by Fitzwilliam, Troy and Marlborough. It is fifteen miles from Keene, the shire-town of the county ; forty-five from Concord, the capital of the State; and sixty-two from Boston,-seventy-eight by rail- road.

The area is about twenty-two thousand acres ; about one thousand is covered with water, and the uninhabitable area of the mountain in Jaf- frey is about three thousand two hundred acres. The surface of the town is hilly and moun- tainous.

The Grand Monadnock is situated in the northwest part of the town and south part of Dublin. Its highest peak is a little south of the line of Dublin, and has an altitude of 3186 feet above the level of the sea and 2029 feet above the centre of the town. The mountain is celebrated as a summer resort.

The town was granted by the Masonian pro- prietors, under the name of Middle Monad- nock, No. 2, November 30, 1749, to Jona- than Hubbard and thirty-nine others, resi- dents of Hollis, Lunenburg and Dunstable. The Masonian proprietors were residents of Portsmouth and vicinity, twelve in number, who purchased of John Tufton Mason, great- grandson of Captain John Mason, for fifteen hundred pounds, his right and title to a tract of land lying in New Hampshire, granted to said Captain John Mason by the Council of Plym- outh in 1629. The purchase was divided into fifteen shares, of which Theodore Atkinson had three shares, Mark H. Wentworth two shares, and Richard Wibbard, John Wentworth, John Moffat, Samuel Moore, Jotham Odiorne, George Jaffrey, Joshua Pierce, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Wallingford and Thomas Packer, one share each. Nine additional members were af- terwards admitted, and the shares increased to eighteen. The new members were John Rindge, Joseph Blanchard, Daniel Pierce, John Tufton Mason, John Thomlinson, Mathew Liv- ermore, William Parker, Samuel Solly and Clement March. The territory is described as " extending from the middle of the Piscataqua river, up the same to the fartherest head thereof, and from thence northwestward until sixty miles from the mouth of the harbor were fin- ished ; also, through Merrimack river to the fartherest head thereof, and so forward up into the land westward until sixty miles were fin- ished, and from thence overland to the end of

1 Condensed mainly from " History of Jaffrey," a work of six hundred and fifty pages, by Daniel B. Cutter, pub- lished in 1880.

220

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JAFFREY.

sixty miles accounted from the Piscataqua river, together with all lands within five leagues of the coast."

Immediately after the purchase the above- described tract of land was divided by the pro- prietors into townships. Those around the Monadnock Hills, as the mountain was then called, were named Monadnocks, designated by numbers.

After the survey of the township and the division of it among the proprietors, to en- courage settlement a bounty of one hundred and forty-two pounds was offered to the first five men who, with their families, should settle within one year from this date (June, 1750) and remain one year, and in the same proportion to one or more families complying with the above condition. Whether any settlement was made does not appear from any known record. A traditionary report makes it appear that a family by the name of Russell (Joel Russell) did attempt a settlement in the south part of the town, and while there had a son born, who was the first white child born in the township. Whe- ther he settled soon enough and remained long enough to receive the bounty does not appear. In 1752 we have a reliable account of a settle- ment by Moses Stickney, Richard Peabody and seven others, and that while there Simon Stick- ney, son of Moses, was born December 9, 1753, making him the first white child born in Jaffrey, aside from the Russell tradition. This settlement of Stickney and others proved a fail- ure, through fear of Indians, and they all left except a man known as Captain Platts, probably the pioneer of Rindge.

The first permanent settlement was made about 1758 by John Grout and John Davidson. Grout settled on lot 20, range 10, and David- son on lot 21, range 3. Grout was a prominent man. He made, with Gilmore, an early report of the settlement of the town to the proprietors. He died in 1771. There is a tradition that he was buried where the meeting-house was after-

wards built. John Davidson remained a per- manent settler, and died in 1811. It is also re- ported as true that his eldest daughter, Betsey, was the first white child born in Jaffrey.

List of the pioneers of Jaffrey, per report of Gilmore, Grout and Hale :

John Borland.

David Hunter.

Joseph Caldwell.

Ephraim Hunt.

James Caldwell. John Little.

James Caldwell, Jr.

Andrew McAlister.

Thomas Caldwell.

Alex. McNeil.

- Chrysty.

William Mitchel.

Daniel Davis.

-- - Munroe.

Joseph Dunlap.1 James Nichols.

John Davidson.1 - Organ.

Thomas Davidson.

Jona. Parker.

- Russel.

Thomas Emery. - Fitch.

John Swan.

Roger Gilmore.1

William Smiley.1

John Gilmore.1

Joseph Turner.1

John Grout.1 William Turner.1

- Glover.

Thomas Turner.

Enoch Hale. Hale.

- Taggot.

John Harper.1

George Wallace.

Wid. Henderson. Thomas Walker.

Joseph Hogg.1

Robert Weir.

William Hogg.1

Mathew Wright.1

Robert Holmes.

Leranus Wright.

Jona. Hopkinson.

Solomon Turner.

The settlement of many of the first inhabitants was of short duration. They seemed to be a log cabin population, fond of living in a forest. Most of them were Scotch-Irish from London- derry. Of those who became permanent set- tlers of that race, were John and Roger Gil- more, William Smiley, Joseph Turner, Joseph Hodge, William Turner and William Hodge. After the incorporation of the town a large emi- gration from Massachusetts purchased their lands, with all of the improvements, and became the permanent settlers of the town.

Of the history of the settlers reported by Grout, Gilmore and Hale, but little is known. Alphabetically arranged, we find the first on the list to be John Borland. He was the first set-

1 Permanent settlers.

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

tler in what is now East Jaffrey, and built the first mills in that place. In 1778 he sold his place to Deacon Eleazer Spofford, of Danvers, and left town.

Four families by the name of Caldwell- James, James, Jr., Joseph and Thomas-were among the first settlers. When the town was incorporated, the name of James Caldwell ap- pears on a committee chosen to procure preach- ing, and Thomas Caldwell is represented in Hale's report as the owner of a saw-mill on lot No. 22, range 5. Nothing more is known of the family of Caldwell.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 36

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