USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Auburn > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 10
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).
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Lt. Gov. &c. 1:00
and other items. The general price of labor and time is 6 shillings per day. The whole amount is stated March 30, 1723. The Dr. side is £583 :4s :7d.
The Credit :
125 proprietors 6os. each £375:00
For forfeitures
6:16
Recovered of Jarvis Ring
2:12
Balance due from the Proprietors 198:16:7
£583:04:7
The account current is stated again for 1724 and 1725. The Dr. side, including the above balance, £541 : 16s : 9d.
The Credit side consists of :
126 Propri's 50s each 2 payment £315
I26 do 3 payment 20S.
I26
126 do 4 do IOS. 63
One for the first omitted .
3
Balance
507
£34:16s:9d
These items of the accounts are given to show something of what these men did and paid to start the settlement of Chester.
"At a Publick meeting of the Proprietors, held at Capt. Wingate's at Hampton, March 16, 1720-1 :
"Voted, mr. Eph" Dennet moderator. "Voted, Clem Hughes CIT.
"Voted, Capt. Thos Pierce, Clem Hughes, Eph. Dennet, Capt. Jos Tilton, Caleb Tole, Ich. Roby and Jacob Stanyan be a Committee to manage the affairs of the Society for ye Year Ensuing.
"Voted, Capt. Jos Tilton Receiver.
"Voted, Capt. Tilton, Caleb Tole, Ich. Roby, Geo. Pierce and Jacob Stanyan Lott Layers.
"Voted, That ye Lott layers lay out a Second Division of 100 acres each Lott, and Such Highways as they see meet. "Voted, That Capt Wingit, Deacon Shaw, & mr. Ingalls be a Committee to audit the Committee's accots.
"Voted, That Each proprietor pay thirty Shillings by the first day of May next to discharge ye Society's debts.
"Voted, That the four persons to whom the Stream is
FLOATS IN THE PARADE
73
EARLY PROPRIETARY RECORDS
granted Shall give each a bond of Fifty pounds to the Com- mitte to perform the Conditions of sa Grant: and if any of them Refuse to do it, the Committee is Improved to admit others.
"Voted, That ye Haverhill people that are proprietors make their way to the Chestnut Country passable for Carts, at their Charges, and that mr. Ingalls be Surveyor.
"Voted, That the bridge on the Road from Kingston to the Chestnut Country be made passable for Carts, and that Jo® Sanborn, Jun" be Surveyor."
"At a meeting of the Committee Sep. 29, 1721, the follow- ing persons were admitted Proprietors, viz., Collº Peter Wear, Capt. Richª Kent, Capt. Josh. Wingate, Tho® Dean, Sam1 Shaw, John Calf."
* *
"Voted, That the proprietors of the upper Falls on the great Brook have the privilege of the Lower falls also, for their Further Incouragement to build a mill according to a vote of the Society at a publick meeting held Jany. 11, 1720; And in consideration of weh additional Priviledge they are to build a Grist mill as Soon as the Town will need it."
This grant was where Haselton's grist-mill and Pail- factory were.
"At a meeting of the Committee Jany 2, 1721-2,
"Voted, Sam1 Welsh, and Jacob Moulton have forfeited their Right in the Town of Checher, they not having paid their Charges."
"At a meeting of the Committee Jan' 22ª, 1721-2,
"Present, Thos. Pierce, Eph" Dennet, Clem Hughes and Caleb Tole.
"Sundry of the Proprietors having complained to the Committee That it was Detrimental to the Town That the second Division was not Laid, nor the first yet perfected, and having also Desired That a meeting of the Prop"" might be warned to consult the Affairs of the Town :-
"Voted, That Notifications be Sett up accordingly.
"Voted, That His Excellency's Farm of 500 acres be Laid out as near the Center as may be without Discommoding the home Lotts."
"THE NOTIFICATION, VIZ:
These are to Notifie all Concerned That a Gen1 meeting of the Propriet's of the Town of Checher is appointed to be held at the house of mr. Nicholas Perryman in Exeter on Monday the Fifth day of Febry next, at ten of the clock in ye morning, to Choose lot layers to Lay out the Second Division, the lot Layers chosen at the last meeting having neglected to do it, and Further to Consult and do what may be Thought Needful for the Town Service.
Jan' 22ª, 1721-2. Richª Webard,
Just. Pe.
Tho® Pierce, Eph" Dennet, Clement Hughes, Caleb Tole."
Tho® Packer,
"At a Publick meeting of the Propriets of the Town of Checher held at Exeter, Feb. 5, 1721-2,
74
HISTORY OF CHESTER
"Voted, Collº Thos. Packer Moderator.
"Voted, That the Second Division be two hundred acres instead of 100 before voted.
"Voted, Sam1 Ingalls, Clem' Hughes, and Caleb Tole Lott layers, to Lay out the same.
"Voted, That the Lott layers go on the same as Soone as possibly they can, and as soon as they have accomplished it and make a Return thereof to the Committee, That the Com- mittee Notifie the Prop's to meet to draw their Lotts; And whereas there is a former vote that there should be a meeting annually on the Third Wednesday of March, and it not being probable that the said lotts can be laid out before that time, That the meeting be Defered till the first Monday in may next Except the Committee See Cause to call the meeting Sooner."
THE ROYAL CHARTER.
GEORGE by the Grace of God of Great Britain,
PROVINCE SEAL France and Ireland, King, Defend" of the Faith, &c .:
To all People to whom these p'sents Shall come, Greeting.
Know ye That we of our Especial Knowledge and meer motion, for the due encouragement of Settling a new plantation, by and with the advice of our Council, have given and granted and by these p'sents as farr as in us lies do give and Grant, in Equall Shares unto Sundry of our beloved Subjects, whose names are Entred in a Schedule hereunto annexed, That Inhabit or Shall Inhabit within the said Grant within our Province of New Hamps, all That Tract of Land within the following bounds: (Viz) to begin at Exeter Southerly Corner bounds and from thence run upon a West and by North point two miles along Kingston northerly Line to Kingston North Corner bounds, then upon a South point three miles along Kingston head Line to Kingston South Corner bounds, then upon a West North West point Ten miles into the country, Then to begin at the aforesaid Exeter Southwardly Corner bounds and run seven miles upon Exeter head Line upon a North East point half a point more Northerly, Then fourteen miles into the Country upon a west North west point to the river Merrimack, and from thence upon a Straight Line to the End of the aforesd Ten Mile line: and That the same be a Town Corporated by the name of Chester to the persons aforest, for ever To have and to hold the said Land, to the Grantees and their Heirs and assigns forever, and to Such associates as they Shall admit upon the Following Conditions :
I. That Every proprietor build a Dwelling House within Three years and Settle a Familley Therein, breack up Three acres of Ground and plant or Sow ye same within four years, and pay his proportion of the Town Charge when and so often as Occasion shall require the same.
2. That a meeting House be built for the Public worship of God within the said Term of four years.
3. That upon default of any particular Proprietor in Complying with the Conditions of this Charter upon his part, Such Delinquent proprietor Shall forfeit his Share to the other Proprietors, which Shall be Disposed according to ye major vote of the Said Comoners at a Legall meeting.
this. That a Proprietor's Share be reserved for a Parsonage; another for the first minister of the Gospell, another for the Benefit of a School.
75
EARLY PROPRIETARY RECORDS
PROVIDED nevertheless that the Peace with the Indians Con- tinue during the aforesaid Term of Three years; but if it should so happen That a warr with the Indians Should commence before the Expiration of the aforsd Term of Three years, the aforesaid Term of three years Shall be allowed to the Proprietors after the Expiration of the warr for the performance of the aforesaid Conditions, Rendering and paying therefor to us, our Heirs and Successors, or Such other officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, The annual quit rent of acknowledgmt of one pound of Good merchble Hemp in the said Town on the Twentieth of December yearly forever; reserv- ing also unto us, our Heirs and Successors, all mast Trees growing on said Land according to acts of Parliament in that behalf made and provided. and for the better order, Rule and Government of the said Town we do by these p'sents Grant for us, our Heirs and Successors, unto the said men & Inhabitants, or those that shall Inhabit the Said Town, That yearly & every year upon the last Thursday in march forever, they shall meet to Elect and Chuse by the major part of them Constables, Selectmen and all other Town officers, according to the Laws and usage of our aforesª Province, for the year ensuing, with such Power, priviledges and authority as other Town officers within our aforesaid Province have and Enjoy.
In Wittness whereof we have Caused the seal of our Said Province to be hereunto annexed. Wittness, Sam11 Shute, Esq", our Governour & Commandr in Chief of our said Province, at our Town of Portsmouth the 8th day of may in the Eighth year of our reign, annoq. Domini 1722.
By His Excellency's Comand
wth advice of the Council.
Sam11 Shute.
R. Waldron, Cler. Con.
A SCHEDULE OF THE PROPRIETORS' NAMES, OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Capt Henry Sherburne,
Jonª Emerson,
Benja Gambling Esq",
Elijah Smith,
Thos Phipps Esq",
Sam11 Smith
Capt Joshª Pierce,
Jona Dearborn,
Collº Peter Wear,
Abram Drake,
Revª Nath11 Rogers,
Cap® Joshua Winget,
Clem Hughes,
Sam11 Blacke,
Capt Thos Pierce,
Jos Sanburne,
Cap® Jos Sherburne,
George Brownell,
Eph™ Dennet,
Benja Sanburne,
Benning Wentworth,
Maj" Jnº Gillman,
Cap® Richª Kent,
Benja Tole,
George Pierce,
Benja Smith,
Eleazr Russell,
Cap® Jonª Sanburn,
Ichabod Roby,
Moses Blacke,
Revª Thos Simms,
Jacob Basford,
Sam" Shackford,
Jacob Garland, Sen",
Jnº Shackford, Will™ White,
Philemon Blake,
Jethro Tilton,
Stephen Sweat,
Amos Cass,
Jnº Sanburn,
James Perkins,
Sam11 Marston, Jun",
Susana Small,
Nath11 Drake,
Capt Eben' Wentworth,
Ruben Sanburne,
Cap® Archª Macpheadris,
Jona Plummer,
Jona Brown,
76
HISTORY OF CHESTER
Will™ Hally,
Henry Sloper,
Zach® Clifford,
Tho® Smith,
Enoch Sanborn,
Will™ Crosswait,
Josiah Bachelder,
James Boid,
Sam11 Prescot,
Joseph Young,
Nath11 Bachelder, Jun",
Clem Mesharvy,
Benoni Fogg,
Luther Morgan,
Richª Clifford,
Richª Hasleton,
James Fogg,
Jacob Gilman,
Eben™ Eastman,
Sam11 Sherburne,
Eben™ Loverell,
Edwd Gilman,
Rob Row,
Tho® Dean,
Philip Tole,
Sam11 Shaw,
Edwª Sanborn,
John Calf,
Henry Works,
Jona Clough,
Jery Sanborn,
Rob Ford,
Caleb Tole,
Jnº Jaquish,
Sam11 Ingalls,
Sam11 Thompson,
Mich11 Whidden,
Stephen Webster,
Will™ Rvmes,
Edward Emerson,
Will™ Godfry,
Tho® Silver,
Eben™ Dearbon,
Tho® Whiting,
John Cram,
Jnº Littlehale,
John Prescut, Jun',
Eph™ Guile,
Abram Browne,
Jona Kimball,
John Prescut, Sen",
Will™ Daniel,
Joseph Bachelder,
Steph™ Johnson,
John Packer,
Nath11 Webster,
John Silly,
Richª Jaquish,
Tho® Levit,
James Fales,
Sam11 Page,
Jnº Cutt &
Nath" Sanborn,
Benja Ackerman
Nath11 Bachelder, Sen',
Share.
David Tilton,
Province N. Hampe, May 10th, 1722.
His Excellency the Govern' and the Honble Lieut. Govern" and Council Entered associate with the within persons, (viz.)
His Excellency a Farm of five Hundred acres and a home Lott. The Lieu' Govern' the same. Sam11 Penhallow, Esq', a proprietor's Share,
Mark Hunking, Esq', ditto,
George Jaffrey, Esq', ditto,
Shadª Walton, Esq', ditto,
Richª Wibird, Esq', ditto,
Thos Packer, Esq', ditto,
Tho® Westbrook, Esq', ditto.
A True Copy of Chester Charter and the Schedule annexed to it. Compared Pr Richª Waldron, Cler. Con.
The Proprietors held frequent meetings for the transaction of business, such as laying out lots and selling them to meet expenses, and attending to numerous law suits. Their Records, contained in two volumes, are now in possession of the town.
At a meeting of the Proprietors of Chester, held by adjournment, at the house of Joshua Wingate of Hampton, 7 Oct., 1729, it was
James Prescut,
one prop
77
EARLY PROPRIETARY RECORDS
"Voted, That Captain Henry Sherburne and Dr. Edmond Topin be a Committee to Examine and Compare ye town book, and ye Duplicate book, & see yt they Exactly Agree, they being upon Oath to Compare 'Em.
"Voted, That Dr. Edmond Toppin keep ye Duplicate book, and it be kept at Hampton from year to year, and that ye town Clerk Send attested Coppys after Every Meeting to him y' keeps ye Duplicate book, in order to be Entered in said book."
The records of the earlier meetings were probably entered in the book kept at Hampton but the book, and ohter papers, are not to be found.
The first meeting of the Proprietors, under the charter, was held 28 March, 1723, and the names of the officers are given in the list of town officers.
The annual meeting for 1724 was held at the house of Samuel Ingalls, in Chester, and adjourned to the second Tuesday in June, at the house of Joshua Wingate, in Hampton. This year is memorable for the capture of Lieut. Thomas Smith and John Karr by the Indians, the only hostile incursion in Chester.
At the adjourned annual meeting held 10 June, 1729, it was
"Voted, That Mr. John Tuck of Hampton is Chosen to settle wth ye Inhabitants of Chester in work of ye Ministry."
Under date of 7 Oct., 1729, Mr. Tuck sent a communication saying that "for Weighty Reasons I Decline settling there," and at a meeting held on that date it was, "Voted that Mr. John Tuck, be paid thirty shillings per Sabbath for fourteen Sabbaths last past."
At a meeting held 15 Jan., 1729-30, "Voted, That ye Rev. Mr. Moses Hale is chosen to settle" wth us in ye work of ye Ministry in Chester," and at a meeting held 15 July, 1730, a committee was ap- pointed "to deliver the minister's lot to Rev. Mr. Moses Hale as soon as he becomes qualified to receive the same."
In 1785 a vote was passed authorizing a committee "to sell all the common land in this town that Lays scatring about in sundry places to any Person or Persons as the Committee shall Judge Best."
In 1794 all undivided land belonging to the Proprietors was sold at auction to Stephen Chase, Esq., for one pound and seventeen shillings. March 16, 1795, the accounts of the committee were adjusted and a small balance divided among a half-dozen individuals and the Proprietors of Chester, as an organization, ceased to exist.
The foregoing is largely a condensation of the very full account which appeared in the History of Old Chester.
.
CHAPTER II. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
An old parchment covered book, most of which is in Parson Flagg's handwriting, gives the earliest records of the Chester Con- gregational church. These records date back to 1731. The church, however, was already in existence. A meeting house had been built which stood a few rods southwest of where the present edifice is located. From the beginnings of the town in 1722 until the first house of worship was erected the early proprietors traveled on foot or horseback by a path through the woods to Kingston, ten miles distant, to attend church services. In 1729 a call was extended to Rev. John Tucke of Hampton, which was declined. In 1730 Rev. Moses Hale accepted a call, and remained with the church until 1735, when owing to ill health of body and mind the pastorate was dissolved. Every kindness was shown to Mr. Hale, and it was with genuine sorrow that the congregation dismissed him when the separation became necessary. During Mr. Hale's pastorate a number of families arrived from the north of Ireland, and organized a Presbyterian church. The new comers were looked upon as intruders, and the early settlers determined that they should pay their proportion of taxes for the support of the Congregational minister. The Presbyterians failed to see the justice of this, and they lost no time in sending a petition to the state legis- lature asking to be relieved from contributing to the support of a minister other than their own. In 1739 they were excused by the legislature from paying said tax. The Presbyterians called Rev. John Wilson, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh to be their pastor. Their church records began in 1738. On June 29 of that year it was voted to build a meeting house, and that "sd meeting hous shall be Builded 38 foot long & 33 foot wide with a 20 foot post." This building was erected on land given by their pastor. It stood on the south side of the "Haverhill road," a short distance southwest of what is now (1924) the Goldsmith place. Rev. Mr. Wilson was a good deal of a student, and took no active part in public affairs. Even the stirring events of the Revolutionary war failed to drag him from his study, although his sympathies were wholly on the side of the Colonists in their struggle for freedom. Much interesting material concerning the Presbyterians of Chester and their places of worship in Chester and Longmeadow, now Auburn, may be found in Chase's History of the Town of Chester. In 1842 the Presbyterian church was dissolved, and what is now the Auburn Congregational Church was organized June II, 1842 under the name of "The Second Congregational Church in Chester."
The next settled minister after Mr. Hale was Rev. Ebenezer Flagg who was ordained in September, 1736. He graduated from Harvard in 1725 at the age of 21. He was a man of friendly ways, and it was largely through his influence that the differences between the Presby- terians and the Congregationalists were adjusted, and at length for-
78
79
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
gotten. The church enjoyed a season of revival in 1742, the time of Rev. George Whitefield's visit to New England, which was shared with many other neighboring churches. During Mr. Flagg's pastorate of sixty years 243 were admitted to full communion and 287 owned the covenant. During these years 1450 infants were baptized. Mr. Flagg died Nov. 14, 1796, the sole survivor among those who were active in the church and parish when his ministry began.
In 1793 when Mr. Flagg's energies were failing, Rev. Nathan Bradstreet became pastor. He was to receive a salary of £75 while Mr. Flagg lived, and £go after Mr. Flagg's decease. He was also granted the use of a parsonage worth $900, or the interest on that amount. The parsonage grant was at Mr. Bradstreet's request ex- changed for money, and he built what is at present known as the John W. Noyes house. For details of the controversy that arose during latter years of this pastorate, mention is made elsewhere in this present work. Chase's history, already referred to, and Lawrence's "New Hampshire Churches," may be consulted. There was a lack of harmony between pastor and people. Consequently spiritual life in the church was running low. The church, however, survived this period of depression. We are not called to pass judgment on the situation. Mr. Chase, who was nearer to the facts than we, intimates that both sides were to blame. It may have been a shrewd guess on his part, but knowing human nature as we do, the suggestion is worth consider- ing. There was once a pastor, or Shepherd, let us say, who in a certain locality could do no mighty works because of their unbelief. The simple truth is that for some reason the church was divided and in such a case the fruits of the spirit are woefully lacking.
Mr. Bradstreet's ministry closed in Sept., 1817. Rev. Mr. Jewett of Hollis preached for a year, "standing in the gap," so to speak, between the pastorates of Mr. Bradstreet and Mr. Joel R. Arnold, who was called in December, 1819.
With the coming of Mr. Arnold the church took on new life. His ministry was in the era of revivals and the church prospered. IIO were added to the church roll. Temperance work was inaugurated in his day and church members were forbidden the use of strong liquor on ordinary occasions. There were, be it said, times and seasons when in most places a somewhat liberal interpretation was given to the law. The fine for intoxication on the part of members of the associations was two shillings "unless such act of intoxication shall take place on the Fourth of July or any regularly appointed military muster."
After Mr. Arnold's ministry of ten years came Rev. Jonathan Clement, D. D., who remained until 1845. These fifteen years were favored by a continued religious interest and progress in temperance work. It was in Dr. Clement's pastorate that the church edifice was cut down to its present proportions, and turned to face the Derry road. From 1845 to 1855 Rev. Lauren Armsby was pastor when he took up work in the west, returning in 1868 to become pastor in Candia. Later he preached in Council Grove, Kan., where ended a most useful career. During his pastorate in Chester 91 were added to the church member- ship.
From 1820 to 1850 Chester was a town of considerable importance, and the church prospered with the community. Services were well attended. The main auditorium not only was filled with worshipers but the gallery as well. Long before 1820 the forests had been cleared, and had given place to productive farms. The fields were made tillable by the removal of rocks. These were in turn utilized in the building of wall fences, which still remain as a monument to the industry of
80
HISTORY OF CHESTER
the forefathers. It was not so much the fashion before the era of railroads for the young people to leave the farm, nor was there need of it. The railroads were built and transportation was made easy for those who wished to escape the drudgery of farm labor, and, besides, with the use of machinery one man on the farm could do the work of several. Mills and factories offered remunerative work to those not needed on the farm. When gold was discovered in California some went thither in search of a fortune. The growing cities lured many from the homestead to reap wealth in trade and professional life. A gradual decline in population was the inevitable result. In the half century preceding the Civil War Chester was the home of prominent lawyers and statesmen. There was a fine academy. The community was of more than usual intelligence. Situated on one of the main highways from Concord to Boston, there was much traffic passing in both directions. The late John W. Noyes used to tell the present writer how people came from Manchester to Chester to do their shopping. There were minor industries aside from farming, but agriculture was the main pursuit, and real farming was done in those days. People then loved work as much as twentieth century people love pleasure riding, and one fancies that they were happier tilling their farms, enjoying life's common pleasures, than are we who drive in motor cars past the same farms, which through neglect are gradually depreciating in value. Will the old town come back, and be what it once was? Yes, when real farming combined with co-operative mar- keting begins anew. "Cow and plow" as Voltaire said, "are what the land needs." It means work, of course, but the work will not go unrewarded.
Rev. Harrison O. Howland was pastor from 1857 to 1862 when he removed to Pennsylvania. Additions : 26 by profession, 13 by letter. Rev. J. Logan Tomlinson, the next pastor, was ordained Oct. 1, 1863, and remained seven years. In 1871 Rev. Charles Tenney was called to the pastorate, and remained until his decease in Nov., 1888. Mr. Tenney was a graduate of Dartmouth. After teaching and preaching in other towns for somewhere near a score of years, he returned to his home town and church for the closing years of his ministry. Many of those who united with the church in his day are still in active service as officers and teachers. Some are in other parts of the land, and some have gone to their long home.
Mr. Tenney's successor was Rev. James G. Robertson, a graduate of Williams College and Yale Divinity School. He was ordained and installed July 30, 1889. During the latter part of Mr. Tenney's pas- torate money was raised by the young people for a pipe organ which was installed in 1890. Miss Lucy Learnard was the first organist. A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized at the parsonage in the autumn of 1889 with Miss Marriette A. Melvin for president, Miss Anna F. Dearborn, Secretary, and Miss Laura E. Kimball, treasurer. This society continued in useful service for up- wards of fifteen years when it disbanded, and a new society was formed which is still in existence. Later a Junior society was organized under the leadership of Miss Ella McCully, assisted by Mrs. Robertson. The twenty-fifth anniversary of Mr. Robertson's ordination was observed in the summer of 1914. Pastors and repre- sentatives of neighboring churches assisted in the celebration. In 1915, after 26 years of service, Mr. Robertson accepted a call to Centerville, Mass., and is now preaching in Middlefield, Mass. During this pastorate 130 united with the church on confession of faith and by letter.
Silas N. Adams
81
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The eleventh pastor, Rev. Silas N. Adams, was installed in December, 1915, and is still acceptably fulfilling the duties of his ministry in this year of grace, 1924.
The church has for many years maintained an unusually strong Bible School. In the early years of its history Thomas J. Melvin was superintendent. He was followed by Charles A. Wilcomb. Others holding the same office have been John E. Kimball, Emma M. Moore, Nathan W. Goldsmith, Francis E. Robie, Arthur H. Wilcomb, Walter P. Tenney, Walter W. Lane, Leroy D. Morse, Clifford E. Richardson, Lester W. Mitchell and Leon I. Richardson.
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