USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 13
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Besides Rev. Abraham Wood, the First Congregational Church has had the following pastors :
Rev. John Walker, who was installed as colleague-pastor, April 30, 1823, came from Greenfield, this State. He was retained as pastor, after Mr. Wood's death, till April 22, 1829, when he was dismissed at his own request.
Rev. Elihu Smith was installed as pastor, May 23, 1832. He was dismissed, at his own request, Dec. 2, 1834.
Josiah Ballard was ordained as pastor, Aug. 5, IS35. His pas- toral relations with the church were dissolved in the spring of the following year.
From 1836 to '42, the pulpit was supplied, most of the time by Rev. Hosea Beckley, formerly of Dummerston, Vt. (See Family Histories.)
He
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Benjamin E. Hale was ordained as pastor, Aug. 31, 1842. was dismissed, at his own request, Nov. 11, 1847.
From 1847 to '52, the society was without a regular pastor ; but services were held a part of the time, the pulpit being supplied by different preachers.
Rev. Ebenezer Newhall commenced his labors as acting pastor, July 23, 1852. He resigned his position, July 2, 1854.
From 1854 to '58, the society was again without a regular pastor ; but, during the larger portion of this interval, the members attended the services of the Methodist church.
Rev. Jeffries Hall began his duties as acting pastor, April, 1858. He resigned his position, April, 1866, since which time the society has had no regular pastor.
Mr. Hall was born in Cornish, Feb. 3, 1802. He graduated at Amherst College in 1829; at the Andover (Mass.,) Theological School in 1832 ; was ordained at Hopkinton, Mass., in 1833. He married, June 19, 1833, Sarah F. Swift, of Andover, Mass., who died, Nov. 18, 1877. Mr. Hall still resides in Chesterfield.
The present Congregational meeting-house was occupied for the first time, in November, 1834. Previous to that date, all services had been conducted in the meeting-house that stood on the common, at the Centre Village. This meeting-house, or the "old meeting- house," as it was called after the new one was built, was, till I830, the only meeting-house in the town. It stood about thirty-five feet south of the site of the present town-house, and was about sixty feet long and forty-five feet wide. It was two stories high, with two rows of windows, and had a projecting bell-tower on the west end, and a porch on the east end. Originally, however, as appears from the records of the town, there was a porch on the west end, also, but no bell-tower ; for, June 2, 1815, a committee was chosen to sell "pew-ground" in the meeting-house, remove the west porch of the same, and use the proceeds to build a belfry, according to a vote passed by the town, March 10, 1So7. A bell was also pur- chased and placed in the belfry. This bell, in accordance with a vote of the town passed March 12, 1816, was rung on week-days at noon and at nine o'clock in the evening. The principal entrance to the building was at the middle of the south side. From this en- trance a broad aisle led to the pulpit, which was located in the
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middle of the north side of the building, at an elevation of several feet above the ground-floor. Above the pulpit hung the sounding- board, and in front of it, on the ground-floor, was an enclosed seat, called the "deacons' seat." There was, also, a row of square pews next to the wall, extending entirely around the inside of the house, except at the entrance passages and where the pulpit stood. The other pews, below, were arranged in about the same order as they usually were in meeting-houses of the last century. In front of the outer row of pews, or "wall pews," was a continuous aisle. Above, there was a gallery on the east and west ends, and south side, with rows of pews. For very many years there were no stoves in the building, except the little "foot-stoves" that some of the worshippers used to carry to church with them in cold weather, and which were replenished, during the intermissions, with live
coals at the neighboring houses. The date of the erection of the frame of the old meeting-house has not been ascertained ; but it is certain that it was put up before March, 1770. ( See Chapter II.) By whom it was erected, is uncertain ; but it appears quite probable that Col. Josiah Willard, the leading grantee of the town, caused it to be erected, and then presented it to the town. But, be that as it may, it is certain that the frame was covered, and the building finished, at the expense of the town, as is shown by the records of the same.
As early as 1780, the town voted to allow horse-sheds to be built on the north side of the common, near the meeting-house ; and in 1804, to allow certain persons to build sheds along the west side of the old grave-yard. Between the east end of the meeting-house and the grave-yard, was a large horse-block, an indispensable thing in the days when women, as well as men, went to church on horse- back. On the first day of March, 1851, at one o'clock in the morn- ing, the old meeting-house was burned to the ground by an incen- diary fire. A strong westerly wind was blowing at the time, which bore the cinders and burning fragments of wood far to the eastward, setting fire to the dead grass, (for there was no snow on the ground) , and thus causing several acres of land east of the Centre Village to be burned over, and endangering the safety of other buildings.
For upwards of four score years had it braved storm and tempest, and the ravages of time, to fall by the hand of a Vandal !
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THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
The "Universal Restoration Society" was organized as early as 1798, and perhaps earlier. As already stated, this society had, in the year 1800, 47 members who were tax-payers. The annual meetings for the choice of officers were regularly held for many years before the society was incorporated ; but services seem to have been held only now and then, as opportunities occurred. In June, ISIS, fifty-five members of the society petitioned the Legis- lature to be incorporated into a society under the name that had already been adopted. The petition was granted, and an act passed incorporating Oliver Baker, Stephen Streeter and Jonathan Cochran, with their associates and successors, into a society to be known as the "Universal Restoration Society." Previous to the building, in 1830, of the meeting-house in the west part of the town, the Universalists held their meetings for worship, for the most part, in private houses and school-houses ; for the town would not vote to grant them the use of the meeting-house at the Centre Village, for any purpose whatever, till 1816, when they were allowed to hold a convention in it. January 2, 1830, the town voted to allow the Universalists to use the meeting-house every alternate Sabbath, for one year. The same year, the house now occupied by them, at the West Village, was built. The money for building it was obtained mostly by the sale of pews. Several persons of the Baptist per- suasion also bought pews, on condition that they should be allowed the use of the house a part of the time for worshipping in their own way.
The names of very few of the Universalist preachers who preach- ed in Chesterfield previous to 1830, are now known.
At a meeting of the society, held March 31, 1800, it was voted "to have preaching," and a committee was chosen to provide the same.
March 16, ISOI, it was voted that the members should pay one shilling and six pence each, for the purpose of hiring a preacher, or preachers. At the annual meeting of the society, held April 6, 1819, it was voted "that if there shall be any deaths in the society, there shall be a preacher of this order provided to attend the funeral at the expense of this society." At that time (1819) the society had about 60 members.
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January 2, 1822, it was voted to hire Robert Bartlett, of Langdon, to preach five Sundays during the year, provided he could be en- gaged for $5 per Sunday.
In 1823, '24, '25 and '26, the society appears to have had preach- ing only four Sabbaths each year.
At the April meeting, in 1828, arrangements were made to hire Rev. Wm. S. Balch to preach every fourth Sabbath during the year ensuing, if he could be engaged for $80.
The pastors of the Universalist society have been since 1830, as nearly as can be ascertained, as follows :
Rev. Philemon R. Russell preached every alternate Sabbath for about two years, (between 1830 and '35.) He resided in Winches- ter, where he also preached half the time.
In 1835, '36 and '37, the Universalists united with the Unitarians in hiring Rev. Stephen A. Barnard to preach. Mr. Barnard preached alternately in the old meeting-house, at the Centre Vil- lage, and at the West Village.
Rev. Charles Woodhouse was pastor from 1838 to '41. He re- sided in Westmoreland, where he preached half the time to the Universalists of that town.
After Mr. Woodhouse, Rev. Wm. N. Barber preached a while. In 1843, Mr. Woodhouse was again pastor. Rev. Josiah Mar- vin, of Alstead, was pastor in 1844 and '45.
From about 1851 to '54, Rev. Edwin H. Lake was pastor. He resided in Westmoreland, and was also pastor of the Universalist society in that town, preaching there every alternate Sabbath.
From 1854 to '56, Rev. Hymen B. Butler was pastor of the soci- ety in this town and that in Westmoreland, in which town he re- sided.
Rev. Sullivan H. M'Collester, D. D., of Marlboro', was pastor from 1857 to '62. He resided in Westmoreland, where he preached every alternate Sabbath, and where, some of the time, he had a school.
From 1862 to '70, Rev. Oliver G. Woodbury was pastor. Mr. Woodbury resided a few years in Westmoreland, where he also preached half the time, but afterwards removed to this town. In May, 1872, his house was burned to the ground, and he removed soon after to Salem (this State.)
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From 1871 to '77, Rev. Joseph Barber, of Alstead, was pastor, residing in Westmoreland, and preaching there half the time.
From 1878 to 'SI, Rev. Hiram B. Morgan, of Rochester, Vt., a graduate of the Theological School, at Canton, N. Y., was pastor. Mr. Morgan was ordained in Chesterfield, January, IS79.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
No records of this church have been found, but it is known that Nathan Worden, a preacher of this denomination, settled in the town as early as 1787. ( See Family Histories.) Mr. Worden preached not only in Chesterfield, but adjoining towns. In June, 1819, a society was incorporated under the name of the "First Baptist Church."
'As has already been mentioned, several persons of the Baptist persuasion had an interest in the new meeting-house, built in 1830, at the West Village, and for several years the Baptists held their services in it.
The names of only a few of the Baptist preachers have been as- certained.
One of the earliest preachers of this denomination at Factory Village, is said to have been Joseph Wilbur. Ebenezer Stearns used to give him, as his share of the sum raised to hire him to preach, five dollars in money, and a dinner (together with half a mug of toddy) every Sunday that he preached. So asserts, at least, one of the octogenary residents of that village. Soon after the meeting-house at the West Village was built, a Baptist revivalist, named Andrews, preached in it a while ; and afterwards a preacher of the name of Crane, and another of the name of Monroe. Elder Mann, Elder - Elliott and Elder Levi Dunham, Baptists, have also preached in the town at different times. This organiza- ion has been practically extinct, however, for many years.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodism was introduced into New England, in 1789, by Jesse Lee. As early as 1793, Lee visited Chesterfield, and from that time to the present it has been a preaching place.
In 1796. the first circuit in New Hampshire was formed, and called the "Chesterfield Circuit." Philip Wager was appointed to
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travel this circuit alone, which numbered at that time only 68 mem- bers. The names of very few of the earliest preachers of this de- . nomination, in this town, have been ascertained.
Rev. Jonathan Nichols, of Thompson, Conn., preached here at an early period.
Rev. Martin Rutter is said to have preached his first sermon in James Robertson's house, probably seventy-five years ago, or more.
One of the earliest Methodist preachers at Factory Village is said to have been Rev. - House.
The organization of the present Methodist society dates from June 18, 1842. In 1844, the society built a meeting-house (the present one) at the Centre Village, the money for building it hay- ing been obtained by the sale of pews. Before that time, they worshipped in private houses, school-houses, and sometimes in the old Congregational meeting-house.
In 1839 and '40, Rev. C. L. M'Curdy preached for the Methodists of Chesterfield.
Since 1842, the pastors of the Methodist society have been, so far as ascertained, as follows :
In 1842 and'43, Rev. Alonzo Webster ; '44 to '47, not ascertained ; '48, Rev. C. Holman ; '49 to '5!, not ascertained ; '52, Rev. D. P. Leavitt ; '53, Rev. E. Adams ; '54 and '55, Rev. J. Hayes ; '56 and 57, Rev. A. K. Howard ; '58 and '59, Rev. J. P. Stinchfield ; '60, Rev. N. Green ; '61 to '67, Rev. Thomas L. Fowler.
Mr. Fowler was born in Bridgewater, (this State), Oct. 10, 1823. He was educated at the New Hampton Institute, Bristol Academy, Hebron Academy, and the theological department of Newbury Seminary ; joined the New Hampshire Conference of the M. E. Church, at a session held at Great Falls, April 29, 1858, and received his first appointment for Pottersville, now a part of Harrisville.
For three years (beginning with October, 1868,) he preached at Westport (Swanzey), and from October, '72, to October, '75, for the Congregational society at the South Village, in Westmoreland. In 1877, he preached half the time at the Universalist church in West Swanzey, and the other half at Westport. In '78, he formed a church at the latter place, which he was appointed by the Con- ference to supply during '79. In 1843, he married Miss Mary F.
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Hazzelton, of Northfield, (N. H.), who died about three years afterwards. £ He married again, in 1848, Miss Nancy M. Giles, a native of Windsor, Me. He still resides in Chesterfield.
In '69, Rev. W. H. Cummings was pastor ; '70, Rev. James H. Copp ; '71, Rev. N. Fisk ; '72 to 75, Rev. Andrew L. Kendall ; '75 to '77, Rev. Edward P. F. Dearborn ; '77, Rev. John A. Parker : '78 to 'SI, Rev. Wm. W. LeSeur.
For a number of years the Methodists have held services alter- nately at the Centre Village and at Factory Village. The meeting- house at the latter place was built in 1853. It is a "union" house, so-called, the expense of building which was defrayed by the sale of pews, which were purchased by Congregationalists, Methodists and Universalists, on condition that the different denominations should have the use of the house a part of the time proportional to the amount of money invested by each.
THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
There was, for a few years, a Unitarian church in Chesterfield, which was organized about 1834. It was composed, in part, of persons who had withdrawn from the First Congregational Church.
In 1835, '36 and '37, Rev. Stephen A. Barnard was employed (with the assistance of the Universalists) as pastor of the society.
Mr. Barnard, as already stated, also preached in the Universalist meeting-house, at the West Village. ( See Universalist Church.)
While Mr. Barnard was in Chesterfield, the house in which he lived was burned to the ground, and everything he had in it, save the family bible, was destroyed.
This house stood on the site of the one afterwards owned and occupied by Marshall H. Day, now owned by Hermon C. Harvey.
There is now no considerable number of Unitarians in the town, and no services have been held by them for many years.
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CHAPTER IX.
Miscellaneous Subjects.
The Early Settlers and Settlements-Social Customs, Games and Amusements -Population of the Town at Different Periods-Number of Horses and . Cattle Owned in the Town at Different Periods-Mills and Manufactures -Stores and Merchants-Taverns and Hotels-Public Buildings-Post Offices-Roads and Ferries-Spafford's Lake, the Steamboat "Enterprise," etc .- Boating and Rafting on the Connecticut-Military Organizations- Physicians-Lawyers-Aged Persons-Paupers and the Town Poor-Farm -Public Cemeteries and the Common at the Centre Village-The Town Records and Names of Town Clerks from 1770 to 1881-Selectmen of the Town from 1767 to 1881, and Members of the N. H. House of Represent- atives from 1775 to 1881-Wild's Almanac-The Bard of Streeter Hill.
THE EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS.
It has already been shown that the first settlement in the town was made near the eastern bank of the Connecticut. (Sce Chapter II.) The settlers who came in during the first two or three years after 1761, appear to have located, for the most part, in the western and central portions of the town ; but, by the year 1770, they seem to have been pretty evenly distributed over its territory, except in the easternmost parts of the same. As nearly as can be ascertained, there were very few settlers in the south-east quarter of the town previous to 1780, especially in that part of it known as " Hard- scrabble." From about 17So to 1805. however, numerous settlers came into that quarter which, in spite of its ruggedness and rockiness, has produced some of the best citizens of the town.
The " New Boston" district, which may be roughly defined as comprising the upper half of the valley of Leavitt's brook, was partially settled before 1770. It appears to have possessed its max- imum number of inhabitants between 1790 and 1800.
A settlement was established at an early period on Streeter hill, which had for many years a pretty numerous population. Even the "Dish Land," which lies to the northward of Streeter hill, was once partially occupied by settlers.
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It is difficult at this late day to appreciate the hardships of the earliest settlers of the town. It is true they had little or nothing to fear from the Indians ; yet they had to contend with want, cold, and wild beasts. There were no roads, and only marked trees and natural objects to guide the traveler. Some of the settlers came by way of the Connecticut, in boats or canoes ; some came on horse- back, or even on foot, bringing their household goods in carts drawn by oxen. In the latter case, one or more persons had to go ahead of the team with axes, in order to cut away trees or brush that could not easily be avoided. Sometimes the women and children rode in the carts also.
The earliest settlers built, of course, log-houses ; but, John Snow's saw-mill having been erected in 1762, some of those who came afterwards, built very small frame-houses. As the families became larger, or as the owners became more prosperous, many of the log- houses were replaced with better ones, or the small frame-houses were enlarged.
There are several houses now standing, in various parts of the town, the original portions of which must be considerably over one-hundred years old.
The work of clearing away the forest, in order to obtain land for cultivation and pasturage, was necessarily a slow and laborious one, on account of the large number of old-growth oaks, maples, beeches and other hard-wood trees.
The wood that was not needed for fuel was burned merely to get rid of it, or, sometimes, was converted into charcoal. Potash was also made, by some of the early settlers, from ashes that would otherwise have been of but little use, as the soil, in its original fer- tility, did not need additional fertilizing, except in a few localities. In the manufacture of potash, lye was first produced by leaching the ashes, which was then boiled in large kettles till the water was removed, the residue being potash. In old deeds and records, the places where potash was made were called " potashes " [potash- eries], and they appear to have been pretty numerous at one time.
The early settlers lived in a plain, frugal manner ; in fact, they could not live otherwise, for the luxuries that are so easily obtained at the present day, could not then be had, especially in a newly settled region. They lived principally on beans, corn and rye-bread,
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potatoes, pumpkins, milk, fish, and the flesh of deer and other wild animals suitable for food. Fish could be caught in abundance, and deer were pretty numerous for a while after the first settlement was made. According to tradition, the first settlers were obliged to go to Northfield, Mass., to get their grain ground, transporting it on the backs of horses, or even, in some instances, on their own backs. It is certain, however, that Cobleigh's grist-mill was erected as early as 1767, and perhaps earlier, so that the necessity of going so far to get grain ground, could not, it seems, have existed many years.
There is a tradition that, one or more winters in the early history of the town, some of the settlers in the western part of it were obliged to go almost to the extreme eastern part, to get hay for their horses and cattle, drawing it home on hand-sleds. The hay thus obtained had been cut in certain swales, and consisted of wild grass.
Wolves and bears were more or less troublesome to the early settlers, sometimes killing their sheep, pigs and calves. 3
Wolves appear to have been numerous at one time, and even since the year 1800 have been occasionally killed in the town, as have also bears. It is said that John Darling, Sen., who first settled on Barrett hill, used to hunt these animals for the bounty that was paid for their destruction, and obtained considerable money in this way.
On one occasion a party of men from five towns assembled at the house of Abraham Stearns, in the eastern part of the town, for a grand bear-hunt. They succeeded in killing one bear, for which Mr. Stearns (probably in his capacity of selectman) gave them, as bounty, a barrel of rum valued at twenty dollars; and they re- mained at his house till they had drunk it all !
Though the early settlers were, in general, hardy and robust, they appear to have been as much afflicted by contagious and epidemic diseases as the later generations, and probably more so. Especially was this the case with the children, who suffered much from scarlet- fever and what was then called " throat-ail," a disease that appears to have been very similar to, if not identical with, diphtheria. Fevers of various kinds sometimes raged, causing many deaths among young and old. The crowding of large families into very small houses, and the want of means for combating disease, neces- sarily caused great mortality in the case of epidemic and contagious diseases.
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The records of deaths are so few and imperfect that it is impos- sible to ascertain how many persons died in the town in any year when the mortality was unusually large ; but the little grave-stones occasionally found standing in a row, or near together, in the old cemeteries, are sad evidences of the mortality that sometimes existed among the children. How many were buried to whose memory no stones were ever erected, no one can tell.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS, GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS.
In spite of the difficulties which the early settlers had to encount- er, and the hardships which they had to endure, they were not without their games and amusements, and appear to have enjoyed life as much as their circumstances permitted. It is true that, about the beginning of the Revolution, and at the time of the controversy about the " Grants," society was in a more or less disturbed state ; but, peace having returned, it resumed its usual condition.
At a very early period the fiddle, that characteristic instrument of every civilized community, found its way into the town.
Though its owner was able to play but a few tunes upon it, and those, too, in an imperfect manner, he was considered an indispens- able personage at nearly every social gathering. Especially was this so after the population had become pretty numerous, and some of the log-houses, or small frame-houses, had been replaced with larger frame-houses containing " long kitchens," or, in some cases, small halls. For the " kitchen dances" one fiddler sometimes furnished the music, and two were considered as constituting a pretty good band ; and when some third instrument was added, and the dancing took place in a little hall, the affair was deemed worthy of being called a " ball."
Balls were sometimes arranged as follows : A person desiring to give a ball of a " select " character, would make a list of the males whom he intended to invite, and another of the females whom he was willing that his male guests should bring as partners. From the list of females each male was allowed to select a partner. Ordinarily the gentleman and lady rode to the ball on the same horse, the lady on a pillion, behind her companion. Lavina Fisk, daughter of Aaron Fisk, once went to a ball with a young man, riding on a separate horse : a circumstance which was regarded by some as an evidence of extravagance !
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