History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 113

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 113

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).

The Rev. Bartlett Pease assumed charge of the church March, 1834, and his pastoral labors termi- nated in April, 1839.

The next pastor was Rev. John Upton, who com- menced his labors November, 1839, and resigned August, 1841.

The attention of the church and society had for several years been turned to the object of erecting a more convenient house of worship than the old one they occupied ; but a difference of opinion respecting the location, together with some other circumstances, had prevented any decisive action on the subject.

In 1841 a location near the old meeting-house at the Centre was agreed upon, and a new meeting-house erected, which was completed and dedicated the same year.

In September, 1841, Rev. Jonathan Herrick as- sumed the pastoral care of the church. He was a very zealous laborer in his profession, and many united with the church under his ministry.

Mr. Herrick was dismissed, at his own request, September, 1843, and the desk was supplied for a few months by William H. Eaton, a student connected with Brown University.

Rev. Joseph Storer supplied the pulpit in 1844, and assumed pastoral charge January 1, 1845.

During this year a parsonage was built by a stock company for the accommodation of the pastor, which was a few years later presented to the society.

Mr. Storer was a very zealous and faithful minister, loved by all connected with his church and society, and universally esteemed and respected by his towns- men. He was retained in his office as pastor until May, 1855, longer by nearly five years than any other pastor of this church, when he was compelled to resign in consequence of failing health.

Rev. W. H. Dalrymple began to supply the pulpit in June, 1855, and assumed the pastoral care in August following, which relation he held until March, 1858.

Rev. George L. Putnam, the next pastor, was or- dained June 15, 1858, having previously supplied the desk about three months, and was retained as pastor until November, 1863.

In 1860 the parsonage, built by a stock company in 1845, was presented to the society, and extensive and substantial repairs and alterations were made upon the meeting-house the same year.

A bell was presented to the society several years before by Deacon Moses Greeley, which is still in use, and the only church bell ever hung in this town.

472

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Rev. Bartlett Pease, who was a resident minister, supplied the pulpit for about a year after the resigna- tion of Mr. Putnam.

Rev. Henry Stetson was pastor from October, 1864, to June 1, 1868, when he was dismissed at his own request.

November 1st of the same year Rev. A. W. Chaf- fin accepted an invitation to become the pastor, and appropriate services were held December 23d.

In 1872, Mr. Chaffin became very feeble physically, and his mental faculties were much impaired; but he was retained as pastor until April, 1873, though he was unable to preach for several months. He removed from town, but his health continued to de- cline, and he died soon after.

Rev. George A. Glines held the relation as pastor from September 1, 1873, to April, 1875, when he re- signed.

Rev. S. W. Kinney, the next pastor, assumed his charge January 1, 1876, and resigned in 1879, after which the pulpit was supplied by several ministers until May, 1881, when an invitation was extended to Rev. William P. Bartlett to become pastor, which was accepted, and he was ordained June 28th.

Mr. Bartlett failed to gain the love and confidence of his church and people to a degree that would make a long stay profitable or desirable, and he was dismissed, at his own request, in March, 1883. The present pastor, Rev. T. M. Merriam, assumed that relation in May, 1883.

DEACONS OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH .- Thomas Senter and Nathaniel Currier, chosen May 7, 1805; Moses Greeley and David Burns, chosen October 30, 1816 ; Enoch S. Marsh and Benjamin Kidder, chosen April 1, 1838 (Deacon Marsh died December 19, 1865); Hiram Cummings and John M. Thompson, chosen October 4, 1866; Lewis L. Fish, chosen in place of Deacon Cummings, October 12, 1881; Eli Hamblet, chosen April, 1882.

The original number of members of this church in 1805 was sixty-five.

The largest number at any one time was in 1828, when it was 167; in September, 1847, the number of members was 139; in February, 1878, 117; and Janu- ary 1, 1885, 125.

The Methodist Episcopal Church and Society of Hudson .- Prior to 1830 a considerable number of persons in this town had embraced the religious opin- ions and sentiments of the Methodist denomination.

Soon after the dismissal of Mr. Talbot by the Pres- byterians, in November, 1829, the members of that society, to receive material aid from the Methodists in the support of a ministry, entered into an agree- ment with them, and hired the Rev. Samnel H. Tolman, a minister of the Methodist persuasion.

Mr. Tolman preached here in 1830, and possibly later, and may have been instrumental in laying the foundation of the Methodist Church organized ten years later.

In 1839, Rev. Jared Perkins, the Methodist minister in charge of the Nashua station, came to Hudson, and lectured in the school-house in District No. 4, and held meetings in other parts of the town, assisted by others from Nashua and Lowell.

An interest was awakened, and several persons were desirous of having the regular service of the Methodist Episcopal Church established among them.

The Annual Conference of 1839 appointed Abraham Folsom pastor in charge of this station.

Mr. Folsom was a man of energy and zeal, and so labored as to establish a church.

The chief effort of this year was to raise funds for the building of a house of worship, and twelve hun- dred and fifty dollars were subscribed and collected for that purpose, a meeting was called, trustees ap- pointed and the society legally organized.

Cyrus Warren, Nathaniel M. Morse, David Cle- ment, Ethan Willoughby and John Gillis constituted the first board of trustees.

The meetings for the first year were held in the South meeting-house when not occupied by the Presbyterians, and in school-houses and private dwellings.

A plain meeting-house, fifty by forty feet, was erected in 1840, on the south side of the road, about one-half mile east of Taylor's Falls bridge, and was dedicated December 2d of the same year.

In 1877, the Nashua and Rochester Railroad having been previously built, and passing between the meet- ing-house and the highway, which rendered the loca- tion very inconvenient, the building was removed to the north side of the road, and near the parsonage, which was built a number of years before.

The meeting-house was raised and enlarged by an addition in the rear, a vestry constructed beneath the auditorium, forty by fifty feet in size, and other ex- tensive alterations and repairs made. The expense of this change and repairs was fifteen hundred dol- lars.

On Sunday, August 3, 1879, immediately after the close of the services, the stable connected with the parsonage took fire, and, together with the meeting- house and parsonage, was totally destroyed.

The buildings were insured for a moderate amount, and this loss scemed a severe blow to the society.

In 1880, a lot having been purchased by the church near Taylor's Falls bridge, a meeting-house built of brick and wood, fifty by seventy feet, with a tower and spire at one corner, was erected at a cost of about seven thousand dollars.

This church contains an audience-room and vestry of ample size, and is one of the most convenient and neatest country churches to be found in the State.

The members of the church contributed liberally, and many other citizens of Hudson and Nashua fur- nished substantial aid in paying the expense of its construction, so that the debt upon the society was not burdensome. It was dedicated December 7, 1880.

473

HUDSON.

The present number of members of the church is seventy, forty-eight of whom are residents of Hudson.

The names of the ministers who have been stationed here as pastors of this church, and the time of their services, as near as I have been able to ascertain, are as follows :

1839, Abraham Folsom ; 1840, Charles Il. Chase ; 1841-42, Moses A. Howe ; 1843, A. H. Worthing ; 1844, John Boyce; 1845-46, Matthew Newhall ; 1847-48, Jonathan Hall ; 1849-50, Isaac W. Huntley ; 1851, George F. Wells; 1852, - Cathers ; 1853, Kimball Hadley ; 1854-56, supplied by students from Biblical Institute at Concord ; 1857, R. C. Danforth ; 1858-59, J. W. Johnson, 1860-6], L. W. Prescott; 1862-63, William Hewes ; 1864-65, B. W. Chase ; 1866-67, Samuel Beedle ; 1868- 70, Otis Cole ; 1871-73, C. A. Cressey ; 1874, W. W. Smith ; 1875-76, J. D. Folsom ; 1877-79, A. F. Baxter; 1880-82, C. W. Taylor; 1883-84, William Wood ; 1885, Frederick C. Pillsbury.

CHAPTER VI.

HUDSON-(Continued).

Nottingham West Soldiers in 1748-Soldiers in the French and Indian War of 1754-60-Nottingham West in the Revolution-Committees of Safety and Inspection-Test Oath-Bounties Paid by the Town- Captain Samuel Greeley's Company-Nottingham West Soldiers in the Revolution.

IN volume two of the Adjutant-General's Report for 1866, in the muster-roll of Captain John Goffe's com- pany, employed in scouting and guarding the Souhe- gan, Monson and Stark garrisons, in 1748, I find the names of John Bradbury, John Carkin, Samuel Houston, John Hewey, Isaac Page and John Pollard, all being names of persons then residents of this town.

Nottingham West Soldiers in the French and Indian War of 1754-60 .- In Captain Joseph Blanchard's company, doing duty on the Merrimack River in the fall of 1754,-Peter Cross, Isaac Waldron, Stephen Chase and John Carkin.

In Major Bellows' company, doing duty on the Connecticut River at the same time,-Amos Kenney and Henry Hewey.

In Captain James Todd's company, Second Regi- ment, 1755,-James Blodgett, John Carkin and Jere- miah Hills.

John Pollard was also in the army the same year.

In 1757, James Wason, Micajah Winn and Tim- othy Emerson; and in 1758, Amos Pollard, Asa Worcester, Ensign John Pollard, Joshua Chase, Eli- jalı Hills, Joseph Lowell, Jonathan Hardy, Samuel Houston, Nathaniel Haseltine, John Carkin and Thomas Wason.

In Captain Noah Lovewell's company, in 1760, -Amos Kenney and Sanders Bradbury.

The foregoing names are all found in the report be- fore mentioned, but it is not supposed to be a full list of the names of all the men from this town who were soldiers in that seven years' war.

It is believed that all those whose names are given

above were men from this town, as men of the same names were residents here at that time; yet we have no positive evidence that such is the fact.

Nottingham West in the Revolution .- April 25, 1775, Abraham Page was elected to "join with the Congress at Exeter, to act upon such matters as shall be thought proper and expedient for the public good."

May 7th, he was again chosen to "join the Conven- tion of Delegates, to meet at Exeter May 17th."

At the same meeting it was " Voted, That the per- sons who shall inlist, to be ready on any emergency when called for, shall have forty shillings per month for their wages."

At a special town-meeting, June 12, 1775,-" Chose Moses Johnson, Samuel Greeley, Elijah Hills, Tim- othy Smith, John Haseltine, Deacon Ebenezer Cum- mings and Alexander Davis a Committee of In- spection."

In April, 1775, the following Test Oath was sent out to each town in the State:

" We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the Ilostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."

Every person was required to sign this test or be regarded as an enemy to the country.

In this town one hundred and nineteen signed the pledge, and one only, Captain Joseph Kelley, refused to sign.

Captain Kelley at that time owned the ferry near where Taylor's Falls bridge now is, kept a tavern near the same, was a man of bad repute and feared by the inhabitants. He afterwards removed to Wentworth, in this State, where he became a pauper.

At an adjourned town-meeting, September 30, 1776, " Voted to allow Major Samuel Greeley and the select- men, viz: Asa Davis, John Haseltine and William Burns, for expenses on their march to Lexington fight, five dollars,-£1 10s. 0d."

At the annual meeting March 10, 1777, " Voted to choose Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, Captain James Ford and Lieutenant David Cummings, a committee of inspection and safety."

April 7th, " Voted to raise eighty dollars for each of those men that should enlist into the Continental army for three years."

April 15th, " Voted to raise twenty dollars for each of those men that should enlist into the Continental army as an additional bounty to what has been already raised."

July 14th, "Chose Deacon Ebenezer Cummings and Seth Wyman in addition to the committee of safety and inspection last chosen."

Annual town-meeting March 16, 1778, " Chose Jno. Caldwell, Captain Marsh, Deacon Ebenezer Cum- mings, Thomas Smith, George Burns as a committee of safety and inspection for this present year."

Special town-meeting June 24th, "The town voted

474

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

to choose a committee, viz. : Asa Davis, Esq., William Burns, Timothy Smith, Ensign David Lawrence, Dea- con Ebenezer Cummings, Ensign Daniel Hardy, Lieu- tenant John Hazeltine, Jr., and empower them to hire and agree with any men or number of men, and what sum of money they will give, provided at any time the militia should be called upon to march, in order to stop our enemy on any sudden emergency."

At a special meeting November 2d, " Voted, that what was formerly Nottingham West should pay the six hundred dollars that was paid by subscription to Richard Cutter and John Campbell for service in the war this present year."

" Voted to give those families (viz. : 5) whose hus- bands are in the Continental army two hundred dollars,- £36."

Annual meeting March 1, 1779, "Voted, that the selectmen take care of the soldiers' families this year."

April 5th, "Chose a committee, viz .: Timothy Smith, Samuel Pollard, Captain Moses Barrett, Daniel Marshall, Deacon Ebenezer Cummings, William Burns and Samuel Wason, and gave them discretion- ary power to hire and agree with men as they think proper, in order to stop our enemy on any emer- gency."

June 21st, " Voted to give the selectmen discretion- ary power to hire and agree with the remainder of our present quota of men, for the Continental army during the war, in behalf of the town."

March 6, 1780, " Voted to allow the present select- men the interest money they have paid in procuring soldiers for the army in the year 1779."

July 3, 1780, at a town-meeting held at the house of Samuel Greeley, inn-holder, " Voted, as a town, to hire six soldiers for the term of six months, to join the Continental army, and chosea committee to effect the same, viz. : Asa Davis, James Ford and David Law- rence, and likewise gave.said committee discretionary power to hire and agree with any men, or number of men, upon any emergency in behalf of the town, for the present year."

February 5, 1781, " Voted to raise our quota of men to fill up the battalion in the Continental army, and chose a committee in order to procure and agree with the men in behalf of the town, namely,-Timothy Smith, Captain Samuel Marsh, Daniel Marshall, Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, Lieutenant David Cum- mings."

March 5th, " Voted to give the committee last chosen discretionary power to agree with the soldiers for young cattle, and to give their obligations for the same in behalf of the town."

Two beef-rates were assessed in 1781, amounting to six hundred and eight pounds "in bills of the new emission, or in the old bills at forty to one."

The corn-rate for 1780 was four hundred and thirty- four bushels, and for 1781 five hundred and sixty- four bushels.

July 9, 1781, " Voted, that the former committee still stand good and have discretionary power to hire and agree with soldiers in behalf of the town, as oc- casion may require."

July 30th, " Voted to choose a committee to raise soldiers that is and may be called for this present year, and give them discretionary power to give their obligations in behalf of the town."

" Voted, that said committee consist of three men, viz. : Captain Peabody, Lieutenant Peter Cross, En- sign Elijah Hills."

" Voted, that the obligations which the committee has given to the soldiers for corn, in behalf of the town, that the rate therefor be made in corn only, without mentioning money."

December, 1781, " Voted to approve of the select- men selling of the old paper money, eighty dollars for one of the new emision."

April 17, 1782, " Voted to choose a committee of three, namely,-Joseph Greeley, Lieutenant Reuben Spalding and Ensign Nathaniel Davis, as a commit- tee to hire seven Continental soldiers for three years, or during the war, and give them power as they shall see fit."

May 13th, " Voted to choose a committee to raise the Continental soldiers called for, namely,-Major James Ford, Captain Cummings, Ensign Elijah Hills, Jeremiah Hills, Joseph Blodgett, Ensign Simeon Bar- rett, Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, Seth Hadley, Henry Tarbox, Lieutenant Benjamin Kidder and Seth Wi- com."

" Voted, To impower this committee, in behalf of the Town, to give their private security for to hire said Soldiers, not to exceed 100 dollars for each soldier yearly, for three years."

It is a matter of regret that a complete list of the names of all the soldiers who served their country, from this town, in the War of the Revolution, cannot be given.

No town documents to show who they were can be found, and a few of their names only are incidentally mentioned in the town records.

Hon. Isaac W. Hammond, Assistant Secretary of State, has kindly furnished some valuable informa- tion, some has been gathered from the Adjutant- General's Reports, and some names have been ob- tained from other sources.

Within the limited time given to complete this his- tory it has been impossible for me to make an ex- haustive research for all the names of those patriotic soldiers possible to be obtained.

The following names are given as a partial list of the men from Nottingham West who were soldiers in the War of the Revolution.

NOTTINGHAM WEST SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. -The following was copied from the original paper in the possession of the New Hampshire Historical So- ciety, by Hon. D. F. Secomb :

" A muster-roll of Capt. Samuel Greeley's Company, who turned out as

475

HUDSON.

volunteers from Nottingham west, in New Hampshire, at the time of Lexington battle, on the 19th day of April, 1775."

Samuel Greeley, captain ; John Kelley, lieutenant ; John Pollard, ensign ; James Ford, clerk ; William Merrill, sergeant ; William Burns, sergeant ; Ebenezer Pollard, sergeant ; Justus Dakin, corporal ; Simeon Barrett, corporal ; Jonathan Bradley, corporal ; Jolin Hollard, corporal ; Benjamin Marshall, fifer ; Samnel Currier, fifer ; Samuel Marsh, Reu- ben Spalding, Peter Cross, Ebenezer Cummings, Ebenezer Perry, Elijah Hills, Ezekiel Hills, Jeremiah Hills, Samuel Hills, Richard Marshall, Daniel Hardy, Seth Hadley, Abijah Reed, Richard Cutter, Nehemiah Winn, Benjamin Whittemore, Abiather Winn, Stephen Chase, Jr., Joshua Chase, John Haseltine, David Glover, Oliver ITills, Page Smith, Samuel Campbell, Samuel Smith, Moses Barrett, Richard Hardy, Jona- than Blodgett, Josepli Greeley, Samuel Durant, Samnel Moore, Andrew Seavey, Stephen Chase, James Pemberton, John Osgood, Nat. Hardy, Benjamin Marshall, Daniel Marshall, John Walker, Joseph Gould, Jr., John Merrill, David Cummings, Thomas Wason, Alexander Caldwell, Thomas Caldwell, Asa Davis, Samuel Wason, Ichabod Eastman, Abraham Page, Nat. Davis.

The " muster-roll " also gives the number of days each man served and the number of miles travelled; also, the number of pounds of pork furnished and the number of gallons of rum. Of pork there were four hundred and twenty-four pounds, at sixty (?) cents per pound ; rum, twelve gallons, at twenty-two cents per gallon.

The following Nottingham West soldiers were known to have been in Captain Walker's company at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 : Joseph Blodgett, Stephen Chase, Joshua Severence, Joseph Greeley, Nehemiah Winn and Abijah Reed. Joseph Greeley was severely wounded in the ankle.

By the provincial census taken in September, 1775, Nottingham West was credited with having twenty- two soldiers in the army.

The following is a list of Nottingham West soldiers who enlisted for three years to fill up the Continental Battalions, April, 1777 :

In Captain Emerson's Company, Cilley's Regiment.

Sanders Bradbury, sergeant ; died of disease, 1779. Amos Kinney, killed.

Nathaniel Hardy, discharged April 10, 1780.

In Captain F. M. Bell's Company, Hale' s Regiment (mustered May 7, 1777).

Daniel Wyman. Elijah Gould. John Seavey.

Ephraim Jones. Samuel French.

James Eastman.

Enlisted at York.

Joseph Sevcrence and Samuel Kinney ; Thomas Perry, enlisted April 12, 1779; discharged April 10, 1780.

" New Levies."

Abel Sargeant, Isaac Foot, Asa Hamblet and Thomas Cutter enlisted June 28, 1780 ; discharged December, 1780.

Aaron Hood, enlisted February 28, 1781. Ezra Carlton, enlisted April 23, 1781. Joseph Marshall, enlisted February 28, 1781. Eliphalet Brown, enlisted April 6, 1781.

Enlisted for Six Months, July, 1781, for N'est Point. Jonathan Farwell.

James Pemberton.

Daniel Pierce.

Timothy Smith.

Abel Sargent.

Enlisted for Six Months May 14, 1782.

Jonathan Farwell.

Daniel Pierce.

James Pemberton. Abel Sargent.

Timothy Smith.

Abel Merrill.

Samuel Brown, Joseph Hobbs and Simeon Butterfield were mustered by C. Frye, June 16, 1782.

- Hardy, enlisted in Captain Mark Wiggins' company, Lang's regi- ment, November 13, 1776.

Upon the "Ticonderoga Alarm," in June, 1777, a company of twenty-four men was raised in Notting- ham West and vicinity, commanded by Captain James Ford, of this town.

They marched as far as Dublin, where an express met them ordering them home. They returned the 5th of July, and the next day were "ordered out again, and went as far as No. 4, where they heard of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and returned."

Captain James Ford commanded Company 3 of Colonel Nichols' regiment at the battle of Benning- ton, August 16, 1777, where he was wounded in both thighs, from which he suffered a lameness through life

Names of other soldiers who are known to have been in the army,-Ebenezer Pollard was at the battle of Bennington ; Seth Cutler enlisted in Stark's regiment May, 1777 ; he was in the battles of Ben- nington, Trenton and Princeton, and several others of less note. Richard Cutter was in the army from June 10, 1778, to January, 1779. John Caldwell, 1776. Timothy Pollard, Gideon Butler, John Camp- bell, Roger Merrill, Jonathan Perry, James Brown, Jonathan Marsh, Theodore Merrill, Robert Bettys, John Haseltine, Jr., William Merrill, Isaac Merrill.

The account of Nottingham West for pay-roll on alarm at Cambridge was fifty-six pounds.

At a town-meeting, October 9, 1777,-

" Voted, to choose Lt. Ezikel Hills, Jno. Caldwell, Jno. Hale, Lt. Wil- liam Merrill and Samnel Wason a committee to set a valuation upon what had been done towards carrying on the present war, and to make report thereof to the Town."

The committee made a report at a meeting, Deeem-' ber 22, 1779,-

"It was put to vote to see if the Town would accept of the report of the committee that was chosen to settle what each man hath done in this Town in this present war.

" Voted in the negative.

"It was put to vote to see if they would accept any part of the report of the above committee.

" Voted in the affirmative."

The report is not recorded, but upon a tax made by the seleetmen, December 29, 1778, " to hire schooling and defray town charges," the following persons, in addition to names already given as soldiers, have credits placed against their names, in most instances the whole amount of their tax.

There is good reason for supposing that a majority of these men, but not all, had been in the army. Some may have been eredited on account of their sons.

Andrew Seavey, Stephen Chase, Jr., Ensign Nathaniel Merrill, John Walker, Benjamin Marshall, John Pollard, Jr., Joseph Winn, Jr., Joshua Chase, Asahel Blodgett, Joseph Blodgett, Justus Dakin, Moses Barrett, Jr., Stephen Hadley, Eliphilet Hadley, Jr., David Glover, Samuel Caldwell, Samuel Wason, James Caldwell, Thomas Caldwell, Nathaniel Haseltine, Thomas Hamblet, George Burns, Jr., John Merrill, William Burns, Samuel Smith, Jr., Page Smith, John Hale, Peter Cross, Isaac Barrett, Caleb Severence, Ensign Elijah Hills, William Hills, David Marsh, Richard Marshall, Thomas Marsh.

476

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Credits were also allowed to many of the same per- sons upon tax-lists made November 8, 1779, and January 19, 1780.

CHAPTER VII.

HUDSON-(Continued).

Hudson in the War of the Rebellion-Names of Hudson Soldiers-Boun- ties Paid by the Town-Drafted Men who Furnished Substitutes- Other Men who Furnished Substitutes-Relief of Soldiers' Families- Soldiers' Aid Society.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 113

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168