USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 141
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How soon he returned is not now positively known, but probably in season to harvest his corn, his family coming with him. He cleared a farm and built a frame house, which is now standing, the oldest in town. It appears, in a few years, that he obtained, by purchase or settlement, a large tract of land in the northwest part of the town, near the Great Meadow, now owned and occupied by George W. Sanders. This land remained in the possession of Smith's de- scendants until within a few years.
The next earliest settlers were Thomas Cochran, Thomas Wilson, James Hunter and James Caldwell in the east part of the town ; William Blair and John Blair in the north; John McAllister in the south; and George Cristy in the west.
Between the years 1742 and 1748 the settlers were all emigrants from Scotch-Irish colonies that first settled in Londonderry, N. H., in the year 1719, excepting John McAllister, who came from Scotland.
The Scotch-Irish settlers were a new element in the population of New England, differing materially in their customs, manners and inside life from the English colonists of New Hampshire, but were not to be classed with the Catholic Irish.
On the death of Elizabeth, the last of the Tudors, James the Sixth, of Scotland, became King of Great Britain, under the title of James the First. The Catholic population of Ireland rebelled against him, but he effectually erushed them in a short time, and then he proceeded to confiscate the estates of the re- bellious chiefs, more particularly those of the O'Donnells and O'Neils in the north of Ireland, granting the lands to his Scotch and English subjects to settle on as crown tenants, at a nominal rent. This stimulated a large emigration from Argyleshire, Scotland, many of whom settled on the river Bon, or became citizens of Londonderry.
Without doubt the English would avail themselves of the same privilege, and when they met those having a common interest in the same religion, they would naturally unite and intermarry, and in two or three generations they would form an admixture of the two nationalities, as is evident from the names of the first settlers in Londonderry, N. H.
In this blending of the Scotch Highlanders with an opportunity to either take his scalp or carry him | the Saxon and Norman there was no intermingling
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of the native Catholic Irish blood, for the most bitter hatred existed on the part of the latter toward the former, as intruders who had usurped their rights, and taken possession of the fairest portions of their country, and were heretics in religion ; the former, as conquerors looked down on the latter as an inferior race, who, as Catholics, had no rights which they were bound to respect, and both parties in after-years gave vent to their implacable animosity in the con- fliets at the siege of Derry and battle of Boyne. This same enmity continues at the present day between the Orangemen, Protestants and the native Irish Catholics.
Other emigrants followed from Londonderry, as the Clarks, Crombies, McColloms, McCurdys and others. but the settlement appears to have progressed slowly until about the year 1760. A census taken by the proprietors from September 20th to the 24th of the year 1756 reported "twenty-six men, eleven women, nine boys and thirteen girls," making a population of fifty-nine persons in all. The same committee re- ported " thirty houses, one dam and one saw and grist- mill, four frames and four camps, one house cut down, with one hundred and forty acres of improved land."
Previous to this date they suffered all the hardships and privations necessarily attendant upon a new settlement, living in log houses a long distance from neighbors, with no roads except a bridle-path through the forests, guided by marked or spotted trees, with the underbrush cut away, so that a horse might pass in summer, but in winter the usual mode of traveling was on snow-shoes. Tradition says that the snow fell to a greater depth in the dense forest than at the present time.
Any utensil, implement or article of household furniture that they could not manufacture had to be brought from the older settlements on the coast, and until they cleared and brought a sufficient amount of land to keep sheep and raise flax, every article of clothing-in fact, every article of textile fabric-was carried from one place to the other on the shoulders of the men.
Salt, an article indispensable to civilized people, had to be transported from Londonderry, a distance of from twenty to twenty-five miles, in the same way.
It is related of an early settler that he went to one of the older towns to purchase some necessary articles, which made quite a package in weight and bulk, and also a bushel of small grain for seed, either of which would make a load for a man; he started with one, and carried that some two or three miles, and then returned for the other, and in that way managed to convey both to his home.
So far as animal food was concerned, it was pro- cured from the forests. The deer remained in limited numbers, and bears were numerous, and as every man owned a gun, they could procure a supply of meat, particularly of the latter, although not as palatable as the deer.
Another source from which to vary their diet was fish, with which the streams and ponds abounded to the degree that in the spring, when the snekers left the ponds for the brooks, in the spawning season , they could throw them out with shovels.
The clearing of the forest required long and per- sistent labor. First came the felling or lopping of the trees, as it was termed. Usually one of two methods were adopted,-either to cut down the trees separately and level the branches, or to cut a large number on one side, so that they would fall in the same direction, and as they fell, one would strike another and so on, carrying the whole down.
The next step after the leaves were dried was to burn it over, and then came the most laborious part of clearing the land,-first, the trunks of the trees must be severed, which was done by cutting or burning (the latter was termed niggering them off), then rolling the logs in piles and burning.
After the seed was sown, it was raked or hoed over to cover it.
In some instances, after burning over, they did not want to clear off the wood, so planted corn between the logs.
The rearing of domestic animals was attended with considerable trouble and anxiety. To protect them from the wolves and bears, every night they were put in a secure pen built of logs, so high that a wolf could not easily get over ; but in one instance a wolf had made his way in, and was found and dispatched in the morning. Bears were voracious and troublesome in the spring, and would attack and kill cattle. All early settler in the northwest part of the town had a cow killed by them. He caused traps to be set near the carcase, one a log, the other a spring-trap, and a bear was caught in each.
The depredations of these same animals in the corn- fields was a source of great annoyance. But with all their privations, hardships and self-denials, the settlers had their pastime and amusements, such as wool- breaking, log-rolling and raisings.
Socially and pecuniarily, they were on an equality, and a friendly feeling pervaded the community.
Churches .- At a meeting of the proprietors, held in Boston December 9, 1738, it was voted to settle an orthodox minister, also to build a meeting-house of the following dimensions : thirty feet wide, forty-five long and twenty feet stud.
The committee was authorized and empowered to agree with some person or persons to build said house as soon as they could, provided they did not exceed the sum of six hundred pounds; that they have power to call upon each proprietor to defray expenses as often as they should think proper.
This house was built on what is now known as " The Plain," nearly south across the highway from the residence of the late Samuel Davis.
According to tradition, it was burned; but there are various theories in regard to the cause. One is, that
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
one of the early settlers set it on fire to procure the nails to build a house for himself.
It is thought the inside of the house was never fin- ished, and it is not probable that meetings were ever held in it, yet there may have been an occasional preaching service during this period.
In 1757 the settlers again expressed a desire for public worship. The proprietors informed them that " preaching could not begin until 1758." It appears by the records that, November 28, 1758, " the proprie- tors agreed to send a letter by John McAllister to Thomas Cochran to convene the settlers, and agree upon a site for the meeting-house and a suitable loca- tion for a public Burying-Place." Lot 79, on the northern slope of the hill, was selected as a desirable spot for the meeting-house.
It also authorized said McAllister and said Coch- ran to sell one hundred acres of land, near Andrew Walker's, to defray expenses.
August 30, 1759, the proprietors met five of the citizens of New Boston at Dunstable, and then and there agreed to send the sentiments of the meeting in writing to the committee, and this committee at some future time warn the people to meet and take decisive action in the matter.
It seems there had been several places selected on which to build, none of which were satisfactory to the settlers.
The proprietors and resident proprietors met at Steinrod's, in Dunstable, and " Voted to build a meet- ing-house, near lot eighty-nine, fifty feet long, forty feet wide and twenty feet stud, boarded and clap- boarded, and shingled with short shingles." " Voted to sell so much of the undivided land in the 'New Addition ' as necessary to defray expenses.' "
The Boston proprietors and settlers of New Boston agreed to refer the location to a committee composed of the following-named gentlemen : Matthew Patten, John Chamberlain, Samuel Patten.
Below is given a report of the committee,-
" To the Proprietors of New Boston :
" GENTLEMEN :
" Pursuant to the vote and desire at the meeting held at Dunstable, in the Province of New Hampshire, the 14th of September, 1762, We, the subscribers, have attended the business therein mentioned at said meet- ing, desiring us to choose a proper place to build a meeting-house in New Boston ; we viewed the place or premises, heard the reasonings of the Proprietors and inhabitants of said town and do report to the said Pro- priety that Lot 79, in the second division and near the centre of said lot, on the south side of Piscataquog River, south of a Red Oak tree marked with letter C, near the grave of a child buried there, is the most proper place or spot to build meeting-house on in town, according to our judg- ment.
" MATTHEW PATTEN. " JOHN CHAMBERLAIN. " SAMUEL PATTEN. " Committee.
"Witness our hand, July 21, 1763."
At a meeting held in Dunstable September 28, 1763, it was voted to accept the report of the com- mittee; this same committee were authorized to engage some suitable person to build said house without de- !
lay. They were still further instructed to sell any unoccupied lands belonging to the proprietors for building meeting-house.
James Halsey, John Hill, Robert Boyes and Thomas Cochran were appointed standing committee of the pro- prietors. September 30, 1766, John Hill and Robert Jenkins were appointed a committee to make a con- tract with Mr. Ebenezer Beard for building the church. The proprietors becoming impatient at Mr. Beard's delay in completing his contract, instructed Thomas Cochran and James Caldwell, provided Beard did not finish said house before July, 1767, to employ suitable workmen to finish the house.
It seems there was a misunderstanding between Beard and the committee in regard to inside finish ; but it was soon settled, as they voted, September 15, 1767, to give Beard one hundred acres of land in the "New Addition," since Beard complained that he had a hard bargain. The proprietors relinquished all right in the gallery to the citizens, providing they would assist in finishing said meeting-house.
One half-pew on the lower floor was given to each original proprietor. The house was now left to the care of the town.
We cannot learn that there was any action taken in regard to the church till the year 1768.
It was a large and noble edifice for those days, be- ing fifty feet long and forty feet wide. There were three doors, the front and largest being towards the south. The high pulpit stood on the north side, with its mysterious sounding-board above.
There were large square pews around the walls of the house, a broad aisle in the centre with pews on either side. The seats were hung with hinges, and as it was considered very irreverent to sit during prayer, these seats were raised to enable them to stand with greater ease; at the conclusion of the prayer the seats were dropped, causing a great disturbance.
The singers' seats were located in the gallery oppo- site the pulpit. There was no way of warming the church, and as the services were very long, the women found it necessary to take what was called a foot-stove. This was a small tin box set in a wooden frame; 'inside was placed a dish for coals.
Not far distant from the church was a building called the session-house, where the deacons held business meetings.
The church was not completed till 1786, though it had been occupied for many years. In 1767 the Rev. Solomon Moor began his labors here.
He was born in Newtown-Limavady, Ireland, 1736, was a graduate at the University of Glasgow in 1758, and was licensed to preach by the Londonderry Presbytery, Ireland, July 26, 1762, and ordained minister-at-large in 1766. He soon started for America, and arrived at Halifax October, 1766, and preached for the first time for the Rev. Mr. Moor; head of Boston, Mass. The following Sabbath he preached for Rev. Mr. Davidson, in Londonderry,
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N. H. In those days the churches were so scattered, and many of the early settlers coming from London- derry, it was but natural that they should turn to their old pastor for advice and assistance in obtaining a minister. Probably through Mr. Davidson's influ- ence, Mr. Moor was induced to visit New Boston and spend a few months with them. Becoming acquainted, they seemed well adapted to each other, and August 25, 1767, the people, with great harmony, gave him the following call :
" We, the inhabitants of the town of New Boston, as sensible of the re- peated instances of the goodness of our kind Benefactor, particularly in smiling npon our new settlement, so that, from a very small, in a few years, are increased to a considerable number, and the wilderness by God's kind influence, is in many places amongst us become a fruitful field, af- fording us a comfortable sustenance; we acknowledge that we are not proprietors of our estates in the sight of God, hut stewards, and therefore they are to be improved for llis honor, the spreading and establishment of his interest ; and being destitute of a fixed pastor, and having longing and earnest inclinations to have one established amongst us, that we may have the gospel mysteries unfolded and ordinances administered amongst us, the appointed means in God's house below, that we and our seed may be disciplined and trained up for his house in glory above. As the kind providence of God has opened such a door by, sir, your coming amongst us, we are led cheerfully to embrace the happy opportunity, being well assured, reverend sir, by unexceptional credentials as to your ministerial abilities to preach the gospel and likewise as to your exemplary life, which gives force to what is preached, as also the suitableness and agreeableness of what you preach to our capacities, we earnestly implor- ing direction from the Being that alone can effectually direct us in such a weiglity and soul-concerning matter, we, with hearts full of well- guided affection, do, in the most hearty manner, invite, call and entreat you, the Rev. Solomon Moor, to undertake the office of a pastor amongst us, and the charge of our souls forced upon your accepting this, our call, as we hope the Lord will move and incline yon so to do, we in a most solemn manner, promise you all dutiful respect, encouragement and obedience in the Lord ; further, as the laborer is worthy of his hire and he that serves at the altar should live by it, as we have nothing but what we have received, we are willing to improve part of our portions in this life that we may be made partakers of the everlasting portion in the life to come, by the blessing of God, under your ministry, and for your encouragement and temporal reward, we promise you yearly forty pounds sterling per annum for the first five years after your instalment, and after that the addition of five pounds more sterling.
"August the 25th, 1767.
"Subscribed by John Smith, Matthew Caldwell, William Caldwell, Jesse Christy, Thomas Cochran, James Ferson, Alexander McCollom, William Clark, James Cochran, William Gray, Abraham Cochran, James Wilson, James Cristy, Alexander Wilson, James Hunter, Alex- ander Graham, Samuel McAllister, Thomas McCollom, Ninian Clark, Peter Cochran, Renben Smith, Hardy Ferson, John Blair, John Coch- ran, Jr., Thomas Cochran, Jr., Alexander Moor, William McNiel, Jr., Thomas Quigely, William Kelsey, John Cochran, William Boyes, Paul Ferson, Jr., Thomas Wilson, William Blair, John McAllister, Ananias McAllister, Robert White, John Burns, Robert Livingston, Nathaniel Cochran, William Livingston, Jolin Gordon."
This call, given by individuals, was adopted and confirmed at a legal meeting held by the town. Mr. Moor did not give a definite answer to this call until July 1, 1768. Tradition has it that Mr. Moor would not agree to settle here until he could gain the consent of a fair lady to share with him the privations and trials incident to a settlement in what was then called in Londonderry "The Woods."
The ministry lots not being near the centre of the towu, the town voted to exchange lot No. 61 for lot No. 53, which had been designed for a school lot, this being only about two miles from the meeting-house.
The people, feeling anxious that Mr. Moor should remain with them, offered to help clear the land, which was then a wilderness, and assist in the erec- tion of a suitable house.
March 7, 1868,-
" Voted, Thomas Cochran, James Ferson, Thomas Quigely, Daniel Me- Millen, William Clark, committee to treat with Rev. Solomon Moor in regard to his settling in New Boston, and in case the said Moor will not stay, to provide preaching some other way the present year."
It would seem that there was doubt in the minds of the people of Mr. Moor's acceptance of the call. He had been with them nearly six months before it was given, and they thought the time had now come for a permanent supply.
Mr. Moor was installed September 6, 1768. It is thought Rev. David McGregor preached the install- ing sermon, and Rev. William Davidson gave the charge to the pastor.
It is not certainly known when the church was or- ganized. By some it is thought to have been the same day of Mr. Moor's installation. There are other reasons to suppose it was formed at a much earlier date. In the proprietor's records we find the names of Deacon Thomas Cochran and Deacon Archibald McMillen previous to Mr. Moor's installa- tion, while there is nothing to show us that they had been deacons in any other church. It would hardly seem reasonable that they, good Christian people, or that their pastors would allow twenty-eight years to pass without an organization.
It is said these ministers watched carefully and tenderly over this flock, and there are many instances recorded where they preached for them gratuitously.
The early records of the church were imperfectly kept, so that it cannot be positively known when the church was formed, but probably many years pre- vious to Mr. Moor's installation.
Mr. Moor commenced his labors in this place, then a wilderness, with a strong desire and purpose for a great ingathering of souls. He was supported and aided in his work by the session, which, in the year 1768, was composed of Mr. Moor, pastor; Thomas Cochran, James Ferson, John Smith, Archibald McMillen, Jesse Cristy and Robert White, deacons.
July 16, 1770, Mr. Moor took unto himself a wife, the daughter of Rev. Mr. Davidson. The young couple started immediately for their new home on horseback, accompanied by many of Mrs. Moor's friends. On their way they were met by a delegation of their parishioners ; enough of the friends were left at home to have all in order when they should arrive.
The people were delighted to welcome this youth- ful bride of only twenty years, and so great was their joy and love for her that she was borne in the arms of these Scotch women from her steed to her cham- ber, and in like manner to the reception-room, where she was greeted by men and women of all ages, each anxious to pay her homage.
Thus commenced the ministry of this great and
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
good man. He was a friend to the poor, spoke words of comfort to the mourning, was charitable towards all; in a few words, he had all the requisites neces- sary for a true minister of the gospel. He lived among this people thirty-four years, and was loved and respected by all. He died May 28, 1803, aged sixty-seven years.
Mrs. Moor lived to the good old age of ninety-six years.
The children of Mr. Moor were Mary, Witter D., Frances, Ann, John and Elizabeth.
Mary married Samuel Cochran, of Londonderry. Witter died when young. Frances married Captain John Smith, of Goffstown; she died May 7, 1807. Ann died unmarried November 23, 1859, aged eighty- one. John married Mehitabel Ray, of Mont Ver- non. Elizabeth Cummings was married to James McCurdy, March, 1813, and lived in New Boston until her death.
Mr. Moor was succeeded by Rev. E. P. Bradford, whose pastorate with Mr. Moor's fill a space of eighty years.
The children have not followed the example of their fathers, as will be seen.
The next to follow Mr. Bradford was Rev. E. M. Kellogg. May 5, 1846, he received a call from the church, which was accepted, and he remained as pastor of this people until April, 1852. He is now living in Manchester, N. H., having retired from his profession many years since on account of failing health.
Rev. Alanson Rawson then supplied the pulpit for about two years, but refused to be installed on the ground of impaired health.
Rev. E. C. Cogswell began his labors October 30, 1855. Aside from a faithful and efficient ministry, Mr. Cogswell will be long and gratefully remembered for his labors in compiling and writing the " History of : high. New Boston." He was dismissed November 1, 1865.
Rev. D. C. Frink was installed by the Londonderry Presbytery November 25, 1866, and remained pastor of this church until his death, which occurred June 21,1871.
Rev. William C. Bessom was the next settled pastor. He was installed by the Londonderry Presbytery in 1872, and was dismissed in 1873.
After the dismissal of Mr. Bessom there was no settled minister until October 16, 1879, when Rev. Frank II. Allen was ordained and installed. He closed his labors in April, 1882.
In 1874, by a donation of two thousand dollars from George W. McCollom, Esq., of New York, a neat and commodious chapel was built for the use of the Presbyterian Society.
History of the Baptist Church .- From records which have been consulted, reaching back about nine- ty-five years, it appears that the Baptist Church in New Boston took its origin from one previously ex- isting in Amherst, and entirely distinct from the pres-
ent church in Amherst. The Amherst Church was organized December 6, 1787, and consisted of persons residing in New Boston and in those parts of Amherst which were subsequently formed into Mont Vernon and Milford, few or none residing in what is now called Amherst. In the course, however, of twelve years it had become so diminished in numbers as to afford little hope that the enterprise would be per- manently successful. In the mean time several persons in New Boston had made a public profession of reli- gion, and united with the church in Weare. Rev. Mr. Elliott, of Mason, also baptized fourteen persons in the town on the 4th of October, 1799, though at the time they united with no church. In view, therefore, of the number of Baptist professors that were resident in New Boston, it was mutually agreed, by members of the church both in Amherst and New Boston, at a meeting holden at John Whipple's, in New Boston, November 23, 1799, that the Amherst Church should in future be known by the name of " The First Cal- vinistic Baptist Church in Amherst and New Bos- ton." Whereupon those persons who had lately been baptized, and those who had joined at Weare, united with this church, whose number was also increased, during the year 1800, by the additition of nineteen others.
In the year 1801, Rev. Josiah Stone commenced his labors with this church, and in this and the three succeeding years fourteen persons were added to its fellowship. In 1804 the church, by the advice of council, took the name of "The Calvinistic Baptist Church in New Boston." The same year the church agreed upon the erection of a meeting-house, which was completed the following year. This house was located in the westerly part of the town, three miles from the present place of worship. Its dimen- sions were forty by thirty-two feet, and one story
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