USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of Hudson, N.H., formerly a part of Dunstable, Mass., 1673-1733, Nottingham, Mass., 1733-1741, District of Nottingham, 1741-1746, Nottingham West, N.H., 1746-1830, Hudson, N.H., 1830-1912 > Part 16
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The Presbyterians gained ground in their protests, and on September 25, 1764, it was voted to excuse them from being obliged to pay towards the support of the Rev.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE
Mr. Merrill, "this present year," and when it was tried to reconsider this action at the next town meeting November 19, the effort failed. But March 31, 1766, when an at- tempt was made to exempt "those persons who are of the Presbyterian persuasion" from helping to support the Congregational minister for the years 1762, as assessed. "It was then put to vote to see if the Town would raise £20 lawful money to pursue the affair of their being pros- ecuted by the constable for their rates at the next Inferior Court. . Voted in the Negative."
April 21, 1766, an attempt was made to choose a com- mittee to treat with Captain Page, James Wason and James Caldwell in regard to the payment of their minister's rate for 1762, but this effort failed. October 27, "It was put to vote to see if the Town would raise any money to enable the selectmen for the year 1762, to defend and carry on a law suit, commenced and carried on by Capt. Abraham Page and James Wason against said selectmen, or settling the same in law. .
Voted in the Negative."
February 24, 1767, Capt. Abraham Page, moderator, the question was again before the voters to see if they would vote to raise money to defray the charges of Samuel Greeley, Ephraim Cummings and Capt. Samuel Marsh, the selectmen who had answered Capt. Abraham Page and Mr. James Wason in their suit against the town, relative to their minister's rates. It was voted in the negative. Neither would the town vote to raise any sum of money to continue the suit.
Here the matter rested until October 9, 1769, when it was voted to excuse "those persons that are Presbyterians and attend upon that order from being rated to the minis- ter's rate in this town." This victory was made more com- plete October 2, 1770, when the minister's rate for 1768 of Capt. Abraham Page, Asa Davis, James Wason and Robert Stewart was abated. There was an article in the warrant at this town meeting,
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
To see if the Town will pass a vote to have but one sermon per day from the first of December to the last of February this present year.
The article was dismissed.
The last day of the same year the town voted to pay back to Captain Page and James Wason their minister's rates for 1767 and their charges, these gentlemen having threatened to sue the town for the same. It was also voted at this same meeting to abate Robert Stewart's minister's rates for 1767. The following persons were dismissed from paying a minister's tax for that year: Capt. Abraham Page, James Wason, Asa Davis, Timothy Emerson, Sam- uel Wason, Robert Stewart, Robert Glover, Nehemiah Hadley, Thomas Wason, Simeon Eayrs, Joseph Wilson, excepting one head to Timothy Emerson.
At the annual town meeting March 12, 1771, the war- rant contained an article,
To see if the Town will vote to pay Mr. Ephraim Cummings the ex- traordinary charge he was at in carrying on a Law suit at court upon a review of a cause with Capt. Abraham Page in ye Towns behalf.
The article was dismissed by a vote of those present.
This year the Presbyterians built a house of worship for themselves, and in Vol. 43, page 32, of Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds, is the following description of the land purchased for the site of this meeting-house:
Know all men by these presents that I Henry Hale of Nottingham West, in the Province of New Hampshire in New England, Husband- man : In consideration of two pounds lawful money to me in hand paid before the delivery hereof by Capt. Abraham Page, David Peabody, Hugh Smith, Joseph Wilson and Asa Davis of Nottingham West, and Province aforesaid, appointed a committee for building a meeting house on said premises, have given, granted, bargained and sold, and do by these pres- ents give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, and fully, freely and absolutely convey and confirm unto them, the Said Capt. Page, Peabody, Smith, Wilson, Davis, their heirs and assigns forever : a certain piece of land in Notting- ham West, containing about twenty-three square rods bounded as follow- eth : Viz :- Beginning at a stake and stones by the Town road : thence North-easterly by said road thirteen rods to a stake and stones: and thence West 13 degrees South ten rods to a stake and stones, and from thence South five rods to the bound first mentioned.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE
. To Have and to hold.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fif- teenth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy.
(Signed) HENRY HALE [SEAL]
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of
HENRY HALE, JR.
Her ELIZABETH X Mark
HALE
The meeting-house erected upon the foregoing lot, was built in 1771, and it stood very near the spot now occupied by the Hudson Town House. It was a building about 50 feet long and 30 feet wide. The pulpit was at the north side, about the middle. It was quite high and was ap- proached by stairs. There was a large sounding board over the pulpit. The house had two rows of windows, and a gallery on three sides, the east, south and west. The front door was opposite the pulpit, and the broad aisle extended from one to the other. Alleys led from this broad aisle in each direction and around the outside of the body of pews.
The pews were nearly square, with seats on three sides. During prayer, as well as singing, the people were always expected to rise and stand. Then they would turn up the seats, which would make a great noise all over the room. The noise would be repeated with greater intensity when the seats were turned down at the close of the ser- vice. Two seats were arranged for the deacons and elders, directly in front and near the pulpit, where these officers sat facing the audience.
The gallery was quite broad and built on an incline. To reach the gallery there was a porch at the center of each end, large enough to contain the stairs, which were constructed in the porches, and thus saved much room in the body of the house, as well as in the gallery. The sing- ers sat in that part of the gallery opposite the pulpit.
The North meeting-house had no bell or belfry, and was never painted. It had no chimney, and of course there
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
was no way of heating the building. Many of the women, during the cold weather, carried foot stoves with coals in them for heat. They would sometimes replenish them at a neighbor's house during the intermission hour at noon. Sometimes, in a very cold day, the minister would preach with "great" coat and mittens on. Stoves were introduced about 1830.
The services in those days consisted of two sermons of at least an hour's duration each, with singing several times, and three or four long prayers, which, with the noon intermission, consumed four or five hours of time.
It is related that at the raising of the frame of the North meeting-house, a man by the name of Campbell fell from one of the plates to the ground and was rendered un. conscious. He was carried to the house of Deacon Henry Hale, which was later the old Reuben Greeley place, a part of the house now standing. A sheep was immediately killed and the hide removed as quickly as possible, and the injured man was wrapped closely in the hide, flesh side in. But this treatment did no good, and he lived only a short time. This incident was told by the writer's grandmother, Sarah Hale, granddaughter of Dea. Henry Hale, born April 20, 1767, and who married Eleazer Cummings.
The Rev. John Strickland was probably the first Pres- byterian minister to preach in the new house, built in 1771, but the exact date at which he came to town is not known. But the town records show that he was paid a salary by his parishioners in 1773. He was ordained and settled over the Presbyterian church July 3, 1774, and he contin- ued in that position for more than ten years, when he was dismissed in 1785, and he removed from town.
The matter of minister's tax was still a mooted ques- tion in affairs of the town, and at a meeting about three years after the North meeting-house was built by the Pres- byterians, the following action was taken by the town :
Voted that all the Inhabitants of this Town that are not assessed to the Presbyterians should be proportionately assessed so much as they, the
From Photo by C. E. PAINE
HUDSON TOWN HOUSE, 1857
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THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE
said Presbyterians paid to Mr. Strickland in ye year 1773. Towards com- pleting the sum of two hundred dollars to the Rev. Mr. Merrill, and what shall be wanting when said assessment is made, to complete said sum, then to be assessed in equal proportion upon the whole town.
Voted in the affirmative.
In March, 1778, about 4,600 acres of the southerly part of Londonderry was annexed to Nottingham West, and the residents upon these lands became citizens of the latter town. They numbered more than thirty families, the majority of whom were Presbyterians, and had given material aid in the building of the North meeting-house, and support of its pastor.
The last town meeting held at the second Congrega- tional meeting-house was on March 30, 1778. The suc- ceeding meeting, held June 24, 1778, was at the house of James Pemberton, who lived near by. After that the town meetings were held at the North meeting-house until 1780, when, for that year and 1781, a part of them were called at the house of Samuel Greeley, "Innholder." May 13, 1782,
Voted to have half of the town meetings this year at the house of Timothy Smith.
A similar vote was passed March 16, 1784.
There is no record to show that the town raised any money for preaching from the time of the final settlement with Mr. Merrill in 1774, until March 5, 1787, when it was voted to raise sixty pounds for that purpose, and that twenty-five of it should be paid to Mr. Merrill, and the bal- ance to be laid out at the North meeting-house, and that the selectmen be a committee to procure preaching ac- cordingly.
Henry Hale, who sold the lot for the North meeting- house, lived on the Greeley place at what is now Hudson Center. He owned a large tract of land in that vicinity, was deacon of the Congregational church, and prominent in the town's affairs.
It does not appear upon the town records that the Presbyterians alone ever employed a minister of their own
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
denomination in this town after the dismissal of Mr. Strick- land, until after the two churches were united in 1816.
In each of the years of 1787 and 1788, the town "Vot- ed to raise £60 for preaching this year, and that £25 of it be paid to Mr. Merrill and £35 to be laid out at the North meeting-house." A committee was chosen to secure preaching.
Again the matter of location of a meeting-house be- came a paramount question, and at a town meeting Decem- ber 15, 1788, the fourth article in the warrant read:
To see if the Town can agree upon a place or places for the meeting house to stand on in order for the Public Worship of God.
A committee of ten persons was chosen to take this matter into consideration and report at the next annual meeting in March. This committee consisted of Mr. Moses Johnson, Capt. William Burns, Dea. Isaac Merrill, Maj. James Ford, Capt. David Cummings, Capt. David Peabody, Ens. David Lawrence, Lieut. Thomas Smith, Mr. Daniel Marshall and Ens. Isaac Barrett.
This committee reported at an adjourned meeting on April 6, 1789, and this report was accepted.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO LOCATE A MEETING HOUSE.
The Committee chosen by the Town to agree upon ye place or places for the meeting house or houses to stand on, beg leave to report :- That they have carefully searched for ye center of ye Town and find it half a mile and twenty rods in a straight line and Southardly pinte distant from the North meeting house,-and we consider the present situation and cir- cumstances of the Town. We judge that the North meeting house place is at present the most convenient place, and we considering the disadvan- tage that a number of the inhabitants of the lower end of the Town are under by reason of the great distance they are from meeting that one fifth part of the preaching may be at the lower end Meeting house the present year.
Nottingham West April 6, 1789.
DAVID LAWRENCE, DAVID CUMMINGS, THOMAS SMITH, ISAAC BARRET
DAVID PEABODY, MOSES JOHNSON, WILLIAM BURNS, ISAAC MERRILL.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE
It will be remembered that this was after the annexa- tion of a large tract of land with its inhabitants from the south part of Londonderry in 1778, which shifted the cen- ter of the town north nearly one and a half miles.
The same amount of money was paid this year for preaching as had been raised in previous years, £25 to be paid to Mr. Merrill, and £35 to hire preaching on proba- tion, one-fifth of the latter sum to be sent to the south part of the town. George Burns, Page Smith, Capt. David Cummings, Ens. David Lawrence and Lieut. Ezekiel Hills were chosen a committee to attend to the settlement of this matter.
January 18, 1790, it was voted
That the committee chosen last March to hire preaching for this year agree with Mr. Scribner to preach out the money that was voted last March for preaching, what is behind.
Voted and chose Capt. David Cummings Clerk to set the psalm at the North meeting house.
Voted Moses Hadley Assistant Clerk.
Voted and chose Mr. George Burroughs to read the psalm at the North meeting house. . And Voted and chose Elder Samuel French Assistant.
At a meeting March 1, 1790, it was voted not to raise any money to pay for preaching. Four weeks later, the 29th of March, another meeting was held, at which it was put to vote "to see if the Town will meet at the center of travel that was found by the committee chosen Decem- ber 15, 1778." This was not carried, but the town voted to meet at the North meeting-house.
"Voted to choose a committee of five to agree with the proprietors of the house, to see how they can procure said house and make their report on the adjournment of said meeting."
Dea. Isaac Merrill, Page Smith, Timothy Smith, Ens. Isaac Barrett and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were selected to serve on this committee, when the meeting adjourned to April 12, at 2 o'clock P. M. At this meeting the commit- tee made the following report :
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF NORTH MEETING HOUSE.
We the subscribers being a committee chosen by the Town of Not- tingham West on the 29 day of March, 1790, to agree with the proprie- tors of the North meeting house in said Town. We have proceeded ac- cordingly and agreed, that said Town of Nottingham West give good se- curity to the said proprietors of seventy pounds lawful money, to be paid in one year from the date hereof.
And that the said proprietors give a good title to the said meeting house, and the land Deacon Henry Hale gave a deed of to said proprie- tors to set said house on, to the said Town of Nottingham West.
Nottingham West April 12, 1790. TIMOTHY SMITH, PAGE SMITH SAMUEL MARSH Committee.
While this report was accepted, and the committee was continued to effect the termination of the transaction and obtain a title, for some reason, which the records do not disclose, the purchase was delayed.
At this meeting it was "Voted to raise £25 for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill.
CHAPTER XVIII
SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY
Five years of unsettled action in religious circles fol- lowed, during which the town records frequently speak of attempts to satisfy the citizens scattered over a sparsely settled community, and of efforts to obtain regular preach- ers. May 31, 1790, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Matthew Scribner, but at an adjourned meeting this action was reconsidered. A few days later, June 21, twenty pounds was voted to hire a minister on probation, and a committee was chosen to carry this into effect. December 30, ten pounds more was raised, and it was voted "the committee agree with Mr. Parrish to preach it out if he can be had."
March 7, 1791, thirty pounds was voted to be paid some candidate, and April 11, it was the voice of the meet- ing that a call be extended to Mr. Ariel Parrish to settle in town, and that eighty pounds be paid him yearly "so long as he shall continue a Gospel minister in this town." Evi- dently this was not considered a sufficient inducement, for the next section contains the following record:
Voted to give the said Parrish £120 as a settlement in the ministry in this Town to be paid as follows. Viz £60 to be paid in one year, and £60 in two years after he shall be settled in town.
Voted that six Sabbaths of the preaching be allowed at the south meeting house, or in that proportion of what preaching shall be hired yearly.
For some reason Mr. Parrish did not accept the offer, though he preached in town occasionally.
December 20, Rev. Matthew Scribner was given a call, and a salary of eighty pounds yearly and thirty pounds at settlement was offered him, but he declined to come, or at least he was not settled.
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
At this meeting it was voted to raise forty pounds to repair the North meeting-house, and Joseph B. Wilson, Page Smith and Henry Hale were made a committee to superintend the work.
At a town meeting May 7, 1792, an article in the war- rant to see if the town would vote to give the Rev. John Strickland a call was dismissed, but June 4, fifteen pounds was voted to hire preaching. November 12, forty-five pounds was raised for preaching, and September 23, 1793, sixty pounds was voted for the same purpose, but no min- ister was designated. August 25, 1794, sixty pounds was again voted, and December 8, it was "Voted to hire Mr. Thompson four sabbaths more."
August 24, 1795, twenty pounds was the sum fixed to pay for preaching, and Mr. Foster was the choice for a minister. On December 14, it was voted to extend a call to Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to settle in the town, forty-seven voting in the affirmative, and apparently outnumbering the opposition. As a settlement in the ministry he was voted $400, and $270 a year "so long as he is able to perform the ministry in this town." Then it was
Voted to raise £60 to hire preaching and that the selectmen be a committee to lay it out.
Nottingham West, Dec. 14, 1795.
We whose names are underwritten are informed that said town of Nottingham West are about voting to give Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher a call to settle in the ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order, we do detest against paying any part of his settlement or salary, or money that is voted to support that order, as we profess to be of a different pro- fession, and pray that this detest may be entered on the Town Book of Records in said town.
Hugh Smith, Jr.
John Heseltine
David Cummings Jr.
David Cummings
Samuel Ditson Moses Wason
Robert Douglass
Samuel Caldwell Asa Davis Mansfield Smith John Caldwell Henry Hale
John Smith Jr.
Robert Stewart
Thomas Senter
Nathaniel Haselton
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SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY
David Glover
Thomas Senter Jr.
Samson Kidder
Isaac Marshall
Wilder Greeley
Samuel Hills
Moses Greeley
Ebenezer Wood
Reuben Sargent
Eliphalet Hills
Zaccheus Greeley
Aaron Tarbox
Peter Robinson
William Steele
David Hollis
James Smith
Cochran Patten
David Peabody
Isaac Page
Philip Marshall
Benjamin Kidder
John Smith
Thomas Hills
Alexander Caldwell
Thomas Wason
Samuel Wason
Samuel Smith
James Caldwell
Joseph Hobbs
Josiah Merrill
Hugh Smith
Jonathan Tenney
Joseph Steele
Thomas Smith
Samuel S. Smith
Seth Wyman
Joseph Caldwell
Forty-seven voted in favor of settling Mr. Fisher and fifty-three protested against it.
January 11, 1796, in spite of the above unmistakable opposition it was-
Voted to accept Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher's answer to the call given him by this town to settle in the ministry in said town as follows, Viz.
Nottingham West Jan. 11, 1796.
"To the church of Christ in, and inhabitants of Not- tingham West.
"Bretheren and fellow citizens:
"Having received a call from you to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry, and having looked to God for light and direction for the way in which to give my an- swer to you, I feel it my duty to give you an affirmative answer and do give you an affirmative answer accordingly, on the following considerations Viz: Instead of what you have offered me for settlement and salary, you give me three hundred and ten dollars yearly and every year until I request you to give me two hundred and seventy dollars and twenty cords of hard fire wood yearly, instead of the three hundred and ten dollars, and when requested then to give the said two hundred and seventy dollars and twenty
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
cords of hard fire wood yearly & every year instead of said three hundred and ten dollars.
"This support to be given me as ye manner first point- ed out from the time of ordination until the connection be- tween me and you, as pastor and people be dissolved and no longer.
"When two thirds of the church shall request the pas- tor to take a dismission he is to take one in a short time after being thus requested. When the pastor shall request a dismission he is to have one in a short time after request- ing it.
"It is however to be understood yt a dismission is not actually to take place upon being requested by either party without a mutual council being called to give advice. Should a dismission take place in consequence of being re- quested by church or pastor, it is to take place on the first Thursday of June, and the request shall be made at least ten months preceding ye said first Thursday of June.
"In case the pastor do anything by which in the opin- ion of a ministerial council he forfeit his ministerial char- acter, the time of dismission is to be fixed upon by a min- isterial council.
"The pastor is to be allowed the privilege of being absent three Sabbaths in a year without being under obli- gation to supply the pulpit the said three Sabbaths, and he is to enjoy the privilege so long as he continues ye pastor of ye church and people of Christ in this place.
"Bretheren and fellow citizens; I wish you grace, mercy and peace.
"JABEZ POND FISHER."
Voted and accepted.
Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Thomas Marsh, Moses Johnson, Joshua Pierce, Col. James Ford, John Gilson, Capt. John Pollard and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were chosen a committee "with Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to consult on ways and measures for his ordination."
Nottingham West Feb. 19, 1796.
We whose names are underwritten are informed that the said town of Nottingham West are about settling Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher in the ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order. We do protest pay- ing any part of his salary or any money relating thereunto, as we profess
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SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY
to be of a different persuasion, and pray that this protest may be entered on the Town Book of Records in said town.
Ashael Blodgett, Abraham Page, Jonathan X Blodgett, Phineas mark his W. Blodgett, Joseph Blodgett Jr., Mansfield Huey, David Campbell, Sam- uel Richardson, John Tallant, Page Smith, William Gibson, Robert Glover, Eliphalet Hadley, Elnathan Searles, Gideon Butler.
These fifteen Protestants added to the former fifty- three made sixty-eight opposed to settling Mr. Fisher. Still the minister was ordained, as witness the following action at a town meeting held September 12, 1796, when it was "Put to vote to see if the town would allow Joseph Greeley $30 for entertaining the council for ordination."
Voted in the Negative.
This was the continuation of a protracted and bitter op- position between two or more factions dominating the af- fairs of the town. January 5, 1797, a committee consisting of Dea. Isaac Merrill, Captain John Pollard and Joseph Greeley were chosen to consider the matter of getting pos- session of the North meeting-house. But this came to naught, and July 31, another attempt of the kind failed. October 30, it was
Voted to dismiss all those who have regularly joined either the Pres- byterian or Baptist society, from paying taxes to the support of Rev. Mr. Fisher.
At this same meeting it was "Voted to allow Dea. Isaac Merrill's account for the funeral charges of Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Merrill, amounting to seven dollars and eighty- two cents, and pay for a coffin the price not known."
November 27, another effort to get a vote to build a new meeting-house did not succeed, and again March 5, 1798, an article in the warrant for the annual meeting to see if the town would build a meeting-house "to stand near Mr. William Gibson's house,* or otherwise to stand on the
* The site of the house of William Gibson was probably the same as now occupied by that of J. Frank Harvey.
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HISTORY OF HUDSON
south side of Mr. Henry Hale's field, against the road that comes from Mr. William Gibson's, and that each denomi- nation shall have the use of said house their proportionate part of the time according to what they pay towards build- ing the same," was dismissed.
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