USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 77
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The present incumbent, Rev. Samuel C. Bartlett, was installed November 3, 1852 ; sermon by Rev. N. Lord, D. D. The salary was, in March 1854, by spontaneous and unanimous vote of the society raised to $1200.
From the formation of the church the number of members received by pro- fession is 105, and by letter 262. Present number of members 246. No po- erfui revivals have been enjoyed. The means of grace, however, have been accompanied by occasional influences of the Divine Spirit. In the year 1850, 25 individuals were received to the church by profesion. During the year ending July 3, 1854, 21 were added in l.ke manner, nearly all being members of the Sabbath School.
The first place of worship was the Town Hall. In ten weeks the hall was burnt ; and the congregation temporarily occupied a small ckaper now standing on Central street ; thea Patten's hall ; and subsequently the new City Hall. The project of erecting a house of worship, which was contemplated from the beginning, began to be seriously agitated in 1846. Subscriptions to the amount of $2900, were raised to commence the effort. A lot of land on Franklin st. was given to the society by the liberality of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. A plan was prepared by a committee, in consultation with Mr. Bond, an ar- chitect of Boston. The house was commenced early in 1847, and dedicated December 22nd of the same year. Sermon by the pastor, Rev. H. M. Dexter. ' It is a neat edifice of brick, measuring ninety feet by seventy, with an audi- ence room capable of seating 1050 persons. The basement contains a large lecture room, a smaller one, and a third room fitted up for committee meetings sewing circles and similar purposes. The house and fixtures cost about $12,- 000 ; besides the organ, built by Simmons of Boston, at a cost of $1900 more .*
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH .- REV. F. W. STRAIGHT.
This church and society commenced holding meetings in Manchester in a school house the last of the year 1838. Mr. Gilmore Smith obtained the services of Elder Lemuel Whi- ting who came from Lowell once in two weeks, and preached several months.
Sept., 1839, Rev. J. L. Sinclair came to this town-com- menced holding meetings and soon gathered a little church around him, which became the foundation of the present exist- ing society. Without accommodations for church worship, they commenced and soon completed a small hall on Concord street, for that purpose.
November 14, 1839, the little company met at their hall to take into consideration the propriety of organizing themselves into a church. They had previously applied abroad for min- isterial aid, which being deferred they thought best to delay no longer. Accordingly, appointed Brother John L. Sinclair, chairman. After prayer and consultation, voted :
1, We believe it will be for the good of our fellow-men and the glory of God to organize a church of our faith and order in this place.
2, We we will therefore now proceed to organize a church to be known as he First Free Will Baptist Church in Manchester. 50
*N. H. Churches.
C
734
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
John L. Sinclair, Leonard Jackson, and Nehemiah Chase, were appointed a committee to obtain articles of faith, and rules for church adoption.
November 16, met according to adjournment. After prayer heard committee's report. Accepted their church covenant and regulations. The following officers were unanimously chosen :
Rev. John L. Sinclair, Pastor.
Daniel Haines, Deacon.
David Ricker, Clerk.
Five men and nineteen women united together to form this infant church. But this little band soon increased from 24 to 112 members, and the audience becoming too large for their straightened accommodations, measures were taken to erect a house of worship. But the church was poor-society small- place new, with few inhabitants, and many things seemed against the man who should step forward to undertake this work. But John L. Sinclair was not the man to give back for trifles, but facing difficulties and shouldering the responsi- bilities with his little company, he entered courageously upon the work.
January, 1842, a deed of a beautiful lot on the corner of Merrimack and Chestnut streets 100 by 120, was kindly given by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, on which a plain, substantial wooden house 50 feet by 87 was erected the same year.
In January, 1843, the house was dedicated to the worship of God, and which worship has been ever since constantly main- tained. The house cost some over six thousand dollars.
January 1843, Rev. J. L. Sinclair resigned the pastoral charge and was succeeded by Rev. D. P .. Cilley. Under his arduous and successful labors hundreds united with the church. The Sabbath School increased to 300 or more. Two sewing- circles were in successful operation, and $150 were raised an- nually for home and foreign purposes. Twelve hundred dol- lars were paid on the original debt, besides interest and current expenses, and the number of the church increased to 350.
April 1, 1850, Rev. D. P. Cilley resigned his charge and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph B. Davis from Providence. The sewing circles still continue in a prosperous condition, raising from $50 to $150 annually each. The Sabbath School num- bered in July 1853, 555.
During 1851, and '52 four hundred dollars were expended in repairs on the house and some fifteen hundred dollars were paid on the original debt. Two hundred dollars were raised
735
SECOND M. E. SOCIETY.
annually by the church and society for Home and Foreign Missions. During the two years ending with 1853 over 100 members were added to the church. In the fall of 1955 Rev. Mr. Davis left to take charge of a society in Lowell, and was succeeded by Rev. F. W. Straight, October 1, 1855. Since his connection with the church and society 100 memt ers have been added to the church. The Sabbath School numbers about one hundred. Silas Hamilton, Superintendent.
SECOND M. E. SOCIETY .- REV. H. H. HARTWELL. .
The Second Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized in Manchester on the 16th of December, 1839. Different minis- ters had preached occasionally, till the society was organized.
In June, 1840, Rev. John Jones, according to the Episcopal usage of this denomination was "Appointed" pastor, and re- mained one year, laboring with great acceptability and success. This year, they built a chapel on the corner of Hanover and Chestnut streets. In 1841, Rev. Silas Green became pastor, and under his direction they continued to enjoy prosperity.
In 1842, Rev. Elisha Scott had the pastoral charge. Such was the growth of the place and the increase of the congrega- tion, that their house became too small for them ; and they pro- ceeded to erect the commodious brick church on Elm street, at a cost of $16,000.
In 1843, Rev. James W. Mowry succeeded Mr. Scott, and remained two years.
The following is a list of the preachers, and the order in which they came ; .
1845, Rev. Osmon C. Baker,
1846, John Jones,
1847.
1S48,
Samuel Kelley,
1849,
Lorenzo D. Barrows,
1850,
Charles N. Smith.
1851, 66 Silas Quimby,
1852, Justin Spaulding,
1853, Elisha Adams,
1854, 66
During these successive years, this church has been doing her part in all departments of the great christian reform. She has contributed liberally for the support of her ministry, and
736
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
for the promotion of all the other benevolent enterprises of the times.
In 1855, Rev. Henry H. Hartwell, (the present pastor) com- menced his labors with this church. The past has been as prosperous a year as they have ever seen.
Mr. H. reports at the close of his first year, (May, 1856) as follows :
Church members, and those eligible to be received, 440.
1 Sunday School, 47 officers and Teachers, 485 scholars, and 825 volumes in the Library.
During the past year the society has raised for religious pur- poses, more than $3000. It is estimated that this church ex- erts a direct influence, to a less or greater extent, upon about 1600 of the population of this city and immediate vicinity.
The society formerly raised funds to meet their current ex- penses by voluntary subscriptions, ; but they have now com- menced renting their pews, and hope from the proceeds to pay all incidental expenses. From present appearances, the experi- ment will be completely successful.
CATHOLIC SOCIETY .- Rev. WM. MCDONALD.
In July, A. D. 1844, Rev. William Mc Donald came to Man- chester for the purpose of organizing the Catholics of this city. At that time they numbered about six hundred, and during the subsequent year they worshiped at Granite Hall. In the meall- time their pastor bought a large lot on the corner of Merrimack and Union streets, for which he paid twelve hundred dollars, and commenced to build a church thereon in May 1849. When they began to worship in this church, their number much in- creased, and their religious wants seemed to be removed ; but to their disappointment and astonishment, the church proved defective and in a short time became unsafe to congregate in. They were therefore obliged to take it down and re-build it. In re-building they re-modeled it, and doing so they have very much improved its style, and have made it-at least internally -the most beautiful church in the State. They also intend to improve it externally by building a tower, &c. The ex- pense of building and re-building has cost the society twenty- three thousand dollars, the most of which is paid.
Each year witnessed an increase of their members. so that the church, notwithstanding it can seat twelve hundred people, is quite insufficient to accommodate the worshippers. In order
737
CATHOLIC SOCIETY.
to give all an opportunity of frequenting church on the Sab- bath, they have two services each Sabbath forenoon. At pre- sent they number about three hundred, many of whom are not of course communicants, or, as they say, practical catho- lics. However, it must be admitted that as a whole they con- duct themselves well-that certainly the majority of them are good and useful citizens and should therefore command our re- spect-nay, our admiration when we take into account their condition and circumstances. They have to pay the strictest attention to the religious training of their children. Of this their Sabbath School bears evidence as it contains on an aver- age about 400 scholars. To secure the punctual attendance of their children, they have a well organized society which sub- scribes a large amount annually to procure clothing for the des- titute, and alleviate the wants of their poorer brethren, thus diminishing the chances of pauperism and of taxation. As a religious society they have gone ou very harmoniously. They and their minister have been uninterruptedly united for these last eight years. The above narrative is a proof of this, as well as the following particulars. They bought in 1853, eighteen
thousand feet of land and have built them a beautiful parson- age-house, which must have cost five or six thousand dollars, and for all this too they have paid. And last year they pur- chased a large lot on Laurel street, south of the church, for the purpose of erecting a spacious brick building for a Select School. This house is to be built immediately, at a cost of some six or eight thousand dollars. Moreover they have a
cemetery within the limits of the city, well located, containing ten acres, very suitable for such a purpose. Now all these well planned and executed efforts, display unusual energy, when it is known that they have been accomplished within the short period of eight years-efforts pregnant with much useful in- struction to our readers, as they must be with much laudable pride to their performers. Certainly our Catholic community deserve well of our citizens for contributing their share of or- namental buildings to our young city, and for their rapid ap- proximation to American frugality and New England industry.
ELM STREET BAPTIST CHURCH .- REV. J. M. COBURN.
October 27, 1845, thirty seven members of the first Baptist Church were dismissed to form a new church and society. They were recognized as a church by a Council Dec. 3d, 1845. The sermon of recognition was preached by Dr. E. E. Cum-
738
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
mings of Concord ; Hand of Fellowship by Rev. B. Brierly of the First Baptist Church ; Address to the Church and Congre- gation by Rev. D. D. Pratt of Nashua.
The Church first met in Classic Hall with Rev. A. T. Foss as their minister. After several months they removed to Tem- ple Hall previously occupied by the Second Congregational Church. Mr. Foss, resigned the pastoral charge of the church July 11, 1847. December following Rev. J. C. Morrill became their pastor and remained with them till July, 1849.
During Mr. Morrill's pastorate they worshiped for a short time in a chapel on Central Street, thence they removed to the City Hall where they continued till Feb. 22, 1849, when they removed to their present place of worship on Elm street, after which by a unanimous vote of the church and by legal measures they were incorporated under the name of the Elm St. Baptist church.
Their next minister, was Rev. O. O. Stearns, who labored with them, not quite a year, and was succeeded Jan., 1851, by Rev. Isaac Woodbury, who continued till Jan. 1853. In July following their present Pastor, Rev. J. M. Coburn commenced preaching for them. Their Deacons are Eliviress Parmenter, Caleb Gage, Lyman Woods, Caleb Boynton, and Savory Bur- bank. Clerk and Sexton, G. Holbrook. The present number of the church is 200.
CHRISTIAN MISSION CHURCH .-- REV. T. F. SAWIN.
In the spring of 1847, Rev. J. L. Seymour was employed by tne friends of religion to act as city missionary in this place. A hall was rented, in which he opened a Sabbath School and conducted religious service. The idea of in- stituting a Free Chapel was suggested and favorably regarded. To this ob- ject the "Amoskeag Manufacturing Company," gave a lot of land considered worth $1000, and by the contribution of individuals andalso of the Congre- gational and Presbyterian churches of the State, the building was completed in the fall of 1850, at an oxpense of about $3000, capable of seating 400 peo- ple.
The " Manchester City Missionary Society," was legally organized April 24, 1850, and hold the property by a tenure requiring "that no rent or tax shall be assessed on any slip or seat in said house of public worship, and that it over be kept open and free for the poor in the city of Manchester."
l'he society employs a clerical missionary, and meets its annual expenses ; Ist, by the income of $1000, bequeathed for that purpose by the late Thomas D. Merrill of Concord ; 2d, by the appropriation of $150 by the State Mission- ary Society ; 3d, by donations or contributions from the two Congregational churches in the city and in the chapel During the erection of the chapel no missionary was employed, and Rev. Mr. Seymour having been called to anoth- er field of labor, Rev. T. P. Sawin, then of Harwich, Ms., was invited, who commenced his duties April, 1851. After a few months, it was thought desir- able, especially by those who labored in the Mission Sabbath School and at- tended the chapel service, that a church be organized into which might be gathered the results of missionary labor. This was effected by an ecclesiasti.
1
739
CHRISTIAN MISSION CHURCH.
cal council, Dec. 30, 1852, under its present name ; 17 members were then uni- ted in covenant, to which ten were added within two months. The whole number that have united is 44 ; deducting the dismissions and deaths, the present number is 36. The numbor of adult baptisms, nine ; infants, five .- The church was organized with the distinct understanding, that whenever its own interests, the success of the mission, or the cause of religion requires, it may leave the chapel and provide for itself elsewhere. The church in its pre- sent connection with the mission elects the missionary for its pastor, and in all respects is Congregational.
NORTH ELM STREET M. E. CHURCH. REV. ELISHA ADAMS.
The North Elm St. M. E. Church was organized May 19, 1855, under the pastoral care of Rev. Elisha Adams. The church at its organization numbered 23 members who colo- nized from the Elm street M. E. Church.
The society worship in Smyth's Hall. The Sabbath School now numbers about 100; and the church 65 members.
CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY, PISCATAQUOG .- REV. MR. BOWMAN.
The meeting house occupied by this society was built in 1820. It is a large commodious house and of sufficient ca- pacity to accommodate the people of that neighborhood for some time to come. The pulpit was supplied for some time by Messrs. Long and Miltimore. It had not been regularly occu- pied for some years, for preaching, until in 1855, when the Rev. Mr. Stone supplied the desk through the Summer and Fall. The Rev. Mr. Bowman, lately of Portland, Me., commenced his connection with this society, June 15, of the present year, and the prospect is encouraging that the society will become per- manent.
740
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
SCHOOLS, AND LITERARY SOCIETIES.
Division of the town as to schools .- Report of Selectmen .- First school- houses .- Town divided into Classes or Districts .- Old Teachers .- Divisions made in 1840 .- New school-houses .- High School House .- Report of Pru- dential Committee of 1841 and 1842 .- Purchase of Apparatus .- High School commenced .- Teachers of it .- School house on Park and Spring sts .-- At- tempt to Build a new High School house .- House for Intermediate School .- Superintendent of Public Instruction .- J. O. Adams, Esq .- State of schools in the city. Social Library in Derryfield .- Atheneum .- Its designs and for- mation .- Donations .- Merged into City Library .- Contract .- Officers,-Con- dition of Library, Feb. 15, 1855 .- Same, Feb. 4, 1856 .- Destruction of Li- brary by fire .- Library resuscitated in Merchant's Exchange, and again open- ed in July 1856 .- Old Lyceum --- New Lyceum .--- Young Men's Christian Association .--- Manchester Debating Club.
SCHOOLS.
The subject of schools was frequently brought before the town soon after its incorporation, but without success. The town was too sparsely settled and the inhabitants too much embarrassed by Indian and French wars, and by the difficulties . prior to and during the war of the Revolution, to support schools at the public charge, and it was not until about the close of the revolution that schools were established by vote of the town. Prior to this however, schools had been main- tained by voluntary subscription, but probably to no great ex- tent. In 1781, December 25, at a special town-meeting it was "voted that the town hire a school-master nine months this year coming." This was the first successful attempt at fur-
1
RESIDENCE OF E. A. STRAW, ESQ.
741
FORMING OF SCHOOL DISTRICT.S
nishing the town with a public school. There were no school- houses and the selectmen made arrangements to have the school taught at certain private houses in the different sections of the town. On the 12th of February following, there was a town meeting, and the third article in the warrant calling the same, was " To see if the town will Except the Several Divisions the Selectmen have appointed for the Scoole to bee kept at." Upon this article it was "Voted that the Scoole be kept at Enos Webster's and att Joseph farmer's and at Lient. John Hall's and at Joseph Simondes and to Be Equally Divided at Each of these places." Enos Webster lived about a mile north of the main village where David Webster now lives. Joseph Farmer lived in a house near the corner of Chestnut and Or- ange streets ; Lieut. John Hall lived at Manchester Centre, in the house south of the old Town House, which was long used as a tavern, and which was destroyed by fire a few years since ; and Joseph Simonds lived on the Derry road just east of the Little Cohas Brook. In 1783, at the annual meeting in March, the town voted not to raise any money for schooling ; but this vote was reconsidered and one carried for raising £9 0-0-0) for the support of schools ; and also that the "selectmen Divide the town into four Districts according to polls and Estate for the scool to be kept in." The Selectmen made the following division :
"Derryfield, october the 16th, 1783.
"Agreeable to a vote of the Town of Derryfield the Selectmen Have Divi- ded the Town into four Districts for the Benefit of Spooling there Children .- the first Division Begining at the upper End of the Town on the River Road Including all the Inhabitants as fer Down as John Brown's. the Next Divis- sion from John Browns all the Inhabitants on the River Road to Litchfield Line the third Divisior. Begining at L. Hugh Thompsons and Ebenezer Ste- venses and Down the Road toards Derry to John Littles and on the other Road By John Dustins Including John Dickey and so on to Chester Line By Major Websters Including Ha eltine. the forth Division Including from Huses to Derry Line also the Road By Ameys Place to Derry Line Including all the Inhabitants Not Included in the other Districts.
Jonathan Russ, Joseph Sander-, Selectmen. Samuel Moor.
After this division no schools were authorized by the town for five years ; but in 1788 the town " Voted Nine Pounds to be Laid out for a town school this year. Voted that the Se- lectmen to the Best of their Judgment provid Schoolen for the Benefite of the town for all the nine pounds."
After 1791, when the law passed making it obligatory upon each town in the state to raise a school tax, schools were sup- ported by the town in the various Classes or Districts ; although
-
742
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
for some half dozen years, there is no record of raising any money for that purpose on the Town Books; yet upon the book kept by the Selectmen. it appears there there were orders drawn upon the Constable in favor of some school master every year from 1791 ; the selectmen appropriating the money ac- cording to the statute without any specific vote by the town ; so that there were schools kept at the town charge from the time of the passage of the law. The amount of schooling in the various classes must have been very limited as $59 is the largest amount paid out to teachers in any one year down to 1801. However, during this time schools were maintained at the expense of individuals, and two school-houses, one near the Falls, and the other near the Meeting-house at the Centre, had been built in the same manner. The one at the Falls stood upon the east side of the "Old Falls Road," just on the north bank of Christian's Brook, where the present Falls school house now stands. This was doubtless built in 1785, and was the first school house built in town. The one at the Centre was built about the same time.
At the annual meeting in March 1787, an attempt was made to raise money for building three school houses, but it was vo- ted down. At a special meeting October 16, of the same year, the proposal "to provide places in the several Classes to keep the town school" was voted down. But at the annual meet- ing March 8, 1788, the friends of schools were completely suc- cessful and carried every measure proposed. It was
" Voted, To raise three Hundred Dollars for the purpose of Building School Houses.
Agreeable to a Motion by Capt. John Goffe the following articles were voted: "Voted 1, That each person paying Taxes have Liberty to work out his School Tax or find Materials to build with and shall be allow'd fifty cents per day for a good days work and the Market Prise for Materials found, provided said work be done before the Last day of October next.
Voted 2, That the Selectmen appoint a suitable person to Each School House (the Commity shall appoint to be built) to Superintend the building of the same and shall give him a List of the persons belonging to the same, with their Taxes who shall allow the persons working or finding materials the prise for the same and the person having the List shall return the same to the Col- ector by the first day of November Who shall allowe the same.
Voted 3, That the persons belonging to the school House Built near Esqr. Starks be allowed their school House Tax to finish their school House and re- pay those Who have done more than their proportion in building the saim.
The House proceeded to the Choice of their Commitee When the following Gentlemen were Chosen, viz Samuel P. Kidder, John Ray, John Stark Esqr. on Motion being made the following Gentlemen were added to the Commitee viz Capt. John Goffe and Maj. John Webster.
Voted That the Town be Classed in three Classes No. 1 2 and 3.
The Committee upon dividing the Classes made the follow- ing report :
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.
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743
LOCATION OF SCHOOL HOUSES
" We the subsbribers being appointed a Commitee to Determine on the pla- ces to build three school houses in the Town of Derryfield We have according- ly Viewed and Determined on said places, viz. The first to be the school house standing near John Starks Esqr and to be finished Where it now stands, and to be Called the Federal School House.
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