History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 147

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 147
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 147

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).

For many years her hardy and fearless settlers were the pioneers of civilization, repelled the assaults of savage beasts and more savage men, defended their rude dwellings "from violence and destruction," and bared their brows to the tomahawk and scalping-knife and their breasts to the Indian bullet. "Through the fire and blood of a seven years' Revolutionary war" her sons shrank from "no toil and no danger" that they might establish a free country. For several years after its settlement there rose no smoke from the habitation of any white man between Salisbury and the settlements on the rivers of Canada. Her women were slain by the tomahawk, and her men and maidens ambushed, seized, made to run the gauntlet and carried away into captivity ; while the inhabitants of other towns were obliged to abandon their recently- made homes, the stalwart inhabitants of Salisbury stood firm, built their cabins and defended them.

When Philip Call, Nathaniel Maloon, Jacob Morrill, Ephraim Collins, Samuel Scribner, Robert Barber, John Bowen, Jonathan Greeley, John and Ebenezer Webster, Andrew Bohonon and Edward Eastman and their associates built their rude dwell- ings in Salisbury (then Stevenstown) they formed the exposed picket-line in this State, and they maintained it till the peace of 1763, notwithstanding Nathaniel

Maloon, his wife and three children were seized by the Indians and carried to Canada and sold into cap- tivity, and the wife of Philip Call was murdered, and Samuel Scribner and Robert Barber were also cap- tured and sold into captivity.

In the cause of religion Salisbury was equal to any other town in the State, and in 1773, Rev. Jonathan Searle settled over the Congregational Church, which church has continued to this day. Long before Concord made a move Salisbury had established an academy, which was one of the noted institutions of learning in the State. When the Merrimack County Agricul- tural Society was formed, in 1824, Salisbury furnished more members than any other town, and their first gathering was at Salisbury.

When we speak of great men, how illustrious does this noble old town appear! what a roll of honor does she furnish! The Websters, the Bartletts, the Pettengills, the Eastmans, the Haddocks, the Pingrees, the Smiths, the Gales, the Sawyers and the Greeleys. Thomas W. Thompson, Richard Fletcher, Parker Noyes, Israel W. Kelley, George W. Nesmith, Samuel I. Wells and Thomas Worcester became her citizens by adoption. There has been bnt one man who gained the title of " Defender of the Constitution," and he was born and reared in Salisbury. Hon. Ichabod Bartlett, Ezekiel Webster, Charles B. Haddock, Joel Eastman, Samuel C. Bartlett (the learned president of Dartmouth College), William H. Bartlett, Samuel E. Pingry (present Governor of Vermont), all were natives of the town, and for a list of other noted men the reader is referred to the col- legiate record.

Natural Description .- The original growth of wood on land adjacent to the rivers was pitch, Norway and white pine, with occasional elms, maples and birches; on the uplands all the native hard woods were found. The soil is strong, deep and loomy, with a substratum of pan.

RIVERS .- The east part of the town is watered by the Pemigewasset and Merrimack. Blackwater passes through the western part of the town, from north to south, forming a large bay which abounds with a vari- ety of fish.

A considerable portion of Kearsage Mountain is within the bounds of Salisbury.

HILLS .- Searle's (and called "Mount Pisgah" by

602

603

SALISBURY.

Daniel Webster) is near the centre of the old town. On its top was located the first church, and its top was the scene of the alarm-fires kindled as signals in the perilous days of the pioneers. The other hills are Loverin's, Calef, Bean, Bald, Smith's and Raccoon.

PONDS AND BROOKS .- Tucker's Pond is the largest hody of water within the limits of the town. Green- ough's and Wilder's Ponds complete the list. Bog or Banley, Chance Pond, Stirrup Iron, Punch and Wig- wag Brooks are the principal small streams.

MINERALS AND ROCKS .- The rocks are mostly Montalban and Simonite. A species of bog-ore, con- taining iron, also exists. The mineralogy of Kearsarge is Andalusite and tourmaline. Tripoli is found in large quantities. Plumbago exists in several sections of the town. Silver exists in small quantities. There is also a huge boulder foreign to this section. Its dimensions are fifty-seven feet in length, twenty-six in height, and a circumference of one hundred and fifty feet.

Bakerstown .- It was the policy of Massachusetts, during the pendency of the boundary question, to confer grants in the disputed territory on soldiers who had been engaged in the French and Indian Wars. The records of the General Court of Massachusetts indicate that John Tyler, Joseph Pike and others presented a request "for two townships to be granted to the officers and soldiers of the companies under command of the late Captain John March, Captain Stephen Greenleaf and Captain Philip Nelson (de- ceased)."

The General Court answered their petition by grant- ing them two tracts of land, one of which included the town of Salisbury, and it is not known where the other was located.

The date of the grant was February 3, 1736. Rich- ard Hazen, as surveyor, laid out the township to con- tain six squares miles, which was divided between fifty-nine grantees or proprietors. It does not appear that the charter was accepted so far as Bakerstown was concerned. The grant was named Bakerstown in honor of Captain Thomas Baker, who, in 1720, killed the Sachem Waternumus by the rapid stream now called Baker's River, at Plymouth.

Stevenstown .- As we have seen, the grantees of Ba- kerstown failed to comply with the terms of their grant. The boundary question had been settled and Massa- chusetts had no title to the territory, and the Mason- ian proprietors were the rightful possessors. In the month of December, 1748, these proprietors granted the same territory to other parties than the original grantees, as appears by the

Proprietors' Records .-

" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"At a meeting of the Proprietors of Lands purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esq., in the Province of New Hampshire, held at the dwelling- house of Sarah Priest, widow, in Portsmouth, in a'd Province, on Wednes- day the seventh day of December, 1748, by adjournment,

" l'oted, That Ebenezer Stevens, Esq., & associates have a Township aqual to six miles aquare, beginning on the north of Contoocook [Bosca-

wen], in the most convenient form, without interfering with the Town- ship called No. One [Warner], as the Grantors shall think proper. ... "GEO. JEFFERY, Proprietors' Clerk."

Following are the names of the grantees. A copy of this grant and the grant of Massachusetts, by the name of Bakerstown, and other matters pertaining to this subject will be found in J. J. Dearborn's " His- tory of Salisbury," now in press. The grant bears date of Wednesday, the 26th day of October, 1749.

" Ebenezer Stevena, Ebenezer Page, Samuel Bean, Benjamin Stevens, Nathan Sweatt, Eliaba Winalow, Moses Quimby, Joshua Woodman, John Hunton, Jedediah Philbrick, Thomas Newman, Samuel Colcord, Jonathan Greeley, Jr., Joseph Eastman, Jr., John Fifield, Jr., Henry Morril, William Calfe, John Hunton, Jr., John Ladd, Jr., Benjamin Wadleigh, Nathaniel Ladd, Ebenezer Stevens, Jr., Elisha Sweat, Samuel Sanborn, John Darling, Jr., Samuel Webster, John Currier, Samuel Winslow, Jr., Humphrey Hook, Jacob Quimby, Jonathan Greeley, Tristram Sanborn, Jr , Ebenezer Long, Abraham Greene, Joseph Beao, Jr., Tristram Quimby, Benjamin Ladd, Jeremiah Philbrick, The Rev. Joseph Secombe, James Tappan, Tristram Sanborn, tertius, Peter San- born, Captain Joseph Greeley, William Buswell, tertius, Nathaniel Hunton, Samuel Eastman, Jr., Samuel Fifield, Joseph Clifford, Ebenezer Eastman, Jeremiah Webster, Jonathan Sanborn, Ephram Collina, Joshua Webster, Samuel Stevens, all of Kingaton in said Province ; Peter Ayer, of Haverhill ; Jabez True and David Greeley, both of Salisbury [Mass.] ; Benjamin Sanborn, of Kingaton afores'd ; Philip Call being in on part of the land hereinafter mentioned ; and Peter Derborn, of Cheater."

The grantees were in earnest to commence a settle- ment, and on October 25, 1749, issued a call for their first meeting, at which time all the necessary officers were chosen. Meetings were held as occasion re- quired, and annually town officers were elected until the incorporation of the town. In 1752 it was voted to "plow twelve acres of land," and in the year follow- ing (1753) the proprietors voted to build four houses. This year the Indian depredations were snch as to call on the State for a guard to protect the inhabitants.

In the year 1759 land was granted to Captain John Webster for building a saw-mill.

MAJOR EBENEZER STEVENS, for whom the town was named, was the first grantee and a prominent man in Kingston, where he died November 1, 1749. He was for several years a member of the Assembly, and four or five years Speaker of that body, from 1743 to 1747. It was through his influence that Ebenezer Webster, the father of Daniel, located here.

In addition to the early settlers on page 602, we find Benjamin Sanborn, William Silloway, Henry Morrill, Tristram Quimby, Jacob Quimby, James Tappan, William Newton, John Jemson, John Bawley (Bur- leigh), David Hall, John Fifield, Jr., John Huntoon, Joseph Bean, Jr., Jabez True, Daniel Greeley and Tristram Sanborn.

Incorporation of the Town .- Immediately after the passage of the act of 1766 to enable the propri- etors of Stevenstown to raise money by a direct tax, to carry on the settlement of the town and defray the necessary expenses, a petition was presented by residents in the township to His Excellency the Gov- ernor for an act of incorporation.

On the 1st day of March, 1768, Governor Went- worth, in the name of King George the Third, declared and ordained the township called Stevenstown to be

604

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

a town corporate, vested and incorporated into a body politic by the name of Salisbury. The firsttown-meet- ing, held on the first Tuesday in April, chose officers and transacted all necessary business.

The Association Test .- The articles of which we trust all the readers are sufficiently acquainted with ; therefore will not enter into detail. The signers are:

"Ebenezer Johnson, Reuben Greeley, Job Heath, Samuel Scribner, William Suton, Phineas Bean, John Collins, Benjamin Bean, John Jem- son, John Sanborn, Moses Elkins, Robert Smith, Leonard Judkins, Shubael Greeley, David Pettengill, William Webster, John Fifield, Jeremiah Wabster, Ephraim Heath, Nathaniel Maloon, Iddo Scribner, Benj. Scrib- ner, John Scribner, John Challis, Ephraim Colby, Andrew Bohonov, Moses Selley, Joseph French, John Bowen, Daniel Scamell, Robert Barber, Ebenezer Clifford, Abel Elkina, Dan. Warren, Jacob True, Rev. Jonathan Searla, Andrew Pettengill, Jonathan Fifield, Benjamin Huntoon, Joseph Bartlett, Jacob Garland, William Searle, Edward Fifield, Ezra Tucker, Hezekiah Foster, John Bean, Edward Scribner, Joseph Marston, Ben- jamin Greeley, John Webster, Jr., Annaniah Bohonon, Gideon Dow, Stephen Call, Benjamin Sanborn, John Webster, Nathaniel Marston, Reuhen Hoyt, Abraham Fifield, Cutting Stevens, John Gale, Ebenezer Webster, William Calef, Edward Eastman, Jonathan Cram, John Row, William Eastman, Abel Tandy, Mosee Garland, Eben Tucker, Nathaniel Maloon, Jr., Obediah Peters Fifield, Edward Scribner, Jr., Mosea Sawyer, John Fellowa, Daniel Huntoon, Andrew Bohonon, Jr., Nathan Colby, Jacob Bohonon, Joseph Basford, Israel Webster, Matthew Pettengill, Joseph Fifield, Richard Purmont.

"This may certify to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of the Colony of New Hampshire, That we, the subscribers, have offered the within Declaration to the Inhabitants of the Town of Salisbury and they sign freely.

"Sinclair Bean and Joseph Bean excepted.

"ERENEZER WEBSTER, } Selectmen

"JONATHAN FIFIELD, " for Salisbury."

Nathaniel Maloon, Jr., was the third selectman, and, with two exceptions, the test was signed by every male adult in the spring of 1776.

It does not appear that the two who refused to sign were unfriendly to the cause of the colonies. They were trusted with town business, and aided in supply- ing the demands of the army. Sinclair Bean was a Quaker in his religious belief, and the other a justice of the peace under royal authority.

In 1817, President Monroe made his tour through New England, arriving at Concord on the 18th of July, where he was received with the most genial hospitality, and every evidence of high personal re- gard was shown him. On Monday, the 21st, he arrived at Salisbury South Road, stopping at the residence of Mr. Andrew Bowers, now the Congregational Church parsonage. His visit was unexpected, and no prep- arations had been made for his reception. Samuel Greeley, as chairman of the committee, waited upon President Monroe, tendering him the hospitality of the town in a neat and appropriate speech, to which the President responded, and many of the inhabitants were introduced to the chief magistrate of the United States.

Formation of State Government .- On the 14th of November, 1775, in accordance with a recommenda- tion of the Continental Congress, the Fourth Pro- vincial Congress of New Hampshire adopted a plan of representation, upon which an election of delegates was held. In this plan Boscawen and Salisbury were

entitled to one delegate. Henry Gerrish, of Boscawen, represented the towns in this Assembly. At the first Constitutional Convention, which was held at Concord June 10, 1778, Salisbury was represented by Captain Ebenezer Webster and Captain Matthew Pettengill. At the second Constitutional Convention, held at Concord on the second Tuesday of June, 1781, Cap- tain Ebenezer Webster was the delegate. In June, 1783, the same convention met and agreed upon another form for a Constitution, Jonathan Cram hav- ing been chosen a delegate.

Federal Constitution .- The first session of the convention to consider the subject met at Exeter February 13, 1788. Salisbury sent as delegate Colonel Ebenezer Webster, who, at the first meeting of the convention, opposed the Constitution, under in- structions from his town. In the mean time Colonel Webster conferred with his constituents, asked the privilege of supporting the Constitution, and he was . instructed to vote as he might think proper. When the convention reassembled, in June, 1788, Colonel Webster made the following speech. It did great credit to the head and heart of the author.

SPEECH OF COLONEL EBENEZER WEBSTER.

" Mr. President : I have hatened to the arguments for and against tha Constitution. I am convinced such a government as that Constitution will establish, if adopted,-a government acting directly on the people of the States,-ia necessary for the common defense and the general welfare. It is the only government which will enable us to pay off tha national debt, the debt which we owe for the Revolution, and which we are bound in honor fully and fairly to discharge. Besides, I have fol- lowed the lead of Washington through seven years of war and I have never been misled. His name ia subscribed to this Constitution. He will not mislead us now. I shall vote for its adoption."

The first convention for the revision of the State Constitution was convened at Concord on the 7th of September, 1791. Salisbury sent as delegate Rev. Jonathan Searle. The second convention for the revision of the Constitution met at Concord on the 8th of October, 1850. Salisbury selected as delegate, Abraham H. Robinson, a practicing physician in the town and a graduate of Yale College. In 1876 the State Constitution was revised for the third time, which made the fifth Constitutional Convention. The delegate from Salisbury to this convention was Nathaniel Bean.

Vote for State President, from 1784 to 1791, in- clusive .- In the lists below the successful candidate is indicated by an asterisk (*),-

1784. * Meshech Weare, 28. 1788. * John Langdon, 33.

1785. Col. Josiah Bartlett, 30. John Sullivan, 15. *John Langdon, 0. Josiah Bartlett, 5.

1789. * John Sullivan, 23.

1786. John Langdon, 29. George Atkinson, 2. John Pickering, 15.

*John Sullivan, 0.

1790. John Pickering, 62.

1787. John Langdon, 27. *John Sullivan, 24.

*Josiah Bartlett, 0.

1791. * Josiah Bartlett, 78.

Vote for Governor, from 1792 to 1885, inclusive. -Successful candidates indicated by an asterisk (*),- 1792. * Josiah Bartlett, 86. 1795. * John T. Gilman, 86.

1793. * Josiah Bartlett, 100. 1796. * John T. Gilman, 103.

Timothy Walker, 1. Abiel Foster, 1.

1794. * John T. Gilman, 106. 1797. * John T. Gilman, 110.

605

SALISBURY.

1798. * John T. Gilman, 82. Oliver Peabody, 22. 1799. * John T. Gilman, 72. Oliver Peabody, 6. 1800. * John T. Gilman, 134. Timothy Walker, 40. Philip Carrigao, 1. 1801. * John T. Gilman, 103. Timothy Walker, 50. Scattering, 5.

1802. * John T. Gilman, 133. John Langdon, 44.

1803. * Joho T. Gilman, 157.

John Langdoo, 66. 1804. John T. Gilman, 135. John Langdoo, 79.

1805. John T. Gilman, 144. "John Langdon, 127.

1806. * John Langdon, 122. John T. Gilnian, 73. Scattering, 58. 1807. * John Langdon, 111. Timothy Farrar, 33. Scattering, 18.

18 18. * John Langdon, 66. Thomas W. Thompson, 22. 1809. * Jeremiah Smith, 168. John Langdon, 12). 1810. Jeremiah Smith, 158. John Langdoo, 144. 1811. * Joho Langdon, 166. Jeremiah Smith, 154.

1812. John T. Gilmao, 162. *William Plumer, 145. Scattering, 2.

1813. William Plumer, 176. John T. Gilman, 173. 1814. * John T. Gilman, 207. William Plnmer, 149. Scattering, 3.

1815. "John T. Gilman, 183. William Plumer, 145. Scattering, 1.

1816. James Sheafe, 176. * William Plumer 172. Scattering, 3.

1817. * William Plumer, 170. James Sheafe, 147. Scattering, 4.

1818. * William Pinmer, 173. Jeremiah Mason, 145.

1819. * Samuel Bell, 161. William Hale, 135. Scattering, 2.

1820. * Samuel Bell, 295. Scattering, 8. 1821. * samuel Bell, 215. Jeremiah Mason, 3.

1822. * Samnel Bell, 209. Jeremiah Mason, 1. 1823. Samuel Dinsmore, 148. *Levi Woodbury, 135. Scattering, 2.

1824. * David L. Morrill, 135. Levi Woodbury, 38. Scattering, 75.

1825. * David L. Morrill, 273. Scattering, 4.

1826. Benjamio Pierce, 153. #David L. Morrill, 63. Scattering. 4. 1827. * Benjamin Pierca, 212. Scattering, 16.

1828. Benjamin Pierce, 193. *Johu Bell, 167. Scattering, 1.

1829. * Benjamin Pierce, 159. John Bell, 78.

1830. * Matthew Harvey, 150. . Timothy Upham, 68. 1831. * Samuel Dinsmore, 157. Ichabod Bartlett, 81. Scattering, 1. 1832. * Samuel Dinsmore, 134. Ichahod Bartlett, 60.

1833. * Samnel Dinsmore, 164. Anthor Livermore, 29. 1834. * William Badger, 236. Scattering, 9.

1835. * Willianı Badger, 138. Joseph Healey, 61.

1836. * Isaac Hill, 135. William Badger, 5. Scattering, 4.

1837. * Isaac Hill, 156.

1838. * Isaac Hill, 154.

James Wilson, 99.

1839. * John Page, 158. James Wilson, 102. Scattering, 1.

1840. * John Page, 159. Enos Stevens, 77.

1841. * John Page, 160. Enos Stevens, 94. Scattering, 1.

1842. * Henry Hubbard, 192. Enos Stevens, 59. Scattering, 4. 1843. Anthony Colby, 39. *Henry Hubbard, 113. Scattering, 9.

1844. * John H. Steele, 128. Anthony Colby, 72. Scattering, 14.

1845. * John H. Steele, 128. Anthony Colby, 69. Scattering, 13.

1846. Jared W. Williams, 141. *Anthony Colby, 79. Nathaniel S. Berry, 20.

1847. * Jared W. Williams, 173. Anthony Colby, 87. Nathaniel S. Berry, 16. 1848. * Jared W. Williama, 180. Nathaniel S. Berry, 77. Anthony Colby, 1. 1849. * Samnel Dinsmore, 163. Levi Chamberlin, 56. Nathaniel S. Berry, 17. 1850. * Samuel Dinsmore, 165. Levi Chamberlin, 62. Nathaniel S. Berry, 17. 1851. * Samuel Dinsmore, 159. Thomas E. Sawyer, 54. John Atwood, 18.

1852. * Noah Martin, 163. Thomas E. Sawyer, 64. Scattering, 16.

1853. * Noah Martin, 147. James Bell, 51. John H. White, 17.

1854. * Nathaniel B. Baker, 153. James Bell, 51. Jared Perkina, 13.

1855. Nathanial B. Baker, 144. *Ralph Metcalf, 131. Scattering, 2. 1856. John S. Walla, 150. *Ralph Metcalf, 126. Ichabod Goodwin, 4. 1857. John S. Wells, 149. *William Haile, 135.

1858. Asa P. Cate, 154. *William Haile, 120. 1859. Asa P. Cate, 152. *Ichabod Goodwin, 118.

1860. Asa P. Cate, 159. *Ichabod Goodwin, 127. 1861. George Stark, 152. *Nathaniel S. Berry, 94.

1862. George Stark, 138. *Nathaniel S. Berry, 95. Paul R. Wheeler, 13. 1863. Ira A. Eastmao, 147. *Joseph A. Gilmore, 52. Walter Harriman, 31. 18ti4. Edw. W. Harrington, 152. *Joseph A. Gilmore, 108.

1865. Edw. W. Harrington, 146. #Frederick Smyth, 108. 1866. Joho G. Sinclair, 156. *Frederick Smyth, 102. 1867. John G. Sinclair, 139. *Walter Harriman, 99. 1868. John G. Sinclair, 153. *Walter Harriman, 94. 1869. John Bedel, 122. *Onslow Stearns, 87. Scattering, 1. 1870. John Bedel, 83.

*Onalow Stearns, 82. Samuel Flint, 38.

Lorenzo D. Barrowa, 11.

1871. * James A. Weston, 127. James Pike, 94. Scattering, 7.

1872. James A. Weston, 115. *Ezekiel A. Straw, 115. Lemuel P. Cooper, 7.

1873. James A. Weston, 113. *Ezekiel A. Straw, 107. Scattering, 9.

1871. * Jamea A. Weston, 123. Luther McCutchina, 75. Scattering, 1.

1875. Hiram R. Roberta, 129. Person C. Chaney, 89. Scattering, 1.

1876. Daniel Marcy, 137. *Person C. Cheney. 80.

1877. Daniel Marcy, 118. *Benjamin F. Prescott, 90.

1878. Frank Mckeao, 124. *Benjamin F. Prescott, 80. Scattering, 5. 1879-81. Frank Mckean, 108. *Natt. Head, 75. Warren G. Brown, 16.

1880-81. Frank Jonea, 128. *Charles H. Bell, 110.

1882-83. M. V. B. Edgerly, 113. *Samuel W. Hale, 103.

1884-85. * Moody Currier, 111. John M. Hill, 103.

CHAPTER II.

SALISBURY-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

THE Masonian proprietors exercised great discre- tion when, in giving grants of land, they provided that the ordinances of religion should be maintained. One of the essential duties of the grantees was to provide " a place of public worship " and maintain a learned and "orthodox minister."

In the grant to Stevenstown, 1749, a right of land equal in amount to each of the other shares was assigned to the first minister, which he was not only at liberty to use while he continued to preach the gospel to the people, but on his settlement the share became his property. Another share was "set apart for the support of the gospel ministry for ever." Ten acres of land were to be laid out " in some convenient place, as the major part of said grautees shall deter- mine, for a meeting-house, a school-house, a muster- field, a burying-place and other public uses."

This ten acres of land was situated on the north side of Searle's Hill, about midway of the town. The earliest record we have of a meeting-house is from an early map of the Merrimack Valley, which shows the location of a meeting-house in the vicinity of the old Salisbury fort. If this building ever existed, it must have been erected by the first grantees (Bakerstown).

In the spring of 1768, the frame was erected, hoarded, shingled and the lower floor laid. The 7th

606

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

of April of that year two pews were sold, and on the following 25th of May sixteen pews. Among these first purchasers was Hon. Josiah Bartlett, Governor of the State in 1790. The highest priced pew brought £6 3s. The meeting-house was used until the summer of 1790, when the town voted to sell it at auction, the sum realized to satisfy the de- mands of the pew-owners and the rest to be used for schooling. Some time between this date and the next ensuing April the present Congregational Church was erected at South Road village.

In 1835 changes were made in the church, which have been mainly acceptable to the present day.

The Rev. John Elliot was the first minister invited to settle in the town, January 14, 1771, at a salary of forty pounds a year, increasing five pounds a year until it reached fifty pounds, and there remain for three years. Preparations were made to ordain Mr. Elliot the following September, but before the time arrived he asked for a dismission, and on July 8, 1771, his request was granted.

The Rev. Jonathan Searle, the first settled minister, preached in Salisbury in the summer of 1768. At a town-meeting held October 11, 1773, it was voted to accept Mr. Searle's letter "of acceptance," and Cap- tain Ebenezer Webster, John Collins and Captain Mat- thew Pettengill were chosen to call a council. It was " Voted, to give Mr. Searle fifty pounds, L. M., for two years, and then rise four pounds, L. M., a year till it comes to sixty pounds, and there stand during his labor in the work of the ministry in said town ; also twenty-five cords of wood at his house yearly."

Twenty dollars were devoted to defray the ordina- tion expenses ; the ordination occurring on the 17th of November, 1773, Rev. Mr. Jewett, of Rowley, Mass., preaching the sermon from 1 Corinthians, chap. iv., verse 1. After a pastorate of nearly twenty years, May 31, 1790, a church-meeting was called by the pastor to act on the question of his dismission. A settlement was made agreeable to all parties, and he was freed from his ministerial work August 15, 1790.

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 Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 147

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520