History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 57

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 57
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 57

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).

Vote concerning Paper Money.

"At a Legal Town Meeting of the Freeholders aod Inhabitence of the Town of Canterbury held at the Meeting House in said Town on Munday the fourth Day of September A. D. 1786, Proceeded as followa Viz-

" Voted Mr Gideon Bartlet moderator for the well Regulating Said Meeting --

"Then it was put to Vote to See Wheather or no they would have a Paper Currancy Made or not, and better than two Thurds of the people Voted in the affirmative to have a paper Currancy made on Such footing as the General Court in there Wisdom Shall think best,-and the other part in the negative not to have a paper Currancy.

"A True Copy attest.

" ARCHELAUS MOONE Town Clerk"

Number of Ratable Polls in 1787.

"These may Certify whom it may concern that the Number of Polls, paying Taxes in the Town of Canterbury being carefully Numbered hy 16 the Subscribers do find the Amount Thereof to be Two Hundred and Six as may more fully Appear by the Inventory of said Town for the Year 1787-

"OBADIAH MOUNEY Selectmen for " OBADIAH HALL Canterbury

"Canterbury Febr 9th 1788."

Schools .- Previous to the year 1781 schools were kept in private houses. In that year the first school- house was built, but it was not until 1793 that the town was divided into school districts. From this date educational matters received much attention, and before the year 1833 fifteen persons from this town had graduated from college, viz .: William Rolfe, graduated at Dartmouth in 1799; Ebenezer Greenongh, Harvard, 1803; Samuel Haines, Dart- month, 1803; Jonathan Kitteredge, Dartmouth, 1813; Charles G. Haines, Middlebury College, 1816; David Ames, Dartmouth University, 1817; Asa E. Foster, Dartmouth, 1822; Abiel Foster, Dartmouth, 1823; Henry Clough, Dartmouth, 1823; Cyrus Parker, Dartmouth, 1824; Alfred Kittredge, Dartmouth, 1827; Josiah Emery, Schenectady College, 1828; Adam Shepherd, Middlebury College, 1826; Galen Foster, Amherst, 1831; William P. Haines, Dart- mouth, 1831.

Henry Parkinson, A.B., spent the latter part of his life in this town. He was a graduate of Princeton College, in 1765. He was a quartermaster in the Revolutionary War; died in May, 1820, aged sev- enty-nine.

Physicians .- The first physician in Canterbury was Josiah Chase, who located in about 1762, and remained here about fifteen years. He was in the War of the Revolution, and was surgeon's mate under Colonel Stark at Bunker Hill in 1775. He moved to Maine, and was drowned in the Saco River. Jonathan Kitteredge commenced practice here in

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1788, and continued until 1810. He subsequently removed to Salisbury.

Joseph M. Harper commenced practice here in 1810. He was a prominent citizen and held various official positions. He was several years a member of the Legislature, and in 1831, while president of the Senate, he was acting Governor of the State, Gov- ernor Harvey having resigned. He was a member of the Twenty-second Congress, and re-elected in 1833. Other physicians have been Thomas Cobbett, R. S. Morrill, etc.

Numerous cases of remarkable longevity in this town are mentioned. Captain John Palmer died here in 1846, aged one hundred and two years, and the last remarkable case was that of the late Mrs. Lovey Glover, who lived to a very advanced age, some claim one hundred and three years and others one hundred and eight.

For more than twenty years she prayed every morning and night that God would not allow her to become a pauper or be buried as one, and the intelli- gence of her death had no sooner got abroad in the town than the good people of Canterbury contributed a generous sum, which paid all the burial expenses, with some remaining over for the son.

Population .- The population in 1790 was 1038; in 1800, 1114; in 1810, 1526; in 1820, 1702; in 1830, 1663; in 1840, 1643; in 1850, 1614; in 1860, 1522 ; in 1870, 1169; in 1880, 1034.

CHAPTER III. CANTERBURY-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Congregational Church-First Free-Will Baptist Church-The Shakers.

Congregational Church.1-The first appropriation by this town for religious purposes was made in the year 1735. In 1742 the proprietors were taxed three shillings and nine pence each.

The Rev. James Scales seems to have been the first minister of whose preaching at Canterbury there is any account. He graduated at Harvard College in 1733 ; he removed to Canterbury, from Concord, about 1743, in which year the town voted him twenty pounds for ministerial services. It is uncertain how long Mr. Scales preached in Canterbury, probably but a few years; he was afterwards ordained the first minister of Hopkinton, where he died July 26, 1776. He was town clerk of Canterbury for several years, and seems to have taken a great interest in the affairs of the town.

Some time about the year 1755 or 1756, the Rev. Robert Cutler preached in the town as a candidate, and received a unanimous call to settle there. In

the convention of ministers, held at Newmarket, September 28, 1756, this call was considered by a committee of the convention. This committee re- ported that "we utterly disapprove of your choice of Mr. Cutler for your minister," and with this disap- proval gave five reasons for it, either of which was good and sufficient. Mr. Cutler had previously been dismissed from the charge of the church in Epping. The result was that Mr. Cutler was never settled over the church in Canterbury.

Mr. Timothy Walker, of Concord, a graduate of Harvard College, in 1756 was employed as minister at intervals until 1760. Mr. Walker was licensed to preach at the association meeting held at Haverhill, Mass., September 11, 1759. It does not appear that he was ever settled over a church, but preached occa- sionally for about six years, supplying his father's pulpit in Rumford (now Concord) in 1762, while his father visited England, and also supplying other vacancies in the neighboring towns. Mr. Walker did not preach much after 1765, and in 1777 he was appointed justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1822.

A call was extended, in 1760, to Abiel Foster, another graduate of Harvard College, a native of Andover, Mass., born August 8, 1735, and graduated in 1756, who was ordained at Canterbury January 21, 1761, and preached there until 1779; he married, May 17, 1761, Hannah, daughter of General Joseph Badger, of Gilmanton. She died January 10, 1768. His second wife was Hannah Rogers, of Ipswich, Mass. In 1779, Mr. Foster retired from the ministry and entered on public business ; he was chief justice of Rockingham County, and Representative to Con- gress from 1783 to 1786, and re-elected in 1789. He was a member of the first, fourth, fifth and sixth sessions. He was a man of acknowledged ability and rendered important service to the town and State; he died February 6, 1801. From this time, 1779 to 1791, the church appears to have been without a settled minister ; several candidates preached to the people, but no one was selected until January 5, 1791, when the Rev. Frederic Parker was ordained and installed over the church. He was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., May 4, 1762, and was graduated at Harvard College, 1784. After graduating he was employed as teacher in Portland, Me., for about two years, during which time it is said that he read the service in the Episcopal Church in that city. He afterwards became attached to the Congregational form of worship, and was ordained at Canterbury as above stated. His successor, the Rev. William Patrick, said of him, that " his religious sentiments were moderate Calvinism." He died at Canterbury suddenly, April 21, 1802.

The Rev. William Patrick, the next settled minis- ter, son of John Patrick, was born in Weston, Mass., July 4, 1773, and graduated at Williams College, September, 1799. He read divinity with Rev. Charles

1 By Hon. Lucien B. Clough.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Backns, of Somers, Conn .; was licensed to preach in June, 1801 ; ordained and installed over the church in Canterbury, October 26, 1803. He was dismissed at his own request November 22, 1843; he, however, continued to preach a part of the time for some years after his dismissal. He died at Boscawen, October 25, 1862. His first wife was Mary Gerrish, daughter of Colonel Joseph Gerrish, of Boscawen ; his second wife was Mary Mills, of Dunbarton.

The successor of Mr. Patrick was the Rev. Howard Moody. He was born in York, Me., May 4, 1808. Until he became of age he pursued his studies in the common schools and with the educated ministers in his neighborhood. He commenced teaching in 1829 and pursued this occupation for teu years ; entered the Gilmanton Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1843. Rev. Corban Curtis, who died at Tilton, January 19, 1881, was a classmate of Mr. Moody at the Theological Seminary.

Mr. Moody was ordained and installed over the church November 22, 1843. He was dismissed at his own request December 19, 1860. After his dismissal he supplied the pulpit for two years. In 1862 he went to Ohio and supplied the churches in Amherst and Vermillion one year. He took charge of the church in Canterbury again in 1864, and continued acting pastor until 1869, when he commenced preach- ing at East Andover.

Rev. Josiah L. Arms, who supplied this church as pastor during the time Mr. Moody was in Ohio, was born in New Salem, Mass., January 22, 1811. He pursued his academical studies at the Leicester Academy and Hamilton College, New York. His theological studies were pursued under the Rev. Dr. Blake, of Mansfield, Mass. He was settled over the church in Plymouth, Mass., in June, 1841, and after- wards over the church in Wilmot. He commenced his labors in Canterbury April 1, 1863, and closed April 1, 1865.

Rev. James Doldt was settled over this church in February, 1870. Mr. Doldt was born in Groton, Mass., September 30, 1809, where he acquired his early education in the district school and at the Gro- ton Academy. In 1827 he went to Lexington, Mass., and was engaged in mechanical employment for three years. He removed to Nashua about 1831, and in 1833 united with the Olive Street Church. He then immediately commenced his studies preparatory to the ministry at the Pembroke Academy, and with Professor Daniel Crosby, of Nashua, entered Gilman- ton Theological Seminary in 1838, and graduated in 1841. He supplied the church at Ossipee Centre three months in 1841, after which he preached at Effingham for a year and a half. He was ordained and installed over the church at North Wolfeborough September 21, 1843, and in May, 1848, was dismissed at his own request, and in the same month took charge of the church in Milton, where he remained twenty-one years and eight months. At the close of

his labors in Milton he took charge of the church in Canterbury, as before stated, in February, 1870, where he still continues.

First Free-Will Baptist Church.1-Few churches have struggled into being through greater conflicts than the one in Canterbury. The old church in 1779, was the first to declare free-will and free salva- tion. Some years after the Shakers' belief was ac- cepted by pastor and a large part of the members, leaving only a small remnant who remained true to their faith. After this followed the Osgoodites, who drew large crowds after them, so that popular senti- ment was decidedly against this little band, making it disrespectable to attend their meetings otherwise than from curiosity. As a sect they were regarded as religious outlaws, and their meetings were disturbed with impunity, making it necessary for the appoint- ment of officers to keep order when gathered for worship.

June 29, 1796, a council from the Yearly Meeting, consisting of Whitney, Buzzell, Randall and Boody, assisted by Aaron Buzzell and John Shepherd as ruling elders, ordained Winthrop Young, who was, at this time, thirty-three years old; he was born in Strafford, taught school in early life, removed to Can- terbury in 1787 and remained pastor of the church thirty-five years.

In 1819, Obadiah Morrill was received as minister of Christ, a revival following.

In January, 1821, Samuel Hill was ordained as ruling elder.

May 8, 1823, Jeremiah Clough, Amos Cogswell, Mark Davis and their associates formed into a church, to be known as the First Church of Christ in Canterbury.

March, 1829, Elder John Harriman was received as minister to baptize and receive members, and as an assistant to Elder Young.

April 10, 1838, Joseph M. Harper, Jeremiah Clough and Joseph Clough were set apart as evan- gelists; good revival interest aud prosperity attended the church for a number of years, the members numbering nearly a hundred. We find on the church record items of interest, showing the church to be alive and active on the subject of temperance, passing strong resolutions against, and exercising rigid discipline of some of its members who did not count it sinful to traffic in spirituous liquors.

In 1842 and 1843 a great revival followed, and up- wards of one hundred and fifty were added to the church.

September, 1848, Jeremiah Clough was appointed pastor over the whole church, which consisted of three Sabbath Meetings and four Monthly Meetings.

In 1851 arrangements were made for building a new church; the following May the old church was sold at auction to John Keze for thirty-five dollars;

1 By Rev. A. D. Smith.

Alphons D. Smith

Eng brauchte

Lorenzo Ames

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CANTERBURY.

it was moved a short distance and used for worship until the new church was completed.

June 22, 1852, the new Free-Will Baptist Church was raised; Rev. Jeremiah Clough made appropriate re- marks and offered prayer. February, 1853, the first meeting was held in the new house.

Seasons of revivals alternating with times of de- clension, prosperity and trials, have been experi- enced.

Rev. Jeremiah Clough continued pastor until his death in 1879; during the last few years he was unable to preach, and the labors of others were se- cured as needed.

Rev. A. D. Smith commenced his labors in April, * 74, aud has continued until the present time.

The Shakers .- In 1774, Ann Lee, the founder of religious denomination called Shakers, came to this untry from England, and a branch of the denomi- 1. tion was established in this town in 1792. Their fi st minister was Elder Job Bishop, who occupied the position many years. They are a frugal, indus-

us and temperate people, intelligent and success- fri tillers of the soil and breeders of stock, and are, at present, a prosperous community.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

REV. ALPHEUS D. SMITH.

Rev. Alpheus D. Smith, son of Dr. Alpheus and Mehitable (Foster) Smith, was born in Lebanon, N. H., August 25, 1813. Dr. Alpheus Smith, of Rhode Island, was educated in Providence, and practiced medicine in Rhode Island some time previous to mov- ing to Lebanon. He practiced medicine here about twelve years ; was the physician to the Shakers. In June, 1813, he went with a New Hampshire regiment as assistant surgeon, and died in November of the same year at Chateaugay, near Plattsburg, N. Y. Mrs. Smith was born in Saulsbury, N. H., and died June 17, 1827. There were four children by this union- Foster, who left home in December, 1837, and was never heard from afterward; Solomon K., went to Cregon in 1832, lived and died there, (he was State Senator and president of the State His- torical Society); Josephine, who died young; and Rev. Alpheus D., the subject of this sketch, was left fatherless when but two months old, and re- mained with his mother until eight years of age, from which time until he was fourteen years old, the time of his mother's death, he found a home with va- rious families A short time previous to her death she made a contract for her son to remain at his then pre- sent home until he was of age. He found, as was cus- tomary in those days, plenty of work and but little op- portunity for an education. He remained there until twenty years of age, when he made some little prepa-

ration for the ministry. On the evening of November 5, 1834, he preached his first discourse from the text : "For many are called and few are chosen." He was licensed the May following, after which time he spent a few months at N. Parsonfield's seminary, under the instruction of Rev. Hosea Quimby, D.D., holding meet- ings on the Sabbath several miles away ; was ordained June 22, 1837, at Corinth, Vt., where he held his first membership. In July following became pastor of the First Free-Will Baptist Church in Dover, N. H. A precious revival followed ; more than one hundred were baptized and united with the church. Mr. Smith's health failed the second year of his pastor- ate, and he returned to the hills of Vermont to recup- erate, but he was soon able to resume his work.

July 2, 1838, he married Emily B. True, of Corinth, and they had two children,-Josephine E., who mar- ried S. W. Sanders, of Laconia, N. H., and Alpheus D., a practicing physician of Manchester, N. H. In 1839, Mr. Smith became pastor of the Second Free- Will Baptist Church of Corinth, which relation con- tinued until 1844. He then spent one year in East Randolph, Vt .; then returned to Dover, N. H., and continued his labors for four years. Spent a few months at Farmington ; from there he went to Con- cord, N. H., where he remained two or three years; assisted in raising a church-debt of twelve hundred dollars; from there he went to West Fairlee, Vt., where a new church was organized and he remained in charge for about two and a half years ; from here Mr. Smith was called to Lyndon ; from there he went West for some time, but not liking the climate, returned to New England, and was called to Laconia, N. H., the second Sabbath in July, 1857, where he remained nearly four years. Next to East Tilton for three years; but re- turned to Laconia, where he resided until April, 1873.

Mrs. Smith died in October, 1872. Mr. Smith found, after traveling for some time and supplying destitute churches, the need of a regular home and place of service. He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Mary E. . Clough, of Canterbury, in January, 1874, and since that time he has supplied the First Free-Will Baptist Church of the town, with the exception of one-fourth part of the centre of the town. In 1883 his health failed and would not admit of his preaching, but he has been able to re- sume his labors in the last year. He is now inter- ested in the Kezer Seminary, with a fund of fifteen thousand dollars to build the institution and pay expenses of running the same. Mr. Smith has ever had the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact, always trying to do all within his power to promote the welfare of his fellow-men.

LORENZO AMES.

Among the early settlers of Canterbury, and of its hardy stock of tillers of the soil, was (1) Samuel, the

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The time of his arrival is not known, but it was probably about the year 1745. He became the possessor of a large farm near the meeting-house, and was noted for the thrift and energy displayed in the management of his business. He was born February 13, 1723-24, married Hannah Daloff, and died in Canterbury January 16, 1803. His wife, Hannah, was born Jan- uary 18, 1728-29, and died January 23, 1804. From this union there were four children. (2) David, the grandfather of Lorenzo, was born May 27, 1749, and succeeded his father in the possession of the large farm in the " borough." He married Phobe, daughter of Thomas Hoyt, who was a Revolutionary soldier, and they had ten children,-three sons and seven daughters. David died in Canterbury September 22, 1812, and Phœbe in 1836. (3) Samuel, the father of Lorenzo, was born at the old homestead July 29, 1784. He married Myra, daughter of Jonathan Ayres, of Canterbury, and lived on the homestead inherited from his father until his death, June 30, 1870. His wife, Myra, died October 14, 1873. From this union there were seven children, the eldest of whom was (4) Lorenzo, who was born at the homestead May 22, 1814. His boyhood was spent at home, assisting in farm-work in summer and attending the district school in the winter. That he might assist his father more effectually, and having a taste for trade, he, at an early age, went to Boston, and engaged in the whole- sale mercantile business. Remaining there for a few years, during which time he developed a capacity for business, he returned to his native State, and was for a short time in business in Concord. In 1845 he went to Albany, N. Y., and with his brothers, Sam- uel F. and Jeremiah F., engaged extensively in the flour and grain business. They were successful, and won an enviable reputation for thrift and honesty. A local writer has recently said of this firm: "Some forty years ago there came over from New Hampshire three brothers of the name of Ames, and settled in Albany, where they have been carrying on an exten- sive produce business. They have well maintained the name of honest Yankees in an honorable and successful business. They are among the land-marks of the capital city, where they have made records which would form pleasant reading, not only for the young, but for men of every age." Business integrity and enterprise, fairly and fully established, insured social position in the city of their adoption.

Lorenzo was deacon of the Congregational Church there, of which Rev. Ray Palmer, D.D., was pastor, and was interested in religious, educational and civil matters.

Mr. Ames has retired from the active business at Albany to his farm in Canterbury, where he is dea- con of the Congregational Church and a much es- teemed and highly-valned citizen.

From this union there are four childreu. The young- est, (5) Samuel Patten, born May 29, 1865, alone survives.

DAVID MORRILL.

In the early history of Canterbury few names are more conspicuous than that of Ezekiel Morrill, who came from South Hampton to this place about the year 1750. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church, his name appears many times on the old record-books as town clerk, and he often served on committees appointed by the town to attend to mat- ters of importance. To this Ezekiel Morrill, David, the subject of this sketch, traces his ancestry in di- rect line. Ezekiel was the father of fifteen children. His second child was David. David's eldest son was Reuben, who married Miriam Smith. These were the parents of Captain David, as he is familiarly called. He was born in Canterbury August 12, 1798, on the place where he now lives, and was the third of nine children. His education was obtained in the district school, which he attended till he was twenty- one years old. At this time he began to teach win- ters. His first school was in Northwood; here he taught two terms, then two winters in Pittsfield, one in Madbury, one in Londonderry, and three terms in District No. 1, Canterbury. In 1828 he built a saw- mill. The management of this and of his large farm have occupied him through his long life. He has a fine set of buildings; his farm is well situated, and by care and industry he has brought it to a good state of cultivation. Mr. Morrill is in many respects a man of the old school,-a working and thinking farmer. Without doubt, many a business problem has been thought out while his hands have been occupied with the hoe and scythe. In town matters the cap- tain has always been on the side of progress and reform. He has held the office of selectman several times. In 1859 he represented the town in the Leg- islature. In 1860 and '61 he was a member of the Senate. While here his opinions were respected and even sought for by his colleagues. He is a Republi- can in politics, though not a partisan. He was early in the anti-slavery movement, being associated with Stephen S. Foster and his co-workers. He has al- ways taken an active interest in the educational affairs of the town. Although a scholar of the olden time, he adheres only to what is good in the old methods. He is a Congregationalist in religious faith, having united with that denomination when a young man. Mr. Morrill has been twice married,- in 1825 to Comfort, daughter of Marsten Morrill, and in 1843 to Mrs. Sally Kimball. By the first marriage he had seven children, six sons and one daughter ; by the second, two sons. Three of his sons were in the Civil War. He is a man of strict integrity, of sound judgment, of great firmness and of practical

October 14, 1852, Mr. Ames married Lydia Page, danghter of Hon. Ezekiel Morrill, of Canterbury. ' common sense. At the advanced age of eighty-six,

David Howill

J. P. Kimball

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CANTERBURY.

his mind is clear and he retains an active interest in public affairs.

JOHN PEVERLEY KIMBALL.

Richard Kimball was born in Canterbury May 31, 1798. He married Sally Sanborn, daughter of John Peverley, of Canterbury, October 24, 1826. They moved to Boscawen the next day and settled on the Rolfe farm, near his brother Benjamin, where they resided until Mr. Kimball's death, which occurred September 30, 1829. Their only child, John Peverley, the subject of this sketch, was born in Boscawen December 23, 1827. After the death of his father he moved with his mother to his grandfather Peverley's, where he resided until he married Mary Eliza, daughter of Samuel Hill, of Canterbury, June 3, 1852, and settled on the homestead of her father, near the centre of the town. Here he resided until her death, November 6, 1874. Deprived of a father at the early age of three years, young John experienced many of the difficulties of other boys in like circum- stances. At the same time there were advantages. His mother was a judicious, energetic woman, and he became industrious, persevering, resolute and self-re- liant. These elements of character, thus early formed, have done much toward making him success- ful in all his business affairs. His education was gained mostly in the common school. After leaving this he attended Gilmanton Academy and the New Hampshire Conference Seminary two terms. During his partnership with his father-in-law, they devoted themselves chiefly to agriculture, and the fine ex- hibits of corn, grain and vegetables made annually at the town and State fairs were good proof of their success. Mr. Kimball has in recent years made stock-raising a specialty, and his excellent Herefords have attracted much attention. He has made great efforts to improve and multiply this stock in Canter- bury and in neighboring towns. For several years past he has sent fine herds to the State and New England fairs. He has always been a fancier of good horses, and several of his own raising have made a very creditable record on the turf at the county and State fairs. With a view to comfort and convenience, the homestead buildings were, some years ago, put in excellent condition. A large barn was built, having modern improvements, and the house was made com- modious and attractive. Mr. Kimball has always shown a good degree of interest in the educational affairs of the town, and has at all times advocated good schools. His disposition is social, he is prompt to do a kindness, and has many warm friends. He is a prominent member of the town and State Grange, and a member of other societies that have for their object social and educational improvement. He has contributed much to make Canterbury's annual fair successful and creditable to the town. He is a Re- publican in politics, and a Congregationalist in his religious sympathies. Mr. Kimball had, by his first marriage, four children. The cldest, George Edwin, died at the age of six years. The second and third, Frank Edwin and Ida Grace, were born May 13, 1859.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 57

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