History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 77

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 77
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 77

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Next, from the Strafford Gazette of October 22, 1825, we obtain this document,-

" The inhabitants of the southwest part of this town presented to the committee appointed by the Legislature to lay out & new town, agree-

ably to the petition of Ebenezer Eastman and others, the following remonstrance :

" The undersigned, inhabitants of the town of Sanbornton, remou- strate against being set off into a new town, agreeable to the petition of E. Eastman and others, and represent that they are not subject to any great 'inconvenience,' nor do they suffer any 'privation of civil and re- ligions privileges by reason of their distance from the public building ' in this town ; but, on the contrary, believe their civil and religions privi- leges are now far superior to any they might expect to enjoy in the new town.

" That they now live in a town in which there is and long has been an uncommon harmony between the different religious societies ; neither can they believe that that harmony, civil or religious, will be increased by their hecoming members of the new town, divided as this will be by a large river, extending nine miles through the centre of the town, im- jussable but at one place, their neighborhoods divided in like manner, the wants of its several parts unknown to the other in consequence of this division ; but have good reason to believe that it would produce au unfriendly disposition and rivalship between its several parts, not only in their civil and fiscal concerns, but might likewise engender the seeds uf hatred and animosity in their religious duties.

"That the town in which they now live have a school and parsooage fund amounting to more than $8000, the interest of which is annually appropriated towards the support of our common schools and all of our religions societ ies. Remove us from these advantages, and you place us in a town having no funds ; and instead of conferring a favor, you im- . pose upon us a fax annually exceeding our proportion of a 84000 State tax. Remove us, and you deprive us of a rich legacy, fostered and en- larged by the parental (?) [obscure] and tender care of our fathers, and left by them not only for the instruction of our children in their civil and political duties, but by it the vital principles of piety and evangeli- cal knowledge are enforced, which are the only sure foundations of our present, and the only hope of our future happiness.

" That they now live in a town mostly surrounded by monuments created from the foundation of the world, which require no perambula- tion, admit of no doubt and subject ns to no lawsuits respecting their authenticity. Remove us, and you subject eight towns and eight differ- ent sets of selectmen to the expense of perambulating over twenty-five miles of a zigzag line on this new town where we now have natural boundaries.

" That we have located and accommodated our farms to our several wants and circumstances. Remove us, and you divide them, and leave a part in another town, to be taxed as non-resident, depriving onr chil- dren, in addition to the loss of our school and parsonage money, of the lwnefit of the school tax of that part of our property, and giving it to strangers. Remove na, and you divide our school districts, subjecting those who now live near the school-house to travel more than two miles to attend school ; you will locate many of us farther from our public Imilding ; you will augment our taxes ; yon will give us a great share of bridges ; you will subject us to the maintenance of several miles of highway, in addition to our conunon highway tax ; and we never have hren able to find a precedent, and cannot discover the least semblance of justice in taking off a large section of this town against their unani- mous wish, angmenting their taxes at least one-third, depriving us of our school and parsonage money, dividing and cutting up our farms, destroying our school districts, and placing us under the arbitrary will of strangers, -aod we cannot willingly consent to these sacrifices with- ont we can perceive a far greater advantage to some section of this town than merely gratifying the ambition and pride of some half a dozen in- dividuals. (Signed)

" James Clark. Bradbury Morrison.

Samuel Fellowe. Satchel W. Clark.

Abraham Cross. Dearborn Sanborn, Jr.

David Clark, Jr.

William Robertson.

Dearborn Sanborn. Abraham Sanborn,

Jonathan Saoborn, Jr.

Andrew Sanborn.

John Cate.

George C. Ward. Tristram Sanborn.

Jonathan Prescott, Jr.

David Thompson.

Jeremiah French.

Nicholas Clark.

Samuel Prescott. David Dolloff.

Abraham Sanborn, Jr.

Jonathan Prescott.

Joseph Thompson.

William Thompson.

John Thompson.

David Gage.

Levi Thompson.

Nathan S. Morrison.

Ebenezer Morrison.

Joseph Sanborn."

315

FRANKLIN.

It would appear from the foregoing that the legal voters in that part of Sanbornton which is now Franklin were then, almost to a man, opposed to the division ; while it must be remembered that Mr. Eastman and the few others who petitioned in its favor were living upon the west side of the river, in what was then Salisbury village. Accordingly, for three years longer, while efforts were continued for the formation of the new town, the dismemberment of its own territory was as steadily opposed by the town of Sanbornton. Even "at the last moment," November 3, 1828, it was voted, on the motion, "that part of the town petitioned for be set off for the for- mation of a new town," yeas, twenty ; nays, three hundred and eighty ; and Charles Gilman, Esq., was chosen as an agent to oppose the petition of Dearborn Sanborn and others (for new town) before the com- mittee of the Legislature on towns and incorpora- tions.

When, however, at the next annual meeting, March 11, 1829, the town of Franklin had been constituted, there was a display of will, pertinacity and almost obstinacy on the part of the Sanbornton citizens, which seems hardly justifiable, in that they "would do nothing" in respect to "the proportion of the town funds claimed by Franklin, the town panpers of Sanbornton belonging to Franklin, or the annex- ing to most convenient schools districts of those dis- annexed by the forming of the new town."

The controversy continued for several years, as in March, 1832, a special agent was chosen-Nathaniel Holmes, Esq .- to make arrangement with the town of Franklin and to obtain able counsel, whether the town of Sanbornton is holden to pay to Franklin any of its fund; and if holden, to make further arrange- ments and lay the matter again before the town. At a meeting in October (same year) it was voted that the town agent and selectmen "obtain further coun- sel whether Franklin has a legal claim upon San- bornton for a proportion of the School and Parsonage Fund." The above agent never reported to the town (as appears from records); but at a special meeting, January 20, 1834, an action having been brought by the town of Franklin against Sanbornton to recover part of the funds belonging to said Sanbornton, Charles Lane, Esq., was appointed agent to attend to the snit, with instructions to continue the action so long as any probability of gaining it may exist; or otherwise, that he have power to settle the action and agree on a committee to say "how much of the town funds Franklin shall have, and what part of the poor it shall take."

The Sanbornton fathers of that day were honest in the belief that no other town could justly claim the funds which were left to their town; hence they were sincere in resisting the claims of Franklin. But it was ultimately decided against them, as in 1836, of the "School and Parsonage Fund," which had amounted to 86658.78, 8633.53 was paid to Franklin

as "the share belonging to those persons who had been set off," leaving a balance of $6025.25.

CHAPTER III. FRANKLIN-( Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The Congregational Church 1-Unitarian Church-First Baptist Church -Christian Baptist Church-Free Baptist Church-Methodist Church -Roman Catholic Church.

The First Unitarian Congregational Society of Franklin" was organized the 6th of December, 1879, " For the purpose of establishing and sustaining the worship of God in public and social religious ser- vices, and to secure for ourselves and our children the benefits of religious instruction, and as a means of illustrating and extending rational and practical Christianity."

In the second article of the constitution the ob- jects of the society are declared to be "the cultiva- tion and diffusion of useful knowledge, the promotion of fraternal justice, and of a serious and intelligent public spirit, and the earnest endeavor to supply a centre and home of religious sympathy and of all good influences to those who seek and need our fel- lowship."

On the occasion of the organization of the society the constitution was signed by the following persons : Rev. J. B. Harrison, Mrs. W. F. Daniell, Mrs. R. G. Burleigh, A. W. Sulloway, W. F. Daniell, Daniel Barnard, Charles H. Gould, R. G. Burleigh, G. B. Wheeler, F. H. Daniell, R. E. Bean, E. B. S. San- horn. The following persons were elected officers of the society: Clerk, George B. Wheeler; Treasurer, Alexis Proctor ; Pastor, Rev. J. B. Harrison ; Trus- tees, Warren F. Daniell, Daniel Barnard, A. W. Sul- loway, E. B. S. Sanborn, R. G. Burleigh, Alexis Proctor, Frank H. Chapman.

The board of trustees was constituted a committee to procure plans and consider other matters pertain- ing to the building of a church.

At a meeting of the trustees, held April 20th, a communication was read by the pastor informing the trustees that Mrs. Persis Smith, of St. Louis, had offered the society the sum of four thousand dollars toward the erection of a church and one thousand toward building a parsonage, provided that a suitable building lot he given for the parsonage and a suitable home erected thereon within a reasonable time.

At a meeting of the society, April 30, 1881, it was voted that the trustees proceed to build a church, to cost not less than ten thousand dollars. The trustees were also authorized to build a parsonage as soon as the necessary funds could be raised. At the annual

1 See appendix.

By Rev. E. S. Elder.

316

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

meeting of the society, December 31, 1881, A. W. Sulloway reported that a parsonage had been built at a cost, exclusive of the lot, which had been given by W. F. Daniell, of two thousand five hundred dollars, of which amount Mrs. Smith had contributed one thou- sand dollars and Mr. Sulloway had advanced the re- maining fifteen hundred until the society could repay it. During the year the society received from its most generous benefactor, Mrs. Smith, three thousand dollars toward the foundation of a library, to which was added five hundred dollars contributed by mem- bers of the society, and two hundred and fifty dollars, a gift from an unknown friend, through Hutchins & Wheeler, of Boston. At a meeting of trustees, held November 24, 1883, the building committee reported that the church was completed at a cost, including two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars paid for the land, of sixteen thousand one hundred and twenty dollars.

It was voted that the church be dedicated Decem- ber 19th, and that Rev. M. J. Savage be invited to preach the dedication scrmon. The clerk of the society was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of one thousand dollars from Mrs. Charlotte E. Stevens, of North Andover, Mass., and the offer of whatever further sum might be needed to purchase and place in the church such an organ as Mrs. R. G. Burleigh and Mrs. W. F. Daniell might select.

The church was dedicated December 19th, Rev. M. J. Savage preaching the sermon. Among those present and participating in the services of the day was Rev. Horatio Wood who, fifty-one years before, had preached the first Unitarian sermon ever preached in Franklin.

In January, 1884, Rev. J. B. Harrison, who, by earnestness and a high order of ability, had drawn a congregation together, and held them during nearly five years, withdrew from the pastorate of the society. In the following September the society extended a call to Rev. E. S. Elder to become their pastor, which call was accepted.

The foregoing narrative has been compiled from the church records. But little needs to be added. A his- tory of a church cannot be written in its infancy. The first six years of the life of the society have been extremely prosperous, and the present is full of promise. The society is indebted for its existence and prosperity to an unusually fortunate concurrence of favorable circumstances. It was no common talent that attracted, and no common ability that held to- gether, a congregation drawn from all the churches. It was no ordinary interest in a liberal church, and in what it stands for, that prompted the generous gifts of over nine thousand dollars from distant friends to- ward a church, an organ, a parsonage and a library, and this generosity was seconded by a corresponding liberality on the part of the society. And what is more significant and promising, those ideas, convictions and purposes of which the Unitarian Church is the

representative and exponent were heartily welcomed by a large portion of the community. There are at present (1885) more than fifty families connected with the church. In its unusually excellent library of more than two thousand five hundred volumes, to which valuable additions are being made, it has an instru- ment of power and helpfulness to the entire com- munity. It is to be hoped that as an institution for the promotion of goodness and righteousness in the lives and characters of its members, and for the ad- vancement of the kingdom of God in the community, the Unitarian Church of Franklin will abundantly justify the faith, fulfill the hopes and reward the endeavors of all who have in any way contributed to its establishment.

The First Baptist Church of Franklin Falls.1- Owing to the rapid growth of the village of East Franklin, as it was then called, there was an evident need of some place in which religious services could be held on the Sabbath for the benefit of many who could not go to churches in the neighboring villages.

Accordingly, the business men of the community secured Lyceum Hall, the only place that was then available, and made arrangements for the support of weekly religious services on the Sabbath. Elder Burton, of Sanbornton, appears to have been the earlist regular preacher to this union congregation, and he was succeeded, in April, 1866, by Rev. N. P. Philbrook, who, in May, 1867, was followed by J. E. Dame, a student from the academy at New Hamp- ton. Mr. Dame preached his farewell sermon June 28, 1868, and Rev. Charles A. Cooke preached most of the time for the ensuing year.

Meanwhile, the question of organizing a Baptist Church had been discussed, and upon the advice and encouragement of Rev. E. E. Cummings, D.D., of Concord, an organization was finally effected under the name of the First Baptist Church of East Frank- lin. The constituent members were twelve in num- ber, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Shadrach Wadleigh, Mrs. Lydia Sanborn, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Jenkins, Mrs. James Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sumner, Mrs. Walter Aiken, Mrs. Fanny W. Sweatt, Miss Nettie Whittaker and Miss Laura McGloughlin.

In November, 1869, Rev. Benjamin Wheeler, of Saco, Me., began to preach to the union congregation iu Lyceum Hall, and in June, 1870, he accepted a call from the Baptist Church to become its pastor.

In the summer of 1869, Walter Aiken, Esq., one of the most generous supporters of the union services, began the erection, at his own personal expense, of a new meeting-house, which was completed the follow- ing spring, so that just at the time when the town changed Lyceum Hall into a school building the new church building was ready for occupancy. As soon as practicable after the church had secured a pastor, a council of neighboring churches was called to con-

l'By Rev. A. J. Hopkins.

317

FRANKLIN.

sider the question of recognizing this church as in good standing in the Baptist denomination.

This council met June, 30, 1870, and, after proper investigation, voted to proceed with public services of recognition of the new church and dedication of the new meeting-honse.

One year later Mr. Aiken, with rare munificence, donated the meeting-house and land on which it stood to the First Baptist Society and he has to the present time ever been a generous contributor to the financial prosperity of the church.

After a brief service of one year and nine months, Rev. Mr. Wheeler, on March 3, 1872, resigned his pastorate, leaving a church which, having been or- ganized less than three years, had made a net gain of seventy-five, and now contained eighty-seven mem- bers. Of this increase, forty had been received by baptism, and all became willing workers in the now vigorous and efficient organization.

Mr. Wheeler, in the following October, moved from Franklin to Randolph, Mass., though he remained a heloved member of this church until August 25, 1876, the date of his death.

Mr. J. F. Fielden began preaching for the church in May, after Rev. Mr. Wheeler's resignation, and June 7th it was voted to extend to him a call to ordination as pastor of this church. The call having been accepted, the public services of ordination were held July 5, 1872. During the next seven years the church enjoyed a season of great prosperity, increas- ing rapidly in numbers and influence, so that at the end of its first decade of years there were one hundred and ninety-six members.

In 1875 the First Baptist Society, by unanimous vote, transferred all its property to the First Baptist Church of Franklin Falls, a corporate body under the laws of the State. In April, 1875, a baptistery was placed in the church, and in July an additional and useful room was formed by connecting the church and chapel. In February, 1878, a fine-toned, fifteen hundred pounds bell was presented by George E. Buell, Esq., and placed in the church tower, where it yet remains, the only church bell in the village.

Rev. Mr. Fielden resigned his pastorate in Franklin August 5, 1881, and immediately accepted a call to become pastor of the First Baptist Church in Win- chester, Mass.

During this service of a little more than nine years Mr. Fielden made a record as pastor which has rarely excelled, for of the one hundred and forty-nine accessions during his ministry, one hundred and six were baptized by him and forty-three came from other churches.

After an interval of about five months, on Decem- ber 16, 1881, a call was given to Mr. C. R. Brown, of Cambridge, Mass., to become pastor of the church after ordination. This call having been accepted, a council met in the church, on Friday, December 30th, and, after a satisfactory examination, proceeded to the

public exercises of ordination and recognition. This pastorate, though fruitful in accessions of new mem- bers, was quite brief, for in June, 1883, the pastor was invited by the trustees of Newton Theological Insti- tution to take the position of assistant professor of Hebrew and cognate languages in that seminary. He, having pursued those studies during a residence of two years in Germany, felt it to be his duty to accept the invitation, and accordingly resigned his pastoral charge after a service of but eighteen months.

In July the church extended a call to Rev. A. J. Hopkins, of Hopkinton, N. H., to become their pastor, and he accepted, entering upon his labors at the be- ginning of October, 1883. During the period between that and the present time (July, 1885) but few changes have taken place and little worthy of note has oc- curred. The church now numbers one hundred and eighty members, has a flourishing Sunday-school and appears to be preparing for another period of marked spiritual development and rapid increase in numbers.

Christian Church.1-The religious awakening out of which grew the Christian Church in Franklin, N. H., dates back to October, 1810, when Elijah Shaw, afterwards a prominent minister in the de- nomination, visited Andover and vicinity on an ex- horting tour, he being only seventeen years old. In the summer of 1811, and again in 1814, he visited the above-named towns. At this last visit the work began in earnest, he preaching in a barn, as no other building was large enough to hold the crowds that flocked to hear the good news. The work spread into the ad- joining towus of Salisbury and Sanbornton.

The pioneer church organized from Elder Elijah Shaw's labors was in Sanbornton. The organization was effected October 25, 1814, Elders Moses Cheney and Elijah Shaw assisting. This church continued its work with some efficiency till it fell to decay, in 1827, the membership at that period being eighty- one persons, residing in Sanbornton, Salisbury, Andover, New Chester and Northfield. Their covenant was brief and comprehensive : " We, whose names are under-written, having submitted ourselves to God, agree to submit ourselves to one another, con- sidering ourselves a church of God, called to be saints, agreeing to take the New Testament, and that only, for our rule,-for name, belief and practice."

Elders Calley and Morrison organized at different times, from 1820 to 1837; three churches in Andover and Salisbury village (now Franklin West village) and Sanbornton. These three churches united, March 14, 1830, into a strong organization. They did not long continue in this united capacity. Little or no provision was made for supporting the minister, and the church soon went to ruin. In January, 1838, the members of the church living in Franklin decided to separate from the others and form a new church. The organization was completed Jannary 21, 1838, at

) By Rev. T. G. Moses.

318

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

the school-house in Franklin village, Elders Benja. min Calley and Richard Davis assisting.

The movement toward the erection of the church edifice, in which the church have worshiped, was started January 14, 1838. A notice was posted that day for a meeting on the 20th, in the school-house in Franklin village, of all desirous of aiding in the erection of such a building. At that meeting Joshua Fifield, James Clark and Caleb Merrill were ap- pointed to procure a site, and report estimated expense to an adjourned meeting January 27th, when the re- ports were accepted, and Messrs. Fifield, Clark aud John Rowell were appointed a building committee, and N. S. Morrison, Caleb Merrill, Daniel Herrick, a com- mittee to raise funds and sell pews. February 10, 1838, all the arrangements were completed for the building. The foundation was put in, and the frame was put up June 27th, and so rapidly was the work carried forward by this energetic society, that the house was dedicated to the worship of the One God and His Sou, Jesus Christ, November 7, 1838. Isaac Hale, Joshua Fifield and John Simonds were com- mittee of arrangements, Elder Elijah Shaw preaching the sermon (text, Isaiah xlv. 6-7). The house cost $3200. The pews sold and subscriptions paid amounted to $3003.73, leaving a debt of $197.27, which was raised at once, and the church given to the worship of God free from debt, and, what is quite remark- able in the history of churches, has never had an incumbrance upon it in the form of a debt ; and there have been no interruptions or lapses in the service held in the church. In 1859 some repairs were made at an expense of one hundred and sixty dollars. In 1872 repairs and improvements in the interior of the church were made, amounting to eight hundred and fifty dollars, and a pipe-organ put in costing fifteen hundred dollars. The pastors that have been settled over this church since its organization are as follows : Benjamin Calley, one year, to 1839; Joseph Elliot, four years to 1843; Elijah Shaw, two years, to 1845; J. C. Blodgett and E. Chadwick, one year, to 1846; J. W. Tilton, two years, to 1848; O. J. Wait, eight and a half years, to 1856; A. H. Martin, four and a half years, to 1861. During 1862 several preach- ers of different denominations supplied the pulpit. In 1862, H. C. Dugan was settled, who remained to 1865; Rev. Mr. Syreans, to 1866; R. B. Eldridge, to 1868 ; O. J. Wait was again settled in 1868 and remained to April 1, 1883, when he resigned to become president of Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 1883, T. G. Moses was called to the pastorate. In writing this sketch I have been impressed with this remark- able feature,-the unanimity which has characterized all the actions of this body of Christians. There have been no long and distracting church trials, no bick- erings among the membership, but love and harmony have prevailed for nearly fifty years. The present condition of the church is prosperous. The Sunday- school is in a flourishing condition, and its financial

resources are sufficient for all the increased demands upon it.

The Free Baptist Church was organized in 1870 with sixteen members. The church edifice was erected in 1871 at a cost of about six thousand dollars. The first pastor of this church was Rev. James Rand. Among his successors have been the following: Revs. F. E. Davidson, J. Willis, E. H. Prescott and G. N. Musgrove.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 77

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