USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 29
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1719-20-January 11, James Tilley, James the infant son of James Tilley at the Garrison House, second falls, perhaps now the Pendergast garrison.
1719-20-February 28, Susannah Smith, wife of Lt. John Smith and her children, John Smith, Jr., Joseph Smith (these two of age), Samuel, Benjamin, Ebenezer, Winthrop (minors). Mrs. Smith was daughter of Capt. Thomas Chesley, and married Lt. John Smith, June 17, 1694. She was admitted to the church, March 17, 1723. He peti- tioned respecting Oyster River parish affairs in 1716, was parish clerk in 1717, and died in 1722.
1721-September 16, At Lower Falls, Lampereel River, Margaret Macdonel (Donald), infant daughter of Robert Macdonel.
1722-3-January 3, At funeral of Lt. John Smith (at Loverland) youngest son of Winthrop Smith, Jonathan and Treworthy Durgan, sons of Susannah Durgan, wife of James.
1723-January 2, Hubartus, son of Richard and Jane (Hilton) Hilton.
1729-February 5, Abraham, son of Arthur and Mary (Goddard) Bennick. 1729-June 29, Caleb, son of James Marston.
1729-October 5, Sarah, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Abigail and Joseph, children of Benjamin Pindar.
Chapter XVIII.
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
For more than forty years Rev. John Moody was the only minister, and his church the only church in Newmarket, but after 1750 there was great uneasiness in the religious mind. The passion for liberty, political and religious, ran into ex- travagance. Not a few were restless under the customs and doctrines of staid orthodoxy. New modes of expression and worship came into vogue that strangely jarred and contrasted with the decorous notions and customs of what was reproach- fully called the " standing order." The support of religious institutions by taxing the people was regarded as an infringe- ment of religious liberty. The story of the " standing order taking the last cow from some poor family to pay the minister " was told again and again.
This stir and revolt was largely the result of the preaching of Rev. George Whitefield who came to New England about 1740. His followers were called "New Lights " or "Separat- ists."
Rev. Nathaniel Ewer, who was ordained by the Separatists at Barnstable, Mass., in 1750, came to Durham, Lee and New- market in 1772. He gathered a congregation and built a meet- ing house at the Plains. This was called the " West Society," -Presbyterian rather than Congregational in polity. Mr. Ewer proved so attractive that Mr. Moody was left with a small congregation at the Centre several years before he closed his pastorate in 1777. The people of Newmarket had never hesitated to petition the General Assembly for such legislation as at the time would be to their greater advantage. The fol- lowing petition was signed and sent by Jeremiah Folsom, Josiah Adams and Wentworth Cheswell, agents for and in behalf of the town of Newmarket, November 7, 1777:
Humbly Shews That the Inhabitants of said Town being divided in Relig- ious Sentiments; and the Circumstances of the Town not admitting of a
312
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
local Division into two Parishes at Present: They have mutually agreed upon a Division between the Congregational & Presbyterian Societies by Poll .- In which Case neither Society having any legal Authority to call or settle a Minister of the Gospel in any way but as Individuals, nor can they Respectively as Seperate Bodys, vote assess or collect any Sums of Money for the Support of the Gospel nor Transact any other Prudential Affairs of the Ministry-which obvious Difficulties being increased by a Vacancy in the Ministry of one Society-The Inhabitants in legal Town Meeting Assembled the 3d Inst mutually agreed upon a Mode of Division by Polling . as by the Journal of said Meeting appears-and appointed the Subscribers Agents to petition this Honble Court for Leave to Bring in a Bill to recognize & establish said Division: and enable said Societies respectively to transact the Prudential Affairs of their Ministry seperately in the same Manner the Town might do if united-Which we humbly pray your Honours to take under Consideration; and grant such Relief as to your Honours shall seem meet.
The petition was granted.
The members of the West Society, January 10, 1778, sent to the town clerk of Newmarket, Josiah Adams, the following notification:
We the Subscribers desire our Respective Names be Entered as Members of the Western Society in the Town Agreeable to Charter.
Jeremiah Folsom, Walter Bryent, Junr. Wm. Burleigh, James Cram, Thomas Bennet, Will Renton, Arthur Bennett, Levi Folsom, Joshua Bracket, Aaron Kinnison, Nich. Harford, Jona Wiggen, Wm Burleigh, Jr, Zebulon Duda, Smith Chapman, Rufus Ewer, Benja Tayler, John Folsom, Josiah Burleigh, Jona Roberson, John Watson, David Wiggin, Joseph Smart, Robert Gooding, Jacob Ames, Joseph Young, Joseph Joy, John Young, Nicholas Doe, Edward Smith, Wm Simpson, Jacob Durgan, Thomas Wiggen, Joseph Gilman, John Cook, Joseph Clark, John Meeder, Elizabeth Folsom, Samuel Burleigh, Simeon Folsom, Edward Hilton, Asa Folsom, Thomas Kinnison, Walter Bryent, Josiah Hilton, Ichabod Bracket, Charles Smart, Israel Gil- man, Jacob Burleigh, Jun, Gamalil Ewer, Job Savage, Zebulon Doe, Lewis Kinnison, Benjamin Chapman, Jona Doe, Elizabeth Hilton.
The following were received April 12, 1779:
Nathaniel Gilman, Zebulon Neal, Jonathan Colcord, Junr, Stephen Hardy, Nathle Rogers, John Marster, Theodore Carlton, John Mighels, John Neal, E. Mighels, Samuel Mighels, William Shute, in behalf of Sam1 Smart, Nath1 Rogers, in behalf of Josiah Smart, Nath11 Gilman, Dudley Smart, Joseph Shute, Jeremiah Young, Jeremiah Foss, John Mead, Eliphalet Colcord, Peter Colcord, Ebenezer Speed, Michael Shute, Junr, Anthony W. Carpenter, Stephen Liford, Francis Durgin, George Hart, Thomas Tayler, Ede Hall Bergin, Joseph Weeks, David Gilman.
James Gilman was received March 31, 1782, Daniel Hilton, April 5, 1782, and " Wm Boardman, Eliz. Boardman, Vincent Tar, John Young Jur, Benj. Vernam, James Smith," March 2, 1784.
313
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
The town clerk, Josiah Adams, attests the above names as a true copy of those belonging to the Western Society in New- market.
The meeting house, which had stood for more than sixty years in the old burying ground at the Centre, had a sounding board, a steeple and a belfry, but no bell. As it began to show signs of decay the parish contemplated building a new one. A committee was chosen September 14, 1788, consisting of Capt. Edward Hilton, Capt. Samuel Gilman and Capt. Hubartus Neal "to treat with the East Society respecting the place where their meeting house should stand to give the best satis- faction."
It was voted December 15, 1788, " that the selectmen shall board up the windows in the old meeting house at the expense of the town."
The committees of the East and West Societies made reports February 2, 1789, "respecting the union of the said societys building a new meeting house." The old parish voted June 29, 1789 " to receive and except the Rev. Mr. Ewer for the min- istry of the whole town provided the two societies in said town shall unite."
We find as late as March 17, 1790, that the location of the contemplated new meeting house had not been fixed, but " May 30, 1791, a committee, consisting of Maj. Daniel Tilton, Ichabod Hilton, Cornet Wentworth Smith, Bradstreet Gilman, David Chapman, Capt. Hubartus Neal, Jr., and Jeremiah Young, was authorized and empowered to build said meeting house at General Hill's without any expense to the town, by the sale of pews." A plan for the house was presented by Henry Wiggin, and October 24, 1791 " most of the 54 floor pews and 27 gallery pews were sold at auction." The following is the list of purchas- ers and number of pew each purchased:
FLOOR PEWS.
No. 1 Benjamin Mead No. 17 Daniel Smith
3 General Hill
19 John Bennet
5 Major Young 21 Josiah Hilton
7 Daniel Tilton
23 Richard Hilton
9 Wentworth Cheswell 25 Ichabod Hilton
11 Jeremy Young
27 Joseph Doe
13 Jeremiah Mead
29 Philip Fowler
15 David Chapman 31 Joseph Smart
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
No. 33 Benjamin Mead
No. 43 Paul Chapman
35 Edward Hilton
45 Sam Baker
37 Daniel Hill
47 Vincent Tarr
39 James Smith
49 Jeremy Colcord
41 Robert Mitchell
51
Henry Wiggin
No. 2 Nathaniel Rogers
No. 28 Bradstreet Gilman
4 James Burleigh
30 Stilman Tarlton
6 John Shute
32 Walter Bryent
8 George Hilton
34 Josiah Adams
10
Dudley Watson
36 William Badger
12 Henry Burleigh
38
John Bennet
14 Ministers
40 William Coffin
16 William Boardman
42
Michael Wiggin
18 John M. Smith
44 Wentworth Smith
20 Henry Wiggin
46 Gideon Colcord
22 Moses Burleigh
48 Asa Folsom
24 Hubartus Neal
50 David Colcord
26 Nathaniel Rogers
52
Joseph Colcord
GALLERY PEWS.
1 Philip Fowler
15
David Colcord
2 Major Tilton
16 Bradstreet Gilman
3 David Chapman
17
David Chapman
4 Richard Preson
18 Daniel Hill
5 William Boardman
19
Daniel Hill
6 Jeremiah Mead
20
7 Winthrop Smith
21
22 David Chapman
9 Joseph Smith
23 Jeremy Young
10 John Shute
24 Cotton Bennet
11 David Chapman
25
David Chapman
13 David Chapman
26
12 Captain Neal
27 Major Young
14 General Hill
Gen. James Hill gave bond that he would give " a deed of waranty of land opposite to his house sufficient to set the meet- ing house on provided the committee proceed and compleat the same."
A " public vendue " was held November 7, 1791, at the house of Gen. James Hill. Henry Wiggin bid off the building of the new meeting house at 765 pounds, and Thomas Drowne bought the old one on the following conditions:
1 the old meeting house shall be struck off to the highest bidder as it now stands.
8 Cornet Smith
315
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
2ยช The person to whom the same shall be struck off shall give his obliga- tion to the committee to pay them or their order jointly and severally the purchase sum in cash, Beef, fish Rum and boards or either of said articles at the cash price-
The meeting house was erected during the year 1792 accord- ing to the plan. On January 9, Mr. Wiggin presented a schedule of the spars, spar-shores, etc., for raising the meeting house as follows, viz:
4 Spruce spars for shores 44 feet long-6 inches at the top end.
8 raising shores 36 feet long, 4 inches at top end, spruce or hemlock.
6 spruce spars 30 feet long, 4 inches at top end.
20 pick poles from 12 to 20 feet long with iron picks and ferrels.
On May 14, " Voted that the following articles be provided for the raising of the meeting house, vizt:
60 gallons good West India Rum, 3 Quintals of fish, 3 Bbls Cyder .- pro- vided by Mrs Drown 1 Bbl cyder .- 7 Bushels Potatoes 751bs Butter 121bs Coffee 1-4 C Sugar
"Voted that Mr. Jeremy Young be appointed to provide the articles for Raising the meeting house."
Mr. Smith, Ichabod Hilton and Captain Neal were appointed "to provide house & cooking the Provisions for raising the meeting house and Superintend the Intertainment."
The new meeting house was erected at the Junction of the Newmarket and " Ash Swamp " roads. It was a stately edifice with two rows of windows and three entrances-a steeple above the main entrance, which was at the end of the building facing the road to Newfields, at the apex of the triangle upon which the house stood. The high pulpit with " sounding-board " above it stood opposite the main entrance, and upon the wall in gilt letters upon a black ground was the inscription
O Thou that hearest prayer
Unto Thee shall all flesh come. Ps. LXV. 2. 1792.
There were galleries on three sides. Two "horse blocks " were outside. It had no bell. The article which was in the warrant, March 28, 1796, " to paint the meeting house and purchase a bell " was dismissed.
Wentworth Cheswell had care of the meeting house in 1794-95, and Amos S. Hill in 1807-09, at $3 per year.
316
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
At legal meetings of the East and West Societies, held sep- arately, May 29, 1793, in the new meeting house, Ichabod Hilton, Dr. Nathaniel Kidder and Capt. Andrew Gilman were chosen a committee to petition the General Court for a repeal of the act passed November 27, 1777, dividing the two societies. The committee in their petition give as the reason for their act that " The Operation of which [the Act of 1777] from Expe- rience has been found to be very inconvenient & prejudicial to the Intrest of the parties concerned." The petition was dated June 5, 1793, and granted in the repeal of the act, June 13, 1793.
The tax list of March, 1794, was distinguished by separation into town and ministerial rates, and the selectmen instructed the constable: "if any Person or Persons neglect or refuse to make payment on his, her, or their share or proportion set against their names respectively in said List, you are to Levy the same by distress."
On July 21, it was " voted nem con that the town join with the church in giving Mr. Samuel Tomb a call to settle in the ministry as a colleague with Mr. Ewer." Provision was also made for his settlement and salary. Philip Fowler, James Cram and Zebulon Doe in behalf of " the Presbyterian church of Newmarket," and James Hill, Edward Hilton, Wentworth Cheswell, Joseph Young and Andrew Gilman, a committee of the town, extended a call to Mr. Tomb, July 28, giving among other reasons the following: "Our dear pastor being advanced in Life & under such bodily Indisposition as not to be able to discharge all the various duties of a Minister."
Rev. Samuel Tomb, who was born in Wallkill, N. Y., January 1, 1767, and studied at Columbia College, and with Rev. Dr. John Mason, accepted the call to Newmarket, and was ordained October 22, 1794, with Mr. Ewer, moderator of the meeting, and Rev. William Morrison of Londonderry, preacher of the sermon from I Tim. 6:20. A number of Congregational ministers were present and participated. The church at Stratham, Rev. James Miltimore, pastor, was invited. Its records say, "Letter missive was read from the church at Newmarket, the 2 Sab. Octr. 1794: Voted compliance, and yt. Dr. Lane, J. Lane & B. Green attend."
With the new meeting house, a beloved pastor and a talented young colleague, and the two societies united once more, an
317
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
era of prosperity for the Newmarket society seemed in prospect. But troubles soon multiplied. Mr. Ewer, as a "New Light " preacher, had attracted many from the old church and pastor, Mr. Moody. Now the Baptists appeared in the town and won many from the "standing order." Dr. Samuel Shepard had founded a Baptist church at Brentwood in 1775 and by " in- defatigable labors " established branch churches in Stratham, Nottingham, Lee, and other neighboring towns. Elder Elias Smith was ordained pastor of the church in Lee in 1792. He was a gifted speaker and gained much influence in the vicinity. He married, January, 1793, Mary, daughter of Josiah Burleigh of Newmarket, and several of the Burleigh families and others became Baptists. He afterwards preached at Portsmouth.
This hastened the revolt against paying taxes to support a church with which the tax-payer had no sympathy. In March, 1796, the selectmen of Newmarket were sued at law for refusing to abate the parish rates of the brothers, William and Samuel Burleigh.
At a meeting held August 8, 1796, Ichabod Hilton, William Boardman, Richard Hilton and Daniel Hilton were chosen agents in behalf of the parish as defendants in the lawsuit.
The selectmen had the right to abate rates, if best, as will be seen by the following act of the General Assembly passed July 2, 1776:
Every Person having Eighteen Shillings ratable Estate including his Poll, and every Freeholder shall be deemed a legal Voter in all Affairs of the Town or Parish where he dwells. .
. And the Selectmen and Church Wardens of the several Towns and Parishes within this Colony shall have Liberty to make such Abatements of any Persons Rates, as shall, or may appear to them to be equitable and just.
An effort was made March 26, 1798, to refer the matters in dispute with the Burleighs to three " disinterested men." A proposition to refer it to " three of the Presbyterian and three of the Baptist societies " was refused September 17, 1798; but it was " voted that the levy of the Execution the Town has against Wm. Burleigh be suspended until further orders," and again April 1, 1799, that it be " postponed six months agreeable to his request." On March 31, 1800, the selectmen were " im- powered to negotiate all matters with William Burleigh & the Baptists respecting the demands against William Burleigh and the demand the Baptists have against the Town."
318
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
On March 29, 1802, it was finally " Voted To leave to the selectmen to adjust the Execution against William Burleigh with the Baptist Society."
About this time others seceded from the " stated ministry," and in 1797 Elder John Osborne of Portsmouth " laboured with them," and their numbers increased somewhat. They held meetings in barns, school houses and private dwellings, and later seem to have met at times in Mr. Ewer's old church at the Plains.
Rev. Mr. Tomb was a talented and able preacher, but the relation between the two pastors and the multiplying sects in the congregation failed to make a harmonious and cordial connection.
An ecclesiastical council convened April 27, 1797, by mutual request of the pastors and church. The council found occasion to reprove both the aged and the young pastor, also the members of the church " who have left the stated ministry and ordinances in the usual place of worship to follow strangers-contrary to gospel orders." This council failed to reconcile the parties, and the breach between the church and parish widened. The salary of both pastors was in arrears. Difficulties multiplied and the whole community was greatly agitated. At a stormy parish meeting held July 10, 1797, the resignations of Mr. Ewer and Mr. Tomb were accepted, and they were accordingly dismissed.
A committee was chosen August 7, 1797, and the selectmen directed "to hire preaching for three months-to except all those persons that they know have polled off to any other society, but not to abate the minister's rate committed to Constable R. Pike to collect." It was voted March 26, 1798, " to hire Rev. Seth Noble1 to supply the desk six months and that every person entering his dissent any time before the taxes are made shall be exempt from paying any part thereof."
The following document shows the method of procedure in becoming identified with a religious society to secure exemp- tion from the payment of ministerial rates:
To the Selectmen or Town Clerk of Newmarket. This is to let you know that Peter Colcord has applied for a certificate, desiring to Join the Baptist Society, and we have received him.
Bradstreet Gilman, Clerk.
February ye 8th 1799.
1 Seth Noble was born in Westfield, Mass., April 15, 1742, and died in 1807.
319
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
Mr. Gilman was clerk of a branch of the Baptist Church organized in Epping under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Shepard. It does not appear that it ever was incorporated, nor is it known when it became extinct. Mr. Gilman was chosen deacon.
At the annual meeting April 1, 1799, the town " Voted to hire John Osborne to preach in the new meeting house for the term of six months." But Mr. Osborne was a Baptist and many ob- jecting, another parish meeting was held April 22, and the vote to hire Mr. Osborne was reconsidered.
It was not until June 19, 1800, that the town and church reached an agreement, and a formal call was extended to Rev. James Thurston " to settle in this town as a gospel minister."
Joseph Young, Hubartus Neal, Philip Fowler, James Cram, Timothy Murray and Samuel Pickering were on the committee of the church, and Walter Neal, Joseph Young, Jr., William Boardman, Daniel Smith and Aaron Deale, of the town, to carry this vote into effect. Rev. Nathaniel Ewer expressed his " cordial approbation."
Rev. James Thurston was the son of Capt. James and Mary (Jones) Thurston, born in Exeter March 17, 1769. He was a student in the first class of Phillips Exeter Academy, but not a college graduate. He married October 9, 1791, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Peabody. He accepted the call to Newmarket August 24, 1800.
Accordingly at a meeting held August 25, 1800, it was voted
That the Ordination be appointed on the third Wednesday of October next. That a Committee be appointed to Join the Committee of the Church to make the necessary arrangements & provision for the Ordination, free from any expense for their time. That John P. Williams, Nathaniel Kid- der Esq., Jeremy Mead, Daniel Smith & Hubartus Neal Jun., be a Com- mittee for arranging the Ordination &c. agreeably to the above vote. That the Selectmen be directed to see that the meeting house be shored and well secured on the Ordination day. That Mr. Thurston have liberty to be absent from the desk three days in a year.
At the Ecclesiastical Council convened for his ordination October 15, 1800, Rev. William Miltimore of Stratham gave the sermon from Rev. 14:6; Rev. Curtis Coe, of Durham, the charge to the pastor; and Rev. William Pidgin of Hampton, the right hand of fellowship. The sermon, charge, right hand
320
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
of fellowship, and Mr. Thurston's answer to the call of the church were printed.
At this time some of the members who seceded had returned to the church, while others joined the church in Lee over which Elder John Osborne was ordained in November.
Chapter XIX.
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS CONTINUED.
It may be well to state here the existing conditions in the community as affecting the cause of religion.
In 1800 there were no Sunday schools nor Bible classes. Even the catechizing of children had been suspended, and the cate- chism, and with it Bible study, went out of use in families. The sacramental lecture had been discontinued because so few at- tended it. There were no meetings for social prayer; seldom a week-day lecture or more than forenoon and afternoon exercises on the Sabbath. The new movement of charitable societies and Sunday schools, missionary and Sunday school concerts excited alarm in the minds of some respectable people as tending to enthusiasm and irregularity.
Intemperance and its consequent misery and poverty also abounded, and some good farms were spent for rum.
No agitation like that of paying parish dues 1 has since arisen. A fire was kindled before which neither minister nor congregation could stand. The Christian laborer is worthy of his hire. To love and prize the Gospel we must support its preaching. To be taxed for its support should not be considered a burden, but a privilege. Such investment returns large interest in worldly profit. But some were determined not to pay a minister tax. They seem to have supposed it might be a public benefit and certainly a private boon, to be released of the encumbrance of a settled minister.
In 1803 the number of tax payers in town was 277, and of ministerial tax payers, 158. In 1808 the latter numbered 79, and in 1809, 89.
1 The laws in 1800 admitted of enforcing the payment of ministerial taxes where the per- sons taxed had not obtained actual legal exemption. In a few instances the taxes of the dissentients were collected by distrait.
321
RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
In 1801 it had become strictly true that conflicting interests and party feuds existed in the nation. Washington had warned the people against party names and measures, and now party spirit had risen high in the Republic. The whole body of the people had ranged under the banner of one or the other of the contending parties. Only in history can we recall the turmoil of those days when differing parties strenuously opposed each other. Disaffected persons adopted rough methods to show their political prejudices and preferences. Our modern differences are only fresh gales compared with the earlier storms of party. Families were divided, brother against brother, and influenced by directly opposite political interests. In the latter part of the century many of our churches had sunk into a bad state of de- clension. The ebbing current had impaired some of the founda- tions of social and religious progress. Seasons of commotion usually originating in political struggles had threatened to destroy the foundations of religious society here. The religious and local affairs of the people were blended with their political excitements.
Congregational ministers in those days very generally adhered to the political doctrines of the Washington administration. There was in the nation a strong and zealous party whose politi- cal sentiments were of a different character, who considered the influence of Congregational ministers an obstacle to their politi- cal progress.
These were the conditions when Mr. Thurston began his ministry in Newmarket. In 1803 a parsonage was purchased. Mr. Thurston was chosen chairman of the school committee March 13, 1804. The next year, March 25, 1805, at his request it was "voted to give Mr. Thurston twelve cords of wood annually" and to increase his salary "Twenty pound for the present year." This increase of salary was repeated April 28, 1806.
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