USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 30
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A committee appointed to examine the selectmen's accounts reported, March 25, 1805, " Upon the whole, as the Town & Ministerial accounts are so blended together, the short time we have had to examine, do[es] not permit us to make a more particular Report. Only it is said that there is now due from the Town to the Ministerial Society about Two hundred & twenty dollars."
The next year April 28, 1806, the warrant was made out to 21
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
"Persons qualified by law to vote in the Congregational minis- terial affairs," and the society's meetings were no longer held in connection with the annual town meeting.
Early in 1808, Mr. Thurston requested a "dismission from his ministerial office." We find that January 6, 1808, it was "Voted Mr. Thurston a dismission agreeable to his request," that he "have the Thanks of the town for his labour of love & kindness among us during his ministry with us;" also "the use of the Parsonage till the first day of April next."
After the departure of Mr. Thurston the church was without a settled pastor for many years, though with many preachers.
Mr. Thurston was subsequently installed at Manchester, Mass., April 19, 1809, where he remained in the pastorate till June, 1819. In 1820, he returned to Exeter where he died Decem- ber 12, 1835. He possessed a truly Christian spirit, was thoroughly devoted to his calling, and gave to it his undivided powers. His efforts were blessed and his ministry was a successful one. His wife survived him, dying October 15, 1845, aged 71. Two of their nine children were buried in the cemetery near the Junction. Their son, James, was born in Newmarket December 11, 1806; fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy; graduated at Harvard College, 1829, and at the Divinity school, Cambridge, 1835. He was a Unitarian, and had pastorates at Windsor, Vt., Billerica, South Natick, Cambridge, and Leicester, Mass. ^ He was agent for a time of the Massachusetts Temperance Society, and after the rebellion a teacher among the freedmen at Wilming- ton, N. C. He died at West Newton, Mass., January 13, 1872.
The town could not and would not settle as minister one who was not thoroughly educated according to the standard of the; times and of decided orthodox views. Yet the people preferred to secure to themselves a minister of the gospel in accord with their cherished convictions. They were aided in this by their dislike of orthodox Congregationalism. Some, if not decided Baptists, did not incline to sympathize with orthodox Congre- gationalism.
The parish voted, April 11, 1808, " That the selectmen be authorized to let out the Parsonage for the insuing year to the best advantage for the benefit of the society;" and again April 27, 1808, " That the selectmen shall open the meeting house doors to admit any minister of Respectable character that they Judge proper to Preach."
-
REV. JOHN BRODHEAD.
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RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
In 1808, Rev. George Pickering, a Methodist, and member of the New England Conference in 1793, who married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Bemis of Methuen, Mass., and made his home there, left his charge in Boston to be missionary-at-large. He always wore the Quaker-like dress of the first Methodist ministry. His itineracy brought him to Portsmouth, where he was heard by Dea. Thomas Drowne, and, by permission of the church, invited to Newmarket. He soon came and at the close of his sermon, Dea. Paul Chapman rose and said, " We wish to hear you again concerning this matter." Mr. Pickering responded "I will come again in two weeks, God willing, or send a better man." At the time specified Alfred Medcalf preached, and was soon after employed as minister.
In a parish meeting, December 8, 1808, it was " Voted that all those persons who wish not to pay anything towards preach- ing may have liberty to enter their dissent with the Town Clerk in ten days; . that the sum of twenty cents & so in proportion on all rateable estate be raised & applied for hiring Mr. Medcalf till the whole be expended; that the select- men be directed to employ Mr. Medcalf to preach so long as the money be expended, and that they shall provide a place for his board." Again April 3, 1809, " Voted That the selectmen be authorized to let out the parsonage to the best advantage for the purpose of hiring the Rev. Alfred Medcalf to supply the desk till it be expended;
. that thirty cents be raised on the poll & so in proportion on all rateable estate to hire Mr. Medcalf, giving liberty to all to enter their dissent in ten days." The parsonage was struck off to David Chapman for forty dollars.
Mr. Medcalf married Sophia W., daughter of Josiah Adams of Newfields. She died September 14, 1812. Mr. Medcalf finally settled in Greenland, and died there June, 1837.
Rev. John Brodhead, a Methodist preacher, was appointed April, 1809, to a circuit including Portsmouth, Newmarket and Durham. He came to Newfields village and lived in the " Major Norris" house on the site of the present Universalist Church. The parish, April 10, 1810, voted " that Mr. Brodhead have the use of the Parsonage the present year, and that he supply the Desk with preaching till the worth thereof be expended to raise thirty cents on a poll & so in proportion on all rateable Estate for the use of preaching the current year; that
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
the Bible belonging to the society be returned to the Desk im- mediately; that the Selectmen call on all that are delinquents in payment to the Society to make payment immediately; . that they have a Subscription paper to
collect money for the use of preaching;
that they open the meeting house doors to any regular preacher when there is no Methodist preaching."
Similar society action was taken, giving Mr. Brodhead the parsonage and other compensation by tax or contribution till 1823.
On March 29, 1817, the " Ministerial Society in Newmarket " effected a more complete organization by choosing Samuel Pickering, moderator, Daniel Hill, parish clerk, John C. Fowler, collector, Samuel Pickering, Winthrop Hilton, Jr., Jeremiah F. Young, wardens, John Kennard, Jeremy Mead and Nathaniel Young, " a committee to procure the Bible and other church matters belonging to the Society & lodge the same with the wardens."
In the summer of 1818, the parishes of Newmarket, Stratham, Kittery, and perhaps others, enjoyed the novelty of a woman preaching in their pulpits. In Newfields, August 7, 1818, we have the record, " A woman preached in this Town, and many flocked to hear her;" and at Stratham, August 9, 1818, “ Our meetings were very thin; most of the people went to hear a woman which preached with the Baptists."
About this time the eccentric Lorenzo Dow, a heavily bearded man, then a great curiosity, appeared in the Newmarket pulpit. As he entered he stripped off his coat and threw it one side, rolled up his shirt sleeves and announced his text from Canticles, 5:3, " I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on?"
The first Sunday school in Newfields was opened by Miss Ann Coe, daughter of Rev. Curtis Coe. This was in the spring of 1818 at the old centre school house,
The " Toleration Act," passed in 1819, provided " that no person shall be compelled to join or support any congregation, church or religious society, without his express consent first had and obtained." "And any person may (if connected with a society) by leaving a written notice with the clerk of the society, be exempt from any future expenses &c." This led to the formation of religious societies whose members taxed themselves. On the whole this has doubtless been best, as it has taken the
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RELATIVE TO CHURCH MATTERS.
matter out of the arena of local politics, and enabled each religious society to know its friends.
More particulars need to be given of the parsonage. Rev. Mr. Moody had lived in his own house. Rev. Mr. Ewer had a home at the Plains.
Rev. Mr. Tomb, April 1, 1795, bought of Jacob Gilman twenty- eight and three-fourth acres of land with buildings adjoining the old centre burying ground. This estate Mr. Gilman had received from his grandfather, Jacob Fowler, June 24, 1790. It was sold by Mr. Tomb, to Enoch Hale, Jr., April 18, 1798, his wife Mehitable relinquishing her right of dowry.
The procuring of a parsonage had long been held in contempla- tion, but no decisive action was taken till February 14, 1803, when it was voted " to pay David Wiggin $900 for house and land formerly owned by Mr. Tomb." The purchase was made March 21, and the property deeded May 30, 1803 to the " In- habitants of Newmarket," by Robert Pike, Daniel Smith and Samuel Pickering, committee, " To be and remain a parsonage for the use of the minister of the Congregational persuasion that shall be settled here;" for Mr. Thurston's use "so long as he shall continue to be the settled Congregational minister of said town & then forever after."
Mr. Brodhead occupied the parsonage thirteen years, 1810-23, and six of his children were born there. After he left it it was repaired and rented.
Winter congregations met in the old centre school house as early as 1817, and in the academy in 1818 and onward. The Society voted April 19, 1819, to " lay out something for repairs on the meeting house." When the academy was conveyed, May 24, 1825, to the Newfield's school district a reserve was made that the building should be " free for all denominations to hold meeting in at all times when not occupied for a school."
Piscassic was for a long time largely a community by itself for school, religious and social purposes. It is not certainly known that Samuel Pease of Bald Hill road had not received his title of deacon before his removal to Maine at the close of the Revolution. Samuel Shepard, a doctor and Baptist minister, had a deacon of his branch church at North River, Bradstreet Gilman, a man who magnified his office whether civil or ecclesi- astical. Elder Shepard's death in 1815 was carefully entered by Josiah Smith in his family Bible. This family in 1824 wel-
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
comed Elder Thomas Cheswell, a Free Baptist, to hold meetings in their house. Rev. Elias Smith, once a Baptist minister at Lee, had married Mary Burleigh of the Bald Hill road, and was in- fluential in all the social life at Piscassic. Rev. John Osborne was always a welcome visitor among the Piscassic farmers whether he came to preach, or to levy contributions of produce for his large and needy family. Elder Israel Chesley, a Christian Baptist, was connected by marriage with the Hersey family and was gladly welcomed there and in all the neighborhood for many years. Private dwellings, school house and chapel, were in constant requisition for religious meetings down to the death of Elder John Foss in 1884.
As new business interests were springing up at Newfields and Lamprey River it became impossible to gather the people for worship at the old centre any longer, and some change was made necessary. Hence in 1825 the way seemed prepared for establish- ing a Congregational church at Lamprey River Village. During that summer Timothy Chamberlain, chorister of the Tabernacle Church, Salem, Mass., who was superintending the erection of a mill, conducted religious services in the warehouse of the com- pany reading a sermon and leading in singing. By his request the Pascataqua Association, at its meeting in Durham, July 19, 1825, appointed Rev. Messrs. Federal Burt and Jacob Cummings " to visit the village and agent of the Factory Co. at Lamprey River, to make inquiry whether a stated lecture may be estab- lished among them every Sabbath evening & make proposals for this purpose." The committee reported at the meeting in Eliot, Me., August 16, 1825, and the Sabbath lecture was es- tablished. This led later to the establishing of a Sunday school, a regular preaching service, and the organizing of a church March 27, 1828.
As the manufacturing establishment of the village was growing in importance and the population increasing, the Methodists, in accordance with the true spirit of their mission, thought best to have a house of worship and the regular means of grace more accessible to the people. Through the personal influence and faithful efforts of Rev. John Brodhead a site was secured free, and deeded November 16, 1827, to Rev. John Brodhead, Elha- nan W. Fenner and Benjamin Wheatland, trustees, the church was built and dedicated the same month, and in the spring of
School House New fields JOH.
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EDUCATIONAL-SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY.
1828 the church was organized. In July of that year Rev. Samuel Kelly was appointed pastor.
The first Baptist meeting house in Lamprey River stood near the residence of G. K. Leavitt. Rev. John Osborne, a prominent Christian Baptist, was the first preacher. Services were held there from 1827 to 1836 when a Freewill Baptist church was built in the village. Rev. Daniel P. Cilley was the first pastor.
Chapter XX.
EDUCATIONAL - SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY.
Religious freedom necessarily involves the priceless boon of secular education. The right of private judgment presupposes knowledge and education. Hence the duty of the state to edu- cate her children. Education was a passion with our Pilgrim Fathers.
One of the earliest records of Boston, of the date of April 2, 1635, says, "It was generally agreed upon yt our brother Phile- mon Purmout shall be intreated to become schoolmaster for ye teaching and nourturing of all children with us."
We quote the School Law of 1647:
It being one cheife project of yt ould deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of ye Scriptures, as in former times by keeping them in an unknowne tongue, so in these latter times by perswading from ye use of tongues, yt so at leaste ye true sence & meaning of ye originall might be clouded by false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers; yt learning may not be buried in ye grave of our fathers in ye Church & Commonwealth, the Lord assisting of endeavors:
It is therefore ordered yt every township in this jurisdiction, after ye Lord hath increased them to ye number of 50 householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their towne to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write & reade, whose wages shall be paid either by ye parents or mas- ters of such children, or by ye inhabitants in generall, by way of supply, as ye major part of those that order ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint; pro- vided those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have ym. taught for in other townes; & it is further ordered yt where any towne shall increase to ye number of 100 families or householders, they shall set up a gramar schoole, ye master thereof being able to instruct youth as farr as [that] they may be fited for ye university, provided yt if any towne neglect ye performance hereof above one year, yt every such towne shall pay £5. to ye next [nearest] schoole till they shall perform this order.1
1 Mass. Col. Records, II; 23.
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
In New England it has been a steady and governing principle, from the very foundation of the Colonies, that it is the right and duty of Government to pro- vide, by means of fair and just taxation, for the instruction of all the youth in the elements of learning, morals and religion.1
In the earlier days schools were taught in private houses, and not unfrequently barns were used as school rooms. The various divisions of the town for school purposes were first called "clas- ses," but later "districts." Some of the teachers of those days were strict disciplinarians even for those times. Mischievous boys were accustomed to get sundry raps from ferule and cane.
At a meeting held in Exeter the first Monday in April, 1703, it was voted "that the selectmen shall hire a schoolmaster for a whole year and order him to keep school three months in the old meeting house, and the rest of the time according to their dis- cretion at Lt. Samuel Leavitts, Jonathan Robinsons, Richard Hiltons and William Taylors-each one to provide the school- master with convenient house room and fire wood."
It was also voted "that the old meeting house shall be sold by the selectmen, and a school house be built at the town's expense and set below Jonathan Thing's house next to the river."2
At a meeting, May 20, 1706, held for making choice of a school- master, it was voted "that the town hire a schoolmaster."
At a meeting held the first Monday in April, the town voted to build a school house on land bought of "Mr. Coffin by ye new meeting house, to be 30 feet in length & 20 feet in breadth & 8 feet stud."
On March 25, 1728, the town voted that the parishioners of Newmarket shall be free from paying for the school in Exeter town provided they "keep a school among them Selves att their own Charg."
The first school in Newfields was at Richard Hilton's at the old garrison, probably in 1703, as it is recorded that "ye school- master is to keep school at Richard Hilton's," he "to provide sd schoolmaster with housrome & fire wood convanient."
Dates of the erection of school houses are not known. A school house at Pine Hill, which the children in the vicinity of the Junction and Ash Swamp attended, was on the south side of the hill beyond the Catholic cemetery. The road at that time passed around the hill easterly.
1 Commentaries on American Law II; 192.
2 Exeter Town Records, vol. 2, p. 97.
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EDUCATIONAL-SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY.
Piscassic had a school house early on the present site. The present building was erected in 1875. The first school house in Newfields village was on Main street, corner of Hilton Avenue, north of the "Elm House." Among the teachers who are remembered as teaching in that building, were Dudley S. Palmer, afterwards publisher at Concord, "master Clough," "master Ordway," Mark Lane, the Misses Sally and Mary Adams, and Miss Coe.
The first Methodist Academy in New England was opened at Newfields in 1817. The building stood on the hill where the present school house is located. When the academy was removed to Massachusetts in 1825, the school district, through its com- mittee, Hall J. Jenness, Charles Lane and Henry Wiggin, pur- chased the lot and building, with this proviso: "Said building was built & occupied for an academy & a reserve is made in the sale that it shall be free to all religious denominations to hold meetings at all times when not occupied for a school, said school district to support the fence round said land." This building, which had a hall in the second story, was used for school, reli- gious and town meetings till 1854, when a new building was erected with two school rooms on the first floor, and a town hall above. The old academy building was sold and removed, and is still standing as a private dwelling, with porch and belfry- the bell having been stolen-removed, between the pattern shop and the Wiggin store. The primary school building was built in 1859. The school and town hall building, built in 1854, was destroyed by fire January 25, 1907. A new school building, without a hall was built on the same site and was first occupied November 13, 1907.
The resident members of the Grand Army of the Republic, May 17, 1890, presented the schools with the national colors, and on the following day they were hoisted on the grammar school building. The flag was presented by H. Jenness Paul, and accepted in behalf of the school by Austin J. Neal. Speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Fitts, Rev. Mr. Trickey, and the teacher, Charles Strout.
The veterans raised a new flag on the Centre school building, May 31, 1897, replacing the one given by them in 1890.
A flag for the new school building, the gift of the Village Improvement Society, was raised on Memorial Day, 1908, the flagstaff having been given by Daniel R. Smith. The veterans'
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
flag of 1897 was first raised, saluted, and lowered by them, follow- ing which the new flag was raised, saluted by the school chil- dren, and the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by the audience.
Notwithstanding the prevalent feeling among the Metho- dists against a "man-learned ministry," Rev. John Brodhead strongly urged the necessity of an educated ministry, and mainly through his efforts and influence the first Methodist academy in New England was started here in 1817, with Rev. Moses White, A. M., as its first principal. The institution was incorporated in 1818 as the "Newmarket Wesleyan Academy," and Mr. White was succeeded by Rev. Martin Ruter, who was born in Sutton, Mass., April 3, 1785. He was one of the noblest sons of New England. No mistake was made in appointing him to the academy. His self-culture was a remarkable example of the acquisition of knowledge under difficulties. He became a very learned and scholarly man, a good debater and writer, an able preacher and leading educator East and West. His influ- ence was important in promoting studious habits among the preachers. He now sleeps on the bank of the Brazos in Texas.
For a few years the school prospered, but Ruter went West, and it was deemed best to seek another location for the school. It was removed in 1824 to Wilbraham, Mass., and still flourishes as "Wesleyan Academy."
The one student to bring fame to the Newfields academy was Rev. Edward T. Taylor, the sailor-preacher who ten years later found in Boston his life-work and wonderful renown as Bethel preacher and evangelist of the sea. While a student of the academy in 1818 he roomed with Charles Lane in the house of Jeremy Colcord, now owned and occupied by Rufus Sanborn. Taylor was no student, but he was bright in debate and an adept in interesting wayside and school house congregations.
When Taylor was to preach in the evening, Lane would read the Bible to him. If a verse was reached that attracted Taylor's attention, he would cry out "Stop there, Lane; put your finger there; read that verse again, again, again; that will do." And the verse would be his text.
In 1884 Charles Lane was the sole survivor of the pupils.
Amasa Buck started a second school in 1835, called "Franklin Seminary." The new academy building was upon the hill opposite the first academy. Mr. Buck aroused great enthu-
FRANKLIN ACADEMY.
M. E. CHURCH.
WESLEYAN ACADEMY.
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EDUCATIONAL-SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY.
siasm among his pupils in the study of nature. He had a valuable cabinet.
William T. Harlow, Erastus O. Phinney and a Mr. Langley succeeded Mr. Buck as principals. It was an excellent school, prepared youths for college, and for a few years was well patron- ized by the young people of both sexes from neighboring towns. A few are still living who attended it. It came to be a Methodist institution, and was under the patronage of the New England Conference. Again the location was deemed undesirable and a new Conference Seminary was established at Northfield in 1845, and removed to Tilton in 1863, where it continues to live in a very flourishing condition.
The building was sold to Amos Paul and was the first build- ing of the Swamscot Company on the west side of the railroad track. The bell was taken to Northfield.
Among the many faithful and successful teachers for a longer or shorter time it is worthy of note that Miss Harriet E. Sanborn taught in the village schools more than thirty-two years, in many cases teaching two generations of a family.
We append the names, as far as ascertained, of those who availed themselves of the excellent educational advantages of Phillips Exeter Academy, with the date of entrance; also col- lege, of which certain afterwards became students.
1783-James Thurston.
1784-Thomas Cheswell. John Mead.
1785-Jeremiah Mead.
1787-Zebulon Smith
1788-Ezra Smith.
1790-Nathaniel Rogers.
1791-Benjamin D. Bryant Joseph S. Folsom
Nathan Hilton.
Nathaniel Pease.
Edward Philbrook.
Walter Smith.
1792-Andrew McClary Chapman. Warren Gilman.
Jonathan Longfellow. Paul Robinson.
1794-Charles S. Bryant.
1795-Bradstreet Gilman.
1796-Simeon Folsom.
1797-George Rogers. William Walker.
1798-Jacob Longfellow.
1799-Jacob Folsom. John Williams. 1803-Nicholas B. Doe ..
1804-John Rogers. Richard W. Rogers. James Smith. Winthrop Watson.
1814-Ebenezer H. Neil.
1816-George O. Hilton.
1822-James Thurston, Harvard.
1827-George H. Brodhead.
1828-Nicholas E. Paine.
1830-Erastus E. Tuttle.
1833-Thornton F. Brodhead. William C. Tenney, Harvard
1835-Timothy J. Murray.
1839-Charles H. Branscomb.
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
1842-Walter D. Smith.
1847-Edward F. Eaton.
Joseph L. Elkins. James O. Pike.
John B. Webster. Henry K. Wetherbee.
1890-George E. Andrews, Wesleyan. William C. Hanson, Harvard.
1853-Amos Masters Paul.
1854-William J. Quinn, Holy Cross, John F. Simpson, Tufts.
Albert E. Kennard.
Montreal. 1891-Edward H. Richards, Dart- mouth. 1893-Elmer D. Paul.
1855-Daniel G. Neal.
1856-Charles W. Fifield, Yale. Ernest E. Richards.
1866-John W. Sanborn. Wesleyan. 1894-J. Warren Stuart.
1868-Frank W. French. 1895-Jared A. P. Neal, Harvard.
1879-Charles M. Howard, Boston University. Harry K. Torrey, Harvard- Dartmouth.
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