USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 35
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1874, July 12, Frank Cookson to Nellie Plummer.
1874, Aug. 24, John Ford of Lawrence, Mass., to Mary J. Quinn.
1874, Aug. 31, David A. Curry to Sarah J. Thompson of Strafford.
1874, Oct. 4, Samuel Neal, Jr., to Lizzie S. Howard.
1874, Nov. 30, Melvin L. Thurston to Lucretia A. Buzzell.
1874, Dec. 19, Perry T. Kuse to Carrie Thompson of Haverhill, Mass.
1875, May 5, George E. Hardy to Emma B. Hanson.
1875, May 13, N. J. Smith to Hattie Williams.
1875, May 18, Matthew Carney of Lawrence, Mass., to Sarah E. Quinn. 1875, May 22, Albert R. Pennell to Martha Bumery.
1875, May 27, George T. Spencer to Lizzie E. Boothley.
1878, June 5, Lewis S. Hodgdon to Mary M. Paul.
1878, Nov. 14, John F. Fowler to Mary F. Pollard of Boston.
1878, Nov. 28, Albion Keniston to Ella F. Colcord of Exeter.
1878, Dec. 5, John W. Paul to Ellen W. Clark.
1879, May -, Charles F. Littlefield to E. Mabel Knox of Lebanon, Me. 1879, July 5, John A. Smith to Margaret A. Ewins.
1879, Aug. 6, J. Harry Prentiss of Haverhill, Mass., to Annie E. Chesley.
1879, Sept. 17, Charles S. Hosford of Boston to Mary A. Harvey.
1879, Oct. 4, George S. Littlefield to Annie A. Smith of Newmarket.
1879, Oct. 11, Frank Tilton to Alice K. Gibney of Concord.
1879, Nov. 27, Moses B. Ellis to Emma A. Miles.
1880, Feb. 24, Jacob Hersey (2d m.) to Elizabeth M. Bowley.
1880, Feb. 24, Daniel C. Wiggin to Isabelle J. Varney.
1880, June 23, Charles F. Simpson to Lillie McMillan.
1880, June 29, Levi A. Hanscom to Mary E. Bennett. 1880, Oct. 21, John M. Paul to Ina E. Miller. 1880, Oct. 27, Frank M. Spofford to Clara Todd.
1880, Dec. 25, Alvin H. Miles to Abbie E. Weeks.
1881, Jan. 29, Charles A. Freeze to Mary E. Goodrich of East Kingston.
1881, Feb. 25, Alexander Curry to Jane B. Ferrin of Exeter.
1881, April -, Romer G. Coon to Nellie J. Conner. 1881, Dec. 11, Herbert D. Ellison to Viola L. Broughton.
1881, Dec. 31, Fred W. Dixon to Edith M. Fogg.
1882, Jan. 25, Alvin J. Howard to Carrie M. Fraser of Somerville, Mass.
1882, Aug. 10, James A. Spead to Flora J. Richardson.
1882, Aug. 30, Henry Thompson to Annie Mendum.
1882, Oct. 26, John C. Giddings to Mary E. Scammon.
1882, Nov. 30, George W. Stillson to Nettie J. Marden of Kittery, Me.
1883, Jan. 28, George E. Weeks to Maggie Rice.
1883, Feb. 2, Simeon Dearborn to Lizzie M. Brown of Naples, Me.
377
CIVIL AFFAIRS.
1883, March 1, Caleb P. Davis of Newburyport, Mass., to Huldah B. Jones.
1883, May 15, George H. McDuffee to Le Vertie A. Smith.
1883, Sept. 10, George W. Chase to Mary P. Smith.
1883, Oct. 13, John Garvey to Ellen Devine.
1883, Nov. 8, George W. Paul to Clara E. Sanborn.
1884, Jan. 20, William O. Clifford to Henrietta A. Cheney.
1884, April 3, Moses B. Ellis to Annie E. Willis.
1884, June 24, Charles E. Howard to Annie M. Lyons.
1884, June 25, James L. Goodwin to Catherine Coffey of Stratham. 1884, Aug. 8, William Pease to Mary E. Thompson of Exeter.
1884, Sept. 20, Frank W. Clough to Annie F. Fogg of Seabrook.
1884, Sept. 23, Fred L. Melcher to Etta M. Swett of Wolfeboro.
1884, Sept. 27, Fred A. Hoyt to Mary A. Farnsworth of Malden, Mass.
1885, Feb. 2, Frank O. Kuse to Myrta M. Jillison.
1885, April 9, Alfred Miles to Amy York.
1885, May 1, George P. Hanson to Jennie H. Dockum of Newmarket.
1885, May 23, William H. Wentworth to Ida F. Corson.
1885, May 30, John P. Goggon of Manchester to Martha E. Quinn.
1885, June 1, Frederick A. Ball to Fannie Mitchell.
1885, June 11, Daniel A. Langlands to Ella A. Paul. 1885, July 15, Albert Miles to Flora A. Foss.
1885, Aug. 22, Charles G. Ramsdell to Annie Corson.
1885, Sept. 24, Frank A. Fagan to Mary A. Donovan.
1885, Oct. 29, George W. Pollard to Minnie C. Wadleigh of Exeter.
1885, Dec. 17, Hosea D. Swaine of Concord to Esther A. Beckett. 1886, April 11, Walter E. Marshall to Mary C. Cannon.
1886, June 3, George R. Blinn of Boston to Clara A. Pollard.
1886, Oct. 21, Albert E. Grey to Maggie A. Stewart of Portsmouth.
1887, May 25, Charles E. Benson to Anna M. Thompson.
1887, May 29, Elmer E. Kimball to Mary H. Brown of Hampton. 1887, June 15, Fred A. Hoyt to Jennie M. Hayes of Portsmouth.
1887, July 12, Warren E. Macomber to Ella J. Neal.
1887, Aug. 23, Joseph D. Hanson to Sarah F. Pierson.
1887, Sept. 11, John W. Purington to Susie M. Gerrish of Newburyport, Mass.
1887, Sept. 29, Joseph E. Perkins of Exeter to Nettie M. Gray.
1887, Oct. 5, George S. Paul to Edna A. Hobbs. 1887, Oct. 26, Maurice Spellman to Marie E. Cavey.
1887, Dec. 21, Howard S. Chick to Lulu H. Francis of Durham.
1888, May 23, Timothy J. O'Connor to Katherine Ryan of Stratham.
1888, June 14, Albert Pease to Abbie M. Pollard of Epping.
1888, Oct. 19, Christopher A. Pollard to Bessie P. Ordway.
1888, Oct. 30, Valentine G. McMurphy to Katie J. Dowling of Dedham, Mass.
1889, Feb. 28, Sidney Conner to Lizzie B. Smith of Newmarket.
1889, Aug. 22, James M. Hanson of Stoneham, Mass., to Laura A. Smith.
1890, April 27, Edward Sheehy to Bridget Cannon of Exeter. 1890, May 7, William H. Riley to Maggie E. Kelly.
1890, May 28, Walter H. Pease to Minnie W. Johnson of North Berwick, Me.
1890, June 4, Clarence H. Paul to Alice B. Tilton.
1890, July 9, Eugene E. Jenness to Elmira N. Rundlett of Stratham.
378
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
1890, Sept. 15, Arthur J. Durrell to Abbie B. Brackett of Greenland.
1890, Nov. 26, Charles W. Fraser to Bessie Brannan.
1891, June 25, James S. Ward of Wythville, Va., to Ida Alice Varney.
1891, Oct. 1, Albert E. Crafts of Boston to May H. Wilkinson.
1891, Nov. 25, Alfred Lyons to Sarah F. Sloane.
1892, Jan. 14, Cyrus W. Scott of Andover, Mass., to Elizabeth P. Field. 1892, June 22, Albert Field to Augusta E. Russell of Newburyport, Mass.
1892, July 25, William Knott to Sarah Glenister of Providence, R. I.
1892, Sept. 1, Charles S. Strout to Edith Bernard Paul.
1893, April 4, Michael J. Griffin to Lizzie A. Dowling of Dedham, Mass.
1893, April 8, Edward Spellaine to Kate Monahan.
1893, May 18, George S. Littlefield to Ellen R. Muncey.
1893, Sept. 18, Merton A. Gray to Jane Collins.
1893, Sept. 19, Leonard H. Pinkham to Abbie J. Forbush.
1894, May 5, Frank A. Morse to Belle C. Clough.
1894, Aug. 6, Ole Syvertsen to Ellen G. Badger.
1894, Oct. 4, Herbert W. Smith to Jennie May Davis of Epping. 1894, Oct. 24, Percy Oliver to Myrtis D. Woodman.
1894, Nov. 28, William L. Clough to Mary L. Perry of Exeter.
1895, Feb. 27, Sylvester D. Gray to Ida M. Keniston.
1895, April 24, John Herlahy to Katherine Sullivan of Newmarket.
1895, May 6, Fred Davis to Cora French.
1895, May 12, John F. Dearborn to Carrie A. Beal.
1895, June 5, Herbert T. Jenkins to Sarah L. Knowles of Chester.
1895, July 4, George H. Howard to Josephine L. Burgess of Exeter.
1895, Sept. 11, Daniel R. Smith to Alice B. Kuse.
1895, Oct. 22, Ralph P. Jones to Sarah P. Richards.
1896, Jan. 29, Fred A. Hanson to Josephine K. Lydston of Portsmouth. 1896, June 18, Albert A. Caswell to Isabella M. Hudson.
1896, June 22, William Callihan to Annie Shannon of Exeter.
1896, July 6, Mitchell Broder to Emma Jones.
1896, July 15, James W. Conner to Gracilla M. Willis.
1896, Aug. 17, Charles F. Littlefield to Mary S. Hemmingway.
1896, Sept. 1, George S. McKenna to Cornelia W. Tuttle.
1896, Sept. 24, Edward Feltch to Annie Dunno of Epping.
1897, Jan. 16, Alvah W. D. Ridley of Alfred, Me., to Jennie May Otis.
1897, May 18, Richard S. Abbott to Maggie Sullivan.
1897, June 9, Wilbur A. Littlefield to Ruth H. Wiswell of Durham.
1897, Oct. 5, Perley R. Bean to Rose Althea Todd. 1898, April 6, Levi A. Dunn to Emma B. Corson.
1898, May 11, Frank C. Taplin to Elizabeth M. E. Sanborn.
1898, June 2, Michael J. Herlihy to Mary Cronin of Newmarket.
1898, Aug. 2, Michael J. Donovan to Mertie Tuttle.
1898, Sept. 6, George A. Merrill of Augusta, Me., to Harriett Tetherly. 1898, Sept. 19, Charles F. Pease to Huldah Symonds of Epping ..
1898, Oct. 6, Herbert O. Prime of Portsmouth to Harriett G. Simpson. 1898, Oct. 26, Elmer D. Paul to Annie L. Gardner.
1898, Nov. 3, George Otis Ruster of Laconia to Sarah R. Stobert.
1899, Jan. 2, Joseph E. Haley to Maud A. Robinson.
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CIVIL AFFAIRS.
1899, May 20, Ralph S. Haley to Lillian Robinson.
1899, Nov. 29, Loren E. Smith to Hattie D. Staples.
1900, Jan. 3, Jeremiah A. Towle to Etta M. Bickford of Lawrence, Mass. 1900, Jan. 13, Ralph W. Furbush to Addie Corson.
1900, June 27, Charles H. Mathes of Newmarket to Mary F. Burns.
1900, June 30, James L. Goodwin to Lizzie J. Foman.
1900, Nov. 19, Ernest L. Howard of Schenectady, N. Y., to Mattie Lamie. 1901, June 29, John F. Hartnett to Mattie B. Thompson.
1901, July 10, James Harmon Neal to Ellen F. Bresnahan of Newmarket.
1901, Aug. 11, Simon L. Provencher of Somersworth to Katherine E. Dowd.
1901, Dec. 23, Joseph O. Hanson to Margaret M. Proctor.
1902, June 12, J. Lewis Coe to Alice M. Jewell of Stratham.
1903, Aug. 24, Bert F. Atkinson of Tilton to Mary F. Smith.
1903, Nov. 14, Albert H. Ham to Maud A. Wheeler.
1903, Nov. 15, John M. Towle to Sadie M. Davis.
1904, March 30, Everett S. Davis to Elizabeth M. Goodwin.
1904, June 16, Joseph C. McCarthy of West Springfield, Mass., to Hannah Kelly.
1904, June 27, Lewis R. Smith to Elpsey M. Brown.
1904, June 28, Fred G. Goodrich of South Lawrence, Mass., to Mabel P. Neal.
1904, Oct. 23, Albert P. Sherry of Dover to Abbie E. Sullivan.
1904, Nov. 24, Nathan E. Kuse to Mary E. Eaton of Lynn, Mass. 1904, Dec. 21, Elmer D. Paul to Minerva F. Sargent of Exeter.
1905, Aug. 23, Jared A. P. Neal to Marion F. Rundlett of Medford, Mass.
1905, Oct. 7, Edward F. Robinson to Marcia E. Brackett.
1905, Oct. 10, James F. Hayden to Eva Maud Goodrich of South Lawrence, Mass.
1905, Dec. 20, Charles F. Neal to Annie L. Perkins of Epping.
1906, April 4, Rufus E. Graves to Georgiana Broadway.
1906, May 10, Charles Corson to Augusta Sampson of Exeter.
1906, June 9, Nathan G. Howard to Sarah A. Moulton.
1906, Dec. 11, Horace Clough to Mary E. Foss of Rochester.
1907, April 3, John F. C. Rider to Sarah E. Perkins of Malden, Mass.
1907, April 5, Wilbur H. Haggett to Mary Nichols.
1907, July 14, Leon W. Otis to Sadie A. Merrow of Alfred, Me.
1907, July 14, Ernest R. Richards to May Elizabeth Forrester of Haverhill, Mass.
1907, Sept. 3, George S. Fifield to Elizabeth C. Hayes of Portsmouth.
1907, Oct. 12, Frank B. Lenzi to Ethel M. Marr.
1908, March 9, Bliss C. Eadon to Bertha M. Mersereau.
1908, Sept. 5, William Wilson to Josie Carpenter.
1908, Sept. 11, Peter Lamie, Jr., to Martha Ann Wilcox. 1908, Sept. 15, Joseph John Keen to Margaret Ann Donovan.
1908, Oct. 12, Harry Tolman Pond to Helen Amanda Sanborn.
1909, May 27, Eugene Donovan to Addie F. Dow of Exeter.
1909, June 23, Charles W. Richards to Nellie L. Ladd of Raymond.
1909, Nov. 25, Fred H. Neal to Annie F. Locke of Exeter.
Chapter XXV.
RELATIVE TO THE CHURCHES, NEWFIELDS.
Congregational :- With the close of the first century in the religious history of Newmarket, there had come a change in the administration of ministerial affairs. New business inter- ests sprung up in the villages of Newfields and Lamprey River, and it was found impossible to gather the people for worship at the old center near the railroad junction. Both villages had occasional preaching services by various denominations from 1810 onward. As early as 1825 regular Congregational services were held at Lamprey River, and in 1826 assistance was asked in erecting a house of worship. The church was organized there March 27, 1828. Newfields contributed means and members to this enterprise. Meanwhile the Lamprey River pastors, from 1827 onward, maintained a third service on the Sabbath, or a weekly lecture, at Newfields. Rev. David Sanford, from May 22, 1828, to June 22, 1830, abounded in labors of this kind here. During the spring of 1829, the Pascataqua Association appointed several of the neighboring pastors to preach at New- fields.
The Society at Newfields, April 11, 1827, chose Benjamin Loverin, moderator, and John Kennard, clerk. Benjamin Loverin and Charles Treadwell were appointed "to adjust the accounts of the past year, and to rent the parsonage the present year." It was also voted, "That the proceeds of the income of the parsonage for the two last years and the present year be appro- priated to the repair of the parsonage House."
The Society purchased land from the Shute estate for the location of a meeting-house, July 3, 1827.
The Pascataqua Association at Kittery, September 18, 1827, made the following record: "By vote from the Pascataqua Conference of churches, the care of visiting certain destitute churches in our neighborhood was referred to this association; whereupon, voted, that Messrs French, Putnam, Cummings be a committee to see that such destitute churches are visited
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
381
CHURCHES OF NEWFIELDS
and the ordinances of the Supper administered. Among these churches visited was Newmarket.
At the Society meeting of the Congregationalists, April 7, 1828, Benjamin Loverin was chosen moderator, and Charles Treadwell, clerk. At an adjourned meeting April 19, 1828, Benjamin Loverin and Charles Treadwell were chosen the committee of the society for the year. Also voted "That the money belonging to the parish in the hands of Samuel Pickering be given to Mr. Brodhead to be accounted for by him in preach- ing at the South or original Congregational meeting House." Under date of November 11, 1828, Mary Coe makes the follow- ing record: "I have been favored with many religious privileges of late. Mr. R. [a young man] spent five weeks in this place. Mr. Merrill has likewise been laboring here for the good of souls. Mr. S. has recently come to this place, a young man who appears much devoted to the cause of religion. May the labours of these young men, with those of the stated pastor, be abundantly blessed."
Ten members petitioned December 20, 1828, for a meeting of the Congregational Society on the first Monday in January, 1829, and it was voted. "2d, To see whether the Society will adopt a Constitution and report themselves a Body Cor- porate." In this petition reference was had to the Act of the legislature, July 3, 1827. A meeting of the Society at the South or Central meeting-house was held January 5, 1829, with Abner P. Stinson, moderator. It was voted "that the 2d article be dismissed. Voted that the Selectmen be a com- mittee to examine the account of the parsonage & Report at the next annual meeting."
On January 16, 1829, James Burleigh, Robert Clark, Curtis Coe and Thomas Drowne issued the following:
"Public Notice is hereby given that we Curtis Coe, Thomas Drowne, Robert Clark and James Burleigh and others, Inhabitants of Newmarket, for the purpose of Exercising the powers and enjoying the privileges granted to religious associations by an Act of the Legislature of this State passd. July 3, 1827, Entitled An Act Empowering Religious Associations to Assume and Exercise Corporate Powers, have formed ourselves into a Religious Society to be known by the name of the South Congregational Society of Newmarket, and have caused the same to be recorded in a Book of Records;"-the present church of Newfields.
The above was formulated at a meeting held at that date, and duly published in the Portsmouth Journal. At the same
382
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
meeting the society organized by the choice of William Norris, moderator, Charles Lane, clerk, and Benjamin Loverin, Hall J. Jenness and John Kennard, wardens.
The members met at the Newfields school house, March 31, and voted "to raise fifty dollars to support preaching the ensu- ing year." Also "that any person hiring the parsonage shall give bonds to the Wardens for the payment of the rent."
Rev. Bezaleel Smith's appointment to Newfields by the Mis- sionary Society was the next supply. Having heard January 18, 1829, that his time had expired, sixteen persons, January 20th, subscribed $22 for the purpose of further securing his services. At a meeting of the Pascataqua Association at Strat- ham, January 20-21, 1829, "The subject of Mr. Smith's leaving his mission for the present & supplying at Rye was discussed and opinion expressed individually in favor." He settled in Rye, May 13, 1829, leaving his mission in "Newington and New Market" for the time, but was requested by the Association "to give as much attention to the societies in those places as his labors in Rye will permit." Meanwhile Messrs. Rowland, Porter, Pearson and Kent, members of the Association, were designated to supply the pulpit respectively the fourth Sab- bath in January, and second, third and fourth, in February, 1829. June, 1829, Rev. William M. Cornell, a licentiate, commenced preaching, boarding in the family of Rev. Curtis Coe till the death of Mrs. Coe, October 11, 1829, and then with Benjamin Loverin, and afterwards with Charles Lane. The meetings were held in the academy building, no school then being .in session.
At the annual meeting of the Congregational Society at the South or Central meeting-house, April 6, 1829, William Norris was chosen moderator, and it was voted:
That the committee for the last two years, 1828 & 29, Loverin & Treadwell, proceed Immediately to the Settlement of all accounts accruing within the two years term of their serving and bring the same to a close as soon as may be.
Voted That the business heretofore transacted by the nominal Congrega- tional Society, in future be transferred to the Wardens of the Congregational societies now existing.
Voted that the book & papers of the nominal Society be transferred to the Wardens of the Societys & that the present committee have Recourse to the same for the purpose of examination for the Rectitude of their doing &c.
Rev. William Mason Cornell, M.D., LL.D., commenced preaching at Newfields in June, 1829, and was present at the
383
CHURCHES OF NEWFIELDS
meeting of the Pascataqua Association at North Hampton, July 21-22, 1829. A subscription list "for Mr. Cornell to preach" October 8, 1829, secured thirty-one names and $114.
At the meeting of the Pascataqua Association at Rye, October 13, 1829, "A communication from Newmarket, N. Fields, being laid before the association, a committee of three were were chosen to act in behalf of the association to communicate with the Wardens &c. Chosen Brs. French, J. Smith and Cummings. Closed the session with prayer by Mr. Cornell."
On the death of her mother, Mary Coe writes in her diary, "Mr. C [ornell] has been present and witnessed the suffering of my dear mother, sympathized in our tryals, and repeatedly presented our petitions to the throne of grace.
November 26, 1829, she writes, "There are some pleasing indications of a revival in this place," and December 20, 1829, "Many appear anxiously concerned for their soul's salvation."
The following is the "Constitution of the New Fields S.S. Union."
Art. 1st. This association shall be called the Newfields Sabbath School Union.
Art. 2d. The officers of this Union shall consist of a President, Secretary, Treasurer & Librarian, who shall be chosen annually, shall perform the appro- priate duties of their respective offices, & shall together constitute a Board of Directors to manage the general business of the Union.
Art. 3d. Any person may become a member of the Union by paying annually into the treasury a sum not less than 1212 cents.
Names
Sum
Names
Sum
Phineas Trull,
. $0.25
Hannah Lane,
$0.25
Hall J. Jenness,
.25
John Kennard,
.25
James Coleman,
.50
Sarah E. Kennard,
.25
Charles Lane,
.50
George Hilton,
.25
Nancy Trull,
.12
Nancy W. Hilton,
.25
Mercy H. Jenness,
.25
Mary Hilton,
.50
Ann Coe,
.28
Mary Coe,
.25
Abigail W. Drowne,
.25
Nancy Norris,
.17
Elizabeth A. Drowne,
.20
Mary Ann Burleigh,
.25
$5.02
The Union credits itself 1829-30, with money paid by Charles Lane for Sunday school and Question books, $7.45.
Mary Coe writes in her diary, Lord's Day October 11, 1830, "O that the men in this place of the town might become fol-
384
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
lowers of the meek and lowly Jesus; that our Sabbath School may be a school of prayer."
Rev. Mr. Cornell labored in Newfields till sometime in 1830. He was supported in part by the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and used to visit its treasurer, Rev. Abraham Burnham at Pembroke, for his quarterly pay. Church records show money paid for his service. In the winter of 1829-30, he was called to solemnize a marriage at some distance beyond Lamprey River. He hired a horse for which he paid $1.50, and received a marriage fee of $.75.
Mr. Cornell preached in the Academy. Father Jonathan Ward would occasionally drive over from Brentwood, put up his horse at Winthrop Hilton's and meeting Mr. Cornell just as he was entering the academy would preach for him. Rev. W. F. Row- land, then lately dismissed from his pastorate of the First Church, Exeter, used to come to Newfields regularly on the Sabbath and preach half a day for Mr. Cornell.
Maj. Robert Clark used to think the sermons of this young minister were too short, because he got through his sermon before the major had finished his nap.
While at Newfields Mr. Cornell made application to the Pascataqua Association for ordination as an evangelist. He was accordingly examined, and the examination proving satis- factory, he was ordained January 19, 1830, Rev. Jonathan French of North Hampton preaching the sermon.
This application for ordination "as an evangelist" caused the Association to query whether it was a proper thing to do, it being at variance with the prevailing usage. A committee was therefore appointed, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Page and Ward, to prepare a resolution on the question. This committee subsequently reported as follows:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Association there may be cases in which it is not inconsistent with the Scriptures nor with the principles of Congregationalism, for a Council of ministers, called by an individual who wishes ordination as an evangelist, to be organized for the purpose and to ordain him. Nevertheless we consider it expedient and proper that application for this purpose be always made, when it can be done, to some appointed body of ministers.
This resolution after discussion was finally adopted.
Mr. Cornell also asked the advice of the Association as to the propriety of organizing a church at Newfields, and a committee
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CHURCHES OF NEWFIELDS
was appointed to consider the subject in connection with Mr. Cornell.
Mr. Cornell, son of Dr. William and Abigail (Briggs) Cornell, was born in Beverly, Mass., October 16, 1812; graduated at Brown University, 1827; was approbated to preach by the Berkshire Association, October, 1829; ordained as an evangelist by the Pascataqua Association at Exeter, January 19, 1830; pastor at Woodstock, Conn., 1831-34; Quincy, Mass., 1834-39; graduated at the Berkshire Medical Institute, 1845; was physi- cian, professor and president of the medical college in Boston and Philadelphia. He published many addresses, sermons, and volumes on theological, medical and historical theses. He died in Boston April 7, 1895. He married in 1832, Emeline A. Loud of Weymouth, Mass., who died about 1886.
At the reorganization of the old parish January 16, 1829, it took the form of an incorporated religious society, annually raising money for the salaries of their ministers. Among these were Revs. Bezaleel Smith, William Cornell, M.D., LL.D., Ossemus Tinker, 1831-32, Samuel Harris, Mr. Barton, Constantine Blodgett, D.D., Charles D. Jackson, William F. Rowland, and Thomas T. Richmond. These ministers preached in the old meeting-house and the old academy. In 1839 a new house of worship was erected at Newfields, and the old house was practically abandoned, and in 1852 taken down, moved to Exeter for mechanical purposes, and later burned.
In 1853-55 the parsonage property was transferred to New- fields and the present buildings erected. The meeting-house was enlarged and refurnished in 1871, the vestries refitted in 1880, and parsonage enlarged, 1882.
The old parsonage used to have a portico on the south side, and a porch on the north side. The barn stood further to the north. The old kitchen hearthstone is now the front doorstep.
In 1824 the Congregational proprietors repaired and rented the parsonage.
In 1836 the parsonage was repaired and barn built.
In 1852 the old meeting-house was sold to John Pease for $100.
In 1853 the parsonage was leased to Robert Smart for 99 years for $800.
In 1854-56 land was bought and the present parsonage built.
25
386
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
In 1859 it was painted inside and out, and in 1863 it was papered, and elms planted.
In 1864 part of the parsonage lot was sold to J. B. Rider who sold it to Mr. Merrill for $450, and in 1879 one and one-fourth acres were sold to Lucius S. Pease.
Further repairs were made on the parsonage in 1875, and in 1882 the stable and ell were moved back, and additions made to the main house. In 1906 repairs were made on the inside of parsonage and on the cellar wall.
On May 19, 1872, it was announced that the debt of $400 was paid. This furnished an occasion for great rejoicing.
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