USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Northwood > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 9
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Nottingham > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 9
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Deerfield > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 9
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Voted, that, Provided Mr. Steven Emery Setle and continue in ye ministry at Nottingham, That Each Proprietor for one whole Share in Sd Town (and so In Proportion to a greater or Leser Share) Pay an- nually for his Support in the ministry Twenty Shilings Equill To old Tenor During the space of nine years after the act now Subsisting for ye suport of the ministry is Ended.
Voted, that, provided Mr. Steven Emery Sittle in the ministry at sd Nottingham, that, During his Continuance iu the ministry, he be paid By the Inhabitants of Said town So much money Equil to old Tennor Annually as Shall amount to Two hundred Pounds with what is befor alowed By the Proprietors.
A rare exhibition of justice was made, which many a society has failed to exhibit, at a legal meeting of the pro- prietors, January 30, 1744-5, when it was " Voted That the Rev. Mr. Stephen Emery be allowed the sum of Ten pounds, old Tenor, on account of his being for some Time kept out of his just Due." It is possible some ill-feeling at length arose, since the proprietors, in 1747, refuse " to mak any addition to the Rev. Mr. Emery's Sallery for Depretiation of money," and decline to furnish him with " a Guard." Subsequently, it was voted " to make some consideration ; " but, when the proprietors " proposed to him If he should have his Salary Equil to Silver at 26s. 8d. per ounce for five years, wether it would Satisfy him, lie declared it would not ; Therefore, Voted no addition be made to his Salery."
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
No further mention of Mr. Emery is made in the records of the proprietors. It is, however, known, that he was a native of Exeter, and graduated at Harvard College in 1730. It is also believed that he was dismissed in 1748 or 1749, and he died May 24, 1782, aged seventy years.
REV. MR. MCCLINTOCK.
After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Emery, the town made renewed efforts to settle a minister. In 1754, a call was extended to Mr. Samuel McClintock, afterwards of Green- land, by a committee composed of "Capt. Joseph Ceilley and Capt. Nathaniel Peirce and William Morrison." March 25, 1755, it was voted, "That Mr. Samuel MeClin- tock shall have (If he Settle in Nottingham) five Hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, yearly, and thirty cord of wood halled to his dwelling-house yearly." A year after this, Richard Sanborn and Robert Kelse were appointed a com- mittee "to wait on the proprietors, at their meeting, to pray their assistance in settling Mr. Samuel McClintoek in Nottingham." But it would seem the call was not ac- cepted ; and the town made further efforts ; and, December 11, 1756, we find the following action : -
REV. MR. GOODHUE.
Voted, that Capt. Joseph Ceilley, Esquire, Jon" Longfellow, Es- quire, John Bartlet, Wm Morrison, John Mason, abram true, and Thomas Simpson be a Committee to give a Call to Mr. Josiah Goodhue to Settle in the ministry in Nottingham, and this Committee to make such proposals for his temporal Support and Encouragement as they may think proper, and the town to pay anually Such Sum or Sums of money as this Committee, or the major part of them, may offer to the above Said Mr. Josiah Goodhue.
Again their eall is refused ; and, in April, 1757, Abram True and Francis Harvey " were to look out for some Suit- able person to Supply the town with preaching as a pro-
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
bationer, so far as two Hundred Pounds, old tenor, may extand."
REV. BENJAMIN BUTLER.
At a meeting of the inhabitants, July 14, 1757, it was voted, " That Capt. Joseph Ceilley be Moderator of this meeting; that the Inhabitants of Nottingham Do Chuse the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Butler to be their minister ; that the freeholders and Inhabitants of Nottingham will pay the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Butler thirty-five Pounds Sterling, annually, for his temporal Support and Encouragement, supposing he should except of a Call to settle in the ministry in Noting- ham ; it is to be understood by tliis vote that the Inhabi- tants of Notingham sliall have Liberty to pay there Rates yearly in such passable bills of Public Credit as are generally passing in this province to be equal to Sterling ; that Capt. Joseph Ceilley, Ensign Jnº Bartlet, Richª Sanborn, francis harvey, Jnº Mecrelous Jur, Wm Nealy, matthew Nealy, Jo- seph Shepard, Thomas Simpson, be a Committee to present a Call to the Rev. Mr. Benja Butler." Subsequently to this, instead of providing him with a parsonage, the town voted to " give the Rev. Mr. Benja Butler two thousand pounds, old tenor, as a Gift, within one year from this time, on Con- dition he answers a Call presented to him by Nottingham Committee, in the affirmative." Tlie call was accepted, and Mr. Butler, a graduate of Harvard College, 1752, was set- tled in the year 1758. For the first time, June 14, 1758, a meeting of proprietors is held at the meeting-house, at which it is recorded that an adjourned meeting of proprie- tors was held, and, at the same place, a meeting is called July 3, 1759, when Peter Gilman, Nathaniel Peirce, and Doctor Daniel Rogers were appointed a committee to obtain permission from the general court to levy a tax of three- pence per acre, " new tenor," upon all the lands in the town except the parsonage and school lots whereby they might pay to Reverend Mr. Butler, minister of Nottingham,
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
"to discharge so much of what the town obliged themselves by vote to pay said Mr. Butler on his settlement in said town, the sum of twenty-three hundred pounds, old tenor."
This measure was strenuously opposed by an interested minority on the ground, that unoccupied lands were unpro- ductive, and the money, in part, was to sustain a mode of worship in which they had no sympathy. The measure, however, was carried.
After this date, few meetings of proprietors seem to have been called, the interests of the town being left in the lands of the inhabitants, and the formal government of the chartercd township had, prior to this, been nearly relin- quished.
Troubles arose that disturbed the relations between the Rev. Mr. Butler and the town, so that those relations were severed after the lapse of twelve years.
A mutual council was called, August 1, 1770, by Mr. But- ler and the church, in which the town was requested to be represented as a party interested. And, at a legal meeting, it was voted " that there be a committee chosen to inform the Counsel how the affair Now Stands between the Rev. Benjamin Butler and the Town. Voted, that Dr. Samuel Shepard, Joseph Cilley, Jr., Benjamin Witcher, Thomas Bartlet, and Abraham Scales be the above Committee."
The town, at several legal meetings, had declined to raise the salary of Mr. Butler, and to allow him the use or in- come of the parsonage and ministerial lands. He had many adherents among the most influential families, and was esteemed by all for his scholarship and superior abili- ties as well as for his courtly manners and kind-hearted- ness ; but the belief of many, that his notions on some points in theology and some habits of life were a little too liberal and easy, made the tax-payers uneasy, especially in the remote parts of the town, where his ministry was less influential and new sects were springing up. Meetings of the town in succession took action, the one undoing the
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
other, until Mr. Butler, always inclined to measures of peace, requested his church to unite with himself in calling a mutual council to advise in the matter, and assured them that he would accept the decision of it. At a legal meeting of the town, called by the selectmen at the request of the church and Mr. Butler, July 9, 1770, it was voted that the " town join with the Rev. Mr. Butler and his Church in choice of a Mutual Counsel to give him a Dismission from his Ministeral and pastoral office in this Town." And a new committee was raised by the following vote : "That Benjamin Witcher, Joseph Cilley, Jr., Tho8 Bartlett, Ben- jamin Watson, Josiah Clark, Esq., be a Committee to join with the Rev. Mr. Butler and his Church in Choice of a Mu- tual Counsel of Regular Churches To give him a Dismission from the Ministeral and Pastoral office in this town, and to Treat with said Counsel when Meet."
The council, it is believed, consisted of the most influ- ential pastors and delegates of the churches in the neigh- borhood, and the results of their deliberations met the cordial approval of all parties.
A legal meeting of the town was held at the meeting- house on the day of the assembling of the council, at one o'clock in the afternoon, and adjourned until six to hear the report of the doings of that body. And, when informed of the action of the council, the following vote was taken : -
Voted that the Town Except of the Counsels Report Concerning the Dismissing the Rev. Mr. Butler from his Ministerial and Pastoral office in this Town; and the Rev. Mr. Butler appeared and gave his Consent to the Counsels Result in full, and That Excepts of a Dismission, &c.
OLIVER DODGE.
Long years pass, and Nottingham is blessed with no set- tled ministry. Various efforts are put forth from time to time to have sabbath services, but only occasionally and for a few sabbaths is the sanctuary opened. November 22, 1790, after the lapse of twenty years from the dismis-
8
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
sion of Mr. Butler, it was voted, at a legal meeting, " that the committec appointed to hire preaching be desired to engage Mr. Dodge to preach four Sundays more in this town." For the first time since 1770 has the town been united in a desire to scttle any man in the ministry. Now they seem in earnest, and again vote that the "Town will give Mr. Oliver Dodge a Call for to settle in the work of the Ministry in this Town."
Voted, that Gen. Joseph Cilley, Maj" John Gile, Lt Benjamin Wins- low, Thomas Bartlett, Esq., Maj' Jonathan Cilley, Ensign Asa Gile, Mr. Samuel Dame, L' John McCrellis, Col. Alexander Lucy, Col. Ben- jamin Butler, and Ensign Andrew Simpson be a Committee for to Treat with Mr. Dodge Relative to his Settling in the work of the min- istry in this Town, and Report their Proceedings to this meeting at their ajournment.
This committee " communicate the vote to Mr. Dodge, and enquire if he is inclined for to settle in the work of the ministry if matters should be made agreeably." To which Mr. Dodge replied, that, " where the People were agreed and he could have sufficient to Support him, he should think that he had a Call from God to settle." This committee recommend, " that a Parsonage House be built, on the Parsonage or School Lot as shall be most convenient, 32 feet wide and forty feet Long, Two Storey high, with a good Cellar, and be Decently finished ; and a Barn 32 feet wide and 45 feet Long be Built and finished ; that a well be Dugg convenient to Said House, and to be stoned, and Curb and Sweep be fitted to the Same ; and that the Town's Part of the fence around said School and Parsonage lots should be fenced with Stone wall ; and that the Bushes on said Lots should be cutt up and cleared of ; and that Mr. Dodge should have the use and Improvement of Said House, Barn, well, and Parsonage and School Lots as Long as he continues in the work of the Ministry in Said Town; and, further, that Mr. Dodge should have yearly and Every year, During his Ministry in Said Town, Twenty Cords of good
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
hard wood fit for firing, Cut and Corded up, and Delivered to him at Said House on the Said School or Parsonage Lots, and also the sum of Fifty Pounds Lawfull Money, equal to coined Silver at Six Shillings and Eight Pence Pr ounce, paid him yearly and Every year During his Ministry as above."
The committee, though they were among the most influ- ential men in the town and though their recommendation was almost unanimous, failed to bring the majority of the people to adopt their propositions, and it was voted, that the town " will give Mr. Oliver Dodge Seventy-five Pounds Lawful Money," of the value proposed by the committee, and " twenty cords of wood," as in like manner recom- mended, " also the use of the hundred acre Parsonage and School Lots."
Thomas Bartlett and Benjamin Butler, Esq., and Major John Gile were appointed to communicate the votes of the town to Mr. Dodge, and report his reply at an adjourned meeting on the third Monday in February next. Mr. Dodge was reported at this adjourned meeting to say that he would not wish to settle when it would be burdensome to the people, and asked for more time to consider the matter. Whereupon it was voted, that Mr. Dodge " be desired to Preach next Sunday, and then begin to Preach again on the first Sunday in May next, and Preach cach Sunday in May, and the Meeting was then further ajourned to the Last Monday in May, in order to Receive Mr. Doge's answer."
Mr. Dodge ultimately declined the call, not because the salary offered was inadequate, but because he discovered a want of union.
REV. JAMES HOBERT.
Six years later, May 9, 1796, the town voted to secure the services of the Rev. James Hobert. The people became greatly interested in him, and, the following year, the mcet-
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
ing-house was repaired and money was raised for preaching, and, in March, 1798, the town gave him a call, with a salary of three hundred dollars, twenty cords of good hard wood, and the use and improvement of the hundred-acre school and parsonage lots. Thomas Bartlett, John Ford, Samuel Dame, Benj. Butler, Alexander Lucy, Stoten Tuttle, John Gile, Nathaniel Goodhue, and Henry Butler were author- ized to lay the proposition of the town before Mr. Hobert and obtain his reply. But Mr. Hobert hesitated, and asked for time to consider the matter. His decision ultimately was to decline the call, and, the following year, it is voted to raise no money for preaching. From this time until 1803, but feeble efforts are made to supply the town with preaching. Most of these years no money was raised, and, when raised, it was divided between the north side and south side of the town. March 1, 1803, it was voted " to raise $150 for the support of the gospel ministry the ensu- ing year," and two committees were raised -one for the south side, consisting of Nathan Goodhue, John Ford, and Matthew Nealley, and one for the north side, consisting of Stoten Tuttle, Benjamin Lucy, and Samuel Davis-to ex- pend the money thus raised in their respective parts of the town.
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
CHAPTER IV.
THE MEETING-HOUSES.
First unfinished. - Pews sold to complete it. - Description of it. - The second House. - Its removal. - Congregational Church. - Other Denominations.
A CCORDING to one of the conditions of their charter, the proprietors erected, on a designated lot, a large building, two stories high, with a lofty tower. It appears, that this frame was boarded and shingled, and for some time used for public meetings. But nothing was done respecting individual rights in it or the erection of pews until December, 1755, nearly thirty-two years after the charter was given. "Nathaniel Peirce, Richard Sanborn, and Robert Kellsee" are appointed a committee "to lay out the pew Privileges in the meeting-house in Nottingham, and appoint the Conditions of sale, etc." David Lawrence was appointed "vandue master," and Thomas Simpson " clerk of this sale." Among the conditions were these : "The purchaser to give his note of liand to said Committee Immediately after it is struck of to him, and the Clerk Entered his name to pay the Sª Committee in Lumber, one half next August, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and fifty Six, and the other half the next august following, and the pews to be built within two years from this Day ; if not, the notes or the value of them to be forfeited, and the priviledge to be sold again, the Lumber to be Delivered to the Committee att Some publick Landing on the branches of Piscataqua River, or on the Meeting House Square on Notingham Hill, as said Committee shall Judge best. That all the pews Shall be built in the same Manner in fassion and workmanship as they are in Epping meeting House."
The meeting-house was an oblong square, and the " pew
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
privileges " were laid out in squares or oblong squares on the two sides and ends of the building, leaving spaces for entrances on the west, east, and front, or south, and for the pulpit on the north. These were twenty-one in number, nineteen of which were sold to the highest bidder on the 8th of December, 1755, together with four in what were termed the " pillar teers " or " body teers," which an aisle separated from the wall pews. At the same time, these " pillar teers," four in number, were separated in the mid- dle by what was termed the broad aisle, at the north end of which was the pulpit, " high and lifted up," and above which was suspended, seemingly likc Mahomet's coffin, the mysterious sounding-board. The sums paid for these " privileges " ranged from forty to one hundred and fifty- three pounds, " old tenor."
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
The meeting-house has waxed old and gone greatly to decay. It was imperfectly finished, and had been poorly cared for, and was fit neither for public worship nor for the legal meetings of the town for business. Efforts have several times been made to repair or rebuild, but to no purpose until March 1, 1803, when it was voted " to build a meeting-house on Nottingham Square as soon as conven- iently can be done, to be done in a decent and suitable manner, convenient for assembling for public worship of God and other public purposes in said town."
" Voted Col. Bradbury Cilley, Majr. William Norris, Lieut. Nathaniel Goodhue, Mr. Stoten Tuttle, and Lieut. Joseph Tuttle be a committee to lay the plan and carry into exe- cution the foregoing vote, in the cheapest and best method they can agree upon according to tlicir discretion and judg- ment." And, later, October 20 of the same year, it is " voted to choose a committee of five to prise the pews in the meeting house in said town." Nathaniel Goodhue, John Ford, Henry Butler, John Simpson, and Thomas
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
Clark were that committee. And then it was voted "to take down the old meeting-house as soon as may be ; " and the committee chosen in March was authorized "to take the old meeting house down in as easy method as they shall think proper, and to make use of such part of said timber in the meeting house as they shall think proper to help build the new one."
The committee to estimate the value of the pews in the old building report that " the owners who may or will attempt to call for pay shall receive $2.00 for each pew."
We infer that this meeting-house was in due time erected, since, at the annual meeting in March, 1806, it was voted, that " Edward Lee be chosen Saxson, to take Good Cair the Meeting House and all other Necessary things thercunto belonging."
May 9, 1807, three hundred and fifty dollars were raised to be expended in preaching under the direction of Henry Butler, John Ford, and John Simpson for the south side, or square, and Daniel Cate, Samuel Dame, and Jolin Davis for the north side.
This second meeting-house was large and after the style of building in those times, having its square pews, lofty pulpit, and sounding-board. A bell, rich in tones, was ob- tained, and preaching procurcd, at times, until the building was at length taken down about 1840.
When the Congregational Church was organized we can- not tell. A remnant still remains worshiping in connec- tion with the Free-will Baptist Church at the Center, about a mile from the square.
The Free-will Baptist Church was long since organized, and ministered unto by Elders Dyer, Tuttle, and others, while a Christian-Baptist congregation centers at Tuttle's Corner, at present worshiping in a hall. The Universa- lists claim one-third of the meeting-house at the Center, and sustain worship one-third of the time. Adventists hold meetings in various parts of the town at their conven- ience and as interest may demand.
4
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTION.
Uneasiness. - Taking Fort William and Mary. - Proclamation of Gov. Went- wortlı. - Aid for Boston Sufferers. - Procuring Arms. - Delegates. - Prov- ince Money withheld. - Pay of Soldiers in the Concord Fight. - Declaration of Independence in New Hampshire. - Association Test. - Census of 1775. - Fire-arms. - Dr. Shepard. - Raising Men for Army. - Beef. - Petition for Right of Representation.
N 1774, great uneasiness is felt throughout all the Amer- ican colonies. The British Parliament and the troops at Boston do nothing to allay excitement. The lower towns of New Hampshire are often driven almost to overt acts, but are restrained by the prudence of leading patriots.
As New Hampshire has the honor of issuing the first Declaration of Independence, so she has the honor of first openly and defiantly commencing the struggle for liberty. Several of the Committee of Safety and Sons of Liberty at Portsmouth publicly avowed their intention of taking pos- session of Fort William and Mary. These men were aided by some two or three hundred men from Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Newmarket, and other towns, headed by Major Sullivan. Nottingham was represented by the brave Cilley, Dearborn, and others, and the result may be learned from the proclamation of Gov. Wentworth : -
Whereas several Bodies of Men did, in the day-time of the 14th and in the Night of the 15th of this Instant December, in the most daring and rebellious manner, invest, attack, and forcibly enter into his Maj- esty's Castle William and Mary in this Province, and, overpowering and confining the Captain and Garrison, did, besides committing many trea- sonable Insults and Outrages, break open the Magazine of said Castle and plunder it of above One hundred Barrels of Gunpowder, with up- wards of sixty Stand of small Arms, and did also force from the Ram- parts of said Castle and carry off sixteen Pieces of Cannon, and other Military Stores, in open Hostility and direct Oppugnation of his Maj-
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
esty's Government, and in the most atrocious Contempt of his Crown and Dignity, -
I Do, by Advice and Consent of his Majesty's Council, issue this Proclamation, ordering and requiring, in his Majesty's name, all Magis- trates and other officers, whether Civil or Military, as they regard their duty to the King and the tenor of the Oaths they have Solemnly taken and subscribed, to exert themselves in detecting, and securing in some of his Majesty's Goals in this Province, the said Offenders, in Order to their being brought to condign punishment. And, from motives of Duty to the King and Regard to the Welfare of the good People of this Province, I do, in the most earnest and solemn Manner, exhort and enjoin you, his Majesty's liege Subjects of this Government, to beware of suffering yourselves to be seduced by the false Art or Menaces of abandoned Men, to abet, protect, or screen from Justice any of the said high-handed Offenders, or to withhold or secrete his Majesty's Muni- tions forcibly taken from his Castle; but that each and every one of you will use your utmost Endeavours to detect and discover the Perpe- trators of these Crimes to the civil Magistrate, and assist in Securing and bringing them to Justice, and in recovering the King's Munition. This Injunction it is my bounden Duty to lay strictly upon you, and to require your Obedience thereto, as you value, individually, your Faith and Allegiance to his Majesty; as you wish to preserve that Reputa- tion to the Province in general; and as you would avert the most dreadful, but most certain, Consequences of a contrary conduct to your_ selves and Posterity.
Given at the Council-Chamber in Portsmouth, the twenty-sixth day of December, in the 15th Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord Christ, 1774.
J. WENTWORTH.
By his Excellency's Command, with advice of Council.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy. God Save the King !
The first public action of the town of Nottingham hav- ing reference to the Revolutionary struggle was October 31, 1774, when it was " Voted, that Doct. Henry Dearborn, Lieu: Thomas Bartlett, Joseph Cilley, Jun", Jnº Guile, and Israel Randall be a Comittee as proposed in the Third of the Warrant," which was " To see if the Town will vote to raise
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
any thing for the support of the Industrious Poor Sufferers of the Town of Boston." It was at the same time voted, " that the Town impower the Select Men to procure Two hundred wt of good Gun Powder, 4 Ct. of Lead, and 400 of Flints, and Ten good Firelocks, as a Town Stock."
At an adjourned meeting, on the thirtieth of the follow- ing November, it was voted to " raise money to send to the Relief of their poor suffering Bretheren of the Town of Bos- ton ; " " that the Town give to the Relief of the Poor of Bos- ton Twenty pounds Lawfull money, to be taken out of the Town stock by the Select Men and to be forwarded to them as soon as may be."
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