History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 18

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 18

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January, 1837, Elder Abner Jones took charge of the church as pastor. Elder Jones did not continue as pastor long, for in 1838 we find an account of baptism by Elder David Millard.

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In 1839 the brick meeting-house on Pleasant Street was purchased, at which time a division took place and a second church organized.

Elder Millard's ministry was successful, and many were added to the church. The record says nothing of his resignation, but November, 1840, it speaks of Rev. E. N. Harris as pastor. Two years after he resigned. Rev. George W. Kilton was his successor, who remained three years, and was followed by Rev. A. M. Averill, who preached his farewell sermon October 27, 1850. Rev. Thomas Holmes, D. D., was then called to the pas- torate, which position he held until October 1, 1853, when he resigned to accept the professorship of the Greek language in Antioch College, at Yellow Spring, Ohio. The church then engaged the services of Rev. Charles Bryant for six months; the remainder of the year the pulpit was supplied by Revs. O. P. Tuckerman and A. G. Comings. In 1855 Rev. B. S. Fanton settled as pastor of the church. The church and society vacated the Pleasant Street meeting-house October 26, 1826, and for a while held services in a chapel on Hanover Street. October 4, 1857, Rev. Thomas Holmes, D. D., was again called to the pastorate of the church. Previous to this time Elder Austin Damon, of New York, had supplied the pulpit. Brother Holmes resigned in 1860, and Elder Moses How was again invited to the pastorate. He remained about one year, when Rev. I. F. Waterhouse, of Providence, R. I., was called. Brother Waterhouse remained five years, during which time the present place of worship was purchased and occupied January 8, I882.

Rev. C. P. Smith was called to the pastorate early in 1868, which posi- tion he occupied until July, 1872. October 1, 1872, Rev. John A. Goss, of Lynn, Mass., was called to the pastorate, and remained until 1885; he was followed by Rev. Charles D. Hainer, 1885-87 ; Rev. John A. Hainer, 1887-90; Rev. W. Rowland Spaid, 1890-91; Rev. John A. Goss, 1891-92; Rev. J. P. Marvin, 1892-94; Rev. Myron Tyler, 1895-1900; Rev. Percy W. Caswell, 1913-14.

The Free Baptist Church was organized in 1823 by Rev. David Marks, one of the leading men in the denomination in those days. Pastors, Revs. Ezekiel True, J. B. Davis, Isaac G. Davis, William P. Merrill, Arthur Cav- erns. In the year 1846 the church disbanded. The present church was organized February 17, 1851. Pastors, Revs. John Pinkham, 1851; A. R. Bradbury, 1851-53 ; the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. S. P. Fernald; 1855-56, Rev. P. Chesley ; 1856-57, Rev. Lowell Parker; 1858-59, Rev. Francis Reed; 1859-63, Rev. C. E. Haskell; 1863-66, Rev. L. L. Har- mon; 1866-77, Rev. E. Owen; 1878-79, Rev. J. Herbert Yeoman, June 20, 1880, to March, 1883; Rev. S. J. Gould, May, 1883, to September, 1883; Rev. John D. Waldron, April, 1884, to June, 1887; Rev. John S. Harring- ton, April, 1888, to April, 1892; Rev. A. G. Hill, May, 1892, to November, 1892; Rev. Burton Minard (stated supply), April, 1893, to March, 1894; Rev. L. E. Hall, April 15, 1894, to July 14, 1895; Rev. Robert L. Duston, November 17, 1895, to August 4, 1901 ; Rev. Charles H. Tucker, November 24, 1901, to May 31, 1904; Rev. V. E. Bragdon, December 24, 1905, to May 24, 1907; Rev. Edwin P. Moulton, September 5, 1909 to 1914.

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The meeting-house was built on Pearl Street in 1858, and was thoroughly repaired during the pastorate of Mr. Harmon.

The Middle Street Baptist Society was established in 1826, eight indi- viduals meeting in "the old Assembly House" on Vaughan Street and con- stituting themselves into a Calvin Baptist Church. The society afterwards worshiped in what is now the Unitarian chapel, on Court Street, and in 1828 built and occupied their present brick edifice, on the corner of Middle and State streets, when they assumed the above name. Rev. Duncan Dunbar, who was active in the formation of the church, supplied the pulpit for a while. The pastors have been as follows: 1827, Rev. Baron Stow; 1836, Rev. John G. Naylor; 1839, Rev. Freeman G. Brown; 1843, Rev. Silas Ilsley ; 1848, Rev. William Lamson, D. D .; 1860, Rev. Edwin B. Eddy ; 1864, Rev. Henry F. Lane; 1868, Rev. William H. Alden, D. D .: 1889, Rev. Rush Rhees; 1893, Rev. W. E. Schliemann; 1894, Rev. M. V. McDuffie; 1898, Rev. George W. Gile; 1908, Rev. William E. Stanley, the present pastor. In 1898 the church was renovated and memorial windows and elec- tric lights were added.

During Rev. Geo. W. Gile's administration, the new annex, and addi- tions to the chapel were made. In 1902 the parsonage on Middle Street was purchased.

Christ Church (Episcopal) is situated on Madison Street, opposite the west end of Austin Street. The stone of which it was constructed was taken from Leach's or Murphy's Island in Little Harbor.

By the will of George M. Marsh, who died November 19, 1878, there was left a bequest for the founding of this church. The cornerstone was laid on St. John's Day, 1880. The church was dedicated July 3, 1883. The seats, by will of the founder, are made free.

The following rectors have served: Rev. Henry E. Hovey, 1883 to 1894 ; Rev. Charles A. Morrill, 1894 to 1896; Rev. Charles leV. Brine, 1896 to 1914.

The Peace Thanksgiving Service held on September 5, 1905, was con- ducted by the rector of Christ Church and the Very Rev. A. A. Hotovitzky, dean of the Russian Cathedral of S. Nicholas, New York City. The serv- ice consisted of the Evensong of the Episcopal Church and the Russian Orthodox Te Deum. The music was rendered by the combined choirs of Christ Church and the Russian Cathedral, New York, and Russian and Angelican priests. A Peace Service similar to the original one is held each year on or about the date-September 5th. In the year 1907 a handsome tablet was placed upon the wall of the chancel commemorating the Peace Thanksgiving Service.

The Advent Christian Church .- In 1840 William Miller of Low Hamp- ton, N. Y., came to Portsmouth to give his course of lectures on the Second Coming of Christ. He gave twenty-seven lectures in the brick church, cor- ner of Pleasant and Livermore streets. Crowds flocked to hear Mr. Miller. Before he concluded his lecture a large number came to the altar. From 60 to 80 would come forward for prayers on an evening. From 700 to 800 confessed faith in Christ. But a great change came over the religious people of Portsmouth after the time passed and Christ did not come. They

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gave it up and went back to their churches, but a few received the New Light on the Prophetical part of the Bible and they could not give it up. Ten of this class were members of the Free Baptist Church of this city. They would keep on talking on the Prophecy in their social meetings. The church could not endure it any longer so called a special church meeting and notified those members to appear before the Church. The chairman of the meeting said "The Church charges you as false prophets. You said Christ was coming at a definite time. He did not come. But we would be pleased to have you remain with us if you will leave out the coming of Christ." The Church voted to drop their names from the Church and they came out and congregated together on the street. They met in a shop on Hanover Street. Elder Crowell, who heard Brother Miller's lectures, was greatly interested in them. The brethren invited him to preach in the shop. The first Sunday all the seats were taken and they saw they must have more room, so they rented a hall on the corner of State and Penhallow streets. There was a grocery store underneath. In those days they were called "Wet Groceries." The people moved to their hall and they had preachings every Sunday and two prayer meetings. Their "Amen's" and "Hallelujah's" were so loud they disturbed the neighbors and the wet goods man and in about two years they were warned out. Then they moved in a hall in the Academy. They stayed there two years and were again warned out on account of their loud "Amen's." They moved to Lord's Chapel on Hanover Street where they disturbed the Spiritualists who occupied a portion of the building, and were ordered out. Five brethren gave their joint note to a bank to raise money to build a church; Joseph H. Berry, Gilman Dearborn, Daniel P. Brown, William F. Currier and Robinson F. Berry. They formed themselves into a building committee and erected a small church on the lot where the present church stands. Their first pastor was Brother Walter Pratt, followed by Brother E. Owen and Brother William Israel. In 1883 Brother C. R. Crossett accepted a call to this church and he was followed by Brother Bryant McClellan, Brother W. H. Lannin, Brother A. E. Phelps and Brother C. M. Seaman. Under Mr. Seaman's pastorate a total sum of $4,400 was spent on remodeling the building. Brother C. H. Shurtleff was then pastor for two years and was followed by Brother C. O. Farnham, Brother I. T. Barnes and Brother W. M. Adams. Brother J. T. Barnes returned to take up the work for the second time, on March 16, 1914.

The Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic ) Church .- The first serv- ices of the Roman Catholics were held in the Peduzzi Building, on the cor- ner of Congress and High streets. In 1852 a frame church was built on the corner of Summer and Chatham streets, over the ledge in the old circus field. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Charles McCallion, who was the first resident priest. At that time the congregation numbered about three hundred. The building was destroyed by fire in 1871. In 1873 the present brick church was built at a cost of $50,000. The beautiful memorial win- dows were the recent gift of Rev. Father E. M. O'Callaghan, P. R., a former pastor. The society numbers upwards of two thousand members, and is one of the wealthiest in the city, owning nearly the entire square bounded by Summer, Austin, Winter and Chatham streets. On the corner of Austin

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and Winter streets is the large St. Patrick's Parochial School and on Austin Street the Sacred Heart Convent of Mercy, both built in 1887.

The Parochial School was established in September, 1888. The building is up-to-date in every respect. The public school curriculum is followed in the different grades with special attention paid to instruction in Christian Doctrine. The average number of pupils throughout the year is 480. The following are the successors of Rev. Mr. McCallion: Rev. P. Canavan; Rev. William O'Donnell; Rev. D. W. Murphy; Rev. Thomas Canon Walsh ; Rev. E. M. O'Callaghan and Rev. P. J. Finnegan. The present pastor, Rev. E. J. Walsh, began his work July 14, 1907. Rev. James E. White is his assistant.

The Peoples Baptist Church was organized September 4, 1908, mainly through the efforts of Deacon James F. Slaughter, and their services are held in the building owned by the city on Meeting-house Hill. Their present pastor is Rev. John L. Davis. The clerk is William T. Pattillo.

The Chapel of New Jerusalem on Little Harbor Road is open during the summer season with services by Arthur A. Carey (pastor).

The Christian Science Society was organized in 1901. They hold their meetings and have a reading room at No. 2 Market Street.

The Salvation Army have good rooms and a hall on State Street.

CHAPTER XIV

PORTSMOUTH-(Continued)

Stamp Act and a Tea Party-Association Test-The War of the Revolution -Military Record-War of 1812-14-Military Record, 1861-5-Ship Building-Commerce-Privateering

Stamp Act and Tea Party .- George Meserve, when in England in 1765, at the time of the passage of the Stamp Act, was appointed agent for the distribution of stamps in New Hampshire. Nowhere in the Colonies was a more determined spirit of resistance to the oppression of the mother coun- try manifested than in Portsmouth. The stamp master's commission arrived in January, 1766. Meserve gave up the commission to the "Sons of Liberty," who took it and destroyed it at the swing bridge, where they erected a liberty standard and the bridge has been called from that day "Liberty Bridge" and a pole maintained with an appropriate inscription.

Previous to the attack on Fort William and Mary in December, 1774, a Tea Party was held in the North Meeting House on December 16, 1773. At that meeting of the inhabitants it was

Resolved: That whoever directly or indirectly promote or in any way assist in the importation of East India Company's tea, or any tea subject to payment of any duty here by an act of the British Parliament, shall be deemed an enemy to America.

On June 25, 1774, twenty-seven chests of tea were consigned to Edward Parry which caused almost as much excitement as did the tea-ship in Boston. But he promptly reshipped them, untouched to Halifax. Another shipment of thirty chests arrived in September. The populace broke in the windows of the consignee and Parry applied to Governor Wentworth for protection, which was given. The town assembled the next day and Parry publicly declared he would not accept the consignment and it was also reshipped to Halifax.

Association Test of 1776 .- In the history of New Castle is detailed the active part taken by citizens of Portsmouth, in the attacks on Fort William and Mary in December, 1774.

The Declaration of the Independence of the United States was well ascertained to be the voice of the people, before it was signed in the Congress at Philadelphia on the 4th of July, 1776. On the recommendation made by Congress, March 14, 1776, the signatures of the people were obtained to an obligation to oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies.

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The fullness of the returns gave the signers of the Declaration assurance that their acts would be sanctioned and sustained by the country. A docu- ment in the Secretary of State's office shows all the names of the citizens of Portsmouth in 1776, and the position in which they stood in regard to the Revolution.

Four hundred and ninety-seven signed the Association Test, thirty-one were either absent or refused to sign. Of the latter, fifteen were reported as "being notoriously disaffected to the common cause." The Test list is headed by the name of Meshech Weare, and it reads as follows: "We the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with Armes, oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies, against the United American Colonies."

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION, MILITARY RECORD

In place of the long lists of Portsmouth men serving on the land and sea we insert the following as indicative of the large number of men the town furnished :

The Continental Congress had discovered in 1776 the error of short enlistments and temporary levies, and in the latter part of that year resolved upon a permanent military establishment, to consist of 88 battalions, which were subsequently augmented to 104. Each battalion of infantry to consist of 688 men, exclusive of the commissioned officers, divided into 8 companies, of 92 officers and enlisted men each, the enlistments in the new army to be for a period of not less than three years or during the continuance of the war with Great Britain. These battalions or regiments were to be raised directly by the different states in proportion to their population, and desig- nated in the army by the number and the name of the state in which they were recruited.

One brigade of three battalions of infantry was directed by Congress to be raised in New Hampshire, and the state authorities immediately adopted active measures to fill up these battalions by offer of bounties, etc., to secure enlistments, and apportioned the number of men to be raised equitably among all the towns in the state. The number assigned to the Town of Portsmouth was 109, to which, in a public meeting held March 25, 1777, a remonstrance was unanimously voted in the following terms ;- State of New Hampshire; To the Honorable Council and House of Representatives for the State afore- said, now in General Assembly convened at Exeter :

The Memorial and Remonstrance of the Freeholders and other Inhab- itants of the Town of Portsmouth in the State aforesaid into your Honors humbly shows;

That your Memorialists have been called upon in their corporate capacity as a town by Joshua Wentworth, Esq., lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment (militia) to furnish 109 men for the Continental (regular) army, which demand, he informs us, is made by virtue of authority from your Honors, against which demand we beg leave to remonstrate to your Honors for the following interesting and weighty reasons; .

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In the orders from Major-General Folsom to Colonel Wentworth, the proportion of this town of males from 16 to 50 is said to be 873, but by accurate returns of all the militia companies, including the Alarm List and the companies commanded by Colonels Langdon and Sherburne, there are but 590 males in the whole and of these more than two hundred are enlisted and gone away into the Continental and State service and other ways by permission of your honors, viz .: in Colonel Long's regiment at Ticonderoga, on board the Raleigh ship of war, in Captains Salter and Daniels companies and on board the twenty-gun privateer (Portsmouth), Captain Parker, which was permitted to sail by your Honors, and all the ships employed by the Continent, which reduces the number remaining to be only about three hundred and fifty, of which 109 is now demanded, which was from the presumption that there were 873 in the town; this we conceive to be some error, and we doubt not your Honors, in justice to the town, will inquire into and relieve under this grievance. We beg leave to assure your Honors we ever were and ever will be ready to furnish our full proportion to the support of the public cause, nor do we make our present applications from any other views, but that we conceive some manifest error is made in the proportion demanded, as we are called upon to furnish considerable more than one-quarter part of the (arms-bearing) inhabitants in the town, includ- ing the Alarm List and independent companies.

The memorial was not granted and the number was secured by the town paying £9 bounty and later £27 to all soldiers enlisting for three years.

The distribution of troops for the defense of the Piscataqua Harbor in November, 1775, was: Great Island, 269 men; at Fort Washington, 74 men; on Peirce's Island, 366 men ; on Seavey's Island, 235 men; at Kittery Point, 208 men; at Fort Sullivan, 20 men; in Portsmouth, 29 men; on the Parade, I Battery of Light Artillery of three brass pieces, 37 men ; one con- pany of carpenters, 12 men; total, 1,250 men.

WAR OF 1812-14

At the commencement of the War of 1812, and for twenty years subse- quently, the militia of New Hampshire was thoroughly organized and in a most efficient condition for service. In the year 1813 it consisted of thirty- seven regiments, of two battalions each, and numbered about 35,000 men. The Town of Portsmouth constituted the territorial limits of the First Regi- ment, the field officers of which in 1813 were: Gideon Walker, colonel com- mandant; Samuel Larkin, major first battalion; and Joseph Drown, major second battalion. The regiment consisted of 754 officers and men and was composed of the following companies, viz. :

Portsmouth Artillery, organized June 17, 1775, designation changed in 1845 to Portsmouth Greys, commanded in 1813 by Capt. Robert F. Phipps ; Sea Fencibles, organized 1812 and drilled both as infantry and artillery, commanded by Capt. John S. Davis; First Light Infantry Company, organized October 1, 1794, designation changed July 4, 1823, to Rockingham Guards, commanded by Capt. Samuel Shackford; Second Light Infantry Company (Gilman Blues), organized October 30, 1799, commanded by Capt. Joshua

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

W. Pierce and six line companies commanded by Captains Benjamin Floyd, Thomas S. Bowles, Nathaniel Adams, Jr., Isaac Waldron, Joseph Sherburne and William Miller.

The Artillery, Sea Fencibles, First Light Infantry and Gilman Blues were uniformed volunteer organizations, armed and equipped by the State.

The line companies included all others not serving in the above, not by law exempt from military service, between the ages of eighteen and forty- five years, residing within the six militia districts into which the Town of Portsmouth was then divided. In addition to ths armed and organized force there were in Portsmouth 554 men of military age exempted from service, and 117 belonging to the several fire companies who were also released by law from military duty.

During the 1812-14 war, Portsmouth sent to the army and navy its quota of men. In 1814 the reception of the news of the destruction of the Capitol of the Nation caused the greatest excitement in the town. On Sep- tember 3d, at a town meeting, a new committee of defence was appointed. Among the twelve were Daniel Webster and Jeremiah Mason. In answer to their application five regiments and a battalion of artillery and militia, num- bering 4,581 men, assembled at Portsmouth. This force could be reinforced by the Portsmouth Regiment of 800, and the Thirty-fifth Regiment of 600, and if necessary the Newburyport Regiment, which, with the regulars and state troops, there could be put in line of battle at least 7,000 men at the alarm signal. That the British had made arrangements to destroy the navy yard and town in 1814 there can be no doubt. A well appointed fleet lay off the Piscataqua for several weeks.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65

The following roll of citizens comprise, so far as is known, all the per- sons who have been in the service of the United States, either in the army or navy, also all persons who enlisted as a part of the quota of this city and received the bounty, whether such persons were residents or not.

Company K, Second Regiment .- William O. Sides, captain; John S. Sides, second lieutenant; Andrew J. Sides, George E. Sides, Charles W. Patch, Oliver F. Maxwell, sergeants; George R. Roitt, Beckford L. Rand, Christopher J. Marshall, William W. Shaw, James Ricker, Daniel D. Wendell, Rufus L. Beem, Charles E. Gleason, corporals; James W. Taylor, musician; Benjamin J. Lake, wagoner. Privates: George A. Allon, Samuel Adams, Charles N. Allen, John Avery, Oliver N. Allen, John W. Bell, Allen P. Bell, Vanburen S. Bly, John R. Brockway, Hugh Boyle, Lewis E. Blaesdell, James N. Chase, Nathaniel M. Danielson, Joseph A. Doe, John F. Dear- born, Charles W. Downs, Horace L. Dearborn, Joseph Dame, Francis A. Fifield, William H. Goodwin, Joseph E. Gordon, Clarence S. Gray, James T. Gammon, Thomas Gannin, Charles E. Hantress, Jacob W. Hill, George E. Hill, Harlen P. Hodgdon, John Harvey, John Haynes, Charles W. Hol- brook, George E. Johnson, Joseph E. Janverin, William H. Kenniston, Wil- liam S. King, Nathaniel M. Lear, Robert Lever, Edwin H. Leslie, Michael E. Long, James I. Locke, William Locke, William F. Lawson, Sedley A.

PUBLIC LIBRARY, PORTSMOUTH, N. H., 1809

THE MESERVE-WEBSTER HOUSE, PORTSMOUTH, N. H., 1760

STOODLEY TAVERN, PORTSMOUTH, N. H., 1761

FORT CONSTITUTION-PORTCULLIS NEW CASTLE, N. H.

OLD JACKSON HOUSE, 1664

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PORTSMOUTH- BUILT IN 1732

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Lowd, Alvah Manson, William H. Mix, Jeremiah Murphy, William C. Mc- Intire, Jeremiah Mahoney, John S. McDonald, Morris F. McGraw, Joseph Moulton, John Marr, Daniel Neligan, Henry C. Norton, W. F. Oxford, John Pollock, Charles E. Plaisted, Nathaniel F. Palmer, Joseph W. Rogers, Samuel E. Reynolds, James Rutledge, John Riley, Charles R. Roberts, Charles Ridge, George Sawyer, Jr., Daniel F. Smith, James E. Seavey, Horace M. Smith, William T. Spinney, Robert C. Sides, Jr., Thomas B. Seaver, Alex- ander Steward, Joseph P. Sheppard, Freeman B. Teague, William H. Twi- light, Samuel Taylor, William H. Tenney, George W. Trickey, Henry Walker, Charles H. Warren, Joseph D. West, Andrew Willard.

"I certify that the rules and articles of war were read to the company on the 8th day of June, 1861.

"WILLIAM O. SIDES."

"I certify on honor that I have carefully examined the men whose names are borne on this roll, and have accepted them into the service of the United States for the term of three years from this 8th day of June, 1861.

(Signed) "SETH EASTMAN, "Major Third U. S. Infantry, Mustering Officer."

John S. Sides, promoted to first lieutenant August 15, 1861. Lieut. Charles W. Patch, killed at Gettysburg. Christopher J. Marshall, taken prisoner first Bull Run. Samuel Adams, deserted July 21, 1861. Oliver N. Allen, prisoner first Bull Run. William H. Kenniston, died August 3, 1861, in hospital. William F. Oxford, wounded and taken prisoner first Bull Run. Charles Ridge, taken prisoner first Bull Run. George Sawyer, taken prisoner first Bull Run. James E. Seavey, drowned at Aquia Creek, August 23, 1862. Henry Walker, killed in battle August 29, 1862.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 18

Author: Hazlett, Charles A Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390