History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 32

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 32

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The seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Central Congrega- tional Church was commemorated August 4, , 1912.

Methodist Church and Ministers .- A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Derry August 6, 1834. October 25, 1834, notice was published of the formal organization of a society. It was signed by Caleb Dustin, John Taylor, Gilman Dinsmore, and William S. Follansbee; Mr. Dinsmore, clerk. The society held services at first for a short time at the houses of its members, but soon occupied the "Brick Schoolhouse" at the lower end of the village. The church prospered, and more and better accommodations being needed in 1836 a meeting house was erected. Following is a partial roll of clergymen of this church and society: Philo Bronson, James McCane, Samuel Hoyt, William H. Brewster, Michael Quimby, Jonathan Hazelton, S. S. Matthews, James Adams, G. W. T. Rogers, F. Q. Barrows, James Palmer, Isaac S. Cush- man, Charles Smith, - Hamlin, -- - Parkhurst, John W. Adams, Lorenzo Draper, Rufus Tilton, E. Lewis, N. G. Cheney, W. P. Ray, W. W. H. Pills- bury, James Noyes, Elihu Scott, W. B. Osgood, J. W. Dearborn, A. E. Higgins, A. B. Carter, S. C. Farnham, N. Alger, W. W. Smith, O. A. Farley, Frederic C. Pillsbury and C. W. Martin. The present pastor, Rev. G. W. Farmer, was assigned to Derry Village and St. Luke's at the April conference.

St. Luke's Methodist Church was established as a mission in 1885 and organized as a church February 12, 1888, with Rev. Wm. Ramsden, pastor, till April, 1889; C. W. Taylor, 1889-92 ; Daniel Onstott, 1892-4; W. A. Mayo, 1894-5 : H. E. Allen, 1895-9; J. H. Trow, 1899-1900; D. C. Babcock, 1900-4; Wm. Thompson, 1904-6; H. F. Quimby, 1906-9; C. W. Martin, 1909-12; G. W. Farmer, 1912-14.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Derry, N. H .- Mass was held for the first time in Derry at the home of John Duffy in 1869 by the Rev. John O'Brien. Rev. William McDonald afterwards visited the town occasionally

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and held services. In 1885 it became a mission of the Cathedral parish. In 1888 it was organized as an independent parish by the Rev. William J. O'Con- nor. Father O'Connor was instrumental in building the church and it was dedicated by Bishop Bradley in November, 1889, under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas. Rev. Daniel J. Dunn, the present pastor, came to the church in 1896. He has been a very faithful and earnest priest for his parish. Under his care the church property has been greatly improved and the membership of the parish largely increased. Rev. E. N. Durette is the curate of the parish and proves an able assistant to Father Dunn. Rev. G. E. Haslem is the pastor of the Episcopal Mission.

First Baptist Church of Derry was organized October 10, 1880, with four- teen members, including Rev. A. S. Stowell and wife. Their place of worship was in Smith's hall until the great fire of August 19, 1882, afterwards in a schoolhouse, and then in a building erected for temporary use by three or four brethren. In the spring of 1884 their fine edifice on the corner of Broadway and Crystal Avenue was erected and dedicated. Rev. Alfred S. Stowell was ordained November 17, 1880, and was pastor for nine years. Rev. J. H. Nichols served from December, 1889, to April, 1910. Their present pastor, Rev. Irving J. Enslin, began in December, 1910.

Episcopal Church .- The Episcopal church in Derry was erected in 1905, and the Rectory two years later. The cost of the buildings was about $8,000.00. In the year 1890 there were weekly afternoon services, consisting of evening prayer, sermon and music, main- tained in a private house, from March 16th to October 12th, inclusive. These services were given by the Rev. Jesse G. MacMurphy, who was born in Derry and had returned to his native town after living in Wisconsin many years. In the year 1899, services were begun in this town that have continued every Sunday since without interruption. On the 6th day of August, 1899, the Rev. Edward M. Parker, the present bishop of New Hampshire, and the Rev. William Northey Jones, had canvassed the town and called together the scattering communicants of the church for that evening. And as that was a festival day in the calendar, the society soon adopted the name, "The Church of the Transfiguration." The Rev. Wendell Phillips Elkins had charge of the services for about a year, and was followed by the Rev. Donald Brown. Two services were now held each Sunday and the Rev. Jesse G. MacMurphy assisted and supplemented the work as warden and priest. The Rev. John Gregson followed in the charge of the church, being here one Sunday in each month, the Rev. Jesse G. Mac- Murphy officiating in his absence. These clergymen served Derry in this way for about two years each. Then the society came under the charge of the Rev. James C. Flanders, who also was assisted by the Rev. Jesse G. MacMurphy. During his time the church edifice was erected and the services transferred to the new quarters. The present rector, the Rev. George Haslam, came to the society in 1907. Rev. Jesse G. MacMurphy either officiated in the church at Derry, or went to one of the other towns for Sunday services. The organization of the church is as follows: Rev. George Haslam, rector; Rev. Jesse G. MacMurphy, assistant (also assistant warden) ; Louis M. Packer, junior warden; S. Howard Bell, treasurer ; J. Frank Stewart, clerk.

There is a vested choir of men and boys; also an efficient Women's Guild, of which Mrs. George Haslam is president, Mrs. J. G. MacMurphy, secretary, and Miss Susie Dugan, treasurer. There is also a Junior Guild, of which Miss May Bond is president, Miss Ida Stewart, secretary and Miss I. Hanscom, treasurer. The Sunday school is also organized with officers and teachers. There is a Boys' Club, of which the Rector is president and the Assistant, vice president.

CHAPTER XXV EAST KINGSTON

Early History-First Settlers-The Churches-Military Record-Public Library

Early History, etc .- The charter of Kingston was granted by the Pro- vincial Assembly, under the administration of Lieut .- Gov. John Usher, August 6, 1694, embracing a tract of land commencing seven miles west of the meeting-house in Hampton, which is the line between East Kingston and Kensington and extending ten miles west and by north into the country. Its breadth was four miles north from Shapley's line, the present boundary between East Kingston and South Hampton. This line was represented in the charter as three miles north of Merrimac River, though it was really nearer five miles. This territory comprised what now constitutes East Kingston, Danville, Sandown, and the larger part of Kingston. In 1738 fifty-three persons in the Town of Kingston united in a petition to the General Assembly to be set off into a separate parish. The petitioners were Jeremy, Ebenezer, John, Thomas, and Andrew Webster, Nathan, Phinehas, Josiah, and Ebenezer Batchelder, Ichabod, Caleb, and Theophilus Clough, William and Abraham Smith, Jacob Gale, William Whickee, Benjamin Morrill, Joseph Greele, James Tappan, Isaac Godfrey, and Josiah Tilton.

Of the remaining thirty-two there is not one of whom anything is known, or whose known descendants live in the town. Of most of them their names are not recognized by the present generation. They prayed to be set off "into a separate parish, with their families and possessions, to enjoy all the rights and privileges that other parishes have and do by law enjoy." The reason they assigned for wishing to be incorporated into a distinct parish were "their great distance from the place of public worship in the said town of Kingston, and attending on the same; have built a meeting-house in that part of the town where they live convenient for themselves and their families, and being desirous of having a gospel ministry among them," they pray "to be exempted from paying taxes for the support of schools and the ministry to the said Town of Kingston after the year 1738, and to choose their own parish officers and assess and collect taxes." These privileges were all granted in their charter, "provided the said petitioners maintain an authorized minister of the gospel among them." The parish was incorporated November 17, 1738. Jeremy Webster was authorized to call the first meet- ing, which he did, and an organization was effected January 10, 1738-39. Joseph Greele was chosen moderator, and Jeremy Webster, clerk. A call was then extended to the Rev. Peter Coffin to settle with them as their minister, which was accepted August 31, 1739.

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By an act of the Provincial Council in August, 1740, the boundaries between the East Parish of Kingston and the Town of Kingston were estab- lished as follows: "Midway between the meeting-houses of Kingston and the East Parish in a straight line a stone was set up on the highway called Salisbury road. . . .

"From said stone north by compass to Exeter line, and from the stone aforesaid south to the path going from Kingston to Amesbury by the way of Trickling Fall; there a beech-tree was marked, not knowing the bounds of Salisbury or Amesbury." The boundaries of East Kingston are north by Kingston and Exeter, east by Kensington, south by South Hampton and Newton, and west by Kingston. Whoever is inclined to look at the county map will see that the town is in the form of a parallelogram, the longest sides being from north to south. From the northwest angle is a large area taken off and attached to Kingston. This is known as "Exeter road." The question is raised how this portion came to remain as Kingston, as the boundary according to the act would be on the north by Brentwood, leaving this territory in the East Parish. In the act authorizing the running of the boundary line in 1740, any person so disposed was allowed to poll off to the Town of Kingston.

Forty-three persons availed themselves of this provision. Among these were a number of names of persons well known in the district at the present time, such as Eastman, French, Sanborn, Long, and Judkins. These persons not wishing to be included in the new parish, and having polled off to the Town of Kingston, the line was drawn as it now exists for general convenience.

Since that time a number of efforts have been made to restore the bound- aries as originally enacted.

In 1795 it was proposed "to build a new meeting-house twenty rods north of Capt. John Currier's, on the road to Exeter." The town voted "they were willing to receive all who had polled off." Nothing came from it.

In 1826 the reannexation of Exeter road to this town, so as to restore the original parish lines, was again agitated, and the town voted "to receive the inhabitants of Kingston, on Exeter road, so called, into the Town of East Kingston, as by their petition, and the order of the Legislature thereon for a day of hearing." Many were anxious to be reannexed, and others in this town were desirous they should be; but some influential men were so decidedly, not to say violently, in opposition to the project that it failed, and the "day of hearing" had no favorable result. No propositions of the kind have since been made.

Misunderstandings arose between the two parishes in relation to the parsonage, maintaining the poor, and various other matters. The conten- tions were such as came near bringing on a lawsuit; but wiser counsels pre- vailed, and it was decided "that each parish must maintain their own poor and support their own schools." But such were their remaining and continued difficulties, and so far were they from a settlement, that the town voted, in 1750, "that we are willing the Rev: Mr. Coffin request the Rev. Mr. Secombe that the parsonage land be divided between them, and in case such division cannot be obtained peaceably, we will support the Rev. Mr. Secombe to obtain 17

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such division." No lawsuit followed, but after long controversy and strife the whole matter of parsonage was settled in March, 1761, in articles of agreement, drawn up by committees from each of the towns of Kingston, East Kingston, Hawke, and Sandown. Thus it was twenty-two years before this controversy was concluded. Mr. Coffin continued here as the minister of the town thirty-three years. In 1772 he was dismissed after much con- tention. That there was great fault on both sides the impartial reader at this time, more than a century afterwards, can have no doubt.

The salary of Mr. Coffin for the first nine years after his settlement in 1739 was an average of forty-five pounds, New England currency, annually, or the equivalent of $150. To this was added the use of the parsonage, twenty- five cords of wood, and other perquisites. In 1748 it was 320 pounds, old tenor, which at that time was worth not far from fifty cents on the pound silver money. In 1760 he received sixty pounds lawful money, or $200. A pound lawful money was twenty shillings New England currency, equal to three and one-third dollars. At the close of his ministry in 1772 he was receiving seventy pounds. To these sums add an acre of land given him on which to build a house, one hundred pounds to aid him in building the house, assistance in building the barn, wood supplied by the parish from the par- sonage wood lot, with some other gifts and allowances, and sixty pounds when he was dismissed in payment of constructive services, with various other allowances amounting to fifty pounds, and we have a pretty correct idea of his income for the thirty-three years he was their minister. These payments were generally made in paper money, but there seem to have been reasonable efforts to pay him in a fair circulating currency.

Soon after the dismission of Mr. Coffin there was an effort to obtain a successor. The town voted in October, 1772, to call and settle a minister, with a salary of eighty pounds and the use of the parsonage. A number of candidates were tried, but upon none of them could there be an agreement for settlement.

With the opening scenes of the Revolution the attention of the people was turned somewhat from ecclesiastical to political duties. In patriotism East Kingston was not behind her sister towns. A committee was chosen to meet committees from other towns in Exeter, July 9, 1774, in convention, to choose delegates to represent this province in a congress proposed to be held by dele- gates from the several colonies and provinces in North America, and agreed "That they will pay their part of the expenses and charges in sending dele- gates, and will draw the money out of the Parish Treasury." 1775, May 8th, a committee was chosen to meet at Exeter on the 17th inst., with delegates from the several towns of this province, "who, when met with the other dele- gates shall be fully empowered and authorized to pursue such measures as may be judged most expedient to preserve and restore the rights of this and the other colonies, and that such deputies shall be empowered to act in behalf of themselves and their constituents." They also voted at this meeting "to raise thirteen men, called 'minute-men,' who shall be ready at any sufficient alarm for the defense of the colonies, 'each man when called for to join with the army of observation.'" They were to be provided with a "coat and blanket, arms, ammunition, and provisions, and paid for their services from

DERRY SHOE SHOPS, DERRY, N. H.

OLD AND NEW PINKERTON ACADEMY, DERRY, N. H.

HOOD'S FARM, DERRY, N. H.

SOLDIER'S MONUMENT AND CHURCH, EAST DERRY, N. H.

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the town treasury." A "Committee of Safety" of nine persons was chosen, which was continued through the war, though its members were a number of times changed. It embraced during its existence most of the principal citizens.

1776. Eight men were raised for the expedition against Canada. Meas- ures were taken to raise money to pay bounties to these men, and also to pay their expenses. 1777, May 21st, a vote was passed to enlist a sufficient num- ber of men as cheap as they can to fill the quota, and tax the parish to raise the money and pay the same. It was also voted "that every one in this parish must get himself ready and properly equipped for military service, both alarm and training-band, by next Monday, and then stand ready to march at a minute's warning." Also voted "supplies and preparations for an invasion."

1778. Voted supplies liberally and preparations in expectation of an invasion, as the "Committee of Safety have received advice, and for the men to be ready at a moment's warning.'

1779. April 19th, voted "To give a bounty of $1,500 each to three men to enlist in the service." This, of course, was in depreciated paper cur- rency. Nearly as large sums were given afterwards in a number of instances.

1780. Great exertions were made to raise and pay soldiers, to whom large bounties were given in addition to their wages.

1781. The town voted "we are willing to raise our proportion of soldiers for the Continental army;" chose a "committee to raise men to fill the quota."

"The book containing the plan of government having been read and dis- cussed, it was voted to receive it, under certain limitations."

1783. Approved of the plan of government and voted for its continuance.

We have now given extracts from the records of specimens of the spirit and action of the people. Through the war public meetings were held fre- quently, and at different hours of the day and evening. They often adjourned to a day not far distant without especial business, but looking for something to occur which would require concerted action and a vote of the town. The quotas were promptly filled, though sometimes at enormous prices.

Military preparations continued, long after the close of the War of the Revolution, and soldiers styled "minute-men" were always in readiness.

1812. It was voted "To make up to each soldier $15 per month, with what Government allows." At this date the war had broken out usually termed the War of 1812-14, or "last war with Great Britain," and our people were found prepared for it. In 1813-15 committees were chosen to look after the drafted men, to hire men to fill the quotas, to serve for the defense of the state. The calls of the Government were promptly answered and the quotas of the town always filled.

In 1818 it was "voted to sell the parsonage, invest the money, and lay out the interest annually in preaching."

The "Toleration Act," passed by the Legislature of New Hampshire, July, 1819, provides 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,

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by leaving a written notice with the clerk of the society, be exempted from any future expenses." This act ended all controversy in relation to taxing the people to support a ministry. Thereafter every society attended to their own affairs. There has occasionally, and of late, been a little agitation and a slight ripple of feeling in relation to the disposition of the parsonage money ; but nothing has ever resulted from it, and probably never will.

1830. The meeting-house, which had stood ninety-two years, was torn down, and the town-house erected in its place. It was finished with pews. The house was completed, the pews sold at auction, and titles given May 2, 1831. It was to be occupied by the town whenever needed for town purposes; at all other times, and on Sabbaths, by the several religious societies such a proportion of the time as they owned pews. The selectmen decided annually what Sabbaths each society should occupy the house during the ensuing year.

1837. On a petition of twenty legal voters a town-meeting was held July Ist at the town-house, which was called to order by one of the selectmen, when John Philbrick was chosen clerk pro tem., and Charles Sanborn was chosen moderator. It was then, on motion, "Voted, That no one has a right to hold abolition or anti-slavery meetings in the town hall or other public buildings belonging to said town." A division of the house being called for, seventeen were for opening the house and forty-seven were against it. Voted, "That the town authorize the selectmen, or any freeholder in the town, to clear the public buildings in said town of any person or persons delivering or attempting to deliver any abolition lectures or addresses, and at the expense of said town." We do not think any arrests were made under this town authority, and we do not know what attempts were made to hold meetings or lecture on slavery for a number of years thereafter in any of the public buildings. Still, the legality of this whole proceeding has been well doubted.

In 1847, March 9th, at the annual meeting it was voted, "That the vote passed July 1, 1837, relative to the using of the public buildings to hold aboli- tion or anti-slavery lectures or addresses in, be reconsidered." Since that time the town-house has been open for public meetings without regard to the political complexion of the speakers or their friends.

1859. By votes of the town the rights of individuals to the pews in the town-house were purchased and taken away, and movable settees substituted. When the Civil war broke out there was much party feeling, but no lack of patriotism.

At a town-meeting called May 9, 1861, it was voted to authorize the select- men to hire $1,000 to pay soldiers.

October 10th. Voted to adopt the act passed at the last June session of the Legislature, chapter 2480, entitled "An act authorizing cities and towns to aid the families of volunteers, and for other purposes," and that the selectmen carry this vote into effect.

1862. August 18th, the selectmen were authorized to hire $5,000 to pay volunteer citizens, $300 each. August 21st, the selectmen were authorized "to pay the bounty of $300 to as large a number of volunteers as may be sufficient to cover all quotas called for by the President."

1863. August 12th, voted, that the selectmen be authorized to hire such

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sum of money as may be necessary to pay each drafted man the sum of $300. August 15th, voted, "That the town raise and pay to every inhabi- tant thereof who have been or shall be drafted or conscripted to serve in the army of the United States under the present draft, or to the substitute of such drafted or conscripted inhabitant, the sum of $300 bounty."

1864. June 13th, voted, that the selectmen be authorized to pay a bounty of $100 to each person who has entered into the service of the United States, and has not been paid a town bounty since May, 1863. July 20th, the select- men were authorized to borrow $5,000, and from the same to pay each volunteer or substitute who may be accepted and mustered into the mili- tary service of the United States such sums as they may find neces- sary or deem expedient, not exceeding the limit prescribed by law.

There went from this town forty-five volunteers and eleven substitutes, making the whole number fifty-six.

The surface of the town is moderately uneven. The soil is of a good quality, and well adapted to the cultivation of farm and garden products, and to grasses and all kinds of grain. It produces large crops of Indian corn, barley, oats, potatoes, and esculent roots.

The Boston and Maine Railroad runs through the town from a point in Kingston near the southwest part of East Kingston to the extreme northeast, where it enters Exeter. From the station-house, near the center of the town :

Boston is distant forty-five and three fourths miles by the railroad, forty miles by the carriage-road as usually traveled, and thirty-five miles south five degrees west in a direct line.

Portland is distant sixty-nine and three-fourths miles by the railroad, eighty miles by the carriage-road, and sixty-two miles north thirty-seven degree east in a direct line.

Powow River flows through the southwest part of the town, having its source in the ponds of Kingston. The cutting of ice in the river is quite an item of business for the very cold weather. The making of brick is by the New England Brick Company.

First Settlers .- It has generally been supposed that William and Abraham Smith settled here when there were no others within the limits of the present town. Every gazetteer and history which refers to the subject states that they were the first settlers or among the earliest settlers. On the contrary, William Smith, the elder of the brothers, was born in 1703, and it is a tradition of the family that he came here to live in 1724, when he was twenty-one years old. We do not think any two men were first settlers. They came as colonists from Hampton to Kingston, in companies. So far as can now be ascertained, the earliest were Ebenezer Webster (1), Ebenezer Stevens (1), John Swett, Nathaniel Sanborn, and Capt. John Webster.

The south part of the town and a part of the main road emigrated from Salisbury and Amesbury. The Greeleys and the Frenches early made a settle- ment. Edward French and Abraham Brown located or purchased lands, but personally never settled on them. They were obtained for their children. The Curriers and Blaisdells secured lands at the Falls, and moved in as early as they thought it prudent to do so on account of the Indians. It is claimed that Ralph Blaisdell was the first who crossed Powow River from the south

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 32

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