USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 48
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Robert Page came to Hampton in the second summer of its settlement. He was selectman, representative, and deacon. "He was one of the most enterprising and useful men of his day, so far as his want of knowledge suffi- cient to write his name would permit."
Abraham Perkins was among the first settlers. He is described as being superior in point of education to the most of his contemporaries, writing a beautiful hand, and was often employed as an appraiser of estates, etc. He died in 1683.
Isaac Perkins was one of the first settlers. The Perkinses of Seabrooke are his descendants.
James Philbrick was here prior to 1650. He was a mariner, and was drowned in Hampton River in 1674.
John Philbrick came during the second summer of the settlement. He was the first of the name in Hampton.
Thomas Philbrick came here in 1650 or 1651, and is supposed to be the ancestor of the Philbricks in Hampton, Rye, Seabrooke, etc.
"Robert Read, of Boston, is admitted as an inhabitant into the towne to follow his trade of shoomaking." (Town records, 1657.) He was drowned in 1657.
John Redman was an early settler. In 1684 he was chosen to keep the boys from playing in the gallery. He was an aid to Mason and Cranfield in their controversy with the people.
Edward Rishworth came here in about 1650. He was a son-in-law of Wheelright, and a leading man while here. He removed to Kittery in 1652.
Henry Roby came to Hampton in 1653. He was a leading spirit, and was one of the justices of the Court of Sessions before whom Mr. Moodey had his trial in 1684. He was selectman in 1656, 1660, 1665, and 1681. He died in 1688. His descendants reside in this vicinity and in Maine. It is believed that Col. Frederick Robie, the present governor of Maine, is a descendant.
Lieut. John Sanborn, with his brothers Stephen and William, came to Hampton in 1640. His mother was a daughter of the Rev. Stephen Bachiler. Lieut. Sanborn was an active, influential citizen, and was chosen to various positions of trust and responsibility. He was one of the most strenuous opponents of the Masonian claim and of Cranfield's administration. He was a signer to Weare's petition to the king in 1683. In October, 1683, Robert Mason, Sherlock, the marshal, and James Leach came to Sanborn's house in order to give Mason house possession, when Sanborn not opening the door, Leach by the marshal's order broke it open, and gave Mason possession. Mr. Sherlock took Sanborn prisoner, when Mason openly told the people "that is what you shall all come to."
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In 1683, Cranfield brought an action against Sanborn for saying, "I ques- tion whether ever the King knew of his, the said Edward Cranfield's, commis- sion or patent." His four sons-Richard, Josiah, John, and Joseph-were signers to Weare's petition.
Stephen Sanborn was a brother of John and William, and came to Hamp- ton with them.
William Sanborn, brother of the above named, was also an active citizen.
Robert Shaw came to Hampton between 1646 and 1649. He was a repre- sentative in 1651-53.
Among the first votes passed by the good people of Hampton was one imposing a fine for non-attendance at town-meeting, as follows:
"Twelve pence fine imposed on all who neglect to attend the meetings of the Freemen after one-half hour of the time appointed, having had a sufficient warning. August 30, 1639."
In the following month William Sanborn was chosen bell-ringer.
December 27, 1639, it was voted that "every master of a family provide a Ladder (before the last of May next) whereby he may reach to the top of his House, or they shall forfeit 4 pence a piece." The constable ordered "to collect it or pay it himself."
The First Mill .- April 6, 1640, the town ordered that "writings be drawn between the town and Richard Knight concerning his building a mill near the landing place."
At the same meeting a vote was passed to build a "Meeting-House 40 feet long, 22 Feet wide, & 13 Feet high between joynts. A place to be fixed for a Bell now given by the Rev. Pastor, Mr. Batchelder." The expense of this meeting-house to be defrayed by voluntary contributions.
Ten shillings voted to be given to those who kill a wolf.
In 1647 mention is made of a mill which Timothy Dalton and William Howard undertook to build.
In 1648 a grant of twenty-five acres was made to Abraham Perkins and Henry Green in consideration of their building a mill.
In 1697, Philip Towle fined one shilling for profane swearing by Henry Dow, justice of the peace.
In 1687, "it was ordered by vote that the selectmen shall take care to build a convenient watch-house according to law, and to sett it where the ould watch- house stood, and to provide Powder, bullets, mach-flints, or what els the Law requires for a Perm stock for the soldiers, and to make a rate for the same upon the inhabitants not exceeding £10."
The constable ordered to keep the youth from playing on Sabbath days.
In the years when the laws were enacted in the assembly they had reference to many things outside of ordinary legislation. Women were forbidden to expose their arms or bosoms to view. Their sleeves must reach to the wrists and their dresses fit high upon the necks. No person worth less than 200 pounds was allowed to wear gold or silver lace, or silk hoods or scarfs.
"Hansoming" the Church .- February 15, 1704, the town voted "that the present Selectmen take care that all the clay walls in the Meeting House that are not ceiled shall be smoothed over with clay and washed with White Lime and made hansom."
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March 1, 1714, a vote was passed imposing a fine of ten shillings on those who vote in a meeting of the Commons without a right.
In 1726, Deborah Brown was given notice by the selectmen to remove from town, otherwise to give security; if not, they will prosecute her "accord- ing to Law."
In 1661 a penalty was imposed on any one "who shall ride or lead a Horse into the meeting house."
Forts .- May 17, 1692, "It was voted that liberty is given to so many as are willing to remove the Fortification from about the Meeting House and to sett it between the Minister's House, the Prison, and the Meeting House in some convenient place, that there may be liberty for any concerned in it to build Houses in it, according to custom in other Forts." "It was voted that there shall be a House builded in said Fort, at the Town's charge, of 14 feet wide and 16 feet long, and finished forthwith for the use of it; it shall be improved for a Scout House, or the Watch House removed and made habitable."
Garrisons .- The following is an interesting document concerning gar- risons :
"HAMPTON, II Oct. 1703.
"I do hereby Direct that you forthwith order a convenient Number of Garrisons for the Town of Hampton, particularly one in the body of the Town, Near the Church, to be of large contents, where the women and chil- dren may repayr in Case of Danger, that your soldiers may the better defend the place, and that you command all the soldiers of your Towns to attend thereof till they be finished. Given under my hand the day and year above written.
"J. DUDLEY."
Ringing the Bell .- In 1650 a vote passed to have the bell rung every evening at 9 o'clock throughout the year except Sunday, when it was to be rung at eight.
The Causeway .- The Hampton Causeway Turnpike Corporation, incor- porated in 1808, distance one and three-quarters miles, cost $14,173.66; dis- continued in 1826.
Hampton Proprietary School, called Hampton Academy, was incorporated June 16, 1810.
Witchcraft .- Eunice Cole, widow of William Cole, was a fruitful source of vexation to the good people of Hampton for a long series of years. Hated and despised for her ugly and malicious disposition, she was also feared by many on account of her supposed alliance with the devil, who had given her power to inflict whatever punishment or injury she chose upon all who had the daring in any way to offend her. But notwithstanding her reputation of being a witch, it did not prevent the young people of that day from playing upon her many a trick, which the fact of her living solitary and alone afforded them a good opportunity. The story goes that Peter Johnson, who was a carpenter, was a ringleader among her tormenters. At one time he was fram- ing the second meeting-house, when attempting to hew off a chip from a stick of timber, while she was standing by waiting to pick it up for her fire, he struck blow after blow without producing any apparent impression upon the
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stubborn wood. This caused her to laugh at him, and taunt him with his great skill as a carpenter, which so irritated him that he threw his axe directly at her. It, however, passed her, and stuck in the ground, with the handle upwards. He caught hold of the handle with the intention of taking it up, but in vain. At length after repeated unavailing efforts, he requested her to give him his axe again, and told her that he was very sorry for what he had done. She immediately went and pulled the axe out with the greatest ease.
It is also related that at one time some of the more daring of the young people looked into her windows one evening, when they saw her very busily engaged in turning a bowl with something in it, apparently in the shape of a boat. At last she turned it over, and exclaimed, "There, the devil has got the imps!" That night news came that Peter Johnson, carpenter, and James Philbrick, mariner, were drowned at the same hour from a boat in the river, near the creek now known as Cole's Creek. The drowning of these men, who were much lamented, increased the fear and hatred of the old woman.
On the Rockingham County records is the following: "At a Quarter Court held at Hampton, in the Province of New Hampshire, 7 Sept. 1680, Maj. Richard Waldron Pres., Eunice Cole, of Hampton, by Authorite, com- mitted to prisson on suspition of being a witch, & upon examination of Testi- monys the Court vehemently suspects her so to be, but not full proof is sen- tenced, & confined to Imprisonment, & to be kept in durance until this Court take further ords with a lock to be kept on her legg. In meane while the Selectmen of Hampton to take care to provide for her as formerly that she may be retained.
"The testimony put on file."
She lived in a little hut in the rear of the academy, and upon her death the people dragged the body to a hole and covered it up with all speed, and then drove a stake through it with a horseshoe attached, to prevent her from again troubling the good people of Hampton.
The fear of her name would alarm the most courageous or subdue the worst temper from generation to generation.
Persecution of the Quakers .- The persecution of the Quakers in New England during the middle and latter part of the seventeenth century is too well known to be repeated here. This honored town did not escape the fanaticism of the day, as we have recorded evidence that "three vagabond Quakers, Anna Coleman, Mary Tompkins, and Abie Ambrose," were made fast to the "cart's tail" and whipped upon their naked backs through the town. This decree was ordered by Richard Waldron, dated "Dover, December 22, 1662." It was sent to the various constables in the towns from Dover to Dedham, that those Quakers should be conveyed from constable to constable, receiving ten stripes in each town "till they are out of this jurisdiction." This order was only executed in Dover, Hampton, and Salisbury. In the latter town Walter Barefoot, under the pretence of delivering them to the constable of Newbury, secured them from further cruelty by sending them out of the province.
Hampton men served in the Indian wars 1673-1763. In the King Wil- liams' war eighty Hampton men are known to have served.
Tea Act Resolves .- The first recorded action of the Town of Hampton
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concerning the War of the Revolution was under date of January 17, 1774, when a series of resolutions were passed called the "Tea Act Resolves." They stigmatized the tea tax as "unreasonable and unconstitutional," and, further, that "it must be evident to every one that is not lost to virtue nor devoid of common sense that if they are submitted to will be totally destructive to our natural and constitutional rights and liberties, and have a direct tendency to reduce the Americans to a state of actual slavery."
At this meeting the following committee of correspondence was chosen: Mr. Philip Towle, Capt. Josiah Moulton, Amos Coffin, Esq., Mr. William Lane, and Josiah Moulton (3d).
July 18, 1774, Col. Jonathan Moulton, Col. Christopher Toppan, Capt. Josiah Moulton, and Mr. Josiah Moulton (3d) were chosen delegates to the Provincial Congress to be holden at Exeter on the 21st inst. to chose delegates to the Continental Congress."
August 7, 1775, it was "voted to set a guard of four men each night upon the Beach until the Fall of the year."
July 29, 1776. four pounds was voted to each man who should enlist, in addition to the bounty given by the colony.
Revolutionary Soldiers .- The following is a list of Revolutionary soldiers from this town:
A roll of the company who enlisted under Capt. Henry Elkins and went to the assistance of the Massachusetts colony (the next day after the fight at Concord) as far as Ipswich; the following is a list :
Captain, Henry Elkins; lieutenants, James Perkins and John Dearborn ; privates, Simon Sanborn, Edmund Mason, Philip Marston, John Lamprey, Jr., Jabez Towle, Jonathan Marston, Jr., Daniel Philbrick, Jr., John Sanbur, of Epping, Jonathan Moulton, Jr., Amos Knowles, Jr., John M. Moulton, Samuel Hobbs, John Dow, Samuel Marston, Edward Moulton, Jonathan Shaw, Carter Batchelder, John Taylor, Jr., John Sanborn, Abner Sanborn, Joshua Towle, Jr., Joseph Freese, Edmund Philbrick, Nathaniel Foster, Jona- than Knowles, Simon Towle, Daniel Tilton, Simon Philbrick, Simon Moulton, James Hobbs, and James Tuck.
Hampton, April 20, 1775.
The following are the names of the soldiers who went to Portsmouth in October, 1775.
Lieutenants, Cotton Ward and John Dearborn; privates, Abner Page, Joshua Towle, Jethro Blake, Moses Brown, Jacob Palmer, Daniel Tilton, Benjamin Page, Robert Drake, Noah Lane, Small Moulton, and John Dow.
List of men who went to Ticonderoga in July, 1776: Samuel Nay, cap- tain ; John; John M., and Josiah Moulton (3), Micajah Morrill, Jr., Edmund Philbrick, Zaccheus Brown, John Drake, Jr., David Moulton, Samuel Lamprey, John Murphy, Samuel Marston, Simeon Philbrick, Jonathan Palmer, Samuel Hobbs, and James Hobbs.
Lieut. Joseph Dearborn served in 1777, and his son in 1775. Sergt. Joseph Freese served in 1775.
The following is a list of those who went to Saratoga in October, 1777: Colonel, Jonathan Moulton ; captain, John Dearborn; clerk, Josiah Lane ; ser- geants, John Sanborn, Moses Elkins: lieutenants, John Taylor ; corporals,
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Joshua Towle, Abner Page, and Nathan Brown; privates, Jonathan Philbrick, Abner Sanborn, Samuel Marston, Benjamin Page, Jacob Palmer, Noah Lane, Jabez James, Josiah Mason, Jonathan Godfrey, Jeremiah Ballard, Batchelor Brown, Jonathan Marston, Jabez Towle, Samuel Drake, Jacob Moulton, John M. Moulton, Joseph Nay, James Lane, and Jethro Blake.
The following enlisted in 1781 for three months, for twenty-five bushels of Indian corn per month or money equal thereto: Amos Garland, Thomas Churchhill, Zadoc Sanborn, Josiah Dearborn, Jr., Simon Doe, Jr., William Batchiler, Josiah Dearborn, and Isaac Godfrey.
Samuel Batchiler, Tristram Godfrey, and William Moulton enlisted for the term of six months. On July 10, 1780, the following enlisted for a term of three months: Batchiler Brown, John Dearborn, John Marston, Zaccheus Brown, Amos Brown, Joseph Freese Dearborn, Thomas Moore, Samuel Marston, and Simon Ward.
The names of 174 men are recorded as having signed the association test and of two that refused.
CIVIL WAR
New Hampshire Battalion, First Regiment, New England Cavalry, After- wards First New Hampshire Cavalry .- G. Dearborn, Troop "M," December 24, 1861 ; missed in action October 12, 1863 ; died in Andersonville Prison July 25, 1864. M. H. Godfrey, Troop "M," January 8, 1862; re-enlisted January 5, 1864; died from sunstroke in Virginia July 2, 1864. J. W. Lewis, Troop "M," January 20, 1862; June 25, 1862. J. D. Lamprey, Troop "M," February 17, 1862; November 17, 1862.
First Regiment Heavy Artillery .- H. N. T. Blake, Company K, Septem- ber 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. W. T. Blake, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. A. B. Blake, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. C. W. Brown, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. C. W. Drake, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. G. O. Leavitt, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. D. Y. Moulton, Jr., Company K, Sep- tember 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. D. B. Johnson, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. J. A. Philbrick, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. J. G. Mace, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865. A. W. Shaw, Company K, September 17, 1864 ; June 15, 1865. D. A. Towle, Company K, September 17, 1864; June 15, 1865.
United States Navy and Marine .- Everitt D. Blake, enlisted for three years, died of disease; G. E. Blake; T. S. Blake; J. C. Dunbar, enlisted for three years ; Charles Godfrey, enlisted for one year; D. Godfrey, enlisted for three years, killed in action; C. M. Hobbs; J. Lamprey, enlisted for three years; L. S. Lamprey : J. Locke, enlisted for one year ; J. W. Mace, enlisted for one year ; J. H. Nudd; J. E. Riley, enlisted for three years ; A. M. Stevens ; F. W. Stevens, died of disease.
Those serving in other than New Hampshire regiments: J. A. Blake, Massachusetts ; J. T. Moulton, Ist Maine Cavalry, lost an arm ; J. D. Palmer, 12th Massachusetts, killed in action : Samuel Palmer, Massachusetts ; J. Page, Massachusetts ; E. S. Perkins, 30th, killed in action ; A. J. Philbrick, 2d Dis-
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trict Columbia; D. T. Philbrick, 22d Massachusetts, missed in action; G. B. Wingate, Ist Massachusetts Cavalry, died in service from disease contracted in Libby Prison, Va.
Hampton contributed III men to the army and navy of whom seventy- eight enlisted for three years; thirty-one were in service three years or more; twenty-six were killed or died in service.
In the 1812-14 war nearly all the Hampton men that served were stationed at Portsmouth.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
Second Regiment .- Joseph S. Gillespie, Company B, June 1, 1861 ; ser- geant, June 13, 1865; re-enlisted; drowned in James River, Va.
Third Regiment .- Charles F. Dunbar, captain, August 22, 1861; re- signed. O. M. Dearborn, second lieutenant, August 22, 1861; 1865. J. C. Dunbar, first sergeant, August 23, 1861; July 31, 1862; disability. Geo. Perkins, sergeant, August 23, 1861 ; killed in action. D. P. Marston, ser- geant, August 23, 1861; March II, 1862; disability. J. W. Akerman, cor- poral, August 23, 1861 ; second lieutenant, July 28, 1863; resigned. Abram Dow, corporal, August 23, 1861 ; sergeant, November 5, 1862; disability. William E. Lane, corporal, August 23, 1861 ; August 23, 1864. J. S. James, corporal, August 23, 1861 ; captain, July 20, 1865. W. H. Blake, August 23, 1861; August 23, 1864; wounded. G. T. Crane, August 23, 1861 ; sergeant, June 26, 1865; disability. J. N. Dow, August 23, 1861 ; sergeant, February 20, 1862; died of disease. H. B. Dearborn, August 23, 1861 ; July 20, 1865. S. W. Dearborn, August 23, 1861 ; August 23, 1864. W. L. Dodge, August 26, 1861 ; first lieutenant, October 16, 1864; resigned. James Fair, August 23, 1861 ; killed in action, June 16, 1862. G. W. Goss, August 23, 1861 ; sergeant, May 20, 1865 ; wounded. W. H. Godfrey, August 23, 1861 ; August 23, 1864. J. F. Hobbs, August 23, 1861 ; corporal, March 15, 1865; died of disease. G. W. Marston, August 23, 1861 ; July 20, 1865. David W. Perkins, August 23, 1861 ; promoted to first sergeant, May 13, 1864; killed in action. J. E. Palmer, August 23, 1861; May 16, 1864; killed in action. S. N. Lamprey, corporal, August 23, 1861 ; promoted to first lieutenant, August 16, 1864; died from wounds. A. J. Towle, second lieutenant ; not mustered. J. W. Dow, sergeant, rejected at Concord, N. H .; disability.
Excepting Simon N. Lamprey, who was in Company B, the above went out as part of Company D. Lieutenant Towle was counted out by additions from other places, and not mustered. Sergt. J. W. Dow could not pass medical examination ; both served with company three months while at Fort Constitu- tion, N. H., previous to its going to the Third.
John S. James, G. T. Crane, H. B. Dearborn, G. W. Goss, J. F. Hobbs. and G. W. Marston re-enlisted in 1864. Of the twenty-five, four were killed in action, one died of wounds, two of disease, and two were wounded. Twelve served three years, and three were with regiment at final muster. Ten out of the twenty-five are alive today, only six of which served three years or more.
Fifth Regiment .- O. W. Blake, Company D, October 23, 1861 ; October 25, 1862 ; disability. A. W. Shaw, Company D, October 23, 1861 ; November 20, 1862; wounded.
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Sixth Regiment .- T. H. Dearborn, Company D, sergeant, November 27, 1861 ; captain, November 27, 1864; resigned. J. Elkins, Company D, musi- cian, November 27, 1861 ; musician, June 24, 1862; disability. A. J. Davis, Company D, November 27, 1861 ; November 29, 1864.
Seventh Regiment .- W. Dearborn, Company K, December 11, 1861 ; June 26, 1862; disability.
Eighth Regiment .- J. C. Davis, Company B, November 22, 1861 ; January 17, 1865.
Ninth Regiment .- D. Godfrey, Company G, May 17, 1864; October 22, 1864; died of disease.
Eleventh Regiment .- F. K. Stratton, chaplain, September 3, 1862; chap- lain, May 5, 1865; resigned. D. A. Moulton, Company I, corporal, Septem- ber 3, 1862; sergeant, June 4, 1865; wounded. J. Batchelder, Company I, September 3, 1862; July 30, 1864; missed in action.
Fourteenth Regiment .- J. C. Perkins Company D, sergeant, September 23, 1862. S. S. Page, Company D, corporal, September 23, 1862; July 8, 1865. P. A. Emery, Company D, September 23, 1862; July 18, 1865; wounded. J. T. Godfrey, Company D, September 23, 1862; July 8, 1865. O. H. Godfrey, Company D, September 23, 1862; July 8, 1865. J. A. Gillespie, Company D, September 23, 1862: July 7, 1865; wounded. P. Heffron, Company D, September 23, 1862; July 8, 1865. O. H. Marston, Company D, September 23, 1862; July 8, 1865. M. Marston, Company D, September 23, 1862; September 19, 1864; killed in action.
Fifteenth Regiment .- D. F. Nudd, Company I, sergeant, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. A. B. Blake, Company I, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. T. Dunbracke, Jr., Company I, October 24, 1862 ; August 13, 1863. J. Elkins, Company I, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. J. L. Godfrey, Company I, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. Charles Godfrey, Company I, October 31, 1862; August 13, 1863. B. F. Goodwin, Company I, October 31, 1862; August 13, 1863. G. W. Leavitt, Company I, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. R. B. Laird, Company I, October 24, 1862; August 13, 1863. J. D. Lamprey, Company I, October 31, 1862; July, 1863; killed in action. C. G. Perkins, Company K, October 16, 1862 ; August 13, 1863.
Sixteenth Regiment .- E. J. Hobbs, Company K, sergeant, October 25, 1862; sergeant, August 20, 1863. T. Fisher, Company K, October 25, 1862; June 15, 1863; died of disease. C. M. Perkins, Company K, October 25, 1862; August 20, 1863. J. D. Perkins, Company K, November 13, 1862; August 20, 1863.
Eighteenth Regiment .- O. L. Blake, Company G, January 6, 1865; July 29, 1865. J. W. Mace, Company G, January 7, 1865; July 29, 1865. J. W. Lewis, Company D, September 20, 1864; June 10, 1865.
The war cost the town $41,094. Drafted men paid $4,893 for substitutes.
Congregational Church .- The Congregational Church of Hampton is the oldest existing church in the state, and was the seventeenth formed in the Colony of Massachusetts. A church in Exeter was formed the same year, but it existed only a few years.
The organization of the church was co-existent with the settlement of
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the town. In fact, the pioneers were united in church covenant before coming to the new settlement.
The first pastor was Rev. Stephen Bachelor, then seventy-seven years of age, who had been a minister in England for many years. His descendants are numerous in this vicinity.
In the early days of the settlement the church worshiped in a log building which stood near the present academy. The first recorded action found con- cerning the erection of a framed church building was under date of April 6, 1840, when the town voted "to build a meeting-house 40 feet long, 22 Feet wide, and 13 Feet high 'between Joints.' A place to be fixed for a Bell now given by the Rev. Pastor Batcheldor."
This primitive structure was built by voluntary contribution, and many years elapsed before it was completed. When it was first occupied as a house of worship is not known. The first churches were without pews.
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