History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 63

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 63

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After leaving Newmarket, Mr. Thurston was installed at Manchester, Mass., April 19, 1809. Here he continued in the pastorate more than ten years, and was dismissed, June, 1819. From Manchester he returned to

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Exeter, his native place, where he died, December 12, 1835, in the sixty- seventh year of his age.

Mr. Thurston possessed a truly Christian spirit, thoroughly devoted to his calling and giving to it his undivided powers. His efforts were blessed and his ministry was a successful one.

The Rev. John Brodhead was born in Smithfield, Northumberland County, Pa., October 5, 1770. He entered the itinerant service of the Methodist Church in 1794. In 1796 he came to New England. As early as 1809 he settled at Newmarket, and in 1810 moved into the parsonage, receiving the use of it as a portion of his salary. He entered political life as state senator in 1817. From 1829 to 1832 he was representative to Congress under Jack- son's administration. During the latter years of his life his work in the ministry was very irregular. He died of a disease of the heart, from which he had suffered many years. His end was peaceful, even triumphant. His monument is inscribed :

"In memory of the Rev. John Brodhead, born in Lower Smithfield, Pennsylvania, 1770. Died in this place, April 7, 1838, aged 67 years, hav- ing been an Itinerant Minister in the Methodist Church 45 years, Senator and chaplain to the Legislature of this State, and a member of the Congress of the United States.

"He was beloved as a husband and father, honored as a citizen, esteemed as a statesman, and venerated as a minister.

"Peace to the just man's memory, let it grow greener with years and blossom through the flight of years.'

With the close of the first century in the religious history of Newmarket, there came a change in the administration of ecclesiastical affairs. New busi- ness interests sprung up at the villages of Newfields and Lamprey River, and it was found impossible to gather the people for worship at the old center near the railroad junction. Both villages had occasional preaching services by various denominations from 1810 onward. As early as 1825 regular congregational services were held at Lamprey River, and in 1826 assistance was asked in erecting a house of worship. The church was organ- ized there May 27, 1828. Newfields contributed means and members to this enterprise. Meanwhile the Lamprey River pastors, from 1827 onward, main- tained a third service on the Sabbath, or a weekly lecture at Newfields. The Rev. David Sanford, from May 22, 1828, to June 22, 1830, abounded in labors of this kind here. During the spring of 1829 the Piscataqua Asso- ciation appointed several of the neighboring pastors to preach at Newfields.

The old parish was organized January 16, 1829, and took the form of an incorporated religious society, and annually raised money for the salaries of their ministers. Among these were the Revs. Bezaleel Smith, 1828-29; Wil- liam M. Cornell, M. D., LL. D., 1829-30; Orsamus Tinker, 1831-32; Samuel Harris, 1833; Mr. Barton, 1834; Constantine Blodgett, D. D., 1835-36; Charles D. Jackson, 1836; William F. Rowland, 1836-37; Thomas T. Rich- mond, 1839. These ministers preached in the old meeting-house and old academy. In 1839 a new house of worship was erected at Newfields, and the old house was practically abandoned.

The church was reorganized February 12, 1840. The ministers were John E. Farwell, 1840; John Le Bosquet, 1840; John L. Ashby, 1840-41 ; Henry Kingsley, 1841; John C. Hurd, 1841; Elijah W. Tucker, pastor, 1841-45; Preston Pond, 1845-46.

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The old meeting house, which had stood sixty years and of late used only as a town house, was taken down in 1852.

Charles E. Lord became stated supply in 1851-52; Winthrop Fifield, act- ing pastor, 1852 till his death, May 9, 1862. In 1853-55 the parsonage prop- erty was transferred to Newfields, and the present buildings erected. Jesse H. Bragg, minister, 1862; Elias Chapman, stated supply, 1862-67; Israel T. Otis, 1868; Joseph Bartlett, acting pastor, 1869-77. The meeting house was enlarged and refurnished in 1871. Alexander C. Childs, acting pastor, 1877- 79; James H. Fitts, 1880 until his death on November 22, 1890. The ves- tries were refitted 1880, and the parsonage enlarged 1882.

On January 6, 1901, the church became associated with the church in Strat- ham under the care of Rev. Geo. E. Lake.

Rev. Bernard Copping, the present pastor, commenced April 10, 1905.

The Methodist Church .- The year 1808 is probably the date of the for- mation of a Methodist class in Newmarket. In 1811 there is mention of the Newmarket, Durham, and Portsmouth Circuit. In 1828, Matthew Newhall was sent by Conference to Durham and Newmarket. It is probable that this is the real date of the full organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Newmarket. There is nothing in its records, however, concern- ing its organization at any time. The meeting house was erected in 1835, and dedicated in the spring of 1836. The earliest register of church mem- bers now to be found was made in 1842. It contains the names of the class of 1808. The parsonage was built in 1854-55. In 1870 the church edifice was raised and vestries placed underneath. The house was reseated in 1880 and in 1906 electric lights and other improvements made. The following is a roll of the preachers, beginning with the year 1828:

1828, Matthew Newhall; 1829, Caleb Lamb; 1830, Daniel J. Robinson ; 1831-32, Elijah Mason; 1833, Samuel A. Cushing; 1834, William J. Kidder ; 1835, J. H. Patterson; 1836, John Brodhead; 1837, William Padmun; 1838, G. W. Stearns; 1839, William Padmun; 1840, "Reformation" John Adams; 1841, A. H. Worthen; 1842, Franklin Furber ; 1843, G. W. T. Rogers; 1844- 45, H. N. Taplin; 1846-47, C. N. Smith; 1848-49, Frederick A. Hewes; 1850, Charles Greenwood; 1851, William Hewes; 1852, Samuel Beedle; 1853, Matthew Newhall; 1854-56, N. L. Chase; 1857-58, William Hewes; 1859-60, F. R. Stratton; 1861-62, John W. Adams; 1863-65, Eleazer Smith; 1866-67, W. P. Ray; 1868, George N. Bryant; 1869, David W. Downs; 1870, M. T. Cilley; 1871, A. A. Cleaveland; 1872-73, H. A. Mattesson; 1874-76, C. H. Chase; 1877-78, C. S. Baketel; 1879, L. C. Earnham; 1880- 81. Otis Cole; 1882, Mellen Howard; Charles W. Taylor, 1883; C. M. Dins- . more, 1884-86; E. R. Perkins, 1887-89; B. O. Cambell, 1890; A. L. Smith, 1891-95; A. R. Rowell, 1896; A. E. Draper, 1897-98; W. R. Locke, 1899- 1902; I. D. Miller, 1903-05 ; Otis Cole, 1906-07; Henry Chandler, 1908; L. D. Bragg, 1909-13; D. W. Downs, assigned for 1914.

The Universalist Church .- The Universalist meeting house in this town was built in 1873, and dedicated in December of the same year. Rev. G. W. Becknell, of Portland, had been preaching in the town hall previous to that time, and it was at his suggestion and by his influence that the society was formed, August 5, 1874. The church was also organized August 5, 1874. Rev. L. F. Mckinney was the first pastor, and resigned in June, 1875. Rev. E. A. Read was his successor, who resigned in April, 1877. Rev. Royal T.

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Sawyer was the next pastor to February, 1879. Rev. Benton Smith resigned in November, 1881. Rev. A. L. Rice, 1882-83; Henry L. Fiske, 1883-87; W. H. Trickey, 1887-91 ; Edward Smalley, 1892-96; Allen Brown, 1896-97; Naney W. Smith, 1897-1907 ; Winfield S. Turner, 1907-10; George E. Laigh- ton, 1910-14.

Roman Catholic .- The first mass was celebrated in Exeter in the fall of 1849 at the house of Daniel Fenton by Rev. J. O. Donnell of Lawrence, Mass. Rev. John McDonald of Haverhill, Mass., commenced making reg- ular visits to Exeter and Newmarket about 1850. Services were first held in a building, later converted into a dwelling house, in which in 1882 lived Thomas and John Griffin. The first pastor was Rev. Father Walsh, who occupied the stone house on "Zion's Hill," purchased of the Universalists. He was succeeded by Revs. Father Charles Egan, Lewis McDonald, C. W. Calligan, Dennis Ryan. Previous to 1882 services were held several years in private houses and the town hall. During that year a house of worship was erected at a cost of about $17,000. It was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1882 by Bishop Healey of Portland, Me. It goes by the name of "The Church of the Sacred Heart." Rev. John R. Powers was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. John Canning, who remained till 1898, when he was fol- lowed by Rev. James Hogan. In 1902 Rev. Fabian Deshaies assumed the charge thus left vacant and continued his pastorate till May, 1907, when Rev. Herbert Hennon was appointed to the place.

THE BRODHEAD LIBRARY

Dr. John M. Brodhead of Washington, D. C., who died in South New- market February 22, 1880, left all his property to his widow during her life, but his will contained the following provision: "Ten thousand dollars to the town of South Newmarket, N. H., for the purpose of purchasing books for a town library to be under the control of the selectmen, under conditions that the name of the town shall be legally changed to the name of Newfields and so remain. On the same condition and for the same purpose I bequeath to said town my private library. Neither of these bequests shall take effect until the name of the town shall have been changed." At the next town meeting, March, 1880, the town voted to accept the bequest of Doctor Brod- head with its condition. A bill for this purpose was passed February 21, 1895, as follows: "An Act to change the name of the town of South New- market. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Court convened : Section 1. That the town of South Newmarket shall hereafter be known and called by the name of Newfields. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage."

Thus the name of South Newmarket under which the town had acted a creditable part in war and peace for forty-five years was quietly dropped and the older name of Newfields restored with the sanction of the law.

The Brodhead Library was opened for the circulation of books Septem- ber 23, 1893. Mrs. Geo. S. Paul has served continuously as librarian. .

The socieites are: Piscassic Grange, organized 1892; Fraternity Lodge I. O. O. F .; Golden Cross, No. 238, instituted June 4, 1883. A. H. Varney and D. C. Wiggin are the physicians.

CHAPTER XLI

NEWINGTON

Geographical-Topographical-Settlement-Indian Troubles-The Massacre -Civil History-Incorporation of Parish-Incorporation of Town- Congregational Church-Langdon Library-Military Record.

The town of Newington lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by the Piscataqua River, which separates it from Strafford County; on the east by the Piscataqua and the town of Portsmouth; on the south by Portsmouth, Greenland, and Great Bay; and on the west by Great Bay and Little Bay.

The surface is generally level, and the soil near the water rich and pro- ductive. Population, 296.

Newington was settled in about the year 1670, and soon became an im- portant adjunct to the settlements at Portsmouth and Dover. The year 1690 was a sad one for the little settlement which had been gathered at Fox Point. Although there were not at this time any formidable tribes of Indians resid- ing in the vicinity, still there were strolling bands of savages roaming about, and the pioneer history relates many instances of their barbaric warfare prac- ticed upon the defenseless settlements. Newington was no exception. In May, 1690, a band of these strolling marauders, led by a sachem named Hap- good, made an attack on the settlement at Fox Point, and destroyed several houses, killed fourteen persons, and captured six prisoners. The aroused inhabitants pursued the savages, when a severe action occurred, in which the chief Hapgood was wounded. Some of the captives were retaken, and the plunder recovered.

Newington is one of the old historic places or parishes of the state. It was embraced in what is called the Squamscut or Hilton's Point Patent. A part of Newington was claimed to lie in Dover, and a part in Portsmouth. The name Newington was given by Governor Dudley, May 12, 1714. Its bounds were settled July 28, 1714, at which time it was called a parish. It had town privileges as early as 1737, but when incorporated is not definitely ascertained. The late John Farmer, Esq., said it was in July, 1764.

"Bloody Point" originally belonged to Dover, but soon after the "union," which took place 8th mo. 9, 1641, it was taken from Dover and given to Portsmouth. The people did not seem to like this kind of a decision, and in 1643 petitioned to be "reannexed."

This petition was signed by James Johnson, Thomas Canning, Thomas Fursen, William Fray, William Jones, Thomas Trickey, John Goddard, Henry Langstaffe, John Fayer, Oliver Priminges, Philip Lewis and Radric (unreadable ).

The result of this petition was that the court "Ordered that all the marsh

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

and meddow ground lyinge Against the Great bay on Strawberry banck side shall belonge to the Towne of Dover, together with fower hundred Akers of Upland ground Adjoining and lying as may be most Convenient for the Im- proving & fencing In of the said Meadow, the Remainder of the said ground to belonge to Strawberry Bancke, &c." This territory with the terrible name remained in the peaceable possession of "the Towne of Dover" until 1713. John Pickering was a distinguished son of this town. (See Bar chapter.)

Ephraim Pickering was appointed second major in Colonel Whipple's regiment in 1776, and was one of the committee of correspondence the same year, and was representative in 1780-82. He was a selectman in 1775.

CHURCHES

Congregational Church .-- The meeting house used by the Congregational Church in this place was erected 1710. It was repaired and the interior remodeled about fifty years ago, but with this exception is the same building that was originally erected. After the destruction by fire of the Methodist meeting house, about 1860, it has continued to be the only meeting house in town until the present time. Its bell originally came from Newington, in England, being given and sent over the Atlantic by the people of that place. It afterwards cracked, but was recast and is still in use. In former times a sun-dial on the building answered the purpose of a clock.

The church was organized October 26, 1715. The original record says that on this date "a fast was kept at Newington, and a church gathered, con- sisting of nine members," five of whom were "formerly members of Dover Church." The first pastor of the church was Rev. Joseph Adams. He was uncle of Hon. John Adams, second President of the United States. On the 15th of January, 1716, he administered the Lord's Supper, which the record says, "was the first sacrament' ever administered in Newington." He con- tinued his pastorate for a period of sixty-eight years. During these many years the church records were kept in his own handwriting. The book, a small parchment-covered one, is still in existence, though from the effects of time the writing is dim and the pages much discolored. He died May 20, 1783. He was nearly ninety-five years of age.

It may be of interest to notice the kind of terms on which he was settled among his people in those early days. I therefore transcribe from the old book his own statement of what these were. He says, "The record that I took of the agreement I made June 20, 1715, with the committee that were chosen to agree with me about settling in the ministry at Newington. Ar- ticles, namely, that my salary be ninety pounds. But as they pleaded the poverty of the people and the great charges they had been at in building the meeting house, I consented to accept of eighty pounds for seven years. And withal I promised on their request that in case I lived bachelor, and had not a family, I would abate the six pounds, and so accept of eighty pounds for the seven years aforesaid.

"That I was to have my salary agreed upon paid in money, and that at two payments, that is one-half on the last of July, as my salary began on the Ist of February, 1714, and the other half on the last of January, and so yearly.

"It was agreed that I should have the stranger's contributions.

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"That I should have the parsonage leased for the minister's use and ben- efit, that is, partly cleared as is common in such cases, and all fenced with a good and sufficient fence, and also to remain for his use and benefit during his natural life.

"That they would give me 60 pounds to help build my house, together with a tract of land lying near Stony Hill, namely, behind one William Withom's lands, which tract of land they promised to give me deed of, that is, upon condition of my settling and being ordained also in the ministry at Newington."

This agreement was signed by Rev. Joseph Adams and seven other men, who are styled, "A committee chosen by the people."

Rev. Joseph Langdon succeeded Mr. Adams as pastor of the Newington church. He was ordained in 1788, and was dismissed in 1810. At the date of his ordination there were twenty-six members of the church,-seven males and nineteen females. For the sixteen years succeeding the pastorate the church had only occasional supplies. In 1826 the church had become reduced to two members. During the next two years fifteen members were added. From this time there was occasional preaching until 1843, when another interval of fourteen years occurred, during which but little was done. After this Rev. Asa Mann supplied for a season with useful results. Rev. John Le Bosquet succeeded for a period of four years, closing his labors in 1863. Rev. Sewal Harding supplied for the greater part of the next year. Rev. Franklin Davis then labored for eleven years. Again it had occurred that there were only two remaining members of this ancient church. But in 1870, in connection with the labors of Mr. Davis, the pastor, and visits of the Young Men's Christian Association of Portsmouth, an increased religious interest was awakened. The result was an addition to the church in that year of fourteen members. During the following six years sixteen others were added to the church. Rev. F. Davis discontinued his labors in May, 1876. At this time Mr. Willis A. Hadley began to supply the pulpit. He closed his labors in December, 1877, having accepted a call to the Congrega- tional Church in Rye, N. H. Rev. Elijah Roke preached from July, 1878, until November, 1879. The Rev. George Smith was pastor till 1885.

On June 1, 1885, Rev. William S. Thompson succeeded Rev. George Smith as acting pastor, remaining till 1892. During Mr. Thompson's pas- torate a new parsonage was secured through the will of Miss Lydia Rollins, an aged native resident of the town, who bequeathed $500 for the purpose. Voluntary contributions by other living residents amounting to $1,400 more were added to this bequest and a substantial and commodious set of build- ings was erected on a plot of land just opposite to the old church building and on the same spot where formerly stood the Methodist meeting house, which was burned in 1862.

Mr. Thompson's pastorate closed May 31, 1892. In October, 1892, Rev. Henry Pitt Page began his ministry here and remained till June, 1894, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles W. Rogers who remained till March, 1896. In July, 1896, John W. Bell, an evangelist, was secured to serve as a pastor. On August 26, 1896, he was ordained. He gave up his charge June 3, 1900. Charles R. Small was with us for one year. From January 26, 1902, Rev. Myron S. Dudley was pastor till his death on November 17, 1905. Rev. Frank E. Rand began his pastorate July 15, 1906. He remained till July,

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1908. In October following Mr. Don Ivan Patch, a Harvard student, came to occupy the pulpit for twenty-seven months.

Rev. Isaiah P. Smith filled the pulpit till July, 1912. Rev. William G. Burkeley, pastor, began his pastorate in December, 1912.

In the year 1899 a small company of sixteen persons organized a religious society to be known as the Unitarian Congregational Society of Newington, and for a few years they held meetings once in three weeks at the old meet- ing house, conducted by Rev. Alfred Gooding of Portsmouth. Their last service was held October 13, 1912.

The Methodist Society, which flourished from 1832 till 1856, is now entirely extinct.

' MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65

William Bergmann, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted December 30, 1863; Adolph Beck, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted December 31, 1861; August Meier, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted December 30, 1863, killed June 16, 1864; William Robinson, Company D, Sixth Regiment, enlisted January 4, 1864; Meyer Smith, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted December 31, 1863 ; Otto Scholz, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted Jan- uary 2, 1864; August Vritze, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted January 2, 1864; Joseph Simpson, Company A, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September II, 1862, died September 7, 1863; William Bowlen, Company C, Sixth Regi- ment, enlisted September 3, 1862, promoted to corporal, died July 28, 1864; George C. Williams, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3. 1862, discharged June 4, 1865; Thomas Hughes, Company A, Seventh Regi- ment, enlisted October 1, 1864; Alfred P. Dearborn, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, promoted to sergeant, discharged July 10, 1865; Lorenzo D. Drew, Company F, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 19, 1862, discharged May 29, 1863; George W. Brown, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, discharged June 21, 1865; John Harrison, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, discharged June 23, 1865; Alfred P. Derochment, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, discharged November 10, 1862; John B. Le Bosquet, corporal Company K, Sixteenth Regiment, en- listed October 25, 1862, discharged August 20, 1863; James McIntire, Com- pany K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, promoted cor- poral January 1, 1865, discharged June 21, 1865; George Taylor, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted September 20, 1862, promoted to corporal, discharged May 10, 1865; John Crystal, Company K, First New Hampshire Cavalry, enlisted September 8, 1862, discharged June 5, 1865; William H. Berry, Company A, Heavy Artillery, enlisted July 2, 1863, discharged Sep- tember 11, 1865 : Richard Carey, Company L, Heavy Artillery, enlisted Octo- ber 14, 1864, discharged September 11, 1865; William H. H. Young, enlisted September 19, 1862, date of discharge unknown; John Grant, enlisted Sep- tember 19, 1864, date of discharge unknown; James Skinner, United States C. T., enlisted October 3, 1864, date of discharge unknown.

The public buildings consist of the meeting house, which belongs to the town, the same as when first built, never having been transferred to the church; the town hall and schoolhouse, which occupy one building, and the

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public library building. The brick public library building contains 4,700 vol- umes-largely the gift of Hon. Woodbury Langdon of Portsmouth, for whom the library is named, and who has generously endowed the same with gifts of funds as well as books. It is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. Miss A. L. Beane is librarian. The public cemetery adjoining the meeting house was set apart in 1717 and enlarged in 1883. A substantial wall of split granite was built on the eastern side in 1900 and a receiving tomb in 1907. The largest contributor to the cost was Mrs. Hannah P. Newton, widow of John C. Newton of Portsmouth, and daughter of the late Capt. James Cole- man of Newington.

In 1913, just 200 years since the town became a separate parish from Dover and Portsmouth, the people in town meeting, voted to give power to the selectmen to take water from the town spring to the public library, school- house and town hall, giving others liberty to take water for the new parson- age. This vote was carried out and now by electric power water is forced to these buildings, a distance of over two thousand feet, at an elevation of sixty- four feet. A public drinking fountain was placed between the library and parsonage. The foundation was the gift of James W. Coleman, Esq., a descendant of the sixth generation from Eleazer Coleman, living here 200 years ago. The cost of installing the water system was $1,772, of which sum $450 was contributed by private individuals.

The Piscataqua Grange, No. 176, was organized March 3, 1892, with a membership of twenty-three charter members. Its membership at the present time is seventy-four. Master Simes, secretary; Mrs. G. Emma Pickering, treasurer ; Stillman A. Packard and Mrs. George W. Pickering, chaplain.

Town officers chosen March 11, 1913 .- Town clerk, Jackson M. Hoyt; selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor, Clarence M. DeRochemont, Simes Frink, James W. Coleman ; treasurer, John J. Greenough ; collector of taxes, Margaret N. Harrison; highway agents, James B. Pickering, James H. Knox, Thomas Newick; library trustees, 1913, Margaret N. Harrison, three years ; 1912, Beth L. Rand, two years; 1911, Laura E. Frink, one year.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 63

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