History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 76

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 76

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The Meeting-House .- It is recorded that on the 15th day of November, 1738, the frame of the first house of worship was raised on the west side of Spicut River, near the bridge before mentioned. The frame was not covered until the year following, and no pews put in prior to 1749.

The Burying-Ground .- Mention has been made of providing a burying- place for the parish; for this and the meeting-house an acre of land was pro- cured on the parish charge. The location corresponds with the inclosed park known as the common, which then included the old burying-place, and reached to the river. In this burying-ground the "rude fathers of the hamlet sleep" side by side with the generations that have since lived and died.

The most ancient stone now above the surface bears the following inscrip- tion sculptured rudely upon its rough face: "In memory of Elizabeth ye dau of Mr Joseph Vresy. Died July 30, 1725." But one of the older stones bears any sentiment ; this one we give in full :

"Lieut. Thomas Runnels departed this life Oct. ye 8, 1798 ÆEtat 56. "Death, thou hast conquered me And by thy dart I am slain, But Christ hath conquered thee And I shall rise again."

A curiously-wrought stone bearing a coffin on one corner and a heart upon the other is inscribed: "Here lies ye body of Isaiah Ayer. He Died

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

September 25, 1772, aged 23 years." The mortal remains of Rev. Abner Bayley, the first pastor of the old North Parish, lie in this hallowed spot. It is marked by a plain large slab of slatestone six feet in height and two wide, and bears the following tribute to his reverend memory: "To per- petuate the memory of the Rev. Abner Bayley, who, like a shock of corn fully ripe, departed this life March 10, 1798, in ye 83d year of his age, and 58th of his ministry."

Resuming the account of the building of the meeting-house, and follow- ing along until the structure is fitted for use for public worship and parish meetings, viewing the work as of such importance to the demands of the infant township, we shall include it in the general mass of purely civil interests and acts. The frame being up, and roof put on, the task of finishing the exterior progressed slowly. The parish treasurer, Thomas Eaton, was in- structed to receive "4492 feet of bords, which ye committee have provided as money for three pounds seven shillings pr thousand;" "voted to Henry Sanders for framing ye meeting-house and hewing timber that was wanting of ye frame, 33-5-0;" "to Richard dow, 1-2-6;" voted to daniel peaslee, 5-7-0;" "to Ebenezer ayer, 3-4-0:" "to John Ober, 2-9-0;" "to David Clark, 4-4-0;" "to thomas Eatton, I-4-0;" "to peter merrill, 1-11-6;" "to Richard Kimball, 3-9-0:" "to Ephraim clark, 2-0-0."

In 1749 the meeting-house was still unfinished inside, having no "puse" built, and at a meeting the subject came up, when "it was pot to vot to see whether thay Lay out ye body of ye house, and it was voted down." Up to this time there had been an outlay of £419 19s. 6d. The little settlement is now on the eve of a new era in its history, and is about to be honored by incorporation as a town, giving increased importance and dignity to the aspiring community. It was conferred in compliance to a petition of the inhabitants presented to the royal governor and council of the province, pray- ing that a township be granted it. The charter of the town bears date of May II, 1750, the following being a copy, verbatim et literatim:

"Province of New Hampshire: George the Second by ye grace of god of great Brittain, France and Ireland King, Defender of ye faith &c.

"To all to Whome these presents Shall Come greeting. * Where as our Loyall Subjects, Inhabitants of a tract of Land within our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, Lying partly within that part of our Province of New Hampshire Called Haverhill Destrict, have humbly Petitioned and Requested to us that they may be Erected and Incorporated into a township & Infranchised with ye same powers and Privleges which other towns within our Sd province by Law have and Injoy, and it appearing to us to be con- ducive to ye general good of our Sd Province as well as of ye Sd Inhabitants in particular by maintaining good order and Encouraging the culture of ye land that ye same Should be done, Know ye Therefore, that we of our Espesial Grace, Certain knowledge, and for ye Encouragement and promoting ye good purposes and End afore Sd, and by and with ye advice of our . Govinour and commander in Chief and of our Counsell for Sd Province of New Hampshire have Erected and ordained by these presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, do will and order that ye Inhabitants of ye tract of Land afore sd or that shall Inhabit and Improve thereon hereafter, Butted and bounded as follows, viz .:

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"Begining att a stake by ye Capts pond in ye Province line which is a bond of ye town of Plastow; thence north 2212 Degrees west about 3 miles and a half Excluding ye whole of Theodore Atkinson Esqrs farm Situate lying and being on ye Sd Line to a blak oak tree near Joseph Palmers Land in Londonderry Bounds. then South 90 Degrees west by London Derry Bounds one mile and three quarters to a white oak. Standing in an angle of London Derry Line thence two hundred ninety-six Rods by London Derry Line to a stake Standing in Sd Line thence South 39 Degrs west Nine hundred and fifty two Rods to a Stake and Stones thence South 20 Degrees East one hundred and fifty two Rods to a pitch-pine Marked thence South 3 Degrs East Seven hundred and twenty Rods to a white oak in ye Province Line thence as ye Province Line Runs to ye Stak by ye Capts pond first mentioned. And by these presents are Declared and ordained to be a town Corporate and are hereby Erected and Incorporated into a body politick and a corpora- tion to have Continuance forever by ye name of Salem with all ye powers and authoritys Priviledges Immunities and Infranchise to them ye Sd In- habitants and their Successors for Ever allways Reserving to us our Heirs and sucsors all white pine trees growing and being or that Shall hereafter grow and be on ye Sd tract of Land fit for ye Use of our Royall Navy, Re- serving also the power of Dividing ye Sd town to us our heirs and successors when it shall appear Necessary and Convenient for ye Benefit of ye Inhab- itants thereof. It is to be understood and it is accordingly hereby Declared that ye private property of ye Soile is in no manner of way to be Effected by this Charter and as ye several towns within our Sd Province of new hampshire are by ye Laws thereof Enabled and authorized to assemble and by ye Majority of votes to chuse all such officers as are mentioned in ye Sd Laws We do by these presents Nominate and appoint Capt Richard Kelly to call ye first Meating of ye Sd Inhabitants to be held within thirty Days from ye Date hereof Giveing Legal notice of ye time place and Decine (de- sign) of holding Such meating after which the annual meating in Sd town Shall be held for ye choice of town officers &c for Ever on ye last wednes- day in March Annually. In Testimony whereof we have Caused ye seal of our Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth Esqr- our govinour and Comander-in-Chief of our Sd Province the Eleventh day of May in ye yr of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and fifty and in ye twenty third yr of our Reign By his Excellency's Command, Ben- ning Wentworth with ye advice of Counsel. THEODORE ATKINSON Secre

"Entered and Recorded in ye Book of Charters this IIth dy of May 1750 "P THEODORE ATKINSON Secre"

Though the town was now in the enjoyment of its newly-acquired privi- leges and grew apace, yet the great portion of the lands were still unsettled and unbroken, and deep forests and wastes stretched out from the borders of the villages, infested with prowling and ravenous wild animals which were a constant menace and injury to domestic stock, and not infrequently to the inhabitants. Wolves were numerous and audacious, and in 1751 the town "voted that any person belonging to the town of Salem who shall kill a wolf in said town shall have fro old tenor, and for a young wolf £3 old tenor."

The depreciation of the currency embarrassed and confused the operation of law, the progress of industry, and the honest payment of the public and private debts. Appropriations, seemingly recklessly lavish, dwindled down 39

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

to mere pittances, with a possibility of still more insignificance before they could be applied. So great was the evil that public as well as private liabil- ities were met and discharged by substituting the necessaries of life in lieu of money. It is recorded that the parish voted 400 bushels of corn to Mr. Bayley as his salary for one year, but probably on remonstrances by the reverend creditor, the vote was reconsidered, and £400 voted instead. About this time the minister desired a cushion upon the hard oaken bench in his pulpit, but the request was denied by vote of the town. In 1762 Rev. Mr. Bayley received arrearages of his salary, the receipt for which, written by him, is preserved with the records, and is as follows:

"SALEM, March 31, 1762.

"Received of the town of Salem in the Province of New Hampshire the whole of my Sallery in cash and wood from the beginning of the world to March 1, 1762. One Thousand Seven Hundred sixty and two. I say re- ceived in full by me ABNER BAYLEY."

In 1766 a bitter and hostile spirit pervaded the community, the occasion of it being the attitude and demeanor of a sect residing or recently come among them, known as "Anabaptists," who, by their arrogance and fanatical claims, with an open avowal of their exemption from the burdens of citizen- ship, while they yet enjoyed its privileges, despising the magistrates, claim- ing to be actuated and moved by divine impulse, incurred the hatred and abhorrence of the zealots of the established religion. Their teachers, Mun- ger, Stubner, Storck, etc., taught that among Christians who had the precepts of the gospel to direct, and the spirit of God to guide them, the office of magistracy was not only unnecessary but an unlawful encroachment upon their spiritual liberty; that the distinctions occasioned by birth, rank, or wealth should be abolished, and that as neither the laws of nature nor the precepts of the New Testament had prohibited polygamy, they should use the same liberty as the patriarchs did in this respect. This sect must not be confounded with the Baptists of the present day. The more fiery of their enemies demanded their ejectment from the place, or legal measures to bring them to terms, but gentler methods prevailed. The lasting honor of the town in refraining from open acts of persecution was assured through the counter-action of the more tolerant and liberal of the inhabitants, who, im- pressed with the importance of the subject and foreseeing the results of bigoted and harsh measures, drew up a formal dissent to the impending suit against them. The following is a copy :

"SALEM, March 26, 1766.

"We the subscribers enter this our Dissent against the town of Salem Entering into a lawsuit with those people that are proffessed Anabaptists, Because we think it not reasonable to engage in a case where the Law is so plain to the contrary: We enter this our Dissent against ye Proseedings as witness our hands: Steven Wheeler, Evan Jones, Richard Dow, Jr., Na- thaniel Dow, Benjamin Wheeler, Benjamin Rawlings, Richard Dow, Wil- liam Wheeler, Amos Dow, Benoni Rowell, Benjamin Wheeler, Jr., Nathaniel Woodman, Israel Young, John Allen, John Clement, Jonathan Corlis, Jr., Richard Cresey, Oliver Dow, Jonathan Corlis (3), Samuel Ordway, James Webster, Jeremiah Dow, Isaiah Rowell, Jr., Richard Kimball, John Johnson, Jonathan Wheeler, Jr., Moody Morss."

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The reference in this document to "the Law, etc.," doubtless referred to a stipulation made years before on the subjection of New Hampshire that the religious views of persons settling within the province should be counte- nanced.

During the year 1766 wolves were again so troublesome that a reward of $10 was voted to any one in the town killing a wolf. The next matter mo- mentous to the interests of the town, province, and the American colonies was the impending War of Independence. Salem, in common with other towns, was aroused to the urgent needs of the struggle. Town meetings were held, and the demands for men and means responded to with alacrity. The fol- lowing are records of some of the events of the times :

"At the Desire of Some Inhabitants of this town, we have hereby Notified the Inhabitants of this town to meet at the Publick Meeting-House in Salem on tuesday the 25th day of April Instant at three of the Clock in the after noon in order to Raise a Propper Number of men for the Defence of the Cuntry, and allso to make some provision for their Pay if Called for.

"JOHN HALL, "JOHN KELLY, Selectmen.

"Dated April ye 22: 1775."

"At a meeting of the Inhabitants of this town on the 25 day April 1775 then voted to Enlist 30 men for the Defence of the Cuntry if called for : voted six dollars per month for Each man when called for : voted the Select men be a Committee to Provide Provision for the Enlisted men when Called for."

Pursuant to a request from the chairman of the committee of the pro- vince of New Hampshire, the selectmen of Salem "notified the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the town to meet at the public meeting-house on Monday, the 15th day of May Instant to choose a man to join the Congress at Exeter to consult the affairs of the Province," and at this meeting Caleb Duston was chosen.

"Province of New Hampshire, To the Inhabitants and training Soldiers Be- Rockingham ss. Slonging to the town of Salem: Agreeably to a Petition to us Exhibited Desireing us to Notifie Sd town as aforesd-These are to Notifie & Desire Sd Inhabitants & Soldiers to meet together at the Publick meeting house in Salem on tuesday the first day of August Next at four of the Clock in After noon then and there to act on the following Per- ticulars :- Ily to Chuse a moderator; 2ly to see if the town of Salem will Chuse a Committee to advise with the Committees of the Neighboring towns on Some Propper measures for Settling Militia as also to Chuse officers there for if then thought Propper or to act .on any measures then thought Proper by sd Body Presant. Dated Salem July 27: 1775.

JOHN HALL Select men JOHN KELLY Sof Salem."

At this meeting Mr. Thomas Douglass was chosen moderator. A com- mittee was chosen to advise with the neighboring towns on proper measures for "settling the militia." Cornet Jonathan Tenny was chosen first com- mitteeman, then Robert Young and Thomas Roberson, all for the "South Company," and Mr. Timothy Duston, Amos Dow, and Philip Clement for the "North Company." They also voted to choose officers for both com- panies. For the North Company they chose Mr. John Allen, captain; Mr.

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Richard Dow, first lieutenant; Mr. Samuel Johnson, second lieutenant; and Daniel Gordon, ensign. For the South Company, Mr. Joshua Swan, cap- tain; Mr. Thomas Roberson, first lieutenant; Mr. Abbott Pettingill, second lieutenant; and Oliver Kimball, ensign. "Robert Young, Jonathan Tenny, Thomas Douglass, and John Hall were chosen a committee for the alarm list of the South Company," and "Richard Dow, Benja Bixby, Henry Little, and William Hall for the North Company."

"SALEM April 13: 1781.

"We the subscribers whos Names are under written Do Acknowlodge wee have Recvd of the Selectmen of Salem The Sum of Two Thousand Dollars and a Note for the Delivery of Sixteen Heffars (heifers) Each Which Sum We have Recvd as a Bounty from the Town of Salem for the performance of Three years Servce to be done in the Continental Army for said Town.

Capt. Th Young Wm Duty

his Peter X Cross mark.

his John X Howard mark.

Evan Jones Moses Heath Daniel Woodbury."

In 1777 the town voted one hundred dollars to each man of the town of Salem "that shall Enlist in the Continental Army." There were mustered to join the Continental regiments for six months seven men from Salem. Here ends the meager records of the Revolution in possession of the town. At the close of the Revolution Salem was one of the larger towns of the county, and had slowly and steadily gained in population despite the drain and untoward experiences of the war. The following gives the population of the town as returned in the census of 1786:

"State of New Hampshire

Rockingham. S.S. Agreeable to an order received from this Honor- able House of Representatives for the purpose of taking the Number of In- habitants, and we have Proceeded and find the White males to be five hun- dred thirty and one (531) White female five hundred fourty and four (544)=1075. Male slaves 3, female slaves 4 .= 7. Attest

"WM. THOM - Selectmen

"JAMES WEBSTER

"RICHARD KIMBALL

for Salem."

Congregational Church .- Frequent allusion has been made to this church in giving the history of the old North Parish, as it was intimately connected with the affairs of the parish for several years. Its organization bears the date of January 16, 1740, and took place in the dwelling house of Rev. Ab- ner Bayley. The frame of the first house of worship of this church was raised in 1738 and roofed over and enclosed the following year, and was first used for public worship in 1740. The building was 40x38 feet. Rev. Abner Bayley was its first pastor, who was ordained January 30, 1740, and con- tinued as such for more than half a century. He died March 10, 1798, aged eighty-two years. His labors with the church were eminently successful, and he lived and died beloved and revered by all. In 1796, Rev. John Smith was invited by vote of the town to settle here in the work of the ministry. Here is the concluding portion of his letter of acceptance :

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"P.S. Your proposals as I understand them are as follows-'Three hun- dred dollars settlement voted by the town-three hundred dollars subscribed by private gentlemen-three hundred dollars Salary annually so long as I continue to preach in Salem common sickness excepted-and fifteen cords of wood annually Brought to my door from the Parsonage (lot) or elsewhere and the use of the parsonage in sd town while I continue in the ministry.'- These are the Proposals upon which I accept of your invitation "JOHN SMITH."

Mr. Smith was ordained and settled January 4, 1797. He was dismissed November 20, 1816. Rev. William Balch succeeded him, and was installed December 1, 1819, and dismissed August 6, 1835. He was followed by Rev. Jonas Fiske, who was ordained September 9, 1840, and dismissed March 8, 1843. Rev. William Hayward was next employed for a time, closing his labors June 6, 1847. Rev. Daniel H. Babcock commenced preaching here August 22, 1847, and continued till September 15, 1849. Rev. John Law- rence began preaching here November 1, 1849, and remained for a time. Rev. William Page preached his first sermon before the church December 5, 1852, and was installed pastor December 1, 1853, but on account of failing health he was dismissed November 30, 1858. Rev. John Lawrence was again called to minister to the church in May, 1859, and remained till May II, 1862. Rev. Joseph Tarleton supplied the pulpit from May 8 to December 7, 1862. Rev. George W. Rogers began to supply the pulpit January 11, 1863, as acting pastor, remaining till the beginning of 1869. Rev. Matthew A. Gates commenced his labors as acting pastor December, 1869, and remained till the close of 1872. Rev. Samuel Bowker began his labors as acting pastor July 1, 1873, and closed December 31, 1879. Rev. George A. Perkins began his labors here as acting pastor May 30, 1880. Mr. Perkins was formerly a missionary at Constantinople.

The following succeeded Rev. Mr. Perkins: Rev. H. H. Colburn, acting pastor, 1883-90; Rev. Edward Blanchard, supply, 1890-92; Rev. G. P. Moore, acting pastor, 1892-93; Rev. J. S. Gove, 1893-94; Rev. I. P. Smith, acting pastor, 1895-96; Rev. Wm. S. Bowley, 1897-1902; Rev. H. A. Coolidge, 1903; Rev. Wm. Ganby, 1904-09; Rev. M. V. McAlister, 1909-1I; Rev. Chas. S. Haynes, 1912-14; Rev. M. H. Babcock, 1914.

The house of worship was built in 1840, and the old "meeting-house," which had done good service for a century, reverted to the town and was altered, and used as the town-house. It had previously (1833) been removed from its original site a few rods easterly, and placed upon the schoolhouse common. There are a few reminiscences preserved of the ancient church. The principal door was towards the river, two other doors, one at each end, also affording passage to the interior. The dimensions of the building are thirty-eight by forty feet. Rough temporary seats of plank sufficed until individuals built pews for their families, gradually completing "ye body of ye house." The exterior was plain and simple, no steeple adorned it, the windows were small and placed high up from the floor, the largest and most ornate one being back of the pulpit. The pulpit was lofty, and in looking at the preacher it required a painful inclination of the head and neck if pro- longed for some time. The pews were roomy and deep, and the seats in them all turned up against the back of the pew, while the congregation were standing in devout prayer. The instant the pastor uttered the "Amen,"-

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

click, click, click, was heard all over the house as the seats fell down in place for the weary worshipers.

No provision was made for warming the meeting-house; men, women, and children went to church in severe winter weather enduring the cold. Stoves and furnaces were unknown, and fireplaces were impracticable for large buildings. It was not till 1824 that a stove was put into the church. In 1890 the 150th anniversary was observed. The church building was thor- oughly repaired and rededicated November 6, 1908.

Methodist Episcopal Churches .- From the best sources of information on record it appears that Rev. George Pickering, presiding elder of Boston district of the New England conference, visited Salem in May, 1805, and preached in the house of Nathaniel Woodman. In the fall of the same year Rev. Daniel Webb assisted Mr. Pickering for several Sabbaths, and then Rev. Alfred Medcalf regularly supplied one-half of the time till the follow- ing conference.

In 1806 Salem was united with "Salisbury Circuit," which reached from Salisbury, Mass., to Salem, and included the intermediate towns. From this time till 1831 Salem was embraced in a circuit, and regularly supplied with preachers, as follows: 1806, Alfred Medcalf; 1807, Joseph A. Merrill; 1808, Wm. Stevens, A. Medcalf, Thos. Asbury; 1890, Asa Kent, Edw. Hyde, Da- vid Wentworth; 1810, Asa Kent, Benj. Sabin, John Jewett; 1811, John Wil- liams, Orlando Hinds; 1812, Benj. F. Larrabee, O. Hinds; 1813, Leonard Frost, J. W. Hardy ; 1814, L. Frost, Aaron Lummis; 1815, Ebenezer Blake, E. Marble; 1816, Philip Munger, John Briggs; 1817, Philip Munger; 1818, Bartholomew Otheman; 1819, O. Hinds; 1820, O. Hinds, J. P. Harvey ; 1821, J. P. Harvey, D. Culver; 1822, D. Dorchester, Jas. Templeton; 1823, J. Randall, A. Buck; 1824, O. Hinds, A. Buck; 1825, J. Allen; 1826, H. Foster, Sereno Fiske; 1827, Lewis Bates; 1828, Lewis and Lemuel Harlow; 1829, L. Bennett : 1830, L. Bennett.

In 1831 the church in Salem had grown so that it was made a separate station, and the following ministers were sent and labored here: 1831-32, Samuel Norris; 1833, A. Brigham; 1834-35, Warren Wilbur.

In the year 1836 the parent church divided the offshoot, locating itself at North Salem, while the old society removed from the old meeting-house on Bluff Street to Salem village. They had just erected a new meeting-house in the village. The building vacated had served them twenty-one years. It was a plain wooden house, thirty-six feet square, and covered with a "hip roof." It stood at the foot of "Zion's Hill." The interior was neatly but cheaply finished. The pulpit was high; and in place of pews plank seats with a straight back were used, the men sitting on one side of the house and the women on the other. It accommodated about two hundred and fifty persons comfortably, yet many more used to crowd in on quarterly conference days, when the concourse was always so great that none but women could be seated, and the men stood outside at doors and windows, eager to hear the word of life. People from Sandown, Hampstead, Plaistow, and other towns attended these meetings. The old house was sold in 1840 to Col. John R. Wheeler.

Resuming the account of the original society we give a list of its pastors : 1836-37, Jacob Stevens; 1838, S. Cushing; 1839, O. G. Smith; 1840-41, Matthew Newhall; 1842-43, A. M. Osgood; 1844-45, J. L. Slason; 1846-47,

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A. C. Manson; 1848-49, C. C. Burr; 1850-51, William D. Cass; 1852, Wil- liam Hewes; 1853-54, G. W. T. Rogers; 1855, Justin Spalding; 1856-57, J. L. Trefren; 1858-59, Elihu Scott; 1860, G. W. H. Clark; 1861, Lewis Howard; 1862, W. H. Jones; 1863-64, Irad Taggart; 1865-66, O. H. Call; 1867-69, Theodore L. Flood; 1870-71, David W. Downs; 1872, Abram R. Lunt; 1873-74, Henry Dorr; 1875-77, A. C. Coult; 1878, N. P. Philbrook ; 1879-81, Eben C. Berry; 1882-84, W. C. Bartlett; Mellen Howard, April, 1885-87 ; Arthur W. L. Nelson, April, 1887-89; Chas. H. Leet, April, 1899- 90; John C. Langford, April, 1890-91 ; Ernest W. Eldridge, April, 1891-93; Herbert F. Quimby, April, 1893-95; Edgar Blake, May, 1895-99; Almon B. Rowell, April, 1899-1901; Edwin S. Coller, April, 1901-04; H. E. Allen, April, 1904-09; Wm. Magwood, April, 1909, to September, 1911; Frank P. Fletcher, October, 1911, to June, 1913; Earl C. Wright, July, 1913.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 76

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