History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 77

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 77

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The North Salem Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1836 in that village. It was repaired during the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Holman. Val- uation, $2,200 ; seating capacity, 250.

Following is a list of pastors : 1836, Warren Wilbur; 1837-38, R. H. Spalding; 1839-40, Samuel Prescott; 1841-42, Warren Wilbur; 1843, J. S. J. Gridley ; 1844-45, C. B. M. Woodward; 1846-47, Benjamin D. Brewster ; 1848, James Adams ; 1849-50, R. Tilton; 1851-52, Benjamin R. Hoyt; 1853- 54, - Stewart ; 1855-56, L. H. Gordon ; 1857-59, Abraham Folsom; 1860, Samuel Beedle: 1861-62, William H. Thomas; 1863, J. W. Adams; 1864- 65, J. B. Holman ; 1866-68, Eleazer Smith ; 1869-70, Joel A. Steele, A. Fol- som, S. J. Robinson, William Stuart, George C. Powell, George H. Hastings, George W. Buzzell, J. F. Frye.

Pleasant Street Methodist Episcopal Church is situated at Salem Depot. The church edifice was erected in 1861, at a cost of $3,500. It has a fine parsonage, valued at $2,000.

Following is a list of the pastors: Luther T. Townsend, D. D., D. C. Babcock, John Currier, J. W. Guernsey, Nelson M. Bailey, Reuben Dear- born, J. H. Haynes, A. W. Bunker, C. M. Dinsmore, O. P. Wright, 1881-82; John D. Folsom, 1883-85: Elwin L. House, 1886-87; N. M. Leonard, 1888; L. Morgan Wood, 1889; Fred E. White, 1890-91 ; W. A. Mayo, 1892-93 ; Daniel Onstott, 1894-96; S. E. Quimby, 1897-1900; J. Roy Dinsmore, 1901 ; Fred W. Gamble, 1902; F. T. Kelley, 1905: Chas. R. Bair, 1906-07; Wm. Ramsden, 1908-09: D. C. Babcock, 1910-II; C. F. Armitage, 1912; Floyd G. Webb, 1913-14.

First Baptist Church .- This church is at Salem Depot, situated east of the railroad, and is a neat and commodious structure, and was built in 1869, and remodeled in 1875 at a total cost of $4,000, seating 250 persons. Rev. P. Richardson, Rev. John McKinley, and Rev. Edward Mills served the interests of the society while it was a mission station of the First Baptist Church in Lawrence, Mass., from the year 1858 to 1865. Rev. C. H. Cole was recognized as pastor April 25, 1866, and served till July, 1867. Rev. E. A. Whittemore became pastor in May, 1873. He was succeeded by Rev. A. S. Stowell August 1, 1875, who remained until the fall of 1880. Rev. M. N. Reed, began his labors with the church July 30, 1881, and served till 1885, and was followed by Rev. Henry G. Gay, part of 1886, stated supply ; Rev. Tilman B. Johnson, 1886-88, pastor; Rev. Wm. B. C. Merry, 1889-91, pastor ; Rev. Chas. R. Bailey, 1892-93, pastor; Rev. Myron D. Fuller, 1893-

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95, pastor ; Rev. Joseph H. Fletcher, 1896-1902, pastor; Rev. Geo. T. Ray- mond, 1902, supply ; Rev. John F. Blacklock, 1902-13, pastor; Rev. Geo. T. Baker, 1913-14, stated supply.

Military Record, 1861-65 .- List of names of soldiers credited to the town of Salem in the war of the Rebellion, 1861-65. The town records are very meagre and faulty and uncertain. This list has been made from the best obtainable sources, and as far as it goes may be relied on as correct. Owing to the great difficulty in getting particulars of enlistment, service, etc., it is deemed best to confine the list to the names simply.

John W. Austin, William J. Bodwell, Charles Bodwell, Timothy Breen, David Bartlett, Benjamin W. Cluff, George Clark, Charles C. Foster, Issachar O. Foster, Hiram B. Foster, Benjamin D. Foster, James F. Fletcher, Jacob B. Hall, Joseph Hibbert, Isaiah M. Kelly, Moses D. Rowell, Edmund G. Kimball, Levi W. Simonds, Benjamin Wheeler, James T. Wallace, Sylvester O. Woodbury, George W. Taylor, Charles H. Thompson, Charles H. Kelly, John H. George, Jerome Kelly, Michael Haley, Ogilvia Connor, Wm. H. F. Chase, John B. Pattee, George M. Whidden, David Sloan, George L. Kelly, Edward B. Mosher, Henry W. Woodbury, Cyrus S. Dolloff, Wm. G. Cole, Charles W. Gould, Ido K. Morrison, Wm. E. Caren, John C. McArthur, John P. Bodwell, George C. Gordon, Oliver Lee, C. M. Hanson, S. B. Hazel-' ton, Simon C. Kelly, Aaron Goodwin, Charles Newell, J. L. Prince, John Robinson, Wm. L. Stanton, Charles A. Adams, Barzilla Brown, navy; A. J. Buckingham, J. K. Sexton, Daniel Wilson, T. B. Middleton, George Sumner, Wm. McCabe, Thomas Brown, Edward Delihanty, George Watson, J. Cum- mings, Henry A. Chase, Aaron Hamblett, Walter B. Kelly, T. T. W. Clark, Charles Lundberg, S. A. Foster, George L. Jennings, George L. Hunt, K. S. Perry, John W. Adams, Charles E. Bailey, John H. Jennings, Warren E. Kimball, John Woodbury, 2d; Melvin Lowell, Frank W. Cluff, Edwin H. Kelly, James W. Smith, Isaac N. Cluff, James H. Foster, Wm. F. Mansfield, George H. Pattee, Benjamin F. Hall (capt.), Milton F. Austin, Charles H. Hall, Leverett C. Cluff, Benja. R. Wheeler (lieut.), Gilman E. Sleeper (lieut .- col.), Jeremiah D. Drew (col.), Orlow Austin, Charles O. Kelly, J. H. Langley, navy ; Charles T. Maxwell, S. H. Wilson, Calvin Cookson, Edward M. Cooper, James Donly, Edward Drew, Henry T. Marsh, George Morton, John Thomas, John Williams, L. J. Abbott, John Brady, Charles Butler, A. M. Canfield, Thomas H. Holland, John Jameson, Antonio Leonardi, John McFarland, F. Roloff, Charles H. Smith, Benja. J. Springsteel, James R. Goodwin, Charles R. Manning, A. G. Buckman, George Howard, J. Whay- land, Charles Shamboo, Wm. Sherry, Harry Kickins, Charles Gardner, Henry Farrell, J. McDonald, John Farry, Alex. McDonald, Charles Cooper.

Schools .- The earliest school kept in town was in the winter of 1744-45, and lasted two months. The schools were kept very irregularly from this time till 1800, probably not more than every other winter at best. In 1800 the town set off nine districts, and it was not long before as many schools were opened.

Rockingham Park .- The following is the latest information that could be obtained from the new management :

Rockingham Park, the million-dollar race course and country fair grounds with its club house, grand stand, exhibition buildings, stables and cattle sheds, will not be dismantled and cut up into house lots as generally believed for a

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group of Massachusetts capitalists have purchased this famous resort and will provide ample backing to promote Rockingham fair and other sporting events. The new financial interests have turned over the management of Rockingham Park to Chester I. Campbell, who has so successfully staged the automobile, textile, motorboat and industrial shows in Mechanics Build- ing, Boston.

The new company is to be known as the Rockingham Fair Company. It is incorporated under the laws of Maine for $250,000. Frank M. Andrew, of Lawrence, is the president and treasurer of the company.

Rockingham Park was built about ten years ago by John W. Gates and a number of other wealthy New York turfmen who were interested in thor- oughbred horses. When the doors opened for the first meeting more than a million dollars had been spent in the construction of the plant. The author- ities stopped the betting and the track closed. Several years ago it was taken over by another company that inaugurated the Rockingham Fair. The park was recently bid in for $100,000 by Frank M. Andrew for the capitalists that are now financing it.

The Salem Free Public Library was established with 600 volumes Feb- ruary 17, 1894, in a small room in the town house. In 1895, when the new school building was completed, the old schoolhouse building was' repaired and the books removed there. Mrs. Hattie F. Abbott, the librarian, has 3,000 volumes in her care.

The lawyers are L. Wallace Hall and W. D. Pulver.

The physicians are V. N. Sikorsky, E. A. Wade and Lewis F. Soule.

The societies are: G. E. Sleeper Post, G. A. R .; Salem Grange, P. of H .; Spickett Lodge, A. F. and A. M .; Washington Council; Junior Order American Mechanics; Granite Colony, U. O. P. F .; Enterprise Grange, P. of H .; Policy Lodge, N. E. O. P.

CHAPTER LI SANDOWN

Geographical-Topographical-Early Settlements-Petition for Town Privi- leges-Incorporation of Town-Names of Early Settlers-Churches

This town lies southwest of the center of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Chester and Fremont, on the east by Danville, on the south by Hampstead, and on the west by Derry and Chester.

The surface of the town is uneven but generally fertile. The population is 380.

There are several ponds in the town, the largest of which is Philips, lying in the southern part. It is about three hundred and forty rods, long and two hundred wide. Angle Pond in the southeast part, lying partly in the town and partly in Hampstead, is about two hundred rods in length and one hundred in width. The principal stream is Squamscot River.

Sandown was settled in about the year 1736, and among the pioneers were Moses Tucker, Israel and James Huse, James Graves, Thomas Wells. (See list below.)

Sandown was originally a part of Kingston, and was incorporated April 6, 1756. The first vote of the town of Kingston on this subject of which we have any record is under date of September 24, 1764, as follows :

Province of At a Legall meeting of the Inhabitants & free holders of New Hampshire Kingstown held the Twenty-fourth of September 1746, firstly Leiut John Sweat was Chosen Moderator for that meeting

2dly Voted that we do hereby as far as in us lyeth set off

Moses Tucker

Israel Huse

John Straw

James Huse

Jonathan Colbee

James Graves

Daniel Hibard

John Bond

Daniel Kid

Jacob Wells

Jacob Gurdey

Meshech Gurdey

David Straw

John Straw Jr

Reuben Clough

William Straw

Israel Huse Jr

Phillips Wells

John Pressey

Jacob Tucker

Benjamin Tucker John Hogg &

Joseph Dow

Orlando Colby

Of Kingston abovesaid with a Certain Track of Land in said Town for a distinct Parish or precinct, bounded as followeth Vizt Beginning at the Beech Tree which is the Dividing boundary between Londonderry & Chester said Tree standing on the West Line of said Kingston and running Southerly on said Kingston said line as heretofore settled between said Londonderry &

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said Kingston to the Island Pond (so called) Then running Easterly South Three miles then Northerly till a North & by West Course will Strike said Kingston Line (where it crosses the mill brook so called) as heretofore set- led between sd Kingston & said Chester and from thence Viz. where said line crosses sd mill brook to run Southerly on said line to Beech tree first mentioned.

This is a true Copy taken out of Kingston Book of records

Attest Jedh Philbrick, town Clerk.

Among the first settlers were: Moses Tucker, James Huse, Israel Huse, James Graves, Thomas Wells, Israel Huse, Jr., William Straw, Daniell Kid, Orlando Colby, Paul Chase, Benjamin Tucker, Jacob Tucker, John Pressey, John Hoog, John Bond, Joseph Dow, Philip Wells, Daniel Hebberd, Jona- than Colby, Rolen Clough, John Straw, Jacob Wells, Jacob Gordy, Mesheck Gordy, Daved Straw, John Straw, Jr.

A Congregational Church, embracing fifty-seven members, was formed in 1759. The following description of the old meeting-house was written many years ago :

The edifice is forty-four by fifty feet. The inside has a quaint appear- ance, with its tall pulpit, the top of which is eleven feet above the floor, and above which is the sounding-board seven and one-half feet square, and nine- teen feet above the floor. Directly in front of the pulpit were the deacons' seats, made of two-inch plank, where the good fathers sat and shouted their fervent "amens." There are sixteen pews in the center of the house, and twenty-one wall pews, the former being six and one-half feet square, and the latter half a foot shorter. The sunlight comes through seven-by-nine glass, twenty-eight lights to each window. There are three ten-paneled double doors, and wrought-iron hand-made nails were used in building the structure, both outside and inside. Six marble columns support the gallery, in which are twenty pews, six feet square, and in front of which are four seats made of three-inch plank. The panels in front of the gallery are twenty inches wide by four feet long. The frame is all of white oak; the braces in the frame are three by ten inches; the beams are ten by twelve inches; the rafters are eight by ten inches, doubled, one foot apart, with a post between, and the corner posts are twenty-eight feet high and twelve inches square.

November 28, 1859, Rev. Josiah Cotton, a descendant of the renowned John Cotton of Boston, was settled in the gospel ministry, and continued his labors until his death, May 27, 1780. Rev. James Colloins, born in Lebanon, Conn., followed him in the ministerial work; was settled December 27, 1780, and dismissed April 30, 1788. Rev. John Webber was settled here March 24, 1795, and dismissed September 15, 1800.

The Methodist Church .- In 1795 Rev. John Webber was pastor of the Congregational Church, and about this time Methodism made its appearance. The first Methodist sermon was preached at the home of widow Abigail Fitts by Elder George Pickering. In 1800 it was voted that the Methodists could preach in the meeting-house week days, but dissensions arose between the two denominations and Mr. Webber was dismissed. At this time Rev. Jacob Cram came to preach for the Congregationalists. He would not con- sent to divide the time with the Methodists, so they held their meetings in barns, farmhouses and school house No. 2 until the present church was built and dedicated in October, 1835. Among those who in the early days preached

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for the Methodists were Rev. John Brodhead, who was once a member of Congress; Jesse Lee, who was chaplain of the House of Representatives at Washington, and two who lived in town, Dr. Abram French and William French. At this time Sandown was considered one of the best appointments in the New Hampshire conference. After a number of years the Methodist Society growing smaller, the Congregationalists had the use of their church half of the time. About 1870 the Methodists thought they could support a pastor all the time, so the Congregationalists had preaching at the old meet- ing-house for a while, now, only occasionally do they have preaching; but all unite with the Methodists in supporting and sustaining preaching in the town. Among the pastors for the last thirty-five years have been: Revs. Charles H. Smith, William Love, A. F. Bailey, William Thompson, W. J. Atkinson, John N. Bradford, J. H. Knott, Louis N. Fogg, Edwin Young, and A. B. McAllister, under whose able pastorate the church was entirely renovated at a cost of nearly two thousand dollars. It was rededicated on December 9, 1909. An organ was presented by Mrs. E. E. Lake of Hamp- stead. Rev. C. J. Mekelson came in the spring of 1910, staying one year. The present pastor is Rev. John D. L.each, who at the last conference was returned for the fourth year. A flourishing Aid Society, of which Mrs. J. U. Lovering is the efficient president. Mrs. Nellie S. Sanborn is the super- intendent of the Sunday school.

The Sandowen Public Library was established with state aid in 1893. It contains 857 volumes. A. S. Sanborn is the librarian.

The societies are: King Philip's Lodge, K. of P .; Sandown Grange and O. U. A. M.

CHAPTER LII

SEABROOK

Geographical-Topographical-First Settlements-Indian Depredations- Prominent Citizens-Churches-Civil History-Incorporation-Military Record-Public Library.

The town of Seabrook lies in the southeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Hampton Falls, on the east by the At- lantic ocean, on the south by Salisbury, Mass., and on the west by South Hampton and Kensington. The early history of this town will be found principally in the history of Hampton, of which Seabrook originally formed a part. The early record history, revolutionary, names of early settlers, etc., are incorporated in the history of the mother town. Seabrook is an ocean town, and has extensive plains of salt marsh. The soil is light and very pro- ductive. The inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and the manufacture of shoes. The latter industry is extensively carried on. The population in 1910 was 1,425.

The first settlement of the town dates back to 1638, and among the pioneers were Christopher Hussey, Joseph Dow and Thomas Philbrick. The early settlers of this town suffered greatly from the depredations of the Indians. For a long period the people were in a constant state of alarm, and many of the prominent citizens were inhumanly massacred. Among those killed were Thomas Lancaster, Jonathan Green, Nicholas Bond, a child named Brown, and the Widow Mussey. The latter was a prominent mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and distinguished as a public speaker. The Indians finally disappeared from their ocean hunting grounds, and peace settled over the struggling pioneers.

Among the prominent men who have resided within this town Meshech Weare stands pre-eminent. He was the first chief magistrate of New Hamp- shire. His grandfather, Nathaniel Weare, was an agent to prosecute the complaints against the royal governor, Edward Cranfield, and spent some time in England. His son Nathaniel, father of Meshech, was also a prom- inent citizen. Both resided within the limits of the present town of Sea- brook. Edward Gove, a resident of the town, was a member of the Assem- bly which Cranfield dissolved. He distinguished himself by opposition to the Cranfield government, and was arrested and convicted of high treason, sent to England, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. At the expira- tion of three years he was pardoned and returned to Seabrook.

The order for his pardon reads as follows :

"James R. Where as Edward Gove was neare three years since appre- hended, tryed and condemned for High Treason in our Colony of New England, in America, and in June 1683 was committed prisoner to the Tower of London, we have thought fit to signify our will and pleasure to you, that

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you cause him, the said Edward Gove, to be inserted in the next general Pardon that shall come out for the poor convicts of Newgate, without any condition of transportation, he giving such security for his good behavior as you think requisite. And for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Windsor the 14th day of September 1685, in the first year of our reign. By his Maj. his command, Sunderland."

Civil History .- Seabrook was granted to Jonathan Weare and others in 1768.

The first minister of the town was Rev. Samuel Parley, ordained in 1765, and removed in 1775. Rev. Elias Hull settled in 1779, and died in 1822.

In regard to the meeting-house erected by the Presbyterians in 1763, the statement that its timbers came from six different towns is not improbable, for the parish of Hampton originally included more towns than that, and it was the custom at that time to contribute materials instead of money; and during its history of one hundred and nineteen years it has been occupied by almost as many religious organizations,-first, by the Presbyterians in 1764; second, by the Congregationalists in 1799; third, by the Baptists in 1828; fourth, by the Congregationalists in 1835; and finally by the Baptists again in 1859.

Baptist Church .- The house of worship in Seabrook was erected in 1763, at which date the Baptist Church in Newton was the only one of that order in the State of New Hampshire.

Rev. Elias Hull, a Congregationalist, was installed as pastor in 1799, and continued in that relation until 1817. Seabrook was then a part of Hampton Falls, and prominent among those in attendance at this meeting were Dudley Dodge and Betsey Fifield, his wife. Mrs. Dodge at least was converted under Mr. Hull's preaching, and both united with his church, July 18, 1800. First, Mrs. Dodge became a Baptist, and then her husband was baptized in 1816. Their change of views was followed by a change in the order of the church, for we find that Elder Hull preached his farewell sermon on April 6, 1817, and Elder True, a Baptist, preached in the same place on the 27th of that month. And from this time on the Baptists appeared to have held this ground, with occasional preaching by Elders True, Howe, Rand, Chess- well, Fernald, Adams, and Grant, the latter of whom in 1821 divided his labors for one year between Seabrook and East Salisbury. It is recorded that about this time Messrs. Danforth, Prescott, and Towle repeatedly occu- pied the pulpit as preachers.

October 28, 1828, "The Baptist Church in Seabrook and Hampton Falls" was constituted with a membership of fourteen, of whom Hannah Dow, Ruth Brown, Lydia Brown, and Anna Knowles resided in Seabrook. This infant church immediately invited as their pastor Rev. T. P. Ropes, one of their constituent members, and on the 2d of December the church was pub- licly recognized by a council called for the purpose, "and preparations made for the installation of Mr. Ropes in the old meeting-house at Seabrook."

In 1832 we find the second pastor of the church, Rev. Oliver Barron, preaching part of the time in the old schoolhouse at Hampton Falls. But the old meeting-house appears to have been the headquarters of the church until the completion of the academy building at Hampton Falls, in Septem- ber. 1834. For the history of the Baptist interest in Seabrook from this date until June, 1859, the reader is referred to the historical sketch of the

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Baptist Church in Hampton Falls. The year 1859 was an eventful one for the Baptist interests in both these places, for in Hampton Falls the Baptist meeting-house was repaired and improved at an expense of $2,000, and at Seabrook the old meeting-house was put in order at an expense of $3,562, $950 of which was paid by the town towards fitting the first story for use as a town house. The old house when new is described as "rough and un- cuth, with unplaned seats." "These were the pews of sheep-pen form, enough to break people's backs, and the seats raised during prayer time to fall with an ominous clatter at its close, with the broad galleries running around three sides of the house. Then the eyry-like pulpit, with its flight of stairs on one side only, and its high sounding-board suspended above, with the deacons' seat literally under the droppings of the sanctuary, it being a

* square pew under the pulpit, the front of which projected over it, * it having become deserted even as a place for the children to play in before it was repaired." Concerning the repairs we again quote from the published discourse of Rev. Mr. Beaman: "The old pulpit and pews vanished to give place to the modern ones. On the outside it was clap-boarded, shingled, and the doors and windows put in good condition; also the end of the house was now turned towards the road instead of the side as previously, and twelve feet were added to, the front end, while the whole was surmounted by a spire."

The renovated house was dedicated March 17, 1859, with a discourse by Rev. William Lamson of Portsmouth. Text, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place wherein thou standest is holy ground." June 28, 1859, twenty-three members were dismissed from the Seabrook and Hampton Falls church to form the Seabrook Baptist Church, and in the following Septem- ber the church was publicly recognized by a council of pastors and delegates from neighboring churches. Rev. C. H. Pearson, one of the twenty-five constituent members (supplied as pastor the pulpit), from July, 1859, to March, 1860. Rev. Mr. Abbott (supplied as pastor the pulpit) from March to August, 1860. Rev. Charles H. Corey, the second pastor, came in August, 1861 ; was ordained September 17th, and resigned December 1, 1863. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Lyford, Rev. H. H. Beaman, Rev. Geo. Ober. Rev. C. H. Parker is the present pastor.

Congregationalism in Hampton Falls and Seabrook .- Seabrook was for fifty-seven years a part of Hampton Falls, and the leading members of the Seabrook and Hampton Falls church have always been residents of Hamp- ton Falls.

The history of Congregationalism in Hampton Falls and Seabrook is a deeply interesting one, connected as it is with the birth and infancy of the towns themselves. As a church parish the territory of these two towns was first set off from Hampton, the ancient mother of towns. And under the name and authority of "the new parish in Hampton," "the church meeting in the Hampton Falls parish," and other similar designations, all town busi- ness was transacted for many years. Hampton Falls had no other act of incorporation besides a permission from the General Court in 1718, "to call a public parish meeting annually to choose selectmen and such other officers as may be convenient to manage their parish affairs, etc. And the charter of Seabrook, in 1768, was entitled "An Act for erecting and incorporating a new Parish in the Southerly part of Hampton Falls." This was a practical

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union of church and state. But useful as this union may have been at that time it appears to have been a peaceful one, only when ability and piety united to fill the pastoral office. Such a happy combination of qualities ap- pears in the case of several of the early pastors of Hampton Falls.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 77

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