History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 114

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 114
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

CHAPTER LXXIV.

SEABROOK.

Geographical-Topographical-First Settlements-Indian Depredations -Prominent Citizens-Dearborn Academy-Churches-Civil His- tory - Incorporation -Financial Condition of Town - Military Record.

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 Atlantic 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, Revolu- tionary, names of early settlers, etc., are incorpo- rated 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 productive. The inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and the man- ufacture of shoes. The latter industry is extensively carried on.

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 mas- sacred. Among those killed were Thomas Lancaster, Jonathan Green, Nicholas Bond, a child named Brown, and the Widow Mussey. The latter was a prominent member 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 with- in 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 prominent citizen. Both resided within the limits of the present town of Seabrook. Edward Gove, a resident of the town, was a member of the Assembly which Cranfield dissolved. He distin- guished himself by opposition to the Cranfield gov- ernment, and was arrested and convicted of high treason, sent to England, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. At the expiration of three years he was pardoned and returned to Seabrook.

Dearborn Academy was founded in 1854, by Edward Dearborn, an eminent physician and distinguished citizen of Seabrook. He endowed it with fifteen thou- sand dollars. It is located in the pleasant village of Seabrook, and commands a delightful view of the ocean and the surrounding country.

There are three churches in this town, besides one (Congregational) on the line, viz .: Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist. 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.

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

Baptist Church.1-The house of worship now oc- cupied by the Baptist Church 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. It is recorded that its timbers came from

1 By George D. Dodge.

486

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

six different towns, probably being contributed by persons residing in those different places. This house was erected by the Presbyterians, and occupied by them until about the close of the last century. Rev. Mr. Perley was pastor from 1765 to 1775, at an annual " salary of fifty pounds sterling, besides house, garden, and keeping for horse and cow." The old parsonage is still standing, and now occupied as the dwelling of Mr. David Boyd.

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 Hnll 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 oc- casional preaching by Elders True, Howe, Rand, Chesswell, Fernald, Adams, aud 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 occupied the pulpit as preachers. And prominent among those active in securing and enter- taining preachers were Miss Nancy Brown, Mrs. E. Green, and Mrs. Hannah Dow, the latter of whom is well remembered by the writer as afterward a con- stant attendant on religious services at Hampton Falls, walking two miles when well advanced in years.

Oct. 28, 1828, "The Baptist Church in Seabrook and Hampton Falls" was constituted with a mem- bership 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 con- stituent members, and on the 2d of December the church was publicly recognized by a council called for the purpose, "and preparations made for the in- stallation 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 school-house 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 September, 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 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 im- proved at an expense of $2000, and at Seabrook the old meeting-house was put in order at an expense of $3562, 8950 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- couth, 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 re- pairs we again quote from the published discourse of Rev. Mr. Beaman : "The old pulpit and pews van- ished to give place to the modern ones. On the ont- side 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 the present spire." The printed discourse from which we have quoted contains a likeness of the old meeting- house, designed by Miss Augusta Perkins, a grand- daughter of the devoted and faithful Mrs. Dow.1

The idea of repairing the old meeting-house origin- ated with Miss Mary True, a granddaughter of Elder True. Newell Brown is mentioned as being active in the work. A bell was given by Mr. Charles Sanborn, the bell fixtures by William and James San- born, a clock by Mrs. Hooker, of Boston, a pulpit Bible by Mr. C. F. Chase, and a communion service by friends in Portland. "Substantial aid has also been rendered by Newell Locke, Joseph H. Weare, and others too numerous to mention, but whose ser- vices are none the less appreciated."

The renovated house was dedicated March 17, 1859, with a discourse by Rev. William Lamson. Text, " Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon 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 Sep- tember the church was publicly recognized by a coun- cil of pastors and delegates from neighboring churches. Rev. C. H. Pearson, one of the twenty-five constitu- ent members (supplied as pastor the pulpit), from July, 1859, to March, 1860. Rev. Mr. Abbott (sup- plied 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

1 The most interesting feature of this picture of the ancient structure is the square bell-tower standing at one end of the house, with its spire surmounted by the figure of a rooster.

487

SEABROOK.

resigned Dec. I, 1863, on account of ill health." Rev. Mr. Corey's " untiring devotion to the cause will ever be held in grateful remembrance. He is now the esteemed principal of Richmond Institute, Va." Rav. Mr. Richardson, supplied from April to August, 1864. Rev. Mr. Lyford, the third pastor, served from August, 1865, to December, 1867. "His eye was single to his work and he sowed good seed." Mr. N. Colby, now pastor in Manchester, N. H., supplied most acceptably from March, 1868, to September, 1869. From this date until February, 1871, preach- ing was supplied by students from Newton Theo- logical Institution. Among the number was Mr. T. T. Burhoe, now settled as a pastor in Chicago. He came as a supply to Hampton Falls February 5th, and to Seabrook on the following Sabbath, and wakening a special interest in both places nrged the two churches to unite in support of the same pastor. Declining a call himself, the two churches were sup- plied on alternate Sabbaths from February, 1871, to August, 1872, by Mr. Burhoe and H. H. Beaman, as- sisted by other students. We quote from Mr. Bea- man's published discourse : "This pastor will always remember his first experience here, March 10, 1872, when he rode from C. F. Chase's to Seabrook, with the rain pouring in torrents and the streets turned into rivers of water, and preached from Eph. vi. 13, to six persons."

Mr. Beaman accepted a call to the joint pastorate of the two churches in June, 1872, preached his in- troductory sermon August 25th, and was ordained October 2d. The ordination services were held in the church at Hampton Falls. Every church in the As- sociation was represented by delegates. Professor Lincoln, of Newton, preached the sermon. All the services were ably conducted, the occasion one of more than ordinary interest, and the candidate proved worthy of the occasion, as shown by his earnest, faith- ful, and successful labors as joint pastor for the period of three years and a half. Mr. Beaman's engagement '' with the Seabrook Church ceased in March, 1876, and the two churches failing to unite on the same pastor, the Seabrook Church was supplied from different sources until the engagement of Mr. George Ober. He is now pastor at Brentwood, N. H. Since the close of his labors this church has been supplied a part of the time from different sources. Starting with a membership of twenty-five in 1859, eight were added in 1860 (most of them from the Hampton Falls Church), six in 1861, the same number in 1862, five in 1863, six in 1865, two in 1866, four in 1867, five in 1869, one in 1873, and three in 1874, since which time the record is not at hand. During the pastorate of Mr. Ober, the church building was painted ontside and renovated within. The following persons have been chosen as deacons of this church: Micajah Green, Joseph H. Weare, Stephen Clough, Jabez True (all dead), C. F. Chase, and R. L. Gove. As early as 1832 a Sabbath-school was formed here in

connection with the church, by Rev. Mr. Barron, he- sides another one at Hampton Falls. From 1859 to 1876 the following persons have been chosen super- intendents of the Sunday-school : George A. Weare, Edwin Eaton, Charles F. Chase, and John Weare. The membership has ranged from sixty-nine at the start to one hundred and eighty in 1865. "The next year, 1866, witnessed a decline of one hundred, and since then it has held its own."

CHAPTER LXXV.

SEABROOK .- (Continued.)

History of Congregationalism in Hampton Falls and Seabrook, 1711 to 1882.'-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 Hampton Falls.

The history of Congregationalismi in Hampton Falls and Seabrook is a deeply interesting one, con- nected 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 business 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 union of church and State. Bnt 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 appears in the case of several of the early pastors of Hampton Falls. No place was ever more highly favored in this respect, and to the commanding influence of these good and able men this place is largely indebted for its present high intellectual and moral conditions.

On the 9th of December, 1711, several members of the Congregational Church in Hampton were dis- missed for the purpose of being organized into a new church in the south part of the town, now Hampton Falls. Some pioneer work had already been done in that section.

While the early town or parish records of Hamp- ton Falls afford but scanty materials for a church his- tory, and the records have been destroyed by fire, there

1 By George D. Dodge.

488

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

has fortunately been preserved a small volume of church records kept by Messrs. Colton and Whipple, the first two pastors of the church. This volume is about four inches by six in size, strongly bound in calf and boards, and composed of about two hundred pages of coarse, unruled paper. It seems to contain most of the church records during these two pastor- ates, embracing a period of about forty-five years. Seaborn (born at sea) Colton and John Colton, pas- tors at Hampton, were son and grandson of Rev. John Colton, in compliment to whom the town of Boston was named, Boston, in England, being his birthplace. Theophilus Colton, the first pastor of Hampton Falls, has been considered by some as the son of Seaborn, but he was probably a cousin, being descended from another branch of the ministerial Colton family which settled in Plymouth, Mass. Mr. Colton wrote a legible, heavy, ornamental hand, while that of Mr. Whipple was fine and cramped. Both had a habit of crowding their records off the bottom of the page. This valuable little volume has title pages at both ends, with records by Mr. Colton run- ning inwards from both ends. Title page number one is inscribed :

-Theophilus Colton's- www Jan : 1712 The Chh Records off Hampton falls Begins January 2ª 1712 By Theophilus Colton Pastor of that chh.

On the second page of the fly-leaf are these two records :

"25 : OCTOBE : 1724 :

"upon A Sacram Day Immediately before the Communion Ebenezer Sleeper was Before the chh. Admonished & Reproved for the breach off the 7th commandmt upon which made his Acknowledgmt off yt his sin & fall In writing & Craving forgiveness off God & man was Restored to ther Charitable communion ago & unto all the Priveledges off Gods housse

-for himself & Children- 12 : SEPT 1725:

" Application being made by James Prescott sent & Jonathan Sauburn, junr & Eben: Sleeper, Deborah Clifford Mehitable Sanburn & Margaret Sanburn, now Sleeper for a Dismission from this chh. lo order to be In- corporated Into a chh. Estate att Kingstown Accordingly were Dismissed by our chb. & James Prescut, having discoursed wtb myself & 2 of the brethren of ye chh abt the forging of a writing formerly Layd to his charge In part, as having some hand in itt, or being privy to itt, gave such satisfaction abt that matter that he was Readily Dismist also as well as the other 5 for the ends and Reasons above Specifyed .- "

On the next page, numbered 3, the first entry proper occurs, as follows :

" The Inhabitants of hampton falls having given me a Call to Settle Amongst ym In the work of The Ministry Did Thereupon Call in Some of the Neighboring Ministers to keep a day of fasting and prayer wth ym To Sesk The blessing of heaven upon them As also to Gather them Into a chh. Estate that They might be capacitated to proceed

-Ju That Affair-

The fast was on the 13th Dec. 1711 The Ministers that Carryed on the work of That day were the Rev. Mr. Odlin who began with prayer, The Revd Mr. Cushing, who preacht & Gathered the chb. and the Revd Mr. Gorkin who ended wth Prayer Att web Solemnity The follow- ing Covt was read & Acknowledged by the persons under Written."

On the next page, "4," occurs this entry under date of 10th of May, 1726, three months before Mr. Col- ton's death :

" I Then took col. weare along with me to the house off John Cass & before him and the mother off John casses wife, Dealt with her for with Drawing from our communion, and for embracing the principles off the Quaquers who proving obstinate I did thereupon as Pastor of yt chh. In the name of Xt (Christ) Reject her, and Renounce her as one belonging to our communion and the good Lord have mercy on her And all hers Amen."

There is some reason to believe that this John Cass resided in the ancient house now occupied by Mr. David Boyd, in Seabrook.

On page 5 is recorded the Covenant before men- tioned :

" The Covenant off The Chh. off Ilampton falls. We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed Apprehending ourselves called of God to join Together in Chh. Comomniou In Humble dependance on free grace for Assistance and Acceptance W'e do this day In the presence of God his Angels & This Assembly Avouch the Lord to be our god and the God of our children web we give noto him Accounting it a signal favor yt he will Accept of ns and Then to be his people) Promising yt by the help of his Spirit & grace to cleave unto God (whose name alone is Jehovah) As our chiefest good. And to ye Lord Jesus Xt (Christ) 88 our Prophet Priest King, by faith and Gospel ohedence ; as becometh his Covt People for Ever Making att all times The holy word of God the Rule of our faith And Practice We do also give ourselves one unto Another in the Lord Covenanting to walk Together as a chh, of Xt In all the ways of his wor- ship According to ye holy Rules of his word ; promising In Brother of love faithfully to watch over one Anothers souls And to submit ourselves unto The Discipline of Xt in ye chh. And Duly To Attend The Seals & censures or whatever ordinances Xt has commanded To be followed by his people so far as the Lord has, or shall by his word and Spirit Reveal unto us to be our Duty. Beseaching the Lord for to own us for his peo- pls. And to Delight to Dwell in the Midst of us huoibly craving help att hi- hands for the performance of our engagements & covenant obli- gations.

" Theophilus Colton

John Cram

Nath1 Weare Esqr. Benjamin Batchelor

Samuel Shaw Joseph Tilton

Isaac Green James Prescut jun

Jacob Green John Morgan

Peter Weare Nath1 Sanburn

Nath! Weare junr.

William Brown

John Clifford Jacob Basford

Isreal Clifford Philemon Blake

Timothy Blake

Thomas Cram

Moses Bluke. Number of men 21."

" This covt was on ye fast day; Acknowledged By all whose Names are Annexed yr to. And also Assented to by the women yn present wch had ther dismission also from the Respective churches to wch yy [they] be- longed And some others yt have for many years ptook with ye chh att Hampton yy Assentiog To This Covt also are lookt upon &8 Mentbers of this chh. Tho throw their Neglect yy have not their dismission from those churches into wch yy were admitted wch are thes 4:

" Mrs. Greenleafe, New chh.

" Mrs. Heath, Her chh.

" Mrs. Sanborn, ye wife of Jno., New chh.

" Mrs. French, Boston Schh.

"The other women are thes following Mary Colton Mary Cram

Hannah Gove Mary Cram jun

Sarah Gove Elizabeth Cram

Mary Green Sarah Cram

Sarah Green Sarah Swett

Elizabeth Shaw

Mary Philbrook

Esther Sharo

Mary Weare

Susanus Batchelour

Elsiabeth Shaw jour, alias Tilton

Mariah Prescut Elizabeth Present

Deborah Shaw

Mehiteble Tilton

Abigail Prescut.

Meribah Tilton

Elizabeth Clifford

Margaret Tilton

Deborah Clifford

Naomi Biske jun"

Sarah Blake

Deborah Morgan Ruth Brown Number of women 35

Abigail Blake

Mary Fifield

The whole 56

489

SEABROOK.

since which dismisst from ye chh of Xt Att Hamptoo Town (who was not dismissed wn the Rest were

"And from other churches

" Hannah Poltle, dism. Hampton Town

" Hannah Swet ye wife of J. S. jun' diem. York

" Mehitable Steward, ye wife of C. S. Dism. Portsmouth.

" Mehitable Hilliard, ye wife of I. H. Dism. H Town

" Mary Green, the wife of Jacob G., Junr., Recom. Salisbury.

" Sarah Clifford, the wife of Sam" R. 11.

" Hannah Garland, the wife of Jacob, Jun" , R. H. T.

" Mary Hall, the wife of James llall, Recom. Salisbury.

"Jane Moulton, the wife of Abrebam, Rec. H. T.

" Charles Tredwell, Recomd from Wells chh.

" Lydia Sterzen, the wife off Jacob, Rec. Exeter.

" Bethiah Palmer, wife off Edw. come from Greenland.

" May Derbon, wife of Ew. come from Greenland.

" Both Desiring to ptake here and to be lookt upon as Members of this chh. hast gon ther agn.

" Elizabeth Sylly, wife off John Sylly exitr chb. - - (illegible) here and so under ont care.

" May Salle, Single woman Newbury old chh. constant Dweller here & so undr our care while she is here.

" Icabod Robys wife, A member of the chh. of xt being a constant ptaker here is lookt upon ss one under our care while here & Deacon San- burns wife of the same chh. And Nathan Clough of old Salisbury.

(The last two or three names are at the extreme bottom of the 9th page & almost illegible.)

(10th page) " 20th Feb. 1724."

" Att a chh. meeting att Hampton falls thes following votes were then past-viz .:

" I: vote | that Benjamin Sanbuin and

" 2: vote | Nathaniel Batchelor are chosen Deacons In Lieu off Des- con Shaw decesd to be Assistants to Deacon weare in that office.

"3 : vote | That the Respective sunt off 18d be pd to the Deacon that Looks after the Elements the beg. off the year viz : In March by every communicant for the defraying of the charge of Sacramt for that year.

"4: vote | That the Deacons themselves Get in the Respective sums & that the former vote abt Assistants be Repealed & Phil. Blake dism. from that business.

"5: | Capt. Jacob G.(-) thought worthy of suspension for Not doing his duty to his uffend : Bros: for irregular walk & doing & con- tempt off chh. & so was (run off the bottom of page).

(Page 11). " Theophilus Colton was ordained Pastor of the chh. of Hampton falls. The 2d Jan : 1712: The Revd. Mr. Rogers of Ports- mouth giving him the charge And the Revd. Mr. Cushing of Salisbury giving him THE RIGHT HAND of fellowship.

"Att & chh. Meting att Hampton falls Jan : 18: 1712: Nathaniel Weare, Junr. (father of Gov. Mesheck) was chosen Deacon to be Assis- tant to Sam1. Shaw In That office. ... Voted, That the sacrament of the Lord's supper should be Administered twice a Qn : off A year omit- ting the winter Quarter. . . . Voted, To have a contribution. . . . Att sacrament for this Insuing year beg: Ist Sabbath In March 1713: (Page 12.) Deacon Shaw & Deacon Weare were chosen Messengers from This chh. togr. chh. of Greenland As witnesses to the Revd. Mr. William Allgus ordination.

" 21: Dec: 1712 : Deacon Shaw & Joseph Tilton were chosen Messen- gers from This chh. to the chh. of New Castle as witnesses to the Revd. Mr. William Shirtlife ordination.

"23 : Nov : 1718 : Benjamin Sanburne and Joseph Tilton were chosen Messengers from this chh: To the 2d chh: off Salisbury. As witnesses to the Revd. Mr. Joseph Parsons owlination or inaugura- tion.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 114

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714