History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 116

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 116
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 116

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).

" Whereas it has pleased God in his Providence to visit our Pas- tor, Mr Josiah Bayley, with sickness so as he has Been for some time Past taken off his Publick Labour in the ministry among us and thier Doth Not yet appear any Prospect that he will be able for anm time to Do the Labour of the ministry among us Therefore to see if the Parish will agree to hire &c."

Under date of February 19th the desire is expressed to secure the services of Mr. Solomon Page. At a meeting, March 9th, the committee are instructed to hire a preacher for three months, and the sum of one hundred pounds is voted to Mr. Bayley as a free gift, and on the 7th of April a communication was read from him desiring the parish to take charge of the parsonage farm for his benefit, except the house-lot. And then and there the use of it for the ensuing sea- son was sold at auction to the highest bidder. Under date of June 28th, Mr. Bayley's illness is again al- luded to, and a committee chosen to secure preaching for two months, and September 7th it was voted to hire preaching for three months. Mr. Bayley died on the 12th of September, after an illness of more than seven months. He was born in Newbury, Mass., in 1734, graduated at Harvard 1752, was ordained Oct. 19, 1757, and died at the early age of twenty-eight, having been settled less than five years. His work was cut short, and his excellent letter of acceptance is about the only means of judging the character of the man. On the day of his decease, a meeting of the parish or town was legally called for the next day, to make, arrangements for his burial at the ex- pense of the parish, and at that meeting the select- men were instructed to proceed in the matter at an expense not exceeding three hundred and fifty pounds old tenor. Side by side in the old parish burying- ground lie the remains of the three first pastors of Hampton Falls.

All natives of the same State, two of them from adjoining towns, all graduates of Harvard, laboring in the same field, they together rest in the company of many whose spiritnal welfare they sought by pre- cept and example. A dark slate head-stone marks the resting-place of Mr. Whipple, inscribed as fol- lows :

" Here lies the Body of the Rovd Mr. JOSEPH WHIPPLE, Who having wisely and faithfully Discharged the Pastoral office, In the second Church in Hampton, Deceased Feb. 17th, 1757, In the 56th Year of his age, And 32d of his Ministry, highly Esteemed aod beloved in Life, And iu Death much Lamented."

The lettering remains clear-cut hut overgrown with moss, while that on the soft, light-colored head- stone of Mr. Bayley has begun to be obliterated. The latter is inscribed as follows :

" Here are Interred the Remains of the REVA. M. JOSIAII BAYLEY, Third Pastor of the Church In Hampton Falls, Who after He had Wisely and Faithfully Discharged the Duties of his office tor the Space Of 5 Years Was Received Into the Joy Of his LORD, SEPTr. 12, 1782. Etats 28."

494

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Both head-stones are ornamented (?) with the figure of a cherub, according to the fashion of that period.

We now come to the record of efforts made to secure a successor to Mr. Bayley in the pastoral office. At a parish-meeting on the 2d of November a committee of five, Deacon Jonathan Fifield, chairman, were in- structed in behalf of the parish to extend a call to Mr. Paine Wingate, who had been preaching to them as a supply. And at the next meeting, Dec. 28th, Mr. Wingate was offered "the use, income, and improve- ment of the parsonage house, barn, and other build- ings and of the parsonage lands and flats," he making all repairs; also the annual sum of fifty pounds ster- ling or its equivalent in currency. And Deacons Fi- field, Worth, and Sanborn were instructed to acquaint Mr. Wingate with these proposals. At an adjourned meeting Deacons Fifield, Sanborn, and Capt. Nason were chosen a committee to wait on Mr. Wingate with some additional indncements, while the meeting awaited a reply, which came in the form of a request that the meeting be adjourned to allow him time for further consideration. Then follows a record of Mr. Wingate's letter of acceptance. However it may have been written, it is copied, lengthy as it is, in one un- broken sentence, withont stops, breaks, or capitals. This acceptance fills two large pages of the records, and we have reconsidered our intention of copying it in full. First, a long and rambling introduction clos- ing with an acceptance; then objection to the provision that he should keep the buildings in repair, and on this point he makes a good argument; then he sug- gets a more definite wording of the kind of money which he is to receive, and closes as follows : "These alterations I do but very reasonably propose and by agreeing thereto in peace and love I shall be ready to serve you in the Lord as he shall give me strength and opportunity, who am gentlemen your sincere friend and servant.

" PAINE WINGATE, JR.

" Hampton Falls, Jan. 18, 1763.

" To the moderator, to be communicated."

At the adjourned meeting January 31st :

"to receive Mr. Wingate's answer to the terms proposed for his settle- ment in the work of the ministry, and Mr. Wingate's further answer was Brut to the meeting, and being read . . . it was put to vote to see if the parish would make any further proposals for Mr. Wingate's sup- port, and it was voted in the negative."

The last third of the " further answer" referred to is as follows: "Instead of peace and love there now threatens discord and disaffection, and instead of Divine Providence smiling on the affairs and encour- ! aging me to proceed there appears many discourage- ments. Wherefore as the face of things appears I can't at present entertain any further thoughts of con- tinuing with you, and would now most heartily com- mend you to God and to the word of His grace, sincerely wishing you peace and prosperity, who am

gentlemen your friend and humble servant. Alms- bury, Jan. 29th, 1763. Paine Wingate, Jn"."

Parish matters did not seem to run smooth about this time, for at the time of the same meeting Deacon Edmund Bayley, the father.of the deceased minister, was in the place making a demand for the rent of the parsonage and a balance of salary. A committee was sent ont to treat with him, and offer him three hundred pounds old tenor in settlement, which he de- clined. No further reference to the matter appears, but more than one hundred pages back is recorded a receipt from Mr. Bayley for three hundred and sixty- four pounds old tenor in full, dated June 8, 1763. Under date of March 14th it was voted to hire " Mr. Gills Merrill" for four Sabbaths he had already preached, and to pay him for six Sabbaths.

After all their differences with Mr. Paine Wingate, it was voted, April 11th, to hire him to preach the four Sabbaths ensuing. May 9th it was voted to hire " Mr. Tellis Merrill" for six Sabbaths. On the 20th of June it was voted to have preaching for six Sab- baths, and the committee were instructed to secure for this service "Mr. Laranie of Hawk," now Dan- ville, and failing in that to engage "Mr. Walker of Penny Cook," now Concord, though from 1733 until two years later than this received, its incorporated name was Rumford. This "Mr. Walker" is pre- sumed to have been the Rev. Timothy Walker, settled in Concord from 1730 to 1782, and father of Hon. Timothy Walker, a member of the first Constitutional Convention of New Hampshire. Under date of Sep- tember 12th a call was extended to "Mr. Michai Laranie" to settle on the terms first offered Mr. Wingate. "Voted, that if Mr. Laranie comes to preach for two ensuing Sabbaths he shall be paid as usual." The name of this minister which the parish clerk makes Michai Laranie, all but the dotting of the last i, becomes in the call for the next meeting, probably written by Mesheck Weare, then chairman of the selectmen, Micah Lawrence. The study of Greek is a desirable preparation for deciphering some of these old records. On the 5th of October Mr. Lawrence declined the call of the parish, al- though they further offered to keep the buildings and fences of the parsonage in repair.

" Voted, to apply to Mr. Pain Wingett for to preach with us four Sab- baths." "Capt. Jonathan Swett, Mr. Ebenezer Knowlton, and Job Hos- kel desents against the Votes of this and the Last Meeting Relative to the settling Mr. Lawrence."

The following record is given in full, as one of the best worded in the volume before us :

" At a Leagul meeting of the Free holders of Hampton falls parish held the thirty-first day of october 1763, Ily, Voted that Col. Mesheck weare be moderator for said meeting. 2dly, Voted to renew the call to mr Pain Wingate to settle in the work of the ministry in this parish. 3dly Voted that for an allowance to mr Pain Wingate for his salary and support During his Continuance in the work of the ministry in this Par- ish in case he shall settle in that work here. Then be paid him the sum of sixty-five pounds sterling money of great Britton or Equivalent thereto in the Curraincy of this Province yearly and Each year During bis Continuance in said work, also that be have the use and Improve-

495

SEABROOK.

ment of the parsonage House Barn orchard and gardens and about five acres of Land near mescheck weares House commonly called the Lower parsonage the Buildings and fences to be kept in Repair by the Parish or if it will be more agreeable to mester Wingate to have the Improve- ment of the whole personage lands and buildings Belonging to this Parish the fences and Buildings to be kept in Repair by the Parish as aforessid then he to have for his salary in money only the sum of fifty-five pounds sterling or Equivalent thereto in the Currancy of this province to be paid bim yearly and he to determine at his first settlement which he will take that the parish may be at a certainty.

"4thly, Voted that deacon Jonathan Fifield deacon Joseph Worth and deacou aber Sanborn Capt Jonathan Tilton and Richard Nason Esqr be a committee to wait on mr Wingate and aquaint him with the Votes of the Parish for his settlement and support.

"5thily, Voted that this meeting be adjourned to next Monday at Two of the clock in the afternoon to Receive mr wingate's answer.

" CALEB SANBORN Parish Clerk.

" Capt Jonathan Swett Lt Richard Smith mr Henery Robis and Eben- ezer Knowlton Desents against the second Vote Relative to mr winget's Call." At the adjunct meeting " Mr wingate's anewer being Brot. aud read, and he Excepted of the Call giveo him by this parish to him to settle in the work of the ministry and the support voted for him-atested per "CALEA SANBORN Parish Clerk."

Mr Wingate's answer: "To the Church and Congregation at Hamp- ton falls-Houd and Beloved Inasmuch as thro the permission of divine Providence your attempts to resettle in order of the gospel have once and again been disappointed and your disposition towards my settling with you seems at present so far as I can learn in general not to be alie- nated or divided by our former parting and the Trials you have since made but rather increased contrary to my expectations. I may I think look upon your Reuewed Call as a Call of divine providence notwithstanding the uneasiness of some whose dissatisfaction I cannot account a sufficient discouragement to my settling with yon but hope thro' the interposition of divine goodness will soon be removed-I therefore now accept of your invitation and purpose by the will of God to devote myself to his service in the work of the ministry among you and being sensible of my own Imperfections and humbly depending on the help and grace of God I ask your prayers continually for me and wishing grace mercy and peace may be multiplied unto yon I Remain ready to serve you in the gospel of our common lord.

" PAIN WINGATE JUNE.

" Hampton falls Nov. 7th 1763."

Under date of December 14th Mr. Wingate chose to take the whole parsonage with a cash salary of fifty-five pounds sterling.

From another source it is learned that in 1763 a Presbyterian meeting-house was built in the south part of the town, now Seabrook. No allusion to the matter appears on the parish records until 1765.

"Province of ) these are to Notify the freeholders and Inhabitants of New hampsof the Parish of Ilampton falls in said province who are by law qualified for to vote to meet at this meeting-house on Mon- day, the Second day of Septr next, at one of the Clock in the afternoon for the following purpose, viz .: Whereas a Number of persons in said parish have Lately professed themselves of the Presbyterian perswasion, and have applied to some ministers at Londonderry, whome they Call the Boston Presbytrey, desiering to be under their care, Representing that they apprehend themselves able and are freely willing to maintain a minister of the orthodox faith, aod that is united with said ministers in the Presbyterian government, and have made some objections to pay- ing towards the support of the settled minister in said parish, and altho' there is no just reason that the above-mentioned persons sbold in any Respect be Excused except that it may Probably be most for the peace of said parish that the above-mentioned persoos and their Estates should be set off to art in all Respects as a Distinct Society or parish by them- selves Except paying there proportion of the provence tax untill a new proportion thereof. Therefore to see if the parish will vote to set off the above-mentioned persons and there estates to be Incorporated if they think proper to apply for it to act in all respects by themselves as a Dis- tinct society or parish Except paying there proportion of the Provence tax uutill a New proportion thereof, and to pay all other charges as usual nutill they shall be set off as above mentioned, the line of said New Parish to be fixed by a comtte of the general Court with Liberty

for such of the above-mentioned persons as shall not fall within said 1 New Parish to fall off with there Estates and Belong there to and for any who ehall fall within said New Parish who are not of the Presby- teriun Perswasion to fall off with there Estates, and belong to the old Parish, and for any who are of the Presbyterian perswasion who have or shall have Lands within said New Parish to pull off said Lands to belong to the parish of Hampton Falls.

" Hampton Falls,

" August 22, 1765.

Samuel Collins.

Richard Nason, Meshack Weare, ) Select- men of Nathan Tilton, Hamptou Falls.

" At a Leagul meeting of the freeholders and Inhabitants of the parish of Hampton falls held the Second day of Septr 1765 Coll Meshack Weare chosen moderator for said meeting

" Voted that the people Called presbyterians in this parish be sett off as a Destinct Parish by themselves according to the foregoing Notifica- tion for the aforesaid meeting."-(Not signed.)

The following notification bears the same date as the other :

Province of } Pursuant to a Request to the selectmen in hampton falls New hampse) by thirty Iuhabitants there in Desiring them to Call & parish meeting-Ist to see if the Parish will Exempt the Presbyterian Society in Hampton falls from all Charges that may hereafter arise by the support of the Congregation minister or ministers in Hampton falls. 2ly to see if the parish will sett off to the presbyterian society a proportionable of the parsonage and priviledges which belong to the Iuhabitants of Hampton falls."

Then follows the legal notification of a meeting for August 22d, signed by the same selectmen. The fol- lowing is the record of the second meeting, held the same day :

" At a Leagel meeting, etc., Col. Meshack Weare chosen moderator for said meeting. The first article in the notification was put to vote, and it was voted in the negative ; and also the second article in the notification, and that was voted in the negative."

Signed by the parish clerk.

They next appeal to the General Assembly,-

" representing themselves aggrieved at the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Pain Wingate as a mioister in said Hampton Falls, that the religious sen- timents and doctrines preached by the said Mr. Wingate are different from theirs and disagreeable to them."

Therefore they pray to be set off as a separate parish and exempted from taxation for ministerial support in the other parish. As the immediate result of this action a parish-meeting was held the 30th of Decem- ber, at which Col. Meshack Weare, then-and most always at this period-moderator, was chosen chair- man of a committee of six to appear at the General Court in behalf of the parish-

" to make a True Representation of the proceedings of the parish and to endeavor that the Petition may be Dismissed or that the petitioners may be set off in all Respects to act as a Distinct Parish by themselves."

In this last clause is found the first intimation of the town or parish of Seabrook. As to the result of the first petition of the Presbyterians the records are silent; but it appears that in the final disposition of the matter the petitioners got more than they wished, while in the division of territory which followed Hampton Falls obtained the lion's share, in the opinion of some of the present residents of Seabrook.

In 1767 they again petitioned the General Assem- bly " to be set off as a Distinct parish for ministerial affairs only ;" and on the 23d of November, Col.

496

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Weare was again chosen chairman of a committee to appear and answer the petition, and " Represent the Inconveniences that would attend the prayer thereof being granted." At the same date Col. Weare was chosen chairman of a committee to defend the parish against a suit commenced by Edmund Bayley, administrator of the estate of his son.

At a meeting held the 25th of April, 1768, it was voted that the selectmen " be a com. to wait on the com. appointed by the General Court to Divide the parish of Hampton falls to inform said com. . . . and ' to represent to said com. what may appear neces- sary," etc.

These records are copied from the first volume of the records of Hampton Falls, but the charter of the new South Parish does not appear on record until eleven years later. It may be found on the one hundred and twenty-third page of the second volume, in- scribed in beautiful penmanship. The following is the heading:

Seabrook Charter Anno Regni Regis Georgii tertii mgnæ Brittanie Francice et Hibernia

octavo

" An Act for erecting and incorporating a new Parish in the South- erly part of Hampton falls in this Province." " Whereas a considerable number of the Inhabitants of the Southerly and Westerly part of Hamp- too falls bava petitioned the General Assembly to be set off from the old and erected into a new Parish, which has not been opposed ; &c."

This act of incorporation was signed by I. Went- worth, June 3, 1768.

The ministry of Mr. Wingate, so peculiar in its in- ception, was fraught with changes in parish affairs. The dissatisfaction of some at the time of his settle+ ment appears to have led to the final division of the parish. And the setting off of the new parish dis- turbed the equilibrium of the balance, and led to other important changes. On the 27th of July a committee, of which Col. Mesheck Weare was chair- man, were chosen-

" to confer with a com. chosen by the Presbyterian Society so called in | Seabrook, in order for a Settlement Respecting Sundry arrerages of Rates dne from many of Said Society to this parish and concerning an action now in the Law between the Selectmen of this parish and Mr. Jacob Smith."

Under the changed situation of the parish the meet- ing-house was at one end, and the majority of the parishioners towards the other end of the parish. And the result was that at a meeting called for the purpose October 20th it was voted that a new meeting- house be built near the centre of the inhabitants of the parish. And the selectmen and two others, most of whom resided in the upper part, were chosen a committee to fix the location. To this action dissent was then and there made for three reasons : first, it ought not to be removed during Mr. Wingate's min- istry ; second, on account of the expense of land and new buildings, while by the terms of the deed the old ones could not be put to other use; third, because such hasty action

"has the most direct tendency to make confusion and lead into such difficulties as will probably ruin the parish."

This dissent, only the substance of which is here given, was signed by Mesheck Weare, Caleb Sanborn, Abner Sanborn, Jonathan Fifield, Jr., Abner Sanborn, Jr., Jonathan Fifield, Richard Nason, Joseph Worth, and Dr. Joshua Chase.

This meeting was adjourned to the 27th, and then dissolved without further action. At a meeting on the 19th of December, it was voted that a new meet- ing-house, forty by fifty-five feet in dimensions, be built on the vacant lot near Jeremiah Lane's; that John Tilton, Abner Sanburn, and William Prescutt, selectmen, with Elisha Prescutt, Samuel Prescutt, and Jonathan Cram, be the building committee, and that this committee sell the pews to the highest bidder, and make a report at an adjourned meeting the first Tuesday in February. Immediately after is recorded a dissent, concluding as follows :

"3ly that the whole proceedings evidently tend to bring the parish into confusion, as is evident from the Notification itself, which says that there are disputes about the place where the meeting-house shall be set so as to accommodate the Inhabitants and yet would force a vote without try- ing any proper measures of accommodation. Wherefore we protest against all the proceedings as Illegal and, against paying any part of any cost or charge which may arise in consequence of said votes."

This dissent is signed by Mesheck Weare and twenty-two others.

At an adjourned meeting Feb. 7, 1769,-

" A motion was made by Col. Weare & a great number of other per- sons present .. . to reconsider the votes passed at the last meeting. In order to gree upon some method that the parish in general might unite in Respecting a meeting-house, and the moderator was Repest- edly desired to put the same to vote, which he finally refused to do. The Report of Com. for Selling the Pews Being Read the moderator was Requested to put to vote whether the Report should be accepted wh. he also Refused to Do and Dissolved the meeting." At a meeting Oct. 16, 1769, it was " voted to abate all those persons' Rates that belong to Seabrook that are in arrearages in the minister's Rates." This is the first reference to the new parish as "Seabrook."

The following document seems to be worth copying in full, and will explain itself:

" Province of ! To the Constable or Constables of the parish of New hampse. ) Hamptoo falls, io said province of Newhampshire, greet- ing: Whereas upon the Complaint of more than Thirty of the Inhab- itanty and Freeholders of the said parish of Hampton falls, it hath been made to appear that the selectmen of said parish have and still do an- reasonably deny to Call & meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of said Parish agreeable to a petition to them made by fifty of the said Inhabitants and freeholders, Dated the third day of Jan'y, 1770, . .. this is therefore in his majerty's Name to order and Require him to Notyty and warn the Inhabitants of the said parish of llampton falls to assemble themselves and meet together at the New meeting-honse in said Hampton falls, near Jeremiah Lane's honse on Tuesday the thirtyeth day of January Cart at one of the Clock in the afternoon, then and there to act and vote on the following Particulars, vizt. first to choose a moderator for said meeting. . . . secondly to pass a vote for the Revd. Mr. Pain Wingat the present minister and pastor of said parish to go to The said New meeting-house as soon as Conveniently may be and Dedicate the said house to the Publick worship and service of god, and there perform the Duties of his sacred Function for the Future, and t> pass any other vote or votes Relating thereto that the said Freeholders and Inhabitants when assembled shall thiuk fit. given under our hands and seale at Exeter in said province the seventeenth day of Jan'y in the tanth year of his majesty's Reign, A. Domini, 1770.

(signed) Walter Bryent, Į Justices of the peace, Noah Emery, > unus provum quorum.

497

SEABROOK.

The record of that meeting is brief, --

"Ily. Voted that the Bevd mr. Pain Wingate Shall go to the New meeting House and preach and Dedicate the said house to the Publick Worship of god as soon as Conveniently may be.

" 2ly & 3dly. Elysha present, mr Nathan Tilton and Capt Jonathan Tilton-the moderator of the last three meetings-were chosen a com- mittee to present the above vote to Mr. Wingate "

It seems by the record that in consequence of the refusal of Mr. Wingate to dedicate the new meeting- house or preach therein-

"there has been & still are great contentione and Divisions in said parish and a great Number of the Inhabitants have by writing from under their hands Cautioned the Selectmen from assessing their pols and Estates in any Tax for the salary or support of the Revd mr Win- gate;" therefore the selectmen called a meeting of the parish for 17th of December ensuing for instructions. " Voted that it is the minds of this meeting that there be no Rate Tax nor assessment made nor Raised on the Pols nor E-tates in this parish for the salary or support of the Reyd mr. Pain Wingate for the current year.

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 116

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