USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 11
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KIMBALL
PEASURE
KELLY
OBER
DOW
HENDRICKS
AUSTIN
WOOD BURY
EASTMAN
KELLY
AUSTIN
WHITE
LOWELL
CLOUGH
KIMBALL
SILVER
EMERSON
AYER
How
HALL
REATH
MERRILL
CRESSEY
CORLESS
WEBSTER
CORLESS
7
WOODBURY
MORELAND CURRIER
WRIGHT
TWADDLE
SMITH
DAVIS
SMITH
SWAN
PACKER
ANAIS
JOHNSONS
WEBSTER
HAINES
PAGE
WRIGHT
KELLY
CORLESS
SANDERS
MASSEY
+ BA XOGER
HASTINGS
PAGE
BAYLE
JONES
HOYT
CLEMENT
HASTINGS
ROWELL
BEDEL
WEBSTER
ILES
LADD
MA
AMEY
GEORGE
AYER
EMERY
DUS TON
FRENCH HAZEN
DUSTON
WEBSTER
MARBLE
PECKER
DUSTON
Locations-1759.
CAGE
CLOUGH
123
BUILDING THE TOWN.
two men were usually called upon to appraise it, the appraisal being recorded with the notice of impounding. It was cus- tomary to have the town crier give notice of all animals im- pounded. If after a time no owner appeared to make claim, they were sold.
The first mention of the pound is found in the Methuen records under date of November 30, 1739, and is as follows: "Voted that there shall be a pound in some convenient place in the North Parish near the meeting house." There is no evi- dence that it was built at once, and an entry in the Salem records would seem to indicate that a regular pound was not built until 1751. For on May 21 of that year the town voted twenty pounds old tenor to build a pound thirty feet square. At an adjourned meeting the next month it was voted to build the pound "a little south of John Page's house." It is not known just where John Page lived. In 1746 he had a lot of land north of Peter Merrill's, east of Hasting's land bought of Richard Kelly. By putting together the bounds of old deeds examined, we come to the conclusion that these lots were all near the south side of Zion's Hill. This is borne out by the mention in one of these deeds of Hitty Titty meadow and brook. It seems that John Page must have lived on Bluff Street, near Henry Sanders. If so, the location voted for the pound was in that vicinity. Still we know that many such votes were not carried out, and it may have been so in this case. Be these things as they may, we know that the pound was later located at the corner of Main Street and Lawrence Road, in what is now the front yard of Mr. Walker Haigh. It stood very near the present corner of the sidewalk, until torn down in 1836, as will be noted later.
Before it was voted in 1751 to build the pound, stray animals were confined at the homes of those who captured them. This fact is made evident by such notices as the following: "Eantrd hear by ordr of Captn Richard Kaley A Sartrn brindel ox som- thing high horns coming in six yers old as he soposes branded on one horne with too aches :H : H : and too kase above ye aches & a sort of a crop of ye near ear pounded July ye 28, 1746 by Captn Kaley"
124
HISTORY OF SALEM.
Another reads thus :
"Mathuen District Dsembr ye 30th 1749-
"Then wee taking Notes of that Stray Creacher which is at ye house of Robrd Ellenwood do valey it to be worth Seaven pound old taner.
"William Leech "John ober."
Each owner had a special mark by which his cattle could be distinguished. This custom had grown out of the early system of having a large tract of common land upon which all of the cattle of the town were pastured. Salem itself never had such a common, as it had been divided among the proprietors before this part of Haverhill was set off. But the private marks were retained and all stock was carefully identified. In 1753 it was considered advisable to have these marks recorded. A few of the best illustrations are here presented, taken from the town records :
"may ye 8th 1753. The marks of Cattel and other cretrs.
"Abial Astens mark of his cattel and other cretrs is a halpany ye undr sid of ye laft ear and a halpny ye upr sid of ye right ear.
"March ye 15, 1754 the marks of Alexandr Gordens Cattel and other creachers is a crop of ye right ear & a half crop of ye upper sid of ye ner ear.
"The marks of Jonathan Wheler junr Cattel & other crechers is a Swalows taill in ye off ear & too Slits in ye Eand of ye ner ear."
The marks of the other citizens were much like these, except that different combinations of marks and locations were em- ployed. The spelling in these records, as in many other in- stances which we have noticed, is somewhat interesting as speci- mens of phonetic production. The two pound notices which we have selected exhibit the same characteristics, combined with some very unique descriptive composition : "Salem in Newhamsheir
"dsembr ye 10 1754 Taken up and Staayed by John Hall Jr. one hafer coming in too yers old marked with a cooprs notch ye undr sid of ye ear and no other artifishel mark and ye Natrel
WILLIAM E. LANCASTER.
125
BUILDING THE TOWN.
marks are as foloweth a white face white undr ye duelap whit undr ye baley whit the in sid har hind lags whit on har rump and a black and whit tail.
"dsembr ye 9th 1754 Then Joseph Hull and Joseph Mariel did and a prised the haffer and stayed by John Hall Juner and ye aprisemant is Eaight pounds and ten shilings old taner by these too man."
"Provence of Newhampshire
Salem June the 29 1757 Taken Up
In Damag fessent and Impounded by The Subscriber a Red mare Soposed to be fifteen or Sixteen years of age She hath no artificial mark Her Nateral marks are as foloweth She Has a Star in Her forhead and a Smal Spot of White on Her Nose with two wall Eyes and 3 white feet and one Crocked Knee & Severall white Spots on Her Back & a Black main & tale
John Webber jur"
This red mare was appraised by Richard Kimball and Peter Merrill, at sixteen pounds old tenor. There is no information as to her disposal. The records contain a large number of entries similar to the above, both of cattle impounded and identifications registered; but nothing of especial interest is found until we come to the year 1767, when John Lowell, Jr., was paid sixteen shillings for work done on the pound. Again, in 1833, Daniel Cluff was paid two dollars for making a gate for it.
Two years later the agitation began which resulted in chang- ing the location from the corner where the enclosure had so long stood. The first paper was as follows :
"State of New Hampshire, Rockingham, SS To the Gentle- men, Selectmen of the Town of Salem in said County.
"We the undersigned petitioners and inhabitants of said town respectfully request that you insert the following articles in your warrant for a town meeting, viz-
"1 To see what disposition the Town will vote to make of the Town Pound.
2nd To choose a committee to make suitable arrangements in regard to a pound, either by erecting a new one, or by taking any other method that may be thought expedient for the interests of the town-
126
HISTORY OF SALEM.
"And as in Duty bound &c.
"Salem, Sept. 23ª 1835.
"Earl C. Gordon
J. C. Ewins
Ira Wheeler
John Merrill
Jonathan Merrill 2nd
Oliver Russ
Moody Foster
John Clendenin"
David M. Dickey
At the town meeting a committee of three citizens, John Wood- bury, Joshua Merrill and John R. Rowell, was appointed to ex- amine the town records, to see if any entries could be found that placed any restrictions or conditions on the pound. The select- men's orders show bills of the two last named members for one dollar each for examining the records. Their report was as fol- łows :
"Salem N. H. February 6th 1836.
"We the undersigned having been appointed a committee to take into consideration the petition of Earl C. Gordon & others praying that the Town Pound may be moved to some convenient place, such as the Town shall accept, and to report thereon to the next annual Meeting, have met and have taken the subject under consideration, and after due consideration do report that the pe- titioners have leave to move said Pound to such a place as the Town shall accept. Provided said Petitioners shall furnish land and erect a good and suitable Pound at their own expense and save the Town harmless from any cost or charges of the same, and also that the land whereon the Pound now stands be not wanted to private use, but that it be converted into a public Highway, or common land for the use of the Public.
John Woodbury Joshua Merrill (Committee."
John R. Rowell
It seems that the committee either heard or mistrusted that some one had designs on the corner lot where the pound stood, and therefore inserted in their report the clause referring to pri- vate occupation of the land. The meeting adopted the report and voted permission to move the pound. It was not very long before the facts came to light. The pound was removed and a blacksmith shop erected on the spot by Mr. John Marston. This
127
BUILDING THE TOWN.
caused considerable discussion, many citizens objecting to this violation of the vote of the town. Accordingly, it was again brought up at the annual meeting held March 16, 1838, and "'voted that those that removed the old pound shall build a new one in six months to the acceptance of the selectmen. Voted that Mr. John Marston have three months to move his shop off the old pound ground."
The new pound was built the next summer, where it now stands, opposite Pine Grove Cemetery. The following entry ex- plains :
"Oct. 6, 1838 This day excepted of the pound built by Mr. John Marston & John R. Wheeler in room of the former one, now standing on the towns land, built free of expence to the town by Marston & Wheeler.
John Kelly Selectmen
Thomas Webster of
Benniah B. Gordon Salem"
It may be that some deal was made whereby Marston obtained possession of the old lot. At any rate, he did not move his shop. We are told that it stood there in 1844 and was subsequently moved just below on Lawrence Road. It is now the dwelling house of Charles Foster. The pound has not been used, except at intervals, for many years. It is now furnished with a growth of small trees and bushes, which speak of years of disuse and neg- lect. The old gate is used as a display board for auction sales and other kindred interests. The picture here presented was taken just after one of the heavy snowstorms of this winter, and shows the old pound in all the quiet of its neglected existence.
We have finished the story of the building of the town struc- ture, seen who the fathers of the community were and where they lived, in so far as we can locate them, and noted the most salient points in the early relations with the neighboring towns. Much of the life of this period has been reserved for the subse- quent chapters, such as building of roads, establishing schools, and operations of the military organizations. Although we have a separate chapter devoted to the religious life of the town, still we have presented here the most important facts in the life of the early church. The town was built up through the church, and
128
HISTORY OF SALEM.
the history of the old meetinghouse and its environs is the his- tory of the town. We shall again frequently return to this build- ing period to take up a thread which leads into the history of later times-again step back occasionally into the days when the modern luxuries of life were unknown, the comforts few, but when the meagre pleasures of the simple life were more fully ap- preciated than they are today.
THE POUND. (M 428) (See page 127)
THE OLD SAMUEL FLETCHER HOUSE. (M 81) (See page 134)
BAPTIST CHURCH, SALEM DEPOT. (M 104) (See page 137)
CHAPTER IV.
Ecclesiastical History.
The early history of the religious life of Salem has been told in the story of the building of the town. A treatment from a denominational standpoint would necessarily begin a half cen- tury or so later. However, a few facts which will bear more closely upon the Congregational Church are here rehearsed.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
When the church was organized on January 16, 1740, the cov- enant was signed by thirteen men, namely: John Ober, John Bayley, Thomas Eatton, Richard Kimbal, John Bayley, Joshua Emerson, Abner Bayley, Abiel Kelly, Nathaniel Hazeltine, Isaac Clough, Edward Clark, Richard Kelly and Samuel Currier. Others signed it soon afterwards, so that the membership grew rapidly.
There was nothing of importance beyond what has already been mentioned, until about a year and a half before the death of Rev. Abner Bayley. The last entry in the church records, which he himself kept, during his pastorate, under date of Sep- tember 22, 1796, in the trembling hand of the aged pastor, is to the effect that "After fasting made choice of Mr. John Smith for a colleague with our stated pastor." Mr. Smith's was the next longest pastorate in the entire list, extending over nineteen years, or until 1816.
For the next three years there was no settled pastor. Finan- cial matters were far from satisfactory, the town frequently vot- ing not to raise any money for preaching, which of course made impossible any continued plan of management. The salary of Mr. Smith was for a long while in arrears, that for the last year being paid to his heirs some time after his death. But this
10
130
HISTORY OF SALEM.
condition was not peculiar to Salem; other towns exhibited a similar state.
On July 1, 1819, the legislature came to the rescue. An act was passed authorizing religious societies to organize for the purpose of supporting the gospel and to raise taxes among them- selves for this purpose. Accordingly, on the fifteenth day of September of that year the Congregational Society in Salem was formally organized and equipped with an elaborate constitution for its future government. The society then voted to cooperate with the old church, which had voted, on February 1 of that year, to call Rev. William Balch to the pastorate. His reply, dated November 5, 1819, is characteristic of the man as well as indicative of the crisis through which the church was passing: "The great exertions you have made to build up a society broken down and scattered seem to make it my duty to cooperate with you in an object so desirable and so nearly connected with the best interests of this people." He was installed December 1, after which he continued with the church for sixteen years.
In 1835 began the definite planning for a new church. There had been considerable discussion for the past few years regard- ing the insufficiency of the old meetinghouse for accommodation of all the various bands of worshipers of the town, and this so- ciety began to formulate plans for its own relief. On July 11 of that year it was proposed to build, and John Hall presented a subscription paper, which was adopted. After nearly four years of soliciting, a sufficient amount had been pledged to warrant the undertaking. Accordingly, on March 5, 1839, the society voted to build a new church at once, the same to be ready for oc- cupancy by September, 1840. The time ran over slightly, how- ever, as the records tell of the appointing on November 3, 1840, of a committee to confer with Rev. Mr. Fisk regarding the dedi- cation. He had been the pastor since July 20 of that year. The last three years of the pastorate of Mr. Balch had been years of disintegration, since the civil contract had been termi- nated and there was no regular preaching nor administering of the ordinances. The hopelessness of the situation during these crucial days was well expressed some years afterwards by Rev. William Page, who was the pastor from 1852 to 1858: "Though
.
131
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
the prospect of a speedy dissolution of this church to some seemed so fair, and almost certain, it did not die. Spectators looked on to see the end; but it continued to breathe, and with more and more freedom, until, on the ninth of September 1840, it arose and stood erect. On that day it received its fourth pas- tor, Rev. Jonas Fisk."
Mr. Fisk had accepted the call of the society two months be- fore the ordination.
The leading spirits of the building work were William H. Mayo, John Kelly and Dea. Levi Cluff.
At the February meeting in 1845, it was "voted to choose a Committee of three to make inquiry for a location to erect a parsonage house upon." Benjamin Woodbury, Joseph Thom and John Pettingill were chosen. A Mr. Gage gave the land to the society, and the parsonage was built during the year. The wood on the parsonage land by the river was sold to help pay for the house. Several times the building has been altered and added to, until it presents the appearance now familiar to us.
On November 3, 1851, "A large Bible was presented for the pulpit to the church by Elizabeth Hart, Lucretia L. Bradley, and John Page."
The bell was purchased by subscriptions from more than one hundred friends of the church. It was accepted by the society August 21, 1851. Mr. Wm. G. Crowell and Dr. John H. Mer- rill were the committee chosen by the donors to buy, place and formally present it to the society. The bell weighed 1,213 pounds.
Furnaces were put into the church in the fall of 1857, being first used on December 27. A year later the lamps were refitted so as to burn kerosene, instead of the "spirit" oil formerly used.
Early in the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Bowker, the church was extensively repaired and remodelled, being put practically in its present condition and re-dedicated November 10, 1874. The illustration gives a view of the building today.
Several interesting items are found in the old records of the church. For instance, from the very first pages, dating about 1741, "voted that Peter Merrill tune the Psalm," and that
-
132
HISTORY OF SALEM.
"Thomas Eatton read the Psalm." A song service of this sort would seem strange to us today; the reader would read one line of the psalm or hymn, after which the choir would repeat it to the chanting tune commonly used, then the next line followed in the same manner. . In 1827 the society "chose John Kelly to see that the Bass Viol and Clarionette be brought into the Con- gregational Meeting house for the use of the society."
The Christian Endeavor Society was founded October 26, 1886. The most remarkable spiritual results were accomplished during the year 1862, when Rev. Joseph Tarlton, the evangelist, supplied the pulpit for seven months. During that brief period he added twenty-three members to the church roll.
The membership at different points in the life of the church has been as follows: Original number, 13; reorganization in 1819, 98; in 1843, 53; at the close of 1861, 70; at the close of 1862, 93; in 1890, 50; at the present time, 1907, 38.
The list of pastors, with their periods of service, is here given :
Rev. Abner Bayley, the first pastor, was ordained January 30, 1740, and died March 10, 1798, aged eighty-two years, in the fifty-eighth year of his ministry.
Rev. John Smith was ordained and settled January 4, 1797, and died at Bangor, Me., April 7, 1831. He was dismissed No- vember 20, 1816.
Rev. William Balch was installed December 1, 1819; dismissed August 6, 1835.
Rev. Jonas Fisk was ordained September 9, 1840, and dis- missed March 8, 1843.
Rev. William Hayward was employed for a time, closing his labors June 6, 1847.
Rev. Daniel H. Babcock commenced preaching August 22, 1847, and closed his labors September 15, 1849.
Rev. John Lawrence commenced preaching November 1, 1849.
Rev. William Page preached his first sermon December 5, 1852, and was installed pastor of the church about the 1st of De- cember, 1853. He was dismissed, on account of failing health, November 30, 1858.
Rev. John Lawrence was again called to minister to this church in May, 1859, and closed his labors May 11, 1862.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SALEM CENTER. (M 53) (See page 131)
133
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Rev. Joseph Tarlton supplied the pulpit from May 8 to De- cember 7, 1862.
Rev. George W. Rogers began to supply the pulpit January 11, 1863, as acting pastor, remaining until the beginning of 1869.
Rev. M. A. Gates commenced his labors, as acting pastor, De- cember, 1869, and remained till the close of 1872.
Rev. Samuel Bowker began his labors as acting pastor, July 1, 1873, and closed January 1, 1880.
Rev. George A. Perkins preached from May 16, 1880, to April 29, 1883.
H. H. Colburn served as acting pastor from May 20, 1883, to April 1, 1890.
E. B. Blanchard, student in Andover Seminary, began his labors May 1, 1890, and continued to May, 1892.
Rev. Gainer P. Moore was here from May, 1892, to August 1893.
Rev. Joseph S. Gove preached for a year, from September, 1893, to October, 1894.
Rev. I. Perley Smith followed, serving till December, 1896.
Rev. William T. Bartley next entered upon the longest pas- torate since Mr. Colburn, coming in May, 1897, and remaining until October, 1902.
Rev. Henry A. Coolidge supplied the pulpit from May, 1903, to November of the same year.
Rev. William Ganley began his labors here in February, 1904. and is the present pastor.
The Sunday school now numbers sixty members, and the Christian Endeavor twenty.
The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the church was observed December 18, 1890. Exercises were held in the church both afternoon and evening. At the former session an historical address was delivered by the pastor, Mr. Blanchard, and short reminiscent remarks were made by former pastors and others.
Although this church has passed through several crises in its existence, it has always emerged from them with renewed strength and greater unity among its people.
134
HISTORY OF SALEM.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Some years before the close of the Revolution, Samuel Fletcher came from Chelmsford to Salem, where he settled with his family, and built the house now occupied by Clement Mclaughlin (M81). He had been in the war, probably coming here after his discharge. His younger children were born after he settled in Salem. He was a man of very intense spiritual na- ture, and had not been long in his new home when he began to put his persuasive powers into use with his neighbors and fellow citizens. Soon he built up a considerable following, who were banded together into a Baptist Society in 1780. The Fletcher homestead was the place of meeting, Samuel having finished a part of it as a large hall, where his congregation was wont to gather on Sabbath mornings to drink inspiration from his vig- orous preaching. We are told how Dorcas Rowell, the great grandmother of Benjamin R. Wheeler, who was a daughter of the Duke of Reddington and wife of Philip Rowell, used to ride on horseback every Sunday from her home (M505) near the foot of Allen's Hill to the house of the Reverend Samuel, carrying her two little children with her. One of these was her little Dor- cas who afterwards became the mother of the late J. R. Wheeler.
Fletcher died in 1795, after which the society lost its force. An effort was made to keep it together, but to no avail. While there were still a goodly number of adherents trying to draw or drive the backsliders into line, a petition was sent to the General Court for rights as a church organization. The paper was as follows :
"The petition of Richard Kimball Jeams Webster and others the subscribers inhabitants of the town of Salem County and State aforesaid and in its vicinity most humbly shew that thay with thare famielies and each of them have long since ben and still continue to be of that religos perswaison Called Baptists that they have for many years paid and Suported at thare one Expence an orthodox Minister of that princable who wos in- stalled over the church and congregation and officiated as Such utill he wos Called by the providance of God to leave this world and in order and for the incouragement of a nother pious and orthodox Minister to Setle among us as well to regulate our in-
135
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
ternal affairs as a Religos Society ought to be governed and for other pies and Lardable purpuses we and each of us most humbly suplycate your Honors that we and each of us may be incor- porated into a Society in Salem to have and to hold all the Pow- ers Rights priveliges as other incorprated churches and Con- gregations professing the Christion Religion in the State afore- said possessis and retains and as in Duty bound will ever pray
Richª Kimball
Lemuel Rowell
James Webster
Nathaniel kelley
Philip Rowell
Joseph harries
Oliver Sanders
Ebenezer Woodbery
Jacob Rowell
Samuel Marbel
Abner Woodman
Asa Corless
Silas Wheeler
John Saunders
Enoch Merrill
Luke Woodberry
Warren Wheeler
Jonathan Patee
Isaiah Wheeler
Jonathan Cross
Nathaniel Woodman
David Wheeler
Richard Wheeler
Aaron Copp
Richard Kimball Jr.
Oliver Dow Jur."
Jonathan Wheeler
There is no date on this petition, but from the contents we infer that it was about 1796. The next year, 1797, another paper, worded very much like the above, and signed by thirty- six men, was presented. On December fifth of that year the house of representatives granted the petitioners permission to bring in a bill. This, however, was not done, and the matter was dropped.
Still the society held together in a loose sort of way, holding small meetings now and then. The records of the old Methodist Society show a vote passed April 21, 1812, granting the use of the meetinghouse (on Bluff St.) to the Baptists whenever the Methodists do not want it. This shows that there was a con- siderable number of worshipers in this faith at that time, al- though we do not know of any records of their doings.
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