USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Sanbornton > History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Vol. I - Annals > Part 13
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TABULAR LIST OF PASTORS.
1. Rev. LIBA CONANT
. 1822-1836.
2. Rev. HLAZAEL LUCAS
· 1836, 1837.
3. Rev. ENoen CORSER
· 1837-1843.
4. Rev. CORBAN CURTICE .
. 1843-1870.
5. Rev. THEODORE C. PRATT
1870-1875.
0 . Rev. FREDERIC T. PERKINS
· 1875-
VII. - THE THIRD OR NORTH SANBORNTON AND MEREDITH BAPTIST CHURCH.
" There were Christian brethren and sisters residing in North San- bornton and Meredith who first moved to organize a society for the purpose of enjoying religious privileges." They held meetings, and were occasionally supplied by theological students from Earliest gather- ing at l'ine the Baptist School, then located at the " Old lustitution," Ilill. in New Hampton. In 1828 the society was encouraged by Rev. William Taylor, of the Second Church, and commenced to build the meeting-house on line Hill, so called, in Meredith, which was completed in the summer of 1829. This location -. Pine Llill" - has supplied the designation by which the church and society have been familiarly kuown, even to the present. For four or five years, till 1831, Rev. Daniel MeMartin preached a greater part of the time, as nearly as we can learn from the oldest members now living.
Tlw church was not organized till June 20, 1833, when, by request Council for of the First Baptist Church, a council of four churches forming church, 1533. was couvened for that purpose; a statement was given
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
by brethren " in the vicinity of Meredith Hill why they wished to be embodied into a church." and their articles of faith proving satis- factory, the council voted to recognize them as a church, to be known as the .. Meredith and Sanbornton Baptist Church," the right bail of fellowship being extended to the members by Rev. L. E. Carroll, of Meredith, and the sermon preached by Rev. J. E. Strong, of Gilford. Under the leadership of Samuel Mattison as pastor, in 1834, this little band was increased threefold, - from nine to twenty-seven members, eighteen being baptized by Prof. Smith, of New Hampton, and added to the church. Rev. llerman Haven was pastor in 1835 ; Rev. J. Huntington in 1838, when the church was called " to pass through some scenes of trial," but also " enjoyed a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," and fourteen were added by baptisms.
In 1839 there was no settled pastor, but the meeting-house was House removed this year removed from Pine Hill ( Meredith) to North lo North San- Sanbornton, and completed on its present location, near
borutou. Piper's Mills, in 1840, during which year Rev. Moses Cheney supplied the pulpit. No further record. Again supplied by Messrs. Mattison and Haven, 1841, 1842. Rev. Stephen Coombs was the faithful and beloved pastor from 1843 to 1850, the church being " united in sentiment and strongly attached to the faith once deliv- ered to the saints." " Faint, yet pursuing," was still their watch- word ; and under the ministry of Rev. Oliver Barron, 1850- Revival scenes. 53, the resident membership was nearly doubled, thirty-one being added by baptism. Rev. Daniel M. Dearborn was pastor from 1853 to 1861, and another precious season of revival was enjoyed.
From 1861 to 1864 there was no settled pastor, but the meeting- house again underwent repairs. The Rev. Valentine E. Bunker com- menced his labors in May, 1865, and resumed them Nov. 1, 1875, after an interim of more than five years, from April, 1870, during which Mr. Dearborn again occasionally supplied. Two seasons of special interest were witnessed by Mr. Bunuker, the first in 1865, the second in the spring of 1877, in connection with the evangelistic labors of Rev. S. F. Lougee, as the result of which the pastor was permitted to baptize seventeen, ou profession of their faith, in the following May. He died Sept. 9, 1881. (See Vol. II. p. 57 [1 ].)
After being tastefully remodelled, their house of worship was rededi-
cated Sept. 10, 1876 : sermon by Rev. F. W. A. Rankin, liededication. of the First Church ; dedicatory prayer by the pastor, and historical address by the Rev. D. Gage. (The above sketch is chiefly drawn from the manuscript " history" of this church, for the Meredith Association, prepared by the present clerk, Mr. James B. Wadleigh. )
94
HISTORY OF S.LNBORNTON.
The following is a resume of the pastors since 1839 : -
1. Rev. Mosts CHENEY 1810.
2. Rev. SAMETA. MAITISSON . 1541.
Rec. HERMAN HAVIN . 1842.
4. Rev. STEPHEN CoomBs . 1843-1850.
5. Rev. OLIVER BARRON . . 1850-1853.
C. Rev. DANIEL. M. DEARBORN
.
1853-1861.
7. Rev. VALENTINE E. BUNKER, May, 1865, till April, IST0; and again November, 1875, till his death.
VIII. - THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTHFIELD AND TIL.TON STATION.
Lewis Bates and Caleb Dustin, having been appointed to the " Bridgewater Cirenit" in 1804, were the earliest clergymen of the Methodist denomination who ever preached in Northfield ; First Methodist preachers iu the first sermon being from the text, " I was a stranger, Northlich. and ye took me in," delivered by Mr. Bates at the house of Dea Jona. Clough, a Baptist, on Bay Hill. In 1806, the . New England Conference " holling its first session in the State of New Hampshire, at Canaan, Northfield first appears in its Minutes as a station, with the distinguished name of Martin Ruter for their first preacher. Afterwards, the preaching was one half the time in the old Northfield meeting-house, and one half in the school-house on Bay Hill. The brick meeting-house was finished, " not without some dilli- culty," in the carly part of 1828, and dedicated Sept. S. There had been occasional preaching upon the Sanbornton side of the river pre- viously ; but stated services -
" Were commenced in the form of class-meetings at the Bridge in 1826, aml regularly established in 1827. The class increased from ten to commenced at
Class-meeting thirty ; and an old lady, Mrs. Lang, who had been a Baptist, the Bridge. having no privileges with that church [on account of distance], while in the last stages of consumption, wished to join the class, assigning as a reason, . I shall feel better to die if I know my name is recorded there.' A worthy example." (From Rev. S. Quimby's manuscript " Church Ilistory.")
Rev. George Storrs, in 1820, was the first preacher who resided at the Bridge ; but in 1835 a subscription was raised, and a house bought there for a parsonage, - the same as that now occupied, - though not wholly paid for till part of the lot was sold. In 1838 a new cirenit left this station with one preacher. In 1843 Brother Dearborn (in his second year) had a camp-meeting at the Bridge or a little below. Under the pastorate of Rev. Silas Quimby, in 1854, a change in the location of the meeting-honse began to be agitated, especially as
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
favoring the interests of the seminary, whose buildings were also to be enlarged. Measures were started for disposing of the old house. and a subscription commenced for the new, which the next year was located, and the building commenced, " great dissatisfaction arising with some because it was located on the Sanbornton side." Finally, under the record of Rev. John Currier's ministry, we find : -
"Our new meeting-house was finished and dedicated on the 4th of Feb- rnary, 1857. Dedication sermon by Bishop Baker, which was New meeting- house in Sau- creditable to the bishop, and profitable to the people. Cost of borutou. house, $10,000."
The financial crisis of that year, added to the burdens of a new semi- nary building as well as house of worship, "had an unfavorable intlu- euce upon their benevolent collections." But this people have ever been "rich in good works" ; and during the ministry of O. II. Jasper, in 1863, besides the pastor's salary, $650 ($750 in 1864), and a payment towards the church debt of $350, the donation for "missions " was $200 ; and other objects at home and abroad were aided, Benevolence
und revivals. making a. sun total of contributions, $1,387. This branch of the church has been blessed with frequent revivals, and some of them, in its earlier history, of great power. The meeting- house was thoroughly repaired and its tower renewed in 1880. Total membership, 1881, two hundred and three.
The following is a complete list of the pastors since the house stood in Sanbornton or Tilton, - a catalogue of fifty-seven preachers, hended' by Rev. Martin Ruter, having preceded these upon the church records : -
PASTORS.
1. Rev. SILAS QUIMBY . 1854, 1835.
2. Rev. Jons CURRIER
1836, 1837.
3. Rev. NEWELL. CULVER .
. 1858.
4. Rev. LORENZO D. BARROWS, D. D. (And again, 1866 till July.)
. 1859, 1860.
5. Rev. JONATHAN LALL . . 1861, 1802.
C. Rev. ORLANDO II. JASPER · 1865, 1561.
7. Revs. SULLIVAN and CALVIN HOLMAN 1865.
8. Rev. NienoLas T. WirAkER (assistant)
lait till July.
9. Rev. DUDLEY P. LEAVITT . 1866, 1867.
10. Rev. SILAS G. KELLOGG
. 1868, 1869.
11. Rev. CHARLES W. MILLEN
. 1870, 1871.
12. Rev. WILLIAM 11. JONES
13. Rev. LEWIS P. CUSHMAN
. 1572, 1873. Isit.
14. Rev. JOIN W. ADAMIS . 1875, 1876.
15. Rev. SI.As E. QUIMBY . INTE, INTS.
16. Rev. NELSON M. BAILEY
17. Rev. NATHAN P. PHIL.BROOK
·
ISTO, LANO.
. 1881-
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
IX. - Tut: Trasms ( Eriscoraz.) Cuegen or Thos.
This body was originally constituted in the fall of 1860, and com- menced holling services at the brick meeting-house in Northtiek,
under the charge of Dr. James HI. Eames, of Concord, Founded in
Northileld. with the assistance of other rectors. The Rev. Marcellus
A. Ilerrick, D. D., is, however, regarded as the founder of the church. He came to Northfield in February, 1861, and for nearly fifteen years, till his death, Oct. 31, 1875, was most effective and unwearied in promoting the interests of his parish.
In 1872, after due preparation, the foundation of their new house of worship was laid iu Tilton. It was tastefully and substantially built of brick ; and on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1873, services were held in it for the first time. This house was consecrated May 25, 1875, by Right Rev. William W. Niles, bishop of the New flamp- Attractive shire Diocese. Its whole cost, including $2.000 for the
lot, $1,600 for the organ and other furniture, was not far house of war- ship in Tilton. from $15,000. The beautiful chancel window was the gift of Mrs. Eames, of Concord ; and on its left is a large painting by the late Walter Ingalls, presented by himself, representing the injunction of Christ to St. Peter, " Feed my sheep."
The second rector of Trinity Church, for one year from the spring of 1876, was Rev. Frank S. Harraden. The third, for one and a half years, Rev. Ilenry H. Haynes. The fourth and present incumbent (though temporarily absent, 1881, in Europe) is Rev. Lucius Waterman.
The following obituary notice of Dr. Herrick was published near the time of his death : -
" He was one of the most prominent and influential of the Episcopal clergy- men in the New Hampshire Diocese. lle was a native of Vermont, and fifty- four years of age. Although not a college graduate, he had, by extensive and persevering study in earlier and later life, become, in classical and theological learning, one of the best scholars in New England. When a young man he entered the ministry, becoming a member of the Vermont Methodist Confer- ence. While settled as a pastor at Bellows Falls, he made the
lev. Dr. acquaintance of the late Bishop Chase, of New Hampshire. This Merrick.
Obituary of
. led to intimate friendship, and finally Mr. Herrick severed his connection with the Methodists and was couscerated a clergy- man of the Episcopal Church. For some years he was rector of St. James's Church, at Woodstock, Vt. ; and though, on accepting his call to Sanbornton Bridge in 1861, he found a small and weak society, yet he left it, when death called him, strong in umbers, influence, and wealth. Dr. Herrick's library was said, in the light of ancient classical works, to be the finest possessed by any minister in New Hampshire. As a pastor the deceased was universally beloved, while as a citizen he had the highest respect and confidence of the community. His death is a great loss to his denomination and to the State."
CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE OF WORSHIP, TILTON. (See p. 01.)
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
TABLE (resume) OF RECTORS.
1. Rev. MARCELLUS A. Thanack, D. D. . .
1861-1875.
2. Rev. FRANK S. HARRADEN . . 1876. 1877.
3. Rev. HENRY H. HAYNES . 1877-1879.
4. Rev. LUCIUS WATERMAN
. 1579 1sol.
5. Rev. Fr C. Cowren (assistant) 1881-
X. - THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
(Abstract, in part, of Merrimack Journal sketches, 1872.) As early as 1810, Elijah Shaw, Jr., a gifted and zealous youth, came from Kensington to Andover and vicinity ou an exhorting tour, being then scarcely seventeen years of age. Again, in 1814, soon after his ordi- nation, he visited this same region, preaching in barus and dooryards, as no ordinary honse wonkl hohl the throngs who flocked to hear this young revivalist. In July, while preaching at the residence of John Simonds, Esq., in Andover, near the river, he first met some of the Sanborutou people, who invited him into this town. lle of Elijah Shav
l'ionver labors here first preached at the house of Reuben Rundlet, and was invited by Dea. Taylor Clark, of the First Baptist Church, to hold a second meeting at his house. " This opened the way for a series of meetings and a great religions excitement in the town," - a source of solicitude to at least two of the settled pastors. At East Sauborutou, about the same time, young Mr. Shaw held a meeting at the house of Dea. David Phitbrook, whose daughter he soon after baptized at Union Bridge.
As the result of these pioneer labors, a church, or perhaps a branch church of that in Audover, seems to have been formed in this town, Oet. 25, 1814. They had no stated place of meeting, but worshipped in different school-honses and private dwellings. Their covenant was brief and comprehensive. " We, whose names are under-
Early church written, having submitted ourselves to God, agree to sub- coVenant.
init ourselves to one another, considering ourselves a church of God, called to be saints, agreeing to take the New Testament, and that ouly, for our rule, for names, belief, and practice." With only a clerk and oue deacon at first, two deacons and two ruling ehlers, under the guidance of Rev. Benjamin Calley, were set aside by the laying on of hands, in August, 1819. The ministers who either accompanied or sneceeded Elijah Shaw were William Other preach- True, Peter Young, Benjamin Calley (ordained in his home erd. school-honse, Feb. 1, 1816), Obadiah E. Morrill, Nehe- miah D Sleeper, Asa C. Morrison (recommended as an exhorter in 1821), William D. Cass (afterwards a prominent Methodist clergy- 7
98
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
man), David Swett, and Simeon Swett. The eighty-one members of this church were scattered, not only through Sanbornton, but several of the adjoining towns.' It continued its work with some efficiency till it fell to decay, a vote to disband being passed June 25, 1827.
After one or two ineffectual attempts to reunite the scattered frag- ments on a permanent basis, the Chapel movement was The Chapel inaugurated, and in 1832 six members of the so-called " Franklin and Sanbornton Christian Church" united to build a neat and commodious house of worship on the plain near Sahinon Brook, above the lower Piper's Mills. These earnest, public- spirited brethren were Dea. Nathan S. Morrison, James Osgood, Jon- than W. Prescott, David Shaw, Moses F. Cass, and Bradbury C. Morrison. Their work was effective : their meeting-house served the cause of Christ for almost forty years, and when, thirteen years after its erection, an academy building was added, on the same lot, the " Chapel neighborhood" became a moral nucleus of value and note for all the surrounding region. This Chapel work was at first essentially aided by Rev. Benjamin Calley, and Rev. A. C. Morrison seems to have labored with the new organization till he finally went West.
The church in Franklin was separated for a distinet organization at the Village in 1838, and the Chapel people took the new name of the " Sanbornton and Franklin Christian Church." Thenceforward, till 1859, the successive ministers were Elders (Revs. ) Richard Davis, for eight years ; Mr. Kidder, about one year; Win. II. Nason, three years ; Abuer Hall, two years ; Samnel Nutt, four years ; and Seth Hinckley, three years. Afterwards the church, though voting to retain its organization, never had a settled pastor. They however continued their monthly conferences at the Chapel, their Sunday school, and Church fiuully occasional meetings for communion, till August, 1870, when disbanded. a portion of the members joined the Franklin Church, a
portion the Hill Church, and others became identified with the older religious bodies of this town.
Thus terminated the life of this church, after a checkered but useful career of fifty-six years from its incipient organization in 1814. The records were well and faithfully kept for thirty-eight years by Dea. Nathan S. Morrison and his son, the late Albert G. Morrison, show- ing that the church during these years did a great and good work, aud that under its fostering care were commenced some Christian lives that are now shining brightly in other communions and other parts of the land. The Chapel itself, in 1871, was sold at anction for #200, torn down and rebuilt as a manufacturing establishment in Franklin Village.
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
TABULAR STATEMENT OF THE ABOVE MINISTERS.
1. Elder EM.Jan SIw, Jr. . .
.
. 1810, 1811.
2. Elder WILLIAMI TRUE,
3. Elder PETER YOUNG,
4. Rev. BENJAMIN CALLEY,
5. Rev. OBADIAH E. MORRILL,
1810-1832.
6. Rev. NEHEMIAH D. SI.ERPER,
Rev. WILLIAMI D. CASS,
8. Rev. DAVID SWETT,
9. Rev. SIMEON SWETT,
10. Rev. ASA C. MORRISON
. 1832-1838.
11. Rev. RICHARD DAVIS
. 1839-1846.
12. Rev. Mr. KIDDER .
. 1847.
13. Rev. WILLIAM II. NASON .
· 1848-1850.
14. Rev. ABNER HALL .
. 1851, 152.
15. Rev. SAMUEL NU.rr.
· 1:53-1850.
16. Rev. Skern HINCKLEY
.
1837-1859.
XI. - THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE.
The official " Ilistory" of the Northfield and Tilton branch of the Methodist Church, in speaking of the " difficulties" which attended the completion of their " briek meeting-honse" in Northfield in 1828, remarks that " there was an opposition house built in Sanbornton, west of Tin Corner." This house stood on a little eminence near the Tin Corner Cemetery (west side), and was probably built in 1827, as it is claimed that no more than one house for religious worship had then been built (completed) at Salisbury Village (Franklin), and none at Sanbornton Bridge.
There is' no evidence of a church organization as ever formed in Occupied by connection with this house, and it was opened to preach- Various clergy- ers of different denominations, various clergymen holding men. meetings there on the Sabbath, chiefly of the Freewill Baptist and Christian orders. Rev. Mr. Bodwell was accustomed to preach in this honse on his vacations; Rev. Mr. Crockett a few times, and more frequently Rev. Benjamin Calley. This Union Meeting-house remained only about twelve years ; and if the element of "opposition" was really prominent in its erection, - as hinted above, - it must be added as a significant fact that the building was finally moved to the Bridge and there erected for a dwelling-house, ou the hill on the Northfield side of the river.
CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
" Brisk wielder of the birch and rule, The master of the district school Held at the tiro his favored place ; Its warm glow lit a laughing face.
" I, the urchin unto whom, In that smoked and diugy room, Thou didst teach the mysteries Of those weary A B C's, - Where, to till the every pause Of thy wise and learned saws, Through the cracked and crazy wall Came the cradle. rock and squall." - WHITTIER.
Tue interests of education, hardly less than of religion, were pro- vided for in the earliest Sanbornton " grant"; its language being, "and one share for the support of a school there forever." Provisions of The two lots, however, unlike those for the minister and
graut. parsonage, were " drawn " with the others, and proved to be valuable, especially that of the Second Division upon the Bay shore.
At the fourth annnal town meeting a vote was passed forbidding " the falling of trees on the school lott." But the next year, March 29, 1774, public action was for the first time taken to sustain a school in town, and it was voted, first, " to hire a school part of this year " ; second, " to raise $30 for that purpose"; third, " to let each quarter have their part," - from which we infer that there were then four places, or districts, in town where school was kept.
The following dates and figures will indicate the varying progress Sums voted for of the cause of education in town during its first half- echoxling, century : 1775, the next year, voted only $20 " for the 1774-97. school"; 1776, $30 . for to hire a school" (first sum restored) ; 1777, $40 " in addition to what was raised last year"; 1778, " $100 for school "; 1779, $300. But it must be remembered
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
that this was in the inflated currency of the time, - the " old conti- mental." 1781, voted to raise £15, old way, so called, " for to hire schooling this year ; 1783, $60 for schooling ; 1788, $200; 1790, ₺00, and " to clear twenty acres of land on the First Division school lot," with committee "to oversee and vendue the getting said laud into grain and grass." In 1797 the annual vote for school money had come up to $800, including the interest money, and in 1820 to $1,300.
There is evidence that the First Division school lot was occupied by Abijah Sauborn in 1781, as part of it, where he was then living (now the late John Hill place, Sanborn Road), was that year exchanged with him for other land. Most of this lot, probably, soon passed into private hands. After various conflicting votes upon the use to be made of the school lots, - at one time refusing to private individuals their improvement for a term of years; at others, voting to sell a privilege, and lay out the money in further clearing ; or authorizing the selectmen to purchase hayseed for the same, - it was Leastny the school lots. at last decided, in 1793, to lease the school lots for nine hundred aud ninety-nine years ; that the Bay lot, found to contain three hundred and fifty acres, be divided into seven fifty-acre lots ; that these and the remaining part of the one-hundred-acre lot be advertised in Exeter and Concord papers and in the neighboring towns, to be vendued to the highest bilder, thus effecting the lease : that the purchasers give the town good mortgage deeds of the land purchased and of other real property to the amount of half the pur- chase, and that they pay not less than $100 (£30) at a time, and the interest annually. This public vendue was finally held at the house of Joshua Bangs, inuholder, Ang. 14, 1793. Accordingly, interest money began to be counted upon in school appropriations the next year, 1794, when it seems that the fund had already amounted to " £17 2s. less than $3,000," the town refusing to raise the former sum to make up the latter.
In 1796 the town " voted that the Districts stand as they are," and left the building and regulating of school-houses to the districts them- selves, though assigning the status of individuals, as when in 1797 liberty was withheld from Col. Morgan " to join the Center Districts and securities. District, and pay his last year's money there." About this time, also, voted to .. prosecute those persons owing school money, if the interest is not paid by Nov. 15th." In 1798 a committee of investigation reported themselves well satisfied with the securities, with but one exception, and recounnendled that the school treasurer make no change of securities except in November, when the interest becomes due, unless a man has conveyed away his real estate, and the treasurer thinks there is danger !
-
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IHISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
A committee of live was chosen March 20, 1798, to purchase the Town pur. school-houses in each district (" that they may become the
chuace the Town property "), to build or repair said houses, to divide school- hostings. or alter districts, etc., $1,000 being raised for the com- mittee to work with. In this committee's report, signed Dec. 3, though then but partially accepted, we are the fortunate possessors of' the number, names, and locations of the several school districts at that time. The " outlines " will prove especially valuable as indicat- ing who lived ut the extremities of each district, on different roads theu radiating from its school-house.
REPORT OF APPORTIONING COMMITTEE.
"We, the subscribers, being chosen as a committee to arrange the school districts and prize the school-houses, do agree as follows [abstract] : -
"1. The LOWER END DISTRICT. - House prized at D. 40 [$40]; to stand ucar Abraham Darling's; and the outlines, Satebel Clark, George Whiteher, Samuel Hunt, John Prescott.
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