USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 21
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Whereas the northeast end or part of the town of Dover is competently filled with Inhabitants who labor under great difficulties by their remoteness from the place of public worship, and have thereupon addressed the Court that they may be set off a distinct Parish and be vested Powers and Priv- iliges accordingly.
Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governor Council and Repre- sentatives in General Assembly Convened and by the authority of the same that the Northeast part of Dover as hereafter is bounded & described be and hereby is sett off a District and Separate Parish by the name of Summersworth.
The bound of said Parish to be as follows: (viz. ) Beginning at the mouth of Fresh Creek and to run as the creek runs to the way that goes over said creek, or at the head of the creek where the way goes over and from thence as the way now goes to the southerly side of Varney's Hill (Garrison Hill) to Ebenezer Varney's land, and then to an oak tree over the end of said hill, which is a white oak tree marked, standing about two or three rods from a spring, and from thence on a northwest and by north point of the compass to the head of Dover bounds, and that the inhabitants of said lands be vested with all the privileges and Powers of a Parish to chuse officers for the well regulating of the same, and raise money from time to time for defraying the charges of the minister, school & poor Provided the Inhabitants of the said Parish do within the space of one year from the date of this Act, erect and finish a credable house for the Public Worship of God, and procure and settle a learned Orthodox Minister of Good Conversation and make provision for his Comfortable and honourable Support.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that Capt. Paul Wentworth, Mr. Thomas Wallingford & Mr. John Ricker be the first Select- men of said Parish, for the calling and assembling the said Parish in order to chuse the proper Parish officers for the year ensuing.
Dec. 19, 1729, Read three times in the House of Representatives & past to be enacted.
Theo. Atkinson Speaker pro Temp. Eod. die Read three times at the Council Board and past to be Enacted.
Richd Waldron Cler. Con. I assent to the Enacting this Bill.
J. WENTWORTH.
True Copy
Rich. Waldron Cler. Cons.
A true entry of the aforegoing Copy per
Thomas Miller, Parish Clerk.
This will suffice to show the origin of the name which is unique among all the towns in the United States. There is no other Summersworth or Somersworth, as it is now spelled. It is also peculiarly appropriate. From its magnificent Prospect Hill is presented a beautiful and diversified scenery of mountains, valley and shore.
CHAPTER XX HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (II)
MINISTERS AND THE PARISII
In the preceding chapter was given an explanation of the origin of the unique name, Summersworth, and the act of incorporation of that parish in Dover. The record of the first parish meeting under this act is as follows :
To the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Parish of Summersworth : Greeting :
These are to give notice of a Parish meeting to be held at the Meeting House in the Parish of Summersworth on Wednesday next, the 7th of this instant January at 10 of the clock before noon to choose Parish officers for the year ensuing as the Law directs, and all persons are desired to give their attendance at that time and place, dated at Summersworth, January Second. January 1729/30.
PAUL WENTWORTH THOMAS WALLINGFORD JOHN RICKER
Selectmen.
A true entry of the original warrant per Thomas Miller, Par. Cler.
At a parish meeting held at the meeting house in Summersworth pursuant to the above warrant on Wednesday, January 7, 1729-30.
PAUL WENTWORTH, EsQ., Moderator.
Doct. Thomas Miller, Parish Clerk; Paul Wentworth, Esq., Thomas Wal- lingford and John Ricker, parish selectmen, and Mr. James Hobbs was chosen collector of the parish assessments.
A true entry of the parish officers as they were elected, as attests.
THOMAS MILLER, Parish Clerk.
This shows that they had their meeting house nearly completed when the act of incorporation was passed, December 19, 1729; probably it had been
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in use for some time before, but how long before does not appear. The parish officers were elected January 7, and they immediately issued the following notice :
To the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Parish of Summersworth:
These are to give notice of a Parish meeting to be held at the Meeting House in Summersworth on Monday, the 12th of this instant January at ten of the clock before noon to give Mr. James Pike a call to the work of the ministry amongst us and to make him proposals for his settlement therein, and also to choose a committee to wait on him and offer the same for his acceptance, all persons concerned are desired to give their attendance at time and place before mentioned.
Summersworth January 10th 1729/30.
PAUL WENTWORTH JOHN RICKER
Selectmen.
A true entry per Thomas Miller, Par. Cler.
At a parish meeting held at the meeting house in Summersworth in con- formity to the above warrant on Monday, January 12, 1729-30.
Paul Wentworth, Esq., was chosen Moderator. Voted that Mr. James Pike be invited to be the settled minister of this parish and be called thereto and that his annual salary be one hundred and thirty pounds-and also twenty acres of land as near the meeting house as it can conveniently be got, to be his forever if he continues the parish minister till his death, and one hundred pounds for his settlement.
Also voted that Ensign Jno. Tibbetts, Mr. William Wentworth, Mr. Maurice Hobbs, Mr. Jerem. Rawlings, Mr. Ebenezer Wier, Mr. James Guppy, Mr. Samuel Jones, and Mr. Phillip Yeaton, with the present select- men, wait on Mr. James Pike and offer the above proposals to his considera- tion and acceptance and that he be desired to give his answer in writing as soon as he can with conveniency.
It was also voted at the same meeting that all votes passed, or officers chosen by holding up of the hand, shall be as authentic to the full as if the same were done by writing.
A true entry of the parish votes as they were passed in the parish meeting nemini contradicento.
As attests :
THOMAS MILLER, Parish Clerk.
A list of the persons that voluntarily gave land towards the settlement of a minister in the Parish of Summersworth, as they gave the same on Wednes- day, January 7, 1729-30, each man one acre: Paul Wentworth, Esq., Mr. Jeremiah Rawlings, Mr. Thomas Downs, Mr. Love Roberts, Mr. Thomas
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Nock, Mr. Samuel Randle, Mr. Thomas Wallingford, Mr. Joseph Ricker, Mr. Zachariah Nock, Mr. Silvanus Nock, Mr. Gershom Wentworth, Mr. John Ricker, Mr. Benjamin Tv. ombly.
Following is Mr. Pike's response to the committee that was appointed to wait on him and inform him of the action of the parish. The parish clerk's record says that at the parish meeting March 9, 1730:
Mr. James Pike, appearing personally at the meeting, desired that at the expiration of two years he may have sixteen or twenty cord of good firewood to be hauled to his door to be added to his salary.
Unanimously voted that Mr. James Pike shall have ten cord of wood to be hauled to his door for the first two years, and after his ordination twenty cord yearly to be hauled to his door, the whole time of his being the parish minister.
Mr. Pike also desired that there be an alteration of the vote passed Janu- ary 12, 1729-30, whereby twenty acres of land was given him to be given him forever if he continues the parish minister till his death.
Voted that the beforementioned vote run thus-and twenty acres of land as near the meeting house as it can conveniently be got to be Mr. James Pike's forever, but if he leave the people on his own default, or without a sufficient reason, then the said land is to return to the parish.
With the additional vote of the firewood and the alteration of the vote of January 12, last, Mr. James Pike did viva voce in the parish meeting ac- cept of the call from this parish.
At the same meeting a committee was appointed "to agree with a man or men to build the stairs and seats in the upper part of the meeting house and also to set a valuation on the places for pews and make report thereof to the parish for confirmation."
The record contains :
A list of the persons to whom the privilege for pews belong as they were drawn by lot on March 17, 1729-30.
Number I Phillip Yeaton Number 9 Benjamin Twombly
2 Samuel Randle
IO Thomas Downs
3 Jeremiah Rawlings
II Richard Wentworth
4 Gershom Wentworth
12 John Tibbetts
5 Thomas Wallingford
13 Joshua Roberts
6 Love Roberts
14 Zachariah Nock
7 Ministerial
8 Joseph Ricker
15 Paul Wentworth, Esq.
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At a town meeting held in the meeting house on Pine Hill, Dover, May 4, 1730, it was voted to grant to the Parish of Summersworth "ten acres of land for the settlement of a minister amongst them and twenty acres for a parsonage; if it be found in common within their parish." The land was found and properly laid out by the Dover lot layers.
Mr. Pike commenced conducting services at once, but was formally or- dained October 29, 1730, at which time the following clergymen officiated : Rev. Jeremiah Wise of Berwick, Rev. John Tuffts of Newbury, Rev. Jona- than Cushing of Cochecho (in Dover), Rev. Jno. Rogers of Kittery, and Rev. Joseph Adams of Newington, with two messengers from each of said churches.
Mr. Pike was not an unknown preacher in Summersworth before it was set off as a parish: this fact appears by a vote at a parish meeting Decem- ber 6, 1732:
Voted that Rev. Mr. James Pike have thirty pounds paid him the ensuing year more than his stated salary to make up his former arrearages for his preaching to the people of said parish before his settlement amongst them. It is stated that he began to preach there August 27, 1727, but was not or- dained until three years later. He preached his first sermon October 23, 1726; he preached his last one October 31, 1790, having been in continuous service in the ministry sixty-four years.
Rev. James Pike was born in Newbury, Mass., March 1, 1703; he died at the parsonage in Somersworth March 19, 1792, aged eighty-nine years; he was son of Joseph and Hannah (Smith) and grandson of Joseph and Susanna (Kingsbury) Pike, who was son of John Pike, the immigrant who came to Newbury in 1635. Rev. James Pike graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1725, in the same class with Rev. Dr. Mather Byles of Boston, and Rev. Timothy Walker, first minister of Concord, N. H. Soon after he grad- uated he came to Berwick, now South Berwick, and taught the first grammar school ever opened in that town. The next year, 1726, he commenced preach- ing, as opportunity came to hand, and he began in Somersworth in August, 1727. He was a great preacher and a good manager in parish affairs. He had no quarrels with his people.
The Congregationalist Journal, published at Concord, N. H., January 10, 1850, says: "Near the junction of (Bostona) Maine and Great Falls Railroad, stands an ancient but well-preserved house with three venerable elms in front. In that house lived and died the first minister of Somers- worth, and these elins were borne from the forest on his shoulder and planted where they stand by his hand."
It is of interest to note here that the house was built about 1730, and
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was burned to the ground in 1903, the owner at that time being Judge Robert G. Pike, a great-great grandson of the Rev. James. Two of these elins are completely gone, but part of one still lives, after having been struck by light- ning several times, and was somewhat scorched when the house was acci- dentally burned with valuable family heirlooms and things of historical interest.
Rev. James Pike married, August 26, 1730, Sarah, daughter of Nicholas and Sarah (Clark) Gilman of Exeter. It is a singular coincidence that they both died on the same day, March 19, 1792, having lived together in married life sixty years. They had a family of seven children. The fifth was Nich- olas, born October 6, 1743; graduated from Harvard College, 1766; taught school at York, Me., and afterwards at Newburyport, Mass. In 1788 he pub- lished his arithmetic, which was in use in schools a great many years. The writer of this has one of the copies of the edition of 1788, and it is well preserved. He endowed a scholarship at Andover, Mass. Mr. Pike was a justice of the peace for more than fifty years. He was one of the great mathematicians of his age.
Amos W. Pike, Esq., a great grandson of the Reverend James, who in- herited and resided at the ancestral homestead, wrote of his ancestor as follows :
"His parish was very large, extending throughout what is Somersworth and Rollinsford, and it was his custom yearly to visit every home in the whole town, of whatever denomination or belief, and to tarry all night with the one at whose doorstep evening found him. The Quakers, so generally disliked at that time, welcomed him with delight, and when the rising sun bade him journey on, the Quaker friend would say, 'Friend Pike, I thank thee for this visit, and am happier for having seen thee.'
"The interests of the people were so interwoven with his life and heart that at the time of the Revolutionary war, when want and suffering stared so many in the face, he cut his meagre salary down to the purse of his people, which amounted to the value of about eight bushels of corn a year, and during the most trying period he would receive nothing from his parishioners, living upon the income of his own farm, and ministering more, if possible, to the wants of his people. He was the common scrivener for the whole parish ; when they wanted any legal papers drawn they called on him to write them. Hardly a legal document during that period was made out in any other hand- writing than his own.
"When Whitefield came to this country in 1744 he was the guest of Mr. Pike for several days and preached in the meeting house one Sunday.
"A ludicrous instance of his settling a dispute is handed down. He and
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a brother minister were out walking and came upon two men who were fight- ing. The two divines conferred as to the best way to part them and preserve the peace. It was finally agreed that each should take one of the combatants and bear him away. The Reverend James unclenched his man and carried him off on his shoulders, struggling and kicking, and his brother minister did the same with the other disturber of the peace. Thus they ended the fight. The Rev. James Pike was a very strong, athletic person, and in his full man- hood venerable and imposing. Imbued with a deep piety and a truly Chris- tian spirit, his unselfish nature spent itself in working for the welfare of others. Nor did he cease his work until age had laid its blighting force upon his brow, at four score and seven, and the stately form was laid in its final resting place at the age of eighty-nine years. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Moses Hemmingway, D. D., from the text, Rev. xi, 10: 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.'"
Mr. Pike's successor was Rev. Pearson Thurston, who served as minister from February 1, 1792, till December 2, 1812. He was a graduate of Dart- mouth College. His successor was Rev. Luke Spofford, who remained but a short time, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Blodgett. In 1824 Mr. Reu- ben Porter became pastor and served two years, and also preached at the village of Great Falls; and when the "First Congregational Society of Great Falls" was organized in January, 1827, he was called to be their minister. He accepted the call and served them one year. Mr. Porter was the last regular minister of this first parish church. In 1827 its membership had decreased to five, and in 1829 to two. Preaching in the old meeting house ceased. Business and church centered at Great Falls, in Somersworth.
As already stated, the First Congregational Church at Great Falls, con- sisting of eight members, was organized on January 16, 1827. Their first meetings were held in a schoolhouse. Their first minister was Reuben Porter. The next was Rev. Josiah T. Hawes, who served from January, 1828, to January, 1830. The meeting house was built in 1828, and Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher delivered the dedicatory sermon in August, that year. Mr. William Twining succeeded Mr. Hawes as preacher, serving two years, and increased the membership very much. Rev. James A. Smith became the next minister in 1832 and remained four years. Mr. Smith's successor, who remained not quite a year, was Rev. Alfred Goldsmith. The Rev. John R. Adams began his labors with the church, as acting pastor, in September, 1838, and remained two years and four months. His successor, Rev. Samuel Beane, was or- dained July 7, 1841 ; dismissed May, 1844. The seventh pastor, Rev. James T. McCallom, was installed October, 1844; dismissed December, 1853. Rev. James B. Thurston was acting pastor during 1844. Rev. George Anthony
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was ordained October 3, 1855, and served until 1860. His successor was Rev. Horatio Q. Butterfield, who was installed May 23, 1861, and served four years. The Rev. Ephraim N. Hidden, the eleventh pastor, was installed January 5, 1865 : dismissed December 30, 1869. Twelfth pastor, Rev. Clark Carter, was installed April 27, 1870; dismissed June, 1872. Thirteenth was Rev. Stephen W. Webb, who served eight years. During his pastorate the meeting house was remodeled and enlarged. In making these changes a pleasant and commodious vestry was furnished. Since that date the church has been supplied with very able pastors and has flourished to the present time.
THE HIGH STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY
The High Street Methodist Episcopal Society was organized September 22, 1827, with the following members: Alfred French, Charles Lewis, Moses Bates, David Minor, Simon Hall, Bartlett Hall, Christopher C. Wal- cott, John G. Chase, Thomas T. Edgerly, John Horne and George W. Edgerly.
The first Methodist sermon preached in what was known as Great Falls, was at the house of Gershom Horne in 1817, by the Rev. John Lord, then laboring on the Rochester circuit, which embraced Dover, Somersworth, Berwick and several other towns. Mr. Horne and family at this time were the chief proprietors of the territory that is now occupied by the compact part of the city. In 1825 the Rev. J. N. Moffitt, pastor at Dover, held occa- sional services here at an unfinished house on Bridge street. The first class was organized in 1826 and consisted of eight persons. The first settled min- ister was the Rev. Giles Campbell, who served the lawful Methodist terms of years and was succeeded by the Rev. Aaron D. Sargent, in the beginning of whose ministry services were first held in an unfinished room in one of the mills, but he was an enthusiastic leader and soon measures were taken for the erection of a meeting house, which was completed and dedicated in Sep- tember, 1828. The dedication sermon was delivered by the Rev. Stephen Martindale of Boston. The society was then in a flourishing condition, and has since then maintained a first class standing among the churches of the Methodist Episcopal Conference of which it is a member.
Following is a list of ministers who have presided over this church during the first half century of its legal organization: The Reverends Giles Camp- bell, Aaron D. Sargent, Benjamin R. Hoyt, George Storrs, John F. Adams Daniel S. Robinson, Samuel Morris, Joseph Dearborn, Eleazer Smith, Elihu Scott, James W. Mowry, Daniel S. Robinson, Silas Green, Henry W. Adams, Samuel Kelley, Elisha Adams, Moses Howe, James Pike, Charles N. Smith,
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H. H. Hartwell, R. S. Rust, S. Holman, Richard Humphrey, C. S. Harring- ton, A. J. Church, John H. Lord, Charles Young, Daniel C. Babcock, O. H. Jasper, C. U. Dunning, J. W. Adams, H. Woodward, W. E. Bennett and R. L. Green. In this list are the names of some of the most distinguished ministers of New Hampshire during that period.
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CHAPTER XXI HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (III)
THE TOWN AND THE CITY
The first recorded movement toward changing from a parish in Dover to separate town was in December, 1743, when the parish "voted that Thomas Wallingford, Esq., and Mr. Benjamin Mason be agents to prosecute a peti- tion in behalf of the Parish of Summersworth in order that said parish may obtain the benefits and privileges of a town."
Nothing came of it, however, and there is no record of any other until that of 1753, which proved to be successful. The last parish meeting was held in 1754, and the end of the record of it has the following: "An end of ye parish Parish Records, 1754." The next page of the same book contains the following words: "The Beginning of Ye Town Records, 1754." The first entry is the charter of the town; the people petitioned to have their town named Summersworth, but Theodore Atkinson, the Province Secretary, or some one in authority, in drawing up the bill spelled the name wrong-Som- ersworth-the name of the parish was never spelled that way, but always Summersworth. The charter is as follows :
Anno Regni Georgii Secundi Magnae Britanae Franciae et Hiberniae Vicis- simo Septimo.
[L-8] An act for erecting the Parish of Somersworth in this Province into a Township.
Whereas ye Inhabitants of said Parish by their agents have petitioned by the said Parish which was made by an act of Assembly by metes and bound might be made a Town by ye same limit & Boundaries of ye Parish represent- ing by it would be of considerable advantage to them and no Detriment to ye Town of Dover of which they are now a Part upon which ye said Town have been heard by their agents & offering no material objection-
Be it therefore Enacted by ye Governor and Council and Assembly and by ye authority of the same it is hereby Enacted & ordained by all ye Poles and Estates within ye bounds of said Parish shall be and hereby are severed & separated from ye said Town of Dover and shall not from time forward be adjudged & taken for a Part of sd. Town but shall be wholly Exonerated & Exempted of & from all taxes, Charges & Duties within ye same & as a part
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of said Town and the said Poles & Estates are hereby Enacted & Incorporated into a town by ye Name of Somersworth and ye Inhabitants thereof shall be & hereby are Enabled to take, Purchase & hold any estate to them or their successors forever by that name, as also thereby to give, grant, sell and con- vey ye same, to sue & be sued, to Prosecute & Defend & have Perpetual Suc- cession and continuance forever and ye said Corporation is hereby invested with all Immunities, Franchises, rights & Privileges by law granted to any Town in this Province.
Provided nevertheless yt. nothing in the Act shall be construed and Deemed to Discharge ye said Poles & Estates as part of ye Town of Dover and from their Proportion of any Damage which may hereafter happen to said Town by reason of any former grant of land, Contract or other act what- soever done by said Town or anyway relate to or affect the right. Property or manner of Improving, Dividing, or Disposing of any Common and un- divided land in said Town.
Provided also that ve said Town of Somersworth is hereby directed & enjoined always to keep & maintain a good bridge fit for carts to pass & re- pass over Newichwannock river at Salmon Falls or Quamphegon so called within this Province from ye Charge of which ye said Town of Dover shall be entirely exempted so long as said town shall keep and maintain a good bridge as aforesaid over Cochecho river & no longer-and Thomas Walling- ford, Esq., Capt. John Wentworth & Mr. Moses Stevens are hereby appointed and authorized to call ye first meeting of qualified voters in ye said Town of Somersworth according to law to be held there sometime in ye month of May next as ye Persons above named shall appoint to choose all Town officers as ye Law directs-and all after meetings of said voters to be according to ye Directions of said Province in such cases Provided, the annual meeting for ye choice of Town officers forever hereafter in ye said Town to be on ye second Tuesday in March.
Province of New Hampshire
In the House of Representatives April 18, 1754, the foregoing bill having been three times read, voted yt. it Pass to be Enacted. MESHECH WEARE, Speaker.
In Council April 22d 1754.
The foregoing Bill read a third time Passed to be Enacted.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secry.
In Council Eadem Die Consented to
B. WENTWORTH.
Copy ex md THEODORE ATKINSON, Secry.
Thus on April 22, 1754, the Parish of Summersworth became the Town of Somersworth, by reason of a careless spelling, by Theodore Atkinson, sec- retary of the province. The agents who presented the petition never asked for
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any change in spelling; they had petitioned for and thought they had ob- tained a charter for the Town of Summersworth, as appears from their no- tice calling the first town-meeting. That notice was as follows:
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