USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 25
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Dr. Benjamin Kittredge came to Chester in 1790, and died 1830.
Dr. Rufus Kittredge, his son, studied with his father and practiced in Candia one year, and in Chester until 1849, then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. He is yet alive. (See the name in the genealogical history.)
Dr. Frederic Mitchell practiced in Chester from 1815 to 1817 or '18. Nothing further is known of him.
Dr. Josiah Richards came to Chester, June, 1814; M. D., Dartmouth, 1814. He stayed but a short time and went to Claremont.
Dr. John Rogers graduated at Dartmouth, 1816 ; studied with Dr. Chadborne of Concord ; M. D., Dartmouth, 1819, when he settled in Chester ; removed to Boscawen, 1821 or '22; died 1830. (See Graduates.)
Dr. Nathan Plummer, son of Nathan Plummer and Mary Palmer, born Aug. 16, 1787; studied medicine with Dr. Robert Bartley of Londonderry ; practiced a short time there ; came to the Long Meadows 1818; married first, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Zaccheus Colby ; second, Mehit- abel, daughter of Robert Dinsmore ; alive 1869, but disabled for practice by the infirmities of age. Dr. Albert Plum- mer, M. D., Bowdoin, now of Hamilton, Minnesota, is his son.
Dr. Lemuel M. Barker, son of Lemuel and Mary Barker,
.
Nathan Plummer 162).
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PHYSICIANS.
studied medicine with Dr. R. D. Murray ; M. D., Dartmouth 1824; commenced practice at Chester, 1825 ; removed to Great Falls, 1831 ; thence to Boston ; has been superinten- dent and resident physician of the Massachusetts State Hospital and member of the State Senate ; now resides in Malden ; married Sarah, daughter of Hon. William M. Richardson, 1826.
Dr. Joseph Reynolds, son of Rer. F. Reynolds, born at Wilmington, Mass., Aug. 2, 1800; studied medicine with Dr. James P. Chaplin of Cambridge ; M. D. at Boston, 1828; came to Chester, March, 1830; thence to Gloucester ; thence to Concord, Mass., 1852, where he still resides.
Dr. William W. Brown, son of Ebenezer Brown and Mary Whittier ; born in Vermont, Aug. 28, 1804; fitted to the senior class of Union College, but was prevented by sickness ; studied medicine with Dr. John Poole at Brad- ford, Vt., and with Prof. Mussey ; M. D., Dartmouth ; Jan., 1831, commenced practice at Poplin, had an extensive practice in that and the neighboring towns; removed to Chester, 1834, and remained until 1845; spent the winter of 1845 and '6 at the University and hospitals of New York ; then settled in Manchester; was surgeon of the Seventh N. H. Vols. nearly three years. His son, William C., was hospital steward, and died soon after his return. His son, Charles L., was lieutenant in the Fourth N. H. Vols., died at Folly Island, S. C.
Dr. Darius A. Dow, born at Sugar Hill, Plaistow, came to Chester about 1847 ; removed about 1850; married a daughter of Abel G. Quigg, and is said now to reside at Westford, Mass.
Dr. Jacob P. Whittemore, son of Jacob Whittemore and Rebecca Bradford, born at Antrim, May 10, 1810 ; studied medicine with Dr. Gregg of Hopkinton and Prof. Dixi Crosby ; M. D., Dartmouth, 1847 ; practiced at Hartford, Vt., and Gilmanton ; came to Chester, Dec., 1847; removed to Haverhill, Mass., 1864. His son, James H., M. D., Dart- mouth, 1861, is assistant physician at the MeLean Asylum.
Dr. James F. Brown, son of James Brown and Elizabeth
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
W. Langford, born on the " Neck " in Chester, now Auburn, Sept. 6, 1838 ; studied medicine with Prof. Crosby ; M. D., Dartmouth, 1864; settled in Chester, Oct., 1864, and is yet in active practice there. He married Abbie, daughter of Daniel Scribner and Ann Langford of Raymond.
Dr. Geo. W. Manter, son of Francis Manter and Harriet Revall, born at Londonderry, Aug. 22, 1824 ; studied med- icine with Dr. William H. Martin of Londonderry ; M. D. at Castleton (Vt.) Medical College, 1854; commenced prac- tice at Auburn, Feb., 1855; removed to Manchester, May, 1862, and is in practice there.
Dr. Hanson C. Canney, son of Paul Canney and Eliza Han- son, born at Strafford, Nov. 17, 1841; studied medicine with John Wheeler, M. D., of Barnstead and Prof. A. B. Crosby ; M. D., Dartmouth, 1864; commenced practice in Auburn, 1865, and remains there.
Dr. John Dearborn has resided in Chester several years, and is a botanic physician.
The wife of Dea. Matthew Forsaith, the wife of Dr. Samuel Moore, and Mary Bradley, the wife of Caleb Hall, were noted in their day as midwives. These midwives bore the appellation of " Granny." The wife of Joseph Clark bore that appellation and probably officiated in that ca- pacity. Likewise Mary, the wife of Robert Gordon, and mother of David White's wife, who died about 1795 at a very advanced age.
Capt. James Shirley, who died 1796, was a seventh son and famous for curing king's evil or scrofula by the stroke of the hand.
Henry West, born 1781, was also a seventh son, and people made long journeys to come to him and he made long journeys to visit patients.
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW.
John Porter, son of Asa Porter and Mehitabel Crocker, was born at Haverhill ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1787; studied law ; was introduced into Chester by Toppan Web- ster, to do his collecting; came April 1, 1790; removed
James 7. Brown
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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL.
April 19, 1793, to Broome county, Canada East ; died there, time not known.
Arthur Livermore came to Chester in 1793, and was ap- pointed a Justice of Superior Court December 21, 1799, which office he held until 1810 ; Chief Justice, from 1813 to 1816. He afterwards lived in Holderness, and died there.
Daniel French immediately succeeded Judge Livermore ; died October 15, 1840. (See the Genealogy.)
Amos Kent came to Chester in 1854; died June 8, 1824. (See the Genealogy.)
Samuel D. Bell came to Chester in 1820; removed to Exeter in 1830. (See the Genealogy.)
David Pillsbury immediately succeeded Samuel D. Bell, and removed to Concord in 1854. (See Graduates in Candia.)
Henry F. French commenced practice in Chester in 1835, and practiced there till 1840. (See the Genealogy.)
John Kelley, son of Simeon Kelley and Elizabeth Knight, born at Plaistow July 22, 1796, graduated at Amherst in 1825 ; studied law with Stephen Minot, of Haverhill, and E. Moore, of Boston, and was admitted to the Suffolk county bar ; practiced law three years ; taught at Atkinson six years, and at Adams Female Academy three years ; came to Chester in 1842, and removed to Atkinson in 1844, and has been much engaged in surveying and civil engineering.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH AND CHURCH.
The proceedings of the town and parishes, in relation to building meeting-houses and settling and dismissing minis- ters, have already been given in the general history of the
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
town. The grantees and the carly settlers were mostly of English descent, and were Congregationalists ; but Lt. Thomas Smith, John Smith, the Wilsons, and others who came early, were of Irish descent, and were Presbyterians.
It is true that there was a prejudice of race, and each, of course, like all other sects in all countries, had a strong preference to their own doctrines and modes of worship ; but that the Irish were considered intruders, and that that degree of hostility prevailed that is represented in the " History of New Hampshire Churches," I see no evidence. These Irishmen seem to have been just as freely elected to office - and that as soon as they came to town - as others. The Irish being poor and few in number, joined in set- tling Mr. Hale, and, so far as appears, as promptly paid their taxes as others did. Of course, when their numbers increased, and Mr. Wilson came, they settled and had to pay him, to do which they no doubt had to practice great self-denial, and they did not wish to be taxed to pay another minister. A more noble document, as to its spirit, its language, and its penmanship, was never drawn, than the Presbyterian petition presented to the Governor, Coun- cil and Assembly, in 1737 (page 83).
Then, in relation to the Congregationalists, they were the standing order, and, it is said, put Major Tolford and James Campbell to jail. They did no worse than my father did, by the warrant of the Presbyterian parish, as late as 1807, when he took a cow from Samuel Underhill and drove her off and sold her, to pay a minister tax. Mr. Underhill, being a Quaker, refused to pay. The cow brought three dollars more than to pay the tax, and I recollect distinctly " Aunt Sarah " came up Sunday morn- ing through the mud, and left the money, saying that the cow was hers, but the money was not, and she could not sleep with the cursed stuff in the house !
Rev. Moses Hale was ordained October 20, 1731. He is said to have been a native of Boxford, and graduated at Harvard in 1722. Governor Wentworth's home lot lay on the road from the meeting-house to Shackford's Corner,
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL.
which Mr. Hale bought May, 1730. By the charter, the first settled minister had a right through the town. The home lot was next to Governor Wentworth's, which Mr. Hale had, and probably built a house where, or near where, the the Bell house now stands. The L part of that house was the Rev. Mr. Flagg's. Mr. Hale sold to Mr. Flagg, March, 1736.
Mr. Hale's health was poor, and it was said that he was deranged, and after some negotiation, he was dismissed August 13, 1734. It does not appear that there was any difficulty excepting Mr. Hale's inability. His wife appears on a deed as Abigail. He removed immediately to Haver- hill, and was there in 1756.
The difficulties between the Congregationalists and Pres- byterians have been given in the Proprietory History. The meeting that gave Mr. Flagg a call was holden June 23, 1736.
The controversy about taxes, then commencing, would naturally produce some unpleasant feeling, and Mr. Wilson was of a retiring, cautious turn of mind. Mr. Flagg, on the other hand, was very social and genial, and was deter- mined to cultivate harmony and friendship with Mr. Wil- son. So one day he walked to Mr. Wilson's and rapped, and Mr. Wilson came to the door. Mr. Flagg introduced himself by saying that he was the minister who had recently come to Chester ; that there were no other ministers near, and that it became them to be on terms of friendship and intimacy. The only reply he received was an " Umph !" After talking a few minutes, he bade Mr. Wilson a good- bye, saying he would do himself the pleasure of calling again in a few days. He accordingly called again, but with a like result. The third time, after some hesitation, Mr. Wilson ventured to invite him in, and they ever after lived on terms of intimacy and friendship.
Mr. Flagg was not what would be called at this day a revival preacher, but was suspected of leaning towards Ar- minianism, preaching good works, which was certainly good so far. He succeeded in keeping the parish united,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
and, so far as appears, united in him during a ministry of nearly sixty years ; all who were not Presbyterians being taxed, and paying, except some who lived in Hooksett and others in Raymond sometimes having their rates abated.
Nearly everybody at that day went to meeting riding on horseback, or in a sleigh in winter, the horses standing exposed to the weather, and the men, women and children, during two long services and intermission, sitting in a cold house without fire, excepting that the women might have a foot-stove.
The usual preliminary to marriage was the publication of hans by the minister or town clerk ; but before the Revo- lution a license was sometimes procured from the governor, for which it is said two crowns were paid. This mode was very convenient for the purpose of clandestine marriages, though not confined to such. Mr. Parker, in his History of Londonderry, p. 76, says : " The ministers of this town opposed the practice." Mr. Flagg approved of it, and of course all of those in the neighborhood wishing to be mar- ried under a license resorted to him, and they were there- fore called " Flagg marriages."
The following is a copy of a license in the hand-writing of Gov. Wentworth :
" Province of 1 To Either of the Ordained Ministers New Hampshire, § of the Gospel, of the Province Aforesaid :
You are hearby Authorized and Impowered to Join to- gether in holy Matrimony, Mr. Robert MacMurphy and Mrs. Jean Shirla, unless Some Lawful Impediment appears to you to the Contrary. Given at Portsmouth the Eleventh Day of February, 1747-8.
B. WENTWORTH."
" Chester.
These may Certify that Mr. Robert MacMurphy And Mrs. Jane Shirley were Lawfully Married This Tenth Day of March, 1747-8, pr
Eben' Flagg."
It seems to have been a tolerably prolific marriage, for eight births are recorded on the back of the license ; also the death of the wife, Dec. 31, 1804, aged about eighty- four years.
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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL.
Although most aged people when they see the degeneracy of the present age, look back to the good old times and say " It was not so when I was young," yet there were radical innovators even then, who disturbed the quiet of the con- servatives.
There was then very little of the science of music known. The singing was mostly by rote, perhaps instinctive, like that of the birds. There were two metrical versions of the Psalms which were used in public and private worship. The English, called Tate and Brady's, containing also the Songs of Moses, Deborah, Solomon, some from Isaiah, Lamentations, &c., which was used by the Congregational- ists ; and the Scotch version, which was used by the Pres- byterians. The Scotch version is probably now used in Scotland, as an edition of the bible printed in Glasgow in 1858 contains it; and Carleton, the correspondent of the " Boston Journal," tells that on the voyage to England, after a religious service on board, a Scotch clergyman's conscience was not satisfied until he had sung one of those Psalms. The following are specimens :
SIXTH PSALMI. (English version.)
1. Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not, Nor in thy hot wrath chasten me,
2. Lord, pity me, for I am weak ; Lord heal me, for my bones vex'd be,
3. Also my soul is vexed sore : How long, Lord, wilt thou me forsake ?
4. Return, O Lord, my soul release ; O, save me for thy mercy's sake.
5. In death no mem'ry is of thee And who shall praise thee in the grave :
6. I faint with groans ; all night my bed Swims : I with tears my couch wash'd have,
7. Mine eye with grief is dim and old, Because of all mine enemies.
8. But now depart away from me, All ye that work iniquities.
Because Jehovah now hath heard The voice of these my weeping tears ;
9. The Lord hath heard my humble suit, Jehovah will receive my pray'rs.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed And greatly troubled let them be : Yea, let them be returned back, And be ashamed suddenly.
SIXTH PSALM. (Scotch version.)
1. Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not, nor in thy hot rage chasten mc.
2. Lord, pity me, for I am weak ; heal me, for my bones vexed be.
3. My soul is also vexed sore ; but, Lord, how long stay wilt thou make ?
4. Return, O Lord, my soul set free ; O, save me for thy mercy's sake.
5. Becanse those that deceased are, of thee shall no remembrance have ; And who is he that will to thee give praises, lying in the grave ? 6. I with my groaning weary am, I also, all the night, my bed Have caused for to swim ; and I with tears my couch have watered.
7. Mine eye, consum'd with grief, grows old because of all mine enemies.
8. Hence from me wieked workers all, for God hatlı heard my weeping eries.
9. God hath my supplication heard, my pray'r received graciously. 10. Sham'd and sore vex'd be all my foes, sham'd and back turned suddenly.
A PART OF THE SIXTY-FIFTH PSALM. (English version.)
1. Silence to thec; thy praise, O God, In Sion : paid shall be
2. The vow to thee, who hearest prayers, All flesh shall come to thee.
3. Works of iniquity prevail Against me sore do they ; But as for our transgres-si-ons, Thou shalt them purge away.
ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL. 321
4. O blessed is the man of whom Thou thy free choice dost make ; And that he may dwell in thy courts, Him near to thee dost take ; For with the good things of thy house Be satisfy'd shall we ; And with the holy things likewise That in thy temple be.
5. In righteousness thou by the things That dreadfully are done Wilt answer give to ns, O God, Of our sal-va-ti-on, On whom the ends of all the earth Do confidently stay ; And likewise they that are remov'd Far off upon the sea.
6. He, girt with might, doth by his strength Fix mountains ; he doth swage 7. The noise of seas, noise of their waves, Also the people's rage.,
A PART OF THE SIXTY-FIFTH PSALM. (Scotch version.)
1. Praise waits for thee in Zion, Lord, to thee vows paid shall be.
2. O thou that hearer art of pray'r, all flesh shall come to thee.
3. Iniquities, I must confess, prevail against me do ; But as for our transgres-si-ons, them purge away shalt thon.
4. Blest is the man whom thou dost choose, and mak'st approach to thee, That he within thy courts, O Lord, may still a dweller be ; We surely shall be satisfy'd with thy abundant grace, And with the goodness of thy house, ev'n of thy holy place.
5. O God of our salva-ti-on, Thou in thy righteousness, By fearful works unto our pray'rs thine answer dost express :
21
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Therefore the ends of all the earth, and those afar that be Upon the sea, their confidence, O Lord, will place in thee.
6. Who, being girt with pow'r, sets fast, by his great strength the hills.
7. Who noise of seas, noise of their waves, and people's tumult stills.
The singing was congregational. The minister read the Psalm, and repeated the first two lines, which the choris- ter took up and sang. A deacon in a pew directly in front of the pulpit then read a line, in which the whole congre- gation joined in singing ; then another line was read and sung, and so on, through the Psalm. As the reading was done by a deacon, it was sometimes called deaconing the Psalm.
In the warning of a meeting of the Presbyterian parish, March 11, 1760, was an article " to see if the parish will raise any money for hiring a man to Rais the Salms in the meeting house."
The practice of the minister's repeating the first two lines continued till quite a recent date-long after the occasion ceased. The same mode was practiced in family devotions. Colonel R. E. Patten, of Candia, tells me that his grandfather, Thomas Patten, continued the practice through his life, having but one tune, and that only the length of one line, and which suited all measures. I have hicard my mother tell of stopping, when passing in the evening, to hear John Craige and his housekeeper Ruth Porter and her son Samuel, who performed their devotions in the same way. However unscientific and unharmonious all this might appear to a scientific and practiced car, it no doubt inspired as true and deep devotion as the great Music Hall organ will in a modern audience.
It was also sometimes practiced at raisings to sing a Psalm after the frame was up; and probably they some- times sang with the spirit, if not with the understand- ing ; and I have heard of some very ludicrous parodies
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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL.
being made, when a wag was called upon to " deacon the Psalm."
The first meeting-houses were seated with long seats, which were common, each individual sitting where he chose or could get a seat.
In March, 1762, the Presbyterians chose " Hugh Cromby, Cap. James Shirley, Robert Grayms, a Committee to Di- vide the seats in the old meeting house, or to act therein as they Shall see Propper."
In the warning for March, 1764, the parish are notified to appear and hear the report of the committee.
In a warning for a meeting of the Congregational parish for August 1, 1765, is an article " To see if the parish will vote to Chose a Committee to Seat the meeting house, to prevent Disorder in Said meeting house." Passed in the negative. This was to appropriate particular seats to indi- viduals or families.
In Hampton records, 1650, is a record of the seating the meeting-house. There are seats assigned to Roger Shaw, William Marston, and others ; and the women's seats, Roger Shaw for a wife, Goodey Marston, Goodey Dalton, &c.
In the same warning was an article " To see if the parish will vote that those persons that Come nighest the approved Rule of Singing may have the Previlidge of Being Seated to Gether in the Second Long Seat in the men's Galery, for the Benefit of helping Each other in said Rule ; and that they may be Seated to gather, to prevent Disorder they Desire to be Seated in said Seat, or Elsewhere, to Gather in Said meeting house."
It was " Voted, that those parsons that Can Sing by Rule Shall Set to Gather in the meeting house in the front Short Seats in the men's Gallery."
Here was an innovation. They had singing-schools, and had learned by rule, and of course had new tunes, and had a choir. How the conservatives bore it is not fully known. But I once heard Deacon Moses Richardson, who was one of the innovators, relate an anecdote upon the subject. Captain Amos Emerson was the chorister, and named the
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
tune to be sung loud enough to be heard all over the house, so that the congregation knew what to sing. There was one tune which Jethro Colby would not hear, but when he heard it named would leave the house. On one occasion Captain Emerson agreed with the choir to name some other tune and then sing the bad one. So he gave out an agree- able tune in a loud, clear voice, and sung the disagreeable one, Mr. Colby, meanwhile, keeping his seat. Upon return- ing from meeting, Mr. Colby was inquired of why he did not leave, and replied that that tune was not sung; but was finally convinced by Captain Emerson that it was. He was cured of leaving the house.
About this time the Anti-Pedo-Baptism began to creep in.
In 1768 Moses Marshal and others asked to have the meeting-house doors opened to any Orthodox minister provi- dentially passing, which was negatived.
In 1772 Gideon Rowel and Elijah Heath asked to have their rates abated, on account of professing to be Anti- Pedo-Baptist, which was negatived.
At a parish meeting, October 12, 1770, it was " Voted to have Doct. Watts' Psalms and hymns sung in this con- gregation in the future."
There seems to have been a compromise between the progressives and the conservatives about deaconing the Psalm; for at a meeting May 6, 1789, there was a commit- tee chosen, consisting of Capt. Emerson, Capt. Towle, Lieut. John Dearborn, Maj. Dearborn and Stephen Morse, to consult with the singers and report. The result was, that in the forenoon the Psalm was to be sung without reading ; twice in the afternoon to be read two lines at a time, and once sung without reading. Dea. John Webster and Dea. Joseph Dearborn were chosen to read the Psalm.
" Voted, That the Singers Shall Lead the Singing, and other people Join with them as they think fit; and that the Singers shall appoint a man to pitch the tune among themselves."
We may, perhaps, as well say what is to be said about singing here, as elsewhere.
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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL.
When Watts' Psalms and Hymns were first introduced by the Presbyterians is not known, but could not have been so carly as by the Congregationalists it is certain, for the Rev. Mr. Clark would not have tolerated it. In rela- tion to having a choir there had been some innovation and compromise, as we find, March 8, 1803, that the parish
" Voted, That the Singing be carried on in the Singing Pew the whole of the day."
About 1806 Samuel Graham carried his bass-viol into the meeting-house thanksgiving day, but no sooner did he begin to sound it, than Dea. William Wilson took his hat and left in hot haste, and Moody Chase followed, who came into my grandfather's after meeting, being nearly ready to burst, and gave vent to the bile.
I find an entry in a diary, Aug. 14, 1814 (which was Sunday), "Jesse J. Underhill carried a Bass Viol into the meeting house." Dea. Wilson moved to Henniker in 1809, and lived there until perhaps 1822; and meanwhile not only a bass-viol, but a clarionet was used, which he had to bear, enquiring " who blowed that whastle up there."
At a meeting of the Congregational parish, March 23, 1808,
" Voted, To give leave to the Singers to use a Bass viol in the meeting house, and Tenor one."
Before musical instruments were introduced they had a home-made instrument, a kind of whistle, so constructed as to make it longer or shorter and thus give flatter or sharper sounds, which was used to " pitch the tune."
There are now no church records to be found earlier than 1819. The Rev. Lauren Armsby, who was formerly pastor and wrote the history of the church in Chester for the " History of the New Hampshire Churches," says that there was a small book containing little of interest, and that the authority he used in the case of Mr. Bradstreet was mainly an account drawn up by Capt. John Emerson and the records of the Haverhill Association. As I have access to neither, I shall rely on him.
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