USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 17
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70
*Hildreth, Jacob, 2d
May, 1849, 40
Hildreth, John Hartwell
73
*Ilildreth, Jotham
10 Oct., 1868,
63
*Hills, Franklin M.
26 April, 1875, 55
*Hills, Moses
18 Sept., 1855.
74
Hodgman, Timothy
83
Holt, Charles
Holt, Clark
Holt, Edwin M. 76
*Holt, Ezra
April, 1860, 66
Holt, Israel P.
Hooper, William
* Howard, Henry
15 April, 1871, 83
Howard, Herbert 66
Howard, Levi 76
222
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Howard, Rodney
64
*Hubbard, Amos
died 30 Jan., 1858, aged 74
Hutchinson, JJosiah D.
Jepson, Benjamin
*Jewett, Josiah
21 April, 1853,
83
*Jewett, Joshua
May, 1869,
56
*Jewett, Robert
16 Nov., 1865,
61
Jones, Levi
11 Oct., 1858,
68
Jones, Timothy
88
Joslin, Levi
*Kearney, Thomas
2 Nov., 1854,
75
Kendall, Leonard
*Kendall, Nathan
10 Ang., 1846,
91
*Kendrick, Benjamin
13 Dec., 1853,
74
Kidder, Benjamin
*Kidder, Josiah
28 May, 1849,
70
*Kimball, Jacob
1 Aug., 1849,
81
*Kinson, George
2 Oct., 1867,
67
Knight, Jonathan
82
*Lakeman, Joseph
30 March, 1851,
85
*Lakeman, Levi
27 Aug., 1867,
58
*Lawrence, Aaron
1 Sept., 1867, 63
*Leavitt, Benjamin
June, 1818,
54
*Leavitt, John
13 Aug., 1862,
78
*Lovejoy, James
7 Dec., 1876,
74
*Lovejoy, John
30 July, 1870,
58
*Lovejoy, Jonathan
9 Dec., 1843,
81
Lovejoy, Mark 65
*Lovejoy, Miles
27 Aug., 1871,
53
*Lovejoy, Stephen
20 May, 1852,
79
*Lovejoy, William H.
3 Jan., 1874,
73
Lowe, Cyrus C. 63
*Lowe, David
8 Jan., 1867, 80
Lowe, David Perkins
65
*Mace, Joseph
2 .June, 1864,
54
*McCluer, Asa
1 June, 1870,
76
*McConihe, Levi
11 April, 1873,
60
*Mckean, David D.
25 March, 1877, 67
*Mack, John
16 July, 1854,
75
Mack, Charles E.
61
Marvell, John
67
*Means, Robert
24 April, 1863, 54
Melendy, Bryant
81
X.]
CHECK LIST-1843.
223
Melendy, Charles
84
*Melendy, Hamilton
died 23 .Jan., 1880, aged 71
Melendy, Luther
88
18 July, 1848, 89
*Melendy, Samuel B.
7 Nov., 1877, 77
* Melendy, William
12 March, 1858, 77
*Melvin, David
12 .Jan., 1861,
73
*Melzar, Abraham
13 Feb., 1864, 80
*Moore, Ilugh
7 March, 1854, 88
*Moore, John
28 Oct., 1862, 80
Moore, Samuel C. 66
*Moulton, Daniel
7 June, 1845,
73
*Moulton, John
13 May, 1861,
40
*Noyes, Ammial
28 April, 1872,
73
*Noyes, Moses
18 April, 1859,
91
Noyes, William 80
*Nutt, George A.
6 July, 1845, 30
*Nutt, Samuel
1 Feb., 1845, 57
*Ober, John
28 March, 1867, 60
Ober, Samuel
72
*Odall, William
Nov., 1850, 73
Osgood, Joel F. 74
*Parker, Ephraim
*Parker, Jonathan
19 Oct., 1850,
32
*Parker, Josiah
29 Sept., 1845,
85
Parker, Josiah Merrill, 76
Parker, Thomas B. 71
Parker, Truman
*Parkhurst, Henry
20 Feb., 1861,
82
Parkhurst, Henry, jr.
74
*Parkhurst, Silas
10 Feb., 1877,
70
*Parkhurst, Spalding
12 April, 1882,
72
Parkhurst, Stillman 63
*Patch, Timothy U.
1 Oct., 1868,
67
*Patterson, Jesse C.
*Pattee, Lemuel Noyes,
1 April, 1870,
66
Peabody, Samuel
*Peabody, Stephen
18 Jan., 1847,
68
Peabody, Matthew T.
Peacock, Ezra W.
64
*Peacock, Rufus
4 Aug., 1845,
38
*Peacock, William
5 April, 1846,
72
Peacock, William F.
*Melendy, Nathaniel
224
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
*Pearsons, Francis E.
died 31 Dec., 1867, aged 61
Perkins, Elbridge F. 70
*Perry, Ebenezer
25 June, 1860, 87
Perry, Lorenzo D.
*Phelps, Amos
3 March, 1861, 83
*Phelps, Almond
5 Jan., 1866, 60
*Phelps, Daniel
26 .Jan., 1864, 62
*Pratt, Edward HI.
1868,
52
*Pratt, Loea
11 July, 1875,
90
*Pratt, Stephen II.
19 Jan., 1855,
36
*Prentiss, John
2 March, 1868, Oct., 1845,
64
*Prince, George
22 May, 1882,
65
*Prince, James
28 Ang., 1852,
58
Prince, John 70
*Prince, Luther
18 Nov., 1862,
59
*Prince, Solomon
3 Dec., 1843,
92
* Putnam, Elijah
18 Oct., 1855,
76
Putnam, Elijah, jr.
Putnam, John C.
Raymond, Charles A. 60
*Raymond, Perley
4 Sept., 1873,
80
*Read, Samuel
*Read, Walter
1 Dec., 1877,
70
Richardson, Zaccheus
*Riddle, Albert
7 Ang., 1859,
51
*Rhoads, Alfred H.,
17 May, 1848,
29
*Rhoads, Charles
1 Nov., 1873,
63
* Rhoads, Eleazer
27 June, 1855,
84
Rhoads, Warren 74
*Russell, David
7 Jan., 1882,
84
* Russell, JJames
27 Dec., 1872, 65
Russell, JJosiah
82
Savage, William T.,
69
Sawtell, Eli 81
Sawtell, Henry I.
Searles, Thomas
Secomb, Daniel F. 62
*Secombe, John
20 July, 1856,
77
Secomb, Levi .J.
78
Shaw, George II.
75
*Shattuck, Francis M.
14 Jan., 1876,
57
*Shepard, Benjamin
6 Oct., 1864, 78
82
*Prescott, Ezra
X.]
CHECK LIST-1843. 225
*Shepard, Benjamin F.
died 28 June, 1866,
aged 52
*Shepard, John
Sept., 1855, 78
*Shepard, Lummus
14 March, 1849, 63
*Shepard, Nehemiah
22 .July, 1857, 70
*Shepard, Samuel L.
2 Feb., 1853, 36
Skinner, Joshua F. 75
Smith, Langdon
72
*Spalding, Matthias
22 May, 1865, 95
*Stearns, Eleazer
9 March, 1846, 80
Stearns, Hiram D. 79
*Stearns, James
19 Jan., 1854, 79
Steele, Abial 77
*Stevens, Daniel F.
21 Jan., 1852,
57
Stevens, William
*Stewart, David
30 Ang., 188'), 81
*Stewart, Horace
28 May, 1871, 55
*Stewart, Moses B.
13 June, 1868, 83
Stewart, William 6S
*Stiles, Lewis
23 March, 1875, 79
*Stiles, Walter L.
25 July, 1875, 59
Taylor, Daniel Hamilton 74
Taylor, John
Thissell, Josiah 77
*Thomas, Charles
22 Aug., 1862,
44
Thomas, William
* Thompson, Oliver
3 Dec., 1877, 87
Towne, Luther
76
Towne, Samuel
71
Truel, Jacob
66
*Tuttle, Charles B.
16 Dec., 1880,
63
*Twiss, Dimon C.
19 Jan., 1861,
87
*Upham, Isaac
12 April, 1869,
67
*Upham, Jacob
1 April, 1849,
83
*Upham, Jacob, jr.
14 Oct., 1859,
61
*Upham, Phinehas
16 April, 1863,
67
*Upton, John
*Vose, Samuel
15 March, 1857,
57
Walker, George
68
*Wallace, Andrew
23 Sept., 1856, 73
Warren, John
*Wasson, Horace
13 Nov., 1847, 30
Webster, John
15
.
Truel, Eli
226
HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Webster, Moses
* West, Joseph C.
died 3 March, 1859,
aged 53
*Weston, Daniel
20 Aug., 1872,
67
*Weston, Ebenezer
12 June, 1846, 84
*Weston, Isaac
23 Jan., 1869,
84
*Weston, Isaac Plumer
23 Jan., 1879,
67
*Weston, William J.
1 Oct., 1863,
53
Wheeler, David
*Wheeler, Daniel
10 Dec., 1867,
78
Wheeler, Franklin
* Wheeler, Gardner G.
22 May, 1865,
39
*Wheeler, Gilman
10 Dec., 1872,
55
* Wheeler, Isaac
20 June, 1870,
89
*Wheeler, John N.
29 Nov., 1859, March, 1844,
49
*Wheeler, Nathan
21 Oct., 1864,
59
* Wheeler, Porter
23 Nov., 1870,
58
*Wheeler, Timothy
5 Feb., 1853,
79
*Wheeler, Timothy, jr.
24 Dec., 1878,
75
Whittemore, Bernard B. 64
Whiting, Benjamin B. 68
*Whiting, Nathaniel
30 Oct., 1843,
64
Wiley, Levi II.
*Wilkins, Aaron
30 June, 1862,
84
*Wilkins, Daniel
6 June, 1847,
57
*Wilkins, Thomas
15 Nov., 1868,
76
*Wilkins, Samuel
2 May, 1857,
65
Wilkins, Samuel, jr.
61
*Wilson, Simeon
1 Sept., 1867,
79
Wilson, Thomas F.
27 Jan., 1874,
67
Woodward, Alfred A. 66
*Woodward, Isaac
25 March, 1862,
73
Woodward, Samuel
*Woolson, Ezra
16 Sept., 1844,
80
*Woolson, Henry P.
31 July, 1859,
40
*Woolson, Nathaniel
5 Dec., 1844,
49
*Wyatt, Foster
5 Feb., 1882,
86
Average age at time of death of 225 who have deceased, 68,321 years.
Average age, 1 June, 1882, of 80 then living, 7113 years.
68
*Wheeler, Jonathan
227
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
X.]
Average age of those who have deceased and those now living, whose ages are known, 69 years.
Number whose ages have not been ascertained, 58. Many of them are now living : none being less than 60 years of age.
The above is probably no unusual record at the present time in country towns like Amherst. The average dura- tion of human life has increased during the last century. How much more it might be lengthened did all know and obey the laws that govern it !
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
At a meeting held 30 March, 1778, Col. Moses Nichols and Lieut. Reuben Mussey were chosen to represent the town in a convention to be held at Concord on the tenth day of June following, for the purpose of "forming and laying a permanent plan or system of government for the future happiness and well being of the people of this State."
The convention met at the time proposed, and, after holding a short session, adjourned. It met again 5 June, 1779, adopted a plan of government, and made provision for laying it before the people, for their acceptance or rejec- tion. It may be found in Dr. Bouton's Town Papers, Vol. IX, pp. 837-842.
At a meeting held 6 September, 1779, the town voted to accept the plan of government for this State which was laid before them.
But a majority of the voters in the State thought differ- ently and the proposed constitution was rejected.
Another convention was called, to meet at Concord on the second Tuesday of June, 1781, to form a constitution for the State; but the town, at a meeting held 24 May, 1781, voted "not to send any delegates to the proposed convention."
This convention held two sessions,-one in June, and another in September,-and agreed upon a plan of govern-
228
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
ment, which was laid before the people, accompanied by an address explaining its provisions and the necessity for adopting them.
The proposed constitution was laid before the town at a meeting held 26 December, 1781, and a committee, consist- ing of Capt. Josiah Crosby, Lieut. William Bradford, Dea. Samuel Wilkins, Mr. Nathaniel Haywood, Lieut. Thomas Burns, Mr. Peter Woodbury, Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr. Timothy Smith, and Mr. Reuben Mussey, was appointed " to consider and remark on said constitution," and lay said remarks before the town.
In order, probably, to give the committee time to prepare their " remarks," the meeting was adjourned to 7 January, 1782, when the committee was enlarged by the addition of Mr. Samuel Dana, Capt. William Dana, and Mr. Thomas Wakefield, to its number, and the meeting again adjourned to the 15th, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time they met; but things not being in readiness another adjournment, for one hour, took place. On meeting at the expiration of the hour the "remarks" of the committee were laid before the meeting, and it was voted not to accept the said constitution or plan of government as set forth in printed copy ;- but voted, unanimously, to accept the con- stitution, with the several amendments made by the com- mittee appointed for that purpose.
Voted and chose Mr. Samuel Dana to attend the conven- tion at its next session, and enforce said amendments.
Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr. Joshua Atherton, and Mr. Thomas Wakefield were chosen a committee to prepare said amendments.
This constitution was rejected by a majority of the voters of the State.
The convention that formed it met on the fourth Wed- nesday of January, 1782, and, finding it was rejected by the people, adjourned to the third Wednesday of August fol- lowing, when they again met and formed another constitu-
229
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
X.
tion, which they laid before the people. This constitution, like the preceding one, was accompanied by an address to the people.
On this constitution the town took action at a meeting held 29 November, 1782, at which they "voted not to accept the proposed constitution of the State of New Hampshire."
A committee, consisting of Capt. William Dana, Capt. John Bradford, Capt. Augustus Lovejoy, and Capt. Heze- kiah Lovejoy, was appointed to examine said constitution and report thereon. Timothy Smith and Lieut. Ebenezer Weston were subsequently added to the committee.
At a meeting held 23 December, 1782, after hearing the report of the above committee, the town voted, unanimously, to accept the proposed constitution, with the amendments proposed by the committee.
18 March, 1783,
" Voted, that the present plan of government abide in force, while the year 1784, unless a more permanent plan should take place antecedent to that time."
20 October, 1783,
"Voted to adhere to the former plan of government, that is, to have a Governor."
" Voted, with reference to the proposed alteration of the eighth article of confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen states of America, that the reasons for the proposed alteration do not preponderate with us (with due deference we say it) as they did with the Honorable Congress, as appears by their address to the several states respecting this matter. Nor are we of the same sentiment with our own legislators, who appear to be convinced of the expediency and utility of the measure, as by their address to this State of the twentieth of June past.
We are humbly of opinion that a strictly equal and just plan or rule for taking a valuation is almost, if not wholly, impracticable. Yet we think no rule can be devised subject to fewer objections than from valuation of the soil, &c., taken in and by each state. We therefore hereby instruct and empower our representative to use every decent and laudable means in his power to prevent the proposed alteration."
230
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
1 January, 1788. Daniel Warner, Esq., Joshua Atherton, Esq., Samuel Dana, Esq., John Shepard, Esq., Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, Augustus Blanchard, Esq., Rev. John Bruce, Gen. Moses Nichols, Col. Robert Means, and Dea. Samuel Wilkins, were appointed a committee to examine the Federal constitution, who reported that they could not recom- mend the constitution to the acceptance of the town, in its present form.
15 January, 1788,
"Chose Joshua Atherton to represent the town in the Convention to be held at Exeter, to take under their consideration and decision the proceedings of the Federal Convention, relative to the new form of government.
Voted not to approve of s'd Constitution as it now stands."
The convention met at Exeter in February. But very few records of its proceedings remain. A report of a speech made by Mr. Atherton on section 9, article 1, has however been preserved, as it deserved to be.
Following Mr. Dow, of Weare, a member of the Society of Friends, who spoke sensibly and feelingly against the adoption of this section, several other members spoke in its favor, with remarks upon what Mr. Dow had said, after which Mr. Atherton spoke as follows :
Mr. President : I can not be of the opinion of the honorable gentle- man who last spoke, that this paragraph is either so unjust, or so inoffensive, as they seem to imagine, or that the objections to it are so totally void of foundation. The idea that strikes those that are opposed to this clause, so disagreeably and so forcibly, is, hereby, it is conceived (if we ratify this constitution) that we become consenters to and partakers in the sin and guilt of this abominable traffic, at least for a certain period, without any positive stipulation that it shall even then be brought to an end. We do not behold in that valuable acquisition, so much boasted of by the honorable member from Portsmouth, 'that an end is then to be put to slurery.' Congress may be as much or more puzzled to put a stop to it then than we are now. The clause has not secured its abolition.
We do not think we are under any obligation to perform works of supererogation in the reformation of mankind ; we do not esteem our-
231
MR. ATHERTON'S SPEECH.
X.]
selves under any necessity to go to Spain or Italy to suppress the Inquisition of those countries, nor of making a journey to the Caro- linas to abolish the detestable custom of enslaving the Africans : but, sir, we will not lend the aid of our ratification to this cruel and inhuman merchandise, not even for a day.
There is a great distinction in not taking part in the most barbar- ous violation of the sacred laws of God and humanity, and our becoming guarantees for its exercise for a term of years. Yes, sir, it is our full purpose to wash our hands clear of it, and, however uncon- cerned spectators we may remain of such predatory infractions of the laws of our nation, however unfeeling we may subscribe to the ratification of manstealing, with all its baneful consequences, yet I can not but believe, in justice to human nature, that if we reverse the consideration, and bring this claimed power somewhat nearer to our own doors, we shall form a more equitable opinion of its claim to this ratification.
Let us figure to ourselves a company of these manstealers, well equipped for the enterprise, landing on our coast. They seize or carry off the whole or a part of the town of Exeter. Parents are taken and children left, or possibly they may be so fortunate as to have a whole family taken and carried off together by these relentless robbers. What must be their feelings in the hands of their new and arbitrary masters! Dragged at once from every thing they held dear to them, stripped of every comfort of life, like beasts of prey, they are hurried on a loathsome and distressing voyage to the coast of Africa, or some other quarter of the globe where the greatest price mnay waft them, and here, if any thing can be added to their miseries, comes on the heart-breaking scene-a parent sold to one, a son to another, and a daughter to a third; brother is cleft from brother, sister from sister, and parents from their darling offspring. Broken with every distress that human nature can feel, and bedewed with tears of anguish, they are dragged into the last stage of depression and slavery, never, never to behold the faces of one another again. The scene is too affecting; I have not fortitude to pursue the subject."
The men and women of the present generation have felt the effects of the system of African slavery tolerated by the fathers.
With the light of experience around us, may we not wish that the objections made to the adoption of the consti- tution, made by the delegate from Amherst, had been heeded by the convention.
232
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
After a short session in February, the convention adjourned to meet in Concord the following June, where, on the twelfth day of that month, the constitution was ratified by the delegates of the people of the State of New Hampshire, the votes standing 57 in favor and 46 against it. Of the delegates from Hillsborough county, 6 voted in favor, and 16 against its ratification, and 3 did not vote. Among the latter was the delegate from Salisbury, Capt. Ebenezer Webster, father of Hon. Daniel Webster.
At a meeting held 8 August, 1791, Joshua Atherton was chosen delegate to attend a convention to be held at Concord on the first Wednesday of September following.
The town voted, at a meeting held 7 May, 1792, not to accept the amendment to the sixth article of the constitu- tion of New Hampshire.
On the 29th day of August, 1792, voted, unanimously, to accept the amendments proposed by the Honorable Conven- tion, under the heads, Senate, Governor and Council, and sent out to the people for their ratification, 33 votes being cast in favor, none against them.
After the adoption of the amendments to the constitution, in 1792, propositions for a convention to make further amendments met with but little favor, the town voting almost unanimously against them, until 11 March, 1850, when 75 votes were east in favor of calling a convention, and 120 against it. A majority of the votes cast in the State at that time being in favor of calling a convention, Andrew Wallace, Esq., was chosen delegate from Amherst to attend it, receiving 80 votes to 56 for Timothy Danforth.
The amendments to the constitution proposed by this convention failed to receive the sanetion of the people. In Amherst, but three of the fifteen amendments proposed received a majority of the votes cast. The majorities against the others varied from 10 to 126.
233
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
X.]
At the annual meeting in March, 1876, 89 votes were cast in favor of calling a convention to amend the constitu- tion of the State, and 76 against it.
A convention having been called by the legislature, Rev. Josiah G. Davis was chosen delegate to represent the town in that body, receiving 142 votes to 41 cast for Perley Dodge, Esq.
The convention met at Concord in the following Decem- ber, and agreed upon several alterations in the constitution, which were generally adopted by the people at the annual meeting in March, 1877.
.
234
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
CHAPTER XI. THE FIRST AND SECOND MEETING-HOUSES.
VOTES OF THE PROPRIETORS IN RELATION TO BUILDING A MEET- ING-HOUSE .- A DAY APPOINTED FOR RAISING THE FRAME .- PROVISION MADE FOR FINISHING IT .- THE HOUSE PASSES INTO THE POSSESSION OF THE TOWN .- VOTES IN REGARD TO THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE " QUIRESTERS " AND OTHERS .- THE HOUSE PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY FOR A COURT-HOUSE .- REMOVED TO THE COMMON, AND BURNT .- BUILDING THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. - VOTES IN RELATION TO IT. - EFFORTS MADE TO CHANGE ITS LOCATION .- AMPLE PROVISION MADE FOR RAISING THE FRAME .- SALE OF PEW GROUND, AND REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO BUILDING PEWS .- DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE .- VOTES IN RELATION TO THE SINGERS' SEATS, AND REPAIRING THE HOUSE .- SALE OF THE MEETING-HOUSE, AND RESERVATIONS MADE BY THE TOWN .- ITS REMOVAL AND REFITTING BY THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY .- CENTEN- NIAL CELEBRATION OF ITS DEDICATION.
At a meeting held 6 August, 1735, the proprietors voted to build a meeting-house on the plot of ground lately laid out for the purpose.
14 February, 1737-38, they voted to build a meeting- house, 45 x 22 feet, the posts to be 22 feet in length, finish the outside, and build a pulpit by the last day of October, " come twelve months." Capt. Joseph Parker, Ensign Thomas Tarbox, and Lieut. Cornelius Tarble, were chosen a committee " to build it or lett it out."
235
THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.
XI.]
11 July, 1738, Capt. Ebenezer Raymond and Mr. John Wiles were added to the committee, and, as Capt. Parker declined serving, Capt. Joseph Richardson was chosen to serve in his stead. At this meeting an assessment of £3 was made on each right, to defray the expense of building the house and laying ont a second division of lots.
27 December, 1738. The 16th day of May following was selected as the day on which to raise the frame of the meeting-house, and Capt. Ebenezer Rayment was desired to make provision for the same.
10 May, 1739. Twenty shillings for each right was ordered to be paid to the treasurer for defraying the meet- ing-house charges, etc.
20 May, 1741. A tax of £180 was levied on the rights for the purpose of finishing the meeting-house and defraying other charges.
14 December, 1742, John Shepard, Jonathan Tarble, and Timothy Fuller, were appointed a committee to agree for finishing the meeting-house, but, 18 October, 1743, the proprietors
" Voted that a committee, consisting of Joseph Prince, Samuel Walton, and John Shepard, must gitt the meeting-house boarded, the flower laid, the body seets made up, the pulpit made, and the Doors made and lung as soon as can be."
10 February, 1743-44, they
"Voted that they will doe something toward finishing the meeting- house : viz., C'lapboard it, make the window-frames, crown and glaze them, point the ground pinting, and prime the flew boards, window- frames, sashes, and doors, and, in case there is not an Indian war, the next fall, laith and plaster the walls and ceiling, as the committee shall think fit."
Deacon Tarble, Capt. John Shepard, and Mr. Ebenezer Ellenwood, were appointed a committee to see the above work done. It was also voted that the next meeting of the proprietors should be held in the meeting-house, where, pursuant to this vote, it was held, 30 June, 1744-45.
236
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
It is to be hoped that the house was made comfortable for their reception : certainly it was no small undertaking to hold a meeting in such a place, without fires, in mid-winter.
Provision was made for finishing the meeting-house, and for meeting other charges, at a meeting held 21 September, 1747.
At a meeting held 23 May, 1750, they voted that they would do nothing more to the meeting-house that year.
26 June, 1751, they " voted to finish the meeting-house, or some part of it, this summer," and appointed Lieut. Moses Barron, Andrew Bradford, and Ebenezer Lyon, a committee to get the work done ; but, 26 September 1753, they refused "to appoint a committee to settle with the committee appointed to finish the meeting-house.
This is the last recorded act of the proprietors in regard to building and finishing the meeting-house, an undertaking which occupied about fourteen years. After the incorpora- tion of the town, it seems to have passed into the possession of the town, and its preservation became, for a time, a town charge.
As the population of the town increased, the house became too small to accommodate the people who resorted to it on the Sabbath. Hence, perhaps, the visitors from Monson, who had no meeting-house of their own, and paid nothing for the support of preaching, were unwelcome guests. Some traces of the feeling against them may be found in the recorded votes of the town at that time.
23 July, 1767, the town was asked to allow the men to occupy the whole of the front gallery of the meeting-house, and also "to appoint seats for the Quiresters to set in, in order to improve Psalmody, or religious singing "; but both applications were denied.
14 March, 1768, Daniel Campbell and Benjamin Taylor were appointed a committee " to make so much more room in the meeting-house as they shall think proper," and &13, 8s., and 6d. was voted to defray current charges.
237
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
XI.]
Joseph Steel and William Wallace protested against this grant of money, declaring that they would not pay any part of it until it was decided whether the house belonged to the proprietors or the town.
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