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 20
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
acceptable and also successful in my ministry among you, and that we may live together in the peace and order of the gospel here below, be mutual blessings in time, and each other's crown of rejoicing in that all important day when Christ shall come to make up his jewels. This is the sincere prayer of him who is yours to serve in the Gospel of Christ."
Fenh Barnew
A mutual council was called, which met Wednesday, 1 March, 1780, John Shepard, jr., Dea. Nahum Baldwin, and Mr. Amos Flint, appeared in behalf of the church and asked that Mr. Barnard might be ordained. To this objec- tion was made, and the council, says Mr. Jonathan Liver- more, of Wilton, who was a member by courtesy, was in a state of perplexity and doubt what course to pursue. After hearing the statements of the parties interested, they went into session and discussed the matter among themselves. Finally, Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenberg, moved that they proceed to the ordination of Mr. Barnard, as nothing had been alleged against his moral or Christian character, the opposition to him seeming to arise wholly from a desire of individuals to be set off in a parish by themselves. He stated that Mr. Barnard had failed of a settlement in another place, and if he failed here he would be driven to seek a livelihood in some other calling, and he thought it would be advisable to give him the benefit of an ordination, even if he remained but a short time in Amherst. To this it was objected that it would be impossible for him to live in peace and quiet in such a fire as was now raging here.
The committee of the church, being present, gave their opinion that the time had not arrived for a division of the town into two or more parishes ; but pledged themselves that they would advocate the division at the proper time.
Finally, late in the day of 2 March, 1780, the council voted to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Barnard on the following day. On this occasion Rev. Jacob Bigelow, of
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THE TOWN MINISTRY.
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Sudbury, made the introductory prayer. Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenberg, a cousin of President John Adams, and grandfather of the late Chief Justice Bellows, of Concord, preached the sermon from Matthew 10: 16. The sermon was not printed, but, knowing a little of the chiar- acter of the preacher and the circumstances under which it was delivered, we may infer that it did not lack in plain- ness of speech. Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, of Chelmsford, gave the charge ; Rev. Daniel Emerson, of Hollis, the right hand of fellowship ; and Rev. Josiah Bridge, of East Sudbury, made the concluding prayer.
The following bill, presented for the entertainment of the members of the council, gives us some insight into the customs of the times and the habits of the " venerable " fathers who were " entertained " :
THE TOWN OF AMHERST
To JONATHAN SMITH, DR.
For keeping the Council at the Ordination of Rev. Mr.
Barnard, in currency,
£1,323 5s.
In silver,
To 89 dinners, at 1s.,
9s.
0d.
56 suppers, at 8d.,
1
17
4
84 breakfasts, at 9d., .
3
3
43 lodgings, at 4d.,
14
4
74} mugs flip and toddy, at 10d.,
3
2
1
38 drams, at 2}d.,
7
11
17 cakes, at 7d.,
9
11
6 lbs. cheese, at 6d.,
3
16 mugs syder, at 3d.,
4
54 horses, 24 h'rs, at 1s. each,
14
13 horses baited, at 4d. each,
4
4
£17 8s. 11d.
The feelings of a portion of the inhabitants of the town in regard to the settlement of Mr. Barnard are shown in the following paper, presented by them to the council prior to his ordination.
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
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To the renerable, the Ecclesiastical Council now conrened for the purpose of setting apart and Ordaining Mr. Jeremiah Barnard to the Pastoral Charge of the Church of Christ & People of the town of Amherst :
The Memorial and Remonstrance of us, Inhabitants of s'd Amherst, humbly Sheweth : That your Memorialists think themselves much Aggrieved, and are highly displeased with the Proceedings of that l'art of the Church & People of this s'd Town of Amherst, who have taken it upon themselves (against so much Opposition) to call & invite the s'd Mr. Barnard to take upon himself the sacred otlice & character of a Gospel minister in this place, who-strictly speaking- has never even been heard a Day on Probation for Settlement here. As also with the Conduct of the s'd Mr. Barnard consequent there- upon. First, then we are not (now) about to object to the legality of the Town's Proceedings. But however Legal their Proceedings may have been, we do aver that they have been by no means justifia- ble. (In our humble Opinion) The Measures that they have adopted have been rash, hasty, ungenerous, and Imprudent, & in the Room of having a tendency to promote that Brotherly love and affection which for a long time past have been the strongest Bands of our Union, have a direet Tendency to promote Division, Malice, Ill will, Dissention, Animosities, & heart burnings, one against another, which horrid train of evils we humbly deprecate & earnestly pray God to avert.
It is to be observed that at the Time the several church and town meetings were called, relative to these Transactions for the Purposes afore mentioned, the Severity of the Season was such and the great & extraordinary falls of snow about that time rendered a general attendance of the Town morally impossible. In these circumstances, Gentlemen (with submission), what ought to have been the conduct of the Town, on a matter of so much Weight and Importance ? Ought they not to have adjourned these meetings from Time to Time until the true sense of the People could have been deliberately taken ?
On the other hand, how have they conducted those weighty matters? Ilave they not pushed them forward with the greatest Precipitation ? and, notwithstanding they had but a small majority of votes on their side, have, Lawyer like, grasped hard at a Point of Law, not considering that extreme Right is oftentimes extreme wrong, paying no manner of Attention to the Opposition, which, altho' they are rather the Minority as to numbers, are the Majority in the pay of the Town, &, in case Mr. Barnard should be settled here, we must be compelled to pay the major part of his Settlement & Salary, which we humbly conceive will be a grievance which cannot be justified either upon the principles of Civil or Religions Liberty. With regard to
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THE TOWN MINISTRY.
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Mr. Barnard, our Personal acquaintance with him is but slender. Neither have we sought every Means & Opportunity for a more inti- mate and perfect Knowledge of his Character & Abilities, which we might have done, & should have done, perhaps, had we really esteemed him as a Candidate on Probation for settlement among us. We allege, therefore, nothing against his moral Character, Lite, or Conver- sation. Neither do we mean to accuse him of delivering any thing contrary to sound Doctrine. But, however, we must say that he is not the man of our choice, that he is not the man that we should choose for our Spiritual Guide-for our Instructor in the great & deep mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Neither do his Discourses (however doctrinally sound they may be) appear to us to be delivered in Demon- stration of the Spirit, & with that Life, Power, & Energy, that we could wish for, nor yet with that clearness and Perspicuity that we think we should have a right to expect from a man thoroughly furnished to every Good Work, & from one that might come to us in the fullness of the Blessings of the Gospel of Peace. It is such a man that we want, and we think we have a Right to covet earnestly the best Gifts.
Apt to teach. To conclude, We hope that the sight of so many names as will be annexed to this Memorial will be sufficient to convince Mr. Barnard that he ought not to think of settling where there is so little Prospect of his being Beneficial unto the People or comfortable to himself. But (with due submission), should Mr. Barnard be so much mistaken as to think differently, & should eren this venerable Council (in such case) proceed to Ordination, Candor obliges us-however disagreeable the necessity of dissenting from so worthy a Body-to say that we cannot, in justice to our own feelings, patiently acquiesce in a Decision, in our Opinion so manifestly injn- rious, both of the Rights of Civil and Religious Liberty. We shall, however, rest satisfied that the venerable Council will lay hands suddenly on no man, & that the Prayer of this Petition will be fully granted by their refusing to ordain-under the present circumstances- Mr. Jeremiah Barnard to the Pastoral care of the Church of Christ & People of this Town. In patient expectation of which your Memo- rialists, as in Duty bound, &c.
Darius Abbot, Isaac Abbot, John Arbuckle, Ebenezer Averil, John Averil, Capt. Andrew Bradford,
Capt. John Bradford, Lient. William Bradford,
Jeremiah Burnam,
Joshua Burnam,
Stephen Burnam,
George Burns,
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HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
John Burns,
William Lamson,
John Burns, jr.,
Joseph Langdell,
Thomas Burns,
Daniel Lovejoy,
Oliver Carlton, Thomas Carlton, Joshua Clark
William Melendy,
Lieut. John Mills,
John Cole,
Knight Nichols,
Nathan Cole,
Timothy Nichols,
Samson Crosby,
Robert Parker,
Josiah Dodge,
John Patterson,
Samuel Dodge,
Capt. William Peabody,
Joseph Duncklee,
Wm. Peacock,
Lieut. Joseph Farnum,
James Russell,
Nathan Flint,
Daniel Smith,
Ephraim French,
Jacob Smitlı,
Laraford Gilbert,
James Smith,
Allen Goodridge,
Timothy Smith,
Daniel Gould,
Timothy Smith, jr.,
Richard Gould,
Benja. Sternes, jr.,
Jonathan Graham,
Samnel Sternes,
John Harvel,
Amos Stickney,
John Harwood,
Daniel Symonds,
Nathaniel Haywood,
Daniel Symonds, jr.,
Samuel Henry,
Benja. Temple,
William Hogg,
Thomas Town, jr.,
Benjamin Hopkins,
Joseph Tuck,
Ebenezer Hopkins,
Enos Upton, jr.,
James Hopkins,
Ezekiel Upton,
Abner Hutchinson,
William Wallace,
Benjamin Hutchinson,
Richard Ward,
Elisha Hutchinson,
Abijah Wilkins,
Nathan Hutchinson, jr.,
Daniel Wilkins, jr.,
Caleb .Jones,
Joshua Wilkins,
Caleb Jones, jr.,
William Wilkins,
Nathan Jones, jr.,
Lemuel Winchester,
Josiah Kidder, jr.,
James Woodbury,
Solomon Kittredge,
Peter Woodbury."
Solomon Kittredge, 2d,
31 March, 1780. Lieut. Reuben Mussey, Lient. Ebenezer Weston, and Mr. Daniel Stevens, were appointed a com- mittee to settle and adjust accounts with Rev. Mr. Wilkins from 11 June, 1779, to 11 June, 1780. They reported, 11
·Joseph Lovejoy,
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THE TOWN MINISTRY.
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September, 1780, that they found £532, 5s., assessed for him the year past, which, reckoning corn at thirty dollars per bushel, amounted to fifty-nine bushels, which, taken out of 237₺ bushels-which was due him according to contract -there was yet due him 1783 bushels, which at fifty dollars per bushel amounted to £2,670. (These were continental currency prices.)
11 September, 1780, voted that the town be assessed to pay Mr. Jonathan Smith's account for providing for the council at the ordination of Mr. Barnard, and Ebenezer Weston, Col. Robert Read, and Esquire Shepard, were appointed a committee to settle and adjust accounts with Rev. Mr. Barnard.
12 March, 1781. A committee, having been appointed to examine and report what sum of the present greatly depre- ciated paper currency will make good the contract between the town and Rev. Mr. Barnard for his settlement and salary this year, reported for the settlement £21,240 lawful money, and for salary, £9,439, 16s. Total of settle- ment and salary, £30,679, 16s. An error of £93 was discovered, which reduced the amount to £29,743, 16s. At the same meeting, Daniel Campbell, Capt. Josiah Crosby, and John Shepard, jr., were appointed a committee to settle with Rev. Mr. Wilkins respecting his salary from June, 1780, to June, 1781, who reported, 15 Jannary, 1782, that he was entitled to 2373 bushels of Indian corn, or an equivalent equal thereto, and that the selectmen had assessed the town toward the payment thereof £4,000 old continental currency, equal to forty pounds lawful silver money, as adjusted by a late vote of the town, leaving duc to him and still unassessed, the sum of seven pounds ten shillings, like lawful silver money, estimating corn at four shillings per bushel.
From the records it would seem that a part only of Mr. Barnard's settlement and salary for the first year of his pastorate was paid at the time agreed upon. Hence, we
270
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
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find that the town, at a meeting held 4 February, 1783, chose Lieut. Thomas Burns, Capt. Hezekiah Lovejoy, and Mr. Amos Flint, a committee to settle with him " respecting his settlement and first year's salary."
This attempt at a settlement with Mr. Barnard failed, for we find the town voting, 3 December, 1783, not to pay Mr. Barnard any more than he has received for his settle- ment and first year's salary. It was also voted that the selectmen assess the whole town in cqual proportion to eighty pounds a year, with lawful interest for the time the whole town had to pay Mr. Barnard. They were also directed to assess the remainder of the town, in equal proportion to eighty pounds a year for the time between the setting off the two parishes and the present time, with interest for the same, for his salary, if he accepts it, and they were directed to wait on Mr. Barnard to see if he accepts of these votes of the town respecting his salary.
But Mr. Barnard did not accept ; and, at a meeting held 3 January, 1785, the town chose Capt. Josiah Crosby, William Peabody, jr., and Mr. Thomas Burns, a committee
" To settle an action brought against the town by Rev. Mr. Barn- ard, if a reasonable settlement can be had with him; otherwise to dispute his action in court."
John Shepard, jr., and Capt. Nathan Hutchinson were subsequently added to the committee, who were instructed to petition for a continuance of the action to the next term of the court, and that, in the intermediate time, the com- mittee strive for a settlement with Mr. Barnard and make report of their doings at some future meeting of the town, and they were authorized to employ counsel if needed.
Enos Bradford, William Bradford, Daniel Campbell, Jacob Curtice, Benjamin Davis, Bartholomew Dodge, James Hartshorn, William Howard, Nathan Kendall, and Thomas Wakefield, entered their protest against disputing said action.
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THE TOWN MINISTRY.
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The following bond was given by Mr. Barnard to the members of the First parish, before commencing an action against the town to recover the balance due on his settle- ment and salary in 1784 :
" Know all men by these presents, that I, JJeremiah Barnard, of Amherst, in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hamp- shire, Clerk, am Holden and stand firmly bound and obligated unto that part of the town of Amherst that are not legally discharged from paying any thing for my support in future as a minister of the gospel in the just sum of one thousand pounds lawful silver money, to the which payment I bind myself, my Heirs, Administrators, Executors and Assigns, firmly, by these presents, sealed with my Seal, Dated the twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
The condition of the above obligation is such that, whereas the above bounden Barnard, in order to recover the proportion of his salary and settlement that is due to him for the years seventeen hun- dred and eighty and eighty-one, and part of the year eighty-two, from the South-west and North-west parishes of Amherst, must commence and prosecute an action against the old parish, jointly with the other two parishes, although the inhabitants of the old parish have voted to pay him their proportion thereof. Now if such action shall be com- menced and prosecuted, if said Barnard shall not suffer his execution to be served upon the persons and estates of the inhabitants of the said Old Parish who shall have paid the rates already assessed against them, for the said Barnard, within the term of six months from the date of this instrument, and shall not put them, nor any of them, to any cost or charge thereby, and shall discharge their part and proportion of such judgment or execution thereon, on request, then the foregoing obligation is to be void ; and otherwise to be in full force.
JEREMIAH BARNARD.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, in presence of us, SAMUEL WILKINS, THOMAS WAKEFIELD.
Rev. Mr. Wilkins, senior minister of the town, died 11 February, 1784, and his funeral was attended on the 17th, when Rev. Mr. Burnap, of Merrimack, preached from 1 Samuel xxv : 1. The town, at the annual meeting, 8 March, 1784, voted four pounds, five shillings, and one penny, to
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
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defray the funeral charges, and directed the selectmen "to furnish gloves for the bearers."
John Shepard, jr., Daniel Campbell, and Thomas Wake- field were appointed a committee to erect a monument over his grave.
The monument, a choice specimen of the workmanship of the time, stands in the old cemetery, in the rear of the town-house, bearing the inscription,
"' Ecce Addisce Vivere.' ERECTED BY THE TOWN OF AMHERST To the Memory of REV. DANIEL WILKINS, Who departed this life Feb. 11, 1783,* in the 73d year of his age und 42d of his ministry.
Ile was a Gentleman of good natural and acquired abilities ; he received the honors of Harvard University at Cambridge, in 1736, and was separated to ye work of ye ministry in 1741, at which time his church consisted of only five male members and his Charge of four- teen Families. As a Minister he was laborious ; his Public Discourses were liberal and Sentimental, pathetic, solemn, and persuasive. Ile was endowed with a venerable presence and Commanding Voice and an Emphatic Delivery.
He had a tender Feeling for his Charge, and was a Partner with them in all their Joys and Sorrows; his conversation with them was Enlightening, Edifying, and Comforting.
He was an Example of Patience and Meekness, and always endeav- ored to promote Peace. Ilis natural Temper was remarkably Sweet and pleasant. He had a high relish for ye refined pleasures of Friend- ship. His behaviour was not ceremonious, but grave, Yet Sprightly and agreeable. In a word, he was a Devoted Minister and Faithful Christian, a good companion, a tender Husband, and an indulgent Parent.
' The Sweet Remembrance of the Just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.'"
*An error. From contemporary records it appears that Mr. Wilkins died in 1784.
14 March, 1785, the town voted to pay Mr. Barnard seventy-four pounds, eight shillings, it being the balance due of his first year's salary and settlement. They also voted to pay him at the rate of £100 per year until the
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THE FIRST PARISH.
XII.]
setting off the South-west parish, with interest on the same after it became due, to the date of Mr. Constable Harts- horn's first list of taxes assessed for Mr. Barnard.
This vote seems to have settled the matter, and it was evidently brought about by the joint action of the voters of the First and South-west parishes.
13 March, 1786. Voted that "ten pounds annually be paid to Widow Wilkins, relict of their late minister, during her natural life, to commence from this time."
THE FIRST PARISH.
For some years after the incorporation of the Second and Third parishes, the business of the First parish was transacted at meetings called by the selectmen of the town, at which provision was made for the payment of Mr. Barnard's salary, repairing the meeting-house, fencing the graveyard, etc.
At a meeting held 12 March, 1787, twenty feet in length, in the centre of the front gallery of the meeting-house, extending from the front breastwork of the gallery to the rear of the back seats of the same, were appropriated for the use of the singers, who were allowed to accommodate themselves in such a way as they chose, at their own expense, " provided they did not obstruct the sight of the back pews."
Doubtless complaints were made of the manner in which the business of the parish was conducted, as we find that Mr. Justice Samuel Wilkins issued his warrant, 21 Febru- ary, 1789, in obedience to the request of ten freeholders of the parish, calling a meeting on the 9th day of the follow- ing month for the purpose of organizing the parish.
At that meeting Samuel Wilkins was chosen moderator, Samuel Wilkins, Joshua Lovejoy, and Robert Fletcher, assessors, Jacob Curtice, collector, and Ephraim Barker, treasurer ; and it was voted to pay the collector sixpence on the pound for collecting the parish taxes.
18
274
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Grants of money were made from year to year for the support of Mr. Barnard and paying the current expenses of the parish ; and in the warrant calling a meeting, 21 Decem- ber, 1789, the voters were asked if they would elect one man to represent them in the General Court the next session !
For some years there seems to have been trouble in regard to the amount of salary to be paid Mr. Barnard. Several committees were appointed to confer with him in regard to it ; but no satisfactory settlement was made until 19 December, 1794, when a proposition, made by him, was accepted by the parish.
According to this arrangement he was to receive an annual salary of ninety pounds, stated in silver money at six shillings eight pence per ounce, payable in two install- ments,-the first on the third day of March, and the second on the third day of September,-annually, with interest from the time of payment stipulated, when it was not paid within three months from that time; and, if he became unable to discharge the duties of his office, from age or infirmity, he was to receive forty pounds a year during his natural life.
Thirty dollars was voted "to be expended in teaching psalmody," at a parish meeting held 19 March, 1798.
On the incorporation of the Second parish as the town of Mont Vernon, the necessity for a parish organization, sepa- rate from that of the town, ceased, and it was abandoned- the First parish becoming the town of Amherst.
THE MINISTERIAL LAND.
In accordance with the requirements of the grant of the township, one lot in each of the several divisions of the town-being one one hundred and twenty-third part of the whole-was set apart for the ministry ; and, at the annual town-meeting in March, 1794, William Gordon, Samuel Dana, and Daniel Campbell, were appointed a committee to
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THE MINISTERIAL LAND.
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inquire into the state of this land. They reported, 8 December, 1794,
"That upon examination of the proprietors' books, they found that lots were laid out and appropriated to that purpose in each of the several divisions in said town, and they were of opinion that the town had right, and that it was their duty to take all lawful means to prevent strip and waste being made thereon, and advised that the Selectmen be authorized and directed to prosecute, without exception, all those persons against whom they may judge sufficient proof can be made, who have in time past been guilty, or shall hereafter be guilty, of trespassing on said land."
At the annual meeting in March, 1797, the town voted to sell the ministerial land, and appointed the selectmen a committee to carry the vote into effect.
To this Mr. Barnard objected, saying the town had 110 right to sell the land ; but the town, at a meeting, held 26 June, 1797, directed the selectmen to proceed in the sale. It was also voted that the money received for the land should be equitably divided between the First and Second parishes, and placed at interest, the minister of the First parish to have the annual income from the share of that parish, and the minister of the Second parish the income from the share of his parish. This arrangement seems to have been satisfactory to all parties, and the ministerial land was accordingly sold.
Many votes are recorded excusing persons from payment of taxes as they claimed to belong to other parishes.
A case arose in the parish, in 1798, which gave rise to the first judicial decision made in the State in favor of religious toleration.
Dr. John Mussey, a resident in the parish at that time, was, 31 December, 1795, assessed seventy-five cents toward defraying the current charges of the parish, and, shortly after, two dollars and twenty-three cents toward paying Mr. Barnard's salary that year. These assessments he refused to pay, as he was a Presbyterian. After some delay the
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
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parish officers directed the collector to collect them by distraint. Mr. Mussey, refusing to pay, was arrested and confined in jail, but finally paid the taxes and costs, under protest, and was released.
At the March term of court in 1800, he brought a suit against the assessors of the parish to recover the money and costs.
This suit the parish voted to defend, and appointed Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, and Charles H. Ather- ton, a committee to manage it in their behalf.
After hearing the evidence produced, and pleas of counsel, the case was decided for the plaintiff, at the term of the superior court held at Amherst, in May, 1803, Chief Justice Jeremiah Smith holding that, although the beliefs of the Congregationalists and Presbyterians were the same, they differed in their church government and discipline, and were therefore different sects.
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