USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Andover > History of the town of Andover, New Hampshire, 1751-1906, Part I > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
DISTRICT No. 7
Begining at the South end of the 2d range on the east side of Black water, thence on the east side of sd River Northerly to the great Brook so called, thence on the east side of sd Brook Northerly to Timo. Sweatts Land, thence west on his south line to Mr. Kimballs Land, thence Northerly on Kimballs east line to the 4th Range, thence on the east line of lot No. 2 north to the town line, thence on the town line easterly to the Mountain Road, thence keeping the Mountain Road to east line of Capt. Bachelders Land, thence south to the Pond thence to the N. line of District No. 5 Keeping sd line and the west line of said District to the State Road, thence to the North end of the south (sec- ond?) Range, thence to the first mentioned bound.
DISTRICT No. 8
Begining at the South West of Hezekiah Blakes Land, running Northerly on the sd Hezekiah & Wm Blakes Land to the Range, then easterly on sd Range untill it strike's the east line of Stephen Tuckers Land, then westerly on Lt. Blakes Land round to the west side of the Tucker Lot then following the line to N. Chester line, then on sd line
57
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
easterly to Joseph & Josiah Philbricks east line, thence Southerly to the third Range, then on sd Range Easterly to Isaac Heaths Land, then on the west line of sd Heaths Land to the Pond then from the Pond on the east line of John Sawyers Land southerly to the Range line, then west- erly on sd Range to the east line of Lt. Abba Browns Land, thence North- erly on sd Browns Line untill it strikes Ebenezer Tuckers Land, thence on the easterly line of sd land untill it Strikes John Gales land then northerly to the Range, then on the Range west untill it strikes the above mentioned bound.
DISTRICT No. 9
Begining at the Mountain Road on N. Chester line, thence easterly on sd Line to the east line of David Sanborns Land, thence southerly to the north line of Samuel Fullers Land, thence westerly on his northerly line untill it strikes the 31 Range line, thence westerly to the Mountain Road, thence (to) the first mentioned bound.
DISTRICT No. 10
Bounds south on the number 5th & 6th Districts, west on No. 7th, north on No. Sth & 9th, east on No. 11th.
DISTRICT No. 11
Begining at the east end of the town, carrying the whole width of the town west untill it strikes the east Line of the Districts No. 6 & S.
Williard Emery Weare Hilliard Committee
Samuel Graves
At a town meeting on May 7, 1818, held for the purpose of altering the school districts in the easterly part of the town, it was "voted to choose a committee to report how the districts should be bounded. Chose Robert Barber, Willard Emery and Caleb Marston for said committee, who made the following report":
DISTRICT No. S
To begin at the southwest corner of Capt. Ellis' land at the range thence running easterly on said range till it strikes the west line 'of O. W. Rowe's land, thence northerly running on the west side of Anthony Emery's lot of land No. 59 in the 3d range untill it strikes the northerly line of the pond district so-called, thence on the said northerly line of said district 'till it strikes the easterly side line of Jedediah Philbricks land thence northerly on said Philbricks easterly line 'till it strikes the 4 range of lots, thence westerly following said range line 'till it strikes the easterly side of Mr. Pages land, thence southerly to the south end of said Pages land, thence westerly across said lot to the west line,
58
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
thence northerly 'till it strikes the aforesaid range, thence westerly following said range 'till it strikes the west side of Capt. Ellis' land, thence southerly untill it comes to the first mentioned bounds.
DISTRICT No. 9
Begining at the Mountain road on New Chester line thence easterly on said line to the easterly side of the Pecker lot No. 46 in the 4th range, thence southerly on said line to the range, thence westerly on said range to the aforesaid Mountain road, thence northerly following said road to the first mentioned bounds.
DISTRICT No. 10
Bounded west on No. 7, south on No. 5 and 6, east on No. 6 and on the east line of Lt. Abba Brown's land and the east of Ebenr Tucker's land to the west line of Pain R. Robies land to the east line of Richard Sanborns land then following district No. 8 to district No. 9, thence fol- lowing sd district to district No. 7.
DISTRICT No. 12
Beginning at the southeast corner of James Emery's land, thence northerly on the east line of said Emery's land to the range, thence northerly on the east line of lot No. 77 in the 3d range one third of the length of said lot, thence westerly across 10 lots to the westerly line of lot No. 59 in said 3d range one third of the length of said line from the south end thence southerly to the northwest corner of O. W. Rowes land, thence southerly to the mill brook, thence easterly on said brook to the west line of Joseph Pavare's land, thence southerly following said line to the south end of said lot, thence southerly till it strikes the west line of lot No. 21 in the first range to Salisbury line, thence east- erly to the pond brook, thence northerly on said brook to the pond, thence following the pond to the first mentioned bounds.
DISTRICT No. 13
Beginning at the southeast corner of John Philbrick's land at the range running northerly to New Chester line thence westerly on N. Chester to the Pecker lot No. 46 in the 4th range, thence southerly on said lot to the range, thence easterly to the bounds first mentioned.
DISTRICT No. 14
Bounded east on District No. 12, north on No. 12 and No. S, west on No. 10, south on No. 6.
Which report was excepted by a vote of said town
Attest Robt Barber Town Clerk
At a meeting of the inhabitants of school district No. 3d in Andover on the eleventh day of April agreeable to previous Notice ;- voted to divide said district between the houses of Joseph Morey & Peter Rix running on the east line of sd Rix land to the River & from thence
59
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
northerly to Newchester line. The Selectmen having taken into con- sideration the vote of the inhabitants of said District and the propriety there of have thought proper & do hereby divide said District into two separate districts according to the above vote of said District, the east- erly District to hold its former organization, the Westerly District shall Constitute the fifteenth district.
Attest Samuel Brown Town Clerk.
The above meeting was held in April, 1819.
RESIDENCES OF TAXPAYERS.
Taxpayers resident in the various school districts in Andover in 1825 .- After 1818 several propositions to divide school districts. were referred, by vote in town meeting, to the selectmen for determination. No record has been found of such action before 1825. It is supposed that District No. 16 was created by the. selectmen, but no record of its boundaries has been found.
In examining the following list it must be remembered that it contains only the names of landholders, or of sons living away from their parents. The poll taxes of sons residing with their parents were assessed and recorded against the father. The names of such sons do not appear on the tax lists.
District No. 1. Brown, Jonathan
Bachelder, David
Brown, Joseph, Capt.
Bachelder, Odlin
Currier, Edward
Bean, Benaiah
Eastman, Enoch
Bean, Edward
Eastman, Ephraim
Burpee, Nathan
Eastman, Jacob
Burpee, Tileus
Elkins, Jeremiah
Cilley, Aaron
Huntoon, Joseph, Capt.
Cilley, Edmond H.
Huntoon, Nathaniel
Cilley, Jabez
Huntoon, Phineas
Mann, John
Huntoon, William
Mayo, John
Langley, Isaiah Philbrick, Samuel
Sleeper, David
Scribner, Albert
District No. 2.
Scribner, David
Brown, Moses, Lieut. Brown, John
Scribner, Jonathan
Swain, Jonathan
Seavey, Andrew
Elkins, Josiah
60
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Swett, John W., 2d
Swett, Joseph
On Raccoon Hill :
Taylor, John
Hoit, Reuben
Thompson, Herod
Huntoon, Charles
Petengill, Amos, Dea.
Tirrill, Enoch E.
Severance, James, Dea.
Shaw, John
District No. 3.
Bullard, Nathan
Butterfield, Samuel
Chesley, William
Cilley, Benjamin
Cilley, Benjamin
Cilley, Elijah
District No. 5.
Cilley, Stephen
Cilley, Dearborn
Cilley, Thomas J.
Cilley, Jonathan
Davis, David
Connor, Simeon
Dearborn, Dudley
Durgin, Clark
Dearborn, Renben
Durgin, Gershom, Jr.
Downs, Reuben
Durgin, John
Fifield, Peter
Durgin, Nathan
Fowler, Joseph
Hilton, Charles
Gove, Edward
Hilton, Elijah
Huntoon, Daniel, Lieut.
Rowe, John
Huntoon, John
Rowe, John, Jr.
Keniston, Jonathan
Kimball, Joseph
Scribner, William
Kimball, Samuel
Mitchell, Daniel
Morey, Joseph
District No. 6.
Ordway, Daniel
Emery, John
Proctor, A. B.
Emery, Joseph
Proctor, William
Fellows, Joseph E.
Roberts, William
Fellows, Stephen
Robertson, Hendrick
Fuller, Moses
Sanborn, Jonathan
Page, Joseph
Pevare, James N.
Seavey, David
Seavey, Joshua Slack, John H.
Thompson, Joseph C.
Tirrill, Jeremiah E.
Tasse, William
Vose, Herbert
Whitcher, Joseph
Woodbury, Nathan
District No. 4.
Bennet, Tilton
Straw, Sargent
Scribner, Iddo
Swett, William
61
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Rollins, Simeon
Swett, John D.
Rollins, Simeon, Jr.
Rowe, Benjamin
Rowe, Jacob
Rowe, Moses
Tucker, James, Capt.
Rowe, Obediah W.
Scribner, John
Swett, John W.
District No. 7.
District No. 8.
Babcock, Josiah, Rev.
Bachelder, Reuben, 2d.
Babcock, Josiah, Esq.
Brown, Stephen
Bachelder, Josiah
Emery, Henry
Fellows, Nathaniel
Hobbs, Thomas C.
Bartlett, Jeremiah
Bartlett, Nathaniel
Bartlett, Nathaniel, Jr.
Buswell, David
Sanborn, Ephraim
Graves, Jacob
Weare, Timothy
Graves, Jesse
District No. 9.
Hazeltine, J. H. M.
Dickerson, Watson
Hobbs, John Hobbs, John, Jr.
Graves, William
Seavey, Enoch
Hubbard, Richard
Tilton, Jonathan
Jameson, Nathaniel
Tilton, Joseph
Keniston, Samuel
Tilton, Silas B.
Merrill, Silas, Dr.
Tucker, William
Philbrick, Jedediah
Tucker, William, Jr.
Philbrick, Joseph
District No. 10.
Bachelder, Reuben
Sargent. Ephraim K.
Bailey, Friend
Seavey, Henry
Bailey, Jacob E.
Sleeper, Nehemiah
Bailey, James
Bailey, John
Barber, Robert
Smith, Samuel Swett, John
Blake, William Brown, Joseph
Swett, Samuel Swett, Timothy Thomson, Ralph
Tyler, Benjamin M. Weare, Jonathan, Col. Weare, Mesheck
Bachelder, Mark
Bachelder, Mark, Jr.
Hubbard, Sanders Mowe, Asa Robie, Ichabod
Philbrick, Joseph, Jr. Roberts, Jonathan
Sleeper, Stephen Smith, Daniel
62
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Brown, Reuben
Colby, Ebenezer
Brown, Samuel
Colby, Ezekiel
Bryant, J. J.
Colby, John
Bryant, J. Y.
Colby, John, Jr.
Cass, Benjamin
Evans, Josiah, Capt.
Cilley, Ebenezer
Huse, John
Cilley, John
Morrill, Robert, Jr.
Dyer, David
Morse, James
Fellows, Gilmore
Newton, James
Fuller, Samuel
Pike, Hugh
Gove, Nathaniel
Pike, Samuel
Gove, Page
Pike, Simon
Green, Alba
Quimby, Jeremiah
Hilton, H. D., Capt.
Knowles, Ezekiel
District No. 12.
Ladd, Joseph
Ash, John
Leeds, Nathan
Ash, Nathaniel
Martin, Jonathan
Ash, William
Marston, James
Bowers, Gardner
Merrill, Enoch, Capt.
Emery, James
Noyes, Joseph
Emery, Jonathan P.
Page, Samuel
Holt, Enoch
Sanborn, David
Tilton, Ebenezer, Jr.
Pevare, Nathaniel
Tilton, Levi
Rowe, Joseph
Tucker, James, Jr.
Sawyer, John
Tucker, Jonathan
Sawyer, John, Jr.
Tucker, Moses
Weare, Joshua L.
White, Thomas R.
Woodbury, John, Lieut.
District No. 11.
Barney, Horace
Blake, Royal
Bootman, Eli
Call, Hazen
Call, Thomas W.
Cilley, Charles
Cilley, Joseph
Cilley, Samuel
Fuller, Joseph
Page, Isaac
Page, Phineas
Philbrick, Joseph
Scribner, Parker
Tilton, Samuel
District No. 13.
Judkins, Samuel
Sanborn, Jonathan P.
Morrill, Robert
Cilley, Josiah
63
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
District No. 14.
Elkins, Tilton, Dr. Elsworth, John
Cross, Caleb
Emery, Anthony
Gale, Benjamin
Emery, Jonathan
Gale, James
Emery, Willard
Keniston, Benjamin
Emery, Willard, 2d
Keniston, Jonathan, Jr.
Emery, William, Jr.
Potter, Richard
Emery, William, 3d
Proctor, James, Lieut.
Fellows, Joseph
Severance, John, Lieut.
Fifield, Jacob
Whitney, Jeremiah
Marston, Caleb, Capt.
District No. 16.
Mowe, James
Ash, Ira
Robie, Paine R.
Bachelder, Jacob, Lieut.
Rowell, Moses
Blanchard, Joseph
Stevens, George
Brown, John, Lieut.
District No. 15.
Brown, Richard
Cilley, Moses
Heath, Isaac
Clark, Thomas
Pevear, Joseph
Currier, Ebenezer
Simonds, David M.
Currier, Ebenezer, Jr.
Simonds, James
Downes, Isaac
Simonds, James, Jr.
Dudley, Hubbard
Simonds, John
Dudley, John
In 1863 the boundaries of the school districts in the town were re-established by a committee consisting of Aaron Cilley, Jr., Royal F. Eastman and William B. Emery. Their report was adopted March 10, 1863.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
A meeting of the proprietors of the township of New Breton was called on May 9, 1768, to see "if they would hire preaching for any part of this year."
On April 13, 1772, a meeting of the proprietors was called for May 4, to see if they "would agree to build a meeting house in said township."
At a meeting on May 18, 1772: "Voted that a meeting house be Built in said Township of New Britain for the Publick wor- ship of God,- said house to be 20 feet wide and 30 feet in length and nine feet stud one story high to be well Boarded on the Sides and Ends with feather Edged Boards the Roof well Boarded and Shingled Proper Doors made and Double floor Laid over the whole frame below, Plank Laid for People to Sit on and a Decent Desk for the minister : and where as Mr. Benjamin Til- ton and Mr. Benjamin Eaton have agreed to Build said house for the use of the Proprietors for the sum of sixty four dollars and to find all meterils for the same: to be compleated in work- manlike manner within on year : to be set as near the mills which are now built in said Township as they shall think most conven- ient they Procuring Land whereon to set said house: Therefore voted that said Tilton & Eaton be a Committee to Build said meeting house on the terms above mentioned and that they be Paid by the Treasurer of the Proprietors the above mentioned sum of sixty four Dollars one half to be Paid within six months the other half when said house shall be compleated as above mentioned."
"Voted :- that one dollar and half be Raised on each original Right in said Township of New Brittain for Building a meeting house and Repairing Roads."
The meeting house was completed and ready for occupation in the spring of 1773 and served for a church, town house and hall for twenty-three years. It was situated on the opposite side of the road from the district schoolhouse at East Andover, as it existed in 1900, and was within twenty rods of the first sawmill and gristmill in town.
65
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
At a meeting on June 1, 1773, the proprietors voted "that three Shillings Lawfull money be Raised on each original Right of the Proprietors of New Brittain for hireing Preaching for the Pres- ent year."
Voted, "Joseph Fellows and William Emery be chosen a com- mittee to hire sum suitable Person to Preach in the Township of New Brittain."
The above committee hired the first minister in town, a Mr. Brown, who boarded with Joseph Fellows.
On May 2, 1774, voted, "that Thirty Dollars be paid out of the Proprietors money which they have for the Mill; and that William Emery and Nathan Rowe be a Committee to hier some Sutable Parson to Preach in the Township of New Brittain the Insuing year and the Committee to Draw the Thirty Dollars out of the Proprietor's Treasurer's hands for Preaching in said Township."
On April 11, 1775, the proprietors voted "that half a dollar be raised on each original Right of the Proprietors of New Brittain for hiring Preaching in the Township the present year."
This was the last meeting called by the proprietors.
The inhabitants of New Breton established a town government in 1773. On March 14, 1775, they voted "to pay Capt. William Emery for boarding the minister last year out of the surplus money that was left in the year 1774."
It will be seen that while the proprietors exercised no author- ity in the government of the town, they employed the minister and appropriated the money to pay him. Soon after the organ- ization of the town government, and for many years afterwards, the affairs of the church were managed in the "town meeting." The whole town was the church parish and each citizen paid a "minister's tax." The records show that in some years several town meetings were held for church and for business purposes jointly.
On October 19, 1775, William Blake was chosen "to take care of the meeting house." This was the first meeting-house, built by Tilton and Eaton for $64, and stood a few feet southwest of the entrance to the present North Church at East Andover.
September 1, 1779, voted "to raise money to hire four days preaching and Joseph Philbrick was chose to hire the preacher." 5
66
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
April 6, 1780, voted "not to hire any preaching."
August 31, 1780, "Voted to raise 1200 Dollars to hire Preach- ing & voted that the Selectmen hire a Preacher."
A national Thanksgiving, appointed for December 7, 1780, is the first reference to any Thanksgiving Day in the town records.
July 16, 1781, voted, "to clear up the trees fell down on the Minister's land the present year." Voted, "to raise 30 dollars old way to hire Preaching the Present year and Chose Samuel Blake, Nathan Row and Jona. Weare a Committee to hire the man."
August 31, 1781, voted "to Raise 1200 Dollars to hire Preach- ing"; voted "that the Selectmen hire a preacher."
October 1, 1781, voted "to chuse a Committee to look out a place to build a meeting house and Samuel Blake, Jonathan Weare and Simeon Rollings chosen a Committee."
The passing of the above vote was the beginning of a contro- versy that lasted for fifteen years. In 1781, the first meeting- house, costing originally $64, had become inadequate, unattrac- tive and offensive to the taste of many of the people of the town. What was tolerable under the primitive conditions of 1773 had become, with more prosperous surroundings, an uncomfortable and unsightly house of worship. Where shall the new building be located ? was the apparent question for discussion, but many conflicting interests soon made the question a very complex one.
What occurred during the intervals between the frequent town meetings that took cognizance of the matter is now only a matter of conjecture, but the records of the meetings show no lack of lively interest in the subject.
Each man had great faith in his own opinions, was jealous of his privileges and was zealous to do his duty, as he saw it, as a payer of taxes for the support of the church. From fragments of tradition and from the internal evidence of the records, it is plain that there were two well-defined parties in the struggle : the one progressive and openly active; the other conservative but persistent, relying mainly on its weight for success. There still remained, however, an unattached contingent, acknowledg- ing allegiance with neither side, but holding the balance of power in many cases and making and unmaking town meeting verdicts with a facility that was unhampered by consistency.
67
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
While the first meeting-house was standing there seemed to be little prospeet for agreement on a site for a new one. For fourteen years the conflict waxed and waned until patience was exhausted. Finally, in 1795, the Anglo-Saxon disposition to do something triumphed and, under the protection of dim moonlight, Paul Smith Marston, for many years a trusted official of the town, assisted by his two sons, Caleb and Israel, and by John Fellows, Ebenezer Fellows and others, sawed off the corner braces and corner post tenons of the meeting-house frame and so weakened it generally that it was easily thrown down and destroyed. Mr. Charles Hilton, who kept a tavern on the present Charles A. Durgin place, gave a generous supper to Mr. Marston and his associates on the night the meeting-house was destroyed.
Similar action outside of legal limitations was not unknown in church cireles in some of the neighboring towns. During a church controversy in Boscawen over the payment of the min- ister's tax, the meeting-house at the eastern part of the town was burned on February 22, 1798.
When the house was torn down by Paul S. Marston and his friends, the neighborhood poet added the following to his list of literary gems :
Few and short were the prayers they said Before going their tools to borrow; They chopped, they split, they sawed, they cut, And no church was there on the morrow.
As Andover was now without a meeting-house, a decision about the location of the site for the new building became imperative and an agreement was soon reached. The struggle over the loea- tion of the new meeting-house was probably the most unfortunate event in the history of the town, for its effects have been far- reaching, not only in the religious but in the social and political life of the community.
At first the contest was between those who wanted a new meet- ing-house and those who were satisfied with the old one. At that time the settlers were grouped mainly at three points in the town : first, in the eastern seetion on the river road and about Chance Pond; second, at East Andover, including the districts not far from the old meeting-house, and third, those at the then west end of the town, principally about the village now known
68
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
as the "Centre." Each group would have been pleased to see the new meeting-house in its own section. Any two of the sec- tions could combine to defeat the third. As the discussion con- tinued, it was proposed to build two meeting-houses, one at each end of the town, but that scheme lacked the necessary votes. At many of the town meetings it was not a difficult task to settle upon some location for the new building, but it was equally easy at the next meeting, held perhaps in a few days or weeks, to undo all the work of the previous meeting. For fourteen years this struggle continued, growing more bitter as the years went by.
Upon the destruction of the first meeting-house, in 1795, a cessation of active hostilities occurred for a short time, but the poison of factious opposition was still working in the church and in the town. Unwillingness to pay the minister's tax, impatience with the monotony of didactic and doctrinal sermons, an ill- defined preference for the emotional, fervid preaching of "ex- horters," "evangelists," and the self-trained ministers of the new Freewill Baptist denomination, all tended to the disorgan- ization of the first church, which practically disappeared after the resignation of Mr. Badcock in 1809.
During the contest over the location of the new meeting-house the citizen began to lose confidence in the character and authority of the church and in the unselfishness of his neighbors. In the absence of the conservative influence of the "settled minister," religious preaching, practice and experience ran wild for a whole generation. Fear of Satan, and a frantic attempt to destroy his influence by new religious organizations took the place of a trust- ful love of God and a dedication of individual strength and spirit to a reasonable service to God and humanity.
The rapid multiplication of religious societies and the fre- quent reconversion of many people at the constantly recurring revivals lead, now, to the conclusion that jealousy among the soci- eties and the struggle among ambitions, untrained, sometimes ignorant preachers for notoriety, as well as for a long list of quiekened converts, tended not only to weaken the churches and the cause of true religion, but to materially lower the standard of individual character in the community at large. Traditions fortified by the few available records leave an unpleasant im- pression of the religious experiences of that epoch, when sound
69
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
and emotion in the pulpit and apparent hysteria in the pews counted for more than logical argument or a vigorous presenta- tion of religious or moral truth.
The effect of the struggle over the location of the new meeting- house has continually appeared, even down to the present time, in many phases of social, civil and political life. Since the divi- sion of the town to form a part of the town of Franklin there have been two instead of three sections of the town to be con- sidered; and the mustering of the east end against the west, or the west end against the east, in many matters that involve the welfare of the whole town is probably a thoughtless but neverthe- less a certainly positive damage to the whole community. A little Christian charity and a due consideration of the value of neighborly love and respect has already materially modified the former jealousy and asperity, and it seems reasonably certain that an honest study and application of the precepts of the Golden Rule will completely eradicate the taint of the meeting- house war of more than a century ago.
The brief records of the town meetings concerning the selec- tion of a site for the new meeting-house and other church matters are given below :
October 15, 1781: Voted, "to build a meeting house upon the Centre Square."
March 18, 1782: Voted, "to raise 60 dollars to hire Preaching the ensuing year." Voted, "to raise 75 dollars to hire work on the minister's lot." Voted, "to remove the meeting house out to the Highway and repair it."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.