USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Andover > History of the town of Andover, New Hampshire, 1751-1906, Part I > Part 9
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Article 7 Anyone may become a member of this society by having his name affixed to the Constitution; and any member removing from the vicinity of this society shall be considered free from all liabilities occurring after said removal.
Article S. Any amendments or alterations may be made to this con- stitution by a vote of the society at any regular meeting provided that notice of the same be given in the warrant for calling said meeting.
Bachelder, Josiah
Emery, Etta
Baehelder, William A.
Emery, William
Bailey, Cyrus
Farrington, William B.
Bayley, James
Farrington, Mrs. William B.
Butler, Oliver
Fifield, Ellen Connor
Celley, Henry D.
Fifield, John T.
Celley, Jonathan
French, Emmeline
Clay, John
Haley, Mrs. George H.
Clay, Payson R.
Haley, Thomas
Cole, C. W.
Hall, Andrew J.
Cole, Lorin P.
Hall, Lyman E.
Connor, James
Hilliard, Timothy
Currier, Ebenezer
Hoyt, George F.
Currier, Mrs. M. B.
Huntoon, H. B.
Eastman, Ellen F.
Kilburn, B. F.
Emery, Alphonso A.
Leavitt, J. C.
Chase, Elbridge G.
Haley, George H.
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
Merrill, Deborah
Shaw, Alice M.
Merrill, E. B.
Shaw, Willis A.
Merrill, Elihu C.
Tuttle, Addison
Philbrick, J. D.
Weare, Jonathan
Scribner, Benjamin F.
Weymouth, Daniel
Severance, Ziba
Weymouth, Henry A.
Shackford, John L.
White, James G.
The following legal notice, dated March 18, 1854, was printed in the Independent Democrat at Concord, April 20, 1854:
Notice is hereby given that Henry D. Celley, Ziba Severance, Henry A. Weymouth, Thomas Haley, and their associates, have formed them- selves into a Religious Society at East Andover N. H., assuming all the responsibilities, rights and privileges of the laws of the State made and provided.
At the first meeting in March, 1854, W. A. Bachelder was chosen clerk and William Emery, James Connor and Daniel Wey- mouth, directors.
The following is from the pen of W. A. Bachelder, the clerk of the society :
Free Will Baptist Meeting Houses at East Andover.
The first one was raised on June 25 1839 without any ardent spirits. It was dedicated Dec. 25, 1839; sermon by Elder Ebenezer Fisk of New Hampton; Elders Joseph Elliott of Franklin, Nahum Brooks, E. Watson and David Moody assisting in the service. James Monroe Bailey wrote an original hymn which was sung.
This house was burned May 23, 1871 from a fire originating from an engine on the railroad ;- also burning Major N. Emerson's house. In due time the society by their agent H. A. Weymouth entered a suit against the railroad for damage and after much delay recovered from the Northern Railroad Co. $1500. which enabled the society to pay the debts contracted in building the new house, above the sale of pews and several contributions. The cost of the new house was about $2900. It was dedicated June 3, 1874: sermon by Rev. J. E. Dame of Lowell Mass., able and eloquent, more than an hour long. Rev. J. C. Osgood of Con- toocook read the Scriptures and the prayers were by Rev. Mr. Martin, Rev. J. Monroe Bailey and Rev. C. B. Griffin. Fine music was furnished by the choir.
The records of this church, save for the business meetings, have not been found; but the following list of members in 1893, was discovered among the records of annual meetings :
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HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Bachelder, William A.
Haley, George H.
Clay, John
Haley, Mrs. George H.
Clay, Payson R.
IIall, Andrew J.
Cole, C. W.
HIall, Lyman E.
Cole, Lorin P.
HIuntoon, II. B.
Currier, Ebenezer
Leavitt, J. C.
Currier, Mrs. M. B.
Merrill, Deborah
Eastman, Ellen F.
Merrill, E. B.
Farrington, W. B.
Merrill, Elihn C.
Farrington, Mrs. W. B.
Shaw, Alice M.
Fifield, Ellen C.
Shaw, Willis A.
Fifield, John T.
Weymouth, Henry A.
French, Emmeline
THE BAPTIST UNION SOCIETY.
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough S.S.
Notice is hereby given that a number of Inhabitants of Andover met at the Meeting House in said town on the 14th day of September 1819 for the purpose of forming themselves into a religious Society agreeable to an Act of the Legislature of this State passed July 1st 1819.
(1) Chose Dea. William True Chairman
(2) Joseph Philbrick Jr. Clerk
(3) Capt. James Tucker President
(4) Capt. Caleb Marston ? Dea. William True
Directors
66
(5) Joseph Brown Treasurer
(6) Voted to assume and bear the name and title of the "First Bap- tist Union Society" in Andover N. H.
(7) Voted to hold our Annual Meetings on the first Wednesday in September.
J. Philbrick Jr. Clerk of the Society
The above society soon disappeared, probably, as no further record has been found.
FIRST CALVANISTIC BAPTIST SOCIETY.
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough S.S.
Agreeable to an Act of the Legislature of New Hampshire, passed June Session 1819, authorizing and empowering each or any sect, or denomination of Christians in the State to associate and form Societies for the support of the gospel :-
We, James Severens, Benjamin Cilley, Jonathan Keniston, Peter
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
Sweatt and others, met at the house of Peter Sweatt on Tuesday the fourth day of April 1820, and formed ourselves into a society by the name of the first "Calvinistic Baptist Society" of Andover, and hereby agree to subject ourselves to such rules, regulations and by-laws as a majority of the society shall vote. By order of the society
Joseph F. Huntoon Clerk.
(1) Chose Dea. James Severens President
(2) Joseph F. Huntoon Clerk
(3) Jonathan Keniston Directors
Phineas Huntoon
(4) Peter Sweatt Treasurer
(5) Voted to hold our annual meeting on the first Tuesday in April. Joseph Huntoon clerk
April 4, 1820
The unwonted formality of this organization seems to have exhausted the vitality of the society, for no further record of progress or existence has been found.
On May 30, 1810, a Freewill Baptist Church was organized at the Centre. In 1810 Elder Ebenezer Chase was ordained as pas- tor. Jonathan Keniston was the ruling elder and Moses Sleeper was deacon.
This church was scattered in 1813 or 1814.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The "Monthly Meeting," 1801 to 1819, was practically a Free- will Baptist organization. A lack of thorough organization and discipline, however, permitted persons of divergent, sometimes fantastic, religious views and creeds, to become members of the society and it finally became a house divided against itself. Un- der these conditions, any voluntary organization would soon fall to pieces. To avoid such a catastrophe a new organization was devised which, by adopting two names in its title, one referring to the former affiliation of most of its members; and, by taking "the Word of God as the only rule of faith and practice," as their declaration of faith, they hoped to form a platform on which all the prevalent evangelical creeds could find room.
Out of this condition sprang, on September 14, 1819, the "'Christian Baptist" Church which, with varying prosperity, ex- isted until a real Freewill Baptist Church was formed in 1830. The first deacons of the Christian Baptist Church were Stephen
102
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Sleeper and Joseph E. Fellows, followed by Nathan Woodbury and Caleb Robie.
The withdrawal of the Baptist element, to form the new church, left the "Christian" portion of the Christian Baptist organiza- tion by themselves. From this time, January 7, 1830, dates the separate organization of the "Christian Church" in Andover.
From 1831 to 1839 the meeting-house, now the North Church, was used jointly by the Freewill Baptists and the Christians, gen- erally on alternate Sundays. In 1839 the Freewill Baptists erected a house for themselves, leaving the old meeting-house in the hands of the Christian denomination.
At the town meeting on March 10, 1840, it was voted that "the town relinquish their claim to the East Meeting house provided that the proprietors or some religious society will repair the same."
The town meetings had been held. generally, in the meeting- house, but it was now felt that the frequent occupation of the building by a political gathering with the usual accessories and tumult, was not appropriate for a house of worship.
A meeting of the proprietors of the "East Meeting House" was held at the meeting-house on March 16, 1840.
Article 3 in the warrant read : "To see if the Proprietors will vote to repair said house."
Article 4. "To see how said house shall be repaired."
The owners of thirty and two-thirds pews voted for repairing the church and those representing eighteen and one-third pews voted against it.
Those voting for repairing were :
Friend Bailey,
Henry Emery,
Mrs. Bachelder,
Joseph Fellows,
Anna Brown,
Stephen Fellows,
Joseph Brown,
Jacob Graves,
Joseph Brown,
Elijah Hilton.
Moses Brown,
Henry Hilton,
Reuben Brown,
Reuel Long.
Gershom Durgin,
Caleb Marston.
Clark Durgin,
Caleb Marston,
Anthony Emery,
James Marston,
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
Enoch Osgood,
Moses Rowell,
Joseph Osgood,
Moses Sawyer,
Joseph A. Rowe,
James Tucker.
Moses Rowe,
Those voting against repairing the church were :
James Bailey,
James Philbrick,
Josiah Bachelder,
Simeon Rollins,
Mark Bachelder, A. J. Tucker,
Dearborn Cilley,
James Tucker,
Josiah Cilley,
Moses Tucker,
Sam Cilley,
John G. Weare,
Jonathan Emery,
Mesheck Weare,
Joseph B. Emery,
Timothy Weare.
William Emery,
A committee, consisting of William Parsons, John Rowell and Aaron A. Palmer, was appointed to appraise the pews in said house. On March 26, 1840, the committee reported that "the pews in the floor are worth $8.50 per pew and those in the gallery $1.00 per pew. In coming to this conclusion ; 1st we find the land is worth $50.00; 2ª the underpinning is worth $100.00; 3ª the house is worth $252.50. Making in all $402.50."
A committee for repairing the meeting-house consisted of Capt. Caleb Marston, James Marston, Sr. and Capt. William Graves. Willard Emery was the financial agent.
The repairs of the house were finished at a cost of $2,146.42 and the house was rededicated December 3, 1840. The repairs and the dedication were under the direction of the Christian de- nomination and the house was used by that denomination until about 1862. At the dedication of the church Elder Mark Fer- nald of Kittery, Me., preached the sermon. He was known to be strongly opposed to any instrumental music in church and he had been promised that none should be used, but he felt it un- likely that the promise could be kept. Accordingly when it was time for him to "give out the hymn," he said: "Let us sing and fiddle to the praise of God" hymn No .-
The bell now hanging in the belfry of the North Church was placed in position November 10, 1840. The money for the pur-
104
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
chase of the bell was raised by subscription and forty-six names were on the subscription list. The bell was bought by Clark Durgin of John Baker of Boston, on October 25, 1840. It weighed 844 pounds and cost, delivered, $242.75. The bell was first used on the evening of November 10, 1840, to celebrate the election of William Henry Harrison, "Old Tippecanoe," as president of the United States. A small minority of the sub- scribers for the bell, representing $16, were adherents of General Harrison. The majority objected to the use of the bell for such partisan political purposes, and much bitter ill feeling was developed.
METHODIST CHURCH.
A Methodist society was organized at the Centre in 1827, Maj. William Proctor being the leading member of the organization. Meetings were held in the church at stated intervals and were well attended. The membership at its most prosperous period is believed to have been about thirty.
The first preachers in 1827 were Matthew and Richard New- hall. From 1827 to 1838 the full list of preachers is as follows :
1828, William Kimball and Sereno Fisk.
.
1829, John Adams and Caleb Bede.
1830, J. B. H. Norris and Sylvester Williams.
1831, J. B. H. Norris and S. Harket.
1832, Nathaniel Ladd and S. P. Williams.
1833, J. W. Morey and M. Quimby.
1834, Jonas Scott and H. Clark.
1835, E. H. Ladd.
1836, John L. Smith ("Hallelujah John").
1837, John L. Smith.
1838, A. Folsom and D. Jones.
After this date there was only occasional preaching and the organization gradually died out.
In 1832 the Andover circuit, embracing the Andover and Bos- cawen churches, was formed. A notable camp meeting was held in June, 1834, on the plains near the schoolhouse by the societies of this denomination. Many tents were pitched, the speakers
105
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
were numerous and the meeting continued for four days. Dur- ing its best days the Andover society was widely known for its zeal and enthusiasm.
THE SO-CALLED UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
The following account of the organization of a Unitarian soei- ety, with a list of members, was found among the papers of Mr. Elijah Hilton. This paper has doubtless been the foundation for the statement that a Unitarian Church was formed in Andover in 1830.
A careful examination of the names in the list of members will disclose the fact that if it was a Unitarian Church, as the religious world has always understood those terms, then those members were not aware of the faet.
Benaiah Bean was a well-known, enthusiastic, evangelical ex- horter, as was also Peter E. Swett. Joseph E. Fellows, Stephen Fellows, Asa C. Morrison and Nehemiah D. Sleeper were at that time all well-known evangelical preachers, whose faith and prac- tice were diametrically opposed to the doctrines and thought of Unitarians. The use of the word "Unitarian" arose, no doubt, from a misinterpretation of its meaning. The founders were evidently hoping for a "union" church. No further record of this organization has been found.
The following preamble and statement present in a somewhat ambiguous way, the aims and hopes of the society :
Whereas religion and morality grounded on Evangelical principals lay the firmest foundation for happiness here and hereafter and in order to cultivate and support this grand principle it becomes nesessary that men associate together or form themselves into Societys for the mutual benefit and happiness of each other and such is the lot of human nature in this imperfect State that it becomes necessary for every Society to form and adopt certing rules or regulations for a ruling principle of government for the mutual happiness of the whole :-
Therefore we the undersigners have formed ourselves into a Society by the name of the first Unitarian Society in Andover and agree that our proportion of the interest-money be appropriated for the use of S'd Society :-
Mark Batchelder Benaiah Bean
Readmon Bean Israel Blake
John Brown
Reuben Brown
Bracket Clark
Charles Connor
106
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Watson Dickerson
Caleb Robie John Rowe John Rowe Jr.
Joseph A. Rowe Nathan Rowe William Sandborn
Enoch F. Sceva
Benjamin Scribner
Isaac Scribner
James Severans
Nathaniel Fellows
David M. Simonds
Stephen Fellows
Peter Simonds
Elijah Hilton Sanders Hobart John Hobbs
Nehemiah D. Sleeper
John Hobbs Jr.
Thomas Sleeper
Enoch Holt
Samuel Smith
John Jameson
George Stevens
Samuel Kinerson
John Swett
Ezekiel Knowles
John D. Swett
Ruel Long
Peter E. Swett
Benjamin Mason
Timothy Swett
Asa C. Morrison Asa Mowe
Silas B. Tilton
Joseph Page
Benjamin Tucker
Orlando Page
William Tucker Jr.
Isaac Paige
Nathan Woodbury
John Pevear
Benjamin E. Woodman
John S. Rand
The following names marked "list of church members," but- with no other words or dates, were found with the preceding dec- laration and list of members. It is highly probable that this is- a later list of the same membership, containing additional names. The first list is obviously incomplete, since it contains no names of women. The following list contains the names of many of the wives of men named in the first list :
Benaiah Bean, John Brown, Joseph Brown, Reuben Brown, William Brown,
William Cilley, Nathan Durgin, Willard Emery,
Joseph E. Fellows,
Stephen Fellows,
Philo Cilley, David Fuller,
Stephen Cilley,
Sanders Hobart,
Gershom Durgin Gregory Durgin Nathan Durgin Anthony Emery John Emery Joseph B. Emery Willard Emery John Fellows Joseph E. Fellows
David Sleeper
Enos Sleeper
Joseph Tilton
107
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
Enoch Jones,
Nathan Rowe,
Isaiah Langley,
Ruel Long,
Joshua Sceva, Nehemiah D. Sleeper,
Asa C. Morrison,
George Stevens,
Peter E. Swett,
Benjamin Osgood, Joseph Osgood,
Silas B. Tilton,
Daniel Rowe, John Rowe,
Jesse Thompson, Nathaniel Webster.
Harriet Batchelder,
Lydia Langley,
Susan Bean,
Nancy Morrison,
Eliza Blackmar,
Joanna Ordway,
Abigail Brown,
Dolly Page,
Lydia Brown,
Jane Page,
Polly Brown,
Polly Philbrick,
Polly Brown, 2d,
Sally W. Philbriek,
Sally Brown,
Tryphena Philbrick,
Susan Brown,
Lneinda Robbins,
Betsey Cilley,
Cynthia Roberts,
Jemima Connor,
Betsey Rowe,
Mary Dean,
Dolly Rowe,
Polly Dimond,
Eliza Rowe,
Mercy Durgin,
Elsa Rowe,
Miriam Durgin,
Rebecca Rowe,
Abigail Emery,
Esther Sanborn,
Sarah Emery,
Maria Sanborn,
Harriet Fellows,
Maria Sceva,
Polly Fellows,
Nancy Sceva,
Polly Fellows, 2d, Ann Fifield,
Abigail Scribner,
Hannah Fuller, Nancy Fuller, Imcy Gale,
Eliza C. Swett,
Nancy Gove,
Abigail Tilton, Polly Tilton,
Nancy Hilton,
Betsey Tucker,
Mary Huntoon,
Dolly Wadleigh,
Apphia Woodbury.
Edith Judkins,
Sally Sceva,
Lydia Stevens,
108
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
The Universalist society was organized in 1819, as set forth in the following records :
At a meeting of a number of Brethren in Andover, believing in the restoration of all men through Jesus Christ, attended on Brother Peter Fifield while he read a statement of the faith once delivered to the saints, and after a few preliminary remarks on the same, voted unan- imously that Brother Peter Fifield be Chairman of this Meeting and Jere E. Tirrill Clerk
Voted, unanimously that the Brethren present form themselves into a society for the support of the Gospel, by the name of the First Univer- sal Society in Andover.
Voted, that the annual meeting of this society be holden on the first 'Tuesday in March.
Voted, that it be the duty of the Clerk to notify the annual meeting.
Voted, that John Tirrill, Benj. Thompson and Samuel Elkins be a committee to transact all secular concerns of this society.
Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to the first Tuesday in March.
March 2 1819
Met according to adjournment.
Voted, that the Brethren petition the Legislature to be incorporated by the name of the First Universal Society of Andover N. H.
Voted, to choose a committee to form a petition and present the same to the Legislature for the above purpose
Meeting dismissed.
Jere E. Tirrill, Clerk Peter Fifield, Chairman
On the petition of Robert Barber, Peter Fifield, Tilton Elkins and their associates, the society was incorporated by Aet of the Legislature, in accordance with the terms of the petition, June 24, 1819.
In 1820 $16 was raised to defray the ordinary expenses for the year.
The meetings of this society were generally held at private houses. Those most frequently used were the homes of Robert Barber, Samuel Brown, John J. Bryant, Reuben Dearborn, Ger- shom Durgin and Peter Fifield. Meetings were held occasionally in the schoolhouse in Distriet No. 10, in the Franklin House at the Centre and in the tavern of Dudley Dearborn.
No record has been found of the membership before 1827; nor has any record been found of the ministers during the existence
109
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHIES.
of the society. It is known that Robert Bartlett preached occa- sionally soon after the formation of the society. Walter Harri- man of Warner, afterwards governor of this state, preached fre- quently between 1843 and 1850. Rev. Nathan R. Wright of Washington, N. H., preached occasionally between 1847 and 1853.
In 1825 it is recorded that the following persons withdrew from the society :
Daniel Huntoon,
Tilton Elkins,
Isaiah Langley,
Daniel Mitchell,
Joseph S. IIuntoon, John Huntoon,
Richard Potter,
Jona. Sanborn,
Peter Fifield,
James Proctor.
As all of the above names, except those of Richard Potter and James Proctor, appear in a subsequent list, it is probable that the withdrawal was temporary.
The record of membership on March 6, 1827, is as given below :
Barber, Robert
Kimball, Joseph
Blake, William
Langley, Isaiah
Brown, Samuel
Mitchell, Daniel
Brown, Stephen
Mitchell, J. T.
Chesley, William
Mitchell, William
Cilley, Benjamin D.
Roberts, Jonathan
Davis, David
Roberts, Jonathan, Jr.
Dudley, Hubbard
Roberts, William
Dudley, John
Robie, Edward
Durgin, Gershom
Sandborn, Jonathan
Elkins, Tilton
Sandborn, K.
Fifield, John L.
Seavey, Andrew
Fifield, Peter
Seavey, David
Fuller, Samuel
Seavey, Joshua
Huntoon, Daniel
Smith, Daniel
Huntoon, John
Sweatt, Joseph
Huntoon, Joseph S.
Terrill, Enoch E.
Keniston, Samuel
Thompson, Benjamin
Kimball, Jonathan
Thompson, Joseph C.
On January 5, 1829, the following names were added to the list of members :
110
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Green, Alva
Rowell, Moses
Hobbs, Thomas C.
Sanborn, Richard
Leeds, Nathan
Tucker, James, Jr.
Page, Samuel
On January 7, 1830, the following names were added to the members' list :
Converse, Luke
Keniston, Calvin
Eastman, Hiram
Kimball, Jonathan
Eastman, Royal F.
Walker, William
Eastman, Versal R.
Whitcher, Joseph
Forsaith, John
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN ANDOVER.
1819 .- Moderator, Peter Fifield; clerk, Jere. E. Tirrill.
March, 7, 1820 .- Moderator, Benjamin Thompson ; clerk, Will- iam Proctor; assessors, John Tirrill, Peter Fifield, John J. Bry- ant.
March 6, 1821 .- Moderator, Samuel Brown; clerk, Jere. E. "Tirrill; assessors, Samnel Brown, Peter Fifield, Jere. E. Tirrill.
April 9, 1822 .- Moderator, Samuel Brown ; clerk, John J. Bry- .ant.
December 26, 1826 .- Moderator, Enoch E. Tirrill ; clerk, Enoch E. Tirrill; assessors, Samuel Brown, Robert Barber, Daniel Smith.
March 6, 1827 .- Moderator, Robert Barber; clerk, Enoch E. Tirrill; assessors, Daniel Smith, Peter Fifield, Samuel Brown; to whom were added Tilton Elkins and Robert Barber.
March 4, 1828 .- Moderator, Benjamin Thompson; clerk, Rob- .ert Barber; assessors, Robert Barber, Peter Fifield, Joseph C. Thompson.
March 3, 1829 .- Moderator, Samuel Brown; clerk, Peter Fi- field; assessors, Joseph Sweatt, Samuel Brown, Joseph Whitcher.
March 2, 1830 .- Moderator, Benjamin Thompson ; clerk, Peter Fifield; assessors, Joseph C. Thompson, Joseph Sweatt, Robert Barber.
March 1, 1831 .- Moderator, Joseph Sweatt; clerk, Peter Fi-
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
field; assessors, Joseph Sweatt, Joseph C. Thompson, Peter Fi- field.
March 6, 1832 .- Moderator, Jonathan Kimball; clerk, Peter Fifield; assessors, Joseph C. Thompson, David Mitchell, Daniel Smith.
The last entry in the society's record, so far as found, was made on March 6, 1832, by Peter Fifield, clerk.
THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE AT THE CENTRE.
The earliest record concerning this meeting-house is the fol- lowing, found on a single sheet of paper :
At a meeting of a number of inhabitants of Andover, holden at the house of Peter Fifield Esq. on Saturday the tenth day of Nov. 1821, to consult on the propriety of building a meeting-house on the parad near Peter Fifield's Esqr's house the following votes were taken, viz.
1st. Chose William Proctor Esqr., Chairman:
2ª. Chose Jere Tirrill, Clerk.
3d. Voted, to choose a committee to determine on the propriety of building a meeting-house.
4th. Chose Lieut. Daniel Huntoon, Lieut. Moses Brown, Peter Fifield Esqr. Jonathan Brown and Wm Proctor Esqr., Committee.
Said Committee report that, in their opinion, it is expedient to build a meeting-house.
5th. Voted, to choose a committee to superintend the building of said house and procure further subscriptions.
Gth. Chose, Jonathan Brown, James Tucker Esqr., Peter Fifield Esqr. Lieut. Daniel Huntoon and Benjamin Gale, Committee.
7th Voted to build a two story house.
Sth Voted, to refer the size and model of said house to the committee.
9th Voted, that it be the duty of the Clerk to make out a certificate to James Tucker Esqr. of his appointment, signed by the chairman and clerk.
10th Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to this place to be holden on Thursday Nov. 29 inst., ten o'clock A. M.
Jere E. Tirrill, Clerk.
A second adjournment was made and the meeting was finally held December 1, 1821, with the following action :
1st The committee to whom was referred the size and model of said house presented a model which was accepted.
2d. Voted to build a porch instead of a cubalow.
3d. Voted that the frame be vendued to the lowest bidder.
4th. Voted to choose a committee to survey the timber and inspect it, and sit the value on the same.
112
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
5th Chose Jere Tirrill and Aaron Cilley
6th. Voted to set it up to vendue.
7th. Chose William Proctor Esqr. auctioneer.
8th Struck off to William Cilley at one hundred and eighty dollars.
9th Voted to have the house raised by the fifteenth of May next.
The only record found of the date of raising the frame of the meeting-house is in a letter from Amos B. Proctor to his brother John, then in Rhode Island, and dated Sunday, June 23, 1822. He wrote: "Last Thursday the meeting-house was raised; the weather was very unfavorable, being rainy the most part of the day, but no person received any injury exeept Mr. Daniel Smith. A large joist fell from the beams, one end struck him on the head, knocked him down, split the jawbone in the centre of his chin and injured his shoulder." "He is fast recovering."
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