USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of the town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire : from the time of the first settlement within its borders, 1640 until 1900 > Part 16
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
Wells 1-1-1644
J. WHEELWRIGIIT.
To this the governor replied to this effect, viz .: "That though his liberty might be obtained without his personal appearance. yet that was doubtful. nor did he conceive that a wise and modest apology would prejudice the acceptance of his free ingenious con- fession. Seeing the latter would justify the sentence of the Court which looked only to his action, and yet by the former he might maintain the liberty of his conscience, In clearing his intention from those all deserving crimes which the Court apprehended by his actions. and withall (because there might want opportunity of con- veyance before the Court) He sent him inclosed a safe Conduct etc." The next court released his banishment without his appear- ance. IIe continued at Wells until 1647.
12-4-1647. The Church of Jesus Christ at Hampton having Seri- ously considered the great pains and labors that the reverend and well beloved Mr. Timothy Dalton has taken among them in the work of the ministry, Even beyond his ability or strength of nature. And hav- ing upon solemn Seeking of God. Settled their thought upon the reverend and well beloved Mr. John Wheelwright of Wells as a help in the work of the Lord, with the said Mr. Dalton our present and
168
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
faithful teacher and have given the Sayd Mr. Wheelwright a call to that End, with the consent of the hole town. The which the Sayd Mr. Wheelwright due except off according unto God .- And these propo- sitions following are agreed upon and Subscribed unto by the Said Mr. Wheelwright for his part & The Said Church with the hole town for their part .- Who by these presents promise and oblige themselves to fulfill, and perform the Same.
The agreement was that if the church sent for him to be their pastor they should bear the expense of the transportation of him- self and family and goods to Hampton from Wells; that he was to have a convenient house to live in the first year. He was to have a convenient house lot and the farm which was Mr. Bachiler's confirmed to him and his heirs upon his ordination and continuance in Hampton, but if he should leave the town without the consent of the church, the said farm was to revert to the town. He was to be paid £40 per annum as long as he remained their pastor, "excepting only some extraordinary hand of God in ways of alter- ation," which sum of £40 was to be paid in corn or cattle or other good commodities quarterly. If the church should send for Mr. Wheelwright with a vessel to transport him within two months, with an absolute promise of an ordination before the last of the next September, that Mr. Wheelwright should come; and if he should refuse an ordination lawfully tendered, he was to bear the expense of his own transportation and receive nothing for his time among them; but if the church should refuse to give him an ordination by the time specified (September 30, 1647) then he should be paid for his time and expense of transportation. He should have the farm in fee simple and have liberty to depart upon such refusal. If the church should send word within two months that they could not ordain him. then both parties were to be free from all engagements. This agreement was signed by J. Wheelwright, on the one part, and John Moulton. Jeffry Mingay, William San- born, William Howard, William Marston. and William Moulton in the name of the rest.
The particularity of the above agreement is an indication that the town did not fully trust Mr. Wheelwright-whether afraid of his raising up another quarrel, which would agitate the whole country, or fearful of his love of change, does not appear .- other- wise they would not have made so sharp a bargain with him. April 15, 1647, the town voted that the salary of the minister should be raised as follows:
169
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Each master of a family was to paye 5s of the £40, and all single men which goeth at their own hand or that taketh any wages for them- selves They shall also paye 3s as aforesaid .- The remainder to be raised on the Estate of every person according to their possessions, Be it in houses, land, cattle, boats or otherwise, Exempting only his corn which shall go rate free .- £40 was raised to pay the Teacher for the year just passed, come midsummer next & 840 for the paying for the farm to be given Mr. Wheelwright.
May 15, 164:, the church agree to send a boat to Wells and also promise to give him an ordination, according to the former agree- ment. on the 12th of April. This is signed by William Howard, in the name of the church, and accepted by Mr. Wheelwright. The town vote on February 21, 1649, to give him Mr. Bachiler's farm freely. the grant before having been conditional. This farm ad- joined Salisbury line and contained two hundred acres.
He, like some other ministers of that day, had a great inclination . to own large quantities of land. He had an estate in Lincolnshire, England, besides his lands at Wells and Hampton. March 6, 1651, he was chosen to confirm the old grants with Mr. Dalton and five others, and on January 21, 1652, he had a grant, No. 39, in the ox commons. We have seen no other record of his transacting any other town business. There are in the town records receipts of his salary, one of which is dated December 24, 1651. for £158, for four years' salary; one in 1652, for £42: one in 1653, for €40: and one in 1654, for £40. Probably Mr. Wheelwright preached here seven years, but there is no certainty of fixing the time of his de- parture. December 28, 1654. it was "Voted that €10 be added to our Reverend Pastor's Salary." If this was an addition to his sal- ary, he was here eight years.
"May. 1654, it is ordered that the petition framed and signed at the present meeting for the vindication of Mr. Wheelwright's name should be presented to the next General Court. Voted." Cotton Mather relates that Mr. Wheelwright published a vindication of him- self against the wrongs that Mr. Weld and Mr. Rutherford had unto him. In this vindication he produces a speech of Mr. Cotton, "I do conceive and profess that our brother Wheelwright's doctrine is according to God. in the points controverted," and a declaration from the whole General Court of the colony signed by the secretary, August 24, 1654. upon the petition of Mr. Wheelwright's church at Hampton. In this declaration they profess that "hearing that Mr. Wheelwright is by Mr. Rutherford & Mr. Weld rendered in some
170
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
books printed by them as heretical and criminous, They now sig- nify that Mr. Wheelwright hath for many years approved himself a sound orthodox and profitable minister of the gospel, among these Churches of Christ."
He went to England after his departure from Hampton, where he was in 1658, and returned to this country upon the restoration of King Charles in 1660. He settled in Salisbury as the successor of the Rev. William Worcester. He was the oldest minister in the colony and died November 5. 1679.
Probably his family remained in Hampton during his absence in England. His son Thomas witnessed a deed in May, 1656. The famous Wheelwright deed of 1629, found in the appendix of Bel- knap's History of New Hampshire, which was used in the trial of Allen in 1202, and was believed to be genuine, has been proved by Mr. Savage to be a forgery.
It is not known where he lived while in Hampton. In 1722, Caleb Towle, Joshua Wingate, and JJoseph Towle had each one half share in the second division, Benjamin Towle, one half share third division, Caleb Towle one half share in the fourth division,-all in the original rights of Mr. Wheelwright. Three half shares were also drawn in the Ring swamp in the same right by Joseph and Caleb Towle and Joshua Wingate.
He made a will May 25, 16:0, in which he names his son Samuel, son-in-law Edward Rishworth, his grandchildren Edward Lyde, Mary White, Mary Maverick, William, Thomas, and Jacob Brad- bury, to whom he gave his estates in Lincolnshire, Eng., in Maine, and other places. His son Thomas probably had died before 1670. Ile settled in Kittery and was admitted a freeman in 1652. One of his daughters married Samuel Maverick, who was one of King Charles's commissioners, sent here in 1664, with Lieut. Richard Carr and others. Another married Edward Rishworth, who was representative from York twelve years, a magistrate, recorder, etc. A third daughter married Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury, who was representative from that place seven years and recorder of Norfolk county. Samuel Wheelwright was representative from Wells in 1611.
The following is a copy of the famous Wheelwright deed:
THE WHEELWRIGHT DEED.
Wheras we the Sagamores of Penacook, Pentueket, Squamsquot, and Nuchawanack, are inclined to have the English inhabit amongst
171
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES.
us as they are among our countrymen in the Massachusetts Bay, by which means we hope in time to be strengthened against our Enemy the Sarateens who yearly doth us damage, Likewise being pursuaded that it will be for the good of us and our posterity ete. To that end have at a general meeting at Squamsquot, on Piscattaqua river. we the aforesaid Sagamores with a universal Consent of our Subjects do Covenant and agree with the English as followeth
Now know all men by these presents that we Passaconaway Saga- more of Penacook, Runnaawett, Sagamore of Pentueket. Wahang- nonawitt Sagamore of Squomsquot, and Rowles Sagamore of Nucha- wanack, for a competent valuation in goods already received in coats, Shirts and kittles, And also for the consideration aforesaid do accord- ingly to the limits and bounds hereafter granted, give, grant, bargain. Sell, release, ratify and confirm unto John Wheelwright of the Massa- chusetts Bay, late of England, a minister of the gospel, Angustine Storer, Thomas Wite. William Wentworth, and Thomas Leavet. all of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to them their heirs and assigns forever all that part of the main land bounded by the river Piscatta- qua, and the river of Merrimack. That is to say to begin at Nucha- wanack falls in Piscattaqua river, aforesaid and so down said river to the sea. and so alongst the sea Shore to Merrimack river and so up, along said river to the falls at Pantneket and from said Pantucket falls upon a northwest line twenty English miles into the woods, and from thence to run upon a straight line North East and south west till it meet with the main rivers that runs down to Pantucket falls and Nuchawanack falls, and the said rivers to be the bounds of Said lands from the thwart line, or head line to the aforesaid falls, and the main channel of Each river from Pentucket, and Nuchawanack falls to the main sea to be the side bounds, and the main sea between Piscattaqua river and Merimack river to be the lower bounds, And the thwart or head lines that runs from river to river to be the upper bounds. Together with all islands within said bounds, as also the Isles of Shoals so called by the English, together with all profits, ad- vantages and appurtenances whatsoever to the said tract of land. be- longing or in anywise appertaining, Reserving to ourselves liberty of making use of our old planting land, as also free liberty of hunting. fishing, fowling, and it is likewise with these provisions following. Viz. First the Said John Wheelwright shall within ten years after the date. Set down with a Company of English and begin a plantation at Squomsquat falls in Piscattaqua river aforesaid-Secondly that what other inhabitants shall come and live on said tract of land amongst them from time to time, and at all times shall have and enjoy the same benefits as the said Wheelwright aforesaid-Thirdly, That if at any time there be a number of people amongst them, that have a mind to begin a new plantation, That they be encouraged so to do, And that no plantation exceed in lands above ten English miles square or such a proportion as amounts to ten miles square .- Fourthly That the
172
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
aforesaid granted lands, are to be divided into townships as people inerease. and appear to inhabit them, And that no lands shall be granted to any particular persons, but shall be for a township and what lands within a township is granted to any particular person, to be by vote of the major part of the inhabitants, legally and orderly settled in said township-Fifthly. For managing and regulating, and to avoid contentions amongst them they are to be under the Govern- ment of the Colony of the Massachusetts, their neighbors and to observe their laws and orders, until they have a settled govern- ment amongst themselves-Sixthly We the aforesaid Sagamores and our subjeets are to have free liberty within the aforesaid limits or tract of land, that hereafter shall be settled shall, pay to Passaconaway, our chief Sagamore. that now is and to his successors forever if law- fully demanded, one coat of trucking cloth a year, and every year for an acknowledgment and also shall pay to Mr. John Wheelwright, aforesaid, his heirs and successors forever if lawfully demanded. two bushels of Indian corn a year, for and in consideration of said Wheel- wright's great pains, and care, as also for the charges he hath been at to obtain this our grant for himself and those aforementioned and the inhabitants that shall hereafter settle in townships on the afore- said granted premises.
And we the aforesaid Sagamores, Passaconaway Sagamore of Pen- acook, Runnawitt, Sagamore of Pantucket. Wahangnonawitt, Saga- more of Squomsquot, and Rowles, Sagamore of Nuehawanack .- do by these premises ratify and confirm, all the above granted and bar- gained premises, and tract of land aforesaid. excepting and reserving as afore excepted and reserved. and the provisos aforesaid fulfilled, with all the meadow and marsh ground therin together with all the mines minerals of what kind or nature, soever-with all the woods timber, and timber trees, ponds, rivers, lakes, runs of water or water courses. therunto belonging. with all the freedom of fishing, fowling, and hunting, as ourselves with all the benefits. profits, priveleges and appurtenances, whatsoever therunto of all and every part, of the said tract of land belonging or in any way appurtaining unto him the said John Wheelwright. Augustine Storer, Thomas Wite, William Wentworth. and Thomas Levet, and their heirs forever as aforesaid, To have and to hold the same as their own proper right and interest, without the least disturbance, molestation or trouble of us our heirs exeers, and admins, to and with the said John Wheelwright, Augustine Storer, Thomas Wite. William Wentworth. and Thomas Levit their heirs and exeers, administrators and assigns and other the English that shall inhabit, there and their heirs and assigns forever, Shall warrant, maintain and defend.
In witness wherof we hereunto set our hands and seals the Seven-
173
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
teenth day of May. 1629, and in the fifth year of King Charles his reign over England, & Co.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered in presence of us.
VADERGASCOM + Mark. PASSACONAWAY, + Mark (Seal)
MISTONABITE + Mark. RUNAAWITT + Mark (Seal) JOHN OLDHAM
WAAHANGNONAWITT + Mark (Seal)
SAM SHARPE ROWLES + Mark (Seal)
Memoranda-On the 17th day of May, One thousand six hundred twenty nine, in the fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles King of England Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, & co, Wahangnonaway Sagamore of Squonsquat, on Piscatta- qua river did in behalf of himself and the other Sagamores, aforemen- tioned, then present, deliver quiet and peaceable possession, of all the lands, mentioned in the within written deed, unto the within named John Wheelwright, for the Ends within mentioned in presence of us, Walter Neal Governor. George Vaughan, factor and Ambrose Gibbons, trader for the Company of Laconia,-Richard Vines governor, and Richard Bonighton assistant of the plantation at Saco, Thomas Wig- gin agent, and Edward Hilton Steward of the plantation of Hilton's point,-and was signed sealed and delivered in our presence
In witness wherof. we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written.
RICHARD VINES IVA. NEALE RICHd BONIGHTON GEORGE VAUGHAN AMBROSE GIBBONS
THO. WIGGIN. EDWARD HILTON
Recorded according to the original found on the ancient files for the County of York this 28th day of Jan. 1713.
per JOSEPH HAMMOND, Reg.
A true Copy from York County records of deeds & co. Lib. 8, fol 16 Att. DAN MOULTON Reg.
Corrected by a Copy on file in the Superior Court of New Hampshire, in the Case of Allen vs. Waldron which copy is attested by the above named
JOS. HAMMOND.
REV. SEABORN COTTON.
Rev. Seaborn Cotton was a son of Rev. John Cotton, minister of the first church of Boston, and was born at sea, August, 1633, while his father was on his passage to this country. He was baptized the second day after his arrival, September 6, 1633. He graduated at Ilarvard in 1651, in the catalogue of which his name is entered as 12
174
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Marigena. He first settled at Windsor in Connecticut. We are unable to state what year he went there.
The first notice of him upon the record is dated May 2, 1657, when the town voted that "Bro. Page & Bro. Dow shall treat with Mr. Bradstreet, and with the Elders in the bay to order the calling of Mr. Cotton according to former agreement." October 24. 1651. the town chose a committee to provide a house for his dwelling. May 22, 1658, the town. "understanding that Mr. Samuel Dudley will bee att Windsor present with Mr. Seaborn Cotton, doe manifest their desires yt he would be helpful, (if cause be administered) in agittattion of the matter between the church of Windsor and ve church of Hampton in reference to Mr. Cotton's dismission from Windsor upon Coniticot to ye church at Hampton."
The following vote shows that he had accepted their offer and come here, and it also appears that he preached here more or less for the year before July 28, 1658:
The town hath acted to continue the sum of three score pounds to Mr. Cotton for the next yeere, together with the use of the house & lands purchased of our Teacher, and in time remove his goods at the towns charge to the sd house & conscuring the repayring of the house & the fences about the lands. We shall conelude upon when we know Mr. Cotton's propositions tomorrow after the lecture wch time the meeting is adjourned The meeting formerly warned and begun yes- terday & So adjourned this present day, and now attended 29-5-1638
Conserving the motion made to Mr. Seaborn Cotton conserving his continuance amongst us & according to the experience wch we have had of him in the ycere past, To the further increasing of our desires towards him and his Settlement among us. To which end, we doe accordingly to former agreement promise to pay three scor. pounds per annum & the transportation of his goods & books from the bay & for the removing of his dwelling with all convenient speed yt may bee. And Will. Godfrey, Thos Ward and John Sanborn are appointed to treat wth Mr. Cotton conserving the repayring of the house & to give convenient content therin not exceeding thirty pounds-Acted per vote Robert Smith, John Sinbourne & Henry Robie are appointed to treat with Mr. Cotton conserning the house and lands in such a capacity as thatt they may continue without further charge to the town, Either for building, fencing, or repairing, Is so to be improved as may be best for continuance and they who are appointed are nott to exceed twenty pounds besides what is already laid out, either in building, repairing or fencing-& yt the said tenement may be so kept in repairation as the sayd twenty pounds & what else hath bin layd outt will sitt itt .- voted. Fr-11-1661 The town hath chosen Robt Page, Will. Godfrey & Thomas Marston, to return an answer to the proposi-
175
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
tions presented to the town by Mr. Cotton our Revd Pastor as it is drawn up briefly Voted.
There appears to be no account of these propositions other than the above vote, but it may be presumed that they concerned some alterations in his house.
July 4, 1662, he was chosen moderator. January 25, 1664, "Itt is acted and agreed, that Mr. Cotton's maintainance shall be raised fower pounds a year, to make his som, Seventy pounds per annum, to begin the 20th of August next." Six pounds must have been added previously to this vote, otherwise it could not have made £70, as £60 was all they agreed to give him on his settlement here as the permanent minister, August 20, 1658. At the same meeting "The town hath Voted and agreed yt. those yt. are willing to have their children called fourth to be catechised shall give in their names to Mr. Cotton for that end, between this & the second day of next month. Voted." Cotton Mather mentions him as the author of a catechism.
20-6-1665. The town hath chosen our Reverend pastor Mr. Cot- ton Ens. John Sanborn & Samuel Dalton to draw up some wrighting in way of remonstranee to assert our rights in the lands we have so long enjoyed, and so peaceably possessed, by the grant of the Hon. General Court of Massachusetts, and to graee the same with what reasons they see meet, and to make answer to any elaims or objections that shall bee made against the towne rights and privileges of our township according to their good diseretion, and to present the same to the King's Honored Commissioners, if they shall see meet. Henry Roby, Henry Green. & John Garland, dissent.
These commissioners were Sir Richard Carr and others whom King Charles sent over to investigate the Mason claim, involving the title of the inhabitants to the soil. Mr. Cotton was undoubt- edly chosen because he was a very able man and could present the opinions of the Hampton people in the strongest light.
A farm of two hundred acres had been voted him, which was after- ward laid at Hogpen plains (now in Kensington). The first four ministers of Hampton had each a farm of two hundred acres given them. The succeeding ministers had not, land having become more sought after.
November 10. 166?, the town voted to repair his house and barn, and "make them tite and convenient, agreeable to the proposals which he had made to the town in wrighting." They also increased
176
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
his salary ten pounds, making the sum of £80 per annum. Novem- ber, 16:0, the town voted that "at least one half of the pay of the Reyd Pastor yearly should be in provisions at Currant prices, & as much of it. as was to be paid in lumber should be paid by the last of May, yearly." They also vote for necessary repairs upon the house. November 24. 1679, the town vote to cover the house where he lived with short shingles to make it tight and convenient for the better preservation of his books, also to make a cellar under it, convenient for his use, and with what speed they could.
Governor Cranfield. having issued an order of council directing the clergymen to administer the sacrament, baptisms, etc., accord- ing to the liturgy of the church of England, under the penalty of suffering the punishment imposed by the act of uniformity, said that when he had prepared his soul he would come and demand the sacrament of him, as he had done at Portsmouth, upon which Mr. Cotton withdrew to Boston.
Mr. Vaughan, in writing to Mr. Weare, says, February 29. 1684, "Mr. Cotton has come home from Boston .- Grete offence taken here at a sermon he preached in Boston on Acts xii .- 5, Though pleasing to his hearers."
The arbitrary proceedings of Governor Cranfield were a source of trouble to Mr. Cotton, as appears by the following petition:
To the honourable his Majestie's Couneil for the province of New Hampshire. The petition of Seaborn Cotton of Hampton in the Province aforesaid.
Humbly Sheweth,-That whereas, by an act of his majestie's Coun- cil in this provinee bearing date as I coneieve 10-12-1682, The people in ye several towns were left at their liberty whether they would pay thayer ministers or no, after ye first of January, ensueing, yt act unless thayer ministers would administer baptism and the Lord's supper to such as desired it, according to his Majestees letter to ye Massachusetts which was never denied by me, to any that orderly asked it Yet too many people have taken occasion therby, Both to withold what was my due, before that act for the year 1683, as also for the year 1684, & are liable to do so for the year 1685, Except this Honorable Couneil see cause to parse an aet & order to the trustees of Hampton, That I may have my dues according to the town's com- paet upon record & theyre agreement with myself, many years since. The time drawing nigh when for this instant year I should have my rate made, doth hasten me to present this address & to request your Honors favour therin-If your Honours may possibly see cause to omit ye naming myself in requesting it all which I leave
177
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
to your Honors generous acceptance and am your honors, Humbly devoted
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.