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 4
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2d That Joseph Worth, Joseph Sanborn & Nathan Tilton call upon those that have not paid yr proportion for the defraying the charges of the Lord's table
3d Each communicant pay 7 Shillings old tenor this year to sup- port the charges of the Lord's table
feb. 1753 Stayed the Chh after Lecture & Voted that each com- municant pay 7 shillings old tenor, for the Support of the Lord's Table this year.
feb. 9 Stayed the Chh after meeting & Voted a Dismission & their Recommendation to Nathan Sanborn & wife to Epping Chh.
1754 Stayed the Chh after meeting & Voted that each communi- cant pay ? Shillings old tenor to Defray the Charges of the Lord's table this year.
2d Voted that the widow Philbrick be exempted from paying her quota.
Oct. 3. Stayed the Chh. after meeting-Read a letter from the Chh in amesbury Respecting mr. Hibbert's Installation to the ministry in that place Voted that the two Deacons & mr. wear, are chosen as Delegates in that occasion
This is the last entry on the record by Mr. Whipple. His fail- ing health probably was the reason of its not being kept up until his death, nearly two and a half years later, February, 1757.
It will be noticed that the amount voted to defray the charges
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
of the Lord's table was much larger than at first. This was prob- ably owing to the depreciation in the currency, which was very great during the time of Mr. Whipple's ministry.
In 1:39, a meeting was called to act upon the following article: "To See if the People belonging to this meeting Raise money to by a bell for the youse of Said Parish." But in the report of this meeting no allusion is made to the subject. So far as known the bell upon the academy was the first one ever hung in the town.
By the church record, we find that there were quite a number of colored persons in the town, many of whom were members of the church. The colored people had special seats assigned to then in the meeting-house.
May 3, 113:, a committee was chosen to present to Mr. Josialı Bayley a unanimous eall to settle with us as a successor of Mr. Whipple. At a meeting. May 23, he was offered a salary of fifty pounds sterling, and a part of the parsonage lands. He declined to accept this offer. On the 23d of June the other lands were included, with the provision that he should keep in repair at his own expense the buildings and fences. This offer was accepted in the following letter:
To the inhabitants of the Parish of Hampton falls Gentlemen-I have calmly weighed & deliberated upon the last vote you passed for my encouragement to settle to the work of the Gospel ministry over you in this place .- And under a solemn Sense of the great importance of this work and with humble dependence upon the Grace and good Providence of God,-I hereby declare my acceptance of your invita- tion and offer to settle in the work of the Gospel ministry-Not doubt- ing your readiness, not only cheerfully and faithfully, to make good your purpose for my outward comfort, but upon every occasion to testify the same good will for me as unforseen Providence may give occasion, and above all a constant remembrance of me at the throne of grace. that I may be faithful and successful in my office among von-Who am your affectionate friend and humble Servant for Christ's Sake
JOSIAH BAYLEY
Hampton Falls June 30th 1757.
The above is the first place upon the Hampton Falls records where Falls is written with a capital "F."
The call of Mr. Bayley was unanimous and no objection to the terms offered him is recorded. But on the 29th of July more than thirty of the inhabitants petitioned the selectmen to eall a meeting to reconsider the vote as to the terms offered. This petition was
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
unheeded. A meeting was called by Justices Samuel Gilman and Theodore Smith of Exeter. This meeting was held October 5, when the offer of fifty pounds was reconsidered and at the same date Mr. Bayley accepted forty-two pounds. The Rev. Thomas Barnard of Salem, Mass., preached the ordination sermon. In the beginning of 1159 Mr. Bayley's health had become so much impaired that the parish voted, April :, to hire a preacher for three months, and one hundred pounds was voted Mr. Bayley as a free gift. June 28, voted to hire preaching two months. September 0, voted to hire preaching three months.
April 2, 1759, Mr. Bayley, in a communication, desired the parish to take charge of the farm for his benefit, except the house lot, when the use of the remainder was sold at auction to the highest bidder.
Feb 17 1762 Wheras It has pleased God in his Providence to visit our Pastor Mr. Josiah Bayley with sickness, So as he has Been for Some time, past taken off. his Publiek Labour in the ministry among us and there doth not yet appear any Prospect that he will be able for sum time to Do the Labours of the ministry among us .- Therfore to see if the Parish will agree to hire.
Rev. Josiah Bayley was born at Newbury, Mass., January 26, 1734, graduated at Harvard College in 1:52, was ordained October 19, 1757, and died September 12. 1162.
On the day of his death a meeting of the parish was called for the next day, when the selectmen were instructed to bury him at the expense of the parish, not to exceed three hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor.
The first three pastors of Hampton Falls church are buried side by side in the old parish burying ground. The following is the inscription to Mr. Bayley:
Here are Interred the remains of the Revd Mr. Josiah Bayley. Third Pastor of the Church in Hampton Falls Who after he had wisely and faithfully discharged the dutes of his office for the space of five years Was Received Into the joy of his Lord Sept 12-1762. .Etats 28.
Of Rev. Mr. Bayley and his work but little is or can be known. The absence and loss of the church record, and his not continuing the diary which had been kept by his two predecessors, renders it impossible for us to know much of him or what was accomplished during his ministry. The only known written production of Mr.
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
Bayley's is his letter of acceptance. Neither do we know what ministers assisted at his ordination. Tradition says he was a man much respected and beloved, and his early death sincerely regretted. We have no record or knowledge of his having a wife or family, as we find no mention of either. During his ministry twenty-three owned the covenant and one hundred and twenty-two were bap- tized. Sometime in 1263 Dea. Edmund Bayley, father of Rev. Josiah Bayley, came here and made a demand for the rent of the parsonage and a balance of salary. A committee sent out to settle with him was empowered to offer him three hundred pounds, old tenor, which he declined. By a receipt recorded upon the records, Mr. Bayley settled for three hundred and sixty-four pounds, old tenor. This receipt was dated June 8, 1763. This would appear to have settled the matter, but we find that at a meeting November 23. 1161. Mr. Weare was chosen to defend the parish in a suit which had been brought by Edmund Bayley.
It is impossible at this time to determine the salaries of the early ministers or the prices named for many other things, owing to the depreciated condition of the currency. In 1740 the term "badness of our money" is used. From this cause frequent additions were voted to the minister's salary, and for the expense of the sacrament. It is to be presumed that when sterling money is mentioned that it meant sound moncy with no depreciation; when the term lawful money is used it is supposed to be coin.
Soon after the death of Mr. Bayley efforts were made to secure a successor in the pastoral office. November 2, a committee of five, Jonathan Fifield, chairman, were instructed by the parish to ex- tend a call to Mr. Paine Wingate, who had been preaching to them as a supply. At a meeting December 28. Mr. Wingate was offered "the use, income and improvement of the parsonage house, barn and other buildings, and of the parsonage lands and flats," he mak- ing all repairs; also the annual sum of fifty pounds sterling, or its equivalent in currency. And Deacons Fifield, Sanborn, and Cap- tain Nason were chosen a committee to wait upon Mr. Wingate with some additional inducements. Mr. Wingate desired to have the meeting adjourned until he could give the matter further con- sideration. ITis acceptance fills two pages of the record book, and it is one unbroken sentence without stops or capitals. He accepts, but makes objection to the provision for keeping the buildings in repair, and wanted a more definite wording as to the kind of money he was to receive, and closes as follows:
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
These alterations I do but very reasonably propose and by agreeing therto in peace and love .- I shall be ready to serve you in the Lord as he shall give me strength and opportunity-Who am gentlemen your sincere friend and servant
PAINE WINGATE JR.
Hampton Falls Jan. 15, 1763.
"To the Moderator to be Communicated"
At the adjourned meeting, January 31. to receive Mr. Wingate's answer to the terms proposed for his settlement in the work of the ministry, and Mr. Wingate's further answer being brought to the meeting and read. it was put to vote to see if the parish would make any further proposals for Mr. Wingate's support, and it was voted in the negative. The latter part of the further answer referred to is as follows:
Instead of peace and love there now threatens, discord and disaffec- tion, and instead of Divine Providence Smiling on the affair and encouraging me to proceed there appears many discouragments, Wher- fore as the face of things appears I can't at present Entertain any further thought of continuing with you. and now most heartily com- mend you to God, and to the word of his grace, Sincerely wishing you peace and prosperity. Who am gentlemen, your friend and humble servant.
PAINE WINGATE JR. Almsbury Jan. 29th 1763.
May 9. 1763 Voted to hire Mr. Tellis Merrill for four Sabbaths [he had already preached two] and pay him for Six Sabbaths. July 1st Voted to hire Mr. Paine Wingate to preach the four Sabbaths ensu- ing. Sept. 12th Voted to extend a call to Mr. Micah Laurence of Hawke [now Danville] to Settle on the terms first offered Mr. Win- gate. Oct. 5th Mr. Laurence declined the call of the parish. Altho, they further offered to keep the buildings and fences in order.
Voted to apply to Mr. Paine Wingate for to preach with us four Sab- baths. Capt. Jonathan Swett. Mr. Ebeneazer Knowlton, & Job Has- kel dissent against the votes of this and the last meeting Relative to the Settling of Mr. Laurence
Oct. 31 1:63 1st Voted that Col. Mechech Weare be moderator of Said meeting-2ndly Voted to renew the call to Mr. Paine Wingate to Set- tle in the work of the ministry in this parish-3dly Voted that for an allowance to Mr. Pain Wingate for his salary and support, During his continuance in the work of the ministry in this Parish in case he shall settle in that work here .- There be paid him the sum of Sixty five pounds Sterling money, of Great Brittian or Equivalent therto in the currancy of the Province yearly and Each year During his continuance in Said work,-also that he may have the use and Im-
.
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
provement of the Parsonage House Barn, orchard and garden, and about five acres of land near mechech weare's House, commonly called the Lower Parsonage, the buildings and fences to be kept in repair by the Parish, Or if it will be more agreeable to Mr. Wingate to have the improvment of the whole parsonage lands Belonging to the Parish the fences and buildings to be Kept in repair by the Parish as afore- said, he to have his salary in money only the sum of fifty five pounds Sterling or Equivalent therto in the currancy of this province to be paid him yearly, and he to determine which he will take at his first Set- tlement, that the parish may be at a certainty
4thly Voted that Deacon Jonathan Fifield, Deacon Joseph Worth, and deacon abner Sanborn, Capt Jonathan Tilton & Richard Nason Esq. be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Wingate and aquaint him with the Votes of the Parish for his Settlement and Support.
5thly Voted that this meeting be adjourned to next Monday at two oclock in the afternoon to receive Mr. Wingates answer.
CALEB SANBORN, Parish Clerk
Capt Jonathan Swett, Et. Richard Smith, mr. Henry Roby and Enebeazer Knowlton Dissent against the Second vote Relative to mr. wingate's Call .- At the adjourned meeting Mr. Wingates answer being Brot and read, and he Excepted the Call, given him by the parish to Settle in the work of the ministry and the Support Voted for him Attested to CALEB SANBORN
Parish Clerk
MR. WINGATE'S ANSWER TO THE CHURCH AND CONGREGA- TION AT HAMPTON FALLS.
Hond. and Beloved, Inasmuch as thro. the permission of divine Providence, your attempts to resettle in order of the gospel have once, and again been disappointed and your disposition towards my Settling with you Seems at present, So far as I can learn in general not to be alienated, or divided by our former parting and the trials you have since made but rather increased contrary to my expectations-I may, I think, look upon your renewed Call, as a call of divine Providence notwithstanding the uneasiness, of some whose dissatisfactions, I cannot account a Sufficient discouragment of my Settling with you, but hope thro. the interposition of divine goodness will soon be re- moved .- I therfore now accept of your invitation and propose by the will of God to devote myself to his service in the work of the ministry among you and being sensible of my own Imperfections, and humbly depending on the help and grace of God,-I ask your prayers contin- ually for me, and wishing grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied unto you,-I Remain ready to serve you in the gospel of our common lord
PAINE WINGATE JE.
4
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Under date of December 14, Mr. Wingate chose to take the whole parsonage with a cash salary of fifty-five pounds sterling.
In 1463 a Presbyterian church was built in the south part of the town, now Seabrook, but nothing appears upon the records in relation to it until 1765. The house built at that time is the one now standing, but has been remodeled, the lower part being used for a town house and the upper part by the Baptist society of Sea- brook as a place of worship.
Province of These are to notify the freeholders and Inhab- New Hampshire itants of The Parish of Hampton Falls in Said province who are by law qualified to vote to meet at the meeting house on Monday the Second day of Sept. next at one of the clock in the afternoon for the following purpose. Viz
Wheras a number of persons in said parish have lately professed themselves of the Presbyterian persuasion and have applied to some ministers at Londonderry whom they Call the Boston Presbytery. desiring to be under their care, Representing that they apprehend themselves able and are freely willing to maintain a minister of the orthodox faith and that is united with said ministers in the Presby- terian government-And have made some objections to paying towards the Support of the Settled minister in Said parish, and altho there is no just reason that the above mentioned persons should in any Respect be Excused, Except that it may Probably be most for the peace of Said parish that the above mentioned persons and their estates, should be set off, to act in all respects as a Distinet Society or parish by them- selves, Except paying their proportion of the province tax until a new proportion thereof .- Thertore to See if the parish will vote to set off the above mentioned persons and their Estates to be Incorporated if they think proper to apply for it, to act in all respeets by themselves as a distinct Society or parish except paying ther proportion of the province tax until a New proportion therof, and to pay all other charges as usual until they shall be set off as above mentioned-The line of Said new parish to be fixed by a committee of the General Court with Liberty for such of the above mentioned persons as shall not fall within Said new Parish to poll off with their Estates and Belong thereto, and for any who shall fall within Said New Parish who are not of the Presbyterian Perswasion to poll off with their estates and belong to the Old Parish,-and for any who are not the Presbyterian Perswasion who have lands within Said New Parish to poll of Said lands to belong to the parish of Hampton Falls
llampton Falls Aug. 22-1765
MECHECH WEARE RICHARD NASON NATHAN TILTON SAMUEL COLLINS
1 Seleet men of Hampton Falls
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
At a Legal meeting of the freeholders and Inhabitants of the parish of Hampton Falls on the Second day of Sept. 1765,-Col. Mechech Weare was chosen Moderator for said meeting
Voted that the people called Presbyterians of this parish be sett off, as a Distinet Parish by themselves according to the forgoing notifica- tion for the aforesaid meeting
This report is not signed by the parish clerk.
Another notification. dated August 22, calling for a meeting Sep- tember ?. at the same time and place. reads as follows:
Province of Pursuant to a request to the Selectmen in hamp- New Hampshire 3 ton falls, by thirty inhabitants therein Desiring them to call a parish meeting-
1st To See if the Parish will Exempt the Presbyterian Society in Hampton Falls from all charges that may hereafter arise by the Support of the Congregational minister or ministers in Hampton falls
2dly To See if the parish will Sett off to the presbyterian Society a proportionable part of the parsonage and privileges which belong to lands to belong to the parish of Hampton Falls
This meeting was held. the first article in the notification was put to vote. and it was voted in the negative, and also the second article in the notification, and that was voted in the negative.
After this the Presbyterians appeal to the General Assembly with the following petition:
To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Captain General. Gov- ernor, and Commander in Chief in and over his majesties Province of New Hampshire, & co. To the Honorable his Majesties Council and House of Representatives for Said Province. Convened in General Assembly November 21st 1765-The petition of the Subscribers. Free holders & inhabitants of the Town of Hampton Falls in Said Prov- ince Humbly Sheweth-That about two years ago, the Revd Mr Pain Wingate in the congregational way and manner was settled in the work of the ministry in Said Town-That the religious Sentiments of, and Doctrines preached by, the Said Revd Pain Wingate are very different from those of your petitioners, and disagreeable to them-That your petitioners apprehended they could not be profited by the preaching and ministration of the Sd Revd mr Wingate-That the measures taken by the Said town in order to the Settlement & Support of the Said Mr Wingate are as your petitioners Conceive Unprecidented and justly Grevious to them, and that therfore your petitioners and many other inhabitants of said Town (near one half therof) constantly opposed his settlement there and dissented therfrom .- That your petitioners are conscientiously of the Presbyterian Perswasion respecting Church Government, Doctrine. Dicipline and worship That they with others
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
of their Bretheren of that Perswasion have for some time past been regularly formed into a Church-built a meeting house in said Town for the public Worship of God .- Called and Settled a minister in the Presbyterian way, namely The Rev. Mr. Samuel Perley,-That your Petitioners conscientiously and constantly on the Lords days, and at other times occasionally. attend the public worship of God there according to their Said Perswasion .- That the premises notwithstand- ing, the Selectmen of the said town of Hampton Falls for the last year assessed and rated your petitioners for the support of the said Mr Wingate and obliged them to pay the same .- That the Selectmen of said town for the present year have again assessed and rated your Petitioners for the same purpose, which your Petitioners apprehend to be a Grevious & unreasonable Burthen upon them,-Wherfore your Petitioners Humbly pray your Excellency and Honors to take their Case under your wise consideration-And as they Conceive themselves to be Intitled to his Majesties Grace & Favour in allowing to all his Subjects liberty of Conscience-and that it is unreasonable for them to be compelled to pay towards the Support of a minister they do not, nor cannot hear and attend upon for the reasons aforesaid,-When at the Same time they are at the Expense of maintaining publick worship among themselves, in that way and mode they think most agreeable and nearest to the directions given in the Scripture by the great head of the Church-and where the true doctrine of grace and Salvation are preached according to their opinion of those things- They pray your Excellency & Honours would grant them relief in the premises by Exonorating them, their families and estates-and all others within Said Town of Hampton Falls who are of the Same Per- swasion and attend the publick worship of God with them from all ministerial Rates and Taxes in Said Town (Excepting to their own minister) and by setting them off, as a distinct Parish for ministerial affairs only, and by enabling the Said Presbyterian Congregation to raise and lery on themselves such taxes and assessments as they shall from time to time find necessary for the Support of the minis- try and publick worship of God, among themselves-or grant your Petitioners Such other relief as your Excellency and Honours in your wisdom shall see fit, and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray & co & co
Thomas Leavitt. Ebeneazer Knowlton Richard Smith Jacob Smith Winthrop Gove John Chase Jr John True Abner True Joshua Page Joseph Page Abel Page
Samuel Selley David Eaton
Samuel Eaton Nath1 Sinkler
David Knowlton
Elipha Merrill Thomas Brown Nathan Gove
Enoch Gove Sam1 Philbrick Jonathan Swett
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
Thomas True
William French
Jacob French
Joshua Page Jr Benjamin Eaton John Eaton
Jonathan Weare
Isaac Brown
Thomas Eaton
John Kenny
Wimon Eaton
Elisha Brown
Joseph Norton
Jonathan Walton
Joseph Eaton
Job Haskel
John Selley Samuel Felch
Daniel Chase
Joseph Falch
Thomas Selley
Henry Roby
John Eaton Jr
John Chase
Jonathan Hoyt
Abel Davis
Elezer Gove
Simon Clough
Paul Grinlief
.
Jonathan Chase Jr
John Hunt
Benjamin Leavitt
Province of New Hampshire November 27th 1765
The foregoing Petition read & ordered to be sent down to the
Honble Assembly
T ATKINSON JR Secry. In the house of Representatives
Province of New Hampshire Nov. 27 1765
The annexed Petition being read and considered Voted, That the Petitioners be heard theron the Second day of the Sitting of the Gen- eral Assembly after the first day of January next, and that the Peti- tioners at their own cost serve the Selectmen of Hampton Falls with a Copy of the Petition and order of Court that they may appear and Shew cause if any they have why the prayer therof Should not be granted.
M. WEARE, Chr.
In Council Nov. 28th 1765, Read and Concurred
T. ATKINSON Secry.
PETITION IN ANSWER TO THE ONE FOR A PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY IN 1765.
To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Captain General, Gov- ernour and Commander in Chief, In and Over his Majesty's Prov- ince of New Hampshire, The Honourle his Majesty's Councill, and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled
Jany 1, 1766. We the Subscribers, Chosen by the Parish of Hamp- ton falls, a Committee on their behalf to make answer to a Petition Exhibited to the General Assembly, Novr 21st 1765, By a number of Freeholders and Inhabitants of Sd Parish Praying to be Excused from Paying to the Support of the Rerd Mr Paine Wingate Setled in the work of the ministry in Said Parish,
John Robie
Enoclı Bold
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Beg Leave, Humbly to Represent to your Excellency and Honors, That the Reasons assigned by said Petitioners are such as ought by no means to prevail for their being Exempted in the manner They pray for, And this we trust will clearly appear from a true state of facts Relative to these affairs
We would therfore Inform your Excellency & Honors, That Mr. Wingate Having Preached in the Parish for some months before Mr. Bailey's Death and Afterwards to the General Satisfaction of the People, The Parish with the Advice of the Neigboring ministers Proceeded to give him a Call to Settle in the work of the ministry there, which Call was unanimous by the Church, and General by the Parish, not more than three or four Persons opposing his Settlement, But the terms of Settlement not being agreed on he gave a Negative answer, After which the Parish heard some others on Probation, and gave Mr. Micah Lawrence. a call to settle, which we mention be- cause it has been Represented as if the Parish were unreasonably set for Mr. Wingate's Settlement and no other person. But the same persons who opposed Mr. Wingate's settlement, opposed the settle- ment of Mr. Lawrence, which made the Generality of People think their opposition was more from a disposition to make Difficulty in
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