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 6
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The ministry of Mr. Wingate, which had a peculiar beginning. was attended by important changes in parish affairs. The dissat- isfaction of some at the time of his settlement appears to have led to the division of the parish. Although dissatisfaction with Mr. Wingate and the doctrines he preached were the alleged cause for the formation of a new parish which resulted in a new and separate town, it was not probably the only cause, but made a very good pretext for the action taken. Individual ambition undoubtedly had something to do in the matter.
July 27, 1168, a committee was chosen to confer with a commit- tee chosen by the Presbyterian society, so called. in Seabrook, in order for a settlement respecting sundry arrearages of rates due. from many of said society to this parish, and concerning an action now in the law between the selectmen and Mr. Jacob Smith.
After the new parish had been taken off, the balance was dis- turbed. which led to other changes. The meeting-house was at one end of the parish, and a majority of the parishioners lived at the other end. And on October 20 it was voted that a new meet- ing-house be built near the center of the inhabitants, and the selectmen and two others, a majority of whom lived in the upper part of the parish, were chosen a committee to locate the same.
To this action a dissent was made for three reasons. First, it ought not to be removed during Mr. Wingate's ministry. Second, on account of the expense of land and new buildings, while by the terms of the deed the old ones could not be sold or put to other use. Third, because it was such hasty action, "which has the most direct tendency to make confusion and lead into such difficulties as will. probably ruin the parish."
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
This dissent. the substance of which is here given, was signed by Mechech Weare, Caleb Sanborn, Jonathan Fifield, Abner Sanborn, Jr .. Jonathan Fifield, Jr., Richard Nason, Dr. Jonathan Chase, and Abner Sanborn.
This meeting was adjourned to the 27th, and then dissolved without further action.
At a meeting held December 19 it was voted that a new meeting- house, forty by fifty-five feet in dimensions, be built on the vacant lot near Jeremiah Lane's: that John Tilton, Abner Sanborn, and William Prescott, selectmen, and Elisha Prescott, Samuel Prescott, and Jonathan Cram be the building committee. And that the committee sell the pews to the highest bidder and make a report at an adjourned meeting the first Tuesday in February. Immediately after is a dissent recorded, which concludes as follows:
That the whole proceedings evidently tend to bring the parish into confusion as it is evident from the Notification itself, which says that there are disputes about the place where the meeting house shall be set so as to accomodate the Inhabitants, and yet would force a vote without trying any proper measures of accomodation-Wherfore we protest against all the proceedings as Illegal and against paying any part of any cost of charge which may arise in consequence of said votes.
This dissent is signed by Mechech Weare and twenty-two others.
The committee chosen to locate the new meeting-house agreed to set it upon the hill upon the vacant piece of land where the schoolhouse formerly stood, near Lieut. Joseph Sanborn's. The committee who centered the parish, it was claimed, centered it ter- ritorially instead of finding the center of population. The terri- torial center was found to be near a large rock in what is now Jacob T. Brown's pasture, a few rods south of the cemetery on the cross road. The committee located the house as near this point as was practicable on the road. It has been claimed that if the meeting- house had been located at or near the center of population, where the town house now stands, the future history of the town would have been very different from what it is, and much trouble and hard feeling avoided. Before building the house the commit- tee were to sell the pews at public auction and with the proceeds build the house, which was done. The house was built in 1768, and was ready to dedicate in 1769. The house built much resem- 5
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
bled the old church now standing at Rocky hill in Salisbury, Mass. A short time after this house was built the town of Pittsfield voted to build a meeting-house of the same dimensions and as nearly sim- ilar as possible to the one built at Hampton Falls, and the record of this vote can be seen on the Pittsfield records at the present time.
This meeting-house had a gallery on three sides: the men's gal- lery was on the west side and the women's on the east, with the singing gallery in front of the pulpit, which was a high one with a sounding board over it. It had high box pews. such as were in use at that time.
At an adjourned meeting February 6, 1769, a motion was made by Colonel Weare and a great many other persons present to recon- sider the votes passed at the last meeting in order to agree on some method that the parish in general might unite in respecting a meet- ing-house, and the moderator was repeatedly desired to put the motion to vote, which he finally refused to do. The report of com- mittee for selling the pews being read, the moderator was requested to put to vote whether the report should be accepted, which he also refused to do and dissolved the meeting.
At a meeting held October 16, 1769, it was-
Voted to abate all those persons' Rates that belong to Seabrook that are in arrearages in the minister Rates.
This is the first reference to the new parish of Seabrook upon our records.
After the new meeting-house was built Mr. Wingate refused to go there and dedicate it. although urged to do so repeatedly. There appear to have been quite a number who supported Mr. Wingate in the position he had taken in the matter, and the selectmen refused to call a meeting for the purpose of instructing and requir- ing Mr. Wingate to go to the new meeting-house to dedicate it, as the friends of the new meeting-house desired. As a result of this. the following call was issued for a meeting to be held January 30, 1770:
Province of
To the Constable, or Constables of the parish New Hampshire 3 of Hampton falls in said province of Newhamp- shire greeting.
Wheras upon the Complaint of more than Thirty of the Inhab- itants and Freeholders of the said parish of Hampton falls it hath
THE ROCKY HILL CHURCH, SALISBURY, MASS. Whose general appearance is much like the meeting-house built at Hampton Falls in 1768
L
-
--
1014
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...
....
....
..................... 111111
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
been made to appear that the Selectmen of said parish have and still do unreasonably deny to Call a meeting of the Frecholders and Inhabitants of said Parish agreeably to a petition to them made by fifty of the said Inhabitants and freeholders-Dated the third day of Jan. 1770 .- This is therfore in his majesties name to order and Re- quire him, to Notify and warn the Inhabitants of the said parish of Hampton falls to assemble themselves and meet together at the new meeting house in said Hampton falls. Near Jeremiah Lane's house on Tuesday the thirtyeth day of January Curt at one of the Cloek in the afternoon then and there to aet and vote on the following Particulars Viz. first to choose a moderator for said meeting-See- ondly To pass a vote for the Rerd Mr Pain Wingate the present min- ister and pastor of said parish to go to The said New meeting house as soon as conveniently may be And Dedicate the said house to the publiek worship and service of god and there perform the Duties of his Sacred Funetiou for the Future-and to pass any vote or votes Relating therto that the said Freeholders and Inhabitants when as- sembled Shall think fit. given under our hands and seals at Exeter in said provinee the seventeenth day of Jany in the tenth year of his Majesties Reign A Domini, 1770
Signed
WALTER BRYANT
NOAH EMERY
Justices of the peaee and quorum
This meeting was called by the new church party. The select- men who refused to call the meeting were Samuel Prescott, Pain Rowe, and Abner Sanborn, all of whom voted on the test vote with the old church party. The moderator who had refused to put the motion to accept the report of the committee for selling the pews and then dissolved the meeting was probably Mechech Weare, who had been moderator since 1154, but was never elected again after this. This was the first town meeting ever called in the new meet- ing-house. It was a hotly contested meeting, and tradition says much bad blood was shown. Nathaniel Healey, then upwards of eighty years of age, led the new meeting-house party. The old church party was led by Mechech Weare. The test came upon the election of moderator. Capt. Jonathan Tilton was candidate of the new church party, and was elected. The vote was cast nearly upon sectional lines, the upper part of the town nearly to a man voting for Captain Tilton, and the lower part for some one else, probably Mechech Weare. The vote finally stood fifty-one for Captain Tilton to forty-eight against.
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Those who were recorded as voting for Captain Tilton were:
Capt Nathaniel Healey
Samuel James
Joseph Sanborn
Dan1 Tilton
Joshua Blake
John Brown
Elisha Prescott.
Nath1 Tilton
Jacob Green
Benjamin Tilton
Benj. Sanborn
Jonathan Tilton Jr
Samuel Prescott
Jeremiah Lane
Samuel Melcher
James Prescott Jr
Thomas Sillea
John Swain
John Clifford
William Page
Stephen Healey
William Swain
Richard Moulton
Melcher Ward
Nathan Tilton
James Sanborn
Benjn Moulton
Jacob Green Jr
John Flood
Isaac Green
John Batchelder
Josiah Moulton
Caleb Swain
Caleb Tilton
Jedediah Sleeper
Henry Blake
Nathan Brown
Jonathan Burnham
Nehemiah Cram
Eaton Green
Nathan Tilton Jr
Jonathan Cram
Stephen Swain
William Prescott Joel Cram
Samuel Tilton
Jonathan Perkins
Daniel Brown
Henry Sanborn
Samuel Melcher Jr
Jeremiah Blake
Redman Moulton
Francis Burnham
Colonel Weare objected to the following and they were set aside: Joel Cram being under age, Jonathan Perkins not being rated in the parish, Henry Sanborn for living in that part of his father's house which is in Kensington.
Those who voted against Captain Tilton were:
Hon Mechech Weare
Jacob Satterly Nathan Rowe
Enoch Sanborn
Jona Fifield Joseph Worth Ralph Butler
Obediah Worth
Gamiel Knowles
Jona Fifield Jr Richard Nason
Ebeneazer Maloon Dudley Sanborn
Abner Sanborn Caleb Sanborn
Nathan Weare
Josiah White
David Norton Nathan Cram
Frances Marshall Philip Burns
Abraham Brown
Jonathan Stanyan
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
Jona Steward
Samuel Weare
Stephen Cram
Zebulon Hilliard
Pain Rowe
David Perkins
William Lang
Stephen Lang
William Blaisdell
Simeon Hilliard
Samuel Preseott
John Kenny
Abner Sanborn Jr
Elijah Green
David Batchelder
Christ Blake
Joshua Chase
Moses Swett
Isaiah Lane
Malachi Shaw
Nathan Green
Samuel Robie
Jona Nason
Richard Mace
Jedediah Stanyan
Nathan Cram
Richard Mace, Nathan Cram, Elijah Green, and Christopher Blake were objected to, as being too young, but were allowed.
The following is the record of this meeting:
1ly Voted that the Rev. mr. Pain Wingate shall go to the new Meeting House, and preach and Dedicate the said house to the Pub- lick worship of god as soon as conveniently may be
2ndly & 3dly .- Elishia Prescott, Mr. Nathan Tilton and Capt. Jon- athan Tilton the moderator of the meeting, were chosen a committee to present the above vote to Mr. Wingate.
The record shows that Mr. Wingate still refused to dedicate and preach in the new house, and as a consequence "there have been and still are great contentions and divisions in said parish, and a great number of the inhabitants have, by writing from under their hands, cautioned the selectmen from assessing their polls and estates in any tax for the salary and support of the Rev. Mr. Wingate." There- fore the selectmen called a meeting of the parish for the 17th of December ensuing for instruction.
Voted that is the mind of the meeting that there be no Rate tax for assessment made nor raised on the Polls nor Estates in this parish for the Salary or Support of the Rev. mr. Pain Wingate for the
currant year. Signed by Jonathan Tilton .
Moderator
At a meeting, March 4, 1771, the above vote was ratified and con- firmed, and it was-
Voted. That the parish do herby heartily Join with that part, of the Church in said parish who are agrieved and Disaffected at the Late and present conduct of the Reyd mr. Pain Wingate, and such of said Church and parish as Join with him Respecting the Late
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
and present differences & Disputes Between said parties in Calling a Council of Elders & Churches etc.
A committee was chosen to make all the necessary preparations for holding a council. At an adjourned meeting held on the first Tuesday in April it was voted to convene the council on the 23d inst. There is nothing upon the record to show that the council was ever held, but it appears from Mr. Wingate's letter of resigna- tion that such a council had been held.
Then there comes a record of the sale of the pews by the building committee made before the erection of the house. They reported, February 7, 1769, the sale of twenty-six pews on the floor and one in the gallery for £351 2s., proclamation money, to be paid in mate- rials, and they estimated that the sale of the remaining pews would furnish all the means necessary for its erection. The house was delivered to the parish by the building committee May 10, 1771. Elisha Prescott, Samuel Prescott, William Prescott, and Jonathan Cram were building committee. It was in size fifty-five by forty feet. It stood facing the sea, with entrances on the front and west ends, having horse blocks at each of these entrances, with whipping post and stocks in the rear. On the first floor seats were arranged around the walls with the high square pews in the body of the house.
It was requested by several persons that the report of the build- ing committee be recorded under date of February 7, 1769.
The following is a part of a request addressed to Mr. Wingate, signed by sixty-one legal voters, dated December 4, 1:69:
And we the subscribers-your Parishioners being Desirous that the said meeting house may be solemnly Dedicated to the Publick worship of God, and that the duties of your sacred Function may be by you performed there, Do herby signify to you our hearty Desire and sincere Request that you will come to the said house and Perform the same In doing which we Trust and hope you will Honour God, aquit yourself Worthily in your sacred office and do great good to your Parishioners.
To which Mr. Wingate replies December 28, saying he has no power to change the place of worship, that the petitions of others could not convey to him that power, and that even the vote of the parish to build a new meeting-house does not appear sufficient of itself to justify him in removing the stated worship from the usual place. This, he says, is the opinion of disinterested persons whom
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HISTORY OF CHURCHI AND PARISH.
he has consulted. In closing: "I would recommend to every mem- ber of the Society that in addition to your humble fervent prayer to God you fail not to be using your best endeavor to Bring to a Speedy issue the present unhappy controversy which Subsists, and that Love and harmony may again reign among us."
This is a part of his reply, which is quite lengthy, but is sufficient to show his position and feeling in the matter.
August 30, 1370, a document signed by Nathaniel Healey and fifty-seven others states that "Whereas Mr. Wingate refuses to Per- form the duties of his ministerial Function at Said new meeting house agreeable to the vote of Said Parish and the advice of Neigh- boring ministers, and they are obliged to hire preaching in the new house at their own expense, Do herby Protest against all and every Tax and assesment for the Salary or Support of the Said Mr. Wingate."
September 30, 1771. First, Capt. Jonathan Tilton was chosen moderator.
2d. It was voted to dismiss the Rev. Mr. Paine Wingate, etc.
3d. It was voted to choose a committee to treat and agree with Mr. Wingate with respect to what compensation shall be allowed and paid by said parish for the secular inconvenience to which the dis- solution of his said relation exposes him.
The fourth vote provided for arbitration.
By the fifth a committee were to request his resignation. After three adjournments this meeting was finally dissolved November 13.
The new meeting-house party outvoted the old, but in his resig- nation Mr. Wingate made a sharp bargain with the parish.
MR. WINGATE'S RESIGNATION.
Hampton falls Dec. 4, 1771
To the Parish of Hampton falls .- Gen' and attested copy of the votes passed at your Parish meeting on the twenty fifth of November last has been laid before me, & I have observed in them the steps taken by you in order for my Dismission from the ministry in this place and a final settlement between us .- And since from your proceedings I find no Encouragment to Expect peace and Quietness with you in the ministry and hoping that thro. the overruling providence of God, it may be most for the interests 'of Religion in your unhappy circum- stances & for my own comfort and usefulness, I do now agreeable to the decrees of the late council ask a Dismission from my ministry among you to take place at the time and after the manner specified as follows viz. That I shall receive Fifty pounds Lawful money of the
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Parish to be immediately paid or sufficiently secured to me with in- terest until paid, and shall still continue a settled minister of this Parish by virtue of the agreement made at my settlement in this Place, and shall enjoy all ministerial Rights and privileges as hertofore, except those I Shall Resign by a mutual, agreement Between me & the Parish-that I shall be exempt from all taxes in the Parish & Shall Retain the free quiet & full possession Enjoyment & Improvment of all the parsonage buildings & Lands now in my possession the repairs to be kept good by the Parish, all the aforesaid rights Prive- leges & Enjoyments as a settled minister of the Parish to continue secure to me for the space of four years from next Mareh & no longer, that I shall be wholly released from performing any ministerial ser- vice in, or for the Parish except what I shall voluntarily consent to, after the usual term of the present year & Shall have Liberty to resign my ministerial Relations whenever I shall see fit short of the four years and remove out of the Parish, and in that case the Parish warranting to make good the improvement of the Parsonage Buildings and Lands as above During the aforesaid term of four years. The above sum of money to be paid & all the aforesaid priveleges and improvments to be continued to me as an Equivalent & humble com- pensation for the secular inconvenience of my removal and I do not only ask a Dismission to take place at the time and after the manner specified But I do herby give the Parish a full aquitanee from that part of their contract which is to pay me fifty five pounds sterling annually as a salary-and I do herby Likewise promise & hold my- self obliged to the Parish in case of forfeiture that I will not improve my ministerial Right and priveleges in Continuing a settled minister of the Parish any way to involve them in the least charge as their settled minister of the Parish except in the respects above mentioned, or for a hindrance of a quiet and peaceable Settlement of another minister speedily-and that I will quit my ministerial Relation & Resign all the Parsonages & other priveleges as a settled minister of this Parish at the time & after the manner speeified above, all of which is upon condition & firm dependence that the vote above Re- cited shall be truly & fully complied with, on the part of the Parish .- Given under my hand and seal this fourth Day of December, in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy one & the twelfth year of the reign of king George the third of Great Brittian ete. PAINE WINGATE
Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of us JOSHUA CHASE STEPHEN CHASE
Attested pr. BENJAMIN TILTON Parish Clerk.
Rev. Paine Wingate, the fourth pastor of the church, was born in Amesbury, Mass., in 1739; graduated from Harvard College in 1759; ordained over this parish December 14. 1763; resigned De- cember 4, 1771, to take effect March 18, 1776. He did not exer-
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HISTORY OF CHURCHI AND PARISH.
cise his ministerial function to any great extent after sending in his letter of resignation. Ile appears to have lived in the town until about the time his resignation was to take effect. Under date of March 12, 14:6. the following agreement with Mr. Wingate is recorded :
Quit my Ministerial Relation and Resign all the Parsonages and other Privileges as a settled minister of the Parish. Allowing a few days for the removal of my effects.
After his dismission Mr. Wingate turned his attention to civil and political matters. He is recorded as a member of congress between the years 1774 and 1779. He was a member of the first United States Senate. being a colleague with Hon. John Langdon. Taking his seat in March, 1:89, his term expired March, 1793. After his term in the senate expired he was elected a representative to the third congress, taking his seat in 1793. He served but a single term in the house. When he was elected to congress he received a full vote in Hampton Falls, notwithstanding the opposi- tion to him as a minister. He was a judge of the supreme judicial court in New Hampshire from 1798 until 1809.
He removed from Hampton Falls to Stratham, where he made his home until his death, March ?, 1838, aged ninety-nine years. He lived with his one wife more than seventy years. At the time of his death only one member of the senate who was associated with him was living.
During Mr. Wingate's ministry, 184 were baptized. He solemn- ized 319 marriages; only 45 of these belonged to Hampton Falls. Many of the remainder came from Massachusetts, and were mar- ried by virtue of a license of the governor rather than to be pub- lished in the old form at home.
July 14, 1773, it was voted to raise forty pounds lawful money to be expended by the seleetmen in hiring "Some proper Gospel preacher in this place this year to have preaching in the Congre- gational order."
November 14, a meeting was held for the purpose of making arrangements for further preaching. Capt. Jonathan Tilton, Mr. Jeremiah Lane, and Mr. David Batchelder were chosen a commit- tee, "to go and treat with the Lower Eand of the parish concerning the difficulties in the parish," and upon the second adjournment of this meeting, it was voted to raise fifteen pounds for preaching,
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
and a committee was chosen to apply to the association for advice, and to apply to some suitable candidate or candidates to sup- ply the parish with preaching.
In a warrant for a meeting to be held July 2, 1775, was an article "To see if the parish will agree to hire Some suitable Person to preach alternately, one half of the time at the New meeting house," etc. But no action upon this article appears upon the record.
Mar. 12 1776 Annual meeting. When Mr. Wingate had vacated the parsonage property, it was, Voted the Parsonage House and Parson- age lands be appropriated and used for the benefit of Schooling and for the support of the poor the Ensuing year.
May 6 Voted to hire preaching for two months the services to alternate between the old and new meeting houses .- again it was voted to provide for six Sabbaths in the new house and for four Sabbaths in the old .- Oet. 21st Voted three Sabbaths preaching and a thanksgiving sermon at the new house
Mention is made that preaching had been supplied by a Mr. Thurston.
At the annual meeting 1777. Voted that the income of the parsonage property, for the ensuing year be equally divided between the two Ends of the parish.
July 31 Voted to hire Some Suitable Person or Persons to Preach in this Parish upon Probation in order for a Settlement Amongst us .- It was voted to invite the neighboring ministers to preach among them, and to ask their advice in the matter .- It was also Voted to hire preaching in the New Meeting house, for four months, and apply the rent of parsonage property to pay for preaching-And all those that Incline to Lay out their Money for preaching at the old Meeting House Signify it to the Seleet Men Seasonably. Malachi Shaw dis- sents against the above vote.
Dec. 29, 1777 At a Meeting held for the purpose of making some arrangment about preaching-It was voted to Exempt those per- sons from ministerial tax who had supported preaching at the old meeting house, and had constantly attended upon the same-Also Voted to Extend a Call to Mr. Ebeneazer Dutch on the same terms on which Mr. Wingate had settled. Viz. the use of parsonage, property and fifty five pounds lawful money. Good Indian Corn at four Shil- lings per Bushel, and other things Equal therto
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