USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 6
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the meeting house if the men that own pews take them for their sets. Voted, To bild the seats and to nail the Bords on the outside of sd house. * Voted and chouse Enosh Lawrence, John Asten, Aaron Wheelcar, comete to hier prich- ing. Voted and chouse John Asten, John Swallow, Nathan Whipel, comete to Bild the seats and nail the Bordes on sd house. Voted, To chuse a comete to see into the steat of the selectmen, assessors, and into the state of the Tresure. Aron Wheelear, Ruben Barret, Oliver Alet were chouse comete men. * Voted, The road throu William Bad- cock's land where it now goes to Josiah Wheeler's and to New Ipsshed. The sixt articakel not acted on. * * Voted and chouse a comete to pich upon a place or places for a grave yard. Enosh Lawrance, Samauel Scripter, Nathan Hall."
At the meeting Sept. 11th, 1769, "Voted to except the money that two of the 'cool lots was sold for by the proprie- tors last Febueary in lew of the lots that was sold."
January 11th, 1770, the treasurer was ordered to pay Josiah Wheeler One pound four shillings Lawful money, to pay Mr. Josiah Willard for one day preaching in the year 1768. Also to pay Stephen Lawrence six shillings for boarding Mr. Nathan Bond while preaching in 1769. Also to pay John Swallow two shillings and eight pence for keeping Mr. Nathan Bond's horse while preaching in 1769.
The town seems at an early period, to have been troubled with "idle persons." In the warrant for the annual meeting, in 1770, the 9th article is, "To see if the town will provide a work house in order to set Idle persons to work, also, to appoint an overscer for said house." At the meeting, it was " Voted that there be a work house provided and that Reuben Barrett be the overseer and master of said house," a vote that may have operated in terrorem, and frightened away the idle persons ; for although no house was provided, yet it is some years before any new complaints appear, of the preva- lence of idle persons. At the same meeting, " Voted to have
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-1771.
but one graveyard. Voted to except of that piece of ground for a graveyard which the committee, that was appointed to lay out graveyards have laid out at the west end of lot No. 6, in the ninth range on the west side of the road that goes to Townshend, running on said road twenty poles from the south line of said lot, containing two acres."
Aug. [10] 1770. Ordered one pound twelve shillings paid to Samuel Scripture " for boarding Mr. Bigglow and Mr. Ward while preaching in Mason." Also, to Obadiah Parker " twelve shillings seven pence for going after a minister," and same date to James Withce 4s. 10d. " for paying John Asten for nine dinners for the ministers Mr. Bigglow and Mr. Ward." Mr. Asten probably lived at the nearest house to the meet- ing-house, the cellar of which now remains in the north west corner of the Rev. Mr. Hill's old orchard.
A meeting was called August 27th, 1770. among other matters, "to see if the town will give Mr. Jonathan Searle an invitation to settle among them in the Gospel ministry and what they will offer him as settlement and salary."
"5thly. To see if the town will raise money to release Samuel Scripture the difficulty about Mr. Brown's preaching." At this meeting it was "voted unanimously to give Mr. Searle a call ; to give him one hundred pounds Lawful, settlement, half in six and half in twelve months after ordination, sixty pounds lawful as salary, the first ten years, and at the end of ten years £66 13s. 4d. as yearly stated salary."
"Voted not to act on the 5th article," so Mr. Scripture was not "relieved of his difficulty."
1770, December 18th, the treasurer was ordered to pay James Withee 18s. "for paying Mr. Jona. Searle so much."
" Dec. 24. The Treasurer was ordered " to pay Aaron Wheeler £8 8s. to pay Mr. Ward for seven days preaching."
1771, Feb. 18. The Treasurer was ordered to pay Thomas Tarbell £4 4s. "for boarding Mr. Searle 14 weeks."
At the annual meeting 1771, a rate was made for improving the school lot, to be paid in labor. A man was allowed 2s.
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Sd., and a yoke of oxen, 1s. 4d. a day. "Voted to allow the town Treasurer 2d. 2q. on the pounds for taking [in] and paying out the towns money." The school lot here referred to, is the lot on which the meeting-house was built.
1771, March 7th, the treasurer was ordered to pay Ens. Enosh Lawrence £1 6s. d. "for boarding Mr. Scarle 4 weeks."
Mr. Scripture still being "in trouble about Mr. Brown's preaching," applied to the town for relief. In the warrant for the meeting June 3d, 1771, the second article was, "To see if the town will make Mr. Samuel Scripture any allowance with respect to the charge and trouble he has been put to relative to Mr. Brown a late preacher in said town; he the said Scripture being the person that employed him for that business, and he has been sued and put to cost and charge upon this account, and to say what he shall have allowed him for the same." The town voted not "to allow him for the same," for what reason does not appear.
November 18, 1771, "Voted, To hire Mr. Newcum [New- comb] one month upon probation, in case he will supply us."
Same date, Treasurer ordered to pay Insign Enosh Law- rence £2 7s. 3d. 1q. "in part for boarding ministers the sum- mer past."
January 3, 1772. To the same, 12s. "in part for boarding ministers the summer past."
April 29, 1772. An order "To pay Thomas Tarbell eight shillings for providing for a fast we had on account of giv- ing Mr. Searle a call."
At a meeting August 10, 1772, the call to Mr. Searle was renewed, with the same settlement and salary. This call was accepted. Of his answer, a copy is inserted on pages 67 and 68, in this chapter.
September 7, 1772. At a meeting called to appoint a day for the ordination, &c., "Voted, To accept Mr. Searle's answer, and that the 14 of October be the day of ordination, and to send to the following nine churches under the pastoral
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care of their ministers to assist, viz : Hollis, Rev. Daniel Em- erson ; Byefield, Rev. Moses Parsons ; Pepperell, Rev. Joseph Emerson ; New Rowley, Rev. James Chandler; Townshend, Rev. Samuel Dix; Linebrook, Rev. George Leslie; New Ips- wich, Rev. Stephen Farrar; Old Rowley, Rev. Jedediah Jew- ett ; Temple, Rev. Samuel Webster."
"Voted, To give Lieut. Obadiah Parker, eight pounds four- teen shillings and four pence, L. money, to entertain the council, together with all the other gentlemen of the clergy, and Mr. Searle's relations and friends, that may attend the ordination."
"Voted, That Mr. Searle may be absent two Sabbaths in a year yearly, in order to visit his relations, in case it may not be in his power to provide a supply."
Josiah Wheeler, Amos Dakin and Obadiah Parker were chosen "A committee to send out letters missive for the ordi- nation. Voted, To choose a committee to prop up the gal- leries in the meeting house, as they shall think proper, before the ordination." David Blodgett, Jacob Blodgett, Licut. John Swallow, Samuel Scripture and Enosh Lawrence Jr., were chosen a committee for that purpose. "Voted, To chuse a committee to tend the meeting house doors, and keep the body seats the men's side for the church, and the women's side for the council, on ordination day." Edmund Tarbell Jason Russell, Reuben Hosmer and Nathaniel Hosmer, were chosen for this purpose.
The call or invitation to Mr. Searle is not recorded, nor has any copy of it been found. His answer is entered at length in the records. It is characteristic of the man, and as it is one of the few memorials of him left, it is here inserted :
"To the Frecholders and other Inhabitants of Mason : Be- loved Friends; As God, who has the Hearts of all Men in his hands, has called me, tho' most unworthy, to preach in several Places, and of late in this Place ; so I Humbly hope, through Grace, that it has been and is still my real Desire to hearken to his Voice in Providence, and readily to comply
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with the same. And as you have proceeded according to the Coppy of your Votes, which the Committee lodged in my hands, to renew your Call for my Settlement in the work of the Ministry among you, and that, as I understand. with much Harmony and good Agreement, I look upon myself bounden in Duty to encourage the same; since I trust God has, by his Spirit, made such an application of his word and Providence to my mind as leads me to see that I'm called not only of Man but of God: Accordingly, I do cheerfully give up myself to God, to serve him by his Grace in the Gospel of his Son; and it is my Purpose to give myself to you by the will of God.
"I take it for granted in your vote respecting my settlement, you mean to give me One Hundred Pounds, in addition to and over and above those Lands given by your Charter to the first minister, and upon that condition give an affirmative Answer to your request.
"I beg a constant and fervent Remembrance in all your Addresses at the Throne of Grace, that God would abun- dantly furnish me for the Work of the Ministry, with the Gifts and Graces of his holy Spirit.
"And now Sirs, may God graciously smile upon and bless yon in all your concerns, particularly respecting your settle- ment in Gospel Order. I do fervently commend you "to God and to the Word of his Grace which is Able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them which are sancti- fied," And Subscribe myself your Servant in our Common Lord. JONATHAN SEARLE.
"P. S. Whereas my Relations live at some considerable Distance whom 'tis likely I shall incline to visit once a year, when it may not be in my Power to provide a Supply, I should take it very kindly if in your next meeting, you would take this Matter into Consideration, and give Liberty that I may be absent two or three Sabbaths in a year, as you may think proper."
This is all that appears upon the town records, in reference
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1772.
to the call and ordination of Mr. Searle. In the History of the New Hampshire Churches, page 23, it is stated, that Mr. Searle received a call to settle at Candia, N. H., between 1768 and 1771, which he seems to have declined in favor of Mason. This connection commenced with favorable auspices, was not a happy one. Difficulties soon arose, of which the details will appear in their proper place. The call, it may be remarked is not in accordance with the principles upon which congregational churches now claim to be established. This call proceeded from the town alone. There was at the date of these proceedings no church. That was not organ- ized or formed until the 13th of October, the day before the ordination. The " letters missive" were issued by the town. It is now the prescribed and universal rule, for the letters to be issued by the church, and for the town or society by their committee to join with the church in sending out the letters. The call also should proceed from the church, in the first instance, as it is from the church alone that it has any eccle- siastical or binding force, as a religious institution or ordi- nance. The action of the town is merely subsidiary, and has reference only to temporalities, such as the salary, settle- ment, use of lands, parsonage, &c. Such rights, towns in their corporate capacity, continued to exercise, a concurrence on their part with the church, being requisite for the lawful settlement of a minister, until the act of the Legislature, passed July Ist, 1819, took away from towns all such power ; and parishes, or societies came in place of towns, in the con- tracts for settling ministers. The clergyman, in those days, was the minister, that is, the servant of the town and people ; but the pastor, that is the keeper, the shepherd of the church. Then permanence gave dignity and authority to the office ; gravity, learning, and a paternal interest and care for the whole people, made the minister the first and principal man in the town, whose character, especially if for good, impressed itself thoroughly and permanently, upon the whole town, and all its interests and institutions. That he should be right-
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minded, able and faithful, was as important for the prosperity of the town and people, as such characteristics are in the husband and father of a family, for the peace, happiness and prosperity of the domestic circle. What a change a half century with its new notions, has brought about. The rever- ence paid, and authority yielded to the clergy, is gone, and with them are gone much of the peace, order, sobriety and prosperity of our communities, especially in the agricultural regions. The old-fashioned charity, hospitality and brotherly . kindness have vanished away, and their place has not been supplied by any gifts or graces, that should cause their loss not to be noticed and lamented. Possibly, in worldly pros- perity, some show of advance has been made, but in domestic felicity and neighborly good feelings, the by-gone days may fearlessly challenge a comparison with the present times.
November 17th, 1772. The treasurer is ordered "To pay Mr. Jacob Burnap fourteen pounds eight shillings L. money for preaching and supplying Twelve Sabbaths in Mason."
January 6, 1773. The Treasurer is ordered "To pay In- sign Enosh Lawrence £3 10s. Od. 3q. L., which sum, with what he has already rec'd, amounts to the sum total of his account for boarding Mr. Steward, Mr. Burnap and Mr. Wioth, while preaching in Mason.
February 27, 1773. Order "To pay Lieut. Obadiah Par- ker £10 16s. L., which sum he paid Mr. Jonathan Scarle, in part for preaching in the town of Mason, in the year 1770," and same date, order to pay Nathan Coburn, three shillings "for carrying Mr. Jacob Burnap's money to him, which was due to him for preaching in Mason in the year 1771." Same date, Mr. Nathan Hall, as treasurer, is charged as "Dr. to the selectmen £1 1s. 4d., the Rev. Jacob Burnap having abated so much out of the sum the selectmen ordered the treasurer to pay him."
March 5, 1773. Order "To pay Abijah Allen £4 6s. 8d for boarding Mr. Ames seven weeks, when preaching in Mason, and for boarding the Rev. Mr. Searle seven weeks, while
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preaching in Mason, before his ordination, and for expenses to Concord in going after Mr. Ames."
March 24, 1773. Order "To pay Elisha Withington three pounds for keeping school in Mason two months last winter."
This is the first entry that appears, of money paid for schools. Mr. Withington continued for many years to be employed as a school master. There were then no school districts, or school houses. The whole management of the schools was under the superintendence of the selectmen. They employed the teacher and directed when and where the schools should be kept. The only memorials left, of the schools and teachers, are to be found in the records of the orders for the payment of their wages and expenses of wood and rent of rooms.
May 31, 1773. Order "To pay Lt. Obadiah Parker Ss. 9d. 3q. for his cost in sending for a law book, paying for a juror box, and paying Esq. Goss, for swearing the selectmen to the Inventory taken in April last."
May 31, 1773. Order "To pay Lt. Obadiah Parker £2 1s. 5d., which he paid to the Rev. Jonathan Searle in full for his preaching in the town of Mason, in the year 1770, and like- wise £2 17s. 1d., in part for what he preached in the year 1772, before his ordination."
In the warrant for the town meeting, July 12, 1773, one article was, "To see if the town will provide a work house, or determine what method they will come into for the sup- port of the poor." Another was, "To see if the town will give liberty to Mr. Stevens Lawrence to build a house and horse stable on the school lot, for his own use on Sabbath days." Another, "To see if the town will accept of a piece of ground of Capt. Thomas Tarbell, for a graveyard." The town voted, "That there be a work house provided," that "Stevens Lawrence, or any other man, may have liberty to build a house or horse stable on the school lot, for their own use on Sabbath days." The work house was not built. The threat to build it probably induced the "idle persons" to
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withdraw or go to work. The piece of ground for a grave- yard, was that now occupied for that purpose, in the east part of the town, near where Capt. Thomas Tarbell then lived, about one mile east of the old meeting house. Under the liberty to build on the school lot, horse stables and houses for Sabbath days, two such houses were built, both of two small rooms, with a fire place in cach room-one of them, by Stevens Lawrence, Jonathan Searle, Aaron Wheeler and John Swallow, the other by Col. James Wood, Joseph Woods, Oli- ver Hosmer and Timothy Wheeler. A long line of horse sheds or stables was built, on the west side of the road oppo- site to the meeting house, and another line of stables on the north side of the meeting house. The earliest built were stables, in form and fact, being wholly enclosed and shut by a sliding door. These were fitted only for the accommodation of horses without carriages. The primitive mode of convey- ance to the public meetings, for worship, was on horse back. The father of the family with his wife behind him on the pil- lion, each with an infant child in their arms and with their Sunday dinner of brown bread, nut cakes or dough nuts, and cheese and apples in their pockets, left the humble cottage dwelling in the cleared patch, surrounded by the original forest, accompanied by the other members of the family, children and hired men, or relatives, inmates of the same, on foot, the procession wending its way, over the road but partially cleared of rocks and stumps, proceeded to the rough boarded, unpretending meeting house. The horse was well provided for in the close stable, sheltered from wind and storm. The people resorted to the Sabbath-day house, or as it was more generally called "noon house," at the season of intermission, where, by a good, comfortable fire, they enjoyed their homely but healthy fare of a dinner, with a social drink of cider, and such friendly and cheerful chat as served to keep up an intimacy and neighborly intercourse which tended to preserve personal friendship and good feeling in society.
September 22, 1773. Order "To pay Josiah Wheeler £9
1774. MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 73
12s., for paying Mr. Sylvanus Ames for preaching cight Sab- baths in Mason."
March 14, 1774. Order "To pay Ens. Enosh Lawrence £5 14s. 8d. 2q., for paying Mr. Wyeth for four days' preach- ing, and 16 months interest for the same."
July 15, 1774. At a meeting called expressly for that purpose, Amos Dakin "was chosen to send to meet the sev- eral towns in the Province at Exeter, on the 21st of July, in order to choose a committee to join the Congress at Phila- delphia, on the first of September next, in order to consult what measures may be best to be taken to secure our rights and privileges." This is the first distinct notice, that appears on the records of any action of the town in reference to the great struggle that was then impending, the successful result of which is destined to work a greater revolution, for the better, in human affairs, than any other event, that has oc- curred since the introduction of the Christian religion. The subsequent records show, that this little community, amidst poverty and privations, were not, in proportion to their means, second to any in the land, in their efforts to secure to themselves and their posterity, the great boon of political freedom and self-government.
August 22, 1774. Josiah Wheeler was, at his request, ex- cused from further services as town clerk and selectman. He was a leading and active man in the affairs of the town and church, from the first organization of each, till this date. He served in the office of town clerk, to which he was chosen on the first organization of the town, every year but one, and as one of the selectmen every year, till he resigned both offices, as above, probably on account of ill health. By the record of deaths, it appears that he died October 17, 1774. His records are very well made, in a plain and distinct hand, and are now perfectly legible, in that respect comparing favor- ably with any of his successors, and very much superior to most of them. In what year he came into town has not been ascertained. His native place was Concord. He was one of
4
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HISTORY OF MASON.
the original members of the church, and took an active part in its proceedings. The birth of his eldest daughter, Lucy, is recorded January 16, 1765. This was anterior to the commencement of the town records. The entry is made by himself, as town clerk. He probably then lived in town. He lived upon the farm afterwards owned by Hincksman Warren. His widow continued to live upon the farm till October 25, 1775, when she was married to David Blodgett, who lived on the farm several years after the marriage, and probably till it was sold to Warren. In the first assessment of taxes in the town, he was rated at 7s. 6d. 1q. The list contains sev- enty six names. Two or more were non-residents. The highest rate in the list of residents. that of Josiah Robbins, was £1 3s. 4d. Oq., the lowest, that of Joseph Tucker, 8d. 2q. Thirty seven were higher and thirty eight lower than Mr. Wheeler, showing him to have been placed in that happy state of mediocrity, in which, alone, the true enjoyment of life is to be found. Probably none of his descendants reside in the town. No monument shows where he rests from his labors.
The storm of revolutionary troubles now began to wear a dark and threatening aspect. October 23, 1774, a warrant was issued, calling a meeting on Monday, the 24th of October, "To choose a committee to send to Amherst, to meet the ses- sions, and also to act on some other articles, that may be then thought proper." At the meeting, Lieut. Obadialı Parker and Mr. Joseph Barrett were chosen a committee to meet the sessions, and Amos Dakin, Samuel Brown, Abijah Allen, David Blodgett and Lieut. Obadiah Parker, were chosen a committee of correspondence for the county. The notice for this meeting was issued on Sunday, to meet the next day, thus verifying Mr. Webster's remark in his Baltimore speech, that "revolutionary times know no Sundays."
Immediately after the record of this meeting, but without any preface, introduction or explanation, is entered in the
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1774.
records, in the hand writing of Benjamin Mann, town clerk, the following paper, copied verbatim and literatim :
"THE COVENANT OF NON-IMPORTATION AND AGREEMENT, 1774.
"We, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of Mason in N. H. Having Taken into our Serious Consideration the Precarious State of the Liberties of N. America, and More Especially the Present Distressed Condition of our Sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay, Embarrassed as it is By Sev- eral Acts of the British Parliament tending to the Entire Subversion of their Natural and Charter Rights, among which is the Acts for Blocking up the Harbor of Boston; and Being Fully Sensible of our Indispensible Duty to Lay Hold on Every Lawful Means in our Power to Preserve and Recover the Much Injured Constitution of our Country, and Conscious at the same [time] of no Alternative between the Horrors of Slavery, or Carnage and Desolation of Civil War, But a Sus- pension of all Commercial Intercourse with the Island of Grate Britain, Do, in the Presence of God, Solemly and in Good Faith covenant and Engage with each other :
"1st. That from Henceforth we will suspend all Commercial Intercourse with the said Island of Grate Brittain, until the Parlaiment shall Ceas to Enact Laws Imposing Taxes upon the Colonies without their consent, or until the Pretended Rights of Taxing is Dropped, and Boston Port be opened, and their and our Constitutional Rights and Privileges are Restored to ye Colonies.
"2dly. That there may be less Temptation to others to Continue in the said Now Dangerous Commerce, and in order to Promote Industry, ŒEconomy, Arts and Manufactures among ourselves, which are of the Last Importance to the Welfare and Well-being of a Community, We do in like manner Solemly Covenant that we will not knowingly Buy, Purchase or Consume, or suffer any Person by, for or under us, to Pur- chase, nor will we use in our Families In any manner what- soever, any Goods, Wares and Merchandize which shall Arrive in America, from Grate Britain aforesaid from and after the last of August Ensuing; Except only such articles as shall be Judged absolutely necessary By the majority of the Signers hereof; and as much as in us Lies to Prevent our Being inter- rupted and Defeated, in this only Peaceble Measure entered into for the Recovery and Preservation of our Rights and the rights of our Brethren in our Sister Colonies; We agree to Brake off all Trade and Commerce with all Persons, who
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Preferring their Private Interest to the Salvation of their now almost Perishing Country, who shall still Continue to import Goods from Grate Britain, or shall Purchase of those who import after the said Last Day of August; until the aforesaid Pretended Right of Taxing the Colonies shall be Given up or Dropped, Except so mich as Christian Duty Requires Toward them ..
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