USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Surry > History of the town of Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire : from date of severance from Gilsum and Westmoreland, 1769-1922, with a genealogical register and map of the town > Part 20
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Surry, March 14th, 1820.
Sylvester Smith."
July 16, 1800 Rev. Perley Howe received of the town $466.66, it being his salary for the years 1797 & 1798. The next day he received his salary for 1799-$233.33. His annual salary, though seldom paid when due, remained at this sum till 1815 or later.
The year 1803 contained as long a list of salary tax payers as any year and is given on page 207.
At the June session of the New Hampshire legislature in 1819 the church and state were by law separated, thus making it illegal to raise money by taxation in New Hampshire to support preaching.
Capt. Elijah Fuller represented Surry and Gilsum at the session when this bill was passed. It is said that "just before the vote was taken Elijah's old minister, Rev. Perley Howe, called on him and with tears in his eyes, be- sought him not to vote to starve the ministers. He replied that the ministers must look to voluntary contribution for support."
It took some years for the people to realize that the support of religion should and ought to be separate from state authority, and left to the volun- tary contribution of the people. To the minister in Surry, who had been in charge of this church and people for over two decades it seemed a sad calam- ity. But he bowed to the inevitable, and Apr. 17, 1820, at his own request he was "dismissed from his ministerial services in this town," and it was voted to settle and pay him in full to date. He was therefore released from all further obligations to the town, and dependent on the church for his salary.
13
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HISTORY OF SURRY
REV. PERLEY HOWE
He was a native of Marlboro, Mass., and at the time of his death was in his 79th year. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1790, and was soon led to the studies of the sacred profession; he commenced his ministerial du- ties in Surry in 1794. His letter of acceptance to his "call" to this place shows that he was a man of scholarly attainments as well as an earnest christian preacher.
To the Church & Society in Surry ;-
Beloved: Having received an Invitation to Settle with you in the work of the gospel ministry I have given your requests that attention which the importance of its object demands - -
- - - To perform this work acceptably requires the greatest fortitude & prudence, the greatest faithfulness, and the most active and persevering diligence When I thus consider, it eventually appears to be my part to engage with you in the work of the gospel ministery that friendship & harmony may bless our connection. At the same time I earnestly entreat you to remember that the ministry of the word is committed unto earthern vessels that the ambassa- dors of Christ in common with other men are subject to imperfection - Should I therefore ever inadvertently depart from the truth in sentiments or practice it will be your part not speedily to con- demn, but to be ready to extend to me the restoring hand of Christ.
Perley Howe.
P. S. As my friends live at a distance, and as I shall wish yearly to visit them, I must therefore take the liberty to reserve three Sabbaths in a year to my self. P. Howe.
That Rev. Perley Howe was the unanimous choice of the people is seen by the following certificate:
These may certify that at a meeting of the Legal voters of the town of Surry legally warned and duly holden January 21st, 1795 for the purpose of settling Mr. Perley Howe as their minister there were forty two who voted to give Mr. Howe Seventy pounds annually so long as he shall continue to be their minister as recorded on the Town Book.
Another certificate under the same date states that forty-nine voters were the most that ever assembled in Town meeting, and those were ones who voted for the Governor at the annual town meeting in 1795.
Jan. 28, 1795, "Voted that the yearly salary to Said Mr. Perley How Be Seventy pounds yearly if he should be settled as a gospel Minister in Said Surry as long as he continues to be their Minister, thirty five pounds to be paid in Cash yearly & thirty five pounds to be paid in Wheat, Rye, Indian corn, pork, beef, butter or flax at cash price yearly as long as he is minister for the town of Surry, and the improvement of a personage worth one Hun- dred and fifty pounds. Said personage to be procured within two years from the time of Settlement, and till such time as said personage is procured, said town to allow & pay said Mr. Perley How the Interest of said sum yearly till
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
said personage is procured-and in case said personage should Cost more than one Hundred & Fifty pounds or Less than one Hundred and fifty pounds, to adjust the matter with said How as the case may be, and sd personage to be and Remain the property of the purchasers and their Heirs and assigns for ever and each person shall Be Considered as a purchaser who shall pay their Respective proportion of said personage according to their Respective pole or Ratable Estate.
The yearly sallary to be Equal to two Hundred and thirty-three Dollars & thirty-three cents & one third of a cent, and the worth of the personage to five Hundred Dollars."
Church records and all books kept by Rev. Howe show that he was a schol- arly and cultivated man. He served on the school committee; was the orig- inator of the first Library Society in town, and was interested and took an intelligent interest in all town matters.
It could hardly be expected that so long a pastorate could be wholly har- monious and without discord. There were Methodists as well as Baptists and other denominations represented in the congregation to which the same min- ister was expected to preach. There were controversies and heated discus- sions; as a minister Rev. Perley Howe was frequently the object of attack. As a man and citizen he had the respect and confidence of everyone in town.
At his funeral, Rev. Abiel A. Livermore of Keene, who conducted the ser- vice, chose his text from Num. xxiii-10 "Let me die the death of the right- eous, and let my last end be like his!" See family Record.
Sacred to the memory of
REV. PERLEY HOWE
Who died Oct. 20, 1840 in the 79th year of his age & 46th of his ministry. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Six months after Rev. Perley Howe was dismissed a new organization was formed. We have this record:
"Agreeable to letters missive from Mr. Albert Brown in behalf of others in Surry, an Ecclesiastical Council was convened at the house of Capt. Samuel Robinson in Surry, May 6, 1837 at 9 o'clock A. M. to take into consideration the circumstances of the church in Surry and the members of other churches who reside in that town, that wish to enter into a church state in Surry, either to reorganize the church or to or- ganize a new one as may be deemed expedient.
There were present the following ministers and delegates, Rev. Allen Pratt of Westmoreland, Rev. Z. S. Barstow & Dea. J. W. Briggs of
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HISTORY OF SURRY
Keene, Rev. Moses Gerould & Bro. Stephen Holbrook of East Alstead, Rev. Darwin Adams & Dea. James Newell of Alstead.
-and the church and the members of other churches present renewed covenant as proposed (except that the Rev. Mr. Howe did not join in it) and they were pronounced a Church.
MEMBERS admitted May 6, 1837. (From the old church in Surry except as otherwise stated)
Allen. Eunice
Allen. Hannah from Gilsum
Allen. Rachel
Harvey. Eliza from Cambridgeport
Bemis. Elmina
Harvey. Elizabeth
Blake. Miss Sally from Keene
Brown. Albert from Rindge
Crane. Mrs. Fannie
Holbrook. Mrs. Abigail by profes- sion
Crane. Ichabod
Darling. Daniel from Keene
Holbrook. Hannah from Alstead.
Joslin. Elizabeth S.
Joslin. Mrs. Sarah
Dort. Dea. Eli
Dort. Eliphalet
Robinson. Mary
Robinson. Nancy
Whitcomb. Abigail
MEMBERS 1837-1875
Abbott. Lucy Sept. 2, 1860
From church in Keene
Allen. George July, 1837
By profession
(Dismissed to Keene July 6, 1845)
Allen. Mrs. Nancy R. May 2, 1841
By profession
(Dismissed to Keene July 6, 1845)
Allen. Rachel Jan. 14, 1839
By profession
(Died Nov. 26, 1852-aged 92)
Allen. Roseanna Jan. 9, 1848
(Dismissed April 24, 1852 to church in Keene)
Allen. Roxanna Mar. 11, 1838
Ballou. Ichabod May 7, 1843
By profession
Feb. 12, 1847-because of misconduct in meetings, use of intoxicants etc. -dropped from fellowship.)
Blake. Mrs. Abigail C. Mar. 12, 1840
From church in Winchen- don, Mass.
Brown. Abigail W. Sept. 9, 1838
From church in East Al- stead By profession
Brown. Widow Mercy Jan. 9, 1848
Carter. Sally Sept. 22, 1850
By profession
(Soon removed to the West.)
Davids. Eleanor M. From church in Keene May 1840
(Mrs. Church. Dismissed to Hinsdale Apr. 5, 1846.)
Dort. Sarah
Fisher. Samuel B.
Harvey. Mary from Alstead
Hills. Mrs. Dicea
Darling. Mrs. Theodosia from Keene.
Norris. Elijah
Dort. Mrs. Ļois (Bemis)
From church in Keene
From church in Lowell, Mass.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
Dort. Obed
Jan. 1838
Fisher. Milla
Jan. 11, 1839
By profession From church in Keene
Griffin. Asa
May, 1840
From church in Walpole.
(Dismissed to church in Keene Oct. 27, 1844.)
Hill. Harriet B.
Nov., 1837
Hurd. Lydia
July 2, 1843
By profession From church in Spring- field, Vt.
(Dismissed to Chester, Vt. Mar. 1853.)
Jones. Betsey Jan. 2, 1859
By profession
Joslin. Ellen M.
Jan. 14, 1839
Robinson. Emily E.
Nov., 1837
Robinson. Nancy L.
May 2, 1841
Shelly. Rowena July, 1837
(Dismissed to Keene June 7, 1846.)
Stone. Rebecca F.
July, 1837
Whitcomb. Rebecca
Mar. 11, 1838
Woodward. Edmund
Nov., 1837
Woodward. Mary
Nov., 1837
Wyman. Clarinda Nov. 8, 1846
From church in Dublin.
From the organization of the new church, May 6, 1837 until January 10, 1839 Eliphalet Dort was clerk nominally, but he lapsed from the Orthodox faith-joined the Unitarian church then being formed in town-and when his records of the Orthodox church were sought "only the blank book could be found, and the records are therefore incomplete."
In Sept. 1837 the town voted to appropriate the meetinghouse one third of the time to the Methodists, and one third to the Universalists, thus leaving but one Sabbath in three when the Orthodox society could use it. This decree caused dissatisfaction among the members of the newly organized Congrega- tional society, and so steps were taken for the building of a new church after several unsuccessful efforts to regain the use of the meetinghouse.
In Sept. 1838 pastors of all the surrounding towns met in Surry to dis- cuss the situation, and decided to aid the church in building if it should be necessary.
THE "CRANE MEETINGHOUSE"
In 1838 Otis Daggett conveyed to Ichabod Crane a plot of land 142 feet south of the school house lot and 70 feet deep from the wall. On this site was built the new meetinghouse, Mr. Crane, not only contributing liberally in labor, but also, in large measure, financing the erection of the building. The dedication took place Oct. 9, 1839.
The author of this history has been disappointed in not being able to learn something further as to the raising of this church and the exercises attend- ant upon its dedication.
From a slip of paper, undated, it would appear that a subscription paper was circulated to purchase the horse-sheds from Ichabod Crane:
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HISTORY OF SURRY
A true copy of a subscription paper to buy the new meetinghouse, thirteen sheds, all the land together with all the property thereto be- longing except two slips and one shed.
We, the subscribers severally agree to pay the amount, etc.
Francis Holbrook 50.00
and to have the slip he occupies.
Josiah Kingsbury
10.00
Elijah Holbrook
10.00
Edmund Woodward 10.00
George Blake
10.00
$90.00
It appears Dea. Crane finally conveyed the property to the Home Missionary Society ;
Surry, Dec. 5, 1859. This is to certify that I have sold the new meet- ing house, land and sheds to the Home Missionary Society. (Signed) Ichabod Crane, Clerk.
This church building has been changed but very little since it was built with the exception of lowering the pulpit two or three feet. Necessary re- pairs have been made from time to time.
The church used to be nearly full on pleasant Sundays in 1855. Both the Congregationalists and Methodists held services here.
In connection with the Congregational services, the singers were Capt. Eliphalet Dort, Edmund Woodward, Mrs. John Joslin and Mrs. William Carpenter. Capt. Dort had a small melodeon which he took to church each Sunday in a trunk, and his daughter Mary (Dort) Ware played it for many years.
MEN WHO PREACHED
March 23, 1840. Voted to call Reverend Ezra Adams as pastor and teacher; to offer $300. as his salary provided the N. H. Missionary Society aid to the amount of $100. Apr. 29 this call was accepted, and the ordination took place. Nov. 4, 1841 accepted the resignation of pastor; he was still to work as much as possible.
From Nov. 1841 till April 1842 Rev. Joel Wright acted as pastor.
From July 1, 1842 until May 1845 Rev. Elihu Smith, who came here from Chesterfield, was pastor. Mar. 9, 1843 voted that Rev. Elihu Smith be re- quested to act as pastor in all respects the same as he would were he placed over this church in the usual way.
Rev. Elihu Smith closed his pastorate in May 1845, and, on the first of June, Rev. John P. Perry began his labors. He was a young man, single and partially blind. While here he lived in the house next north of the house that in recent years has been used as the parsonage.
He remained one month over two years, and was succeeded by two ministers of the Methodist faith, Rev. Charles Greenwood who remained until June 1848,
199
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
and was followed by Rev. Lorenzo Draper who remained until the middle of May 1850.
Several supplied the church during the next few months; Rev. Samuel Partridge for three months; Rev. Henry Kendall for two months; Rev. Jack- son Howard for three months; Rev. Wilson A. Farnsworth for one month. For one year Rev. Ira Carter and Rev. Abram Tileston, both of Walpole, moved into town and alternated in preaching. In May 1853 Rev. Tileston moved into town and continued as pastor of the church until Jan. 20, 1855, although he changed his residence to Keene in Nov. 1854. While in Surry he lived in an old house on the meadow near the angle in the road, north of where Victor Lamminen lives (1920).
It is not known who supplied the church for the next few months, but in May Rev. John Clough, a Methodist minister, moved into town and began preaching, and remained until June 1856.
For the next two years there is no record of a settled pastor, but several men preached for short periods; Rev. Newell Culver was here in both 1856 and 1857; for a while Rev. Abram Tileston returned and preached every other Sabbath, and Rev. Ezra Adams, then of Gilsum, returned to his old flock every other Sunday at 5 P. M. during the summer.
From August to November 1858 Rev. Daniel Adams, who was a missionary from Bangor, Me., preached, and then until 1862 there were different minis- ters every little while. Rev. Andrew Fosdick preached for three months after Aug. 1859, and was followed by other ministers until Apr. 15, 1860, when Rev. Lyman Colver, an old gentleman from Pottersville, began supplying the pulpit. He remained three months, and was succeeded by Rev. Edward Abbott who preached one year and left in Apr. 1861.
Rev. Kilburn, an old man, from Keene, preached in the spring of 1862; he was a Methodist minister. Rev. Leonard Tracy and Rev. Joseph Fawcett, both Methodists, also preached during 1862.
May 15, 1864 Rev. Shattuck, a young man, began preaching, and remained pastor until May, 1866. Rev. A. M. Griswold of Washington succeeded him. Apr. 21, 1867 Rev. Joseph Fawcett commenced preaching to both Methodists and Orthodox "for one year." He remained nearly three, preaching his fare- well sermon on March 25, 1871. Then Rev. Nims, a young man from Sulli- van, supplied the pulpit for about three months and was followed by Rev. John Henry Allen, a son of Rev. Joseph Allen of Surry.
Rev. Lovejoy of Keene preached for five months, and was followed by Rev. Parker also of Keene. Rev. Charles Houghton of Marlborough preached for six months during the winter of 1874. Rev. David B. Murray also supplied the pulpit in 1874.
Between 1875 and 1890 there are no records in existence, and the church was closed part of the time.
CHURCH RECORDS 1840-1852
1841. Dismissed Deacon Brown & wife to church in Dedham, Me.
Mar. 2, 1844. Voted letter of recommendation to Mrs. Nancy & Miss Nancy Robinson.
Mar. 2, 1844. Voted that whereas common fame says that Samuel B. Fisher, a member of this church, has been guilty of breaking open a house
200
HISTORY OF SURRY
and taking and converting the property not his own to his own use, and has fied to parts unknown-etc .- dropped from fellowship.
June 3, 1844. Daniel Darling resigned as Deacon in May. In June it was unanimously voted to suspend him from membership. In Aug. it was dis- covered that Daniel and his wife Theodosia had come into the church in an irregular manner-his discipline was given up to Keene church to which he belonged.
Jan. 9, 1848. Fanny Harvey, that was, now Fanny Britton, united with the church 1852. Letter of dismission to Mrs. Fisher to Keene.
Biographical notes regarding a few of the pastors here between 1840 and 1920.
Rev. EZRA ADAMS graduated from Amherst College in 1835, and at East Windsor Theological Seminary in 1838. He was ordained in Surry Apr. 29, 1840, and this was his first settled pastorate. Gilsum Town History has a more extended account of him, and also his picture.
Rev. ELIHU SMITH, b. in Granby, Mass., Mar. 21, 1777, was a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was installed in Chesterfield, May 23, 1832, and dismissed Dec. 2, 1834. He held pastorates also in Vermont, and was nearly 70 years old when he came to Surry in 1843.
Rev. WILLIAM S. ANDERSON was b. in Belfast, Ireland in 1870. While pastor of the church here he commenced studies at Mount Hermon School.
* "Rev. W. S. Anderson, lately pastor of the Congregational church in Surry, and well known in this city, has returned from a trip to Ire- land, and will be in Keene and vicinity for a few days. He was mar- ried while abroad to Miss Minnie Wearing, daughter of John Wearing, Esq., of Derriaughy, Ireland, near Lispurn. Mr. & Mrs. Anderson had an exciting homeward trip, being aboard the steamer City of Rome which came near floundering at sea by coming into collision with an ice berg."
Rev. WILLIAM F. WHITCOMB was b. in Claremont, Oct. 16, 1873; grad- uated from Dartmouth College 1897, and from Hartford, Conn. Theological seminary. He came to Surry in 1900 and remained six years.
Rev. Morton W. Hale, b. Aug. 9, 1876, in Winchendon, Mass .; graduated from Hitchcock Free High School in Brimfield, Mass., June 1894; from Lay college, Bible Training School, Revere, Mass., 1898; later took a special course at Boston University School of Theology. He has held the following pastorates : The Christian Church, Lincoln, Vt., 1898-1901; the Cong. Church, Sudbury, Vt., Oct. 1901-July 1904; ordained Oct. 6, 1903; the Cong. Church, Dover, Mass., 1904-1905; the Cong Church, Surry, N. H., May 1, 1906-May 1, 1909; the Cong. Church, Bridgewater, Vt., May 1909-Sept. 1910; the Cong. Church, Coventry, Vt., Oct. 1910-Feb. 1915; the Cong. Church, Cabot, Vt., Mar. 1, 1915 -.
Rev. Henry S. Kimball held the longest pastorate in Surry, of any pastor in recent years. He was born in Candia, and for a time, in his younger days, was a clerk in a Manchester dry goods store, but later studied for the minis- try and was ordained. He was pastor in Troy 11 years, and then came here in 1909. At the annual meeting of the church in 1915 he was voted a paid vacation of three weeks. He lived but six weeks after, and died at the Bos-
* Keene Sentinel, Oct. 4, 1899.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
ton State hospital Jan. 26, 1916. He was a strong temperance man, and had won his way into the hearts of his people here. His genial manners, native wit and wholesome fun made him a real and valued contributor in the church social gatherings and other occasions of a public nature.
In the pulpit he had a style peculiarly his own. His illustrations were clear and to the point, his language lucid and simple.
His last sermon was preached Dec. 19, 1915, and while it had been known that he had been in failing health for some time it was not realized that the end was so near. So far as known he was the only pastor among the many pastors connected with the Surry church to die while in service.
Frederick C. Hunt came to Surry in May 1916, and severed his connection with the church Sept. 20, 1918 to enter the Bangor Theological seminary.
He was born May 13, 1875 in London, Eng., and is a brother of the late Rev. Arthur C. Hunt, who was pastor of the church in Gilsum at the time Frederick C. was preaching here.
Rev. James F. Scott supplied here during much of 1918-21. He res. at Til- ton, N. H., at that time and was with the N. H. Congl. Conference.
Rev. Eric W. Bascom, a student from Langdon, supplied this and East Al- stead churches during the summer of 1921.
Rev. Arthur A. Muir of Keene preached from Apr. 1, 1922 until Apr. 1923.
During Rev. Mr. Whitcomb's pastorate the interior of the church building was renovated, walls newly papered, new carpet, new heating apparatus, and the whole interior painted. Enough money was raised by subscription to pay for all this, and there was $27 besides.
Rev. William F. Whitcomb remained pastor until 1906, and on April 24th of that year it was voted to call Rev. Morton W. Hale, who stayed till May 1909.
July 1, 1909, Rev. Henry S. Kimball of Troy became pastor, and remained in charge until his death in Feb. 1916.
Frederick C. Hunt from Raleigh, N. C., began his duties May 21, 1916, re- maining three years. April 1, 1922 Rev. Arthur A. Muir of Keene has sup- plied the pulpit.
A Sunday School was organized in May, 1890.
THE ABIGAIL CARPENTER MEMORIAL FUND
Mrs. Marietta (Carpenter) Wright, whose birthplace was Surry, and whose summer home was here till the time of her death in 1919, left to the town the sum of five thousand dollars, the income of which is to be used for the sup- port of preaching. This bequest was a memorial to her mother, Abigail (White) Carpenter.
THE LADIES' AID
There has been a Ladies' Aid Society connected with the church for many years and it has contributed money each year for church expenses. At pres- ent there are about twenty members. Officers 1923: Mrs. I. Alice Crain, Acting Pres. Miss Grace M. Crain, Secy .- Treas.
Y. P. S. C. E.
A Young People Society was organized as early as July 1901 which did good work until disbanded about Jan. 1, 1918.
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HISTORY OF SURRY
THE BAPTIST SOCIETY
The following is a petition for the incorporation of a Baptist society in Westmoreland, addressed to the General Court, June 4, 1800.
"Humbly Shew Your Petitioners, Inhabitants of the Towns of Westmore- land, Walpole, Surry and Keene, Proffessors of Religion by the Denomination of Baptists-That for many years past they have assembled togather for public worship as a Baptist Society: and for the more orderly and regular management of the same-pray that they, with such others as may hereafter be admitted as members, may be incorporated into a religious society to be called and known by the name of the FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY IN WEST- MORELAND with sufficient power and authority to support and settle a minister-to build and repair meeting houses and to raise and collect taxes for those purposes-to warn and hold meetings and to choose all proper offi- cers for transacting and managing the concerns of the said Society and to make Laws for regulating the same, provided the same are not contrary to the Constitution and Laws of the State-and for liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly-Or, that the Honorable Court would make such Order on the premises as to them shall seem meet-and as in duty bound pray
Caleb Aldrich Jr.
Wm, Brettun Sammuel Robbins John Brown
* Asa Hancock
Noah Fuller Jr. Eben'r Wright
* Stephen Bowker John White
* Benja Leonard Levi Ware Oliver Smith
* Oliver Wright Jabez Stratton
* Joshua Fuller John Snow Amos Brown
* Philip Britton
Benjamin Merryfield
* Benjamin Carpenter Elijah A. Hall Zephaniah Leach Jr. William Aldrich
Samuel Woodward Jona. Winchester Seth Bretun John Paul
Rufus Smith Joshua Hall"
December 10, 1800 this society was incorporated by legislative enactment under the name of the First Baptist Society in Westmoreland.
The following shows the viewpoint of some of Surry citizens in regard to the petition :
Those marked with a * were Surry citizens, at or about that time.
* Dudley Thomas Daniel Wilber
* Paul Clark Ephraim Brown Joseph Whitney
* Chever Fowler John Chamberlain Jr.
* Levi Hancock John Chamberlain Jonathan Wilber
* Nehemiah Brown Cyrus Staples
203
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
REMONSTRANCE AGAINST THE INCORPORATION OF A BAPTIST SOCIETY
"We a Committee being appointed by the Inhabitants of the town of Surry at a legal meeting Oct. 11, 1800, to remonstrate against the prayer of the Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants living in the south west part of said Surry that they with others may be incorpor- ated into a Religious Society to be called and known by the name of the First Baptist Society in Westmoreland, beg leaf to state
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