USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Meredith > Old Meredith and vicinity > Part 2
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Attest:
"JOSHUA WOODMAN, Moderator, JOHN GILMAN, Clerk, P. T."
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MEREDITH, January the 28th, 1792.
Gentlemen:
As God the Supreme has seen meet to bring me among you to preach the glad tidings which the gospel affords, and has disposed the hearts of the people of this town to manifest so strong an attach- ment towards me as to make choice of me in so public and united a manner to settle among you as a gospel minister, as appears from the Votes Committed to me as a committee, chosen by the town at a legal meeting for that purpose, I have, in the most serious and prayerful manner, attended to your invitation, wishing not to keep you in long suspense respecting the matter, have thought it to be my duty to give this, my answer in the affirmative, praying that the God of peace may so rule in each of our hearts that the connection may be for the advancement of His Glory and our mutual hapiness that I may be enabled, by divine assistance, to serve you in the sacred office, and being faithful to my Lord in performance of the solemn vows already made upon me, and that you all may ever hear the word with joy and be nourished thereby, that I may, to the end of my short life, have abundant reason to adore the God who sent me to feed his flock in this place by our adhering to the rules of the Gospel shall at some future day be my crown and joy in the Lord.
I am, Gentlemen, with all possible esteem,
Your friend and pastor elect,
SIMON FINLEY WILLIAMS.
To Capt. Davis, Capt. Ray, Lieut. Roberts, Committee of the Town.
COVENANT ADOPTED FOR BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
To pay a serious and constant attendance to the administration of the word and Ordinances, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, not absenting ourselves from special Ordinances without reasonable warrant, We Covenant and agree to watch over each other in Brotherly love and tenderness, and to admonish each other, as need may require and conveniency offer. Not being willing to put a bar in the way of any from enjoying the privileges to which they may have a Gospel right. We will admit to Baptism the seed of all professing Parents, who under no moral Scandal shall have liberty to bring their children to baptism on their assent to the confession of the Christian Faith-and that all Adults, who are desirous of baptism shall be admitted in their assenting to the same. And as Christ Jesus Instituted his supper for the remembrance of him and the nourishment of his children We will "leaving it with God to judge the heart" admit to full communion with ourselves, all who are visibly Christians, giving evidence by their fruits that their views are serious and such as the Gospel incul- cates always having such an eye to the order of the church as to endeavor that no root of bitterness spring up to trouble us,-exercising charity and forbearance to the weak, and even using all mild and Gospel endeavour to reclaim any who may err or be out of the way .- Bearing with one another in love, and restoring in meekness any who have been overtaken in a fault-on the first appearance to a charitable mind of their repentance and desire to return .- In obedience to the divine rule we will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them; If any walk disorderly, and being often admonished con- tinue still incorrigible, after all mild and brotherly attempts are made for his reformation, we promise to note such an one agreeable to the Apostles advise and have no company with him that he may be ashamed yet that we will not
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count him as an Enemy but admonish him as a Brother-In fine -- we will make it our great design as a Christian Church to walk in a christian manner, and en- deavor to make it appear that we are Disciples of Christ indeed-and let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven-Ever striving by every prayerful endeavor for the welfare of Zion -Praying that the God of peace may be pleased to own us his people and bless us as a branch of his Church to whom be glory in the Churches throughout the world from henceforth and forever Amen.
Jonathan Smith with his wife Sarah, Reuben Marston, ditto Mary, Pain Smith, at the same time Joseph Roberts was received, Jacob Eaton, Widow Martha Batchelder, Mary wife of Isaac Farrer.
This Covenant owned and signed before me, Simon F. Williams, Pastor, August 30, 1792.
"At a meeting of the church Lords day October 14, 1792 were received to full communion to this church Simon F. Williams with Polly his wife. At the same time chose Jonathan Smith Reuben Marstin and Pain Smith to send the letters missive for the instalation. At a church meeting held this day October 23, 1792 unamimously agreed that Wednesday the 28th. of November be the day appoint- ed for the installment of the Rev Simon F. Williams to the Pastorial care and charge of said Church and People in this Town and to desire the Selectmen to insert an Article in their warrent for the next Town meeting for the concurance of said Town in said matter, if said Town non concur for said Town then to appoint such day as shall be most agreeable for said purpose." On November 28, 1792, Simon F. Williams was installed to the pastoral care of this Church and People.
In Ebenezer Smith's writing we find the following list of "Suplyes for ordina- tion of Mr. Williams" :-
Ensign Perkins 1/2 shoat.
Brother Jeres Wife 1/2 side of Dito.
Chase Robinson 1 roasting peace of beef.
Paine Smith 7 wt of Butter & 12 chickens.
Daniel Smith Jr. 17 wt of Butter.
Ebenezer Smith, molases, 2 gallons, rum, 1 gallon, wine, 1 gallon & some meat.
For furnishing the Communion Table, October 3, 1793 the members gave as follows :-
Simon F. Williams 1 Platter and Linnen.
Pain Smith 1 Platter and Bason.
Reuben Marston to buy Cups &c 3/.
Deacon Joseph Roberds 3/.
Jacob Eaton 2/3.
John Rand 3/.
Capt Stordivant 6/.
During Mr. Williams' pastorate he appears to have received to full Communion of the Church 20 of 29 members recorded, and to have baptized 43, nearly all being children of members of the church.
March 2, 1797, Chh convened according to timely and legal notice at the Meeting house 2 o'clock P. M. at which time charges were made against Mr.
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Williams "that his conduct was not nor had been agreeable to the Gospel." The Pastor then requested the Chh to take under consideration and answer a request this day read to them that he might resign the Ministry, the same request he read to the Society last Lords day. The Chh wished at present not to act upon the subject but to take the matter under consideration and voted to adjourn. After many (14) adjournments and inquiries it was finally voted on August 28, 1798 that the pastoral relations between Rev. Simon F. Williams and this church be dissolved, agreeable to his request to the church, at their meeting March 2, 1797. There is no record that the town ever voted to settle another minister.
Rev. Simon Finley Williams was born in New Jersey 1764. His father Rev. Simon Williams was born in Trim in the County Neath, Ireland, 1729, graduated at New Jersey College 1763 and settled in Windham in December 1766, and con- tinued there in the ministry until his death November 19, 1793 in the 64th year of his age. He married Mary Floyd and they had ten children, Adam, George, Catherine, Ann, Gilbert, Tennent, Simon Finley, Polly, John Floyd and Elizabeth.
Rev. Simon Finley Williams was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1785, or- dained at Methuen, Mass., December 13, 1786, and dismissed August 16, 1791. He was installed at Meredith November 28, 1792. His salary was £60, one-third cash, one-third corn and grain, and one-third in good beef and pork at cash price. A house 40 by 32 feet, two stories high, was also given him for a settlement. Twenty were added to the church during his ministry, his wife Polly and himself were of the number. About five years after his settlement charges were pre- sented to the church affecting his Christian character, and he asked a dismission. March 2, 1797, the church appointed several committees of investigation and held many meetings for prayer and inquiry in regard to the path of duty, and finally at an adjourned meeting May 21, 1798, it was voted to appoint the 28th day of June as a day of fasting and prayer, at which the several neighboring ministers were invited. On the 28th of August, 1798, the following vote was unanimously passed.
"Voted, That the pastoral relation between the Rev. Simon F. Williams and this Church be disolved," agreeable to his request on the 2nd of March, 1797.
"The Church, however, cannot consistantly dismiss him in regular standing, nor hold him in fellowship as a private brother but are constrained in faithfulness to God, to themselves and to him, to bear testimony against his unchristian con- duct, as a forfeiture of his Christian and Ministerial character, and to suspend him from all special privileges in the church, until he shall testify his repentance, and seek forgiveness of the Church. Signed John Roberts, Moderator, John Cate, Clerk."
Mr. Williams immediately enlisted as a chaplain in the navy of the United States and in 1801 he accompanied Commodore Preble in the frigate Essex to the East Indies. In June, 1802, they put into port upon the island of Batavia. This island is well known for its fatal climate. Fevers are generated in the putrid mud banks near the shores. A stranger who sleeps six or eight nights successively in the town is sure of catching the fever and it is more than an equal chance that he falls a victim to this fatal malady. To this fever Mr. Willliams was exposed. He had received an appointment to give an address on the 4th of July; but he took the
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fever and died on the 3rd of July and on the 4th of July, 1802, his remains were committed to a watery grave. His widow Polly was left with three children, Peter, Polly and Betsey. She afterwards married Dea. John Anderson of Wind- ham.
Peter, the son, went to sea in a merchant's vessel which was unfortunately taken by pirates. He, however, escaped and entered the Russian service, where he distinguished himself, and is said to have been promoted to the office of Ad- miral in the Russian Navy. The oldest daughter Polly, married Dea. William Anderson of Londonderry. Betsey married a Mr. Pollard of Nashua and later lived at Hudson.
THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
The Free Will Baptist Church of Meredith was organized in the year 1800. Elder Simon Pottle, of Middleton, came into that part of the town about two and a half miles from the village, now known as Oak Hill, and held some meetings. This church has also been known as the "Pottle Meeting House" and "Oak Hill Meeting House." It was built between 1800 and 1804.
At the first meeting, as the record states, "seven professed to be brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. The work increased in a glorious man- ner". This was in August of that year. September 3, Elder Richard Martin, of Gilford, came and baptized fourteen persons and on the 23rd of the same month he baptized eleven more. The next day Elder Pottle baptized a few. Baptisms were frequent there and at Center Harbor. It is probable the forming of the organization took place at the first baptism under the name of "Monthly Meeting of Meredith " and was regarded as a branch of the New Durham mother church. This took place September 3, 1800, as the record of the second bap- tism (September 23) says, "and were added to this Monthly Meeting."
At their first monthly meeting, October 11th, after their organization, Simeon Pease was appointed clerk. At that meeting they petitioned the Quarterly Meeting, held the next week at New Durham, to be recognized and constituted a Monthly Meeting. Thirty-three signed the petition, being the then members of the meeting. The following Wednesday, the Quarterly Meeting convened and the request was granted. They were received and recognized as a Monthly Meeting and a branch of the New Durham Church. The name then of the community of churches was "Free-Will Anti-Pedo Baptist." The religious interest at the beginning continued and frequent baptisms were held until on the 1st of January they numbered fifty-six. The work gradually spread over this and adjoining towns till the membership embraced not only Meredith, but New Hampton, Center Harbor, Center Harbor Neck, Holderness, Moultonborough and Moultonborough Neck. At the end of the second year the meeting num- bered one hundred and thirty-four. Subsequently it numbered double if not thrice that number. The meetings in their early history were characterized by great religious fervor and power. The record of an adjourning meeting held at Wadleigh Cram's, Center Harbor, February 20, 1801, says, "We found it to be a meeting-place, indeed, for Jesus was with us, and so refreshed our souls, that, for a long time, there was a shouting like men filled with wine. A number of
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young converts of a few months were filled with the spirit of prophecy and spake with new tongues, declaring the house of Saul waxes weaker and the house of David stronger. Glory to God." In Center Harbor, January 28, just previous to the above-mentioned meeting, at a meeting held at William Clark's as seen by a record of a meeting for baptism, it was stated that Elder Pottle baptized three through the ice at the head of Waukawan Lake, the ice being two feet in thickness. When without a preacher, they conducted their meetings them- selves, the ruling elder presiding. The meetings soon covered so large a territory that branch ones were formed, which monthly reported to the parent. The first year a class was formed on Center Harbor Hill, under the care of Elder J. Knowles which afterwards grew into a church. The next year a branch meeting was formed on Moultonborough Neck. The following year, 1803, one was formed in the "Second Division" of Meredith, which later became a church. Some time later one was formed in the west part of Center Harbor and Holderness. Still later another in East Holderness. In 1838 a church was formed in the village under the name of The Meredith Village Free-Will Baptist Church, its date of organization being October 18th.
In those early years the church did not have a stated ministry but depended on supplies mostly by traveling preachers. The building was later remodeled into the form it now has.
THE FIRST CHURCH AT MEREDITH BRIDGE
Meredith Bridge was for many years after its settlement destitute of any reli- gious service. In 1809 a lot on Province Road just south of what is now the Willard Hotel was purchased by Daniel Avery, as trustee for the inhabitants, as a site for a church building. This lot had a frontage on the street of about five rods and cost one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The money was raised by subscription from twenty-seven of the business men and farmers in the vicinity.
Dr. Bowman had offered a larger lot on what is now Court Street, at a less price, but the Province Road site was considered a better location and the church was built there. The church was built largely by subscriptions of lumber and labor; one person giving a certain amount of lumber, another agreeing to lay a thousand shingles on the roof, and many others agreed to give from a day to two weeks' labor on the edifice. The dimensions of the building were nearly fifty by forty feet, high posted, with two rows of windows for light. The end facing the street was ornamented with a bell-tower and large steeple with a wooden fish as a weather-vane. The steeple was a great affair for that time, and was con- sidered by many the most beautiful church steeple in New England. Inside the church was a good-sized gallery, in which the pews were sold. The pews were old-style, square and high backed.
"This meeting house was open to all denominations, and no one proprietor thereof should be barred from introducing any regular preacher of any religious denomination into said house for the purpose of preaching such a proportion of the time as shall be equal to his or her proportion of property therein." This church building remained in use for twenty-six years and was destroyed by fire on the morning of February 27, 1836.
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The first religious organization in Meredith Bridge was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, in 1811, as the Meredith Bridge Religious Society. The first meeting of the society was held August 3, 1811 and sixteen men were the original members.
Their by-laws ordered that all moneys were to be raised by assessment on the members, in proportion to the ratable property of said members. Several missionaries of various denominations visited Meredith Bridge after the erection of the new church, but none of them appeared to remain very long. The first missionary to meet with any success was Rev. John Turner of Massachusetts. The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Turner, dated at Boston, Mass., in 1833.
"I was the first missionary who succeeded in gaining a congregation to hear me at Meredith Bridge. There had preceded me three missionaries whose names I do not recollect. If I mistake not I made my first visit to Meredith Bridge as a missionary in June 1813, under the direction of the Massachu- setts Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in whose employment I labored the whole time I was there. To them I looked, and from them I received my support. I first went on a commission of three months to all the towns destitute of a settled minister, which lay on every side of Winnipesaukee Lake, making Meredith Bridge my principal stand, and to use my own discretion in going from one place to another as I thought best. This commission was renewed from time to time, as it expired, for three years, in which I was constantly in their employment on that interesting ground, except a few weeks at a time when I visited my family and preached to the people of my charge. My reception by the people of Meredith Bridge, when I first went among them, was by no means flattering. Sectarians of every name had blended their influence, and succeeded in planting a deep rooted prejudice in the minds of all the people against the Congregational ministry. The first remarks I made in my journal on that ground I distinctly recollect to be nearly in the following words: 'This morning I came from Tuftonborough, over the lake to Alton, and walked to this place a distance of sixteen miles, and came to Mr. Avery's before eight o'clock, to whom I had letters of introduction. I was weary and exhausted when I came out of the wilderness through which I passed, but when the village broke upon my eye the contrast was animating. Everything before me and around me was pleasant to the eye; but when I went from house to house and mingled with the inhabitants my heart sank within me. From eight o'clock in the morning to four in the afternoon I met not an individual who welcomed me in word or looks. But at four in the afternoon I found a family about half a mile out of the village, Mr. Jacob Jewett's, who received me with open arms, and welcomed me to their home. When I introduced my- self to Mr. Jewett he said: "I am very glad and very sorry to see you." To my inquiries regarding his reply, he answered: "I am glad to see a minister of the gospel; but I am sorry to see you here, for I know that you can do no good, for none will hear you preach and you will be insulted and abused." But hard looks and lowering countenances never broke my head or heart, I ventured to appoint a meeting for the Sabbath at the meeting-house. We were agreeably disappointed to find about fifty persons who turned out to hear the word of God. I did not visit in the village any more for three weeks, but preached for them according to appointment, every Sabbath, and found the congregations increasing in number about fifty each succeeding Sabbath. Rightly knowing that the sectarians would let me alone while they thought I would soon leave the ground, I made my appointments from Sabbath to Sabbath, leading them to think, when an appointment was made, that it might be the last. In this way I kept them easy so that they broke not upon me, nor interfered with my labors, till I had awakened an interest among the people in my favor. Knowing that the prejudice among the people was so strong against notes, that if a minister should show a strip of paper ever so small while preach- ing, it would drive all out of the house, I preached extemporaneously to them for nine months, and had not even the Bible with me in the pulpit, lest they would think notes were hidden therein. There was another evil which I had to encounter, namely, a suggestion from some that the sermons were written and committed to memory, and preached a thousand times. They soon, however, gave me an opportunity to stop this by giving me three portions of Scripture in one day, as I was going into the pulpit, from which I preached to their satisfaction the three services of the day. Had it not been for
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the unbounded kindness and hospitality of Mr. Jacob Jewett, whose house and stable were ever open for my accommodation, I probably should have been discouraged at the outset, as others before me had been. After I had been there about two months the church where I preached on the Sabbath was generally full.'"'
After Mr. Turner, who remained about three years, came Rev. Jotham Sewell, Rev. Henry Sewell, Rev. Nathan Fiske, "afterwards professor of Greek in Am- herst College," and Rev. Francis Norwood. Mr. Norwood came in June and the present Congregational Church was organized July 26, 1824 and has just observed its centennial anniversary with a pageant and appropriate exer- cises.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MEREDITH
This church was organized February 20, 1815. It was incorporated under the name of The First Congregational Society and was authorized to transact all legal business of the church. It was made up of twenty-two men, not necessarily members of the church. Many years later women were allowed to join. A vote was passed by those early members showing their earnest spirit, viz .: "To worship God statedly in a public manner on the Sabbath, even when they had no preach- ing." Also a resolution that they regarded the private worship of God as of vital importance. Every head of a family in the church was required to worship God in a social manner in his home, morning and evening.
The first pastor, Rev. David Smith, was installed March 24, 1817. His pioneer spirit was exhibited in his journey of ten days, a distance of 130 miles. In March he came from Maine with his wife, six children and household goods; the convey- ance an ox team and sled with canvas cover. He received a salary of $200.00. Their home was a house about a mile from Meredith Village on the road to Center Harbor. The room now used as a kitchen was his study.
One Saturday afternoon Mr. Smith was planting corn in the field, when Dr. Sanborn, a deacon, rode by on horse-back with his saddle bags. He stopped and said, "Mr. Smith, I am surprised to see you here, you ought to be in your study Saturday afternoon instead of working in your field." "Yes," said the minister, "but my family must have bread and I must plant my corn to furnish it. I feel rich when I can have Saturday afternoon in my study, but I can't even have that today."
The old meeting house was situated on the other side of the road not far from the parsonage. It was a plain, wooden building, not plastered, too cold in winter and meetings were held in the school house. Mr. Smith died of consumption August 18, 1824. Mrs. Smith was a cripple and walked to church with a crutch and a kitchen chair, sitting down by the way to rest.
In 1832 the society records show a vote was passed to build a meeting house without a cupola. It was situated at the foot of Meredith Hill and the pews were sold "at vendue" and struck off to the highest bidder. Dudley Leavitt, the astronomer, was not a member of the church but attended with his wife. At one evening meeting his wife made a fervent prayer that he might be saved. After she had finished, he arose and said, "We read in God's word, that the unbelieving husband shall be justified by the prayers of the believing wife," took his hat and walked out. In 1837 "a committee was appointed to put the price upon produce
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that may be paid to the minister." Another, "To see that the minister is sup- plied with the common necessities of life." Also a committee "To see that the Boys be kept in their proper place during worship."
In 1841 the church passed the following resolution : "Resolved that Slave hold- ing under all possible circumstances, is a sin against God and man and ought to be immediately and forever abolished and that we will not knowingly commune with slave holders as Christians; and that we will not have a slaveholder as a Christian minister." In 1842, a resolution was passed affirming that "the use of ardent spirits as a beverage and traffic in it is sin." The church was moved to its present location on Highland Street, Meredith Village, the same year.
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