USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H. : containing the address by Charles Mason, and the proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1852, with a register of families > Part 26
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"All this we do in the presence and fear of God, with a deep sense of our unworthiness to be admitted into covenant with him and to enjoy the privileges of the church evangelical, and our own insufficiency to perform the duties without his gracious assistance; and we do there- fore rely on and pray to the God of grace and peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, that, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, he would make us perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
SAMUEL TWITCHELL. JAMES CHAMBERLAIN.
ABEL TWITCHELL.
RICHARD GILCHREST.
EBENEZER TWITCHELL.
ANDREW ALLISON.
THADDEUS MASON.
JONATHAN PERRY.
EBENEZER HILL. FRANCIS APPLETON.
MOSES GREENWOOD.
ASA FISK."
After the death of Mr. Sprague, the pulpit was supplied for a time by the clergymen of the vicinity, who, according to cus- tomary usage, gave each one day's preaching. But, as the benefit of such labors would not fall upon the widow, her hus- band having no salary, the question arose whether these clergy- men should be paid for their services. Accordingly, an article was inserted in the warrant for a town-meeting, Feb. 20, 1818, "to see if the town will make any compensation to those clergy- men who have preached here since Mr. Sprague's decease." The said article was dismissed. At the same meeting, "Voted
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that the selectmen be directed to return the thanks of the town to the Rev. Mr. Dunbar for his discourse delivered at the funeral of the Rev. Edward Sprague, and request a copy of him for the press." Two hundred fifty copies were ordered to be procured. "Voted to raise two hundred dollars to procure preaching this year ensuing. Chose Deacon Francis Appleton, Abel Twitchell, and Cyrus Chamberlain, to provide preaching."
The preacher procured was Mr. Edmund Quincy Sewall, son of Judge Samuel Sewall of Massachusetts, a graduate of Har- vard College, 1815, and who had studied theology in Cambridge.
At a town-meeting, July 6, 1818, "Voted to give Mr. Edmund Q. Sewall a call to settle in this town as a gospel minister, sev- enty-six in favor, and forty-four against it." A committee was then chosen to propose a salary, and said committee "proposed that the town give Mr. Sewall five hundred dollars, a yearly salary, so long as he shall supply the desk, or be their gospel minister; which report was accepted."
Mr. Sewall returned a negative answer to the call he had received; but, as many persons were much interested in him, an article was inserted in the warrant for a town-meeting, Nov. 11, 1818, "to see if the town will recall Mr. Edmund Q. Sewall as a minister of the gospel in this place, or act anything respect- ing the same." On this article, "Voted that the yeas and nays be taken; . . . and there were ninety-six in favor, and seventy in the negative." It was then "voted to choose a committee of three to nominate a committee of three to propose a sum to offer Mr. Sewall as a salary." But, instead of proceeding to choose said committee, it was "voted to act no further on the article at the present time." This vote was, in effect, laying the whole subject on the table. It was called up at a meeting held, Dec. 1, 1818. One article in the warrant was "to see what com- pensation the town will give Mr. Edmond Q. Sewall to settle as a minister of the gospel in this place, or act anything respecting the same." This article was dismissed, and a committee was chosen, consisting of the selectmen, to hire preaching; one hun- dred fifty dollars having been voted for that purpose. Mr. Sewall was settled, in 1819, in Barnstable, Mass .; then in Am- herst, N. H .; and again in Scituate, Mass. He was born in Marblehead, Mass., Oct. 1, 1796; and ordained at Barnstable, Dec. 22, 1819, where he remained three years. His Amherst pastorate was for about two years, from Jan. 26, 1825. His long Scituate pastorate extended for about seventeen years, from Dec. 21, 1831. He died in Cohasset, Mass., Sept. 15, 1866.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
The candidates employed under the foregoing and subse- quent votes of the town, so far as we have ascertained, were Thomas Tracy, born in Haverhill, Mass., March 26, 1781; died at Newburyport, Mass., Aug. 11, 1872; had settle- ments in Biddeford, Me., and Saco, Me .; - Rev. Stephen Farley, who had been settled in Claremont, N. H .; - David Reed, born in Easton, Mass., Feb. 6, 1790; died in Roxbury, Mass., June 7, 1870; for forty-four years publisher and pro- prietor of the "Christian Register" at Boston; - Elisha Fuller, born in Princeton, Mass., Oct. 28, 1794; died in Worcester, Mass., March 18, 1855; a noted lawyer in Concord, Mass., Lowell, and Worcester, never ordained; son of Rev. Timothy Fuller of Merrimack, N. H .; - Stevens Everett, born in Dor- chester, Mass., Dec. 14, 1797; died there, Feb. 20, 1833; settled in Hallowell, Me., about eight years, from Sept. 15, 1824; - and Silas Allen, who afterwards changed his name to William Winthrop Allen, born in Medfield, Mass., Jan. 25, 1795; died there, Oct. 31, 1888; who was never ordained. All of these men, except Mr. Farley, had studied in the Harvard Divinity School. The statement in the former History of Dublin that Mr. Everett was settled at Augusta, Me., was probably an error. The general catalogue of the Harvard Divinity School, which gives quite complete information with respect to every student of the school, credits him with no settlement except at Hallo- well, Me.
The law of the State, called the "Toleration Law," was passed at the June session of the legislature, in the year 1819; and the First Congregational Society was organized, in accordance with the requisitions of that act, in the winter of 1819-20. A part of the preamble to the constitution and by-laws of said society is as follows: -
"In conformity to an act of the Legislature of this State, passed, June, A.D., 1819, by which it is rendered illegal for towns, as corporate bodies, to raise money for the support of the gospel, - which act authorizes any number of persons to associate themselves together into a society for moral and religious purposes, - therefore, we, the under- signed, inhabitants of the town of Dublin, deeming religion, piety, and morality important to the present and future interests of mankind, have associated ourselves into a society for the above purposes, to be known and designated by the name of the First Congregational So- ciety in Dublin."
Mr. Levi Washburn Leonard began to preach as a candi- date for the above society, the first Sunday in April, 1820;
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and, after supplying the desk six Sundays, and on the annual fast, he received an invitation from the church and society to settle as their minister, with the offer of an annual salary of six hundred dollars.
Levi Washburn Leonard was born in South Bridgewater, Mass., June 1, 1790, took the degree of A.B. at Harvard Uni- versity, 1815; A.M., 1818; and was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the same institution, in 1849. He was ordained at Dublin, Sept. 6, 1820; made the senior pastor of the church, after the settlement of Mr. Bridge, June 13, 1855; and remained the emeritus pastor of the church until his death, at Exeter, N. H., Dec. 12, 1864.
The following are copies of the records of the church and society in reference to the call and settlement of Mr. Leonard: -
"Dublin, May 20, 1820. Voted to give Levi W. Leonard a call to settle with us, as our gospel minister.
ANDREW ALLISON, Clerk for the Church."
"The First Congregational Society met at the Old Centre Meeting- house in Dublin, agreeably to notice; chose Capt. Moses Marshall moderator.
"Voted to give the Rev. Levi W. Leonard a call to settle in the ministry over the society in Dublin.
"Voted that the society give the Rev. Levi W. Leonard a salary of six hundred dollars annually, including the legacy, so long as he con- tinues minister over the society.
"Voted that the standing committee of the society inform Rev. Mr. Leonard of the result of this meeting, and request him to return to Dublin as soon as convenient.
"To which the Rev. L. W. Leonard returned the following reply : -
"To the Congregational Church and Society in Dublin.
"CHRISTIAN BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, - Having received an in- vitation by your committee to take upon me the sacred and important office of a Christian minister and religious instructor among you, and having solemnly and prayerfully deliberated on the subject, I have determined to accept the invitation.
"The arduous nature of the work which I am about to undertake, the high responsibility of the ministerial office, and the fearful con- sequences of unskilfulness or unfaithfulness in the performance of its duties, are considerations which fill my mind with much solicitude. But the motives and views which have led me to devote myself to the work of the ministry, the degree of unanimity with which you have invited me, the sense of duty which has disposed me to accept your
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invitation, and a firm reliance on divine aid to support me in time of trouble and difficulty, encourage the pleasing hope that my labors will be attended with the blessing of Heaven. In this interesting and sol- emn undertaking I shall need your kind assistance; and I humbly ask your united prayers, that, if it should please the holy Author of our religion to consecrate me to his service among you as a minister of Jesus Christ, he would, in the rich abundance of his goodness, endow his servant with all those gifts and graces requisite to adorn the profession; that this people may be of the same mind one towards another, united in the bonds of charity, supported by the blessed consolations of the gospel, and built up in faith and holiness unto eternal life.
"The attentions which you have shown me, and the favorable opinion which you have expressed by calling me to discharge the du- ties of so important a station, deserve and obtain my warmest grat- itude. That your just demands and expectations may be fulfilled is my most earnest prayer. With sentiments of high respect,
Your friend and servant,
LEVI W. LEONARD."
"Witness: JOSEPH APPLETON, Clerk of the Society."
At a meeting of the church, Aug. 4, 1820, the call, given in May, was renewed, and it was "voted to choose a committee of three from the church to assist in choosing a council with Mr. Leon- ard in respect to his settlement with us as our gospel minister. Voted that the committee be John Snow, Abel Twitchell, and Andrew Allison. - FRANCIS APPLETON, Moderator."
The above-named committee with three others, chosen by the society, met, Aug. 4, 1820, and prepared the following letter missive, which was sent to the churches in Harvard University; Concord, Mass .; Wilton, N. H .; Peterborough, N. H .; Dover, Mass .; Keene, N. H .; Swanzey, N. H .; Dedham, Mass .; Lex- ington, Mass .; and Littleton, Mass .: -
"To the Church of Christ in -
"CHRISTIAN BRETHREN, - The Congregational Church and So- ciety in Dublin, N. H., having with great unanimity invited Mr. Levi W. Leonard to settle with them as their Christian minister, and he having accepted the invitation, requests you, by your pastor and delegates, to assist at his ordination, on Wednesday, the sixth day of September next [1820].
"Yours, with sentiments of respect and Christian charity."
The following is the result of the council that convened on the occasion of Mr. Leonard's ordination: -
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"By virtue of letters missive from the Congregational Church and Society in said town, the following are the churches present, by their pastors and delegates, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Levi W. Leonard as their pastor, viz .: -
PASTORS DELEGATES
Church in Harvard University Rev. Dr. WARE . Mr. INGERSOLL.
Church in Littleton, Mass. . Rev. Mr. FOSTER. Deacon HARTWELL.
Mr. KIMBALL. Church in Dover, Mass. . . Rev. Mr. SANGER Mr. BATTLE. Church in Sterling, Mass. Mr. THAYER. Mr. PALMER.
Church in Peterborough . . Rev. Mr. DUNBAR Deacon SMITH.
Church in Keene
Deacon HOLMES.
Rev. Mr. BARSTOW Capt. BLAKE. Mr. ELLIS.
Church in Swanzey
Rev. Mr. CHANDLER
Church in Wilton
Capt. J. DICKINSON. Rev. Mr. BEEDE . Mr. LIVERMORE.
"The council, being formed by choosing Rev. Mr. Foster moder- ator, by whom the throne of grace was first addressed for guidance and direction, then proceeded to the business for which they had as- sembled. The Rev. Mr. Chandler was chosen scribe.
"The inquiries relative to the proceedings of the church and society being made and the council being satisfied therewith, then proceeded to the examination of the candidate; being satisfied also with his views of the Christian system, and with his moral and literary qualifica- tions, they voted to proceed to his ordination.
"The assignment of the parts was as follows, viz .: -
Introductory prayer and sermon, by. Rev. Dr. WARE.
Consecrating prayer Rev. Mr. BEEDE.
Charge . Rev. Mr. PORTER.
Right hand of fellowship Rev. Mr. SANGER.
Charge to the people Rev. Mr. DUNBAR.
Concluding prayer Rev. Mr. CHANDLER.
"It was now voted to adjourn for half an hour, then to be in read- iness to repair to the meetinghouse, in order to attend to the public religious services of the occasion.
"A true copy.
Attest: JOSHUA CHANDLER, Scribe."
On Aug. 31, 1821, the thanks of the church were voted to Mr. Benjamin Perry for the gift of a baptismal basin.
On May 3, 1822, the thanks of the church were voted to Mr. Joseph Appleton for the gift of a chair for use at the communion table.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
During the active pastorate of Dr. Leonard, before the set- tlement of Rev. William F. Bridge as a colleague pastor, 112 persons were received into the church by profession of faith, and seven from other churches. Those admitted by profession of faith, with the dates, were: -
May 4, 1821, John Richardson, Solomon Piper, and Mrs. Emma, wife of Ebenezer Twitchell; - June 29, 1821, Mrs. Lucy Prescott, wife of Ivory Perry; Mrs. Susan, wife of Sawin Yeardly; Cyrus Chamberlain; Mrs. Julia, wife of Cyrus Cham- berlain; - Aug. 31, 1821, Mrs. Nancy, wife of Thaddeus Twit- chell; Mrs. Mary, wife of Aaron Greenwood; - Oct. 14, 1821, Miss Sally Childs; - Nov. 2, 1821, Mrs. Asenath, wife of Moses Greenwood; - Aug. 4, 1822, Asahel Hill; - Aug. 30, 1822, Mrs. Hannah, wife of Moses Adams; - Sept. 1, 1822, Miss Mary Fisk; - May 7, 1823, Mrs. Almira, wife of Capt. Samuel Adams; - Sept. 5, 1824, Mrs. Susanna, wife of Joshua Flint; Mrs. Mary, wife of Samuel Davison; Thaddeus Morse, Jr .; Mrs. Serena, wife of Thaddeus Morse, Jr .; Miss Sophia Apple- ton (afterwards Mrs. Thomas Fisk); Miss Harriet Childs; - Sept. 4, 1825, Mrs. Jane, wife of Moses Fairbanks; - Nov. 6, 1825, Mrs. Mary Brown; - May 7, 1826, Mrs. Miranda Twitchell; - June 30, 1826, Miss Julia T. Fisk; - May 6(?), 1827, Jonas Brooks Piper; Mrs. Julia, wife of Jonas Brooks Piper; John Wilson Learned; Mrs. Hannah, wife of John Wilson Learned; - May 2, 1828, Mrs. Maria Piper; Alline Newell; Mrs. Sally, wife of Alline Newell; Mrs. Mary, wife of Samuel Fisk; Mrs. Betsey Carter; Miss Eliza Carter; - Sept. 5, 1828, Miss Betsey Fisk; Capt. Moses Adams, Jr .; Mrs. Sally, wife of Capt. Moses Adams, Jr .; David Pierce; Mrs. Hephzibath, wife of David Pierce; Mrs. Persis, wife of Eli Allison; Miss Eliza Learned; - Oct. 31, 1828, Eli Hamilton; Mrs. Mary, wife of Eli Hamilton; - May 1, 1829, Jonathan K. Smith; Mrs. Sarah, wife of Jonathan K. Smith; Mrs. Rebecca T. Hayward; Miss Abigail Adams; - July 12, 1829, Mrs. Sarah, wife of Capt. David Richardson; Mrs. Dorcas G., wife of Ebenezer Burpee; Miss Sarah Richardson; - Sept. 4, 1829, Mrs. Rebecca, wife of Calvin Mason; Mrs. Hannah, wife of Joseph Twitchell; - Oct. 30, 1829, Capt. Luther Barnes; Mrs. Ruth, wife of Capt. Luther Barnes; - July 2, 1830, Ebenezer Perry, 2d; Mrs. Emma T., wife of Ebenezer Perry, 2d; - Sept. 3, 1830, Mrs. Sarah, wife of Jeremiah Bemis; - July 1, 1831, Daniel Fiske; Mrs. Esther, wife of Daniel Fiske; - Oct. 31, 1834, Ezra Rider; Mrs. Keziah, wife of Ezra Rider; Jesse Ripley Appleton; ---
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
Nov. 4, 1836, Mrs. Lucy, wife of Ruggles Smith; - July 2, 1837, Miss Louisa Mason; - Nov. 3, 1837, Miss Louisa Fisk; Miss Catherine Piper; Mrs. Alice W., wife of Elias Hardy; Mrs. Betsey, wife of Samuel Fisk, Jr .; - Aug. 31, 1838, Mrs. Mary, wife of Ezra Snow; - July 3, 1840, Ebenezer Green- wood; Mrs. Lucy, wife of Ebenezer Greenwood (transferred to the church in Fitchburg, Mass., in June, 1877); - May 2, 1841, Miss Elvira Twitchell; Miss Laura Ann Fiske; - April 29, 1842, John Piper; Mrs. Prudence, wife of John Piper; George F. Clark; - July 1, 1842, Miss Olive Greenwood; - Sept. 2, 1842, Miss Hannah Piper; - June 30, 1843, Thaddeus Mason; Mrs. Lydia, wife of Thaddeus Mason; - Sept. 1, 1843, Mrs. Cather- ine, wife of Cyrus Piper; Calvin Mason; Dexter Mason; Thad- deus Perry Mason; Mrs. Fidelia, wife of Thaddeus Perry Ma- son; - July 5, 1844, Col. Rufus Piper; Mrs. Anna, wife of Col. Rufus Piper; - Aug. 30, 1844, Miss Mary Elizabeth Morse; - July 5, 1845, Mrs. Caroline, widow of John Snow, Esq .; - May 1, 1846, Mrs. Julia, wife of Jonas H. Brooks; - Sept. 3, 1846, Reuel Brigham; Mrs. Prudence, wife of Reuel Brigham; - May 6(?), 1849, Miss Eliza Gould (transferred to the Universalist Church in Marlborough, in 1875); - June 30, 1849, Miss Sophia Jane Morse; Miss Ellen Morse ;- July 1, 1849, Elliott Twitchell; - May 3, 1850, Mrs. Maria J., wife of Reuel Brigham; - Oct. 31, 1850, James Allison; - Jan. 5, 1851, Miss Abbie Sophia Mason; Miss Diantha L. Fiske; - March 2, 1851, Mrs. Mary Livingston, wife of Jonathan K. Smith; - Sept. 5, 1851, Mrs. Amy Cushman, widow of James Hayward; - May 2, 1852, Edward Jonathan Frost; - July 4, 1852, Miss Ann Louisa Davis (afterwards the wife of William Henry Burt, Esq., of Keene, who was a major in the Civil War); Miss Sarah Elizabeth Frost (afterwards Mrs. Upham); Miss Sarah Jane Darracott; - Nov. 5, 1852, James Adams Mason; - July 1, 1853, Emily Adams; - Nov. 4, 1853, Mrs. Caroline, wife of Curtis Smith; - March 5, 1854, Curtis Smith; - Jan. 1, 1855, Mrs. Belinda, widow of Addison Morse; - June 13, 1855, Rev. William F. Bridge, by installation as colleague pastor of the church.
The seven who were received by letter from other churches were: - Sarah, wife of John Richardson, received, May 6, 1821, from the church in Hollis, N. H .; - July 1, 1825, Miss Elvira Clark, from church in Shipton, Canada; - Nov. 10, 1839, Nathan Bullard Buss, from the Congregational Church in Worcester, Vt., and Mrs. Arvilla, wife of Nathan Bullard Buss, from the same church; - May 3, 1850, Dr. Ransom N. Porter,
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from the Keene Congregational (Unitarian) Church; - May 1, 1831, Mrs. Elizabeth Morison (Smith) Leonard, wife of the pastor, from the church in Peterborough; died, Sept. 13, 1848; - May 7, 1851, Mrs. Elizabeth (Dow) (Smith) Leonard, 2d wife of the pastor, from the Unitarian Church of Exeter, to which she returned in June, 1853.
Those who have united with the church since the beginning of the ministry of Rev. William F. Bridge, who was installed, June 13, 1855, appear to be the following: July 1, 1855, Mrs. Elizabeth C., wife of Rev. William F. Bridge, removed in 1865 to Peterboro, N. Y .; Miss Martha E. Bridge; Miss Sarah Bridge; the latter two removed to Peterboro, N. Y., in 1865; Mrs. Bridge was from the church in Charlestown, N. H .; - July 6, 1856, Mrs. Harriet A., wife of Joseph B. Yeardly; - Sept. 4, 1859, Asa H. Fisk; Mrs. Caroline, wife of Asa H. Fisk; - Nov. 6, 1859, Mrs. Elvira, widow of William Farnsworth; Miss Lucy Marcella Greenwood; - May 5, 1861, Mrs. Betsey, 2d wife of Daniel Fiske ;- July 7, 1861, Miss Julia Cragin ;- May 16, 1866, Rev. George M. Rice, installed as pastor; - May 20, 1866, Mrs. Persis F., wife of Rev. Geo. M. Rice; - Nov. 4, 1866, Mrs. Elizabeth Warren, wife of Daniel Gates Jones; - Jan. 6, 1867, Mrs. Elvira Derby, wife of Hervey Learned; - May 5, 1867, Jonas Brooks Piper; Mrs. Elizabeth Melville Gowing, wife of Jonas Brooks Piper; - July 7, 1867, Daniel Townsend; Mrs. Betsey Morse, wife of Daniel Townsend; Silas P. Frost; Mrs. Betsey E. Mason, wife of Silas P. Frost; Joseph B. Yeardly; Mrs. Abigail Allison, wife of Cyrus Mason; - Sept. 1, 1867, William Darracott; Miss Bessie Maria Darracott; Mrs. Seba Barnes, widow of Joseph Evleth; - Nov. 3, 1867, Mrs. Anna Townsend, wife of Isaac Remick; - July 5, 1868, Mrs. Harriet Amelia Morse, wife of George W. Gleason; - Oct. 5, 1873, Miss Mary Weeks Eastman; Miss Laura Weeks Rice (afterwards wife of Dr. Henry H. Piper); - March 2, 1879, Miss Emily Amelia Gowing (afterwards Mrs. John P. Nicholson); - July 3, 1881, Miss Annie Maria Allison; Miss Flora Gertrude Allison (after- wards Mrs. Edward W. Roper, now Mrs. Charles T. Simpson); Miss Mary Nye Rice (afterwards Mrs. George W. Kent, and now deceased) ; James Rufus Piper; Wilfred Matthews Fiske; - Nov. 7, 1886, Mrs. Ellen Elizabeth Leonard, wife of J. H. Houghton, and daughter of the late Rev. Levi W. Leonard, D.D .; - Jan. 2, 1887, Mrs. Lillian Gertrude Jones, wife of Charles Francis Appleton; Miss Mabel Carey (afterwards Mrs. Wilfred M. Fiske); Miss Kate Townsend (afterwards Mrs.
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
Josiah T. Langley); - Jan. 1, 1888, Charles W. Gowing; Mrs. Julia Foster, wife of Charles W. Gowing; Miss Elizabeth Snow; - May 6, 1888, Mrs. Sarah M. Gleason, wife of Rufus Piper Pierce; Miss Emily Derby; - Jan. 13, 1889, Francis Allison; - March 29, 1891, Warren L. Fiske; Mrs. Emily M. Matthews, wife of Warren L. Fiske; John G. Townsend; Mrs. Kate A. Adams, wife of John G. Townsend; Mrs. Idella Maria Fiske, wife of Hiram A. Carey; Fred C. Gowing; Mrs. Jennie Newton, wife of Fred C. Gowing; Miss Mary E. Moore.
To the preceding list should be added the names of the pastors, who were officially connected with the church, through the nature of their office. These were: 1. Rev. Joseph Farrar, ordained, June 10, 1772; 2. Rev. Edward Sprague, ordained, Nov. 12, 1777; 3. Rev. Levi W. Learned, D.D., ordained, Sept. 6, 1820; 4. Rev. William F. Bridge, installed, June 13, 1855; 5. Rev. George M. Rice, installed, May 16, 1866; 6. Rev. Has- ket D. Catlin, installed, June 28, 1882; 7. Rev. Granville Pierce, who began his work without installation, Oct. 1, 1886; 8. Rev. George W. Patten, who began labor, without formal installation, Feb. 12, 1890; 9. Rev. George Willis Cooke, who began his ministry, without formal installation, Jan. 1, 1898; 10. Rev. Franklin K. Gifford, installed, June 6, 1900; 11. Rev. Josiah L. Seward, D.D., who began duty, without formal installation, May 11, 1902. The names of Messrs. Bridge and Rice have already appeared in the roll of the church. Mr. Farrar was not married while living in Dublin. Mrs. Hannah Fitch, wife of Rev. Edward Sprague, was undoubtedly a communicant, and her name was doubtless upon the original roll of the church members, which has not come to us in a perfect form. The two wives of Dr. Leonard, and the wives of Rev. Messrs. Bridge and Rice, are enrolled. Wives of ministers, since Mr. Rice closed his labors, did not transfer their church membership to this church, but were, of course, communicants and interested in the cause.
THE FIRST MEETINGHOUSE stood on the north side of the old road, opposite the narrow entrance to the most ancient part of the grave-yard, which is near the monuments of the Spragues. At a meeting of the proprietors, on May 27, 1767, it was voted to build a meetinghouse fifty feet long and thirty- eight feet wide, and to raise a tax of four dollars on each right to build the same. Moses Adams, Henry Strongman, and Wil- liam Greenwood were appointed a committee to effect the work. At a meeting of the proprietors, Dec. 22, 1768, it was voted to
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
raise three more dollars on each right, to be used in building the meetinghouse. It was several years before this meeting- house was completed, but it was so far on the way to comple- tion that it was first used, for a town-meeting, Sept. 10, 1771. It was used thereafter for public worship, but we find no record of any formal dedication. It continued to be used for religious worship until the dedication of the second meetinghouse on the third day of December, 1818. It was not heated in the winter, and Mr. Sprague, in the latter part of his pastorate, used a hall, which he owned, for religious services, during the winter months.
THE SECOND MEETINGHOUSE stood very nearly upon the site of the summer residence of Mrs. Horace P. Farnham, near the southern end of the tenth lot of the sixth range. After a vote of March, 1808, "to build a new meetinghouse," a committee of nine were chosen "to pitch upon a place to set the meeting- house." This committee consisted of Samuel Twitchell, Esq .; Asa Fisk, Jr .; Eli Greenwood; Phinehas Gleason; David Town- send; Isaac Appleton; Thaddeus Morse, Esq .; John Morse; and Aaron Appleton. They were required to make their report in August. No report was made in August; but in March, 1809, an article was inserted in the warrant "to see what method the town will take to agree where the new meetinghouse shall be built, or act anything relating thereto." The article was dis- missed. In March, 1810, the article was "to see if the town will build a new meetinghouse, or repair the old one." This article met the same fate as that of 1809; but, in August, 1810, the town chose "Esq. Griffin of Packersfield, Esq. Farrar of Marl- borough, Esq. Gates of Hancock, Lieut. Buss of Jaffrey, and Mr. Oliver Carter of Peterborough, to pitch upon a spot for the meetinghouse to stand upon in this town." This committee reported, November 26, the same year, and their report was ac- cepted; but the record does not say what spot they pitched upon for said meetinghouse; but it is supposed to have been north of Joseph Appleton's blacksmith shop. At an adjourned meeting, November 28, the town voted "to do something rela- tive to building a new meetinghouse." What was meant by "something" in the foregoing vote is manifest from the succeed- ing votes: "Voted to choose a committee to let out the putting up of a frame for a meetinghouse. Richard Gilchrest, Thaddeus Morse, and Aaron Appleton were chosen for said committee. Voted that the frame should be raised one year from next June. Voted that the said committee provide suitable underpinning
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