USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > New Durham > The history of New Durham, New Hampshire: from the first settlement to the present time > Part 5
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New Durham has always taken great pride in acknowledging Benjamin Randal to be the founder of the Free Will Baptist Church in America. But there was another claimant for the honor, John Shepard, Esq., of Gilmanton. From the "History of Gilmanton," written by Daniel Lancaster and published in 1845, we quote:
"His (Shepard's) character was somewhat noted. He claimed to be the originator of the Free Will denomination. In the last year of his life, he stated it as a solemn fact which he desired to have recorded in this History, that the Free Will system was all opened to his mind by the Spirit of God, months before any other person knew it - that he then revealed it in March 1780, to Eld. Edward Locke and Elder Tozar Lord, and with them spent a week locked up in the house owned by Esquire Piper in Louden, on Clough's hill, fasting and praying, and seeking the will of the Lord. After which they mutually ordained each other, and there founded the Free Will Church. The next week they visited Elder Randall of New Durham, and ordained him in the new denomination, who being a more public man afterwards had the reputation of being the originator of the scheme which he received of them."
There is no doubt at all, however, that Elder Randal worked as hard, if not harder than any other man to establish, develop and expand the new faith. Most of his life was dedicated to God, for he had a strong and loving belief in Him and he worked for Him with unswerving faith, devotion and humility.
The oldest son of Captain Benjamin and Margaret Mordantt Randal was born on Feb, 7, 1749, in Newcastle, in the Province of New Hampshire. He was a serious and studious child, who, with the aid of his parents, acquired a fair education. For ten years he sailed the seas with his father, then became apprenticed to a sail maker; in 1771 he settled in Newcastle, hired a sail loft and started out on his own. On Nov. 28, of the same year, he married Joanna Oram, daughter of Captain Robert and Joanna Mitchell Oram.
His dissatisfaction with the church led to his separation from it; forming his own beliefs, he started reading and talking about them, and people listened. After service in the Revolutionary war, he continued in the face of dissension and controversy "steadily pursuing his journey and delivering his message."
He traveled many thousands of miles around New England preaching, attending meetings, performing marriage ceremonies, visiting the ill and afflicted and praying with those about to die. The way was not always easy for he met opposition in many places, suffering danger and hardship, storms and accidents. He went on
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Zachariah Boodey built a log house here in 1769, on the south side of New Durham Ridge, later framed it in. The first organizational meeting of the first Free Will Baptist Church was held in the east front room on June 30, 1780 by Elder Benjamin Randal. This house is still standing.
horseback through the sparsely settled communities, sometimes accompanied, but often alone, ill, cold and hungry.
Elder Randal worked earnestly for the church in New Durham, where he spent several days, or, more rarely, a week or so every month. He lived on the northerly side of the road on New Durham Ridge with his wife and eight children, to whom he was reported to have been a devoted husband and father. In the early days he held many a meeting at the home of Zachariah Boodey, his neigh- bor and friend whose son Joseph he assisted in ordaining to the work of the ministry in 1799.
In 1804 his health began to fail; this did not deter him how- ever, for in 1805 he reported in his journal that, though quite un- well, he had traveled 2090 miles that year! After nine months' con- finement at home, he died on Oct. 22, 1808. At his request, a sermon was delivered by his friend and biographer Elder John Buzzell, from 2nd Timothy: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
In the family graveyard which was the site that he had chosen, was buried the man whose nature was so large, whose heart was so big, who had such faith in his God that he could not endure the thought that man must suffer without just cause.
Joanna Oram Randal died on May 12, 1826. Their children, the first three born in Newcastle, the rest born in New Durham, were:
Robert Oram, b. Dec 3, 1772; d. Oct 23, 1848 in Morgan, Ind., m. 1) Hannah Davis of New Durham in 1797. 2) Widow Han- nah Webber of Ohio.
Mary (Polley) Shannon, b. Feb 24, 1774, d. Feb 23, 1845 in Barnstead.
m. Joseph Hall of Barnstead in 1795.
Benjamin Walton, b. May 4, 1776, d. Sept 24, 1843 in New Durham.
m. Sarah Parsons of Edgecomb, Maine, in 1801.
Margaretta Fredericka, b. Aug 8, 1778,
m. Stephen Parsons of Edgecomb, Maine, in 1801.
Urselah Pinkham, b. Oct 15, 1780
m. Samuel Runnals, Jun, of Farmington in 1800.
William, b. Oct. 30, 1782, d. Jan 29, 1845 in Dover. m. Love Murray.
Joanne, b. Oct 24, 1785, m. Timothy Horne of Farmington, in 1814.
Henry Allen, b. Feb 10, 1788, m. 1) Eliza Shepard, 2) Mary Ann Clark.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN Later Ministers and Churches
Though the loss of their minister was a grievous blow, the parish carried on. Moses Cheney, Minister of the Gospel, was here for a brief period in 1810-11, but Elder Joseph Boodey had a longer career which started in New Durham in 1810 through 1851, per- haps longer.
Joseph's father, Zachariah Boodey, moved from Madbury to New Durham in 1769, buying Lot # 49 on New Durham Ridge. He first built a log house, where Joseph was born in 1773. (Other sons were John and Daniel) Zachariah was a conscientious citi- zen who for many years filled his share of town offices and supported the church with zeal. He was a good friend of Elder Randal, and it is said that the first organizational meeting of the Free Will Baptist Church was held in the east front room of Zachariah Boodey's (now framed) house, on June 30, 1780. A description of the house, written for a newspaper in 1902 follows:
"The house is a one-story-and-a-half affair, with the door in the middle. The floor of this room was made of three-inch planks, but worn somewhat thinner by the footsteps of the large families that have pressed its surface.
This room is in very nearly the condition that it was when this first meeting was held. The fire place and brick oven, bellows, warming pan, shovels and broad shelf over the fireplace still remain. The walls are wainscotted half way ... to the ceiling that is formed of dark, smoke-seasoned boards. An old fashioned dresser, desk, chest of drawers and three old tables make up the furniture. One of these tables was used as a pulpit at this first meeting and here one finds the old Psalm book and Bible used, also a larger Bible used in the first church." This house is still standing today.
It was said, too, that "The first grass seed sown on the farm was brought in Mrs. Boodey's pocket from Madbury in 1769. When a patch was cleared and burned, the seed was 'hacked in' and watched with more interest than a lady would care for her flower garden now."
Elder Joseph Boodey "enlisted among the soldiers of the Cross" at the age of eighteen, and at twentyfive, "was called to go and preach salvation to and fro." He was a man of more than ordinary ability, with a keen memory and a fondness for writing verse. In 1866 he wrote a long poem of thanksgiving for a good life and kind friends, containing the lines :
"Ninety three years I've lived to see God's mercy has protected me,
In sickness, sorrow or distress,
I've been preserved and kindly blessed."
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He was married on Nov. 13, 1800 to Marcy Pike of Middleton; their children were Jacob, Zachariah, Socrates, Betsy, Joseph and two others. Elder Boodey died May 12, 1867 at the age of 94.
Elder Nathaniel Berry came to New Durham from Farmington with his second wife, Mary Young Berry, shortly after their mar- riage in 1824. He, like many other ministers of the time, traveled around the New England country performing his religious duties. Elder Berry made his home on the road to New Durham Ridge and it is still a Berry homestead. Nathaniel Berry was the great-grand- father of Mr. Roy W. Berry and Mr. Joseph Berry. He died on Oct. 15, 1865, aged 76 years.
Other ministers who followed were Elders William K. Lucas, Josiah Glines, J. R. Gates, Wesley Burnham, David L. Edgerly and Joseph Franklin Joy. Elder Glines lived in New Durham in the second division, where he preached at the Meeting House there. Elder Edgerly was born in Alton and lived on New Durham Ridge. Elder Joy was born in New Durham in one of the oldest families in town, and was minister of the church here from 1875 to 1863.
Elder Benjamin Randal, though unmindful of worldly and material things, would have rejoiced to have seen the tangible ex- pression of the strength of the Free Will Baptist organization, made manifest in the beautiful church built on New Durham Ridge ten years after his passing. This is a proud landmark today, visible from almost every part of town and visited by scores of people from all over the United States when services are held there during the summer months.
The plans and dimensions were drawn up in September and October of 1818, the laborers to receive four shillings (about fifty cents) a day. The pews were put up for sale at the same time and the building was completed the following summer. Those in charge of choosing the site, buying the lot and supervising the construction were Daniel Durgin, Jun., Durell Stevens, Abraham Chamberlin, Jeremiah Palmer, David Kelley and Capt. Stephen Davis.
Others who signed as supporters of the new church were:
Ephraim Chamberlin
Joseph Willey
Wentworth Hayes
Stephen Chamberlin
Daniel Evans
Richard Colomey
Samuel Jones
Benjamin Grace, Jun.
Samuel Joy
Andrew Grace
Ebenezer Chamberlin
David York
David Ellis
Samuel Ham
John Berry
Ezekial Perkins
Isaac Chamberlin Asa Libby
John Grace
James Perkins
Dodavah Pinkham
John Perkins
Boodey Crockett
Thomas Davis
Samuel Willey
Jonathan Edgerly
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Free Will Baptist Church on New Durham Ridge. Built in 1818-19.
Stephen Davis David Willey Joseph French Josiah Edgerly Francis Hayes Henry Dearborn John Chamberlin David H. Perkins
Ephraim Pinkham
Isaac Pinkham Samuel Jones
Jacob Chamberlin David Perkins John Bennett Ebenezer Berry
Benjamin W. Randall
John Runnals James Wilkison
Henry Lougea Richard Palmer
Elijah Davis
David Kennison
William Jones John Burley Stephen Webster
George Trefren
Ebenezer D. Willey
Enoch Akins John Garland
Elisha Davis
Ebenezer Durgin
George Durgin, Jun.
David T. Libbey
Nathaniel B. Runnals
Lemuel Roberts
George Ela
The Free Will Baptist church had been organized but two years when, in 1782, exponents of the Shaker cult filtered into New England to gather laborers for their vineyard. Their principles were strange and revolutionary enough to excite the curiosity of anyone who would listen and the scarcity of pastors of any faith made their work less difficult, but the idea never took hold in this area, though Shaker communities were established at Canterbury and Enfield, New Hampshire.
The Quaker folk, however, were accepted as community mem- bers in town. On a map of the Yearly Meeting of Friends for New England, A D 1833*, there is shown a Friends' Meeting for Wor- ship" at New Durham. Apparently at this time it was not yet an organized meeting (a Preparative or Monthly meeting). It seems likely that it may have been related to the Friends' Meeting at Meaderboro and belonged to what was called Dover Quarterly Meeting. There was a Friends' Meeting House on the south east side of New Durham Ridge in 1856; the road leading from the present Route 11 up to the Ridge was called from that time on, the "Quaker road".
The Free Will Baptist Chapel opposite the Town Hall was moved to its present location from the Powder Mill area many years ago, and was named "Temperence Hall" for the very good reason that Temperence lectures were given there. The local Grange later used it as a meeting place. Within recent memory, pews were pur- chased from a church in Somersworth, and installed therein. Reg- ular church services have been held there since. The old "horse sheds" were recently converted to a useful annex for church meet- ings.
* A map used as an end paper in the volume "The Quakers in the American Colonies" by Rufus M. Jones, published by McMillan in 1911 and 1923.
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Aaron Palmer
Edward Presson
CHAPTER TWELVE More Town Meetings
In compliance with State laws enacted in the early 1800's, the town boundaries were perambulated annually, the lines fixed and marked by surveyors, lot layers or Selectmen from New Durham accompanied by those of surrounding towns. The marking of this interesting junction was recorded thus:
"Whereas that Hemlock Tree being the Original corner of Barrington, Barnstead, Farmington, Alton and New Durham is blown down, Be it remembered that on the twenty eighth day of October, A D 1805, We the Selectmen of each said Towns met by previous notice and placed a rock on the identical spot where the tree stood and marked said Rock with letters as follows - B B A N F - 1805, also marked a large rock on the top with the letter W seven rods and nine links distance from said corner south eighty eight degrees east, the last mentioned rock is about four feet high and four feet one way and six the other way, done the day and year above mentioned.
Attest
Paul Hayes
Ephm Chamberlin
James Scott
Samuel Hull
David Drew, Jr. Witness present
George Foss, 3rd Samuel Hayes Selectmen of Barrington
Joseph Tasker
John Jenkins, Jr.
James Brown Selectmen of Barnstead
David Gilman Selectman of Alton
Jonathan Folsom Selectman of New Durham
A true copy, attest David Willey, Town Clerk Recorded March 10, 1806
Levi Leighton Ephm Kimball Selectmen of Farmington"
Another record states:
"Whereas a certain beech tree marked with sundry spots and letters and being the north westerly elbow corner of New Durham and a corner of Alton, was cut down a few years since by some person or persons unknown, by which means, there was some danger, that the spot whence tree stood might in time be forgotten and disputes arise in consequence thereof, therefore, to prevent further difficulty, we, the subscribers have, this 18th day of No-
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vember, A D 1816 perambulated and run a part of the lines between New Durham and Alton leading to the said corner of said Towns, and having found and asertained the place where the said corner tree stood, we have there placed a large stone, on which we have cut the letters N and A as Witness our hands, the day and year above written.
David Gilman Selectmen Samuel Willey Selectmen of
of
Charlie Rogers Alton Thomas Caverly
New Durham
Thomas Tash, Lot Layer"
New Durham grew and developed in these years. District schools were built and were supported, the Library flourished, stores opened with stocks of goods to delight the housewife and farmer. The inventory taken for 1818 (yearly inventories were pre- scribed by law, now) showed 182 men paying poll taxes; almost twice as many as 25 years before.
The Selectmen confronted many problems, as Selectmen al- ways have and always will. Some items were large and important, some small and seemingly unimportant. In any case, the votes were seldom unanimous. Following are some of the questions of the day, and the decisions reached :
In May, 1808, one of the articles in the warrant read:
"To give direction respecting the quality and quantum of the meats and drinks necessary to be provided for the refreshment of non commissioned officers and soldiers on battalion and regimental muster days the present year and to take some order respecting the purchase of powder for said soldiers agreeable to a law of this state passed June 18, 1807."
On June 8, 1808, the town voted: "to pay each non commissioned officer and soldier in the Town of New Durham who shall bear arms on regimental and batalion muster days twenty cents a day, which he is to receive in lieu of the meats, drinks and powder ... "
Aug 29, 1808 "Voted that the Selectmen provide two seals to be used with the Standard of weights and measures as a Town Seal for the Town of New Durham said seals to have the letter N as a stamp or device on each of them"
Mar 20, 1809 "Voted to give Mr Isaac Chamberlin four dollars for building the bridge by or near his mills, said four dollars to be paid soon after the bridge is completed."
Jan 21, 1812 "The Town of New Durham met agreeably to notification (at the Meeting House) and first chose Reuben Hayes, Esq., Moderator, then voted to adjourn this meeting to meet im- mediately at the store of Smith and Davis in said Town and met accordingly."
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March, 1812 "Voted ten cents premium on crows heads the ensuing year."
March 1814 "Voted Unanimously not to revise the Constitution, voters present 155.
"Voted to allow seventy five cents a day for labor on the road the ensuing year.
"Voted that Ebenezer Chamberlin be exempted from all tax- ation the ensuing year, in consideration of his losing his limb.
"Voted a premium of nine pence on crows heads the ensuing year."
August, 1814 "Voted that the Selectmen provide such fastening to the doors of the meeting house as they think necessary."
April, 1815 The town voted to cede to the State of New Hamp- shire a sufficient quantity of land out of the five acres of land be- longing to the town in the Parsonage lot where the Meeting House stood, for the purpose of erecting a Gun house.
March 12, 1816 "Voted that the Selectmen of New Durham the present year lay out so much money in repairing the main road leading from Alton line by the Meeting house to Farmington line as will enable them to certify to the Court by Gentlemen living out of town that said road is sufficiently repaired to prevent a fine being laid on said town."
Nov 4, 1816 "Voted to put Nancy C.'s child to Mr Edmund Tibbetts to be kept by him until the fourth day of April next, at the rate of two shillings and seven pence per week."
March 11, 1817 "Voted that the map of the State of New Hampshire belonging to the Town of New Durham be deposited and hung up in the dwelling house of Reuben Hayes, Esq., in a con- venient place for the inspection of the inhabitants of said town at large for the term of one year."
(This map went from tavern to tavern every six months or year)
February, 1819 an article in the warrant read:
"To see if the Town will vote to purchase a farm with suitable buildings thereon for the accommodation of the Town paupers in said Town and also to make suitable provision for said paupers."
(This "poor farm" did not materialize for some time)
March 1820: "Voted that the inhabitants of the Town of New Durham who live near the Meeting House corner in said Town on the Bay road (so called) suffer no neat cattle, horses, sheep or swine to run at large in the road near said corner between the 20th day of December and the 20th day of April annually on penalty
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of paying fifty cents a head for each creature so found running at large as aforesaid to any person who will prosecute or sue for the same.'
"Voted to relinquish Mr George Davis money tax for the year 1819 on account of his misfortune in losing his house by fire."
The townspeople didn't like this vote and presented a petition to the Selectmen to reconsider.
April, 1820, "Voted, to reconsider the vote passed ... to abate Mr George Davis's money tax for the year 1819, and that he pay said taxes to the Collector as other men."
November, 1820 "Voted to give John Willey Jun., (money) for keeping, taking care of and supporting Paul March ... said John Willey to provide for the said Paul March in such way and manner as his circumstances require."
The above excerpts from the Town meeting records are only a fraction of the challenges that were faced and met by the governing body and voters of the town. There were constant, never-ending petitions for roads and bridges to be built or repaired; for boundary lines to be settled by the Lot layers and Fence viewers. The support and care of the aged, the infirm, the paupers and the children born out of wedlock were carefully considered and arrangements made, almost always at the town's expense.
There was a reason for this rule being in effect only during the winter months. Per- sons traveling to and from the store or Meeting House by wagon or sleigh always carried a supply of hay or fodder for their horses. While these vehicles were "parked" outside of the place of business or worship, this supply was apt to be consumed by roving livestock!
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN The 1800's
In 1825, John Quincy Adams was President of the United States at a salary of $25,000 a year; John C. Calhoun Vice-President at $5,000. The national emblem had thirteen red and white stripes and twenty four white stars on a blue field.
There were twenty six academies in New Hampshire and nine colleges in New England. The New Hampshire militia consisted of three divisions of two brigades each with forty regiments in all. David Willey, Jr. was adjutant of the 23rd regiment. He was known as Col. Willey, died at 37 years of age.
Thomas Tash, Jr. was serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1825. The banks nearest to New Durham were at Meredith and Dover. Justices of the Peace in New Durham were John Bennett, Reuben Hayes, Samuel Langley, Nicholas Noyes, Thomas Tash, Jr., and Samuel Willey.
David Steele was town attorney, Reuben Hayes, Jr. deputy sheriff and David Willey, Jr. coroner. Eleazer D. Chamberlain was post master; postal rates for single letters were six cents up to a distance of 30 miles, twenty five cents for over 400 miles.
The population in New Durham in 1820 was 1168, including 192 men on the poll tax list.
From earliest times well into the 1800's, rum was a staple in most New England households. No activity of any kind was under- taken without plenty of the potent fluid on hand to see it through. From planting season to haying, from haying to harvest, the rum jug went into the fields with the men and boys. No house or barn, school or church was raised, no wedding or funeral conducted, no road laid out without rum. Even respectable housewives liked a little "lace" in their tea or coffee. Regimental muster days were wild with drinking and fighting.
Drunkenness was not unusual at all and was not confined to the poorer people. In larger towns, men of position and wealth were often carried home from the tavern. Some ministers and school teachers were occasionally so affected by drink that they could hardly preach a sermon or teach their classes. Only the "strait- laced" folk made any objection, and even they were embarrassed if the closet held no spirits to serve the minister when he called.
Elder Randal was a total abstainer however, refusing to drink any kind of alcoholic beverage even when urged to do so for the possible relief of the colds and coughs from which he continually suffered. He never wavered, but preached against drinking and its harmful effects all his life.
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There were many taverns in New Durham, one or more in every section of town. The Ridge, Powder Mill village (later so- called) the area of Shaw's pond, and the Plains, each had at least one, and on the Bay road, in the distance from the Meeting House to the Farmington line, there were four public taverns! In addi- tion, the stores had liquor for retail sale, - a goodly variety, too. Many notices for town meetings specified the place to be a home or tavern, rather than the Meeting House. The icy interior of the latter was perhaps excuse enough !
In the 1820's and 1830's, sober men of good judgment through- out the state began to realize and deplore the widespread evils of intemperance. While no one considered total abolishment, it was agreed that some method be arranged of educating the people to see the demoralizing effect of over-indulgence, and that regulation of the sale of intoxicating liquor must be enforced. This was the be- ginning of the Temperance movement and it was well under way before any controlling legislation was successfully undertaken. Churches and most ministers espoused the cause, but merchants were wary for fear of losing patronage. Political aspirants thought long and hard as to which side of the fence they should climb. The Temperance societies visited and lectured all over the state, in- cluding New Durham, and the movement gained the attention and respect of thinking people everywhere. In 1842, Thomas Bennett, who ran a store on New Durham Ridge, was licensed "to sell spirit ... for medical purposes and for no other purposes what- ever." In 1846, he was further curtailed: "he may sell wines and spiritous liquors ... in any quantity not less than half pint to be sold, delivered and carried away ... for medical and mechanical purposes only."
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