USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 12
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Andrew Judkins,
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I
Edward Scribner,
O O
7
Jacob Bohonon,
2
9
Lt. Isaac Blasdel,
2
6
Wm. Clay,
I
O
Ens. John Clement,
6
I
Stephen Sawyer,
6
I
Capt. Enoch Chase,
3
7
Edward Sawyer,
I
6
W'm. Chase,
2
7
Moses Jemson,
I
3
Samuel Loverin,
4
5
Abel Tendy,
3
IO
Moses Clement,
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Samuel Tendy,
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4
Benj. Frasuer,
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3
Thos. Rundlet,
2
+
John Couch,
2
5
Dea. John Sanborn,
2
IO
Benj. Pettingill, ye 3d,
9
2
5
Lemuel Norris,
0
Ens. Benj. Huntoon,
9
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE.
There was an unwilling acquiescence in the acts of the major- ity. The meeting-house became the property of the town, but before it could be occupied it required extensive modifications and repairs. Messrs. Wilder and Bowers were employed to execute the work, receiving as compensation the right to sell pews. The church was 60 by 44 feet, with 26-foot posts, accord- ing to a plan previously presented to the town. Its location was not many feet southwest of its present site. The church was lighted by two tiers of windows. A porch was built at each end of the house, and a high tower or steeple above the
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
porch on the west end, with a belfry, in which was afterwards placed an excellent bell, noted for the remarkable clearness of its sound. In favorable weather it could be heard in Concord, and in places equally distant to the north. It was cast ex- pressly for this church, and contained twenty silver dollars, contributed by the Rev. Mr. Worcester, for the purpose of improving the quality of its tone. It was proudly claimed by the people of the town that this bell "had the right ring to it." In each of the porches was a flight of stairs leading to the gallery, which extended around on three sides. Entrances to the church were by a single door at each end, and a double one on the south side. From this main entrance a broad aisle extended directly to the pulpit on the north side. A narrow aisle, extending east and west from the end doors, intersected the main aisle at the centre of the building. There was also an aisle passing round between the wall pews and those on the center floor. The pulpit was elevated upon a platform ten or twelve feet high, being enclosed by panel-work sheathing, and was reached by stairs on the west side. When the minister passed in and closed the door he was shut out from the sight of the people below, until he arose and began the services of the day. Above the pulpit, fastened by an iron rod attached to the frame timber, was suspended the old-time "sounding board." No meeting-house was complete in its furnishings without this accompaniment to the pulpit. It was made of wood, somewhat bell-shaped, and at the base was eight feet by six, while it was about six feet in depth or height. The identical "board," with a portion of the old pulpit, is now in the possession of Deacon Thomas D. Little. The object of the sounding board was to give, as was supposed, intensity to the voice, an erroneous supposition which science and experience have united in cor- recting. It served however to attract the attention of children, who, perched upon high benches and unable to rest their feet upon the floor, were unable to comprehend any other part of the service.
In front of the pulpit and near the ascent to it were the "deacons' seats," elevated like the wall pews. Here, in earlier
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
times, usually sat the venerable deacons. In the rear, and a foot higher, was a square pew which was occupied by the ruling elders, when such officers existed in the church.
All the pews on the floor and in the galleries were square in form, sheathed up to a given height on the sides, and continued a foot higher by a series of turned ballusters. Each pew was furnished with a swinging door. In the days of the fathers, it was a mark of reverence for the congregation to rise during prayer. To facilitate the act the seats were hung by hinges and readily turned back as the people rose, but the slamming and confusion which existed at the close of the "long prayer" was suggestive of the rattling fire of musketry at a military muster.
LATER MODIFICATIONS.
The church remained in the condition described until 1835, when Stillman Fellows, of Hopkinton, took the contract to make changes which have been mainly acceptable to the present day. It was moved back from the street, northerly, and turned partly round. The posts were cut down, one tier of windows removed and larger ones supplied. The pulpit and pews gave place to those of modern style, the old sounding board and gal- leries were removed, the entrance changed and various other modifications made. No expenditures have been made on the church, beyond shingling and occasional painting, for nearly a half century. It is somewhat antiquated, but serves well for a country church. The people would be happy to occupy a better edifice, and if the town was as prosperous as it was years ago a new church would be one of the very first improvements to be made.
INTERIOR VIEW OF OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
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CHAPTER XI.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, CONTINUED.
" There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose, The village preacher's modest mansion rose. A man he was to all the country dear And passing rich, with forty pounds a year ; Remote from towns he ran his godly race, Nor e'er had changed nor wished to change his place ; Unpracticed he to fawn, or seek for power By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour : Far other aims his heart had learned to prize, More bent to raise the wretched than to rise. He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, Allured to brighter worlds and led the way."
THE REVEREND JOHN ELLIOT.
Of this minister very little is known. He was invited to settle in the town, January 14, 1771, on certain conditions pro- posed by himself, as follows: His "salary to begin at forty pounds a year L. M., the first year, and to rise five pounds a year till it shall amount to fifty pounds and remain until the expira- tion of three years, and then rise five pounds; to give him twenty-five cords of wood yearly and make the parsonage as good as it was voted at the last meeting." The town had voted at said meeting to finish some portions of the house. It was also stipulated that the town should "keep two cows and one horse for the use of the minister, until there should be pas- turing on the parsonage land."
April 9, 1771, it was voted "to raise thirteen pounds L. M. to lay out on the parsonage this year," and Lieut. Pettengill, Ebenezer Webster and Moses Garland were chosen a committee to see that this sum was expended.
It was also voted "that the ordination of Mr. Elliot be on the third Wednesday of September next," 1771.
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"Voted to raise five pounds, L. M., to defray ordination charges."
"Voted that the Selectmen make Provision for s'd Ordin- ation."
Preparations were made to ordain Mr. Elliot, and expecta- tions were confidently entertained that Salisbury was to have a regularly ordained religious teacher ; but between the time of his acceptance and the day fixed for his ordination a change came over him. Previous to July 4, 1771, Mr. Elliot sent to the selectmen the following communication :
" To the Selectmen of Salisbury:
You are Desired to put in the following article, viz: to sce whether the town of Salisbury will give Wt. for Mr. Elliot's Dismission from them, upon his Request preferred for that Purpose, and from the Reasons that may be offered by him as the cause of sd Request.
JOHN ELLIOT."
The following is a copy of Mr. Elliot's request to the town for dismission :
"The reasons in Brief for the request preferred by me for a Dismission from Salisbury, viz :
Ist, My present want of Health of Body in order to carry on my Studies. 2d, because of the entire change in my Mind in Respect to my Call to preach or labor in sd place among them as their Minister, and because I cannot stay without I am forced utterly against my Present Mind, and am not a Volunteer in the Place, and as I am Convinced that there is another Place that the Great Governor of the world has appointed for my labors.
Attest, JOHN ELLIOT.
Salisbury, Sth July, 1771."
At a legal meeting, holden at the meeting-house in said town, July 8, 1771, "Voted Mr. John Elliot's Dismission from the work of the Ministry in this Place upon the Request & for the Rea- sons there Given in at sd Meeting."
Mr. Elliot was doubtless an acceptable man, and a good preacher, but the wilderness had no smiles for him. He shrank from the trials and privations incident to a pioneer life, and as the day of his ordination and installation drew near, he began to relent and finally became "convinced that it was not the place that the Great Governor of the world had appointed for his
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labor." On the 8th day of July, 1771, the very day of the date of his letter, the Great Governer of the world, Mr. Elliot, and the people of Salisbury were in perfect accord, and his dismiss- ion was granted at once. A settlement was made with him, receipts given and recorded, and a release of all rights obtained from him as the prospective first settled minister of the town.
THE REVEREND JONATHAN SEARLE.
The minister who followed him was a man of different stamp. In the summer of 1768 Mr. Jonathan Searle preached in Salis- bury, and on the 22d day of that year the town "voted that the Committee discourse with Mr. Searle before they apply to any other candidate." But he was then teaching in Rowley, Mass., his native town, and could not leave. He continued to teach in Rowley, and to preach in Salisbury, Chester, N. H., Rowley and Ipswich, Mass., and in other places, till 1773, when he gave himself unreservedly to the work of the ministry.
Mr. Searle was born in Rowley, Mass., November 16, 1746, and graduated at Harvard College in 1765, being then only nineteen years of age. He was a fine scholar and had acquired a liberal education at the most eminent university in the land, taught several years, and was fitted for the ministry at twenty- one years of age. He preached in Salisbury as early as the summer of 1768. After a protracted trial he was invited or "called" to settle, and a committee consisting of Benjamin Sanborn, Ebenezer Webster and Robert Smith was chosen to receive Mr. Searle's answer. The following is the beautiful, tender and eloquent answer of Mr. Searle, to the call of the people of Salisbury to come and settle amongst them :
SALISBURY, October 11th, 1773.
To the Committee :
Messuers Benjamin Sanborn, Ebenezer Webster & Robert Smith. To be Communicated to the Town.
My fathers & Brethren: I have had a time to consider the solemn & important Call you have given me to Spread my Labors in this part of the Gospel Vineyard, & have abundant reason to be thankful to Jesus Christ for putting me into His
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Honorable Service- & all things considered, I cannot in Duty do otherwise than to Accept your Call; though most unworthy & in need of Much Divine Strength to answer its Design. By your continued prayers for me, may I obtain Grace of God to be faithful & mercy to be successful in winning Souls Savingly unto Christ. May we live together as Heirs of Eternal Life here & share in the immortal Glories of the Heavenly world which Jesus shall give to all that wait for his appearing. And I am obliged to you that in addition to you Calling me to Ministerial Services in this Place, you have made Provision for my Comfortable temporal Support, in an Honorable way & proportioned by that rule given in the Scriptures for Gathering Collections for the Saints. As it is Greatly Self Denying to me to be at such a Distance from Relations, since I am but a man of like passions with you, you will not be unwilling that I take Opportunity to visit them. Accordingly I make a reserve of two Sabbaths Yearly for that purpose, looking upon Myself to be at my option on those Days. I take it to be a Charter Grant that I am made an Original Proprietor in the Land of this town, by virtue of my Settlement among you in the Gospel Ministry, as you have indeed implyed in a vote for Exchanging of Land with me.
Wishing temporal & Eternal Blessings may be given you & your Children I am Your Real friend & Servant in Gospel Bonds,
JONATHAN SEARLE.
At a town meeting held October 11, 177 , it was voted "to accept Mr. Searle's letter," and Ebenezer Webster, John Col- lins and Capt. Matthew Pettengill were chosen a committee to call a council. It was voted "to give Mr. Searle fifty pounds L. M. for two years, and then rise four pounds L. M. a year till it comes to sixty pounds, and there stand during his labor in the work of the ministry in said town; also twenty-five cords of wood at his house yearly."
It was voted that the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Searle be the third Wednesday of November, (the 17th) 1773.
Voted that "a Committee consisting of Sinkler Bean, Benja- min Huntoon and Joseph Fifield see that Mr. Ebenezer Johnson make suitable support for the ordination."
Voted "to raise twenty dollars to defray the ordination ex- penses."
An invitation was extended to the churches and other parties in Concord, Sanbornton and Hopkinton, in N. H., and Rowley and Ipswich, Mass., "to form a Council, examine Mr. Searle, and if found worthy to ordain him."
On the morning of the 16th of November, 1773, all the pas- tors and delegates of the churches above named convened at
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
the house of Mr. Andrew Pettengill, at the South Road, and resolved themselves into an Ecclesiastical Council, and chose the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Concord, Moderator.
Voted "to accept Mr. Jonathan Scarle's Declaration and Confession of faith as Satisfactory to the Council."
In order to proceed to the ordination, voted "that the mem- bers, who signed the covenant presented, be acknowledged as a sister church and treated as such."
Voted, that Rev. Mr. Chandler give the Solemn Charge.
Rev. Mr. Woodman make the First Prayer.
66 יו Rev. Mr. Dana give the Right Hand of Fellowship.
Rev. Mr. Fletcher make the Last Prayer.
Rev. Mr. Jewett preach the Sermon.
The members who signed the covenant, and were by the council constituted a church, are as follows :
Jonathan Searle,
Ebenezer Johnson, John Collins,
Sinkler Bean, Abel Tandy, Jeremiah Webster,
Robert Barber,
John Sanborn,
Benjamin Sanborn.
Benjamin Huntoon, John Fifield,
This business having been transacted, in the presence of a large assembly of divines and scholars,* the council adjourned to the meeting-house on the 17th. The hospitality of the good people of the town, during the intervening social hours, was greatly enjoyed by the visiting guests, many of whom came from Kingston, Sandown and Rowley, Mass., and Warner, Hillsborough, Hopkinton, Canterbury, Sanbornton and Con- cord, to witness the ceremonies of the occasion and participate in the pleasure of ordaining a minister so near the then limits of civilization. This was the most northern church in the Prov- ince of New Hampshire, on the west side of the Merrimack river. The Rev. Joseph Woodman was ordained at Sanbornton, November 13th, 1771, but did not preach in the new meeting- house till November 21, 1775. These two churches remained for several years the most northern in the Province.
An ordination in those days was an important event, as shown by the fact that people attended this at Salisbury, trav-
* The scholars are supposed to have been candidates studying for the ministry.
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elling on horseback from Rowley and Ipswich, Mass., a distance of eighty-five miles, fording streams and following paths marked by notched (spotted or blazed) trees. Mr. Searle could with much truth say, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord."
The ordination sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Jewett, of Rowley, was preached in the meeting-house, as we have seen that it had been completed the year before. Besides, no private house could hold the assembled multitude. The subject of the discourse was, "How the Ministers of the Gospel are to be accounted of." The text was from Ist Corinthians, Chap. 4, verse 1, "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." This serinon, in accordance with the wishes of the people, was printed, and a copy has been preserved in the rooms of the New Hampshire Historical Society, at Concord. It was an able discourse, full of deep thoughts and telling passages, and carried conviction with its utterances. Mr. Searle was commended as the right man in the right place, although barely twenty-seven years of age, having been ordained the day after he reached that age. He was a man of large ability, of fine manners, finished educa- tion, with a dignified bearing, and full of strength, energy and fortitude. He dared the wilderness to preach the gospel to all people. Mr. Walker was then the settled minister in Concord, Mr. Fletcher in Hopkinton. Daniel Webster, not then born, married the daughter of the latter. Mr. Woodman had been settled but a few years in the adjoining town of Sanbornton. Mr. Jewett was the settled minister in Rowley, and had been the religious instructor of Mr. Searle from his boyhood. Mr. Searle was six feet tall, of fine proportion, wore a powdered wig, deer-skin breeches, long silk stockings, ornamented with brilliant silver knee and shoe buckles, with ample surplice and gown, a fitting figure for so solemn and imposing an occa- sion.
THE MEETING-HOUSE QUESTION.
The meeting-house was located on the northerly slope of nearly the highest hill in Salisbury, about the centre of the
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
town, and the approaches to it in all directions were steep and difficult. As soon as the forests were cleared away, the deep drifting snows came on and made the roads almost impassable ; and in the course of ten or twelve years a feeling grew up that the location of the place of worship should be changed. Searle's Hill, unlike the "Hill of Sion," did not yield "a thousand sacred sweets"; and during the latter years of Mr. Searle's ministry contention and difficulty arose relative to moving the meet- ing-house, as has been seen. The question was earnestly dis- cussed, passions were allowed to usurp the place of reason, and jealousies grew and multiplied. It was no wonder that, under such circumstances, a man of Mr. Searle's ardent temperament should become disheartened, as he saw the pillars of his church, to whom he had held up the merits of the dying Saviour and to whom he had broken the bread of life for many years, leav- ing him, and the members of his beloved flock, who had so often communed together in spirit and in truth, now passing each other without a bow or sign of recognition.
MR. SEARLE A GOOD HUSBANDMAN.
He was a most excellent husbandman, and made the wilder- ness about him blossom as the rose. He procured an orchard to be set out in Rowley, grafted with choice fruit, and after a few years transplanted it to his home in Salisbury. It grew and became the finest orchard within the limits of the town. The Rev. Samuel Wood procured scions from Parson Searle's orchard, about 1785, with which he grafted one of the most valued orchards in Boscawen. There is a picture of two Bell pears, painted by Mr. Searle's daughter, Margaret, as they hung from the bough in front of her chamber window. This picture is now in the possession of her son, Henry P. Rolfe, in Con- cord, as is also the bull's-eye watch purchased by his great- grandfather, Capt. Jethro Sanborn, of Sandown, in 1765, in London, for which he paid fifty Spanish milled dollars.
DISMISSION DESIRED.
After a pastorate of nearly twenty years, May 31, 1790, a church meeting was called by the pastor to act on the question
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ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTORY.
of his dismission. It was proposed to call a council, and Mr. Searle consented to remain until his people could secure a suc- cessor, provided it should be done within one year from their annual meeting. In his letter asking for dismission he gives the following reasons : "Want of bodily health sufficient to continue a charge requiring so many and varied cares and so much labor." Col. Ebenezer Webster, Elder Benjamin Hun- toon and Deacon John Collins were chosen a committee for this year.
Mr. Searle wished to be dismissed from his pastorate, first, upon gospel principles of love and mutual friendship; second, to continue in the work of the ministry until his successor should be employed ; third, that the congregation be freed from taxes, that they might be legally called upon to make up to him on account of the depreciation in the currency ; fourth, the parsonage right to be improved by him long enough to remun- erate him for clearing up the land, and circumstantial costs.
The church committee last named, with Benjamin Pettengill, Edward Eastman, David Pettengill, Samuel Pillsbury, William Webster and Dr. Joseph Bartlett were chosen a committee to settle with Mr. Searle.
The most important articles in the settlement were, that Mr. Searle should quietly and peaceably enjoy the minister's right, reserved in the charter by the grantees of said town, for the first settled minister and his heirs forever; the parsonage land to be improved by the minister, his heirs and assigns, until the close of the year 1791, he to be free from ministerial work, August 15, 1790.
A council was held November 8, 1791, and Mr. Searle's dis- mission granted.
Voted "unanimously to recommend the Rev. Mr. Searle to the fellowship of all the churches, and also to the work of the gospel ministry, should he incline, wherever God in his provi- dence may call him."
HIS LATER LIFE AND DEATH.
He continued to live on the parsonage and finally owned it at the time of his death. In consideration of his services as a
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
minister of the gospel there was sold to him a lot of land, near what is now Franklin village, to be free from taxes to him and his heirs for nine hundred and ninety-nine years. This lot of land came by inheritance to his daughter Margaret, Mrs. Ben- jamin Rolfe. It was not taxed till 1835, when it was ascer- tained that as a matter of law no land could be granted free from taxes.
The following members united with the church under Mr. Searle's pastorate :
Moses Silley,
Ruth
Sarah Huntoon,
Ebenezer Webster,
Hannah Greeley,
Molly Eastman.
Simeon Wadleigh, Sr.,
Elisabeth Sanborn,
Anna Eastman,
Hannah Rogers,
Jonathan Huntoon,
Mary Huntoon,
Nathaniel Meloon,
Mirriam Collins,
Rachel Tandy,
Della Wadleigh,
Susannah Webster,
Elisabeth Whittemore,
Mirriam Greeley,
Sarah Collins,
Abigail Webster,
Elisabeth Pillsbury,
Sarah Smith,
Mary Fellows,
Anna Fifield,
Anna Webster,
Elisabeth Silley,
Benja. Haywood.
Anna Stevens,
Rachel Greeley,
Richard Foster,
Abigail Sillaway,
Ruth Webster.
After his dismissal, Mr. Searle preached occasionally, but devoted himself mainly to the improvement of his farm and the support of his large family. His church, wherein he had been ordained with so much solemn and imposing ceremony nearly a score of years before, had been taken down and converted into a new one at the South Road. The sacred desk was no longer supplied by him, his mind gradually became unsettled, and he finally began to show unmistakable signs of insanity. He wandered about among his former church members and parishioners, with his habitual dignified bearing, being perfectly harmless. It is recorded of him that "he lost his christian standing through intemperance," but he did not indulge in stimulants till long after his mind became seriously impaired. He continued to fade away until December 2, 1818, when his weary spirit took its departure from its worn-out tenement, and the manly form of the christian minister was laid away in the silent home at Shaw's Corner, there to sleep till the bright morning of the resurrection.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
A PLEASANT REMINISCENCE.
The following is from the pen of the late Gen. Walter Harri- man, who gave much examination to the early history of the town of Salisbury, and no little research into the character of its inhabitants, he having been a native and a long time resident of the adjoining town of Warner.
A DAY WITH THE WEBSTERS .*
One bright morning in August, 1875, we ( Mrs. H. and myself ) took a suitable team at Concord, with one day's rations, and, in light marching order. set off for Elms Farm, Shaw's Corner and Searle Hill. We desired more light on a few points in reference to the early life of Daniel Webster. At Boscawen Plains, that ancient village, with its broad street, shaded houses and "magnificent distances," we made our first halt. A venerable lady of intelligence and culture gave us the information we there sought. She knew Daniel Webster and his brother Ezekiel. She related interesting anecdotes concerning their life in Boscawen, and pointed out, the exact spot where, in 1805, Daniel Webster opened his first law office, and commenced (as he used to express it ) "making writs." He occupied this office but two years, when he gave it up to Ezekiel, and went to Portsmouth. This office, at the l'lains, was a small building attached to a dwelling house, just above the ancient cemetery, and on the same side of the street, but it was removed from this place many years ago, and the ground on which it stood is now a shaded lawn.
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