USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 16
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William Pearson.
John Elkins,
Moses J. Stevens,
Among the ministers who have preached in this house for any regular time are the following :
CHRISTIAN.
D. S. Harriman,
W. F. Morrill,
Benj. Cilley,
A. H. Martin,
Nehemiah Sleeper,
John Whitney,
METHODISTS.
Reuben Dearborn,
Wm. D. Cass,
James Ryder,
J. M. Bean,
James Parmenter, M. Folsom, E. Davis.
John Collins,
J. W. Bean,
M. Fletcher,
J. G. Jameson,
Julius Blodgett, John Burden,
M. Tilton, Moses B. Scribner,
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
Nathaniel Ladd. Benjamin F. Foster,
UNIVERSALISTS.
John Moore,
Robert Bartlett.
DEACONS.
John Bean, Benjamin Tucker,
John Couch, Ebenezer Johnson,
Richard Fellows.
CHAPTER XII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, CONCLUDED.
" The first tabernacle to llope we will build, The second to Faith, which insures it fulfilled ; And the third to the Lamb of the great sacrifice, Who bequeathed to us both, when he rose to the skies."
EAST VILLAGE CHURCH.
For years there was no church and no place of public wor- ship in Pemigewassett, or the East Village (now Franklin ) in Salisbury. To attend religious services the people were obliged to go to Searle's Hill, and subsequently to the South Road; or to go beyond the limits of the town, to Sanbornton or North- field. From time to time the village increased in business, population and wealth, and the necessity of permanent minis- trations of the gospel was plainly seen. In February of the year 1820, after long deliberation, it was decided to make the effort to establish an orthodox church of the Congregational order, and erect a meeting-house. A lot was selected, located "between the dwelling house of John Rowell and Gardner Colby's blacksmith's shop." A subscription paper was circu- lated for the purpose of raising money to build a house of wor- ship. On this paper were the names of the most active citizens of that village and vicinity, as follows :
Ebenezer Eastman,
$90 00
John Hancock, jr.,
$10 00
James Garland,
40 00
John Rowell,
S oo
Ebenezer Blanchard,
40 00
B. D. Cass,
8 00
William Haddock,
30 00
Reuben Taylor,
Parker Noyes,
20 00
James Proctor,
8 00
Ezekiel Webster,
20 00
Stephen Sawyer, jr.,
6 00
Winthrop Fifield,
12 00
Samuel Judkins, jr.,
6 00
Thomas Greeley,
10 00
Samuel George,
6 00
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Dudley Ladd,
$5 00
Jesse Merrill,
$3 00
Benj. Rowe,
5 00
Isaac Hale,
3 00
William Durgin,
5 00
Moses Heath,
2 00
Eli Butman,
5 00
Richard Chapman,
2 00
Jeremiah Hall,
5 00
Tristram Sanborn,
2 00
Joseph Gerrish,
5 00
Phinehas Eastman,
2 00
J. D. Sanborn,
4 00
Benj. Shaw,
2 00
William Robertson,
4 00
Enoch Holt,
2 00
James Clark,
4 00
William Huntoon,
2 00
John Clark,
4 00
John Colby, jr.
2 00
Thomas Elkins,
4 00
Joseph Sanborn,
1 00
Stevens Sanborn,
4 00
John Cate,
1 00
Jonathan Sanborn, jr.,
3 00
Edward Blodgitt.
1 00
The lot, a very desirable one, was the gift of Ebenezer East- man. The subscribers did not all reside in Salisbury. The people of Sanbornton and Northfield, as well as Salisbury, were to be accommodated, and made donations accordingly. The sum raised was inadequate to meet the expense of the building, but the revenue from the sale of pews supplied the deficiency.
A meeting of the subscribers, to effect an organization, was held at "Reuben Taylor's Inn," March 10, 1820. Parker Noyes, Esq., was chosen clerk. Capt. Blanchard, and Messrs. Hale, Ladd, Clark, Haddock, Sanborn and Samuel George were elected a committee to construct the house. Blanchard and George were to erect the frame. The work of completing the house, after the erection of the frame, was offered at auction to the lowest bidder, and was awarded to Benj. Rowe, for $360.00. The contractor soon learned that he had not fully calculated the cost, and refused to execute the work as he had promised.
July 4, 1820, Capt. Blanchard, James Garland and Richard Peabody were appointed to take charge of the frame and finish the house. On three sides of the interior of the church, gal- leries were built, which contained thirty-two pews.
On the day of the sale of the pews, July 4, 1820, the Rev. Thomas Worcester, pastor of the church on the South Road, delivered a patriotic oration, which was received with great enthusiasm. William Haddock, taking his place on a stand constructed for the purpose, sold by auction the choice of pews, as represented on a plan which he held in his hand. It is said
192
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
that, being a holiday, an abundance of good punch was fur- nished and plenty of liquor, and that some of the foremost men in the enterprise let their generous spirits get the better of their judgment. The sum received from the sale was $2202.25. The church was completed by November 25, 1820, and was dedicated December 13th, the Rev. Asa McFarland, of Concord, preaching the dedication sermon.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
The church was organized June 11, 1822, under the advice and direction of Rev. Mr. Wood and Rev. Mr. Price, of Bos- cawen, Rev. Thomas Worcester, of Salisbury, and Rev. Abram Bodwell, of Sanbornton. A church covenant and confession of faith was adopted, and signed by the following persons :
Sarah Butman, Jesse Merrill, Richard Swaine,
Esther Eastman, Sarah Peabody, Abigail Chase,
Paul Noyes, Letitia Cass, Sally Merrill,
Mary Robinson, Charlotte Eastman,
Andrew Robertson.
Aretus Chandler,
Charlotte Peabody,
Paul Noyes was the first deacon, or at least one of the first. The church had no settled pastor before the organization of the town of Franklin.
A bell was purchased on subscription, which cost $300.00. The only living contributor at this date is Mr. Richard Judkins. A bible for the desk was given by Messrs. Holmes & Horner, and a communion service by Messrs. Kendall O. Peabody, Charles Tappan, R. F. Crane, Parker Noyes and Ebenezer Eastman. The first stoves used in the church were the gift of Mr. Dudley Ladd.
After the establishment of the new town of Franklin business rapidly increased, and the church sustained able and faithful pastors, but we are unable to give detailed reports of its pro- ceedings. It was organized as a Salisbury institution, but was entrusted to Franklin for its support and prosperity.
The Rev. William T. Savage, D. D., for a long time pastor, in his twenty-third anniversary sermon, in 1772, said: "In the department of preaching, the church and society, for some six
193
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
years from the beginning, seems not to have had a regular pas- tor. In formal documents and loose papers, allusion to the following ministers as having occupied the pulpit for one or more Sabbaths are found: Rev. D. Dana, Rev. M. B. Murdock, Rev. Abel Wood, of Warner; Rev. Robert Page, Missionary ; Rev. David McRitchie, Steader and Holt, Missionaries, and Rev. Moses Bradford, of Francestown. In 1826, Rev. Abijah Cross, pastor of the church at the South Road, preached fifteen Sabbaths. In 1827, Rev. George Freeman officiated eleven Sabbaths, and in 1828, Rev. Reuben Farley sixteen Sabbaths."
COUNTY CONFERENCE.
The "Merrimack County Conference of Congregational Churches " was an outgrowth of the "Hopkinton Association," and was the result of a special meeting held at the dwelling house of the Rev. Dr. Wood, of Boscawen, April 4, 1827.
This meeting was held to hear the report of a committee previously chosen to report upon the expediency of instituting a circular conference of churches. They reported in favor of the object and presented the draft of a constitution, which was accepted.
Among the articles presented were the following: "This conference shall be composed of pastors and delegates from the Congregational churches within the bounds of the Hopkinton Association. It shall assume no control over the faith or the discipline of the church." "The officers shall be annually elected, and the annual meeting be the fourth Tuesday in June." " A collection shall be taken for indigent churches within the association."
This article was afterwards so modified that the funds were to be used for charitable purposes, home and foreign missions, Sunday school unions, and for the educational society.
The first meeting was held on the fourth Tuesday of June, 1828, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, in the Congregational 13
194
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
church at Salisbury. The Rev. Abijah Cross was then pastor. The first year of its existence it was known as auxiliary to the Hopkinton Association, but the name was changed to that which it now bears. At this meeting the following pastors and delegates were present : Boscawen, Rev. Samuel Wood, D. D., John Rogers, delegate; second church, Boscawen, Rev. Eben- ezer Price, Enoch Little, delegate; Dunbarton, Rev. Walter Harris, D. D .; Canterbury, Rev. William Patrick, Abial Foster, delegate ; Sanbornton, Rev. Abraham Bodwell, Moses Emery, delegate; Pembroke, Rev. Abraham Burnham, Moses Chamber- lain, delegate; Henniker, Rev. Jacob Scales, Deacon Nathaniel Coggswell, delegate; Bradford, Rev. Robert Paige, Charles Morse, delegate; Northfield, Rev. Liba Conant ; Concord, Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, Deacon Joshua Wilkins, delegate; Hopkin- ton, Deacon Thomas Farwell, Isaac Long, delegate ; Warner, Frederick Eaton, delegate; Bow, Marshall Baker, delegate; Danbury, Deacon Joshua Jackson, delegate ; New Chester (Hill), Rev. Stephen Morse, Deacon James Whitney, delegate; Salis- bury, Rev. Abijah Cross, Deacon Amos Pettengill, delegate. The sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Harris, from Revela- tions, xii, 7.
In 1838, the association again met at the Congregational church, in Salisbury, Rev. Benjamin Foster, then pastor. June 10, 1884, the conference again met in Salisbury, Rev. Charles E. Gordon, pastor ; eleven churches being represented by their pastors and delegates. The session continued for two days, a large number were in attendance, and much interest was manifested by those present. The church was most profusely decorated with evergreens and flowers.
CHAPTER XIII.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
" Rough, bleak and hard, our little State Is scant of soil, of limits straight ; Her yellow sands are sands alone, Her only mines are ice and stone ; Vet on her rocks, and on her sands And wintry hills, the school house stands; And what her rugged soil denies The harvest of the mind supplies."
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The history of the common schools of the State is yet to be written. Not even that of town or district schools with rare exceptions has been given. The earliest town schools of New Hampshire were undoubtedly established by authority of a law of Massachusetts, passed in 1647, and was prefaced by this expressive Puritanic preamble :
"It being one chief point of that old Deluder, Satan, to keep men from a knowl- edge of the Scriptures, as in former times, by writing them in an unknown tongue ; so in these later times, by persuading from the use of tongues, that, so at least, the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded by false glasses of saint- sceing deceivers ; that learning may not be buried in the grave of the fathers, in the church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors,"
" It is therefore ordered," etc.
The law provided that every township having "the number of fifty households, shall forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all children as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of sup- ply, as the major part of those that ordered the prudentials of
196
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
the town shall appoint, provided, those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more then they can have them taught for in other towns."
Whenever a township had one hundred families, it was pro- vided that a grammar school should be maintained, in which all the studies, requisite to qualify the student for the university, should be taught.
Provisions were made for schools in New Hampshire very similar to those in Massachusetts, which were from time to time modified and adapted to the necessities of the people.
Previous to the incorporation of the town, in 1768, no school committees existed, and it was seldom that a school house was erected. "Masters" were the teachers, usually giving instruc- tion in their own houses or in rooms cheaply furnished by the town. The selectmen transacted the business and had the control of the schools.
THE FIRST SCHOOL MONEY.
At the first town meeting in Salisbury it was voted "to raise some money for school purposes." How much was appropri- ated cannot be ascertained, nor are we able to learn that the action was continued in the years immediately following. In 1772 the sum of "twelve dollars was voted to support a school the present year." It was also voted "to raise half a day's work on the single head, to be done on the south end of the sixty acre lot, which was laid out for the school."
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE.
The lot was located on Searle's Hill, on the centre rangeway, by the parsonage, opposite the ten acre meeting-house lot. A school house, the first in the town, was built in the summer of that year. It was made of logs, and though its dimensions are not recorded we have reason to suppose it was not less than twenty feet square, having a cobble-stone fireplace, or perhaps small stones or brick laid in clay. The seats were simply a row of boards on two sides of the room, against the walls.
197
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
FOUR SCHOOL HOUSES.
Six years later the population had increased, and although the war was draining the country of men and the products of the soil, the town voted with great unanimity to build four school houses. These were built "by the job," the lowest bid being accepted. The clerk's record for 1778 says: "Capt. Ebenezer Webster, Dea. John Collins and Capt. Matthew Pet- tengill were 'incorporated' a Committee to treat with the Pro- prietors." This meeting was adjourned for a few days, and on reassembling the voters decided to divide the town into four school districts, and that each district build its own house with- in three months; in case of delay beyond that time, the select- men had authority to erect the buildings and the districts were required to meet the expense. The district lines do not appear to have been distinctly defined, as there is no record of them.
One was located near the Blackwater, at what is known as Smith's Corner. This was built by Benaiah Bean, for $398.00. A second one was placed at the South Road, on the southwest corner of Capt. John Webster's land. It was built by Dea. John Collins, for $680.00. Another was situated at the Centre Road, at the southeast corner of Jonathan Fifield's land. The contractor for erecting this house was Edward Fifield, and the price was $678.00. The last of the four was on the North Road, near Mr. Wadleigh's. Mr. Andrew Pettengill received $494.00 for building it. Such buildings, for some time before or soon after, could have been completed for less than one-half the cost of these. But money was so much depreciated that labor commanded $8.00 per day. The amount raised annually for schools at this time was about $500.00, while $3,000.00 were appropriated for the improvement of roads !
These four houses were made ready for use according to con- tract. They had wooden frames, were boarded and shingled, and furnished with windows and immense fire-places.
Now and then we find among the old papers of the town a receipted bill for public instruction, given to the selectmen by some ancient pedagogue, like the following :
198
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
SALISBURY, Nov. 25, 1778.
Then received of the Selectmen of Salisbury two hundred dollars in full for teaching school five months - I say, Rec'd by me,
TIMO. OSBORN.
Toppan, etc.
HIGH GRADE SCHOOLS.
About this time Mr. Edward Eastman, who had obtained a higher education than the ordinary district schoolmaster, pro- posed to teach a school of the higher grade, if the town would give him the use of the school lot. The arrangement was made. He agreed to maintain a reading and writing school for three months in the year, for ten years, and then a grammar school for six months a year, for ten years more ; and, as the record says, "so, on," as it is understood for seventy years, for the town actually gave him a seventy-year lease of the land. For several years-we are not able to say just how long - Mr. Eastman fulfilled his contract, but at the request of the school- master the obligation was cancelled long before the expiration of the three-score years and ten.
For a time, after the close of the war, no appropriation was made for the support of public schools. There was little money ; home products found no market, and articles of distant or foreign production were held at exceedingly high prices.
SALE OF SCHOOL LANDS.
In March, 1784, it was voted to "sell all the school lands and put the principal in the bank, and use the interest for the support of schools in the town annually." It was also voted at the same time "to sell all the schoolhouses belonging to the sd town and the money be contributed to the use of the town." The notice of the vendue was as follows :
WHEREAS, At the annual meeting of the town of Salisbury, in the County of Hillsborough, on the 9th day of March 1784, the inhabitants of sd Town voted to sell all the Land belonging to the School Right, in sd Salisbury, that the interest of the money sd land comes to, may be laid out in schooling yearly :-
Accordingly, we, the Selectmen of sd Town, have advertised the hundred acre lot belonging to the said School Right, it being No. 59, in the North Range; to be sold at the house of Capt. Matthew Pettengill in sd Town, at Public Vendue, to the
1
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
highest bidder, sd Vendue to begin at one o'clock, in the afternoon, on Monday the 7th day of June, 1784.
Articles of sale are as follows :- That each and every person have equal right and liberty in bidding; the person giving such security as shall be satisfactory to sd Town; the purchaser paying the interest annually and the principal to be paid in six years from this date. If not paid in that time, then to be at the option of the Town, when to take the Principal, and that no bid be accounted valid under three pence per acre.
DANIEL BROCKLEBANK, ) JACOB TRUE, JOHN SWEATT, 1 Selectmen.
Salisbury, June ye 7, 1784.
Capt. Samuel Webster was appointed "Vendue Master." The sale took place in accordance with the notice, and the land was sold to Ephraim Colby, for three pounds, fifteen shillings and three-pence per acre.
The sale of the school houses brought, in the aggregate, $63.75, a depreciation of $2277.25 in five years. John C. Gale gave $19.50 for the one on the North Road; John Webster $16.00 for that at the South Road; Joseph Bean $16.00 for the house at the Centre Road, and John Smith $12.25 for the one beyond the Blackwater.
SCHOOLS IN THE ASCENDANT.
We talk approvingly of the voice of the people, and in accord- ance with the requirements of our fundamental law we are accustomed to acquiesce in its decisions. But there is nothing in nature more inconsistent than the verdicts often rendered by the people. Two years ago the town of Salisbury not only refused to support public schools, but, in a spirit of narrow economy, sold all her school houses for the magnificent sum of $63.75! Now, in 1786, reason appears to be returning, for the town voted to raise $210.00 in lawful money for the support of schools, and ordered that each district provide its own school rooms and pay its proportion of the sum appropriated for the cause of education.
The next appropriation on record for this purpose was one of $300.00; and in 1791 a school house was built at the Lower Village, now the Orphans' Home district. This was the first
200
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
erected in that section of the town. The site was nearly oppo- site the residence of Benjamin Sanborn. Here the boy, Daniel Webster, attended school; here the young man, Mr. Daniel Webster, was employed in teaching the district school ; and not far remote in time, the statesman and orator spent here his leisure days.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION.
It was the practice of the carly settlers to give their children such rudimentary instruction as they were capable of impart- ing, at their own homes. In some instances neighbors united and occasionally employed a teacher, often selecting one who could aid in the household or on the farm. But the compensa- tion for such service was small; money was never abundant with the pioneers of the town ; land was obtained at a low price and needed little beyond good tillage to ensure a bountiful har- vest. But the most exact economy was required. Without money, or with a "narrow margin," they reared large families, supported the gospel, maintained schools, built houses, opened roads, cleared up forests, constructed garrisons, fought the Indians, and made heroic sacrifices for independence. And yet, with the improvements of a hundred years in our favor, we complain of hardships, of burdensome taxation, and of the severe demands of modern society.
BUILDING SCHOOL HOUSES.
The second school house at the South Road was built by subscription, and was located at the corner east of Mrs. Crane's, opposite the residence of P. A. Fellows. Though built and used for a school, it was really private property, as may be inferred from the following subscription :
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do hereby, each one of us, promise and engage unto the others, to pay, each one, towards building and finishing the school house, that now standeth by the South Road in said Salisbury, and on the corner of land now owned by Capt. John Webster, which land is known by the name of the Gale lot, according to our interest or estate in the same proportion that we are now taxed, in the State tax -the said school house to be finished and made complete on or before the first day of November next ensuing,- and also we prom- ise and engage to repair and keep in repair the same, from time to time, as the
201
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
same may happen, in the same manner as aforesd-to be kept for the use and ben- efit of a school, so long as the same shall last, and shall be under the government of the major part of the subscribers or some person or persons by them appointed ; and whosoever of the subscribers shall neglect or refuse to pay their part or propor- tion, as above mentioned,-seasonably to complete the afores'd house at the time as above, shall suffer all the cost and damage, that shall happen thereby, the same if not otherwise prevented, to be recovered in a common course of law, as shall be thought best by the major part of the subscribers, that have performed according to agreement.
Witness-our hands, the 14th day of July Anno Domini 1787.
Andrew Bohonon, Benjamin Baker,
Joseph Bartlett,
Luke Wilder, Peter Barber,
John Webster, Jr.,
John Collins,
Joseph Bean,
Edward Evans,
Ebenezer Johnson,
Stephen Webster,
Philip Colby.
Leonard Judkins, John Sweatt,
George Bailey,
William Calef,
August 26, 1787, Capt. John Webster sold to the above named, for the consideration of a school and school house, a site on the southwesterly corner of the sixty acre lot, No. 23, laid out for Samuel Stevens. Witnessed by John Hoyt and Ezra Flanders.
The house was completed according to the agreement, and for
- many years was used for the accommodation of a public school. After the academy was removed from its original location to the South Road, the school was transferred to one portion of it, and the old house was given to other uses.
FORMATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
In 1819 the town was divided into eleven school districts, and there were school houses in nine of them. In the others, schools were kept in private rooms. Changes were subsequent- ly made and other districts formed, increasing the number to fourteen, partially described in the records.
NUMBER I. This district was organized in 1820, agreeably to a petition of Joel Eastman and others, and known then and now as South Road School District No. I. The Academy building was appropriated for the use of the school, and some part of it has been used for that purpose since it was removed from the original site.
202
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
NUMBER II, known as the Centre Road District, was formed April 2, 1823, on petition of Josiah Green and others. The first school house in this district stood a short distance to the west of F. W. Fifield's barn. It was afterwards located just north of the meeting-house. For many years the school house has stood on the south side of the road leading from the Centre Road to West Salisbury, a few rods from its junction with the old turnpike road. At one time the town voted that the town hall might be used for a school room, but this was probably only while the school house was undergoing repairs, or it may have been for a private school.
NUMBER III, now called "Sawyer's," and formerly "South Road District No. 2," was organized in 1820, on petition of Nathaniel Greeley and others.
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