USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
Singing books were almost unknown then, and much of the
312
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
singing was done by memory. Tradition says, however, that they had grand, good singing in those days, and that almost every one entered into the spirit of "singing to the Lord." It was the custom for all of the congregation to stand during the singing, but some evidently rebelled at that, for later it was a vote of the church that they might sit or stand as they might think convenient. From time immemorial churches have had trouble about their singing, and it is probable that the church in Lyndeborough was no exception. Persons in those early times became " uneasy in their minds " about the singing, and choristers were " turned down " occasionally.
Just when the first choir was formed in Lyndeborough cannot be told, but it would seem to have been some time previous to the erection of the old church at the centre, for in that house a place was reserved for the singers' seats. Nor can it be told when musical instruments were first introduced. Tradition says there was much opposition to any stringed instrument being used in the sacred place. A pipe-organ was bought and in- stalled in the old church, and Johnson Putnam was paid a dollar a Sunday to play it. When the new church was built in 1837, this organ was taken out and sold. The violin, bass-viol and trombone took its place for awhile, and they were probably played more or less with the old organ. Later, Kilburn S. Cur- tis introduced and played what was called a stopper-keyed melodeon, the kind that was blown with the right elbow when in use. Next came a more modern melodeon, and now a Mason & Hamlin organ.
Ira Houston was the first leader of the choir of which there is any remembrance, and since his time many have held the office : Daniel Woodward, Jr., Jotham Hildreth, Eli Clark Curtis, Daniel B. Whittemore, John Richardson, William W. Curtis, Benjamin G. Herrick and others.
Tyler Tupper played the trombone, Jesse Pearsons, Daniel Gould and Lafayette Herrick the bass-viol, Daniel Woodward, Jr., Joel Gay, Eli C. Curtis the violin. Daniel Gould, Asher Curtis and Oliver Bixby were also leaders of the choir at one time or another. Probably no one family has been more identi- fied with singing in Lyndeborough than the Curtis family. Eli and Asher, Sr., Israel, Eli C., Betsey Ann, Kilburn S., Asher, 2nd, Hiram, William W., all were members of the choir, and imusicians of repute outside the town. Singing schools flour-
313
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
ished and the pupils graduated into the church choir, which was known for half a century as one of the best.
Through the efforts of Rev. Mr. Claggett a bell was bought for the church. This first church bell in Lyndeborough was hung Feb. 20, 1850. The money to pay for this bell, some three hundred dollars, was raised by subscription, and it is said to have been of exceptionally sweet tone. By some means it became cracked, and about 1855 was replaced by the present bell. The old one was sold for bell metal, and the difference made up in various ways, among which was the holding of the old-fashioned " levee " for raising money. And here it may not be out of place to mention the custom, now done away with, of tolling the church bell on the death of any one in the parish. All within hearing of its tones could tell by the number of strokes the age of the person, and whether man, woman or child. It was not until about twenty years ago that this old New England custom was dropped.
THE RECORD OF BAPTISM.
The following list of baptisms is inserted for the reason that it is the only record of some of the early families to be found. It is taken from the first volume of the church records and includes all up to 1800, but is evidently very incomplete. The record of baptisms from 181 1 down appears to have been correctly kept, but as the records from the organization of the church until 18II are fragmentary it is probable that this is a list of only a part of those baptized before that date.
A.
Aug. 6, 1769. Daniel, son of Josiah and Hannah Abbott
July 25, 1773. Sarah, daughter of Josiah and Hannah Abbott
June, 1780. Daughter of Ephraim and Dorothy Abbott
June, 1780. Ephraim, son of Ephraim and Dorothy Abbott
B.
Oct. 2, 1768. Eliphalet, son of Robert and Hannah Badger Oct. 2, 1768. Ruth, daughter of William and Olive Barron
Dec. 4, 1768. Phebe, daughter of Phineas and Sarah Barker
Stephen, son of David and Rachel Badger
Mar. 26, 1769. Apr. 23, 1769. Sept. 7, 1769. June 26, 1770. June 26, 1770. Boynton
Judith, daughter of James and Mary Boutwell Phineas, son of Phineas and Sarah Barker Deborah, daughter of Edward and Eunice Bevins
Hannah Boynton, daughter of Richard and Rebecca
June 26, 1770. Josepha Boynton, daughter of Richard and Rebecca Boynton
July 1, 1770. Joanna, daughter of William and Butterfield
314
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
July 8, 1770. Mary, daughter of Robert and Hannah Badger Sept. 9, 1770. Dec. 23, 1770. June 2, 1771. Oct. 6, 1771. Oct. 20, 1771. May 31, 1772. Aug. 23, 1772. Joseph, son of Edward and Eunice Bevins Hannah, daughter of David and Rachel Badger Sarah, daughter of William and Olive Barron James, son of James and Mary Boutwell Hannah, daughter of Phineas and Sarah Barker John, son of William Butterfield and wife Sarah, daughter of David and Rachel Badger Rachel, daughter of Robert and Hannah Badger
Aug. 30, 1772. Sept. 12, 1772. Thomas Spaulding, son of Thomas and Sarah Boffee Aug. 29, 1773. Sept. 5, 1773. John, son of John and Sarah Bradford Joseph, son of Edward and Eunice Bevins Nov. 7, 1773. William, son of Phineas and Sarah Barker Nov. 21, 1773. ' Nehemiah, son of James and Mary Boutwell Apr. 3, 1774. Jonathan, son of William and Olive Barron
Apr. 24, 1774. Prince, servant boy to John and Sarah Bradford July, 1774. Son of Richard and Keturah Boynton July, 1774. Orpah, daughter of Richard and Keturah Boynton July 31, 1774. Anna, daughter of David and Rachel Badger May 14, 1775. Robert, son of Robert and Hannah Badger July 8, 1776. Daniel, son of David and Rachel Badger
Nov. 14, 1779. Benjamin, son of Benj. and Sarah Bullock
Nov. 14, 1779. Sarah, daughter of Benj. and Sarah Bullock
Nov. 14, 1779. Anna, daughter of Benj. and Sarah Bullock C.
Jan. 24, 1769. Robert, son of William and Isabel Carson Hannah, daughter of David and Mary Cram
June 13, 1769.
Micajah, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Coston
June 13, 1769. Oct. 6, 1769.
Olive, daughter of Jacob and - Cram
Aug. 12, 1770. Benjamin, son of Jonathan and Margaret Chamberlain
Aug. 19, 1770. John, son of William and Isabel Carson Aug. 26, 1770. Elizabeth, son of John and Elizabeth Carkin. Jan. 6, 1771. Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Olive Cram, Jr. Gideon, son of David and Mary Cram Abigail, daughter of Timothy and Rachel Carleton
Apr. 14, 1771. Aug. 25, 1771. Apr. 26, 1772. his wife. May 31, 1772. Zebulon, son of Jacob and Cram
Jonathan, son of Jonathan Chamberlain, Jr. and Margaret,
June 21, 1772.
Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah and Carleton
May 20, 1773.
Asa, son of William and Isabel Carson
Eunice, daughter of Timothy and Rachel Carleton Deborah, daughter of David and Mary Cram
June 6, 1773. Aug. 8, 1773. Apr. 17, 1774. John, son of Jonathan and Margaret Chamberlain, Jr.
May 8, 1774. June 5, 1774. Nov. 13, 1774. ful Clough.
Benjamin, son of Benjamin Cram, Jr. and Olive, his wife. Timothy, son of Jeremiah Carleton.
Benjamin and John Clough, sons of Benjamin and Thank-
Oct. 1, 1775. Rachel, daughter of Nathan Cram
Oct. 18, 1778. Nathan, son of Nathan and Rachel Cram
Oct. 18, 1778. Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Chamber- lain
315
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
D.
Aug. 19, 1770. Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Sarah Dutton
June 28, 1772. Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Dutton Nov. 1, 1772. Hannah, daughter of - Dickerman and Bathsheba, his wife.
July 31, 1774. Reuben, son of Benjamin and Sarah Dutton
Oct. 6, 1776. Jacob, son of Benjamin and Sarah Dutton
June 1780. Susanna, daughter of Isaac and Susanna Day
June, 1780. Elizabeth, danghter of Isaac and Susanna Day
E.
May 24, 1772. Mary Epes, daughter of Francis and Mary Epes July 4, 1773. Elizabeth, daughter of Francis and Mary Epes
F.
Mar. 18, 1770. Pamila, daughter of Andrew and Mary Fuller July, 1772. Phoebe, daughter of Nathan and Esther Fisher
Jan. 30, 1774. Benjamin, son of Andrew and Mary Fuller
July 31, 1774. Esther, daughter of Nathan and Esther Fisher Sept. 22, 1771. Mehitabel, daughter of Andrew and Mary Fuller Oct. 18, 1778. Mary, daughter of Philip and Mary Fletcher G.
Sept. 30, 1771. Mehitabel, daughter of Sewall and Phebe Goodridge Jan. 20, 1771. John, son of John Susanna Gould
Sarah, daughter of Sewall and Phebe Goodridge
Feb. 2, 1772. Feb. 16, 1772. David, son of John and Susanna Gould Benjamin, son of Sewall and Phebe Goodridge William, son of John and Susanna Gould Lucy, daughter of Sewall and Phebe Goodridge George, son of Daniel and Dorcas Gould
July II, 1773. Oct. 10, 1773. Jan. 19, 1777. Nov. 9, 1788.
Sarah, daughter of Ebenezer Gardner
Sarah, wife of Ebenezer Gardner
June 18, 1188. June 18, 1788. Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Gardner
Nov. 14, 1779. Susanna, daughter of Daniel and Dorcas Gould Nov. 14, 1779. Mehitabel, daughter of Daniel and Dorcas Gould June, 1780. Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret Grant
H.
Oct. 16, 1768. Elijah, son of John and Hannah Hutchinson June 4, 1769. Ebenezer, son of James and Deborah Hutchinson
June 26, 1770. Samuel, son of George and - Hutchinson June 26, 1770. June 26, 1770. George, son of George and Hutchinson June 26, 1770. Ruth, daughter of George and Hutchinson June 26, 1770. Sarah, daughter of James and Deborah Hutchinson
Elizabeth, daughter of George and Hutchinson
Chase, son of Joshua and Mary Hadley
Aug. 19, 1770. May 5, 1771. Umphrey, son of Joshua and Mary Hadley
May 19, 1771. Clark, son of George and Susanna Hutchinson
June 18, 1788. June 18, 1788. June 18, 1788. Mary, daughter of Eben Gardner and Sarah, his wife June 18, 1788. Henry Whittredge, son of Ebenezer Gardner Daniel, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Gardner
316
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Feb. 23, 1772.
June 28, 1772. July 19, 1772. May 23, 1773. July II, 1773. July II, 1773.
John, son of Samuel and Betty Hutchinson John, son of James and - Hutchinson Samuel, son of Samuel and Rachel Houston Betty, daughter of Samuel and Betty Hutchinson Ambrose, son of George and Susanna Hutchinson Mary, daughter of George and Susanna Hutchinson Hannah, daughter of James and - Hutchinson
Aug. 8, 1773. June 21, 1772. Daniel, son of Daniel and -- Howe
May 17, 1772.
Bethia, daughter of Oliver and Bethia Holmes of New Boston
Nov. 1, 1778. Ruth, daughter of -- Hooper and Ruth, his wife
Nov. 15, 1778. Huldah Bevins, daughter of Widow Deborah Hutchinson
J.
Mar. 26, 1769. 'Ephraim, son of James and Hannah Johnson Lydia, daughter of Adam and Abigail Johnson
Aug. 6, 1769.
John, son of Adam and Abigail Johnson
Aug. 6, 1769. Adam, son of Adam and Abigail Johnson
Aug. 6, 1769. Aug. 6, 1769. Aug. 6, 1769.
Betty, daughter of Adam and Abigail Johnson Hannah, daughter of Adam and Abigail Johnson
Aug. 6, 1869.
Lucy, daughter of Adam and Abigail Johnson
Son of Benjamin and Jemima Jones
Nov. 7, 1773. Sept. 17, 1775. Osgood and David, sons of John and Abigail Johnson, Jr. May 14, 1775. Sarah and Lydia, daughters of Adam Johnson, Jr., and Mary, his wife
K.
Apr. 23, 1769.
Rachel, daughter of John and Trephina Kidder
May 21, 1769.
Aaron, son of Jonas and Huldah Kidder
Mar. 31, 177I.
Jonas, son of Jonas and Huldah Kidder
Apr. 25, 1773.
Hannah, daughter of Jonas and Huldah Kidder
Feb. 19, 1775. David, son of Jonas and Huldah Kidder
L.
Aug. 25, 1771. Sarah, daughter of David and Lydia Lewis Aug. 13, 1773. Bethsheba, daughter of David and Lydia Lewis Lydia, daughter of David and Lydia Lewis
July 31, 1774.
Sept. 17, 1775. Willard and Catharine, son and daughter of Phineas Lund
M.
June 6, 1769. Samuel, son of Samuel and Elizabeth McMaster
June 6, 1769. James Jewett, son of Samuel and Elizabeth McMaster
June 6, 1769. Dan., son of Samuel and Elizabeth McMaster
May 6, 1770. Sarah, daughter of Joel and Phebe Manwell
Apr. 28, 1771. Betty, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth McMaster
Apr. 19, 1772. Hannah, daughter of Joel and Phebe Manwell
Aug. 13, 1773. Phebe, daughter of Joel and Phebe Manwell
Aug. 29, 1773. Deborah, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth McMaster
O.
Oct. 7, 1770. James, son of John and --- Ordway
Aug. 6, 1769.
Mary, daughter of Adam and Abigail Johnson
317
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
Oct. 27, 1771. Frances Chase, daughter of John and - --- Ordway Apr. 24, 1774. Amos, son of John and - - - Ordway
P.
Sept. 8, 1768. Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth Parson Nov. 13, 1768. Ephraim, son of Ephraim Putnam, Jr., and Lucy, his wife.
Nov. 26, 1769. Samuel, son of Archelaus and Abigail Putnam
Jonathan, son of Ephraim 3d and Rachel Putnam
Nov. 26, 1769. June 26, 1770. July 8, 1770. Sept. 30, 1770. June 15, 1771. Aug. 11, 1771. Cornelius Grey, son of Samuel and . Parson
Sarah York, servant girl to Nathan and Anna Parson Anna, daughter of Nathan and Anna Parson
Daniel, son of Ephraim Putnam, Jr., and Lucy, his wife. George, son of George and Elizabeth Parson
Oct. 20, 1771. Jan. 10, 1773. Feb. 14, 1773. wife.
Mary, daughter of Archelaus and Abigail Putnam
Tabby, daughter of Nathan and Anna Parson Sarah, daughter of Ephraim Putnam, Jr., and Lucy, his
Feb. 14, 1773. his wife.
Mehitabel, daughter of Ephraim Putnam 3rd and Rachel,
June 13, 1773. Bartholomew, son of George and Elizabeth Person by the Rev. Mr. Wesbster
Feb. 7, 1775. Nathan, son of Nathan and Anne Person
Sept. 17, 1775. A son of William Person
June, 1780. Benjamin, son of Samuel and Susanna Punchard
R.
April 16, 1769. Joseph, son of John and Mary Row July 29, 1770. Hannah, daughter of Peter and Mehitabel Russell
May 5, 1771. Thomas, son of John and Mary Rowe
June 20, 1773, Mary, daughter of John and Mary Rowe May 14, 1775. Joseph, son of Joseph Richard
Nov., 1775. Irene, daughter of Nehemiah Rand Jan. 19, 1777. Nehemiah, son of Nehemiah and Mary Rand June, 1780. Molly, daughter of Peter and Mehitabel Russell
S.
Sept. 8, 1768. Nathaniel, son of Stephen and Martha Spaulding Sept. 8, 1768. Martha, daughter of Levi and Anna Spaulding
Jan. 1, 1769. Daniel, son of Asahel and Sarah Stiles Aug. 5, 1770. Esther, daughter of Levi and Anna Spaulding Sept. 30, 1770. Esther, daughter of Asael and Sarah Stiles June 15, 1771. Rachel, daughter of Stephen and Martha Spaulding Levi, son of Levi and Anna Spaulding
April 2, 1772. May 12, 1772. William, son of Samuel and Rebecca Stevens Mary, daughter of Moses Stiles, Jr. June 6, 1773. Jan. 30, 1774. Jan. 7, 1775. Jan. 12, 1775. Mehitabel, daughter of Joshua Stiles and wife
Sarah, daughter ot Asahel and Sarah Stiles Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Stevens and wife
Feb. 19, 1775. Phebe, daughter of Moses Stiles, Jr., and wife
Nov. 19, 1769. Abigail, daughter of John and Abigail Stephenson
May 27, 1770. John, son of Samuel and Rebecca Stephens
318
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Feb. 7, 1773.
Lydia, daughter of John and Abigail Stephenson David, son of David and Eunice Stratton
Oct. 6, 1776.
Oct. 16, 1776.
Mary, daughter of John and Mary Savage
Oct. 20, 1776. Samuel, son of Moses Stiles, Jr., and Sarah, his wife
Oct. 18, 1778. Rhoda, daughter of Asahel and Sarah Stiles
Oct. 27, 1778. Sarah, daughter of John and Abigail Stephenson June, 1780. William, son of John and Mary Savage
June, 1780. Charity, daughter of John and Mary Savage
June, 1780. Dorothy, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Stevens
June, 1780. Rebecca, daughter of Joshua and Mehitabel Stiles
T.
Oct. 27, 1776. James, son of Widow Mary Thompson
W.
Oct. 23, 1768. Sewall, son of Joseph and Phebe Wilkins, Jr.
March 26, 1769. Ephraim, son of Eleazer and Hannah Woodward
Sept. 24, 1769. Eunice, widow of Joseph Wilkins
Sept. 24, 1769. Joseph, son of Widow Eunice Wilkins
Sept. 24, 1769. Aaron, son of George and Martha Wilson
Oct. 2, 1769. Hannah, daughter of Jacob Wellman, Jr., and Hannah, his
wife.
March II, 1770. Joseph, son of Joseph and Phebe Wilkins
March 24, 1771. Jacob, son of Jacob Wellman, Jr., and Hannah, his wife
July 21, 1771. Hannah, daughter of George and Mary Wilson
July 28, 1771. Cyrus, son of Amos and - -- Wilkins
Nov. 17, 1771. Eleazer, son of Eleazer and Hannah Woodward
June 14, 1772. Phebe, daughter of Joseph and Phebe Wilkins
July, 1772. Caleb, son of Zachariah Whiting and wife.
Dec. 6, 1772. David, son of Jacob Wellman, Jr., and Hannah, his wife
June 20, 1773. Hitty, daughter of Amos Wilkins and wife
June 12, 1774. Isreal, son of Eleazer and Hannah Woodward
June 12, 1775. Ezra, son of Joseph and Phebe Wilkins
Nov. 13, 1774. Eleanor Whittemore
Feb. 16, 1775. Samuel, son of Jacob Wellman, Jr., and Hannah, his wife
May 14, 1775. Rachel, daughter of Amos Wilkins
Sept. 29, 1776. Jeremiah, son of Joseph and Phebe Wilkins
Oct. 10, 1776. Ward, son of Eleazer and Hannah Woodward
Oct. 18, 1778. Susan, daughter of Jonathan Whittemore
UNION LECTURE HOUSE, NORTH LYNDEBOROUGH.
In 1812 it was the custom to hold meetings at North Lynde- borough on Sundays and other days, and sometimes in the even- ing, for the purpose of hearing lectures and concerts. These meetings were attended by people from Lyndeborough and Francestown, New Boston and Mont Vernon. All these towns corner near North Lyndeborough, and the inhabitants of these corners were somewhat remote from the churches. Ministers were invited to come and deliver lectures, and as singing was thought much of then, concerts were given, probably by local
319
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
talent. But private houses were not very convenient for such meetings, and the subject of building a house suitable for their needs began to be agitated .* Feb. 19, 1813, a meeting was held to see what they would do, and the following agreement was entered into : -
"We the subscribers think it of great importance to erect a house for the purpose of convening the Union or Concert Lecture somewhere be- tween the Great bridge on the turnpike near Dea. John Smith's in Fran- cestown and Thomas Parker's in New Boston on the turnpike. We further think it expedient to appoint a meeting on Friday, Feb. 26, 1813, at the house of Isaiah Parker Innholder to choose a committee and make such arrangements as shall be thought proper to carry the same into effect."
The following names were subscribed to the agreement. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were from Lyndeborough : -
*Thomas Boardman *Joseph Epps, 2nd
*Daniel N. Boardman
Robert Holmes
*John Clark, 2nd
William Crombie
John Christie
*Israel Brown
*David Senter
*Aaron Whittemore
*Joseph Epps
Nathaniel Martin
Joshua Blanchard
Manley Butler
Joseph Wilson
James Ferguson
*Peter Clark, Jr.
Joseph French
*Ebenezer Hutchinson
*Osgood Hutchinson
Dole Butler
*Benj. Goodrich
*Charles Whitmarsh
At a meeting held Mar. 1, 1813, the following was adopted : -
"Whereas the Union Lectures (so called) have been kept up in this vicinity for several months past, and as we think they have a great ten- dancy to administer to our comfort, instruction, and edification, we are desirous to have them, and for the better accommodation for the same we think it expedient to erect a building for that purpose to stand on Mr. Ebenezer Hutchinsons land near the turnpike. Therefore we the sub- scribers do agree to pay the several sums affixed to our several names, in money, labor or any material that may be thought necessary for said building.
Manley Butler Labor $4.00 Nails $2.00 6.00
Dole Butler Labor and boards 5.00
*Rev. Frank G. Clark mentions this house in his Historical Address as follows: "At the suggestion of Rev. Moses Bradford of Francestown, the ministers of that town and of Lyndeborough, New Boston and Mont Vernon agreed to establish a Wednesday lec- ture at North Lyndeborough, to accommodate parts of the four towns adjoining. It was held in the afternoon every other Wednesday, and these four ministers were to preach in turn, the others as far as practicable to be present. At first it was given in private houses, then in Parker Hall. Then in 1813 a lecture house was built which was used about forty years. Out of this movement began the revival of 1812 and the neighbor- hood Sunday evening prayer meeting."
320
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Aaron Whittemore Labor
3.00
John Clark 2nd Labor $8.00 Nails $2.00 10.00
Thomas Hutchinson Work
8.00
Nathaniel Hutchinson Labor 4.00
William Dodge Labor 5.00
William Crombie 16 dollars in Lumber
16.00
Daniel Clark Labor
11.00
Nathan Fisher, Jr. Cash $5.00 Work $5.00
10.00
John Stanley Cash $5.00 Work $5.00
10.00
It is very evident that the above list of those who gave toward the building is not complete ; probably only the subscription of that meeting. At this meeting Ebenezer Hutchinson contrib- uted as follows : -
The subscriber hereby promises to give the use of a certain piece of land to set the above mentioned house upon, so long as it shall be occu- pied for the above-mentioned use. Ebenezer Hutchinson.
The building was erected that year. It was a large, barn-like structure with an unfinished interior, and the land on which it stood is now owned by John H. Goodrich. It served the pur- pose for which it was built for quite a number of years, but was finally torn down and carried to Mont Vernon and erected for a barn.
IN CONCLUSION.
At this day it is hard to analyze the religious convic- tions of our forefathers. Perhaps it is useless to try. The church records of Lyndeborough are not safe guides in such an undertaking; but that these men were sincere in their belief in and reliance on the Bible as a guide in affairs temporal and spiritual there can be no shadow of a doubt. Men and women living north and west of the mountain rode or walked three and four miles to attend divine worship. The inhabitants of "Bevins " or Perham Corner did the same. All living on the outskirts of the town traveled long distances, over wretchedly poor roads or no roads at all, to reach the meeting-house, and they did it too, through storms and snow as well as sunshine. The absence of any of the congregation for a Sunday or two was the cause of remark, and it may be added, sometimes got the absentee into trouble. These facts show the sincerity of the people in the value they placed upon church services.
In those early times ready money was very scarce and the settlers were poor. It was a hard struggle to obtain the com- inon necessaries of life for themselves and their increasing families. Luxuries were unthought of. That these men paid
321
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
as much as they did out of their meagre store of cash to build meeting-houses, and to support the church and minister, shows that they were willing to supplement their faith by work and self-denial. Believing they must watch the path their own feet trod, they also firmly believed that it was their duty to watch the pathway of their brethren lest they stumble ; and being human, mistakes and misunderstandings were often magnified into something that should be taken before the church for ad- justment. But this does not in the least detract from their magnificent courage and sublime faith in an immortality which made them endure privations and hardships with fortitude and without a murmur.
CHAPTER XIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS, CONTINUED.
REPAIRING THE MEETING-HOUSE, BY REV. D. DONOVAN.
The meeting-house had been built about twenty-five years, and had been used both as town hall and house of worship. The population of the town had increased so that an enlarge- ment of the accommodations was necessary, and doubtless the house needed touching up in order to freshen it and make it more attractive. The matter of repairs, therefore, began to be agitated. The town meeting of July 29, 1793, adjourned its session to Aug. 19, 1793, and chose a committee at the ad- journed meeting, consisting of Dea. Putnam, Lieut. Blanchard, Lieut. Lewis and Ebenezer Gardner, to make an estimate of the matter of repairing the meeting-house. The committee re- ported that
"There should be twelve pews made on the lower floor, in the follow- ing places, viz., Eight where the body seats are, and One against each of the end doors, and One in each stairway; and Eight pews in the front gallery ; also that there should be a porch built at the front of the meet- ing-house. The house was to be shingled, and painted a stone color, and the roof was to be a Spanish brown. Windows were to be made where the end doors were, new water tables made and the underpinning repaired .*
The report was accepted by the town, and Dr. Benjamin Jones, Deacon Ephraim Putnam and Capt. Benjamin Epes were chosen a committee to effect the work; and a vote was also passed to sell the pews at public vendue the 3rd of September next at the house of Major Daniel Gould at I o'clock P. M.
The sale of the pews was carried out and duly recorded. But other changes were made in the plans from time to time, which render a clear and positive statement of the repairs actually made somewhat difficult. But the work was finally completed, and the report of the expenses was presented by the committee and accepted by the town, May 28, 1795. More than $1, 100 was expended on the improvements, a sum which must have considerably burdened the people when money was very scarce
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.