USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 33
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DEACONS.
Those who served the church as its deacons were David Put- nam, the first person selected for that office, who served two different periods ; others who held the office in the order named were Samuel Hartshorn, Jr., Nathan Barnes, John Hartshorn, David Putnam, Jr., and Samuel S. Cummings. At his first election, the latter declined the office : but several years after he was again chosen and served till his death. David Putnam, Jr., who now holds the office, has rendered the longest service, since Jan. 31, 1873, and "won a good standing and great bold- ness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
CLERKS.
The clerks have been Daniel Cram, David Putnam, Thomas Kidder, John Hartshorn and David Putnam, Jr., who has also rendered the longest service as clerk.
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THE CHURCH'S CHARACTER AND STANDING.
Though the church has never been financially strong, it is faithful to its pecuniary obligations, and usually prompt in meeting its current expenses. It is free from debt, united and benevolent, and occupies a good vantage ground for spiritual work. Under divine guidance and blessing it has a prospect of much usefulness.
AID FROM STATE CONVENTION.
In its early years the church relied mainly on its own re- sources for the support of preaching. The Rev. John Wood- bury became pastor in 1838 and the State Convention aided in his support. He remained with the church but one year. They seem not to have received aid again until Rev. E. J. Whitte- more became pastor in 1871, and from that time on they con- tinued to receive aid until 1888. Then, through the liberality of the members in general, and the special assistance of brother Charles Wilder, the church again returned to the plan of self- support, a return in no way distasteful. Mr. Wilder at his death left a generous bequest to the church. Pending the settlement of his estate, the church has again received generous assistance from the Baptist State Convention.
REPAIRS OF CHURCH EDIFICE.
It will be remembered that the meeting-house was dedicated in 1836. From that time till 1863, hardly anything had been done to it to improve its condition. It stood on the plot now occupied by the railroad station, but so close to the highway which runs east and west that sometimes careless teamsters de- faced it with their carts.
In 1863 J. H. Tarbell, Esq., gave the church in exchange for that lot the one on which their meeting-house now stands and further, assisted them in moving the building. The change was an advantage, the house was slightly raised upon good under- pinning, nice stone steps were placed at the entrance, and its whole appearance much improved.
A few years later Rev. Joseph Pollard, who had supplied the desk for several weeks, offered the church $200 if they would raise a like sum and expend it in repairs. The offer was thank- fully accepted and a ladies' circle was formed and commenced collecting funds. Their enthusiasm infected others, who as- sisted liberally. Mr. Luther Cram gave lumber for the belfry and E. B. Badger, Esq., a summer visitor at the time, gave the
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fine vane to surmount it. The work proceeded slowly, however, as the funds could be obtained. Mr. J. H. Tarbell and son gave the bell, and when the repairs were all finished it was found that $1,700 had been expended, largely called forth by brother Pollard's generous offer.
Owing, however, to this esteemed brother's protracted sick- ness and lamented death about that time, the church accepted but one hundred dollars of the money. They hold his memory in affectionate and grateful remembrance.
Again, in 1887, quite a complete alteration was made in the interior of the house. The gallery was removed, and the entry which was under it was included in the audience room, though the seatings were not increased. A porch was added in 1888, and the next year Mr. J. H. Tarbell had the spire built at his own expense. He also bequeathed the church three hundred dollars for the erection of a vestry under the main building. To this sum Mrs. E. C. Tarbell and her son, Walter S., added each one hundred dollars, and in 1891 the work of building the vestry commenced. The church was raised six feet above its old foundation and the work advanced as far as the funds would permit. To avoid a debt, only a ladies' room was finished at first, and for three or four years our midweek meetings were held in this. But in January, 1897, the whole was completed, and the entire cost of improvements since 1887 must have been somewhat in excess of two thousand dollars.
THE OWNERSHIP OF HOUSE DOUBTED.
Doubts have sometimes been expressed by outside parties whether the meeting-house was a Baptist or a union house. The doubt probably arose from the peculiar situations in which the church organization has a few times been placed. A state- ment in regard to these will not here be out of place.
Soon after the erection of the house, the Universalists in the vicinity secured a pastor to preach for them alternate Sundays for a year. The hall in which they held their services was un- comfortably warm in summer, and hence they sought the privi- lege of using the house a share of the time when it was not needed by the church. This privilege was cheerfully granted. It was only a fitting courtesy, for the Universalists as individu- als had liberally assisted in building it. But as is frequently said of dwellings, " no house was ever yet large enough for two families," so it may as truly be said, perhaps, that no meeting-
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
house was ever built capable of satisfying two diverse church organizations or denominations. There was some friction in consequence of the arrangement. Very likely some people may have thought the house a union house, and some others may have wished it so. Sometimes it is an easy step to assume as a right what is granted as a courtesy. Doubtless there was a con- flict of beliefs as well as of economic interests; and so there was more or less contention as to the real proprietorship.
In 1845, also, after the organization of the so-called Christian church, some of its adherents assumed a similar right to the use of the house. A number of these were members of the First Baptist society, and had a voice in permitting the church prop- erty then in their custody to be used according to their prefer- ence or whim. They seemed to exercise their power perversely, for they let the house to the Christian body one-half of the time, and twelve pews all of the time for a sum little more than suffic- ient to pay the hire of the sexton. In this manœuvring the Baptists either had their hands tied, or decided to let matters temporarily alone.
At a still later day members of the Baptist society who had little sympathy with the church, made an attempt to buy and get control of a majority of the pews, with the idea of permitting any denomination which they chose to favor at the time the use of it. This scheme was also frustrated, as they thought, through Divine favor and sagacious leadership. They have, thus, managed and controlled their house from the first, and with full right, as may appear from the original subscription paper circulated for building it. A copy of this follows : -
"Lyndeborough Feb. 20, 1832.
We the subscribers agree to pay to the Committee of the First Baptist Church & Society in Lyndeborough such sums of money & other articles as are hereinafter affixed to our names respectively, to be used & ex- pended by said Committee for the purpose of erecting a convenient meet- ing-house for the sole use and behoof of the First Baptist Church in said Lyndeborough forever ; said house to be located on the new road near Mr. Ebenezer Pearsons', hereby binding ourselves, our heirs, executors & as- signs to the faithful fulfillment of the same ; In witness whereof we here- unto set our names & subscribe the following sums."
The names which follow are those of persons prominent in the community, who knew what they wanted and stated their purpose clearly and unmistakably. There was no simulation or duplicity in their language. Throughout their course they seem to have
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
quietly held to their legal right to their own house as exclusive and indefeasible.
THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.
The charters of the town all made provision for the support of the ministry. The minister was to be Orthodox, and all taxa- ble inhabitants were assessed for his support, however they might differ from him in religious belief, and were required to pay their rates. But about the year 1819 a law was enacted which permitted every man to pay his minister rate for the sup- port of any minister whom he chose. They must, however, notify the selectmen of their purpose in order to be excused from the accustomed tax. (See p. 294.)
In accordance with the above law, we find on the Lyndebor- ough tax-book for 1819 the statement : "The following persons have produced their certificates from the Baptist Society that they are regular members of the same, and are therefore exempt by law from paying toward the support of Rev. Nathaniel Mer- rill, viz., Samuel Pearson, Samuel Hartshorn, John Wellman, Jr., Jacob Flinn, Israel Burnham, Parker Burnham, Eli Holt, Moses Pearson, William Richardson, Jr., Solomon Cram, Samuel Elingwood, Ira S. Elingwood, Levi Curtis."
This, we take it, indicates clearly that a Baptist society, suf- ficient for legal requirements, existed at the time named. This society seems to have supported preaching in some of the school districts of the town a number of years before making any effort to form a church. In the "Farmer's Cabinet " for April 23, 1831, may be found the following : -
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN, that we, MOSES PERSONS, SAMUEL HARTSHORN, DAVID PUTMAN and our as- sociates have formed ourselves into a Society to be known by the name of the FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY IN LYNDEBOROUGH, agreeably to an act of the Legislature, passed July 3, 1827.
SAMUEL HARTSHORN, Clerk. Lyndeborough, Mar. 29, 1831.
The society assisted greatly in building the meeting-house, and continued its work for about thirty years. The names of many citizens in this part of the town are enrolled among its members, and by its system of legal requirements it rendered important service to the church in its business and finances.
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
ITS SUCCESSORS.
In August, 1873, it seemed necessary to form a new society, to have charge of the parsonage and provide for other necessi- ties. This society was constituted wholly of the church mem- bers, and was consequently smaller than the old organization. It has had the advantage, however, of having greater unity and no less efficiency than the former. This organization in 1897 transferred its responsibility to the church and adjourned sine die.
LADIES' SOCIETIES.
In 1836, a young ladies' society was formed to raise funds for the support of preaching. It was called the "Young Ladies' Dorcas Society," and at one time numbered about thirty mem- bers. The president was Miss Submit R. Pearsons, and the sec- retary, Miss Susanna B. Putnam. This society assisted greatly the object for which it was formed. But in the trying time of the Elder Hutchinson movement, it become extinct.
THE LADIES' CIRCLE.
The present "Ladies' Circle" sprang into existence when the first repairs on the church were contemplated in 1863. Mrs. Susanna P. Hartshorn and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Mariette D. Putnam, were prime movers in organizing it, and at that time nearly every family in the place was represented in its member- ship. It still continues its work of procuring funds in various ways to assist the church wherever the need is greatest. Their success on the occasion of the celebration of the centennial an- niversary of The Lafayette Artillery Co., Sept. 9, 1904, gave them fresh inspiration for continuing their good work. The last premium paid for the renewal of the insurance on the church edifice came largely from their treasury.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday school grew up along with the church. In 1835, it reported sixty-five pupils and seven teachers, with Deacon David Putnam as superintendent. In 1863, John Hartshorn was . superintendent, and there were forty-three scholars and six teachers reported. In 1876 more than 100 scholars were re- ported, and for more than ten years after that the attendance re- mained the same. It was prosperous for several years under the superintendence of Mr. L. P. Jenson, and still continues
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
active, though in late years, its number has considerably de- creased, due in part to the decrease of population in the place. It has a library of more than five hundred volumes, many of which are well adapted for Sunday schools. The Sunday school library, we think, has been used less since the founding of our town's public library.
BENEFACTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHURCH.
The church has received many tokens of regard, not only from its own members, but also from others who at various times became interested in its success. One of the first favors from people out-of-town was a nice Bible and five dollars in money from Mrs. Farwell of Cambridge, Mass. Mr. E. B. Badger of Boston gave forty dollars on the first repairs of the meeting-house, and also gave the handsome table and rich com- munion service. He further gave one hundred dollars towards payment for the parsonage, and the once fine weather vane which now surmounts our church spire. On the occasion of our reunion, in 1887, he kindly forwarded to the church his check for twenty-five dollars. Thus, for many years has he shown inter- est, awakened first while a summer visitor in the homes of some of its members. Matthew Bolles, Esq., of Boston also gave one hundred dollars towards securing the parsonage. Mr. William R. Putnam and also his brother, Professor Daniel Putnam of Ypsilanti, Michigan, generously remembered the church at its reunion in 1887 ; and the former presented us his check for fifty dollars, Dec. 23, 1895, to aid in finishing our vestry. He has also kindly remembered the church in a bequest not at present available.
Besides these the church has received legacies from the friends named below :
Mrs. Isaac Low, Greenfield $ 100
Mrs. Isaac Foster, Greenfield IOO
Mr. Joel H. Tarbell, Lyndeborough 300
Mr. Orrin Cram 100
Mr. Charles Wilder, Peterborough
5,000
Mr. Byron Putnam of Lyndeborough (conditioned on keeping his burial lot in repair) 300
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
About the same time that the Baptists commenced holding meetings, the Universalists began to secure preaching. Both parties expressed dissent from the preaching of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, and in much the same way. But the Universalists and
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
other dissenters largely outnumbered the Baptists. In fact, it is said, that those of Universalist sentiments from the three towns, Lyndeborough, Temple and Wilton, united in the support of preaching for a time, and that some very able preachers of that faith were sometimes secured to hold service for them. Their first meetings were held either in private dwellings or in the hall over the store.
The town tax book for the year 1819 has the record that several persons were that year exempted from taxation "on account of their religious sentiment." Among these were Andrew Harwood, Thomas Bradford, Gideon Cram, Joseph Cram, James Cram, Jr., James L. Clark, Daniel Putnam, Israel Putnam, Eli Curtis, Jr., Ebenezer Russell, Thomas Boffee and Nathan Fish. Some of these were men of property and influential citizens. They had a common sympathy with the Baptists, on the ground that all had been paying taxes for the support of preaching by Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, from whom some differed in one way and some another. Hence, the very same copy of "The Farmer's Cabinet " in which the formation of " The First Baptist Society " was announced, con- tains, also, the following :
PUBLIC NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that we DANIEL PUTNAM, JOSEPH CRAM and GIDEON CRAM, and our associates, have formed ourselves into a Religious Society, to be known by the name of " The First Universalian Society of Lyndeborough, and that we shall claim all the privileges that any other religious society can claim under the Constitution and Laws of the State of New Hampshire.
DANIEL PUTNAM Clerk of said Society.
Lyndeborough, April 4, 1831.
The Universalist people materially assisted the Baptists in building their meeting-house in 1832. It remained in an un- finished condition some little time, but was dedicated Oct. 8, 1836. Sometime between the dates given above, the Universa- list people had obtained a preacher to hold services with them " one Sabbath in four for six months." Before this engage- ment expired, he was engaged as preacher "one half of the time for a year." I use the preacher's language, who wrote : " We occupy a hall near the Baptist meeting-house. During the sultry sabbaths of summer, this hall was filled ; and so oppressive was the heat,
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
upon one occasion in particular, that we requested and obtained permis- sion to occupy the Baptist house in the afternoon."*
Many of the Baptists attended the service, and listened to doctrine at variance with their views, which provoked ill feel- ing. The two could not walk together, for they disagreed, and the Baptists recoiled from allowing their house to be used for the spread of views so contrary to their own. Thus, unfriendly feeling arose, which possibly hurt the influence of the church, and within a decade prepared the way for the Elder Hutchin- son division.
The Rev. C. S. Hussey, the preacher above quoted, seems to have been a man of good ability. He came to South Lynde- borough to live, and occupied a house which then stood on the ground now occupied by the cottage of Mrs. Dorcas A. Holt. He taught school a few terms here in District No. 3, and was here when the Baptist meeting-house was dedicated. He re- moved from town soon after that event, and is said to have gone to the State of Maine.
The Universalist society had commenced preparations to build a parsonage on the land now occupied by the summer cottage of Mrs. Clough of Lynn, Mass. This work was under- taken for Mr. Hussey's benefit. His departure disheartened the project, and the place and building materials collected on it were sold to the heirs of Major William Richardson, who built the house which is now occupied by Mrs. Clough. No Universalist preaching has since been maintained.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
About the year 1844, there came to South Lyndeborough a preacher of the Christian connection whose name was G. W. Hutchinson. He commenced holding meetings which were largely attended and seem to have interested many of the people. The meetings were held in the Baptist meeting-house, and several members of the church became constant attendants upon the services. Some of the members of the First Baptist Society, also, were so carried away with the new order of things that they seemed ready to transfer the church property or meeting-house to the new congregation. Such was the suc- cess of this movement that on the 23rd of April, 1845, the con- gregation met at the South Lyndeborough meeting-house to see what could be done about organizing a church. Elder Hutcli- inson opened the meeting with prayer, followed by remarks
* From " The Star in the East," Concord, N. H., Dec. 10, 1836.
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
suited to the occasion. He was chosen moderator, and Ezra Dane, clerk pro tempore. After ascertaining who wished to unite in forming a church, and whether those so wishing were in full fellowship with each other, they proceeded to organiza- tion. The constituent members numbered thirteen, whose names follow :
John F. Holt Ebenezer Pearson Elizabeth Johnson
Matthew Gray Ezra Dane Abigail Holt
Reuben Dutton Mary Karr Abigail Pearson
Obed M. Goldthwait
Phebe Goldthwaite Sarah H. Floyd
James M. Floyd.
John F. Holt was chosen deacon and Ezra Dane clerk. The church thus constituted voted to receive and dismiss members by majority vote. They also
"Voted to receive Elder Hutchinson as member of this church, and, Voted to receive Elder Hutchinson as Pastor of this church."
The church continued its meetings for about five years, and seems to have received a number of members to its fellowship, one of whom in later life has won a wide and worthy reputation as professor and educator in the state of Michigan, viz., Daniel Putnam, A.M., LL.D.
Ezra Dane was church clerk till Mar. 17, 1850, at which time Joel Tarbell became his successor, and signed letters of dis- mission for both him and Elder Hutchinson to unite with the Christian church in East Andover. The record of the dismissal and recommendation of Ezra Dane to the East Andover church is the last entry on the church book.
The organization could hardly be otherwise than troublesome to the Baptist church, which was at the time sufficiently dis- turbed by internal affairs, as may be seen by a reference to the latter's history.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF LYNDEBOROUGH.
It is a source of regret that our town has not had educational facilities equal to those of some of her neighbors. Yet, despite . her deficiency in this respect, several of her sons have gone forth and occupied noble positions among their fellow-men. Their success may have resulted from the stimulus imparted to them by parents who prized a liberal education, but were themselves unable to obtain it, though their love for it never faltered. But, even in the early records, a commendable appre- ciation of the value of schools is manifested.
The warrant for the annual meeting in 1770 asked the town to consider whether they will hire a schoolmistress, and what sum they will raise for a school .* This called attention to the need that was felt for it. And, even though the matter was then negatived, a vote was passed at the next annual meetingt to sell the school lot to the highest bidder, and appropriate the money for the support of a school, and George Gould, Benjamin Cram, and David Badger were chosen a committee to effect the sale. On the 6th of June following, voted to hire a school kept and to raise £12, L. M., for the same, and chose Deacon Ephraim Put- nam, William Carson, Jacob Cram, William Barron and Josiah Abbott the committee to carry out the vote.
In 1772 they decided to have a school, and voted £15 for its support, and chose five men, viz., Deacon Ephraim Putnam Robert Badger, William Carson, John Kidder and Nathan Pear- son the committee to provide for and take care of it.#
The town voted forty dollars for the support of a school in 1773, and the next year {12 was voted for the purpose. §
In 1775, the town voted "to raise £13, 6s., 8 pence, L. M., together with the interest of the money " received for the school lot, for the support of a school, and chose Edward Bevens, Jere- miah Carleton, Dea. Putnam, Jr., Andrew Fuller, Dea. Badger, Joseph Ellinwood, William Thompson and Capt. Spaulding a School Committee. The school lot No. 126, situated in the northeast part of the town, was sold to Mr. John Clark for £67, Ios., by William Carson, James Boutwell and Amos Whitte- more, committee.
*T. R., Vol. I, p. 58. +T. R., 1, 76. ĮP. 84. §P. 91, 98.
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Voted in 1776 to raise {12 for the support of a school .* Let it be borne in mind that war was then raging, and that money was getting very scarce among our rugged hills. Yet the usual sum was appropriated for school purposes.
The year 1777 formed a marked era in our town, not only be- cause of the bravery of her men at Bennington and Saratoga, but also because of their noble record at home. On Apr. 8, this year, a vote was passed to divide the town into districts, and allow each district its proportion of the money raised.t The work was assigned to a committee consisting of Capt. Levi Spaulding, Mr. Eleazer Woodward and Mr. William Carson.
Mar. 10, 1778, the town voted to hire a man a year to teach school in four places.# On May 4 following, they voted to omit hiring a man as was before decided, and to raise £100, to be divided among the eight districts in the usual manner.
The next year§ they hired a man to teach in eight parts of the town, and sufficient money was assessed to pay him for his services.
At the annual meeting, 1780, it was voted to have a school kept and divide the town into seven districts in which to keep it ; and the selectmen were appointed to make the division, and " provide a proper school-master"; and the school was to be free to the children and servants of all the lawful inhabitants of the town.
The next year, 1781, they voted one hundred pounds, such as was lawful money in 1775, to be divided proportionally to the seven districts, school to be kept an equal time in each, till the money is expended, and the whole town is to have liberty to send to any district where school was keeping.||
In 1782, voted forty pounds for a school, the money to be laid out in the same manner as last year. " In 1783 ** one hundred pounds were appropriated, to be disposed of in the same manner as last year ; and in 1784,it fifty pounds were voted to be simi- larly expended. A like sum was voted for 1785, to be expended in a like manner, and so till 1787, fifty pounds were voted each year, and the custom of distributing it equally in the several districts was kept up.##
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