USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > The story of the Old White Church, Plymouth, New Hampshire > Part 4
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
59
where they became active members of our church and Sunday School.
No. 16 was one of the pews that Deacon William W. Russell possessed and it was free for the ushers to fill.
This is the history of the wall pews on the north aisle. They bear the names of influential families, many of them no longer known in town.
THE WING PEWS
In either front corner were five pews, facing the sides of the pulpit numbered 70-74 on the right and 69-65 on the left. Along the walls, pews 74 and 65 remain as originally placed. As renovations for the pulpit progressed, the other wing pews were removed. Apparently in the beginning these pews were popular, perchance because they were near the stoves. After Arthur Livermore ceased to occupy pew 74, in 1868 Samuel Burns, a lawyer, then Mrs. Ira Coffin and finally Wm. W. Russell owned this pew.
No. 73 bears the name of Capt. David Webster and in 1868, Samuel C. Webster, then the Society.
Pew No. 72 belonged to Mrs. Thomas Clark. About 1840, Thomas Clark purchased the present Clark farm on Route 25. The colonial homestead was erected about 1808 by Col. Sam- uel Wells. Beyond the garden, at the base of the hill, the orig- inal frame house stands, removed when the present house was erected. Mr. Clark had been keeper of the toll gate tavern in West Andover on the 4th N. H. Turnpike. In her autobio- graphy that she dictated to her grandson, Mrs. Clark told about customs in that tavern that included entertainment for Hon. and Mrs. Daniel Webster, driving in their chaise to com- mencement at Dartmouth College.
Mrs. Clark is remembered for her wise training of her three step-children and her own eight. Without doubt her wing pew was occupied regularly until 1872 when this pew was removed.
60
Two daughters, Miss Martha and Miss Helen, as they were known in the community, participated in the village life of the Young Ladies Library Association, and the church, and Miss Helen assisted when the History of Plymouth was compiled. Today the Helen Clark Funds are legacies that purchase library books and renovations in the church property. A small girl once said that she wished to become like Miss Helen because she wore a black silk dress and drove a fat black horse.
On the south side of the pulpit, pew No. 69 belonged to William Currier, a farmer who lived on the Lower Intervale. In late life he became totally blind. The Society held the pew fin- ally. William W. Russell held No. 68.
No. 67 was purchased by John Keniston, great-grandfather of the family on Thurlow Street. He came to Plymouth from Campton in 1848 and became a director of the banks. Accord- ing to the facts that Mrs. Wilhelmina Keniston Harbert ex- plained, the son, Cyrus, disliked the glare of the light from the window that he faced, and he bought the next to the rear pew on the south side, an indication that Cyrus did not enjoy the conspicuous wing pew.
David Hobart, son of the pioneer Peter, moved from Beech Hill to Plymouth in 1811. He purchased Pew 66, but removed to Piermont in 1843. Then Simeon Sanborn and Simeon Moul- ton each purchased one half of this pew. Both men were born in Sanbornton. The former was a soldier in the War of 1812. He became a deacon of our church until 1876, when he removed to Campton. Joseph Miller Howe was the final owner, a mer- chant in town until 1885 when he moved to Vermont.
Deacon James Morrison owned Pew 65, and with his ten children, the family should have filled this extra long seat. He was a successful farmer and teamster for Russell & Webster Company. His daughter, Martha, married Charles Hobart, the brother of David who owned pew No. 66.
61
THE PEWS IN THE CENTRAL BLOCK
The front pew, No. 17, was removed, probably was never sold. No. 18 was one that Mr. N. P. Rogers bought. In 1868, John R. French was the owner, but the pew afterwards be- longed to the Society.
Deacon Alvah McQuesten owned pew No. 19 until he moved from town in 1867. The Society sold the pew to Mrs. Moody (Hobart) Page, sister of the Hobarts who sat in the wing pews. Her daughter, Mrs. George Washington Gore, in- herited the pew and her son, Moody Page Gore, the preserver of our lectern, and his wife, Effie Kibbey, were faithful atten- dants and workers in our church until the end of their lives.
William W. Russell sold Pew No. 20 to Giles Merrill, a wheelwright who removed to Rumney, and his heirs sold to Mr. George Punchard Cook, named for the popular pastor, as were a number of babies. Mr. Cook married the eldest daughter of Mrs. Moody Page. He was a deacon until he moved to Rumney to become post master in that town, in 1890.
Samuel Cummings Webster was the original owner of Pew 21, a grandson of Col. David, the pioneer, a graduate of Dart- mouth, lawyer, and legislator. He became speaker of the House and an Executive Councilor. He removed to Haverhill and died there. His son, Sam, was the successful merchant in Plymouth. Mrs. Mary E. (Ward) McQuesten next owned this pew. The famous business man, Cyrus Sargent, Sr., came to town in 1875 and purchased from his father-in-law the Nathaniel Rogers homestead, recently razed by the State. Mr. Sargent was an active citizen in both town and state. No. 21 became his prop- erty.
John Rogers sold No. 22 to Washington George, eminent citizen in town offices, deacon of the church, and in the business of settling estates. His heirs sold the pew to Dr. George H. Bowles, prominent banker. Mrs. Bowles adds a bit of local color
62
to our history. She relates about a small, black dog that shad- owed their Father Bowles and always accompanied him to church. If on a Sabbath, Father Bowles did not attend the ser- vice, then the dog followed Frank Russell and sat quietly in his pew.
Dr. Silas Wright Davis purchased No. 23 from Mr. Russell and occupied it until 1889. Then Mrs. Nathan Weeks' name is inserted on the chart in pencil. Mr. Nathan Weeks was the first president of the Pemigewasset National Bank, followed in this position by his son, Frederick, an honored citizen in this com- munity.
Mr. N. P. Rogers sold Pew 24 to William Gould Hull, a successful business man and town official and one of the his- torians of Plymouth.
On the original list, "Capt. E. Green" paid $75 for pew 25. Probably he was Ephraim Green, a blacksmith and inn owner. Another blacksmith from Sanbornton, who was elected deacon in 1878, was the last owner, Jason Clark.
Mr. Clark G. Batchelder bought No. 26 in 1836. About a century ago, Mr. Alexander G. Smythe erected his home on Highland Avenue, opposite the dormitories of the Teachers College. With Mr. Russell, he owned the pew. Mrs. Blanche B. Smith was his daughter. Mr. Davis B. Keniston of Camp- ton entered into partnership with Mr. Moses A. Batchelder in a men's clothing store. No. 26 became his property. Also, Mr. Keniston built his home on Highland Avenue and School Street, now the President's residence for the College, the home of Dr. Harold E. Hyde.
No. 27 belonged to Mr. Russell until after 1868, then the Page Family of Beech Hill purchased it. The name of Samuel T. Page was among the business men of town.
Richard Bartlett, son of an early deacon of our church, al- though living in Campton, yet he originally purchased No. 28
63
in 1836. He was foster parent to the boy, Henry W. Blair, after his parents died. Another Beech Hill resident, Hardy Merrill and son Lyman followed Mr. Bartlett, then Mr. Alfred Stanley, who was superintendent of the Fiber Mill at Livermore Falls in 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stanley participated in the church and community life and were missed when they were assigned to the Lincoln business of J. E. Henry & Son.
Pew 29 was one of Noah Cummings' holdings. He sold to George Washington Webster of Campton, followed by Charles A. Webster and finally by Mrs. Martha Shute.
David Merrill, mentioned previously as bass viol player, owned No. 30. He ran a saw mill on the Beech Hill Road. After his wife died, the Society claimed the pew.
The four rear pews, 31, 32, 33, 34, were taken apart in the renovations of 1868 to permit space for movement between the two aisles.
Beginning at the rear of the center block, No. 35 was first paid for by William Green, banker, and later the Society paid the taxes of ten dollars.
The same was true for No. 36 with William and then Frank Russell paying a twelve dollar tax when repairs were necessary and voted by the Society.
The same William Currier who owned the wing pew, No. 69, paid for No. 37. Later the Society sold it to James P. Dustin, who was from Bristol and served in the position of janitor at the Normal School.
Pew 38 was one that Leonard George bought in 1836. Hiram W. Merrill, father of Mrs. Emma Foss, a historically minded member of our church, paid the tax in 1868. He was killed by a train at the railroad station. Then Plummer Fox purchased the pew.
No. 39 has about the same early history. Leonard George, then J. C. Bradbury, probably not in town too long to be re-
64
membered, then Plummer Fox were the owners. This has been the Foster pew. As long as health permitted, Edwin J. Foster and his wife and Mrs. George Foster were such regular at- tendants, that their absence indicated serious trouble to one of them. Mr. Foster might be sitting in the choir where his mellow bass voice was enjoyed by the congregation. To see his nephew leading the choir is especially gratifying to the older members. Mr. George Foster was ready to assist on committees and was especially active for the Plymouth hospital. The two wives and daughter Marian were among the reliable workers for every good cause.
Mr. Russell sold No. 40 to James Miller, a saddler by trade who died in 1849 and Joseph Clark of Campton paid the twenty dollar tax in 1868. For many years, this has been called, "The Minister's Pew."
As has been mentioned, No. 41 has the outstanding record. Just previous to the Revolution, Joseph Reed bought a farm on Lower Intervale. His son Joseph and grandson William and great-grandson Henry occupied the homestead and all were ac- tive members of the church. The latter purchased the pew in 1836 and two more generations, Deacon Clarence and daughter Louise represent their ancestors in 1957.
No. 42 has a remarkable heritage. Jonathan Cummings orig- inally paid $75 for this pew. He was an active officer in the town but was especially noted as a surveyor. He made the maps of Plymouth for the Carrigan map of New Hampshire in 1816, and a map of the town to locate the lot of each proprietor.
James McQuesten, a lawyer who lived in the N. P. Rogers residence after Mr. Rogers removed to Concord, paid the twenty dollar tax on this pew in 1868. His daughter married Cyrus Sargent, mentioned in connection with Pew 21. Their daughter, Louise, while on a trip abroad, met and later married the son of the wealthy Rittler Family of Austria. They lived in
65
a magnificent schloss on an estate where their four sons and a daughter were born. Disaster came when Hitler's army con- quered Austria. The estate was occupied by Nazi followers and Mrs. Rittler and her daughter fled for safety to Plymouth while her husband remained on his estate to claim whatever of his property it was possible to retain. Occasionally the daughter returns to occupy a place in this family pew. Mr. John May- nard purchased the pew from Mr. Sargent. During several dec- ades Mr. and Mrs. Maynard were constant attendants on Sab- bath mornings and today, Mrs. Edward Maynard continues this family custom regularly.
Col. Frederick A. W. Robie, a tailor, bought Pew 43. He was a member of the Church Committee, the militia, and fire company in the town. His daughter Sally and his heirs always retained possession of this pew.
Russell Cox of Holderness owned No. 44, doubtless one of the Cox Family that was of the orthodox persuasion and did not conform to the Episcopal denomination that Samuel Liver- more established across the river. Later, in 1886, David Miller Tenney came from Groton and purchased this pew. He became prominent in town politics and in the Fair Association.
No. 45 was the half pew that Leonard George bought in 1836. Then Charles Hazeltine, a relative of Parson Ward, paid the tax of twenty dollars in 1868. His family resided in the "Emerson House" on Highland Street, erected by Enoch Ward. Mr. Hazeltine was interested in the finances of the church and served on that committee. He was also one of the founders of the Plymouth Fire Company.
The Webster-Russell Company bought Pew 46 where Dea- con Sceva Speare may have occupied a place after he accepted a position in the store in 1887. Twelve years after, Mr. Speare became a salesman for Brown, Durrell Company of Boston, wholesale dry goods merchants. He prospered and established
66
his own stores in Nashua, N. H. and Haverhill, Mass. and be- came an officer in the Indian Head Bank of Nashua. Mr. Speare did not forget his years and friends in Plymouth. To his generosity, the initial gift of $50,000 to build the Sceva Speare Memorial Hospital bears credit to his name.
Pews 47 and 48 belonged to the Society until Miss Sally Perkins returned from Boston, before 1868, to care for her aged parents. She purchased one half of No. 47 and paid the tax of four dollars. No memories of Miss Perkins remain yet she leaves a record of filial devotion and loyalty to the church. No. 48 was removed in 1868.
THE PEWS ALONG THE SOUTH WALL
On the south side of the aisle, the front pew, No. 49, was purchased by Capt. Daniel Pillsbury who left town for Camp- ton in 1835 where he ran a saw and grist mill. Next owner was David Hobart, probably the grandson of the original propri- etor, Col. David Hobart. When he went to Piermont, Mr. Gil- more Houston bought this pew for $15, its value on the 1868 tax list. He was a harness maker for sixty years in town, served as selectman, deputy sheriff and was esteemed a "reliable" citi- zen.
Owner of Pew 50, William Crawford gave his life in the Civil War. David George, the next customer, removed to Went- worth and Mr. Russell bought the pew.
The original price of No. 51 was $75, paid by Samuel D. George who went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and "Wid" Isaac Ward bought the pew for $35, but paid a tax of $14 in 1868. Note that while the valuation decreased the taxes assessed were 40% rate.
Pew 52 preserves the memory of an eminent family. Mr. Moor Russell paid the price of $80 for this desirable space and held it until his death in 1851. His granddaughter, Mrs. C. W.
67
Edmunds, inherited it and sold to Nathaniel Draper, a glove manufacturer and merchant. His son Jason F. Draper was one of the founders of The Draper-Maynard Company. Both he and Mrs. Draper were active in the work of the church and constantly occupied this pew. In 1956 their daughter, Mrs. Mary D. Lyman died, the last of this prominent family to be known in Plymouth.
Noah Cummings claimed Pew 53; later his daughter-in-law owned it. Calvin Clark, a farmer in Campton, purchased it in 1874, a different branch from the Clarks on the Rumney Road.
On the 1836 list, for Pew 54 Mr. Russell claimed possession for his brother-in-law, Benjamin Edmunds, a successful mer- chant until 1842 when he went to Brooklyn, N. Y. James L. Rogers, son of the well known family of physicians, bought this pew. He became transportation manager when the railroad reached Plymouth. Another railroad clerk, Charles W. Whittier and later the clerk of the Pemigewasset House, George W. Morse, were the last owners. Deacon Ernest B. Hardy and Harry Huckins are more recent occupants.
Pew 55 was one of the Leonard George purchases. Arthur Ward, great-grandson of Parson Ward paid the tax in 1868. He was a merchant and glove manufacturer until 1878. Then a famous name appears on the list. Woodbury Fogg Langdon, a construction engineer for the Plymouth Water Works and ben- efactor to Plymouth for whom Langdon Street is named. Wil- liam R. Brackett, a railroad executive, was the last occupant.
Mr. George also owned No. 56 and sold to Mrs. Betsey Webster, widow of Walter R. Webster, son of Col. David, the tavern keeper. Their daughter, Louisa A. Hall was the last owner. Miss Nettie M. Armstrong, church clerk and historian, sat close to the wall in this pew for many years.
When the author of this booklet and her husband came to the Normal School they were assigned to Pew 57, the property
68
of Lawyer Alvin F. Wentworth who did not attend services. The previous owner was Mr. Joseph A. Dodge, general manager of Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad until 1883. Stephen Morse originally owned both No. 57 and 58. He was a farmer in West Plymouth. Mrs. E. G. Dearborn, widow of Benjamin Dearborn paid the 1868 tax and her son-in-law, Plummer Fox signed for her heirs in 1893. Mr. Fox was a prosperous mer- chant and his daughter, Mrs. Harl Pease recalls that her father frequently paid $25 to owners of pews who were in need of ready cash.
Mr. Russell sold Pew 59 to Mrs. Mary Cox Blair. Her hus- band was a prominent citizen on Lower Intervale, a state sen- ator and judge of probate. Then a hatter, Timothy Eastman, who was in business from 1824 to 1869, owned the pew, another of Mr. Fox's later purchases.
Capt. Daniel Pillsbury, a lumberman in Campton in 1836, paid Mr. Russell for No. 60. Mrs. Lewis S. Hill paid a tax of $14 on it in 1868, and Mr. Fox again became owner of another pew.
Pew 61 introduces a new name, James R. Bill, who pur- chased it from Mr. Russell before 1868. Another owner was Thomas F. Glynn who came from Watertown, Mass. to become a glove manufacturer. Finally, Charles A. Cook, oldest brother of Mrs. Flora A. Chase, is listed on the 1893 tax paper. Mr. Cook was a warden of the Society and represented the church in its financial affairs with the town when the Society sold its land for a part of the Village Common, about 1870. Mr. Wil- liam C. Thompson first owned Pew 62 and later it was the prop- erty of the Society.
Noah Cummings in 1836 and Cyrus Keniston in 1868 owned Pew 63. Mr. John Keniston, son of Cyrus, was organist and superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. He was a surveyor for the town and doubtless many of the early
69
landmarks were known to him that are now lost to the town records.
The rear pew, 64 has the same history as No. 62.
In the 1836 plan, there are eight pews that were probably in the gallery, four on either side of the space reserved for the choir. One of these was owned by Aaron Currier, of Lower In- tervale, great-grandfather of Mrs. Charles Bowles. The other seven were listed to John Rogers, Mr. Russell and Mr. Hazel- tine. Their prices were $35 and $40, the same as rear pews in value.
While this review of the history of the pews may seem un- interesting reading, yet these names reveal the origin of the people who established Plymouth. Either English or Scotch- Irish emigrants were the ancestors of these families who cleared the forests and the boulders to cultivated fields, dragged ma- chinery for saw and grist mills up the valleys, learned the tan- ning process for the Plymouth Buck Gloves, founded an acad- emy for higher learning, established courts for Grafton County and, most important of all, determined the religious standards in the beginning that have persisted nearly 200 years.
Here is also food for thought. Only two family names, Reed and Martin, remain of the original pew owners. An analysis of the lists of lawyers, physicians, merchants, glove manufactur- ers, and millers indicates the growth that followed the pioneers who cleared the forests from the farms. Names of men who par- ticipated in both state and national legislative offices, also in railroad and mail services prove that the church was the center that influenced the outstanding character of the town of Plym- outh.
70
Chapter VII WOMEN'S SOCIETIES
To understand the status of women during past centuries, open the Bible to I Corinthians 14:34-35. Property rights for married women were non-existent. Consult the wills of ances- tors to read that unless a husband bequeathed to his widow a room in his home and the right to walk across his land and into his barn, his heirs could deny her these privileges. No piece of furniture or even the linens that she spun and wove belonged to a widow. If a legacy was willed to a wife, the husband was the legal custodian of the property of his wife. Her signature was not honored by the courts. A widow did not control her own children. Either the father before his death, or the court, appointed a guardian for each child. Not until the women of New Hampshire in 1911 persuaded the legislature to pass the "Equal Guardianship Bill" did a wife hold legal rights to her own children.
These facts are mentioned to adjust one's thoughts about the religious, legal, and financial position of women before the twentieth century. Membership in churches was permitted, yet the old adage, so often quoted by the late Maude Hardy, pre- vailed: "Let them keep silence and shet mouth." We doubt if women obeyed, for even the repeated admonitions by St. Paul in his letters proves that women of the early churches expressed their opinions aloud.
Soon after the beginning of the nineteenth century, the lost
71
MRS. WILLIAM WALLACE RUSSELL (Susan Carleton Webster)
Among the photographs in the Old Trunk was this of Mrs. Russell who was born in Salisbury, N. H. on June 3, 1804 and married on November 9, 1826. She lived in the Russell House on Highland Street and was the mother of seven children. Her name appears on the lists of members of the organizations of the women of the church until her death on September 15, 1875, a representative woman of the period when the church was established in the village in 1836.
72
souls of non-Christians both at home and abroad became the concern of Protestant denominations. The American Board of Congregationalism was founded at Bradford, Massachusetts, and the Baptist missions began at Williams College. Here was a field in which women began to function. Mrs. George H. Bowles can describe how her grandparents were sent to the South as missionaries from Amherst, New Hampshire.
Within the old trunk were record books of the first mission- ary society in Plymouth, "The Female Cent Society," organized while the Sabbath services were held in the meetinghouse on Ward Hill, on August 5th, 1830, with the minister's wife, Mrs. George Punchard, as its first president, and a membership of fifty-five women on its rolls. The meeting was held at the home of Mrs. William C. Thompson, who became a church member that year and was elected the first treasurer of the new Society. Her husband was the prominent lawyer in Plymouth.
The constitution is worthy of copying: "We live in an inter- esting period when Christians have been aroused from the slumbers of ages & are coming to the help of the Lord, and when females, constrained by the love of the Savior, are minis- tering of their substance and doing what they can to promote His blessed cause. At such a time, with such examples and such motives before us, indifference would be inexcusable.
"It becomes all to come forward and contribute to this glor- ious cause even if they could give no more than the widow's two mites which is presented with pure motives, will be accep- ted by our gracious Redeemer. With a view to act more sys- tematically in aiding His cause, and to present to Him our humble offerings, we whose names are subscribed, agree to form a society by the name of the Plymouth Cent Society and to adopt the following Rules or Constitution.
"Each member shall contribute to the rate of one cent a week which shall be paid at the annual meeting.
73
"2nd. The Society shall meet on the second Tuesday of May annually, at which time the officers shall be chosen, vis a President and Treasurer.
"3rd. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings and call special meetings when she deems it necessary.
"4th. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a list of members, to receive their assessments and any donations pre- sented to the Society. To keep an account of all monies re- ceived and transmit the same to the Treasurer of the New Hampshire Missionary Society unless otherwise appropriated by the Society.
"5th. Each meeting shall be opened and closed with prayer.
"6th. These rules may be altered by a vote of the Society at an annual meeting."
The last record in the book is dated 1882 with twenty-six names on the roll. On the last pages are lists of the amounts of the annual collections for Home Missions beginning with 1830 and ending with 1865. There are two columns: first the Cent Society with a total of $1130.03, and the Congregational Col- lections with $1891.36. If a little mathematical reckoning is made, one finds that during thirty-three years these women paid their pledges faithfully, since the fifty-two cents per year for sixty-six members amounts to $1132.56.
These women of 125 years ago were bravely breaking prece- dents when they pledged their modest penny per week. Without doubt, believe it or not, many of them did not possess that amount of cash. When the annual meeting occurred in May they were obliged to humbly ask for the fifty-two cents from their husbands, unless from the egg money which many bart- ered for groceries they might accumulate a few cents, or from some other small shopping they might save their pledge. To women of today, these may seem impossible ideas, yet a long memory is not mistaken.
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.