USA > Vermont > Windham County > Marlboro > The history of the town of Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont > Part 8
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1. An election sermon delivered before his Excellency the Governor, Lieut. Governor, the Honorable Council, and House of Representatives of the State of Vermont, assembled at Man- chester, Oct. 10, 1782.
2. A sermon delivered at a Freeman's meeting in Marl- borough, Sept. 1, 1789.
3. A sermon at the funeral of Jesse Cook, Esq., in Wilming- ton, Vt., Feb. 16, 1790.
4. A sermon to the young people of Marlborough, May 31, 1809.
5. A sermon at the ordination of the Rev. Ira Mather Olds, in Sullivan, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1810.
"The foregoing sketch is but a meager tribute to the memory" of the excellence of the man. However, to intimate that he was devoid of defects would be to deny the doctrines he preached as he dwelt with so much clearness upon the total depravity of the whole human family. He too shared in the corruptions of man incident to the fall from a state of holiness to a state of sin, but he had the happiness above most men of shielding his blemishes from a prominence in the gaze of the public eye.
In his last sickness which was a fever and of short duration, he was heard to say that a sick bed was a poor place to prepare for eternity, that he believed as he had preached and was not afraid to trust himself in the hands of God. Thus passed away this man of God in the maturity of his ministerial work and in the height of his usefulness, leaving a deeply afflicted family and a dearly beloved people to lament their irreparable loss. Soon after his decease his family erected a headstone at his grave with an appropriate inscription as follows, viz .:
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IN MEMORY OF REV. GERSHOM C. LYMAN, D.D. FIRST PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN MARLBOROUGH A WISE COUNSELLOR A SKILLFUL GUIDE A BLESSED PEACE MAKER AN EXAMPLE TO BELIEVERS A PATTERN TO GOD'S MINISTERS HAVING FOR THIRTY-FOUR YEARS WITH UNCOMMON ABILITY AN EXEMPLARY FIDELITY AN ARDENT ZEAL FOR CHRIST AND TENDER CONCERN FOR THE SALVATION OF SINNERS FULFILLED HIS COURSE WENT TO REST IN THE BOSOM OF HIS SAVIOR APRIL 13, A. D., 1813 IN THE 61ST YEAR OF HIS AGE AND 35TH OF HIS MINISTRY
The dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awaken and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead. ISAIAH, XXVI. XIX.
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CHAPTER VI. Baptist Church in Marlborough and Newfane-Methodist Church
The Baptist Church in Marlborough and Newfane was or- ganized at the house of Nehemiah Fisher and reorganized by an ecclesiastical council on the 29th of Oct., 1794. The original members were twenty-two, viz .: Nehemiah Fisher, John Phillips, Jun., Samuel Marsh, Samuel Ball, Amos Perry, James Charter, Joshua Morse, Isaac Perry, James Morse, James Blake, Alpheus King, Aaron Ball, James Blake, Jun., Ezra King, Perez Phillips, Enos Phillips, Nathan Clark, Archelaus Dean, John Manley, James Ball. These members for the most part be- longed to the Baptist Church in Dummerston.
The following is a list of the names of persons who have been baptized into the fellowship of the Church, living in Marlborough at the time, viz .: Lucy Marsh, Betsy Blake, Lavina Fisher, Sally Morse, Lydia Packer, Betsy Dean, Jemima Jones, Seth Smith, Jun., Nathaniel Jones, John Clark, 2d, Joshua Phillips, Stephen Otis, Mansfield Bruce, Harrison G. Blake, Wyman Lamb, Elisha Peck, Zebediah Marsh, David Hill, Thomas Blake, David Cutler, Elizabeth Marsh, Betsey Clark, Mary Randal, Olive Cole, Sarah Scofield, Ruth Fisher, Assenath Jones, Mary Chamberlain, Phebe Charter, Cynthia Gleason, Grace Bruce, Hannah Jones, Lydia Randal, Rhoda Jones, Catherine Bruce, Elizabeth Marsh, Freelove Peck, Althea Cole, Electa Ingram, Abiah Briggs, Gratia King, Sally Blake, Jane Cutler, Eleanor Bruce, Joseph Goodell, Preserved Bruce, William Shaw, Jun., Susan Charter, Lucretia Fisher, Elizabeth Hill, Elizabeth King, Nancy Barnes, Lucy Park, Patty Bruce, Rachel Cole, Martha Underwood, Philena Charter, Ray Joy, Allen Emery, Mary Emery, Amos Stearns, Mary Underwood, Betsy Fisher, Polly M. Phillips, Polly Ball, Solomon Ball, Lucy Stearns, Brigham Morse, Betsy Morse, Edmund Fisher, Levina Grout, Amos Wyman, Hannah Charter, Louisa Cutler, Ruth Cutler, Susannah Chamberlain, Samuel Underwood, Orpha Underwood, Matilda Dean, Ruth Ball, Polly Chamberlain, Samuel Lamson, Polly
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Moore, Sally Phillips, Joanna Hill, Josiah Parks, Lewis Under- wood, Simeon Orvis, Derexcy Orvis, Hosea King, Fatima King, George W. Blake, Daniel Charter, Benoni W. Blake, Artemas Moore, Nahum Hubbard, Stephen Merrifield, Sally Allen, Laura Bellows, Adalina Bailey, Catherine Wilson, Sylvia Hubbard, Susan Blake, David Charter, Lyman Dunklee, Marilla Dunklee, Laura Persons, Dorcas Fillebrown, Ellis Dunklee, Abigail Fisher, Parmelia Little, Willard Morse, Carolina Allen, Julia Allen, Eli Dunklee, Samuel Little, Willis Fisher, Matilda Allen, Justin Augur, Isaac Worden, Mary Ann Howe, Ann Bruce, Hubbard Kelsey, Anna Kelsey, Edwin Streeter, Willard Marsh, John Howe, Ebenezer Persons, Paulina Streeter, Lucinda Charter, Allen Little, Maria Orvis, Nancy Bruce, Susanna Ball, Chloe Dunklee, George Robins, Joseph Bruce, Franklin Adams, James C. Persons, Joseph S. Stratton, Rosina Stratton, Samuel Hill, Caleb Pond, Olive Shaw, Betsey Gragg, Zuber Marsh, Henry Collins, Emily Coleman, Martha Etta King, Henry Fisher, Martha Fisher, Melissa Fisher, Henry King, Lucy Morall, Mary Ann King, Horace Ball, Harriet Ball, Eliza Ann Kelsey, Ephraim Fisher, Julia Adams, Lovica Worden, John Perry, Eliza B. Perry, Ellen Fisher, John Kelsey, Henry Merrifield, Maria Hubbard, George King. The whole number living in Marlborough at the time of baptism, 169. The whole number baptized into fellowship of the church since its organization is 421. Its largest number in its annual returns was 200 in 1840. The number returned at the last association was 132.
Extracts from the church record follow:
Mr. Justin Auger was baptized April 15, 1838, being ninety- five years old. He lived to be over 100 years of age.
Oct. 7, 1814, this day received reliable evidence that on the 17th day of Sept., A. D. 1814, bro. Joshua Phillips was killed in battle, fighting for his country.
HOUSE OF WORSHIP. The first house built for the service of the church and society was erected in Marlborough about a quarter of a mile south of the north line of the town, on the west side of the county road leading to Pondville in Newfane. It was raised in 1816, and finished in 1817. It was 50 feet long and 40 feet wide and finished with a pulpit, 58 pews and with
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galleries on three sides. Bro. Joshua Morse was appointed or acted as the building committee, and took the whole responsibility upon himself. The house cost $1300, of which sum Bro. Morse paid out of his pocket more than one-half, having received only about $600 by the sale of the pews. It was taken down in 1843, after having stood 27 years.
A new house of worship was erected in 1841, and dedicated in 1842, situated about a mile and a half north of the former site, in what is now called the village of Pondville and formerly known as Perry's Mills, at the junction of the Marlborough and Dover road to Williamsville, in Newfane. The house is 48 by 58 feet, furnished with a pulpit, orchestra, 50 pews, belfry and spire, and painted inside and out. The house is built in good taste, in modern style, at an expense of $1500, and furnished with a bell presented by Rev. Caleb Pond, from whom the village consequently bears its name. The building committee consisted of Deacon Ira Ingram, Ebenezer Morse, Esq., and Ransom King, who discharged their official duty with credit to themselves and satisfaction to the society.
The following is a brief biographical sketch, so far as known, of persons licensed to preach the gospel by this church :
THOMAS BAKER of Newfane was licensed July 5, 1806. He was ordained as pastor of the Baptist Church in South Windham, Vt. After a successful pastorate of some years, he went west. Since then little has been known of him.
MANSFIELD BRUCE was licensed to preach Nov. 10, 1808.
NEHEMIAH FISHER was licensed Oct. 6, 1816. He was not ordained, but preached much here, and in the neighboring churches, greatly to the edification of his brethren and the good of souls. Having faithfully served his generation to a good old age he died in the midst of his brethren Dec. 11, 1846, greatly lamented as one of whom all were ready to say "he was a good man."
NATHANIEL MCCULLOCH was born in Barre, Mass., came to Newfane at the age of 21, experienced the grace of God, and was baptized by the Rev. Mansfield Bruce, 1816, licensed to preach Sept. 3, 1820, and ordained as an evangelist in Manchester, Vt. He preached in Windham and Putney several years, then
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in Heath, Plainfield and Surry, Mass., in which latter place he has his residence.
DAVID CUTLER was born in Marlborough and licensed Sept. 27, 1826, ordained at Brookline, Vt., afterwards removed to Lenox, N. Y., where he now lives, a man of considerable talent, and esteemed for his usefulness in the church.
GEORGE PHILLIPS, born in Newfane, was baptized July 30, 1820, licensed to preach July 10, 1825, not ordained, but im- proved his talent in the region as opportunities offered. In the spring of 1859, he became deranged and since that time has been in the Insane Hospital at Brattleboro.
JOSEPH PERRY was born in Newfane and was baptized Jan. 24, 1830, licensed Feb. 15, 1831, preached in Hinsdale, N. H., for a year or more, but his health failed and he died of con- sumption June 13, 1839. He bade fair to be a useful man.
LUKE SHERWIN was son of Sylvester Sherwin, Esq., of New- fane and received into this church from the Methodists by baptism and licensed to preach Sept. 2, 1839, was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Londonderry, Vt., continued there three years, then at Felchville for a time, and then went to New York where he died with the cholera about 1850, a man greatly beloved by all who knew him.
ROSWELL CORBETT was licensed to preach Sept. 15, 1858, was ordained pastor of the Third Baptist Church of St. George, in the State of Maine, 1859, and is now pastor of the Baptist Church in Sempronius, N. Y.
The following is the history and memorial of the Pastors of this church:
REV. MANSFIELD BRUCE. It does not appear from the records of the church that there was a settled pastor until Mr. Bruce was called to the pastorate.
REV. PHINEHAS HOWE, the second pastor, was born in Fitz- william, N. H., May 16, 1792, converted at the age of 28, baptized May, 1820, licensed to preach by the Baptist Church of Fitz- william and Troy, N. H., about 1822, and preached for another Baptist Church in Fitzwilliam half of the time for one year. In the ways of providence he came to Marlborough, and preached first to this church, June 1, 1824, was ordained their pastor on the 24th of October following, and continued seven years.
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After an absence of three years he returned and continued seven years more. During the first period there were 84 added by baptism, in the second term of labor, 83, in all, 167. He frequently went into neighboring towns while living here, and preached and baptized. In Dover he baptized 31, in Dummerston, 43, Colerain, 25. Two years of the three that he was absent, between his seven year periods, he spent in Heath, Mass., and there baptized 29; in other towns 15 more, making the whole number during his ministry 308. Leaving Marlborough the second time he moved to Hinsdale, N. H., and remained two years, then to Troy, N. H., in 1846. Soon after commencing his labors in that place he was prostrated by sickness, giving his nervous system such a shock that he has never fully recovered. His active ministry then ceased; he returned to Newfane Jan. 10, 1854, and settled near his former residence, in the expectation of spending the evening of his days among the people and their descendants where he "shed the dew of his youth" in his ministry.
REV. D. H. GRANT was pastor for one year, about 1832, and very little is known of his history.
REV. DANA BROWN acted as pastor, or supplied in 1834. Nothing is known of him farther than this.
For a number of years the church seems to have been without a regular pastor, as there is no record of any ministers except as supplies until the year 1844, when
REV. FOSTER HARTWELL took the charge and continued for three years. He came from Whitingham and went into the state of New York. The church was sadly divided when he left and was not fully reconciled under the administration of
REV. CALVIN BAKER who supplied for one year, but was brought into harmony and activity under the labors of
REV. A. H. STEARNS who commenced in 1850, and had a successful pastorate of three years. A goodly number were brought into the fold of Christ.
REV. J. P. HUNTINGTON was his successor, and preached two years and a half, closing with the year 1856. Nothing of special interest occurred during his ministry. He was followed by the
REV. ISAIAH C. CARPENTER, the present pastor, who com- menced March 15, 1857. He was born in Eastford, Conn., Apr. 17, 1811, converted Feb. 5, 1831; baptized March 20th of the same year; licensed to preach Apr. 1, 1834. He first settled
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in Templeton, Mass., where he was ordained Feb. 5, 1837; continued there three years and two months, and baptised 69. His next pastorate was in Thompson, Conn., for three years, where he baptized 22; then in Montville, Conn., three years, where he baptized 14. Then in Russell, Mass., he baptized 10 in two years; in Londonderry, Vt., in two years he baptized 28. The fourth year of his ministry here closes March 15, 1861. He has baptized in this place up to this date, 25. There is a revival in progress at this time, Feb., 1861.
REVIVALS. Several seasons of special awakenings have occurred here in the history of the church. One in the first period of Elder Howe's labors continued for three years. Other times of revival were enjoyed, of less duration; one under the influence of the Rev. Emerson Andrews, an evangelist; a valuable one under the labors of Rev. Mr. Stearns. Another commenced Jan. 1, 1857, under the labors of the Rev. J. Baldwin of Randolph, Vt., an evangelist of much importance; this was in progress when the present pastor came and continued for several months with interest; 22 of the above 25 were added as the result. The church is now (Feb., 1861) spiritually prosperous and good congregations listen to the Gospel of Christ.
Signed by I. C. CARPENTER, Pastor JOSEPH MORSE, Chh. Clerk
by whom the foregoing history of the Baptist Church has been prepared.
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METHODIST CHURCH
In the spring of 1844, the Rev. Elijah Gale and the Rev. John L. Smith, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, commenced preaching alternately in the Hall of Capt. Ira Adams, which was followed with a revival of religion, and resulted in organizing a Methodist Episcopal Church and Society in the west part of Marlborough. The following persons united in this, viz .: Ira Adams and Lucy H., his wife, Ward Bellows and Sally, his wife, James Hall and Nancy, his wife, Cyrus Winchester and Nancy, his wife, Horace Winchester, Solomon Stanclift and Abigail, his wife, Fosdick Prouty, Clark Prouty and Huldah, his wife, Clark Pratt and his wife, Nathaniel Goodspeed, Daniel Sheldon and Sarah, his wife, Lois, wife of Antipass Winchester, Clarissa, wife of Martin Winchester, Ira Adams, Jun., and Eliza, his wife, Charles Martin Adams, Mary, wife of Gen. Phinehas Mather, Frederick W. Mather and Betsey, his wife, and Philena Blanchard.
This organization led to measures for the erection of a house of worship, in which the citizens generally united by a sub- scription, obligating themselves to receive the amount thereof in pews to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. The building is of wood, 48 feet long and 38 feet wide, with 15 foot posts and a belfry. It has a pulpit, orchestra, vestry, and forty-eight pews or slips and is painted inside and out. It was built at an expense of $1000 cheerfully paid. In 1846, the society raising by sub- scription $300, purchased a parsonage, which has been occupied by their preachers. These buildings are situated on land formerly owned by Samuel Whitney, and now by Capt. Ira Adams, and are near his house where is kept the West Marlborough Post Office. The ministers have been the Rev. Messrs. Elijah Gale, John L. Smith, Moses Adams, Chester D. Ingraham, John L. Roberts, Moses Spencer, Jesse S. Butterfield, Pliny Granger, 2d, Zena Kingsbury, Morse Powers, and M. R. Chase.
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CHAPTER VII.
Town Records-Early Town Meetings Town Officers-List of Freemen-Marriages Catalogue of Literary Men.
TOWN RECORDS
No traces of the Proprietors' records of the town of Marl- borough have been found among its books or piles of papers, leaving the presumption that they did not come into actual possession of the town.
The records of the legal voters in their town meetings, so far as known at this late date, have been well preserved in books for that purpose. On the first page of Town Records, Vol. I., is found what is supposed to be the records of the proceedings of the first town meeting of the inhabitants which was in their estima- tion worthy of presentation; it is as follows (reserving the liberty of correcting the orthography), viz .:
"At a legal meeting on the 8th day of May, 1775, the free- holders of the inhabitants of New Marlborough, in the County of Cumberland after choosing Captain Francis Whitmore, Moderator, passed the following votes, viz .:
1st. William Mather, Town Clerk.
2d. That we would choose necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
3d. Voted William Mather Town Treasurer.
4th. Voted Jonas Whitney Assessor and Abel Stockwell and Samuel Whitney.
5th. Voted Solomon Wheeler and Elias Burbank, Collectors.
6th. Voted 4 Surveyors of highways, viz .:
Elias Burbank,
Solomon Wheeler,
Surveyors of Highways.
Perez Stockwell, Jonathan Howard Jun
7th. Voted that Districts should be divided as they were last year. 8th. Voted that the highway work should be done by rate- able estate. 9th. Voted that we would work to the value of 6 days a man."
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The foregoing is supposed to be the record of the first regular or legal (so called) organization of a town meeting in Marl- borough, although the 7th vote indicates a division of highway districts by some arrangement of the preceding year.
This meeting took place twelve years after the first settle- ment, and according to the statement of Jonas Smith mentioned in connection with his family register, the number of families did not exceed fourteen. From this may be inferred the slow progress of the settlement and the reason of no previous organiza- tion. This meeting is called legal, and for what reason it is difficult to conjecture, as it is doubtful whether the inhabitants considered themselves under the jurisdiction of any government beyond the bounds of the township. It might have been termed legal by usage in the home of their fathers, or by common consent in contra-distinction to former assemblies. For several years previous to this meeting the country had been in a disturbed condition on account of the oppressive acts of the mother country. The grievances of the colonies were agitated and were culmina- ting toward the point of resistance, which had its influence in retarding the progress of emigration from the old to the new settlements. Those who entered the forests to make for them- selves a home, carried with them the spirit of resistance felt and inculcated by the leading spirits of the age.
As an example, the following extracts from the records of the second town meeting will show the popular feeling:
At a legal town meeting at New Marlboro on the 22d day of May, 1775, the freeholders of the inhabitants of the same having received certain intelligence that the committee of correspondence at New York desire the County of Cumberland to send one or more delegates to meet the Provincial Congress at the City of New York, to transact the important affairs relative to the alarming situation that the Province is reduced to through the cruel and unjust and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, lately passed which would require too much time particularly to enumerate to the freeholders of this town; unanimously, after choosing Capt. Whitmore, Moderator, passed the following votes and resolves:
Voted to send a delegate to Westminster to join with other delegates in this County, to choose two or more delegates to send to New York to join with the Provincial Congress.
2d. Voted that Mr. Solomon Phelps be our delegate to send to Westminster for the above mentioned purpose.
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3d. Voted and resolved that it is our opinion that all Courts in this Colony held by the authority of George the Third, King of England, ought to be suspended until such time as the un- happy dispute between England and America shall subside.
4th. Voted and resolved that we will each of us at the expense of our lives and fortunes to the last extremity, unite and oppose the late cruel, unjust and arbitrary acts of the British Parlia- ment, passed for the sole purpose of raising a revenue in America without the people's consent, and also all other unconstitutional acts lately passed by the British Parliament, particularly that cruel and oppressive and unjust act of blocking up the port of Boston, and the act for changing and altering the internal policy of the government of the Massachusetts Bay; the above acts resolved and unanimously resolved are cruel unjust and in every sense illegal.
5th. Voted and resolved that we will be continued and subject to the honorable Continental Congress in all things which they shall resolve for the peace, safety and welfare of the American Colonies.
6th. Also voted and resolved that the said Solomon Phelps be our delegate to meet the 6th of June courant at Westminster, to do and transact all other matters and things which he shall think proper in behalf of this town and county, and what the other gentlemen delegates shall think proper, and all county affairs be left with his best judgment to do and transact the same as he shall think best and the town of New Marlborough will acquiesce in the same.
At a legal town meeting at New Marlboro on the 19th day of June, 1775, the freeholders of the inhabitants of the same, after choosing Capt. Francis Whitmore, Moderator, passed the following votes, viz .:
1st. That we consent to what the late County Congress have done.
2d. Voted Francis Whitmore, Captain.
3d. Voted Timothy Phelps, Lieutenant.
4th. Voted Abel Dimick, Ensign.
5th. Voted John Church,
Capt. Whitmore, Samuel Whitney, Committee of Inspection.
William Mather, Jonathan Warren
6th. Voted to raise eight pounds lawful money of the Bay Province for necessary charges for this town and what this town hath been out for public charges.
7th. Voted that this above mentioned money shall be raised by 1st Dec., next.
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8th. Voted John Church Nathaniel Whitney Jonathan Warren
9th. Voted John Church William Mather Timothy Phelps
Committee to pass town debts.
Committee to set a valua- tion on rateable estate.
1775, Sept. 26. At a legal town meeting at the house of Mr. Jonas Whitney, Inn Keeper, Capt. Whitmore, Moderator-
Voted that we would comply with the proceedings of the County Congress held at Westminster, Sept. 14, 1775, and are as follows, viz .:
Resolved. That whatever person or persons shall be guilty of larceny or theft in any township or district in this County, that it may be lawful for the sub-Committee of Safety in each town or district where said theft is perpetrated, to set and order such corporeal punishment to be inflicted on the criminal as therein their judgment shall think proper, and it is recommended that this resolve be put into execution.
At a legal town meeting at New Marlboro on the 13th day of November, 1775, after choosing Mr. Solo. Phelps to regulate said meeting, passed the following votes, viz .:
Ist. That they would accept the burying place that the old committee had fixed on, viz .: at the east end of Roger Dickin- son's lot or near thereto.
2d. Voted that the same committee shall agree with the owner of the land for a burying place.
3d. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
1776, Feb. 6. Mr. Freegrace Adams \ Were chosen Mr. Joseph Winchester /Sub-committee
1776, 2d Monday in May. Annual town Meeting. Capt. Francis Whitmore, Moderator, William Mather, Clerk.
Joseph Winchester Freegrace Adams
Samuel Whitney
Sub Antipas Harrington Collectors
William Mather Committee Perez Stockwell
Abel Stockwell
William Mather, Town Treasurer.
1777, Jan. 26. Capt. Francis Whitmore was appointed a delegate to Windsor, to meet with a convention of Delegates of this State.
[1777, May ?] Annual meeting, New Marlborough in Cum- berland County.
Samuel Whitney, Moderator, William Mather, Town Clerk.
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William Mather Isaac Pratt Francis Whitmore Joseph Winchester Freegrace Adams
Town Committee To hear all complaints on account of disorderly persons. Nathaniel Whitney, Constable.
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