From The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late Phinehas Merrill, Esq., Printed by C. Norris & Co. , Exeter, NH, ©1817, 91-93 Part Two of Gazetteer: CANTERBURY - a township in Rockingham county, incorporated 1727, contained in 1810, 1526 inhabitants. bounded N.E. by Gilmanton, S.E. by Loudon, S. by concord, and S.W. by Merrimack river, which separates it from Boscawen. This town has 26,245 acres. The soil of this town is generally good, producing corn, flax, and cider in abundance. a bridge over Merrimack river connects this town with Boscawen village. a small branch of Suncook river crosses the N.E. corner, and a number of small ponds and streams water the W. part of the town. Here are two houses of public worship exclusive of the quaker church. their present minister, William Patrick, is of the congregational order. A. Foster and F. Parker have been their former pastors. Elder Young, several years since was settled here in the free will Baptist order. On the S.E. side of the town near Loudon, is the Shaker’s village, and as the head of their family has furnished the compilers of this work with a particular account of their concerns, we take pleasure in giving it in his own words. "The believers, (or people commonly called shakers,) in Canterbury have been in the faith we now profess upwards of 30 years, and have had one Lord and one baptism, which is a crucifixion and death to the nature of sin, and unites the soul in the spirit and power of the resurrection of life. We have united our temporal interest in one for more than twenty years; except some, who have since mis-believed, or those who did not choose so to do; as there is no compulsion with us in such a case: we live together in love and union, as brothers and sisters in the spirit and not in the flesh; and as we believe carnal or self-pleasing gratifications are of , and from the man of sin, who is now revealed, and is consumed, by the spirit and brightness of this present, second, and last appearing of Christ, in which we believe; by which our former heavens are dissolved, and our former fleshly elements do melt with fervent heat, (See 2nd Peter, iii. 10th.) And we do rejoice in their destruction, and by believing and obeying this faith and revelation of Christ, we are saved from our sins, and constantly say Christ is our Savior; and by wearing his cross, our motives are changed and our heaven and earth becomes new; (2 Peter, iii. 13.) and in this manner of life we know in whom we believe, and who and what is of this world, (John vii. 17.) "As to marriages, we are all married to one, even to Christ who is in, and is the head of his body, the church. (Eph.v. 30-32.) But external marriages, for the purpose of gratification, or for begetting or conceiving in sin, or being shapen and brought forth in iniquity, we have not any. It is the children of this world, who have the marriages. Luke xxii, 34, etc.; but we labor to be of those who are duly qualified. (See Rev. xiv 14.) Yet we have a plenty of the young of the Rock; and that scripture is fulfilled which saith, more are the children of the desolate, than of the married wife. (See isa. liv.1.Psa.cxiii. 7,8,. Luke xxiii. 29, etc) "Death.--The souls who are in Christ, do not die; and to the faithful soul, who departs this life there is no sting; nor does the departing this life separate us in spirit nor in distance; for heaven is where Christ is, and he is in his church, and that is terrestrial bodies joined and united to celestial bodies.(See Heb.-xii.22.) But to answer your mind concerning deaths.-- Within 30 years, 30 persons, old and young, have departed this life in our society here, for whom we do not mourn, believing they have the fruits of their labors. "We have generally consisted of from 200 to 300 souls in this village. We have one meeting house, open at all times for public worship, for all civil, discreet, candid, and well behaved people; but all who are otherwise minded, we wish them in better employ than to come among us. We have 7 dwelling houses, 1 deacon’s office, and a number of workshops, both for brethren and sisters, and several mills, etc. on an artificial stream. "We occupy upwards of 1000 acres of land which is consecrated to the Lord, to all which we hold a lawful and constitutional right to govern and protect from all abuse; and in that we are assisted by the ministers of the good civil authority to which we have respect, and from whence we derive support. We manufacture many articles for sale, which we endeavor to make worth what the consumer gives form them, such as linen and woolen wheels, measures, sieves, candlesticks, brooms, wooden ware, boxes of wood, whips, cooper set work, cards for wool and cotton rakes and sneads, leather of different kinds, etc., we also raise garden seeds, in which we take pains to propagate the best kind. for several years we have not made use of spirituous liquors except for sickness or infirmity seeing the evil it brings on the human race; and to escape another obvious evil we have not made it a practice of trusting or being trusted. We believe the above sketches to be supportable in truth, and if it will answer your purpose ye will insert it without varying the sense. Ye are also welcome to our names. In union and behalf of the people called shakers in Canterbury." Francis Winkley. Israel Sanborn. "We can say we love one another, and we do say that our beloved brethren and sisters at Enfield, in this state, are nearly of the same number, and are in the same faith and kingdom, and in similar circumstances." F.W. , I.S., In April 1752, two Indians Sabtis and Christi, came to Canterbury, where they were entertained in a friendly manner for more than a month. At their departure they forced away two negroes, one of whom made his escape and returned. The other was carried to Crown-Point and there sold to an officer. The next year Sabatis with another Indian Plowsawa came again to Canterbury, where being reproached for misconduct respecting the negroes, he and his companion behaved in an insolent manner. Several persons treated them freely with strong drink, and one pursued them into the woods, and taking advantage of their situation killed them and with the help of another person buried them, but, so carelessly that their bodies were discovered by beasts of prey and their bones lay on the ground. The two men that killed Sabatis and Plowsawa were apprehended and carried to Portsmouth. A bill was found against them by the grand jury and they were confined in irons, but on the night before the day appointed for their trial, an armed mob from the country with axes and crows forced the prison and carried them off in triumph. Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00 **************************************************************************** * * * * Notice: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. 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