Chapter 47 - Plaistow from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Cindy Webb - sewnseek@hotmail.com Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 625 CHAPTER XLVII PLAISTOW Geographical-Topographical-Petition for Town or Parish-Petitions- Churches-Public Library-Military Record The Town of Plaistow lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Hampstead and Kingston, on the east by Kingston, Newton, and the State of Massachusetts, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by Massachusetts, Atkinson, and Hamp- stead. The surface of the town is rolling and the soil fertile, consisting of black loam, clay, and gravel. Population, 1,173. Plaistow was originally a part of Haverhill, Mass., and was included in the Indian purchase of 1642. It subsequently became annexed to New Hampshire, and was chartered as a separate parish February 28, 1749. The following is a copy of the petition for incorporation as a town or parish: PETITION FOR A TOWN OR PARISH To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampre and the honble his Majestys Council for said Province. Humbly Shew Your Petitioners Inhabitants in the westerly part of Haver- hill District. That your Petitioners live at a Great Distance from any place where the Publick worship is maintained. That Our Situation is such as is Con- venient for a Township or Parish But cannot conveniently be joyned with any other. That there are already Sixty or Seventy families here setled and more daily Setling who must be under very great Disadvantages with Regard to the Publick worship of God unless we can obtain to have it Setled among Ourselves. We therefore pray your Excellency & Honours that we may be Incor- porated into a town or Parrish as you shall Judge most proper by the follow- ing Bounds Beginning at the westerly corner of Jonathan Stevens' land by the Islandy Pond and from thence to the Northwesterly Corner of Thomas Hales farm and from thence Southerly to the Province line so as to make this line half way between Mr. Cushing's Meeting house and John Watt's at Providence Brook or as near to half way as may be tho't Reasonable, from thence westerly by ye Province line to the head of the District then Northerly so far as that an East line passing from the end of this Northerly line to the Page 626 first mentioned Bounds shall Include all the Land to the Southward of Islandy Pond. And your petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray &c. John Watts James Heath Wyman Wise Seth Pattee Samuel Duston Thomas Cross Richard Patee Moses Belknap Benjamin Wheeler Michah Amey Philip Nelson Stephen Wheeler Obediah Duston John Clements Richard Heath Caleb Duston Edward Carlton John Duston Obediah Eastman Joseph Little Junr Philip Hite Alexander Gordon John Currier Thomas Duston John Watts Junr James French William Morrison Caleb Heath George Little Joseph Palmer Samuel Watts We the Subscribers Consent to the Lines mentioned in the petition of Daniel Little & others anything mentioned herein to ye contrary notwith- standing. JOHN PECKER JOHN WATTS PETITION AGAINST BEING SET OFF AS A NEW PARISH To His Excelency Bennen Wintworth Esqr. Capt. General and Governor in chief in and over the Province of New Hampshire, and to the Honble Councill of the same. The Humble Petition of us the Subscribers in our own behalf and others, belonging to the Westerly Part of Haverhill District that now belongeth To the Rev. Mr. James Cushings Parrish Humbly Sheweth, that it is our Desier and Prayer that we may not be separated in to any other Town or Parrish (from the Easterly Part) of the District but that we may all be Incorporated in to a Town or Parrish (Excepting what has bin voted off by the District To Timber lane) so that we may Injoy our Privilege and Proprties for us and our children that we may have our meeting House and our Minister that we have bin at Great Cost and charges for building Seteling and main- taining for near Twenty years last Past and if your Excellency and the Honle Councill think it proper to mak us a town with the Easterly Part of the District we Shall Leave that to your Honrs Wisdom, other ways Pray that we may abide as we are and In fullfilling our Desier and Humble Peti- tion you will Greatly oblig your Sarvants. Who as in Duty bound shall Ever Pray. Haverhill District December ye 29th 1749 Benjm Richards John French Thomas Noyes Jonathan Page Samuel Little John Knight John Dow Jonathan Page Junr. Nathaniel Knight Jun. Timothy Page Joshua Knight Joseph Page Caleb Page Junr. Ebenezer Knight Daniel Whitticker James Noyes Joseph Noyes Moses Belknap Page 627 Joseph Little Junr. Humphrey Noyes Daniel Poor Eldad Ingalls Thomas Hale Jonathan Nelson Edmund Page Timothy Ladd Israel Webster Nathl Knight Caleb Page Jonathan Clements Abiel Knight John Webster Moses Page Robert Greenough PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS IN THE WEST PART OF HAVERHILL DISTRICT DESIRING NOT TO BE INCORPORATED To his Excellency Bening Wentworth Esqr. Governor and Commander in Cheaf in and over his Majesties province of New hampshear in New England and to the Honourable his Majesties Council &c. We the Subscribers being inhabitance in the South west part of Haverhi1l District and Included within the Boundarys of the Last Petition brought forward by Capt. John Pecker and Mr. John Watts Considering the small number of Inhabitance and the Low Sircumstances that many of them Labours under it is our Humble opinion that we are no ways able to supporte the Gos pell amongst ourselves at present therefore we Desier your Excellency and Honors to take our case under your wise Consideration and not incorporate us into a town or Distinct parrish according to the prayer of the above sd Petition till we are better abell to bare the Charges for we are obliged by Contract to the Rev. Mr. Cushen and are not as yet set of from his Parish. Dated Haverhill District July ye 24th I749 Benj Richards Caleb Page Daniel Poor James Noyes Joseph Noyes John Webster Jonathan Nelson Joseph Page Jonathan Page Daniel Flood John Corrier Thomas Little Thomas Noyse Jr Eldad Ingalls Edmund Page HUSE AND OTHERS PETITION NOT TO JOYN WITH MR. BAZZEN ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN To his Excelency Bennin Wintworth Esqr. and Honrable Counsel. We your humble Pertisioners take Leave to Let you know part of our Greavies Coused by Mr. Richard Hazzen Pertisions and plan if he obtains will Cut and Carve our Land & privelage all to pieces who were Orderly Settled on Kingstown Property & have a Petition Lodg with the Select men of our town in order to be set of as a parish. We pray that we may have the opertunity to Let your Excelency and Honrable Counsel know what the town does for us who are Lawful Setlars who can have now privelage in that Regard unless we have part of what is in his Plan. We subscribe ourselves yoor Humble Pertisinors. Kingst September I6th 1740. James Huse Orlando Colby Joseph Dow Jacob Gordy Moses Tucker? Reuben Clough Mesac Gordy James Graves John Straw Jonathan Colby John Hog John Bond Page 628 Isrel Ruse William Straw Jacob Wells Daniel Hiberd John Pressey Benjamin Tucker Daniel Kid John Straw Jun. Jacob Tucker Israel Huse Junr. Philep Wells PETITION OF HAVERHILL DISTRICT FOR A NEW PARISH To His Excelency Bening Wintworth Esqr. Goviner and Commander in cheaf in and over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England and to the Honourable His Majesties Council &c. The Humble Petition of the Inhabitance in Haverhill Destrict and Prov- ince afore sd Humbly sheweth, that we are so Remote from the Place of the Publick worship of God that we cannot attend on it unless with Greate Difficulty and our other charges No Less Difficult. May it therefore Please your Excelency and Honours to take our case under your wise Consideration and Incorporate us and all that Do or shall Inhabit with us and a sufficient Parcell of Land into a town or Distinct Parrish so that we may sit up and maintain the worship of God amongst us and Carry on Such business as shall be Nessesary with the following Boundaries. Beginning at the Stake which stands in the Province Line near Jonathan Clements Dwelling House thence Running noth notheast till it strikes Haverhill norwest Line thence by sd Line till it Comes to the angle pond thence westerly to the wash Pond and so by the Wash pond brook to the Islande pond and so westerly to London Dary Line thence by sd London dary Line till it comes to Methuen Line thence South easterly by Methuen Line till it comes to the province Line thence by the Province Line to the first Bounds mentioned and you will Gratly oblige your Humble Petitioners and we shal as in Duty bound for ever Pray &c. Peter Pattee Wyman Wise Daniel Poor Richard Heath Daniel Whitaker Moses Belknap Joseph Little Gershom Pike Joseph Gile Thomas Little Nathan Morss John Clement Moses Page Timothy Lad Daniel Flood Samuel Watts John Corour Jonathan Hutchins Stephen Dole Henry Sargent Nathaniel Knight Paul Duston Abraham Annes George Little John Dustin Timothy Page John Watts Alexander Gordon Thomas Dustin Joseph Noyes Richard Patee Obadiah Dustin Ebenezer Knight John Ingalls Obadiah Eastman Joshua Knight Thomas Pope Jonathan Wheeler James Noyes Benja Rawlings Benjamin Wheeler Humphrey Noyes Caleb Page Stephen Wheeler Thomas Noyes Benja Richards Abner Wheeler John Knight John Dow Jonathan Wheeler junr Nathaniel Knight Jun Edmund Page John Corrier Junr Seth Patee Jonathan Page John Watts Jun Benjamin Heath Joseph Page Nathaniel Watts Page 629 MEMORIAL OF COL. JAMES WHITE AND OTHERS Province of New Hampre: To his Excellency John Wentworth Esqr Gov- ernor the Honourable his Majesties Council and Representatives of said Province in General Court assembled. The Memorial of James White and others humbly sheweth Whereas by a late act of Law of this Province the Town of Plaistow is Divided and part of it become a New and Separate Parish, which Includes our Houses and Lands, we apprehend that our Situation and other Circum- stances will render it very Difficult for us to become members of the said New Parish. And it being Just and reasonable to allow all men freedom and Liberty with respect to the choice of a society wherein to join in Public worhsip- We therefore Pray that your Excellency and Honours will according to your wonted favours Enact and order that we with our Estates may be set off from said new Parish, be annex'd and belong to said Plaistow (old Parish) in the Same manner as heretofore. And we as in Duty bound Shall ever Pray. Sepr 1767 James White Moses Page Daniel Poor Jun. John Webster Jonathan Webster Jonathan Page Israel Webster William Webster Stephen Noyes John Webster Jun. Daniel Whiticker Humphrey Noyes Jonathan Eatton Daniel Poor Robart Greenough Province of New Hampre: Plastow April ye 2, 1754. At the annuall town meeting this Day held by adjournment from ye Last Wensday of March Last the meeting being opened at time and place, By vote of the town Mr. Saml Kimball is Except of to serve as Constable this year Ensuing In the Place of Mr. Benjamin Pettengel who was chosan Constabel at our Last meeting Past on the Last Wensday of March. By vote of the town Mr. Moses Belknapp is chosen Constabel for the west part of ye town for the year Ensewing. Jonathan Page chosen tithing- man Steven Dole Hogreaf. the meeting adjourn to the 8th of Aprill Instants at 2 of the clock in the after Noon the town Clark not present Nicholas White, Moderator VOTE OF HAVERHILL DISTRICT TO SET OFF TIMBERLAIN At a Legal District meeting Holden at the old meeting House in said District on february ye 9th 1747, on the behalf of a Petition from Timber- lane so called with their Desire to be set off into a Destinct Parish by them- selves as followeth viz : Beginning at Jonathan Stevens South West comer bound near the Islande Pond then Running by the Easterly Side of Clements Land to his South Easterly Bound then Running by the Northerle side of Caleb Heaths and John Dustans Land to the Brook that runs from Emer- sons mill, then Running by the Southerly side of Capt. George Littles and Thomas LittIes Land to his Easterly comer Bounds which is in Cloughs Medow, then Running to the Northwesterly corner of Thomas Hales Land Page 630 and on the northerly side of said Hale's land and from the North Easterly corner thereof to the nearest Place in Almesbury Line. The "said Timber lane ware set of by a vote according to the Bounds above mentioned except- ing Capt. George Little and his Son Thomas and Joseph and their Lands to be kept on the South of their Line. A True Coppe Taken from the Book Thomas Hale District Clerk "There is 130 men's Heads above sixteen in the west end of the town of Plaistow. There is eighty-seven Famalys in the west of the Town of Plaistow." (Colonial Records, December 3, 1767.) Number of People in Atkinson and Plaistow in 1767 or '68.-Plastow, 576 people; rateable heads, 142; rateable land, 421 acres. Atkinson, 476 people; rateable heads, 118; rateable land, 401 acres. List of Baptists in Plaistow in 1768 (Supposed).-Those that Profess themselves of ye Baptist Perswation which in all Parrish afairs have appeared against ye Peace & welfair of our minister and his society are as follows: Joseph Flint, Daniel Emerson, Nehemiah Heath, Abner Plummer, Job Eatton, Bartholomew Heath, Joseph Harriman, Joseph Harriman Jr, James Bly, Joseph Smith, Jonathan Smith, John Pollard, Daniel Ayer, Simon Follansbe, Edmond Pilsbury, Joseph Welch, John Copp, Moses Orway, Enoch Johnson, John Stevens, Stevens Merrill, Ebenezer Noyes, Selvenes Noyes, Moses Stevens Jun., Stephen Flanders, Samuel Welch, James Huse, Samuel Dow, John Trusel, Widow Dow. The Hole of ye Inhabitence Besides the above mentioned which was Rated in ye Last minister Rate which has Ben made are 70 Seventeen of which has ben taken Notice in Town meetings to joyn with ye Baptists in voting 4 of which are widows & some, stands as Nuters. Congregational Church.-This church was organized November 4, 1730, and was originally styled "the Church in the North Precinct of Haverhi1l, Mass." It was composed of fifty-nine members from, the First Church in Haverhill. The first pastor was Rev. James Cushing, who was ordained December 2, 1730, and continued as pastor for thirty years. He died May 13, 1764. He was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Sylas Merrill, ordained March 6, 1764, and died April 27, 1801. After the death of Mr. Merrill this church was without a settled pastor twenty-five years. December 26, 1826, Rev. Moses Welch became pastor and served until February 2, 1831. He was followed by Rev. S. H. Peckham, who was installed February 23, 1831, and remained until 1838. After Mr. Peckham's removal, Rev. David Oli- phant supplied the pulpit until 1852; Rev. Charles Tenney, 1853-58; Homer Barrows, 1858-69; Calvin Terry, 1869-75; David Bremer, 1875-79; Joseph Kyte, 1879-83; Benj. F. Perkins, 1883-85; Edward F. Stone, 1885-88; George E. Hill, 1888-92; F. P. Estabrook, 1892-95; Geo. W. Lawrence, 1895-98; Leonard Dodge, 1898-1901; Joseph Kimball, 1901-11; C. R. Hamlin, 1912-14. In 1837 a neat and commodious church edifice was erected in place of the old structure, which had become unfit for use. The Baptist Church was organized in the year 1836. Pastors, Benjamin Wheeler, James W. Russell, John M. Chick, John Peacock, Lewis Barrows, Cyrus Tibhetts, Alexander M. Higgins; Theodore W. Sheppard, Alford Colburn, William Hurlin, Oliver P. Fuller, Horace G. Hubbard, 1881-86; Page 631 Wm. M. Weeks, 1886-88; Wm. Dugdale, 1888-89; Albert D. Palmer, 1889- 96; Wm. C. Whittaker, 1896-98; Frank Parker, 1898-1904; Charles A. Towne, 1905-12; Chellis V. Smith, 1912-14. The church building was erected in 1840. The Catholic Church.-In the summer of 1892, the Catholics of this section of New Hampshire, including at that time the towns of Plaistow. Newton, Danville, Hampstead, Atkinson and Salem, N. H., who were accus- tomed to worship at Haverhill, Mass., and Exeter, N. H., thought they should have a church of their own, and a priest to attend to them, sent a delegation to Rt. Rev. D. M. Bradley, then bishop of New Hampshire, in order to request him to send them a priest. After due consideration Bishop Bradley selected for this work, the Rev. D. Alexander Sullivan, who came to take up his residence here in January, 1893. He at once began to hold services in the town hall at Plaistow, but early in the spring of 1893, he began the erection of a church at West- ville, a railway station in Plaistow. The largest population of the above mentioned towns then resided at Westville, which no doubt was the reason why it was selected as the site for the church. Reverend Fr. Sullivan com- pleted the church and remained here as resident pastor for five years. Having been promoted to the pastorate of Lancaster, N. H., he was succeeded by Rev. J. J. Hogan, who made improvements on the parish property, and added a cemetery known as Holy Angels' Cemetery. The Reverend Fr. Hogan remained here until February I, 1902, and was succeeded by Rev. F. G. Deschaies who purchased a rectory and was pastor until April, 1907, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. A. Hennon, who made improvements in the parish and remained here until June 30, 1912, and he was succeeded on that date by Rev. M. J. Moher, who is at present the resident pastor. The names of the committee selected to wait upon Bishop Bradley were: Jere- miah Kelliher, George Denoncour, Hilaire Gilbert. Plaistow Public Library.-When the town hall was completed in 1896 three rooms were set aside for the use of the library and it was opened to public use in December, 1896. It has now 1,500 volumes in care of Mrs. James M. Davis, librarian. E. A. Landman is the physician. MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65. Frederick P. Eaton, Jacob F. Stevans, Isaiah Kelley, Alfred Kelley, Jr., George F. Colden, James D. Colden, David Langmaid, Frank W. Shannon, George E. Shannon, Greenleaf C. George, Capt. Jesse E. George, George M. Wilson, Isaac Howard Hall, Richard H. Brunell, Warren Clough, Capt. Richard Welch, Herain Carleton, Jr., Walter S. Shannon, Isaac B. Clifford, Ingram J. Cummings, Greenleaf R. Cummings, Franklin Burnham, Rendal F. Cass, Hale Gage, Andrew Sweatser, Jesse E. Harriman, William H. Tripp, Charles Godkin, Nathaniel Thompson, Elbridge G. Tucker, Charles W. Cass, Moses Kimball, Charles W. Bradley, Benjamin G. Flanders, Stephen F. Godkin, Herbert H. Sargent, Isaac N. Cass, James W. Drew, Charles A. Dow, Henry A. Dow, George W. Kelley, Edward A. Sleeper, Charles Sprague, Frank Roberts, Samuel Hall. ********************************************************************** * * * 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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