Chapter 51 - Sandown from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Barbara Gottlock - BGOTTLOC@ccsd.edu Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 678 CHAPTER LI SANDOWN Geographical-Topographical-Early Settlements--Petition for Town Privi- leges-Incorporation of Town-Names of Early Settlers-Churches This town lies southwest of the center of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Chester and Fremont, on the east by Danville, on the south by Hampstead, and on the west by nerry and Chester. The surface of the town is uneven but generally fertile. The population is 380. There are several ponds in the town, the largest of which is Philips, lying in the southern part. It is about three hundred and forty rods long and two hundred wide. Angle Pond in the southeast part, lying partly in the town and partly in Hampstead, is about two hundred rods in length and one hundred in width. The principal stream is Squamscot River. andown was settled in about the year 1736, and among the pioneers were Moses Tucker, Israel and James Ruse, James Graves, Thomas Wells. (See list below. ) Sandown was originally a part of Kingston, and was incorporated April 6, 1756. The first vote of the town of Kingston on this subject of which we have any record is under date of September 24, 1764, as follows : Province of ) At a Legall meeting of the Inhabitants & free holders of New Hampshire) Kingstown held the Twenty-fourth of September 1746, firstly Leiut John Sweat was Chosen Moderator for that meeting 2dly Voted that we do hereby as far as in us lyeth set off Moses Tucker Israel Huse John Straw James Huse Jonathan Colbee James Graves Daniel Hibard John Bond Daniel Kid Jacob Wells Jacob Gurdey Meshech Gurdey David Straw John Straw Jr Reuben Clough William Straw Israel Huse Jr Phillips Wells John Pressey Jacob Tucker Benjamin Tucker Joseph Dow John Hogg & Orlando Colby Of Kingston abovesaid with a Certain Track of£ Land in said Town for a distinct Parish or precinct, bounded as followeth Vizt Beginning at the Beech Tree which is the Dividing boundary between Londonderry & Chester said Tree standing on the West Line of said Kingston and running Southerly on said Kingston said line as hereto£ore settled between said Londonderry & Page 679 said Kingston to the Island Pond ( so called) Then running Easterly South Three miles then Northerly till a North & by West Course will Strike said Kingston Line (where it crosses the mill brook so called) as heretofore set- led between sd Kingston & said Chester and from thence Viz. where said line crosses sd mill brook to run Southerly on said line to Beech tree first mentioned. This is a true Copy taken out of Kingston Book of records Attest Jedh Philbrick, town Clerk. Among the first settlers were: Moses Tucker, James Huse, Israel Huse, James Graves, Thomas Wells, Israel Huse, Jr., William Straw, Daniell Kid, Orlando Colby, Paul Chase, Benjamin Tucker, Jacob Tucker, John Pressey, John Hoog, John Bond, Joseph Dow, Philip Wells, Daniel Hebberd, Jona- than Colby, Rolen Clough, John Straw, Jacob Wells, Jacob Gordy, Mesheck Gordy, Daved Straw, John Straw, Jr. A Congregational Church, embracing fifty-seven members, was formed in 1759. The following description of the old meeting-house was written many years ago : The edifice is forty-four by fifty feet. The inside has a quaint appear- ance, with its tall pulpit, the top of which is eleven feet above the floor, and above which is the sounding-board seven and one-half feet square, and nine- teen feet above the floor. Directly in front of the pulpit were the deacons' seats, made of two-inch plank, where the good fathers sat and shouted their fervent "amens." There are sixteen pews in the center of the house, and twenty-one wall pews, the former being six and one-half feet square, and the latter half a foot shorter. The sunlight comes through seven-by-nine glass, twenty-eight lights to each window. There are three ten-paneled double doors, and wrought-iron hand-made nails were used in building the structure, both outside and inside. Six marble columns support the gallery, in which are twenty pews, six feet square, and in front of which are four seats made of three-inch plank. The pa,nels in front of the- gallery are twenty inches wide by four feet long. The frame is all of white oak; the braces in the frame are three by ten inches; the beams are ten by twelve inches; the rafters are eight by ten inches, doubled, one foot apart, with a post between, and the corner posts are twenty-eight feet high and twelve inches square. November 28, 1859, Rev. Josiah Cotton, a descendant of the renowned John Cotton of Boston, was settled in the gospel ministry, and continued his labors until his death, May 27, 1780. Rev. James Colloins, born in Lebanon, Conn., followed him in the ministerial work; was settled December 27, 1780, and dismissed April 30, 1788. Rev. John Webber was settled here March 24, 1795, and dismissed September 15, 1800. The Methodist Church.-In 1795 Rev. John Webber was pastor of the Congregational Church, and about this time Methodism made its appearance. The first Methodist sermon was preached at the home of widow Abigail Fitts by Elder George Pickering. In 1&>0 it was voted that the Methodists could preach in the meeting-house week days, but dissensions arose between the two denominations and Mr. Webber was dismissed. At this time Rev. Jacob Cram came to preach for the Congregationalists. He would not con- sent to divide the time with the Metltodists, so they held their meetings in barns, farmhouses and school house No.2 until the present church was built and dedicated in October, 1835. Among those who in the early days preached Page 680 for the Methodists. were Rev. John Brodhead, who was once a member of Congress: Jesse Lee, who was chaplain 01 the House of Representatives at Washington, and two who lived in town, Dr. Abram French and William French. At this time Sandown was considered one of the best appointments in the New Hampshire conference. After a number of years the Methodist Society growing smaller, the Congregationalists had the use of their church half of the time. About 187O the Methodists thought they could support a pastor all the time, so the Congregationalists had preaching at the old meet- ing-house for a while, now, only occasionally do they have preaching; but all unite with the Methodists in supporting and sustaining preaching in the town. Among the pastors for the last thirty-five years have been: Revs. Charles H. Smith, William Love, A. F. Bailey, William Thompson, W. J. Atkinson, John N. Bradford, J. H. Knott, Louis N. Fogg, Edwin Young, and A. B. McAllister, under whose able pastorate the church was entirely renovated at a cost of nearly two thousand dollars. It was rededicated on December 9, 1909. An organ was presented by Mrs. E. E. Lake of Hamp- stead. Rev. C. J. Mekelson came in the spring of 19IO, staying one year. The present pastor is Rev. John D. Leach, who at the last conference was returned for the fourth year. A flourishing Aid Society, of which Mrs. J. U. Lovering is the efficient president. Mrs. Nellie S. Sanborn is 1he super- intendent of the Sunday school. The Sandown Public Library was established with state aid in 1893. It contains 857 volumes. A. S. Sanborn is the librarian. The societies are: King Philip's Lodge, K. of P. ; Sandown Grange and O.U.A.M. ********************************************************************** * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files t other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIORto uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * *The USgenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.