Chapter 53 - South Hampton from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Julie Dorfman - dorfmans@mindspring.com Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 703 CHAPTER LIII SOUTHHAMPTON Geographical-Topographical-lncorporation of the Town-The Charter- Documentary History-The Churches--The Association Test-Military Record-Public Library. South Hampton lies in the southwestern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by East Kingston and Kensington; on the east by Seabrook; on the south by Massachusetts; and on the west by Newton. The population in 1910 was 279. The surface of the town is rolling and the soil fertile. Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants. It is the fourth town in the county to bear the name of Hampton. Incorporation of the Town.-Prior to 1741 the boundary line of New Hampshire and Massachusetts was what is called the Shapley line, the present northern boundary of South Hampton being the state line, hence the town was wholly a part of Amesbury and Salisbury, extending from the Atlantic on the east to the Town of Kingston on the northwest; thence south two and a quarter miles to the Mitchel line, so called, embracing the present Town of South Hampton, nearly two-thirds of the area of Seabrook, and the easterly portion of the Town of Newton. The town was chartered May 25, 1742, by Benning Wentworth, governor of the Province of New Hampshire in the reign of George II. The first meeting was authorized to be warned and called by Joseph Jewell, John Flanders, and Henry Currier on June 7, 1742. The following is a copy of the charter: Province of New Hampshire, George the Second, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France & Ireland, Defender 0£ the Faith. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting- (L. s.) Know yee, That we at the Humble Suit and Petition of Sundry of our Leidg Subjects Inhabiting a Tract of Land within our Province of New hampshire in New England as hereinafter described, Butted & Bounded, Bordering on the Northern boundary Curve Line of the Prov- ince of the Massachusetts Bay, to be incorporated into a District Parrish, have for divers good causes & considerations us moving, Granted & con- firm'd to the said Inhabitants & their successors. And by these Presents of our Special Grace, certain knowledge & meer Motion for the well ordering & Regulating the affairs of the said Parrish Do Grant & confirm unto the Said Inhabitants & their Successors to be a Town or Parrish Incorporate by the name of South-Hampton within the bounds following, viz Begining at the Atlantick Sea or Ocean on the East, at the distance of three miles North Page 704 of the mouth of the River Merrimack, & from thence to run Northerly to the bounds of that part of the Town of Hampton called Hampton Falls, & thence Westerly pursuing the Bounds of the Said Parrish of Hampton Falls to the Parrishes of Kensinton & Kingstown as has been reputed to have been heretofore agreed upon between the said Towns & Salsbury & Amsbury & Kingstown, till it meets a White Pine Stump in a Line commonly called Shapleys line, & from P. White Pine Stump due South two miles & one Quarter of a mile till it meets a Stake in Mitchells Line that Stands in a hollow or vale, at the North end of a Road & on the Easterly Side of the Said Road that leads from Amsbury across the Childrens Land (so called) Said Stake Stands three miles & a half South Seventy Seven degrees & half West from the Southwest corner of the New Meeting House in Said Parrish, Including all the inhabitants & their Estates from the Said three Miles North of the River Merrimac begining at the Atlantic Sea or Western Ocean on the East, & running Northerly from Mitchels Line (as determined by his Majtie in Council) to the bounds of Hampton Falls Parrish & then Westerly on the Bounds of Kensington & Kingston aforesaid until it meets with the Said White Pine Stump in Shapleys line So called, & from Said Stump due South two miles and one Quarter of a mile to the Stake aforesaid in Said Mitchels Line neare the Childrens land (Excepting the Lands Estates & Poles of Jacob French, John True, Jonathan Hoit, Joseph Tucker, Joseph Page, Samuel Eaton, Ephraim Eaton, Richard Smith, Joseph Todd, Thomas Selly, David Fowler, Tristam Collins, Samuel Fowler, Samuel Watson, Jeremiah Wheeler, Benjamin Hoit, James Jackman, Elihu Dow, John Eaton, Noah Dow, Benjamin Collins, Bildad Dow, Judah Dow, Benony Selly, Samuel Selly, John Eaton, Jr., * * * who are hereby annexed to the Parrish of Hampton Falls & in all Respects incorporated into the Parrish of Hampton Falls, for their well ordering & being Regulated for Parrish affairs,) To have and to hold all the Priveledges & Imunities of a Town Corporate & to be ruled & Governed in all Respects for the Said Town affairs, by the laws of the Province of Newhampshire as other Towns are. The first Town Meet- ing Shall be called by Joseph Jewell, John Flanders, & Henry Currier, the Seventh day of June, Next by Notification in Writing by them Signed & affixed to the Meeting House Dore Seven day's at least before the holding of Such Meeting & afterwards the Town Meetings Shall- be called at Such times as the affairs of Said Town may Require in Such Manner as the Laws of the Province of N ewhampshire hath prescribed £or Towns. And We do further by these Presents for us our Heirs & Successors, Grant, Establish and Ordaine, That yearly once in a Year & forever hereafter namely the first Monday in March Yearely there shall be held and kept by the Free- holders and Inhabitants of Said Town a Town Meeting at their Publick Meeting Place in Said Town, & there by a Majority of the Freeholders & Inhabitants presents Legally Qualified to Vote, to make Choice of all Town Officers for the Ensuing Years, and to transact any other affairs of the Town as other Towns & Parishes, according to the Laws of the Said Prov- ince do * * * In Testimony whereo£ we have caused the Public Seale of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed. -Witness Benning Wentworth Esq., Governour and Commander in Chief in and over our Said Province of Page 705 Newhampshire the twenty-fifth day of May in the fifteenth yeare of our Reign, Annoqr Dom, 1742. B. WENTWORTH. Province of New Hampse November 24th, 1742. By his Excelencys Command With the advice of the Council THEODORE ATKINSON Secy We omit a petition of sundry persons to be set off in 1742 and a long memorial of inhabibnts of South Hampton relating to the settlement of a minister as they are printed in full in the state records. The following refers to the settlement : At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of ye town of South Hampton, Jan'ry ye 15th 1742-43, Joseph French was chosen Moderator. At ye same meeting it was put to vote wheither the Town would chuse the Rev. Mr. Odlin and the Rev. Mr. Gookin and their messengers to be assistant in Council with ye other Ministers for gathering a Church and carry on ye ordination among us, and ye vote was past in the affirmative. A true copy. Attest, Reuben Dimond, Town Clerk. We voted that we would pay back again all their part of ye extraordinary charges that should arise to them by finishing ye Meeting house, setteling a minister and building for him when they should be thought capable to maintain ye Gospel of Christ among them: but then there was a condition annext to that vote: it was provided that they did not molest or hinder us in our speedy setteling a Gospel minister among us; but now they have opposed us from place to place, and from time to time they have entered their con- trary desents once and agen against our Regular proceedings in an orderly way to settle a Gospel minister among us, and then put us to a great deal of trouble and to an extraordinary charge in calling in that Grand Council which set at ye time appointed, and the Rev. Mr. Caleb Chusing was moderator, and our Desenting brethren appeared in Council and objected against some of ye CouncIl ; and ye moderator ask them who they were and i they said Mr. Joseph Parsons, Mr. Samuel Parsons, and Mr. Fogg; the Moderator ask them what they had against them men; they sd they wear akend; and ye Moderator ask them what they had against ye man that was to be ordained as to his life and conversation or his Doctrin, and they eledge nothing; but they said ye Province line would be moved and then they should lose the money that they had expended with us, and they had not a convenient way: The Moderator told them as to ye removing ye line that could be no bar as to setteling ye minister, for if ye lines should be moved then we must petition ye Massachusetts Court for a Parrish, and as to a way, their law provides how they should get high ways; so notwithstanding all ye objec- tions and allegations they could make the Rev. Council did not see but ye way was clear to settel a minister among us. All these molestations, interruptions and oppositions we have met with from our Desenting brethren since we offerd them that vote; yet now they would skreen themselves under that vote, that we are wIlhng they should go off when they have never fullfilld ye conditions of ye vote in anyone article; for if our Desenting brethren had agreed with us, we should have had none occasion to have been at so much trouble and of such an extraordinary charge Page 706 in sending from town to town and from one Parish to another about ye country to call in that Grand Council, for two or three of ye neighbouring, ministers would have done our business in ye morning before ye ordination. South Hampton March ye 29, 1745. Daniel Brown John Ordway Joseph French Nathaniel Morrill Reuben Dimond Samuel French Daniel Carter Joseph Chandler Henry Ct1rrier Abner MorrilI Samuel Straw Daniel French Henry French Ephraim Carter Joseph Morrill Joseph Jewit? Nathan Gould Richard Fitts Joseph Gould Samuel Barnard Moses Richason Josiah Flanders Elezer French Ezekiel Hoyt Joseph Jones Joshua Clow Ephraim Carter Samuel Morrill Jonathan Jewet Orlando Weed? Ephraim Brown Jonathan Flanders Paul MorrilI Elijah Rowell The Congregational Church.--Previous to 1742 the people at Loggin Plain ( South Hampton Hill ) worshiped with the Second Church in Salis- bury, now known as the Rocky Hill Church. Rev. Joseph Parsons was the pastor. The meeting-house was then located about one mile north of the present church. A movement was made as early as 1735 to have the meeting- house moved to some other location, but it was not voted till 1784, when it was removed to the present location. The Rocky Hill Church was gathered November 17, 1718, and Rev. Joseph Parsons was called to the pastorate. He was pastor £or twenty years. The church received 300 members during his pastorate. In August, 1742, Rev. Samuel Webster, D. D., accepted the call of the church, and died in 1796, in the fifty-fi£th year of his ministry. Upwards of three hundred people joined the church during his ministry, fifty-three on January 4, 1756, and seventy-nine during that year. Rev. Andrew Beatie was pastor from June 28, 1797, to March 16, 1801. His successor was Rev. William Balch, who was pastor from 1802 to 1816. From 1816 to 1830 there was no settled pastor. At that time Rev. Benjamin Sawyer was called to the pastorate, and continued in charge of the church until his death in March, 1871. In November, 1735, the Town of Salisbury voted that they would not hire a minister to preach a third of the time above Powow Hill, at Loggin Plain, although land for the support of the ministry had been set off in this division. In December, 1738, the town of Salisbury voted that the meeting- house should not be moved to Stillson Allen's, nor anything be allowed for the support of preaching to those inhabitants living above Powow Hill. Upon the death of Rev. Joseph Parsons, in 1739, Henry French and sixty-six others at Loggin Plain, above Powow Hill, remonstrated against the settlement of another pastor of the West Church in Salisbury, unless the meeting-house was moved to better accommodate them. March 10, 1740, ten persons are named in the records as excused from paying minister rates in Salisbury, if it would better accommodate them to attend and support the meeting at the East Parish of Kingston. Page 707 The parsonage land of Salisbury, in what is now South Hampton, at that time was divided into six divisions. At a legal meeting held December 27, 1742, it was voted to give Rev. William Parsons a call "to settle in the work of the gospel ministry among us," and a committee was chosen to carry the town's offer to him and to receive his answer on January 3, 1743. It was voted that we build a con- venient house and barn for the use of Reverend Mr. Parsons. His salary was "the income of the South Parsonage, with privilege to cut wood for fire on North Parsonage, and forty-five pounds in bills of credit on either province, at silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce." The church was organized February 22, 1743, with Rev. William Parsons, Thomas Merrill; and twelve others. One month later, on Lord's day, March 20, 1743, thirty-nine were admitted by letter from the Rocky Hill Church and three new members. From this date to the resignation of Mr. Parsons, in 1762, sixty-one were admitted to the church by letter and 114 new members. Reverend Mr. Parsons' pastorate closed October 6, 1762. For nearly twenty years he had been laboring with the people, and the records show that he had baptized 344 children and solemnized 155 marriages. It was during his ministry that the great revival in New England was enjoyed. He was a native of Boston, a graduate of Harvard College class of 1735, and died in 1797, aged eighty-two years. After his dismissal at South Hampton he removed to Gilmanton, N. H., where he continued preaching, and also engaged in teaching. He was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Noyes in 1763, who remained until December 8, 1800. During the ministry of Mr. Noyes sixty-one were added to the church by letter, 114 on profession; 189 children were baptized, and 310 marriages solemnized. Rev. Nathaniel Noyes was born in Newbury, Mass., August 12, 1735, graduated at Yale College in 1759, studied theology with President Davis, was pastor at South Hampton nearly forty year, and died at Newburyport in 1810, aged seventy-five years. For several years after Mr. Noyes' pastorate at South Hampton closed the Congregationalists held meetings in the town a portion of the time; Rev. Elias Hull, of Seabrook, Reverend Mr. Hoitt, of Ipswich, and Rev. Benjamin Sawyer frequently preached, The Baptist Church.- The first Baptist sermon delivered in this town was in 1774, by Dr. Samuel Shepherd. He was born at East Salisbury. Mass., in 1739, converted in early life, and united with the Congregational Church July 4, 1756. He was baptized and taken into the Baptist Church in June, 1770, and immediately began preaching. He was ordained at Stratham, September 25, 1771. Elder Shepherd commenced his work in this town in 1774. Here in 1780 was organized the Branch Church. Until 1787 the meetings of the Branch Church were all, or nearly all, held in this town, and from 1787 to 1793 the Sunday services were held all the time at South Hampton, and two-thirds of the time at Salisbury. No reference is made on the Brentwood Church records till 1790 of meetings in Salisbury. In 1793, and forward probably till 1801, the Sunday services were held one-half the time at South Hampton, and one-half at Salisbury; after 1801 at Salis- bury all the time, at what was known as the "Shoestring Meeting-House," and the Baptists of this town had the use of the old meeting-house from 1801 to 1833, when the Baptist meeting house was built, an average of one-third Page 708 part of the time, Elder True supplying the Baptists here most of the time. Thus there have been more or less each year Baptist meetings held in this town on the Sabbath from 1774 to the present date. The Baptist Church of South Hampton was organized September 29, 1830, with the following members: Thomas Flanders, Samuel Flanders, Priscilla flanders, Elizabeth Flanders, Elizabeth Dow, Lydia Jewell, Sarah Barnard, Sarah Barnard ( 2d ) , Hannah Sawyer, and Betsey Flanders. The first deacon of the church was Thomas Flanders. The old meeting-house was occupied when it could be obtained, but other denominations had a right to occupy it a portion of the time, and when it was not to be secured the commodious dwelling-house of Moses Tuxbury was freely offered, and was occupied by this church. In the summer of 1832 the frame of the building £or the new church was raised and the corner-stone laid. October, 1832, the church was formally admitted to the association by letter and delegate. January 16, 1833, the house of worship was dedicated. The sermon upon that occasion was by Rev. Elijah Foster, of Salisbury. The enterprise of building the meeting-house was accomplished by six brethren-Moses Tuxbury, Thomas Flanders, Samuel Flanders, Joseph Stockman, Benjamin Currier, and Charles Jewell. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Jabez True, Samuel C. Gilbert, Otis Wing, Samuel Cook, George Ashby, Samuel Ladd, Palmer C. Hines, John K. Chase, Samuel Ladd, C. H. Pierson, E. A. Edwards, S. E. Brown, Erastus Willard, Joel Wheeler, S. S. White, E. A. Edwards, J. E. Brown, James W. Searll, Frank W. Tolman, E. L. Scott. The following are the successors of Rev. E. L. Scott : Revs. S. P. Everett, 1882-85; W. K. Davey, 1885-91; E. S. Cotton, 1B92-190l; E. M. Willard, 1901-02; J. E. Dame, 1902-05; H. Y. Vinal, 1905-08; A. Mason, 1908-10; R. A. Burrows, 1910-13; H. E. Levoy, 1913. Free-Will Baptist Church.-August 14, 1830. the first Free-Will Baptist Church in South Hampton was organized with seven members,-James Woodman, Eunice Woodman, Ezra Flanders, William Carr, Mary Carr, and Dorothy Goodwin. The first meeting was held in the house of James Wood- man. The second meeting of the church was held at Brother Reuben Flan- ders' ; Elder Asa Merrill preached. The first monthly church meeting was held at Levi B. Pierce's, October 16th. December 16th, Ezra Flanders and Levi B. Pierce were chosen deacons, and James Woodman clerk. June 14, 1831, Brother Asa Merrill preached at the house of Brother Moses Tuxbury. Elder Bean, Elder Knowles, and Elder James Merrill frequently preached at this time. The first record of the breaking of bread was on November 20, 1831, at the house of Reuben Flanders. On May 15. 1833. the church united with the New Durham Quarterly Meeting, afterwards was dismissed £rom that, and united with the Rockingham Quarterly Meeting October 7, 1835. On July 7. 1833, their meeting was held at the old meeting-house, and on April 6, 1834, at the schoolhouse, District NO.2, and later the same year at the town house June 22d. Elder Samuel Emmons Brown preached at the town house; nearly all the meetings of the church were held at the town house at that time. Brother Charles Stevens, Elder John Kimball, and Elder D. H. Lord were among the preachers who supplIed the pulpIt at thIs time. In 1837 we find the church record dated Salisbury for the first time. In Page 709 1838 meetings were frequently held at Allan's Corner schoolhouse. July 4, 1840, Pelatiah Hanscom was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry , and became the first regular pastor of the church. A general rule was established that at church meetings each member present should make a verbal statement of God's dealing with him for the month past, and those who did not attend were required to send a written excuse. In 1841 the services were nearly all held at the town house and the school- house in District No. 2. March 20, 1841, Elder Hanscom became the subject of church discipline, and the records say that he has had repeated personal entreaties, and he has also been kindly admonished by two or three, and we hope the trial will be settled without entering into church labor. May 2, 1842, the following cer- tificate appears : "This certifies that Brother Pelatiah Hanscom expresses to us, the under- signed, that he has no trial with the First Free-Will Baptist Church of Christ, in this town, from which he is dismissed this day. "CHARLES W. HOIT. "JAMES WOODMAN. "Azor G. WOODMAN." The Rockingham quarterly conference was held in the town house May 24, 1842. The church meetings this year and afterwards were frequently held at Dorothy Woodman's at Amesbury, and at Allen's Corner schoolhouse, Salisbury. In 1844 services were held at the Amesbury Academy, Elder Asa Merrill frequently preaching. In 1845 the meetings were held at Allen's Corner and the Mills village, with all occasional sermon at South Hampton. In 1847 the church is spoken of as being in a lukewarm state. In 1848, Elder Benjamin H. McMurphy became the second pastor of this church. In 1848 and 1849 the meetings were nearly all held at Allen's Corner schoolhouse and Amesbury Academy. September 26, 1849, the Free-Will Baptist meeting-house was dedicated. It was situated near the residence of Mr. James Quimby in Salisbury. During the nineteen years' history of this church forty-eight persons were admitted to its membership. The church was continued at Amesbury , it being considered advisable to change its location to that thriving and pros- perous town. Other Religious History.-The POP1.1lation of South Hampton in 1775 was 498; in 1790, 448; in 1855, 472; and in 1880 it is 383. The income of the parsonage from 1800 to 1833 averaged between seventy and eighty dol- lars, and the town usually raised a sum not exceeding $150 a year for preach- ing. This, together with the interest on the north parsonage money. $263.33, was expended by a committee, consisting of two or more persons with the selectmen, and was divided among the different religious denominations pro- portionately to their tax. In 1810 the Congregationalists had about three- tenths of the income, the Methodists; two-tenths, and the Universalists one- tenth. In 1820 the Methodists had about one-fourth, the Congregationalists one-fifth, the Universalists a little less than one-third. In 1830 Unitarians , had one-twelfth, the Methodists one-ninth, the Congregationalists one- seventh, and the Universalists one-third. From 1825 to 1830 the Universal- ists employed as preachers Rev. Messrs. Case, Farnsworth, King, Adams, Page 710 and others; the Congregationalists. Rev. Messrs. Barrett, Sawyer, Cook, Milton, Grovenor, Babbitt, Walsh, and others; the Methodists, Rev. Messrs. Brooks, Peasley, Bulfinch, and others; the Unitarians, Rev. Mr. Turner; the Christians. Rev. Elijah Shaw; the Baptists, Rev. Jabez True, Rev. James Barnaby, Rev. Benjamin Harris, and others; the Free-Will Baptists, Miss Nancy Towle and Rev. Messrs. Boothby, Ambrose, Marsh, and others. In 1830 the subject of selling the parsonage began to be agitated. Already the barn had been sold for a small sum, and two acres of land leased for 900 years. In 1832 the present town house was located. The next year the standing wood was sold, the site for the Barnard schoolhouse granted and that of the Baptist Church, and in 1834 the burying ground was laid out, and the remainder of the property sold in 1842. The amount put to interest for religious purposes was $2,585.97. The income of this money in 1834 and 1835 was divided among the following societies: Deists, Naturalists, Second Universalists, Congregationalists, Quakers, Unitarians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Free Baptists, Methodists, Philanthropists, Free Thinkers, and Uni- versalists. The Second Universalist Society was simply an accommodation for some who had little or no religious belief, to secure a part of !he income of the parsonage fund. The regular Universalist society was at this time at the height of its prosperity. It is probable that when Rev. George Richards was settled in Portsmouth, from 1793 to 1809, the seeds of that faith were sown in this town, and when, later, Hosea Ballou was settled in the same place, his biographer says, "He did not hesitate sometimes to leave the dear people of his charge and journey to other places. He went into other parts of New Hampshire, and sometimes extended his visits in Massachusetts." Among the Universalist ministers who visited the town was Rev. Sebastian Streeter, and a society was formed as early as 1815, with Joseph Jones as clerk. The prominent citizens who embraced Universalism were Benjamin Barnard, founder of the Barnard school; Col. Abel Brown, Nathan Brown, Richard White, and Jacob Jewell. In 1828, at a meeting of the Rockingham Univer- salist Association, held at Kingston, Mrs. Richard White was the only lady present. In 1830 the Universalist society at South Hampton was reported in a flourishing condition; the old society had been reorganized and Benja- min Clifford was clerk. The Rockingham Association met in thiS town for the first time in 1832. Among the speakers present we can name Rev. Messrs. Famsworth, Thomas King, Hosea Ballou, Thomas Whittemore, and Sebas- tian Streeter. In 1838 the Rockingham Association again met in this town. Revs. Messrs. Sebastian Streeter, Daniel Smith, and Thomas Whittemore preached. Of this meeting Mr. Vhittemore said. "We know that if we described this meeting as we viewed it and felt it, we should be regarded as too enthusiastic; nevertheless, we must say that taken altogether it was one of the most precious meetings we ever attended. The conference and praise meetings were peculiarly interesting; all the addresses were marked by sound wisdom and deep evangelical feeling." In 1851, the Rockingham Association again met at South Hampton. Sermons were delivered by Rev. William Bell, Rev. S. S. Fletcher. Rev. N. Goldsmith, Rev. T. J. Greenwood, and Rev. L. B. Mason. Rev. Samuel Ladd, of the Baptist Church, was an atten- tive listener. In 1856 a new impetus was given to the Universalist society through the activities of the Ladies' Sewing Circle. Page 711 Rev. A. J. Paterson and Rev. G. V. Maxham came to this town under the direction of the United States convention, and regular meetings were established at the town house. Messrs. B. F. Eaton and J. J. Woodman read sermons, with occasional preaching in the summer months by Rev. Messrs. Greenwood, Patterson, Spaulding, Chambre, and other. A Sunday school was organized with J. W. Eaton as superintendent, and a library of more than two hundred volumes secured. The summer of 1859 closed these lay services. The Rockingham Asso- ciation met in this town in 1864. The preachers were Rev. Messrs. William Bell, S. S. Fletcher, A. St. John Chambre, and T. J. Borden. While at Portsmouth, Rev. Mr. Patterson waS much interested in the people of this town. A large number of the inhabitants still hold the doctrines of the Uni- versalist Church. No services have been held here for several years. There were quite a number of Methodists in the town between 1810 and 1835, and Rev. John Brodhead frequently preached here. He was stationed at different times in nearly all the surrounding towns of the county. He was a very prominent man, chaplain to the Legislature, member of the State Senate, and for four years member of Congress. In whatever situation Mr. Brodhead was placed, he considered it his chief honor to be a faithful min- ister of Jesus Christ. He spent twenty-eight years of his ministerial life in thig immediate vicinity, and died at Newmarket, April 7, 1838. He had a commanding personal appearance and eyes beaming with intelligence and benevolence. Another prominent Methodist divine who preached in this town was Rev. Marton Ruter; he was stationed at Salisbury in 1815. He was born at Charl- ton, Worcester County, Mass., and was thirty years old when he preached here. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him five years later. His preaching was adapted at once to please, to instruct, and to awaken. Rev. Elias Smith, a member of the Christian Church, and the father of Matthew Hale Smith, occasionally preached here. The distribution of the parsonage money, which occurred in 1842, was a blow to all denominations except the Baptist. Our fathers set apart cer- tain property for the maintenance of religious worship, and we cannot but regard the disposal of the property and the distribution of the proceeds among the inhabitants of the town was a great wrong. As we review the religious history of 140 years, can we discern any prog- ress? Has light come to the people ? There has at least one great problem been settled,-the question of re- ligious toleration. The germ of all the trouble in regard to religious liberty is found in that compact made in the Mayflower before the pilgrim fathers had stepped upon the rock in Plymouth harbor. The question was raised, How shall the min- isters of the new country re supported? It was ordered that houses be built for them at the public charge, and their salaries were established. Those people who had fled from persecution themselves did not fully comprehend the principles of rdigious liberty or possess its spirit. In this compact of the pilgrims was the union of church and state, and immediately following this was a law for the suppression of anti-church and state sects, and banish- ment from the colony was the penalty for not sustaining this unjust law. Page 712 People were compelled in those days to pay fpr churches they never en- tered, for teaching they never heard, and clerical services they did not desire. The Quaker, the Baptist, the Methodist, and the Universalist was taxed for the support of a religion he did not believe. Barstow, in his "History of New Hampshire," says, "That all ministers not of the standing order were viewed as thieves and robbers, as wolves in sheep's clothing, who had gained a dishonest entrance into the fold, and whom it was the duty of the standing order to drive out." The law of 1791 recognized only one religious sect, and the agitation for its repeal shook New Hampshire from seaboard to mountain. When the toleration bill was pending, in 1819, Mr. Hubbard said, "Pass this bill, and the temples now consecrated to the worship of the Saviour of the world will soon be deserted and forsaken." Ichabod Bartlett, a young and talented lawyer of Portsmouth, espoused the cause of toleration, and finally the bill became a law, and all religious denominations in the state were possessed of equal rights and privileges. The Association Test was signed by eighty-five, and four did not sign. MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65 Henry Wilson, Company K, Second Regiment, enlisted November 30, 1863, transferred to United States Navy April 29, 1864; James Wilson, Company K, Second Regiment, enlisted December 2, 1863; John Smith, Com- pany K, Second Regiment, enlisted December 2, 1863; George Baker, Com- pany I, Second Regiment, enlisted December 2, 1863; Ammi Farr, corporal Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, promoted to sec- ond lieutenant Company B, Seventeenth Regiment, discharged April 16, 1863; Otis S. Currier, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, absent, sick, July 17, 1865, no discharge furnished; John G. Colcord, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, promoted to cor- poral, discharged May 27, 1865; Joseph F. Deleware, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, died September 16, 1864; Newell F. Hill, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, discharged July 17, 1865; Stephen M. Towle, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, died November 27, 1863; Amos S. Osgood, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862, discharged June 4, 1865; Edwin S. Osgood, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862, promoted to corporal, discharged June 4, 1865; Charles Blumney, Company K, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 17, 1862, discharged May 31, 1863; George L. Eaton, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862, discharged January 14, 1863; Evander A. Goodrich, Company C, Sixth Regi- ment, enlisted September 3, 1862, discharged September 3, 1865; Estwick E. Morrill, Company A, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 17, 1862, absent, sick, July 17, 1865, no discharge furnished; George H. P. Rowell, Company C. Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862, died September 20, 1863 ; Cyros W. Tenney, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted S~ptember 3, 1862, promoted to corporal, discharged June 4, 1865; Phineas P. Whitehouse, Com- pany C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862, promoted to corporal; absent, sick, no discharge furnished; John H. Hardy, Company C, Sixth Regiment, enlisted November 27, 1861, promoted to corporal and sergeant, Page 713 discharged July 17, 1865; Edwin Bragg, Company D, Sixth Regiment, en- listed August 17, 1864, discharged July 1, 1865; Thomas Bell, Company B, Sixth Regiment, enlisted September 3, 1862; Oliver H. F. Delaware, Com- pany B, Eighth Regiment, enlisted December 20, 1861, discharged July 5, 1862; George H. Flint, Company B, Eighth Regiment, enlisted December 20, 1861, died February 24, 1863; James Frederick, Company C, Ninth Regi- ment, enlisted August 25, 1864; Edward J. Stevens, Company B, Ninth Regi- ment, enlisted December I, 1863; Michael Summers, Company I, Eleventh Regiment, enlisted September 2, 1862, discharged June 4, 1865; George R. Ruse, Company I, Eleventh Regiment, enlisted September 2, 1862, discharged June 4, 1865; Lewis Little, Company E, Thirteenth Regiment, enlisted Sep- tember 24, 1862 ; Daniel S. Davis, Company D, Fourteenth Regiment, en- listed October 6, 1862, discharged July 27, 1863; John Rourke, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, enlisted August 6, 1864 discharged July 8, 1865; Abel K. Fowler, Company H, Eighteenth Regiment, enlisted February 9, 1865, discharged July 29, 1865; Israel S. Merri11, Company H, First Cavalry, en- listed February 21, 1865, discharged July 15, 1865; George Brewer, corporal Company K, Heavy Artillery, enlisted September 17, 1864, discharged June 15,1865: William F. Dame, Company K, Heavy Artillery, enlisted Septem- her 17,1864, discharged June IS, 1865; George H. Lang, Company K, Heavy Artillery, enlisted September 17, 1864, discharged June 15, 1865; Thomas G. Wentworth, Company K, Heavy Artillery, enlisted September 17, 1864, dis- charged June 15, 1865; Samuel Campton, United States C. T., enlisted August 5. 1864, date of discharge unknown; John Jones, United States C. T., enlisted August 5, 1864, date of discharge unknown; John O. P. Clifford, navy, enlisted AugtiSt, 1862, date of discharge unknown; Benja- min S. Gordon, enlisted 1863, date of discharge unknown; William Delaney, enlisted August 17, 1864, date of discharge unknown. The South Hampton Public Library was established on December, 1892. with state aid. There are at present 1,716 books on the shelves, exclusive of the state records. lsrael S. Merrill is the librarian. G. W. Palmer is master of Fidelity Grange, P. of H. A pamphlet has been issued by Fred B. French of South Hampton dated February, 1914, entitled "South Hampton Never a Part of Hampton." The pamphlet is illustrateu with maps showing without doubt that Belknap and other historians were in error in their statements that South Hampton was formerly a part of Hampton. ********************************************************************** * * * 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.