HISTORICAL DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT
AMHERST, N. H.,
ON THE
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
BY THE PASTOR, J. G. DAVIS;
With sketches of Persons, Places, and Churches connected with
the parish originally called Souhegan West, by Rev. A.
HEALD, S. H. KEELER, D.D., W. B. TOWNE,
and D. F. SECOMB, Esquires.
CONCORD, N. H.:
PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.
1874.




AMHERST, Jan'y 26, 1874.
REV. DR. DAVIS:
DEAR SIR,-The undersigned, having, heard, with great satisfaction,
your address commemorative of the one hundredth anniversary of
the dedication of the church, and feeling that it should be put in
form for preservation, earnestly request a copy for publication. A
general desire is also expressed that the other valuable and interesting
historical papers presented on that occasion may be printed with the
discourse.
WM. A. MACK,          H. E. WOODBURY,
DAVID FISK,           WILLIAM PRATT,
LUTHER ELLIOTT,       GEORGE DANFORTH,
AARON S. WILKINS,   LEVI J. SECOMB,
GEO. W. BOSWORTE,   Z. PERRY,
WILLIAM WETHERBEE.
AMHERST, Jan'y 27, 1874.
GENTLEMEN, —
In compliance with the request, so kindly expressed in your communication of the 26th, I submit the manuscript of my discourse to your
disposal. The history is by no means complete, but, connected with
the other papers that you propose to print under the same covers, will
serve to keep alive the memory of the fathers, and thus quicken our
gratitude to God for the great benefits conferred on us through their
toils.            With sincere esteem,
Yours,       J. G. DAVIS.
To WILLIAM A. MACK, Esq.,
DAVID FISK, and others.




INTRODUCTION.
At a meeting of the Congregational Church, held Nov. 18, 1873, it
was Voted, That the officers of the church, with Messrs. Levi J. Secomb
and Jotham Hartshorn, be a committee to learn the wishes of citizens
and church members, and ascertain whether it be expedient to observe
the centennial of the dedication of the Congregational meeting-house,
which occurred Jan. 19, 1774.
This committee met at Dea. Boylston's on the 25th, and decided
that it is expedient to commemorate the dedication of the meetinghouse, by a sermon and other appropriate exercises. It was subsequently determined to obtain sketches of the history of other churches
which have been organized within the original limits of Amherst, as Milford, Mt. Vernon, and the Baptist and Methodist churches in town.
Invitations were accordingly issued to pastors and others to furnish
sketches of churches and deceased persons, with historical reminiscences suited to the occasion. Services were assigned to Sunday the
18th, and to Monday P. M. of the 19th of January, when the Methodist
and Baptist societies, and the congregation from Mt. Vernon, united
with the parent church in the worship of God in the old meeting-house.
The day was pleasant, and the sleighing excellent. The house was
filled in every part, the aisles being furnished with extra seats.
The services of the morning opened with the doxology; invocation
and reading of the scriptures by Rev. Mr. Ruland; prayer by Rev.
Dr. Keeler; and singing 1st version of the 78th psalm," Let children hear the mighty deeds
Which God performed of old "-Tate' Bradyfollowed.by the historical discourse, and prayer by Rev. Dr. Clark.
In the afternoon, after singing, and prayer by Rev. Mr. Heald, the
salutations of the Methodist church were presented by Rev. Mr. Ruland
in a cordial address, when Rev. Mr. Heald read his sketch of the Baptist church, and Dr. Keeler followed with the history of the church in
Mt. Vernon.
The next day a large audience assembled in the Town Hall, at 1




4
o'clock P. M., the pastor of the Congregational church presiding. Rev.
Mr. IHeald offered prayer, when, in answer to a call from the chair,
Hon. Wm. B. Towne gave a succinct history of the origin of the town
of Milford, the organization of the church, and the services of its
ministers.
In response to some remarks on the life and services of Daniel Campbell, Esq., one of the early settlers, Hon. Chas. H. Campbell, of Nashua,
made a spirited address, abounding in choice anecdotes of the olden
times, with grateful reminiscences of his ancestors and other respected
citizens living in the neighborhood, establishing a claim* in behalf of
the beautiful swell of land, which these men and their descendants have
occupied for nearly a century, to be called the Moderator's Hill.
To this address succeeded the reading of interesting memorials of
departed worthies and their times, by D. F. Secomb, Esq., of Concord,
the son of John and brother of Levi J. Secomb, whose names are associated with long terms of service in important offices of the town.
The exercises were enlivened by cheery songs of the. Apollo Club
from  Nashua. With a few earnest words from  Dea. Boylston on the
importance of making provision for the publication of a history of the
town, the meeting was closed.
In the evening an organ concert was given by Geo. H. Ryder, of
Boston, in which he was aided by Miss H. A. Russell, Mr. Merrill and
his club, with the new instrument he had set up the week previous in the
meeting-house. In concluding this sketch of the commemorative services, it is due to the authors of the several papers. now printed, to say
that they are not as complete as they intended.  The time for preparation was too short for extensive research or exhaustive treatment.  In
giving the sermon and sketches to the press, they are influenced by a
desire to place these fragments of history in a form in which the materials may be preserved for the more thorough and comprehensive
treatment which the good name and services of Amherst, Mt. Vernon,
and Milford deserve.
* The claim is justified by the fact that six individuals, belonging to three families in
that school district, have served as moderators at forty-one of the one hundred and
fifteen annual town meetings held since the incorporation of the town. The same persons have served fifty-seven years on the board of selectmen, and represented the town
fourteen years in the general court. They are Daniel Campbell, Daniel Campbell, Jr.,
Charles H. Campbell, John Secomb, Levi J. Secomb, and William A. Mack.  s.




DISCOURSE.
JOHN 4:38.  *   *   OTHER MEN LAB()URED, AND YE ARE
ENTERED INTO THEIR LABORS.
HAGGAI 2:9. THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER HOUSE SHALL BE
GREATER THAN OF THE FORMER, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS.
1 ICINGS 8: 57. THE LORD OUR GOD BE WITH US, AS HE WAS
WITH OUR FATHERS. LET HIM NOT LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US.
The great law of human progress, by which one generation
enters on the labors of the preceding, and profits by its toil,
has manifold illustrations. There was a preparation for the
specific mission of the apostles, in the results wrought out by
the counsels and experience of prophets and teachers who
were commissioned before them. Each age gathers wisdom
from the labors and researches of the preceding age.  In every science, and in every art, we are constrained to acknowledge our indebtedness to the genius and industry of departed generations. So is it in respect to social customs, religious institutions, and all the essential features of our civilization. We have but taken up and carried forward the work
which our fathers laid down.
One of the most important uses of historical discourses and
commemorations is, to teach us what we owe to the past; to
bring to mind the conditions of hardship and toil; the enterprise and patient industry by which our present prosperity
was attained.  Without some effort of this kind, by which
we reproduce the lives and labors of those who have gone before us, we shall not adequately value the heritage on which




6
we have entered, and by which we are so richly endowed.
The event which we commemorate this day is not in itself
so remarkable as to deserve special notice. The dedication
of a house, erected for public worship at this day, has seldom
any wide interest beyond the gratification of those who are
to be accommodated beneath its roof. But this was not the
sentiment a hundred years ago. The erection of a meetinghouse, in the early history of the New England towns, was
memorable as the result of a purpose to honor God in circumstances of hardship and destitution. It was accomplished
amidst difficulties, and with an outlay of time and labor
which was a heavy tax on the inhlabitants.  The building of
lofty height, which was usually planted on some eminence, was
the exponent of an idea that entered into and fashioned the
character of the people. It was not merely an expression of religious feeling, but an expression of the principle
that religion is to be maintained by the keeping of Sabbaths, and regular public instruction in the doctrines of the
Bible. When we learn that the grantees of the Na'rragansett township were required " to pass such rules and orders
as will effectually oblige them to settle sixty families, at least,
in each township, with a learned and orthodox ministry,
within the space of seven years from the date of this grant,"
and when we learn that "c if the said grantees shall not effectually settle the said number of families in each township,
and also lay out a lot for the first settled minister, one for
the ministry, and one for the school in each of said townships, they shall have no advantage of, but forfeit their respective grants,"-it is obvious that, in the minds of those
legislators, education and religion were held essential to the
well-being of society; that in peopling a township there was
a necessity of providing for the education of children, and
for the religious culture and worship of all the inhabitants.
If these ideas could not be realized, they were not disposed
to encourage new settlements.
It has been alleged that the members of the Massachusetts




7
government, in making these grants,'" were influenced more
by motives of policy than those of benevolence," as "they
wished to retain property in the lands, in case the jurisdiction was taken away." Tlhat considerations of this nature
were active in promoting these grants may be admitted. To
suppose that these settlements would be undertaken without
any prospect of personal advantage, is to assume a superhuman virtue in our ancestors to which they made no claims.
The commendable feature of the transaction is, that, having in
view the acquisition of landed property, they did not overlook
nor neglect the higher conditions that respected the service
of God and the spiritual welfare of the emigrants.  The persons to whom the grant No. 3, at Souhegan West, was made,
lived in Essex county, Massachusetts; and, as few of the
original proprietors came into New Hampshire, the harmony
of their action in accepting the trust is the more noticeable.
It is with some diffidence* that I attempt to describe the
movements of the first settlers.  The early landmarks have
disappeared; and it is not easy to reproduce the scenes in
which they planted their habitations.  To men employed in
subjugating the forests, clearing  lots, making roads, and
rearing log houses, there was no leisure, and little disposition, to make careful records of the place and progress of
their occupations.  The first settlement in the territory was
made in 1734, the same year in which the proprietors held
their first meeting at Salem Village (now Danvers), Mass.
The emigrants were mainly from the towns of Essex county:
at a later period valuable accessions to the population came
from  Middlesex county.  On taking possession of the township in 1735,-after a plan which distributed the soil into
* The author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dea. E. D. Boylston for the
use of original letters and other valuable MSS. from his private collections, with the
loan of the "Proprietors' Records" belonging to lion. C. H. Campbell. His thanks
are due to D. F. Secomb, Esq., of Concord, for many anecdotes of the early inhabitants, with copies of papers from the archives of the state. Edward Spalding, M. D.,
and William B. Towne, Esq., have also aided him by personal recollections and other
information.




8
three sections, with sub-divisions into lots of sixty acres
each, —the proprietors vote "to lay out a place whereon
to erect a meeting-house;" and, in August of the same
year, they also vote "'to build."  A meeting-house would be
of little use without worshippers. WVe accordingly read
of appropriations, to induce people to move hither and
take up lands. At first, a grant is made of ~6 to each
settler on clearing two acres of land, and the completion of a house 18x18, and 7 feet stud,-a grant subsequently increased to  ~20 to actual settlers. Tlis will
explain the delay in executing the earlier votes. The way
was not prepared. Openings must be made in the forests,
the soil broken, and crops raised, before men and materials
could be had for the house of worship. In February of
1737-38, the subject is brought up anew, and they decide
"to build a house forty-five feet in length, thirty-five in
width, and twenty-two feet stud,"-a structure of generous
proportions for that period, answering in its area to one half
of the room we now occupy. They proposed to cover the
outside and erect a pulpit within twelve months, and ~3
per right was assessed on the proprietors to pay for the same.
This house, which was located on the rising ground at the
junction of the roads then leading to Bedford and through
the west parish to New Boston, was actually raised in May
of 1739, when Capt. Ebenezer Raimond was instructed to
provide entertainment for the raising, —a laborious and
somewhat dangerous undertaking. In that year, the inhabitants were authorized to  draw  ~20 from  the treasury
" towards their having the word of God preached among
them for the next six mos.," which was supplemented by
another grant of ~20 in July, to pay for preaching till next
March, " if they bring the men's names that preached ten
days,"-a somewhat ambiguous condition, but intended, I
assume, to prevent a misapplication of the money, as, in
December, they adopted a different rule, by which "' 50 shillings was voted for each Sabbath they shall have preaching




9
among them."  Without certain information, it is doubtful
whether  preaching was maintained with much regularity.
According to a tradition, the thirteenth family that settled
in the township was that of Mr. (afterward Rev.) Daniel
Wilkins (Harvard col., 1736).  He came with his wife from
Middleton, Mass., in compliance with the solicitations of
tile families that came here from  that place and vicinity.
This was in 1740; and in April of the following year, the
proprietors concur in the action of the settlers in desiring
Mr. Willkins to become their minister, " provided we can
agree with him for salary and settlement."  The negotiations
resulted favorably, and in August they vote to accept the
report of the committee "' that was chosen to treat with Mr.
Daniel Wilkins about salary and settlement." At the same
meeting a committee was chosen " to take care of the ordination," with instructions 4' not to exceed ~40, but as much
less as they can."  This committee was also to designate
"the time and advise the clerk, that he may put it into the
newspaper."  On the 22d of September, 1741, the church
was organized, and six males, including the pastor elect,
subscribed  the  covenant, which, with  slight alterations,
abides in use unto this day.  The covenant contained six
articles, presenting a concise and admirable statement of
Christian dutv.* No confession of faith was required; and,
after repeated inquiries, I have never been able to learn at
what time, or by whose counsel, the articles of faith now
prefixed to the covenant were adopted. On the next day,
September 23d, Rev. Daniel Wilkins was ordained pastor,
by a council of five ministers and fourteen lay delegates, of
whom  the church in Middleton, from  which Mr. Wilkins
came, sent five, and the church in Dunstable three. Rev.
Nathaniel Henchman, of Lynn, was moderator of the coun* The only rules adopted by the church besides this covenant, for more than thirty
years, are the following: In 1750, "Voted, That no persons should have the privilege
of baptism for their children, without a certificate from the church to which- they
belonged." In 1757, "Voted, That the satisfaction for all public offences shall be equal
to the crimes."




cil, and Rev. Stephen Chase, of Lynn, preached the sermon.
The prayer of ordination was probably offered by Rev. Andrew Peters, of Middleton,-the other parts of the service
falling to Rev. James Osgood, of Wenllam, Mass., and Rev.
Josiah Swan, of Dunstable. Immediately after the ordination, six females were admitted to church membership,
Sarah Wilkins, the wife of the pastor, being of the number.
But where, we ask, were the services of installation held?
Did' the people gather in some opening of the forest, amidst
"the sounding aisles of the dim woods?"  Did the fathers
find a sanctuary in the unfinished apartment of a log house?
Possibly they found  accommodation "in the convenient
house of entertainment" which Capt. Richard Mower was
to build, in consideration of lot No. 25, of which he was to
have sure title; perhaps a shelter was found within the
frame of the meeting-house, which might have been covered
with boughs or boards for the occasion. We cannot answer
the question, concerning which we may well be curious, as
somewhat to our amazement we read,* more than two years
after the installation, " that the committee to be chosen get
the meeting-house boarded, and the floor laid, the body seats
made up, and the pulpit made, and the doors made and
hung, as soon as can be."  In February following (1744),
they vote "; that they will do something towards finishing
the meeting-house, viz., to clapboard it, and make the window frames, crown and glaze them, to point the groundpointing, and prime the flew-boards, window frames, sashes,
and doors; and in case there is not an Indian war next fall,
to lath and plaster the meeting-house, as the committee
shall think best."  These votes were doubtless carried into
effect during the next summer, so far as to exclude the wind
and snow, as a meeting of the proprietors is called at the
meeting-house early in the year 1745. But what a picture
these votes suggest to the imagination, of the privations
* Proprietor's Records, Oct. 18th, 1743.




11
and hardship of the early inhabitants. If the ordination
took place on the site of' the meeting-house, they had at
the best only a roof over their heads. The population of
the township could not have exceeded twenty families, and
they over-worked by clearing lands, building barns, houses,
fences, and making pathways through the forests. Money
was scarce, and the currency continually depreciating. Yet
they endured hardness as good soldiers,-the pastor giving
an example to his flock, putting his hand to the axe and the
plough, sharing all the exposures of his brethren. And
these exposures were such as might dishearten brave men.
On their scattered farms they were much annoyed by wild
beasts. Wolves prowled about their pathways, and preyed
upon their sheep; at times the bears caused them much
trouble; but these perils were soon aggravated by apprehensions of more deadly foes.
Fortunately for the townships lying back from the Merrimack river, the Indian population had not been numerous.
Whether wasted by disease, or driven back by earlier conflicts, the region which the settlers entered had been deserted
by the aborigines. Before the announcement of war between France and England, the allies of the former had been
excited to hostilities by emissaries of the same power that
provoked the expedition against Louisbourg. Working southward from the Canadas, the Indians hovered about the infant
settlements, capturing and slaying the inhabitants, and burning their dwellings wherever they were unprotected.  In
this exigency the inhabitants of Souhegan West procured
ammunition, and proceeded to fortify their dwellings and
make provision for defence against the assailants. They
also held a meeting at the house of their pastor, in which
they unanimously agreed that Daniel Wilkins, in the name
and behalf of the settlers of this plantation, should represent to the Governor and Council of the Province of NewHampshire "our distressing circumstances, on account of
our exposure to the French and Indian enemy."  They




12
needed defence while about their work. The petition prepared by Rev. Mr. Wilkins was presented at Portsmouth,
June 22, 1744, and" Humbly sheweth the said town has been settled by his
majesty's subjects about nine years, and a gospel minister
ordained almost three years; that the settlers have an eye
at enlarging his majesty's dominions, by going into the wildertness, as well as their own interest; that some thousands
of pounds has been spent in clearing and cultivating the
lands there, and vast sums in building houses, barns, and
fences, besides much time and expense in building fortificationIs, by His Excellency the Governor's order.
"That the breaking up of the settlement will not only
ruin the memorialists, but greatly disserve his majesty's
interest by encouraging his enemies to encroach on his deserted settlements, and be also hurtful to the province by
contracting the borders and drawing the war nearer the
capital.." That it was by a long and importunate intercession of
this province (and not of the memorialists' seeking) that
they are left under the immediate care of this government,
which they conceive gives them so much the better right to
its protection.
" That as war is already declared against France, and a
rupture with the Indians hourly expected, your memorialists,
unless they have speedy help, will soon be obliged to forsake
their town, how disserviceable soever it may be to the crown,
dislhonorable to the government, hurtful to the province, and
ruinous to ourselves.
"' Wherefore, your memoralists moqst humbly supplicate
Your Excellency, the Honorable Council, and House of Representatives to take the premises into your wise and mature
consideration, and to grant them such reasonable relief as
may enable them to subsist in the war and secure against
the ravages and devastations of a bloodthirsty and merciless
enemy: and your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever
pray."




13
In his argument Mr. Wikins insists that the danger is
imminent, and adroitly reminds the government that it was
not of their choice that they were dependent on its protection.
In answer to this petition, scouts were provided for this
place, and Salem Canada (now Lyndeborough) on the west.
The following year, at a meeting of the proprietors at Chelmsford, Mass., a motion was carried imposing 1" an obligation to
get sixty families to settle in the township immediately, according to the act of Massachusetts."  But with all their
efforts, it was difficult persuading men to move up into the
wilderness, where, as yet, there was no smith to sharpen
their tools, no mill to grind their corn, and the dread of
the Indians required the inhabitants to keep armed. In
May of 1747, the government having withdrawn its protection, a new petition is forwarded to His Excellency Benning
Wentworth, which showeth that the plantation contained
thirty-five families, and about fiftv-eight men upwards of
sixteen years old:
" That when we began our settlement we apprehended no
danger of our ever being a frontier, there being at that time
so many above us begun and obligated to fulfil the conditions
of the Massachusetts grants, which occasioned us to settle
scattering, only regarding the advantage of good and compact farms.
"That the difficulty of war happening so early on our settlements, and the defenceless condition they were in, has
obliged them all, viz., Peterborough, Salem Canada, New
Boston, and Hillsborough (so-called), entirely to draw off,as well as the forts on Connecticut river left naked,-whereby we are now left as much exposed as any of the frontiers
on Merrimack river.
"That the first year of the present war we were favored
with a scout from this province (which we thankfully acknowledge), and Salem  Canada with another, which was
equally serviceable to us. Since that time both Salem Canada and this place has had a guard from the Massachusetts




14
till the winter passed, together with our inhabitants keeping
a constant scout (though much impoverished thereby).
"That this encouragement has occasioned our venturing
here till now.
"That, as we are now left without either scout or guard,
apprehend we are in imminent danger, yet loath to yield ourselves such an easy prey to our enemies, or suffer ruin by
leaving our improvements waste,-one whereof we have no
reason to think but must unavoidably be our lot unless the
government compassionately grants us protection."
This application for soldiers to protect the inhabitants is
signed by twenty-three persons; among whom appear the
names of Wilkins, Shepard, Peabody, Hutchinson, Cheever,
Howard, Hartshorn, Bixbe, Seetown, Bradford, Ellenwood,
Clark, Towne, Lyon, Stiles. Tllese were among the earliest
land-owners; and their descendants continue with us unto
this day. The hardships of the first settlers were not readily
mitigated, as we may infer from their continued apprehension
of attacks from the Indians, and the necessity of maintaining guards and scouts and ranging companies at suitable rallying points in the territory.  Certain houses were entrenched
by stockades, and the walls made bullet-proof for the shelter of women and children. There were seven of these garrison houses, at which a watch was maintained at different
periods. The Rev. Mr. Wilkins occupied one of the garrison
houses, and took hlis turn in the watch which was maintained
by the citizens whenever an invasion was threatened. For
months in succession it was the habit of the men to carry
their muskets to the meeting-hlouse, to be within reach and
ready to be lifted should an alarm  be given during the service. The vigilance they practised reminds us of the precautions taken by Nehemiah against Sanballat and Tobiah,
the Arabians and the Ammonites, —in all which they were encouraged by the example of the pastor, who came to the
place of worship having his gun in one hand and his Bible
in the other. Both implements of his warfare were taken




15
into the pulpit. The Indians frequently came hither with
hostile intentions; but the settlers usually obtained information of their designs, and no one was killed or taken captive
from  Amherst.   According to a family tradition,* a party
under the lead of Dea. Hobbst fell in with the Indians, on a
Sunday morning, when a smart fight ensued, in which Hobbs
displayed remarkable courage and prudence, bringing off his
men with few wounded,-none  mortally,-while they were
positive that several Indians were killed. The result of
this encounter was to give the men great reputation for
bravery in circumstances of danger. The minister and
others used  to speak of the exploit with  great satisfaction.
On the other hand, it is reported that the Indians said that
" Souhegan deacon no very good,-hle fight Sabba day."  The
danger and annoyance from  the Indians, which Farmert assigns to a period commencing ten years later, at the outbreak
of the French and Indian war in western Virginia, in 1754,
belongs in fact to this earlier period. In the expeditions
sent out at the latter date for the defence of the colonies
and the conquest of Canada, the inhabitants of Souhegan
West shared with  the neighboring towns in furnishing their
proportion of soldiers; and on the declaration of peace in
1763, they shared  in  the prevailing  sentiment of joy  and
gratitude at the relief.
To return to the immediate interests of the parish.  It is
certain that the intentions of the proprietors in completing
the meeting-house were not carried into full effect in  1751,
* Contained in a letter of Philip C. Wilkins, grandson of the minister.
t "January the sixth, 1742, the church voted that there be five sacraments within a
year,-the first, the first Sabbath in March, the second, the first Sabbath in May," and
thence bi-monthly. The last sacrament was observed on the first Sabbath of November.
"At the same time the church chose Humphrey Hobbs deacon." This office "he
resigned in 1744, and James Cochran was chosen in his room." Dea. Hobbs seems to
have left town soon after, as he had command of a company of rangers employed in
the defence of the settlements on Connecticut river, at Charlestown No. 4. He had the
courage and capacity of a true soldier, and is probably mentioned as - Hobbs, calp3
tain, in Report of Adj't-General N. H., Military History, vol. ii, p. 158.
X N. H. Historical Collections, vol. v, p. 88.




16
thirteen years after the vote fixing the site and dimensions
of the building, and eleven years after the frame was set up,
-a delay which has its justification in their poverty and the
pressure of adverse circumstances. In succeeding years we
find votes for the assignment of seats, or " dignifying the
house," as it was called in Massachusetts; also, petitions from
some who wished to sit together "for the better control of
their families in worship; " requests that the "quiresters might
sit in company to improve the psalmody or religious singing."
On one page, the young men petition that they "may make
seats on the beams in front of the meeting-house," —probably
the unfinished gallery,-and others of a similar import,
aiming at better accommodations.  On the first application,
these requests were usually negatived; but better opinions
prevailed, and, in the progress of years, families were allowed
to sit in companies, the singers were brought together, and
pew ground was assigned to those who would pay for it,the money being applied " to finishing up the meeting-house."
At the best, the arrangements of the first house of worship
must have been inconvenient, and when any improvements
were attempted, difficulties would be suggested which usually defeated these designs. On the incorporation of the town,
there were fresh reasons for postponement, as the question
then arose " whether the house belonged to the town or to
the proprietors,"-the conflict of ownership affording sufficient reason to hinder any outlay of money. On what terms,
or at what date the ownership was adjusted, I cannot determine. The town at length held possession; and these delays,
with the consequent vexations, may have served a useful purpose in preparing the community to build another and more
commodious house of worship.
Before I speak of the origin of the new house, the building
in which we are now assembled, it will be of service to notice some of the changes which had transpired, affecting the
prosperity of the township. In 1741, the inhabitants, much
against their wishes, had come under the jurisdiction of the




province of New Hampshire; and in 1760, on the 18th day
of January, one.hundred and fourteen years ago this day,
a charter was granted, by which the town was incorporated
by the name Amherst.  The population was sufficient to secure a representative to the general court. Mr. Wilkins was
chosen minister of the town, with a salary of ~47 10s. sterling money of Great Britain, or its equivalent in the currency
or products of the country.
The tedious and exhausting war with the Frenchl had terminated successfully in the conquest of Canada. Agriculture had revived; domestic arts and manufactures began to
engage the attention of the people; and a more equitable and
easy administration of justice was now demanded. Hitherto
the town of Amherst lay wholly on the north side of the
Souhegan river, —the town of Monson, which was situated between this place and Hollis, lying on the south. For some
cause not fully understood at this day, there was an antipathy to the people of M1onson, which led the people of
Amherst to reject all proposals for annexation. They even
refused them  a place in the meeting-house, "unless they
would severally be assessed to support the minister;" but in
1770, about the time of the final distribution of the proprietors' lands by the action of the general court, Monsoni was
divided between Amherst and Hollis. By this arrangement
a strip of land, some two miles in breadth and six in
length, —say thirteen square mliles, —was added to the territory, and several families, needing church accommodations,
to the population. In the meantime a lively competition
was started among the townships of this region in hope of
obtaining the county seat, whenever the expected division of
the state, by shires or counties, should be established. Petitions, counter-petitions, and remonstrances were sent from
the places most interested to the assembly. A remonstrance,
which has attracted special notice, went from  this place,
written by MSr. Wilkins, against making Merrimack the
shire town. The precise influence of these efforts cannot
2




18
now be determined; Lut on Ilbe formation of Hillsborough
county, Amherst became the shire towni. In anticipation of
this decision, a new importance was given to thle place. Men
of enterprise seeking business, and professional gentlemen
moving hither, the town voted "to build a new meetinghouse, to be located on the training field, seventy-five by fifty
feet," —a huge, barn-like structure; also, voted "to raise
~150  lawful money towards defraying expenses of said
building.o"
This plan was subsequently modified by a change which
diminished the size of the structure, and provided somewhat
for its embellishment.  They voted to contract the dimensions, by taking five feet from the length and five from  the
breadth; to have a porch at one end, and a steeple, with
belfry and weathercock, at the other.  This. was the approved
pattern at that period. Previously, if a meeting-lhouse had
tower and bell, the. spire rose froml the centre: of the roof,
and the bell-rope came to the floor inl the middle aisle..
A measure of such. importance as thle election of a new
meeting-house was not carried, without much excitement and
debate.  The opposition was strong,-but not unanimous, or
the project would have failed.  The interests of " Chestnut
Hill folks' and of Monson folks" were of course antagonistic.
People in the north-west part of the town grumbled at the
prospect of paying towards a new house in which they were
not to worship, and the district embracing Shepard's mills
was thoroughly disaffected.  Petitions crowded upon the
selectmen,. and a town-meeting was called November 6, 1770,
for the purpose "of annulling or modifying the previous votes,
and see if the town, would not consent to repair the old
house;" but the majority were united and. unyielding, and
they voted " to ratify, establish, and confirm  the previous
action of the town, and refused to repair the old meetinghouse."  Then followed a series, of meetings to change the
location; but they were ineffectual.  The.objection:, that the
site was too wet at certain. seasons of tihe year, did. not p!re



19
vail; and the alleged superiority' of a location near the united roads for good underpinning and freedom  from water"
did not convince those who preferred the site oil the training
field. The building committee, who supervised the work,
consisting of Robert Read, Samuel Mleean, Arcllelaus
Towne, John Shepard, Jr., and Moses Nichols, adopted "the
plan of the old North Church in Concord," so pleasantly associated in our minds with thle fruitful ministry of Rev. Dr.
McFarland.  The house was set broad side to the south, with
folding doors openinig from the broad aisle on an ample pavement,, flanked by two horse-blocks.  The work was commenced in the spring of 1771, the town manifesting its hospitality by voting ample supplies of victuals and drink for all
who should attend the raisilg. The occasion brought together a great company,. strong men and agile, besides many
spectators.  The committee of entertainment must have
managed with some discretion, not exceeding theier instructions, that, witlh such powers to distribute New England
rum among the thirsty crowd, the huge timbers of this massive fiame were set in their places without serious injury to
life or limb. The master-builder was Dea. Ephraim Barker,
who lhad a wide reputation as a skilful mechanic.
It illustrates the habits of this period to learn that the raising was followed by athletic games and feats of strength. The
iron-sided men, whlo were present from far and near, must not
separate without an exhibition of their strength and agility.
On this occasion there was a wrestling match; and the minister's son, afterwards Dea. Samuel Wilkins, ran a short distance on a wager,'" carrying on his shoulders the chairman of
the building committee, who, like Eli of old, was fat and heavy
-probably the heaviest man then in town."
In December the town voted'" to finish the outside of the
meeting-house, clapboard and glaze the same, complete the
steeple, and lay floors."  One hundred and sixty pounds were
granted to pay the expenses thus far.
For v-arious reasons thbe work proceeded slowly.  The




20
people were poor, and serious dissensions impaired their
strength.  Portions of the town were dissatisfied, and consequently reluctant to pay their taxes.
Other matters of grave concern were pressing on their attention.  The people of New Hampshire, in sympathy with
the citizens of Massachusetts, had long regarded, with mingled feelings of dread and indignation, the acts of the British parliament. The course of adverse legislation, tle stamp
and tea tax, which led sagacious men like Adams and Franklin to anticipate a separation of the colonies from the mother
country, and the assertion of their independence, had now
reached a point when open resistance was fireely talked.  Remembering the persistent encroachments of England upon
their liberties, the people welcomed the idea of making common cause with other colonies in plans of mutual coiperation and defence. The discipline of the French and Indian
war had begotten a thoroughly military spirit in this part of
the land. There was no lack of courage; but thle poverty of
the citizens was undeniable. -VWhence could they obtain the
materials of war,'the arms and ammunition, requisite to contend with such a power as Great Britain? These questions
were already holding the thoughts of multitudes. We detect
their presence in the action taken at the town-meetings.  In
September, following the dedication of this meeting-lhouse, by
vote of the town, a building is constructed for the safe storing of powder. It was substantial, being made of chestnut
logs hewn twelve inches square, and covered with plaster.
If any are impatient of the delays attending the completion
of the building, let them consider that the minds of the people were sorely distracted by local dissensions, whichl found
adjustment only in the formation of two other parishes'or
townships, besides the uncertainty and excitement attending
the ripening apprehension of conflict with Great Britain.
Of the services at the dedication we have no minute information. It had not been the custom in New England to
set apart places of worship by a solemn public consecration.




21
The first house was never formally dedicated.  On this occasion several ministers were present as the guests of Mr.
Wilkins.  We have no record of the names, but the neighboring ministers- might be expected, e. g., Livermore of Wiltoiln, Goodrich of Lyndeborough, Kidder of Dunstable, Emerson of Hollis, Burnap of Merrimack, to whom  he extended
the right hand of fellowship two years before, and possibly
some visitors from  the older towns of Essex county, Mass.
A sermon was preached by the pastor, in which lie is said to
have given a history of the church and the early transactions
of the settlement.  Could we but recover the MS., what
light it would throw upon the habits, the religious doctrines
and worship, of the first inhabitants! We have no question
of the genuineness of their faith and of the sincerity of their
love. A people moving into the forests, to clear for themselves homesteads in the solitudes of the wilderness, do not
take on themselves the burden of building meeting-houses
and sustaining ministers without deep convictions of the
value of the gospel. But it would gratify our reverent curiosity to know more exactly how these men felt, what operated
to cheer and what to depress them, what books they read,
what tunes they sung, how they fared in the winter* without
the regular service.  But the records are very scanty.  In
gratitude to God, they set down the names of the children
as they were baptized; but of their own toils, their prayers,
their self-denial, and their achievements, they say nothing.
The strength of their devotion may be inferred from  their
sacrifices to maintain worship and their belief of the truth,
from the unfaltering purpose to train up their children under
the instructions of all orthodox ministry.
In Dec. 4, 1771, before the new meeting-house was ready
for occupation, on the question of giving the old meeting* From letters and various memorandums, it appears that before the forests were cut
off the snow accumulated in such quantities that the roads in winter were impassable.
The people went abroad on rackets; and contracts for the delivery of fuel and lumber
provided that the same should be drawn on the March crust, when teams could usually move in any direction, with no obstruction save buildings and trees.




22
house to the county for a court-house, we read,-" Secondly,
voted, and hereby do give, grant, and forever quit claim all
our right, title, interest, claim, and property in and unto our
old meeting-house in said Amherst, to the justices of the
court of general sessions of the peace for said county, for
the use of said county, reserving to ourselves the privilege
of congregating in said house from  time to time, as we shall
see meet, for the space of two years, to commence from this
time, without having it made inconvenient for that purpose;
reserving to ourselves the right to remove the pulpit out of
the house at any time within the two years aforesaid: Provided, nevertheless, and the above vote is upon this condition, that the justices aforesaid cause a new county jail to be
erected within one hundred and sixty rods of said house, as
it now stands; otherwise, the above vote and every clause
therein contained to be void."
The conditions prescribed by the town were accepted, the
jail erected on the spot where stands the old county hlouse,
and the first house of worship was transferred from the use
of the church to the service of the state.*  At the expiration of the two years, as we have seen, the new house was
dedicated to the worship of God.  The floor of the house or
pew ground was subsequently sold at auction to the higlhest
bidder, the purchasers erecting pews at their own cost, under the direction of a committee, who were instructed to
have "three tiers of pews on the south side, one on the
north, two tiers at the east end, and two tiers at the west
end; alleys to be between the pews and seats, and between
the pews:" a description whicll becomes intelligible when
we learn that below the pulpit were seats for the deacons,
and, across the aisle from them, rows of seats for the aged
men, the fathers of the congregation. The pews intended
for families were eight or ten feet square, surmounted by a
*In 1789 this building was removed from the original site to the plain, and, before it
was quite finished, burned by the fire of an incendiary. Memoir of Joshuta Atherton,
p. 31.




23
rail, which was supported by small wooden balusters, through
which the children could peer out alld get a view of the
galleries and the inmates of adjoining pews. The pulpit or
"imprisonment " was built high up against the north wall,
having a narrow stair-case on the left or west side, " and a
door that shut the preaclier in."  Over the sacred desk, and
hanging from tile ceiling by an iron rod, was the soundingboard, an object of wonder and curious speculation to all
tlhe juvenile hearers, who were mentally asking what would
happen if it should fall upon the minister. " The seats," we
are told,'" were not on golden linges hung," and as they
were lifted, when the congregation rose, the uprising and
down-sitting of the people were accompanied with a crash
and clatter not unlike the discharge of musketry on training
days. The pews also had arm-rests and leaning-boards for
the support of weary heads.  When these bars were lifted,
being set upright, something formidable might have been
anticipated from this bristling movement. The house had
galleries on three sides, supported by smooth, substantial
wooden columns, wlhich were painted in imitation of marble.
Against the walls was a tier of pews, in front of which were
seats for strangers, for domestics, a reserved bench for the
blacks, and in fiont of the preaclier a section of the gallery
was set apart for the singers. The rich and poor met together in the sanctuary, and united in recognizing the Lord their
maker; but it was not in harmony with the ideas of that day
that they should sit together; —hence the divisions, arrangements, and orders of which I have spoken. The churches
were democratic in their theories of church government and
membership, but they were not yet emancipated from the force
of hereditary customs. The various arrangements for the
accommodation of worshippers were not completed at once.
Several years elapsed before the house was furnished throughout with seats in the style which you associate with the
palmj days of Dr. Lord's ministry. In the ordering of the
house of God, changes were esteemed dangerous innovations,




24
and the proposition to assign seats to the singers, " for the
better regulation of psalmody," came before the town several times without approval. The affairs of the country
had the precedence of all other matters and things,-" the
acts of the grand congress at Philadelphia," the business of
providing soldiers, procuring salt and powder, designating
committees of safety, and choosing delegates to state and
county conventions.  These duties, together with measures
of relief for soldiers' families, and safeguards against the intrigues of tories, gave the people sufficient occupation. The
inevitable anxiety attending the exhausting conflict was aggravated by differences of opinion respecting the principles and
conduct of public men, and the consequent exasperation and
bitterness of feeling did not subside with the close of the war.
Contrary to what might have been our expectation, the return of peace brought no relief from  political strife. The
questions that became prominent respected the relation of
the new states to one anotlher and the general government.
Local questions of civil righlts, the jurisdiction of courts and
magistrates, also required adjustment; the choice of rulers,
and the selection of delegates to settle the powers and duties of state officers and frame a constitution, were imperative affairs.  Almost all of these subjects were brought before the citizens in their primary meetings. The importance
which they attached to them is evinced in the appointment
of large comlmittees for counsel and correspondence, and
frequent adjournments to wait further information.
Meanwhile, Pastor Wilkins growing infirm  and needing
an assistant, the duty of supplying the pulpit was intrusted
to a committee in 1776, who were to employ "such young
preachers as they chose."  Soon after, the congregation were
evidently interested in Mr. Sweatland, and wished to secure
his services. In 1778, liberal proposals were made to Mr.
John Blydenburg to settle as colleague with Mir. Wilkins;
but without success.  Similar propositions were offered Mr.
Edmund Foster, which he declined. In the autumn of 1779, a




25
call was extended to Rev. Jeremiah Barnard,* of Bolton,
Mass., on similar terms. He was willing to accept; but the
ordination did not occur till the following March, when the
sermon was preached by Rev. Zabdiel Adaihs of Lunenburg,
Bridge of Chelmsford giving the charge, and Emerson of
Hollis the right hand of fellowship.  The opposition to his
settlement was in part personal, some of the hearers preferring a more positive style of preaching; for it was manifest
that Mr. Barnard did not present the doctrines, as they were
called, with much prominence and pungency.  But this consideration had less weight than territorial interests. For obvious reasons, the settlers on the green hills of the north-west
desired the benefits of a ministry nearer home.  They lived
rerote from the first meeting-house, and the second was yet
half a mile farther off by the travelled way. They had entered into agreements to support Mr. Wilkins, and to pay
other charges until they should be set off as the second
parish.  Of course they were determined not to share in additional burdens. On the other hand, it was to be said that
the population of the town (1,428 in'75) was not too large
for one parish.  The majority did not wish the territory divided; their local importance, their wealth or numbers,
diminished; —and the import of their successive votes, in
answer to the petitions from the north-west, make it clear
that they would not let that people go if they could help it.
The struggle was carried on for years in various shapes, sometimes involving litiration in which the majority were not
always successful; and in September, 1780, only six months
after Mr. Barnard's ordination, the second church in Amherst was formed, and the ecclesiastical strife, in that direction, ended.  From that date the town acted as a parish.
The efforts that had been made for the formation of a
third parish in the south-west part of the town, which resulted in the organization of a church in 1788, also originated
* Mr. B. was the son of Robert Barnard, of Bolton, Mass., where he was born Feb
28, 1750. He graduated at Harvard college in 1773.




26
in pleas of greater convenience for the inhabitants; but the
arguments were not so obviously just; and subsequent events
incline one to the opinion that the movement had in it " an
element of carrnal policy."  The town of Amherst owed
much to the ministry of Rev. Mr. Wilkins.  We have no
statistics from which to deduce exact statements respecting
the results of his ministry.  From  all that I can gather, he
was a man of great simplicity and purity of character.
Having an intelligent and well-balanced mind, he made
himself the guardian and friend of his people.  In their
perils and discouragements he shared in their distresses,
and bade them take heart. Twice, probably, in the history
of the plantation, his counsels prevented their abandoning
the territory. He must have been patient, and of a scholarly
turn of mind; he must have been diligent in pastoral labors,
teaching them by families, or he would not have instructed
the people so thoroughly. He was evidently wise and kind,
or he would not have held so large a place in their affections.
In person, he was a thick-set but well-formed man, of ruddy
countenance and genial speech. At the age of sixty-three his
mental faculties became impaired, and he was unequal to the
duties of the ministry; but the people cared for him thoughtfully, seeking his presence and services in their families as long
as he could venture abroad. When lhe died the towin assumed
the whole expense of his burial, and honored his grave by a
monument on which they inscribed inll glowing words their
admiration of hlis virtues, and their grateful remembrance of
his laborious services as their minister.
The years following the close of the revolution were
marked by a general decline in the tone of religious feeling.
Infidelity prevailed widely among men of wealth and culture.
The claims of piety were openly derided, and the fashionable
sentiment favored a thoughtless and jovial manner of life.
The minds of men were agitated by political questions, in
which pastors and churches were  often involved. The
formation of the national and state constitutions, the inau



27
guration of new officers, the interpretation of their powers
and duties under the new administration, the adoption of a
better system of finance, the introduction of new industries,
and the necessity of repairing the wastes of the war, engrossed the attention of the people. The concerns of religion were very much crowded aside. Amherst, being the
shire town, the seat of the courts, in what had become a
thickly settled portion of the state, became the resort of
lawyers, politicians, and patriots. The Hillsborough county
bar was distinguished for the talent and legal ability of its
members. The sessions of the court occupied several weeks
of the year, and the business was of such importance as to
bring hither the foremost lawyers of the state. The town also became the centre of a large and lucrative trade, and the
population in 1790 reached two tlhousand three hundred and
sixty-nine. As a consequence of this prosperity, aristocratic
tastes and customs prevailed,-a fondness for gaming, dancing, and convivial entertainments, which did not favor sobriety or a serious tone of tllought.
There was little in Mr. Barnard's preaching to disturb the
prevailing sentiment.  He was an amiable man, made his
house attractive to the young people, and in various ways
contributed to the good order and social culture of the community. His sympathies were not with the Calvinistic school
of ministers, and as years advanced his chosen associates
were of the less evangelical type. During the period of
his active ministry two hundred and fifty-three personis were
admitted to full communion, an average of seven per annum.
Several others owned the covenant, as it was called, and had
their children baptized. This is not the place to discuss the
merits of that custom; but the erroneous practice was discontinued before the settlement of his successor.  At this
day it is not easy to pronounce judgment on the actual fruits
of Mr. Barnard's ministry. He entered the field while the
land was overshadowed by the war-cloud of the revolution,
and his retirement from active duties was close upon the




28
conclusion of the war of 1815.  How  far these events contributed to the predominant political tone of his sermons I
cannot determine.  The  dissatisfaction  felt by many who
loved a more discriminating gospel was doubtless increased
by this patriotic zeal for the federal side in politics.  It has
also operated to'the'prejudice of Mr. Barnard's ministry that,
like Mr. Wilkins, lie lived many years after he became infirm
and quite unequal to public service, and during that time he
was not altogether in'sympathy with his earnest and successful colleagues.  Unless we assume that Amherst was unusually favored in the additions to its population from  abroad,
the ministry'of:Mr.' Barnard must have been of much practical force, or the people would not, by such majorities, have
welcomed a preacher like his successor.  Mr. Barnard lived
to the advanced age of eighty-four, dying January 15, 1835.*
We now reach a periiod which is well known by tradition to
this generation.  Your fathers worshipped in this house, and
some of their number joined in the call by which Mr. Nathan
Lord, of South Berwick, Me., became pastor.  The vote of
the church is said to have been unanimous, and the town
concurred  with them' in their action.: At the ordination,
Dr. McFarland preached the sermon; Rev. David McGregor
offered the prayer of consecration; the senior - pastor gave
the charge; and Rev. Dr.  Moore gave the right, hand of fellowship..'Mr. Lord had very. positive  and  distinct views of the
duties of the ministryv,; and he brought. to  the  performance of those' duties a vigorous and  well-trained  mind.
His preaching was marked by clearness of statement, neatness and precision'of style,- and a -prevailing  seriousness
* For list of Mr. Barnard's published writings, see Farmer's History (New Hamp.
shire Historical Society's Collection), vol. v, p. 115.
t The sermon, charge, and fellowship of the churches, delivered on that occasion, were
published by R. Boylston, Amherst, 1816. Dr. Lord, son of Hon. John Lord, was born
at South Berwick, Me.', 28th of November, 1792; graduated Bowdoin College, 1809;
Andover Seminary, 1815; pastor, 1816-1828; president Dartmouth college, 1828-1863;
died at Hanover 9th of September, 1870.




29
which kindled  the  sensibilities of his hearers.  His enthusiasm in presenting and defending the Edwardean theology,
awakened  the  sympathy  of many in  the church, while  his
tact and culture enlisted  friends in the congregation.  He
was a good organizer, and had much  tact in  dealing with
men.  The  affairs  of the  church, which  had  fallen  into
neglect, were  straightened and  reduced to order; discipline
was restored, and  the spiritual forces of tile  gospel soon
began  to  assert their power in  the community.   Worldly
men were troubled, and various methods were tried to hliiider
the growing seriousness.  The opposition  to  his preaching,
however, served  to  unite  the  hearts  of -his  supporters,*
and begat in them  a watchful and  earnest spirit.,. Men  of
prominence for ability and  influence were brought irito the
church, and a new  tone  of spiritual activity anfimated  the
whole body.  As the  opposition  to  his ministry turned  on
questions of theological belief,t an earnest controversy arose,
in which the doctrinal position  of the  majority:was', clearly
defined.  No wisdom  or prudence, on the part of: the pastor,
could prevent the open rupture which resulted in a secession
of part of the church and congregation.   " The year:1824,"
writes the 1Rev. Silas Aiken, " brought withi it severie'trials
to both the pastor and  the  church, in  the withdr'aNvment of
several members, in  order to  form  a Unitarian  church in
connection  with a new  societyf recently establislhed, and. to
come under the pastoral care of Rev. E. Q. Sewall.   But in
all these trials the Lord  assisted  them.   te -brodght Zion
* The Tuesday afternoon prayer-meeting, which is still maintained by the church,
was instituted at the house of the junior pastor during these trials, April 4; 1823.
t The style and matter of the discussion that agitated this community, may be learned
by consulting the files of the Farmer's Cabinet for 1817-18.
$ At a special town-meeting, Nov. 18th, 1822, the disaffected members of Mr. Lord!s
congregation asked the use of the church their proportion of the time; yote,-yeas; 87,
nays, 131. 1824, March 27, Charles H. Atherton, David Holmes, Ephraim Blanchard,
Elisha F. Wallace, and their associates, formed themselves into a religious society, and
took the name and style of" The Christian Society in Amherst.". The, Unitarian meeting-house (63x45 feet) was raised June 9, 1835, under direction of John Crombie, Jr., of
New Boston. Dedicated, Nov. 24. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Maynard; pastor, from Acts
17: 24. This house is now occupied by the Baptists.




30
out of all her troubles, and  set her feet in  a large  place."
On  the  failure  of his voice, Mr. Lord resigned, and, having
a call to  the  presidency  of Dartmouth  college, he was dismissed Nov. 22, 1828, to accept that office.*   The additions
to the church under his ministry gave new  force to the institutions of religion; the chlurch was homogeneous in sentiment,
its discipline  reestablished, and  the  way  prepared  for  the
enlargement of its numbers on the evangelical basis.
On  the 4th  March  of the  following  year, in  compliance
with a unanimous call froml  the Congregational church and
society (the  relation of the townl to the  support of the ministry having ceased), Rev. Silas Aiken was settled. The
services of his ordination t are still remembered, and the esteemed pastors who officiated at the time.   Mr. Aiken brought
to  the  ministry certain  gifts  by which  lie was qualified  for
special usefulness  in  this field.   He had  not the  polished
mannles and graceful address Qf Dr. Lord.   He was tall and
strongly built, with  a certain  abruptness  and  angularity  of
movement consequeint upon a shy and: reserved nature.   He
ihad  vigorous  health, strong  lungs, a stalwart frame, great
natural shrewdness, and  a masculine  understanding.   He
analyzed his subject and laid out the plan with strong handling, and the filling up was wrought with intense feeling.  In
this was the  secret of his power.   Often, when  preaching,
the emotions of his great heart hurried  him  on  into strains
* 1828. Dec. 16th, Perley Raymond, Timothy D. Wood, and John Hazeltine, with
their associates, united in forming a religious society by the name of the "' First MIethodist Society in Amherst," with the intention of maintaining worship on Chestnut hills.
April 9, 1839, at the suggestion of Rev. John Adams, John Haseltine, Solomon Barron,
Loamrmi Eaton, Levi Duncklee, and their associates, formed themselves into a society,
taking the name of the " First Methodist Society." In April, 1840, they took possession of the lot, on which their house of worship now stands, and in which slips were
sold to members in February, 1841.
t The sermon was preached by itev. Samuel Green, of Boston; prayer of ordination
by Rev. Eli Smith, of Hollis; charge to the pastor by Rev. Dr. Church; fellowship of
the churches by Rev. A. Richards; address to the people by Rev. Mr. Nott, of Nashua.
Dr. Aiken, son of Phineas Aiken, was born in Bedford, May 14, 1799; graduated at
Dartmouth college, 1825; ordained pastor, 1829,-at Amherst till 1837; Park street,
Boston, 1837-1848; Rutland, Vt., 1849-1863; trustee Dartmouth college, 1840-1862; died
at Rutland, April 7, 1869.




v1
of fervid and subduing eloquence.  In these seasons of impassioned address, he literally besouglht men with tears to be
reconciled to God.  Tile success of his ministry in gathering
converts was great* beyond  precedent.  Of the ministry of
his successors, Rev. F. A. Adams, PH. D., and Rev. W. T.
Savage, D. D., who were both able and scholarly men, I make
no  sketch.  Each of them  performed valuable services here,
and in other fields of Christian  labor they have won an enviable reputation for talents and fidelity.
The church, whiceh was organized in 17'41 by six members,
in the simplest form  of Congregationalism, out of a population of fourteen families, had increased, under the four pastorates whichl I have delineated, to a memberslhip of three
hundred and eight in a population of sixteen  hundred, with
two other churches in the township.  The average of annual
additions for the last ninety-three years is ten; and the whole
number, from  the formation of tle chlurch to this date, must
be nearly eleven hundred and fifty.
But the real usefulness of a clhurcl and the ordinances of
worship is not to be stated in figures.  Whlo shall estimate
the value of the influences emanating from  this sanctuary,
as they have moulded and enriched the mminds and hlearts of
this  people  and  their  descendants!   Who  can  trace  the
various lines of profitable thouglit, of virtuous endeavor, and
self-deiiying Christian duty here started! Whlo shall measure
the enlargement of mind, the  elevation  and  refinement of
feeling, consequent on the manifestation  of the truth  from
this pulpit!  Who will tell us how much of sin has been
* In the spring of 1835 the Spirit " came down like showers that water the earth."
The week of the annual state Fast was wholly given to the work, with preaching twice
a day, inquiry and prayer meetings morning and evening. Business was mainly sus.
pended; and the whole population seemed drawn by a heavenly influence to the house
of God. The great question with all seemed to be,-" What must I do to be saved? "
Fathers, mothers, children,-in some cases, whole falmilies,-yielded to the Spirit, and
became obedient to the heavenly vision. The pastor labored with a strong hand, and
willing, joyful heart, characteristically declaring " that though there was much work to
be done, when seed-time and harvest came together" it was easy working. As the resuit of this revival, one hundred and one members united with the church, nearly all of
whom honored their professions. [From the mczacscript of Dea. E. D. Boylston.




32
restrained, how much of folly prevented, how much of suffering saved, by the counsels here uttered! Who will anticipate
the rewards of that consecration which hallowed this terriitory for more than a century, as it will appear in the divine
records of sills forgiven, souls purified, and men redeemed!
These servants of Christ, having served their generation by
the will of God, have fallen asleep.  "They rest from their
labors, and their works do follow them."
[At this point, while the speaker paused, the choir sang, with pleasing
effect, the following stanzas:
Though earthly shepherds dwell in dust,
The aged and the young;
The watchful eye in darkness closed,
And mute the instructive tongue,The eternal Shepherd still survives,
New comfort to impart;
His eye still guides us, and his voice
Still animates our heart.-Doddrige.]
Tile history of church music, as it has been employed in
this house and in the earlier sanctuary, would furnish an
entertaining chapter.  In the absence of any record, as the
gift of song runs in families, we may assume that John Seatown, the first deacon of the name and fourth in order of election, was a leader under Pastor Wilkins. We should not
probably err in asserting that he pitched the tune and led in
the psalm, standing in front and below the pulpit, as his son
and successor in office did thirty-five years afterwards.  At
that period " Sternhold & Hopkins," or the "Bay State Collection of Psalms and Hymns," was used in this vicinity. The
choice of tunes did not exceed twelve in the three metres.
One story survives, which deserves preservation for the
benefit of distracted parishes. It appears that Pastor Wilkins
and.the singers had introduced a new hymn book (probably
the incoming version of Dr. I. Watts), to which some in the
congregation were violently opposed. The excitement was




33
so great that a compromise was attempted by using the new
version only for the last tune, "when the opposers retired
from the house, rather than hear the. words of the devil."
"Mr. Wilkins," says the chronicler, "' thought these persons
did not know what they were opposing."  He accordingly
arranged an exchange; and the new minister began with the
new version, and used it all day. At the last singing the
disaffected hearers left the meeting as usual; but when they
learned soon after that they had heard the hated tunes all
day without knowing it, the opposition became so ludicrous
that they were content to say no more about it."
In Mr. Barnard's day "the quiresters" were permitted to
sit together.; and, while it was their duty to make harmony for others, they did not always maintain peace among
themselves.  On one occasion, when the singers were in
practice for the approaching Fourth of July, some offence
was taken; and on tile following Sabbath "the chorister, the
pastor's son-in-law, found himself alone in tile singing-seats.
Not willing to sing alone, he also retired. When Mr. Barinard rose in the pulpit, the seats were empty. After the introductory service, he read a hymn.  Then, laying down the
book with some energy, lie called on the congregatn to
unite in prayer."  Not much time elapsed before he took up
the singers, ~" praying that, if they would not unite in praising the Lord in the sanctuary, they might not be permitted
to sing together on any occasion whatever. Going on in this
strain for some time, the singers thought it best to return.
First, the chorister took his place, then the next in rank, until finally, before the close of the prayer, tile seats were filled;
and the second hymn was responded to with unwonted
power." In the closing period of Mr, Barnard's ministry,
Jonathan Hildreth acted as chorister, and his. services were
widely esteemed.
There was a large choir in Dr. Lord's time, as a place in
the singing-pews was a coveted distinction; and when the
ranks " were full the singing meant something. With bass
3




34
viol, violin, and brazen instruments (says my informant),
and such voices as Benjamin Kendrick's, Ambrose Seaton's,
Mary Goss's, and twenty others, male and female, the people
could make melody in their hearts if they desired to."
The introduction of organs marks a later period, and
brings to mind the assiduous zeal of Mrs. Prentiss, and the.
almost affectionate solicitude of Bro. Aaron Lawrence, with
the sturdy presence, clear tenor voice, and piping violin of
Mr. Elbridge Hardy, I could speak of other male and female
singers who have contributed to our edification and delight
in the sacred service of song and praise.
"Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory."
I recall the names of many, both of the living and the
dead, towards whom-we feel more gratitude than we have
ever expressed.
The house in which we are assembled occupied the spot
on which it was raised, and in substantially the form already
described, for 65 years; two generations, with thronging
families, had gather ed within its capacious walls for worship.
Up to the year 1832 the house had been held and controlled
by the town, in the interest of the majority.  With the
change in the statutes, respecting the support of religious
institutions in New Hampshire, the town disposed of the
house by auction to the highest bidder, reserving only the
tower, clock, and bell, when the building became the property
of the Congregational society. The necessity of thorough
repairs and of improved accommodations for seating the
worshippers was manifest to all. The work of remodelling
and removing was commenced in 1836, when the building
was turned half round, and then moved backwards from the
common to the site on which it now stands. The galleries
were taken down, the floor raised, new windows inserted,
and the building so extended as to embrace the porch which
sustained the steeple. By this means a gallery was con



85
structed over the entry, which furnished seats for the choir.
With a new pulpit, and pews of the modern pattern, the
house was accepted by the congregation from the contractor,
Mr. Jona. Knight, with expressions of approbation.  The
house was reoccupied January 1, 1837, when Dr. Aiken
preached a sermon from  2 Chron. 6:18, "on the end for
which houses of worship are reared, and the means by which
that end can be secured."  The occasion was one of 1emorable interest, as the preacher gave utterance to his earnest
thoughts on the duty of public worship, and the obligation
that binds men to make the services of the earthly sanctuary
the means of preparation for the kingdom of heaven.
From  that date no essential changes were made in the
structure or furnishing of the house till 1857, when the
pulpit was refitted, the aisles recarpeted, and'the pews painted, the expense being defrayed by the ladies of the congregation. In 1858 the chapel,* a tasteful and convenient buildinng for social worship was erected by the contributions of
individuals.  On January 2Q, 1859, it was dedicated by suitable religious services.  Other outlays have been made, as
occasions required, for the preservation of the meeting-house
and the comfort of the worshippers.  By the latest of these
appropriations the gallery has been shut off and the audience-room reduced to the original dimensions, the windows
furnished with new sash-lights, the close pulpit exchanged
for an open platform, with chairs and desk of choice workmanship, while a new and superior organ, on a raised floor,
for the singers, at the west side of the pulpit, brings the
choir before the audience and within easy communication
with the preacher.
It is a pleasant coincidence that, in refurnishing this house,
these various improvements,-the organ, the pulpit, furniture,
and other valuable accompaniments, the gifts of present and
former worshippers, an expression of love to this church and
* The contract for the chapel, taken by Jotham Hartshorn & Sons, was performed in
a very satisfactory manner. The entire cost was about $1,300.




36
of gratitude to God for benefits received here, —should, without special design, have been ready for service to-day.
As the first tones from that noble instrument have called
us to
"Praise God,. from whom all blessings flow,"
let our hearts respond by a renewed consecration to the
author of these mercies, -the God of our salvation.
This house of worship, ante-dating the declaration of the
nation's independence, has stood unharmed through the
changes of a century. It has survived storms and tempests,
the perils of fire, and the fitful vicissitudes of this uncertain
climate. It has witnessed the civil revolutions, the modifications of law and executive administrations, whlich introduced the republican form of government, and have made the
United States of America a great name among the nations
of the earthl. It has also witnessed changes in arts and manufactures, in social customs, employments, modes of travel,
and of domestic life, by which we are far removed from the
simple,-I might say the straitened,-habits of the fathers.
Of the four generations who have worshipped in this sanctuary, the first two were usually clothed in homespun garments, the handiwork of' wives and daughters who put their
hands to the distaff; and wrought in wool and flax and divers
colors of needle-work. It was no unusual sight, of a Sabbath morning in the olden times, to see at the farmer's door
the horse, with saddle and pillion, prepared for the meeting.
The older boys and girls having set forth on foot at an earlier
hour,-the father mounted to hold a child in front, and the
mother taking the seat behind, with the youngest in her
arms,-the family became one troop as they reached the
place of worship. It seems hardly credible, that, as late as
1820, women of excellent standing in the out-districts walked
to meeting with bare feet, carrying shoes and stockings in hand
until nearing the church, when they put on these articles for
the service, which were to be taken off again as they went




37
home. Amidst the snows of winter, ox-sleds were often in
requisition for the accommodation of neighboring households
and the abounding delight of the young people. At the close
of the religious services by which this house was dedicated,
we are told by Dea. Samuel Wilkins that the assembled ministers and dignitaries dined at the house of his father. The
principal dish on the table was hasty-pudding and milk.'While they were eating, lie told them  a ludicrous story
about catching a sheep, at which'ye fathers were well pleased,
and the pudding flew well."'
Other details of that and succeeding periods would have
an equally strange and novel air to the larger portion of this
audience. The state and customs of society existing in Dr.
Lord's day are very much changed. The great progress in
the knowledge and science of music, the greatly enlarged
and improved collections of psalmody, all the new and perfected arrangements for lighting and warming our houses of
worship, illustrate the real advancement which has been
made in our civilization.  Very few, probably, in this house
have heard a hymn " lined off" by the pastor in the Sabbath
worship. That practice has ceased with the noise of viols,
and the long drawn note of thile pitch pipe. The days of the
pillion, of foot-stoves, of home-spun garments and the tything-men, are gone —gone, as irrecoverably as the stone horseblock from which sheriff Kelley proclaimed, by beat of drum,
the birth-day of the nation, on the 18th of July, 1776.
The meeting-house, as the name indicates, was the place
of all public gatherings.  Here the citizens assembled in
their primary meetings to vote on town affairs; here they
rallied in patriotic conventions; here they listened on recurring anniversaries to civic orations, agricultural addresses,
educational lecturers, and whatever might be judged profitable to the body politic. Jury trials have, on more than one
occasion, been held within these walls, and, in 1794, the
members of the two houses of the New Hampshire legislature stood here, with uncovered heads, to unite in seeking




-38
the Divine guidance and blessing on their deliberations. It
is probable that the sessions of the larger branch of that
body were held in this room, for the want of better accommodations.
This house, always open to the sons and daughters of sorsow, has not been frequently used for funeral services,-our
afflicted families preferring a more private ceremonial; and
it has never been a fashion with us to resort to this place for
the solemnization of marriages. Yet no other spot is associated more vividly with all those social changes-the seasons of sorrow and of joy that make life memorable-than
this sanctuary. Hither you came in early childhood, delighting in the stirs and shows of the goodly company that
thronged the way to the place of worship. Here you felt
that mysterious pressure of reverent sentiment that accompanies the presence of large numbers really intent on God's
worship. Here you listened to prayer and praise, with emotions intensified by conscious union with others engaged in
the same duty. Here you have been pleased and wearied,sometimes longing to hear more, and then impatient to be
released, as your mood or your tastes may have harmonized
with the preacher's efforts. Here, too, you have known the
power of revealed truth, enlightening your conscience, searching your understanding, and awakening a sense of accountability unfelt elsewhere. Whatever your use or improvement of
the hours spent here, I know there are associations connected with the old meeting-house that stir the deepest springs
of your being. There is something in the company of fathers
and mothers, of kindred, companions, and neighbors, which
lends a pathos and weight to the word spoken here that few
can resist. The audience-room may be architecturally defective, the walls cold and unsightly; there may be muclh
that is grotesque in the dress or conduct of the worshippers;
and yet, if Christ be preached and God worshipped, the rude
structure is thereby sanctified, and we say, This is holy.ground.




39
This is true of hundreds of our New England temples, but'
emphatically is. it true to us, when we stand in the sanctuary
where our fathers worshipped; when we crowd the pews
where mothers, sisters, and brothers sat byvour sides and
heard the gospel; when we walk the aisles where we took
upon us the vows of the Christian profession, " avouching
the Lord to be our God, and giving ourselves to Jesus Christ
as the only Saviour." Here we "' were made partakers of the
heavenly gift, and tasted the powers of the world to come."
"But will God inll very deed dwell with men upon earth?"
Of a truth, "the Lord our God lhath been with us, as He
was with our fathers," and " the6 glory of this latter house
has been greater than of the former."  Whatever the recognized value of the established institutions of religion, in
their bearings on the cause of good order, sound morals,
and popular education; however important the meetinghouse, as a -source of healthful social: influences, upliolding
law, encouraging virtue, and strengthening all humane and
philanthropic sentiments,-still, its supremest power comes of
the vital forces of tile gospel, when the preaching of Jesus
Christ and him crucified becomes the wisdom and the power
of God unto salvation. Verv memorable have been the dis.
plays of Divine grace in this sanctuary. In the: great
ingatherings of 1831 and 1835, in 1842, and again in 1849,
this cllhurch received large accessions to its numbers and
strength.  Multitudes thronged these seats during those.
seasons of religious impression, and the consequent changes
in character and conduct attest the genuineness of the work.
The ways of the Spirit are by no means uniform, but, whenever He visits our congregations, the word becomes quick
and powerful, a revealer of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. Then sinners are convinced of sin and acknowledge
their errors: then they see the attractions of the cross, and:
give themselves to the service of Christ, the great Redeemer,
In the experience of this renewing, sanctifying power of the
truth, men attest the superiority of the gospel to all other'




40
instrumentalities for reforming the guilty, and delivering
the enslaved from the bondage of sin. Hence, the causes of
temperance, of missions, and of moral reformations find
their strength in the sanctqary. Here are witnessed revivals
of the spirit of missions, renewed consecrations to the work
of temperance and benevolence. As all illustration of this
last experience, let nie quote what is recorded of such a
revival at the meeting of the General Association in this
house in 1832: " Oil Wednesday, at the anniversary of the
New Hampshire Bible Society, so enlarged were the hearts
of the people of God, that a contribution was taken up of
9$205.85, and a subscription made amounting to $819.50,
besides two gold necklaces worth $20. But on Thursday,
at the close of the missionary sermon by Rev. Edward L.
Parker, of Derry, a missionary spirit broke out and pervaded
the great congregation, and such a scene was opened as
never before was witnessed in New Hampshire."  It was
resolved to raise the ensuing year $6,000 for the New Hampshire.Missionary Society, a large portion of which was
pledged on the spot.  A2bout one hundred and twenty
entered their names as life  members.  The collection,
including money and jewelry, was liberal beyond the expectation of the largest hearts.  Old Testament times seemed
to have returned, when " they came, both men and women,
as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and
ear-rings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and
every mall that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the
Lord."'
With such testimonies of the Divine influence, opening the
heart and transforming the will, might be connected the relation of personal experiences by which the lives of many
have been lifted to a superior plane, and the world made better by their example. Very gladly would I follow the history
and recount the deeds of some of the early members of this
church. I should be glad to unfold the part they took in the
* Dr. Bouton's Historical Discourse at Boscawen, 1859, p. 45.




41
councils of the town, and the self-denial they exhibited in
planting and sustaining the institutions by which we have so
largely profited. In the study of their principles and conduct, we might learn the sources of that far-seeing wisdom
and that persistent courage which wrested victories out of
defeat, and enabled them, in the conflict of opinions, to adopt
that line of practical administration which grants liberty
without licentiousness, and maintains law without oppression.
Among the acts, resolves, and other papers submitted to the
town and determining its action in the forming period of our
]history, from 1763 to 1789, there are many sentiments which
command our admiration for their just expression of moral
and political truth. After a survey of the lives of the men
who occupied leading positions inll the church and community,-whose sepulchres are with us unto this day,-it would
not be less profitable to follow the steps and trace the influence of many who have gone forth from this church to find
employment elsewhere. I would gladly repeat the record of
some who have finished their course, having kept the faith.
I can think of one, and another, and another, of godly men
and saintly women, who, having witnessed a good confession
in larger spheres, have chosen to rest at last in our village
cemetery. Their memory is blessed. I have in mind others,
yet active, who are pillars of beauty and strength in the towns
and cities of their adoption, who remember with liveliest
gratitude the old meeting-house, where in early childhood
they were taught the sure principles of the word of God, and
where, in opening manhood, they entered into covenant with
Christ and his people. Other witnesses there are, daughters
like unto corner stones, polished after the similitude of a
palace; —but I will not multiply testimonies to prove that
the Lord has been with us as he was with the fathers, and
that the old meeting-house is not past useful service.
" Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest i
With holy gifts and heavenly grace
Be her attendants blest!"




42
Among the thoughts suggested by this hurried surviey of
the past and its customs, the habits, usages, and places of
worship, the men and women into whose labors we have
entered, I mark the unity, the identity of human interests,
in all this diversity. How like us in hopes and fears, in anxieties, affections, and joys, the departed generations! How
akin in sorrows, sickness, bereavements, and death! We
smile perhaps at their errors, pronounce upon their faults,
and think that we are better than they. We read of their
hardships, their patient endurance, their courageous industry, their reverence for God, their pious observance'of the
Sabbath, with a conviction that they were better than we.
So the balance of our judgment vibrates; —but how like us,:
in their deepest wants, their aspirations, their hearts' desires!
and how clear that the only abiding satisfaction, for us as
for them, is in the faithful discharge of duty, the exercise of
right affections, and the sustaining power of a hope in the
Divine mercy!  There is no better lesson accompanying
their history than this testimony, that our sufficiency is not
of ourselves.  Our obligations to the fathers are great. For
us they cleared the forests, made highways, reared the
churches, wrought out problems in civil and religious polity.
We live in better houses, have more freedom, more wealth,
more culture and privileges, because of their labors;;but in
all that experience, so varied and instructive, comes the repeated admonition,-" Man shall not live by bread alone!"
Again: as we go over the history, it occurs to us that all
these persons, whatever their occupations or characters, are
gone! They have died. Not the chief'actors only, —the
preachers and singers, the magistrates and deacons, the
land-owners, the lawyers and eloquent orators,-but all, the
mothers, the maidens, the Monson folks, the federalists, the
republicans, the few colored people all that busy, plotting,
striving multitude, those who did and those who did not go
to meeting, are dead! And of all that thought, labor, desire,
enjoyment, what abides? " The fathers, where are they? and




the prophets, do they live forever? " Before another period like
this which we review is passed, all of this audience will have
joined the mighty congregation of the dead. These dwellers
on the western heights, these children from abroad, these
citizens from adjoining towns, these familiar faces of neighbors and companions who greet us on the street, will be
gone!  Some will try' to keep alive our names. Some,
possibly, may be curious to learn what part we acted, to what
end we lived. Whatever the judgment posterity may pronounce on us, let us not forget the final trial that is to
search every man's work of what sort it is.
To this end, let us pray,-" The Lord our God be with us
as he was with our fathers," enabling us to avoid their
errors, to imitate their excellence, and make sure of His
salvation.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
BY REV. ALBERT HEALD, PASTOR.
On the second day of the present month (January, 1S74),
the Baptist church had been constituted forty-four and a half
years. Prior to its formation there were a number of persons,
living in various parts of the town, who held the distinctive
sentiments of the Baptists; but these resided chiefly on Chestnut hill and in that vicinity. Many of these held their relations with different churches in neighboring towns; others had
not connected themselves with any religious body.
The first organization for the purpose of securing preaching
was formed October 6, 1828, with the following declaration of
purpose: "Being deeply sensible of the importance of the
preached as well as the written word, to ourselves and families;
the privations that we, who live in this vicinity, have to undergo, by being located so far from the ministrations; and believing




44
that it is our duty to contribute to the support of a preached
gospel, and that united exertions are both desirable and beneficial,-we feel it our duty and privilege to procure as many
persons in this region as are willing tQ sign this paper for the
purpose of forming a religious society, denominated the First
Baptist Society, in Amherst, N. H."
To this the following names were subscribed at its formation,
to which many others were afterwards added:
RALPH'HOLBROOK,        JAMES PRINCE,
EBENEZER.HOLBROOK,   ROBERT FLETCHER,
OLIVER MEARS,           OTIS FLETCHER,
FRANKLIN MEARS,         BENJAMIN DAMON,
HENRY TEWKSBURY,    JOHN WVASHER,
JOSEPH HARVILL,         BENJAMIN R. SHEPHERD,
JOHN ROLLINS,           JOSEPH HARRIDEN.
A constitution was prepared and adopted, in which two very
important principles are announced as the fundamental ground
of their action:
" 1. That morality and piety, governed on evangelical principles, give the.best and greatest happiness in society.
"2. That the public worship of the Deity is the best way of
promoting this morality and piety."
The church was organized on July 2, 1829. Letters were
sent to the churches in Londonderry, Milford, New Boston,
Weare, and Goffstown.
The following ministers were'present: Rev. Samuel Abbott
and Rev. Isaac Durrah, Londonderry; Rev. Samuel Everet,
Milford; Rev. John Atwood, New Boston; and Rev. Simon
Fletcher, Goffstown.
The council consisted of twelve members. Rev. Samuel Abbott was chosen moderator, and Rev. S. Fletcher, clerk.
There is no record of the original members of the church. A
few may be still living, but they have long since removed their
relation to other churches, or gone to their rest and reward.
They held their meetings at first on Chestnut hill, and continued them there until 1837.
In 1835, on February 3, a protracted meeting was com



45
menced, conducted by Rev. John Peacock, and continued sixteen days. This was the commencement of one of the most
extensive revivals ever enjoyed in this community. The first
sermon was preached, by the leader of the meeting, from John
11: 56,-" What think ye, that he will not come up to the feast?"
He did come in wonderful power, so that, literally, there was not
room enough to receive the blessing. Multitudes came from all
the surrounding sections, were filled, and carried away the
sweet influence of the Spirit's presence. The work spread to
the north, east, south, and west. The school-house where they
held their meetings became altogether too strait for them. The
windows were removed from the north end of the house, and
large numbers were accommodated on the ground or ledge that
rose gradually from the north side of' the building. That they
could have been comfortable at this season was remarkable. He
who moved in the meeting, melting hard hearts, ordered the
weather so that it met their circumstances. Another method
was also adopted to meet the emergency: the congregation was
divided. In the morning, during a part of the time, the unconverted assembled at the school-house. while Christians met at
the house of Dea. J. Harvill,-the former to listen to a sermon,
and the latter to hold a season of prayer. In the afternoon the
order was reversed. Christians met at the school-house, and
anxious iniquirers at the private dwelling. There are many
now living who remember these scenes very distinctly, and are
cheered as they recount what God did for them.
Rev. J. Peacock, who was a native of Amherst, and led these
meetings, after nearly forty years of hard service, with glorious
results, as an evangelist, has returned to his native town, expecting to make it his home the remainder of his days, and rest
at last with his kindred. He was greatly assisted in these meetings by Rev. Silas Aiken, then pastor of the Congregationalist
church, and Rev. Thomas Savage, of Bedford. The church,
which has for one hundred years worshipped in this house, received the largest accessions to its numbers during this year of
any for the century just now closed. There were many scores
that found Christ, either directly or indirectly, from the interest
connected with this protracted effort..
On these hills was this church first constituted: and it may be




46
asked why they did not remain there. Paradoxical as it may
seem, it was because God had so abundantly blessed themn.
This church was not very much. strengthened, and this was owing mainly to their location. As one result of the revival, they
dismissed a part of their number to form a church at Bedford.
Like the family in an out-of-the-way place on the hills, their
spiritual children did not remain at home. Yet for a time they
clung to the hill, for there were many precious associations clustering around it. They loved the place, for here had God gloriously manifested the power of his grace and truth.
A committee was appointed to procure a lot upon which to
build a meeting-house. The place was selected and staked out;
but this was the extent of the movement in this direction.
These Christians had before gone long distances to meeting; and
they could again make a sacrifice for the cause. Some of them
had made a journey very regularly to Milford, of eighteen miles
out and back, to attend meeting on the Sabbath. It must be
conceded that something more than mere captiousness, or caprice, or prejudice prompted them, especially when they were
obliged to pass this house, where such men as Rev. Nathan Lord
and Rev. Silas Aiken preached the gospel with so much earnestness and power.
In 1837 they moved their meeting to the village. To many
of them it was a great sacrifice. For a time they hid no certain abiding-place. Sometimes they worshipped in the schoolhouse, sometimes in a hall over a store situated on the common
near where the monument now stands, and sometimes in the
court-house. Nov. 19th, 1841, the record reads,-" Being deprived of the use of the court-house, we made arrangement
to worship in the Unitarian house."  This they continued to do
for a part of the time for three years, when the house was conveyed by the Christian society to the First Baptist society in
Amherst, by deed dated April 7, 1844.
A condition in the subscription to the shares for the building
of this house was, that the Christian society should transfer the
house to any other religious society when they should hold two
thirds of the: pews in the same. This condition being secured
to the Baptist society by purchase and transfer, at an expense
of between $1,000 and $1,100, it was accordingly deeded to




47
them  by said Christian society, and it has for the last thirty
years been their place of worship. In 1851 the house was
repaired at an expense of $300, and again, in 1870, at an expense of $500.
BEQUESTs. The first bequest was made by FannyG. Flinn,
May 8th, 1838, of $90, to be expended in annual instalinents of
$5 eachl. The second was made by James Prince, of the income
of $200 for ten years. The third was left by Joseph Harvill,
of $200. The fourth, of $1,000, by Mrs. Lucy Coggin, to purchase a parsonage, was offered. on condition that the church andl
society would raise $500 to repair the meeting-house;-which
was done.  Mr. Luther Coggin gave the lumber to build a
stable. Miss S. L. Lawrence left by will $250 to purchase a bell.
This now amounts to about $300. Besides these, there have
been gifts of a Bible and hymn-book for the desk, a cabinet organ
for the choir, chairs for the altar, and a beautiful communion set,
by Mrs. Mary Twiss and her children.
PASTORS. The church was supplied by different individuals,
for a short period each, for the first twelve years:
Rev. MASON BALL-Settled Aug. 1, 1841; closed his labors
Feb. 18, 1844.
Rev. AARON HAYEs-Settled March 17, 1844; closed his
labors March 30, 1845.
Rev. AMASA BRowN-Settled May 2, 1845; closed his labors
April 7, 1847.
Rev. DAvID BURRoUGHs — Settled Aug. 1, 1849; closed his labors Dec., 1854.
Rev. SAMUEL JONE —Settled May 11, 1856; closed his labors
May 10, 1857.
The pulpit was supplied, during the winter of 1857-58, by
Rev. JOHN H. THYNG. During the winter of 1858-59 Rev.
SAMUEL COOK supplied the church.
Rev. AMOS W. BoARDMAN —Settled July 31, 1859; closed his
labors July 14, 1861.
Rev. J. BASKwELL — Settled Dec. 4, 1863; closed his labors
Dec. 31, 1865.
Rev. JOHN PEACOCK supplied the church from Feb. 1, 1866,
for nearly two years.




48
Rev. ELI P. NoYEs-Settled April 1, 1868; closed his labors
Nov. 1, 1870.
Rev. ALBERT IIEALD-Settled Jan. 1, 1870, whose pastorate
still continues.
DEACONS. The church has been served by nine deacons:
1. BENJ. DAMON,         5. EDWARD M. HOLT,
2. JOSEPH HARVILL,      6. JOSEPH RUSSELL,
3. WILLIAM GOODNOW,  7. S AMUEL FLETCHER,
4. SIMEON WILSON,       8. JOSIAH M. PARKER,
9. DANIEL CRAM.
STATISTICS.  About three hundred have united with the
church. It is impossible to decide correctly from the records.
All the original names are wanting. One hundred and ten have
been baptized; one hundred and forty added by letter, and ten
by experience. Some have been added when no record has
been made; and some evidently dismissed in the same manner.
INCIDENTS. The first communion occurred on August 116,
1829; the first baptism, November 7, of the same year. The
first case of discipline was commenced January 15, 1832. The
case was continued, and April 14th it voted to give Sister N.
seven months to become reconciled; quite a probation, but not
a hundredth part as long as God grants to many a poor sinner to
become reconciled to him. On July 6, 1833, this probation
closed without a reconciliation,-the seven months having been
lengthened to fifteen.
The first death occurred March 27, 1846, sixteen years and
eight months after the organization; the last death, December
27, 1873, of brother Willie P. Upton, who united about eighteen months before. He was an active, growing Christian, and
a young man of much promise. May all the members be as
well prepared and as willing to go, when their Lord shall call
for them, as was this young brother.




A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH
OP THE
CHURCH INT MONT VERNON,
PRESENTED BY THE ACTING PASTOR,
REV. S. H. KEELER, D. D.,
At the Centennial of the Erection of the Congregational
Meeting-house, in Amherst, January i8, 1874.
The daughter of ninety-three, residing at Mont Vernon, having been invited by her venerable mother, aged one hundred
and thirty-three, to hold a united service with her, January 18,
1874, in observance of the centennial of the erection of her
sanctuary, in which they formerly worshipped together, cheerfully complied with the request, gave up her public worship at
home, and, with her pastor, passed the Sabbath with the parent
church.
Having in the morning listened with great interest to the historical sermon by Rev. Dr. Davis, and having been requested
to occupy a part of the afternoon in reminiscences of the church
in Mont Vernon, the pastor presented the following brief historical sketch. Having also been requested to furnish a copy
of the same, that it might be published with the sermon of Dr.
Davis and other services of the day, the following pages, with
some additions, are hereby offered for the above purpose:
The church in Mont Vernon was organized as the second
church in Amherst, September, 1780, by a council called for
that purpose. Who composed the council I have not been able
to ascertain, as no records of these transactions are to be found,
nor of the church itself, for some thirteen years, nor have I been
able to learn the number that composed the church at its formation. There is traditional proof, however, that the original
4




50
members were quite remarkable for their sound, intelligent
orthodoxy, and the quiet yet decided earnestness of their piety.
I have been informed, also, that, soon after the organization of
the church, the Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Chelmsford, Mass., preached
to a large congregation in Major Cole's barn, on the importance
of erecting, without delay, a house of worship; an undertaking
of no small difficulty, amid the pecuniary stress of those revolutionary days. The sermon, however, was decidedly effective.
On the following April, each farmer in the settlement not only
contributed freely his quota of timber, which, according to the
fashion of those times, was timber with a witness, both in dimensions and weight, but they drew it quite the last of the month,
on a depth of ice-crusted snow, above which neither fence nor
wall was visible. Fifty-four persons were legally constituted
the Second Parish in Amherst, in June, 1781.
They are spoken of as a band of resolute, noble, and pious
men, whose orthodoxy was unquestionable, and who felt that
they were laying the foundation for future generations. A lot
of land having been given to the parish by Lieut. James Woodbury, the house was erected with as little delay as possible, and
gradually finished, as the people were able. There is no record
of its formal dedication. During the first winter, so urgent was
the demand for the church, that, though but partially fitted up
for the purpose, and entirely destitute of any warming apparatus, yet the house was well filled with worshippers, some of
whom walked even from Chestnut hills, five miles distant.
Among these were not only strong men, but noble and resolute
women.
The new church and parish, although supplied with preaching
by several candidates for the pastorate, were destitute of a settled minister till Nov. 3, 1785, when Rev. John Bruce became
their first pastor. He was a native of Marlboro', Mass., born
Aug. 31, 1757; a graduate of Dartmouth college at the age of
twenty-four, where, by his studious habits, his mild, serious, and
dutiful character, he won from his teachers the title of "'good
Mr. Bruce."  After a pastorate of some twenty-five years,-the
longest of any of his successors,-he suddenly died of apoplexy,
aged fifty-one, on the Sabbath morning of March 12, 1809, with
his armor on. While his people had assembled and were wait



51
ing for their pastor, a messenger announced the sad intelligence
of his death, —an event sorrowful to them, but joyful to him.
His ministry was eminently successful. The whole number
added to the church during his pastorate cannot be definitely
stated, as for several years its records are not to be found. A
memorandum, however, in the hand-writing of Mr. Bruce, has
been found, containing evidently a list of church members prior
to 1799, making the membership up to that time, by letter and
by profession, one hundred and ten. The year 1799 was rendered memorable not only by the first religious revival enjoyed
by this church, but as the first ever known in this region. The
blessed result of it to this church was the addition of fifty members by profession, making the whole number added during Mr.
Bruce's ministry one hundred and sixty. The happy influence of
this revival was not limited to this church, but extended far and
wide among neighboring churches. Many years afterwards,
Rev. Mr. Bradford, of Francestown, said that, when informed
of the numbers converted to Christ in Mont Vernon, he was so
much affected that he shut himself up for the day, and wept
and prayed. This revival was not only the harbinger, but the
glorious beginning, of no less than six or seven seasons of special religious interest with which the church has been favored
since that period.
The next pastor of this church was Rev. Stephen Chapin, a
graduate of Harvard, and a pupil of Dr. Emmons. He was installed November, 1809, and, after an efficient pastorate of nine
years, was dismissed November 18, 1818. During his ministry,
one hundred and fifteen were added to the church. As the
result of a revival in 1817, fifty-one professed Christ on one
occasion. The cause of his dismission was a change of views in
regard to the mode and subjects of baptism. He afterwards
received the honorary title of D. D., and died while president of
Columbia college, Washington, D. C., October 1, 1846, aged 67.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. Ebenezer Cheever, a graduate of Bowdoin college. He was ordained December 18,1819,
and, after a pastorate of between three and four years, was dismissed April 8, 1823. Twenty-two members were added to the
church during his ministry. During the same period, in 1820,
the first Sabbath-school of the church and society was organized.




52
It was composed of children only. During his ministry, thirtynine children were consecrated to God by baptism.
iMr. Cheever was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Kingsbury,
who was ordained November 8, 1823, and, after a ministry of
between twelve and thirteen years, was dismissed, on account
of ill health, April 6, 1836. His pastorate was one of the most
prosperous and successful of those enjoyed by the church. It
was blessed by two revivals of great power and thrilling interest,-one in 1828, resulting in an addition of thirty-four to the
church, the other in 1831,-that period of protracted meetings
and of remarkable revival scenes, the result of which was an
addition to the church of some sixty by profession. Prayermeetings, held at sunrise, were sustained for months, and converts went forth into remote districts to aid in social meetings,
even during the busiest seasons of the year. And yet, so di(t
God favor his people with health, with sunshine and showers,
that their temporal prosperity, even, was never greater. The
whole number of members received to the church by letter and
profession, during the ministry of Mr. Kingsbury, was one hundred and fifty-four. This period was distinguished also as the
beginning of the temperance reform in FMont Vernon. The
difficulties which had to be met at that day can hardly be imagined now. Then public opinion was so opposed to it, that
even church members would indignantly leave the sanctuary if
the subject was alluded to in the pulpit. And it is said that, as
IMr. Kingsbury was passing in the direction of the new road
that was being made between Mont Vernon and Milford, he
overtook one of his deacons, with two pails of liquor, who advised his minister to go the old road, as the workmlen were so
intoxicated on the new one that he would be insulted. Through
the persevering efforts of pastor and people, however, the tide
of intemperance was rolled back, if not entirely stayed, and
temperance took its appropriate place in the church friom that
day. In 1837 the sanctuary was removed to its present location, remodelled, and furnished with a bell and organ; it was
also supplied with furnaces, and otherwise rendered commodious
and comfortable.
The next settlqd pastor was Rev. Edwin Jennison, a graduate
from the Theological Seminary at Andover. He was installed




53
April 6, 1836, and, after a ministry of a little more than five
years, was dismissed on account of ill health, Aug. 19, 1841.
He was regarded as a superior sermonizer, but seldom visited
his people. Twenty-three were added to the church during his
ministry. His health continuing to fail, he visited Europe, and
was afterwards settled at Ashburnham, Mass. Rev. Mr. Jennison was succeeded by Rev. B. Smith, a graduate of Dartmouth.
He was installed April 19, 1841, and, after a ministry of some
nine years, was dismissed April 30, 1850. During his pastorate,
thirty-two were added to the church. Several important cases
of discipline were settled; and strong ground was taken by the
church against slavery and slaveholders.
His ministry was succeeded by that of Rev. Charles D. Herbert, who was installed Nov. 6, 1850. After a pastorate of
between five and six years, he was dismissed July 21, 1856.
During this period,fifty-five were added to the church. In 1852,
quite a number in the academy became hopefully the disciples
of Christ. The church then numbered one hundred and sixtythree, and the average age of the members was about fifty-six
years.
The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Herbert was followed by that of
Rev. Charles E. Lord, a graduate of Dartmouth. He was installed Feb., 1857. After the lapse of some four years, he was
dismissed, on account of his wife's ill health, March, 1861. During his ministry, thirteen were added to the church. In a letter
of commendation, written to Mr. Lord by a committee of the
church chosen for the purpose, after speaking of their regret at
parting with him, and of the growing attachment of the church
and people to him, the committee bear the following testimony
to his ministrations: "They have been highly acceptable, and
his preaching clear and instructive; and no difficulties have occurred to mar the enjoyment of the retrospect."
The ministry of Mr. Lord was followed by that of Rev. Geo.
E. Sanborn, a graduate of Amherst college, Mass. He was
installed April 2, 1862, and, after a pastorate of three years,
was dismissed May 29, 1865, to accept a call from Northboro',
Mass. Nine were received to the church during his ministry.
The church records bear the following testimony of the regard
of the church for Mr. Sanborn while their pastor: "Resolved,




54
That this church highly appreciate his ministerial and pastoral
labors, and greatly regret that the ties which have bound him
and them together should be so soon sundered; and they consent to it only at the call of duty."
As successor to Mr. Sanborn, the Rev. B. M. Frink was installed over this church and people Nov. 1, 1865, and was dismissed to accept a call from the Central church, Portland, Me.,,
Oct. 23, 1867. During his pastorate of some two years, fortyseven were added to the church. A majority of these were
received as the fruits of a revival of religion which occurred
during the winter and spring of 1866,-a period of great and
general interest, the results of which were precious. The mninistry of Mr. Frink was eminently active, acceptable, and laborious. Added to the good results already noticed, it should be
mentioned that the pulpit was appropriately remodelled and
rendered more convenient and attractive, and the present commodious and much needed parsonage was erected. Both these
improvements were largely owing to his personal and persevering efforts, aided by the liberal offerings of the church and
people.
The present acting pastor of the church and people was a
graduate of Middlebury college, Vt., and, also, of the Theological Seminary, Andover, Mass. He commenced his stated ministry in Mont Vernon April 1, 1868, having supplied the pulpit
for several Sabbaths the previous winter. He declined the request of the church and people for his installation, because,
when he began his labors among them, he thought his ministry
might be so brief that it might not be best either for him or
them. Had he supposed that his pastorate would be as protracted and pleasant as it has been, he would not only have
yielded to the request of the church and people for installation,
but acted upon his own conviction, as a general principle, that
a regularly settled pastor is always preferable, other things being equal, to the comparatively unsettled relation of an acting
pastor. For nearly six years the present ministry has been one
of great harmony and pleasure, and attended with most unexpected success, on the part of the incumbent. Seconded by the
willing cooperation of the church and people, a debt owed by
the latter, of some six hundred dollars, has been cancelled, the




55
parsonage has been improved, the sanctuary has been rendered
more commodious and attractive, the organ has been replaced
by one better suited to the service of sacred song; and the large
expense of these and other improvements has been cheerfully
met. It should be mentioned, also, that in so doing the church
and parish have been essentially aided by the Female Home Circle, who, in various ways, have raised some fourteen hundred
dollars. During the present pastorate, some eighty have been
added to the church, making an aggregate of some fifteen per
year. Of this number, fifty-three have been added during the
year 1873. Most of these are the precious fruit of the revival
of religion which occurred in connection with a series of religious meetings held with the church and people the last of
April, the pastor being aided by Rev. Mr. Potter, the evangelist. The religious interest thus begun continued through
the summer and autumn, and, though lessened in degree, still
continues.
One of the most interesting and even remarkable results of
this revival is, that the large majority of those who have expressed hope in Christ, and united with the church, are in the
meridian of life, men of influence, and eight or ten husbands
and their wives; there were also several youth, and one man
past four score years. By these additions the things that remained have been strengthened, and the prosperity and perpetuity of the church, which had been seriously endangered by
deaths and removals, have been promoted. The whole number
who have united with the church since its formation in 1780 is
not far from eight hundred. And, notwithstanding the changes
by which it has been diminished since then, its present number is not far from one hundred and seventy, resident and nonresident. The church has sent forth eight ministers, —two at a
very early day, viz., Joshua Howard and Daniel Weston; more
recently, Solomon Kittredge, Challes B. Kittredge, J. W. Perkins, Darwin Adams, H. A. Kendall, and J. C. Bryant. It has
also supplied the churches in the cities and large towns with
some of their most efficient members. It is estimated that some
fifty young men belonging to Mont Vernon have been prepared for
usefulness, and gone forth to exert it elsewhere, within the last
fifteen years, and perhaps as many young women; and, although




56
it is gratifying to know that they are benefiting other communities and other churches, it has been evidently at the expense
of this church and people; and the more favored churches and
parishes are verily their debtors. And the same is true, doubtless, with reference to very many of our rural places in the
State.
Such is a brief and imperfect review of the church and parish
of Mont Vernon,fiom 1780 to 1874, a period of nearly ninety-four
years. The compiler has gathered the facts and events with
which it is fraught from the most reliable sources within his
reach,-partly from the history of the churches of New Hampshire, and partly from the church records of more recent date.
It is obviously suggestive of interesting and instructive lessons,
honorable to God, and pertinent to the present generation. It
obviously teaches the hopeful and encouraging fact, that though
pastors may pass away, and many who once composed the
church may not continue, by reason of death and other removals, yet the church itself lives, and will be immortal till its mission is fulfilled. What a lesson of gratitude does the contrast
between the privations of the fathers and mothers of the past,
and the privileges of to-day, read to the present generation!
and how does it enhance their obligation! How manifest, moreover, the faithfulness of God to his gracious promise,-" Them
that honor me I will honor."
REMINISCENCES
OF
FORMER CITIZENS AND NATIVES OF AMHERST.
BY DANIEL F. SECOMB, CONCORD, N. H.
One hundred years ago our fathers met to dedicate the house
their hands had built to the worship of the Builder of the Universe. To-day, but one person then living is numbered among
the living inhabitants of our town. Scattered far and near, the
ashes of the congregation then assembled rest in peace. Their




57
work is done. What remains of it is with us. We may profit
by their labors, and imitate their virtues.
The long contest for the possession of the North American
continent, between France and her savage allies on one hand,
and Great Britain and her colonies on the other, had been closed
a few years before by the capture of Quebec, and the subsequent cession of the French colonies to the English, when the
English government, finding itself heavily in debt, proposed to
increase its revenue by taxing its thriving colonies. Before conceding this claim, the colonists asked for a representation in
parliament, contending that taxation and representation should
go together. This being denied, a conflict between the parties
became inevitable. The sturdy backwoodsmen, descendants of
English Puritans and Scotch Presbyterians, who had fought and
conquered savages and wild beasts, met in deadly combat the
trained soldiers of the mother land.
With all its serious aspects, the contest had in it a good deal of
a grim sort of humor. When the tea was forced upon the Bostonians, it was received under protest; but a teapot of generous dimensions was soon found by his Majesty's loyal subjects
to steep it in, the finny inhabitants of Boston harbor being
afforded an opportunity to participate in the drinking. And
when the demand was made upon the colonists to deliver up
their arms, the Spartan answer-"' Come and take them "-was
soon understood to include what might be found with them.
Our fathers entered into the discussions of those stormy times
with spirit. One month before the dedication of the house,
the tea-party had been given at Boston; and fifteen months
later came the opening conflicts of the war at Lexington common and Concord bridge.
In May, 1775, says Mr. Fox, in the history of Dunstable, the
county of Hillsborough, with a population of fifteen thousand
nine hundred and forty-eight, had six hundred and fifty men in
the army, or a little more than one to every twenty-five of its
inhabitants; and its shire town was certainly not behind its
neighbors in patriotism.
In April, 1776, t'wo hundred and one of its male citizens
above twenty-one years of age signed a paper, now on file in the
office of the secretary of state, pledging themselves, " to the




58
utmost of their power, at the risk of their lives and fortunes,
with arms, to oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets
and armies against the united American colonies."
Standing first on the list of signers to this bold defiance of
British power we find the name of Nahum Baldwin, the village
blacksmith, representative to the general court in 1775 and 1780,
moderator of the annual town-meeting, town clerk, and selectman in 1778, and for fourteen years a deacon of the church. He
was appointed colonel of a regiment, raised in 1776, to reinforce
the army in northern New York. This regiment was dismissed
at North Castle near the close of the year. This seems to have
been the only military commission held by him. He died May
7, 1788, at the age of fifty-three years. Some of his descend-nts now reside in Antrim, N. H.
Second on the list we find the name of Moses Nichols, a
physician of good repute, a native of Reading, Mass., who came
to Amherst early in life, and commenced the practice of his
profession. In 1765, 1768, and 1773 he served as one of the
selectmen, was town clerk in 1773, moderator in 1767, 1769,
1770, 1771, 1773, and 1777, and representative in 1775, 1776,
and 1781. He was also register of deeds for Hillsborough county
froml 1776 until his death. He was appointed colonel of the
fifth regiment of militia December 5, 1776, in place of Col.
Lutwyche, who had joined the British; commanded the right
wing of Stark's army in the battle with the Hessians and tories,
near Bennington, August 16, 1777; was colonel of a regiment
in General Whipple's brigade, at Rhode Island, in 1778; and,
after the close of the war, was appointed brigadier general of
the foulth brigade N. H. militia. He died May 23, 1790, aged
49 years.
Stephen Peabody, another signer of the test paper, was an
active whig. He was son of William Peabody, who came from
Boxford, Mass., to Souhegan West, as early as 1742. He served
as one of the selectmen in 1770, 1772, 177'3, 1776, and 1779, and
was representative in 1779. He was adjutant of Col. Reed's
regiment in 1775; major of a regiment, raised for the defence
of Portsmouth and its harbor, in 1776; captain of a company,
raised for the relief of Ticonderoga, in 1777; aid to Gen. Stark
at Bennington; and lieut. colonel, commanding a regiment in




59
Gen. Whipple's brigade, in 1778. He closed his career September 19, 1782, at the age of thirty-seven. His remains rest in
the cemetery at Mont Vernon.
Prior to the first of April, 1777, one hundred and twenty of
the citizens of Amherst had been engaged in the war; in this
number were two colonels, one major, and five captains. Twenty
of its soldiers lost their lives in the course of the war.
In the census of 1840 the following soldiers of the revolution
were returned as living in Amherst, Mont Vernon, and Milford:
IN AMHERST.             IN MONT VERNON.
John Purple,   aged 97   Andrew Leavitt,    aged 87
Thomas Melendy, " 91    Solomon Kittredge,    " 85
Joseph Crosby,   " 87   Jonathan Lamson,        " 84
Nathan Kendall,    85   Zephaniah Kittredge,  " 83
David Fisk,     "  83   Israel Farnum,          "  81
Benjamin Damon,"  78   Daniel Averill,          " 74
Ephraim Goss,   " 74          IN MILFORD.
Samuel Lovejoy,       "  84
Isaac Burpee,         "  84
Joshua Atherton, one of the four citizens who refused to sign
the test paper, was, so far as I am able to learn, the only person who was subjected to any open persecution on account of
his opinions. He was confined for a short time in the jail at
Exeter, and, with his family, suffered other indignities. He
submitted patiently, accepting the consequences of adhering
to his convictions; and, at the close of the war, was soon reinstated in the confidence of his fellow citizens. He represented
the town in the convention which ratified the federal constitution in 1788, and made a speech (almost the only one made on
that occasion, which has been preserved) against its adoption.
He was afterwards representative, senator, and attorney-general. He died April 3, 1809, aged 71 years.
The declaration of independence was proclaimed "by the
beat of drum," by Moses Kelley, sheriff of the county, from the
horse-block, in front of the meeting-house, July 18, 1776. An
event now transpiring at Philadelphia may be known to us in
five minutes afterwards,-such has been the progress made in the
mode of transmitting intelligence within ninety-eight years.




60
Samuel Dana was one of the worthy citizens of Amherst.
The commencement of the revolutionary war found him settled
in the ministry, at Groton, Mass., but being suspected of favoring the mother country, he was compelled to relinquish his
charge, and for some time was without any settled employment; but in 1783 he was admitted to the practice of the law.
On the ninth of January, 1789, he was appointed judge of probate for the county of Hillsborough, which office he held for
some years. He died April 2, 1798, at the age of fifty-nine
years. He was the first master of Benevolent Lodge, No. 7,
Free and Accepted Masons, and was buried with masonic honors, an oration being pronounced on the occasion by Timothy
Bigelow, Esq., then a resident here.
One who remembered Judge Dana well, said,-" He was one
of the most useful men that ever lived in town-ever active
and ready to devise and execute plans for the comfort and convenience of its citizens." Some' of his descendants have been
men of note, and filled important offices in the state. Among
them were Chief Justice Samuel Dana Bell, Senator James Bell,
Dr. Luther V. Bell, and Samuel N. Bell, recently member of
congress.
John Shepard, Jr., was a native of Concord, Mass., and came
here at an early age with his father, who built the mills known
as the Shepard mills, on the Souhegan river. I-e served on the
board of selectmen eleven years, and was also town clerk eleven
years. His record, after the lapse of a century, is as legible as
printed matter. He learned to write by making characters with
his finger in the dust which settled on the boards in the gristmill which he tended. For some years he was justice of the
county court and justice of the peace. He died at Milford,
December 4, 1802, aged seventy.
William Gordon, died May 8, 1802, at the age of thirty-nine
years; graduated at Harvard college 1779; was a senator in the
legislature, member of congress three years, and attorney-general. He built the house afterwards occupied by Hon. C. H.
Atherton, whose sister he married. His son, William Gordon,
graduated at Harvard college, 1806; practised law in Charlestown, N. H.; and died in the Asylum for the Insane, at Brattleborough, Vt., January 12, 1871, aged 83 years.




61
Robert Means, born in Stewartstown, Ireland, August 28,
1742, settled here prior to the revolution, and soon became
one of the leading citizens of the town. By his industry and
application to business he acquired a large property. He represented the town in the legislature for three years, was for
three years a member of the state Senate, and one year one of
the governor's council. He died January 24, 1823.
Benjamin Kendrick, born in Newton, Mass., January 30,
1724, settled on what is now the town farm, then in Monson,
in 1749, and became a citizen of Amherst on the annexation of
a part of Monson to this place, September 13, 1770. HIe was
town clerk of Monson some years, and selectman of Alnherst
in 1771. His daughter Anna was the wife of Governor Benjamin Pierce, and the mother of General Franklin Pierce, at one
time president of the United States. He died Nov. 13, 1812.
Daniel Warner was a native of Ipswich, Mass.; born June
25, 1745. After residing some years in Nashua, then Dunstable,
he settled in Amherst, of which he was a useful and influential citizen. He was employed to take the census of Hillsborough county in 1790, 1800, and 1810. Was lieutenant-colonel,
commanding 5th regiment N. H. militia, 1796, moderator of
the annual town-meeting in 1798, and represented the town
eight years in the general court. He died March 20, 1813. His
widow survived until March, 1833. His son Daniel died while
a member of Harvard college. John, another son, died while
in service in the last war with Great Britain.
Jedediah Kilburn Smith, a native of the town, son of Jonathan Smith, who came here from Danvers, Mass., represented
the town in the general court in 1803 and 1804; was a member
of the tenth congress, councillor for Hillsborough county four
years, senator four years, justice of the court of common pleas,
and post-master. He died December 17, 1828, aged 59.
Clifton Clagett, son of Wyseman Clagett, attorney-general
of the province of New Hampshire, was born at Portsmouth
December 3, 1762, settled in the practice of the law at Litchfield
in 1787, removed to Amherst in 1811, and died here January
29, 1829. HIe was a member of the eighth, fifteenth, and sixteenth congresses, represented Amherst in the general court in
1816, was justice of the superior court for a short time, and
judge of probate for Hillsborough county.




62
Charles Humphrey Atherton, son of Joshua Atherton, was
born August 14, 1773. For.more than forty years he was register
of probate for Hillsborough county, a member of the fourteenth
congress, represented the town in the general court in 1823, 1838,
and 1839, and was for fifty years one of the leading members
of the Hillsborough county bar. He died January 8, 1853.
His son, Charles Gordon Atherton, an able lawyer, was born July
4, 1804; graduated at Harvard college 1822; settled in the practice of the law at Nashua; was speaker of the house of representatives three years, representative to congress four years,
and senator six years. He died while senator, November 15,
1853.
Horace Greeley was probably the most widely known of the
sons of Amherst. He was born of good " Scotch-Irish " stock,
in the north-east part of the town, near Bedford line, February
3, 1811. Possessing but few of the advantages enjoyed by youth
at the present day, by his energy and perseverance he wrought
his way up from poverty and obscurity to a commanding position among the journalists of the country and the world. The
Tribune, with 1,250,000 readers, was a power in the land, and
its editor-in-chief well deserved the title given him by a distinguished contemporary-" Our later Franklin." He died November 29, 1872.
E!hraim Putnam Bradford, mentally and physically one of
the greatest of the sons of old Amherst, was son of Capt. John
Bradford, a soldier of the revolution, who removed after the
close of the war to Hancock, and died there at the age of ninetythree, June 27, 1836. The son was born in the north-east part of
the present town of Milford, December 27, 1776; graduated at
Harvard college in 1803, and was settled over the Presbyterian
church at New Boston, February 26, 1806, where he remained
until his death, December 14, 1845. With more ambition and
industry he might have graced any city pulpit, or filled most
acceptably the place so long held by Dr. Lord at Hanover. To
him Clark B. Cochrane, in his centennial address at New Boston, applied the words of the patriarch of Uz, —" Unto him
men gave ear, and waited and kept silence at his counsel; they
waited for him as for the rain, and they opened their mouth
wide as for the latter rain."  Silas Aiken (good authority here)




63
once wrote of him,-" He was, literally, one of nature's noblemen, of princely person, with a sonorous, commanding voice,
exceedingly fluent and accurate in speech, modelled somewhat
after Johnson's style, so richly gifted in mind and heart that,
with little preparation, he stood among the first preachers in
the state.
Mary Manning Barker, daughter of Dea. Ephraim Barker, to
whom he was married September 1, 1806, was a most worthy
daughter of old Amherst, and a fit companion for such a man.
She was born October 9, 1785, and is still living.
Isaac Hill stands at the head of the graduates from  the Cabinet office.  He was born in what is now  Somerville, Mass.,
April 6, 1788; removed with his family to Ashburnham  in
1798; came to Amherst at the age of fourteen, making the
journey fiom Ashburnham on horseback, seated behind his employer. Here he remained seven years. On the 18th of April,
1809, he issued the first number of the New tHampshire Patriot,
at Concord.*  This paper he conducted with much ability for
twenty years, during a large part of which time it was the acknowledged leader of the republican journals in the state.
Towards the close of his life, in connection with his sons, he
published Hills' NXew  Itampshire Patriot, and the Farmers'
XJionthly Visitor, a paper devoted to the interests of the farmers of New  Hampshire-an exceedingly popular and useful
publication.
He represented Concord in the legislature in 1826; was senator from District No. 4 four years; for a short time second
comptroller of the U. S. treasury; five years U. S. senator; and
three years governor of the state.  He died at Washington,
March 22, 1851.
Luther Roby, a native of the town, son of James Roby,
born January 8, 1801, was, like Gov. Hill, a graduate from  the
Cabinet office. HIe removed to Concord late in the autumn of
1822, and, on the sixth of January, 1823, issued the first number of the New Iampshire Statesman, of which he was man*one who was intimate with Gov. Hill when in Amherst, relates that he met him
while on his way to Concord to establish the Patriot. To the inquiry, Where are you
going? Hill replied,-" I am going to Concord to print the truth; I have printed lies
long enough.'"




64
ager and proprietor for the first six months of its existence;
he, however, disposed of his interest in it before the close of
its first year, but continued in the printing and publishing
business. In 1832 he established a stereotype foundry, where
he manufactured several sets of plates for the Bible, in pearl
type, they being the first of the kind made in New England.
Other books were stereotyped at his foundry, and several sets
of plates manufactured there were sold to publishers in other
places; and large numbers of Bibles, Testaments, and other
books have been printed from them.
From  plates manufactured in his foundry, and others purchased by him, he has printed 153,000 Bibles, of various styles,
248,000 Testaments, 110,000 copies of' Watts's Psalms and
Hymns, besides 1,000,000 spelling-books, and large numbers of
pamphlets. Latterly he has devoted much time to opening and
working the granite ledges in the city of his residence. The
introduction of Concord granite, as a building material, will
add much to the wealth of the city, and furnish hundreds of
its citizens with employment.
For nearly thirty years he was an active member of the fire
department of Concord, of which he was chief engineer eight
years. He was one of the representatives from Concord in 1837
and 1849.
John Farmer was for about a third of his life a resident of
Amherst, coming here in 1805 from Chelmsford, where he was
born June 12, 1789. At first he served as clerk in a store,
which occupation his feeble health finally compelled him to relinquish. He then engaged in teaching, in which profession he
excelled. In 1820 he published an historical sketch of Amherst,
which was revised and enlarged in 1837. Ile also commenced
the study of medicine with Dr. Spalding, but shortly relinquished
it, and removed to Concord in 1821; there formed a business
connection with Dr. Samuel Morrill, in which he continued for
a short time. After quitting this, he devoted most of his time
to antiquarian and historical researches, in which matters he
soon became an acknowledged authority. He was one of the
founders of the New Hampshire Historical Society, of which he
was for fourteen years the corresponding secretary. Ever ready
and willing to aid in any good work, according to his strength




65
and' ability. He died, honored and lamented, August 13, 1833.
His remains lie beside those of his fiiend, Joseph Low, the first
mayor of Concord, on whose family monument a suitable inscription is placed, in memory of the greatest antiquarian of New
Hampshire.
Jose-;h Low was one of what Dr. Bouton styles the'"Amherst colony."  It consisted of several young men and women,
most of them natives of Amherst, who settled in Concord many
years ago, being nearly all of the same age. They were much
together, aiding and assisting each other. Most of them acquired a competency, and nearly all of them  were among the
most respected citizens of the place; —they were Francis N.
Fisk, William Fisk and wife (Margaret Dodge), William Low
and wife (Grace Nichols), Joseph Low, Benjamin Damon and
wife (Sophia Nichols), Peter Robinson, and Isaac Hill. All lived
to a good old age,-Francis N. Fisk, the oldest, being ninety
years and five months old at the time of his death.
William Fisk, son of Dea. William Fisk, was born at Wenham,
Mass., April 20, 1755; came to Amherst with his father in
1773; he served on the board of selectmen for twenty-five
consecutive years, eighteen of which he was also town clerk;
six years he represented the town in the general court; was
senator fiom the seventh district four years, and twice an elector of president and vice-president of the United States, besides
holding other important offices. He was'for a long time one of
the leaders of the old republican party, and was a man of decided ability. He died June 4, 1831.
A history of the Fiske family was published by Albert A.:Fiske, Chicago, 1867.
Samuel Bell resided here for some years. His connection with
the Hillsborough bank, of which he was president, injured his
popularity here, as the vote for governor in 1819 and subsequent years will show; but the people of the state generally
had full confidence in him. He was a member of the senate
from the seventh district in 1807 and 1808, in both of which
years he was its presiding officer; councillor for Hillsborough district one year; justice of the supreme court three years; governor four years; and senator in congress twelve years, being
the second senator from New Hampshire who served two full
5




66
terms in that body. Although he spoke but seldom in the senate,
his advice was sought by his colleagues on all matters of importance, and it is said the memorable speech of Mr. Webster, in
reply to Col Hayne, January 26, 1830, was made at his suggestion and request. He died at Chester, December 23, 1850, aged
eighty years. " Governor Hill once indorsed him as being one
of the best of men, and the very best of governors."
Reuben Dimond Mussey, son of Dr. John Mussey, was born in
1780. For some years in early life he resided on the place now or
formerly occupied by Mr. Freeman Bills. Some reminiscences of
his boyhood may be found in the Cabinet of April 1, 1874. He
graduated at Dartmouth college in 1803; studied medicine, and
commenced the practice of his profession at Salem, Mass., about
1809, where he remained until 1814, when he accepted a professorship at Hanover, and removed there, remaining until 1838,
when he removed to Cincinnati, and became professor of surgery in the Ohio Medical college.  This position he filled
until 1852, when he became connected with the TMiami Medical
college as professor of surgery. Leaving this in 1860, he came
to Boston to superintend the publication of one of his works,
and remained there until his death, which took place June 21,
1866. He was an earnest and laborious student in his profession, in which he gained distinction as an instructor.
Miss Hosea, Isaac Brooks, Esq., and Mr. Eli Wilkins were
among the early teachers in the schools of Amherst. Miss Hosea
seems to have been inclined to take life easily. I have the authority of one of her pupils, who was afterwards for a long time
one of "ye fathers of ye towne," for saying, that after she had
heard her pupils through their lessons, she would request them
to be good children while she took a nap; but while the teacher
slept, the wide awake pupils, the father aforesaid included, employed themselves in chasing squirrels on the log fences, or
stoning the red-headed woodpeckers, which then abounded on
the chestnut stubs standing in the fields near by. A dark colored slate stone, standing near the south-west corner of the new
cemetery, marks the resting-place of this pioneer teacher. On
it we read the inscription, —" Miss Mercy Hosea, died August 3,
1838, aged 95."
Isaac Brooks, Esq., was born- in Woburn, Mass., August 16,




67
1757. He had the reputation of being an excellent teacher,
excelling particularly in penmanship, as an examination of the
county records from 1805 to 1828 will show. He married Abigail Kendrick, a sister of the mother of Gen. Pierce, and died
December 21, 1840.
Eli Wilkins, Esq., served on the board of selectmen eight
years, commencing with 1781. He was an excellent penman.
While teaching school he evidently did his best to keep out of
harm's way himself, and guard against any unnecessary bloodshed among his pupils, one of whom (perhaps his testimony
should be taken with some grains of allowance) used to say,
that master Wilkins would, after putting on his coat and hat,
open the door, and, having secured a way of escape for himself,
dismiss his disciples with the injunction to let any killing that
might be done be done accidentally. They were then left to
"fight it out" at their leisure.
I think that few complaints were made of frequent changes
in text-books used in the schools in those times. The Testament
and 2Esop's Fables, the last adorned with marvellous wood-cuts,
furnished the older pupils with reading matter; Dilworth and
Cocker furnished the arithmetics; while Perry's Spelling-book
and the New England Primer, containing the shorter catechism
and the lamentable account of " ye burning of Mr. John Rogers," delighted the hearts and eyes of the youngest of the flock.
Strange visitors sometimes put in an appearance at these oldfashioned temples of science. On one occasion a house adder, of
fair proportions, was discovered on the plate of the old schoolhouse, in the Campbell district, in close proximity to the teacher's head. A confusion of tongues ensued, and, after a vigorous
application of clubs and the broomstick, the intruder was slain,
to the great edification of the company.
Samuel Wilkins, son of the first minister, was one of the
three deacons elected January 10, 1774. He served on the
board of selectmen fifteen years, and was town-clerk ten years.
He seems to have been a stout muscular man in his prime,
abounding in life and good humor. Like his father he became
very infirm in his old age, but was tenderly cared for by his
sons Daniel and Thomas. In his youth he delighted in feats of
strength and agility, and but few were found who could master




68
him in wrestling. Many anecdotes are told of him, showing
his wit and good humor. On one occasion a boy, belonging to
a family whose reputation for veracity was not very good, appeared before him very much frightened, saying he had seen a
bear in the woods near by. " What sort of a tail had he?" said
the deacon. "A long bushy one," said the boy. "Is your
name Pike?" quoth the deacon. "Yes." "Go right along, the
bear won't hurt you."
When a little past middle life he had the misfortune to lose
his wife, a most estimable woman, who left him with a large
family of little ones. After a proper time had elapsed, he
sought another partner, and, after making himself agreeable as
possible to the chosen one, he one day asked if she thought of
going to heaven. Somewhat surprised, she answered that she
hoped to. So do I, said our deacon-what say you to making
the rest of the journey with me? Not being denied, a very
pleasant journey of some forty-four years' duration commenced
shortly after.
John Hubbard Wilkins, youngest son of Dea. Wilkins, graduated at Harvard college, 1818, was for a long time a publisher
and stationer in Boston, and at one time the "whig" candidate for mayor of that city. He was one of the first in this
country to accept the views of Baron Swedenborg, and was
for a long time an active member and supporter of the Church
of the New Jerusalem, in Boston.
George Wilkins Kendall, a grandson of Dea. Wilkins, was
born in the old north-west parish, now MIont Vernon. He spent
a good portion of his boyhood at his grandfather's, and is remembered by those who attended school in the old "' Taylor"
district, at that time, as the wag of the school, abounding in
sallies of wit and good-natured mischief. Hie was one of the
originators, and for some time editor-in-chief of the New Orleans
Picayune. He travelled in nearly every state of the Union,
and was a member of the ill-starred Santa Fe expedition in
1841. After the close of the war with Mexico, he went to Texas,
and engaged in sheep raising. He died there some years since.
Another of the deacons of happy memory, who would have
delighted the heart of Parson Murray, was the second Dea. Seaton, a native of the town, born (so says the town book) April




69
8, 1756. His family was originally from Scotland. On the overthrow of the Stuarts, to whose fortunes the Seatons adhered,
their estates were confiscated and the family dispersed. John
and Andrew Seaton went to Tellahoage, Ireland. Some years
after, John came to New England, and settled in Boxford, Mass.,
1729. Andrew sailed for Boston ten years later, with his family, and lost his wife in the wreck of the ship. He reached
Boxford in 1740. John, son of John, married Ismenia, daughter
of Andrew, and settled in Amherst. He was elected deacon
January 10, 1774, and held the office till he removed to Washington, N. H., 1787. He was a man of genuine worth-the
father of Ann Seaton, who married Hon. John Duncan, of Antrim, and of Dea. John Seaton, the subject of our notice, who
was endowed with the gift of song. His ear delighted in the
sounds of the viol and harp, and in his youth he was chief
among the dancers. In his mature life he was for a long time
the leader among the singers in the sanctuary.
I remember him as an old man who generally came late to
meeting, riding with his aged companion in an ancient chaise,
which might have suggested the legend of " ye Deacon's onehorse shay" to Dr. Holmes. After securing his horse, he would
make his way up the broad aisle to " ye deacon's seat," his progress being announced by a pair of desperately creaking boots.
His nose, of imperial dimensions, which would have excited
the admiration of the first Napoleon, and won for its owner the
decoration of the grand legion of honor at sight, was the source
of much amusement to him. Being seated at table one day, a
stranger, who sat opposite him, suggested rather angrily that
the application of a handkerchief to it would be a benefit. Ever
ready to oblige, the deacon handed him the handkerchief, with
the request that he would attend to it, as he was nearer the
offending member than its owner. A good understanding between the parties was arrived at at once.
Meeting the mail carrier, Wheat, one day, who, for some reason, disliked him, the deacon seized Wheat's nose, which rivalled his own in size, with his left hand, turning it as far as he
could from him, at the same time turning his head half round
to the right, he said —" I think, brother Wheat, that we can pass
one another."  "With charity for all, bearing malice towards




70
none," the good deacon passed through life, and " fell asleep"
October 3, 1836.
Jonathan Hildreth, son of Jacob, born August 12, 1767, was
for a long time a noted teacher of music in Amherst. For some
years he was the chorister at the meeting-house. Being something of a mechanic, he constructed several bass viols, some of
which were used to aid in the services of the choir. He died
July 4, 1816. His cousin, Benjamin Kendrick, was afterwards
leader of the choir, and was noted for his skill in music. He
died December 15, 1853, aged 74.
In the army which took Quebec in 1759 was a youth of fifteen winters, named Henry Cod. After the close of the war he
obtained some knowledge of medicine, and engaged in practice
in Amherst. Adding another syllable to his name, he became
Dr. Codman. He seems to have possessed naturally a good
stock of common sense, and had some skill in his profession,
but was rough and eccentric in his manner. Towards the close
of his life he indulged far too frequently in the use of what the
fathers called strong waters. Many anecdotes of a ludicrous
character are related of him. On one occasion he was called to
visit a young lady belonging to one of the first rfamilies, who
had been severely wounded in the neck by being thrown from
a carriage. She was well covered with blood when the healer
entered the room, "well set up."  " Well, Sal," quoth he,
"you look like a great stuck pig" (the adjectives in the original omitted).
Speaking of the doctors in Amherst, he said there were quite
too many. "There are but four," was the answer. "There are
a thousand," said Esculapius. "How do you make that out?
"There's me, I am one; there's S., he's a cypher; there's C.,
another cypher; and N., another one; and one and three cyphers make a thousand, do n't they?"
One time when the dysentery prevailed in town, the doctor was
very successful in saving his patients. Other practitioners were
not so fortunate, and lost nearly all. A good old lady, who
was much among the sick, noticed that whenever he was called
he left pills of an enormous size, giving directions that one, two,
or three, or as many as the patient felt inclined to take, should
be administered at a time-the more the better. After the sickly




71
season was over, the good lady asked him what the pills were
made of. " Rye meal," said the doctor, " the best thing in the
world for the dysentery."
Having taken " a drop too much," before starting on a professional trip one day, his horse stumbled and speedily unloaded
his master, with the attendant saddle-bags. The medicines contained in the saddle-bags were badly mixed. So, stirring them
all together, he administered doses of the compound with great
success, performing wonderful cures, to his great delight. Speaking of it to a friend, the friend suggested that he had better
prepare another dose similar to the one he Thad just used up.
"I would do it," said the doctor, "but I'll be hanged if I know
the right proportions of the medicines."
Being summoned one day to visit an old lady in the northerly
part of the town, he told some boys he met that he was going
up to kill old Goody S. She was seventy-six years old, and had
no business to live any longer. For his part, he did not mean to
live so long as that; would kill himself first. As good as his
word, he died March 14, 1812, aged sixty-eight years.
In the longevity of its inhabitants, I think Amherst compares
favorably with other towns of equal size. I have in my possession a list of one hundred and forty-four persons who have here
deceased since January 1, 1823. (if them, one hundred and five
were between eighty and ninety years; thirty-six between ninety
and one hundred years; and three over one hundred years of
age.
The oldest person of whom I have any record, who has died
in town, was Mrs. Hepsibah Hartshorn, daughter of Eben and
LJydia Holt, from whom Holt's meadow derives its name. She
was born June 13, 1747, and died January 11, 1851, at the age of
one hundred and three years, six months, and twenty-eight days.
She had been a cripple for many years, walking by the aid of a
crutch; yet she milked her cow after she had passed her ninetyfifth year. For some years before her death her hearing was
much impaired. She occupied a log house,-the last of its kind,
I think, in town,-which was taken down after her death.
Mrs. Mary Barnard was born at Lancaster, Mass., March 29,
1722, and died here October 13, 1823. She was a daughter of
Jeremiah Holman, and was married to Robert Barnard, of Bol



72
ton, Mass. One of her sons was Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, the
second minister of Amherst. Her daughter, Miss Lydia Barnard, born at Bolton, Mass., October 6, 1757, died in Amherst,
September 17, 1859, lacking but a few days of one hundred and
two years. A granddaughter, Mrs. Betsy King, daughter of
Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, died at Rockdale, Iowa, January 14,
1872, aged ninety-six years, six months, and eleven days.
Daniel Campbell, Esq., the oldest man who has ever deceased.
in Amherst, was born in Londonderry, now Windham, N. H.,
June 27, 1739; settled in Amherst in 1760, where he resided
until his death, which took place October 7, 1838. In his active
life he was one of the leading citizens of the town, serving as
moderator at the annual town-meeting, selectman for many
years, and representative. Possessed of a strong will, an iron
constitution, and energy enough for a dozen men, his strength
and faculties held out remarkably to the last. In his old age
he was quite a politician. IHe attended and voted at the townmeeting the spring before his death.
Jenny Hylands, to whom he was married, June 25, 1760, was
a few months older than her husband, and a native of Londonderry. She was a woman of rare energy and excellence; one
in whom "the heart of her husband did safely trust."  She
literally " made linen, and sold it. She looked well to the ways
of her household, and ate not the bread of idleness. Her husband praised her. Her children also arise up and call her blessed." She died November 25, 1815, aged seventy-seven.
This family, consisting of five members, is remarkable for
longevity,-the father dying at the age of ninety-nine, the
mother at seventy-seven, their son at seventy-five, their eldest
daughter at eighty-two, and their youngest daughter at ninetytwo; an average of eighty-five years.
The oldest person who ever lived in town is Mrs. Anah Goss,
who will complete her one hundred and fourth year on the 1st
day of February, 1874.
According to the census of 1870, there were eighty-two persons in town over seventy years of age. Of these, fifty-nine
were between seventy and eighty; twenty-two between eighty
and ninety; and one over one hundred years.
The eldest male native of Amherst, now living, is probably




73
Mr. Uriah Wilkins,* son of Aaron and Lydia Smith Wilkins,
who completed his eighty-fifth year, November 4, 1873. Two
of his brothers have deceased,-one aged eighty-four years and
four months, the other aged seventy years and one month; one
is still living, aged eighty-three years and three months. Two
sisters have deceased,-one at the age of eighty-six years and
two months, the other aged seventy-five years and four months;
one is now living, aged seventy-nine years and seven months.
Average age of the members of the family at the present time,
eighty and four sevenths years.
But I trespass too long upon your patience. Our town and
its people have a history of which no one need be ashamed.
Generations of patriotic, noble-hearted men, and chaste, loving
women, have here lived and passed away. Their memories are
blessed. Let it be our endeavor so to live, that the record of
the sons and daughters of old Amherst, handed down to us,
shall be transmitted without spot or blemish to our successors.
To the foregoing description of former citizens, by Mr. Secormb,
I append a list of the officers of the church, with such facts relating to their lives and characters as I have been able to gather
since the discourse was written; also, a list of all the graduates at colleges from Amherst, so far as I have been able to
ascertain the names.
J. G. DAVIS.
DEACONS OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH IN AMHERST.
Humphrey Hobbs, the first in this office, was elected January
6, 1743. He was a man of great personal courage, having the
true instincts of a soldier. His success in the conflict with the
Indians in Amherst seems to have led him to enter the volunteer service in defence of the province. He was captain of a
* Mr. Wilkins died early in April, 1874,




74
company, stationed at Charlestown, No. 4, and in that capacity
exhibited superior qualities in skirmishes with the Indians.
Joseph Boutell, the second deacon, was elected June 3, 1743.
From an obituary notice, published in the first volume of the
AmAerst Journal, I learn that "he served in this office fifty-two
years, during which his exemplary behaviour rendered him an
honor and an ornament to the holy profession he had made and
the office he sustained, and secured for him the respect -and
esteem of all who knew him." He died May 19, 1795, in his
eighty-ninth year.
Third-James Cochran was elected deacon in 1744, to fill the
vacancy made by the resignation of Dea. Hobbs. I have not
been able to learn his origin. He held the office, enjoying the
confidence of' his brethren, till his death, January 5, 1774.
On the 10th January, 1774, a meeting of the church, "duly
notified," was held for " the purpose of choosing several brethren into the sacred office of deacon," when, by a major part of
the votes taken, Mr. Samuel Wilkins, Mr. John Seaton, and
Mr. Nahum Baldwin were chosen into said office. This election
was consequent on the death of Dea. Cochran, and the fresh
interest awakened by the completion of the new meeting-house.
All these persons are mentioned elsewhere, and in connections that prove that they were men of vigorous sense and practical talents, asserting a decided influence among their townsmen
in the agitation and debates of that stirring period. Dea. Wilkins resigned his office in 1816.
On the 18th of June, 1788, Dea. Baldwin, having died in
May, and Dea. Seaton having removed from town the preceding year, Mr. Ephraim Barker and Mr. Joshua Lovejoy "were
chosen into the office " of deacons.
Dea. Barker was widely known as a man of business, and a
superior mechanic. He was twice married,-had a large and
interesting family, and was highly respected by the community.
He was distinct and tenacious in the expression of his theological opinions. Being an excellent singer, he acted as chorister
in the church for many years. He was a native of Rockingham
county; born in or near Exeter, 1732, and died September 29,
1800.
Joshua Lovejoy and his wife brought letters from the Second




75
church in Andover. Mass., on which they were admitted to this
church April 22, 1781. He was a man of fair talents, without
much education. Served as selectman and town clerk in the
years 1790-1794. He removed from town soon after, and died
at Sanbornton, January 28, 1832, at the age of eighty-eight.
"On the 3d September, 1795, Dea. Boutell having deceased,
and Dea. Lovejoy having left town," Mr. Amos Elliott, born June
17, 1755, son of Francis, and John Seaton, son of John, born
April 8, 1756, were chosen deacons. Dea. Seaton is described
on page 68, and, notwithstanding his peculiarities, was a valuable
citizen. Dea. Elliott was a farmer, of retiring manners, but
highly esteemed as a consistent Christian.  After his death,
April 7, 1807, John Hartshorn, born June 21, 1759, second son
of James, who came to Amherst late in the autumn of 1764,
from Reading, Mass., was elected deacon September 1, 1808.
Like Dea. Elliott, whom he succeeded, he was by occupation a
farmer, and a man of few words. In personal appearance he
was a man of dignity, as became the office, in which he purchased a good degree, being a man of sound judgment and
real Christian worth. He continued in office till his death,
November 28, 1842.
In the spring'of 1816, Richard Boylston, David Holmes, Edmund Parker, with their wives, united with the church, and
several ineffectual efforts were made to persuade these gentlemen and others to accept the office of deacon.  In one case, if
not more, the candidate was elected in anticipation of his becoming a member of the church. After the installation of Dr.
Lord as pastor, the objections previously entertained were removed, and Matthias Spalding and David Holmes consented to
serve.
Dr. Spalding, born at Chelmsford, Mass., June 25, 1769, graduated at Harvard college, 1798, commenced practice in Amherst, 1806, where he gained a wide reputation as a skilful
physician and surgeon; was elected deacon May 29, 1817, and
continued in office till his death, May 22, 1865. Through life
he was distinguished for his line social qualities, gentlemanly
deportment, and steadfast support of religious institutions. In
times of difficulty he was a good counsellor, and by his considerate management was often of great service to the church in




76
mainta:ning discipline. For a more complete statement of his
character, as a citizen, an esteemed and honored member of the
medical profession, and other particulars of his long and useful
life, see Spalding Memorial, pp. 79-83.
David Holmes, who was elected deacon at the same time,
after a few years, in 1823, resigned his office, as his views of
religious doctrine were not in harmony with the prevailing sentiment in the church. He became an active member of the
Christian society, and, on his removal from town, settled at
Lowell, Mass.
Amos Elliott, son of Amos, and the second deacon of that
name, was elected November 1, 1823. He is represented as a
man of slight figure, a skilful musician, fond of books, and often
employed in teaching school. He held the office three years,
dying in 1826, at the age of fifty-two. The name and services
of the Elliotts, father and son, are pleasantly associated with
those of Dea. Hartshorn, in the cherished remembrances of the
neighborhood in which they lived, generally designated as
"Christian Hill."
Edmund Parker was born at Jaffrey, February 7, 1783; grad.
uated at Dartmouth college, 1803. Came to Amherst, where
he studied law. Opened a law office in 1807, and soon gained
distinction in his profession. He was a thorough student of the
Scriptures, and his life was penetrated and directed by its precepts. Elected deacon May 15, 1832. He retained the office
until his removal to Nashua in 1836. He is described by Dr.
Edward Spalding "as a representative man, to whose wisdom
and prudence others willingly deferred. In social and public
meetings he was conspicuously active and infiuential,-especially
in seasons of unusual religious interest, when his sound judgment and devout piety made him a true colleague to his pastor,
and a paternal helper to those seeking the way of life. Under
a natural sedateness and gravity of manner, which to a stranger indicated something of sternness, there glowed a warm and
generous heart, full of kindly impulses, and ever ready for some
good word or work. He loved the society of the young, and
in his advanced years retained the playfulness of a boy. Few
men take as much pains as he did to encourage and lend a helping hand to those beginning the struggle of life. Take him




77'
for all in all, he filled with rare completeness the measure of a
Christian gentleman's life."  He was a trustee of Dartmouth
college from 1828 to 1856. On his removal to Nashua he was
chosen deacon in the Olive Street church, and continued in office
till the time of his death, which occurred at Claremont, while
on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Prentiss, September 8, 1856.
Abel Downe, born November 2, 1788.  Came to Amherst
from Fitchburg, Mass., about the year 1832. Chosen deacon
January 21, 1836, and continued in office till his death, September 28, 1840. HIe is described as a man of quiet manners and
genial spirit, a trustworthy citizen and devoted Christian. He
was much esteemed by all who knew him.
David Fisk, 3d, born at Merrimack, September 12, 1792, was
elected deacon Nov. 18, 1836. A man of commanding presence,
vigorous mind, and decided opinions. He was prompt and true
in meeting the calls of duty. He was firm in the expression of
his religious sentiments, but, practically, benevolent and kind.
Having served in this office with an upright and zealous Christian character for twenty-three years, he removed to Nashua
in 1860, where he died, after an honored old age, June 22, 1873.
For details of his life, see history of the Fiske family, p. 156.
Cyrus Eastman, born May 7, 1787, at Concord, of a race distinguished for the substantial qualities of energy, prudence, and
piety, was chosen deacon December 30, 1836. Naturally impulsive, and almost indifferent to his own pecuniary advantage,
he was humble and hearty in his devotion to the welfare of the
church. Averse to strife, he shared his full proportion of all
the burdens of society, fulfilling the duties of his office with
reverence and fidelity until the end of his life, December 17,
1862. See Farmer's Cabinet, December 25, 1862.
Aaron Lawrence, born in Hollis, December 3, 1803, was trained in a store for mercantile pursuits. Tall, but slight in figure,
he was never robust in health. Naturally timid and distrustful,
he persisted, in obedience to the calls of duty, till he acquired
character and influence. He united with the church early in
life, and for many years was the only young man in it. He was
a cordial supporter of the ministry, thoughtful and friendly to
the young and the homeless, generous to the needy, and a
liberal patron of all Christian enterprises. Elected deacon




78
November 2, 1860. He held the office till his death, September
1, 1867, when a sermon was preached delineating his character.
His attachment to the church and the town was manifested by
valuable legacies.
In reviewing the names of these officers, it is manifest that
this church has been highly favored in the consistent and trustworthy character of its deacons. The larger portion of this
number were men of intelligence and superior understanding,illustrating in their lives the principles of the New Testament.
Three fourths of the catalogue attained to an unusual age, confirming the declaration of the Psalmist, —" Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our
God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be
fat and flourishing, to show that the Lord is upright."
The present officers of the church are,-Barnabas B. David,
elected January 2, 1845; Edward D. Boylston, elected April 12,
1860; Charles H. David, elected November 2, 1871.
GRADUATES AT COLLEGE FROM AMHERST.
AT HARVARD COLLEGE.
NAME.               DATE.    PROFE S SION.
*John Wilkins,           1774,      Instructor.
*Jacob Kimball,          1788,      Farmer.
*Charles H. Atherton,    1794,      Lawyer.
*Daniel Weston,          1795,      Clergyman.
*William Gordon,         1806,      Lawyer.
*James F. Dana,          1813,      Physician.
*Samuel L. Dana,         1813,      Physician.
*John H. Wilkins,        1818,      Bookseller.
*Charles G. Atherton,    1822,      Lawyer.
*Stephen R. Holmes,      1822,     Instructor.
* Deceased.




79
AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
NAME.               D ATE.    PROFESSION,
*Renben D. Mussey,      1803,      Physician.
*Benjamin F. French,    1812,      Lawyer.
*Jamnes McK. Wilkins,   1812,      Lawyer.
*Levi Hartshorn,        1813,      Clergyman.
Allen Fisk,            1814,      Instructor.
*Samuel Whiting,        1818,      Lawyer.
Charles F. Elliott,    1829,     Physician.
Edward Spalding,       1833,      Physician.
Charles E. Parker,     1834,     Physician.
William Read,          1839,      Physician.
*Edwarid H. Pratt,      1841,      Physician.
Alfred Spalding,       1843,      Physician.
Edward Aiken,          1851,     Physician.
John H. Clark,         1857,      Physician.
*Charles H. Wallace,    1857,      Studied Law.
Vaola J. Hartshorn,    1860,      Clergyman.
Warren Upham,          1871,      Civil Engineer.
AT BOWDOIN COLLEGE.
NAME.               DATE.    PROFESSION.
*Robert Means,          1807,      Lawyer.
*William Appleton,                Lawyer.
*James Means,           1833,      Clergyman.
AT AMHERST COLLEGE.
NAME.               DATE.    PROFE SSION.
William O. Baldwin,    1851,      Clergyman.
John E. Wheeler,       1857,      Clergyman.
Wm. B. Clark,          1865,      Banker.
AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
NAME.               DATE.    PROFESSION.
Edward C. David,        1850,      Lawyer.
William G. David,       1852,      Physician.
* Deceased.,




80
The following documents, from authentic sources, may possess some interest to those who are curious in such matters.
S.
On the 16th of March, 1621, the inhabitants of Plymouth, Mass.,
were alarmed at seeing a sturdy Indian walk into their settlement, and, passing by the houses, go directly where the people
were collected. He saluted them in broken English, and bade
them welcome. He was affable; told them his dwelling was five
days' travel from thence, and that he was a sagamore or prince.
He understood thbgeography of the country; gave an account
of the different tribes, their sagamores, and number of men.
They kindly entertained him, and gave him a horseman's coat.
He tarried all night, and received, on going away, a knife, a
bracelet, and a ring, and promised in a few days to return again.
He returned, according to promise, and brought five others with
him. They sung and danced, and were very friendly and
familiar.
The 22d of March Samoset came again, and brought Squande
with him, who had been carried to Spain and sold there; but,
escaping, had made his way to London, and from thence to
America. Three others accompanied them, and gave information that Massasoit,-one of the most powerful sagamores of the
neighboring Indians,-was near. He soon appeared on the top
of a l11 near by, accompanied by sixty men. Edward Winslow
was sent to treat with him, carrying presents of jewelry, food,
and strong water. After receiving the presents, they were
desired to visit the governor, who received them with drum and
trumpet sounding, and other military parade. A green rug and
three or' four cushions were spread for the company. The governor kissed the king's hand, and the king his, and both sat
down. " Strong water" was then given the king, who drank a
great draught that made him sweat all the while after. Victuals were then set before them. Massasoit at this meeting
entered into a formal and very friendly treaty with the English,
wherein they agreed to avoid injuries on both sides, to punish
offenders, to restore stolen goods, to assist each other in all justifiable wars, to promote peace among their neighbors, &c.
Massasoit and his successors, for forty years, inviolably ob



81
served this treaty, and the English were much indebted to him
for his friendship.
In 1662, Alexander, the son and successor of Massasoit, jealous of the growing power of the English, invited the Narragansetts,-a powerful tribe,-to join with him in revolting from the
English. Learning this, Gen. Winslow went with ten men and
brought him to Plymouth, where, though he was treated very
civilly, his vexation and madness threw him into a fever, of
which he died. His brother Philip succeeded him, and renewed
the covenant with the English; yet, in 1671, he commenced hostilities against them, but was soon subdued, and promised never
to begin war again before he had made complaint himself to
Plymouth colony.
In 1574 one John Sassamon, an Indian whom the settlers
employed as a missionary to instruct his brethren, informed the
governor that Philip and several other sachems were plotting
the destruction of the English. Soon after this Sassamon was
found murdered. Three Indians were arrested, tried, convicted,
and hung for the murder.  Philip, much offended at this, sent
away his women, armed his men, and robbed several houses of
the settlers in the vicinity of his own dwelling.
June 24, 1675, the colony observed as a day of humiliation
and prayer. As the people of Swanzey were returning from
public worship, the Indians, lying in ambush, fired a volley,
killing one man and wounding another.  Two persons who went
for a surgeon were shot, and in another part of the town six
persons more were killed.
The war thus commenced raged fiercely through the summer
and autumn of that year. Finally the Indians were defeated in
a fight at Hatfield, and sought shelter on a small piece of dry
land, surrounded by a great swamp. There they fortified themselves as well as they were able, and awaited the onset of the
English, which was made December 19, 1675, and resulted in
the total defeat and overthrow of the Indians,-probably 1,000
of their number being slain, or dying of wounds received in the
battle. The victory was, however, dearly bought by the conquerors, a large number of whom were slain. Philip escaped,
and with his remaining warriors did much mischief  Finally,
being closely pursued by the English, he took refuge i;n a swamp,
6




82
where he was shot through the heart by an Indian, August 12,
1676. His head was sent to Plymouth, where it was received on
the day they had devoted to solemn thanksgiving.
Never, says the historian, has New England seen so dismal a
period as the war with Philip. About 600 men,-the flower of
her strength,-had fallen in battle. There were few families
who had not lost some near relation. Twelve or thirteen towns
had been utterly destroyed, and others greatly damaged.
About 600 buildings, chiefly dwelling-houses, had been burned,
and a large debt contracted. About every eleventh family had
been burned out, and an eleventh part of the militia slain. So
costly is the inheritance we have received fiom our fathers.
With the avowed intention of rewarding the soldiers who
served in this war, coupled probably with the desire to strengthen their claim to the government and soil of New Hampshire,
the general court of Massachusetts, at its session in June, 1728,
made the following grant:
At a Great and General Court or Assembly for His Majesty's
Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, Begun and
holden at Boston, the 29th day of May, 1728.
June 15, 1728, In the House of Representatives.
In answer to the Petition or the Soldiers that served in the
Narraganset War. Resolved, That Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Major Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson (or any
three of them) be a Committee, fully authorized and empowered to survey and lay out two tracts of land for townships, of
the contents of six miles square each, in some of the unappropriated Land of this Province; and that the said lands be
granted and disposed of to the persons, whether Officers or Soldiers, belonging to this Province, who were in the service of
their country in the said Narraganset War, or to their lawful
Representatives, as a reward for their public services; and is in
full satisfaction of the Grant formerly made them by the Great
and General Court. And forasmuch as it is the full Intent and
Purpose of this Court, that every Officer and Soldier should
have a compensation made him over and above what wages and
gratuities any of them have already received.
That Public Notice be given in the News Letters, and adver



83
tisements be posted up in every Town in the Province, notifying all Persons that now survive and that were in that fight,
and the legal Representatives of those deceased, that they give
or send a list of their names and descents to this Court at their
next fall session; and when such list is completed, by a Committee then to be appointed by this Court, the Grantees shall
be obliged to assemble in as short a time as they can conveniently, not exceeding six months, and proceed to the choice of
a Committee to regulate each Propriety, who shall pass such
orders and rules as will oblige them effectually to settle sixty
families at least in each Township, with a learned Orthodox
minister, within the space of seven years from the date of the
Grant. PROVIDED, nevertheless, That if said Grantees shall
not effectually settle the said number of families in each Township, and also lay out a lot of land for the first settled minister,-One for the Ministry, and one for the school in each of
said Townships,-they shall have no advantage, but forfeit their
said Grants, any thing to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding.
Exd. pr. Thads. Mason, Dep. Sec'y.
In Council read and concurred. Consented to.
WILLIAi3 DUMiMER.
A true copy. Attest:      SAMUEL KNEELAND, Clerk.
June 8, 1732.
In the House of Representatives, Voted: to allow a further
grant of land to the Officers and Soldiers who were in the Yarraganset fight, so that every 120 persons whose claims had
been or should be allowed within four months from that date,
should have a Township of the contents of six miles square; and
that the same Committee, who laid out the two first Townships,
should lay out the remainder at the expense of the Province.
Concurred in by the Council, June 9, 1732.
J. Willard, Secy.
Apr. 20, 1733. Approved, J. BELCHER, Gov.
The whole number of persons whose claims were allowed,
being eight hundred and forty, an act was passed June 30, 1732,
granting them 5 additional townships. This act was concurred




84
in by the Council, July 4, 1732, and approved by Gov. Belcher,
April 26, 1733.
All the grantees, or their representatives, assembled on Boston Common, June 6, 1733, at which time they divided themselves into seven distinct societies, of 120 persons, each society
being entitled to one township.  Three persons were chosen
from each society, who, on the 17th of October, 1733, assigned the several townships among their respective societies. No.
3, afterwards called Souhegan West No. 3, was assigned to the
Salem Society, which consisted of the following persons:
SALEM.
John Harradway's heirs,  Thomas Bell,
John Elwell,            Jonathan Lambert,
John Rabson,            William Osburn,
Thomas Putnam,          John Bullock,
Nathaniel Soams,        Jeremiah Neal,
Robert Hutchinson,      John Gloyd,
Ezekiel Marsh,          Habbakuk Gardner,
William Fuller,         John Abbott,
Jonathan Marsh,         Thomas Keney's heirs,
Jonathan Verry,         Edward Hollis' heirs,
Joseph Holton,          Joseph Prince,
John Flynt,             John Tarbell's heirs,
Samuel Pickworth's heirs, Thomas Larkin,
William Curtis,         Samuel Manning's heirs.
John Trask,
MARBLE HE'AD.
William Hind,           Thomas Martin,
Richard Shapley,,       Joseph Sweat,;
Jonathan Wolcott,       Jeremiah Getchel.
Joseph Majory,,
LYNN.
Henry Collins,          Samuel Greaves,
John Newhall,,          Samuel Edmonds,
Thomas Baker,,          John Farrington,
William Bassett,;       M;ichael Bowden,




85
Richard Johnson,       Joseph Farr,
William Collins,       Robert Rand,
Ebenezer Burrill,      Edmond Lewis,
Benjamin Potter,       Samuel Tarbox's heirs,
Joseph Farr,           Jonathan Johnson,
Benjamin Ramsdell,     Ebenezer Burrill,
Ruth Driver,           Timothy Breed,
Samuel Newhall,        Andrew Townsend's heirs,
John Ballard,          Joseph Haven.
Richard Moor,
GLOUCESTER.
Jacob Row,             John Day,
Samuel Ingersoll,      Samuel Stevens.
Edw. Harrington,
ANDOVER.
Ebenezer Tyler,        John Ballard,
James Fry,             Ebenezer Barker,
William Ballard,       Andrew Peters,
John Presson,          John Parker.
T.OPSFIELD.
Zaccheus Perkins,      Josiah Clark's heirs,
Nathaniel Wood,        James Ford's heirs,
Moses Pingreese,       Samuel Perkins' heirs,
Abraham Fitts' heirs,    Joseph Herrick,
Thomas Davis' heirs,    Jonathan Wilds' heirs,
Elihu Wardwell's heirs,  Samuel Kneeland,
John I-Iutchins' heirs,    Samuel Kneeland.
BEVERLY.,
Thomas Rayment,        Joseph Morgan,
Ralph Elinwood,        William Dodge's heirs,
Henry Bayley,          John Dodge's heirs,
Christopher Reed,      Jonathan Byells,
Lot Conant,            William Rayment's heirs,
Thomas Blackfield,     Joseph Pickett,
Andrew Dodge,          Samuel Harris' heirs.




86
WENHAM.
Thomas Abbott,         William Rogers,
Elizabeth Fowler,      Thomas Perkins.
John Batchelder,
BOXFORD.
Stephen Peabody;       John Andrews,
James Curtis,          John Bixbe.
BRADFORD.
Ichabod Boynton.
SCARBOROUGH.
John Harmon.
READING.
John Bowtell,          Thomas Bancroft.
YORK.
Denison Sargent.
FALMOUTH.
Joseph Hatch,          Philip Dexter.
CHATHAM.
Robert Nicholson.
The first meeting of the grantees of Narraganset No. 3, or
Souhegan West, was held at Salem village, now Danvers, July
17, 1734; and their first meeting within the limits of the township was held at the meeting-house, January 30, 1745.
The first settlement of the town was probably made in the
spring of 1735, by Samuel Walton and Samuel Lampson, on
the place now occupied by Mr. Bryant Melendy. Walton died
in Amherst. None of his descendants remain here. Lampson
died in Billerica, but his children remained in Amherst, where
some of their descendants still reside.




87
CHARTER OF AMHERST-I76o.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain,
France, and Ireland, King, Defender of Faith:
To all to whom these Presents shall come.  Greeting.
Whereas our Loyal subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land
within our Province of New Hampshire, known by the name of
Souhegan West, on the western side of Merrimac, have humbly
petitioned and requested us that they may be erected and Incorporated into a Township, and Infianchised with the same
poweris and priveleges which other Towns within our said Province by law have and enjoy. And it appearing to us to be conducive to the general good of our said Province, as well as of'
the said Inhabitants in particular, by maintaining good order
and encouraging the culture of the land, that the same should
be done. Know Ye, therefore, that We, of our special Grace,
certain knowledge, and for the encouragement and promoting
of the good ends aforesaid, By and with the advice of our trusty
and well beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and
Commander-in-chief, and of our Council for said province of
New Hampshire, Have erected and ordained, and by these Presents for us, our heirs and successors, Do Will and ordain that
the Inhabitants of the Tract of land aforesaid, and who shall
inhabit and improve thereon hereafter, the same being Butted
and Bounded as follows: Viz., Beginning at Souhegan River;
thence running North, 1 degree West, on the townships of Merrimac and Bedford, six miles; thence running west on Bedford
and a tract of land called New Boston, six miles; thence South
about five miles and a half to Souhegan River aforesaid; thence
by said River to the place where it began; Be, and hereby are,
declared and ordained to be a Town Corporate, and are hereby
erected and Incorporated into a body Politic and Corporate, to
to have continuance until the first of January, 1762, by the
name of Amherst, with all the Powers and Authorities, Privileges, Immunities, and Franchises which any other Towns in




88
said Province, by Law, hold and enjoy to the said inhabitants,
or who shall hereafter inhabit there, and their successors, for
said term, always reserving to us, our Heirs and Successors, all
White Pine trees that are, or shall be found growing, and being
on said tract of land fit for the use of our Royal Navy; Reserving also to us, our Heirs and successors, the power and the right
of dividing said town, when it shall appear necessary and convenient to the Inhabitants thereof. Provided, nevertheless, and
it is hereby declared, that this Charter and Grant is not intended, and shall not in any manner be construed to extend to, or
affect the Private Property of the soil within the limits aforesaid. And as the several towns within our said Province aforesaid are by the laws thereof enabled and authorized to assemble,
and by the majority of voters present to choose all such officers,
and transact such affairs as in the said laws are declared. We do,
by these presents, nominate and appoint Lieut. Col. John Goffe
to call the first meeting of said Inhabitants, to be held within
said town, at any time within forty days fiom the date hereof,
giving legal notice of the Time and design of holding such
neeting. After which the annual meeting in said Town shall
be held, for the choice of Officers and the purposes aforesaid, on
the second Monday in March annually.
In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness —Benning Wentworth, Esquire, our Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of our said Province, the eighteenth day
of January, in the Thirty-Third year of our Reign, and in the
Year of our Lord Christ, One thousand and seven hundred and
sixty.
BENNING WENTWORTH,
By his Excellency's command, with advice of Council.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy.
Province of New Hampshire,
Recorded in the Book of Charters, page 212 and 213, this
19th day of January, 1760.   pr.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy,




89
WARRANT FOR THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
EROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
Province of New Hampshire, January 21, 1760.
Notice is hereby given to all Persons Inhabiting that tract of
Land formerly known by the name of Souhegan West, or Narraganset No. 3, that Whereas it has pleased his Excellency Gov.
Wentworth, with the advice of the Council of this Province,
to Incorporate the tract of land with the Inhabitants into a
Township by the name of Amherst, and as it has pleased the
said Governor and Council to nominate and appoint me, the
subscriber, to call the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers.
These are, therefore, to Warn all the freeholders and other
Inhabitants of said tract of Land now in the Town of Amherst, that they meet at the Meeting House in said town upon
Wednesday, the Twentieth day of February next, at ten of the
clock in the forenoon: To first, hear the Charter read; second,
To choose all Town Officers for the Year ensuing, and till the
second Tuesday of March in the Year 1761, as other Towns
within this Province do.
Given under my hand this day and year above written.
JOHN GOFFE.
RECORD  OF THE, FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
Province of New EIampshire, February the 20th, 1760.
By virtue of a Charter, Granted by the Governor and Council of said Province, incorporating the tract of land, with the
inhabitants of it, formerly known by the name of Souhegan
West, into a town by the name of Amherst, and appointing
Lieut. Col, John Goffe to call the first meeting for the choosing
Town Officers for the ensuing year, by virtue of said charter I
have called a meeting this twentieth day of February, 1760.
Upon said dlay the Inhabitants universally met, then without
one contrary vote -made choice of Solomon Hutchinson for
Town Clerk, who was immediately sworn to the faithful executio.n of that offie,




90
Voted, Col. John Goffe Moderator for said Meeting.
Voted, that the Charter is accepted.
Voted, that there shall be five Selectmen for the present year.
Voted, that these shall be Selectmen: Solomon Hutchinson,
William  Bradford, Reuben Mussey, Reuben Gould, Thomas
Clark.
Voted, a Committee to examine the towns accounts: William
ILancy, Benjamin Taylor, Thomas Wakefield.
Tythingmen, David Hartshorn, Nathan Kendall.
Voted, that the Selectmen be fence-viewers.
Clerk of the market, Thomas Wakefield.
Deer keepers, Joseph Steel, Joseph Prince, Will Lancy.
Field drivers, Nathan Fuller, Ebenezer Weston, Jr., James
Seetown, James Rollins.
Constables, Ebenezer Weston, Joshua Abbott.
Surveyors of Highways, James Seetown, Ephraim Abbott,
Samuel Stewart, Andrew Bradford, Will Lancy.
Voted, that the Selectmen shall be overseers of the poor for
the present year.
Voted, Surveyor of lumber John Shepard, Jr.
These officers were sworn on said day to their several offices
by John Goffe, Esq.
ASSOCIATION TEST OF 1776.
Copied from the original in the office of the Secretary of State,
Concord, N. H.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF AMHERST.
In Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776.
In order to carry the underwritten Resolves of the Hon'ble
Continental Congress into execution. You are requested to
desire all males above Twenty One years of age (Lunaticks, Idiots, and Negroes excepted) to sign the declaration on this
paper: and when so done, to make return hereof, together with
the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to
the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman.




91
In Congress, March 14, 1776.
Resolved, that it be recommended to the several assemblies,
Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the
United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their Respective Colonies, who are notoriously
disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated,
and refuse to associate, to defend by arms, the United Colonies
against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies.
Extract from the minutes.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
In consequence of the above resolution of the I-Ion. Continental Congress, and to show our determination in joining our
American brethren in defending the Lives, Liberties, Properties
of the Inhabitants of the United Colonies:
We, the Subscribers, do hereby engage and promise, that we
will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our Lives and
Fortunes, with arms, oppose the Hostile proceedings of the
British Fleets and Armies, against the United American Colonies.
Nahum Baldwin,   Henry Codman,    Henry Kimball,
Moses Nichols,    Peter Robinson,    William Low,
William Bradford,  Jona. Smith,      Samuel Stanley,
Josiah Crosby,    John Burns,        Jona. Grimes,
Peter Woodbury,  Stephen Washer,   Amos Flint,
Thomas Burns,     Samuel Harris,     William Read,
Robert Means,     David Hildreth,    Joseph Steel,
Nathan Jones,     Ephraim Barker,   William Odell,
Joseph Boutel,    Robert Reade,      Nathan Fuller,
Timothy Smith,    Samuel Hall,      John Dunklee,
Thomas Carell,    Archelaus Towne,  Amos Green,
Ephraim Hildreth,  Darius Abbott,    James Hartshorn,
Nathan Kendal,   Joseph Gould,       John Washer,
Benjamin Day,    Jona. Sawyer,       David Green,
Reuben Boutel,    Samson Crosby,    Phineas Upham,
Ebenezer Kea,     Nathl. Barrett, [Jr.,John Shepard, Jun.,
Kendal Boutwel,   Nathan Hutchinson, Simpson Steward,
Oliver Carlton,   John Grines,      Samuel Sterns?
Hezekiah Lovejoy, Israel Towne, Jun., Dimond Mussey,
Enos Bradford,    William Taylor,   Moses Barron,




92
Thomas Towne,   Jona. Lund,         Benj. Merrill,
Daniel Stephens,  Isaac Wright,     Jonathan Lyon,
James Seeton,     Benj. Kendrick,    William Hogg,
Benjamin Hopkins, Josiah Kidder,    John Mitchell,
Jacob Curtice,    William Peacock,  John Lovejoy,
Jacob Curtice, Jr.,  Joseph Pierce,  Jacob Lovejoy,
Jonathan Taylor,   David Duncklee,   Jacob Hildreth,
Josiah Dodge,     John Kendall, Jun., Samuel Henry,
William Codman,  Isaac How,         John Patterson,
Silas Cummings,   Jacob Blodgett,   Joseph Prince, Junr.,
Thomas MecAlester, Adam Patterson,   William Fisk, Jr.,
Joseph Steel Jun.,  Josiah Sawyer,  William Fisk,
Timothy Nichols,  George Burns,     Barthl. Dodge,
Benj. Hopkins, Jr.  John Burns, Jun.,  William Small,
Eben'r Hopkins,   Joseph Rollings,   Joseph Small,
John Burns,      Isaac Holt,        William Small, Jun.,
Benj. Hartshorn,   Joseph Cogin,    Eben Hutchinson,
John Seaton,      John Roby,        John Harwood,
Willm. Wilkins,   John Twiss,       John Tuck,
Francis Lovejoy,   James McKean,    Willm. Peabody, Jr.,
John Cochran,     Thos. Wakefield, Jr.,Jona. Wilkins, Jun.,
James Gillmore,    Ebenr. Holt, Jun.,  John Seccombe,
Josiah Sawyer, Jr., Jona. Lamson,   Jacob Standly,
Jona. Twiss,      Ephraim Abbot,   Willm. Peabody,
Richard Hughes,   Moses Kimball,    Joseph Boutwel,
John Hartshorn,    Samuel Taylor,    Reuben Holt,
Nathan Jones, Jun., Allen Goodridge,   Michael Keef,
Amos Flint, Jun.,  Thos. Averill, Jun., Joseph Prince,
Saml. Stratton,    Francis Elliott,    Abijah Wilkins,
Nathan Hutchinson, Elisha Felton,   Thomas Weston,
John Averill,     Richard Ward,    Jacob Smith,
William Lamson,   Nathl. Haseltine,   Ezekiel Upton,
John Cole,        Stephen Farnum,  Nathan Cleaves,
Isaac Weston,     William Wallace,  Joel Howe,
Nathan Cole,      Peter C. Parker,   Stephen Peabody,
Thomas Towne,    Andrew Bradford,  Willr. Odell, Jun.,
Joshua Wright,    Stephen Burnham, Ebenr. Temple,
Joshua Wilkins,    Abner Hutchinson, Ephraim French,
Thomas Clarke,    David Truel?     Benjamin Dodge,




93
Lemuel Winchester, Israel Towne,     James Gage,
Daniel Smith,     John Bradford,     Willm. Mellendy, Jr.,
Isaac Smith,      Joseph Dunkley,   Ebenr. Weston,
Nathan Flint,     Ebenr. Averill,    Richard Gould,
John Damon,       Elisha Hutchinson, Saml. Blasdell,
James Woodbury,  Joseph Farnum,    Solomon Kittredge,
Benj. Temple,     Amos Stickney,    Timothy Hill,
Joseph Langdell,  Joseph Wallace,   John Wilkins.
T.o the Hon'ble The Committee of Safety, For the State of
New Hampshire, or the General Assembly thereof:
Pursuant to the Request on this paper, fiom the Committee
of Safety to us directed, we have invited those Persons therein
named to sign the Declaration on this paper, and all that have
seen it have signed it except Joshua Atherton, Esq., Mr. Daniel
Campbell, Mr. Samuel Dodge, and Col. John Shepard.
THOMAS WAKEFIELD, ]
REUBEN MUSSEY,           - Selectmen.
SAMUEL WILKINS,    j
It will be remembered that at the time this paper was signed
many of the young, active men of the town were in the army,
doing what the signers pledged themselves to do; hence. their
names do not appear on this paper.
COMMITTEES OF SAFETY CHOSEN BY THE TOWN
DURING THE REVOLUTION.
1776-Josiah Crosby,             Oliver Carlton,
William Bradford,         Timothy Smith.
Peter Woodbury,    1779 —John Bradford,
Thomas Burns,             Oliver Carlton,
Robert Means.             Hezekiah Lovejoy,
1777 —Hezekiah Lovejoy;        James Hartshorn.
Stephen Peabody,   1780 —Robert Means,
Nathaniel Howard,         Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Josiah Crosby,            Amos Flint.
John Bradford.      1781-James Woodbury,
1778 —John Bradford,            William Peabody,
John Seaton,              William Hogg,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,         William Bradfbrd, Jr.




94
The articles of confederation between the several colonies
were agreed to by by the citizens of Amherst at a town-meeting,
held January 27, 1778.
POPULATION OF AMHERST.
May 13, 1747.  Thirty-five families,-fifty-eight men above
sixteen years old. Whole population about two hundred and
twenty-five.
In a census taken in 1767, the population is classified as
follows:
Boys, from 16 yeais old and under,    200
Unmarried men between 16 and 60 years,  63
MIarried men          "        "      135
Men above 60 years,                    17
Unmarried females,                    270
Married females,                      147
Widows,                                18
Slaves-males, 6; females, 2,            8
Males, 421; females, 437; total,         858
September 13, 1770, a portion of Monson, containing about
eight thousand three hundred acres, with the inhabitants thereon,
was annexed to Amherst.
In 1775 the population, as shown by a census taken by order
of the state authorities, was 1,428.  The original returns of
this census are missing.
In 1790 the population by the U. S. census was 2,369.
January 11, 1794, Milford was incorporated: the south-west
parish, containing about 80 families, became a part of that town.
In 1800, by the U. S. census, the population of the first parish
was 1470; of the north-west parish, 680; total, 2,150,
December 15, 1803, the town of Mont Vernon, containing about
700 inhabitants, taken wholly from Amherst, was incorporated.
1810-United States census,              1,554
1820-       "     "6                    1,623
1830-       "    "                      1,657
1840-       "    "                      1,565
1850-       "    "c                     1,613
1860-       "    "                      1,508
1870-       "    "                      1,353




OUR FATHERS- THEIR FAITH AND
THEIR PRACTICE:
WITH A
TER ITORI L HISTOPY OF THE FIlST PALISH,
AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE
FIRST CHURCH IN MILFORD, FORMERLY
AMHERST.
BY WVILLIAM B. TOWNE.
After God had carried us safe to New  England, and we had
builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, reared
convenient places for God's worship, and settled  the civil government, one of the next things we longed for and looked after
was to advance learning, and perpetuate it to posterity.*   Such
was the polity of the early settlers. With a country poor, and
the  people few in number, we find a colleget established, and
* New England's First Fruits, London, 1643. Mass. Hist. Coill. I, p. 242.
t In the autumn of 1636, only six years from the first settlement of the Massachusetts
colony, the General Court voted ~400, equal to a tax for one year upon the entire set.
tlement, towards the erection of a public school or college, of which ~200 was to be paid
the next year, and ~200 when the work was finished. In 1638 the Rev. John Harvard, a
consumptive, who had been in the country a year or two, died, leaving ~779 17s. 2d., one
half of his estate, and his entire library, consisting of three hundred and twenty vol.
umes, towards the erection of a college. In that day of small things this bequest was
a large sum, and in March, 1639, it was ordered that the college should be called Harvard
college, in honor of its benefactor. The first person who had charge of the institution
was Nathaniel Eaton-a very unfortunate appointment. He was accused of ill-treating
the students, of giving them bad and scanty diet, of exercising inhuman severities
towards them, and of beating his usher, Nathaniel Briscoe, in a most barbarous man.
ner. As a result, the court dismissed him from office, fined him one hundred marks
(~66 13s. 4d.), and ordered him to pay ~30 to Briscoe. He was then excommunicated by
the church at Cambridge, soon after which he went to Virginia, from thence to England,
where he became a violent persecutor of the Nonconformists, was at length committed
to prison for debt, and there ended his days. But this misfortune neither checked the
zeal nor dampened the ardor of the earnest men who had the work in charge. Pierce's
History of Harvard University.




96
a little later, an enactment " to the end that learning may not
be buried in the graves of our forefathers, every township, after
the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall appoint one to  teach  all children  to  write and
read; and  where any town shall increase to the number of one
hundred  families, they  shall set up  a Grammer school,-the
masters thereof being able to instruct youth, so far as they may
be fitted for the University."* Here we have a distinct recognition of the idea of education for the whole people. In these
measures, says the historian,t " especially in the laws establishing common schools, lies the secret of the success: and character
of New  England.  Every child, as it was born into  the world,
was lifted from  the earth by the genius of the country, and in
the statutes of the land received, as its birthright, a pledge of
the public care of its morals and its mind."
Within thirty  years of their settlement we find  this people
surveying land, and laying out farms in the valley of the Souhegan, regarding it as within their province. And such a conclusion
was not strange.  Gosnold, Pring, Waymrouth,4  and  Smith,Il
of Virginia fame,-an escaped Turkish  slave, whose life seems
to have belonged morel to a mythical age. than to that century,with others of less celebrity in the mother country, had explored
the coast, its bays and its rivers; but of the  interior but little
C* olonial Laws 74, 186.
t Bancroft's History of the United' States, vol. 1, p. 459.
t Waymouth entered the Penobscot or Kennebec river, and in a shallop, brought in
pieces out of England, ascended not much less than three score miles, and kidnapped
and carried away five of the natives. " One, standing before, carried our box of merchandise, as we were wont when I went to traffic with them, and a platter of pease,
which meat they loved; but before we were landed, one of them, being so suspiciously
fearful of his own good, withdrew himself into the wood. The other two met us on
the shore side to receive the pease, with whom we went up the cliff to their fire, and
sat down with them; and while we were discussing how to catch the third man that
was gone, I opened the box and shew them trifles to exchange, thinking thereby to
have banished fear from the other, and draw him to return. But when we could not
we used little delay, but suddenly laid hands upon them, and it was as much as five or
six of us could do to get them into the light horseman (boat); for they were strong, and
so naked as our best hold was by their long hair on their heads." Mass. Hist. Coll.,
vol. 28, p. 144-5.
[I Smith made a rude map of the coast, superior, perhaps, to any that had preceded it,
and was the first to give the country the name of New England. He declared that
"truth was more than wealth, and industrious subjects more available to a king than
gold."




97
was known. The marvellous accounts of the explorers, and the
religious condition of the country favored colonization; and between 1621 and 1631, including both years, there were not less
than twenty charters granted for the purpose of settlement or
commerce on the coast of New England.* The grant of Capt.
John Mason, in 1622, extended on the coast from where the waters of the Naumkeag discharge themselves into the ocean to
the river Merrimack, extending inland to the sources of these
streams. The same year Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges
obtained a grant from the Merrimack to the Kennebec river,
bounded by the ocean, and extending back to the great river of
Canada. In 1628 Sir Henry Roswell and others received a grant,
in width fiom  three miles north of the Merrimack river to
three miles south of the Charles, bounded on the Atlantic, and
extending back to the western ocean; and it was under this
grant that the Massachusetts settlers held their possessions.
The next year, 1629, John Mason received a grant extending
"from the middle of Piscataqua river and up the same to the
farthest head thereof, and from thence north-westward, until sixty miles from the mouth of the harbor were finished; also
through Merrimack river to the farthest head thereof, and so
forward up into the land westward until sixty miles were finished; and from thence to cross overland to the end of the sixty
miles accounted from the Piscataqua river; together with all
islands within five leagues of the coast." t Now it is obvious
that grants so profuise and inconsistent could not all stand, and
out of the two last mentioned grew the controversy between
New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which lasted nearly a century,.and was renowned for its acrimony and bitterness. A
generation passed away, a new generation took it up, and thus
it was carried along till terminated by royal authority. I have
already stated that within thirty years of their arrival the inhabitants of the Massachusetts colony were surveying land and
laying out farms in the valley of the Souhegan. Within the
period mentioned, settlements had extended up to Groton and
Chelmsford. From 1655 to 1665 the country was at peace with
*Palfrey's History of New England, vol. 1, pp. 397-8.
t Farmers edition of Belknap, p. 8.
7




98
the aborigines, and the tide of population rolled onward rapidly.
In addition to those on the Souhegan, grants were made on both
sides of the Merrimack river, on the Nashua river, on Salmon
brook, on Penichuck  pond, on Penichuck brook, and in other
localities, and, with their continuance, the grantees, and those
who desired to settle on the farms granted, felt the need of the
privileges and immunities of an incorporated township.  In accordance therewith, in 1673, they petitioned the General Court
and were incorporated, the township being named Dunstable,*
and deriving its name from  )unstable in England, some of the
proprietols being from that place. It must have been something like fifteen miles from its eastern to its western boundary,
and more than twelve miles from its northern to its southern, as
it embraced the city of Nashua, the towns of Hudson, Hollis,
Tyngsborough, all of Amherst that lies south of the Souhegan,
all of Milford on the same side of that river, except a strip a
mile in width on the west side of the town, contiguous to the
towns of Wilton and Mason, all of Merrimack on the same side
of the same river, most of the town of Litchfield, and portions
of the towns of Londonderry, Pelham, Brookline, Pepperell,
and Townsend.  At this time the north-western corner of the
county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, was on the south bank of
the Souhegan river, a few rods below the bridge recently erected
east of the Pine Valley Corporation, and the county maintained
its jurisdiction till 1741, when the boundary line between
Massachusetts and New Hampshire was determined, severing
Dunstable, and bringing about two thirds of the township
* The following year the plantation was surveyed and its boundaries were as follows:' It lieth upon both sides Merrimack river on the Nashua river. It is bounded on the
south by Chelmsford, by Groton line, and partly by country land. The westerly line runs
due north until you come to Souhegan river, to a hill called Dram-cup hill, to a great
pine near to the said river at the north-west corner of Charlestown school farm, bounded by Souhegan river on the north; and on the east side of the Merrimack it begins at
a great stone which was supposed to be near the north-east corner of Mr. Brenton's
farm, and from thence it runs south-south-east six miles to a pine tree marked F, stand.
ing within sight of Beaver brook; thence it runs two degrees west of south four miles
and a quarter, which reached to the south side of Henry Kimball's farm at Jeremie's
hill; thence from the south-east angle of said farm it runs two degrees and a quarter
westward of the south near to the head of the long pond which lieth at the head of
Edward Colburn's farm. And thus it is bounded by the said pond and the head of said
Colburn's farm, taking in Captain Scarlett's farm so as to close again; all of which is
sufficiently bounded and described.-Proprietor's Records.




99
within the jurisdiction of New  Hampshire.  This was very distasteful to many; nevertheless, with the settlement of the province line there was an improved condition of things.
Confidence was strengthened, the tide of settlers moved onward, real property was in demand, and  with  the increase of
population petitions were numerous for a division of the New
Hampshire part of old Dunstable. Accordingly, in April, 1746,
the legislature of New Hampshire divided it, incorporating the
new town of Dunstable,* also Hollis, Merrimack, and
MONSON.
Th   thi'med town embraced within its limits most of the
pre s.ulolus  part of Milford on the south side of the Souhegah ii vei.l of Amherst on the same side of that river, and a portio      E  n,irthcwest part of Hollis.  Col. Joseph Blanchardt
waijt    zE1 i c-all the first meeting of the inhabitants, which
~'~ald8 aI   1:nly thirty days after the date of the act of incotrati.         /a subsequent meeting, held on the 27th of the
sa xfiae~Y  i, s` Joseph  Blanchard, James Wheeler, and Robert fh        w e chosen a committee " to make the bound betweenthie;l;n of Hollis and the town of Monson."  At the
same meeting it was also voted  c' that there be a pound created
and built near to the house of William  Nevins upon the most
convenient piece of ground." The following petition from the
inhabitants was presented to the general assembly of New
Hampshire, under date of May 13, 1747.  "The petition of the
inhabitants of the town of Monson, hereto subscribers, humbly
*In 1837 the name was changed to Nashua. In 1842 the town was divided, and the
north portion incorporated by the name of Nashville. In 1853 Nashville and Nashua
were consolidated and chartered as the city of Nashua.
t Col. Joseph Blanchard was son of Capt. Joseph and Abiah (Hassell) Blanchard; was
born atDunstable Feb. 11, 1704; married Rebecca Hubbard; was an accomplished land
surveyor, and for several years was agent of the Masonian proprietors; was in 1740, by
mandamus, appointed one of the councillors of New Hampshire, which position he sustained till his death; commanded a regiment in the French war, and was in 1755 stationed at Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, one company of his command
being the famous Rogers rangers; was also judge of the superior court from 1749 to 1758.
]le died April 7, 1758, and his widow April 17, 1774. They had thirteen children, among
whom was Augustus Blanchard, Esq., who died in Milford in 1809, having been clerk of
the south-west parish ten years, town clerk for the first ten years after the town was incorporated, and a representative of the town to the general court.




sheweth, that the said town is lately begun to settle, and but
about fifteen families there; that they are one of the frontiertowns west of Merrimack river, and the most northerly one already incorporated lying between Hollis and the new plantation
called Souhegan West; that could we be assisted by soldiers,
such competent number as might enable us to defend ourselves,
shall cheerfully endeavor to stay there, by which we shall serve
as a barrier in part to Hollis, Merrimack, and Dunstable; that
the last year we were favored by soldiers firom Massachusetts*
that prevented oulr drawing off; that should the war be pursued by the enemy as vigorously as last year (unless we are
favored by some assistance from the government), we humbly
apprehend it would be too great presumption to venture ourselves and families there; that it will be very ruinous to your
petitioners to leave their settlements and the frontier widened,.
and for a necessary defence will require a greater number of
soldiers than to assist us there. Wherefore your petitioners
pray that a guard for two garrisons and a small scout on our
front may be granted to us. James Wheeler, William  Nevens,
William Colburn, Robert Colburn, Jonathan Taylor, Samuel Leman, Samuel Leman, jr., Abraham  Leman, Thomas Nevens,
Benjamin  Hopkins, Isaac Farwell, Stephen Haselton, John
Burns, Thomas Murdow."
Upon the foregoing petition, and a similar one from Souhegan
West, the assembly gave orders for enlisting or impressing fifteen good effective men, under proper officers, to scout and
guard Souhegan West and Monson till the twenty-third day of
October next if need be, and that said men be shifted once a
month.
In 1748, Dunstable, Merrimack, Hollis, Nottingham, and Monson united in the choice of a representative to the general assembly, the session to be holden at Portsmouth on the third day
of the next January.  The town this year voted to raise ~60
old tenor for the use of highways, "one half to be done in June,,
at twenty shillings per day for a man and eight shillings per day
*It seems from the tenor of this petition that Massachusetts granted military aid to
this infant settlement five years after it had been adjudged within the jurisdiction of
New Hampshire.




101
for a pair of oxen; the other half to be done in September, at
fifteen shillings per day for a man, and the same price as in June
for a pair of oxen."
In 1749 the annual meeting was at the house of Mr. Thomas
Nevins. The fifth article in the warrant was "to see if the town
will agree to tax the lands within the whole to-wnship for the
use of preaching." At the meeting the town voted to dismiss
this article.  At the same meeting a -road two  rods wide
was laid out from  opposite Souhegan bridge, commonly called
Lyon's bridge,* up the river through the farms of Madam Tailer, Col. Joseph Blanchard, Benjamin Hopkins, and others.t
1750. At the annual meeting this year, Benjamin Hopkins,
Robert Colburn, and Nathan Hutchinson were chosen a committee to adjust the boundary line between Monson and Hollis,
and the town again declined to tax the lands within the whole
township for the support of preaching.
1751. "Voted that the road from  Nathan Hutchinson's land
to Mr. Hopkins' house be discontinued, or shut up for a time,
without the inhabitants please to put up good gates or good
handy bars."
1753. At the annual meeting this year the second article in
the warrant was "-to see if the town would raise a sum of money
for a school; the third, to see if it would tax the lands for building a meeting-house; and the fourth, to raise money for the support of highways,"-all of which articles were decided in the
negative.  The boundary line between the town and  Hollis
seems not to have been settled, as at this meeting the matter
was referred to the selectmen.
The following petition, in substance, was presented to the
general assembly of New  Hamnpshire by the selectmen:"Whereas, the inhabitants of Monson have received a late,order to render into the office of the secretary of state an
invoice of their polls and estates in order for apportioning the
*In the early settlement of the country the bridge over the river near the Amherst
railroad station was called Lyon's bridge, and derived its name from Ebenezer Lyon,
*who lived near it as early as 1748, and who died in 1798, aged 88 years.
t Widow Abagail Tailer, of Boston, at this time owned a farm of 300 acres in the
neighborhood of the East Milford railroad flag station, Col. Joseph Blanchard another'between that and where the present village in Milford is now located, and Benjamin
Hopkins owned the Charlestown school farm.




102
taxes, which we have done, and would further beg leave to remonstrate our infancy and inability to bear any part of the public burden at present; that there is but thirty-six polls in the
whole, several of them being transiently hired to labor for a
short space of time; that there are but twenty-one houses, chiefly small cottages, only for a present shelter, the charge of building yet to come; that the householders are all plain men,
dwelling in tents, husbanding their employments, their improvements very small, their lands unsubdued, their progress
much retarded by their necessity to work out of town during
the prime of the year, or at other business to procure provisions,
and, though the town is a part of old Dunstable, it has till now
been a portion and remained a total wilderness; that till within
a few years the owners were under no obligation to settle the
lands that were very recently granted to gentlemen in farms,
by which means the few settlers are scattered all about the
town, and that much labor has and must be spent in opening
and making roads, bridges, &c., that are of present necessity a
burden too heavy for the small, weak number that is there; that
in the late war they were at the expense of garrisoning, scouting,
and  defending themselves, besides many other charges they
must have and must go through; so therefore apprehend themselves utterly unable to bear any part of the public taxes as yet;
but hope their small beginning in time may become useful, if
they may be nursed and favored now in their infancy.  Wherefore your petitioners pray that they may be considered in their
infant and chargeable state, and that they may not be taxed till
they are of ability to go through their own necessary charge,
and when that shall be, they will cheerfully contribute according to their power.' 
1754. This year John Shepard,* William  Peabody, Andrew
Bradford, Israel Towne, Archelaus Williams, Richard Gould,
Thomas Williams, John Hutchinson, John Edmonds, and others,
* John Shepard then resided within the present limits of the village in Milford, on the
north side of Souhegan river, where Mr. John Marvell now lives; William Peabody on
the old Peabody farm, farther up the river on the same side, late the property of the
late T T. Farnsworth and Israel Towne, within the present limits of Amherst, on the
farm owned by Abel and Frank W. Chase. Thle prayer of the petitioners would have
annexed to Monson a strip of territory about seven miles in length by two in width,
and would have included nearly the whole of Amherst plain.




103
petitioned the governor and council to be annexed to Monson.
They represented themselves substantially as inhabitants of a
tract of land north of and adjoining Monson, lying within no incorporation, town, or district; that the town of Monson is situated in length, east and west, near eight miles, in breadth but
about four miles, and is bounded on the northerly side by Souhegan river, both sides of which river are generally fruitful and
profitable land for corn and grass; that if the town of Monson
were enlarged on the north so as to add and include the following tract of land-beginning at the north-east corner of Monson,
on Souhegan river, and running north by the line of Merrimack
two miles, then begin the west station at the north-west corner
of Monson and run thence north two miles, then in a straight
line to the end of the two miles first mentioned-which would
be an addition of about seven thousand acres, and would make
the town about five and one half miles in width generally; that
the said river is small; that many bridges are now and must
continue to be kept in repair, so that the river is no inconvenience to this union; that it will be for the accommodation of
Monson, and that several of the petitioners have for many
years been settled here, and have made their improvements at
heavyexpense; that they have not had the benefit of any incorporation in any town, nor do they see any present prospect
of incorporation unless they are annexed to Monson.
1755. At the annual meeting this year the question of taxing
the land for building a meeting-house was again agitated, and
again decided in the negative.
1756. At this annual meeting the question was again raised,
and again decided in the negative, and an effort to raise a sum
of money for a school hart of the year was also decided in the
negative. Before the close of the year, however, a special meeting was called to fix upon a place for locating the meeting-house,
and it was decided to set it in the most convenient place, near
the centre of the town.*
1758. The annual meeting this year was held at the house of
Archelaus Towne, innholder. The third article in the warrant
* Tradition points to a locality on the northerly slope of Duncklee hill as the place
fixed upon, and it still retains the name of " the meeting-house lot."




104
was " to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of residents
and non-residents for building a meeting-house," which question
at the meeting was decided in the negative. The fifth article
in said warrant was "to see if the town will come into any
agreement with Capt. Shepard concerning the one half of his
bridge, or allow him some satisfaction for the same."  On this
article it was voted to allow Capt. Shepard some satisfaction for
one half of his bridge, and James Wheeler, Benjamin Herrick,
and Nathan Hutchinson were chosen a committee to adjust
the matter. At a subsequent meeting this year it was voted to
raise ~250 old tenor for the use of highways, ~70 to pay Capt.
Shepard for one half of his bridge over the river at his mill, and
~16 to William Jones for plank put on said bridge. The ~250
for highways was never raised, the inhabitants at a later meeting reconsidering the vote.
1759. The town again voted not to tax the lands for building
a meeting-house. Chose William Jones and Josiah Crosby to
inspect the deer.
1760. Voted to petition the governor and council of the
province to set off or annex the land on the south side of Monson to Hollis, and to annex such part of Souhegan West to the
remainder of Monson as will be sufficient to maintain the gospel, and other charges incident to towns.
1761. Voted to raise ~100 old tenor to defiay town charges;
declined to tax the lands for building a meeting-house; voted to
grant the petition of Hollis that a mile and one half, or thereabouts, be set off agreeable to the petition of said Hollis; and
dismissed the article relative to' fixing a place to locate the
meeting-house.
1763. Benjamin Hopkins, John Burnrs, Joseph Gould, John
Burns, jr., Thomas Burns, and George Burns, at the annual
meeting, protested against a division of the town. The voters,
however, sustained their former position; also, voted to raise
~300 old tenor for the support of preaching, each person to pay
their money where they hear.
1764. Voted to sink the ~300 old tenor raised last March for
the support of preaching. The fourth article in the warrant
this year was "to see if the town would agree to build a meet



105
ing-house, and fix upon a place to set it," which article was decided in the negative. The fifth was "to see if the town would
raise a sum of money to hire preaching," which was also decided
in the negative. The sixth was "to see if the town would raise
a sum of money in order to make satisfaction to the towns of
Hollis and Amherst for the privilege of worshipping with them."
For this purpose it was voted to raise ~400 old tenor. The
seventh article was "to see if the town would provide one or
more burial-places in the town," which article was dismissed.
The tenth article was "to see if the town would be at the charge
of making another road where Mr. Benjamin Hopkins has flowed
the town road, or take a course of law with him for damages."
Upon this article the town voted to take a course of law, and
appointed the selectmen to prosecute the suit. On the 12th of
September this year another town meeting was held, at which
it was voted to build a meeting-house, to petition the general
court for a tax upon the lands of residents and non-residents for
building the same, and Benjamin Hopkins, Nathan Hutchinson,
and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee to carry the matter
to the general court.
1765. At the annual meeting this year the fourth article in
the warrant was " to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of
residents and non-residents to build a meeting-house and settle a
minister, and if not, to nullify and make void the former vote for
that purpose." The proposition to erect a mneting-house and
settle a minister was not sustained. The town this year voted
to raise ~250 old tenor to defiray town charges.
1767. The town voted this year that the money raised in the
year 1764, and assessed for the towns of Hollis and Amherst,
should not be collected.
1769. The town declined to raise money for the support of
highways.
1770. On the ninth day of April a special meeting was called,
when it was voted that the town be divided between Hollis and
Amherst, both of these towns having assented to the arrangement. The division was as follows, viz.: Beginning at the
north-east corner of Monson, and running south by the line of
Merrimack two miles, then due west to the west line of Mo-nson,




106
then  north  to  Souhegan  river, then  down  said  river to  the
bound first mentioned to be annexed to Amherst, the remainder
to Hollis.  By this arrangement Amherst acquired  its first territory on  the  south  side  of the  Souhegan  river.  The reason
assigned for a division in the petition of Monson* to the governor and council was, " that the land in and about the centre of
said Monson is so very poor, barren, broken, and uneven, as cannot admit of many settlers, so that those families that are in
town  are almost all planted  in  the  extreme parts of it.  We
therefore conceive that if a division were made, as above mentioned, the interest and good of the people in it would be much
promoted thereby, especially as we have no prospect of ever
building a meeting-house, in the centre or elsewhere, any way,
to accommodate us, by which difficulty we think the gospel will
not be settled amongst us while in the present situation."   Thus
was Monson blotted out, after an existence of twenty-four years.
For the last twelve years of her continuance, her annual
*TOWN CLERKS AND SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF MONSON.
Town Clerk.      First Selectman.  Second Selectman.  Third Selectman.
1746. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Colburn, William Nevins.
1747. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Colburn, William Nevins.
1748. Robert Colburn,   Robert Colburn,    Benj. Hopkins,  Samuel Leman.
1749. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Colburn, Samuel Leman.
1750. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Colburn,  Nathan Hutchinson.
1751. Robert Colburn    Robert Colburn,    William Nevins, Nathan Hutchinson.
1752. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Colburn, William Nevins.
1753. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins,* Robert Colburn, Benjamin Farley.
1754. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Hopkins, Robert Nevins,   William Nevins.
1755. Robert Colburn,   Benjamin Kenrick, Robert Colburn, William Nevins.
1756. Benjamin Kenrick. Benjamin Kenrick, John Brown,    William Jones.
1757. Robert Colburn,   Robert Colburn,    Benjamin Kenrick, John Brown.
1758. Robert Colburn,   Robert Colburn,    John Brown,    William Nevins.
1759. Benjamin Kenrick, Benjamin Kenrick, Jonathan Taylor, Thomas Nevins.
1760. Benjamin Kenrick, Robert Colburn,    Benj. Hopkins,   Benjamin Kenrick.
1761. Benjamin Kenrick, Benjamin Kenrick, William Nevins, Nathan Hutchinson.
1762. Benjamin Kenrick, Nathan Hutchinson, William Nevins, Robert Colburn.
1763. Benjamin Kenrick, Benjamin Kenrick, Daniel Kenrick,  Josiah Crosby.
1764. Robert Colburn,   Robert Colburn,   Nat'n Hutchinson, William Nevins.
1765. Benjamin Kenrick, Benjamin Hopkins, William Nevins,  Benjamin Kenrick.
1766. Benjamin Kenrick, Benjamin Kenrick, William Nevins, Nathan Hutchinson.
1767. Archelaus Towne,  Archelaus Towne,  Robert Colburn, Josiah Crosby,
1768. Archelaus Towne,  Archelaus Towne,  Josiah Crosby,   Daniel Kenrick.
1769. Archelaus Towne,  Archelaus Towne,  Joseph Gould,   Thomas Burns.
1770. BenjaminfKenrick, Benjamin Kenrick, William Nevins,  Josiah Crosby.




107
meetings were held at the house of Archelaus Towne,* innholder.
She had no public structure except a pound. She resolutely
refused to raise money for the support of schools, and while she
occasionally, at a special meeting, voted in favor of the first
steps towards public religious instruction, at her annual meetings she invariably negatived such vote. A century has passed
since her demise, and but for the recent findingt of a portion of
her records, but few persons of to-day would know that she ever
existed.
1771. The harmony that prevailed last year, when annexation
was so  popular, was not of long continuance, for in January of
this year about thirty of the most prominent of those that were
last year annexed petitioned the governor and council for a
division of Amherst. They recite in their petition,-" That the
town of Amherst is about nine miles in length, by reason that
about half the town of Monson was of late annexed to it, and
is capable of being divided into two towns or parishes without
prejudice to or spoiling the same; that many of us live in that
part of Amherst which was lately Monson, and our being annexed to said Amherst was contrary to our desire and interest;
that we are so remote from  the centre  of Amherst that it is,
and ever will be, with great expense, inconvenience, and difficulty to us and our families to attend public worship, by reason
of the distance; that many of our estates are not so valuable
by reason of our being annexed to Amherst, for before that our
*Archelaus Towne, son of Israel and Grace (Gardner) Towne, was born at Topsfield,
Mass., in 1734; came to Souhegan West with his father at the age of about six years;
married Martha, born July 24, 1737, daughter of Ephraim Abbott. They resided in
Monson, at what is now known as Danforth's Corner, in Amherst, where he kept a tavern for several years. They had seven children. His wife died in 1773, after which he
raised a company, took command of it, joined the continental army, and died at Fishkill, N. Y., in November, 1779. He was a man large of stature, of great physical
strength and power of endurance, fond of the hardship and excitement of friontier life,
a natural leader, and one that commanded the confidence of his associates.-Narrative
of Jonathan Towne, who died at Milford Dec. 31,1842, in the 89th year of his age.
t The Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, of Nashua, being engaged in the preparation of an
article upon the early history of Hollis, was informed by his brother, the Hon. John N.
Worcester, of Hollis, that there formerly existed, in the town clerk's office of that
town, records relating to Monson. This led the former to procure the nearly worn out
volume, have what remained of it bound, and put in condition to prevent further imr
mediate waste.




'108
situation was nigh the centre of Monson, and on that account
purchased our lands at a dear rate, and Monson being annihilated, our situation is more inconvenient than before."
Amherst followed with a counter petition, in which it was
stated,-" That for more than twenty years last past a number
of persons living on those lands lately known by the name of
Monson, but more lately joined to Amherst, not having a minister settled among them nor accommodation sufficient for that
purpose, as they said, very constantly attended the worship of
God' with us in said Amherst, not doing anything with us
towards our meeting-house, nor towards the support of our
minister, except some small private donations made to our
minister. HI-owever, they repeatedly requested our town to
consent to receive them, promising to meet at any place that
the major part of the people should fix to build a house on,
whereupon our town, after repeated solicitations to receive
them, gave their consent. And your excellency and honors,
some time in July last, saw fit to aggregate about one half of
saidMonson to said Amherst. Soon after, our town saw it necessary to build a meeting-house, and voted to do:it, our present
meeting-house being small and insufficient for the old town and
said new addition. The most of the people of the new addition
were present, and some voted in the affirmative, some in the
negative; but they began to think that the charter subjected
them to the same duties with us of the old town, that they
must defray some part of the charges of building and so forth,
and not only so, but must do something towards supporting
our minister. These reflections affected some of them very
sensibly. They had not been acquainted with anything of the
kind. They were ready to construe it as a degree of persecution and the like. And to remedy this evil they are about petitioning to have our town, as it now lies, divided into two
parishes, which we think can not be done without a manifest
injury to more than three quarters of the town. A very considerable quantity of land in our town is barren and poor, and will
not admit of two parishes; besides, it lies in such a situation by
reason of a river and hills, that the whole of the people may
more conveniently meet at one place, the place pitched -upon,
than at any two places in the town."




109
No action was taken by the /state authorities upon either of
these petitions, and quiet seems to have been restored. The
new meeting-house was built and dedicated, the worshippers
gathered in this new sanctuary from all parts of the town, andC
the continuous exercises of yesterday and to-clay, after the lapse
of a century, are a fitting recognition of that event.
THE SOUTH-WEST PARISH.
In the year 1782 forty-seven persons, as follows, viz.,
Nathan Hutchinson,          William Wallace,
Andrew Bradford,            Ebenezer Averill,
Josiah Crosby,              Moses Averill,
Sampson Crosby,             Joshua Burnham,
James Gillnan,.             Stephen Burnham,
Thomas Burns,               Jonathan Hutchinson,
Isaac Abbott,               Abner Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson,          William Peabody,
Benjamin Hutchinson,        Elijah Averill,
Josiah Crosby, Jr.,         Ebenezer Hopkins,
John Wallace,               Jonathan Grimes,
Stephen Crosby,             George Burns,
Augustus Blanchard,         William Grimes,
John Burns,                 Darius Abbott,
William Crosby,              Samuel How,
John Bradford,               Jonathan Towne,
Thaddeus Grimes,            Henry Codman,
Israel Burnham,             William Melendy,
John Grimes,                 Samuel Dodge,
/Nathan Hutchinson, Jr.,     Bartholomew Towne,
Bartholomew Hutchinson,     Benjamin Hopkins, Jr.,
David Burnham,              Benjamin Conant,
Arthur Graham,              Benjamin Hopkins, 3d,
Samuel Graham,were constituted the third or south-west parish in Amherst,
"for transacting ministerial affairs only." The reason assigned.
by the incorporators for the formation of this parish was, that
their local situation rendered it impracticable' for some of them
and many of their children to give a general attendance at the




110
stated place of public worship, and, further, that they conceived
they could well be spared, there being about three hundredratable polls taxed to the first parish. There was no boundary
to the new  parish, neither were the  members exempt from
former obligations, one condition being, that nothing in its organization should be construed to exempt any of said parishioners, their polls or estates, from paying their just proportion of
all ministerial charges already arisen in said town of Amherst,
nor from  the future support, according to contract, of the Rev.
Daniel Wilkins, the late minister of said town then living.*
The date of incorporation was November 23, and the first meeting was held at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, on the fourteenth day of the next January. At this meeting Capt. Nathan
Hutchinsont was chosen moderator; Augustus Blanchard, clerk
and treasurer; Augustus Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, and
Capt. John Bradford, assessors; and Benjamin HEutchinson, collector;-and it was " voted to build a meeting-house of the same
size and, bigness the north-west parish hath built, except the
porches," and that Lieut. Darius Abbott, Capt. Josiah Crosby,
and Capt. Andrew Bradford be a committee to provide timber,
boards, and shingles, and let the same out at public vendue to
the lowest bidder."  At the first annual meeting of the parish,
holden at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, innholder, on the
fourth day of March, 1783, it was voted to raise ~32 4s. to discharge the expense of the parish being set off, ~95 to be laid
out in purchasing timber, boards, shingles, and other materials
for building the meeting-house, ~15 to pay for preaching the
current year, and that Capt Nathan Hutchinson, Lieut. Thomas
Burns, and Capt. John Bradford be a committee to hire preaching.  Later in the same year another meeting was called to
*The Rev. Daniel Wilkins at this time was aged and infirm, had been settled upwards of forty years, and lived only three months after the formation of this parish,
dying February 11, 1783, in the seventy-third year of his age.
t Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, a very active and efficient man in town and parish
affairs, was son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tarbell) HIutchinson, of Bedford, Middlesex
county, Mass., and married Rachel Stearns. In 1744 he purchased of Benjamin Hopkins one hundred acres of land, near the centre of the Charlestown school farm,bounded north by the river, south by the south line of said farm, of equal width at
each end, also bounded by a black oak on Saddle hill. He came here from Billerica
in June, 1748, located on Elm street, where E. D. Searles now resides, and died June 12,
1795, aged 78 years. His widow died on the 25th of July, in the same year, aged
76 years.




111
make choice of a place where the meeting-house should be
erected, and make provision for clearing the same. After adjourning fiom the house of Mr. Grimes to the place regarded as
the most desirable location, it was voted that the house should
stand about twenty rods south of Shepard's bridge, on a rise of
ground. This vote would have located the meeting-house on
what are now the premises of Doctor S. S. Stickney. At a meeting held still later this year, Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, John
Wallace, and John Burns were chosen a committee to procure
stone for underpinning the meeting-house, and Joshua Burnham
was authorized to purchase a "parish book."
At the annual meeting, holden March 2, 1784, it was voted to
proceed with the meeting-house, and to begin to fiame it the
first Monday in June, and raise it as soon as possible. Capt.
Nathan Hutchinson, Capt. Josiah Crosby, and Capt. Andrew
Bradford were chosen a committee to see that the mreeting-house
is firamed, underpinned, and raised. It was also voted to raise
~30 towards the expense of the meeting-house-~20 to pay for
preaching; that three shillings per day be allowed each nran for
work on the meeting-house,-the laborer to board himself; and
that any person who shall hereafter join the parish, shall be
exempt from any tax raised, to raise, board, and shingle the
meeting-house. For some reason, not discernible at this time,
the location that had been fixed upon did not prove satisfactory,
for, at a special meeting held on the 15th day of June, it was
decided that it should be located about ten rods north-west from
the former place, between two pitch pine stumps; that Augustus
Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, Joshua Burnham, Capt. John
Bradford, and Lieut. Benjamin Hutchinson, be a committee to
carry on the work, and that said committee provide one barrel of
rum, two barrels of cider, and one quarter of sugar for the raising. Thus, it would seem that the meeting-house was raised in
the summer of 1784, for, on the second day of September of this
year, a splecial meeting was called, and the second article in the
warrant was to see if the parishioners would board, shingle, or
finish any part of the meeting-house frame,-when it was voted
to board and shingle it; that it be boarded with square edged
boards, and that the boarding and shingling be let to the lowest
bidder at vendue. At the same meeting, it was voted to raise




112
~40 to defray the expense of furthur finishing the meeting-house;
and Lieut. Thomas Burns and Lieut. Darius Abbott were chosen
a committee to wait upon Governor Hopkins, and get the donation he hath offered to procure the nails. It was common among
our ancestors in England, and continues to the present time, of
denominating the chief man, or the man at the head of prominent movements or establishments, as the governor; and the
title, in this case, must have been derived in this way. In
1659, the general court of Massachusetts granted to the town
of Charlestown 1,000 acres of land, from the unappropriated
lands of the province, for the support of a school. The next
year it was surveyed by that celebrated land surveyor, Jonathan
Danforth, of Billerica, and described thus: —"Laid out, for the
use of the school of Charlestown, one thousand acres of land,
more or less in the wilderness, on the western side of Merrimack
river, at a place commonly called by the Indians, Sowheaganucke,
beginning at the foot of a great hill, and so extending eastward
about two miles down said river, and bounded by the river on
the north, and by land laid out for Mrs. Anna Cole on the east,
the wilderness elsewhere surrounding according to marked
trees, all of which are sufficiently bounded with C, and is more
fully demonstrated by a platt taken of the same." t The title of
Indians was extinguished by deed, dated July 14, 1671.4 The
north-west corner of this tract of land was on the south bank of
the river, a few rods below the new bridge at Jones's crossing,
and was identical with the north-west corner of Old Dunstable,
the north-west corner of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, for
more than sixty years, and the north-west corner of the late
town of Monson. This tract extended down the river to the
present east line of the farm of William Ramsdell, and no more
attractive piece of land of the same magnitude exists in this
region. The town of Charlestown continued to own it till
May, 1743, when it was purchased by Benjamin Hopkins, of
Billerica, for ~375, and as early as 1745 he resided on it. A
saw-mill is a necessity in a new settlement, and he early built
* The translators of the Bible observed it, in James 3:4.
t Mass. General Court Records.
-: Middlesex County Registry of Deeds.




113
one upon Whitehall brook, a little west of where the house of
M[oses Proctor now stands; and, if any one will proceed into
the field, about fifty rods northerly of the house of Luke Smith,
to a little point of land on the border of the brook, overlooking
the river and the intervale, and remove the turf, he will occasionally find in the soil a small piece of brick or stone that has
once been in a chimney, a wall, or a fire-place, indicating that a
dwelling once stood there. It was on this spot in the wilderness, with nothing to guide him but marked trees, that Mr.
Hopkins erected his bullet-proof dwelling-a kind of fort, built
of timber, to protect himself and family from the fierce beasts of
the forest, and fiercer men. On the north side of the river lived
William  Peabody, John Shepard, and Israel Towne; on the
south side his nearest neighbor was in the west parish of Dunstable, now Hollis; and his oldest son married Anna Powers,
the first white child born in that town.+ Such is a brief outline of one who had, by universal consent, acquired the title of
Governor,t and who, after a residence of upwards of forty years in
the neighborhood, was making a donation to purchase the nails
for the new meeting-house. At a subsequent meeting, in November, it was voted to provide clapboards, door-steps, boards
for the lower floor, sashes, suitable stuff for window-frames,
and glass, and that Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, Capt. William
Peabody, and Capt. Josiah Crosby be a committee to provide
the materials voted, and see that they are delivered at the meeting-house.
At the annual meeting holden on the 1st day of March, 1785,
it was voted to raise ~50 to be laid out on the meeting-house,
and to raise ~30 to hire preaching and defray parish charges.
On the 7th day of the same month there was a special
meeting called, and the second article in the warrant was to see
if the parishioners will build porches to the meeting-house, or
let any person or persons build the same for the ground the
same may save in the house. At this meeting it was voted to
build porches, and a committee was chosen for that purpose,
* Narrative of the venerable John Hopkins in 1840.
t He died June 11, 1787, aged 85 years; and his widow died July 30, 1792, aged 903
years.
8




114
and instructed to have the work done as soon as the other outside work on the house was completed. At the same meeting
William  Peabody, Benjamin Hopkins, and Joshua Burnhaml
were chosen a committee to hire preaching the current year.
At another special meeting, held on the 25th of April, Nathan
Hutchinson, Augustus Blanchard, and Thomas Burns were
chosen a committee to sell the pew-ground in the meetinghouse, at public vendue, to the highest bidder, and give proper
conveyances to the purchasers, and that the money arising from
the sale be laid out in further finishing the meeting-house. It
was also voted to put in all the joist and braces in the meeting-house not already in, and that John Burns be allowed 23
shillings lawful money for doing the same.
A still further special meeting was held on the 5th of September, when it was voted to lay the lower floor, and to let the
same out at vendue to the lowest bidder, and it was struck off
to Thomas Boynton at thirty-nine shillings. Thomas Burns,
Nathan Hutchinson, and John Wallace were chosen a committee to procure proper floor nails, see that the sills were properly
underpinned, and the floors laid in a good workmanlike manner. On the 25th day of December, another special meeting
was held, when it was decided to have the sashes, windowframes, doors, body seats, and stuff for the body seats, put up at
vendue, to be bid off by the lowest bidder. Nathan Hutchinson,
Caleb Jones, and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee to
vendue the work off, to procure at the expense of the parish all
the necessary materials for doing the work, and to see that it
was done in a good workmanlike manner,-the work to be completed by the first day of next June. The sashes were bid off
by Thomas Boynton, at 15s. 2d. old tenor; the window frames, by
David Chandler at 8s. 11d.; front door, by Benjamin Conant at
20s.; the body seats and stuff for the same, by Nathan Hutchinson.
A warrant was issued for an annual meeting to be held on the
7th day of March, 1786; the fourth article therein being to see
if the parishioners would finish the outside of the meeting-house
or any part thereof; and the fifth was to see if they would have
the ~40, voted at the last annual meeting to be laid out on the




115
meeting-house, assessed and collected; but the records contain
no reference to this meeting. There was, however, a special
meeting held on the fourth of September in this year, when it
was voted to accept the plan of Temple meeting-house porches
and build in the same form, and also voted to procure glass and
glazing materials for the meeting-house. At the annual meeting
in March, 1787, there was no allusion to the meeting-house, but
~30 was voted for the support of preaching. At a meeting in
September of this year, a committee was chosen to get the glass
set, and the sashes put in the window-frames, and ~10 was voted
to set the front-door steps, clear round the meeting-house, and
level the ground before said house.
The year 1788 was an eventful one in parish affairs. William
Crosby gave the parish: the following described pieces of land,
viz.: "Beginning at the south-west corner of Shepard's bridge,
thence running southerly on the west side of the road leading
from said bridge to my house,* until it comes to the main road
that leads from  my house to Wilton, to a stake and stones;
from thence westerly on the north side of said road about eight
rods to a white oak stump; thence northerly to a black oak
tree marked, standing on ithe bank of Souhegan river; from
thence by said river to the place of beginning, being the land
the meeting-house stands on. Also, one other piece, to be appropriated for a burying-ground, on the west part of my farm,
bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at a large white pine tree
standing on the bank of the river a few rods north of the ditch
bridge (so called); from thence east thirteen rods to a stake
and stones; from thence south twelve rods to a stake and
stones; from thence west until it comes to the river; and from
thence by the river to the bound first mentioned, containing
about one acre."  These were parts of a tract of land of 500
acres granted in October, 1659, by the General Court of Massachusetts to Mrs. Anna Cole. The record reads thus: " In
consideration of the liberal.gifts to the country in the will of
* The first house erected on Union square-was raised in 1788, was occupied early in
the present century by Dr. Robert Fuller, was known for many years as the old Fuller
house, stood where the town hall now stands, and was removed to make room for that
structure.




116
Capt. Robert Keayne,* the whole court met together and voted,"
&c. At the date of the grant she was the widow of Capt.
Keayne, but the next year became the  wife of Samuel Cole.
This tract was bounded on the north by the river 350 rods, and
extended firom  the west line of the present farm  of Matthias F.
Crosby on Elm  street down the river, near to the steam-mill of
David Heald.  In 1780, Josiah Crosby, in consideration of three
hundred bushels of grain, two thirds Indian corn  and one third
rye, purchased 113 acres in the north-east corner of this tract,
extending on the river from near the steam-mill, before mentioned, up a little above the west corner of the old  cemetery.
In 1782 he sold the same to his son William, and  in the first of
these conveyances it is referred to as part of the tract belonging
to Mather Byles.t
*Robert Keayne, merchant of London, came over in the ship Defence in 1635, aged
40 years, with his wife Ann, aged 38 years, and son Benjamin, aged 16 years. He is
characterized by Winthrop as " a man of eminent parts, an ancient professor of the
gospel, coming over for its advancement and for conscience' sake, as wealthy, given to
hospitality, very useful to the country, and a large contributor to its free schools." He
was one of the founders and the first captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery
Company, was four times a representative of the town of Boston, and once speaker of
the House of Deputies. Notwithstanding his virtues and usefulness, he became obnoxious on account of selling dearer than the law allowed, for which offence, after solemn
trial, he was convicted and fined ~250. His will occupies 148 folio pages of the probate
records of Suffolk county, Massachusetts, in which he vindicates his character with a
pathos indicative of a keen sense of the injustice to which he had been subjected,
adding " that though he had suffered enough from the public to tie up both his hands,
yet being desirous to requite evil with good, and though he cannot forget, being willing
to forgive, and deeming it a want of gratitude to God for prosperous men to leave all
to wife, children, or relatives, and nothing to the public or to charity," he proceeds to
give ~1200 to objects of public use or private charity, included in which were ~250 to
Harvard college.
t Mather Byles was born in Boston, March 26, 1706, and on his mother's side was
descended from Richard Mather and John Cotton; was graduated at Harvard University, in 1725, and ordained the first pastor of Hollis Street church in 1733. His first
wife was a niece of Governor Belcher, the second a daughter of Lieutenant-Governor
Tailer, and it is probable this land came to him by inheritance. He continued his pastorate till 1776, when, on account of disloyalty, the connection was dissolved and never
renewed. The next year he was denounced in town meeting, subsequently tried,
found guilty of attachment to the royal cause, sentenced to confinement, and with his
family to be sent to England. This sentence was never enforced, and he died in Boston, July 5, 1788, having received the degree of D. D. from Aberdeen University in
1765.
He was distinguished among his contemporaries for his wit, his solid learning, and
his excellent literary taste. Pope, Lansdowne, and Watts were his correspondents, and
many of his witticisms have come down to us. On one occasion, when required to
remain in his house under guard, he persuaded the sentinel to go on an errand for




117
The month following the gift of the land, the parish voted
"to ceil round the meeting-house as high as the windows; to
case, make, and hang the end-doors, lay the platforms for the
pews on the lower floor, and case the lower windows;" and the
south-west corner, from the fiont to the west door, including the
west door, ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms, was let to
Joshua Burnham  for 39s.; the south-east corner, from the front
door to the east door, including the east door, the ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms, was let, to Josiah Crosby for 41s.;
firom  the east door to the west door round the north side, the
ceiling, casing, and laying tile platforms was let to Joh0n Wallace for 51s.; the platforms for the pews in the inside square was
let to Jothamn Shepard for 19s., the work being let by vendue to
the lowest bidder, the boards and nails for all the work and the
hinges for the doors to be found by the parish.  At a special
meeting called in September, the parish further voted to finish
the whole  meeting-house; and  Augustus Blanchard, Thomas
Burns, and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee of the pewground in the galleries, and lay the same before the parish on the
29th inst., to which time the meeting was adjourned.  At the adjourned meeting, the plan of the committee was accepted, and
they were authorized to sell the pews at public vendue to the
highest bidder, and apply the proceeds to the further finishing of
the house; and as it might be necessary to give the committee further instructions, the meeting adjourned to the 13th of October.
At this meeting the pews were sold, and the stuff and material
for finishing the house " vendued " to the following persons, they
being the lowest bidders, namely, —to Josiah Crosby, jr., 2 M
laths at 7s. each, and 1 M  feet merchantable boards at 18s.;
Augustus Blanchard, 2 hhds. lime at 24s. 6d. each; Joseph Wallace, 2 MAl laths at 7s. each; Stephen Crosby, 3 M  laths at 7s.,
him, promising to perform sentinel's duty in his absence. To the great amusement of
his neighbors he gravely marched before his own door with musket on his shoulder
till his keeper returned, and when inquired of in relation to his occupation, said he
was guarding MIather Byles. After his trial, in alluding to the fact that lie had been
put under guard, the guard removed, and then again replaced, he observed that he had
been guarded, re-guarded and disregarded. In 1780, on the celebrated dark day, a
lady who resided near the doctor sent her young son to him to know if he could
account for the uncommon appearance. HIis reply was, " Give my compliments to
your mamma, and tell her I am as much in the dark as she is."




118
1 M feet boards at 18s., and 2 hhds. lime at 24s. each; Isaac
Abbott, 2 M  laths at 7s. each, 3 hhds. lime at 24s.; Andrew
Bradford, jr., 1 M laths, 7s.; Caleb Jones, 1 M feet 11 in. white
pine boards, 1 AM feet inch do.-do. clear stuff for the work intended; Daniel Johnson, 1 M feet merchantable boards, 18s.;
Josiah Osgood, I M do., 18s., 2 corner girths, 12 by 14 inches;
Joshua Crosby, one half M  white pine boards for ceiling, 9s.;
Jacob Hale, 500 feet pine plank 2 in. thick 14 in. wide, 16s.; 100
feet pine plank, 3 in. thick, 14 in. wide, at 4s.; 400 slitwork, 3 by
4 in., at 8s., and hhd. lime, 25s.; hewed white pine timber, 6 by
7 in., suitable length for the gallery breast-work, sills for the
seats and studs at 8s. 6d.; Thomas Burns, 2 hhds. lime, 25s. each.
In December the parish voted to agree with Mr. Thurston or
some other minister to preach six months during the year next
ensuing.
At the annual meeting, in 1789, it was voted to raise ~36 to
pay for preaching and defray parish expenses; that twelve feet
in the fiont of the gallery be appropriated for a pew for the
singers; that ten pounds be laid out in work round the meetinghouse, "and that John Burns, Caleb Jones, and Benjamin
Conant be a committee to see the work done. In October it
was voted to enlarge the singers' pew, and that it be seventeen
feet, and no longer."  At the annual meeting, the next year, it
was voted to build and sell two pews of six feet front each, at
each end of the singers' pew in the gallery, and that the pews
be built at the expense of the parish.
In January, 1791, at a special meeting, the question of having
the parish set off by lines was agitated, and a committee was
appointed to treat with the first parish for the following lines,
viz., —"Begin at the north-east corner of Ebenezer Averill's
land, and running southerly, including Andrew and John Bradford's intact, William Peabody's, the widow Shepard, Jotham
and Daniel Shepard and John Shepard, Esq., until it comes to
Souhegan river, then down said river to Merrimack west line,
including all belonging to Amherst, on the south side of said
river."  At the annual meeting this year, it was voted to raise
~40 to pay for preaching, and to defray parish expenses; but
there was nothing in the warrant relative to the parish being




119
"set off by lines."  In  June, however, a special meeting  was
called, when not only the question of the parish being set off by
lines was agitated, but the question of being set off as
a separate town was considered, and it was voted to petition
the General Court, as soon as may be, to be set off by lines or a
separate town; and a committee, consisting of Joshua Burnham,
Josiah Crosby, Augustus Blanchard, Thomas Burns, and Porter
Lummus, were appointed for that purpose, and ~12 appropriated to pay their expenses.*
At the annual meeting, in 1792, it was voted to raise ~00 to
pay for preaching, and defray parish expenses, and in June, of
this year, the parish was incorporated, by the name of the southwest parish, in Amherst, and boundaries fixed thereto. In
October, it was voted to sell the remaining pews at public vendue, apply the money arising from  such sale to  the painting
and further finishing the meeting-house, and a committee was
appointed to give a title to the pews sold.  At the annual meeting, the next year, the parish voted  to  raise ~55 to pay for
preaching, and to defray parish expenses, and that the funds
of former collectors be applied "to  the further finishing and
painting the meeting-house."
Thus we see that it took upwards of ten years of continuous
struggle for the parishioners to complete their house of worship,
-a struggle that we of to-day can scarcely comprehend. Nearly
forty years since, a venerable man theii living, one of the foundels of the church and an active worker in this enterprise, was
asked by the speaker what year the meeting-llhouse was completed, to which he replied, "We scarcely knew when it was
completed ourselves, for at no time during the work did we have
any clear conception of what would constitute a finished house.
We worshipped in Col. Shepard's barn,t and when the meeting*The parish not only took this step to be set off, but in October, 1798, voted to petition the General Court in connection with the mile slip, Duxbury school farm, and a
part of Hollis, to be set off as a separate town, and in Jan., 1794, these several parcels
of territory were made a separate town, and incorporated by the name of Milford.
t To us, worshipping in the comfortable if not luxurious houses of to-day, holding a
meeting in a barn seems an absurdity,-yet an inquiry into the practices of the early
settlers shows that this was no uncommon thing; and a sermon preached in the barn of
Major Cole, of Mont Vernon, by Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Chelmsford, Mass., upon the
importance of building a meeting-house in that parish, was an effective instrumentality
in accomplishing that work.




120
house was so far finished that we could hold  meetings in it, we
thought we had accomplished a great work.  We were poor, our
means necessarily  limited, frequently  divided  in  council, and
nothing but the privilege, for ourselves and our children, of worshipping God in his sanctuary could have held us together and
induced us to complete the work." Truly was it said yesterday,
in the excellent historical discourse to which most of us listened,
" people do not move into the forests, clear for themselves homesteads in the solitudes of the wilderness, and take on themselves
the burden of' building meeting-houses and sustaining ministers,
without deep convictions of the value of the gospel."
CHURCH ORGANIZED.
The church in this parish, denominated the third church in
Amherst, was organized  by an  ecclesiastical council, Nov. 19,
1788.*   The  council consisted  of Jonathan  Livermore,t Abiel
Fiske,? John Bruce,ll  Moses Putnam, Ebenezer Rockwood, Richard Ward, Daniel Mansfield, and William  Bradford.
In the proceedings of the council twelve  persons are named
as constituting the church, viz.:
* The churches organized in Ilillsborough county, previous to the commencement of
the present century, are as follows:Organized.               Organized.              Organized.
Nashua,             1685 Wilton,               1763 Hancock,            1788
Hudson,             1737 Hillsborough,         1769 Milford,            1788
Amherst,            1741 Goffstown,            1771 Weare,              1789
Litchfield,         1741 Temple,               1771 Deering,            1789
Hollis,             1743 Merrimack,           1772 Greenfield,          1791
Pelham,             1751 Mason,               1772 Brookline,           1796
Lyndeborough,       1757 Francestown,          1773 Peterborough,       11799
New Ipswich,        1761 Mont Vernon,         1780
tRev. Jonathan Livermore, a native of Northborough, Worcester county, Mass.,
born in 1739, was graduated at Harvard college in 1760; was the first minister of
Wilton, being ordained there in 1763. He sustained the pastoral relation in that place
about fifteen years, when he was dismissed, but did not leave town, remaining till his
death, which occurred July 20, 1809, aged 79 years.
$Rev. Abel Fiske was born at Pepperell, Mass., May 28, 1752; was graduated at
Harvard college in 1774; taught the Grammar school, and studied divinity at Concord,
Mass.; was ordained at Wilton in November, 1778, and was pastor of the church till his
death, which took place April 21, 1802, at the age of 50 years.
IIRev. John Bruce, the first minister in Mont Vernon, was born at Marlborough,
Mass., in 1757; entered Dartmouth college at the age of about twenty years; was graduated in 1781; was settled in 1785, and continued his pastorate till his death, which
occurred March 12, 1809.




121
Stephen Burnham,                Thomas Burns,
Caleb Jones,                    Jonathan Towne,
Elisha Hutchinson,              Benjamin Conant,
John Wallace,                   Benjamin Hutchinson,
Joseph Wallace,                 William  Melendy,
Nathan Hutchinson,              Jonathan Jones.
Attached to the covenant are seven additional names, viz.:
James Wallace,                  Letitia Wallace,
Hannah Bradford,                Mary Wallace,
Mary Burnham,                   Betsy Wallace.
Sarah Hutchinson,
The first meeting was held at the house of William  Crosby *
soon after the organization, when Elisha Hutchinson: was chosen
Clerk, which office he held till his death.t  At this meeting an
examining  committee  was chosen, and  it was  decided  that
applicants for admission might relate their religious experience
verbally or in writing, and that no persons should be admitted
who would  not come up  to the standard of full communion.
The next year several meetings were held, but they related
solely to the discipline of a member. Then follows a period of
nearly six years in which no meeting seems to have been held,
at the expiration of which time the church and town concurred
in giving " Mr. Kiah Bailey " a call, the vote in the joint body
being  forty-nine  for, and  thirty  against.  Subsequently, the
* William Crosby, the benefactor of the parish,-whose house seems to have been open
for parish, church, and other meetings, whenever business vital to the welfare of the
body politic was to be considered,-was a descendant of Simon Crosby, aged 26 years,
who, with his wife Ann, aged 25 years, and their son Thomas, aged 8 weeks, and came to
this country in the ship Susan and Ellen in 1635 (" Founders of New England," page 22),
settled in Cambridge, near where Harvard college is now located, and was the son of
Josiah and Sarah (Fitch) Crosby, who came here from Billerica in 1753, and located on
the opposite side of the road near where the late Frederic Crosby lived. He was born
Jan. 29, 1758; married Sarah, daughter of John Shepard; and died esteemed and
respected, May 12, 1831, aged 73 years. His younger brother Asa, who was born July 15,
1765, and who died at Hanover, April 12, 1836, was the father of Hon. Nathan Crosby
of Lowell, Dr. Josiah Crosby of Manchester, the late Dr. Dixi Crosby of Hanover,
Prof. Alpheus Crosby of Salem, and the late Prof. Thomas Russell Crosby of Hanover.
t Elisha Hutchinson, grandfather of the famous " Hutchinson family " of vocalists,
was the son of Joseph and Hannah (Richardson) Hutchinson; was born at Middleton,
Essex county, Mass., Dec. 6, 1751; married Sarah, daughter of Amos and Mary Buxton
of Danvers; settled here, in 1779, on the farm, in the north part of the town, now in
possession of Dodge G. Hartshorn, and died Oct. 12, 1800, aged 49 years.




122
town non-concurred in the movement.  The next year, 1796,
the church and the town concurred in giving Mr. Phineas Randall a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry, but
Mr. Randall did not accept.  Then follows a period of nearly
two years, when no meeting was held, after which Rev. Abel
Fiske, of Wilton, was elected Standing Moderator, and  a committee chosen to give information to the members whenever a
church meeting should be appointed by the moderator.  About
this time the town voted, seventy-six to thirty-one, to give Mr.
Nath'l H. Fletcher* a call, but the church did not concur. At this
time  the  church had  been organized  nearly  ten  years, but
its existence must have been merely nominal. It could only
have lived in name, as no deacons had been chosen, nor members admitted either by letter or by the profession of their
faith, and there is no record indicating that a communion season
had been observed.  In March, 1798, the question of receiving
members by letters from  other churches was considered, and in
April it was decided in the affirmative, and nineteen members
were thus received, five being from  the church in Amherst, two
from  the second church in Amherst, six from  the  church  in
MWilton, three friom the church in Billerica, two from the church
in Dracut, and one fiom  the church in Durham.  It was also
voted at the same meeting to have the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper administered twice during the coming season, and two
persons were appointed to wait on the table. Two additional
persons were also chosen for the purpose of conversing with
those who should apply for admission, and the moderator was instructed to call a meeting at any time, at the request of
any seven members.  In August, 1799, a meeting was held to
consider the question of giving Mr. Micah Stone a call, but it
* Nathaniel Hill Fletcher, son of Deacon Abel and Abigail (Hildreth) Fletcher, was
born at Boxborough, Middlesex county, Mass., April 16, 1769; was graduated at Harvard University in 1793; received the honorary degree of A. M. at Brown University
in 1799; was settled at Wells, Me., in 1800; was married February 8, 1801, to Sarah,
daughter of John Storer, of the same place; and, after a ministry of 27 years, resigned
his pastorate and returned to Boxborough, where he died Sept. 4, 1834. Several of
his sermons were published, among which was one delivered at Deerfield, in this state,
in 1812, at the ordination of Rev. Nathaniel Wells; a Thanksgiving sermon, delivered in
Massachusetts, in November of the same year; one delivered at the funeral of Rev.
Paul Coffin, D. D., of Buxton, Me., June 8, 1821; and one on Christian communion,
in 1827.




123
was regarded as inexpedient. In the year 1800 the church,
fifteen of the nineteen members present, voted to invite Mr.
Thomas Beede to become their pastor, and the town concurred,
proposing $566 as a settlement to be paid within one year after
the ordination, an annual salary of $333 while he supplied the
desk, and $110 annually during his residence in town, after he
should be unable to supply the desk; and the next year a
unanimous call of the church was extended to Mr. Joshua Lane.
It would be interesting at the present time to know what were
the hindrances to the settlement of the various candidates, and
how the matter in each case was treated by the parties in interest; but the records are silent on the subject.
In March, 1802, the church, nineteen members being present,
invited Rev. Humphrey Moore to settle with them in the gospel
ministry. The town concurred, in April, and chose a committee of fifteen to determine what settlement and salary was
proper to offer Mr. Moore for his services in the ministry. This
committee, after the consideration of the matter for one hour,
reported $600 as a settlement to be paid, or to become due in
one year after the ordination, $400 as an annual salary, and a
gratuity of $100 per annum while he should remain their minister,
and be unable, through infirmity or old age, to supply the desk.
In August, Mr. Moore gave an answer in the affirmative, and
on the 13th day of the following October he was ordained, the
exercises on the occasion being,1. Anthem.
2. Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason.
3. Sermon, Luke ix, 60, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar, of Peterboro'.
4. Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Jacob Burnap, of' Merrimack.
5. Charge, by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, of Amherst.
6. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth, of Brookline.
7. Benediction by the pastor.
WTith the settlement of the new pastor, a brighter day dawned upon the church. The month following, a confession of faith
was adopted, deacons chosen,* and stated communion seasons
* Moses Towne and Benjamin French were chosen, neither of whom accepted, and at
the next meeting, holden in May, 1803, John Wallace and William Lovejoy were chosen,
and entered upon their duties.




124
agreed upon; steps indicating faithful, earnest work.  At the
time of the ordination, the church had been in existence about
fourteen years, but had had no additions except on one occasion,
and then by letter. The subsequent year witnessed the membership doubled, thirty-two being added on profession of their
faith, and seven by letters from other churches.
Of the pastorate of Mr. Moore, extending over a third part
of a century, I need not speak.* It is in part if not in whole
within the memory of many present.  The 335 additions to the
church during his ministry testify to the diligence and faithfulness of his labors, and are evidence of consecration to his chosen
work. And in conclusion, let me add that, in what I have said
to-day, I have endeavored to let the fathers speak in their own
language, revealing their characters in their own words, supplying no motives, and purposely abstaining from  comments, that
we might, unprejudiced, commend what was commendable and
noble in their lives; and if, amid their trials, their sufferings, and
sacrifices, we discovered mistakes in method, what was little in
character, or want of devout affection for one another, it might
be earnestly deplored, and avoided in our own experience.
*Rev. Humphrey Moore was dismissed March 9, 1836; remained in the parish, and
died April 8, 1871, in the 93d year of his age. The following named pastors have succeeded him:REV. J. W. SALTER was installed April 27, 1836; dismissed Oct. 24, 1838.
REV. ABNER B. WARNER was ordained Feb. 6, 1839; dismissed Oct. 27, 1846.
REV. LYCURGUS P. KIMBALL was installed May 19, 1847; dismissed Aug. 7, 1849.
REV. E. N. HIDDEN was installed Nov. 21, 1849; dismissed April 7, 1858.
REV. S. C. KENDALL was installed April 7, 1858; dismissed Oct. 15, 1860.
REV. F. D. AYER was ordained May 1, 1861; dismissed Sept. 8, 1867.
REV. GEO. E. FREEMAN was installed Dec. 23, 1868; dismissed Dec. 14, 1871.
REV. GEORGE PIErCE, JR., was installed Octr 29, 1872.