Newton Town History

CHAPTER XLIII

Geographical — Petition for Erection of Town — Ecclesiastical — Revolutionary Soldiers — Prominent Names — Public Library

The Town of Newton lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : by Massachusetts line, commencing at Brandy Brow Hill, at a stone by which Plaistow, Haverhill, and Merrimac are bounded; thence following Massachusetts line to a stone at northern side of Taxbury's mill-pond to South Hampton line ; thence following said line to East Kingston; thence following the Shaply line on Kingston to the Pond Bridge at the outlet of County Pond, which stream is called Powow River; from thence across the pond to the White Sands, so called ; from thence southerly to a stone between Kingston and Newton, about ten rods west of the railroad at Newton Junction ; thence southerly to a bound in land of Mrs. Crane to meet Plaistow ; then westerly on Plaistow line to a bound between the towns of Plaistow and Newton ; thence easterly on Plaistow line to Brandy Brow Hill to the bound began at. Estimated to contain about five thousand (5,000) acres, besides the pond.

The surface of the town is generally hilly and the soil fertile, yielding good crops of grain and grass. Newton is forty miles southeast from Concord and twenty-eight southwest from Portsmouth.

The population by the 1910 United States census was 962.

In 1720 Joseph Bartlett took up his residence herein and was soon surrounded by neighbors. Twelve years previous he was taken prisoner at Haverhill and was in captivity four years among the Indians in Canada.

Petition for Erection of Town. — The first petition on record concerning this town is that of sundry persons opposed to a petition which, it seems, had been presented praying for the erection of a new town. This was under date February 18, 1741-42, and was as follows:

"To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire in New England and to the Honourable his Majestys Council for said Province.

"The Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of that part of the Town of Amesbury that lyeth to the Northward of the Boundary line between the Province of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay by the late Sattlement of the Sd Line and to the Southward of Shapleys Line so called most humbly shews That your Petitioners understand that about sixty persons in Number who live in that part of Salisbury that lyeth between the two aforesd lines and that part of Amesbury aforesd have petitioned your Excellency and Honours for a Township of seven miles in Length as mentioned in their Petition. That your Petitioners are included within the bounds of said Township. That the meeting house they have Erected for themselves is so situated as that it is no ways convenient for your Petitioners. That many of those who signed their Petition now say they were deceived. That it will be a great Burden to your Petitioners if they are under an obligation to be holden by what their Neighbors have asked for themselves. That your Petitioners desire they may have liberty to be annexed to such Parishes as are most convenient for them till Such Time as they shall be able to- make a parrish among themselves.

"Wherefore your Petitioners pray your Excellency and Honours to grant your Petitioners liberty to speak for themselves before your Excellency and Honours and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c.

"Feb. 18th 1741-2 — Jonathan Kimball, Jonathan Wasson, Jonathan Farron, Timothy Farron, David Gooden, Samuell Gooden, Phillip Challess, Benjamin Kimball, Caleb Hobs, Roger Estman, William Sargent, Nathaniel Ash, George Marsten, Robert Marter, Abraham Marroll, David Marten, Ivery Fooler ( ?), Orlando Bagly, David Bagly, Andrew Whitt, Timothy Whittier, Josiah Fowller, Thomas Fowller, David Elott, Thomas Carter, John Carter, William Fowller, Thomas Carter Junr, Willm Fowller Junr, John Carter Junr, Joseph Fowller, John Carter, Jacob Carter, Samuel Carter."

Newton was settled about 1700; it was then called Amesbury Newtown. Name changed to Newton in 1846. The State of Massachusetts was bounded three miles from Merrimac River; on the final settlement of the line this part of the territory was left off from Massachusetts.

In 1749 it was incorporated as a town, taking a part of South Hampton.

The inhabitants in 1816 were about four hundred and fifty, with eighty-nine legal voters.

The first record of a meeting is as follows:

"Province of New Hampshire: To Sargent Heath, Constable for Newtown, these are to require you to warn the Inhabitants of Newtown Qualified for voting to meet at the House of Sergent Heath innholder in said town on Wednesday the twenty-sixth of March instant at one of the clock in the afternoon, then and there when mett as, first, to choose town officers as the charter directs, 2d to see who the town will employ to build a pound & stocks, & 3dly to see how much money the town will raise for a school, 4thly to see how much money the town will allow for the selectmen & constables for service done the town for the year past.

"Dated at Newton March ye 11. a. d. 1755

"Joseph Peaseee
"Robert Stuart
"Francis Chase
Selectmen of Newton"

By the records we find the above meeting was called at the time and place, and David Bayly was chosen moderator, William Rowell, town clerk, and Joseph Peaslee, William Rowell, and Aaron Currin, selectmen. After choosing the minor officers the meeting was adjourned till Monday, 31st of March, "to be held at the meeting-house." At the adjourned meeting it was voted to build a pound and to raise fifty pounds for schooling. A vote to see if the town would pay the constable sixpence a pound for collecting rates was defeated. Then the closing record of the meeting is, "at the same meeting voted not to act any further on the foregoing warrant, and the meeting was dismist."

The next meeting was warned for Monday, the 21st day of April; the principal object was "to see whether the town will raise any sum of money and how much in order to clapboard said meeting-house, and lay the floor and build the doors and to provide window-frames and sashes and glass for said house," etc., and also to choose a committee to select a suitable piece of ground for a "burying-place."

This meeting was called; "400 pounds O. T. was voted to be raised to repair the meeting-house." Committees were appointed to "provide stuff" for the meeting-house and "look out a burying-place," said committees to report at an adjourned meeting to be held May 19th. Also, at the above meeting, "it was put to vote to see whether the town would agree with the 'poolers' from South Hampton, both to do duties and receive privileges in full with the inhabitants of Newton, and voted in the affirmative."

June 16, 1755. At this meeting another committee was appointed to "examine and receive the accounts of the former committee," they to report at an adjourned meeting to be held June 23d. One bill brought in by this committee, to "pay for shingling and laying the sleepers 150 pounds, old tenor," was negatived; but a bill to provide window-frames and sashes and a "joyner to assist in putting them up," was passed in the affirmative. It was also voted to allow sixty pounds old tenor for preaching, and to be taken out of the money appropriated for repairing the meeting-house. Voted to hire Mr. Solomon Paige to preach seven Sabbaths.

Without doubt, from careful research, and authentic data, the First Baptist Church of Newton, N. H., is the oldest organization of the denomination in the state, the correct date being 1754. An old record tells us that "In 1755, or before, a house of worship was built in the south part of the town." Very soon after the church was organized much persecution was suffered because its members could not conscientiously subscribe to the doctrines of the "Standing Order," and in consequence refused to pay the parish rates. Property was attached. Lawsuits ensued which were finally settled after three or more years fully sustaining the Baptists' position.

The town reimbursed individuals paying them the cost of their rates, and were obliged to pay the cost of their own lawsuit. Rev. Walter Powers was settled as first pastor in 1755; he had a long ministry and was followed by Reverend Mr. Wheelock. Then years of which there was no record, a period probably of spiritual inactivity. In 1791, Rev. John Peak was settled, after him Rev. Samuel Ambrose and Rev. Otis Robinson. In 1809 Rev. David Tuxbury was ordained and settled. Next came Rev. Benjamin Harris, Rev. William Norris (ordained in 1836), Rev. Ezra Wilmarth, Rev. James Boswell, Rev. A. Philbrick, Rev. Thomas Jameson, Rev. John Blove, Rev. John Upton, Rev. Samuel Cook, Rev. T. B. Eastman, Rev. J. J. Peck, Rev. R. G. Farley, Rev. Amasa Brown, Rev. W. H. Eaton, D. D., Rev. B. H. Lane, Rev. J. H. Wells, Rev. N. B. Wilson, Rev. Daniel W. Crafts, Rev. E. H. Watrous, Rev. J. E. Dinsmore, Rev. J. W. Dick, Rev. F. H. Cooper, Rev. W. R. Terry, Rev. I. W. Coombs, Rev. J. S. Blair. In 1907 Rev. W. P. Richardson the present incumbent became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Newton and also of Newton Junction. The latter church was organized in 1872.

The Congregationalists raised a meeting-house on the spot where the Town Hall now stands, but were never able to complete it, and finally gave it up, and the town purchased it for their use and the use of the different religious societies in the town.

Rev. Jonathan Eames was settled here in 1759 and was dismissed in 1791. No Congregational Church has existed here for a long period.

In the first settlement of the town it appears by records and other evidence that there was a Quaker meeting-house in the south part of the town. Some of the Peaslees belong to them.

In 1832 the Christian Church was formed by Joseph Boadey, Douglas Farnum, John Rand, Mark Furnald, Henry Plumer, John Hartyman, and others. Nathaniel Day preached his sermon in June, 1856, and served for many years. Rev. M. J. Housberger is the present pastor.

Newton has always been very patriotic, furnishing men for the different wars the colonies were engaged in. The Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, and down to the great Rebellion she did her whole duty.

At a town-meeting held in 1774 it was voted "to choose two men to go to Exeter and choose a committee to go to Philadelphia to join the Congress." Abraham Kimball and Stephen Butler were so chosen. Also voted to pay one pound fifteen shillings, to pay the committee that goes to Philadelphia the 10th of May.

September 3, 1775, at a town-meeting, it was voted "to raise some men to go to Portsmouth to work on the Batteries, by request of the Committee of Safety." Voted to send as many men as will go.

July 11, 1776, voted to give nine men seven pounds two shillings, lawful money to each man to go to reinforce General Sullivan at Crown Point.

December 13, 1776, the town voted to give three men three pounds, lawful money, to go to New York to join the Continental army.

April 26, 1779, voted that the selectmen be a committee to go and hire four Continental soldiers during the war. The above are but a few of the many records in regard to hiring soldiers.

At a meeting held July 6, 1780, the inhabitants of Newton met upon "journment," and the meeting opened, William Rowell for moderator. It put to vote to see if said town will give any sum of money for encouragement to hire "mullishia" soldiers to go in the army three months; voted in the affirmative. It put to vote to see if said town will choose a committee to hire said soldiers ; not passed in the affirmative. Capt. Robert Stuart, Ensign Daniel Morse chosen a committee to hire said soldiers, and to give any price as they shall think proper. Ye meeting was journed till the tenth day of April instant at five of the clock in ye morning. At the adjournment it was put to vote to see if said town will give five soldiers for three months twenty bushels of Indian corn a month, or make it as good to them in money ; the vote passed in the affirmative, and the meeting was "dismist."

Revolutionary Soldiers. — Lieut. Micah Hoyt, afterwards captain by the death of the captain of the company, Reuben Hoyt, and Wister Sanborn went to Bunker Hill when the British tried to drive the Americans from Breed's Hill. How long they stayed in the service is not known. William Gould, Elliot Jewell, David Goodwin, and others went to Ticonderoga or Crown Point, and stayed during the war. Thomas Challis was an officer, and many others left their homes for the seat of war that they and their children might be freemen.

During the War of 1812 we find the following names: Enoch Hoyt, Sargent Heath, Moses Huse, Moses Hoyt, William Foot, Job Stevens, William Harveyman, Israel Ingalls, and others.

John Cooper enlisted when the war broke out as a Government soldier, and remained till after the war closed. His family and friends heard nothing from him during the whole war, and supposed him dead. His wife donned her mourning garments and supposed herself a widow. What was her surprise one day at the close of the war to see her husband, dressed in his suit of blue and gilt buttons, enter the house, alive and well. Many such cases no doubt occurred during the war.

In the War of the Rebellion the town furnished as many or more soldiers than any town in the state according to her valuation. She sent eighty-five soldiers to the army and navy, at an expense of $35,000.

Always ready from the Revolution to the last war to furnish men and money when called upon by the country to protect its rights, she would fight its enemies, and maintain the honor of the nation.

Prominent Names in the Town. — Mr. William Rowell was a very prominent man in his day, was first selectman in 1749, and held most of the offices in the gift of the town, sometimes serving as clerk, at others as selectman. His descendants to this day have upheld the integrity of the name, and are our most honored townsmen.

The next name we find is Peaslee. John Peaslee had nine children, the first born in 1734. His descendants are among our most prominent men.

The name of Currier is next, and they were very numerous, and quite a number of their descendants still live in the town, and many of them hold offices of trust. The name of Bartlett is next, and they were among the first to hold office in town. Eliphalet Bartlett, a noted man, and Matthias Bartlett, a surveyor, were often elected representatives, and for many years selectmen. Joseph Bartlett was a noted man, was captured by the Indians at Haverhill in 1708, was held by them four years, settled in this town in 1720. The descendants of the Bartletts are very numerous in the town.

Hoyts come next in order. Four of that name were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The records of Amesbury show that in the year 1776 ten of that name enlisted from that place. Samuel Hoyt was one of the selectmen a number of years, and town clerk for forty years. Micah Hoyt, son of Micah Hoyt, was a prominent man in the time of the Revolution; was a lieutenant in the army till the war closed. Benjamin and Eli Hoyt held the offices of selectmen and town clerk for many years. John Hoitt. one of their descendants, was selectman for twenty years, and town clerk for fifteen years, and is at this date a hale and hearty man, loved, honored, and respected by all.

The Chases were among the prominent men in the first settlement of the town, were among the first to become Baptists, and helped build the meetinghouse in 1750.

Among the Peaslees was one Joseph, who was a Quaker, and, driven from other towns, he took up his abode in the south part of Newton, to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, without any one to molest or make him afraid. From him sprung the Quaker meetinghouse and Quaker burying-ground, near by where remains the dust of all the Quakers of this town.

The Newton Public Library was established in 1892 with state aid. E. G. Kelly is the librarian in charge of the 2,800 volumes.

The societies are: Twilight Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Starlight Rebekah Lodge; Granite State Grange; Orient Council, J. O. V. A.

J. F. Axtell is the physician.

Contributed 2023 Oct 06 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, published in 1915, pages 581-587.