CHAPTER XVII.
Page 2

While the matter of the petition was progressing, a meeting was called of the town June, 27, 1766, at which it was

   "Voted to Repear the meeting House in part thies year.
   Voted to Lay a good fllor in the Meeting House and make three Good Dores and Hinge them one said House and shout upe the ounder windows and a Commadate the Meeting House with forms Suitable for to Sit on."

Meantime the petition came up for consideration before the House of Representatives on the 3d of July, and the petitioners had leave to bring in a bill. On the 8th the Bill passed the House and was as follows;

   "An Act for Vacating the meetings of the Town of Derryfield for the year 1766 held there by the Inhabitants for the Choice of town offecers and for Deriecting & authorizing a meeting & the Choice of town officers for Said year.
   Whereas Sundry of the Inhabitants of Said Derryfield have Pititioned the General Assembly Respecting that Some designing men of Said Inhabitants Having Some purpose to effect Relative to the affairs of Said town which they Could not otherwise accomplish, huried on the annual meeting Sooner in the Day then is usual & before many of the principal Inhabitants were Come to the place of Sd meeting whereby a Set of officers were Chosen who were Disagreabel to the principal Inhabitants that afterwards when the said Inhabitants Come they maide Choice of another Set of town officers who on bothe Sides were Sworn & have proceeded to act in their respective offces whereby the greatest Confusion was like to Ensue in the town & therefore they prayed that both of Said meetings might be Vacted and maid void and a new meetinge Called for the Choice of town officers for this year which having been Examined and both partys heard thereon and it appearinge that the affairs of Sd town are by this means Involved in Confusion & perplexity which would Isue in Disortion of all the Legal Rights & Priviliges of Sd town;

   For Prevention Whereof; Be it Enacted by the Governor Counseil & Assembly that both the Said meetings & all the Electiones their made and the whole proceedings of Each of them be and hereby is declairred null, void and of none Effect but are utterly Vacated and Destroyed and that the persons Chosen to any office at Either and Each of Sd meetings are Hereby Disqualified & Rondered wholly uneable to act in them or any of them and it is hereby further Enacted that a new meeting of Said Inhabitants shall be Called for the Election of town officers for the Currant year and all parsons Quallifyed as the Law Directes for the Qualification of Such as are authorized to vote in the Choies of town offcers in the annual town meetings Shall be permitted Wednesday 13 Day of august at 2 clock in the afternoon if they Shall Se caues to Vote at Sd meeting but all others & all minors are hereby Excluded from Voting at Said meetings as they ought to be in all such Cases and John Sheepard Juner of amherst Esqr is Hereby appointed to Call and Govern Sd meeting till the Whole business thereof Shall be Ended & that no Parson Concerned may Justly Coomplain of want of notices the Sd John Sheepard is hereby Derected to Give a Notification to the Last years Constable of Sd town seting forthe the time and place Designs of holding of Sd meeting with the purpose thereof and that Sd meeting is Called by the authority of this act which shall be Delivered to Said Constable at least fifteen Days before the Day appointed for holding Sd meeting and Sd Constable Shall Give parsonal notice to all the Qualfied Voters of Sd Town as has Some Customary times ben the there or leave a Coppy of the Sd Notifiction at the Last usual place of the abod of such of said persons as he Cannot meet with at least ten Days before the meeting And all the Town officers which shall be Chosen pursuant Hereunto Shall have the same Power & Authority as any other Town officers have Relative to the Duty of their Respective offices And the Said Constabel is hereby subjected to a penalty of three pounds for Refuseing or Neglecting his Duty herein to be Recovered by the Selectmen that shall be Chosen by Said town for the use of Said town.

Province of New Hampshire,

In the House of Representatives, July, 8th, 1766.

   The foregoing Bill having ben three times Read Voted that It pass to be Enacted.

   In Council July 9th, 1766, The foregoing bill Read a third time & past to be enacted.

   Consented to

In accordance with this Act, Mr. Shepherd on the 15th of July issued the following Warrant.

Province of New Hampshire.

To the Constable of Derryfield in Said Provinee for the year 1765.

   Whereas by a Special Act of the General Court for Sd province, passed at their Session this pris Instant July i am authorized to Call and Govern a meeting of the Inhabitantes of Derryfield in order to Reform Some disorders that they have lately thrown themselves into Relative to town officers;

   Wherefore you are hereby Required in his Majestys Name forwith to warn the Inhabitants of Said Derryfield Qualified by Law to Vote in Chusing town officers, to Convene at the meeting House in Derryfield Qualified by Law to Vote, on Wednesday the 23th day of August next at two of the clock in the after, to Chuse Common & ordinary town officers for the Currant year as the Law Directs, and you are to give ten days Notices at least to each person Qualified as aforesaid which notice must be personal or left at the persons Usual place of abode; hereof you may not fail & mack Due return. N B by the above Vested Act you are Subjected to the penalty of three pounds for your Refusal or Neglect.

JOHN SHEPARD, June'r.

   Dated July 15th 1766.
      Recorded Feb. 28th 1767.

JOHN HALL, Town Clark."

Upon this Warrant the Constable made the following return;

Province of New Hampshire.

Pursent to the foregoing precept I have Warned the Inhabitants of Sd Derry-

field to Meet at time and place & for the purpose as mentioned in Sd precipt.

CHARLES EMERSON.

Constable for Derry- field 1765.

   Dated August 13th 1766.
Recorded Feb. 28th 1767.
pr me JOHN HALL, Town Clark."
   At the meeting thus notified and called on the 13th of August, the following officers where chosen, viz;

John Hall,	Town Clerk.
David McNight, Ebenezer Stevens, John Hall,	Selectmen
James McNight,	Constable.
Mickael McClintock, Hendry Blaisdel, William perham Joseph Gorge,	Surveirs of Higwayes.
Joseph Marsten, William Nutte, David McNight,	Taything- men.
The Selectmen,	Fence viewers & praysors of Damige in the town as the Law Direckes.
Elizer Robbins, James Ridall,	Deer Keepers.
Ebenezer Stevens,	Survier of Lumber.
Thomas Russ,	Sieler of Leather.
Mickel McClintock, Elliezer Robens,	Committee to settle with Selectmen of 1766
The Selectmen,	Take the Invoice of the polls and Estates of the town of Derryfield for ye year 1766.
Joseph Gorge, John Perham, Samuel Boyd, James perces,	Houg Reeafes.
William Perham,	Clerk of the Market.

   Recorded Feb. 28, 1767,
         JOHN HALL,
Town Clark."

Thus it will be seen that the Hall Party was completely triumphant, having elected Mr. Hall to the two most important offices in town, and his fiends to the other offices.

But this by no means settled the difficulty as to the meeting house, or in the town, for at a special meeting called on the 22d of December following, to vote on the following articles, viz:

   "1stly. to Chues a moderator to Reglate Said meeting.

   2dly. to See if the town will Rease any money for prechin then what the Select men hies all Ready provided this year.

   3dly. to See How much monay the town will Reaes to Defray the contingent Charges of the town for the present year.

   4thly. to See if the town will Complay with the Law of the Goverment to provied wightes and mishures or if not to Defend the present Select men of any Coste or troble for not providing the afore Sd wights and mishers as the Law hies provided in that Kasse.

   5thly. to heair the Reporte of the Commitey that was Choseen to Examing Sundry years accounptes in behalfe of the town, to wite, Conel John Goffe, Capt. Alex McMurphey, & mr Neathainel Boyd Commitey men."

The opposition rallied and voted the four business articles down. The Record stands thus.

   "Voted one the 2 artical not to Reaies any monay for Prieching this year.

   Voted note to Reaise any money for Necrisey Charges In Behaif of the town for theis year.

   Voted one the fourth artical in the warrant not to Reaise any monay to provide wightes & miushers for the town.

   One the fifth artical the accoumptes was Read but now

   Vot was paste one them and they remaien on Sitled."

This action of course increased the excitement.

At the annual meeting, March 2, 1767, the Goffe party carried the day, and elected their officers, as follows:

David Starret, Moderator

David Starret,

Elizer Robins, --
Alexander McClintock,--       Selectmen.
Nathaniel Boyd, --

John Harvey, Constable.

James McColley, --
James McNight, --     Surveyors of Highways.
Charles Emerson, --
John McClicntock --

The Selectmen, Fence Viewers.

Charles Emerson, --
Ebenezer Stevens, -- Surveyors of Lumber.

John Moor, --        Counters of Votes.
James McColley. --

John Hall, To take Invoice.

Alexander Merrill, --
James Pierce, --       Hog Constables.
Willaim Perham Jr. --

Thomas Russ -- Sieler of Leather.

From the above list, it will be seen, that some of the men who formerly voted with the Hall Party, were chosen to important offices and that Mr. Hall himself was chosen to take the invocie [invoice].

From this fact it seems probable that there had been some sort of a compromise. Much prejudice had been raised against Mr. Hall, and it is possible that he declined being a candidate for any of the important offices. Be this as it may, he was not elected to any important office in the town for some years after. He had been charged with having money in his hands belonging to the town, a part of a certain loan of �400, he had hired by vote of the town to build the meeting house. Accordingly at a special meeting held on the 4th day of May, 1767, a committee was chosen "to settle with Lieut. John Hall, for the Borrowed money."

When calling upon Mr. Hall, it seems probable, that the Committee found that he claimed a balance against the town and they made no report. On the 8th day of July, 1768 at a special meeting, the town voted to prosecute the committe [committee] that "Borrowed a sum of money," if they refused to settle. But prior to the annual meeting, Mr. Hall presented his claim for settlement, for at that meeting, March 6th 1769 the.

   "Town voted not to pay Levt. John Hall His Demands Relating to the Borrowed money without a suit at Law, it being thought an unreasonable demand."¹

Upon this, Mr. Hall commenced a suit against the town for his claim, and on the 23d day of October following, at a special meeting the town voted to defend the said suit and chose John Goffe, and William McClintock, Agents for that purpose. At the annual meeting in March, 1770, the same gentlemen were continued as Agents to defend said suit.

The parties appeared at Portsmouth, Messrs. Atherton and Parker appearing for the town. What progress was made in the suit, cannot now be traced; but whatever it was, it was not satisfactory to the town, and in the warrant for the annual town meeting in 1771, there were the following articles;

   "Fifthly, to Hear the accompts of Corll. John Goffe, and William Mc Clintock as Agents for the town to Defend the Town against the action Levt. John Hall commenced against the town of Derryfield and to approve or not approve.
   Sixthly, to See If the Town will Chuse a Committe to settle with Levt. John Hall all the accompts Between said Hall and the Town of Derryfield."

At said meeting, March. 4, 1771, the accounts of the Committe [Committee] were read. As these accounts show the expense of litigation at this time and somewhat of the customs, of the people a hundred years since, they are subjoined.

   "Corll. John Goffe as agent for the Town of Derryfield, Dr.

The accounts having been read, it was voted to allow and pay them in full. The sixth article in the warrant coming up in course, it was voted "committee of five men be chosen to settle all accounts Between Levt. John Hall and the town of Derryfield, and this Committee shall have full power of substitution in behalf of said town, to make a Complete and final settlement with said Hall and make a report to the Town as soon as may be convenient."²

This vote shows that the people of the town thought that they were like to come off second best in the suit with Mr. Hall,--and that they were ready to settle with him on almost any terms. And well they might, for the expenses of the suit thus far on their own side, had amounted to �43--17s--8d, a trifle over the amount of the whole taxes of the town for 1771 which were only �29--17s--d2! No report of this Committee is be found on the records and no farther proceeding as to any claim against Mr. Hall, and it is fair to presume that the Committee allowed his claim and made a final settlement with him. Thus the merely personal matter connected with this quarrel was settled, but the ill-blood engendered as to the location of the Meeting house, which was the origin of the quarrel, had not been laid. People had nursed their prejudices through a series of years during this quarrel, and a portion of them could never favor any appropriation for finishing the meeting house or for sustaining preaching in it. However, preaching had generally been maintained during a portion of each year. But there seems to have been but one attempt to have a stated preacher untill after the difficulty was settled betwixt the town and Mr. Hall. Rev. George Gilmore had preached occasionally in the town and on the 20th of August, 1773, there were inserted in the warrant the following articles in relation to him:

   "2ly, to see if the Inhabitants of Said town will Vote to Give the Revr. George Gilmore a Call to the Worke of the Menistry in said Derryfield to be their Menester.
   3ly to See how much yearly Salary they Will Vote the said Gilmore is he Except their Call.
   4ly to See how much Setelment Money they Will Vote the said Gilmore if he Except their Call.
   5ly to See if they Will Vote to Sand a man or meen to treet with the said Gilmore and agree about the mater as the town pleeeses to order."

At a meeting, September, 6, 1773, the following action was had upon the subject,

   Voted to Dismis the above Warrant, but the town thought Best to sand for the Revr. George Gilmore, and it was put to vote and the Town Voted to sand for the Revr. George Gilmore as sun as possible to comand preach with us Eighth Days upon Fouder Trill."

On the 23d of December, the same year, another meeting was held upon the subject, when it was

   "Voted on the third Articul in the Warrant to Give Revt. George Gilmore a Call to the Work of the Ministry to be our settled Minister in Said Town.

   Then Voted on the fourth Articul in the Warrant to Give the Revt. George Gilmore thirty Pounds Lawfull money in Cash, for his annual Settled yearly Salary So Long as he the Said Gilmore Contenes to be our Sattled minister in said Town.

   Voted on the Said Articul to Give the Revt. George Gilmore for a Settlement thirty Pounds Lawfull money in Cash and Sixty Pounds Lawfull money to be paid in Labour at two shillings Lawfull per Day for man and the Same for oxen, the Said Labor is so be paid in four years Commencing from the time that the Said Gilmore Excepts and settles with us in Said town fifteen Pounds per year and the Above Cash within one year of the Said time.

   Voted on the fifth articul in the Warrant to Chuse a Committee to treet with the Revt. George Gilmore Relating the above Votes, then Voted David Starret, Samuel Boyd, John perham and Levtn. James macCalley to be the Committee and make report to the Town.

Then Voted to adjourn this meeting till the third monday in february to the house of Levtn. John halls, at one of the Clock in the afternoon on the Said Day.

Derryfield, February, the 21th Day, 1774.    Then meet according to adjournment the moderator and Clerk present and the meetin Caled, then Voted to Dismis the Sixth articul in the Warrant by Reson that the above Committee had not Received aney answer from the Revt. Gearge Gilmore.'!

The reason of Mr. Gilmore's returning no answer, has not transpired and is mere matter of conjecture.

Soon after this time, the difficulties betwixt the Colonies and the British government commenced, and the people of Derryfield had a more extended field of excitement, and other enemies to encounter. Nothing was done towards repairing the meeting house during the Revolution, and it became much dilapidated.

On the 22d day of May, 1780, an attempt was made to sell the "pew ground," for the purpose of raising money to repair the meeting house, but the project was voted down.

After the close of the war, a movement was made to repair the house. At a meeting June. 3, 1783, it was

   "Voted to Rais one hundred Dollars and to apply the Same toards Repairing the meeting house in Derryfield and that the same Be Raised this present year the one half in money and the other half in Labour and suitable meterials sutch as Shall Be Excepted By the Committy that Shall be Hearafter Choosen for that purpose.
   Voted that Major Webster, Levt. Dan'l hall and Samuel Stark, Be a Committy to provide meterials and Labourers to Do the Work and to Repair the meeting house So fer as the aforesaid Hundred Dollars will Do."

But the repairs were not completed, and September, 24, of the following year, it was voted to raise fifty dollars towards repairing the meeting house.

February, 8, 1785, the bill for repairs was presented to the town, and accepted.

In 1790, an effort was made and with success to sell the "pew ground," and finish the house; and March 1st of that year it was

   "Voted, to sell the Pew Ground, to finish the Meeting house."

Major John Webster, John Green and John Hall were chosen a Committee to sell the pew ground.

The committee sold the ground at public auction, on the 22d of June of that year, upon the following conditions.

   "The Conditions of Sail of the Pew ground in Derryfield meeting house agreable to an advertsement published bearing Date June the 4th 1790, by the subscribers is as follows;
   1stly. the ground for each pew to be built on, will be Struck off to the Highest bidder they giveing good security to the Committee for the Sum of money that Sd grounds is sold for the to help to repair the meeting hause this year.
   2dly. He that Purcheseth any of the above pew ground shall have a bill of Sail from the Committee in their Capassity of the number & price that it Cost them, to be Recorded in Derryfield Town Book.
   3dly. The Buyer must pay two thirds of the purchise in Glass, Nailes, or marchantable Clabboards or Putty at or before the first day of September Next, & the Remainderingt hird in Cash at or before the first Day of January Next.
   given under our Hand, Dated at Derryfield June, 22d, 1790.

   Recorded January 11th 1791. John Goffe Town Clerk."

The purchasers built their pews immediately, and the lower part of the house was of respectable finish.

Image of plan of Derryfield meeting house

   A true Transcript of the plan of Derryfield meeting house transcribed by
JOHN GOFFE,
          Town Clark."

This sale had been so successful, that it was thought best to sell the pew ground of the galleries. And as the stairs to, and floors of the house had not been made, on the 5th day of March 1792, it was

   "Voted to raise forty dollars to Repair the Meeting House."

   "Voted that the Selectmen lay out the Money to Build the Gallery Stares and Lay the Gallery flores."

The stairs were built and the floors laid, and on the 30th day of October following, it was

   "Voted to sell the Pew Ground in the Gallerys, & the pews to be five feet in frount from the Wall."

"Voted that the pew ground be sold at Vendue."

"Voted that the Selectmen be a committee to sell the pews."

The sale took place on the 10th day of November 1792, on the following conditions;

"Derryfield Nov. 10th, 1793.    Articles of the Sale of the Pew ground in the Gallerys of the Derryfield Meeting house.
   Artical first, the highest bidder shall be the purchaser.
   2dly. No bid shall be excepted less then sixpence.
   3dly. the purchesor shall give security to the Exceptance of the Committee to be paid by the last day of May Next.
   4thly. the purchersor shall have for his security the plan & the No of the pew struck off to him Recorded in the Town Book.
   5thly. the committee shall have Equal Liberty to bid with the other Inhabitants.

But the purchasers never built the pews upon the "pew ground," in the galleries, and the upper part of the house remained unfinished. And in fact the house never was finished for a meeting house. Such had been the strife engendered during so long a period of difficulty, that a majority of the people cared little about the building for such purpose. The people at the south and south east part of the town, who cared about attending church, had been in the habit of attending at Londonderry, while such at Goff's Falls and upon the river, were accommodated at Bedford. Thus it happened that the meeting house was never repaired, only so far as would render it barely fit for town purposes, and that there never was stated preaching in the town, until such time as other men controlled its affairs. For those who really desired the house finished and stated preaching in it for the good of the town, themselves and "rising families," had not the ability to do one or the other. Thus a town upon the great natural avenue, the Merrimack, and situated betwixt the two most enterprising and wealthy counties in the state, remained for near a century, without a settled minister of the gospel. The results of such a state of things are not easily foretold. The effects upon the immediate interests of the town were undoubtedly deleterious.

But it may well be questioned, whether its present prosperity may not be in a measure attributable to this very state of things. Had there been harmony, enterprise, and the consequent thrift in the town, it is altogether probable that the vast water power in this place would have been occupied at a much earlier period, and might have been in such hands, and occupied for such purposes, as would have prevented any very extended operations, or population. As it was, there was neither, and nothing to prevent capitalists securing the water-power and adjacent lands, and hence out of this town of small means, but great capacities, has arisen as if by magic, a city that is fast realizing the prophecy of Blodget, "the Manchester of America."

During this period, outside influence was repeatedly exerted to produce a different state of feeling, but with no avail. The house was fit for a place of worship at no time, but in summer and of a fair day, it answered better than a barn, which was often a place of worship and for holding town meetings. The rain and wind came in with but little hindrance, and swallows built their nests in it at will, their chattering being not an unfrequent accompaniment to the singing and preaching. The Rev. Mr. Pickels, an eccentric clergyman of that time, preaching in it as late as about 1803, took his hearers to task for not finishing and repairing the house.

After telling them of their duty in this matter, in a very forcible strain, as was his wont, he closed by naming to them the penalty for not doing their duty in this particular. "Why" continued he, "if you don't repair the house of God, the d___l will come in an carry you out at the cracks."

It is said, that for fear of the penalty, the house was immediately repaired so far as to prevent any such egress for his Satanic Majesty and the delinquent hearers.

The Rev. Wm. Pickels was a native of Wales, where he married Margaret Tregallis. After emigrating to this country, he preached for a time in Philadelphia. He came into the neighboring town of Bedford somewhere about 1787. He preached in Bedford, some years, a portion of the time. At first he was very popular as a preacher, and it was proposed to settle him, but for some reasons not readily accounted for, an opposition sprang up against him in Bedford, and became so violent as to forbid the idea of a settlement. His enemies charged him with dissolute habits in Philidelphia, but the charge was stoutly denied by his friends. At length, the strife waxed so warm and became so pointed, that Lieut John Orr offered to lay a wager of fifty dollars that the charge was true. The wager was taken by Mr. Pickels' friends, and Mr. William Riddle was agreed upon as the Agent of the parties, to proceed to Philadelphia and investigate the charge. His report was to be final. Mr. Riddle went to Philadelphia on horse-back, investigated the matter, found the charge untrue in every particular, returned and reported the result. There was great exultation on the part of the winners and they met at the store of Isaac Riddle Esq., to rejoice over the victory. Mr. Riddle was designated as their agent to go to Mr. Orr's and get the wager. He accordingly waited upon Mr. Orr and made known the result of the investigation. Without making a remark, Lieut. Orr went to his desk and paid over the money. Mr. Riddle took the money back to the winners, and it was spent at the counter in liquor for the multitude.! But the result did not stay the opposition against Mr. Pickels, and he was forced to abandon the idea of a settlement. He however continued to preach in Bedford a portion of the time for some sixteen years. His friends would pay their money for no other man, as long as he was in the neighborhood; and as they constituted near one half of the people in Bedford and among them some of the most influential, Mr. Pickels continued to "supply the pulpit," about one half of the time. The remaining part of the time he preached in the vicinity, mostly in Derryfield. At length an opposition sprang up against him here, probably having its origin in Bedford, and it was thought best to settle the question of his employment, in town meeting. Accordingly in the warrant of October 19, 1796, was the following article;

   "4thly To see if the town will vote to raise money for the purpose of hiring Mr. William Pickels to Preach for them some part of the year Ensueing, if he can be obtained."

At the meeting November 7, 1796, it was

   "Voted to hire Mr. William Pickels one third part of the Year Ensueing to Preach in this town.

From this time he continued to supply the pulpit in this town till 1804, sometimes hired for a specific number of Sabbaths, and again to "preach out the money raised." About 1804 he removed to Maine, where he continued to reside until his death.

Before leaving this neighborhood, he announced his belief in universal salvation.

Mr. Pickels was a very eloquent preacher, a fine scholar, social and free in his manners, but of such eccentric habits, as to give offence to some. Hence doubtless, the cause of his difficulties in this neighborhood.

At length, as the inhabitants became numerous at the village on the river, in 1840, they voted to have the town meetings in the village, and in 1841, voted to build a town Hall, which was completed in 1843. From this time the old meeting house, or old Town House ceased to be used for public purposes, and in 1853 it was sold at public auction to Messrs. Wilson & Cheney, stablers on Concord street, and was removed by them some few rods from its former site, and is now used as a block of dwellings.