Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS039 |
Title |
South Church records, 1714-1976 |
Scope & Content |
In 1713 the Congregational Church in Portsmouth split into two parishes, the North and South. The South Parish remained in the original church building, The Old South Meeting House, while the North Church built a new building in what is now Market Square. Those that remained at the South Church adopted a new charter and over the century evolved a more liberal theology. The separation of the North and South parishes resulted in a controversy over town taxes as well as theological differences. The former was solved in 1716 when each church began to raise its own funds, while evidence of the later is still seen in the records of the nineteenth century. This collection consists of records of the South Church following the split in 1713. Therefore for the earliest records of members of this congregation, the early records of the North Church should also be consulted. The earliest records in this collection include records of the ordination of John Emerson, the Parish’s first settled minister. Early records include vital records and pew or membership records, meeting records, church expenses including maintenance of the building and ultimately the construction of the new church building in 1826. There are extensive records of the South Church Sabbath School, established in 1818 and the South Church Charity Fund, established in 1819. Materials belonging to individual pastors are fairly limited and include sporadic correspondence and published sermons. A large section of this collection includes the records of Portsmouth’s Universalist Church. Although the first seeds for the Universalist Church were planted in 1773, the majority of the records in this collection begin when the church was under the leadership of Hosea Ballou, who came to Portsmouth in 1809. In 1945 the Universalist Church in Portsmouth merged with the Unitarian South Church. Twentieth century records are limited primarily to financial records and records of Societies and Clubs. Series List I. Early Records II. Vital Records III. Financial and Church Meetings A. Bound Volumes B. Bills and Receipts C. Meeting and Warden’s Reports IV. Ministers A. Samuel Haven B. Timothy Alden C. Nathan Parker D. Andrew Peabody E. James DeNormandie F. Alfred Gooding G. William Safford Jones H. John H. McPhee V. Pew and Membership VI. Charity Fund, Special Funds and Investments VII. Societies and Clubs A. Ladies Domestic Missionary Society B. Unitarian’s Layman’s League C. Alliance of Unitarian Women D. Dorcas Society E. Young People’s Group F. Unity Group VIII. Sabbath School A. General B. Building Purchase and Construction C. Correspondence D. Financial E. Students F. Miscellaneous IX. Universalist Church A. Ministers and correspondence B. Pews and Membership C. Financial D. Financial E. Meetings F. Miscellaneous X. Miscellaneous A. Printed Material B. Correspondence C. General Church History D. Miscellaneous E. 20th Century Miscellaneous Additions I. Early Records This series includes records for the South Church beginning with the division of the Portsmouth Parish into the North and South. The records include meeting minutes, requirements for membership, and baptism records. Box 1 Folder 1 Tax list 1714-1716 List of individuals and the amount of tax they were assessed for the years 1714-1716 Folder 2 Record Book, 1713-1768 [Book 1] "The Records of the South Church of Christ in Portsmouth. Vol. 1" Book begins with a confession of faith, "We believe God’s word or those holy scriptures to be adequate object and only ground of our faith as well as the Rule of Faith & Manners and therefore we believe in all things according to them…" Statement is followed by a list of beliefs (concerning communion, baptism, etc.) and bylaws of the congregation. The following names appear after the bylaws: Thomas Cotton, Samuel Banfield, Solomon Cotton, John Hooker, Samuel Waterhouse, Ephraim Johnson, Sampson Babb, John Sherburne, Benjamin Maxwell, James Sherburne, William Cotton, Richard Waterhouse, James Leavitt, John Vrin, and Roger Swain. Descriptions of church meetings, bylaws, etc. are found in the volume amongst records of baptism, marriage, communion and death. Vital records have been transcribed in a volume located in the Portsmouth Athenaeum research library. The first half of the book is a chronological record of each pastor’s term. The rear of the book includes meeting minutes beginning in 1749 and continuing through 1766. *See Vital Records for transcription of vital records found in this volume 1714/15 March 23 Description of the ordination of John Emerson Statement refers to the South Church as "The Church belonging to the Old Meeting house in Portsmouth." The reverends Christopher Toppan, Caleb Cushing, and Theophilus Cotton were present along with the congregation. 1732 Feb. 21 Announcement concerning the calling of William Shurtleff to replace John Emerson as minister. 1745 August 10 Vote concerning the suspension of Abigail Lobic[?] on account of her being convicted of stealing "several things" followed by a long discussion concerning the ordination of Joseph Adams in Startham, appears to be disagreement about church issues and voting 1749 June 28 Announcement concerning the replacement of William Shurtleff with a new pastor, Job Strong 1751 September Death of Rev. Job Strong, followed by the installation of Samuel Haven in 1752 1749 December 17 [rear of book] Vote concerning church issues: "Voted that no person guilty of publick scandal shall be admitted to any church Privileges before publick satisfaction has been made. "That infants born of fornication shall be denied Baptism until both or one of the Parents make publick acknowledgement of their sin; except in a case of Dangerous sickness. The minister may administer baptism to a sick child, upon a Parent’s solemnly promising before a Number of Brethren of the Church that they will make publick satisfaction according to X4 appointment as soon as possible." 1751 June 20 Discussion concerning a donation made by Capt. George Walker 1751 August 9 Final vote of meeting authorized the purchase of a book for the purpose of keeping a record of the church 1753 July 5 Outcome of vote including that the Bible be read at every Sunday service; Richard Shortridge, James Clarkson, James Sherburne, Daniel Jackson, and Mark Langdon were discussed in respect the serving as deacons of the church 1753 August 13 Additional discussion about the gentlemen listed above serving as deacons 1753 August 31 Continued discussion concerning deacon positions; committee appointed to create list of members (list found in rear of book) 1753 November 22 List of members was read allowed including the "excuses" made by some for long absence from church meetings, a later meeting deemed some of the excuses acceptable and others insufficient ca. 1755 List of members is followed by discussion of church laws including public confession of sin, church leadership 1757 October 18 Discussion of a letter sent by John Eliot, Abram Eliot, Perkins Ayers and "a number of women" 1759 May Letter sent to the church by Stephen Parker regarding Parker’s charge with "having attempted to offer violence to Mr. Leach." Folder 3 Record Book, 1769-1795 [Book 6] Volume begins with a list of members in 1769. This is followed by records of church meetings. The book is divided into two sections, the first consists of membership lists and meeting minutes and the second of baptismal, marriage and funeral records. The contents of the second section has been thoroughly transcribed in volumes located in the reading room. The first section consists of meeting records include selection of deacons, members being voted in, discipline of members, church belief and doctrine concerning baptism, forgiveness of sin, etc., new members (list at the beginning and them added in notes for each year as they are admitted). 1774 March "The Church were acquainted with some reports which reflected dishonor on the Christian character of Abigail Bass…" 1790 September Samuel Haven lists principles of church beliefs concerning sins amongst the members, forgiveness, baptism, etc. 1809 July Nathan Parker called to be pastor includes his statement of belief 1810-1821 Meeting minutes and membership information (see index) Folder 4 Record Book, 1749-1833 [Book 4] Pasted on the first page is a deed for land purchased by the South Parish from Jeremiah Wheelwright at Pickering’s Neck (possibly the burying ground on Pleasant Street). Book includes calls to meeting, financial records including income and expenses (paying sexton, purchasing supplies for repairs to the church building, bell rope (1754), etc.), and meeting minutes. The minutes occasionally shed light on projects and individuals within the church leadership, however most entries concerning approving routine expenses, choosing a moderator, choosing Wardens, and pew regulations and taxes. In the early 1800s expenses for the singing school and the Sabbath school begin. 1749 Expenses for the ordination of Rev. Job Strong 1751 Regarding the funeral of the parish minister Job Strong including mourning clothes for his widow, money for his widow, digging the grave, a pair of gloves for Madam Shurtleff, etc. 1752 Calling Samuel Haven to be minister 1760 Committee for building and steeple repair report presented 1767 Improvements to the building, pews, and pulpit 1799 Vote concerning settling Timothy Alden as junior pastor along side Samuel Haven 1805 Transcribed letter from Tomothy Alden concerning resignation. Alden discusses his positions as school teacher and minister. He discusses the financial challenges of living in Portsmouth and his desire to have only one position of employment, rather than the two he currently had. Letter is followed by a request from the Wardens for the salary needed by Alden. Alden replies with his needs and the Wardens vote that because of the "present state of the Parish" they will have to "dissolve the ties which at present unite us to our Pastor." 1807 Announcement that the members of the Episcopal Church in Portsmouth be invited to worship at the South Church, following the destruction of the church by fire 1808 Calling Nathan Parker to be minister after having been "for a long time…destitute of a settled pastor." 1817 Parish contributed funds to help the town pave the section of road from Water Street to Pleasant Street 1823 Discussion begins about the construction of a new meeting house including the type of materials to be used, "The meeting house shall be of brick or stone and significantly large at the least to accommodate all the present members of the Parish…" At this point a site had not been chosen 1825 Completion and dedication of the new meeting house 1827 The Third Independent Congregational Society on Pitt Street gave the South Church all of its property in exchange for the South Church’s old meeting house, the Society to keep their bell however 1827 The South Church held the town responsible for the bell being broken, the town was investigating the cost of repair 1828 The South Church denies a request by the North Church to purchase the old South Meeting House (Marcy Street) 1828 Voted to sell the parsonage land "on the South Road adjoining the Cotton’s burying ground, containing about 15 acres." Proceeds of the sale were to be used to pay off parish debt 1830 Committee formed to look into purchasing a bell without needing to impose a tax on the parish 1830 Voted to sell land in Rochester donated by the late Joseph Haven 1830 Payment for Washington Sweetser directing singing at the church 1831 Payment to W. Ladd for lamps, selling the old bell to pay for a new one, and exterior blinds for the eastern windows 1832 Committee appointed to examine "selling the old meeting house, or of taking it down and selling the materials; and that they consult with those persons who are interested in the Tombs under said house…" 1833 Discussion of hiring an assistant pastor due to apparent failing health of Nathan Parker II. Vital Record See also Annual Meeting Records 1808-1887 (Bound Volume) which contains a record of members and baptisms from 1758 to 1945 (not complete). Transcriptions of Vital Records can also be found in the Reference Room stacks at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Box 2 Folder 1 Vital Records, 1714-1895 [Typed transcription, bound volume] [Book 2] Typed compilation of all vital records found in church record books. Organized alphabetically according the minister. Includes baptism, marriage and death information as well as communion (membership) for earlier years. The amount of details provided for entries varies, some list cause of death and names of parents. Folder 2 Vital Records, 1714-1920 [Excerpt from Journal of the New England Historic Genealogical Society] (2 copies) Information is the same as the volume above, appears to have been excerpted from several volumes of the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s journal. Folder 3 List of Marriages and Funerals performed by Rev. Andrew Peabody 1833-1860 Handwritten manuscript including name and birthplace of bride and groom Folder 4 Vital Records, 1884-1921 [Typed transcription] "A List of Baptisms, Marriages, and Funerals conducted by Rev. Alfred Gooding during his Ministry over the South Parish, Portsmouth, N.H. from Oct. 15 1884 to Dec. 31 1921." Folder 5 Marriages and Baptisms performed by the Reverend William Safford Jones 1922-1945 Folder 6 Vital Records, 1947-1963 Marriages, funerals and christenings performed by William W. Simes. Entries include details about birthplace of individual, occupation, current residence, and age for marriages; name of individual, birthplace, age, and cause of death for funerals; name of individual, birth date and names of parents for baptisms. III. Financial and Meetings This category includes materials and records kept by the Wardens of the church. Some materials in this section overlap with other sections. For example reports made by the Charity Fund to the Wardens are found in this section. Most loose materials in this collection were found groups in packets. These packets were left intact in folders. For this reason there are correspondence related to church businesses mixed in with financial information. Bound Notebooks A. Bound Volumes Box 3 Folder 1 1753-1758 Collections and Disbursements Small bound volume titled "Account Book for the South Church in Portsmouth" possibly kept by Daniel Jackson (name on front cover). Book contains records of collections and expenses. Expenses include wine, bread, and payment to "Mr. Jackson" (possibly the church sexton). Below are entries for items other than the usual: 1753 a gift from Gideon Walker made on his behalf by Henry Sherburne in the amount of 100 pounds 1754 "bad money returned" The rear of the booklet contains a list of individuals that received support from the church including: Widow Pittman, Widow Divas, Widow Horkrin, Widow Mehitable Sentor, Sarah Widow Mary Daniel, Widow Susannah Meeds, Widow Hardison, Stephen Noble, Widow Mary Cotton, Deacon Langdon, Simon Livret, Hannah Duly (or Hannah Dule or Hannah Duley), Widow Sarah Tucker, "Old Mr. Dow," Ann Webber, Widow Mary Long, Widow Sarah Pittman, Widow Elizabeth Fernald, Solome Wood, Mrs. Elizabeth Emerson, Widow Roe, Sarah Priest, Widow Mary Hall, Widow Abigail Henderson, George Jackson, and Widow Sarah Crockett. Folder 2 1756 Collections and Disbursements 1756 Note: "At a Meeting of the South Church of Christ in Portsmouth voted that Ten Pounds old Tenr of the Charity Money in the Hand of the Deacons be laid out in practical Books for the use of the Poor of the Parish." Signed Samuel Haven, Moderator 1756 list of individuals receiving support from the church (individuals listed in above entry) Folder 3 1757-1773 Collections and Disbursements Tall bound booklet containing records of income and expenditures. Expenses include bread, wine, and funds for the "poor." Entries of interest include: 1760 note concerning a special collection for "the Inhabitants of Boston whom suffered by the Late fire." The collection of 568 pounds was delivered to the Treasury in Portsmouth to be sent to the victims of the Boston Fire of 1760. 1759 Gift of one hundred pounds from George Walker Individuals that received support from the church include: Widow Drout, Mrs. Dockham, Widow Liveritt, Deacon Langdon, Widow Mary Tucker, Francis Garmon, Widow Crockett, Widow Sarah Noris, Widow Sarah Priest, Widow Sarah Long, Mrs. Seavey wife of Noah Seavey, Widow Sweret, Margery Anderus, Widow Elizabeth Wilkinson, Hannah Palmer, Elizabeth Emerson, Widow Hannah Hull, Solome Wood, Abigail Henderson, Widow Sarah Harris, Widow Quick, Mrs. Damerel wife of John Damerel, Mrs. Tarlton, Widow Abigail Adams, Widow Mary Adams, Sarah Finney, Widow Melcher, Thomas Beck, Katrine Lang, Elizabeth Barnes, Margery Walker, Esther Melcher, Mary Gail, Ann Yeaton, Joanna Jackson, and Sarah Seward. Folder 4 1757 Collections and Disbursements 1757 list of individuals receiving support from the church (individuals listed in above entry) Folder 5 1774-1781 Collections and Disbursements 1774 Fragment with calculations "Church Account 1774 April" 1775 Letter from Rachel Shores to Deacon John Marshall: "I have sent to see if there was any Collection yesterday for the poor as usual as I stand in great need and if there is any for the poor that you please to send me a little and you will much oblige you Humble Servant." 1775 July 9 Record of contributions primarily "Stranger Contributions" three individually listed: David Call, David Griffith, and Nathaniel Furbur. 1775 Small bound booklet with minimal writing. One entry records funds given to "Mrs. Holmes for her use of her Ancient Mother." 1775-1779 Record of expenditures primarily wine and bread, also income from the estate of Daniel Jackson and money given to the Widow Seavey. 1781 Expenditures including wine and bread and contributions including money from the estate of John Marshall Folder 6 1775-1782 Disbursements Lists of poor receiving funds from the church Folder 7 1753-1784 Undated Fragments Two lists addressed to "To Deacon John Marshall" including the names of individuals receiving support from the church. Folder 8 1784-1827 Collections and Disbursements Bound volume containing a record of "Collections and Disbursements" for the South Church. Expenses are most often for communion (wine and bread). Income is listed as cash amounts and the date. Beginning in 1806 there are entries of money being given out to individuals including widows, names listed include: Mr. Bowler, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Jackson, Tilly Clarkson, Widow Colson, Widow W. Lord, Widow Ham, Widow Snell, Widow Holmes, Widow Palmer, Widow Sewell, Widow Ann Evens, Widow Walls, Widow Batson, Mrs. Wendell, Widow Leighton, Widow Cotter, Thomas Prowess, Widow Bowler, Mrs. Chandler, William Blunt, Widow Muchemore, Widow Blunt, Sarah Ayers, and the wife of Amos Beck. The first page of the volume contains several records of christening including: 1806 Mrs. Beck’s [?sp] child Mary Hunter (father at sea) christened by Mr. Lowel 1806 Capt. Henry Tredick’s child Ann Tredick christened by Mr. Litchfield 1807 Capt. Luke M. Leighton’s child Alexander Leighton christen by Mr. Mittemore 1808 Joshua Jones had two children baptized Linnerd Jones and Joshua Jones by Mr. Chandler 1808 Capt. Henry Tredick’s child William Tredick by Mr. Chandler Folder 9 1796-1827 Fast and Thanksgiving Collections Individual sheets were bound in paper with title on paper: "Fast and Thanksgiving Collections South Parish from 1796 to 1827." Each entry begins with the amount collected followed by the "Poor" that received a portion of the offering. Names are divided into two columns, one being "those of the church" who received slightly more. Names for 1796 include: the Widows Leaverit, McCoy, Lewis, Casey, Weels, Seawards, Pitman, Huntress, Haslet, Chandler, Muchemore, Prowess, Jackson, Cotter, Bowler, Sentor, Woods, Hutchins, the wife of James Holmes, Temperance Hurley, John Beck, and the wife of John Williams. Folder 10 1826-1845 Account Book (Bound Volume) Folder 11 1826-1845 Account Book (Bound Volume) Account book and corresponding daybook recording expense amounts and the names of individuals receiving money from the church and donating to the church. Folder 12 1842-1859 Cashbook (Bound Volume) Account book with record of income and expenses, including lists of member names and the amount of pew tax paid by each member. Folder 13 1859-1909 Treasurer’s Book (Bound Volume) Account book with record of income and expenses, including lists of member names and the amount of pew tax paid by each member. Expenses include individuals paid for singing, minister’s salary, etc. Folder 14 1859-1862 Account book with John Sise (Bound Volume) Box 4 Folder 1 1845-1894 Cashbook (Bound Volume) Cashbook containing summary of expenses and outstanding debts owed to the church. Includes collection of taxes and expenses related to building maintenance, pastor’s salary, etc. Folder 2 1845-1878 Daybook (Bound Volume) Daybook containing daily expenses and income of the church. Folder 3 1879-1892 Account Book (Bound Volume) Book listing income and expenses for various funds, salaries, etc. (few records in book, most is blank) Box 5 Folder 1 1910-1944 Cashbook (Bound Volume) Contains records of various fund balances and cash on hand for church, societies and clubs. Folder 2 1917-1946 Receipts and Expenditures (Bound Volume) Folder 3 1950-1954 Income and Expenses (Bound Volume) Folder 4 1952-1954 Record of Donations Record of members, member address and amount donated. B. Bills and Receipts Many receipts deal with improvements to the building as well as general maintenance and operation such as heating (wood), lighting (oil and the Portsmouth Gas Light Company), cleaning furnace (1854), hemming blinds (1854), painting walls (1854), shoveling snow, building fires in the Sunday School, etc. The receipts show the building of a new stage and other remodeling including new curtains in 1854. Some years such as 1854 have considerably more receipts than others. Note that the list below does not include a description all receipts, rather descriptions for several years to provide an idea of what materials are present in later years as well. Receipts were kept in original order (not chronological) as found in small packets for each year, this kept similar receipts or multiple receipts for the same project in order. Some bills were written in one year and then paid several years later, they are filed by when they were paid (original organization). In the second half of the nineteenth century the format of record keeping changes to summary sheets called Warden’s Reports. These reports were left in the order in which they were received with notes accompanying the reports. Folder 5 1796, 1800, 1844, 1846 Bills and Receipts Folder 6 1852 Bills and Receipts Folder 7 1853 Bills and Receipts 1853 Apr 30 Tax assessed to heirs of S. Pray 1853 Sept 1 Loan with the Piscataqua Exchange Bank for proposed alterations in heating, lighting and ventilating Folder 8 1854 Bills and Receipts 1854 Services performed by Ebenezer Wyatt as church sexton including maintenance of building, building fires, etc. 1854 April Leonard Cotton for wood 1854 May 24 Ebenezer Wyatt church sexton cleaning windows 1854 May 24 Barker Adams for lumber 1854 May 31 John Knowlton for hemming blinds 1854 May – June various individuals for work on the church: John Rand, Andrew Anderson, Charles Anderson, Wiley Coleman, and Nathaniel Hanscom 1854 June 7 J. H. Bailey for hardware (nails and screws) 1854 July 3 Insurance receipt 1854 July – Sept. Portsmouth Gas Light Company 1854 Aug 1-7 Lewis A Bruce for painting blinds 1854 Aug 15 William R. Preston "toward appropriation for music" 1854 Aug 30 Payment of interest on note held by Richard Jenness 1854-1855 Record of Disbursements including pastor’s salary, insurance, repairs and upkeep of church (repairing blinds), fuel, and music. Folder 9 1855 Bills and Receipts 1855 April 16 Receipt from the Portsmouth Athenaeum for Proprietor shar assessment 1855-6 Disbursements, list of individuals and merchants paid, including $7 for the church’s Athenaeum assessment, sexton’s salary, pastor’s salary and life insurance for the pastor 1855 December Leonard Cotton for cord wood 1855 December 24 insurance receipt from Aetna Insurance 1855 Invoice for winter snow custodial services performed by Ebenezer Wyatt, including clearing ice, shoveling snow, building fires, and applying granite chips to walkways. Folder 10 1856 Bills and Receipts 1856 November Leonard Cotton for cord wood 1856 Invoice from Charles E. Laighton for supplies including Shaker brooms 1856 Invoice for "incidentals" from James F. Shores including tuning and moving the organ at the South Parish Sunday School 1856 August 16 Invoice from E. G. Merrill for "work for lightning rod" 1856 September 17 to Phineas Drake for "Composition casting" 1856 August 26 H. N. Hooper for work on church bell (replacement?) 1856 July List of individuals paid for their "service in the choir of the South Church. Names include: Wingate N. Ilsley, Susan E. Miller, Mary E. B. Miller, Alice E. Laighton, and Charles W. Brown. 1856 October 31 List of individuals paid for being the choir. Names include: L. D. Bartlett, W. W. Ilsley, L. E. Miller, M. E. B. Miller, Alice E. Laighton, Thomas J. Goodwin Box 6 Folder 1 1857 Bills and Receipts 1857 October Repairing window sashes from William Tucker 1857 April to June Portsmouth Gas Light Company 1857 January Receipt from Samuel F. Cobb for repairs to organ 1857 May 24 Howard Fire Insurance Company receipt for policy 1857 November 15 Invoice from Benjamin F. Webster for construction of the South Parish Sabbath School Vestry, includes a detailed list of work completed, painting roof, outside blinds, gas fixtures, fencing, ventilation, furnace, etc. 1857 December 4 Invoice from Preston and Emerson for architectural plans and specifications for the new Sabbath School building. 1857 February 7 Expenses associated with moving items from the old vestry, including trucking the library, moving the organ, and "advertising Old Vestry" Folder 2 1858 Bills and Receipts Folder 3 1859 Bills and Receipts Folder 3b 1859-1860 Bills and Receipts related to the installation of gas pipes, etc. Folder 4 1860 Bills and Receipts Folder 5 1861 Bills and Receipts Folder 6 1862 Bills and Receipts Folder 7 1863 Bills and Receipts Folder 8 1864 Bills and Receipts Folder 9 1865 Bills and Receipts Folder 10 1866 Bills and Receipts Folder 11 1867 Bills and Receipts Folder 12 1868 Bills and Receipts Folder 13 1868 Bills and Receipts Anniversary Celebration Folder 14 1869 Bills and Receipts Folder 15 1870 Bills and Receipts Folder 16 1871 Bills and Receipts Folder 17 1872-1873 Bills and Receipts Folder 18 1873-1874 Bills and Receipts Folder 19 1874-1880 Bills and Receipts Folder 20 1891-1892 Bills and Receipts C. Meeting and Warden’s Reports This section begins with six bound volumes containing meeting records, minutes, votes, etc. The loose manuscript materials in the second half of this section were found bound in groups of papers containing correspondence regarding transfer of pew shares, notes to the wardens including suggestions regarding the upkeep of the church building, South Parish Charity Fund records and treasurer’s reports. It was decided to keep the loose manuscript materials in this section in their original order, as although in different forms, many of the materials relate to one another. Much of the Meeting and Warden’s materials include information about church maintenance and upkeep, clearing snow, exterior repairs, etc. Materials also include correspondence sent to the Wardens regarding burials, pew transfers, and general church building. Earlier meeting records (1820-1830) contain evidence of the social problems faced by the church, such as temperance. There are also several examples of individuals leaving the church during this time period due to differing theological views (1820-1830). Later records follow a more structured pattern of financial reports and general reports (Warden’s reports) as well as reports from the Charity Fund. Folder 1 Annual Meeting Records 1808-1887 (Bound Volume) Volume begins with the calling and voting in of Pastor Nathan Parker. In 1821 there is a report regarding committee findings that had set out to "investigate the causes which have led to the separation of the connexion which has so long subsisted between the North Church in this town, and this Church…" This discussion goes on for the first section of the volume, citing examples of interaction between the pastors of the two churches. The discussion continues at other times in the volume as well. In 1822 there is a Report by "The committee appointed by the brethren of the South Church to inquire into the causes which may have operated to prevent larger addition to their number…and whether any measures should be taken by the Church to promote a greater attention to religion and its ordinance…" The report goes on to outline probable causes for slowed church growth, as well as possible changes to encourage growth. The volume then continues with a pattern of meeting notices, committee and quarterly meeting reports, and votes. There are also notes about members transferring their membership to other churches and the method of collecting funs for the Charity Fund is discussed (1851). In 1887 there are several letters pasted in the pages the relate to the Thomas A. Adams Fund. The rear of the book contains a record of members and baptisms from 1758 to 1945. Folder 2 Annual Meeting Records 1833-1876 (Bound Volume) Includes notice of meeting, election of officers, votes, summary of parish financial state (debt, expenses and income), committee reports, and general church business. Folder 3 Meeting Records 1842-1871 (Bound Volume) A Record of the Proceedings of the Wardens of the South Church in Portsmouth, NH From May 1842 to April 1871. Includes meeting minutes, list of individuals present at meetings, votes taken at meetings, etc. Box 8 Folder 1 Meeting Records 1872-1926 (Bound Volume) Folder 2 Annual Meeting Records 1877-1947 (Bound Volume) Includes notice of meeting, election of officers, votes, summary of parish financial state (debt, expenses and income), committee reports, and general church business. Folder 3 Meeting Records 1927-1940 (Bound Volume) Wardens of the South Parish in Portsmouth, NH. Includes meeting minutes, list of individuals present at meetings, votes taken at meetings, etc. Box 9 Folder 1 Meeting Records 1811-1830 1811 Jacob Abbott regarding supplying the pulpit 1819 Announcement regarding invitation made to Nathan Parker to be pastor 1819 "An Address on the occasion of introducing John W. Foster to the Office of Deacon in the South Church, Portsmouth" 1820 Letter from Robert Smith and Anna Smith to have their membership transferred to the North Church due to ongoing "trials" (2 copies) 1821 Committee Report on the Theological Split with North Church outlines the ongoing tensions between the two churches. Report is signed by Nathaniel A. Haven, Edward Cutts, Samuel Cushman, Nathaniel A. Haven Jr. and John W. Foster (original and photocopy) * Folder 1b and 1c 1821 Certification that Robert and Anna Smith had been received by the North Church 1822 Vote that a record book be purchased by the church 1824 Report on the conduct of Althia Johnson in regards to her intemperance 1826 Amendment to Statement of Incorporation * Folder 1d 1826 Subscription list for support of the new church building (2 pages) 1826 Report of the state of religion in the church, especially amongst the youth 1828 Request for letters of dismissal from Martha Trundy, Mary Hooker, Elizabeth Yeaton, Sarah Yeaton and Mary Vaughan to join the "new Church styled the third Congregational Church Portsmouth" 1828 Negotiations to sell the old South Meeting House 1829 Vote to lend the Third Congregational Church a communion plate 1830 Letter to Miss Mercy Jackson regarding her dismissal and apparent theological differences from the South Church 1830 Bond of David Lowd 1830 Letters regarding the transfer of membership from North Church to South Church for Eliza Ann McClintock, Eliza Sweetser, and Elizabeth McClintock Letters discuss theological issues extensively Folder 2 Meeting Records 1831-1842 1831 Letter to Martha Walden regarding her request to transfer membership to the Pleasant Street Church 1833 Report for the quarterly meeting of the South Church regarding temperance 1833 Regarding the failing health of Nathaniel Parker 1833 Certification that Andrew P. Peabody’s membership at the University Church at Cambridge 1833 Ordination of Andrew P. Peabody 1833 Report requesting more frequent church meetings 1834 Report of the Seafaring population 1842 Report of the Committee for Repairs and Alterations to the church (2) 1842 Report and vote regarding repairs and alterations to the church, including construction of two galleries Folder 3 Warden’s Materials 1856-1860 1856-1857 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1857 Promissory note from the South Parish to the South Parish Sunday School (2) 1857-1858 Warden’s accounts statement 1858 Meeting minutes 1858 Report of the committee on raising money for alterations and repairs to the church 1858 Subscriptions for repairs and alterations to the building 1858-1859 Warden’s accounts statement 1858-1859 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1859-1869 Warden’s account statement 1859-1860 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1859 Balance Sheet 1859 Meeting notification 1859 Correspondence with William Sheafe regarding pew rental and uncollected taxes 1859 Report of the Committee of Pew Valuation 1860 Balance Sheet Folder 4 Warden’s Materials 1860-1864 1860-1861 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1861 Correspondence related to William Foote’s declining the position of pastor 1861 Balance Sheet 1861 Warden’s account statement 1861-1862 Warden’s account statement 1862 Request that the correspondence between the Wardens and James DeNormandie be read to the congregation 1862-1863 Warden’s account statement 1862-1863 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1863-1864 Warden’s account statement 1863-1864 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1863-1864 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1864 Salter Tredick declining position as Warden 1864 A. J. Penhallow declining position as Warden 1864 Notice of annual meeting Folder 5 Warden’s Materials 1864-1865 1864-1865 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1865 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1864-1865 Report of Treasurer William H. Rollins Folder 6 Warden’s Materials 1865-1866 1865-1866 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1866 Charity Fun Report to the Wardens 1866 ca. List of temporary ministers to "Supply" pulpit and wages paid, as well as a list of paid musicians 1865-1866 Warden’s account statement 1866 American Unitarian Association fund raising Folder 7 Warden’s Materials 1866-1867 1866-1867 Warden’s Report with brief financial statement 1867 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1867 List of paid musicians, fuel and light expenses and incidental expenses 1867 Warden’s account statement 1867 ca. Request for leave of absence from Rev. DeNormandie to complete studies in Europe, as requested in 1862 1866 Request from the Warden’s that DeNormandie supply the pulpit while he is gone Folder 8 Warden’s Materials 1868-1870 1868-1870 Warden’s Report 1870 Warden’s Report 1869-1870 Treasurer’s Report 1869 Richard Jenness correspondence regarding payment of pew fees and separation from the church 1868-1869 Schedule of Expenses 1870 James DeNormandie (minister) correspondence regarding the formation of a music committee 1869-1870 Schedule of Expenses 1869 South Parish Charity Funds trustees report 1870 South Parish Charity Funds trustees report 1870 Benjamin W. Curtis correspondence regarding leaving the church 1870 Receipts for contribution to the American Unitarian Association 1870 Eliza M. Trundy letter regarding her husband’s bequest of his house on Deer Street, asking that she be permitted to continuing living in the house 1867-1870 Joseph H. Clark correspondence regarding dispute over payment for a pew 1868 H. J. Baldwin letter regarding pew taxes Folder 9 Warden’s Materials 1871-1872 1871 Warden’s Report 1871 Warden’s account statement 1871 Schedule of Expenses 1871 South Church Charity Funds trustees report 1872 South Church Charity Funds trustees report 1871 Treasurer’s Account 1872 E. S. Ryder letter regarding leaving the church 1872 John S. Harvey letter regarding selling "the pew I have been occupying" to settle the Brooks Estate 1872 James DeNormandie (minister) letter regarding "salary and taxes" 1872 Receipts for contribution to the American Unitarian Association 1872 Rush R. Shippen letter regarding contributions to the American Unitarian Association 1872 William H. Rollins letter regarding James DeNormandie and the Committee of Conference 1872 Report of the Committee of Conference 1872 Warden’s account statement 1872 Warden’s account statement Folder 10 Warden’s Materials 1873 1873 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1873 Receipt for dues paid to the American Unitarian Association 1873 Letter from Eliza M. Trundy announcing the death of her husband (3 letters) 1873 Letter from Edwin P. Davis regarding his address change in Michigan 1873 Letter from John Pray regarding transportation (railroad papers) for Mr. Chase and Miss Philbrick 1873 ca. Note regarding payment of taxes for Miss Rice 1873 Letter from Mrs. T. Jones regarding use of her pew 1873 Letter from Eliza M. Trundy 1873 Letter from Mary E. L. Pickering and Charles Pickering regarding a pew transfer 1873 Letter from Sarah H. Foster regarding planting trees around the church 1873 Letter from Eliza M. Trundy 1873 Letter from M.R. Lyman regarding pew tax 1873 Receipt for dues paid to the American Unitarian Association Folder 11 Warden’s Materials 1874 1874 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1874 Report regarding repairs needed to the interior of the church building 1874 Receipt for taxes paid on pew James F. Shores 1874 Request for payment of taxes by Mrs. Fitz 1874 Note regarding payment by Mrs. Fitz 1874 Receipt for taxes paid by the Misses Salter 1874 Copy of the will of Arabella Rice 1874 Alfred M. Hoyt giving up his pew for the year Folder 12 Warden’s Materials 1875 1875 Treasurer’s Report (with C. H. Rollins) 1875 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1875 Wardens account statement 1876 Treasurer’s Report (with C. H. Rollins) 1876 Wardens account statement 1877 Report from Rev. James DeNormandie regarding the need to decrease parish expenses and debt 1877 Summary of Parish expenses 1877 Warden’s Report 1877 Treasurer’s Report Folder 13 Warden’s Materials 1878-1881 1878 Warden’s Report 1878 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1878 Statement from Rev. James DeNormandie regarding the need for a new Hymn Book 1878 Petition to publish a series of lectures on the history of the South Church 1878 Note regarding the suit between Charles H. Sanborn and Thomas Chase Jr. 1878-1879 Treasurer’s Report 1879 Warden’s Report 1879 Resignation of Alfred W. Haven from his position as Trustee of the South Parish Charity Fund 1879 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1880 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1880 Treasurer’s Report 1880 Warden’s Report 1881 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1881 Treasurer’s Report 1881 Warden’s Report Folder 14 Warden’s Materials 1882-1883 1882-1883 Treasurer’s Report 1882 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1882 Treasurer’s Report 1882 Letter from Rev. James DeNormandie regarding proposed changes in taxation 1882 Warden’s Report 1882 Letter from James Rindge Stanwood regarding reproducing the centerpiece of the original South Church for the Old State House in Boston 1883 Resignation of James DeNormandie 1883 Call for a meeting regarding the payment of DeNormandie’s salary and the letter from James Rindge Stanwood 1883 Request to call a Parish meeting 1883 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1884 Statement of the Oliver W. Penhallow Fund 1884 Request to call a Parish meeting 1884 Charity Fund Report to the Wardens 1884 Acceptance of call to be pastor by Alfred Gooding 1884 Treasurer’s Report IV. Ministers Materials for individual ministers vary greatly, with some ministers having numerous items and others, none. Materials vary from sermons to correspondence. Materials in this section were found grouped by minister, order was retained rather than separating into categories of printed materials and correspondence. For additional printed sermons see also Printed Material. A. Samuel Haven Box 10 Folder 1 1792-1806 Correspondence 1792 April 20 Samuel Haven to Joseph Langdon regarding President Willard preaching in Portsmouth 1793 June 28 Samuel Haven to Joseph Langdon regarding pulpit exchange 1794 November 6 Samuel McClintock to Joseph Langdon regarding pulpit exchange 1797 February 6 Announcement from the church in Hampton regarding the settlement of Jesse Appleton as pastor 1804 April 24 Announcement of the death of a pastor 1808 March 6 Announcing the death of Samuel Haven Undated fragment from William Montagne to Nathaniel Adams Undated fragment Folder 2 1760 "Preaching Christ, The Great Business of the Gospel Ministries, A Sermon Delivered at the anniversary of Congregational Ministers at Portsmouth, in the Province of New Hampshire, September 30, 1760. By Samuel Haven, A.M. Pastor of the South Church in Portsmouth. Portsmouth, Printed and Sold by Daniel Fowle, 1760." [printed pamphlet] Folder 3 1798 "The Validity of Presbyterian Ordination, and the Importance of Candor and Union among Christians of different Persuasions, who agree in the Essentials of Christianity; Illustrated in a Discourse Delivered at the Dudleian Lecture of Harvard College, September 5, 1798. By Samuel Haven, D.D. Pastor of a Church in Portsmouth." [printed pamphlet photocopy] Folder 4 ca. 1806 "A Discourse Delivered in the South Church in Portsmouth, at the Internment of the Rev. Samuel Haven, D.D…and of this wife, Mrs. Margaret Haven…By Joseph Buckminster, D.D…Printed by W. & D. Treadwell, Portsmouth, N.H." [printed pamphlet] B. Timothy Alden Folder 5 1800 "My Grace is Sufficient for Thee." Copy (typed transcription) of a sermon delivered at the South Church in Portsmouth January 19, 1800. Folder 6 1804 "A Discourse, Delivered Before the Members of the Portsmouth Female Asylum…1804…By Timothy Alden, Junior, A.M…From the Press of J. Melcher, Portsmouth, N.H. 1804." [printed pamphlet] Folder 7 1805 "A Discourse Delivered at an Evening Lecture in the South Meetinghouse in Portsmouth, N.H. 31 July 1805…Portsmouth, N.H. Printed by William and Daniel Treadwell, 1805." On the resignation of Timothy Alden. [printed pamphlet] Folder 8 1808 "An Account of the Several Religious Societies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, From their first establishment, and the Ministers of each, to the First of January, 1805. By Timothy Alden, Jun…Boston: Printed by Muroe, Francis, & Parker…1808." [printed pamphlet] C. Nathan Parker Folder 9 1820 "An Address Delivered May 23, 1820, To the Teachers of the South Parish Sunday School. Portsmouth. By the Rev. Nathan Parker." [printed pamphlet] Folder 10 1826 Manuscript excerpt from a sermon preached by Nathan Parker on February 12, 1826, the day of the last service in the Old South Meeting House Folder 11 1826 Printed pamphlet – Nathan Parker’s dedication sermon for the new South Church building, 1826. [3 copies] Folder 12 1826 Printed pamphlet (photocopy) – Nathan Parker’s dedication sermon for the new South Church building, 1826. Folder 13 1833 Brief manuscript by Jacob Wendell about the Reverend Nathan Parker’s service to the South Church Folder 14 1833 Nov 11 — Gannett, Boston to John W. Foster, condolence on the death of Nathan Parker Folder 15 1833 ca. List of individuals that contributed to Nathan Parker’s memorial fund including the amount given D. Andrew Peabody Folder 16 Correspondence regarding the installation of Peabody, 1833 1833 Feb 21 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, declining invitation to substitute preach during illness of Dr. Parker, citing obligations to the church in Haverhill, Mass. and his college teaching position 1833 Mar 15 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, arrangements for substitution during the illness of Dr. Parker, who is recovering 1833 June 21 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, accepting position to "help Dr. Parker" during his illness, after the close of the college semester 1833 July 8 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, unable to give a definite answer about preaching in Portsmouth, Haverhill can no longer support him due to an "irruption of Universalists" taking away interest in the Unitarian church, he has been offered two other permanent positions in Fall River and Framingham, Mass. 1833 July 13 South Church to Andrew Peabody, stating that Peabody could potentially be offered a permanent position due to Parker’s continued falling health 1833 July 16 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, unsure about taking position offered in Portsmouth 1833 Aug 10 John W. Foster to Andrew Peabody, urging Peabody to come to Portsmouth to preach a few sermons 1833 Aug 14 Andrew Peabody to John W. Foster, uncertain about coming to Portsmouth based on small salary and the inability he would have to support his family 1833 Sept 20 South Church, notice regarding the installation service of Andrew Peabody including committee responsibilities and other area pastors to be invited 1833 Sept 26 South Church, invitation to the installation service for Andrew Peabody, lists pastors to be invited Folder 17 Published Sermons 1837-1848 1837 May 14 "Views on Duty Adapted to the Times," Portsmouth: J.W. Foster J.F. Shores and Son, 1837 [published pamphlet, 2 copies] 1841 Nov 25 "Reverence and Family Discipline…Preached at Portsmouth on The Day of the Annual Thanksgiving…" Portsmouth: J. W. Foster; J. F. Shores and Son, 1841 [printed pamphlet] 1843 Mar 2 "A Sermon on the End of the World" [printed pamphlet] 1848 Mar 12 "An Appeal to the Young," Portsmouth: J. W. Foster & Son, 1848 [printed pamphlet] Folder 18 Published Sermons 1852-1859 1852 Jan 18 "Two Sermons Preached on the Sunday Succeeding the Internment of John W. Foster" Portsmouth: James F. Shores, Jr., 1852 [printed pamphlet, 2 copies] 1854 June 11 "Reform and Reformers," Portsmouth: J. F. Shores, Jr., 1854 [printed pamphlet] 1857 Feb 15 "A Sermon Delivered at the Closing of the Sunday-School Room in Court Street, Prior to Its Removal to give a place to a new chapel," Portsmouth: J F. Shores & J. H. Foster Publishers, 1857 [printed pamphlet, 4 copies] 1858 Dec 25 "Sermons Connected with the Re-Opening of the Church of the South Parish," Portsmouth, James F. Shores, Jun., & Joseph H. Foster, 1859 [printed pamphlet] 1859 Dec 25 and 1860 Jan 15 "The Scripture Doctrine of Christ. Three Sermons Preached at Portsmouth, N.H.," Portsmouth: James F. Shores, Jun., & Joseph H. Foster, 1860 [printed pamphlet] Folder 19 Published Sermons 1883-1888 1883 Nov 4 "The Teil-Tree and the Oak. A Sermon Preached at the South Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at the Close of the Fiftieth Year from his ordination as its minister," Cambridge: John Wilson and Son. 1883 [printed pamphlet, 2 copies] 1888 June 25 "An Address on the Seventieth Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire," Portsmouth: Journal Steam Printing Establishment, 1888 [printed pamphlet, 2 copies] Folder 20 1860 Notice and correspondence regarding the resignation of Peabody Manuscript Sermons Folder 21 1834-1840 Sermons Folder 22 1841-1845 Sermons Folder 23 1846-1855 Sermons Folder 24 1857-1858 Sermons Folder 25 1871-1875 Sermons Box 11 Folder 1 1876-1879 Sermons Folder 2 1880 Sermons Folder 3 1881 Sermons Folder 4 1882 Sermons Folder 5 1883-1884 Sermons Folder 6 1885-1886 Sermons Folder 7 Sermon fragments E. James deNormandie Folder 8 Ordination materials "Services at the Ordination of Mr. James deNormandie in Portsmouth, N.H., October 1, 1862. Sermon by Ezra S. Gannett, Pastor of the Arlington Street Church, Boston." Boston: Walker, Wise, and Company. Portsmouth: Jas. F. Shores and Jos. Hiller Foster. 1862. [printed pamphlet 2 copies] Order of Exercises at the Ordination of Mr. James DeNormandie Portsmouth, N.H. Oct. 1, 1862. Folder 9 Ordination correspondence and notes Note regarding the publication of DeNormandie’s ordination service, notes from various ministers and individuals regarding their part in the ordination including Edward C. Guild, Andrew Peabody, George E. Ellis, Charles Lowe, William H. Rollins, S. K. Lothrup, C. G. DeNormandie, Charles Burroughs, Mrs. Haley, E. E. Hale, George W. Briggs, and Samuel Lord. Folder 10 Published Sermons "A Discourse Delivered on the Occasion of the National and State Thanksgiving, November 21, 1864. By James DeNormandie" Portsmouth: C.W. Brewster and Son, 1864. [printed pamphlet] "The Bright Side of the Grave. A Sermon Preached on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1868, by James DeNormandie, Minister of the South Parish, Portsmouth, N.H." Portsmouth: C.W. Brewster and Son, 1868. [printed pamphlet] "Address by James DeNormandie, at the opening of Miss A. C. Morgan’s School For Young Ladies, At Portsmouth, N.H., Sept. 24, 1874." "Bread for Nought, and the Sin of Extravagance, Two Sermons Preached at the Vesper Service, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, 1875." Portsmouth: Lewis W. Brewster, 1875 [printed pamphlet] "Fifty Years in the Ministry, A Sermon Preached October 6, 1912 By James DeNormandie Minister of the First Church (Roxbury), Boston" Boston: Press of Geo. H. Ellis Co., 1912. [3 copies, printed pamphlet] Folder 11 Published Sermons 1877 Drawing the Line Between the Accepted and the Rejected. 1877 [2 copies] Everlasting Punishment. 1877 [2 copies] What it is to be Damned. 1877 [2 copies] What it is to be Saved. 1877 [7 copies] Folder 12 Unpublished Sermons Reflections of the Civil War 1865 Folder 13 Baptisms and Marriages performed by DeNormandie 1862-1883 Folder 14 Other Materials "Peace – Not War. A Sermon Preached in the Federal Street Meetinghouse, December 14, 1845. By Ezra S. Gannett." Boston: Joseph Dow, 1845. [printed pamphlet] Report of the Second Meeting of the National Conference of Unitarian and Other Churches, Held in Syracuse, N.Y. October 10-11, 1866. Boston: Alfred Mudge and Son, 1866. F. Alfred Gooding Folder 15 Published Pamphlet The Theological History of an Old Parish by its Minister, Rev. Alfred Gooding, South Parish, Portsmouth, NH. Boston: George H. Ellia, 1901. [printed pamphlet] G. William Safford Jones Folder16 Annual Reports of the Minister 1925-1926, 1926-1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1943-1944, 1945 Folder 17 Published Sermons "The Waters that Issue out of the Sanctuary. A Sermon Preached by the Reverend William Safford Jones in the Channing Memorial Church Newport, Rhode Island August 3rd, 1913." "The Valor of Righteousness, A Tribute to a Great American Theodore Roosevelt. A Sermon Preached by the Reverend William Safford Jones in the Channing Memorial Church, Newport, Rhode Island at a Service of Commemoration January 12, 1919." Folder 18 Published Pamphlets "The View from Above." A Newcomen Address, 1948 "Colonial Backgrounds of the Piscataqua Region." A Newcomen Address, 1944 Folder 19 Unpublished Sermons "In the House of Rimmon" A Sermon Preached in the Temple of Israel, Portsmouth, NH December 2, 1951. H. John S. McPhee Box 12 Folder 1 Notebook Materials removed from a notebook including several sheets of music, sermons, lists of members of the South Church, marriages, dedications and funerals, miscellaneous printed pamphlets for events. Folder 2 Funeral Notebook Scrapbook containing death records and clippings of obituaries for while McPhee was minister. Folder 3 Funeral Notebook Photocopies and Obituary clippings Folder 4 Church Planning materials including correspondence regarding changes to the bylaws, history of the church, and meetings. V. Pews and Membership This section contains materials related to individual members of the church. In the early years of the church the primary record of these individuals is in the form of pew tax assessments. In later years there are membership transfers. In the twentieth century records of donations can also be found in the Financial section. This section begins with bound volumes of tax lists, sometimes for a long span of years and sometimes for individual years. This is followed by some small pew maps and individual pew deeds, which have been indexed. Pew deeds date from 1820 to 1880 with the majority being from the 1850s and 1860s. See also pew maps in Oversize. Box 13 Folder 1 1755-1777 Tax Rates (Bound Volume) Lists of individual members of the South Church and the rate at which they are taxed for their pew. There are periodic notes about collecting taxes. Folder 2 ca. 1790-1821 Tax Rates (Bound Volume) ***In phase box separate from Box 13*** Includes church income in the form of taxes paid by members, the end of the volume also appears to contain some general financial information with income and expenses. Oversize 1791-1830 Church Register Includes a list of members, when they joined and when they died or left the church for another Folder 3a ca. 1791-1840 Membership List and Covenant Book Folder 3b 1821-1831 Tax Rates (Bound Volume) Includes a list of individuals and the amount of their assessment. Folder 4 1828-1855 Tax Lists (Bound Volume) Includes a list of individuals and the amount of their assessment. Folder 5 1856 Tax List Box 14 Folder 1 1857 Census and Tax List Folder 2 1859 South Parish Tax List with Pew Map Folder 3 1860-1873 Tax Lists (Bound Volume) List of individuals and the amount of their assessment. Folder 4 1866-1875 Tax Collection Book (Bound Volume) Folder 5 1874-1892 Tax Lists Box 15 Folder 1 1891-1910 Tax List (Bound Volume) Includes a list of individuals, number of pew and amount of tax collected. Folder 2 1911-1945 Tax List (Bound Volume) Folder 3 1826-1858 "Stone Church of the South Parish Portsmouth" Pew Share Certificate Book Contains printed form share certificates for pews at the South Church along with a pew map pasted in the front with "original proprietors" noted. There is a summary of all the pew share certificates in the front. Individuals appearing in this volume are included in the index of Pew Owners in the Appendix. The volume begins with the original 1826 proprietors of the new church building and on the reverse of each share is information about who the share was signed over to at a later date. See also Oversize Folder 2 Pew Owners ca. 1820. Box 16 Folder 1 ca. 1830 Pew Plans Folder 2 Pew Maps Ca. 1731-1826 Hand drawn plan of the pews at the South Church. On rear in pen: "Old South Meeting House 1731-1826" Ca. 1826 Three copies of a printed plan of the new church building pews with numbers, cost and one with individual owners labeled Folder 3 Sales 1826 List of individuals purchasing pews in 1826, the final year of construction of the present church building on State Street. Includes the following individuals: Stevens, William McClintock, John Ladd, Alexander Jones, William Haven, Nathaniel A. Jr. Haven, Nathaniel A. Haven, John Haven, Thomas Ball, John Salter, Titus Sheafe, Thomas Thompson, E. Shackford, Capt. Trundy, M. B. Treadwell, Mrs. Parsons and Coues Hale, Samuel Jr. Wendell, Jacob Jones, William Haven, William Sheafe, Thomas Cushing, Charles Foye, S. Edmonds, Benjamin Sheafe, Thomas Coffin, Charles Haven, Joseph Bell, A. W. Appleton, Nathaniel W. Foster, J. W. Cushing, Charles (Little Harbor) Robinson, S. Jr. Haven, Nathaniel A. Haven, William Hale, Samuel Shores, S. F. Dennett, Nathaniel Jr. Salter, John Martin, William M. Cushman, Samuel Lord, Samuel Blunt, Oliver C. Haven, John Parker (Parish Doctor) Rundlett, James Sheafe, Thomas Merrill, Nathaniel W. Hackett and others Cheever, Charles A. Lord, Mrs. A. Simes, Stephen H. Bigelow, D. J. Haven, Washington Haven, Nathaniel A. Tucker, William Bartlett, Ichabod Haven, Nathaniel A. Salter, Henry Robinson, — Folder 4 Tax Receipt for E. F. Sise, pew tax paid in 1820 Folder 5 Tax Receipts for Samuel Langdon, pew tax paid in 1781, 1794, 1800, 1810 Folder 6 Pew Deeds A-C Adams, Samuel Adams, Samuel Annable, George Bailey, Thomas D. Barnebee, Elvira P. Bates, John A. Boardman, John H. Call, Thomas E. Chase, John Chase, William Cheever, Benjamin Clement, Zenas Clement, Zenas Coffin, Thomas S. Coffin, Thomas Sheafe Cotton, Leonard Cushing, Estate of Charles Cushing, Harriet A. Cushman, M. J. S. Folder 7 Pew Deeds D-F Davis, Lewis Delano, Benjamin Eldridge, Marcellus Fernald, A. R. H. Fernald, A. R. H. Foster, Joseph H. Foster, Joseph Hiller Foster, Joseph Hiller Foster, Mary A. Folder 8 Pew Deeds G-I Hackett, William H. Y. Hall, Samuel Haven, Alfred W. Haven, Charlotte M. Haven, Eliza A. Haven, Eliza W. Haven, George W. Haven, Sophia Haven, Sophia Hills, Mrs. E. W. Hoyt, Alfred M. Ilsley, Wingate N. Folder 9 Pew Deeds J-L Jones, Albert L. Jones, William P. Ladd, Alexander H. Laighton, Charles E. Laighton, W. J. Laighton, William Lambert, William Libbey, Daniel Libbey, Daniel Lord, Samuel Folder 10 Pew Deeds M-P Mason, Hartley W. Melcher, Dorothy Neil, Thomas Penhallow, Andrew J. Penhallow, Andrew J. Penhallow, Oliver W. Pickering, Abby Pickering, Charles G. Pickering, John K. Folder 11 Pew Deeds R-S Rice, Robert Ryder, Edward S. Salter, Charles H. Salter, Charlotte Salter, James A. Salter, John Salter, John S. Salter, Mary C. Shackford, William M. Shores, James F. Shores, James F. Shores, James F. Sise, Abby L. Sise, William H. South Parish South Parish South Parish South Parish South Parish South Parish Stover, George W. Folder 12 Pew Deeds T-Z Tarleton, James N. Tarlton, Thomas Thompson, Mrs. Jacob W. Tilton, E. S. C. Tredick, J. M. Upham, Joseph B. Walker, Nathaniel K. Weeks, J. H. Folder 13 Blank Pew Deeds Folder 14 Blank Tax Lists Folder 15 List of unpaid taxes due for 1862-1863 List of unpaid taxes due for 1863-1864 VI. Charity Fund, Special Funds and Investments This section consists of materials related to the South Church Charity Fund as well as other special memorial and church funds and investments properties in the western states. A. South Church Charity Fund The South Church Charity Fund was established in 1819. It’s funds would "consist of the surplus monthly collections and of such donations as may be made to the Trustees for that purpose." The funds were to be used to build an endowment as well as for immediate needs of the church’s poor, the Sunday School, the formation of a library, and the "promotion of Religious Charities." Many of the financial records included receipts for expenses paid for the church for maintenance on the building, maintenance of cemetery plots, taxes, etc. Note: Some of the receipts are addressed to the Charity Fund and some to the South Church, all were left in original organization which included a binding paper that was labeled: "South Parish Charity Fun Bills Paid." Presumably all of the bills were therefore paid by the Charity Fund for the Church. Processing note: Many of the materials below were bound in small packets with a label as to contents. These packets were left intact within folders with the original label. For this reason some of the materials may not be in strict categorical order as their original order was maintained. See also Warden’s Materials as the Charity Fund presented reports to the Church Wardens on an annual basis, many of these reports remain in the Warden’s materials. See also Manuscript Collection MS004. Box 17 Folder 1 Report of the Committee to form a Church Charity Fund 1819 Plan for the Charity Fund 1819 Report of the Committee regarding a burial ground 1819 Folder 2 Records of the Trustees of the South Church Charity Fund 1819-1835 (Bound Volume) The volume begins with materials related to the formation of the South Church Charity fund naming Rev. Nathan Parker, Joseph Haven, Thomas Sheafe, Edward Cutts, and N. A. Haven Jr. as trustees. It also includes the bylaws of the group, financial accounting information (donations and expenditures), and meeting minutes. In the rear of the book there is a list of cemetery plots and owners, titled "Record of Lots sold in the Proprietor’s Burying Ground." Folder 3 Record Book "Journal A South Church Charity Fund" 1826-1835 (Bound Volume) The first section of the book was sewn shut with string and was therefore not examined. Entries include daily expenses and donations to specific funds. It also records transactions related to the burial ground. Folder 4 Record Book Journal B 1836-1854 Records expenses and income of the Charity Fund including maintenance of the church building such as the clearing alley, maintaining the book collection in the library and providing for the poor and widows of the parish. Folder 5 Account Book 1842-1895 Folder 6 Account Book of Disbursements 1885-1923 Folder 7 Annual Financial Statements 1820-1836 Includes expenses for the year such as library costs and "tracts for Seamen," as well as income in the form of contributions or interest. In 1821 there is a list of ship captains, vessels and books distributed including: Capt. Appleton Ship Charlotte – 1 Bible, 1 Testament, 1 Psalm Book, 10 Tract Capt. Tibbetts Brig. Durham – 1 Bible, 1 Test., 6 Tracts – Clark’s Answer to ye Question why are you a Christian Capt. George Melcher his coaster – 1 Bible, 1 Tract Capt. Salter Ship Albert – 1 Bible, 1 Test., 1 Psalm Book, 7 Tracts, Price’s Sermon Capt. Blunt Brig Criterion – 1 Bible, 1 Test. 1 Psalm Book, 7 Tracts Capt. Kennard Ship Maria Tufton – 1 Bible, 1 Test., 1 Psalm Book, 10 Tracts – Bennett View – Thornton on Repentance Scougal’s Life of God in the soul of man Capt. Tullock Solomom Brilliant – 1 Bible, 1 Test, 8 Tracts Capt. Martin Brig Gustovers – 1 Bible, 1 Test, 1 Psalm Book, 7 Tracts Folder 8 Annual Financial Statements 1845-1847 For all below Annual Financial Statements, reports include details about banking and specific funs such as the Joseph Haven, Ann Treadwell Fund and the Robert Rice Fund. Note: Does not include all years for time span. Box 18 Folder 1 Annual Financial Statements 1848-1853 Folder 2 Annual Financial Statements 1854-1859 Folder 3 Annual Financial Statements 1860-1863 Folder 4 Annual Financial Statements 1864-1870 Folder 5 Annual Financial Statements 1871-1879 Folder 6 Annual Financial Statements 1888-1899 Folder 7 Annual Financial Statements 1900-1908 Folder 8 Receipts 1846-1848 Receipts are primarily for wood purchased, usually from Leonard Cotton, for various poor of the community. Earlier receipts include the names and specific amounts of wood provided to each individual on the list. Folder 9 Receipts 1849 Folder 10 Receipts 1850 Folder 11 Receipts 1851 Folder 11b Receipts 1852 Folder 12 Receipts 1853 Folder 13 Receipts 1854 Folder 14 Receipts 1855 Folder 15 Receipts 1856 Folder 16 Receipts 1857 Folder 17 Receipts 1858 Folder 18 Receipts 1859 Folder 18b Receipts 1860 Folder 19 Receipts 1861 Folder 20 Receipts 1862-1863 Folder 21 Receipts 1865-1867 Folder 22 Receipts 1870-1871 Folder 23 Receipts 1883 Folder 24 Receipts 1884 Folder 25 Receipts 1885 Folder 26 Receipts 1886 Folder 27 Receipts 1887 Folder 27b Receipts 1888 Folder 28 Receipts 1889-1891 Folder 29 Receipts 1892-1893 Folder 30 Receipts 1894-1895 Folder 31 Receipts 1896-1897 Folder 32 Receipts 1898-1899 Folder 33 Receipts 1900-1905 Folder 34 Receipts 1906-1908 Folder 35 Financial Correspondence 1847-1880 Correspondence regarding banking changes and financial issues of the Charity Fund. Folder 36 Financial Correspondence ca. 1880s Folder was bound with a label marked "South Parish Trust Letters Bills Paid." The packet was left intact in the folder. Included are correspondence about investments and funds, funeral expenses for N. J. Ham and other receipts. Folder 37 Communion Contribution Statement Two statements regarding a possible change in the method of raising funds amongst the congregation on communion Sundays for the South Parish Charity Fund Folder 38 Property and Legal Records Plot Plan for the Proprietors Burial Ground 1829 (OVERSIZED) Deeds for Proprietors Burial Ground Deed for cemetery plot of Abby W. Johnson Statement by Nath. A. Haven regarding the South Parish’s right to the Proprietor’s Burial Ground property, formerly town land, 1829 Act of Incorporation for the South Church Charity Fund, 1829 Statement by the Fence Viewer concerning property line for Parish Property, 1813 and 1829 Deed for land transfer from South Church to South Parish Charity Fund for the Proprietor’s Cemetery property, 1830 Folder 39 Proprietors Cemetery plot numbers and name of individual buried Box 19 Folder 1 Proprietors Cemetery Record Book 1819-1835 Record of names of plot owners and year purchased Folder 2 Misc. Loan from South Church Charity Fund to the South Church, 1853-1854 B. Special Funds Folder 3 Thomas Adams Fund Account Book 1901-1946 Folder 3b Thomas Adams Fund correspondence Folder 4 Symes Bequest 1821-1911 Folder 4b Symes Bequest and Ann Toppan Fund 1825-1890 Folder 5 Symes Bequest and Ann Toppan Fund 1911-1937 Folder 6 Organ Subscription Fund 1870 Folder 7 Joseph H. Foster Monument Folder 8 John W. Foster Memorial C. Investments and Property Records Folder 9 Nebraska Property 1887-1892 Folder 10 Nebraska Property 1887-1892 Folder 11 Missouri Property 1894-1896 Folder 12 Missouri Property 1894-1896 Folder 13 Minnesota Property ca. 1900 Folder 14 Minnesota Property ca. 1900 Folder 15 Minnesota Property ca. 1900 D. Miscellaneous Folder 16 Portsmouth Savings Bank Investment Committee 1867-1869 Folder 17 Miscellaneous Deeds 1792, 1799, 1812 Folder 18 Insurance, Loans and Investments 1891-1897 Folder 19 Mortgage papers 1887-1897 VII. Societies and Clubs A. Ladies Domestic Missionary Society The South Church’s Ladies Domestic Missionary Society was formed in 1821, however the records for the earliest part of the Society (1821 to 1845) were lost in a fire at one of the homes of its members, Ellen Lunt. In the words of one of its members, Sarah Haven Foster, "In the latter part of the year 1821 an Association was formed at the suggestion of the pastor, Rev. Dr. Parker, for the purpose of social communion, and mutual work. It was called the "Cent Society"; and the trifling sum of one cent for each meeting was contributed by each member; to be appropriated to the purchase of bedding and clothing, which was loaned as needed to sick members of the parish." In 1825 the Society took the name The Ladies Society of the South Parish for the Encouragement of Domestic Missions. During meetings the women would sew, in the early years for needy members of the community and in later years sewn items would be sold at a sale. The proceeds of the organization supported different causes through the years including the Shoals Mission, the pastor’s library, and other local charities. Secretary and Treasurer Records include meeting minutes, list of officers, collection of dues, activities of the group, etc. Box 20 Folder 1 History "A Historical Sketch of the Ladies Domestic Missionary Society" by Rev. Alfred Gooding "The Ladies Domestic Missionary Society of the South Parish" by Marion Rugg (2 copies) Folder 2 Record Book 1845-1867 Includes Act of Incorporation and expenses and income. There are specific lists showing what goods were made and sold by the women of the Society and for how much items were sold. Goods sold included aprons, doll clothes, lampshades, toilet cushions, book marks, etc. Folder 3 Meeting Minutes, 1862-1904 Includes description of meetings and activities of the Society. Folder 4 Secretary and Treasurer records, 1860-1870 Folder 5 Secretary and Treasurer records, 1903-1905 Folder 6 Secretary and Treasurer records, 1906-1909 Folder 7 Secretary and Treasurer records, 1910-1915 Folder 8 Secretary and Treasurer records, 1959-1961 Folder 9 Share certificate for the Unitarian Educational Society, 1890 B. Unitarian Layman’s League The South Church Unitarian Layman’s League was formed in 1920 a group of men in the Parish. The purpose of the Layman’s League was "to stimulate interest in religious and social problems, to encourage friendly relations among men of the Unitarian faith or in sympathy with it and to aid in the advancement of liberal religious ideas." The League held monthly meetings with speakers on topics of interest. The League provided financial contribution to the upkeep of the church building, including paying a portion of the cost of an upgraded heater pipe, a new gas range for the kitchen and electrical installation in the cellar in 1924. The Society was known as the James DeNormandie Chapter of the Layman’s League. This series contains meeting minutes, newspaper clippings about events, ephemera, and financial records (income and expenditures). The materials appear to have been removed from a scrapbook. Original order was retained. Folder 10 Meeting Records, 1920-1928 Folder 11 Dues Book, 1948-1960 Includes a list of members and dues paid for each year. C. Alliance of Unitarian Women In 1888 the Women of the Unitarian Church organized into a group known as the Women’s Auxiliary or the Women’s Society it was later called the General Alliance of Unitarian and other Liberal Christian Women. The group held rummage sales, teas for its members, Funds raised were contributed to church related causes such as the minister’s pension fund and the national Women’s Alliance, as well as various charities such as the Red Cross and the Old Ladies Home. Folder 13 Meeting Minutes 1895-1906 Folder 14 Meeting Minutes 1906-1924 Folder 15 Meeting Minutes 1927-1937 Box 21 Folder 1 Account Book 1905-1922 Folder 2 Account Book 1922-1946 Lists expenses and income for the society including list of members, dues paid each year and expenses for events, contributions made, etc. Folder 3 Treasurer’s Reports, 1937-1946 Yearly summary of expenses and income Folder 4 Meeting Record Book, 1937-1948 Includes meeting minutes, officers, articles of incorporation, events and organizational business. Folder 5 Miscellaneous List of names labeled "Founders Fund" with amounts contributed Portsmouth Savings Bank receipt, 1918 Letter from A— M. Loring to Mrs. Cleary, Feb. 15, 1933 D. Dorcas Society The Dorcas Society was formed in 1834 (Dover, N.H.). The first record of the Society at the South Church is in 1890, although it appears that the group was operating previous to that date and may have been meeting in a Dover, N.H. church. The Society is named after Dorcas of the Bible who after being raised from the dead, by Peter, did charitable works, such as sewing coats and garments for the poor. Folder 6 Record Book 1954-1961 Includes meeting minutes, a description of activities (luncheon with decorations, etc.), election of officers, dues paid, etc. The activities also involved small improvements around the church such as organizing the kitchen cabinets, purchasing new number cards for the hymn board, organizing rummage and food sales, etc. Folder 7 Meeting Minutes 1890-1912 (Bound Volume) E. Young People’s Group Box 22 Folder 1 Record Book, 1945-1966 Includes meeting minutes with officers. F. Unity Club Folder 2 Record Book, 1889-1917 Includes a list of members and annual meeting minutes Folder 2b Record Book, 1898-1900 VIII. Sabbath School The South Parish Sabbath or Sunday School was established in 1818. The first section of materials contain general materials about the school such as Act of Incorporation, By-Laws and meeting minutes as well as addresses made to students and teachers by various ministers. The second section contains information related to the purchase of the Pitt Street Church (Court Street) from the Baptist Society in 1829. This building became the first Sunday School building for the church until it was replaced with the construction of a new building in 1835. The third section contains correspondence regarding Sunday School celebration in 1868. The fourth section consists of financial materials and the fifth is records of students. Student records contain names, ages, attendance, etc. beginning in 1818. See also Printed Materials where there are several printed pamphlets regarding the Sabbath School. A. General Box 23 Folder 1 1805, "Catechumenical Certificate," signed by Elvira Haven Folder 1b 1818 ca., "Regulations of the South Parish Sunday School…Established 1818" printed broadside [2 copies, different printings] Folder 2 1818-1873 "List of Teachers South Parish Sunday School" (Bound Volume) Includes a list of male and female teachers from 1818 to 1873. Includes the name of the teacher, date when they started teaching, date when teaching was discontinued and reason for leaving (ex. Ill health, sickness in family, left town, deceased, domestic arrangements and with whom, married and to whom, etc.) Folder 3 1828 Act of Incorporation for the South Church Sabbath School Folder 4 1828 By Laws of the South Church Sabbath School Folder 5 1820-1831 Annual Meeting Minutes Minutes includes meeting votes, individuals in leadership and discussion of teachers. Includes statements about expectations for children in the school in regard to reading, scripture memorization, attendance, etc. Folder 6 1831-1946 Annual Meeting Minutes Begins with details of the purchase of the Sunday School building, including individuals who contributed to the initial fund. This is followed by a transcription of the deed for the property and the organizations Act of Incorporation. The remainder of the volume includes votes taken at meetings, officers and organizational information. The volume concludes with the dissolving of the Sunday School in 1946. Folder 7 1819-1836 Annual Reports Contains manuscript reports of the Superintendent of the Sunday School regarding what the children have been taught and how many children were enrolled in Sunday School. Folder 8 1831-1843 Annual Reports "Record of the Proceedings of the Teachers of the South Parish Sunday School, from October 3, 1831 to June 18, 1843. School established June 13, 1818. B." Records house where meeting was held, printed pamphlets concerning school activities, and activities of the school. Folder 9 1828-1946 Annual Reports "Records of the Teachers of the Portsmouth South Parish Sunday School. C." Includes descriptions of meetings including whether a "social meetings" or a "regular term meetings," number of male and female teachers present, activities, etc. Pasted in the book are several newspaper clippings and the 1848 South Parish Sunday School report (pamphlet titled: "The Superintendents’ Report, Made on the Twentieth Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School. June 11, 1848." In the rear of the book there is a list of individuals who donated to the monument fund, including students and teachers. Folder 10 1852-1889 Annual Reports "Records of the Teachers of the Portsmouth South Parish Sunday School. D." Includes records of meetings and numerous pamphlets glued into pages (including anniversary celebrations, order of exercises of meetings, etc.). Box 24 Folder 1 Scrapbook Contains printed material including broadsides and pamphlets produced by the Sunday School including: Regulations of the South Parish Sunday School, 1818 Regulations of the South Parish Sunday School, 1824 Regulations of the South Parish Sunday School, 1850 An Address Delivered May 23, 1820 to the Teachers of the South Parish Sunday School, Portsmouth, By the Rev. Nathan Parker An Address Delivered to the Teachers of the South Parish Sunday School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, April 23, 1823 By Nathaniel Appleton Haven An Address to the Pupils of the South Parish Sunday School, the Sunday after the internment of Rev. Nathan Parker, D.D. A New Year’s Gift to the Children of the South Parish Sunday School, 1837 The Twelfth Annual Report of the Superintendents of the South Parish Sunday School in Portsmouth, NH 1838 Address Delivered on the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School 1843 by J. W. Foster Class Paper (attendance form, blank) Sabbath School Punctual Attendance Ticket (large sheet of tickets) Catalog of the South Parish Sabbath School Library, 1848 First Book for Sunday Schools, 1849 (printed for the South Parish) Prayers for Children and Young Persons compiled by a teacher for the use of the Sabbath Schools and Families, 1834 Portsmouth Sunday School Hymn Book Compiled for the use of the South Parish Sabbath School by their pastor A. P. Peabody, 1840 B. Building Purchase and Construction Folder 2 1826-1835 Sunday School Subscriptions, "Subscriptions and Donations to the South Parish Sabbath School Society. Contains a list of individuals who contributed money to the South Church Sunday School. Folder 3 Sunday School Share Certificate Book 1829-1858 Folder 4 Sunday School Share Certificates 1829 Jeremiah L. Lunt for two shares 1829 Nathaniel W. Appleton for two shares 1829 John Ball for two shares 1838 Estate of Samuel A. Haven (for Joseph Haven) transferred four shares to John W. Foster 1858 John E. Salter for two shares Folder 5 Independent Congregational Society Certificate of Incorporation, 1796 Oversize Deed for Pitt Street Church purchased by John Ballard from James Day, 1828 Oversize Deed for the sale of the Pitt Street church to the South Church, 1829 Folder 6 List of pew owners in the Pitt Street church prior to sale (Baptist Church), 1828 Includes the following individuals: Samuel Cleaves, Elisha C. Crane, John Pearson, Samuel Bowles, Samuel B. Lord, John Drayon [?], Robert Holbrook, Nathaniel T. S. Pierce, T. H. Peirce [?], Elizabeth Trusdel, Mary French, John Mugridge, James Marden, Jeremiah Brewster, William C. Parke, Sarah Trundy, Joseph Walker for S. Walton, Thomas Moulton, Joseph Whidden, Samuel Bowles for Hannah Bowles, and Joseph Walton. Folder 7 Agreement for continued us of the Pitt Street Church by members of the Baptist Society, 1828 Folder 8 Pledge list for purchase of the Pitt Street Church, 1828, 1830 Oversize Insurance documents for Pitt Street Church, 1830 Folder 9 Documents related to the purchase of the Maloon land and "old buildings" in 1836 Folder 10 1837 Contract for the construction of a Vestry building between Benjamin F. Webster and a Committee of the South Parish Sabbath School, represented by Richard Jenness, William R. Jones, Stephen H. Simes, J. R. Lyman, James F. Shores Jr. and Joseph H. Foster. Provides detailed description of materials to be used in construction and outlines the function of the new building (teacher’s rooms, library and vestry) which was designed by architects Preston and Emerson of Boston, Massachusetts. Folder 11 1837-1857 Correspondence regarding support for the purchase and construction of the Sunday School building Folder 12 1838, "Original Odes Sung at the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School," June 13, 1838. Includes songs by James T. Fields and Louisa Simes. Folder 13 1856 Deed for Sunday School Building at 26 Court Street Folder 14 1856 Letter from Andrew Peabody offering a $150 subscription to the new Sunday School room Folder 15 1857 List of individuals purchasing shares purchasing share for the South Parish Sunday School Folder 16 1858 ca., blank share certificates Folder 17 1858 Lease for the South Parish Sunday School Building by the South Parish C. Correspondence Folder 18 Undated Printed invitation from Sunday School committee to celebration of Joseph H. Foster’s twenty-two years serving as Sunday School superintendent Undated Notes regarding committee planning celebration, events being planned 1868 May 26 A. P. Peabody to Joseph H. Foster, regarding invitation to Sunday School celebration 1868 May 29 A. P. Peabody to Joseph H. Foster, accepting an invitation to Sunday School celebration 1868 June 9 Charles C. Salter to Joseph H. Foster, declining invitation to Sunday School celebration 1868 June 15 S. P. Sanger to Joseph H. Foster 1868 June 17 L. H. Winkley [?] to Joseph H. Foster 1868 June 19 Charles Lowe to Joseph H. Foster, regarding invitation to Sunday School celebration 1868 June 20 Joseph H. Foster concerning appreciation for teaching 1868 June 21 James F. Shores to South Parish, Joseph H. Foster, regarding recent recognition for his years as a teacher at the South Church. 1868 June 22 — G. Nowell to Joseph H. Foster, regarding appreciation for teaching Sunday school 1868 June 23 Charles Lowe of Boston to Joseph H. Foster 1868 June 24 "Order of Exercises, at the Rural Celebration, of the 50th Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School, June 24, 1868," printed pamphlet regarding events planned for the celebration of Joseph H. Foster’s 22nd year as Sunday School Superintendent D. Financial Folder 19 Treasurer’s Book, 1828-1891 (Bound Volume) Records of expenses and income (from trust funds, bonds, donations, etc.) for the South Church Sunday School. Box 25 Folder 1 Bills and Receipts, 1829-1837 Folder 2 Cashbook, 1832-1901 (Bound Volume) Record of cash on hand and daily transactions. Folder 3 Account Book, 1832-1903 (Bound Volume) Detail of transactions organized by name of individual to whom money was paid or received. Folder 4 Bills and Receipts, 1838-1868 Folder 5 Treasurer’s Reports, 1839-1867 Yearly financial reports including salaries, purchase of supplies, insurance, repairs, etc. for the running of the Sunday School. Folder 6 Treasurer’s Book, 1891-1902 Records of expenses and income (from trust funds, bonds, donations, etc.) for the South Church Sunday School. Folder 7 Cashbook, 1901-1937 Record of cash on hand and daily transactions. Box 26 Folder 1 Miscellaneous Financial Records, 1869-1884 Including account summaries and individual receipts for expenses of the Sunday School including maintenance to the building, carpet cleaning, purchasing books (lists of specific titles), supplies, furniture, expenses for picnics and special events, wallpaper, etc. E. Students Folder 2 Roll Book A 1818-1823 Includes the names of students, age, names of parents or individual with whom they are living, home address, class, date of admission and "remarks." Remarks include notes about withdrawal, death, and students who later taught as well. One unusual entry notes that Noah Staples Tripe had "gone to sea." Later the section of remarks changes to the name of the student’s teacher. At the rear of the volume there is a summary of student attendance for each week. Summary breaks down the number of students by am and pm and by boys and girls. Following the attendance there is a list of students by classroom teacher (girls only). See index for volume A and B below. Folder 3 Roll Book B 1823-1832 In the front of the book it notes that there "are at present belonging to the school 120 Girls & 87 Boys – Total 207…Teachers employed 18 Ladies & 12 Gentlemen." Includes the names of students, age, names of parent (sometimes occupation of father or widow status), residence, date of admission, class and remarks. Remarks include notations about child moving away, moving to another church in town (Methodist, North, etc.) or dying. As in book A one student is noted as going to sea. Student 1164 Ebenezer Ball (age 5, son of Washington Ball) left in 1840 on the Ship Mary & Susan. One child, William Jones Simes is noted as having been lost at sea in 1845. At the rear of the volume there is a summary of student attendance for each week. Summary breaks down the number of students by am and pm and by boys and girls. See index for volume A and B below. Folder 4 Roll Book C 1833-1852 At the time of the beginning of the book in 1833 there were a total of 246 pupils enrolled in the Sunday School with 34 female and 20 male teachers. Includes the names of students, age, names of parent (sometimes occupation of father or widow status), residence, date of admission, class and remarks. Remarks include notations about child moving away, moving to another church in town (Methodist, North, Catholic (2033) etc.) or dying. For one student, Charles William Ball (1507) it is noted that he was a "very exemplary youth – died in Salem Feby 1856." This volume provides more remarks than the previous two volumes, frequently noting if a child is "interesting" or "promising." At the rear of the volume there is a summary of student attendance for each week. Summary breaks down the number of students by am and pm and by boys and girls. See index for volume C below. Folder 5 Roll Book D 1818-1859 Transcription of Roll Books A, B, and C with additional student information from 1852 to 1859. Folder 6 Index Roll Book A and B 1818-1832 Index by last name of students for Roll Books A and B above, includes name of students and number where they appear in the two first volumes. Folder 7 Index Roll Book C 1833-____ Index by last name of students for Roll Book C above, includes name of students and number where they appear in the two first volumes. Appears to have students past Roll Book C. F. Miscellaneous Folder 8 Address by Charles S. Daveis to the Sunday School as Portland in 1839, draws connections between Sunday School in Portsmouth and Portland Folder 9 "Original Odes, Sung at the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School" June 1, 1838 by James T. Fields and Miss Louisa Simes [Printed Broadside] Folder 10 "Order of Exercises at the Dedication of the S. P. Sabbath School Room, Portsmouth, NH" November 13, 1857 [Printed Broadside] Folder11 Printed Pamphlets "Address to the Pupils of the South Parish Sunday School, The Sunday After the Internment of Rev. Nathan Parker D. D." 1834 "Rev. Dr. Peabody’s Sermon at the Closing of the Sunday-School Room in Court Street" February 15, 1857 "An Address on the Seventieth Anniversary of the South Parish Sunday School" 1888 by Andrew Peabody Folder 12 Sunday School Subscription Book 1836 (Bound Volume) Folder 13 Sunday School Subscription Book 1847 (Bound Volume) Folder 14 1854 Letter from the Hawes Place Society at South Boston inquiring about the plan of organization for the Sunday School in Portsmouth knowing it had had "great success" Folder 15 1818-1854 List of Sunday School Superintendents Folder 16 1848 Materials related to the 30th Anniversary Celebration (poor condition) Folder 17 1870 Sunday School Library Fund Record Book Folder 18 Miscellaneous notes regarding operations of the school Folder 19 Miscellaneous IX. Universalist Church Materials were left in their original order and contain a mix of meeting minutes, committee reports, assessments (special monuments, support of pastor, support of late pastor’s family, etc.), and general church business. Some items could have been filed in correspondence, however the decision was made to retain the original order as items were found bound in original packets. A. Ministers and Correspondence Box 27 Folder 1 1815 May 21 Hosea Ballou to the Wardens of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth, leaving the church in Portsmouth for Salem June 1 Hosea Ballou to the Wardens of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth, reasons for leaving Portsmouth June 5 Church Committee to the Wardens of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth, regarding Hosea Ballou leaving the church for Salem and efforts to keep him in Portsmouth June 19 Samuel Mudge and Thomas S. Bowles, Church Committee to the Wardens, attempt to retain Hosea Ballou in Portsmouth June Hosea Ballou to the Wardens, request to leave for Salem Aug 25 Hosea Ballou to the Wardens, thanks for the "additional testimony of Christian fellowship" Folder 2 March to May 1828 Mar 1 Sebastian Streeter to John Gregory, difficulties in the society regarding pastors Mar 24 Edward Turner to the Wardens, leaving the church in Portsmouth, possible controversy, to take position as a Unitarian pastor in Charlton Mar 29 Wardens to Sebastian Streeter, regarding Turner leaving the church Apr 8 Wardens to Hosea Ballou, regarding Turner leaving the church Apr 12 Hosea Ballou to ____, providing pastors for church in Portsmouth Apr 28 ____ to ____, appreciation for assistance finding pastors to preach in Portsmouth May 14 Paul Dean to John Gregory, Wardens, Thomas F. King will be visiting church to preach May 31 Paul Dean to Wardens, introduction for Thomas F. King Folder 3 June to November 1828 June 14 to R. H. Ballou, invitation for Thomas King June 28 to Sebastian Streeter, difficulties facing the church July 1 Wardens to Thomas F. King (copy), discussion of salary July 25 Wardens to Thomas F. King, acknowledging acceptance of pastoral position Aug 23 Wardens to Thomas F. King, sending money in anticipation of King coming to Portsmouth Oct 14 Mr. Burroughs to the Wardens, installation of King Oct 15 J. W. Putnam to the Wardens, installation of King Nov 18 Wardens to John Grant, thanks for help while church was without a pastor, presentation of a plate Nov 18 John Grant to the Wardens, thanks for the plate and note ca. 1828 Wardens to Sebastian Streeter, requesting a visit from Streeter Folder 4 1835 Feb 26 Thomas F. King to the Wardens, request that his salary be paid in advance Oct 30 Thomas F. King to the Wardens, request for dismission Nov 3 Thomas F. King to the Clerk of the Universalist Church, announcing his last day at the church Nov 18 William H. Knapp to Joseph Cheever, unable to come to Portsmouth to preach Nov 20 J. P. Atkinson to Joseph Cheever, unable to come to Portsmouth to preach Dec 25 John G. Adams to Joseph Cheever, regarding the health of Brother Williamson Folder 5 1836 Feb 5 George W. Bozin to Joseph Cheever, regarding preachers for Portsmouth Mar 28 J. Gregory to Joseph Cheever, plans to preach in Portsmouth Apr 27 J. P. Atkinson to Joseph Cheever, regarding "supplying the desk" in Portsmouth May 4 J. Bromley to Joseph Cheever, meeting of Universalists in NH May 31 Sebastian Streeter to Nathaniel March, plans to visit Portsmouth June 15 Edwin Holt to Nathaniel March, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 6 1837-1838 Jan 14, 1837 John Bennett to the Wardens, regarding a city wide collection to benefit the Howard Benevolent Society May 16, 1837 J. W. Shores to the Wardens, request for use of the Meetinghouse by the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society May 25, 1837 William Bodge to the Wardens, request for use of the Meetinghouse by the Mechanic’s Association May 1838 Moses Ballou to the Wardens, request for leave of absence to visit his aged parents Folder 7 1843-1848 Mar 31, 1843 Moses Ballou to the Members of the Universalist Society, has been offered a position in New York Apr 25, 1843 Wardens to Mr. Montgomery, the possible leaving of Moses Ballou Apr 30, 1843 George W. Montgomery to the Wardens, resignation June 18, 1845 James M. Carr to Moses Ballou, request that Ballou return to Portsmouth Aug 12, 1845 J. M. Carr to Moses Ballou, return with exceptions Sept 4, 1845 G. M. Laighton to Moses Ballou, plans to return to Portsmouth to preach Feb 23, 1848 Moses Ballou to the Wardens, request to be relived of duties due to health problems including "bleeding at the lungs" Mar 1, 1848 Moses Ballou to the Wardens, regarding leave of absence Folder 8a 1850-1851 Oct 31, 1850 Silas S. Fletcher to the Wardens, resignation from the position as pastor Nov 12, 1850 Silas S. Fletcher to ____ Wendell, leaving the church in Portsmouth Feb 10, 1851 William H. Mann for John Sise to Mr. Laighton, regarding a credit also "We have received an excellent assortment of Blk Silks Kid Gloves, Fancy & Taffeta Ribbons…" Feb 21, 1851 W. A. P. Dillingham to Br. Wendell, possibly returning to Portsmouth controversy regarding his salary Mar 5, 1857 W. A. P. Dillingham to the Universalist Society, accept the position as pastor Dec 27, 1857 A. Tompkins to ____, arrangements for a pastor to preach in Portsmouth Folder 8b January to February 1852 Jan 3 A. Tompkins to John P. Simes, preaching at the church Jan 8 Hosea Ballou to John P. Simes, offering to fill in as a minister Jan 11 W. A. P. Dillingham, request for a leave of absence as pastor due to poor health Jan 13 Hosea Ballou to John P. Simes, plans to visit Portsmouth Jan 24 E. B. Brooks to John P. Simes, arrangements to visit Portsmouth Jan 26 A. A. Miner to ___, plans to visit Portsmouth per request of Hosea Ballou Feb 4 M. M. Preston to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 7 M. M. Preston to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 12 Sumner Ellis to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 12 J. R. Johnson to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 13 S. C. Brown to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 17 J. R. Johnson to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Feb 21 John P. Simes to W. A. P. Dillingham, inquiry about whether or not he will be returning as pastor Feb 23 M. M. Preston to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 9 March to April 1852 Mar 9 W. A. P. Dillingham to John P. Simes, resignation from pastor position due to poor health and Dr. Cheever’s opinion that he could not safely live in Portsmouth Mar 10 Hosea Ballou to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Mar 18 John P. Simes to W. A. P. Dillingham, regarding Dillingham’s absence from the position as pastor Mar 20 W. A. P. Dillingham to John P. Simes, continued disagreement concerning his leave Mar 22 W. H. Waggome to John P. Simes, willing to preach if Dillingham does not return Mar 25 E. Case Jr. to John P. Simes, recommendation for J. R. Johnson, prospective pastor Apr 8 W. A. P. Dillingham to John P. Simes, resignation letter Apr 13 N. Gunnison to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Apr 19 B. U. Tillotrow to John P. Simes, unable to meet preaching request Apr 22 O. H. Tillotson to John P. Simes, unable to meet preaching request Apr 26 J. G. Adams to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Apr 26 N. Gunnison to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Apr 30 W. A. P. Dillingham to John P. Simes, plans to visit the church Unknown ca. March 1852 fragment regarding salary requirements Folder 10 May to June 1852 May 1 G. G. Urichland to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth May 3 J. E. Pompet to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth May 3 W. H. Ryder to John P. Simes, recommendation for G. Collins May 10 G. Collins to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth May 11 J. G. Adams to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth May 14 A. A. Miner to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth May 18 N. W. Dean to John P. Simes, unable to meet request to preach May 21 Moses Whittemore to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth June 4 W. W. Dean to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth June 8 Moses Ballou to John P. Simes, unable to come to Portsmouth when requested June 8 O. H. Tillotson to John P. Simes, changing date to come to Portsmouth June 8 W. H. Waggoner to John P. Simes, plans to come to Portsmouth to preach June 18 William Tuckerman to John P. Simes, request for funds from the Universalist Society for the City Missionary Society June 29 John M. Spear to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 11 July 1852 July 3 John Boyden [fragment] July 3 John Boyden to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 6 John P. Simes to John Boyden, request that he come to Portsmouth July 9 John Boyden to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 9 Robert Townley to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 10 Calvin Gardner to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 11 John Moore to John P. Simes, unable to preach in Portsmouth when requested July 16 John Moore to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 17 Henry Bacon to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth July 21 John Salter, Portsmouth Mutual Fire Insurance Office to First Universalist Society, invoice for policy July 24 George Severance to John P. Simes, offer to preach in Portsmouth July 26 Moses Whittemore to John P. Simes plans to preach in Portsmouth July 29 Henry Bacon to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 12 August to September 1852 Aug 3 D. C. Tomlinson to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 10 Robert Townley to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 13 G. W. Quinby to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 20 W. H. Waggoner to John P. Simes, recommendation for D. C. Tomlinson Aug 23 Moses Ballou to John P. Simes, inquiry about how the search for a minister is going Aug 23 John P. Simes, Samuel Greene, and Charles Mendum (Wardens of the Universalist Church) to William Euckerman, unable to help support the City Missionary Society Aug 24 N. Gunnison to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 25 D. C. Tomlinson to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 26 Ebenezer Fisher to John P. Simes, reference for O. W. Wight Aug 27 Robert Townley to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Aug 30 J. G. Adams to John P. Simes, recommendation for preacher C. H. Webster Sept 2 E. W. Champney to John P. Simes, regarding Mr. Wight’s ability to preach Sept 13 Charles A. Skinner to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Sept 14 A. Willis to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Sept 20 C. H. Webster to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Sept 23 E. Case Jr. to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Sept 24 C. H. Webster to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Sept 27 E. Case Jr. to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 13a October to December 1852 Oct 4 Robert Townley to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Oct 12 John Boyden Jr. to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth although not as a "candidate" for a permanent position Oct 15 Charles Woodhouse to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Oct 26 A. Tompkins to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Oct 29 A. Willis to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Nov 13 J. E. Pompet to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Nov 17 J. E. Pompet to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Nov 24 A. Willis to John P. Simes, accepting the invitation to be pastor Nov 26 Lemuel Willis to the Wardens and Members of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth, plans to preach in Portsmouth Nov 30 William Bell to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Nov 30 A. A. Miner to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Dec 7 A. Willis to John P. Simes, death of Mr. Smith’s "beautiful little girl," living arrangements for his family in a tenement on Daniel Street, looking for a boarding house for he and his family until they settle into a permanent home, will be sending furniture via railroad, and general arrangements for coming to be a new pastor Dec 14 Edwin A. Hills to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Dec 20 Thomas J. Greenwood to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Dec 22 D. M. Reed to John P. Simes, plans to preach in Portsmouth Folder 13b 1854 Sept 10 Lemuel Willis to the Wardens, resignation Sept 28 Lemuel Willis to the Wardens, plans to leave the church Folder 14 1855 June 27 Adoniram Judson Patterson to ____ Senter, acceptance of pastor position July 9 Adoniram Judson Patterson to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, acceptance of position as pastor and plans to move to Portsmouth July 13 Adoniram Judson Patterson to ____ Senter, plans to come to Portsmouth July 13 Miron Hutchenson and Eliot Drumy to T. G. Senter, consent to his leaving and recommendation for Patterson Oct 31 E. H. Chopin to ____ Senter, plans to come to Portsmouth Nov 3 Thomas J. Greenwood to T. G. Senter, installation of Patterson Nov 5 J. H. Moore to ____ Senter, installation of Patterson Nov 5 G. V. Maxham to ____ Senter, installation of Patterson Nov 6 B. M. Tillotron to T. G. Senter, installation of Patterson Folder 15 1856 Jan 10 George W. Montgomery, fond memories of his time in Portsmouth and appreciation for the congregation. "I am happy to hear that the Lodges of Odd Fellows are flourishing, and that from a feeble seed the cause has grown into prosperity…" May 13 W. Simes to W. J. Laighton, regarding serving as a warden in the church June 3 Adoniram Judson Patterson to W. J. Laighton, difficulties fulfilling roll as pastor Nov 7 Charles Burroughs to Timothy ____ Jan 14 Frederic Foster, request to preach in Portsmouth Apr 30 Jeannie Pierce to Musical Committee of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth, unable to retain her leading position with the choir without proper compensation Folder 16 1860-1861 May 15, 1860 Adoniram Judson Patterson to W. J. Laighton, appreciation for increased salary Nov 20, 1861 Eben Fisher to Adoniram Judson Patterson, financial matters and salary May 18, 1862 Francis C. Jarvis, John P. Hart, Hattie M. Remick, Martha A. Hart, Annie M. Wendell, Mary H. Freeman, and Albertina Cate to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, members of the church do not like the music the choir is selecting, defending their position as members of the choir May 20, 1862 Adoniram Judson Patterson to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, regarding dispute with choir Folder 17 1866-1870 June 8, 1866 Adoniram Judson Patterson to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, resignation as pastor Jan 21, 1869 R. P. Ambler to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, resignation as pastor Apr 9, 1870 George W. Bicknell to the Wardens of the Universalist Church, request for leave of absence B. Pews and membership Folder 18 Pew Deeds Folder 19 Taxes for 1824, 1831 Includes pew number and amount of assessment (1831). Names are included for 1824. Folder 20 Taxes for 1836 (Bound Volume) Includes pew number, owner and taxes paid for all below Tax Books Folder 21 Taxes for 1842 Folder 22 Taxes for 1843 Folder 23 Taxes for 1844 Folder 24 Taxes for 1853 Folder 25 Taxes for 1854 Folder 26 Taxes for 1855 Folder 27 Taxes for 1856-7 Folder 28 Taxes for 1858 C. Financial Receipts include building maintenance, payment of salary to ministers, purchase of wood for the church, candles, printing tax bills, etc. Receipts were left in their original order, as they were found bound in packets with string. For this reason some years have more than one folder. Box 28 Folder 1 Receipts 1811-1812 Folder 2 Receipts 1813 Folder 3 Receipts 1814 Folder 4 Receipts 1815 Folder 5 Receipts 1816 Folder 6 Receipts 1817 Folder 7 Receipts 1818 Folder 8 Receipts 1819 Folder 9 Receipts 1820 Folder 10a Receipts 1820-1821 Folder 10b Receipts 1821 Folder 11 Receipts 1821-1822 Folder 12 Receipts 1822 Painting and Repairs Folder 13 Receipts 1822-1823 Folder 14 Receipts 1823-1824 Folder 15 Receipts 1824-1825 Folder 16 Receipts 1826 Folder 17 Receipts 1827-1828 Folder 18 Receipts 1828-1829 Folder 19 Receipts 1830 Folder 20 Receipts 1831-1832 Folder 21 Receipts 1832-1833 Folder 22 Receipts 1833-1834 Folder 23 Receipts 1835 Folder 24 Receipts 1836-1837 Folder 25 Receipts 1838 Folder 26 Receipts 1838-1839 Folder 27 Receipts 1839-1840 Folder 28 Receipts 1840-1841 Folder 29 Receipts 1840 Meetinghouse Repairs Folder 30 Receipts 1840 Meetinghouse Repairs Folder 31 Receipts 1841-1842 Box 29 Folder 1 Receipts 1842-1843 Folder 2 Receipts 1843 Folder 3 Receipts 1843-1844 Building Vestry Folder 4 Receipts 1843-1844 Folder 5 Receipts 1844-1845 Purchasing Organ Folder 6 Receipts 1845-1846 Folder 7 Receipts 1846-1847 Folder 8 Receipts 1847-1848 Folder 9 Receipts 1848-1849 Folder 10 Receipts 1850-1851 Folder 11 Receipts May 1850 Folder 12 Receipts 1851-1852 Folder 13 Receipts 1852-1853 Folder 14 Receipts 1853-1854 Folder 15 Receipts 1854-1855 Folder 16 Receipts 1855-1856 Folder 17 Receipts 1857-1858 Folder 18 Receipts 1857-1858 Folder 19 Receipts 1858-1859 Folder 20 Receipts 1859-1860 Folder 21 Receipts 1860-1861 Folder 22 Receipts 1862 Folder 23 Receipts 1862-1863 Folder 24 Receipts 1863-1864 D. Financial Box 30 Folder 1 Wardens Accounts 1807-1813 Folder 2 Wardens Accounts 1815-1826 Folder 3 Wardens Accounts 1826-1834 Folder 4 Wardens Accounts 1835-1847 Folder 5 Wardens Accounts 1835-1839 (Bound Volume) Folder 6 Wardens Accounts 1839 (Bound Volume) Includes church income and expenses. Expenses include Athenaeum assessment, minister salary (Moses Ballou), and individual accounts. Folder 7 Wardens Accounts 1848-1851 Folder 8 Wardens Accounts 1852-1863 Folder 9 Funds Book 1939-1947 E. Meetings Folder 10 Meeting Notifications 1815-1844 States the time, date and location of meetings, sometimes includes purpose of meeting beyond choosing officers Folder 11 Meeting Notifications 1844-1870 Folder 12 Record Book 1793-1852 (Bound Volume) Records of annual meetings including officers present, votes taken, general business of the church. Box 31 Folder 1 Record Book 1815-1940 (Bound Volume) Folder 2 Record Book 1853-1927 (Bound Volume) Folder 3 Record Book 1929-1946 (Bound Volume) Folder 4 Meeting Records 1806-1813 Act of Incorporation of the Universalist Society in Portsmouth List of members owing money to the church Committee reports regarding parish debt Financial Statements Folder 5 Meeting Records 1814-1824 List of Parishioners (see list in introduction to Universalist Section) Account with Mark Simes in regard to the building of the meeting house Langley Boardman and others settlement for work on Church building John Bennett bond agreement Subscriptions for fund to paint the meeting house Vote of the Committee of the Sale of Pews (regulations regarding pew sales) Letter from Sebastian Streeter requesting a friendly dismission and letter of fellowship Letter of fellowship for Sebastian Streeter Vote to invite Edward Turner to be pastor Committee report regarding adopting a new hymn book Box 32 Folder 1 Meeting Records 1825-1830 Printed letter from the New Hampshire Auxiliary Colonization Society address to Rev. Edward Turner promoting free blacks have "asylum in the land of their Fathers" in the Colony of Cape Montserado in Africa Request from the Universalist Society in Providence, Rhode Island to contribute to the fund for rebuilding their chapel after it was destroyed by fire Statement from Edward Turner concerning his salary and his position as pastor Statement regarding the position of Edward Turner and "some disaffection expressed by some individuals" Recommendation for Thomas F. King from Sebastian Streeter Funds sent to Thomas F. King prior to his coming to be pastor Misc. undated pew lists and delinquent payees Committee examining the idea of expanding the meeting house for an organ Folder 2 Meeting Records 1835-1841 Assessment for the support of Thomas F. King "in consideration of Br. King’s being in debt & his Salary not being adequate to discharge the same as soon as he is desirous of doing" Monument for Rev. John Murray Repairs to the roof and lighting rod for the protection of the building from fire Assessment for the support of the family of the late Rev. King Establishment of a singing school Refurbishments to the interior of the church, new blinds, carpet, paint, etc. Report regarding proposed changes to the Hymn Book Folder 3 Meeting Records 1842-1851 Subscription assessment for the support of building a church in Iowa City Account for the Committee on Vestry Subscriptions of support for purchasing an organ Receipt for organ Pastoral exchange with Rev. Andrew Peabody at the Unitarian Church Resolution regarding the health of W. A. P. Dillingham and his position as pastor Resolution regarding an anonymous letter sent to choir director Sarah Ann Nutter that was of an "unchristian spirit" Building committee report regarding the need of interior and exterior repairs Collection for reducing the church debt Subscription for defraying the cost of installing Adoniram J. Patterson as pastor Folder 4 Meeting Records 1852-1866 Committee report regarding delinquent taxes Receipt for a contribution to the monument for Hosea Ballou at the Mount Auburn Cemetery Blank pew tax receipts Contract for alterations/renovations to the building Petition to discontinue passing the collection plate during services and amounts pledged to be given directly to the church, no through the collection plate F. Miscellaneous Folder 5 Deed for land on which church stood on Pleasant Street, 1814 Folder 6 Portsmouth Athenaeum Share Certificate Folder 7 Organ Share Certificates 1844 Book of individuals contributing to the organ fund as well as individual share certificates Folder 8 Insurance Certificates and Receipts 1829-1858 Folder 9 Piece of fabric with description on rear "Wrought on board a U. S. Frigate by Rev. George Richards successor to Rev. John Murray and second pastor of the Universalist church in Portsmouth N. H." Folder 10 Typed transcript of a sermon delivered by Hosea Ballou on August 20, 1812 at the Universalist Church in Portsmouth titled: "Appropriate to the Occasion of a Day of Humiliation and Prayer Recommended by the President of the United States." Folder 11 Printed Sermon delivered by Thomas F. King on March 23, 1834 at the Universalist Church in Portsmouth titled: "The Paternal Character of God." Folder 12 Miscellaneous Folder 13 Program for an Organ Concert, 1870 X. Miscellaneous A. Printed Material These materials were found scattered in the collection in no logical order and not located with any like materials. Many of the sermons can be found duplicated in the Ministers Materials section. Box 33 Folder 1 Haven, Samuel, "An Ode Occasioned by the repairing of the South Church, and providing a covenant seat for the Singers," ca. 1767 Folder 2 Haven, Samuel, "Mr. Haven’s Sermon, occasioned by the Death of the Honorable Henry Sherburne, Esq." 1767 Folder 3 Haven, Samuel, "Mr. Haven’s Sermon at the Ordination of Reverend Mr. Belknap," 1767 Folder 4 Haven, Samuel, "The Validity of Presbyterian Ordination, and the Importance of Candor and Union among Christians of different Persuasions, who agree in the Essentials of Christianity," 1798 Folder 5 Haven, Samuel, "The Disinterested Benevolence of Gospel Ministers, in Promoting Steadfastness in their People," 1800 Folder 6 Porter, Ebenezer, "The Magnitude of the Preacher’s World," (Ordination of Rev. Israel Putnam), 1815 Folder 7 Parker, Nathan, "An Address Delivered to the South Parish Sunday School," 1820 Folder 8 "Names of the Members of the First Church of Christ," 1821 Folder 9 Blake, J. L., "One Thousand Questions for the Examination of Scholars in Blair’s Rhetorick," 1822 Folder 10 Dewey, Orville, "The Unitarian Answer," 1826 Folder 11 Parker, Nathan, "Dedication of a New Church," 1826 (reprinted) Folder 12 Parish report fragment, 1830 Folder 13 Annual Report of the New Hampshire Unitarian Association, 1833 Folder 14 Gannett, Ezra, "The Christian Ministry," (Ordination of Andrew Peabody), 1833 Folder 15 "A New Year’s Gift to the Children of the South Parish Sunday School," 1837 Folder 16 "An Act of Incorporation of the Sacred Music Society," 1840 Folder 17 "The Haven School Fund," 1843 Folder 18 Peabody, Andrew, "Slavery as it Appeared to a Northern Man in 1844," 1844 reprinted in 1891 Folder 19 Peabody, Andrew, "The Currents in the Voyage of Life, A New Year’s Sermon," ca. 1845 Folder 20 Peabody, Andrew, "The Importance of Opinions," 1847 Folder 21 Peabody, Andrew, "Quench Not the Spirt," 1849 Folder 22 "Regulations of the South Parish Sunday School," 1850 Folder 23 Peabody, Andrew, Sermon on the Internment of John W. Foster, 1852 Folder 24 "Order of Christmas Services at the Unitarian Church, Portsmouth, NH" 1853 Folder 25 Whiting, Lyman, "The Recorded Name," (Dedication of the new North Church building), 1855 Folder 26 The Year-Book of the Unitarian Congregational Churches, 1857 Folder 27 Peabody, Andrew, Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Sermon, 1858 Folder 28 Annual Report of the South Parish Sabbath School, 1858 Folder 29 Peabody, Andrew, "Four Sermons," (Reopening of the Church), 1859 Folder 30 DeNormandie, James, "Christian Peace," (Thanksgiving), 1864 Folder 31 Act of Incorporation and By-Laws for the South Church, 1874 (3 copies) Folder 32 DeNormandie, James, "Christ or Confucious?" 1879 Folder 33 DeNormandie, James, "The Unpardonable Sin," 1879 Folder 34 "A Statement of Beliefs of the Universalists," 1887 Folder 35 Stanwood, James Rindge, "The Province Seal of New Hampshire under William and Mary 1692-1694," 1889 Folder 36 Peabody, Andrew, "Life and Times of Plato," ca. 1891 Box 34 Folder 1 Sweetser, Edwin C., "Universalism Explained," 1893 Folder 2 Davis, Franklin Ware, "Old St. John’s Parish," 1894 Folder 3 "Supper Prepared and Served by the ‘Men Folk’ of the Universalist Parish in Philbrick Hall, Portsmouth, NH," 1896 Folder 4 Young, Edward, "Andrew P. Peabody, DD, LLD, A Memoir," 1896 Folder 5 "Some Historical Notes Relating to St. John’s Church of Portsmouth, NH," 1901 Folder 6 Gooding, Alfred, "The Theological History of an Old Parish," 1901 Folder 7 Gooding, Alfred, "Reflections upon a Ministry of Twenty Years, 1884-1904," 1904 Folder 8 "The Centennial of the Dedication of the Old Universalist Church and the Burning of the Mortgage of the New Universalist Church," 1908 Folder 9 "The Unitarian Advance," 1915 Folder 10 "Order of Service Installation of the Reverend William Safford Jones," 1922 Folder 11 Gooding, Alfred, "Statistics of a Long Ministry," 1922 Folder 12 Order of Service the Sunday Before Saint Andrew’s Day, 1923 Folder 13 Vespers, 1923-1924 Folder 14 "Two Addresses Delivered in the South Church…on the Hundredth Anniversary of its Dedication," 1926 (2 copies) Folder 15 "Summer Conference of the New Hampshire Unitarian Association," 1926 Folder 16 "Centenary of the Dedication," 1926 Folder 17 Donnell, Albert, "Newington, New Hampshire Parish and Town A Study of the Ecclesiastical History," 1926 Folder 18 "Union Service of the Five Churches," 1927 Folder 19 Easter Vespers, 1928 Folder 20 Armistice Day Service, 1931 Folder 21 South Church Calendar, 1931 and 1934 Folder 22 "The New England Associate Alliance The South Parish, Portsmouth, NH," 1933 Folder 23 Musical Vespers, 1935-1937 Folder 24 Summer Union Services Schedule, 1944 Folder 25 South Church Calendar, 1944 Folder 26 The Federated Churches of Portsmouth, 1945 Folder 27 "Dedication of the Parish House," 1954 (9 copies) Folder 28 Organ Dedication, 1954 Folder 29 Ordination Service of John Padandrew, 1955 Folder 30 Build for the Future, ca. 1961 Folder 31 Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Portsmouth, NH, 1962 Folder 32 "100 Years of the New Hampshire Unitarian Association," 1963 Folder 33 Installation Service for John S. MacPhee, 1964 Folder 34 "The Bells of Paul Revere his sons & grandsons," 1976 Folder 35 Channing, William Ellery, "Unitarian Christianity," undated Folder 36 Perkins, Palfrey, "The Greatness of God," undated Folder 37 "History of South Parish in Portsmouth," undated (3 copies) B. Correspondence Correspondence is a rather irregular group of materials that may have been separated from other parts of the collection at some point. There are groupings be year, but there are large gaps when no correspondence exists. See also Warden’s Materials in Financial, as many of the correspondence addressed to the church Wardens remained in those records (retaining original order). Box 35 Folder 1 1856-1858 William R. Emerson to Joseph F. Shores regarding design of building renovations, including selection of materials. Folder 2 1858-1865 Folder 3 1862 Mary E. Arnold to J. F. M. Adams regarding family matters and the state of the country Folder 4 1870-1872 Eliza M. Trundy to James F. Shores Folder 5 1871-1872 William Pray to James F. Shores regarding moving Folder 6 1871-1872 Elizabeth Shores Pray to James F. Shores Folder 7 1872 First National Bank correspondence Folder 8 1879-1899 Correspondence with Josiah Adams, undertaker Folder 9 1884 Folder 10 1896 Correspondence regarding the contents of the Cornerstone (time capsule) at the Universalist Church C. General Church History Folder 11 Ralph May Statement about the South Church Property, 1951 Folder 12 Paul Costello History of South Church, 1955 D. Miscellaneous Folder 13 Y.P.C.U. Peirce Memorial Church, Dover, Minutes Book, 1913-1918 Folder 14 Book of unidentified manuscript sermons, 1849-1866 Folder 15 South Church share in the Portsmouth Athenaeum, 1834 Box 36 Folder 1 George B. Hyde Scrapbook, 1908, 1917 Folder 2 James F. Shores Bills and Receipts, ca. 1870 Folder 3 Sermon "God is Spirit," Dr. Babbidge, 1883 Folder 4 Unidentified 19th Century Sermons E. 20th Century Miscellaneous Additions Folder 5 1940-1970 Essay – "Tankard belonging to the South Church," "Report of Minister 1946," Church School roster ca. 1960, Church School Yearbook 1968-1969. Folder 6 1970-1990 Misc. Orders of Service, Correspondence regarding Pierce Memorial Church, Essay – "South Church Played Major Role in Rebellion Against Puritanism," by Paul Costello, Annual Reports (1975-1976), Music Book – "Singing Shouting Celebrating 200 Years of Universalism." Folder 7 Laurence Craig File Folder 8 Genealogies of the Whipple, Dodge and Woodbury Families Folder 9 Miscellaneous fragments and notes Folder 10 Miscellaneous newspaper clippings Folder 11 Miscellaneous ephemera fragments Folder 12 Allen Brown Journal, January 1928 Oversized Folder 1 Plan of Gas Pipe in Stone Church, 1853 Folder 2 Pew Owners, ca. 1820 Folder 3 Newspaper – The Trumpet Universalist Magazine, August 30, 1856 Folder 4 Aetna Insurance Certificate for the South Church Sunday School, 1830 Folder 5 Deed for the Pitt Street Church, 1828 Folder 6 Agreement between Abner Blaisdell, Mark Simes and Abraham Shaw with Asa Robinson and Samuel Cofran, 1807 Folder 7 Deed od Sale for the Pitt Street Church to the South Church Sunday School, 1829 Folder 8 Sketch of the interior of the church with some notes as to pew owners, unknown date Folder Pew Plan, date unknown Phase Boxes ***Phase Boxes are located at end of Manuscript Collection area in vault*** Phase Box 1 Miscellaneous cassette recordings Phase Box 2 1983, 1984, 1985 Phase Box 3 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 Phase Box 4 1989, 1990, 1991 Phase Box 5 1991, 1992 Phase Box 6 1992, 1993, 1994 Phase Box 7 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Phase Box 8 1998 to July 1999 Phase Box 9 August 1999 to 2000 Phase Box 10 2000 Phase Box 11 2000 to 2001 Phase Box 12 2001 to 2002 Phase Box 13 2002 to 2003 Phase Box 14 2003 Phase Box 15 2004 to 2005 Phase Box 16 2005 to 2006 Phase Box 17 2006 to 2007 |
Admin/Biographical History |
The Unitarian-Universalist Church of Portsmouth, N.H. was formed on January 26, 1947, by a vote to merge the South Church (Unitarian) and the Church of Christ (Universalist) into one corporate body. Previous to this date, in May and June of 1945, the two parishes decided to federate, and on August 20, 1945, voted to call the Reverend William W. Lewis as minister of the federated church. The South Parish was originally a part of the first church established in Portsmouth. The earlist settlement within the present limits of Portsmouth was made in 1623, and the first services held here were those of the Church of England, for which a chapel and parsonage was erected prior to 1636. It was located on Pleasant St., on the site of the former South Church parsonage. Rev. Richard Gibson was the first minister. He remained until 1642… A new meeting-house (not a chapel) was built ca. 1658 at the South Mill Dam, and an effort made to settle a minister. Rev. Joshua Moodey began his ministry in that year, but was not ordained until 1671. A church of nine members was organized in 1671, called the Church of Christ in Portsmouth. It is from this church organization that the North and South Parishes are descended. In 1711 the town voted to build a new meeting-house on the northeast corner of the Glebe Land (site of the present North Church). Residents of the South End, in the neighborhood of the old meeting-house, did not want to move so far north; and a division in the parish resulted. However, the new meeting-house was built in 1712; and in January of 1713 the minister, Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, was directed to preach in the new edifice. He did so, taking with his the church records and silver. The residents of the South End, led by Capt. John Pickering, took measures to maintain a church at the old meeting-house, and called the Reverend John Emerson of New Castle to be their minister. The dispute lasted for another year, and in 1714 the Provincial Assembly divided the town into the North and South Parishes, both being equally entitled to town taxes, the North Parish being adjusted the Glebe Land, being the majority. In 1731 the South Parish built a new meeting-house ion Meeting House Hill. This was known as the Old South Church, and was used until the completion of the present Stone Church in 1826. During the ministry of the Reverend Samuel Haven, 1752-1806, the roots of liberalism were felt in the South Church and were continued to their fulfillment under the Reverend Nathan Parker, 1808-1833. The South Church became Unitarian in 1820. Seeds of Universalism were first planted in Portsmouth by John Murray in 1773; and in 1777 a group was organized, being the first liberal church, as such, to be established in Portsmouth. Their first meeting-house was built in 1784 on Vaughan St.; and in 1808 a beautiful new edifice was erected on Pleasant St. The Reverend Hosea Ballou was minister from 1809 to 1815, and while here wrote his famous "Treatise on the Atonement", the first outline of Unitarian theology to be published in this country. The old church was destroyed by fire in 1896; and the brick church…was built the following year. This church was burned on January 11, 1947, almost two years following the federation of the two parishes. This prompted the immediate merger that forms the present church organization. History quoted from: Chronology of the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Portsmouth, N.H. compiled by Lawrence R. Craig Historical Timeline 1627 – First religious congregation gathered in Portsmouth 1636 – First chapel erected in Portsmouth ca. 1658 – New "meeting house" built at South Mill Pond dam 1713 – Town church divided, amid controversy, into North Parish now North Church, and South Parish now South Church. 1731 – "Old South Church" built on Meetinghouse Hill, replaced by present Children’s Museum building in 1863 1752-1806 – Reverend Samuel Haven minister of South Church ("roots of liberalism" Craig History) 1773 – John Murray "plants seeds" of Universalism in Portsmouth (Craig History) 1777 – Universalist Church formed in Portsmouth 1784 – First Universalist meeting house built on Pleasant Street 1806-1833 – Reverend Nathan Parker (liberalism continued) 1808 – New Universalist Church building erected on Pleasant Street 1809-1815 – Reverend Hosea Ballou minister of Universalist Church 1819 – Dr. Nathan Parker leads South Parish into Unitarianism 1824-1826 – Construction of present South Church Building 1858 – Court Street end of South Church added. Current pews installed and interior modified 1896 – Universalist Church building destroyed by fire, and new "brick church" built 1925 – Interior of South Church renovated 1945 – Universalist Church and South Church become federated 1947 – Universalist "Brick church" burns, prompting full merger. Basement of South Church created 1953 – Organ, formerly in National Cathedral, installed and sanctuary remodeled 1973 – Dover Unitarian-Universalist Church merged into South Church 1987 – Complete restoration of sanctuary of South Church and renovation of parish hall Source: http://www.southchurch-uu.org/ Biographical Notes of Select Ministers of South Church Joshua Moodey – Minister in Portsmouth 1658-1697. Joshua Moodey was born in England about 1633 and was the son of a saddler who came from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard in 1653 and "began his ministerial labors" in Portsmouth in 1658. He officially became Portsmouth’s settled minister in 1660. In the nineteenth century Moodey was described: "He seems to have given himself wholly to his work, and to have had no other aim than the conversion of sinners and the edification of God’s heritage." Moodey died in 1697. Moodey was married first to Martha Collins who died around 1674. He married for a second time to Ann Jacobs. He had four children who survived him, Samuel, Martha, Sarah, and Hannah. Source: Sibley’s Harvard Graduates Vol. 1 (page 367) John Emerson – Minister in Portsouth 1714-1732. In 1703 Rev. Emerson was the first minister settled at Newcastle after it was separated from Portsmouth. According to his biography, "He was a man of fine countenance, and, in the full wig of the day, of very commanding appearance." He was dismissed from New Castle in 1712 and went to Portsmouth to pastor the newly formed South Church. The South parish was made up of those individuals who chose not to move the new North Church in the center of Portsmouth. Emerson was installed in the church in 1715 and continued to preach there until 1731. In 1731 he preached his last public service, a prayer on the frame of the new South Church. Emerson died June 21, 1732. Emerson was married to Mary Barter of Salem and the two had five daughters: Mary was the wife of Francis Winkley, of Kittery; Ann, of Stephen Greenleaf of Portsmouth; Sarah, of Mr. Davis of Portsmouth ; Dorothy, of Elihu Gunnison of Kittery; and Martha, of Mr. Flint of Plaistow. William Shurtleff – Minister in Portsmouth 1732-1747. Rev. William Shurtleff was ordained at Newcastle in 1712 following the dismissal of John Emerson. He was a son of William Shurtleff, of Plymouth, in Massachusetts. The Shurtleff married Mary Atkinson, sister of Theodore Atkinson, and did not have any children. Following the death of Emerson in 1732, he was installed at Portsmouth’s South Church in 1733. He preached in Portsmouth until his death on May 9, 1747. According to his biography, "He was eminent for piety aud pastoral fidelity. During his ministry in Portsmouth, he baptized more than seven hundred, and admitted one hundred and thirty communicants to the church." Rev. Alden (a later pastor of the South Church) remarked, that "his name will long be mentioned with respect, for his uncommon meekness and patience under great trials, and for his distinguished piety, talents and pastoral fidelity." His biographers also record troubles with his wife on one occasion she was said to have locked him in his office, preventing him from preaching on a Sunday and worrying the congregation. Job Strong – Minister in Portsmouth 1749-1751. Rev. Strong was a native of Northampton, Massachusetts and came to the South Church in 1749. In 1750 Strong was married to Abigail Gilman, the daughter of Peter Gilman of Exeter. Their only child died as an infant in 1751. It is said that the next forenoon he preached: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." It is then said that at noon he was seized with bilious colic, and on Monday died, at the age of twenty-seven. His widow remarried Rev. Rev. Woodbridge Odlin of Exeter in 1755 and had eight children. Samuel Haven – Minister in Portsmouth 1752-1806. Rev. Haven came to the South Church in 1752 and remained there the rest of his life. Later in his ministry he was joined by Rev. Timothy Alden who served as assistant pastor from 1799 to 1805. Early in his life, Haven was influenced by the preaching of George Whitefield which inspired him to pursue the ministry at Harvard. His liberal views led to several parishioners charging him with heresy for not preaching Calvinistic predestination. However his view was ultimately upheld by a majority of the congregation. Thus, Haven was the first to bring a more liberal theology to the South Parish. In addition to preaching, Haven practiced medicine amongst the poor of Portsmouth. Haven was married twice and father seventeenth children. He died in Portsmouth in 1806. Source: Literary Lion’s Exhibit Catalog, Richard Candee Timothy Alden – Minister in Portsmouth 1799-1805. Rev. Alden was the son of a minister, born in 1771 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1794. Following a brief teaching career he was called to the South Church in 1799 to minister along with the aging Rev. Haven. He was ordained in 1799 and in 1800 he also began a school for young ladies in Portsmouth. He discontinued preaching in 1805, devoting himself to his school. In 1806 he opened an Academy for boys and girls. In 1808 he left to teach in Boston. Later he taught at schools in New Jersey, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The school he began in Pennsylvania became Allegheny College. Rev. Alden was married to Elizabeth Shephard Wormsted of Marblehead, Massachusetts. The two had five children. He died in 1839. Source: Sprague, William B., Annals of the American Pulpit, New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1857, pp. 449-454 and Allegheny Special Collections http://library.allegheny.edu/Special/BioAlden.htm *Note: This collection of brief biographies is not an exhaustive list of ministers related to the South Church, but rather a selection of biographies for ministers who played a role in the early years of the church. Timeline of Ministers of the South Church Will Saunders and Marta Flanagan 1997-2005 Charles Reinhardt (Interim) 1995-1997 John Papandrew (Summer) (Min. Emeritus) 1988,92,7 Pat Bowen (Assist. & Assoc. Minister) 1993-1997 Robert Karnan 1983-1995 Dreon Repp (Interim) 1982-1983 James Brewer (Interim) 1982 Jay Abernathy 1979-1981 John Steward McPhee 1964-1978 Robert Lawson (Interim) 1964 John Papandrew 1961-1964 William Richardson Reid 1955-1961 William W. Lewis (min of newly fed. church) 1945-1955 William Safford Jones 1922-1945 Alfred Gooding 1884-1921 James deNormandie 1862-1883 Andrew Peabody 1833-1860 Nathan Parker 1808-1833 Timothy Alden 1798-1805 Samuel Haven 1752-1806 Job Strong 1748-1751 William Shurtleff 1731-1747 John Emerson 1713-1732 Joshua Moodey 1658-1697 Timeline of Ministers of the Universalist Church Ernest A. Thorsell 1944-1945 William Cromie (died in "pulpit") 1943-1944 Clarence Eaton 1943 Charles Telford Erickson 1941-1943 Myles W. Rhodeheaver 1939-1940 Frank B. Chatterton 1928-1939 Allen Brown (died in "pulpit") 1926-1928 Alfred J. Cardall 1922-1925 F.A. Dillingham 1917-1920 Luther Weston Atwood 1914-1916 George Clyde Boolrn 1913-1914 Charles H. Emmons 1910-1912 George E. Leighton 1899-1910 Curtis Hoyt Dickins 1894-1898 Henry R. Rose 1890-1893 Lee H. Fisher 1886-1889 William E. Gaskin 1882-1884 Eugene M. Grant 1876-1881 S.S. Hubbard 1874-1876 Orson F. Van Cise 1872-1873 George W. Bicknell 1869-1871 Russell P. Ambler 1867-1869 Adoniram Judson Patterson 1855-1866 Lemuel Willis 1845-1855 W.A. P. Dillingham 1851 Silas S. Fletcher 1848-1850 George W. Montgomery 1843-1848 Moses Ballou (nephew) 1836-1843 Thomas F. King (father of T. Starr) 1828-1835 Edward Turner 1824-1828 Sabastian Streeter 1816-1824 Hosea Ballou (Architect of Univ.) 1809-1815 George Richards 1793-1809 Noah Parker, leader/min but not ordained 1777-1787 John Murray founded the church with visits 1773-1777 |
Collection |
South Church records, 1714-1976 |
Object Name |
Records |
Date |
1714-1976 |
Archival History |
Placed on deposit at the Portsmouth Athenaeum by the South Church in 1991 or 1992. Additions received in 1998, 2003, and 2024. |
System of arrangement |
Many of the materials in this collection were still in their original order when processing began, bound by string in packets by fiscal year or topic. Every effort was made to keep these items in order. This being said, many items in the collection had clearly been sorted or separated at some point and were in no logical order. These materials were placed in the most appropriate category while still attempting to maintain the original order of the other materials. The result is that many of the categories do in fact overlap. For example the Warden’s Reports often contain financial reports of the South Church Charity Fund, as the Fund delivered reports to the Wardens, which in turn became part of the Warden’s Records. There were several groups of materials that had no clear connection to other materials in the collection, for example some of the items in the miscellaneous category of correspondence. For this reason a careful review of the entire finding aid is advised for those looking for all possible materials on a certain subject. |
Search Terms |
South Church South Church Charity Fund South Church Sunday School (Court Street) Unitarian Chapel (Court Street) Unitarian Church (State Street) Universalist Church Universalist Church (Pleasant Street) Universalist Church Sunday School |
Subjects |
Portsmouth (N.H.) Churches Ministers Societies Charitable organizations Cemeteries |