Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-11-26

Mrs. J. l.. Butler, Judge II. II. Wheeler,
Benz. Muzzy, M. +. Howard, Universal
list meeting house, and extending south TO
the north line of Mrs. Shepherds lot
1904. The Baptist church was represent
ed In tho Association at Alstead, n. H., by
Elder COMBS, Aaron Knapp aud Isaac
Fisher. Total membership, 90. Nathaniel
Davidson in July and lanyard Howard In
October, had their dissent from the Baptist
society recorded by tho town clerk. In
those early days all legal voters were taxed
To support the gospel, whether they chose
1t or not. If n voter held sentiments differ
ing from the majority of those in his town
or parish, and did not wish TO be taxed
with that majority, he must lodge proper
certificate in the town clerks Office, that
he belonged TO another denomination and
was liable for its support. All such laws
of compulsory support of the ministry
were considered unconstitutional and re-
pealed in 1907.
1905. August 8, several members Of the
Congregational society petitioned the So
leclmen for a town meeting. Their petit
ton was granted, and at the meeting so
called, they presented the following re-
quest 1--WE, the subscribers, in behalf Of
the Congregational society in Jamaica, re-
quest that the inhabitants of the town of
Jamaica would direct the selectmen OF said
town, TO lease TO said society three acros
of lot No. 207 Tor the purpose of building a
meeting house thereon for said society, and
such other conveniences as is commonly
wanted about the same, in the following
manner, TO wit, beginning on the westerly
side of the road that leads from Ward sbo-
no to Ball Mountain Brook bridge, at the
foot of the second rise from said bridge,
thence running northerly on the road 20
rods, then TO extend westerly the same
width "A rods" This request was granted
Sept 3, Qhe meeting was held at Ithimar
COombs's house, "under the following re-
strictions, to wit, that the said society shall
build meeting house on the said premis-
es and have the outside finished In seven
years and secondly, and that the town
shall have the privilege Of occupying. said
house to hold all their public town and
freeman's meetings in, if said town shall
make good all damages that said house
may sustain while occupied by them for
for that purpose, except the common wear
Of the same, and also that a part OF said
land may be used fora IN litary parade and
for burying place, aud also for said socie-
ty 10 build horse sheds and other convou-
fences commonly wanted about meeting
house, aud said premises shall be occupied
for no other purposes, and premises shall
| be leased for so long time as said society
shall use them for the purposes aforesaid,
and if said house is not erected in the afore-
said term, then said lease to be void" This
| is the first intimalion We have OF meeting
house or OF town hall for this town. This
house was subse quently built on this par
eel Of ground, where it still remains and is
Jointly occupied by the town and Congre-
| gational society. But there never was
graveyard Lere. The baptisms for the year
were as follows: March "a, by Rev. James
Tufts, Leafy, daughter of John Watson /;
Sept. 20, by Rev. G. c. Lyman, Roxana,
daughter of Woodland Sisby. Total bap-
| lisms since organ ization, 81. In January,
josiah Kellogg aud wife were received by
| letter from the South Hadley church, Mass.
| Total adults received, Is. In October of
this year the Baptist church was represent
ell in council at Wardsboro, where Ste
| phen Choale was ordained as pastor by FL
der COombs, Dea. Childs Wheaton and
Aaron Knapp. With this year Elder
| COonbs closed 4 prosperous pastorate OF
| twelve years, aud returned TO Massachu-
| sets.