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��Historical Sketch of Lancaster, N. H.
��still farther, the Stockwell bridge, built by Capt. Emmons Stockwell — across Israel's river — named by Israel Glines, who, with his brother John, was a famous hunter in this region. The Indian name of this river was Siwoogaiiock, "Place of burnt pines."
On its banks were Stockwell's and Greenleaf's mills, the river affording an almost unlimited amount of power. On the southerly side was the house of Titus O. Brown, the father of James B. Brown, whose life and career in Portland, Me., reflected so much hon- or upon himself, and contributed in an eminent degree to the prosperity of the city of his adoption ; the tavern built by Sylvanus Chesman, one of the first blacksmiths of the town, and which stood until within a few years, and known as the "American House ;" besides which there were but two or three other houses, except the old meet- ing house upon the hill, where it stood from 1794 until 1846, when it was re- moved from its original site to its present location, and is used as a place of merchandise, a portion being set apart as a public hall. The house was built strong and square, like the theology of the fathers, with no elab- oration of design or ornament, and in it the people assembled from 1794 to 1822, to listen to the preaching of the Rev. Joseph Willard.
Parson Willard was a man of com- manding presence, a noble specimen of goodness and religious faith, wise in counsel, and full of true charity and grace. His death occurred here July 22, 1826.
In 1841 the present Congregational church was built. The pulpit has been occupied by various able and good men, who have upheld the faith
��with zeal and success to the present time. Rev. S. A. Burnaby now being the pastor.
The followers of Wesley had prior to 1816 held meetings occasionally in different parts of the town ; but the Methodist Episcopal society of Lan- caster was not formed until 1831, and the church edifice was built in 1834. The numbers of the society have steadily increased, and now it is prob- ably one of the strongest church or- ganizations in town.
A Calvinist Baptist church was formed in 1809, but the society was feeble, and never maintained regular preaching until 1858, when the old Lancaster Academy building, — which was built in 1805 for a court-house, and in which Ezekiel Webster, James Wilson, George Sullivan, Joseph Bell, and many other eminent men of the New Hampshire bar, had engaged in forensic combats, — was purchased by the society, and remodelled for a house of worship. The society is now, as a distinctive organization, unknown, and its former membership is merged with the other religious or- ganizations of the town. But the old building is now used for a public library, having been purchased and its use given to the town for that pur- pose through the munificence of George P. Rowell.
In 1853 a Unitarian society was formed, and in 1856 the present church edifice was built. The little leaven has transfused itself into the lump of society, and the church, fee- ble in numbers at first, has become a great power for good.
In 1876 the Episcopalians erected a church building, neat and commo- dius, and meantime held regular ser-
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