BREWSTER’S RAMBLES #142

Modern residents will recall when the North Church steeple was repaired in Market Square. But in the 19^th century Charles Brewster watched the deconstruction of the old South Church, now gone. Inside, under the altar, were the deteriorated remains of two ministers buried there. (see page three for this story)

RAMBLE CXLII.
The Old South Church.

Editors Note: This can be confusing stuff even for local historians. See the update at end of article. C.W. Brewster was a Portsmouth, New Hampshire columnist and editor in the early to mid-1800's. This article includes his opinions and may not reflect current research or current values. From Brewster’s Rambles About Portsmouth, 1859 exclusively on SeacoastNH.com. – JDR

TO GET ORIENTED: Read this first

THE departure of time-honored edifices creates a feeling of regret, however dilapidated they may have become, or by however superior buildings they are to be supplanted, -- or there are associations connected with the old which the new will be long in giving.

It was about twelve years since that the steeple of the Old South Church, that prominent point in our city landscape, was cast upon the ground, after having occupied its position 132 years. The oak posts around the belfry which supported the steeple, were as sound as when first put there. The

house was vacated by the society in 1826, when the Stone Church was prepared for occupancy. For a short time the old meeting house was occupied by a portion of the Society who did not wish to leave the place in which their fathers worshipped. It subsequently became the property of a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church: and was occupied at several different periods as a place of worship by that denomination, which afterwards erected the church on Pearl street. In the intervals of this occupancy, it had been for a considerable portion of the time, kept open for religious worship, sometimes by series of Sunday afternoon or evening services, arranged by the clergymen of the city; sometimes by regular services conducted by the city missionary. Several years before its destruction a floor was laid between the two tiers of windows. The second story was converted into an audience-room, with a pulpit, while the lower story was divided into a ward-room and two school-rooms.

The first pastor settled after the house was erected was Rev. William Shurtleff, in 1733, who died in 1747. His remains, the record says, were "deposited in a grave under the communion table." It appeared on the removal of the upper flooring, that a hole the size of the coffin was cut in the under boards about ten feet west of the communion table, and that here his remains, with those of his successor, Rev. Job Strong, had lain for more than a century. It was not a matter of great importance, but the discrepancy of the record and the fact we will explain.

On going from the house about the time it was taken down, we met standing on the hill, the venerable Captain Daniel Fernald, who seemed to look with much interest upon the departure of the place of worship of his early days. Among his interesting recollections of the house, he said, that originally the house was some twenty feet shorter than it now is. Nearly a century ago it was cut in two, the eastern half moved about twenty feet, and a new piece put into the centre of the house. This was at once an explanation of the position of the pastors' graves, which were actually beneath the communion table when buried, but by the enlargement of the house, the pulpit, to be in the centre, was removed several feet towards the eastern end.

CONTINUE to read about Portsmouth's OLD SOUTH CHURCH

PORTSMOUTH OLD SOUTH CHURCH (continued)

On the 22d June, 1767, the following vote passed in a parish meeting, of which Daniel Jackson was moderator:

"Whereas a number of subscribers being desirous for their own convenience, and of being accommodated with pews, to have the meeting house cut and made twenty-four feet longer, and the broad alley, pulpit and fore door to be in the middle of the house as near as possible, and the addition proposed to be made to be all in readiness as soon as the house is cut and moved to the distance proposed, to be joined together immediately thro' frame and interlays to prevent the house being damaged or overset by any sudden gust of wind.

* * To be completed entirely at their own cost and charge, and they to have the benefit of the disposition of the pews to themselves.

* * * n Voted, that Mr. John Griffes, Mr. Thomas Hart, Deacon Mark Langdon, Capt. Titus Salter, and Capt. Samuel Langdon, be a committee for the proprietors of this Parish to receive the bond (L2,000) from the subscribers."

Turning over the parish records, we find the following interesting entry made at the time of the death of Rev. Mr. Strong, which we copy verbatim. It presents in itself a picture of the past.

October 1, 1751.
At a meeting of the parishoners of the South Parish, in Portsmo. assembled on the occasion of the decease of our Rev. Pasture, Mr. Job Strong, and to know the minds of the parishoners with respect to ye decent interm't of our

deceased pasture, they proceeded unanimously and made choice of Mathew Livemore, Esq. mod'r, and it was put to vote whether they would do any thing at all or not relating to the funeral, and it passed in the affirmative.

Voted, Neminie contra dicente, That there be a grave and decent coffin.

Voted, That the bearers have rings.

Voted, That the following persons have gloves, viz:

1st The Paul Holders and their wives.

2dly, The Under Bearers.

3dly, The Doc'r and his lady.

4thly, The Rev. Mr. Brown and his lady.

5thly, The Watchers.

6thly, That the Govern'r and his lady have gloves.

7thly, The Saxten of this Parish.

8thly, The other two Saxtens, if they or either of ym toll ye bell, shall be pd for ye service.

9thly, The Ministers that attend the funeral.

10thly, That Sam'l Hart Esq'r & his wife for the paul.

11thly, Coll. Gilman and lady and three sisters of Mr. Strong.

12thly, The Tenders.

Voted, That the widow of our deceased pasture have a suit of mourning.

Voted, That their be seventy pounds, old ten'r, given to Mad'm Strong to put herself in mourning.

Voted, That the grave be dug for the iterm't of the remains of the Rev. Mr.Strong, be as near to Mr. Shurtleff's coffin as may be.

Voted, That Mad'm Shurtleff have a pair of gloves.

Voted, That the church wardens be, and hereby are, empowered and authorized to put the above votes in execution, and raise money on the parishoners for effecting the same, together with ten or twelve pounds old ten'r, for unforseen contingences, if there be occasion for it.

Voted, That Mad'm Fitch have a pair of gloves.

Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Langdon of Portsmo., Mr. Addams of Newington, Mr.

Wise of Berwick, Mr. Rogers of Kittery, be four of the paul holders.

Voted, That the other two paul holders be left to the appointment of the

friends of the deceased, and in want thereof, to the church wardens.

Voted, That the church wardens be hereby desired to make provision to have a sermon preached the same day before the interm't of our deceased pasture.

MATHEW LIVEMORE, Mod'r.

CONTINUE to read about Portsmouth's OLD SOUTH CHURCH

PORTSMOUTH OLD SOUTH CHURCH (continued)

Capt. Fernald says that when he first attended the meeting there was but one house on the square south of the church,--a one story house occupied by a Mrs. Wyatt, nearly opposite the present residence of Ichabod Rollins, Esq. The house of Mr. Thatcher Emery, near the bridge was also then standing. The square on the North of the church was owned by Capt. Nathaniel Pierce at that time, and upon it was only the Pierce house on the northwest corner, and a barn on the southwest corner. Capt. Pierce, after the Revolution, sold to Capt. Drisco the whole square, excepting the small lot reserved for his own residence, for $300.

It is said that when this church was built, some of the timber used was cut on the ground. The lot was presented to the parish by Capt. John Pickering, who was a liberal supporter of the ministry, as well as an active citizen in temporal matters.

On the 13th Sept. 1863, we were present at the exhuming of the remains of Rev. William Shurtleff, who was pastor from 1733 to 1747: he died May 9th of that year, and was buried under the communion table;--as were also the remains of his successor, Rev. Job Strong, who died Sept. 28, 1751, and was buried by the side of Mr. Shurtleff.

In the boards of the under floor, as we have stated, a place of the size of a coffin was found cut, which indicated the position of the graves. Directly under the opening the remains of one of them was found, and by his side, the coffins probably touching, was found the other. There was a difference of opinion as to the identity, but to us it was clear that the remains of Mr. Shurtleff were removed to the side, to admit those of Mr. Strong to be lowered directly into the grave. On first opening the grave, which was between three and four feet deep, it was doubted whether any remains were to be found, after having been buried in the earth 112 and 116 years. This doubt was soon removed by the disclosure of the skull, hair, and principal bones of the one whom we regard as Mr. Strong. Some of the bones were undecayed -- the teeth in the section of the lower jaw white and apparently as sound as when he died, at the age of 27. The bones of Mr. Shurtleff, who was about 40 years older when he died, were more nearly approaching decomposition--of the skull only a piece of the size of a dollar was left. There was but one rib left in a good preservation, and that belonged to Mr. Shurtleff. No remains were left of either coffin except two little strips of 3 and 6 inches long, which appeared to have been the bands of the coffin lids in which was a row of brass nails, about an inch apart. There were two pine knots found, so well preserved by the pitch they contained, they were as white and sound inside as new wood. An iron hinge in one of the graves showed that the coffin lid was made to turn down.

The remains of each, under the direction of the Wardens of the Stone Church, were put in appropriate boxes, and placed in the Auburn Cemetery where a suitable monument is now erected.The coffins in the Rindge tomb, under the centre of the house on the south side, have all been removed to the cemetery. This tomb must have been built more than a century ago, for when the house was enlarged and the porch erected in 1767, the entrance to the tomb was covered by the porch. The idea that the entrance to the church was made over the tomb was so abhorrent to the feelings of the family, that they changed their place of worship in consequence, to the Episcopal church.

In casting our eyes over the records of the South Church, we find a few matters worth giving. The subscription paper, on which the names are given of those who contributed to the support of Rev. Mr. Emerson, for the years 1714, 1715 and 1716 is summed up by the committee with the following entry:

"All that we can find that Mr. Emerson has had that we can make out at

present is L175 2s 2d."

Mr. Emerson gives his receipt as follows:

"I allow of ye one hundred seventy-five pounds two shillings, as so much paid for my salary ye first three years after I came to town."

J. EMERSON."

1753. Voted, That the scriptures of the Old and New Testament be publicly read every Lord's day as a part of the public worship in God's house.

1756. Voted, That ten pounds old tenor, of the Charity Money in the hands of the Deacons, be laid out in practical books for the use of the poor of the Parish.

Voted, That the hundred pounds, old tenor, given by Capt. Geo. Walker to the church, and now in the hands of the Deacons Langdon and Jackson, should be laid out to the best advantage in silver and gold coin, that the church may sustain no further loss by its lying in a depreciating medium.

1757. Voted, That the remainder of the proportion of the charity money appropriated to purchase practical and instructive books, for the use of the poor in this parish, be given into the hands of the Pastor to be laid out in books for said use.

Voted, That the L32 in stock of the church's money, now in the hands of Deacon Jackson, be by him converted into silver or gold coin.

Sept. 27, 1760. Received of the hands of Deacon Jackson one silver tankard, being the gift of Mrs. Mary Shurtleff to the South Church in Portsmouth, for the use of the Minister for the time being.

1760. A list of books belonging to the South Parish in Portsmouth, for the use of the Minister for the time being, and to be lent out among the people under his direction:--Pool's Synoposis, vol 5, Dr. Watts' Sermons; Dr.Doddridge's Rise and Progress, 3 vols.; Shaw's Welcome to the Plague, &c. 4 vols.; Christian Piety; Dickinson's Letter.

1762. The church likewise voted that the Deacons Langdon and Jackson be and hereby are desired to purchase with the silver money in their hands (being the gift of Capt. Walker) a decent christening basin, as soon as a sufficient sum shall be raised to pay for the forming of said basin, by subscription, the whole of the silver now in their hands to be applied in the weight of the basin.

The church likewise having further considered the proposal made for the introducing the use of Dr. Watts' version of the Psalms instead of the New England version, into their public worship, desired the Pastor to mention said proposal to the congregation.

At a meeting of the church, Sept. 9, 1763, at the meeting house, the church voted the use of Dr. Watts' version of the Psalms, instead of the New England. Voted, likewise, that the congregation should be desired to make a stop after public worship, and that the vote of the church be proposed to them for their concurrence. The congregation voted their concurrence, and likewise that said Psalms should be sung without being read line by line.

UPDATED INFO: Portsmouth has both a South Church  (the granite Unitarian Church on State Street) and a South Church becuase the parish split long ago. One group moved to the newer church downtown in the early 1800s while others stayed at the parish near the intersection of Water (no w Marcy) Street and Pleasant Street. That church was taken down later in the century and rpeplaced with the South Ward building that was also used as the city's first African American chruch. Confused? So are we. That building has recently been the site of the Children's Museum of Portsmouth now planning to move to Dover.

Text scanned courtesy of The Brewster Family Network
Copy of Rambles courtesy Peter E. Randall
History Hypertext project by SeacoastNH.com
This digital transcript  © 1999 SeacoastNH.com