in his office, which, as there was no means of heating the house for more than thirty years, was almost a sinecure, its duties consisting of bearing a heavy key, with which he unlocked one outside door on Sunday morning, and entering, unbarred the other two, reversing the process after the afternoon service. All town-meetings were held here for twenty-four years after it was built; for the eight years following, they were held here one half the time, and for the next nineteen years, until the town hall was built, in 1847, one third of the time. Political meetings. were never held here.

The gift of Eli Bunker embraced a parade ground for the military, as well as a site and accommodation for the church. Hence the name, Barnstead Parade. As soon as the ground was prepared, inspections and drills. were held here in May and in September, by one or more companies, so long as the old military system of New Hampshire existed, which required service of all competent males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years. In 1850 and also in 1851, the officers of one of the three military divisions of New Hampshire were drilled here some days, under the command of Col. Thomas J. Whipple. After the War of 1812, a battalion of four companies from the Tenth regiment mustered here sometimes. The following is a fraction of the description given of one of their parades by a resident lady:

In the halcyon days of the olden time, When our jolly grandfathers were in their prime,

And when bloodless battles were fought and

won,

divided Strafford county, composed

of the present territory of Strafford county, also of Belknap and Carrol counties, absurdly located their annual fair in this place, then a very small hamlet. The people got along very well by the aid of the church, where the exhibits of the ladies were displayed, and the orator spoke. One resident citizen claimed the prize for raising the most corn on an acre of land, one hundred and forty-seven bushels, fourteen quarts, and half a pint. The committee questioned it. But after viewing the field with the stalks, minus the husk, silk, and ears, standing upon it, and the stored large ears corn, and hearing a statement of the method of its cultivation, they promptly awarded the prize to the claimant. The method of cultivating corn then was far inferior to modern methods.

The town having been destitute of a settled minister for thirty-six years from its settlement, who in this period led in worship and taught divine truth? Who comforted the sick, consoled the mourner and united the young man and maiden in wedlock? These questions are difficult to answer, from lack of records and definite tradition before 1780, when Elder Benjamin Randall organized a church of seven members on June 30, at New Durham, and the free Loudon and Canterbury church was ministered to by Elder Edward J. Lock, from whom the Baptists had withdrawn fellowship in February, and the free Crown Point church, of Strafford, was ministered to by Tosier Lord. These three churches took a bold stand for a free gospel and an unlimited atonement, thus becoming the nucleus of the Freewill Baptist

denomination. Elder Randall was a natural leader and became a successful advocate of these new doctrines. Following a powerful revival under Randall and Lock in 1781 at North Strafford, a church was formed there having seventy members. North Strafford and Barnstead join each. other evenly. The revival of 1781 may have affected the inhabitants of Barnstead equally with those of Strafford, though the church was located in the latter. From some knowledge of them both for forty years, I know they have mingled with brotherly love, in religious worship on both sides of the line. May not the influence which went forth from this revival, when constantly nourished by monthly and quarterly and yearly meetings, and the earnest preaching of Randall and his associates and followers, have caused the favor with which the people of Barnstead so generally received the doctrines and worship of the Freewill Baptists? The influence of the new system of faith gradually increased in Barnstead. David Knowlton, of Pittsfield, embraced it and was ordained in 1795. His two sons and Samuel B. Dyer were converted under his preaching and became ministers. David Knowlton, Jr., the eldest son, after holding meetings in the southeast part of Barnstead for two years, removed there with his wife, and was ordained November 23, 1803, Elder Randall being present and taking part in the service. The ceremony probably took place in the newly erected, but unfinished building, which stood opposite the residence of Joseph Tasker, since known as the residence of John Murphy, and called the Union meeting-house. Believ

ing in a free gospel, he signed papers before his ordination, relinquishing all rights that might belong to him as the first settled minister of the town. Mr. Knowlton was very much beloved. He gradually failed in health and, returning to his father's home in Pittsfield, died there of consumption, March 11, 1808. A proces

Mrs. Temperance Jewett. Photographed on her 100th birthday.

sion of teams, with sleighs, just half a mile long, went to his funeral from Barnstead and the adjoining towns. Elder Randall, who died the same year, preached his funeral sermon.

Nathaniel Wilson, of Barnstead, was ordained as a Freewill Baptist preacher in 1805. He was a vigorous farmer living on the Province Road, near Gilmanton line, where Captain Sinclair previously resided. Mr. Wilson came from Gilmanton.

Mrs. Lydia (Tibbets) Perkins told me that he invited the people to come to meeting at his home on Sunday for seven years, and on alternate Sundays for the following seven years. Services were held during warm weather in the floor of his barn, which was one of the longest in town, where ample seats were provided, which were often full. In winter, services were held in his house. Mrs. Perkins was a Christian woman, and living near attended these meetings.

Many people from the north part of Barnstead worshiped with the Freewill Baptist church at Gilmanton Iron Works, which was organized in 1794.

It is believed that there had been more or less preaching by Freewill Baptist ministers for twenty years; and that two or three attempts had been made by the town to settle a Congregational minister, which had failed by disagreement, when Enos George, born in South Hampton, a Methodist local preacher, came to town in 1803, June 12, to supply the pulpit and teach school at the Parade. He said in his old age that while riding on Province Road along the highland and looking down on the Parade for the first time, it looked pleasant to him and had always looked pleasant. He remained here till his death, October 29, 1859.

In November of that year, a committee of the town gave him a call to settle as a Congregationalist. But he said, "there being no church, I thought it advisable to wait for some indication from heaven that should encourage me." He returned to Hampstead and treated his Methodist brethren with a Christian

spirit. They released him, but, seeing promising ability in him, asked him to remain with them and 'become a good and great man.” The paper which he presented to the Methodists is still in existence. With the assistance of Rev. Isaac Smith, of Gilmanton, a learned and wise man who evidently admired Mr. George, a church of eight members was formed, July 23, 1804.

The invitation given by the town committee to Mr. George was renewed by the church and answered in the affirmative. Mr. George was ordained September 26, 1804, at the Parade meeting-house. A settlement and salary were agreed upon. He was to preach in two meetinghouses and some other places that should be agreed to by the town. Mr. George reserved three Sabbaths in the year as vacation. He commenced preaching at the Parade, or West meeting-house, three Sabbaths in a month, and the fourth, and also the fifth Sabbath (when it happened), at the North school-house.

After the death of Elder David Knowlton, difficulties arose, and the Freewill Baptist people left the Union meeting-house, and it was not again used as a church till it was moved to Winkley Corner and finished inside. The first service in its new location was conducted by Mr. George, October 17, 1819. It was larger than the Parade church, similarly constructed, but without porches, and coarsely finished.

It was never heated except at town meeting in March, when the smoke-pipe of the stove was passed out through a window. Mr. George added this to his places of preaching, calling it the Lower or East meetinghouse.

The Congregational people of North Barnstead built a neat church, which was dedicated October 31, 1827. Mr. George thereafter held in this church all services for the north part of the town.

Elder David Garland, of Barnstead, was ordained in 1830 as a Freewill Baptist evangelist, and became a very earnest and active worker, especially in revivals. He associated with himself Deacon Henry Langley, Samuel N. Langley, Oliver Dennett, and John K. Kaime, and built the church at Barnstead Centre, thinking that the pews could be readily sold and a central and strong Freewill Baptist church and society would be established. The proprietors were greatly disappointed in the sale of the pews, and all lost money. money. The chief burden rested on Elder Garland, from which he was relieved by a generous son, a Boston merchant. The church was dedicated, September 12, 1839. Daniel P. Cilley, Freewill Baptist, preached. Rev. Mr. George was present. He preached in this church on the following Sunday, September 15, also on the 22d, at four o'clock p. m.

The last service in the East meeting-house occurred October 20, 1839. At the next designated time for a meeting there, December 15, no meeting was held. It was estimated that two feet of snow fell in a severe northeast storm at that time. The east church at Winkley Corner was abandoned after this, having been used in an irregular way just twenty years and three days. The Congregationalists, having arranged with Elder David Garland for the use of the Centre church a part of the time, bought pews in it and commenced to