BARNSTEAD REUNION.
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��poor. James Dealing was the third. These, and others were the first to plunge into the wilderness with their families, and open the doors of a civil- ization. Their log houses were rude, and primitive, but they were occupied by warm and noble-hearted men and women, who had a purpose in life, and, going out bravely, met the obstacles in the way, and overcame them. But we have no dates of their settlement given us by Dr. Jewett. The old province road, and the first public one built in town, was ordered by the General Court in 1770. It was to be the great through road from Portsmouth to Concord, and passed by the 1st range of lots. The lands at this time were owned by many of the charter proprietors, and a road tax was assessed upon each owner. Previ- ous to this, the traveler, on his way, marked the winding paths by spotted trees. This road was built by Jonathan Chesley, and though it was a great con- venience, it proved a heavy burden from the tax imposed. Many of the settlers surrendered their rights to the land, and they were sold by the officers of the crown, by auction, the sales being made at Dover, Portsmouth and Newington. The nearest market was at Dover and Durham, and the settlers often went on foot, or on horse-back, the journey often occupying weeks.
There was a condition in the charter made to the proprietors in 1727, that ' there should be a meeting-house, for public worship, built in town within the period of three years from date of said charter, provided, if the Indian hostili- ties preventad, the meeting-house should be erected within three years after they had ceased. From the time of this char- ter till 1760, the Indians kept up a con- stant annoyance. Why wonder that they ghould? They had been driven from their happy hunting-grounds, and early wild, life nomes, by these settlers-. They of- ten returned to visit their long loved Sun- cook, the valley of which was a charmed spot to them. It was the hunting and fishing ground of their youth. They lis- tened to the sweet murmuring of the pines, gazed silently upon the ponds, watched the leaping waters of the brooks
��and rivers, and as they sat musing over the encroachments of the white settlers, upon the grounds the Great Spirit had given them, why wonder that a spirit of revenge should creep over their benight- ed minds. Why wonder that the torch fired the settlers' log houses, and their scanty barns reduced to ashes, and their corn fields laid waste. They had been driven from all that was dear to them, and the invaders of their soil were our white settlers. The year 1760 found these pioneers free from the Indian troubles. Accordingly Rev. Joseph Ad- ams came from Newington and selected a lot of land for the church. '* It was in a valley, near a stream of water, about a mile north of Strafford line." Here the log meeting-house was erected, and the minister, and workmen, and hunters gathered around the altar and dedicated the first meeting-house in Barnstead to the service of God. Mr. Adams preached, and the workmen sung hymns. The ser- vice was short, and the hearers few. Yet the work was earnest and devout ; and who shall say that the service was not acceptable to him who readeth the heart. The next meeting-house was at the Parade. It was the second church, but the first framed church ever erected in Barnstead ; the size, 40 by 60 feet, and a commodious edifice for the times. It was commenced in 1788, completed in 1799, and was situated on the north side of the common. This common, or parade, as we call it, had been set aside for church and public purposes by the generosity of Eli Bunker.
The third meeting-house was built in 1803, and stood upon land presented by John Tasker. This house remained un- finished till 1820, when it was removed to " Winkley's Corner." It was two sto- ries, windows above and below, and glass 7x9, with seventy-two lights in a window. To furnish and to pay for it, they resorts ed to a public sale of the pews by auc- tion. At the auction there was a large assembly of the best men in town. The auctioneer commenced by saying he would dispose of the pews on the lower floor first, and then from the deacon's desk, holding up a bottle full of brandy, commenced by saying, that " each bid
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