The Pemigewasset Woman's Club
On June 26, 1897, a group of fifteen women met in Normal Hall to consider the foundation of a woman's club. The club was established and the charter members were Charlotte (Dearborn) Fox, Etta F. (Draper) Maynard, Mabel L. Greeley, Ada E. (Howe) Keniston, Annie (Burgess) Hull, Louisa (Hall) Russell, Maria A. (Dolloff) Hodge, Glennie (Bartlett) Adams, Elvira (Page) Burleigh, Caroline (Sargeant) Burns, Blanch (Plaisted) Wentworth, Jennie (Lyford) Fellows, Jennie J. (Adams) Webster, Marion (Blake) Campbell, and Arabella (Roberts) Mason
The early club presidents were:
Elvira (Page) Burleigh 1897 and 1898
Marian (Blake) Campbell 1899
Jennie J. (Adams) Webster 1900, 1901, 1903
Glennie (Bartlett) Adams 1902
Ruth (McClure) Chase 1904
Sara Kate (Smith) Adams 1905
Freemasons
Thomas W. Thompson, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, granted a special dispensation for a Masonic Lodge in Plymouth on April 27, 1803. A charter to the Olive Branch Lodge No. 16, of Plymouth, was granted July 27, 1803. Officers were installed in October of 1803 and the charter members were as follows:
Rev. Robert Fowle, Rev. Isaac Root, William Webster, William White, Dr. Jonathan Robbins, Crisp B. Noyes, Daniel Ladd, Peter McQuesten, Moses Lewis, Israel W. Kelley, Moses Kelley, and Benjamin Tolford. Not all of these men were from Plymouth. Rev. Fowle was the Episcopal Minister of Holderness. Rev. Root's place of residence is unknown; William White was a prominent citizen of Wentworth, and Col. Lewis was a merchant residing in Bridgewater. Israel Kelly was from Goffstown. He lived for a time in Bridgewater, then in Salisbury, and later to Concord. Moses Kelley was the brother of Israel Kelley and was an innholder and the first postmaster of Bridgewater Village, which is now Bristol. (In 2001). Benjamin Tolford was from Alexandria.
In 1816, Nathan Harris erected a hall on Highland Street and regular meetings
were held there until 1830, when the organization was suspended. Previous to
1816, the meetings were held at the home of Col. Samuel Wells, on the second
floor of the house.
In 1815, the number of Master Masons was 41, and in 1830, the membership had increased to 53. During this period, 12 Masters presided. They were:
Rev. Robert Fowle of Holderness 1803-1805, 1823-1824
Col. Wm. Webster of Plymouth 1806, 1815-1816, 1819
Dr. Timothy Tilton of Bridgewater 1807, 1810-1811
Crisp B. Noyes of Plymouth 1808
Col. Moses Lewis of Bridgewater 1809
Daniel Smiley, Esq., of Plymouth 1812, 1817
Isaac Stafford of Plymouth 1813-1814
Joseph Shepard of Holderness 1818, 1825
Dr. Jonathan Robbins of Plymouth 1820
Dr. Thomas Whipple of Wentworth 1821
Samuel C. Webster Esq., of Plymouth 1822, 1826-1828
William Thornton of Thornton 1829
The Olive Branch Lodge was inactive from 1830 to 1858 and was then reorganized. Following the acceptance of a petition, the charter was restored on September 18th and the first meeting was held October 19th. The men first admitted after the restoration of the charter were - Hiram Clark of Plymouth; Thomas P. Cheney of Holderness; and Edward H. Colby of Plymouth.
The Olive Branch Lodge occupied a hall in the hotel of Denison R. Burnham on the site of the Pemigewasset House, from 1858 until the hotel burned in 1862. A new hall was furnished on the third floor of a building owned by John S. Tufts. The first meeting in the new location was held on January 12, 1863. Unfortunately, that building burned on February 3, 1864 and once again, the Lodge lost all its properties except the records, just as in the previous fire of 1862. The Lodge found temporary quarters in the Holmes Academy building and in the Plymouth Courthouse. In 1865, the Lodge moved to Cook's Hall in the Town Hall Building. In 1879 the lodge moved to Mason and Weeks Hall, which was in the brick building at the corner of Main and Bridge Streets at the time. In March of 1889, the Masons moved once again, to a new and larger hall in what was then called The Kidder Block. At the time the Stearns History of Plymouth was published, the membership totaled 120.
From the time of the restoration of the charter in 1858 the lodge elected 24 Masters:
John Norris 1858 and 1859
James R. Moody 1860
Henry W. Blair 1861, 1862, 1864
James L. Rogers 1863
Henry S. George 1865, 1866, 1868, 1877
Oliver S. McQuesten 1867
Hiram Clark 1869
Gilmore McLane Houston 1870
Henry C. Currier 1871
Hiram B. Farnum 1872
Alvin Burleigh 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1879
Ebenezer Blodgett 1878
Renselear O. Wright 1881, 1882
Edward W. White 1883, 1884
Joseph P. Huckins 1885
George H. Adams 1886, 1887
Frank H. Rollins 1888, 1894, 1895
Davis B. Keniston 1889, 1890, 1891
Frank W. Russell 1892, 1893
Charles W. George 1896, 1897
Charles E. Barker 1898, 1899
James Frank Gould 1900, 1901
George B. Blood 1902, 1903
Moody B. Gore 1904, 1905
The Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13, R.A.M. - A dispensation was granted July 4, 1864 by John R. Holland, Grand High priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons to be called Pemigewasset Chapter No. 13, R.A.M. The dispensation was issued to the following petitioners:
Henry S. George, Hiram Clark, John Mason, John G. Langdon, Denison R. Burnham, Desevignia S. Burnham, Nathaniel F. Draper, James L. Rogers, Eli Mellen Wight, Josiah G. Morrison, Rinaldo R.D. Dearborn, Oliver S. McQuesten, Chase W. Calley, Ebenezer K. Smith, Charles O. McQuesten, Thomas L. Floord, Cyrus K. Kelley, Manson Seavy, Valorus A. Seavy, Gilmore McL. Houston, Henry W. Blair, Thomas P. Cheney, and John Norris.
Date High Priest King Scribe
1866 Henry S. George Hiram Clark John Mason
1867 Hiram Clark John Mason Cyrus K. Kelley
1868 Hiram Clark John Mason Cyrus K. Kelley
1876 Joseph S. Morrison Manson S. Brown R.R.D.Dearborn
1877 Joseph S. Morrison Josiah G. Morrison Manson S. Brown
1878 R.R.D. Dearborn Josiah G. Morrison Manson S. Brown
1879 William H. Raymond Alvin Burleigh Marcus L. Emmons
1880 William H. Raymond Alvin Burleigh Marcus L. Emmons
1881 Marcus L. Emmons R.O. Wright Henry C. Dearborn
1882 R.O. Wright Henry C. Dearborn Royal A. Chase
1883 R.O. Wright Henry C. Dearborn Royal A. Chase
1884 Henry C. Dearborn Royal A. Chase Edward W. White
1885 Edward W. White John F. Maynard Elliot B. Hodge
1886 Elliot B. Hodge Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1887 John F. Maynard Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1888 John F. Maynard Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1889 George H. Adams Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1890 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins Frank H. Rollins
1891 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins Frank H. Rollins
1892 Frank H. Rollins Joseph P. Huckins Timothy E. Bayley
1893 Frank H. Rollins Joseph P. Huckins Timothy E. Bayley
1894 Josiah G. Morrison Timothy E. Bayley Edward F. Warner
1895 Davis B. Keniston Timothy E. Bayley Moses A. Batchelder
1896 Davis B. Keniston Timothy E. Bayley Moses A. Batchelder
1897 William F. Adams Sceva Speare Charles E. Barker
1898 William F. Adams Sceva Speare Charles E. Barker
1899 William F. Adams Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck
1900 Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck Frederick P. Weeks
1901 Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck Frederick P. Weeks
1902 Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck Frederick P. Weeks
1903 Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck Frederick P. Weeks
1904 Charles E. Barker David H. Hallenbeck Frederick P. Weeks
1905 Charles F. Barker David H. Hallenbeck William M. Sweeney
In January 1881, The Omega Council, No. 9, R. and S.M., which had been instituted in 1876 in the town of Littleton, was moved to Plymouth. The following officers were appointed:
William H. Raymond, T.I.M.; Elliot B. Hodge, D.M.; Alvin Burleigh, P.C. of W; Hiram Clark, Treasurer; John U. Farnham, Recorder; John F. Maynard, C. of G.; Joseph P. Huckins, C. of C.; Royal A. Chase, Steward; James Tomkinson, Sentinel.
Of this Council, Elliot Hodge and Benjamin F. St. Clair have served as Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of New Hampshire. The following have served as T.L.M., D.M., and P.C. of W.:
1880 Chauncey H. Greene Benj. F. Wells Charles B. Griswold
1881 Elliot B. Hodge John F. Maynard Alvin Burleigh
1882 Elliot B. Hodge John F. Maynard Alvin Burleigh
1883 John F. Maynard Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1884 John F. Maynard Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase
1885 Joseph P. Huckins Royal A. Chase Edward W. White
1886 Elliot B. Hodge Horace F. Wyatt George H. Adams
1887 Horace F. Wyatt Joseph P. Huckins George H. Adams
1888 Horace F. Wyatt Fred N. George George H. Adams
1889 Elliot B. Hodge Royal A. Chase George H. Adams
1890 Elliot B. Hodge Joseph P. Huckins George H. Adams
1891 Fred N. George Hiram B. Farnum George H. Adams
1892 Elliot B. Hodge C.V. Tomkinson George H. Adams
1893 Benj. F. St. Clair Joseph P. Huckins George H. Adams
1894 Benj. F. St. Clair John F. Maynard George H. Adams
1895 Benj. F. St. Clair Frank W. Russell George H. Adams
1896 Benj. F. St. Clair Frank W. Russell George H. Adams
1897 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins George H. Adams
1898 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins George H. Adams
1899 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins J. Frank Gould
1900 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins J. Frank Gould
1901 Frank W. Russell Joseph P. Huckins J. Frank Gould
1902 J. Frank Gould George B. Blood Charles E. Barker
1903 John F. Maynard George B. Blood Charles E. Barker
1904 George B. Blood Charles E. Barker J. Frank Gould
1905 George B. Blood Charles E. Barker Frank W. Russell
The Bethlehem Chapter, No. 12, Order of the Eastern Star - A preliminary meeting convened at the home of Hazen D. Smith on June 4, 1892. Those present were:
Lydia B. (Walker) Smith Elvira (Page) Burleigh
Harriet H. (Page) Gore Grace E.A. (Parker) Walker
Lilla S. (Pressy) Gould Mary E. (Ross) Rollins
Hazen D. Smith Alvin Burleigh
Thomas J. Walker Frank W. Russell
Frank H. Rollins
A dispensation wss granted by the Grand Chapter and the first meeting of the Bethlehem Chapter was held in the Masonic Hall on June 28, 1892. The Grand Matron, Mary D.M. Quimby, presided. The degrees of the order were conferred on 18 candidates and the following officers of the Bethlehem Chapter were installed by the Grand Matron. The Marshall was Mary A. (Currier) Brown, at that time the Worthy Matron of the Excelsior Chapter, No. 4, of Whitefield:
Lydia B. (Walker) Smith, Worthy Matron
Frank W. Russell, Worthy Patron
Grace E.A. (Parker) Walker, Associate Matron
Mary E. (Ross) Rollins, Treasurer
Elvira (Page) Burleigh, Secretary
Mabel Lillian Greeley, Conductress
Edith Kimball, Associate Conductress
Lilla S. (Pressy) Gould, Adah
Olive F. Amsden, Ruth
Helen L. (Smith) Story, Esther
Ada E. Keniston, Martha
Inez M. Maynard, Electa
S. Kate (Smith) Adams, Warder
Thomas J. Walker, Sentinel
Regular meetings were held in the Masonic Hall each third Tuesday after the full moon. The membership at that time was 118 persons. The Matrons, Patrons, and Secretaries of the Chapter in the order named follow:
1892 Lydia B. (Walker) Smith Frank W. Russell Elvira (Page) Burleigh
1893 Lydia B. (Walker) Smith Joseph C. Story Elvira (Page) Burleigh
1894 Lydia B. (Walker) Smith Davis B. Keniston Elvira (Page) Burleigh
1895 Elvira (Page) Burleigh Alvin Burleigh Amelia P. (Handy) Smythe
1896 Elvira (Page) Burleigh Alvin Burleigh Amelia P. (Handy) Smythe
1897 Elvira (Page) Burleigh Alvin Burleigh Arabella (Roberts) Mason
1898 Mabel L. Greeley Rodney E. Smythe Arabella (Roberts) Mason
1899 Isabella Tomkinson Benj. F. St. Clair Marion E. (Blake) Campbell
1900 Isabella Tomkinson Alfred H. Campbell Sadie (Gaskell) Hartwell
1901 Mira H. (Adams) Wright Frederick P. Weeks Sadie (Gaskell) Hartwell
1902 Arabella (Roberts) Mason Frederick P. Weeks Blanche(Plaisted) Wentworth
1903 Elvira (Page) Burleigh Charles J. Gould Alice (Tufts) Peppard
1904 Lucy S. Brackett James F. Gould Alice (Tufts) Peppard
1905 Alice (Robie) Mitchell James F. Gould Alice (Tufts) Peppard
Plymouth Lodge, No. 66, I.O.O.F. - Instituted by Grand Master George A. Robie on May 3, 1881. Charter members were:
John U. Farnham Charles H. Marden Moses A. Ferrin
Moses P. Smith Daniel M. Brown Brooks M. Mitchell
William H. Raymond Pulaski W. Tennant George E. Edmonds
James Currier Collins M. Buchanan William C. Sherman
Robert W. Mitchell Moses G. Tucker Foster S. Batchelder
Darius K. Morse Henry N. Smith Alphonso Clement
Manson S. Brown John C. Chase
The meetings of the Lodge were held in Mason and Weeks Block until January, 1895, when the Lodge moved to the Tufts Block. At that time the membership was at 167. The following people were, at various times, elected to the chair of Noble Grand:
John U. Farnham Collins M. Buchanan Charles A. Jewell
Brooks M. Mitchell Daniel M. Brown Charles W. George
Moses A. Ferrin Benjamin F. Smith Rodney E. Smythe
Charles J. Gould James Currier Henry W. Rogers
Benjamin F. St. Clair Charles W. George, second term
Moses A. Ferrin, second term William H. Adams
Benjamin F. Smith, second term Fred S. Rowe
John Mason Moses A. Batchelder Thomas Stratton
George W. Wallace Frank P. Woodward David H. Hallenbeck
Frank A. Fox Frank E. Batchelder Frank C. Calley
William F. Adams Harry S. Heath Fred S. Wells
Isadore N. Lunderville Allen E. Hobbs Edward Harvey Edmonds
George W. Little Alonzo F. Morse, two terms James M. Dustin
Alonzo J. Knowlton Samuel W. Slye Ward B. Hutchins
Iza J. Smith Charles C. White William H. Wells
Thomas A. Love Heber W. Hull
The officers for the term beginning January, 1905 were:
Frank R. Sawyer, N.G. Fred Smith, V.G. Alonzo Morse, R.S.N.G.
George McIntire, L.S.N.G. Wm. J. Randolph, R.S.V.G. Luther Williamson, L.S.V.G.
Charles Richards, Warden James Corliss, Conductor E. Harvey Edmonds, O.G.
Alval Houston, I.G. Walter Sawyer, R.S.S. Elmer Huckins, L.S.S.
Henry W. Rogers, Secretary Samuel W. Slye, Financial Secretary
Charles W. George, Treasurer Moses A. Ferrin, Trustee
Charles A. Jewell was elevated to the chair of Grqand Master and John U.
Farnham, Charles W. George, Henry W. Rogers, William H. Adams, Daniel M. Brown,
Charles J. Gould, Frank A. Fox, and Alonzo J. Knowton filled the appointment of
District Deputy.
Enterprise Lodge, No. 46, Daughters of Rebekah - Organized by Grand Master Frank A. Davis of Keene on February 25, 1892. Charter members were:
Charles J. Gould Henry W. Rogers Frank A. Corliss
Walter W. Mason Christina S. (Burleigh) Blair Frank A. Fox
Emma Frances (Flanders) Dearborn Frances Emma (Marston) Brown
Marietta (Rogers) Wallace Moses A. Batchelder Frank M. Brown
Amelia Phebe (Handy) Smythe Mary Frances (Webster) Ferrin
Joseph B. Stoughton Amasa W. Avery Frederic Adams
The Lodge was an adjunct to the Lodge of the I.O.O. F. The meetings were held in the Odd Fellows Hall in the then Tufts Block. The membership at the time was 159.
Officers installed in January of 1905 were:
Addie M. (Boutwell) Sawyer, N.G. Margaret Brown, V.G.
Clara M.B. (Thompson) Rogers, R.S. Amelia H. (Hanson) Hobbs, L.S.N.G.
Charles W. George, V.G. Martha S. (French) Woodman, Warden
Gertrude Evelyn (Homans) Hucksins, L.S.V.G.
Blanche B. (Eastman) Porter, Conductor Sarah Annie Flanders, I.G.
Emma (Tourtillotte) Wood, Chaplain Alvin F. Houston, O.G.
Cora (McDaniel) Currier, Secretary Stella (Foster) Milligan, Treasurer
Edna Williamson, Trustee
Baker's River Lodge, No. 47, Knights of Pythias - Instituted in the Tufts Block on February 28, 1895. Charter members were:
William J. Randolph Iza J. Smith Frank E. Harran
John A. Smith Perley C. Kent W.S. Grassie
F. C. Hall Edward Cook C. William Sherwell
Andrew R. Smith Walter W. Mason LeRoy S. Eastman
Albert W. Sawyer Alvah C. Cousins Myron P. Browley
James M. Robie P.H. Young Ward B. Hutchins
Harry McGough William S. Learned Frank G. Smith
Alton A. Gile Enos Huckins William H. Brown
John E. Davis Alonzo E. Eastman James H. Williams
William M. Peppard Frank H. Smith Phillip D. Hart
Frank P. Sherwell Austin W. Woodman George F. Gilpatrick
The lodge room was housed in the Sargant's Block and membership in 1905 was 85. Officers were:
Howard H. Langhill, Chancellor Commander
L. Albert Day, Vice Chancellor
John H. Evans, Probate
J. Melvin Brown, Master of Work
William P. Freeman, Keeper of Records and Seals
William J. Randolph, Master of Finance
Iza J. Smith, Master of Exchequer
Alonzo Morse, Master at Arms
Freeman Hussey, Inner Guard
Frank Hall, Outer Guard
Officers were chosen semi-annually, and the Past Chancellors were:
Myron P. Browley Frank E. Harran Alvah C. Cousins
William C. Sherwell George F. Gilpatrick Frank P. Sherwell
Harry S. Heath Daniel H. McLinn Charles L. Tilton
William J. Randolph Iza J. Smith E. Harvey Edmonds
William H. Brown Samuel W. Slye Charles M. Nelson
William H. Wells T. Albert Love William C. Hobart
William P. Freeman
The Justus B. Penniman Post, No. 42, G.A.R. - This Post of the Grand Army of the Republic of the Department of New Hampshire, was instituted by Department Commander, George Bowers, on April 7, 1879. The name of the Post perpetuated the memory of a Plymouth native who died of his wounds at New Orleans in 1863. There were 38 charter members and 163 members enrolled in the Post. In 1905, John E. Perkins of the 131st Pennsylvania Infantry was the Commander of the Post, having been elected in 1904. The Post Adjutant was Henry Carroll of the 13th New York Infantry. Past Commanders and their date(s) of installation were:
Oliver H.P. Craig, Captain 6th NH Infantry 1879 to 1881
Elijah L. Smith, 6th NH Infantry 1882, 1883
Manson S. Brown, 13th NH Infantry 1884 to 1886, 1889
Alvin Burleigh, 15th NH Infantry 1887, 1888
John Chandler, 2nd NH Infantry 1890, 1891
Joseph Parker, U.S. Navy, 9th NY Heavy Artillery 1893 to 1895
Curtis L. Parker, 6th NH Infantry 1896
Frank Morton, 17th VT Infantry 1897 to 1900, 1902
Harris J. Godd, 18th NH Infantry 1901
Joseph L. Mitchell, 29th MA Infantry 1903
The Penniman Relief Corps - This loyal consort of the G.A.R. is Corps No. 9
and was instituted by Past Deputy President, Mattie Moulton Buxton on October
16, 1882, with 21 charter members. The mission of the organization was to
provide for the comfort and necessities of the sick or needy veterans. The
officers in 1905 were:
Sarah Elizabeth (Cook) Carroll, president
Emma Estelle (Tourtillotte) Wood, senior vice-president
Emma E. Lambert, junior vice-president
Anna Lougee, secretary
Amanda Noyes (George) Farnum, treasurer
Julia (Ryan) Brainerd, chaplain
Mattie Knox, conductor
Winnie Wells, assistant conductor
Mary Ellen (Flanders) Hutchins, guard
Past presidents were: Emma Kent, Lydia Smith, Ann P.E. (Whitney) Brown, Amy
W. (Harvey) Philbrick, Mary Ellen (Lowd) Tupper, Eliza (Haley) Parker, Emily
Belle (Farnum) McLinn, Emma Sargent, Francenia White, and Juliaetta (Ryan)
Brainerd.
The Grange - The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was instituted at Washington, D.C. on December 4, 1867. Encouraged by the State Board of Agriculture, subordinate granges have been established in many towns throughout New Hampshire. The Plymouth Grange, No. 239, was organized January 30, 1896 by William D. Bake, District Deputy. Early meetings met in the Ward Hill Schoolhouse and in private homes. In March 1896, the Grange occupied a hall in Mason and Weeks Block, but for a few months in 1900, the meetings were held in the hall in the Kidder Block.
Charter members were Solomon A. Smith, Mary V.H. Smith, Benjamin F. ellis, Dorothea Ellis, William M.H. Brown, George W. Yeaton, Jennie Frances (Fisher) Yeaton, Mynett J.S. Mitchell, Sarah B. Smith, Woodbury F. Langdon, Donna G.M. Langdon, Rev. Lorin Webster, Edgar Merrill, Abbie Jane (Sanborn) Merrill, Susan F. (Downing) Hazelton, William Downing, Ralph W. Thomas, Livingston D. Fogg, Clara Ann (Lougee) Fogg, Cyrus Smith, James B. Corliss, Fred Corliss, Carrie Kent, and Lottie Smith.
Worthy Masters and the year of their election are listed below:
Edgar Merrill 1896
Livingston D. Fogg 1898
Adin H. Philbrick 1901
William H. Wells 1903
Iza J. Smith 1904
The membership in 1905 was 168 persons.