From The History of Salisbury p 17 Hills, by John Dearborn 1890:
“Searle’s or “Meeting House Hill”, called Mount Zion on the Proprietors’ book and “Mount Pisgah’” by Mr Webster, was named for the first settled minister, to which was added its first supplementary name from the fact that it was the location of Salisbury’s Zion, or its first church. It is near the center of the original town, and its summit was the scene of the alarm fires, which were kindled as signals in the perilous days of the pioneers, and presents many magnificent landscape views.
Historical Significance
It was the most northern church in the Province west of of the Merrimack River at the time of the ordination sermon for Reverend Searle. In addition it was frequented by notables, Revolutionary War heroes, Josiah Bartlett signer of the Declaration of Independence and future governor, the pioneering family of Ebenezer Webster and the site of Daniel’s baptism. It also impresses upon the mind a testament to the hearty early pioneers who braved snow, wind and challenging roads to attend services and some who even chose to homestead on the hill. We think of the young minister who gave his all to maintain and attend to his flock and who saw challenging times in his final days. With the hard work of these pioneers the church was built from the very timbers of oaks and pines that were part of the thick forest on the hill.
An important event was the ordination of Reverend Searle:
Nov 16, 1773 delegates from several churches gathered to begin the process of Reverend Searle’s ordination. “Visiting guests came from Kingston, Sandown and Rowley Mass, Warner, Hillsborough Hopkinton, Canterbury, Sanbornton and Concord to witness the ceremonies, of the occasion and participate in the pleasure of ordaining a minister so near the then limits of civilization….. An ordination in those days was an important event as is shown by the fact that people attended this at Salisbury, traveling on horseback from Rowley and Ipswich Mass., a distance of eighty-five miles fording streams and and following paths marked by notched (spotted or blazed ) trees.” p.151 History of Salisbury by John Dearborn”…. The ordination sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Jewett of Rowley was preached in the meeting house as we have seen it had been completed the year before.”- John Dearborn
What did the Church/Meeting House look like?
1) Size: We can assume that the Searle’s Hill Church was Meeting House style and approximately 44 x 60 based on the following. The new church that was reconstructed using materials from the Searles Hill church measures 44 x 60 feet. The Searles Hill church was identical to the first church in Kingston where the supporter of the town and some future residents resided. The seacoast population was flourishing so we can assume it was indeed a big church as well. History tells that the the Searles Hill Church had no steeple, had double rows of windows 12 over 12 we can assume, and was not fully completed. Todays Congregational Church no longer has the older style windows but rather only 3 tall gothic windows. The Searles Hill Church was taller than the current church that now sits at the crossroads.
The Sandown Meeting House remains in original condition inside and out and may give us a picture of what a traditional meeting house of this era looked like inside and out and perhaps close to what the Searles Hill Church was like.
The Meeting House in Sandown NH
The following link is to a video by a specialist photographer who has closely studied the architecture of old Meeting Houses. Towards the end of the video he does a walk through of the Sandown Meeting House which clearly shows what Box Pews looked like in a traditional Church/Meeting House layouts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSgmQzbnkOU
2) Pews: Pews were boxed pews which were traditional for the time. Sponsors would buy pews for their family or simply sponsor the church with a pew purchase. They were areas with low walls and benches and one could remain cozy in them on cold days with small charcoal burning in their hand held metal heaters.
Examples of box pews from other churches elsewhere:
The sale of pews according to John Dearborn were advertised and the sale took place in Kingston NH and April 7, 1768.
Pew # 3-David Tilton, second pew on on the left hand of the west door to John Calef, #4 on the floor to Samuel French, second pew on the right of the east side to Jonathan Ladd.
Sale May 25,1768 adjourned at the house of Benjamin Sanborn in Salisbury
Pew #1- Capt.John Webster, #5- William Calef , #6-Andrew Bohonon, #7-Capt. John Webster, #8-Thomas Webster,#9 – Andrew Pettengill ,#12-Ebenezer Webster,#13 John Collins, #14-Jacob Gale, #15-Jacob Gale, #15- Shubael Greeley
Col. Ebenezer Webster and family owned a box pew and attended services at the Church atop the hill and many trudged the arduous path up the mountain as well. At one time there was a connecting road from the Punch Brook Road near the Webster Farm (now in Franklin) into Shaw’s Corners and up to Searle’s Hill.
Josiah Bartlett, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence and future Governor at the time, owned a box pew and would attend services traveling on rough roads from Kingston NH to visit his nephew residing in Salisbury.
3) Doors: Likely 3. From the sale of pews we know there was an east and west door. This seems to indicate that it follows the traditional design of early meeting house with East West and South doors. The South door would be the Ministers.
4) Orientation: Traditionally the south wall was a long wall to gather sun and light. Considering the orientation of Searles Hill Road the orientation of the church is unclear.
5) Baptismals and Communion Plate Daniel Webster was baptized in the church on Searle’ Hill. The Communion dish is in the possession of the Salisbury Congregational Church.
Exploring Searles Hill, please note: Searles Hill Road is a Class 6 road and is not maintained by the town. The land is all privately owned as the oldest deeds show including those sections that were once laid out for town use as such as a Meeting House, School, Parsonage and graveyard. A good portion of the land is posted and requires the permission of the land owner to visit. As with all areas where remnants of old farms or building once stood there are cellar holes and open dug wells and are not safe. If you are on unposted land or otherwise please note that all objects or artifacts found belong to the landowner and may be of historical significance and should not be removed.