1746 Johnston, William
1747-1755 temporary minister
John Harvey –wife was first person laid in old graveyard
1766.1772Morrison, John
Paid from town taxes
He was enough intemperate to point of scandal in town and asked to leave
1778.1792 Annon, David
Paid from town taxes
He was difficult to get along with and his behavior was “licentious”. Beat wife enough that she filed for divorce. Men in town tied him to a pole and dumped him in pond. Asked to leave.
1799.1827 Dunbar, Elijah
Born 1773, died 1850
Son of Elijah and Sarah Dunbar, Canton MA
Harvard University Degree in mathematics in 1794
Tutored in math at Williams College, 1794-1796
3 youngest boys blind at an early age, But wrote music and songs
Paid from town taxes until 1824, when Toleration Act ended tax support of the church
Progressed from Peterborough Presbyterian Church to the Congregational Church and he became its first minister
After much turmoil in the early 1820’s, the church turned to liberal religion, lead by Rev. Dunbar. The church became the Congregational Society, Unitarian
Wrote the ecclesiastical history of Peterborough during his ministry
Left for Milford in 1825
1827-1840 Abbot, Abiel
Born 1765, died 1859
Father founded Wilton
Attended Phillips Andover Academy
Harvard University Degree in 1787, Phi Beta Kappa
Married Elizabeth Abbot in 1796
Taught and principal at Dummer Academy 1811-1819
Started seven different libraries, two of which were a Ministerial Library and Juvenile library
Served as a Library director, Board of Education member
Started the first town Sunday School
Formed the Tree Society (reforestation) in 1840
Formed Horticultural Society
Conferred as a Doctor of Divinity in 1838
At the Peterborough 250th Anniversary in 1989, noted as Peterborough’s most influential citizen
