Meeting House Green

By Lucy A. Marston

The Hamptons Union

Thursday, September 10, 1925

Communication
Hampton Academy tablet
Tablet on Meeting House Green
Editor of Hamptons Union:
There recently has been much needless discussion regarding the site of the old church and "Meeting House Green." To those who have Dow's History of Hampton, there need be no doubt. It is explicitly told there, where the first church in Hampton stood. This was East of where the Academy used to stand, and the mounds near were said to be part of the fortifications of the old church. At the 100th anniversary of the Academy, in 1910, a tablet was placed on the stone erected for both Academy and the first log church erected there.

If those who have Dow's History of Hampton will look at the map in the back, they will find the houses marked with names of many of the first settlers. The M. H. for meeting house, is on that side next to Ring's swamp around which it is said all of the early settlers built their homes; this being "the open green meadow among the forests," referred to in the account of their arrival. You will also find on this map "Meeting House Green," marked on the site of Ring's swamp , and it is said that this swamp was all, at one time, Meeting House Green.

Never at any time in town or church history was the site of Memorial park called Meeting House Green. When we attended the Academy, when on the old site, we often called the park land, the "Parsonage Green" as it laid between the Academy and the parsonage. We have the town history, church history, and other papers which prove very plainly all of these things and it seems there was no need of any mistake being made. Meeting House Green, was according to all records north of the old site, in Ring's swamp, and not south where the park lies.

This makes no difference in the Park Memorial to the first settlers, but it should not be stated that the first church stood here for this is not true. I have been requested by some of the park committee and others to make this statement. I have in my possession Dea. Dow's history and papers, State and town, also church histories; also traditions handed down from the older inhabitants, which are highly prized.

  LUCY A. MARSTON