Jones v. Towne
Supreme Court of New Hampshire
Trespass, for an assault in forcibly removing the plaintiff from a pew in a meeting-house. The meeting-house was erected by the town of Rindge about the year 1791. In 1839 the town voted to permit the First Congregational church and society in Rindge to make alterations in the interior of the building so as to make an upper and a lower room; and further voted, that in consideration that the society would make such alterations, the society should have the exclusive possession…
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Trespass, for an assault in forcibly removing the plaintiff from a pew in a meeting-house. The meeting-house was erected by the town of Rindge about the year 1791. In 1839 the town voted to permit the First Congregational church and society in Rindge to make alterations in the interior of the building so as to make an upper and a lower room; and further voted, that in consideration that the society would make such alterations, the society should have the exclusive possession of and the right to control the upper room as an audience-room, to be used for the purposes of public worship, and the…
1Opinion of the CourtClark, J.
In Fisher v. Glover, 4 N. H. 180, the court, in discussing the question of the rights of pew-holders, say, — “ It is usual to grant to individuals the exclusive use of pews, and these grants give to those individuals certain rights which are to bo protected. The rights thus acquired are, however, limited, and are, in our opinion, subject to the right of the society to have the meeting-house in such place as will best accommodate the whole. A reservation of this right is implied in the grant of a pew in a house of public worship. The convenience of individuals must in such cases be subject to…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Sohier v. Trinity ChurchMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1871
- Perrin v. GrangerSupreme Court of Vermont · 1860
- Howe v. StevensSupreme Court of Vermont · 1875
3Cited by2 opinions
- Haley v. ColcordSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1879
- First Presbyterian Society v. BassSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1895