THE HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN AND AVEBSTER, FROM 1733 TO 1878 COMPILED BY CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN. WITH iMAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS. ^^ CONCORD, N. H.: PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1878. 1*1 v^ y u ^ ipAciA^Zt^ GaA.^€cZ^^ &d -L^ CONTENTS Page. Preliminary Chapter, V Civil Hi. 3T0RY, 1 Chap. I. Plantation of Coutoocook, . 1 II. Settlement of Contoocook, . 15 III. The Second Decade, .... 28 IV. The Ei-ench and Indian War, 51 V. The Town, ..... 81 VI. Preparing for the Great Struggle, 103 VII. Beginning of the Revolution, 111 VIII. Close of the War, .... 122 IX. Under the Constitution, . . . . 136 X. Pirst Decade of the Century, 157 XI. Progress, ...... 172 XII. Prom 1820 to 1830, 188 XIII. Temperance, 194 XIV. Prom 1840 to 1850, 203 XV. Prom 1850 to 1860, 211 Webster , . 217 Ecclesiastical History, 226 Military History*, . 246 Educational History, 279 Biographical History", . 301 Genealogical, . 451 Miscellany, 619 ILLUSTEATIOIN^S. Charles Carleton CofRn, . John Kimball, .... I. K. Gage, .... Map of Boscaweu and Webster, Alfred Little, .... Crossing to Contoocook, . 'Duston, Neff, and Leonardson, Hezekiah Fellows, S. B. Little, . First Meeting-house, William H. Gage, Abraham Burbank, Nathan Pearson, Moody A. Pillsbury, Indian Medicine, Moses Fellows, Hale Atkinson, William Temple, Elipbaiet Kiburn, Benjamin T. Kimball Thomas Gerrish, Thomas Little, Worcester Webster, Town-house, Webster, Abial R. Chandler, . Breaking and Swingling, Plow, Hay-scales, Friend L. Burbank, E. K. AVebster, Jacob Gerrish, Congregational Meeting-house, Boscawen, Congregational Meeting-house, Webster, Congregational Meeting-house, Fisherville, Methodist Meeting-house, Webster, Bennington Battle-ground, Plan of Bennington Battle, D. E. Burbank, CM. Burbank, W. H. Sargent, D. A Macurdy, Boscawen Academy, Page. Frontispiece. VI ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. "* Penacook Academy, 293 Enoch Little, 301 John Aldrich, ..,.....•• 315 Edward Buxton, 323 Jonas Call, 335 Moody Currier, 345 John A. Dix, 349 Birthplace of John Adams Dix, • 357 Moses G. Farmer, 361 Early Home of Prof. M. G. Fanner, 371 W. P. Fessendeu, 375 llesidence of Dea. Thomas Gerrish, 379 Martha Clough Gerrish, 384 Nath'l Greene, 387 Chas. G. Greene, 393 D. F. Kimball, 399 Henry Little, 413 Jacob Little, 421 J. L. Pillsbury, 429 Fred P. Stone, 439 Daniel Webster, 447 Ezekiel Webster, 453 Henry Atkinson, 469 .Coffin Arms, 491 Enoch Corser, 497 John P. Farmer, 525 J F. S. French, 533 »■ The Home of Enoch, Isaac, Enoch, and F. L. Gerrish, . . 539 Enoch Gerrish, ......... 551 A^lmon Harris, 555 Enoch Kilburn, ......... 5C3 Peter Kimball, 569 Thomas Little, 577 Charles Little, 587 Peter Stone, C13 W. AV. Call, 621 B. A. Kimball, 631 S. B. Gerrish, 635 Carding and Spinning, 641 J. W. Gerrish 645 Duston Monument, 649 F. L. Gerrish, 657 J. E. Pecker, 659 A.B.Winn, 661 peelimi:n"aby chapter. There is but one municipality in the world bearing the name of Boscawen. The township, thus named for Lord Boscawen of the English navj', is situated on the west bank of Merrimack river in New Hampshire. Originally it was seven miles square, and, from the date of its settlement in 1733 to 1760, bore the Ind- ian name Contoocook, After a corporate existence of one hun- dred years, from 1760 to 1860, the township was divided into two parts nearly equal in area, the eastern retaining the original cor- porate name, the western taking the name of Webster, in honor of America's great orator, jurist, and statesman, who received his education, in part, in Boscawen, and who for three years was one of its honored citizens. The first movement to obtain a history of the town was inau- gurated sixty years ago, by Capt. Joshua C Plummer, Henry, Enoch, and Simeon B. Little, and others, at whose solicitation the work was undertaken by Rev, Ebenezer Price, pastor of the Second Congregational church. George Jackman, born in 1735, town-clerk for many years, was then living, and many other indi- viduals whose memories reached back to the early years of the town's history, from whom Rev. Mr. Price obtained authentic in- formation to supplement the town records. The result of his labor was the publication of a pamphlet entitled "A Chronological Register of Boscawen, Merrimack county. State of New Hamp- shire, from the first settlement of the town to 1820." The town voted fifty dollars to Rev. Mr. Price as compensa- tion for the writing, but appropriated nothing for publishing the pamphlet, the expense of which was borne by the public-spirited Viii PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. men who started the enterprise, to their pecuniary loss. The his- tory was written with much care, and, though brief, presented an admirable outline of the civil affairs, and a record of the most im- portant events of the period. Fifty-eight years have passed since the publication of that history, during which period great changes have taken place. Many of the former citizens and their descendants are to be found upon the prairies of the West, or amid the mines of Nevada and California ; while others have taken up their abodes in the manufacturing towns of New England, or in the cities of the sea- board, turning their attention from agricultural to mechanical or mercantile pursuits. Emigration, railroads, and the employment of machinery, supplanting manual labor in a great degree m the shop and on the farm, have changed society. Apprenticeship, and trades once acquired under it, together have disappeared. Many of the employments and occupations of fifty years ago have disappeared forever. New habits and customs have taken the places of those of other days. The children of to-day do not stand bare-headed, with cap in hand, by the roadside, and " make their manners " when the minister rides by. The minister is no longer an oracle, nor are the town esquires embodiments of the majesty of law, as in days of yore. Since the publication of Rev. Mr. Price's history, the academy, and the graded and normal schools, have supplemented the schools taught by the masters and mistresses of the olden time, in which the catechism was regarded as an important study. No newsboy rides his weekly post-route now, as Simeon B. Little rode in those first years of the century, carrying the Concord Gazette to his patrons ; no canvas-covered wagons plod their way along the turn- pike, from Vermont to Boston; no gaily painted stage, with horses all afoam, rolls along the dusty way ; the tavern sign no longer swings in the wind ; the hospitable landlord, the bar with its row of glass decanters, the generous fire flaming on the hearth, the heated loggerhead, toddy-stick, flip, and punch, — all have disappeared. There are new methods and new forces in the civilization of to- day. The railroad, the telegraph, the printing-press, and other forces equally powerful, are coming in to transform society ; — the telephone, which enables us to talk with friends far away, as if PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. IX they were by our side ; the phonograph, which preserves the words we speak — which will bring back to us from the eternal shores the voices of our departed friends, so that even from the spirit land we may still hear their voices as when they were with us in the flesh. Fifty-eight years ago, the world at large knew nothing of these forces of civilization. The reaping-machine, the sewing- machine, the multitudinous devices and arrangements of mechan- ical forces to make iron, steel, steam, and water-power do the work of human hands, were all unknown. The period since 1840 has been the world's great era of invention, surpassing all other pe- riods in history. Fifty-eight years ago, when Rev. Mr. Price laid down his pen as historian, the world had not heard of the men whose names to-day are written large in the history of the republic. In 1820, Daniel Webster was a lawyer of renown in Boston ; but ten years passed before the nation heard of him. In that same year, John Adams Dix was a student-at-law, poring over Blackstone ; William Pitt Fessenden a sophomore at Bowdoin ; Jacob Little a soph- omore at Dartmouth ; Henry Little at work on his father's farm ; Moses Gerrish Farmer an infant in his mother's arms ; — to-day, all except Rev. Henry Little and Prof. Farmer have accomplished their life-work, and have passed on to the great Hereafter. The citizen best qualified to gather up the memorials of the past, to summarize the life-work of his compeers through this period of nearh' three-score years, was Simeon B. Little, born in 1797. He had an inquiring mind, a retentive memory, and a compre- hensive grasp of men and things. In his boyhood he talked with men whose memories ran back to the first years of the town's set- tlement. His father had been a soldier at Bennington, a magis- trate, a man conversant with public affairs. Through the old men of his early years he became intimately acquainted with that in- valuable history and tradition of the past, that had no record save in the memories of men. Active in private and public life, he came in contact with the whole community. As moderator of town-meetings, he knew every voter ; as administrator of estates and executor of wills, and as a magistrate, he became acquainted with the histories of individuals and families. He loved history, and for many years intended to gather up the records and memo- X PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. rials for the basis of a complete history ; hut, beset hy the cares of a busy life, he never found time to carry out his intentions. It was in 1871, after partial paralysis had incapacitated him from labor, that I talked with him upon the subject of employing some one to write at his dictation. " It is too late ; somebody else must do it," he said. Wishing to preserve what would be lost forever when his mem- ory failed, I made notes of his recollections, not with the inten- tion of myself embodying them in a historic volume, but to turn them over to some one who might be induced to undertake the work. A few months later I met Eev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton, tlien editing the Provincial Records of New Hampshire, who was keenly alive to the importance of preserving town histories. " You must write the history of Boscawen," he said. '' No other town has exercised a more potent influence for good ; none can show a brighter record, or such a roll of honor. If you do not undertake the work, its history never will be written." Impressed by the earnest remarks of Dr. Bouton, and at the solicitation of Isaac K. Gage, Esq., and others of my native town, I began the collection of materials. The field of research has been wide, embracing the archives in the office of the Massachusetts secretary of state, the secretary's and adjutant-general's offices at Concord, the libraries of the New Hampshire Historical, Massa- chusetts Historical, and New England Genealogical and Histori- cal societies, the records of the proprietors of Contoocook, and the records of the town since its incorporation up to 1878. Lord Macauley, in writing his History of England, confessed that he had obtained valuable information from old almanacs, and from the fly-leaves of books scrawled by hands that had long before crumbled to dust. Although this volume is but the history of a town instead of a period in the history of a kingdom, I may with equal propriety express my indebtedness to scraps of paper found in old chests and bags, to files of almanacs, diaries, account-books, and other memoranda obtained from garrets. The preparation of the volume has necessitated a wide corre- spondence ; for the sons and daughters of Boscawen are to be found in nearly every state and territory of the Union. I am indebted to Gov. John A. Dix for reminiscences of his bovhood in PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. Xl Boscawen; also to Hon. G. W. Nesmith, of Franklin, for valu- able information relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary periods ; also to Levi Bartlett, of Warner, who in his earl}'- years was a resident of Boscawen, and whose acquaintance with the chief men of the town dates hack to the early years of the cen- tury. It is a pleasure to express my indebtedness to Benjamin Jack- man, Enoch Pillsbury, David Sweatt, and Luke Corser, — all born in the eighteenth century, and who are still able to recall the scenes of their early years. I am under special obligations to Dea. William Temple, of East Woburn, Mass., long a resident of Boscawen, an officer of the militia and of the church, antiquary and genealogist, who has enriched the volume by his contributions. To my co-laborers, Isaac K. Gage, John C. Pearson, Hon, John Kimball, Maj. Alfred Little, and Ephraim Little, who have especially aided in the preparation of the volume, who have labored with no hope of reward except that enjoyment which comes from serving others, I express my sincere gratitude, and ask for them the thanks of the public. The citizens of Boscawen are indebted to Mrs. Ezekiel Webster for the portrait of her husband, and also to Mrs. Charlotte G. Cumston, of Boston, through whose liberality the volume is adorned by portraits of her father, Col. Charles G. Greene, and her uncle, Nathaniel Greene ; and they are under like obli- gations to Hon. ]\Ioody Currier, of Manchester, for his portrait ; to Mrs. Mary G. Wood, of West Lebanon, and Mrs. Betsy Wil- son, of Contoocook, for the restored view of one of the historic mansions no longer existing, — the birthplace of Nathaniel and Charles G. Greene and William P. Fessenden. They are under like obligations to Prof. Moses G. Farmer and Mrs. C. C. Coffin for a view of their early home ; and to Col. Enoch Gerrish for a view of his birth-place and home of his ancestors. I am under obligations to Eev. Nathaniel Bouton, d. d., lately deceased, to Benjamin Chase, historian of Chester, and to Robert B. Caverly, of Lowell, Mass., for illustrations, which add much to the attractiveness of the volume. To those who have contributed portraits of themselves, to those filial sons and daughters who have given portraits of fathers, to Xn PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. all who have contributed biographies and genealogies, the thanks of the public are due. • To Henry Rolfe, of Winchester, Mass., the citizens are indebted for the account of manufactures at Fisherville. Through the kindness of A. J. Coolidge, of Boston, the volume has been enriched by a view of Bennington battle-field. I wish to express mj^ thanks to Edward A. Jenks, through whose care and watchfulness the pages of the volume are so fair and free from errors. Thanks are also due to W. H. Forbes, of Boston, for the care taken in printing the lithographs contained in the volume. To aid the publication of this history, the town of Boscawen voted, in 1875, with great unanimity, the sum of three hundred dollars. The town of Webster not having appropriated any money, and it being manifest that a history worthy of the town could not be published without the cooperation of individuals, fifteen public- spirited citizens obligated themselves, in the sum of eight hun- dred and fifty dollars, to bear whatever expense might be incur- red in the publication. The citizens signing this compact are Isaac K. Gage, Peter Coffin, Nathaniel S. Webster, Charles J. Chadwick, E. G. Wood, John C. Pearson, D. E. Kimball, Geo. Little, M. A. Pillsbury, Sherman Little, Henry H. Gerrish, Wm. W. Burbank, r. B. Sawyer, James L, Gerrish. Ephraim Little, It is a pleasure to record their names, for had it not been for their public spirit the history would never have reached the hands of the printer. Coming generations will accord them the honor which is their due. The citizens of Boscawen have a right to know to what uses the money voted by the town has been appropriated, and it is a pleasure to say that they will find the entire amount in the outline map of the two towns, and in the views of the churches, academies, the Duston monument, and the portraits of Daniel Webster, John A. Dix, and William P. Eessenden. The compiler of this history has given many days and nights PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. XIU to the undertaking, many weeks and months, has experienced much weariness of mind and body, without hope of any pecuniary recompense ; but he has the satisfaction of knowing that the memorials are rescued from oblivion, to be preserved forever. Mistakes there are, some of which have been corrected on the page of amendments. No one can be more sensible than the writer to the incompleteness of the work, nor can any one who has not engaged iu collecting historical data understand how difficult it has been in many instances to verify information. A historian should be unbiassed; and it has been the aim of the writer, in this respect, to divest himself of all predilection that would swerve him from correct statement concerning parties in politics and denominations in religion, and a just judgment of men and events. The volume has grown upon the compiler's hands, containing some two hundred pages more than was first contemplated ; and yet the material at his command, statistical and documentary, of great interest, would have swelled the volume to one thousand pages. The record of service in the Rebellion is limited to the names of those who enlisted. Little is recorded of their march- ings, their sufferings, their heroism in battle, their wounds, their deaths ; and space also has been wanting to set forth the services of those who have been educators of the communit}' — a long list of honorable names. The history of Boscawen covers a period of one hundred and forty-five years, reaching back to the time when the colonies of England embraced only a narrow strip along the Atlantic coast, when by far the largest portion of the continent was under the dominion of France. It covers the period of the great struggle between those powers for supremacy in the Western world. Citi- zens of Boscawen took part in those struggles, and aided to supplant the banner bearing the lilies of France for that emblaz- oned with the cross of St. George. From 1733 to 1756 Bos- cawen was the outpost of civilization. From the log cabins on King street to the St. Lawrence there were no human habi- tations, with the exception of those in Salisbury,' from which the settlers were forced to flee ; yet, keeping watcli and ward, the stalwart citizens of Boscawen boldly maintained their ground against the savage foe. They traversed the pathless wilderness Xiv PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. to the upper Connecticut, or served at Ticonderoga and Crown Point against the common enemy. In the Eevolution every citizen was a patriot. Twenty men of Boscawen stood unfalteringly behind the rail fence at Bunker Hill with John Stark, and gave that resistance which made the repub- lic of the United States a possibility. Twenty-six of them were in that storming of the enemy's works at Bennington, which, in its results, made the republic a certainty. In the war of 1812, and in the Rebellion of 1861, there was no diminution of patriotism. Whenever soldiers were called for, there were men ready to enlist ; whenever money was wanted, there was no stint in appropriation. Whoever peruses this history will notice that the first settlers recognized religion as essential to the welfare of the community ; that at the outset they erected a meeting-house, organized a church, and settled a minister; that through all the proprietary meetings, the first business done was to vote the necessary sup- plies for the support of their pastor ; that during the years when they were compelled to live in garrison, doing their work in the field with sentinels on guard, and during all the hardships of the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, they maintained public wor- ship. It will be further noticed, that during the Colonial war, when taxes were burdensome, and through the Revolution, when their currency was worthless, they supported public schools. "New Hampshire produces granite and men," was Daniel Webster's answer to one who sneered at the rock-ribbed state that gave him birth. Is there any other locality in this republic that can present such a roll of honorable names as Boscawen ex- hibits to the world ? True, Daniel and Ezekiel Webster were born just outside its corporate limits, but the influence of such a civilization as the first settlers of Contoocook inaugurated is not confined by lines run by a surveyor's compass, measured by a chain, and blazed on the pines of the forest. Such a civilization illuminates all the surrounding country. The early settlers of Salisbury sat in its light, as did they of Canterbury, attending meeting in Boscawen. Not till 1773, thirty-three years after the settlement of Rev. Phineas Stevens, was there a minister in Salis- bury. Although Canterbury was incorporated as a town in 1727, PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. XV and was settled in 1733, there was no clmrcli organized till 1760. Not till 1772, when Rev. Eden Bnrroughs was ordained, was there a minister in Hopkinton. Throngh all those years, dating back to 1738, the log meeting-house on King street was the one spot between Concord and Canada where public religious service was always maintained. As upon the yielding sand we trace the footsteps of those who have gone before us, so on the pages of this history we shall see what those first settlers — what Kev. Phineas Stevens, Rev. Robie Morrill, Rev. Samuel Wood, those early ministers of Boscawen — did for those who have succeeded them in the march of life. To Rev. Samuel Wood came Daniel Webster, at the age of fif- teen, to supplement his few weeks of study at Exeter, preparatory to entering Dartmouth college. In the library established by the citizens of Boscawen he found mental aliment which gave him strength in after years. To Boscawen he came to begin the busi- ness of life : from it he went forth, with the impress of its civili- zation upon him, to enter upon his great career. To the same faithful teacher and pastor came Ezekiel Webster to prepare for college. He made Boscawen his home, lighting his torch at that fire kindled seventy years before by those men and women, who, in their poverty and feebleness, estimating their moral and spiritual welfare as of greater moment than all things else, reared their meeting-house and established a church. Not only these two men, but those other distinguished men, whose names are recorded in this volume, who have left their mark upon the age, are the natural outgrowth of the seed sown by those first settlers of Boscawen, who obtained a learned min- ister from Harvard college as their teacher in moral and spirit- ual things. The reader will be interested to see how the influence of that act, like a river, having its source in an ever-flowing fountain, has broadened and deepened ; how it has fertilized the nation ; how the forces brought into action by those self-denying men and women have been felt in the pulpit, the forum, the university ; in the legislative halls of states and of the nation; in diplomacy; in finance ; in the founding of churches and the establishment of Sun- day-schools ; in education, science, journalism, authorship; in* the moulding of public opinion ; in missionary effort, — felt to-day not Xvi PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. only iu the United States, but in Asia and Africa ! Would Jacob Little have stamped the impress of his religious character upon the churches of Ohio, if there had been no church in Boscawen dur- ing those early years ? Would Henry Little have been such an organizer of Sunday-schools and churches throughout the West, if Rev. Phineas Stevens had not been ordained pastor of the little chutch in the Contoocook wilderness ? Would Henry 8. G. French have gone a missionary to Siam, or Myron Pinkerton to South Africa, if Joseph Gerrish, Joseph Coffin, Jacob Flanders, and their fellow proprietors, had not reared that first meeting-house? Did the life-work of Phineas Stevens, Dea. George Jackman, and godly Joanna Hale Gerrish die out in their generation ? " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, * * * and their works do follow them." The reader of these pages will have occasion often to recall the words of Jacob Little to his beloved pastor, Rev. Ebenezer Price (p. 434): " Mr. Price, you will never die. What you have taught, by precept and example, is spreading wider and wider, and going on to the third generation, and will keep going." Rev. Phineas Stevens, Rev. Samuel Wood, Rev. Ebenezer Price, Rev. Edward Buxton, and all who have labored for the moral and spiritual welfare of the communitj', are living on in the labors of those whose lives and characters have been moulded by their in- structions. Institutions that have their origin in the moral and spiritual needs of men live forever. The first rude meeting-house disappeared ; the second was licked up by the flames four score years ago, — but the church lives on. Rev. Phineas Stevens is preaching still. How far that little candle, lighted by the Chris- tian men and women of Contoocook, throws its beams ! How, as the years roll on, it will burn with ever increasing briglitness ! Not only the white light of a spiritual life, but the pure flame of patriotic devotion. The little log meeting-house was loop- holed for defence. The settlers worshipped with their rifles by their sides. Rev. Phineas Stevens marched with his flock in pur- suit of the savage. No Indian war-whoop blanched the cheeks of Andrew Bohonnon, Moses Burbank, Nathaniel and William Danforth, on that day when Enos Bishop was captured within sight of the meeting-house, nor when Thomas Cook and Ctesar were shot down at Clay hill. The settlers of Hopkinton, Warner, PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. XVU and Salisbury might abandon their homes, but they would not. Who can measure the influence of that courage upon those who came after them ? If they had been pusillanimous then, would Lieut. Samuel Atkinson, David Burbank, Edmund Chadwick, Asa Corser, David Flanders, and their comrades have stood like a wall of adamant at Bunker Hill ? would Capt. Peter Kimball and his soldiers have stormed the heights at Bennington ? would John Adams Dix, a century later, by a single stroke of the pen, have thrilled the country with patriotic fervor, — "^ any man attempts to haul doxon the American flag, shoot him on the spot " f Men die, generations come and go, but teachings, examples, and principles live. So the unflinching bravery of 1746-1760, after a century had rolled away, bloomed anew in 1860 for the preserva- tion of the republic. This volume is a simple recital of hardships, sufferings, and pri- vations ; of courage and endurance ; of the principles and progress of a rural community. It is no ignoble record, for, numbered among the citizens of Boscawen, are those who have sent their names down the advancing centuries. It is a memorial which will be of ever-increasing value as the years go by, which will be an heirloom to other generations ; for through it the citizens of Boscawen will connect themselves with those whom the world has recognized as worthy of all honor. In all ages there has been a desire among men to associate themselves with the great and good, thus manifesting their capac- ity and longing for immortality : for greatness and goodness are eternal in their nature, and men possessing them can never die. Said Daniel AVebster, standing on Plymouth rock, in 1S20, — " By ascending to an association with our ancestors ; \>^ con- templating their example, and studying their character ; by jjar- taking their sentiments and imbibing their spirit ; by accom- panying them in their toils; by sympathizing in their sufferings, and rejoicing in their successes and their triumphs, — we seem to belong to their age, and to mingle our existence with theirs. * * Next to the sense of religious duty and moral feeling, I hardly know what should bear with stronger obligation on a liberal and enlightened mind than a consciousness of alliance with excellence which is departed, and a consciousness, too, that in its acts and conduct, and even in its sentiments and thoughts, it may be II XVlll PRELIMINARY CHAPTER, actively operating on the hapjiiness of those who come after it." So the great orator recognized the aspiration of the liuman race to associate itself with departed greatness. To be born where great men have had their nativity, or where they have lived, is, as it were, a patent of nobility. "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her : and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth np the people, that this man was born there." So the poet king of Israel sets forth the inherent nobility that comes from such a nativity. And the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews takes up the theme, and pictures the exaltation that comes to the citizens of the commonwealth of Israel through those who "subdued kingdoms, and wrought righteousness." This desire for an alliance with the great and good is one of the mightiest motives for human action. Over burning sands the weary pilgrim of the Orient wends his way, that he may bow in adoration before the tomb of Mahomet, and so prepare himself for the pleasures of Paradise. The church of Rome, recognizing this aspiration of the human race, canonizes its saints, and exhibits its multitudinous relics, investing them with power to heal disease, preserve from harm, or to save from sin. Is there any other force that can so stir the human heart ? " Soldiers of France ! four thousand years look down upon you." So Bonaparte ad- dressed his soldiers, and in that one sentence lay enfolded, as it were, the victory of the battle of the Pyramids, At Plymouth rock, at Bunker Hill, at Gettysburg, or wherever men have made great sacrifices for their fellow-men, our longing for immortality is kindled anew ; — so through their devotion are we lifted to a higher plane of existence. In this volume no attempt has been made to measure the value of services rendered. Omnipotence alone can gather up results. Plain and simple the record, but the sons and daughters of the good old town, perusing it, shall say, — God bless her in the FUTURE AS He has BLEST HER IN THE PAST ! LOCALITIES IN BOSCAWEN. XIX LOCALITIES IN BOSCAWEN. KING STREET. The first settlers of Contoocook manifested their loyalty to their sov- erign by calling the street on which they erected their meeting-house, " King street." In time it began to go by the name of " The Plain." As laid out by the surveyor, it extended from the small brook emptying into the pond at the southerly end, called " Town House brook" in the records, to the "Hollow," through which flows "Mill brook." For a half century or more it has been known as Boscawen Plain. It was laid out wide and straight, with house lots on each side. QUEEN STREET. This street, leading west from King street, was the second one laid out by Mr. Brown. MARLBOROUGH STREET. The third street laid out by Mr. Brown ran from Queen street north, parallel with King street, extending also to the " Hollow." The set- tlers named it in honor of the Duke of Marlborough. It was on the west side of the " Mountain," and crossed the present travelled road at the top of the hill east of "Cold brook." In the records it is sometimes written Mulbury street. A century ago it was probably quite as much of a thoroughfare as King street. THE HOLLOW. There is a deep ravine at the northern end of King street, through which flows Mill brook, upon which the first mill was erected. The locality is known as '' The Hollow," sometimes as " The Valley of Indus- try," from the number of industrial pursuits carried on there. Forty years ago it was familiarly known as " Sodom." Why so called is not known, but certainly not for any extraordinary and special wickedness of the dwellers therein, whose reputation for honesty and sobriety has never been called in question. THE MOUNTAIN. The hill west of the Plain has received the name of " The Mountain." From the highest point, the Indians, during the first French and Indian war, were accustomed to look down upon the garrison, and watch for opportunities to capture incautious settlers. On its highest summit the XX LOCALITIES IN BOSCAWEN, students of the academy, about 1830, erected a stone platform, where they used to rehearse their declamations, sending forth incipient oratory for the benefit of the inhabitants and travellers on the street below. FISII STREET. The road extending from the Hollow to Franklin received the name of Fish street in 1738. How far north it was laid by Mr. Brown at that time is unknown, but it was extended to Salisbury on the petition of John Sergent soon after [see Hist.]. THE TURNPIKE. The highway, beginning at the bridge across the Merrimack known as Boscawen bridge, and extending to Salisbury, was made a part of the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike, in the charter of that corpora- tion : hence its name. THE TOLL-GATE. One of the toll-gates of the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike was located at the top of the hill east of Cold brook. The toll-house is still standing. THE GULF. The deep ravine through which Cold brook flows was known as " The Gulf" by the first settlers, as appears from its frequent mention in the records, and has ever since been so called. CLAY HILL. The north bank of the Gulf is a compact bed of clay, which was re- served by the Proprietors as common land for the use of the settlers, and has always been called " Clay hill." HIGH STREET. The section of highway extending from the late residence of Col. Enoch Gerrish to Salisbury line was laid out by John Brown, and was appropriately named " High street." WOODBURY PLAIN. The small but level section of land a half mile west of the Gulf and east of the cemetery was the site selected by Mr. Ephraim Woodbury, an early settler, for his home, and hence became known as the Wood- bury Plain. The clay deposit shows itself upon the eastern border of the plain, and bricks were at one time manufactured there. LOCALITIES IN BOSCAWEN. XXI WATER STREET. The highway extending from the easterly end of Great pond to Salis- bury, parallel with High street, was laid out by John Brown, and named Water street. EEL STREET. The street from the hotel kept by Capt. John Chandler to Boscawen bridge was called Eel street. In the autumn large quantities of eels were caught there, in pots set near the mills. Recently it has been called Commercial street. duston's island. At the junction of the Contoocook with the Merrimack is a small island, wholly in Boscawen, which was the scene of the heroic deed of Hannah Duston and Mary Neff, in delivering themselves of their Indian captors. The island is now crossed by the Northern Railroad ; and upon it is the monument erected to commemorate Mrs. Duston's achieve- ment. STIRRUP-IRON BROOK. Tradition has it, that many years ago a stirrup iron, lost by Gen. Henry Dearborn, of Revolutionary fame, a general in the War of 1812, while on a visit to a sister in Salisbury, gave a name to the stream which has its source among the Salisbury hills, and which empties into the Merrimack at North Boscawen. INDIAN BRIDGE. The bridge across Stirrup-Iron brook bears this name in Rev. Mr. Price's history of Boscawen, so named from the killing of Sabbatis and Plansawa by Bowen a few rods north of the locality. LOWER INTERVALE. The intervale lands in the bend of the river, above the junction of the MArimack and Contoocok, were called by the first settlers the Lower Intervale lots. MIDDLE INTERVALE. The wide reach of lands above the Lower Intervale and Canterbury bridge is put down upon the first survey of the town by John Brown as the Middle Intervale. XXU LOCALITIES IN WEBSTER. UPPER INTERVALE. The land in the bend extending from the mouth of Mill brook to the small pond east of the HoIIoav is recorded on Surveyor Brown's map as the Upper Intervale. MUCHYEDO. On the east side of the Merrimack, in Canterbury, is a high sand- bank, which is a conspicuous landmark from the summit of Kearsarge mountain. Although not in Boscawen, occasional mention is made of it. There are various traditions relative to the origin of the name, — one, that an Indian, speaking broken English, exclaimed, — "Much-ye- do to climb it." LOCALITIES IN WEBSTER. CORSEK HILL. The long and high swell of land upon which the Congregational meet- ing-house stands bears the name of the settler David Corser, who pur- chased a large tract of land upon it, and erected the first franled house v/est of Beaver dam. fowler's plain. The level plat ©f land east of Corser hill and west of Beaver dam was so named from the settler Lemuel Fowler, who lived near Beaver Dam brook. It was originally covered with Norway pines, and in the rec- ords is sometimes called Norway plain. From tlie beginning of the century to 1816, many regimental musters were held there. LITTLE BROOK. The small brook west of Beaver dam, having its rise near Salisbury line and flowing into Couch pond, has long borne the name of "Little brook." • cook's hill. The rounded eminence north of Corser hill has borne the name of Cook's hill since 1745, when Thomas Cook built his log cabin near it, which probably was the first house erected in what is now the town of Webster. He was killed the next year by the Indians at Clay hill. ./' -i/ LOCALITIES IN WEBSTER. XXlll MUTTON ROAD. The road leading from Corser hill to Salisbury south village was laid out to enable the residents of Salisbury to reach Hopkinton, which prior to 1823 was one of the shire towns of Hillsborough county. It received the name of Mutton road, from the fact that some per- sons had been in the habit of helping themselves to mutton which did not belong to them, from the flocks of sheep in the pastures through which the road was located. PLEASANT STRRET. The highway leading south from INIutton road was laid out by the first surveyor of town lots, — John Brown, — and was named Pleasant street by the first settlers. DINGIT CORNER. The junction of several roads near the great bend of Blackwater river bears the name of Dingit corner, — so named, according to tradi- tion, from a little domestic turmoil. A settler lived near the local- ity. One day there was a difference of opinion between himself and wife ; and the latter seized a skillet to use as an argument in the case, but hesitated about throwing it. The husband, probably not having any great fear of the skillet, cried out, — " Ding it! ding it!" Hence the name. BATTLE STREET. The road leading from Corser hill north to Salisbury, w^est of Cook's hill, was one of the original highways laid out by the proprietors, and was named by them " Battle street." LITTLE HILL. Mr. Enoch Little, an early I'esident of what is now Webster, located on the swell of land west of Blackwater, in the north-west section of the town, and his sons settled around him, giving a name to the locality. WEST NEWBURY STREET. The highway leading north over Little hill was laid out by the pro- prietors, who named it '' West Newbury street," probably because it was the most westerly highway in the division of lots, and also to keep in remembrance their former home in Newbury. XXIV LOCALITIES IN WEBSTER, LONG POND. This pond, in Webster, is nearly two miles long, and from one half to three fourths of a mile wide ;— hence the appropriateness of the name. WHITE PLAIN. The etymology of the name is unknown. It is applied to the valley through which flows the stream issuing from Long pond westward to Warner river! The region west of Little hill is known to the inhabitants of Webster as " Dublin." A citizen of Irish descent once lived there, and hence the name of the capital of Ireland. POND HILL. The high swell of land west of Long pond. The south-western section of the town was covered with a dense forest growth. There were so many great red and white oak trees, that Dea. Enoch Little, St., thought it was worthy of bearing the biblical name of " Bashan," the country east of the Jordan, renowned for its oaks, mentioned in Zech. 11 -.2: " Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan." The name thus given has remained to the present time. RATTLESNAKE HILL. Webster, in common with many other towns, has its " Rattlesnake hill," the highest hill in Bashan. When the first settlers erected their homes in that section, it was the haunt of rattlesnakes. Mr. Moses Gerrish, on one occasion, killed forty in one day. The hearts of rattle- snakes were regarded as a specific for the cure of consumption in those days, and Mr. Gerrish was employed by the Shakers to hunt the reptiles. KNIGHT MEADOW BROOK. The brook which runs south, west of Little hill, from Tucker's pond) in Salisbury, to the stream issuing from Long pond. Y ^ >. r ^ v> o z: ^ Fold-out Placeholde fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted at a future ^^ "" ^ J^ r ^ ^ o o Ay ^ i^ ^ ^ Fold-out Placeholde s fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted at a futu LOCALITIES. LOCALITIES UPON THE LINE BETWEEN I30SCAWEN AND WEBSTER. LONG STREKT. Freriuent mention is made, in the records, of " Long street." It is the highway leading from High street, in Boscawen, to Corscr hill, and from thence by ^Vhite plain to Warner. BEAVER DAM. The stream, which has its source in Salisbm-y, and which flows into Couch pond, has been made the dividing line between Boscawen and Webster. It was a favorite haunt of beavers, whose dams may still be POND BROOK. The brook south of Couch pond, running to Great pond, and from Great pond to the Contoocook river, bears the name of " Pond brook." GREAT POND. The name, undoubtedly, was given to this sheet of water by the first settlers, as it occurs in Abner dough's journal, 1754, an extract from which will be found in the historical section. It lies half in Web- ster and half in Boscawen. COUCH POND. This is the small pond north of Great pond. OOEEECTIOES Tt is almost certain that in the preparation and printing of books there will be mistakes. In a town history, errors are un- avoidable. Some statements will need revision ; wrong dates will be given ; there will be errors in copying and in proof-reading. This volume is no exception to the general rule. Owing to the absence of the compiler while the sheets were passing through the press, there are some errors which might have been corrected in the proof had the pages passed under his final revision. The mistakes, however, are generally unimportant. The corrections given below are placed at the beginning of the volume in order that the reader may see what they are before reading. It is rec- ommended that a * be made at the outset, with a pen, in the margin of the page, against the corrections. kSucIi a mark will direct the attention to the proper reading. Page 42. '' Cajit. Daniel Todd, of Exeter," should read Daniel Ladd. Page 48. "The nearest grist-mill * * * -was situated at Millville," should read xoas situated at West Concord. The later information has been obtained from Simeon Abbot, of Con- cord. Page 132. "Carding and fulling mills were established in every town." It is a misstatement. Carding at that date, 1786, was done wholly by hand. There was no carding by machinery in Boscawen, probably, till about twenty years later. Machine- carding was not invented till about the beginning of the century. Cloth-dressing was a, distinct occupation. Dea. Isaac Pearson only dressed cloth. XXVlll CORRECTIONS. Page 135. "Dwiglit corner" should read Dingit corner. Page 152. In the protest of Silas Call, the first '' profession," although existing in the original document, is evidently a clerical error, and should he stricken out. Page 174. In last line, " foot-stones " should read foot-stoves. Page 208. The regiment of U. S. soldiers passing through the town should be recorded under date of 1845. Page 225. " Eesolved that * * * passed 18 May, 1877," should read 1876. Page 273. "Abraham Burbank, its first commander," should read second commander. Page 278. " Thurber, Joseph," should read Thurher, Joseph B. Page 309. " Born in Newbury, 3 June, 0. S. 1712," should read 22 January, 1711. Page 310. " He married Elizabeth Chase," should read 3Iar- tha Chase. Page 324. "■ Mrs. Lois Jewett," should read Miss Lois Jewett ; and " Mrs. Louisa Jane Dix Pillsbury," should read Mrs. Louisa F'rances Dix Pillsbury. Page 369. "A telegraph wire with a case or covering of iron or steel," should read a steel wire covered with copper. Page 399. " Kimball, Benj. T. * * * He died 9 July, 1852," should read 2 July, 1852. Page 400. " Kimball, Peter, was born 25 May, 1817," should read 25 March, 1817. Page 408. " Little, Enoch, Dea., 2d, =* * was born 1804," should read 1802. Page 427. " Pearson, Nathan. * * He died 8 Oct., 1868," should read 12 Oct., 1868. Page 429. "Pillsbury, Joseph L., Col. * * He died 10 Jan., 1874," should read 1873. Page 431. Instead of " Lucy Farrer," read Lucy Farrar. Page 432. " Ebenezer Sewell Price," should read Ebenezer Sewall Price. Page 437. " Stone, Peter, * * 19 Dec, 1799," should read 11 Dec, 1799. CORRECTIONS. XXIX Page 455. '^ His widow married Prof. Guthrie, of Marietta college," should read JRev. Geo. H. Wliipple., of Oherlin. Page 462. " Jabez* (Janies,^ William,^ George'^)," should read Jabez^ ( Thomas^ Thomas^ George}-). Page 604. '' Rev. Zerah H. Hawley," should read Rev. Z. K. Ilaioley. Page 615. After " Stone, Frederic P.," insert m. Lovilla San- horn. Page 638. Mills — " one near the residence of Joseph Burpee," should read 07i Beaver-dam hrooJc. The mill near Mr. Burpee's was not erected till a later date, by Capt. Abraham Burhank. That on Beaver dam was near Salisbury line, and was owned by Daniel Pillsbury. Page 650. Wolf— "shot by Samuel Call," should read by Lemuel Gall. HISTORY OF BOSOAWEN. CUA^j^ ^i^tt^ 1729.] CIVIL HISTORY. OHAPTEE I. THE PLANTATION OF CONTOOCOOK. ^^HE first movement for the settlement of the territory em- ^S^ braced in the present towns of Boscawen and Webster was inaugurated in 1729, by citizens of Andover, Bradford, Reading, and Woburn, in Massachusetts. The phantatiou of Penacook (Concord) had just begun. It was known that there was a desirable tract of land immediately north of Penacook, west of the Merrimack. Many of the citizens of Andover, especially the Abbotts and Ballards, were interested in the Penacook plantation, and took measures to secure the adjoining tract. The first meeting was held in Andover, Peb. 25, 1729, at the house of Jeremiah Bal- lard. James Johnson was chosen moderator, and Thomas Abbot clerk. At an adjourned meeting, held March 18, a committee was chosen to view the land. The committee obtained a pilot, visited the locality, and reported at a meeting held May 20th. Pifty- three citizens of Andover, twenty-seven from Bradford, t^venty from Eeading and Woburn — one hundred in all — signed a peti- tion to the Great and General Court for the granting of '' Land Laying on Marymeck Eever Begining at Pennacuck Upper Line and so run eight mile up y^ Rever and Three Mile on y^ Est & Pour Mile on y^ West side of s*^ Eever." The petitioners were unsuccessful in their application. A possible reason for their failure may have been the fact that many of the grantees of Pen- acook were from Andover, and the members of the General Court may have thought it not best to bestow a second grant upon the 2 CIVIL HISTORY. [1732. citizens of that town. Other towns were apjilying for grants. There was a movement in all the sea-coast towns towards the frontier to obtain new lands. The young men were ready to brave the dangers and hardships of frontier life, for the sake of obtaining lands which in a few years might be as valuable as the old homesteads. Others, who were more advanced in life, with children growing to maturity, were ready to dispose of their farms by the sea to obtain the fertile lands of the Merrimack valley, where their sons and daughters could secure their future homes. But how happened it that Massachusetts exercised jurisdiction over the lands now comprised in New Hampshire ? A complete answer is to be found only in a study of the conflicting claims of Capt. John Mason, Sir Perdinando Gorges, the Plymouth, Massa- chusetts, and Laconia grants. Suffice it to say, that Massachu- setts claimed jurisdiction of all lands west of the Merrimack, and continued its exercise of authority till the final establishment, by royal commission in 1740, of the present boundaries. NEWBURY PETITIONERS. In 1732, John Coffin and eighty other citizens of Newbury pe- titioned the General Court of Massachusetts Bay for " a grant of land, situated on the west side of the Merrimack, adjoining Pen- acook plantation." The petition was duly considered, and order issued in relation to a survey of the tract, and setting forth the conditions of the grant as follows : " Ordered that there be and hereby is granted to the petitioners a tract of land seven miles square at the place petitioned for on the west side of Merrimack river, to be laid out by a surveyor and chain men on oath, a plan thereof to be presented to this court at their next May session for confirmation. The lands to be by them settled on the con- ditions following viz: " That within the space of four years from the confirmation of this plan they settle and have on the spot eighty-one families, each settler to build a convenient dwelling house, one story high eighteen feet square at least, and fence and clear, and bring to four acres fit for im- provement and three acres more well stocked with English grass; and also lay out three shares throughout the town, each share to be one eighty-fourth part of said tract of land, one of said shares to be for 1733.] CIVIL HISTORY. 3 the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one for school; and also to build a convenient meeting house and settle a learned and or- thodox minister within the time aforesaid." The order was issued Dec. 8, 1732. The grantees at once pro- ceeded to locate the land. On the 6th of June, the following year, the plot was confirmed by the General Court, with tlie boundaries thus described, THE GRANT. " Province of Massachusetts Bay : '' A plot of township of land granted at [by] the Court to John Coffin and others lying on Merrimack river above Penacook, surveyed by Kichard Hazen and two chainmen on oath being bounded as follows: viz ; — beginning at the middle of Contoocook river, where it empties into the Merrimack, where it joins the Penacook Plantation, thence running west 15° South adjoining Penacook line, four miles to a white pine tree, marked for Penacook corner bound; thence further on the same line three miles and eight poles to a Norway pine marked for the corner bounds; thence turned at eight angles and running North 15° west seven miles and eight poles to a crotched white birch lettered and standing on the south east side of a hill which is the Northwest corner; thence turned at right angles and run east 15 deg north, near seven miles and a half to a white oak and two white pines marked, by Merri- mack river, and by said river as it runs to Contoocook river to the place where it first began. "In the House of Representatives, Read, and voted that this plot be accepted; and that the lands within delineated and described be and hereby are confirmed to the within named John Coffin, Joseph Dole and other petitioners their heirs and assigns forever, they complying with the orders and conditions in the grant on their petition in De- cember last, provided this plot does not contain more than the contents of seven miles square nor interfere with any other former grant. " Consented to, " J. Bklcher. "A true copy, as among the proceedings of the general court on the 6th of June 1733, p. 394. " Attest Alden Bradford " Secretary of the Commonwealth." THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS. The first meeting of the proprietors was called by John Coffin, and was held at the house of Archelaus Adams, in Newbury, on the 2'! of May, 1733. 4 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. " Meeting May y" 2. *' The proprietors as grantees of the plantation lately made & granted by the great and General Court of his Majestys province of the Massachusetts bay in New England of a tract of land seven miles square above Penecook on the west side of Merrimack river, John Cof- fin by virtue of an order to him directed from the above said great and General Court did warn and give Notice to ye grantees of the above said plantation to assemble and meet at the bouse of Mr Arclielaus Adams in Newbury to chuse a moderator and clerk and to make such needful orders and rules as may be propper and needful to bring for- ward the settlement of said plantation according to ye said courts di- rections; and according to said warning we met at said Adams house on the 2 day of May 1733. " Lieut George little was chosen moderator for said meeting. "Joseph CofBn was chosen clerk for the above s'^ Grantees and was sworn then to the faithfull discharge of his office by richard Kent jus- tice of the peace. " Joseph Gerrish Esq, "William Tlsly, John Coffin, Joshua Noyes, & Tristram little, were chosen a committee to take a plan of the planta- tion aforesaid & make return of their doings to the above s'l great and general Court and the committee were all so impowered to warn a meeting of s'^ grantees as they should judge needful. " Mr Daniel Hale was chosen treasurer for said proprietors. " Mr John Weed was chosen collector for said proprietors. ^'' Voted that the proprietors of the aforesaid plantation shall pay five pounds a piece towards the laying out and settling the aforesaid plantation &c. This was put to vote by the moderator & it passed on the affirmative. Voted that the aforesaid committee (viz) Joseph Gerrish Esq, Will- iam Ilsley, John Coffin, Tristram Little, Joseph Noyes shall have power to draw the money from Mr Daniel Hale aforesaid Treasurer to pay the necessary charges that the said proprietors shall be at in bringing forward the settlement of said plantation this put to vote by the mod- erator and passed on the affirmative." WHAT WAS KNOWN IN REGARD TO THE LAND. The Merrimack valley was well known. As earl}^ as 1628, a century previous, an exploring party was sent out by Massachu- setts to discover the source of the Merrimack, which ascended to Penacook, if not farther. In 1652, the General Court of Massachu- setts ordered a survey of the northern boundary of the colou3\ The survey was conducted by Edward Johnson and Simon Wil- 1733.] CIVIL HISTORY. 6 lard, commissioners, and John Sherman, of Watertown, and Jona- than Ince, of Cambridge, surveyors, with Indian guides. They ascended the Merrimack river to Lake Winnipesaukee. John Endicott was at that time governor of Massachusetts. The com- missioners left a record of their visit upon a large rock at the outlet of the lake. The inscription was discovered in 1834, and is as follows : EI SW W P I H N ENDIC VT GOV At that period one character represented the letters I and J. V and U were also represented by one character. The inscrip- tion therefore represents the initials of the commissioners, Edward Johnson and Simon WiUard, and also Worshipful John Endicott. The party ascended the Merrimack in a " bote," and were ab- sent nineteen days. The expense of the expedition was £84. A few years later, Richard Waldron, of Dover, traded with the Indians in the vicinity of Penacook. In 1675, at the time of King Phillip's war, Capt. Mosely, with about one hundred men, ascended the Merrimack to keep the Penacooks quiet. In 1668, Mr. Thomas Hinksman, with others, under a warrant from Gov. Bellingham, ascended the river to Waldron's trading-house, which stood on the east side of the Merrimack, in Concord, to capture an Indian who had killed a white man. The first historic event within the limits of Boscawen was the killing of the Indians, in 1697, by Mrs. Hannah Duston, Mrs. Mary Neff, and Samuel Lannardson. MRS. DUSTOI^'S EXPLOIT. On March 15, of that year, a party of twenty Indians made a descent upon Haverhill. The first house attacked was that of Thomas Duston, who was at work in his field. Hearing the war- whoop of the Indians, he ran into the house, and ordered his children, seven in number, to flee. Mrs. Duston was sick, having given birth to a child the week previous. She was attended by 6 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. Maiy Neff, a woman in middle life. Finding it impossible to remove his wife and infant, he left them with the nnrse, monnted his horse, and overtook his children. His first thought was, to take two or three of them on his horse, and leave the others to their fate. But he could make no choice where all were equally dear, and resolved to do wha.t he could to save them all. Dis- mounting from his horse, standing behind the animal, or shelter- ing himself behind a tree, firing with deliberate aim, he kept the j)ursuers at bay while the children ran ; then springing uj)on the back of the horse, hastened to overtake his family, with the bul- lets of the savages flying past him. Upon overtaking them he dismounted once more, loaded his gun, and awaited the approach of the enemy, who were exceedingly wary in their advance, skulk- ing behind trees. Again he fired, and then galloped away, — thus defending the children till they reached a place of safety. A portion only of the Indians followed Mr. Duston ; the others entered the house, took Mrs. Duston and Mrs. Neff prisoners, dashed out the brains of the infant against a tree, and fired the house. Nine other houses were set on fire, twenty-seven pei'sons killed, and eleven, besides Mrs. Duston and Mrs. iSTeff, Avere captured. It was the middle of March. In the woods there was still much snow; the streams were swollen Avith its melting; and yet, with but one shoe, Mrs. Duston was driven at a quick pace by the savages. Her feet were torn, her steps marked with blood. Soon her fel- low captives began to tire ; but as soon as they lagged behind, a tomahawk was buried in their skulls, the scalping-knif e encircled their brows, and their bodies were left by the way. The route taken by the Indians was up the valley of the Mer- rimack, to their canoes. It is not known where the Indians had deposited them ; but the liardships of the march were so great, that, before reaching them, all the Haverhill captives, except Mrs. Duston and Mrs. Neff, had perished. They found a boy, Samuel Lannardson, of Worcester, who had been more than a year in their hands, still a captive. He had acquired the Indian language. It is probable that on the third day the Indians reached their general rendezvous — the island at the junction of the Merrimack and Contoocook, a favorite resort ; for at the falls of Contoocook, near by, they could supply themselves with salmon, while the 1733.] CIVIL HISTORY. 7 open spaces on the intervale, opposite " Mucliyecln," were favorite feeding-grounds for deer. It appears that after leaving their captives on tlie island, the Indians, with the exception of twelve, departed on a second ma- rauding expedition. The thought of being carried a captive to Canada, of enduring the hardships of the march, of the almost certain fate that would await her, aroused all the heroic nature of the woman who had seen her child's brains dashed out against a tree. Death would be preferable to life. She would strike boldly for life and liberty. She laid her plan with deliberation. "Ask them where they strike when they want to kill a person instantly," said Mrs. Duston to the boy Lannardson. " Strike 'em here," said one of the savages, in answer to the question artlessly put by the lad. The Indian placed his finger on his temple. Little did he think that his own hatchet would be bur- ied in his own skull by the keen-eyed woman who was watching his ever}'- movement. Then the savage showed the boy how to run a knife around a person's head, and hoAV to strip off the scalp : all of which the resolute woman noticed. She informs Mrs. Neff and the boy of her plot, stimulates them by her heroic courage. Night comes. There are two men, three women, and seven children, all of them asleep. No one keeps watch of the captives. There is no danger of their attempting to escape. The birch canoes are drawn up beneath the alders. The three captives rise softly. Each seizes a tomahawk. Mrs. Duston and Mrs. Neff stand over the prostrate forms of the men. A signal, and the hatchets descend with almost superhuman strength, crushing through the skulls ; and then the women and children are dis- patched, all except two, who escape in the darkness. The pris- oners — ^prisoners no longer — gather up the provisions, take the guns of the Indians, scuttle all except one canoe, and take their departure down the Merrimack. A thought comes to the heroic woman. Will their friends believe them when they inform them that they have killed the Indians ? She will have indisputable evidence. A few strokes of the paddles bring them to the island. She runs the scalping-knife around the brows of the Indians, takes their scalps, and then starting once more, guides the canoe over the rippling waters at Sewall's falls, then floating on calmer waters to Garvin's, steering the bark canoe in safety down the 8 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. rapids, landing and carrying it when they dare not trust them- selves amid the whirlpools and sunken rocks, reaching Haverhill with her bloody trophies, to the astonishment of her friends. The General Court of Massachusetts voted her a present of fifty pounds, and many private citizens also presented her with testi- monials of their appreciation of her heroic conduct. Penacook was granted in 172G, and settled in 1727. The fer- tile lands of Contooeook were well known to the people of the lower towns. FIRST SURVEY. Mr. Eichard Hazen, an experienced surveyor, who had been employed by the proprietors of Penacook to survey that planta- tion, was engaged to make the first survey of Contooeook. The original plot, as laid by him, is on file in the archives of the sec- retary of state, Boston. proprietors' meeting. A meeting of the proprietors was held July 4 at John Man- cher's tavern, Newbury : " Voted Mr Richard Hazen surveyor, shall have ten pounds for his service for taking a plan of the plantation & the three clianmen that were with said surveyors, six days a pice, shall have six & thirty shillings a man for their service in assisting him, the said surveyor, this put to vote & passed in the affirmative ^^ Voted that the committee namely Joseph Gerrish, William Ilsley, John Coffin, Tristram Little & Joseph Noyes, they being nine days with Mr Hazen in taking a plan of the aforesaid plantation shall have ten shillings a day each man for their service, this jjut to vote by the moderator & passed on the ffirmative. *' Col Joseph Gerrish, Lieut William Ilsley, Benj™ Pettengill, Daniel Pierce & John Weed jr were chosen a committee to lay out the home lots so called in the above tract of land put to vote & passed on the affirmative " That the aforesaid Committee chosen to lay out the home lots so called shall have power to lay out said lots & intervale lot to shares alike in quantity & Quality according to the best skill and judgment leaving a couveniency for highways & private ways this put to vote by the moderator & passed on the affirmative. -^ "i" ^1 ' r , , , ^'^ ^t *vr. Ci^ ^^>^ ^#:^-^.l ^>^':y DUSTIN, NEFF. AND LEONARDSON 1733.] CIVIL HISTORY. 9 '''•Voted that the men that Col Gerrish shall or have admitted into our society may as he and they can agree draw tlieir lots with iis this put to vote by the moderator and passed on the affirmative." October 9th. A meeting was held on this daj^ at the house of Archelaus Adams in Newbury, at which John Coffin was added to the committee to lay out the home lots. The associates admitted by Col. Gerrish were accepted at that meeting, — viz., Col. John Alden, Samuel Beadford, James Alden, John Choat, Benjamin Bird, Ebenezer Burrill, Esq., Jeremiah Getchell, John Wain- wright, Esq., Richard Kent, Esq., John Chandler, Junior, Esq., Lieut. Moses Gerrish, Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Kichard Hubbard, Mr. Edward Shove, Mr. Henry Sewall, of Boston, Richard Coffin, Benjamin Pettingill, John Akers, Daniel Dole. The proprietors at this meeting took measures to laj' out the village, or " town " as it was called : ''Voted: That these six men, namely, Moses Gerrish, Daniel Hale, Joseph Lunt, Jonathan Poor, Thomas Torla & Edward Emery may go up to Contoocook with the other Com'* & have the power to advise & consult as the other committee men have & the major part of them shall set the town where they shall Judge most convenient & these six men shall have twenty shillings a pice for their services." '■'■Voted, that any man or men belonging to the society aforesaid see cause to go to the said plantation on their own cost & charge they shall have power to advise with the committee in order to the setting of the town to the best advantage." The money in use at that time was undoubtedly the old curren.- cy of Massachusetts Bay. Each colony had its currency, its notes or bills of credit. As nearly as can be ascertained, the pound of Massachusetts at that time was worth about one dollar and thirty cents, and a shilling not far from six and one fourth cents of the present currency of the United States. At a meeting of the proprietors, held Nov. 20th, it was voted that Henry Eolfe draw lots for the proprietors. Five shillings was raised on each original right, to defray expenses. It was voted that all the intervale should be fenced in, the next spring, at the proprietors' cost. Thomas Thorla, John Coffin, and Jonathan Ilsley were appointed a committee to see that the fencing was seasonably completed. 10 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. Tlie committee for dividing tlie lands reported : " They have laid out five farms on the northerly side of Coutoocook, & the whole of said five farms are in breadth one hundred & seven rods two feet & five inches, running from the river Merrimack, unto the westerly end on line of s'' tract of land which is seven mile back from said river and also four farms on the southerly side of s'^ tract of land & the whole of said four farms are in breadth eighty six rods & running from Merrimack river to the westerly side of said tract of land which is seven miles from said river and the above said nine farms are for these gentlemen here under named, (viz) Ebenezer Burrell Esq ; John Wainright Esqr ; Kichard Kent Esqr ; M' Sanii Beadford ; John Chote Esqr ; Mr Edward Shove, M-" Beuja. Bird, Mr Jeremiah Gatchel, Mr Richard Hubbard" THE GEXTLEMEX'S FARMS. The tract of land thus set off to these nine gentlemen amounted to twenty-seven hundred acres, or three hundred acres to each in- dividual. The lots have always been known as " the gentlemen's farms." When we turn to the records of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts for the period, we find that Mr. John Wainwright was clerk of the General Court in 1731. He was well acquainted with legislative affairs, and doubtless Avas able to aid the petitioners for grants of land — for a consideration. His name appears as a proprietor in many of the tow^ns granted at this period. The other " gentlemen " wdio aided and assisted were members of the General Court, wdiich consisted of the Assembly and Council. John Chandler was a member of the Assembly. There was a lot of land, containing about five hundred acres, set off to him by the proprietors of Contoocook. The tract was one hundred and fifty rods wide, and extended from the INIerrimack westward two miles. The Stirrup Iron brook ran through it. The name of John Chandler appears in nearly every township granted while he was a member. But one conclusion can be drawn, — that the members of the General Court were, to use a modern phrase, "land-grabbers," and made use of the official position to advance their individual interests. All of the gentlemen who thus received large tracts of land were in some way connected with the government ; — nor was it considered a breach of trust thus to advance their individual 1733.] CIVIL HISTORY. 11 interests. Such gifts were the perquisites of office, well understood, acknowledged, and acquiesced in by the entire community. No disgrace attached to a man who used his official position for his own interests. No investigating committees were appointed to inquire into such transactions. In later years. Gov. Benning Wentworth became one of the largest landed proprietors of the country, through the " gifts," or, to use a truer term, through the exactions which he imposed upon grantees upon signing the grants. In October, Mr. John Brown, surveyor, was employed to survey the intervale, which, being partially free from trees, furnished valuable mowing, pasture, and tillage lands. A lot was laid out to each proprietor. He laid out four streets on the high land, upon the site selected for the town— King, Queen, Newbury, and Marlborough — with a house-lot for each proprietor, a lot for the church, one for the school, and one for the minister. The proprietors manifested their loyalty to their sovereign by naming two of the streets for the king and queen, one for their home, Newbury, and one for the great Duke of Marlborough, then in the zenith of his fame. MR. brown's journal. " Oct 23d 1733. I set out for Contoocook with the committee who were to lay out ye Intervale & home lotts, who were Col Gerrish, W'" Ilsley, Benj^ Pettengale & Dan^ Peirce and also David Hale & Benj'' Willet, this proving a rainy day & setting out late we got no farther than 2i " Being rainy we came to Pennycook. 25 " We came to Contoocook & viewed ye land in order to find a place to settle ye Town ; there came also with us George & Puchard Jackraan. 26. " We run lines between the Intervale & upland: this day came up Mr Moses Gerrish. 27 " We viewed ye place to set ye Meeting House on & Eun out ye Highway to Lay Lotts on. Gerrish & Emery went Home. Ye rest ■went to Pennycook settlement except Pierce & Myself. " Oct 26 being friday we measured up from Pennycook line 98 rods for 4 Lotts & one halfe to be left there from whence we had to the river 62 rods E 15 North. Tlieuce between the upland & intervale we Laid 12 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. a "Way running North 29 W 57 rods and on Said "Way from the 98 rods are laid the foUowins: Letts "V"iz: No 60 61 62 63 64 which are in width on sd way running No 29 Deg West & in Length running down in to ye Intervale East 15 Deg No 62 rods On the upper Line of 64"^ Lott is a way of one rod broad & on the end of the sd Lott & partly on the lower end of the Q3'^ until it comes to the 76"> Lott. No 65 are in width 12 & in length running 66 on a way 12 E 15 D N to the 78 67 running north 1 D West 12 Lott 62 rods" THE HOME AND IXTERVALE LOTS. [From Surveyor Brown's Book.] ** An account of the draft of the Intervale and home lots at Con- toocook which are as hereunder written, Intervale. home lots No 51 53 73 79 72 77 70 70 69 83 52 49 82 22 44 57 47 42 71 86 58 54 42 52 67 84 67 40 48 38 21 2 61 75 62 82 27 7 20 01 33 41 76 69 93 96 89 29 80 20 29 93 Abraham Adams jr No Stephen Jaques Joseph Coffin Robert Greenough Joseph Moss jr Benja J>unt John Akers Daniel Richards Daniel Dole John Chandler Esq Joseph Tappan William Ilsley Jolin Adams •. John Alden Joseph Knight Jr James Mitchel Stephen Moody Benja Petengill Riciiard Jackman Richard Greenough Cornelas Wood Joseph Moss 3^^ Henry Sewell John Webster Joseph Gerrish Esq Sam' Bailey , 1733.] CIVIL Benja Smith No Robert Adams Richard Kelly Samuel Gerrish John French Jr Joseph Jackman Nicholas Cheaay Joseph Willet Jacob Noyes John Poor Stephen Dole Moses Smith Cutting Lunt Jonathan Plumer Thomas Pierce ,.Archelaus Woodman John Smith Isaac Hall Edward Emery Willoby Favor Jacob Pillsbury Stephen Emery Amos Stickney George Jackman Jonathan Sampson Richard Petengill Moses Gerrish Joseph Dole John Plumer jr Elezar Pierce Daniel Pierce Theodor Coker Joseph Gerrish Richard Coffin James Allen William Ripp Abraham Titcomb John Coffin John Waight William Moody John Moody jr Moses Knight Daniel Coffin Daniel Knight Moses Coker Edmund Greenlief Daniel Hale Henry Kingsbury Nathan Whelar Joshua Pillsbury Thomas Woodbridge HISTORY. Intervale. i3 home lots. No 39 81 7i 85 78 16 06 31 91 68 19 60 88 40 87 31 02 23 86 01 11 32 83 53 95 14 15 84 55 43 73 36 59 08 03 90 94 09 12 92 17 45 18 79 77 04 28 22 10 07 63 No 31 21 78 25 81 65 61 34 88 71 15 76 28 50 27 95 09 59 26 08 18 40 23 32 14 66 16 46 33 55 87 35 56 62 10 30 91 13 67 89 64 58 63 19 80 11 92 03 68 12 74 14 CIVIL HISTORY. [1733. Josej^h Noyes 3'^ No James INIorrill James Xoyes Thomas Webster Joshua Hale ■ . William Atkins George Little Jonathan Ilsley Richard Hale Sam' Sweatt jr Tristraum Little John Noyes S'^ John Weed j r Sam' Little Intervale. home lots. No 38 36 13 77 37 45 05 60 49 43 65 73 30 94 84 24 50 37 41 51 66 47 64 83 5 48 46 39 " The aforesaid list was returned into the proprietors of Contoocook at their meeting on Nov the twentieth 1733, and was then excepted and ordered to be recorded. Joseph Gerrisii "] William Ilsley > johx coffix John Weed jr Benjamin Pettengill Daniel Pierce Committeemen. "Joseph Coffin Proprietors Clerk" J1 c^- c N c a-C^ % -cttc l^n 1731.] CHAPTEE II. SETTLEMENT OF CONTOOCOOK. IflSr the spring of 1734, tlie proprietors of Contoocook made prep- ^1 aration to comply with the conditions of tlieir grant. Those intending to settle in the plantation left their homes in April. The route was from Newbury to Haverhill, or Hampstead to Nut- field (Derry), thence to Amoskeag falls, and from thence, by tlie east side of the Merrimack, to Penacook ferry, which had been established 1731. [Hist. Concord, p. 101.] Another route, lead- ing from Newbury to Chester, thence to Pembroke, had been blazed through the woods in 1726, but the road through Derry was the one most travelled. FIRST SETTLERS. During the year, thirty-three settlers came to Contoocook, to be- gin, as it were, life anew in the wilderness. Eev. Mr. Price has handed down the names of twenty-seven only ; but from a deposi- tion made by Moses Burbank in 1792 [Col. Henry Gerrish's pa- pers] the number is stated as being thirty-three. Barker, David Dagodon, William Bean, Sinkler Danforth, William Bowen, John Danforth, Nathaniel Bishop, Josiali Eastman, Joseph Bohonnon, Andrew Emery, Edward Burbank, Moses Fitzgerald, Edward Call, Philip Elanders, Jacob Cook, Thomas Elood, Richard Corser, John Eowler, John 16 CIVIL HISTORY. [1731. Gerrish, Stephen Meloon, Nathaniel Gould, Ambrose Peters, William Jaekman, Eichard Eix, Nathaniel Jackman, George Rolfe, Daniel. Manuel, Joel In imagination we see them toiling through the forest, follo\y- ing the rude path from Nutfield (Derry) up to Suncook, across the " dark plains " in Concord, crossing the Merrimack just above the mouth of the Contoocook. Upon the intervale are open spaces where the grass grows lux- uriantly, but everywhere else tliey behold an unbroken forest. Ascending the high bank, they come to the blazed lines where John Brown has laid out the new town. There is no house to shelter them. The first nights they spend beneath the shelter of the trees. They select the sites for their log houses. The forest resounds with the sturdy strokes of their axes. They have a single plow, owned b}'- Stephen Gerrish. The oxen are yoked to it, and the virgin soil of the intervale, which has lain undisturbed since the morning of creation, is turned to the sun. Ere many days have passed, each man has a cabin built of logs, covered with bark, or with long shingles rived from some giant pine. During the first season the^^ must subsist upon provisions brought on horseback, or on their own backs, from Newbury, save that now and tlien their trusty rifles bring down a deer. During the spring and summer months they can add to their stock of pro- visions by spearing salmon in the river, and there is a plentiful supply of pickerel, horned pouts, and perch in the river and ponds, while the brooks are alive with trout. The days are long and wearisome. They work early and late, suffer many privations and hardships ; but they are rearing their future homes, and the hard- ships are forgotten in anticipation of better days. It is not probable that many of the settlers' families came in the spring, but most, if not all, were there before the close of the year. proprietors' meeting. Nov. 8. A meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of Archelaus Adams in Newbury. It was voted that a saw-mill should be built at the charge of the proprietors, and Daniel Hale, 1734.] CIVIL HISTORY. 17 Joseph Gerrisli, and Thomas Tliorla, weve chosen a committee to attend to the matter. The same committee was empowered to rectify any mistake made in the laying out of lots, and John Brown, the surveyor, was engaged to go to Contoocook to show the proprietors the location of the lots. Five of the proprietors, — Joseph Lunt, John Coffin, Thomas Tliorla, Benjamin Lunt, Benjamin Coker, and Edward Emery, entered their dissent in regard to the power of the committee. Dec. 18, another meeting was held. It was voted that the intervale should be fenced by the fifteenth of May of the following year, at the expense of the owners of the lots, and any proprietor neglect- ing to build his j^roportion should make satisfaction. It was also voted that Joseph Tappan should obtain a grindstone for the com- mon use of the proprietors. At this meeting further action was taken towards buildin"- a saw-mill. [From the Records.] " It was put to vote by the moderator where [whether] there should be a grant of [land] made to those men hereafter named, of the little stream [Mill brook] at Contoocook near the upper end of the lots or town, and fifty acres of land laid square adjoining to the mill for commencing thereof on both sides of the stream and also one whole right throughout the town or plantation on condition they build a saw mill there by the first of September next ensuing the date hereof, and a good grist mill so soon as there is settled twenty families on the said plantation in case there is water enough to accommodate both mills and the mills be built and in the length of time by clearing the land or any other way it shall be judged that there is not water to answer the end for said mill or mills or that the men are obliged to raise the dam so high to save water to saw or grind so as to be judged hurtfull : then the proprietors shall pay the men that built the mill or mills for them the price of what they shall then be accounted worth, or else procure for the men that built the mill or mills the stream commonly called or known by the name of [Mill brook] Contoocook & the privileges thereof as was re- served as by record may appear — they taking the land as it was re- served by each [of the] falls for conveuiency of the mills for part of their rights." The above, evident^, was not drawn by the clear-headed clerk, Joseph Coffin, for we find an explanatory note in his hand-writ- ing, as follows : 2 18 CIVIL HISTORY. [1735. " The true intent & meaning of the above written vote is that if the nine Gentle"" do build mills on Contoocook river to our acceptance then the society is not to procure said stream [ in blank ] for tliose men which built on the little stream. Those men that have undertaken to build the aforesaid mill or mills at the above plantation are as followetli to "wit : " Joseph Gerrish Esq, Mr Tristram Little, John Coffin, M"' Joseph Noyes, y"" 3'^ Lieut William Ilsley, Cor Thomas Thorla, John Moody ju'', Daniel Coffin, Benjamin Pettengill, Lieut Benjamin Lunt, Dea James Noyes, Joseph Coffin, John Webster, Lieut Moses Gerrish, & Capt Edward Emery, these men above named are to give bond for their well performing their work." At that meeting Robert Adams, Joseph Morss, 3d, and Richard Hale, were appointed a committee to take a bond of the above named, and Henry Rolfe was chosen to confer with them in re- gard to building the mill. THE FIRST CHILD. The year opened auspiciously to the settlers, for on Jan. 7 a daughter was born to Nathaniel Danforth — the first birth in the plantation. The infant was named Abigail, grew to maidenhood, and married Thomas Foss, whose name frequently appears in the records of the town. THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. A survey of the settled sections of New Hampshire at this time will be of interest. Northward of Contoocook there was an unbroken wilderness reaching to Canada. Hunters and explorers had passed up and down the valley of the Merrimack, but no settler had reared his cabin above the Contoocook intervale. The men who set up their log houses on King street were the advance guard of civilization. On the east there was no settlement between Contoocook and Rochester. Dover and Portsmouth, the oldest towns in tiie state, had been settled one hundred years when the men of Newbury located themselves at Contoocook, and yet so slow had been the advance northward from those localities, that the most northerly settlement was at Rochester, within ten miles of Dover. In 1732 a few settlers i^ushed westward from Dover to Barrington. In Nottingham, south of Barrington, Joseph Cilley and others 1735.] CIVIL HISTORY. 19 built tlieir cabins in 1727 ; ])ut in the territory now comprised in tlie towns of Farmington, Strafford, Barnstead, Nortbwood, Deer- field, Candia, Epsom, Pittsfield, Loudon, and Chichester, there was no settlement. Southward were the settlements on the river — • Penacook, Chestnut Woods (Chester), which was settled in 1722, K"utfield (Derry), settled in 1719. West of Nuffield was John Cromwell's trading-house, in what is now the town of Merrimack ; but the first settlers of that town located there the same year that the people of Newbury moved to Contoocook. John Crom- well had been there, off and on, as early as 1679, buying furs of the Indians, doing as the old Knickerbockers of Manhattan were wont to do — pile the furs in one scale and put their foot in the other ! The Indians discovered Cromwell's trick, however, of hav- ing a heavy foot when he bought, and a light foot when he sold; consequently he was obliged to use both of his feet nimbly in getting away. His trading-house was a ruin when the Contoo- cook settlers came northward to their future homes. Between Nuffield and Penacook there was no settlement, ex- cept at Suncook (Pembroke), which had been granted to Capt. John Lovewell, and which was settled in 1727. On the west bank of the Merrimack, above Dunstable, there was no settlement except at Hollis, where, in 1731, Peter Powers began a clearing and built a cabin ; none in all of the territory of Hillsborough countj'^, and Cheshire, with the exception of the settlements at Winchester and Hinsdale. Josiah Willard and others had been at Winchester one year only. New Brookline was settled in 1733. The next place settled in south-western New Hampshire was Keene, in 1736. Charlestown was not set- tled till 1738. Of the localities arouiid Contoocook, a settlement was made in Canterbury the same year as in Contoocook. Virtually it was one settlement, separated only by the river. On the west the first settlement was at Hopkinton, in 1740, but the inhabitants of that locality abandoned their homes in 1746. The first settlement in Salisbury was in 1750, by Philip Call, Nathaniel Meloon, Benjamin Pettengill, John and Ebenezer Webster, Andrew Bohonon. These, with the exception of Pet- tengill and Webster, moved from Contoocook. So slow was the advancing wave of civilization, that in the val- 20 CIVIL HISTORY, [1736, ley of the Merrimack there was no settlement above Salisbury till 1764, when Zachariah Parker and James Hobart settled at Ply- mouth. That was a great step northward, for not till two years later were there any inhabitants between what is now Pranklin and Plymouth. Thomas Crawford reared a cabin in Bridgewater in 1766. The advancement on the west was quite as slow. Some settlers moved into Hillsborough in 1741, but moved out again soon after. No permanent settlement was made there till 1757. Henniker was without an inhabitant till 1761, when James Peters erected a log cabin. In Warner there was no permanent settler till 1762, two years after Contoocook was incoi-porated a town. A year later — 1763 — the first inhabitant moved into NeAvport. There was no settlement in Sanborton till 1765. Por a quarter of a century Contoocook was the out-post of civil- ization, maintaining its position through the Indian wars, its hardy settlers never thinking of retreat. ACTION OF PROPRIETORS IN REGARD TO A MINISTER. May 19. The proprietors held their annual meeting at Con- toocook, several of them coming from Newbury to attend it. It was their first meeting in the plantation. Josejih Gen-ish was chosen moderator, and Joseph Coffin, clerk. The first business transacted was in relation to securing a min- ister of the gospel ; and Lieut. Benj. Lunt, Joseph Geri'ish, and John Coffin were cliosen a committee " to agree with a suitable person to preach at Contoocook, & also to raise money to defray the expenses of the plantation." One thing is to be noted in connection, that the proprietors still living in Newbury, and who had no thought of emigrating to Contoocook, cheerfully taxed themselves to support a minister in the plantation, thus carrying out the provisions of the grant hon- orably, and acting with great liberality towards the settlers. At this meeting it was voted that there should be no meadows mown before the 10th of July, when the grass was " to be cut by those men that are there, in equality, each doing his portion or share of the labor." It was also voted that Edward Emery, Stephen Gerrish, Na- thaniel Danford, " shall cut that piece of meadow which they have found, and cut a way into for this year & no longer," 1736.] CIVIL HISTORY. 21 Where this may have been is uncertain. It is handed down by tradition that there was a section of cleared meadow land lie- tween Great and Little ponds, also at various places along the brooks and streams of the town. It was also voted that the highways should be mended at the proprietors' cost, that '' any person that do labores on said ways to the satisfaction of y® surveyors, shall have five shillings for his service." Voted, also, to raise one hundred pounds " to build a cart bridge over Contoocook river." Benjamin Eolfe, William Ilsley, and John Coffin were chosen a committee to build the same ; — " that is if they can build s* bridge and keep it in good repair for the space of ten years for an hundred pounds, wdiich is already granted." TOWX-HOUSE. The proprietors erected, during the year, a toAvn-house. No record has been preserved showing where it was located, but the little brook wdiich runs from Queen street to the pond crossed by the Northern Kailroad is frequently spoken of as '' Town-House brook." It is probable that this first public edifice of logs stood near the stream, and not far from the present residence of Prof. John Jackman, or, possibly, near the residence of Mr. Hamilton P. Gill. • Prom action taken in regard to the discharge of the bond given by the fifteen who obligated themselves to build the saw-mill, the evidence is conclusive that the mill had been erected. " Voted that the bonds of the men, Avhich have built the saw mill be delivered & to lay out the bonds for building said mill according to vote as by record." It was the pioneer mill of this section of the Merrimack valley. The saw-mills of that period were such as any carpenter might construct. This mill had no "nigger" wheel to move the "car- riage" back after the saw had passed through the log : that labor was done by a man treading upon the cogs of the "ratchet- wheel," — labor exceedingly fatiguing. For many years it was the only saw^nill in the town, and several of the houses now standing on King street are covered with boards which were sawn in this first mill. 22 CIVIL HISTORY, [1737. At their March meeting, 1737, the proprietors voted tliat Joseph Gerrish, Henry Eolfe, and Joseph Stickney he a committee "to treat with some suitable man & a Christian learned to preach at Contoocook the dimming summer and in order to settle the afore- said Gentleman if he can he rationally agreed with to serve us in the ministry." Two hundred pounds was raised for preaching, and the assessors were directed to make the town-house convenient for the use of the minister and people on the Sahbath. THE FIRST MINISTER. The committee secured the services of Rev. Phineas Stevens (see Biography). This action fulfilled all the provisions of the grant, except that relating to the number of families in the plan- tation. It is probable that Mr. Stevens began his ministrations in May. A second meeting of the proprietors was held May 10, at which it Avas voted that there should not be more than Mty pounds laid out on the highways during the year. A man was to receive five shillings, and a yoke of oxen was to be rated at four shillings for a day's work. THE FIRST FERRY. No bridge had as yet been erected across the Contoocook, and the only means of communication with ?enacook and with Can- terbury was by boat. Both the Merrimack and Contoocook were too deep to be forded. It is probable that up to this i:)eriod the settlers had relied on their small skiffs, their horses and oxen swimming the rivers. But the time had come for the establish- ing of a public ferry. At the proprietors' meeting, it was voted, — " That Stephen Gerrish shall have six pounds paid him by the pro- prietors, his building a ferry boat and keeping said boat in good re- pair, and giviug due & constant attendance to ye proprietors to ferry themselves and their creatures over Merrimack as foUoweth : (viz.) a man at two pence, a man and horse at four pence, a man and one yoke of oxen at six pence, a man and one cow at four pence and young creatures according to bigness; and at years end his returnitig said boat to the proprietors or to whom they appoint to receive the afore- said boat, or six pounds in bills of credit of ye old tenor." The ferry was located in the bend of the Merrimack, above its CIVIL HISTORY. 23 1737.] junction with the Contoocook. In after years a ferrj-way was laid out from King street to the bank of the Merrimack. The settlement of Canterbury was keeping pace with Contoocook, and such a location would best suit the two communities, while it would be on the direct road to Newbury. PETITION FOR CONSTABLE. Henry Eolfe and Joseph Gerrish were appointed a committee to petition the Great and General Court " for the appointment of constable to keep ye peace." There was no evidence that the little community was not peaceably disposed, but a constable repre- sented the majesty of the law. The very appointment would tend to keep the peace. At a proprietors' meeting, held September 6, it was voted that the lots, " namely, the ministers, ministry & school lots shall be piched [pitched] and a committee be chosen to pich them." The undoubted design of this vote was the securing of the best land in the town for tliat which they most prized,— the religious, moral, and educational advancement of the community. This, rather than their material interests, characterized the action of the proprietors from the beginning. There was a large-hearted- ness in all that they did ; and this action was followed by its legitimate sequence,— the building up of a solid, substantial com- munity — energetic, moral, religious, liberal — which, till emigra- tion began to draw its life blood, occupied a front rank among the purely agricultural towns of the state. SECOND DIVISION OF LOTS. It was voted that there be a second division of land. Benjamin Eolfe, John Coffin, Edward Emery, Joseph Gerrish, and Thomas Thorla were appointed to make the division, and were to have nine shillings a day for their services. This committee were to make the selection of the minister's and school lots. FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. Up to this time, the services on the Sabbath had been held either in the town-house or else in the dwelling of one of the set- tlers. But the conditions of the grant required the erection of a 2-4 CIVIL HISTORY. [1738. meeting-liouse ; and it was voted that a house be erected, and that the sum of one hundred pounds be raised to enable the committee to go on in building a house -="- "forty feet long and of the j^ ", same width of Rumford Meet- — - ^fe ing house and two feet higher, ^f ^ ' 'v ^-^!^^My^'- said house to be built of logs." ' .li^^j_t^5Jta\i.j;^o^f Penacook had taken the name of Rumford, a planta- tion with a meeting-house and a settled minister. The ac- N " companying cut of the Rum- ford mceting-house, the model for that of Contoocook, has been kindly loaned by Rev. is"athaniel Bouton, d. d., the historian of Concord. Joseph Gerrish, Joseph Coffin, and Jacob Flanders were chosen building committee. LAYING OUT OF THE SECOND DIVISION" OF LOTS. The committee on a second division of land employed John Brown as surveyor, laying out Fish, High, Cross, Water, Long, Battle, Pleasant, and West (Little Hill) streets, four rods in width. Upon these highways, lots containing eighty acres were located, one for each proprietor. The expense of the survey amounted to one hundred pounds ten shillings. Upon the completion of the survey, the proprietors assembled at the town-house, in Newbury, December 20, to attend the draw- ing of lots. Joseph Gerrish was chosen chairman ; but the day being very cold,' the meeting was adjourned to the tavern of John March (possibly Mancher), where the lots were drawn. POPULATION. From a deposition of Moses Burbank, one of the first settlers, made in 1796, we are able to obtain the number of settlers, and the condition of the plantation. " There was 33 settlers in the year 1738 and about 50 or 60 Rights bearun in the settlement & in the course of two or three 1739.] CIVIL HISTORY. ■25 years after there was as many as 90 or 96 Rights Begun Improve- ment," [Found among the papers of Col. Henry Gerrish.] COMPLETIO^r OF THE MEETING-HOUSE. During the winter of 1738-9 the meeting-house was completed. The site selected by the committee was near the center of the cemetery, on the Plain. The pulpit is supposed to have been over the spot where rest the remains of Dea. Isaac Pearson, whose dying request was that he might be buried on the spot where the gospel had been preached by the first minister of the town • and his successors. Por thirty years the edifice was used for pub- lic worship and town-meetings. Upon its demolition, some of the timber was used in the construction of a stable, now owned by Mr. Emerson. This first meeting-house in Contoocook was the twent^-^-seventh in the state. Those erected at an earlier date were in the follow- ing order : MEETIXG-HOUSES IN THE STATE. 1633. Dover. 1638. Exeter. 1638. Hampton. 1641. Gosport. 1655. Durham. 1671. Newcastle. 1685. Nashua (Dunstable). 1706. Greenland. 1711. Hampton Falls. 1715. Newington. 1717. Stratham. 1725. Kingston. 1726. Rye. 1727. Derry. It will be seen that at this time houses west of the Merrimack — at and Contoocook. 1727. Somersworth. 1729. Concord (Rumford). 1730. Plaistow. 1730. South Newmarket. 1731. Chester. 1733. Dover, 2d. 1733. Keene. 1733. Winchester. 1734. North Hampton. 1737. Hudson. 1737. Kensington. 1737. Pembroke. 1738. Boscawen. there were only four meeting- Dunstable, Keene, Winchester, 26 CIVIL HISTORY. [1739. proprietors' meetixgs May 16. Meeting in the town-liouse in Contoocook. Eev. Mr. Stevens was again employed to preach, and £300, old tenor, was raised to defray the expenses of the proprietors. Dec. 6. Meeting held at the house of John Mancher, innholder in Newbury. Up to this time, the settlers of Contoocook, in com- mon with those of the frontiers, had lived in peace with the Ind- ians ; but France and England were at war, and the Indians being under the influence of the French, it was feared that the settle- ment would be attacked. Every town established its garrison. The proprietors took prompt action to defend the settlement. THE FIRST FORT. It was voted that a fort should be erected at the expense of the proprietors, the enclosure to be one hundred feet square, built of hewn logs, seven feet high and eight inches thick when hewn, " to be built three feet above the logs with such stuff as shall be agreed upon by the committee." From this record it may be inferred that there was an upper work, — a chevaux-de-frise of pointed, projecting timbers, designed to prevent the enemy from climbing over the wooden walls, which undoubtedly were loop-holed for the use of musketry. It was voted to locate the fortification on the "school lot." The probabilities are that it was erected a few feet south of that lot, near the spot upon which the first framed house was subse- quently erected by Eev. Eobie Morrill, now standing — the two- storied edifice a few rods easterly of King street. A spring of sweet water issued from the high bank near by, from which the garrison could be supplied. The spring is now the well in the shed attached to the above-mentioned house. The location was well chosen. It stood on the brink of a high bank, and commanded the intervale. The Indians might look down upon it from the high hill west of Town-House brook, but too far away to do any damage. The spring was so near, that water could al- ways be obtained without danger. Barracks were erected inside of the fortification for the convenience of the garrison and fami- lies. 1739.] CIVIL HISTORY. 27 It being found that the enclosure was not large enough to ac- commodate the entire community, another fortification was erect- ed, during the winter, near the house now occupied by Prof. John Jackman. ISTo record has been preserved in regard to the dimen- sions of this garrison, but it probably was somewhat smaller, and designed as a retreat for the settlers on Queen street in case of sudden surprise. Through the years of trouble with the Indians, these garrisons served to protect the resolute men, who, during the most exciting times, when other frontier settlements were abandoned, never thought of yielding the ground to the foe. CHAPTER III. THE SECOND DECADE. jp||TAY 16, 1740, tlie annual meeting of tlie proprietors was lield at the town-house. Among other officers chosen were two field-drivers — Nathaniel Meloon and Ambrose Goold. The ques- tion, " whether ye hogs should run at large the year ensuing, — they being" well j^oked," was decided in the affirmative. A committee was chosen to confer with Rev. Phineas Stevens, in regard to his settlement as minister; and £150 in bills of credit was voted for contingent expenses. John Brown, Thomas Thorla, and Joseph Gerrish were ap- pointed a committee to lay out a highway through the town, to Baker's town, " on petition of John Sergeant & others Canada Soldiers, which Township is laid above Contoocook & adjoining to Merrimack." This has reference to the present South Franklin. The Canada soldiers alluded to were those who had been out upon the fron- tier to defend the settlements from the Indians. The highway was an extension of Fish street, the southerly end of which had been laid out by John Brown in 1738. SETTLEMENT OF IlEV. MR. STEVEXS. September 25, a meeting was held at John Mancher's tavern, in Newbury, but without transacting any business* was adjourned to October 1. The projjrietors met on that day at Ebenezer Choate's tavern, in Newbur}-. It was voted that the salary of Eev. Mr. Stevens, for the first year, should be £135, in bills of vV\v\\\\ Vv.S \'vV\v\\\\ yv^^iVvvv A 1740.] CIVIL HISTORY. 29 credit, eqiuvalent to silver at 29 shillings the ounce, and an in- crease of £5 a year until it should amount to £175 per annum, which should he his regular salary thereafter. It was also voted to give him a settlement of £180 ; and in case it should be found that £175 was not an adequate support, the proprietors would make a reasonable addition. The first minister, according to the grant, was entitled to one eighty-fourth part of the land ; but, as the town was laid out in one hundred and four rights, the proprietors made a stipulation that Mr. Stevens should not claim but one one-hundred-and-fourth share. Joseph Gerrish, John Brown, Edward Emery, John Coffin, and George Jackman were appointed a committee to pre- sent the terms of settlement, and to arrange for the ordination. There were not many ministers near at hand to take part in the ceremony. At Penacook was Rev. Timothy Walker ; at Sun- cook, Rev. Aaron Whittemore. The nest nearest minister was Rev. Moses Hale, of Chester. There was a Presbyterian minis- ter at Nuffield (Derry), Rev. Wm. Davidson, just about being settled, who had married the widow of his predecessor. But Davidson was a Presbyterian ; and the war was hot between the Presbyterians and the Orthodox, as the Congregationalists were called. There was no fello\vship between the denominations. The nearest minister following down the Merrimack was Josiah Swan, at Dunstable. At Exeter, the capital of the proA'ince, was Rev. John Odlin, Avho had been preaching a third of a century ; at Dover was Jonathan Cashing ; at Durham, Rev. Hugh An- drews. But it would have been a round-about way for these min- isters to have come to the ordination, — south to Exeter, thence to " Charmingfare " (Candia), thence to Suncook and Penacook. At South Newmarket was John Moody ; at Stratham, Henry Rust ; at Plaistow, James Cushing ; at Kingston, Joseph Secomb. The churches at Hampton and along the sea-shore were supplied with pastors, but it is not probable that they were called upon to take part in the council ; nor is it probable that either of the two ministers in the south-west part of the state — Rev. Jacob Bacon, of Keene, or Rev. Joseph Ashley, of Winchester — was invited. The records give no information as to who took part in the exer- cises in the little loo; meetina;-house. 30 CIVIL HISTORY. [1740. OKDIXATIOX EXPENSES. The iiroprietors' records contain an account of the expenses of the ordination : " An Accorapt of the Expenses for the Ordination of the Rev. Mr. Phiueas Stevens at Contoocook Oct 29, 1740 For which Charge the Proprietors are indebted ''To Mr Edward Emery ^ For five Bushels of Wheat at 12= per bushi £3— 0—0 16 lbs Pork at 18ages and turnips. The beef was equiv- alent to half an ox, and the pork to half a hog. Certainly there must have been many visitors from abroad. We may think of all Penacook and Canterbury and Suncook as being there, and probably a goodly number of the proprietors from Newbury, — thinking it no hardship to ride sixty miles on horseback through the forest to visit their friends and relatives in Contoocook. It was the first week in October, when the great forest would be i:i all its 'glory, — the maples bright with the changing hues of autumn, crimson and magenta and vermeil dyes of every hue — the first leaves falling earthward. It was a great day for the young settlement. We may think of long lines of men and women, on horseback, arriving on the eastern bank of the Merri- mack, and being ferried across to the lower intervale, passing the fields of corn rustling in the autumn breeze. They wind up the pathway, ascend the hill to the level plain and the broad highway of King street, and come to the log meeting-house, standing on a knoll east of it. They fasten their horses to the trees, and congratulate the citizens of Contoocook on the auspicious event. They take off their hats to the reverend men in wigs, who have come to ordain Mr. Stevens. The council assembles in the house of Edward Emery. The candidate is questioned in regard to " Eixed fate & Eree will," God's sovereignty and man's inability. Then comes tlie ordina- tion service in the log meeting-house, the invocation itself long 1740.] CIVIL HISTORY. 33 enougli for a pra^^er, then reading the Scriptures, the longer prayer, the still longer sermon, and all the other exercises long drawn, till ministers and people are sharp set for the dinner, — the beef, pork, geese, turkeys, garnished with turnips and cabbages, bread and butter, and dessert of cakes prepared with currants and raisins. We see the reverend clergymen filling their glasses with wine, while the multitude refresh themselves from the four barrels of cider on tap, and the casks of beer, made strong with the four bushels of malt. There are bowls filled with punch, for that is the use to which the nineteen gallons of " Ehum " has been put. Possibly there are mugs of egg-nog, well spiced, for the clergy, and served up smoking hot, with a heated logger- head plunged into the foaming tankards. And then, when the repast is ended, come the pipes and tobacco. The dinner is served out of doors, — for there is not on King street, neither on Queen street, a log house capacious enough to feast the throng. The people sit on the stumps of the old oaks, or upon the log fence surrounding the meeting-house lot, and partake of the gen- erous repast provided for the occasion, and talk over the event, praise the sermon, the bearing of the young minister; — may- be they carry on a little business, talk about swapping oxen, about friends at Newbury, and what is going on in the world, till the October sun sinks behind the "Mountain." Then the Can- terbury and Penacook and Suncook people take their departure — the wife on the pillion behind the husband — while the friends from Newbury accept the hospitality of the settlers, sleeping on bear- skins before the wide-mouthed fire-places in the log cabins. COLONIAL JURISDICTIOIS'. To whom do the settlers of Contoocook ow^e allegiance, — to Mas- sachusetts, or to New Hampshire ? It is the question of all oth- ers claiming their attention in 1740. Massachusetts was making strenuous efforts to extend her territory northward to the junction of the Winnepisaukee and Merrimack, and to " Endicott's tree," a large pine which stood on the bank of the river in the present town of Tilton. The line claimed by Massachusetts began at the sea, three miles north of the "black rocks " at the mouth of the Merrimack; 3 84 CIVIL HISTORY. [1740. tlience running parallel with the river as far north as the "crotch" or junction of the Merrimack and Wimiepisaukee ; thence due north, as far as a certain tree laiown as " Endicott's," three miles distant from the " crotch ; " thence, as reads the char- ter " due west to the South sea." This would have given Massa- chusetts jurisdiction from the town of Franklin westward to Oregon. New Hampshire claimed, on the other hand, that the line should begin at the sea, three miles north of the middle channel of the Merrimack, and from thence should run in a straight line west, until it met, in the language of one of the charters, " the king's other government." This " other government " was the territory granted h}^ Charles II to the Duke of York — supposed by the people of New Hampshire to be bovinded by the Hudson ; but by the people of New York, at a later date, it was claimed that the Connecticut was the western boundary of New Hamp- shire. To obtain a settlement of the boundary, a commission was ap- pointed consisting of one councillor from Nova Scotia, one from New York, one from Ehode Island, and one from New Jersey. The commissioners met at Hampton, August 1, 1737. The legis- latures of Massachusetts and New Hampshire met at the same time, — the first at Salisburj', the latter at Hampton Falls, — five miles apart. There was mvich pomp and parade ; but tlie com- missioners were divided in opinion, and the question was referred to London. The New Hampshire interest was placed in the hands of John Tomlinson and Mr. Parris, while the attorneys of Massa- chusetts were Edmund Quincy, who suddenly deceased, 1738, leaving the affairs to Messrs. Wilks & Patridge. On March 5, 1740, a decision was given by the King's Council, makino- the boundaries as they ever since have remained between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but making no decision in regard to the western boundary of the colony, which was not then in dispute. By this decision, all the towns west of the Merrimack which had been granted to Massachusetts were transferred to New Hamp- shire not only between the Merrimack and the Connecticut, but west of that river. From this time on — especially during Gov. Bennin-T Wentworth's administration — grants were made by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut j and that region, up to the 1740.] CIVIL HISTORY. 35 formation of Vermont as a state in 1777, was known as the New Hampshire Grants. The settlers of Contoocook were attached to Massachusetts. They came from Newhury. The plantation had been granted by that colony, and they desired to remain under its jurisdiction. At a meeting held October 1, the following vote was passed : " Voted that there shall be a petition sent to His Most Excellent Majesty Saying that we, the proprietors of Contoocook might be con. tinned to this province of Massachusetts Bay, & that Thomas Hutchin- son Esq. be our agent." John Brown, Capt. Moses Gerrish, and Benjamin Lunt were appointed to prepare the petition. Probably, however, the peti- tion never was sent, as the matter had been decided seven months previous, though the intelligence had not reached Contoocook. EXTEXSIOX OF FISH STREET. In Mr. John Brown's MS. field book is the record of the run- ning of a line from Contoocook to Franklin. " May 16 1740. Jos. Gerrish, Nath^ Danforth, Edward Fitzgerald & myself Laid out a Highway of four Rods broad from King street in Contoocook to Pemichewasett." The line was nearly identical with the present travelled road. UNDER THE NEW JURISDICTION". Up to this time New Hampshire had been a dependency of Massachusetts, having a deputy-governor as chief executive officer; but now the colony became a separate commonwealth. Beaming Wentworth was appointed governor. He was born in Portsmouth, but, being in England at the time, secured the ap- pointment. He assumed the duties on December 12, 1740. The proprietors and settlers were desirous of continuing their allegiance to Massachusetts, but cheerfully gave in their adhesion to the new order of things. proprietors' meetings. At a meeting held in Newbury, at the tavern of Edward A. Richardson, Lieut. Benjamin Lunt was chosen moderator, and Joseph Gerrish, Joseph Coffin, and Capt. Moses Gerrish "were 36 CIVIL HISTORY. [1743. chosen a committee liumbly to beg the favor of His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq., governor of His Majestie's province of New Hamjjshire, in New England, &c., & that he would please order & direct the same so as may he most advantageous both to the government & said proprietors." May 20. Voted to raise £200, in bills of credit, to pay Eev. Mr. Stevens for " his sarvice " the year ensuing. Voted, that a man shall be allowed five shillings a day, and four shillings for a " yoak " of oxen. Voted, that £20 be worked out on the highwa}^ Voted, that John Brown, Lieut. Joseph Coffin, and Ensign Joseph Gerrish make sale of lands on which taxes have not been paid ; that Capt. Ebenezer Eastman be empowered " to clear & brak up the ministry intervale lot — the said Lot to be cleared and brok up the summer following." Surveyors of highways, fence-viewers, a pound-keeper, and hogreeves were chosen, and £20 raised for highways and £200 for contingent expenses. 1742. At a meeting held September 8, £200 was voted to meet the minister's salary, and for other expenses ; and that the salary might be paid promptly, it was " ordered that each propri- etor give a Note of hand to pay his & their dues sum of said tax, and those proprietors and inhabitants that are obliged by contract to pay tax, are to give their notes to Ambros Gould, who is chosen to Gather said tax." May 18, 1743. Josiah Bishop was chosen field-driver for the middle intervale, Nathaniel Danford for the upper intervale, and Joseph Eastman for the lower intervale. Thirty pounds was voted to the highways. Voted, that the undivided meadows be divided for the 3'ear, as follows, — viz., " that those men who are dwellers at said planta- tion, shall mow or cut their due proportion of said meadows, ac- cording to their rates ; and the remaining part of said meadow shall be divided among the inhabitants in equality." Sept. 14. Meeting at Contoocook ; John Brown moderator. Voted to lay out to each proprietor a lot containing one hun- dred acres of land. This was the third divisio7i. Richard Jack- man, John Eowler, John Coffin, Ensign Joseph Gerrish, John Brown, and Thomas Thorla were appointed a committee to make the division. %.* (__^yvf'->^^^^i^^t^o^y-?i fJ^^^i'-^^-a^ry^Z.^^ 17i3.] CIVIL HISTORY. 37 GETTING READY FOR THE INDIANS. For a period of ten years the inhabitants hai lived in compara- tive security, hut now the Indians, stimulated by the French, ■were committing depredations all along the frontier. The citi- zens prepared for defence, and laid in a stock of ammunition, as will he seen by the record. Fourteen pounds of powder, fifty-six pounds of bullets, and twenty-four flints were obtained by George Jackman for the defence of the settlement. [From the Records.] " Newbury Oct 31, 1743. by the desire of the proprietors I make an entry of the request of Dea George Jackman for the warlike stores de- livered to him as followeth : Viz: we received of henry Rolfe,jr four pounds of gunpowder & fifty-six pounds of ballets and twenty-four flints, & we received of Benjamin pettengiU ten pounds of powder. And the said stores are sent up by said Jackman for the use of Contoocook proprietors to be kept in some secure place together untill there be an Occasion for said stores to be used in a warlike manner then to be distributed out according to division of said George Jackman or some other person chosen for said service. Joseph Coffin Prop. Clerk.-' FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATION. The people of Hopkinton, and of other towns, were abandoning their homes ; but the settlers of Contoocook had no intention of leaving. They organized themselves into a military company, and petitioned the governor to appoint the officers they had chosen. " To His Excellency &c " AVe the Undersigned Being Soldiers of Contoocook Do Humbly Desire Your Excellency to Grant to Mr John RoUins of said town a Captain's Commission & Likewise a Left & Insins Commission to two other Men of said town whom he the sd Rollins shall Nominate the Performance v/hereof will Greatly oblige your Humble & Dutiful Ser- vants. " Contoocook Nov ye SD'^i 1743. Jacob Flanders Thomas Cook Ambrose Goold Benjamene Dudy Josiah Bishop Thomas Eastman Enos Bishop Nathaniel Danford John EUet [Elliot] Jesse Flanders 88 CIVIL HISTORY. [1743. Thomas Manuel John Flanders William Dagiden Moses Call John Boin [Bowen] Sinkler Bean Jacob Flanders jim'or Daniel Rolf John Fowler Daniel Barker Ezekiel Flanders William Danford Richard Flood John Call John Johnson Nathaniel Meloon William Peters Samuel Emmery- Andrew Bohonon ' William Emmery." Edward Fitzgerald The name of John Eollins does not appear elsewhere upon the records. It may he supposed that he was a new comer, quite likely had seen military service, and was selected as captain on that account. It is not probahle that he remained long in Con- toocook. Oct. 17. Met at Contoocook, hut without transacting any busi- ness, adjourned to Oct. 30. ^'■Voied that there should be raised £126 in old tenor exclusive of the then inhabitants to pay the charges arisen already in fortifying round the Reverend Mr. Phiueas Stephens dwelling house in the year 1744." PETITION TO GOV. WEXTWOKTH. The inhabitants sent the following petition to Governor Went- worth : "To His Excellency Benning Wentworth &c. "The Petition of ye Inhabitants of a Plantation called Contoocook in ye s'' province of New Hampshire Hereby Sheweth : "That when as your Humble Petitioners being certainly informed of a Declaration of a war Between ye Kings of England & France, and There- fore Looking upon ourselves as exposed continually to ye attacks of ye Indians, who are subjects to ye King of France, and we would Beg Humbly to Lay our case before your Excellency: " May it Please your Excellency we have Been at Great expense & Labor in Bringing to ye settlements in ye plantation so far as thay are at this time by settling a gospel minister, erecting Houses, subduing Lands, and Bringing too a considerable Quantity of Wilderness & in erecting proper Fortifications for Defense in case of an Indian war, one of which was built in ye year 1739, a building of considerable ex- pense to ye proprietors & of great consequence to ye inhabitants being 1744.] CIVIL HISTORY. 3.9 100 feet square & all this to advance ye Kingdom of Christ in ye world & farther to enlarge & advance his Majesty's Dominions in the Ameri- can continent. We have likewise been at great expense & cost in erecting houses, to dwell in and in moving from our habitation, the most of us into s'' part in order for our security till proper help shall ar- rive to us for want of Avhich many persons have Removed & now are Removing from us to the Great Discouragement of those that tarry be- hind and all tho we might Defend our selves in our Fortification yet we can't support our selves because we have none to guard us in our Busi- ness and moreover the commanding officer in the place has so far neg- lected the people that they are very uneasy he never having called them together since he Rec<* his commission Refusing to Repair the fort or to take any care of the people in it never setting a watch or ward so that the Inhabitants are without a leader. Yet they have constantly kept a watch & ward in said fort or garrison. Those with many others are the Difficultys we Labor under two many to be here Enumerated of which we Humbly Beg Redress of your Excellency in such ways an raaner as your Excellency in wisdom shall think Best & your humble Petitioners will ever pray. " Contoocook, June ye 5, 1744. Richard flood William Emery Richard Jackman Moses Burbank John Cowsir [Corser?] Nathaniel Meloon Joseph Easmau Ezekiel Flanders John Fowler Josiah Bishop Andrew Bohonon George Jackmaa Jacob Flanders Samuel Emery" Daniel Rolfe THE FIRST ATTACK. Tlie first attack of the Indians upon Contoocook was made about tliis time, tliougli the exact date is unknown. Josiah Bishop, who was at work in his field at the lower end of King street, was surprised by a party of Indians. They took him into the woods, probably up the rocky hill west of the lower end of King street. He made an outcry, and quite likely preferred death to captivity. As was subsequently learned from the Indians, he resisted bravely, and they dispatched him with their tomahawks. The capture naturally threw the settlement into commotion ; but the citizens having located their homes, determined to defend them. The summer was one of great anxiety. The families took 40 CIVIL HISTORY. [1746. refuge in tlie garrisons, while sentinels were ever on the watch while the citizens were at work. The committee appointed to lay out the third division of land — the one-hundred-acre lots — reported that they had performed the work assigned them. One hundred and twenty-two pounds, old tenor, was voted to defray the expense of the same. Nov. 21. Meeting at John Mancher's tavern, Newbury. At this meeting no business was transacted except the choice of assessors and collectors. THE CANTERBURY GARRISON. Canterbury had erected a strong garrison. The settlers of that plantation were equally determined with those of Contoo- cook not to abandon their homes through fear of the Indians. The Canterbury settlement had made greater progress than that of Contoocook, and was much stronger in numbers. A garrison was established, and Jeremiah Clough, one of the energetic set- tlers, commissioned captain. Being on the cast side of the river, and more accessible than Contoocook to Portsmouth, the residence of the new governor, it became the rendezvous for all scouting parties. In the month of June, Capt. Clough had a force of twenty men under him, but as the simimer waned it was reduced to six men, — one of whom was Philip Call, whose wife was murdered subse- quently, as we shall see, by the Indians. Another of his soldiers was Christo, a friendly Indian, whose wigwam once stood on the east side of the Merrimack, a short distance below the falls of Amos- keag, probably not far from the spot now occupied by the Print Works in Manchester. June 4. The proprietors raised £250 for the salary of Mr. Stevens and other expenses, and the usual officers were chosen. 1746. Early in the year the Indians began their depredations. THE OUTBREAK. On April 27, the Indians entered the garrison at Hopkinton, which had been left insecure by some one going out early in the morning, and, finding everybody asleep, captured the entire house- hold, consisting of Samuel Burbank, his sons Caleb and Jonathan, and David Woodwell, wife, and three children. 1746. j CIVIL HISTORY. 41 Governor Wentworth ordered a detacliment of horse to proceed to Canterbury and Contooeook. Capt. John Goffe was ordered to raise fifty men. In six days he was on his way to Contooeook, leaving Derry field on May 3, and reaching Penacook that night. But the Indians were ahead of him. They fell upon a party of men at work near Clay hill, and killed Thomas Cook, who had built a cabin on Little brook, about a mile north of the meeting- house on Corser hill, and for whom Cook's hill was named. He had fled from that locality for fear of the Indians. Another of the party was Csesar, Rev. Mr. Stevens's slave. He was a strong, athletic man, and made a brave fight, and lost his life in conse- quence. Another of the party was Elisha Jones, who was taken captive, carried to Canada, and sold to a Frenchman. He died wliile a prisoner. The attack was made on Monday, May 4. The news reached Penacook that evening, for we find Capt. Goffe at midnight writ- ing a letter to Gov. Wentworth. CAPT. GOFFe's letter. " 5 May 1746 " May it please your Excellency " I got to Pennycook on Satui'day early in the morning & notwith- standing I sent the Monday after I left the Bank [Strawberry Bank, or Portsmouth?], yet my bread was not baked but there was about two hundred & fifty weight baken, which supply[ed] 20 men, which I sent to Canterbury as soon as I got here, & I kept the baker & several Soldiers to baking all Sabbath day & purposed to march on Mon- day as soon as possible ; but about midnight two men came down from Contooeook & brought the unhappy news of two men being killed, & the two men that came down told me that they saw the two men lye in their blood, & one man more that was missing, & hearing that I was here, desired me to assist in making search; so that I am with all ex- pedition going up to Contooeook, & will do what I can to see the en- emy. I shall take all possible care for the protection of the frontiers & destruction of the enemy. The Indians are all about our frontiers. I think there never was more need of soldiers than now. It is enough to make one's blood cold in one's veins, to see our fellow creatures killed and taken upon every quarter, & if we cannot catch them here, I hope the Gk;neral Court will give encouragement to go & give them the same play at home. The white man that is killed is one Thomas Cook & the other is Mr Steven's the minister's negro. These are found & Jones, 42 CIVIL HISTORY. [1746. the soldier is not found. They having but a few soldiers at the fort, have not as yet sought much for him. I am going with all possible expedition & am " Your Excellency's most humble & most dutiful Subject & servant JOIIX GOFFE " Pennycook about 2 of the clock in the Morning, My 5"> 1746." Goffe kept on the scout two weeks, but, as was afterwards known, the Indians hastened to Canada with Jones and the cap- tives taken at Hopkinton. Tlie people of Contoocook little knew that all through Sunday after the attack at Hopkinton the Ind- ians were secreted on the " Mountain/' looking down upon the garrison ; that they saw the people as they marched to meeting, each man shouldering his gun. The Indians, in numbers, were as many as the settlers, but did not dare attempt a surprise. Capt. Goffe went up the Merrimack, probably, as far as Ply- mouth. He was gone from Derryfield twenty days. He made a second scout, and was gone thirteen days, but saw no Indians, for the reason that they had hastened to Canada with their cap- tives. The attack at Clay hill was in the ravine near the crossing of Cold l)rook, but in the vicinity of the present brick-yards. In early days it was popularly supposed that the blood-stains of a murdered man never could be effaced ; and fifty j-ears ago there were persons in town who could discern the identical stains up- on the rocks, made by the blood of Thomas Cook. Persons of a cooler temperament and less vivid imaginations never were quite able, however, to distinguish the blood-stains from those produced by the oxidation of the rock. On the 27th of June the Indians made an attack on Eochester, killing four men and capturing two. This attack, so near Ports- mouth, produced great alarm. Capt. Drake, of Hampton, was or- dered out with his company to protect Nottingham. Capt. An- drew Todd, of Londonderry, with twenty-three men, was ordered to Canterbury ; while Capt. Daniel Todd, of Exeter, with thirty men, was ordered to Contoocook. Ladd was ordered out for three months. He marched on from Exeter on the 14th of July. His clerk, Abner Clough, kept a journal, from which we have a clear account of Capt. Ladd's movements. 1746.] CIVIL HISTORY. 43 ABNER CLOUGh's JOURXAL. The company left Exeter July 14, reached Rumford (Concord) on the 19th, and on the 21st marched to Canterbury. The marches of the 23d, 24th, and 25th are thus narrated : " On the 23d day took 10 more men — marched to Contoocook — so ranged about the town, & at night set out several scouts in & near the houses near the fort, but made no discovery. " On the 24th day enlisted two more men. Early in the morning marched about 2 miles & discovered a fire, but as we found out was made by Contoocook men 3 days before. And we thought by the look of the fire that the Indians had been there & but a little while gone. Then we marched about half a mile & then we discovered Indian tracks very plain. And from there marched to a place called Contoocook pond [Great pond], & scouted round about the Pond, but could make no discovery. And from thence toBlackwater falls. And one of our men says he saw an Indian very plain as he was some distance from the Scout, as he saith. And we ranged about but could make no fur- ther discovery, then marched over several brooks & low places, but could make no discovery, & so marched to a river called Currier Sarge river & found some camps supposed to be Indian camps, & there camped in the Intervale. And it rained hard all night. This days march about 17 miles. " On the 25th, marched to a pond called Almsbury Pond [Tucker's pond] & ranged about said pond, made no discovery, & from there marched to Contoocook falls, & scouted up& down the river & made no discovery ; and crossed the river & marched to a place called Hopkinton [near Hopkinton viUage] & there camped about the farther end of the town & that Fort where there were e'ght persons taken & captivated, but we could make no late discovery there, then we marched down about 2 miles towards Rumford to another garrison, where the people were deserted from & there made a halt. Then scouted round a field, then went into the Garrison & in a cellar found a mare and two colts, which we took them out of the cellar alive. It was supposed by the scouts in general that the said horses had been in the cellar 10 days & been put in by the Indians. We also discovered some part of a dead creature supposed to have been killed by the Indians & left. At night marched to Rumford & camped. This day's march about 16 miles." — iV. H. Hist. Soc. Col, Vol. IV. The route taken by Capt. Ladd evidently was from the foot of King street across Cold brook, and towards Great pond. It is probable that a path had been opened in that direction during 44 CIVIL HISTORY. [1746. tlie thirteen j'-ears that the town had been settled. Whether Capt. Ladd passed round the pond to the south, or to tlie north, or whether the Blackwater falls were those directly west of the pond, or the falls at SaA' eatt's mills, or b}^ Burhank's mill, can only be conjectured; but the probabilities are that the "falls" were those directly Avest of the pond, and the route of the company AA-as along the southern shore. It is also evident that the route from the falls AA'as directly up the riA^er to West Salisbury. What stream Currier Sarge river may have been is not certain, — whether the mountain brook that empties into the BlackAvater through the West Salisbury mead- ows, or the Blackwater itself; quite likely the latter. Abner Clougli Avas Avholly unacquainted Avith the country, and may not have clearly understood that Blackwater falls were upon Black- Avater riA^er. KEARSAEGE MOUNTAIN". This reference to Currier Sarge is one of the first on record. The Indians called the mountain CoxoisseioaschooJc. This name is given on Captain Holland's map, printed in London, 1784, also the name "Kj^ar Sargu Mt." Although much has been Avritten in regard to the orthography of the Avord, there is as yet nothing satisfactory in regard to its origin. From the fact that Abner Clough Avrites it "Currier Sarge,'' it is evident that the name was well knoAvn at that early date. " Almsbury pond " is clearly Tucker's pond, in the north-east corner of Warner. The toAvn of Warner had been granted in 1735 to proprietors mainly resident in Amesbury, Mass., and the grant was called Amesbury. The plot had been survej^ed, but no settlement Avas made till 1749, when four log houses w^ere erected at the present village of Davisville, but never were permanently occupied. They were subsequently burned by the Indians. No other attempt Avas made to settle the town till 1764. The route of Capt. Ladd from Tucker's pond Avas doAvn the Amesbury or Warner river to Contoocookville, and thence to Hopldnton village. The Indians were accustomed to frequent the falls on the riA'ers to catch salmon, and hence the moA'ements of Capt. Ladd to their favorite haunts. ...cti^-^^rx^ /- 174G.] CIVIL HISTORY. 45 Captain Ladd went from Penacook to tlie Sun cook valley, to Epsom, Nottingham, and Exeter, where he arrived July 31st, and dismissed his men till the oth of August, when he started on a second expedition. He reached Penacook on the 10th. On the 11th occurred the massacre at Penacook, on the road leading to Hopkinton, in which Samuel Bradley, Jonathan Bradley, Obadiah Peters, John Lufkin, and John Bean were killed, and Alex- ander Eoberts and Wm. Stickney taken prisoners. Daniel Gil- man escaped, and gave the alarm at the Penacook garrison. Capt. Ladd scoured the country. We quote from Clough's jour- nal of his movements in Canterbury and Contoocook : "Oa tlie 17tli day on Sunday, marched to Canterbury, & went to meeting some part of the day. And on the 18th day went down to the Intervale in order to guard some people about some work, but it rained all day. " On the 19th went to the Intervale to guard some people about some work. We guarded some & scouted some. And on the 20th day it rained in the forenoon. And in the afternoon we scouted some in the woods but made no discovery. But Capt. Talford, with his men discov- ered where there had laid some Indians in ambush, & also found where some Indians had roasted some corn. And on the 21st went down to the lower end of the Town, to guard some people about some work. " On the 22d went down to the lower end of the Town to guard some people — but made no discovery. " On the 23d day early in the morning, marched away from the fort in order to go to the Intervale to guard some people about some work ; but when we had marched about half a mile from the fort, we marched across a field & found where there lay two Indians & had but just gone, for the grass seemed to rise up after them. We ranged about the woods after them ; but found where several more lay & where they run off. We supposed that these two Indians lay there for spies. We went to the Intervale & guarded some people about work & made no other discovery. " And on the 24th day, on Sunday, marched along across the woods to the upper end of Canterbury lower Intervale & there crossed the river and from there to Contoocook mills, & from there ranged along the woods to the backside of Contoocook mountain, And there ranged in a single rank v.'here there were several likely places for lookout for en- emies—And Capt. Ladd fell down and hurt his leg— something, But we could make no late discovery of the enemy. And at night returned to Canterbury Fort." 46 CIVIL HISTORY. [1747. Capt. Lacld extended liis protection as far east as Rochester, and continued in service till tlie close of September. proprietors' meeting. Dec. 15. Meeting of projirietors at Contoocook. "Voted to raise £240 old tenor to pay ministerial and other expenses." Voted to petition " the great & General Court of tlii.s Province praying that the Honorable Court would be pleased to take our distressed case under their most prudent consideration relating to the war." A fort was built, during the year 1746, on the Winnepisaukee river, near wliat is now Union Bridge, in Sanbornton, called Fort Atkinson. Two forts were also built in the Connecticut valley ; Fort Dummer, at Hinsdale, and the other, " No. 4," at Charlestown. PETITION OF CONTOOCOOK, PENACOOK, AND CANTERBURY FOB PROTECTION FROM INDIANS. "To his excellency Benuing Wentworth Esq Captain General & Governor & Commander iu chief in & over His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, " To his Honorable, his Majesty's Council & House of Representa- tives in General Assembly Con veined the 12 th day of Sept 1747 " The Petition of Phineas Stevens, Ebenezer Eastman & Jeremiah Clough in behalf of themselves & the inhabitants of Contoocook, Penny- cook & Canterbury in said Province most humbly shews: " That the said Place are frontiers & lay open and exposed unto the French & Indian Enemy. " That they are not able to protect & defend themselves in case of a vigorous attack from the Enemy, which they have reasoa to fear may be the case as soon as there shall be snow sufficient to travel on snow shoes. " That unless they are protected the Inhabitants will be under a ne- cessity to break up & leave their habitations & so consequently the fron- tier will be best nearer. '^That your Petitioners humbly conceive it will be much better for the Province to have those places Protected than to have them broken up. "Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray your Excellency & Honor 1747.] CIVIL HISTORY. 47 to take their petition under wise consideration & be pleased to grant such a number of men for each of the before mentioned places & for such time as your Excellency & Honors shall seem most and reason- able, your Petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray. PiiiNEAS Stkvexs " In Council Nov 12, 1747 " Head & sent down to the House, Ebknezer Eastman Jeremiah Clough Theodore Atkixson Secy " PROPRIETOKS' MEETIlSfGS. June 30. Josepli Coffin, Joseph Gerrisli, and Moses Gerrish were chosen a committee " to lay before his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq &c & honorable Court of his Majestie's province of New Hampshire the circumstances of said plantation as soon as may be convenient." Nov. 17. Raised £250 old tenor for the ministry and other expenses. Voted that the expenses of the meeting be paid by the whole proprietors. The expense amounted to 40s. old tenor — about $1.50. Joseph Gerrish was authorized to petition the General Court to invest the proprietors with power to gather the taxes levied on the proprietors of Contoocook tliat lived on the plantation. Up to this time there had been much difficulty in collecting the taxes of non-residents, and further legislation was necessary. Joseph Coffin was allowed £9 10s. old tenor for his services in presenting the petition of 1747 to the " Great & General Court." PETITION. " To His excellency Benning Wentworth &c " The Petition of the Proprietors of the Plantation called Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire humbly sheweth : " That your Petitioners have had a minister of the Gospel settled among them for about the space of seven years. That notwithstanding the Difficulties arrising from the War he hitherto has continued at said Plantation and would still continue there if supported & maintained by the Proprietors. That for want of a Law to Enable and Impower the 48 CIVIL HISTORY. [1747. said Proprietors to Raise money & Collect the same for the support of the minister there the Burden thereof lyeth on a few wherefore your Petitioners most humbly pray your excellency and Honors that by a special act they may be authorized and Iinpowered thereunto and that not only the Lands of Residents but also of the Non Resident Proprie- tors may be rated towards the support of the ministry there for such time and in such Proportion as shall be judged reasonable by your ex- cellency and Honors, & Your Petitioners will ever pray for the Grant- ing of said petition. Joseph Cofkix for & in behalf of the Committee of said Proprietors "Nov 13, 1747 " In Council read & concurred and ordered to be sent down to the Honorable House. Theodore Atkixsox Secry." CONCORD GRIST-MILL. The nearest grist-mill was tliat at Eumford, owned by Henry Lovejoy and Baracliias Farnum, and situated at Millville. The depredations of the Indians caused its abandonment ; Avhereupon a petition was addressed to Gov. Wentworth, by the citizens of Contoocook, Canterbury, and Eumford, for a company of soldiers to protect it. " To His Excellency &c *♦ The petition of the subscribers Inhabitants of Rumford Canterbury & Contoocook Humbly sheweth : " That v/e especially at the two last named places are greatly dis- tressed for want of suitable Grist mills ; that Henry Lovejoy has at great expense erected a good mill at a place most advantageously situated to accommodate the three towns; that it is the only mill in all the three towns that stands under the command of the guns of the garrison ; that the ill consequences of abandoning the said garrison the year past has been severely felt by us; that the said Lovejoy appears desirous of residing there again provided he might be favored with such a number of soldiers as just to keep his garrison with a tolerable de- gree of safety & that as additional encouragement to us to appear as petitioners on his behalf to your Excellency & Honors to grant our said petition, he will become engaged with all convenient sped to erect a foro-e for the making of Bar Iron which may stand under the command of the said garrison; which undertaking would be probably vastley ad- vantar^eous to all the towns & plantations up this way, as well as the general interest of the Province."' 1748.] CIVIL HISTORY. 49 The petition was signed by 36 citizens of Eumford, 18 of Can- terbury, and 17 of Contoocook. Their names are Stephen Gerrish, William Emery, John Towle, Joel Manuel, George Jackman, John Flanders, Eichard Jackman, Philip Flanders, Eichard Flood, Stephen Call, Jacob Flanders, Eev. Phineas Stevens, William Peters, Nathaniel Malloon, Philip Caul, William Danford. John Corser, The petition bears date Jan., 1747-8 — meaning January, 1748. LORDS PROPRIETORS. Although the settlers had received their grant in due form from the government of Massachusetts, they suddenly found themselves confronted by a prior claim, — one advanced by the heirs-at-law of Capt. John Mason, of England, a powerful body of men known as Lords Proprietors. It was the old question of juris- diction, not between the colonies, but between those in actual possession and those who claimed possession. At a meeting held February 1, Moses Gerrish, Joseph Cofifin, and John Brown were appointed to make terms with the claim- ants. The heirs of Mason had sold their claim to all lands in the colony to twelve persons for the sum of £1,500, and these twelve persons were called the Lords Proprietors — composed of some of the nobility of England. Quite likely the purchasers were looking to their own aggrandizement when they made the purchase ; pos- sibly they ma}'- have entertained the idea that they could compel those in possession to pay a second time for their lands ; but the resolute attitude taken by the plantations soon dispelled all such illusions, if they had been entertained. They prudently abandoned all attempts to recover damages in towns east of the Merrimack, but still laid claim to those west of that stream. The committee opened negotiations, which continued till 1753, when the lords proprietors, probably thinking that little could be recovered, honorably gave a quit-claim deed, and the settlers remained in possession of the lands. A cessation of hostilities had been agreed upon between France 4 50 CIVIL HISTORY. [1748. and England, but the settlers relaxed none of their vigilance, in regard to the Indians, during the jeav. Most of them lived in or near the garrison. THE BEGIJfXING OF RELIGIOUS DISSENT. At the meeting of tlie iiroprietors, held May 25, £250 was raised for the support of the ministry. One of the proprietors, Samuel Fowler, Esq., entered his dissent against such an appro- priation of money. Mr. Fowler espoused the cause of the Friends, and his dissent did not lie in any factious opposition to preaching. He was a w^orthy gentleman — had the welfare of the settlement at heart — hut he was opposed to all union of church and state, and conscientiously desired a separation of civil and ecclesiastical affairs. He was a proprietor, residing at Newbury, though at a later period he removed to Contoocook. He entered his protest, but paid his money, and doubtless rejoiced that the people could have preaching; but he w^anted voluntary and not compulsory action. Fifty years later the whole community came to the same conclusion. jSTov. 30. A meeting of the proprietors was held at John Mancher's tavern, in Newbury. A committee, consisting of Ben- jamin Lunt, Henry Eolfe, Jr., John Brown, and Capt. Joseph Gerrish, was chosen to settle with Joseph "Willet and Benjamin Pettengill, former collectors, " and examine how much they have paid Reverend Mr. Phineas Stevens in their collection." The committee was empowered to settle with Mr. Stevens, and report at the next meeting. C/c^^ A, 1750.] OHAPTEK lY. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. ^^HE annual meeting of the proprietors was held at Contoo- ^^ cook, May 24. The chief item of interest was the report of the committee appointed in ISTovemher to settle with Rev. Mr. Stevens. It appears that Mr. Stevens had been paid his salary in bills of credit. Technically, he had received his due ; but the bills of credit had greatly depreciated, and the high-minded citi- zens felt that he was justly entitled to remuneration. He prefer- red no claim ; but higher than any legal claim was the moral obligation to do justly. The settlers and proprietors fully recog- nized it. The committee reported as follows : " That by reason of the depreciation of the bills of credit in which Mr Steven's salary had been paid he has a just claun on them for in- demnity & that £300 Old tenor be paid him." ho:n'orable action. Samuel Fowler, Esq., before mentioned, entered his protest in writing. It was, as before, a question of conscience — the severing of church and state — with him, not of hostility to Mr. Stevens, or of indifference to the claims of religion, or the benefits arising from a settled ministry. It was a protest for a vital principle. The proprietors recognized Mr. Eowler's right of protestation, and also his rights of conscience. They at once abated his tax, thus showing their own liberal principles. They were in no sense bigots, but in this year — 1750 — recognized the great j^rinciple of individual freedom, fifty years in advance of its recognition by the community at large. Mr. Fowler soon after moved from Newbury to Contoocook, and 52 CIVIL HISTORY. [1752. became a useful, public-spirited, liberal citizen. Although taxes for the support of the minister were afterwards assessed upon him, it was as a matter of form, in compliance with the law, and they were uniformly abated. Mr. Fowler was a lawyer — the first of the profession in the town. The proprietors had already petitioned to be incorporated as a town, but the petition had not been granted. A second applica- tion was made during the year, but without success. ]May 22, 1751. The proprietors met, and chose the usual offi- cers, and voted to open a way to the upper intervale — the way now used, leading from King street, a short distance south of the present meeting-house on the Plain. The proprietors were assessed ten shillings, old tenor. A tax was levied sufficient to pay the salary of Mr. Stevens for the year. THE SECOND FORT. 1752. The chief item of interest in the call for the annual meeting of the proprietors was the erection of a second fort. The meeting was held May 20, and the following vote was passed : " Voted to raise £200 old tenor to be laid out in building a garrison or fort & to be built forthwith and to be set on Samuel Gerrish's lot which was originally laid out unto Richard Greenough said fort to be one hundred & ten feet Square or otherwise as the committee shall Judge allowing said building to cover the land." The sum of £100 was raised to fortify Eev. Mr. Stevens's house. This second fort was erected on the hill near the house occu- pied by Prof. Jackman. Mr. Stevens's house stood upon the site of that at present occupied by Mr. Jacob Hosmer. Messrs. Stephen Gerrish, Jacob Flanders, and Pochard Jackman were placed in charge of the work. It is probable that this forti- fication stood on the site of the smaller fort, erected during the previous troubles, on Mr. Jackman's land. SABATIS AXD PLANSAWA. The Indians accustomed to frequent the Merrimack valley were the Arosaguntacook tribe, or the St. Prancis Indians, many of whom had accepted Christianity from the Jesuit fathers, with St. 1752.] CIVIL HISTORY. 53 Francis as their patron saint. Tlieir Christianity was not very deep : it did not tonch the heart or life, hnt was an exchange of " Medicines." The Virgin Mary and St. Francis became their new "Medicines." Since 1749 they had been on friendly terms with the settlers at Contoocook and Canterbury, came and went at their pleasure, and were kindly treated. Two of them, Sabatis and Plansawa, were frequent visitors. Their names, doubtless, are corruptions. Sa-batis is the Indian pronunciation of Jean Baptiste ; while Plansawa, or, more correctly, Plawnsawa, is the Indian form of Francois. The St. Francis tribe used P instead of S, and L in- stead of K, in their attempts to pronounce the names given them by the Jesuit fathers. Ballard— JSF. H. Hist. Soc, viii, U3- ' The settlers of the Connecticut valley were making prepara- tions to occupy the rich meadows of the great " ox-bow," at Hav- erhill and Newbury, ascending the Connecticut from "No. 4," Charlestown ; and the Indians, jealous of what they regarded an encroachment upon their domain, threatened retaliation. Sud- denly Sabatis and Plansaw^a disappeared, carrying off as pri.-^on- ers two slaves, — one belonging to Mr. Miles, and the other to Mr. Lindsey, of Canterbury. One of the negroes made his escape, while the other was taken to Crown Point, and sold to a French officer. BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. At this time the sturdy frontiersmen engaged in hunting dur- ing the autumn and winter months. Among others who passed through Contoocook to the upper Merrimack, and its tributaries and connecting ponds, were Jolm and William Stark, of Derry- field ; also, David Stinson and Amos Eastman. John Stark was twent3'--six years old, having been born on August 28, 1728. The four hunters proceeded up Baker's river to the present town of Rumney. They discovered an Indian trail, and decided to leave the locality. John went out, on April 28, to take up his traps. While thus engaged, he found himself surrounded by Ind- ians. He made no attempt to escape, and gave himself up with- out resistance. The Indians asked him to lead the Avay to the camp, and he took them in the opposite direction. The other hunters, alarmed at his absence, started down the river. The 54 CIVIL HISTORY. [1752. Indians, discovering the trick John had played them, hastened down the valley, and intercepted the hunters the next morning at daybreak. Eastman was on the shore, and was at once captured. William Stark and Stinson were in a boat. The river, though swollen by melting snows, is at the best a small stream, and a stroke of the paddle would carry the boat to either shore. John called to them, and told them to leap to the other bank. William obeyed, and escaped : Stinson was killed while in the boat. The bullet aimed at William missed him, but passed through the pad- dle which he held, for John had fearlessly struck aside the gun in the hands of the Indian. William arrived in Contoocook the next day, and gave the alarm. A party went up from Contoocook and Kumford, and found Stinson's body, stripped of its clothes, and scalped. The Indians had fled. The party returned in safety, bringing the paddle which had been pierced by the ball aimed at William. John was taken to Canada, where, when called upon to run the gauntlet, he seized a cudgel from the hands of the nearest Indian, swung it right and left, and laid about him so lustily that, instead of beating him, they made all haste to escape his blows. Such intrepidity made him a great favorite. He was set to work with the squaws to hoe corn ; but he cut up corn and weeds alike, and ended the matter by throwing the hoe into the river. That pleased the Indians, and he had a light cap- tivity, which ended in August following. These incursions of the Indians kept the settlement in constant alarm ; but the season passed without an attack. APPKEXTICES. At this period, and for nearly a century thereafter, apprentices were bound to service by legal indentures. The duties and obli- gations of a party taking an apprentice will be seen from an in- denture, given in this year 1752, by Nathaniel Meloon : " Contoocook Oct 19, 1752 " I the subscriber Nathaniel Meloon Promise & Engage to Use my Endeavor to Instruct John Harris in Husbandry work from y« day of the date hereof till he is of the age of twenty one years and during the whole of sd Time to provide for & give to sd Harris Sufficient Meat, drink, washing Lodging & Clothing also to teach or cause him to be taught to read, write & Cypher if he be capable of Learning and at the 1753.] CIVIL HISTORY. 55 age of twenty one years to dismiss sd Harris & give him two New Suits of Apparrel Home Made from head to feet,— and upon failure of any of the Above Articles do hereby bind and oblige myself to pay to Stephen Gerrish of Contoocook the Sam of one hundred pounds l.aw- fuU Money. In confirmation of all which I have hereunto set ray hand the day & year above written Nathaniel Meloon "Testis "Phineas Stevens." NEW STYLE. In order to rectify the errors that had groAVii into the calendar of the year by the procession of the equinoxes_. Pope Gregory XIII established a new one, October 5, 1582, in which ten days were omitted. The New Style was adopted in France, Spain, Denmark, and Portugal the same year; hut England, being a Protestant country, held on to the old calendar till 1752, when by act of Parliament eleven days were stricken out to make the calendar compare with that of other countries, — thus establishing the New Style. ROAD TO COOS. A connnittee was appointed by the N. H. Assembly to sur- vey and mark a road to Coos. It consisted of Zacheus Love- well of Dunstable, John Talford of Chester, and Caleb Page of Starkstown. They hired sixteen men at Amoskeag, Penacook, and Contoocook. The party was out twenty^-two days. Jonathan Burbank, Benjamin Eastman, and Peter Bowen joined it from Contoocook. John Stark was the pilot, and one of the men was Robert Eogers, afterwards the celebrated ranger. THE CURRENCY. Ma^y 30. Voted to raise a sum sufficient to pay Mr. Stevens, according to the original agreement. " Voted to raise eight pounds lawful money equal to £00 old tenor, to defray necessary charges." From this vote we are able to ascertain the value of the cur- rency. This depreciation added greatly to the hardships of the colonists. The Indians were troublesome, and many families were obliged to remove to the garrison, the men going out in companies to work on their farms. 56 CIVIL HISTORY. [1753. Ill connection v.'itli tliis meeting there is tlie following record : " Whereas there is several men in this Society that hath proposed to work on the highways Gratis, Jacob Flanders is choose to take a suit- able time to invite said men to work on the way called Ciay hill, and take the names of them that v/orketh." Kotwithstanding the hardships of the time, the colonists were prompt in two things, — in paj'ing the minister every shilling in accordance with the original agreement, and improving their highways. They were also prompt in looking after the claim set up l)y the heirs of Capt. John Mason. Joseph Coffin, Joseph Ger- rish, and John Fowler were appointed " to wait on the Lords & see on what terms they will acquit their title to said township." THE KILLING OF SABATIS AND PLANSAWA. I. X During the summer, Sahatis and Plansawa, who had stolen the negroes from Canterbury, made their appearance in Con- toocook with furs for sale. After being in the vicinity for some time, they suddenly disappeared; and ru- mor soon reported that Peter Bowen and John Morril had killed them. Their bodies were found buried near Stirrup Iron brook. The Northern Railroad passes over the spot. At the time of the construction of the road, in 1846, a small image was thrown up by the workmen, which is now in the museum of the Essex In- stitute, Salem, Mass. It undoubtedly was a " Medicine" or charm possess- ed by one of the Indians, and which was usually carried in a bag gaily Vj . / decorated with beads and colored __.._^_ ...^ porcupine quills. It is hardly prob- " INDIAN MEDICINE." ^})\q that the image is the ideal of an Indian artist, but more likely that of a French Canadian priest. The Jesuits, in their Christianizing of the Indians, made use of various instrumentahties pandering to the superstitions of the 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. 57 aborigines ; and tliis image, in all probability, was a Jesuit " Med- icine." ACTION" OF THE GOVERNOR. The Indians were killed during a period of peace between France and England. Eumors of the murder became wide-spread, and Gov. Shirley of Massachusetts was apprehensive that the Ind- ians would take revenge upon the frontier. The act of Bo wen became an inter-colonial question, resulting in correspondence be- tween Gov. Shirley and Gov. Wentworth, involving legislative action, the arrest of Bowen and Morril, and a general excitement throughout the community. Gov. Shirley began it, — the people of Massachusetts, or, rather, His Excellency, being more exer- cised in regard to it than any one in New Hampshire. He sent a letter to Gov. Wentworth : "Boston Feb -i"^ 1754 ''Sir "Your excellency may remember my letter to you dated 17"^ of September last wherein I acquainted you with an account we had of a barbarous MurOier said to be committed within the Province of New Hamp- shire upon two Indians of a tribe in amity with the Encjii.sh. I was afraid it had then come to the knowledge of the Indians, & that complaint would Lave been made at the conference, but no notice was taken of it then. I have this day received a letter from Capt Lithgow of Fort Eichmond [in Maine] advising me that it is nov.- come to their knowl- edge & that they are determined to revenge the murtlier. " I shall send your excellency copy of his letter so far as relates to this affair. It will probably be attended [with disastrous] consequences to the Frontier of one or both of the Provinces if this murther be not detected & punished. I will send to Col. Minot v.-ho gave me the first Information & desire him to obtain all further information possible & transmit it by the next Post, until when your excellency has some knowledge of the Persons concerned so as to be able to secure them. I doubt not you will think it prudent to keep the affair as private as may be. I am with great respect, Sir your Excy^ most Humb' and most Obedient serv' " W. Shirley." On the 9th of February, Gov. Shirley sent a second letter urging that "justice be done to the Indians in this unhappy affair." The action of Gov. Shirley was based on the affidavits of three 58 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. citizens of Massachusetts who had been visiting Contoocook and vicinity, and who had talked with Bowen in regard to the mat- ter. AFFIDAVITS OF THOMAS BARRET AXD EPHRAIM JONES. " Thomas Barret & Ephraim Jones, both of lawful age testify & de- clare that in the month of August 1753 being in the town of Rumford in the Province of New Hampshire at the house of Henry Lovejoy. " That two Indians one named Sabbatis & the other Plansawa came to said Contoocook about the beginning of June & having the value of about two hundred Pounds Old Ten'' in Beavers & other effects: that said Sabbatis being known to be one of the two Indians who took two Negroes at that settlement the year before & carried one of them to Canada, the other making his escape, the said Bowen procured a gallon of Rum from Rumford & he with one or two others, whose names I do not remember gave said Indians rum very freely & took an opportunity to draw the charges out of the Indian's [guns] without their knowledge & then went with them into the woods & getting some distance apard said Bowen had an engagement with said Sabbatis who it is said flashed his gun at him & the sd Bowen struck his hatchet in sd Indian Head then chopped him several times in the Back & afterwards with a knife stabbed him to death. The other Indian coming up to him begged him that he would not kill him but sd Bowen without speaking to him struck him on the head & killed him on the spot & leaving him by the Path side till next morning it is said that Bowen with his son as it is supposed went & dug a hole by the Path side & threw them into it & covered them with earth but so shallow that the dogs or other creatures uncovered them & the bones have often been seen since. Thomas Barret Ephraim Jones. "Middlesex ss. " Concord Feb 9, 1754. " Then the above Thomas Barret & Ephraim Jones came before me the subscriber & made oath to the truth of the foregoing declarations. '■' James Minot Justice of the Peace. " Eleazer Melvin of lawful age testitieth & declares that he heard the substance of the foregoing Declaration or to the same purport in Aug last from iNIr. Lovejoy & some others & further declares that about the same time in conversation with sd Bowen he asked him concerning the 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. 59 sd Indians whether they were certainly dead & he answered he would warrant it & that they never would do any more mischief to the English or to that effect & if he killed them he did it in his own defence as he could prove. " Eleazer Melvin." LIBERATION OF THE PRISONERS. Upon tlie receipt of these affidavits, Gov. Wentwortli caused the arrest of Boweix and Morril, who were taken to Portsmouth, and confined in the jail. Tlie time for their trial -was fixed for Thursday, the 21st of March. The offence of Bowen and Morril was not so great in the eyes of the citizens of Contoocook and Canterbury, as in the eyes of Gov. Shirley. Quite a party of them visited Portsmouth, to be present at the trial, or, rather, before the trial. During the night before the assembling of the court, about one hundred men, armed with axes and crow-bars, broke open the jail, knocked the irons from tlie limbs of the prisoners, and set them at liberty. What citizens of Contoocook took part in the affair is not known, ex- cept that the leader was Simeon Ames, of Canterbury. GOV. WENTWORTIl's MESSAGE. The governor brought the affair to the notice of the council the next morning. [From the Council Records.] " His excellency acquainted the Council that the high sheriff of the Province had informed him that at two of the clock in the morning of this present day a number of persons to the amount of one hundred or more made an attempt upon the Province Gaol with axes, iron crows & broke open the doors of the prison & rescued the prisoners indicted for the murther of two Indians said to be killed at or near Contoocook Vis — John alias Anthony Bowen & John Morrel & aided & assisted them the said Bowen & Morrel in their escape — His Excellency then desired the Council what steps they thot necessary or proper to be taken in the affair in order to the apprehending the said Bofren or Morrel or either of them & bringing the persons who broke open the Gaol as aforesaid or was aid- ing or assisting in the said breach or rescous the Council apprehended that such a number of persons as were supposed to be the authors of the rescous must be many of them known & as it is suggested that some 60 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. of them are known & may be brought to justice without offering any reward — but with respect to the two Prisouers Bowen & Morrel that his excellency be advised & desired to issue a Proclamation offering a reward of two hundred pounds Old Ten"' to any person or persons that shall apprehend the sd Bowen & the like sum of £200 in Old Ten^ to any person or persons that shall apprehend the sd Morrel & bring them or either of them to his Majesty's Gaol in Portsm° & all necessary charges in bringing the said prisoners or either of them to the said Gaol." Gov. Wentworth also sent a message to the assembly, asking that body to aid in npholding the dignity of the state. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. The citizens of Contoocook and Canterbury bestirred themselves to present their side of tlie story. Col. Joseph Blanchard, justice of the peace in Bedford, visited Canterburj-, and took deposi- tions. " Elisabeth Miles Wife oi Josiali Miles of Canterbury in the Province of New Hampshire Testifies & says — That some time in the month of May 1752 two St Francis Indians (as they called themselves) named Sabbattis & Christo came to Canterbury Sabbattis made his General Lodging at the said Josiah's House for Eight or Ten Days & was Treated with all Possible Friendship & Courtesy, Notwithstanding the said Sabbattis often Discovered a Restless & Malicious Disposition & Several Times (Her husband being absent) with Insulting threats put her in very great Fear. Constantly kept a long knife Naked in his hand and on seeing any man come towards the House (of which he kept a constant watch) arni'd himself — That the evening after he went away a Negro man of the said Josiah's was taken (named Peer) and another belonging to James Lindsey of Canterbui-y aforesaid Named Tom and carried away said Peer of the value of five hundred pounds Old Tenor at the least. " That the said Peer about three days after return'd pinion'd & Bound with Indian Lines and said that Sabbattis and Christo had taken them and that by accident he made his Escape. " That sometime in tlie month of May 1753 she was going to the field and an Indian (named Plansaway) spoke to her behind a Fence & asked for her husband who was there at work close by, her husband enquired what company he had and he said Sabbattis, he enquired what he came for or how he dare come (meaning Sabbattis) he evaded an answer, her husband Desired him to go into the house (being vehemently sus- picious they were designed for Further Mischief) where he kept him >^^^ 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. 61 that night and urged the appearance of Sabbattis, Plausaway said he -was afraid that he or Liudsey would kill hiui for stealing their negroes the year Before. " That after assurance that if he made his appearance he should not be hurt. 'Next day searching in the woods found him and after a par- ley he came in — '' The wife of James Liudsey a near neighbor, hearing the Indians was there came to the house (the Englishmen were all gone out to work) and finding Sabbattis there said Lindsey's wife urged his ingratitude that after he had received so much kindness at their house to commit such a Villanous Act as to Rob her of her slave- with some Few more words to the same Purpose Both the Indians immediately armed them- selves with their guns Sabbattis with a long knife and Plausaway with a Hatchet and with a furious Gesture Insulted her holding the Hatchet over her head making attempts as if he would strike and told her if she said one word more about it he would split her brains out if he died for it the next minute — Sabbattis went out to her husband in the field and told liim that if he ever see the said Lindseys wife any more he would kill her be the event what it would (as her husband then told her) that the said Sabbattis insisted that the said negro was Lawful Plunder the Deponent sold the said Indians two shirts & happened to see them when they shirted and there was next [their] skin Tyed a Number of small Meturap Lines not such as are usually made for Tying Packs — a collar of a Length about suthcient to go around a Mans Neck and as she then apprehended was what is called Captive Lines — " That the Deponent and her husband frequently seeing them un- common Lines Asked what Business Sabbattis and he could have there as they had not brought their packs for trade — at length Plausaway said he had a kinsman (named Sabbattis) who had at Cape Sable ivilled an Indian and that they agreed for his Redemption (being held by them) to pay five hundred pounds to get an English Slave. "That Sabbattis being his Namesake offered to assist him in the Re- demption and said the Hunting was best this way. " That the Indian must be released by the money or other ways (by Summer) or he must be put to Death. " Canterbury May 21*' 1754 " Before Joseph Blanciiard " Jus of Peace/' Other documents relating to this affair may be found in IST. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VI. 62 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. PUBLIC SENTIMENT. Public sentiment in Contoocook .ind Canterbury sided witli Bowen and Morrel, though the part taken by the Latter in the murder does not appear. The people rejoiced that the Indians, who had murdered and scalped many captives, were bej'ond the possibility of doing further mischief. Gov. Shirley, of Massachu- setts, however, took a different view, and wrote a letter to Gov. Wentworth urging him to appease the Indians by giving presents " to the Eelatives of the deceased Indians for wiping off the 3lood as they term it." He also urged the re-arrest of Bowen and Morrel. Gov. Wentworth determined to uphold the dignity of the law, and the sheriff and his assistants arrested Simeon Ames, of Can- terbury, as the ringleader of the liberators. " I will go with you," was the prompt reply of Ames when ar- rested ; " but we will have dinner first." The sheriff was pleased to accept the generous hospitality of his prisoner. " You will allow me to ride my own horse to Exeter," said Ames. The sheriff had no objection, as himself and assistant Avere mounted. The party started, and rode till nearly sunset, reaching Brentwood. The officers — one on each side — had enjoyed the society of their prisoner. They were ascending a hill ; the offi- cers' horses were jaded, while Ames's was comparatively fresh, and very fleet. " I declare, it is most sunset. Good evening, gentlemen. I don't think I will go with j^ou any further to-night." In an instant he was gone. At a touch of the rein the horse wheeled, and the rider, bowing politely, disappeared. The offi- cers sat upon their horses in blank astonishment, knowing that it would be useless to attempt to overtake a man who was going like the wind away from them ; — besides, public sentiment was on the side of Ames. Gov. Wentworth wisely adopted the advice of Gov. Shirley — to make a present to the Indians. This was done, and no further attempts were made to punish the offenders. The Iirdians were appeased, and the matter dropped. 1751.] CIVIL HISTORY, 63 SCOUTIXG PAKTY. Early in the spring Governor Wentwortli sent out a party un- der Col. Lovewell, Maj. Talford, and Capt. Page, to explore tlie " Upper Cohos." John Stark was employed as guide, he having been taken up the Connecticut when captured by the Indians. The party left Rumford March 10, reached Piermont in se\'en days, spent one night on the banks of the Connecticut, and then, though no Indians were seen, made a precipitate return. TROPRIETORS' MEETING. May 19. Meeting at Contoocook. £175 was voted to the support of Mr. Stevens, at the rate of 29'' per pound. Six of the Newbury proprietors attended the meeting, — Samuel Pow- ler, Edmund Morss, Thomas Person, Samuel Gerrish, John Thorla, and Joseph Coffin. £12 was voted to each man as com- pensation for time and expense. The money voted at the meeting in 1752 for the construction of a fort not having been exjiended, it was voted to divide the money. CAPTURE OF THE MELOON FAMILY. Before the month was through, the Indians began their depre- dations. It was knowni that parties of Canadian savages were in the vicinity ; — their foot-prints had been discovered ; they had been seen. Some of the settlers farthest from the fort had hastened to place themselves under the protection of the garrison. At this time Mr. William Emery had erected a log house at the foot of Corser hill, a few rods west of Little brook, on land owned by Miss Nancy E. Couch. Mr. Emery knew that Indians were in the region, and, his wife being sick, hastily abandoned his house on the 10th of May, leav- ing all his goods, and fleeing to the fort. Mr. Nathaniel Meloon, one of the flrst settlers of the town, had pushed five miles beyond Emery's — a mile beyond the nortlierly line of the town — and built a home in West Stevenstown, not far from the present West Salisbury meeting-house. Mr. Meloon's family consisted of himself, wife, and five children, — Nathaniel, 64 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. thirteen years old, Mary eleven, Eacliael ten, John six, DavitT three, and Sarah thirteen months. Mr. Meloon started hefore sunrise, on the morning of the 11th, for Penacook, but was captured by the Indians probably not far from Emery's house, which they broke oj)en and rifled. Mr. Me- loon was on horseback, and the horse being of no use to them, they left it tied at Emery's. Taking their captive with them, they returned to his house about nine o'clock. Nathaniel was at work in the field. It would seem that the boy discovered the Indians about the same time that they saw him. He took to the woods, and, although pursued by two, managed to secrete himself. At the direction of the Indians his father called him, but the tones of his voice were of Avarning, and he did not come out from his hiding-place till the Indians had left. He ran to the river, swam it several times to elude pursuit, and hastened towards the fort, but met Stephen Gerrish, John Flanders, William Emery, and others, who were out on a scout, and returned with them to find Emery's house plundered, and his father's horse at the door. They proceeded to West StevenstoAvn, and found his father's house also rifled. The attack was on Saturday, the 11th of May. On the next Wednesday, the 15th, Stephen Gerrish v/as in Portsmouth, lay- ing the case before the Governor and Council, soliciting aid for the defence of the town. [From the Coiincil Records.] " At a council holden in Portsmouth on Wednesday May 15'"'^ 175-1. " Present Ilis excellency the Governor Henry Sherburne "] Theodore Atkinson I Richi W. bird [^ ^'^^''• Jno Downing j Sampson Sheaffe "^ Daniel Warner V Esqr. Joseph Newmarch ) " Mr. Stephen Gerrish appearing at this Board presented a petition of Phineas Stevens & eight others inhabitant at Contoocook setting forth that the Indians had begun hostilities in that part & had capti- vated a family & rifled the bouse of another &c & being examined what 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. 65 he knew of the affair says on Sat. the 11"' Inst he saw a lad son of Nathaniel Malloon who lived at a place called Stevenstowu about five miles from Contoocook wlio informed him that his father & family were taken as he supposed by the Indians he having seen a number of Ind- ians near his fathers house which occasioned him the sd lad to run into the woods by which he escaped upon which report the said Gerrish & sundry others went immediately to the house where they had found the feather beds emptied upon the floor & the tickins carry'd off — Most of the meal that was in the house was carry'd. " They tracked the Indians some way from the house — that the fam- ily consisting of the man his wife & three children were all gone off and by the said signs he imagined were all carried into captivity. The petitioners therefore prayed some speedy succours to guard & defend them to prevent if possible future depredations — upon which petition & information his excellency asked the council what they would advise in the Premises. The council considering thereof did advise His Ex- cellency to give the necessary orders for enlisting or impressing twenty effective men to be immediately sent to Contoocook, Canterbury & Stevenstown to be destined as his excellency shall think most advanta- geous for guarding the inhabitants in these parts one month." The Indians were mercenary, rather than revengeful and blood- thirsty. Tempting as the scalps of the captives might be, the lives of the French in Canada, the rum and the blankets and trinkets which the English slaves would sell for, awakened their greed, and the caj^tive family were not inhumanly treated. Her infant was sick, and the savages, under pretence of giving it medicine, took it from the mother's arms, and the parents never again beheld it. THE PRISONERS IN CANADA. Arriving in Canada, the prisoners were sold to the French, and the family separated. A child — Joseph — was born, November 20, 1755. In 1757, Mr. Meloon, his wife, and three sons were ship- ped on a French vessel for France ; but the ship was taken by a British man-of-war, off Newfoundland, and they were landed in Portland, from whence they made their way to Contoocook, and finally to their log cabin in Salisbury, where life was once more begun. Rachel was left behind in Canada. Being but ten years old at the time of her captivity, and living with the Indians, she took readily to their mode of life. In 1763, Samuel Fowler, Esq., un- 5 QQ CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. clertook to bring her home. He found her, at the age of fourteen, in her habits and predilections, an Indian. She had little inclina- tion to return to civilized life, and Mr. Fowler found it necessary to use great precaution on his return, for fear she might give him the slip, and make her way hack to Canada. She returned to Salis- bury, subsequently married, but never wholly forgot the habits of her captivity. The affidavits of William Emery, Jolin Flanders, and Nathaniel Meloon, Jr., are preserved in the Provincial Records of New Hampshire, Vol. VI, and are of interest as picturing the event. TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM EMERY. " William Emery of Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire of Lawful age— Testifies & says— That on the Tenth Day of May 1754 his wife being ill & People afraid to tarry & take care of her there being an Outhouse moved her into Town with the rest of the family about five miles — the next morning he Returned to his House & found it Plun- dered what of his goods was not carried off was spoilt of the vaUie & to his damage Two Hundred Pounds Old Tenor at the Least & the same time found Nath^ Maloon's Horse tyed at his said House which Maloon his wife Rachel & Sarah & son Samuel were captivated & carried away by the Indians & of clothing Bedding & Provisions of the value of two hundred & thirty Pounds Old Tenor at the least. " Province of New 7 Hampshire ) " Contoocook "May 22 day of May 1754 in the Forenoon at Contoocook aforesaid William Emery came to the Body of the Town & Informed that somebody had that morning broke open his house taken many things & spoiled others, a house his family liad moved from the night Before all his clothing (his beds empty'd & ticks cut to pieces) & supposed it to be Indians the Deponent & others Immediately went, found the house strip''^ & Plunder'd to the said Em- ery's Damage at least Two hundred Pounds old Tenor, '' That they proceeded to the house of Nathaniel Meloon in Stevens- town so called which was about six miles Farther & met with said Meloon's Eldest son who gave account of the Indians that day captivating his Father & Mother & three children who returned with the scout to his Father's house where they found it plundered & strip'd & by the best accts the Deponent could get of the things missing broke & Cutt to pieces were of the value & to Meloous damage at least two hun- dred & thirty pounds old Tenor. " Province of 7 Contoocook May 22* New Hampshire) 175i "The above named John Flanders made Oath to the truth of the aforewritten Deposition. " Before Joseph Blaxchard "just Peace " A copy exam'd by William Parker. Not Pub." TESTIMONY OF NATHANIEL MELOON, '^Nathaniel Maloon the son of Nathaniel Maloon of Stevenstown in New Hampshire aged about 14 years Testifies & says — " That at Stevenstown aforesaid on the 11"^ day of May 175i in the morning before sunrise his Father set out Designing to go to Penacook a place of about twenty miles distant whose road went by the house of Mr. William Emery of Contoocook. That the same morning about nine of the clock the Deponent was at work in his Fathers field & soon a number of Indians he thought ten or a dozen running to the house & too took after the Deponent, but a thicket near was Quick out of sight & made his escape & hid not far off. Some time afterwards he heard his Father call him sundry times — " That after he supposed the Indians Drawn off made his escape to Contoocook. " Province of > At Contoocook New Hampshire \ the 22'^ of May 1754. " The above named &c " Before Joseph Blaxchard "Jus Peace." 68 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. EXPEDITION TO THE UPPER CONNECTICUT. A report that tlie Indians were building a fort on tlie upper Connecticut induced the Govei-nor and Council to send out another and stronger party to reconnoitre the country. It was commanded by Capt. Peter Powers, of Hollis. The company assembled at Eumford, and on Saturday, June 15th, marched to Contoocook. The beginning of the march is given from Powers's journal : "Sat June 15'>' 1754. This day left Kumford & marched to Contoo- cook which is about 8 miles & here tarried all night. "■ Sunday June 16 Tiiis day tarried at Contoocook & went to meet- ing & tarried here all this night. '■'Hon June 17 This morning fair & we fixed our packs & went & put them on board our canoes about nine of the clock & some of the men went in the canoes & the rest on the shore. And so we marched up the river Merrimack to the crotch or parting thereof & then up the Pemigewasset about one mile & a half & camped above the carrying place, which carrying place is about one hundred rods long, & the whole of this days work is about thirteen miles." The route was up Baker's river. The party reached the Con- necticut at Piermont, where four of their number, being disabled, descended the Connecticut to Charlestown in a canoe, while the others pushed on up the Ammonoosuc nearly to Littleton, and then crossed a ridge of high land to the Connecticut in Dalton, and from thence went as far north as Israel's river. The main body encamped there, while Powers and two men pushed up the valley to the present town of Northumberland, whence they came upon a fresh Indian trail. Not deeming it prudent to proceed any farther, the company returned to their packs, which had been left on the Ammonoosuc, and from thence to the present village of Haverhill, which they reached July 6. The leaves of the diary giving an account of the return are wanting, but in all proba- bility Capt. Powers arrived at Contoocook about a week later. This was the first exploration of the upper valley of the Connec- ticut. ATTACK ON STEVENSTOWN. In August, the Indians, under Capt. John Sasup, swooped down upon East Stevenstown. Philip Call, one of the early settlers of Contoocook, had concluded to locate himself on the rich intervale 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. 69 of Stevenstown. He built his cabin near the JMerrimack, about a mile and a half bej'ond the north line of Contoocook, near what is now South Franklin. It was on the 15th of the month that the Indians made their attack. Mrs. Call and her son's wife and in- fant were in the house, while the father, son, and Timothy Cook, — whose father had been killed, in 1746, at Clay hill, — were at work in the field. Upon the approach of the Indians, Mrs. Call, senior, met them at the door, and was instantly killed by a blow from a tomahawk. She fell across the threshold. Mrs. Philip Call, junior, with her infant, crawled into a hole behind the chimney. She succeeded in keeping her child quiet, and was not discovered. The father and son had seen the Indians, and attempted to get to the hoiise in advance of them, but, discovering that there was a large party, took to the woods. Cook fled towards the Merrimack, plunged in, but was shot and scalped. Philip made all haste to Contoocook, swimming the river several times to baffle his pursu- ers. The Indians, about thirty in number, rifled the house, and, suspecting that a party would be sent up from the fort, secreted themselves in the woods. The force sent out from the fort consisted of thirteen men. The Indians allowed them to pass, rose from their ambush, gave a whoop, made a rush, but succeeded only in capturing Enos Bishop, whose home was on Queen street, west of the house now owned by Prof. John Jackman. The remaining twelve, disconcerted by the suddenness of the attack, fled in every direction, and finally all reached the fort, not having fired a gun. bishop's captivity. Bisho];) was taken to Canada, reaching St. Prancis village in thirteen days, with Samuel Scribner and John Parker taken from Stevenstown. They were sold to Frenchmen. In October, Bishop found means to send a letter to Eev. Jede- diah Jewett, of Rowley, Mass. "Montreal, Oct. 19, 1754, " Rev. Sir — The reason of my directing these lines to you is because it seems most likely that they will sooner arrive to the hands of a per- son of your note than to any body else. Before I proceed I shall give you a short description of my captivity. That day Sir, in August last 70 CIVIL HISTORY. [1754. [the 15*] that you left my house at Contoocook I was taken by the Ind- ians & by them carried to St. Francois, where we arrived in thirteen days; & after I had been with them eight weeks they sold me to a French gentlemen for 300 livres, which sum must be paid before I can be free which looks someAvhat difficult to me. But I hope I have some friend in Rowley that will contribute that sum for my relief; & I shall take it a favor with you if you will move a contribution in your parish. There will be no difficulty in my redemption if the money be paid & there is no difficulty in coming at any time of the year. In the winter the people pass on the ice all the way to Albany except a few miles. Inform the people at Contoocook that Maloon & his wife are sold to a French minister near Quebeck, & his boy in this town & his oldest girl is with the Indians ; their youngest child died I believe at St. Francois about a month ago. Samuel Scribner who was taken at Bakerstown where I was I hear is sold to the french at Chambly, about 12 miles from this place ; & Robert Barker taken at the same place sold to a French- man about a mile from St. Francois. They all desire release. "I can write no more at present only to ask an interest in your pray- ers & beg leave to subscribe myself " Your most obedient & humble servant " Enos Bishop. '' N. B. Caution the frontier to be on their guard. If any person comes or sends for me let them repair to Col. John Lydius, of Albany for direction." The families on the outskirts of the town, and all that had set- tled in Stevenstown, upon the attack of the Indians abandoned their homes and fled to the fort. The citizens organized for de- fence. THE ALARM. Two of the party sent up from the fort at the time of the attack upon Philip Call were Ephraim Foster and Andrew Moor. Possi- bly they were not citizens of Contoocook, as no other mention of their names is found in any of the records or documents. It is probable that they were sent to alarm the lower towns, for we find Andrew McClary, of Epsom, hastening to Portsmouth and giving the Governor and Council information concerning the attack. McClary's account is on record in tlie " Council Minutes." The attack was on the 15th. On the 18th, McClary was in the council chamber, at the capitol, giving the following statement : Nl M^^A ^j^c^^^o^ 1754.] CIVIL HISTORY. Tl " Portsmouth Aug 18, 1754, "The said Andrew McCLiry being examined declared that Eph"'" Foster & Stephen Moor acquainted the dechirant that they were at Stevenstown the day after the mischief was done by the Indians & found the body of Mrs. Call lying dead near the door of her house, scalped & her head almost cutoff & upon further search found the body of a man named Cook dead & scalped. That the Indians were supposed to be about thirty in number according to the account of eight men. [Mr. Price, writing from tradition, says thirteen— possibly a misprint.] that upon hearing the news went immediately from Contoocook to Ste- venstown & in that way passed the enemy who soon followed them & see- ing the Indians too many in number to engage they parted & endeavored to escape. One of the company, one Bishop, stood sometime & fired at the Indians, but was soon obliged to run. Cook was found dead by the river's side. Bishop supposed to be killed & sunk in the river, he being still missing — that there were two men belonging to the plantation at a distance working in a meadow, that as yet were not come in [Scribner and Barker] And it is feared they had fallen into the hands of the enemy— that as the declarant had understood all the inhabitants consisting of about eight families were come down into the lower town & had left their improvements, corn, hay & cattle." CAPT. JOHN WEBSTER. When the attack was made on West Stevenstown, in May, and the Meloon family captured, Gov. Wentworth ordered Capt. John Webster, of Manchester, to march at once with twenty men to protect the inhabitants in the vicinity of Contoocook. The com- pany marched on June 24 ; hut no enemy being then in the vicin- ity, the men returned to their homes. The attack on East Stevenstown, and the disaster to the party that went up from Contoocook, created universal alarm. TROOPS CALLED OUT. The Council advised the calling out of a large force. On August 16, the following order was issued to Col. Joseph Blan- chard, of Dunstable : " To Col Joseph Blanchard, " Upon the mischief done by the Indians at Stevenstown, I have or- dered a detachment from Captain Odlins troop* of 24 men and officers * This company was from Exeter and vicinity. 72 CIVIL HISTORY. [1755. to command, also a like number from Captain Stevens troop to guard the inhabitants in that frontier until I can relieve them by a sufficient number of foot & as your regiment lies contiguous to the frontier where the mischief was done I have thought proper to order & direct that you forthwith enlist and impress fifty men or more, if you think that num- ber is not sufficient & put them under an officer you can confide in & order them forthwith to march to Contoocook & Stevenstown to relieve the detachment of horse posted there. " B. Wentworth." CAPT. GOFFE's company. The company was commanded by Jolm Goffe, of Derryfield. Robert Rogers, afterwards the renowned ranger, enlisted as a pri- vate in this company. From Contoocook were the following citi- zens : Dea. Jesse Flanders, John Flanders, Stephen Hoit, William Courser, Jacob Hoit, Joseph Eastman, Jr. The company was in service during the winter, frequently mak- ing long marches on snow-shoes. The head-quarters were in the garrisons of Canterbury and Contoocook. DEATH OF REV. MR. STEVENS. Jan. 19, 1755. Tlie people of Contoocook met with a sad loss in the death of Rev. Mr. Stevens, who for fifteen years had been their minister, and who had taken an active part in all of the af- fairs of the plantation. Rev. Mr. Price says of him, — " We have not the means of as- certaining particularly the success of his labors, for want of church records ; but that he was ver}- dear to the people of his charge, and his services satisfactory, are evidenced by their united attach- ment to his interest amid the trying scenes and sufferings to which he and they were called." MR. Stevens's estate. The amount of worldly effects owned by Mr. Stevens will be seen from the appraisers' account : "We the Subscribers being appointed a Committee to apprize the Estate real & personal of the Rev"^ M'' Phiuehas Stevens, late of the Place 1755.] CIVIL HISTORY, 73 called Contoocook within his Majestys Province of New Hampshire, Clerk Deceased, being first sworn to the faithful Discharge of the said Trust have taken the following Inventory of the said Estate. " Vis— " Of personal Estate — " Imprimis. To Books — M"" Pool's Synopses Criticorura in five volumes in Folio 7.10. 0. Other books the whole of them 1- 5. 0. Item, To a Swivel Gun 2.10. item, To Beds, Bedding & Bedsteads ' 45.12. 6. item. To Pewter 1--10. item, To two warming pans 3. 2. 6. item, To two Looking Glasses 5.10. 0. item. To two Brass Kettles 4. 0. 0. item, To a toasting-iron & Gridiron 0. 6. 0. item. To a Spit 0. 0. 0. item. To a Spool wheel !• 5. item. To a Cupboard 0-15. 0. item. To two Caggs • 0.10. 0. item, To a great Wheel 0. 5. item, To Andirons 0. 8. 0. item, To Tongs 0. 6. 0. item. To another pair of Tongs & fire shovel & irons 2.10. 0. item. To an iron Kettle 0.12. 0. item. To two iron Trammels 1- 5. 0. item, To a little Pot 0.12. 0. item. To two Box irons & Heater 1.10. 0. item. To five Chairs at 0.3.9. apiece 0.18. 9. item. To a Frying Pan 0. 6. 0. item, To an iron Pot [ J item, To a pair of hand-Bellows 0. 5. 0. item. To a brass Skillet & Frame 0.10. 0. item, To another brass Skillet & Frame 0.12. 6. item. To a brass Skimmer 0. 5. 0. item, To three tables at 5» apiece 0.15. 0. item, To a Cradle 0. 2. 6. item, To hay at the Meddeo 2. 2. 6. item. To 2 Tobes 0.10. 0. item. To Iron 0. 2. 6. Chaffing Dish 0. 5. 0. item, To a Coat, 2. 0. 0. item. To a great Coat !• 0. 0. 74 CIVIL HISTORY. [1755. item, To two Gowns item, To Stockings item, To a pair of Leather Breeches item, To a Jacket item, To a Hat item, To a pair of Boots item. To Shoes item. To a Morter Pestel item, To a Kazor item, To Shirts item, To a half Bushel & Sive item. To one old Saddle & Bridle item, To Tea Furniture item, To two Chests item, To an old Portmantle item, To Salt item, To Glass Bottles item, To an ax item, To a Scithe to cut Bushes item. To Plow irons Stock. " To a Mare item. To two Cows item. To a Heifer item, To a Calf item. To five Sheep item. To three Swine " Real Estate & Buildings. 3.10. 0. 0.18. 6. 0.15. 0. 2. 0. 0. 0.15. 0. 0. 5. 0. 0. 7. 6. 0. 0. 6. 2. 0. 0. 0. 5. 0. 2. 0. 0. 0.10. 0. 1. 0. 0. 0. 5. 0. 0.10. 0. 0. 5. 0. 0. 5. 0. 0.12. 6. 1. 5. 0. . 0. 0. ,10. 0. 0. 0. 10. 0. 10. 0. 5. 0. "Imprimis, To the House-Lot, House & Barn 90. 0. 0. item, a House in the Garrison item. To a five acre Intervale Lot item, To a House Lot adjoining to Ensign Joseph Eastman's 25 item, To one eighty acre Lot, half an eighty-acre Lot, & two House-Lots all joining together item. To one hundred acre Lot item, To one common Right item, To half a hundred-acre lot, & half a common Right item. To one eighty-acre-Lot in the Township of Rumford APPLICATION FOR IXCOKPORATION AS A TOWN. Jail. 28. At a meeting of tlie proprietors in Newbury, a tliird 25. 0. 0. 3 25. 0. 0. 215. 0. 0. 25. 0. 0. 7. 0. IG. 5. 0. 62.10. 0." 175G.] CIVIL HISTORY. 75 attempt was made to obtain corporate powers ; but in consequence of the intense cold, the meeting adjourned without action to Feb- ruary 11. Feb. 11. The proprietors met at tlie house of Daniel Clark. Joseph Greenleaf and Joseph Gerrish were chosen a committee to petition the Great and General Court for an enlargement of the powers of the proprietors in regard to tlie collection of taxes. June 12. At a meeting in Contoooook, Benj. Lunt, Henry Rolfe, and Joseph Coffin were appointed to settle with the admin- istrator of Rev. Mr. Stevens's estate. To defray the current expenses of the plantation, £400 was ap- propriated. George Jackman, Stephen Gerrish, and Jacob Flanders were chosen to look after the parsonage. Joseph Coffin, Benj. Lunt, and Henry Eolfe were appointed a committee to procure " twenty pounds of powder, lead, »&; flints, [or their] equivelent [and] to take care of the same." Ninety pounds was voted towards defra3dng the expenses in- curred at the funeral of Rev. Mr. SteA'ens. A committee was appointed to secure the services of another preacher, and Rev. Mr. Varney was employed. THE MIXISTEll's LOT. Feb. 7, 1756. The proprietors met at the meeting-house, but, on account of the cold, an adjournment was had to the nearest dwelling-house. Capt. Stephen Gerrish, Jacob Flanders, and Dea. George Jackman were chosen a committee to provide further preaching. Ezekiel Flanders and Samuel Fowler were apjjointed a commit- tee to see whether a lot of eighty acres should be set off to the right of the first settled minister. TWO CITIZENS KILLED BY INDIANS. Mr. Flanders, who was thus chosen, soon after went to New- found lake, in Hebron, accompanied by Edward Emer}^, to set their traps for beaver. "While there they were waylaid by Ind- ians. One was shot while skinning a beaver, and the other while carrying a beaver into camp, as was subsequently learned from the Indians. 76 CIVIL HISTORY. [1756. THE CHARTEK. Another attempt was made to obtain a town charter. Joseph Coffin, John Moody, and Stephen Gerrish were appointed to press the claims of the plantation before the Governor and Conncil. The efforts of the committee were in this end successful, as will be seen further on. ESCAPE OF ENOS BISHOP FROM CANADA. In October, Enos Bishop, who had been captured by the Indians, in 1754, made his escape from Canada. From a letter published in the N. Y. Mercury, Oct. 25, 1756, written by an officer in the garrison at No. 4, Charlestown, we have an account of his escape : " No 4, Oct 4, 1756. " This day arrived here one Enoch Bishop, an English captive from Canada, who was taken two years since. He left Canada twenty-six daj'S ago in company with two other English captives viz : William Hair late of Brookfield enlisted in Gen. Shirley's regiment & taken at Oswego ; the other name unknown taken from Pennsylvania. They came away from Canada without a hatchet, gun or fire works, & with no more than three loaves of bread & four pounds of pork. As they suffered much for want of provisions, his companions were not able to travel any farther than a Httle this side of Cowass [Coos] where he was obliged to leave them last Lord's Day without any sustenance but a few berries. Six men were this morning sent out to look for them but it is feared they perished in the wilderness." SOLDIERS IN THE FRENCH WAR. We have not been aide to ascertain what citizens of Contoocook enlisted in the war against the French and Indians. It is not lihely that their names would be found on the proprietors' records. It is known that Philip Flanders was killed at Crown Point. He was a ranger in Maj. Rogers's company. He was the son of Jacob Flanders, one of the first settlers, and lived at the south end of Water street. He was brother of Dea. Jesse Flanders, who was in one or more of the campaigns against the French and Ind- ians. Andrew Bohonon, one of the first settlers of Contoocook, also served in one or more campaigns. He was brother-in4aw of Philip and Jesse Flanders, having married their sister Tabitha. 1757.] CIVIL HISTORY. 77 SAMUEL fowler's DISSENT. June 1, 1757. A proprietors' meeting was hekl, and a com- mittee, consisting of Joseph Coffin, John Moody, and Capt. Ste- phen Gerrish, was appointed " to j^rovide some suitable gentleman to preach." Mr. Samuel Fowler again entered his dissent, which is on record : [From the Records.] " To the proprietors of Coutoocook in their annual meeting assembled. " The humble petition of Samuel Fowler sheweth that your peti- tioner as a proprietor among you hath hitherto used his best endeavors according to his ability to promote the settlement and advantage of the plantation and his estate therein has born its part to all the publick taxes thereof for that end, but as j'our petitioner, which is not un- known to you is of a different persuasion from you with respect to the publick worship of God among you and as he is now about to take his estate into his own hands, cannot with freedom of conscience pay the ministerial taxes for the support of publick Worship in your way he humbly intreats your compassionate regards in that respect. And as our king thro the kindness of God has been pleased to exempt those of this persuasion from such taxes you would also be pleased to free your petitioner from the like tax in this place & your petitioner will still be willing to use his best endeavors for the good of the plantation & pay any other taxes or charges which in Law reason or justice may be thought equitable & in any other proper way pay or bear his fidl proportion of charge for promoting the interest of the plantation that so his land or interest in this place may not be sold for the ministerial taxes, which otherwise they will be liable to which as your petitioner upon the most serious reflection on the case sees no way to prevent, and therefore again begs your favour in this respect, which will greatly oblige your petitioner who on this occasion hopes he shall be ready on all proper opportunities to treat you with suitable tokens of acknowledgement. " Samuel Fowler." Up to this time Mr. Fowler had resided in ISTewbury, but dur- ing the year removed to Contoocook. He was an original propri- etor, and accepted with his associates the grant which stipulated that a minister should be supported. His associates might have pleaded, against his rights of conscience, that he voluntarily and without protest accepted the grant, and was therefore debarred from dissent ; but with great liberality they waived all limita- tions, and passed the following votes : 78 CIVIL HISTORY, [1757. " Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for the year 1750." " Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for 1751." "Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for the year 1752." " Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be answered for 1753 & also for 1755.'' The committee on preaching employed E,ev. Stephen Scales, who began to preach during the summer. CAPTURE OF MOSES JACKMAN BY INDIANS. During the month of June, four Indians made their appearance in Canterbury, near the house of Thomas Clough. The family were not at home. The Indians entered the house, secured some meal, and secreted themselves in the woods. In a field near by, a negro, Dorset, and Moses Jackman, son of Richard Jackman of Contoocook, eleven years old, were hoeing corn. The first intimation Jackman had of the presence of the Ind- ians was their uprising around him. Dorset seized Jackman, and started to run with him ; but they soon separated, Jackman running towards the barn, and the negro towards the woods. Jackman stumbled and fell, and was taken. He once escaped, but was recaptured, and intimidated by the wielding of a tomahawk over his head. Dorset was overtaken. He made a desperate re- sistance, and was badly beaten about the head. He cried lustily for help, and his cries Avere heard by others 120 CIVIL HISTORY. [1779. PAPER RAGS. The war had made paper very scarce. The liome manufacture of paper was begun ; but rags were needed. The town, at its an- nual meeting, voted, — " That Dea Isaac Pearson & Capt Samuel Atkinson be collectors of Bags for the Paper Mill.'' Neither by record nor tradition can we learn the location of the paper-mill. Probably it was in some other town. Col. Henry Gerrish and Capt. Peter Kimball were appointed to procure men for the service of the United States. Owing to the depreciation of the currency, the town voted that fiye dollars should be paid for a day's work on the highway. July 7. At a town-meeting, held this date, the selectmen and Capt. Peter Kimball were appointed to hire four " Continental men, & five Ehode Island men upon the most reasonable terms they can," and further to supply men from time to time as they should be called for. Sept. 8. The plan of government prepared b}' tlie convention at Concord was presented to the citizens, thirty-five of whom were present. It was read, article by article, and rejected, — fif- teen voting for and twenty against its acceptance. Nov. 3. At this meeting the town once more attempted to make water run up hill, by choosing a committee to regulate prices. A convention of town committees was held at Concord ; — but laws of trade are superior to committees, and people bought and sold irrespective of tariffs. ITEMS OF EXPENSE. " paid Daniel Flanders Nathan Carter & Joseph hoit in part for going in the Sarvice two months 49 — 16 — paid John Elliot for money paid Mr Henery for keeping school 1—10— paid John Elliot for Sarvice as selectman and Bording a school mistress 7 — 8 — " This is the first mention of a school-mistress on the town rec- ords. " Paid Mr ITutchins for preaching 66 — 6 — paid William Mirrick for Boarding school master 3 — — " 1779.] CIVIL HISTORY. 121 RETURNS OF THE INVENTORY. " Number of Polls 18 years old & upward 189 Number of male slaves Female slaves Number of acres of Orchard Land 7|- Number of acres of arable tillage land 205 Number of acres of mowing land 601 Number of acres of Pasture land 358 Number of Horses & Mears 57 Number of colts 2 years old 1 1 Colts one year old 13 Oxen 82 Cows 77 Cattle 3 years old 68 <' 2 " " 82 u I u << 107 yearly reve [revenue] of mills repairs deducted £70 Sum total of the value of all Building & real estate improved owned by the Inhabitants £4789 unimproved real estate not owned by the Inhabitants £2200 Sum total of value of stock in Trade £200 Sum total of money iu hand or at interest not in the public fund £225 " CHARGE TO LIEUT. WINTHROP CARTER, CONSTABLE. " To a Continental & State Rate £1575— 7— 6 To a County & Town Eate 144— 0— To a minister Rate 121 — 07 — 1 To a Continental Rate ad 2971— 1— 8 To a Non Resident proprietors Rate 451 — 15 — To a War Rate 670—17— 7 £5934— 9— 4 " [1780. OHAPTEE YIII. CLOSE OF THE WAR. ^ HE theatre of war was in the Southern states, and the militia, ^4^ while being always ready for service, was not called upon for active duties. The citizens, however, were compelled to manifest their patriotism in a most-unwelcome way, — the payment of heavy taxes in a currency depreciated to such an extent that one hundred dollars would barely suffice to buy a pair of shoes, or pay for an ordinary meal. The rates charged to constable David Corser were, — " To a Continental Rate £14058— 2— 6 To a Rate on the Non Residents 740— 0— To a Town Rate 2045—18— 9 To a School Rate 1525— 9— To a County Kate 131—16— To a Ministerial Rate 1024—1.5— To a tax on the Improved land of the Nou Resident Proprietors 65 — 15 — £19.592— 6— 5 To a Beef & AYar Rate 14910—04—00 £34502—10— 6 " The disbursements were largely on account of the war. ITKMS. " To Mr Hutchinson for preaching 92 — 8 — clothing for Jonathan Uran for the Sarvice 99 — 9 — paid W™ Jackman for Beef 189— 3— " " " for Sarvice 259—18— " '' " for going into Sarvice 269 — 3 — 6 same same 47—11— 30—18— 1780.] CIVIL HISTORY. 123 paid for a pair of Stockings for Jonatlian Urau 18 — — paid for a shirt for Jonathan Urau 22 — 10 — paid Capt Peter Coffin for beef 319—18— " Tliomas Coffin, though but four years old at the time, remem- bered the transaction. The rate was levied in Continental money, but was paid in coin. He remembered the clinking of the Spanish milled dollars on the hearth, to ascertain their genuineness. "paid Joseph Couch for boarding Mr Noyes & horse 72 — — " Mr. Noyes probably was a minister, the last employed before the engagement of Rev. Samuel Wood. How long he preached is not known. From another entry, in 1783, " paid Mr Thomas Noyes for preaching 4 — 10 — 0," it may be inferred that he was an occasional preacher, supplying the pulpit from time to time. " Paid John Flanders casting lead into Balls 26 — 5 — Paid Daniel Clark for a pair of shoes for Uran 30 — — paid Joseph Hoit for going into sarvice 259 — — paid Simeon Carr 259— 0— paid Jonathan Atkinson for keeping schoole 288 — — paid Wiuthrop Carter for a hat for John Uran 21 — — paid for clothing John Uran for Sarvice 140 — — paid Jonathan Urau for going into Sarvice 90 — — paid Jonathan Uran for going to be mustered 69 — — " It is to be hoped that Jonathan Uran was a valiant soldier, for it cost a great deal of money, to say nothing of the selectmen's running here and there, to get him into the " Sarvice." " paid Joseph Lunt for two pairs of Shoes for Jonathan Uran 72— 0— paid Enoch Little for his son's sarvice in the army 4G1 — — paid Cutting Noyes for cloth for Jonathan Uran 33 — 15 — paid Joseph Little going into Sarvice 189 — — for Sarvice 210-0-0 paid .Moses Morse for cloth for Jonathan Uran 65 — 11 — " KEV. SAMUEL WOOD. During the year, Mr. Samuel Wood, of Lebanon, a graduate of Dartmouth, and a young theologue, was employed to preach. The town had been without a settled minister during the whole period of the war. Mr. Wood being an acceptable preacher, a movement was made towards his settlement ; but no result was reached till the ensuing year. 124 CIVIL HISTORY. [1781. The depreciation of the continental currency was so great, that a day's work on the highway was reckoned at £6, or $20. The selectmen had heen accustomed to charge $2 a year for their ser- vices, hut the town voted $100 instead, and two bushels of pease ! The pease were, probably, quite as valuable as the money. 1781. The selectmen were directed to assess a tax that would su2:)ply preaching for eight months, and the committee were di- rected to employ Mr. Wood at least four Sundays. Lieut. Enoch Gerrish was chosen town agent for procuring beef for the continental army. The first record of the several school-districts gives the division of the school money : SCHOOL-DISTRICTS. " Proportion of school money to Each District for the year 1781 The lower end school [King st] £8 — 3 — 5 Kiver Road School [Fish st] 3—16—10 Water st School 5— 0— 4 Over the Pond South Dist [Putney] 4— 7—11 Over the Pond North District [White Plain] 3— 9— 9 Atkinson District 3— 1— 9 " The districts on Corser hill, Little hill, and Battle street are wanting. TOWX RATES. The taxes charged to Constable George Jackman, collector, show that they were levied partly in the new emission of conti- nental mone}^, and partly in hard money. CALL TO REV. MR. WOOD. July 31. A special meeting was held, at the request of the church, to ascertain the sentiments of the town in regard to set- tling Mr. Wood, and adjourned to August 13, when it was voted — 66 to 16 — to extend an invitation to Mr. Wood, with a salary of £50 for the first two years, — the money to be valued at 6s. 6d. per ounce, — to be paid in coin, or its equivalent in current money. After two years the salary was to increase £5 per annum until it reached £70, which from that time on was to be his salary. 1781. J CIVIL HISTORY. 125 The town also voted £90 for his expenses of settlement, Avith the use of the parsonage. A protest was signed by twenty voters, and entered upon the records, "against the proceedings of this & former meetings in proceeding to settle Mr. Wood in the Presbyterian way as a town." THEOLOGY. Theological lines at this period were sharply drawn, in regard to the doctrine of the atonement and original sin. Especially was this the case in Newbury, from whence most of the original proprietors came. Dr. Murray, of that town, was an exponent of what was called the " limited atonement," or an atonement for the elect, while Dr. Samiiel Spring was a leader of the " new view," as it was called — that Christ died for all. The majority of the citizens of Boscawen had accepted the " new view," while there was still a respectable minority who believed in the '* lim- ited atonement." Out of this controversy came new names. The new view men were called " Four-cornered " or " Square men," and the others " Three-cornered men." The '"' four-cornered men " arrogated to themselves more comprehensive views, and a fuller and more per- fect system of doctrine, than were held by their " three-cornered " brothers. CROWSFOOT A^"D THEOLOGY. It was about this time that tlie yellow crowsfoot, or butter- cup, made its appearance in the fields and pastures. It is nar- rated that a " three-cornered " man, while mowing the crowsfoot with the intention of exterminating it as a noxious weed, said, — '• So am I determined to do what I can to exterminate the heresy of the general atonement ! " Those who protested against the settlement of Mr. Wood were the " three-cornered " men. Although the opposition was so pro- nounced, Mr. Wood was settled, the ordination being on the 17th of October, 1782. Erom the first settlement of the town " the gospel " was the first care of the inhabitants. No matter how difficult to obtain the necessaries of life, to clear the forests, to obtain their daily 126 CIVIL HISTORY. [1782. bread, to protect themselves from the Indians, or to secure their liberties, the gospel must be preached. It is the one distinguish-^ ing feature of the proprietors' and the town records. Without doubt, the prosperity, stability, and high character of the town, for one hundred and forty years, are due to this devotion to principle. Eev. Mr. Wood, by his urbanity and prudence, won universal esteem, silenced all opposition, and remained the pastor of the church till his death, which occurred in 1834. LORDS PROPRIETORS. The lands of the proprietors who had not paid their taxes were sold July 11th. Though so large a proportion of the tax had been levied in the new emission of continental money, the depreciation was so great that the taxes yielded very little revenue ; and at a town-meeting, held September 10th, the selectmen were directed to levy the tax anew, in silver. Boscawen at this time was classed with Salisbury as a repre- sentative district ; but the two towns could not agree upon a candi- date, and remained unrepresented. 1782. Though Cornwallis had surrendered, peace had not been declared. The town still stood ready to meet any demand that might come, for men or supplies. At the annual meeting, in March, Lieut. Enoch Gerrish was again chosen to provide men, beef, and clothing for the army, if needed. The meeting-house had been erected thirteen years, but the galleries were still unfinished. The calls for money during the war had been so frequent and urgent, that no effort had been made towards completing the edifice. At a special meeting, held in May, the town voted to sell the gallery pews, and apply the proceeds towards finishing the house. proprietors' meeting. For a period of ten years there had been no meeting of the pro- prietors. Many of the proprietors, or their heirs, deemed it ad- visable to sell the lands held in common and undivided ; and a meeting was held, October 2d, to take the matter into considera- tion. It was voted to sell the remaining estates at public auction. As 1782.] CIVIL HISTORY. 127 a tokeu of their desire to aid in every public enterprise, tliey made a donation of 400 feet of glass for the glazing of the windows in the gallery of the meeting-house, and Col. Henry Gerrish was ap- pointed to procure the same. CLAY HILL. At an adjourned meeting, held November 12th, the proprietors sjDecifically reserved two acres of land at Clay hill, to be for the common use of all the proprietors, — thus securing forever to the inhabitants of the town an interest in the excellent deposit of clay at that locality. FROM THE selectmen's ACCOUXTS. Feb. 28. " paid for rum for the army 13 — 11 — 4 paid to Simeoa Atkinson for Banestors & Hing [for the Meeting House] 7^ — paid Mehetable Hidden for keeping schoole 16 — " Although a female teacher was employed as early as 1779, the name of IMehitable Hidden is the first of her sex on record. Another item : "paid Wells Burbank for hording School Dame 1 — 1 — " Mr. Wells Burbank lived on Water street, on land formerly owned by Thomas Coffin — now by G. W. Fisher — and the chil- dren of that district had therefore the benefit of Miss Hidden's instruction. In February, the selectmen settled with Eev. Mr. Wood for his services before his ordination. [From the Records.] "Feb 28 1782. '' This Day reckoned and settled with the selectmen of the Town of Boscawen and Received an order on Benjamin Jackman constable for the sum of Nine Pound three shillings & ten pence Lawful money ■which is in Full for all the Time I have supplied the Desk in Boscawen before the Day of my ordination Samuel "Wood George Jackman K^j^^^^^^^^„ Cuttmg JSloyes ) 128 CIVIL HISTORY. [1783. STATE AND KATIONAL GOVERNMENT. 1783. The plan of state government, sent to the towns for adoption, was presented at the annual meeting, in March, and re- jected. Eev. Samuel Wood, Col. Henry Gerrish, and Samuel Fowler were chosen delegates to the state convention, to set forth the objections of the tovm. At a meeting, held August 18th, the eighth article of the confed- eration between the states was approved by the town, as recom- mended by the General Court. SECOND BRIDGE OVER THE BLACK WATER. At a special meeting, held September 29th, the town voted to build the upper bridge over the Blackwater, near Dea. Eliphalet Kilborn's residence. The selectmen's books show the amounts of the school fund ap- portioned to the several districts : "Lower End Schol [King st] 16— 4— 6 River Rode Schol 5 — 2 — 5 Highst Schol 6-2—8 Water st Schol 12—17— 9 South District over Beaver Dam 10—14—10 North District over Beaver Dam 3 — 18 — 5 " TOWN CENSUS. The selectmen's books also give the first town census : " Number of Inhabitants, buildings & Land in Boscawen as taken Oct 178.3. " White Inhabitants 756 Black ditto 1 Dwelling houses 98 Barns & other Buiklings 101 Acres of Land 25,820 "Taken April 1783 " No of Polls from eighteen to seventy-five years of age 151 No of negroes Acres of Orcharding 15 Arable & Tillage Land 196 1784.] CIVIL HISTORY, 129 Mowing Land 652 Pasture Land 612 No of Horses & mares 75 Oxen 134 Cows 221 Horses & cattle three years old 78 Horses & cattle two years old 114 Horses & cattle one year old 105 yearly rent of mills £50 value of all Building & Keal Estate & improved land £4463 value of Real Estate not owned by Inhabitants £2595 value of stock in trade £50 value of money in hand or at Interest Not in the publick Funds " Tlio town had been settled fifty years, and tliougli it contained 7d8 inliabitants, yet the whole anionnt of tillage, pasturage, mow- ing, and orcharding was only 1,475 acres, out of 25,820 com- prised in the town limits. Thus slowly had civilization made its way in the dense forest that at the outset covered all the terri- tory. MEETING-HOUSE AT THE WEST END. The people living west of Beaver-dam brook, being so far from meeting, agitated the question of the erection of a house of wor- ship at the West end, and a committee was chosen to select a site. 1784. The town during the war took care of the families of the soldiers in the service. In the selectmen's accounts are the items of clothing, provisions, and other articles furnished the fam- ily of Joshua Danford. It is interesting, because it sets forth the depreciation of the currency, and the peculiar hardship to the soldiers in taking their pay in a worthless currency. " Feb 16 1674. " To one bushel of wheat Delivered you — 6 — To answering your order by John Jarrold 4 bush corn 12 — To one bushel Corn bj^ your wife 3^ — To one bushel &. a half of Corn 4 — 6 To Corn by Capt Coffin 15— To 592 Continental Dollars 75 for one 2 — 7 — 3 To 546 Continental Dollars at 100 for one 1—13— To a ton of hay & a bushel of potatoes 2 — 2 — To 30 lbs salt pork at 9 pence 1 — 2 — 6 9 130 'CIVIL HISTORY. [1784. To two pair shoes & one pair Mogersons 1 — — 6 To Rum, Sugar, Molasses & Salt by Lunt — 17 — 7 To oue pair shoes 6 — To pasturing a cow — 9 — To 4^ bushels of rye 1— 7— Boscawen Fb 13 1784 Keckoned & settled all accounts with Joshua Danford From the time of His first Entering into Conti- nental Sarvice up to the First Day of January A D 1774 allowing him at the Rate of Sixty Dollars a year as a hire or Bounty and Deducting one hun- dred dollars in part of the above amount for amount exhibited to the state for alowauce by the order &find due him 6 — 18 — 7 " Joshua Danford." GENERAL WARXIXG OUT. During the year the selectmen gave a general '' warning out " to persons not born in the town, — not, perhaps, that the individ- uals were likely to become paupers, but as a precautionaiy meas- ure. It was among the possibilities that well-to-do citizens might become poor, and in such case a warning out would relieve the town from responsibility. It was the ethics of the time. Among the number thus notified to leave were Schoolmaster Fisk and fam- ily, and others, who, through life, were substantial citizens. The duty was performed by Constable Edmund Chadwick. ROAD TO DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. Settlements were pushing northward, especially up the Con- necticut valley. The rich meadows and uplands of Haverhill and Newbury and other localities were exceedingly attractive, and there was a public demand for an improved road from the Merri- mack to the upper Connecticut. The people of the upper towns petitioned the legislature for a public road. The jjetition was presented in 1784, and an act passed appointing Timothy Walker of Concord, Ebenezer Smith of Meredith, and Henr}^ Gerrish of Boscawen, a committee to lay out the same " four roads wide, be- ginning at the River Road or highway (so called) in the town of Boscawen in the most convenient place & from thence to proceed in the most direct course the situation of the land wiU admit of to 1786.] CIVIL HISTORY. 131 Connecticut river at or near Dartmouth CollegCj having respect to public & private interests." On the copy of the act sent to Col. Henry Gerrish are the notes, — " 1785 May 24 set out. Returned 30th d — 7 Days. Adjourned to Sept 12th 1785 to meet at Col H Gerrish's. " Oct 26"^ 1785. Made a Return of said Road which [was] received & was accepted by the General Court." The road left the river in the hollow at the north end of King street, and ascended the hill, crossing the present highwaj^, and descending the steep hill to Cold brook ; then winding up the ravine past the brick-kilns, crossing the road leading to Bashan, striking across the plain to Woodbury hill ; thence up the pres- ent travelled road to Merrill corner ; thence to High street. So far as the town of Boscaweu was concerned, few changes were made in the then existing roads. The highway was called the ^' College " road, and after the fourth New Hampshire turnpike was constructed, was known as the " College old road." In the selectmen's account for the year is an item in regard to Blackwater upper bridge : *' paid Silas Call for Rum to Raise Blackwater Bridge 7^ — 0." Whether it was the raising of a bridge, a barn, a dwelling, or a meeting-house, whether a wedding or a funeral, whether the citi- zens were at home or abroad, nothing was done without the stim- ulus of ardent spirit. '^overhauling" a committee. March 7, 1786. The citizens of Boscaweu were watchful of their interests. At this meeting, Capt. Peter Coffin, Samuel Fowler, and Ebenezer Hidden were appointed "to overhaul and settle with a former committee that was chosen to sell the Gal- lery pews in the Meeting house & see how they have proceeded in the matter." A committee was also appointed "to overhaul the selectmen's books." Maj. Enoch Gerrish and David Carr were appointed "to assist the surveyor in building a bridge across Clay Hill." 132 CIVIL HISTORY. [1786. This Lridge was intended to avoid tlie steep descent and ascent tbrougli the gulf. It stood a few feet west of the present bridge. MANUFACTURES. Through the war the citizens had been compelled to manufacture all articles of wearing apparel. Carding and fulling mills were established in every town. Men acquainted with the dressing of cloth were in demand. Some time during the war, Isaac Pearson, of Newbury, began the dressing of cloth in the " hollow," and rap- idly accumulated a fortune. Hatters were also a necessity. Wheelrights, joiners, cabinet- makers, were to be found in every town. Wagons were not at this time in use, but carts were needed everywhere. Saddlers and harness-makers, and mechanics in general, were able to thrive by their industry. Skilled labor commanded remunerative prices. GUNPOWDER. During the war, powder was in great demand. Many stories are current of the quality of some of the powder man- ufactured during the war. There was a scarcity of saltpetre, and stable floors were frequently taken up to obtain the earth beneath for leeching. Some of the powder manufactured was slow to ignite, and of no great explosive force when ignited. It is related that a soldier, having some of the poor powder, flashed his gun. He thought that he had forgotten to load, and had only primed it. He placed himself in position to load, when, hearing a fizzing, he discovered that the charge had taken fire and was coming up the barrel. Being quick-motioned, he took aim once more, just in season to send the bullet into the ranks of the enemj'^ ! It is stated that on another occasion a quantity of powder in a keg took fire, and nearly half of it burnt up before it could be extinguished ! These stories, if classed among those related by Baron Munchau- sen, may at least be set down as illustrative of the humor of the times. SCARCITY OF MONEY. There was great distress at this time on account of the scarcity of money. Paint it in the most vivid colors, and the picture will 1787.] CIVIL HISTORY, 133 not be overdrawn. Continental money was worthless. A hun- dred dollars would not i^urchase a sjjool of thread, or a brealifast. There was no state currency ; there were no hanks ; there was little silver and less gold in the country. The small amount of silver in circulation was of Spanish coinage, received through trade with the West Indies. There was little direct trade with Europe, and what little had sprung up was against the United States, rather than in their favor. There was nothing to cause a flow of the precious metals to America, hut, on the contrary, what little was here was gradually flowing from the country : and this while there was a rapid increase of poiKilation. Nearly all trade was by barter. The great difficulty was the pay- ment of taxes. A weak, inchoate, inert, lifeless confederation of states had been established, — a body without a heart or head. The New Hampshire legislature called for an expression of public opinion in regard to the issuing of a paper currency by the state. The town, at a special meeting in November, gave its assent to the issuing of a currency equal in amount to the in- debtedness of the state, to be redeemed at the end of seven years. REBELLIONS. The discontent of the times broke into open rebellion in Massa- chusetts, under Gen. Shay, the leader of the movement ; also in Pennsylvania, and in the sea-coast towns of New Hampshire. The disturbance in this state was quickly quelled by the firm, energetic, yet conciliatory measures of Maj. Gen. Sullivan. No breach of the peace occurred in Boscawen ; but tlie spirit of discontent was abroad, manifest in a disregard for law and order, as will be seen further on. POPULATION. The increase of population in the town may be seen from the following item in the selectmen's books : " The Number of Soles in the Town of Boscawen of Every age Seek and Condition taken in the month of April A D 1786 are computed at 827 Soles." The town met, March 31, to choose a representative to the 134 CIVIL HISTORY. [1787. General Court, but, after mucli debate, voted tbat the town would not be represented. This was due to the prevailing discontent of the times — a dissatisfaction with the state of public affairs, the want of cur- rency, and an inability to see their way out of their troubles. The confederation and the state were supposed to be the authors of their troubles, or at least responsible, and the majority of the citi- zens desired no connection with either body. MOVEME^'T FOR A NEW COUNTY. Prom the formation of Hillsborough county, the session of the court had been held at Amherst ; but the towns in the northern section agitated the question of making a second shire town. A convention was called to meet at Warner, to which delegates were elected by the several towns. Boscawen united in the effort, and a petition was presented to the General Court, and an act obtained making Hopkinton a shire town. FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. The federal constitution, framed in 1787, was submitted to the states for adoption. There was a large nuiiiber of people in the state ojjposed to its acceptance. Many of the citizens of Bos- cawen deemed it an objectionable instrument, and regarded its adoption as a surrender of their liberties. At a special meeting, held January 14, the town elected Capt. Joseph Gerrish delegate to the convention called by the state. He was supposed to be in favor of the adoption of the constitution. The minority, not satisfied with the result, induced the selectmen to call a second meeting, May 23. A majority of those present elected Samuel Fowler, Esq., delegate, and instructed him to vote against the adoption of the constitution. The two delegates made their appearance at the convention, and Capt. Gerrish was deemed to be duly elected, and was admit- ted to his seat. He expressed, undoubtedly, the sentiments of a majority of the citizens, in voting for the adoption of the consti- tution. 1789.J CIVIL HISTORY. " 135 ELECTION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. Dec. 15. The first election was held under the federal consti- tution, when very little interest was manifested. At the JNIarch meeting, 115 votes were cast for governor, but at this meeting the highest vote for electors was 36. March 3, 1789. Voted, " that Mr E Chadwick & Mr Samuel Muzzy, two former Constables, ha^e the liberty to collect their taxes now due in neat stock provided they pay in the same be- tween the first day of May & the first day of June." SALE OF SCHOOL LANDS. The town voted to dispose of a portion of its school lands, and keep the fund intact for educational purposes. Money was very scarce. The federal government had issued no coin. Nearly all transactions were by barter. It was accordingly voted, that " Stock equal to six feet oxen at twelve pounds the york, ($60), wheat at five shillings per bushel, rye at four sliillings & Indian corn at three shillings be taken in payment.'' The lots sold as follows : " House lot f 124. Interval lot 210. 80 Acre lot 453. Sgi787." Two other lots — one of 100 acres and one of 45 acres — were re- served. The amount was placed on interest, loaned to the town, and has so remained to the present time, the interest being an- nually appropriated to the support of schools. The school-district on Little hill and two districts west of Long pond were established during the year. The road from Long street south to Dwight corner, known as Pleasant street, and thence to Bashan and Hopkinton, and the road from High to Fish street, familiarly'- known as the ''cat- hole," were opened as public highways. [1790. OHAPTEE IX. UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. ^HE adoption of the federal constitution, the reorganization '^ of the state government, brought order out of chaos. Then began a period of advancement. Emigration set in. There was a rapid increase in popuhation, and progress in domestic as well as political affairs. In a very short time the meeting-house accom- modation was not sufficient. A portion of the floor was occupied by " seats " common to all ; but there being a demand for more pews, the town voted to sell space sufficient for the completion of four pews. There was dignity in sitting in a pew. The men of the period estimated rank, condition, station, titles, and honor at their full value. The minister, of all men in town, was entitled to respect. The deacons and elders occupied the seats immediately in front of the pulpit, and were treated with much respect. The town jus- tice was honored in his office, and was always addressed as " Esquire." Colonels, captains, lieutenants, and ensigns were hon- ored in their military titles. The community was undergoing a change; it had reverenced the king, but now the community itself was king. It had pushed monarchy from the throne, and enthroned itself : it had assumed the prerogatives of govern- ment, and was beginning to feel its power. A few years later democracy was rampant, but at this time law and order, and an adherence to old time customs, were characteristic of the citizens of the town. Men who were able to own a pew in the meeting- house were not disposed to occupy the common seats. Hence the sale. The pews were bid off by Nathaniel Green, Esq., $66 Joseph Lunt, 41 UJi.^^-t^'^^^^^yi^iC^C^ ^^^^-^^^Ci..-^^ 1791.] CIVIL HISTORY, 137 Simeon Atkinson, f>40 Enoch Gerrish, 36 1791. For some cause the town elected five selectmen, the first and only time in its history. The committee for finishing the meeting-house were instructed '' to extend the length of the front gallery & that there be two pews — one on each end — finished at the charge of the town near by six feet square & that the remainder be finished for a singers pew." "Voted that the selectmen be directed to remove Tliomas Greenfield & family provided that it be according to law." What Thomas Greenfield and family had done does not appear ; but the probabilities are that they stood in need of the town's aid, and may not have been warned to leave. From the vote, it would seem that the question before the town was one of law, rather than of ethics or of sentiment. The people at the West end had made several efforts to obtain a meeting-house in that section, but not having succeeded, agitated the question of dividing the town, and prepared a petition to the General Court for that purpose. PETITIOX FOB A NEW TOWN. " To the Honerable Senate & House of Representative's of the State of New Hampshire in General Court Assembled: " Tlie subscribers Inliahitants of the westerly half of the town of Boscawen in said state, Humbly beg leave to show that the easterly half of said Town was first settled & that the meeting House built to accom- modate that part of the Town only, giving the westerly part which was then thinly inhabited encouragement for a parish whfu their numbers were sufficient, but as it is not agreeable to the laws of the state, your petitioners are exposed to great inconvenience & hardship in attending public worship, Town Meetings & especially in the winter season — it being more than five miles from the Meeting House to the Centre of the westerly half of said Town & that from the combination of Ponds, Hills & Swamps &c which lie between the easterly & westerly half will ever render it inconvenient to remain in one District & in our present situation we have no redress without the aid of this court. " Your petitioners therefore pray that the westerly lialf of said Town maybe set off from the easterly half & incorporated into a seperate Town by the name of Bristol with the same privileges as other Towns 138 CIVIL HISTORY. [1791. in this state or otherways relieved as your Honors in your ■wisdom shall see meet & your petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever yjray. "Boscawen June 1, 1791. "John Thorla, Thos. Thorla, Caleb Knight Benja. Stickney Jeremiah Gerrish Moses Coffin, James Corser Friend Little Benja. Little Joseph Little Enoch Little Jr Jesse Little Naty Barnard Tristam Barnard Philip Barnard Thomas Barnard John Asten Nathan Stevens Samuel Roby Samuel Beverly William Corser Thomas Corser Samuel Jackman John Jackman Moses Jackman Samuel Atkinson Joseph Hills Joseph Cass Ben. Cass Joseph Gerrish. Eldad Austin Asa Day Benjamin Day Simeon Jackman Edward Gerald Sam^ Jackman 3'^ Benj Fisk John Gerald Sam^ Googin Stephen Corser George Stone Benja. Sweatt Enoch Easman Timothy Easman Tlio^ Easman James Colby Moses Calf Eliphalet Little Benja Couch Joseph Little Sam' Mors-s Eliphalet Kilburn James Little Simeon Corser Nath' Kilburn John Corser Dani Colby Jon a Corser Jedidiah Kilburn Jedidiah Danford Nicholas Severance James Trussell "William Danford Benja Asten Moses Gerrish Noah Little Jona Knight Samuel Corser Benja Severance David Burbauk, 71 David Carter In the year 1777, there jirobahly were not more tlian ten legal voters west of Beaver-da:n. In thirteen years the number had in- creased to seventy-one — so rapid was the advancement. The cir- 1791.] CIVIL HISTORY. 139 culation of the petition, the unanimity with which it was signed, alarmed the citizens of the east section, who did not wish to see the town divided. A town-meeting was called, wdiich was held April 26, and James Flanders, Ebenezer Webster, and Luke Wilder were appointed a committee to select a site for a new meeting-house. These are the names of non-residents. Eben- ezer Webster was Judge Webster of Salisbury, father of Daniel and Ezekiel. It was voted that the frame be raised, and the pews sold durino- the year. At a meeting held Sept, 17th, it was voted " that the bigness of the frame be the same as that built by the town in the easterly part thereof." In the Webster town-house, as it was before the east and west porches were removed, we have the counterpart of the build- ing Avhich once stood near the burial-place in Boscawen. The committee reported at a meeting held Oct. 17th. It is not known what locality had been selected by them, but their report was rejected, and the following vote passed : THE SITE OF THE MEETIXG-HOUSE. [From the records.] '' it was put to vote if said Town would Accept the Place to Set the Xew Meeting House on which is Now under Cousideration on the East Side of Blackwater or as near the corner of Mr. Cogswills land ia a Hew Phice of Stubble Ground, voted in the affirmative. "Voted that a meeting house Frame be built at The Charge of the town.'- Mr. Samuel Jackman contracted to furnish the frame for ^94. So satisfactorily was the contract fulfilled, that the town voted him f 16.68 additional. RAISIXG THE MEETIXG-HOUSE. The raising of a meeting-house was a great event, and peo- ple came from the surrounding towns to aid in the work. They came early in the morning, with pike-poles and pitch-forks and iron bars, — pike-poles and pitch-forks to lift with when the " broad- side " should be well up in the air, and iron bars to hold against the foot of the posts to slide them into the mortises of the sills. On 140 CIVIL HISTORY. [1791. sucli an occasion there was plenty of rum. Tlie first thing to be done was to take a drink, to give strength for the labor of the day. Then came the bringing together of the timbers. The sills were already laid and levelled. First the posts, then the girts and levers, and lastly the plates. It had been framed by the " scribe " rule — each piece being fitted to its place. The "square" rule was then unknown to country carpenters. The broadside was then pinned together. Then came the drinking of more rum, and the marshaling of the crowd, — the cool-headed men hold of the iron bars, the strong and experi- enced men in places of responsibility. When all were ready, the master workman, standing in rear where he could see all that was going on, commanded silence. We hear him say, — " Are you ready all ? " "Aye! aye!" " Take hold all ! " The men bend, and place their shoulders beneath the posts. A *" swarm take hold of the plate, another hold of the girts. The men at the iron bars spit on their hands : " Now, then ! " The frame rises. "' Heave away, my hearties ! " It is up to their shoulders. "Now she rises ! " Those by the plates seize their pike-poles and pitch-forks. At each corner and in the middle are " shores," with a crowd*of men and boys lifting on each. " Heigh ! my hearties ! " They lift with all their might, and grow rod in the face. The pike-poles bend, the handles of the pitch-forks are ready to snap. " Steady there ! " Now comes the tug of war at the foot of the posts. The iron- bar men are bracing with all their might. " Heave-ho ! " from the master. " Now she goes ! " from the men. Higher, still higher, up to the perpendicular. The tenons slide into the mortises in the sills, the " shore " men hold back on the poles, and the first broadside of the house of God stands in its ap- pointed place. The men wijie their brows, and take another drink Town House, Webster. 1791.] CIVIL HISTORY. 141 of rum. There is a congratulatory dram all around, in jDrepara- tion for the opposite broadside. That, too, rises. Then come the connecting girts and plates, and then the lifting of the beams for the galleries, and the high beams, the j:)utting up of sleepers, j)lanks and boards, rafters and purlins, and, last of all, the rido-e- pole. When the last is in its place, a crowd of men sit astride it, take full drams from the bottles of rum passed up to them, and then dash the bottles to the ground. This last is the dedicatory dram. Such the scene on that day. So complete were the arrangements, so excellent the workman- ship of Samuel Jackman, so numerous the men, so early at work in the morning were they, that the first broadside was up before nine o'clock, the last dram drank before noon, and the raisin^ ■was over. Thomas Coffin, a boy of fourteen at the time, remembers the occasion as one of the great events of his boyhood. The amount of rum drank at the raising is seen from the se- lectmen's book : " Paid for rum to raise the New Meeting House £3 — 17 — 2 '' —nearly $20. FESTIVITIES. In the evening, after the frame of the meeting-house was raised, the young men repaired to the house now owned by Henry L. Dodge, where the girls, who had been lookers-on at the raising, were assembled. The town had provided a generous supply of food and liquors, and all hands after supper joined in a grand dance, which was kept up till past midnight. The pews were set up, and sold, and the proceeds applied to fin- ishing the house. " No 1 Benjamin Sweatt $28 2 Eliphalet Kilburn 29 3 Samuel Jackman 22 4 Ezekiel Flandei's 16 5 Henry Gerrisli 29 6 eJohn Jarrokl 38 7 Samuel Morse 35 8 Joseph Gerrish 31 142 CIVIL HISTORY. [1791. 19 Friend Little $21 10 Benjamin Stickney 35 11 Thomas Thorla 44 12 Joseph Cass 61 13 David Corser 48 14 Caleb Knight 45 15 Benja Little 34 16 Kathau Kilborn 21 17 Dr Cutting Noyes 34 18 Silas Call 35 19 John Corser 36 20 Benjamin Couch 33t^ 21 Jonathan Thurston 24i 22 Samuel Morse 35 23 Moses Coffin 40 24 Minister 25 David Burbank 43 26 John Flanders 34 27 Jeremiah Gerrish 33 28 Benja Jackman 38 29 Nicholas Severance 52 30 Moses Calef 43 31 Joseph Atkinson 34-^ 32 Daniel Pillsbury m 33 Enos Flanders 37 34 Enoch Little 52 Gallery. No 1 Edmund Chad wick $30 2 Jonathan Thurston 11 3 Benjamin Knowlton 16* 4 Enoch Gerrish & John Flandera 22 5 Peter Kimball 17* 6 Joshua Jackman 11 7 Benjamin Cass 14 8 David Call 22 9 Edmund Chadwick 21 10 James Corser 21 11 David Corser 21 12 Benjamin Austin 20 13 John Jarrold 30J 14 Benja Choate 14 1792.] CIVIL HISTORY. 143 15 Samuel Jackman ^^ $12 16 John Jerrold 13^ 17 Friend Little is' 18 John Manuel 18 19 Nathaniel Thurston 14 20 Daniel Shepard 11 21 John Jarrold 30| 22 Moses Call 24 23 David Carter 24 " POST ROUTES. The legislature, at its session this year, established four post routes through the state. "The first begining at Concord thence to proceed through Weare, New Boston, Amherst, Wilton, Temple, Peterborough, Dublin, Marl- borough, Keen, Westmoreland, Walpole, Alstead, Acv/orth, Charles- town, Clareraont, Newport, Lenipster, Washington, Hillsborough, Hen- niker, Hopkinton to Concord. "The second from Concord to Boscawen, Salisbury, Anslover, New Chester, Pl^'mouth, Haverhill, Piermont, Orford, Lymf, Hanover, Leb- anon, Enfield, Canaan, Grafton, Alexandria, Salisbury to Concord." The other two connected the towns in the eastern part of the state with Concord and Portsmouth. Each post-rider was required to perform his route weekly, extraordinary circum- stances excepted. The riders on the first and second routes were paid twelve pounds each. They were required to reverse their alternate trips. The postage on single letters was fixed at six pence for forty miles, and four pence for any distance less than forty. Once a week, therefore, the citizens of Boscawen could send a letter to other sections of the state on the route of the rider ; but if directed to a town on one of the other routes, from six to twelve days would be the time required. 1792. The town, at its annual meeting in March, voted to sell the parsonage lands, and put the money at interest. The sales amounted to $918. The money was loaned to the town, and the interest devoted to the support of a minister. The constitution of New Hampshire having been revised, it was submitted to the town at a special meeting, held August 27, and adopted by the citizens. 144 CIVIL HISTORY, [1792. LIBEKALITY OF REV. MR. WOOD. Rev. Mr. Wood, liaving the advancement of the town in view, es- pecially in the matter of education, generously proffered the town the interest from the parsonage fund, amounting to $44, to be applied to the schools. The town returned a cordial vote of thanks. Mr. Wood's efforts to j)romote the advancement of the com- munity were also directed to the foundation of a library. He was seconded in his efforts by several gentlemen. The subscription paper is as below : THE FIRST LIBRARY. " We the subscribers hereby promise to pay tlie sums respectfully set against our names To Henry Gerrish Esqi- for llie purpose of pur- chasing a Library (for the use of said subscribers) in three months from this date as witness our hands. '•August the S"' 1791. " Nathaniel Green 12 s John Chandler 12 " Enoch Gerrish 12" Joseph Gerrish 12 '' Joseph Atkinson Jr 12 " Jeremiah Gerrish 12 " Joseph Lunt 12" George Jackraan 12" Samuel Fowler 12" Isaac Chandler 12" Joseph Clough 12" Theodore Atkinson 12" S -ml Gerrish 12" David Peterson Jr 12 " Paul Clark 12 " David Corser 12 " Moses Coffin 12 " It will be interesting to know what class of literature was se- lected by the men of the time ; and the catalogue, as published twenty years later, we give in full, for it was this library which Daniel Webster devoured while studying with Rev. Mr. Wood. " A catalogue of books in the Boscawen Social Library, alphabetically arranged under the following heads, Theological, Historical, and Miscellaneous. By a vote of the Proprietors, Oct. 7, 1811. Concord: Printed by George Hough. 1811. •^^^-•J CIVIL HISTORY. BOSCAWEN SOCIAL LIBRARY. THEOLOGICAL. " Adams' View of Religions American Preacher, 4 vols. Baxter's Call to the Uncouverted Bethkol Benevolence and Misery reconciled Boston's Fourfold State Communicant's Companion Edwards against Chauncy ■ on Redemption on Religious Affections Evidences of the Christian Religion Flavel's Husbandry Spiritualized" ■ Navigation ditto Fuller's Letters Gospel Sonnets Hervey's Meditations Henry on Prayer Hopkins' System, 2 vols. Holy War, (Bunyan's) Knox's Essays, 2 vols. Law's Serious Call Lowth on Isaiah Mendham Evidences Mason on Self-Knowledge Neckar on Religion Newton on the Prophecies, 2 vols. Owen on Sin Pilgrim's Progress, (Bunyan's) Prayer Book Remarks on Clapp Rise and Progress (Doddridge's) Rutherford's Letters Sherlock on Death Smith on the Prophecies Sermons, collected Blair's, 2 vols. Davies', 2 vols. Edwards' 145 10 — Morse's — Parsons', 2 vols. 146 CIVIL HISTORY, [1792. Sermons, Sauriu's Whitefleld's Fordyce's, to Young Men . . to Young women ■ Strong's • Village, 3 vols. Spaulding's Lectures Token for Mourners Watts' Glory of Christ Worcester on Future Punishment West's Moral Agency Wilberforce's View of Religion Young's Night Thoughts. 65. HISTORICAL. Adams' Modern Voyages Beauties of History, 2 vols. Belknap's New-IIampshire, 3 vols. Carver's Universal Traveller Carver's Travels in North America Conquest of Canaan Cook's Voyages, 4 vols. Gordon's American War, 3 vols. Guthrie's Geography History of England • Josephus, 6 vols. Irwin's Travels Life of Christ Brainard Edwards Life of Franklin Col. Gardner Joseph Washington, 5 vols. Baron Trenck Modern Antichrist Morse's Geography, 2 vols. New England Farmer Proofs of a Conspiracy Ramsay's Amer. Revolution, 2 vola. Eollin's Ancient History, 10 vols. Residence in France Robertson's America, 4 vols. 1792.] CIVIL HISTORY. 147 Universal History, 4 Vols. Woll's History of the Martyrs, 2 vols. —GO. MISCELLANEOUS. Arabian Night's Entertainment, 3 vols. Beccaria on Crimes Blair's Morals Cato's Letters Controversial Letters Clerk's Magazine Cowper's Poems Cowper's Task Coquette Death of Abel Dictionary of Arts & Sciences, 4 vols. Domestic JMedicine (Buchan's) Don Quixot, 4 vols. Economy of Human Life Emma Corbett, 2 vols. Esop's Fables Family Instructor Female American Ferguson's Astronomy Fool of Quality, 5 vols. Foresters Goldsmith's Essays Gospel Tragedy Laws of New Hampshire Letters on Courtship Lyric Poems Moral Repository Moral and Religious ditto Murray's Reader Paradise Lost (Milton's) Regained Pilgrim Good-Intent Polite Preceptor Pope's Works, 6 vols. Religious Tradesman Romance of the Forest Salem Witchcraft Seneca's Morals 148 CIVIL HISTORY. [1794. Spectator, 8 vols. Thompson's Seasons Vicar of wakefield Watts on the Mind Logic Younff Gentleman's Instructor —72 The whole number of volumes 203 The present number of Proprietors 71 The Society was founded February 7, 1792. And was incorporated November 30, 1797." 1793. The following taverners were liscensed to sell spirituous liquors during the year, showing that the public were accommo- dated with at least four hotels : Simeon Atkinson and Col. Henry Gerrish on Fish street, Capt. Thomas Choat on High street, and Winthrop Carter, in the house now occupied by Nathaniel Webster, on the Plain. Timothy Dix, a store-keeper, was also licensed. The annual town-meeting was held for the first time at the w^est meeting-house. FROM THE SELECTMEX'S BOOKS. " paid Joseph Little for a School House on Corser Hill 7—16— paid W™ Danford for a school Dame Bashan 1— 0— 3 " This is the first mention of Bashan — a locality containing at the time Benj. Severance, Wm. Danford, Moses Gerrish, and per- haps two or three other families. FIRST STORE IN WEB.STER. The first store ever kept in what is now the town of Webster was opened during the year, by Samuel Gookin, in a house that stood on the site now occupied by the residence of George Little, Esq., on Corser hill. BUILDING OF SCHOOL-HOUSES. 1794. The inhabitants of Boscawen manifested a determina- tion to establish their schools on a permanent basis. Up to this time there were probably not more than four school-houses in the 1795.] CIVIL HISTORY. 149 town, and an energetic committee was appointed, consisting of Henry Gerrisli, Xatlianiel Green, David Corser, Thomas Thorla, Silas Call, and Capt. Peter Kimball, who, with the selectmen, were to divide the town into as many districts as they might judge were necessary ; that each district have the liberty of locat- ing its school-house, which should be built at the expense of the town ; that such houses as were already built should be appraised, and allowance made accordingly. The committee established eight districts. THE GRKAT FROST. The spring of 1794 was very forward, but on the 17th of May occiirred what was called the " great frost " throughout the coun- try, which destro3"ed the grain crop for the year ; — but, as reported by Mr. Price, it also destroyed the canker-worms, which had been destructive to vegetation. TROUBLE WITH EXGLAXD. Nov. 10. The town, in response to a call from the general gov- ernment, appointed a committee "to devise ways & means for procuring the soldiers called for." The laAvlessness of England, in committing depredations upon American commerce while at war with France, was the occasion for this action in preparing for a war with the mother countr}^ It was voted to pay soldiers eight dollars per month, including the pay from the federal government, to provide them with a suitable outfit of clothing, and a good blanket. No soldiers, however, were called for. An aqueduct — probably the first in town — was laid during the year, conveying water from the house-lot laid out to the right of the houses of Samuel Sweatt and Henry Kingsbury, to the houses of Timothy Dix, Daniel Carter, Samuel Morrill, and Joseph Ger- risli. The water was conveyed in logs. 1795. The town voted to build a new pound, near Capt. Peter Kimball's, on Water street. It was built of stone, and is still in existence. IXCREASE OF TAVERNS. At this period, there was a stream of emigration to the north- ern section of the state, and to Vermont. On the other hand, the 150 CIVIL HISTORY. [1796. markets were on the seaboard, and the whole country seemed to be in motion, — settlers going north, and farmers Avho had made a start in the world going south. Numerous taverns were estab- lished. In the section of the town west of Beaver-dam brook, there were three — one kept by Benjamin Couch, another by James Little, on Battle street, — the latter in the house now oc- cupied by George Sanborn, — and one kept by Jonathan Corser, in the house now occupied by Franklin Shepherd. The inventory of the town for the year was made out for the first time in federal currency. The selectmen's accounts, how- ever, for this and the succeeding year, were in pounds, shillings, and pence. From 1797 the old currency disappears from the rec- ords. PEOPRIETOKS' MEETING. 1796. The proprietors of the town were called together at the instance of Col. Henry Gerrish, who was appointed their agent to petition the General Court of Massachusetts for a township of land. Tlie ground of the petition was the fact that the legisla- ture of Massachusetts had already made grants of land to towns which, on the establishing of the line betAveen Massachusetts and New Hampshire, were assigned to New Hampshire, although they desired to remain with Massachusetts. Col. Gerrish undertook the agency at his own expense, he to have one half of the territory granted if his mission was successful. He spent much time and money, and apparently made out a strong case, but did not suc- ceed in obtaining a grant. THE TRANSITION PERIOD. The period from 1795 to 1800 was characterized by lawlessness throughout the country. It was a transition period. The coun- try was in an unsettled state. The success of the French Revolu- tion, — of license over liberty ; the sj)read of the infidelity of the times ; the circulation of Paine's " Age of Reason,'' and the writ- ings of Voltaire ; the political status of the country ; the war spirit which had been fanned almost to a flame, and which had been only partially allayed by Jay's treaty ; the revolt against the the- ological dogmas of the time, — all combined to make it a turbulent period. Boscawen was not exempt from the general disturbance. 179G.] CIVIL HISTORY. 151 There were frequent breaches of the public peace by a band of confederates ; private as well as public property was destroyed, wan- tonly, and with malice ; horses were disabled ; bee-benches rifled ; apple-trees girdled ; wagons, carts, and farming implements dam- aged. Some of the perpetrators were apprehended, and brought before the courts. During the Revolutionary War, there had been a number of individuals who bad manifested no sympathy with the cause of liberty, and who were regarded as tories. Though no arrests had been made in town, they had been closely watched by the patriotic citizens, and had been under social restraints. Later, they had opposed the adoption of the federal constitution ; and now a mistake on the part of the selectmen, for the year 1795, had enabled them to enlist public opinion against the established order of things. In 1794, the selectmen of the town received no precept for a county tax prior to the making out of the other taxes, and no tax was laid ; but before the expiration of the year the precept was received, and the selectmen had no alternative except to advance the money on their own account. Anticipating the same state of affairs the following year (1795), Capt. Joseph Gerrish, Enoch Lit- tle, and George Jackman, Esq., levied the usual tax in advance of the receipt of a requisition, which never came. The result was, that several discontented spirits refused to pay the tax, or, having paid it, sued for recovery. Those suing were, — " tax sued for Enoch Eastman .14 cts Asa Conner .28 Samuel Roby .71 Timothy Eastman 1.38 John Gerold 1.2G Philip Barnard .53 David Carter 1.22 James Little • 1.71 Eliphalet Little .99 Moses Jackman .31 Ephraim Noyes .35 Pearson Eastman .28 Stephen Corser .51 Jonathan Corser 2.10 152 CIVIL HISTORY. [1797. Benjamin Cass .91 Tristam Barnard .71 Benj Rolfe 2.57 Silas Rolfe .94 Silas Call Samuel Gookin " The selectmen paid the tax from their own purses. The politi- cal antagonism was so intense, that all sense of justice and equity seemed to he stifled. No reimhursement was ever made. It is the one solitary instance in the history of the town where a great injustice ,was suffered to go unrectified. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AXD STATE. 1797. The proprietors of Boscawen, at the outset, had respected the conscientious scruples of one of their number — Samuel Fowler — in regard to supporting the minister. The principle adhered to by him had taken firm hold of the community, and many men saw that it was unjust to comj^el a man to support a minister whose theological teachings he did not accept. The time Avas ap- proaching for a new order of things. After the death of Mr. Fowler, people without exception paid their taxes for the sup- port of a minister ; but during this year Mr. Silas Call entered his protest. [From the Records.] *' This may certify that I am determined not to pay the Rev. Samuel Wood for preaching after this date for I cannot join him in his profes- sion sentiments or profession — therefore you are requested to record my protest against the same. "May 22'! 1797 Silas Call." The protest of Mr. Call was an ex2:)ression of a rapidly growing feeling that the time had come for a separation of church and state. Other citizens manifested their opposition to the existing order of things in disorderly ways. There were those who utterly disregarded all religion, and who showed their dislike by break- ing the windows in the new meeting-house (in Webster), by nailing up the pulpit door, the doors of the pews, and in the de- filement of the pulpit and pews, especially those belonging to cit- izens active in town and society affairs. The houses being in part 1798.] CIVIL HISTORY. 153 the property of tlie town, action was at once taken. "Warrants were issued for the arrest of tln-ee or four lawless individuals, who were put under bonds to keep the peace. BUKiSriNG OF THE EAST MEETING-HOUSE. 1798. On the night of ^February 22d, the East meeting-house was burned by an incendiary. At the annual meeting, in March^ the town appointed Col. Henry Gerrish, Nathaniel Green, Esq. and John Chandler " to prosecute all such persons who have or shall commit any trespass on either of the public houses or high- ways or done any other public damage." The real incendiary was probably a non-resident. That there were citizens who were accessories to the crime is altogether prob- able ; but the chain of circumstantial evidence was not strong enough to warrant an arrest. Measures were taken to erect another building, on another site. A committee, composed of citizens from adjoining towns, reported in favor of a site on the Woodbury plain, a half mile east of the former building. The town did not choose to locate it there. Several other localities were selected, and rejected in turn. Ere long, it became manifest that a majority of the citizens would not vote to build a house of worship. A proposition to allow six or more persons to erect a meeting- house at their own expense, and to accept the same as a town- house, was voted down. Further action was postponed. It was next voted that the selectmen be instructed to abate the ministerial tax of any person who requested it, " which in their judgment all things considered shall appear to them best to be done." BURNING OF WATER STREET SCHOOL-HOUSE. The school-house on Water street was destroyed by fire on the 8th of April. It was an incendiary act. There had been some disaffection over its location ; but the burning of the edifice was regarded as an outbreak against law and order, which must be stopped. There was a sudden reaction of public sentiment. The citizens manifested their disapproba- tion so unmistakably, that some of the restless spirits were com- pelled to leave town to escape arrest, while others were put on 154 CIVIL HISTORY. [1798. tlieir good beliavior by the action of the town in securing indem- nity by civil process. During this troublesome period, the malice of those regardless of law was directed, seemingly without reason, against particular individuals in the communit3^ Those who followed the even tenor of their ways, as well as those who were prominent in directing public affairs, suffered at the hands of the lawless. Mr. David Corser, who lived on Corser hill, in the house now occupied by Mr. Tilton, was especially annoyed. His cattle were mutilated, and his house fired into at night, the bullet lodging in the roof. Mr. Corser invoked the protection of the law, and sev- eral parties were arraigned. A deposition before the court is given, as illustrative of the spirit of lawlessness prevalent at that time : " I John Corser of lawful age testifieth & saith that some time the fore part of the last winter past, I was in David Corser's yard & saw his turkeys as he called them with their toes cut off a bleeding on the snow & he told me somebody had cut them off." LAST EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A MEETING-HOUSE. Once more, those who wanted a meeting-house proposed Wood- bur}^ plain as a site, which was again rejected. The proposition was made to build on the old spot. The result was a tie vote, — 70 in favor, and TO against. Then the advocates for a new house proposed to have it erected in the centre of the town, which was rejected by a decisive majority. Another proposition was made, '^ that one half of the meetings for public worship should be on the jilain on King street at such a place as they [the selectmen] shall provide till a new meeting house be built." At this juncture, the meeting-going citizens of the town wisely decided to make no further efforts to secure the erection of an edi- fice by the town ; and those living in the easterly section united in building a meeting-house at the head of King street — the original of the present edifice. The time had come for a new order of things. By the adop- tion of the federal constitution, all such political union as had ex- isted from the first settlement of the country, between church and state, was virtually abrogated. The non-recognition of religion as 1798.] CIVIL HISTORY, 155 having aught to do with the state, had hecome an unwritten Law. The state laws relating to parishes were not modified till a subse- quent j^eriod : but in this year (1797) there was a virtual sever- ance of church and state in Boscawen. The school-house difficulty, on Water street, was settled by the people of the district. They proposed the erection of two houses, — one to accommodate the north end, and the other the south end, — the school to be taught alternately in each house. The north school-house was erected where it now stands ; the south house stood where the first school-house in town, probably, was erected — on the west side of Water street, north of Mr. Bradley Atkinson's. The site may still be recognized. The building was subsequently purchased by Moses Coffin, and removed to his farm, where it was occupied as a cooper's shop, and afterwards as a blacksmith's shop. It was demolished in 1874. PRICES OF rilODUCE AND LABOR. The prices of farm produce and labor will be seen by the follow- ing extracts from the account-book of Dea. Enoch Little, who was selectman in 1795-96 : "John Jackman joiner to Enoch Little 1790. Dr £. S. D. Nov 10* To 1 bushel wheat 0— 8— To a bushel rye 5 — 4 Dec G"> To one quarter 1 — 4 — To butter & tub 37 lbs 30 which I expect is butter 1 — 5 — 1797. Apr 28"i To 150 lbs pork & carrying it to you 3 — 6 — May 18'h To 6 lbs butter at 9 pence 0— 4— 6 30 To 33 lbs veal at 3^ pence 9— 7 To 2 casks of lime 3— 0— To 46 lbs mutton at 2 pence 7 — 8 Feb 15"' For three days work self & 2 hands 1 — 8 — 6 For horse 2 days 8 — • To a four feet table 1—10— To a clock 16—10— To a chest with one drawer 1 — 5 — " In another account we find the following prices : " To 6 lbs lard at 8 p 0—4—0 To 8 " flax at 11" 0— 7— 156 CIVIL HISTORY. [1798. To 2 bush potatoes 0— -1— To i " beans 0— 3— To i yd cotton & linen cloth 0— 1— 2 To 19 lbs cheese at 5p 0— 7— 6 To 12 " soap grease — 6 — To 2k galls molasses 0—12— To 18f good cheese at 10 cents SI, SB To carrying 3 bblsof pork to Newbury S3,75 " In the account with Moses Coffin, tailor, we have the following prices : " To making a coat & cutting a waistcoat & breeches 0,87 To making surtout waistcoat & breeches & cutting 2 75 To making a jacket & trousers for Abraham 1,25 To calico for a gown 4,17 " At this time, and for many years later, enrrency was reckoned in pounds, shillings, and pence. The silver money in circulation was either English or Spanish coinage. Very little federal cur- rency was in use. The foreign coinage held its place for the first forty years of the jiresent century, and though the keeping of ac- counts in pounds and shillings began to give place to dollars and cents in speech, the old currency still held its own. Merchants were accustomed to mark the price of the articles in British cur- rency. Mr. Hezekiah Fellows, trader on Corser hill, never aban- doned the practice, hut marked all his goods in pounds, shillings, and pence, to the day of his death. One of the incidents of the period was the action of two men, who, having committed a trespass, came voluntarily before a jus- tice of the peace, and were fined. " January the S"! A. D. 1800. " Then Humphrey Carter & Thomas Thoria both of Boscawen in the county of Hillsborough state of New Hampshire personally came before me Nath' Green Esqr one of the Justices of Peace for said county & complained of themselves for being guilty of a breach of the peace in taking, stealing & destroying one bee hive with a quantity of honey in the night time the property of Joseph Gerrish E'^qr at said Bfoscawen on or about the first day of Sept 1790, it is considered by me the said justice after hearing the above confession that the said Carter & Thoria pay a fine of one dollar each for the use of the state of New Hampshire for being guilty of a breach of the peace in so doing, which fine is paid to me accordingly. " Nath' Green jus Peace." '^^t9yiec/n 1800.] OHAPTEE X. THE FIRST DECADE OF THE CENTURY. ^yHE citizens residing at the east end of the town, and who ^^ associated themselves together for the erection of a meeting- house, entered upon the work with zeal. The building was begun in 1799, and completed in 1800. The erection of this edifice by voluntary subscription brought about a marked change in the busi- ness transacted at the annual and special meetings of the town. One bone of contention was buried forever. There would be no more discussions of the vexed question of meeting-houses. From this time on the business related chiefly to the election of neces- sary officers, the laying out of roads, and the appointment of com- mittees on matters which the selectmen could not well attend to. The civil transactions, from 1800 onward, may be noticed by decades. The determination of a majority of the inhabitants to have little or nothing more to do with meeting-houses is seen in the vote given Sept. 16, 1799, when the town voted "^not to accept the proposition of the new society to pay in part for the building of the frame." The society accepted the situation, and went on with the con- struction of the house. MEETING-HOUSE OJiT THE PLAIN. The building stood broadside to the road, with a tower, steeple, and spire surmounting the porch at the northern end. The spire was surmounted by a wooden weather-cock. The country joiner who fashioned it never having studied the rules of art, the cock was not regarded as a fitting adornment to the edifice. After the completion of the structure, it was resolved to have it removed, 158 CIVIL HISTORY. [1800. and a gilded vane placed upon the spire. Mr. William Jackman, who was an athlete in climbing, volunteered to ascend the lightning- rod from the belfry, and make the desired change. A great crowd assembled to witness the feat. Mr. Jackman ascended the taper- ing spire without difficulty, seated himself upon the golden ball, removed the cock, lowered it to the ground, drew up the vane and fixed it in its place, and then drew up a bottle of rum, took a dram, and threw the empty bottle to the ground, which, to the wonder and amazement of the crowd, did not break ! The crowd manifested their appreciation of Mr. Jackman's exploit by fre- quent and hearty cheers. The cock, though degraded from its high and dignified perch, had a longer lease of service than the vane. That disappeared in 1839, when the house was remodelled, while the cock has watched the changes of the wind, daily and nightlj^, through all these years, as it now does, from the sign-post of S. A. Ambrose's tav- ern. There was a door at the front opening to the broad aisle, and a porch at the south end with stairs leading to the gallerj^ The interior of the building was after the style of the period, — square pews, seats that turned up, and which went down with a slam when the people took their seats after prayer, wall pews, floor pews, a deacon's seat and an elder's seat in front of the pulpit, a sounding-board, singers' seats in the front gallery, and common seats on the sides. A pleasant-toned bell was purchased, and placed in the belfry in December, 1799. It probably was the first bell in the Merri- mack valley north of Dunstable. A bell, weighing six hundred pounds, was obtained in Chester, in 1788. The bell in the iSTorth church, in Concord, was not obtained till 1802. The incident serves to show the public spirit of the new society, which, relieved from connection with the town, entered upon its work with great zeal. DEATH OF WASHINGTON. The news of Washington's death was received in Boscawen on the IGth of January, 1800, and the bell was tolled through the day by George Washington Webster. The mournful knell went out over hill and vale. People came riding to the meeting-house 1800.] CIVIL HISTORY. 159 to hear the news, and in obedience to the general request the select- men issued the following notice for a meeting of the town : " To the inhabitants of Boscawen : Agreeably to a request of a num- ber of the inhabitants you are desired to meet at the hDwer meeting house on Monday the 20"^ inst at 2 o'clock P M to signify whether it be your wish to have an oration or eulogium on the memory of General Geo Washington delivered at said house on a time that you may agree also to take such other measures as they may think proper to show their last respect to the Friend of their country. "Enoch Gerrish ) Benj Little ^ Selectmen, Timo Dix jr ) " Boscawen Jan 18. 1800" At the meeting held on the 20th, Col. Henry Gerrish, Maj. Enoch Gerrish, George Jackman, Nathaniel Green, and Timothy Dix, Jr., were appointed a committee to consult in regard to the proposed tribute of respect, and made the following report : " That the Rev Sam^ Wood be desired to prepare & deliver an Ora- tion on the 22'i of February, at eleven oclock in this house. That the Pulpit be shrouded with black, that the people be desired on the occa- sion agreeably to the Presidents Pi-oclamation to wear a black crape or ribbond upon the left arm, same above the elbow, & that the Females of the town be requested to wear black ribbonds — said mourning to be worn from the Lord's day next four week's inclusive & that the inhabi- tants be requested to form procession at half past ten oclock on said day at Mr Somersby Pearsons & that a committee be chosen to make such arrangements as shall be thought necessary on said day." Tliere was a large gathering of the people on tlie day appointed, and the arrangements of the committee were duly carried out. The oration of Mr. Wood took the form of a sermon, from the text, — "And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who de- livered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." — Judges 3 : 9. On the same day, a meeting was held at the West meeting- house, and a eulogy delivered "by Eev. Ariel Kendrick V. D. M." Diligent inquiry has been made in order to ascertain the mean- ing of the cabalistic affix appended to Rev. Mr. Kendrick's name in the printed address delivered on the occasion ; hut the few ven- IGO CIVIL HISTORY. [1800. erable men still living, who can remember "Washington's funeral, are ignorant as to their meaning. SMALL-POX HOSPITAL. The small-pox suddenly made its appearance at the west end. A town-meeting was called, and a committee of safety appointed. The selectmen were instructed to prosecute all who might spread the infection. The infected were removed to a pest-house, and libert}' was given to private individuals to establish a small-pox hospital. One was accordingly erected, in the pasture east of the road, on Water street, not far from the residence of Silas Call, now William Abbott's. At the annual meeting in March, liberty was given to all Avho might choose so to dp, who lived west of the spot where the old meeting-house stood, to pay their minister's tax in the west part of the town, and have jireaching there accordingly ; but the town refused to appoint a committee to see how much of the preaching should be at the east or how much at the west end. Mr. Wood had made a donation of $54 to the town for school purposes, for which he received a vote of thanks. The generous act made the town kindly disposed towards him personally, but did not turn the citizens from the purpose of dispensing with preaching at the town's expense. There was a steady increase of those who re- fused to pay a tax for the support of a minister. Suits were brought against them, which increased the discontent. SUXDAY TRAVELLING. The law against Sunday travelling was enforced at this date ; but the town was fortunate in having a justice of the peace who performed his duties in a quiet way — who preferred to write a friendly note rather than to issue a process of law. One Philip Colby, having travelled on Sunday, and having been complained of, was thus admonished : " Boseawen March 2i^^ 1800 " S"" Mr Samuel Jackman one of the tything men of Boseawen has en- tered a complaint to me against you for travailing and Giving him a false answer on the Lord's day the twenty-third of this Instant and un- less you come Immediately and pay your fine and settle the matter you may expect to be Dealt with according to Law " from your friend "Mr Philip Colby. Henry Gerrish." 1802. J CIVIL HISTORY. 161 SEVERAN'CE OF THE LAST TIE BETWEEN" CHURCH AND STATE. 1801. It was discovered that in a government of the people, under a constitution which protected all religions, yet recognized none, it was impossible to force men to pay taxes for minister or meeting-house. The question of annulling the contract with Mr. Wood and his dismissal was discussed, and a special town-meet- ing held in December to take some action. A committee was ap- pointed to wait on Mr. Wood, and see if he would unite with the town in calling a council. Feb. 1. A special meeting of the town was called, to hear the report of the committee of five who had waited on Mr. Wood, and who presented a brief and courteous communication from that gentleman, as given below : "As it appears to be the request of the town for iiie to join with them to disannul the civil agreement between us, if the town shall re- quest it & shall take necessary steps for the purpose I consent up- on reasonable terms which we may probably agree upon finally to dis- solve the contract. As the contract was made by us, the town proposing & I accepting, so I see no need of an ecclesiastial council to dissolve it. We may however take advice of some gentlemen from abroad as to the terms." The contract was therefore amicably dissolved, he being ex- empted from taxation during his relation to the church, and the town annually giving him one haK of the interest of the parsonage so long as he was a minister. On the other hand, it was stij^ulated that '' all who might con- tribute to his support should not be taxed elsewhere for preach- ing." The agreement was accepted — 67 to 64. From this time till 1804, the people living at the west end were without preaching, except such as was had at the expense of indi- viduals. 1802. During this year, a religious society bearing the title of the " Universal Society " was formed. The members, however, were mostly residents of other towns. It was another form of re- volt against the long received theolog3^ Its members believed in the universal salvation of men. Two of its members — Mr. Tim- othy and Mr. Pearson Eastman — moving into Boscaweu from 11 162 CIVIL HISTORY. [1803. Salisbury, brouglit witli them certificates of membersliip, wliicli are on record. '* Salisbury April 16, 1802 " To the Selectmen of Boscawen " Gentlemen : " This may certify that Mr Pearson Eastman is a member of the Universal Society formed in January last consisting of a compact of towns in this vicinity. " A Whittemore clerk." This was to exempt them from taxation for the support of the ministry, which question had been already settled by the volun- tary settlement of Mr. Wood as minister of the town ; but the record serves to show the wide-spread disaffection with the old order of things, and also dates the formation of the first Univer- salist society in this section of the state. VENDUING THE POOR. Up to this period there were few jjeople in town who could not support themselves ; but with the rapid increase of population came a corresponding increase of those who needed aid from the town. The few poor people of former days had been cared for by their friends, or by the selectmen, in a manner requiring no action in town-meeting ; but in this year a new departure was made. It was voted " to vendue off Wm. Evans to the lowest bidder, for his maintainance." The successful bidder was Levi Bean, and the price paid was eighty-three cents per week. This method of caring for the poor of the town continued till the purchase of the town almshouse. 1803. The remaining half of the interest on parsonage bonds was granted to the West meeting-house, to be laid out under the direction of the selectmen. TURNPIKES. The rapid advancement of civilization northward to northern New Hampshire and Vermont, and the increasing amount of jDublic travel, called for better highways, and turnpike companies, were incorporated throughout the state. Among others were the First, 1803.] CIVIL HISTORY. 163 Second, Tliird, and Fourth New Hami^shire, the Portsmouth, Londonderry, Chester, Grafton, and Mayhew. The Fourth New Hampshire turnpike began at the Merrimack river, where the bridge from Fisherville crosses the Merrimack, and extended to Hanover, through Salisbury, Andover, Wihnot, Springfield, Enfield, and Lebanon. The corporation had a right to use existing roads, but must keep them in repair. No toll was charged to a townsman. The Boscawen toll-gate was located on the summit of the ridge east of the " GruK," at Clay hill, and ia still standing. EFFORT TO MAKE BOSCAWEN" THE CAPITAL OP THE STATE. The growth of the state, and the development of the northern section, indicated that sooner or later the capital would be moved from Exeter to some more central locality. The matter was strongly agitated during the year 1802-3. Pembroke, Concord, Boscawen, and quite likely other towns, took measures toward securing it. The citizens of Boscawen took hold of the subject zealousl}^, as the following document shows : "We the subscribers promise to pay the sums set against our names for the purpose of erecting a house for the Legislature of New Hamp- shire to be placed on Boscawen plain in the Senter as near as the ground will admitt of between Col Joseph Gerrish and Mr Somersby Pearson, by a committee that shall hereafter be appointed to compleat the said house provided the General Court of New Hampshire shall en- gage to hold their sessions in said Boscawen in seven or ten years as witness our hand "December the 26"^ 1803 " Joseph Gerrish $100 Isaac Chandler 75 Caleb Putney 200 Dennison Bowers " 100 Nathi Green 100 Nathan Carter 150 Somersby Pearson 100 Tho« Gillmore 50 Joseph 11 Morrill 30 Jeremiah Morrill 20 John Gill 25 Jon* Hutchinson 25 164 CIVIL HISTORY. [1803. Simeon Danforth 5 "W" G Emerson 10 Enocti Gerrish jr 10 Joshua Morse 10 Joshua Carlton 10 Timothy Dix 50 Saml Peterson 5 James Uran 10 John S Abbott 20 William Gill 50 Benj Hills 20 Saml Garven 50 Joel French 50 Winthrop Carter 25 Humphrey Webster 25 Tho' Carter 10 George Perkins 10 Charles Eastman " 10 Joseph Atkinson 15 Enoch Danford 10 Henry Gerrish 50 Silas Rolfe 10 Benj Rolfe jr 20 Moses Manuel 5 Samuel Burbank 10 Samuel Uran 3 Josiah Burbank 3 John Flanders jr . 4 David Burbank 2 " We, a part of the above Subscribers do hereby engage to pay the above svims annexed to our names in case the Gen' Court should ad- journ to this place for one session only. " Henry Gerrish Benj Rolfe jr Caleb Putney John Gill Joseph H Morrill Nathan Carter Jeremiah Morrill Joshua Carter." Benj Hills HOTELS, The niim'ber of hotels in Boscawen at this period is learned from the New Hampshire Eegister for 1803, which gives the pub- lic houses on the stage route from Concord to Haverhill. 1804.] CIVIL HISTORY. 165 First was Chandler's — the present " Penacook House." " Gerrish," two miles farther, kept by Col. Joseph Gerrish. The building was a large, long, two-storied edifice, afterwards occupied by Dr. Thomas Peach, and was burned. The next was Nathan Carter's, — the house now occupied by Mr. Caleb Hall, which has been wholly remodelled by him. Then came Bohonnon's, — probably the house now occupied by Nathaniel Webster. At the upper end of the plain was Pearson's hotel, in the house now kej)t as a public house by Samuel A. Ambrose. The route to Haverhill was up the valley of the Merrimack, and the nest tavern was " Atkinson's," and beyond it Col. Henry Gerrish's, one of the oldest hotels in the town, on the site now occupied by the county buildings. On the Foxxrth New Hampshire turnpike was Choate's tavern, the large two-storied house still standing. Among the votes passed by the town in 1804 were the follow- ing : " Voted to prosecute those persons who took away the Bridge near Joseph Gerrish's ou the fourth New Hampshire turnpike road." *' Voted Capt John Chandler, Col Joseph Gerrish, Daniel Carter Johu Flanders, Benjamin Little Esq be a committee to examine the road between Col Joseph Gerrish's & John Chandlers & say when it is as good as it was before the turnpike came on it." " Voted to give Saral Corser fifty dollars to make the hill near Col Joseph Gerrish's as good as it was before the turnpike came on it." From the above votes, it may be inferred that the turnpike company did not keep the highway in very good repair, CANTERBURY BRIDGE. 1804. In 1804 the Canterbury toll-bridge was constructed. The event was the occasion of much rejoicing. There was a gathering at the meeting-house on the plain ; addresses by Rev. Mr. Wood, and Rev. William Patrick, minister of Canterbury ; a procession from the meeting-house, across the bridge, to the residence of Enoch Gerrish (now Mr. Chandler's), on the Can- terbury side ; a dinner, and speeches, with liquors in abundant supply. 166 CIVIL HISTORY. [1805. RATES OF TOLL FOK CANTERBURY BRIDGE 1805. " Foot Passenger 1 Cents Horse and Rider 6|^ Horse & Chaise Chair Or Sulkey 12J Sleigh With One horse 6|- Sleigh With Two horse 10 Coach Chariot Phaeton Or Other 4 Wheel Carriages 20 Curricle 12J Cart Or Other Carriage of Burthen With Two Beasts 12^ Additional Beasts Each J Horses JS'eat Cattle d"^ 2 Sheep & Swine Each ^ To Each Team 1 Person To pass As A Driver Free Each Waggon, and horse 9 " The town permitted the sale of space for four pews on the floor of the West meeting-house, and the money was expended on the edifice. Although the town had refused to have any part in the con- struction of the East meeting-house, and had no claim whatever to its use, the society generously threw open its doors, and gave the town the privilege of holding its meetings in the edifice, nor was there any opposition to the use of the building from those who had manifested hostility to the old order of things. WESTERLY RELIGIOUS SOCIETY. As it was decided that the town would take no action towards settling a minister at the west end, the citizens west of Beaver- dam, and some east of it, united in the formation of the Westerly Religious Societj^ (which see). Seventy-one citizens joined in the association. Rev. Ebenezer Price (see Biog.), having preached to their acceptance a, few Sabbaths, was called to be their minis- ter, and a church was formed, under the title of " The Second Con- gregational Church in Boscawen." BRIDGE ACROSS THE CONTOOCOOK. For several years the question of rebuilding the bridge across the Contoocook had been before the town, but had been postponed 1807.] CIVIL HISTORY. 167 until the existing structure was deemed no longer safe. An effort was made to secure the rebuilding in another place, which in- volved the question of boundary between the towns of Boscawen and Concord. Committees from the two towns were appointed to take the question into consideration. The Concord committee consisted of Jonathan Wilkins, John Bradley, and Ebenezer Dustin ; the Boscawen committee, of Enoch Gerrish, John Chandler, and Nathaniel Green. They reported " that the old spot where the Bridge now stands shall be the place where a new Bridge shall be built & further report that the towns of Concord & Boscawen petition the General Court that the centre of the River Contoo- cook from the mouth be considered the line between said towns until it reaches the present line crossing said river between said towns." The report was accepted by the town of Boscawen. 1806. Among the items on the selectmen's books is tlie follow- ing : " Paid Daniel Webster for repairing the School House 2,87 " The schoolhouse was the " Gulf," Mr. Webster being a resident of that district, — a boarder in the family of Joel French, in the house now occupied by James GilL 1807. From the selectmen's books ; " Paid Daniel Webster for paying School master 2,00." In town-meeting : " Voted that Daniel Webster S:Lt Benjamin Jackman be a commit- tee to ascertain the damage on account of the road going on Timothy Dix' land near Esqr Jackman's barn." This barn was located on Queen street, west of the present resi- dence of Prof. John Jackman. SELECT SCHOOL. A young ladies' school, not for the study of the languages, science, history, mathematics, and geography, but for instruction in needlework, was advertised in the Concord Gazette. " YOUXG LADIE'S school. " A school for the instruction of young Ladies in needle work, draw- ing & embroidery, will be opened in Boscawen on the 11"* day of May 168 CIVIL HISTORY. [1809. next. A preceptress having the proper qualifications, who will pay particular attention to the morals & manners of her scholars, is pro- vided to take charge of the school. " Terms of tuition three dollars per quarter — board from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents per week. " T Dix jun " for the proprietors. "Boscawen 10"^ April 1807." 1808. Education throughout the state "was at a low ebb. The school laws were very imperfect. In many towns, little had been done to advance the interests of education. A commendable public spirit had already been awakened upon the subject in Boscawen, through the influence of the two minis- ters — Rev. Mr. Wood and Rev. "Mr. Price — and other citizens, ever ready to advance the interests of the town. Though far in advance of many other towns, the citizens generally hailed with satisfaction the school law, passed by the legislature for the better regulation of schools, and especially the establishing of a superin- tending committee. DISTURBAIS^CE IX TOWN-MEETIXG. 1809. The bitterness against religion which had manifested it- self in bygone years, did not wholly die out with the separation of church and state. There were still some disaffected persons who determined to have no prayers in town-meeting. Mr. John Flanders, though he owned a pew in the West meet- ing-house, was decided in his opposition to a continuance of the custom. At the annual town-meeting in 1809, while Rev. Mr. Price was offering prayer, Mr. Flanders proceeded to renail the hinges upon his pew door in the gallery, having carried hammer and nails for that purpose. The ringing blows of the hammer disturbed the proceedings, and the moderator. Col. Joseph Gerrish, calling upon several citizens to serve as constables, the disturber of order soon found himself being dragged down the stairs, which so changed his opinions that, upon the next day, Mr. Flanders made the following acknowledgment to the town, which was placed upon the records : "March 15, 1809 '' I hereby acknowledge that my conduct yesterday in disturbing the 1809.] CIVIL HISTORY. 169 meeting in the time of prayer is liiglily unbecoming, & for wliich I am sincerely sorry & will never again disturb the harmony of any future meeting in the like manner on the like occasion. " John Flanders." The town had been insulted ; its dignity was assailed ; and the town-clerk was directed to notify certain persons, who had aided and abetted Mr. Flanders, that reparation must be made. " This is to give notice to those persons who aided & assisted Lt Flanders at the time he made his disturbance at our last annual meet- ing that unless they come forward & give satisfaction to the Town afc the above meetiiag they will be dealt with agreeably to the vote of the town. " Joel French Town clerk." The following vote was passed : " Voted that Geo T Flanders & others before the sitting of the next court shall give to the selectmen in writing an acknowledgement which shall be satisfactory to them for their misconduct in the last meeting, or otherwise the selectmen to commence a prosecution against them accordeing to vote of said town." The offenders, finding that they stood alone — that there was a universal condemnation of their conduct — came before the town, and asked the pardon of their fellow-citizens, which was freely given. " Voted to forgive Thomas Eastman, Thomas Carter & Jonathan Eastman for aiding & assisting Lt J Flanders in his making a dis- turbance in the last town meeting." It was the last open outbreak against order ; and from that time to the present there has been no attempt to disturb the pub- lic peace. So strong now was public sentiment for the mainte- nance of order, that many of those who had been disorderly found it for their advantage to leave the town, NEW SCHOOL LAW. A committee was appointed in accordance with the provi- sions of the new school law, to establish anew the school districts. At a meeting, held September 10, the town acted upon the report of the committee, ordering several new school-houses to be built at the town's expense. 170 CIVIL HISTORY, [1809. The first meeting of the siTporintending school committee, un- der the new law, was held Ma}^ 11, at the house of Rev. Mr. Wood. It was composed of Mr. Wood, Mr. Price, and the select- men, — Stephen Gerrish, Joseph H. Morrill, and Peletiah Peaslee. The districts were reestablished, A'iz. : No. 1. King street. No. 8. Bashan. 2. Water street — north. 9. Long pond. 3. Corser hill. 10. Atkinson and Clay bill. 4. High etreet. 11. Pleasant street. 5. Fish street. 12. Sweat road. 6. Little hill. 13. South Water street. 7. White plain. 11. Union and Concord. MILITARY SPIRIT. The prospect of a war with Prance in 1789, and the news of Napoleon's victories, produced a military spirit which manifested itself in the formation of volunteer military uniformed companies. The first uniformed company in the 21st regiment was the cav- alry, or " troop " as it was then called. ( See Mil. Hist.) This was made up of soldiers from all the towns comprised in the regiment. Diligent inquiry has not enabled us to ascertain the date of the formation of the artillery, the first uniformed company in the town, but it probably was in 1808 or 1809. It was in exist- ence in 1809, as we learn from the selectmen's accounts for that year. The soldiers were victualled on muster days by the town. ITEMS FROM THE SELECTMEN'S BOOKS. " Paid Benjamin Kimball victualing artillery 3,.50 Paid John Plummer for victualing troop 2,38 Paid Samuel W Long for rum & powder 41 ,72 ' Paid Samuel Cliadwick for victualling Capt Ames' Company 2,52 Paid iMoses Manuel for keeping Old Beedle 10,67 Paid Enoch Call for his swearing off his money ,61 " WHIPPING-POSTS. Whipping was one of tlie punishments prescribed by law for minor offences. The public whipping-post stood near Gilmore's tavern (the house now occupied by Nathaniel Webster), a few rods north of the same. The only instance of a public whipping of an offender occurred in 1809. 1809.] CIVIL HISTORY. 171 Mr. Somersby Pearson, owner of the grist-mill on Mill brook, complained to Joseph Gerrish, justice of the peace, against Jacob Richardson, " that he hath reason to suspect & does suspect that the said Jacob of said Boscawen on tlie 24 Inst (Feb) & at divers other times before had entered his grist mill in said Boscawen & took & conveyed away from the same divers quantities of meal with intent to steal the same." A Avarrant was issued to Thomas Gerrish, constable, who ar- rested the said Jacob. " The Defendant being arraigned pleaded not guilty. Thereupon it is considered by me the said Justic that the said Defendant is guilty & that he receive on his naked back eight stripes with a cat of nine tails to morrow morning at eight o clock & the Defendant be committed till sentence be performed. " Joseph Gerrish '' Jus Peace." The sentence was executed the next morning, the culprit being tied to a small tree that stood near the meeting-house, south of the residence of Mr. S. A. Ambrose. That the citizens of Boscawen were kindly disposed toward all in misfortune is manifest from the following votes, passed in 1809 • " Voted that George T Flanders' Poll tax be abated for the year be was lame by breaking his leg." '' Voted to give Abraham Adams his taxes for two years past in con- sequence of sickness." [1810. CHAPTEE XI. PROGRESS. fEAELY a quarter of a century had passed since the adop- tion of the federal constitution. What progress had been made in civilization ? To what plane had society ad- vanced ? People no longer lived in log cabins. Possibly here and there one might have been found ; but those rude habitations had given place to framed structures, — large, square, two-storied houses, with great chimneys, wide fireplaces, and huge ovens. The til- lage and jiasture lands have increased with the population. In June, the woodman's axe is heard through the day, felling trees ; in August, before the fall rains set in, the torch is applied to the felled forest growth, and dense clouds of smoke darken the skj. Then comes the clearing, — the work on the burnt ground, the gathering up of half burned brands, the rolling together of logs, the harrowing in of winter vye, the farmer and his boys covered with soot. The ashes are gathered up, and sold at the " potash." Then comes the harvest. " Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; How jocund did they drive their teams afield! How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke." With the gathering of the corn come the huskings ; an invita- tion to all the neighbors, — men and women, boys and girls : all are invited. The huskings are in the evening, and when the corn is finished, then comes the suj^per, — hasty pudding, baked beans, apple and pumpkin pie ; mugs of cider, egg-nog, flip, and Breaking and Swingling. 1810.] CIVIL HISTORY. 173 rum. In other localities, a liuskiiig not iinfrequently winds up with a dance ; but the people of Boscawen are staid and sober, and not much given to amusement. With winter comes the threshing of grain, and the sound of the flail is heard from morning till night. In the evening the farmer brings his corn from the garret, seats himself astride the bread- trough, and shells it by rasping the ears against the sharp edge of a jiod-auger, or the handle of the frying-pan. Later in the winter, in February and March, he breaks and swingles the flax. The flax-breaker — the instrument by which the wood}^ part of the plant is broken into " shives " — is a rude machine, composed of a series of wooden knives placed in the " break- er," which is lifted with one hand, and a handful of flax stalks placed beneath it, and crushed by repeated bumpings of the machine. The stalks thus crushed are " swingled " by a double-edged wooden sword. This process separates the " shives " from the fibre. The next process is " hatchelling, " or the drawing of the fibres through a " hatchel," and lastly through a " comb." Twenty pounds of swingled flax is accounted a day's work. With the opening of spring comes the plowing. The plow is still the same heav}', clumsy wooden and iron affair, made by the carpenter and blacksmith. Tristram Noyes is the plow-maker of Boscawen, residing on the turnpike. The mould-board is a curved piece of white oak, with bits of old saw-plate and ox-shoes nailed upon it. Sixteen oxen are required to draw it, with one man to ride the beam and keep it in the ground, and another with a "breaking up " hoe to dig up the " baulks " in the furrow. Three teamsters, one plowman, 174 CIVIL HISTORY. [1810. and two assistants, make up the complement of men. Tlie plow is from twelve to fourteen feet in length. In a small field, such a team reaches almost the length of the furrow. The farmer uses a wooden shovel, shod with iron. His pitch- fork, made by the neighboring blacksmith, is of iron, clumsy, heavy, requiring his utmost strength to thrust it into the ha}^, and quite as much to withdraw it. His scythe is made from a bar of Kussia iron, edged with steel. The handle of the pitch-fork, and his scythe-snath, are of his own manufacture, and so are his ox-yokes and bows. His cart-wheels are tired with strips of iron, nailed upon the felloes. Wagons are just beginning to make their appearance. The bodies rest upon the axle. They are wholly destitute of springs. Leather thorough-braces are of a later date. The roads are rough ; the stones have not been removed ; and the noise made b}^ the wagons in rattling over them is called " home-spun thunder ! " The citizens are obliged to take circuitous routes in getting from one section of the town to another. The people of Bashan, wishing to reach the Plain, must go from Dingit corner to the lower end of Water street. Mr. Moses Gerrish, and other resi- dents of Bashan who attend the West meeting, must go by the way of Dingit corner and Pleasant street to " Mutton road," and over Corser hill. Mr. Gerrish must eat his Sunday morning breakfast by candle-light, in the winter, and start soon after sunrise to reach the meeting-house in season for service ; and the stars will be twinkling when he arrives home at night. Yet sickness alone keeps him from meeting. Although meeting-going is not universal, there are great con- gregations. The day for Sunday-schools has not yet arrived, and the mornings are spent in discussing the news. People come on horseback, the women riding on pillions behind their husbands, husband and wife each with a child in their arms, and perhaps a third child hanging on by the crupper. They dismount at a horse- block. In the winter, at noon, tlie people at the East end throng the kitchens and sitting-rooms of Dea. Isaac Pearson (S. A. Ambrose's house) and Joel Prench (James Gill's house). At the West end, they find bright fires blazing in the house of Paul Dodge, and at Samuel Morse's (William Pearson's). The women bring their foot-stones, and fill them with coals 1810.] CIVIL HISTORY. 175 from tlie fires in the sitting-room, eat their fried turnovers, dough- nuts, cheese, and gingerbread, while the men in the kitchens, after eating tlieir hmcheon, fill their pipes, and enjoy the luxury of " a smoke." The news, home and foreign, is discussed, and the points of theology in the sermon taken up. This is the period of Dr. Thomas Worcester's defection from the received theology. He is the Salisbury minister, an able preacher, who, with his brother, Noah Worcester, of Thornton, has embraced the Unitarian theology. In Dea. Enoch Little's (senior) journal, under date of Sept. 16, 1810, is this note : " All to meeting. Mr Price whipt Mr Wor- cester." Possibly some other day-book kept in Salisbury may have had the record that Mr. Worcester " whipt " Mr. Price. The views adopted by Mr. Worcester being repugnant to some of the members of the Salisbury church, we see Nathaniel Sawyer and his wife riding down Battle street, to attend the preaching of Rev. Mr. Price. The theological sermon is discussed, not only around Mr. Dodge's fireplace, but in every household. Party spirit runs high, not only in theology, but in politics. The wars waged by Napoleon in Europe shake American society to its foundation. The course pursued by Great Britain, in searching American vessels for British seamen, produces irrita- tion. One party is ready to rush into war ; the other deprecates an appeal to arms. So bitter is the j^artisanship, that when the Fourth of July comes around, each political party has its celebra- tion, its own orator presenting its own political views. Under the new school law, the schools are somewhat systema- tized. A new impetus has been given to education, but the stud- ies are all primary. In the winter the houses are crowded with grown-up boys and girls, many of whom are still plodding in sim- ple reading, or bewildering their brains over "fractions." They have not attempted grammar. The boys wear shoes and buskins, or leggins. Their shirts are made of tow. Their clothes in winter are coarse cassimere, spun and woven by the women and girls, dyed in the dye-pot which stands in the chimney-corner, and the cover of which furnishes a seat for one of the small members of the family. The cloth is fulled at the fulling-mill, dressed by Dea. Isaac Pearson, cut by the tailoress, who goes from house to house for that purpose, carrying her pressing-board, goose, and big: shears. 176 CIVIL HISTORY. [1810. Tlie people eat plain food, — beau porridge, hasty pudding, liulled corn and milk, Indian and rye bread, hominy, potatoes, beef and pork, and sometimes make a dinner of bread and cider. In the autumn they feast on pumpkin pies, and drink liop and spruce beer. The household furniture consists of table and chairs, and a great settle with a high back, which in the daytime is pushed to one side of the room, but which in the evening is wheeled in front of the fire. In one corner of the kitchen is the dress- er, with rows of pewter plates and platters, brightly scoured, standing on the shelves in rows, reflecting the flickering fire- light. The people eat their porridge with pewter spoons, and many families are in possession of moulds for the re-casting of the spoons when bent or broken. In the sink is a piggin and a keeler, — wooden vessels used for the dipping of water and for washing dishes. Out of doors stands the mash-tub, in which ashes are leeched for making soap. In the cellar are the pork and beef barrels. Once a week the great iron pot is placed over the fire, sus- pended by a hook from the crane, and " a boiled dinner " is cooked, — beef, pork, and vegetables. At night the fire is carefully covered, to preserve a bed of coals for morning. If perchance it goes out, a coal is brought from the neighbor's, between two chips; or, if the neighbor is too far away, and the family has no tinder-box with flint and steel, the gun is taken down from its hooks over the door, a pile of shavings laid, and a train of tow and powder, and the gun is flashed. Once, when " Mother Hoit " undertook to flash some powder, she inadvertently held the horn in her hand, which disappeared up the chimney, giving rise to an expression iii common use many years after, — "As quick as Mother Hoit's powder-horn ! " In one corner of the fireplace stands the Dutch oven, with coals beneath, and upon its rimmed cover. If a fire-cake is desired, the dough is spread upon a tin, and placed in front of the ''fore- stick," — for " bakers " and " tin kitchens " have not yet made their appearance. In the evening the fire is fed by pitch knots, which fill the room with light. In spring, summer, and fall, when a fire is not needed, the only light is a tallow candle. 1809.] CIVIL HISTORY. 177 The women go about the house in their petticoats while doing their work, but " dress themselves up " in the afternoon to receive the visits of neighbors and friends, who are invited into the "front room." The word "parlor " has not come into use. Car- pets, except here and there one of home manufacture, are un- known. In summer, green pine boughs adorn the fireplace, and fill the room with fragrant odors. The floor is strewn with clean white sand, gathered from the shores of Great or Long pond, and swept into curved lines, scrolls, and Avliorls, by a broom. Of books and papers, there is the Bible, and in religious households, a volume, perhaps, of Dr. Smith's Sermons. The almanac hangs above the fireplace, and it is consulted daily " to see what the Aveather saj's," — whether the moon is right to kill hogs, so that the pork will swell in the pot instead of shrinking, — whether the signs are right for the cutting of alders. The moon, according to the almanac, rules the weather, and if the weather, a great many other things. Of papers, there is the Concord Gazette, published by George Hough, which comes once a week to give the latest news from Europe, with a piece of poetry, original or selected, in one corner. General intelligence is advancing, and a love for literature has been awakened. There are those in tov»'n who read Milton's Par- adise Lost, who have read and re-read the Spectator, and all the other volumes in the Social Library. Select schools are taught by students from Dart- •, mouth college, on Lit- tle hill and on the Plain, at which young gentlemen and ladies can take up gram- mar, philosopliy, alge- bra, and composition. Such the general out- lines of society. Til ere is life on King street, which is hay scales — see page 178. thronged with teams from the towns farther north,— from Han- over, Haverhill, Montpelier, and all the northern section of New 12 178 CIVIL HISTORY. [1811. Hampshire and Yermont. The traders do a large business in barter, taking farm produce of every kind. By Capt. Benjamin Oak's stable stand the hay-scales, a pon- derous contrivance of levers and pullej's and winches, by which the load is lifted and weighed. Droves of cattle and sheep, on their way to Brighton market, fill the air with clouds of dust. The stage has made its appearance, taking the place of the post-rider. Society everywhere is on the move, feeling the vigor of life. THE COLD FRIDAY. 1810. Friday, the 19th of January, was one of the coldest days ever experienced in New England. The wind blew a hurricane, unroofing buildings and destroying orchards. No deaths occurred from freezing, in Boscawen, but in other localities men and cattle exposed were frozen to death. Application was made by some of the citizens of Salisbury and Boscawen for a road from Corser hill to Sweatt's mill. The town opposed it. The court's aid was invoked by those desiring the highway. The town appointed Ezekiel Webster, who had become a citizen, as their agent, instructing him " to make all the farce he can by himself & evidence at the court." The court, however, thought that the highway was needed, and it was laid out the following year. At the annual meeting, the school committee under the new law made their fijst report. (See Educational History.) The Stirrup-iron bridge was rebuilt during the year. The first annual meeting of the New Hampshire General Asso- ciation of Congregational Ministers was held at the East meeting- house. (See Ecclesiastical History.) It was an important meeting in many respects, and was followed by a great religious awaken- ing. THE town's poor. 1811. That the town intended to care well for its j^oor is manifest from the conditions under which 'Hhe keeping" of Susanna Danforth's children were sold. [From the Records.] " Whoever bids off either of the children are to furnish them with 1812.J CIVIL HISTORY, 179 suitable & sufficient meats, drinks, clothing, give them an opportunity to go to school when there is one kept in the district where they may live & return them to the selectmen on the second Tuesday of March 1813, with as good cloaths as were received. All doctors bills to be paid by the town under the direction of the selectmen. " As the children, with the exception of the eldest, were too yoimg to be of service, the amount paid represents the price of board at that period : " Thomas 8 years old to Capt Silas Call at 17 cts per Aveek " Mary 6, to Geo T Flanders at 36 cts. " Patty to Sam B Gerrish at 40 cts. " Laura 2, to Leonard Seuter 47 cts." BASHAN MINING COMPANY. In 1812, Col. John Farmer, Abraham Burbank, Moses Gerrish, William Danforth, Moses Tyler, of Hopkinton, Little Burbank, Moses Little, and other citizens, formed an association known as the Bashan Mining Co. It w\t,s thought that lead and silver would be found on land owned by William Danforth. Ex- travagant stories were current in regard to lead mines known to the Indians. It was currently reported that the Indians knew a place where they could cut out the lead with their knives, and thus obtain bullets. If the citizens had known aught of mineral- ogy, they would have rejected such fictions at once, for lead never exists, in its native state, in such a form. The first meeting of the association was at the house of Abra- ham Burbank, Oct. 27, 1812. Moses Gerrish was chosen modera- tor, and John Farmer clerk. At the second meeting it was '^ Voted that Johu Holmes shall have a share in said mine, providing that he will show the company where the real substance of Lead is, & not without, " Voted that application be made to Israel Diamond of Goffstown for the discovery of the mine if Holmes should fail. " Voted that application be made to Doctor Withs [Withem] of Ply- mouth if Holmes & Diamond should fail." These gentlemen — Holmes, Diamond, and Withem — were sup- posed to be able to locate a mine by the use of witch-hazel rods, which, when carried in the hand, would point to the precious metal. 180 CIVIL HISTORY. [1813. Which of these located the mine is not known, but operations began near William Dauforth's house. A hole thirty or forty feet deep was dug, but no silver or lead was found, and the mine was soon abandoned. SHEEP. Attention was given to sheep husbandry. Dea. Enoch Little procured some French Merinos, and was the first to introduce fine wooled sheep. 1813. The town voted " to give the soldiers in Boscawen [mi- litia] in lieu of meats and drinks thirty-four cents to be delivered to the captains to be distributed to each soldier." BURIAL-GROUND. " Voted that Mr Beiija Stickney, Lt James Giddings & Capt Heze- kiah Fellows be a committee to lay out the westwardly buryiug ground." This is the burial-ground around the Webster town-house. Up to this period, the burial-place at the west end was on the east side of the road leading from Mutton road south to Pleasant street. The spot is now overgrown with large trees. Some of the graves are still to be seen. "sheep fever." The body politic is subject, like the human system, to epidem- ics. The first epidemic seizing the farmers of Boscawen was the "sheep fever" of 1813. The war with England had stopped the im- portation of all foreign fabrics. There was a great demand for woollen goods, and a consequent enhancement in the price of wool and the value of sheep. Everybody went into sheep hus- bandry. Of the progress of the "fever," we quote from the day-book of Dea. Enoch Little, Sr. : " October 1813. A speculation begins about this time in sheej). Sold 15 ewe lambs at $5.50. Sold cloth at Salem to the amount of 90 dol- lars. " November. The sheep speculation continues. " December. Sold a k blood ewe for 12 dollars. " An extraordinary speculation." 1814.] CIVIL HISTORY. . 181 The sudden closing of the war in 1815, and the rapid increase of flocks, brought about a reaction ; and the fall in prices was as sud- den and great as the rise had been, bringing disaster to those who had involved themselves in debt. SWINE. •' Voted thatswiae shall not go at large on town street [King] begin- ning at Mill bridge, by widow Mary Pearson's house & running to the town line by Col Isaac Chandlers, from the I'*' day of April to the last day of October, under no less penalty than one dollar for each offence to be recovered by any person who will sue for the same." It appears that the check-list was not in use at the annual meetings prior to 1814. At the meeting the previous year, the selectmen were directed " to make an alphabetical list of the legal voters some time before the next annual March meeting, & that the following mode of voting be adopted : The voters shall bring in their votes for state & county officers on the same piece of paper designating the office against the persons name voted for, & as each person votes his name shall be called, by the moderator & checked on the list of voters by the town clerk." VTASHINGTOX BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. At the beginning of the war with England there was a strong opposition to its prosecution, by the federal party, which was the dominant party in the town. But the opposition gradually weak- ened. Although a " Washington Benevolent society " had been formed in the town as in other sections of the country, — a politi- cal rather than a benevolent organization, — the opposition gradu- ally weakened, and the town passed the following votes : THE WAR WITH GKEAT BRITAIN. " Voted that the town will give each soldier detached for the defence of the Port & harbor of Portsmouth five dollars, if the Legislature at their next session do not make some provision for them." " Voted that the selectmen pay Lt Thomas Towne his account for the expenses of the 1st detachment of soldiers in marching to Portsmouth unless the Legislature make provision at their next session. " Voted that the last draft of soldiers be made ecpial with the first for their expenses marching to Portsmouth." 182 CIVIL HISTORY. [1815. 1815. The year -was marked by another great religious awaken- ing, which began at the east end and extended over the town. "Three-days" meetings were held in the East meeting-house. Frequent meetings were held in school-houses and at private resi- dences, and almost the entire community was led to a higher moral and spiritual life. BOSCAWEX MORAL SOCIETY. The war of 1812 left its mark on society. Through the suc- ceeding years there was a deterioration of morals. Soldiers re- turning from camp brought with them the vices of camp life. Profanity was common, and there was a growing disregard for the Sabbath. To correct the evil, " moral societies " were formed in many of the towns. One was organized in Boscawen, April 12, 1815. The particular object of the society was set forth in the second article : " The object of this Society shall be the suppression of immorality of every description, particularly Sabbath breakiug, intemperance, profan- ity & falsehood.'' The duties of the members are set forth in the ninth article : "It shall be the duty of all the members to exert their influence to suppress immorality of every description, particularly Sabbath break- ing, intemperance, profaneness, & falsehood; to endeavor to reclaim the immoral by friendly admonition; to aid & support Tithingmen & all civil officers in the faithful execution of the laws, & finally to encourage the rising generation in a constant attendance on public worship & in the habits of sobriety, morality & industry." The Sabbath act was enforced by tithing-meu and selectmen, as witness the following receipt : " Boscawen Dec 18, 1817. «' Received of Benjamin Little Esq four Dollars it being for fines for the breach of the Sabbath act against Hezekiah Fellows, Benjamin Pettengill 3'i & Amos Couch received by us. Moses Gerrish ? select- u|;4 00 Daniel Pillsbury ^ men" The law, however, was gradually becoming a dead letter. " State of New Hampshire " Hillsborough SS " To Ezekiel Webster one of the justices of the Peace within & for 1816.] CIVIL HISTORY. 183 said county complains Samuel Chadwick Tytbing mau of Boscawen in said county on Oath against Salstonstall Sawyer & Joseph Calef for that the said Sawyer & Calef at said Boscawen on the eighteenth day of February instant, commonly called the Lord's day, did travel with their sleighs on said day in said Boscawen against the power of the Statute in such case made and provided & against the peace & dignity of the state. " Whereof he prays process may issue against them and that they may be dealt with as the law directs. " Samuel Chadwick." " Hillsborough SS " Feb 19, 1816 Personally appearing Samuel Chadwick aforesaid & made oath to the truth of the foregoing complaint. " Ezekiel Webster " Jus Peace." " State of Xew Hampshire " Hillsborough SS " To the sheriff of the county of Hillsborough or to either of his depu- ties or to either constable of Boscawen in said county greeting: " Forasmuch as the foregoing complaint has been made to me you are hereby commanded forthwith to apprehend the bodies of the said Sawyer & Calef & then have them before me or any other jus- tice of the Peace within & for said county that they may be dealt with as touching the foregoing complaint as to law & justice shall apper- tain. '' Given under ray hand & seal this 19"' day of February 181G "Ezekiel Webster Jus Peace." '' Hillsborough SS "Feb 19, 1816 "In obedience to this precept I have taken the bodies of the within named Calef and Sawyer and now have them before Joseph Gerrish Esq to be dealt with as the Law directs. "' Joseph Atkinson " Constable." " Received of the within named Calef & Sawyer their fines & com. "Joseph Atkinson " Constable." SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. During the year tlie first Sunday-scliools were established in Boscawen. It is probable that individuals gathered some classes in the school-districts for recitations of the catechism prior to this 184 CIVIL HISTORY. [1816. date, but tlie beginning of the system dates from tliis year. (See Ecclesiastical Hist.) IRON' AXLES. Up to 1816 no iron axles for wagons or carriages had been seen in the town. In the spring, Mr. Joseph Ames and Mr. Nathan Plummer, having taken a raft of lumber to Medford, pur- chased the running part of an old stage-coach in Boston, and a pair of horses, loaded the team with salt, and brought into town the first iron axles in use. AN UNPRODUCTIVE YEAR. There seems to have been a period, from 1808 to 1816, marked by unusual climatic conditions. Mr. Price speaks of it as a period of " uncommon seasons and dearths." The year 1816 was preemi- nently a season of climatic changes and of low temperature. Rev. Mr. Price says : " The whole face of nature appeared shrouded in gloom. The lamps of heaven kept their orbits, but their Hght was cheerless. The bosom of the earth in a midsummer day was covered with a wintry mantle; and man and beast and bird sickened at the prospect. Autumn returns, alas! not to fill the arm with the generous sheaf, but the eye with the tear of disappointment! On the 6th of June the day of general election the snow fell several inches deep, followed by a cold & frosty niglit; & on the following day snow fell & frost continued. Also July 9th a deep & deadly frost, which killed or palsied most vegetables. The little corn Avhich had the appearance of maturity, was destitute of its natural taste or substance; & yet the providence of God was bonntiful in sup- plying the article of bread from the crops of rye, which were uncom- monly good.'' From the day-book of Dea. Enoch Little, Sr., we have the fol- lowing concise but expressive summary of the year : "Dec 31, 1816 *' General observations on the year past. January was cold till the latter part, then the snow went off & left the ground bare till the 18th of February with very cold weather. Snowed again & there was a spell of sledding. The spring was very cold & backward— hay very scarce & a great deal of corn given to cattle which made bread scarce. '■'May. Generally cold, but we planted as early as common but corn was slow in coming up. 1817.] CIVIL HISTORY. 185 "June. Very cold. The 6"s 7"^ & 8"^ it snoM-ed. The grouiKl -was covered on the hight [the heiglit o£ land between the Merrimack and Connecticut] & in the north part of the state it was a foot deep. '■'June 10. A frost killed corn on frosty land. Very hot day. '^July 9. Frost killed both corn & taters on pine land. Very dry. " July 17. A fast on account of the drouth. Our hay is very short, perhaps k a crop — no corn silked yet & little hope of a crop. '■'■August. Very dry. Grain very good indeed. The woods & fences all on fire. "Sept 25 tV 26. Cold & dry & frosty. ''Sept. 27. Killed almost all the corn in 2'^ew England, & not half of it was fit to roast. "Oct. No corn of consequence. From 4 acres I shall not get 8 bushels of corn fit to eat though I planted my warmest land. "Nov. On frosty laud the orcliards were barren, but on warm land there was a moderate crop of apples. Cattle to hay early on account of short feed. "Dec. Generally cold. Sledding the 10"^. Sheep all to barn. The prospects as to fodder are alarming." 1817. " Jan. 4. A little rain — warm the cattle & sheep get some fodder by grazing. A great deal of bare ground. " — 8. Snowy. Warm at night. " — 18. Thunder, lightning & rain last night. Snowy forenoon, windy & drifty afternoon. " — 19. Sabbath, cold windy & drifty. Xo meeting in afternoon, " — 22. Did not dare stay in the woods for fear of freezing my feet. " — 2.3. Moderating. " — 24. Snowed six inches last night & three to day. " — 27. Cold & Avindy. Hay very scarce, " — 28. Coldest day. " — 30. Very cold. Began to give my sheep oil meal. '■'Feh. If.. Frozen ears are common. " 5. Cellars freeze hard. "6. A little warmer. " 13. A cold winter. "March 30. Sabbath. Pleasant. Good sleighing. People travel the river yet. "April If,. Our sink has not thawed out this winter yet. "April 7. Cleared my sink of ice which has not been clear this win- ter, " — 8, My sheep depend wholly on the barn. Some bare ground. 186 CIVIL HISTORY. [1817. Sickly with typhus fever. Hay scarce & dear from $20 to $4:0 per ton. Corn $2 rye from S|l,50 to $2. Oats 1. Wheat $2,50 to ^3,00 cheese 12|- butter 25, pork 18. ''Feb 11. Cold & drifty. " 13 Drifted some. ** 14 Very cold & windy. " 15 Shockhig cold & windy last night. Cold morning. " 17 Moderate & cloudy. " 24 Drifting snow storm. " 25 Drifting. " 27 Two heavy snow storms this week. " 28 Cloudy & warm. "3/ar 1 A great snow storm last night. Snowy to day. " — 2 Sabbath. Roads drifted full. No horse or sleigh to meeting from this district. " G. Warm. " 7 Windy & thawy "12 Cold & drifty. " 13 Cold. "16 Pleasant. "il/ar 19. Cold & drifty, bitter day. «' _ 20 Very cold & drifty. «< _ 21 Windy. " — 22 AVarm " — 24 Snow " _ 25 Warm " — 26 Snowy. " — 27 Cold, windy, drifty " — 28. Snow 3 feet deep & weather cold, hay scarce and dear ^30 per ton. Wheat !52,67 per bush, corn & rye $2,00 pork & beef, butter & cheese high & people poor. A windy, drifty, blustering day. '■'April 9. Good sleding. " 16. Sheep out all day — half fodder. "17 Pigeons fly by millions The snow banks go by wholesale — warm. " 18 Pigeons flew thick. <' 19 Froze hard. Snowed. *' 21 Ploughed with mittens " 22 Froze hard. Sheep to barn night & morning — to grass day time. " 24. Snowed. Ground white ' • 25 Snow two inches deep. " 30 Sowed wheat 1819.] CIVIL HISTORY. 187 '■'■Man 7 Plowed for planting. A few snow banks yet. My wheat sown last \yednesday (1 week) is np. " 10 The earth at length is clad in richest green Yet banks of snow are on the mountains seen. "12 Trees green. " 13 Very cold. " 14 Planted corn." The town instructed the selectmen " to take special care that the law respecting idle persons be carried into execution," and also appointed a committee '' to see what has become of the money taken in iines for a breach of the Sabbath." 1818. Four pews had been sold in the West meeting-house, or, rather, ground for four, and Daniel Pillsbviry, Moses Coffin, and Moses Fellows were chosen to collect the money, and expend it in repairing the house. KEV. MR. price's HISTORY. 1819. At the annual meeting the town ajjpointed Eev. Eben- ezer Price, Rev. Samuel Wood, and Dea. Enoch Little a commit- tee to collate the facts in regard to the settlement and progress of the town. The result was, the publication in 1823 of a pamphlet of 116 pages, prepared by Mr. Price, entitled " A Chronological History of Boscawen." (See Preface.) [1820. OHAPTEE XII. FROM 1820 TO 1830. JKKOINI the establishment of Hillsborough count}- in colonial ^j days, Amherst had been the county seat. The county was large, and for several years the question of creating a new county had been agitated. The sense of the town was taken on the question at the annual meeting in 1820. The vote was 176 in favor and 46 against the proposition. At the same meeting, several pews in the West meeting-house were sold, which had previously been sold but not paid for. The town's interest in the house was in the frame alone, and the ground for the pews. The town expended for the frame, when the house was erected, $104. The money derived from the sale of the pew ground had been applied to finishing the house. Here was an anomalous state of affairs, and the town's interest in the house was the cause of a great deal of trouble and disturbance to the people of the west end. THE CHRISTIAN UXION SOCIETY. It has been said that Protestantism is the very genius of freedom ; that to be true to itself it must ever be protesting ; and that from this cause have come the one hundred or more denominations of Protestants in religion. Prom the settlement of the town to the year 1820 there had been no organized dissent to the theological doctrines of the Trinitarian Congregational church ; but in every free community there will be differences of opinion in politics and religion. In the nature of things, it cannot be otherwise. The time had come for a new religious society to make its appearance in the town. 6v "H ^^/7^l£72Cl. U l9-iyYjn/i 1822.] CIVIL HISTORY, 189 The legislature of 1819 passed a general law in regard to the organization of religious societies, and during the year 1820 (see Ecclesiastical Hist.) the Christian Union Society was formed. The society having made application for its proportion of the par- sonage money, a committee was appointed at the annual meeting of the town, in March, to report what proportion belonged to the new society. Up to this time, the money had been divided be- tween the Boscawen Religious Society and the Westerly Kelig- ious Society. The Christian Union Society also demanded their right in the use of the West meeting-house. Some of the members of the society were pew-owners, while all the members claimed a moiety under the town's ownership of the frame. The committee reported that the Christian Union Society was entitled to the use of the house " one fourth part of the time for six months next ensuing ; " and in regard to the parsonage fund, that said society was " entitled to an equal share of the parsonage money not otherwise appropriated." The town was dissatisfied with the report, and it was recom- mitted for the purpose of having a report of all the facts in the case. 1821, At the meeting, held November 5th, for the choice of electors, the town appointed Ezekiel Webster and the selectmen a committee to confer with Concord in respect to building a bridge across Contoocook river. At a subsequent meeting, held December 17th, the town au- thorized the committee to build and su2:)port such a bridge, to be located near the residence of Richard Elliott. 1822. At the March meeting the sense of the town was again taken in regard to establishing a new county, — ^yeas, 196 ; nays, 37. The committee, to whom was recommitted the rejiort in reo-ard to the rights of the Christian Unioii Society in the West meeting- house, reported that the amount of money originally received from the sale of pews was $1,838 ; that the Christian Union Society claimed pews amounting to f 325.75, the Westerly Religious Soci- ety $894.75, while those not belonging to either society held pews valued at $618.25. 190 CIVIL HISTORY. [1823. A motion was made that the Christian Union Society should have their privileges in the house ; but the town voted to postpone action till the next annual meeting. At this meeting, the selectmen were instructed to settle with Mr. Price for taxes, which were assessed by the town and paid by him before the statute was made providing for taxing the polls and estates of clergymen. FARM FOR THE POOR. The poor of the town were set up for the last time at vendue, the town voting to appoint a committee to purchase a farm. The committee consisted of Benjamin Little, Nathan Hummer, Thomas Coffin, Isaac Gerrish, and John Cogswell, who were made overseers. The price paid for maintenance of the poor was from 19 cents to $1.00 per week. The committee purchased the farm of Mr. Joseph Sargent, on Hio^h street, near Salisbury, — tlae first establishment of the kind in the vicinity. The price paid for it was $1,500; for stock and furniture, $638; for superintendence, $120. The cost of main- taining the poor this first year upon the farm was $292.83. 1823. Some of the citizens of Hopkinton, seeing the effort to create a new county, with Concord for the shire town, made an effort to throw the tide of travel tending to Concord in a new di- rection. Application was made to the court for a road, beginning in Andover, on the 4th New Hampshire turnpike, and following down the valley of the Blackwater through West Salisbury; thence via Knight's meadow and White plain to Davisville, Con- toocookville, and Hopkinton, and thence to Manchester. The project was strenuously urged by Gen. Aquilla Davis, of Warner; and the road was laid out by the court. Such a highway would have been of little benefit to the town ; and at a meeting held January 10th the matter was placed in the hands of Ezekiel Webster, Esq., who succeeded in obtaining a reversal of the order. At the annual meeting, in March, the town voted to equalize the school districts. The town also voted that the Christian Union Society should 1825.] CIVIL HISTORY, 191 have tlie use of the West meeting-house one fourth part of the time. The Westerly Religious Society questioned the town's right to control the house, carried the matter to the superior court, and obtained a decision, that, where members of one or more religious societies held pews in a house, the town could not exercise jurisdiction. Pending the decision, the Christian Union Society took posses- sion of the house, on a Sunday morning. The Westerly Eeligious Society thereupon withdrew, and built the meeting-hovise on Cor- ser hill. (See Ecclesiastical Hist.) GREAT FRESHET. 1824. A great amount of rain fell on the 11th and 12th of February. Enoch Little's day-book contains the following record: " Feb 11. Rained all last night & part of the day by spells. "Feb 12. Rained all last night, snow all gone. " Feb IG. Ou Merrimack river one of the piers of Ilooksefc bridge gone, but not rendered impassable. Concord lower bridge two stone piers & a part of the body of the bridge carried off. Concord upper bridge new, one wooden pier & about two thirds of the body carried off. Canterbury carried off. Republican bridge, a new one between Salisbury & Sanbornton [in Franklin] gone. Smith's bridge at New Hampton also. On Contoocook river Four bridges in Henniker & a number of mills, among them those lately erected by R. M. Wallace at an expense of $3000 carried away. Three bridges in Warner, four in Weare on the Piscataquog. A number on the Connecticut & White rivers carried away & many mills, dams & other bridges damaged. Im- mense quantities of timber which had been prepared & carried to the bank of the Merrimack were swept away by the flood." 1825. The town had increased in population to an extent that entitled the citizens to two representatives, and a fjecond repre- sentative was accordingly elected. Some citizens not being satisfied with the valuations as re- turned by the selectmen, twelve assessors were elected to make the valuation for the year. No action in regard to the regulation of schools was had till this year, when the following resolutions were passed : '■'■Resolved That it shall be the duty of the school committee to ex- amine all teachers of schools for the towns; to recommend books to be 192 CIVIL HISTORY. [1827. used as classick's to give direction Avlien needful for the government of schools; to signify their approbation or disapprobation of the teachers employed to the district committee if required; and to give such rec- ommendalioiis as may tend to promote the general interests of Litera ture. '' Eesohml that no teacher shall be considered as qualified to instruct until approbated by the school committee; or entitled to his wages un- til such certificate of approbation is exhibited to the collector or treas- urer who pays the money." REGIMEXTAL MUSTER. The muster of the 21st regiment -was held this year in the field west of the house now occupied by Mr. Tilton, in Webster. The field now (1877) is mostly overgrown with trees. The sham fight was carried on with such vigor that one of the cavalry horses was killed by running upon a bayonet. THE FRESHET OF 1826. The summer of 1826 was very dry. "With the drought came innumerable grasshoppers. On Monday, August 28th, rain began to fall in the forenoon — occasional showers, accompanied by thun- der. From three o'clock till ten p. m. it fell in a continuous tor- rent, — more than twelve inches falling in six hours. Every bridge across the Blackwater, with the exception of that at Sweatt's mills, was swept away. The water ran through the ravines west of the village at Sweatt's mills, and also took the short cut from the hend near the residence of Mr. Orlando Fitts to the mills near Samuel Little's. The roads were very much washed. The dam- age in other towns was equally great. At the White Mountains occurred the slide by which the Willey family lost their lives. It has ever been known as " the great August freshet." The town voted at the annual meeting to appoint sextons to have charge of the several gravej^ards, and that all graves should be dug at the town's expense. 1827. Tlie town voted that the letter B be the town seal for weight and measures. The town voted that cattle, sheep, or swine should not run at large : ^'provided however that the selectmen may on application 1828.] CIVIL HISTORY. 193 give licence to any poor person to let one milcli cow run at large," which entirely defeated, the object of the b3^-law. Subsequently the town voted that no cattle should run at large. 1828. The town voted to instruct the selectmen " to cause the turnpike gate to be removed from the town's road." At the ballot for electors this year 420 votes were cast, one of the largest ballots in the history of the town. The taverners and store-keepers licensed to sell ardent spirits were Jacob Gerrish, Fish street, taverner; James West, Plain, tav- erner ; Keuben Johnson, Fisherville, taverner ; Worcester Webster, Plain, store ; Daniel Corser, Corser hill, taverner; John Greenough, Plain, store ; Reuben Greeley, taverner ; H. & M. Fellows, Corser hill, store. The town suffered a great loss in the death of its foremost citi- zen, Ezekiel Webster, who fell dead wliile making a plea before the Merrimack bar in the court-house at Concord, April 10th. The funeral was on the following Sunday, in the afternoon, at- tended by an immense concourse of people at the meeting-house on the Plain. [See Biography.] The regimental muster was on the farm of Wm. Abbott, on Water street, now owned by Jeremiah Chadwick. A company appeared in the afternoon dressed as Indians, with war paint on their faces and roosters' feathers in their caps. They took an active part in the sham fight. Two hearse-houses were built during the year, — one at the east and one at the west end, both now standing (1877), — and two hearses procured. 13 [1830. CHAPTER XIII. TEMPERANCE. iPlEIOR to 1830, there was a general use of spirituous liquors P throughout the country. Men took their "bitters" liefore brealrfast, to give them an appetite. They took a dram in the middle of the forenoon to " keep them up " till dinner time. Af- ter dinner they drank again to '' settle their stomachs," and must have a " night-cap " before going to bed. No matter how poor a man might be, in his cupboard or somewhere about his premises was a brown jug containing rum, gin, or brandy. Those who had accumulated propex-ty, and were accounted pros- perous farmers, furnished their cupboards with fine cut glass de- canters, and kept a generous supply of New England and West India rum, brandy, gin, port and Madeira wines. In their cellars were kegs of cheny brandy and barrels of cider. Cider was a common beverage, and bread and cider a common diet. A neigh- bor, entering a house, felt at liberty to help himself to a drink from the white or brown mug always standing on the table or mantel-shelf, which on cold winter days was usually spiced with red pepper. Visitors were always "treated" with the best liquors and wines the house afforded. No matter what the occasion, be it wedding or funeral, guests and mourners alike partook of the liq- uors wenerously provided. Pastor and people alike replenished their brown jugs at the stores. Ministers, in making their paro- chial calls, were presented with a glass of wine, either before or after prayer. If ministers exchanged pulpits on a Sabbath, each was careful to have the kind of liquor on hand which the other preferred. 1832.] CIVIL HISTORY. 195 It is narrated, that when the General Association was about to meet in Boscawen in 1810, Eev. Mr. Wood asked Mrs. Wood, who knew the habits of the neighboring ministry, as to how much liquor would be needed, and if she thought a gallon of rum would be sufficient. "No, my dear," replied the wife, "you know that Father Hidden will want a whole case bottle full of rum for himself." Eev. Mr. Hidden was minister at Tamworth. It is not to be supposed that he drank more than his brothers in the ministry, but that Mrs. Wood knew he had a liking for that kind of liquor. Liquor drinking was universal. In 1824, when the people of Canterbury w^ere agitating the question of building a new meet- ing-house, a committee was sent to view the meeting-house on Corser hill, then just completed. They were so hospitably " treated " that the driver of the double sleigh could not manage the team, and the entire party were so ol)livious of surrounding matters that they were upset in the ditch. No farmer thought of beginning haying without first replen- ishing his rum jugs. No enterprise could be undertaken without liquor. The largest trade of the stores was in rum. At this pe- riod, Messrs. Hezekiah & Moses Fellows, store-keepers on Corser hill, frequently sold a hogshead of West India rum in a week. The traders on Boscawen Plain doubtless had even a larger trade. An inspection of old account books of this period shows that in a ma- jority of the accounts are items for liquors sold by the gallon, quart, pint, and glass. The temperance movement in Boscawen liegan in 1831. Jona- than Kittredge, afterwards of Canaan, a reformed drunkard, gave lectures on temperance throughout the state. Temperance meet- ings were held in Boscawen, Eev. Mr. Wood and Eev. Mr. Price being earnest advocates of the movement. Many of the promi- nent citizens saw the necessity of reform, and advocated it. Meet- ings were held in the school districts and in the meeting-houses. Other citizens conscientiously opposed the movement. The Second Congregational church, Feb. 7, 1832, at a confer- ence meeting held at the house of Dea. Eliphalet Kilburn, adopted the following pledge, all the members present but two assenting to it : '^Resolved, that the ordinary use of ardent spirits is inconsistent with 196 CIVIL HISTORY. [1833. the Christian character & that we will entirely abstain from it except as a medicine. Also: ^'Resolved that all persons who may hereafter unite in covenant with this church shall be admitted on the principle of entire abstinence from the use of ardent sjiirits except as a medicine." A warm discussion was had, — several members, whose lives and characters were beyond reproach, earnestly opposing it, on the ground that to sign a pledge was inconsistent with Christian freedom. The pledge was adopted, however, by a large majority. It was circulated through the community. On the 4th of July a temper- ance meeting was held at the meeting-house on Corser hill. The light infantry military company paraded, marched to Dea. James Kilburn's, and escorted the Martin Luther Musical Society to the meeting-house, where addresses upon temperance was made, and songs sung. The churches and the leading men in the community having engaged in the reform, public drinking soon became disreputable. 1833. The temperance movement had not lost its force. Dur- ing the fall a series of evening meetings was held in the meeting- house on Corser hill, in which temperance was publicly discussed. Mr. Amos Couch, a young joiner working with Mr. William Abbot, advocated reform with great abilit3\ The great question was, where the line should be drawn. Why shou^ld not cider be included ? Men became intoxicated on cider. Many citizens were ready to cut off distilled liquors, but would not discard the use of fermented. Those opposed to the temperance movement pressed the argument home, that, to be consistent, the reformers must quit the use of all that could intoxicate. Some conscien- tious men saw that they could not consistently ask their fellow- men to give vip rum, while they held on to cider. Both were in- toxicating when taken in excess. By no haK-way halting would they hinder the great movement : they discarded cider, and cut down their apple-trees ! One of the first to destroy his trees bearing only cider-apples was Thomas Coffin, who had a mill in which he made nearly one hundred barrels of cider per annum from his own orchards. Others used the mill, which was kept running from September till Decem- ber; but from 1833 on, no cider was sold by its owner till it was changed to vinegar. 1835.] CIVIL HISTORY. 197 A vigorous war was waged against foxes and crows. Forty-two foxes' heads were presented to the selectmen for the bounty of twenty-five cents, twenty-two of them liaving been caught by William T. Pillsbury. The selectmen were instructed to sell the town farm, and pur- chase another in a more convenient location. The toAvn voted that " those who worship in the West Meeting House should have liberty to repair the house." The selectmen were instructed " not to grant to any one license to retail ardent spirit." From unrestricted sale and universal drinking, in 1829, Boscawen had become a temperate community. 1835. The town passed a by-law to prevent cattle from run- ning at large, " except the single cow of a poor man, who must be licensed by the selectmen." The selectmen were instructed to have the town buildings insured. The town farm having been sold, another was purchased of Mr. Samuel Elliot, on Water street, for the sum of $2,000. The town voted that the Universalist Society have their pro- portion of the parsonage money with other societies, according to the tax. The town also voted to instruct the selectmen to put in force the vagrant law, " to cause all the persons in town who are wast- ing their time or property by intemperance, idleness, or dissipa- tion, to be placed under guardianship, or sent to the house of correction, and to prosecute all persons in town who traffic in ardent spirits illegally." A road having been laid out by a committee from court, avoid- ing the hill between the house of Mr. Hale Atkinson and Mr. Nathan Plummer, on Fish street, the town successfully opposed its construction as laid out, and obtained a modification of the order. The town voted that one fourth of the highway taxes should be reserved for winter service. The town voted to accept its proportion of the surplus revenue of the United States, and appointed Hezekiah Fellows agent to take care of the same, the money to be loaned to the town. The town voted against a proposition submitted by the legisla- 198 CIVIL HISTORY, [1837. ture, in regard to endowing a state asylum for tlie insane, — 66 yeas, 200 nays. During the winter occurred a great rain, which carried off a large body of snow, and broke up the rivers, causing great destruc- tion of bridges. The Canterbury bridge, the Boscawen bridge, and four bridges in Concord were swept away. 1837. The town appointed a committee to confer with the pew-owners in the West meeting-house in regard to making it a town-house. The committee consisted of Samuel Chadwick, Col. Moses Gerrish, Thomas Elliot, Joseph Ames, and Richard Gage. A controversy with the town of Concord in regard to the line between the towns having arisen, the selectmen were instructed to defend the town from all encroachments. This controversy arose from the construction of the factory, which was erected in 1836, both towns claiming it. COXTROVERSY BETWEEN BOSCAWEX AXD CONCORD ABOUT THE LINE BETWEEN THE TWO TOWNS. The line, as defined by the selectmen of both towns, June 2, 1797, was as follows : '' Begin at a stake and stones on the southerly side of Contoocook river nearly opposite the middle of the main branch where the same empties into Merrimack being where a forked white pine formerly stood, which is the southeasterly corner of Boscawen running west ]7° and 35' south by needle four miles to a pitch pine tree which is the northeast corner of Concord, on which is a number of letters, marks and figures which we have newly spotted on three sides, which bounds and line we do hereby agree to ratify and confirm as the bounds and line, and to be the bounds and line between Concord and Boscawen. " (Signed) Winthrop Carter ^ Selectmen Thomas Thorla >- of Daniel Shepard ) Boscawen John Odlin "^ Selectmen Piich'i Ayer > of Jona. Eastman ) Concord (Henry Gerrish surveyor.)" In 1830, Benjamin Kimball bought the water-power on Contoo- cook river, at the upper falls, and the next year erected a grist and flouring mill, which was located on the line. Mr. K. died soon 1837.] CIVIL HISTORY. 199 after, and tlie property passed into tlie hands of F. & E. Fisher, of Boston, who in 1835-6 built the stone factory adjoining the grist-mill, just north of the line in Boscawen. The abundance of water-power, and the prospective increase of the manufacturing interest, made the boundary question one of moment. The dif- ference of opinion as to the boundary line arose from the descrip- tion in the respective charters of the two towns. The colonies of Massachusetts Bay, in General Court convened, at Boston, June 17, 1725, granted to the proprietors of Penacook (Concord) a tract of land on Merrimack river. The north boundary, west of the river, was described in the grant as follows : " Begin where the Contoocook Eiver falls into the Merrimcack River and upon a course west 17° south four miles. The same court. May 20, 1733, granted to John Coffin & Co. the plantation at Contoocook (Boscawen). The southern boundary adjoining Penacook was described thus : "Beginning at the middle of the mouth of Contoocook River where it empties itself into Merrimack where it joins on Penacook Plantation thence running westl5° south adjoining on Pennycook line four miles to a white pine tree marked Pennycook corner bounds." Concord was bounded by Contoocook river, in general terms ; Boscawen, by the middle of the mouth of the Contoocook where it empties into the Merrimack. By construing the latter literally, the line would be carried north one half the width of the river, and would inclose all of the mill and new stone factor}'- in Con- cord. Concord claimed that the language of the charter should be construed literally, while Boscawen insisted that the line of 1797, as before stated, should be continued, which would leave the factory in Boscawen. At the annual meeting in March, 1837, the town of Concord in- structed their selectmen to serve the town of Boscawen with no- tice to meet for the purpose of making suitable arrangements in regard to the line between the toAvns, agreeable to the provisions of law. Boscawen declined to meet. At the September term, 1837, the selectmen of Concord presented a petition to the court of common pleas, setting forth that ''the line is and has for a long time been in dispute," and praying the court to appoint a committee to 200 CIVIL HISTORY. [1837. examine and establish the line between the two towns. Upon this petition the court ordered that John Porter, Thomas D. Merrill, and Henry B. Chase be a committee to establish a hne between Concord and Boscawen, and renew the bounds and marks. Nothing was done until Oct. 9, 1840, when a hearing was held at the hotel of Reuben Johnson. Concord was repre- sented by Samuel Fletcher, and Boscawen by George W. Nesmith and Ichabod Bartlett. After a full and careful examination of the evidence presented, the committee affirmed the old line of 1797, with more definite description. There are those now living who attended the hearing and heard the arguments, and who speak of Mr. Bartlett as having been very eloquent, forcible, and convincing. Stone bounds were erected, and no further contro- versy has arisen. A neat turn was given to the argument by him. "Boscawen," said Mr. B., "had in her generosity once built one half of the bridge across the Contoocook for the convenience of the public, although the river at that point vras wholly in Concord ; and now she would again show her generosity — she would give the v^hole of the bridge to Concord, and take the factory.'^ A road was laid out during the year from Battle street to Fow- ler's plain ; but the selectmen, for some cause, saw fit to delay its construction, and it never was opened. A committee was appointed, consisting of Samuel Chadwick, Col. Moses Gerrish, Thomas Elliot, Joseph Ames, and Richard Gage, to confer with the owners of the pews in the old West meeting-house in regard to selling their rights, with a view of making it a town-house. ANTI-SLAVEEY. The anti-slavery agitation which had begun, reached Boscawen. On tbe 4th of July a public meeting was held in the meeting- house on Corser hill, and an address given by Rev. Cyrus W. Wallace, then a student in Gilmanton Theological Seminary, for many years pastor of the First Congregational church, Manches- ter. Petitions were circulated, asking congress to prohibit slavery in the territories. Anti-slavery societies were formed at the west and also at the east end of tbe town, but the prevailing sentiment was against any agitation of the question. 1838.] CIVIL HISTORY. 201 Many of the citizens favored the colonization scheme, — that of sending the negroes to Africa, their own country. The emanci- pationists retorted that America was tlieir own country. They ohtained papers and pamphlets. They hung up in public places figures of a negro in chains, kneeling with this appeal, — '' Am I not a man and a brother ? " It is not probable that there was a citizen of Boscawen who at heart wished to have the negroes remain in slavery ; but there was an intense prejudice against color, — a prejudice which was shared by some of the best men in the community. Several negro fami- lies had taken possession of a house that stood on Fowler's plain west of Beaver-dam. They were in the Corser hill school district, and the children made their appearance at school. On a Sunday evening, after a prayer-meeting for the conversion of the world, the citizens tarried, and voted that they should not be permitted to attend school in that district. The excluded children, however, found no barrier to their at- tending school at North Water street. The great and chief fear was, that if the negroes were liberated in the South they would all flock to the North. Thomas Coffin was an emancipationist ; his brother-in-law, Dea. ISTehemiah Cogswell, was a colonizationist. Their discussions were always friendly, though sometimes warm. "The negro is a man, and is entitled to freedom," said the first. " Brother, do you want all those niggers to make their appear- ance on Water street ? " was the reply, often repeated. 1838. Hezekiah Fellows, custodian of the town for its propor- tion of the surplus revenue, reported at the annual meeting that he had received three instalments, amounting to $5,518.86, which was loaned to the town. The committee appointed the previous year on a " town house " reported that they had seen a majority of the pew-holders in the West meeting-house, and that '' most of them were willing to give them up for a town house, while a few wanted about the first cost." The expense would be about $500. The site selected by the committee was near "Aaron Flanders's corner," the southerly end of Water street. The report of the committee was accepted, but nothing further was done in the premises. 202 CIVIL HISTORY. [1839. 1839. The country was still suffering from the commercial disasters of 1837. There was little money in circulation. Emi- gration from the East to the West still continued. Although the valuation of property on the selectmen's books was unchanged, there had in reality been a great depreciation of values. The only business out of the usual course at town-meeting was a vote to make the alms-house a house of correction for vagrants. This was prompted by the unusual number of tramps roaming the country — some in search of work, more to sponge their living out of tlie community. Z.X/^v^i^^ [1840. CHAPTER XIY. FROM 1840 TO 1850. ^1 HE canvass for the election of President and Vice-President ^^ during the year was one of the most exciting in the history of tlie nation. There were two great political parties, the Demo- cratic and the Whig — the Liberty party not then having been formed. The Democratic party was in power, with Martin Van Bu- ren j^resident, Avhom they renominated. The Whig party nomi- nated Gen. William Henry Harrison, of Ohio. The Whig party charged the Democrats with extravagance, — with being respon- sible for all the commercial distress. They raised the cry of re- form, economy, honesty. A party enjoying a long lease of power is open to attack on every side. The Whigs knew it, and made the most of their opportunities. The campaign opened June 17, on the Whig side, by a mass meeting held at Concord, — a meeting remarkable for the numbers congregated in days when the only conveyance was by horses. The attendance was estimated at twenty thousand. Large delegations were present from every section of the state. Many of those at- tending must have been absent from home a week. The Whigs brought into use aiJj)liances never before dreamed of in political campaigns. Gen. Harrison, having been born in a log cabin, was " the Log Cabin candidate ; " and cabins built of logs, drawn on wheels, with bear-traps and coon-skins hanging on the walls, were features in the grand procession. It was popular- ly supposed that Gen. Harrison was cradled by his mother in a sap trough, and wore a coon-skin coat. The Democrats called him the " coon " candidate. The Whigs accepted the name, and gloried in calling themselves " coons." Many of the Whig news 204 CIVIL HISTORY. [1840. papers broiiglit out wood-cuts representing a gathering of raccoons playing the chorus of victory on trombones. . It was popularly supposed that Gen. Harrison had lived on coarse fare in his early life, and drank hard cider. Hence he was called by the Democrats " the hard cider " candidate. The Whigs accepted the appellation, and at all Whig gatherings there was a supply of fermented apple-juice. The Democrats could re- sort to no such appliances to win popular favor. Mr. Yan Buren was of an old New York family — a life-long politician. He had lived in luxury — enjoyed for many years the emoluments of office. Gen. Harrison had distinguished himseK in the war of 1812 — had fought the battle of Tij^pecanoe, and in song was '' Old Tippe- canoe." LOCO-FOCO. The campaign produced a literature peculiar to the times. The Democrats were called " Loco-Focos " by their opponents. In 1834, one John Mack opened a store in Park Row, New York, in which he had two novelties that attracted attention. One was champagne wine drawn from a fountain ; the other was a self- lighting cigar, on one end of which was a composition that would light itself on being rubbed. These last he called Loco-Foco cigars. He patented them, the patent bearing date April 16, 1834. In the year 1835 a division occurred in the New York Democ- racy. At a meeting held in Tammany hall a brawl occurred, during which one wing of the part}' extinguished the gas-lights ; but the other wing, having some "Loco-Foco" matches, immedi- ately relighted the hall. The Courier & Enquirer, in a notice of the meeting, called that wing of the party "Loco-Focos." The country accepted the name, which during the presidential cam- paign was applied by the Whigs to the whole Democratic party. In Boscawen, as in other towns, the young men who sympa- thized with the Whig party organized clubs, and sang campaign songs on every possible occasion. Many of the songs were the merest doggerel, but they served to keep alive the political enthu- siasm. One was entitled 1841.] CIVIL HISTORY, 205 "VAN AND THE FARMER." Tune — The King and the Countryman. " A farmer there was who lived at North Bend, Esteemed by his neighbors and many a friend; And you'll see on a time, if you follow my ditty, How he took a straight walk to Washington city. The farmer walked on, and arrived at the door. And gave such a thump as was ne'er thumped before. Mister Van thought the rap was the sound of a flail, And his heart beat with fear, and he turned deadly pale." The song went on to picture the consternation in the White House, where the president and his cabinet were dining at a table spread with a service of golden plates, cups, knives, and forks, and ended by installing the rough-handed farmer in Mr. A^an Buren's chair. Another song was entitled "Rolling the Ball;' or, Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." John Tyler, of Virginia, was the candidate for vice-president on the Whig ticket. "Oh! what has caused this great commotion, motion, motion Our country through? It is the ball a rolling on for Tippecanoe and Tyler, too — For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. Chorus — And with them we'll beat little Van : Van, Van, Van, Is a used iip man, And with them we will beat little Van." The enthusiasm was mainly on the Whig side. The Demo- crats, from their position, were compelled to be on the defensive, and could not employ like agencies ; but the Whigs made noise enough for both parties, singing and hurrahing through the cam- paign, and burning a great deal of powder over their victory in November. THE FORMATION OF THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. 1841. The political excitement of 1840 was followed by a remark- able attention to religion in the fall of 1841, spreading through- 206 CIVIL HISTORY. [1842. out Boscawen and neighboring towns. The preaching of the Ad- vent doctrines, as held by IMiller, who believed in the immediate destruction of the world, had aroused the attention of some who had never been interested in religious matters. There being a few individuals of tlie Baptist order in town, an effort was made by them to organize a society. Eev. Mr. Pea- cock, Kev. Mr. Worth, and other ministers, were employed as preachers. A church was formed, and a meeting-house was erected on the east side of King street, between the house now occupied by Mr. Caleb Hall, and the brick store then kept by John Greenough. The church and society flourished for a short time, but the proximity to Fisherville, and the formation of a vigorous Baptist church and society on the Concord side, ere long made it apparent that to attempt to build up a church in that locality would be a waste of energ}^, and it was abandoned. The edifice was sul)sequently taken down, removed to Canterbury, and erected as a town-house. GRAXITE MUTUAL FIKE INSURANCE COMPANY. During the year a charter was obtained for the Granite IMutual Fire Insurance Company, Avhich was organized at the west end, — Simeon B. Little, President, and Eev. Ebenezer Price, Secretary. NEW POST ROUTE. Prom the year 1830 there had been a post-office at Sweatt's mills, and the mail was carried once a week from Hopkinton to Salisbury. The post-office was of little value, most of the people receiving their mail through the office on the Plain. The citizens of the west end petitioned for a change of route, and a mail tri- weekly^ between Boscawen and West Boscawen, whicli was granted by the post-office department, and has remained un- changed to the present time. 1842. The academy had been twice used for the holding of the annual town-meeting. An effort was made at the March meeting to have the town finish off a town-house in the basement of the new Baptist meeting-house ; but the town refused to enter- tain the project. The anti-slavery agitation, which began in 1835, had been in- 1844.] CIVIL HISTORY. 207 creasing from year to year. There were many ardent supporters of the cause in Boscawen, but there was a division of sentiment in regard to the best methods of advancing it. The parent anti-slavery society in New York had divided ola the question. As in all great projects of reform, there were extremists, who held to their own measures and methods with great zeal, and were in- tolerant towards those not agreeing with them. One of the most zealous workers in the cause was Stephen S. Foster, a native of CanteriHiry, who had taught school in Boscawen, and who em- braced the cause with all his heart. The churches not coming up to his standard of action, he undertook to arouse them by inter- rupting the services at the East meeting-house, on Sabbath, Feb. 3d, and at the meeting-house on Corser hill the next Sabbath. In both instances he was led out of doors. The affair gave rise to a great deal of excitement in church, and subsequently in politics. 1843. The town voted to put a stop to the sale of spirituous liquors ; and Benjamin F. Kimball, Thomas Elliott, and William H. Gage were appointed a committee to prevent this sale. During the year the qviestion of building a railroad from Con- cord to Lebanon was agitated, but no active measures were taken towards furthering the project. 1844. The town at the annual meeting voted that every person should be put under oath at the time of taking the in- ventory. The town granted leave to the Christian Union Society to floor tlie galleries in the West meeting-house. The town also voted to bear half the expense of repairing the outside, and of keeping it in repair so long as it was used as a town-house. The Chris- tian Union Society, having obtained leave of the pew-holders, pro- ceeded to make the proposed alterations, thus obtaining a com- modious chapel. Fisherville having become a thriving village, the town voted $150 towards the purchase of a fire engine. THE nortiier:n- railroad. During the j^ear the route was surveyed for a railroad from Concord to Franklin, and thence to Lebanon, — a movement inau- gurated by the residents of those towns. The survey was made 208 CIVIL HISTORY. [184:7. under tlie direction of Thomas J. Carter, civil engineer. The people of the west end, believing that they had a hetter route, employed Stephen C. Badger, Esq., of Concord, to survey a route up the valley of the Blackwater. The Northern Railroad Company having been organized, the surveys preliminary to the construction of the road were begun during the summer. A route up the Merrimack, another up the valley of the Blackwater, a third up Mill brook, and a fourth via Long pond, were made by the company, under the direction of the chief engineer, Jonathan Adams. 1846. The directors of the Northern Eailroad having decided to build upon tlie present location, contracted for the construction of the road. The first shovelful of earth thrown out in the town was in the excavation south of the small brook emptying into the pond at the southerly end of King street. The large number of men employed, and the disbursement of money for labor, gave a momentary impulse to business, and an activity surpassing that of any other period, perhaps, in the town's history. The road was opened to Franklin in the following winter, and the numerous teams and stages that since the opening of the Fourtli New Hampshire Turnpike had made King street one of the great thoroughfares of the state, disappeared forever. From that day to the present, no ponderous wagon, Avith white canvas covering, drawn by eight stalwart horses, has been seen wending its course along that highway ; no stage, with its six prancing horses, its complement of passengers, and mountain of baggage, has rolled along the road, leaving a cloud of dust behind : all have gone, — nor will they ever be seen again. 1847. The selectmen were authorized to furnish printed copies of their reports. The town voted that the selectmen procure a certified copy of the proprietors' records, wdiich should be kept at the town-clerk's office. Hezekiah Fellows, the town-clerk, was authorized to make the same. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, a regiment of United States soldiers, that had been quartered at Burlington, Vt., marched to Boston, passing through the town, halting for a short time on the Plain by the meeting-house. Some of the citizens 1849. J CIVIL HISTORY. 209 dragged the field-piece belonging to the artillery from the gun- house, and fired a salute in honor of this first appearance of a body of United States soldiers in the town. 1848. The town having no place in which to hold its annual meetings at the east end, a proposition was received from the Congregational society in that section to make such alterations in the basement of the meeting-house as would accommodate the town. The following communication was received from the society : " At the arintial meeting of the Boscawen Religious Society, holclen on the 8"i of March, lSt7, it was voted that the town have liberty to con- struct a town house under tlie meeting house, with the understanding that said house should be at all times under the control of said society exce[>t when wanted for town purposes, & that the construction be un- der tlie joint direction of the society & town. " E. K. Webster, So. clerk." The ^proposition was accepted, and the house raised about four feet, thus obtaining room for a hall. 1849. The citizens of Fisherville feeling the need of an organ- ization for protection against fires, upon petition, -a fire precinct was established, extending northward to the brook at the south- erly end of King street. LINE BETWEEN BOSCAWEN AND CANTERBURY. The bridges on the Merrimack not having been rebuilt by the proprietors, an effort was made to procure the construction of one on the site of the former Boscawen bridge, and one, also, on the site of the Canterbury bridge. There was at the time no free bridge on the Merrimack from Plymouth to Newburyport, with the exception of one at Concord. The town refused to entertain the proposition. The line between Boscawen and Canterbury was in dispute. Was it the east or the west bank of the Merrimack, or was it in the middle of the stream ? In order to settle the ques- tion, the selectmen were instructed to petition the court of common pleas to appoint a committee to fix the line between the two towns. The committee so appointed decided that the centre of the stream was the boundary, and so established it. The town voted to adopt ch. 133 of the Revised Statutes, rela- ting to the liens of mechanics. 14 210 CIVIL HISTORY. [1849. New hearses — those now in use — were procured during the year. The town passed the following resolutions : " Iteftolved, That the selectmen be requested to search out any place or places in town where they have reason to think by their knowledge or by information from others that alcoholic liquor is sold ; that they pro- ceed against them as is pointed out by statute at the expense of the town." The state constitution had been revised during the winter by a convention called for the purpose. But the town refused the adoption of the revision, forty voting in favor and three hundred and five against it. CALIFORNIA EMIGRATION, The discovery of gold in California created a great excitement, especially among the young men. Ships were chartered, from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, for San Francisco via Cape Horn. Other vessels sailed for the Isthmus of Panama, and voy- agers worked their way up the Chagres river across the Isthmus to the old city of Panama, and thence sailed northward to the Eldorado. Others, still more adventurous, started westward, mak- ing tlie long, tedious, hazardous journey across the plains, over the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, exposing themselves to all the dangers of starvation and sickness, or death at the hands of the Indians. The first emigrants to California from Boscawen were William and Jonas Call and Bitfield P. Burhank, who made their way to the land of gold by Salt Lake, suffering great hardships. j/^^^^^^-^^ [1850. OHAPTEE XY. FROM 1850 TO i860. HE construction of the Northern Kaih-oacl brought about a new order of things. The tavern signs had disappeared with the stages and teams. The store-keepers found that their trade was diminishing. No longer were tliere rafts of manufactured himber to be seen floating down the Merrimack. The river bank, in rear of the academy, no longer was piled with boards to be rafted to Lowell or Boston. Some kinds of property had greatly decreased in value, while in others there had been a sudden en- hancement, especially in wood and timber lands. Wood, for which there had been no market, was worth five dollars per cord at the railroad. Hemlock and chestnut timber, which had been considered of little account, rose to the former price of pine, while pine lumber made a corresponding advance. 1851. New and richer discoveries of gold in California, the op >ning of the Panama Railroad, the establishment of the Pacific Mail Steamship Line, and the marvellous stories told of the for- tunes made, produced a fever of unrest throughovit the community. The young men, and many in the prime of life, started for the Eldorado of the Pacific shore, a few to attain the riches they sought, but the majority to meet with disappointment. During the year several citizens of Boscawen, with others from the sur- rounding towns, took their dejiarture for California. 1852. Many of the farmers had set their fences ujDon the high- way, causing much trouble and expense to the town from the drifting of snow in winter, and the town, at the annual meeting, voted " that all such fences be removed." During the annual meeting, two travellers from Vermont 212 CIVIL HISTORY. [1863, undertook to make themselves citizens, and to exercise the privilege of voting. They were discovered, brought before the moderator, and, having made humble apologies, were allowed to depart, after paying the expenses of their arrest. 1853. The selectmen were authorized to purchase Colton's wall maps for each school district in town. This was the first appro- priation ever made for supplying the school districts with maps or charts. The cemetery on " Norway " or " Fowler's" plain, between Bea- ver-dam and Little brook, was laid out during the year. Wood being needed for the town farm, the question was agita- ted in town meeting, and the proposal to purchase a wood lot was rejected. "Voted that the selectmen be not authorized to purchase a wood lot." The town passed a by-law, forbidding persons to drive faster than a walk over any bridge that cost more than $1,000. The penalty for such an offence was $1. THE REBELLION. 1861. In all free governments there will ever be political parties. Well for the human race that it is so. In the free discussion of tlie great principles underlying republican government lies the liberty of the nation. Previous to the outbreak of the slave- holders' rebellion, party lines were strictly drawn throughout the nation ; but, with the booming of hostile cannon upon Fort Sum- ter and the humiliation of the flag of the nation, the citizens of Boscawen and Webster, in common with the great majority of the people of the North, gave thfeir support to the government. The part taken in the great struggle by the citizens of the two towns is set forth in another place. [See Military Hist.] 1862. At a meeting held Aug. 4, the town voted $100 to vol- unteers, — to be paid to those enlisting in the town. The sum of $2,000 was voted in payment of the same, to be assessed the following year. 1863. At the meeting in March, the town voted that no horses, cattle, or other stock be permitted to run at large, under a penalty of $2. 18G6.] . CIVIL HISTORY. 213 At a meeting in August, the town voted to pay each conscript or his substitute, when mustered into the service of the United States, the sum of $300 ; and the selectmen were authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding Jf? 10,000 in payment of bounties. WAR MEASURES. 1864. At the annual meeting in March, the town voted to raise $3,500, and the selectmen were authorized to hire a sum not exceeding $3,000 for families of soldiers. The following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That whenever during tlie year the selectmen shall be officially notified that tlie town is required to furnish soldiers for the service of tiie United States, the selectmen be authorized to offer and pay, in behalf of the town, such bounties to or for volunteers as they may deem necessary, and to take such means as they may deem expe- dient to procure volunteers ; also, that they be authorized to borrow on the credit of the town a sura not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars. The town purchased an iron safe, for the preservation of the records, which was placed in the town hall, but which, from the dampness of the place, proved of little value. 1865. At the meeting in March the selectmen were authorized to hire $33,000, and to issue coupon bonds bearing interest at six per cent., the sum of $2,000 to be retired each year. '' Voted, To raise $2,000 for the payment of the interest on the town debt, and $3,000 for the fatnilies of soldiers. '■'Voted, To memorialize the legislature for a loan equalizing bounties paid to towns." Although the selectmen had been authorized in the previous year to raise a sum not exceeding $100,000, only a third of the amount was needed to fill the town's quota, and the indebtedness of the town did not much exceed $30,000. FUXDIXG THE DEBT. 1866. The indebtedness of the town to the amount of twenty- eight thousand dollars, was funded, and bonds issued in denomi- nations of $50, $100, $200, and $500, dated 2d July, 1866, bear- ing six per cent, interest, $2,000 to be retired j^early, till the debt •should be extinmiished. 214 CIVIL HISTORY. [1875. The town, at the annual meeting, voted 40 cents to each mem- ber of the Fire Engine Co., Eisherville, for each attendance at the monthly meeting, the company consisting of 35 men. SALE OF THE ALMSHOUSE AXD POOR-FAKM. 1868. Merrimack county having purchased a county farm for the maintenance of the poor, the town voted to sell its farm on Water street ; and Isaac K. Gage, Francis S. French, and Bradley Atkinson were appointed a committee to dispose of the same. The sale was not consummated, however, till the following year. CEMETERY OX THE PLAIIST. 1869. At the annual meeting, Isaac K. Gage, Dr. E. K. Webster, and George Knowles were appointed a committee " to lay out and grade the cemetery on the Plain." HIGHWAY TAX. 1870. The town voted to pay its taxes on highways in money, and to raise the sum of one fourth of one per cent, on the valua- tion, to be expended on the roads. The sense of the town on the revision of the state constitution resulted, for the first time since its settlement, in an affirmative vote, — seventy-two in favor of revision, and twentj'-three in oppo- sition. 1871-73. No business, other than that ordinarily arising at the annual meetings, was transacted during the years 1871, 1872, and 1873. 1874. The town voted $400 for the construction of a " lock- up " at Fisherville. An article in the warrant relative to the abolishing of the sev- eral school districts, and placing their control in the hands of a town committee, was passed over. THE TOWX HISTORY'. 1875. The town voted a sum of $300 to be paid to Cliarles C. Coffin, for the compilation of a history of the town. The sum of $250 was voted to the Fire Engine Co. at Fisher- ville. 1876.] CIVIL HISTORY, 215 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 1870. A special meeting of the town was called June 26, to take action in regard to the celebration of the centennial anniver- sary of American Independence. The following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That the town of Boscawen will celebrate the centennial Fourtli of July, 1876, and that the selectmen be authorized and in- structed to appropriate out of the treasury the sum of $300 towards the proper expenses of such celebration," The proceedings on the 4th of July were published in pamphlet, by S. G. ]S[oyes, of Fisherville. [From the History of the Centennial Celebration.] "celebration op 4th of JULY, AT BOSCAWEN, 1876, ''The town, at a meeting of its legal voters, having voted to celebrate this centennial anniversary, and appropriated money for that purpose, the following officers and committee were appointed : President — N, Butler, Esq. Vice Presldeuts — Calvin Gage, Nath. R. Greeley, E. S. Harris, Ira Sweatt, Moses Morse, Abraham Ilook, A. G. Kimball, JSTath'l S. Web- ster, Luther Gage, Peter Coffin, Wm. P. Abbott, H. P. Gill, Secretaries— Isaac K. Gage, Charles E. Chadwick, C. M. Rolfe. Committee of Arrangements — Isaac K. Gage, T. O. Wilson, Charles J. Ellsworth, Charles W. Webster, John E. Itines. Committee on Grounds — John C. Gage, Walter E. Sweatt, Asa M. Gage, Joseph Chandler. Committee on Refreshments — Ilarley C, Gage, Geo, A. Morse, Charles W, Webster, L. W. Couch, David Abbott. Committee on National Salute — Hannibal Bonney, D. E. Jones, Chas. Meagher. Committee on FireworJcs—'^Yl\]le H. Bonney, IST, R. Greeley, A, G. Kimball, W. B. Hardy. Committee on il/(wjc— Samuel (t. Noyes, Henry T. Foote, T. O. Wil- son, John Taylor. Coynmittee on Oration—lsaaa K. Gage, N, Butler, J. C. Gage, D, F. Kimball. 3£arshals~T. O. Wilson, D. F. Kimball, E. G. Wood, S. K. Mann. Toast- Master— Rqv. A. C. Hardy. 216 CIVIL HISTORY, [1876. At sunrise the bells were rung, and a national salute of thirteen guns was fired; at noon the bells were again rung, and a salute of twenty-six guns fired. At 2 o'clock, exercises were held in the grove east of Penacook Acad- emy, as follows : Prayer by Rev. J. E. Burr; reading of the Declaration of Indepen- dence by Rev. J. A. Freeman ; oration by Charles C Coffin, Esq., of Boston. Near the close of the oration (indications of a shower appearing) the audience repaired to Academy Hall. After the oration, !-entiments were proposed by Rev. A. C. Hardy, Toast-Master, and responded to as follows : ' The Past, Present, and Future of our Government,' by N. Butler, Esq. ' The Day we Celebrate,' by E. G. Wood, Esq. ' The Mother Country,' by Rev. J. A. Freeman. ' The Old Folks at Home ' by Col. D. F. Kimball. ' Boscawen's Son, the town of Webster,' by J. C. Pearson, Esq. ' The Orator of the Day,' by C. C. Coffin, Esq. The exercises were interspersed with singing, accompanied by an or- gan and cornet, under the direction of S. G. Noyes. During the latter part of the afternoon and early evening, sixty-one guns were fired, making one hundred in all, and bells were rung at sun- set. At dark a large concourse of people assembled at Penacook Square, to witness the grand display of fireworks that had been procured for the occasion. The display was very fine, considering the dampness of the atmosphere, which affected their burning very much. Unfortunate- ly, before they were all burned, tiie rain dispersed the crowd. Notwithstanding the interruption by the rain during the oration, and of the fireworks in the evening, all who participated in the celebration enjoyed the exercises, and will long remember the Centennial of 1876," [1860. WEBSTEE. ^1 HE act jiassed bj- the legislature of 1S60, incorporating the ^^section west of Beaver-dam as a separate town, was approved by the governor July 4th, and became a law. ACT OF IXCOKPORATIOX. "an act to divide TIIP TOW.V OF BOSCAAVEX AND CONSTITUTE THE TOWN OF WEBSTER. "iJe it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened : " Section 1. That all that part of the town of Bo.scawen lying west- erly of the following described line, to wit, — beginning at the centre of Beaver-dam brook, so-called, on the nortlierly boundary line of said town, and running thence southerly along the centre of said brook to Conch pond, so-called; thence in a straight line across said pond to the brook connecting the same with Great pond, so-called ; thence along the centre of said last mentioned brook to said Great pond ; thence in a straight line across said Great pond to the brook running there- from at the southerly end thereof; thence along the centre of said brook until it strikes the southerly side of the highway near Burbank's mills, so-called, leading from Ephraim Plumer's to Dodge's mills, so-called ; thence easterly along the southerly side of said highway, to a point in a line with the westerly side line of the fifth range of the forty-five acre lots in the fourth division, as originally laid out ; thence southerly to and along said westerly side line of said fifth range, and in continua- tion of the same direction, to the southerly boundary line of said Bos- cawen, be, and the same hereby is, severed from said town, and made a body politic and corporate, by the name of Webster. "Sec. 2. All real and personal property, including all debts, claims, and demands of any kind, now owned by and due to the town of Bos- 218 CIVIL HISTORY. [1860. cawen ; all school and other funds belonging to said town ; and the proportion of the literary fund, which until a new apportionment of state taxes shall be payable to said towns, shall be divided between them in the proportion of five dollars to Boscawen and three dollars and fifty cents to Webster ; and if said towns cannot agree upon the division of any such projjerty, George W. Nesmith of Franklin, Asa P- Gate of Northfield, and John Abbott of Concord, upon request of either town, may make division of the same, or assign the same, or any part thereof, to either of said towns, and may order the town to which such property may be assigned to pay over such sums of money to the other town as in their opinion is equitable, according to the foregoing propositions, and may fix the time of payment. "Sec. 3. All taxes assessed since March last upon the polls and estate of persons residing in said Webster as hereby constituted, all non-resi- dent taxes assessed since March last in said town, shall be collected by the collector to whom the same has been committed for that purpose, and, after deducting therefrom the state and county taxes, sliall be by him paid over to said town of Webster in the same manner in which he is directed to pay the same to the town of Boscawen before the divi- sion thereof; and the treasurer of AVebster, when duly chosen and qualified, shall have the same power to issue an extent against such col- lector, for any neglect to comply with the provisions of this act, that he ■would have if such collector had been chosen by said town of Webster. " Sec. 4. All debts and liabilities heretofore incurred by said town of Boscawen, and all municipal expenses of said town since the first day of March last shall be paid by the aforesaid towns in the same proportion as hereinbefore prescribed for the division of property. " Sec. 5. All paupers now supported by, and in the actual receipt of assistance from said Boscawen, shall be supported by the towns of Bos- cawen and Webster, each contributing in the same proportion as herein- before mentioned for the division of property, until such time as either of said towns shall call for a division of said paupers; and if said towns do not agree upon a division, the aforesaid Nesmith, Gate, and Abbott shall, upon the request of either of said towns, determine and assign to each of them its proportion of said paupers, upon the same basis, as near as practicable, as that prescribed for a division of the town prop- erty, and determine which of said paupers shall be supported by each of said towns. " Sec. 6. In all assessments of state and county taxes until the legis- lature shall otherwise order, Boscawen, after this division thereof, shall pay four dollars and twenty-two cents, and Webster two dollars and ninety-six cents ; and the state and county treasurers shall issue their respective warrants accordingly. 18G2.] CIVIL HISTORY. 219 "Sec. 7. Simeon B, Little, Jeremiah S. Webber, and Joseph L. Condi, or any two of them, may call the first meeting of said town of Webster, by posting up a warrant for that purpose as the law directs ; at wliich meeting either of said persons may preside until a moderator be chosen; and at such meeting all necessary town officers may be chosen. " Sec. 8. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. "Approved July 4, 1860." FIRST TOWN-MEETING. The first town-meeting Avas liold Aug. 11. Simeon B. Little was chosen moderator and David E. Burhank town-clei'k. The highest number of votes cast was 204. Nov. 6, 18(30. At the meeting for choice of electors for Presi- dent and Vice-President of the United States, measures were taken to form a settlement with the town of Boscawen. Voted That the selectmen be authorized to settle the division of prop- erty, and all other matters contemplated by the act of tlie legislature constituting this town, with the town of Bo-cawen; provided, that said town of Boscawen shall make propositions for tliat purpose in their judgment equitable and just, in \yhich case they be authorized to make conveyance of real or other estate, as may be necessary for a final dis- position of the matter. In default of such equitable proposition let the settlement be made as provided in said act as the final resort." March 12, 1861. ^^Voted, To adopt tlie same method to repair highways as formerly in the town of Boscawen reserving one fourth of the tax for winter use." ^^ Voted, Not to revise the constitution." Twelve hundred dollars was raised for town expenses. ^^ Voted, To refer the organization of the school districts affected by the late division to the selectmen." Jan. 15, 1862. The citizens of Webster manifested their pat- riotism in common witli the citizens of surrounding towns, by vot- ing, at a meeting held Jan. 15, to support the families of those soldiers who had enlisted ; and the selectmen were authorized to hire money for that purpose. March 11. At the annual meeting, the town raised |1,200 for current expenses. 220 CIVIL HISTORY. [1863. ^^ Voted, To raise seventy-five cents on a dollar of the reduced valua- tion for the repair of highways the present year, one half of which shall be reserved for winter use." A code of by-la-ws Avas adopted, prohibiting cattle and sheep from running at large. PATRIOTISM. Although there were many citizens in the town who felt that the war was unnecessary, and might have been avoided, and who were opposed to the acts of the administration, yet they acqui- esced in what was done to suppress the rebellion. A few only allowed their political prejudices to carry them far enough to oppose inducements for enlistment. Aug. 7. A meeting was held to see what action the town would take to encourage enlistments. ^^ Voted, That the town pay one hundred dollars to each recruit who is an inhabitant of this town, who will enlist before the eigliteenth of the present month for tlie term of three years, not to exceed the quota re- quired of tins town, to be paid when mustered into the service." Yeas, 50 ; nays, 13. ^^ Voted, That the selectmen he authorized to hire a sum not exceed- ing three thousand dollars, to meet the expense of paying the above bounty to volunteers." Another town-meeting was called Sept. 3. '^ Voted, Tiiat the town pay to volunteers for nine months in the army of the United States, one hundred dollars each, upon their being mus- tered into the ^;e^vice of the United States, and the selectmen are em- powered to hire money sufficient to pay tlie same." 1863. At a town-meeting held 7th Jan., — "Fo/eJ, That the selectmen be instructed to pay the families of all volunteers who have left a wife, four dollars per month, and, on the claimant making a statement of her property and means of living, un- der oath if required, more, if, in their judgment, the circumstances of their families require it; and all as [who] claim as other relatives shall make a written statement, under oath, if required, of their property and means of living, and the selectmen shall decide whether they are entitled un- der the law under which they claim." ^^ Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to hire such sum of money 1863.] CIVIL HISTORY. 221 as may be necessary for the support of families of volunteers, not to ex- ceed five thousand dollars." '^Voled, That the selectmen procure men to fill the town's quota on the best terms they can, and pay from any money belunging to the town not otherwise appropriated.'' Mar. 10. Twenty -live luindred dollars was voted for current expenses. Sept. 7. In town-meeting, — ^'Resolved, That the town of Webster pay to its drafted men, and all those that may be drafted, or their substitutes, the sum of tiiree hun- dred dollars, in accordance with an act of the legislature passed June session, 1803, and approved July 10, 1863." ^'■Voled, That tiie selectmen be authorized to iiire such sum of money as may be necessary to pay the bounties of its drafted men, or their substitutes, not to exceed the sum of five thousand dollars." Nov. 13. '^ Voted, That the selectmen be instructed to fill the town's quota on the best terms they can." "Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to hire a sum of money not to exceed five thousand dollars." 1864. Mar. 8. The town voted $1,500 for current expenses. "Fo/erZ, That a bounty of three hundred dollars bo paid to its veteran volunteers, who have or may reenlist to the credit of tiie town, and authorize the selectmen to raise money for the same.'* June 10. A special town-meeting was called to take measures to promote enlistments. " Voted, That the selectmen be instructed to procure nine volunteers, to be credited to the town of Webster, and that they proceed fortiiwith with the business." ''Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to hire a sum of money not to exceed ten thousand dollars." Town-meeting was held 8th Nov., for choosing five electors of President and Vice-President of U. 8. A. On the question, " Is it expedient that a commission be called to revise the constitution ?" the vote was, — yeas, 100 ; nays, 55. Of the foregoing votes for the proposition, ninety-five had the following qualification annexed : 222 CIVIL HISTORY. [1867. " The convention to be limited in its action to making provision for allowing qualified voters in tlie military and naval service of the coun- try to exercise the right to vote while absent from the state." Dec. 14 ^^Voteut in, if, after adjusting all the bills, they have money sufficient for that purpose." It is probable that the fimds ran short, for no stove was pur- chased till 1832, and then under protest, some members of the society objecting. To accommodate those who were prejudiced against stoves, the society, in 1833, voted " to dispense with fire in the stove the first Sabbath in each month through the cold season." The one or two individuals in whose favor this vote was passed imagined that they could not lireathe air heated by a stove ; and the congregation, wrapping themselves in overcoats and shawls, by means of foot-stoves, and a vigorous thumping of their heels and toes througli the long-drawn sermon, did their best to keep from freezing. The pulpit was constructed after the architecture of former days, but was remodelled in 1844. The house has been several times repainted, and was reshingled in 1855. A deep-toned bell was purchased in 1823, but which was un- fortunately cracked in 1839. It could be heard at a greater dis- tance than any church bell in the surrounding towns. The first bell-ringer was Daniel Corser. The present bell was obtained in 1839. SECOND COXGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The Second Congregational Churcli was formed Sept. 26th, 1804. Letters missive, by those desiring to be organized as a Congregational Meeting-House, Fisherville. I860.] ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 239 church, were sent to neighboring churches, and the council on that day assembled at the residence of Mr. Paul Dodge, in the house now occupied by Henry Dodge. The churches represented were, — Dunbarton, Rev. Walter Harris ; Hopkinton, Rev. Mr. Smith ; Salisbury, Rev. Thomas Worcester ; Tamworth, Rev. Mr. Hidden ; Honniker, Rev. Moses Sawyer ; Canterbury, Rev. Wm. Patrick ; Boscawen, First Church, Rev. Samuel Wood. The public exercises were held in the meeting-house in the afternoon. The exercises were, — an introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Hidden ; sermon. Rev. Mr. Harris ; charge, Rev. Mr. AVood right hand of fellowship, Rev. Mr. Worcester; concluding prayer, Rev. Mr. Sawyer. Rev. Ebenezer Price [see Biog.] was employed as preacher, and a call extended to him to become pastor of the church and society. The installation occurred Sept. 26, 1804. In 1805, Benjamin Sweat and Eliphalet Kilburn were elected deacons. In 1806, the church voted to purchase a full set of sacramental cups and flagons of the church in Hopkinton, and $8 Avas con- tributed for the purpose. April liod, 1807, Fast day, a contribution was made for mis- sionary purposes, — the first on record, and doubtless the first in the history of the church, — amounting to $14.25. In 1811, Enoch Little was elected deacon, in place of Benjamin Sweat, deceased. 1818. Sept. 20th. The church voted to accept of a i;)ewter platter for church use fi'om Mrs. Elizabeth Fellows. Rev. Mr. Price remained pastor of the church till 1837, when he was dismissed at his own request. The church and society pre- sented him with a gratuity of $865. His pastorate closed May 10th. [See Biog.] In December, the same year. Rev. Edward Buxton was installed as pastor, witli an annual salary of |!450. His connection as pastor of the church continued till 1875, when, at the age of 72, he resigned his charge, but, after a respite of a few months, resumed his place in the pulpit as minister, which he still retains. Few churches can show such a record, — two pastorates extend- ing from 1804 to 1875, — a period of seventy-one years. Since the organization of this church in 1804, four hundred 240 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [1860. liave been added to the membership, — one hundred and sixty males and two liundred and forty females. Of tliese^ fiftj-eight have joined by letter. One hundred and ninety have been dis- missed to other churches, thus showing the emigration from the parish. One hundred and ninety have been removed by death, and fourteen excluded from membersliip, — one of the number hav- ing been reinstated. The jiresent membership numbers eighty- two residents, — thirty-two males, fifty females, — with thirty non- resident members. During the pastorates of Revs. Mr. Price and Buxton, four hundred and eighty-six children have been baptized, while, of those uniting with the church, one hundred and one have accepted the ordinance of baptism. Dec. 21, 1868, the church voted to change its name from the Second Congregational Church in Boscawen, to the First Congre- gational Church in Webster. THE CHRISTIAN UNION SOCIETY. The legislature of 1819 passed a general law in regard to the organization of religious societies, and under that law the Chris- tian Union Society of Boscawen was formed, Aug. 16, 1820, at the house of Hezekiah Fellows. John Elliot, Jr., was chosen chairman, and Joseph Couch, secretary. The motives for the organization are set forth in the preamble to the constitution. "Whereas Religion and morality grounded on Evangelical principlea lays the firmest foundation for happiness here and hereafter and in or- der to inculcate and support this grand principle it becomes necessary that men associate together and form themselves into societies for the mutual support and happiness of eacli other; and such is the lot of human nature in this Imperfect state that it becomes Necessary for every society to form and adopt certain rules of government for the mutual happi- ness of the whole : Therefore with these views and Impressions We the subscribers agree to form ourselves into a society under the above pre- amble." Fifty persons joined the society thus formed. At a meeting held at the West meeting-house, March 26th, 1821, Voted, " To pursue some Legal course until they obtain their privilege in the West meeting-house, and also their equal share of the parsonage Money." 1840.] ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 241 The town had erected the frame of the meeting-house in 1702 ; had sokl the pews, thus raising money for finishing the house. The pews were held mainly bj' those who belonged to the West- erly Religious Society and the Second Congregational Church [see p. 189], but those who had joined the Christian Union Soci- et}^ believed that they were entitled to share in the use of the house. The members of the Christian Union Society, who were pew-owners, believed that theirs was an equitable and valid claim, while those who were not pew-owners, but who were citi- zens, believed that their claim was equally valid by virtue of their citizenship, and the town's proprietary right in the frame. Negotiations were had between the two societies, and it was agreed by the committees that the Christian Union Society should have the use of the house six Sundays in the year. TJie agree- ment, however, was not, for some cause, ratified by either society. The Westerly Religious Society offered to sell their share of the house at 40 per cent, of the valuation, amounting to $352.27. Tlie offer was accepted, but there was a disagreement in regard to the note which the Christian Union Society proposed to give for the amount, and no transfer of the property was effected. The difference of opinion in regard to jurisdiction was carried into the courts. The decision of the Superior Court was, that the town could not exercise sole jurisdiction over a town meeting- house, when different societies or individuals owned pews therein. Pending this decision, however, the Christian Union Society resolved to occupy the meeting-house, which was done June loth and IGth, in connection with a session of the Christian General Conference. There was a large concourse of peojile from neigh- boring towns, and several elders of repute, as preachers in the de- nomination, were in attendance. The Christian Union Society took possession of the meeting- house at an early hour on Sunday morning, and Elder Peter Young was occupying the pulpit, wlien Rev. Mr. Price entered the house at the usual hour for public service. The assessors of the Westerly Religious Society made a formal demand for the house. There was some confusion, but no breach of the pultlic 2:)eace. The time had gone by for a compromise between the two societies, and the Westerly Religious Society resolved to erect a meeting- 16 242 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [1850. house for themselves, thus leaving the Union Society in undis- turbed and peaceable possession of the old house. As in most religious controversies, prejudices were engendered, which died oixt only when those who were participants in the events of the time passed away. But time has worn down the sharp antagonism of other days, and religious bodies, which were antipodal in faith and practice at the beginning of the century, now attend the same meeting, listen to the same preacher, and sit at the same communion. In 1844, the Christian Union Society voted to remodel the meeting-house, — flooring over the galleries, removing the east and west porches, and making a convenient chapel of the upper story, the lower floor being reserved for a town-house. All of the slips, — fifty-two in number, — with the exception of two, were sold. The society took on a new lease of life, and was vigorous and flourishing for several years ; but emigration thinned its member- ship, and since 1869 no regular service has been held by the de- nomination. THE CHRISTIAN BAPTIST CHUKCH. This church was formed in 1808, consisting of five male and seven female members. It was organized June 16th under the following compact : " This Church have agreed to lay aside all the party names by which professors are called, with all such things as are called Creeds, Cove- nants, Platforms, Articles of faith, with all the Commandments of men, and to consider Christ their only Master, and the New Testament their only Rule, and to be known by the name given at Antioch which is Christian. "The following are the names of the Brethren and sisters who were Baptised June 16th and being united in love, united in the above agree- ment and who stand ready to receive into their Company all who are willing to unite with them in the glorious name of Christ: David Sweatt, Martha Corser, James Corser, Meela Couch, Peltiah Gookin, Martha Gookin, John P. Sweatt, Betsey Hobbs, Joseph Couch, jr., Hannah Hobbs, Mrs. Trumbull, Mrs. Corser. "At the close of the year 1808 the church numbered twenty-five members." 1850.] ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 243 It has not been possible to obtain the names of all those who have held the office of elder. The list embraces the names of Peter Young, Wm. Blaisdell, David Harriman, Setli Ross, Kimball, Moses Scribner, Neheniiah Sleeper, Moses P. Favor, John Tilton, Wm. S. Morrill, Moses Polly, Simeon Roby. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FISHERVILLE. The Congregational Church in Fisherville was organized Nov, G, 1850. Eev. Mr. Knight and other ministers were employed as j)reachers till 1857, when Rev. Albert Wm. Fiske was installed pastor May 20, and remained in that relation till Oct. 16, 1863. The second pastor, Rev. Wm. R. Jewett, was installed Sept. 16, 18G.3, and dismissed Sept. 10, 1874. The third pastor. Rev. Marvin D. Bisbee, was installed Sept. 10; 1874, dismissed April 10, 1877. BAPTIST CHURCH. In 1840 several individuals, who held to the tenets of the Bap- tist denomination, started a series of religious meetings in the various school districts. Rev. Mr. Peacock, a revivalist preacher of repute, was employed as preacher. The result of the move- ment was an awakening on the subject of religion, resulting in the formation of a church and societj', and the erection of a church edifice (see p. 206). No statistics have been preserved in regard to the numbers uniting with the church, which, after a brief ex- istence, was merged into the stronger church of the denomination in Fisherville. METHODIST CHURCH. In 1839, some of the residents of the west section of the town, who had adopted the religious tenets of the Methodist denomina- tion, formed a society, and erected the present meeting-house in Webster. Individuals not members of the society aided to some extent ; and, at the dedication of the edifice, Rev. Mr. Price and Rev. Mr. Buxton took part in the exercises, thus manifesting their good will towards the enterprise. At that time there was a Methodist theological school at Con- 244 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [18G0. cord ill the old North Church, and the students of the school were relied upon to supply the pulpit. The church membership increased; but the same causes that diminished the membership of the other churches operated to weaken this, Avhich, together with the removal of the Theological Institute from Concord, made it impossible to sustain regular ministerial service. Only at inter- vals since 1860 has there been preaching. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. In 1816 the first sunday-schools were established in Boscawen. They were held in the various school districts during the summer months, — in the school-house, or at private residences. The chil- dren recited verses from the Bible, standing in a class with their toes to a crack, and making their " manners " as in the week-day school. The ^Hipils were those under fourteen years of age. An effort was made to secure a general attendance, but the community did not readily accept the idea. Some excellent Christian people were opposed to having a school taught on Sunday. If not a desecra- tion of the day, it was a departure from the old ways. The number of scholars in 1824 in connection with the schools at the west end was ninety-seven, who recited 29,957 verses during the six months ending October 24th. ISTo schools were held in the winter. It is narrated, that one scholar of retentive memory tired out the patience of his teacher, reciting chapter after chapter, and was told that he might finish the recitation on the next Sunday. The first librarj' at the west end was purchased by Enoch Lit- tle, Jr., costing ^10. The books were passed from district to dis- trict, and were soon worn out by constant handling. The report for 1827 gives 5 superintendents, 159 scholars, 22 Sabbath exercises, 30,117 verses recited in the schools at the west end. Kev. Mr. Price had a Bible-class of 73 members. Schools were also taught in the districts at the east end of the town. In 1831 the district system was given up, and the schools or- ganized into one, the sessions being held as now on Sunday noon in the meeting-house, the " Union Questions " taking the place of recitations from the Bible. No statistics have have been preserved in relation to the school connected with the church on the Plain. Methodist Meeting House, Webster. [1746. MILITARY HISTORY ^ HE military liistory of Boscawen and Webster begins witli ^^r tlie first " French and Indian war," in 1744, and is brouglit down to the close of the Rebellion, 1865, — a period of one hundred and twenty-one years. The military record is one of which every citizen, and every descendant of citizens, may justly be proud. In 1744, at the outbreak of the French war, Richard Flood served the Provincial government in some capacity, in the expedi- tion to Canada. It is not known tliat he went as a soldier. The only record of his service is a notice of his petition for aid fi'om the government, in the records of the Provincial committee, for service rendered in the expedition to Canada. The same year Philip Call served as a scout in Capt. Jeremiah. Clough's company, from Jan. 21 to March 18, receiving £2 10s. Capt. Clough lived in Canterbury, and was a leading citizen of that town. Captain John Clough commanded a company in Penacook at the same time, of which Xathaniel Rix was a soldier. In 1746, Captain John Goffe, of Bedford, commanded a com- pany of scouts, in which Joseph Eastman, Jr., Dea. Jesse Flan- der.s, his brother, John Flanders, Jr., and Wm. Corser served as privates thirty-seven days, having been called out by the attacks of the Indians on Penacook and Contoocook, killing Thomas Cook, and capturing Ciiesar, Rev. Mr. Stevens's negro. Later in the season Capt. Ladd arrived [see Civil Hist., p. 43] with a company, in which Philip Flanders, Joseph Eastman, and 246 MILITARY HISTORY. [1754. Jacob Flanders enlisted. In this company was Robert Rogers, afterwards the celebrated ranger. At the same time Philip Call was doing duty in Capt. Clongh's company, being out one hundred and lifty-four days, receiving £8 13s. 3p. In 1747, Capt. Clough of Canterbury was out from the 5th of Januar}^ to the 12th of November. Philip Call and John Man- uel served under him, receiving £16 10s. lOp., besides provisions and ammiinition. Upon the return of this company, Capt. Eben- ezer Eastman, of Concord, began a winter campaign, being out with his company from iSTov. 14, 1747, to May 9th, 1748. Rev. Phineas Stevens served as a private. In all probability he preached on Sunday to the soldiers in camp. In 1748, Capt. Goffe was scouting the frontier with a company in which William Corser served as private. At the same time, Capt. Moses Fostei*, of Suncook, was ranging the frontier with a company, of which Rev. Mr. Whittemore, minister of Pembroke, was lieutenant. Ezekiel Flanders, killed in 1756 at Newfound lake by the Indians, served in this company one month, from June 6 to July 7 [See Civil Hist.] Peace having been made between England and France, there was no further need of military service till 1754, when the Indians again began their depredations, killing William Stinson, and taking John Stark and Eastman prisoners on Baker's river, cap- turing the Meloon family of Salisbury, and killing Mrs. Philip Call and Timothy Cook, in Stevenstown. [See Civil Hist.] Military service was no longer confined to the Merrimack val- ley ; — the theatre of war was transferred to the upper Hudson and the lakes. Col. Blanchard commanded a regiment, in which Benjamin [Eastman, of Boscawen, enlisted under Capt. John Goffe, serving from April 24th to Oct. 23d. One company was commanded by Capt. Thomas Tash, of Dur- ham, in which John Corser enlisted. Capt. Joseph Eastman commanded another company, in which Winthrop Carter, Moses Manuel, Samiiel Manuel, Joseph Eastman, Andrew Bohonnon, AVilliam Jackman, and John Fowler served. Another regiment was commanded by Col. Nathaniel Folsom. Upon the muster-roll is the name of Nathaniel jNIeloon, son of the first settler of that name in Contoocook. 1775.] MILITARY HISTORY. 247 111 the Crown Point expedition, Jolm Fowler, Joel Manuel, and Joseph Eastman served, under Captain John Goffe. In 1758, Daniel Shepherd and Philip Flanders served in Capt. Ladd's company, Col. Hart's regiment, sent to Crown Point. Nathaniel Meloon served in Capt. Todd's company. In Eev, Mr. Price's history, it is stated that Philip Flanders was killed at Crown Point in 1756, which is manifestly an error, his name apjiearing on the muster-roll from April 21 to November 1, 1758, on which day he probably was killed. FROM 1760 TO 1775. There is no record to show the military organization in the town from the close of the French war in 1760 to the beginning of the Revolution in 1775. The law required all able-bodied men, between sixteen and sixty, to be enrolled in the train bands. A town containing thirty-two men liable to do militaiy duty could have a military organization of its own. There being more than that number of soldiers in the town, it had a "train band.'' The news of the battle of Lexington reached Boscawen on the 20th of April, and the next morning Capt. Henry Gerrish and his soldiers were on the march. DIARY OF CAPT. HEXRY'^ GERRISH. " Fryday 21 April 1775. " Set out for Cambridge with Lieut Call, Sargent Carter. Esq Fowler, Edmund Chadwick, John Flanders, John Stevens, Natlianiel Barbank, Samuel Jackman, David Flanders, Charles Greenfield, Peter Roswell Stevens, Israel Shepard, Isaac Davis, Edward Gerald, & arrived at Cambridge on Sunday & all tarried till Tuesday & then Esq Fowler set out for home, on Wensday Lieut Call, Winthrop Carter & Nathaniel Atkinson set out for home [Nathaniel Atkinson and prob- ably other soldiers had joined the company between Friday and Wednesday] & there joined our company on Wensday morning Will- iam Forrest, Timothy Foss, Jeremiah Gibson, Aaron Sargeant, John Been, John Rains, Abraham Fyfield, Joseph Loverin, Moses Welsh." These last were f)robably citizens of Salisbury. Some of the Boscawen soldiers, in common with those of other towns, soon returned home, while others hastened to Cambridge to fill their places. Those from Boscawen enlisted in Capt. 248 MILITARY HISTORY. [1775. Josluia Alibot's compan}^, Col. Stark's regiment. Capt. ALbot was a citizen of Concord, well known to the Boscawen men. He had served in the French war, and was a brave and gallant officer. Samuel Atkinson [see Biography] was elected lieutenant, and Samuel Corser and Nathan Davis corporals. They had all confi- dence in their colonel, John Stark, who had seen hard service in the last war against the French and Indians. The term of enlistment was for eight months, beginning April 23d. Tlie regiment was quartered at Medford. On the morning of June 17th, Col. Stark received a despatch from Gen. Ward, ordering him to send a battalion to the relief of Col. Pres- cott, who was throwing np the earthworks on Bunker hill, and Lieut. Col. Wyman was despatched with about 200 men, — prob- ably three companies of sixty-six men each. The detachment left Medford between nine and ten o'clock. At noon, another message came, ordering the remainder of the regiment to march. It was between twelve and one when Col. Stark started, and past two when he reached the rail fence by the Mystic river, on the eastern slope of Bunker hill, a position chosen In^ himself. His practised eye and knowledge of military tactics saw that the movement of the British commander wonld be to gain the rear of the redoubt by marching along the Mystic. Col. Reed's regiment, from the south-western part of the state, had arrived in camp three days before. The popularity of Stark had given him twelve companies, but two of them had been transferred to Eeed. Both regiments were full, or nearly so, together number- ing about one thousand. In addition, a company from Hollis was serving in Prescott's Massachusetts regiment [see Hist. Hollis]. Other citizens of Kew Hampshire were in Massachu- set s' service, making the total number from this state nearly elev. n hundred. The advance of the British was against the rail fence. We may think of the citizens of Boscawen as stationed a few rods from the Mystic, behind the barricade of hay which they have laid against the fence. Their commander orders them to re- serve their fire till the enemy are within eight rods. Then there is a iiash, a rattle, a roar : the soldiers of the king go down in heaps. Consternation seizes them, and they flee to their land- ing-place. A second time their ranks are decimated. The third 1775.] MILITARY HISTORY. 249 attack is against the redoubt, and, witli the faikire of ammunition on tlie part of the Americans, the British gain an entrance. The troops at the fence are tlie last to retreat. Only when the day is lost do they retire, Joseph Couch and another soldier bring- ing off a wounded comrade. BOLL OF HOXOR AT BUNKER HILL. Those engaged in the battle of Bunker hill from Boscawen were : OP'FICERS. Atkinson, Samuel, Lieut. Corser, Samuel, Corp. Call, Moses, " Davis, Nathan, " PRIVATES. Burbank, David Davis, Isaac Buibank, Nathaniel Danforth, Joshua Burbaiik, Moses, jr. Eliot, John Bovvley, John Flanders, John Chadwick, Edmund Flanders, David Curser, William Flanders, Jesse, Dea. Corser, Asa In Capt. Aaron Kinsman's company, John Manuel, who was killed ; in Capt. company, Joseph Couch, who Avas wounded on the retreat by a spent cannon ball. The following receipt is in possession of Luke Corser, Esq. : "Boscawen May 24: 1775 " Recieved of David Corser of Boscawen a Gun marked on the Britch W. C. B which (iun I have Recieved for the use of the sobers Now in the County Sarvice who went from Boscawen under the com- mand of Capt Abbot in order to Defend the country against the Troops under General Gage Now at Boston. Recieved by me " Samuel Atkinson." '• W. C. B " undoubtedly means William Corser, Boscawen. He was an uncle of David Corser, who gave him 100 acres of land, on Pleasant street, for the gun. EXPEDITION TO QUEBEC. In September, volunteers were called for to join Arnold's expe- dition to Quebec up the Kennebec river, an expedition attended 250. MILITARY HISTORY. [1775. b}^ terrible harcTsliips, resulting in failure, the capture of nearly all of Arnold's command, and the death of Gen. Montgomery. Dea. Jesse Flanders, John Flanders, Jr., and Nicholas Davis enlisted in Capt. Henry Dearborn's command, and were captured in the attack upon Quebec. They were kept in irons a short time, liberated on parole in August, 1776, and reached Kew York by sea September 25. While in prison John Flanders kept a diary, which has been in part preserved. It contains a record of the weather from the first week in January, 1776, to April 25, together with a few items of interest, mostly written in cypher, the key to which has been dis- covered. JOHX FLAN^DERS'S DIARY. " Jeny 3d 1776 Cloudy & snowy in the morning & cleared off at Night we had 1 pint of water 1 pound of Boild Kice 1 pound of Brown Bread | pound Pork. Jenuy 4 It snowed in the Morning blowy all Day we had 2 ounces of Butter 9 ounces pork 1 pound of l>rown Bread Jan 5 we have very good allowance salt maccaril with Butter 15 a Violent Coald Snow Storm 16 fair weather 17 Snowed all Day and the Night Before IS cloudy & Look Likely for Snow & Cold 19 Clondy & Somthing Cold 20 Snowed a littel the prisnors made to ascape & two was put in irons 21 Somting Modrit But cloudy Last night six of the sogers made thair acape five of the prisonrs that was Listed in thair Sarvies one that Belongd to tham thay offered five Soos [souf'] to any Body that would Return him. March 27 clear and cold 28 raw cold but Plasant sun 29 clear and a warm sun."' The diary here begins in cypher. "boutat hist imew Eware desint omakeo uras Capeas w Ecouldg oto ti." [Translation.] "Bout at this time we ware designed to make our escape as we could go to ti (Ticonderoga). 1776.] MILITARY HISTORY. 251 31 " tha yfound clou tour desin eand d\v Ewar etliratne du st opu tu si niron S t ha y pu tal 1th E Sar gen sta iido opril si nirons." [Translation.] "Tliay found out our desine and we ware thratned to put us in irons they put all the sargents and corprils in irons." " April 1 the first day of A [April] I was put in irons with the rest of my company and many others." The prisoners were released on parole, August ], were taken to New York by ship, and arrived in Boscawen September 25. In December, 1775, additional soldiers were called for, and Nich- olas Elliot, Moses Burbank, Benjamin Webster, and David Carter served during the winter in the siege of Boston. 177G. During the 3'ear soldiers were called for, for the defence of Ticonderoga from the threatened attack of Sir Guy Carleton, and twenty-three men enlisted. L'eut. Enoch Gerrisli, Joshua Danford, Thomas Carter, Isaac Davis, Daniel Carter, Lt. Samuel Fowler, John Jackmau, Dea. Joseph Iloit, James Gerald (died). Col. Henry Gerrish, Joseph Pearson, Charles Greenfield, John Muzzy, John Hale, John Flanders, Samuel Jackman, Friend Little, Phineas Stevens (died), Thomas Beadle, Nathaniel Burbank, Joseph Atkinson, Joseph Couch. Nathaniel Atkinson, NEW YOKK CAMPAIGN. Upon the evacuation of Long Island by Gen. Washington the militia were called out in the eastern colonies. Boscawen sent eight soldiers. Capt. Peter Kimball, Moses Morrill, *^Lt. Benjamin Jackman, Daniel Richards, Ens. Samuel Ames, Samuel Jackman, Bitfield Plummer, Cutting Noyes. WINTER CAMPAIGN. Boscawen furnished three soldiers for the winter campaign on the Hudson — Lieut. Winthrop Carter, John Uran, Samuel Bur- bank. 252 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. Col. Henry Gerrisli was in the service of the starte obtaining supplies. " BoRcawen February 1, 1776. Received of Henry Gerrisli one Hundred & sixty six Blankets, Fifty seven tin Kittles & one Barrel of spirits which I promise to Deliver Maj'' Cavis of Rumney for Col Israel Morey. Elisha Bean." "Reced of Coll Henry Gerrish one Hundred ami eitrlity one pounds, fourteen shillings L m [lawful money] to pay Thirty Three Men which I am ordered to raise out of my Regiment to reinforce the army at New York their advance pay and Billetting, which men are to serve till the first day of March next unless sooner discharged. December 10"' 1776. Thomas Stickney." 1777. PREPARIXG FOR THE CAMPAIOX. 3Iay. At a town-meeting held the last Monday in May, voted " to raise sixty pounds to pa}' the four men hired by said town to serve in tlie continental ami}' for the term of tliree years." A committee was apj^ointed "to join the military officers in making draughts of men as may be wanted from time to time for the Continental service." Voted, That the selectmen " raise a tax so large that there be sixty pounds left after the proportional part of those who have done service is abated." The selectmen addressed a letter to the Committee of Safety : — " Boscawen May 17, 1777 Gentlemen In consequence of Express orders, the Town of Boscawen is this Day assembled & called on by the Capt of said town that each man be im- mediately a Quipt according to law and as there is found wanting a Number of Fire Arms Amnmnition &c we have Imployed Capt Samuel Atkinson and Mr. Joseph Gerrish to procure the same. We Desire yovxr favor if thare be any guns in store to be purchased that you would give Capt Atkinson your advice & assistance & also a quantity of lead. Mr. Atkinson will be able to inform you of the Number of arms & Quantity of lead wanted to a Quip said Town & your Favor herein will Gi'eatly oblige your Humble Sarvents, George Jackman ) ^ i i. ^ ,,P T.T - belectmen Cutting JNoyes ) To the Committee oi\ Safety at Exeter." j 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY. 253 BENNIXGTOX CAMPAIGN. Orders from Col. Thomas Stickney, -who lived in Concord, readied Capt. Kimball July 1, to be ready with his company to march at a minute's warning to oppose Gen. Burgoyne, who was advancing from Canada to Lake Cliamplain. Cajjt. Kimball's company marched July 4th. CAPT. Kimball's diary. "July 1st 1777 orders came from Col Stickney to me to muster and Equip one Quarter part of the Company to march at a minits warning and in conseriuence of the same we met to git the men. "July 4 orders came to march 13 men Immediately to tie [Ticonder- oga]. "saterday we marcht to perrytown [Sutton] and Logedthare. " Sunday G we marcht to Unity and Loged tliare. " ]Monday 7 we marcht to Xo 4 and Loged thare & drawd 4 Day al- lowance. '' tuesday 8 we marcht to Cavendysh and Loged thare. " Wendesy 9 we marcht to No. 4 again " thursday lOtli we marcht to Unity and Loged ''fryday 11 we marcht liome." The men engaged in this service were, — Col. Henry Gerrish, George Jackman, Jr., Capt. Peter Kimball, John Morrill, Capt. Peter Coffin, Dea. Isaac Pearson, Lieut. Enoch Gerrish, Daniel Chirk, Lieut. Moses Call, Daniel Shepherd, Nathan Corser, John Manuel, Samuel Clifford, Michael Sargent, Dea. Jesse Flanders, James French, Enos Flanders, Benjamin Sweatt, Nathaniel Atkinson, Moses Jackman. Simeon Atkinson, Men were called for to go to Coos, and six men sent as'the town's quota. Capt. Samuel Atkinson, William Danford, Jeremiah Hidden, Jedidiah Danforth, Moses Morse, George Jackman. 254 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. These soldiers, and hundreds of others from the adjoining towns, turned about, after being out a few days, upon receipt of the news that Ticonderoga had been evacuated. They were ordered to re- turn home. The astounding news confronted Col. Gerrish's com- mand at Cavendish. Ticonderoga was evacuated on tlie night of the 6th of Julj-, — the day that the Boscawen troops were passing through Unity. The next morning, when they were on their way to Charlestown, the British advance was falling upon Col. Warner at Hubbard- ton. The Vermont Committee of Safety, sitting at Manchester, sent a post-rider to New Hampshire. " New Hampshire will be the frontier state if we are driven out," they said. The N. H. Assembly had been in session at Exeter, but had adjourned. The Committee of Safety sitting there were prompt to act. The letter from Vermont was written the 8th, and on the 17th of July the New Hampshire Assembly was in session. What was to be done? The militia would turn out at a moment's no- tice, — but who would pay them? who command them? Then came the patriotic speech of John Langdon, offering all his cash, all his silver plate to be melted up, all his Tobago rum, three hundred hogsheads, to be sold. It set the Assembly on fire, kindling anew their patriotic ardor. The militia was reorganized. Whipple of Portsmouth and John Stark of Amoskeag were ap- pointed brigadiers. Orders were sent to Stark to take the field. Stark was on his farm. He had done well for his country, but had been superseded, and had retired from the service, feeling that he had not been fairl.y dealt with ; but he accepted the commis- sion. His orders enabled him to act independently. He was to defend the frontier. Messengers carried his orders post haste to his subordinates. Capt. Peter Kimball was at work on his farm at Queen street. He probably received his orders on the 22d, for his company was on the march on the 24th, the rendezvous being at Salisbury. The next night they reached Saville (Sunapee). The fourth day they reached Charlestown. Gen. Stark was there, sending forward supplies, — directing the troops, as they came in, to move on to Manchester, Vermont. He was fretting over the want o^ 1777. j MILITARY HISTORY. 255 bullet moulds. He had only one mould for tlie whole army, hut that was kept going night and day. A full company consisted of 60 men. Capt. Kimball marched from Boscawen with 22, but four others joined him, making 26 from Boscawen. The Concord soldiers, under Lieut. Richard Herbert, joined him on the march. The company was thus or- ganized : Capt. Peter Kimball, Lieut. Richard Herbert, Ensign Andrew Pettengil, Segt. Jesse Abbot, Segt. Abner Flanders, Segt. William Danforth, Serg. Nathan Davis, Corp. Richard Flood, Corp. Lavid Burbank, Corp. John Abbot, Corp. Theodore Farnum, Fifer Ellas Abbot, Drummer Asa Corser, PRIVATES. Stephen Abbot, Ezra Abbot, Benjamin Ambrose, Jonathan Ambrose, Peter Blanchard, Wells Burbank, Thomas Beedle, Philbrick Bradley, Jonathan Corser, David Corser, Daniel Carter, i/' Nathan Carter, Abner Chase, Simeon Danforth, Elknah Danforth, Timothy Danforth, Reuben Diamond, Benjamin Elliot, James French, Jesse Flanders, Boscawen. Concord. Salisbury. Concord. (.1 Boscawen. Concord. Boscawen. Concord. Boscawen. Concord Boscawen. Concord. Boscawen. Concord. Boscawen. (( Concord. (( Boscawen. 256 MILITARY HISTORY. [177< Ephraim Fisk, Jr., Israel Glines, Solomon Gage, David George, Cliarles Greenfield, John Hutcliins, Samuel Ilickson, Abial Hall, Jedidiah Hoit, Timotliy Jackman, "William Jackman, John Jackman, Timothy Johnson, Benjamin Little, Friend Little, Samuel Morse, Isaac Pearson, John Peters, Anthony Potter, Phineas Stevens, "William Symonds, Simon Trumbull, Daniel Uran, Gilman West, Concord. (( ti Boscawen. (. Concord. a Boscavven. Concord. Boscawen. Concord. Boscawen. Concord. [57] ]\[ancliester, west of the Green ^Mountains, was the rendezvous ; and the Boscawen troops reached that town on Thursday, July 31st. Col. Stickney arrived on the 3d of August, and Gen. 8tark on the 6th. A large number of the people of western Vermont were loyal to the Crown, and the property of Tories was liable to confiscation. Gen. Stark accordingly despatched Lt. Col. Emerson with a bat- talion to Rutland to obtain cattle and other sujiplies. Capt. Kim- ball's company formed a part of the battalion. The expedition started on the 8th of August, marched to Eut- land, secured two hogsheads of rum, a quantitj' of maple sugar, and a herd of cattle. Events were ripening. Burgoyne was at Stillwater, on the Hudson, flushed with success, and wanting only horses to enable him to push on. He accordingly directed Col. Baum to move across the state to Cliarlestown, go down the Connecticut to Brat- o o 03 m 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY. 257 tleborough, and return through Massachusetts, and join him at Albany. His Tory friends informed him that the inhabitants were loyal, and that on the appearance of the troops they would declare their allegiance. On the morning of the 12th, while the Boscawen troops were at Rutland, fifty-five miles north of Bennington, the expedition of Col. Baum started from Stillwater, and marched a short distance. Burgoyne's whole force was on the east bank of the Hudson. Baum's command was composed of Hessians, British, Canadians, Tories, and Indians, and numbered about 800 in all. He marched on the 13th to Cambridge, sixteen miles from the Hudson. He sent out a party, who captured fifteen Vermont men, who were tak- ing supplies to Gates, — cattle, horses, and carts, — which he sent to Biirgoyne, with the information that eighteen hundred rebels were at Bennington. This was an exaggeration, Stark's force at that time being less than fifteen hundred. Stark was ignorant of the advance of Baum. The ten men who escaped reported seeing only Indians and Tories ; and Stark, on the 14th, sent Lieut. Col. Gregg towards Cambridge with two hundred men, to stop the marauders. On the morning of the 14th, the Boscawen troops were ten miles north of Manchester, fully thirty-five miles from Benning- ton, marching southward with their rum, sugar, and cattle. At the same time Baum was breaking up his encampment at Cam- bridge, and moving on to Bennington. Gregg at the same time was going with his two hundred men to Cambridge. Baum reached Van Schaik's mill about 8 o'clock, and encoun- tered Gregg. A few volleys were fired, and Gregg fell back, hav- ing first broken down the bridge across the Walloomsic, which Baum was obliged to rebuild. He sent a despatch to Burgoyne : " I will proceed so far to-day as to fall on the enemy to-morrow early." Intelligence of what was going on reached Stark, who advanced to support Gregg ; but not finding a good place to make a stand, he fell back to Bennington. Baum selected a position on a hill, and went into camp, send- ing a messenger to Burgoyne for reinforcements, who detached Col. Breyman with five hundred of his best troops and two pieces of artillery, to aid him. 17 258 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. On the evening of the 14th, while Baum is in camp, the Bos- cawen troops are at Manchester, twenty-five miles distant. The remnant of Col. Warner's Vermont regiment, which fought nobly at Hiihbardton, is also at Manchester, though Warner himself is at Bennington. At this same moment, a few Berkshire militia — ahont 150 — under Symonds, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Allen of Pittsfield, are on the march from Williamstown. August 15. The rain pours in torrents, but the Boscawen men are making the twenty-five miles between Manchester and Ben- nington. We may imagine them toiling along the forest road, reaching Bennington at night, hungry, weary, drenched. Almost at the same time the Berkshire troops arrive, and Parson Allen hastens to Gen. Stark's tent. " General," says the bluff preacher, *' the people of Berkshire have frequently been called ujjon to fight, but never have had a chance ; and we have resolved, if you will not let us fight now, never to turn out again." *' Do you want to go now, in the rain, at midnight ? " " No." " Well, if the Lord gives us sunshine once more, and I don't give you fighting enough, I won't ask you to turn out again." The morning of the 16th was calm and serene, the sky without a cloud. The Boscawen soldiers dried their clothes, and prepared for the battle. Stark, Warner, and Ashley reconnoitre Baum's position. Warner is a citizen of Bennington, and is familiar with every locality. Noon comes. Stark is a mile or more east of Baum's entrench- ment, on the east side of the Walloomsic river. He sends Stick- ney and Hobart with two hundred men to attack one hundred Tories, entrenched on a hillock by the river to hold the bridge which crosses the stream. He sends Col. Herrick with three hundred men to the rear of Baum, to attack from the west. Col. Nichols marches with three hundred men to attack from the north. Stickney and Hobart will attack from the south, and Stark himself from the east. Three o'clock. Herrick has made a long march through the woods, but has reached his position. Stickney, with the Bos- cawen, Concord, Loudon, Salisbury, Hopkinton, and Henniker L ^ %: ^ 1^ i» r» ia . ^^•^ • >*=^^T- ' '■^ ■ ->'• ^ .. s- ■■-..;•■■ ;f "•■'• ••'■7) ;°.t-- (•.•.' ^-^ <-»-' <....- .^' rrj^f •c .rr 260 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. troops, is emerging from the woods in front of the Tories. Each man has a corn-husk in his hat, for the Tories, like themselves, are in citizens' dress, and every man with a corn-husk in his hat is a friend ; all others are foes. Beyond Stickney are the Pl3'mouth, Eridgewater, and New Chester men, under Hohart. Then comes a rattle from Herrick's guns. Nichols takes it up. The Boscawen men, emerging from the cornfield, confront the Tories behind the breastwork by the bridge. Stark, with the main body, comes out into an open field. We hear his laconic speech : " There are the red-coats. They must be ours before night, or Molly Stark sleeps a widow ! " No need to repeat the household story — how the battle waxed hot and fierce ; how Stickney drove the Tories from their shelter. how the patriots pressed on, undaunted by the roar of Baum's cannon ; how, at last, destitute of bayonets, they charged up the hill, leaped over the breastworks, seized the cannon, overwhelm- ing the Hessians, trampling them beneath their feet ! On what page of history can there be found a counterpart to their heroism? — farmers, knowing nothing of war, destitute of bayonets, armed only with muskets and fowling-pieces, charging the veteran troops of England and Germany in their entrench- ments ! The troops disperse to collect plunder. Only a handful of the enemy have escaped. Baum is mortally wounded. The troops are exulting over the victory. They are filling their canteens with rum, from a cask which Stark has ordered up, when there is a sudden change of scene. Breyman, with his five hundred fresh troops and two pieces of cannon, appears, stung to the quick over the disaster. They open with their cannon. Not a regi- ment nor a company of Stark's command is in line. But there is quick rallying. Men do not stop to find their companies, but fall in where they are. The battle begins, fiercer than ever. The Americans are driven ; but at last Warner's men, one hundred and forty in number, appear upon the field. They are smarting over their defeat at Hubbardton. Their coming turns the scale. The British ranks waver, and finally break. A panic seizes the soldiers, who flee, throwing away their guns and equipments. The Americans follow them till night, and then return to gather •up the spoils. 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY, 261 The British loss is two hundred and seven killed and woixnded, seven hundred prisoners, seven hundred stand of arms, four can- non, and a great amount of plunder, — in all, a loss of about one thousand men. The American loss was thirty killed and forty wounded. Historians, in these later years, recognize Bennington as the turning-point of the American Revolution. Burgoyne's fate was decided there. With the failure of his expedition came the alli- ance of the United States with France, — resulting in the inde- pendence of the colonies. So, on that historic field, twenty-six citizens of Boscawen aided in securing to the world the right of man to self-government. CAPT. TETEK KIMBALl's DIARY. '' July 24th raarcht to Salsbury with 22 men and Loged in order for No. 4 [Cliarlestown]. " fryday 25th we marclit to sevil and Loged thare. '' Saturday 2Glh we marclit to Mr. Grout's at No 4 Loged thare. " Sunday 27th we niarcht to town [Charlestown] and Drawd 4 Days allowance. '' Monday 28 we marcht about 4 mile and Loged at Rockingham. " tuesdy 29 we marcht to Kent and Loged thare. " Wendsdey30 we marcht to Brumley & Loged at Capt Kelleys. '• tliiirsdey 31 we marclit over the green mountains to manchester to Head Quarters & Loged thare. " fryday august 1st we Drawd 2 days allowance. Nothing extraor- dinary hapened this Day. '' saterdy 2 the scouts beat in a Drove of cattle. A rainy Day. " Sunday 3(1 Col Stickney came into camp in the Rain, " JVIondey 4th nothing extraordinary hapened this Day. Abner Chace joined our company. '' tuesdy 5th sim Danford come in and joined us. ' Wendsdy 6th general Stark come in. "tiiursdy 7 orders came for a scout to go to the crick [Otter Creek]. Lt Col [Emerson] 1 Capt [Kimball] 4 sub 83 officers [privates?] en- cluded paraded at the generals at 7 o'clock evening. Dismist & ordered to meet at 7 oclock in the morning. " trydy 8th marcht about lOO men for the crick. Col Emerson com- manded, niarcht 10 or 12 miles campt at Danbury. " Saterdy 9tii marcht about 3 miles and Brakfast at a tory house then marcht to Dedham & campt. 262 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. .*' Sundy 10th we marcht to Rutland took 2 hogsheads of Rum & marcht b.ick to Dedham and Loged tliare. " monday 11th sent a party & found 2 barrels of rum & some whugar " tuesdy 12th we marcht to fisks and Loged. Alarm was made. " Wendsdy 13 we marcht and campd with the Drove and cargo. "thursdy 14th we marcht to Manchester " frydy 15 we marcht to Bennington " Saterday 16 we formed the Brigade & liad a battle with the enemy in whicii I Received a slite wound. '' Sandy 17 I went & viewed the ground where the Battle was & re- turned to camp, and Laid in camp all Day. " Mondy 18 we Lay in the camp sent out scouts Berried some Dead " tuesday 19th I went to town to see the sick & wounded. Rote a Letter to send home. '' wensday 20 we Lay in our camp & I v/ent & viewed the ground where the battle was. " Thursdy 21 we left tlie Lines & marcht about 2 mile & Quartered in a liarn at one abbots. "■fryday22 we Lay in the barn. Notl)ing extraordinary hapened this Day. " Saterdey 23 I went to town to see the sick and wounded. " Sunday 2-ith I went to see the sick to town the afternoon went to meeting. " monday 25th I went to town to the Vandue of the plunder. " tuesday 26 sarch was made for plunder in the company. " Wensday Aug 27 I went to Vandue. " thursday 28 Nothing extraordinary hapened this day. " fry day 29 I went to Vandue. " Saterday 80 I went to see the ground where the battle was witli Lt Center & Dr flanders, & the soldiers come in from Boscawen [another company that arrived after the battle]. " Sunday 31 major Head Died about Sun Rise. Burried at Evening. "Sept Monday 1st we built a Booth to drink tody in. " tuesday 2 timothy Johnson had a disciiarge from the army " wensday, 3d timothy Johnson went of home '' thursday 4th I went to Vandue & bot a hatian [Hessian] gun for 49 shillings '' frydey 5 ordered to be ready to march to Ranzelers mills, and I ■went 10 town and saw the Bayraen [Breymen prisoners] march for manchester. " Saterdey 6 we marcht to st Coyce & Barrickt [barracked] thare. " Sunday 7th I went to Head Quarters and Drank some whiskey at Ranclyes seller [Rensselaer's cellar]. 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY. 263 *' Monrlay 8th nothing extraordinary hapened this Day. "tue^dey 9th orders came to hold ourselves in Rediness to march to- morrow morning by Sun Rise for Still water. " weiidsdey Idth we marcht to Cambridge and Loged " thursday 11 we marclit to Still water and canipt the East side of North River Thare I saw Nehemiah Carlton "fryday 12 we marcht over the River and campt on the West side. " saterdey 13 orders came to march and we swung our packs and marcht about 3 miles & joined the continental army & campt in the wood. " Sundy 14th I went through the Encampment to see my acquaint- ance, thare I saw Nehemiah Carlton and in the afternoon Mr. Ilibbert preacht a sermon. "Mondey l-5th orders came to parade the Regt & accordingly we was paraded & Col Ashley told us that it was the Desire of Genl Gates that we should stay one month Longer & he would give ten Dollars a man & the men seemed Not inclined to stay on that consideration & at night General Stark came into camp. " tuesdey 16th Nothing extraordinai-y Hapened this Day. "Wendsday 17 we Lay in our camp "thursdy 18 I Left the camp & marcht to Benningtown & Loged at Mr Abbot's. " frydey 19. I went to town & gut the plunder money for the com- pany £1 — 13 — 7 — which was in the Benningtown fight of my com- pany " Saterdey 20th marcht to Shaftsbury & gut Brakfast from thence to Manchester & gut dinner then to the mountains & Campt " Sundey 21 marcht to Capt Ritty's gut Brakfast then to Kint [Kent?] at Dr aeons & oged thare " mondey 22d we marcht to No 4 & Loged at Col Hunts. " tuesdy 23d I marcht to Unity and Loged at Capt Huntoon's " Wensd}'' 24 I marcht to Perrytown and Loged thare. " Thursdy 25 I gut home. "The plunder money at Bennington Divided to 2250 men. " A Return of the killed & wounded General Starks Brigade in ye ac- tions at Benningtown. " Col Hubbert Regt 3 killed 7 wd " Col Nichols Regt 9 killed 13 wd " Col Stickney Regt 2 killed 18 wd "total 14 killed 38 wd 264 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777. " ITEMS. " Charlestown July 28 1777 £ s. p. *' paid for clove water for the company — 10 — 6 paid for brandy — 9 — Lieut Harbert paid for Bread — 1 — Capt paid for Bread — 1 — " Benningtown August 31 "Capt Webster Dr to 0—12—0 Paid to Daniel Uran.'' This was Capt. Ebenezer Webster of Salisbury, father of Dan- iel and Ezeldel. £ s. " Paid for Sargt Abbot 0—3—0—0 Elk. Dan ford Dr 0—3—6 Asa Corser Dr — 6 — Wm Jackman Dr — 6 — paid for Lieut Harbert — 1 — 1 paid Ensign Bohonnon Lieut. Harbert — 9 — "Benningtown — 5 1777 " this Day settled our mess & find that our expenses at mr Abbot is — 13—2, paid by Lieut Harbert. " 11 Batches of Bread Baking 16s. — 6 for the company 2s.— to each mess of the [regiment?] for Baking 8—5-7-0 4 Bakings 0-6-0 " Sept 1777 s " Lent to Elknh [Elkanah] Danford 12—6 £ s Lent to Capt Webster 0—1—0—0" Although Boscawen had sent twenty-six men to Bennington, although several of the citizens were in the Continental line, there were others ready to leave at a moment's notice. The news of the victory was soul-stirring. There is no evidence that any orders were received for additional troops, only the general re- quest for everybody to turn out. On the 24th of August, twelve men started for Bennington, to join Capt. Kimball's company. Q ^ /ycA^o-L..^-x/u-'e^~-^-i^n^ 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY. 265 Nathaniel Burbank, Bitfield Plumer, Benjamin Atkinson, Joseph Pear.son, John Flanders, David Flanders, Joseph Flanders, Ezekiel Flanders, Jeremiah Eastman, Jeremiah Hidden, Nathan Cor.ser, Capt. Peter Coffin. Lieut. Col. Henry Gerrisli was not in the battle. He raised a battalion, wliich went into service a few days later under General Stark. At a sale of plunder, held at Battenkill, October 18. 1777, Col. Henry Gerrish was chosen clerk, and Capt. Sears, vendue mas- ter. Capt. Sears Avas undoubtedly Capt. Sears of Bennington. Where the "plunder" was obtained is not quite clear. There was a large amount of dry goods, watches, knives, and clothing. The note-book of Col. Henr}' Gerrish is badly blurred. A few ex- tracts are given : "At a vendue held at Battenldll Octob 1S"> 1777 Henry Gerrish chosen Clerk Capt Moulton[?] to assist him Capt Sears Vendue Mas- ter: Capt Ford the Highest bidder 1 gun 1 gun Job Moulton one white horse Col Henry Gerrish one watch Capt Ford 1 watch Cajat Sear Sword David Danford 1 coat John Coffin 1 set curtains Ensign Morrill cambrick Enoch Coffin white Holland David Danford two towels and remnant of Holland Joseph Tales pair slieets Mark Currier 19 yds Lawn Samuel Hopkins Indian stockings Alex Bar check*! Linen £3 s p 3— 3 3— 9 G— 0— 8_U— 11—14" 3—18— 15— 4—13— 2—11— 2—11— 1— 1— 4— 4— 4— 4— 16— 2—15— The sale of plunder amounted to £298 Is. 6d. FALL CAMPAIGN. The town had fifteen soldiers in the fall campaign. In a note 266 MILITARY HISTORY. [1777 in Col. Henry Gerrisli's book, we find the number of soldiers from adjoining towns in this campaign : " Concord 32 Ilopkinton 22 Boscuwen 15 Hillsborough 7 Bow 6 Warner 4 86—6 " The annexed '' 6 " is explained below. " Charlestown Oct 4"^ 1777. "John Church Esq " S'' please to Deliver the Bearer 22| lb of Powder for 86 men of my Regiment & six men of Col Even's Regiment " Henry Gerrish Lt Col." It is quite probable that the plunder of the Battenkill sale came from the vicinity of Fort Edward, and was taken by the New Hampshire troops, who were in the rear of Burgoyne. " Concord Nov 7, 1777 " Recieved of Henry Gerrish my share of Plunder money taken above Fort Edward & also the shares of John Evens, Stilson Eastman Enoch CofBii, Moses Abbot, Philip Abbot, Amos Abbot, & John Farnum the whole being seventy four dollars & two thirds Recieved by me " Joshua Abbott, " Capt." The rally to the defence of the country was wholly independent of Congress. It was a state affair. The men who fought the battle of Bennington were citizens, and they declined to put themselves under Continental authorit}^ Upon the surrender of Burgoyne they wished to leave for home. The letter of thanks from Gen. Gates shows how highly the services rendered b}^ them were appreciated: " Camp at Saratoga Oct 18 1777 " Sir, I desire you will acquaint the volunteers of New hampshire of the High sense I have of their merit & service in the Defence of the common cause & of the alacrity & spirit with which they have stept forth at this critical ajid Important season to the Deliverance of their country. They have now my Leave to return home with their Honor- 1777.] MILITARY HISTORY. 267 able Dismission convinced tliey will be ready upon every Important Oc- casion to join the Northern Army. ''I am sir your affectionate Humble Servant "Horatio Gates " Honble Brigad'' Gen Whipple, '• Copy '• To Col Gerrish" CONTINEXTAL SOLBIERS. Three regiments were raised by the state at the beginning of the war for the Continental service. The muster-rolls of Stark — the first — give the names of six citizens of Boscawen, with the date of enlistment and discharge : " Batchelder William Enlisted 10 Jan 1777, Dis 1 Jan 1780 " Bishop Enos Enlisted 1 Jan 1777 died 8 Aug 1778. He was cap- tured by the Indians 15 Aug 1754, & taken to Canada [see p. 69]. " Evans Edward Enlisted 7 Feb 1777, Discharged 1 Dec 1781 " Flanders Philip Enlisted 1 Jan 1777, Discharged 1 Jan 1782 " Ilalcomb Matthew enlisted 1 Jan 1777, Deserted 9 July 1777 " Stevens Peter Roswell enlisted 1 Jan 1777 Discharged 1781." These, with the exception of Halcomb, took part in the battle of Stilhvater, September 19, and of Saratoga, October 7. In the fii*st battle, three Xew Hampshire regiments, and Dearborn's battalion of 250 Xew Hampshire troops, were attached to Morgan's rifle- men, and with them did all the fighting from one o'clock till nearly four in the afternoon, sustaining the brunt of the battle. The 62d British regiment of 600 men was nearly annihilated by their withering fire. KHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN. The call for troops during the year was for the defence of Rhode Island. Below are the names of the soldiers who served in that campaign : FROM THE selectmen's BOOKS. "The Men Hereafter Named have Recieved the Savrill sums set against each of thare Names in Consequence of thare going to Rhode Island at the Request of the Committee of Safety. £ s p Enoch Gerrish 10— 0— Joseph Gerrish 10 — — Daniel Shepard 10— 0— 268 MILITARY HISTORY. [1798. Joseph Flanders ic — — Moses Biirbauk 10— 0— Thomas Gordon 10— — Nathan Davis 10 — — John Fhinders In — ( — Isaac Pearson 10 — — Wells Burbank 10— 0— Humphrey Jackman 10— — Samuel Morrill ]i — (i — Jedediah Hoit 10— (I — 180— 0— " " To the Treasurer of the state of New Hampshire, " Sir please to alow Winthrop Carter Constable for Boscawen the above sum of one hundred & thirty pound out of the State Tax for Boscawen assessed to order of the committee of safety George Jackman ) Selectmen Cutting Noyes j for Bo.-cawen "Boscawen Sept 3. 1778 " The war liaving been transferred to the Soutliern states, there was no further call for the militia. Several citizens enlisted in the Continental service, but their names are not known, except those serving in the 1st regiment. In 1798, in consequence of the interference of French war ships with American merchantmen, serious trouble was apprehended between the United States and France. Congress established a provisional army of eighty thousand men, and appointed Wash- ington lieutenant-general. Nathaniel Green, Esq., was commissioned a captain, with Moses Sweat, of Concord, first lieutenant, and Israel W. Kelley, of Con- cord, second lieutenant. Eight citizens of Boscawen enlisted : Sergt. Joseph Flanders, Moses Corser, Moses Jackman, Nathan Danforth, Daniel Colby, Bernard Young, Benjamin Fisk, Joshua Sawyer. The company assembled at Concord, having their quarters for a few days at Osgood's tavern, and from thence marched to Oxford, Mass., the rendezvous for the New England troops. Negotiations were entered into, and a war averted, and the soldiers dis- charged. "^ f, ^y^^/UV/'o. 1812.] MILITARY HISTORY. 269 WAR OF 1812. There are no rolls in the adjutant-general's office showing what citizens enlisted in the service of the United States during the war of 1812-13. Col. Timothy Dix commanded a United States regiment on the frontier, and died in the service [see Biographj^]. Several British ships of war made their appearance on the coast, and it was supposed that Portsmouth would be attacked. The militia was called out to defend it. There were two drafts, — one for three, and the second for two months. Those serving under the first draft W'ere, — Ensign Richard Little, John P^astman, Joiin Stone, Jacob Flanders, Moses Call, Josiah Gale, Enoch Burbank, Nicholas Gookin, Samuel Burbank, Simeon Jackman, Moses Cross, Joseph Moses, Stephen Danforth, Daniel Shepard. [14] Under the second draft for two months, — Capt. Silas Call, who died in Abel Eastman, service, Samuel Watson, Eleazer Burbank, Ephraim Noyes, Jesse Sweat, James Noyes, Benj. Severance, Theodore George, Amos Rolf, Ebenezer Moody, William Haines, Amos Sawyer, Guy C. Flanders, Samuel Jackman. [15] Of those enlisting in the regular service, the names of a few only are known. Benjamin Jackman, Fisk, died, Moses Jackman, Chellis Eastman, died, Edmund Day, killed, George Littlefield, died, Benjamin Fisk, died, Eliphalet Burpee, died. THE MILITIA. No records exist to tell us when the first military company was organized in Boscawen. Through the Indian wars every man was a soldier. It is known that a company existed in Boscawen as early as 1769, and that Peter Coffin was captain, his commis- sion having been granted by Benning Wentworth. 270 MILITARY HISTORY. [1812. His successors in command were Capt. Samuel Atkinson, Col. Henry Gerrish, Capt. Peter Kimball. How long Capt. Kimball commanded, or who succeeded liim, is not known. In 1792 the militia of the state was reorganized. Each regi- ment was composed of two battalions, the regiment being com- manded by a lieutenant-colonel, and the liattalions by majors. The 21st regiment was thus constituted : First Hattalion. Boscawen, Salisbury, Andover, New Lon- don, Kearsarge Gore (Wilmot). Second Battalion. Hopkinton, Warner, Sutton, Fishersfield, Bradford. SECOND INFANTRY. A second infantry company was formed prior to 1794, including those liable to military duty west of Beaver-dam brook. The officers were Benjamin Little, captain, Nathan Kilburn, lieu- tenant, Jeremiah Gerrish, ensign, Capt. Little continued in command probably three years. The military rations on a muster day for a jiortion of the regi- ment, — the battalion commanded by Maj. Joseph Gerrish, — will be seen from a bill found among his papers : "Maj Joseph Gerrish to Nathl Noyes Dr Oct 15 1795 £ To 15 Gals 3 qts 6 Gils WI Rum delivered the companies 5 — 11 — 7 To 3 Quarts ditto to Lt Webster 5—3 To 3 Quarts Brandy ditto 7— IJ To 33 D'" Gingerbread 5—0 £6-8—11^ (men) GalQgilla Capt Chandler's Company 89 — 2 — 3 — 1 " Petingales " 70—2—0—6 " Gale " 55—1—2—7 " Clement " 07- 2— 0— 3 " Little " 93—2—3—5 " Scribner " 86—2—2—6 " Cliandler the troop 50—1—2—2 15_3_6 Errors excepted Nathl Noyes 1812. J MILITARY HISTORY. 271 The Ttli Infantry, commanded by Capt. Benj. Little, was so numbered till the division of the regiment in 1821, when it be- came the 6th company, but subsequently it was changed to the 2d Infantry of the regiment as well as the 2d in the town. THE CAVALRY. The 1st Cavalry of the 21st regiment was organized at an early date. It is known to have been in existence prior to 1787. It was called " the troop." In the military organization of the state, it was contemplated that there should be one companj' of cavalry connected with each regiment. The uniform consisted of white pants, red coats with bell buttons, a black leather cap ornament- ed with an eagle on a white shield, with chains and tassels, and a red and black plume. To be a trooper sometimes required hard riding and hard drink- ing. All new members were " crowned " when admitted. From the private papers of Joseph Couch, who was farrier to the troop, and upon whom was laid the duty of " crowding " the new mem- bers, we obtain an insight of the military customs of the early part of the century. The new soldier being brought before the company, the master of ceremonies made an address, first to the officers, then to the soldiers, followed by the giving of the right hand of fellowship, the singing of a song, and the drinking of a great deal of grog. SONG. Tune — Lady Washington. "Come, thou brave horseman! my hand I will give you, And will help you to join with the strong. You're welcome here to dine, As our company you'll join, And we all will unite in the song. " Hail, mighty trooper! submit to your captain And he'll lead you, we trust, in the way — In the way that you should go, As we trust that you do know, And we all will unite in the main. '' Hark! hear the trumpet: you, my brave soldiers. While that you're clad in the red, 272 MILITARY HISTORY. [1812. The sword is at your side, In my hand you may confide, While the wings of the eagle are spread. " The soil that's enriched by the blood of brave men, Shall ne'er be oppressed by the slave. Then let traitors vaunt their pride, In our captain we'll confide, While this red coat is honored as brave !" THE CHARGE. "Brother soldiers : You look like hardy sons of freedom, in whom our confidence may with safety repose. Then how unspeakably great is your privilege, seeing the eyes of all who have suffered in the cause of virtue have earnestly looked towards the privilege you may now en- joy, and have justly expected with you to receive the crown of liberty, and with you to drink the water of freedom through our happy land!" " Since a charge you demand, I can't say you nay, But feeling quite sure I have little to say ; I must task my invention to bring it in rhyme, With all my endeavors to make it combine. " To take a sprig of Fashion's part. You Volunteers with all your heart ; To every wit the gauntlet throw. Who dares assail or give a blow; And each one of this little gang Will give a whack for every bang; Receive a jeer for every gibe That's aim'd against the trooping tribe.'' Chorus : " Fill while we may, For that's the right way; The night will be on While we drink down the day." THE ARTILLERY. The Artillery company was the second vokinteer company in the regiment, organized about the year 1809, and was supplied by the state with a four-pound field-piece. It was a vigorous com- pany for many j'-ears, but its fortunes began to wane with the 7 ,/^>^^?^ 1812.] MILITARY HISTORY. 273 general dec,\y of the military system, and was disbanded in 1849. Nathaniel Thurston was its last eommander. LIGHT IXFANTllY. The Boscawen Light Infantry company was formed in 1811. Moses Gerrish, afterward colonel, was chosen captain, Abraham Burbank, lieutenant, and James Giddings, ensign. A uniform was obtained the next year. It was the third in the regiment of volunteer companies. From that time to the abandonment of the military system throughout the state, it was known as an efficient, energetic, and well-drilled compan}-. Just before the downfall of the S3^stem, the company obtained the rich and costly uniform of the New England Guards of Boston. Its last appearance on the muster-field was one of its best, — at the brigade muster at Henni- ker, in 1850. The ranks were full, and the soldiers under a high degree of discipline, with an efficient commander, Capt. David E. Burbank, son of the first lieutenant of the company, Capt. Abra- ham Burbank, its first commander. THE RIFLE COMPANY. Although there were two volunteer companies in town, besides one third of the cavalry, the military spirit was high enough to bring into existence a volunteer rifle compan}^, which was formed in 1839, with Fitz Heiuy Boyden as captain. The natural sup- position would have been, that a young and energetic organization, ably officered, would have overshadowed the existing corps, — the Light Infantry ; but the men in the Light Infantry, instead of yielding their prestige, put forth new efforts, — and the two or- ganizations, composed almost wholly of men residing in the west- ern section of the town, maintained their respective positions, in generous rivalry, till the abandonment of the military system. MUSTERS. Military musters were great events in the olden times. The military spirit was high. Ever}^ able-bodied citizen, between the ages of 18 and 45, was called vipon to do military duty. Men are martial by nature. They love to march after "The ear-piercing fife and spirit-stirring drum." 18 274 MILITARY HISTORY. [1812, There was a healthful rivalry between the different volunteer organizations, — each company desiring to appear with full ranks, and to show its superior efficiency in drill and discii)line. Every soldier of the volunteer companies looked forward to muster- day with unalloyed pleasure. The approaching event Avas for weeks the theme of conversation. Everybody went to muster ; — the soldier, to perform his duty ; his wife, to admire him ; his chil- dren, to eat gingerbread and candy, to drink egg-nog, and explode fire-crackers. There was little sleep the night preceding muster-day. Each soldier deemed it his privilege to salute his officers by firing be- neath his windows, shattering the glass by his heavy charges. The " salute " was acknowledged by an invitation to the soldier and everybody else to step in and help themselves to rum, gin, whiskey, or brandy ; and, if the officer was married, to sit down to baked Indian pudding and beans. The day began with a carouse. By sunrise every road leading toward the muster-field was swarming with men, — soldiers on foot, on horseback, or in wagons, with troops of boys, and peddlers of every description. The volunteer companies took pride in being first on parade, to display their marching before the regimental line was formed. Then began the drum-beat, — the long roll, — the formation of the company by the corporal, the reception of the officers, the com- mand of the captain, " By sections, right wheel — march." Then the fifes and clarinets and bugles began, and the soul-stirring strains floated out on the morning air, and the soldiers, with full stomachs and steady steps, moved across the fields, to the delight of the admiring spectators. For an hour or more each company marched, countermarched, wheeled, in section, in battalion, filed right and left, passed defiles and obstacles, changed front, and dis- played itself to the best advantage. Then came the formation of the regimental line, the inspection and review, and dismissal for dinner, when each man ate as he never ate before. On this one day he gorged himself. Did he not pay for his dinner? Then he was entitled to all he could eat. Did the state furnish him with a dinner? Then he would have all he could get. Through the forenoon lie drinks several glasses of grog. He 1861.] MILITARY HISTORY. 275 takes another glass after dinner. In the afternoon comes the sham-fight, when muskets bhize and cannon roar. The soldier's legs are getting weary, and he takes more grog to give him strength. While the sham battle is going on, there is a crowd upon the field. Peddlers are hawking their wares, showmen exhibiting their two-headed calves, and pigs with eight feet. A sleight of hand performer is pulling ribbons out of his mouth, or chewing tow and spitting fire. The sham battle is over. The regiment is in line once more, the " rear rank " has been called before the colonel and thanked for the soldierly appearance of the troops, and the regiment is dis- missed. Each company moves away, — some with broken ranks, some with soldiers who are unsteady on their legs. The drummer gets his rub-a-dubs mixed, and does not quite know whether he is play- ing " common " or " compound " time, while the fifer gets " Yan- kee Doodle " confounded with "On the Road to Boston." Soldiers are firing their last guns, hucksters disposing of their last sheets of gingerbread, and the bibulous crowd taking their last drinks of grog. The sun goes down through the murky cloud of the sliam battle, the cannon, with sulphurous lips, is limbered up and taken away, and the field gradually becomes deserted. WAR OF THE RKBELLION. The citizens of Boscawen and Webster were not behind their fellow-citizens in manifesting their patriotism at the breaking out of the Rebellion, and from the beginning to the end maintained their determination to preserve the country one and indivisible forever. The quotas of both towns were kept full, and all calls from the state promptly answered. REGIMENTS. 1st. Col. M. W. Tappan, 3 months. 2d. Col. Gihnan Marston, 3 years. 3d. Col. E. Q. Fellows, " 4th. Col. Thos. J. Whipple, « 5th. Col. Edward E. Cross, '« 6th. Col. Nelson Converse, " 276 MILITARY HISTORY. [18G3. 7tli. Col, H. S. Putnam, 3 years. 8th. Col. Hawkes Fearing, " 9th. Col. E. Q. Fellows, " 10th. Col. M. T. Donahue, " 11th. Col. Walter Harriman, " 12th. Col. Joseph H. Potter, " 13th. Col. Aaron F. Stevens, " 14th. Col. Robert Wilson, " 15th. Col. J. W. Kingman, 9 months. 16th. Col. James Pike, " 17th. Col. Henry O. Kent, " 1st Battalion Cavalry, D. B. Nelson, 3 years. ]st Co. Heavy Artillery, C. H. Long, " 2d Co. Heavy Artillery, J. M. Burton, " 1st Light Battery, Geo. A. Gerrish, " Co. E, 1st Sharpshooters, A. B. Jones, " Co. F, 2d Sharpshooters, H. M. Caldwell, " Co. G, 2d Sharpshooters, Wm. D. McPherson, " The ITtli Regiment was consolidated with the 2d. It has been a matter of no little difficulty to obtain an accurate and authentic list of those who served during the four years, who were citizens of the towns. The list of soldiers from Boscawen is given as per record in possession of Isaac K. Gage, which varies materially from the re- port of the adjutant-general, published by the state. The list as given below is the record by which the final settlement with the state was made, and may be accepted as correct. The records of the movements of the various regiments may be found in the reports published by the state, and in possession of the town clerk. SOLDIERS FROM BOSCAWEN. Regt. Eegt. Ames, Fisher, Co. E, 7 Brown, John H., Co. F, 9 Ayer, Henry H., Co. B, 3 Bidwell, Cyrus B., Co. E, 7 Abbot, Daniel C, Co. E, 7 Bidwell, George F., Co. E, 7 Atkinson, Edmund W\, Co. E, 16 Baker, Lt. Henry W., Co. E, 7 Bent, James AV., Co. F, Ballard, Lt. AVm. W., Co. B, 2 Sharpshooters. Brannan, Thos. Navy Brannan, Wm. H., Co. H, 4 Chandler, Samuel, Co. E, 7 Boynton, Jonas T., Sharpshooters. Clancy, John, Co. E, 7 J»/^^j x>-^^^^^-^^^ o 1863.] MILITARY HISTORY. 277 Regt. Regt. Clancy, Patrick, Co. K, 9 Perry, Wm. II., 8 Chase, Aloiizo, Co. I, 4 Pritcliard, Dexter, Co. E, 7 Chadwick, Edwin H.. Sharpshooters. Pierce, John, Co. E, 7 Coffin, George, Co. E, IG Pettengill, John H., Call, George, Co. H, U Heavy Artillery. Chadwick, Hale, Co. C, 17 Riley, Charles, Co. A, 5 Crane, Albert J., 22dMass. Raymond, Liberty G., Co. E, 7 Colby, John P., Cavalry. Reardoii, Michael, Co. G, 4 Duffy, Nicliolas, Co. G, 2 Reynolds, Martin, Navy. Danforth, Nathan C, Co. A, 5 Raley, Walter S-, Co. E, 3 Duckworth, William, Co. E, 7 Sheehan, Jeremiah, Co. C, 3 Danforth, Horace II., Cavalry. Shepard, Chas. P., Sharpshooters. Danforth, Sylvanus E., Co. A, 5 Shepard, Peter R., Co. E, 16 Damon, George, Co. I*>., 2 Smart, Horace, Co. E, 16 Day, George, 2d Heavy Artillery. Stevens, Alexander S., Co. E, 7 Day, Wilson, 2d Heavy Artillery. Story, Wm. H., Co. E, Evans, Isaac C, Co. E, 7 Sweatt, Joseph S., Co. E, 2 Flanders, Curtis, Co. I, 10 Simonds,CalvinW., Sharpshooters. Flanders, David A., Co. E, 10 Smith, Curtis, 7 Favor, Fred II., 3 Simonds, Joseph, Co. E, 7 Flanders, Josiah H., Cavalry. Sewell, William, Navy. Flanders David J., Navy. Spearman, Franklin, " Gage, Hiram, Co. B, 3 Spellman, John, Mayher, John, Co. C, 7 Thurston, Nathaniel, Mitchell. John, 3 Sharpshooters. Muzzey, Jolin, Co. E, 2 Tyler, James S., Sharp.'^hooters. Morse, Charles Thornton, Barnard, Co. A, 5 Morrill, Hiram J., Heavy Artillery. Tewksbury, Sumner P., Co. K, 3 Moulton, Charles, Navy. Tewksbury, Samuel F.. Co. G, 8 Morse, Daniel, Sharpshooters. Thornton, John C, Co. G, 8 McEvely, Herbert, Co. H, 10 Thurston, John P., Co. F, 4 Morrison, Benj., Sharpshooters. Wooley, Matthew, Co. E, 7 Paige, Alonzo, Co. D, 11 Wooley, Samuel, Co. A, 5 Pearson, Henry, Sharpshooters. Woodward, Albert B., Co. K, 4 Pierce, William M., Co. K, 9 Whitney, Charles S., Navy. BOSCAWKX ENROLLMENT. Citizens liable to do military duty April 30, 1865, 140 Total quota under all calls, 71 Soldiers in service, volunteers, and substitutes, 85 Surplus, 14 278 MILITARY HISTORY. [1863. SOLDIERS FROM WEBSTER. The record is from the papers in tlie town-clerk's office, and from the reports of the adjutant-general, — neither of them giving in full the company and regiments. Regt. Regt. Burbank, Calvin M., Co. B, 2 Ladd, Joseph M. Burbauk. Lt. David E., Co. E, 16 Lock, Warren F. Burbank, Ezekiel W., Co E, 16 Little, Ci)arles, Surgeon, Navy. 10 Macurdy, Capt. David A., Co. 14 H, 14 14 Macurdy, Mattliew, Co. H, 14 14 Page, Tristram S., Co. E, 16 Roby, Gardiner 16 Roby, Geo. S., 14 16 Sanders, Henry A. Sweatt, Sumner J. 8 Sweatt, Blaisdell, Co. H, 4 16 Stone, Lt. Frederick P., Cavalry. 16 Searles, Jefferson, 7 2 Sanborn, James O., 4 14 Sanders, Josepli E., Co. C, 16 Sharpshooters. 16 Sargent, Lt. Walter IL. Co. H, 14 16 Sargent, Isaac P., Co. E, 16 Sargent, John, Heavy Artillery. 16 Blanchard, Carter F., Co. E, Call, George, Corser, Hamilton P., Corser, David S., Couch, Calvin P. Chase, George C, Co. E, Chase, John B., Co. E, Fisk, Charles AV. Fellows, George S., Flanders, Daniel F., Co. E, Gerrish, James L., Co. E., Heath, Charles N.. Co. B, Jeffers, Edward F., Co. H, Jack, Hiram A., Co. H, Jones, Willard W., Co. H, Jackman, Jesse M., Co. II, Kilburn, Daniel P., Co. C, Sharpshooters. Story, Warren A., Co. E, Kelley, Andrew J., Co. C, Thompson. Hiram, 14 Sharpshooters Titcomb, Luther C, Co. E, 16 Kilburn, Lucien M., Co. E, 16 Thurber, Joseph, Co. E, 16 Libbe, W. H., Co. H, U Whittier, John Libbe, Frank, Heavy Artillery. Whittier, David J., Co. E, 16 Ladd, George W., Co. II, 14 WEBSTER ENROLLMENT. Citizens liable to do military duty, April 3, 1865, 63 Total quota under all calls, 36 Soldiers in service, 46 Surplus, 10 George S. Fellows is not credited to Boscawen. He was a former resident, hut enlisted from ISTashua. Eev. Arthur Little served as chaplain of the 16th Vermont. If the terms of service and the casualties can be correctly ob- tained, they will be given at the end of the volume. Boscawen Academy. [1761. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. ^|;l HE proprietors of Contoocoolv were required to set aside one ^4'^ eiglity-fourtli part of the land in their grant for .school pur- poses, though there was no stipulation in regard to establishing schools. Whether a public school was established prior to the in- corporation of the town is doubtful. The burdens of the proprie- tors were great. They had to support a minister, fight the Ind- ians, maintain a garrison, open roads, build their houses, cut down the forest, clear the land, and rear their families. Although the land had been freely granted, the outlay far exceeded the income. Many of the proprietors, weary of paying money where there was no prospect of a return, allowed their proprietary rights to be sold for taxes, and it is not probable that they taxed themselves as proprietors to maintain public schools. The records are silent in regard to any appropriation. Probably the instruction received by the children of the first settlers was wholly from their parents. In 1761, the year after the incorporation of the town, thirty pounds was appropriated for a public school, and Eev. Mr. Var- ney, who had been supplying the pulpit, was employed as teacher. The school was kept two months, — probably in Mr. Varney's house on King street. The next teacher was Eev. Robie Morrill, who taught in 1766. He had been dismissed as minister on the 9th of December, that year, and engaged at once in teaching. [See Biog.] In 1768, the name of Moses Morse appears upon the records. The appropriation of money was sufficient to employ him three months. 280 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1782. The records convey no information in regard to schools from 1768 to 1777. It is altogether probable that schools were taught ; for a com- munity so keenly alive to progress as that of Boscawen would not willingly deprive themselves of educational facilities. In 1777, though nearly all the able-bodied men were in the army, and the women had to do a large share of the work in the fields, a school was taught by Nathaniel Atkinson. In 1778, Nathaniel Atkinson and Mr. Henry were employed as teachers. The amount paid for schools shows a liberal appropria- tion, when the circumstances of the time are taken into account. In 1771), a school-mistress was employed, — the first in town ; but the name of the lady does not appear upon the records. In 1782, Mehitable Hidden began service as a teacher. She was a resident of Boscawen, living on Fish street. Of her sex, hers is the first name on the record. It is not known that she taught more than one term. Possibly she could not manage the roystering youths, who would be more intent upon kicking each others' shins, or pulling out handfuls of hair, than in giving attention to study. It was not in the nature of things that there should be much conning of books, for few of the scholars were in possession of text- books, or even a spelling-book. One reading-book served for a whole class. Then arose a teacher, — Rev. Caleb Bingham, boi-n in Con- necticut, 1757, a graduate of Dartmouth, 1782, and established a school for young ladies in Boston, 1785, — who felt the need of school-books. He set himself to work to provide a series, and is- sued six in all, which had a remarkable sale. The '•' Young La- dies' Accidence " passed through twenty editions, and there were issued not less than one hundred thousand copies. Of the "Child's Companion," about one liundred and eighty thousand copies were sold ; of the " American Preceptor," six hundred and forty thousand ; of the " Columbian Orator," about one hundred and ninety thousand ; of the " Youthful Catechism," one hun- dred thousand ; of " Juvenile Letters," twenty-five thousand — in all, one million two hundred and fifty thousand. Prior to the publication of these volumes there were no school-ljooks worthy the name. Not only were books wanting, but school-houses. Apartments in private houses were used. There were no desks, and the seats 1783. J EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 281 were planks, resting on blocks of wood, without backs or other support. The school-rooms often were lighted by one window only. It required a firm hand to deal with sixty or more stal- wart young men. The wonder is, that any womaii had the courage to attempt the task. Quite likely the citizens did not consider " school-marms " a success, for no other female name appears till 1791, when Miss Phebe Knight, a young lady who had just moved into town from Newbury, taught the school on Little hill. Tliat she was a suc- cessful teacher is evident from the fact that she continued to teach, till her marriage to Mr. ISTicholas Moody. From that day to the present, female teachers have done their full share in educating the successive generations. During the remaining years of the century, the ''school dames" were Phebe Knight, Lydia Varney, Mary Thurston, Mary Stiekne}', jSTabby Jackman, Olive Bakci-, and Sally Gerrish. The educators of a community occupy a responsible "position. They mold character; they do much towards making or marring the future man. They take charge of the mind and the heart at their most plastic period. They are mind-builders. They hold the future well-being of the community in their hands ; and in a history of a town which has moved steadily ujjward to a higher plane of civilization they should have honorable mention. It has not been possible, however, to obtain more than a partial list of names. Those teaching prior to the year 1800 Avere, — 1761. Rev. Mr. Varney [see Civil Hist.]. 176G. Eev. Eobie Morrill [see Biog.], 1767. Eev. Nathaniel Merrill [see Civil Hist.]. 1768. Moses Morse. 1777. Nathaniel Atkinson. 1778. Mr. Henry. Col. Joseph Gerrish [see Gen.]. 1779. A school-mistress. 1780. Moses Burbank. Jonathan Atkinson. 1782. Mehitable Hidden. Eichard Morse. 1783. Jonathan Thurston. James Tillan. 282 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1790. 1784. Ephraim Wood, of Lebanon, on King st. Josiah Burbauk, on Water st. William Fisk, Putney dist. Jonathan Atkinson, on High st. James Tillan. 1785. Ephraim Wood, King st. Josiah Burbank, Water st. Master Brown, on Corser hill. Joseph Wood, Fish st. William Fisk. Tristram Sayers, Battle st. 1786. Nathaniel Knight, King st. and Water st. Josiah Burbank, Battle st. 1787. Eev. Eobie Morrill, King st. Master Graham, Water st. Master Carpenter. Nicholas Elliot. Nathaniel Knight. Ephraim Wood. Somersby Pearson. Daniel Bm-bank. Master Evans. The last named was from Warner, and was a strict disciplina- rian. SCHOOL MONEY, "Lower School Dist £20— .5— 2 Fish st (3—17—11 Water st 17— 1—11 Corst-r Hill 12—1.5—10 Pleasant st 5—19— 8 West of Bliickwater .5—14— 7 Long Pond 3—16— 4 High st 7—10— 4" 1789. Josiah Burbank, Corser hill. Eliphalet Little, Battle st. Enoch Little, Corser hill [see Biog.]. Enoch Little, Putney. Joseph Atkinson, Water st. [see Gen.]. 1790. Moses Kelley, King st., of Salisbury. 1793.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 283 Master Webber. 1791. Kev. Robie Morrill. Phebe Knight [see Biog.], Little hill. Sally Pearson, of B., High st. Oliver Davis, Corser hill, of Warner. He was a fine bass sing- er, and sat at the " head " in the singers' seats. After teaching many years, he opened a store in the house now occupied by Geo. Little. 1792. Hannah Jackman, King st. Edmund Carleton, Water st. Born in Haverhill, Mass., grad- uated Dartmouth, physician at Haverhill, N. H. Married Anna, daughter Capt. Peter C. Coffin. School was taught in the north- west corner room of Capt. Coffin's house, Water st., now owned by Mr. Colby. Enoch Little, Little hill. Mary Thurston, Little hill. Oliver Davis, Corser hill. Eufus Anderson, High st. He was father of Kev. Rufus An- derson, of Boston, for many years secretary of American Board of Foreign Missions. Lydia Varney, High st. Somersby Pearson, Fish st. Silas Stickney. Stephen Pottei*. Moses Kclley, of Salisbury, Corser hill. Phebe Knight, White Plain. (From selectmen's book.) " Paid Saml Corser for use of school room 16 — 6" The first appropriation for Bashan was made this year, — £2 10s. "Paid Daniel Cass for the use of "his house to keep school in— 18 shillings. "Paid John Jackman for boarding School Daim South end Long Pond 1—4—0" The names of Hannah Jackman and Phebe Knight appear as " schoor daims " the first after Mehitajjle Hidden in 1782. 1793. Daniel Burbank, White Plain. Mary Thurston, Little hill. 284 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1797. Enoch Little, Little hill. Oliver Davis, King st. David Quimby, Fish st. 1794. Mary Stickney, Little Hill. Moses Coffin, Little Hill. He resided in the house now occu- pied by Jabez Abbott. Hannah Little [see Gen.]. School Dame Foster. Daniel Burbank. 1795. Ezra Carter, Corser hill. Lydia Varney. Oliver Davis, High st. David Qniniby. Mary Stickney. Polly Varney, Little hill. 1796. Oliver Davis, High st. ]S"abby Jackman, Water st. Moses Coffin. Lydia Varney. 1797. Oliver Davis, King st. Olive Baker. David Quimby, Water st. Nabby Jackman, North Blackwater. Anna Danforth, Bashan. Moses Thurston, Little hill. He taught many j^ears, and was known through life as "Master Thurston." He was a severe discijilinarian. One of his instruments for maintaining discipline was a leather ferule, composed of two pieces of hammered sole- leather, with sheet lead stitched between them. On one side he punched four holes, on the other five. He usually asked a culprit which he would have, — four holes, or five. If the trembling urchin said four. Master Thurston usually gave this reply : "For fear of making a mistake I will give you both." Each stroke left an arraj' of blisters, the size of the holes, on the aching palms. He taught several years in West Salisbur3^ It was a turbulent school, and it i^sed to be jocosely said that the surrounding farms never would have been cleared of alders if Master Thurston had not been employed as teacher. 1809.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 285 Sucli severity of punishment as was administered by Moses Thurston was a part of the system of the time. Not every master was so severe, but the scholars were rude and turbulent, and a mas- ter who could not wield the ferule stood little chance of success. 1798. Master Evans, King st. Oliver Davis, Corser liill. Lydia Varney, White Plain. Nabby Jackman, Little hill. 1799. David Story, Fish st. Master Howe, King st. Kufus Anderson, High st. Master Hoyt, Water st. Master Sawyer, Little hill. Kev. Moses Sawyer, of Salisbury, graduated Dartmouth col- lege, settled in Henniker, and in Saugus, Mass., died in Ipswich, Mass. Sally Gerish, Little hill. Thomas Shepard, Putney. Lydia Varney, Corser hill. David Quimby, N. Water. Philip Colby, Corser hill. THE KEW SCHOOL LAAV. Not till 1809 was there any general improvement in the schools [see p. 169]. The appointment of a superintending committee, the great interest taken in education by Eev. Mr. Wood, Rev. Mr. Price, Ezekiel Webster, Nathaniel Green, and others, gave a new impetus to the cause of education. Select schools were taught by young gentlemen from Dartmouth college. The old theor}'-, that a man must be a master, gave place to the new idea that he must be a teacher. Rewards of merit were found to be more potent than the ferule to stimulate the scholar. There was a marked improvement during the second and third decades of the century. The schools, the whole community, moved to a higher plane. Under the new law the schools were placed under the control of a superintending committee, consisting of Rev. Samuel Wood, Rev. Ebenezer Price, and the selectmen, — Stephen Gerrish, Jo- seph H. Morrill, and Peletiah Peaslee. 286 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1809. The committee voted to visit tlie schools " the second Tuesday after their commencement, and the Tuesday preceding their close, and to this end public notice shall be given the Sabbath before such visit." In the estimation of that generation, education and religion were closely allied. Men must be intelligent to be good citizens and Christians. " Voted that three of the committee (tliere being five) shall attend each visit, extraordinaries excepted. And should the case happen that but two, or one, shall be able to attend, after such public notice, it must be considered as the proper visit, and no new appointment can be made. "As no person can be permitted to engage in a school without certifi- cates of his or her qualifications and good moral character, it is the united opinion of this committee that while some reputable grammar school master and minister of the Gospel, or Preceptor of an Academy, &c., certify his or her qualifications in the various branches of litera- ture, the selectmen are the proper body to certify the Moral character of the person; and we shall therefore govern ourselves accordingly." The first visitation of the committee was made May 16, 1799, to School District No. 6, Little hill. " 1809. May 16. No. 1. " Tuesday, the committee according to public notice visited the school district No. 6 Little Hill under the care of Miss Mary Gerrish 32 children. Books, Spelling book. Preceptor, Geography, Grammar, Bible & Catechism." The catechism of the Westminster Assembly of Divines was as much a text-book as grammar. It was found in the New Eng- land Primer. " May 23'i No 2 " Tuesday — visited the School in No 2 "Water street under the care of Mrs Sally Martin, 35 children Books, Spelling book Preceptor, Geography, 1 in Grammar 1 writer. The bible not used & catechism not yet introduced. This School under disadvantages. " May 30 No 7. " Tuesday A. M visited School at White Plain under the care of Miss Sally Pillsbury, 25 children, Books, Spelling book, Testament & Cate- chism The scholars young, but ambitious & very observant of order. "No 3 " Same day A. M. visited School on Corser Hill under the care of Miss Phebe Thurston, 50 children 35 girls. Books, Columbiau Ora- 1809.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 287 tor, Geography, Testament Catechism, some writers, but none in gram- mar. "May 31 " Visited the School on King street under tlie care of IMiss Eunice Morrill 'M cliihlren, 2-4 girls, Spelling book, Preceptor, Geog, Gram- mar. Bible catechism some writers. '•June 5 No 5. Visited the School on Fish street under the care of Miss Apphia Gerrish 13 children. Books, Three in Geog, one in Gram- mar, Rest in Spelling, Catechism used but none in the Bible. This School is young & backwa<-d. " No 4 '' Same day visited High street School under the care of Miss Betsey AVorcester 26 children. Books — Spelling Websters 3'^ Preceptor, Geog'y, Bible, Catechism, 1 in grammar mostly young. " June 13 No 9 " Visited Long Pond School under the care of Miss Mary Parker 37 children Books, Spelling B. one in "Webster's 3'' P & one in the Bible. No Grammar, Geog y or Catechism — or writers. A pleasant num- ber of schollars who have been under the disadvantages of poor instruc- tors a miserable government & want of books. ''Same day P M No 8 '' Visited Bashau School, under the care of Miss Abigail Allen 13 children Books, Spelling Bo. Webster's 3 P & Catechism. None in Grammar Geogy, or writing, the School well governed & the children ambitious. " This day the committee compleated the first course of visits. In them they have endevored to ascertain the real state of each school at its commencement; to make those observations & propose those excite- ments to the children, which would be most likely to jwomote their fu- ture improvement; — also to counsel & advise the several Instructresses when needed to that government & mode of instruction which would be most useful. " We found in the several schools 268 children, as yet not accommo- dated with suitable school books; but generally well provided with capable Instructresses & under that order & tuition which promises much advantage to the children & great satisfaction to their Parents & at once shews a very wise aj^propriation of 2")roperty for the educa- tion of children under the sanction of law. Eben"" Price Scribe." These were summer schools, attended only by tlie youngest children. It will be noticed that arithmetic is not mentioned among the text-books. Mental arithmetic was not introduced till 288 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1809. alDout the year 1830. Its introduction produced great excite- ment. Many of the parents opposed it, on the ground that it would confuse the minds of the children, and would lead to insan- ity ! The geography in use was that published hy Rev. Jedediah Morse. The winter schools were attended hy the boj^s, who in summer were obliged to work on the farm. Many of them were stalwart young men. A true view of the state of education at the time may be obtained by comparing the summ'er and winter terms. WINTER TERMS. " Dec 4 'No 2 " Tuesday. Visited Water street. Jacob Sanborn Master children 43. 1 in abK, 14 in spelling book, 11 in Preceptor, 8 in Geog, 12 writ- ers, 3 in arithmetic & 3 in grammer. The Bible not introduced. Good order in the School & the Master well recomended. " Dec 5 No 9 " Visited Long Pond School, Charles Parker INIaster. Children 32. Well provided with suitable books, 1 in letters 3 in 2 syllables, 13 in easy lessons 9 in Preceptor 6 in Geog, 2 parsed Grammar, 1 in arith- metic. The Master very modest. The School not quite reduced to order. '•Dec 12 No 4 " Visited lligli street James Chadwick master. Children 30. Some deficiency in books, 1 in letters, 1 in 2 sylables, 2 in plain reading, 5 in 3 sylables, 8 in Preceptor 13 in Geog, 14 writers, 1 in Arithmetic & 1 parsed English. The Master very easy in instruction & government. " Sayne dni/ No 5 " Visited Fish street ]\Iiss Mary Eames Instructress. Children 16, 1 in Abs, 4 in two sylables, 2 in plain reading, 3 in Preceptor, 6 in Geog, 1 in Grammar, 6 writers, & 1 in Arit! metic. None in the Bible. The scliool not yet organized, the School Mistress capable. "Dec 19 No 1 " Visited King street School. 58 children, Enoch Corser Master. The School not quite organized, 24 read in Geog well except 7, 19 in Preceptor generally backward. The above 43 read Bible once a day, 4 in three sylables dull, 3 parsed correctly & 2 beginners, 26 writers mostly good, & 5 in Arithmetic forward. '' Dec20 No 8 " Visited Bashan School: 20 children Dan' Smith Master. The School not as yet formed to order, 10 writers very good, 2 in abs, 1 in monosylables, 2 in three sylables, 1 ditto better, 2 in 2 sylables & very 1827.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 289 well, 1 read the Hist of Indian Wars acceptably, 2 in Preceptor new Schollars & backward, 4 in English reader too fast, 4 in the Art of Reading well — 1 committing grammar & 2 parsed accurately, none in Arithmetic. The Master's deportment good. " Jan 15 No 3 " Visited School Corser Hill 61 children 20 girls 41 boys, Benjamin Gookin Master. 1^' Class 15 in Geog. 2^1 C 6 in Webster 3 P. 31 C 12 in Preceptor. 4'h C 4 in Testament. 5"^ C 11 in Spelling, 4 Syl. well. 6"> C 9 in 4 sylables 1 in 2 sylables 2 in letters 20 writers, 10 in arith & 3 in Grammar. School well arranged & governed. " Feb 14"! No 6 " Visited School Little Hill .52 Schol. Well arranged in a new & commodious School house under the care of Mr Smith 1 class 3 in 2 sylables 4 in 3 " 4 in Poetical lessons Spell B. well. 10 in Preceptor 4 in English Reader — well 27 in Geog — some too fast, others slow. 17 parsed grammar. 33 Spelt in Dict'y, Girls better than boys 4 in Arithmetic. 26 in writing. This School promises fair. " Feb 9 No 10 " Visited this School under the care of Mrs Sally Martin 16 children This School is backward, being quite a new District, but well arranged & very ambitious." SUMMARY. "Your Committee are presented with a very pleasing prospect, in the recommendment of the several Schools in town in the winter term- There are two Instructresses and seven Instructors whose qualifica- tions are very apparent in the order & arrangement of the schollars as well as in the variety of studies introduced. " In those schools where books were very deficient now a good supply of new & suitable books are introduced. 19 290 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY, [1829. " We observe a change of schollars, many young men & women in the pLace of Smaller ones who cannot attend. In this course of visits ■we have room to believe the winter term will be satisfactory to the dis- tricts & greatly to the advantage of schollars both great & small." The reports of the superintending committee from year to year show a marked progress. Arithmetic becomes a fundamental study. Morse's Geography, instead of being a reading-book, is used as a separate study. The "English Reader" takes the place of the American Preceptor. The Catechism disappears. The , Englisli Reader, Thomson's Seasons, Young's Night Thoughts, and Paradise Lost, become " parsing books." During the second and third decades of the present century, " select " schools were kept on Corser hill. Little hill, and the Plain. Students from Dartmouth college were usually employed. Thus gradually the plane of education advanced. BOSCAWEN ACADEMY. The need of permanent educational facilities of a higher grade was keenly felt, and measures were taken to establish an acade- m^^ The sum of $1,136 was subscribed for the erection of a suitable building. Joseph Chadwick gave tlie land upon which the building was erected, conveying it to the following named gentlemen, who had consented to act as trustees : Rev. Samuel Wood, Rev. Ebenezer Price, John Gi^eenough, Henrj^ Gerrish, Isaac Gerrish, Thomas Coffin, Hezekiah Fellows, Simeon B. Little, John Parmer; March 29, 1827. At a meeting of the trustees, it was voted to apply to the legislature for an act of incorporation. Academy building was erected during the year. Rev. Dr. Wood, beside making a generous donation, gave the shingles covering it, — shaved by his own hands. The bell was the gift of Daniel Webster. Ezekiel Webster gave liberally to aid in the construction of the building, which was erected by Capt. William Abbot. The school went into operation the last Wednesday in April, 1828, Miss Sarah Crocker, j^receptress, whose compensation was $3.50 per week. Feb. 11, 1829. The trustees voted that the committee proffer an instructor $150, and the tuition of the male dej^artment. The 1856.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 291 committee made a contract with Mr. Jarvis Gregg as Principal for four 3'ears on the above terms, the tuition being fixed at $3 a quarter, — he providing fuel and his own board. Eev. Mr. Wood, Eev. Mr. Price, and Ezekiel Webster, Esq., were chosen a committee to fix upon the solid branches of learn- ing. Oct. 28, Voted, that the approbation of the trustees be given to Miss Crocker, at the close of the public examination, and that it be conveyed to her in writing. Miss Crocker tauglit a female department in the spring of 1828. The male department was opened by Mr. Gregg in either the sum- mer or fall term, — tliere being two terms during the year. The number of pupils during the term was eighty-six. Jan. 19, 1829. The trustees voted unanimously, " that the thanks of the Board be presented to the Hon. Daniel Webster for his very generous donation of a suitable bell for our academy, and that the President communicate the same in the manner he shall deem the most respectful." In 1830, Mr. Gregg was released from his contract, and was succeeded by Mr. Charles Kittredge. LIST OF IICSTRUCTORS. 1828. Miss Sarah Crocker. 1829. Jarvis Gregg. 1830-32. Charles Kittredge, Miss Sarah Crocker. 1833. Miss Parker. 1834. Miss Axtell. 1835. Mr. Breed Batchelder. 1836. Mr. Breed Batchelder, Miss Sarah Poster. 1837. Miss Gray. 1838. Mr. Nathan Ballard. 1840. Joseph L. Lord. 1841. Spaulding. 1856. Jonathan Tenney. The trustees, in 1856, voted to loan the building to Mr. Tenney for a term of twenty j^ears, the lessee having the right to make such alterations in the building as he might deem necessary. Ex- tensive alterations were made, and the school became widely 292 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1872. known as the Elmwood Institute. In 18G8 the lease was can- celled by mutual agreement. In 1870, the building was rented by the trustees to School Dis- trict No. 1, on annual rental of $125. In 1872, it was voted that '^ in the opinion of the trustees it is for the interest of all concerned that the academy building and grounds be disposed of, the avails invested, and the increase appropriated for educational purposes. '' Voted to sell the building and grounds for $2000, with the condition that the bell shall not be disposed of, but kept in the building as at present." The funds thus obtained were invested in 1874 in the Penacook Savings Bank, the principal never to be Avithdrawn without the consent of a majority of the district. PENACOOK ACADEMY. The citizens of Fisherville, feeling the need of better educa- tional privileges than those furnished by the towns, in the winter of 18GG established the Penacook Academy. The first meeting for organization was held January 26. The following week the stockholders voted to proceed with the erection of suitable buildings. Hon. William H. Gage generously con- tributed a large lot of land. The school was ojiened November 6, the same year. The first board of instruction consisted of M. Weed, A. M., Mrs. Mary A. W^eed, and Miss Eliza T. Moore. Prof. Weed died June 28, 1867, and was succeeded by A. C. Stockin, A. m., who was succeeded in the spring of 1869 by J. F. Fielding, A. m. In the summer of 1870, Hiram B. Lawrence, A. m., was elected prin. cipal. Prof. E. C. Allen succeeded to the principalship in the fall of 1872. In the spring of 1875, A. C. Hardy, A. m., took charge of the school, changing its name, to specify its design and plan^ to Penacook Normal Academy. Its curriculum was made very much broader, and the course of study greatly enlarged; and the academy was put upon a footing that made it the peer of any school of its class in New England. The school was arranged in five departments, — Preparatory, Normal, Business, Scientific, and Classical. The board of instruction was enlarged from three to nine. Competent teachers were employed. Thus, by the liberality and energetic action of the trustees of < o o flH 1712.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY, 293 the institution, the people are in the enjoyment of superior edu- cational 2>rivileges. MUSICAL EDUCATION. The education of a community does not embrace merely those branches of learning taught in the public schools and academies : it includes the general culture of the communit}', — the advance- ment of art. Music has been classed in times past as one of the " fine" or '•polite " arts, but in these later days it has come to be recognized as a branch of general education. Previous to the present century, music had made little progress in America. The Pilgrims brought with them Ainsworth's Version of the Psalms, which was used in the church at Plymouth from 1620 to 1732. The Psalms, as translated by the divines sum- moned by King James, and the paraphrase as made by Ains- worth, were printed in pai'allel columns. The first Psalm was thus rendered : King James's Version. Psahn I. " Blessed is the man that doeth not walk in the Counsell of the wicked ; nor Stand in the way of Sinners; nor sit in the seat of the scornfull. " 2 J5ut hath his delight in the law of Icdiovah and in his law doeth meditate day & night.'" Ainsworth's Paraphrase. Psalm I. "10 Blessed that doth not in the wicked's counsell walk; nor stand in sinner's way; nor sit in the seat of scornfull folk. 2 But setteth in Jehovah's law, his pleasureful delight; And in his law doth meditate by day & eke by night." In 1640 the Bay State Psalm Book was published, which was in use for more than a century. The metrical structure of the Psalms was nearly the same as in AinsAvorth. The 133d was thus rendered : '' 1 How good and sweet to see it's for brethren to dwell together in uuitee: " 2 It's like choice oyle that fell the head upon, that downe did flow the beard unto beard of Aron : 294 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1712. The skirts of his garment that unto them went down. " 3 Like Herman's dews descent Sion's mountains upon, for there to bee the Lord's blessing life aye lasting commandeth hee." This book Avas a great favorite. It was revised and reprinted, in 1758, Ly Eev. Thomas Prince, pastor of the Old South Church, Boston ; and it is almost certain that the first settlers of Boscawen were accustomed to sing such poetry in their Sunday service. It is probable that those who came to Contoocook from New- bury were acquainted with Eev. Mr. Tufts's music-book, as Mr. Tufts was pastor of the Second church in ISTewbury, and in 1712 published a book containing twenty-eight tunes with rules. It bore the following title : " A very plain and Easy Introduction to the Art of Singing Psalm Tunes; With the Cantus or Trebles of Twenty-eight Psalm Times Con- trived in such manners as tliat the Learner may attain the Skill of Singing them, with the greatest Ease and Speed imaginable." Instead of notes, the first letter of each syllable was printed on the staffs,— f for/«, 1 for la. People sang by rote, and in conse- quence the melodies underwent many transformations. Rev. Mr. Walters, a Avriter of tlie period, thus portrays the singing of his time : " Singing sounds like five hundred different tunes roared out at the same time. The singers often are two words apart, producing noises so hideous and disorderly as is bad beyond expression. The notes are prolonged so that I myself have twice in one note paused to take breath." As there were no rules, all sang as they pleased, without regard to time. Some of the ministers saw that a reform was impera- ^tive ; that to have anything like uniformity in singing, there must be rules governing the rhythm and regulating the time ; that people must learn to sing by rule instead of by rote. Eev. Mr. Tufts, Eev. Cotton Mather, of Boston, and Eev. Mr. Walters, were zealous advocates for a reform. The attempt to bring about 1770.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 295 a new order of things produced great disturbance, and the excite- ment was at its height at the time the settlers of Contoocook be- gan their plantation. Ministers and people alike took sides upon the all-important question, the young people advocating a reform, and the old ones opposing it. Various were their objections. It was a new way ; it was not as good as the old way : there were so many tunes in Rev. Mr. Tufts's book — twenty-eight — that no one could ever learn them. The new way would make a disturbance in the churches. It grieved good men, exasperated them, and made them behave in a disorderly manner. The new way was popish ; it would lead to the introduction of instruments. The names of the notes, fa, sol, la, were blasphemous ! The old way was good enough ; the new way was a contrivance for designing jiersons to obtain money. The new way required a great deal of time to learn the rules ; it made the young disorderly ; it kept them from proper influences in the family. These and many other equally weighty objections to Mr. Tufts's method were gravely set forth in sermons preached by the conservative ministers of the old school, — for in those days, as now, and as will be to the end of time, there Avere the old and the new schools. The first settlers of Boscawen sang psalms. Not till a later day was there hymnology. In 1741, seven years after the settle- ment of Contoocook, Benjamin Franklin published an edition of Watts's Psalms and Hymns. About the same time Tait & Brady's ''Book of Psalms & Metre " was published. In 1764, Josiah Flagg, of Boston, published a book containing one hundred and sixteen tunes and two anthems, — the first book printed in America with the music in four parts. In 1770, Mr. Billings published his first book, which became very popular. From that date to 1820 the musical compositions were in the style of Billings, Holden, Swan, and Reed. The first settlers of Boscawen knew very little in regard to music. It is probable that the best singer among them could not sing more than a dozen tunes, the Old Hundredth and Windham being two of the number. We may think of Dea. George Jackman, or Dea. Jesse Flan- ders, as sitting in front of the pulpit in the old log meeting-house, and reading a line of Ainsworth's Paraphrase, and the congre- 296 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1807. gation singing it — the air. That finished, a second line is read and sung, and so on through the psalm. During the closing decade of the last century, hymn-books were introduced, and with them came the bass-viol and other instru- ments. Those who opposed the new method introduced by Rev. Mr. Tufts, argued correctly in regard to the use of instruments. Before the introduction of the viols, a pitch-pipe was used for "setting" the tune. The introduction of stringed and wind instruments produced a second excitement akin to that which agitated the churches a half century previous. Those who had the hardihood to play a viol were contemptuously called "fiddlers." An eccentric citizen. Doctor Eaton, a veterinary practitioner, who lived in the " Hollow," never became reconciled to their use. He called them wooden and catgut gods, — and they who used them were serving the devil ! The first teacher of music in Boscawen, probably, was Dea. Enoch Little, whose efforts in that direction are set forth in another place [see Biog.]. Soon after, about 1795, Master Elagg, teacher in the common schools, taught singing on the Plain. Master Buell was another teacher of music. BOSCAWEN MUSICAL SOCIETY. At the close of the last century, or at the very beginning of the present, the Boscawen Musical Society was formed. It was in existence in 1801, as we know from an order given on the treasurer, Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish : " Boscawen, Jan. 29th, 1801. Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish Treasurer for Boscawen Musical Society. Please to pay Mr. Som- ersby Pearson two dollars & fifty-eight cents for Bass viol strings & Clarrinet Reed. Joshua Morse, for Comittee " In 1807 the society appears to have been in a flourishing condi- tion. Thomas Cox was employed to instruct the members in singing. " Boscawen Feb. 25, 1S08 Lt Jeremiah Gerrish Treasurer for Boscawen Musical Society please 1809.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 297 to pay Thomas Cox Twenty Eight dolhxrs for teaching a singing school and tax on Singing Books. Soraersby Pearsons Beiij Clark [• Com." Joshua Morse ) Two of the members of the society were Daniel and Ezekiel Webster : both contributed to the funds. Daniel purchased a bassoon, and waited a long while for his pay, as will be seen by the following paper : OROER. "Lieut J Gerrish Treas of tlie IMnsical Society in Boscawen please to pay Mr Daniel Webster Esq, thirty-four Dollars a compen.^ation for a Bazoon by order. Somersby Pearson ") Joshua Morse > Com." Benj Clark ) " May 21st 1807 Reced Twenty-three Dollars on this order D. Webster" *' January 18, 1811 Reed of Lt Jere Gerrish eleven dollars in full on this order. E Webster for D. AVebster." In 1810 we find Ezekiel Webster one of the committee of man- agement, as per the following order : ORDER. " Lt Jeremiah Gerrish Treasurer of the Boscawen Musical society. Sir, Please to pay Samuel W. Lang Twelve dollars out of the funds of the society it being for cash paid by him for Clarionett. Somersby Pearson ^ Ezekiel Webster I ^°'^^" In 1809, Mr. Joseph S. Garman was employed to teach singing- school, and the society purchased of him a bass-viol, paying $14. In 1812, John Kinney was instructor, and in 1815, Moses Win- gate. The funds of the society were obtained by annual tax and subscription. Under this organization singing greatly improved. The " Vil- lage Harmony " was the book generally used. At the west end, under the energetic leadership of Dea. Enoch Little, followed by 298 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1821. Joseph Kimloall and Samuel Little, musical culture had a rapid advance. Isaac Noyes, living on Water st., hut attending meet- ing at the west end, hecame a proficient on the hass-viol. The choir under Dea. Little numhered ahout sixty. David S^Yeatt, still living, remembers a meeting of the choir on Corscr hill, and the singing of a select piece, — " Lord, what is man, — poor feeble raau, Born of the earth at first V His life's a dream, an empty show, Still hastening to the dust." It was the best singing he ever heard. Musical culture was advancing throughout the state. Rev. Dr. McFarland, of Concord, took great interest in its advancement, and through his instrumentality the " Central Musical Society " was formed, composed of the best singers and instrumental per- formers in Concord, Boscawen, Hopkinton, Dunbarton, and ad- joining towns. MARTIX LUTHER SOCIETY. On Dec. 4, 1S21, the prominent singers of the town met at the house of Benj. T. Kimball, on Water street, and organized a soci- ety for the cultivation of music of a higher order than had been attempted up to that time. The leading spirits in the enterprise were Benj. T. Kimball, Dr. John Rogers, Capt. J. C. Plummer, Henry Little, S. B. Little, Henry Little, Jr., Enoch Little, Stephen Sweat, Benj. Morrill, Nathaniel Morrill, Jeremiah Gerrish, of Bos- cawen, and Wm. G. Emerson. They applied for an act of incorpo- ration, which was granted July 3, 1822. Dr. John Rogers, a prom- inent physician, was elected president and leader. The society purchased the " Old Colony Collection of Anthems," the " Handel and Haydn Collection," and the " Social Harmony," — collections containing music of a high order from Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and an oratorio, " The Intercession," by King. The music required a much higher degree of culture than the music of b^^-gone da3's. Under the able leadership of Dr. Rogers the society made great progress, and soon brought about a revolution in the style of music used on the Sabbath. The fugues, that for a third of a century had been the delight of the people, gave place to 1833.] EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 299 compositions richer in liarmony, — tlie productions of the masters whose compositions still have power to charm the human ear. From 1822 to 1830 the society maintained its vigor. It num- bered about fifty members, male and fernale. It was reorganized in 1837, at the house of Alonzo C. Chadwick, who was elected pres- ident, and who was succeeded by J. H. Coffin, now of Portland ; but emigration was telling upon the community, and other forces were at work to disintegrate the society, and the members, after a wliile, ceased to meet. The bassoon jJ^n'chased by Daniel Webster, the bass-viol by Ezekiel Webster and Joshua Morse, from the old Boscawen so- ciety, were handed down to this organization, and quite likely may still be in existence in some garret. During the tAvo decades, — 1820 to 1840, — the choirs in town were accompanied by a variety of stringed and wind instruments — bass and double-bass viols, violins, flutes, clarionettes, bugles, and French horns. At the east end, John Jackman, Dr. John Rogers, Alonzo C. Chadwick, and Charles J. Chadwick played the viols, Jacob Gerrish the flute, J. H. Coffin the trombone, which Eev. Mr. Price, not for the moment remembering the name, once appropriately^ called a " shoveration." At the west end, Moses Thurston, Henry Little, Frederick Price, F. W. Coffin, and Enoch Coffin were violists, Sullivan Jackman played the bugle, Moses Bailey, M. G. Farmer, and Bitfield P. Little clarionettes. In 1837, at the installation of Eev. E. Buxton, J. H. Coffin played a melodeon, an instrument moved by the arm, just then invented, manufactured by Charles Austin, of Concord, who also began the manufacture of seraphines. Dea. Jeremiah Gerrish, long the. leader of the choir, an ardent lover of music, purchased the first instrument of this class maniifactured in America. Miss Polly L. Gerrish, his daughter, endowed in a remarkable degree with musical genius, soon became an efficient and cultivated player. The introduction of this instrument soon led to the purchasing of one of greater power for the choir, supplemented at a still later date by the instrument now in use. In 1833, E". D. Gould, of Boston, taught a juvenile school at the academy, also one for adults. He was a composer as well as 300 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1850. teacher, and some of his contributions are still in use, — especially the tune '" Woodland," to the words, — " There is a home for weary souls, By sin and sorrow driven : When tossed on life's tempestuous shoals, Where storms arise and ocean rolls, There's nothing true but heaven." The refined taste of Dea. Gould had a marked influence upon the singers of the period. At the east end, Prof. John Jackman, at an early date, ob- tained a "seraphine." In 1840, Benjamin Morrill began the manufacture of musical instruments in the house now occupied by Charles E. Chadwick. The same year the choir at the west end employed Wm. D. Buck, — then of Concord, later, physician at Manchester, — to teach .music. He was an energetic instructor, an organist, and far bet- ter acquainted with the science of music than any one that had preceded him. He taught, also, at the west end in 1841, and at the same time at the cast end. He introduced the " Boston Acad- emy" collection of sacred music, and established the choirs in both churches on a new foundation. He was followed at the east end by J. C. Cram, and other teachers, while at the west end, or at Bashan, Enoch Coflfin, Enoch Little, J. P. Farmer, Jeremiah Kun- nels, and C. C. Coffin taught, followed, in later years, by James L. Gerrish and Henry Pearson. At the east end, Prof. John Jack- man has supplemented the labors of his jiredecessors. From 1840 to 1850, several of the singers of Boscawen attend- ed the annual sessions of the Boston Academy of Music. In musical culture Boscawen and Webster have ever maintain- ed high rank. The impetus given by Dea. Enoch Little, from 1790 to 1800, never has lost its force. Successive leaders have lighted, as it were, their torches by the fire kindled by him, in the house of Henry L. Dodge, nearly a century ago, and given to the towns a standing in musical culture unequalled by any other rural community. ?»»<-„ 4* ^-r ^f!-" /7?i^' BIOGEAPHIOAL HISTOET- HE men wlio lay the foundation of society, and tliose wlio rear the superstructure of a Christian civilization, are worthy of all honor. In all ages, in every land, by every people, they who do great things for their fellow-men are held in honorable re- membrance. The Assyrians placed their heroes in the heavens, enthroning them amid the stars. We behold their warrior Nimrod, the Orion of the Bible, nightly making the circuit of the heavens, the briglitest constellation of the northern sky. The Greeks found j)laces for their heroes in the Pantheon, amid the gods. The people of China guard with reverential care the halls of their ancestors, and, in their reachings after immortality, picture to themselves the filial devotion of dutiful sons, who will rear tablets to their memory in the halls of their fathers. It will be the con- summation of eternal bliss to be held in remembrance by their sons for their virtuous acts. The Norsemen pictured to them- selves a Valhalla, where the great and good should live forever. And, to-day, Germany rears her Hall of Fame, where those who have served, their country well shall be forever held in remem- brance. So we rear our memorial structure to commemorate the dead. The recital of what men have done for their fellow-men is ever an incentive to right action, and the narration of the events of an honorable and virtuous life is a stimulus to those still toiling along the weary way. So we make record of those who have hon- ored the town that gave them birth, or that may claim them as her sons. Only brief outlines of their lives can be given. What other locality can present such a roll of honor as Boscawen and Webster ? 302 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. First in lionorable mention we place those who laid the founda- tions, — who cleared the forests ; who reared their humble homes in the wilderness ; who braved the dangers of a frontier life through a dark and gloomy period, when vigilance was the price of life — the preservation of themselves and those whom the}' held most dear ; who established the church and the school ; who were un- swerving patriots Avhen Liberty called them. Through the trials, hardships, and devotion of the first settlers of Contoocook ; through their religious convictions, making the maintenance of relig- ious institutions their first duty ; through the patriotism of the men of the Revolution, — all subsequent events became possible. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." There is no grander law in nature. No community can reap a harvest of men, without sowing the seed that produces men. The settlers of Contoocook comprehended this divine law : they sowed good seed, and, lo, the harvest ! FIEST SETTLERS. BARKER, DAVID. Nothing definite is known in regard to this settler. His name does not appear upon the proprietors' records. He was not a proprietor. It is probable that he did not long remain. BEAN, SINKLER. This settler, the first of the name of all those of the Merrimack valley, so far as is known, came with the first party in 1734. He remained in Contoocook till the settlement of Salisbury, when he became a resident of that town, where many of his descendants now reside. His name appears frequently upon the records, ap- pointed on committees in positions of trust and honor. He was a leading and influential citizen in Salisbury. BOWEN, JOHN. Diligent research fails to discover whence this settler came. It is probable that he was related to Anthony and Henry Bowen, BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 303 of Penacoolc, and in-obably a brother of Peter, wlio killed Sabbatis and Plansawa. He served as a ranger, and had a great antipathy to the Indians. EOHONNOX, ANDREW. He was a native of Ireland. It is not known what year he em- igrated to America. He was unmarried in 1734, when he became a settler in Contoocook, marrying Tabitha Flanders, daughter of Dea. Jacob Flanders, who was born April 7, 1711. Fle became an active citizen. He was a man of great energy and endurance. In 1755 he enlisted for six months in Col. Blanchard's regiment, for an expedition against Crown Point. The regiment had its rendezvous at South Franklin, on the Webster farm, now the Home for Orphans. Several weeks were spent in building boats, in which the regiment was to ascend the Merrimack and Baker's river to Warren, transport the boats to the Connecticut, and from thence ascend some branch of that stream which would take them to Lake Champlain ! — so little understood was the geog- raphy of Vermont at that time. When it was discovered that such a route was impossible, the regiment descended the Merri- mack to Nashua, and from thence marched to Worcester and Albany. At this date Bohonnon probably resided on land now owned by Mrs. Farnum Coffin, at the southerly end of Water street, but soon after removed to Salisbury, settling near the south village. He was active in the public affairs of that town. During the Eevolution he was a devoted patriot, and served as lieutenant in Capt. Ebenezer Webster's company in the battle of Bennington. He had several sons, who were also actiA^e patriots ; — Jacob, who was a private in Capt. Webster's company ; Annaniah, who en- listed for three years, in 1780, in Capt. Gray's company, Scammel's regiment. Continental troops; Stephen, another son, who was a soldier at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, and was sentinel at Washington's head-quarters the night after the discov- ery. He stated that Washington spent the entire night in writing. Andrew Bohonnon died in Salisbury, at an advanced age. BISHOP, JOSIAH. Of the parentage of Josiali Bishop, nothing is known. It is 304 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, probable that he came from Newbiny with his family in 1733. He lived at the southerly end of King street. Upon the outbreak of hostilities with the Indians in 1746, he was captured while at w^ork in the field, and taken into the woods. [See Civil Hist.] He was determined not to go to Canada a prisoner, and resisted the Indians, who buried their tomahawks in his skull, as was after- wards ascertained. BITRRAXK, MOSES, CAPT. He came from Bradford. The records of the proprietors make no mention of his being elected captain over any military organi- zation in Contoocook, and it may be inferred that he received his title before moving into the town. In 1746, at tlie time of the Indian outbreak, the settlers formed themselves into a military band, and Capt. Eollins was elected coinmander ; but there is no evidence that he remained long in town. It is known that the military organization was kept up during the Indian troubles, and it is possible that Capt. Burbank was the com- mander. He resided on Queen street, on what has since been known as the " Clark " farm. He married Sarah Emery, prob- ably sister of Edward Emery. He reared a family of six sons and three daughters, and was the progenitor of the Burbank family in Boscawen and vicinity. His name frequently appears upon the records as a piiblic officer, and as member of committees. The date of his birth is not known, nor his death, but he was in the full possession of his mental powers in 1792, when he gave his deposition to Col. Henry Gerrish, stating the number of settlers in the town in 1733, and the number of proprietors' rights partially improved. CALL, PHILIP. One of the most active of the first settlers upon the outbreak of Indian hostilities, in 1744, was Philip Call, who had moved to Contoocook 1733. His name appears upon the roll of Capt. Jere- miah Clough's company as a scout, from September 26 to Decem- ber 18 of that year, receiving as wages, £3 10s. ; for provisions, £3 3s. He was out with Capt. Clough again in 1745, from Jan- uary 21 to March 18 ; and again in 1746, from July 4 to Decem- ber 4 ; and again in 1747, from June 5 to November 12. After the close of hostilities in 1749, he moved up the Merri- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 305 mack, a little more than a mile beyond the line of Contoocook, to the fertile intervale of Bakerstown (South Franklin), and beo-an a clearing on the Webster farm. While living there, in 1754, the ' Indians made a descent upon the jjlace, and killed Mrs. Call as already narrated in the journal of events. It is supposed that Philip Call lived and died in Salisburj', and that he was buried in the cemetery at South Franklin ; but no stone marks his resting-place. It is not unlikely that the Indians were well acquainted with Philip Call. He was a good Indian lighter, and possibly they took particu- lar pleasure in making a descent upon his place. His son Stephen was one of the first selectmen of Salisbury, upon the organization of the town in 1768. He served in Capt. Webster's company, Col. Nichols's regiment, in the Ehode Island campaign, 1776, The Call family of Franklin and Hill are descendants of Philip. COOK, THOMAS. This enterprising settler, soon after moving into town in 1733, instead of remaining at the " town " on King street, pushed north- west, and built a cabin near " Mutton " road, leading from Corser hill to Salisbury. It stood near " Little" brook, from which he obtained water. The place is now marked by the stump of a large pine, which was felled a few years since by Mr. Luther Titcomb. ^ The reason which prompted Mr. Cook to push six miles beyond his fellow-citizens was undoubtedly the desire to be conveniently near a locality where he could obtain an abundance of fresh meat. There were patches of meadow around " Couch " pond, and on Beaver-dam brook, which were favorite resorts for deer,' and by locating in the vicinity Mr. Cook would have his provisions near at hand. Upon the breaking out of hostilities in 1746, Mr. Cook deemed it prudent to leave his cabin. He was at work near Clay hill, with others, on the 4th of Muy, 1746, when the Indians fired up- on the party, killing him and a negro— Cfesar, slave to Eev. Mr. Stevens. [See Civil History.] It is stated that Ciesar, though wounded, fought with great bravery, and was only despatched after a fearful struggcle. By building his cabin so far in advance of his neighbors, Mr. Cook has given a name to the eminence north of the place where it stood, — Cook's hill. 20 306 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. CORSER, JOHN. Tradition has it, that this settler came from Scotland to New- bury about 1690, at the age of fourteen. It is more probable, how- ever, that he came to Newbury from Boston or vicinity. He married in Newbury. The records of Newbury have the following : "JolmCorser & Tabitha Kenny of Newbury were married March ye 8'hl716|17." In 1735, he moved to Contoocook with his family of seven chil- dren. His eldest son, John, Jr., had then settled in Kingston, N. H. He resided for several years on King street, and, with others, erected the first saw-mill. While tending it he met with an accident which deprived him of his sight. His death is sup- posed to have occurred in 1776. His son John came from Kingston to Boscawen about 1764, and settled on Corserhill, on the farm now owned by Mr. Tilton. Other facts concerning the first settler, John, will be found in the gene- alogy of the Corser family. DAGADOX, WILLIAM. He was a settler of 1733, and located his farm between Queen street and Contoocook river, west of Fisherville, near Concord line. His name appears in the proprietors' records as Dagadon, Digodon, Dagodon, and Dogodan. The small brook which emp- ties into the Contoocook west of Fisherville bears his name. It is not known that he took any active part in the affairs of the town. DANFORTH, WILLIAM. He was probably a son, possibly grandson, of William, who was born in London in 1653, and who came to Newbury about 1667. He took an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the settlement. He married Flood, a sister of Bichard Flood, one of the first settlers. He aided in the erection of the first saw-mill. DANFORTH, NATHAXIEL. Whether he was a brother or cousin to William is not quite clear. He came to Contoocook in 1733. Probably he was then BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 307 married. His daughter Abigail, born Jan. 1, 1735, was the first child born in the town, who married Thomas Foss, and resided on Fish street. Nathaniel Danforth's son Alkanner served as a soldier during the Revolution. William and Nathaniel Danforth were men of decision and firmness, characteristics that have been transmitted to their de- scendants. EASMAN, JOSEPH. In the proprietors' records, the name now spelled as Eastman is given as above. Rev. Mr. Price has recorded the name of Joseph Eastman as one of the first settlers. Later inquiries indi- cate that he did not come as a permanent settler till a year or two later, though it is possible he began his improvements in 1733. He was grandson of Roger Eastman, the first of the name in America, and who came from Wales to Salisbury in 1640. He was a prominent citizen. His son Joseph was captain of a com- pany of rangers in the French and Indian wars. EMERY, EDWARD. The ancestor of Edward Emery probably was John Emery, who came from Hants, England, to Newbury in 1635. He died in November, 1683. He had sons, — John, born in England about 1629; — a daughter, who was named Ebenezer, Sept. 16, 1648. The Newbury records have this concerning her birth : "■ Born Monday morning, two hours before day." He had a son, Jona- than, born May 13, 1652. John married Marj^ Webster, of Ips- wich, widow of John Webster, and reared a large family. Jonathan married Mary Woodman, and had children, — Mary C, Sept. 25, 1677 ; Jonathan, Feb. 2, 1679 ; David, Sept. 28, 1682 ; Anthony, Nov. 13, 1684 ; Stephen, June 13, 1687, died 1688 ; Sara, Dec. 18, 1688 ; Stephen, again, June 24, 1692 ; Ed- ward, Nov. 10, 1694. The youngest son removed to Contoocook in 1733. He was an active, influential citizen, and took a prominent part in all the affairs of the plantation. During the peace which followed the first outbreak of hostili- ties with the Indians, Mr. Emery, thinking to obtain his veni- 308 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. son near at hand, on tlie favorite haunts of the deer, erected a house on land now owned by Miss Nancy Couch, at the foot of Corser hill. It stood on the south side of the road, near the brook running to Couch pond. It was, after Thomas Cook's cabin, the first house erected in what is now the town of Webster. Mr. Em- ery was occupying it at the time of the second Indian outbreak, but moved his family to the fort the daj^ before the Indians made their appearance in the vicinit}^ [see Civil History]. It was rifled by the Indians. There is no evidence that Mr. Emery ever reoccttpied it. He was one of the most influential citizens, and his name fre- Cjuently appears in the records as one often selected to transact public business. In 1756 he accompanied Ezekiel Flanders to Newfound lake to hunt beaver, where both were killed by the Ind- ians. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. One of the most active and influential of the settlers of '33 was Edward Fitzgerald, who was born in Ireland, but who emigrated to America at an early age, and lived in Newbury, where he married Mehitable XJran. He settled on Queen street, where his wife died May 16, 1808, aged 90. They had a family of two sons and eight daughters. The family name has undergone many changes, it appearing in the records as Fitz Gerald and Fitz Ger- auld. About the year 1775 the prefix was dropped, and the name appears as Gerald, Gerould, Gerauld, Jareld, Jerald, Jerril, Jeril, and Geruld. FLOOD, RICHARD. In 1680, Philip Flood, of Guernsey, England, came to America, and settled in Newbury, where his son Eichard was born Feb. 25, 1696. His name appears frequently in the proprietor's records. He came to Contoocook in 1734. He was active in the defence of the town against the Indians in 1744, when he went out on a scouting party. His son Kichard married Farnum, of Con- cord, and became a citizen of that town, serving as a soldier dur- ing the Revolution. His sister married William Danforth. FLAKDERS, JACOB. He was grandson of Stephen Flanders, the first and only emi- grant of that name, who came from England to Salisbury, with BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 309 his wife Jane, between 1640-164G, and was one of the first settlers of that town. The grandson was born Aug. 5, 1689, in Salisbury, and consequently was forty-five years of age when he came from South Hampton to Contoocook, with his wife Mercy Clough. He was one of the first settlers, and it is not strange that he was looked up to as a leading spirit. He was one of the committee to build the first meeting-house, and his son Jesse was elected the second deacon of the church. His son Ezekiel was killed by the Indians while hunting beaver at Newfound lake, 1756. His son Philip served in several campaigns against the Erench and Indians, and was killed at Crown Point the same year. The eldest daughter, Tabitha, married Andrew Bohonnon [see above], and lived to an advanced age. His sons, Dea. Jesse and John, enlisted in Capt. Henrj^ Dear- born's company in Arnold's expedition to Quebec, 1776, and endured all the hardships of that terrible campaign. Eev. Dr. Bouton, in the History of Concord, alludes to the Flanders family of Boscawen as men of great muscular strength and endurance. The descendants of Jacob Flanders and Mary Clough may be reckoned by hundreds, if not by thousands. FOWLER, JOHN, Came from Newbury, and lived on Queen street. He prob- ably was married at the time of his settlement in Contoocook. His second wife was Mrs. Anna Bamford, whose maiden name was Anna Ellison, whose brother was grandfather of Hon. Benjamin E. Butler, of Lowell. His name frequently appears in the records as an active citizen. GEERISir, STEPHEN. One of the leading men among the first settlers was Captain Stephen Gerrish. It is probable that none of them had a larger estate to begin with than he, for they were begin- ning life, with little more than their own strong hands and reso- lute wills. He was born in Newbury, June 3, 0. S. 1712, and was but twenty-two years of age when he came to Contoocook, with his ox team and plow^ — the first in the town. 310 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. He was a leading spirit, took an active part in all matters per- taining to the welfare of the community, and was often appointed on committees by his fellow proprietors. He established the first ferr}^, was thrifty, and accumulated a large estate. Eev. Mr. Price says of him, — " He was particularly prepared to advance the settlement of a new country, being young, robust, acquainted with husbandr}', enterprising, industrious, economical. Though his education was small and his manners unpolished, yet his strength of mind, his frankness, and sympathetic feelings, rendered him useful and agreeable. He well knew the discouragements and wants of a new settlement, and to him many resorted for succor. Possessing both the means and the disposition, he was liberal and hospitable, — a friend and father to multitudes. He died 1788, having lived to see his children settled and prosperous, and useful members of both civil and religious societies." Mr. Gerrish resided at the loAver end of King street, and for a time, near the close of his life, he lived upon one of his farms in Canterbury, on the intervale below " Muchyedo." He married, first, Elizabeth Chase, probably of Newbury, who died some time between 1734 and 1740, leaving no children. His second wife was Joanna Hale, of Newbury, to whom he was mar- ried in 1741, Avho became the mother of five sons and one daughter, — Henry, Samuel, Enoch, Joseph, Stephen, and Jane, — from whom has descended a numerous posterity [see Genealogy]. Although a citizen of sterling worth, and a supporter of civil and religious institutions, it appears that he was habitually pro- fane. One of his descendants, Eev. Jacob Little, in a biographi- cal notice of his mother, Mrs. Martha Gerrish Little, while quot- ing the eulogium pronounced by Rev. Mi*. Price, says, — " The only words of his which have come down are a profane oath sworn on a public occasion." Aside from this one blemish, Captain Gerrish seems to have been in every other respect worthy of honor. He was residing in Canterbury in 1774, where he made his will, which is as follows : " Canterbury October ye 13tli 1774 "This may certify -whom it may concern that I Stephen Gerrish of Canterbury in the county of Rockingham and Province of New Hamp- shire, Having the Day of the above Date, Settled my Estate by Deeds BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 311 among my Children & cepting ray Stock Household furniture & XJten- tials for Husbandry, of which I hear leave as my Request & Desire and it is my will that they may be Disposed of in the following manner: "first that my Beloved wife Joanna have out of my stock one horse saddle & bridle & one Cow and five Sheep and also the one half of my household furniture to be her own forever. " Secondly it is my will that the Remainder of my stock & my uten- tials for Husbandry be equally Divided between my two sons Joseph and Stephen. " thirdly it is my Avill that the remaining half of my Household fur- niture be Equally Divided between my five sons, Henry, Samuel, Enoch, Joseph & Stephen. " furthermore it is my will and Desire that my Debts be paid & my Dues Recieved of what name or Nature Soever Equally by and amongst ray five sons, Henry, Samuel. Enoch, Joseph, and Stephen. Witness by Stephen Gerrish George Jackman Joanna Gerrish Jeremiah C lough." GERRISH, JOAXXA HALE, MRS. Mrs. Joanna Hale Gerrish, a supposed descendant of Sir Mat- thew Hale's family, granddaughter of Rev. Joseph Hale, of Bev- erly, and daughter of Samuel and Ajiphia (Moody) Hale, was born in Newbury, June, 1715, and was married to Capt. Stephen Gerrish in 1741. She was a woman of strong character, and deeply religious, — in this respect differing widely from her husband, who was habitually profane, but who in all other respects was a kind and agreeable companion. Rev. Jacob Little says of her, — " She was eminently pious, left the Episcopal and joined the Congre- gational church to find Spirituality, & brought her branch of the Ger- rish family within the covenant. The only words of hers which have come down, are an expression which in extreme old age daily were uttered in her secret devotion. They were reported by an old lady who in childhood slept with her. This was the expression, 'Bless ray children to the latest generation.' She was instrumental in turning the current in the family, & her children, early pious, and her hundreds of descend- ants have generally embraced religion in youth & united with the church of her choice." Mrs. Gerrish died in 1792 at the age of 77, beloved and re- spected by all in the community. 312 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. JACKMAN, GEORGE. He was born in Newbuiy, 1706-7. It is doubtful if he became a permanent settler in 1734, though it is probable that he began the improvements on his farm at that time. He married Hannah Bishop in 1728, and lived on the premises now owned by Prof. John Jackman. Upon the organization of the church he was elected deacon. He was an intelligent and influential citizen, greatly respected. His son George was first town-cleric and justice of the peace [see Biography]. JACKMAN, RICHARD. He was brother of George, born in Kewbury, Oct. 17, 1709. He married Martha Call, daughter of Philip Call, who was a vigi- lant citizen during the war with the Indians. Mrs. Jackman's mother was killed by the Indians at South Franklin [see History]. MANUEL, JOEL. Little is known in regard to this settler. Diligent search has failed to discover anything concerning his nativity. He came to Contoocook in 1734, and his name appears in several places as member of committees. His son John resided on High street, near the residence of Gen. E. G. Wood. The family is nearly if not quite extinct. MELOON, NATHANIEL. Patient research has not thrown much light upon the origin of this name, and nothing whatever is known of the nativity of this settler. It is supposed that he was of French or Flemish origin. The name is sometimes written Malon, Maloon, and IMelloon. From the frequent appearance of his name upon the records, it is evident that he was an influential citizen. He served as a soldier in scouting parties during the Indian troubles. In 1754, he moved to West Salisbury, to avail himself of the ex- tensive meadow lands in that vicinity. His nearest neighbor was Edward Emerj^, near Couch j)ond, four to five miles distant. There he was surprised, and with his family captured — all except one son — by the Indians [see History — year 1756]. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 313 Upon his return from captivity lie reoccupiecl his premises, and became one of the active citizens of Salisbiuy, being frequently elected to town offices ; was selectman in 1791, when he was well adv'anced in life. His name is appended to the following paper : " VANDUK. " To be set up at public Vandue on Monday the 21 Day of Nov next at three Oclock P M. one Sarah Veza for Boarding, to be struck off to the lowest bider at the house of Stephen Webster " Nov ye 10, 1791 Nathi Meloon Joel Eastman Selectmen of Salisbury." PETERS, WILLIAM. He was one of the settlers of 1733, but it is not known whence he came. He was sergeant in Capt. John Goffe's company in 1748, employed in scouting, — enlisting May 28, discharged Oct. 5, his wages being £13 16s. 5d. Caleb Emery, Joseph Eastman, and William Courser, citizens of Contoocook, were in the same company. RIX, NATHANIEL. He appears to have been a settler in Contoocook. but it is prob- able that he soon removed to Concord, as the name of Nathaniel Kix appears u];)on the records of that town, and does not appear in the records of Boscawen. Nothing is known of him. KOLF, DANIEL. Tlie name is sometimes written Rolfe. It is probable he was related to the citizen of Concord of the same name, and to Benja- min Rolfe, not a first settler ; but nothing definite is known in regard to him. 314 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. GENERAL BIOGRAPHY. ALDRICH, JOHN. Jolm Aldricli was born in Sniitlifield, R. I., Jan. 20, 1785. He married Harriet, daughter of Samuel Smith, Jan. 18, 1810, and moved to Mendon, Mass., wliere he resided till 1830, -when he made Boscawen his home, purchasing a farm on High street, near Salisl)ury line. He was a member of the Society of Friends. Through life, Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich manifested the frank, honest, sincere traits of character which are inculcated by the Friends. They were progressive in their religious views, earnest in their efforts to do good, ever ready to help the poor, guided by a simple faith and trust which ever led them to a higher spiritual life. They were industrious and frugal, simple in all their tastes, and patterns of neatness. They lived quietly and unostentatiously, beloved and respected by their friends and neighbors. Mr. Aldrich passed to the better life, March 19, 1865, and Mrs. Al- drich, May 13, 1872. Their children were, — Armenia Smith, born Nov. 1, 1817, married Nathaniel White, of Concord, Nov. 1, 1836; John, born Nov. 9, 1825, married Olive French, of Pemliroke, and who resides in Framingham, Mass. AEEY, ISAIAH H. Isaiah Hatch Arey was born on Cape Cod, 1827. His father moved to Boscawen when he was a lad, and settled on the farm south of the Woodbury plain. The son, after his father's death, built the residence now standing south of the cemeterj^ He married Miss Terry, of Boscawen, was elected town-clerk from 1861 to 1864, and was holding that official position at the time of his death, Oct. 16, 1870. Mr. Arey possessed a sj-mpathetic nature, and was endowed with fine feelings, which he well knew how to express by word and act. He was also an ingenious and skilful mechanic, and for the last fifteen 3'ears of' his life devoted much time to the man- ufacture of violins and guitars. Of the former he is known to t^t n . y^o^v BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 315 have made eighty-six, and of the latter thirty-seven. These instru- ments are now highly prized. For purity of tone and elegant workmanship, perhaps they are not excelled by any made in this country. Ole Bull, the eminent Norwegian violinist, recognized Mr. Arey's talents, and assisted him with original drawings and valu- able information. Erom a letter written by Ole Bull to Mr. Arey in 1857, the following extract is given : " Allow me to congratulate you on the achievement of your violin, * * an instrument that no artist or amateur Avould hesitate to take to his bosom, and electrify by the breath of his inspiration. I sincerely •wish tliat those further results of my experience, which I have commu- nicated to you, will prove a benefit to yourself, and a blessing to those who take your children to their hearts. " Your success will always be sincerely felt and appreciated by your friend, Ole Bull." atkixsox, samuel, Was the son of Dea. Joseph Atkinson, of ISTewbury. He took an active part in town affairs, and during the Revolution was lieutenant in Stark's regiment, at the battle of Bunker hill, and was employed by the committee of safety for the state on several important occasions. Upon the records of the committee of safety, Jan. SO, 1776, is this entry : " Ordered the Reciever General to pay Samuel Atkinson for bis time & Expenses in going after Col Bedell £1 — lis." CoL Bedel was in command of a regiment doing duty on the Connecticut river. "April 9, 1776. " Ordered the lleciever General to pay Lieut Samuel Atkinson Four- teen pounds Thirteen Shill" & Eleven pence for expense of Transport- ing the Indians sent from Exeter from Boscawen to Plymouth." No contemporary record throws any light upon this service. For what purpose the Indians were sent to Plymouth is unknown. During the summer of 1776, upon the advance of Gen. Carleton and Gen. Burgoyne to Lake Champlain, there was great conster- nation in all the upper towns of New Hampshire and Vermont, on the Connecticut. It was rumored that a large body of Indians was 316 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. to invade that section. Lieut. Atkinson started as a A-olunteer for the defence of the frontier. The condition of affairs is set forth in a letter from Col. John Hurd, found in Provincial Papers (Vol. 8, p. 306). He visited Exeter, to report in person the state of affairs, and received an order to forward two small cannon, which belonged to the state, and which were in Canterbury, to Haverhill. He was captain of a company enlisted to join Gen. Sullivan at Ticonderoga. In IMay, 1777, Capt. Atkinson was employed by the town to obtain fire-arms and equipments ; and the committee of safety for the state conferred authority upon him to raise men to serve under Gen. Stark, after the battle of Bennington. In 1779-80, he was employed by the committee of safety to procure supplies, and rendered efficient aid to the government during the w^ar. He was honored and trusted by his fellow-citizens, and was an ardent patriot. ATKINSON, HALE, Whose likeness is here presented, was born March 3, 1799, on the homestead which he inherited from his father, situated on the river road, where his grandfather settled when he moved from Newbury, Mass., in 1767. He was an obliging aiid kind neighbor, a lover of books, sustaining schools and the institu- tions of religion with cheerfulness, and always fulfilling the du- ties of a good citizen. In early life he had a fondness for military parade, and at one time was captain of the cavalry company in the 21st Regiment. His political views did not accord with those of the majority in town, but he was often chosen to office, the duties of which he performed faithfully and impartially. He was selectman in 1847, 1849, 1850, 1852, 1853, and 1857. He was unmarried ; — died April 15, 1874. ATKINSON, HARVEY, Son of Joseph Atkinson, was born in Boscawen, July 19, 1806 [see Gen.]. He attended the district school, receiving instruction from Mrs. Sally Kimball Martin, one of the renowned female BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 317 teacliers of the town, Susan Pearson, Abigail Dix (sister of Gen. Dix), Martha Holt, Francis Danforth, Joseph Morrill, Samuel Chamberlain, Erastus Torrey, and Peabody Atkinson. He was a student at the opening of the male department of Boscawen Acad- emy, under the tuition of Jarvis Gregg, and also a student at Franklin Academy. He became an instructor, teaching in his own district— the Gulf— in 1828-29, also in 1829-30 and in 1830-31 at Horse hill in Concord. In November, 1831, he moved to Ohio, where he taught four years, returning to Boscawen in 1835. During the following winters he taught on Little hill, at High street, and at the Gulf. Mr. Atkinson's father had the power of great concentration of thought in mathematical calculation, and possessed a retentive memory. He once calculated mentally the number of barleycorns required to encircle the globe, allowing three to an inch, and put the answer down upon his slate. To verify his calculation he went through the problem by w^riting the figures, and arrived at the same result. Mr. Harvey Atkinson, since 1837, has resided on his farm, giv- ing his attention to agriculture. BAKER, HENRY W., LT. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, Henry W. Baker was at work making household furniture, in the "Hollow," in Bos- cawen. He was a young man of ardent temperament, a lover of liberty, a true citizen, and an earnest patriot. He offered his services to his country, and was commissioned Second Lieuten- ant, Co. E, 7th Kegiment, Nov. 12, 1861. The rendezvous of the regiment was at Manchester. On Jan. 14, 1862, it broke camp, and was ordered to New York, where it remained till Eeb. 13, when it embarked on sailing vessels for the Dry Tortugas, where it remained till June 16th, when it was or- dered to Port Royal, and from thence to St. Augustine, subse- quently to Eernandina, and again to Hilton Head. On June 18, 1863, it joined the forces under Gen. Gilmore, and was employed during the month in arduous duties. On the morn- ing of July 18, the troops designed to make an assault upon Fort Wagner were drawn up on the beach. During the night the 7th Eegiment had been under arms doing fatigue duty. A terrific 318 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. tliuncler-storm had raged, and tlie soldiers were drenclied with rain. The regiment had heen so reduced by sickness, that but four hundred and eighty were in the ranks. Through the entire day a terrible cannonade was kept up by the Union batteries and ironclads, which was responded to from time to time by the guns of Fort Wagner. All through the weary hours, the soldiers of the 7th lay behind their entrenchments be- neath the blazing sun. The command had been entrusted to Gen. Trueman H. Seymour, who determined to make an assault. He knew nothing of the construction of Fort Wagner. No information of the impedi- ments to be overcome had reached him. Col. Putnam, of the 7th, commanding the second brigade, opposed the contemplated move- ment. " I do not think that we can take the fort," he said ; — and when Gen. Sej-mour reiterated his determination to make the attempt. Col. Putnam said, *' We shall go like a flock of sheep." The sun set, and the twilight faded. The soldiers were ordered to remove the caps from the nipples of their rifles, and were told that they must depend upon the bayonet alone. In the 100th N. y., which formed behind the 7th, this order was neglected. In the darkness, the assaulting column moved forward. The ironclads and the Union batteries opened a heavy tire, wdiich was continued till the column was so near that further firing would endanger it, when, at a signal, all the Union batteries became silent. In an instant. Port Wagner was aflame. Its heavy siege guns, howitzers, and forty-two pounder carronades burst forth, pouring a stream of shot and shell into the advancing troojis. And now, in addition, the parapet of the fort swarmed with men, who, through the terrible cannonade of the day, had been lying securely beneath the bomb-proofs. Mingled with the roar of the cannon were their volleys of musketry. The first brigade had the advance. Its ranks went down like grass before the mower. Some of the soldiers fled, panic-stricken. The second brigade, led by the 7th N. H., pressed on and filled the decimated ranks. Suddenly they found themselves confront- ed by a ditch fifty feet wide and ten feet deep, with four feet of water flowing into it. Only at the south-eastern angle was it dry. It was enfiladed by howitzers. Into the ditch leaped the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 319 soldiers. Grape and canister mowed tliem down, but others crowded on. The 7th N. H., led by Lt. Col. Joseph C. Abbott, made its waj^ iinfalteringly into the ditch, througli it, and np the slope of the parapet. Cannon and musketry blazed in their faces ; and now there was a flash behind them — the 100th N. Y., not having removed their caps, Avere firing into the dark mass, not knowing who was friend, who foe. All was confusion. All or- der disappeared. In the darkness no one could be recognized. Amid the groans of the wounded, the shouting of officers, the rat- tle of rifles, the roar of cannon, the bursting of shells, it was im- possible to maintain discipline. Col. Putnam, a few of his sub- ordinates, and one or two hundred men entered tlie fort. The enemy cliarged, but were driven. Col. Putnam was killed ; — one officer after another went down. Tlie reserve, which should liave rushed up, did not come. The assault had lost its force. Like sheep the Union soldiers fled as best they could through the dev- astating fire, leaving a ghastl}^ heap of dead and wounded in the ditch, and on the parapet of the fort. Among the killed Avas Hen- ry W. Baker. By his side were Dexter Pritchard, Liberty G. Raymond, and Alexander F. Stevens, from Boscawen, and of his company, also killed. Among the wounded was Samuel McEvely, and among the prisoners Avas John Clancy, who died in prison at E/ichmond. In his first battle. Lieutenant Baker gaA^e his life to his country. Those who serA'ed under him speak of him with affection. He was cool and brave, and eA'er mindful of his duties. He Avas buried Avhere he fell, Avith his commander, Col. Putnam, and his subordinates, Pritcliard, Raymond, and SteA'ens. He Avas the last of his family, his elder brother, J. C. Baker, m. v., of Abing- ton, Mass., deceased, being his only near relative. Those Avho loiew him best will CA^er hold him in affectionate remembrance. BALLARD, WILLIAM WALLACE, Was born in Peterborough in 1828. His father was I^athan Bal- lard, of Peterborough, Avho married Sarah D. Clement, of Bos- cawen. He was left an orphan at an early age, but Avas adopted by Benjamin Walker, Mrs. W. being his aunt. He learned the trade of stone-cutting, but spent most of his time with Mr. Walker, 320 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. attending the district scliool — Water street, south. He was of a quiet, gentle nature, and in boyhood showed none of those stei'ling qualities of character which revealed themselves in after life. It is altogether probable that the flame of patriotic ardor, whicli at the breaking out of the war in 1861 induced him to be one of the first to enlist, was kindled by Mr. Eliakim Walker, Revolu- tionary pensioner, who never was weary of rehearsing the story of Bunker hill ; and, without doubt, the flame was intensified by the uncompromising hostility of Mr. Benjamin Walker to slavery. When the second regiment of N. H. volunteers was organized, young Ballard enlisted in the Goodwin Rifles, of the 2d Regiment. The regiment, on its way to the seat of war, was entertained at Boston, in Music hall, where Mr. Harrison D. Clement, of Law- rence, uncle to Ballard, had a conversation with him. " I did not suppose that you had any great military ardor," was the remark of Mr. C. " I have not, but the call is urgent. I have no family ; I can go. Military life has no attractions for me ; but I owe a duty to my countr}^, and I shall do my best to perform it." It is out of such men that heroes are made. His regiment was in the first battle of Bull Run, where Bal- lard acted with conspicuous coolness and deliberation. After the engagement, he informed his uncle that he had several fair shots at the enemy, at half the distance of which he was sure of his mark. A few weeks subsequent to the battle he was sent to Washing- ton to perform some duty, and, upon his rejoining the regiment, found a second lieutenant's commission awaiting him, the j)romo- tion having been made wholly without his knowledge. A sword and uniform were presented him by his brother officers. He commanded the company at the battle of Williamsburg, and throughout nearly the entire Peninsula campaign, in which the 2d Regiment took an active part [see Adgt. Gen. Report]. During the seven days' fighting, his clothes were pierced several times, and he was slightly wounded on the forehead, which filled his eyes and covered his face with blood ; but he maintained his place, leading the men into action while thus disfigured. During one of the battles, while in the thick of the fight, he dragged a wounded soldier behind a tree, and himself took shelter. While they were there the tree was struck seventeen times. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 321 Tlie regiment, at Gettysburg, was attached to the 3d. corps, com- manded by Gen. Sickles. During the march from the Rappahan- nock, Lieut. Ballard was taken sick, and though entitled to ride in the ambulance, resolutelj^ maintained his place ^yith the company. Although he had the surgeon's certificate in his pocket, excusing him from duty, he not only made the march, but Avas seen carrying the guns of his worn-out soldiers, and even the tent-pole, on his shoulder. On the morning of July 2d, the surgeon and officers, knowing how exhausted he was, tried to dissuade him from taking part in the engagement, but in vain. The regiment was stationed in Sherfey's peach orchard, and was one of the first to feel the blows inflicted by Longstreet's ad- vance. In the first shock, nine of the officers were killed or wounded. The captain of Company B being one of the number, the com- mand devolved upon Lieut. Ballard. Not long after, he was mor- tally wounded b}' a ball passing through his hips and bowels, but did not fall till, unable to move, he was knocked down by a battery wheeling into position. So close was the fighting at this moment, that when his sword flew from his hand it fell close to the rebel line, — so near, that one of the soldiers of the regiment, in attempting to recover it, was taken prisoner. Lieut. Ballard was taken to the rear, and lingered five days, re- ceiving all the care that was possible to give in the over-crowded hospitals. He knew that his wound was mortal, and calmly awaited the coming of death, sending this message to his friends : " Sliould I leave any property after paying my debts, I desire that it may be given to the soldiers who have suffered for their country."' His remains were taken to Boscawen, and interred in the cemetery, near the site of the old meeting-house. His funeral sermon was preached by his old chaplain, Prof. Parker — now of Dartmouth college — in the Congregational church on the plain, which was filled by a great concourse of people, who had known his sterling qualities, and wliich were thus set forth : " In the prime condition and obligation of life, which conies up to us most forcibly in life's adieu, and beside the grave, — your life, dear friend did you regard and employ it as yours for God? How happy to be able here to-day to make mention of the fact, that, at the early ao-e of 21 o22 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. fourteen, he made public profession of tlie Cliristian faith, and conse- crated himself forever to the cross and service of the Redeemer. " Of the consistency of all the years of his Christian life, I do not know how faithfully he fulfilled the obligations of his Christian profes- sion — I cannot fully testify; — but this I do know: his soldier's career was singularly free from the vices of army life. I never knew any de- parture in his conduct from the strict line of principle and virtue. His character seemed as upright as his tall frame. "He was one with whom, in the army, I had ever pleasant inter- course aud strong congeniality of feeling. I can see him even now, accom- panying his men, as was so invariably his custom, to our regimental Sabbath services; or, as he often sat within my tent, conversing upon themes which showed alike his excellent sense and excellent principles. " It was no ordinary testimony to the esteem in which he was held by the noble company of which he was a member, when from a private, without ever having worn a corporal's stripes upon his arm, he was passed over all the intermediate grades at a step, and made a lieuten- ant by common consent. " The respect he had among you here at home, for his character and worth, he never lost in the army; and had he been permitted to return to live once more among you, it would have been to have enjoyed your increased regard, I doubt not, as a man and a Christian. " And now Lieut. Ballard, at the early age of thirLy-four, sleeps in death! IS^o more campaignings, no more hard-fought fields: the march and battle of life are over! " That noble spirit of his, whicli animated him to the performance of duty at whatever cost or hazard, Avhich forbade his shrinking from any peril, finally urged him forward with his men to the battle, although debility and disease warranted inaction, and demanded rest; and his sick and weakened frame was unable to sustain the shock and effect of the wound then received. " I might have expected all this, so often have I heard him say that, if he could move, nothing should ever keep him from accompanying the regiment when a battle was to occur. "Brave soldier, noble officer, excellent young ni an, dearly beloved friend, we leave thee. Thy life was thy country's: she has it; — and now thy name is thy country's: she will keep it! " Was it a lasting honor to have fought with our Revolutionary fathers to found this government? Then is it enduring fame like thee to have fought and died to sustain it! " Has no land ever more merited a patriot's love than thine ? Then, than thine, no patriot's devotion ever more merited gratitude; no pa- triot's death more merited honor. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 323 " And so we leave thee, heroic soldier, true-hearted patriot. Chris- tian young man, esteemed, beloved friend. With many tears, and yet ■with hearts beating to a deeper love of country, and a higher estimate of the true citizen, of manly worth, of virtue, of right, of freedom, and of religion, we consign these battle-torn remains to the grave, and thy soul to God, thankfully trusting that the victory of the Christian life and conflict is thine, — martial strains exclianged for the music and mel- odies of angels, the sword for the harp of gold, the soldier's laced and plumicd attire for the robes of heaven and the crown of life and immor- tality!" BUXTON, EDWARD, REV. The second pastor of the Congregational church in Webster, Kev. Edward Buxton, was born in Reading, Mass., Aug. 17, 1803, — the youngest son of Benjamin and Hannah (Flint) Buxton, who subsequently removed to New Boston. j\Ir. Buxton desired that one of his sons should enter the ministry; but in child- hood the son was subjected to a fright which produced an im- pediment of sj)eech, and the father gave up all expectation of ever seeing him engaged in the ministry. But the son adopted a rigid course of discipline, by which he overcame, in a good de- gree, his stammering, — so much so, that in 1829 he began the study of medicine. He gave himself so thoroughly to study, how- ever, that sickness intervened, and he was compelled to relinquish for a time his chosen pursuit. Eecovering his health in some degree, he engaged in teaching in New Boston, and, to perfect himself as a teacher, attended Exeter academy, then under Benjamin Abbot, the preceptor who could count Edward Everett, Alexander H. Everett, and many other distinguished men of the century, as his pupils. Upon leaving the academy, Mr. Buxton became preceptor of the academy in Greenland, N. H., where he found congenial society in the person of Rev. Wallace Clark, pastor of the Congregational church. The 3'oung preceptor became superintendent of the Sun- day-school, and whenever the pastor was absent was selected to conduct the public exercises upon the Sabbath. So acceptable were his services, that neighboring parishes, with- out a minister, called upon the preceptor at Greenland to occupy their pulpits. Thus gradually, and almost without any plan for his future life, Edward Buxton became a preacher, teaching by 324 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. day in the academy, studying theology by night in the house of his friend, Kev. Mr. Clark. His studies, rather, were in the early morning, for during those years he formed the habit of light- ing his fire and lamp before the first glimmerings of dawn were seen in the east — a habit that has adhered through life, and ena- bled him to accomplish much which otherwise never woi;ld have been done. He was ordained at Greenland in 1836, and was employed in preaching at Rochester for a few months, then at Dorchester and Whitefield, until called to Webster, in August, 1837. He was installed pastor of the church December 13 the same year, succeeding Rev. Mr. Price, who had resigned the pastorate in the spring of 1836. From that date to the present, with the exception of a few months in 1876, he has preached to the people of Webster, preaching his 4()th anniversary sermon in December, 1877. He is the oldest pastor in the state. His term of office em- braces an important period in the history of the country. Since his settlement, the nation has passed through a great civil war. Previous to the breaking out of the conflict was the period of ex- citement incident to the agitation of the anti-slavery question. The church in Webster, in common with most of the churches, was conservative. — slow to act, and regarding with distrust the methods of many of the earnest anti-slavery reformers. Dur- ing the years of excitement, the pastor of the church manifested that equipoise of judgment and calmness of disposition which carried him safely through a period in which many pastorates were dissolved. Mr. Buxton, like his predecessor, has performed arduous duties as superintending committee of schools, and has taken great inter- est in the cause of education, giving individual instruction to many young ladies aiad gentlemen. He has been thrice married, — first, to Elizabeth McParland, daughter of Rev. Asa McParland, d. d., of Concord ; second, to Mrs. Lois Jewett, of Laconia ; third, to Mrs. Louise Jane Dix Pillsbury, widow of Gen. Moody A. Pillsbury, and daughter of Col. Timothy Dix, of Boscawen. In 1876, Mr. Buxton was elected delegate to the convention for the revision of the state constitution. By his fidelity as a pastor, his high character, liis consistent BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 325 life, his devotion to dutj-, and liis regard for the welfare of the whole community, he has won the respect and affection of the public in a remarkable degree. It falls to the lot of but few men to be so universally esteemed. Though past the age allotted to man, he still ministers to the jieople, and maintains the studious habits of his early j^ears. He is an ardent lover of music, and is in full sympathy with the progressive spirit of the age, endearing himself alike to old and j^oung, with the sports and pleasures of childhood, as well as with the graver duties of maturer years. BURBANK, ABRAHAM, CAPT. One of the prominent business men of Boscawen was Abraham Burbank, eldest son of David Burbank, and grandson of Capt. Moses Burbank, one of the earl}- settlers of the town. He was born Nov. 16, 1781, learned the trade of blacksmith of his father, and carried on blacksmithing on Little hill with Jesse Little. He was an adept in making axes, giving them a shape much liked by the woodchoppers at the beginning of the centur}", and of such keen temper that '^ Abe Burbank's axes '' were Avidely known, and had a ready sale. He married Mary Call, and, second, Polly M. Jackman, settled in Bashan on the farm now owned by his son, Mr. Azro Sheridan Burbank, and engaged in lumbering. With his son. Friend L. Burbank, he became proprietor of the mills on Blackwater river; also, a mill on Knight's Meadow brook ; also, one on Pond brook. At one time, nearly every mill in Boscawen was employed in sawing his lumber, which was sent down the Merrimack river to Lowell and Boston. He was greatly respected by his fellow-citizens, and was re- peatedly elected to represent them in the legislature. He was a cheerful supporter of religious and charitable organizations, and alive to all interests affecting the public welfare. He died in 1856, aged 75 — an active, energetic, honored citizen to the last year of his life. BURBAXK, LITTLE, Son of David, was born in Boscawen [see Genealogy]. He settled in Bashan, on land now owned by William Huntoon, at the 326 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. corner of the road leading west to the cemetery, hut suhsequently purchased the farm now owned hy F. F. & Wm. Fisk. He early engaged in lumhering, sending masts, spars, and oak timber to Medford, and other kinds to Lowell. He was a man of great industry, working early and late, and employing many men. He was a public-spirited citizen, a steadfast supporter of civil and re- ligious institutions, a consistent member of the Congregational church, and a respected member of society. BURBAXK, CALVIN M., Youngest son of Little Burbank [see Genealogy], at the begin- ning of the war enlisted in the Goodwin Rifles, Company B, 2d E-egiment, commanded by Col. Gilman Marston, of Exeter, and attached to the brigade commanded by Gen. Burnside. The regi- ment was conspicuously engaged in the first battle of Bull Run, in which Mr. Burbank displayed that undaunted bravery which animated him in all subsequent engagements. Upon the retreat, he carried a comrade — Holmes — on his back for a long distance, and after leaving him in the hospital, picked up the rifles thrown away by others, having at one time five on his shoulders. During the fall of 1861 the regiment was stationed at Chika- moxen. In the Peninsular campaign it took part in the battle of Williamsburg. In a letter to his brother he gives an account of the engagement : " We started at sunrise, and pushed r.apidly forward, our corps tak- ing the central route, — Keyes on our right and Sumner on our left. Our division took the lead, and at six o'clock we were in sight of the rebel entrenchments before AVilliamsburg. The action soon com- menced, and as the day progressed grew hotter, till by noon it was ab- solutely terrific. Our division, the rest of the corjis failing to come up, had to withstand the whole force of the enemy's centre; and right val- iantly did they do it, as the record of tlie day's fight will show. Four times were they driven back, and as many times did they rally, and re- cover the ground they had lost. Thus the battle raged till four o'clock, when reinforcements so long looked for at last arrived, and decided the battle in our favor, when the enemy, being driven hard into their en- trenchments, and darkness settling over the earth, ended hostilities for the day. " To add to our hard fighting, it rained in torrents all day, and the men were completely drenched. Many of the men when they went BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 327 into the fight threw away their knapsacks, and without any shelter you may judge that our situation was not to be envied. Still, the men were resolute in their determination to commence the fight the next morning. * * * * * * * * " Yesterday afternoon I took a stroll over the battle-field, and the sight that met my eyes was sickening in the extreme. Friend and foe lay side by side in scores. Evidences of the fierceness of the fight were everywhere visible, and it was easy to trace the progress and success of the fight by the too visible marks of the strife. Language fails me to describe the appearance of a battle-field after the contest is over. It must be seen to be realized to its full extent." For gallantry at "Williamsburg, lie was made a corporal. Endowed with a strong constitution, lie passed tlirough all tlie hardships of the Peninsular campaign, doing his duties whenever called upon, notwithstanding the malaria of the Chickahominy. He was in the tliick of the fight at the second Bull Eun battle, in which the regiment suffered severely. Defeat had followed de- feat. The soldiers had lost confidence in the management of the ami}'. But there was no faltering of patriotism. In a letter written Oct. 30th, 1862, is this outburst of loyalty : " I, for one, nm getting heartily sick of this war, and the way it is conduated. The fact is, there has been blood enough spilled and lives enough sacrificed to have put down the Rebellion ere this if rightly managed; yet I do not wish to see it settled in any other way, and willingly devote the term of my enlistment to attain the end for which the war was commenced. And yet, there are recreants North who would advocate a compromise, or peace on any terms, — who would even consent to sever this glittering chain of strength and glory. There are traitor knaves who would lift their sacrilegious hands to break that whicli God hath united, which man must not sever. Is there a man now who dares to advocate a disunion of these blood-brightened links? Palsied be his tongue to the very roof of his mouth, ere he can croak out one word of disunion ! " Pardon tliis flight of words; but I feel that all the hindrances are owing to this class of persons." He was in the battle of Fredericksburg, in Franklin's corps, where the regiment suffered severely. In the battle of Gettys- burg, the 2d K. H. was, at the heginning of the action on the second day, stationed in Sherfey's peach orchard, behind a rail fence. Upon the advance of Longstreet's corps, it w^as almost 328 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, the first regiment to open fire. Mr. Burbank fired twice at the advancing skirmishers. After the second sliot, he jumped upon the fence to see its effect, Avhen a hall went through one of his thighs, shattering the bone, and he fell to the ground. The en- em}' was close at hand — 30,000 men advancing rapidl}'. The whole of Sickle's line, in which was the 2d N. H., was forced hack, and Burbank was left upon the field. During the whole of the contest, he was exjjosed to the fire of both armies. His clothes were pierced with bullets. A wounded comrade, Ij'ing near him, had his head taken off bj^ a cannon ball. During the night of Thursday he was in the enemy's hands ; but they had so many of their own wounded to care for that they could pay no attention to the Union wounded. Through the contest of Friday he lay there upon the ground, exposed to the terrible storm of shot and shell. On Saturday afternoon he was exposed to a thunder-shower. The rain })oured in torrents. He soon found himself in a pool. The water ran till it covered his body, and he could only keep from drowning by propping up his head with his knapsack. The water assuaged the terrible fever that had set in from his wound, and quite likely saved his life, as mortification ere long must have set in. Upon the retreat of the enem}-, Saturday night, he was taken up by the ambulance corps, having lain where he fell from Thursday after- noon, with nothing to eat but the few crackers in his knapsack. He was taken to the hospital at Brattleborough, Vt., where he remained till his wound was healed. He was impatient to join his regiment. He applied to be sent back, but the surgeon would not give him permission, thinking he was not well enough. One day he was found missing, and "deserter" was written against his name. The return was sent to the colonel of the regi- ment ; but before it reached there, Burbank was doing his duty in the ranks as picket, having voluntarily retiirned. His colonel or- dered him into his presence, and condemned him to have an addi- tional stripe sewed upon his right arm, advancing him to tlie rank of sergeant. Nothing but an impediment of speech debarred him from receiving a commission. He was in all of the battles of the Wilderness campaign in which the 2d N. H. took part. On the ICth of May, 1864, the regiment was engaged with the enemy in front of Richmond, when Burbank, who was in adA'ance BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 329 of the skinnisli line, found himself confronted by a rolxd. They were but a few rods apart. Both raised their guns and fired at the same instant. The rebel fell dead, with a bullet through his brain, while the ball from the rebel's gun passed through Bur- bank's cheek, making a fearful wound, and disfiguring that side of liis face. He was taken to the hospital, and mustered out of service, June 21, 1864, having taken part in more than thirty engagements. Without any disparagement to the valor or bravery of others, it may be said that he was one of the bravest of the brave. He served his country from motives of pure patriotism, and has left an imperishable record. His death, which occurred in Ma_y, 1866, was very sad. It was from small-pox, in the hospital at Manchester. Strangers only could care for him in his last hours on earth. He married IMiss Louisa Nichols, who died before the war, leaving one child, a daughter, now living. BURBAXK, FRIEND L. Friend Little Burbank, eldest son of Capt. Abraham and Mary (Call) Burbank, was born in Boscawen, Jan. 29, 1806. He married Dorothy Jackman, daughter of Joshua Jackman, of Bos- cawen. He engaged with his father in the occupation of lumber- ing. Through life he has followed that calling, manufacturing many millions of feet in the mills that now bear his name. His fellow-citizens have honored him by electing him repeat- edly to manage the affairs of the town, and to represent them in the legislature [see Town Affairs']. BURBAXK, DAVID E. David Emery Burbank, son of Capt. Abraham and Polly (Jackman) Burbank, was born in Boscawen, May 16, 1822. He married Mary Elliot, of Canterbury, in 1845, and followed the oc- cupation of merchant at Sweatt's mills for several j^ears. He was a prominent member of Boscawen Light Infantry, and was captain of the corps when the military system of the state was disbanded, in 1849-60. Upon the organization of Webster he was elected town-clerk, 330 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. and was serving in tliat capacity when lie entered the military ser- vice in 18G3. Upon the organization of the 16th N. H. regiment, he was commissioned first lieutenant, Company H, a position Avhich he filled with honor to himself and his fellow-citizens. His commis- sion was issued Nov. 4, 18G2. The regiment was ordered to the Department of the Gulf under Gen. Banks, and, though not en- gaged in any great conflict, performed arduous duties on the Mississippi, at Port Hudson and other localities. Lieut. Bur- banlv, in common with many of the regiment, was prostrated by sickness. The -post physicians could hold out no hope for his recovery in that climate, and advised his return to the North as his only chance for recovery. The regiment had nearly filled its term of enlistment, and he accordingly resigned his commission, July 18, 1863. He reached home, prostrated by disease. The fatigues, hard- ships, and malaria had so undermined a hardy constitution, that many months passed before he regained his health. He was appointed postmaster at West Boscawen before the war, and while absent Mrs. Burbank performed the duties of the office, and conducted the business of the store. He subsequently moved to Norwich, Vt., where he still lives, engaged in milling. BURBANK, EZEKIEL W. Ezekiel Webster Burbank, son of Capt. Abraham and Polly (Jackman) Burbank, was born in Boscawen, June 16, 1829. He married Martha Ann Pillsbur}^, daughter of Enoch Pillsbury, and resided with his brother on the homestead in Bashan. Upon the organization of the 16th N. H. regiment he enlisted in Company H, of which his brother, David E., was second lieu- tenant. He served with honor, was faithful in all his military duties, as in everything else. He soon fell a victim to the mala- ria of the Mississippi, and died at Brashea Cit}', May 27, 1863. His was a character that won respect and confidence. He was a true citizen and an earnest Christian. CALL, OLOFF HANSON, REV., A native of Warner, became a resident of Boscawen in 1840. H!^e went through the academical course at Tilton Conference Semi- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ool nary, and tlie theological course at tlie Concord seminary, and became a member of the New Hampshire Conference in 1854. Under appointment from that body, he preached at Haverhill, Bath, Benton, Warren, Marlow, Seabrook, Salem, Londonderr}', New- marlvet, and at Amesbury, Mass. He moved to Kansas in 1875, where he is still engaged in the ministry. CALL, ^rATHAX, M. D., Son of Silas Call, was born in Boscawen Sept. 25, 1827. He attend- ed the common school on North Water street, but, aside from a terra or two at an academ}-, had no other literary course. He began the study of medicine with Dr. E. K. Webster on the Plain, Feb. 20, 1851, attended two courses of lectures at Hanover and one at Brunswick, graduating at Hanover in 1854. He attended one course of lectures at the New York Medical College, studied dis- section with Dr. E. H. Parker, then of Concord, and began prac- tice with Dr. Webster in March, 1855, when he was appointed assistant physician at the N. H. Asylum for the Insane, at Con- cord, under the superintendence of Dr. J. E. Tyler. His duties were acceptably discharged while in that official position. In 1859 he returned to Boscawen and resumed practice, where he remained till 18G4, when he removed to Suncook. He was married in 1855 to Miss Charlotte M. Colby, of Contoocook, was elected secretary of the N. H. Medical Society in 1862, retaining the position till 1866. He died at Suncook, June, 1875, after a brief illness, greatly lamented. In early life he connected himself with the Christian Baptist church, and lived a life consistent with his profession. As a citizen he was highly esteemed, and as a physician occupied a high rank. CALL, WILLIAM W. William Walker Call, son of Lemuel Call, was born Jan. 13, 1822. He worked on his father's farm till arriving at majority, having no educational advantages except those of the district school. In the fall of 1848, while residing at Lawrence, Mass., he read in the Boston Journal the first report of the discovery of gold in California. During the winter, as the reports of the richness of the deposits were confirmed, he determined to seek his fortune in that land. In company with his brother Jonas and Mr. Bit- 332 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. field Burbank, he started from Boscawen May 11. Beaching New York he found tliere %Yas little prospect of going to Cali- fornia by the Isthmus of Banama. He could not think of the long ocean voyage around Cape Horn, and determined to push west across the plains. At three o'clock on the day after his arrival in New York he was on the train, with his companions, for Bitts- burgh. Beaching that city, he took passage on the steamer "Ben West," which left the next day for St. Louis. The " Ben West " was a new boat, making her first trip. At Cincinnati a fast steamer, also bound for St. Louis, came alongside, and attempted to pass the '■' Ben West." The result was a race the entire dis- tance, the captains, reckless of consequences, feeding the furnaces till the flames spouted from the tops of the chimneys. The new boat won the race by several hours. Mr. Call was quite will- ing to make so quick a passage, as it bore him so much the faster on his journey. At St. Louis, he and his companions purchased a few articles of their outfit, and embarked by steamer up the Missouri. The boat was crowded with Mormons. The cholera broke out, and the l)oat stopped several times to burj^ the dead. Thirty-one passengers died in two and one half days between St. Louis and Independ- ence. The party from Boscawen had the wisdom to remain on the hurricane deck most of the time, and thus escaped the con- tagion. At Independence they purchased a wagon and four mules, and loaded the wagon with provisions. In New England they had been accustomed to using oxen and horses, and knew nothing of the nature of mules ; l;)ut ere long they discovered that a mule has a nature of his own — a peculiar nature, a propensity to kick wagons into kindling-wood, to stoji when he is so inclined, to set firmlj^ back in the harness at times. The mules were unbrok- en. To control them, ropes were tied around the necks of the leaders, and two of the party walked by their side. They started Ma}^ 22. At the descent of the first hill, the mules, in- stead of holding back, broke into a run. In vain the efforts of the men holding the ropes to stop them. Down the hill the}- went, making good time towards California, till one fell, and the others piled on top of him, and the wagon above them all. Then the heels flew. In a few seconds there were some kindling-wood and BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 333 strips of harness lying around loose. With much labor the jjile was disentangled, and the party was astonished to find no damage done to the mules, who shook tliemselves, and meekly gazed upon the scene as if nothing in particular had happened. Knowing from experience that oxen were conservative in their nature, and would exercise a healthful influence upon such a, team, one of the party returned to Independence, purchased a yoke of well-trained steers, hitched them to the team, and there were no more stampedes nor settings back in the harness. The party joined a great train of fellow-travellers, experienced all the hardships of the long journey, lasting one hundred and two days, when they reached Pleasant valley in California on Sept. 2. Mr. Call and his companions took up a claim near Weaverville, and worked till driven out by the fall rains, when they made their way to Sacramento. The yield of gold was about $20 a day. As no business offered at Sacramento, the party proceeded to San Francisco, and pitched their tent at the foot of Mission street, ob- tained a boat, boarded ships as they arrived, and purchased flour, potatoes, and other provisions, which they retailed at a good prof- it, returning to the mines in the spring. After a year and a half of absence, Mr. Call visited Boscawen, and removed his family to San Francisco, where he still resides. CALL, JOXAS, The third son of Lemuel Call, was born in Boscawen, April 24, 1826. He attended the district school, and by dint of hard labor was able to attend Blanchard academy, Pembroke, ten weeks. Arriving at his majority, he began the battle of life — taught school in winter, and worked at various occupations in summer. When the news was received of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, he was in Maine. Upon the receipt of a letter from his brother William, at Lawrence, requesting his opinion in regard to a trial of their fortunes in the land of gold, the younger brother instead of replying by letter, answered in person, ready to start at once. Some of the incidents of the journey are set forth in the bio- graphical notice of his brother William. 334 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. Jonas Call, while in the mines, discovered that the profits of a boarding-house — especially one for miners, where the hoarder settled his account promptly — were quite as great in the long run as rocking the mining-cradle ; and he turned his attention to that business. He was also successful in mining. He saw, also, that San Francisco was destined to be a great metropolis, and secured a plot of land in the suburbs, which has greatly in- creased in value. He visited the East after an absence of several years, and mar- ried Miss Mary A. Stone, of Acton, Mass., and returned to Cali- fornia. Mr. Call again visited the East, and took up his residence for one season on the old homestead, enjoying rest and relaxation after years of business activity. He returned to California in 1873, and embarked in a new mining enterprise, which has yielded large returns. During the reign of the vigilance committee in San Francisco, when the law-and-order-abiding citizens took possession of the city government, which had fallen into the hands of a set of thieves and murderers, Mr. Call was on the side of law. He shoul- dered his rifle, took his place in the ranks, and aided in purging the body politic. CASS, JOXATHAX. One of the first houses built west of Blackwater river was erected by Jonathan Cass, father to Hon. Lewis Cass. He moved from Exeter to Boscawen, and settled near Long pond, on the farm now occupied by the venerable David Sweat. The cellar is near Mr. Sweat's house. Mr. Cass was a blacksmith, and did all the smithing for the entire region. He was an upright and hon- orable man, a good workman and citizen. * Hon. Lewis Cass was born in Exeter, and never lived in Bos- cawen. Mr. Cass's wife died in Exeter, and he having married a second time moved to Boscawen, where he had a son, Barnard, born to him, who moved to Muskingum, Ohio. COFFIX, PETER, CAPT. He was born in Newbury, May 21, 1722, son of Jolm and Judith (Greenleaf) Coffin, and was a nephew of Col. Joseph Coffin, on^aA ^oJl BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 335 clerk of tlie proprietors of Contoocook. He married Eebecca Haseltine, of Chester, moved to Concord in 1766, and to Boscawen in 1768-69. He settled on Water street, erecting the house oc- cupied through life by his son Thomas. At t]iat time there were but two, or, at the most, three, houses in what is now the town of Webster. His house became the con- venient stopping-place for all new settlers. Capt. Coffin soon had corn to sell ; and no matter liow scarce the grain, or how high the current price, he never made a man's necessity his own opportunit3\ He was known as the poor man's friend. He had no desire for public office, and when chosen constable, when the town would not accept his declination, hired Benjamin Eastman to perform his duties. He was an ardent patriot during the Eevolution, and although there is no record of his election as delegate to the Provincial congress, held at Exeter, April 21, 1775, yet his name appears on the list as a member of that all-important body. He served in the campaign of 1777, upon the approach of Burgoyne. He was ever ready to support the religious institutions of the day, was a liberal, large-liearted man, respected and beloved. He died suddenly, Dec. 15, 1789. COFFIX, REBECCA H. Eebecca Haseltine, wife of Capt. Peter Coffin, was born in Chester, IST. H. She was married in the fall of 1768. Dur- ing the summer Capt. Coffin had erected the frame of a house now occupied by Mr. Colb}', on Water street. The masons had constructed the chimney, the boards and shingles were on the sides and roof, and the south-west corner room had been parti- tioned off, when the young bride, seated on a pillion behind her husband, reached her future home. Their house was on the fron- tier of civilization. Possibly two individuals had gone l;)eyond them, to Corser hill and Blackwater, but the only road was a cart- path over the rocks and hillocks, corduroyed upon the marshy places. The newly married couple were beginning life. They had few household articles, — a bed, kettle, frying-pan, wooden or pewter plates, a knife and fork each, and a few other household articles, — all of which were packed upon a led horse ; but they had strong 336 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. hands, and were undaunted by the hardships and trials before them. While the husband was making the woods bow before his sturdy strokes, the wife kept the wheel humming or the loom in action from morn till night. She was a thrifty woman, looking ever after the savings as well as the earnings. She was at the same time liberal and kind, relieving the wants of those who were having a hard time iii life. Dea. Enoch Little, who often when a boy ate a bowl of bread and milk in her house, was accustomed to say, that if it had not been for the kindness of Capt. and Mrs. Coffin, his father's family wo;ild have found it hard to get through their first year in Boscawen. Mrs. Coffin was intenselj" patriotic, and when the stamp act im- posed a duty on tea, she resolutely put away the few ounces in her caddy, and would not have any of it used until the act was repealed. In 1777, when the order came for Capt. Peter Kimball's com- pany to march to Bennington, there were two soldiers who had no shirts to wear. Mrs. Coffin had a web partially woven in the loom. Seizing her shears she cut out Avhat she had woven, sat up through the night, and made two shirts ; and in the morning the soldiers, thus provided for, took their places in the ranks. That was on the morning of July 4th. On the 15th of the same month she gave birth to her second son, Thomas. A month passed. On the 16tli of August the victory of Bennington was won. Messengers brought the glad news, and Capt. Coffin, who had been out in a previous campaign, started once more, leaving his energetic wife with five children, — the oldest a boy of seven years, the youngest an infant of five weeks. The wheat was dead ripe ; the birds were devouring it ; the winds were scattering the grains. It must be gathered ; — but who could gather it, when nearly every able-bodied citizen was hasten- ing to drive back the enemy ? She remembered that Enoch Little, who had moved to Little hill a few months before, had sev- eral sons, for she had supplied them with bread and milk the previous summer, while Mr. Little was rearing his cabin. Pos- sibly she might obtain one of the boys. She leaves the four old- est children at home, in the care of the eldest, Enoch, the boy of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 337 seven years, mounts the mare, takes Iier infant of five weeks in her arms, rides through the forest, along the bhized path, fording Beaver-dam brook, climbing Corser hill, fording the Blackwater, making her way to the log cabin of Mr. Little, to find that the three eldest sons are in the army, — that the oiily boy who can aid her is Enoch, fourteen years old. " Enoch can go, but he has no clothes," is the answer of Mrs. Little to Mrs. Coffin's request. The boy has no coat, vest, hat, stockings, or shoes. His only garments are a ragged pair of tow-and-linsey pants, and a rag- ged shirt. "I can provide him with a coat," is the reply. The boy leaps upon the pillion, and the mother, with the infant in her arms, rides back through the forest to her home. Enoch Little is no ordinary boy. He hears the birds in the woods, — but he has work to do, and plies the sickle, while Mrs. Coffin, in the house, is making him a coat. She has no cloth, but she has a meal-bag; and cutting a hole for his head, two holes for his arms, and, sewing on the legs of a pair of her own long stock- ings for sleeves, the garment is complete ! Then going into the field, she \njs her infant beneath the shade of a tree, and binds the sheaves ! So she serves her coun- try ; so does what she can for human freedom. She survived her husband many years. She was a woman of great energy of character, and trained her sons to prize character above everything else. All honor to her memory. COFFIIS", CHARLES CARLETOX, Was born in Boscawen July 26, 1823, son of Thomas and Hannah (Kilburn) Coffin. His education, beyond the advantages of the district school, Avas obtained at the academy on the Plain, and one term at Blanchard academy, Pembroke. During the winter of 1842, more for pastime than from any plan for the future, he studied land surveying and the rudiments of civil engineering. The time soon came when the slight knowledge thus obtained could be turned to account. He joined the engineers' corps in the preliminary surveys of the Northern Eailroad in 1845, and was employed upon its construction in 1846, also upon the pre- 22 338 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. liminary survey of the Concord & Portsmouth road, and later upon the Concord & Claremont. He was married Feb. 18, 1846, to Miss Sallie Russell Farmer, daughter of Col. John Farmer, and sister of Prof. Moses G. Far- mer. He purchased a farm on Pleasant street, now owned by Mr. Tyler Sweatt, but health failing, decided to turn his attention to other pursuits. This determination was brought about by the favor with which some fugitive contributions to the newspapers of the day were received by the public. His first article was pub- lished in 1845, in the Congregational Journal., published in Con- cord. He contributed to the Granite Farmer, printed at Man- chester, and to the New Hampshire Statesman / was one of the founders of the N. H. State Agricultural Society, and an active member. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Coffin constructed a telegraph line con- necting the Astronomical Observatorj^ of Harvard College in Cam- bridge with the telegraph lines in Boston, for the purpose of put- ting it in connection with other observatories ; and in 1851 had charge of the construction of the telegraphic fire-alarm for the city of Boston, under the care of Prof. M. G. Farmer, and gave the first alarm ever given by telegraph, April 29, 1852. While performing these duties he found time to continue his contributions to the press. Some stories entitled " The Old Man's Meditations," contributed to the Boston Traveller, may be found in Littell's Living Age, 1852. Some lines, — " Death at Sunset," — contributed to the Knickerhocher , have become one of the selections of lyceum readers. Many of his contributions at this time were to the Boston Museum, a literary journal. He occa- sionally reported meetings and agricultural fairs for the daily press, and was employed as assistant editor of the Practical Far- mer, an agricultural journal conducted by Col. Wm. S. King. From 1854 to 1860 Mr. Coffin was employed on several of the newspapers published in Boston, — the Journal, Atlas, Traveller, Bee^ and Transcript, — and during the winter of 1860-61 was employed as night editor of the Boston Journal. The Southern states were then seceding, the peace congress was in session, and Mr. Coffin, during the long hours of the night, had time for reflection upon the events of the hour, and saw, what all men did not see, that a conflict of arms was approaching. He was then a BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 339 resident of Maiden, and, the morning after the surrender of Fort Sumter, took measures for the calling of a public meeting of the citizens of that town to sustain the President, — one of the first of the meetings held throughout the country. Upon the breaking out of the war, Mr. Coffin became a corre- spondent of the Journal, writing over the signature of " Carleton," was present at the first battle of Bull Run, reached Washington during the night, and sent a full account of the action on the fol- lowing morning. In the fall he joined the Army of the West, sent an account of the taking of Fort Henry, which was republished in the papers of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, before any other account was published. Comprehending the craving of the public for information, and the importance of having his correspondence appear before any other, he took the first train from Cairo, wrote his account in the cars, which when completed was placed in the hands of an express messenger, while the Avriter returned to his post of observation. By adopting this method, the Boston Jour- nal was placed ahead of all its contemporaries, and published the account two days before any other paper in the country heard from its correspondent. Mr. Coffin was at the surrender of Fort Donelson, reported the movements of the Army of the West from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth, the operations at Island No. 10, New Madrid, Fort Pil- low, and the battle of the gunboats at Memphis, viewing it from the deck of one of Admiral Davis's vessels. Returning to the Army of the Potomac, he witnessed the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. Knowing that a powerful fleet of monitors was on its way to attack Fort Sumter, he visited the Department of the South, and witnessed the attack and repulse, and also the failure at Fort McAllister. During twelve days of the Gettysburg campaign, Mr. Coffin rode between 250 and 300 miles in the saddle, more than 900 in the cars, was on the battle-field three days and nights, and wrote a full and elaborate account, which was republished in many papers throughout the country, and was translated and copied by the press of Berlin and Paris. When Gen. Sherman reached the sea-coast Mr. Coffin hastened South, and the information that the flag of the Union was once 340 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. more floating over Sumter was first given to the world through the Journal, and was telegraphed over the country before any paper in New York had possession of tlie intelligence. In the campaign of 18G4, the JournaV s correspondent was an eye-witness of everj^ engagement from the Wilderness to Peters- burg, and of nearly all the battles around Petersburg and Rich- mond, which city he entered upon its occupation by the Union troops. The correspondence of Mr. Coffin was accepted by the public as authentic, and gave the Boston Journal a wide circulation. The edition containing the account of the battle of Gettysbixrg ex- ceeded one hundred and twent}^ thousand copies, while the daily circulation not unfrequently reached eighty thousand. His letters were regularly read by more than a quarter of a million of people. Upon the breaking out of the war between Austria, on the one side, and Prussia and Italy on the other, in 1866, Mr. Coffin, ac- companied by Mrs. Coffin, sailed for Europe ; but Austria, having been crippled by the single battle of Konnigratz, a truce was de- clared. Mr. Coffin remained abroad, however, writing a series of letters on current events. He visited Italy ; saw the occupation of Venice by the Italians ; reported the Paris exhibition of 1866 ; reported the scenes in the House of Parliament in England on the reform bill; was present at the coronation of the empe- ror of Austria as king of Hungary ; made the acquaintance of many of the public men of Europe ; visited Greece, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and Egjq^t ; embarked at Suez for Bombay ; travelled across India, before the completion of the railroad ; vis- ited Malacca, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai ; sailed up the Yang-tse six hundred miles ; visited Japan ; crossed the Pa- cific to California ; and crossed the plains before the completion of the Pacific Eailroad, — having been absent two years and five months. His corresjiondence dui-ing these years was widely read. Of books, Mr. Coffin has published '' My Days and Nights on the Battle-Eield," issued 1863; ''Following the Flag," 1865; "Winning his Way," 1865 ; " Pour Years of Fighting," 1866 ; "Our New Way Eoimd the World," 1869; "The Seat of Empire," 1871; "Caleb Krinkle," 1874; "The Boys of '76," 1876. Another volume, " The Story of Liberty," will be issued in the spring of 1878. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 341 The honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Amherst college in 1870. He is an active member of the New England Genealogical and Historical Society, and has contributed to the library of that institution many valuable manuscripts re- lating to the late Rebellion. He has been elected a member of the American Geographical Society, honorary member of the N. H. Historical Society, and member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has made many addresses on public occasions, and given more than five hundred lectures before lyceums. He gave the centennial oration in his native town, July 4, 187G, and at the request of his fellow-citizens has compiled the history of Boscawen and Webster. . COFFIN, NEHEMIAH C. Nehemiah Cogswell Coffin, son of Moses and Susanna (Farnum) Coffin, was born March 24, 1815. He prepared for college at Meriden academy, graduated at Dartmouth in 1836, taught the academy at Wolfeborough two years, studied theology at Andover, Mass., and at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church. Fearing, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1843. From thence he removed to Bremen, Ohio, where he preached two years, and from thence to Hebron, Ohio, where he remained six years. In 1851 he became connected with the female seminary at Granville, and was pastor at Piqua, Ohio, from 1852 to 1860. His health failing, he removed to Marblehead, near Sandusky, and gave his attention to the cultivation of the grape, thinking by rural occupation to regain his health. He married Miss Susan Rust, of Wolfeborough [see Gen.]. He died Jan. 9, 1868, after a life of much usefulness, lamented by all who knew him. COKSER, REV. ENOCH, Was born in Boscawen Jan. 2, 1787. He was the son of David Corser, and great-great-grandson of John, who (as is believed) was born in Scotland in 1678, emigrated to this country about 1690 [see Gen.]. Possessing an active intellect and a natural fondness for study, Enoch Corser early decided to obtain a liberal education. After a term of study at Salisbury academy, he completed his pre- 342 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. paratory course under the tuition of Rev. Samuel Wood, was ad- mitted to Middlebury college, Vt., 1807, and graduated in 1811. Ul^on leaving college he opened a grammar school in Danvers, Mass., following the occupation two and a half years, Avhen he be- gan the study of theology with Rev. Walter Harris, d. d., of Dunbarton, and in the following year, 1815, was licensed to preach. After some months of labor at Middleton, Mass., and Colebroolv, N. H., he began preaching in Loudon, where he was settled in March, 1817. In the following May he married Miss Sally Gerrish, daughter of Col. Joseph Gerrish, of Boscawen. He remained in Loudon till 1837, when, after preaching a short time at Meredith Village, he accepted a situation with the church at Sanbornton Bridge, preaching jis "stated supply," teaching also a part of the time in the academy till 1843. During the fol- lowing year he supplied the church at Plymouth, and at Lyndon, Vt. In 1845 he began pastoral labor at Epping, where he re- mained till 1848, when he removed to Boscawen, supplying the pulpit at Fislierville and other places. In 1850, while fulfilling an engagement at Warner, he was prostrated by paralysis, but from which he recovered, and began preaching again in his old parish in Loudon, where he remained two years, till prostrated by sickness. He continued to reside in Boscawen till his death, Jan. 17, 1868. He was a man of great intellectual ability, rarely wrote his dis- courses, was earnest, forcible, and at times eloquent in the pre- sentation of truth, an excellent pastor, and beloved by those who attended upon his ministrations. CORSER, CALEB B., COL. He was the second son of David and Judith (Burbank) Corser, and was born in Boscawen Oct. 14, 1803. His father's family emigrated to western New York, 1821, and settled first near Canandaigua, and from thence removed to Ogden, Monroe county. He was united in marriage, 1828, to Henrietta S. Spencer, of Spencerport, who died in 1840. His second wife was R. Maria Chapman, of East Haddam, Conn., who survives him. He was a farmer, but was elected a magistrate, and during his term of office, which continued for more than twenty years, none BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 343 of liis decisions were overruled by a higher court. One marked feature was his promptness in the discharge of every duty. His word was as good as his bond. He was alive to all progressive movements, plain in his manner of life, and liberal in his benefac- tions. During the outbreak upon the Canadian frontier he commanded a regiment of riflemen, but there was no occasion for actual ser- vice. He was often called upon to serve the public as a member of the state assembly. In 1863 he settled in Rochester, where he died •April 26, 1875, honored and respected by his fellow- citizens. CHANDLER, ABIEL R. Abiel Rolfe Chandler was born in Boscawen Aug. 25, 1805, son of Nathan and Jane (Rolfe) Chandler. He married Eliza J. Mor- rison, of Boscawen, and settled on a farm west of Fisherville. He was several years selectman and representative [see Town Offi- cers]. In 1852 he moved to Lawrence, accepting a situation in the employ of the Essex company, where he still resides [see Gen.]. COGSWELL, JOHN C, Came to Boscawen at the date of his first marriage, N'ovember, 1821, purchased the place now owned by T. P. Raymond, and es- tablished himself in the business of tanning and currying, in which he was eminently successful. He was a vahiable and highly es.teemed citizen, holding during his life several town offices of re- sponsibility. His death occurred Jan. 14, 1841. He was a lineal descendant of Lord Humphrey Cogswell, an English nobleman of the fifteenth century, and of John Cogswell, a London merchant, who came to this country in 1635, and settled in Essex, Mass., then called Chebacco, where many of his descendants now reside. CURRIER, MOODY, HON., Was born in Boscawen, April 22, 1806. At an early age his parents moved to Dunbarton, and thence to Bow, where his early years were passed on a farm, attending the district school about six weeks during the winter. He had an insatiable desire for 344 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. information, and devoured all the books lie could lay liis hands on, reading through the long winter evenings Ly the light of a pitch- pine knot, or a tallow candle. He fitted for college at Hopkinton academy, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1834. Soon after leaving college he taught school in Concord, and, in company with Plon. Asa Fowler, edited the Neio Hampshire Lit- erary Gazette. He w^as afterwards principal of the Hopkinton academy for one year, and in 18.36 became principal of the higli school at Lowell, Mass. He held that position for five y(#ir3, and in 1841 removed to Manchester, where he has since continued to reside. During his residence at Hopkinton and Lowell he stud- ied lav>', and on going to Manchester was admitted to the bar, and became a law partner with Hon. George W. Morrison. In 1842 he purchased an intei-est in a Aveekl}^ newspaper, the Man- chester Democrat, and devoted a part of his time to editorial labors for about a year. His partnership with Mr. JMorrison was dissolved in 1843, but he continued in the practice of his profes- sion independently until 1848. In that year the iVmoskeag Bank was organized, and he became its cashier, and has continued in the banking business since that time. Upon the organization of the Amoskeag Savings Bank, in 1852, he became its treasurer, and still holds the office. When the Amoskeag National Bank was orgaiiized to succeed the old Amos- keag Bank, in 1864, he became its president. He has been a di- rector in the People's Bank at Manchester since it was organized, in 1874 ; a director in the Blodgett Edge Tool Company during the existence of the corporation ; president and treasurer of the Amoskeag Axe Company since its organization, in 1862 ; a direc- tor in the Manchester Gas Light Company since 1862 ; a director in the INIanchester Mills since the organization of the corporation, in 1874 ; treasiirer of the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad Com- pany since 18o6 ; treasurer of the Concord Railroad Compan}^ in 1871 and 1872 ; and is now treasurer of the New England Loan Company, and president of the Eastern Railroad Company in New Hampshire. He was clerk of the New Hampshire senate in 1843 and 1844, and was elected a member of that body from the third district in 1856 and 1857, and was president of the senate in the latter BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 345 year. He was elected councillor in ISGO and 1S61, and was chair- man of the war committee of the council during the first fifteen months of the war of the Rebellion. In that position he exhib- ited great ability and energy, and rendered efficient service to the state and the nation. He entered with his whole soul into the business of raising and equipping troops, and won great praise from all parties for his efforts in this direction. Tlie first eight regiments of infantry, the 1st New Hampshire Battery, together with four companies of cavalry and three companies of sharp- shooters, were organized, equipped, and sent to the front with the utmost despatch, while Mr. Currier was at the head of the Avar committee. In compliment to him, the rendezvous of the Sth Reg- iment at Manchester was named "Camp Currier." Mr. Currier has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Lucretia Dustin, to whom he was married December 8, 1836. His second wife, to whom he was married September 5, 1847, was Miss Mary W. Kidder. He was married to Miss Hannah A. Slade, his present wife, November 16, 1869. He has had three children, one of whom, Charles M. Currier, survives, and is the teller of the Amoskeag National Bank. Mr. Currier has an ardent temperament, and versatile talent. His practical judgment is shown in the success of the banking in- stitutions which he has managed for many years, and also in the success of the various other enterprises with which he has been connected in an official capacity. He is methodical and cautious in his habits, and has always sustained the reputation of being honorable and upright in all his business relations. He maintains a high rank as a scholar, and, unlike many other men who have enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education, he has throughout his whole life taken a strong interest in the study of literature, science, and philosophy. He retains a taste for the ancient classics, and is quite familiar with the French, German, and several other modern languages ; he has Avritten many pieces of poetry, at intervals of leisure, which are very creditable in taste and composition. He is an independent thinker upon all sub- jects, and, though he is decided in his convictions and frank in the avowal of his opinions, cherishes a tolerant spirit, and en- tertains the highest respect for those with whom he is obliged to differ. 346 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. By industry and prudence lie has acquired a handsome fortune, and ]iis residence is a model of taste. He is liberal in his gifts to worthy objects, and especially to those which relate to in- tellectual culture. In 1876 he presented to the Manchester city library upwards of seven hundred volumes of valuable boohs, — standard, classical, illustrated, ecclesiastical, and scientific. These books were numbered and classed in the catalogue of the library as the " Currier donation." In acknowledgment of this generous gift, resolutions of thanks to Mr. Currier were passed in both hranches of the city government, and by the hoard of trustees of the city library. He has been for many years a member of the Unitarian society of Manchester, and one of its most liberal benefactors. DIX, TIMOTHY, LIEUT.-COL. The subject of this notice, after having passed several years as a clerk in the mercantile house of Col. Means, at Amherst, N. H., settled in Boscawen with his father, Timothy Dix,'and his grand- father, Jonathan Dix, about the year 1790. The latter died in Boscawen at the age of 94 years, and his son at Pembroke, in 1824, at the age of 73. Timothy Dix, Sr., the father of Col. Dix, was for several years post-master on Boscawen Plain, and is noticed in the historical collections of the state as distin- guished for " integrity, faithfulness, firmness, promptitude, deci- sion, and strong attachment to the cause of his country." He raised a company of soldiers during the Revolutionary war, and was familiarly known during his life as Lieut. Dix. Col. Timothy Dix was a man of great activity and enterprise, and gave a vigorous impulse to improvements in the town, and particularl}' in the village of his residence, known as Boscawen Plain. The character of the district school, which was far in advance of most others at that period, was largely due to his earnest and persevering efforts. The teachers were usually engaged by him, and were selected with a careful regard to their talents and social standing. Among them were Gen. Fessenden, of Portland, Me., father of the late senator from that state, and the accomplished Grace Fletcher, the first wife of Daniel Webster. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 347 While Col. Dix was engaged in mercantile transactions, on an extended scale for a country merchant, he purchased a township in the northern part of the state, which hears his name, and which has recently hecoine renowned for its hold and romantic scenery. By the terms of the sale, he was to make certain im- provements within a given time ; but in consequence of severe losses in his business, caused chiefly by the embargo during the administrations of Jefferson and Madison, he was unable to fulfil his engagements, and the ownership of the town passed into other hands. At the commencement of the war of 1812, he was appointed a major in a New Hampshire regiment, and was soon afterwards transferred to the 14th Regiment of U. S. Infantry, a battalion of which was recruited under his superintendence, in Maryland. Early in the spring of 1813 he marched from Baltimore to Sackett's Harbor with the troops he had raised, and in the fall of that year he was pi-omoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, the colonel having been captured by the enemy on the Niagara fron- tier. He took command of the entire regiment. He had been prostrated by fever during the summer, and was offered the command of Sackett's Harbor by Gen. Wilkinson, when the latter was organizing his expedition down the St. Lawrence against Montreal, and though strongly solicited by physicians to remain, he refused to give up command of his regiment, which formed a part of the expedition. In the descent of the St. Lawrence it constituted the rear guard of the army, which was encamped on the Canadian bank of the river, near Chrystler's fields, on the 10th of October. Early in the morning it was attacked by a fleet of British gunboats, which hung upon the rear of the American forces, and brought on the battle on the 11th. He had the day before been seized with a vio- lent inflammatory attack of pneumonia, and was borne by his son, John A. Dix, and two other officers of his regiment, under the fire of the enemy, to his boat, in which he died two days after- wards. Col. Dix Avas not onlj^ a man of excellent business capacity, of unconquerable determination in all he undertook, and of indefati- gable industry, but he was an accomplished draughtsman, a taste- ful musician, and a leader among his fellow-citizens in all intel- 348 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. lectual pursuits and undertakings. His descendants have inher- ited his fondness for mental and personal accomplishments, and some of them have acquired a distinguished reputation in the field, in the forum, in literature, and in the fine arts. He was a man of fine presence, of remarkably courteous and gentlemanly bearing, and carried into his intercourse with others a degree of frankness and freedom from assumption which won for him the kind feeling of those with whom he was associated. He was for several years the representative in the legislature of the town which he had greatly benefited by his enterprise and by the special exertions which he made to promote the interests of education. DIX, JOHX ADAMS, GOV. John Adams Dix was born in Boscawen, IST. H., on the 24th day of Jul}', A. D. 1798. His father, CoL Timothy Dix, Jr., was one of the most enterprising citizens of the town. His grandfather, Timo- thy Dix, is still remembered hj some of the survivors of the period as an u])right and intelligent man, and as post-master for many years. His great-grandfather, Jonatlian Dix, died in tlie village at the age of 94. John Adams Dix, when ten years of age, was placed under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Wood, by whom many of the first 3'oung men in the state of New Hampshire were trained in classical lit- erature for college. The following year he was sent to Salisbury academy, of which Col. Long, afterwards an eminent topographical engineer in the service of the United States, was preceptor. In 1810 he became a student at Exeter academy, during the presi- dency of the Rev. Dr. Abbot, and there continued his classical studies. In both those institutions he gave promise of the dis- tinction which he gained in after years as a public speaker. At the commencement of the year 1811 his father sent him to a col- lege in Montreal, for the purpose of acquiring the French language, where he remained until July, 1812. In that month all Americans upwards of fourteen 3'ears of age were ordered to leave Canada, in consequence of the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain. From July to December he continued his studies under private tutors in Boston, and made rapid progress in Latiu; Greek, Spanish, mathematics, and elocution. v^ M.-'vJ GE^'- JUHN A DIX BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 349 In December, 1812, he received his first commission in the army, and was ordered to report to his father, who was then in Maryland, raising the 14th Regiment of Infantry. In March, 1813, lie re- signed his cadet's appointment, received the commission of ensign in his father's regiment, and in the following month joined the army at Sackett's Harbor. His father, being then in command of the 14th Infantry, w^as attacked by severe illness, which in- creased to such a degree that he was unable to walk; and he was borne, by his son and a brother officer, under the fire of the enemy, on the morning of the battle of Chrystler's fields, to a boat on the St. Lawrence, in which he died as the army was landing at French Mills. During the war, young Dix, — who, before he was fifteen years of age, was acting adjutant of an independent battal- ion of the regular army, commanded by Major Timothy Upham, — filled several staff appointments, and was afterwards for several years aide-de-camp to Major-General Jacob Brown, when the lat- ter was at the head of the American army. While holding these appointments, with a view to returning to private life he com- menced the study of the law, under William Wirt, then attorney- general of the United States. On resigning his commission in the army, he was admitted to the bar in the city of Washington. In 1828, at the village of Cooperstown, N. Y., Mr. Dix com- menced the practice of the law. In 1831, he received the ap- pointment of adjutant-general of the state, and removed to xilbany. In 1833, he was made secretary of the state. While adjutant- general, he made a report on the militia system ; and while secre- tary of state, he made a report on the education of common-school teachers, and another on the geology of the state. These papers are marked by extraordinary ability, and have ever been regarded as standards in those departments of knowledge. He was called upon, without previous consultation with him, by the legislature, to report a plan for a geological survey, in the spring of 1835 ; and, without any previous knowledge on the subject, he prepared himself, by indefatigable labor during the summer, for the per- formance of the service, and was able to present his report at the opening of the session of the legislature in the ensuing January. It was adopted, and made the basis of the important work, whose record, in some twenty quarto volumes, is well known to the sci- entific community. 350 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. General Dix went to Europe in the year 1842, and returned in 1844. In January, 1845, he was chosen a senator of the United States in place of Silas Wright, who had been elected governor of the state of New York in the month of November j^receding. His first effort was a speech on the Oregon question, delivered in the senate, Feb. 18 and 19, 1846. It placed him at once in the front rank of public orators and statesmen. When he took his seat. Col. Benton, the veteran senator from Missouri, rose and said, — " I propose to speak to a branch of this question — not the branch of it on which the senator from New York on my right [Mr. Dix] has spoken. If I had intended to speak on that branch, I should have given up the design after hearing his speech of yesterday and to-day. It has left nothing for me to saj^ on the point of title, familiar as I have been with that subject for thirty years. He has placed the American title to the Columbia and to the coast north of it on ground from which it can never be re- moved, and which must put an end to the argument wherever that speech is read. A speech more perfect in its proofs, better sus- tained by history, more crowded with material pertinent to the is- sue, more satisfactory to all lovers of truth and justice, more judiciously conceived and vigorously executed, I have never heard delivered ; and I make my congratulations to that senator on the service he has rendered to his country, and the honor he has gained for himself by its delivery." The position thus acquired was in no resjjiect imjiaired by his subsequent service in the senate. In his speeches on the ware- house system, French spoliations, the Mexican war, the Roman mission, slavery, and other questions, he displayed the same abil- ity and thorough mastery of his subjects. Charles Sumner once said, to a friend, that he should recommend to any young man, pre- paring himself for public life, to study the speeches of Gen. Dix in preference to any others, as models of ability, eloquence, and senatorial dignity. In the year 1853, at the urgent request of President Pierce, he accepted the office of assistant treasurer in the city of New York, and was relieved, at his own solicitation, at the end of six months, after having received and disbursed some sixty millions of dollars. Early in 1860, the postmaster in the same city having absconded BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 351 witli $150,000 of the public money, Gen. Dix was called upon by President Buchanan to take that office. He held it until January, 1861, when, on the occurrence of another and a far more urgent emergency, his services were again in request, and he was ap- pointed secretar}^ of the treasury after the desertion of Cobb, who became one of the leaders in the movement to overtlirow the gov- ernment. It was while in that position that Gen. Dix gave the remarkable order, which sent a thrill through the l:)reasts of all American patriots, when the secessionists were taking forcible possession of the mints, forts, arsenals, and revenue cutters of the United States. Having been advised by his agent that a captain of one of those cutters refused to obey his orders, he directed the lieutenant to arrest him, and treat him as a mutineer if he resist- ed, closing his dispatch with the command, which will be remem- bered as long as the nation endures, — " If any one attempts to haul dovm the American flag^ shoot him on the spot^'' On the 16th of May, 1861, General Dix was appointed major- general of U. S. volunteers ; and, after superintending the raising of eleven regiments in New York, he was assigned to the com- mand of the department embracing the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and established his head-quarters at Bal- timore. Maryland was at that time in a state of semi-rebellion, and there is little doubt that an ordinance of secession would have been passed if the leaders in the legislature had not been arrested. Gen. Dix immediately proceeded to fortify the city, and, by a judi- cious combination of firmness and conciliation, the state was car- ried in the ensuing fall by a majority of thirty thousand for the Union. This important service was followed by a successful expe- dition, which he organized and sent to the eastern shore of Virgin- ia, dispersing the secessionist forces, and restoring that important district to the Union. In the following year he was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and succeeded Gen. McClellan in the command of the Department of Virginia. His chief services in this depart- ment were in the defence of Suffolk, after an investnient of a month by a greatly superior force, and his movement against Richmond, which contributed to the sudden return of Gen. Lee's army to Virginia, after the battle of Gett3-sburg. He was imme- diately afterwards ordered to New York during the riots got up to defeat the draft, and, after completing it, was continued in com- 352 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. mancl of tlie Department of the East until Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Grant, when he resigned his commission in tlie army, and returned to private life. In October, 18G6, he accepted for a few weeks tlie appointment of naval officer of the port of New York, and was appointed min- ister to the Hague. He did not accept the latter appointment ; and in Novemljer was appointed minister to France. In 1869 he resigned, and returned to the United States. During his dip- lomatic sojourn at the French court, he contributed greatly by his courtesy and friendly offices to remove the unkindly impres- sion which had grown out of the expedition of Napoleon III to Mexico, and to restore the traditionary friendship between France and the United States. His diplomatic correspondence with the French government embraces, among other matters, the impor- tant questions of extradition and exj^atriation ; and should they be published, they will be found worthy of his fonner reputation for research and solid reasoning. The last public service of Gen. Dix was rendered as governor of the state of New York, — an office to which he was elected against his wishes and remonstrances. It may justly be said, that the affairs of that state have not for fifty years been more abl}", faitlifuUy, or successfully administered. He found the treasury defrauded, in violation of the constitution of the state, of more than six millions of dollars ; and during his administration of two years he succeeded in replenishing it. His whole course was marked by freedom from partisanship and selfishness, and by an earnest devotion to the best interests of the people of the state. This jDraise has been freely conceded to him, even by his political opponents. Gen. Dix has never been an applicant for office. The positions he has filled were always tendered to him without solicitation on his part, and more than once against his earnest protest. He was never a favorite with politicians. They were never able to use him, and they knew it, and instinctively disliked their moral superior. The government and the people have usually had re- course to him when they needed aid. It was so when he was called to the offices of post-master of New York and secretary of the treasury. His predecessors had proved faithless to their trusts, and his experience and integrity were needed to carry out BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 353 indispensable reforms. His name lias earned witli it those ele- ments which the public require in time of danger, and which, in prosperity, they are prone to pass over till some fresh disaster puts them once more in demand. JSTo sketch of the life and services of John A. Dix would be com- plete which did not make mention of him as a student and a scholar. Throughout an official career of nearly half a centurj^, with occasional intermissions, he has devoted all his leisure mo- ments to literary pursuits, and esj^ecially to the classics. The country has very few men so conversant as he with the Latin authors, in the study of whose works he takes unceasing delight. His translations are remarkable. That of the " Dies Irne," the great mediaeval hymn of the Christian church, is ranked by the most distinguished critics as among the best renderings of that im- mortal production. The following translation was made by Gen. Dix, at Fortress Monroe, Va., in 1863, when in command of the Department of Virginia. He prefaces it with the following remarks : " DIES IR.E. "I have recently seen in the periodical press several new translations of this noble canticle — the best produced by the Middle Ages,' perhaps by any age. "Among the English versions, that of the Earl of Roscommon seems to have caught more of the inspiration of the original than any I have seen. It is, nevertheless, a paraphrase rather than a translation. Tliis is a serious fault, notwithstanding its high poetic merit. A production universally acknowledged to have no superior of its class, should be as literally rendered as the structure of the language into which it is trans- lated will admit. Moreover, no transhation can be complete which does not conform to the original in its rhythmic quantities. The music of the Dies Irpe is as old as the hymn, if not older; and with those wlio are famiUar with both they are inseparably connected in thought. To satisfy tlie exactions of such minds, the cadences must be the same. " With full knowledge of what has been done and attempted in our language, and of the difficulty of doing better, I have nevertheless ven- tured on a translation having in view the two ends which I have point- ed out — musical notation, and literal rendering to the extent that is attainable. " It is the fruit of leisure moments gained from the hard service of the camp, on rebel soil, but within Union entrenchments. If, in the 23 354 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ages of paganism, the strings of the Lesbian lyre might be, not un- worthily, swept by hands inured to arms, — ' Qui ferox bello, tamen inter arnia. Liberum, et Musas, Veneremque, et illi Semper liaerentem piierum canebat,' — a soldier in a Christian age may not less worthily find relief from the as- perities of war in themes more congenial with the higher dispensations which he is, by the providence of God, permitted to share, uport , Va., June 17, 1863." DIES IR^. Dies ira?, dies ilia ! Solvet sicclum in favillS, Teste David cum Sibylla. DIES IR^. 1. Day of vengeance, lo ! that morning On the earth in ashes dawning, David with the Sibyl warning. Qnantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus, Cuucta strict^ discussurus ! Ah ! what terror is impending, When the Judge is seen descending And each secret veil is rending. Tuba, mirum spargens soniim Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum. IV. Mors stupebit, et natura, Quum resurget creatiu'a Judicauti responsura. V. Liber script us proferetur. In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo quum sedebit, Quidquid latet .apparebit, Kil inultam remauebit. To the throne, the trumpet sounding, Through the sepulchres resounding. Summons all, with voice astounding. 4. Death iind Nature, mazed, are quaking, When , the grave's deep slumber breaking, Man to judgment is awaking. 5. Now the written book containing Record to all time pertaining Opens for the world's arraigning. 6. See the Judge his seat attaining, Darkest mysteries explaining, Nothing unavenged remaining. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus.. Quern patronum rogaturus, Quum vix Justus sit securus? VIII. Rex tremendoD majestatis, Qui salvandos salv.as gratis, Salva me, fens pietatis ! IX. Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa Tuas via ; Ne me perdas ilia die ! What shall I then say, unfriended, By what .advocate attended, When the just are scarce defended? 8. King of majesty tremendous. By Thy saving grace defend us ; Fount of pity, safety send us ! 9. Jesus, think of Thy wayfaring, For my sins the death-crown wearing Save me, in that day, despairing. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 355 X. QuEerens me sedisti lassus, Redemisti, crucein passus; Tautus labor iioii sit cassiis! XI. Juste Judex ultionis, Donuni fac remissionis Ante diem rationis! XII. Ingemisco tanquam reus, Culpa rubet vultus mens : Supplicanti parce, Deus ! XIII. Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem e.xaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces mea; non sunt dignse, Sed Tu bonus fac benign^, Ne perreni cremer igue ! Inter oves locum pra>sta, Et ab ha>dis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra ! XVI. Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis ! XVII. Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis: Gere curam mei finis! XVIII. Lacrymosa dies ilia Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus ; Huic ergo parce, Deus ! 10. Worn .and weary Thou hast sought me, By Thy cross and passion bought me ; — Spare the Iiope thy labors brought me. 11. Righteous Judge of retribution, Give, O give me absolution Ere that day of dissolution. 12. As a guilty culprit gi-oaning, Flushed my face, my errors owning. Spare, O God, Thy suppliant moaning! 13. Thou to Mary gav'st remission, Heard'st the dying thief's petition, Bad'st me hope in my contrition. 14. In my prayers no worth discerning, Yet on me Thy favor turning, Save me from that endless burning! 15. Give me, when Thy sheep confiding Thou art from the goats dividing. On Thy right a place abiding ! 16. When the wicked are rejected, And to bitter flames subjected, Call me forth with thine elected! 17. Low in supplication bending. Heart as tliough with ashes blending; Care for me when all is ending. 18. When on that dread day of weeping Guilty man in ashes sleeping Wakes to his adjudication. Save him, God! from condemnation! Gen. Dix is as much at home in modern as in ancient langua- ges. During his residence in Paris, while minister to the court of France, he was present at a meeting of one of the literary soci- eties of that capital, and, on being introduced to the company, addressed them in an elegant and effective speech in the French language, to the delight of all the listeners. His summers are spent at '^ Seafield," his re.sidence at West Hampton, on the southern side of Long Island, about seventy 356 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. miles from New York. The fame of tlie old general as a keen sportsman and dead shot has gone through all that region ; and there, in congenial pursuits, and surrounded hy a loving and de- voted family, he passes, serenely and happily, the closing years of a life ^Yhich has heen full of good service to God and his country, and on which rests no cloud of dishonor. A state or town is honored in hringing forth such citizens, and the men are happy who leave such a name after them, for the comfort and encourage- ment of future generations. DIX, ROGER SHERMAX, MAJ., Was horn in Boscawen in 1810, son of Timothy Dix, Jr., and younger brother of Gen. John A. Dix. He fitted for college at Phillips academy, Andover, and entered Dartmouth when he was fourteen, where he remained hut one year, going from there to West Point as a cadet. He graduated in 18.32, and was at- tached to one of the infantry regiments, and stationed at Little Eock, in Arkansas. He was appointed to the quartermaster's depot, and subsequently transferred to the paymaster's depart- ment. Upon the breaking out of the Mexican war, he was attached to the army under Gen. Taylor ; and at the battle of Buena Vista served as volunteer aid. The signal service rendered l»y Maj. Dix in this battle is nar- rated by Capt. James H. Carleton, of the 1st Dragoons. The 2d Indiana volunteers had given way, and the moment was most critical. An effort was made by several officers to rally the fugi- tives. The part taken by Maj. Dix is thus set forth : " None were so successful in arresting their flight as the intrepid Major Dix, of the pay department. Having ridden rapidly among them, he seized the standard of the 2d Indiana volunteers, and then called to the men, and asked them if they would desert tlieir colors. He told them that they had sworn to protect them, and now, if they were still determined to do so, they must return with him to the fight. He swore to them that with God's help he would not see the state of Indiana disgraced by having her flag carried out of battle until it could be carried out in triumph ; and that back into it again it should go, if he had to take it there and defend it alone. This touched the hearts of many of those who were within the sound of his voice. It seemed to Birthplace of John Adams Dix. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 357 baiiisii tlie panic which had fallen on them: they were themselves again. Tliey rallied, thought of their homes, gave three cheers for Indiana, and again gathered around the flag. Captain Linnard, of the topographical engineers, who had been very active in seconding Maj. Dix in his appeal, now got a drum and fife, and directed the national quickstep to be played, when the word was given to move on. Maj. Dix then led off with the flag, while the gallant captain brought up the rear; and those thus gathered went back again into battle." Maj. Dix died suddenly, in Pennsylvania, of cholera, while on a journoy from Tennessee to Washington, in 1849. He was bur- ied in the little town of Hannock, near the summit of the Alle- ghanies. EASTMAN, JOSEPH, CAPT. He was son of Joseph and Abigail (Merrill) Eastman, of Salis- bury, born in 1720. He moved to Contoocook in 1746. He served as a soldier in Col. Blanchard's command in 1754, after the attack of the Indians upon Stevenstown (South Franklin). In 1757 lie enlisted as a ranger in Robert Rogers's battalion, and con- tinued in service till the close of the war. He was in one of the severest contests ever fought on Ameri- can soil, on the shore of Lake George, Jan. 17, 1757, lasting from two in the afternoon until dark. The rangers numbered seventy- four ; tlie Frendi and Indians more than two hundred and fifty. Of the rangers, fourteen were killed, six wounded, and six taken prisoners ; while of the French and Indians, one hundred and six- teen were killed and wounded. In 1760, Gen. Amherst, at Crown Point, wished to communi- cate with Gen. Murray, at Quebec, the distance being nearly three hundred miles through almost a pathless wilderness, in possession of the French and Indians. Gen. Amherst offered fifty pounds to any four men who would undertake the journey. Sergeant Beverley, who had been a prisoner in Canada, Luxford Goodwin, John Shute, and Joseph Eastman, volunteered to accomplish the undertaking. Shute was from Concord, and all were rangers, accustomed to the wilderness. They took despatches and letters, and were escorted to Missisquoi bay, on Lake Champlain. They struck north-east, and came to the St. Francis river. Tliat stream was a great Indian higliway ; and the question was, whether to 358 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. cross by daylight, or wait till night. They concluded to run the risk of getting across during the day, and, collecting driftwood, constructed two rafts. They cast lots to see who should first attem^it to cross the tur- bulent stream. The lot fell to Eastman and Shute. They had only two poles. The current swept them down stream. They saw that the raft would go over a swift fall, and they managed to save themselves by leaping upon a rock with their guns and packs, and thence reached the shore. The other two were less fortunate. They were swept over the falls. Goodwin and Beverley barely escaped with their lives, los- ing their coats, provisions, guns, and the letters entrusted to their care. It was a wet, swampy wilderness through whicli they trav- elled. They had little to eat, but pressed on, steering north-east. On Sunday morning they heard a bell, and found themselves close to a village. Proceeding cautiously, they came to a log house, found that the familj' were at church, and helped them- selves to provisions and clothing. Starting on their way, they came to a second log house, in the woods. A ladder rested against the gable end, leading to a door fastened with a padlock. They broke open the door, found a chest filled witli clothing, and took whatever pleased them. They were in the enemy's country, and it was expected of a ranger that he would do all the harm he could to the enemy. Tliey avoided all roads. At night they came to a farm-house, entered a barn, and found a calf, which they killed. Each ranger , shouldered a quarter of veal, and took the skin along, kindled a fire in the woods, smoked the meat to preserve it, made moccasins of the skin, and continued their journey. Four days later they came in sight of the St. Lawrence, and dis- covered a large encampment of troops. They were uncertain as to whether they were French or English. Beverley decided to approach the encampment. If they were French, he was to make a signal for the other three to take care of themselves., He ap- proached the camp. Eastman and his companions saw him stop- ped by a sentinel. After a short parley, they shook hands. Upon this, Eastman, Shute, and Goodwin approached, and were heartily welcomed. They were twenty miles above Quebec, but BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 359 were at once sent to the city. Arriving there at midnight, they were taken to Gen. Murray's quarters, slept on the floor in the kitchen till morning, when they were taken into a large hall, where Gen. Murray and a hundred officers of various grades were assembled to hear their story. Gen. Murray treated them to the very best of liquor, "such," said Shute, "as I never have tasted before nor since, nor have I ever drank anything so good in my life." They were separately examined, and all had but one story to tell. Gen. Murray was so well pleased with them that he would not let them return, but kept them to pilot the army, giving them four guineas extra pay. A few days later the army was in motion up the river to join Amherst; and they had the satisfaction of being present at Montreal, Sept. 8, 1760, when the domain of New France was surrendered to the English. Capt. Eastman married Elizabeth Jackman, daughter of George Jackman [see Genealogy]. He moved to Concord probably in 1769, as he was a voter in Boscawen in 1768 ; but his name does not appear at a later daj^ upon the records. He was a man of decided character and energ)-, capable of enduring great liard- ships, and an esteemed citizen in both towns. He died in 1815, at the age of 95. FARMER, JOHN. Col. John Farmer was born in Billerica, Mass., December, 1791 [see Genealogy], moved to Boscawen with his mother about 1810, and engaged in farming ; but, being of a mechanical turn of mind, he gave his attention to the im2)rovement of mills for the manufac- ture of shingles, laths, and clapboards. He invented a simple machine for smoothing the side of a block of wood. It was, in reality, a planing machine, one of the first ever brought into use. He evinced considerable skill in the contriving of implements that would save labor on the farm. Quite early in life he began the manufacture of lumber, which was rafted down the Merrimack to Lowell, and taken to Boston through the Middlesex canal. He married Sally, daughter of Moses Gerrish, in 1819 [see Genealogy]. He had great energy and decision of character, and his influence was felt throughout the community for good, and more especially after he became a member of the church. 360 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. He was elected to the legislature in 1828-9, and again in 1834-5. He was often called iipon to preside in town-meeting. He had a quick, judicial, discerning mind, was an early advocate of the temj^erance reform, of the anti-slavery movement, and had that coolness of judgment that held an even course between both radical and conservative parties. He was kind and liberal in all his views and acts, giving largely of his means to sustain benevo- lent and missionary organizations. He was captain of the light infantry, and colonel of the 21st Regiment. Through his business operations, which becarae very extensive, he was widely known, and no man in the section occupied a more favorable position than he for political advancement. He died in the full vigor of life, from typhoid fever, July 17, 1836, at the age of 45. FARMER, MOSES G., PROF. Moses Gerrish Farmer, eldest child of Col. John and Sally Ger- rish Farmer, was born in Boscawen, N. H., Feb. 9, 1820. In early life he attended the district school in that town ; also the academy on Boscawen Plain. He entered Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., in the autumn of 1837. At that time music was with him an all-absorbing pas- sion, and other studies were often neglected in consequence of it. One day, while seated at the organ when he should have been preparing his lessons for the morrow, the door suddenly opened, and the calm, stern face of Dr. Taylor Avas before him. "Farmer, you are disappointing the best hopes of jour friends," were the only words that fell upon the ear of the boy musician, — and the door closed between them. Great Avas the influence of those words upon the man Avho has ever found in duty his highest pleasure. He entered Dartmouth college in 1840, where he remained three 3'ears, and then Avas obliged to leave on account of ill health. (The degree of a. m. Avas conferred upon him ])y the faculty of Dart, mouth in 1853.) A few months after leaving college, he became preceptor of El- liot academy, Me., and was married in that toAvn Dec. 25, 1844, to Miss Hannah T., daughter of Richard Shapleigh, of Berwick, Me. He remoA-ed immediately to DoA'er, N. H., as he then had charge of the Belknap school in that town, Avhere he taught until the A/lir±.^ 7 ^4//7T^. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 361 summer of 1847, when lie turned liis attention wholly to scien- tific pursuits, which were much more congenial to his tastes than school-teaching. During these years he found his recreations in the study of music. His fondness for mathematics, together with his love for music, made him a thorough harmonist. The following anecdote sets forth the versatility of his talents : A church in a neighbor- ing town was about to settle a pastor, and the leader of the choir, wishing to made the musical service unusually attractive, organ- ized an orchestra, with clarinet, flute, violin, and other instruments, but had no performer for the double-bass viol. He was informed that a gentleman in Dover was an excellent musician, and doubt- less would be able to render good service. Upoii visiting Dover, the conductor found, to his great gratification, that the musician was a fellow-student at Dartmouth, who at once consented to j^lay the viol. The evening came. INIr. Farmer was late, and only entered the orchestra as the opening piece was to be performed. He snapped the strings of the instrument to ascertain if it was in tune, and, as he drew the bow across them, thus whispered to the conductor : " I never played a double-bass in my life." The leader was aston- ished at the intelligence. "What are you going to sing?" Mr. F. asked. The leader laid the score before him. " I never saw it before," he whispered. Everything went well till the choir was about half through the piece, when choir and audience were startled by a crash, and, to their horror, saw that the })ile of books upon which rested the score of the violist had tumbled to the floor. Put there was no interruption, for his knowlege of harmony enabled him to render a fitting accompaniment to the end. He began his experiments in electricity in 1845, inventing at that time an electro-magnetic engine. In 1846 he constructed a small electro-magnetic locomotive, also a small railroad track, and exhibited the same in various towns and cities, lecturing upon the subject of electro-magnetism and its applications, showing also how it could be adapted to the use of torpedoes and sub-marine blasting. His first lecture was given in Dover, and one of his experiments was made with a miniature shij), placed in a wash- bowl of water. The ship was blowai up by electricity, and, com- 362 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ing down, stniclc on the top of tlie lecturer's head. This was, perliaps, the reason why tlie experiment was never repeated before anotlier audience ; hut the circumstance is often recalled now, as ships nia_y so quickly he turned into kindling-wood hy the torpe- does which he uses at the present day. In 1846 he invented the hook or sickle-shaped climber, for the use of repairers of telegraph lines in climbing poles, and came near losing his life in showing how easy it was to use them ! About this time Mr. Farmer made the accjuaintance of Hon. F. 0. J. Smith, who was then one of tlie most prominent men in all telegraphic matters, which finally resulted in Mr. Farmer's leaving Dover, in December, 1847, and taking up his residence in South Framingham, Mass., where he opened a telegraph office in the de- pot, and also had charge of the line between Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. While here he tried the experiment of telegraph- ing by the use of a current from an induction coil, using a com- mon medical machine for tlie purpose. Early in the winter of 1848, Mr. Smith, president of the Portland line of telegraph, and Mr. L. L. Sadler, superintendent of the Boston and New York line, were one day talking over the possibilities of the telegraph system, and the uses to which it could be applied ; and Mr. Smith suggested that an alarm of fire might be given by it, and asked, — ''Where is the man who can devise the machinery that will be needed to do it?" Mr. Sadler replied, — " I have an opera- tor in my employ now, who can do it if anybody can, for he is the most ingenious man I ever saw. He is in the Framingham office, and his name is Farmer." "I know him," said Mr. Smith; "yes, lie can do it, if it can be done." Mr. Farmer's attention was at once called to the subject, and he asked for a week in Avhich to consider it. At the end of that time he showed them what he had done. He took the striking part of an old clock, and invented the electrical part necessary to construct a miniature machine, which clearly demonstrated the thought in a visible form. This was the first machine in the world for giving an alarm of fire by electricity. Messrs. Smith and Sadler were perfectly satisfied with it, but were too full of care in regard to their telegraph interests to do anything further at that time, and the work was not resumed for two years. Kot so with Mr. Farmer. If this were sometliing that could be done, and the world needed it, the time would come BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 363 when it could be carried into operation, and he was constantly devising ways and means hy which to accomplish it. This was of great help to him when he was called to the work in ISal. Having conscientious scruples about the work required of him on the Lord's day by the New York Telegraph Co., he was re- leased from his engagement there. He removed to Salem, Mass., July, 1848, and took charge of the telegraph office in that city, also of temporary repairs on the line between Boston and New- buryport. In the autumn of the same year he received an order from the city of Boston to construct two small machines for striking alarms of fire on church bells, the machines to be made according to the 2:»lans which he had previously submitted to Mr. Smith. The ma- chines were constructed at once by Messrs. Howard & Davis, the well knowni clock-makers of Eoxbury, Mass., and were exhibited in Boston, December, 1848. One was placed on the top of the court-house, and the other in the office of Mr. Sadler, the superin- tendent of the New York line of telegraph. These machines were connected by a wire, and were operated by a circuit of the main New York line, and the bells to Avhich tliey were attached were both struck simultaneously by an operator in New York city, two hundred and fifty miles away. The experiment was perfectly satisfactory to all who witnessed it, and accounts of the wonderful event were published in the newspapers at the time. Mayor Quincy's term of office expiring soon after, and the next maj^or not feeling the necessity of further action on his part, the subject was not resumed that year, and Mr. Farmer continued his experiments in other directions. Soon after this he devised an automatic circuit-closing appara- tus, in which the weight of the hand broke the switch branches of the main circuit, but this immediately closed itself upon the removal of the hand. During the year 1849 he contrived an electro-magnetic clock, with dead-beat escapement, and wdth continuity-preserving circuit- breaker. This clock had only three wdieels, each wheel sixty teeth; — the second hand moved each second, the minute hand each min- ute, the hour hand each five minutes. This was patented in 1852, and one was in use in the fire-alarm office in Boston for several years after the introduction of the system into that city. 364 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. In 1849, Mr. Farmer left the telegraph office in Salem, Mass., to oj)en some of the new offices on the Vermont and Boston tele- grapli line, commencing svith Manchester, N". H. While there he invented the open-circuit automatic repeater, as he found some such device needful. This line was worked on the Bain, or chem- ical system. In May, 1S50, he was appointed superintendent of the line from Boston to Burlington. During the 3'ear he applied automatic repeaters to six or seven intermediate stations, antl the line was extended to Ogdensburgh, IST. Y. Wires were also run south to Northampton, Mass. In February, 1S51, he received a note from Dr. Wm. F. Chan- ning, of Boston, of whom he had never heard before, requesting an interview, as he desired to use the machines which Mr. Farmer had devised and exhibited for giving an alarm of fire by electricity. Dr. Channing had published an article upon this subject in 1845, although Mr. Farmer had never heard of it, nor had he ever seen the Avriter until he met him in his (Mr. Farmer's) office on State street. Dr. Channing had constructed no machinery by which his idea could be demonstrated, and Mr. Farmer consented to the use of the machines which had been exhibited two years before, and also promised to assist Dr. Channing in the use of them. The experimental trial satisfied the city government of Boston of the feasibility of the plan, and an appropriation of $10,000 was made to carry it into effect. Mr. Farmer was immediately ap- pointed superintendent of the construction, and entered upon his duties in Jnly, 1851, resigning his position of superintendent of the Vermont line for this purpose. The work was no sooner un- dertaken, than he found himself at sea without chart or compass. The system, which had looked so beautiful on paper, was only a form, which must now be clothed before it could become an obedient servant. How to do it engrossed every thought. Theorizing and practical work were now found to be two very different things. Ma- chinery must be invented at every step. Each bell-tower required its peculiar adaptations. The position of the machinery, its size, and tlie weight to be attached to it, all had to be taken into ac- count. Difficulties met the young inventor at every turn. Means applicable to an ordinary telegraph line were of no hel}) here, but his absolute faith in final success bridged over every one of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 365 the many difficulties, and the work of construction went steadily on, until every dollar of the first appropriation had heen ex- pended. The fire-alarm committee, never doubting his ability to accomplish the work he had undertaken, made another ap- propriation, and tlie task before him was pursiied with tlie same untiring energy and wonderful fertility of invention, until suc- cess was attained. Mr. C. C. Coffin had charge of the men em- ployed in its construction. The first trial took place April 28, 1852, and the first alarm was given by Mr. Coffin in the evening of the 29th. Daily use of the system brought to light its many defects, and for the next three or four years it required on Mr. Farmer's part almost sleepless vigilance to overcome the obstacles to its complete and triumphant success. During the first fif- teen months after it went into operation, he spent forty-three nights in the fire-alarm office in Boston, considering it unsafe to leave it long enough to return to his home in Salem. Twice he was sent for to return by carriage in the night. Once, in a ter- rific storm, he found it almost impossible to obtain a horse or driver. Being told that the storm was too terrible for man or beast to be out in, he simply replied, — " If I am willing to risk my life, j^ou certainly ought to be willing to risk one of your horses." The request was granted, and he reached his office in Boston past midnight to find his worst fears more than realized. Every line connected with the main office had been broken by the storm. The oj^erators were at their posts of duty, but almost despair- ing what to do. If a fire had broken out that night the ^vhole city of Boston would have been at the mercy of the flames. Strange as it may seem at the present day, the firemen were then the bitterest enemies of the system, and they lost no oppor- tunity to find fault with it, or to prevent its successful introduc- tion. At that time the fire department was a voluntary organiza- tion; fire companies were clubs, in some instances political organ- izations. False alarms were frequent, as it was very easy to start the cr}" of " Fire." The telegraphic system proposed to do away with all this, prevent false alarms, and consequently much of the excitement : hence the opposition of the firemen. With Mr. Farmer, however, there was no such word as fail ; and the labor went steadily on. He never laid down his care of it until 1859. 366 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Then lie felt that it was old enough to be wholly committed to the care of others. He generously gave the system to the city, waiv- ing all his rights under the patent law. He resigned his position of superintendent in August, 1855, but was still in daily com- munication with those having charge of it for the next four years, and they had the benefit of his skill and experience upon which to rely in every emergency. This was the fire-alarm telegraph of the past. To-day it is in use in almost every large town in the United States and Can- ada. If this had been his life work, it would have been worth living for ; but it was only the beginning. In 1855 he successfully deposited aluminum from its chlo- ride solution, which never had been accomplished before. He also succeeded in depositing copper in a condition both hard and brittle — a great achievement in electro-metallurgy. In 1856 he commenced the business of electrotyping, and produced the first undercut electrotype in this country from a gutta j^ercha mold. He also made a sheet of copper one eighth of an inch thick, brittle as glass ! This was another wonder in electro-iiietallurgj^ In this year he also devoted much attention to electric repeat- ers, electric clocks, and printing telegraphs, and constructed for the Dudley observatory, at Albany, N. Y., a chronograph and sys- tem of electric clocks. He invented, in conjunction with A. F. Woodman, a closed circuit-repeater,' which proved to be very useful. In 1856 he constructed and sold a great many gyroscopes, to one of which he applied an electro-magnetic engine, by which he kept it in continual rotation. As early as the year 1852, Mr. Farmer's attention was directed to the subject of multiplex teleg- raphy. Between this time and 1855, he devised and constructed an apparatus by which he was enabled to transmit four messa- ges simultaneously over a single wire. In November, 1855, he showed to Joseph B. Stearns the apparatus he had then con- structed, and explained to him his theorj^ of the manner in which this could be accomplished. This was twelve years before Mr. Stearns brought out his ap^^aratus known as the " Stearns du- plex." About this time Mr. Farmer devised a printing telegraph, and was probably the first to make use of what is known as the "unison stop." He was also undoubtedly the first to suggest the use of the continuity-preserving key in the duplex telegraph. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 367 This was the earliest form of a duplex which made use of inde- pendent current reversals in sending messages. He pei'fected double transmitters with reversed currents and constant resist- ance ; worked double transmission on a telegraph line between Boston and Worcester in 1856, both instruments being in the Boston office, and two messages were sent simultaneously in op- posite directions. In 1852-3, permission was granted to Capt. Cliarles Wilkes, U. S. Navy, to use the circuits of the fire-alarm system, to deter- mine, experimentally, the velocity of sound. Stations at Charles- town Navy Yard, Watertown Arsenal, Salem, Cambridge, South Boston, and at Fort Independence were connected with the central office in Boston. Mr. Farmer constructed an especial chronograpli for this purpose, and many experiments were made, the results of which were duly published by Cajjt. Wilkes. Previous to this time, at the request of Prof. Bache, of the U. S. Coast Surve}^, Mr. Farmer had constructed a short line of telegraph, connecting the observatory at Cambridge with the New York and Boston line of telegraph. In 1852 he devised one or more closed circuit-repeaters ; also commenced the construction of apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of four messages upon one wire, in the same or op- posite directions. In 1852-3 he made many experiments uj)on rheostats, voltometers, and magnetometers. In 1853 he received a patent on an improved porous cell for galvanic batteries. In 1854 he experimented largely on magneto-electric machines, and deposited copper on several cells in series, and endeavored to ascertain the mechanical power required to accomplish it. He also employed magneto-electric machines instead of a galvanic battery, for the purpose of striking the bells of the fire-alarm tel- egraph, and also applied water-power apparatus instead of weights to raise the bell-hammers. He contrived and constructed a resist- ance coil, with electro-static capacity, produced by winding sheets of tin-foil between each layer of wire. In the same year he made improvements in diaphragm water-meters. In 1855 he invented improvements in fire-alarm signal apparatus, making use of a cur- rent in one direction to give one signal, and in the reverse direc- tion to give another and different one. The same year he ex- perimented on dial telegraphs ; also on telegraphs for double 368 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, transmission in the same direction ; made experiments on elec- tric signals for railroads ; invented a printing telegraph ; made experiments looking to the construction of apparatus whereby two operators could send simultaneously, over one wire, from Wash- ington to New York, reports in short-hand of congressional sjjeeches. In the winter of 1855-6 he made successful experi- ments on the electro-deposition of aluminum. In the summer of the same year he read a paper on ^Multiplex Telegraphy before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was elected a member at their annual meeting. During the winter of 1855-6 he continued his experiments in duplex and printing telegraphs. In 1857-8 he made a great many experiments with double transmitters. At that time he applied for an Englisli patent on a combination of the duplex and printer. He also constructed a duplex printing telegra^^h, driven by an electro-magnetic motor. In 1858 Mr. Farmer devised electro-magnetic apparatus, to show the height of water in steam boilers, tanks, reservoirs, «S:c. He also in- vented an automatic regulator, for controlling the distribution of electricity to numerous electric lamps. During the jeav 1858 he began . a series of investigations upon the production of light by electricity, and invented an automatic regulator, by which the light can be kept at a uniform intensity for any length of time. During the month of Jul}', 1859, he had one of the rooms of his house, in Salem, Mass., lighted every even- ing by this subtle agent. The light was very beautiful, and attracted a great deal of attention from the many visitors who came to see it. The cost of the light was the only hindrance to its coming into general use. During the years 1860, '61, '62, and '63, he bestowed much at- tention upon the manufacture of alloys of aluminum, with copper and other metals. One of the alloys produced by him so closely reseml)led 18-karat gold, as to deceive any one but an expert. Between the years 1864 and 1868 he devoted a good deal of time to perfecting a thermo-electric battery, and in 1868 con- structed the largest one ever built. This was used for the deposi- tion of copper upon steel, in the production of what is known as the American compound telegraph wire. This wire was a joint invention of himself and Mr. G. F. Millikin, of Boston, Mass. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 369 Improvements in the manufacture of this wire have now readied such a stage, that it can be furnished more cheaply tlian an iron wire of equal conductivity. The invention is thus de- scribed : "A copper telegraph wire, with a case or covering of iron or steel, steel being used for its great tensile strength, and copper for its great conductivity.'' During the latter part of 18(39, Mr. Farmer was employed to examine and report upon the electric condition of the land lines and of the cables of the N"ew York, Newfoundland & London Tel- egraph Co. ; and, as a result of these investigations, he invented a new insulator, of which he furnished over thirty thousand to that company, and they have given the highest satisfaction. Early in the year 1871, his attention was again turned to the improvement of electro-magnetic machines ; and during that and the following years he manufactured a large number for depositing coi^per and other purposes. He has made many valuable improve- ments in the construction of these machines, especially in the one contrived for the firing of torpedoes. This invention has been adopted by the United States government, and the machines are now supplied to every ship in our navy. Some have been sold to foreign governments, and doubtless they will soon find their way into all navies. They are also used quite extensively for blasting, in the mines of Colorado and Nevada. In October, 1872, Mr. Farmer accepted the professorship of electrical science at the U. S. Naval Torpedo Station, established in 1869, at Newport, K. L, for the instruction of the officers of the navy in electricity and chemistry, as applied to the arts of war ; and since his connection with the department, the station has been supplied with the best known magneto-electric machines and appliances to be found in this or any other country. Doubtless, ere long, an electric light will be furnished to the steam marine of the country ; and, without question, there is no man in the country, if in the world, who has devoted so many years of almost continuous thought to the subject, or who has conducted so many experiments, which are now on record, as Prof. Farmer. The investigations begun in 1858 have never been wholly relin- quished. While he has so long and patiently contributed time, strength, and brains to this work, he has always taken especial 24 370 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. pains to say that his life-long friends, Messrs. Smith and Bates of Boston, Mass., have, with the utmost generosity, supplied him with most of the means with wliich to carry on his experiments in this direction. In all of Prof. Farmer's experiments and investigations, the out- side world has always been allowed to look on and note what he was doing ; but the eyes of the curious have failed to follow him since his engagement at the torpedo station, as much of the work done there is purposely kept secret ; but enough is seen at the annual exhibition of tlie class under instruction to show that he is giving the result of his life-work for tlie good of his country. His highest ambition has been to bring out and develop all the inA^entive talent and genius there is in the officers who are sent there from year to year, either as instructors or students, and his pride has been to show Avhat they can do, rather than what he can do himself. The keenest observer would not discover a spirit of jealousy or self-seeking in Prof. Parmer ; and this abnegation of self has been one of the charms which have drawn all hearts to him during the many eventful years of his life, since it has been his privilege to be a benefit to the Avorld through his rare and wonderful mechanical gifts, Avhich haA'e always been at the com- mand of friend or foe. To the higliest and lowest he is alike accessible, and the advice and information, so constantly asked on all subjects, is never withheld. His profession requires deep re- search and profound thought, and he finds his reward in search- ing after hidden things in science, that he may utilize them for the good of the hi;man race. He stands in the foremost rank of scientific men ; and it may, perhaps, be truthfull}^ said, that as an electrician he is without a peer on this side of the Atlantic, while among the scientists of Great Britain, Prance, and Germany his opinions are quoted as authority. His reputation is world-wide, and his inventions everywhere known. He is often called as an electrical expert in the United States courts, where his statements are never questioned. He has taken out a great many different patents, of which the world has now the ben- efit. An eminent electrician said of him recently, — "Mr. Parmer has undoubtedly done more real and lasting good to the world through his abandoned inventions, than through those which he has per- fected ; for the former are seed-thoughts scattered over the world, Early Home of Prof. M. G. Farmer. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 371 ■wliicli many will gatlior Tip, and from them reap a harvest after his life-work is over." As a man and citizen, Prof. Farmer's in- fluence has ever been on the side of right. To the poor he has been ever a friend ; to the weak, a helper. Unlike many scientists of the day, whose speculations lead them to doul>t the existence of a Deity, and of a divine revelation, Prof. Farmer sees in all the works and laws of nature a divine mind. Each new discovery, to him, is one of God's thoughts, and with him religion and science go hand in hand. Hence his is a Christian .household, and there are few happier homes than his. Not many men have done more for the present and future genera- tions than Moses Gerrish Farmer. FESSENDEN, WILLIAM PITT. He was son of Gen. Samuel Fessenden of Portland, Maine, and Ruth Greene, of Boscawen, and was born 16 Oct., 1806, in the house subsequently owned by Dea. Thomas Gerrish. The child was christened after the Episcopal service, Daniel Webster being godfather. He graduated from Bowdoin college in 1823, with distinguished honors, receiving his degree of A. b. before he had attained his seventeenth year. Such precocity has had few parallels : one is that of Edward Everett ; another, the great com- moner of England for whom he was named — William Pitt. During his college days he taught school in Lewiston, Me., then a small village, where he employed his winter evenings in reading the books in the village library, consisting of about fifty volumes, such as Bigland's History of the World, Rollin's Ancient History, and Plutarch's Lives. Mr. Fessenden studied law with his father and Hon. Charles S. Davis, of Portland, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one, opening an office in 1827 at Bridgeton, an insignifi- cant town, remaining tliei'e two years, and then moving to Port- land, into his father's office. From thence he went to Bangor, but returned to Portland and settled permanently in 1832, asso- ciating himself with Hon. William Willis. He was elected the same year to represent the city in the state legislature. He was also offered the Whig nomination to con- gress, but declined being a candidate. He was chosen delegate to the national convention which nominated Henry Clay. De- 372 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. dining a reelection to the legislature, he devoted himself wholly to his profession from 1832 to 1839, when he was again elected to the legislature. He was a Whig, hut the majority of the legislature were Democrats ; yet so highly was he esteemed that he was made chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1840 he was nominated to congress by the Whigs, and was elected, outrun- ning the strength of his party. Although he was then but thirty- five years of age, he made a very favorable impression by his speeches. He declined a renomination in 1843, and returned to his profession, receiving the votes of his party for U. S. senator. Prom 1845 to 1852 he gave himself wholly to his profession, with a constantly extending practice and reputation. During this period he attracted great attention by his argument before the supreme court at Washington, by which he succeeded in reversing a decision by Judge Story. In 1840 he was a member of the national convention that nom- inated Gen. Harrison for the presidency ; in 1848, a member of the convention that nominated Gen. Taylor, in which he support- ed the claims of Mr. Webster ; in 1850 he was a candidate for congress, but unwillingly. He was believed to be elected, but the seat being given to his competitor, he declined to contest it. In 1852 he was a member of the convention that nominated Gen. Scott ; in 1853 elected to the U. S. senate by one branch of the legislature, but a concurrent vote was required, and there was no choice. In 1854 he was again elected to the legislature, which was Democratic in both branches. The Kan- sas-Nebraska question operating as a disturbing element, he was elected U. S. senator on the first ballot, by a union of the Whigs and Free Soil Democrats. This signalized the formation of the Eepublican party in Maine, in which Mr. Fessenden remained ever after a leading exponent. He took his seat in the senate on the 23d of February, and on the night of March 3d made one of the most eloquent and effective speeches delivered against the Kansas-Nebraska bill. This effort at once made him a leading member of the senate, and his voice was heard whenever any important question was in order. He introduced the French spoliation bill, opposed a bill for increasing the army, discussed the bill for protecting United States officers, spoke on our relations with England, Kansas affairs^ on the Iowa BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 373 senatorial election, etc., etc. He reviewed President Buchanan's message on the Kansas question in the most severe manner. During this time he was a leading member on the finance com- mittee. In 1859 he was elected to the senate for six years, and was made chairman of the finance and library committees, and regent of the Smithsonian Institute. The year before, Bowdoin college conferred on him the degree of ll. d., and Harvard paid him the same compliment in 1864. In 1861 he was appointed a member of the peace congress which met in ^ebruar3^ Throughout tlie war Mr. Fessenden, in his character as senator, was a firm friend and ally of the Union cause, giving it the assistance of his logic, eloquence, and counsel, and as chairman of the finance committee aiding the secretary of the treasury in maintaining the national credit. In 1864, on the 30th of June, Mr. Chase resigned the secretaryship of the treasury. An instant panic ensued, and gold, that subtle index of public feeling, rose from 90 premium on June 30th, to 185 premium July 11th. The new secretary would be expected to quiet this storm, and Mr. Fessenden was chosen by Mr. Lincoln as the new secretary. He hesitated to accept, his health was so delicate, and the responsibil- ity difficult and overwhelming. Senators and cabinet officers urged, however, and he entered on his duties the 5th of July, The wliole country looked to him for aid. The paper dollar was worth only thirty-four cents. The sale of new loans had been provided for, but they found comparatively few purchasers. Ger- man}', Holland, and Switzerland were our foreign markets, and political bankruptcy seemed at least possible. Mr. Fessenden then found it liis duty, and a duty as imperative as it was arduous, to raise at once the large sums necessary for carrying on the war, and at the same time to enhance the value of the securities already afloat. He appealed to the people, and, by withholding any fur- ther immediate issue of greenbacks, he induced the banks of the country to adopt the national banking system. So successful was he, that, on his resigning the secretaryship to take his seat again in the senate, to which he had been reelected, on the 4th of March, 1865, gold had receded to 99, and on the 11th of May fol- lowing it was quoted at 30. While secretary he urged ujDon con- gress a more effective system of taxation. In the spring of 1868 the trial of President Johnson began. 374 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Contrary to the hopes of many ardent members of the Republican party, Mx-. Fessenden voted against impeachment. He gave his reasons clearly and explicitly. A storm of abuse was showered upon him, but he braved it all, and before his death regained in a great measure the confidence and esteem of those who had been most bitter. In some resjjects Mr. Fessenden was the foremost senator dur- ing his long i^eriod of service. In many critical stages of legisla- tion his word was decisive, and few were the measures of con- gress which did not bear the marks of his acute intellect and his sturdy devotion to public interests. This honorable distinction is not due so much to his learning, or to any striking originality of genius, as to the singular harmony of his powers for the legisla- tive arena. He was equally quick and cool. No assault could disturb his equanimity, and his attack was as adroit as vigorous. He had a great faculty for condensation, of going straight to the point, of using none but the most direct and lucid English. When he was transferred to the senate, he was the best follower that Webster ever had there in clear and compact statement. But what particularly gave force to his words was the high character of the man. He was long a sufferer from dyspepsia, and for many years was an invalid, yet by force of will going on with his work. He was of medium height, frail in person, but erect always, whether sitting or standing. His clear gray eyes looked out over finely drawn features, that seldom changed, even under his most fervid oratory. To those who did not know him, he may have been classed as stern and unyielding ; but beneath a cold exterior a warm heart was beating. Once an estrangement occurred between Mr. Fessenden and a senator, from words spoken in debate. After a few days of cold- ness, the page of the senate laid a note on ]Mr. Fessenden's desk, sent by the senator, who said, — " If I have offended j'ou, I ask your forgiveness ; if you have offended me, I have forgotten it." In an instant Mr. Fessenden was on his feet. He crossed the chamber, and with tears in his eyes, reached out his hand to his old friend. Mr. Fessenden, in debate, once dropped a word which was thought to be an insult to Mr. Seward. When informed of it, M^ /^. cA/t/Wc.^^^^ • HOll. V.ILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 375 and seeing tliat a wrong construction might be placed upon it, he went instantly to Mr. Seward and said, — '' Mr. Seward, I have insulted 3'ou. I am sorry for it. I did not mean it." The apolog)^, so prompt and frank, delighted Mr. Seward, who, grasping the offered hand, replied, — " God bless you, Fessenden ; I wish you w-ould insult me again ! " ]\Ir. Fessenden was an able debater. — his style clear, forcible, concise, direct ; his language simple and natural. There was a striking resemblance between him and Hon. William E. Glad- stone, of England, — the same methods and manner, force, earnest- ness, tenacity of pur})ose, clearness of statement, precision and elegance of diction. He died suddenly, Sept. 8, 1869, after a week's illness. FRENCH, HEXRY S. G., REV., Was the son of Mr. Joel French, a trader of Boscawen, with whom Daniel Webster boarded a part of the time during his residence in Boscawen. He was born in the house now occupied by Mr. James Gill, nearly opposite the Congregational meeting-house, 27 April, 1807. Upon the death of Mr. French, the son became an apprentice as printer to George Hough, in Concord. He greatly desired to obtain a collegiate education, and by industry and econ- omy prepared himself for college, and graduated at Yale in 1833. He spent three j^ears in the Andover Theological Seminary, grad- uating in 1836. He married Sarah C. Allison, of Concord, and sailed to the East Indies as a missionary, preaching at Singapore a few months while acquiring the Siamese language. He was of slender frame, and unable to withstand the enervat- ing influences of a tropical climate. He died at Bangkok, capital of Siam, 14 Feb., 1842. [See Gen.] FELLOWS, HEZEKIAH. He was born in Salisbury, 22 Dec, 1782 ; settled in Boscawen, on Corser hill, and with his brother, Moses, engaged in trade, doing a large business, for a country store, from 1820 to 1830. He was elected town-clerk in 1817, and continued to fill the office 376 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. to 1855, wlieu, under the general sweep of the '' Know Nothing " or Native American party, which had a sudden rise and quick de- cline, he failed of an election. He was elected representative with Ezekiel Webster in 1820 ; again in 1824 and 1825. He was a man of great probity of character. His word was as good as his bond. His fellow-citizens trusted him implicitly, nor did he ever do an act to forfeit their confidence. He was a jus- tice of the peace ; and, in the daj-s when men resorted to litiga- tion for settlement of their difficulties, Esquire Fellows was the magistrate who would decide without fear or favor to either party, but on the merits of the case. He dealt honestly with all men. His prices of whatever he had for sale were plainly marked on his goods. He had no cypher to represent the cost or the price. Be the purchaser the most re- spected citizen of the community, or one low down in society, there was the same line of conduct. A child would drive just as good a bargain as the shrewdest adult. He was kind, genial, patient, endowed richly with common- sense, and sense that is not always common. When the Congre- gational meeting-house was erected in 1823, he presented the society- with a large Bible for the pulpit. He was a constant at- tendant at church, occupying the pew nearest the pulpit at the right hand. Prior to 1835, it was the custom of town-clerks to make public announcement of those intending marriage, which was done by Esquire Fellows upon the pronouncement of the benediction, at the close of the afternoon service. The congregation waited to hear the " crying," as it was termed, and possilil}' allowed the pub- lishing of the bans to usurp the place of the sermon in their minds, as they smiled and nodded one to another. Esquire Fellows was simple in all his ways. He had many warm friends in Boston, Avhich city he used to visit twice a year to pur- chase goods, for which he always paid cash [for family, see Gene- alogy]. He resided in the house now standing opposite the resi- dence of Mrs. Simeon B. Little. He died, 10 Oct., 1861, honored and respected by all. FELLOWS, MOSES. Capt. Moses Fellows, son of Moses Fellows, brother of Hezekiah, was born in Salisbury, 26 Jan., 1786. He learned the trade of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 377 joiuei", and settled in Boscawen, in the house now the residence of Rev. Mr. Buxton, to which he added a second story ahout 1835 or 1836. He was elected selectman in 1825, '26, "27, '28, '29, 30, '31, '33, '35, '37, '39, and without douht would have been again and again entrusted with the affairs of the town had he not removed to Salisbury. He was elected represent- ative an 1832 and 1835, and was repeatedly moderator. He was energetic in business, and gave the same fidelity to his public duties that he gave to his private interests. He was a superior mechanic, and made the model for the covered bridge across the Blackwater, now standing. Like his brother, he was endowed with that sense which goes b}^ the name of common, but which is understood to be superior to the sense of. most men. He was de- cided in his convictions of what was right and what was best, nor did he ever hesitate to make them known. He was a supporter of civil and religious institutions, and his influence was ever on the side of right. His removal to Salisbury was felt to be a loss to the town. He died in Salisbury, 1864. GAGE, WILLIAM H. Hon. William Haselton Gage was born in Sanbornton, 21 March, 1791 ; removed to Boscawen in 1804, and entered the em- ploy of Col. Isaac Chandler, on the farm occupying the south- eastern corner of the town, which upon the death of Col. Chandler came into his jjossession. After remaining with Col. C. four years, he returned to his native town, and learned the business of dress- ing cloth of Jonathan Chase, returning to Boscawen in 1812, where he began the businesses of lumbering, wool-carding, and cloth-dressing. These occupations engrossed his attention to 1833. The building in which he began business now forms part of the '' Harris " manufactory. Mr. Gage in his political views differed from a majority of the citizens of the town, and though a Democrat, such was his probity, so universally was he esteemed, that party lines were forgotten, and the man, not the politician, was elected as representative in. 1833, and again in 1836. He served frequently as selectman, was elected road commissioner for the county in 1841-2, and a member of the senate in 1846, '47, and '48. He was social and kind to all, given to hospitality, and a firm 378 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. supporter of religious aud educational institutions. Ilis life was prolonged to see the little neighborhood, of a few dwellings in 1804, increase to a thrift_y village. His earl_y educational advantages were limited — a want keen- ly felt, and which awakened a desire to do what he could to promote the education of his children and the community. He was active in the establishment of Penacook academy, conveying two acres to the institution as a free gift, and contril>uting liber- ally towards the erection of the buildings. In this connection, it is worthy of notice that Wm. H. Gage and his brother Eichard occuj^ied a large property jointly twenty-seven years, and when the children of both arrived at manhood, a separation was accom- plished in the same spirit in which the brothers had lived quietly and satisfactorily. Mr. Gage married Polly, daughter of P>rad- bury Morrison, of Sanbornton, 25 Jan., 1814. He died 26 Sept., 1872. His wife died 15 Feb., 1833 (see Gen.). GAGE, ISAAC K. Isaac Kimball Gage, son of Wm. H. and Polly (Morrison) Gage, was born 27 Oct., 1818, obtained his education at the district school and one year at Pranklin and Boscawen academies. In 1841 he succeeded Jeremiah Kimball as partner in trade with Luther G. Johnson, in Fisherville, in the store opposite his present residence. He remained in trade till 1850, when, desiring a more active and profitable employment, he moved to Lawrence, Mass., and entered the service of the Essex Co. In 1852, upon the or- ganization of the first city government, he was elected to the com- mon council, and in 1853 was president of that body. Eetiirning to P)0scawen in 1854, he became one of the firm of Gage, Porter & Co., in the manufacture of saws, which has been since carried on. He has frequently been chosen to till ofifices in town, was treasurer of the New England Agricultural Society from 1865 to 1860, was member of the convention to revise the constitution in 1876, and is president of the Penacook Savings Bank. Mr. Gage married Miss Susan Johnson, daughter of Eeuben Johnson, 27 Oct., 1842 [see Gen.]. Residence of Dea. Thomas Gerrish. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 379 GERIMSH, THOMAS. Dea. Thomas Geu'risli, sou of Col. Henry Gerrish, was born 12 Se})t., 1786. He married (1) Betsey Gerrish, daughter of Col. Joseph Gerrish, his cousin ; (2) Elizabeth Patrick, sister of Rev. Wm. Patrick, of Canterbui-y. He settled on Boscawen Plain, j)urchasing the estate formerly occu[)ied by Nathaniel Greene, Esq., a view of which is given in this volume. He was an admirer of horses, especially those adapted to farui work, and had a span so well trained that he never tired of them. On Sunday, before the meeting-house was repaired, when, at the close of the service, the seats went down with a bang, the horses, knowing that they were needed, were accustomed to back out of the shed and move to the door-step, ready for their kind-hearted master, knowing that oats were in waiting at home. When threshing machines came into use Dea. Gerrish purchased one, and employed his horses profit- ably from August till mid-winter, threshing for the farmers throughout the county. He was energetic, an early riser, and prompt in all his actions. The energy which characterized his daily business was manifest in his religious life. He was an earnest Christian, a [)illar in the chui-ch, and was deacon for many years. He was kind and genial, and was not only honored and respected, but was regarded with affection by all who knew him. He was elected representa- tive two years [see Officers]. During the last j^ears of his life he resided with his son Thomas in We])ster. His old age was beautiful, through his resignation, hopefulness, and expectation of a better life beyond the present. He died 19 Feb., 1875. GERKISH, HEXRY, COL. Col. Henry Gerrish, the eldest son of Capt. Stephen Gerrish, one of the first settlers, was born in Boscawen, 2 IMay, 1742. He was active in public affairs tlirough life, possessing all the qualities of character to make him a leader in any community, and especially in a community like that of Boscawen. In 17GG, at the age of tw^enty-four, he was an ensign in the militia, and a selectman. He was often elected moderator of the town-meetings. He was elected delegate to the first state 380 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. convention, in 1774 ; again, in 1775, representing Boscawen and Salisbury ; again, in 1779 and '80. He was a land surveyor, and liis services were called for in every direction, not only by the citizens of Boscawen, but of the surrounding towns. He was called upon to lay out roads. Being a justice of the peace, he was often selected as the fair- minded and judicious magistrate and arbiter, to settle the diffi- culties between the citizens of the town and county. He was captain in the militia at the breaking out of the Revo- lution, and marched with the minute-men to Medford, upon the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington. He was lieuten- ant-colonel of Stickney's regiment at the time of the Bennington campaign, but, having been detailed to other duty, was not in the battle. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne, being on the left flank of Burgoyne at Battenkill, where he acted as clerk at the sale of some of the plunder taken from the British. The mess-book used on that occasion is still in existence. He often acted as the town's agent during the Bevolution, perform- ing the duties assigned him with the same care and energy that characterized the management of his private affairs. He lived on Fish street, and was owner of a large tract of land, now the county farm. His house stood near the present build- ings. He was a blacksmith as well as land-surveyor, and forged mill-cranks and made mill-saws in his forge and on a common an- vil. He kept a tavern, and his house was known as the Travel- lers' Home. Many people, too poor to pay for a bed, passed the night under his roof, sleeping on bear-skins before the generous fire in the large old-fashioned fireplace in his bar-room. It is narrated that the settlers from iSTew Chester (Hill), Bris- tol, Bridgewater, and other towns up the Merrimack, when the corn-mill at the head of King street was the nearest to their homes, were accustomed to leave home in the morning, reach Col. Gerrish's, spend the night in his bar-room, purchase a grist, carry it to the mill on their backs, get it ground in season to return to the hos- pitable home at night, where they would make a Johnny-cake, or hasty-pudding, for supj)er and breakfast ; and on the third morning, with the bag on their backs, start for their distant homes. Col. Gerrish became an extensive land-owner. At that time, large BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 381 tracts of land in the northern part of the state could be had at low rates, and he became proprietor of many thousand acres. Eev. Mr. Price says of him, that " from early life he was a pro- fessor of religion, and uniformly gave his support to religious so- ciety. He acquired a great estate, and brought up a large family of children, the most of whom he lived to see well settled, and whose habits evidenced that his government over them was salu- tary ; and his house, though for manj^ years the stranger's home, was a house of order." GERRISH, FKANK L., Only son of Col. Enoch and Miranda (Lawrence) Gerrish, was born 19 May, 1855, educated at Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and at the Chandler Scientific School, at Hanover. He afterwards served a year in the New Hampshire Savings Bank in Concord, and is now preparing himself for agricultural pur- suits, to which he is devotedly attached. GERRISH, EXOCH, COL., Only son of Isaac and Caroline (Lawrence) Gerrish, was born at the old homestead, on High street, 28 July, 1822. He obtained his education at the academies in Boscawen, Franklin, and Meriden. On the death of his father he inherited a large portion of his estate, and with it, at the age of twenty, came the care and man- agement of an extensive farm. An addition of more than one hundred acres made it one of the largest in Merrimack county. For twenty years he devoted his time to the cultivation and im- provement of his soil, successfully developing its resources by raising live stock, hay, and wool, when its heavy growth of wood and timber attracted the attention of the lumber manufacturer, to whom it was sold in 1865. Possessing a love for military parade and drill, he was jjro- moted from the lowest rank to that of colonel of the 21st Regi- ment N. H. Militia. He was often elected to fill the various offices in town, the duties of which were well performed. A friend to the church where his ancestors worshipped, and to religious institutions gen- erallj^, he manifested an interest in all measures that contributed to their usefulness. 382 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. He moved to Concord after tlie sale of liis farm, where his sound judgment, particularly in matters of finance, was diily ap- jjreciated, as is shown by his appointment as one of the trustees of the New Hampshire Savings Bank in Concord, and of the Rolfe & Rumford Asylum. GERRISH, ISAAC. Isaac Gerrish, who resided on the homestead inherited from his father, at the foot of Gerrish hill, on High street, was horn 27 Nov., 1782. By his untiring industry and frugality he from time to time added to the old homestead, so that he was the possessor of the largest cultivated farm in town, which was devoted to stock- raising, and manufacturing hutter and cheese. The products of the dairies of Boscawen were well and favorably known in the markets of New England. His dwelling and out-huildings were burned 1 May, 1824. The same year he built a new set of build- ings, which at that time were the largest and most commodious in town. His services and advice were frequently sought for in making deeds, wills, and other papers, usually executed by a jus- tice of the peace. Being a neighbor of Bev. Dr. Wood, his at- tachments to him, and the church of which he was pastor, were ver}^ strong, and his place at the meetings was seldom vacant. A kind neighbor, strongly attached to friends, given to hospitality^ his house Avas open ; and the pleasant firesides in the large rooms of his dwelling will be long remembered by the many who have enjoyed them. He died 22 Aug., 1842. GERRISH, ENOCH, MAJ. Maj. Enoch Gerrish, third son of Capt. Stephen, one of the first settlers, was born in Boscawen 23 Jan., 1750. When eighteen years of age he built his log cabin on the east side of the road now called High street, where he cleared five acres of land, being part of the homestead where he and his posterity have since re- sided. Chestnut rails, split by him one hundred and ten years ago, are now in a good state of preservation on the farm. Al- though his principal occupation was the care and improvement of his land, he had a fondness for mechanical labor, and framed many of the buildings in town, including the churches. The first bridge across the Merrimack, at the Plain, was built by him. He BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 383 had a love for militaiy parade, as his title indicates. During his life, he was chosen to fill the offices of moderator, selectman, and representative to the general court. A man strictly religious, he joined Dr. Wood's church in 1781, and was elected deacon in 1783, an office which he held until his death, 1 May, 1821. GERRISH, JACOB, The fifth son of Col. Henry and Martha (Cloiigh) Gerrish, was born at the old homestead on the river road, now the Merrimack county almshouse, 10 Nov., 1779. His father was a large land- owner, and was able to give to each of his sons, as they became of age, a quantity of land suitable for a farm. The portion assigned to Jacob is situated just north of the homestead. He married Sarah, daughter of David Ames, of Canterbury, 15 April, 1803, settled upon his land, and continued the labor of clearing the rich intervale, surrounding himself with the comforts of home. The farm extended westerly nearly one mile, from the river to the saw- mill built by Benjamin and John Kimball, comprising, in addition to the intervale, the low lands drained by " Stirrup Iron Brook," and the high land beyond known as "light-gains." The intervale was covered with a growth of large pine trees, which in clearing were rolled into the river to get rid of them. On this farm he reared a large famil}'. He subsequently added to his estate on the east side of the river, in Northfield and Can- terbury, so that he was able to sub-divide and give to each of his three sons a valuable farm. On the completion of his new and substantial dwelling, now standing near the railroad depot, he opened it as a hotel, which he kept for many years. His house was often the head-quarters of the lumbermen from the north, who were engaged in driving logs down the Merrimack to be manufactured into lumber at the mills near the mouth of the Con- toocook. He was kind and hospitable to strangers, indulgent to his family, a good neighbor, active in sustaining schools and the institutions of religion, and ready to aid in every effort to advance the prosperity of the town. He died 22 Ma}', 1861. GERRISH, MARTHA C, MRS., Daughter of Jeremiah Clough, Esq., of Canterbury, N. H., was born 10 Nov., 1742. She married Col. Henry Gerrish, of Bos- 384 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. cawen, 10 Nov., 1763, and was the worthy mother of seven sons and four daughters. Tlie united ages of these eleven children amount to over 850 years, — average age exceeding 77. Her early j'ears were thrilled with the events of Indian wars and block-house life, the family residing for a time in the fort at Canterbury, of which her father was commander. Endowed with a vigorous constitution, and in- ured to the privations and hard- ships of frontier life, she was a pattern of industry and frugal- ity, " working willingly with her hands." Like the model wife de- scribed in Prov. 31, she was also skilful and ingenious ; and there is now in the possession of one of her grand-daughters a skirt of home-made cloth, embroidered in colors from natural flowers by Martha Clough in 1763. In those days it often became neces- sary for women to assist their husbands and brothers on the farm. Said one of her sons, — " My mother, when twenty years of age, would mow all day in the field, and keep up with the men." Another son remembered seeing his father ride on horseback three miles to church, with his wife sitting on a pillion behind him, each with a child in arms. On showing her profile (see engraving) to Dea. Thomas Gerrish, her youngest son, only five weeks before his death, he said,—" That looks like my mother's face ; " and then added, " I remember of her riding to meeting on horseback, while I, a boy of fifteen, sat on behind." Mrs. Ger- rish died 15 Oct., 1826. GREENE, NATHANIEL. Nathaniel Greene was born in Boscawen, 20 May, 1797. He was christened Peter; but having great respect for the mem- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 385 ory of his father, by permission of the legislature of Massachu- setts he took the name of ISTathaniel. Educational advantages at the beginning of the century were limited to eight or ten weeks of schooling in winter, and a term of about the same length in summer. Two of his teachers were, — Miss Lucy Hartwell, who afterwards became the wife of Col. Timothy Dix, and Rev. Henry Coleman, then a young man, who subsequently was a minister in Salem, Mass., and who distin- guished himself as a writer on agricultural subjects. One of Mr. Greene's schoolmates was John Adams Dix. Together they stood Avith their toes to a crack in the floor, their spelling-books in their hands, and made their " manners " when Lucy Hartwell said, " Attention ! " At the age of ten he went to Hopkinton, and became a clerk in a store. While there he had some three months' additional school- ing. The death of his father when he was but eleven years of age, leaving an embarrassed estate, compelled him to begin the strug- gle of life under adverse circumstances. He was a great reader, and devoured all books that came in his way, and which he could find time to read. By chance he read a memoir of Franklin, which awakened in him a desire to be a printer, and especially to become an editor. The idea took complete possession of his youthful mind. He thought of it by day, and dreamed of it by night. At this time — 1809 — a new paper made its appearance in Con- cord — the Neio Hampshire Patriot, established by Isaac Hill. On the 4th of July he walked from Hopkinton to Concord, and offered himself to Mr. Hill as an apprentice, and took his place at the case. That, however, was not the end of his ambition, but only the beginning. It was not to give other men's thoughts to the world, but his own. Having left Mr. Hill, he became connected in 1S12 witli the Concord Gazette, published by Jesse Tuttle. This was the be- ginning of his editorial career. The newspaper at that time usu- ally contained a ponderous article on some j)olitical topic, the latest news from Europe, the victories of the French armies or of the Prussians, but very little local information. There were no reports of meetings, no gathering up of home incidents. The 25 386 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. paper was issued weekly, and there was abundant time for an edi- tor to prepare liis thunderbolt to launch at the opposing political party. In 1814 Mr. Greene moved to Portsmouth, and became con- nected with the Nem Hampshire War Journal, published by Beck & Foster. He remained there onl}^ a year, when he removed to Haverhill, Mass., and became connected with the Haverhill Gazette, published by Burrell «& Tileston. In this situation, although but eighteen years of age, he had the sole editorial su- pervision of the paper. In 1817, at the age of twenty, he became his own publisher, and started the Essex Patriot. The vigor and energy of his writing had already attracted the attention of the public, and he was invited by some of the Democratic Republican politicians to start a paper in Boston ; and, complying with the request, he issued, on 6 Feb., 1821, the first number of the Boston Statesman, a weekly, still in existence. At that time there was a triangular contest for the presidency, and the Statesman advocated the election of W. H. Crawford ; but the result of the election — the elevation of John Quincy Adams to the presidential chair — and the great and in- creasing popularity of Gen. Jackson, made it apparent to the far-seeing young editor that the succeeding election would bring Gen. Jackson prominently before the public. Mr. Greene labored earnestly to bring about the nomination and election of the hero of New Orleans ; and the triumph of the party, in 1828, paved the way for Mr. Greene's future political success. He was appointed post-master of Boston in 1829, and occupied that official position until the accession of Gen. Harrison to the presidency, when he was succeeded by Mr. George Wm. Gordon; and although this was one of the first public removals of the new administration, yet one of the last measures of President Tyler was to reinstate Mr. Greene in the same office, which he occupied until after the election of Zachary Taylor, in 1849. Mr. Greene had the reputation of conducting this department to the entire ap- proval of the national executive, and, by his urbane and concilia- tory deportment, to the satisfaction of the public in Boston. While thus absorbed in official and editorial duties, he found time to acquire the French, Italian, and German languages. The French was taken up without much difficulty, as was also the ^^^ y^'C^yi^^, BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 387 Italian ; and in a few weelcs he was able to read tliem. He pub- lished, in 1836, a history of Italy, translated by himself from the Italian ; and subsequently, as a birth-day present to his niece, he translated Undine from the German into the Italian. This work Avas read by Signor Monte, at that time jjrofessor of Italian at Harvard college, who pronounced it admirably done, and requiring very little alteration to be ready for publication. In 1836, at the suggestion of a friend, he began German, purchasing a dictionary, a grammar, and a set of Van der Velde's works. Taking them home, he sat down in the evening, and be- gan with the title-page. The first word was "c^te," which, on referring to the dictionary, he found to be the definite article "the." He wrote down the word, and went on to the next, which was "iciecler taufer.'''' He turned to the dictionary, but could not find it. Hecollecting that many words in German are com- pounds, he looked for ^'wieder,^'' and found that it meant ''again." Then looking for " tanfer,^^ he found that it meant " baptiser ; " and said to himself that '^ loieder taufer" must mean the re-bap- tiser, or Anabaptist. This was the title-page. He thus began with the first sentence of the text, and before retiring to rest completed the first period of a line and a half. This was about Christmas time. Every evening during the Avinter he went on with his translation, and about the first of May following published the results of his labor in two duodecimo vol- umes, entitled " Tales from the German." He translated about fifty volumes, many of which have been published. Such literary perseverance has few parallels. Mr. Greene had a fine poetic fanc3\ Many of his contributions have been given to the public over the signature of " Boscawen," choosing the place of his birth as his nom deplume. His stanzas entitled "Petrarch and Laura," published in \\i& Boston Tran- script, are marked by smoothness of rh}' thm and delicate sen- timent : TETRARCII AXD LAURA. Oh! deem not Petrarch all iinblest, In that he Laura never knew; That no fond word liis ear caressed, In fair return for love so true ; That no response he ever heard To lays in which his love was told In sweeter strains than love's own bird In grove or forest ever trolled. 388 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Though Laura might disdain to liear Tlie music from his heart-strings wrung, Tliose strains now reach the listening ear In every land and every tongue. Though made the subject of her scorn, From which in life he suffered long, Thei-e's many a maiden, then unborn, Who since hath loved him for his song. Not unrewarded nor unblest The sorrows he in song deplored ; His sonnets oft relieved the breast From which the strains divine were poured. They won for him undying fame, Which brightens with the lapse of time, And eternized fair Laura's name. Embalmed in "choice Italian" rhyme. After retiring from public life, Mr. Greene spent a long period abroad, travelling through Europe. While in Paris, in 1852, he received intelligence of the death of a beloved daughter, who died at Panama, while on her way to San Francisco to establish a Home of the Sisters of Charit}', to which order she had liecome at- tached. The father's heart, wrung with grief, found expression in the appended feeling tribute to her memory : TO MY DAUGHTER IX HEAVEN. I had on e.irth but only thee ; Thy love was all the world to me ; And thou hast sought the silent shore Where I had thought to go before ! Away from thee, in sad exile, My lips had long unlearned to smile ; Bright wit might flash, red wine might pour, But I, alas ! could smile no more ! Thy death in these my fading ye.ars, Hath sealed and seared the fount of tears ; My heart may bleed at every pore, But I, alas ! can weep no more ! Ah! how thy loss my soul doth rend, My only daughter, sister, friend ! Of thee bereft, all joy is o'er. And I, on earth, can hope no more. But in those realms beyond the sun. In that bright heaven thy faith hath won, W^here thou and kindred spirits reign. There haply shall we meet again. Paris, Sept, 20th, 1852. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 389 Mr. Greene married Miss Susan, daughter of Kev. Wm. Batch- elder, of Haverhill, Mass. His son, Wm. B. Greene, was edu- cated at West Point, and served as lieutenant in the U. S. Army ; hut resigning his commission he entered the ministry, and settled in Brookfield, Mass. He married a daughter of Rohert G. Shaw, Esq., of Boston. At the breaking out of the Eebellion he was living abroad. At the news of the attack upon Fort Sumter he hastened home, and offered his services to the government. He was appointed colonel of the 14th Mass. Volunteers, which he ably drilled as a heavy artillery regiment, and commanded the line of fortifications on the Potomac, serving with distinction. Mr. JSTathaniel Greene died 29 Nov., 1877, at the age of eighty years and live months. From among many of the obituary notices of him we quote the following : " Another of Boston's old and distinguished citizens has been added to the vanished throng. Few names have been more closely identified with the life and interests of this city than that of Nathaniel Greene. He was eminently a successful man. He handled the elements that lay before him with judgment and with vigor. For half a cen- tury his career was one of great activity, and it yielded results upon which he might well pride himself. He was a controlling spirit, a progressive force, in those circles wherein he moved, and his name will be remembered as long as the events of the Boston of this nineteenth century are written about or spoken of." . GREEXE, CHARLES GORDOX, COL., The youngest son of Nathaniel Greene, Esq., Avas born in Bos- caweu July 1, 1804. His opportunities for obtaining an early edu- cation were as limited as his brother's. In 1811 he accompanied his parents to Virginia. In the succeeding year, his father hav- ing died, his mother, bearing a double burden of sorrow — her bereavement and an embarrassed estate — returned to New Hamp- shire. Three years passed, when Nathaniel, having become con- nected with the Haverliill Gazette, took charge of his younger brother, and placed him in the Bradford academy. His preceptor was the famous Benjamin Greenleaf, who has been characterized by Horace IMann as " a huge crystallization of mathematics." In 1817, when his brother established the Essex Patriot, Charles, at the age of thirteen, began to learn the art of printing; and sub- 390 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. sequently he served one year in the office of Mr. Lamson, at Exe- ter. In 1822 he went to Boston (to which city his brother had removed and was pnblisliing the Boston /Statesman) and was em- ployed in this establishment until 1825, when lie settled at Taun- ton, and published The Free Press one year, upon contract, and upon which he began his editorial career, at the early age of twenty-one. Upon the closing of his contract he returned to Boston, and published The Spectator, a literary journal edited by Charles At- wood, Esq. But the Spectator, after a brief independent exist- ence, was united with another publication, and Mr. Greene was again engaged upon the Statestnan, but only for a short time, for in 1827 he became a partner with James A. Jones, of Philadel- phia, in the puljlication of the National Palladium of that city, the first daily paper published in Pennsylvania, advocating the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency. When he with- drew from that jiaper, in December, 1827, the United States Gazette remarked of him that he was " an able champion of his party, greatly endeared by his conciliatory and imoljtrusive de- portment." The warmth of his zeal in favor of the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency is evinced in this glowing and eloquent passage from an oration delivered 4 July, 1831 : " His race is run out. Not a drop of his blood will be left flowing when he is gone ; not a lip to sa}^, ' I glory in his memory, for he was my kinsman.' Is it not, my friends, — is it not a spectacle to move and toucli the very soul ? If there be moral sublimity in anything, it is in unmingled self-devotion to one's country ; and what but this could have arrested, on the very threshold of the tomb, the feet of him who, though he turns to bless his country at her call, sees no child nor relative leaning forward to catch the mantle of his glorj-." In 1828 Mr. Greene was engaged in the office of the United States Telegraph at Washington, owned and conducted by Gen. Duff Green, where he remained until after the election of Gen. Jackson to the presidency. Keturning to Boston, he succeeded his brother Nathaniel as joint proprietor and publisher with Benjamin True of the Statesman. The latter's interest he pur- chased in a few years, and he became sole owner ; and on 9 No- vember, 1831, the Boston Morning Post made its appearance from BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 391 the office of the /Statesman, published and edited by Mr. Greene. It was a small sheet of sixteen columns, but quite as large as the times warranted. Mr. Greene labored with untiring diligence to make the paper worthy of public confidence. His editorials were sharp and incisive, but at the same time there was a geniality and courtesy which won the respect and esteem of political opponents. It was the period of the first secession manifestation, when Hayne and Webster were the gladiators in the senate of the United States. The Post sustained the administration, pronouncing against the new doctrine of state rights as set forth bj^ the South Carolina school of politicians. It soon became the leading Democratic journal of New England. It was an authorit}^, and its voice was potent in the party, and by its generous spirit became a powerful influence over young men. The T'ost was famous for its effective witticisms. " We have seen the puns of this daily as sensibly affect the risibles of the sedate old man of eighty as they do the merry j^ouths of sixteen," says Mr. Loring, in " The Hundred Boston Orators." On the occurrence of its for- tieth birth-day the colonel thus happily spolce of it : " Forty years ago to-day the Boston I*ost shed its first effulgence upon an ad- miring world, dispelling the darkness thereof, and diffusing joy among all people of the American species. From 9 ISTovember, 1851, to this morning, it has risen with the sun each week day, giving light, warmth, and comfort to all ready to receive its bless- ings. It is not for us, who acted as accoucheur at its birth, to boast of the promise it gave at its first breath, or of its sturdy youth, or of the power and activity of its present manhood. All these pleasant little matters of fact will be freely admitted by generous contemporaries, with whom it has fought and shaken hands hundreds of times ; and after contests of two-score years, it can truly say it harbors no unkind thought towards one of them." The Democratic party in the state and in Boston was in the minority, but Col. Greene was so much esteemed by men of all parties that he was elected representative to the Massachusetts legislature, and in 1848 was an aid to Gov. Morton, on account of which position he received his title of "Colonel." Upon the acces- sion of President Pierce, Col. Greene was appointed naval officer, which position he held for eight years. Upon his retirement it was said of him that he had " discharojed the duties of the office with 3.92 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. admirable efficienc}^ and promptitude, — tlaougli quietly, unostenta- tiously, and without j)olitical proscription." His i^olitical associates often selected him as their candidate for mayor and member of con- gress. He was frequently mentioned for other positions, such as postmaster-general, minister abroad, &c. Upon the breaking out of the Eebellion, he took the side of the loyal states with all his heart. Though the editorial pen often criticised the conduct of the Avar and the methods of the administration, Col. Greene stood un- flinchingl}' for the union of the states and the crushing out of secession. At various meetings held in Boston, in 1862, to take action in regard to the call of the President for troops, Col. Greene made many 2)-i^ X^^^^^z^ '^l-^S'T^ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 413 Upon his discharge from service he continued the study of med- icine six months at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 'New York city. June 11, 1866, he married the only daughter of Har- ris Cowdrey, M. D., of Acton, Mass., and hegan in that town the general practice of his jjrofession. He entered upon his work with zeal and ambition, and with such success as to give promise of high rank among physicians. He died of consumption 16 Nov., 1869, aged 32 years and 10 months. His career was brief, but it was eventful and manly. LITTLE, HEXRY, D. D., Son of Jesse and Martha (Gerrish) Little, was born in Boscawen, 23 March, 1800. At the age of 15 he united with the church over which Rev. E. Price was pastor, and, with Enoch Kilburn, Simeon B. Little, and other young men, sustained a young peo- ple's prayer-meeting every Saturday evening for five years. At 17 and 18 he taught school at Canterbury, N. H., and at 19 the school on Water street, Boscawen, in which fourteen of his scholars became Christians. In the reformation that winter, he took an active part in the meetings, visited from house to house, and helped twelve men to commence family worshi2). This revival settled the question in regard to entering the min- istry, and near his twentieth birthday he began to fit for college, studj'ing with Samuel Wood, d. d., of Boscawen, at Salisbury academy, and at Hanover. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1826, at Andover Theological Seminary in 1829, and was or- dained as an evangelist the next day, 34 Sept., in Park Street church, Boston, with fifteen other home and foreign missionaries, by the Presbytery of Newburyport, Mass. While a senior at Andover, Dr. Porter gave Mr. L. the credit of bringing twenty from the two classes below him in college to the seminary. His influence over so many students induced Dr. Porter and the other professors, with Dr. Cornelius, then secre- tary of the American Education Society, to select him as agent for that object, which position he filled for about two years in New England and the West, commencing in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Continuing in the same work, lie visited the Western States, travelling on horseback over western Pennsyl- vania, western Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennes- 414 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. see ; also through a part of Illinois and Michigan. He soon accepted a call from the Presbyterian church at Oxford, Ohio (June, 1831), where in less than two 3'ears 297 were added to its number. His pastorate closed in April, 1833. About this date, the American Board of Foreign Missions and the American Home Missionary Society, with the American Tract Society and the American Education Society, all had a branch of their work for the great West at Cincinnati, Ohio, each of them wishing him to be their secretary and general agent. He soon received the appointment of secretary and agent for the Board of Agency of the Western States for the American Home Missionary Society. Thus located at Cincinnati, the whole country west of the Alle- ghanies was his field, and his zealous, constant, and efficient labors were crowned with success. He had not yet given up the idea of being pastor, and had a successful pastorate of two years in Mad- ison, Ind. (from Nov., 1838, to 1840), during which time sixty united with the church. He once turned aside to beg $50,000 for Lane Theological Sem- inary, and once $10,000 for the Western Female Seminary at Ox- ford, Ohio ; but his main life-work has lieen that of home missions. In many of the past years, between the fall and spring pres- byteries, he has preached as often as once a day for five or six months, and has seen thousands become Christians. Dr. Little has ever been an earnest Sabbath-school worker, be- ginning at Boscawen, when such schools were first formed in that town. The graded school system, and its adoption by the state of Indiana, found in him an earnest advocate ; and in the Indiana Centennial School Report, Dr. Henry Little's name is given as the originator of the first graded school in that state. Dr. L. has twice had applications to be a professor in college, has received invitations to settle over churches in St. Louis, Louis- ville, Cincinnati, Lowell, Mass., and other places ; but, after en- tering the home missionary work the second time, in 1840, it seemed his duty to continue in it the rest of his life. He married, 19 Sept., 1831, Miss Susan Norton Smith, of Hatfield, Mass., a pupil of Miss Grant and Miss Mary Lyon. Of his eight chil- dren, four are sons, all ministers, and settled over Presbyterian churches at Washington, D. C, New Albany, Ind., Mankato, Minn., and St. Louis, Mo. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 415 An article in the Independent, 9th May, 1867, written by the president of Wabash college, Rev. Dr. Tuttle, sets forth tlie Labors of Dr. Little : "During a brief pastorate, many scores were converted, and some of these till places of great usefulness in the church and state. There is uo labor he shuns, in prosecuting his work as a sort of home missionary bishop. Along the Miami, the Scioto, the Muskingum, the White, and the AVabash, in the heats of summer and the tremendous discom- forts of a AVestern winter, he pushes his work, — now in the gra;id old woods, now in the log school-house or private mansion, or in the hum- ble meeting-house, telling men of Christ. He has rode four contin- uous days oti horseback, in the luud and rain, to reach an appoint- ment. "From ]\Iarietta to Evansville, from Cleveland to La Porte, this man has gone, planting churches, building up waste places, encourag- ing home missionaries, searching out the scattered sheep, holding pro- tracted meetings, everywhere welcomed, honored, and loved. Thirty- six years has he been at this ivork, until he has publicly addressed more audiences, visited more churches, worked directly in more revivals in Ohio and Indiana, talked to more people, seen more changes in commu- nities and persons, than any man that can be named. " Go where he will, he meets those who owe everything to him as God's instrument, those who have been encouraged by him, those who have caught the best impulses of life from him ; — and now, in this year 1867, this blessed man has preached fourteen times in eight days in one pulpit, preaching the gospel in such a cheerful light that his hearers exclaim, ' Would to God we could love it as he does! ' " The above was written in 1867. E-ev. Dr. Little is still en- gaged in the work of planting churches, making, since his ordina- tion in 1829, more than forty-eight years of continuous labor. He is now superintendent of missions for the state of Indiana. The honorable title of D. d. was conferred on him by Wabash college in 1865. LITTLE, ALFKED, MAJ., Son of Henry and Susan Little, and grandson of Enoch and Jesse Little, was born in Boscawen, 3 June, 1823. At six years of age a partial parah^sis disabled one limb, obliging liim to use a crutch. In May, 1836, the family moved to Peoria, 111., where a severe attack of rheumatic fever in part destroyed the use of his other leg. After the death of his father (who died suddenly, 416 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 29 April, 183S) lie returned to Boscawen, in May, 1840, and in the autumn of the same year commenced to work in the melodeon and seraphine shop of Mr. Charles Austin, at Concord, N. H., one of the very earliest manufacturers of reed instruments in America. Noted from a child for his musical talents and correct ear, he soon became tuner of these instruments, being among the first to introduce various improvements in the voicing and tuning of reeds, which have since been adopted by his brother craftsmen throughout the country. Two serious faults of the early instruments of this description were, first, slowness of speech, and, second, a crude and reedy quality of tone. To obviate these defects, Maj. Little soon found that a material change could be made by bending and shaping the reeds, divesting them of their harsh and unpleasant sound, and giving to them a tone more round and mellow. By this method, an even tone of the same quality throughout the scale was produced, and with greater freedom of vibration, causing them, in tuner's language, to "speak quick." The 3fusic Trade Jievieic, New York, of 3 Sept., 1877, con- tains an article, entitled "Who was the original inventor of the art of voicing reeds ?" in which the following extract of a letter from J. D. Cheney, tuner and manufacturer of cabinet organs at Stevens Plain, Me., is given : "I was at A. Prescott's, Concord, N. II., from the winter of ISio-G to 1850, and I am sure that Alfred Little, who was then tuning for Charles Austin, used to bend the points of the reeds, as he said, 'to talce away a part of the snarl P " This was previous to Mr. Carhart's improved tube-board, and was done in connection with the old style force-bellows, round-keyed melodeon.'" At a Mechanic's Fair, held in Boston, the attention of Dea. Timoth}^ Gilbert, piano-maker, was called to the peculiar quality and pure tone of an instrument tuned by Ma,j. Little, and he ever after procured his reeds of Mr. Austin for the " J^^olian attach- ment " to his pianos. Maj. Little claims to be the first tuner in America who regular- ly set the equal temperament on reed instruments, and in this was several years in advance of his contemporaries. For his first efforts in this direction, he was greatly indebted to the late Prof. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 417 George Wood, the sweet singer of Concord, N. H. It is probably true that he tuned the first double-reed instrument in this coun- try, — a seraphine, made by Charles Austin. He also tuned melodeons for Dearborn & Bartlett, of Concord, N. H., continu- ing in the business until 1852. At this date he invented and manufactured, for his own use, an instrument of considerable power, and yet of remarkable sweetness, which has been his constant companion to the present day. On listening to its tones, an eminent musical critic pronounced it a "miniature or- chestra," which suggested its name, — the Orchestral Melodeon [see engraving]. For its versatility of musical effects, its inimi- table tremolo, and the dynamical expression of which it is capa- ble, this instrument is unsurpassed. The round-keyed melodeon, in use from 1838 to 1850, has almost wholl}^ disappeared, having been succeeded by the cabinet organ. The original melodeon (as seen in engraving) was blown by the left arm, a movement awkward to most men, and giving a limited use of the left hand. Maj. Little soon attained wonderful skilful- ness in the manipulation of this instrument, and as a player of the round-keyed melodeon he is without a peer in the world. Possessing the rare gift of improvisation, seemingly without any study he calls forth from his instrument many a gem of mel- ody and harmony, which " to hear once is to wish to hear again." Endowed with a voice of great sweetness and pathos, though not of remarkable compass, and having a high appreciation of the beautiful in poetry as well as in music, he became popular as a concert giver. His first musical entertainment was in Pantheon hall, Fisherville, N. H., March, 1846. Since then he has given delight to hundreds of thousands in New England, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Ever ready to respond with voice and instrument to the calls of charity and patriotism, cheering the patient on his bed of suffer- ing, or teaching a Sabbath-school song to children, he has made friends everywhere ; and many a wayfarer has been aided by his helping hand, or cheered by his buoyant sympathy. He was appointed fife-major of the 21st N. H. Regiment by Col. Joseph L. Pillsbury, receiving the honorary commission at the hands of Gov. N. B. Baker. Nature does not always endow her poets with an exquisite 27 418 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. sense of melody, or enable them to produce her harmonies in music ; hut she has made an exception in the person of Maj. Little; — he is both musician and poet. Few men have a pro- founder appreciation of the melodies of Haydn, or the soul-inspir- ing harmonies of Handel and Beethoven, than he ; and there are few Avho take greater delight in the study of Milton and Shake- speare. That Maj. Little has poetic talent is manifest by the following song — an apostrophe to a fine group of trees still adorning the old homestead, now owned by Capt. William D. George : MY MERRY MAPLE GROVE. There is a spot to mem'ry dear, "Where oft in childhood I would rove, The merry wildbird's song to hear : It was my Maple Grove. How fair the view on every side — The church on yonder hill, Kearsarge in all its lofty pride, The pond so clear and still. And then the moss-grown rock I'd climb, To pick the berries ripe and red ; "While squirrels scattered from the limb Their nutshells on my head. 'Twas there I hammered from the ledge Bright garnets hued like wine, Or gathered from its western edge The nodding columbine. Dear Maple Grove ! I see thee now, Enrobed in dress of flowing green ; There stands my boyhood's home below, "With grassy lane between. Though fairer scenes perchance may be To win a poet's love, — Yet thou art ever dear to me. My merry Maple Grove. There's not a tree that braves the gale, Or towering rock or purling rill, But telleth each its simple tale Of recollection still. Though flowers may fade and friends may die, Though far away I rove, — Yet oft shall winged mem'ry fly To thee ! my Maple Grove. LITTLE, JACOB, D. D., Son of Jesse and Martha (G-errish) Little, was bom in Boscawen, N. H., 1 May, 1795. At the age of eleven years he became a BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 419 Christian, and united with the Congregational church of Bos- cawen, West Parish, 25 June, 1815. He fitted for college under Samuel Wood, D. d., of Boscawen, and at Meriden academy ; grad- uated at Dartmouth in 1822 ; and at Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1825. He was ordained as an evangelist, at Goffstown, N. H., and first preached six months at Hoosick, N. Y. In 1826 he entered the employ of the AVashington County (Ohio) Missionary Society, reaching Belpre (near Marietta) June 80. His lahors in this and other towns within the county con- tinued about one year. Here, and in neighboring places, Bible- classes (the first in that section) were formed ; here, also, he preached his first temperance sermon. He commenced his labors at GrauA'ille, Licking county, Ohio, 1 June, 1827, and at the end of six months was settled over the Congregational church in that place, where he continued as pastor until 4 Dec, 1864, a period of thirty-seven and one half years. In this charming town of central Ohio, long noted for its cul- tured men and women, its churches and various institutions of learning. Dr. Little, with his shrewd good sense and pious exam- ple, led the people for nearly forty years. Previous to his removal to Granville, an unhappy quarrel had split the church into factions ; but with the most consummate tact — he was the very prince of Christian tacticians — he brought these factions together, and became the pastor of the now reunited organization. In this, and in other matters connected with his people. Dr. Little showed himself to be by nature a commander, in knowing what ought to be done, and how to do it. " Blessed are the peace-makers," and he and his people were soon blessed with a revival of wonderful power, the first of thirteen great re- vivals during his ministry. His labors were so eminently successful that the church at Granville soon became the most noted religious organization in central Ohio. The parish was six miles square, but the pastor systematically visited every family belonging to his congregation, organizing conference and prayer meetings as well as Bible- classes in every district, which were conducted with astonishing efficiency. In teaching and explaining the scriptures he took great delight, and spent much time in fitting himself for this im- portant duty. 420 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Dr. Little had the rare faculty of setting everybody to work. There was hardly a male member in his church that did not pray in imblic, and a large part of them exhorted publicly in the con- ference meeting. He soon became known as the "plain preacher" — the man who dared to speak boldly in condemnation of vice. His " New Years' Sermons," on the first Sunday in January, were always reviews of the year, and on that day every seat and aisle in the meeting-house was occupied. Several of these sermons were published. A letter in the New York Tribune, 29 July, 1854, gives the following sketch of Dr. L. : " The most remarkable man in Granville, if not in the whole county, is the Rev. Jacob Little, pastor of the Congregational church. He is a graduate of Dartmouth college, and keeps his polite studies bright by practice. He is extremely plain in his appearance, and in the pulpit has none of the mannerisms of his profession. In style he is perfectly simple, and yet there is such robust good sense in all that he does, and such sagacity of judgment, rarely in error, accompanied by a rare purity and integrity of character, that it may be said he stands among the foremost ranks of his profession in this great state. His goodness is so good as to amount to genius, and his simplicity of manner and style at times produces the effects of the highest eloquence. He has a wonderful passion for statistics connected with his own locality, and can tell you how many get drunk, how many drink intoxicating liquor, how many use tobacco, how many have died since he was in Granville, and at what age and of what disease, how many attend church, and who visit and travel on Sundays," &c., &c. The following is an extract from Dr. Little's new year's ser- mon of 1849 : " This township has 411 families and 1,376 adults. It has 37 drinking families, 119 drinking adults, 21 drunkards, and during the past year has consumed 4,153 gallons of intoxicating Hquor, The families having no altar are 219; reading no religious papers, 223; children between six and twenty-one attending no Sabbath-school, 179; adults who visit, work, or journey on the Sabbath, 183; neglect public worship, 113; cannot read, 22; use profane language, 189; use tobacco, 364; play cards, 83; attend balls, 40; supposed to be impenitent, 777. The send- ino- 150 persons to Botany bay would blot from our history most of the above number." During Dr. Little's pastorate at Granville, there were added to his church 1,041 members, of whom 664 were received upon ^^^Jcs^'mL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 421 profession of their faith. In these j^ears he preached about 5,000 sermons, and more than 1,000 persons are supposed to have been led to a religious life through his ministry. His kind and genial nature secured the love and confidence of children and youth, who ever felt free to come to him for needed sympathy and counsel. His varied duties as pastor and preacher led him to be systematic and exact. Says a writer in the New York Evangelist, — " I never saw Jacob Little oif duty and at leisure. His industry was restless, and his method un3'ielding as iron bands." As a writer, he was simple and plain, preferring force to elegance, choosing to have his sentiments rather than his sen- tences remembered. In 1863, Dr. Little delivered a course of lectures at Lane Theo- logical Seminary, on Pastoral Theology; and from January, 1867, to July, 1869, furnished a column each week for the Christicm Herald, published at Cincinnati, entitled " The Pastor." Besides the " New Years' Sermons," he published several other discourses, as well as many delightful and valuable articles in the religious newspapers. Perhaps his most important work is the " History of Granville," published in fifty-nine numbers of the Ohio Ob- server, at Hudson, about the year 1845. The male academj^ and the female seminary of Granville (of the latter of which he was trustee) owed their existence and much of their prosperity to his efforts. For a number of years he was trustee of Western Eeserve college, and of Central college, Ohio. He also served as trustee of Marietta college from 1845 to 1870. In person, Dr. Little was a large man, and jiossessed great phys- ical activity and endurance. For thirty years his average weight in the winter was 200 pounds. For thirty-five years he never lost a Sabbath from ill health. This he attributed largely to his regular and temperate habits, using neither tea, coffee, nor tobacco. At the close of 1864, Dr. Little resigned his pastorate over the church at Granville, and removed to his farm near Warsaw, Ind., where he resided until 1874, preaching to unsupplied churches about one third of the time. His strength beginmng to fail, he then removed to the home of his son, Eev. Charles Little, at Wabash, Ind., where he passed to his rest, 17 Dec, 1876, aged 81 years, 7 months, and 16 days. In 1855, the degree of d. d. was conferred on him by Marietta 422 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. college. He married, 1st, Lucy, daughter of Capt. Joseph Ger- rish, of Canterbury, K. H., 1 June, 1826, who died 5 Oct., 1834 ; 2d, Ann Dorothy, daughter of Hon. T. M. Thompson, of Gran- ville, Ohio, 23 March, 1836. Four children, — one son by his first and two sons and a daughter by his second marriage, — are now liv- ing, the three sons being ministers of the Presbyterian church. (See Gen.) MACUEDY, DAVID A., CAPT., Enlisted as a private, with his brother Matthew, 11 Aug., 1862, in the 14th Regiment [for movements of which see Adjutant-Gen- eral's Eeport, state of New Hampshire]. During the fall and winter the regiment was on duty at AVashington and along the Potomac, picketing the river for a distance of forty miles, endur- ing great hardships. The summer of 1863 was passed in doing guard duty from Harper's Perry to Portress Monroe. In the spring of 1864, the regiment was ordered to the Department of the GuK, and came near being shipwrecked on the voyage to New Orleans. After a short service on the Mississippi, the regiment returned to the Potomac, and was ordered to the Shenandoah, joining Sheridan's corps, Aug. 18. On the 19th of Sept. occurred the battle of Perryville. The reg- iment was on the march at 2 A. M. The artillery fire began be- fore daylight, but the battle did not become general till 11 o'clock in the forenoon. The 14th N. H. was on the extreme right of Sheridan's infantry line. The advance of the Union troops was so impetuous that the enemy were driven at every point, but in the ardor of pursuit the line became confused. The artillery of the enemy opened with deadly effect. The order was given to fall back. While the movement was being executed, Capt. Ma- curdy's younger brother, Matthew, was instantly killed, and the captain himself (then lieutenant) wounded. The loss to the regiment was thirteen officers and one hundred and thirty privates killed and wounded. After his wound had healed, Capt. Macurdy rejoiijed his regiment, which was ordered to Savannah 1 Jan., 1865, where it remained till the close of the war. Capt. Macurdy was commissioned first lieutenant 27 May, 1864 ; pro- moted to captaincy 22 Nov., 1864 ; and mustered out 8 July, 1865. He has been honored by his fellow-citizens with the offices of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 423 selectman and representative [see Town Officers]. He lias fol- lowed the occupation of trader in Webster, Concord, and again in Webster. MOKRILL, ROBIE, REV. , The second minister of Boscawen was Rev. Eobie Morrill, son of Abraham Morrill, of Salisbury, Mass. [see Gen.], where he was born 28 Aug., 1734, the year in which the first band of settlers reared their log cabins in Contoocook. He graduated at Harvard, 1755, studied theology, and was ordained minister 29 Dec, 1761. He preached about five years, and then, owing to some disaffec- tion [see Civil Hist.], resigned his ministerial office. He never again engaged in preaching, but became a teacher, and taught many years during the closing decades of the last century. He was a useful citizen, a gentleman of the old school, punctilious in dress, yielding never to the changes of fashion, but wearing to the close of life his wig, his black silk stockings, silver shoe and knee buckles. He was small of stature, and was bald-headed, but the loss of hair was supplied by a wig and cue, which the roguish- ly inclined, roystering school-boys had the temerity to dandle at times, not unfrequeiitly paying for it with aching palms. Rev. Mr. Morrill was erratic in his ways. Tradition reports that he once selected for his text the pronoun " it ;" that once he astonished his congregation by exclaiming, — "There goes a mouse ! " But if erratic, he was possessed of a rich vein of humor. Some of tlie members of his congregation not unfrequently fell asleep during his long-drawn sermon, and disturbed the preacher by their snoring. On a Sunday Mrs. Morrill dropped asleep, whereupon her husband paused in his preaching and thus ad- dressed one of his wakeful hearers : " My friend, won't you please punch that man who snores so loud, for if he goes on at that rate he will wake up my wife." Mr. Morrill erected the house now standing near the site of the ancient fort, the oldest framed house in the town. He was a man of sterling character, and in the formative period, during the Rev- olutionary war and the first years of the republic, when society and political institutions were undergoing a change, his influence was ever on the right side. He died in 1813, greatly respected by his fellow-citizens. 424 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. MOODY, PHEBE K., MRS. Phebe Knight, daughter of Caleb Knight, came to Boscawen with her father in 1792, from Newbi;ry, Mass. She was employed as a school-teacher, — one of the few female teachers of the last century. She was united in marriage to Nicholas Moody, who resided in a secluded locality west of Little hill. Mrs. Moody, though bound down by the prosaic occupations of a farmer's household, and cut off from associations generally deemed neces- sary to literary culture, found time to throw off, now and then, a poetical effusion for her friends. At the close of the last century there were few newspapers, and fewer magazines ; nevertheless some of her poetical scraps found their way into print, and were greatly admired. She was endowed with native poetic talent of a high order, a delicate appreciation of the beautiful, and rare fa- cility of expression, as will be seen by the few fragments that have been preserved : POETICAL EPISTLE TO A YOUNG FRIEND. Dear Miss : Your friend has requested a letter for you, But at present I Icnow not what theme to pursue, Unless of my dwelling I give you a view. I'm of the earth, earthly; and therefore my mind To things of small moment is mostly inclined. My time and my tlioughts are employ'd in my dairy. Though sometimes I scribble when of tliat I'm weary. My writing, you'll notice, is none of tlie best. Though perhaps not so coarse as my genius and taste. But enough of this preface : I now will proceed To draw you a landscape if you it can read. In this lonely vale, half a mile from the road, Shut out from the world, is my rural abode. A mile to tlie west you may houses discern ; But here quite alone stand my cottage and barn ; And around it are sporting the flocks and the herds, The turkeys and chickens, the squirrels and birds. And here is my garden, but we'll pass and not heed it; Like my heart, 'tis uncultured— I've neglected to weed it. But the fields and the orchards, that ask not my care, Ai'e teeming with good fruit, and look very fair. See yonder the ridge and the wood-cover'd hill, And down in the hollow there ripples a rill ; In pleasing meanders it plays through the wood, Till it meets and unites in a neighboring flood. The wide-spreading meadow, the sweet-flowing fountain. The tall dusky forest, the high lofty mountain. The steep craggy rock, and the grove and the brook, — The prospect is pleasant wherever you look. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 425 On all sides are blooming the beauties of spring ; Clad with corn and with clover, the vales shout and sing; The sweet-scented briers that deck this green bud, The soft fragrant zephyrs that play round my head, Tlie sweet little songsters that carol above. All, all I have uam'd are the offspring of love ! Our God's name is Love, and love is his nature. He rules us, he governs all worlds and each creature. Whatever he formed his goodness protects. And his tender mercies are o'er all his works. But man is his best lov'd, man's nature he took; That wonderful story we read in his Book, — How for us he suffer'd, obey'd, liv'd, and died, To make of us, rebels, his children and bride. And now to this Jesus, whose name we adore, Be blessing, and honor, and glory, and power: To Jesus — Jehovah, the Ancient of Days — Be blessing, and honor, and glory, and praise. , Two natures united in our dearest Lord, For the Word was made flesh, and the Word it was God. He's God in tlie Father and God in the Son, And God in the Spirit, and these three are one ! Oh, wonders on wonders ! what myst'ry is here ! What heights and what depths in our Jesus appear! The Creator and creature in unison join : How blest are the branches of Jesus the vine ! What though modern Pliarisees say he's not God, And treat with indignity our dearest Lord, — Yet, yet it is written, that Jesus the Lamb, Is God over all, the eternal I Am. Seducers are saying, lo ! liere, and lo ! there Is Jesus the Saviour, but let us beware; For, though these false teacliers will many deceive, Our Jesus forbids us their lies to believe. The things are f ultilling that Jesus foretold, The signs of his coming we clearly behold ; False Christs and false prophets now swarm all around, And faith uncorrupted is scarce to be found ; Of blaspliemous errors, behold what a flood ! Denying the Saviour, who bought them with blood ! But Jesus will come in his glory ere long. And by his own power will silence each tongue That now speaks against him, perverting his word: On such daring sinner have mercy, dear Lord! MY COTTAGE. In this retreat, remote and still, My fav'rite solitude I find; This little cot beneath the hill H,aa charms congenial to my mind. How gracious, Heaven, art thou to me. In answ'ring thus my early prayers ; From youth I ever wished to be Far from the world and all its cares. 426 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Far from the world of noise and strife, With quiet here I'll pass uiy days ; In this sequester'd vale of life, I've found that peace which ne'er decays. And from this humble shade ere long, To heaven, my home, I hope to rise, Borne on the balmy wings of love, To fairer mansions in the skies. There Jesus sits, that God of love ! His glorious throne 's exalted high ; Though once he groan'd and bled and died To save such guilty worms as I. And is it not worth dying for, To see my Heavenly Father's face. Who sav'd me from destruction's jaws, And bid me seek superior bliss? A FRAGMENT. THE PEN. "How great is my use !" cries the quill of a goose; " Who duly my merits appraise? My praises resound the world all around, I make even fools to be wise." THE NEEDLE. " Hold ! liold ! prating goose, for I'm of most use, Although I am shorter and slimmer ; By my little head many thousands are fed. Whilst your scribble won't purchase a dinner." THE WHEEL. " And what were your head were it not for my thread ? So, then, independent Miss Steel, Just acknowledge thy due to the wheel." THE LOOM. "And what were your worth were it not for my cloth?" The loom, looking largely, replied. "Both needle and thread might beg for their bread. If I did not keep them employed." THE AXE. Mr. Axe raised his head, and to them he said,— " Come, yield the precedence to me ; For to me you must know your being you owe. For I hewed you out of the tree." In this dispute among the tools. We see how much we look like fools AVhen pride begins to swell and rise, And makes us great in our own eyes. Shall human tools contend with God, And boast as if they were no wood ? We are his clay, formed by his hand, For his own use, at his command. Let not curst pride our hearts deceive, For what have we we've not received? BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 42T PEAKSON, NATHAN, Son of Nathan Pearson, was born in Boscawen, 22 Sept., 1802. He had no special advantages for obtaining an education, being limited to the meagre instruction furnished by the district school. He married Eliza Couch, daughter of John Couch, of Salisbury, and settled on the homestead now owned by Ephraim Little. Mr. Pearson was a man of few words, who did his own thinking, and was independent in his opinions. He was a good friend and citizen, a constant attendant upon public worship, and en- deavored to supply, by reading and observation, the lack of oppor- tunities for education in his early years. He was elected select- man in 1841 and 1842, and representative in 1843 and 1844. Upon the division of the town, he was elected chairman of the board of selectmen for Webster. He died 8 Oct., 1868. PECKER, J. E., COL., Por several years a citizen of Boscawen, is a son of the late Jere- miah Pecker, Jr., and great grandson of Capt, John Chandler, and was born in East Concord, 28 May, 1838. He attended the Franklin Hall school in Concord, and graduated from tlie Chand- dler Scientific Department of Dartmouth college in 1858. Sub- sequently he engaged in teaching, and for a number of years was principal of the Eisherville high school. He then read law, but abandoned the idea of that profession to become a correspondent and reporter of the Boston Journal, upon which paper he has been regularly employed since 1862. In 1865 he was historian in the military department of the state government, and aided largely in the preparation of the extended reports issued that year by the adjutant-general. He is now manager of the New Hampshire News Bureau of the Boston Journal^ having charge of its interests in this state. As a newspaper correspondent, he has travelled extensively in Canada and the provinces, and in the Western and Southern states. In 1877 he was commissioned aide-de-camp on the military staff of Gov. Prescott, with the rank of colonel. He is biographical secretary of the Chandler Alumni Association of Dartmouth college. 428 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. PETERSON, DAXIEL, M. D. The first physician in Boscawen was Dr. Daniel Peterson, who built the house afterwards occupied by Benjamin Oak and by James West as a hotel, and now occupied by Mr. Dow. He moved into town about 1770, and was a surgeon in the Bennington and other campaigns. He was a physician of the old school ; — indeed, there was no other school. Bleeding, blistering, cup- pings, calomel, and jalop were its characteristics. The " school " believed in an active treatment. Dr. Peterson had an extensive practice in Boscawen, Salisburj^, Sanbornton, Canterbury, Warner, Wilmot, and other towns, rid- ing as far north as Haverhill, always on horseback, with his sad- dle-bags stuffed with medicines. He married a sister of Nathaniel Greene, Esq., and was uncle to the late Senator Fessenden. One of his fellow-physicians was Dr. Long, of Hopkinton. Together Drs. Peterson and Long rode to Haverhill, N. H., and were present at the execution of a negro who had committed a heinous crime, and who had sold his body to the two physicians for dissection. Dr. Long skinned the body after the execution, had the skin tanned, and a pair of boots made from it. Dr. Peterson, from his service in the army, became widely known, and was regarded as one of the best surgeons of his time. PILLSBURY, JOSEPH L., COL., Son of Dea. Joseph and Martha (Little) Pillsbury, was born in Boscawen, N. H., 10 Feb., 1829. At the age of twelve years he accomp^,nied his father to Pennsylvania, where he spent one sum- mer with a surveying party, acting as chain-bearer. He was not a robust youth, but life in the woods improved his health, and he early matured to a vigorous manhood. At the age of sixteen he displayed a military spirit, making himself familiar with tactics and drill exercises. At eighteen he was captain, and at twenty-one was colonel of the 21st N. H. Regi- ment. He commenced the study of medicine, which he soon af- ter abandoned, and in 1851 went to Pittsburgh, where for about three years he acted as paymaster of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad. Possessing a mathematical and scientific mind, he 1^_ <^ . BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 429 qualified himself for the duties of civil engineer, which calling he followed for about twenty years. In 1854 Col. Pillsbury commenced as contractor and builder of railroads in the South and West, doing an extensive business on the Mobile & Girard, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and also on a road running west from Dubuque, Iowa. Associated with him in part of these contracts was his brother, Henry W. Pillsbury. Subsequently Col. Pillsbury was engaged in the oil business in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, where a number of oil wells were bored by him. He was also superintendent of the Deep Oil Mining Company, in northern Ohio. Col. Pillsbury excelled as a hydraulic engineer. His first im- portant work in this direction was the building of the Canton (Ohio) water-works, in 1869, '70. He was also advising hydravilic engineer for various cities in the West. The last great labor of his life was at Columbus, Ohio, where in 1870 he was employed as chief engineer to su^^ply that cap- ital with water from the Scioto river. During the progress of this enterprise his health was seriously impaired, and soon after its successful completion he returned with his son and daughter to Boscawen, where he died, 10 Jan., 1874. Col. Pillsbury was a man of positive character, indomitable en- ergy, and of great nobility and kindness of heart. In writing, he had the happy faculty of exjiressing himself Avith fluency, and to the point. From his youth he was an extensive reader of books that required thought, whether in j)oetry or prose ; was a diligent student, and greatly interested in mechanical and scien- tific pursuits. In the study of geology he took great delight, and in this, as well as in other departments of science, his mind was a rich storehouse of useful and interesting facts. He invented several valuable improvements pertaining to his various fields of labor, and secured a patent on a hydrant for city water-works. Col. Pillsbury was an active and esteemed member of the Epis- copal church, at Canton, Ohio, and was always ready to do his part in every good word and work. He married, 18 May, 1854, Mary Anna Ely, of Wooster, Ohio, daughter of Col. Daniel Ely, of Owego, K. Y. She died at Delaware, Ohio, 18 Aug., 1867. [See Gen.] 430 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. PILLSBURY, MOODY A., GEJf. Gen. Moody Adams Pillsbury, son of Daniel and Eunice (Thorla) Pillsbury, was born in Boscawen, 4 May, 1794. His educational advantages, like those of most boys of his time, were those of the district school. Upon arriving at his majority he settled in Bashan, upon the farm where he lived through life, giving more attention to his saw-mill than to his farm. Bashan was a new section, densely timbered, and his mills became a source of profit. He became an officer in the militia, was colonel of the 21st Eegiment for several years, and rose to the rank of brigadier- general. Gen. Pillsbury took an active interest in the events of his time. He was a constant attendant upon the public religious ser- vices of the Sabbath, gave liberally to the support of benevolent objects, and was long a member of the church. He was one of the first to espouse anti-slavery principles, and gave to the cause of freedom his whole heart. He was a kind neighbor, a friend to the poor, and a genial companion. He married, first, Miss Rachel Dix, sister of Gen. John A. Dix ; second. Miss Louisa Frances Dix, her sister. He died 8 Jan., 1863. PILLSBURY, GEORGE T., Son of Daniel Pillsbury, was born in the house now occupied by Miss Sarah Pillsbury, on Water street. He learned his father's trade — that of carpenter — and built the house near the school- house, on Little hill, where he resided a few 3'ears. He erected many buildings in Concord, and began the erection of the South Congre- gational meeting-house in that town in 1835, in partnership with Capt. Wm. Abbott. He received an injury in one of his legs, which was followed by mortification and death in 1836. He was a man of decided convictions, and active in all matters relat- ing to religion and temperance. He was elected deacon of the church in Webster, to succeed Dea. Enoch Little, 2d. His death cast a gloom upon the community, and his funeral was notably one of the largest ever attended in Webster. He died as he had lived, in the full triumph of Christian faith. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 431 PRICE, EBENEZER, REV., The first pastor of the Congregational cliureli in Webster, was born in Newburyport, 14 Sept., 1771, and was the youngest child of William Price [see Gen.]. His parents, from his birth, de- signed that he should receive a collegiate education. He began his preparatory studies at the age of seventeen, in Moore's Charity School, Hanover, then under the tuition of Rev. Daniel Dana. He entered Dartmouth in 1789, and graduated in 1793. His sister had married Rev. Mr. Hidden, of Tamworth, with whom he passed several months after graduating, where he made a public profes- sion of religion, 24 Aug., 1794. Deciding to enter the ministry, he placed himself under the theological instruction of Rev. Elihu Thayer, d. d., of Kingston. He was licensed to preach, January, 1795, by the Deerfield association of ministers, and began his labor as a minister of the gospel in Belfast, Me., March, 1796, and was ordained pastor of the church in that place on the 26th of Decem- ber following. He was married 20 Jan., 1799, to Miss Lucy Farrer. eldest daughter of Humphrey and Lucy Farrer, of Hano- ver, ]Sr. H. He remained in Belfast till the 22d of September, 1802, a period of six years. The burning of the meeting-house at the east end of Bos- cawen, the refusal of the town to build a second edifice, and the erection of a building by a society on the Plain, brought about an abnormal state of affairs. The town owned the frame at the West end, and individuals owned the pews. There was no church or society. At the invitation of the citizens of this section, Mr. Price began his labors. His preaching was followed by a manifest increase of attention to religion on the part of the people. The Westerly Religious Society was organized in Janu- ary, 1804, and a church of eight members formed the 10th of September following. Mr. Price accepted a call to become their pastor, and was installed on the 26th of September. He main- tained this pastoral relation thirty-three years, the connection being dissolved by mutual council, 10 May, 1837. During his pastorate, there were several marked seasons of religious interest. The whole number added to the church dur- ing his pastorate was 262. The greatest number in any one year was 60, in 1838. The greatest number of members on the church rolls at any one period was 198. 432 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. Price continued to reside in the town, and became superin- tendent of the Sahbath-school, which position he held for eleven years. Upon the formation of the Granite Mutual Fire Insurance Co., he was elected secretary, which office he held till he removed to Boston, in 1859, to live with his eldest son, Ebenezer Sewell Price, where he died in 1863, aged 92. He took a lively interest in every benevolent or other move- ment looking to the welfare of the community. He was a genial man, a perfect gentleman, respecting the rights of all, and exceed- ingly courteous. He dignified his office as a minister of the gos- pel, and adorned it by an exemplary life. Those most prejudiced against religion could find no word of fault against it on account of any dereliction of duty on his part. Being one of the super- intending school committee from 1809 to 1835, he became ac- quainted with nearly all the children in town ; and if they stood in awe of him on account of his official position, they learned to love and respect the man who placed his hands on their heads so benignantly, smiled so genially, and overlooked their short- comings in the kindness of his nature. He was fond of riding on horseback, and no gentleman of the old school ever sat more gracefully than he in the saddle. He was settled in town at a time when liberty gave place to license, when there was an uprising of some of the worst elements in society; and in the middle period of his ministry came the struggle for possession of the West meeting-house. But those who dissented from his religious opinions respected him as a man, and welcomed him heartily to their homes. His influence was ever on the side of law and order, justice and right. After his retirement from the ministry, his fellow-citizens manifested their regard for him by twice electing him to represent them in the legislature. In 1820 Mr. Price collected materials for a chronological his- tory of the town. Much of his information in regard to the early settlement of the tow-n Avas obtained from George Jack- man, Esq., and from conversation with the oldest inhabitants. It was printed in 1823, by Jacob B. Moore, of Concord. The town appropriated fifty dollars as compensation. It was pub- lished by private subscription. His sermons preached at the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 433 funeral of Dea. Benjamin Sweatt, and upon the cleatli of Rev. Dr. Wood, were published by request. He was the author of the let- ter to Hon. Daniel Webster, which elicited his reply to his iSTew Hampshire neighbors. The letter and repl}^ are to be found in ■ the published cori-espondence of Mr. Webster. His relations to the church and society, and especially to his successor in the ministry, Rev. Edward Buxton, were always frater- nal and helpful. As a pastor, he was ever mindful of the wants of his people, sympathizing with them in their bereavements and afflictions, and entering as heartily into all their joys. He was so mindful of all classes, that in his public prayers " the aged, the middle-aged, the young, the youth, the infants," were all remem- bered. His desire to leave nothing undone, to neglect no class, to fill the full measure of his own responsibility, not infrequently made his prayers and sermons of u:ndue length. On special occa- sions his prayers sometimes exceeded his sermons in length, occu- pying from fifty to seventy minutes. In this respect he did not stand alone. In tlie ministry at that period, brevity was the exception, length the rule. At the begin- ning of the century, people expected a service to occupy at least two hours. During the short days of winter, those who lived farthest from meeting sometimes saw the sun disappear behind the Warner hills before they reached home. Nor were they rest- less under a sermon that occupied an hour in the delivery. They expected a long sermon, and would have found fault with the brevity of the sermon of the present day. His last years were marked by serene peace and composure. He was an attendant at Mount Vernon church, in Boston, and listened with delight to the preaching of Rev. Dr. Kirlc, who looked upon him as a father in the ministry. His influence for good never can be measured, for under his preaching such men as Rev. Enoch Corser, and Revs. Jacob and Henry Little, were led to enter the ministry ; and through their instrumentality thousands have been brought to a religious life. The night before his death. Father Price called his son Sewell and wife to his bedside, and, taking their hands in his, thanked them for their continued kindness to him, and trusted tliat in their last days they might be cared for as tenderly. Sewell asked his father how he felt in regard to death. '' Oh ! that was all fixed 28 434 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, years and years ago. I committed myself into the hands of my Maker : he has taken care of me hitherto, and I liave no fears for the future." Rev. Jacob Little, in a sermon preached in Granville, Ohio, and published in the Church Union, 20 May, 1876, thus alludes to Rev. Mr. Price : " * * A good man never dies. His good works follow him, and he lives in them. " Ready to return from a New England visit, I called to say good-by to my pastor, who had outlived his years of preaching. With tearful eyes he said, — ' I shall never see you again. You will again visit your friends, but before that time I shall die.' Wishing to cheer him, I re- plied, — ' Mr. Price, you will never die. I have received from you doc- trines, precepts, feelings, and ways of doing good, and in central Ohio am impressing them on a great people. Sabbath teachers and preach- ers are coming up in my congregation to scatter what I have received from your lips, and pass it to the next generation. In Indiana, Bro. Henry is doing the same thing on a larger scale, and so are others who have gone from your congregation. What you have taught by exam pie and precept is spreading wider and wider, and going to the second and third generations, and will ever keep going, so that you will never die.' " ROGERS, JOHN, M. D. Maj. William Rogers was born in Newbury, Mass., 1741, and married Abigail Worth of the same town. He was a lineal de- scendant of John Rogers, who was burned at the stake in Smith- field in 1555. He was drowned at the mouth of Merrimack river, 25 Sept., 1786. They had five children. John was born 24 May, 1787, at jSTewburyport, Mass. His mother married Moody Chase, and moved to Chester, E". H. Before preparing for college, he learned the art of dressing cloth of William Hesalton, of Suncook. He graduated at Dartmouth, 1816, studied medicine with Dr. Chadbourne, of Concord, grad- uated from the Medical Department of Dartmouth college in 1819, commenced the practice of medicine in Chester, and re- moved to Boscawen in 1821 or 1822. He lived in the large dwell- ing-house (shown in the cut) near the church, where he practised medicine until his death, 5 Jan., 1830. He married Sarah, daughter of Caleb Knight, of Boscawen, in May, 1825. Their BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 435 children were, — Sarah, born 23 Sejjt., 1826, married W. H. Har- low, of Everett, Mass. ; John, born 23 Sept., 1826, died Sep- tember, 1828 ; Abbie, born 6 Feb., 1828, who resides with her sister. SAKGEXT, WALTER H., Son of Isaac and Rebecca (Farnum) Sargent, was born in Bos- cawen in 1825. He enlisted in 1862, in Co. D, 14th N. H. Eegi- ment, was appointed sergeant, and on account of a fracture of one of his legs was appointed recruiting officer, and enlisted fourteen soldiers from Webster and vicinity. The regiment was on duty along the Potomac during the fall and winter of 1862-3, and he was detailed at Georgetown to prevent the smuggling of liquor and other contraband articles into camp, a position requiring the closest scrutiny and circumspection. From Georgetown he was detailed with fifty-seven men to do guard duty at the old capitol prison. It was in midsummer. The officers and soldiers were ordered to appear at all times in regula- tion dress, an order of the regulation martinet, who sacrificed the health of the detachment to sustain military red-tape. Broken down in health, Lieut. Sargent was ordered to New Hampshire upon recruiting service, where he remained till the last of January, 1864. While on duty near Harper's Ferry he fell upon the ice and injured one of his legs — one that had previously been broken — which became exceedingly painful. While suffering from the fall, he commanded a scouting party of twenty men, reconnoiter- ing the country as far south as Snicker's Gap. On the 20tli of March, 1864, the regiment sailed from New York, on steamer Daniel Webster, for New Orleans. The vessel came near foundering in a terrific storm, which carried away wheel-houses and bulwarks. The steam-pipe burst. The steamer, however, reached Hilton Head, was refitted, and the regiment finally reached Carrollton, a suburb of New Orleans, Aj)ril 12. After service on the Mississippi the regiment returned to Fortress Monroe, joined the army under Gen. Grant at Petersburg, was joined to the 14th Army Corps, sent to the Shenandoah, and was in the battle of Perryville, in the thick of the fight. The regi- ment charged across an open field, driving the enemy. A rebel 436 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. fired at Lieut. Sargent from behind, a tree, Liit missed him ; where- upon Lieut. Sargent rushed ujjon him, and the man threw down his gun, and surrendered. A second rebel drew up his gun to fire, but a stroke from the lieutenant's sword induced him to change his mind, and both were brought into the lines prisoners. In the retreat which the regiment was compelled to make, Lieut, Sargent was knocked down by a piece of shell. In the melee which followed the charge of the enemy, he was wounded in the arm, Avhile a second bullet struck him above the right eye. His clothes were riddled, and he fell forward upon his face. The enemy rushed over him. A rebel surgeon came to take his sword. Lieut. Sargent gave him his revolver, but refused to surrender liis sword except to an officer of tlie line. The surgeon took him to a major, and the sword was given up. With other prisoners he was taken up the Shenandoah valley. Watching an opportunity he secreted himself in the bushes at night, but was discovered. He ran through a piece of woods, gained the river, plunged in, dived beneath a pile of drift-wood, and managed to get his head above the water amid the brush, but was discovered and delivered to the provost guard. He was close- ly watched. From being chilled he came near dying, but was compelled to march day after day. He had nothing to eat for several days except raw corn, and a bit of bread which a rebel officer gave him from his own rations. His arm was fearfully swollen, and his lame leg was exceedingly painful, Avhile his feet were worn to the bone. He could go no farther. His guard or- dered him to move on, and stated that his orders were to shoot him if he did not move. " I shall not move, and you will not dare to shoot me," was the fearless reply. The soldier cocked his gun and levelled it, but did not dare to fire. He was put in an ambu- lance, taken to Libby prison, and endured its horrors till 7 Oct., when he was paroled. On the 15th of January' following, he was honorably discharged. Lieut. Sargent resides in Bridgewater, N. H. He is fond of hunting, and is renowned for his success in that line. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 437 SHEPARD, FOREST, PROF. Prof. Forest Sliepard, son of Daniel and Ann (Forest) Shep- ard, was born in Boscawen, 31 Oct., 1800. He graduated at Dartmoutli college, 1827, and studied theology at New Haven. Prof. Sliepard early manifested a love for science, especially geology and mineralogy. He lias been connected with the vari- ous geological surveys of the United States and Canada, and his observations have been extended over a large area. In Canada he explored the region occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company. He has visited England, and made the acquaintance of the scien- tists of that country. His explorations have been extended to Panama, Cuba, New Grenada, Mexico, and California. He has made many important discoveries of mines. He has filled the chair of natural science at Western Reserve college, Hudson, Ohio, and at other institutions. He married Miss Sophia W. Storer, of Rutland, Vt. His present residence is in Connecticut. STONE, PETER. Dea. Peter Stone, son of George and Hannah (Lovering) Stone, was born in Boscawen, 19 Dec, 1799, and has always resided upon the old homestead. He married Ruth Call, daughter of Silas Call, of Boscawen. He was an active member and officer of the Cln-is- tian church and society, while that denomination maintained pub- lic worship, and when emigration and change made it impossible longer to sustain a church of his order, with a catholic spirit he became an attendant upon the Congregational church. He has been an exceedingly industrious man, laboring early and late, not compelled by necessity, but doing it as a duty and pleasure, carry- ing into his daily life the scriptural injunction, *' Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." STONE, FREDERICK P., CAPT. Capt. Frederick P. Stone, son of Peter, was born 24 March, 1841. He remained on his father's farm until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the cavalry [see Military Hist.], Co. 1, 17 Dec, 18G1. He was promoted to first sergeant 1 March, 1863, reenlisted 5 June, 1864, promoted to first lieutenent Co. D, 438 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 15 April, 1864, and captain 10 June, 1865. lowing engagements : Warrenton Junction, Rappahannock, Cedar Mountain, North Rappahannock, Catlett station, Rappahannock station, Sulphur spring, Groveton, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, White's Ford, Mountville, Hazel Run, Fredericksburg. Hartwood church, Rapidan river, Ellis ford. Brandy station, Middlebury, Warrenton, Auburn, Bristow station. He ^Yas in the fol- 16 April, 1862, 18 " " 9 Aug., ii 21 '"' it 23 " ti 26 " ii 28 " a 30 " a 1 Sept., u 12 Oct., u 31 " u 16 Nov., (1 13 Dec, a 25 Feb., 1863. 1 May, <( 4 " u 9 June, " 17 '' it 12 Oct., ii 14 " (( 14 " (( Some of these engagements were between small parties, others where the enemy was in force. At Groveton, a valuable horse which Capt. Stone had taken from Boscaw^en was shot beneath him. At Chantilly he was near Gen. Kearney when he fell. At Mountville he was one of six that escaped, out of a party of sixty that w^ere captured. At Middlebury, which was one of the sharp cavalry engagements of the war, he was taken prisoner and im- mured in Libby prison, Richmond, and at Belle Isle was kept in durance thirty-five days. After his reenlistment his regiment w-as attached to Sheri- dan's command in the valley of the Shenandoah. At the battle of Winchester, fought 21 Sept., 1864, he was again captured, was again sent to Libby, thence to Salisbury, N. C, and thence to Danville, Va., in all, five months. He reached Washing- ton in season to join the corjps that hunted down the assassins ry,^..,^ /P c/^^^^ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 439 who were engaged in the plot to murder President Lincohi and Secretary Seward. He was mustered out of service 15 July, 1865, was married to Miss Lovilla Sanborn, daughter of Joseph K. Sanborn, of Web- ster, and sailed for California 22 Oct., 1865, since which time he has been connected with the great publishing house of Bancroft & Co., of San Francisco, holding a position of honor and profit, en- joying in a great degree the confidence of his employers, and the respect of his fellow-citizens. SULLIVAN, MARIAN M., MRS. She was daughter of Col. Timothy Dix. After his death she moved to Littleton, Mass., where she married John W. Sullivan, Esq., a merchant of Boston. During her early married life she wrote for the press, particularly for the New England Magazine, and for Mrs. Hale's Ladies' Magazine. She early gave her at- tention to music, and became a teacher of the piano-forte and guitar, and a composer of ballads. The " Blue Juniata " and the " Field of Monterey " became immensely popular. Her genius for musi- cal composition led to the publishing of two volumes of music, — the "Juniata Ballads" and "Bible Songs." Not merely as a writer and composer will she be remembered, but as a woman of rare virtues, — sweet, gentle, sympathetic, quick in her perceptions of the beautiful in nature, keenly alive to want and suffering, ever ready to aid where help and sympathy were needed, visiting the homes of the poor, caring for the widow ai;id orphan. By such virtues as these she endeared herself to all. Her death occurred in 1860. SMITH, AMBROSE, REV., Was born in Ossipee July 9, 1820, son of John and Sally (Am- brose) Smith. He graduated at Dartmouth, 1845, studied theol- ogy at Andover, graduating there in 1849. He was ordained as a minister at Northfield, 9 Jul}^, 1850, and was installed at Bos- cawen, 15 June, 1853. He died in office, greatly beloved by his people. His style was clear, forcible, and impressive. He had great excellence of character, and his loss was deeply felt. He married Cynthia Maria Edgerton, of Hartford, Vt. 440 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. WEBSTER, JOHN, CAPT. One of the proprietors of Boscawen, Capt. John Webster, was from Kingston. His name frequently appears on the proprietors' records. He took an active part in promoting their interests. When the Indian troubles broke out, in 1745, he joined Capt. John Chandler's company, and scouted around Penacook and Contoocook, in midwinter, from 21 Jan. to 16 Feb. He enlisted in Capt. John Goffe's company, 1 Jan., 1746, and was in service till the 7th of April. Dea. Jesse Flanders, John Flanders, Jr., and Wm. Corser enlisted in the same comj^any in March. They scoured the woods all the country round. In 1748 he was lieutenant of Cajit. Goffe's company from 28 May to 5 Oct. The company consisted of 54 men, and kept a vigilant watch of the frontier. In 1754 began -what is known as the French and Indian war. The Indians began hostilities by capturing Nathaniel Meloon's family at West Stevenstown. Gov. Wentworth at once ordered out a company, and gave the command to John Webster, whose energy, efficiency, and experience admirably fitted him for the place. His command consisted of twenty men, who served about six weeks, — returning home 24 July. The next week the Indians killed Mrs. Call in East Stevenstown (Franklin), and Gov. Went- worth ordered out a full company of sixty-two men, under Capt. Blanchard, to do service in the Merrimack valley. This enabled Capt. Webster and his men to rest. In 1755 New Hampshire sent a regiment of six hundred men, under Col. Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable, against Crown Point. In this expedition Capt. Webster served as a pi-ivate in Capt. Joseph Eastman's company. This was the regiment that made its rendezvous on the Webster farm at South Franklin, and built boats to pass up the Merrimack river and into the Connecti- cut by water, so little was the countiy between the two rivers known. It finally marched across the state to No. 4, and then to Albany and Crown Point. The next year, 1756, another expedition was sent against Crown Point, and the energetic John AVebster enlisted, — this time in Capt. Doe's company. Col. Meserve, of Portsmouth, commanded BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 441 the regiment. He enlisted 1 May, and was in service till 21 Sept. In 1757 another expedition was sent out. Col. Meserve was ap- pointed a second time to the command, and John Webster enlist- ed in Capt. Emery's company. — serving from 7 March to 5 Nov. The regiment was at Fort William Henry when it surrendered, and suffered terribly in the massacre that took place. Upon the close of the war Capt. Webster was instrumental in obtaining a charter for the town, and was one of the first select- men in 1760. The succeeding year he was chairman of the lx)ard. The proprietors of Stevenstown, in 1759, granted him one hun- dred acres of land for the building of a saw-mill. There was no obligation, no contract, but the mill was built on Punch brook, — on land owned by Ebenezer Webster, father of Ezekiel and Daniel, and not far from their birthplace. The foundations of the dam are still visible, and the rude stones of the grist-mill are still lying by the brook. Capt. Webster remained a citizen of Boscawen till about 1764, when he removed to Salisbury, and became one of the leading spirits of that town, as he had been of Contoocook. He was one of its best citizens, and exercised a wide influence for good. The one hundred acres of land granted him by the Stevenstowu proprietors is the land upon which tlie West village in Frank- lin is now located. Capt. Webster died in 1788, aged 77. DANIEL WEBSTER, HOX., America's greatest statesman, j^repared for college and began his public life in Boscawen. He was a citizen of the town for about three years, identified himself with its interests, voted at town- meeting, paid taxes, enrolled himself as a member of the religious society, and took part in the district school meetings. It was ever a pleasure to him to return to the place, not alone to visit his brother Ezekiel, but to renew his acquaintance with the peo- ple. The history of the town would be incomplete if no allusion were made to his residence here. He came to Dr. Wood's in Februar}-, 1797, at the age of fifteen. He had been to Exeter acadertiy, where he had spent six months, and had seen a little of the world, — for Exeter was the capital, and 442 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. there was more life there than in the quiet Salisbury home. Of his residence with Dr. Wood, Mr. Webster thus speaks in his autobiography : " In February, 1797, my father carried me to the Rev. Samuel Wood, in Boscawen, and placed me under the tuition of that most benevolent and excellent man. On the way to Mr. Wood's, my father first inti- mated to me his intention of sending me to college. The very idea thrilled my whole frame. He said he then lived but for his children, and if I would do all I could for myself he would do all he could for me, I remember that I was quite overcome, and my head grew dizzy. The thing appeared to me so high, and the expense and sacrifice it was to cost my fatlier so great, I could only press his hands, and shed tears. Excellent, excellent parent! I cannot think of him now without being a child again. " Mr. Wood put me on Virgil and Tally, and I conceived a pleasure in the study of them, especially the latter, which rendered application no longer a task. With what vehemence did I denounce Catiline! With what earnestness struggle for Milo! In the spring I began the Greek grammar, and at midsummer Mr. Wood said to me, — ' I expected to keep you till next year; but I am tired of you, and I shall put you into college next month.' And so he did But it was a mere breaking-in. I was indeed miserably prepared, both in Latin and Greek. But Mr. Wood accomplished his promise, and I entered Dartmouth college as a Freshman, August, 1797. At Boscawen I found a circulating library, and read many of its volumes. I remember especially that I found Don Quixote in the common translation, and in an edition, as I think, of three or four duodecimo volumes. I began to read it, and it is liter- ally true that I never closed my eyes till I had finished it; nor did I lay it down for five minutes, so great was the power of that extraordi- nary book on my imagination." While he was at Dr. Wood's, his father sent for him in July, to help at haying. " My father put me to work to turn hay. It was pretty lonely there, and after working some time I found it very dull; and as I knew ray father was gone awa}\ I walked home, and asked my sister Sally if she didn't want to go and pick some whortleberries. She said yes. So I went and got the horses, put the side-saddle on one of them, and we set off. We did not get home till pretty late, and I soon went to bed. When my father came home he asked my mother where I was, and what I had been about. She told him. The next morning, when I awoke, I saw all my clothes that I had brought from Dr. Wood's tied up in a small BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 443 bundle again. When I saw my father, he asked me how I liked hay- ing. I told him I found it pretty dull and lonesome. ' Well,' said he, ' I believe you may as well go back to Dr. Wood's.' So I took my bundle under my arm, and on my way met Thomas ^Y. Thompson, a lawyer in Salisbury. He laughed heartily when he saw me. ' So,' said he, ' your farming is over, is it?' " A yoinig man named David Palmer, a senior of Dartmouth col- lege, was employed by Dr. Wood to teach him Greek. He had less than six weeks to prepare in. Mr. Palmer was from Windham, Conn., studied theology, and was minister at Townsend, Mass., from 1800 to 1831. He died in 1849. During the spring and summer months, while keeping np his studies, getting so far in advance of his associates that Dr. Wood was " tired " of him, Daniel found time to visit Mill brook, with his fish-hook and line, and, cutting fin alder for a rod, obtain fine strings of trout, which doubtless were always acceptable at Dr. Wood's table. He wrote thus in regard to his college life : " My college life was not an idle one. I^esides the regular attendance on prescribed duties and studies, I read something of English history and English literature. I even paid my board for a year by superin- tending a little weekly newspaper, and making selections for it from books of literature and from the contemporary publications."' Prom Benjamin Clark, who -was in college with Daniel, we learn that collegians then were not much different from collegians of all time — ever ready to play pranks upon the faculty and upon each other. There were strong ties between Daniel and his asso- ciates, so enduring that practical jokes never sundered them. It is related that these friends and brothers, as they called them- selves, occupied adjoining rooms, and, in order to facilitate social enjoyments without the cognizance of the Paculty, so fixed the panels in the ceiling that there was free jD^ssage from room to room. " They had all things in common. The first to rise in the morning dressed himself in the best which the united apartments afforded, and so of the rest successively ; but woe to the latest riser, whose equip- ments might have been furnished at Rag Fair! " Mr. Clark, who was from Princeton, Mass., who afterwards 444 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. lived in New York, and was known as the " Honest Quaker," was the fortunate possessor of a new beaver hat which cost some eight or ten dollars, and was the envy of the college. One day it was missing. He searched high and low, but could not find it. He found an old slouch felt hat, which lie was obliged to wear. Sev- eral Aveeks passed. Daniel Webster was absent from college, keeping school. He returned at length, and with him came the beaver hat, whicli he had borrowed for a few weeks ! He and Clark shook hands over the joke, and were better friends than ever. Mr. Webster graduated in August, 1801, and studied law with Mr. Thompson, of Salisbury (Franklin), a near neiglibor. His first " case " — not in court, but outside of it — occurred while he was with Mr. Thompson. A trader in New Chester (Hill) had failed, and his Boston creditors thought it was a voluntary suspen- sion, with the intention of making money. They placed their accounts in the hands of Mr. Thompson, who sent Daniel to Kew Chester with the sheriff to investigate affairs. They found the store closed — shutters up and door locked — and a process served upon the goods. Daniel pondered the situation, then seized a heavy log of wood and hurled it against the door. The lock gave way, and the door was open. He was careful not to put his foot inside the door, for that would have been "breaking and enter- ing," a criminal affair whicli would have sent him to Hopkinton jail for a term of j^ears ; but breaking was only a trespass, a mat- ter of damage to the door and lock, an affair of a dollar or two. The sheriff could not batter down the door. That would be mal- feasance of office, and would send him to the jail ; but seeing the door was open he could go in, and serve his attachments. It is related that the Boston creditors were well pleased with the result. After teaching school at Fryeburg, and studying in Mr. Gore's office, in Boston, after declining the tempting offer of the clerk- ship of Hillsborough county, he came to Boscawen, in March, 1805, and opened his first office, in the house now occupied by Mr. Meader, in the north-west corner chamber. The furniture consisted of a pine table, a few shelves for books, and some chairs. He remained in Boscawen till September, 1807, and then removed to Portsmouth, turning over his business to his brother Ezekiel. How many cases he had in court is not known. At the April BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 445 term, 1S07, lie liad the suit of Jacob Martiu against Benjamin Carter, for debt. IVIr. Martin was a shoemaker, and his account runs from 1802 to 1806 : " Benjamin Carter to Jacob Martin Dr 1802 s p Dec. To pare of shoes for your Dafter — To pare of shoes for one children 4 — 6 To Gaping and tapin your Boys' shoes 3 — 6 To pare of shoes for your Littel gall 4 — January 1803 to mending your shoes 1 — 10 Febry to mending your galls shoes 2 — 6 March To mending mikels shoes 3 — 9 To mending your shoes 3 — June To mending pare of pumps for your Dafter 4 — 6 26 To hoing one Day 3^ to making you a pare of shoes 4 7 — To Bushel of turnops 2* to pare of shoes for yourself 9 11 — Nov To making pai-e of shoes for your Wife 11 — To making a pare of shoes for Betsey & one pare for Naty 6 — To making a pare of shoes for mik 3 — To onions 7 — 6 — to making pare of shoes 3 — 6 11 — 23 To making pare of shoes for you 3 — 6 December to making a small pare of shoes 2 — 4 1804 to making you a pare of shoes 4 — 6, to mend- ing 1—3 .5— 9 Aug To 4 days of Mr Conor 1— 0— to mending a small pare of shoes 1 — 6 To mending miks shoes 9 • To making your gal a pare of shoes 3 — 9 To mending your Boots 1 — 4 Kov 2 To making your wife a pare of shoes 3 — 6 To Cash 4— 6 To mending pare of shoes 2 — 6 Jan 1805 to making your wife a pare of shoes, 3 — 6 to mending your shoes, 3 — To Baral of Cyder 9— To making Jeremiah pare of shoes 4 — To pare of shoes for Doley 5 — To your shoes 3 — 446 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. s P L 1895 To mending your Wifes 1— To galand of Cydar 1— to half Bushel of Corn o 6 G To keeping your mare 5— 6 To Quarter Lam 2 7 To House Rent 1—16— £10—12— 5 Erros excepted Jacob Martin [In Mr. Webster's -writing] Dols 35.41 lo'h April 1807 for service 23 travel 9 There are many anecdotes extant of Mr. Webster during the two and a half years he resided in Boscawen. He loved to hunt and fish. He knew every brook and pond, the best places for trout, the choicest spots among the lily-pads for pickerel. One of his companions on his hunting expeditions was ISTehe- miah Clark. It was currently reported that one day, while gunning, a gray squirrel secreted himself among the thick foliage of a tree, and that Clark climbed the tree to rout him from his hiding-place. " I see him," shouted Webster, from the ground, raising his gun to fire. " Don't you slioot me !" said Clark. " No, I won't ; 5'ou just keep still and I will bring him down." The story runs that the charge entered Mr. Clark's knee, and lamed him for life, which probably is an exaggeration. It is quite probable that a scattering shot hit Clark, but his lameness arose from other causes. Mr. Webster never lost his friendship for Clark, but was accustomed to call upon him whenever he visited Boscawen. While a citizen of the town he had a volunteer military com- pany. At that period a large business was done in the mak- ing of staves, and there was an extensive coopering establish- ment on the west side of King street, where a dozen or more men were employed. These were Mr. Webster's soldiers, with others HJjr ^^^^^^^5^ ^^^/^^^L^ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 447 on the street. In moonlight evenings, with hoop-poles for weap- ons, they were marshalled hy the young law_yer, then twenty- four years of age, who wlieeled, marched, and countermarched them up and down the street to the music of the fife and drum. About the time of his coming to Boscawen, he sent $85 to Boston to purchase law books, by a Mr. of Salisbury, who lost the money ; but Mr. Webster did not allow the loss to trouble him. In a letter to Ezekiel, he writes, under date of April 30, 1805,— "Mr. 's family felt pretty sensibly Jonathan's misfortune, but I believe are now reconciled to it. " Fol de dol, dol de dol, di dol ; I'll never make money ray idol ; Far away our dollars will fly all. With ray friend and my pitcher I'ra twenty times richer Than if I raade money ray idol — Fol de dol. dol de dol, di dol !" On the 30th of April he wrote to Ezekiel, — " My residence here is tolerably pleasant. I live with ]\Ir. French [Mr. Joel French, who lived in the one story house north of the present parsonage]. Some little business is done here, and I get a part. In time, perhaps, I shall gratify my moderate rational wishes." To his classmate, Mr. Bingham, at Lempster, he writes : " Boscawen, May 4, 1805. "Dear Bingham: You must know that I have opened a shop in this village for the manufacture of justice writs. Other mechanics do pretty well here, and I am determined to try my luck, among others. March 25, 1 left Boston with a good deal of regret, I assure you. I was then bound for Portsmouth, but I found my father extremely ill, and little fit to be left by all his sons; and, therefore, partly through duty, partly througli necessity, and partly through choice, I concluded to make my stand here. Some little business is doing in this neighborhood, and of that little I hope to get a little part. This is all T at present can say of my prospects. For one thing I ought to be thankful. If poverty brings me so near to the wind that I cannot stay here in duty to my stomach, I have only to take my hickory and walk. The disagreeable incumbrances of houses, lands, and property need not delay me a mo- ment. Nor shall I be hindered by love, nor fastened to Boscawen by the power of beauty." 448 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. That Mr. Webster had started well is evident from a sentence in a letter written by Ezekiel : "Boscawen, May 10, 1805. "Dear Daniel: Before Mr. French [Mr. French was a trader, and visited Boston to furnish goodsj had given me your letter, I had for- warded your trunk, with the blank books you so much need for the en- try of your fourteen actions." He had been in Boscawen five weeks, .and had fourteen cases. His sister Sally came from Salisbury to see him in his new quarters, and wrote to Ezekiel in regard to him, — " Daniel is at the other end of the room filling out a blank; he looks pleasant. I suppose he intends to get a dollar for it, towards the eighty he has lost. It has been remarked that a bad beginning makes a good ending. If that is the case, I think he will undoubtedly have a good end.'' Daniel to Ezekiel : "Sunday, June, 1805. "Dear Zeke: I got home alive last evening, although most killed by hot weather. Have not seen our folks, but hear they are well. Pray send me a pair of gaiters like Fifield's. In going to church to-day, I feel that man is dust, and can think of nothing to guard against sand better than they do. "Adieu, which is a very affectionate term from the French a-dieu, and is synonymous with ' I commend you to God.' " On the 4th of July Mr. Webster gave an oration at Salisbury south village. Party spirit was running high. He spoke to the Eederalists, while Mr. Pettingill addressed his fellow democrats at the centre village, a mile distant. The last of July Mr. Web- ster wrote to Ezekiel, — "I shall make as many entries at the next court as I expected to, per- haps a few more. I pick up, however, but very little cash, hardly laying my hand on a single dollar." In a letter to his classmate Bingham, dated Jan. 19, 1806, we get a glimpse of his business : " It is now eight months since I opened an office in this town, during which time I have led a life which I know not how to describe better than by calling it a life of writs and summonses. Not that I have dealt greatly in those articles, but that I have done Httle else. My business BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 449 has been Just about so, so; its quantity less objectionable than its qual- ity. '' I shall be able at the end of the year to pay my bills, and pay per- haps sixty pounds for books. I practise in Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Grafton. Scattering business over so much surface is like spilling water on the ground. * * I make no poetry, — five lines to D. Ab- bott are the Alpha and Omega of my poetical labors for the year. In this particular I mean to reform. How would it do, think ye, to write writs in verse? For instance, let one be clausum in his verbis— ilvdi is to say, being interpreted, wrapt up in these words, — "All good sheriffs in tlie land We command That forthwith yon arrest John Dyer, Esquire, If in your precinct you can find him, And bind liini — &c., &c., &c." He removed to Portsmouth in September, 1807, transferring liis business in Boscawen to his brother Ezekiel. Daniel Webster's entrance upon public life was not of his own seeking. Samuel Batchekler, of Cambridge, Mass., still living at the age of 94, was formerly a resident of New Hampshire, and was instrumental in securing Mr. Webster's first nomination to congress. He furnishes the following statement : " For several years previous to 1812, the Democratic parly was a ma- jority in the state of Kew Hampshire; but in 1812 the Federalists be- gan to have hopes that by the nomination of a strong list of candidates for members of congress, who were chosen by a general ticket, they miglit carry the election. For this purpose Judge Timothy Farrar was induced to consent to head the list. The judge had never been an active politician, and was not ambitious of distinction, having been a judge for more than thirty years, and at one time had resigned a place on the bench of the Supreme Court in order to take a place as judge of the Court of Common Pleas. " In the course of the year 1812 political feeling was undergoing such a change that the Federal party felt confident of success, and there was a strong disposition to send Mr.Webster to congress ; and it was known that Judge Farrar had consented very reluctantly to his own nomina- tion, and would be glad to have Mr. Webster take his place, on account of friendship for him as well as for his father, who was a judge on the same bench with himself. Accordingly a meeting was held at Concord during the session of the legislature, in June, and a committee was ap- pointed, consisting of Judge Jeremiah Smith, Ezekiel Webster, and 29 450 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. myself, to consult Judge Farrar, and make arrangements such as were known would be agreeable to him. " The committee agreed upon a day to meet at New Ipswich and at- tend to their duty; and Judge Smith took the stage by way of Boston, and Ezekiel Webster got into my chaise and proceeded with me to New Ipswich, and arrangements were made with Judge Farrar to the satis- faction of all parties. Accordingly a meeting was held at Brentwood, in August, at which the famous Rockingham memorial and resolutions, drawn by Mr. Webster, were adopted. Mr. Webster's name was placed at the head of the list for congress, and Judge Farrar was nom- inated one of the electors of president." WEBSTER, EZEKIEL, HON. Ezekiel Webster, elder brother of Daniel, was born in Salisbury, April 11, 1780. The first nineteen years of his life were spent on his father's farm, and it was settled in the mind of Judge Web- ster that he was to remain at home and be a farmer, while Daniel, who had less physical strength in childhood, who seems to have had little inclination for farming, was to be educated to one of the learned professions. Daniel entered college in 1797. It troubled him, however, to think that Ezekiel was at home plodding on the farm while he was obtaining an education. He says in his autobiography, — "I soon began to grow uneasy at my brother's situation. His pros- pects were not promising, and he himself felt and saw this, and had as- pirations beyond his condition. Nothing was proposed, however, by way of change of plan, till two years later. " In the spring of 1799, at the May vacation, being then a sophomore, I visited my family, and then held serious consultation with my brother. I remember well when we went to bed we began to talk matters over, and that we rose after sunrise without having shut our eyes. But we had settled our plan. " He had thought of going into some new part of the country. That was discussed and disagreed to. All the pros and cons of the question of remaining at home were weighed and considered, and when our coun- cil broke up, or, rather, got up, its result was that I should propose to my father that he, late as it was, should ,be sent to school, and also to college. This we knew would be a trying thing to my father and moth- er and two unmarried sisters. My father was growing old, his health not good, and his circumstances far from easy. The farm was to be carried on, and the family taken care of; and there was nobody to do BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 451 all this but him who was regarded as the main stay, that is to say, Eze- kiel. However, I ventured on the negotiation, and it was carried, as other things often are, by the earnest and sanguine manner of youth. I told him that I was unhappy at my brother's prospects. For myself I saw my way to knowledge, respectability, and self-protection, but as to him, all looked the other way; that I would keep school, and get along as well as I could — be more than four years in getting through college, if necessary— provided he also could be sent to study. " He said, at once, he lived but for his children ; that he had but little, and on that little he put no value, except so far as it might be useful to them; that to carry us both through college would take all he was worth; that for himself he was willing to run the risk, but that this was a serious matter to our mother and two unmarried sisters; that we must settle the matter with them, and if their consent was obtained he would trust to Providence and get along as well as he could." The father laid the case before tlie mother. " The farm is al- ready mortgaged, and if we send Ezekiel to college it will take all we have ; but the boys think they can take care of us," he said. It did not take the strong-hearted, sagacious woman long to de- cide the matter : " We can trust the boys." The question was settled. Daniel went back to Hanover, while Ezekiel went, bundle in hand, to Dr. Wood's, and began the study of Latin. He spent two terms at a school kept at Salisbury, South Road village, and returned again to Dr. Wood's, where his expenses were about one dollar per week. While thus studying and taking recreation beneath the magnifi. cent beeches that stood before the house, he kept up a frequent correspondence with Daniel at Hanover. Ezekiel distrusted his ability to get on. Daniel makes this reply to him, in a letter written April 25, 1800 : " You tell me that you have difficulties to encounter which I know nothing of. What do you mean, Ezekiel? Do you mean to flatter? That don't become you. Or do you think you are inferior to me in natural abih ties? If so, be assured you greatly mistake. Therefore, in the future say in your letters to me, 'I am superior to you in natu- ral endowments; I will know more in one year tlian you do now, and more in six than you ever will.' " 1 should not resent the language, — I should be very well pleased in hearing it; but be assured, as mighty as you are, your great puissance shall never insure you a victory without a contest." 452 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Witli such words Daniel endeavored to clieer the struggling elder brother. In November, 1802, Daniel was at home in Salisbury, while Ezekiel was struggling with povert}^ at Hanover. Funds were getting low in the Webster homestead. Daniel writes under date of Nov. 4th : " Now, Zeke, you will not read half a sentence, no, not one syllable before you have thoroughly searched this sheet for scrip ; but my word for it, you'll find no scrip here. We held a sanhedrim this morning on the subject of cash. Could not hit upon any way to get you any. Just before we went away to hang ourselves through disaj^pointment, it came into our heads that next week might do. The truth is, father had an execution against Hubbard of N. Chester for about one hun- dred dollars. The money was collecting and just ready to drop into the hands of the creditors, when Hubbard suddenly died. This, you see, stays the execution till the long process of administering is completed. " I have now by me two cents in lawful federal currency. Next week I shall send them, if they be all. They will buy a pipe; with a pipe you can smoke; smoking inspires wisdom; wisdom is allied to for- titude; from fortitude it is but one step to stoicism; and stoicism never pants for this world's goods; — so perhaps my two cents, by this process, may put you quite at ease about cash. * * * " We are all here just in the old way, always behind and lacking. Boys digging potatoes with frozen fingers, and girls washing without wood." Two daj's later Ezekiel writes to Daniel. It is not an answer ; the letters doubtless j)assed each other on the waj. Ezekiel, after giving a just criticism on the writings of Horace, thus closes his epistle : '' These cold frosty mornings very sensibly inform me that I want a warm great-coat. I wish, Daniel, it might be convenient to send me cloth for one, otherwise I shall be necessitated to purcliase one liere. I do not care what color it is, or what kind of cloth it is — anytliing that will keep the frost out. Some kind of shaggy cloth, I think, would be cheapest. Deacon Pettingill has written, offering me fourteen dollars a month [to keep school]. I believe I shall take it. "Money, Daniel, money! As I was walking down to the office after a letter, I happened to have one cent, -wdiich is the only money I have had since the second day after I came on. It is a fact, Dan, that I was #^^i^^. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 453 called on for a dolLir where I owed it, and borrowed it, and have bor- rowed it four times since to pay those I borrowed of." From a paragnipli in a letter, written by Daniel to his class- mate, Bingliam, of Lempster, it would appear that Ezekiel taught school in Sanbornton in December, 1803 : " Zeke is at Sanbornton. He comes home once in a while, sits down before the kitclien fire, begins to poke and rattle the andirons. I know what is coming, and am mute. At length he puts his feet into the oven's mouth, places his right eyebrow up on his forehead, & begins a very pathetic lecture on the evils of poverty. It is like church service. . He does all the talking, and I only say 'Amen! amen!' " Ezekiel's funds failed iu the spring of 1804, and by permission of the Faculty he left Dartmouth, went to Boston, where he pur- chased the good-will of a private school, which he taught with great success till April, 1805. He was graduated at Dartmouth meanwhile in 1804, having .spent but three years in college. While earning a livelihood by teaching, he studied law with Gov. Sullivan, then attorney-general of Massachusetts. In 1806 he studied with Parker Noyes, Esq., of Salisbury, next door to Judge Webster's house. Daniel having decided to leave Bos- cawen and take up his residence in Portsmouth, turned over his practice to Ezekiel, who entered upon* his profession as a lawyer in Boscawen in the month of September, 1807. His legal knowl- edge and moral worth soon became known, and acquired for him an extensive business. He was not ambitious to excel as an orator, and it was only the urgent appeal of duty or the imperative obliga- tion to his profession that overcame his instinctive aversion to a crowd, and called forth his highest powers of eloquence. He never encouraged litigation, but ahvays used his personal influence to bring about a private adjustment of most of the contested matters originating in the town. He repeatedly represented the town in the legislature. He was educated a Federalist by his father, a Whig of 177G. He was old enough to remember the administra- tion of Washington, and believed with all his heart in the politi- cal principles adhered to by the Federal party, Avhicli was in a minority in the state after he came into public life. This adher- ence to political principle prevented his election to congress, and from holding other offices in the gift of the people. 454 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Although devoted to his profession, he loved agriculture, and retained the homestead at Salisbury after his father's death, which occurred in 1806. He was one of the projectors and an active member of the Merrimack Agricultural Society, and was active in advancing improved methods of husbandry. He Avas simple in his tastes, kind, genial, polite, and a jierfect gentleman. He attended to all the details of life, served as asses- sor in the religious society, and as committee-man for the school district. He looked upon Dr. Wood as a loving child looks upon a devoted parent. A member of the bar, S2:)ending a Sabbath with Mr. Webster, and hearing Dr. Wood, took occasion to dis- parage the sermon. Mr. Webster replied pointedly and with spirit, that he doubted the gentleman's ability to appreciate the performance. He was ever Dr. Wood's confidential friend and adviser. Together they planned the establishing of Boscawen academy. Mr. Webster contributed fully $300 to the institution, and by his heartiness and zeal stimulated his fellow-townsmen to carry on the project, while Daniel, then almost in the zenith of his fame, contributed the bell. He was an exemplary member of the church, and his influence was ever on the side of right. He was a constant attendant upon religious services, and alwa^'s maintained religious devotions in his home. On the 10th of April, 1829, he was making a plea before the Merrimack bar at Concord. He was standing erect. The court- room was crowded, for whenever the lawyer from Boscawen made a plea the people flocked to hear him. The court, jurors, lawyers, and audience were listening to his words, and noticing the play of his clear cut features and the manly dignity of his command- ing presence. He was speaking with vigor and earnestness. His periods were rounded as usual, his utterance clear, his enuncia- tion perfect. He closed one branch of his argument, uttered the concluding sentence and the final word, distinctly and with his accustomed cadence, his form erect as ever, his eye clear and bright, his arms hanging naturally by his side, and then, without a murmur, a groan, a lisp, raising not a hand, clutching at noth- ing, with no bending of a joint or quivering of the eyelids, he fell backward upon the floor — dead ! With the quickness of the light- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 455 ning's flash, from the full vigor of a manly life, at the age of 49, he died — one of the most remarkable deaths on record. His funeral was attended on the following Sunday by a vast concourse of people, and he was mourned by the entire com" munity. A writer in a public journal describes his appearance : '"' He was nearly six feet in height, finely proportioned, with a very commanding presence. His was a magnificent form, crowned with a princely head, that in his last years was thickly covered with snowy hair. His complexion was just the opposite of Daniel's. His counte- nance was open as the day; his heart was warm and afl"ectionate; his manners kind and courteous." Daniel, in a letter written in 184G, thus spoke of him : " He appeared to me the finest human form that ever I laid eyes on. I saw him in his coffin, a tinged cheek, a complexion clear as the heav- enly light." One who saw him at church, on a cold day the winter before, speaks of his appearance. It was before the introduction of a stove. Mr. Webster came in, wearing a jacket, or " Spencer," as the garment was called, over his coat, bringing a foot-stove in his hand, which with princely politeness he placed at the feet of Mrs. vVebster, and then took his seat, and joined reverently in the worship. He held important trusts, — was trustee of Dartmouth college from 1819 till his death, and repeatedl_y represented the town in the legislature. He married (1) Alice Bridge, of Billerica, Mass., 13 Jan., 1809 ; (2) Achsa Pollard, of Concord, 1825. He left two daughters, — Alice Bridge, who married Jarvis Gregg, Jan- uary 1, 1836, the first preceptor of Boscawen academy — from 1828 to 1830. He was son of Dea. James and Betsey (Hopkins) Gregg, of Londonderry ; studied theology at Andover ; ordained as minister, 1835 ; and became Professor of Natural Philosophy and Rhetoric at Western Reserve college, Hudson, Ohio, 1835, where he died. His widow married Prof. Guthrie, of Marietta college. His second daughter, Mary Ann, married Prof. Edwin D. San- born, LL. D., of Dartmouth college, 11 Dec, 1837. He is son of David E. and Harriet (Hook) Sanborn, and was born at Gilman- ton in 1808. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1832, studied theol- 456 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ogy at Andover, became tutor at Dartmouth in 1835, professor of Latin and Greek from 1835 to 1837, and professor of Latin from 1837 to 1859. He became president of Washington University, St. Louis, from 1859 to 1863, but returned to Hanover, where he now is professor of oratory and belles-lettres. WEBSTER, ELIPHALET K., Son of Eev. Josiah Webster, was bom in Essex, Mass., 3 May, 1802. His father removed to Hampstead in 1808, Avhere he was installed pastor of the Congregational church, continuing the rela- tion till his death, in 1837. He had several other sons, — one? Gen. J. J). Webster, of Chicago, chief of Gen. Grant's staff in the early campaigns of the war; another is president of Olivet college, Mich. Eliphalet K. was educated at Hampton academy, and at Phil- lips academy, Exeter. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Farley of Erancestown, continued with Dr. Ramsey, of Greenfield, one year. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1829, began practice at Hill, then New Chester, in February, 1833. He married Emily Webster, daughter of Col. Ebenezer Webster, of Salis- bury, — youngest sister of Daniel, — August, 1833. * Dr. Webster moved to Boscawen in 1844, and engaged in a lucrative practice. He Avas post-master from 1854 to 1862, super- intending school committee for a period of twelve years, was elected secretary of the JST. H. Medical Society for many years, and was honored by being elected president of the society in 1861. He removed to Billerica, Mass., in 1870, where he still resides. WIXN, ABNER BOWMAN, Son of Reuben, was l;>orn in Hudson, 10 October, 1816 ; married Frances M., daughter of Jonathan Harvey, of Surry, Mass., March 18, 1837, and moved to Boscawen in December, 1838. He was the first in Fisherville to set in motion machinery for making cloth, commencing in the lower story of the stone factory (erected in 1836), and continued in the same and similar business until his death, 16 Sept., 1855. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 457 He was a skilful mechanic, mucli devoted to his occupation, a kind husband and neighbor, open and generous in his disposition, and held the confidence of all his associates. He was elected to the legislature in 1855, but next year declined a reelection. WOOD, REV. SAMUEL, D. D., Was born in Mansfield, Conn., 11 May, 1752, and was the old- est of thirteen children. In his childhood he suffered from a sickness which retarded his growth and strength. At an early age he became religious, and had a desire to be a minister of the gospel. His father removed to Lebanon, N. H., in 1766, being one of the early settlers of the town. There were no schools, nor advantages of any kind for obtaining an education. It was a great trial to a lad who had an ardent thirst for knowledge. He worked hard to help his father clear his newly acquired land. He united with the Lebanon church at its formation, four years later, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Potter. The long desired opportunity for the acquisition of an education came, per- haps sooner than he expected. Dartmouth college was estab- lished in 1769, within six miles of his home. He entered that institution in August, 1775, at the age of 24. He was obliged to exercise a rigid economy while going through his college course- He graduated in 1779, giving the valedictory on that occasion, showing his high standing as a student, the class numbering sev- enteen. His theme on that occasion was, "The Importance of Education." During his senior year, having the ministry in view, he gave attention to the study of theology ; and having been licensed to preach, gave his first sermon at Lebanon, 13 October, of the same year. His text in the morning was from John 12 : 21, — " Sir, we would see Jesus." At the close of the service two men came to him inquiring the Avay of salvation. In the afternoon he preached from John 9 : 27, — "Will ye also be his disciples ? " During the remainder of 1779 he preached in the surrounding towns. October 17, 1780, he married Miss Eunice Bliss, youngest daughter of Hezekiah Bliss, of Lebanon, who had moved from Connecticut with his large family of twelve children — six sons 458 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. and six daughters. Miss Bliss was twenty-five, Mr. Wood twenty-nine years of age ; and tlie marriage thus consummated was a ha2:)py union that continued fifty-six years. In the fall after his marriage Mr. Wood visited in Connecticut, and received an invitation to settle there, hut declined it. In the spring of 1781 he received an application from the town of Boscawen, to preach six months ; and his ministry was so accept- able that he was ordained as pastor of the church and minister of the town, 17 October, the same year. " At tlie time of his settlement [says Rev. Mr. Price, in Dr. Wood's funeral sermon] he felt himself alone, as there were but three ministers within forty miles who united with him in religions sentiment. The others were either Armenians, or so loose in sentiment that he could not exchange labors with them without sacrificing principle; and to use his own words, ' I was a speckled bird.' * * j^ great revival of religion was enjoyed at the opening of the spring of 1782. It was the first ever experienced in the town, and it was a wonderful event to all the people in all the region. Among the suljects of this work of grace were between thirty and forty heads of families."' Dr. Wood's civil contract with the town was dissolved, 7 May, 1802, though his pastoral relation with the church still continued. In 1804, the Second church was organized, in the western sec- tion of the town, and Rev. Ebenezer Price settled as its pastor. Bev. Mr. Wood, during these years, prepared a number of young men for college. Among them was Daniel Webster. Four were fit- ted for the ministry that did not go through college, four received their entire help from him to carry them through college, while fifteen others were aided in part. The last pupil fitted by him entered the class of 1830 — a promising young man from Dunbar- ton, by the name of Wilson, who died before completing his course. Nearly fifty j^oung men and women were prepared as i^achers in the public schools. From 1809 he was actively engaged in promoting the cause of education, and acted as visiting committee for twenty years. As early as the year 1797 he endeavored to secure the estab- lishment of an academjr, but, failing in that, was the means of starting a library. Thirty years later the project of an academy was revived, and through the energy and liberality of Hon. Ezekiel Webster, and the hearty cooperation of the citizens. Dr. Wood BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 459 hail the gratification of seeing the realization of his early plans. He contributed liberally to establish the institution, — giving the shingles, ^yllich he had shaved with his own hands. His salary during the first twenty years of his ministry was $!233.34, and the j)arsonage income, amounting to a few dollars. During the last thirty-five years of his ministry it was $230 and exemption from taxation. He delighted in husbandly, and took great pains to obtain choice varieties of fruit. At one period he gave his atten- tion to the production of silk. He never neglected his parochial duties, and during a period of fort3Miine years lost but nine Sab- baths on account of sickness. During a period of a half century there were ten revivals of re- ligion. Under his ministration 480 were added to the church by profession. There were 825 baptisms and 212 marriages solemn- ized by him. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by his Alma Mater, Dartmouth, in 1820. He took an active and lead- ing part in all the benevolent institutions of the day, and his genial and kindly disposition, and his ability as a preacher, gave him great influence. He was ever highly respected and honored. He did much towards forming j^ublic sentiment in the town, and his influence will be felt for good far and wide through coming i:jenerations. GENEALOGICAL. ^^HE compilation of the Family Records in connection with ^^ the History of Boscawen has been attended by many difficul- ties. With the utmost painstaking it has been impossible to obtain complete and accurate genealogies. The change from the Old to the New Style, by which, in 1752, eleven daj^s were stricken from the Calendar, wrought great confusion of dates. Years elapsed before the ISTew Style came into general use ; — hence the contradictory records between the births and deaths, as pre- served in family Bibles and in the town records. Man}- families liaving no written record, have supplied names and dates from memory, — an unsatisfactory record being the result. The genealogies being prepared by different individuals vary in method. The only practicable method is that which adheres strictly to the family name. The system which gives the families of female members after marriage leads to confusion ; — lience the compilers have endeavored, as far as practicable, to present the genealogies by the system which experience teaches is the best. Abbreviations : b. born. d. died. m. married. dau. daughter. s. son. B. Boscawen, 462 GENEALOGICAL ABBOT. ABBOT. Compiled by Jolin Kimball. Geokge^ came from England 1640, was ancestor of tlie Abbot families of Andover, Mass., Concord, and Boscawen, d. 5 Oct., 1681. James^ (William,^ George-') came to Concord in 1735 ; lived on tlie farm now the homestead and residence of Simeon Abbot. Eeubex* (James,*^ William,- George^) settled in Concord, west of Long pond ; reached a more advanced age than any other man that ever lived in Concord ; saw his descendants of the same name to the fourtli genera- tion occupying the same house ; d. 13 May, 1822, aged 99. EzRA^ (Eeuben*) m. Mary Walker ; had nine children. Two of his sons, Timothy and Job, settled in B. ; also a dan., Ruth, who m. Samuel Ellsworth. Timothy'^ (Ezra^), b. 21 Dec, 1788 ; m. Rhoda, dan. Jonathan Johnson, and granddau. of Renben,* 8 Aug., 1818. He settled on Contoocook river, near the lower falls. For several years, in company with his brother Job and. others, he carried on the lumber business, and at one time owned a share in the mills near his resi- dence ; d. 6 Jan., 1847. CAor/e.s-, b. 29 July, 1822. Job*' (Ezra^), b. 14 Nov., 1790; lived in the house with his brother Timothy ; m. Lydia, dau. of John Morrison, of San- bornton, 9 May, 1816 ; d. 20 Sept., 1876. Samuel TF., b. 9 March, 1817; d. 18 Feb., 1819. Ezra M., b. 18 Jan., 1819; d. 22 Feb., 1819. Man) Esther, b. 12 June, 1820; d. 17 June, 1832. Judhh E., b. 31 March. 1822; d. 23 Sept., 1827. Abigail, b. 29 March, 1824; m. James Tallant. Emetine, h. 19 Nov., 182G; m. B. W. Jewett. Judith, b. 12 Jnly, 18:^9. Lydia Ann^ h. lo Nov., 1831 ; ni. Isaac N- Farley. Achmh ir., b. 12 Nov., 1833; d. 31 Oct., 1854. Augui^tus P., b. 9 Dec, 1835; m. Rose L. Withers. Jabez* (James,^ William,- George,^) with two brothers, settled near Sewell's falls, in Concord; m. Phebe, dau. of Edward^ Abbot, and had four children. Joseph, b. 5 Aug., 1759. GENEALOGICAL ABBOT. 463 Joseph^ (Jabez*) served in the war of the revolution, in Col. Peabody's regiment ; in 1791 purchased the N. W. corner lot in B., now Webster; m. Molly Melloon, of Salisbury, 3 April, 1794. She was granddau. of Na- thaniel, who, with his family, was taken captive by the Indians, 16 May, 1753. Phehe, b. 17 Dec, 1791; d. 27 March, 1790. Nathaniel, b. 17 Aug., 1796. Joseph, b. 2-2 April, 1798. Jubez^h. 3 July, 1800. Clarissa, b. 3 ' Jan., 1803 ; d. 21 Sept., 1801. Phebe, 2d, b. 26 Feb., 1805; m. Jason D. Watkins, of Warner. ira, b. 10 Sept., 1807. Nathan, b. 7 Feb., 1811. Nathaniel*^ (Joseph^) m. Mary Fitts, of Sandown ; d. at Fisher- ville, 28 Feb., 18651 Horace, b. 23 Nov., 1829; merchant at Fisherville ; d. 28 June, 1865. Ilarj/ J., b. 5 June, 1831 ; d. 1 Oct., 1831. Maria F., b. 28 March. 1833; d. 5 Aug., 1851. Julia A.,h. 22 May, 1831. 3Iary J., 2d, b. 7 Jan , 1836. George W., b. 13 March, 1837. Joseph'^ (Joseph^) m. Mary Elkius, of Hampton ; lived in B. ; moved to Oakland, Cal. John E., b. 18 Nov., 1831; lawyer at Vallejo, Cal. Joseph E., b. 23 Sept.. 1836; lives in San Francisco. Oliver B., h. 26 July, 183S; served in the Union army ; d. July, 1885. Charles If., b. 11 May, 1813; lives at Oakland, Cal. Jabez^ (Joseph^), farmer, now living in Webster, on Little hill ; m. Eunice K. Moody. Harriet, b. 12 Dec, 1829. Ellen K., b. 8 Dec, 1831 ; teacher. Elmira, b. 11 March, 1833; d. 5 April, 1831. Livonia, b. 11 March, 1831 ; d. 22 Aug., 1851. Charles M., b. 6 March, 1836; d. 18 April, 1852. Warren, b. 20 March. 1838; teacher, lives in Webster, Joshua P., b. 3 March, 1840; lawyer in California. Jane, b. 5 April, 1816. Ira*^ (Joseph^) m. Almira Elkins, of Sanbornton ; d. 25 March, 1877. i?/r//a .1.. b. 22 Oct., 1838. Almira, b. 4 Jan., 1812. Seth, b. 25 Jan., 1815. Mary C, b. 5 May, 1818; d. 21 Jan., 1875. Nathan® (Joseph^), m. Janette C. Eyan ; lives in Fisherville. Lucrelia M., b. 4 Nov., 1839 ; d. 10 Jalv, 1868. Luannah M., b. 27 March, 1848, 464 GENEALOGICAL — ABBOT. Geokge W.'^ (IsTatlianieP) served three years in the Union army, 7th Eegt. iST. H. V. ; was wounded at the battle of Ohistee, Florida ; resides at Fisherville ; m., 1st, Al- mira, dau. of James I. Tucker, of Boston ; 2d, Addie (Morrill) Batchelder. Harry S., b. 12 May, 1866; d. 29 Aug., 1867; child of Almira. Myra il/., b. 27 Oct., 1872 ; child of Addie. Charles^ (Timothy, *= Ezra,^ Keuben^) m., 1st, IMartha, dau. of Eenj. Haselton, of Springfield ; 2d, Sarah E., dau. of Eben Haselton, of Springfield. Rosette, b. 6 Sept., 1846; d. 6 Sept., 1848. Martha E., b. 26 Jan., 1848; m. Rufus Cass, 14 Nov., 1867. Nahum (?., b. 6 Aug., 1850; m. Fanny LI. James, 27 July, 1872. Willie, b. 29 May, 1861. Children of Sarah E. : Dan G., b. 21 Nov., 1862; d. 15 Oct., 1867. Lena M., h. 26 May, 1867. Fred S.,h. 17 June, 1869; d. 4 Sept., 1870. William, Col.*' (Nathan,^ Eeuben,* James,^ William,^ George^), b. 23 Aug., 1793, m. Dorcas, dau. of Ephraim Carter, 7 March, 1820, — joiner and carpenter. Settled in B., on Water st. ; erected house now occupied by Jere- miah C. Chadwick. He built churches at Somers- worth, Cornish, Wentworth, Unity, Thornton, Hen- niker, and West Concord; also man}- residences, — that of the late Henry and Abial Gerrish, being a part of the Merrimack county almshouse, burned^ March 12, 1878, and that now occupied by Mr. Raymond. He was a liberal, energetic man, given to hospitality, active in every good work, ready to assist in all pub- lic enterprises designed for the good of the commu- nity. He went through all grades of ofificial position, from sergeant in the 1st Company of Infantrj', to en- sign, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel of the 21st Eegiment. He emplo3^ed a large number of workmen, and his joiners' sho]), which stood between the residences of Jeremiah C. Chadwick and L. M. Chadwick, was ever an active place of business. It was burned in 1833, or about that time, but, through the kind-heartedness of his neighbors and his own indomitable energy, workmen were hewing the timber for a new shop the same after- noon. He took an active part in the temperance ref- ormation. At the time of the erection of the meeting- house at West Concord, in 1832, the question came up as to the use of ardent spirits at the raising. Those GENEALOGICAL — ABBOT. 4G5 wlio still advocated moderate drinking urged the use of rum : the temperance people opposed its use. The argument of the moderate drinkers was, that no meet- ing-house had ever been raised without rum, and pre- dicted that it would not be possible to rear the frame without liquor. "If there are not temperance men enough in Concord to raise it, I will try and find them otherwheres," was the quiet reply of the ener- getic builder. " Send me down a dozen or more good men," was the message sent to Thomas Coffin, who had zealously espoused the temperance movement. The messenger who brought the verbal request en- larged the same, and thought that fifty men would be needed ; whereupon Mr. Coffin rallied the temperance men of Boscawen, and so many were ready to go that the volunteers swelled the number to fully one hun- dred, who were on the ground at an early hour, and reared the frame with a zeal and alacrity that amazed those who had predicted that it would not be possible to raise it without the stimulus of rum. Mr. Abbot d. at Concord, 3 Feb., 1837. Julia Ann P., b. 17 Oct., 1823; m. Henry C. Wade, of Lowell; resides on Water street, B. William P., b. 15 Dec, 1824. Emily E., b. 1 Jan., 1827; ni. Leonard Gerrisli, of Xortbfield [see Gerrish gen.]. Georr/e W.,h. 23 Jan., 1831. Charles C, b. 13 Feb., 1833; resides in Worcester. Rogers A., b. 15 July, 1835; ni. Anna Yarney; resides in Wor- cester. William P.^ (William, Col.,*^ Xathan,^ Eeuben^) m. Emily E. Uran. Frank W., b. May, 1854; d. 1 April, 1859. George ^Y.'' (William, Col.«) m. Elvira Wlnttemore. Charles M., Freddie, George II. Charles C." (William, Col.,*^ Nathan,^ Eeuben-*) m. Dorinda B. Stevens. Charles E., Arthur, William S., Dora, Edmund S., Florelle. James Buswell, m. d.^ (Elias,^ Reuben*), b. 24 June, 1799 ; m., 1st, Nancy B. Rogers, of Northfield, 15 Nov., 1827, who died 11 Nov., 1837; 2d, Elizabeth B. Rogers, sister of Nancy, 2 Oct., 1838, who died 27 Nov., 1842; 3d, Sarah, dau. of Capt. Joseph Gerrish, of Canterbury, 22 March, 1843 [see Gerrish genealogy]. His father moved to Northfield, 1801. James B. 30 466 GENEALOGICAL AMES. began his studies for tlie medical profession with Dr. Enos Hoyt, of Northfield, and received the degree of M. D., at Dartmoutli, in 1826. He began practice in Canterbury, removed to Loudon, but settled in B. in 1837, living in the house now occupied by S. B. G. Corser. In 1832 he was elected Fellow of the N. H. Medical Society', and represented the society in a national convention at Baltimore. He died at San- bornton, 6 Jul}^, 1870, where he had been a prac- tising physician for several years. Children of Elizabeth : James H., b. 3 Oct., 1839 ; d. 29 Feb., 1840. James Henry White, b. 30 May, 1842; d. 12 Jan., 18G5. Child of Sarah : Joseph Gerrish, b. 4 Oct., 1845. AMES. Compiled by .John Kimball. The Ames families of Boscav/en and Canterbury probably came from Amesbur}^, and were related to those of Bridgewater and Easton, Mass. The name in early records is sometimes spelled Amos, Emos, and Eames. Jacob^ was the earliest of the family known. Samuel,- b. 1724, and his wife Hannah, came to Canterbury. Died 16 Jan., 1803. Hannah d. 23 Jan., 1804. ^ Samuel, b. 1745. David, b. 27 May, 1749. Samuel'^ (Samuel,-^ Jacob^) came from Canterbury to B. ; m. Jane, only sister of Col. Henry Gerrish, and settled on High street. He served in the revolutionary war, at the battle of Stillwater, under Gen. Gates. Tra- dition says that his wife and son Joseph carried on the farm while he went to the war against Bur- goyne ; was chosen one of the selectmen in 1791. A noted hunter. Died'l Sept., 1825. Jane, his wife, d. 30 March, 1814. Joseph, b. 31 May, 1771. Hannah, h. 14 Jan., 1776; m. Stephen Gerrish, 7 Feb., 1796; d. 18 Nov., 1834. [See Gerrish gen.] Sarah,h. 15 Nov., 1780; m. Nathan Plummer, 14 June, 1804; d. 25 Feb., 1842. Polly, b. 1783; d. 7 Dec, 1843, unmarried. GENEALOGICAL AMES. 467 David^ (Samuel,- Jacob^) remained at Canterbuiy ; m. Phebe Hoyt. They lived near the meeting-house, and after- ward moved to a large farm in the "Borough," which is now in the possession of his descendants. Five of their daughters m. and settled in B. He d. 22 Sept., 1812. His wife d. 30 Oct., 1838. Hannah, b. 11 Aug., 1775; ni. Joseph Ames; d. 18 June, 1827. Thomas, b. 6 Oct., 1777; m. Lucy Foster; d. 19 Nov., 1810. Sarah, b. 9 Dec, 1781 ; m. Jacob Gerrish ; d. 23 Oct., 1818. Samuel, b. -Id July, 1781; m. Myr;i Ayers ; d. 30 June, 1870. Marif, b. 11 Jan., 1786 ; m. Josiah Haines ; d. 7 Sept., 1872. David, b. 15 May, 1788; ni. Fisk ; d. July, 1870. JMip-a, b. 28 Sept., 1792; m. Samuel Tilton: d. 7 Mar., 1857. Phehe, b. 21 Jan., 1795; m. Charles Moody; d. 6 Sept., 1862. Ruih, b. 29 July, 1797 ; m. Benj. Kimball ; d. 22 Oct., 1871. Rhoda, b. 20 Dec, 1799: m. 1st, Ira Elliott; 2d, Laban Morrill; d. 10 Sept., 1869. Joseph* (Samuel,^ Samuel-) m. Hannah, dau. of David,^ of Can- terbury, and resided on High street, where he kept a hotel ; a man highly esteemed ; was selectman 1812, '13, '14 ; d. 15 June, 1851. His wife d. 18 June, 1827, pe. 48. Myra, b. 4 Jan., 1801; m, Thomas Little, 2 June, 1829 ; d. 17 June, 1869. Joseph, b. 29 June, 1806 ; d. 20 Sept., 1826. Lucn, b. 13 Sept., 1808; d. 30 Nov., 1810. David, b. 20 Dec, 1810 ; lives West Creek, Ind. Samuel, b. 11 July, 1813. Nathan Plummer, b. 16 June, 1816. Stephen, b. 16 June, 1816 ; d. 1 Oct., 1826. Phehe Jane, b. 22 Dec, 1819 ; d. 6 Aug., 1830. Samuel^ (Joseph,* Samuel,'^ Samuel-) m. Lizzie Hubbard ; lived for a time on the Walker farm, in Concord ; moved to West Creek, Ind. ; represented his district in the leg- islature of that state 1875, '76. Edward Payson. Lizzie. Nathan P.^ (Joseph,* SamueP) m. Elvira, dau. of Thomas Cof- fin, 18 Feb., 1841 ; resided for a time on the old homestead inherited from his father, and moved to Chi- cago, 111. ; was colonel of the 21st Regt. K H. Mili- tia. Livonia Coffin, b. 18 April, 1813 ; m. Geo. W. Ware, Worcester, Mass. Charles Henrv, b. 5 Feb., 1817 ; graduated at Amherst College, 1870. Lucia Jane, b. 5 May, 1856. Clara Preston, b. 13 May, 1859. 468 GENEALOGICAL — ATKINSON. FisherS (Tliomas," David,^ Samuel,- Jacob^), b. in Canterbury, 18 Oct., 1814 ; m. Mary, dau. of Nathan PlummeT, 15 Feb., 1844; resided on Fish street for a time; now lives in Fisherville. Sara P.. h. 10 Jan., 1845. He7v^ij Gerrlsh, b. 16 Sept., 1848; m. Emily L. Robie, 3 July, 1873: 1 child, Grade Brown, b. 9 Dec, 1875; d. 27 July, 1876. ATKINSON. Compiled l)y Sauniel Barnard Elliot, Pataskaln, O. Thomas/ elder brother of Theodore Atkinson, of Boston, — ances- tor of the distinguished statesman of the pro^dnce of New Hamjishire, — came from Bury, Lancashire, Eng- land, and settled in Concord, Mass. He took the free- man's oath 7 Dec, 1630, and d. in Nov., 1646. Rebecca, b. 1638; ni. John Hayward, of Concord. John, b. 1G40. Susanna, b. 28 April, 1641; m. Caleb Brooks, 10 April, 1660; d. 19 Jan., 1669. Hannah, b. 5 March, 1644; ra. Caleb Brooks, 1670. JoHN^ (Thomas^), b. in Concord, Mass., 1640. After tlie death of his father, he was adopted by his uncle Theodore, of Boston, of whom he learned the hatters' trade, and settled in Newbury, INIass. ; m., 1st, Sarah INIyrick, who was mother of all his children ; 2d, widow Han- nah Cheney, 3 June, 1700. She d. 5 Jan., 1705. Sarah, h. 27 Nov. 1665 ; ui. Stephen Coffin, of Newbury, Mass., 1685. John, b. 1667. Thomas, b. 27 Dec, 1669; grad. H. C, 1691. Theodore, b. 23 Jan., 1672 ; drowned 24 July, 1685. Abigail, b. 8 Nov., 1673. Samuel, b. 16 Jan., 1676. Nalhaniel, b. 29 Nov., 1677. Elizabeth, b. 20 June, 1680. Joseph, b. 1 May, 1682 ; killed by Indians in Maine, 1706 ; unmar- ried. Rebecca. JoHX^ (John,- Thomas^), b. 1667 ; m. Sai-ah, dau. of Jonathan Woodman. They joined the Congregational church of Newbury, 1710. Thomas, b. 16 March, 1694. John, b. 29 Oct., 1695. Theodore, b. 8 Oct., 1698. Sarah, b. 6 Nov., 1700. Hannah, b, 21 Jan., 1703. GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. 469 m. Deborah ]ongre,sra- Xathaxiel" (John,- Thomas^), 1>. 29 Nov., 1677 ; m. Knight, 22 Jan., 1707. She joined the C tional churcli, 1729. Man/, I). 1708. Sarah, b. 1710. Margaret, h. 1712. Nathaniel, b. 19 Marcli, 1717. Joseph, h. 28 l^ov., 1718. Xathaxiel* (Nathanie]^ John,' Thomas^), h. at jSTewbuiy, Mass., 19 March, 1717; ni., 1st, Elizabeth Greenleaf, 30 Nov., 1738. They joined the First Congregational church of Newbury, 1741. She d. in 1755. M., 2d, Sarah Morse, 1756. He moved to B. hate in 1769, and d. there 26 Oct., 1794. Children of Elizabeth : Parker, b. 1 Feb., 1739. Michael. 3Ian/,h. 18 ^May. 1742; ni. Moses Coffin ; died soon after. Stephen, b. 15 Dec, 1714; published to Mercy Clark, 15 Dec, 1770. Elizabeth, b. 10 Aug., 1747; m., 1st, Jos. Adams; 2d, Kowe ; 3d, Jonathan Morse. Sumnna, b. 11 Aug., 1750; died 5 Oct., 1753. Nathaniel, h. 12 Dec, l75o. Children of Sarah : Jonathan, b. 30 Dec. 1756. Joseph, b. 28 April, 1758. John, b. 30 Oct., 1759; unmarried; d. 21 Dec, 1815. Benjamin, b. 7 Jan., 1761. Sarah, b. 8 Jan., 1763; m. Samuel Morrill, 28 April, 1785; d. 27 Feb., 1844. Mary, b. INIay. 1764; m. Daniel Carter, 15 April, 1784; d. 15 Sept., i854, set. 90. Judith, b. 1765: m. Joseph H. Morrill, 24 June, 1790; d. 3 Dec, 1797. ret. 32. Eunice, b. 1767; m. Joseph Kimball. Hannah, d. young. Theodore, b. 30 Sept., 1769. Joseph* (Nathaniel,^ John,"^ Thomas^), b. in Newbury, Mass., 28 Nov., 1718 ; m., 1st, Hannah, dau. of Samuel Hale, of Newbury, Mass., 23 June, 1745. She was b. 24 Jan., 1720 ; d. 7 April, 1790. Her children were first cousins to Nathan Hale, the martyr spy, in the war of Independence. He moved to B. in 1767, and m., 2d, :Mrs. I^Iary Couch, who d. 14 Dec, 1818, ret. 92. He d. 29 Aug., 1801, a?t. 82. 470 GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. Samuel^ b. 24 Sept., 1748. Simeon, b. 30 March, 1754. Susanna, b. 15 June, 1758 ; m. Edmund Cliadwick, 27 June, 1778. She d. 10 March, 1829. Hannah,h. 15 Julv, 17G0 ; m. Joseph Pearson, of Haverhill, and d. 7 Oct., 1839. Sarah, b. 11 May, 1764 ; m. Michael Johnston, of Haverhill. Nathaniel^ (Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ Jolm,'^ Thomas^), b. in Newbury, Mass., 12 Dec, 1753 ; m. Abigail Bradley, 24 Sept., 1782 ; she was b. in Haverhill, Mass , 10 May, 1760, and d. in B. 31 Oct., 1836. He d. in B. 4 March, 1841. Elizabeth, h. 1 Sept., 1784 ; )n. Timothy Copp. Isaac, b. 8 Dec, 1786. Mari/, h. 10 Aug. 1788; m. Bean, of Salisbury; d. 22 Aug., 1834. Hannah, b. 19 March. 1791; m. ■ Hubbard, of Canterbury, and d. 17 July, 183.5. Benjamin, b. 10 Aug., 1792; moved to Maine; unmarried. Abigail, b. 2 March, 1798; m. Laws ; d. in Peterborough, 4 Oct., 1832. Jonathan^ (Nathaniel,'' Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in New- bury, Mass., 30 Dec, 1756 ; grad. at D. C. ; m. Bet- sey Pettingill, 6 Feb., 1794, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in Limington, Me., 15 Oct., same year ; d. 27 March, 1837. Jonathan, b. 16 March, 1795, in Limington, Me., and d. in Lowell, Mas.?., 11 March. 1852. Nathaniel, b. 16 Aug., 1796; d. IS Oct., 1796. Nathaniel, b. 10 Aug., 1797, in Limington, Me., and d. there, 29 March, 1834. Richard P., b. 5 April, 1799. Joseph^ (Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Tliomas^), b. in New- bur}-, Mass., 28 Ajn-il, 1758; ni. Anna Atkinson, grand-dau. of his uncle Joseph. He moved to B. v»ith his father in 1769, and d. 20 March, 1830. Peahody, b. 30 Dec, 1804. Hervey, b. 19 July, 1806; unmarried; resides on the old homestead in B. Susan, b. 12 March, 1808; m. Geo. Jolinston, of Haverliill. Henry, b. 10 July, 1809; m. Mary, dau. of his uncle Theodore, and d. 5 April, 1864. Ann, b. 30 July, 1812; m. ]Michael Jolmston, of Haverhill; d. April, 1859. Benjamin^ (Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,'^ Thomas^), b. 7 Jan., 1761 ; m. Jane Varney 8 Jul}^, 1784 ; lived in B. ^ Sarah, b. 19 July, 1785; m. Dyer Abbot, of Henniker. James Varney, b. 9 Dec, 1787; d. 1875, in Lowell, Mass. Ja7ie, b. 30 June, 1791; d. in Rochester, N. Y. ^cw \A^L4d-rh GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. 471 Theodore^ (Nathaniel,* Nathaniel/ John,^ Thomas^), b. in New- bury, Mass., 30 Sept., 1769; m. Abiah Kimball, 4 Sept., 1803; lived in Boscawen, and d. 30 Sept., 1828. Peter Kimball, b. 20 July, 1804; d. 20 March, 1817. Fanny b. April, 1807; ra. Sullivan Jackinan, 1837; d. 1844. George W., b. March, 1810; unmarried. Mary, b. April, 1S14; m. Henry Atkinson, Dec, 1842. Ruth, b. 1818; d. 1822. Abiah, b. 1821; m. Henry Rolfe. Samuel^ (Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in NeAvbury, Mass., 24 Sept., 1748, and lived in B. He served as a lieutenant and captain in the war of Independence ; m. Sarah Bamford, of Sanbornton, 1777 ; d. 4 Oct., 1796. She d. 30 Jan., 1843, cTt. 87. Joaeph, b. 6 Dec, 1777. Susanna, b. 30 Oct., 1779; d. 1804. Anna, b. 18 April, 1782; m. Joseph Atkinson. Nathaniel Peahndy, b. 15 Jan., 1785. Samuel, b. 27 Sept., 1788. Jacob, b. 30 Dec, 1790; unmarried; grad. at Brown University; d. 13 Feb., 1836. Simeon^ (Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,"^ Thomas^), b. in Newbury, Mass., 30 March, 1754 ; moved to B. with his father, and settled on Fish street, in 1767 ; m. Phebe Clark, 23 April, 1781 ; d. 24 Feb., 1827. She d. 2 April, 1830. Silas, b. 28 Dec, 1781. Daniel Clark, b. 8 Sept., 1784. Simeon, b. 10 Feb., 1791; unmarried; d. 20 Aug., 1865. Hannah, h. 8 July, 1795; m. James H. Gill, 12 Aug., 1830; d. 22 July, 1850. Hale, b. 3 March, 1799; unmarried; d. 15 April, 1874. Isaac*' (Nathaniel,^ Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,"-^ Thomas^), b. 6 Dec, 1786; m. Bean ; d. 27 Jan., 1858. Bradley, b. 10 May, 1810. Peabody*^ (Joseph,^ Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in B. 30 Dec, 1804 ; m. Marenda Elliot, of B., 31 • Oct., 1831 ; moved to Ohio, and settled in Licking Co. He d. at Pataskala, 8 July, 1863. She d. 3 May, 1866. Mary Frances, b. 4 Nov., 1832. Wiliiam Henry, b. 26 Nov., 183G; d. 25 July, 1839. Joseph, h. 23 Jan., 1839. Georcjc Johnston, b. 22 Feb., 1841. Samuel Peabody, b. 24 Nov., 1843; grad. D. C, 1866; m. Irene Schobe; lives in Champaign Co., 111. Annie Louisa, b. 16 Nov., 1847; d. 5 July, 1848. Nettie Eliza, b. 9 Jan., 1852; d. March, 1856. 472 GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. Joseph*^ (Sauiuel,^ Joseph,^ Nathaniel,^ John,^ Thomas^), b. in B., 6 Dec, 1777; m. Sarah Blaisdell, 1807. He was colonel of the 21st Eegt. N. H. Militia. He d. 28 Feb., 1845. Hiram Lang, b. 1807. FranlcUn Peabodi/, b. 6 June, 1810; m. Irene Hosiner; no cliildren. Amanda, h 12 Dec, 1812; m. Dr. James Ewing, of Hebron, O., Nov., 1835. She d. 1815. Nathaniel Peabody'^ (Samuel,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,^ Thomas^), b. in B. 15 Jan., 1785 ; m. Betsey D., dau. of Michael and Sarah Atkinson Johnston, 8 Oct., 1827 ; lived in Ohio Co., W. Va. ; d. 13 Nov., 1868. diaries Peahody, b. 8 Oct., 1828. Hale Johnston, b. 31 Jan., 1830; d. 25 Aug., 1832, Sarah Johnston, b. 26 Jan., 1834. Julia Amanda, b. 25 Nov., 1835. Augusta Hale, b. 25 Sept., 1838; d. 13 Feb., 1810. Samuel B., b. 24 Aug., 1840; d. 30 July, 1844. Edward Melancthon, b. 3 May, 1842. Helen Maria, b. 14 April, 1845. Hamuei/ (Samuel,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in B. 27 Sept., 1788 ; grad. at Brown University ; m., 1st, Lucy Moulton, 13 May, 1819 ; 2d, Mary Chase Moulton, 22 July, 1822 ; 3d, Maria Withington, 17 March, 1825. Resided in Chillicothe, 0., Wheeling, W. Va., and Pataskala, 0. Lucg Moulton, b. in Chillicothe, O., 13 Dec, 1820; m. Dr. Wm- W. Sanger, 28 Dec, 1849. Charles Hammond, b. 26 Jan., 1824; d. 19 Aug., 1824. Mary Moulton, b. 31 July, 1827 ; d. 20 July, 1828. Sarah Ann, b. at Wheeling, W. Va., 11 Feb., 1829; d. 15 Feb., 1840. William Edgerton, b. at Wheeling, W. Va., 25 June, 1832. Mary TF., b. 11 May, 1835; m. Jonas Aylsworth ; d. at Attica, Ind., 9 Sept., 1877. Samuel Peahody, b. 9 Dec, 1836; d. 23 July, 1838. Henry Martyn, b. 9 Sept., 1838. Susan Lamlxlin, b. 8 Jan., 1841 ; d. young. Maria Sumner, b. 5 June, 1843; d. 20 Dec, 1844. SiLAS^ (Simeon,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John," Thomas^), b. 28 Dec, 1781; m., 1st, Dorothy Shepard ; 2d, Sally Hutchins. He d. at Sanbornton, 25 Sept., 1837. Dorothy, h. 28 March, 1812; m. Samuel A. Ambrose, 23 Nov., 1836; d. 23 Mny, 1870. Atherates,h. 14 Feb., 18^5. Asenath H., b. 17 March, 1817 ; m. John M. Whicher, of North- field, 19 Nov., 1840. Alexander Wellington, b. 1 Feb., 1819; d., at Youiiers, N. Y., 23 March, 1839. GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. 473 Horatio Nelson, b. 20 July, 1832. Hanndi, b. 7 Sept., 1827; drowned 25 Aug., 1830. Simeon Aristides, b. 25 Sept., 1830. Daniel Clakk^ (Simeon,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,^ Thomas^), b. 8 Sept., 1784. His talents, early developed, in- duced his father to jdace him under the instruction of Eev. Dr. Wood, where he was fitted for and entered Dartmouth college, in 1802. His college life was characterized by industry, sobriety, and fidelity, and in 1806 he graduated with a full share of the "honors of his class. Soon after, he entered tlie law office of Daniel Webster, of Boscawen, as a student, to receive the guidance and instruction of that distinguished lawyer and civilian, then in the morning of his intel- lectual superiority. Eemaining there until Mr. Web- ster removed to Portsmouth, he continued his legal studies with Parker Noyes, of Salisbury (now Frank- lin). After three years' pre^jaration with Mr. Web- ster and Mr. Noyes, he was admitted to the bar in 1809, when he opened an office at Sanbornton Bridge (now Tilton), which he occupied until his death. He was elected to the senate and council for successive years, when he was appointed by Gov. Morrill judge of probate for old Strafford county, comprising what is now Strafford, Belknap, and Carroll counties — an office he held until 1839. His public services cover a period of nineteen years. After his death, Hon. Ly- man B. Walker said of him, — " His heart and hand were unaffectedly^ open as day to melting charity. Where can the poor man, the widow, and the orphan now find a living heart so feeling and ready to relieve as was his ? To the traveller long accustomed to pass through that interesting village, what can he see that does not remind him of Daniel Clark Atkinson? Is it the Academy? He obtained its charter, and more than helped to build that institution. Is it the two churches to be seen there? In them, too, he lives as first patron. With most there seen is mingled the memory of his originating, devising, and helping hand, to bring them into sight and usefulness. The doors of his house and heart were never closed against the oppressed and suffering, b}^ night or by day. His surviving neighbors, few, very few, of his acquaint- ance, can withhold the tribute of a tear to moisten the cypress that waves over his tomb." M., 1st, Mahala Tiltdn ; 2d, Mehitable, her sister. He d. 5 April, 1842. 474 GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. Child of Mahala, : Napoleon Bonaparte, b. 14 April, 1819. Cliildren of Mehitable : Mahala T., b. 26 Feb., 1833: d. 12 Dec, 1851. Josephine B.,h.2o Oct., 1835; m. John H. Goodale; resides in Nashua; three children, — one, Charlotte Atkinson, living. Charlotte, b. 29 Dec, 1837 ; music teacher in Concord. Richard^ (Jonathan,^ jSTatlianiel,* Nathaniel,'^ John,^ Tliomas^), h. and lived on the old homestead, in Limington, Me.; m. Alice Gerry, 15 Oct., 1837 ; d. 2 Dec, 1865. Nathaniel, b. 17 Oct.. 1838 ; d. 12 May, 1873, at Cincinnati, Ohio. John P., b. U Dec, 1810; d. 9 Nov., 1802, Leesburg, Va., while in the service of liis country. ■ William II., b. 29 Jan., 1812. Elizabeth, b. 27 Jan., 1841; m. Ezra Miles, Jr., of Limington, ]Me. Anna J., b. 31 Oct., 1851 ; ni. P. S. Griffith, of Boston. Bradley' (Isaac,® Nathaniel,^ Natlianiel,'' Nathaniel,'"' John," Thomas^), b. 10 May, ISIU ; m., 1st, Hannah Tucker, 19 Dec, 1838, who \l. 1850 ; 2d, Sugan S. Thurston, 11 May, 1852 ; resides in Boscawen. Elvira C. b. 8 Nov., 1839. Edmund W., b. 10 Jan.. 1843. Edwin B., h. 3 May, 1817. George C, h. 22 May, 1858. Joseph^ (Peabody,® Joseph,^ Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. 23 Jan., 1839 ; m. Julia C, dau. of Dr. James Ewing, of Hebron, 0., 10 Oct., 1872. He re- , sides on the homestead, from which his father cleared the primeval forest, near Pataskala, 0. Charles Ewing, b. 20 July, 1873. Florence Elliot, b. 14 April, 1875. Frank Peahody, b. 1 April, 1877. George Johnsto^^'^ (Peabody,*^ Joseph,^ Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^' John,- Thomas^), b. 22 Feb., 1841; grad. at Marietta College, 18G4 ; attorney-atdaw, Columbus, 0. ; m. Madge R. McGeah, 12 Sept., 1872. John Guy McGeah, b. 9 Sept., 1873. Ethel Elliot, b. 13 Feb., 1876. Hiram Lang'^ (Joseph,*^ Samuel,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,'^ Thomas^), b. in B., 1807; resided in Licking Co., 0. ; m. Elizabeth Beach, April, 1839 ; d. Dec, 1840, She d. Feb., 1841. Martha Beach, b. June, 1840; d. 1864. William Edgerton'' (Samuel,® Samuel,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel, '^ John,^ Thomas^) b. at Wheeling, W. Va., 25 June, GENEALOGICAL ATKINSON. 475 1832; m. Mary Frances, dau. of Pealjody Atkinson, 28 Dec, 1857 • resides in Newark, 0. Alice WitJdnfjfon, h. 6 Nov., 1858. Samuel McClellan,} , ,„ . ., ,„., ^ d- 1 Nov., 186:1. Thomas Peahody, j ^- ^' ^^P'"''' 1^'^^' \ d. 17 Oct., ISGo. Nathaniel Peabo'li/, h. 11 Oct., 18G4. William Harry, b. 9 Jan., 1870. Henry Martyn'^ (Samuel,'^ 8amnel,^ Josepli,"* ISTatlianiel,^ Jolm,"'^ Thomas^), b. at Wheeling, W. Va., 9 Sept., 1838 ; m. Kate, dan. of Hon. Thomas W. Tipton, of Brownville, Neb. He is now surveyor-general of the territory of ISTew Mexico, and resides at Santa Fe. Alice. Atharates'^ (Silas,*' Simeon,^ Joseph,^ Nathaniel,^ John,- Thom- as^), b. in B., 14 Feb., 1815 ; m. Martha Jane Fort, of Milledgeville, Ga., 25 Dec, 1839 ; resides in Madison, Cla. Charles Bacon, b. 21 Sept., 1840. Alfred Overton, b. 13 Dec, 1811. Marcellus, b. ] May, 1843. Alexander Wellington, b. 22 Jane, 1814. Helen Oleliea, b. 22 Sept., 1815. Silas Fort, b. 12 July, 1847. Hale Arisddes, b. 14'Nov., 1818. Eugene Judson, b. 13 June, 1850. Everett Gill, b. 11 April, 1852. Cora Virginia, b. 12 Oct.. 1853. Rom Bell, b. 22 Sept., 1855. Millard Fillmore, b. 15 Oct., 1856. Paul Foster, b. 18 Sept., 1858. Beatrice May, b. 26 Jan., 1860. Horatio Nelson'^ (Silas,'' Simeon,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in B. 20 July, 1822 ; ni. Susan Pearson Durgin, 10 Nov., 1846 ; resides in Tilton. Frances Maria, b. 28 Oct., 1849: d. 10 July, 1863. Leroy Samuel, b. 31 March, 1852. Simeon Aristides'^ (Silas,^ Simeon,^ Joseph,* Nathaniel,^ John,"-^ Thomas^), b. in Sanbornton, 25 Sept., 1830 ; m. Mary Etholinda Potter, of Madison, Ga., a native of St. Croix, W. I., 8 Oct., 1851. Frank Hale, b. in Marietta, Ga., 6 July, 1852. Alice Louisa, b. in Marietta, Ga., 25 Dec, 1854; d. 4 March, 1875. Sally Hutchins, b. in Augusta, Ga., 7 June, 1857. Leora Etholinda, b. in Augusta, Ga., 15 Sept. 1859. Simeon Arthur, b. in Augusta, Ga., 15 Jan., 1862. Marie Eddrienne, b. in Madison, Ga., 4 Sept., 1864. Katie Lena, h. in Athens, Ga., 27 Nov., 1871. CoraAdelia, b. in Mount Vernon, N. Y., 15 Jan., 1875. 476 GENEALOGICAL BISHOP, BURBANK. Napoleon Boxapaete" (Daniel Olark,'' Simeon,^ Joseph,* Na- thaiiiel,^ John,- Thomas^), b. in Sanhornton, 14 April, 1819 ; m. Zapharine Robinson, of Sanbornton ; re- sides in Madison, Ga. Mary Ella, b. 23 March, 1855; d. 24 July, 1855. William H.^ (Richard P.,*' Jonatlian,^ Nathaniel,* Nathaniel,^ John,^ Thomas^), b. 29 Jan., 1842 ; ni. Mary H. Cui- rier, 9 Jan., 1868 ; resides in Chelsea, Mass. Georqe T., b. Nov., 18G8. Artlmr P., b. 21 Nov., 1870; d. 4 Jan., 1876. Louisa F., h. 27 June, 1873. BISHOP. Bishop, Josiaii.^ One of the first settlers of B. He was cap- ured by the Indians in 1740, at the south end of King st., while at work in his tield, taken into the woods, and killed. [See Civil Hist.] Exos,- son of Josiah, ni. Elizabeth Bel]an\y, of Newbury, 21 Nov., 1749. In 1754, when the Indians attacked the house of Philij) Call, at South Franklin, he was one Ox the party sent in pursuit of the savages, and was cap- tured [see Hist.] and taken to Canada, from whence he made his escape ; enlisted in Revolutionary service. Col. Cilley's reg't ; was in battles of Saratoga and Stillwater ; d, in the army, 8 Aug., 1778. Jonah, b. 7 Oct., 1750. Susannah, b. 5 Dec, 1753. John, b. 10 Dec. 1757; son of a second wife, — Anna. Elizabeth, b. 31 Jan.. 17G0. Sarah, b. 31 Jan., 1762; ni. Ezekiel Flanders. Hannah, b. 17 May, 1761. Benjamin, h. 22 Oct., 1766. Enos, b. 21 Nov., 1769. The family moved to Lisbon, N. II., in 1769. BURBANK. Joseph^ came to America in the ship Abigail, from London, 1635. He spelled his name Barebanke. He is registered as being 24 years old at the time. It is not known Avhere he settled. JoHN,^ of Haverhill, probably was his son. He married 15 Oct., 1663, Susanna, dau. Nathan Morrill. He moved from Haverhill to Sulfield, 1680. GENEALOGICAL BURBANK. 477 Moses/ Capt. It is supposed tliat he was grandson of John. He was one of the first settlers of B., and came from Bradford, Mass., 1733. He m. Sarah Emery, probably sister of Edward Emery, a first settler of B. Moses, h. 26 June, 1741; m. Sarah Danfortli. Samuel, h. Ang.. 17-45; m. Eunice Pettingill. Nnlhanlel, b. 14 Dec. 1747; m. Mary Durgin. Molly, b. 22 Feb., 1749 ; m. Cutting Noyes; resided in B. David, b. 4 July, 1754; d. 4 Nov., 1815." Wells, b. 8 Aug., 1756. He lived at one time on Water st., in a log house, on land now owned by G. W. Fisher ; taught school. Sarah, b. Sept., 1758; ra. Benjamin Blanchard. Beiti/, b. 1 Dec, 1760; m. Benjamin Bolter. Eleazer, h. 19 Jan., 1763; m. Abigail Burbank. MosES^ (Moses,* Capt.), b. 1741; m. Mary' Danf orth. Josiah,h.'30 June, 1761 ;. probably taught school in West Bos- cawen, 1784. Nathaniel, h. 1 Sept., 1763. Jonathan, b. 29 May, 1765; m. Salome Cass. Daniel, b. 4 Jan., 1767; m. Hannah Eastman. He was school teacher in 1788. Stephen, b. 3 Feb., 1768; d. same year. Stephen, b. 1769; m. Mary Garvcn. Silas, b. 10 Marcli, 1771 ; d. in the army. Priscilla, h. 8 April, 1773; m. Jedediah Danfortli. Hazen, b. 18 Oct., 1775. Hannah, b. 12 April, 1779. Moses, h. 4 Jan., 1781. Samuel^ (Moses,* Capt ), b. Aug., 1745 ; m. Eunice Pettingill. Joseph, b. 23 Aug., 1771; unmarried. Sarah, b. 28 Aug., 1773; m. Caleb Colman. Eunice, b. 2 May, 1775. Samuel, b. 25 March, 1777; m. Molly Jackmau. Moses, b. 12 Oct., 1778. Judith, h. 25 Sept., 1780; m. David Corser. Josiah, b. 11 July, 1782; ni. Chandler. Jonathan, b. 11 April, 1784. Nathan, b. 24 Feb., 1786. Elizabeth, b. 6 June, 1788. Caleb, Rev., b. 12 Aug., 1792; m., 1st, Elizabeth Gillet, Kingsville, O., 1830; 2d, Delphia Harris, Florence, O., 1833. :N'athanielS (Mose.s,* Capt.), b. 1747 ; m. Mary Durgin. John, b. 10 Aug., 1778. David^ (Moses,* Capt.), b. 4 July, 1754 ; m., 1st, Mary Little, dau. of Enoch Little ; 2d, Dorothy Lowell. He built and lived in the parsonage on Boscawen Plain, moved from thence to Bashan, to the farm now owned by I ol 478 GENEALOGICAL — BURBANK. Azro S. Burbank, thence to the house now occupied by Friend L. Burbank, thence to " Schoodic," in War- ner, where he d. Children of Mary : Sarah, b. 9 Feb.. 1779; m. Moses Smitli, Salisbury. Abigail, b. 20 jiarch, 1780 ; d. 18 July, 181^5. Abraham, b. IG Nov., 1781; d. U Jan., 1856. Eliezer, b. 1 Jan., 1785 ; m. Dru.silla Flanders, of B. Little, b. 2 Feb., 1787; d. 17 Nov., 1870. Jesse, b. 13 June, 1790; d. in U. S. Navy. Enoch, b. 20 July, 1793 ; moved to Michigan. Judith, b. 10 July, 1798 ; m. Benj. Carter, of B. Children of Dorothy : 2Iicah,m. Mary Eastman. Mary, m. True Jone.*. Wells^ (Moses/ Capt.), b. 1756. 3Iolh/,h. 2 Sept., 1784. Betsei/, b. 2G Feb., 1787. Eiiezer, b. 13 Nov., 1788. Abraham^ (David^) m., 1st, Mary Call ; 2d, Polly, dan. of Benj. Jackman, of B. [See Biog.] Children of Mary : Friend IJllle, b. 29 June, 1800. Joanna Call, h. 5 Marcli, 1808; d. 19 Feb., 1843. Mary Little, h. 16 Nov., 1809 ; m. Woodman Jackman, of B. Sophronia Gerrish, b. 25 Aug., 1812; d. 22 Feb., 1847. Judith Call, h. 2 Nov., 1815; m. J. Warren Jackman : d. 21 Nov., 1847. Children of Polly : George Washington, b. 29* June, 1819; d. 16 May, 1873. David Emory, b. 16 May, 1822. Bitfield Plummer, b. 1 March, 1824; d. in Cab, 1860. Abraham Pettingill, b. 2 Nov., 1825; m. Augusta Itunnels, of B. ; resides in Cal. Azro Sheridan, b. 29 Aug., 1827. EzeJciel Webster, b. 16 June, 1829 ; m., 1st, Martha A. Pillsbnry, of B. ; 2d, Emelie Hunkins, of Sanbornton ; volunteer 16th N. n. Reg't; d. on the Mississippi, 1863. Amanda Jane, b. 11 June, 1831 ; m. Horatio N. Webber, of B. Little/ Capt. (David,'^ Moses,* Capt.) m. Judith C, dan. of Joshua Jackman. [See Biog.] Lucretia Little, b. 13 April, 1819 ; d. 12 Dec, 1838. Hannah Farmer, b. 27 Sept., 1821 ; d. 19 Feb., 1842. Emulous Warren, b. 20 Nov., 1825. Calvin 3Iorris, b. 16 Juue, 1832; d. May, 1860. GENEALOGICAL — BURPEE. 479 Friend Little" (ALi-aliam," DavicF) m. Dorothy Jacknian, of B. [See Biog.] Lucretia Little, h. 21 i\[ay, 1840; d. 10 Auo-., 1861. William Wirt, b. 13 Sept., 1842. Joanna Clough, b. 22 June, 18i6; d. 23 Dec., 1848. Irvin Abram, b. 18 April, lSi>i. Almon Friend, h. 17 Oct., 18r>7. David E.^ (Abraham,^ David^) ra. Mary Elliot, of Canterbury ; residesat ]STorwich,Vt. ; Lieut. 16th K. H. A^^Iunteers. [See Biog.] Alma M., b. 1 Jan., 1847; m. William Walton, Phila. Emily, b. 23 Sept., 1848 ; m. AVm. T. Strout, Manchester, N. H. Ann M.. h. 24 May, ISoO. Winfidd S., h. 27 Jan., 1852 ; d. 13 Feb., 1852. Charles E., b. 19 Jan., 1856 ; d. 19 Nov., 1857. William E., b. 19 June, 1860. Alfred P., b. 26 Feb., 1863; d. 15 May, 1877. Cora E., b. 8 Nov., 1864. AzKO Sheridan" (Ahraham,« David^) m. Emeh'ne S. Burpee, of B. ; resides in Webster. Carrie Maud, b. 6 Jan., 1865. Effa Aden, b. 28 April, 1869. Emulous W.^ (Little,« David^) m. Mary A. Eunnels ; resides in Lawrence, Mass. Alvin H., b. 30 July, 1851 ; ra. Ella Hustus, of Lawrence, Mass. Anna Aufjusta, b. 19 Oct., 1861 ; d. 6 Dec. 1861. Ernest Wilcox, h. 29 Oct., 1863. ' Calvin Morris^ (Little,«David5) m. Louisa Kichols. [See Biog.] Louisa Nichols, b. 29 June, 1856. William Wirt^ (Friend L.,« Abraham") m. Ellen I\L Dow, of Concord. Ellen Lucretia, b. 12 June, 1867. Sarah Chandler, b. 2 June, 1869. Alice Mabel, b. 4 June, 1871. BUKPEE. Compiled by Augustus Burpee, of New llamptou. Jeremiah,! b. inCandia, 1748 ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Max- field; settled first in Sandwich, afterwards in Epping; moved to B., 1792, on to a farm since owned by Solo- mon Arey. He w^as a brickmaker by trade. Betsey, d. young. Jeremiah, b. 1781. Nathaniel, b. 1783. Betsey. 480 GENEALOGICAL BURPEE. Eliphalet, d. at French Mills, Ca. Esther, m. Jolm Jackinan ; d. G Dec, 1850. Martha^ m. Caleb Jackman. Jeremiah- (Jeremiah^) m. Nancy Wells, of Loudon, 1804 ; set- tled near the " Gulf," on the turnpike, where he car- ried on the pottery and brick-making business until his death, 16 Nov., 1862. His wife was thrown from the Gulf bridge and killed, 27 Dec, 1817. He m., 2d, Sally D., dau. of William Gill, 28 April, 1818. Children of Nancy : Eliza, b. 4 Feb., 1805 ; m. John Knowlton. Judith W., b. 8 March, 1807; ni. Reuben Goodwin, of Concord. Joshua W.,h.28 April, 1809; m. Mary Ann Webster, of Salis- bury, 1 JaT)., 1833; d. 23 Dec, 1839. Leivis, b. 1811; d. 10 Nov., 1813. Augustus, b. 12 July, 1812; ni. Sarah, dau. of Benjamin Robinson, of New Hampton, 25 Sept., 1837, where they now reside. Member of the legislature, 1875. Three cliildren. Roxa, b. 3 Feb., 1815; m. James II. Peabody, of Methuen, Mass. Mary .S., b, 9 Feb., 1817 ; m. Hiram Simpson, 24 March, 1836. Children of Sally : WelL'i, b. 29 Dec, 1818; d. 22 Feb., 1819. Ruth, b. 4 July, 1820; d. 10 Dec, 1833. Samuel G.,h.'i Aug., 1822; m. Betsey E. Patch. Jeremiah, b. 20 July, 1824; m. Ann E. Reed. Sail]/ Anji., h. 15 Oct., 1827; m. Levi Carter, 19 Dec. 1860; d. 6 Aug., 1806. James G., b. 3 June, 1830; m. Rebecca E. Jackson, 6 March, 1863; d. 27 July, 1876. John G., b. 1 Aug., 1832: d. 15 March, 1859. Grace Ann, b. 28 Feb., 1835; d. 1840. Infant, b. and d. Nov., 1836. Daniel Webster, b. 8 June, 1838; d. 1839. Martha J., b. 4 Oct., 1811; m. Geo. L. Raymond, 14 Dec, 1861. Nathaniel,^ b. 27 Eeb., 1782 ; m. Catharine Griffin, of Deer- field, 1803 ; moved to Cambridge, Mass., in 1825 ; d. there 4 Aug., 1868. Thomas G., b. 16 Oct., 1805; d. 22 April, 1807. Joseph E., b. 1 Feb., 1807; m. Belinda Woodbury, 8 Jan., 1835. Fanny G., b. 17 Nov., 1H09; d. Marcli, 1877. Nathaniel, b. 21 April, 1812; d. 19 Oct., 1836. Eliphalet, b. 25 Feb., 1814 ; m. Jane Masterman. Catharine, b. 23 Feb., 1817; d. 14 Feb., 1819. Sally G., b. 1 March, 1819; d. 5 Nov., 1822. Samuel W., b. 8 April, 1821 ; d. 4 June, 1876. Martha T. J., b. 19 Sept., 1823. Abigail (?., b. 6 July, 1827 GENEALOGICAL BUTLER, BUXTON. 481 BUTLER. Nehemiah, lawyer, descended from the first settlers of Pelliam, was born in that town 22 Feb., 1824 ; received his ed- ucation at the common schools in his native town, at Pinkerton academ_y, in Derry, and at Pembroke academy ; studied law at the law school at Harvard University, and in the office of Hon. Asa Fowler, in Concord ; was admitted to the Merrimack county bar in March, 1848, and soon after commenced the "busi- ness of his profession in B. He married Mary Ma- goon, dau. of Kichard Gage, 14 JSTov., 1849. Ii/lSrov., 1852, he was appointed clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature, and Court of Common Pleas for the coun- ty of Merrimack, succeeding Hon. N. B. Baker, and moved to Concord, where he resided and held said clerkship until 1860, when he returned to B. and re- sumed the practice of law. In March, 1862, he was elected a county commissioner, and held tlnit office until April, 1868. Upon the decease of Hon. J. D. Sleeper, he was reappointed clerk of the courts for Merrimack county, and held that office one year. In 1869 and 1870 he represented the town of B. in the legislature. During the late war he was agent of the town to furnish its quota of soldiers and attend to the financial affairs connected therewith. He also served in the capacity of selectman and town treasurer seven years. July 2oth, 1876, he was appointed judge of probate for the county of Merrimack, which office he now holds. Charles Nehemiah. b. '26 April, 185-3. George Gage, b. 31 March, 1854; d. 27 July, 1851. Susan Olive, b. 17 June, 18.55; d. 5 Aug., 1856. John Gage, b. 1 Dec, 1856. Benjamin Franklin, b. 30 Oct., 1858. Calvin Gage, b. 8 Feb., 1865. BUXTON. Edward, Rev., pastor Cong, church, Webster ; b. in New Boston [see Biog.] ; m., 1st, Elizabeth McFarland, of Con- cord ; 2d, Lois Jewett, of Laconia ; od, Mrs. Louise Frances [Dix] Pillshury, of B. Children of Elizabeth : Elizabeth McFarland, h. 2 April, 1839. Preceptress Female Acad- emy, Zanesville, O. Edward, b. 25 May, 1811; d. 6 Dec, 1814. 482 GENEALOGICAL CARTER. CARTER. The Carter family of Boscawen descended from Thomas^ and Mary Carter, who were among the early settlers ot Salisbury, Mass. JoHN,2 |j_ 18 May, 1650 ; m. Martha . Thomas,^ h. 9 March, 1683 ; m. Ann . Thomas," b. 29 Oct., 1707 ; m. Juda, b. 1714, who d. 13 Jan., 1761. He went first to South Hampton, thence to B. Children recorded : Winthrop, b. 1736; d. 8 June, 1808. ./esse, b. 29 Oct., 1750. " AVhen 9 years old, was killed wliile play- ing upon a side hill, by a stump rolling over liini." [Price's Ili.st. ]3osc.awen.] David, b. 5 Jan., 1753. " Supposed to have been killed by the kick of a horse, and his wagon wheel passing over his body." Levi. Anne, m. William Corser, who, with his son, was drowned in Great Pond. AYiXTHROP,^ Lieut. (Thomas,* Thomas,^ John'-}, m. Susanna, dau. of Joseph and Dorothy Eastman, 1757. She d. 9 March, 1828. Lieut. Carter held various offices of trust, was a large landliolder in Boscawen and Canter- bury, licensed as inn-keeper 12 Oct., 1790, kept tav- ern in house nov\^ occupied by N. S. Webster, the front part of which he built, and planted the elm standing near. Jesse, b. 17 Aug., 1758; d. 17 Aug., 1828. Daniel, b. 19 Dec, 1759 ; d. 4 March, 1840. Nathan, b. 6 April, 1761 ; d. 25 Sept., 1810. Dorothy, b. 1762; ni. Josiali Eastman, Bradford, Yt. Jeremiah, b. 26 Ai)ril, 1761; m. Hannah Gerrish, 27 May, 1795; d. 28 July, 1801. Jiulilh, b. 1766 ; d. 1785. Sarah, b. 6 Aprd,l769; m. Joshua Jackman; d. 12 May, 1796. JJumphrei/. b. 1771 ; went from home and never heard from. Mary, h. 7 May, 1773; m. John Gill; d. 27 March. 1859. Belsei/, m. Abnor Flanders, Warner; d. at Hyde Park, Vt. Naomi, h. 9 April, 1780; m. Caleb Putney; d. 12 Aug., 1852. Susanna, b. 25 May, 1782; m. David Elliott; d. 2 Feb., 1858. Daniel,*^ Lieut. (Winthrop,*^ Thomas"), enlisted at 16; served un- der Gens. Stark and Sullivan ; was at the battles of Bennington, Stillwater, Bemis Heights, and Saratoga ; ■*^as wounded in R. I. Married Polly Atkinson, 15 April, 1784. She d. 25 Sept., 1854. GENEALOGICAL CARTER. 483 Danld, h. 10 March. 1785 ; d. 10 Sept. , 1873. Man/, b. 2(3 Jan., 1787; ra. John Osboine, Loudon, son of Jacob and Abigail 0.-;borne. 21 May. 181G; d. 16 Nov., 1856. .S'c7%, b. 27 April, 1790; d. 7 Sept., 1873. Xatiian'^ (Winthrop,^ Thomas'') kept tavern at the pUice now occupied by C. C. Hall ; ni. Sarah Farnum, West Con- cord. JwUlJi, h. 15 Dec, 1787; ui. John French; d. 13 Jan., 1871. Moses, h. () Auij., 1790; d. :;0 Mav, 1851. John, b. 10 Dec., 1797; d. June, 1850. Jeremiah, h. 20 Feb., 1803; d. 19 Nov., 1871. • - Nathan, b. 4 Feb., 1807 ; d. 10 Feb., 1875. Daxiel" (Dauiel,*^ Lieut., Winthrop^) m. Mrs. Sally Flint. Elbridge G.. b. 4 Dec, 1808. John" (Nathan,*^ Winthrop^) ni. Lydia Gill ; lived in Canterbury. Dradliurij G., b. 3 Feb., 1827; m. Asenath Spiller, Concord ; resides there. Luther, b. 2-i Au. 7 Feb., 1696. AppUa, b. 9 June, 1678 ; d. 8 Oct., 1715. Samuel Brocklebank, h. 24 Aug., 1700; a minister. Joseph, Col, b. 30 Dec, 1702 ; grad. Harvard ; clerk of proprietors of Contoocook, 1733-1760; m. Margaret Morse; d. 12 Sept., 1773. Jane, b. 1 Aug., 1705. Edmund, Dr., b. 19 March, 1708 ; d. 29 Jan., 1789. Moses, b. 11 June, 1711; d. 22 Feb., 1793. JoHN^ (Nathaniel," Tristram^), b. 1 June, 1694 ; m. Judith Green- leaf. Richard, b. 22 Nov., 1713; m. Abigail Hale; d. 9 March, 1773. Nathaniel, b. 7 Sept., 1716; m. Patience Dole; d. in Portland, in 1766. 32 492 GENEALOGICAL — COFFIN. Ahlyail, h. 8 Nov., 1718 ; m. Eev. Aaron Whittemore, of Pem- broke; d. 11 May, 1803. Manj, b. 23 July, 1720; d. 25 Nov., 1737. Peter, Capt., b. 11 May, 1722; moved to Concord in 1706; to B. in 1768; ni. Rebecca Hazeltine, of Chester; d. 15 Dec, 1789. [See Biog.] Apphia. b. 13 April, 1721; m. Icliabod Jones. William, h. 3 July, 1726; m. Sarah Hazeltine, of Chester; resided in Concord, near present north scliool-house; d. 18 Oct., 1815. Samuel, b. 23 Nov., 1728; m. Anna Pettingill; d. 29 June, 1818. Judith, b. 3 Sept., 1732; d. 2 Nov., 1737. Sarah, b. 26 Sept., 1735; d. 1 Nov., 1737. Peter,« Capt. (Jolin,^ Nathaniel*), h. 11 May, 1722 ; m. Eebecca Haseltine. [See Biog.] Peter, b. 29 April, 1770; d. 30 April, 1779. Rebecca, b. 20 Oct., 1771 ; d. 17 May, 1787. Joanna, b. 11 April, 1773; m. Dr. Edmund Carlcton, of Haverhill, N. H. : d. about 1834. Abigail, b. 26 March, 1775; d. at Haverhill, N. H., 28 Feb., 18.36. Thomas, Lieut., b. 15 July, 1777; m., 1st, Hannah Kilburn; 2d, Hannah Bartlet ; d. 19 April, 1853. Moses, Capt., b. 22 July, 1779; m. Susannah Farnum, of Concord; d. 5 Sept., 1851. Apphia, b. 8 Aug., 1791; m. Nehemiah Cogswell, of B. ; d. 17 Dec, 1839. Thomas/ Lieut. (Peter/ Capt., John^), b. 15 July, 1777; m., 1st, Hannah Kilhurn, dau. of Dea. Eliphalet Kilburn, of B. ; 2d, Hannah Bartlet, dau. of Dea. David Bart- let, of Campton, N. H., his cousin. He lived on Water st., in the house built by his father, now owned by Mr. Colby. He was elected selectman in 1810, 1811, representative in 1831. He was kind, genial, public-spirited, and universall}' respected. He contrib- uted liberally towards the erection of the Congrega- tional meeting-house in Webster; was an early advo- cate of temperance in 1831, abolishing ardent spirits from his house, and refusing to make cider for sale. He was foremost in the anti-slavery cause, and circu- lated petitions for the abolition of slavery in the ter- ritories, when there was a strong prejudice against any interference with the institution. He was a con- sistent member of the church, and gave liberally to charitable objects. Children of Hannah Kilburn : Enoch, b. 20 April, 1808; d. 13 Oct., 1S15. John, h. 2 Sept., 1809; d. 9 Sept., 1809. Apphia Cogswell, b. 6 Dec, 1810; m. Enoch Little, Jr., of B. GENEALOGICAL — COFFIN. 493 Mary Kilhurn, b. 12 Nov., 1812; m. Edmund Carleton, Littleton, N. H. Frederick William, b. 28 May, 1815; m. Harriot Clioate, of Derry ; Col. 21st Reuc't ; resides in Chicago. Enoch, b. 5 March, 1817; ni. Emily Gerrish, dau. of Jacob Ger- rish ; resides in Beloit, Wis. Lwonia,\h. 8 Aug., 1819; d. 6 Sept., 1820. Elvira, j b. 8 Aug., 1819; m. Nathan P. Ames; d. at West Creek, Ind., Jan., 1861. Charles Carleton, b. 26 July, 1823; m. Sallie R. Farmer, dau. of Col. John Farmer. [See Biog.] Moses/ Capt. (Peter,« Capt., Joliu^), b. 22 July, 1779 ; m. Susan- nah Farnum, of Concord ; lived in house erected by himself east of Water st., on road leading to Bos- cawen plain, now occupied by widow Farnum Coffin. He was an energetic citizen, respected, and a consis- tent member of the Cong, church. Educated one of his sons for the ministry. His wife, Susannah, d. 4 May, 1843. He d. 5 Sept., 1854. Rebecca, b. 13 March, 1801; m. John Sanborn, of B. ; d. Nov., 1871. Lucy Jane, h. 1805; m. Samuel Allen, of Reading, Mass. Peter, b. 26 March, 1808; m. Eunice Couch, of B. ; lives in B. Judith, b. 17 May, 1810; d. Jane, 1842. Farmi7n,h. 13 March, 1813; m. Judith Gerrish, of Canterbury; lived in B. ; d. Sept., 1856. Nehemiah Cogswell, Rev., b. 24 March, 1815; m. Susan Rust, of WoUeborough ; d. in Sandusky, O., 9 Jan., 1808. Susannah, b. 24 Nov., 1818; m. Enoch Morrill, of B., 24 Nov., 1843. Esther, b. 1821 ; m. Henry G. Peach, of B.; d. July, 1843. Frederick William,^ Col. (Thomas,^ Lieut., Peter," Capt.), b. 28 May, 1815 ; m. Harriet Choate, of Derry; settled in B. ; moved to Derry, thence to Chicago ; was captain of Boscawen Light Infantry ; colonel 21st Reg't. Warren Choate, b. 25 Feb., 1844; m. Sarah Ilanna, of Castile, N. Y. Harriet Newell, h. 25 Sept., 1846; d. at Beloit, Wis., 23 Feb., 1861. Henry Russell, b. 15 Aug., 1851; d. 9 Oct., 1870, at Chicago. Enoch^ (Thomas," Peter," Capt.), b. 5 March, 1817 ; m. Emily Gerrish, of B. : lived on homestead : deacon of Cong, church ; moved to Beloit, Wis., 1859. Edtvin Dwiqht, b. 12 Sept., 1843. William Henry, b. 26 Feb., 1849. Sarah uimes, b. 9 Jan., 1851. 494 GENEALOGICAL COFFIN. PeterS (Moses/ Capt., Peter,« Capt.), h. 26 March, 1808 ; m. Eunice Coucli, of B. ; living in B. Sarah, b. 3 April, 1836; d. 1837. George, b. 9 Dec, 1837; enlisted in 16th N. H. Volunteers, in 1863; ordered to service under Gen. Banks, at New Or- leans; d. of disease at Port Hudson, Sarah E.,h. 9 Dec, 1811. Esther Peach, b. 15 Dec, 1843; m. G. W. Fisher; resides in B. Farnum^ (Moses,^ Capt., Peter,« Capt.), k 13 March, 1813 ; m. Judith Gerrish, dau. of Joseph Gerrish, of Canter- bury ; resided on homestead ; d. Sept., 1856. John.h. 9 Jan.. 1816; m. Nellie Sleeper, of Bristol; resides ia Iowa; has two children. Clara A., h. 18 Jan., 1850. Joseph, I b. 1853; d. 6 June, 1858. Henri/, | b. 1853 ; resides in B. Nehemiah Cogswell,^ Rev. (Moses,' Capt., Peter,« Capt.), b. 24 March, 1815 ; grad. at Dartmouth, 1837 ; studied the- ology ; m. Susan Rust, of Wolfeborough ; preached at Circieville, Piqua, and Sandusky, 0. ; d. at Sandusky, Jan., 1865, respected and beloved. He was an earn- est preacher and faithful pastor. , Ellen M., b. 2 April, 1844; m. B. F. Stewart, of Hardwick, Vt. John W., b. 8 Feb., 1846 ; d. April, 1846. Lucy ^., b. 5 Jan., 1849; d. 5 Dec, 1874. Henrrj F., b. 16 Oct., 1850. MaryL.,h. 20 Nov., 1852. Harriet M., h. 15 Nov., 1861. Elizabeth R., b. 20 Jan., 1864. The family resides at Marblehead, Ohio. WARRE^- Choate^ (Frederick W.,^ Col.), b. 25 Feb., 1844 ; m. Sarah Hanna ; resides in Chicago ; professor of music. Hennj Warren, b. 6 Jan., 1874; d. 2 Aug., 1874. Frederick York, b. 12 Dec, 1874. JoHN^ (Farnum,8 Moses'), b. 9 Jan., 1846 ; m. Nellie Sleeper, of Bristol ; lives at Clear Lake, Iowa. Lura, b. 25 March, 1873. George Henry, b. 10 Dec, 1875. Moses Coffin, another branch of the Coffin family of Newbury, son of Joseph, b. in Newbury, 9 Sept., 1767. His father d. when he was an infant. He was cared for by his uncle Joseph (Col.), one of the original pro- prietors, and town-clerk of B. He was a tailor ; moved to B. at the age of 21 ; settled on land now owned by Jabcz Abbot ; m., 1st, Hannah Little, dau. of Enoch GENEALOGICAL COGSWELL. 495 Little, first of the name in B.; 2d, Ann Webster, of Salisbury, N. H. He subsequently lived on the place now owned by Mrs. Mary Morrill. He d. 3 Sept., 1843. He was for many years clerk of the Westerly Religious Society. Children of Hannah : Polly,h. 23 All?., 1794; d. 14 Jan., 1813. Judith, b. 22 Oct., 1795; d. Oct., 1825. Children of Ann : Joseph Hale, b. 11 July, 1815; m. Betsey Varney, of B.; resides in Portland, Me. Jeremiah Webster, b. 8 March, 1817; d. 22 Feb., 1842. Frances Brown, b. 30 Oct., 1818; d. 30 Oct., 1825. COGSWELL. Compiled by Alfred Little. John C. was b. of English parentage, in Essex, Mass., 28 Nov., 1793. His father, Joseph Cogswell, moved to Derry, N. H., with his family the following year. From that place John C. removed and settled in B., 1821, where he resided till his death, 14 Jan., 1841. [See Biog.] He m., 1st, Eliza W. Kimball, Hanover, 13 Nov., 1821, who d. 25 Aug., 1832 ; 2d, Polly C. Adams, Castine, Me., who d. 3 June, 1836 ; 3d, Cyn- thia Knox, Pembroke, 3 Oct., 1837, who d. 9 June, 1848. Children of Eliza : Abigail C, b. 20 Aug., 1822; m., 1st, Enoch Gerrish, Canterbury, 7 Jan., 1840 [see Gerrish jj;en.] ; 2d, John O. Wishard, St. Bernice, VermiHion Co., Ind., 21 April, 1864. Charles E., b. 29 Jan., 1824. Harriette P., b. 15 April, 1827; m. James C. Taylor, Derry; d. 15 Nov., 1853. Caroline P., b. 26 Aug., 1830; m. John Dickey, Londonderry. Child of Cynthia : John Cleveland, b. 24 March, 1839. Charles E.^ (John C.^) resides in Haverhill, Mass. ; m., 1st, Clarissa Campbell, Windham ; 2d, Lydia A. Knowles, Chester. Children of Clarissa : Clara E., b. 5 Dec, 1851 ; m. George W. Noyes, Windham, 22 Feb., 1875. Mary A., b. 5 July, 1856. Charles R., b. 13 Feb., 1859. 496 GENEALOGICAL COGSWELL. Children of Lydia : Abby E., b. 11 July, 1867; d. 8 March, 1868. Marlha C, b. 20 July, 1871. John Cleveland^ (John C.^) resides in Haverhill, Mass. ; m. Jane A. Kenniston, of that city. Lizzie a, b. 22 July, 1800. Addie3f., b. 14 Dec, 1862. Edward P., b. 22 Sept., 1866. Alice B., b. 22 April, 1870 ; d. 17 April, 1872. Jane M., b. 22 March, 1877. Francis resided on Corser hill ; lawyer hy profession ; m. Eliza- beth ; moved to Minn. Sophia, b. 7 June, 1822. Amos, b. 29 Sept., 1824. Before reaching his majority, with no advantages except those furnished by the school on Corser hill, he began the study of law with Franklin Pierce, of Concord, and with Asa Fowler. Upon being admitted to the bar he went to Michigan, where he supported himself by teaching school, with an occasional case in the courts. His first fee of five dollars he sent as a gift to his mother. He began practice in Hebron, 111. Engaged in political speaking, in company with his cousin, John Wentworth, of Chicago, espousing the cause of the Democratic party. Upon the election of Franklin Pierce to the Presidency he was appointed examiner of pensions, which he held for a short time only; returned to 111.; practised law in Wood- stock, and became editor of the Woodstock Republican ; moved to Minn., 1855; was elected delegate to the consti- tutional convention, member of the first house of repre- sentatives, and elected speaker of that body, and has been elected several times to the state senate. He resides at Owatona. Lydia C, b. 19 June, 1827; d. 2G Dec, 1829. George IF., b. 3 June, 1829. Lydia B.,h. 7 March, 1832. Frances Annette, b. 6 June, 1834. Joseph, S., b. 29 Oct., 1836; went to California; engaged in min- ing for a short time; left the spade and taught school; re- turned to N. H. in 1863; m. Miss Mary F. Darrah, of Bedford. He entered the theological seminary, Bangor, Me., and graduated in 1868; moved to Minn. ; became pas- tor of the Cong, church, Zumbrota. Mrs. C. d. Nov., 1868. Mr. C. was settled pastor of the Cong, church at Holden, Me., and pastor of church at Strong, Me., 1873, and West Auburn. 1874, where he is still engaged in ministerial labor. He m. Miss Ellen N. Hart, of Holden, 1870. He is a frequent contributor to the newspaper and magazine press. GENEALOGICAL — CORSER. 497 .COESER. Compiled by S. B. G. Corser. JOHN,^ tlie first of the name in B., was Lorn, as is supposed, in Scotland, about 1678. He was probably connected with the family of William Courser,* of Boston, who came over in 1635, some of whose descendants, in the female line (family of D. C. Colesworthy, bookseller on Cornhill), still reside in that city. Emigrating to this country at an early age, he settled in Newbury, Mass., marrying Tabitha Kenney, of that place, 8 March, 1716 or 1717 ; removed to B. in the early set- tlement of the town (the exact date is not known), where he tended a saw-mill till disabled by a terrible accident (1745, says Price's History), which deprived him of sight; lived afterwards with his son John on Corser hill, where he d., at a very advanced age, in the autumn of 1776. His wife is believed to have d. in Newbury, prior to his removal to B. John, b. about 1718. Nathan, m. Susan Daiiforth; no issue; d. ia B. about 1800. His widow d. in Tlietford, Yt. Tabitha, m. Peter Flood, of B. Polly, m. Ezekiel Flanders, of Kingston, N. H. Sarah, m. Samuel Davis, of B. William, b. about 1730. Hannah, m. John Bowley, of B. JoHN^ (John^), b. about 1718 ; settled on a farm in Kingston • lived afterwards in Chester ; moved to B. in 1764, locating on Corser hill, afterwards so called, where he d. about 1791, aged 73. Married, 1st, Jane Nichols, of Newbury, Mass. ; 2d, Mrs. Hepsibah Chase, of Dunbartou, 1789. Children of Jane : Thomas, b. 1743. Samuel, b. about 1716. Jonathan, b. about 1747. John. b. IB May, 1751. David, b. in Kingston, 27 Jan., 1754. Jane, b. Jan., 1756; d. in Mich., 23 Dec, 1836, aged 80; m., 1772, Nathan Davis, of Conway; had 7 children. ♦This mode of spelling the name is not uncommon in the earlier records. The true form, however (see description of family arms in English works of heraldry), is C'o?-- ser, represented originally by the Latin Cursor (from cim-o, to run), a Roman cogno- men, and, at a later stage, Viy the corresponding Italian form, Corstere (by translation, Courxer), of which the name, as adopted by the reputed Italian founder of the family, at Edinburgh, may be regarded as an abbreviation. 498 GENEALOGICAL — CORSER. William, b. about 1758. Ahbyneezer.h. about 1760; m., 1775, Lieut. Edward Fitz Gerald, of B., who d. 11 Dec, 1817, aged 66. She d. 11 Oct., 1836, aged 76; 15 children. Molly, b. in B., 24 May, 1765; m. Capt. Silas Call, of B., 9 Feb., 1785; d. 11 Oct., 1839, aged 74; 10 children. William^ (John^), b. about 1730 ; m. Anne Carter, of B. ; was drowned, witli liis son William, in Great pond, 1773. Am, b. 26 June, 1754. William (or Jesse), b. 16 April, 1756 ; drowned in Great pond, 1773. Mary, b. 4 Aug. 1759 ; d. 14 April, 1834, aged 74 ; m., 1779, James Uran, of B., who d. 18 Nov., 1845, aged 88 ; had 4 chil- dren. Simeon, h. 10 July, 1763. Judith, b. 29 Jan., 1766 ; ra. Philander Carter, of Canterbury. Anne, b. 21 Feb., 1771. Thomas^ (John,^ John^), b. 1743; farmer; lived in B. ; m., 1st, Ann Dunlap, of Cliester ; 2d, 1782, Mrs. Mary Down- ing, of Kingston, who d. 6 March, 1840, aged 95 ; served in the Ticonderoga campaign ; was drowned in Long pond, 11 Dec, 1829, aged 86. Children of Ann : James, b. 12 Xov., 1764. Polly, b. 24 Aug., 1766; ni. John Fitz Gerald, 16 Nov., 1786; had 6 children. Jane, b. 23 Oct., 1768; d. 13 Feb., 1821, aged 52 ; m. David Call : 9 children. Jonathan, b. 9 Nov., 1770; d. 30 Nov., 1821, aged 61; m. Nancy Badger. 31 May, 1792; children,— Jf>/m, Oilman, — a farmer of Colebrook, — and 2 daughters. Anna (or Nancy), h. 15 June, 1773; m. Jonathan Downing, of B., 21 June, 1792; was killed by lightning, 12 June, 1816; 8 children. Thomas, h. 12 May, 1775; moved to Thetford, Vt. ; m. Abigail Holcomb, 8 Oct., 1798; children, — Benjamin, True, Lavina, and Holcomb. Sarah, b. 17 March, 1777. Tabitha, b. 7 Sept., 1779; m. Nicholas ElUot, 11 May, 1802. Moses, b. 25 Sept., 1781. Children of Mary : Elsey,h. 28 March, 1783; d. 12 Sept., 1843, aged 60; m. Amos Thorla, of B., 1803 ; had 7 children. Caleb, b. 3 Sept. 1785 ; d. 15 Nov., 1825, aged 40. Dolly, m. Josiah Jackman, 1800; family moved to Sandusky, O. Miriam, m., 1st, Samuel Corser, 1806 ; 2d, Samuel Roby 1833. Samuel^ (John,^ John^), b. about 1746 ; farmer in B., Avhere he d., 1 Nov., 1826, aged 80 ; m., 1st, Sarah Fitz Gerald, GENEALOGICAL CORSER. 499 1766 ; 2a, Betsey Colby, 1808 ; fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. Children of Sarah : Stephen. Janc^ m. Moses Jackman, 12 Oct., 1790. Sarah. Samuel, stone-cutter; m. Miriam Corser, 1800; had -SaraZi, who m., 1829, John L. Pressy, of Canaan. James, m. Betsey Aunis, of Warner, 1807; moved to jSTew York ; had Friend, Charles, and others. Rachel; m. Samuel Gookiu, 28 Sept., 1791; 3 children. JoifATHAN^ (John,- John^), b. about 1747 ; farmer in B., whence he removed to Vershire, Vt. ; m. Lucy Foster, of Ips- wich, Mass. ; fought at the battle of Bennington; d. in Concord, Vt., 1831, aged 84. Jonathan, b. 29 Auij., 1771. Thomas,h.in B., 4'^ Oct., 1773; m. Mercy Bennett, of Tlietford, Vt. ; moved to New York; had Erastus, Phebe, and Caro- line. Lucy, b. 14 June, 1776; d. 1853, aged 77; m. Jonathan Bartlett, of Norwich. Vt., 19 Jan., 1801; 2 cliildren. Josiah, b. 2 July, 1781. Polli/, b. 11 April, 1784; m. Ephraim Heath, of Salisbury, 1801 ; 6 children. Benjamin, b. in B.. 4 Oct., 1787; moved to Minn., where he d. in 1873, aged 85; m. Sarah Gove, of Wilmot ; had chil- dren, — Susan, Friend, Charles A., — shoe dealer in Hol- yoke, Mass., — George, and others. Friend, b. 18 April, 1791. JoHN^ (John,'^ John^), b. 13 May, 1751 ; farmer and inn-keeper in B. ; d 19 Oct., 1838, aged 87 ; m. Rachel Blasdell, of Salisbury, Mass., who d. 12 May, 1828, aged 76. Daniel, d. in infancy. Daniel, h. 28 Feb., 1775. John, b. 24 May, 1777. David, h. 15 March, 1779. Rachel, b. 9 April, 1781; d. 19 Nov., 18.54, asjed 73; m. Jedediah Dauforth.of Salisbury, 22 Oct., 1801; had 8 children. Rice, b. 29 Sept., 1783. Joseph, h. 7 Feb., 1786. Timothjj,h. 9 Marcii, 1788. Edward, b. 18 Aug., 1790; m. Sarah Cass; went West. Richard, b. 16 Aug., 1792. David^ (John,- John^), b. in Kingston, 27 Jan., 1754; farm- er; lived in B., Avhere he d. 23 Aug., 1828, aged 74; m., 17 March, 1776, Ruth Blasdell, of Salisbury, Mass., who d. 27 May, 1844, aged 88 ; fought at the battle of Bennington. 500 GENEALOGICAL CORSER. Betsey, b. 19 March, 1777; d. 24 April, 179G, aged 19. Ruth, b. 10 March, 1779; m., 1st, Daniel Gookin, of B., 1797; 2d, James Corser, of B., 1828; d. in Webster, 17 Sept., 1874, aged 95; had 6 children. David, b. 22 March, 1781. Hannah, b. 2 Feb., 1783; m. William Adams, of Salisbury, Mass., who d. 26 July, 1816. She d. in Amesbury, Mass., 1829, aged 46; 5 children. Pollij, b. 20 Dec, 1784; m., 20 June, 1803, Nathan Davis, of Or- ford, deceased; d. in Grautville, Mass., 8 Oct., 1867, aged 82 ; 6 children. Enoch, Rev., b. 2 Jan., 1787. Silas, b. 14 Jan., 1789. Jane, b. 11 Jan., 1791; d. in Amesbury, Mass., 1863, aged 72 ; m., 1st, Joseph Wadleigli, of Salisbury, Mass., 12 Oct., 1813; 2d, Richard Allen; no issue. Luke, b. 10 March, 1793. Bliss, b. 30 Aug., 1795. Betsey, b. 4 June, 1798; m. 13 Feb., 1822, Joseph Morse, of Brad- ford, deceased; res. in Manchester; 7 children. Rachel, b, 21 Sept., 1800; m., 25 Jan., 1829, Daniel G. Runels, of Warner, deceased ; d. in Warner, 14 July, 1839, aged 38; 3 children. William" (John,' Joliii^), b. about 1758; settled in Salisbury; enlisted in the war of 1812, and d. the same year at Plattsburg, N. Y. ; m. Abigail Gordon. William, lived in Sebec, Me. ; d. about 1860; had issue. Abigail, d. unmarried, in Salisbury, 15 Sept., 1858. Nathan, m. and went to Penn. There are descendants of Nathan Corser, who m. Ann Freeman, resident in Kansas. Sally, m. William Bailly, of Salisbury; had issue. Eliphalet, d. in the West Indies. Jeremiah, d. in the army. John. Susan, d. young. Jane. Elias, m. Davis ; lived in Sebec, Me. Betsey, d. unuiarried, in Salisbury, 7 March, 1865. Lewis. Orrin^h. 1803; lived in Salisbury, where he d., March, 1877; ra. Tucker; children, — Eliphalet, of Franklin, William, John, Charles W., Nathan F., Abbie, and Mary Ann. AsA^ (William,- John^), h. in B., 26 June, 1754 ; m. Jane Fitz Gerald; was drummer in Capt. Kimball's company at the battle of Bennington ; moved to Thetford, Yt., where he d. Susan, m. David Manuel, of Derby, Yt. Mehitable, m. Edmund Hardy, of Pelham. William, m. Ani^e, da.u. of Simeon Corser; res. in Thetford, Yt. ; had Benjamin, Mary, Persis, Charles, Nicholas, and others. Sally, m. in Stanstead, C. E. GENEALOGICAL CORSER. 501 SiMEON=^ (William;' Johni), h. in B., 10 July, 1763 ; moved to Thetford, Vt., and thence to Stanstead, C. E., where he d. ; ni. Lois Severance, 19 Jan., 1782. A7me, m. William, son of Asa Corser; d. iu Thetford, Vt. Nicholas. Nathan. Jesse. Clarissa. James* (Thomas,^ John,- John^), b. in B., 12 Nov., 1764 ; d. there, 23 Aug., 1852, aged 87; farmer; m., 1st, Mar- tha Fitz Gerald, 12 March, 1786; 2d, Mrs. Ruth (Corser) Gooldn, 24 July, 1828. Children of Martha : Rebecca, b. 24 Oct., 1787; d. 8 Dec, 1815, aged 28; m. Jeremiah Eastman, 29 Nov., 1804; had 2 children. John, b. 13 July, 1791; d. young. Aiuos, b. 15 July, 1793. Moses* (Thomas,^ John,^ John^), b. in B., 25 Sept., 1781 ; d. 19 A]Dril, 1830, aged 48; m., 1st, Ruth Clough, of War- ner, 1804 ; 2d, Betsey Burgess, of Chelsea, Vt. ; en- listed from B. in the war with France, 1798. Children of Ruth : Mittie, m. Davenport. Martha. Sally, deceased; m. Charles W. Spaulding, of Lowell, Mass.; 2 children. Roxena, m. Ilolden, of Lowell. William B. (Courser), b. 1814. Charlotte, m. Alva Fife. Benjamin. Children of Betsey : Betsey, deceased ; m. Sumner Pratt, of Lowell. Mercy, m. West. Benjamin F., m. Burnham ; lived iu Lowell. Ruth E. Stephen* (Samuel,^ John,- John^), b. in B. ; m. Sarah Goohin, of B., 30 June, 1789. Nathaniel, b. about 1790; m. and settled in Vt. ; d. 1807, aged 77; children,— C/ar^-,b. about 1817, and Willard, of Waukegan, 111.; Austin, of Ontonagon, Mich.; and George IF., of Bar- ron, AVis. Hiildah . Washington, m. Mehitable Fitz Gerald. Dolly. Judith. Thomas. 502 GENEALOGICAL CORSER. Jonathan* (Jonatlian,^ John,- Jolm^), "b. 29 Aug., 1771 ; farmer; settled in Thetford, Vt., where he d. 1 Jan., 1860, aged 88 ; m. E-hoda, dau. of Samuel Jackman, of B., who d. 1863, aged 89. Ward, b. 22 Aug., 1798; res. in Thetford. Rhoda, b. 25 May, 1800; res. in Thetford. Cyrus, h. 13 March, 1802. Clark, b. 19 June, 18()4. Jonathan, b. 17 Maj% 1806. Martha, b. 22 April, 18(18; m., 1st, William Howard; 2d, Caleb Strong, of Strafford, Vt., deceased; has children. Submit, b. 4 April, 1810; d. 8 June, 1863, aged 53. Proctor, b. 10 May, 1812; res. in SufReld, Conn. Oliver, d. young Mary Ann, b. 21 June, 1815; d. 1865, aged 50; m. George M. Saw- yer, of Norwich, Vt. ; 10 chiklren. Ruth, b. 4 March, 1817 ; ra. Newton Smith, of Suffield, Conn., de- ceased. Hannah, b. 20 July, 1819; d. 1853, aged 34; ra. Jacob Bartlett, of Salisbury, Mass.; 3 children. Lucia A. J., b. 23 June, 1822; m. Horace Stebbens, of Painesville, O.; 3 children. JosiAH* (Jonathan,^ John,^ John^), b. in B., 2 July, 1781 , m. Prudence Heath, of Salisbury ; moved to Canada, and thence, about 1812, to Vermont ; d. in Chester, Vt., 14 Sept., 1854, aged 73. RutJi, m. Joseph Farnum, of Lancaster. Orinda, b. 6 Dec, 1810; d. 6 May, 1869, aged 58 ; m. Daniel Shaw, of Springfield, Vt. Erastus Thomas, b. 26 Jan., 1812. Susan, d. Jamison, m. Eben York, of Peterborough. AngeUne, m. Mills Webb, of Lancaster. Emetine, m. John M. Spaulding, of Lancaster. Friend* (Jonathan,^ John,- John^), b. 18 April, 1791 ; black- smith ; m. Eachel Joan Kidder ; d. in Fitchburg, Mass., Aug., 1849, aged 58. Lucy A., b. 17 Aug., 1815; m. Cyrus Beal, of Keene; 4 children. Phebe J., h. 22 June, 1817; deceased. Rosaline D., b. 22 July, 1819 ; m. Luther Keyes; 6 children. Emmaranza,h. 16 Nov., 1822, deceased; m. Albert Danforth, of Danville, Vt. ; 4 children. Samuel Azro, h. 6 Dec, 1824; m. Luthene Frost; res. in West Chesterfield, Mass.; children, — Ida, Ada, Lizzie, and George A. George Azor, h. 23 Dec, 1826; m., 1st, Diantha J. Danforth; 2d, Maria J. Trask ; res. in Leicester, Mass. ; children, — Luella J. and Georgianna M. Adelia L., b. 3 July, 1829, deceased ; m. John A. Nims. GENEALOGICAL CORSER. 503 Josephine i., b. 2{] Dec, 1831 ; m. William Fletcher, of San Frau- cisco, Cal.: 2 children. Friendly /., b. 10 Feb., 1836; ni. E. E. Johnson, of Chicago, 111.; 2 children. Daniel'' (Jolm,'^ John,- Jolin^), b. in B., 28 Feb., 1775 ; d. in Portland, Me., 28 Jul}'. 1853, aged 78 ; m., Jan., 1801, Lucy Taft, of Upton, Mass. ; farmer and inn-keeper ; settled in Tlietford, Vt. ; lived afterwards in B., where his wife d., 15 Jan., 1834, aged 54. Lucy Fisher, h. 13 Feb., 1802; m., 3 April, 1810, Daniel M. Winch, deceased; res. in Pepperell, Mass. Solomon Tafl, b. 24 Dec, 1805. Harvey Fisher (Courser), Col., b. 20 Jan., 1809. John* (John,^ John,- Johni), b. in B., 24 May, 1777 ; d. there, 21 Dec, 1860, aged 89; farmer; m., 1801, Mehitable, dau. of Daniel Clark, who d. 17 April, 1837, aged 62. Bernice, b. 21 July, 1802 ; m., 7 Nov., 1827, John Danforth, of B., who d. 1850, aged 65; 2 children. Mehitable C, b. 18 Oct., 1804; d. 7 Oct., 1829, aged 24. Mary, h. 23 July, 1807 ; res. in Concord. John, b. 15 Oct., 1809. Phehe IF, b. 15 May, 1812 ; d. 21 July, 1812. Paul C, b. 25 June, 1813 ; d. 21 Jan., 1816. Phebe, b. 26 April, 1816 ; d. 22 Dec, 1855, aged 39. Eunice W., h. 17 May, 1818; ni., 12 Nov., 1845, George C. Lan- caster; lived in Concord, where she d. 19 Feb., 1873, aged 54 ; 5 children. David* (Jolin,^ John,^ John^), b. in B., 15 March, 1779 ; m. Abi- gail Kilburn. 30 Jan., 1805 ; farmer in B., where he d. 26 Dec, 1863, aged 84. Freeman, b. 28 April, 1806. Mary Ann, b. 1810: d. 30 May, 1836, aged 26; m., 16 Aug., 1835, B. F. Locke, of Lowell, Mass. Ruth K., b. 18 Dec, 1817 ; m., 17 Aug., 1810, William Green, of Waterford, Me. EiCE* (John,3 John,2 Johni), b. in B., 29 Sept., 1783 ; d. there, 12 May, 1852, aged 68 ; tanner and farmer ; followed the sea from 1810 to 1821, spending some years in China, and suffering shipwreck off the coast of Hol- land ; m., 1st, 19 Feb., 1826, Abigail 0. Stickney, of Brownfield, Me., who d. 11 May, 1835, aged 39 ; 2d, 26 May, 1836, Irene Greeley, of Salisbury. Marcia Q.,h. 27 Feb., 1827; d. 18 Aug., 1850, aged 23. Octavia E., b. 27 March. 1830; d. 11 May, 1853, aged 23. Sarah J., b. 22 March, 1832 ; d. 30 March, 1818, aged 16. Elizabeth J., b. 6 Jan., 1834; d. 13 July, 1854, aged 20. Abba S.. b. 31 May, 1838; res. in Salisbury. Edwin G., b. 17 April, 1810. 504 GENEALOGICAL CORSER. John //., b. 7 May, 1843; d. 11 July, 1843. Rice V.,\). 29 Nov., 1844; d. 21 April, 1848. Rice H., b. 26 July, 1847; d. 5 Sept., 1848. Joseph'' (John,3 John,^ John^), b. in B., 7 Feb., 1786 ; d. 6 Jan., 1873, aged 86 ; farmer in B. ; m., 1st, Elsey Down- ing, ISio ; 2d, Lydia Butman, 1849. Cliildren of Elsey : Judith P., b. 9 Nov., 181.5 ; m. Moses G. Downing, IG June, 1833; res. in Lowell, Mass. Rice,h. 26 Jan., 1818; farmer in Webster; m. Sarah J. Page, 1844; ch\\c]ren,— Ursula, IJzzie, Emma, Frank B., Joseph II., and Elmer E. Ursula, b. 25 Oct., 1820; m. Harvey Newton, of Orange, Vt., 11 Nov., 1838. Nanci/ A., b. 29 Sept., 1823; m. William E. Shattuck, 184-5. Timothy* (John,^ John,'^ Jolini), b. in B., 9 March, 1788 ; d. there, 6 Sept., 1819, aged 81 ; m. Abiah Eastman, of riopkinton, 15 Feb., 1815. Ann E., b. 1 April, 1816; m. May, 1830, John J. Coffin, deceased; res. in Wis.; 6 children. Louisa, b. 2.5 Dec, 1818; m., 2 June, 1841, Solomon B. Greeley, of Salisbury; 7 children. KiCHAKD* (John,^ John,- John^), b. in B., 16 Aug., 1792 ; m. Khoda Shepherd, 19 Aug., 1817 ; moved to Canandaigua, N. Y., where he d., 20 Aug., 1845, aged 53. Daniel B., b. in B., 8 Oct., 1818. Austin G., b. in B., 1 March, 1820. .4/mil/., b. 21 July, 1827. Charles H., b. 3 June, 1829. Mary ./., b. 20 Sept., 1831. Lucretia S., b. 5 Oct., 1833. David* (David,^ John,^ John^), b. in B., 22 March, 1781 ; farmer; moved to New Yorli about 1821, settling in Ogden, near Rochester; m., 12 Jan., 1801, Judith, dau. of Samuel Burbank, of B. ; d. May, 1850, aged 69. Gardiner, b. 29 Dec, 1801. Caleb B., Col., b. 14 Oct., 1803. Ruth, b. 2 Aug., 1805; m. Hiram Hubbard, of Canandaigua, N. Y., deceased ; 6 children. Francis S., h. '2i June, 180S; fitted for college; d. 26 Nov., 1831, aged 23. Eunice P., h. 25 Nov., 1810; m. Hewes, of Canandaigua, N. Y. Harriet L., b. in New York, 3 March, 1824; m. Henry C. Church, 12 Nov., 1844; res. in Lowell, Mass.; 3 children. Enoch,* Eev. (David,^' John,- John^), b. in B., 2 Jan., 1787; grad. at Middlebury College, 1811 ; preached at Lou- don (1817--37), Northfield and Sanboruton Bridge GENEALOGICAL CORSER. 505 (1838-'43), Epping (1845-48), and other places ; re- moved to B. in 1848, wliere he d. 17 June, 1868, aged 81. He m., 29 May, 1817, Sally, dau. of Col. Joseph Gerrish, of B., who d. 1^ Jan., 1851, aged 64. Samuel B. G., b. 1.5 Nov., 1818; farmer in B.; grad. at Dart. Coll., 1841; teacher for several years. EllzaheOi M. ./., b. 4 Jan., IS-'l ; res. in ]?. Lucrefia jL. F.^ b. 10 Sept., 1823 ; res. in B. SiLAs^ (David,'^ John,2 John^), h. in B., 14 Jan., 1789 ; m., 1st, 1 Nov., 1810, Sarah Annis, of Warner ; 2d, Eveline Keeler ; moved to New York, where he d. 19 March, 1848, aged 59. Children of Sarah : Elhridge B., b. in B., 18 Jan., 1812. Emeline, b. in B.. July, 1814; in. Wright, deceased; res. in Albion, N. Y. RutJi, b. 13 Oct., 1816. Henry H., b. 12 Nov., 1818 ; res. in Cal. Susanna, b. 31 Dec, 1822. Children of Eveline : Henrietta L., b. 16 May, 182^5. Sarah Jane, b. 28 March, 1828. Alartha M., h. 8 Feb., 183'). David W., b. 2.5 March, 1833. Elizabeth, b. 23 June, 183.5. Helen A., b. 17 March, 1838. Ruth, b. 15 June, 1840. LuKE^ (David,3 John,- John^), h. in B., 10 March, 1793; m., 1st, 1824, Mary Clougli, of Loudon, who d. 25 Feb., 1854 ; 2d, Mrs. Elizabeth (Whitney) Bills ; farmer in AVeh- ster. Children of Marj^ : Joseph C, b. 23 Nov., 1824: d. while a student at Gilmanton acad- emy, preparing for college, 13 Oct., 1843, aged 18. Francis H., b. 10 Jan., 1827; d. in Canterbury, 2.5 Feb., 185(j, aged 29 ; ni., Feb., 1850, Sarah Perkins, who d. 30 March, 1863; had Clara, h. in B., 16 Dec, 1850, who m., 11 Jane, 1874, Frank C- Cliurcliill. of Lebanon. David W., b. 19 Aug., 1829; d. 25 May, 1833. David i>., b. 21 Sept., 1835; mechanic in Concord; m. IMary E. Carter, of Concord, 24 May, 1860; has one son, Francis Henri/, b. 15 Feb., 1862. Bliss^^ (David,3 John,2 John^), h. in B.^ 30 Aug., 1795; m., 1st, 1 Julv, 1824, Hannah, dau. of Col. John Farmer, of B., who d. in Portage, N. Y., 4 Feb., 1852 ; 2d, Pru- dence Parmelee, deceased; farmer and inventor; res. in Fairview, Penn. 506 GENEALOGICAL COKSER. Bliss W., b. in B., 29 May, 1826; millwright; res. in East Sagi- naw, M:ch. ; m. INIargaret Gould, of Oswego, N. Y. ; has one son. — Charles F., b. 1857; train-despatcher at Battle Creek, Mich. John F., b. in Brighton, N. Y., 30 Nov., 1834; shoe merchant in Towanda, Peiin. ; m. Hattie E. Smith, 4 Sept., 1861; children,— 7/rt7vy P., h. 13 April, 1864; Archie F., b. 27 July, 1868 ; and John B., b. 14 Oct., 1873. Amos^ (James,^ Thonias,^ John,- Johii^), h. in B., 15 Jnl}', 1793, deceased ; m. Betsey Bean, of Salisbury, 1819 ; farm- er ; res. in B. EUzaheth B., b. 8 Aug., 1820; m. Cyrus Fitz, 1843; res. in Web- ster ; 6 children. Newell J., b. 1824; d. 1829. i?e5ecca .4., b. 31) July, 1827, deceased; m. Wilham Pearson, 3 Jan., 1819 ; res. in Webster; had one sou. William B.^ (Courser) (Moses,* Thomas,^ Jolin,^ John^), b. 1814 ; res. in Warner ; m., 1st, Nancy Morey, 1836 ; 2d, Mary Ann Whipple. Children of Nancy : Thomas /., b. July, 1837 ; m., 1st, Sarah E. Todd, of New London; 2d, 1876^ Addie E. Marden, of New Boston; farmer in Webster; had by Sarah, Emma J.. George TF., and Fred. Nancy, b. Nov., 1838 ; m. George Hand, of Warner. Children of Mary : William M., b. Aug., 1843 ; grocer ; m. and lives in Dover. James H., b. Nov., 1846, deceased ; ra. Abbie Ticknor. 3'Iari/ F., b. 1849: m. George Parker, of Springfield. Ella J., b. Sept., 185;; ; m. John Sawtelle, of Warner. Anna, h. March, 1859. Cykus^ (Jonathan,* Jonathan,^ John,- John^), b. in Thetford, Vt., 13 March, 1802 ; farmer ; m., 1st, Marcia Clough ; 2d, Lucretia Heath, deceased ; res. in Thetford. 3Iarcia /., b. 1841 ; d. 1874, aged 33. Edith, b. 1844. Ellen A., h. 1845; d. 1863. Alphonzo, b. 1851 ; d. 1863. Omer B., b. 1854. Clark^ (Jonathan,* Jonathan,^ John,^ John^), b. in Thetford, Vt., 19 June, 1804 ; m., 1st, Caroline Preston ; 2d, Mercy West, deceased ; farmer in Norwich, Vt. Hersey C. P., b. 5 Dec, 1835 ; foreman in a boot factory, Spencer, Mass.; m, Cynthia E. ; chihhen, —Imogene E., Edgar P.. and George H. Leon W., b. 10 Feb., 1850; res. in Royalston, Mass.; m. and has children. GENEALOGICAL — CORSER. 507 Jonathan^ (Jonathan,* Jonathan,^ Jolm,^ John^), h. in Thetford, Vt., 17 May, 1806 ; m., 1st., Clarissa Woodwortli ; 2d, 1847, Salome Shores, deceased ; farmer in Suffield, Conn., where he d., 1869, aged 63. Martha J., b. 2 Aug., 1840; m. David P. Beebe; res. in Buck- lin, Mo.; has 4 children. Albert J., h. 21 Oct., 184S ; res. in Suffield ; m. Mrs. Elizabeth P. Leach, 26 Aug., 1874. Harriet L., h. 8 March, 1851; drowned, 1856. Azro B., b. 21 Feb., 1853; m. Julia Cook, 15 March, 1876. Mary J., h.l Feb., 1855; ni. Eleazer Lyman, of Suffield; d. 25 Nov., 1872; 1 daughter. EiiASTUS Thomas^ (Josiah,* Jonathan,'^ John,^ John^), b. in Compton, C. E., 26 Jan., 1812 ; m., 1st, Harriet Evans ; 2d, Laura Grow ; 3d, Xancy Ayer ; 4th, Lucy Ayer; farmer; residence (since 1867) in Dummers- ton, Vt. Children of Harriet : Guy T., b. 15 Feb., 1835; paper-maker; m. Ellen M. Gould; has several children. Charles D., b. -1 May, 1838; machinist; res. in Fitchburg, Mass.; m. Priscilla R. Upton; children,— Mar?/, Ilattie L., and William C. Henry C, b. 31 May, 1839; d. 16 Oct., 1862, aged 23. Cellna A., b. 29 April, 1841; m. Frye B. Hopkins, of Springfield. Vt.; 1 daughter. Child of Nancy : Maria A^., b. 10 Oct., 1851 ; m., 3 Nov., 1877, Nelson W. Stevens, of South wick, Mass. Children of Lucy : Frank E., d. young. Alfred, d. young. Adelhert M., b. 30 June, 1863. George E., b. S July, 1865. Mary E., b. 5 July, 1868. Etta C, b. 17 May, 1873. SoLOMOi^ Taft^ (Daniel,'' John,^ John,^ John^), b. in Thetford, Vt., 24 Dec, 1805 ; res. in Portland, Me. ; formerly superintendent of the G. T. E. R., and more recently collector of customs at Portland ; m. Margaret E Sawyer, 1 Jan., 1829. Harriot X., b. 15 Feb., 1830; m. Dr. John M. Cummino-s, of Port- land, 1 March, 1848; 2 children. Georye H., b. 11 Nov., 1831 ; d. 31 Aug., 1850, aged 18. David F., h. 14 Jan., 1835 ; m. Annie E. Brazier ; res. in Port- land; children,— G'eo/v/e H., b. 13 Jan., 1863, and Arthur /.,b. May, 1866. 33 508 GENEALOGICAL CORSER. Margaret E., h. 27 IMarch, 1845; m. Rev. David A. Easton, a clergyman of Danbury, Conn., 7 Dec. 1869; 1 daughter. Hakvey Fisher-^ (Courser), Col. (Daniel,* Jolin,^ Johii,^ John^), b. in Thetford, Vt., 20 Jan., 1809 ; merchant in Nash- ua ; m. Maria Estey, of Nashua, 14 May, 1839. Lucy A., h. 3 April, 1840; m. William H. Greenleaf, 12 Sept., 1865; res. in Nashua; has 2 children. George A., b. 12 Oct., 1842; d. 1 Sept., 1843. Caroline L. E., b. 16 July, 1848; d. 10 Aug., 1849. JoHN^ (John,* John,3 John,^ John^), h. in B., 15 Oct., 1809 ; fit- ted, for college, and completed one term at Dartmouth ; carpenter hy trade ; .settled in Bristol, where he ni. Mary A. Greenough, 1838 ; d. in Fisherville, 21 Aug., 1872. William C, b. 29 Aug., 1839; deceased. Brackett G., h. 5 Sept., 1841 ; merchant tailor in St. Jolinsbury. ' Vt. ; m. Mary G. Hyde, of Meriden, 18()2; children, — Lulu G., h. 10 July, 1865, and William H., b. 24 Dec, 1867. Mary M., b. 4 April, 1843; m. Leroy C. Shear, of New York city. Norman De F., b. 24 Aug., 1845; merchant tailor in Fi;>herville ; served in the w^ar of the Rebellion; ra. Emma E. Session; children,— Z////fm G., b. 9 April, 1870; Harry E., h. 13 Aug., 1871; and Herbert //., b. 17 July, 1873." Freeman^ (David,* John,^ John,'^ John,^), h. in B., 28 April, 1806; m. Harriet Crowell, who d. 19 Feb., 1874, aged 62 ; farmer in Webster. Ariadne A., h. 24 Oct., 1834; m. Edson A. Eastman; res. in Con- cord ; 4 children. Sarepta, b. 20 Sept., 1836 ; d. IG May, 1858, aged 21. Hamilton, b. 17 Aug., 1838; served in the war of the Rebellion; res. in Nevada. Hamlet, b. 13 May, 1843; res. in Webster. David S., h. 6 Aug., 1847; attorney-at-law. Concord; served in (he war of the Rebellion. John C, h. Feb., 1849; res. in Nevada. Edwin G.^ (Eice,* John,^ John,- Jolmi), b. in B., 17 April, 1840; settled on a farm in Illinois, whence he removed to Concord, where he d. 9 May, 1875, aged 35 ; m., 25 Nov., 1862, Bella Pilkington, of Ellsworth, 111. Lizzie L, b. 6 Oct., 1863. Willie E.,h. 12 Aug., 1865. Harry T.,h.l March, 1868. Marcia 0., b. 23 April, 1870. Judith A., b. 29 May, 1873. Gardiner^ (David,* David,^ Jolm,^ John^), b. in B., 29 Dec, 1801 ; farmer ; res. in Gates, N. Y., where he d. 4 GENEALOGICAL CORSER. 600 July, 1840, aged 38 ; m. Mercy Ann Thomas, of Og- den, K Y., 11 Jan., 1825. CJmrles A., b. 25 Sept., 18-25; d. 20 Jan., 1828. Lewis //., b. 11 Marcli, 1827 ; m. Sarah E. Wells, .of Ogden, N. Y.. 22 Feb., 1S.5U ; children, — Arabella and Warren G. Laura A., b. 19 July, 1828: m. Lewis J3at;ley, of Pembroke, N. Y. Frances /., b. 10 Sept., 1830; \n. Edmund Carroll, of Pembroke, N. Y. Charles A., b. 14 April, 1833; in. Sallie Friedline, of Petnbroke, N. Y., 4 July, 1853; children, — Franklin S., Nelson A., Leiois E., Charles E., Melvin D., and Frederic J. Caroline F., b. 3 May, 1835; d. 5 Aug., 18G7, aged 32; m. Jona- than Tiionias, of Ogden, N. Y. Caleb B.,^ Col. (David,*' David,^ Jolin,^ Jolm^), b. in B., 14 Oct., 1803 ; farmer ; settled in Gates, N. Y. ; removed to Rochester in 1863, where he d. 26 April, 1875, aged 71 ; m., 1st, 12 Oct., 1828, Henrietta L. Spencer, of Spencerport, jST. Y. ; 2d, 1841, E. Maria Chapman, of E. Haddam, Conn. Children of Henrietta : Helen L., b. 22 Dec, 1829; m. George R. Poulton, deceased; res. in Spencerport, N. Y. Francis S.,h. 13 July, 1833 ; res. in Rochester, N. Y. Elwood S., b. 3 Oct., 1835. Children of E. Maria: Frederic G., b. 12 June, 1849; architect; res. in Minneapolis, Minn. Caleb E., b. 1851 ; d. in infancy. Henrietta M., b. 1853 ; d. in infancy. Elwood S.« (Caleb B.,^ David,* David,^ John,^ John^), b. in Gates, K Y., 3 Oct., 1835; resides in Minneapolis, Minn. ; real estate dealer, and member of the city government ; has an lionorable record as a soldier in the war of the Eebellion, serving in Co. B., 93d Eeg't N. Y. Vols., from Oct., 1861, to May, 1864, in the various grades from private to compan^^ com- mandant, and receiving a severe wound at Spott- sylvania Court House, 12 May, 1864, which ended his service ; m. 18 Oct., 1861, Mary A. Eoycraft. Marrj E.,h.8T>ec, 18(33. Helen //., b. 13 July, 18G5. 510 GENEALOGICAL COUCH, COUCH. Compiled by Ephraim Little. Joseph^ emigrated from Wales about 1740, and settled first in Newljuryport, but removed to Boscawen, probably in 1768. His name first appears on the tax-list for 1769. He resided where Miss Nancy E. Couch now lives. Died 1784. Married, 1st, Elsie Kowell ; 2d, Mrs. Mary [?] Webster; 3d, Mrs. Muzzey. Children of Elsie : John,h. 1749; d. July, 1837. Elsie, in. John Sawyer, Hopkinton. Benjamin, b. 25 June, 1753; d. 26 April, 1816. Joseph, b. Dec, 1755; d. 7 Feb., 1821. Child of Mary : Mary, b. 22 March, 1761 ; m. Friend Little; d. 14 May, 1834. JoHN^ (Joseph^), m. Polly Gordon ; settled on Battle st. ; moved to Springfield, where he lived seven years ; moved to Salisbury. When he moved to Springfield he was obliged to draw his goods upon a hand-sled for the last seven miles, using snow-shoes. Mrs. Couch fol- lowed in his track, carrying an infant in her arms. Occasionally she would sink so deeply as to be com- pelled to lay the child down on the snow in order to extricate herself. Mr. Couch was an expert with the rifle, and shot three bears near his house in Salisbury — the last that were killed in the vicinity. He was also an expert in throwing stones, killing in one day fourteen partridges in that manner. William, b. 19 Oct., 1775; d. 11 April, 1856. Elsie, m. Nathaniel Ware; settled in Whitefield. John, d. in infancy- John, b. 7 May, 1780 ; d. 7 Oct., 1866. Polly, m. Enoch Colby. j Daniel, killed by a kick from a horse. Joseph, d. young. Abigail, m. Bagley Colby. Amos, b. in Salisbury, 11 May, 1790. Rachel, m. Caleb Watson, Salisbury. Samuel, d. 8 Jan., 1866. Sally, d. in infancy. Benjamin, d. in infancy. Benjamin" (Joseph^) m. Rachel Heath, of Hampstead ; settled on Battle st. ; soldier at Bunker Hill, and was wounded. Nathaniel //., b. 5 Nov., 1777; d. 10 July, 1844. Jose2}h, b. 10 Jan., 1780; d. 1 Aug., 1832. GENEALOGICAL COUCH. 511 Polly P., b. 10 May, 1782; m. William Clough, Ilopkinton ; d. 24 Jan., 186.5. Benjamin, b. 8 March, 1785; d. 8 Aug., 1835. Samuel, b. 25 Jan., 1789 ; d. 1 March, 1858. Sally, b. 5 Feb., 1796 ; m. Ebed Lewis, Newburyport; d. 3 March, 1827. Joseph- (JoseiA^) was soldier in Revolution, enlisting from New- buryport ; m. Sarah Pillsburj^, of that city ; lived on homestead, now residence of Miss Nancy E. Couch. Enoch, b. 23 Nov., 1785; d. 18 Aug., 1789. Sally, b. 23 Aug., 1787; m. Samuel Little; d. 5 June, 1852. Jos^epli, Capt., b. 23 May, 1789; d. at ISTashua, 1851. Enocli, b. 12 April, 1793 ; d. 23 April, 1867. Phehe,h. 2 July, 1798; m. Hershal Green, of Salisbury. Eunice T., b. 4 July, 1810; m. Peter Coffin, of B. William^ (John,^ Joseph^) m., 1st, Polly Quimby; 2d, Sally Little. Children of Polly : Sally, b. 6 June, 1799; m. Daniel C. Sargent, Warner. Sophronia, b. 8 Nov., 1801; m. John Greeley, Salisbury; d. 26 April, 1876. Simeon, b. 15 Jan., 1804 ; d. April, 1836. Hannah, b. 29 May, 1806; m. True Flanders, Salisbury. Abigail, b. 21 Jan., 1809; m., 1st, John Currier; 2d, Joseph L. Couch. Daniel TF., b. 16 Oct., 1812. Albert /., b. 9 March, 1814. Mary, h. 31 Oct., 1816 ; m. Humphrey Jacknian, Warner. Emily M., b. 29 April, 1827 ; m. Alfred S. Hilliard. JoHN^ (John,2 Joseph^) m. Lydia Bean, Salisbury. Sally, b. 21 Jan., 1804 ; m. Paul Pearson, of B. ; d. 27 Nov., 1875. Eliza, h. 8 Dec, 1807; m. Nathan Pearson, of B. ; d. 17 Aug., 1877. Miriam, b. 11 March, 1810; m., 1st, Nathaniel Webster, Salisbury; 2d, Jonas jNlerriam, Concord. John, b. 4 Aug., 1814. Amos^ (John,2 Joseph^) lived in Salisbury ; moved to P., 1821 ; m. Hannah Pay, Henniker, 20 March, 1814, who d. 24 July, 1853. Hale, b. in Salisbury, 26 May, 1814 ; d. 29 Aug., 1853. Eunice, b. in Salisbury, 15 March, 1818. Charles R., b. in B., 22 Oct., 1823; d. 1 Aug., 1824. Charlotte, b. in B., 12 April, 1826 ; m. Moody A. Pillsbury, Jr. Samuel^ (John,^ Joseph^) m., 1st, Susan Call, of B. : 2d, Sally Moody, of B. ' J > J 512 GENEALOGICAL COUCH. Cliililren of Susan : Henry C, b. 28 July, 182L Martha, J., b. 7 May, 1823; d. 28 Oct., 18-16. Georcje W., b. U Aug., 1825; d. 13 July, 1867. Levi IF., b. 19 Sept., 1827. Charles, b. 18 Oct., 1829. Adaline, b. 23 April, 1833; m. Nathan Tucker, Salisbury. I^ATHANiEL H.^ (Benjamin,^ Joseph^), m. Elizabeth Calef, Salis- bury. Nancy A., b. 15 Jan., 1801; m. Amos Stone ; d. 2 Nov., 1874. Polly, b. 8 Dec, 1805 ; d. 27 Dec, 1823. John G., b. 26 April, 18(j9. Joseph^ (Benjamin," Joseph^), a prominent school teacher; one of the founders of the Christian Union Society ; m. Meele Howard, Salisbury. Samuel Dana, b. 30 Jan., 1806; d. 30 March, 1872. Joseph Lancj, b. 19 Feb., 1810. He was for many years an instruc- tor of youth, having taught fourteen terms in B., besides teaching in a neighboring town. Enjoys in large measure the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Has been many years justice of the peace and quorum. Married Mrs. Abigail Currier. Eliza, b. 8 Jan., 1814; m. Samuel L. Couch. Benjamin, b. 3 April, 1817; m. Lydia S. Currier, Hill; moved to Warner. Sarah, h. 4 Feb., 1820; ni. Erastus Bugbee ; d. in Chelsea, Yt., 3 April. 1860. Gerrish, b. 2 July, 1825; d. 20 Nov., 1846. Benjamin^ (Benjamin,^ Joseph^) m. Sally Morse, of B. Prescott, b. 17 May, 1809 ; d. 4 April, 1837. James S., b. 7 May, 1811; d. 21 June, 1877. Amos A., h. 23 June, 1815; ni. Abigail S. Remick. Plummer, h. in B., 8 Feb., 1818; d. 20 April, 1859, Peoria county, 111. Piachel, b. 20 May, 1820 ; ni. Stephen Blaisdell, Goffstown. Benjamin Calvin, b. 19 Sept., 1822; ni. INIartha J. Calef, Salis- bury; lives in Tiskilwa, 111. Harriman, b. 22 Mav, 1825; m. Phebe A. Parslial, 111. Caleb Kniqht, b. 11 June, 1829; m. Sophia H. Hall, 111.; d. 4 Feb., 1867. Samuel^ (Benjamin,- Joseph^) m. Eunice Howard, Salisbury. Samuel L., b. 29 Jan., 1815; d. 2 July, 1872. Hiram il/., b. 16 Feb., 1818; d. 13 Dec, 1862 ; physician in George- town, Mass. Ira Harris, b. 17 July, 1821. Elhridge D., b. 27 July, 1825. Ellen 21., b. 5 April, 1835. GENEALOGICAL COUCH. 513 Joseph^ (Joseph,- Joseph^) m. Mehitable Pettiiigill, of Salisbury, 1816. She d. Sept., 1874. Enoch P., b. 26 Jan., 1819 ; m. Clarinda E. Kirk, 1844. Joseph, b. 1821 ; d. 1828. Enoch^ (Joseph,"-^ Joseph^) m., 1st, Nancy Eastman ; 2d, Jane 0. Stickney. Children of Jane : Nancy E., b. 12 Feb., 1835. Joseph, h. 22 March, 1837; d. 14 IMarcli, 1872. Mart/ S., b. 12 June, 1844; m. Orlando Whitney; d. 17 April, 1876, leaving one child, Herbert C, h. 16 Nov., 1867. Simeon* (William,'^ John," Joseph^) m. Eosamond Colby, of War- ner. Edgar 0.. h. 2 Jan., 1834 ; soldier in war of It^bcUion ; died in isebel prison at Danville, Va., 16 Jan.. 1865. diaries H., b. 22 Jan., 1836; m. IVIarinda Morrill. Simeon A., b. June, 1838; m. Mrs. Barr. Daniel W.* (William,^ John,^ Joseph^) m., 1st, Mary A. Davis, New London ; 2d, Ednor J. Austin, Sutton. Children of Islary : Edmond D., b. 24 July, 1840. Sarah J., b. 7 Jan., 1842. Emlli/ il/., b. 24 June, 1844; d. 11 April, 1875. Kate P., b. 18 Aug., 1846; d. 3 March, 1861. Charles H., b. 20 July, 1848. Laura A., b. 14 March, 1850, John T., h. 10 May, 1853. Children of Ednor : Daniel A.,h. 31 Oct., 1857. Frank IF., b. 21 July, 1861. Cora E.,h. 13 May, 1865. Alonzo, b. 23 June," 1871. Albert J.* (William,^ John," Joseph^) m., 1st, Ruth Sargent, Warner ; 2d, Abbie B. Smith, Weare. Children of Ruth : Calvin P. ,'b. 2 Sept., 1835. Retire il/., b. 5 April, 1839; m., 1st, Minnie Leavitt ; 2d, Sarah Goodrich. Marietta L., b. 31 March, 1841 ; d. 3 Nov., 1873. Ellen il/., b. 16 May, 1843; ra. Cyrus Dow, Warner. Albert R., b. 20 Sept., 1848; d. 20 Nov., 1851. Children of Abbie : Abbie B., b. 23 Dec, 1855; m. Leroy C. Stevens, Manchester. Lizzie K., b. 14 Aug., 1857; d. 14 March, 1858. WintJirop 5.,b. 1 Oct., 1859. 514 GENEALOGICAL COUCH. JoH>-* (John,'^ Johu,- Joseph^) in., 1st, Almeda Greeley, Frank- lin ; 2d, Maria Pickering, Barustead. Cliildren of Almeda : Benjamin Warren^ b. 15 Aug., 1837. Clara A., b. 4 Jan., 1840; m. Charles Rowell; d. 8 May, 1867. Eliza J., b. 15 Aug., 1842; m. Edward Clougli, Canterbury. Hale* (Amos,^ John," Josepli^) m. Adeline Hale. Horace, b. 4 Nov., 1846; m. Clara F. Burpee; d. 19 Aug., 1872. Henry C* (Samuel,^ Jolin,^ Joseph) m., 1st, Sarah J. Melvin, of Weare ; 2d, Emily C. Page, of Warner. Child of Sarah : Frank il/., b. 24 Dec, 1850; d. 25 June, 1851. Children of Emily : Sara7iJ.,h. 7 Nov., 1857. Clarence E., b. 4 Aug., 1859. Ida E., b. 13 March, 1861. EllaF., b. 16 July, 1864. Carrie E.,h.S Sept., 1866. Eddie, b. 28 Sept., 1872. George W.* (Samuel,^ John,- Joseph^) m. Mehitable Eastman, Warner. Frank S., b. 17 June, 1857. William O., b. 18 Aug., 1860. Herbert G., b. 23 Sept., 1863. Samuel M,, b. 4 April, 1866. Levi W.* (Samuel,^ John,^ Joseph^) m. Mary J. Abbott. Arthur v., b. 24 Aug., 1860. Alice v., b. 4 May, 1864 ; d. 19 Sept., 1865. Annie L., b. 26 April, 1867; d. 27 April, 1867. Carlos I., b. 16 July, 1869. JIary H., b. 31 Oct., 1874. Charles* (Samuel,^ John,- Joseph^) m., 1st, Lucretia M. Abbott, of Plymouth ; 2d, Mrs. Judith Bullock, of B. Child of Lucretia: Levant M., b. 27 Jan., 1868; d. 21 Sept., 1872. John Gilman* (Nathaniel H.,^ Benjamin,- Joseph^) m. Eliza Calef. Infant, b. 10 Mav, 1844; d. 11 May, 1844. David N., b. 23 July, 1846. JohnB.,h.2Q Aug., 1849. Samuel Dana* (Joseph,^ Benjamin,- Joseph^) m. Hannah Stone. Henry J., h. 23 April, 1831. George S., b. 22 Sept., 1833. Waller S., b. 22 Sept.. 1837. Clam J., b. 17 Aug., 1844; m. John M. Meserve, Lawrence, Mass. GENEALOGICAL COUCH. 515 Prescott* (Benjamin,^ Beujamin/- Joseph^) la. Jane W. Sliat- tuck. George P., b. 10 Feb., 1835 ; d. 15 July, 1837. James S.^ (Benjamin,^ Benjamin/- Josepli^) m. Mary .Eastman, Hopkinton. Raclid C, b. 23 April, 1815; m. Luke Call, Jr. Plummek/ Rev. (Benjamin,^ Benjamin-) moved to Illinois ; was Methodist minister tliere ; tn. Clarissa Brooks, Elm Grove, Tazewell county. 111., 26 Sept., 1839. Calvin B., b. 10 Nov., 1840. Manj E., b. 9 Nov., 1812; m. Rev. T. S. Fowler, Limestoue, 111., Dec, 1876. Sarah.h. 18 March, 1815; d. 29 April, 1815. Lulher, b. 3 June, 1816. Lewis C, b. 29 July, 1818; d. 20 Feb., 1859. Clara E.,h. 8 May, 1851; m. Veeder Vanpetter, Limestone, 111., 1870. Ella M., b. 22 Oct., 1853; d. 22 March, 1856. Thomas B., b. 16 Nov., 1855; m. Mary Branson, Kingston, 111., 19 March, 1877. Fm«/.:P., b. 3 Sept., 1857. Francelia E., b. 22 Sept., 1859. Samuel Lyman^ (Samuel,^ Benjamin/-^ Joseph^) m. Eliza Couch. Warren, b. 7 July, 1811. Joseph, b. 18 Feb., 1843. Silas W., b. 5 Jan., 1816. Calvix P.5 (Albert J.,* William^) m. Martha Kennedy, Concord, Nov., 1865. Justin D, b. 11 Aug., 1866; d. 27 May, 1872. Itoswell S., b. 13 Dec, 1867. Maud A., h. 6 Nov., 1872. Bexjamin Warken^ (John,* John,*' John') m. Susie C. Wood- Avard, Hartland, Vt., 3 March, 1864. John H., b. 15 June, 1865. Benjamin W., b. 19 Aug., 1873. Hexry J.^ (Samuel D.,* Joseph,^ Benjamin-) m. Mary E. Davis, 1 Jan., 1857. Charles H., b. 30 Sept., 1858. Arthur D., b. 30 Sept., 1861; d. 17 Jan., 1863. Alfred G., b. 21 Aug., 1863; d. 26 Aug.. 1863. Omar E., b. 2 Dec, 1864. Grace Ina, b. 1 Oct., 1866; d. 17 Oct., 1866. George S.^ (Samuel D.,* Joseph,^ Benjamin^) m., 1st, Susan B. Webster, 11 Jan., 1860 ; 2d, Helen E. Davis. •516 GENEALOGICAL — DANFORTH. Children of Susan : Herhert W., b. 23 June, 1861; d. 30 Nov., 1861. Almon W., b. 2 Jan., 1863. Lilian M., b. 22 Feb., 1867. Walter S.^ (Samuel D.,* Josejih/'' Benjamin^) m. Sarah J, Webster. Albert I., h. 12 July, 1867. Calvin B.,^ Rev. (Plummer,* Benjamin^) m. Mattie K. Zoll, Ver- mont, Fulton Co., BL, 22 Oct., 1867. Willie A., b. 23 April, 1870. Frank H., h. 20 J i\]y, 1873. DANFORTH. William^ was born in London, probably 1653. He was a resi- dent of Newbury, 1667. His first wife died 18 Oct., 1678, leaving no children. He married, 2d, Sarah Thorla. William. Mary. Richard, b. 31 June, 1080. John, b. 8 Dec, 1681; d. Oct., 1772. Jonathan, b. 18 May. 1685. Thomas, b. 11 Sept", 1088. Francis, b. 15 March, 1691. Joseph, b. 12 May, 109^. NatHxINIel,^ grandson of the above, was one of the first settlers of B., came 1733. Abigail, b. 7 Jan., 1735 — the first child born in B. She m. Thomas Foss. Elkannah, in. Mary Flanders, dan. of Jacob; he lived on Fish st.; had son, Joshua, who took the name of Joshua Carleton. William,^ probably brother of Nathaniel, a grandson of William^ ; m. Flood ; came to B., 1733 ; owned at one time the mill at head of King st. William, b. 18 Aug., 1748; m. Olive Elliot; d. 13 Oct., 1838. Jedediah, m. Rix, dau. o£ Nathaniel Rix. Marij, m. John Johnson. Susan, m. Nathan Corser. William* (William''), b. 18 Aug., 1748 ; m. Olive Elliot. Polly, b. 22 Nov., 1772; m. Folsom Bean, Ruth, b. 20 Feb., 1777 ; m. Seth Conner. Enoch, b. 19 Oct., 1774; m. Hannah Haines. William, b. 22 Jan., 1780; ra. Betsey Putney; d. 24 Sept., 1846. .John, b. Aug;., 1784; d. in infancy. John, b. 18 iDec, 1785; m. Bernice Corser; d. 18 Feb., 1850. Edmund, b. 8 July, 1791; m. Rhoda Cloagh; d. 24 Oct., 1854. GENEALOGICAL — DANFORTH. 51T William^ (William^), h. 22 Jan., 1780 ; m. Betsey Putney ; d. 24 Sept., 1846. John Putney, h. ii Oct., 1811; m. Susan S. ruhiey. Polly, h. 3 Feb. 1815; m. Nathan Kilhinn. Tainson, b. 1 March, 1817; in. Josepli W. Jackman; lives in B. Albert, h. 21 Dec, 1819; m., 1st, Mary A. Fitts ; ^d, Elizabeth Nichols; Sd, Rosanna E. Sanders. William, b. 2 May, 1823 ; m., 1st, Martha Sever ; 2d, Lncia Nichols; lives in Minn. ; civil enyineer. Orplm, b. 22 Jan., 1827; d. U Aug., 1818. Edmund^ (William*), h. 8 July, 1791 ; m. Elioda Clougli. Hannah, b. 21 Dec, 1819; m. Daniel Milton. Rhoda, b. 3 Sept.. 1821; d. 21 June, 1834. Enoch, b. 4 May, 1825; m.,lst, Melissa Colby; 2d, Lydia Fisk; lives in Hopkinton. Georfje Sullivan, b. 6 May, 1827; m., 1st, Maria Colby; 2d, Susan Gwiu; lives in San Francisco. Reuben C, b. 17 Aug., 1829 ; m. Anna M. Dow; lives in Concord. Charles S.. b. 14 Nov., 1831 ; m. Fanny W. Wallace; lives in Con- cord. Edmund, b. 12 Jan., 1834; m. Mary Safferty; lives in Cal. Rhoda Roseita, b. 11 March, 1843 ; m. Josiah C. Shaw, JoHN^ (William*), b. 18 Dec, 1785 ; m. Bernice Corser. Orin, b. June, 1831 ; m. Abra Morrill ; lives in Gloucester, Mass.; cliildren, — Arthur, JSlary M(n-rill. Etta (christened Mehitahle),h. 16 Oct., 1834 ; m. A. P. Bennett; d. 27 May, 1876. PvEUBEJf C.« (Edmund,MVilliam,* William^), b. 17 Aug., 1829; m. Anna M. Dow, of Concord, 20 June, 1860. Marian Elena, b. 8 June, 1862 ; d. 1 Feb., 1863. Marian Louisa, b. 25 April, 1864. Carrie L., b. 26 July, 1867 ; d. 29 Oct., 1867. Harry ^., b. 1 Jan., 1876. Enoch« (Edmund^), b. 4 May, 1824 ; m., 1st, Melissa Colby ; 2d, Lydia Fisk. Nancy A., Edward Everett, Edmund. George Sullivan® (Edmund^), b. 6 May, 1827 ; m., 1st, Maria Colby ; 2d, Susan Clwin. Edmund, Harry. Edmund® (Edmund^), b. 12 Jan, 1834 ; m. Mary Safferty ; four children. John Putney® (William^) m. Susan Putney. Henry P., b. Nov., 1845. Emily J., b. June, 1848. 518 GENEALOGICAL DLX. Albert*' (William^) m., 1st, Mary Ann, dan. of Ri.liard Fitts, of B. : 2d, Nancy Elizabeth Nidiols ; 3d, Mrs. E. E. Sanders. Children of Mary Ann : • Fltts Albert, b. 7 June, 1810. Mary Ann, infant ; d. 9 Feb., 1851. Children of Nancy Elizabeth : Lucius Nichols, b. 2 April, 18.51. Manj Lizzie, b. 18 Oct., 1857. Child of R. E. Sanders : Emma Lucinda, 22 Feb., 18G1. William" (William^) m., 1st, Martha Sever; 2d, Lncia Nichols. Children of Lucia : William, b. 1861. Lucia, b. Sept., 1865. DIX. Compiled by Alfred Little. Ealph,! one of the early settlers of Ipswich, Mass. ; a fisherman ; removed to Eeading, 1662; m. Esther ; died there 24 SejDt., 1688. John, b. 1659; d. 12 March, 1745. Samuel, b. 1661. Stephen, b. 1664; d. young. Stejihen, b. 1672. Sarah. John- (Ealph^) lived on the homestead at Eeading; m., 1st, Ly- dia ; 2d, Anna, widow of Joseph Fitch, 1700. Children of Lydia : iS;,^. and d. 1693. Lydia, b. 1695; d. 1709. Sarah, b. 1697. Elizabeth, b. 1699. Children of Anna : Anna. b. 1702. Samuel, b. 1706. Mary b. 1708. Jonathan, b. 11 April, 1710. James, b. 1712. Edson, b. 1714. [See Hist. Reading.] GENEALOGICAL — DLX. 519 JoxATHAN^ (Jolin,^ Ealph^), h. at Reading ; was a tanner at Lit- tleton, Mass. ; removed to B. ; died there at the resi- dence of his son, Timothy, 24 Dec, 1804, aged 94 years, 8 months, 13 days ; was member of church more than 75 years ; m., 1st, Sarah, dan. of Eev. Ben- jamin Shattuck, of Littleton, Mass., 28 June, 1739, who d. there 30 Sept., 1775, aged 55 years, 9 months, 17 days [see Shattuck Memorial]; 2d, Miriam Le- land, of Hollis, Jan., 1779, who d. there about 1833, aged nearly 90. One of Sarah's children was Tlmothi, b. 7 Dec, 1743; d. 1824. Child of Miriam : j\Iiruiin, d at LloUis, aged about 30. Timothy* (Jonathan,^ John^) settled in B. ; was post-master for many years ; removed to Pembroke, where he died. Married, 1st, Eachel Burbank, of Bow, 13 Aug., 1769 ; 2d, Mrs. Brown ; 3d, Mrs. Eliza Cunningham, of Pembroke. Chililren of Rachel : TiwolJi!/, d. at French Mills, C. E., 14 Xov., 1S13. Jusicih Brown, d. iu chililhood. Timothy,^ Col. (Timothy,'* Jonathan^) was merchant in B. [see Biog.] ; m., 1st. Abigail Wilkins, of Amherst, 20 March. 1792, who d. 3 Dec, 1808 ; 2d, Lucy Hart- well, of Littleton, Mass., 3 July, 1809; who d. 30 Dec, 1863. Children of Abigail : Abigail WilJdn:^, b. 19 Nov., 1792; d. 9 Mav, 1852 ; m. Gen. Moody A. PiUsbury, of B., 1 Oct., 1818. Rachel Durhanl; b. 18 April, 1794; d. 15 Jan., 1827, at Malta; m. Rev. Daniel Temple, of Reading, Mass., 4 Dec, 1821. Were missionaries at Malta, for which place they sailed 2 Jan., 1822. Timollni Fuller Shattuck, b. 11 Feb., 179G ; d. 16 Oct., 1808. John A<, b. 24 July, 1798. Soj>hla Wilkin.'<, b. 1 May, 1800; d. 26 Jan., 1835, Portland, Me. ; m. Joshua C. Plummer, of B., 25 Dec, 1828. Marion Means, b. 17 April, 1802 ; d. July, 1860, iu Brookline, Mass.; m. John \Y. Sullivan, 15 Dec, 1825. Lucy Jane, b. 8 April, 1804; d. 9 Feb.. 1858, in Bradford, Pa.; m. 1st, Philip H. Webster, of Bristol, 31 May, 1826, mer. chant at Danbury, who d. 7 Dec, 1830; 2d, Col. Leavitt C. Little, formerly of B., 30 June, 1837; lived at Bradford, Pa, 520 GENEALOGICAL DURGIN. Louisa Frances, b. 22 July, 1S06; m., 1st, Gen. Moody A. Pills- bury, of B., 25 Nov., 1852; 2d, Rev. Edward Buxton, of Webster, 29 Dl^c., 1871. Martlia Sherman, h. 16 Oct., 18U8; d. 11 Jan., 1809. Children of Lucy : Roger Sherman, b. 7 June, 1810; d.7 Jan., 1819, Hillsborough, Pa. Timothy Broivne, b. 21 Jan., 1812. Catherine Hartwell, b. 19 May, 1813; m. Hon. John A. BoUes, Washington, D. C. JoHX A.,® Gen. (Timothy,^ Col., Timothy*), m. Catharine Morgan, of New York city, 29 May, 1826. [See Biog.] Morgan, b. 1 Nov., 1827, in New York; rector of Trinity church, of that city; m. Emily Woolsey Souther, of New York city, 6 June, 1874. Baldwin, h. 28 Nov., 1829, at Cooperstown, N. Y.; d. 1852, New York city. John Will-ins, b. 8 Dec, 1832, at Albany, N. Y.; d. 21 April, 1877, in New York city. Elizabeth Morgan, h. 7 May, 1835, at Albany; m. Charles F. Blake, New York city, 11 April, 1860. Charles Temple, h. 25 Feb., 1838, at Albany; m. Camilla Ottalie Watson, in Loudon, Eug., 9 March, 1868; d. at Rome, March, 1872. Catharine Morgan, b. 14 Jan., 1843, in Madeira; m. Thomas Walsh, in Paris, 16 April, 1868. Anna Maria, b. and d. July, 1847, East Hampton, N. Y. EoGER SiiEUMAiS-,*' Licut. Col. (Timotliy,^ Col., Timotliy*), m. Mrs. Mary Dean. [See Biog.] Catharine Morgan, Emma Sherman^ Fannij Beall. Timothy Browne'' (Timothy,^ Col., Timothy*) m. Caroline L. Gibbs, Dec, 1847. Florence. Evelyn. Roger Sherman, b. 10 Dec, 1861. DURGIK Compiled by Mrs. E. W. Durgin. William-' came from England with a brother, 1690, and settled in Mass. William,^ b. 1717 ; m. Hannah Elliott ; had seven sons and fire daughters ; settled in Epping ; moved thence to San- bornton, 1768 ; d. 1787. JoHN,^ b. 13 Aug, 1756 ; m. Lydia Morrison ; had eight children ; d. 16 Oct., 1848. GENEALOGICAL — EASTMAN. 521 Samuel Morklsox,* b. 20 July, 1790 ; moved to B., 1812, '13 ; m. Hannah, dau. Capt. Joseph Pearson, of Haverhill ; settled in the valley near the church ; erected building now occupied by Charles J. Chadwick and son, for dressing cloth and carding wool. He manufactured hand spinning and linen wheels ; carried on carriage- making and wheelwright business. He was deputy sheriff for many years, and selectman, and held vari- ous other offices of trust. He was a kind neighbor and an excellent citizen. He d. 19 June, 1874. His wife, b. 1 Jan., 1788, d. 15 Feb., 18G9. Horace Johnson, b. 20 June, 1817; m. Jane, widow of Simeon Stevens, of Andover, I\Iass.; resides in Lawrence, Mass; one child, Maria, b. 19 Nov., 1850. Susan Pearson, b. 19 May, 1820; m. H. N. Atkinson; d. 10 May, 1869. Sarah Ann, b. U May, 1822. Isaac Pearson, b. 8 June, 1826. Ezekiel Webster, b. 15 June, 1831. Isaac Pearson^ (Samuel M.*) m. Eliza J., dau. of James M. Mitchell, 26 Dec, 1851. Plumie A., b. 18 Sept., 1853; d. 4 Oct., 1853. Annie C, b. 24 Jan., 1855; d. 7 June, 1865. 3Iary S., b. 15 June, 1857. Willie L, b. 29 Aug., 1859. Eddie C, b. 31 Dec, 1863. Ezekiel W.^ (Samuel M.*) m. Mary A., dau. of Lysias Emerson, 25 Dec, 1866. Everett W., h. 23 Sept., 1867. Sarah Edith, b. 20 Jan., 1871. Mary Alice, b. 11 June, 1872. Frank H., h. 13 March, 1875. EASTMAN. Compiled by William Temple. E/OGER^ came from England in 1640 ; settled at Salisbury. Joseph^ (Benjamin,^ Eoger^) was the youngest son of Benjamin and I^aomi (Flanders) Eastman ; b. in Salisbury, Mass., 17 July, 1700 ; m., 24 Sept., 1724, Mrs. Doro- thy (Lindsey) Quimby. Elizabeth, b. 1 May, 1725. Sarah, b. 24 Nov.,' 1726. Naomi, b. 17 Dec, 1728; m. Joseph Long, of Chester. Benjamin, b. 9 Sept., 1730; lived where Hamilton P. Gill now lives. Elenor, b. 16 April, 1732. 522 GENEALOGICAL EASTMAN. TimnfJuj, m. Hannah Richardson, d. 1820, aged 87. Susanna, m. Winthrop Carter, of B.; d. 1828, aged 90. Jeremiah, b. in B., 5 Feb., 1740. The other children were b. in Salisbury, Mass. Joseph,'* C;ipt. (Joseph,^ John,^ Roger^) m., 1st, Elizalx'th Jack- inau, dau. of George Jackman ; 2d, Abigail Eastman, of Coiicord. He was captain N. H. Rangers; moved to Concord; d. 1815, aged 95. [See Biog.] Cliilclren of Elizabeth : Willianh b. 12 Feb., 1708; ra. Phebe Elliot; settled at Horse Hill. Elizabeth, b. 19 Sept., 1761; d. young. Children of Abigail: Ilenrtf, h. 12 July, 17G5. Jame^, b. 5 Aug., 1707. Doroth/j. b. 7 Aug., 1769. Nathan, h. -W July, 1772. Naomi, b. 1 1 Feb., 1775. Polli/, b. 15 Oct., 1780. Sarah, b. 30 Ju]y,178o. Bexjamin* (Joseph^) m. Snsannah Jackman ; resided in B. till 1781 ; moved to Newport. Jeremiah, b. 2 July. 1758. Johnson, b. 15 JMarch, 1704. Susannah, b. Aug.. 1766. Ezra, b. 4 Jane,l7(i9. Enoch, b. 26 Oct., 1772. Amos, b. 18 Dec, 1774. Hannah, b. IS March, 1777. Benjamin, b. 22 June, 1781. Susannah, b. 6 March, 1784. TiMOTHV* (Joseph^), h. 1733 ; m. Hannah Richardson, of Chester. Sarah, b. 2 Jan., 1760; ni. Moses Morse; d. 16 July, 1837. Hannah, b. 9 May, 1761 ; m. Daniel Burbank. Priscilla, h. 2 May, 1763 ; m. Abraham Sweat. Thomas, b. 1 Nov., 1764; m. Lois Baker. Lydia, b. 25 Aug., 1766; m. Jonathan Ball. Enoch, b. 31 INlarch, 1770; m., 1st, Betsey Bartlett; 2d, Judith Adams. Pearson, b. 8 Oct., 1772; ni. Martha Sweat. Jeremiah, b. 29 Dec, 1774; m. Rebekah Corser. Timothy, b. 2 Dec, 1776; m. Dorothy Hunt. Jonathan, b 17 Sept., 1778; ra. Susan Vale. Polly, m. David Wilharas. GENEALOGICAL ELLIOT. 623 ELLIOT. Compiled by John Kimball. Joseph^ moved from Newtou to the " Borough/' in Concord, 19 Feb., 1778. He m. Lydia Goodwin, M'ho was b. in Newton, 30 Jan., 1753, and d. 6 June, 1856 [see His- tory of Concord, p. 651]. On the one hundredth an- niversary of her birth, interesting services were held at the house of her son, David Elliot. She was m. in 1773. Salli/, m. Hezekiah Hiitcliins, Rumford, Me. Poll//, m. Leonard Whitney. Dacifl, m.Mehitable Farnum; resided at the "Borough," in Con- cord. Joseph, m. Dorcas Farniuu. Frederic, m. Nancy Colby. Jacob. Samuel, m. Emma Sargent, Kumford. Benjamin, b. 20 April, 1789. Judith, ni. David Colby, Rumford. Eleanor, m. Jacob Lufkin, Rumford. Lydia, m. Nathaniel Simpson, Concord. Benjamin^ (Joseph^), born at the "Borough," in Concord; m. Judith Colljy, whose father lived on Dagody hill. They settled first in Concord, and afterwards at the bend of the Contoocook river, in B., near the resi- dence of Calvin Gage ; d. July, 1865. His wife, b. April, 1794, d. Sept., 1842. Rlwda, b. 22 Sept., 1813; m. Enos Hntchins. Parney,h. 20 Aug., 1815; m., 1st, Chase Fowler; 2d, Alplieus Clough. Joseph, b. 23 Sept.. 1817; m. Phebe Hutchins ; d. 22 Feb., 1853. Sarah, b. 5 July, 1819 ; lives in Oregon. Benjamin, b. 8 June, 1821; m. Mary Putney; d. Aug., 1868. Phebe J., b. 6 June, 1823 ; m. Samuel K. Blanchard. Dorcas C, b. 28 Aug., 1825 ; m. Cyrus F. Fletcher, of West Con- cord. Freeman. b.l9 Sept., 1827. Lucy, b. 8 Sept., 1829 ; d. 8 May, 1831. Alfred, b. 5 Sept., 1832. Jonathan^ (another family) m. Naomi Swett. Moses. Lois, resided in the house now occupied by Luther Gage ; m. Enoch Gerald. MosES^ (Jonathan^), b. at Newton ; grad. at Dart, college 1808 ; m. Sarah Parsons, of Newbury, Mass.; was at one time settled as a Congregational minister in Beading, Vt. ; resided on Queen street (South) ; d. at Temple- ton, Ma.ss., 9 May, 1849. Luther C, Milton, Milton, Henry M., Maria, Elijah P., Snphronia Moses, Sarah, Jonathan, Mathew P., Richard, Lois. ' 34 524 GENEALOGICAL ELLS\YORTH, FARMER. ELLSWOETH. Samuel m. Paith, dau. of Ezra Ahhot. of Concord [see Abbot], 24 March, 1829 ; d. 6 Sept., 1872. Wlllinm G., h. 14 Feb., 1830 ; d. 8 ]\Iay, 1854. Jeremiah L., b. 1:^ March, 1831 ; d. 5 June, 1881. Charles J., b. 3 Dec, 1833; m. Henrietta O. Swett. John T., b. 10 Feb., 1835; d. 6 Oct., 1867. Amanda H., b. 8 Jan., 1846 ; d. S Nov., 1863. EAEMER. Compiled by Mrs. C. C. Coffin. The Earmers of America came from the vicinity of Ansley, WarNYicksliire, England, of \Yhich place John Farnner was a sub- stantial citizen in 1604. JoHN,^ of Anslejr, probably son of the above, married Isabella Barbage, of Great Parkinston. He died in Ansley in 1669. His widow, Isabella, came to Mass., with some of her children, and settled in Billerica. She subsequently m. Elder Thomas Wiswall, of Cambridge, now Newton. She d. in Billerica, Dec, 1683, very aged. Edwakd- (John^), b. at Ansley, 1641, came to Mass., 1670-1673 ; settled in Billerica ; admitted to town privileges 11 Jan., 1673. He lived a short time in Woburn ; held offices of trust and honor ; m. Mary ; d. in Billerica, 27 May, d.727, aged 86. His homestead has remained in the family for seven generations. Saroh, b. in England; m. her cousin, Thomas Pollard, of Coven- try, England, who came to Billerica. She d. 3 May, 1725. John, b. 19 Aug., 1071; m. Abigail ; d. 9 Sept., 1736. Edward, b. 22 March, 1674; m. Mary Richardson; d. 17 Dec, 1752. il/any, b. 3 Nov., 1675. _^ Barberry, b. 26 Jan.. 1677. EUzahelh, b. 17 May, 1680; m. "William Green, of Maiden. Thomas, b. 8 Jan., 1638; m. Sarah Hunt; d. in Hollis, 1767. Oliver^ h. 2 Feb., 1686; m. Abigail Johnson, of Woburn; d. 23 Feb., 1761, at Billerica. Oliver^ (Edward,^ John^), b. 2 Feb., 1686 ; m. Abigail Johnson. Abigail, b. 22 Dec, 1717: d. 1718. Abigail, h. 14 Jan., 1719 ; m. Jonathan Richardson, of Billerica. Mary, b. 26 Aug., 1721 ; m. WiUiam Baldwin, of Billerica; d. Sept., 1803. Sarah, } . i,, -n „ i-oq. S ™- Edward Jewett, Rowley; d. 1819. Rebecca, \ ^- -** ^^c, 1< -d, j j^^_ Samuel Rogers, of Billerica ; d. 30 Aug., 1809. Oliver, b. 31 July, 1728. 'S %,. ^^ x ^C^zC GENEALOGICAL FARMER. 625 Isabella, b. 2 March, H^il; m. Benjamin Warren, of Billerica; d. 28 Feb., 1761. Eilward, b. 24 Feb., 1734: m. Sarah Brown ; d. 19 Aug., 1811. Jolin^ b. 7 Dec, 1787; m., 1st, Hannah Davig; 2d, Mrs. Sarah (Russell) Adams. John* (Oliver,^ Edward,^ Jolini), b. 7 Dec, 1737 ; ra., 1st, Hannah Davis ; 2d, Mrs. Sarah (Russell) (Bowers) Adams. Sarah Russell was directly connected with the Russell family, so long prominent in English history, — Lord William Russell, beheaded in the tower — a woman of rare virtues and character. She was born in Dracut, Mass. ; m., 1st., Bowers ; 2d, Adams ; 3d, John Farmer. Upon the death of her third hus- band, she came to B. with her children, John and Hannah, to be near her children by her first marriage, who had become citizens of B. She lived to the age of 95, in possession of all her faculties, with the excep- tion of sight, of which she was deprived for more than 30 years. She d. in Pembroke, March, 1846. Children of Hannah : Hannah, Rebecca^ Abigail^ Polhj^ John, Lucy. Children of Sarah : /o/;/i, Col., b. 11 Dec, 1791; m. Sally Gerrish, dau. of Moses Ger- rish, of B. ; d. 17 July, ISof). [See Biog. ] Hannah, b. 15 Dec, 1794; m. Bliss Corser, of BT; d. 4 Feb., 1852, Portage, N. Y. JoHN,^ Col. (John,* Oliver,-'' Edward,^ John^), b. 11 Dec, 1791; m. Sally Gerrish, 11 Feb., 1819. [See Biog.] Moses Gerrish, Prof., b. 9 Feb., 1820; m. Hannah T. Shapleigh ; resides in Newport, R. I. [See Biog.J Page French, b. 28 June, 1821; d. 27 July, 1822. John Page, b. 24 Sept., 1823; m. Martha Locke, Great Falls; re- sides in Minn. Sallie Russell, b. 30 Aug., 1826; m. Charles C. Coffin: resides in Boston. Jane Greg, ^ b. 7 June, 1828; ni. Ephraim Little, of Webster; > d. 27 June, 1867. Jeremiah Otis, ) b. 7 June, 1S28; d. 6 Dec, 1828. Moses Gerrish« (John,^ Col, John,* Oliver, "), b. 9 Feb., 1820 ; m. Hannah T. Shapleigh, of l^lliot. Me. [See Biog.] Sarah Jane, b. 22 July, 1847. Clarence, b. 26 May, 1860; d. 27 May, 1860. J OHN Page« (John,5 Col., John," Oliver^), b. 24 Sept., 1823 ; m. Martha Locke, Great Falls. John Quincg, b. 23 Feb., 1848 ; d. 8 May, 18.57. Martha Jane, b. 17 June, 1851; d. 10 March 1857. Mary White, h. 22 March, 1853. Charles Russell, b. 11 March, 1855. 526 GENEALOGICAL — FELLOWS. FELLOWS. Tlie Eellows familj^ of Boscawen and Salisbury are descend- ants of JoHN,-^ of Kingston. MosES'^ was born in Kingston, 9 Aug., 1755; settled in Salis- bury ; m. Sarah, daii. of Reuben Stevens, of Plais- tow ; d. 1846. Hezekiah, b. 22 Dec, 1782 ; d. 1783. Hezekiah, b. 18 June, 1784; m. Pamelia F. Senter. [See Biog.] Moses, h. 26 Jan., 1786; m., 1st, Miriam Bean; 2d, Meliitable Eastman, of Salisbury ; 3d, Lucia J]astman, sister of Me- hitable; d. in Salisbury, 20 March, 1804. [See Biog.] Reuben, b. 12 Oct., 1789. Ebenezer, b. 21 June, 1790; m. Elizabeth Carr; d. 21 Jan., 1867. James Senter, b. 7 Nov., 1791. Sarah, h. 4 Dec, 1793. Samuel, b. 28 Nov., 1795 ; m. Betsey D. Williams; lives in N. Y. Elizabeth, b. 14 Sept., 17.97. Polly, b. 8 Feb., 180i) ; d. Feb.. 1803. Meele, b. 3 April, 1802 ; d. 20 Oct., 18.53. Adonijah, b. 17 Marcli, 1804. Pierce, b. 3 July, 1S'J7 ; d. April, 1862. Hezkkiah'^ (Moses^), b. 18 June, 1784 ; m. Pamela F. Senter. Salome, b. 26 July, 1807; d. 23 Jan., 1823. A sou. b. 11 July, 1809 ; d. 30 Sept., 1809. Catharine, b. 30 Sept., 1810; d. 8 March, 1813. Ebenezer Senter, b. 1813 ; d. 21 Oct., 1829. John,h.7 Oct., 1815; grad. Dart, coll., 1841; studied medicine; practitioner at Loudon; m. Leonora Ilosmer, of B.; d. at Concord, 1873. 3foses, h. 11 March, 1818; d. 14 July, 1819. Catharine Ann, b. 6 May, 1820; m. Horace Gleason, of Boston, 23 Feb., 1837. Lucy Senter, b. 27 May, 1822; d. 4 Oct., 1846. George Riley, b. 19 April, 1824; ni. Fanny B. Wheeler, of Nash- ua; enlisted in Co. A, 8th N. H. Reg't ; d. at Carrollton, La., 13 Dec, 1862. Salome, b. 25 Aug., 1827; m. D. A. Macurdy. MosES^ (Moses,^ John^),b. 20 Jan., 1786; ni., 1st, Miriam Bean; 2d, Meliitable Eastman; 3d, Lucia Eastman. Children of Meliitable : Miriam, m. Hiram Gage. Caroline, m. Fry W. Gile, of Littleton; lives in Kansas. Charles W., m. Piebecca Eastman, of Salisbury; merchant in Bos- ton. GENEALOGICAL FITZGERALD, FLANDERS. 527 FITZGERALD. Edward [see Eirst Settlors], b. in Ireland ; m. MeliitaWe Uran, sister of John Uran. Jane, b. 12 Jan., 1742; m. Asa Corser [see Corserl. Mary, b. 24 Jan., 1744. Sarah, b. 14 Feb., 1746; m. Samuel Corser; d. 1 Jan., 1808. i"?'^' ; I b. 10 Aug., 1748; I ^- ''%f''''^\f Ticonderoaa. Kehekah, \ * ' ' ( m. Oliver Plovt; moved to Concord. Edward, b. 24 Oct., 1751; m. Corser; d. 21 jSTov., 1817. Susanna, b. Oct., 1753. Dorcas, b. 15 Ma}', 1756; m. David Carter; d. 13 Feb., 1846. Rachel, b. 9 July, 1758; m. Samuel Morse; d. 7 Feb., 1837. John, b. 10 July, 1761. Martha, b. 10 June, 1766; m. James Corser; d. 16 Feb., 1828. FLANDEES. Stephen/ the only emigrant of the name, so far as is known, came to Salislnuy, IMass., with his wife Jane, between 1640 and 1640, and was one of the first settlers of that town. He d. 21 June, 16S4. Stephen, b. 8 March, 1646; m. Abigail Carter; d. July, 1744. ]\Iary. Philip, b. 14 June, 1652. Sarah. Naomi, m. Joseph Eastman. John, b. 11 Feb., 1659; m. Elizabeth Sargent; d. at South Hamp- ton, 1745. John- (Stephen^), b. 11 Feb., 1659; m. Elizabeth Sargent. Jacob, h. 5 Aug., 1689; m. Mercy Clough; John, Ezekiel, Josiah, Philip, Jonathan, Tamson, Hannah. Jacob^ (John,2 Stephen^). An early settler of B. One of the committee to build the log meeting-house, 1738. He came from South Hampton ; m. Mercy Clough. Tahitha, b. 7 April, 1711; m. Andrew Bohonon. Jacob, b. 5 Aug., 1715; in. Naomi Darling; lived on Fish st. Jesse, Dea., m. Rath Webster, of SaUsbury. Ezekiel, m. Sarah Bishop. John, m. Eunice Jaciiman. Philip, killed at Crown Point [see Military Historj'], Betsey, m. Daniel Rolfe. Ruth, m. John Elliot. Hannah, m. John Knowlton. JSIehitable. Jacob* (Jacob,^ John," Steplien^) m. Naomi Darling. Mercy, b. 17 May, 1745. Joseph, b. 27 July, 1753. 528 GENEALOGICAL — FLANDERS. Mary^ b. 13 May, 1755; m. Elkannah Danforth, O/tesi/phorus, b. 20 Dec, 17G1 ; m. Sarah Foster. Jesse* (Jacob,^ John,- Stephen^), Jeacon of B. church ; soldier at Bunker Hill, Canada, &c. [See Military History.] Married lluth Webster, of Salisbury ; resided in house owned by F. P. Atkinson. Moses, h. 20 Jan., 1749; d. young. Hannah, b. 17 May, 1754; m. Aaron Flanders; d. 13 Dec, 1844. Jesse, h. 13 Aug., 1755 ; m. Elenor INIorey. David, Csipt., b. 19 Jan., 1758; m. Hannah Kimball; d. 31 Dec, 184'2. He was in battle of Banker Hill ; lived on Water St., at corner of road leading to Great Pond, near Bradley Atkinson's residence ; d. in Franklin. Sarah, b. 21 Feb., 1760; d. young. Mercy, b. 28 March. 1702. il/o.se.s, b. 2 June, 1767; m. Hannah Clark. Sarah, b. 12 Oct., 1769 ; m. Charles Collins. EzEKiEL'* (Jacob,^ John,^ Stephen^) m. Sarah Bishop ; lived at corner below South school-house, on Water st. ; killed by the Indians while hunting beaver at Newfound lake, 1756. Ezekiel, b. 1743; ni. Jerusha Goodwin; d. 1 Jnue. 1825. Enos, b. 8 Feb., 1745; lu. Sarah Laugley, of Durham. Sarah, b. 2 Dec, 1747. Susannah, h. 2 Nov., 1740. Aphia, b. 3 March, 1752 ; m. Colby. Jemima, b. 9 April, 1754; m. Simeon Danforth; d. 15 May, 1812. Benjamin, b. 8 Aug., 1856; lost at sea. John* (Jacob,^ John,^ Stephen^) m. Eunice Jackman ; lived where his grandson Jacob now lives, near corner of road leading to east end of Great Pond. Aaron, b. 5 Aug., 1750; m. Hannah Fhinders. /o/i/i, Lieut., b. 13 Oct., 1752; m. Elizabeth, widow of John Ste- vens, dan. of George Jackman, E.sq. ; served iu Revolution. [See Biog.] Betty, b. 13 June, 1755; m. Nicholas Elliot. Daniel, b. 18 June, 1758; d. young. Lois, b. 16 Feb., 1760; m. Joseph Kuowlton. Daniel, b. 16 Sept., 1762; m. Greeley. Jyunice, h. 9 Jul3% 1765; m. Peter Bean. Jacob, b. 11 April, 1768 ; m. Margaret Rogers. Jackman, b. 9 Aug., 1773. Joseph, m. Relief Brown. Patience. EzEKiEi/ (Ezekiel,* Jacob,^ John,- Stephen^), b. 1743; m. Jerusha Goodwin, of Concord ; built house on town poor-farm, Water st. GENEALOGICAL — FLANDERS. 529 Manj, b. 20 N'ov., 1766; in. Samuel Robie. Sarah, b. 13 Feb., 1768; m. Samuel Hemphill. Martha, b. 23 Sept., 1769; m. Joseph llule. Susannah, h. 6 Aug., 1771; m. Thomas Austin, Anna, b. 3 June, 1774; m. Eliphalet Holmes. Ezel-lel. Li/c/ia, b. 20 June, 1777; m. Jeremiah Webber. Israel, b. 13 Nov., 1780; m. Sally Carr. Benjamin, b. 19 Aug., 1782; m. Polly, dau. of Eliakim Walker. Enos^ (Ezeldel," Jacob,^ John,^ Stephen^), b. 8 Feb., 1745 ; m. Sarah Langley, of Durham ; moved to Vershire, \t. Enos. h. 17 July, 1770. Samuel, b. 7 Feb., 1773. John, b. 11 Aug., 1777 ; m. Polly Brewer. Betsei/, b. 20 Dec, 1778. Benjamin, m. Sarah Funnell. Aarox^ (.John,* Jacob,^ Johu,'-^ Stephen^), b. 5 Aug., 1750 ; m. liannali Fhxnders ; lived at corner of Water st., lower end ; d. 13 Feb., 1846. Aaron, b. 15 July, 1773; m. Betsey Fellows, of Dorchester; d. in Hudson, N. Y. Hannah, b. 3 Jan., 1775 ; m. Phineas Flanders; d. 13 June, 1856, Mehitahle, b. 11 Jan., 1776 ; d. April, 1867, Sophia, b. 25 June, 1778 ; d. 5 Oct., 1799. Jesse, b. 18 July, 1779 ; m. Lydia Quimby, of Springfield ; d. 20 Sept., 1850. John, b. 13 .Jan., 1781 ; m. Hannah Haines, of Dorchester; d. at St. Albans. Drusilla, b. 18 Feb., 1782 ; m. Eleazar Burbank, of St. Albans. Moses, b. 24 Sept., 1783 ; m. Eunice Flifnders; d. at Ypsilauti, Mich. Jacob, b. 18 .Jan., 1785; m. Betsey Colt; d. at Cambria, N. Y. Ruth, b. 10 July, 1786; d. 1799. Webster, b. 25 May, 1788; m. Olive Foster; d. at St. Albans. Rebecca, b. 12 Sept., 1790 ; m. John Hart ; d. at Pomfret, Yt, Charlotte, b. 31 March, 1792. Apphia Coffin, 7 Nov., 1793; m. Samuel C. Flanders; d. 1846. Zilphia, ' K lOMnreh 1705- ^ "'• Joseph Burpee; d. 1807. Experience, \ ^- "^^ ^^^^"^"^^^^ "^^ ^^' | m, Sam'l Sanborn, of Dorchester. Samuel C.^ (Johnj^Phineas-*), b. 28 Feb., 1793 ; m. Anna C, dau. of Aaron Flanders ; d. 1866. Guy C, b. 1 Jan. 1818; d. 1837. Plumn Ann, b. 25 May, 1819 ; d. 3 Nov., 1841. Elizabeth J., b. 11 Dec, 1820; m. Phineas Flanders; resides in Webster. Hannibal W., b. 21 April, 1822; m. Ann Regan; resides in B, Joh7i S., d. in infancy. John S., b. 2 Sejjt., 1826; d, at Tiffin, O. Louisa M., b. 2 Aug., 1828; d. Aug., 1841. Samuel S., h. 25 Feb., 1830; m. Rebecca Regan ; d, at Clyde, O. Lucien G., b. 8 Dec, 1834; d. 25 Dec, 1841. 530 GENEALOGICAL FLANDERS. JoHx/ Lieut. fJolm/ Jacob^), b. 13 Oct., 1752 ; soldier of Eevo- lution [see Military History] ; m. Elizabeth, widow of John Stevens ; d. 1 April, 1827. John S., b. 15 Nov., 1781. George /., b. 10 Aug., 1783; m., 1st, Polly Call ; 2(1, Cyuthia Ash- ley, of Owego, N. Y. Phineas, b. 5 Jane, 1789; in. Charlotte, dan. of Aaron Flanders. Elizabeth, b. 18 May, 1791 ; m. Samnel B. Bailey. Samuel C, b. 28 Feb., 1793; m. Anna C.,dau. of Aaron Flanders. Philip, h. 29 Feb., 1797. Gw/ C, b. 18 March, 1798 ; d. at sea. Joseph, b. 27 July, 18"0. Eunice, b. 26 Sept., 1802; m. Moses Flanders. Phineas'' (John,^ Lieut.) m. Charlotte Flanders. Charlotle,h. 17 June, 1815. MehitaUe, b. 6 May, 1816. PhineUe,h. 1818; d. young. Phineus, b. 1 July, 1820; m. Elizabeth J., dau. of Samuel C. Flan- ders. Laoote, b. 21 April, 1822 ; d. young. Phi>sEAs" (Phineas'') m. Elizabeth J. Flanders ; resides in Weh- ster. LiicienP.,h. 17 Sept., 1851. Lottie A.,h. 16 Oct., 1856. Louisa J., h. 18 Jan., 1861. Hanxibal W.^ (Samuel C.,'^ John,^ Lieut.), b. 21 April, 1822 ; m. Ann Ryan. LeanderR.. h. 31 An?., 1857. Ann M.,h. 4: Feb., 18-55. Edgar H., b. Oct., 1864. Samuel S.' (Samuel C.,« John,^ Lieut.), b. 25 Feb., 1830 ; m. Rebecca Regan ; d. in Clyde, O. Emma J., b. 22 June, 1854. John S., h. 1 Jan., 1856. Thomas J., b. 2 Sept., 1857. George S. Oliver H. Mattie A. Jacob^ (Jolm,^ JacoF), b. 11 April, 1768 ; m. Margaret Rogers; lived in house now the residence of Jacob C. Samuel R., m. Margaret Burnhani, of Bow. Jacob C, m. Louisa, dau. of David Jackmau. Samuel R.*' (Jacob^) m. Margaret Burnham. Margaret, Jacob, Samuel. Jacob C.*^ (Jacob'^j ra. Louisa Jackman. David, who enlisted in the U. S. service, supposed to have been killed in battle. GENEALOGICAL — FOWLER. 531 FOWLER. Samuel,^ lb. probably in Newbury ; m. Abigail . Sarah, b. 3 Jan., 1726; m. John Hale. Olive, h. 23 Sept., 1728. Lemuel, b 28 Oct., 1730; d. 8 Ansj., 1730. Samuel.} , ,0 ^.f 17-0. S '!• - F«b., 1733. Abigail, \ ^- ^-^ ^'^■■' ^J'^-' \ d. 12 Aug., 1730. Samuel, b. 13 Sept., 1734. Lemuel h. 4 Sept., 1730. Anna, b. 2 Marcli, 1739; m. Samuel Jackman. Lucy, in. Ephraini Woodbury. Lemuel'^ (Samuel^), b. 4 Sept., 1736'; m. Mary ; lived near Beaver Dam brook. Sa7miel, b. 9 Feb., 1758. Antia. b. 20 Nov., 1759. Molii/,h. 24 Nov., 1701. Royal, b. 9 July, 1763. Nathaniel, b. 23 July, 1765. Elizabeth, b. 11 Jan., 1768. Abif/ail, b. 22 Dec, 1771. Olive, h. 21 Sept., 1773." Lemuel, b. 18 Oct., 1770. Samuel, b. 21 Oct., 178U; m. Eunice, dan. of Eliphalet Kilhurn, of B. Samuel,^ (Lemuel,- Samuel^), b. 21 Sept., 1780; ra. Eunice Kil- buru, of B. ; lived on Corser liill. Cejiha.^, b. 7 Feb., 1702. Rufus, b. 20 Feb., 1804. Mary, in. Jedediah Danforth. Eunice, b. 27 Aug., 1808; m. Wm. T. Pillsbnry, of B. Stanton P., b. 30 April, 181 1 ; m. Jane Hallock. Sarah K., b. 20 June, 1814; m. James Howe. Harriet, b. 10 Feb., 1817; m. Aaron Brown. Nathaniel, b. 12 March, 1819. Elizabeth^ b. 2 Aug., 1824; m. Nicholas Sheik. Lemuel^ (Lemuel/^ SamueP), b. 18 Oct., 1796. Royal, b. 23 June, 1798. Samuel, b. 20 May, 1801. Benjamin, h. 16 July, 1805. Milbury, b. 15 Oct., 1807. Oily, b. 13 Oct., 1809. Lemuel, b. 24 June, 1815. Sta^^tois" Peektice* (SanuieP), b. 30 'April, 1811 ; m. Jane N. Hallock. Stanton P., b. 20 Aug., 1850; d. Jan., 1859. Charles Augustus, b. 16 Feb., 1848. Cephas, lives in Fisherville. 532 GENEALOGICAL FRENCH. John, b. 2 Dec, 1772; an early settler in B., cousin j)robably of Lemuel. He built a house on Queen st. His sec- ond wife was Mrs. Anna (Ellison) Eamford. Samuel came from ISTewbury, probably the first lawyer and tav- ern-keeper in B. His second wife was Mrs. Carter, Avidow of Dr. Ezra Carter, of Concord, whose two daughters married Nathaniel Green, Esq., and Dr. Daniel Peterson. He was a prominent and influen- tial citizen. FEENCH. Compiled by Alfred Little. JoEL,i |j_ .^t Tewksbury, Mass., 24 May, 1779 ; d. 27 Se])t., 1826 ; was merchant in B., 1801 to 1811, and town-clerk, 1807 to 1809. He, in connection with William G. Emerson, and Col. Joseph and X. Peabody Atkinson, set out the elm trees now standing on west side of the street, between his house (now owned by Mrs. Daniel Y. Bickford) and the Ambrose hotel. He m. Susan- nah, dau. of Col. Henry and Martlia (Clough) Ger- rish, of B., 29 March, 1804. ■ She d. at K"ashua, 2 Jan., 1867. John S. .1., b. 1.5 Feb., 1805; d. 26 Jnlv, 1871, in Nashua. Henry S. G., b. 27 April, 1807; d. 14 Feb., 1842, in Bangkok, Siam. Enoch C. G., b. 25 June, 1809. Followed the sea. First voyage was on a wlialing vessel cruising in the Southern ocean. lie d. 20 May, 1827, on a return voyage from Rotterdam, while sailing through the English channel, and was buried at sea off Portsmouth, England. Imac S. P., b. 27 Sept., 18U. Martha G., b. 12 Dec, 1814; d. 30 Dec., 1877, in Nashua. Samuel W. Z., b. 28 July, 1817. Stephen L. G., h. 11 Nov., 1821; deacon of 1st Congregational church, Nashua. John S. A."^ (JoeP) removed from B. to Nashua ; m. Mary K. Everdean, of Gloucester, Mass, 18 Feb., 1836. Helen IF., b. at B. 2 Feb., 1838; ni. John C. Cochran, New Bos- ton, 18 May, 1861; resided at St. Louis, Mo. She d. at Nashua. John A., b. at B., 28 March, 18-10; m. Emily W. Leavitt, of Flush- ing, N. Y., 14 Sept., 1870. He grad. at Williams college, 1862 ; licensed^o preach by tlie Presbytery of Brooklyn, N. Y., 1866; settled in Morristown, N. J., 1868; settled over the 4th Presbyterian church in Chicago, April, 1877. Joseph H., b. at B., 19 Oct., 1812. Man/ F., h. at Nashua, 2 March, 1849. Frederic S., h. at Nashua, 8 July, 1854. GENEALOGICAL — FRENCH. 633 Henry S. G.,' Eev. (JoeP), was ordained at C<;mcord for the for- eign missionary service, 19 Sept., 1838 ; m. Sarah C. Allison, of Concord, 9 April, 1839. They sailed as mis- sionaries for Siam, 8 July following; arrived at Singa- pore in Oct., where he remained six months. During this time he was engaged in the study of the Siamese language, and in type-cutting. He reached Bangkok in May, 1840, and became superintendent of the Mis- sion })rinting department. [See Biog.] Henry A., h. Bangkok, Siain, 10 May, 18-il; learned the printers' trade at Concord; now editor and proprietor of the Colo- rado Sun, published at Greeley, Col. Isaac S. P.- (Joel^) resides in Lynn, Mass. ; m. Lucinda Brazer, of Charlestown, Mass., 28 Nov., 1838. Rlartlia ./., b. at Charlestown, 16 Jan., 1842. Henry IF., b. at Charlestown, 21 Dec, 1843. Henry W.^ (Isaac S. P.,'^ JoeP) resides in Lynn, INIass. ; m. Mary E. Eichardson, of Lynn, 20 Sept., 1871. Mary P.. h. 14 July, 1872. Grace P.,h. 25 Nov., 1876. FRENCH. Compiled by Joliu Kiuiball. James^ moved from Rindge to B. in 1809 ; settled on Fish st. ; m., 1st, Cassell, of Rindge ; 2d, Olive Sawyer, of Canterbury ; d. 1 Sept , 1822. Children of Olive : Francis S., b. 31 May, 1810; m. Asenath Sawyer; d. 4 April, 1870. Olive, b. 1 Feb., 1812; m. Stewart Noyes, Canterbury. Asa M., b. 3 Oct., 1814; d. 8 Feb., 1819. Francis S." (James^), h. 31 May, L870. A citizen prominent in public affairs. [See Biog.] Anna M.. b. 2 May, 1839; grad. at xMerideu academy, 1857; m. D. M. Tenney. of Groton, 1872. Emma, b. 6 May, 1814: d. 19 Aug., 1845. James F., b. 14 Jau., 1848; ra. Sarah E. Vnggin, 1875. Asa M., b. 14 March, 1850; grad. Dart. College, 1872 ; a civd en- gineer, Texas. Willie A., b. 6 Dec, 1854; drowned in Merrimack river, 17 July, 1870. 534 GENEALOGICAL GAGE, GAGE. Compiled by Isaac K. Gage. The Boscawen branch of the Gage family is descended from THADDEUSj'^whose two sons, E-ichard and William, settled in B. KiCHAKD- (Thaddeus^), b. in Methuen, Mass., 11 Dec, 1776; m. Susannah, dan. of Capt. John Chandler, 6 Feb., 1805. He moved into B. previous to 1804 ; settled near the lower falls on the Contoocook, and subsequently in company with his brother acquired a large landed es- tate, including water T)rivileges and mills, and carried on the lumbering business, which has been continued by his sons. He represented the town in the legisla- ture in 1838, '39. Died 18 May, 1855. Hh-nm, b. 1 Dec, 1807: d. IS May, 181.5. Luther, b. 19 Aug., 1800; d. 27 Nov., 1813. Calvin, b. 17 Nov., 1811. John Chandler, \). 11 April, 1811. Hiram, b. 2.5 July, 1816. Lnlher, b. 5 June, 1820. Manj Magoon, h. 11 Aug., 1822; m. Nehemiah Butler, 15 jSTov., 1849. Infant, b. and d. July, 1824. B. FranUin. b. 7 Nov., 1827. Richard, h. 13 Sept., 1831. Calvin^ (Richard," Thaddeus^) m., 1st, Eebecca, dau. of Isaac Pearson, 21 Sept., 1835. She was b. 12 Nov., 1815 ; d. 22 July, 1835. Two children. Married, 2d, Eliza- beth E., dau. of Isaac Ej-an, of Plymouth, 29 April, 1846. She was b. 4 July, 1818. Ten children. He has lield nearly all of the offices of trust in town ; member of the legislature in 1849, '50. In company with his brother, John C, he carried on an extensive business in the manufacture and sale of lumber, near the waterfalls of the Contoocook, a business estab- lished by their father and uncle. Hannah Pearson, b. 13 June, 1836 ; d. 6 July, 1852. Martha A., b. 10 May, 1840; d. 19 July, 1846. George W., b. 30 Jan., 1847; d. 8 April, 18,54. Rebecca P., b. 2 May, 1848; m. George D. B. Prescott, of Con- cord, 12 Oct., 1871. Que cliild, Dana G., b. 27 Oct., 1S74. Annie D.,h. 18 Feb., 1850. Harley C, b. 24 Oct., 1851. Hannah P., b. 5 Sept.. 1863. Mary H.,h. 8 May, 18.56. NeAtie A.,h.2\ April. 18.58. John F., b. 3 Mav, I860. Georqe M., b. 23 Dec, 18G3. Sjncer R., b. 21 Oct., 1866. GENEALOGICAL — GAGE. 535 John Chan^dler^ (Richard,^ Thaddeus^) m., 1st, Elizabeth S., dau. of Samuel Sargent, of Canterbury, 29 Nov., 1843. She was b. 21 March, 1821, d. 26 Feb., 1853. Three children. Married, 2d, Hannah C, dau. of Andrew Stevens, of Loudon, 27 Dec, 1853. Four children. He has frequently been called to fill places of trust in town, and represented it in the legislatures of 1853 and '54. Martlia A., b. IS July, 1816 ; m. Geo. Gleason. Dan W., h. 20 Sept., 18o0 ; d. 24 May, 1857. Fred V., b. 14 Feb., 1853 ; d. 11 Oct., 1860. Lizzie M., b. 29 Nov., 1855. Mabel C, b. 28 July, 18-58. Arthur A., h. 27 July, 1862. Kate L., b. 10 Sept., 1865; d. 16 July, 1868. HiRAM^ (Richard,^ Thaddeus^) m. Miriam, dau. of Moses Fellows, 26 Jan., 1843. His wife was b. 16 March, 1819, d. 11 Oct , 1875. They reside in Clinton, Iowa. Susa7i J/.,b. 14 April, 1844; m. 1st, John Wayne, of Kansas, 1869; 2d, M. E. S. Storer. of Kansas, Oct., 1873. William H. H., b. 27 June, 1845; served in armv. Charles F., b. 3 Nov., 1846 ; d. 20 Oct., 1818. Caroline A., h. 7 Sept., 1848; m. G. R. Cole, of Kansa.s. Lucia E., b. 21 Sept., 1850; d. 11 Nov., 1860. Charles F., h. 21 Marcli, 1855; d. 21 Oct., 1860. Jesse £., b. 6 Feb., 18.57. Hiram, h. 3 June, 1860; d. 19 Oct., 1865. Luther^ (Richard,"^ Thaddeus^) m., 1st, Sarah J., dau. of Philip Cross, of Northfield. She was b. 1 May, 1824, d. 18 Sept., 1857. Four children. Married, 2d, Priscilla, dau. of Ephraim Plummer, 2 March, 1859. One child. He was at one time engaged in trade at the south part of the town, where he now resides. He has held the office of selectman and town treasurer, and was member of the legislature in 1861, '62. Edwin il/., b. 18 Oct., 1847 ; d. 12 Nov., 1848. Sarah P., b. 11 Oct., 1819. Nathan S. M., b. 2 Oct., 1852. Luther C, b. 4 Aug., 1856. Maurice P., b. 2 May, 1863 ; d. 27 Sept., 1863. B. Fraxklin^ (Richard'^) m. Amanda, dau. of Bickford Lang, of Pembroke, 8 Oct., 1854. She d. 8 Oct., 1867. Lizzie Eudora, b. 20 July, 1855. Madella J., b. 20 April, 1859. Richard^ (Richard"^), m. Nancy, dau. of Daniel Mansfield ; d. 6 Oct., 1876. His wife, b. 13 May, 1831 ; d. 17 July, 1866. 536 GENEALOGICAL GAGE. Edward Everelf, b. 28 June, 1852. Julia IF., b. 16 July, 1854; m. Oscar F. Smith. George //., b. 7 Nov., 1856. Thaddem 0., h. 1 Aus., 1858. AddkonF., b. May, 1800. Herbert C, b. 25 Aug., 1862. William Haseltiis-e''^ (Thaddeus^), h. in Sanbornton, 21 March, 1791; moved to B., 1804; m., 1st, Polly, dau. of Bradbury Morrison, of Sanbornton ; 2d, Sarah, dan. of Samuel Sargent, of Canterbury. [See Biog.] Cliildren of Polly : Sophronia S., h. 21 Jan., 1815; m. John O. Russ, Nov., 1835; d. 23 May, 1811. Elcander Wood, b. 11 July, 1816; drowned in canal near Coutoo- cook river, 25 May, 1817. The body was recovered nine days later in the jNIerriniack, seven miles distant. Isaac Kimball, b. 27 Oct., 1818; m. Susan G., dau. of Reuben Johnson. [See Biog.] Asa Morrison, b. 8 Aug., 1820; m. Sophia W., dau. of John Cald- well, of B. Phehe Prescntt, b. 23 Sept., 1822; m. Andrew J. Russ, d. 9 Aug., 1853. Three children. Rosilla Morrison, b. 8 Aug., 1821; d. 28 Oct., 1827. Child of Sarah : Polly Rosilla, b. 1 Aug., 1838; m. Samuel R. Mann. One child,— William H. Gage. Isaac K.^ (William H ,^ Thaddeus^) m. Susan G. Johnson. [See Biog.] Frederick Johnson, b. 42 Sept., 1843; m. Ilattie A. Morse. Georgianna Judith, b. 16 Sept., 1848; m. Abial W. Rolfe. Two children,— i/«n-^ Gage, b. 5 July, 1872; Herbert Wilson, b. 14 May, 1875. Marij Morrison, b. 28 Dec, 1849 ; m. Milton W. Wilson ; one chdd, — Florence Lee, b. 9 Jan., 1877. Charlotte Hubbel,h. 13 March, 1852 ; d. 26 June, 1866. Lucy Kimball, h. 11 June, 1858. Isaac William, b. 1 Sept., 1861. Asa M.3 (William B.,^ Thaddeus^) m. Sophia W. Caldwell. Frank Henry, b. 20 April, 1804; m. Lucy Ann Smith, of Warsaw, Ky. ; lives in Troy, N. Y.; two children, — Edwin Asa, h. 8 Feb., 1872; Fanny Atkinson, b. 27 Feb., 1874. Helen Sophia, b. 13 Oct., 1817; m. Horace H. Danforth; one child, —Maud Evelyn, b. 21 Oct., 1870. Edwin Asa, b. 5 Aug., 1848; d. 21 Sept., 1871. Ida May, b. 8 Nov., 1851. Frederick Johnson* (Isaac K,^) m. Ilattie A. Morse ; resides in Boston. Blanche, b. 24 Nov., 1869. Lottie H, b. 22 Feb., 1873. Fred Healey, b. 20 Oct., 1874. GENEALOGICAL GERRISH, 537 GEEEISH. Compiled by Alfred Little. William/ Capt., was b. in Bristol, Somersetshire, England, 20 Aug., 1617, where he is said to have been educated in the mercantile house of Percival Lowle & Co. ; came to New England as early as 1639, and settled that year in Newbury, Mass. [see Coffin's History of New- bury] ; was the first captain of the military band in that town, and representative 1650-'54 ; in., 1st, Jo- anna, widow of John Oliver, of Newbur}-, IT April, 1645, who d. 14 June, 1677, aged 58 ; removed to Boston, 1678, and there m., 2d, Ann, widow of John Manning ; was the owner of No. 3, Long wharf, where he carried on business. At the semi-centennial anni- versary meeting of the town of Boston, 14 March, 1686, Capt. Gerrish opened and closed the exercises with prayer. He d. at his son Benjamin's house, Sa- lem, Mass., 9 Aug., 1687. Children of Joanna : John, b. 15 May, lOiO; d. 1714; settled at Dover; m. there Eliz- abeth, dau. of Maj. R. Waldron ; was a captain, sheriff, representative, counsebor, and judge of the supreme court of N. H. W'dliam, b. 6 June, KUS ; was a physician at Charlestown, Mass.; d. there 10 M;iy, 168:3. Joseph, b. 23 March, 1640; d. 6 Jan., 1720; ra. Ann, dau. of Maj. R. Waldron, Dover; grad. at Harvard college, 1669; was minister at VVenham, Mass. Benjamin, b. 31 Jan., 16.51 ; was collector of his majesty's customs at Salem: d. 2 April, 1713. EUzaheth,h. 20 Sept., 16.34; d. 1.9 Nov., 1678; m.^Capt. Stephen Greenleaf, of Newbury, Mass., 23 Oct., 1676. Moses, b. 9 May, 1656; d. 4 Dec. 1694. Manj, b. 1 April, 1658 ; m. Dr. John Dole, of Newbury, Mass., 23 Oct., 1676. Child of Ann : Henr;/, b. in Boston, 21 ]March, 1679 ; d. without issue. MosES,^ Col. (William,^ Capt.), lived in Newbury, Mass. ; m. 24 Sept., 1677, Jane, dau. of Rev. Plenry Sewall, and sis- ter of Chief Justice Sewall, of Mass. She was b. afc Badesly, England, 25 Oct., 1659, and d. 29 Jan., 1717. Joanna, b. 3 0ct. , 1678. Joseph, b. 20 March, 1682 ; d. Jan., 1765, aged 82 years, 9 months, and 20 days. Sarah, b. 25 Dec, 'l683. 638 GENEALOGICAL GERRISH. Elizabeth, h. 27 Dec, 1685. Mary, b. 28 Oct., 1687. John, b. 2 April, 1695; m. Judith Coker. Joseph,^ Col (Moses,^ Col., William,^ Capt.), lived in Newbury, Mass. ; was member of the colonial legislature 20 years, and often elected by that body to his majesty's council, and as often rejected by the English governor "because he was not supjile;" was elected to a seat in a provincial congress. Says Rev. Jacob Little, — " Col. Joseph Gerrish had such muscular power, that he swam the Merrimack river, near its mouth, every year till he was past 70. The weight of four of his children was 1,200 pounds." He m. Marj^, dau. of Moses and Lydia (Coffin) Little, of ISTewbury ; pub- lished 26 Feb., 1703, '4. She was b. 13 Jan., 1086. 3Ioses, b. 15 April, 1706; m. Mary Moody, IS April, 1728; lived iu Newbury (Byfield), Mass. Joseph, b. 10 Sept., 17US; d. 26 May, 1776; was a colonel; m. Catherine Brown, of Reading, Mass. ; settled iu Newbury (Bvfield.) Stephen, b. 22 Jan., 1711 ; d. 1788, in B. Mary, b. 10 Sept., 1714; m. Griggs, of Roxbury, Mass. Jane, b. 12 Oct., 1717 ; m. Rev. Phineas Stevens, first minister at B., 24 Nov., 1741. Elizabeth, b. 5 March, 1720 ; m. Stephen March, of Portsmouth, 14 June, 1753. Sarah, b. 18 July, 1722; was adopted by Judge Samuel Sewall ; m. Moses Newell. Judith, b. 7 Jan., 1724; m. Col. Thurston, of Bradford, Mass. Samuel, b. 8 April, 1728 [?] ; m. Sarah Johnson; lived at West Newbury. Rebecca, h. 29 Oct., 1732 [?]; m. Joshua March, 1 Jan., 1752; lived in West Newbury. Three others d. young. Stephen,* Capt. (Joseph,^ Col., Moses,^ Col.), b. 22 Jan., 1711, in Newbury, Mass. ; d. 1788, in B. [see Biog.] ; was a resident of Canterbury at date of his first marriage, in 1738, and of " Contoocook" (B.) when m., 2d, in 1741. [See Newbury Records.] Married, 1st, Mar- tha Chase, of Newbury, Mass., 21 July, 1738 ; 2d, Jo- anna Hale, 15 July, 1741, who was b. June, 1715, and d. about 1792 [see Biog.]. She was dau. of Samuel Hale, of Newbury, and sister of Richard Hale, the father of Capt. Nathan Hale, the martyr spy, in the Avar of American independence. Note. The names and birth-dates of the children of Cupt. "\ViUiam,i Col. Moses,^ and of the first eight children of Col. .Josepli" Gerrish, have been coiiied for the compiler from the early records of Newbury, Mass., by William Little, Escx., town- clerk. GENEALOGICAL — GERRISH. 539 Henry, b. 3 May, 1742 ; d. IP May, 1806. Jane, b. 20 April, 1745; d. 30 March, 181i ; m. Lieut. Samuel Ami'S, of B., who d. 1 Sept., 1825. Samue , b. 20 xipril, 1718; d. 10 Nov., 1825. Enoch, b. 16 Jan., 1750; d. 1 May, 1821. Joseph, b. 17 Sept.; 17-53; d. 21 Nov., 1817. Stephen^ b. 1750; d. 24 Aug., 1777. Hexky,^* Col. (Stephen,* Capt., Josepli,^ Col.), m. Martha, dau. of Jeremiah Clough, of Canterbury, 10 Nov., 1763. She was b. 10 Nov., 1742 ; d. 15 Oct., 1826. [See Biog.] Jeremiah, b. 8 Aug., 1764; d. 23 April, 1830; in., 1st, Sarah, dau. of Joseph Gerrish, of West B., 6 March, 1788; m., 2d, Mary, dau. of Nehemiah Cogswell, of B., 20 Nov., 1817 [?], who Avas b. 29 Feb., 1784. He was a gunsmith and re- pairer of clocks and watches, and made cut-nails (prior to 1804, it is said) while living in the house now owned by Charles D. Glitten, at Webster, cutting them out of hoop- iron with large shears driven by horse-power; built the first saw-mill at the outlet of Long pond, in Webster; willed his homestead to the Congregational society at B. for the support of a minister. Sarah, b. 3 April 1766 ; d. 21 Aiig. 1839; m. Capt. Joseph Wood, of Lebanon, 15 Jan., 1784. He was b. in Mansfield, Ct., 8 Nov., 1759, and d. 17 Dec, 1859 — a centenarian, aged 100 years and 39 days; was one of the last surviving sol- diers of the Revolution. Moses, b. 17 Feb., 1768; d. 24 Nov., 1854. Stephen, b. 16 April, 1770; d. 11 Nov.. 1815. Henry, b. 29 May, 1772; d. 11 Sept., 1862. Hannah, b. 14 Aug., 1774; d. 2.5 June, 1855; m., 1st, Jeremiah Carter, of B., 27 May, 1795 ; 2d, Jacob March, of Sauborn- ton, 4 April, 1802. Martha, h. 14 May, 1777; d. 28 Aug., 1855, at New Buffalo, Mich.; m. Jesse Little, of B. Jacob, b. 10 Nov., 1779; d. 22 May, 1861. Susannah, b. 28 Feb., 1782; d. 2 Jan., 1867, at Nashua; m. Joel French, of B., 29 March, 1804. Joseph, b. 25 March, 1784; d. 25 May, 1851. Thomas, b. 12 Sept., 1786; d. 19 Feb., 1875. Note. The "Gerrisli meeting " originated in tlie family of Col. Henry Gerrish, but included others of the name. His eleven children (with their families), living at differ- ent points between Nashua and Lebanon, were accustomed for many years to meet an- nually at their various homes for a family reunion, the last one occurring in 1849. *A part of the inscription on his gravestone at B. is incorrect, viz., "Joseph Ger- rish, captain of the life-guard of G. R., 1st.'' It shoitld read thus: "William Gerrish, first captain of the Military Band at Newbury, Mass ." 540 GENEALOGICAL GERRISH, Samuel^ (Stephen/ Capt., Joseph,^ Col.) settled first on High street, B. ; removed in 1776 to Canterhury, his farm l3'ing on the IMerrimack river; m. Lucy Noyes, of He- bron, Jan., 1773, Avho d. 1818, aged 6G. Enoch, b. 1775; m.. 1st, Judith, dau. of Nathan Chandler, of Con- cord, who d. at St. Arniand, L. C, 18-2o; '2(\, Martha Fos- ter, of Canterbury, who d. at Montre.il, 18;;3. lie was a merchant in B.; removed soon after 1820 to St. Arniand, where he d. LS56. JosepJi, h. 19 IMarch, 1777; d. 31 July, 1839. Stephen, h. 1789; d. 1811. Enoch,^ Dea. (Stephen,* Capt., Joseph,^ Col), m., 1st, ISIary E., dan. of Dea. Isaac Pearson, of B., Feb , 1772 ; she was b. 3 Oct , 1753 ; d. May, 1784;— m., 2d, Hannah Kilburn, of B., 8 Dec, 1784. who d. 14 Jan., 1792 ; 3d, Mary, dau. of Joseph Gerrish, of B., 2 July, 1792, who d. 3 May, 1829. Children of Mary E. : Samuel, b. 7 July, 1773; was a physician at Sanbornton ; d. there 31 Oct., 1809. Enoch, b. 30 April, 1775; d. 24 Aug., 1831. Stephen, h. 5 March, 1778; d. 1781. Sal/u, b. 1 March. 1780; d. 10 March, 1811; m. Rev. Lemuel Bliss, of Bradford, 17 Jan., 1806. Isaac,}, o- AT 17QO S0- ^ Elizabeth, \ ' ' "-'P •' ' - ' j ni. Jeremiah V{. Wilson, m. d., Hop- kinton, 31 March, 1847. JosEi>H,« Cai)t. (Samnel,^ Stephen,'' Capt.), lived on the homestead, Canterbury ; m., 1st, Sarah, dau. of ]S"athan Chandler, Concord; 2d, Sarah, dau. of Dea. John Church, Dun- barton, 1813. She was b. 9 June, 1784 ; d. 2 Feb., 1855. Children of Sarah Chandler : Judith, b. 22 Feb., 1802; d. 24 Sept., 1820. Lucu, b. 24 Jan., 18u4 ; d. at Granville, O., 5 Oct., 1834; m. Rev. Jacob Little, of B., 1 June, 1820. Mary, b. U April, 1807; m. Rev. Henry Shedd, Leominster, Mass., 28 Sept., 1829; went as home nussionaries to O., where she d. 12 March, 1835. Nathan, b. 28 Oct., 1811; d. 1 June, 1825. Children of Sarah Church : John, b. 26 April, 1814. Surah, b. 2 March, 1810 ; m. Dr. James B. Abbott, of B., 22 March, 1813. Enoch, b. 16 Feb., 1818; d. 30 March, 1858. Susan, b. 1 Feb., 1820; m. Capt. True O. Furnald, Canterbury, 3 Feb., 1841; resides in Manchester. Charles, b. 1 March, 1822. Judith, b. 21 May, 1824; m. Farnum Coffin, of B., 24 Nov., 1842. Neioell, b. 23 Feb., 1826; went to Cab, 1849, thence to Port Towu- send, W. T. ExocH,'' Adjt. (Enoch,5 Dea., Stephen," Capt ), m., 1st, Elizabeth, dau. of Hon. Abiel Foster, of Canterbury, 10 March, 1800 ; she d. 18 July, 1803, aged 25 ; 2d, Kuth, 544 GENEALOGICAL GERRISH, ■widow of Abner Clough, Loudon, March, 1810, who d. 10 Dec, 1833, aged'oO. Children of Elizabetli : Steplien, b. 4 Jan., 1801; d. 2 Feb., 1810; m. Martha A., dan. of Joseph B. and Anna (Gerrish) Sinitli, of B., 2-2 Sept., 1884. She m., 2d Gen. Enoch Gerrish Wood, 9 Oct., 1844. Elizahetk, b. 14 Jan., 1803; d. 24 Aug., 1824. Children of Ruth : 3Iarij A.,h. 14 March, 1811 ; d. 30 June, 1827. Rebecca P., b. 24 Sept., 1812; d. 29 June, 1845; m. Francis W. Ame.=;, of Canterbury, 8 May, 1838, who d. 30 Aug., 1838; 2d, W. W. Brown, M. d., Chester, 8 Oct.. 1839. Caroline L.,h. 24 Aug., 1814; d. 23 Sept., 1838; m. ^\ . W. Brown, m. d., Chester, 8 May, 1838. IsAAC^ (Enoch,^ Dea., Stephen,^ Capt.) m. Caroline Lawrence, of Canterbury, 1 June, 1S15, who wash. 16 Nov., 1797, and d. at West Lebanon, 25 Oct , 1870. Twins, d. in infancy. Xy/(«, b. 28 June, 1818; ni. Dea. Samuel Wood, of West Leba- non, 24 Oct., 1838; d. 8 June, 1860. Enoch, b. 28 July, 1822. Elizabeth, b. 12 Jan., 1826 ; d. 15 April, 1828. Samuel Bartlett,^ Capt. (Joseph,^ Col., Stephen,* Capt.), was inn-keeper at B. about 16 years ; removed to ILart- land, Vt., 1829, from thence to Lebanon ; m. IMary, dau. of Capt. Joseph Wood, of Lebanon, 2 Sept., 1806. She was b. 16 Aug , 1789 ; resides at Lebanon. Sarah T7., b. 8 Aug., 1808; d. 2 Feb., 1861; m. Orlando Sar- gent, Woodstock, Vt., 8 July, 1829. Joanna H.,h. 27 Sept., 1812; d. 29 Aug., 1866; in., 1st, John Currier, Lebanon, 28 April, 1840; 2d, George H. Gates, Pomfret, Vt., 17 March, 1851; 3d, Humphrey Wood, Leb- anon, 13 April, 1859. Susan, b. 22 Dec, 1814; ni. Humphrey Wood, Lebanon, 7 June, 1868. Ilnry P., b. 19 April, 1819 ; resides at Lebanon. Joseph W., b. 25 March, 1825. Samuel 31., h. 5 March, 1827 ; d. 30 Jan., 1854; m. Clara T. Dear- born, Lebanon, 28 Nov., 1850. George L., b. 29 July, 1829; m., 1st, Clarissa M. Wliittier, 31 March. 1856; 2d, Eveline J. Marsh, Faribault, Minn.; re- sides at Waverly, Minn. Charles H., h. at Hartland, Vt., 27 Oct., 1832. Jeremiah,"^ Dea. (IMosos,*^ Ilenry,^ Col.), lived on the homestead at " Bashan ;" succeeded George T. Pillsbury, deceased, as deacon of the Congregational church at West Bos- cawen, and was leader of the choir about nin«3teen GENEALOGICAL GERRISH. 545 years. He purchased, 26 Marcli, 1838, the first sera- pliine made by Charles Austin, of Concord. This was a reed instrument blown bj' pedals, and is remarkable as bein^ one of the earliest in America. He m. Jane, dan. of Dea. Enoch Little, of B., 8 March, 1821. Polly Z., b. 27 June, 1823; d. 26 Dec, 1813. Jeremiah Edwin, b. 19 May, 1826; d. 7 Nov., 1818. Sarah /., b. 11 Jan., 1830; d. 21 June, 1872; in, Georo;e Little, of Webster, 19 Nov., 1867. Henry H.. b. 21 Feb., 1833; m. Sarah J., dan. of Col. Paul Pear- son, of Webster, 11 Nov., 1856; lives on the homestead ; was chosen deacon of Congregational church, at Web- ster, to succeed Dea. Enoch Little, resigned. JamcAL.^ b. 11 j\Iay, 1838. Sam'^ (Stephen,*' Lieut., Henry,^ Col.) removed from B. to Solon, 0., Nov., 1831, and to Elkhorn, Brown county, 111, jMarch, 1837 ; m., at Solon, Betsey Clough, of Canter- bury, 17 Jul}', 1835. John C, b. 22 May, 1836; d. 20 Jan., 18.51. Stephen, b. 6 June, 1839; d. 18 Sept., 1843. Elizabeth, b. 19 and d. 24 Nov., 1841. Lucien, b. 19 July, 1842; d. 24 Aug., 1869. Jane E., b. 22 March, 1844; m. John B. Clough, Sept., 1866. Sam, b. 25 Feb., 1846. SEWALL''(Stephen,'' Lieut., Henry,^ Col.) removed from B. to Elkhorn, Brown county, 111., Sept., 1836 ; m. there Elizabeth Groves, 8 Jan., 1846. Hannah, b. 20 July, 1848; m. Frank F. Winnaker, 26 Nov., 1871. Harriet, b. 18 Feb., 1850; m. Sam Gerrish, 8 July, 1867. Stephen, b. 12 Dec, 18.51; d. So Jan., 1855. Martlia J., b. 9 Feb., 1853; m. George E. Richardson, 23 April, 1875. Samuel S.. h. 18 July, 1855. Marin J., h. 14 Jan., 1857. Jacob D.. b. 12 March, 18(51. Cynthia A., b. 15 May. 1866. Mary E., b. 4 April, 1868. Abiel'^ (Henry,® Henry,^ Col.) lived in Canterhury, and after- wards on the homestead, since occupied as the county farm ; removed to West Creek, Lake country, Ind., where he now resides ; m. Eliza, dan. of Paul Dodge, of B., 18 Jan., 1830. Maria, b. in Canterbury, 15 April, 1831; m. -Joseph Barnard, Jr., of Contoocookville, 26 Oct., 1849. Martha, b. in Canterbury, 5 Nov., 1832 ; m. William S. Freed, of Dundas, Out., Canada, 18 Aug., 1862; d. 16 Dec, 1875. 3Iary, b. in Canterburv, 22 Aug., 1834; m. Joseph A. Little, West Creek, Ind., 1 Nov., 1859. 546 GENEALOGICAL GERRISH. James Z., b. in B., 15 Nov., 1836. Jane P., b. 9 July, 1841; m. Thomas Stroud, of Wheeler, lad., 31 Dec, 1863; resides at Saliiia, III. Ann E., b. 10 Feb., 1847 ; m. David B. Brush, Waveland, Ind., 22 Sept., 1868. Calvin" (Jacob,® Henry,^ Col.) resides in Concord; m. Ann S. Fifield, of Franklin, 1 Dec , 1836. Susan Augusta, h. 4 Auf?., 1838; m. Hiram K. Dewey, Waterford, Vt., 1 March, 1866 ; resides iii Barton, Vt. Hiram F., b. 27 Sept., 1839. David A.'' (Jacob,® Hemy,^ Col.) lived on the homestead ; filled various offices of trust ; removed to Letonia, 0., A|)ril, 1869 ; m. Elizabeth Putnam, Warren, Mass., 11 Oct., 1841. Frances E., b. 17 Jan., 1847 ; d. 26 July, 1865. Adaline D.,h. 9 Jan., 1850. Absalom'^ (Joseph,® Henr^^,® Col.) settled at Elkhorn, Brown co., 111., in 1836 ; m. Harriet, dau. of Lieut. Stephen Ger- rish, of B., 5 June, 1839. JosepTi A., b. 7 Oct., 1844; d. 6 Oct., 1876, was greatly interested in the study of natural history, commencing when a boy to collect geological and other specimens. His museum of curiosities became famous throughout the comity. Milton,'' Capt. (Josepli,® Henry,^ Col.), lives on the paternal estate, Franklin ; m. Hannah Dimick, West Hartford, Yt., 28 Oct., 1839. Clara i., b. 28 June, 1842; m. Henry W. Boutwell, of Lynde- borough, 3 May, 1872; resides at West Medford, Mass. Frank J/., b. 20 June, 1848 ; resides in Manchester. Charles F., b. 10 Oct., 1850. LuciEN' (Joseph,® Henry,^ Col.) lived at Sanbornton Bridge (now Tilton) ; m. Mary J. Dimick, West Hartford, Vt., 2 Oct., 1846. Sarah F., b. G Sept., 1847; m. Samuel W., son of Rev. Joseph T. Lewis, 21 Aug., 1866; resides in Cincinnati, O. Leonard'^ (Joseph,® Henry,^ Col.) resides on the paternal estate, Franklin ; m Emily A. Cerrish, Fisherville, 15 March, 1849. Joseplilne M., b. 17 Oct., 1851. Helen X., b. 6 Aug., 1858. Henky'^ (Thomas,® Dea., Henry,^ Col.) lived in Sandoval and Pa- toka, 111. ; m. Eunice Couch, of Friendship, N. Y., 21 Oct., 1841. Harlan T., b. 11 Sept., 1842. Jacob E. R., b. 9 Dec, 1843; d. 15 Dec, 1861. GENEALOGICAL GERRISH. 547 Marij E., b. 2-1 Jan., 1846 ; m. Samuel Britt, 2 Nov., 1809. Lfiui //., b. 11 March, 1848; in. Susan Parker, 14 Sept., 1873. Simeon S., h. and d. 1 Jiin., 1850. Sarah E., b. 27 Dec, 1850; d. 10 Sept., 1862. Albert il/., b. 4 April, 1853. Hiram E., b. 28 Aug., 1855; d. 3 March, 1866. Harlan P.'^ (Thomas," Dea., Henry,'^ Col.) removed to 111., 1854 ; was merchant at Sandoval ; retired to a farm at Clay City, 1871 ; m., 1st, Almira C. Gault, of Hooksett, June, 1846 ; 2d, Mrs. Avelin D. Wood ; 3d, Mrs. Ma- tilda E. Devore, of Clay City, Aug., 1871. Children of Almira : John C, b. 2 Mav, 1849; resides at Coffeysburg, Daviess county, Mo. /c'.«e G., h. 10 Sept., 1851 ; d. 28 Dec, 1852. Children of Matilda: D;iug1iter, b. 1872; d. 1877. Son, h. June, 1875; d. March, 1876. Thomas' (Tliomas,*^ D.ea., Henry,^ Col.) resides in Webster; m., 1st, Susan M. Colby, of Hopkinton, 3 Sept., 1856 ; ra., 2d, Caroline H. Lewis, of Newport, 30 Aug., 1870. Child of Susan : Franl- //., b. 17 April, 1881. Children of Caroline : Alhert E., b. 23 Nov., 1872; d. 2 Feb., 1875. Man, E.,h.9 Jan., 1875. Edifh M., h. 17 Oct., 1876. John,'' Eev. (Joseph," Cajit., SamueP), entered Dart, college, 1832, but from ill health was obliged to leave the same year ; went to Canada in 1836 ; ehtered Theo. Sem. at Bangor, Me., 1843, and was there licensed to preach, Aug., 1845 ; was ordained by Crawfordsville Presby- tery, April, 1847, at Rob Roy, Ind. ; preached in Ver- million county, Ind., seven years ; was installed pas- tor at New Washington, Clark county, Ind., 1853, and remained nine years ; also over the church at Homer, Mich., June, 1866, where he continued about twelve years ; was settled over the Presbyterian church, at Washington, Davies county, Ind., 1878 ; received the honorable degree of A. m. from AYabash coll. in 1860 ; m. Ehoda B., dau. of Eichard Little, of B., 14 Jan., 1837. Richard, b. 13 Nov., 1837; d. 17 May, 1839. Lucy, b. 7 Sept., 1840. 548 GENEALOGICAL GERRISH. Enoch' (Joseph,'' Capt., Samuel^) went to St. Arinand, Canada, in 1839 ; lived there six years, then at Thetford, Vt. ; removed to Helt townshij), Vermillion county, Ind., Sept., 1852 ; Avas an elder of Presbvterian church ; m. Abbie C. Cogswell, of B., 7 Jan., 1840. Charles, h. 2 July, 1841, in L. C; enlisted in 18th Regt. Ind. Vol. Infantry; was at the battle of Pea Ridge; served eleven months; returned home and d. of disease contracted iu the army. Liicien,h. 2(3 Feb., 1843, in L. C; served in the 71st Ind. Reg't three months; was in the battle of Richmond, Ky.; re- turned home, and d. from disease brought on by exposure and cam]) life, 7 Oct., 1862. Johi O.. b. 1 iMarch, 1848. in B. ; d. 24 Oct., 18(12. Mar)/ E., b. 21 July, 1849, Thetford, Vt.; m. Rev. Henry M. No- lan, 17 Sept., 18G8, EdL'ar county. 111. Hattie 31., h. 20 Feb., 1851. Tlietford, Vt.; m. Samuel S.Mar- shall, In Aug., 1873; resides in Helt township, Vermil- lion county, Ind. Edward, b. 14 Jan., 1853; m. Almira Slddmore, 29 Feb., 1872; resides in P^dgar county. 111. James L., b. 24 Jan., 1856. Charles,'^ Hon. (Joseph,® Capt., SamueP), removed from Canter- bury to Minn., 1855 ; resides at St. Charles ; is presi- dent of the Dover Bank, Minn. ; wa.s Eep. delegate to the constitutional convention of Minn. ; m. Olive W. Dimick, 1 8 March, 1845, West Hartford, Vt. Anen,h. 19 Dec, 184.5. Adah, b. 13 Sept., 1849 ; m. Alvano B. Dyar, 18 Nov., 1809, at St. Charles, Minn. EUa v., b. 8 Sept., 1858. Newell'^ (Joseph,® Capt., SamueP) went to Cal. in 1849, from thence to Port Townsend, W. T., where he m., and has two children. Henry, Ci/nthia A. ExocH." Col. (Isaac,® Enoch,^ Dea ), m. Miranda 0., dau. of Joseph S. Lawrence, of Lee, 23 Ma}', 1854, who was b. 15 June, 1829. [See Biog.] Erardc L., b. 19 May, 1855. [See Biog.] Lizzie M., b. 14 June, 1800. Joseph W.' (Samuel B.,®Capt., Joseph,^ Col.) resides in Lebanon; m Eunice M, Hewes, of Lyme, 6 Feb., 1855. [See Biog.] Charles IF., b. 25 Xov., 1855. ErnUy /. , b. 8 Sept., 18G1. GENEALOGICAL — GERRISH. 549 Charles H.' (Samuel B.,'' Capt., Joseph,*^ Col.) resides in Leba- non ; m., 1st, Anna Foster, 13 Nov., 18G6 ; 2d, Lydia A. Gates, 14 Feb., 1875, both of Lebanon. Children of Anna: Charles F., h. U Aug., 1870 ; d. G March. 1873. Eugene B., h. 4 Oct., 1872. Anna M., b. 25 July, 1874 ; d. 16 Sept., 1874. James L.^ (Jeremiah,'' Dea., Moses*^) resides on the homestead at "Webster ; is justice of the peace, and has filled vari- ous offices of trust ; was the first in town to enlist un- der Lieut. David E. Burbank, in Co. E (of which he was corporal), 16th Eeg't iN . H. V. M. At the capture of Fort Burton. Butte La Eose, La., 20 April, 1863, he was a sharpshooter on the gunboat Clifton, and took part in that engagement. He m. fSarah B. Chand- ler, of Fisherville, 22 Dec, 1864. Eilirin Chandler, b. 4 July, 1867. Ilary Imogen, b. 21 Aug.,' 1872; d. 31 Aug., 1873. LuciEN^ (Siim." Stephen,^ Lieut.) m. Mar,y J. Scantland, Nov., 1865. Nora Agnefi, b. 8 July, 1867. Sam ^ (Sara," Stephen,^ Lieut.) m. Harriet Gerrish, of Elkhorn, Brown county. 111., 8 Jul}^, 1867. Nettie May. b. 15 May, 1868. Henrij Z.."b. 26 Sept., 1870; d. 15 IMarch, 1872. Emma E., h. 22 Feb., 1873; d. 13 Aug., 1875. Ham/ E., b. 16 Jan. 1875. Joseph II., b. 9 May, 1877. James L.^ (Abiel,'' Henry*') resides at West Creek, Ind ; m. Lena D. Dyer, of Wheaton, 111., 15 Feb., 1806. Henry, b. 13 Feb., 1867. ir''^ lb. 24 Sept., 1872. Lame, \ ^ ' Kittle 7^., b. 16 May, 1874. Hiram F.« (Calvin,^ Jacob*') enlisted in Co. B, 2d Reg'tN. H. V., May, 1861 ; served in various departments of the army four years and nine months, in which time he passed through the different grades from private to the rank of major, — was also brevetted Major. He participated in the following battles : First Bull Run, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville. Fort Harrison, Gettysburg, and Petersburg. After Lee's surrender, Maj. Gerrish took charge of the railroad from Appomattox to Farmville, Va., and 550 GENEALOGICAL — GERRISH. run the first engine over tlie road after it came into Fed- eral possession ; was afterwards stationed at Fred- ericksburg as chief quarter-master, district of north- eastern Virginia ; is now connected with the internal revenue dejjartment, Dover ; m. Edith A. Eaton, of Concord, 28 Aug., I8G0. Herbert, b. 28 May, and d. 10 Aug., 1SG9. Ellen A., b. 23 April, 187G; d. 27 Dec, 1877. Haulax T.^' (Henry,' Thomas,^ Dea.) m. Marv A. C Flint, 20 March, 1S64. Larlhi II., b. 11 Feb., 18(35; d. :\rarch. 1800. Mary C. A., b. 11 April, and d. 22 Mav, 1807. George i., b. 10 June, 1868; d. 29 March, 1870. William S., b. 21 Jan., 1871. Infant s^on, b. ami d. 8 March, 1873. Lida E., b. 30 March, 1874. Allen* (Charles,' ITon., Josepli." Capt.) resides in St. Charles, Minn.; m. Ida A. Hill, Oct.,1866. Ina A., h. 28 July, 1867. Lilt/ J., h. 8 June, 1869. Charles W., h. 15 Aug., 1873; d. in infancy. The family of Joseph Gerrish, Newbury, INIass., who settled on the Blackwater. Moses,* eldest son of Joseph^, Col., and Mary (Little) Gerrish, of Newbury, INIass., b. 15 April, 1706; m. Mary Moody, 18 April, 1728 ; lived in Newbury (Bj-field) ; was a farmer. Sarah, b. 1729 ; d. 16 March, 1773; m. Dea. Isaac Pear.^nn (his 1st wife) 28 Nov., 1751; he was a miller and settled in B. Joseph, b. in Newbury; d. in B. 10 Dec. 1802. Paul, a farmer; lived at Townsend, Mass. Samuel. William. Belsetj, d. young. Joseph^ (Moses,"* Joseph,^ Col.) removed from Newbury, Mass., to B., 1779, and settled on the Blackwater river, near the present residence of Henry L Dodge. Tlie next year [?] he bought of Col. Henry Gerrish the saw- and grist-mill erected by the latter about 1774, — the first mill built in West B., and situated a few rods above the one now owned by F. L. Burbauk & Son ; Avas a miller and farmer ; m. Mehitable Currier, of Amesburv, Mass., 1 Jan., 1761, who d. at B. 10 March, 1*819, aged 78. ^iz,.^^^^' fSy^c-^i^i--i^-^^-^^iy GENEALOGICAL GILL. 551 Mary, b. 24 Oct., 1701; d. 3 May, 18-29: m., 1st, Dea. Enoch Ger- rish, of B. (his 3d wife), 2 July, 1792; 2d, Col. David McCiillis, of Canterbury, 17 Oct., 1822. Jane. h. i Dec, 1703; d. 9 Oct., 1840. Sarah, b. 27 Aug., 17G8; d. 21 Dec, 1810; m. Jeremiah Gerrish, of B., 6 March. 1788. 3Ioses, h. 18 July, 1772; d. 7 Dec, 1851. Moses,® Col. (Joseph,'' Moses*), lived at West B., in the house now owned by Charles D. Glitten; m., 1st, Susanna Clougli, of Canterbury, who was b. 16 March, 1776, and d. 25 June, ISoO ; 2d, Mrs. L^'dia Lovejoy, of Lebanon, March, 18o2. Children of Susanna : Betset/, b. 18 Nov., 1790; d. 1859; in. Henry G. Wood, of Leba- non, 8 Jan., 1810. Jeremiah, b. 18 May, 1798; d. 9 April, 1830. Sarah, b. 28 May, 1800; m., 1st, Daniel Biaisdell, of B., 28 May, J 839 ; 2d, Joshua George, of Warner, 2 July, 1815. Mary,\). 19 June, 1809; ni. Jolm Noyes. of Lebanon, 11 June, 1815. Joseph S., b. 19 April, 1817 ; d. 12 June, 1843. GILL. Compiled by Elizabeth P. Gill. William,^ a citizen of Newmarket, was the ancestor of the Gill families of B,, Concord, and Hopkinton ; d. about the year 1810, at the dwelling of his son, on the Plain. SumnnaJi, b. May 22. 1704; m. John Kimball, of Hopkinton. William, b. 8 Feb., 1760. Bradbury, b. 7 April, 1768. Moses, b. 14 Oct., 1770; lived and d. in Portsmouth. Johi, h. 21 July, 1774. Lucy, b. 28 Feb., 1780; m. Isaac Shute, of Concord; d. March, 1828; eleven children. ' "William^ (William^) m. Puth Haselton, of Concord, and settled on the Plain, nearly opposite the academy. He plant- ed the elm tree now standing near the old residence, which being measured, 15 Jan., 1878, by his son, James H., was fourteen feet in circumference four feet from the ground, and its branches spread one hundred and fifteen feet. For the beautiful elm trees on the east side of the highway, between the academy and Bridge street, the town is indebted to him and his brother Jolin, who planted them nearly ninety years ago. 552 GENEALOGICAL GILL. Susan B., b. 28 July, 1793: d. July, 1834. Ruth, b. 24 Aug., 1791; m. Benj. Dearborn, of Plymouth; d. Sept., 1838; nine children. Mary, b. 24 Aug., 1790; m. Natli. Draper, of riyniouth; d. Dec., 1S3S; six children. Sally, h. 20 Dec, 1797; ni. Jeremiah Burpee; d. Nov., 1872 [see Burpee family.] William, b. 4 Jan., 18U0; m. Eliza Bartlett, 1820; d. Sept., 1853; five children. Samuel, b. 10 Aug., 18 -3 ; d. Sept.. 1819. Hannah, h. 13 July, 1805 ; m. Charles F. Gage, of Methnen, Mass., 4 iMay, lS3n ; three children. Harriet, h. 13 July, 1805 ; m. Robert Cochran, of Plymouth ; d. Jan., 18G(3; six cliildren. James H.,h. 12 Oct., 1807. John H., b. 16 Sept.. 1809. Eliza, b. 26 Oct., 1812 ; d. Oct., 1817. Judith, b. 29 Dec, 1815; d. Oct., 1817. Bradbuky- (William^) m. Eebecca Straw, ami settled in Hop- kiiiton; d. March, 1812. Moses, b. 31 Oct., 1797. LyiUa, b. 17 Nov., 1799; ni. John Carter, 1826 ; five cliildren. Betsey, b. 19 Jan., 1804 ; d. Nov., 1819. Bradbury, b. 10 Feb., 1806; m. Hannah Farnnm ; two children. Rebecca, b. 8 April, 1809 ; m. Mr. Atkins, of Gardiner, Me. John'^ (William^) m. Polly Carter, and lived in the house now standing nearly opposite the residence of Nathaniel S. Webster. A son; Judith. James H.^ (AVilliam,^ William^) m. Hannah, dau. of Simeon At- kinson, Aug., 1830, and settled on the river road, near the paternal homestead of his wife. Subsequently he moved to the Plain, opposite the church, where he re- sides with his daughter. Elizabeth P., h. 8 May, 1831. JoHX H.'^ (William,^ William^) m. Otessa Blodgett, of Plymouth, Dec, 1832, and is now living there. MosES^ (Bradhury,2 William\) m. Harriet Putney, 18 Dec, 1825, and settled on the Plain, where their son now lives ; for a time he was superintendent of the city farm in Con- cord, where he and his wife gained many friends, and their labors in caring for the poor were duly appreci- ated. Hamilton P., b. 26 Oct., 1826. Rebecca S., b. March, 1830; d. Sept., 1831. Rebecca S., b. 27 Dec, 1831; m. Andrew Jackson. Hamilton P^ (Mose.s,^ Bradbury- William') m. Lydia A. Davis, of Concord, 12 Sept., 1850 ; resides on the homestead inherited from his father. GENEALOGICAL GREENOUGH. 553 Harriet E., h. 1 Aug., ]8ol; d. 7 March, 1S(37. Henrij H., b. 7 July, 1855. E,^ther /).. b. If) Jan., 1858. Mood// C, b. 17 July, 18G0, GREEXOUGir. Ebenezeu,-^ h. in Haverhill, Mass. ; m. Maiy, dau. of Eev. Ebene- zer Flagg, of Chester ; moved to Canterhurj, 1793. Tlieir children were seven sons and four daughters. John, only, settled in B. John," h. in Haverhill, JMass., 5 April, 1780 ; moved to Canter- hur}', with his father, and was emploj^ed in his store as clerk and partner until he moved to B. ; m. iSTancy, dau. of Hon Ahiel Foster, of Canterbury, 1803. He moved to B., Jan., 1814, and purchased the house for- merly the residence of Col. Timoth}' Dix ; opened a store adjoining his house for the sale of goods, and continued in the same business there until he removed to his new brick store, a few rods north, about 1820. His business increased in the new location so that at one time he kept one of the largest stocks of goods in N. H. He continued in business until liis death, 3 Sept , 18G2. [See Biog.] Mrs. Greenough d. 28 ]\[arch, 1819. He m., 2d, Mary, dau. of Samuel Bridge, Esq., of Billerica, Mass., 1820. Cliildren of Nancy : Mary, b 1 July, 1801; m. Dea. Nehemiah Cogswell, 11 June, 1841, Frederick William, b. 2 April, 1800; m. Emily, dau. of Kins- man, of Pembroke, 4 Nov., 1846; settled in Ohio. Elbridfje Flagg, b. 30 Feb., 1808; m. Elizabeth R., dau. of Moses Eastman, Esq., of Salisbury, 18 June, 1846; d. 31 May, 1875. Henry, b. Aug., 1812; d. 9 May, 1817. John Brid(/e, b. 8 Feb., 1816 ; m. Susan Hall, adopted dau. of Dea. William Temple, May, 1847; d. 17 Jan., 1864. Samuel F., b. 22 March, 1819; d. in infancy. Children of Mary : Ellen Noyes, b. 9 Aug., 1821; ra. Rev. D. R. Brewer, June, 1845; d. 2 April, 1852. Ann Foster, b. 19 July, 1823 ; m. John W. Sullivan, of Boston, 18 Nov., 1863. Lucia Maria, b. 11 Oct., 1826; m. Charles W. Web.ster, of Boston, 5 Jan., 1853. They now reside on the homestead of his father, Worcester Webster, formerly the mansion of Hon. Ezekiel Webster. Henry Pollard, b. 15 Dec, 1831; d. 13 Dec, 1852. 554 GENEALOGICAL HARRIS. HAERIS. Compiled by E. S. Harris. Bethuel,^ of Scottish origin, resided in Nelson, and became cel- ebrated as a manufacturer of woollen goods. Almon" (BetbueP), b. 29 Aug., 1800 ; lived with his father until 1821 ; went to Watertown, Mass., and worked at the business carried on by his father five years, returning to Nelson, and m. Phebe, dan. of Ezra Sheldon, 26 June, 1826 ; moved to Marlow, and erected mills for sawing lumber, grinding grain, carding tv'ool, and dressing cloth. In 1832 he moved on to a farm in Winchester. Evidently he was not satisfied with an agricultural life, for in three years he returned to Nel- son and carried on the manufacture of woollen goods until 1847. The good facilities for transportation, and tlie excellent water-power on the Contoocook, with other natural advantages, induced him to remove there, and estaldish his business on a larger and more permanent basis. He purchased of Messrs. Gage the water-power and mill-site which had long been occu- pied by their ancestors, and erected thereon the Dus- ton Island AVoollen IMilLs, which he and his sons suc- cessfully operated until his death, 15 Sept., 1876. He was regarded by his townsmen as a substantial busi- ness man, and was frequentl}^ called to fill the office of selectman. He was chosen to represent the town in the legislatures of 1864 and 1865, was a member of the Congregational church fort^'-four years, deacon and superintendent of the Sabbath-school, in the towns where he resided, many years. Ezra Sheldon, h. 27 Nov., 1827. Bethuel Edwin, b. 18 May, 1829. Almo7i Ainger, b. 29 Dec, 1832. Ezra Sheldon^ (Almon,^ BethueP) m., 1st, Cassandra Androm- ache, dau. of Nathan B. Greene, 20 June, 1860. She d. 5 Nov., 1865. Married, 2d, Sarah Amelia, sister of Cassandra, 12 Oct., 1867. Children of Cassandra : Grace Greene, b. 14 Oct., 1863. Robert Lincoln, b. 3 May, 1865. Children of Sarah : Harry Sheldon, b. 24 Aug., 1868. Almon Greene, b. 24 Jan., 1870. Lucy Cassandra, b. 3 Nov., 1874. GENEALOGICAL HOSMER. 555 Bethuel Edwin^ (Almoir) m. AbLie M., clau. of diaries T. Eamos, of Milford, Mass. Bethud Edwin, b. U Nov., 1866. Amelia Cla/lin, h. 7 April, 1868. Frank Sheldon, b. 19 Nov., 1871; d. 22 July, 1873. Helen, h. 14 March. 1875. Martj Capen, b. 5 Nov., 1877. Almoin Ainger^ (Almoii^) m. Eliza Jane, dau. of Ira Sweatt, 11 Sept., 1855. Charles Naudine. b. 23 Aug., 1873; d. 7 Sept., 1874. Ilari/ Isabel, b. 1 Oct., 1877. Ezra and Almon settled in B. (Fislierville) and still continue tlie business established by their father and themselves under the name of E. S. Harris & Co. HOSMEE. Compiled by Jacob E. Hosmer. James^ came from England to Mass. ; became a freeman 17 May, 1637 ; d. in Concord, Mass., 7 Feb., 1685. James- m. 8arah White ; was killed at the Sudbury fight. Thomas,^ b. 6 Jul}-, 1672 ; m. Hannah Hartwell. James,* b. 1708. Samuel,^ b. 12 May, 1734 ; m. Anna Parlin, 5 June, 1755. James,*^ b. in Concord, Mass., 1761 ; m. Ehoda G., daii. of Capt. Ebenezer Eastman, of Concord, N. H., 1784 ; d. Aug., 1835. Ehoda d. at B., 23 Nov., 1839. James, h. 1785; d. in New Orleans, Feb., 1831. Jacob, b. 25 Aug., 1787. Samuel, b. 5 May, 1791; d. in Enfield, 25 Aug., 1836. Nano/, b. 1798; d. same vear. Nathaniel, b. 1 April, 1800; d. in Orford, 1865. Reuben, b. 1802;' d. in New Chester (now Hill), 1814. Albe Cadi/, b. 1804; d. iu Texas. Jacob'' (James,® Samuel,^ James,* Thomas,^ James," James^) m. Catherine Wellington, in Concord, Mass., 16 Oct., 1808 ; moved to Concord, K H., 1812 ; went to Ports- mouth a volunteer in the war of 1812, remained 21 days, when the war closed ; moved to B. in 1815, and purchased of Ezekiel Webster the house and lot next north of the cemetery on the Plain, where he success- fully carried on the manufacture of fur hats ; an esti- mable man and good citizen ; d, 21 June, 1868. His wife d. 25 Jan., 1876. 36 556 GENEALOGICAL — JACKMAN. Lucy Ann Augusta, h. 10 July, 1809; m. Dr. Stejilien M. Emery, 22 Nov., 1838; resided at Fiaherville ; d. 8 April, 1878. Charlotte Maria, h- 2.5 Jane, 1812; m. 1st, James K. Brickett. 30 Se]>t.. 1855; 2d, Jolni Putiiev, of East Concord, 10 May, 1802. William Henr;/, b. 13 June, 18M. Lenora Wdlit'ir/ton, b. 11 Oct., 1810; m. Dr. John Fellows; d. 14 Feb.. 1877. 3Iar>/ Catherine, b. 3 Dec, 1818; d. 21 Dec, 1818. Jacob Eastman, b. 23 April, 18-iO. Nancy Pamelia, b. 7 July, 1822. il/flr?/ Frances, m. Asa L. Drew, 2 Dec, 1854. Charles Frederic, b. 23 ]\Iay, 1827; d. 21 Sept., 1831. George Franklin, b. 27 Oct., 1829; d. U Aug.. 1832. Charles Frederic, b. 1 Jan., 1832; d. 23 Jan., 1839. William Henry^ (Jacob'') m. Mary Jane Sanborn, of Sanborn- ton, who d. 7 March, 1863; studied medicine with Dr. Thomas P. Hill, of Sanbornton ; grad. at Dart. Med. Coll., July, 1838 ; resides at Fisherville. Mar- ried, 2d, Julia Eastman (Dunlap), 15 June, 1865. Children of Mary : Mary Frances,h. 25 Sept., 1842; m.,lst, Capt.William Fosgate,who was killed at Winchester, Va., June, 1804; 2d. John E. Abbot, of Vallejo,Cal.; two children, — B alph Hosmer a.nd Frank Brown. Carrie Elena, b. 28 Oct., 1848; d. 19 April, 1850. Ella Jane. b. 15 Nov., 1851; ni. John Chad wick ; two children, twins, — Julia and Jennie. Jacob Eastmax^ (Jacob") m. Lucretia Adele Gillet, 25 May, 1847 ; resides at the homestead on the Plain inherited from his father. Charles Enrerij, h. 8 Sept., 1855. Stella Adele, b. 8 Sept., 1859; d. 1 April, 1800. JACKMAN. Compiled by Enoch Jackman. James^ came from Exeter, England, with his wife, Jemima, and settled in Newbury. Their children were Sarah, Es- ther, James, Joanna, and Richard The last named was ancestor of the Jackmans of B. His son, Rich- ard,'^ m. Elizabeth Majors, whose sons, George^ and Richard,^ settled in B. in 1737. George^ m. Hannah Bishop, 1728 ; was chosen deacon upon or- ganization of the church. [See Civil Hist.] Mehitahle, m. Moses Call; d. 19 Oct., 1809. Eunice, b. 25 Nov., 1730; m. John Flanders; d. 17 June, ISIS, William, b. 25 March, 1733; d. in Hartford, Conn., 1820. GENEALOGICAL — JACKMAN. 557 George, b. 28 Oct., 1735. Su.wnnalu ) (m. Benj. Eastman ; moved to New- )- b. 29 April, 17o9 ; - port. Elizabeth, ) (m. Capt. Joseph Eastman; moved to Concord. Benjamin, h. 7 May, 1743. Hannah, b. 1745: d. youiijj. EiCHARD,^ b. in Newbury, 1709 ; brother of George ; m. Martha Call, hn,h. 21 Aac;., 1743. Moses, b. 26 April, 1746. Samuel, b. 17 March, 1749. - Sarah, h. 11 Sept., 1751 ; d. in infancy. Sarah, b. 29 Sept., 1755; m,Benj. Sweat (one of the first deacons of the ciiurch in Webster) ; d. 20 March, 1845. George/ Esq. (George,'' Dea.), b. in Newbury, 28 Oct., 1735 ; m,, 1st, Martha Webster ; 2d, Thompson ; elected first town-clerk, 1760. Elizabeth, b. 4 July, 1758; m., 1st, John Stevens ; 2d, John Flan- ders; d. 1834. - William, b. 16 Nov., 1759 ; m. Betsey, dau. of Robie Morrill. Humphreii,h. 16 July, 1761; m. Judith Pettengill ; d. 28 Aug., 18)3. Hannah, b. 19 March, 1763 ; m. Joseph Morrill. Martha, b. 10 June, 1765; m. Ephraim Wood, of Lebanon. George, b. 14 April, 1767 ; m. Marion Elliot ; d. 6 Feb., 1803. Ruth, b. 7 Marcli, 1769; m. Joseph Morrill [?]. Nathan, b. 21 Feb., 1771; m. Catherine Elliot ; lived in Bradford. John, b. 80 March, 1773 ; m. Hannah Pettengill ; d. 26 May, 1793. Susannah, b. 19 March, 1775 ; m. Stephen Farnum ; d. 5 March, 1797. Stephen, h. 30 April, 1777; m. Sarah Bamford ; d. July, 1829. Sal.li/, b. 14 Jan., 1779 ; m. Robert Greenough. MehitaUe, b. 11 Sept., 1780 ; d. 18 Sept., 1780. Mehitable, m. Ephraim Wood, of Lebanon. Benjamin/ Lieut. (George''), m. Jane AVoodman ; d. 26 Nov., 1836. Benjamin, b. 8 Sept., 1764; d. March, 1789. JosInia,h. 11 Jan., 1766. Jane, b. 20 Dec, 1767 ; m. Ezra Abbot, of Concord; d. 2 May, 1847. William, b. 6 April, 1870 ; d. 18 Aug., 1825, in Illinois. George, b. 13 Oct., 1772; m. Hannah Heath; d. 18 March, 1839. Anna, b. 23 Oct., 1774; d. 28 Sept., 1856. Hannah, b. 31 Oct., 1776; m. John Plummer; d. 24 Aug., 1824. Jonathan, b. 1 Sept., 1780; m. Martha Goodwin; d. 24 March, 1838. Mehitable, b. Oct., 1782; m. David Goodwin; d. 8 March, 1839. 558 GENEALOGICAL JACKMAN. Betsey, b. 4 March, 1785 ; d. 4 Dec, 1850. Polly M., b. 2G March, 1787; m. Abraham Burbank; d. 21 Sept., 1858. Joshua^ (Benjamin,* George-^), b. 11 Jan., 1766 ; m., 1st, Sally Carter ; 2d, Dorothy Sweat. Benjamin, b. 14 Aug., 1789. Jeremiah, b. 20 Aug., 1791. Judith, b. 10 Xov., 1793: m. Little Bnrbank. Samuel, b. 28 Sept., 1798. Joshua Woodman, b. 1 Feb., 1801. Hollis, b. 22 June, 1803 ; m. llutli Bugbee. Sally, b. 12 Sept., 1807 ; m. Isaac 15ngbee. Nancy, b. 2 June, 1810; m. Eddie Tracy. Joseph Warren, b. 22 June, 1812. Dorothy, b. 21 Nov., 1815; m. Friend L. Burbanlc. Benjamin® (Joshua,^ Benjamin,* George^) ra. Betsey Beverley. (Living in "Webster, 1876.) Jeremiah, b. 27 April, 1819 ; ni. ]Mary Doe. John, b. June, 1822. Jehial b. 27 July, 1826; m. Ann Mullin. Joshua Woodman® (Joshua^) m. Mary Burbanlc; d. in Chelsea, Vt. Polly. Joseph Warken''^ (Joshua") m., 1st, Judith Burbank ; 2d, Tam- son Danforth. George B., b. 7 May, 1846; d. 8 May, 1865. William W., b. 25 June, 1851. Charles T., b. 15 June, 1853. Judith M., b. 19 Aug., 1857. ElCHARD* (Richard^) m. Ruth Straw. The family moved to Tamworth, 1771. Richard Jackman was one of the first four settlers of that town. He subsequently moved to Maine. [See Hist, Tamworth.] Bicliard, b. Aug., 1764. Henry, b. 23 June, 1766. John* (Richard^), m. Mary, dau. of William Danforth : d. March, 1813. Nehemiah, b. 4 July, 1764; ni. Ruth Flanders; d. Oct., 1845. Samuel, b. 23 Dec, 1766. Moses, h. 1 Jan., 1769; m., 1st, Corser; 2d, Cass; d. 18 April, 18.56. Mary, b. 1 Aug., 1771: ra. Dr. Benj. Knowlton. Susannah, h. 17 May, 1774; m. Nathaniel Thurston. Elizabeth, h. 28 Feb., 1779 ; m. Jolin Elliot, Jr. Olive, b. 7 Dec, 1781; ni. Samuel Page. Josiah,h. 6 April, 1784; m. Dorothea Corser. William, b, 13 April, 1787; ra, Huntoon. y^ / / / f ^ GENEALOGICAL JACKMAN. 559 Moses* (RicLartP), captured by the Indians [see Civil Hist.] ; m. Martha Morse ; d. 8 Dec, 1838. Ruth, b. 1 May, 177i ; m,, 1st, Ezekiel Eastman; 2d, MaciahMoul- ton. Closes, b. 14 Jan., 1776; m., 1st, Khoda Collins; 2d, Betsey Beecher; d. 24 Nov., 1801. David, b. 25 March, 1779 ; ra., 1st, Naomi Elliot; 2d, Mary Flan- ders; d. 14 May, 1875. Sarah, b. 6 Nov., 1780 ; m. Samuel Oilman; d. 20 April, 1841. Martha, b. 12 Nov., 1780; m. Jeremiah Noyes; d. 5 March, 1858. John, b. 4 Julv, 1790. Caleb, b. 5 July, 1794. Enoch, b. 11 July, 1797 ; d. 4 Sept., 1825. JoHN^ (Moses'') m. Esther Burpee ; d. 20 Sept., 1860. Esther. John, b. 21 July, 1823; m. Sarah Boynton; professor of music; resides in B. ; one son, — Joseph Henry, b. 23 March, 1861. Caleb^ (Moses*) m. Martha Burpee ; lives in Concord [see Biog]. Emily, b. 13 May, 1841; m. Henry M. Elliot. Enoch, b. 7 May, 1828; m. Mary Elizabeth Moody; lives in Con- cord. Samuel* (Richard^^), m. 1st, Submit Brown ; 2d, Hannah Wins- low ; a joiner. He erected the frame of the town- house in Webster [see Hist.] ; moved to Vt., thence to Concord, where he d. 20 Aug., 1845. He was called '' Joiner " Jackman, to distinguish him from Samuel Jackman, the blacksmith. He was a man of marked ability and sterling integrity, and of great strength; an athlete ; he could climb trees feet foremost. Rhoda, b. 22 May, 1774. Samuel, h. 20 April. 1776 ; d. same year. Martha, b. 3 Jan., 1778. Samuel, h. 15 Feb., 178 i ; m. Lydia Shattuck ; d. 16 Oct., 1852. Molli/, b. 1 March, 1782; m. Samuel Barbank. RoTjal. ExocH« (Caleb,^ Moses*) m. Mary Elizabeth Moody. Martha E., b. 22 Jan., 1869. JJllie Idella, 29 Auo;., 1871. Esther Burpee, b. 23 April, 1877. Samuel (nephew of Dea. George), blacksmith, came from New- bury about 1770 ; ni. Anna Fowler, of Newbury. He lived near Millbrook, west of the late residence of Isaac and Col. Enoch Gerrish. His son Samuel, in 1814, lost five children in one week by spotted (scar- let) fever. Eev. Mr. Price has the following para- graph in regard to the mortality : '^ On Sabbath 560 GENEALOGICAL JOHNSON. morning, Nov. 27, Mr. Jackman had seven children in apparent good health. At eight o'clock Hannah Kimball, aged nine, and Isaac Gerrish, aged seven years, were taken ill. The hoy died in eight and the girl in twenty-four hours. Their funeral attended on Monday, — discourse delivered by Rev, Mr. ^Vood, from Prov. 27, 1st verse, — and both interred in one grave. Walter Harris, five years old, was attacked by the same disease on Tuesday morning : died in twelve hours, and was buried on Wednesday. On Friday, David Flanders, two years old, was in like manner seized, and died in six hours, — his funeral at- tended on Saturday : Ilev. Mr. Wood preached on the occasion from John, 0:20 ; but in the time of the fu- neral exercises, Nancy, about three years old, received the fatal attack, died in ten hours, and was l)uried on the Sabbath. Thus a holy God, whose jDrovidence is inscrutable, took from the fond parents, out of seven, five lovely children, in the short term of seven dajs. Medical aid was early resorted to in these cases, but the violence of the attack in each case admitted of no relief from the application of medicine." Simeon, a brother of Samuel, the blacksmith, came to B. from Newbury, 1774, and erected a saw-mill on Blackwater river. JOHNSON. Compiled by Jolin Kimball. Jonathan,^ b. 31 Dec, 1753 ; m. Ehoda, dau. of Eeuben Abbot, of Concord, 8 Jan , 1778 (see Abbot family); nearly all of their descendants settled in B. ; d. IG Sept., 1821. His wife, b. 31 Dec, 1756, d. 3 Aug., 1839. They settled on Horse hill, in Concord, near tlie line, and had twelve children. PJiehe, b. 10 Sept., 1778; ni. Eleazer Davis; d. 23 Sept., 1S1.9. Timothy, h. 10 Jan., 1780; m. Melindii Swett. Elanoi, h. 10 Oct., 1781 ; d. at B. 29 Jan., 1849. lihofhi, b. 7 Nov., 1783; m. Timotliy Abbot; d. 28 Sept., 1804. Hannah,h. 13 Mny, 1785; m. Ezekiel Eastman; moved to Ver- mont; d. 2h Miirch,l859. Jnhi, b. 11 Feb.. 1787 ; d, 2 Dec, 1790. Reuben, b. 12 Jan., 1789; ni. Judith II Chan^ GENEALOGICAL — KILBURN. 563 Nathan, b. 1750. Eliphalet, h. 1752 ; d. 11 Dec, 1844. Lucy^h. 1751; lu. Win. Southwick ; settled in Dauvers. Mercy, b. 175(J ; m. Daniel Abbot, Concord. Jedediah, b. 1792; Newburyport ; a seaman. Nathaniel, b. 17G1 ; settled in B. ; moved to Thetford, Vt. Susan, d. young. Eliphalet,^ Dea. (Jedediah*), b. in Eowley ; served in the Revo- lution ; m. Mary Thorla, of Rowley ; moved to B., 1780. [See Biog.] Eunice, h. 11 April, 17S1; m. Samuel Fowler, of B. George T., h. 1781. Enoch, } , ^r-o^ f Hannah, ^ "■ -"^"' | m. Thoraaw Coffin, of B. ; d. 20 Aug., 1833. Mary, b. 1787; m. Benj. T. Kimball, of B. Susan, b. 1789; m., 1st, Geo. T. Pillsbury, of B.; 2d, Saw- yer, of Warner. Betsey, b. 1792; m. Joseph Stone, of Salisbury. Clarissa, h. 1800; resides witli her sister, Mrs. S. B. Little, in Web- ster. Sally, m. Benj. T. Kimball ; lives on Water street. Phebe, b. 26 Sept., 1801; m. Simeon B. Little, of B. Eliphalet, b. 1801. Moody A., b. 1807; m., 1st, Lurana Bliss, of B.; 2d, Caroline B. Fi field, of Salisbury. George T.« (Eliphak't^), b. 1784 ; m., 1st, Abigail Allen ; 2d, Mary Morse. Children of Abigail : Samuel N., b. 1816; d. 1826. Harriet N., b. Dec, 1818. Elliot W., b. Feb., 1820. Enoch G., b. May, 1822; resides in Waltham, Mass. Francis W., b. 25 Dec, 1821. John A.,h. Sept., 1826. Fran-CIS W." (George T.*^) m. Eliza A. Lougee ; lives in Con- cord. Adele, b. 31 Oct., 1856; d. March, 1858. Nellie F., b. 12 Jan., 1860. John A.'^ (George T.*') m. Frances M. Brichett, of Fisherville ; lawyer; d. 20 Is"ov., 1860. Willie E., b. 10 April, 18.38; d. Feb., 1860. Helen M.,h. 28 Oct., 1859. Eliphalet*' (Eliphalet,^ Dea.) m. Mehitable Foster, of Canter- bury. [See Biog.] Galen Foster, b. 7 May, 18:31. Sarah Jane,h. 5 Aug., 1836; d. 3 Nov., 1855. Lucien Moody, b. 20 Jan., 1812. Charles Harrison, b. 11 Dec, 1817. 564 GENEALOGICAL KILBURN. Galex Eoster' (Eliplmlet,'^ Eliphalet/ Dea.)^ ''^- " May, 1834 ; resided at home till 1857. His educational advan- tages were the common school and a few terms at an academy. In 1857 he went AVest and settled at Des Moines, Iowa ; taught school ; studied law with J. E. Jewett and C. C. Cole, the last since chief-justice of Iowa; began j^ractice at Eontanelle, Adair county, Jan., 18G0 ; was elected representative, 1867 ; took a prominent part as a legislator ; elected trustee State Agricultural College. In 1876 he removed to Creston, where he now resides, devoting himself to his profes- sion. Married, 1st, Jennie A., dau. of Eev. Joseph Mathes ; 2d, Emilie C. Baker. Children of Jennie : Lucien M., h. March, 1861. Ellen A., b. July, 18(j;3. Edmund, b. Dec, 18(30. Fannie L., b. Jan., 1870. Winnie, b. Nov., 1875. Lucien M.^ (Eliphalet*') m. Lizzie Peet. Charles W.. b. July, 1872. George G^., b. Jan., 1871. Enoch^ (Eliphalet,^ Dea.), h. 7 Feb., 1784 ; m., 1st, Betsev Morse ; 2d, Elizabeth Cogswell; d. at Andover, 24 Feb., 1875. [See Biog.] Children of Betsey : Mary P., h. 1813; m. D. F. Kimball, of B. Judith A., b. 1815; m. Moses Farnum, of Concord; d. 1869. Gilbert T., b.l819. Enoch, b. 1821 ; d. young. Livonia C, b. 1823. Enoch G., b. 1826; d. 1871. Benjamin Franklin, h. 1828. Children of Elizabeth : Hennj W., b. 26 Sept. 1837. Joseph C, b. 5 July, 1839. Elizabeth S.. h. 1842. John C.,26 March, 1843; m. Nancy Bussell, of Andover; one child, —B. Franl: Gilbert T.^ (Enoch,« Eliphalet,^ Dea.), b. 1819 ; m. Abby Scrib- ner; lives in Concord. George T., Ben S. Enoch G.^ (Enoch«), b. 1826; m., 1st, Clara Fletcher; 2d, Sybil V. Hoyt; d. 1870. GENEALOGICAL KILBURN. 565 Cliiklrcii of first wife : Mary^ Gerrish. Benjamin F.^ (Enoch®), b. 1828 ; m. Jane E. Haley, of Andover ; lived in Concord ; d. 1872. William H., Ella M., Frederick. Henry W.^ (Enoch,*' Eliphalet,^ Dea.), h. 26 Sept., 1837; m. Sophronia Herse3', of Hill. Anson Hersey, b. 26 March, 18(30. Sidney Gerrish, b. 19 Nov., 1871. Joseph C' (Enoch*'), b. 5 July, 1837 ; m. Abby Hawkins, of San- bornton ; lives in Henniker. Walter Edward. Thomas* (Joseph,^ George,"^ Tliomas^), 1). 3 Sept., 1753 ; m. Anna Plumei", of Newliury. Daniel. Ablqail, b. 7 Sept., 1783 ; ni. David Corser, of B. Ruih, h. 14 Dec, 1790; m. Wm. Warren, of Waterford, Me. Thomas, b. 1792 ; m. Lj'dia Warren, of Waterford, Me. John. JoHN^ (Thomas*), b, 12 Nov., 1794 ; m. Mary Butler, of Essex, Mass. ; d. 1875. William TF., b. G Sept., 1820; m. Louisa McClnre. Thomas, h. 26 Feb., 1826 ; m., 1st, Dearborn ; 2d, Elizabeth McCurdy. Daniel, h. 11 Dec, 1830. John, b. 2 Sept., 1837 ; m. Finette Flanders. Daniel^ (Thomas*) m., 1st, Uran ; 2d, Butler. Albert Plummer. Charles, b. 16 June, 1814 ; d. 12 March, 1839. Albeiit p.'' (DanieP), b. 1 In"ov., 1810 ; m. Abigail Tuttle. Nancy, m. Hiram Little. Charles P., b. 21 Jan., 1840; d. 9 Aug., 1842. Daniel P., b. 15 March, 1845; member U. S. Sharpshooters; cb 16 March, 1864. Charles A., b. 5 March, 1849 ; d. 29 Sept., 1857. Flora Ella. b. 10 March, 1851; d. 1857. Charles Albert, b. 16 Dec, 18.37. Nathan^ (Jedediali,* Samuel,^ George,^ Thomas^), b. 1750; m. Sarah Plummer, of Newbury ; settled in B., 1794. John. James, b. 17 ISTov., 1783; m. Elizabeth Thurston, of Newbury; d. U Dec, 1869. Nathan, d. young. Sarah, d. young. 566 GENEALOGICAL KIMBALL. Jambs'^ (Natlian"). Ellzaheth, b. 9 Sept., 1808 ; m. Dr. Peter Carleton;d. 10 April, 1827, in Ind. Juilllh T., b. U March, 1810 ; rl. April, 1831. Ednah, b. 18 Jan., 1812 ; d. 1 Sept., 1838. Nathan, b. 2 Marcli, 18M. Eunke. b. 13 .July, 181 G ; m. John T. Dole. Judith Frances, b. 28 Sept., 1832; m. Oscar F. Lawrence, 111. Nathan'^ (James^), b. 2 Marcli, 1813 ; m., 1st, Polly Danforth ; 2d, Harriet IST. Huntoon. Children of Polly : Albert, b. 15 Auff., 1810; d. Dec, 1874. Sarah C, b. 2.5 June, 1842. Angelia, h. 22 Sept., 1847. Manetta, b. 27 June, 1851. KIMBALL. Compiled by Joliii Kimball. Joseph,^ b. in Exeter in 1728; moved to Canterbury in 1793. Some of his descendants settled in B. He had seven sons and four daughters. Sarah, John, and Joseph came to Canterbury the next year. During a severe sickness in early life he became blind. He never looked upon the town ot" Canterbury, where he resided twenty-one years, and never saw six of his children. He d.' 6 NoV., 1814. JoHX^ (Joseph^), b. in Exeter, 20 Nov., 1707 ; m. Sarah, dau. of Benj. Moulton, of Kensington, 21 Nov., 1793 ; moved to Canterhur}'- 17 Feb., 1794, and settled on their homestead, just north of Shaker Village, where they resided nearly sixty years. After tlie death of his wife, 30 April, 1853, he lived with his son until his death, 26 Feb., 1801. Their children were six sons and three daughters, of whom Henjamin and John settled in B. Joseph^ (Joseph^), b. in Exeter, 23 Maj;, 1772 ; moved to Can- terbury, and m. Polly Hall ; they settled near the meeting-house at the centre of the town; their chil- dren were four sons and six daughters. He d. 19 June, 1863. Jeremiah and William Moody settled inB. Benjamin^ (John,^ Joseph^), b. in Canterbury, 27 Dec, 1794 ; m. Euth Ames, dau. of David Ames, 2 Feb., 1820 ; moved to B. in the spring of 1824, and settled on the GENEALOGICAL — KIMBALL. 567 farm known as the Frost place, High st. ; resided there until Nov., 1830, when they removed to the south part of the town, now Pisherville ; d. 21 July, 1834. He w^as an active and influential husiness man. In 1831 he erected the dam across the Contoocook river, and the brick grist- and flouring-mill now stand- ing near the stone factory ; and afterwards, with his cousin, William M., carried on the business of manu- facturing lumber. He took an active part in all that was essential to the general and religious welfare of the town. In March preceding his death he was elected to represent the town in the legislature, but his health was so impaired he was not able to take his seat. JoJin,h. 13 April, 1821. Elizabeth /., b. 12 April, 1825; d. 20 Sept., 1810. Joseph A., b. 8 Oct., 1826 -, d. 20 Feb., 1827. Lucy A., b. 28 Aug., 1829; d. 25 Aug., 1832. Benjamin A., b. 22 Aug., 1833. JOHN^ ( John^), b. in Canterbury, 31 May, 1798 ; m. Sally S., dau. of John Peverly, 24 Oct., 1826 ; moved to B. the next day, and settled on the farm known as the EoKe place, liigh st. They resided there until his death, 30 Sept.,^lS29. Their child, John P., b. 23 Dec, 1827, with his mother, returned to Canterbury soon after, where they now reside. She afterwards mar- ried David Morrill. Jeremiah^ (Joseph"-^), b. in Canterbury, 30 Nov., 1799 ; educated at Phillips Exeter Academy ; m., 1st, Julia, dau. of Timothy Gleason, in 1826; 2d, Kate, dau. of M. N. Brown, '4 Jan., 1869. After following the business of a merchant in Canterbury and Northfield ten years, he removed to B. in 1836, and formed a business con- nection with Luther G. Johnson. They were the first tradesmen who opened a store for the sale of goods in the south part of the town. He remained here and carried on the same business nearly twenty years, when he removed to Concord, wdiere he is an active business man, at the age of seventy-nine. Willi 4.M Moody^ (Joseph-), b. in Canterbxiry, 4 Dec, 1809; moved toB. in 1832, and associated himself m business with his cousin Benjamin; m. Lucy Jane, dau. of Eeuben Johnson, 8 Jan., 1835. He has been repeat- edly elected to fill various offices in town, for which he was well qualified. At one time he was owner in the large and valuable water-pow-er now the basis of the 5G8 GENEALOGICAL — KIMBALL. flourishing village of Fislierville. In early life he was successfully engaged in building mills and machinery in various parts of the state, for which he and others of the same family became celebrated. Yov a time he was employed by one of the large manufacturing com- panies in the city of Lawrence, Mass. Tliey removed to Minneapolis in 1857, their present residence. Dur- ing the war he served as quartermaster of Sibley's ex- pedition against the Sioux Indians, — a difficult posi- tion, requiring great energy and despatch. WiUinm S.. h. 31 March, 1837. M. EUzahelh, b. 28 Dec, 1838; m. Hon. E. M. Wilson, of Mume- apobs, Minn., G Sept., 1865. Helen, h. 17 Aujr., 1849; d. 27 Dec, 1851. Edward.T.. b. 20 Nov., 18.52; m. Emily, dau. of Winthrop Young, of MinneapoH.s, Minn., 22 Aug., 1877. John* (Benjamin^), b. in Canterbury ; moved to B. with his par- ents in the spring of 1824 ; m. Maria H. I'hillips, of Kupert, Vt., 21 May, 1846. Clara Maria, b. 20 ]March, 1848; m. A. R. Ayres, 4 June, 1873; chilJren, — Ruth Ames and John Kimball. [See Biog.] Benjamin Ames* (Benjamin*^), b. in B., 22 Aug., 1833; m. Myra Tilton, dau. of Ira Elliott, 19 Jan., 1861. Henry Ames, b. 19 Oct., 18(34. [See Biog.] John P.* (John^), b. in B. ; m. ]\Iary Eliza, dau. of Samuel Hill, 3 June, 1852 ; settled in Canterbury. George E., b. 23 Sept., 1856 ; d. 16 May, 1863. ^-Jf-' lb. 13 May, 1859. Georgiana, b. 19 Oct., 1867. William Smith* (William M.-''), b. in B. ; educated in the pub- lic schools of Lawrence, Mass., Prof. Hildreth's acad- emy. Derry, and at the Rensselaer Pol3'technic Insti- tut'ej Troy, N. Y. ; studied to become a mechanical engineer ; m. Marion, dau. of Eufus Keeler, of Roch- ester, N. Y., 7 Oct., 1858, where he settled. During the war, 1862 and 1863, was in charge of the U. S. Naval machine shops at Port Royal, S. C. He has become, by his enterprise, prudence, and industry, one of the most successful manufacturers in the city of Roches- ter. Charles Harold, b. 5 March, 1801. Margaret Keeler, b. 25 March, 1864; d. 25 Aug., 1864. GENEALOGICAL — KIMBALL. 569 KIMBALL. Eichakd/ at tlie age of thirty-nine, with his wife Ursula, came to America in the ship "Elizabeth;" embarked at Ip- swich, 10 April, 1G34, with Henry, 15, EUzaheth^ 13, lUchard, 11, 3Iary, 9, Martha, 5, John, 3, Tho^nas, 1. Settled in Watertown, Mass. ; moved to Ipswich, 1637. The B. family is descended from Henry,^ the oldest child, who lived at Ipswich, and had a son, — KiCHARD,^ wlio was b. at Ipswich, 1648 ; moved to ' Bradford ; was one of the first settlers of that town ; m. Sarah Shefford, supposed his second wife, Sept., 1682. He had a son, — Joseph,* b. 29 Dec. 1701 ; m. Abigail Peabody; lived at Brad- ford. Peter,^ Capt. (Joseph,* Richard,^ Henry,"^ Richard^), b. 1 Sept., 1739 ; m. Elizabeth Thurston ; resided a short time in Haverhill; moved to B., 1765. [See Biog.] Hannah, b. at Haverliill, 2 Aug., 1763. Molly'h. 30 Aug., 1705 ; m. Isaac Chandler; d. 21 Jan., 1847. Joseph, b. -24 Nov., 17G7. Judllh, b. 23 Nov., 1709; d. 7 Oct., 1850. Belli/, b. 24: April, 1772; m. Samuel Choate, of B. Ahluli, b. 20 Jlay, 1774; m. Theodore Atkinson; d. July, 1859. Frances, b. 9 Aug., 1776; m. Rev. Moses Sawyer. Sally, b. 31 Dec, 1778; m. Solomon ]\Lartiu. Priscilla, b. 7 Aug., 1781; m. John Chandler; d. March, 1868. Benjamin Thurslon, b. 4 May, 1784; d. 2 July, 1852. Joseph*^ (Peter,^ Capt.), b. 24 Xov., 1767; m., 1st, Eunice Atkin- son ; 2d, Polly Fisher, of Newport ; moved to New- port ; was one of the leading singers of B. at the be- ginning of the century ; d. at Newport, 1848. Children of Eunice : Peler, b. 5 March, 1793 ; became a minister; preached in the West; m. Mary Wilcox, of Newport. Betsey, b. 1 Sept., 1796; m. Charles Comstock, of Newport. MllUm, b. 20 Feb., 1799 ; minister at Augusta, lib ; d. in 1865. Phila, b. 10 June, 1801; m. Blanchard; d. at Rochester, N. Y., June, 1877. Children of Polly : Jesse W., b. 16 June, 1805; m. Emily Cotton, of Claremoiit ; d. at Galesburg, 111., Aug., 1877. Eunice, b. 20 Dec, 1807; m. GrifEu, of Galesburg, 111. Solon, b. 6 Oct., 1809. Sophonia, b. 12 Dec, 1811; d. young. Lycurgus, b. 14 April, 1814; became a minister; d. at Galesburg, 111. 570 GENEALOGICAL KIMBALL. Benjamin T.*' (Peter,^ Capt.), b. 4 March, 1784 ; m., Ist, Maiy, dau. of Dea. Eliphalet Kilburn ; 2d, Sally, lier sister. [See Biog.] Ablah, b. 6 Oct., 1806; d. IS Oct., 182.3. Roxy Ann^ h. 22 Dec, 1809; ni. Calvin Craue; lives in Portland. David Flanders, b. 24 Dec, 1811. Peter, h. 25 March, 1817. Caroline, b. 30 Oct., 1819; m. JNIoses K. Sawyer, who d. in Port- land, Jan., 1875. Austin George, h. 24 Feb., 1821. David F.'^ (Benjamin T.«) m., 1st, Mary P., dau. of Enoch Kil- burn ; 2d, Mrs. Emily Burke, dau. of Geo. T. Pills- bury. [See Biog.] Benjamin Rush, b. 29 July, 1838; m. Carrie F. Jackman ; lives in Blooniins;ton, 111. ^nn, b. 22 Feb., ^1811. Peter W., b. 11 Dec, 1812; d. 11 April, 1860. Livonia Coffin, b. 18 Nov., 1814. PetepJ (Benjamin T.''), b. 25 March, 1817 ; m. Nancy A. Adams, of Grafton. [See Biog.J Mary A.^ h. 6 June, 1852. Cyrus A., b. 30 April, 1855; d. 20 Aug., 1856. Carrie A., h. 8 Jan., 1857. Cyrus A., b. April, 18t51. George B., b. 28 Jan., 1865. Harry C, h. 26 May, 1872; d. 26 Jan., 1876. Austin Geokge" (Benjamin T.«),b. 24 Feb., 1821; m. Ellen, dau. of Isaac Hale, of Franklin. Mary E.,h. 8 July, 1846; m. Thomas M. Lang, of B., 1869. Ella G., b. 5 Sept., 1818; m. George jNIorse, of Fisherville, 1871. George E., b. 26 July, 1850 ; m. Mary E. Nelson, of Fisherville, 1871. Emma J., b. 28 Jane, 1851. Hannah S., b. 12 March, 1858. Peter W., b. 29 Dec, 1860. Willie H, b. 29 March, 18G7. GENEALOGICAL LANG, 571 LANG. Compiled by Jolin Kimball. Stephen^ resided in Loudon ; m. Abigail, dau. of Hon. Mesliech Weare,* of Hampton Falls. Samuel Weake- (Stephen^), b. 26 May, 1784; settled in East Concord, and was employed in the store of Stephen Ambrose till he was twenty-one years old ; moved to ]>. in 1805, and associated himself in business with Joel French in the sale of goods, in a building now standing opposite the meeting-house on the plain ; m. Mar}'^. dau. of Jonathan Eastman, sen., of Concord, 9 jMay, 1809. He was frequently elected to fill the va- rious offices in town, and held that of town-clerk until his death, 26 April, 1816. Esther Johnson, h. 12 May, 1810; m. Robert E. Pecker, 6 May, 1832; d. 9 April, 1817. Jonathan Eastman, b. 27 Aug., 1811 ; m. Sophia M., dau. of Jere- miah Tilton, 29 Oct., 1838; d. 17 Oct., 1876. William, b. 1 Nov., 1812 ; d. in infancy. Mary Chandler, b. 27 June, 1816; m. Charles H. Clough,24 Sept., 1840. *3Iesl)ech Weave was bom ill Hamptoa Falls, 16 June, 1713. "He was an active leader of the friends of liberty, and his name is associated with the most important transactions in New Hampshire through the whole of the Revolutionary war and the period of the formation of the general and state governments. He held almost every important position in the state, and had maintained an untarnished reputation in all.'' He was in the public service forty-live years; died 15 Jan., 1786. 37 572 GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. LITTLE. Compiletl by Alfred Little. Geokge,^ a resident of Unicorn st., London, by occupation a tailor, came to Newbury, Mass., in 1640. He seems to have been a man of enterprise and good judgment, and soon acquired some of the most productive land in that town, of which a large part has ever since been owned and occupied by his lineal descendants. He also bought land at Saco, Me., at Stonington and Quinnebaug, Conn. ; also in N. H. and N. J. The site of his last house, built in 1679 or 1680, is now marked by the residence of Dea. Joseph Little, at Newbury. He was a Christian man and good citizen ; d. between 15 March, 1693, and 27 Nov., 1604 ; m., 1st, Alice Poore, of Newl)ury. She, at the age of 20, with her brothers Samuel and Daniel, came to that place with Mr. Stephen Dummer, on his second voj'- age to N. E., in tlie " Bevis," Capt. Eobert Batten, which sailed from Southampton, England, IMay, 1638. She d. 1 Dec, 1680, aged 62. He m., 2d, Eleanor, widow of Thomas Barnard, of Amesbury, JMass., 19 July, 1681, who d. 27 Nov., 1694. Children of Alice : Sarah, b. 8 May, 1652; d. 19 Nov., same year. Joseph, Capt., b. 22 Sept., 1653; d. 6 Sept., 1740; m. Mary, dan. of Tristram CotBn, Esq., of Newbury, Mass., 31 Oct., 1677. John, b. 28 July, 16.55; d. 20 July, 1072. Mose.^, b. 11 March, 1657; d. 8 March, 1691. Sarah, b. 24 Nov., 1661 ; m. Joseph llsley of Newbury, 3 March, 1682. MosES^ (G-eorge^) lived on the homestead at Newbury. His es- tate was returned to probate court, 3 Nov., 1691, as amounting to £1065.6 ; m. Lydia, dau. of Tristram Coffin, Esq., of Newbury. John, b. 8 Jan., 1680; d. 25 March, 1753. Trhtram, b. 9 Dec, 1681; d. 11 Nov., 1765. 5aro/i, b. 28 April, 1684; d. 10 Dec, 1710; m. Thomas Pil^e, 3 Jan., 1710. 3fary, b. 13 Jan., 1686; m. Col. Joseph Gerrish, of Newbury; date of marriage pviblishment, 26 Feb., 1703-4. Elizabeth, h. 25 May, 1688 ; d. 17 March, 1719; ra. Anthony Morse, 21 Jan., 1718. Moses, b. 26 Feb., 1691; d. 17 Oct., 1780; m. Sarah Jaques, 12 Feb., 1716. GENEALOGICAL — LITTLE. 573 Tristram^ (Moses,- George^) was a farmer. Tlie house which he erected on the paternal estate still stands, and is now the residence of William Little, Esq., town-clerk of Newhury ; m. Sarah, dan. of Henry Dole, of New- bury, Mass., 30 Oct., 1707, who was h. 12 Feb., 1689. Sarah, b. 6 Aug., 1708; m. James Noyes, 30 May, 1729; lived in Atkinson. Henri/, b. 31 Dec, 1710; m. Lydia Little, 7 Dec, 1738; d. Dec, 1786. Samuel,h. 18 Feb., 1713; d. 29 Sept., 1792; m. Dorothy Noyes, 18 Feb., 1736 ; lived in Atkinson. Appliia, baptized 1715; d. 1.5 Feb., 1713. Jane b. June, 1718; m. Eduuind Knight, 25 May, 1741. Elizabeth, b. 20 Nov., 1720; d. 15 April, 1818; m. Humphrey Noyes, 22 Nov., 1743; lived in Atkinson. Nathaniel, b- 24 May, 1723; d. before Louisburg, C. B., 13 Nov., 1745. llichanlh. 6 June, 1725; d. 13 Feb., 1806; m. Jaue Noyes, 17 Sept., 1754. Enoch, b. 21 May, 1728; d. at R., 21 Oct., 1816. 3Iary, b. 4 Feb., 1731 ; d. young. John,h. 14 July, 1735; d. 25 Aug., 1800; m. Hannah Noyes, 27 Oct., 1767.* E^'OCH■* (Tristram,^ ]\Ioses,- George^) lived near the "Upper Green," at Newbury, Mass., where liis first seven cliildren were born ; removed to Hampstead in April, 1766, and to B. in April, 1774. At the age of 11 years, while listening to the preaching of Whitefield in Newbnryport, he became a Christian, and united with the Old South church in that place, 7 Aug., 1773, while living at Hampstead. After his removal to B., until enfeebled by age, he went to Newbnryport every year (over 60 miles) to be present at the August com- munion. He m., 1st, Sarah Pettengill, of Newbury, Mass., 19 Feb., 1755, who was b. 6 Sept., 173:1, and d. 10 March, 1758 ; 2d, Hannah Hovey, of New- bur}^, Mass., 5 June, 1759, who was b. 27 Feb., 1734, and d. 15 March, 1801. [See Biog.] Children of Sarah : Friend, b. 19 Jan., 1756; d. 19 Nov., 1836. Mary, b. 19 Sept., 1757; d. 25 July, 18o7 ; m. David Burbank, of B., 20 April, 1778. Children of Hannah : Benjamin, b. 13 April, 1760; d. 30 Aug., 1846. Joseph, b. 30 May, 1761; d. 26 March, 1843. *In giving tlie families of Geoege.i Moses,^ and Tristkaji,-' tlie compiler ia greatly indebted to the "Geuealogy of tlie Little Family," by George T. Little, pub- lished ill 1877. 574 GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. Enoch, b. 17 Jan., 1708; d. 31 March, 1848. Hannah, b. 3 Sept., 17G4 ; d. 17 Oct., 1764. Noah, b. 1 Nov., 1765 ; d. in Cass county, Mich., 14 Aug., 1837. Jesse, b. 30 July, 1767; d. 19 Aug., 1840. Phehe, b. 19 Feb., 1769; d. 7 June, 1769. Sarah llsley,h. 2i) April, 1770; d. 10 Dec, 1836; m. Moses Ger- rish, of B. John H., b. 12 March, 1772; d. 29 Au. I)., of Bristol, Ct., 13 July, 1861; resides in Terryville, Ct. Elizabeth F., b. 2 June, 1816. Charles IL, h. 20 Sept., 1848. Thomas/ Capt. (Jesse,^ Enocli*), lived on the homestead; re- moved to West Creek, Lak» county, Ind., in 1855 ; m. Myra, dau. of Capt. Joseph Ames, of B., 2 June, 1829, wlio d. 17 June, 1869. [See Biog.] Joseph A., h. 21 May, 1830. Sarah H., b. 29 Aug., 1833; d. 19 Feb., 1874. Lucy J., b. 30 March, 1837; m. Thomas H. Bouham, of Elizabeth- ' town, O., 2 Aug., 1860. GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. 581 Leavitt C.,'' Col. (Jesse,^ Enoch*), first commenced business with Philip H. Webster, in a store at Danbury ; afterwards established himself at Cincinnati, and was engaged for several years in selling patent scales in Ohio, Ind., and Ky. In 1837 he removed to Pa., and became res- iclent agent of the U. S. Land Co., of Boston, for a large tract of land situated in McKean and Elk coun- ties, remaining in that position through life. The village of Bradford, in which he built the first house, has recently become one of the principal oil cities of Pa. Col. L. took a prominent part in organizing the McKean County Agricultural Society, and was its first president. Foremost in every good word and work, in the church, Sabbath-school, and as a citizen, he will long be remembered with gratitude and affec- tion. He m. Lucy Jane, Avidow of Philip H. Web- ster, and dau. of Col. Timothy Dix, of B., 30 June, 1837. Ellen, b. 6 ]\Iay, 1838; m. Emmctt Mix, of Columbus, O., 9 March, 1805. Join S., b. 29 Dec, 1839. Susan, b. 15 Ancr., 1811; m. Rev. Chas. W. Wallace, of Jackson- town, O., 23 Dec, 1863; resides in Monroeville, O. Sarah G., b. 22 Sept., 1843; m. Robert Davis, of Mahomet, 111., 14 Sept., 1876. Hiram C' (Samuel,Triend^) lived in Webster; m. there Nancy A. Kilborn, 20 Nov., 1856. Hiram P., d. 6 Dec, 1861, aged 4. Josrph A., b. 15 Sept., 1858. Mary E., b. 11 May, 1860. Samuel'^ (Samuel, '^ Friend^) is a farmer; resides in Webster; m. Jane S., widow of Lewis Sturtevant, 8 April, 1859. John P., b. 2G July, 1860. Enoch C^ (Samuel,'' Friend^) lived at Fisherville ; removed to California, Oct., 1867 ; m., 1st, Martha J. Sargent, of Hopkinton, 24 Nov., 1853, who d. 14 May, 1863 ; 2d, Betsey J. Jackman, of Franklin, Nov., 1864, who d. in San Francisco. Children of Martha : Alia Maria, b. 17 March, 1855 ; d. 29 June, 18C0. Addie M., b. 12 Oct., 1856; resides in Franklin. Helen E., b. 14 Sept., 1859; resides in Franklin. Child of Betsey : Mahel, b. 3 May, 1869; d. 17 Jan., 1870. 582 GENEALOGICAL LITTLE, Moses C (Moses/ Erienc?) resides in Louisiana, Pike county, Mo. ; received an academic education. In the autumn of 1844, he commenced work in the engineering de- partment on the N. R. R., remaining there titl its completion ; was next employed in a survey of the Vt. Central R. R. ; went to Mo., March, 1850, and commenced engineering for the county of St. Louis, having charge of the new system of roads (plank and Macadam), continuing these improvements until 1858. In 1860 he accepted a position in the city engineer's office of St. Louis ; was superintendent of special work in the sewerage department, and built tlie largest sewer in the U. S ; remained in this position 7 years, and then received the appointment of road commis- sioner for Pike county, Mo. From 1869 to 1873 he was chief engineer of the Louisiana & Missouri River R. R. ; constructed 100 miles of the most difficult por- tion of the road, including one crossing of the Mis- souri river ; was also employed in other railroad work. Subsequently he was engaged in making plans and specifications, and doing contract work, on drainage and reservoirs for the State Lunatic Asylum at Ful- ton, Mo. He m. Julia N. Southard, of St. Louis. Mo., 14 April, 1858. Willie M. C, b. 2 Mav, 1859; d. 27 Sept.. 1859. Man, J., h. 17 Aug., 18(32 ; d. 19 April, 1805. Annie, h. 20 Jan., 1874. Charles B.'^ (Joseph,® Friend^) lives on the homestead in Web- ster; m., 1st, Susan J. Smith, of B., 23 May, 1850, who d. 17 March, 1863 ; 2d, Emeline B. Harvey, of Hopkinton, 6 April, 1864. Children of Susan : Caleb P., b. 14 April, 1851. Adaline T., h. 26 March, 1853. George B., h. 12 June, 1855. Charles E., b. 10 June, 1858. Child of Emeline : Emma J., b. 8 March, 186G. Bitfield Plumer'' (Richard,® Capt,, Benjamin,^ Capt.) went to Pa. in 1840 as a surveyor, and settled at Brandy Camp, Elk county ; was afterwards land agent, anil extensively engaged in the lumber business ; m. Lydia A. Manson, of St. Armand, L. C, 4 Aug., 1854, who was b. 30 March, 1825. >^.,/^.,. GENEALOGICAL — LITTLE. 583 i^rawciV, b. 3 Sept., 1855; ) at present date (1878), students in Elwln, I). 18 May, 1859; ^ Western Reserve college. Heber, b. 20 Sept., 1861. Levi,' Eev. (Eicliard,® Capt., Benjamin,^ Capt.), resides at Wa- quoit, Mass. ; grad. at Dartmoutli college in 1854, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1857 ; was licensed to preach, by the Ilopkinton Association, in April, 185G ; ni. Susan A. Bourne, of Falmouth, Mass., 5 Jan., 1860. Fuchard 77., b. 22 Dec, 1860. Andrew F.,h. 7 Nov., 1862. Dora, b. 13 Oct., 1864; d. 20 June, 1869. Edward A.,h. 15 Nov., 1866. Charles, b. 30 Nov., 1869. Edith M., b. 3 Jan., 1873. Ellen F.,h.-i Feb., 1875. Horace'^ (Richard,*' Capt., Benjamin,^ Capt.) resides in Eidge- way. Pa. ; m. Lucy A. Taylor, of Fox township, Elk county. Pa., 30 May, 1857. [See Biog.] ArOiur 7?., b. 22 March. 1858. Mary M., b. 15 March, 1861. Helen, b. 25 Sept., 1803. Benjamin P., b. 2 ]\Iay, 1868. Louise v., b. 3 Aug., 1873. Geokge' (Simeon B.,^ Benjamin,^ Capt,) is a merchant on Corser hill, Webster, in the store so long occupied by Hezekiah Fellows, Esq. ; m., 1st, Louisa, dan. of Dea. Enoch Little, of Webster, 29 Nov., 1855; 2d, Sarah J., dan. of Dea. Jeremiah Gerrish, 19 Nov., 1807 ; 3d, Lucy A. Sawyer, of Salisbury, 15 Oct., 1873. Children of Louisa : Henry Z., b. 9 Aug., 1857. Luther B.,h. 7 July, 1859. Mary Alice, b. 21 May, 1861 . Charles H., h. 10 Oct., 1861 ; d. 8 May, 1865. Sherman'^ (Simeon B.,® Benjamin,^ Capt.) remains on the home- stead ; is a business man and influential citizen ; m. Mary A., dau. of Dea. Eldad Austin, of Webster, 8 Sept., 1859. Harriet B., b. 30 Sept., 18G0. Arthur C. b. 22 April, 1862. Ellen A., h. 19 Aug., 1863. Mi/ra A., h. 11 June, 1865. John E.,b.2 March, 1867. Charles S., b. 12 Feb., 1869. Clara M., b. 6 June, 1872. 684 GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. Arthue/ Rev. (Simeon B..® Benjamin,^ Capt.), grad. at Dart- mouth college in 18G0 ; stutlied theology at Ando- ver and Princeton ; received the appointment of chap- lain for the 1st Vt. Heavy Artillery, and was ordained for this office at Webster, 16 IMarch, 1863 ; was mus- tered out of service 7 July, 1865; commenced his min- istry over the Presbyterian church in Bedford, Oct., 1865, and remained three years ; settled in Nov., 1868, over the 1st Congregational church at Fond du Lac, Wis. ; was dismissed 12 Feb., 1878, and the same month became pastor of the N. E. Congregational church at Chicago, 111. ; m. Laura E., dau. of Benja- min Frost, of Thetford, Vt., 15 Aug., 1863. Mary Brant, b. 19 June, 1867. Albekt G? (Henry,^ Enoch,^ Dea.) first settled at Liverpool, and afterwards at Altona, Knox county. 111., where he now dwells ; is a carpenter, and dealer in musical instru- ments ; has been justice of the peace, and held vari- ous offices in town and county ; m., 1st, Deborah, dau. of Nehemiah and Margaret (Maxfield) Brush, of Lewistown, 111., 10 Kov., 1842, who was b. in Pa. in 1821, and d. 11 April, 1850 ; 2d. Jane, dau. of Charles and Emeline Steel, at Liverpool, 111., 5 Dec, 1850, who was b. in Ind., 8 Oct., 1829. Children of Deborah : Caroline Amanda, b. 2 Nov., 184:3; m. Henry Loranz. treasurer of Page county, Iowa. 18 Feb., 1869; resides at Clarinda. Mary Emma, b. 4 Dec, 1841; grad. at Elm wood Institute, at B., Nov., 1863; m. Charles^M. Morton, State Sec. of Y. M. C Associations of 111., 4 Dec, 1866; resides in Chicago. Phebe,h. 3 April, 1816; grad. at Steubenville, O. ; ni. Jesse J. Pursell, 12 i\Iarch, 1872; resides at Brinifield, 111. Susan,h. 28 Feb., 1818; m. Charles Brush, of Haverhill, 0., 10 June, 1875. Alice, b. 25 Aug., 1849; d. 25 July, 1850. Children of Jane : Henry, h. 23 Jan., 1852; d. 29 Feb., 1852. Mary Ellen, h. 10 Aug., 18.53; d. 21 Aug., 1854. Martha, b. 17 Dec, 1854; has been a successful music teacher in 111. and Iowa. Charles Coffin, b. 23 May, 1856; d. 5 Oct., 1858. Ann Cora, b. 14 Feb., 1858 ; d. 30 Jan., 1859. Ella, b. 17 Dec, 1859. Jennie, b. 27 May, 1861. Charles Alfred, b. 4 Aug., 1864; d. 17 Aug., 1865. Olive, b. 24 Oct., 1865. Samrny S., h. 5 Jan., 1868; d. 26 July, 1868. GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. 585 John EJ (Jolm,^ Noali^) resides in Lacouia ; m. Lettice A. Eob- inson, of Meredith Village, 4 Nov., 1843. Harriet W., b. 13 An<;., 1814; in. Osman Baker, of Ilolderness, 10 March, 18G6. Nell)/ B., b. 8 Jan., 1851; m. Abraham Morrison, of Sanbornton, 20 Sept., 1871; resides in Franklin. Mary E.,h. 20 Oct., 1854; ni. Frank Rollins, of Sanbornton, 6 April, 1877. Nancy H.^ b. 5 June, 1857. Lettice R., h. 9 May, 1859. Hexey'^ (John,*' Noah^) resides in Concord ; m., 1st, Harriet S. Perkins, of that city, 24 Nov., 1846, who d. 16 Sept., 1863; 2d, Hannah* B. Winch, of Marshiield, Vt., 24 Nov., 1864. Children of Harriet : William H., b. 7 June, 1850. Addle G., b. 1 Aug., 1854. Harriet /., b. 3 Oct., 1858 ; m. Fred Sanborn, of Concord, 26 Nov., 1876. Rose E., b. 13 March, 1863; d. 12 Aug., 1863. Noah'' (John,® Noah^) is a manufacturer and dealer in blank- books at Boston, Mass. ; m. Marv E., dan. of Capt. Nathan Call, of Concord, 31 May, 1846. George W., b. 23 March, 1847. Frank //., b. 16 Sept., 1852. George AV." (John,'' Noah^) resides in Phnnouth ; in. Helen H. Holden, of Kumney, 29 Nov., 1854. 3Ielzena E., b. 17 Aug., 1856. Alonzo G.'^ (David,® Noah^) resides in Wichita, Sedgwick coun- ty, Kansas ; m. Jane Mitchell, near Elkhart, Ind., 16 Nov., 1856. Albert A., b. 17 Aug., 1857. Emellne E., b. 7 Jan., 1860. Andrew D., b. 5 April, 1864. Clara J., h. 25 Oct., 1866. Charles 0., b. 25 Feb., 1876. Alfred,'' Dea. (Jacob,® d. d.. Jesse^) was teacher in common, academj', and high schools successively; also taught vocal and instrumental music ; m. Sarah C, dau. of Dea. Josepli Little, of Newbury, Mass., 31 July, 1855, who d. at Granville, 0., 25 March, 1863. Anna T., h. 19 June, 1856 ; resides in Newbury, Mass. George A.,'' Rev. (Jacob,® r>. c, Jesse^) enlisted in the spring of 1862 ; was taken prisoner at Harj^er's Ferr}^, Va., same year ; grad. at Marietta college, 2 July, 1863, at 586 ■ GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. Lane Theological Seminary, 1866 ; licensed to preach h}^ the Cincinnati Presbyter}^, 5 April, 1865 ; was or- dained in 1866, and preached one year at Massillon, 0., and nearly seven years at Oconto, Wis. ; was set- tled over the Presbyterian church, at Plymouth, Ind., 1 Dec , 1875 ; m. Sarah C. Dangler, of Massillon, 0., 14 Kov., 1867. William,h. 10 Sept., 1808; d. 5 xVng., 1869. Mar7j B., b. 24 June, 1870 ; d. lo Oct., 1876. Frank, b. 25 Jan., 1873. Joseph P).,' Pvev. (Henry,'' d. d., Jesse^) grad. at Amherst college in 1860, at Lane Theological Seminary in 1863 ; was ordained at Madison, Ind., 8 Sept., 18(")3; is pastor of Presbyterian church, at ]Mankato, Minn. ; m. Mrs. Mary A. Cromwell, of Lima, 0., 27 Nov., 1866. Herman G., b. 26 Sept.. 1807 ; d. 19 July, 1868. George B., b. 4 May, 1869. Manj P., b. 18 Nov., 1871. Dajjton C, b. 28 Sept., 1873 ; d. Sept., 1871. Heney S.,' Rev. (Henry,*' d. d., Jesse^), grad. at Wabash college in 1863, at Lane Theological Seminary in 1866 ; was or- dained at Rising Sun, Ind., 11 April, 1866 ; is pastor of the Presbyterian church at Carondelet, South St. Louis, Mo. ; m. Anna H , dan. of Rev. William H. McCarer, of Evansville, Ind., 29 May, 1866. Henry, b. 21 March, 1867. William il/., b. 5 Sept., 1868 ; d. 2 Feb., 1869. Sarah M., b. 21 Nov., 1869. Cornelia, b. 13 Sept., 1871; d. 5 Sept., 1872. Charles H.. b. 16 March, 1873 ; d. 30 May, 1874. Susan N.,h. 27 Dec, 1875. George 0.,'^ Rev. (Henry,'' d. d., Jesse^), grad. at Amherst col- lege in 1860, at Lane Theological Seminary in 1863 ; was ordained 8 Sept., of same year, at Madison, Ind. ; is pastor of the Assembly's church (Presby- terian) at Washington, D. C. ; m. Mattie H., dau. of Jetliro Mitchell, Esq., of Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati, 0., 3 Sept., 1863. Arthur M., b. 10 April, 1865. Edward iV., b. 21 Sept., 1867. Norton M., b. 3 Jan., 1873. Edith, b. 11 Sept., 1874. Charles H.,' Rev. (Henry,^ d. d., Jesse^), grad. at Wabash coll. 1870, and at Lane Theological Seminary in 1873 ; was ordained at Richmond, Ind., 8 April, 1874 ; is 11 ^.^- >'* ^& ^..^■^ ' eLy^^ax^ GENEALOGICAL LITTLE. 587 pastor of the 2d Presbyterian church, at New Albany, Ind. ; m. Lettie R., dau. of Tliomas W. Fry, M. D., of Lafayette, Ind., 23 Feb., 1873. Thomns W., b. 28 Oct., 1874. Charles F., b. 15 Dec, 1877. Joseph A.'' (Thonias,® Capt., Jesse^) is an extensive farmer and st<)ck-raiser at West Creek, Lake county, Ind. ; m. Mary, dau. of Abiel Gerrish, of West Creek, Ind., 1 Nov., 1859. Lems &'., b. 21 Feb., 18G1. bifant dau., b. 20 Nov. and d. 30 Dec, 1862. James H.,b. 27 Nov., 1863. Ellen, h. 31 Jan., 1866. Jesse, b. 17 Jan., 1868. MyraA., h. 26 April, 1872. Mar// E., b. 4 April, 1877. JoHx Sullivan" (Leavitt,^ CoL, Jesse^) resides in Bradford, McKean county, Pa. ; ni. Louise H. Mathews, of Marshall, 111., 26 Aug., 1875. Dix M., b. 28 Nov., 1876. William H.^ (Henry,'^ John*') resides in Concord; m. Ida M. Vincent, 9 Dec, 1869. Frank B., h. 27 Sept., 1870. Willinm M., b. 30 May, 1872. Arthur W.,h. 9 April, 187-i. Cora M., b. 12 Feb., 1877. Frank II. ^ (Noah,^ John®) resides in South Boston, Mass.; ni. Lottie J, Pearson, of Boston, 8 Oct., 1864. George yilfred, b. 3 Aug., 1875. Jennie C, b. 30 Nov., 1876. 588 GENEALOGICAL — MORRILL, MOEKILL. Abraham^ came from England in 1632. Isaac,- b. 10 May, 1646; d. 17 Oct., 1713. Abraham,^ b. 21 June, 1671. Abraham,* b. 22 Nov., 1705 ; d. at Salisbury, ^lass. EoBiE,^ b. 28 Aug., 1734 ; grad. at Harvard coll. 1755 ; ordained minister of B. 27 Dec, 1761 [see Biog.] ; m. Elizabeth Hobson ; d. 13 Sept., 1813. Samuel^ b. at Salisbury, ]Mas?.; d. in B., 14 Oct., 1816. Elizabeth, b. 31 July, 176'2; in. Wm. Jacknian, of B. Anna, b. 20 Oct., 17(3o: m. Joseph Little, of B. ; d. 17 Nov., 1839. Joseph Hobson, h. 15 June, 1765; m. Anna Jackinan; d. 4 June, 1858. Jeremiah, b. 18 Jan., 1775. Sallij, b. 30 May, 1777 ; d. 20 April, 1859. Jane, b. 26 Dec, 1768; d. 30 Sept., 1832. Samuel,^ (Robie^), b. 5 Jan., 1761. Belsey M., b. 8 March, 1787; ni. James Chadwick, of B.; d. 17 Nov., 1851. Eunice, b. 4 April, 1788; d. 19 March, 1828. Nathaniel, b. 8 Sept., 1789. Judith, b. 13 Dec, 1792; m. Joseph Chadwick, of B.; d. 12 March, 1821. Benjamin, b. 16 Jan., 1794. Anna Hobson, h. 11 Sept., 1797 ; ni. Dr. Merrill, Ilopkin- ton, Mass. Joseph H.*' (Robie,^ Rev.), b. 15 Jan., 1765 ; m., 1st, At- kinson ; 2d, — Lunt ; d. 21 March. 1858. Joseph, b. 23 May, 1793. Judith, b. 29 Nov., 1797; m. Nehemiah Cogswell; d. 19 Nov., 1810. Calcin, b. 6 Dec, 1805; m. Mary Clark, of B.; d. in AVebster, 14 May, 1875. Jeremiah'^ (Robie,^ Rev.), b. 18 Jan., 1875 ; m. Anna Jackman ; d. 4 June, 1858. Nancy, b. 9 Oct., 1800; m. Moses Foster, of Canterbury. Reuben Prentice, b. 12 April, 1808; ni. Forbes. Harrison Otis, b. 20 May, 1810. Marij, b. 11 Dec, 1812; ui. Sewell Fifield. Roger Sherman, b. 25 Dec, 1815; d. 9 Sept., 18G1. I^ATHAXiEL^ (Samuel,^ Robie,^ Rev.), b. 8 Sept., 1789 ; m. Morrill ; lived in Canterbury. Mary Emily, b. 3 March, 1821; m. Fitts ; d. 23 Oct., 1845. Catherine, b. 27 Aug., 1823; d. 14 Oct., 1841. Reuben, b. 11 May, 1825. • GENEALOGICAL — MORRILL. 589 Samuel Atldnson, h. 26 May, 1827. Charles Franklin, b. 27 May, 1829. E72och, b. 16 Sept., 18:33. Elizabeth C, b. 7 March, 1831; d. 24 April, 1832. Benjamin^ (Samuel,« Robie,^ Rev.), b. 16 Jan.. 1794 ; m., 1st, Eastman ; 2cl, Clioat, of Deny ; lived on B. Plain, in bouse owned by S. B. G. Corscr, also in tbe house erected by bis grandfather, Rev. Robie. He was a clock- and scale-maker, — a man of great ingenu- ity. At one time — about 1840, '45 — he manufactured melodeons and seraphines. He d. 21 April, 1857. Lua-elia, dau. 1st wife, m. Donaldson ; lives in 111. Franklin C, b. ]\Iarcli, 1835. Manj Frances, b. 2-1 Aug., 1843. Joseph^ (Joseph H.,*^ Robie,^ Rev.), b. 23 May, 1793 ; m. Lunt ; d. 5 Jan., 1844. He taught school many years ; was representative two years; an earnest Christian; for many years superintendent of Sunday-school ; lived on the Plain with his father. Mary TF., b. 1819; d. 27 Nov., 1835. Enoch Lunt, b. 9 Oct.. 1820. Joseph Hobson, b. 15 June, 1828. Enoch L.^ (Joseph,^ Joseph H.,«^ Robie,^ Rev.), b. 9 Oct., 1820 ; m. Susannah Coffin ; d. 2 Dec, 1874. Emma Adelaide, h. 1818; d. 1851. Elizabeth, b. 11 June, 1850. Edward P., b. 9 April, 1852. Envmdtee, d. in infancy. Malvina, d. in infancy. Elmer F., b. 2 Dec, 1861; resides in ]Manchester. Joseph Hobson^ (Joseph,'^ Joseph H.,*' Robie,^ Rev.), b. 15 June, 1828 ; m. 0. A. Munroe ; lives in Concord. Marij Ella, b. Sept., 1854. Harrison O.'' (Jeremiah,^ Robie,^ Rev.), b. 30 May, 1818 ; m. Richardson. William^ Emma, Edward. Everett. Reuben P.^ (Jeremiah'') m. Forbes. Warren, Jeremiah. 590 GENEALOGICAL MORRISON, NOYES. MORRISON. Compiled by Abiel R. Chandler. JoHX H.- (Abner^), b. in Derry, 4 June, 1779 ; m. Maiy, dan. of David Paul, of Deny ; settled in B. just below the Plain, in 1803 ; d. 11 Aug., 1858. His wife d. 14 July, 1863. Mary Holmes, b. 27 Jan., 1802; d. 11 Oct., 1812. Eliza Jane, h. 1 Oct., 1803; m., 1829, Abiel W. Chandler, of B. [See Chandler Biog.] George, h. 15 Dec, 18U5 : m. Sally Randall, of Great Falls; d. 1 Feb., 18GU. Leonard, b. 7 Oct., 1807: m. Sally Cole, of B. Persis, b. 5 Oct., 1800; m. Edward B. Kimball, of Hanover, and settled in Qoincy, 111. ]\Iar)/,h. 6 Jan., 1812; m, Charles Stoby, of Quincy, 111.; d. 21 Aug., 1876. Sylcia Ann, b. 13 Dec, 1813; m. Charles Ford, of Brookliue, Mass.; d. 1 Sept., 1875. Louisa Maria, b. 26 Jan., 1816 ; m. Jonathan P. Howe, of B. John Sherman, b. 19 Jan., 1819 ; d. 9 March, 1819. Samuel Wood, ). ,,. Anril 18O0- ^ ^- ^^^^' -'^^^'^■ Nancy Wingate, \^- ^'^ ^P"^''' ^^"^ ' j d. 3 May, 1820. NOYES. Compiled by William Temple. Nicholas^ and Rev, James, brothers, came from Wiltshire, Eng., 1638, and were among the first settlers of Newbury. The B. branch is descended from Nicholas, who had a son, — Timothy,- who had a son, — James,^ m. Sarah Coffin, of Ne\vbur3\ Isaac, b. 14 July, 1719. Daniel, b. 30 Jan., 1723; — perhaps others. Isaac* (James^), b. 14 July, 1719 ; m. Sarah Pettingill, 24 Nov., 1743 ; moved to B., 1768. Cutting, b. 2 June, 1745. Amos, b. 19 Feb., 1749. Elizabeth, h. 7 July, 1750. Sarah, b. 2 May, 1755. Cutting" (Isaac,* James,^ Timothy,- Nicholas^), b. in Newbury, 2 June, 1745 ; came with his father to B. ; settled on farm owned in 1876 by L. M. Chadwick, Esq. ; m. Molly Burbanlv ; was elected selectman, 1776, '77, '78, '81, '88 ; elected deacon of the church, 1786 ; moved to Newport, 1794. GENEALOGICAL NOYES. 591 Isaac, b. 15 Aug., 1772. Moses, b. 21 Dec, 1774. Sarah, b. 8 Oct., 1776. Samuel Muzzt/, b. 21 Aug., 1778. Judilh, b. 16 Mav, ]78[). Dorcas, b. 17 Feb., 1782. Amos, b. 19 Dec, 1783. Enoch, h. 16 Nov.. 1785. Benjamin, b. 9 June, 1787. Abigail, b. 20 Jan., 1793. Dan^iel^ (Jnmes,^ Timothy,- Nicliolas^), b. in Newbury, 30 Jan., 1723 ; came to B.. 17G1 ; lived on the farm occupied at one period by Mr. Solomon Arey, — hxter by Daniel Flint; ra. Anna Chase, of Haverhill, Mass., 1745. Marij, b. 15 April, 174(i ; la. Nicliolas Davis; d. 10 June, 1829. Joanna, b. 27 March, 1710; m. Richard Carr. Sarah, b. 29 IMarch, 1752; d. young. James, b. 22 May, 1751; d. young. Tristram, b. 7 March. 1759. Isaac, b. 19 June, 1702; m., 1st, Phebe Goodwin; 2(1, Mrs. Sarah Boardman; d. 9 April, 184]. Daniel, b. 26 Jan., 1705; ni. Polly Marston; d. 21 Jan., 1852 ; stud- ied medicine with Dr. Daniel Peterson, of B. ; settled in Enfield; moved to O. Tristram^ (Daniel, ■* James'^), b. 7 March, 1759 ; m. Miriam East- man, of Salisbury, Mass. He was a carpenter and plow-maker, — an ingenious mechanic; d. Aug., 1824. Ilanj, b. 20 Aug., 1785; m. Peter King; d. 28 Aug., 18G6. Jeremiah, b. 28 JNlarcIi, 1788. Jane,h. 28 Jan., 179U; m., 1st, Eben Hall; 2d, Isaac Atwood; d. 2 Feb., 1857. , Cltasch. 8 Feb., 1792; m. Nancy Kempton ; d. May, 1862. Nanct), b. 14 March, 1794; d. young. Buth, b. 25 Aug-., 1790 ; m. Jabez Ilannaford; d. 14 Aug., 1800. Enoch, b. 10 Jan., 1799 ; d. 10 Sept., 1819. Marif, m. Obed Kempton. ' Susanna, h. 4 Dec. 18 Jo; m. Wm. Temple; living, 1870, at East Woburn, Mass. Jeremiah^ (Tristram,^ DanieP), b. 28 March, 178S ; m. Martha Jackman ; lived in house occupied by Prentis Fowler, 1876, south end King st. ; surveyor, wheelwright ; in- heritor of his father's mechanical ingenuity ; select- man ; justice of the peace ; d. 7 Nov., 1868. Martha L., b. 6 June, 1812; d. 15 Sept., 1836. Sarah Jackman, b. 1 Sept., 1815; m. Moody M Pinkertou. Mary King, b. 22 Sept., 1817. Enoch Russell, h. 27 April, 1820. Esther Jackman, h. 6 Jan., 1823; m. Geo. Allison. Samuel Gilman, b. 12 Oct., 1827; ra. Achsah J. Brown. 592 GENEALOGICAL PEARSON. Ephraim,^ another brancli of the Noyes family, h. in ISTewbuiy ; m. Molly, sister of Nathaniel Thurston, of B. ; settled on Corser hill ; d. 13 May, 1856, aged 92. Jane Pearson, b. 5 Oct., 1796; d. 20 Sept., 1819. Elizabeth IF., b. 9 Aucr., 1798. Edna Adams, b. 13 May, 1801. Judith Stickneij, b. 20 Aug., 1803 ; ra. Whicher, of Rowley. Nicholas Moodij^h. 24 Oct., 1806; m. Phebe Kelley; one son, — IIe7irij. PEAESO:^T. JoHN^ came from England to Eowley, Mass., in 1643 or 1645, and erected a mill for dressing cloth. Benjamin- (John^), b. 1648 ; m. Hannah, dan. of Daniel and Anne (Pell) Thurston. Benjamin,^ fourth child of Benjamin,- b. 12 Aug., 1690 ; m. Dorothy Moody. Isaac. Jeremiah. Isaac," Dea., b. 21 Oct., 1728; m., 1st, 28 Nov., 1751, Sarah Gerrish, who d. 16 JMarch, 1773, aged 44 years ; 2d, Anna Plumer, 11 Jan., 1774, who d. 2 April, 1789, without issue ; 3d, Mary Eaton, 1789, who d. 30 March, 1848, aged 96, without issue. He was chosen deacon of the church of B. about the year 1770 ; was also elected deacon of the church in the east part of the town in the year 1786 ; d. 8 March, 1805, aged 77. Children of Sarah : Moses, b. 21 Nov., 1752; d. 8 Dec, 1752. Mary Elisehelh^h. 3 Oct., 1753; in. Mnj. Enoch Gerrish. Joseph, b. 17 Aug., 1755; m. Hannah Atkinson; moved to Haver- hill, N. H. Jane, b. 1 Dec, 1757 ; d. 20 May, 1758. • Jane, b. 10 ]\Iay, 1759; d. 4 July, 1759. Isaac, b. 7 Aug., 1760; m. Sarah Allison; Uved in Northfield; d. without issue. Somershy, h. 27 Aug., 1763. Moses, h. 12 Dec, 1705; d. 31 Jan., 1767. SOMERSBY,^ Capt. (Isaac," Dea.), b. 27 Aug., 1763; d. 12 July, 1811, aged 48 ; m. Judith, dan. of Joshua and Ee- beeca (Gerrish) March, who d. 9 Dec, 1820, aged 50. Isaac, h. 14 May, 1792. Mary, b. 7 April, 1794; m. John Cogswell; d. 5 April, 1823, aged 29. Rebecca, b. 1799; d. 4 May, 1812, aged 13. Judith, b. 18u3; d. 17 April, 1819, aged 16. GENEALOGICAL — PEARSON. 593 IsAAC« (Somersby,5 Q^^pt.), b- 14 May, 1792 ; d. 4 March, 1824, a^'ed 32 years ; m. Hannah, dau. of Major Enoch Gerrisli, 1 June, 1814, who d. 29 Jan., 182i. Rebecca, b. 12 Nov., ISL); d. 22 .July, 18ii; m. Calvin Gage, of B.; children, — Hannah Pearxnn, b. 13 June, lSo6; d. 5 July, 1852, aged 16; Mariha Ann, b. 10 May, 1840; d. 19 July, 184(3. The family of Capt. Somersby Pearson is extinct. Jeremiah'* (Benjamin,^ Benjamin,'-^ John^) m. Elizabeth Pearson. Nathan, b. 17G(). Samuel, h. 28 Nov., 1771. Poll//, m. Paul Dodge. Kathan^ (Jeremiah^) m. Elisabeth Thurlow ; d. Jan., 1850 ; moved to B. from Xewbury, Mass., 1795. Poll//, h. 17 July, 1787; m. Isaac Ilale; d. 14 Nov., 18(35. Betsey, b. 25 April. 1790 ; m. Isaac Hale ; d. 9 Jan., 1832. Paul, b. 10 July, 1792; d. 27 Sept., 1797. Paul, b. 19 Oct., 1798. Nathan, b. 22 Sept., 1802. Samuel^ (Jeremiah*), b. 28 Nov., 1771; m. Mary B. Lane; moved to B. from Newbury, 179G; d. 20 Nov., 1843. Annie, b. G Sept., 1797; d. 27 Jan., 1800. Lyilia, b. 24 July, 1799 ; d. 11 Dec. 1800. Annie, b. 14 March, 1802 ; d. 9 April, 1804. Man/, b. 23 Nov., 1805: m. Plunimer R. Stevens. Nanc/i, b. 25 Jan., 1808; d. 20 Nov., 1856. Paul^ (Nathan,^ Jeremiah*) m. Sarah Couch ; member of the legislature 1856, 1857. William, b. 5 March, 1827. Charles, b. 17 Aug., 1829. Sarah J., b. 22 Dec, 1835; m. Henry II. Gerrish. Henry F., b. 23 July, 1839. Nathax'^ (Nathan^) m. Eliza Couch, d. 12 Oct., 1SG8 [see Biog.] John C.,h. 25 May, 1835. William'^ (Paul®) m. Rebecca Corser. . Clara, b. 3 Jan., 1859 ; d. 22 June, 1859. Charles, b. 23 April, 1861. Charles'' (PauP) m. Eanny Prescott ; d. March, 1856. Lizzie F., b. 18 Jan., 18.53; ra. D. B. Badger, of Boston. Henry F.'' (PauP) m. Henrietta Bills. Edwin H., b. 9 Feb., 1863. George L., b. 34 March, 1865. Jessie E.,^. 30 July, 1869. Henry F.,}^.^ Oct., 1873. Henrietta, ) ' 594 GENEALOGICAL PILLSBURY, JoHST C' (ISTathan®) m. Elizabetli S. Colby ; member of legislature 1871, 1872; resides at Fislierville. Carrie i/., b. 23 Dec, 1857. Edward iV., b. 7 Sept., 1859 ; in Dart, coll., class 1881. John Walter,]). 17 Feb., 1862. Harloiv C, b. 27 Nov., 1872. PILLSBUKY. Compiled by Alfred Little. William-^ (the name originally called Pillesburgh, — see Coffin's Hist, of Newbury) was b. in Staffordsbire, England, 1605; came to Newbury, Mass., in 1641, tbeiice to Dorcbester tbe same year ; m. Dorothy Crosby of that town, in 1642; returned to Newbury in 1651 [?], where he d. 19 June, 1686. He bought bis farm of Edward Kawson, secretary of state, which has ever since been owned by his lineal descendants, and is now occupied by Joshua Pillsl)ury of High st., New- buryport. He was a man of wealth ; owned a large tract of land, and had money to let, which tradition says he kept secreted under the eaves of his thatched barn. Joh, b. in Dorchester, Mass., IG Oct., 1643. Moses. Abel b. 1652. Caleb, b. at Newbury, Mass., 28 Jan., 1651; d. 4 Julv^lGSO. William, h. 27 July, 1650. Experience, b. 10 April, 1658. Increase, b. 10 Oct., 1660. Thankful, b. 22 April, 1662. Joshua, b. 20 June, 1674. JoB^ (William^) m. Katharine Gavet, 5 April, 1677. ■Daniel, b. 20 Sept., 1678. Josiah,h. 17 April, 1686. Daniel^ (Job," William^). In 1700, he built the Pillsbury house on High St., Newburyport, which has ever since been occupied by his descendants ; m. Sarah Allen, 18 Jan., 1703. Joshua, b. 11 Feb., 1704; d. 21 March, 1788. Joshua* (Daniel,^ Job-) m. Mary Somersby, of Newbury, Mass., 1731, who d. 16 April, 1794, aged 87. Joshua, b. 23 March, 1738; d. 6 April, 1798. GENEALOGICAL PILLSBURY. 595 Jo SHU A^ (Joslma,* DanieP) m. Kebeckali Witham, of Peppers- 1)oro' (Wells), Me., 1764, who d. 28 June, 1819, aged 77. Daniel, b. 15 April. 1765; d. at C , S Dec, 18^4. Jos/ma, b. 1769 ; d. at B., 15 Aug., ISll. lie had also several other children, — daughters. Daniel,*' Lieut. (Joshua,^ Joshua*), m. Eunice Tliurlow, of New- buryport, Mass., 5 Feb., 1788 ; who was b. 5 May, 1765, and d. 27 Oct., 1847. Soon after his marriage he re- moved to B. and settled on his father's farm on Water St., which he subsequently purchased ; was a carpen- ter and mill-wright. Thougii a man of medium stat- ure, yet the united heights of his 7 sons amounted to 42^ feet. Danid, b. 20 March, 1789; d. 19 July, 1872. Enoch, h. 14 Aug., 1790. George T., b. 7 Feb., 1792; d. 16 May, 18-36. Moody A., h. 4 May, 1794; d. 8 Jan., 1863. Rebecca, b. 29 April, 1796 ; d. 5 Oct., 1874; m. Jeremiah Titcomb, of Deny, 29 April, 1823 ; lived in B. PaulP.,\). 9 Nov., 1797. Joseph, h. 7 Aug., 1799; d. 14 :\lay, 1861. Eunice, b. 22 Sept.. 1803; d. 2 Nov.. 1843. 3Ian/, h. 6 Feb., 1805; d. 7 April, 1813. Sarah, b. 4 Nov., 1806; resides on the homestead. William T., b. 24 Aug., 1809 ; d. 27 Aug., 1845. Joshua,'' Capt. (Joshua,® Joshua'*), m. Elizabeth Wood, of New- burvport, Mass., 1793, who d. 1 Dec, 1816. He re- moved to B. in 1809. Enoch, b. 7 Jan., 1795; d. at Nashua, 26 Jan., 1S57. Joshta, b. 13 Aug.. 1796. Elizabeth, h. 1 Aug., 1798; d. 16 Oct., 1825; m. Jeremiah Little, of B., 5 March, 1816. Nathaniel, b. 13 Sept.. 1800; d. 14 April, 1863. Eunice, b. 2 Jan., 1803; d. in Lawrence, Mass., 1 Aug., 1872 ; ra. Simon Brown, of Derry, in 1828. Mary C, b. 20 ]March, 1805; d. 25 July, 1809 ; m. Capt. Richard Little, of B., 22 May, 1827. Phebe, b. 21 ]May, 1807; m. in 1829. Caroline, b. 10 July, 1811; m. 1831. Daniel,''' Capt. (Daniel,*' Lieut., Joshua®), removed to West New- bury, Mass ; m., 1st, Dorothy Searles, of New Ches- ter, 26 Nov., 1812, who d. 4 June, 1819; 2d. Betsey Burleigh, of Franklin, 9 Nov., 1820, who d. 19 Sept., 1868. 696 GENEALOGICAL PILLSBURY. Children of Dorothy : Ehura D., b.25 June, 1815; d. 7 Aug., 1821. Alelvin, b. 11 July, 1818. Children of Betsey : 3IaryA., b. 10 Sept., 18-21 ; d. 2 July, 1831. Joseph B., b. 19 June, 182:5; d. 23 Dec, 1833. Benjamin D., b. 25 Oct., 1821. Enoch" (Daniel,'' Lieiit., Joshua''^) was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; resides in "Webster ; ni. Martha Burleigh, of Franklin, 6 Dec, 1822. E7ioch IIilton,h. 5 May, 1821; d. 23 Dec, 1857. Martha A. ,h. 26 Jan., 183G; d. 22 Sept., 18G0; m. Ezekiel W. Burbauk, of Webster, in 1851. George T.,' Dea. (Daniel,*' Lieut., Joshua^), lived in B. ; was a mill-wright and carpenter, and the first man in town to frame buildings by square rule ; m. Susannah, dau. of Dea. Eliphalet Kilburn, of B., 16 June, 1813, who was h. 16 Eeb., 1790, and d. in Chicago, 111., 31 March, 1861. [See Biog.] Emihj, b. 2G Sept., 1811; was a successful teacher in N. E. and at the South; ni., 1st, Rev. A. B. Burke, in Alexander, Burke county, Ga., 19 Dec, 1818, who d. 10 May, 1849 ; 2d, Col. D. F. Kimball, of Chicago, 111., 19 Sept., 1859 ; resides in Fisherville. Catharine, b. 22 Sept., 1820 ; d. 19 Oct., 1813; m. Sewell noit,of Concord, 20 Jan., 1837. Moody A.,' Gen. (Daniel,'' Lieut., Joshua^), lived at Bashan ; m., 1st, Abigail AV., dau. of Col. Timothy Dix, of B., 1 Oct., 1818, who d. 9 May, 1852; 2d, Louisa F. Dix, sister of Abigail, 25 Xov., 1852. [See Biog.] Children of Abigail : Mooilij Adamt^, b. 20 Sept., 1820; m. Charlotte Couch, of B., 15 March, 1847; resides in Webster. George, b. 17 Oct., 1823. Charles W., 1). 7 June, 1820; d. 17 May, 1828. Charles ,S'., b. 14 April, 1828. Paul P.,' Capt. (Daniel," Lieut., Joshua^), resides at Andover, Mass. ; ni., 1st, Hannah Frost, 2 May, 1825, who d. 27 Sept., 1847, aged 52 years, 5 months; 2d, Sarah A. Stephens, of Andover, Mass., 10 Jan., 1848, who d. 5 Feb., 1868, aged 52 years, 10 months. Child of Hannah : Solomon i^., b. 8 June, 1829; d. 29 Aug., 1847. GENEALOGICAL — PILLSBURY. 597 Children of Sarali : Solomon B., b. 14 Dec, 1848. George P., b. 22 Nov., 1851. Infant, b. and d. 12 May, 1855. Joseph/ Dea. (Daniel,'' Lieut., Joshna^), received a common- school education, which was improA^ed by judicious reading and association with people of intelligence. He, as well as five of his brothers, held a captain's commission. In early life he experienced religion, and united with the Congregational church, of which he was ever an active and consistent member ; was chosen deacon of Eirst Congregational church in B. He first settled on a farm at East B. In 1831, he accepted the position as agent and overseer of a large farm, containing 1,500 acres, in Jackson, Me., owned by Thorndike,, Sears & Co., of Boston. Here he re- mained five years, filling this place of responsibility with satisfaction to his employers. He returned to B. in 1836, and settled on the "Mt. Pleasant" farm, which he occupied through life. In 1840, '41, and '42, he was employed by the U. S. Land Co., oi Bos- ton, as inspector and appraiser of their lands in west- ern Pa. He was well known as a progressive and practical agriculturist. While a young man he re- ceived an injury that resulted in a chronic disease of the stomach, from which he was a sufferer till death. * He possessed a genial, social nature, and his life was filled with deeds of kindness. For a description of his character, see Titus, 1st, 8th. He m. Martha, dan. of Jesse Little, of B., 19 May, 1825. Henrjj Tl^, Col., b. 27 June, 1827; was a young man of promise in the church and Sabbath-scliool. Durini,^ the years 1849 and 1850 he was employed by Col. L. C. Little, in the lum- ber business, on the Allegliany and Ohio rivers. In 1853 and 1854 he became overseer, and furnislied lumber supplies for the Chicago & Fort AVayne R. 11.; subsequently was in company with his brotlier, Col. J. L. Tillsbury, as con- tractor on the INIobile & Girard 11. R.; was last engaged in railroad work at Dubuque. Iowa, where he d. 12 Dec, 1857. Joseph Z., b. 10 Feb., 1829; d. at P.., 10 Jan., 1873. George T., b. 20 March, 1833; d. 11 Oct.. 1834. Martha S., b. 15 Feb., 1836; m. Daniel D. Webster, of B., 24 April, 1867. George i., b. 17 May, 1839. William T.,^ Capt. (Daniel,'^ Lieut., Joshua^), lived in Solon, 0., for several years ; returned to N. H. and settled on 598 GENEALOGICAL PILLSBURY. tlie " mountain farm " in Salisbury ; was a noted hunter; m. Eunice Fowler, of B., 10 Jan., 1833, who was b. 27 Aug., 1808. Elvira, h. 26 April, 18:39. EUenette, b. 4 June, 1842. Exoch'' (Joshua,'' Capt., Joshua^) lived in B., afterwards re- moved to Nashua ; m. Margaret, dau. of Caleb Knight, Esq., of B., 22 Feb., 1816, wlio was b. 2 Jan., 1795, and d. at Nashua, 19 Sept., 1845. Children of Margaret : Jonathan /v., b. 21 Feb., 1817; d. at Walpole, Mass., 9 Dec, 1876. Sarah Elizabeth, b. 21 IMiirch, 1819. Phebe A'., b. G April, 1821; d. at Nashua, 21 Jan., 1815. Margaret A., b. 23 April, 1823; d. at Maiden, Mass., U Aug., 18(36. Caleb K.,h. 30 Dec, 1821. Eunice W.,h. 19 Feb., 1827; m. Wni. G. Baib\y, of Weymouth, Mass., 30 Nov., 1851; resides at J>everly, N. J. Joshua P., b. l Jan., 1830; d. at Woonsocket, E. L, 28 Oct., 1877. Sophia F., b. 12 July, and d. 21 Aug., 1833. Rebecca D., h. 19 Oct., 1831; m. James Wood, of Lebanon, 21 Oct., 1855. Catherine B., b. 14 April. 1837; m. Rev. Jesse K. Hragg, 25 Dec, 1861, who (1. at Norfolk, Mass., 14 June, 1874. Joshua'^ (Joshua," Capt., Joshua^) resides in tlie liouse built by Daniel,^ on the farm purchased by AVilliam,^ situated on High St., Newburyport. He m. Sarah D. [Polfe, of that city, 24 July, 1821. Samuel R., b. 8 May, 1822; d. Jan.. 1842. Hannah R., b. 21 April, 1824; m. Hubbard Getchell, of Sanford, Me., Nov., 1848; resides iu Newburyport. Joahua, b. 2() AprU, 1828. George, b. 5 March, 1832; d. 17 July, 1851. Sarah J., b. 1 Aug., 1838; d. 17 Nov., 1865. Nathaniel" (Joshua,'' Capt., Joshua^) lived in Newburyport ; m., 1st, Hannah Giddings, of Derry, 1824, who d. Aug., 1839; 2d, Martha A. Huse, of Windham. Children of Hannah : Francis E., b. Feb., 1825. John TF.. b. 1828. George W., h. 1832; d. May, 1843. Children of Martha : Emilg W., Mary E., Ilarvey II., — all married. Melvin^ (Daniel,^ Capt.. Daniel,'^ Lieut.) resides in Newbury- port ; is a macliinist ; m., 1st, Mary J Craig, of Read- field, Me., 2 May, 1839, who d. 13 April, 1854; 2d, Mary H. Marling, in Danvers, Mass., 6 March, 1868. GENEALOGICAL PILLSBURY. 599 Children of Mary J. : Henrietta R.,h. 12 Feb., 18i0; d. 4 May, 186G; m. Thineas W. Perrin, in Aurora, 111., 28 March, 1866. Georgiannn D.,h. 17 Feb., ISio; d. at Oakland, Cal., 12 July, 1875; m. Clinton Gushing, M. d., of Turner, 111., 4 May, I860. Ella F., b. 28 May, 1845; d. 18 March, 1850. Child of Mary H. : Frank M., b. 17 July, 1869. Bexjami^t D.,^ Rev. (Daniel," Capt., Daniel,® Lieut.), is presiding elder in the Methodist church, at Middletown, Ct. ; m. there Maria Chandler, April, 1848. Chandler, h. 10 Aug., 1854. Minnie, h. 1857; d. 1874. George,^ Dea. (Moody A.,'^ Gen., Daniel,'' Lieut.), is a farmer ; resides at Tewkshur}^, INIass. ; m. Lydia A. Marshall, of that town, 1 April, 1852. Ahhy M., b. 3 Sept., 1855. Georr/e E., b. 26 July, 18.57 ; is a civil engineer. Louisa F., h. 2 Sept., 1859. Charles .4.. b. 21 Sept., 1862. Arthur M.,h. 17 Oct., 1865. Herbert IF., b. 7 June, 1868. Charles S.^ (Moody A.,'' Gen., Daniel, "^ Lieut.) lives in London- derry ; is a fanner, justice of the jK^ace, and has filled various offices in town ; m. Mary C. Runnels, of War- ner, 24 Dec, 1863. Charles G., b. 15 Feb., 1865. Adams D., b. 23 March, 1808; d. 3 May, 1877. John A., b. 26 Aug., 1872; d. 17 Jan., 1873. Joseph L.,^ Col. (Joseph,'' Dea., Daniel,*' Lieut.), m. Mary A. Ely, of Wooster, 0., 18 May, 1854. [See Biog.] Mary E., b. 1 May, 1855; resides in Wooster, O. Georye H., b. 18 Aug., 1857 ; d. 21 March, 1865. Charles D., b. 19 Nov., 1859. George L.^ (Joseph,'^ Dea., Daniel," Lieut.), carpenter ; resides at B. ; m. there Lucina T. Quimb}^, 2 Dec., 1873. Joseph Henry, b. 23 Nov., 1875; d. 20 March, 1876. Mary Agnes, b. 15 Dec, 1876. Jonathan K.* (Enoch,'' Joshua,® Capt.) lived at Xashua, after- wards at AValpole, Mass. ; m. Sarah P. Little, of B., 21 Nov., 1850. Mary E., b. 31 Oct., 1853; m. Juhus Guild, of Walpole, Ma^s, 9 Sept., 1875. -^«7*\^-'|b. 30Aug.,lS56. Addie L., j *' 600 GENEALOGICAL PINKERTON, Caleb K.^ (Enoch," Joshua,'' Capt.) resides in Lawrence, Mass. ; m. Ellen B. Smith, of Andover, Mass., 18 Sept., 1862. Annie S., b, 15 March, 1864. Lucretia S., b. 20 Jan., 1868. Joshua P.,^ Capt. (Enoch,'' Joshua,*' Capt.), lived at Woon- socket, R. I. ; m. there Celia M. Jencks, 8 Nov., 1860. Sherivin J., b. 23 Oct., 1863. Bertha, b. 16 July, 1865. Joshua^ (Joshua," Joshua,*' Capt.) m. Ahbie J. Sargent, of Law- rence, Mass., Nov., 1854. George S., h. 18 May, 1856. Chaiies J., b. 19 Marcti, 1859. Helen A., b. 18 Dec, 1868. Eraxcis E.*^ (Nathaniel,'^ Joshua,® Capt.) resides in Newbury- port, Mass. ; m. Ahby Lunt, of that city, May, 1852. Fra>}Ic 0., b. 27 March, 1853; m. Florence A. Ellis, of Walpole, Mass., 25 April, 1878. John AV.^ (Nathaniel,'' Joshua," Capt.) m. Hannah B. Merrill, of Newburj'port, Jan., 1852. Helen A., h. May, 1854. Mattie, h. Feb., and d. Oct., 1863. Lizzie G., h. 1866. PINKERTON. Compiled by David rinkerton. David,^ son of Matthew Pinkerton. was born in Londonderry, 17 Jime, 1775 ; m. Susannah, dai;. of Dea. Griffin, of Londonderry; moved to B. in 1817, and settled on the river road near Salisbury (now Eranklin) line. John M.,h. 15 June, 1800; ni. Rebecca Hastings, of Littleton; lived and d. at Lockport, N. Y. Jane L'., b. 20 Nov., 1802; m. Israel Webster, of Manchester; d. 1872. Hannah D., b. 3 Feb., 1806; d. in 1862. Sarah J., b. 12 Nov., 1808; ni. J. B. Robertson; moved to Iowa; d. 1876. David, b. 3 Nov., 1813; graduated at Dartmouth college; studied theology at Andover Seminary; grad. 1843; sent to Wis. by Home IMiss. Society; m. Mary Ann Hitchcock, of Galesburg, 111., in 1845; resides at Grinnell, I. Mary, the oldest, is a teacher in the Zulu mission. Moody M., b. 9 Dec, 1815; m. Jane Clark, of Portland, Me. QVo sons, — Myron, the oldest, b. in B., 18 July, 1843 ; grad. at Ripon college, Wis., July, 1868, and at Chicago Theo. Sem., April, 1871; sailed for Zulu mission, 9 Aug., 1871, with his wife, dau. of H. H. Byington, Chicago, 111. James, b. 24 Oct., 1818; m. Mary E. Ilowser, of Salisbury Mills, N. Y. ; lives in Wis. GENEALOGICAL PLUMMER. 601 PLUMMEPv. Compiled by Helen Elizabeth Plummer. Tlie Plummer families of B. were Jescendants of Prancis/ who came from England in 1633. He was a -linen weaver, and settled in Newbury, Mass., 1635. His first wife, Euth, d. 18 Aug., 1647. He m., 2d, Ann Palmer, who d. 18 Oct., 1665; 3d, Beatrice, widow of William Cantlehury, of Salem, Mass., 29 Nov., 1665 ; / d. 17 Jan, 1673. The land owned by him is still held in the family. Samuel, b. 1619. Joseph, b. 1630. ]\[ary. Samuel- (Francis^) m. Mary ; d. Jan., 1702. Samuel, b. 26 April, 1647; m. Joanna Woodbury. Manj,h. 8 Feb., 16.j0. John, b. 11 May, 16o2. Ephrnim, b. 16 Sept., 1655. Hannah, b. 16 Feb., 16.57. - Silvanus, b. 22 Feb., 1658. Ruth, b. 7 Aug., 1660. Ellsabe/h,h. 19 Oct., 1662.^ Deborah, h. lo March, 1665. Joshua, b. 2 July, 1668 ; ) m. Elizabeth Dale. Lydia, b. 2 July, 1668. \ Bathshlna, b. 31 July, 1670. Ephraim'^ (Samuel,^ Francis^) m. Hannah Jaques, 15 Jan., 1680. Marij,h. 19 Feb., 1681. Hannah, b. 12 Oct., 1682. Samuel, b. 27 Oct., 1681. Elizabeth, b. 21 Nov., 1686. John, b. 7 Nov., 1688. Ruth, b. 5 Nov., 1690. Daniel, b. 10 March, 1693. Richard, b. 3 Aug., 1695. Bitjield, b. 12 June, 1697. Sarah, b. 26 July, 1699. Emma, b. 21 June, 1701. Samuel* (Ephraim,^ Samuel,- Francis^) m. Elizabeth . John, b. 5 Feb., 1722. JoHN^ (Samuel,* Ephraim^) m. Hannah . Bitjield, b. 11 Feb., 1742. Bitfield^ (John,^ Samuel,* Ephrainv'') m. Pri.scilla Eichardson, of Chester, Oct., 1769 ; came from Newbury to B. ; settled on land still held by his descendants; was killed by a falling tree, 19 Nov., 1788. 602 GENEALOGICAL PLUMMER. Ephrahn, b. 1771. John, b. 10 Aug., 1774. Priscilla. b. 12 Jan., 1786; ui. Hichard Little, 7 Dec, 1815; d. 24 Feb., 1825. Ephraim' (Bitfield,*' Jolin,^ Samuel*) m. Eacliel, davi. of Nehe- iiiiali Cogswell, 31 JVIay, 1792 ; lived on the home- stead ; d.^6 May, 1793. Ephrahn, b. 29 Aug., 1793. Ephkaim^ (Ephraim," Bitfield*') m. Lucy, dau. of Henry Geri^h, 11 Jan., 1821, and resided on the homestead inherited from his fatlier — afterwards removed to the south part of the town ; a man of strict integrity, and an excel- lent citizen ; d. 20 July, 1872. Polly Utile, b. 23 Nov., 1821; m. Henry L. Dodge, 17 June, 1841. AUel G.,h. -24 May, 1824. Priscilla P., b. 28 May, 1826 ; m. Luther Gage, 2 March, 1859. ■Helen Elizabeth, b. 26 March, 1834. Frances Ann, b. IS Nov., 1837 ; m. Albert Reed, 26 Nov., 1864. Abiel^ (Ephraim,^ Ephraim'') m. Kate Baughman, 5 June, 1855 ; resides at West Creek, Ind. Frank B.,h. 16 Jan., 18.58. Albert R., b. 14 March, 1863. Edwin, b. 19 Aug., 1864. John"^ (Bitfield") m. Hannah Jackman, 1 Jan., 1799 ; d. 24 Feb., 1827. Bitfield, h. 9 Nov., 1799. Nanoj, b. 7 Sept., 1801: ni. Daniel Emerson; d. 11 IMarch, 1858. Jeremiah, b. 8 Oct., 18ii3; d. 1 July, 1867, at Lancaster, Pa. Mary, b. 25 Aug., 1805; m. Charles Abbot, of Lowell, Mass. ; d. Dec, 1868. Hannah, b. 31 March, 1807 ; d. 9 Sept., 1823. Frederick T., b. 15 Sept., 1809 ; d. 24 March, 1815. George W., b. 29 July, 1814; d. 10 July, 1841. Frederick T., h. 26 July, 1817; d. 25 Nov., 1853. Nathan, b. 21 July, 1821; d. 2 Nov., 1873. Bitfield^ (John,^ Bitfield") m. Susan Chadwick, 2 Nov., 1835 ; d. 23 Oct., 1875. Hannah M., b, 5 Sept., 1836 ; d. 13 June, 1838. Frank J.,h. 16 Feb., 1844. Jeremiah^ (John,'' Bitfield") m. Electa Day, of Springfield, Mass., 23 April, 1843; d. 13 July, 1867. Elizabeth Hamlin, b. 14 June, 1845; m. William Fowler, 25 Dec. 1869. George W., b. 26 Aug., 1846; d. 4 Aug., 1849. Mary Frances, 7 , to t„„„ loio . 1 ^1- -^ Aug., 1850. Frank, T' ^- '^""^' ^^^^ ' j d. 20 June, 1849. GENEALOGICAL PLUMMER. 603 Mary Frances, h. 30 May, 1854. Jeremiah, d. from injuries received by a boiler explosion, 18 July, 1867. Frank J.» (Bitfield/ John") in. Abbie D. Knowles, 17 Sept., 1868. Hannah Louise, b. 27 Feb., 1872. 3fary Ahhie, b. 20 Dec, 1873. Charlotle M.,h. 4 April, 1875. ^eo;r/.i5./>W,?^_23Aug.,1876. Inez hvn, ^ ° Sarah Angenette, b. 4 Nov., 1877. Anotlier branch of the Plummer family canie from Newbury, Mass. The first Avas Joseph ^ BEJf JAMIJS-" m. Mary Wood. Nathax,'' b. in Rowley, Mass, Nathan* moved from Newbury, Mass. ; m. Elizabeth Dustin, 18 Oct., 1771; d. on B. Plain, 1773. Mehitahle, b. 25 Feb., 1772; m. Col. Benj. Choate, 20 Nov., 1793; d. at Enfield, 17 Dec, 1858. Nathan, b. in B., 2 April, 1774. Nathan^ (Nathan,* Nathan,^ Benjamin,- Joseph^) m. Sarah, dau. « of Samuel Ames, 14 June, 1804, and settled on Fish street. A persevering and energetic business man. To the care of his farm he added the business of lumbering. A good citizen, and highly esteemed ; represented B. in legislature two terms ; d. 7 April, 1848. Sarah d. 25 Feb., 1842. Mehitahle, b. 14 June, 1806; m. 1st, Joseph Gerrish, 11 Nov., 1830; 2d, Thomas Lyford, of Sanbornton, 16 Nov., 1854: d. at Fisherville. 15 Feb., 1877; 3Iari/, b. 16 Jan., 1810; m. Fisher Ames, of Canterbury, 15 Feb., 1844. [See Ames Gen.] Eliza Jane, b. 31 Oct., 1814; m. Dearborn Glines, 11 June, 1846; d. 2 Sept., 1877. Another branch of the Plummer family : Joshua C, Capt., son of Samuel and Dorcas (Coffin) Plummer, came to Boscawen from Newbury, Mass., while a youth, and lived with his uncle, Caleb Knight, Esq ; after- wards settled upon the Knight homestead, — the farm now owned by Capt. George W. Stone. He is re- membered as a man of culture, of gentlemanly bearing, 39 604 GENEALOGICAL PRICE. and one who was active in the promotion of religion and good order. Removed to Bangor, Me, 1829; d. there 10 Dec, 1844. He m., 1st, Eunice Knight, 21 March, 1816; 2d, Sophia W. Dix, 25 Dec, 1828. Children of Eunice : Calel K., b. 5 Dec, 1816; d. 28 Oct., 1818. Charles F., b. 4 Jan., 1819; d. 4 Sept., 18-20. Lucretia A., b. 22 Aug., 1820; d. ;] Dec, 1864; m. Charles Tem- ple. Louisa.h. 26 Aug., 1822; d. 12 Julv. 1876. William L., b. 11 May, 1824 ; d. 17 Dec, 1874. Catharine K., b. 29 April, 182G; d. 26 Nov., 1828. Eunice, b. 16 Sept., 1827; d. 10 Jan., 1828. Children of Sophia : George D., b. 8 March, 1830; d. at Memphis, Tenn., 12 Oct., 1873. Freddie, } ■, ■ ■ <• T, 7 ,• ' > d. HI niiancy. Eddie, S Frances M. P., b. 23 Dec, 1833 ; ra. Edward L. Pickard. Lucy H.,h.G July, 1836; m. Chapin, Otsego, Mich. Edward D., d. Feb., 1814. John A., h. 4 May, 1841. Katherine M.,h. 29 April, 1845. PRICE. Ebenezer,-' Rev., son of William and Sarah Price, was b. in Newburyport, 14 Sept., 1771; m. Lucy Fari;er; d. 19 Feb., 1864. [See Biog.] Mary F., b. 26 Dec, 1804; m. Rev. Addison Kingsbury, d. d.; re- sides in Zanesville, O. Lucij Ellsworth, b. 17 Jan., 1808; d. 20 March, 1859. Einily Preston, b. 25 Oct., 1809; m. Rev. Zerah H. Hawley; lives in Memphis, Tenn. Ehenezer Sewall, b. 1 Feb., 1812 ; m. Elizabeth Wilson, of Boston, Mass. He was trained to mercantile pursuits, which he followed in B., and afterwards in Boston; and subsequent- ly for nearly 20 years was in the U. S. revenue service in Boston, Mass. Frederic C.,b. 6 Aug., 1815 ; was educated at Dartmouth; removed to the West; m. Mary Belt; practised as a physician. GENEALOGICAL PUTNEY. 605 PUTNEY. Compiled by Jliss Ida Putney, of Webster. Tlie Putney familj^ came from Scotland. The B. branch are descendants of a family that settled in Dunbarton. In 1752, Sam- uel Putney^ and a citizen by the name of Kimball were captured by Indians, who also undertook to surprise the settlement at Contoocook, but who were themselves surprised by the set- tlers near the " Mountain." In their haste to escape they left young Putney behind. He settled on " Putney hill," in Hopkin- ton. His sons were Joseph, William, Enoch, Samuel, Stephen. Stephen^ (SamueP), b. 12 Peb., 17G5; enlisted as soldier in the Kevolution, — served one year and three months. In 1795 he purchased a piece of land of Wm. Coffin, of Newbury, Mass., and cleared his farm, now occupied by his son, Charles E. Putney ; m., 1st, Sally East- man, of Ilopkinton, who d. 1809 ; 2d, Susan Eastman ; 3d, Sail}'' Eastman,-^three wives of the name of East- man, and the first and third named Sally. The record of six of the twelve children of Sally, 1st, is wanting. Stephen Putney was the father of 22 children. He was an industrious man, and an estimable citizen. He d. 18 Feb., 1847. Children of Sally : yelson, b. 10 Aug., 178(3. Enoch, h. 15 July, 1788. True, b. March, 1800. Plwna. Hannah. Stephen. Children of Susan : Clarissa. Sarah. David, b. 5 Aug., 1812. Lucy, b. 2 July, 1814. Azariah. Children of Sally : Charles 'Monson, b. 1 Oct., 1820; d. 15 Sept., 1821. Martj Angaline, b. 6 July, 1825; d. 20 July, 1825. Charles E., b. 10 June, 1827 ; m. Susan, dau. of John Sanborn ; lives in AVebster. Semantha S.,h. 3 Aug., 1829; m. Dustia Spauldiug ; resides in Contoocook. Nelson^ (Stephen/^ SamueP), b. 10 Aug., 1786; m. Sally Whit- tier; moved to Woodstock, Vt. ; d. 20 April, 1872. 606 GENEALOGICAL PUTNEY, Louis S., b. 17 July, 1810; d. 1 Dec, 1839. Thomas Elliot, h. 5 Jan., 1816. Hannah, b. 12 July, 1817; d. 17 April, 1833. Thomas E.* (Nelson,^ Stephen^), b. 5 Jan., 181G ; m. Lucretia Hoyt, of Concord. Sarah H., b. 26 July, 1818 ; m. Marsh. Benjamin F., b. 9 Oct., 1815; d. 12 May, 1867. True Nelson, h. Nov., 1847. Roxa Ann, b. 5 July, 1850; m. Leonard. Jason i., b. 6 March, 1853. Rhoda E., b. 16 March. 1857 ; d. 25 Nov., 1870. Maria H., b. 30 April, 1862. Enoch^ (Stephen^), b. 15 July, 1788 ; m. Sally Carlton ; settled on the place now owned byErancis S. Putney, in W. ; d. 2 March, 1853. Frances S., b. 20 Oct., 1818. Moses, b. 14 Dec, 1820 ; d. 10 Nov., 1841. Clarissa, b. 21 Sept., 1824; d. 3 June, 1816. Erancis S.4 (Enoch,=' Stephen,'^ SaniueP), b. 20 Oct., 1820; m. Nancy Sibley. Willie, b. 23 Sept., 1844 ; d. 11 Feb., 1844. Frank, b. 12 April, 1847; d. 23 Dec, 1849. Willie, b. 24 March, 1840 ; ni. Jennie, dau. Wra. D. Call, of B. Clara, b. 28 Sept., 1850; d. 1878. Mary Anna, b. 25 Dec, 1852; m. Sheldon Scribner. Josephine, b. 16 Dec, 1854; d. 26 Dec, 1857. Ori(ien,h. 20 Dec, 1850. Luther, b. 26 July, 1859. FrecLh. 21 Jan., 1866. True3 (Stephen,^ SamueP), b. Nov., 1800; m. Hester Ann Caull, of Cambridge, Md. ; stone-mason. The firm of Sweatt & Co., of wliich he was a member, laid the first track on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, from the Relay House to Ellicott's Mills, — six miles in six weeks. At that time (1830-1835) railroad engineering required stone ties, or longitudinal blocks of granite to which the rails were spiked. He also laid a longitudinal track of stone from Ellicott's Mills to Morrillsville, — ten miles, — requiring 100,000 cubic feet of stone ; also a track from Erenchtown to Newcastle, in Dela- ware ; also track upon other roads in Maryland. In 1836-'37 he supplied the government with stone for the public warehouse in Baltimore. In 1838-'39 he furnished stone for the government in Washington. In 1855 he was appointed master-mason on the new treasury building, Washington, holding the position GENEALOGICAL — QUIMBY. 607 till 1864. That massive building has risen wholly under his superintendence. He resides in Washing- ton. Plummer, SaraJi, George, Benjamin^ Lucy, — all d. young. David^ (Stephen,- SamueP), b. 5 Aug., 1812; settled in Mary- land. Stephen, Georrje, True, Lucij, Scmanllia. Charles E.^ (Stephen,^ Samuel,^), b. 10 June, 1827; m. Susan Sanborn. 7r/«/., b. 21 Oct., 1851. Charles H., b. 19 Feb., 1853. Joh7i S., b. 27 Jan., 185.'>. Corn E., b. 29 Sept., 1858. Bertha May, b. 6 July, 18(58. QUIMBY. Isaac,! b. at New Chester (Hill), 1 Nov., 1784; d. 7 Feb, 1848; m. Polly Sargent, of New Chester, Nov., 1812, who was b. 31 Oct., 1781, and d. 29 Dec., 1844. Tirzah J., h. 12 Sept., 181.'5; m. Luther Winchester, of Providence, 11. I. Joh7i S., b. 28 June, 1823; d. 8 Sept., 1876, at B. JoHjS^ S.^ (Isaac^) settled in B. in 1852; m. Jane B. Dustin, of Hill, 27 Nov., 1845; who was b. 31 July, 1825. She is the sixth gen. in descent from Hannah Dustin. Andrew E., b. 4 Jan., 1817. Mary J., b. 30 Nov., 1818: m. Charles II. Weeks, of West Thorn- ton, 13 March, 1867. Lucina T., b. 11 June, 1851; m. George L. Pillsbury, of B., 2 Dec. 1873. George Z., h. 8 Nov., 1853. JohnC. b. 16 July, 1856. Annie M., b. 17 April, 1859; d. 15 Oct., 1863. Edward IF., b. 7 Oct., 1864. Mattie H., b. 5 April, 1868. AxDREW E.^ (John S.,^ Isaac^) is station agent at North B. ; m. Alice N. Page, of Thornton, 10 Dec, 1873. George A.,}). 11 Oct., 1874. 608 GENEALOGICAL ROLFE, EOLFE. Compiled by John Kimball. The ancestors of tlie Eolfe families in B. and Concord were two brothers, who came from England and settled in Newhury, Mass., about 1635. The tradition was, that these brothers were the ancestors of all the Eolfes in this country ; but the records of Ipswich, Mass., show that in 1640 there were two men in that town by the name of Daniel and Ezra Eolfe: so this tradition is erroneous. Henky,^ with his wife Honour, and his brother John, with his wife Esther, were in Newbury before 1642. John, Benjamin^ and two daughters. John- (Henry^) m. and lived a short time in Newbury, then moved to Nantucket, and from there to Cambridge. He had 14 or 15 children. Five of his sons went to Woodbridge, N. J. Their descendants generally spell their name Eolph. Benjamin- (Henry^) m. Apphia, only daughter of Thomas Hale, an early settler in Newbury, and the ancestor of the Hales in New England and New York. John, Benjamin, Henry, Nathaniel, Samuel, and four daughters. JoHN^ (Benjamin,^ Henry^) Avas the ancestor of the families of that name who settled in B. John. Benjamin^ (Benjamin-) was the minister killed by the Indians in their attack at Haverhill, Mass., in 1708. Henry^ (Benjamin^) was the ancestor of the Eolfe families of Concord. Nathajiiel. John* (John,^ Benjamin,- Henry^) m. Judith Dole, 7 Oct., 1713. Bdchard, b. 14 Feb., 171G; d. 23 Dec, 1735. John, b. 10 Feb.. 1718; d. young. Hannah, b. 25 Dec. 1720; m. Nathaniel Eolfe.* Enoch, b. 25 Feb., 1725 or 1726; m. Ruth llsley. Benjamin, b. 25 Dec, 1731. Benjamin^ (John,* John,^ Benjamin,- Henry ^) came from New- bury, Mass. ; m. Lydia Pearsons, 25 Dec, 1760 ; set- tled on High street; d. 1823. John, b. 27 July, 17G2. Elizabeth, called Betsey, b. 20 Feb., 1765 ; d. June, 1853. Silas, b. 8 Jan., 1767; d. 1846. GENEALOGICAL ROLFE. 609 Judith, b. 31 Dec, 1769 ; d. April, 1817. Amos, d. young. Benjamin, b. 20 Jan., 1773. JoHN^ (Benjamin^ ) settled on Battle street ; cl. Sept., 1833. John, b. 9 May, 1785; m. Rosanna Burbank, 31 May, 1814. Amns.'h. 12 April, 1787; d. 27 Jan., 1811. Lydia, b. 25 Sept., 1791; d. Feb., 1875. Michael, b. 10 Feb., 1793; d. 28 Jan., 1810. Eliza, b. 29 July, 1797. JwVuh, b. 13 Feb.. 1799. Paul, b. 27 Oct., 1802 ; d. Sept., 1824. Nancy, b. 25 Sept., 1806; d. 27 ]\larch, 1830. Susan P., b. Sept., 1808; d. 17 Oct., 1877. Jeremiah, b. 8 Jan., 1812. SiLAS« (Benjamiir') m. Nancy Perkins; moved to northern K Y. Sarah, h. 5 April, 1791. Amos, b. 7 July, 1795. Pearson, b. 20 Sept., 1798. Benjamin, b. 15 March, 1800. BE^fjAMiN*^ (Benjamin^) succeeded to the homestead of his father; ni. Margaret, dau. of Rev. Jonathan Searle, of Salis- bury. He had a fondness for mechanical labor ; and in addition to the cares of his farm employed himself making wood aqueducts and pumps. Nearly all of tliat kind of business in the east part of the town was done under his direction. Many of liis pumps made from the old iohite pine are now in iise, and are pre- ferred by some to the modern inventions. He d. 19 Jan., 1857. Three children, d. voung. Enoch Sanborn, b. 12 May, 1819. Henry Pearsons, b. 13 Feb., 1821. Charles Benjamin, b. April, 1823; d. 1 Oct., 1851. Amos'' (John,^ Benjaniin,^) m. Fanny Burhank, 18 Nov., 1813. Daml C.,b. 17 Feb., 1815. Louisa, b. 5 Sept., 1816; m. N. Colby; d. 11 Nov., 1848. William, b. 8 Aug., 1819; d. 13 Feb., 1844. Rosannah, b. 7 Nov., 1821; m. Lugby Sherwood. Albert, b. 3 June, 1824. Hiram, b. 10 May, 1827; d. 24 Aug., 1854. Harriet, b. 1 Feb., 1829 ; d. 11 July, 1849. Melissa, b. 7 March, 1832; d. 23 June, 1867. Jeremiah'' (John,® Benjamin^) m. Lucy Ann, dau. of Caleb Smith, 4 Oct., 1843. In early life he manifested a love for mechanical labor. In manhood his services were in demand by bridge-builders, mill-owners, and 610 GENEALOGICAL ROLFE. carpenters, from whom he obtained constant emploj-- nient and good compensation. Declining health com- j^elled him to return to his farm on High strt'ct. John Smith, b. 11 Feb., 1850; drowned in Merrimack rivor, 17 Julv, 1870. ^ Kate EuL-ie, b. 10 May, 1S5G ; d. 1 July, 1865. Henry Pearsoxs' (Benjamin"), educated at New Hampton In- stitution, and entered Dartmouth coll. ; graduated in 1848 ; studied law in the office of Asa Fowler, of Con- cord; admitted to practice, ISol, forming a co-partner- ship with the late A. S. Marshall ; elected to the leg- islature from Concord, 1858, and after the city was incorporated, from Ward 5, 1863, 1864; appointed U. S. district attorney for IST. H., by President Grant, 1869, an office he held till 1874; m. Marv Rebecca, dau. of Eobert H. Sherburne, 22 Nov., 1853. Marshall P., b. 29 Sept., 1851; d. 6 Aug., 1862. Manjaret F., b. 12 Jan., 1857 ; d. 2 May, 1857. Henrietta M., h. 17 Jan., 1801 ; d. 22 Sept., 1862. BoJjert Henry, b. IG Oct., 1863. George Hamilton, b. 21 Dec, 1866. David C.^ (Amos'') m. Mary E. Smith, June, 1856. George, b. 31 May, 1857. Frank, b. 11 Nov., 1861. Lewis, b. 2U-Scpt., 18G4 ; d. 15 Sept., 1877. Albert^ (Amos') m. Mary Alexander, Claremont. Angle, b. 17 Dec, 1859. The Rolfe families of Concord were connected with those of B., viz. : Nathaniel* (Heniy,^ Benjamin'-) married Hannah^ (John,* John,^ Benjamin-) had nine children. They moved to Concord, and settled on what is now the city farm in Ward 3. Nathaniel^ (Nathaniel*) m. widow Judith Chandler, dau. of Rev. Timothy Walker, and settled near the mouth of Contoocook river; d. 15 Nov., 1829. Ahiel, b. 6 April, 1781; unmarried; d. 19 Feb., 1840. Jane, b. 21 Jan., 1782; m. Nathan Chandler. Henrg, h. 31 Aug., 1785; m. Deborah Carter. Benjamin^ (Nathaniel,* Henry,^ Benjamin,^ Henry^), b. in Hav- erhill, Mass., 31 May, 1752; m. Molly Sweatt, and had six children. The youngest, — GENEALOGICAL RUSS, SLEEPER. 611 Benjamin,^ b. in Rumford, Me., 10 "Feb., 1796; m. Mary K. Elanders, dau. of Mrs. David Jackman, of B., 28 Dec, 1820 ; lived at the toll-house at B. bridge for a time ; settled in Concord; d. 12 Jan., 1807. Harriet, b. 8 July, 1822 ; ra. John W. Brown. Hiram, b. 24 Dec. 1825; m. Georgianna Coombs. Mary Ann, b. 30 Nov., 1828 ; m. A. C. Osborne ; d. 3 Feb., 1854. Charlotte, b. 20 Sept., 1833; m. Jonathan C. Harvey. David Jackman, b. 29 April, 1838; m. Adelia Carner. Eliza Newell, b. 4 Feb., 1842 ; d. 30 Sept., 1864. EUSS. Joiix ()} m. Sophronia S., dan. of Wm. II. Gage. /.saac Gage. b. 2 Sept., 1836. John Franklin, b. 29 June, 1839. William G., h. May, 1844; d. in infancy. Isaac Gage^ (John O.^), b. 2 Sept., 1836; m., 1st, Semantha R. Lang; 2d, Betsey Stevens ; 3d, Ann Dickey. Child of Betsey : Soplironia G., b. 24 Aug., 1869. Joiix Franklin^ (John 0.^), b. 29 Jan., 1839 ; ni. Augusta J. Plumer. Harnj, h. 7 Sept., 18(55. Ernest, b. 19 .June, 1876. SLEEPER. Nehemiah D.,- Rev. (Thomas^), b. in Andover, 3 July, 1793; m. Charlotte, dau. of James Taylor, of Sutton, 31 Jan., 1S22; moved to B. in 1835, and became minister of the Christian Union Religious Society, remaining till 1842. He resided in the house now occupied by Horace Simpson. His wife d 1 Dec, 1839. His preaching was acceptable to his church, and he labored zealously while in town. He resides at Contoocook. Caroline,}). IS May, 1826; m. Chas. 11. Jackman; moved to Maine. Joseph T., b. 7 Dec, 1834; m. Helen R. Dole, 17 Jan., 1860; re- sides in Concord. 612 GENEALOGICAL SMITH, STONE. SMITH. Ambrose,^ Rev., b. in Ossipee, 9 July, 1820 ; m. Cynthia M. Edgerton. [See Biog.] Francis E., b. in Northfield, Vt., 8 April, 1851; m. Eliza A. Currier, 13 May, 1873; farmer; lives in Hartford, Vt. L7/ndo7i A., \). in B., 15 July, 1854; member of the class of '80, Dartmouth collefre. Juslin Harvei/, b. in B., 13 Jan., 1857; grad. at Dart, coll., 1877. He was one of live who have obtained perfect marks in Dartmouth since its founding, in 1769; appointed private secretar)^ to the superintendent of schools of Boston, and was principal of the Keponsct evening school. In 1878 was appointed literary assistant to Hon. John D. Phil- brick, superintendent of the United States educational ex- hibit at the Paris Exposition of 1878. STONE. Compiled by Alfred Little. George,^ Capt., was b. at Lexington, Mass., 21 ]March, 1760, and d. at West B., 8 Dec, 1834. He was a soldier of the Eevolution, enlisting at the age of 15, and served five years ; participated in the battles of Brandywine, Stillwater, and other engagements ; witnessed the sur- render of Burgoyne ; endured the suffering and priva- tion of the Avinter encampment at Valley Forge ; and was wounded at the battle of IMonmoutli. On the re- turn of peace, he settled in B., but the depreciation of Continental money left him so poor that he had only twenty cents to begin life with. By industry he was soon able to j^urchase twenty acres, upon which he commenced farming, and in time acquired land suffi- cient to give each of his eight children a homestead. He m., 1st, Hannah Lovering, of Kingston, about 1788, who d. 27 Dec, 182G, \aged 65; 2d, Abigail Currier, of Canterbury, in 1830, who d. 18 April, 1849, aged 66. Children of Hannah : Sarah, h. 28 Dec, 1789; d. 9 Jan., 1858; m. Moses Call, of Salis- bury, iu 1829, who d. 1 May, 1848. John, b. 28 Feb., 1792 ; d. 25 Jan., 1870. Amos, b. 20 June, 1794 ; d. 5 Feb., 1875. PoUi/, b. 27 May, 1797; m. Benj. C. Swasey, of Cantei'bury, 1831. Peter, h. 11 Dec, 1799. Georr/e IF., b. 5 Sept., 1802. Hannah, b. 14 Feb., 1801; d. 27 Nov., 1804; m. Samuel D. Couch, of AVest B..2G April, 1830. Eoyal, b. 27 July, 1807. GENEALOGICAL STONE. 61{ JoHN^ (George/ Capt.) lived on Battle st., Webster ; was drafted ill 1814 for three montlis, and stationed at Forts- moutli ; m. Submit Sweatt, of West B. Benjamin S.,h. 16 June, 1815 ; lives on Battle st.; in. Frances C, dan. of Z. G. "W- hitman, Esq., West B., 2S July, 1840. Hiram G., b. 24 May, 1822. Amos'- (George/ Capt.) lived on Battle st., afterwards at Canter- bury ; m. Nancy A. Couch, of West B., 31 Dec, 1818, who d. 22 Nov., 1874. Mary A.,h. 1 Aug., 1819; m., 1st, Geo. W. Shackford, of Bar- rington, 27 Nov.. 1842; 2d, Frank C. Smith, of Con- cord, 13 March, 1855. Eliza C.,h. 14 Oct., 1820; m. Benj. F. Call, of Salisbury, 27 Nov., 1815. Gilman C, b. 11 March, 1823. Ira A., h. 13 June, 1825; d. 15 Oct., 1846. Joseph Warren, b. 10 Oct., 1827. Hannah A., b. 12 April, 1830; m. John B. Sanborn, of Concord, 2 April, 1856. Henn/ F., b. 20 Aug., 1833. Roijal H, b. 15 June, 1837; d. 9 March, 1842. Naiicy /., b. 13 Oct.. 1839; d. 13 March, 1842. Mijro'n H., b. 18 March, 1843. Peter/ Dea. (George,^ Capt.), resides at the homestead on Prov- ince road, near the Blackwater ; m. Ruth Call, of B., 27 Dec, 1824, who was b. 31 Dec, 1802 [see Biog.]. Phehe C, h. 24 Sept., 1825; d. 22 July, 1863; m. John A, McClure, of B., March, 1848. Charles J. F., b. 21 April. 1827 ; d. 19 April, 1860. Hannah E., b. 12 Dec, 1828; d. 26 Oct., 1865; m. Geo. T. San- born, of West B., 13 Jan., 1850. ,S7/a,s C, b. 14 Nov., 1830. Marj/ /., b. 18 Sept., and d. 22 Nov., 1832. Marij J., b. 3 Nov., 1833; m. Moses F. Heath, of West B., 25 June, 1852. Buth E., b. 18 Dec, 1835; d. 23 March, 1841. Charlotte A., b. 25 Feb., 1839 ; m., 1st, John Sawyer, of Concord ; 2d, Joshua Surgent, of San Francisco, Cai., Aug., 1865. Frederick P., b. 24 March, 1841. Nathan /., b. 11 June, 1843. Emma R., b. 6 July, 1845; m. Frank II. Svvett, of Audover, 9 Oct., 1863 : resides in Santa Rosa, Cal. George W.,^ Capt. (George,^ Capt.), resides in Webster, on the farm formerly owned by Caleb Knight, Esq. ; ni. Julia A. Sweatt, of West B.," 13 May, 1833. Caroline, b. 4 March, 1834; d. 4 Sept., 1842. Catharine, b. 20 Oct., 1838 ; d. 19 Feb., 1863 ; m. Joseph Warren Stone, of West B., 29 Nov., 1855. CurusA., b. 10 Jan., 1812. 614 . GENEALOGICAL STONE. Marcia A., b. 4 April, 1844; d. 7 :N"ov., 1862. Ella F., b. 26 Nov., 1846. George Henrj/, b. 17 Feb., 18-50; m. Lottie J. Seavey, of B., 3 Jan., 1877. Marietta, b. 17 Aug., 1852; m. Beiij. Pettengill, of Salisbury, 13 May, 1870. Julia Augusta, b. 18 May, 1856. RoYAL^ (George,^ Capt.) settled in Andover; m. Eutli Currier, of Canterlnuy, who was b. 19 Sept., 1821. Christiana C, b. 1840 [?]; m., 1st, Richard Davis; 2d, Man- uel, of Franklin. George R., h. 16 May, 1843 ; grad. at Dart. coll. ; practised law at Lynn, Mass.; m. Ella M. Chandler, of Me. Hiram G.^ (Jolin,^ George,^ Capt.), resides on Battle st., Web- ster ; has been successful as a writer, farmer, and or- chardist ; m., 1st, Mary Ann C. Ticknor, of Lebanon, 26 Jan., 1847, who d. 10 Nov., 1856 ; 2d, Lucinda Lane, of Epsom, 5 Dec, 1857. Children of Mary Ann : Ilelvin 2'., b. 28 July, 1854. Mar?/ Ann T., h. 18 Aug., 18.56 ; d. 21 Sept., 1870. Child of Lucinda : Ina M., b. 29 Sept., 1868. GiLMAN C.^ (Amos,- George,^ Capt.) resides in Webster ; is a car- penter ; m. Mary F. Boutelle, of Hopkinton, 29 Nov., 1855. Ira Francis, b. 8 July, and d. 21 Oct., 1862. Arthur IF., b. 23 Oct., 1865. Joseph Warren-^ (Amos,- George,^ Capt.) resides in Canterburv ; m., 1st, Catharine Stone, of West B., 28 Nov.. 1855; 2d, Mary J. Lovering, of Loudon, 19 Feb., 1864. Children of Mary : Gate J., b. 7 Jan., 1865. Carrie N., h. 7 Marcli, 1868; d. 28 July, 1871. Ira W., h. 1 Dec, 1873. Henry F.^ (Amos,^ George,^ Capt.) lives in Manchester ; m. Adelia A. B. Sanborn, of West B., 11 Oct., 1855. Oscar P., h. 24 Sept., 18.58. Clarence P., b. 11 Nov., 1863 ; d. 12 Oct., 1877. Myron H.^ (Amos,^ George,^ Capt.) lives in Manchester; m. Hannah Moore, of Canterbury, 28 July, 1869. Leona G., b. 18 July, 1870. Leon M., b. 13 Aug., 1871. Bertha L., b. 15 March, 1876, GENEALOGICAL STONE. 615 Charles J. F.,^ Esq. (Peter,^ Dea., George,^ Capt.), was a mem- ber of the military academy at ISTorwicli, Vt. ; after- wards studied law with Austin F. Pike, Esq., at Franklin, and at the Cambridge Law School ; was ad- mitted to the bar and practised law at Plymouth ; m. Abby A. Weare, of Andover, 20 Sept., 1855. George TF., b. 11 Nov., 1857 ;"> graduates of Dart, coll., — class of Charles TF.', b. 6 Aug., 1859; | 1878. Silas C.,^ Dea. (Peter,^ Dea., George,^ Capt.), resides at West Eoxburj', Mass. ; a successful teacher ; is now master of the Sherwin school, Boston ; m. Julia A. Pattee, of Goffstown, 6 Feb., 1854. Alaric, b. 28 Jan., 1855. S. Abbie, h. 10 July, 1861. Annie F. S., b. 3 Aug., 1867. Fkederick P.,^ Capt. (Peter, "^ Dea., George,^ Capt.). [See Biog.] Charles F., h. 22 Nov., 1868. Josephine L., b. 7 Feb., 1870. Hubert H. B., b. 2-1 Sept., 1871. DoraB.,h. 1873; d. 1874. Nathaj;- J.^ (Peter, '^ Dea., George,^ Capt.) resides in Santa Eosa, Cal. ; was for several years clerk in the bookstore of the Bancrofts, at San Francisco ; travelled extensivel}'' for them in the territories, Cal., and the Atlantic states ; also in Europe, for a firm in Yokahama, Japan, where for the last five years he has been engaged in mercantile business ; m. Annie Call, of San Francisco, Cal. Infant son, b. 16 and d. 17 May, 1876. Infant dau., b. 19 and d. 20 Jan., 1878. 616 GENEALOGICAL TEMPLE. TEMPLE. Couiiiiled by Dea. Wm. Temijle, Woburn, Mass. The name of Temple dates back in English history to the 11th century. The first of the name in America was Egbert,^ of Saco, Me. According to tradition, he was killed by the Indians in 1675, and the family moved to Lynn or Boston. Richard,^ one of the sons, was indentured to Dea. Thomas Ban- croft, of Reading, ancestor of the historian, Hon. Geo. Bancroft. He m., in 1693, Deborah, dau. of Thomas Parker, and reared a family of ten children. JoxATHAX,^ the third child, was b. 1698 or 1699, and m., 1st, Sarah Harndon, 1734; 2d, Sarah Damon, in 1759. He d. 20 May, 1789. Had six children. Daniel,* the youngest, b. 4 Aug., 1767; m., 17 Oct., 1788, Sarah Beard. Daxiel,^ b. 23 Dec, 1789; grad. Dartmouth coll., 1817, and An- dover Theological Seminary, 1821 ; ordained mission- ary of the American Board at Bridgewater, Mass., 3 Oct., 1821; m. Eachel, dau. of Col. Timothy Dix, of B., 4 Dec, 1821, missionary at Malta ; d. in Read- ing, 9 Aug., 1851. Daniel, h. 13 Nov., 1822; m. Louisa M. Newlin. Charles, h. 20 July, 1824; m., 1st, Lucretia, dau. of Joshua Pluin- raer, of Bangor, formerly of B. ; 2d, Ursula E. Chapin ; lives in Otsego, Mich. Cntherine, b. 24 Dec. 1825; d. 16 April, 1827. William, b. 30 Dec, 1826; d. 8 March, 1827. JoHX,^ fifth child of Richard,- b. 21 Oct., 1704 ; m. Rebecca, dau. of Ebenezer Parker ; had seven children. William,* b. 3 Jan., 1745; m. Rebecca Weston; had three children. William,^ b. 5 June, 1773 ; m. Zerviah, dau. of Zebulon Rich- ardson, of Woburn; d. 27 April, 1802. William,*' b. 15 Sept., 1801 ; only child of William.^ Learned blacksmithing; m. Susanna Noyes, 12 June, 1823; settled in B., where he carried on blacksmithing many years ; has resided at East Woburn since 1865 ; was captain of artillery ; deacon of Congregational church ; has been much interested in histoiy and genealogy ; was one of the original subscribers to the N. E. Gen. Register ; an ardent advocate of anti-slavery, temj)er- ance, and other reforms. GENEALOGICAL — WEBSTER. 617 WEBSTER. William^ descencled from the Websters of Hampstead ; settled in Salisbury, N. H. Naihaniel, b. 15 Feb., 1781. Ehenezer, b U Aug., 1787. Worcester, b. 1791. Benjamin^ d. at Haverhill. William, d. in Canada. Ruth, d. at Hill. Mary, b. 1779; d. at B., 25 Dec, 1847. Amos, d. at Crescent City, 111. Nathaniel^ (William^) m. Betsey, dau. of Moses Sawj^er, of Salisbury, 1 Nov., 1815 ; d. 8 Aug., 1828. Betseij S., b. 11 Feb., 1817 ; d. 8 Sept., 1825. Naihaniel S., b. 11 May, 1818; m. Lucy Ann Lord, 2 July, 1846 ; representative in 1876 and 1877. Two children, — Julia A., and Charles I. William, b. 20 Feb., 1821 ; d. 8 Aug., 1826. Ann Ruth, h. 26 Nov., 1823; m. Rev. Horace Eaton, d. d., Pal- myra, N. Y. Three children living. Ebenezer,'- Col. (William^), b. 14 Aug., 1787 ; m. Sarah, his cousin, dau. of Hon. Ebenezer Webster, and sister of Daniel and Ezekiel ; engaged in trade in Hill from 1815 to 1846, when he removed to B., where he d. 3 June, 1861. He was colonel of militia. Emily, b. 12 Feb., 1809; m. E. K. Webster, m. d., of Hampstead. Wokcester'^ (William^), b. 1794; m., 1st, Polly Pettengill, of Salisbury ; 2d, Mary Jane, dau. of Hon. Silas Betton, and grand-daughter of Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Charles Williams, b, 14 Sept., 1826; m. Lucia M., dau. of John Greenough, of B. George Worcester, b. 1831; d. June, 1860. Mary Ann, b. July, 1839 ; m. Cbas. E. Johnson; resides in Brook- line, Mass. Eliphalet K., son of Eev. Josiah, of Hampstead, b. 3 May, 1802; m. Emil}^, dau. of Col. Ebenezer Webster, of Salisbury. [See Biog.] Daniel Dana, h. 11 Feb., 1835 ; ra. Martha Susan, dau. of Dea. Joseph Pillsbury, of B. ; resides in Middlebury, Vt.; one g\\\\&,— Alice Emily, b. 1 Feb., 1870. Sarah Elizabeth, b. 3 Sept., 1837; m. Alfred Livingston, si. d., of Lowell, Mass.; one child. Emily Maria, b. 17 Jan., 1844. Editii, b. 24 Oct., 1868. Edward Knight, b. 5 Aug., 1848; merchant at Pittsfield, N. H. 618 GENEALOGICAL WEBSTER. WEBSTEE. Compiled by Charlotte (Webster) Mace. Ebekezer, b. in Newbury, Vt., in 1778, on the "ox-bow" farm ; m. Betsey, dau. of Eben Wells, of New Hampton, in 1802; moved to B., April, 1816 ; lived on Fish street, and afterwards near the church. In 1823 he built a house near the "Gulf," and lived there till 1847; d. in Piermont, 26 Sept., 1850. His wife, b. 1786, d. at B. 29 Dec, 1863. They had eight children. Parker^ b. 1803 ; d. in infancy. Parker, b. 21 June, 1805 ; m. Hannah, dau. of Elisha Drew, of Portsmouth, 10 May, 1827 ; d. in Concord, 13 Dec, 1863. Ephraim, b. 30 March, 1807 ; m. Elisabeth Stevens, of Manchester, 1831; d. 23 June, 1851. Freeman, b. 12 Aug., 1809 ; m. Nancy, dau. of Nathan Emery, of Canterbury; resides in Concord. Betsey, b. 13 Sept., 1811 ; m. Wm. Campbell, of Manchester, 31 Aug., 1812. Walter, h. 12 Sept., 1813; m. Catharine Stevens, of Plymouth, 1838. Marilla B., b. 11 Sept., 1815; m. D. F. Lane, of Gilmanton, 3 July, 1812. Mary P., b. 11 Aug., 1820; m. John Adams, April, 1818; d. 23 April, 1S72. MISCELLANY. OFFICIAL HISTORY. ^1 HE corporate existence of Boscawen began in 1760; that of ^T Webster in 1860. In its centennial year the town was divided. The causes that brought about the division were many. The geographical features made a division practicable. Beaver dam, entering tlie town from the north and running due south, parallel with the eastern and western boundaries, would be a nat- ural dividing line. The changes brought about by the construction of the Northern and Concord & Claremont railroads, the changes of trade, — those living in Bashan doing their trading at Concord, those west of Long pond having more in common with Contoocook, or with Warner, than with Boscawen Plain, — were influences tending to a division. There was no bond of union, — no centralizing force. The meeting-house question had been a disturbing element as early as 1791 [see p. 137], when 71 citizens, living west of Beaver dam, had petitioned for a new town. The remodelling of the meeting- house on the Plain in 1840, making it necessary to hold the annual meetings at the West end two years in succession, brought up the question of a division once more. In civil history, important events are sometimes the outcome of insignificant causes. An influence more potent than those already cited was the purchase of a fire engine, to be located at Pisherville. Some of the voters of the West end were much 40 620 OFFICIAL HISTORY. incensed at such a disposition of the public funds. They com- plained that the vote was carried through after the majority had gone home. The growth of Fisherville, the increase of taxable property, the feeling of property-holders at the East end that the large number of bridges across the Blackwater was a burden, were influences that had weight with residents of the East end, who believed that it would be for their interest to have the town divided. Political and geographical considerations and party ascendency were disturbing elements. Erom 1824, when the po])ulation was sufficient to entitle the town to two representatives, the proper distribution of public offices among political aspirants was a disturbing element in political parties. Each section claimed its share. Sectional rivalries and personal jealousies wei'e engen- dered. These and other causes combined, finally resulted in a petition to the legislature from the residents, mainly at the East end, for a division, they retaining the name and the records. The peti- tion was resisted. It was felt to be a hardship by the majority at the West end to be thrust out in such a manner; to be cast off offensively ; to have a name forced upon them not of their choos- ing ; to be deprived of their inheritance in the historic fame of Boscawen, which had maintained its position during the Indian troubles of the colonial period, when other frontier towns, — Ho]d- kinton, Warner, and Salisbury, — were abandoned; to be cut off from a town that could number among its citizens men who had written their names large on the roll of honor. Whether the action of the petitioners was wise or unwise, whether the material interests of the communitj^ as a whole would be advanced or retarded, men did not stop to consider; passion crowded out reason ; the time had come for a division. In communities as well as in families, from the time of Abraham and Lot to the present day, separation is sometimes better than union. Possibly the citizens of the West end thought that their fellow- citizens of the East end did not emulate the example of the patriarch of the Hebrew race in bringing about the division ; and now, that time has thrown its mellowing influences over the trans- action, citizens of the East end may possibly see that a division might have been brought about with less irritation and bitterness. r'-^ , OFFICIAL HISTORY. 621 So, after one hundred j^ears of corporate existence, Boscawen cut off one half of its territory and established the town of Web- ster. It has been characteristic of the people^ from the first set- tlement, to select good men to conduct their public affairs. Sin- gularly fortunate has been their selection of town-clerk. Of all the original proprietors, not one probably possessed higher qualifica- tions for that office than Joseph Coffin, and when the plantation became a town, the man best qualified for the office, George Jack- man, was chosen, holding it from 1760 to 1796. Equally well qualified was Joel French, who held the office from 1807 till his death in 1810. His successor, Samuel W. Lang, wlio held the position from 1810 to 1817, was the equal of his predecessors. From 1817 k) 1856, Hezekiah Fellows, a magis- trate who understood forms, pains-taking, methodical, a fair pen- man, kept the records. Thus, by choosing, in the main, compe- tent men for this office, the records of Boscawen have been pre- served almost intact. In the selection of selectmen the citizens have, with but few exceptions, chosen men who were competent to transact the busi- ness, aaid who were animated by a sincere desire to promote the interests of the 'town rather than their own aggrandisement. There has been but one notable exception, which occurred at the close of the last century, when all the worst elements in the com- munity united to obtain power. The leaders, Winthrop Carter and Thomas Thorla, were able men, and, through the influence they exercised, directed the affairs of the town during 1796 and 1797. The first year, however, they were checkmated at every step by Enoch Little, — the second of the name in the town, — who was elected third selectman. In 1797, Carter, Thorla, and Daniel Shepard were elected, and managed as they pleased. Their accovints became confused, and there was a deficit which they could not explain. They were arraigned not only at the bar of public opinion, but before a committee of investigation. It was the old story : the men who had seized the ship could not manage it, and they were ignominiously thrown overboard the next year. With this exception the affairs of the town have been conducted with a fidelity that presents a pleasing contrast to the municipal man- agement of many other localities in these later years. 622 OFFICIAL HISTORY. The men who have been selected to represent the towns have been citizens of high character. CoL Henry Gerrisli, George Jack- man, Capt. Joseph Gerrish, Maj. Enoch Gerrish, and Capt. Ben- jamin Little, were tfie representatives of the last century. These five men represented the town from 1760 to 1801. During the first quarter of the present centur^^, such men as Timothy Dix, Caleb Knight, Ezekiel Webster, Joseph Little, Jeremiah Gerrish, Maj. Enoch Gerrish, and Col. Isaac Chandler, acted as legislators. Their successors in the next quarter were such men as Hezekiah Fellows, Col. John Farmer, Capt. Joseph Ames, John Greenough, Moses Fellows, Thomas Coffin, William H. Gage, Benjamin Kimball, Nathan Plummer, Abraham Bur- bank, Richard Gage, Simeon B. Little, Joseph Morrill, Rev. Ebenezer Price, Elbridge F. Greftiough, Abiel R. Chandler, Nathan Pearson, Jr., Thomas Gerrish, Luke Corser, Caleb Smith, and Calvin Gage. Of these, all but three are numbered among the dead, — their life-work over, — and the historian may freely speak of them. They were men who honored the town, who sought its welfare, who allowed no private interest or personal ambition to interfere with their public duties as legislators. This may be said with equal truth of those who since 1850 have represented the towns. The official record is a roll of honor. TOWN OFFICERS. M., moderator ; C, clerk; S., selectmen ; Del., delegate; Rep., representatives. 1760. 17G2 M.' Joseph CofBn. M. Joseph Eastman. C. George Jackraan.* S. George Jackman, s. John Fowler, John Flanders, John Webster, Joseph Holt. Joseph Eastman. 1761. 1763. M. John Webster. M. John Fowler. S. John Webster, S. Joseph Hoit, Enos Bishop, Ephraim Plummer, George Jackman. Thomas Foss. * From 1760 to 1796 he was reelected. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 623 1764. M. John Fowler. S. George Jackman, Jesse Flanders, Oliver Fowler. 1765. M. John Fowler. S. George Jackman, John Fowler, Jesse Flanders. 1766. M. Joseph Eastman. S. Moses. Burbank, Moses Call, Henry Gerrish. 1767. M. Jesse Flanders. S. Henry Gerrish, George Jackman, Jesse Flanders. 1768. M. John Fowler. S. Henry Gerrish, Peter Kimball, Oliver Fowler. 1769. M. Moses Morse. S. Capt. Henry Gerrish, Moses Morse, George Jackman. 1770. M. Rev. Robie Morrill. S. Moses Morse, Henry Gerrish, Peter Kimball. 1771. M. Moses Morse. S. Winthrop Carter, Moses Call, Moses Morse. 1772. M. Capt. Henry Gerrish. S. George Jackman, Dea. Jesse Flanders, Samuel Muzzy. 1773. M. Henry Gerrish. S. Ebenezer Hidden, Samuel Gerrish, George Jackman. 1774. M. Peter Coffin. S. Samuel Muzzy, Peter Kimball, Jesse Flanders. Del. State Convention, Henry Gerrish. 1775. M. Stephen Webster. S. Moses Call, Enoch Gerrish, George Jackman. Del. State Con., Henry Gerrish. 1776. M. Robie Morrill. S. George Jackman, Cutting Noyes, John Eliot. 1777. M. Henry Gerrish. S. George Jackman, John Eliot, Cutting Noyes. 624 OFFICIAL HISTORY, 1778. M. S. Del. Henry Gerrish. George Jackinan, Lieut. Enoch Gerrish, Cutting Noyes, George Jackman. 178i. M. S. Peter Kimball. Enoch Gerrish, Peter Kimball, George Jackman. 1779. 1785. M. Henry Gerrish. M. Ebenezer Hidden. S. George Jackman, S. Lieut. Enoch Gerrish, Enoch Gerrish, Benjamin Sweatt, Samuel Muzzy- George Jackman. Del. George Jackman, Henry Gerrish. Rep. George Jackman. 1780. 1786. M. Peter Kimball. M. Samuel Fowler. S. George Jackman, S. George Jackman, Stephen Webster, Benjamin Sweatt. Cutting Noyes. Lieut. Benjamin Jackman Eep. Henry Gerrish. Rep. George Jackman. 1781. 1787. M. Henry Gerrish. M. Henry Gerrish. S. George Jackman, S. Joseph Gerrish, Cutting Noyes, Peter Kimball, Capt. Peter Kimball. Benjamin Little. 1782. 1788. M. Peter Coffin. M. Henry Gerrish. S. George Jackman, S. Joseph Gerrish, Joseph Jackman, Cutting Noyes, David Corser. Peter Kimball. Rep. George Jackman, Del. to Convention, Henry Gerrish. 1783. 1789. M. Ebenezer Hidden. M. Peter Coffin. S. George Jackman, s. Joseph Gerrish, Isaac Pearson, Peter Kimball, David Corser. Benjamin Little. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 625 1790. 1796. M. Joseph Gerrish. M. S. Joseph Gerrish, C. Peter Kimball, s. Benjamin Little. Rep. Heury Gerrish. Rep. 1791. 1797. M. Enoch Gerrish. M. S. Joseph Gerrish, C. Georsre Jackman, S. Samuel Ames, David Corser, Nathaniel Green. Rep. ITeury Gerrish. Del. to revise State Constitution, Nathaniel Green. 1792. Rep. 1798. M. Enoch Gerrish. M. S. Benjamin Little, C. Enoch Gerrish, S. Lieut. John Chandler. Rep. Enoch Gerrish. Rep. 1793. 1799. M. Henry Gerrish. M. S. Joseph Gerrish, C. Benjamin Little, S. George Jackman. Rep. Enoch Gerrish. Rep. 1794. 1800, M. Henry Gerrish. M. s. Joseph Gerrish, C. Benjamin Little, S. George Jackman. Rep. Enoch Gerrish. Rep. 1795. 1801 M. Joseph Gerrish. M. S. Joseph Gerrish, C. Enoch Little, s. George Jackman. Rep. Benjamin Little. Rep. Thomas Thorla. Tristram Noyes. Winthrop Carter, Thomas Thorla, Enoch Little. Benjamin Little. Thomas Thorla. Tristram Noyes. Winthrop Carter, Thomas Thorla, Daniel Shepard. Enoch Gerrish. Enoch Gerrish. George Jackman, Enoch Gerrish, Timothy Dix, Jr., Joseph Little. Enoch Gerrish. Maj. Enoch Gerrish. George Jackman. Enoch Gerrish, Timothy Dix, Jr., Joseph Little. Maj. Joseph Gerrish. Thomas Thorla. Samuel Choate. Benjamin Jackman, Joseph Couch, Caleb Knight. Enoch Gerrish. Nathaniel Green. Samuel Choate. Benjamin Jackman, Joseph Couch, Caleb Knight. Timothy Dix, Jr. 626 OFFICIAL HISTORY. 1802. 1808. M. Nathaniel Green. M. Joseph Gerrish. c. Phinehas Bailey. C. Joel French. s. Joseph Couch, S. Capt. Somersby Pearson, Nathaniel Green, Ezekiel Morse, Samuel Muzzy. Stephen Gerrish. Eep. Timothy Dix, Jr. Rep. Enoch Gerrish. 1803. 1809. M. Enoch Gerrish. M. Joseph Gerrish. C. Joseph Couch. C. Joel French. S. Nathaniel Green, S. Stephen Gerrish, Nathan Davis, Joseph H. Morrill, Benjamin Jackman. Peletiah Peasley. « Rep. Timothy Dix, Jr. Rep. Enoch Gerrish. 1804. 1810. M. Nathaniel Green. M. Joseph Gerrish. C. Joseph Couch. C. Samuel W. Lang. s. Benjamin Jackman, S. Stephen Gerrish, Isaac Chandler, Joseph Little, Joseph Little. Thomas Coffin. Rep. Timothy Dix, Jr. Rep. Ezekiel "Webster. 1805. 1811. M. Col. Joseph Gerrish. M. Col. Joseph Gerrish. C. Caleb Putney. C. Samuel W. Lang. s. Benjamin Jackman, S. Thomas Coffin, Joseph Little, Benjamin Little, Maj. Isaac Chandler. Joel French. Rep. Caleb Knight. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. 1806. 1812. M. Joseph Gerrish. M. Isaac Chandler. c. Samuel Choate. C. Samuel W. Lang. S. Joseph Little, S. Nathan Chandler, Daniel Pillsbury, Joseph Ames, Joseph H. Morrill. Capt. Moses Gerrish. Rep. Benjamin Little. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. 1807. 1813. M. Joseph Gerrish. M. Ezekiel Webster. C. Joel French. C. Samuel W. Lang. S. Daniel Pillsbury, S. Capt. Moses Gerrish, Rep. Joseph Little, Capt. Somersby Pearson. Benjamin Little. Rep. Joseph Ames, Nathan Chandler. Ezekiel AVebster. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 627 1814. 1820. M. Ezekiel AYebster. M. Ezekiel Webster. C. Samuel W. Lang. S. Nehemiah Cogswell, s. Capt. Moses Gerrish, Samuel Little, Joseph Ames, Isaac Gerrish. Isaac Grerrish. Rep. Isaac Chandler. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. 1815. 1821. M. Ezekiel Webster. M. Ezekiel Webster. C. Samuel W. Lang. S. Samuel Little, S. Isaac Gerrish, Moses Gerrish, Jesse Little, Isaac Pearson. Josepli II. Morrill. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. Hep. Joseph Little. 1'816. 1822. M. Ezekiel Webster. M. Ezekiel Webster. c. Samuel W. Lang. s. Samuel Little, S. Maj. ]\[oses Gerrish, Moses Gerrish, Daniel Pillsbury, Isaac Pearson. Nathan Chandler. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. Rep. Joseph Little. 1817. 1823. M. Enoch Little. M. Ezekiel Webster. C. Hezekiah Fellows.* S. Col. Moses Gerrish, S. Maj. Moses Gerrish, John Farmer, Daniel Pillsbury, Thomas Gerrish. Nehemiah Cogswell. Rep. Ezekiel Webster. Rep. Jeremiah Gerrish. 1818. 1824, M. Ezekiel Webster. M. Ezekiel Webster. S. Col. Moses Gerrish, S. John Farmer, Nehemiah Cogswell, Samuel B. Gerrish. Rep. Jeremiah Gerrish. 1819. M. Ezekiel Webster. S. Nehemiah Cogswell, Joseph Couch, Daniel Pillsbury. Rep. Isaac Chandler. Rep. 1825. M. S. Rep. Nehemiah Cogswell, Moses Fellows. Ezekiel Webster, Hezekiah Fellows. Ezekiel Webster. John Farmer, Moses Fellows, William II. Gage. Ezekiel Webster, Hezekiah Fellows. * From this date to 1854 he was reelected. 628 OFFICIAL HISTORY. 1826. 1832. M. Ezekiel Webster. S. Moses Fellows, William H. Gage, Joseph Couch, Jr. Rep. Hezekiah Fellows, Joseph Ames. 1827. M. John Farmer. S. Moses Fellows, William H. Gage, Joseph Couch, Jr. Rep. Ezekiel Webster, John Farmer. 1828. M. Ezekiel Webster. S. Moses Fellows, Reuben Johnson, Simeon B. Little. Rep. Ezekiel Webster, John Farmer. 1829. M. Ezekiel Webster. S. Moses Fellows, Simeon B. Little, Thomas Gerrish. Rep. John Farmer, John Greenough. 1830. M. John Farmer. S. Moses Fellows, Rep. 1831. S. Rep. Simeon B. Little, Thomas Gerrish. John Greenough, Moses Fellows, John Farmer, Moses Fellows, Simeon B. Little, Thomas Gerrish. Moses Fellows, Thomas Coffin. M. John Farmer. S. Moses Fellows, William H. Gage, Wyatt Boyden. Rep. Moses Fellows. 1833. M. John Farmer. S. Moses Fellows, William H. Gage, Wyatt Boyden. Rep. William H. Gage. 1834. M. John Farmer. S. Wyatt Boyden, Abraham Burbank, Hale Atkinson. Rep. John Farmer, Benjamin Kimball. 1835. M. John Farmer. S. Abraham Burbank, Hale Atkinson, Moses Fellows. Rep. John Farmer, Moses Fellows. 1836. M. Moses Fellows, S. Simeon Little, Moses Fellows, John C. Cogswell. Rep. Nathan Plummer, William H. Gage. 1837. M. Moses Fellows. S. Simeon B. Little, Rep. Moses Fellows, John C. Cogswell. Nathan Plummer, Abraham Burbank. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 629 1838. 18M. M. S. Rep. Moses Fellows. Simeon B. Little, Jeremiah Noyes, "William M. Kimball. Abraliam Burbank, Richard Gage. 1839. Thomas Elliot, William H. Gage. Rep. Abiel R. Chandler, Nathan Pearson, Jr. M. S. Rep. 1845. M. Simeon B. Little. M. S. William M. Kimball, Moses Fellows, Thomas Little. S. Rep. Richard Gage, Simeon B. Little. Rep. 1840. 1846. M. Simeon B. Little. M. S. Thomas Little, Wj^att Boyden, Abiel R. Chandler. S. Rep. Simeon B. Little, Joseph Morrill. Rep. 1841. 1847. M. Simeon B. Little. M. S. Wyatt Boyden, Abiel Chandler, Nathan Pearson. S. Rep. Joseph Morrill, Rev. Ebenezer Price. Rep. 1842. 1848. M. Simeon B. Little. M. s. Abiel R. Chandler, Nathan Pearson, Wyatt Boyden. S. Rep. Rev. Ebenezer Price, Elbridge F. Greenough. Rep. 1843. 1849. M. Simeon B. Little. M. S. Benjamin F. Kimball, S. Rep. Simeon B. Little. Caleb Smith, Samuel M. Durgin, Friend L. Burbank. Nathan Pearson, Jr., Abiel R. Chandler. Moody A. Pillsbury, Caleb Smith, Thomas Elliot, Eliphalet Kilburn. Thomas Gerrish, Luke Corser. Simeon B. Little. Caleb Smith, Samuel M. Durgin, Friend L. Burbank. Thomas Gerrish, Luke Corser. Simeon B. Little- Hale Atkinson, Samuel M. Durgin, Calvin Gage. Abraham Burbank, Caleb Smith. Caleb Smith. Eliphalet Kilburn, Abiel R. Chandler, Friend L. Burbank. Abraham Burbank, Caleb Smith. Simeon B. Little. Hale Atkinson, Abiel R. Chandler, Albert Danforth. Calvin Gage. 630 OFFICIAL HISTORY. 1850. M. Simeon B. Little. S. Hale Atkinson, Abner Sargent, Simeon B. Little. Rep. Calvin Gage, Paul Pearson. 1851. M. Simeon B. Little. S. Simeon B. Little, Dan S. Balch, David A. Gerrish. Rep. Paul Pearson, Abiel Gerrish. 1852. M. Simeon B. Little. S. Simeon B. Little, David A. Gerrish, Hale Atkinson. Rep. Abiel Gerrish, Friend L. Burbank. 1853. M. Simeon B. Little. S. Simeon B. Little, David A. Gerrish. Hale Atkinson. Rep. Friend L. Burbank, John C. Gage. 1854. M. Simeon B. Little. S. Abner Sargent, Caleb Smith, Hale Atkinson. Rep. John C. Gage, Enoch Little. 1855. M. Simeon B. Little. C. Franklin P. Atkinson. S. Francis S. French, Moses Whittier, Ira Sweatt. Rep. Albert Runnels, Abner B. "Winn. 1856. M. Simeon B. Little. C. Franklin P. Atkinson. S. Francis S. French, Moses Whittier, Ira Sweatt. Rep. Albert Runnels, Abner B. Winn. 1857. M. Enoch Gerrish. C. George W. Stevens. S. Abner Sargent, Hale Atkinson, Caleb Smith. Rep. Francis S. French, William M. Sweatt. 1858. M. Enoch Gerrish. C. David E. Burbank. S. Moses Whittier, Enoch Gerrish, David A. Gerrish. Rep. Francis S. French, William M. Sweatt. 1859. M. Enoch Gerrish. C. David L. Burbank. S. Enoch Gerrish, Moses Gill, Jeremiah S. Webber. Rep. Moses Whittier, Thaddeus O. Wilson. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 631 18G0. M, Enoch Gerrisli. C. David E. Burbank. S. Enoch Gerrish, Jeremiah S. Webber, Ahiion Harris. Rep. Moses Whittier, Thaddeus O. Wilson. 1865. M. Franklin C. Morrill. C. S. Rep. Calvin M. Chadwick. Nehemiah Butler, George Knowles, Samuel Choate. David A. Gerrish. 1861. 1866. M. Isaac K. Gage. M. Franklin C. Morrill, C. Isaiah H. Arey. C. Charles Smith. s. Almon Harris, S. Enoch G. Wood, Francis S. French, Healey Morse, Ilale Atkinson. James H. Gill. Rep. Luther Gage. Rep. David A. Gerrisli. 1862. ^I. Nathan B. Greene. C. Isaiah H. Arey. S. Almon Harris, Francis S. French, Peter Coffin. Rep. Luther Gage. 1867, M. C. S. Rep. Isaac K. Gage. Charles Smith. Enoch G. Wood, Healey Morse, James H. Gill. • Franklin C. Morrill. 1863. 1868. M. C. S. Rep. Jonathan Tenney. Isaiah H. Arey. Nehemiah Butler, Peter Coffin, George Knowles. Almon Harris. 1864. M. Franklin C. Morrill. C. Isaiah H. Arey. S. Nehemiah Butler, George Knowles, Samuel Choate. Rep. Almon Harris. M. 0. s. Rep. 1869. M. C. S. Rep. Franklin C. Morrill. Charles E. Chadwick. Nehemiah Butler, Ezra S. Harris, Bradley Atkinson. Franklin C. Morrill. Franklin C. Morrill. Charles E. Chadwick. Ezra S. Harris, Luther Gage, Bradley Atkinson. Nehemiah Butler. 632 OFFICIAL HISTORY. 1870. 1874. M. C. S. Rep. Thaddeus O. Wilson. Charles E Chadwick. Nehemiah Butler, Hamilton P. Gill, Joseph G. Eastnaan. Nehemiah Butler. M. C. S. Kep. David F. Kimball. Charles E. Chadwick. Nehemiah Butler, Marcus K. Howser, Samuel B. Chadwick. Marcus K. Howser. 1871. 1875. M. Thaddeus 0. Wilson. M. David F. Kimball. C. John Seavey. C. Charles E. Chadwick, S. Calvin Gage, s. Nehemiah Butler, John E. nines, Joseph G. Eastman, Enoch G. Wood. Austin G. Kimball. Rep. Enoch G. Wood. Rep. Marcus K. Howser. 1872. 1876. M. C. s. R(^. David F. Kimball. Charles E. Chadwick. David F. Kimball, Marcus K. Howser, Samuel B. Chadwick. Daniel Y. Bickford. M. C. s. Rep. Calvin Gage. George A. Morse. John C. Gage, Enoch G. Wood, Caleb C. Hall. Nathaniel S. Webster. 1873. 1877. M. C. S. Rep. David F. Kimball. Charles E. Chadwick. David F. Kimball, Marcus K. Howser, Samuel B. Chadwick. Daniel Y. Bickford. M. C. S. Rep. Thaddeus O. Wilson. Charles E. Chadwick. John C. Gage, Caleb C. Hall, Luther Gage. Nathaniel S. Webster. 1878. M. C. s. Rep. David F. Kimball. Charles E. Chadwick. Luther Gage, Charles W. Hardy, Marcus K. Howser. Peter Coffin. OFFICIAL HISTORY. 633 TOWX OFFICERS OF WEBSTER. The act incorporating the town of Webster was passed at the June session of the legiskture, LS60, Jeremiah S. Webber and Joseph L. Couch being empowered to call the first town-meeting, which was held August, 1860. ] 860. M. Simeon H. Little. C. David E. Burbank. S. Nathan Pearson, Jeremiah S. Webber, Albert Runnels. 1861. M. C. S. Rep. Simeon B. Little. David E. Burbank. Jereiniali S. ^Vebber, Albert Runnels, George Little. Albert Runnels. 1862. M. Simeon B. Little. C. David E. Burbank. S. George Little, AVriliam D. Call, David A. JVlacurdy. * 1863. M. Simeon B. Little. C. Atherton Sweatt. S. George Little, William D. Call, John C. Pearson. Rep. Jeremiah S. Webber. 1864. M. Simeon B. Little. C. Atherton Sweatt. S. WiUiam D. Call, John C. Pearson, Hiram G. Stone. Rep. George Little. 1865. M. C. S. Rep. 1866. M. 1867. M. C. S. Rep. 1868. M. C. s. Rep. 1869, M. C. S. Eep. Simeon B. Little. Atherton Sweatt. John C. Pearson, Hi ram G. Stone, Henry H. Gerrish. George Little. Simeon B. Little. Atherton Sweatt. Hi rain G. Stone, Henry H. Gerrish, Sherman Little. No Rep. Joseph L. Couch. Atherton Sweatt. John Colby, John Sanborn, D. C. Hubbard. William D. Call. David A. Macurdy. Atherton Sweatt. Sherman Little, William W. Austin, Atherton Sweatt. AViUiam D. Call. David A. Macurdy. Atherton Sweatt. Sherman Little, WiUiam W. Austin, Atherton Sweatt. David A. Macurdy. ♦After many ballots for representative without choice, the town voted not to send. 634 OFFICIAL HISTORY, 1870. M. David A. Macurdy. C. Atherton Sweatt. S. Charles E. Kimball, Joseph L. Couch, Atherton Sweatt. 1874. M. C. S. Eep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. AVilliam W. Burbank, Charles C. Kimball, George Little. Albee C. Sweatt. 1871. 1875. M. C. S. Rep. David S. Corser. Atherton Sweatt. Charles E. Kimball, P. F. S. Clark, C. Sweatt. John C. Pearson. M. C. s. Rep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. Charles C. Kimball, Hiram G. Stone, , James L. Gerrish. Sherman Little. 1872. 1876. M. C. s. Rep. David S. Corser. Atherton Sweatt. Albe C. Sweatt, P. F. S. Clark, William W. Burbank. John C. Pearson. M. C. S. Rep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. Charles C. Kimball, James L. Gerrish, James M. Snyder. Sherman Little. 1873. 1877. M. C. s. Rep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. Atherton Sweatt, P. F. S. Clark, William W. Burbank. Albee C. Sweatt. M. C. S. Rep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. James L. Gerrish, James M. Snyder, William W. Austin. Charles C. Kimball. 1878. M. C. s. Rep. Sherman Little. Atherton Sweatt. James M. Snyder, William W. Austin, Moody A. Pillsbury. Charles C. Kimball. ^' (fh.^jtxjiZ^ POPULATION — ELEVATIONS. 635 POPULATION. The first census of the town was that of 1767 [p. 99], 285 inhabitants. In 1783, when the first census after the Kevolution was taken, the number was 756 [p. 128]. The first census of the general government was in 1790. Tlie returns are as follows : 1767, 285 1830, 2003 1783, 756 1840, 1965 1790, 1108 1850, 2063 1800, 1414 1860, 1458* 1810, 1829 1870, 1637 1820, 2116 WEBSTER. 1860, 817 I 1870, 689 ELEVATIONS. The "Geology of New Hampshire," by Prof. C. H. Hitchcock, vol. 1, contains a chapter on altitudes in the state, that have been obtained accurately by the various railroad surveys, — others less accurately by barometrical measurements made by the Geological Survey, and by the trigonometrical measurements of the United States Coast Survey. The measurements are aboA^e tide-water, and those along the Northern Railroad are made on the top of the rail at the various localities. They are given in feet and hun- dredths of feet : Feet. Fisherville bridge, leading to Duston island, 267.89 Boscawen depot, 273.89 North Boscawen depot, 290.01 The altitudes along the Blackwater were obtained by surveys made in 1845, and again in 1871 : Feet. Mast Yard (in Concord), 374.57 Dingit corner, 479.90 Blackwater river, near mill above Dingit corner, 442.96 Bank of river on level land near residence of Orlando Fitts, 508.80 Bank of river above Blackwater mills, 555.00 North hne of Webster, 568.72 * Town divided . 41 636 HEALTH. The United States Coast Survey, by trigonometrical measure- ments made from the station on Kearsarge mountain, gives two measurements in Webster : Feet. Blackwater mills, 555.00 Corser bill meeting-house, 786.00 The highest land in Webster is the liill west of the residence of Cajjt. William D. George, which probably has an elevation of be- tween 900 and 1,000 feet. Mount Washington is plainly seen from that point in a clear atmosphere. The AVhite Mountains may also be seen from the residence of Peter M. Chadwick, in Boscawen, and probably from other localities. As the Merrimack foi'ms the eastern and the Contoocook skirts the southern boundaries, the lowest elevation is at the junction of the two streams, 267.89 feet above tide-water. Nearly all the ter- ritory — all except the intervale of the Merrimack — has an elevation exceeding 300 feet; while Clark's hill. Upper High street, K'orth Water street. Cook's hill. Little hill, and Sanborn's hill, have ele- vations approaching 1,000 feet. HEALTH. A territory like that comprised in the seven miles square grant- ed to the proprietors of Contoocook, diversified by hills and vales, with a primitive geological formation, with an altitude varying from 300 to 1,000 feet above the sea, with pure water flowing from innumerable springs and everywhere obtainable, never will be subject to malarial disease, or epidemic of any kind, if proper attention be given to hygienic laws. A record of mortality was kept by Eev. Ebenezer Price from 1808 to 1837, and is preserved in the records for 1841. The least number of deaths in any one year was in 1809, when there were but nine deaths in a population of 1,800. The greatest mortality was in 1825, when the deaths numbered 57 in a population of about 2,200. The average number of deaths per annum was 27. One third of the deaths during the period were of children under five years of age, and one half of the deaths were of persons under 25. The disease most prevalent among adults was consumption, INDUSTRIES. 637 which from 1822 to 1837 had an increasing ratio, — 110 persons having died of that disease, or one eiglith of the total number of deaths. Persons arriving at the age of 55 had a prospect of lon- gevity. In 1836 and 1837 seven persons died whose united ages amounted to 590 years, — an average of 81 years. In 1838 there were living in town 20 jiersons between 80 and 94 years of age, whose united ages amounted to 1,716 years, an average of nearly 87 years per individual. INDUSTRIES. Boscawen and Webster are classed as agricultural towns, but they have also had a fair share of industrial pursuits. Rev. Mr. Price, writing in 1820, thus speaks of the industries of the town at that period : " There are in this town seventeen saw-mills, five corn-mills, — three of which have two runs of stones, and all furnished with bolts, — four fulling-mills, five carding-machines, two mills for grinding tanners' bark, one trip-hammer, one mill for turning cart-wheel hubs and felloes, and one for grinding lead for potters' ware." LUMBER. A chief industry from the first settlement of tlie town was the manufacture of lumber. The original forest growth was very dense, consisting of white and Norway pine, white and red oah, chestnut, ash, white, red, and brown elm, hemlock, poplar, bass, maple, and other woods. Of pine lumber thousands of masts, spars, and bowsprits were rafted down the Merrimack, or turned adrift in the Contoocook, to run the falls during the periods of high water. The " Mast Yard " station on the Concord & Claremont Railroad has derived its name from the fact that the bank of the Contoocook at that point was a place of deposit for the many masts drawn thither from the pine woods of Bashan, and the ad- joining territory of Concord and Hopkinton. The sawed lumber was rafted at different points along the Mer- rimack, especially in the bend above Canterbury bridge. For a period of more than half a century the ground now occupied by the main and side tracks of the Northern Railroad was jiiled, in winter, with lumber, round logs, oak and pine ship-timber, masts and spars, that were rafted to Medford ; — in summer, the same 638 INDUSTRIES. ground was covered with huge piles of planks, boards, shingles, clapboards, and laths. The planks and boards were rafted in cribs, suitable for passing the locks at various points, and the shingles, clapboards, and laths were taken as "top-loading." The markets were Lowell and Boston. Early in the century a large business was done in the manufac- ture of staves for sugar and molasses hogsheads, and beef and pork barrels. They were made up into "shooks," each shook containing the staves of a single barrel or hogshead. The mar- ket, before the construction of the jMiddlesex canal between the Merrimack and Boston, was at NewburyjDort. A "culler" of staves was an important town officer, annually elected, who in- spected the " shocks." The shooks were taken down the Merri- mack as top-loading on rafts. Coopering, from the Revolution to the year 1830, was a distinct industry, furnishing emjiloyment to a large number of persons. MILLS. The saw-mills existing in 1820 were thus located : One on the Contoocook at Fisherville ; one on j\Iill lirook ; one in the "Hollow," on the site of the first mill erected in the town ; one on the site now owned by Hannibal Flanders ; one near Long street, on land now owned by Jeremiah C. Chadwick ; one on Pond brook ; one on the site of the second mill erected in town, south of Great pond ; one near the residence of Joseph Burpee ; one owned by Gren. M. A. Pillsbury ; one by Enoch Pillsbury ; and one on the site now owned by Harvey Chase. At North Boscawen was a mill on the brook emptying into the Merrimack south of the county farm, and one on Stirrujj-iron brook. On the Blackwater was one on the site near the residence of Samuel Little ; one a mile north of Dingit corner ; one on the site now occupied by F. L. & W. W. Burbank ; one on Knight's Meadow brook ; and one at the out- let of Long pond. On Cold brook there was a mill with a large overshot wheel, the flume supplying it being carried over the highway leading south from the cemetery to Queen street. It was built by David Jackman. The corn-mills, existing in 1820, were located, — one in the " Hollow ; " one on the site now owned by Hannibal Flanders ; Sweatt & Gookin's, on the Blackwater; and a mill with one run of stones, on Pond brook, owned by Gen. M. A. Pillsbury. INDUSTRIES. 639 The fulling and clotli-dressiug mills were Gage's, at Fislierville, Durgin's, in the " Hollow,"— the first established in town, hy Dea. Isaac Pearson, — and " Sweatt's," on the Blackwater. The carding-machines were in the same localities. The first carding-machine in the United States was set up by Arthur Scolfield, a machinist who came from England and settled in Pittsfield, Mass., in the year 1800. England at that time was in- tent upon building up her manufacturing industries, and prohib- ited the carrying out of that country machinists' tools. The baggage of every passenger was rigorously searched, so that Scol- field came without his tools ; but being ingenious, and possessing a retentive memory, he made his tools as he needed them, and built a machine for carding. At that time all carding was done by hand; and men and women during the long winter evenings spent their time in carding, seated around the wide-mouthed fireplaces. The Pittsfield Sun, of ^NTo. 2, 1801, contains the following adver- tisement of the first machine in the United States : "Arthur Scolfield respectfully informs the inhabitants of Pittsfield and the neighboring towns that he has a carding-machine half a mile west of the meeting-house, where they may have their wool carded into rolls for twelve and a half 'cents a pound; mixed, fifteen cents per pound. If they find grease and pick the grease in, it will be ten cents a pound; and twelve and a half for mixed." " Mixed " has reference to black and white wools, and " picking the grease in " has reference to the lubrication of the wool, neces- sary for carding and spinning. Carding by machinery soon su- perseded hand carding to a great extent, though the compiler of this history can recall the days of hand carding, and once saw Kev. Dr. Wood using the cards and studying at the same time his next Sunday's sermon. The first carding-machines in Boscawen were probably set up about 1810-1812. A carding-mill was a building, which, besides its machinery, contained a large pile of wool done up in blankets, old counterpanes, and rugs, and a pot containing the unsavory dye, which must be kept in a warm place to bring it to perfection. SPIXXING AND WEAVING. Spinning was done by hand. Twelve to fifteen skeins per day was considered a good day's work, though there were housewives 640 INDUSTRIES. who could spin twenty. Thirteen skeins were equivalent to three and eight one hundreths miles of thread, in spinning which the spinner walked about five mi4es. Having spun the wool into yarn, that designed for the warp was placed upon the reel and wound upon large spools, which were in turn placed in a form, and from thence transferred to the "warping bars." As many spools were used as there were threads in the proposed warp. From the "bars" the \farp was transferred to the loom, wound upon the "beam," and drawn through the "harness" and the reed, and was ready for the weaver. The " filling" or weft was spun differently from the warp, with more or less hardness, according to the quality of cloth desired. It was transferred from the skein to "quills" made from elder stocks, which were used in the shuttle. The preparation of the weft was far less arduous work than the preparation of the warp. To weave checks and stripes, much care was required in the prep- aration of both warp and weft, and in the weaving. The produc- tion of a web of cloth was quite an event in the household. Dyed clothes were dyed in the wool, in the skein, or in tlie web. Cloth dyed in the wool usually held its color best. The aphorism in common use, in regard to a man whose. principles are fixed, that "he is dyed in the wool," had its origin in this process of dyeing. SPINNING BY MACHINERY. Early in the century, between 1810 and 1815, Mr. Benjamin Pritchard established a new industry, the spinning of cotton yarn. He erected a building on the mill-site now owned by Hannibal Flanders, and spun yarn by machinery. The building was subse- quently moved to a site north of Ambrose's tavern, and was used as a shop for the manufacture of carriages, and is now a dwelling- house in Fisherville. The yarn spun by Mr. Pritchard was used for warp by the housewives in the manufacture of satinets. The establishment of manufactures of cotton and woollen goods by machinery throughout the country brought about an entire change in the domestic industries. The spinning-wheel and loom disappeared from the household ; the bumping of the fulling-mill no longer was heard ; the dye-pots were banished from the hearth- stones ; and the carders and cloth-dressers were forced to turn their attention to new occupations. Carding and Spinning, INDUSTRIES. PALM-LEAF HATS. 641 Tlie industry that in part took the place of spinning and weav- ing was the braiding of pahn-leaf hats. The pahn-leaf was pur- chased in bales by the traders, who supplied it to families who split and braided it into hats. The industry was not a universal one. The merchants paid cash only in part, making, of course, a large profit on the goods sold. Families in comfortable circum- stances would not engage in an employment in which they would be at the mercy of the merchant, who, though he might be scru- pulously honest, yet could fix his own profit and their measure of o-ain. It was a jug with only one handle, and that in the hands of the merchant. Notwithstanding this drawback, the industry gave employment to a large number of women and girls, who otherwise had little chance of earning money. SHOES. ■Following this industrj^, was the manufacture of shoes. This enterprise, which had long been a leading industry in Massachu- setts and along the sea-coast towns of New Hampshire, did not gain a foothold in Boscawen till about 1842. The leather, — upper and sole, — cut into desired patterns, with linings and bindings, was taken into the farmers' houses, and shops. The stitching and binding were done by women and girls, and the bottoming by the men and boys, who purchased their shoe-pegs by the peck, and their nails by the pound. Many farmers, who never had learned anything of shoe-making, turned their attention to pegging shoes ; but the trade demanded better work, and it was discovered that "system" was necessary to secure the best results in manufac- ture : hence a change in the industry. About 1850, the manu- facture, instead of being carried on by the community at large, became concentrated, and the workmen were brought together in shops. For a few years Boscawen Plain was a shoe manufactur- ing village ; but the introduction of machinery into the manufac- ture in Massachusetts, and the distance of Boscawen from the great centre of New England trade, operated to break down the industry, which never has revived. 642 INDUSTRIES. HATS. The manufacture of beaver and felt hats in the early decades of the century gave employment to many men in the community at large. There were two hat establishments in Boscawen, — Mr. Jacob Hosmer's, on the Plain, and Mr. Columbus George's, White Plain. They purchased mink and muskrat skins of the farmers, and also made silk and wool hats, finding a market at the countr}' stores, or manufacturing to a citizen's order. The compiler of this history has a distinct recollection of having a hat made to order and fitted to his head in the shop of Mr. Hosmer. POTTEKY. Queen's-ware was manufactured for many years in Boscawen by Jeremiah Burpee. His establishment stood on the spot now occupied by the residence of John Eines. During the bright summer days, travellers on the turnpike were accustomed to see a white horse going his rounds, attached to the sweep of the clay- mill, while through an open window of the shop they saw Mr. Burpee and his sons fashioning milk-jars and cream-pots and jugs upon the swiftly revolving wheels. Upon long boards on the southern side of the shop were rows of manufactured articles drying in the sun. Later in the season, at midnight, the shop was all aglow with the light of the flame of the kiln. The ware found a market among the farmers of the country. CUT NAILS. There was a time when all nails were manufactured of wrought iron, by hand. The blacksmiths of the country, when not engaged in other labors incident to their occupation, engaged in making nails, knowing that the time would come when they would be wanted. In 1795, five years after the passage of the patent law, Josiah G. Pearson, of jSTew York, patented an invention for cutting nails. Whether nails had been manufactured by cutting before that, is not known. The next year (1796) eleven patents were issued for methods of making nails, brads, and tacks, the greater part of the machines having reference to '"'cutting and heading." The manufacture of nails and tacks soon became a widespread indus- try. Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish engaged in the business on the farm INDUSTRIES. 643 now owned hj Charles Glitten. The manufacture was also car- ried on in the "Hollow" by water-power. At what date the man- ufacture began in the town is not known, nor how long it was continued. The machinery was rude, and probably gave place to the greatly improved machinery which appeared about 1809, in- vented by James Eeed, of Maiden, Mass., which cut and headed a nail at a single operation. CLOCKS. Boscawen at one time had two establislnnents for the manufac- ture of eight-day clocks, which also exhibited on the dial the days of the week and the changes of the moon. The cases were usu- ally made of cherry, and ornamented with brass rings and knobs. They were excellent time-keepers. Mr. Chadwick's shop was a one-storied building, which stood on the spot now occupied by the post-office. It was subsequently moved across the street, a second story added, and is now a dwelling-house. Mr. Morrill's shop is now the residence of Charles E. Chadwick. Upon the introduction of the more modern " time-piece," Mr. Chadwick retired from business, and removed to Vermont. Mr. Morrill accommodated himself to the new order of things, and made time-pieces ; but machine-made clocks soon su})planted the time-pieces, and Mr. Morrill engaged in the manufacture of coun- ter scales. In 1841, upon the appearance of the new musical reed instruments, he engaged in the manufacture of " melodeons" and " seraphines." TANNING. The great abundance of oak and hemlock bark gave an oppor- tunity for the tanning of leather. There were three tanneries in town, — that of John C. Cogswell, now occupied by Mr. Raymond; one owned by John Plummer, at the junction of Water and Long streets ; and one owned by John Stevens at Sweatt's mills. Mr. Cogswell and Mr. Stevens used water-power for grinding the bark and working their rude machinery. Mr. Plummer used horse- power. They purchased hides of the farmers, or tanned them on hire. 644 MANUFACTURING AT FISHERVILLE, MANUFACTURING AT FISHERVILLE. jSTo attempt was made to utilize the water of the Contoocook river till 1787, when a saw-mill was built at the " Burrough" on the Concord side. Not long after, a saw-mill was built on the Boscawen side near the Merrimack, on the site of the present mill. This was followed by the carding-mill and cloth-dressing . establishment of William H. Gage. The manufacture of cotton and woollen goods at length made a demand for water-power to drive that machinery. This power attracted the attention of cap- italists ; and in 1823 or 1824 a gentleman of the name of Varney, from the vicinity of Dover, made a purchase of the power and the land on the north side of the river now owned by the present com- pany. He built a dam where the upper dam now is ; but for some reason his project fell through, and nothing more was done until 1830, when the Yarney purchase was conveyed to Benjamin Kim- ball, Esq., by the Hon. Jeremiah Mason, acting for the L^nited States Bank, into Avhose hands it had passed. Mr. Kimball built the dam at the lower falls, on his purchase, and erected the grist-mill adjoining the Contoocook mill. He died in 1831 ; and the property was sold to JNtessrs. Calvin Gage and William M. Kimball, being deeded to them by Mr. Kimball about three weeks before his death. They obtained the charter for the Contoocook Manufacturing Company, and sold to the Messrs. Fisher, of Boston, whose heirs now own all, or nearly all, of the stock. In 1836, the Contoocook mill was erected. It is 100 feet by 50, five stories high, and was built of granite. In consequence of the financial revulsion in 1837, this mill stood idle, or nearly so, till 1842. It was then leased by Messrs. IT. H. & J. S. Brown, of Attleborough, Mass. They fitted the mill with machinery, and set the wheel in motion. Then the village began to grow, and the "Union district" became Fisherville. The company not long after purchased the land on the south side of the river, and in 1846 built the Penacook mill. This mill is 300 feet by 52, three stories high, with a wheel-house at each end 36 feet by 30. It is built of stone. This mill was leased b}^ the Messrs. Brown, and run in connection with the Con- toocook mill. Both mills manufacture "print cloth," and have BRIDGES. ^"*^ been run all or nearly all the time by the Messrs. Brown, either in partnership or separately. In 1847, Almon Harris, of Harrisville, purchased the site of the old grist- and clothing-mill near the Merrimack, and built a stone edifice 75 feet by 40, three stories high, and commenced the man- ufacture of woollen goods. As the manufacture of cotton and woollens always draws in other industries, it was not long before the saw factory and the flouring-mill were erected near the Mer- rimack, and in the centre of the village. Buildings for the man- ufacture of furniture and various kinds of iron and wood products were erected, so that to-day Fisherville can exhibit a variety of manufactures. Fisherville has now about three thousand inhab- itants, is pleasantly situated on both sides of the Contoocook and partly on the Merrimack rivers. That portion of it that lies in Concord constitutes Ward One of that city. The portion in Bos- caw^en embraces the most densely populated part of the town. It has the usual number of churches and school-houses, of stores and shops, that are usually found in such villages, mainly located on the Concord side. BEIDGES. CANTERBURY BRIDGE. The first bridge between Boscawen Plain and Canterbury was erected in 1804 [Civil Hist., p. 165]. Toll was exacted till 1816, when the proprietors allowed persons to pass free of charge, at their own risk, the bridge not being considered safe. The great freshet of 1819 swept the structure away, whereupon the proprietors erected a new bridge, under the supervision of Col. Isaac Chandler of Boscawen, and Jacob Blanchard of Canterbury. It was com- pleted in the summer of 1820, Init was washed away in a great winter freshet in the month of Februar}^, 1824. The third bridge was built by Benjamin Kimball, of Boscawen, for the proprietors, in 1825, which remained till January, 1839. There was a great body of snow upon the ground. There came a warm rain, which poured continuously nearly 36 hours. The consequence was a breaking up of the ice, which had an average thickness of about two feet. Every bridge on the Merrimack, south of Franklin, with the exception of the Hooksett and the 646 BRIDGES. Amoskeag falls bridge, was swept away. The proprietors once more constructed a bridge, a portion of which was carried away in the winter of 1848. The construction of the Northern and Montreal railroads had revolutionized affairs in Boscawen. The highways were no longer crowded with teams. The tavern-keepers cut down their signs. The merchants no longer had a throng of customers from other towns. The tide of travel between Boscawen and Canterburj^ was greatly diminished, and there was no inducement for private indi- viduals to invest their money in a bridge. Up to this time there had been but one free bridge across the Merrimack, from Camj^ton to the sea — that erected in Concord in 1839, which had been carried away in 1841, and rebuilt, and again seriously injured. The town of Concord had voted, in 1842, that in the opinion of the legal voters the bridge ought not to be main- tained at the expense of the town. It was argued that the town ought not to support it for the benefit of the general public, but that it ought to be a county affair. The other towns in the county opposed it on the plea that it was no concern of theirs, as they had little or no occasion to use it. While Concord was thus discussing the question, citizens of Boscawen and Canterbury petitioned the county commissioners to erect a bridge to be supported by the two towns. This was re- sisted by both towns, till 1857. Meanwhile the public had been educated up to the idea of free bridges, the Boscawen bridge having been built meanwhile. The petitioners were finally suc- cessful in their efforts ; and the present covered structure was erected in the autumn of 1857, by Mr. E. L. Childs, of Concord, under the supervision of Mr. John Abbott, of the same place. BOSCAWEX BRIDGE. The bridge across the Merrimack, at its junction with the Con- toocook, was built by a company incorjiorated in 1802, and was constructed the same year. The capital stock consisted of 29 shares, the par value of which was $29. The stock was taken by citizens of Boscawen and Concord. Col. Isaac Chandler was the largest stockholder, — subscribing for six shares. It was some- times called Chandler's bridge. At that time Portsmouth and Newburyport were important BRIDGES. 647 commercial towns, and tlie travel was largely in that direction. For a few years the bridge was remunerative to the proprietors, but the selection of Concord for the capital, and the opening of the Middlesex canal, with boating to Concord, turned the travel in a new direction. The original structure stood till 1839, when it was swept away by the great ice freshet which destroyed many bridges on the Merrimack. A chain-ferry served the piiblic till 1853, when the present bridge was built by Boscawen and Can- terbury". SECOND CONTOOCOOK BRIDGE. The second bridge across the Contoocook was built in 1805, on the site of the first bridge, in the bend of the river, east of Pen- acook hotel. The contract was taken by Lieut. John Flanders, on 2 September, 1805, to be completed 1 October, the same year. The original document is in existence. The bridge was to be of good pine timber, 20 feet wide ; to be three and one half feet higher than the old bridge at the ends, and five feet higher in the middle. The piers were to have four posts each 16 inches square, a good mud-sill, and a cap 16 by 20 inches, and two braces 16 inches square, "as long as may be necessary." "There shall be a pier on each side of the old box, with good mud-sills and four posts to each pier, the end-posts to be 17 by 20 inches square, and the middle posts shall be 13 by 10 inches square. The two piers shall be be planked with good plank to within two feet of low water, and up within four feet of the cap. Said bridge shall be planked with good plank three and a half inches in thickness. There shall be bolts of iron one inch square through the string piece in the same manner as in the old bridge." The bridge was constructed by the towns of Boscawen and Concord. CONTOOCOOK RIVER BRIDGE CONTROVERSY. Previous to 1823 the highway leading from the tavern of Capt. John Chandler to Concord was laid easterly by the residence of Nathan Chandler, down the steep hill to the right, crossing the Contoocook river at the narrow gorge below the falls, thence south across the line between the towns by the school-house and homestead of Winthrop Elliot (a house now standing) to the main road. The large amount of transportation over this highway 648 THE DUSTON MEMORIAL. hy teams from the nortli required a road that would avoid the steep hill on the north bank of the river. For the .better accom- modation of the public, the court of sessions, in the year 1821, which by the law of 8 Feb., 1791, had the power to lay out public liighwaj^s in certain cases, laid out a road from the tavern before mentioned in Boscawen, in a straight line across Contoocook river to what is now Washington square in Concord, upon condi- tion that the town of Boscawen should give security to maintain one half the bridge over the Contoocook, which bridge was part of the road so laid out. This change would remove the bridge from the town of Boscawen to Concord. The bond is in the hand- writing of Ezekiel Webster, and bears date 12 Jan., 1822. By this arrangement the bridge was built in 1823, and the agreement adliered to until 1839, when a controversy arose be- tween the towns in regard to the boundary, when the town of Boscawen neglected to carry out the provisions of the contract en- tered into in 1822. The town of Concord, being aggrieved at the action of the town of Boscawen in this matter, commenced a suit against Boscawen, upon the bond, in the court of common pleas, which was afterwards transferred to the superior court, of which Hon. Joel Parker was chief-justice. The case was conducted by Franklin Pierce and Asa Fowler for Concord, and Ichabod Bart- lett for Boscawen. At the Dec. term, 1845, a decision was ren- dered by Judge Woods in favor of Boscawen, who said that ''the contract by which they undertook to bind themselves to raise money for building the bridge was not founded upon such a con- sideration as to create a debt, and thus give the town a power to raise money." Since 1845 this bridge has been maintained by Concord. * THE DUSTON MEMORIAL. On the island at the mouth of the Contoocook river stands the granite memorial erected to commemorate the achievement of Mrs. Duston, Mary Neff, and Samuel Leonardson, in liberating themselves from captivity. The statue was erected mainly through the efforts of Eobert B. Caverly of Lowell, and E. S. Nutter of Concord. The first step to that end was the conveyance, by Messrs. John C. and Calvin Gage, to Eev. Nathaniel Bouton, E. ksc4^' Dustin Monument. ANCIENT HOUSES, G49 S. Nutter, and R. B. Caverly, in trust, all of the land lying east of the Northern Railroad, iipon the island, for the purpose of es- tablishing a memorial. Funds to the amount of ^6,000 were raised by subscription. Tlie statue and pedestal are of Concord granite, after a design by William Andrews, of Lowell. The sculptors were Andrew Orsolini, James Murray, and Charles H. Andrews, the builder Porter E. Blanchard. The monument was unveiled 17 June, 1874, with appropriate ceremonies. There was a large gathering of people. Addresses were made by Rev. N. Ronton, of Concord ; R. B. Caverl}', Esq., of Lowell ; Hon. G. W. Nesmith, of Franklin ; Maj. Gen. S. G. Griffin, of Keene ; D. 0. Allen, of Lowell ; Hon. B. F. Prescott, of Epping ; Col. J. H. George, of Concord ; Rev. Elias Nasou, of Billerica ; Charles C. Coffin, of Boston ; Rev. W. T. Savage, of Franklin ; Ex.-Gov. Onslow Stearns, of Concord, — and others. Gov. James A. Weston accepted the deed in trust for the state. ANCIENT HOUSES. The oldest house now remaining in Boscawen is that standing near the site of the old fort, occupied by the second minister of the town. Rev. Robie Morrill [see Civil Hist.], who became a cit- izen in 1761. The building probably was erected by him. The house next in age, probably, is the residence of Mr. Frank- lin P. Atkinson, which was occupied by Dea. Jesse Flanders, and was built by him before 1765. The residence of Mr. Colby, on Water street, was built in 1768, by Capt. Peter Coffin. The house of G. W. Fisher, formerly the residence of Peter Coffin, son of Capt. Moses, was built about 1770, by George Jack- man. The house of Mr. Silver next west of Mr. Franklin P. Atkinson's, formerly stood near the residence of Mr. Jacob C. Flanders. It was built by Andrew Bohonnon, and possibly is one of the oldest in town. In 1775 there were but two framed houses west of Beaver Dam brook, neither of which is standing. They were the houses of Jonathan Cass and Benjamin Day. The oldest house in Webster is the residence of Mr. Tilton, on Corser hill, built by David Corser. 650 WILD ANIMALS CHARACTERS. The house of Dr. Graves, on Boscawen Plain, was built by Dr. Daniel Peterson, and it has been occupied for many years bj^ phy- sicians. Dr. Peterson, Dr. Warren E. Chase, Dr. E. K. Webster, and Dr. Graves, all have resided there. The residence of Mr. C. W. Webster was built in 1798 by John Jackman, who also did most of the work on the meeting-house. The house owned by Mr. James Gill was built by Mr. Gregg Emerson, earl}^ in the century. The parsonage of the Congregational society, Boscawen, was built by David Burbank, whose blacksmith-shop stood near by. It was the residence of Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish, who presented it to the society in his last will and testament. WILD AITIMALS. Wolves were abundant when the town was first settled. The last wolf killed in Boscawen was shot about 1831-'32 by Samuel Call, near Cook's hill. Bears were also abundant, and as late as 1810-'15 were fre- quently seen in town. Beavers were numerous on all the streams. The compiler can recall several dams which were distinctly recognizable in his boy- hood, around Great pond and the Water street meadows. When the town was first settled rattlesnakes abounded, es- pecially on the rocky hills of Bashan. Moses Gerrish, — one of the early settlers of that section, — killed more than 50 in one day. Empirics in medicine prescribed the oil of rattlesnakes' hearts as a specific for consumption, and tlie oil thus obtained hy Mr. Ger- rish was sold to the Canterbury Shakers for such use. Two rat- tlesnakes were killed by Gen. M. A. Pillsbury on his farm about 1840, and Mr. Bitfield Burbank despatched one at a still later date, — about 1847. CHABACTEKS. This history would be incomplete if no mention were made of the " characters," or the peculiar men, numbered among the citi- zens. In every community such men may be found. Their neighbors call them •' odd sticks." They are wits, jesters, sat- irists, or possessed of some idiosyncrasy that distinguishes them CHARACTERS. 651 from their neighbors. Tliey may be wliolly uneducated, but yet make up in mother-wit any lack of acquired knowledge. They may be stupid in some things, and exceedingly brilliant in others. They are usually men abounding in good nature, who rarely take umbi-age at any mistake or blunder that may be made, who are keenly alive to fun, who appreciate a joke, who utter ludicrous sayings without knowing it, or who coin words not to be found in any lexicon. One of the latter class was Mr. Amos Blanchard, whose ac- quaintance with books was limited, who possibly never conned a page of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, but who nevertheless sometimes coined words that expressed his ideas quite as well as an}- from Greek or Latin roots. He invariably used '' ascertain " as a synonym for thinJc or comprehend. " I should ascertain that it was going to rain," was a common form of expression. If the weather was lowering, he used " duberous " for dubious. A winter's day, when the wind was blowing a gale, and the air filled with drifting snow, was "boistorious " and " fluergent." Is there a word in common use that better describes such a day ? Another character was Thomas Corser, who was accustomed to travel through the town with medicinal herbs, distributing them to the housewives. He usually had a large bundle of catnip, fever- bush, golden-rod, etc., which were much used the first third of the century. He charged nothing for these herbs. He had great faith in their efficacy. He once called at the house of Mr. Joel French, whose child was sick, and urged the mother to steep some of his herbs. " Do it, do it, if you want to save his life ! Do it ! If it kills him I'll pay for it ! " Mr. Corser lost his life by attempting to cross Long pond on the ice before it was sufficiently strong to bear him. Mr. James West, who for manj' 3'ears kept tavern on the Plain, in the house occupied by Mr. Dow, was a genial man, a popular host with the travelling community, good at telling a story, and who delighted in a joke. About the close of the first third of the century. Potter, a sleight-of-hand performer, of xindover, for whom the station " Potter Place " was named, gave an entertain- ment on the Plain. One of the performances of the evening was cooking eggs in a hat. The prestidigitateur borrowed a hat from 42 652 CHARACTERS, some one in the audience, broke several eggs into it, seemingly, then pronouncing some cabalistic words, and shaking the hat, pro- duced from this novel frying-kettle eggs nicely cooked, which were passed around to the audience, and the hat also, without a stain upon its lining. Of course no eggs were broken into the hat : it was all deception. On the evening after the performance, the usual circle of loungers of the bar-room were discussing the marvellous trick over their grog, and among them was one who expressed some doubt about the ^performance. The landlord saw a chance to play off one of his practical jokes, and said, — '•'I'll bet a quart of rum that I can do that trick."' " I'll take that bet I"' Avas the quick response of the wearer of the new hat. "Done I then give us your hat," said jMr. W., taking it from the wearers head, and deliberately breaking several eggs into it. The loafers crowded around the bar to see the performance. An essential part of the 2>erfonnance was the use of high- sounding gibberish, which Mr. West gave, ending with the words, " Presto, change !" meanwhile shaking the hat. " I declare, they don't sizzle yet," he said, looking into the hat, and then repeating the gibberish, and shaking it once more, till the inside was well splashed with the yolk. " They don't cook, that's a fact. I've lost my bet. Here, take your rum." A roar of laughter from the crowd set the winner to thinking that it was his hat which the landlord had been using for a fry- kettle. The landlord had his joke, but he was not a man to in- dulge his humor at the pecuniary expense of another, and made ample satisfaction. Another character was Mr. David Heath, more familiarly known as "Jester" Heath, from his jests and jokes. If the}^ were somewhat coarse, there was also at times rare humor in them. There was a period when hoop-poles w^ere an article of commerce, and Mr. Heath was not always particular in regard to boundaries when engaged in cutting poles. " If you never will cut any more on my land, I will give you a pig," was the offer of Capt. Little Burbank. CHARACTERS. 653 " If you will not cut any more on mine, I will give you a sheep," said Capt. Abraham Burbank. " I am much obliged to you, gentleman, but a man can't afford to sell everything,'' was the reply. Another character was Mr. Nathan Hunt, whose natural endowments were by no means of an inferior order, but who by indulging in drink became a wreck of his former self, and earned a precarious living by making baskets and bottoming chairs. He was an excellent workman. No better baskets were ever made* They were strong, evenly woven, and of symmetrical form. What- ever he did was well done, though his customers, especially those who had paid for their wares, were greatly troubled by his pro- crastination. He had a keen sense of humor. During sickness he was attended by Dr. Long, of Hopkinton. Those were the days when calomel was given in large doses, and so much was ad- ministered to the patient that his teeth were loosened in the gums. After his recovery Mr. Hunt made payment in hand- rakes. One may imagine the inward chuckling of the rako- maker, as he shaved the teeth and head of the implements from unseasoned wood — how in a few days the teeth would loosen and drop from their sockets. The rakes were speedily finished after being ordered. The doctor was surprised at the unwonted promptness of the maker. The rakes were beautiful to the eye, smoothly shaven the handles, tight and firm the teeth. The doctor admired them. A few days passed. The workmen used the implements in the summer sun, when, lo ! the rakes were toothless. " Every tooth has come out of those rakes which you made," said the irate physician to Mr. Hunt. " Ah, doctor, you have been giving them calomel, I reckon," said Mr. Hunt. The physician appreciated the joke, and told it with a relish. No man ever walked the highways of Boscawen who had so hearty a laugh as Mr. Hunt. When anything pleased him he laughed all over, with a heartiness that was contagious. He be- gan with a haw-haw-haw, deep, resonant, to be written large, if expressed in writing, accelerating the haw-haw, catching his breath, beginning over again, repeating, changing to ho-ho-ho, for several minutes. 654 CHARACTERS. Once his supper was hasty-pudding and milk, and he ate heartily, — ate till the platter was clean. It was in the days when fire-places were used, and he laid down upon the floor to enjoy its genial warmth, and soon fell asleep. Some young men, who had dropped in, thought it an excellent opportunity to play a joke upon the sleeper, and, creeping up stairs and raising a board, they dropped a pumpkin in the last stage of mellowness plump upon the prostrate form. They were roystering fellows, who did not stop to reflect upon the indecency. Mr. Hunt awoke, and in lugubrious tones thus upbraided his wife : " There, wife, now see what you have done. What did you give me all that pudden for ? You might have known I would eat it all, even if there was a bushel of it. Here I am, busted T Another character was Mr. Obadiah Elkins, Avhose oddity may have been intensified by a disappointment of the affections. He was a builder of many houses. They were not spacious, or lofty, but of small size. He would obtain permission from some kind neighbor to put up a cabin, and with much diligence add room after room at all sides. When weary of residing in that locality he would dispose of them for a small sum, and begin again in another place. He resided chiefly in Bashan. Once he grew weary of life, and resolved to commit suicide. He made his way to Pillsbury's mill-pond, and plunged in, held his head beneath the water awhile, and then waded to the shore. In rehearsing what he had done, he said he "couldn't hold his breath long enough to drown." He did not see the absurdity of the re- mark, and even wondered at the laughter it created. Again, when sick, he wished to shufile off this mortal coil. "I have tried to die," he said. "If I were to die, I couldn't try any harder !" While prostrated by sickness, Kev. Mr. Price called upon him to offer the consolations of religion, praying not alone for the sick man, but giving wide scope to his supplication. INIr. Elkins was restored to health, and, wishing to show his appreciation of Mr. Price's kindness, determined to make him a present of a half bushel of beans. He showed a grim humor by obtaining from the neighbors several varieties, white and speckled, cranberry and pink-eyed, bush and pole, large and small. " I notice, Mr. Elkins, that you have all sorts of beans in your CHARACTERS. 655 basket," was the remark of tlie reverend gentleman, when he thanked the donor for the gift. " Well, sir, you prayed all sorts, aiid I thought I would give you all sorts," was the witty reply. The humor was keenly rel- ished by the recipient. Convinced in his own mind that he was not going to live long, he resolved to have his coffin made, that his friends might not be burdened by such a dut^', and carried the boards to a joiner, who, upon measuring them, said to Mr. Elkins : " The boards are not long enough." " Oh ! I can scrooch up a little," was the reply. He lived in the days when men drank liquor. He usually drank in moileration, but when his brain was excited Ijy alcohol, there was a delicious incongruity in his humor. He called one day at the house of Col. John Farmer, where the good wives of the neighborhood had assembled for a quilting. He seated him- self before the fire, and taking a clean shirt from a package, pro- ceeded to change his clothing, whereupon Mrs. F. told him that he could have the use of the adjoining room. '' Oh, I can shut my eyes !" was the reply. Once, when having been refused a mug of cider by the same lady, he politely expressed his anger, not by wishing she were dead, but wishing that she were " nicely in heaven." His house and the grounds around were ever a pattern of neat- ness. He v/as kind-hearted, and ever ready to oblige his neigh- bors. Nature was not niggardl^^ in her endowments, but a bitter disappointment blighted his life and made him what he was. Kind-hearted men were they all, and they made the town merry with their wit. One of Doctor Elijah Blaisdel's female patients was noted for her econoni}', never permitting anything to be wasted. There had been sickness in the family, and there was a good suj^ply of pills and powders on hand, after the recovery of the children. " It's too bad to have them wasted," said the mother, who, mixing jalop, calomel, ipecac, all in one mess, swallowed the mixture ! The results may be imagined. Another woman, who never had travelled, but who contem- plated a visit to distant friends, fearful that she might be ill, sat up through the night, and drank so much herb tea that in the 656 V. D. M. TREES. morning she was prostrated with sickness, and the journey never was made. V. D. M. On page 159, mention is made of the eulogy upon Washington, delivered by Rev. Ariel Kendrick, v. D. M., with the statement that none of the oldest inhabitants knew the meaning of the cab- alistic letters. Since the page has been printed, it has been as- certained that they stood for Veterinary Doctor of Medicine ; or, in other words, that Rev. Mr. Kendrick, in addition to his calling as a preacher, united that of " cow doctor." TREES. The first trees transplanted in Boscawen, probably, were those set out by Rev. Phineas Stevens, none of which remain except possibly the tree standing near the residence of Jacob Hosmer. One of those set out by Rev. Mr. S. stood in front of the hat-shop of Mr. Jacob Ilosmer, senior; — it was blown down in 1834. The large elm opposite the academy was set out by William Gill about 1790 [see Gill Gen., p. 551]. The elms standing on the west side of King street, between the residence of James H. Gill and Mr. Bickford, were set out by Joel French, Wm. G. Emerson, Col. Joseph and N. P. Atkin- son, some time during the first decade of the century [see p. 5-32]. Those on the opposite side of the street, south of the meeting- house, were set out by Russell Ambrose, 1834 [see p. 232], for which he received the thanks of tlie Congregational society. The largest elms in the academy yard were transplanted in 1829 by David K. Jones, a student at the academy. He went West, and died in Michigan. The maple near the entrance was set out by Charles C. Coffin, in 1839. He set out others, but that alone survived, owing to the rude treatment to which all were sub- jected from being used as hitching-posts. The first damask rose in town, probably, grew on a bush brought from oSTewbury (Byfield parish), Mass., by Henry Little, about 1815. He obtained it from the garden of Hon. Gorham Parsons. It was transplanted in Dea. Enoch Little's front yard, and flourished for many years. The lilac trees standing in front of the residence of H. H. COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL RECORD, 66i Price, Frederic, grad. Dart, 1838; physician in Ohio [see Gen.]. RowELL, Elijah, physician on Corser hill, 1816-1820. EoLFE, Henuy p., grad. Dart. 1818; attorney in Cdnoord [see Gen.]. Sawyer, Samuel, physician mentioned by Rev. Mr. Price. Sawyer, Ben.tamin, physician on Corser hill, 1810-1843. Severance, M. L., Rev., grad. Middlebury ; minister Cong, church, 1861-1869, now at Orwell, Vt. Shepard, Forrest, Prof., grad. Dart.,. 1827 [see Biog.]. Sleeper, Nehemiah, Rev., minister Christian Union church, 1835- 1810 [see Gen.]. Smith, Ambrose, Rev., grad. Dart. 1815; minister Cong, church, 1853-1862 [see Biog.]. Smith, Justix H., grad. Dart., 1877 [see Gen.]. Stone, Silas C, teacher; master Sherwin school, Boston [see Gen.]. Stone, C. J. F., attorney at Plymouth; died 18G0 [see Gen.]. Stevens, Phineas, Rev., grad. Harvard; first minister in Boscawen [see Biog.]. Stevens, Bradford N., Hon., grad. Dart., 1835; attorney at Prince- ton, 111.; member of Congress. Tenney, Jonathan, grad. Dart., 1813; teacher Pembroke Academy, 1814-1819; Pittsfield, 1850-1853; Manchester, 1853-1856; Elm- wood Institute, 1856-1868 [p. 291] ; connected with N. Y. State Board of Education; Librarian of Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation at Albany. Tilton, John, Rev., minister Christian Union church. TiTCOMB, G. P., physician in Salisbury. Tracy, Caleb B., Rev., grad. Williams; minister Cong, church, 1837- 1851 [see Ecclesiastical Hist.]. Tucker, William J., d. d.. Rev., grad. Dart., 1861; minister Frank- lin St. Cong, church, Manchester, now of Madison Square Pres- byterian church. New York. Walker, Silas C, grad. Dart., 1829; attorney in Virginia, INIississip- pi; died in Arkansas, 1858. AVebster, Daniel, Hon., grad. Dart., 1801; attorney [see Biog.]. Webster, Ezekiel, Hon., grad. Dart., 1804; attorney [see Biog.]. Webster, Eliphalet K., physician [see Biog.]. Wells, Thomas, physician on the Plain, 1795-1800; moved to IIop- kinton. Whitman, Z. G., grad. Harvard; attorney on Corser hill, 1831-1810. Wilson, Job, physician; resided on Water st., afterwards in Franklin. Wood, Samuel, Rev., grad. Dart., 1779; minister in Boscawen [see Biog.]. 662 ministers' wives. MINISTERS' WIVES. In addition ta those citizens of Boscawen and Webster who liave entered the ministry, are the Avomen whose names are here given, who have married ministers, and have thus been influential in moulding society : Bridgp:, Emily, dau. Samuel, of Billerica, Mass.; resides in B. ; m. Rev. Henry Jewett, Cong, minister in Maine. CoGSWKLL, Ruth, dau. Nehemiah, sen.; m. Rev. Samuel W. Colburn [see Professional Record]. Dix, Raciikl B., dau. Col. Timothy; m. Rev. Daniel Temple, of Read- ing, Mass. ; missionary to Malta [see Gen.]. Dix, Louisa Frances, dau. Col. Timothy; m. Rev. Edward Buxton, of B. [see Gen.]. Greenougit, Ellen, dau. John; m. Rev. D. R. Brewer, minister Episcopal church. Geruisii, Sally, dau. of Dea. Enoch ; ra. Rev. Samuel Bliss [see Gen.]. Gerrisii, Sally, dau. of Col. Joseph; m. Rev. Enoch Corser [see Ger- rish and Corser Gen.]. Gerrish, Mary, dau. Col. Joseph; m. Rev. Wm. Patrick, of Canter- bury [see Gen.]. Gerrish, Apphia, dau. Jacob; m. Rev. Phannuel Warriner, ofCanan- daigua, N. Y. ; resides in Texas [see Gen.]. Knight, Catharine, dau. of Caleb; m. Rev. Nathaniel Barker, Cong, minister at Wakefield for many years. Little, Ruoda, dau. Benjamin ; m. Rev. Calvin Cutter, Presbyterian minister at Windham. Her eldest son. Rev. Charles, is Cong, minister in Oliio ; her second son, Rev. Carrol, is president West- ern Reserve College, Ohio [see Gen.]. Little, Jane, dau. of Joseph; m. Rev. Amos P. Brown, of Campton, home missionary for many years in 111. [see Gen.]. Little, Emma, dau. Jesse; m. Rev. Addison Kingsbury, of Putnam, O. [see Gen.]. Patrick, Mary, dau. of John, and great-granddaughter of Col. Jo- seph Gerrish, is missionary to Turkey, residence at Constanti- nople. Price, Mary P., dau. Rev. Ebenezer; m. Rev. Addison Kingsbury, of Putnam, O. Price, Emily P., dau. Rev. Ebenezer; m. Rev. Z. K. Hawley, Cong, minister of Conn.; resides in Memphis, Tenn. Plummer, Lucretia a., dau. Capt. Joshua C; m. Rev. Charles Tem- ple. ministers' wives. 663 SwEATT, Flora, dau. Isaac T. ; lu. Rev. H. Ilartwell, minister Meth- odist church. SwEATT, Emily, dau. Isaac T. ; m. Rev. Greenleaf Warner, minister Methodist church. SwEATT, Arietta, dau. George; m. Rev. G. "W. Smitli, minister Methodist church. Webster, Alice, dau. Hon. Ezekiel; m., 1st, Rev. Jarvis Gregg, pro- fessor at Western Reserve college, O. ; 2d, Rev. Geo. B. Whip- ple, of Oberlin. Webster, Mary Ann, dan. lion. Ezekiel; m. Prof. Edwin D. San- born, of Dartmouth college. Webster, Ann R., dau. Nathaniel; m. Rev. Horace Eaton, d. d., min- ister at Palmyra, N. Y. Worcester, Betsey, niece of Rev. Samuel Wood; m. Rev. Stephen Bliss, Cong, -ninister. GEJ^EEAL I:NDEX. Aciuleruy, Boscaweu 200, 291. Penacook, 292. Admiral Boscawen, 79, 81, 84. Ainsworth's Psalms. 293. Alcoholic liquors' 210. Abus-house, town, 190. county, 222. Ames. Simeon, arrest of, G2. Ancient houses, 049. Auti-slavery, 200, 201, 206, 207. Apprentices, 54. Association, ministerial, 228. Association test, 114, 115. Battle of Lexington, 247. Baptisms, 240. Baptist society, 205. " church, 24.3. Bashan iSIining Co., 179. Bay State Psalm Book, 293. Bennington campaign, 253. " "" battle, 257. soldiers, 255, 265. " anniversary, 225. Bennet, Salmon, Picv., 232, 2.35. Bishop, Josiah, killed by Indians, 39. " Enos, captured by Indians, 69, 7C. Biographical history, 301. Boscawen, how spelled, 83. Boston, Fort hill, 105. Boscawen Musical Society, 296. Bonds, taxation of, 223. " sale of, 224. Bounties for soldiers, 223. Bridges— Boscawen, 198, 64G. Blackwater, 104, 105, 128, 131. " Canterbury, 165, 166, 198, 645. " Cliandler's. 046. " Clay hill, 131. " Contoocook, 21, 92, 160, 1S9, 647. Brown, John, journal, 11. Buxton, Edward, Rev., 239, 323. Bunker hill s(ddiers, 248. Burial grounds, 180, 223. Cambridge platform, 233. Campaign of 1777, 2.52. Call, Pliilip. Mrs., killed by Indians, C9. California emigr.ation,210. Cassar killed by Indians, 41. Canterbury garrison, 40. Central Musical Society, 298. Celebration at Newbury, 79. Centennial celebration, 215. Characters, 650. Check-list, 181. Churcli and state, 152, ICl. Cliurch difficulties, 241. Churches in New Hampshire, 216. Christian Baptist cliurch, 242. " Union society, 188, 191, 206, 240, 242. Clocks, 643. Clough, Abner, journal, 43, 45. Clougli, Jeremiali, 40, 78. Collegi.ate record, 657. Coos soldiers, 253. Coos, road to, 55. Cold Friday, 178. Colonial jurisdiction, 33, 35. Constitution of N. H., 143, 221, 224. Cook, Thomas, killed bj' Indians, 41. County almshouse, 222. Coffin, Peter, Capt., Ill, 113. Correspondence between Gov. Wentworth and (iov. Shirley, 67, 62. Committee of Safety, 112. Commercial distress, 202. Corser hill meeting-house, 236. Continental soldiers, 267. Congregational church in Fisherville, 243. Congregationalism, return to, 235. Cut nails, 642. Currency, 55, 101,117, 119, 129, 132, 156. Customs, 174, 194, 195. Crows, 197. Dartmouth college, 227. " " road to, 131. Day-book of Dea. Enoch Little, 184. Debt, funding of, 213. Destitution, 184. Diary of Col. Henry Gerrish, 247. " Lieut. John Flanders, 250. " Capt. Peter Kimb.all, 253, 261. Disturbance in town-meeting, 168. Division of the town, 619. Dollars, first use of the word, 100. Duston, Mrs., 5. Duston I'li-morial, 648. Dutch ovens, 176. Eastabrook, Samuel, Rev., 118. Early singing, 294. Ecclesiastical history, 226. Educational history, 279. GENERAL INDEX. 665 Ela, Samuel, Rev., 113. Elmvvood Institute, 291. Elevations, 635. Endicott, Gov., 5. Expedition to Upper Connecticut, 63. Federal soldiers, 20S. " constitution, 1.34, 135. Festivities, 141. Felt liats, 642. Ferry, '22. First law-suit, 92. " settlers, 1.5. " minister, 22. " town-meeting, 83. " election under tlie constitution, 135. " military company, 37. " saw-mill, 17, 21. " ciiild, 18. Fire precinct. 209. " engine, 207. Foxes, 197. Fort, 20, 52. French war, 51, 76, 79. Framed houses, 85. Freshets, 191, 192, 198. Gates, Horatio, thanks to Koscawen sol- diers, 266. Gentlemen's farms, 10. Golfe, John, 41. 72. Going to meeting, 174. Grant to Contoocook, 3. Grafton Presbytery, lOS, 234. Grist-mill in Concord, 48. Grist-mills in Boscaweu, 638. Gunpowder, 132. Hay-scales, 177. Hearse horses, 193. Health, 636. Highway obstructions, 2'1. History of the town, 214. 224, 225. Honorable action of proprietors, 52. Household furniture, 73, 176. Hudson River campaign, 251. Illegal voting, 211. Implements, 1;4. Industries, 637. Insurance company, 208. Indians, 37, 39, 40, 41,42,53,63,64,65,68, 69, 70, 71, 75, 78. Iron axles, 184. Jackman, Mases, captured by Indians, 78. Justice of the peace, 94. Kearsarge mountain, 44. Lexington, battle of, 111, 115. Legacy of Rev. Samuel Wood, 232. Line between Boscawen and Cauterburv, 209. Line between Boscaweu and Concord, 198. " " Mass. and X. H., 34. Library, 144. Licenses, 143, 193. Lien of mechanics, 209. Lots, 12, 14, 23, 24, 88. Lords proprietors, 49, 120. Lumber, 210, 637. Martin Luther Musical Society, 298. Manufacturers, 132, 644. Map for schools, 210. Merrimack valley settlements, 19. hall, 2.33. Merrill, Nathaniel, Rev., 97, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, lOf^, 234. ;Meloon family captured, 63, 65, 66, 67. Methodist church, 243. Meeting-houses, 23, 25, 98, 101, 105, 119, 129, 131, 136, 137, 13i>, 140, 141, 153, 157, 187, 188, 200, 226. Military history, 245. " spirit, 170. " prej)arations, 263. " receipts, 252, 266. " campaigns, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, >lills, 17, 21, 224, 225, 638. Ministers, 657. Minister's lot, 75. " patriotism, 228. " oaths, 227. " wives, 662. Miscellany, 619. Money, scarcity of, 132. Mother Hoit, 176. Moral society, 182. Morrill, Robie, Rev., 84, 86, 87, 88, 91, 93, 94, 96, 113. Musters, lb2, 193, 273, 274, 275. Musical societies, 196. •' education, 293. " instruments, 296. Newspapers, 177. New style, f 5. New lights, 233. New county, 134, 188, 189. New York "campaign, 251. Norway plain, 212. Notices of tirst settlers, 302. Occupations, 173, 174, 175. Ordination of Rev. Phineas Stevens, 29,30, 31, 32. Overhauling a committee, 131. Official history, 619. Palm-leaf liats, 641. Patriotic action, 117, 219, 220. Parsonage lands, sale of, 143. I'ains, 88. Paper rags, 120. Party spirit, 174, 202, 203. Paupers, 105, 162. 178. Peuacook academy, 292. I'enalties, 312 People's declaration, 106, 107. Petitions of citizens of Andover and other towns, 1. Petition of citizens of Newbury, 3. Petitions of citizens of Contoocook, 23, 37, 38, 47, 48, 64, 74, 94, 97. Petition for a new town, 137. Physicians, 108. Plunder, sale at Battenkill, 265. Pound, 149. Post routes, 143, 200. Pottery, 642. Polls, 100. Population, 24, 99, 112, 128, 133, 191, 635. Progress, 172. Professional record, 661. Prisoners, liberation of, 59. Produce, prices of, 1.55. Province road, 103 Price, Ebenezer, Rev., 187, 236. 666 GENERAL IXDEX. rroprietors' records, 208. ^^c3Po 16, 17, 20, 20, 150 ' ' ' '''' ^^' ^"' ^^> ^3' '5' ' '' 8". Proprietors' clerk, 84. Preaching at tbe West eiul, 118. Quebec expedition, 249. Raising tlie meeting-house, 1 18 Railroads, 207, 208, 211. Record of mortality, C3G. Revivals, 1^2. Receipt for gun, 249. Rebellion, 212, 213. 217, 219. Religious society records, 230. " controversy, 174. " dissent, 50, 51, 77. Reduction of Canada, 85. Rhode Island campaign, 207 Roll of honor at IJuiiker hill, 249 Road to Hopkinton, lyo. Saw-mills on the Blackwater, 119 Sabatis and Plansawa, 63, 50, 57 ^ale of almshouse, 214. Scouting party, 03. Selectmen's accounts, 87, 88, 81, 93 94 ins 118, 119, 120, 121. 122, 123, 148, 170. ' ° Settlements, 85, 90. Seraphines, 2dd. Second Cong, church, 238, 239 Schools, 86. 92, 97, 104, 108, 109, lio in 116,118.124, 128, 129, 135', 148; IL;' 167; School lots, 1.35. " law, 169. Shay's rebellion, 1,33. Sheep, 180, VJ3. Singing-schools, 299, ,390. Soldiers in Indian wars, 244, 245. '■ in Revolution, 247,' 249" ''5] •'-■jq 255, 263, 207. ' ' Soldiers in war with Great Rritain "69 '' I'l the Rebellion, 270, 277,278 " Smith, Ambrose. Rev., 235 Small pox, 218. 160. Spinning, 637. Stages, 178. State capital, 163. " bounties, 222. " police, 223. Stevens, Phiueas, Rev., 22, 28 7'> Stores, 148. ' > °, '- Suits to recover taxes, 151. Surplus revenue, 197, 201. Survey of Contoocook, 8. Sunday travelling, 100. " schools, 183, 244. Swine, LSI, 192. Tanniug, 643. Taxation, exemption from '>'>4 Taverns, 149, 150, 165, 193. Teachers' iiistitnte, 222. Temperance, 194, 195, 196 Theology, 125. Ticonderoga soldiers, 251. Town charter, 74, 76, 70. " corn, 108. " census, 128. " house, 21, 201, 200, 209. " farm, 190, 197. " seal, 192. " officers, 622 Transition period, 150 Trespass, 156. Trees, 232, 656. Travelling on Sunday, 1S3. Trouble with England, 149. Turnpikes, 1G2. Tract distribution, 229. Universalist society, 161, 197. Vagrants, 197, 202. Vermont Committee of Safety, 254 ^ oluiiteers, 212, 213. Washington, death of, 158. „- ' .„ -, I5enevolent Society, 181. \Var with Great Britain, IM, -icy. War of Kebellion. 276. Warning out, 90, 1.30. Westerly Reliu'ious society, 166, 236. Webster, Kzvkicl, death of, 193. " .liiIiM, ( aptnin, 71. I' incor|>orati..n of, 217. ^1 lirst tdwn-meeting in, 219. wi • ■ '^'f"'"'"''"* with Boscawen, 219. Wlupping-posts, 170. Wild animals, 6.50. A\'ood, Samuel, Rev., 123, 125, 144 161 LE0^;4 £ 90?