KIMBALL WEBSTER HISTORY OF HUDSON, N. H FORMERLY A PART OF DUNSTABLE, MASS.. 1673-1733 NOTTINGHAM. MASS., 1733-1741 DISTRICT OF NOTTINGHAM, 1741-1746 NOTTINGHAM WEST. N. K, 1746-1830 HUDSON, N. H., 1830-1912 KIMBALL WEBSTER r EDITED BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE MANCHESTER. N.H. GRANITE STATE PUBLISHING CO. 19 13 ■ » o £4 rn » Price, $3.50 DEDICATION TO THE INHABITANTS OR FORMER INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF HUDSON ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE ANCIENT PIONEER FAMILIES THAT WERE SETTLERS IN OLD NOTTINGHAM WHEREVER AT PRESENT LOCATED THIS HISTORY IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THEIR FRIEND OR KINSMAN THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION It has been said that to write a good town history was the work of a lifetime. It requires, beyond question, just as other tasks exact, a great amount of patient research and careful study in order to accomplish satisfactory re- sults. The haste with which some works of this kind are prepared prove in their failure the truth of this statement. While the writer of this History of Hudson cannot claim as much for his undertaking, yet he has been collect- ing data relating to the town, to some extent, for a great many years. At first he had no thought of attempting a work of this kind, but possessing a historical temperament he prepared such historical material as he thought would be useful to some one who might attempt to do it. These early gleanings and savings eventually reached a porportion which seemed to make the compilation of a his- tory, if not easy, at least within his grasp. In December, 1884, while canvassing the county of Hillsborough, N. H., for a history to be compiled and pub- lished, D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, suggested that I should prepare a brief account of the town of Hudson for his work, to be published as the sketches of the other towns were to be given. He allowed me twenty pages of space, but before my article was finished I found I had material enough for more than double that number of pages. Mr. Hurd finally allowed me twenty-five pages, which were filled with solid historical matter. My part of the work in the book was almost entirely a labor of love, the compen- sation being very small. It is possible this effort was an unconscious stimulant towards causing me to attempt a more ambitious work. 1 2 HISTORY OF HUDSON Until that time, and for some years since, my life has been a very busy one. However I might have seen the neces- sity of a comprehensive town history of Hudson, or what- ever willingness I might have felt towards undertaking the task, I could not find the time to accomplish it. Still, an- ticipating that some one, if not myself, might in the future carry out the work, I felt it a duty I owed the citizens of Hudson, and especially to the early settlers, including sev- eral of my immediate ancestors, to treasure up and preserve all of the valuable and interesting local incidents that I was able to discover. Accordingly I made copious extracts from the early town records, including all of the births, marriages and deaths, arranging each item alphabetically, so as to be easy for reference. I copied the laying out of the highways, the tax lists, as far as could be found during the first century, and transcribed the inscriptions found in the cemeteries. I also copied the records of all the most important business transactions of all the town meetings held in town, until I had the substance of the records of Hudson in my own office. Nor did I stop here, but I thoroughly investigated all of the church records I could find and copied and arranged them for ready reference. This placed within my use all of the records of Hudson as far as it was possible. In addition to these collections of official and personal facts, I conversed with many of the most intelligent aged people of the town, who many years since passed away. In these ways, and other opportunites that came my way, for more than thirty years I collected and arranged the material, much of which has been embodied in this work. And yet, until recently, or within a few months, I did not expect to ever accomplish the task of the publication of a town history, but the opportunity came and I improved it. No attempt has been made to prepare genealogies of the different families, but considerable history of the older families has been given ; enough, I trust, in many cases to materially enable the descendants who wish to trace their INTRODUCTION 3 lineage. In writing this work my chief aim has been to be accurate as far as lay within my power. That errors have crept in is inevitable, but I cannot help thinking that, as a whole, the book will compare favorably with others of its class. The book has grown to larger proportions than was really intended at the outset, but from the abundant material at hand, I did not feel like omitting any considerable portion, so it must must meet public recognition as it stands. Aware of its imperfections, I hope there will be sufficient of common interest and value found to make it an accept- able product. My thanks are due to those who have so kindly assisted me in one way or another, and not least among these I wish to speak of Messrs. C. E. Paine and C. W. Barnes for the photographs they have so kindly furnished to embellish the work. My thanks are also due to Elwin O. Hathaway for assisting me in the preparation of the map, which lends additional value to the text. So, not without some hesitation and a few misgivings, this history is offered to the present inhabitants of Hudson, many of whom are descendants of those early settlers who broke this wilderness, and long since passed to their re- ward. They were honest, rugged, true-hearted men and women, and it is impossible for us to know so much of them as we could wish. They labored faithfully and well for the common good, as they saw it. They builded even better than they knew. All honor to the memory of those worthy pioneers. K. W. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I 17 Natural Features Boundary-The Merrimack River-Wicasuck Island- Surface of the Town-Soil-Forests-Early Meadows- Pioneer Families- Stone Walls-Denizens of Forest and Stream-Deer Wardens -Fish Wardens-Ponds-Sawmills-Water Power-Agriculture. CHAPTER II ... 26 Aboriginal History Tribes of Indians-Pennacook Confederacy-Character of Three Great Sachems-Farewell of Passaconnaway-Petition for Land to Gov- ernor Endicott-A Niggardly Recompense Made to the Aged Peti- tioner — Brenton's Farm. CHAPTER HI When Hudson Was a Wilderness 35 Descendants of P««»^«^ WoiB ^^^^^ P ^ for Relief-Professes Religion-King Philip's War-Good Service of Wonnalancet-His Plight and Lonely Fate-Changes Wrought in the Landscape by the Woodman's Axe. CHAPTER IV Dunstable in the Indian Wars King Philip's War Followed by King William's War-Dunstable the Outpost Through Half a Century of Conflict-Queen Anne s War- 5 HISTORY OF HUDSON Prayer of Cotton Mather — An Interval of Peace — Towns in New Hampshire Chartered — Scotch-Irish Appear on the Scene — Indian Depredations Are Renewed — Norridgewock Expeditions — Father Rasle Slain — Settlement of Indians at Pequawket Demand Atten- tion — Bounty on Indian Scalps Increased — Fatality of Lt. French and His Party at Nashua — Loss of Life in Old Dunstable — Love- well Deposition. CHAPTER V Lovewell's Men 60 The Lovewell Expeditions — Names of Men in Last Scout — Journey to the Saco Valley — The Ossipee Fort — Surprise of Roth Friends and Foes — Opening of the Memorable Fight — Death of Captain Lovewell, Frye and Others — Paugus Slain — Cessation of Hostili- ties — The Dreadful Retreat — Colonel Tyng Sent to Relief of Fugi- tives — Summary of the Ill-Fated Battle. CHAPTER VI First Settlers of Hudson 74 The Hills Grant — Danforth Survey — Boundary of First and Second Tracts—" Hills Meadow"—" Burns Hill"— Joseph Hills— His Fam- ily — Disposition of his Estate — Three Sons — Their Families — Hills Garrison — Thomas Blodgett — and Descendants — Taylor Garrison — Taylor Family — Taylor's Falls — Fletcher Garrison. CHAPTER VII Grants and Counter Grants 88 The Boundary Dispute — Grant of Old Dunstable — Grant of London- derry — Character of Scotch-Irish — Names of First Comers — Wheel- wright Deed. — Industries of Scotch-Irish — The Londonderry Claim — Pioneers of Rival Towns — Petition of Certain Inhabitants to be Set off into a Separate Township — Charter of Nottingham — First Town Meeting — First Tax List. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER VIII Pioneer Families Settlers of "Hills Farm" — Isaac Cumniings and Descendants — Deed to Eleazer Cummings — Cumniings Farm — Gathering Turpentine — Vis- its of the Indians to Nashua River Island — Burying Ground of the Indians — Cummings Ferry — Cummings Tavern. CHAPTER IX Pioneer Families, Continued 107 Nathan Cross Settles Next to Cummings — Deed of Land — Cross Fam- ily — William Cummings Farm — He and His Descendants — John Taylor Garrison Place — Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Homestead — Jabez Davis Farm. — Edward Spalding Farm — Spalding Family — Farm of Ebenezer Spalding — Origin of Thornton's Ferry — Josiah Cummings — Hills Ferry. CHAPTER X Settlers of Hills Farm 118 Pollard Family — Winn Family — Winn Homestead — Thomas Colburn — Colburn Deed — Colburn Family — Maj. Zaccheus Lovewell — Love- well Farm — Ephraim Cummings — John Butler — Thomas Cum- mings — His Family — Ens. John Snow — Site of jHis House — Lt. Joseph Snow — Snow Family — Descendants of the Pioneers. CHAPTER XI "Hills Row" 129 Brenton's Farm — List of Proprietors Living in Nottingham — Boundary of Litchfield — Area of Nottingham — Nathaniel Hills — Ezekiel Greeley — His Homestead — Hills Family — Joseph Pollard — The Marsh Family— Nathaniel Hills, Jr.— Hills Deed— Tyng Land- Settlers of Hills Row. 8 HISTORY OF HUDSON CHAPTER XII The Boundary Dispute 137 Confusion Caused by Early Surveys — Mistake in Regard to the Course of the Merrimack River — Perplexities of King and Courts — Notting- ham Becomes Involved in the Tangle — Made into a District — Dis- trict Meetings — Old Bounds — The Boundary Pine — Old Dracut Line. CHAPTER XIII "Londonderry Claim" 147 The Boundary Dispute Becomes a Three-Cornered Fight with Nottingham — Spirit of the Times — Double Taxation — Petitions and Counter- Petitions — Annexation — Name of District made into Nottingham West to Distinguish it from Another Grant under the Title of Not- tingham — Area — List of Added Tax-Payers — New Boundary Line of Nottingham West — Population of Town at Various Dates — Adoption of Name of Hudson. CHAPTER XIV Nottingham West and Families 159 Charter of Township — New Boundaries — Effect on Litchfield, Pelham, and Dracut — Family Sketches — Ebenezer Blodgett — Samuel Bur- bank — George Burns — Thomas Burns — John Caldwell — Joseph Caldwell — Ezekiel Chase — Roger Chase — Isaac Cummings — Eben- ezer Dakin — Charles Darrah — Arthur Darrah — Josiah Dutton — Daniel Simonds — William Taylor — Benjamin Tyng — James Wason. CHAPTER XV The First Meeting House 183 Early Action Towards Public Worship — The First Minister — Efforts to Select a Site for a Meeting House — The Difficulty to Please All — Voted to Build on North Site — Location of First Meeting House — Pew Lots — Change in Boundary of Town Upsets Calculation of the Builders of Old First Meeting House — Disposal of Building. L.OND ONDERRY. \1ap of •Town of HcdsonJV.J-1. * Including Nottingham ^fT ts ANNEXATIONS r«.~ LONDONDERRY PRESENT AREA •' TOWNSHIP KIMBALL WEBST TABLE OF CONTENTS 9 CHAPTER XVI The Second Meeting House 192 Renewed Difficulties in Regard to Fixing Site for New House — The Upper Meeting House — Possibly the First in Town — Location of Hills Farm House — Site of "Second" Meeting House — Building the House — Pew Lots — Churchyard — When the Union of Town and Church Affairs Began to Cause Trouble — Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. CHAPTER XVII The Presbyterians and North Meeting House . 202 Rival Religious Tenets — Discussions and Litigations that Arose from Church Differences — The Presbyterian House of Worship — Site of the Building — \rchitecture of the Interior — Fatality at the Raising — First Pastor — Minister's Tax Becomes a Bone of Contention — Purchase of North Meeting House. CHAPTER XVIII Some Early Church History 213 A Lull in the Religious War — Vote to Repair North Meeting House — Call to Rev. John Strickland Dismissed — Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher — List of Those who Opposed Him — His Friends — Letter from Mr. Fisher — Better Feelings Engendered — Crisis in Religious Matters — The South Meeting House — Baptist Society — The North Meeting House Again — Pew Holders. CHAPTER XIX French and Indian Wars 225 Old Militia Law — Savage Warfare — Rogers' Rangers — Men from Not- tingham West in the Service, 1744 to 1760 — Resident Taxpayers, 1775— Tax List, 1779. 10 HISTORY OF HUDSON CHAPTER XX Nottingham West in the Revolution 23t> Beginning of the War— Association Test— Signers— Capt. Joseph Kel- ley — The Town's Only Tory — Committee of Inspection — Conti- nental Money — Current Prices — Awards for Service to Portsmouth and Bennington Men — To the Volunteers — Other Awards — Deprecia- tion of Currency Causes Hardship — Beef Tax — Com Rates — Bill of Rights. CHAPTER XXI Dark Days of the Revolution 250 The Little Republics — The Lexington Alarm — Minute Men of Notting- ham West — Muster Roll of 1775 — Personal Sketches — Men at Bun- ker Hill — Ticonderoga Alarm — Men in Expedition to Number Four —Nottingham West Soldiers at Bennington — Volunteers to Rhode Island in 1778. CHAPTER XXII Soldiers in the Revolution and War of 1812 . . 264 List of Men and Their Service — Second War with Great Britain — Mus- ter Rolls Incomplete — Nottingham West Men in the Army. CHAPTER XXIII Hudson in the Civil and Other Wars .... 27g Hudson Loyal to the Cause — Action Relative to Bounties — Soldiers' Aid Society — Beginning of Hostilities — Hudson Soldiers in the War— First New Hampshire Regiment — Third Regiment — Fourth Regiment—Sharpshooters — Company G Sharpshooters — Seventh Regiment — Eighth Regiment — Ninth Regiment — Tenth Regiment Twelfth Regiment — Thirteenth Regiment — Important Battles — First N. H. Heavy Artillery — Hudson Men Who Served Elsewhere — Amount of Bounties — Entire Enlistments — Mexican War — Spanish. American War. TABLE OF CONTENTS 11 CHAPTER XXIV Tax Lists and Homesteads, 1793 B93 Invoice of 1793 — Summary — Area of Land — Family Sketches — Nerth End Settlers — South End Settlers. CHAPTER XXV History of the Schools 316 Initiatory Movements Towards Support of Schools— School Houses — Re- port of District Committee — Description of the Ten Districts — Early School Houses— School Report, 1847— School Statistics, 1855-1910 — Town School System. — Smith School — Webster School — Burning of Smith School House — The Center School House. CHAPTER XXVI Customs of the Early Settlers 331 When Neighbors Were Neighbors — Fireplaces — Oldtime Cooking — Middle Names — First Shoemakers — Homespun Clothes — Cider Mills — Lights and Lamps — Soap Making — Modes of Travel — Bean Porridge — Farm Tools — Clocks — Sheep Washing — Roots and Herbs — The Open Well — Sugar Making — Wheat Flour — Spiritu- ous Liquors — Tramps — Social Ways — Breaking Roads — Beards or Smooth Faces — Title of Mister — Justice of the Peace — Publishing the Banns — Highway Fences — Farm Methods — "Old" and "New" Tenor. CHAPTER XXVII Items of Interest and Local Names 362 Saw Mills, Grist Mills and Shops — Pine Tree Law — Pine Tree Riot in Weare— Dark Day of 1730— Cold Summer— Cold Friday — Sep- tember Gale— Solar Eclipse of 1806 — Old Style and New Style- Organization of Hillsborough County — Lafayette's Visit — Pounds — Tarnic Pond— Robinson Pond— Barrett's Hill— Bush Hill— Hills Row — "The Farms" — Taylor's Falls Bridge — School Districts and 12 HISTORY OF HUDSON School Houses — Thurston's Jump — Moose Swamp — Town Com- mons — Stocks — " Potash Corner" — " Lawrence Corner" — Library Park — Warning People Out of Town — Murders CHAPTER XXVIII Great Storms and Freshets 391 The Merrimack a Mountain Stream— Freshet of 1818 — Freshet of 1S24 —Freshet of 1839— Great Freshet of 1841— Freshet of 1843— Fresh- et of 1852— Highwater of 1862 — Great Freshet of 1896— Great Snow Storm of 1888. CHAPTER XXIX Ferries and Bridges 399 Cummings Ferry — Hills Ferry — Hardy's Ferry — Taylor's Falls Bridge. CHAPTER XXX Cemeteries and Burial Grounds 411 Hills Farms Cemetery — Ford Cemetery — Blodgett Cemetery — Old Hud- son Center Burying Ground — Senter BuryingGround — Hudson Cen- ter Cemetery — Sunnyside Cemetery — Catholic Cemetery — Ceme- tery of the Unknown. CHAPTER XXXI Foster Fund — Surplus Revenue 423 John Foster, Jr., Legacy to the Worthy Poor— Surplus Revenue — Its Distribution. CHAPTER XXXII Additional Church History 428 Congregational, Presbyterian Churches— Later History of Church Prog- ress—Ministers Since 1S42— The Baptist Church and Society— TABLE OF CONTENTS 13 Founders of Society in Hudson — Pastors Since Its Organization in 1805— Centennial Anniversary.— Resume of Church Work — Metho- dist Episcopal Church and Society— Work of the Founders— Fletch- er Fund— Bequest of Mrs. Tinker— Donation of Lucinda W. Floyd- Bequest of Mrs. Electa Atwood — Woodbury Contribution— Wood- bury Parsonage — Quarter Centennial — Bequest of Mr. Tolles — Honored Names— Pastors 1839-1912— AlvirneMemorial Chapel. CHAPTER XXXIII Public Libraries 461 The Nottingham West Social Library— The Greeley Public Library- Lot for New Library Secured— Hills Memorial Library Building- Gift of Dr. Alfred K. Hills— Memorial Tablet to Memory of Hud- son's Soldiers and Sailors— Librarians of Hudson's Free Public Library. CHAPTER XXXIV Secret and Fraternal Orders 473 National Grange — Grange of New Hampshire— Hudson Grange— Char- ter Members— Masters— Places of Meeting— Odd Fellowship in Hudson— Building of I. O. O. F. Hall— Echo Rebekah Lodge- Hudson Commandery. CHAPTER XXXV Highways and Byways 483 Early Roads.— Derry Road— County Road— Province Line to Pelham— Corliss Hill— Nacook Brook— Back Lowell Road— Belknap Place Rocky Hill Road— From County Road to Pelham— Bowman Road — Old Daniel Smith Road— Smith Road— Bridle Road — Wa- son Road— Seavey Road— Ferry Street— Lowell Road— And Many Others — State Highways. CHAPTER XXXVI Steam and Electric Railroads 502 Steam Railroads— Electric Railways— Lowell and Nashua Line— Hud- son, Pelham and Salem Route— Rapid Transit Between Nashua and Manchester. 14 HISTORY OF HUDSON CHAPTER XXXVII Hudson Village 509 Story of the Growth and Business of Hudson's Leading Hamlet — The Center — Resources of the Town — Hudson Water Works. CHAPTER XXXVIII Resident Physicians 530 Dr. Ezekiel Chase — Dr. John Hall — Dr. Joseph C-ray — Dr. Apolos Pratt— Dr. Paul Tenney — Dr. Nathaniel P. Marsh— Dr. Daniel Tenney — Dr. Dustin Barrett — Dr. Elijah Colburn — Dr. Zaccheus Colburn — Dr. Henry M. Hooke — Dr. James Emery — Dr. David Onslow Smith — Dr. Herbert L. Smith — Dr. Henry O. Smith. CHAPTER XXXIX Voting Lists of Hudson 540 First Printed Check List— Check List for 1874— Check List for 1909- CHAPTER XL Official Roster 551 Lists of Moderators of Annual Town Meetings — Selectmen — Town Clerks — Delegates to General Court and Conventions, 1775-1913 — Representatives to the General Court, 1775-1913 — Votes for Governors — Post Offices and Post Masters — Population. CHAPTER XLI Personal Sketches 509 George G. Andrews — John Julian Baker — William Wallace Baker — Henry C. Brown — Willis P. Cummings — Charles E. Cummings — Dea. Moses Greeley — Reuben Greeley — Alden Hills— Hiram Marsh — Walter H. Marsh — James B. Merrill — John A. Robinson — Reu- ben Spalding — Kimball Webster — Nathan Pierce Webster — Wil- lard H. Webster. ILLUSTRATIONS GENERAL VIEWS OPP. PAGE Alvirne, Summer Residence of Dr. Alfred K. Hills . 528 Alvirne Memorial Chapel 457 Baptist Meeting House, 1841 441 Congregational Church, 1842 193 Davis, Asa, or Morrison House, 1780 305 Garrison House, about 1720 80 Hills Memorial Library, 1909 465 Hudson Center 489 Hudson Center School Building, 1908 316 Hudson Shore above Bridge 17 Hudson Town House, 1857 209 Library Park, 1910 385 Library Park from the South-west 393 Map of Hudson 8 Methodist Church, 1880 513 Odd Fellows' Building, 1895 480 Old Town Pound 369 Page, Abraham, or Timothy Smith House 297 Post Office Square 509 Robinson's Pond and Barrett's Hill 24 Scene looking up the Merrimack River from the Bridge 552 Tarnic or Otternick Pond 377 Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1827—1881 401 Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1881—1910 504 Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1910, two views 409, 545 Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1912 225 Webster School Building, 1896 328 15 OPP. PAGE 569 497 16 HISTORY OF HUDSON PORTRAITS Andrews, George G Baker, John J Baker, William W 57 ° Brown, Henry C 560 Cummings, Charles E 105 Cummings, Willis P 573 Greeley, Dea. Moses 169 Greeley, Mrs. Mary Derby 172 Greeley, Reuben 433 Hills, Alden 129 Hills, Alfred K„ M. D 13b Hills, Mrs. Ida Creutzborg 468 Hills, Mrs. Nancy Kimball 132 Marsh, Hiram *™ Marsh, Walter H 5 ™ Merrill, James B lSb Robinson, John A lbd Smith, David O., M. D 444 Smith, Henry O., M. D »20 Smith, Herbert L., M. D. b6 < Spalding, Reuben bM Webster, Kimball Frontispiece Webster, Nathan P. Webster, Willard H. 591 ERRATA On page 15, next to last line, for 225 read 425. On page 455, 14th line, after "He died," read Novem- ber 3, 1866. On page 507, 4th line from bottom, change "Senter" to "Center." On page 586, top line, for 1744 read 1744-5. On page 645, 25th line, Jesse S. Webster should read Jesse S. Weston. On page 646, after Weston, James, add Jesse S., 407, 410, 550, 557 (4), 561. Up BERT «^ ' J II P 1 **f f jnpV i i - < x HISTORY OF HUDSON CHAPTER I Natural Features The beautiful town of Hudson, N. H., is situated on the east bank of the Merrimack River, and borders upon the Massachusetts line. It is bounded on the north by Litchfield and Londonderry, east by Windham and Pelham, south by Tyngsborough, Mass., and west by Nashua and Litchfield. One of the most delightful sections of the Merrimack River, which is here from three hundred and fifty to five hundred feet in width, marks its western boun- dary from Litchfield to the Massachusetts state line, a dis- tance of about six and one-half miles. The extreme length of the town from north to south is a little more than eight miles; its average width is three and one-half miles. Exclusive of its area of water, Hudson contains seventeen thousand, nine hundred and fifty-one acres, as nearly as can be ascertained. The surface of the water of the Merrimack along this part of its course has been raised by the Proprietors of the Locks and Canals dam at Pawtucket Falls, Lowell, from four to seven or eight feet above its original height. This flowage of the river extends as far north as Cromwell's Falls, Merrimack, and displaces all the falls that formerly existed between those points. In the days when the Merrimack followed its natural descent there were at least three rapids or waterfalls worthy of mention and of utility to the early settlers. About four 17 18 HISTORY OF HUDSON miles above Pawtucket, where the river swept around a considerable island by the same name, was Wicasuck Falls, noted as good fishing-grounds among the Indians and the early white settlers. The island was a scene of interest and importance during the perilous years of King Philip's War, when Capt. Jonathan Tyng overlooked a party of " praying Indians" that lived on the island for about ten years, thus keeping them from mingling in the bitter strife being waged between the colonists and the red men. In consideration of this valuable service the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay colony granted the plot of land to him December 5, 1683, and it became known as Tyng's Island. About eight miles above Wicasuck Falls, and one mile below the junction of Nashua River with the Merrimack, was a series of rapids known as Taylor's Falls, so called for an early settler. Of less consequence than Wicasuck Falls, they were about half a mile below Taylor's Falls bridge, which spans the river between Hudson and Nashua, and which received its name from that waterfall. Other minor rapids or falls marked the course of the river, but there were none that attracted the attention of the pioneers until Cromwell's Falls, already mentioned, were reached. To- day the unruffled surface of the river gives no indication of the existence of any falls between Pawtucket and Crom- well's Falls. The surface of the westerly part of Hudson is com- paratively level, and bordering upon the Merrimack are some fertile intervale lands, very productive and easy of cultivation. This is especially true of the northerly por- tion, where the Indians cultivated, in their primitive way, fields of maize, melons and vegetables long before the Eng- lish came hither to drive them away. There are smaller sections of land along the river that are sandy, and less productive, while tracts of light land are found in the interior. The easterly part of the town is hilly, and the greater portion is rocky and hard to cultivate. Still the soil is NATURAL FEATURES 19 good, if meagre, and in many of the valleys, and on the hillsides are numerous excellent farms, which are well adapted to raising grass, apples, other fruits, and for graz- ing purposes. The sandy soils and rocky hills, many of which are entirely unfit for cultivation, are prolific in the growth of wood and valuable timber, which, being conven- ient to a good market, have long been, and will probably continue to be for many years in the future, sources of profit and income to the farmers of Hudson. By far the most profitable of all the species of timber grown in town is the white pine. This thrives best on sandy soil, but excellent pine forests are to be found grow- ing upon the rocky hillsides. The early settlers found ex- tensive tracts of white and yellow pine, which had no doubt occupied those places more than a thousand years. But these have all vanished, so that to-day only an oc- casional giant stump remains to remind us of their de- parted greatness. The stony hillsides and broken valleys are better adapted to species of hard woods, and here abound several varieties of the oak, white and silver leaf maple, white and gray birch, poplar, elm, ash and chestnut. Spruce and hackmatack grow in the swamps. When the first settlers arrived they found an almost unbroken wilderness of pine and hard woods. Consequent- ly portions of this had to be cleared before they could pro- duce any crops from the land. Fortunately there were natural meadows and strips of land along the river bank that afforded a rank grass upon which they fed their cattle during the long winters. These meadows were originated by the work of the busy beaver, in a large measure, through building their dams across the smaller streams, so as to flow the adjacent land for a considerable distance. Event- ually these small ponds became filled with debris, over which grew the coarse grass, that proved of such benefit to the pioneers. Yet, from the best evidence we have been able to obtain, we have no doubt that those natural grasses grown upon those boggy meadows, in primeval days, were 20 HISTORY OF HUDSON far superior in quality as well as quantity to the grasses produced upon the same unimproved meadows in later years, after having been cropped for generations with noth- ing returned to aid in sustaining or renewing the fertility of those cold, acid soils. In the territory comprising Old Dunstable and Londonderry these wildwood meadows were numerous. As it is to-day, from forty to fifty per cent of the area of the town is covered with forest growth, more or less valuable, much of it young, and very little that has been growing more than fifty years. The story of the clearing and removing of the primeval forests in a large degree has an almost pathetic interest, and seems like a shameful waste of good material. But beyond building his humble cabin and cattle-shed, all of which really required but little timber, the pioneer had no use for the dense primitive growth covering the land. What he needed most were plots of land to cultivate his scanty crops, grazing spots for his stock, and an opening in the great damp forest to let the sunlight in upon his home. Thus he went about his task with little care for the value or utility of the timber he sought to destroy. Giant trees that to-day would be sources of much value were felled, cut into convenient lengths, pulled together and burned as so much refuse. Other tracts were submit- ted to a slower, if not more cruel fate, by being girdled and left to death and decay. Where the land did not promise good returns, or the location for other reasons was not de- sirable, portions of the beautiful, majestic forests were suf- fered to remain, so the last of these did not disappear until about the beginning of the 19th century. The hewers of those homes out of the primitive wil- derness were a sturdy, fearless yeomanry, and with those who followed a little later, have left enduring monuments in many forms, that meet our gaze at almost every turn. Their rugged dwellings are all gone, and while some of them have been replaced by more modern houses, we see NATURAL FEATURES 21 here and there, in all parts of the town, some of them un- reached by a public road, others overgrown by an encroach- ing forest, depressions in the ground that denote the an- cient cellars marking the sites of the happy and thrifty homes of these early pioneers. Large families of frequent- ly twelve or fourteen children were born and raised, many of them going out into the world to become influential cit- izens far from the scenes of their childhood. When we visit the ancient burial grounds — of which we have five in town — we behold the humble mounds where repose the earthly remains of those same pioneers and their families. Standing at the heads of a comparatively few of these now leveled mounds are old, antique gravestones, with their quaint, almost hideous, carvings, upon which we may, by reading the moss-covered inscriptions, learn whose ashes lie beneath. Another landmark is to be seen in the hundreds of miles of those massive, enduring stone walls which we find inclosing fields and pastures, running up and down hill, through forests that have sprung into existence where once were cultivated lands, or winding through the valleys wherever rocks were abundant. These fences became re- ceivers of waste material as well as means of keeping with- in bounds the cattle and horses of the farmers. Some of these walls have partially fallen down, some have been re- moved by the modern farmer, but many still remain in- tact, four feet or more in height, bulwarks that have with- stood stubbornly and successfully the wars of the elements, in several instances for more than one hundred and fifty years. The moose, deer, wolf, beaver, mink, muskrat, marten, squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, partridge, quail, wood-cock, bear, wild duck, pigeon, and other wild creatures were found more or less plentifully in the forests, while salmon, shad, alewives, lamprey eels and other migratory fishes as- cended the Merrimack in almost countless numbers. 22 HISTORY OF HUDSON The wildwood game afforded considerable sustenance for the early inhabitants, and very soon after the appear- ance of the first settlers, we find them making provisions for the protection of the same, especially for the deer. At a town meeting held December 25, 1739, Edward Spaulding and Jonathan Perham were chosen " to care for the preser- vation of the deer." At the annual meeting the following year, March 4, 1740 r Joseph Hamblet, Jr., and William Cummings were chosen "preservers of Deer." March 9, 1747, Edward Spaulding and Benjamin Frost were chosen " to take care that the Deer are not destroyed out of season, as the law directs." "Deer Keepers," as they were called, were elected at the annual town meetings, with more or less regularity, until 1784, after which time we find no record of their election. March 2, 1752, at the annual meeting, "Voted to give £6 old tenor for every wolf that shall be caught and killed in this town the ensuing year." December 25, 1752, "Allowed Dea. William Cummings for killing wolves in 1751. 12 — — 0." At the annual town meeting March 9, 1772, "Chose Deacon Ebenezer Cummings to take care that the fish are not obstructed in their passage up Wattannock Brook, so called, this present year." March 4, 1774, " Chose Dea. Ebenezer Cummings & Jonathan Emerson to take care that the fish are not ob- structed in their passage up Wattannock Brook, so called, into the Pond." March 16,1778, "Chose Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Page Smth, Wm. Gibson and David Tarbell to take care that the fish are not obstructed in going up Wattannock Brook." At a meeting November 2, 1778, the following account among others was allowed : "To Abraham Page for get- ting a Bill drawn at Court in relation to fish in Watana- nick Brook 1—10—0." NATURAL FEATURES 23 The fish that passed from the Merrimack up Watan- anick Brook, as it was then called, to the pond by the same name, now known as Otternick, were alewives, which, in the spring of the year, migrated in great numbers. The writer has heard it said by old people, long since deceased, that the alewives passed up the brook in such quantities that the water was almost black with them, and that they could have been very easily taken from the brook in al- most any quantities desired. Barrels of them were salted and used for food by nearly every family in town. The distance of the meanderings of this brook, from the River Merrimack to Otternick Pond is a little over one and one-fourth miles. The obstructions to the passage of the fish up the stream feared by the people were probably dams being built across the brook for the purpose of holding back the water to furnish power for mills. The last moose known to have been in this town was killed by Asa Davis, Esq., at Moose Swamp, situated at the easterly end of Hill's meadow, sometime about the begin- ning of the 19th century, though the exact date is not known. One of the horns of this animal has been care- fully preserved by the descendants of Mr. Davis, and may still be seen at the old Davis homestead, now owned and occupied by his great grandson, Augustus R. Morrison. Barrett's Hill, situated in the easterly part of the town, south of Little Massabesic or Robinson's Pond, is the most conspicuous elevation. Its height is substantially five hun- dred feet above sea level, and a little more than four hun- dred feet above the Merrimack River at Taylor's Falls bridge. The elevation of the east summit of Bush Hill, not very far west of the line between Pelham and Hudson, is also very near five hundred feet. Three ponds are within the limits of the town. Little Massabesic, or Robinson's Pond, lies in the north-east part, and, until the annexation of a portion of Londonderry in 1778, was wholly within that township. This sheet of 24 HTSTORY OF HUDSON water has an area of about one hundred and twenty acresy and its outlet flows into Beaver Brook one and one-fourth miles to the east. Otternick, more commonly called "Tar- nick," lies about one mile east of the Merrimack, contains thirty-eight acres, and empties into the river by Otternick Brook about eighty rods below Taylor's Falls bridge, and one-half mile below the junction of Nashua River with the main stream. Several mills have been erected on this brook at vari- ous times, and in several places along its course from the pond to the Merrimack. The first saw mill in town is said to have been located at or near the outlet of Otternick Pond at an early date in its settlement, but who built this mill or at what date can- not be easily determined. No machinery of any kind is at present operated by the waters of this brook. The present name of Otternick, which applies to the pond and brook, was derived from the Indian name various- ly spelled in the early records as Watananoc, Wattannick, Watananock, Watananuck, Watannack, Watananick, etc. Another small pond containing but a few acres, situ- ated in the south section of the town, is now called Mus- quash Pond. A considerable stream flows from this pond and empties into the Merrimack a short distance below the state line, in Tyngsboro, Mass. This stream has furnished power for a grist and saw mill from the days of the early settlement to recent times. These have all gone to decay, and the brook now flows unobstructed from source to out- let. The early records give the name of this stream as Nacook, which is undoubtedly of Indian origin and was probably applied to the pond also. The water power in this town is very limited, and no extensive manufacturing interests have ever been located within its bounds. Thus the inhabitants of Hudson have always been, and still are engaged in the pursuit of agricul- ture. While perhaps it could not be classed among the NATURAL FEATURES 25 best in the county of Hillsborough, it certainly is as good or better than the average. The city of Nashua furnishes a very convenient mar- ket for much of the products of the town, including milk and cream, which are produced in large quantities, while Lowell, Mass., with a population of nearly one hundred thousand, is only five miles distant from its southern boun- dary. CHAPTER II Aboriginal History Not long previous to the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and the little band of fishermen at the mouth of the Paseataqua River, the most powerful Indian confederacy in New England north of the Pequots in the southern part, were the tribes or families occupying the val- ley of the Merrimack and the adjacent territory. Like the Iroquois of the West, these red men were devoted quite largely to agriculture. They cultivated, in their primitive manner, the fertile intervales along their favorite river, caught the fish that abounded in its waters, hunted the game of this rich region, and were examples of content- ment. The principal tribes of this association of warriors banded together in order to protect themselves from the in- cursions of the warlike Tarratines on the east and the fierce Mohawks on the west, each of which seemed to have cov- eted their abundant domain and contended with them for its possession from time immemorial, were the Agawams, the Wamesits, or Pawtuckets, Nashuays, Souhegans, Nat- ticooks, Pennacooksand Winnepesaukees. These different bodies occupied all of the country from around the mouth of the Merrimack back to its source in the mountains. The tribes living in this vicinity were the Nashuays, located along the river that bears their name, the Souhegans to their north, and the Natticooks living on the intervales of Litchfield and Merrimack. The dominant tribe was the Pennacook, which had furnished the ruling sachem for sev- eral generations. There were other tribes pledging alle- giance to the Pennacook, if not for actual friendship, in or- der to obtain the protection of this stronger party, which 26 ABORIGINAL HISTORY 27 for many generations seems to have been controlled by wise and fearless chieftains. These Indians inhabiting the interior were known to those living along the sea coast as Nipmucks, or fresh wa- ter Indians. The English, however, applied the general term of Pennacooks to them, and made their treaties with Passaconnaway, who was the head of this confederacy. While this confederation, under the sagacious council of the astute Pa?saconnaway, was disposed to treat more fairly with the English than some of the other bodies of Amerinds located in New England, the Pennacooks were very much broken in spirit and reduced in numbers at the time of the appearance of the whites upon the scene. A few years before a terrible disease, the nature of which has never been clearly indicated, broke out among the tribes of Northern New England and greatly decimated their num- bers. Speaking of this depopulation, Capt. John Smith, who visited the coast in 1614 and later, wrote : "They had three plagues in three years successively near two hundred miles along the sea coast, that in some places there scarce re- mained five of a hundred. ***** It is most certain there was an exceeding great plague among them ; for where I have seen two or three hundred, within three years after remained scarce thirty." So, subdued in spirit as well as lessened in numbers, the English had far less to contend with than they might otherwise have been com- pelled to meet. Owing to this calamity and the encroachments of the English, as early as 1685, the Pennacook was the only sur- viving tribe of this powerful confederation. The entire story is one of pathetic and mournful interest. The char- acters of Passaconnaway and his successors, Wonnalancet and Kancamagus, and the abuse they suffered at the hands of their conquerers, is told at considerable length in Potter's History of Manchester, of which the following is an extract : 28 HISTORY OF HUDSON "The sagamores of the most note among the Penna- cooks were Passaconnaway, Wonnalancet, his son, and Kan- camagus, usually called John Hogkins, his grandson. These chiefs were successively at the head of the Pennacooks, and each in his way, was a man of mark in his time. " Passaconnaway's name indicated his warlike charac- ter, and meant 'The child of the bear.' This name he doubtless received at mature age, according to the custom of the Indians, from his supposed resemblance in courage and bravery to that ferocious animal. We first hear of him in 1627 or 1628, and it is possible that he was met by Christopher Levett in the neighborhood of the Pascataqua in 1623." Referring to the accounts of him by the early writers, Mr. Potter continues : " From which marvelous story we are to infer that Passaconnaway was a clever juggler as well as brave warrior. In fact he held his people in awe of him, the Indians supposing him to have supernatural powers ; to have control over their destinies ; that he could make a dry leaf turn green ; water burn and then turn to ice ; and could take the rattlesnake in his hand with impunity. With such reputed powers, his acknowledged ability as a warrior and wisdom as a sagamore, Passaconnaway became the ac- knowledged head of the most powerful confederacy east of the Mohawks, and as such received the title of Bashaba, a title of much the same import as that of Emperor. * * * * "In the planting season Passaconnaway had a residence at Pennacook Island in the Merrimack, and another upon the island in the Merrimack a mile north of the mouth of the Souhegan ; while his principal residence was at Namas- keag. ***** Here, without a doubt, he sat in royal state, held his council fires, determined upon his warpaths, gave his royal feasts, and performed those feats that held his wondering followers as with the spell of enchantment. "Passaconnaway early saw the superiority of the Eng- lish, and with his usual sagacity he realized the entire hope- lessness of the attempts of his people to subdue them. His ABORIGINAL HISTORY 29 policy was to make terms of peace with them, and it was in pursuance of this policy that he disposed of his lands to Wheelwright, reserving alone his right of fishing and hunting. # # * « # "In 1642, upon suspicion that a conspiracy was form- ing among the Indians to crush the English, men were sent out to arrest some of the Indian chiefs. Forty were sent to secure Passaconnaway, but aided by a storm he escaped. Wonnalancet, his son, was not as fortunate. He was taken by a party, while his squaw escaped into the woods." Not only was Wonnalancet seized and borne away as a captive, but he suffered indignities at the hands of his captors that must have aroused the proud spirit of this prince. At any rate the whites sought immediately to make some amends, and invited Passaconnaway to come and talk with them. Had the aged sagamon been in his younger years his re- ply might have been more warlike. As it was he showed something of the fire of other days, when he sent this short but decisive answer : "Tell the English when they restore my son and his squaw, then will I talk with them, and not before." Wonnalancet was set free soon after, but the wound rankled in the old sagamon's breast, for in 1647, when Fa- ther Eliot sought to address him among a vast number of the Indians who had collected at Pawtucket, he withdrew with two of his sons, saying " He was afraid the whites would kill them!" But the following year he seems to have relented, for we find him with a great concourse of his peo- ple listening to the words of the good man, and he became a convert to the Christian religion. During the next twelve years little is heard of Passaconnaway. He doubtless went back and forth between his favorite fishing places, Paw- tucket and Amoskeag, until in 1660 he made his last ap- pearance upon the stage of action. The word had gone forth that he was to deliver upon this occasion his farewell address, and confer his mantle upon his son Wonnalancet. 30 HISTORY OF HUDSON This was not an unusual proceeding, but owing to the pres- tige of the aged chieftain it was looked upon with uncom- mon importance. And, as he stood there before his fol- lowers on that fair spring day, he presented the most pic- turesque figure that ever addressed an audience in New England. At first his voice was low and trembled with the emotion that filled his being, but slowly it grew plainer and louder, while he briefly related some of the leading events in his long life, and pictured the former glory of his people, until at last he came to utter these stirring and im- mortal words : " Hearken ! to the words of your father. I am an old oak, that has withstood the storms of more than a hundred winters. Leaves and branches have been stripped from me by the winds and frosts ; my eyes are dim ; my limbs totter ; I must soon fall ! When young and sturdy I de- lighted in war. The whoop of the Pennacooks was heard upon the Mohawk, and none louder than Passaconnaway's. The scalps upon the pole at my wigwam told the story of Mohawk suffering. "Hearken! the English came. They found us few and weak. In vain, did I try my arm against them ; in vain, my sorcery. I, who can make the dry leaf live again; who dares the rattlesnake and defies the thunder ; who has com- muned with the Great Spirit, can read the sign in the fall- ing leaf. " Hearken, my children, to what I say. I listen; the Great Spirit bids me say this to you : ' Peace, peace is the only hope for your race. I have given fire and thunder to the pale-faces ; I have made them plenty, as the leaves of the forest ; and still they come. Your meadows they turn with the plow; they build their villages upon your fishing places ! ' "The Great Spirit says these words, and they must be true. We are few and helpless before them ! We must bend before the storm ! The wind blows hard ! The old oak trembles! Its branches are gone ! Its sap is frozen ! It ABORIGINAL HISTORY 31 bends ; it falls ! Peace, peace with the white men, is the command of the Great Spirit, and the wish — the last wish — of Passaconnaway." Two years later following this memorable farewell ad- dress, on the 9th of May, 1662, the venerable chieftain pre- sented the following petition to Governor John Endicott and the General Court of Massachusetts : To the honored John Endicol Esqr. together with the rest of the hon- ored General Court now Assembled in Boston the petition oj Papisseconnewa in behalf of himself as also many other Indians who now for a longe time flV selves d'r progenitors seated upon a trad of land called Naticot. Wheras this land is now in the possession of Mr. William Brenton of Rode Island marchant ; and is confirmed to the said Mr. Brenton to him his heirs and assigns according to the Laws of this Jurisdiction, by reason of which tracte of land being taken up as aforesaid, and thereby your Pore petitionr with many oth (ers) in an onsetled condition and must be forced in a short time to remove to some other place. The Humble request of yr petitionr is that this honored Court wolde pleas to grante vnto vs a parcell of land for or comfortable cituation ; to be stated for or Injoyment; as also for the comfort of oths after vs ; as also that this honored Court wold pleas to take in to yr serious consid- eration the condition and also the requeste of yr pore Suplicant and to apoynte two or three persons as a Committee to arrange with some one or two Indians to vew and determine of some place and to lay out the same, not further to trouble this Honored Assembly, humbly craving an expected answer this present session I shall remain yr humble Servante Wherein yu Shall Commande, PAPISSECONEWA. Boston: 8: 3 mo 1662. Passaconnaway's petition was not made in vain. The court seems to have taken into consideration the valuable services the aged chieftain had done for the colonists, and performed only an act of justice when it returned the fol- lowing reply : In answer to the petition of Papisseconneway, this Court judgeth it meete to grant to the saide Papisseconneway and his men or associates about Naticot, above Mr. Brenton's lands, where it is free, a mile and a half on either side of Merrimack river in breadth, three miles on either side in length, provided he nor ihey do not alienate any part of this grant without leave and license from this Court, first obtained. 32 HISTORY OF HUDSON The court appointed John Parker and Jonathan Dan- forth, surveyors, to lay out the tract of land to Passaconna- way and his associates, a territory that only a few years since had been theirs by a title as good possibly as that of the English. In a few days less than a year these survey- ors made the following report : According to order of Honord General Court, there is laid out unto the Indians Papisseconneway and his associates the inhabitants of Nati- cott, three miles square, or so much (eather) as containes it in the figure of a romboides upon Merrimack River; beginning at the head of Mr. Brenton's Lands at Naticott, on the east side of the River, and then it joineth to his line, which line runs halfe a point North West of the east, it lyeth one mile and halfe wide on side of ye river and somewhat better, and runnes three miles up the River, the Northern line on the east side of the river is bounded by a brook (called by the Indians) Suskayquetuck, right against the falls in the river called Pokechuous, the end line on both sides of the River are parallells ; the side line on the east side of the River runes halfe a point eastward of the No : No : east and the side line on the west side of the river runes Northeast and by North all of which is sufficiently bounded and marked with I, also ther is two small islands in the River, part of which the lower end line crosses. One of them Papis- seconneway had lived upon and planted a long time, a small patch of in- tervale Land on the West side of the River anent and a little below ye islands by estimation about forty acres, which joyenth their land to Sou- hegan River, which the Indians have planted (much of it) a long time, and considering there is very little good land in that which is now laid out un- to them, the Indians do earnestly request this Honord Court to grant these two small Islands and ye patch of intervale as it is bounded by the Hills. This land was laid out 27, 3d mo 1663. By JOHN PARKER and JONATHAN DANFORTH Surveyrs this worke was done by us at our charge wholly, at the request of the Indians, who was important and as we were informed by the order of this Honord Court respecting ourselves. Hence we humbly request this Honord Generall Court (if our services are acceptable) that they would take order we may be considered Sd the same, so we shall remain yr Humble Servants as before The deputies approve of said return and do order the Indians pay the Surveyors what is justly due for the Laying out the same the Honora- ble Magistrates consenting thereto. WILLIAM TORREY, Clerk. ABORIGINAL HISTORY 33 This grant, it will be seen by examination of the boun- dary, included parts of Manchester, Londonderry and Litch- field on the east side of the river ; and Bedford and Merri- mack on the west. At the northern boundary of the tract, at the mouth of Suskayquetuck Brook, as called by the In- dians, now known as Cohas, is situated a considerable fall in the river, the Indian name of which was Pokechuous, re- named by the English settlers as Goffe's Falls. While per- haps not equal to Amoskeag and Pawtucket Falls, this was a favorite fishing place with the Indians, and they were especially anxious the grant should cover these falls. They were also anxious the grant should include the islands and intervales "which he (Passaconnaway) had lived upon and planted a long time." No doubt they were keen enough to know the truth as expressed by the surveyors in their return, " and considering there is very little good land in that which is now laid out to them." Is it a wonder if an undercurrent of bitterness should pervade the reply of the great sachem, who had been a true and trusted friend of the English, in peace and in war, and who in his old age had provided for a continuance of this good faith through the efforts of his son ? Further down the river the grant had been made to William Brenton, of Rhode Island, for a trifling service done the government, of a tract of nearly six square miles of territory comprising the rich intervale lands on both sides of the Merrimack, while this grant to Passaconnaway and his associates of mostly worthless land was made with the reservation, "provided he nor they do not alienate any part of this grant without leave and license from this Court, first obtained." So it was not granted to them as their land in fee, but set off for their use for the time be- ing. And to add still further to the injustice and inconsist- ency of the transaction the court made the following order: "The deputies do approve of said return and do order the Indians pay the Surveyors what is justly due for the Laying out of the same the Honorable Magistrates con- senting thereto.'''' 34 HISTORY OF HUDSON The italics are ours, to bring out more forcibly, if pos- ble, the underlying spirit of this whole action. Well might "the Honorable Magistrates consent thereto." With the closing of this affair the history of Passacon- naway ends and his name does not reappear. It is cer- tain that five or six years later he was dead, but where he spent his last years of loneliness and where he was finally laid to rest, none of his race ever disclosed. It seems wrong that the name of this great and illustrious man, in his time, should not have been better perpetuated than it has been. Mr. Potter, in his history of Manchester, says : In less than twenty years from the time Passaconnaway submitted himself to the colonists, and put himself under their protection, he and his tribe were reduced to beggary. The Bashaba of the Merrimack valley, and the rightful owner of all its broad lands, had become " a pore peti tioner" for a plantation of pine plains, and "did earnestly request the Honered Court to grant two small islands and ye patch of intervale " to him, receiving them doubtless with all due submission, if not humility! Old age, as well as contact with civilization, must have done its work upon the spirit of this haughty sagamon for him thus to have meekly asked his usurpers to grant him what was properly his own. * * * In reflecting up- on the character of the Merrimack sagamon, the conviction forces itself upon one, that at the head of a powerful confederacy of Indians, honored and feared by his subjects, and capable of moulding their fierce passions to his will, the history of New England would have been told as another story than the triumph of our Pilgrim Fathers, had Passaconnaway taken a different view of his own destiny and that of his tribe. ***** Prov- idence seems to have tempered the fierce savages for the reception and triumph of the Anglo-Saxon race in the New World. CHAPTER III When Hudson Was a Wilderness Passaconnaway left at least four sons and two daugh- ters. The oldest son, Nanamocomuck, was sagamon of the Wachuset tribe of Indians living about the mountains by that name. This chief did not seem to have the forgiv- ing qualities of his father to that extent which enabled him to forget the wrongs thrust upon him. At one time he was seized and put in prison at Boston for a debt due one John Tinker from another Indian, and for which he had become responsible. Unable to pay the claim the chief was in a sorry predicament, when his younger brother, Wonnalancet, came to his assistance by offering to sell the home island in the Merrimack a few miles above Lowell. This was no mean sacrifice, as it was here the chieftain held his royal court, and resided with a dignity becoming his station. The court granted this permission, as if it were bestowing a great favor upon the unfortunate owner, and one Ensign John Evered, sometimes known as Webb, purchased the tract of over sixty acres, so the imprisoned chieftain was set free. But Nanamocomuck had incurred a fear if not a dis- like for the English, and he sought an alliance with the Ameriscoggin Indians in Maine, who had acknowledged fealty to the Pennacook confederacy in the days of its wide-spread power. Here he seems to have died about the time of his father, so that the government of the Penna- cooks fell upon the shoulders of his brother, Wonnalancet. Passaconnaway had a daughter older than Wonnalan- cet, who became the wife of Nobhow, the sagamon of Paw- tucket, who was quite prominent in the affairs of the whites and Indians. Another daughter married Montawxampate, the sagamon of Saugus. This was prior to 1628, and it 35 36 HISTORY OF HUDSON was around the difference that arose between this chief and his illustrious father-in-law, our poet Whittier wove his ro- mance of the unfortunate Weetamoo. The names of the other sons were Unanunquosett and Nonatomenut, both of whom dwelt about Pawtucket, and proved friendly to the English. Wonnalancet, the successor of Passaconnaway, was born about 1619, and it seemed fortunate that he should have succeeded to the important position that he did, else the English might have had far more trouble in overcoming their enemies. Notwithstanding the indignities that one of his proud spirit and position must have suffered at the hands of the whites, and the sacrifices that he was called upon, time and again, to make, he always maintained a friendly attitude towards them. "His name," says Mr. Pottor, " is indicative of his character, meaning literally breathing pleasantly, derived from Wonne or Wunne, 'pleasant,' and Nangshonat, 'to breathe.' This name, after the Indian custom, he received when he arrived at the age of manhood, and he had shown to his tribe such quali- ties as deserved it ; and he ever proved himself worthy of this flattering cognomen." He doubtless succeeded his father in 1668, as he left his fort at Pennacook about that time and appeared at Pawtucket in the spring of 1669, where he built a fort to protect his people from their dreaded enemies, the Mo- hawks. It seems likely that some of his people continued to live at Pennacook, but he evidently preferred the coun- try about Pawtucket. So he and his followers continued to plant and fish along the Merrimack between those places. Following the permission to sell Wickasauke Island and the grant of a hundred acres to the west of Chelms- ford, "because he had a great many children and no plant- ing ground," he desired to recover their favorite resort. Hence the following petition was sent to the court : WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS dt To the most worshipful Richard Bellingham, Esq., Govr and to the rest of the Honord General Court. The petition of us poore neibor Indians whose Names are hereunto -subscribed, humbly sheweth that wheras Indians severall years since we yr petit's out of pity and compassion to out pore brother and Countryman to redeem him out of prison and bondage and whose name is Nanamoco- muck, the eldest son of Passaconnaway, who was Cast into prison for a debt of another Indian unto John Tinker for which he gave his word: the redemption of whome did cost us our desirable posetions where we and ours had and did hope to enjoy our livelihood for ourselves and our pos- terity : namely an Island on Merrimack River called by the name of wicosurke which was purchased by Mr. John Web: who hath Curtiously Given Vs leave to plant vpon ever since he hath possessed the same, we doe not know whither to Goe, nor where to place ourselves for our Lively hood in procuring vs bread: having beine very Solicitous wh Mr. Web to lett vs enjoy our said posetions againe he did condescend to our motion provided we would repay him his charges but we are pore and Canot so doe — or request is mr Web may have a grant of about 5 C acres of land in two places adjoying his owne Lands in the wilderness, which is our owne proper Lands as the aforesaid Island ever was 10: 8: 65 NOBHOW in behalf of my wife and children. VNANUNQUOSETT WANALANCETT NONATOMENUT. If the Court please to grant this petition then yr petitionr Wanalan- cet is willing to surrender up ye hundred acres of land yt was granted him by the Court. The court looked with favor upon this humble peti- tion, as well it might, considering the generous offer, and the following reply was sent within a week : In Ans. to this petition the Court grant Mr. John Evered (Webb) five hundred acres of land adjoining to his lands upon condition hee re- lease his right in an Island in the merrimacke river called wicosacke which was purchased by him of the Indian petitioners — also upon condition wonalancet do release a former grant to him of an hundred acres and the court do grant said Island to petitioner — John Parker and Jonathan Dan- forth are appointed to lay out this grant of five hundred acres to John Evered. EDWD RAWSON, Secy. Consented to by the Deputies. 14 Oct. 1665. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 30, p. 130.) 38 HISTORY OF HCDSON Wonnalancet resumed the occupation of his beautifuJ island home at Wickasauke, which he continued to make his abode until 1675. During this period, besides such cul- tivation as he could do at his island, he planted the clear- ings at Souhegan and Pennacook, and fished at Namos- keag. He seems to have stopped at these last named plac- es only long enough to secure his harvests of crops and fish, though he did maintain a fort at Pennacook in order to defend himself and followers from any depredations of enemies. It seems rather singular that, while his father had em- braced the Christian faith, more than a quarter of a cen- tury before, and he had lived a peaceful life, listening fre- quently to the word of God as preached by good Father Eliot, Wonnalancet should have refused to accept its teach- ings until in May, 1674. Mr. Gookin says that he and Mr. Eliot visited Pawtucket on the 5th of May, when large numbers of Indians were gathered at the place looking af- ter their fisheries. That evening Mr. Eliot preached to them in the wigwam of Wonnalancet. During the service the sagamon appeared grave and sober. The next day Mr. Eliot approached him and inquired if he did not feel like praying to God. Then Wonnalancet stood up with the grave decorum for which the red man was noted, and look- ing upon the preacher with great deliberation, finally re- plied in a slow, thoughtful manner : "Sirs, you have been pleased for years past in your abundant love to apply yourselves particularly unto me and my people ; to exhort, press and persuade us to pray to God. I am thankful to you for your goodness. I must not deny I have all of my days been used to pass in an old ca- noe ; and now you exhort me to change and leave my old canoe and embark in a new one. I have heretofore been unwilling ; now I yield myself to your advice, and enter in- to a new canoe. Hereafter I engage to pray to God." We have every reason to believe that Wonnalancet kept the faith, though he was many times sorely tried. Gookin in 1677, in speaking of his conversion, says : WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 59 "I have charity and faith to believe him to be an hon- est Christian man, being one that in his conversation walks unswervably to his knowledge. He prays in his family, and is careful of keeping the Sabbath ; loves to hear God's words ; sober in conversation." King Philip's War broke out in 1675, and Wonnalancet found himself confronted by a serious problem. The wily Philip had sent his most trusty followers, or gone himself, to every tribe in Northern New England, hoping to form a confederacy that could crush the English. Wonnalancet firmly refused to ally himself and people in this far-reaching combination. Still past experience told him that, even if he remained neutral, he would be constantly open to sus- picion, and the work of hostile Indians would be attributed to his people. In this dilemma he quietly withdrew to Pennacook, and from thence, with some of his closest fol- lowers, retired to the St. Francis lodge in New France, now Canada. This movement alarmed the English, and emissaries were sent to entreat him to come back. This he declined to do, though he kept well posted in regard to what was being done by the enemies of the English, and frequently warned them of impending attacks by hostile forces. In the midst of this trying situation, many of the Indians of Northern New England who had joined King Philip de- serted him and returned to their former companions, Pen- nacooks, Sokoki and Ossipees. One reason for doing this was that they expected to escape punishment for their re- cent disloyalty by being under the protection of Wonna- lancet, who had remained faithful to the whites. These Indians promised future good behavior, and as many as four hundred, under the influence of Wonnalancet, were admitted into Dover at one time under the pretence of forming a treaty with them. But the order came from Mas- sachusetts to seize all of these Indians, and in spite of the advice of Major Waldron, these red men were betrayed, and those who were not killed were taken captives, and 40 HISTORY OF HUDSON eight of them were hung in Boston, while the rest were sold into slavery. Wonnalancet, who had been summoned hither, and his followers were suffered to go free, and they returned to their home at Wickasauke. Perhaps feeling that there was reason for an outbreak among these Indians, the General Court, ever alive to suspicion if not justice, ordered Won- nalancet and his companions to be placed under the guard- ianship of Jonathan Tyng of Dunstable. This veteran frontiersman, with more faith in his princely prisoner than the men who had invested him with the power to watch him, allowed the chieftain comparative liberty. Still the proud spirit of Wonnalancet rebelled against this indigni- ty, and he felt that he could no s longer trust the English. While he had been away the English had taken posses- sion of his planting ground, so he had nowhere to raise the crops so essential to his living. Mr. Eliot in speaking of the situation, says : He (Wonnalancet) was persuaded to come in again ; but the English having plowed and sown all of their lands, they had but little corn to sub- sist by. A party of French Indians, of whom some were of the kindred of this sachem's wife, very lately fell upon this people, being but few and unarmed, and partly by force and partly by persuasion carried them away. Wonnalancet showed his friendship for the English by calling upon his old friend and teacher, the Rev. Mr. Fiske, to inquire in regard to what had taken place since he had been away. Mr. Fiske replied that they had been highly favored: for which he desired "to thank God." " Me next," declared the shrewd sagamon, who felt, and not without reason, that a share of the credit belonged to him. In spite of the suspicious attitude of the whites against him, at least twice during the period of the war warning them of impending harm from unfriendly men of his race, Wonnaloncet remained at Wicasauke, or in the vicinity, un- til the following autumn, as if he was loath to leave the scenes of the brightest years of his troubled life. The WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 41 Merrimack and its tributaries, abounding with fish, and the rich intervales along its banks easy of cultivation, had been a favorite country of his people for many generations. Such spots, combining a rich light soil, with productive fisheries, were always chosen ; and the choice was a wise and beautiful one. The Indian was a child of Nature, and he gazed upon her charms with filial admiration, knowing the plains as their harvest land, the mountains as the abode of the Great Spirit. Towards the last of September, 1677, he retired again to St. Francis, and again his enemies reproached him with the old story of unfaithfulness towards those for whom he had professed a life-long friendship. In spite of these charges he went quietly about his own affairs, to live them down as he had before. Major Gookin, his fast friend, gives five reasons why the sagamon should have adopted this course, any one of which was sufficient. He concludes by saying: " The wonder of it is that Wonnalancet had not retired long before, and made common cause with the enemies of the English, as they and portions of his own tribe had re- peatedly urged him to do." He did not re-appear at his old haunts until the close of King Philip's War, and a treaty of peace with the East- ern Indians, and not to be active then. About this time the son of his older brother, Kancamagus, came into the leadership of the Pennacooks and allied tribes. As this relative was of a more warlike nature, and was inclined to harass the English, it was natural the older sagamon should have little if any interest with him. In fact, his retirement to St. Francis was considered by the followers of the grand- son of Passaconnaway as an abdication of his rule. Wonnalancet was beginning to feel the weight of his years — he was verging upon seventy — and finding that he would receive little further benefit from them, he resolved to sell his interest in the lands about Wamesit, Pawtucket, Nashuay and Naticook. This was the last important rec- 42 HISTORY OF HUDSON ord that we have of him, and a sale was effected early in 1686, and Jonathan Tyng became the owner of the last of the Pennacook possessions in the valley of the Merrimack. The entire purchase money paid amounted to only twenty- four pounds ! As a result of this transaction, the pur- chasers petitioned the court under date of July 12, 1686, praying that the land bought of Wonnalancet be set apart as a new county to be called Merrimack. Upon making this sale Wonnalancet again retired to St. Francis, where he seems to have remained for ten years, as there is nothing in the records here to show that he was in the Merrimack valley. But in his extreme old age the desire to return to the scenes of his early life seemed to direct his footsteps back to Wamesit, a poor, forlorn old man. With the handful of his followers that kept with him, he was placed under the protection of Jona- than Tyng, who lived in that part of Old Dunstable now comprised in the town of Tyngsboro. He lived with Mr. Tyng a little over a year, the province paying the latter twenty pounds for that service. And this act of charity, about the only kindly deed done him, closes the life record of that grand and good man. In reviewing the lives of Passaconnaway and Wonna- lancet one cannot help feeling they suffered many abuses that should have been spared them. Had one or both ex- ercised the powerful influence at their command to arouse their followers instead of restraining their natural proclivi- ties, the early history of New England would have been stained with blood where their honesty and magnanimity averted the strife. In return for this good work they were most cruelly ill-treated and insulted, which to them was harder to bear than the former. Their lands were taken from them, and they were at times almost reduced to a state of starvation — obliged to plead for a little land upon which to subsist. Nor were theirs isolated cases. King Philip and many other sagarnons had similar grievances. Contrast the WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 43 peaceful results of the kind and honorable treatment ac- corded to the Indians by Roger Williams, in Rhode Island ; William Penn, who settled Pennsylvania, and others, not forgetting Father Eliot. The Indians were strangers to the higher influence of the civilized life, yet there were many great and noble men among them — men of honor, ability and principle. Passa- connaway and Wonnalancet stood well towards the head of this class. We believe the blackest page upon American history is the record of the ill treatment of the aborigines — the poor Indian ! — which treatment began with the discovery of the western continent by Columbus, and with greater or lesser cruelty, has continued to the present time. An anonymous poet expresses the plain truth in forcible lan- guage when he makes the heart-broken chieftain say : I will go to my tent and lie down in despair; I will paint me in black and sever my hair; I will sit on the shore when the hurricane blows, And reveal to the God of the tempest my woes. I will weep for a season on bitterness fed, For my kindred have gone to the mounds of the dead ; But they died not of hunger or wasting decay, For the steel of the white man has swept them away! Let us pause for a moment in retrospection, and pic- ture to our minds the condition of the region now included in the town of Hudson, as it appeared two and a half cen- turies ago— in the days when the settlements of the whites began to creep up the Merrimack Valley. Where we now behold the placid waters of the beautiful river, as they flow gently along our western border, calmly seeking the bosom of the broad ocean, as if they had never witnessed any wilder scene, then the royal canoes of the powerful wildwood confederacy of Passaconnaway, passed and repassed on the way to and fro between his summer lodge to the north or his winter quarters at Pawtucket. Here, too, peradventure, upon the shady banks be- neath the giant trees of the primeval forest, whose branches 44 HISTORY OF HUDSON had withstood the storms and tempests of hundreds of years, he reared the conical walls of his regal wigwam, watched the talking smoke of his council fires, as it curled lazily upward, and performed his feats of necromancy that were both the wonder and the terror of his followers. From this same bank of the grand old river the Indians caught the salmon, shad, alewives and eels in almost countless numbers. Here, upon these productive, alluvial intervales, they planted their scanty crops and under the harvest moon held their forest festival in the autumn. Or it might be, under the mighty canopy of oaks, pines and other primeval giants of that period covering almost all these hills and valleys, the Indian hunter, armed with his bow and quiver of flint- pointed arrows, his tomahawk and spear, pursued the state- ly moose, or ran down the timid deer. Here also he encoun- tered the obstinate bear, outwitted with his imitation call the cautious turkey, snared the partridge, squirrel or wild pigeon. Since then what a change the white man has wrought. The woodman's ax, with the help of fire, long since leveled the beautiful original forest. The dams of the manufac- turers sometime since stopped the migratory flight of the finny denizens of the river. The game has mainly fled from such forests as remain ; ay, the dusky hunter himself has vanished ! Let us drop the tear of pity upon the ashes of this race whose representative welcomed the Englishmen to their wild shore, and preserved them when famine was at their door: — those sons of the forest, though savages, possessing many of the most worthy and noble traits of character — that people scattered over all this broad land, and who ac- knowledged fealty to the Great Spirit only. Could the old rocks and hills, the mountains, valleys and streams relate the scenes that they have witnessed of treachery, oppres- sion and destruction committed in their presence, in the process of building one race upon the ruins of another, WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 45 possibly the weight of evidence would show that when it was all balanced the poor Indian may have been as much sinned against by his white neighbors as he was guilty ot sinning against them. CHAPTER IV Dunstable in the Indian Wars From the date of the landing of the Pilgrims at Ply- mouth, in 1620 r soon after which Samoset, an Indian chief belonging to the Wampanoag tribe, suddenly appeared in their midst and greeted them with the friendly exclama- tion : " Welcome, Englishmen! Welcome, Englishmen !' r the colonists had little trouble with the aborigines for more than fifty years, that they did not provoke themselves. It is true there were wars and rumors of wars along the en- tire frontier, the most notable of which was the Pequot struggle in 1634-1637, when that warlike faction was prac- tically exterminated, the crisis coming with the last des- perate stand made by King Philip in 1675. Judging them from the conclusions drawn of their character by the earlier English writers, the patience and toleration with which they bore the treatment of these new-comers seems re- markable. There is little doubt that peaceful relations might have continued indefinitely had the colonists treated them fairly and honestly. King Philip's bloody resistance against the English was a combined attempt to exterminate the colonists, and broke out with little warning in the summer of 1675. He was the grandson and successor of Massasoit, with whom the Plymouth colonists had made a treaty of peace in 1621 — a covenant that remained inviolate with the red men for that long period. The war was brought to a sudden close by the treachery of one of Philip's own followers, who shot him in the back as he was leading his forlorn hope From this time the alarms of war came from the north instead of the south, and the danger rose more from small scouting parties of the Indians than from united tribes battling for a common cause. 46 •DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 47 Simultaneously with this change of scene of action a mew element entered into the prolonged strife. England and France were almost constantly at war for a century, and always the bitterness of the contention was transplant- ed to the shores of the New World. Seeing in them pliant allies of destruction, the French sought and won the confi- dence and assistance of the untutored red men. The teach- ers of this system of warfare were the Jesuits, who by kind treatment and ingenious training prepared them for the war-trail against an enemy they had no slight reason to fear and to hate. King William's war in the old country was swiftly fol- lowed by an Indian outbreak in New England, lasting from 1689 to 1698. Scarcely had the news of peace reached the colonists here than Queen Anne's war followed in 1703, continuing for ten years. The history of the frontier from east to west was a series of bloody encounters and massa- cres. And during those dark and bloody years Old Dun- stable was the outpost of the New England colonists, as her fortress had been the watch-tower during King Philip's uprising. From her homes went forth some of the bravest and strongest of the sturdy yeomanry, building for them- selves homes in the wilderness of this ravaged country. During the brief cessations of armed hostilities the pio- neers were not wholly exempt from the attacks of a foe that never seemed to sleep. Thus a constant vigilance and watchfulness had to be maintained by the early settlers of Dunstable. Yet the censure does not wholly lie against the people who were causing this trouble. Fox, in his History of Dunstable, says truthfully, "The treatment of the Indians by our forefathers generally, and of Wonnalan- cet especially, was not Christian and scarcely human." He might have gone farther and said with equal truth that these brave families who were made to suffer most were not the originators of this unhappy situation. To find these we must seek them among the disciples of the Mathers and their associates. Speaking of the efficiency of prayer, 48 HISTORY OF HUDSON Dr. Increase Mather, the leading minister of his time, said : "Nor could they cease praying to the Lord against Philip until they had prayed the bullet into his heart !" The last " prayer " should have been spelled with an "e" where an "a" is usually placed. But we need not prolong this dis- cussion, if that can be called a discussion where the argu- ment is all on one side. A decade of comparative peace succeeded Queen Anne's war, during which interval the first settlements were commenced in Hudson. But these pioneers had barely established themselves in their new homes before another alarm of war awoke them to renewed danger and warlike activity. These ten years had also seen a change in the government of New England. Queen Anne had died in 1714, and was succeeded by George I. A change of rulers at home always resulted in a change of policy in regard to the management of the affairs of the colonies of England. In the hope of averting this result, the English colonists of Massachusetts and New Hampshire petitioned to have Governor Dudley remain at the head in New Eng- land. This request was ignored, and Samuel Shute was appointed Governor of Massachusetts, while George Vaughan was made Lieutenant-Governor and virtual ruler of New Hampshire. This last became a fact, inasmuch as Governor Shute did not arrive until the other had held his office a year. A question then arose between the two as to the ex- tent of Lieutenant-Governor Vaughan's power. He claimed that he was ruler of New Hampshire whenever the other was not in the province. As Governor Shute intended to make his home in Boston, this left him but little to do with the government of New Hampshire. The dispute waxed so bitter that Vaughan was recalled and John Wentworth, destined to act an important, and not altogether unfavora- ble, part in affairs was sent to fill his office. So, while the colonists were active in pushing deeper and deeper into the wilderness, hewing out new homes and DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 49 establishing new townships, internecine troubles that were to have considerable bearing upon their fortunes, were re- peating themselves in the government both here and in England. It was during this period that Londonderry, Chester, Barrington, Nottingham and Rochester were chartered and incorporated, the signing of these charters in 1722 being the last official act of Governor Shute, who was succeeded in Massachusetts by Governor Dummer, while Lieutenant-Governor Wentworth became the head of the government in New Hampshire. During this period a new element of population entered into colonial life. This factor was the Scotch-Irish, so called, immigrants from Scotland finding their way to America after being driven out of that country by the Eng- lish into the north of Ireland. They settled the township of Londonderry granted them by Governor Shute. Com- ing at this time, and scarcely in friendly communication with their neighbors, the English, they did not participate in the border warfare that was disturbing the settlers along the Merrimack and about the Pascataqua River. In fact, though brave to a fault, I have been unable to find that they acted any important part in the long series of wood- fighting that followed their arrival in America. This does not reflect upon their patriotism, as we find them active enough during the seven years of the Revolutionary War. At no interval of this cessation of hostilities were the Indians wholly quiet, but occasional acts of violence took place, until in the summer of 1722 were begun those strug- gles that became the fiercest in all the long and sanguinary warfare of Northern New England. At this time Sebastian Rasle, S. J., one of the most zealous of the French missionaries in New France, estab- lished his mission at Norridgewock, on the Kennebec Riv- er, near where is now the town of Farmington, Maine. The simple red men looked upon this black-robed man of God as a true father, and he in turn encouraged them to lift the hatchet against that race which he had been taught 50 HISTORY OF HUDSON to hate since childhood. Realizing that if they could de- stroy this stronghold of the French it would be a powerful blow towards winning their own safety, the English re- solved to march against it. In the winter of 1722, Colonel Westbrook of York, Me., led an expedition up the Kenne- bec River, but was unsuccessful in his purpose. This seemed to give the French priest an excuse for greater ac- tivity, and the settlements in Maine, which then belonged to Massachusetts, were the first to suffer, Merry-Meeting Bay and Brunswick among them. Governor Dummer then declared war, a conflict which afterwards bore his name, while it has been equally as well known as Lovewell's War, for reasons to be made plain later. As usual Dover was the first town in that section of New Hampshire to feel the dread attack of the dusky ene- mies. Then Lamprey River, now Newmarket, Oyster River (Durham), Kingston and Chester shared in this cruel warfare. In 1724 a second expedition against Norridge- wock was planned and carried into effect that summer by Captains Moulton and Harmon at the head of over two hundred men. This body was divided into four companies, and besides the leaders mentioned were Captains Bourne and Bane, or Bean according to later spelling. This party was piloted by a friendly Mohawk chief known to the whites as Christian. The raid was victorious. The In- dians were not only surprised and completely routed, but their beloved adviser, Father Rasle, was slain, the chapel burned, the plate and furniture brought away as trophies of their victory by the conquerors.* Thus perished at 68 years of age Father Rasle, in a cause to which he had de- voted over thirty years of his life with an earnestness equalled only by his zeal. If the taking of his life was to be justified or not, it is certain his teachings made a dan- * When the mission village of Norridgewock was attacked by the New England men, the women and children were made to suffer the fate of warriors. The scholarly miisionary, Rasles, author of the Abnaki Dictionary, was shot down at the foot of the cross, where he was afterwards found with his body riddled with balls, his skull crushed and scalped, his mouth and eyes filled with earth, his limbs broken, and all of his members mutilated— and this by white men.— American Ethnology, Vol. 19. DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 51 gerous element in the midst of the English settlers in New England, and neither he nor his slayers can be correctly judged under any other light than the spirit of the times. While the glory of the valiant Canibas tribe of red men had forever flown with this rout at Norridgewock, and the survivors were compelled to seek refuge at St. Francis, in Canada, instead of striking terror to the remaining In- dians as had been expected, it awoke, if that were possible, a fiercer spirit of hatred for the race they could not help seeing was destined to become their destroyers. Thus the New England frontier from the intervales of Old Dunsta- ble to the meadows of the Madawaska rang with the war- hoop of the dusky avengers, while the torch of terror light- ed the nights of horror. Profiting by the mistakes of the past the Indians were now more cautious in their attacks and more cunning in their retreats, so they were difficult to hunt down. The English sent scouting party after party into the wilderness to strike a retaliating blow, and check these depredations, with only meagre success. Where the Saco River makes a bold bend to the north- east so as to almost double on its track, after leaving the gateway of the mountains, dwelt a tribe of Indians known as the Sokoki, with another encampment lower down this stream where it is joined by the Ossipee. This place was an ideal spot for these hunters and warriors of the wilder- ness. A wide circuit of rich country afforded them rare hunting-grounds, while the river and ponds near by abound- ed with fish. In their canoes they could follow the devious windings of the Saco for a distance of over forty miles, and at the end of this pleasure trip find themselves but a little over a mile from their starting point, and easy portage back to their lodges. The Sokoki had been settled at this place known to them as Pequaket* hard by the river at the foot of the * Pequaket — Pequawket — Pigwaeket— means, or is from Paqui-auk-et, meaning "at the open land." There was an Indian town here longer than any historian has been able to tell— Trumbull. 52 HISTORY OF HUDSON "Pine-Tree Hill," longer than tradition attempts to tell. They were originally a numerous tribe, good fighters, and while fiery and furious when aroused, less inclined to treach- ery than some of the other families of red men. Like the Pennacooks, they had suffered fearfully at the hands of the Mohawks, and in wars with them and other tribes had dwin- dled away. Their last great sachem was the noted Squan- don ; their last great captain, Paugus. Following the rout of the Canibas at Norridgewock, the Sokoki became unusually active against the English. It was known that the Governor of Canada had asked the King of France to furnish these Indians with arms, ammu- nition and blankets, which explains in part this unwonted activity. Fear and excitement reigned throughout the en- tire frontier settlements, and it began to look as though the whole border would be desolated. In this plight the court of Massachusetts increased the bounty on Indian scalps from fifty to one hundred pounds each, and sought to encourage men to undertake expedi- tions against them. In extenuation of this course it was claimed, with apparent truthfulness, that the French were doing the same, and what was of even greater potency, of- fering high rewards for the possession of captives that might be made useful in a country where laborers and ser- vants were only too scarce. These facts, together with the savage barbarity shown by the dusky warriors towards the helpless whites, were sufficient excuse for the act, when, as has been remarked, the spirit of the times is taken into consideration. But it cannot condone a wrong, nor bright- en the stern countenances of those civilized men silhouetted against a background of aboriginal darkness. If the fol- lowers of Canibas and Paugus were cruel, and there is no gainsaying the fact, when they had been urged and driven to desperation, there is no excuse for their educated con- querors to practice similar cruelties. The beheading and quartering of the mutilated body of King Philip is ample evidence that it takes more than a change of scene to re- DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 5S ■move the glut of vengeance from a people whose kin at home exulted in exposing to the public gaze the heads of those who had been unfaithful to the government they deemed tyrannical, as was done in London at Temple Bar tor many years. Darker yet than these deeds perpetrated upon warlike men was the sending into bondage in faraway Bermuda the wife and little son of King Philip under sanction of the church. Indian warfare was conducted almost wholly along the rivers of the country, and those settlements upon the banks of the different streams were thus made certain tar- gets for their enemies. Thus the old town of Dunstable, lying on both sides of the Merrimack, became the scene of some bitter hand-to-hand combats. September 4, 1724, two men by the names of Nathan Cross and Thomas Blanchard were surprised by a party ot Indians and taken captives while at work preparing turpen- tine from pines growing on the bank of the Nashua River. As they did not return from their work as usual that even- ing, their friends became alarmed. In the morning a party consisting of ten under the direction of Lt. Ebenezer French started in search of the missing men. Upon reach- ing the scene of the operations of Cross and Blanchard it was found that the hoops of the barrels containing the tur- pentine had been cut and their contents had spread upon the ground. Certain marks upon the trees told them that their friends had been captured by the Indians, while the state of the turpentine showed that the captors had fin- ished their work only a short time before. This encouraged Lieutenant French and his companions to begin immedi- ate pursuit in the hope of overtaking them. Josiah Farwell, a member of the rescue party, advised taking a circuitous course, lest they should fall into an am- bush laid by the red men. Lieutenant French not only scorned this prudent course but accused Farwell of cow- ardice, himself leading in the path recently taken by the Indians, his companions following in single file, Farwell in 54 HISTORY OF HUDSON" the rear. "Their route," says the historian of Dunstable, Mr. C. J. Fox, "was up the Merrimack towards which they bent their course to look for their horses upon the inter- vals. At the brook * near Lutwych's (now Thornton's) Ferry they were waylaid. The Indians fired upon them and killed the larger part instantly. A few fled and were overtaken and destroyed. French was killed about a mile from the place of action under an oak tree lately standing (1840) in a field belonging to Mr. John Lund of Merrimack. Farwell, in the rear, seeing those before him fall, sprung behind a tree, discharged his piece and ran The Indians pursued him. The chase was vigorously maintained for some time, without either gaining much advantage, until Farwell passing through a thicket, the Indians lost sight of him, and probably fearing he might have loaded again, they abandoned further pursuit. He was the only one of the company that escaped." The names of the men, besides those given, were Thomas Lund, Oliver Farwell, and Ebenezer Cummings of Dunstable ; Daniel Baldwin and John Burbank of Woburn, and a Mr. Johnson of Plainfield, Mass. Messrs. Cross and Blanchard, the captives, succeeded eventually in escaping from their enemies after being taken to Canada. A search of their friends resulted in finding the bodies of eight of the unfortunate men, and these were conveyed to the ancient burial ground near the state line. Coffins were made for them, and with uncommon solemnity and sorrow the entire party was interred in one grave. Above this spot a monument was erected, with the following in- scription copied verbatim et literatim: MEMENTO MORI Here lies the body of Mr. Thomas Lund who departed this life Sept. 5th, 1724, in the 42d year of his age. This man with seven more that lies in this grave was slew all in a day by the Indians ! * Naticook Brook, the «tream which crossed the road just above Thornton's, scene of the Ambush must have been near the present highway. — Fox DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 5b Three other grave stones stand close beside the above, their inscriptions covered with moss and nearly illegible. Of these one was erected to Lt. Oliver Farwell, aged 33 years; another to Mr. Ebenezer Cummings, aged 29 years; the third to the memory of Mr. Benjamin Carter, aged 23 years. Some of the earlier writers state that the Indians who •committed this act were Mohawks, but this does not seem likely. The fact that the captives were taken to Canada would disprove it, as the Mohawks were in no manner friendly to the French from the days of Champlain to the end of the French and Indian War in 1760. This party be- longed no doubt to the Ameriscoggins, the remnants of which tribe, smarting under the blow dealt them by the English, were then hovering about the French mission on the St. Lawrence River. The critical situation and loss of life to the inhabitants of Old Dunstable is shown in the following deposition of two of her most venerable citizens, the parents of Captain John Lovewell, the paper having been brought to light from among the court files of New Hampshire, by Hon. Ezra S. Stearns in his researches concerning that period, where it had slumbered more than one hundred and fifty years: Facts Concerning the Indian Depredations in Dunstable. The deposition of John Lovewell aged ninety-three and Anna his wife aged about eighty-three years, who testify & say that in the year 1680 they were Inhabitants and residents in Dunstable & have been Inhabi- tants and residents there since and that in the said year 1680 there were 35 families settled in Dunstable beside several single men who were resi- dent there and owned Lots in said Town & further saith that in the first ten years War for one summer the Inhabitants all gathered in the garri- son and that about fifty-five years ago in the month of August in the same Town there was killed by the Indians Four of the Inhabitants and in September next following two more was killed and one wounded and about forty-eight years ago of the same Town there was one killed and two captivated and about the same time there was one killed or captivat- ed and about thirty-nine years ago in Dunstable there was eleven Persons killed and three captivated by the Indians & one House & Garrison burned down at the same Time and that about thirty-three years ago there 56 HISTORY OF HUDSON was one Person killed and one wounded in Dunstable and the year follow- ing in Dunstable there was one man killed and in the year following there- was one more man captivated & carried to Canada and in the year 1724 there was eight persons killed one wounded and four captivated in Dunsta- ble and in the year 1725 there was of the Inhabitants of Dunstable five killed and two wounded all which Mischiefs was done by the Indians in the time of War— and in the year 1680'the Revd. Mr. Thomas Weld preached in Dunstable and continued there until he was ordained there to the work, of the ministry which was about two years after and that from the time- we first came to Dunstable the Inhabitants has never drawn off. his John X Lovewell mark her Anna X Lovewell mark Province of New Hampshire March 16, 1744. Then the above named John Lovewell and Anna Lovewell made sol- emn Oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by them signed relat- ing to an Action of Ejectment wherein one Joseph Kidder is Apellant & the Proprietors of Londonderry are Apellers to be heard and tried at the superior court of Judicature to be holden at Portsmouth in said Province on Tuesday the nineteenth day of this instant March by adjournment from the first Tuesday of February last past — the Deponents living more than five miles from Portsmouth where the case is to be tried & the said Proprietors of Londonderry the Adverse Party being duly notified was present by one of their committee for Law suits viz: sworn before Samuel Emerson. J. PEACE. The foregoing deposition throws new light upon the number of persons killed by the Indians in the ancient township of Dunstable. It is an important document. The statement " about fifty-five years ago," probably refers to 1691, when Joseph Hassel, Anna his wife and Benjamin his son and Mary Marks were killed September 2, and to the killing of Christopher Temple and Obediah Perry, which occurred on the 28th of the same month. The second statement, that about forty-eight years be- fore one person had been killed and two captured, while DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 57 later there was one killed or " captivated," is not mentioned in the traditions of the town. The death of eleven per- sons killed and three carried into captivity in 1705, as given by the Lovewells, mainly occurred in 1706, when Nathan- iel Blanchard, Lydia, his wife, and one child, and Hannah Blanchard and Elizabeth, wife of John Cummings, Jr., and Rachel Galusha were murdered by the Indians and consid- ering the number of soldiers killed the same day at the Weld garrison, there is a marked conflict in the traditions of the town. The witnesses speak of three captives. The wife of Captain Butterfield, Richard Samuel But- terfield and Samuel Whitney, Senior, were captured about this date. The statement that in 1711 and the two succeeding years two were killed, one wounded and one captured is not found in other mentions, and it is perhaps that a few of the casualties generally supposed to have taken place in 1706 or immediately preceding occurred at this time. In 1724 the deponents say eight were killed, one wounded and four captured. This statement refers to the losses near Thornton's Ferry. The witnesses do not al- lege that all of the dead were residents of Dunstable. The names of the persons killed were Ebenezer French, Thomas Lund, Oliver Farwell, Ebenezer Cummings, Benjamin Carter, Daniel Baldwin, John Burbank, Johnson. The first five were Dunstable men. All of the foregoing casualties, according to the state- ments of the Lovewells, occurred in Dunstable. In the allegation that in the year 1725 there were of the inhabi- tants five killed and two wounded, there is no mention of the place where the casualties took place. The venerable witnesses, mindful of the loss of their son, referred to the Lovewell fight at Pequaket. The five Dunstable men who were slain in that memorable expedition were Capt. John Lovewell, Lt. Josiah Farwell, Lt. Jonathan Robbins, En- sign John Harwood and Robert Usher. Samuel Whiting, 58 HISTORY OF HUDSON Jr., was one of the two Dunstable men said to have been wounded. It is stated on good authority that during these trou- blesome times Robert Parris, his wife and one daughter were killed by the Indians, and that two daughters escaped, one of whom married a Richardson and the other became the wife of John Goffe, and was the mother of Col. John Goffe, a conspicuous character in the annals of New Hamp- shire. It is well known that John Goffe, generally distin- guished as Esquire Goffe, married Hannah Parris, some- times written Parish. Fox, in his History of Dunstable, says that the massacre of the Pan is family occurred some- time in 1703, but Col. John Goffe was born in 1701, which leads to the presumption that the Parris massacre was at an earlier date than that given by Mr. Fox. The statement that John Lovewell lived to the great age of 120 years has repeatedly appeared in print. It is one of those peculiar traditions that the curious seize upon without investigation. It is admitted that he died about 1752, and it is equally certain that his age did not exceed 102 years. From this deposition of the Lovewells we learn that from 1696 to 1725, inclusive, the number of persons killed by the Indians was thirty-three; wounded, five; made cap- tives, eleven ; with one either killed or carried away a captive. This made a total of fifty, all inhabitants of the little settlement of Dunstable. Fox produces evidence to show that in twenty years the population decreased fully one-half, notwithstanding the additions that were made. The Dunstable settlement extended to the east side of the Merrimack River, now Hudson, probably not earlier, but soon after the close of Queen Anne's War in 1713. Referring to the loss of lives among the colonists, it was estimated that from 1675 to 1714 the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire lost six thousand (6000) young men and male children, including those who were killed and those who were made captives without ever being DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 59 recovered. Add to this the loss of men, women and chil- dren that occurred during the nearly half a century of In- dian warfare that followed, and, considering the number of inhabitants, we have an appalling number. CHAPTER V Lovewell's Men This war, after having continued for nearly three years, was brought to a close by the bloody battle at Pequawket, May 8, 1725. The leaders in this sanguinary struggle were the brave Capt. John Lovewell and his intrepid men, and Chief Paugus and his band of warriors, equally as brave and fearless. This was one of the fiercest and most fatal to both sides, of all the battles fought on the old New England frontier. It was also the end of a succession of wars, which, with a few cessations, had existed for fifty years. Judge Potter, in his History of Manchester, gives the following account of this expedition and its results : "The expedition started about the 16th of April, 1725, answering to the 27th of April, New Style. When out but a short time, Toby, a friendly Indian attached to the expe- dition, becoming lame was sent back, with great reluctance on his part. "At Contoocook, William Cummings of Dunstable, became so lame in consequence of a wound received from the enemy sometime previous, that he was obliged to re- turn home, a kinsman, possibly Josiah Cummings, return- ing with him to assist him on his way. " They then marched without any unusual incident to Ossipee, where one of their number, Benjamin Kidder, of Nuffield, now Londonderry, being sick, they built a small fort, as a place of refuge in case of mishap. While the fort was building a portion of the men were kept out on scout duty, and discovered the tracks of Indians. " After a tarry of two or three days, leaving the sick man, the doctor to take charge of him, and Sergeant Na- thaniel Woods of Dunstable, with seven men to hold the fort, Lovewell and his men, now reduced in number to 60 LOVEWELL S MEN til thirty-four, boldly marched for Pequauquauke, distant some twenty miles. "The names of these thirty-four men were: Asten, Abiel, Haverhill Ayer, Ebenezer, Haverhill Barron, Elias, Groton Chamberlain, John, Groton Davis, Eleazer, Concord Davis, Josiah, Concord Farrah, Jacob, Concord Farrah, Joseph, Concord Farwell, Josiah, Lieut., Dunstable Frye, Jonathan, Chap., Andover Fullam, Jacob, Serg., Weston Gilson, Joseph, Groton Harwood, Jno., Ensign, Dunstable Hassel, Benjamin, Corporal, Dunstable Jefts, John, Groton Johnson, Ichabod, Woburn Johnson, Josiah, Woburn Johnson, Noah, Serg., Dunstable Jones, Josiah, Concord Kies, Solomon, Billerica Kittredge, Jonathan, Billerica Lakin, Isaac, Groton Lingfield, Edward, Corp., Nuffield Lovewell, John, Capt., Dunstable Melvin, Daniel, Concord Melvin, Eleazer, Concord Robbins, Jona., Ensign, Dunstable Richardson, Thomas, Corp., Woburn Richardson, Timothy, Woburn Usher, Robert, Dunstable Whiting, Samuel, Dunstable Woods, Daniel, Groton Woods, Thomas, Ensign, Groton Wyman, Seth, Woburn 62 HISTORY OF HUDSON "The company continued their march in a northerly direction, with great caution, fancying they had been dis- covered by the Indians. "On Friday, the 7th of May, they heard a gun as they approached the Saco, but coming to the river, they met with no Indians, although they discovered their tracks. They struck the Saco, probably in the eastern part of Con- way. Taking an easterly course they passed upon the high ground down the Saco, and diverging south, struck the basin of Pequauquauke south of what is now called Stark's hill. Here they had a full view of the basin and of Saco pond, just at their feet. "This was near night, and they cautiously descended the hill and encamped upon the shore of the pond. In the night the sentinels thought they heard the noise of In- dians about the encampment, and alarmed their compan- ions, but it was very dark and they could make no further discovery. " It was probably the noise of some wild animal, a moose perhaps, as they were near the spot where these animals usually took to the water. This incident confirmed their suspicions that the Indians were dogging them, and these suspicions led to a fatal error, as the sequel will show. "On the next day, May 8th, (May 19, New Style), about ten o'clock in the morning, while at prayers, they heard a gun across the pond, and Captain Lovewell dis- covered a solitary Indian upon a stony point of land run- ning out into the pond from the east. This Indian was hunting ducks. It is possible he might have gone from the village duck-hunting, but it is quite as probable that he was one of a scout of Indians that had been down the Saco, and had been sent forward at this point to get a shot at ducks in sight. Be this as it may, Lovewell and his men, supposing they had been discovered the night previ- ous and before, at once suspected that he was sent out as a decoy, and popular tradition has kept up the suspicion, as the point on which the Indian stood is called 'Decoy Point ' to this day. lovewell's men 63 " They accordingly held a consultation to determine whether they would proceed to attack the enemy, which they supposed was in waiting for them on the north shore of the pond, or whether they should retreat. The question being put, the men boldly answered, says Rev. Mr. Symmes, ' We came to see the enemy ; we have all along prayed God we might find them ; and we had rather trust Providence with our lives, yes, die for our country, than try to return without seeing them, if we might, and be called cowards for our pains.' " It was determined unanimously to fight, and they commenced preparations in earnest. In order to be entire- ly disencumbered, Lovevvell ordered his men to leave their packs behind, but without a guard. The spot where they left their packs was some thirty rods west of the little brook that enters into the pond southeast of the present village of Fryeburg, Me. " Lovewell then led on his men cautiously towards the Indian, who was seen upon the point, a distance of about a mile and a half, principally, for the first half of the way, through a pitch pine wood, clear of underbrush, and the brakes but just started. The Indian got within four or six rods before they discovered him, having two guns and a brace of clucks in his hands. " Upon discovering him Lovewell and his men squat- ted upon the ground; but as they did so, the Indian dis- covered them, and dropping his extra gun and his game, he quickly fired upon them and with fatal effect, for his gun being charged with large shot, he wounded Captain Love- well and Mr. Whiting, the former severely. Ensign Wy- man then fired upon the Indian and killed him, and Mr. Frye, the chaplain, and another scalped him. "Tradition says that young Frye fired at the Indian and missed him, and that his misfire made him the more zealous to get his scalp. Meantime a scout of Indians, some forty in number, under Paugus and W T ahowah, com- ing up the pond from a scout down the Saco, crossed the 64 HISTORY OF HUDSON trail of Lovewell's men, and following it, discovered their packs, and finding their number less than their own, they at once determined to attack them. Accordingly, secur- ing their packs, they proceeded to the brook before de- scribed, and under its banks, formed an ambuscade for Love- well and his party. " Passing east from this brook, you immediately come upon the highest part of the pitch pine plain, lying north of the pond. This part of the plain terminates at the pond, in a ridge or bold shore, against which are piled up boulders of rock, evidently the effect of ice. East of this point of rocks is a ridge of sand, extending parallel to the water, some fifty or sixty rods to another brook, emptying into the pond from the northeast, and now known as ' Fight Brook.' " This sand ridge was from four to six rods wide, hav- ing upon it some scattered pines, and limited on the north the most of its length by a swamp, extending west from the aforesaid brook, and which, in the spring, is filled with water, forming of this sand ridge a long, narrow peninsula, only accessible from the plain at its western extremity, in the vicinity of the aforesaid point of rocks. "Lovewell and his men were leisurely returning upon their trail, and probably with less caution than usual, as they had not found the enemy they went out to meet, when coming to the bank of the little brook before named, the Indians rose from their ambush and fired upon them in front and rear, rushing upon them with shouts of defiance. " Captain Lovewell was killed at the first shot, and our men were struck with surprise at the suddenness of the attack. But they immediately returned the fire with dead- ly effect, killing nine of the enemy upon the spot. The company then dispersed, each one getting behind a tree and firing upon the enemy as he got a chance. The firing continued brisk, but soon Captain Lovewell and eight others being killed, and Lieutenant Farwell and two others being wounded, and the Indians attempting to surround lovewell's men 65 them, the party determined to retreat to the shore of the pond, hoping to be sheltered by the point of rocks that ran into the pond. " Here, behind this ' ridge of land ' and barrier of rocks, they continued the fight to advantage, gradually extending themselves across upon the sand before described, and protecting themselves behind the scattered pines. Here was an excellent position for an attack, but a very bad one for a siege, and had the Indians known their advantage, they could easily have destroyed the whole company. If, instead of immediate attack, they had quietly seated them- selves at the only approach to the peninsula, hunger would have done its work, and not a man of Lovewell's gallant band could have escaped. But the Indians could not brook delay, and confident of success from superior numbers, they continued the attack, firing at any one of the little band who happened to expose a part of his body. " Under the direction of Ensign Wyman, the firing was kept up with spirit on the part of our men, and with decided effect. The Indians kept up a continual shout, at one time howling like wolves, and again barking like dogs, or mimicking other wild beasts. And the English were nothing loth in this kind of defiance, but returned their howling with shouts and huzzas. " Towards the mid-afternoon the Indians ceased firing, and drew off among the pines, at a little distance, to pow- wow over their success. They had got earnestly engaged in the ceremony, when the intrepid Wyman crept up be- hind the rocks and trees, and firing upon the principal actor killing him on the spot. This man may have been Waho- wah, as we hear nothing of him afterwards. " Be this as it may, the fight was resumed with great ferocity, under the immediate direction of Paugus. Ensign Wyman continued to cheer on his men, and they fought with all their skill and energy of desperation, but with terrify- ing disadvantage, as the Indians were near twice their number, and had them completely at their will. To add to 66 HISTORY OF HUDSON their misfortune, their chaplain, Jonathan Frye, about this time fell mortally wounded, as also Lieutenant Jonathan Robbins, who had been wounded at the first fire, and Jacob Farrar. " Young Frye, though unable to stand, continued to pray audibly for the success of his companions, at inter- vals, during the remainder of the fight. Thus disheartened, the firing on their part became less brisk ; and the Indians, confident of their success, came forward, and holding up a rope, to show that they had them in their power and ready to be bound, offered them quarter. "The intrepid Wyman replied that 'they would have no quarter but what they won at the point of their mus- kets.' The fight was then renewed, and towards night the enemy succeded in getting upon the peninsula or beach, some of them at least. Among this number was Paugus, their chief, who took refuge behind a pine within talking distance of John Chamberlain, one of the best shots in Lovewell's party. "They looked at each other from behind the trees, each endeavoring to detect an exposed part in the person of the other, and at length each one thinking he had the other at an advantage, aimed his musket to fire ; each gun flashed in the pan ; and their attempts were in vain ! "Their guns had become foul from frequent firing during the day, and were useless. In this dilemma, these bold men, who were acquainted with each other, agreed to go down to the water side, and cleanse their guns, and then take their places and renew the fight. No sooner said than done, and they deliberately went down to the water and commenced washing their guns, the warriors on both sides understanding their motives and leaving them to themselves ! " In cleansing their guns and charging them, Paugus got the advantage ; his ball was so small as to roll down his barrel, while Chamberlain had to force his down with his rod. Paugus, seeing his advantage, quickly said, ' Me kill you ! ' and took up his gun to prime. lovewell's men 67 " Chamberlain threw down his rod, and bringing the breech of his gun a smart blow upon the hard sand, brought it to his face and fired ! " Paugus fell pierced through the heart ! "Chamberlain's gun being worn from long use primed itself; and the knowledge of this saved the bold hunter's life. * "After the death of Paugus, their chief, the Indians gradually ceased firing, and soon after sunset drew off into the woods, leaving the field to our men, who remained quiet * In embodying Judge Potter's account of Lovewell's fight, I have asked Mr. Webster's permission to add a few words of contradiction to the description of the fate of the Sokokis chief, Paugus, though the story as given has been accepted by several writers, among them Fox, Bouton, Sanborn, Potter, and others. This version of the incident seems to have orig- inated with a very unreliable person named Elijah Russell, seventy-four years after the bat- tle, and a long time after Chamberlain's death. Fox evidently supposed it to be a true ac- count, and singularly enough as careful a historian as the Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, in reprint- ing Rev. Thomas Symmes' sermon upon the affair, took the Russell fabrication instead of the original by the Bradford minister, who made no mention of the Chamberlain-Paugus duel. None of the early writers credit Chamberlain with the deed, as witness four lines from one of the ballads written soon after the event: " And yet our valiant Englishmen in fight were ne'er dismayed, But still they kept their motion, and Wyman Captain made. ' ' Who shot the old Chief Paugus, which did the foe defeat, And set his men in order, and brought off the retreat?" Hill in his "Reminiscences of Old Dunstable," after reviewing several versions of the incident, says flatly, " The utter absurdity of the story is apparent frcm the fact that never before has it been known that in the midst of deadly battle, the combatants by mutual agiee- ment have ceased to fight in order to go and wash out their guns, and the additional fact that their guns having flashed in the pan, there must have remained full charges of powder and ball in the barrels, which must be drawn before the washing could be done, and the ex- treme improbability that either or both of them had, in pocket or pouch, the apparatus need- ed for this operation; and the further fact, that after their guns had been washed they must be carefully wiped and dried before they could be in use again, a process requiring time that could ill be spared in the midst of such a warm and deadly contest, for the Cromwellian maxim ' to trust in God and keep your powder dry ' was as imperative in an Indian fight as in more civilized warfare." The Rev. Mr. Allen in his centennial address given at Merrimack in 1846, says that John Chamberlain, of Lovewell's expedition, settled in that town, and built a sawmill on the Sou- hegan. There is a stirring legend told of an Indian, a son of Paugus, who sought to surprise the slayer of his father and avenge his death. But the doughty millman was too cunning for his foe, who fell by his unerring musket. As matters of fact this Chamberlain was not the John who fought with Lovewel!, but a cousin, who married a daughter of Josiah Farwell, the only survivor of the scouting party killed by the Indians near Thornton's Ferry; the In- dians had ceased their predatory warfare in this vicinity; while the only son of Paugus known to have escaped the Pequaket slaughter was Philip, a trusted comrade of John Stark during the Seven Years War, and a patriotic soldier in the American Revolution.— G. W. Browne. 68 HISTORY OF HUDSON for some time, fearing their return, or that they were lying in wait for them. It was supposed and confirmed by reports afterwards, that the Indians' loss, in killed and wounded, included the entire party, except about twenty. About midnight our men, hearing no more from the Indians, as- sembled together and inquired into their respective situa- tions. " It was found that there were twenty-three men upon the peninsula, of whom Jacob Farrar was just 'expiring by the pond,' and Lieutenant Robbins and Robert Usher were unable to travel. "The Rev. Mr. Symmes says: "'Lieut. Robbins desired his companions to charge his gun and leave it with him, which they did; he declaring that, 'As the Indians will come in the morning to scalp me, I will kill one or more of them, if I can.'" "There were eleven more of the English who were badly wounded, viz.: Lieutenant Farwell, Mr. Frye, Ser- geant Johnson, Timothy Richardson, Josiah Johnson, Sam- uel Whiting, Elias Barron, John Chamberlain, Isaac Lakin, Eleazer Davis, and Josiah Jones ; but they, however, marched off the ground with the nine others who received no con- siderable wounds, viz.: Ensign Wyman, Edward Ling- field, Thomas Richardson, the two Melvins, Ebenezer Ayre, Abial Asten, Joseph Fa.rrar and Joseph Gilson. " These all proceeded on their return to the fort, and did not perceive that they were waylaid or pursued by the enemy, though they knew our men had no provisions, and must, therefore, be very faint. Four of the wounded men, viz.: Farwell, Frye, Davis and Jones, after they had trav- elled about a mile and a half, found themselves unable to go further, and with their own free consent, the rest kept on the march, hoping to find a recruit at the fort, and to re- turn with fresh hands to relieve them. " As they proceeded on, they divided into three com- panies one morning, as they were passing a thick wood, for fear of making a track by which the enemy might follow LOVEWELL S MEN b» them. One of the companies came upon three Indians, who pursued them some time ; meanwhile Elias Barron, one of the party, strayed from the others, and got over Os- sipee River, by the side of which his gun case was found, and he was not heard of afterwards. "Eleven in another party reached the fort at Ossipee, but to their great disappointment found it deserted. The coward who fled in the beginning of the battle ran directly to the fort and gave the men posted there such a frightful account of what had happened that they all fled from the fort and made the best of their way home. "Solomon Keyes also came to the fort. When he had fought the battle till he had received three wounds, and had become so weak from the loss of blood that he could not stand, he crawled up to Ensign Wyman in the heat of battle, and told him he was a dead man, 'but (said he), if it is possible I will get out of the way of the Indians that they may not get my scalp.' Keyes then crept to the side of the pond to where he providentially found a canoe, when he rolled himself into it, and was driven by the wind several miles towards the fort; he gained strength fast and reached the fort as soon as the eleven before mentioned; and they all arrived at Dunstable on the 13th of May at night. " On the 15th of May, Ensign Wyman and three others arrived at Dunstable They informed that they were desti- tute of all kinds of food from a Saturday morning till the Wednesday following ; when they caught two mouse squir- rels, which they roasted whole, and found to be a sweet morsel. They afterwards killed some partridges, and other game, and were comfortably supplied until they got home. "Eleazer Davis arrived at Berwick, and reported that he and the three that were left with him, waited some days for the return of the men from the fort, and at length despairing of their return, though their wounds were putri- fied and stank, and they were almost dead with famine, yet they travelled on several miles together, till Mr. Frye de- 70 HISTORY OF HUDSON sired Davis and Farwell not to hinder themselves any longer on his account, for he found himself dying, and he laid himself down, telling them he should never rise more, and charged Davis, if it should please God to bring him home, to go to his father and tell him that he expected in a few hours to be in eternity, and that he was not afraid to die. They left, and this amiable and promising young gentleman, who had a journal of the march in his pocket, was not heard of again. " Lieutenant Farwell, who was greatly and no doubt deservedly applauded and lamented, was also left by Davis within a few miles of the fort, and was not afterwards heard of. But Davis getting to the fort, and finding provisions there, tarried and refreshed himself, and recovered strength to travel to Berwick. "Josiah Jones, another of the four wounded who were left the day after the fight but a short distance from the scene of action, traversed Saco River, and after a fatiguing ramble arrived at Saco (now Biddeford) emaciated and al- most dead from the loss of blood, the putrification of his wounds and the want of food. He had subsisted on the spontaneous vegetables of the forest and cranberries, etc., which he had eaten. He was kindly treated by the people of Saco, and recovered of his wounds. " Lieutenant Josiah Farwell of Dunstable and Elias Barron of Groton were wounded and died by the way in attempting to reach home. "The soldier who fled from the battlefield so inglori- ously was Benjamin Hassel, a corporal in the company. Hassel was of Dunstable, a grandson of Joseph and Ann Hassel, who were killed by the Indians at Dunstable in September, 1691. His uncle, Richard Hassel, had also been taken prisoner by the Indians. Under such circum- stances it is not surprising that Hassel should not care to fall into the hands of the Indians, So, in the earliest of the fight, seeing Captain Lovewell fall by his side, the com- pany surrounded by the Indians, and becoming separated lovewell's men 71 from his companions in the retreat to the pond, he made the best of his way to the fort, and by his imperfect and exaggerated intelligence so wrought upon the fears of the soldiers left in charge of the same that they at once deter- mined upon a retreat. This probably was an act of pru- dence under the circumstances, although, as it turned out, it was very unfortunate. "According to Hassel's account the entire command of Lovewell had been cut off and the Indians in overwhelm- ing numbers were in full pursuit. The fort was a mere temporary affair, with no provisions, forty miles from any white inhabitant, no prospect of relief in case of attack or siege, and the little garrison, including Hassel, Kidder the sick man, and the physician, amounted to but eleven per- sons all told. Under such circumstances retreat was the only alternative. At first some little blame was attached to Hassel, but people soon began to think that he should be excused, and only two years after, when the grant of Suncook was made to those who were in this expedition under Lovewell, Hassel was one of the grantees, without any exceptions being taken on account of his conduct in, or subsequent to the battle. " The men who were left in the fort with Kidder were Nathaniel Woods of Dunstable, Sergeant ; Dr. William Ayer of Haverhill ; John Goffe of Londonderry, brother- in-law of Kidder ; John Gilson of Groton ; Isaac Whitney and Zachariah Whitney of Concord; Zebediah Austin of Haverhill ; and Edward Spooney and Ebenezer Halburt of Dunstable. The party probably arrived at Dunstable on the 11th, of May, 1725. " Upon hearing of this disastrous news, Governor Dummer forthwith dispatched a company under Col. El- eazer Tyng, of Dunstable, to search for the enemy and to find and bury the slain. Colonel Tyng marched with his company on the 17th of May, and encamped at Namos- keag, now Manchester, the first night. The next day being rainy they continued at their encampment." 72 HISTORY OF HUDSON Colonel Tyng having taken all the effective men from Dunstable, leaving the settlers in an exposed situation, wrote to Governor Dummer the following letter, informing him of their condition, and asking protection for them : May it please your Honor: This day I marched from Amoskeag, having 55 of my own men, and 32 of Capt. Whites (?) The men are well and proceed with a great deal of life and courage. Yesterday I was forced to lie still by reason of the rain. I would humbly offer something to your Honor in the hehalf of our people who are left very destitute and naked, that you would be pleased to consider their circumstances and order what you shall think proper for their de- fense till we return. I am your Honors Most Ob't Servant, ELEAZER TYNG. Amoskeag, May 19, 1725. Governor Dummer seems to have anticipated Colonel Tyng's request, as he had already issued the following order : To Col. Flagg. Sir, These are to empower and direct you forthwith to detatch or impress out of the Reg't whereof you are Lieut. Coll., a sergeant and twelve effective able bodied men, well armed for his Majesties services, for the security and Reinforcement of Dunstable, until the return of Col. Tyng and his company. They must be posted at the Garrisons of Joseph Bloghead, Nath'l Hill, John Taylour, and John Lovewell, and three Centinels in each Gar- rison, and the sergeant in that of the four that is nearest to the centre. The sergeant must be very careful to keep the men well upon their duty, so as to be a good Guard and protection to the People, and you must give him directions in writing accordingly. Let this matter be effected with all possible dispatch. WILLIAM DUMMER. Boston, May 19, 1725. 11 Col. Tyng and his party went to the place of action where they found and buried the following men, viz. : Capt. John Lovewell, Ensign Jonathan Woods, Ensign John lovewell's men 73 Harwood and Robert Usher of Dunstable; Jacob Fullam of Weston ; Jacob Farrar and Josiah Davis of Concord ; Thomas Woods, David Woods and John Jefts of Groton ; Ichabod Johnson of Woburn ; Jonathan Kittredge of Bil- lerica. " Col. Tyng found where the Indians had buried three of their own men, which were dug up, and one of them was known to be the bold Paugus, who had been a great scourge to Dunstable." Paugus was a frequent visitor at Hill's garrison before Lovewell's War, and was always treated kindly by Mrs. Ann Hills, who often fed him when hungry. These kind acts seemed to have been reciprocated by him, and he is said to have always treated her with respect — sometimes furnishing her with a delicious piece of bear meat, or doing some other kindly act. These traditions came down through the writer's grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Cummings, whose mother, Sarah (Hills) (Severance) Hale, daughter of Nathaniel and Ann (Worm) Hills was born in the Hills garrison October 2, 1731, only six years after the memorable campaign of Cap- tain Lovewell and his men. CHAPTER VI First Settlers of Hudson The first and only grant of land within the present precinct of this town, made prior to the incorporation of Dunstable, which included Hudson, as far as I have been able to learn, was five hundred acres laid out to Joseph Hills, of Maiden, Mass., and surveyed by Jonathan Dan- forth in 1661. This survey was not satisfactory to the court by reason of its being "in three places and so much length on the river." This grant was made, as stated by Mr. Hills in his re- quest for a second survey, "on a double consideration, for £33 6s 8d laid down in England, and for services to the country." A second survey was ordered by the General Court of Massachusetts, and the following return made : According to the order of the General Court the 11th day of the 4th month, 1662, There is added to the farm of Mr. Joseph Hills, of Maiden, One Hundred Acres of land joining to the former Parcel, Backward from the River; thence the Butting and Bounding of the farm are as follows: Laid out to Mr. Joseph Hills, of Maiden, 500 acres of Land in the Wilderness, On the Easterly side of the Merrimack River. One Parcel of the same containing 450 Acres, Joineth to said River; Beginning at Wattiannack Right Over Against the Island which Lyeth at the mouth of Nashuay River, Running up Merrimack 450 poles by the River; thence running half a point Northard of the East 148 Poles, cut- ting Across a small Brook which Bounds it on the North, near Merri- mack ; thence Running South and by East 406 Poles unto a Pine Tree marked H; from thence the closing line to the Merrimack is 106 Poles, all of which is sufficiently Bounded by Marked Trees, the form of which Does Better appear by a Plot Taken of the same. Also one other Parcel of the same, about 50 Acres of Meadow, Lyeth South East of the former Parcel, about 2 Miles Distant from it, Lying under the North East end of a great hill called Discovery hill. Also Bounded by other great hills on the North West and North East; a Brook running through the Same. 74 FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 75 Also there is Another Meadow added unto this Parcel. This was Laid out By JONATHAN DANFORTH, Surveyor. The first tract of this land as described, containing four hundred and fifty acres, commenced at the river about twenty-five or thirty rods south of the house of Kimball Webster, and about sixty rods above Taylor's Falls bridge, and extended to the river to the small brook that crosses the road a little south of the house of Pearl T. Thomas, and included the most fertile intervale lands in town. The second tract of fifty acres was a part of the large meadow still known as "Hills' Meadow." The fifty acres of the meadow set off to Mr. Hills was the north and west part of the same. The great hill called " Discovery Hill" is now designated " Burns' Hill." The last tract, which was not described by Mr. Danforth, was on the brook that enters Otternick Pond at the east end, formerly called Hale's Brook, but the exact boundary is unknown. This Joseph Hills was born in the parish of Great Burstead, Billericay, Essex, England, where he was bap- tised in March, 1602. Not later than March, 1632, the family moved to Maldon, also of Essex. In 1638 he came to this country in the ship "Susan and Ellen," which ar- rived in Boston July 17th of that year. He first located in Charlestown. He soon became active in public affairs ; was selectman of the town in 1644, and in 1646 represent- ed it in the General Court. Re-elected in 1647, he was chosen Speaker of its House of Deputies. That part of Charlestown north of the Mystic River, where he resided, was later set off as a separate township and was doubtless named by him Maiden, for his last dwel- ling place in Old England. He was a lawyer, a leader of the militia, and held many important offices while a resident of Maiden. Later he removed to Newbury. 76 HISTORY OF HUDSON In 1645, Joseph Hills was the first person named on a committee "to set out lots to the settlers of Nashaway plantacon." In 1650 he was second of a committee, of which the governor was chairman, appointed to draw up instruments for Massachusetts delegates to a gathering where "the commissioners of all the colonies shall meete." He was a member of numerous other committees of equal or greater importance. His greatest public service was that of a leading mem- ber of the committee which in 1648 reported to the General Court the first codification of the laws of the colony. Mr. D. P. Cory, one of his descendants, in a history of Maiden published in 1899, says: "He was the actual compiler of the laws, that he prepared the copy for the press and sup- ervised their printing." The colony recognized the great value of his services by money payments, and also by the grant of lands already described, and the remission of his taxes in his old age. Rose Clark, the first wife of Joseph Hills, died at Mai- den, March 24, 1650, and he married June 24, 1651, Hannah (Smith), widow of Edward Mellows, of Charlestown, who died about 1655. In January, 1656, he married Helen, or Elline, or Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Atkinson, of Kendall, Westmoreland, England, who died between the dates of January 8, 1661, and November 10, 1662. Following the example of Governor Bellingham, who married himself in 1641, Joseph Hills, a magistrate "for the trial of small causes," performed the ceremony that made Miss Atkin- son his wife, in January, 1656, but he did not escape cen- sure, as witness the following: The records of the court for Middlesex County show that, April 1, 1656, "Mr. Joseph Hills of Mauldon being presented by the Grand Jury for marrying of himself, con- trary to the law of this Collony page 38 in ye old Booke. Hee freely acknowledged his offense therein, and his mis- understanding the ground whereon he went which he now FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 77 confesseth to be unwarrantable, And was admonished by the Court." March 8, 1665, he married at Newbury, Ann, the widow of Henry Lunt, of that town, and until his death made her dwelling his home. He was totally blind the last four years of his life, which ended February 5, 1688. The children of Joseph and Rose (Clark) Hills : Mary, baptised G. Burstead, Eng., November 13, 1625 ; died at Maiden, Mass., November 25, 1674. Elizabeth, baptised G. Burstead, October 21, 1627 ; died at Maiden. Joseph, baptised G. Burstead, August 2, 1629; died at Maiden, April 19, 1674. James, baptised G. Burstead, March 6, 1631 ; probably died young. John, baptised Maiden, March 21, 1632; died at Maiden, June 28, 1652. Rebecca, bap- tised at Maiden, April 20, 1634; died at Maiden, June 6, 1674. Steven, baptised at Maiden, May 1, 1636 ; died at Maiden before 1638. Sarah, baptised at Maiden, August 14, 1637 ; died at Maiden, August 14, 1637. Gershom, born at Charlestown, Mass., July 27, 1639 ; died at Maiden, between 1710 and 1721. Mehitable, born at Maiden, Jan- uary 1, 1641 ; died at Maiden, July, 1653. The children of Joseph and Hannah (Smith-Mellows) Hills : Samuel, born at Maiden, July, 1652 ; died at New- bury, Mass., August 18, 1732. Nathaniel, born at Maiden, December 19, 1653; died in Maiden in 1664. Hannah, born at Maiden; date of death unknown. The children of Helen (Atkinson) Hills: Deborah, born at Maiden, March — , 1657; died at Maiden, October — , 1662. Abagail, born at Maiden, October 6, 1658; died at Maiden, October 9, 1662. Samuel Hills, son of Joseph and his second wife, Han- nah Smith, born in Maiden, in July, 1652, was sergeant in the Indian war with King Philip, and was at the Battle of Bloody Brook, September 18, and of Narragansett, Decem- ber 19, 1675. He married at Newbury, May 20, 1679, Abi- gail Wheeler, daughter of David and Sarah (Wise) Wheeler of Newbury. 78 HISTORY OF HUDSON The children of Samuel and Abigail (Wheeler) Hills: Samuel, born in Newbury, February 16, 1680; died in Rehoboth, Mass., July 27, 1732. Joseph, born in Newbury, July 21, 1681; died in Newbury, November 6, 1745. Na- thaniel, born in Newbury, February 9, 1683; died at Not- tingham West (Hudson), N. H., April 12, 1748. Benja- min, born in Newbury, October 16, 1684; died, Chester, N. H., November 3, 1762. Abigail, born in Newbury, Sep- tember 2, 1686; died in Newbury, August 11, 1688. Hen- ry, born in Newbury, April 23, 1688; died in Nottingham West, N. H., August 20, 1757. William, born in Newbury, October 8, 1689; died in Newbury before January 20, 1724. Josiah, born in Newbury, July 27, 1691; died in Newbury, April 26, 1724. John, born in Newbury, September 20, 1693; died after 1734. Abigail, born in Newbury, June 27, 1695. James and Hannah, twins, born in Newbury, February 25, 1697; died in Nottingham West after 1769. Daniel, born in Newbury, December 8, 1700; died in colo- nial service October 28, 1756. Smith, born at Newbury, April 10, 1706; died in Leominster, Mass., August 23, 1786. By the lengthy and explicit will of Joseph Hills, dated September 14, 1687, less than five months previous to his death, he disposed of his "Farm" in Dunstable in the fol- lowing manner: To his daughter Hannah, the wife of Abiel Long, he gave ninety acres of upland at the south end and ten acres of meadow. To his son-in-law, John Waite, who married his eldest daughter Mary, who died November 25, 1674, he gave forty- five acres of upland, next to that he gave his daughter Hannah, and five acres of meadow, with the little island at the mouth of Nashua River, and his six-acre piece of meadow southeast of Otternick Pond. To his grandchildren, Hannah and Elizabeth Blanch- ard, children of his daughter, Elizabeth (Hills) Blanchard, he gave forty-five acres of upland and five acres of meadow ground next to that he gave John Waite. FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 79 To his son Gershom he gave a like quantity of upland and meadow, joining the land of said Blanchards. To Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green, children of his daughter Rebecca, who married Capt. Thomas Green, he gave forty-five acres of upland and five acres of meadow apiece next to that he gave his son Gershom. To his granddaughter Elizabeth, daughter of Gershom, he gave forty-six acres of upland and five acres of meadow next to that he gave his grandchildren Vinton and Green. All of the remainder of his "Farm " in Dunstable, both upland and meadow, he gave to his son Samuel. This tract of land lying on the river according to the measure- ment of the noted surveyor, Jonathan Danforth, contained four hundred and fifty acres. The number of acres of this land devised, according to his will, to his children and grandchildren by Joseph Hills, with the exception of that portion given his son Samuel, contained three hundred and sixty-one acres. Provided the measurements were made correctly, the amount devised to Samuel at the north end of the "farm" was eighty-nine acres, besides ten acres of meadow. The land was proba- bly not divided by actual survey to correspond with the provisions of the will until many years later. Three of the sons of Samuel Hills, according to tradi- tion, were the first settlers in what is now the town of Hudson. Their names were Nathaniel, Henry and James. Samuel Hills, by his will, which was dated August 5, 1732, only thirteen days previous to his decease, gave his property to his wife and seven of his sons who survived him. In that instrument his sons, Henry and James, are not mentioned, which omission is explained by two deeds dated August 22, 1721. In one of these where Henry is the grantee his father recites: "The natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my well beloved son Henry Hills * * * * and in full of his portion of my estate," as the considera- 80 HISTORY OF HUDSON tion for the conveyance to him of "one-half part of all * * * * lands and meadow * * * in the town of Dunstable, in the county of Middlesex * * * * on the easterly side of the Merrimack River * * * which land and meadow was granted to my honored father, Mr. Joseph Hills, late of Newbury, deceased, and conveyed to me by the late will and testament of the said Joseph Hills." For the same consideration he gave to his "well-beloved son James Hills" the other half of the same lands. This James Hills, the younger of the three brothers, on the 11th of January, 1723, a few days subsequent to his marriage, reciting in his deed that he was a resident of the new set- tlement, sold the land he had received from his father Sam- uel, then in Dunstable, describing it as containing sixty acres, to Samuel Whiting, of Dunstable, one of Captain Lovewell's famous war-party, and who was probably killed at Pequaket, May 9, 1725, a little over two years after this purchase. The tract of land sold to Samuel Whiting was the southerly part of the Samuel Hills land, and was later the northerly portion of the Pierce farm. The Hills brothers, Nathaniel, Henry and James, erect- ed a garrison and settled on the land willed to their father Samuel, and conveyed by deeds to the two last named, Henry and James. The exact date of the building of this garrison is not known. Mr. Fox, in his History of the Old Township of Dunstable, page 216, says: "Hudson was not settled until after 1710, although several tracts of land within its bounds were granted before 1660." If these brothers did not commence the settlement here until after the land was conveyed to the two younger ones by their father Samuel, August 22, 1721, certainly tradition is in error, and they could not be credited with being the first settlers in what is now Hudson. Nathaniel Hills, the eldest of the three brothers, born in Newbury, Mass., February 9, 1683, married (published) in Newbury, October 24, 1709, Ann Worm. Their chil- 2> o > 2 w o z a o w H W iV^^i FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 81 dren were: Enoch, born March 16, 1711. Anna, born May 5, 1712. Mary, born September 23, 1713. Martha, born January 6, 1715. Nathaniel, born April 28, 1716. Thaddeus, born September 20, 1718; died in Newbury, October 12, 1718. Abner, born ; died young. Abra- ham, born ; died young. Samuel, born September 2, 1725. Oliver, born November 18, 1727. Sarah, born October 7, 1731. All but the last three of these children were born in Newbury, Mass., and these in Dunstable, N. H. Nathaniel Hills, Sr., died in Nottingham West, now Hudson, April 12, 1748. His wife Ann died at the same place in 1786, said to have been aged 102 years. Henry Hills, the second of the three brothers in point of age, born in Newbury, Mass., April 23, 1688, married, Haver- hill, Essex Co., Mass., September 3, 1715, Hannah, daughter of Henry and Berthia (Emery) Bodwell, born in Methuen, Mass., September — , 1696. He married 2d, Abigail ; 3d, in Newbury, November 11, 1736, Dorcas Thurston. The children of Henry and Hannah (Bodwell) Hills: Ezekiel, born in Newbury, Mass., April 11, 1718. Henry, born in Newbury, October 22, 1719. The children of Henry and Abigail Hills were: Eliza- beth, born in Dunstable, now Hudson, N. H., April 17, 1726.(?) (Dunstable Records.) Ebenezer, born in Dunsta- ble, February 20, 1727; Jonathan, born in Dunstable, Feb- ruary 15, 1729. Child of Henry and Dorcas (Thurston) Hills: Benja- min, born in Litchfield, N. H., in that part now Hudson, December 10, 1740. There may have been other children of this couple. Henry Hills died August 20, 1757, aged 69 years. James Hills, the youngest of these three brothers, and the twin of Hannah, was born in Newbury, Mass., Febru- ary 25, 1697. He came here and lived in the garrison be- fore his marriage to Abigail, daughter of Daniel and Es- ther Merrill, December 26, 1723, and then returned to Newbury. 82 HISTORY OF HUDSON Children of James and Abigail (Merrill) Hills: Abi- gail, born September 5, 1725 ; died October 5, 1725. Jere- miah, born March 1, 1727. James, born August 10, 1728; died September 1, 1729. William, born May 23, 1730; died September 25, 1734. Hannah, born September 25, 1731 ; all of Newbury. Sarah, born July 2, 1735; married Joseph Winn, Jr.; died August 24, 1753. Edna, born August 3, 1736; died September 1, 1753. Elijah, born March 15, 1738. James Hills returned from Newbury as early as 1737, and settled on a farm of about one hundred acres, which he bought of his brother Nathaniel, and which was a part of the nine hundred acres Nathaniel had bought of Jonathan Tyng. This tract of land was located between the north end of Joseph Hills' "farm" and the "Brenton Farm," which bounded it on the north, and extended east from the river more than two miles. This included all that was later known as "Hills Row." The probable reason why Samuel Hills gave all of his land in Dunstable to his two sons, Henry and James, and no part to Nathaniel, was that the latter had already bought the Tyhg land. The Hills garrison stood about twenty-five rods east of the Litchfield road, on the farm now owned by J. H. LeGallee. A granite boulder, with the following inscrip- tion, marks the location: SfTE of the Hills Garrison. The first settlement of Hudson, about 1710. Erected by Kimball Webster, 1901. Nathaniel Hills died April 12, 1748, aged 65. Henry Hills died August 20, 1757, aged 69. It is possible and perhaps probable that Hills garrison was erected and the settlement commenced several years previous to the removal of the families of Nathaniel and Henry Hills, permanently, from Newbury. Captain John Lovewell, with his company of forty- six brave soldiers spent the first night after starting upon their march to Pequawket at Hills garrison, where they were fed by Mrs. Ann Hills with rations she had prepared FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 83 for them — cooked in a large iron kettle. She was a very brave woman, and once saved the garrison from capture by a party of Indians by strategem. Three other garrisons were built in what was later the town of Nottingham, two of which, the Joseph Blodgett, and the John Taylor garrisons, were all built in what is now Hudson, and the Fletcher garrison was a short dis- tance south of the state line, in what is nowTyngsborough, Mass. These garrisons were all built as a protection against the Indians, either before, or during the time of Lovewell's war, and it is the more probable that they were all built previous to that time. The Joseph Blodgett garri- son was located about two and one-half miles below the mouth of the Nashua River, nearly half way between the present river road and the Merrimack, on the farm now owned by Philip J. Connell, which is a part of the original Joseph Blodgett farm. Joseph Blodgett was one of the first settlers on the east side of the river, in what was then Dunstable. A granite boulder with a bronze tablet marks the site of the garrison. The inscription on the tablet is as follows : Site of Blodgett Garrison — Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett. Their eldest son, Joseph, born here February 9, 1718, being the first white child born in this town. Kimball Webster, 1904. Thomas Blodgett, born 1605, the emigrant ancestor of the Blodgett Family of New England, sailed from London in the "Increase," April 18, 1635. The family consisted of "Thomas Blodgett, glover, aged 30 ; his wife, Susan, aged 37; a son, Daniel, aged 4; and a son, Samuel, aged 1 1-2 years." He settled in Cambridge, Mass., and was one of the original members of Rev. Thomas Shepard's company which founded the first church in Cambridge. He was made a freeman in 1636, and received a grant of land. He died in 1642, aged about 37. His will is dated August 10, 84 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1641, and was probated 1643. His widow, Susan, married second time, February 15, 1643-4, James Thompson of Woburn. Samuel Blodgett, son of Thomas and Susan, born in England, settled in Woburn. Daniel Blodgett, son of Thomas, born in England, mar- ried September 15, 1653, Mary Butterfield, daughter of Benjamin and Ann Butterfield of Woburn, and Chelmsford, Mass. He removed from Cambridge to Chelmsford, and there his children were born. His wife, the mother of seven children, died September 5, 1666; he married, second, March 10, 1669, Sarah Underwood, who was the mother of two sons. He died January 28, 1672. Thomas Blodgett, son of Daniel 2 , born in Chelmsford, June 25, 1654, lived in Chelmsford. He married June 29, 1682, Mary Parkhurst, daughter of Joseph Parkhurst; she died September 9, 1694. He married, second, July 8, 1696, Mary Druse of Groton, Mass. Joseph Blodgett, son of Thomas 8 , and Mary (Park- hurst) Blodgett, born in Chelmsford, October 10, 1689; married Dorothy Perham, daughther of Joseph Perham, born July 9, 1696. This is the same Joseph Blodgett that built the garrison, sometime previous to the beginning of Lovewell's war, and where his eldest son was born, prob- ably February 9, 1718, athough the records place it one year later. This was the first white child born in this town. The old Dunstable records give the births of children of Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett as follows: Joseph Blodgett, born February 9, 1719; Ebenezer, born January 3, 1720; Jeremiah, born July 20, 1721; Dorothy, born Febuary 18, 1723-4; Rebecca, born February 3,1728; Jonathan, born December 5, 1730. We also find recorded on the Nottingham records an- other birth, James, born February 17, 1734. They prob- ably had another daughter, Abigail, who married in this town May 27, 1744, Samuel Greeley, son of Samuel and FmST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 85 Rachel Greeley, born May 11, 1721. They resided in this town until about 1767 when they removed to Wilton. After his death his widow, Abigail, returned here, where she •died March 18, 1818, in the 95th year of her age. (Inscrip- tion, Blodgett Cemetery.) The date of the birth of Joseph Blodgett, given as February 9, 1719, on the Dunstable records, is believed to be an error of one year. The inscription on his head stone in the Blodgett Cemetery gives the date of his death on August 16, 1801, in the 84th year of his age, which would place his birth as in the year 1718. Again, the record places the birth of his brother, Eb- enezer, January 3, 1720, which would leave less than eleven months between the two births, which might be possible but not very probable. The date upon the tablet at the site of the Blodgett garrison, for the birth of Joseph, is February 9, 1718, which is believed to be correct. In my experience with the ancient town records I have observed very many similar errors of one or more years in the dates of births and deaths, in cases where the age is given at date of death.* Dorothy Blodgett, born February 18, 1723-4; married first — Thompson, second Onesipherous Marsh of this town. They resided here until about 1755, when they removed to Hollis, and later to Plymouth, N. H. Rebecca Blodgett, born February 3, 1728, married Samuel Merrill, Jr., son of Samuel and Susanna Merrill of this town. He died Sep- tember 16, 1758, and is said to have been killed in the French and Indian war. The Joseph Blodgett farm, upon which the garrison was built, extended from the Merrimack River to Hills meadow, a distance of more than one and a half miles, and contained about 200 acres, including the farm now owned by Hannah E. Connell, the summer home of Herman A. Kimball Webster. 86 HISTORY OF HUDSON Morse, a part of the farm of the heirs of Luther Pollardy and lands of Austin J. and Vinnie Blodgett and Susan C Greeley, and possibly others. The descendants of Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett be- came very numerous, among which have been, and at pres- ent (1912) are, many distinguished men of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and other states. He died December 3, 1761. His wife, Dorothy, died March 6, 1778. They were buried in the Blodgett ceme- tery, where the inscriptions upon their head stones may be easily read. Tradition says that he was a small, wiry man, and that he moved up the river to his farm in a canoe. The John Taylor garrison was located upon that part of the Joseph Hills farm, containing forty-five acres, that was willed to Gershom Hills by his father, Joseph, which farm is now owned and occupied by Charles W. Spalding, and was situated about equal distance between the Derry road and the Litchfield road as they at present exist. The exact location where it stood is still known, and has been pointed out to the writer. Some pieces of timber that entered into the construction of this garrison are still preserved by Mr. Spalding. Very little is know of this John Taylor. He was as- sessed here from the date of the incorporation of Notting- ham in 1733 to 1741, inclusive. He probably removed from this town about 1742, or possibly he may have died about that time, as we find no further reference in relation to him upon the records. The Dunstable records give births of children of John and Sarah Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, born December 10, 1710, and that a son was born to them January 16, 1726; the first of which probably took place while he resided on the west side of the Merrimack, before he built the garrison. The falls in the Merrimack, about one mile below his farm, now covered by flowage from the dam at Lowell, called Taylor's Falls, probably derived the name from this John Taylor. FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 87 The Fletcher garrison, also in Nottingham, was situ- ated a little south of the line as established in 3741, be- tween the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was located near the River road, a short distance south of the state line, now Tyngsborough, Mass., and was occu- pied by Capt. Robert Fletcher. Thus it will be seen that the Hills garrison was situ- ated very near the north line of Nottingham as it was in- corporated in 1733. John Taylor's garrison was situated about one-half a mile south of the Hills garrison, and the Joseph Blodgett garrison was located about three miles southerly from the Taylor garrison, and the Fletcher gar- rison was situated nearly three miles southerly from the Blodgett garrison, no one of which was more than one-half a mile from the Merrimack. Probably during Lovewell's war there may have been a few other families residing on the east side of the river, who depended upon the garrison houses for protection in fcase of trouble with the Indians. CHAPTER VII Grants and Counter Grants The early histories of all the towns in lower New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts are largely taken up with the settlements of boundary disputes, arising mainly in the beginning from a misconception regarding the true course of the Merrimack River, which was supposed to be from the west, no one dreaming of the abrupt bend made by the river three miles below the present line between the states. The records of the Massachusetts Bay Com- pany, after describing the country to the south of the Merrimack, says: And also all singular the lands and preditaments whatsoever which lie, & be within the space of three English miles to the Northward of said river Called " Monomack," alias " Merrymack," or to the northward of any and every part thereof. Owing to this misconception dual grants were made by the rival provinces which made much trouble and cre- ated in some instances bitter feelings on the part of the colonists, many of whom were in no way responsible or to blame for the situation. Though escaping, in a measure, the rancor arising among the inhabitants of the grants up the river, the settlement of Hudson, or Nottingham, as it was first known, was influenced by this state of affairs. The first grant affecting the condition of Hudson, how- ever, was free from this influence. This was the grant of the old township of Dunstable by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony, October 16, 1673, which em- braced a very large tract of land, and included within its bounds the following towns and parts of towns: Hudson, Nashua, Hollis, portions of Amherst, Milford, Merrimack, Litchfield, Londonderry, Pelham and Brookline, in New GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 89 Hampshire; Dunstable, Tyngsborough, and portions of Pepperell and Townsend, in Massachusetts. The first inroad made upon this extensive territory was attempted when Governor Shute of New Hampshire granted to the Scotch-Irish colony the township of Lon- donderry, and which included a part of the present town of Hudson, and which was made to John Moore and one hun- dred and seventeen others upon June 21, 1722. These colonists were of a distinct type from any who had previously settled in New England. They were of Scottish descent, with a character founded during the stormy period of the early struggles of Scotland against the royal and ecclesiastical tyranny of England. Finally their situation becoming more and more unsatisfactory and hopeless, a considerable number of them emigrated to the northern counties of Ireland, which had been almost de- populated through the devastations of war. This was in 1612, and these refugees soon learned that the same op- pression was to wreak its work upon them here. Thus, after a bitter conflict lasting over a hundred years in that country, their descendants began to look towards New England as their haven of refuge. One of their number, the Rev. William Boyd, came as an advance agent, and his account was so flattering that about seventy-five, under the leadership of Rev. James McGregor, landed in Boston, August 14, 1718. Flattering prospects were held out to induce them to settle on the Maine coast, and hither about twenty of them removed soon after their arrival. The balance remained in Boston during the fall and winter. In the meantime they had been seen by Capt. John Goffe and John Moore, who encouraged them to settle in what was known as "The Nuffield Country," from the great abundance of chestnuts, walnuts and butternuts growing there. These two men had begun negotiations for land there, and the first of April sixteen families went to Haverhill, Mass., reaching that town the second day of the month. From thence 90 HISTORY OF HUDSON some of the men, under the guidance of Captain Goffe, pushed forward into the new country. They were so well pleased with the prospect, that they immediately began the construction of rude dwellings for themselves, and on April 11 they had removed their families hither, to begin housekeeping at once. The names of the male members of this hardy little band of pioneers were Rev. James McGregor, Alexander McGregor, Alexander Nichols, James Nichols, James Blair, Alexander Walker, Robert Boyes, Samuel Graves, Joseph Simonds, David Cargill, David Cargill, Jr., Archibald Clen- denin, James Nesmith, James Clark, Elias Keyes, John Bar- nett, James McKeen, James Gregg, James Morrison, John Morrison, Allen Anderson, Thomas Steele and Robert Weare. The seven last named had been among those who went to Casco the fall before, but had not been satisfied with the prospect there.* To this list of twenty-three should be added the name of John Goffe, who, though of English descent, linked his fortune with the others. I only wish I had the names of the brave and equally energetic women who accompanied their husbands into this wilderness. The following September a petition was sent to the Court of New Hampshire for the "power of government and town privileges." Anxious to secure a valid title to their possessions, in October, 1719, Mr. James McGregor and Samuel Graves were chosen to obtain a sale of the land from Col. John Wheelwright of Wells, Maine, a grand- son of Rev. John Wheelwright, who claimed to have pur- chased of the Indians a tract of land extending from the Pascataqua River to the Merrimack, and from the Massa- chusetts line thirty miles northward. This was the famous Wheelwright deed, which has caused so much discussion in regard to its being genuine or not, and upon which his- * From the fact that these people had come here from Ireland, where they and their an- cestors had lived for over a century, they were largely known as " Irish " among the early English settlers. Later they were termed " Scotch-Iriih," which name has clung to them, though opinions differ as to whether it is correct or not.— G. W. B. GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 91 torians are not yet agreed. It was purported to have been signed by Passaconnavvay, Sagamon of the Pennacooks; Runnawit, Chief of the Pawtuckets; Wahhangnowit, Chief of the Swampscots; and Rowls, Chief of the Newichewan- nocks, and dated May 17, 1629. The deed from John Wheelwright to the Londonderry colonists was dated October 20, 1719, and specified "Unto James McGregor, Samuel Graves, David Cargill, James McKeen, James Gregg, and one hundred more mentioned in a list, by virtue of a deed or grant made to my grand- father, a minister of the gospel, a tract of land not to ex- ceed tenn miles square, and bounded as follows," etc. There was some delay in getting the charter, but this was granted June 21, 1722, in the name of George the First, and signed by Samuel Shute, Governor of New Hampshire. It covered a tract of land about ten miles square, incorporated under the name of Londonderry, so called from the city in Ireland from whence many of them had come. The first comers to Londonderry settled along West- Running Brook, now Beaver Brook, and the energy with which they went to work is shown by the fact that within a year a two-story dwelling house was built for the minister; inside of two years a meeting house and four school houses were erected. In that space of time, too, they had con- structed mills, and begun the manufacture of linen, an im- portant product in that day. So they became the pioneer manufacturers in this country. In fact, before this time they had begun the manufacture of linen cloth in Boston, arousing the people to the importance of that industry, and inaugurating what was known as "the spinning craze," car- ried to such an extent that work was carried on at Boston Common, and the whirl of the wheel was heard from sunrise to sunset, while the folk went about proudly clad in gar- ments of their weaving. Mr. Parker, in his History of Londonderry, speaking of this industry, says: "To the hand-card, foot-wheel and 92 HISTORY OF HUDSON the loom, the common implements of manufacture in al- most every family, was the town principally indebted for its early prosperity and wealth. Of such superior quality was the linen, the thread and the fabrics manufactured in Londonderry, that they commanded not only a more ready sale, but a higher price than those produced elsewhere." They raised their own flax, and also introduced the potato, which had been unknown in this country before. The complete lack of knowledge concerning this item of food is shown by the anecdote current at that time, and told at the expense of some of the good settlers in An- dover, Mass. A few potatoes left with a family for seed were planted according to directions, and like Mr. Finney's turnip, "they grew and they grew," but the raisers were at a loss what to do with them. Finally, as the little apples that succeeded the blossoms grew into sizable shape these were plucked and boiled, but the most ravenous could not eat them. Then some were baked, and still they proved anything but palatable. They were stewed and cooked in all the various ways the ingenious housewife could think of, and still they failed to be relished. So the little patch was left to the mercies of the weeds, and, while the potato might do well for a Scotch-Irishman, it was unsuitable to the English taste. The following spring the plow turned out some bouncing specimens which had escaped the win- ter frosts, and with a suspicion that the previous trial had been misplaced, these were cooked and eaten with great manifestations of delight. The south-western boundary of Londonderry, as de- scribed in its charter, reached an angle about northeast from Taylor's Falls bridge, and within two miles of the Merrimack River. From thence the western boundary line ran due north by the needle eleven and one-half miles. This plan included ten thousand acres of the township of Old Dunstable, which had been incorporated forty-nine years before by the Massachusetts Bay colony. Four thou- sand six hundred acres of this territory are within the pres- 'GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 93 Wit limits of Hudson, so the inhabitants of our town had a personal interest in this grant to the Scotch-Irish. This tract became known as the " Londonderry Claim," and a bitter controversy arose between the English settlers and the Scotch-Irish, the former holding their title from the Massachusetts courts and the latter from New Hamp- shire. This civil war continued with increasing bitterness until the boundary line "was fixed between the provinces in May, 1741, when it was conceded that the charter of Lon- donderry held the •debatable territory. Before this an im- portant step had been taken relative to the jurisdiction over that territory now comprising the town of Hudson. In 1731 the inhabitants of t)unstable residing in that part of the township lying east of the Merrimack, peti- tioned the town of Dunstable to be set off as a separate township; and by a vote passed at the annual meeting of that town, March H, 1732, the petition was granted, to take effect "when the General Court shall judge them capable." Consent was obtained from the Assembly of Massa- chusetts, and the new township was incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts under the name of Not- tingham, January 4, 1733, as follows: Charter of Nottingham, January 4, 1732-3. Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Dunstable, on the easterly side of the river Merrimack, labor under great difficulties on their atten- dance on public 'worship of God, and therefore have addressed this court that they may be set off a separate and distinct township, that they may be Vested with all powers and privileges of a town. Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency, the Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same; That all the lands on the easterly side of the river Merrimack, be- longing to the town of Dunstable, be and hereby are set off and consti- tuted a separate township by the name of Nottingham, and that the in- habitants of the said lands be, and hereby are, accordingly endowed and vested with all the powers, privileges, immunities and advantages which other towns of this Province by law have and enjoy. And the inhabitants of the said town of Nottingham are hereby en- joined and required, within the space of three years from the publication 94 HISTORY OF HUDSON - of this Act, to procure and settle a learned Orthodox minister of goes conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable sup- port. Passed January 4; Published January 6, 1732-3. By the terms of this charter the township of Notting- ham included "all the lands on the easterly side of the river Merrimack belonging to the town of Dunstable," and extended from the Dracut line on the south, up the Merri- mack, about seventeen miles, to near Reed's Ferry, and included the greater part of Litchfield, about one-third of Pelham, nearly all that part of Tyngsborough, Mass., on the east side of the Merrimack, and all the present town of Hudson, excepting the "Londonderry claim," the owner- ship of which was in dispute between the towns of Dun- stable and Londonderry. An order from the General Court of Massachusetts, dated April 4, 1733 — three months subsequent to the date of the charter — directed to "Mr. Robert Fletcher, one of the principal inhabitants of Nottingham," authorizing him "to assemble and convene the inhabitants of said Town to choose Town officers to stand until the annual meeting in March next." A warrant was accordingly issued by Mr. Fletcher as follows: The general court's order directed to me Being date April ye 4, to notify and warn a Town meeting in obedience to said order. I have noti- fied ye free Holders and other Inhabitants of ye town of Nottingham To meet at ye Hous of Insign John Snow, in Nottingham one Tuesday ye first day of May 1733, at ten of ye clock in ye forenoon to choose Town officers as ye Law directs. ROBERT FLETCHER. The inhabitants of Nottingham met and made "choys of Cpt. Robert Fletcher Moderator for this inst in s In ye year 1733 May ye first day, ye free Holders and other in- habitants at a general Town meeting at Insign John Snows "Henry Baldwin Town Clerk. Henry Baldwin first Selectman, Capt. Robert Fletcher ye Second Selectman, John Taylor ye Third Selectman, Joseph Snow ye Fourth GRANTS ANT) COUNTER GRANTS !*:■■ Selectman, John Butler ye Fifth Selectman. Joseph Ham- let Constable. Insign John Snow Town Treasurer. Na- thaniel Hills Tythingman. James Perham, Joseph Winn, Eleazer Cummings. Thomas Colburn, ) Samuel Butler. \ Edward Spalding, ) p. w Dri Jonathan Perham. ) Phineas Spalding, \ „ R John Hamlet. \ rt0§ Keves> Henry Baldwin, Town Clerk." The first tax-list for 1733 was made up of the following > Surveyors, Fence Viewers Captain Robert Fletcher, Ezekiel Fletcher, Daniel Fletcher, Jeremiah Colburn, Zaccheus Spalding, James Perham, Hugh Richardson, Ensign John Snow, Zaccheus Lovewell, Eleazer Cummings, Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Nathaniel Hills, Joseph Snow, Joseph Blodgett, John Taylor, Henry Hills, Benjamin Adams, Samuel Moores, Capt.Robert Richardson, Edward Lingfield, John Butler, Samuel Butler, Josiah Winn, Joseph Perham, Jonathan Perham, Deacon Joseph Perham, Captain Joseph Butterfield, Samuel Gould, Phineas Spalding, Thomas Pollard, William Cummings, Ebenezer Spalding, Ephraim Cummings, Thomas Colburn, Nathan Cross, Jabez Davis, Edward Spalding, Aquilla Underwood, Thomas Wartels, Ebenezer Wright, John John Butler, Jr., Joseph Hamblet, Jr, Henry Baldwin, 96 HISTORV OF HUDSON* Thomas Cummings, Joseph Wright r James Walker, Joseph Hamblet r Jonas Proctor, John Hamblet, Joseph Winn, Benjamin Hassel, William Harwood, Samuel Murdough, Robert Walker. This tax-list contains fifty-five names, of which the first twelve, and also Phineas Spalding and Samuel Mur- dough, were all residents of that part of the town which by the settlement of the Province line in 1741 fell into Massa- chusetts, and later became a part of the town of Tyngs- borough. The eight next following the names of Henry Hills and Edward Spalding were residents in what is now Litchfield. Nine inhabited the east part of the town that was taken into Pelham as incorporated July 6, 1746. These tax-payers were: John Butl'er, John Butler, Jr., Samuel Butler* Joseph Hamblet, Jr.,. Josiah Winn, Joseph Hamblet, John Hamblet,. Henry Baldwin, Joseph Wright- Six of those assessed m 1733 we?e either transients or non-residents, as they were not assessed hetfe after that year. These names were: Thomas Cummings,. Robert Walker,. James Proctor, Benjamin Hassel,, Joseph Walker,, William Harwood. Thus it appears that the total number of tax-payers in 1733, residents in that part of Nottingham that is now within the present limits of Hudson,, was bat eighteen. The names of those men were: Ensign John Snow, Zaccheus Lovewell, Thomas Pollard, Ebenezer Cummings, William Cummings, Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Ebenezer Spalding, Nathaniel Hills, GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 97 Ephraim Cummings, Joseph Snow, Joseph Winn, Thomas Colburn, Joseph Blodgett, Nathan Cross, John Taylor, Jabez Davis, Henry Hills, Edward Spalding. The most thickly settled part of the town included what was formerly the Joseph Hills grant already men- tioned, upon which ten of the eighteen families above enu- merated were residents. CHAPTER VIII Pioneer Families A brief sketch of these eighteen men, the pioneer set- tlers of Hudson, the ancestors of many of its present resi- dents, showing so far as is known the places where they settled, may not be uninteresting in this connection. First, the settlers of "Hills Farm," beginning with Eleazer Cummings. Isaac Cummings, the emigrant, was a resident of Watertown before 1636, where he was the owner of land. Later he became a permanent resident of Topsfield, where he was deacon of the church for many years." He died in May, 1667, aged 66 years. His children were: John 2 , born 1630; Isaac 2 , born 1633; Elizabeth 2 , born ; married John Jewett of Rowley, April 2, 1661; Ann 2 , born ; married John Pease of Salem, October 8, 1669; John Cum- mings 2 , (Isaac 1 ), born 1630; married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Alice (French) Howlet, of Ipswich, Mass. He received by his father's will the homestead, con- sisting of 40 acres, with houses, barns, orchards and fences, and in 1680 sold the same to Edward Kneeland. About 1658 he removed to Boxford, Mass. Both he and his wife were members of the church in Topsfield, December 7, 1685, when, they were dismissed "to the church to be shortly gathered at Dunstable." (Topsfield Church Records.) He removed with his family to Dunstable about 1680. He died December 1, 1700. Sarah, his wife, died Decem- ber 7, 1700. Children: — John 3 , born , 1657, in Boxford; Thom- as 3 , born October 6, 1658; Nathaniel 3 , born September 10, 1659; Sarah 8 , born January 27, 1661; married Lieut. Sam- uel French, December 28, 1682; Abraham 8 , born ; 98 PIONEER FAMILIES 99 * Isaac 8 , born ; died November 2, 1688; *Ebenezer 8 , born ; died November 2, 1688; fWilliam 8 , born August 5, 1671; died March 30, 1672; fEleazer 8 , born August 5, 1671; Benjamin 3 , born February 23, 1673; Samuel 3 , born December 28, 1677. John Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford, 1657; married September 13, 1680; Elisabeth Kinsley, born in Braintree, November 22, 1657. She was called "Goody" Cummings. They settled on the Nathan Cutler place, on the Lo.well road, about one mile north of the south line of Nashua, where "Goody" Cummings was killed by the Indians, July 3, 1706. He was also wounded, hav- ing an arm broken, but escaped to a swamp about one-half a mile south, where he remained in hiding until the next morning when he escaped to "Harwell's Block-house." Children: John 4 , born July 7, 1682; Samuel 4 , born October 6, 1684; Elizabeth 4 , born January 5, 1687; married Joseph French, son of Samuel and Sarah (Cummings) French, born March 10, 1687; Hannah 4 , born May 20, 1690 in Groton; Ebenezer 4 , born in Woburn, September 17, 1695; died September 5, 1724, killed by the Indians with seven others; Anna 4 , born September 14, 1798; Lydia 4 , born March 24, 1701; died April, 1701; William 4 , born April 24, 1702; settled in Hudson. Thomas Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ), born in Boxford, October 6, 1658; married December 19, 1688, Priscilla, daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Swan) Warner, born Sep- tember 25, 1666. He died October 23, 1722, and was, buried in the ancient cemetery at South Nashua, where his head stone still remains. Children: Priscilla 4 , born October 1, 1689; died Sep- tember 13, 1728 ; Mary 4 , born April 25, 1692 ; married Lieut. Oliver Farwell, born 1691, who was killed by the Indians at Natticook, September 5, 1724, aged 33; Thomas 4 , born * Killed by the Indians and remained unburied until November 28. t Twins. 100 HISTORY OF HUDSON October 24, 1694; died June 2, 1695; Sarah 4 , born Septem- ber 15, 1696; Ann 4 , born February 6, 1699; Thomas 4 , born April 10, 1701; Jonathan 4 , born July 3, 1703; settled in Merrimack, N. H. ; Ephraim 4 , born March 10, 1706, settled in Hudson; Samuel 4 , born April 12, 1708. Nathaniel Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford September 10, 1659; married April 14, 1697, Abigail Park- hurst, of Chelmsford, and settled in Dunstable. His widow was living February 23, 1729, with her son John, who gave a bond for her support. Children: John 4 , born January 14,1698; Nathaniel 4 , born September 8, 1699; Eleazer 4 , born October 19, 1701; Joseph 4 , born May 26, 1704. Abraham Cummings 8 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford, removed with his father to Dunstable about 1680. He married February 28, 1687, Sarah Wright, of Woburn, where the births of his children are recorded, with the ex- ception of Josiah's, which is recorded in Dunstable. Children: Abraham 4 , born October 7, 1690; Joseph 4 , born September 1, 1692; Sarah 4 , born February 10, 1694; Jacob 4 , born January 3, 1696; Josiah 4 , born July 12, 1698; Eleazer 4 , born April 9, 1704. Eleazer Cummings 4 , (Nathaniel 8 , John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Dunstable, October 19, 1701, settled on the southerly end of the Joseph Hills farm which was willed to Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green, containing ninety acres. The deed dated August 1, 1728, was as follows: To all people unto whom this Deed of sale shall come, Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogers, Jun., Husband of said Han- nah Rogers, all of ye town of Newbury, in ye County of Essex, in ye Province of ye Massachusetts Ray in New England, stndeth greeting. Know ye that for and in consideration of ye sum of two hundred and fifty Pounds money to us in hand paid, and by bond seemed to us before the signing and sealing hereof, Have given, granted, bargained, sold, and do by these presents fully, freely and absolutely give, giant, sell, alienate, confirm and make over unto Eleazer Cummings, Sen., in ye County of Middlesex in ye Province above named, A certain parcel of land lying in ye township of Dunstable, being ninety acres of upland and ten acres of PIONEER FAMILIES 101 Meadow, being originally the land of Mr. Joseph Hills, late of Newbury, deceased, which land and meadow is at that end of said Hills farm lying next to Chelmsford, and was given to our honored mother, Hannah Long by ye last will and te*tament of her Honored father Joseph Hills. The said ten acres of meadow is bounded as followeth, Viz. South- westward by meadow about eighteen poles, Southeasterly by upland about fifty poles and about 11 poles by meadow, bounded northeasterly by meadow about 38 poles, bounded westerly by upland in crooked lines about fifty-two poles to a white oak tree marked by a rock, thence it is bounded by upland in a crooked line about 36 poles. The Southeast and Northeast corners are stakes, the South west and North west corners are rocks and stones layed upon them. To Have and to Hold all of the above mentioned ninety acres of up- land and ten acres of meadow together with all the privileges and apper- tenances thereon or in any ways thereunto appertaining, to him the said Eleazer Cummings his heirs Executors Administrators assigns forever, to his and their proper use, benefit or behoof forever. And we the said Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rog- ers, for ourselves our heirs executors administrators, do promise, covenant and grant to and with the above said Eleazer Cummuigs, his heiis Ex- ecutors Administrators and assigns, that before ye signing and sealing hereof, we are the true sole and lawful owners of all ye above bargained premises, and have ourselves good right, full power, and lawful authority to make this sale in form and manner as aforesaid, And that ye said Elea- zer Cummings, his heirs and assigns shall have, hold, use, occupy, possess and enjoy all ye above demised premises, with the appurtenances, free and clear from all former or other sales, gifts, grants, thirds dowers, wills, mortgages, or any other incumbrances whatever. And furthermore we the above said Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogers, for ourselves and our heirs Executors and Admin- istrators do covenant and promise to and with the above named Eleazer Cummings his heirs Executors Administrators and assigns to secure war- rantise maintain and defend all and every part of ye above demised prem- ises against the lawful claims of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness and for confirmation of all above written we the above named Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogers have here- unto set our hands and seals, this first day of August, in ye second year of ye reign of our Sovereign Lord, George ye Second, King of Great Britain, &c, Anno Com. 1728. signed sealed and delivered Benjamin Long, [skal] in presence of us Witnesses. Hannah Rogers, [jeal] John Huse, Thomas Rogers, Jr. [seal] Mary Rogers. 102 HISTORY OK HUDSON Essex, Newbury the first day of August, 1728, the within named Ken- jamin Long and Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogeis, Junior, Personally acknowledged this instrument, and Sarah Long gave up her light of dower in and to the same, before me EDWARD SARGENT Justice of the Peace. Sarah Long above named is the wife of Benjamin long, acknowl- edged before me BENJAMIN SARGENT Justice of the Peace. Cambr, July 15, 1730. Received and entered in the Registry of Deeds for said County ] ib 31 Pa 450-1. Attest IRA FOXCROFT. Reg. This farm of ninety acres, and later known as the Cum- mings farm, was bounded southerly by the south line of the Joseph Hills grant, commencing at the Merrimack River about 60 rods above Taylor's Falls bridge, thence easterly to near the south-west corner of the Spruce Swamp, so called, about 106 rods. It included the farm of Aldpn E. Cummings, which was the north half of the original farm, and also the greater part of the homestead of Kim- ball Webster, with the north part of the homestead of the late Mrs. Sarah H. Whittier. Mr. Cummings invested all his capital in the purchase of his farm, and did not immediately erect a house. He was engaged quite extensively, during that part of the year suited to the business, in gathering turpentine. This was done by "boxing" the large white pine trees with a hatchet made for that purpose, and called a "turpen- tine hatchet." These boxes, as they were called, were made by cutting a cavity into the trunks of large trees in such a way that it would hold a considerable quantity of the liquid turpentine, which would gather in them in warm weather, in the spring and summer season. This was removed from the boxes, stored in barrels, and sold for use in the Royal Navy of England. PIONEER FAMILIES 103 Mr. Cummings, then a singie man, while engaged in the turpentine business, improving his land for a farm, and erecting a two-story dwelling house for his future residence boarded with Mr. Nathan Cross, on the farm adjoining his own upon the north. How long this continued is not known, but probably two or three years, or until he had completed his house so far as to be habitable. After the completion of the build- ing, and until his first marriage, which may have been two, or more years, he resided in his new house alone, being his own cook and housekeeper. At that time a band of friendly Indians resided, at least a part of the time, on the small island at the mouth of the Nashua river, which at that period, and for more than a hundred years later, was an island in fact, but which now forms the point between the Merrimack and the Nashua. He related that many nights while alone in his house he could hear the Indians carousing all night, and on cross- ing the river in his canoe the next morning he would find nearly the whole band intoxicated. Possibly it is now known to but very few, that a band of Indians from Maine, said to have been of the Penobscot tribe, visited the same island in 1834. They paddled their bark canoes along the coasts of Maine and New Hamp- shire, and up the Merrimack river. There was a considerable number of men, women and children, and they remained a long time during the summer and autumn of that year. The writer, then about six years of age, distinctly recalls the fact of crossing the river in a boat with his mother, and visiting the Indian camp com- posed of quite a number of real Indian wigwams. She traded ears of green corn for small fancy baskets made by the squaws. Here, about the junction of the two rivers — the Merrimack and the Nashua — and on both sides of the Merrimack, had long been a favorite location for the Indi- ans, and fields upon these fertile alluvial intervales had been cultivated by them for many years for the production 104 HISTORY OF HUDSON of corn and other vegetables, especially on the east side of the river. Here also they buried their dead. The writer, in 1859, when excavating for the cellar over which his house was built, and where he now resides, 1912, soon made the discovery that he was at work in an ancient Indianburying ground. This is situated nearly opposite to, but a little be- low the mouth of the Nashua, on a sandy knoll not more than twelve or fourteen rods from the east bank of the Merrimack. It is very true that human remains were in but few of the many graves discovered — probably not more than half a dozen. No account was taken of the number of graves opened, but I believe we dug out more than thirty in all. They were nearly all of a comparatively uniform length and depth — from two and a half to thee feet deep and from four to nearly five feet in length. There was seen a thin streak or vein of a black substance at the bottom of the graves opened, which would seem to indicate that after a grave had been opened a fire was first kindled in it before the body was placed therein. The black vein in the bottom made it very easy to discover the ancient graves, even when noth- ing else remained visible. The material of the earth throughout the entire exca- vation was fine sand. The legs of the bodies buried were folded back at the knees, as I have found to be true of all Indian burials that I have discovered in this section of the country. This ac- counts for the shortness of the graves. In one grave, I found the bones almost perfect, and covered with pine bark which was in a good state of pres- ervation. When the bark was lifted the straight, black hair was plainly to be seen about the head, but after exposure it soon disappeared, or immediately turned to dust. In another grave was the skeleton of an adult almost perfect. In several others, traces of bones were visible. Buried a few inches above such remains of bones or charcoal in CHARLES E. CUMMINGS PIONEER FAMILIES 105 one of the graves was found the back part of a box tortoise shell which was in perfect condition, and which may have been used as a drinking vessel by the Indians, or for some other domestic purpose. In several graves were found chips of flint and in several others round or oval, smooth stones of from one to two pounds weight, each of which was slightly nicked on four sides, as though having been slung as a war club or for some other purpose. Probably this spot had been used by the Indians on both sides of the Merrimack as a burial place for their dead, perhaps for many generations. Only a small portion of the burying ground was dug over. How far it extended outside of that I have no means of knowing. Many stone implements have formerly been found upon this sandy knoll, which extends north and south par- allel with the Merrimack for several hundred feet. Con- siderable quantities of pottery have been found by the writer along the bank of the river. Mr. Cummings, finding, as he did, these corn fields all ready for the plow, had a comparatively easy task, during the first years of his settlement here, to produce corn and other vegetables sufficient to supply his needs. He mar- ried first, July 28, 1734, Mary Varnum, born in Dracut, June 28, 1706, O. S. The house erected by Mr. Cummings was located very nearly opposite the mouth of the Nashua River upon a rise about twenty rods almost directly north of the present dwelling house of Kimball Webster. The house was of solid construction, two stories high on the front or south side, and one story on the back side. It was about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, and was in- habited until 1847, and was demolished in 1848. A de- pression is still plainly visible where it stood. Mr. Cummings very soon established a ferry across the Merrimack, which was probably the first public ferry in this town. The ferry landing on the east side of the river was almost directly opposite the point of land be- tween the two rivers at their junction, where a depression 106 HISTORY OF HUDSON is still noticeable in the bank. The old ferry road up the river bank on the west side, just below the mouth of the Nashua, is also very plain to be seen. He also opened a tavern at his house, which he kept for several years. At that time the road from the Cummings' ferry passed easterly, south of Mr. Cummings' house, and still easterly to the next rise, and then northerly to near the place where Mr. Cross' house stood, which will be described later, and then easterly across the small spring brook, thence north- erly and easterly to what is now the Derry road, a little north of the Catholic Cemetery. His wife died "Septem- ber 17, 1759, aged 53 years 2 months and ten days." "We lived together twenty and five years and 1 month and 20 days." (Copy of original record written by Eleazer Cum- mings). They had no children. He also recorded on the same paper: "July 12 day 1764, married to my second wife." He married, second, Phebe, daughter of Josiah and Phebe Richardson of Litchfield, born January 19, 1728. They had two children, Eleazer 5 , born June 16, 1765, and Phebe 5 , born July 8, 1768. Mr. Cummings died December 8, 1780, aged 79 years, and his widow, Phebe, died Decem- ber 27, 1788, aged about 60 years. They were buried in the Blodgett Cemetery, where their head stones still stand with inscriptions that are plain and easy to be read. He was chosen one of the selectmen at the second town meeting, March, 1734, and was later chairman of the board. Mr. Cummings, while he lived, gave his nephew, Elea- zer Cummings, son of his brother Nathaniel, whom he brought up, a farm in Londonderry; and also is said to have given another young man who had lived with him for several years — John Carkin — land for a farm, probably in Lyndeborough. CHAPTER IX Pioneer Families, Continued Upon effecting their release from the Indians, through their own efforts, Messrs. Cross and Blanchard, as has been already mentioned, returned to Dunstable. On his way back, the former went to the hollow log where he had placed his musket, with his dinner, on the morning of the attack of the Indians, to find the weapon just as he had left it. This firearm was long owned by Mr. Levi S. Cross of Nashua, and has been preserved as an heirloom in the Cross family. A few months previous to the captivity of Nathan Cross, Joseph Butterfield of Dunstable, "in consideration of the sum of four hundred and Ten Pounds of Good and Current Money of New England," conveyed to Mr. Cross that part of the Joseph Hills farm that was willed by him to his son-in-law, John Waite. This contained forty-five acres, adjoining the land bought by Eleazer Cummings, being the next farm north, with meadows and other lands. The description, copied from the original deed, is as fol- lows: A certain Peace or Parcel of Land Scituate Lying and being in the township of Dunstable aforesd on the East side of Merrimack river Lying in a farm Commonly Called & Known by ye Name of Hillses farm being forty-five acres be the same so much more or less bounded as followeth viz Beginning on Merrimack River at an oak tree Marked B & W and from thence up sd River about fifty pole to another tree marked so from thence Running Partly North East to another tree marked so from thence southerly about forty poles to Mr. Longs Corner thence Westerly by the Land of Long to Merrimack River to the sd tree where we began or however the same is otherwise bounded or reported to be bounded, as also another Distinct Parcel of upland being an Island Lying on the west side of Merrimack River in the Mouth of Nashua River as it is Common- ly called being about four acres be the same so much more or less being bound round by water and also a certain parcel of Meadow Lying in the 107 108 HISTORY OF HUDSON Town aforesaid on the East side of Merrimack River Containing six acres be the same so much more or less and lying near a pond called Watannanack Pond and is bound round \vh Great pines marked with J and H and on all other points however otherwise bounded as also five acres more of Meadow which Lyes in a Great Meadow Commonly called and known by the Name of HHlses Great Meadow, which is not as yet Laid out to sd Butterfield. This deed was dated April 22, 1724, and signed by Joseph and Sarah Butterfield, witnessed by Eleazer Tyng and Moses Colburn ; acknowledged before Eleazer Tyng, Justice of the Peace, and "Entered in the Registry of Deeds for Middlesex, the 20 of May, 1725. Lib. 25, Fol. 85-6" " Rec'd 26th April, 1748, Province of New Hampshire, Recorded Lib. 35 Fol. 231 D. PIERCE, Register. V Mr. Cross settled upon his land and erected a house probably as early as 1728. This dwelling was located about forty rods west of the Deny road, upon a rise of ground, a little south-westerly and near the bank of the small spring brook in land now owned by Charles A. McAfee. Nathan Cross was in Capt. Joseph Blanchard's com- pany, scouting on the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers, during the French and Indian war in 1754, twelve weeks and two days. He was probably twice married, as we find recorded in the Dunstable records the births of children of Nathan and Sarah Cross: Peter, born September 28, 1729; Sarah, born June 26, 1731; married Joseph Blodgett. On the Nottingham records is recorded the birth of John Cross, son of Nathan and Mary Cross, born October 9, 1735. Nathan Cross died September 8, 1766. The farm remained in the Cross family for nearly one hundred and fifty years. The west part of the Catholic Cemetery covers a piece of what was the Cross farm, and the land of George H. Abbott was once the north side of the Nathan Cross farm. William Cummings 4 , youngest son of John Cummings 3 , Jr., and Elizabeth (Kingsley) Cummings, born in Dun- PIONEER FAMILIES 109 stable, April 24, 1702, a cousin to Eleazer Cummings 4 , be- fore mentioned, settled on the next farm north of that of Nathan Cross. This homestead contained forty-five acres, which was the same devised by Joseph Hills to his grand- children, Hannah and Elizabeth Blanchard. He probably settled here after the end of Lovewell's war, and at about the same time that Nathan Cross settled on his farm ad- joining. With his cousin, Josiah Cummings 4 , he is supposed to have been in the second expedition of the famous Captain John Lovewell against the Indians, that left Dunstable, January 29, 1725, and which marched triumphantly into Dover, and later into Boston, with ten scalps stretched on hoops and elevated on poles, for which a bounty of ^100 for each scalp was paid. William and Josiah were both also in the party of Captain Lovewell, in his last and fatal expedition that left Dunstable about the 16th day of April, O. S. or April 27th N. S., which numbered forty-six men. After they reached Contoocook, William became lame, and returned, with Josiah to accompany him, as has been related in a former chapter. He was Deacon of the church for many years, and was a prominent man in the affairs of the town. He was elected one of the selectmen in 1736 and in 1748. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of William and Esther Harwood, born in Dunstable June 26, 1706. He occupied the farm until his death which occured August 29, 1766. His wife died in 1769. The old Cummings house stood east of the Derry road, and a little north of the house of the late Lucien M. Tolles. It is probable that a temporary house may have been built by him some forty rods further west, where he at first resided. The children of William and Sarah (Harwood) Cum- mings, as found recorded on the Dunstable records, are: 110 HISTORY OF HUDSON Sarah, born November 10, 1728; Ebenezer, born Jan- uary 29, 1730; John Harwood, born April 24, 1733; Dor- cas, born December 18, 1737. And on the Nottingham records are: Rebecca, born March 17, 1740; Joseph, born October 15, 1742; Thaddeus, born May 17, 1745. The next farm north and adjoining the Deacon Wil- liam Cummings farm was the John Taylor garrison place, containing forty-five acres, an account of which has already been given. Eleazer Cummings 4 , Jr., as he was designated on the records, was a son of Abraham Cummings 8 , born in Wo- burn, April 9, 1704, and was a cousin to Eleazer and Wil- liam. In 1733, when the first tax list was made up, he was a resident, and was occupying the south half of the ninety acres of land that Joseph Hills devised to his grand-chil- dren, Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green. This farm was next north and adjoining the John Tay- lor garrison farm, later the Marsh farm, and now, 1912, the westerly part, and some of the easterly part, being owned by the heirs of Josiah K. Wheeler. The Elijah R. Reed house is on a part of the same farm ; and a small part of his farm, and some of the land of James A. Philips, includ- ing the place where his house stands, also the land of Menzell S. French. The Eleazer Cummings, Jr's., house was located just north of the present highway, at the foot of the hill, be- tween the house of Josiah K. Wheeler and that of Elijah R. Reed. The house was quite near the road, not far east from the present boundary line between Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Reed, and the old cellar was visible until within recent years. He married, September 4, 1729, Rachel Proctor of Londonderry. He seems to have married a second time, for at his death his widow, Mary, declined to administer on his estate, and his brother Josiah, then of Litchfield, was appointed administrator instead, November 19, 1735. PIONEER FAMILIES 111 Daniel Proctor, of Chelmsford, brother of his deceased wife, Rachel, was appointed guardian of the two children. Eleazer of "Actovvn," one of these, selected the same per- son as his guardian, as did Abraham of "Chelmsford," Au- gust 29, 1748. Mr. Proctor made report of his guardian- ship in 1751. He was assessed in 1733-4 and 35. His widow, Mary Cummings, was assessed in 1736. His estate at the probating of the will is described as "a homestead of fifty-five acres and one-third of twenty acres of meadow" — part of the Joseph Hills farm. The children of Eleazer Cummings, Jr., and Rachel (Proctor) Cummings as recorded were: Eleazer, born December 15, 1730; Abraham, born June 1, 1734; died May 13, 1756. He died in 1735, but his death is not recorded. Probably he did not settle here until after his marriage in 1729, when he was about twenty-five years ot age. Jabez Davis appears to have occupied the next farm north of that owned by Eleazer Cummings, Jr., it being the north half of the ninety acres devised by Joseph Hills to his grand-children, Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green, and later the Fitch P. Marsh farm, and still later the Carl- ton farm. That part of the original farm east of the high- way has been long separated from the west part, which is principally intervale land, and is now owned by Abram Feryall, who also owns the Pierce farm adjoining on the north. Jabez Davis was a Quaker, as appears from an article in the warrant for the annual town meeting for March 10, 1735, which reads as follows: "To see if the town will vote to abate Jabez Davis of part of his Rates as towns usually do Quakers." He was assessed herein 1733-4-5-6 and 7. He proba- bly removed from this town about 1737. Upon the record is found the birth of Thomas Davis, son of Jabez and Ruth Davis, born April 8, 1733. 112 HISTORY OF HUDSON The date of his settlement here is not known, but evi- dently it was after the close of Lovewell's War in 1725. In 1738 and 1739 the farm was assessed to Robert Mc- Keen, and in 1740 and 1741 to Jeremiah Carlton. The tax list for 1742, the first year after the settlement of the Province line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, cannot be found, and probably there was none made for that year. John Marsh was assessed there for 1743, and after un- til 1776. Ebenezer Spalding, son of Edward of Chelmsford, born January 13, 1683; married Anna and had child- ren ; Edward, born March 8, 1708; Bridget, born December 26, 1709; Experience, born March 22, 1711; Reuben, born March 27, 1715, died young; Stephen, born May 28, 1717; Sarah, born November 27, 1719; Esther, born February 27, 1722; Mary, born May 4, 1724; Reuben, born July 26, 1728; Anna, born November 30, 1731. Edward Spalding, son of Ebenezer, born March 8, 1708, settled about the time of the incorporation of Nottingham, on that part of the Joseph Hills farm willed by him to his grand-daughter Elizabeth, daughter of his son Gershom, next north of that settled by Jabez Davis, and containing forty-six acres as stated in said will. This with the six farms already described, included all the land of the Joseph Hills farm south of that part willed to Samuel Hills, and settled by his three sons, Nathaniel, Henry and James. He married Elizabeth . Children as found re- corded: Levi, born October 23, 1737 Elizabeth, born No- vember 26, 1741; Lucy, born June 27, 1744; Esther, born August 11, 1747; Sarah, born April 6, 1754. Ebenezer Spalding, father of Edward, born in Chelms- ford, January 13, 1683, settled on the south part of the same land that Joseph Hills devised to his son Samuel, and that Samuel conveyed to his sons, Henry and James, Au- gust 22, 1721. PIONEER FAMILIES 113 James Hills, after living in the garrison with his broth- ers, Nathaniel and Henry, on January 11, 1723, sold his part of the land to Samuel Whiting of Dunstable, and re- turned to Newbury. This was the same land settled by Ebenezer Spalding, and was the next farm north of the one owned by his son Edward. It was later the north part of the Pierce farm, and Edward's farm was the south part. Ebenezer Spalding was the ancestor of nearly all the Spalding families that have been residents of this town, and which have been quite numerous. He resided on the farm until about 1740. He was as- sessed here from 1733 to 1740, and from 1758 to 1764. Jo- siah Cummings 4 , son of Abraham, born July 12, 1698, was residing on the farm in 1741, and he received a deed of the same from Ebenezer Spalding, January 10, 1742. Josiah Cummings had formerly resided in Litchfield, and was probably proprietor of the first ferry established in that town across the Merrimack River, called Cummings' Ferry, and later Lutwyche's Ferry, and since the time of the Rev- olutionary war known as Thornton's Ferry, having been owned by the Honorable Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who resided on the Merrimack side of the river. This Josiah Cummings was a brother of Eleazer, )r. f who died in 1735, as already noted, and a cousin of Eleazer and William. He served under Capt. John Lovewell, but was not in the bloody fight at Pequawket, May 9, 1725. The following deed, copied from the original, makes it cer- tain that he was one of Captain Lovewell's soldiers. TO ALL PEOPLE to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Know ye That I Josiah Cumings of Litchfield, in the County of Middlesex and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Hus- bandman. For and in Consideration of the Sum of Ninety Pounds bills of credit, to me in Hand before the Ensealing hereof, well and truly paid by Thomas Colburn of Nottingham, in the county and province afore- said, Husbandman, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and myself therewith fully satisfied and contented, and thereof, and of every part and parcel thereof, do exonerate, aquit and discharge him the said 114 HISTORY OF HUDSON Thomas Colburn, his Heirs, Executors and Administrators forever by these Presents : Have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, conveyed and confirmed, and by these Presents, do freely, fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, aliene, convey and confirm unto him, the said Thomas Colburn, his Heirs and Assigns for ever, One full part or Shair of all that Right Granted unto me the sd Josiah Cumings with Zacheus Lovewell and others, the whole' tract containing two thousand one hundred ninety acres Granted in Consideration of our serving his Majesty under the command of ye I. ate Capt. John Lovewell, and Oidered to be Laid out Joyning to Suncook or Lovewells Town So Called, on the west Side of Merrimack River. Sd Colburn fully Complying with and fullfiling al ye duties orders and Restrictions ordered to be done on ye whole of the Grant maid to the Said Josiah Cumings by the Said Gn 11 court &c. To have and TO HOLD the said granted and bargained Premises, with All the Appurtenances, Priveleges and Commodities to lhe same belonging, or in any wise appertaining to him the said Thomas Colburn his Heirs and Assigns forever: To his and their only proper Use, Bene- fit and Behoof for ever. And the said Josiah Cumings for my Self Heirs, Executors and Ad- minstrators, do hereby Covenant, Promise and Grant to and with the said Thomas Colburn, his Heirs and Assigns, that before the ensealing hereof I am the true, sole and lawful Owner of the above bargained Premises, and am lawfully seized and posessed of the same in my own proper right, as a good, perfect and absolute Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple: And have in my Self good Right, full Power and lawful Authority, to grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm said bargained Premises, in Man- ner aforesaid : And that the Said Thomas Colburn, his Heirs and As- signs shall and may from Time to Time, and at all times for ever here- after, by Force and Vurtue of these Presents, lawfully, peaceably and quietly have, hold, use, occupy, posess and enjoy the said demised and bargained Premises, with the Appurtenances free and clear, freely and clearly acquited, exonerated and discharged of, from, all and all manner of former or other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leases, Mortgages, Wills, Entails. Joyntures, Dowries, Judgments, Executions, or Incum- brances, of what Name or Nature forever, that might in any Manner or Degree obstruct or make void this present Deed. Furthermore, 1 The Sd Josiah Cumings for myself, my Heiis, Ex- ecutors and Administrators, do Covenant and Engage the above demised Premises to him the said Thomas Colburn his Heirs and Assigns, against the lawful claims or Demands of any Person or Persons whatsoever, for ever hereafter to warrant, secure and defend by these Presents. In WITNESS whereof I the said Josiah Cumings have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this fifth Day of June in the Eleventh Year of His Majesty's Reign Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight. PIONEER FAMILIES 115 signed sealed and Delivered in Presence of Josiah Cumings [seal] John John Bell Middlesex S. S. Dunstable July ye 5th 1738. The Within Named Josiah Cumings Personally Appearing Acknowl- edged the Within Instrument to be his free Act & Deed Coram me JOSEPH BLANCHARD Jus. Peace. Prov. of New Hampshire. Recorded Lib. 34. Fol. 271. Kxam'd D. Peirck Reed. He was assessed in this town from 1741 to 1761. A Josiah Cummings, who was probably this same Josiah, mar- ried May 15, 1721, in Woodstock, Conn., Mary Fressell. His first wife died very likely previous to 1738, for no wife of his signed the deed he gave to Thomas Colburn, June 5, 1738. He married second, Miriam , probably soon after 1738. By his first wife he had one son, Jonah, Jr., who was assessed in this town from 1759 to 1784, and who died un- married. On October 13, 1784, he conveyed the homestead, and other lands owned by him, to Richard Marshall, "contain- ing in all about 90 acres, together with all the personal es- tate that is in the posession of said Josiah Cumings, or may be found elsewhere, or any other land now in his posession or may come in his possession hereafter by pro- priety." Miriam, the widow of Josiah Cummings, Sen., proba- bly died before the date of this sale, as she joined in the deeds with Josiah in the sale of lands, March 3, 1773. This deed from Josiah and Miriam Cummings, in consideration of ninety-two pounds and fourteen shillings, conveyed to Simeon Barrett "The one-half of all that tract of land in said Nottingham West which Josiah Cumings purchased of Ebenezer Spalding as by a deed of the same Dated y e 10th day of January, 1742, that is the River lot containing 50 acres, one half the same and one half the buildings on 116 HISTORY OF HUDSON the same. Also one half of what Josiah Cumings pur- chased of Greele joining to the above said land containing 50 acres. Being half of the same what ant sold of it. Also one half of a wood lot in said Nottingham West, contain- ing about 40 acres which was purchased of Thomas Marsh. One half of the other belonged to the River lot, Viz., one half of the same." They also conveyed land to Samuel Hills, July 20, 1778. Josiah Cummings 4 , Sen., died February 8, 1761, in the 64th year of his age. The foregoing accounts for eight of the settlers on the Joseph Hills Farm at the time of the making of the first tax list in 1733, which does not include the two Hills broth- ers. Beginning at the southerly end they are as follows: Eleazer Cummings, Nathan Cross, William Cummings, John Taylor, Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Jabez Davis, Edward Spalding, Ebenezer Spalding. It is very evident that none of these — with the excep- tion of John Taylor, who lived in a garrison house — had settled here until after the end of Lovewell's war. If there were possibly any such, there certainly could not have been more than one or two. At that time Henry Hills lived at the garrison, and, perhaps, Nathaniel also. Yet it is far more likely that soon after the close of the war, or before 1733, that Nathaniel Hills had bought the Tyng land containing nine hundred acres and reaching from the river easterly about two and one-half miles, and adjoining the Joseph Hills Farm and the Foxcroft land on the south and the William Brenton land on the north, and that he had taken up his residence on this land, about half a mile north of the garrison and near the bank of the river. If he had not already removed, he certainly did so previous to the incorporation of Litchfield, July 4, 1734. Be this as it may, he settled there on the river bank, and established a ferry across the river sometime later, PIONEER FAMILIES 117 which was ever after known as Hills' Ferry, and which was operated as such until the building of Taylor's Falls Bridge in 1827. That place was in his possession, and in that of his posterity, until after the decease of George E. Hill, which occurred September 16, 1904. Neither did Henry Hills remain very long at the garrison after the incorpora- tion of Nottingham. About 1739 or 1740, he sold that place to Deacon Roger Chase, and removed nearly a mile and a quarter east, to a farm that was a part of the Na- thaniel Hills Tyng land. CHAPTER X Sf.ttlers of Hills Farms We have seen that at the date of the town of Notting- ham's incorporation, in 1733, there existed a compact set- tlement of some ten families on the Joseph Hills Farm, occupying the nine farm divisions as they then had been established, and as they continued to exist substantially for many years later. Many of these old farm lines remain to the present day. At that time no permanent settlement seems to have been founded between that of Mr. Eleazer Cummings at the south end of the "Hills" settlement and the Joseph Blodgett garrison nearly two and one-half miles further down the river, which has already been mentioned. Thomas Pollard, son of William, of Coventry, Eng- land, came to Billerica, Mass., about 1692. His mother was Mary Farnum, sister of Edward. He married in No- vember, 1692, his cousin, Sarah Farnum, daughter of Ed- ward. He died April 4, 1724. She died May 3, 1725. Their children were: Mary, born August 20, 1693; Edward, born November 4, 1694; Barbara, born December 6, 1695, married Joseph Pierce, Chelmsford, February 13, 1734; Thomas, born Feb- ruary 16, 1697; William, born August 3, 1698; John, born September 1,1699; Sarah, born February 16,1701; Jos- eph, born May 3, 1702, married Ann Hills; Oliver, born July 23,1703, married Hannah Hills, July 23, 1736; Sarah, born December 21, 1704; Nathaniel, born October 18, 1706; James, born October 5, 1708; Walter, born Decem- ber 28, 1709; Elizabeth, born March 5, 1713; Benjamin, born August 18, 1715. Thomas Pollard, Jr., born in Billerica, February 16, 1697, was one of the early settlers of Dunstable, on the east side of the Merrimack. 118 SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 119 His farm was next south of, and adjoining that of Jos- eph Blodgett, and was bounded on the west by the river. It was the same as was later the James F. Palmer place, now owned by Sidney P. Gowing. The present house is on the west side of the Lowell road, opposite its junction with the road that bears to the east about two and two- thirds miles south of Taylor's Falls Bridge. The exact date of his settlement here is not known. Probably it was not until about the close of Lovewell's war. The following is copied from the Dunstable town records : At a meeting Monday, March 6, 1731-2, chose Thomas Colburn, Jr., Constable for the east side of the river . Also whereas, Thomas Colburn, Jr., hath been at this meeting legally chosen constable for the ensuing year, and he hath agreed with Thomas Pollard for serving as constable in his stead and place, and to clear him the said Colburn as other persons who by law is exempted from being chosen constable by reason of their serving as such, Now therefore voted and agreed that the said Thomas be accepted in his place, and that he serve as constable in his room for the ensuing year, said Thomas Pollard complying with the same. Thomas Pollard was in the French and Indian war in 1756 and also in 1758. The children of Thomas and Mary Pollard were: *John, born September 20, 1727; *Ebenezer, born Decem- ber 4, 1728 ; *Thomas, born September 17, 1732; died May 18, 1756; Dorcas, born January 12, 1735; died September 1, 1736; Amos, born March 2, 1737; Rachel, born March 26, 1739; Molly, born June 10, 1741; died August 24, 1753; Samuel, born July 10, 1743 ; Timothy, born August 24, 1745. Thomas Pollard died July 23, 1769. Joseph Winn, son of Joseph and Martha (Blodgett) Winn, born in Woburn, Mass., September 9, 1698, with his brother Josiah, was in Nottingham at the time of its incor- Dunstablc Records. 120 HISTORY OF HUDSON poration. Josiah did not remain to become a permanent resident. Joseph, soon after, settled upon a farm a short dis- tance below that of Thomas Pollard, bordering on the river, a part of which farm has ever since been occupied by his descendants. At present it is the homestead of Elmer C. Winn, a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of the family, as follows: Joseph Winn 1 and Martha (Blodgett) Winn, of Woburn; Joseph Winn 2 , born in Woburn, Sep- tember 9, 1698; Joseph Winn 8 , born November 17,1723; Joseph Winn 4 , born April 16, 1760; Paul Tenney Winn 5 ,, born August 1, 1805; Elmer C. Winn 6 , born . The original Joseph Winn farm included the home- stead of Elmer C. Winn and also the farm adjoining it on the north, owned by the late Reuben Spalding. The first house built by Mr. Winn was on the north half of the farm, not far from the present location of the Spalding house. Joseph Winn, Sen., always resided on the north half of the farm, but Joseph, Jr., had the south half, or the part ever since owned in the Winn family, and built a house and other buildings upon it probably as early as 1745. The county road, laid out by the court's committee, the report of which was accepted at a court holden at Ports- mouth, the first Tuesday of March, 1749, and which ex- tended from Litchfield line to the Massachusetts boundary, in its description has the following: Thence S 7° W. 26 rods to a stake east of Joseph Winns Barn, .South through said Winns orchard, 18 rods to a stake, which sd 18 rods the road to be but two rods and a half wide, S. 32° E. 17 rods to a maple marked, S 15° W 25 rods to a stake near Joseph Winn, Jr's. corn Barn. Thus it appears that the distance of Joseph Winn, Jr's., buildings from his father's was about sixty rods, or nearly the same distance from each other as at present are the Winn and Spalding houses. Abiather Winn, the youngest son of Joseph, Sen., born January 4, 1746, either bought of his father, or inher- ited the north part of the farm, but he died August 24, SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 121 1783, aged 38. His executors, William Burns and Abigail Burns, in 1787, in consideration of two hundred and forty pounds conveyed to Phineas Underwood land containing seventy acres in Nottingham West, lying easterly on the public highway and westerly on Merrimack River, north- erly on Gerrish Lot, so called, and southerly by land of Joseph Winn. It is understood that Mr. Joseph Winn, Sen., once owned the mill on Musquash, or Nacook brook, at the place near the highway where there has ever since been a saw and grist mill, until within a few years, long known as Wilson's Mills. Mr. Winn died August 25, 1781, in the 84th year of his age, and his wife, Elizabeth, died in September, 1778, in the 74th year of her age. They were buried in the Blodgett Cemetery. The children of Joseph and Elizabeth Winn were: Joseph, born November 17, 1723, in Woburn; Benjamin, born August 6, 1726, in Woburn; Elizabeth, born August 10, 1728, in Woburn; Katherine, born April 11, 1733, in Nottingham ; Micajah, born October 24, 1735, in Notting- ham; Nathan, born October 15, 1738, in Nottingham; Sus- anna, born, September 10, 1741, in Nottingham; Abiather, born January 4, 1746, in Nottingham. The exact date at which he came here is not known. We find the following record of 1732: Allowed Joseph Winn, as by certificate of payment of rates in \\ il- mington when he was rated in this town, 14s — 3d. Thomas Colburn, son of Thomas and Mary Colburn of Dunstable, was born in Dunstable, April 28, 1702 Samuel Sewell, Merchant, of Boston, April 21, 1726, conveyed to Thomas Colburn, Jr., of Dunstable, in consid- eration of one hundred and sixty pounds, three tracts of land in said Dunstable. The first tract, on the east side of the Merrimack River, containing by estimation two hundred acres. Bounded westerly by Merrimack Riv- 122 HISTORY OF HUDSON er, Northerly by Beals land, Easterly on the second division of land, and Southerly by Robert Parishes land. One other parcel thereof, also on the East side of the River, 400 acres, more or less. Beginning at a white oak tree nigh Davernport's Meadow, nigh to a run of water that conies out of said Meadow, and runs easterly by Davernport's land till it with John Blanchard's line, and runs easterly by him 160 poles to an oak marked J. \V. B. and runs by Mr. Welds line, easterly, to Mr. Howards Farm, and southerly back again, bounding by the rim of meadow to the said oak where we first began. The third and last being a parcel of upland containing 100 acres, more or less, also on East side of River. Bounded Easterly by Mr. Howards Farm & Northerly by Mr. Welds, and runs easterly by him to a white oak Marked T. and is bounded Southerly by the Town Common to Mr. How- ards line and by him to the first corner where we began. Thomas Colburn settled on the first described lot, ex- tending easterly from the river, containing two hundred acres, more or less, a part of which was until recently owned by Isaac D. Colburn and Henry T. Colburn, descendants of Thomas Colburn, of the fourth generation. The Eugene Donnelly heirs own the better part of the farming lands and the buildings, occupying the old Colburn house, which is probably situated at, or near, the place where Thomas Colburn first settled and made his home. It is west of the Lowell road about one third of a mile. The farm adjoins the Joseph Winn farm on the south. He probably settled there not very long after he purchased the land of Samuel Sewell. We have already seen that he was chosen constable at a town meeting in Dunstable, March 6, 1732, for the east side of the river, and that he agreed with Thomas Pollard "to serve in his stead and place and to clear him the said Colburn, as other persons who by law is exempt from being chosen constable by reason of their serving as such." By which it would appear that he had previously served in that office. Captain Thomas Colburn was a prominent and influ- ential citizen in the affairs of the town in its early settle- ment. He was one of the selectmen in 1735, and was chairman of that board in 1740-48 and '54. He was mod- SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 123 erator of the annual town meetings for nine years between 1740 and 1758 inclusive. He was chosen delegate to the Massachusetts General Court in 1741, "to procure abate- ment of county tax, in consequence of the town being di- vided by the new Province Line." We find no record of any children by his first wife. An inscription in a small burial ground in the south part of the town reads: Hannah, wife of Thomas Colburn, died March 26, 1756, aged 53—3—6. He afterwards married Mary ; their children were: Thomas, born November 12, 1761; Isaac, born Jan- uary 25, 1763; Zaccheus, born February 16, 1765. He also had a negro servant, Titus, born April 2, 1742. The following is copied from the town records: Captain Thomas Colburn died August 30, 1765, in the 64th year of his age. Thomas Colburn, Jr., son of Capt. Thomas and Mary Colburn, died August 30, 1765, in the 4th year of his age. Both killed by lightning. The widow, Mary Colburn, so suddenly bereaved of a husband and son, and left with two small boys, the eldest about two and one-half years of age, sometime previous to 1769, married Major Samuel Moore, formerly of Litchfield. They resided on the Colburn farm, where he was assessed until 1784. Probably Major Moore died about that time. His widow died August 30, 1818, aged 93 years. Mr. Colburn's next neighbor south was Zaccheus Love- well. He was the son of John Lovewell, Sen., and brother of Captain John, the hero of the Pigwacket fight, who was killed by the Indians, May 8, 1725. Zaccheus Lovewell was born in Dunstable July 22, 1701. He was a Colonel in the French and Indian war. He died April 12, 1772. Major Zaccheus Lovewell was a resident of Notting- ham when the first tax list was made up, and lived upon the farm adjoining that of Thomas Colburn, later and un- til within a few years known as the Chase place. It is now 124 HISTORY OF HUDSON owned by Silas T. Steele's sons, Fred G. and George S. It is not certainly known where the house of Major Love- well stood, but most probably on or near the site of Mr. Steele's buildings, and a short distance from the old Col- burn residence. Possibly it may have been on the west side of the River road, a little south of its junction with the Colburn road, and a short distance south-east of Num- ber Two school house. He was a very capable man in the affairs of the town. He was a member of the board of selectmen in 1734, 1739, 40, 43, 45 and 46, being its chair- man three terms, 1743-45-46. He was moderator of the annual town meeting in 1746, and was a delegate to the Massachusetts General Court in 1733 and 1734. His farm extended from the river easterly as far as the River road, and probably much farther. The births of the children of Zaccheus and Esther Lovewell, as found recorded in this town, are as follows: Esther, born No- vember 10, 1728; Lucy, born January 12, 1730; Mary, born May 20, 1732; Zaccheus, born December 16, 1735; Noah, born April 1, 1742; Sarah, born October 25, 1744; Han- nah, born February 16, 1747. Major Lovewell removed, about 1748, from this town to Dunstable, N. H., now Nashua. Ephraim Cummings, son of Thomas and Priscilla (Warner) Cummings, born in Dunstable, March 10, 1706, married, 1732, Elizabeth Butler, born in Woburn, Mass., September 4, 1706, daughter of Deacon John Butler, the first settler in that part of Nottingham that is now the westerly part of Pelham. John Butler bought of Jonathan Tyng, in 1721, two tracts of land in the east part of Dunstable, containing in all six hundred acres adjoining what was then — and until the settlement of the Province line in 1741 — the Dracut boundary. He settled there in 1722 and built a log house in the form of a garrison. It is supposed that this house stood near the present Mammoth road, at the place for- merly known as the John Gage place, easterly of Gumpas SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 125 Tond. Deacon John Butler was one of the most prominent and useful men in Nottingham, previous to the incorpora- tion of Pelham in 1746, when the east part of Nottingham became a part of this new town. Thomas Cummings, the father of Ephraim, was one of the proprietors of the township of Dunstable, and had a tract of land laid out to him east of Hills Meadow — now in Hudson — and running north-easterly one and a half miles, and about forty rods wide. John Cummings, Sen., also a proprietor, had a lot of the same dimensions laid out to him adjoining that of Thomas on the north. Ephraim Cummings settled upon a part of these lands that had been laid out to his father and grandfather as a part of their share of the proprietary land of Dunstable, more than forty years previous. He was a cousin to Eleazer, son of Nathaniel, Eleazer, son of Abraham, Deacon William and Josiah Cummings, all early settlers of this town. His house was located on the south side of Bush Hill, at the foot of the long descent, and on the south side of the present highway, where two cellars are visible still, a short distance from each other. There is also another cel- lar in sight on the opposite side of the highway, a little northeast from the others, indicating that there have been at least three dwellings on this farm since its settlement. It is likely that Mr. Cummings settled thereabout the time of his marriage in 1732. At this time, and for a few years later, his nearest neighbors must have been at the settlement of his father-in-law, John Butler, near Gumpas Pond in Pelham. He was another active, substantial, use- ful man in the affairs of Nottingham. He was one of the selectmen in 1756, 57, 62, 63 and 1766. He served as moderator of the annual town meetings in 1762 and 1763, and was elected a delegate to the New Hampshire General Court in 1760. The children of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Butler) Cum- mings, as their births are recorded, were: Peter, born De- 126 HTSTORV OF HUDSON cember 8, 1733; Sarah, born May 12, 1736; married Sam- uel Page; David, born May 20, 1738; Elizabeth, born Oc tober 26, 1740; married Nathaniel Haselton; Ephraim, born April 19, 1743; Hannah, born April 29,1745; married Joseph Cummings; Priscilla, born July 7, 1747; married Jonathan Lund, Jr. The farm continued in the possession of his descend- ants to the third generation. No record of the death of Mr. Cummings or of that of his wife is found. But an item exists in the diary of Nathaniel Merrill, stating that be made a coffin for Ephraim Cummings, and that his funeral occurred March 11, 1771. Ensign John Snow was, in 1733, one of the eightecr settlers in what is now Hudson. John Snow, son of John, born in Woburn, Mass., May 13, 1688, married Sarah Stevens, February 13, 1693. He had children born in Woburn, as follows: Elizabeth, born March 18, 1695; died June 24, 1698; Joseph, born May 6, 1697; Mary, born August 13, 1699. He was among the first settlers of this town. All the town meetings, with a single exception, until the first meeting house was completed, were held at the house of Ensign John Snow. The cellar where his house is said to have stood, was pointed out to the writer many years ago by Mr. Timothy S. Ford, who owned the farm, and whose father, Timothy, had owned it before him, and whose grandfather, James Ford, a captain in the Revolu- tionary army, resided in the immediate neighborhood long before that time. This cellar is on the Back road, very near the highway, and some distance south from the pres- ent house on the Ford farm, now (1912) owned by James A. Sanders, and less than half a mile northerly from the junction of the Back road with the Lowell road. There is another cellar between the Snow cellar and said junction which should not be taken for the Snow cellar. The exact date of his settlement here is not known. He was assessed for 1733 and 1734 only. He was the first town treasurer of SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 127 Nottingham. The town records give his death as of March "21, 1735. The inscription upon his head stone in the small burial ground near his former residence does not quite agree with the above date, and gives his age as 68-4-3. This is substantially all that is now known about Ensign John Snow. Lieut. Joseph Snow, the last of the pioneer settlers of this town to be located, was assessed from 1733 to 1746. He was the son of the preceding John Snow, born in Wo- burn, Mass., May 6, 1697. He was among the earliest set- tlers. His residence was south of Zaccheus Lovewell's, a short distance north of the state line. His house was one third of a mile west of the River road, and the cellar, yet visible, is in the pasture, south of the old Ferry road, and south-east of the late Sylvanus Winn's house, now owned by Paul Butler of Lowell. He probably sold this place about 1741, to Dr. Ezekiel Chase, the first resident physi- cian of this town, who occupied the same farm for many years. He later owned the farm on the north side of the Bush Hill road at the Chase hill, so called, a short distance west of the Haselton road, where the old cellar is visible. He died there May 7, 1747, aged 51 years, and was buried in the small burial ground before referred to. His widow, Bridget Snow, was assessed for the estate until 1761, after which she removed, with her younger children, to Ply- mouth, N. H., where she died December 3, 1773, aged 73 years. Joseph Snow was chosen constable for the east side of the river, by the town of Dunstable, March 2, 1724. He was one of the selectmen of the township of Dunstable for 1725. The births of Joseph and Bridget Snow's children are recorded in Dunstable as follows: Bridget, born July 29, 1719; Joseph, born March 19, 1721; John, born January 11, 1723; Henry, born November 17, 1725. Besides the above, though their names do not appear on the records, were: Sarah, who married James Blod- gett; Rebecca, who married Rev. Zebediah Richardson; 128 HISTORY OF HUDSON Elizabeth, who married Edward Evans; Mary, who married James Harvell. These eighteen pioneer settlers of our town, with few exceptions, were young men in the full vigor of manhood. At the date of the charter of Nottingham, in 1733, the youngest of them was Edward Spalding, who was twenty- five years old, Ephraim Cummings was twenty-seven; Eleazer Cummings, Jr., twenty-nine; Eleazer Cummings, William Cummings, Thomas Colburn and Zaccheus Love- well were thirty-one; Joseph Winn was thirty -four; Thom- as Pollard, thirty-six; Joseph Snow, thirty-seven; Joseph Blodgett, forty-three; Henry Hills, forty-five; Ebenezer Spalding and Nathaniel Hills, fifty; Ensign John Snow, sixty-seven; and the ages of John Taylor and Jabez Davis are unknown. The age of Nathan Cross is not known, but he was a young man, not much above thirty. These early settlers generally had large families of children, who intermarried, one family with another, and their descendants became very numeicus. Especially is this true of the families of Cummings, Hills, Pollard, Blod- gett, Winn, Spalding, Cross and Colburn. All of which names are still borne by some of our most worthy citizens; while very many of the representa- tives of these same families, bearing other names, have their homes here, altogether forming a large percentage of the present population of Hudson. The Snow family also became quite numerous, and among the present residents of our town, the descendants of Ensign John Snow and Lieut. Joseph Snow, by other names are still numerous. There are also Davises, representing an ancient family of the town, but no connection can be traced between that family and Jabez Davis, the Quaker settler here. ALDEN HILLS CHAPTER XI "Hills Row" In 1656 Massachusetts granted to William Brenton, a fur-trader, and at one time Governor of Connecticut, a tract of land which embraced nearly all of the present town of Litchfield, and extended into Londonderry and Merri- mack. This grant was called by the Indian name Natti- cook (meaning "open place of the deer"), or "Brenton's Farm." It was included within the boundaries of Dunsta- ble, as chartered in 1673, and all of that part lying east of the Merrimack River became a part of Nottingham under its charter of 1733. "Brenton's Farm" was divided among its sixteen orig- inal proprietors in 1728, and was settled soon after that date. In the first tax list of Nottingham, 1733, we find but eight names that were inhabitants of " Brenton's Farm." These were Benjamin Adams, Capt. Robert Richard- son, Aquila Underwood, Ebenezer Wright, Samuel Moore, Edward Linkfield, Thomas Wartels and John Barret. A petition was presented to the General Court of Massachu- setts, in May, 1734, by Aquila Underwood, in behalf of the petitioners for the incorporation of a separate township to include the Natticook lands, or "Brenton's Farm." The petition was granted July 4, 1734, and a charter issued for the incorporation of the town of Litchfield. Under this charter the town of Litchfield was bounded as follows: Beginning at Merrimack River, half a mile south of where Natticook south line crosseth said River, running from thence west two miles and a half, then turning and running the general course of Merrimack River to Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River, making it a straight line, thence running by Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River, to Merrimack River again two miles and a half. Also, that the bounds dividing between Natticook and Nottingham begin at the lower line or south bounds of Nathaniel Hills' lands on 129 130 HISTORV OF HUDSON Merrimack River, so extending east by his south line to the south eas2 corner; so on east to Nottingham east line; north two degrees east about half a mile, to a pine tree with stones about it standing within sight of Heaver brook, marked with the letter F; from thence North North \»est by a line of marked trees, lettered with F, about six miles to Merrimack River, near Natticook corner; Southerly by the River Merrimack to the mouth of the Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River before mentioned. Litchfield, as then bounded, extended south on the Merrimack River very nearly a mile farther than at pres- ent, and about one-half mile south of the Brenton Farm line, which is still marked by the line dividing lands of J. W. Howard, formerly of George E. Hill, on the south, and of John L. Spalding on the north, and where an oak tree is standing on the west side of the highway. It included the nine hundred acre tract of land that Na- thaniel Hills had bought of Jonathan Tyng, leaving all of the Joseph Hills farm in Nottingham. This left the town of Nottingham about eleven miles in length from north to south, and about five miles wide from Dracut line near Beaver Brook, on the east, to Merrimack River, which formed its western boundary. This Tyng land, laid down on an old plan as nine hun- dred acres, and probably purchased by Nathaniel Hills for that amount, like most of the early measurements of land in this vicinity, exceeded in area, and actually contained more than one thousand acres. As we have seen by the tax list of 1733, the only set- tler upon this land, if any, was Nathaniel Hills, who had probably removed from the garrison to the place near the river, where Hills ferry was established and existed for many years. This farm of Nathaniel Hills extended from the river, easterly about three-quarters of a mile to land now occupied by Dr. Alfred K. Hills. It was bounded northerly by Brenton's Farm and southerly by what is now the Pearl T. Thomas farm, and contained about 180 acres. The farm next south of that just described, also extending from the river easterly more than three-quarters of a mile, and bounded northerly by Nathaniel Hills' farm, and ''HILLS ROW" 131 southerly by the Hills Garrison farm, contained ninety acres or more. This farm included the greater part of what was later the Sprake place, now owned by Pearl T. Thomas. This was probably conveyed by Nathaniel Hills to his son Samuel, who occupied it until his death about 1798. Ezekiel Greeley, great-grandfather of Horace Greeley, seems to have owned some of this Tyng land next east of the two farms last described, as shown by the returns of a highway, which with some changes, is now known as the Derry road. This was May 12, 1747, and the records say: A road viewed and laid out thrte poles wide. Beginning upon Dary line near Nathaniel Hills Jrs. From thence running by Thon as Marshes' Dwelling house, and so running by John Marshes' house and James Hills' and Joseph Pollard's and Ezekiel Hills and Henry Hills, and so iunning Between Ezekiel Greeley's House and Barn, thence running to John Marshalls land, running on said land to Josiah Duttons, thence to Pine tree marked. JOHN MARSH, JOHN MARSHALL, SAMUEL GREELE, Jr. Selectmen. The site of the Ezekiel Greeley house was pointed out to the writer many years ago by Alden Hills, as being lo- cated about forty rods south-westerly of the Alden Hills house, upon a small knoll, near the highway, and upon the west side, where a depression is still visible and marking the location. Mr. Greeley lived there until 1758, when he removed about one and a half miles easterly into what was then Londonderry, and the land upon which he had formerly re- sided was absorbed by the Henry Hills farm. Henry Hills, one of the brothers that built the garri- son, and who lived there until about 1739, when he dis- posed of the place to Deacon Roger Chase, moved easterly upon some of the Tyng land, and what was later the east part of Elijah Hills' place. This Elijah Hills was the son of James, born March 15, 1738; was grandfather 132 HISTORY OF HUDSON of Alden and great-grandfather of Dr. Alfred K. Hills, the present owner of the old homestead of his father, including the Ezekiel Greeley land, and also now including the great- er part of what was the Ezekiel Hills farm, containing alto- gether about 230 acres, all of which was a part of the Na- thaniel Hills Tyng land. Henry Hills resided there until his death, which oc- curred August 20, 1757. Four or five years later the farm was conveyed to Elijah Hills. Ezekiel Hills, son of Henry, born April 11, 1718, set- tled upon the next farm east, where he lived until his de- cease, May 14, 1790, and which was later the home of his son Thomas, and his grandson Amos Hills. Joseph Pollard, brother of Thomas, born in Billerica, Mass., May 3, 1702, owned and occupied the next farm east, and adjoining Ezekiel Hills' place. His wife Ann was the daughter of Nathaniel Hills, born in Newbury, Mass., May 5, 1712. He settled upon this farm while it was a part of Litchfield, and previous to 1746. The farm contained about one hundred acres. He removed to New Ipswich about 1770. This farm was later owned by War- ren Hills, a brother of Alden, and at present by Justin E. Hill, a son of Warren. The adjoining farm on the east, also containing about one hundred acres, was owned by James Hills, one of the three brothers that first built and lived in the garrison, and who sold his interest in that property January 11, 1723, to Samuel Whiting, and returned to Newbury, Mass. Com- ing back from Newbury, with his wife and four small chil- dren in 1737, he settled on this farm, a part of which is now owned by Charles VJ. Hills, one of his descendants in the fifth generation. He lived on this place until his death, which we do not find recorded, but his name appears on the tax lists until 1769. His son Jeremiah, born in Newbury, March 1, 1727, also resided upon the same farm during his life. He died April 4, 1810. Col. William Hills, son of Jeremiah, born July 14, 1777, and who died September 3, 1858, was also a life-long Mrs. NANCY KIMBALL HILLS "HILLS ROW" 133 occupant of the same farm, and at his decease left it to his son, Granville Hill, the father of Charles W., already men- tioned. A part of the old farm is at present owned by the Enoch Cummings heirs. The next adjoining farm east, which contained one hundred acres, was conveyed by Nathaniel Hills to his old- est son Enoch, born in Newbury, March 16, 1711. It is not known that Enoch Hills ever occupied the farm, or re- sided in town after his majority. His name does not ap- pear upon the tax lists of Nottingham, or of Nottingham West. An ancient head stone in the old cemetery at South Nashua bears the following inscription in part: Mrs. Ruth Hill, wife of Enoch Hill, who died February 7, 1747, aged 36 yrs. Probably this was the wife of Enoch Hills, and if he lived here at any time it must have been previous to 1746, at the time the town of Litchfield included that part of this town. In laying out a highway May 12, 1747, the record de- scribed it as "running by Thomas Marshes' Dwelling house and so running by John Marshes' house and James Hills." This John Marsh was John, Jr., and a brother to Thomas. After the removal of the Marshes from this farm, probably after 1750, it was owned and occupied by Deacon Roger Chase until about 1762, when Henry Hills, son of Henry, Sen., occupied it until his decease. He was born October 22, 1719, and died October 21, 1773. His widow Hannah continued to occupy the place, with her son William, son of the last named Henry, born in Litchfield, March 3, 1754. No record of the death of this widow, Hannah Hills, is found, but William Hills occupied the place for many years — certainly until later than 1804. It is the same farm owned for a long time by the late Stephen D. Gree- ley, and at present, 1912, by George W. Dooley. The northern half of the next farm on the east was conveyed by Nathaniel Hills to his son, Nathaniel Hills, Jr., born in Newbury, April 28, 1716, and is another of the 134 HiSTORY OF HUDSON Hills farms that has been transmitted from father to sod for several generations, and which is now owned by Frank- lin A. Hills, a descendant in the fifth generation from Na- thaniel, Sen., as follows: Nathaniel 1 , Nathaniel, Jr 2 ., Sam- uel 8 , born February 6, 1769, Abijah 4 , born May — , 1806, Franklin A. Hills 6 , the present owner. Nathaniel Hills, Jr., married Susanna Baldwin of Pel- ham, daughter, probably, of John and Sarah Baldwin, born March 8, 1733. They had children — Elizabeth, Sim- eon, Abijah, Nathaniel, Samuel, born February 6, 1769,. Betsey, Sarah, Jane, Rebecca, Aviah, Abigail and James. Simeon had a Revolutionary war record, and Abijah was a sea-faring man. DEED. To all People to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. Know ye. that I Nathaniel Hills of Litchfield in the County of Mid- dlesex within his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- and, Yeoman, for the Love and Good-will and natural affection I have and do bear unto my well beloved son Nathaniel Hills for his full portion out of my Estate. The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and my- self fully satisfied & contented, Have Given Grained, bargained, Aleined, Released, Conveyed, and Confirmed, and by these presents do Freely, Clearly and Absolutely, Give, Grant, Bargain, Aleine, Release, Convey and Confirm unto him the said Nathaniel Hills his Heirs and Assign* for ever, one Moeity or tract of land, lying in Litchfield aforesaid, part of my Land I now enjoy — fifty acres of of the Northerly end of the next Lot above the Lot that I gave to my son Enoch Hills which fifty Acres being divided by a three Rod way a thirt it. where the Path is now, or near there about. Bounded as followeth Northerly on Natticook and Easterly on my own 1 and and Souther- ly on my own Land and Westerly on my son Enoch Hills' Land. Being well bounded at every corner by stakes and stones, or maiked trees, — be- ing divided by sd three Rod way across it as aforesaid, so thai what I give to my aforesaid son Nathaniel with said way shall contain fifty acres the one full half of the Northerly end of the fourth Lot of Land from Daniel Hills cross Lot that he bought of me the sd Nathaniel Hills. To Have and to Hold the before Granted Premises, with the Appur- tenances and Privileges unto him my sone Nathaniel Hills his Heirs, Ex- ecutors Administrators and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper use Benefit and Behoof forever. And I the said Nathaniel *' HILLS ROW" 135 'Hills my self — my Heirs, Executors, Administrators, do Covenant, Prom- ise and Grant unto and with the said Nathaniel Hills, his Heirs and As- signs forever, That before and until the Ensealing hereof 1 am the True, Sole Proper and Lawful Owner and Posessor of the before Granted Premises with the Appurtenances. And have in myself good Right, full Power and Lawful Authority to Give, Giani, Bargain, Aleine, Release, Convey and Confirm the same as aforesaid ; and that Free and Clear, and Freely and Clearly Executed Acquitted and Discharged of and from al former and other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leases, Mortgages, Wills, Intails, Joynrures, Dowries, Thiids, Executions and Incumbrances whatsoever. And Furthermoie I the said Nathaniel Hills, for myself and Heiis, Executors and Administrators, do hereby covenant and engage the before Ciranted Premises with the Appurtenances unto my said sone Nathaniel Hills, his Heirs and Assigns forever to Warrant, Secure and Defend against the Lawful Claims of any Person or Persons whatsoever. In Witness whereof I the said Nathaniel Hills have hereunto set my Hand seal, this — day of March Annoque Domnio One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight Nine (Signed) NATHANIEL HILLS (seal] Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of Ebenezer Taylor David Lawrence. Middlesex SS Jan r ye 5th 1739 The above named Nathaniel Hills appeared & acknowledged this in- strument to be his free act and Deed. Before me JOSEPH BLANCHARD Justice of Peace Recorded Feb. 20 1802. Vol. 54 Page 512. Hillsborough County Records. This farm, together with the south half, was in Litchfield from 1734 to 1746, and in Londonderry from 1746 to 1778, when it became a part of Nottingham West. One other farm east of the last mentioned was a part of the Tyng land. This place was occupied for many years by Charles Center, and a part of it was recently owned by Anson A. Osgood. The east line is now different from the original east line of the Tyng land, and it is not known how many acres the original farm contained, but it is very prob- able that it was not much less than one hundred acres. 136 HISTORY OF HUDSON For several generations the settlement on the Derry road from the Alden Hills place, northeast, for about two miles was known, and is to some extent to the present time, as "Hills' Row," and the name was very appropriate. Taken in their order was the old Henry Hills farm, later owned by Elijah and his descendants; then Ezekiel Hills homestead, kept in the family for many years; Joseph Pollard's place, whose wife was Ann Hills; the James Hills farm, still in the family; the Enoch Hills place, owned out- side the family for several years, but purchased by Henry Hills, Jr., about 1762, and in the family as late as 1820; the home of Nathaniel Hills, Jr., in possession of a descendant to-day. The Joseph Hills farm, as it was called, and the Na- thaniel Hills Tyng land, containing altogether 1600 acres, after they had been divided and settled, were known collec- tively as "the Hills Farms," which name they retained to a very recent date. Many portions of these lands were fertile, easy of cul- tivation, producing abundant harvests, and have always constituted a very important part of the settlements of Not- tingham, Nottingham West and Hudson, each in their turn as regarding the number of inhabitants, wealth, intelli- gence and influence of its citizens. The Joseph Hills farms were settled previous to the incorporation of Nottingham in 1733. The Nathaniel Hills Tyng farms, about ten in number, were principally, or all settled between 1733 and 1746. ALFRED K. HILLS, M. D. CHAPTER XII The Boundary Dispute Mention has already been made of the dispute over the boundary line between the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and its origin briefly described. The Plymouth Council, March 19, 1627-8, granted to Sir Henry Roswell and his associates the land between the Charles River and the Merrimack and all land "which lye * * * within the space of three English miles to the northward * * of the Merrimack or to the northward and every part thereof." This act was confirmed the following year, by a charter given by King Charles I to the Massachusetts Company, and the error of this claim does not seem to have been discovered until the Gardner survey was made in the summer of 1638. Even then, with that stubborn- ness peculiar to the spirit of the times, it was not acknowl- edged by the Massachusetts colony. A second survey was made by the Massachusetts court fourteen years after the one mentioned, which re- sulted in the Endicott memorial, and the contention be- tween the provinces waxed earnestly as the years went by. To hold the territory Massachusetts began to grant to those who had participated in the Indian wars, and others who had claims against the province, townships in the de- batable country, not forgetting the three mile strip claimed on the east bank of the Merrimack. Tyng Township, granted to the party of wood scouts led by Capt. William Tyng in a winter expedition against the red men in 1702-3, and beginning at the northern limit of Litchfield, extend- ing north six miles, was one of these grants. Brenton's Farm was another. Old Dunstable, lying on both sides of the river, completed the lower section. 137 138 HISTORY OF HUDSON New Hampshire was not idle in trying to hold what she believed to be justly her own. Of course the border towns suffered most, not the least of which was the bitter enmity it incurred among those who should have been friends. The Scotch-Irish of Londonderry had obtained their charter of New Hampshire, but trying to hold the territory to the Merrimack River on the west, brought them into sharp rivalry with the English colonists who had re- ceived their grants from Massachusetts. Commissions were appointed to settle the dispute, but these hesitated and delayed and wrangled over the matter. Demand was met by counter demand; one party was looked upon by the other as "foreigners," these considered their rivals as "in- truders." Courts and commissions failing to settle the controver- sy, appeals were made to the king by both sides, setting forth their grievances in long petitions. Fees were paid counsel, and obligations to the courts had to be met, so, to say nothing of the vexation and hindrance to colonization, great expense and loss of time was sustained. Finally, Edmund Ouincy and Richard Partridge were appointed Agents by the Massachusetts Assembly "to join with Francis Wilks, in the prosecution of their claim be- fore the King. New Hampshire intrusted its interests to Capt. John Tomlinson, of London, with Mr. Parish as his solicitor. March 5, 1740, a hearing upon the appeals of both provinces, respecting the lines, was secured and the deter- mination of this long controversy was made on entirely dif- ferent grounds from those previously submitted. Ignoring old charters and grants made when the country was unex- plored, the new consideration declared: That the course of the river, though unknown, was supposed to be from west to east, therefore it was deemed equitable that as far as the river flowed in that course, the parallel line at three miles distance should extend. But, as on the other hand, if by pursuing the course of the river, up into the country, it had been found to have a southern bend, it would have been inequitable to have contracted the Massachusetts grant ; so on THE BOUNDARV DISPUTE 139 the other hand when it appeared to have a northern bend, it was equally inequitable to enlarge it. Therefore it was determined ; that the northern boundary of the Province of Massachusetts be, a similar curve line, pur- suing the course of Merrimack river, at three miles distance, on the north side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean, and ending at a point due north of Pawtucket Falls ; and a straight line drawn from thence due west, till it meets with his Majesty's other governments. This determination exceeded the utmost expectations of New Hamp- shire ; as it gave them a tract of country fourteen miles in breadth, and above fifty in length, more than they had ever claimed. It cut off from Massachusetts twenty-eight new townships between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers; besides large tracts of vacant land, which lay inter- mixed ; and districts from six of their old towns, on the north side of Merrimack; and if, as was then supposed, the due west line were to ex- tend to twenty miles east of Hudson river, the reputed boundary of New York; a vast tract of fertile country, on the western side of the Connecti- cut river was annexed to New Hampshire, by which an ample scope was given, first for landed speculation, and afterward for cultivation and wealth. When this determination was known, the politicians of Massachusetts were chagrined and enraged. They talked loudly of injustice, and some of the more zealous proposed trying the merits of the cause upon the words of the charter, before the Judges in Westminster Hall, who it was expected would upon their oath reverse the judgment, and tell the King that he had mistaken the meaning of the royal charter. This would have been indeed a bold stroke. But a more moderate and pusillanimous scheme was adopted, which was to send a new agent to petition the King, that he would re-annex to their government the twenty-eight townships, which had been cut off, and the districts of the six towns. It was also thought prudent that the whole Province should not open- ly appear in the affair; but that petitions should be drawn by the inhabi- tants of these towns, and that the agent should be chosen by them. Accordingly town meetings were held ; petitions were prepared and subscribed; and Thomas Hutchinson was appointed agent, and sent over to England, when he formed those connections which afterwards served to raise him to the chair of government in his native Province. About the same time Governor Belcher procured a pe- tition from his six friends, of the Council of New Hamp- shire to the King, praying that the whole Province might be annexed to the government of Massachusetts. Suc- ceeding events proved that the action was taken at an in- opportune time, and their petition was promptly rejected. 140 HISTORY OF HUDSON Action upon the town petitions was delayed, putting the inhabitants to expense and prolonged anxiety over the matter. In one respect this was a benefit, as it gave Mr. Tomlinson ample time in which to prepare his defense, and the Massachusetts representative found himself out- matched. Not only was the territory in dispute to remain under the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, but, in order to escape any further controversy, Governor Belcher was or- dered by royal authority to have surveyors appointed from both provinces to establish the line. Again Massachusetts demurred, but as provision had been for either party to act independently of the other, the Assembly of New Hamp- shire proceeded to appoint their surveyors, and these were endorsed by the governor. George Mitchell surveyed the line from the ocean "three miles north of Merrimack River to a station north of Pawtucket Falls, in the township of Dracut," following the bends in the river. Richard Hazen began where his colleague stopped, and continued the west line across Connecticut River to the supposed boundary of New York. Ten degrees were allowed for the westerly variation of the needle. The work was begun in February and completed in March, 1741. The following May the court confirmed this action of the surveyors, and so after over a hundred years of wrangling and disputing the boun- dary between the provinces was fixed. The grantees of the towns in New Hampshire that suffered by the failure of Massachusetts to hold the territory, were given grants in Maine or elsewhere, but the recompense only covered a small portion of the expense and hardship they had met. Among the petitions sent to the King for relief, as per order of the court of Massachusetts, the following was voted at a town meeting held, in Hudson, November 21, 1740, this being a fair sample of the others submitted: Inasmuch as we are informed that his Majesties court determination of the northern boundary of Massachusetts Province, this town is the greater part thereof left out of said Province to which they always sup- posed themselves to belong, therefore voted that a petition be prepared THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE 141 to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, setting our most distressed circum- stances, and praying that we may be united to the said Majesties Prov- ince, and that Thomas Hutchinson Esq. be fully impowered to prefer such, our petition at the court of Great Brittian, and for us to appear in all things touching our petition according to his best discretion. Nov. 21, 1740. JONATHAN SNOW, Town Clerk. At a town meeting the following year, November 22, 1741, it was Voted that they would send to the General Court to see if the town could get any abatement of their county tax Rates by reason of our being cut to Bitts with the Province line. ***** It was also voted to join with other towns and send a petition to England to be annexed to Massa- chusetts Bay. Chose Colonel Thomas Colburn to go to the General Court to get the county tax abated. The records of the town do not show that another town meeting was held until August 9, 1743. An Act was passed by the General Court of New Hampshire, dated March 18, 1741-2, for taxing the new Districts, and to choose town officers to assess and collect the taxes. Richard Jenness of Rye, George Walton of Newing- ton, and Eleazer Stevens of Kingston were appointed to call the first meeting of the inhabitants. The following is the substance of the report of the committee: Province of New Hampshire. Portsmouth, 17th May, 1742. Wee, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the Governor, Council and Assembly, to call the first meetings in the several Towns within the Province, that falls within the lines according to his Majesty's determination in Council, in order to their paying a Piovince tax, do de- clare that in that part of Salis-bury, Amesbury, Haverhill, Methuen, Dra- cut, Dunstable, Litchfield & Nottingham, people were well satisfied that they were under no disatisfaction upon any account, but in three or four of the towns where the Parrishes were divided, which, if they by an act of both Governments, that is the Province of Massachusetts & New Hamp- shire they could be enabled to carry on their Parrish affairs, they would in General be entirely easy. 142 HISTORY OF HUDSON This we declare to be in truth according to the best of our knowledge before His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq. Governor & Command- er in Chief of his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire. Geo. Walton, Eben r Stevens, Richard Jenness Province of New Hampshire. Acct of Travels of the Committee appointed by the Act of the Gov- ernment, for viewing the New Districts falling into the Province, lying to the northward and eastward of the Boundary Lines between this Prov: and Mass" Kay, & and for qualifying ye officers in ye same. Apr. 11. Wee the Committee opened the meeting att a place calltd Loggin Plain at the meeting there between Salisbury and Amesbury, being by in- formation about 28 miles distant from Court. A meeting was also held at Haverhill, April 2 Ireland King Defender of the Faith. { new Hampshire ) To all whom these Presents Shall come Greeting. Whereas Sundry of our Loyal Subjects Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within the Ancient Boundaries of a Town called Old Dunstable in our Province of Newhampshire on the easterly side of Merrymack River hereinafter described. Have Humbly Petitioned and Requested of us That they may be erected and Incorporated into a Township and Infranchised with the same powers Authorities and Prive- leges which other Towns within our said Province by Law have & Enjoy. And it appears to us to be conducive to the General Good of our Said Province, as well as of the Said Inhabitants in particular, by maintaining good Order and Incouraging the Culture of the Land, That the Same should be done. Know Yee Therefore, That We of our Especial Grace certain Knowledge, and for the Encouraging and promot- ing the Good Purposes and Ends aforesaid, By and with the Advice of our Trusty and well beloved Benning Went- worth Esqr., our Governor and Commander-in-chief, and our Council for Said Province, have Erected Incorporated and Ordained, and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors, Do will and Ordain That the Inhabitants of 159 160 HISTORY OF HUDSON the Tract of Land aforesaid (Bounded as follows Viz.) Be- ginning at the River Merrymack on the East Side thereof where the line that parts the Province of Massachusetts Bay and New hampshire crosses the Said River and runs from Said River East ten Degrees South by the Needle two Miles and Eighty Rods. Then North twenty Degrees East five Miles and Eighty Rods to Londonderry South Side Line. Then by said Londonderry Line West North West to the South West Corner of Londonderry Town- ship, then North on Londonderry West Side Line one Mile & Eighty Rods, then West by the Needle to Mer- rymack River, then on Said River Southerly to the place begun at, and that Shall the Same, be and by these Pres- ents Are declared and Ordained to be a Town Corporate, and are hereby Erected and Incorporated into a Body Poli- tic and a Corporation to have Continuance for Ever by the name of Nottingham West, with all the Powers and Authorities, Priveleges, and Imunities and Franchises which other Towns within Said Province or any of them by Law Have and Enjoy. To Have and to Hold the Said Powers and Author- ities, Imunities and Francheses to them the Said Inhabi- tants and their Successors for Ever. Always Reserving to us our Heirs and Successors all White Pine Trees Grow- ing and being, and that shall hereafter grow and be on the Said Tract of Land for the use of our Royal Navy. Reserving also the Power of Dividing the Said Town to us our Heirs and Successors when it shall be thought Necessary or Convenient for the Benefit of the Inhabitants thereof. And as the Several Towns within our Said Prov- ince are by Laws thereof Enabled and Authorized to As- semble, and by the Majority of Votes to choose all Such Officers as are mentioned in the Said Laws, we do by these Presents Nominate and appoint Zaccheus Lovewell, Gen 1 , to call the first Meeting of Said Inhabitants to be held within Said Town at any time within thirty Days from the Date hereof, giving legal Notice of the Time and place and design of holding Such Meeting. In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Seal of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth, Esq'., our Governor and Commander in chief of our Said Province the fifth day of July in the Year of our Lord Christ one thousand Seven NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 161 hundred and forty-Six, and in the Twentieth year of our Reign. B WENTWORTH With His Excelencies Command With advice of Council. Theodore Atkinson, Secretary. Entered & Recorded According to the Original, This 16th Day of September, 1746. P r Theodore Atkinson, Beefy Pa 35 & 36. The boundaries as described in the charter excluded all of that part of Pelham— nearly one-third — formerly in- cluded in the district of Nottingham, with about twenty families by the name of Baldwin, Butler, Douglas, Gage, Gibson, Hamblet, Nevins, Richardson and Spalding; and included a part of the south side of Litchfield as previously bounded, about one mile wide on the Merrimack, but some- what less at the east end, with the families of Nathaniel Hills, Henry Hills, Nathaniel Hills, Jr., Henry Hills, Jr., James Hills, Ezekiel Hills, Samuel Hills, Thomas Marsh, John Marsh, Jr., Joseph Pollard, William Taylor, and some other inhabitants. In a petition to the Governor and Council, by Nathan Kendall, in behalf of the inhabitants of Litchfield, August 22, 1746, it is represented, That by some mistake or misrepresentation, the boundaries given in said charter are different from what the intention was, as they conceive, for part of that which was called Litchfield on the easterly side of said river is, in fact, taken into Nottingham and incorporated as parcel of that town, and what is left of Litchfield is much too small for a town and can't possibly subsist as such, and there is no place to which it can be joined, nor from which anything can be taken to add to it. The petition was not a success, and Litchfield has con- tinued to "subsist" as a town, with very few changes of its boundaries, from that time to the present. The town of Pelham, by its charter, included that por- tion of the town of Dracut that by the settlement of the Province line fell into New Hampshire, and the east part of Nottingham, as before described. 162 HISTORY OF HUDSON The first town meeting under the new charter, called by Zaccheus Lovevvell, was held at the house of Samuel Greeley, July 17, 174(5, at which Zaccheus Lovewell was elected moderator; Samuel Greeley town clerk; George Burns treasurer, and Samuel Greeley, Zaccheus Lovewell and Eleazer Cummings selectmen. The first tax list under the new charter, dated October 31, 1746, contained the following names: Ezekiel Chase,* Capt. Thomas Colburn,* 1 Thomas Pollard,* 3 Benjamin Thompson, 1 Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1 Joseph Gould, Benjamin Tyng,* 1 Daniel Merrill,* 1 Ebenezer Dakin,* 1 Samuel Huston,* 1 Jonathan Hardy,* 1 Ephraim Cummings,* 1 John Caldwell,* 1 John Mitchell,* 1 Robert Glover, 1 Thomas Kenney,* 1 James Marsh, 1 Benjamin Frost,* 1 Ezekiel Page, 1 Abraham Page, 1 Josiah Dutton, 1 Nathan Cross,* 2 John Marshall,* o Josiah Cummings,* 1 Roger Chase,* 2 William Taylor,* 1 John Bradbury, 1 Henry Hills,* 1 Joseph Pollard,* 1 Maj. Zaccheus Lovewell,* 1 Lieut. Joseph Winn,* 2 Joseph Blodgett,* 1 Dea. Samuel Greeley,* 1 Thomas Burns,* 1 Samuel Gould, Dea. Abel Merrill,* 1 Samuel Jewet,* 2 George Burns,* 1 Samuel Burbank,* 1 Joseph Winn, Jr., 1 James Wason,* 1 Joseph Caldwell, 2 John Huey,* 2 Joseph Snow,* 2 Ebenezer Blodgett, 1 Onesiphorus Marsh, 1 Daniel Simonds, 1 Isaac Page, 1 Ebenezer Taylor, 1 Eleazer Cummings,* 1 William Cummings,* 1 John Marsh,* 1 Edward Spalding,* 1 Nathaniel Hills,* 2 William Casson, Ezekiel Greeley,* 1 Isaac Cummings, James Hills,* 2 NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 163 Ezekiel Hills,* 1 John Marsh, Jr.,* Thomas Marsh,* 1 Charles Darrah,* Arthur Darrah, 1 Henry Hills, Jr.,* Samuel Hills, 1 Nathaniel Hills, Jr.,* Henry Snow, 1 John Snow, David Lawrence, 1 John Carkin, Widow Mary Spalding, William Campbell, John Woodard, Capt. Robert Fletcher, Zaccheus Spalding, Robert Nevins. Thus it will be seen that eleven of the resident tax- payers paid twenty-three poll taxes, or for twelve others more than their own, making the full number of residents in town subject to be assessed for poll or property tax, to be seventy-nine. The names of the twelve whose taxes were paid by others are not given, but they were probably the sons or hired men of those to whom the taxes were assessed. From the list of the resident taxpayers in 1733, Ensign John Snow and Eleazer Cummings, Jr., had died, and Jabez Davis, Ebenezer Spalding and John Taylor had removed from town. A brief sketch of some of these early residents, not previously noted in this history — who became prominent and influential citizens of the town, and whose families be- came numerous — may prove of interest to their many de- scendants. Ebenezer Blodgett Ebenezer Blodgett, son of Joseph, was born at the Blodgett garrison, January 3, 1720. He was assessed here from 1744 to 1763, inclusive. His residence, while he re- mained in this town, was upon a part of his father's home- stead. * This list contains seventy-six names, but nine of them were non-residents that owned some land in this town; twenty-two others were assessed for poll, but no land, leaving forty- five residents that were assessed for farms or other real estate. The names of these forty-five resident land owners are marked with an asterisk. The numeral at the end of each name shows the number of poll taxes paid by each. 164 HISTORY OF HUDSON He removed to Plymouth, N. II., with his brother, James Blodgett, about 1764, and became a very prominent and useful citizen in the management of that town's affairs in its early settlement. He died in Plymouth in 1802. No children. Samuel Burbank Samuel Burbank settled on the River road, at the south part of Nottingham, as early as 1742. The old Bur- bank farm, which remained in possession of the Burbank family for many years, was the first north and adjoining the old Wilson Mill farm. We find recorded the births of five children of Samuel and Eunice (Hardy) Burbank. She died January 10, 1765. He died after 1778. George Burns George Burns, of Scotch origin, born in Ireland in 1696, came to America about 1720, and with John, his brother, and Thomas, probably his father, settled in this town about 1736. John Burns removed to Milford, N. H., in 1742. Tradition says that his removal from this town was made with a small canoe or boat, which he pro- pelled up the Merrimack to the mouth of the Souhegan, thence up that stream to his destination, where he settled and left a large posterity. He died in 1782. George Burns settled on a farm at the south part of this town, east of the Lowell road, which is now, and for many years past has been, owned and occupied by Robert Groves. He died in 1779, aged 83 years. His widow, Mary (Glover) Burns, died February 11, 1811, aged 98. Upon her head stone in the Blodgett Cem- etery is the following: "This venerable woman had 175 descendants, consisting of 11 children, 62 grand-children, 98 great-grand-children, and 4 of the fifth generation." George Burns was prominent in affairs relating to the government of the town. He was Moderator in 1770, and NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 165 was one of the selectmen six years, being chairman of the board in 1752, 1768 and 1770. Thomas Burns Thomas Burns settled in Nottingham in 1736, and was assessed until 1764, but no record is found to show that he had a wife or children. He was probably the father of George and John — possibly a brother. John Caldwell John Caldwell, who may have been from Londonderry, settled on Bush Hill about 1738. The farm owned and oc- cupied by him was the next one south, and adjoining the same farm that was later owned by Asa Davis, and now called the Morrison farm. A part of the same land re- mained in possession of the Caldwell family until a very recent date. He was a land surveyor and a farmer. He died February 25, 1765. Joseph Caldwell Joseph Caldwell, assessed from 1744 to 1756, was probably from Londonderry, and may have been the father of John. He also resided on Bush Hill and owned the farm formerly belonging to John Mitchell, and later to Asa Davis. February 16, 1769, "James Caldwell, (son of the preceding,) conveyed to Asa Davis 65 acres of land, more or less. Beginning at the south-west corner, at a Black Ash tree Standing in a swamp, it being the N. W. corner of John Caldwell's, late of Nottingham West, de- ceased, land; thence North, 63 rods to Colonel Tyngs land; thence easterly by said Tyngs, a parallel line with the north line of John Caldwells aforesaid, deceased land 167 rods to John Flueysland; thence south to said Caldwells land 63 rods, thence westerly on said Caldwells land 167 rods to the bound first mentioned." James Caldwell re- cited that he received the same by inheritance. This was the homestead of Asa Davis, Esq., and later of Daniel 166 HISTORY OF HUDSON Taylor Davis, and now of Morrison. We find no record of Joseph Caldwell's death. Ezekiel Chase Doctor Ezekiel Chase, the first resident physician of Nottingham, came here about 1740, and settled on the same farm that had been occupied by Joseph Snow, it be- ing situated a little north of the state line and bordering on the Merrimack River. The cellar is still visible a little south.of the old Ferry road, and the house of the late J. S. Winn. About 1747, Ezekiel Chase was commissioned a justice of the peace, and was the first resident of this town to be honored with that distinction. He was moderator of the annual town meetings for eleven years. He was town clerk for 1748, and was one of the selectmen for nine years, six of which he was the chairman of the board. His wife, Priscilla, was a sister of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first minister settled in Nottingham. She died February 22, 1768, in the 59th year of her age. He married a second wife, Elizabeth . Doctor Chase seems to have been a man of good abili- ty and much influence, and a very active citizen. He con- veyed his farm of one hundred acres, August 9, 1773, to Samuel Pollard, in consideration of two hundred pounds. He continued to reside there, or in that vicinity, until about 1780, when he probably removed from the town, as no fur- ther record of him is found here. Roger Chase Deacon Roger Chase, a brother or kinsman of Doctor Ezekiel, was first assessed in Nottingham as early as 1739, at about which time he purchased the Hills' Garrison farm, where he resided until 1754, when he moved to the Enoch Hills farm on "Hills Row." He remained there until 1762, when he probably removed from this town, as no further record relating to him is found. He was twice elected a member of the board of selectmen. nottingham west and families 167 Isaac Cummings The residence of Isaac Cummings was a short dis- tance north of the north line of Nottingham West, just in the edge of Litchfield. He was assessed in Not- tingham West for the years, 1746, 1747 and 1748. It ap- pears from a petition he made to the General Court of New Hampshire to have his farm annexed to Nottingham West, that he had supposed — until the line was surveyed and es- tablished between Nottingham West and Litchfield, some- time subsequent to the date of the incorporation of these two towns — that his residence was south of the line. It would also seem that the selectmen of Nottingham West believed he was an inhabitant of that town, as they assessed him there for three years. When the town line was surveyed it left more than one-half of his farm, with the buildings, in Litchfield. Not much is known of this Isaac Cummings. His wife, Elizabeth, died, October 23, 1763, as the inscription on her head stone in the Hills' Farm Ceme- tery will show. Isaac Cummings left no children, but he had a colored female servant, Nancy, to whom he gave his farm. She was the mother of Peter Blanchard, who owned and occupied the place during his life, and later it was owned by another colored family by the name of Hazzard. It has long been known as the "Nigger place," but no one has resided there for many years, and the buildings have decayed. Ebenezer Dakin But little is found upon the records in relation to this man Dakin, excepting the appearance of his name upon the assessment lists from 1745 to 1778, inclusive. There is not much doubt that he was the father of Levi and Justus Dakin, whose names appear upon the town records, a little later. His residence was at the south part of the town, on the Back Road, and probably on what was later the Zaccheus Colburn farm, and still later the Wason place. 168 HISTORY OF HUDSOW April 1, 1778, Ebenezer and Levi Dakin, in considera- tion of nine hundred and thirty pounds, conveyed to Sam- uel Brown of Newbury, Mass., one hundred and twenty acres of land, together with the house and barn, orchard, fences and all appurtenances thereto belonging. Charles Darrah Charles Darrah was assessed in Nottingham from 1737 to 1747, when he removed — probably to Litchfield. He owned a part, or all, of the farm formerly belonging to Eleazer Cummings, Jr., who died in 1734, which farm has previously been described, and a part of which is now owned by Josiah K. Wheeler. John Marsh seems to have come into possession of the greater portion of the farm somewhere about 1742. Arthur Darrah Arthur Darrah, a kinsman to Charles, resided with him. Josiah Dutton Josiah Dutton was assessed in Nottingham and Not- tingham West from 1743 to 1764, inclusive. For several years his residence was near what is now Taylor's Falls Bridge, then the ferry. About that time the ferry was known as Dutton's Ferry, and it seems quite conclusive that he owned and operated it, and may have established it. October 17, 1748, Josiah Dutton, blacksmith, conveyed to Nathan Cross, twenty-five acres of land east of the County Road, now Library Street, that north of the Ferry Road, adjoining land of Eleazer Cum- mings on the north. There is a very ancient cellar on this tract, east of the stand pipe, and a little north of the Bar- ret's Hill road, or Highland Street. More than a hun- dred years ago, this place was known as "The Old College." Later he lived one and one-half miles farther north, on the old Derry road — now discontinued — about forty rods east Dea. MOSES GREELEY NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 169 of the present Derry road, and fifty rods south of the Marsh road, where the cellar is still visible. Samuel Greeley Deacon Samuel Greeley removed from Haverhill, Mass., to Nottingham about 1740, and settled on a farm ex- tending from the Merrimack River to Hills' Meadow, a distance of about one and one-half miles. It contained some two hundred acres, and was the adjoining farm on the north of the original Joseph Blodgett Garrison place. Until within a few years this farm had wholly remained in the possession of Deacon Greeley's descendants, and a part is still owned by Samuel A. Greeley, whose house oc- cupies the identical site on which the original house was erected by his ancestor in 1740. His children were all born in Haverhill before his removal to this town. Samuel Greeley was elected clerk of the District of Nottingham, August 9, 1743, and was re-elected each suc- ceeding year as long as it continued a district — until 1746. He was chosen one of the selectmen in 1743, 5, 6, 7 and 8. He was chairman of the Board in 1746. March 7, 1748, Deacon Samuel Greeley and John Marsh were chosen delegates to the New Hampshire Gen- eral Court, to answer a citation in relation to a petition of Josiah Cummings and other inhabitants of the town, to be released from paying taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Merrill. Deacon Greeley was a very influential citizen in the early affairs of the town. His wife, Rachel, died September 19, 1758, in the 62d year of her age. He married a second wife, Jane, who died June 12, 1762, in her 58th year. This last wife was buried in the ancient burial yard at South Nashua, where her head stone still remains. He died May 25, 1771, in his 76th year, and was buried in the Blodgett Cemetery be- side his first wife, where their head stones may still be seen. 170 HISTORY OF HUDSON Ezekiel Greeley Ezekiel Greeley, brother of Deacon Samuel, born in Haverhill, October 21, 1725, married Esther, daughter of Major Zaccheus and Esther Lovewell, born in Dunsta- ble, November 10, 1728. His residence, as before noted, was at "Hills Row." He was in Captain John Goffe's com- pany, scouting between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers, from July 30 to August 27, 1745. He died January 21, 1793. His widow, Esther, sur- vived him many years. Samuel Greeley, Jr. Major Samuel Greeley, the oldest son of Samuel and Rachel Greeley, born in Haverhill, Mass., May 10, 1721, came to this town with his father about 1740. He married, May 27, 1744, Abigail Blodgett, daughter of Joseph and Dorothy (Perham) Blodgett, and resided up- on his father's homestead until 1777. Then, leaving the Greeley farm to his sons, Samuel and Joseph Greeley, he removed to Wilton, where he died. It is said that while traveling the highway there on horseback, a tree fell upon him and caused his death. His death is not recorded here. After his decease his wife, Abigail, returned to this town, where she died March 29, 1818, in her 95th year. He was town clerk from 1747 to 1776, inclusive, except for the year 1748. He was a mem- ber of the board of selectmen for fourteen years — from 1749 to 1757, and for 1761-2-3 and 1766, being chairman the last four years. He was captain of a company of sixty-two men who turned out as volunteers from Nottingham West, at the time of the battle of Lexington, on the 19th day of April, 1775. He was elected delegate to the General Court of New Hampshire, to represent the towns of Nottingham West and Litchfield, January 4, 1762. March 4th of the same year he was re-elected. He was a ..iember of the board of selectmen of Wilton. nottingham west and families 171 Jonathan Hardy Jonathan Hardy was first assessed in Nottingham in 1743. He resided at the south part of the town, not very far from the river, though the exact location is not known. He was probably the first to establish and operate the ferry that existed for more than eighty years nearly opposite the South Nashua Railroad Station. This ferry was first called Hardy's Ferry — later Pollard's Ferry, Corey's Fer- ry, etc. March 26, 1747- A Road viewed and laid out three poles wide, run- ning from the Road by the little Bridge, so called, running over said Bridge by Huston's fence to Hardy's line, thence between Hardy and Chase to a marked tree on Hardy's land, thence by marked tree on Hardy's land to Merrimack River. Ezekiel Chase, John Marshall, Selectmen. John Marsh. Another road was laid out to ''Hardy's Ferry," Decem- ber 5, 1757. The old Ferry house cellar is still plainly vis- ible on the bank of the Merrimack near the northerly line of land, late of J. Sylvanus Winn, now owned by Paul But- ler of Lowell. The ferry was operated as such until the completion of Taylor's Falls Bridge in 1827. Jonathan Hardy was in the French and Indian war in 1758. He died about 1778. Samuel Huston Samuel Huston, or Houston, was assessed from 1743 to 1747, inclusive, and seems to have resided at the south part of the town, on what was later the "Wilson Mills" place. John Huey But little is known of this John Huey. He was assessed in Nottingham as early as 1736. His residence was at the north side of Bush Hill, and the an- cient Huey cellar is on the east side of the Morrison farm, 172 HISTORY OF HUDSON south-west of the bridle path that leads to the old Smith farm — now abandoned. Thomas Kinney Thomas Kinney was assessed here from 1736 to 1762. His residence was at first at the north side of Bush Hill, and later not very far from Hudson Center. He died December 2, 1762. David Lawrence David Lawrence was a tax payer here from 1740 to 1785, excepting eight years between 1769 and 1778, when his residence was in that part of Londonderry that was an- nexed to Nottingham West in 1778. He resided in the north part of the town, near the "Hills Farms," until about 1770, when he probably removed to what is now the Alfred Eaton farm in the easterly part of the town, then in Lon- donderry, but from and after 1778 in Nottingham West. He is supposed to have come to this town from Dun- stable, as the records there show the birth of Sarah, daugh- ter of David and Sarah Lawrence, born January 31, 1732. Also recorded in the Nottingham records: Eleazer, son of David and Sarah Lawrence, born June 9, 1738. David and Jonathan Lawrence were probably his sons, and there were doubtless other children. The wife of Al- fred Eaton, deceased, was a descendant of this David Law- rence through a daughter of David Lawrence, Jr., who married James Smith, who occupied the same farm, which was inherited by their son — known as "Devil Jim" Smith, and who was the father of Mrs. Eaton. His son Jonathan also resided a little farther north- east. "Lawrence Corner" was named for this family of Lawrences. John Marshall John Marshall came to Nottingham in 1742. He was assessed from 1743 to 1755, inclusive. His residence was MARY DERBY GREELEY NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 173 on the John Taylor Garrison farm, which has been previous- ly described. He was one of the selectmen in 1744-7 and 9, and was chairman of the board for the last year. He died January 5, 1756. He was succeeded on the same farm by John Marshall, Jr., who occupied it until 1754, when he removed to that part of Londonderry that was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. Daniel Marshall, another son, continued to occupy the farm until about 1757, when it came into possession of Reuben Spalding, son of Ebenezer, born July 26, 1728, and has remained in the hands of his descendants, either in part or in whole, to the present time. The posterity of John Marshall became very numerous, and many of them, bearing various names, are yet resi- dents of Hudson. John Marsh John, son of John and Lydia (Emerson) Marsh, born in Haverhill, Mass., August 19, 1693, married December 8, 1718, Sarah Severance of Kingston, N. H., and removed to Nottingham about 1742. He purchased the greater part of the farm formerly owned by Eleazer Cummings, Jr., and probably soon after erected a new house farther west than was the old Cum- mings-Darrah house, and which stood on the west side of the road, a little to the north of the present house on the same farm owned now by the heirs of Josiah K. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler's first wife was the daughter of Thomas Marsh, a descendant of the fourth generation of John Marsh. She inherited the farm from her father. It was a part of the Joseph Hills land already described in a former chapter. Mr. Marsh was one of the selectmen in 1747 and 1750, and was chairman of the board for the latter year. He was a delegate to the General Court of New Hampshire in 1747 and 1748. He was a prominent and useful man in his town, and his descendants became numerous here and elsewhere. Very 174 HISTORY OF HUDSON many of the citizens of this town have descended from this John Marsh, although a great majority of them are known by other names. He died November 20, 1777, aged 84 years, 2 months and 20 days. His widow, Sarah, died January 28, 1786, aged 87 years, 1 month and 3 days. They were buried in the an- cient Hills Farms Cemetery. Thomas Marsh Thomas was a son of the preceding John Marsh, born in Haverhill, December 19, 1719. He married Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth (Whittier) Greeley of Haverhill, November 17, 1744. He was first assessed here in 1741, but was not a per- manent resident until about 1761. He was assessed in 1741, 43, 46, 47, 49, 50, 57, 58, 61, and each year later until 1803. He and his brother, John, Jr., resided on "Hills Row" for several years — at first in Litchfield, as before stated. His permanent settlement upon the Marsh farm — which, with the exception of a brief period, has remained in the possession of his descendants, and is now owned by Walter Hiram Marsh, a great-grandson of Thomas — was probably not until 1761, though he may possibly have re- sided there temporarily previous to that time. This place lies about two miles north of Taylor's Falls Bridge, and is east of the Derry road. His wife, Ann, died April 19, 1770. For a second wife, he married Mehitabel Barker of Pelham, March, 1774. He died July 3, 1808. He was an elder of the Presbyterian church for many years. It is said that for some years after his first settlement upon the farm, he had his residence in a small house some one hundred rods south-westerly from the present home of Walter H. Marsh, on a sand hill, where are still to be seen some traces of the ancient resi- dence. NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 175 Mr. Marsh has recently erected a house over the old cellar where was located the permanent home of his hon- ored ancester — Elder Thomas Marsh. John Marsh, Jr. Some mention has already been made in relation to this John, Jr., brother of Thomas Marsh. He was born in Haverhill, March 4, 1725. He married Martha, daughter of Ezra Rolfe. They lived on "Hills Row," upon the same farm with his brother Thomas, from 1744 to 1751, when they moved to that part of Londonderry that was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. After the annexation his name again appears upon the tax lists, June, 1778. He died in 1779. He resided at the north-east corner of what is now Hudson, probably on the farm later owned by Ebenezer Wood and his son. He was in the company of Captain John Goffe, scout- ing from the Merrimack to the Connecticut River, from July 30 to August 27, 1745. James Marsh James was a kinsman to John Marsh, born in Haver- hill, Mass. He was assessed in Nottingham in 1735, 1743, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. He married Hannah French. His residence was at the east part of the town, on or near the North Pelham road. He died as early as 1749, as his widow was assessed for his estate that year. Onesiphorus Marsh Onesiphorus, son of Onesiphorus of Onesiphorus of Onesiphorus of George, the immigrant, was a brother of James, and was assessed here from 1743 to 1754, inclusive. He married Lydia . She died sometime after 1754, and he next married Dorothy (Blodgett) Thompson, daugh- ter of Joseph and Dorothy (Perham) Blodgett, born in this town, February 18, 1724, by whom he had a daughter, Sarah, born in Plymouth, N. H., in 1769. She married John Rideout of Plymouth. 176 HISTORY OF HUDSON His residence was also at the east part of the town, near that of his brother James, probably on the Captain John Haseltine farm, later the Jeremiah Smith place, near the Pelham line. He removed to Monson, now Milford,. N. H., about 1755, and to Plymouth, N. H., in 1765, being one of the original proprietors of the township. He died in Plymouth, August 8, 1808.* Abel Merrill Deacon Abel Merrill, a kinsman — probably a brother — of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, was assessed from 1741 to 1750, inclusive. His home was at the south part of the town, on or near the Back road, and not very far from the residence of the Rev. Nathaniel. Daniel Merrill Ensign Daniel Merrill was assessed here from 1740 to 1769, inclusive. He lived not far from the home of Rev. Nathaniel, to whom he was a relative. His wife, Tamisin, died January 30, 1755. He next married Mary, daughter of Henry Hale. It is said that they removed to Hollis. Nathaniel Merrill Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first resident minister set- tled by the town of Nottingham over the Congregational church of this place, and ordained as pastor, November 30, 1737, — being a clergyman, was not assessed, but was a res- ident at the date of the town's incorporation in 1746. His farm was on the Back road, one-fourth of a mile north of the site of the first meeting-house. This was later the Joseph Winn place, the Benjamin Fuller farm, and now belongs to Leonard B. Marshall of Dorchester, Mass., and is occupied by him and his family, as a summer residence. This farm was once a part of Thomas Colburn's land. Mr. Merrill continued to occupy it as his home until his History of Plymouth, N. H. HIRAM MARSH NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 177 decease, which occurred in 1796, fifty-nine years subse- quent to his settlement as pastor of the church in Not- tingham. John Mitchell John Mitchell was assessed from 1738 to 1748, and after his decease his estate was assessed to his widow, Jane Mitch* ell, until 1752. He lived on the north side of Bush Hill, probably on the farm later owned by James Caldwell, Asa Davis, and his descendants, and now by Augustus R. Mor- rison. He died about 1748 or 9, but no record of his death is found. Abraham Page Abraham Page, probably from Haverhill, Mass., came to Nottingham West in 1746. In the description of the laying out of the County Road, from Litchfield to the Mas- sachusetts line, by the Court's committee, in 1749, called "The King's Highway," we find the following: "S. 40° W. 40 rods to a stake and stones at the east end of Mr. Page's Barn." This was at a point opposite Elmhurst — at the top of the hill and near the junction of the old road with the pres- ent Lowell road. An ancient cellar on the east side of the highway at this point is still plainly visible, marking the spot were Abraham Page's house stood in 1749. His barn was on the west side of the road. Mr. Page survived but a few years after coming to this town. He died March 1, 1752, in his 69th year. His wife, Judith (Worthen) Page, died July 23, 1759, in her 75th year. They were among the first burials in the Blodgett Cemetery, where their small, quaint head stones still stand. Ezekiel Page He was undoubtedly a son of Abraham, and came here from Haverhill with his father in 1746, as did also Isaac, 178 HISTORY OF HUDSON probably his brother. On February 6, 1749, John Snow conveyed to Ezekiel Page thirty-six acres of land, more or less, being thirty and one-half rods wide and extending east- erly from the river about one hundred and eighty rods. Hillsboro County Registry of Deeds, Vol. 2, Page 377. Previous to this, March C, 1748, Vol. 2, Page 379, John Marshall conveyed to Ezekiel Page about eleven acres of land adjoining the foregoing described tract on the north, and extending from the Merrimack to the highway, which was later the county road, and bounded northerly by the Eleazer Cummings farm, which then was the southerly line of the Joseph Hills land. This deed has the following clause in the description : "Thence southerly by said road (County road) to a road laid out for the conveniency of the Ferry, formerly called Dutton's Ferry." Probably Mr. Page owned the ferry for a time, as the first tract of land de- scribed seems to have always after been owned by the later owners of the ferry, and contained the Ferry landing. The east end of Taylor's Falls Bridge is near the center of the same tract of land. At about 1750, Mr. Page removed to what is now the north-east part of Hudson, but was then the south-west part of Londonderry. After the annexation he was again assessed for 1778-9-80 and 1790. Isaac Page Probably he was the brother of Ezekiel, and son of Abraham. He was assessed here from 1746 to 1753, and from 1778 to 1802. He probably took his brother's place at the ferry until 1754, when he moved to the south-west cor- ner of Londonderry, which was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. His residence at the north-east part of the town was not far from his brother Ezekiel's. His name appears in the tax lists from 1778 to 1802. Abraham Page, Jr. Abraham Page, Jr., was undoubtedly the son of Abra- ham, Sen., born about April, 1715. He was assessed here from 1749 to 1801, inclusive. NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 179 For several years at the first his residence was at the east part of the town, near the North Pelham road. After- wards, and for many years previous to his death, he owned and occupied the farm later owned by Nathaniel Haselton, and now owned by Arthur W. Haselton. The house stood on the east side of the road, a short distance south of the present house of Arthur W. Hasel- ton, where the cellar is yet visible. He was a captain of the militia for many years. He was one of the selectmen for ten years, eight of which he was chairman of the board. He was the moderator of eleven annual town meetings, and was a representative to the General Court of New Hamp- shire in 1775 and 1776. Tradition says that Captain Abra- ham Page brought up Nathaniel Haselton, after he was twelve years old. This Haselton bought the homestead farm of Captain Page, in consideration of two hundred and thirty-four pounds — deed dated April 1, 1795 — at the same time giving Mr. Page a life lease of the premises, to insure the support of himself and his wife, Elizabeth. March 31, 1773, he conveyed to Timothy Smith a farm of one hun- dred acres, more or less, which was occupied by Mr. Smith until his death in 1802. This farm was that which was later owned by Captain Isaac Winn, afterwards known as the "Jim" Barrett place. March 18, 1773, he conveyed to Page Smith a farm of seventy acres, more or less, adjoin- ing his own farm on the north, which was later the Jeffer- son Smith homestead, and later still owned by Nathaniel Wentworth. His wife Elizabeth died March 6, 1782, in her 68th year. He married next, December 4, 1784, Dorothy Hadley. He died April 18, 1802, aged 86 years, 11 months and 27 days. No births of children of Captain Page are found re- corded. ISO HISTORY OF HUDSON Samuel Page Samuel Page, probably another son of Abraham Page, was assessed from 1751 to 1773, inclusive. Esther, his wife, died July 30, 1757, in the 28th year of her age. He next married Sarah, daughter of Ephraim and Eliz- abeth (Butler) Cummings, born in Nottingham, May 12, 1736. After his second marriage, he lived on the south side of Bush Hill, not far from the home of his father-in-law, Ephraim Cummings. He probably removed from this town in 1774. Henry Snow Henry, son of Joseph and Bridget Snow, born Novem- ber 17, 1725, was assessed from 1746 to 1764, when he re- moved to Plymouth, N. H. He lived in the east part of the town, not very far from the residence of Onesiphorus Marsh. He was one of the selectmen in 1760. He died in Plymouth, May 11, 1770, in his 45th year. His wife, Miriam, died in Plymouth, May 13, 1813. John Snow John, son of Joseph and Bridget Snow, born January 11, 1723, was assessed from 1744 to 1751. After his fa- ther's death, he resided for a time with his mother at Chase hill on the Bush Hill road. Daniel Simonds Daniel Simonds was assessed from 1743 to 1765. He resided in the east part of the town. Very little is found upon the records here relating to him. His wife's name was Martha, and the records show that they had seven children born to them while they resided here. They re- moved from town about 1765. nottingham west and families 181 William Taylor William Taylor settled in this town about the time that it became Nottingham West. He was assessed here from 1746 to 1772, inclusive, and for the years 1777, 79 and 1781. For a time he owned a farm half a mile below Tay- lor's Falls Bridge, and bordering on the river opposite Taylor's Falls. This fall in the river, which was consider- able, is now covered by the flowage of the water from the dam at Pawtucket Falls at Lowell. It was probably named for this William Taylor. His house was on the east side of Lowell road, a little distance north No. 2 turnout, where the cellar is yet visi- ble. This place was owned by the Marshalls for many years, a large part of it is now owned by Frank M. Winn. He probably removed from town. Benjamin Tyng Benjamin Tyng, son of Eleazer and grandson of Jona- than Tyng, born in Dunstable, now Tyngsborough, Janu- ary 26, 1722, resided for a few years at the south part of the town, near Deacon Abel Merrill's. He was assessed from 1743 to 1747. James Wason James Wason, a Presbyterian emigrant from London- derry, settled on the east side of the road at the summit of Bush Hill in 1740, where he remained until his death, which occurred August 22, 1799, in the 89th year of his age. His name appears on the tax lists of 1740 for the first time. The farm was afterwards owned by Samuel Wason, and for many years was known as the Walker farm, and still later it was owned by Armstrong. He was born in the parish of Ballymena, County of Antrim, in the north-east part of Ireland in 1711, and came to this country with his brother Thomas in 1736. He was married in Portsmouth, N. H., to Hannah Caldwell of that place, in the year of his arrival, 1736. The Caldwells who 182 HISTORY OF HUDSON settled near him on Bush Hill, probably were kinsmen of his wife. Hannah, wife of James Wason, died April 16, 1786, aged 80 years. Both are buried in the Blodgett Cemetery, where their head stones still remain. Mr. Wa- son was an active citizen in the affairs of the town. He was one of the selectmen in 1747, and held many other of- fices. He seems to have been a very firm believer in the creed of the Presbyterian church, and sometimes refused to pay taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill, who was a Congregational minister, while at the same time the Presbyterians were taxing themselves for the mainte- nance of a pastor of their own persuasion, who preached to them at the North meeting-house. CHAPTER XV The First Meeting-House Under charter of January 4, 1733, "The inhabitants of said town of Nottingham are hereby enjoined and re- quired, within the space of three years from the publication of this act, to procure a learned orthordox minister, of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable support." If, by the conditions of the charter, it was understood that the town was enjoined to settle an "orthordox minis- ter," within three years from the date of the charter, those conditions were not strictly complied with. Yet those inhabitants, though few in numbers, did not forget their duty to appropriate money and supply a minis- ter to preach the Gospel. June 12, 1733, they raised sev- enty pounds "of money for carrying on ye public worship of God." September 11, 1733, "Voted to have preaching until March." March 6, 1734, "Voted a Hundred Pound Rate for to be raised for to hire a minister to preach ye Gospel." Samson Stoddard was probably the first minister em- ployed. We find in the account of John Snow, the first treasurer of the town, the following: "March 18, 1734, Paid to Mr. Samson Stoddard for preaching the gospel 35-10-5" "May 11, 1734, Paid to Mr. Samson Stoddard for preaching the gospel 4-2-0" "Dec. 15, 1734, Paid to Mr. Samson Stoddard for preaching the gospel 30-7-7" We also find in the next account which is without date, but was probably about a year later, the following: Paid to Mr. Isaac Richardson for preaching the gospel. 16-0-10 Paid to Mr. Thomas Skinner for preaching the gospel., 14-0-0 Paid to Mr. Ebenezer Wyman for preaching the gospel, 12-5-0 183 184 HISTORY OF HUDSON Probably these four were the only ministers employed to preach here, until the settlement of the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. The building of a meeting-house began to be agitated by the inhabitants of Nottingham very scon after the town received its charter; but it appears from the records to have been a difficult matter for them to settle upon a site. At a town meeting, held at the house of Ensign John Snow, September 11, 1733, it was "Voted that ye select- men measure from ye lower end of this town, beginning at Dracut Line, so up ye River as far as Natticook Line, and so round ye town, and also to find ye Senter of ye Land." At the same meeting adjourned to November 5, 1733, it was "Voted that ye meetinghouse should stand ye East side of Littlehales Meadow at a heap of stones at ye Root of a pine tree." At a town meeting called for the purpose of locating and building a meeting-house, and raising money for the same, held December 26, 1733, at 9 o'clock a. m., "Voted to adjourn the meeting for one hour and a half for the Town to go and view ye land in order for setting the meeting- house and also it was put to vote, Whether the town would establish and confirm their former vote and build a meet- ing house on the place voted for the fifth day of November 1733, and the vote past in the negative." The town also voted to choose a new place "for to set and build a meeting house on, and also the Town voted that they would build and set a meetinghouse in Notting- ham not exceeding fifty poles to the South from the pine tree that Capt. Joseph Blanchard measured to and marked, December the 24th day in the year 1733." "We whose names are underwritten are holly against and do enter ouer desent against the Towns proseeding to build a meeting house in the plase voted for December the 26th day 1733. Capt. Robert Fletcher, Samuel Gould, Daniel Fletcher, Ezekiel Fletcher, JAMES B. MERRILL THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 185 Zaccheus Spaulding, Jeremiah Colburn." All the dissenters above recorded, resided in the south part of Nottingham, which later, by the adjustment of the Province line, fell into Massachusetts. Their protest was probably due to the vote of the town to locate the meeting- house farther north than they deemed in justice to all. Also as the sun was selling the meeting was adjourned for half an hower ; and also the Town voted that they would build a meeting house forty feet Long and thirty five feet wyde and twenty feet between joints; and also the town made choice of James Perham, Joseph Hamblet Elea- zer Cummings, Capt. Robert Fletcher & Thomas Colburn a committee to accomplish and set up the above frame by the time voted for, and also the town voted that the meeting house s-hali be raised by the first day of May next. There must have been considerable time spent in dis- cussion, or otherwise, at that meeting, as it was called for the special purpose to act upon the matter of building a meeting-house, and convened at nine o'clock in the morn- ing, being still in session at sunset. At the annual town meeting March 6, 1734, after the election of the necessary town officers, and voting to raise money to defray the regular expenses, provision was made to hire a minister "to preach the gospel," it was "Voted y* ye committee y l was chos to git ye meeting house frame should put king posts into ye meeting house, and also ye Town voted they would except ye meeting house frame 21 feet high between joints." The meeting was adjourned to the following day, March 7, and after an animated discussion, a recess was taken for two hours "to view ye land in order to agree upon a place to build a meeting house on, and also ye Town voted a rate of 50 pounds to be added to ye 40 pounds y l was raised for finishing ye meeting house frame, which forty pounds was raised December ye 26, 1733. "These two Rates to be made in one Rate: and also ye Rate above mentioned is to pay for ye meeting house frame & for finishing ye meeting house. 186 HISTORY OF HUDSON "Joseph Hamblet, James Perham : Joseph Winn: John Butler: Zaccheus Lovel : was chosen a committee for to finish the meeting house. "Voted y l they would board and clapboard & shingle & lay the loar fior of ye meeting house, and also glaze ye meeting house. "Also voted y l ye committee should accomplish ye above menshond work by ye last of September. "It was put to vote wether the Town would build a meeting house on ye South place voted for, or ye North place voted for, and ye Town voted y* they would set & build a meeting house on ye North place voted for, upon a little hill where was laid up a heap of stones in ye land of Thomas Colburn not exceeding fifty polls to ye south from ye Pine tree y* Cap. Joseph Blanchard meashered to and markt December 24, 1733." Capt. Joseph Blanchard, a surveyor, was employed by the selectmen to find the center of the town, and the pine tree marked by him was undoubtedly considered the cen- ter, at least running north and south. The road from Dracut to Litchfield was not laid out at that time, but was accepted by the selectmen February 15, 1734. A part of this road is now known as the "Back Road," or "Burns Road," and it leads over Burns hill, past the VVason farm, now owned by J. F. Wilson, and by the old place of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, now owned by Leonard Marshall, across Musquash brook, and by the Timothy S. Ford place, and past the site of Ensign John Snow's house, where all the town meetings, with one exception, were held until the meeting-house was erected, until coming to the Lowell road laid out in November, 1822. At a town meeting held May 27, 1734, it was voted to reconsider action taken at the previous meeting, relative to to the site of the meeting-house and voted to locate the house on "ye land of Thomas Colburn, at a heap of stones that was laid up this day not far from said Colburn's South- erly Dam." It was decided that the building should be THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 187 raised the 5th of the following June, and the committee should provide for the raising. John Taylor, Eleazer Cummings, Nathan Cross and William Cummings, all of whom lived at the extreme northerly part of the town, opposed this new location, as it was half a mile south of the center of the town. Not- withstanding the opposition, the meeting-house was con- structed so far that a meeting was held in it October 3, 1734, when the committee was voted one hundred pounds "for finishing ye meeting house." At an adjourned meeting held at the meeting-house December 3, 1735, it was "Voted that they would build a pulpit and also voted that they would build a body of seats leaving room for an alley in ye middle of ye meeting house up to ye pulpit. "Voted that they would leave room round the outside of ye body seats for to build pews and an alley round convenient to pass along. "Voted to build stairs up galleries and lay ye gallerie floors and build a gallerie rail in the fore seats." There has been considerable speculation among the old residents of Hudson, and some difference of opinion has existed in regard to the exact location of the first meeting-house of Nottingham. The only description of the lot upon which it stood, in addition to what has already been given, recorded in the town books, is in the record of a town meeting held at the meeting-house May 20, 1736, and is as follows : Mr. Thomas Colbum gave ye Town a piece of land around the meet- ing house so long as a meeting house may stand upon it, Beginning at ye North East corner of ye meeting house at a heap of stones, and so run- ning West to a heap of stones by ye highway laid out to Dracut line, & so running by said highway South to a heap of stones, so running East to a rock with stones upon it, and so running North to the first mentioned bound. This record proves conclusively, that the building was located on the east side of the road leading from Dracut to Litchfield, as laid out February 15, 1734, and now called the "Back Road." 188 HISTORY OF HUDSON Four different locations were made by the town before the matter was settled. This was owing to the difficulty of fixing a site which would be most convenient to all con- cerned. The geographical center of the town, as we have seen, found by Captain Blanchard's survey in 1733, was about half a mile north of Musquash Brook, in a north and south line. Finally the location selected, as I believe after having given the matter considerable study and research, was on the same lot, and very near the same position now occupied by school house Number One, which is on the east side of the Dracut-Litchfield road, a short distance north of Musquash bridge.* The meeting-house stood end to the road, and was forty feet in length from east to west, and thirty-five feet wide. It was twenty-one feet between joints, with king posts. There were three entrances or outside doors; one at the center of the east end, one at the center of the south front, and a third at the center of the west end. The gal- leries were on the east, south and west sides. The gallery stairs for the women were at the south-east corner, and for the men, at the south-west corner of the house. The pulpit was at the center of the north side, and the broad aisle ex- tended from the front door on the south to the pulpit. This last was elevated several feet, and reached by a short flight of stairs on the west side. Pew lots were leased to John Taylor, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Hamblet and Joseph Snow, on the south side; Elea- zer Cummings, Joseph Ferham, Ezekiel Fletcher and Dan- iel Fletcher, on the west side; Robert Fletcher and John Butler, on the north side; and Joseph Butterfield, Thomas Colburn and Ezekiel Spaulding on the east. The minis- * The first location, voted November 5, 1733, was on the east side of I.ittlehale's meadow. December 26, 1733, this selection was shown to be unsatisfactory, and it was voted to build a meeting-house ''not exceeding 50 poles to the south of a pine tree which Capt. Joseph lManch- ard measured to and marked Nov. 24, 1733." This was not satisfactory to those living at the south end of the town. Accordingly, March 7, 1734, a location near the first one selected, ''on a little hill where was laid up a heap of stones in the land of Thomas Colburn" was voted. Then, May 27, 1734, this decision was reversed, and though there still were dissenters to the choice, the site described was accepted. — A". IV. THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 189 ter's pew was on the north side, west of the pulpit stairs. An aisle extended around between the pews and the body of seats. The men's seats were west, and the women's seats east of the broad aisle. The pews were probably five feet square, with a few a little longer one way. The own- ers were required "to seal up the pews six or seven feet." Very little reference is made in the town records to the meeting-house, subsequent to the leasing of the pews in 1736, until after the settlement of the Province line in May, 1741. By this decision more than four thousand acres of the south part of Nottingham, and many of its most prom- inent citizens, remained in Massachusetts. By the in- corporations of Nottingham West, July 5, and Pelham, July 6, 1746, four thousand and five hundred acres were also taken from what constituted old Nottingham. On the other hand, Nottingham West included the northerly part of "Hills Farms," containing about one thousand acres, that had formerly been a part of Litchfield, as it was incor- porated in 1734. These changes in the boundary lines completely upset the calculations of the builders of the old Nottingham meeting-house, which now stood within two miles of the southern limits of the town, and did not accommodate the majority of the inhabitants of the town. Accordingly soon after receiving its charter "The Town voted to move the Preaching to Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's house in said Town." Benjamin Whittemore at that time owned the farm now occupied by Augustus F. Blodgett, and which extend- ed so far north as to include the land now belonging to the Blodgett cemetery. The Whittemore house is understood to have been at, or near, the same place where the Blodgett house now stands. The town meetings were also moved from the meeting- house to the houses of Samuel Greeley and Benjamin Whittemore, until a second meeting-house was built in 1748. It appears from the records, that considerable difficulty arose between the citizens of Nottingham West and those 190 HISTORY OF HUDSON former inhabitants of Nottingham who, through the settle- ment of the Province line and the incorporation of Pelham, had become residents of Tyngsborough, Mass., and Pel- ham, N. H., all of whom had paid their proportionate part of the cost of building the house of worship. Out of the thirteen that were granted leases of pew lots, and built pews in the meeting-house, six had become residents of Tyngsborough, and three had been placed in Pelham, leav- ing only four of the original number residents of Notting- ham West. At a town meeting held November 24, 1746, it was "Voted to pull down the old meeting house," and Captain Colburn, John Marsh, Major Lovewell, John Marshall, Jos- eph Winn, Roger Chase, George Burns, James Hills and Eleazer Cummings were chosen as a committee to carry this vote into effect. For reasons that may be conjectured this committee, consisting of nine of the most influential and substantial men of the town, did not fulfill the purpose of their elec- tion. So at a meeting September 21, 1747, nearly a year later, they were commanded to "pull down the old meeting- house forthwith." In order to clear the way for the ac- complishment of this purpose, Doctor Chase and James Wason were chosen to "notify Massachusetts and Pelham with the Town's interest." This committee, for some reason failing to succeed, November 21, 1747, it was "Voted to impower the com- mittee formerly chosen to treat with Pelham and the Mas- sachusetts Province which once belonged to Nottingham, to agree with the several proprietors belonging to said meeting house." Still unsuccessful, May 18, 1748, the town chose Ezekiel Chase, Esq., Mr. John Marshall and Mr. John Marsh "a committee to treat with the proprietors who are interested in the old meeting house who belong to Pelham and the Massachusetts Province." In the meantime action was being taken towards build- ing another house, as will be explained further on, and at THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 191 the first town meeting held in this new church building, August 31, 1748, it was Voted to remove the seats and pulpit & D n (Deacon) seat out of ye old meeting house & place ym in the new house, and put up some of the old glass windows. Chose Mr. George Burns, Mr. John Marshall, & Dea- con Roger Chase a committee to effect ye foregoing work. October 26, 1748, Capt. Thomas Colburn, Samuel Bur- bank and James Marsh were chosen to "pull up the old floor in the old meeting house, and the breast work, and take out the nails." At a town meeting, January 30, 1749 A unanimous vote was passed to give the old meeting house, all that is remaining, excepting window frames, casements & Glass & Pews, (ie) all their right and interest in and to the same, Excepting what is before Excepted, as a Present to the Rev. Mr. Merrill, his heirs and assigns. With this action the records of the town close, as far as it was concerned in the old meeting-house, but the his- tory of the old building is revived in the Town Records of Pelham, where on March 6, 1748-9, it was "Voted to buy the Nottingham West meeting house of Mr. Merrill," and April 10, 1749, a committee was chosen to take down the old structure and remove it to Pelham "by a work rate." Still no immediate action seems to have been taken, for two and one-half years later, October 2, 1751, it was again voted to remove the house. Two weeks later the town "Voted to board and shingle the meeting house with con- venient speed." This indicates that in the interval the building had been moved, and that an effort was being made to finish it. This was duly accomplished, and the building was occupied as a meeting-house in Pelham until 1785, or fifty-one years from the date of its being built in 1734. At a meeting in Pelham, May 27, 1789, it was voted to sell the old meeting-house at public vendue, "in such a way and manner as shall be thought most likely to fetch its full value, in order to pay the town debts." With this pa- thetic closing of a checkered career, the history of the pio- neer meeting-house in Hudson is brought to an end. CHAPTER XVI The Second Meeting-House Very soon after the incorporation of the town of Not- tingham West, in 1746, the question of building a new meeting-house, in order to satisfy the requirements of the altered situation of the inhabitants, began to be agitated. The same difficulty was met in regard to settling the ques- tion of the best location, as had to be considered in the Selection of the site of the first house of worship. At a to eeting October 20, 1746, it was Voted to choose Major Zaccheus Lovewell, Doct. Ezekiel Chase, John Marshall, James Hills, 13enj a Frost a committee, with Colonel, Blanchard. to find the center up and dpwn of this Town. Voted to choose Samuel Huston and William Taylor chairmen for the same purpose. The committee seemed to have attended to its duty promptly, for on November 24, another town meeting was held, at which the committee reported "That the center, up and down of this Town, is on the North Easterly side of Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's Lot, and on the East side of the way that leads to Litchfield. * * * * The Town viewed the said place and marked several Pine trees on said spot and voted said place to erect a meeting house on." January 12, 1747, it was "voted to build a meeting- house forty feet long and twenty-six feet in width." Chose Capt. Thomas Colhurn, Major Zaccheus Lovewell, John Marsh, John Marshall, Kleazer Cummings, James Hills, George Burns a commit- tee to effeet the same. From some cause, probably from not being provided with the necessa y funds, the committee did not perform the duty for which it was chosen; and at a meeting Sep- tember 21, 1747, the old concern of getting a satisfactory location again came to the front. 192 THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 193 It was again voted to find the "center of land and travel in this Town." A committee was chosen consisting of Dr. Ezekiel Chase, James Hills, Benjamin Frost, with George Burns and James Wason as chainmen. Two months later a meeting was held, the second article in the warrant reading, "In relation to viewing the center of land and cen- ter of travel in this Town." Nothing definite was accomplished and the matter was "adjourned." Another meeting was held June 1, 1748, when it was Voted to purchase the uper meeting house in sd Town at the value of 80^ old tenor. Voted to raise 80^ old tenor to purchase sd meeting house. Made choice of Capt. Thomas Colburn, Mr. John Marshall, Mr. James Hills, Mr. George Burns, Mr. Stephen Chase a committee to pull down and remove said meetinghouse and to erect the same at some suit- able and convenient place, and to effect the same at or before the first day of July next. Voted that the committee shall give every man belonging to this Town liberty to work at pulling down and removing sd house. Voted that every man who shall work faithfully at the same 10 hours in a day and find himself, shall be allowed 20s. old tenor ptr Diem, and that the same shall be allowed for four oxen and a cart, as for a man, they working faithfully. The last committee chosen attended to the duties, and removed the meeting-house according to the instruc- tions it had received from the town, as the next town meeting, August 31, 1748, was held at the meeting-house. As has been mentioned, the town meetings, subsequent to the incorporation of Nottingham West, had been held at the house of Benjamin Whittemore, with one or two ex- ceptions, when the citizens met at the house of Samuel Greeley. The "uper meeting house," which was purchased from the proprietors, was the "Hills Farms" meeting-house. Tradition points to this as being the first house of worship built in what is now the town of Hudson, and as ante-dating the house built by the town in 1734, as already described. The following extracts from a petition to the General 194 HISTORY OF HUDSON Court, made in 1742, and signed by John Taylor and four- teen others, inhabitants of Nottingham, and Nathaniel Hills and sixteen other inhabitants of Litchfield, proves that tradition, in this case, is at fault : That your petitioners, after a meeting house was built in Notting- ham, and before any was built in Litchfield, erected a meeting house for the public worship of God, where both we and our families might attend upon God in his house, and since that, another meeting house has been set up in Litchfield ***** And your petitioners have for some con- siderable time maintained and supported the public worship of God among us at our cost and charge. * * * Your petitioners therefore do hum- bly pray that we may be erected into a township, there being a sufficient tract of land in the Northerly part of Nottingham and the Southerly part of Litchfield to make a compact Town, without any prejudice to the towns of Nottingham or Litchfield. . . . This proves beyond any question that the Nottingham meeting-house was the first erected. The "Hills Farms" meeting-house was located about twelve or fifteen rods easterly of the present highway known as the Derry road. It was situated near the southerly line of land owned now by Pearl T. Thomas. The site was long covered with a growth of pine timber and wood, the greater part of which was cut a few years since. The writer, after considerable search, identified the location by numerous small pieces of stones, which were chips from the foundation of the ancient building, when it was removed. These bits of stones are quite small, but are unlike any others found in that imme- diate vicinity. The committee chosen to carry out the wishes of the town located the house, constructed from the timber of the "Hills Farms" building, upon the site voted by the town November 24, 1746. This was on the "North Easterly side of Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's Lot and on the East side of the way that leads to Litchfield." This site was very near the spot upon which old Number Four school house stood for many years prior to 1852, when it was de- molished, and was on the north side of the highway, the old Blodgett cemetery on the east, north and west sides, THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 195 and was but a short distance from where the present iron gate of the cemetery is located. At the first meeting held in the unfinished meeting- house, August 31, 1748, it was Voted to lay the lower floor of the meeting house, and to hang the doors, and to underpin the frame, to board up the upper windows, and to remove the seats, pulpit and Deacon seat out of ye old meeting house and place ym in the new house; and to put up some of the old glass windows, all of which is to be done ys fall. Chose Mr. Geoige Burns, Mr. John Marshall & Deacon Roger Chase a committee to effect ye foregoing work. Voted to have built a tier of Pews in ye front of ye meeting house. Samuel Greeley, Ezekiel Chase, Thos. Colburn, Henry Hills, Ed- ward Spaulding & Timothy Emerson were chosen a committee to appraise the Pews and order their shapes. Voted that the highest in pay for one pole and other estate for the present year and two years back shall have his first choice in the highest priced Pew ground; and so downward, the next highest in pay his next choice, and so till the Pews are all disposed of; and in case any person is intitlled to a Pew he shall have the Pew that falls to him by pay or none; and every person who shall have a pew shall build it in 12 months and pay his money to the committee in 2 months from the time he re- ceives his grant of ye same, otherwise he shall forfeit his right to said Pew. The work on the house seems to have progressed with satisfactory results, and October 26, 1748, the town Voted to put up the stairs, put in the slit work, and lay the Gallery floors, and bring the slit work and the old floors and the breast work to the place (from the old meeting house) and to put up the breast work, all to be done this fall. Mr. John Marshall, Mr. George Burns, & Lt Joseph Winn made choice of as a committee to effect the same. The town also voted to straighten or turn the road by or nearer the meeting house. Also voted to allow horse stables built on the Town's land near the meeting house. The land upon which this building stood, including the Blodgett cemetery, and all the "common" near the center of which once stood the "South Meeting House," so called, and also including the three roads surrounding the common and called "Town's Land" in the records, was a part of the Benjamin Whittemore farm, and was probably con- 196 HISTORY OF HUDSON veyed by him to the town about this time, in 1748. The record of the deed, however, has not been found. There must have been four or five acres in the lot. The next item of record referring to the work on the meeting-house was April 24, 1749, when it was Voted to clapboard the meeting house, and put the window frames and the old glass this year & chose John Marshall, Blodgett, En- sign Chase & Ebenezer Dakin a committee to efect the same. Voted to allow Joseph Winn Jr. & Benjamin Winn the privilege of building two Pews over the stairs, in case they will take it for their right and interest in the meeting house. Among the bills allowed by a vote of the town at this meeting, was one of 13£ 10s Od, old tenor, to Benjamin Winn and Ebenezer Blodgett for making the pediments for the meeting-honse. The dimensions of this building are not given in the records, but it was probably smaller than the old Nottingham meeting-house, which was forty by thirty- five feet. It had three outside doors, one respectively on the south, east and west side. There was a gallery, probably on these same sides, and of sufficient width to allow two rows of seats in front with a passage-way in the rear. Pew lots were granted, one each, to Ezekiel Chase, Joseph Winn, Thomas Pollard, Edward Spaulding, Deacon Samuel Greeley, Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Merrill, Jr., and possibly others. The prices paid were from seven pounds, two shillings to eight pounds, fifteen shillings each, old tenor. The next matter that came in for consideration was the selection and permit of lots for horse sheds, and April 6, 1752, the following action was taken: Voted to allow to Capt. Thomas Colburn and Ensign Stephen Chase the first lot from the south west corner of the meeting house to build a horse stable on; also voted to Lieut. Joseph Winn and Thomas Pollard the second lot; also voted to George Burns and Samuel Burbank the 3d lot; also voted to Ebenezer Dakin and Joseph Gould the 4th lot. The town also voted and allowed to Eleazer Cummings and James Hills the first lot North west from the meeting house; also voted to Jo- THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 197 siah Cummings and Ezekiel Hills the second lot; also voted to Abraham Page and Henry Hale the 3d lot; also voted to Isaac Page and Ebenezer Cummings the 4th lot. The town also voted and allowed to Thomas Kenney and Benj* Snow the first lot south east from the meeting house. It was the custom in those times to have a burying ground for the interment of the dead in the rear, and on two sides of the meeting-house. The custom was carried out here, and what became known as the Blodgett ceme- tery was laid out upon the east, north and west sides of the house, in the rear of the horse sheds. The most ancient inscriptions upon the head stones in that cemetery, record deaths of persons in 1748 or 1749. Very little reference to the meeting-house is to be found in the town records for several years, giving the infer- ence that the people were satisfied with what had been done. The building stood at a central point between the north and south boundaries, but it was very near its western lim- its. Eventually this fact was the cause of complaint, as the opposite section of the town began to be more thickly pop- ulated. Finally a town meeting was held Sepember 16, 1760, to consider the matter of a new location It was put to vote to see if the town would vote to move the meet- ing house to the center of the town. Voted in the Negative. It was put to vote to see if the town would abate the Easterly part of the town of any part of their rates yearly, on account of their extraor- dinary travel to the meeting house. Voted in the Negative. It was put to vote to see if the town would repair the meeting house. Voted in the Negative. There was possibly a squaring of accounts in the settle- ment of the sentiments of the voters in the above actions, and the demands of dissatisfied parties increased in power, so at a meeting held November 11, an appeal was made to outsiders to settle the matter: The town chose Capt. William Richardson of Pelham, Capt. Caleb Page of Dunbarton, aud Mr. Ebenezer Kendall of Dunstable a committee 198 HISTORY OF HUDSON to view the town in its present situation in regard to said meeting house where it now standeth, and if they judge it unreasonable, fix a place to move said meetinghouse to, or to erect a new one on. Chose Serg. Daniel Merrill, Ensign PIzekiel Hills and Mr. Henry Snow to assist the committee in viewing this town. The above committee reported in writing December 18, 1760 "That they had viewed the said town carefully, and taken all useful means to inform themselves as to its present situation in regard to the said meeting house, and are fully of the opinion that for the good of said town in their present situation, the meeting house should stand where it now does, or otherwise to erect a new one in the place where the old one stands." This report was accepted, but when a vote was taken August 22, 1761, to see if the old house should be repaired, a negative vote was given. A special meeting was then called to convene the 24th of September, "To see if the Town will erect a new meeting house or in case the Town do not erect a new meeting house, to see if the Pew men will give up their rights in the seats. ... To see if the Town will repair the present meeting house and how far they will proceed in repairing said meeting house." It was voted not to build a new house, but to repair the old one, a committee was chosen and forty pounds, old tenor, was voted to meet the expense. But this received such a decided opposition, that it was Voted to reconsider the above vote in respect to raising the sum to repair the meeting house and dismissed the committee chosen for the purpose. It was put to vote to see if the town would seat the meeting house for three years. Voted in the affirmative, and chose a committee of five "to effect the same." Eight of the Pew Men agreed to yield up their rights in the seats. Voted to grant a number of young men : viz. Nathaniel Merrill, Ter- tius, William Merrill, John Caldwell Jr. Levi Spalding, Benjamin Messer, Eleazer Cummings Jr. to build a Pew in the back of the meeting house, in the front of the Gallery. THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 199 The matter rested here for over three years, a window, in the meantime being "set up over the pulpit," and then the agitation for a new house or removal of the old one be- gan. November 19, 1764, Voted to make choice of a surveyor and chairman to find the center of land in this town, and that they shall be under oath. Voted to choose Matthew Patten Esq. of Bedford, surveyor, to find said center of land. Voted and chose three persons to assist the said surveyor to carry the chain and Keep Tally, namely, Lt. Joseph Senter, Winkel Wright, both of Dunstable, and Mr. Benjamin Barker of Pelham ; and also voted that it shall be done by flat measure, meaning the chain on the ground. It was put to vote to see if the Town would build a meeting house, and that it shall be set in the center of land, or in the first convenient place from the center. Voted in the affirmative. The town chose seven men to carry out the purpose of building a meeting-house, viz.: Henry Hills, Joseph Gould, Seth Wyman, Samuel Page, Samuel Marsh, Samuel Greeley, Jr., and Daniel Merrill. This was a strong committee, representing all sections of the town, but it did not build a meeting-house at the center of land or at any other place. After considerable controversy in relation to the payment of the expense of the survey by the surveyor and chainman and tally keeper, amounting to ,£45-7s-9d silver, old tenor, or ;£6-ls-0d-2f lawful money, it was finally voted to settle the account at a meeting April 21, 1766. The survey was made in Feb- ruary, 1765, over a year before. Two years more the matter dragged along, and then, September 26, 1768, it was attempted again to raise money to make repairs, but was voted in the negative. March 30, 1778, almost ten years after the above vote, it was decided to sell the old meeting-house, and Moses Johnson, Ezekiel Hills, Capt. Samuel Marsh, Asa Davis, Esq., and Capt. Abraham Page were chosen a committee to act for the town. 200 HISTORY OF HUDSON Until then the town meetings had been held here, but on June 24, 1778, it was "Voted to hold the town meetings at the Rev. Mr. Strickland's meeting house for the future." The Rev. John Strickland was at that time the pastor of the Presbyterian church, having been ordained July 3, 1774, and he was preaching at the North meeting-house, which was built by the proprietors belonging to that socie- ty in 1771. The committee chosen to sell the old meeting- house evidently attended to their duties without much de- lay, for at a meeting held at the North meeting-house Feb- ruary 1, 1779, it was Voted that the money that the old meeting house was sold for should be turned into the Town Treasury by the committee that sold it. This was the last meeting-house built by the town. The records are silent as to who bought the old building, or the amount received for it. After its purchase and re- moval by the town in 1748, and its reconstruction here, it had stood for thirty years with very little repairs, and it must have been in very poor condition at the time it was sold. The writer has heard it said by people of that vicinity, who were long since deceased, that the old Number One school house, which stood upon the same site as the pres- ent school house, was partly constructed from timber taken from the old meeting-house. This is probably true, and, if so, some of the material that entered into the construction of the "Hills Farms" meeting-house in 1735, continued to serve most worthy purposes for nearly one hundred and fifty years. The pastor of this second meeting-house in Hudson was the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, who was ordained and set- tled here by the town November 30, 1737, and whose civil contract with the town continued until July 11, 1774, when it was dissolved. But he continued to preach in the old house until about the time it was sold and removed. The wor- shipers here were Congregationalists, and Mr. Merrill had a large and devoted following, and later, for many years, he THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 201 held services in the south part of the town, in a meeting- house called in the town records "Mr. Merrill's meeting- house," and later known as the "Old Gospel Shop." The second meeting-house, formerly the "Hills Farms" meeting-house, was sold in 1778 by the committee chosen for that purpose, and the proceeds turned into the town treasury, as has been shown, but the records do not inform us farther as to its later history or ultimate fate. However, we believe there is very little room for doubt that it was purchased at the time of its sale by Rev. Mr. Merrill and his Congregational followers. That it was taken down the second time and removed to the south part of the town, when it was rebuilt as early as 1779. At the annual town meeting, March 6, 1780, the war- rant contained the following article: To see if the town will agree to have one third of the Town meetings held at the Rev. Mr. Merrills meetinghouse for the future. The vote was in the negative, but as a compromise it was "Voted to have the town meetings held at the house of Samuel Greeley one-half of the time for the year en- suing." The exact location of this building is not known at the present time ; but it is certain that it was east of the high- way, on the high ground a little southerly, but not far from the small, ancient burying ground, some distance south of Musquash or Nacook Brook, and on land then owned by Moses Johnson, and later by the Fords. Mr. Merrill continued to preach there until near the time of his death in 1796. CHAPTER XVII The Presbyterian and the North Meeting-House Londonderry was settled by Presbyterians of Scotch origin, who came hither from the north of Ireland in April, 1719, and the town was incorporated by the Province of New Hampshire July 1, 1722. The south-west angle of Londonderry, as bounded by its charter, was within less than two miles of the Merri- mack River, in a north-easterly direction from Taylor's Falls bridge. This brought about four thousand and six hundred acres of land within the present bounds of Hud- son, which were later annexed from Londonderry. Nottingham was settled by Orthodox, or Congrega- tionalists, but in a few years, owing to its close proximity to Londonderry, many Presbyterians became inhabitants of the township, and several of these were among its most prominent and substantial citizens. These two sects, while their religious tenets were nearly identical, differed in their form of church govern- ment. The Congregationalists looked to the town for sup- port of their minister, and an amount equal to the pastor's salary was levied annually upon all the polls and estates within the limits of the town. The meeting-house was built and kept in repair by the town. The Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the minister already mentioned as the head of the Congregational Church, was ordained and settled by the town of Nottingham in 1737, and received his sal- ary from the same source until in 1774. The Presby- terians were assessed equally, according to the value of their estates, with the members of the other church. Some of the Presbyterians attended meetings of their own de- nomination in Londonderry or Windham, where they paid their proportion of the minister's tax. It was but natural 202 THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 203 these people should honestly believe they were being ac- corded unjust treatment, when they were obliged to pay a part of Mr. Merrill's salary. So there were protests en- tered against this method of taxation, and the records, from time to time, contain accounts of action in that direction. At a meeting of the town July 7, 1749: Voted to release John Huey, James Caldwell, James Wason, John Caldwell, the Widow Mitchell and Josiah Cummings who are profest Churchmen from paying their Town and Minister's rate the year, 1748 May 15, 1750, It was put to vote to see if the town would make choice of one man or more to prosecute the affair relating to the pretend- ed Churchmen. Viz: Joseph Caldwell, John Caldwell & James Wason, and it passed in the Negative. August 22, 1750. The town and John Caldwell agreed to leave their case to three indifferent men. The town and said Caldwell chose Capt. Andrew Todd of Londonderry their first man. The town chose Lt. John Varnum of Dracut, for their man, and Mr. Caldwell chose Dea. James Campbell for his man. November 18, 1751, a year and a half later, the town voted to release Messrs. Caldwell and Wason from paying their rates for the year 1750. Nothing more in regard to differences of this kind appears on the records for nearly twelve years, when trouble seems to have arisen again, as witness the following action taken at a town meeting held on March 1, 1763: It was put to vote to see if the town would release and discharge those persons belonging to this Town who call themselves Presbyterians, and claim to be exempt from paying the Minister's Rate as assessed, their proportion thereof. Voted in the negative. It was put to vote to see if the Town would discharge said persons from paying for their poles to said Minister's Rate their proportion as assessed. Voted in the Negative. It was put to vote to see if the Town would join with Pelham to dis- pute with those persons in the law belonging to their respective Towns, who call themselves Presbyterians, and refuse to pay their Rates as as- sessed to the support of the ministry in'said Towns, in case they should prosecute and pursue an action against said Towns, Voted in the Affirmative. 204 HISTORY OF HUDSON Chose Daniel Marshall and Samuel Marsh, to act in behalf of this Town for the defense against said Presbyterians if there be occasion therefor. The Town voted to raise 200 pounds old tenor to enable them or others to dispute with said Presbyterians in the law and defray the charge thereof. The two last votes were reconsidered at a meeting held September 21, 1763, and at the same date it was voted "to order the constable for the year 1762, to pursue such measures as the law directs, to collect the Minister's Rate (so called as assessed) from such persons as profess themselves Presbyterians and refuse paying to the support of the Rev. Mr. Merrill in the Ministry." This was voted in the affirmative and "Ezekiel Chase Esq. & Mr. Samuel Marsh (in behalf of the Town) to dis- pute with said persons in the law, in case they should pros- ecute and pursue an action against the Town Constable or Selectmen thereof." Voted to raise ,£200 old tenor for said committee to enable them to dispute with said persons as aforesaid. A compromise was then attempted between the two parties, by which to remove the poll tax, and collect that on the estates. The dissenters refused to accept these terms, when they were asked what terms they would con- sider, they replied that if the church and town would comply with the Cambridge platform they would pay their proportion of the minister's tax. Action was then taken to see if the town would reconsider the vote passed Sep- tember 21, to order the constable for 1762 to collect the minister's rate of those parties refusing to pay, and the mo- tion to reconsider was carried. "It was then put to vote to see if the Town would release and discharge them from paying their proportion of said Rate. Voted in the Nega- tive." The Presbyterians gained ground in their protests, and on September 25, 1764, it was voted to excuse them from being obliged to pay towards the support of the Rev. THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 205 Mr. Merrill, "this present year," and when it was tried to reconsider this action at the next town meeting November 19, the effort failed. But March 31, 176(5, when an at- tempt was made to exempt "those persons who are of the Presbyterian persuasion" from helping to support the Congregational minister for the years 1762, as assessed. "It was then put to vote to see if the Town would raise ;£20 lawful money to pursue the affair of their being pros- ecuted by the constable for their rates at the next Inferior Court Voted in the Negative." April 21, 1766, an attempt was made to choose a com- mittee to treat with Captain Page, James Wason and James Caldwell in regard to the payment of their minister's rate for 1762, but this effort failed. October 27, "It was put to vote to see if the Town would raise any money to enable the selectmen for the year 1762, to defend and carry on a law suit, commenced and carried on by Capt. Abraham Page and James Wason against said selectmen, or settling the same in law Voted in the Negative." February 24, 1767, Capt. Abraham Page, moderator, the question was again before the voters to see if they would vote to raise money to defray the charges of Samuel Greeley, Ephraim Cummings and Capt. Samuel Marsh, the selectmen who had answered Capt. Abraham Page and Mr. James Wason in their suit against the town, relative to their minister's rates. It was voted in the negative. Neither would the town vote to raise any sum of money to continue the suit. Here the matter rested until October 9, 1769, when it was voted to excuse "those persons that are Presbyterians and attend upon that order from being rated to the minis- ter's rate in this town." This victory was made more com- plete October 2, 1770, when the minister's rate for 1768 of Capt. Abraham Page, Asa Davis, James Wason and Robert Stewart was abated. There was an article in the warrant at this town meeting;. 206 HISTORY OF HUDSON To see if the Town will pass a vote to have but one sermon per day from the first of December to the last of February this present year. The article was dismissed. The last day of the same year the town voted to pay back to Captain Page and James Wason their minister's rates for 1767 and their charges, these gentlemen having threatened to sue the town for the same. It was also voted at this same meeting to abate Robert Stewart's minister's rates for 1767. The following persons were dismissed from paying a minister's tax for that year: Capt. Abraham Page, James Wason, Asa Davis, Timothy Emerson, Sam- uel Wason, Robert Stewart, Robert Glover, Nehemiah Hadley, Thomas Wason, Simeon Eayrs, Joseph Wilson, excepting one head to Timothy Emerson. At the annual town meeting March 12, 1771, the war- rant contained an article, To see if the Town will vote to pay Mr. Ephraim Cummings the ex- traordinary charge he was at in carrying on a Law suit at court upon a review of a cause with Capt. Abraham Page in ye Towns behalf. The article was dismissed by a vote of those present. This year the Presbyterians built a house of worship for themselves, and in Vol. 43, page 32, of Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds, is the following description of the land purchased for the site of this meeting-house: Know all men by these presents that I Henry Hale of Nottingham West, in the Province of New Hampshire in New England, Husband- man : In consideration of two pounds lawful money to me in hand paid before the delivery hereof by Capt. Abraham Page, David Peabody, Hugh Smith, Joseph Wilson and Asa Davis of Nottingham West, and Province aforesaid, appointed a committee for building a meeting house on said premises, have given, granted, bargained and sold, and do by these pres- ents give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, and fully, freely and absolutely convey and confirm unto them, the Said Capt. Page, Peabody, Smith, Wilson, Davis, their heirs and assigns forever: a certain piece of land in Notting- ham West, containing about twenty-three square rods bounded as follow- eth : Viz: — Beginning at a stake and stones by the Town road: thence North-easterly by said road thirteen rods to a stake and stones : and thence West 13 degrees South ten rods to a stake and stones, and from thence South five rods to the bound first mentioned. THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 207 To Have and to hold In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fif- teenth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy. (Signed) HENRY HALE £seal] Sigived sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Hale, Jr. Her Elizabeth X Hale Mark The meeting-house erected upon the foregoing lot, was built in 1771, and it stood very near the spot now occupied by the Hudson Town House. It was a building about 50 feet long and 30 feet wide. The pulpit was at the north side, about the middle. It was quite high and was ap- proached by stairs. There was a large sounding board over the pulpit. The house had two rows of windows, and a gallery on three sides, the east, south and west. The front door was opposite the pulpit, and the broad aisle extended from one to the other. Alleys led from this broad aisle in each direction and around the outside of the body of pews. The pews were nearly square, with seats on three sides. During prayer, as well as singing, the people were always expected to rise and stand. Then they would turn up the seats, which would make a great noise all over the room. The noise would be repeated with greater intensity when the seats were turned down at the close of the ser- vice. Two seats were arranged for the deacons and elders, directly in front and near the pulpit, where these officers sat facing the audience. The gallery was quite broad and built on an incline. To reach the gallery there was a porch at the center of each end, large enough to contain the stairs, which were constructed in the porches, and thus saved much room in the body of the house, as well as in the gallery. The sing- ers sat in that part of the gallery opposite the pulpit. The North meeting-house had no bell or belfry, and was never painted. It had no chimney, and of course there 208 HISTORY OF HUDSON was no way of heating the building. Many of the women, during the cold weather, carried foot stoves with coals in them for heat. They would sometimes replenish them at a neighbor's house during the intermission hour at noon. Sometimes, in a very cold day, the minister would preach with "great" coat and mittens on. Stoves were introduced about 1830. The services in those days consisted of two sermons of at least an hour's duration each, with singing several times, and three or four long prayers, which, with the noon intermission, consumed four or five hours of time. It is related that at the raising of the frame of the North meeting-house, a man by the name of Campbell fell from one of the plates to the ground and was rendered un. conscious. He was carried to the house of Deacon Henry Hale, which was later the old Reuben Greeley place, a part of the house now standing. A sheep was immediately killed and the hide removed as quickly as possible, and the injured man was wrapped closely in the hide, flesh side in. But this treatment did no good, and he lived only a short time. This incident was told by the writer's grandmother, Sarah Hale, granddaughter of Dea. Henry Hale, born April 20, 1767, and who married Eleazer Cummings. The Rev. John Strickland was probably the first Pres- byterian minister to preach in the new house, built in 1771, but the exact date at which he came to town is not known. But the town records show that he was paid a salary by his parishioners in 1773. He was ordained and settled over the Presbyterian church July 3, 1774, and he contin- ued in that position for more than ten years, when he was dismissed in 1785, and he removed from town. The matter of minister's tax was still a mooted ques- tion in affairs of the town, and at a meeting about three years after the North meeting-house was built by the Pres- byterians, the following action was taken by the town : Voted that all the Inhabitants of this Town that are not assessed to the Presbyterians should be proportionately assessed so much as they, the THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 209 said Presbyterians paid to Mr. Strickland in ye year 1773. Towards com- pleting the sum of two hundred dollars to the Rev. Mr. Merrill, and what shall be wanting when said assessment is made, to complete said sum, then to be assessed in equal proportion upon the whole town. Voted in the affirmative. In March, 1778, about 4,600 acres of the southerly- part of Londonderry was annexed to Nottingham West, and the residents upon these lands became citizens of the latter town. They numbered more than thirty families, the majority of whom were Presbyterians, and had given material aid in the building of the North meeting-house, and support of its pastor. The last town meeting held at the second Congrega- tional meeting-house was on March 30, 1778. The suc- ceeding meeting, held June 24, 1778, was at the house of James Pemberton, who lived near by. After that the town meetings were held at the North meeting-house until 1780, when, for that year and 1781, a part of them were called at the house of Samuel Greeley, "Innholder." May 13, 1782, Voted to have half of the town meetings this year at the house of Timothy Smith. A similar vote was passed March 16, 1784. There is no record to show that the town raised any money for preaching from the time of the final settlement with Mr. Merrill in 1774, until March 5, 1787, when it was voted to raise sixty pounds for that purpose, and that twenty-five of it should be paid to Mr. Merrill, and the bal- ance to be laid out at the North meeting-house, and that the selectmen be a committee to procure preaching ac- cordingly. Henry Hale, who sold the lot for the North meeting- house, lived on the Greeley place at what is now Hudson Center. He owned a large tract of land in that vicinity, was deacon of the Congregational church, and prominent in the town's affairs. It does not appear upon the town records that the Presbyterians alone ever employed a minister of their own 210 HISTORY OF HUDSON denomination in this town after the dismissal of Mr. Strick- land, until after the two churches were united in 1816. In each of the years of 1787 and 1788, the town "Vot- ed to raise ,£60 for preaching this year, and that £2b of it be paid to Mr. Merrill and £%h to be laid out at the North meeting-house." A committee was chosen to secure preaching. Again the matter of location of a meeting-house be- came a paramount question, and at a town meeting Decem- ber 15, 1788, the fourth article in the warrant read: To see if the Town can agree upon a place or places for the meeting house to stand on in order for the Public Worship of God. A committee of ten persons was chosen to take this matter into consideration and report at the next annual meeting in March. This committee consisted of Mr. Moses Johnson, Capt. William Burns, Dea. Isaac Merrill, Maj. James Ford, Capt. David Cummings, Capt. David Peabody, Ens. David Lawrence, Lieut. Thomas Smith, Mr. Daniel Marshall and Ens. Isaac Barrett. This committee reported at an adjourned meeting on April 6, 1789, and this report was accepted. REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO LOCATE A MEETING HOUSE. The Committee chosen by the Town to agree upon ye place or places for the meeting house or houses to stand on, beg leave to report: — That they have carefully searched for ye tenter of ye Town and find it half a mile and twenty rods in a straight line and Sou t hardly pinte distant from the North meeting house, — and we consider the present situation and cir- cumstances of the Town. We judge that the North meeting house place is at present the most convenient place, and we considering the disadvan- tage that a number of the inhabitants of the lower end of the Town are under by reason of the great distance they are from meeting that one fifth part of the preaching may be at the lower end Meeting house the present year. Nottingham West April 6, 1789. David Lawrence, David Peabody, David Cummings, Moses Johnson, Thomas Smith, William Burns, Isaac Barret Isaac Merrill. THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 211 It will be remembered that this was after the annexa- tion of a large tract of land with its inhabitants from the south part of Londonderry in 1778, which shifted the cen- ter of the town north nearly one and a half miles. The same amount of money was paid this year for preaching as had been raised in previous years, £25 to be paid to Mr. Merrill, and £35 to hire preaching on proba- tion, one-fifth of the latter sum to be sent to the south part of the town. George Burns, Page Smith, Capt. David Cummings, Ens. David Lawrence and Lieut. Ezekiel Hills were chosen a committee to attend to the settlement of this matter. January 18, 1790, it was voted That the committee chosen last March to hire preaching for this year agree with Mr. Scribner to preach out the money that was voted last March for preaching, what is behind. Voted and chose Capt. David Cummings Clerk to set the psalm at the North meeting house. Voted Moses Hadley Assistant Clerk. Voted and chose Mr. George Burroughs to read the psalm at the North meeting house. . . And Voted and chose Elder Samuel French Assistant. At a meeting March 1, 1790, it was voted not to raise any money to pay for preaching. Four weeks later, the 29th of March, another meeting was held, at which it was put to vote "to see if the Town will meet at the center of travel that was found by the committee chosen Decem- ber 15, 1778." This was not carried, but the town voted to meet at the North meeting-house. "Voted to choose a committee of five to agree with the proprietors of the house, to see how they can procure said house and make their report on the adjournment of said meeting." Dea. Isaac Merrill, Page Smith, Timothy Smith, Ens. Isaac Barrett and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were selected to serve on this committee, when the meeting adjourned to April 12, at 2 o'clock p. m. At this meeting the commit- tee made the following report: 212 HISTORY OF HUDSON REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF NORTH MEETING HOUSE. We the subscribers being a committee chosen by the Town of Not- tingham West on the 29 day of March, 171*0, to agree with the proprie- tors of the North meeting house in said Town. We have proceeded ac- cordingly and agreed, that said Town of Nottingham West give good se- curity to the said proprietors of seventy pounds lawful money, to be paid in one year from the date hereof. And that the said proprietors give a good title to the said meeting house, and the land Deacon Henry Hale gave a deed of to said proprie- tors to set said house on, to the said Town of Nottingham West. Nottingham West April 12, 1790. Timothy Smith, Page Smith Samuel Marsh Committee. While this report was accepted, and the committee was continued to effect the termination of the transaction and obtain a title, for some reason, which the records do not disclose, the purchase was delayed. At this meeting it was "Voted to raise ,£25 for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill CHAPTER XVIII Some Early Church History Five years of unsettled action in religious circles fol- lowed, during which the town records frequently speak of attempts to satisfy the citizens scattered over a sparsely settled community, and of efforts to obtain regular preach- ers. May 31, 1790, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Matthew Scribner, but at an adjourned meeting this action was reconsidered. A few days later, June 21, twenty pounds was voted to hire a minister on probation, and a committee was chosen to carry this into effect. December 30, ten pounds more was raised, and it was voted "the committee agree with Mr. Parrish to preach it out if he can be had." March 7, 1791, thirty pounds was voted to be paid some candidate, and April 11, it was the voice of the meet- ing that a call be extended to Mr. Ariel Parrish to settle in town, and that eighty pounds be paid him yearly "so long as he shall continue a Gospel minister in this town." Evi- dently this was not considered a sufficient inducement, for the next section contains the following record: Voted to give the said Parrish ,£120 as a settlement in the ministry in this Town to be paid as follows. Viz ^60 to be paid in one year, and ;£60 in two years after he shall be settled in town. Voted that six Sabbaths of the preaching be allowed at the south meeting house, or in that proportion of what preaching shall be hired yearly. For some reason Mr. Parrish did not accept the offer, though he preached in town occasionally. December 20, Rev. Matthew Scribner was given a call, and a salary of eighty pounds yearly and thirty pounds at settlement was offered him, but he declined to come, or at least he was not settled. 213 214 HISTORY OF HUDSON At this meeting it was voted to raise forty pounds te> repair the North meeting-house, and Joseph B. Wilson, Page Smith and Henry Hale were made a committee to superintend the work. At a town meeting May 7, 1792, an article in the war- rant to see if the town would vote to give the Rev. John Strickland a call was dismissed, but June 4, fifteen pounds was voted to hire preaching. November 12, forty-five pounds was raised for preaching, and September 23, 1793, sixty pounds was voted for the same purpose, but no min- ister was designated. August 25, 1794, sixty pounds was again voted, and December 8, it was "Voted to hire Mr. Thompson four sabbaths more." August 24, 1795, twenty pounds was the sum fixed to pay for preaching, and Mr. Foster was the choice for a minister. On December 14, it was voted to extend a call to Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to settle in the town, forty-seven voting in the affirmative, and apparently outnumbering the opposition. As a settlement in the ministry he was voted $400, and $270 a year "so long as he is able to perform the ministry in this town." Then it was Voted to raise ,£60 to hire preaching and that the selectmen be a committee to lay it out. Nottingham West, Dec. 14, 1795. We whose names are underwritten are informed that said town of Nottingham West are about voting to give Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher a call to settle in the ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order, we do detest against paying any part of his settlement or salary, or money that is voted to support that order, as we profess to be of a different pro- fession, and pray that this detest may be entered on the Town Book of Records in said town. Hugh Smith, Jr. John Heseltine David Cummings Jr. David Cummings Samuel Ditson Moses Wason Samuel Caldwell Robert Douglass Asa Davis John Smith Jr. Mansfield Smith Robert Stewart John Caldwell Thomas Senter Henry Hale Nathaniel Haselton •SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 215 ©avid Glover Thomas Senter Jr. Samson Kidder Isaac Marshall Wilder Greeley Samuel Hills Moses Greeley Ebenezer Wood Reuben Sargent Eliphalet Hills Zaccheus Greeley Aaron Tarbox Peter Robinson William Steere David Hollis James Smith Cochran Patten David Peabody Isaac Page Philip Marshall Benjamin Kidder John Smith Thomas Hills Alexander Caldwell Thomas Wason Samuel Wason Samuel Smith James Caldwell Joseph Hobbs Josiah Merrill Hugh Smith Jonathan Tenney Joseph Steele Thomas Smith Samuel S. Smith Seth Wyman Joseph Caldwell Forty-seven voted in favor of settling Mr. Fisher and iifty-three protested against it. January 11, 1796, in spite of the above unmistakable opposition it was Voted to accept Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher's answer to the call given him by this town to settle in the ministry in said town as follows, Viz. Nottingham West Jan. 11, 1796. "To the church of Christ in, and inhabitants of Not- tingham West. "Bretheren and fellow citizens: "Having received a call from you to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry, and having looked to God for light and direction for the way in which to give my an- swer to you, I feel it my duty to give you an affirmative answer and do give you an affirmative answer accordingly, on the following considerations Viz: Instead of what you have offered me for settlement and salary, you give me three hundred and ten dollars yearly and every year until I request you to give me two hundred and seventy dollars and twenty cords of hard fire wood yearly, instead of the three hundred and ten dollars, and when requested then to give the said two hundred and seventy dollars and twenty 216 HISTORY OF HUDSON cords of hard fire wood yearly & every year instead of said three hundred and ten dollars. "This support to be given me as ye manner first point- ed out from the time of ordination until the connection be- tween me and you, as pastor and people be dissolved and no longer. "When two thirds of the church shall request the pas- tor to take a dismission he is to take one in a short time after being thus requested. When the pastor shall request a dismission he is to have one in a short time after request- ing it. "It is however to be understood y* a dismission is not actually to take place upon being requested by either party without a mutual council being called to give advice. Should a dismission take place in consequence of being re- quested by church or pastor, it is to take place on the first Thursday of June, and the request shall be made at least ten months preceding ye said first Thursday of June. "In case the pastor do anything by which in the opin- ion of a ministerial council he forfeit his ministerial char- acter, the time of dismission is to be fixed upon by a min- isterial council. "The pastor is to be allowed the privilege of being absent three Sabbaths in a year without being under obli- gation to supply the pulpit the said three Sabbaths, and he is to enjoy the privilege so long as he continues ye pastor of ye church and people of Christ in this place. "Bretheren and fellow citizens; I wish you grace, mercy and peace. "Jabez Pond Fishkr." Voted and accepted. Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Thomas Marsh, Moses Johnson, Joshua Pierce, Col. James Ford, John Gilson, Capt. John Pollard and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were chosen a committee "with Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to consult on ways and measures for his ordination." Nottingham West Feb. 19, 1796. We whose names are underwritten are informed that the said town of Nottingham West are about settling Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher in the ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order. We do protest pay- ing any part of his salary or any money relating thereunto, as we profess SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 217 to be of a different persuasion, and pray that this protest may be entered on the Town Book of Records in said town. his Ashael Blodgett, Abraham Page, Jonathan X Blodgett, Phineas mark W. Blodgett, Joseph Blodgett Jr., Mansfield Huey, David Campbell, Sam- uel Richardson, John Tallant, Page Smith, William Gibson, Robert Glover, Eliphalet Hadley, Elnathan Searles, Gideon Butler. These fifteen Protestants added to the former fifty- three made sixty-eight opposed to settling Mr. Fisher. Still the minister was ordained, as witness the following action at a town meeting held September 12, 1796, when it was "Put to vote to see if the town would allow Joseph Greeley $30 for entertaining the council for ordination." Voted in the Negative. This was the continuation of a protracted and bitter op- position between two or more factions dominating the af- fairs of the town. January 5, 1797, a committee consisting of Dea. Isaac Merrill, Captain John Pollard and Joseph Greeley were chosen to consider the matter of getting pos- session of the North meeting-house. But this came to naught, and July 31, another attempt of the kind failed. October 30, it was Voted to dismiss all those who have regularly joined either the Pres- byterian or Baptist society, from paying taxes to the support of Rev. Mr. Fisher. At this same meeting it was "Voted to allow Dea. Isaac Merrill's account for the funeral charges of Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Merrill, amounting to seven dollars and eighty- two cents, and pay for a coffin the price not known." November 27, another effort to get a vote to build a new meeting-house did not succeed, and again March 5, 1798, an article in the warrant for the annual meeting to see if the town would build a meeting-house "to stand near Mr. William Gibson's house,* or otherwise to stand on the * The site of the house of William Gibson was probably the same as now occupied by that of J. Frank Harvey. 218 HISTORY OF HUDSON south side of Mr. Henry Hale's field, against the road that comes from Mr. William Gibson's, and that each denomi- nation shall have the use of said house their proportionate part of the time according to what they pay towards build- ing the same," was dismissed. The Rev. Nathaniel Merrill had continued to preach to the Congregationalists in the meeting-house at the south part of the town until a short time previous to his decease, which occurred during the year 1796, the exact day being unknown. This was the year that Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher was settled, with so much opposition. The town had made certain repairs on the old building, and thus had a part ownership with the builders and pew owners. As has been seen, the majority ot the Presbyter- ians were stubborly opposed to having Mr. Fisher settled, and refused to have Congregational preaching in the house built for their society. They refused also to bear any part of the taxation to support Mr. Fisher, and so the contro- versy waxed fierce and earnest. The crisis came one Sabbath morning, when the com- mittee that had been previously appointed by the Congre- gationalists to open the meeting-house for their service, met with resistance from the inside of the building. When the committee attempted to force an entrance with axes, they were driven away by the force stationed within under the leadership of Asa Davis, Esq. Finally the attempt was abandoned, and the service for that day was held in the open air upon the common during a storm of mist and rain. After this stirring episode Mr. Fisher preached at the old South meeting-house, in private houses, barns, or in the open air, until the new South meeting-house was built in 1798, by proprietors connected with the Congregational church and society. At the time Mr. Fisher, who was a graduate of Brown University in 1788, was ordained the members of his church did not number over fifty, and while he was pastor for about five years, thirty-six were admitted to membership. SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 219 June 18, 1798, it was voted to give the proprietors of the meeting-house then building land for a site on the west part of the Town Common, "near Josiah Hamblet's on the east side of the road for to set said meeting house on, so long as a meeting house shall be continued there." Asa Davis, Thomas Senter and James Caldwell were chosen a committee and empowered to give a deed in behalf of the town. The South meeting-house, built in 1798, stood about one hundred feet east of the Lowell road, and about half way between the road passing south of the Blodgett ceme- tery and the highway south of the common. It was not far from one hundred and fifty feet southerly from the site of the meeting-house erected in 1748. It was fifty by forty feet, with the pulpit on the north side in the center, galler- ies on the east, south and west sides, with a porch for the gallery stairs at the center of the east and west ends. The pews were square and the general arrangement or con- struction of the house was very similar to that of the North meeting-house. The writer remembers both of these build- ings. The South meeting-house remained until about 1844, when it was sold to James Carnes for one hundred dollars, and was taken down by him. The dwelling near Taylor's Falls bridge, now owned by Mrs. Elisha A. Martin, was constructed from the lumber of the old church by Mr. Carnes, even to the doors, windows, finish and underpin- ning, a piece of the last still bearing the date "1798." The records for the twenty years following the build- ing of the South meeting-house are plentifully interspersed with votes in regard to money raised for preaching or ac- tion unfavorable to it. September 24, 1798, the town de- clined "to make a tax for the Rev. Jabez P. Fisher." March 21, 1799, a committee reported: Minister Rate since yr 1795 not settled, Nor the Rate tor the ordination supper. 220 HISTORY OF HUDSON March 3, 1800, it was voted not to raise "$500 to sup- port the Gospel, or any other sum." September 28, 1801, favorable action was taken towards raising one hundred dollars for preaching, to be divided between the two socie- ties, and Joseph Winn, Jr., Samuel Wason and Joseph B. Wilson were appointed a committee. March 15, 1802, after refusing to raise any money for preaching that year, the following article was considered: Put to vote to see if the town would pay Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher his demand that he had sued for. Voted in the Negative. Then voted and chose Asa Davis, Samuel Marsh Esq & Dea. Isaac Merrill a committee to inquire into the cause of the action and see what is due him if any, and who from, and report as soon as may be. The meeting was adjourned to Monday, March 22, when it was voted that "Asa Davis attend the court and get the said cause, Fisher against said town continued to September term." REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE MR. FISHER'S CLAIM. We the subscribers a committee chosen by the town for the purpose of examining into the cause of the action brought against the town by Mr. Fisher, Report as follows: Viz: We having ex- amined into the cause of the action, find that Mr. Fisher has received of the town $662, for his first two years salary and $2. over, and that there remains $1013.92 for his salary that the Town hath not settled with him. And that we find by a vote of the Town on Record, that those persons who were exempted from paying to his support in the year 1797 ought to be exempted from paying proportionate part of this sum that is now due. Nottingham West Aug. 30, 1802. ASA DAVIS, ISAAC MERRILL Committee. Four years passed without any money being raised for preaching, in which time it is supposed the account of Mr. Fisher was settled. May 14, 1807, three hundred dollars was voted for preaching, each taxpayer to pay his money to that denomination designated by him. April 2, 1808, two hundred dollars was raised, those persons belonging to SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 221 the Baptist church being exempted from this minister's tax, while those of the other denominations were allowed to pay their tax where they chose. In 1809 and 1810 one hundred and fifty dollars was raised each year for preach- ing. August 27, 1810, there was an article in the warrant: To see if the town will vote to finish the North meeting house in said town, in case the present owners will first make it the towns property. Was voted in the Negative. October 29, 1810, after voting the money to "the Bap- tists and their accomplices," the money they had been as- sessed, to be used in their own society, it was Voted that the Baptists and their accomplices may petition the State Legislature to incorporate them a Baptist society in Nottingham West. In 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815 one hundred dollars a year was raised for preaching, exclusive of the Baptists and their "accomplices." In 1816 and 1817, two hundred dollars was raised for this purpose, outside of the Baptists. March 23, 1818, Voted to give Mr. Willard Holbrook a call to settle as pastor over the Presbyterian church and congregation. Chose Dea. Page Smith, Dea. Thomas Hills, John Poster, Capt. Caleb S. Ford, Esq., Ebenezer Marsh, a committee to consult and propose a sum for the support of said Holbrook, in case he accept our call as pastor. The committee reported in favor of a salary of $400 a year, or $325 for three-fourths of a year. The first proposi- tion was accepted, Dea. Isaac Merrill, Dea. Page Smith and Asa Blodgett were made a committee to wait upon Mr. Holbrook. For some reason Mr. Holbrook did not accept the offer. The sum of two hundred dollars was raised for preach- ing in 1819, which is the last entry of this kind in the town records. March 12, 1825, a movement to build a belfry in the North meeting-house and make repairs was voted down. 222 HISTORY OF HUDSON" The checkered record of the North meeting-house con- tains two conveyances that are of especial interest. Janu- ary 2, 1797, Joseph Wilson of Dracut, Mass., in considera- tion of #8, conveyed to Asa Davis of Nottingham West, "all his right of land and meeting-house standing on same and containing about twenty-three square rods." The de- scription being the same as in the deed of Henry Hale, December 15, 1770. November 26, 1811. Asa Davis & Paul Tenney of Nottingham West, in consideration of one dollar, paid by the members of the Baptist Incorporation in Notting- ham West, and such as may become members of the same, their heir9 aud assigns forever, all our right and title in a certain piece of land and meeting house standing on the same, containing about 23 square rods, bounded as followeth. Viz: Beginning at a stake and stones by the town road and thence northeasterly by said road 13 rods to a stake and stones: thence W 13° S 10 rods to a stake and stones, and from thence south 5 rods to the bounds first mentioned. (Further description refers to Hale deed.) March 1, 1842, the old church and lot were again prominent in conveyance, when the Baptist society, through their committee, David Burns, Noah Robinson and Reuben Greeley, deeded the property to the town of Hudson, the deed not recorded. A certain tract of land situated in said Hudson with a meeting house standing thereon Beginning at a stake and stones at the south west corner of the premises, on the town road leading from Reuben Greeley's in said Hudson, to Elbridge Dow's in said Hudson, and on land of Farmer & Robinson : thence northeasterly by said highway 13 rods to a stake and stones on land of Reuben Greeley, thence W 13° S 10| rods to a stake & stones on said Farmer & Robinson's land, thence southerly by said Farmer & Robinsons land to the bound first mentioned; containing about 23 square rods. Reserving all the pews in said house except the pew at the right hand of the pulpit, which pews are understood not to be conveyed by this deed. Consideration $100. DEED OF PEWS Know all men by these presents, that in consideiation of one dollar to us in hand paid by the town of Hudson, in the county of Hillsborough SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 223 ;and State of New Hampshire, we hereby sell and convey to said town of Hudson, all the interest we have in any pew in the North meeting house in said Hudson to the said towns use forever. Hudson Jany 27, 1842. Reuben Greeley James McCoy David Burns Noah Robinson Thomas Marsh Enoch S. Marsh Hiram Marsh William Hadley Moses Greeley Amos Hills David Robinson Eibridge Dow Abel Pollard Joseph B. Wilson Sarah Atwood, Pews given up that were not owned by Baptists : Alden Hills Noyes Tenney Gilman Andrews Jeremiah Smith Leonard Wyman J. P. F. Cross Daniel T. Davis Pews not given up: Zaccheus Colburn, No. 19 Heirs of J. Corliss, No 10 Phineas Blodgett " IS Joseph Blodgett " 33 Jonathan Hills " 16J James Smith 2d " 30 Col. William Hills, " 17 Capt. Sprake " 25 Joshua Pierce " 15 Jefferson Smith " 23 Thomas Gowing " 12 Up Stairs. Heirs of Joseph Winn No. 3&2 Alexander Caldwell No. 4 James Tenney " 6 J. Steele & Smith " 8 Asa Blodgett " 9 Thomas B. Wason " 11 Dea. Benjamin Merrill " 12 Heirs Philip Hills " 13 Dea. J. Caldwell " 14 Widow Burbank " 15 Hugh Smith " 17 The foregoing lists are copied from a paper found in the chest of the Town Clerk, the names of those not giv- ing up their pews and the pew-owners up-stairs having been written on the back of the loose sheet. Over forty pews are thus accounted for in all. The North meeting-house, built by the Presbyterians in 1771, was at different periods occupied as a house of worship by the Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Bap- tists, and it was the innocent cause of not a little friction. The town meetings, with a few exceptions, were held here / 224 HISTORY OF HUDSON from 1778 to 1857, when the old, historical building, after braving the vicissitudes of eighty-six years, was torn down to make room upon the same site for the present town house, which was erected that year by Mr. William Ander- son of Windham, at the expense of the town of Hudson. CHAPTER XIX French and Indian Wars A militia law was enacted by the General Court of New Hampshire, in 1718, and published the following year. The law provided that all male persons from sixteen to sixty years of age, except Negroes and Indians, should per- form military service, with the following exceptions: Mem- bers of the General Court, ministers, deacons, physicians, school masters, ferrymen, justices of the peace, millers, and such persons as had before held military commissions. Each private soldier was required to be furnished with a "Fire-Lock, Knapsack, Cartridge box, Worm and Prim- ing Wire, One Pound of Powder, twenty Bullets and twelve Flints, and to train four days in the year, and to muster once in three years." It was also made the duty of each town in the province to keep on hand a stock of ammuni- tion for the town's use, consisting of "One barrel of good Gun powder, 100 pounds of bullets and 300 flints for every sixty soldiers." This law, with but little change, remained in force until the war of the Revolution. Nottingham West, which previous to January 4, 1733, was a part of Dunstable, was, for many years after its set- tlement, situated on the northern frontier and exposed to all the dangers of border warfare. This fact caused, of necessity, almost every able bodied citizen of suitable age to become a soldier, and not a few shared personally in the conflicts with the French and Indians. The military spirit was fostered as a duty, and it has been said that "New England freedom placed in the hands of every child a gun as well as a spelling book, which made necessarily of every child not less a marksman than a scholar." 225 226 HISTORY OF HUDSON For thirteen of the nineteen years, beginning" with 1744 and ending with 1763, the interval scarcely one of peace, our ancestors were involved in this savage warfare for the defence of their homes, their families and their fire- sides, waged by their enemies with the avowed purpose of driving the English out of the country. We now look with pride and admiration to the history of those years, recognizing as we do that it is wholly owing to the courage, constancy, endurance and sufferings of those ancestors that we now enjoy the rich inheritance they transmitted to us. We would gladly know much more than it is now pos- sible to learn, of the personal history of the citizens of this town who served as soldiers in those wars — some under the brave Captain John Goffe, others with the famous "Hang- ers" of whom Captain Robert Rogers was the leader, some with Major Zaccheus Lovewell, a resident of this town until 1748, and others in the regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, and in other companies. A period of Indian warfare began in March, 1744, and lasted until 1749. As in former wars, the Canada and eas- tern Indians sided with the French, and coming in large numbers from Canada and Nova Scotia, they prowled around the defenceless settlements, waylaying, murdering and scalping, or taking captives to Canada, the settlers of frontier towns until some of these no farther away than Peterborough, Lyndeborough and New Boston, became wholly deserted. In 1754, six years after the treaty of Aix La Chapelle between England and France was made, the last French and Indian war begun, which ended inM763, after the capitulation of Quebec and the final conquest of Canada. Many men from this town did more or less service during two cruel wars, in guarding the frontiers and in other military acts. The lists of names of Nottingham West men have been found, principally in Vol. 2, of the Adjutant General's Report for 1866. FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 227 Many others undoubtedly served in these scouting parties with the Rangers, the muster rolls of whom have not been preserved. In the muster rolls of Captain John Goffe's Company engaged in scouting from the Merrimack River to the Con- necticut, August and September, 1745, are the following names from this town: Jeremiah Blodgett, Ezekiel Greeley, John Bradbury, John Marsh, Nathaniel Hills. In the muster rolls of Captain John Goffe's Company of twenty-four men engaged in the same duty in October and November, 1745, are these names from this town: Jeremiah Blodgett, Benjamin Thompson, John Merrill, Benjamin Snow, Samuel Merrill, Benjamin Davis. In the Company of Captain John Goffe, engaged in scouting and guarding the Souhegan, Monson and Stark garrisons* in 1748, the following names appear with the times of service: John Bradbury, April 10 to October 5. John Carkin, April 14 to October 5. John Hamblet, June 17 to July 24. Samuel Houston, June 11 to July 13. John Hewey, June 17 to September 24. Moses Lowell, April 10 to October 5. Isaac Page, June 15 to July 16. John Pollard, July 14 to August 23. Joseph Taylor, April 14 to October 4. Thomas Taylor, April 14 to October 4. In a detachment from Colonel Joseph Blanchard's Regiment, "employed in His Majesty's service on the Mer- rimack River, commanded by Lieutenant John Goffe," in 1754: * Souhegan is now Bedford; Monson is now Milford and Stark's garrison was in Derry- field, now Manchester, at the outlet of Nutt's pond, which is about two miles south of the City Hall and a little east of the Manchester and Lawrence railroad. 228 HISTORY OF HUDSON Peter Cross, August 23 to November 16. Stevens Chase, August 23 to November 16. John Carkin, August 23 to November 16. Samuel Houston, August 23 to November 16. Isaac Waldron, August 23 to November 16. Detached from Colonel Joseph Blanchard's Regiment, posted on Connecticut River, commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Bellows in 1754: Henry Hewey, August 23 to November 19. James Hewey, August 23 to November 19. Henry Hills, August 23 to September 9. Amos Kenney, August 23 to November 19. In 1755, New Hampshire raised a regiment command- ed by Colonel Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, to aid in the expedition against the French forts at Crown Point on the west shore of Lake Champlain. In the fourth Company of this regiment, commanded by Captain Tash, are found the following names: Nathaniel Davis, April 24 to June 17. Ezekiel Page, April 24 to October 18. John Pollard, April 24 to October 18. In Captain James Todd's Company, of Colonel Peter Gilman's Regiment of three hundred men, raised in 1755, and which marched to Albany by way of Number Four, (Charlestown, N. H.) are the names of James Blodgett, September 22 to December 13. John Carkin, September 22 to December 18. Jeremiah Hills, September 22 to December 18. In 1756, New Hampshire raised another regiment of seven hundred men for the expedition against Crown Point, commanded by Colonel Nathaniel Meserve of Portsmouth. John Pollard served in this regiment from May 1 to Octo- ber 28. After the bloody massacre at Fort William Henry on August 3, 1757, when eighty New Hampshire men out of two hundred and eighty posted there were killed or taken prisoners in violation of the terms of capitulation, New FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 229 Hampshire raised a battalion of two hundred and fifty men for the defence of Fort Edward, near Lake George, under the command of Thomas Tash of Durham. This force consisted of five companies — three of foot and two of cav- alry. They were posted at the Fort at Number Four. In the first company of this battalion are found the following names: John Cross, August 21 to October 29. Timothy Emerson, August 21 to October 22. William Merrill, August 21 to October 29. In 1758, New Hampshire raised still another regiment for "the Crown Point expedition." This numbered eight hundred men and was commanded by Colonel John Hart of Portsmouth. In this regiment are found the names of the following Nottingham West men: John Pollard, Ensign, April 10 to November. Joshua Chase, April 10 to October 31. John Carkin, April 19 to November 3. Eleazer Cummings, April 17 to November 30. Jonathan Hardy, April 28, Lame. Nathaniel Merrill, April 24 to October 3. Elijah Hills, April 18 to November 26. Samuel Houston, April 10, Not able to go. Nathaniel Haseltine, April 18 to November 15. Joseph Lowell, April 18 to October 25. John Marsh, Jr., April 24 to November 1. Amos Pollard, April 18 to November 19. Thomas Wason, April 13 to November 30. In 1760, a regiment of eight hundred men was raised for an expedition to invade Canada, under the command of Colonel John Goffe of Derryfield, now Manchester. This regiment had its rendezvous in Litchfield, and marched by the way of Monson (Milford), Peterborough and Keene to Number Four, and then cut a road through the wilderness twenty-six miles to the Green Mountains, and from thence proceeded to Crown Point, following the road that had been cut mainly by the Rangers under Captain John Stark the year previous. 230 HISTORY OF HUDSON They had to clear the road — a mere bridle path — from Merrimack to Keene. They were forty-four days in cut- ting the road to the Green Mountains, which they crossed, packing or hauling their stores over them on horse-barrows. A large drove of cattle followed them for the army at Crown Point. In this regiment we find the names of John Caldwell, April 5 to November 27. Amos Kenney, April 1 to November 27. Samuel Kenney, March 14 to November 27. Stephen Kenney, March 14 to November 27. In addition to the foregoing names of Nottingham West men who did military service in the French and In- dian wars, are the following: James Wason, Micajah Winn, Asa Worcester, Sanders Bradbury, Benjamin Kidder, Jr., John Caldwell. Resident Taxpayers, 1775 In December, 1775, the year of the beginning of the Revolutionary war, the number of resident taxpayers in Nottingham West was one hundred and thirty-five — one hundred and thirty-one males and four widows, of whom the following is a list copied from the records: Adams, Widow Mary, Chase, Stephen, Barrett, Moses, Chase, Stephen, Jr., Barrett, Simeon, Cross, Peter, Blodgett, Jeremiah, Cummings, David, Blodgett, Jonathan, Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, Blodgett, Jonathan, Jr., Cummings, Eleazer, Blodgett, Joseph, Cummings, Josiah, Bradley, Jonathan, ( ummings, Peter, Bradbury, Sanders, Corning, Nathaniel, Burbank, Samuel, Cutter, Richard, Burbank, Samuel, Jr., Dakin, Ebenezer, Burns, George, Dakin, Levi, Burns, George, Jr., Dakin, Justus, Burns, William, Davis, Asa, FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 231 Caldwell, Alexander, Caldwell, John, Caldwell, James, Caldwell, Samuel, Caldwell, Thomas, Campbell, John, Chase, Ezekiel, Esq., Chase, Henry, Chase, Joshua, French, Elder Samuel, Glover, Robert, Gould, Joseph, Gould, Joseph, Jr., Greeley, Captain Ezekiel, Greeley, Captain Samuel, Greeley, Widow Susanna, Hadley, Eliphalet, Hadley, Eliphalet, Jr., Hadley, Moses, Hadley, Parrot, Hadley, Seth, Hale, Elder Henry, Hale, Henry, Hale, John, Hamblet, Thomas, Hardy, Daniel, Hardy, Jonathan, Hardy, Nathaniel, Hardy, Richard, Haseltine, John, Haseltine, John, Jr., Hills, Elijah, Hills, Lieut. Ezekiel, Hills, Widow Hannah, Hills, Jeremiah, Hills, Oliver, Hills, Philip, Davis, Ensign Nathaniel, Davidson, George, Durant, Samuel, Eastman, Ichabod, Eastman, Nicholas, Emerson, Elder Timothy, Emerson, Timothy, Jr., Farmer, Edward, Ford, Lieut. James, Hills, Samuel, Hills, William, Huey, Henry, Huey, John, Johnson, Moses, Kelley, Captain Joseph, Kenney, Amos, Kenney, Stephen, Lowell, Stephen, Marsh, John, Marsh, Captain Samuel, Marsh, Elder Thomas, Marshall, Benjamin, Marshall, Richard, Merrill, Abel, Merrill, John, Merrill, Ensign Nathaniel, Merrill, Nathaniel, Jr., Merrill, William, Moore, Major Samuel, Page, Captain Abraham, Pemberton, James, Perry, Ebenezer, Pierce, Widow Esther, Pollard, Amos, Pollard, Ebenezer, Pollard, Ensign John, Pollard, John, Jr., 232 HISTORY OF HUDSON Pollard, Samuel, Pollard, Timothy, Reed, Abijah, Richardson, Henry, Searles, Jonathan, Searles, Thomas, Seavey, Andrew, Smith, Lieut. Hugh, Smith, John, Smith, Page, Smith, Samuel, Smith, Samuel, Jr., Smith, Thomas, Smith, Timothy, Spalding, Lieut. Reuben, Stewart, Robert, Pollard, Joseph, Tarbell, David, Walker, John, Wason, James, Wason, Samuel, Wason, Thomas, Wells, John, Whittemore, Benjamin, Whittemore, Benjamin, Jr., Wilson, Joseph, Winn, Abiather, Winn, Lieut. Joseph, Winn, Joseph, Jr., Winn, Widow Judith, Winn, Nehemiah, Wyman, Daniel, Wyman, Seth. Three years and four months later, April 17, 1779, the list of resident taxpayers contained one hundred and eighty- three names, an increase of forty-eight, or nearly thirty-six per cent. More than half of this increase was due to the annex- ation, in March, 1778, of that part of Londonderry known as "Londonderry Claim," an account of which has been given in a former chapter of this history. This list of taxpayers copied from the records, is as follows: Andrews, Levi, Barrett, Isaac, Barrett, James, Barrett, Simeon, Bixby, William, Blodgett, Asahel, Blodgett, Jeremiah, Blodgett, Jonathan, Tax List, 1779 Barrett, James, Jr., Barrett, Moses, Barrett, Captain Moses, Chase, Micajah, Chase, Stephen, Chase, Stephen, Jr., Colby, Philbrick, Coffin, William, FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 233 Blodgett, Joseph, Bradley, Jonathan, Brown, Samuel, Burbank, Samuel, Burbank, Samuel, Jr., Burns, George, Burns, George, Jr., Burns, William, Burrows, Elder George, Burrows, James, Burrows, Nathaniel, Burrows, William, Butler, Gideon, Caldwell, Alexander, Caldwell, James, Caldwell, John, Caldwell, Samuel, Caldwell, Thomas, Campbell, David, Campbell, Samuel, Chase, Ezekiel, Esq., Chase, Henry, Chase, James, Chase, Joshua, Greeley, Zaccheus, Hale, Elder Henry, Hale, Henry, Jr., Hale, John, Hall, Doctor John, Hadley, Eliphalet, Hadley, Eliphalet, Jr., Hadley, Enos, Hadley, Moses, Hadley, Parrot, Hadley, Seth, Hadley, Stephen, Hardy, Ensign Daniel, Cross, Lieut. Peter, Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, Cummings, Lieut. David, Cummings, Eleazer, Cummings, Josiah, Cutter, Richard, Cutter, Seth, Davis, Asa, Esq., Davis, Ensign Nathaniel, Dakin, Justus, Durant, Samuel, Eastman, Ichabod, Eastman, Nicholas, Farmer, Edward, French, Elder Samuel, Ford, Captain James, Gibson, William, Glover, David, Glover, Robert, Gould, Joseph, Graham, Widow Eleanor, Greeley, Captain Ezekiel, Greeley, Joseph, Greeley, Samuel, Hills, William, Hobbs, Joseph, Hood, William, Huey, Henry, Huey, John, Johnson, Moses, Kelley, Captain Joseph, Kidder, Lieut. Benjamin, Kidder, Elder Samson, Kinney, Widow Sarah, Lawrence, David, Lawrence, Jonathan, Livingston, Isaac, 234 HISTORY OF HUDSON Hardy, Isaac, Hardy, John, Hardy, John, Jr., Hardy, Moody, Hardy, Richard, Haseltine, Lieut. John, Haseltine, John, Hills, Ensign Elijah, Hills, Lieut. Ezekiel, Hills, Widow Hannah, Hills, Jeremiah, Hills, Nathaniel, Hills, Oliver, Hills, Philip, Hills, Samuel, Hills, Thomas, Merrill, Abel, Merrill, Isaac, Merrill, John, Merrill, Ensign Nathaniel, Merrill, Nathaniel, Jr., Merrill, Lieut. William, Moody, Friend, Moore, Major Samuel, Myric, Joseph, Ordway, Nehemiah, Page, Captain Abraham, Page, Ezekiel, Page, Isaac, Peabody, Captain David, Pemberton, James, Perry, Ebenezer, Pierce, Joshua, Pollard, Ebenezer, Pollard, Ensign John, Pollard, John, Jr., Pollard, Joseph, Littlehale, Ezra, Marsh, David, Marsh, John, Marsh, Captain Samuel, Marsh, Elder Thomas, Marshall, Benjamin, Marshall, Widow Deborah, Marshall, Daniel, Marshall, David, Marshall, John, Marshall, John, Jr., Marshall, Philip, Marshall, Richard, Marshall, Richard, 2d., Marshall, Samuel, Marshall, Thomas, Searles, Jacob, Searles, Jonathan, Searles, Thomas, Seavey, Andrew, Seavey, Nathaniel, Severance, Caleb, Smith, Lieut. Hugh, Smith, John, Smith, Page, Smith, Samuel, Smith, Samuel, Jr., Smith, Lieut. Thomas, Smith, Timothy, Spalding, Lieut. Reuben, Steele, Joseph, Steele, William, Stewart, Robert, Tarbell, David, Tarbox, Lieut. Ebenezer, Tarbox, Henry, Taylor, William, FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 235 Pollard, Samuel, Pollard, Timothy, Porter, David, Robinson, Andrew, Robinson, John, Robinson, Peter, Robinson, Simeon, Richardson, Henry, Winn, Joseph, Jr., Walker, John, Wason, James, Wason, Samuel, Wason, Thomas, Wells, John, Whittemore, Benjamin, Wilson, Joseph, Winn, Abiather, Wyman, Seth, Wyman, Thomas. In addition to the one hundred and eighty-three names given in the foregoing list there were a few others — some young, unmarried men, sons of farmers, and farm laborers, whose names do not appear in this schedule, but who were assessable for a poll tax, which was paid by their employers. CHAPTER XX Nottingham West in the Revolution After the beginning of the Revolutionary war, Septem- ber, 1775, a census was taken by order of the New Hamp- shire convention, when the town was credited with a popu- lation of six hundred and forty-nine. Men in the army, twenty-two; slaves, four. Nottingham West in the Revolution April 25, 1775, Abraham Page was elected to "join with the congress at Exeter, to act upon such matters as shall be thought proper and expedient for the public good." On May 8 he was again chosen to "join the convention of Delegates that shall assemble from the several towns of this province to meet at Exeter on the 17th day of May current at 10 o'clock, and to empower him with the rest to adopt and pursue measures that shall be judged best to preserve the rights of this and the other colonies, and that he may act as he thinks best for himself and his constitu- ents for six months." The town also "Voted that the persons who shall en- list to be ready on any emergency when called for, shall have forty shillings per Month for their wages." Association Test In April, 1776, the Committee of Safety in New Hampshire, acting in accordance with the wishes of the Continental Congress, sent to each town a circular, a copy of which is given below: In Committee of Safety. April 12, 1776. In order to carry the under written Resolve of the Honorable Con- tinental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of age, (lunatics, idiots and Negroes excepted,) to sign to the declaration on this paper, and when so done to make return 236 NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 237 hereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Col- ony. M. WEARE Chairman. In Congress, March 14, 1776. Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Con- ventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective jurisdictions, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by Arms the United Colonies against the Hostile attempts of the British Fleets and Armies. (Copy) CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'ry. In consequence of the above Resolution of the Hon. Continental Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American breth- ren in defending the lives, liberties and pioperties of the inhabitants of the United Colonies, We the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Ar- mies against the American Colonies. Every man was required to sign this test or be regard- ed by his fellow citizens as an enemy to the country. In this town one hundred and eighteen signed the pledge, whose names are as follows: Asahel Blodgett, John Haseltine, Asa Davis, Samuel Smith, David Cummings, Ichabod Esman, John Caldwell, Edward Farmer, Daniel Wyman, Timothy Emerson, James Caldwell, Robert Stewart, Alexander Caldwell, Samuel Wason, James Caldwell, Jr., Jonathan Searles, Samuel Caldwell, Moses Barrett, William Merrill, Joseph Caldwell, James Ford, Thomas Caldwell, Abraham Page, Eliphalet Hadley, Seth Wyman, Thomas Wason, 238 HISTORY OF HUDSON John Haseltine, Jr., Henry Huey, Jonathan Bradley, Stephen Hadley, John Campbell, Thomas Searles, David Glover, Nicholas Eastman, Page Smith, John Strickland, Timothy Emerson, Joseph Watson, Joseph Gould, Samuel Moore, Stephen Chase, Jonathan Blodgett, Samuel Burbank, Samuel Burbank, Jr., Amos Kinney, Nathaniel Hardy, Timothy Smith, Amos Pollard, Richard Cutter, Nathaniel Lewis, Sanders Bradbury, Nathaniel Merrill, Jr., Isaac Merrill, Samuel Durant, John Merrill, Abel Merrill, Justus Dakin, Samuel Pollard, Joshua Chase, Stephen Gould, Stephen Lowell, Jr., Benjamin Whittemore, Moses Johnson, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., Moses Hadley, Parit Hadley, Samuel Marsh, Benjamin Marshall, Eleazer Cummings, Ebenezer Cummings, Daniel Hardy, Samuel Hills, Philip Hills, Seth Hadley, Simeon Barrett, Isaac Barrett, Oliver Hills, Richard Hardy, Joseph Pollard, Jeremiah Hills, William Hills, Richard Marshall, Thomas Marsh, Elijah Hills, Thomas Hills, Ezekiel Hills, Peter Cross, William Burns, Jeremiah Blodgett, Timothy Pollard, Abiatha Winn, Jonathan Hardy, Jr., Ezekiel Chase, John Walker, John Pollard, Stephen Chase, Jr., John Pollard, Jr„ Samuel Burbank, George Burns, Ebenezer Dakin, NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 239 Nathaniel Merrill, Levi Dakin, Samuel French, Henry Hale, Jr., George Burns, Jr., Henry Hale, Samuel Greele, John Hale, Samuel Greele, Jr., Andrew Seavey, Joseph Blodgett, James Wason, Joseph Winn, David Tarbell, Joseph Winn, Jr., Thomas Hamblet, Ebenezer Pollard, Nathaniel Merrill, Jr.. In obedience to the written Request we have Desired all the Persons therein to sign, and find none to Refuse Except Captain Joseph Kelley. Dated Nottingham West this 3 d day of June, A. D. 1776. SAMUEL MARSH, JOHN CALDWELL, <> Selectmen of Nottingham West. SAMUEL MARSH, ) JOHN CALDWELL, } WILLIAM BURNS, ) Captain Joseph Kelley previous to that date kept a tavern at his residence, which stood about four hundred feet easterly from the present Taylor's Falls bridge, the northerly half of which was in what is now Main Street, and the southerly half in Campbell's Avenue. He was also the proprietor and manager of "Kelley's Ferry," which crossed the Merrimack a short distance south of where Taylor's Falls bridge now stands. He was a man of bad repute, and was feared by his neighbors. He afterwards removed to Wentworth, in this State, where he became a pauper, and as such, was the cause of a considerable ex- pense to this town. He escaped from jail at Amherst, Oc- tober 14, 1772, which also caused the town of Nottingham West much trouble and expense. At a special town meeting, June 12, 1775, " Voted to make choice of five men as a Committee of Inspection for this town." Made choice of Moses Johnson, Samuel Greeley, Elijah Dills, Timo- thy Smith, and John Haseltine, and also Deacon Ebenezer Cummings and Asa Davis for said committee. At the same meeting, Article four of the warrant was dismissed, which was 240 HISTORY OF HUDSON To see what measure or measures the Town will take to provide arms. At a town meeting September 18, 1775, Voted to allow John Haseltine, Jr., for attending ye Congress at Am- herst, £0—5—9—2. At an adjourned town meeting September 30, 1776, Voted to allow Major Samuel Greeley and the selectmen, "Viz : Asa Davis, John Haseltine, and 'William Burns, for expenses on their march to Lexington fight, five dollars — £\ — 10s. — 0d. At the annual meeting March 10, 1777, "Voted to choose Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, Captain James Ford and Lieutenant David Cummings, a Committee of Inspection and Safety in this town." April 7th, Voted to raise eighty dollars as a bounty for each of those men that should enlist into the Continental Army for three years. Voted to choose a committee and empower them to set a value upon what each man hath done in this present war, and to make their return to the town. Chose Lieutenant William Merrill, William Bums, Lieutenant John Haseltine, Jr., John Caldwell and Samuel Wason as a committee to effect the same. April 15th, Voted to raise twenty dollars for each of those men that should enlist into the Continental Army, as an additional bounty to what has been already raised. Voted to accept the report of the committee last chosen, to set a val- uation on what has been done in this Town towards carrying on the pres- ent war. The report of the committee was not recorded. During most of the time of the war all the money in use as a circulating medium of exchange was the Conti- nental paper money issued by Congress, or the bills of credit of the States. This currency was issued in such large quantities, both by the States and Congress, that from the excessive amount in circulation it began to depre- ciate rapidly, and to an alarming extent, as early as the second year of the war. In 1777, the depreciation had be- come so great that the wages of the soldiers in the army was nominally more than twice as much as in 1775. s.d. s.d. Wheat per bushel 7,6. Cheese per lb. 0, 6. Rye, 4,6. Butter, " " 0, 10. Indian Corn, " 3,6. Coffee, " " 1,4. Oats, 2, 0. Cotton, " " 3, 0. Peas, " " 8,0. Wool, " " 2, 2. Beans, " " 6,0. Flax, " " 1,0. NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 241 The General Court and the people both became alarmed at this condition of the only currency then in use. In the hope of arresting or lessening the evil, the New Hampshire Legislature, early in the spring of 1777, passed a law, regulating and establishing the prices at which the common necessaries of life might be sold. Some of the more common articles named in this law, with the prices fixed for them, may be found in the following list: s.d. Beef per lb. 0, 3. Tow cloth per yard, 2, 3. Flannel, " " 3, 6. Linen cloth," " 4, 0. N. E. Rum per gal. 3, 10. . W. I. Rum " " 7, 8. Salt, " " 10, 0. Pork, " " 0, 4>£ Molasses. " " 4, 0. At a special town meeting, July 14, 1777, "Chose Cap- tain Abraham Page, Deacon Thomas Marsh, John Cald- well, Samuel Durant, Lieutenant Peter Cross, Captain James Ford, Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, a committee in order to set prices upon such articles in the Town as they think fit, agreeable to a late Act of the General Court. "Chose Deacon Ebenezer Cummings and Seth Wy- man in addition to the Committee of Safety and Inspection last chosen." It appears that the report of the committee chosen "to set a value upon what each man hath done in this present war," as returned and accepted by the town, April 15, 1777, was not satisfactory to a majority of the town's peo- ple, for at a special town meeting held October 9, 1777, a vote was passed "to reconsider the vote passed to accept the report of the committee in regard to what each man had done in the present war." "Voted to choose Lieuten- ant Ezekiel Hills, John Caldwell, John Hale, Lieutenant William Merrill and Samuel Wason to set a valuation upon what had been done towards carrying on the present war, and to make report thereof to the town." 242 HISTORY OF HUDSON The report of this committee was returned at a town meeting, December 22, 1777, which report was not record- ed, but the original report has been discovered, of which the following is a copy. Portsmouth Men. y- N° mos. N° dollars Daniel Hardy, 1777. 1 3.00 Joseph Cross, 1777. 1 3.00 Captain Samuel Marsh, By his son, 1777. 1 3.00 Benningi on Men. yr. No mos. N° dollars Captain James Ford, 1777. 2 28.00 Ensign Nathaniel Merrill, 1777. 2 28.00 Page Smith, 1777. 2 28.00 Samuel Smith, 1777. 2 2800 John Pollard, Jr., 1777. 2 28.00 Timothy Smith, By his Son, 1777. 2 28.00 Jonathan Bradley, and Thomas Hamblet, in equal shares, K- 2 28.00 Samuel Wason, 1777. 2 28.00 Joseph Winn, Jr., By his Son, 1777. 2 28.00 Lieutenant Peter Cross, By his Son, 1777. 2 2S.00 Ensign John Pollard, By his Son, 1777. 2 28.00 Isaac Barrett, 1777. 2 28.00 Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., 1777. 2 28.00 John Hale, 1777. 2 28.00 John Merrill, 1777. 2 28.00 Justus Dakin, 1777. 2 28.00 Joseph Blodgett, By his Son, 1777. 2 28.00 Moses Johnson, By his Son, 1777. 2 28.00 The Volunteers. Wee ks Dollars Lieutenant David Cummings, 3 7.00 Ensign Elijah Hills, 3 7.00 Asa Davis, Esq., 3 7.00 Sergeant Henry Hale, Jr., 3 7.00 Corp, Samuel Marsh, By his Son , 3 7.00 Deacon Ebenezer Cummings, Hy his Son, :{ 7.00 Samuel Pollard, 3 7.00 Abiatha Winn, 3 7.00 Joseph Greeley, 3 7.00 NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 243 We, the subscribers, being Chosen a Committee to Sett a Value On the Several Terms of Service Each man hath clone in this War, have agreed as is above described, (Viz.) That those that served one month at Portsmouth Shall have Each man 3 Dollars. Those at Bennington 2 Months 28 Do. Each, and the Valuation at Stillwater 3 Weeks, 7 Do. Each. And the men that turned out on the Alarm Last Summer by Or- der ^"0— 2 s — 9 d Pr. Day. Ezekiel Hills, "| John Hale, | Samuel Wason, ^Committee. William Merrill, | John Caldwell, J During the first and second years of the war, many men from Nottingham West had performed military duty in the army at Bunker Hill, Cambridge, New York and other places, whose names are not included in the fore- going report. They had probably received payment for their services through the officers and paymasters of the Continental Army. "It was put to vote to see if the Town would accept of the report of the committee that was chosen to settle what each man hath done in this Town in this present war. Voted in the Negative. It was put to vote to see if they would accept any part of the report of the above commit- tee. Voted in the Affirmative. It was put to vote to see if the Town will pay any money back to those persons that have over done their Rates in the war. Voted in the Neg- ative. Made choice of Asa Davis, Esq., to collect the war Rates this present year." The protracted and sanguine struggle for American Independence caused the colonists at home, as well as those at the front of war, much anxiety and distress. Fre- quent town meetings were held and action taken to meet the demands of the occasion. Terms of enlistment of the soldiers were, in many cases short, and hence new calls for troops had to be made. There was no unified svstem of government, which caused great confusion and often entire lack of harmony between the different provinces. This 244 HISTORY OF HUDSON fact, coupled with others that might be mentioned, not the least of the latter being the straits of the colonists to raise sufficient funds to carry on the conflict, became a leading topic of the day. At a special town meeting held Febru- ary 9, 1778, Nottingham West Voted. To accept of all and every of the Articles of Confederation excepting the first clause of the 9th Article, and the whole of 13th Article. A little over a month later, at the annual meeting March 16, John Caldwell, Captain Marsh, Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Thomas Smith and George Burns were chosen a "Committee of Safety and inspection for the present year." At a special meeting held two weeks later, William Burns was chosen "to sit in the Convention at Concord, in order to form a new plan of Government." At this same meeting it was "Voted to allow Gideon Butler for the service he has done in the war equal with others in the Town that served the same term of time." June 24, 1778, in the midst of threatening rumors in regard to the movements of the enemy, another special meeting was called, when "The Town voted to choose a committee. Viz: Asa Davis, Esq., William Burns, Timo- thy Smith, Ens. David Lawrence, Dea. Ebenezer Cum- mings, Ens. Daniel Hardy, Lieut. John Haseltine, Jr. and Empower them to hire and agree with any men or number of men, and what sum of money they will give, provided at any time the militia should be called upon to march in order to stop our enemy on any sudden emergency." On November 2, at a special meeting, the town voted that what was formerly Nottingham West should pay the six hundred dollars, which had been paid by subscription, to Richard Cutter and John Campbell for service in the war during the current year.* Capt. Abraham Page, for some reason not stated, objected to this action. The fam- ilies whose heads were in the army were voted two hun- dred dollars, or thirty-six pounds, each. 1778 was the year of the annexation of Londonderry Clai NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 245 At the annual town meeting, March 1, 1779, the num- ber of the selectmen, which had been three each year since 1749, was increased to five. The board chosen at this time consisted of Capt. Samuel Marsh, Ens. David Lawrence, Moses Johnson, Samuel Wason and Samuel Greeley, num- bered among the most able and patriotic men of the town. This was the darkest period of the Revolution, as related to the finances of the war, when strong men were needed as leaders to manage the business affairs of the town. This explains the increase in the number of the board, as well as the care with which they were selected. It was only a little while prior to this that Washington had written: "Our affairs are in a more distressed, ruinous and de- plorable condition than they have been since the com- mencement of the war." This fact was due largely to the state of the finances. The currency had depreciated greatly during the last year, and with but vague hopes of a successful termination of the war, it was likely to continue its downward tendency. In the face of this, blindly hoping to help the situation, Congress voted to issue one hundred and thirty-one mil- lions of dollars in Continental bills. The very magnitude of the issue served to depreciate the market value of a dol- lar, especially with a government lacking credit and divided in its own management. "A wagon load of money," Washington wrote to the President of Congress, "will not purchase a wagon load of provisions." The depreciation in the currency during the year 1779 was more than five-fold, and where at the beginning of the year one dollar had the purchasing power of twelve and one-half cents, at the close it had fallen to a small fraction above two cents! In other words, where in January it re- quired eight dollars to purchase the normal value of one dollar, in the following December it required $41.50. In the distress of this period the town voted to take care of the families of the soldiers. But it refused to pay 24(5 HISTORY OF HUDSON Benjamin Whittemore one hundred dollars in behalf of his- son for services in the Continental Army. April 5, a com- mittee was elected similar to one chosen the year before to look after "and agree with men as they think proper to stop our enemy on any emergency." This committee con- sisted of Timothy Smith, Samuel Pollard, Capt. Moses Barrett, Daniel Marshall, Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Wil- liam Burns and Samuel Wason. June 21, the selectmen were allowed their accounts for money "paid to sundry persons in procuring soldiers for the Cont 1 army: Viz: Jonathan Perry, a 150, also £60 to James Brown, Likewise ,£20 to Capt. James Ford." It was also voted to give the selectmen "discretionary power to hire and agree with the remainder of our present Cota of men for the Cont 1 army during the war." September 13, the following accounts or bounties were allowed: What was paid Isaac Foot, Viz : 33 bushels Indian Corn & SOjC in cash — 277-10-1. Also allowed SO bushels Indian Corn to Roger Merrill — ;£375-00-0. Likewise allowed ^"90 that was paid Jon. Cook, it being a Town Bounty £7S; also allowed value at £15; Likewise 13 1-2 bushels of Indian Com & 6 1-2 do of Rye. Also allowed to James Pemberton 60 bushels of Indian Corn — ^450- At this meeting the town refused to accept the Decla- ration of Rights and plan of Government, as offered by the provincial convention, which had recently convened. November 1, a committee was chosen to state the prices of articles bought and sold in town, and the names of this board were Thomas Marsh, Ens. Nathaniel Davis, Lieut. Ezekiel Hills, Daniel Marshall, John Hale, Lieut. Peter Cross and Timothy Smith. The report of this com- mittee was accepted at an adjourned meeting, November 15, but it was not recorded. At the annual meeting, March 6, 1780, the selectmen were allowed "the interest money they have paid for pro- curing Soldiers for the army in the year 1779." It was also voted at this time to raise eight hundred pounds of lawful money to repair the highways, "and that NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 247 labor be set at ^"4-lOs a day per man till the last of Au- gust, and after that £3 Do. and a pair of oxen to be half as much as a man." This shows the great depreciation of the currency., when it required four pounds and ten shil- lings of lawful money to pay a man for a day's labor on the highway. July 3, 1780, at a town meeting held at the house of Samuel Greeley, Innholder, Voted as a Town to hire six soldiers for the teim of six months to join the Continental army and chose a committee to effect the same : Namely, Asa Davis, James Ford & David Lawrence, and likewise gave the said committee discretionary power to hire and agree with any men or number of men upon any Emergency, in behalf of the Town for the pres- ent year. February 5, 1781: Voted to raise our Quota of men to fill up the Battalion in the Cont 1 army, and choose a committee in order to procure and agree with the men in behalf of the Town : Namely, Timothy Smith, Captain Samuel Marsh, Daniel Marshall, Lt. Ezekiel Hills, Lieut. David Cummings. One month later, at the annual meeting held March 5, 1781, it was voted to give the "committee last chosen dis- cretionary power to agree with the soldiers for young cat- tle, and to give them obligations for the same in behalf of the Town." Three thousand pounds was voted at this meeting as the sum to be raised by the town for the repair of high- ways, and twelve pounds was fixed as the price of labor per day for a man, and six pounds for a yoke of oxen. At a special meeting, May 8, 1781, Timothy Smith was elected to represent the town at Concord, on the first Tuesday of June following "in order for the forming a plan of Government." Received of Hugh Smith, one of the Constables for the year 1780, four hundred and thirty four bushels, eleven quarts one pint in full of his Corn Rate. We say Rec'd by us. Asa Davis, Selectmen of Nottingham David Lawrence, West, for ye year 1780. James Ford. July ye 12th. 1781. 248 HISTORY OF HUDSON July 9, 1781, it was voted to pay the beef tax "already assessed into the State Treasury, as much as is needed to make up the deficiency of the Cont. tax." It was voted that the same committee chosen the pre- vious year should "hire and agree with soldiers in behalf of ye Town as occasion may require." At a meeting July 30, 1781 : Voted to choose a committee to raise ye soldiers that is and may be called for this present year and gave them discretionary power to give their obligations in behalf of the Town. Voted that said committee con- sist of three men. Viz. Captain Peabody, Lt. Peter Cross, Ens. Elijah Hills. Voted that ye obligations which the committee has given to ye sol- diers forcorn in behalf ye Town, that the rate therefor be made in corn only without mentioning money. The corn rate as assessed by the selectmen amounted to 563 bushels, twenty quarts and one pint. April 15, 1782: An article in the warrant at this time to see if the town would vote to obtain several continental soldiers for three years or during the war was not carried, but at an adjourned meeting, April 17, a committee consisting of Joseph Greeley, Lt. Reuben Spalding and Ens. Nathaniel Davis was chosen "to hire several Continental soldiers for three years or during the war, and give them power as they see fit." Again May 13, 1782, it was Voted to choose a committee to raise the Continental soldiers called for. Namely, Maj. James P'ord, Captain Cummings, Ens. Elijah Hills, Jeremiah Hills, Joseph Blodgett, Ens. Sim. Barrett, Lt. Ezekiel Hills. Seth Hadley, Henry Hale, Lef. Hen. Tarbox, l.ef. Benj Kidder and Seth Wicom : Voted to impower this committee in behalf of the Town to give their private security for to hire s'd soldiers not to exceed 100 dollars for each soldier yearly for three years. Voted to allow Jeremiah Blodgett the depreciation of the town mon- ey that sunk on his hands. September 16, 1782. NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 249 Voted to allow Capt. Marsh and Capt. Cummings the sixty bushels of corn they engaged to a soldier this year. Voted and allowed the constable to take one silver dollar in lew of four New Emission dollars. November 25, 1782. Voted to accept the new plan of Government as it now stands, with two amendments ; to wit'ly : That every man in the Town or parish shall pay to the support of the Gospel, where he lives, unless he maketh it appear that he attends else- where. The 16th article in the Bill of Rights not accepted. The corn rates were still causing trouble, and May 26, 1783, Capt. Samuel Marsh was chosen "to see what meth- od the Town will take to recover the remainder of the Corn Rate that is due to the Town in the constable's hands." The foregoing transcripts from the town records con- tain substantially all of the more important actions of the town in relation to the Revolutionary war as found upon the accounts of the forty-five town meetings — annual and special— held from March 21, 1775, to September 8, 1783. A study of these records shows something of the deep, underlying anxiety accompanying the history of those eight long, dreary years of the Revolutionary period. Despite the many discouragements and adversities that beset their attempt, our brave ancestors — few in numbers — there were only about three millions of inhabitants in the thirteen United Colonies — with little wealth, and, at the beginning, no organized army, achieved a wonderful victory against one of the greatest and most powerful nations of the world, Great Britain. CHAPTER XXI Dark Days of the Revolution The history of the Revolution, which should be of the greatest interest to every true American citizen, has been written and published many times, so it does not seem to come within the province of this work to enter into its de- tails, except as it concerns directly the patriotic people of old Nottingham West now known as Hudson. Mr. Fox, in his History of Old Dunstable Township, says: "From the commencement of the Revolutionary diffi- culties, a deep and universal feeling of indignation pervaded the community. The men who had settled the wilderness, and defended their homes from the attack of the Indian en- emy; and had built them up a great and goodly heritage, unaided by stepdame England, were not the men to quietly yield up their dear-bought rights without a struggle. "Their love for the mother country was never very strong, for there was little cause for gratitude, and the first appearance of oppression and wrong was the signal for re- sistance. "This feeling was stronger in New England than in the other colonies, and manifested itself at an earlier date, because the Puritans, having been forced to leave their Fatherland by oppression and insults, and having made for themselves a new home in the wilderness, unassisted and unprotected, felt it a more grievous and insufferable wrong, that England should seize upon the first moment of pros- perity, to heap upon them new oppressions and new in- sults here. "The division of New England into townships — those little democracies as they were aptly called — each self-gov- erned, where every citizen feels that he is a part of the commonwealth, has municipal rights and duties, and 250 DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 251 learns to think and act for himself, was an excellent school for training up the Fathers of our Republic, and teaching them the principles of self-government upon a more ex- tended scale. During the long succession of encroach- ments, which preceded and caused the Revolution, the in- habitants of this town were not indifferent. They had watched the storm as it gathered, and knew its consequen- ces must be momentous." What Mr. Fox wrote in relation to the inhabitants of Dunstable, now Nashua, was equally true of Nottingham West, and a majority of the other New England towns. Their interests were identical, and with the exception of a few Loyalists or Tories in some towns, they arose as one man and subscribed the pledge that "We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." There could be no misunderstanding as to the meaning of that statement, brief, plain and to the point. And after a long and bloody struggle of eight years' duration, they fully redeemed their pledge, winning from the mother country a full and significant victory, which included a rec- ognized independence. From the first the people of New England, who, as the royalists complained, "had never set a good example of obedience," had been apparently desirous and prepared for a collision. Thus, the news of the clash of arms at Lexington was no surprise to them, and the swift-footed messenger who carried the news of battle to the men up the Merrimack valley was not swifter than they in their response to the summons. In that grand rush to the front, the citizens of Not- tingham W 7 est were among the most zealous of the aroused patriots. The military spirit transmitted from their fa- thers, re-enforced by their own experience in the frontier wars, especially by many who had served under Rogers 252 HISTORY OF HUDSON and Stark throughout the French and Indian conflict, was awakened into activtiy by the forerunners of the coming danger. Shortly before midnight on the 18th of April, 1775, a detachment of British troops, numbering eight hundred men, under the command of Lieut. Col. Smith, had been conveyed across the Charles River from Boston to Cam- bridge. From this place the body of troops began their memorable march to Lexington and Concord. The alarm of this expedition was immediately spread throughout the country by mounted messengers, some of whom had antic- ipated the movement. The distance from Nottingham West by the roads then traveled was about forty miles. According to tradi- tion the news reached here before noon of the 19th, and was quickly sent in every direction by mounted courier's riding to the most remote sections of the town, and, as they galloped on their exciting mission, calling out to the inhab- itants as they sped on their way a warning note of the im- pending invasion by the British Regulars. So swiftly did the news spread and so thoroughly aroused were the peo- ple that on that very afternoon sixty-five men, equipped for war with their muskets and ammunition, met ready to march against the enemy. It is related by the descendants of Asa Davis, as a fam- ily tradition, that when the messenger arrived at his home on Bush Hill, he was plowing in the field with his oxen. Upon listening to the exciting news Mr. Davis, leaving his oxen to be unyoked and cared for by his patriotic wife, Eliza- beth, saddled his horse, seized his musket and rode furi ously to join the Minute Men already gathering on the common at Hudson Center. These brave volunteers quickly organized under the command of Capt. Samuel Greeley, and awaited his order to march to meet the British Red-coats at Lexington. Un- fortunately the old military records of this town were lost long since, or destroyed. Had they been preserved many DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 253 interesting facts could have been gleaned from them, which are now impossible to obtain. Fortunately, however, the muster roll of this company of sixty-five Minute Men, all from this town and mustered so quickly that they marched that very evening for Lexington, has been preserved. The original muster roll of this patriotic band is in the posses- sion of the New Hampshire Historical Society at Concord, of which the following is a copy: Muster Roll of 1775 A Muster roll of Capt. Samuel Greeleys Compt, who turned out Vol- lenteers from Nottingham West in New hampshire at the time of Lexing- ton Battle on the 19th of April 1775 * Capt. Samuel Greeley 8 85 £2 16 4 £117 6 424 12 £16 9 10 Lieut. Joseph Kelley 12 85 2 16 4 2 424 9 12 4 Ens. John Pollard 8 85 2 16 4 19 6 3 15 10 Clerk James Ford 10 85 1 82 17 6 2 5 8 Sergt. Wilm. Merrill 6 85 1 82 12 6 2 8 Sergt. Wm. Burns 8 85 1 82 15 7 2 3 9 Sergt. Ebenezer Pollard 6 85 1 82 12 6 2 8 Corpl. Justus Uakin 6 85 1 82 11 9 119 16 Corpl. Simeon Berrot 8 85 1 82 15 6 2 2 8 Corpl. Jona. Bradley 6 85 1 82 11 9 1 19 11 Corpl. John Pollard 8 85 1 82 14 6 2 2 8 fifer Benj. Marshall 6 85 1 82 11 6 1 19 8 fifer Samll. Currier 8 85 1 82 14 6 2 2 8 Samll. Marsh 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Reuben Spalding 6 85 1 82 15 10 2 4 Peter Cross 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Ebenezer Cummings 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Ebenezer Perry 10 85 1 82 14 8 2 2 8 Elijah Hills 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Ezekiel Hills 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Jeremiah Hills 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Samll. Hills 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Richard Marshall 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Daniel Hardy 3 85 1 82 5 1 13 2 Seth Hadley 6 85 1 8 2 10 1 18 2 Abijah Reed 10 85 1 82 14 8 2 2 8 * The first column denotes the number of days in the service; the second, the number of miles travelled; third, the compensation at 2d a mile; fourth, amount of wages due; fifth, pounds of pork and bread; sixth, gallons of rum; seventh, sum total. 254 HISTORY OF HUDSON Richard Cutter 10 S5 1 82 14 8 2 2 8 Nehemiah Winn 11 85 1 82 15 10 2 4 Benja. Whittemore 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Abathar Winn 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Stephen Chase, Jr. 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Joshua Chase 6 85 1 82 10 I 18 2 John Haseltine 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 David Glover 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Oliver Hills 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Page Smith 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Samll. Campbell 10 85 1 82 14 8 2 2 8 Samll. Smith 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Moses Berrot 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Richard Hardy 6 85 1 82 10 I 18 2 Jona. Blodgett 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Joseph Greeley 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Samll. Durrent 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Samll. Moor 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Andrew Seavey 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Stephen Chase 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 James Pemberton 6 85 1 82 10 L18 2 John Osgood 10 85 1 82 14 8 I 2 8 Nat. Hardy 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Benja. Marshall 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Danl. Marshall 6 85 1 82 10 I 18 2 John Walker 8 85 1 82 12 4 I 6 Joseph Gould Jr 6 85 1 82 10 I 18 2 John Merrill 6 85 1 82 10 I 18 2 David Cummings 6 85 1 82 10 [ 18 2 Thomas Wason 6 85 1 82 10 L 18 2 Alexander Caldwell 6 85 1 82 10 18 2 Thomas Caldwell 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Asa Davis 8 85 1 82 12 4 \ I 6 Samll. Wason 6 85 1 82 10 ] 18 2 Echobad Easman 6 85 1 82 10 o : 18 2 Abraham Page 6 85 1 82 10 ] 18 2 Nat. Davis 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 John Campbell 6 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 Henry Heuey 85 1 82 10 1 18 2 June the 9th 1791 the above \eturn is just & tru e according to the best of my judmend pr Joseph Kelley l.ieut the Capt. viz. Samll. Gree- ley being moved out of Town. DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 255 Rockingham SS. Personally Appeared the above named Joseph Kelley Lieut, of Sd. Compt. and after being Duly Caustion made Solemn oath that the above Return is Just & True According to the Best of his Knowledge Before me. JAMES GIBSON Just. Peace June ye 9th 1791. Personal Sketches Capt. Samuel Greeley was born in Haverhill, Mass., May 10, 1721, and was fifty-four years old. Ezekiel Hills was fifty-seven, and Abraham Page, probably the oldest man in the company, was sixty years of age. Joseph Gree- ley, son of Captain Greeley, and David Glover were but eighteen. The ages of a majority of the company ranged from twenty-five to forty years. So the entire enlistment was composed of men in the full vigor of manhood, and a determined, resolute band. Little time was lost in effecting an organization, and the company marched post-haste towards Lexington. Be- fore reaching their destination they were met by a courier, who informed them of the retreat of the enemy, thus they returned to Nottingham West. Many of these Minute Men immediately enlisted in the army at Cambridge, and at least sixteen of them fought at the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June, 1775. The names of those who figured in that memorable fight were — Moses Barritt, Benjamin Marshall, Robert Bettis, Benjamin Marshall, Jr., Josiah Burrows, John Marshall, Gideon Butler, William Merrill, Joshua Chase, John Osgood, Stephen Chase, Jr., James Pemberton, Thomas Campbell, Timothy Pollard, Samuel Currier, Abijah Reed, Corp., Richard Cutter, John Robinson, 256 HISTORY OF HUDSON Jonathan Emerson, Caleb Severance, James Ford, Lieut., Joshua Severance, David Glover, John Seavey, Robert Glover, Thomas Senter, Sergt., Benjamin Greeley, John Walker, Joseph Greeley, Benjamin Whittemore, Simeon Hills, Nehemiah Winn, David Marsh. Five of these men, viz.: Josiah Burrows, Simeon Hills, John Marshall, John Robinson and Thomas Senter, were residents of that part of Londonderry that was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778.* It is not known that any fatalities occurred among the Nottingham West men at the battle of Bunker Hill. Jos- eph Greeley was severely wounded and was carried from the field on the backs of his comrades, when the patriot troops were forced to retreat. Young Greeley thus es- caped being made a prisoner, and eventually recovered from his wound Richard Cutter, who was serving as a substitute for his son Seth, was also wounded. He and Seth, his son, who did service in the colonial army at Cam- bridge the same year, have been sometimes credited to Pelham. But Richard Cutter was a resident of this town at that time, and continued to live here until his death April 8, 1795. Seth, his son, who was only seventeen years old at the battle of Bunker Hill, was living here in this town with his father, where he continued to live until his marriage to Abiah Tallant, of Pelham, September 11, 1781, when he became a resident of Pelham. Robert Bettis has also been credited to Pelham by some writers, while Abijah Reed and Jonathan Emerson have been credited to Nashua. Abijah Reed was assessed * The New Hampshire Manual, Vol. 6, 1899, also credits to this town James D»vis, Thomas Knnwlton and James Winn, all privates in Stark's Regiment, but the writer cannot trace them as residents of Nottingham West at that time. It is a well established tradition in the Marsh family that Jonathan Marsh, brother of David, fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, and that he killed one of the enemy and captured his gun. — K. W. DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 257 here in 1774, and almost continually after that until 1790. Bettis and Emerson were assessed here in 1774, and for several years previous. Ten of these men were in Capt. Archelaus Towne's company, Col. John Stark's regiment. Captain Towne was of Amherst. Eight of these men were in Capt. Levi Spalding's company, Col. James Reed's regiment. Cap- tain Spalding was a native of this town, born October 23, 1737, and he lived here until 1765, when he removed to Lyndeborough, where he remained until his death. Six others of these men from Nottingham West served in Cap- tain William Walker's company, Colonel Reed's regiment. Captain Walker was of Dunstable. The other eight men were in different companies and regiments. The Ticonderoga Alarm In June, 1777, General Burgoyne, with his fleet, and army, advanced up Lake Champlain towards the important fortress at Ticonderoga, until reaching Crown Point, a few miles distant, where he halted. The news of this threat- ening movement spread swiftly over the country, and be- came known as "The Ticonderoga Alarm." A company was quickly formed at Nottingham West to start to the scene of war. The officers included, thirty-five men enlist- ed for this expedition. The heading of the pay-roll of this company is as follows: "Pay roll of a number of men Under the command of Capt. James Ford who marched from Nottingham W 7 est for Ticonderoga in June and July 1777. "Marched the first time as far as Dublin where we met an express Odering us home where we Arrived on the 5th of July. "The 6th we were Ordered out again and marched as far as Number four where we met Col° Ashley who in- formed us of the evacuation of the Fort. "On which we returned home " 258 HISTORY OF HUDSON The names of these men, all from this town, were as follows: James Ford, Captain, William Burns, Sergt., Jonathan Hardy, Corp 1 , Thomas Pollard, John Chase, Stephen Chase, Joseph Johnson, Joseph Winn, James Caldwell, Amos Pollard, Justus Dakin, Joseph Greeley, Asa Davis, Jonathan Bradley, Page Smith, Samuel Smith, Joseph Cross, Samuel Marsh, William Hills, Moses Hadley, Thomas Hills, Philip Hills, Samuel French, George Burns, Isaac Merrill, David Cummings, Elijah Hills, Alexander Caldwell, Samuel Pollard, William Merrill, John Caldwell, Nicholas Eastman, Daniel Hardy, Isaac Hardy, Abijah Reed. These men received three shillings each, per day for their services, which, in the depreciated currency of that date, was not very large wages. This was one of the dark and discouraging periods of the Revolutionary War. The condition of affairs in New England at this time is aptly described by one of its his- torians in speaking of the military affairs in July, 1777:* In consequence of the evacuation of Ticonderoga by the Americans, and the southerly movement of the British force under Burgoyne threat- ening the subjugation of New England, the Committee of Safety of this state decided, on the 14th day of July, to call the legislature together for consultation, and accordingly sent notices to the members requesting them to meet on the 17th of the month. In answer to the summons the council and house of representatives met on the day appointed, and immediately resolved themselves into a committee of the whole to join the Committee of Safety for a conference. Isaac W. Hammond, in "Revolutionary War Rolls," Vol. 2, page 139. DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 259 The state was at the time destitute of money and means, and had done all that the citizens generally supposed it could do in the way of fur- nishing troops; but the alternative was before them of assisting to check the advance of Burgoyne's army by sending a force to Vermont, or of having the battlefield of the future transferred to their own territory. On the second day of this special session, the committee of the whole recommended that the militia of the state be divided into two brigades, the first to comprise the regiments in the eastern portion of the state under the command of Brigadier General William Whipple, and the sec- ond to comprise those in the western portion of the state, and be under the command of Brigadier General John Stark. The committee also rec- ommended that four companies of rangers be raised in the second brigade to scout the frontier, under the orders of General Stark. These recommendations were adopted by the legislature the same day. Letters from Ira Allen, secretary of the Council of Safety of Ver- mont, earnestly entreating that troops be sent to their assistance, were then read in the committee of the whole, of which Hon. Mesech Weare was chairman. The matter of furnishing men was fully discussed, and it was gener- ally conceded that the exigency of the occasion iequired the raising and forwarding of a portion of the militia at once. The main question was as to obtaining money to pay and equip them. The treasury of the state was empty, and no way of replenishing it presented itself, until the patriotic John Langdon arose and said: "I have one thousand dollars in hard money. I will pledge my plate for three thousand more. I have seventy hogsheads of Tobago rum, which I will sell for the most it will biing. They are all at the service of the state. " If we succeed in defending our firesides and our homes, I may be remunerated. If we do not, then the property will be of no value to me. Our friend Stark, who so nobly maintained the honor of our state at Bun- ker Hill, may safely be entrusted with the honor of the enterprise and we will check the progress of Burgoyne." This patriotic appeal was received with enthusiasm, and the legisla- ture at once voted that one-fourth of Stark's brigade, and one-fourth of Thornton's, Badger's and Webster's regiments, of General Whipple's brigade, be drafted and marched immediately for the defense cf this and neighboring states. This force was to be under the command of General Stark, who ac- cepted the commission with the understanding that he was to exercise his own judgment in the management of his troops, and be accountable to and take orders from the authorities of New Hampshire, and no other. A draft was unnecessary, men enlisted with alacrity and were for- warded to Charlestown by detachments, that place having been desig- nated for rendezvous. 260 HISTORY OF HUDSON As soon as 500 men had arrived in Charlestown, the impetuous Stark moved on with them to Manchester, Vermont, leaving orders for others to follow. They reached that place August 7, were re-enforced by some of the "Green Mountain Boys," and received information of the enemy's intention to capture the stores at Bennington. He pressed forward, and reached that town on the 9th, accompanied by Col. Seth Warner. The battle occurred on the 16th, and the result, as is well known, cheered and encouraged the Americans, disheartened the enemy, and led to the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga on the 17th of October following. The brigade under Stark was organized into three repiments, commanded respectively by Colonels Moses Nichols of Amherst, Thomas Stickney of Concord, and David Hobart of Plymouth. Nottingham West Soldiers at Bennington Capt. James Ford of this town, commanded a com- pany of fifty-six men at Bennington, which company was in Col. Moses Nichols' regiment, of Gen. John Stark's brigade. This body of troops was raised July 20, 1777, and discharged September 19, with an allowance of nine days for travel. The names of men from Nottingham West, as found in the pay-roll of the company, are as follows: James Ford, Captain, Stephen Hadley, John Merrill, Sergeant, Joseph Johnson, Justus Dakin, Corporal, Jonathan Marsh, James Pemberton, Corporal, Thomas Pollard, Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Smith, Joseph Cross, Caleb Severance, Seth Cutter, Joseph Winn. Possibly a few other men from this town served in the Bennington campaign, but their names are not found in the pay-rolls. The report of the committee, as submitted to the town, December 22, 1777, a copy of which may be found in a former chapter, seems to show that the town paid for the services of eighteen men, $28 each. The fore- going list contains but fourteen names. In the committee's report the names of Peter Cross, Joseph Blodgett, Moses Johnson, Ens. John Pollard, Tim- DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 261 othy Smith and Joseph Winn, are each credited for the ser- vices of his son. The names of five of these sons, as they appear in the pay-roll are Joseph Blodgett, Joseph Cross, Joseph Johnson, Thomas Pollard and Joseph Winn. The son of Timothy Smith cannot be traced in the pay-roll. He may have furnished some other man as a substitute. The names of Seth Cutter, Stephen Hadley, Jonathan Marsh, James Pemberton and Caleb Severance appear in the pay-roll, but are not found in the report of the com- mittee. They probably served as substitutes for five of the men whose names are included in the committee's re- turn. That report included the following names that are not accounted for in any way by the pay-roll, Timothy Smith included: Isaac Barrett, John Hale, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., Jonathan Bradley and Thomas Hamblet in equal shares, Ens. Nathaniel Merrill, John Pollard, Jr., Timothy Smith, Page Smith and Samuel Wason. This would indicate that nine substitutes were fur- nished by these men, unless some of them served person- ally, which is not very probable. Five of these substitutes are accounted for in the pay-roll. This would leave four, who may have been in Captain Ford's company, but were residents of other towns, but whose names cannot be iden- tified. Captain Ford was severely wounded at the battle of Bennington, as appears by the Revolutionary War Rolls, Vol. 3, page 382. State of New This May certify That James Ford Esq r Hampshire being a Captain in ye Detachment commanded by Me upon the Right wing of Genl. Starks Brigade in the Battle of Wal- loomsuck Hill (so called) Near Bennington on the 16th of Aug. 1777, was Very badly wounded by Two Musket Balls which pass'd through his Two Thighs. MOSES NICHOLS Col. Soon after the discharge and return of Captain Ford's company, a body of volunteers numbering thirty-five, prin- 262 HISTORY OF HUDSON cipally from Dunstable and Nottingham West, was raised, commanded by Lieutenant Samuel Brown, in Col. Daniel Moore's troops, which company marched from Dunstable and joined the Northern Continental Army at Saratoga, September, 1777. The time of service of these men was from September 29 to October 28, one month, with an al- lowance for travel of 170 miles each way, to Saratoga and return. There were nine men from Nottingham West in this company, as follows: Elijah Hills, 2d Lieut., Asa Davis, Joseph Greeley, Sergt., Henry Hale, Jr., David Cummings, Samuel Marsh, William Cummings, William Gibson, Richard Cutter. Nottingham West Volunteers to Rhode Island in August, 1778 A brigade was raised in the summer of 1778 to re- inforce the Continental army at Rhode Island in prepara- tion for an attack upon the British troops then in posses- sion of the island of Rhode Island. In this assault it was expected that a powerful French fleet, then on the coast, under the command of Admiral Count D'Estaing, would co-operate with the American army. The first week in August a company of volunteers to aid in the expedition, was raised from this and adjoining towns. This company, including officers, consisted of fifty-four men, twenty of whom were residents of Notting- ham West. These troops were commanded by Capt. Peter Cross, of this town, and was the fourth company of the regiment commanded by Col. Moses Nichols of Amherst, in General Whipple's brigade. The men were in the service from the 7th to the 27th and some to the 28th of August, when they were dis- charged, without having accomplished the purpose of the campaign, on account of disaster to the French fleet owing DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 263 to a coast storm, which prevented it from joining in the proposed efforts of the land force. The wages of the private soldier in this expedition was at the rate of £b per month and 8d per mile for trav- el one hundred miles each way. These men were also paid something additional by the town. This was a body of mounted troops, and each man had to furnish his own horse. Colonel Nichols' return showed there were fifty- four horses in the company, and .£10 each was allowed for these. The names of the men from this town were Peter Cross, Captain, Ebenezer Perry, Ensign, Samuel Pollard, Sergeant, Daniel Marshall, Sergeant, William Cummings, Corporal, Jonathan Burbank, Gideon Butler, John Caldwell, Samuel Campbell, Micajah Chase, Stephen Chase, Robert Glover, Isaac Hardy, Joseph Johnson, Samuel Marsh, Joseph Marshall, David Peabody, James Pemberton, Abijah Reed, Joshua Severance. CHAPTER XXII Soldiers in the Revolution and War of 1812 This list of Nottingham West — now Hudson — soldiers in the Revolution, showing service or term of enlistment, and where buried so far as can be ascertained, has been compiled with great care, from "Revolutionary War Rolls," edited by Isaac W. Hammond, A. M., town records and other data, and is believed to be substantially correct. It is subject, however, to such unavoidable omissions of any names of soldiers as could not be found upon any of the rolls examined. "1775 L.," denotes the minute men enlisted April 19, 1775, for Lexington, in Captain Samuel Greeley's Com- pany; "B. H.," at the Battle of Bunker Hill; "Cam." Cam- bridge; "C. A.," Continental Army; "Port.," in garrison at Portsmouth; "Wh. P.," at White Plains, N. Y.; "N. A.," Northern Army on the northern frontier and in Can- ada; "Ti.." Ticonderoga Alarm, June 1777; "Ben.," in Captain James Ford's Company at Bennington, July, 1777; "Sa.," Saratoga; "N. Y.," Fort George, N. Y.; "R. I.," in Captain Peter Cross' mounted company at Rhode Island, 1778; "Blodgett," denotes the Blodgett Cemetery; "Farms," the Hills Farms Cemetery; "Center," the ancient ceme- tery at Hudson Center. Barrett, Moses, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 6 mos. llarrett, Simeon, Corp., 1775 I.., Center. Barker, Thomas, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Bettis, Robert, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Blodgett, Ashael, 1777 N. V., 3 mos. Blodgett, Jonathan, 1775 I.., Blodgett. Blodgett, Joseph, 1777 Ben., 2 mos., Blodgett. Bradley, Jonathan, Corp., 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds. Bradbury, Sanders, 1777 Serg. C. A., 3 yrs. Died in the army 1779. Brown, Eliphalet, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 264 SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 265 Brown, James, 1779 C. A. For the war. Brown, Samuel, 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. Burns, George, 1777 TL, 8 ds. Burns, William, Serg., 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., Blodgett. Burbank, Jonathan, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds., Blodgett. Burrows, Josiah, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos. Butler, Gideon, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. Caldwell, Alexander, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds. Caldwell, John, Serg., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1778 R. I., 24 ds. Caldwell, James, Ti., 6 ds., Blodgett. Caldwell, Samuel, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. Caldwell, Thomas, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Lieut. N. A., 28 ds. Campbell, John, 1778 R. I., 6 mos. Campbell, Samuel, 1775 L., 1778 R. L, 24 ds. Campbell, Thomas, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Carlton, Ezra, 1781 C. A. For the war. Chase, Ephraim Chandler, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. Chase, John, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1799 Port., 2 mos., Blodgett. Chase, Joshua, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1779 N. A., 4 mos. 1779 C. A., Blodgett. Chase, Micajah, 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. Chase ; Stevens, 1775 L. Chase, Stephen, Jr., 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1778 R. I., 14 ds. Colburn, Isaac, 1779 Port., 2 mos. Cook, John, 1779 C. A., 1 year. Cross, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., Port., 1 mo. Cross, Nathan, 1779 R. I., 6 mos., 1781 C. A., 3 mos. Cross, Peter, 1775 L., 1778 Captain R. I., 24 ds., Blodgett. Cross, Thomas, 1781 C. A., 3 mos. Cummings, David, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 Sa., 1 mo. Cummings, Ebenezer, 1775 L. Cummings, William, 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 1777 Sa., 1 mo., 1778 Corp, R. I., 23 ds. Currier, Samuel, Fifer, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Cutter, Richard, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 1 mo.. 1777 Sa., 1 mo., 1778 R. I 6 mos. and 20 ds., Wounded at Bunker Hill, Center. Cutter, Seth, 1775 Cam., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. Cutter, Thomas, 1780 C. A., 6 mos., Navy. Dakin, Justus, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Corp. Ben., 2 mos.. Blodgett. 266 HISTORY OF HUDSON Davis, Asa, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Sa., 1 mo., Blodgett. Davis, Nathaniel, 1775 L., Blodgett. Durant, Samuel, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mo. Eastman, Ichabod, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 2 mos, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. Eastman, James, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Eastman, Nicholas, 1777 Ti., 5 ds. Emerson, Benjamin Hamden, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. Emerson, Jonathan, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Farwell, Jonathan, 1781 C, A., 6 mos., 1782 Rangers., 4 mos. Ford, James, Clerk, 1775 L., 1775 Lieut. B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1777 Capt. Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Capt. Ben., 2 mos. Severely wounded. Foot, Isaac, 1779 R. I., 6 mos., 1780 C. A., 6 mos. French, Samuel, 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Gibson, William, 1777 Sa., 1 mo. Glover, David, 1775 L., B. H., Cam. 8 mos., Center. Glover, Robert, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 R. I., 24 ds. Gould, Elijah, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Gould, Joseph, Jr., 1775 L. Died in the Continental Army, January 13, 1776. Greeley, Benjamin, 1775 B. H., Cam. Died in the army, September 7, 1775. Greeley, Joseph, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 1777 Sa., 1 mo. Wounded ai Battle of Bunker Hill. Blodgett. Greeley, Samuel, Captain Lexington Company, April 19, 1775. Hadley, Enos, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. Hadley, Moses, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., Blodgett. Hadley, Seth, 1775 L. Hadley, Stephen, Drummer, 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. Hale, Henry, Jr., 1777 Sa., 3 ws. Blodgett. Hardy, Daniel, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1777 Port., 1 mo. Hardy, Isaac, 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1778 R. I., 10 ds. Hardy, Jonathan, Corp., 1777 Ti., 14 ds. Hardy, Nathaniel, 1775 I.., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 C. A. 3 yrs. Hardy, Perry, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 Port., 2 mos. Hardy, Richard, 1775 L. Hamblet, Asa, 1780 C. A., 6 mos. Haseltine, John, 1775 L., Center. Hills, Elijah, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 Lieut Sa.. 1 mo., Farms. Hills, Ezekiel, 1775 L. Hills, Jeremiah, 1775 L., Farms. Hills, Oliver, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. Hills, Philip, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. Hills, Simeon, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 Wh. P., 6 mos. SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 267 Hills, Thomas, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. f Farms. Hills, William, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. Hills, Samuel, 1775 L„ Farms. Hobbs, Joseph, 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. Served 4 mos. Hood, Aaron, 1781 C. A. For the war. Johnson, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., 1778 R. I. 23 ds., Jones, Ephraim, 1777 C. A.,: 3 yrs. Kelley, Joseph, Lieut., 1775 L. Kinney, Samuel, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Kinney, Amos, 1776 N. A., 4 mos,, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. He was killed in the army previous to June, 1778. Lowell, John Messer, 1777 C. A. ,3 yrs. Lowell, Stephen, 1775 Bedel's Rangers, 5 mos. Marsh, David, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Marsh, Samuel, Jr., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Serg. Sa., 1 mo., 1778 R. I., 24 ds. Marsh, Samuel, 1775 L., Farms. Marsh, Jonathan, 1777 Ben., 2 mos. It is a family tradition that he was also at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and did other military service dur- ing the war. Farms. Marshall, Benjamin, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 6 mos Marshall, Beniamin, Jr., 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1 77 N. A., 2 mos. Marshall, Daniel, 1775 L., 1778 Serg. R. I., 24 ds. Marshall, John, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., Farms. Marshall, Joseph, 1778 R. I., 24 ds., 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. Marshall, Richard, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos. Merrill, Abel, 1779 C. A., 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. Merrill, Isaac, 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 1777 Ti., 8 ds. Merrill, John, 1775 L., 1777 Serg. Ben., 2 mos. Merrill, Roger, 1779 R. I., 6 mos. Merrill, William, Serg., 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 Lieut. N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Ti. 5 ds. Moore, Samuel, 1775 L. Osgood, John, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Page, Abraham, 1775 L., Center. Pemberton, James, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. 1778 R. L, 23 ds., 1779 C. A., 1 yr., 1781 C. A., 6 mos. Peabody, David, 1778 R. I., 24 ds., 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. Perry, Ebenezer, 1775 L., 1778 Ens. R. I., 23 ds. Perry, Thomas, 1779 C. A. For the war. Pierce, Daniel, 1781 C. A., 6 mos. Pollard, Amos, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. 268 HISTORY OF HUDSON Pollard, Ebenezer, Serg., 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 6 months., Blodgett. Pollard, John, Ens., 1775 L. Pollard, John, Jr., Corp., 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., Blodgett. Pollard, Timothy, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1776 N. A., 4 mos. Pollard, Thomas, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Hen., 2 mos. Pollard, Samuel, Serg., 1777 Ti.,5ds., 1777 Sa.,3 ws., 1778 R. I.,23ds. Reed, Abijah, 1775 L., Corp. B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 N. A., 5 mos., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. Robinson, Amos. 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. Robinson, John. 1775 B. H., Cam. Sargent, Abel, 1780 C. A., 6 mos., 1781 C. A., 6 mos., 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. Searles, Elnathan, 1779 Port., 2 mos, Searles, Thomas, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. Seavey, Andrew, 1775 L. Seavey, John, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Senter, Thomas, Serg., 1775 B. H., Cam. Severance, Caleb, 1775 B. H., Cam., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. Severance, Joseph, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Severance, Joshua, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. Smith, Edward, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Smith, Page, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., Center. Smith, Samuel, 1775 L., 177 7Ti., 14 ds., Hen., 2 mos. Smith, Timothy, 1781 C. A., 6 mos., Blodgett. Spalding, Reuben, 1775 L., Farms. Walker, John, 1775 L., Corp. B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Wason, Samuel, 1775 L., Blodgett. Wason, Thomas, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., Blodgett. Whittemore, Benjamin, Jr., 1775 L., B. H., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Winn, Abiather, 1775 L., Blodgett. Winn, Nehemiah, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. Winn, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. Blodgett. Wilson, George, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. Wyman, Daniel, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. Wyman, Ezra, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. The Second War with Great Britain For several years previous to the breaking out of hos- tilities between the United States and England, in 1811, one among the many more offensive and annoying meas- ures, claimed and exercised by England, was the right to SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 269 hold up American vessels and seize all sailors, even natural- ized citizens, who were supposed to be British subjects. In June, 1807, the insolence of this claim was carried so far that the British man-of-war, Leopard, stopped the United States frigate, Chesapeake, off the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, fired into her, killing or wounding twenty- one of the crew, and took off four men, three of whom were Americans. No reparation was made for this out- rage, but other similar acts followed. Under the last part of President Jefferson's administration the famous Embar- go Act was passed by Congress, signed by the President, and became a law, by which American vessels were pro- hibited from leaving foreign ports, and foreign vessels from taking cargoes from the United States, and all coasting vessels were required to give bonds to land their cargoes in the United States. This law became very unpopular, and in March, 1809, the Non-Intercourse Act went into force, another very un- popular measure. Party feeling in this country became very bitter. England and the United States grew more irritated with each other, and in 1811 hostilities actually opened on sea and land. In May the United States frigate President hailed the British man-of-war Little Belt, and was answered by a shot. The President replied with a shot in turn, and a sharp action ensued in which the Little Pelt was badly crippled, and lost thirty-one men, killed and wounded. Tecumseh, the famous Shawnee chief, had gathered a large force of Indian warriors, and at the instigation of the British they were attacking the north-western settlements. General William Henry Harrison marched against them, and on November 7, he defeated them at Tippecanoe. The English continued to seize vessels and men. More than nine hundred American vessels had been seized since 1803, and several thousand American seamen im- pressed into British service. 270 HISTORY OF HUDSON The people of the United States had become exasper- ated over their losses and their inability to protect them- selves. Madison became President in March, 1811, and prep- arations were begun for hostilities. War was formally de- clared against Great Britain, June 18, 1812. The war was prosecuted on land and sea until December, 1814, when final negotiations for peace took place at Ghent, Belgium, on the twenty-fourth day of that month. A treaty of peace was then signed by the two governments' commissioners, and was promptly ratified. During this war New Hampshire furnished a large number of soldiers for the United States army, some of whom were stationed at Portsmouth, others on Lake Cham- plain, in New York, and on the frontier between the Uni- ted States and Canada. The muster rolls of these men are said to be in Wash- ington, but are almost inaccessible. Partial copies of them have been procured and published in the New Hampshire Adjutant General's Report for 1868. These lists are very unsatisfactory and seemingly inac- curate, most probably containing but a part of the names of the men who served their country from Nottingham West, now Hudson, during the war of 1812. After very carefully going through all the rolls pub- lished in that report, the following are all the men that could be located in this town, and it seems doubtful if all of these were actual citizens of Nottingham West. An order dated at Exeter, September 9, 1814, required: "That four entire companies of infantry from each of the Second, Third, Fourth and Twenty-fifth Regiments be detached immediately, armed and equipped according to law, and provided, as far as possible, with blankets and am- munition to march to Portsmouth immediately to serve for the term of fifteen days from the time of their arrival at Portsmouth unless sooner discharged." SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 271 In the company of Captain Josiah Converse of Am- herst are given the following names and residences: Jonathan Cate, Jr., 2 d Lieut., of West Nottingham. * Alexander Caldwell, 3 d Lieut., of West Nottingham. William Emerson, Ensign, West Nottingham. Samuel Leonard, Sergeant, West Nottingham. Livid Lund, West Nottingham. Nathaniel Fellows, West Nottingham. John Johnson, West Nottingham. *Samuel Steele, West Nottingham. John Smith, Dunstable. Cyrus Wilkins, West Dunstable. The above men were all enlisted September 16, 1814, for three months. In Captain James Trevett's company enlisted sixty days from September 27, 1814: Henry Earns, Nottingham. *Hesekiah Hamblet, Nottingham. *Asa Hardy, Nottingham. Israel Putnam, Nottingham. *OHver Sprague, Nottingham. Rufus Seavey, Nottingham. *Henry Tarbox, Nottingham. Died November 9. Captain Joseph Towle's Company: *Samuel Hills, September 10 to September 27, 1814. Captain Joseph Bellows' Company: James Brown, September 26, for sixty days. *John Merrill, Jr., Both of West Nottingham. *John Dutton, September 26, for sixty days, was credited to Pelham, but was a resident of this town. The residences of many of these men were given as West Nottingham, but no town by that name has ever ex- isted in the state. The town at that date bore the name of Nottingham West, and there seems little doubt that West Nottingham as printed in the Adjutant General's Report is designed for this town. 272 HISTORY OF HUDSON The residences of a few others are given as Notting- ham, but several of these at least are known to have been citizens of Nottingham West. Those names which are marked with an asterisk are nearly all known to have been residents of this town, while several of the others may have enlisted for Nottingham West and still have been residents of other towns. CHAPTER XXIII Hudson in the Civil War and Other Wars The history of New Hampshire in this war, together with the numerous and various causes and events transpir- ing for many years preceding the crisis of 1861, and lead- ing steadily on and up to a clash at arms between the two sections of the nation — North and South — has been many times, more or less impartially, written and published, and may be found in almost any library in the state. Suffice it to say here, that during this extended and bloody conflict of four years' continuance to save the na- tion and perpetuate the Union of the States as founded and transmitted by our Revolutionary ancestors, and for which they fought and bled through the eight long and gloomy years of that war, New Hampshire did her full share. Each call upon the state for enlistments or rein- forcements was promptly answered, and the New Hamp- shire regiments in the war compared favorably and honor- ably with those of any other state for intrepidity, good con- duct and patriotic devotion to duty. They bravely fought upon nearly all the principal bat- tlefields of the war, and the blood of the old Granite State soldiers— as in the Revolution — mingled freely with that of the brave troops from other states, and their graves, thousands of which are carefully marked and numbered, dot the many soldiers' cemeteries around those old battle grounds, and at Arlington, while other thousands sleep in unknown graves. The people of Hudson during this cruel strife per- formed their whole duty from the very first, promptly fur- nishing, on the numerous calls for troops, more than the quota allotted to them by the state, it appearing at the 273 274 HISTORY OF HUDSON close of the war that the number of men furnished exceed- ed the number called for. At a special town meeting, October 14, 1861, the town chose Hiram Marsh, Gilman Andrews and Stephen D. Greeley, a committee to relieve the families of soldiers, and gave this committee instructions to pay not exceeding one dollar a week each for the wives and dependent children or parents of soldiers serving in the army from this town, or of such as shall enlist and be mustered into the service of the United States, provided said sum in the aggregate shall not exceed twelve dollars per month for any such soldier. The town voted to raise five hundred dollars for said purpose. This committee, during the war, paid to the families of soldiers the sum of seven thousand, one hundred and six dollars and forty-three cents. August 12, 1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each person who enlisted as a vol- unteer for three years or during the war, and on Septem- ber 11, following, a bounty of one hundred dollars each was voted to volunteers who would enlist for nine months, the bounty in each case to be paid when such volunteer should be mustered into the United States' service. At a special town meeting, September 23, 1863, it was voted to extend aid to the families of drafted men or their substitutes, while serving as soldiers in the army. Also "voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars each to drafted men or their substitutes, ten days after being mustered into the service of the United States." December 5, 1863, the town "voted to assume the Government and State bounties, and pay three hundred dollars, in addition to these bounties, to each volunteer who shall enlist to fill the quota allotted to this town under the late call of the President of the United States." March 8, 1864. "Voted to pay the drafted men who were drafted September 2, 1863, the sum of one hundred dollars each in addition to the two hundred already paid HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 275 them." "Voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to men who enlisted in 1861, and who still remain in the ser- vice, they having been allowed no town bounty." June 18, 1864. The town voted to pay all those re- cently drafted a bounty of three hundred dollars or the same amount to such drafted men who had furnished sub- stitutes, and to all who should enlist to fill any quota of the town, three hundred dollars. August 29, 1864. The town by vote offered bounties of eight hundred dollars each to one-year men, nine hun- dred each to two-year men and one thousand each to three- year men, including the state and government bounties, to fill the quota of the town. At the beginning of the war, April 24, 1861, at a meet- ing of the citizens held at the town house the amount of two hundred and twenty-three dollars was subscribed and paid for the purpose of furnishing volunteers, who had en- listed, with necessary outfits, in addition to such as were furnished by the government. On the 29th of October of the same year, at another meeting of the citizens, the Hudson Soldiers' Aid Society was organized, and continued in action and successful oper- ation till the close of the war. The president of this society was Addison Heald; its secretary, Mrs. Nancy B. Merrill; and its treasurer, Mrs. Addison Heald; with an executive committee composed of ten ladies, one from each school district — Mrs. Thomas Gowing, Mrs. Luther Pollard, Mrs. Samuel Morrison, Miss Mary Buttrick, Mrs. Daniel M. Greeley, Mrs. Oliver Hill, Mrs. David Seavey, Mrs. Robert A. Andrews, Mrs. Jack- son E. Greeley and Mrs. James M. Greeley. This society contributed, collected, bought material and manufactured and forwarded, in quantities, to the sol- diers at the front articles of necessity and comfort, such as comfortable clothing, bedding, lint, bandages, dried fruits, comforts for the sick and wounded in the hospitals, and necessaries for the use and convenience of the men in field and camp. 276 HISTORY OF HUDSON These contributions furnished by their friends at home were greatly appreciated by the soldiers, and did much to relieve their sufferings and add to their scanty comforts. The total cash value of all the many consignments for- warded to the front through the untiring zeal of these no- ble women and their associates and helpers, cannot be as- certained, but in the aggregate it was very large, and their worth to the soldiers could not be estimated in dollars and cents. The Beginning of Hostilities Early on the morning of April 12, 1861, the Confed- erate forces, numbering several thousand men, under the command of General Beauregard, opened fire with seven batteries upon Fort Sumter, situated in Charleston harbor, S. C, which was garrisoned with about seventy United States soldiers, commanded by Major Robert Anderson. Late in the afternoon of the 13th Major Anderson ca- pitulated, and Fort Sumter was evacuated. This immedi- ately precipitated the crisis that had long threatened the nation, and made war between the two sections inevitable. Two days later, on April 15, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months service. To New Hampshire was as- signed the furnishing of one regiment. Hudson Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion The names of Hudson soldiers, with the dates of their enlistment or mustering, time of service, and the regiments and companies in which they served, are presented in the following lists: First New Hampshire Regiment This regiment enlisted for three months, and was under the command of Colonel Mason VV. Tappan of Brad- ford, with Aaron F. Stevens of Nashua as Major. It was HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 2Ti mustered in at Concord on the 4th of May, started for Washington on the 25th, and on the expiration of its term of enlistment returned, and was mustered out at Concord, August 9, 1861. This regiment for the most of its term of service was on duty along the Potomac river between Washington and Harper's Ferry. It was engaged in no battle with the en- emy except some minor skirmishes. The Hudson men in the First regiment were: Abel F. Gould. Age 20; enlisted in Company K, May 7, 1861 ; mustered out August 9, 1861 ; re-enlisted in Eighth New Hampshire Regiment. Eben Tuttle. Age 28; enlisted in Company K, May 7, 1861; mustered out August 9, 1861. William L. Walker. Age 21; enlisted in Company E, May 2, 1861; mustered out August 9, 1861; re-enlisted in Seventh New Hampshire Regiment. Third New Hampshire Regiment This regiment, enlisted for three years, August, 1861. Commanded by Colonel Enoch Q. Fellows, of Sandwich, who resigned June 26, 1862, and was succeeded by Colonel John H. Jackson of Portsmouth, who was honorably dis- charged February 24, 1864, to be succeeded by Colonel John Bedel of Bath. This regiment was enlisted under the Act of Congress of July 22, 1861, authorizing the enlistment of five hundred thousand volunteers for three years, and was mustered into the service of the United States, August 26, 1861. It left Concord for Long Island September 3, thence on the 14th to Washing- ton, and from Washington on the following 19th of Octo- ber it was ordered to the seat of war in South Carolina. It was on duty in that state and in Florida till the spring of 1864. Near the last of April, 1864, the regiment was or- dered to Virginia. This regiment was in many battles, some of the most important of which were: 278 HISTORY OF HUDSON James Island, S. C, June 8, 1862; Morris Island, S. C, July 10, 1863; Fort Wagner, S. C, July 18, 1863; Dairy's Bluff, Va., May 13-16, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 9, 1864; Fort Fisher, N. C, January 15, 1865. The Hudson men in the regiment were: George D. Carr. Age 30; Company E; wounded June 16, 1862, at James Island, S. C; died in hands of enemy at Charleston, S. C, June 28, 1864. Peter Hennessey. Age 20; Company E; re-enlisted February 13, 1864; promoted to Corporal July 18, 1864. William F. Millett. Age 24; Company E; Corporal; wounded May 13, 1864; mustered out August 23, 1864. George W. Miller. Age 21; Company F; wounded severely (left arm amputated) at James Island, June 16, 1862; discharged for disability September 13, 1862. Nathan Caldwell. Age 18; Company F; re-enlisted February 22, 1864. Charles A. Wyman. Age 19; Company F; mustered out August 23, 1864. William F. Hardy. Age 22; Company F; mustered out August 23, 1864. Fourth New Hampshire Regiment This regiment was enlisted and organized at Manches- ter, and was mustered in, September, 1861, and left for Washington, D. C, September 27, under command of Col- onel Thomas J. Whipple of Laconia. On the 9th of Octo- ber it left Washington for Annapolis, Md., where it was encamped until October 19, on which date it left Annapolis for Fortress Monroe, where it arrived by the steamer Bal- tic on the 21st. It left Fortress Monroe October 29, and arrived at Port Royal, S. C, November 7, 1861. Here it dis- embarked and went into camp. It was on duty in South Carolina and Florida till April, 1864, when it was ordered to Virginia, and remained in the service in that state and in North Carolina till the close of the war. HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 279 Some of the more important battles in which it fought were the assault on Fort Wagner, July, 1863, the battle of Bermuda Hundred, Va., May, 1864, and that at Fort Fish- er, N. C, January, 1865. The Hudson men in this regiment, enlisted for three years, in Company B, were: Caleb Marshall, discharged for disability, at Beaufort, S. C, March 12, 1863. Charles A. Robinson, discharged for disability, at Beau- fort, S. C, October 20, 1862. Hugh Watts, Corporal, discharged for disability, March 12, 1863. In Company K: Samuel F. Coffin, musician, discharged for disability, February 11, 1863. Israel W. Young, discharged for disability at De Camp Hospital, N. Y., June 4, 1864. Sharp-shooters The United States Sharp-shooters, armed principa ly with Sharp's improved breech-loading rifles, with set trig- gers, were used commonly by detachments to any position of the army where skilled skirmishing, sharp-shooting or strong picket duty was to be done. As skirmishers they had no equals, and their pre-eminence was due to their su- perior weapons, skill and drill. Wherever the picket fire of the enemy became too warm, a detach- ment of Sharp-shooters was sent and rarely failed to stop it. Wherever a hostile battery could be reached by a rifle ball, their heavy guns and sure aim rendered continuous use impossible. Wherever a reconnoissance was to be made, the "green coats" was called upon to clear the way; and wherever an important picket line to be established or re-established, the facility which the Sharp-shooters pos- sessed in loading and firing their breech-loading rifles rendered them the willing recipients of orders to perform the difficult task. Adjutant General's Report, N. H. 1865, Vol. 2. 280 HISTORY OF HUDSON Three companies of sharp-shooters were raised in this state — Company E of the First Regiment, and Companies F and G of the Second Regiment, United States Sharp- shooters. Company G, numbering ninety-five men and their offi- cers, enlisted for three years, was mustered December 10, 1861, and immediately left for Washington. The Sharp- shooters were connected with the Army of the Potomac, and fought in many battles. Some of these battles, in which Companies F and G participated were: Falmouth, May 11, 1862; Rappahannock Station, Au- gust 23, 1862; Gainsville, August 29, 1862; Sulphur Spring, August 25, 1862; Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862; South Mountain, September 14, 1862; Antietam, Septem- ber 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Chan- cellorsville, May 3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863; Wilderness, May 5, 6 and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 3, 4 and 5, 1864; Petersburg, June 16, 17 and 18, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 27, 1864; Deep Bottom, August 15 and 16, 1864. Hudson Men in Company G, Sharp-shooters Harvard P. Smith, Sergeant. Promoted to Second Lieutenant, October 10, 1862; promoted to Captain, No- vember 1, 1862; wounded May 6, 1864; mustered out De- cember 24, 1864. Norris Smith. Promoted to Sergeant; re-enlisted De- cember 21, 1863; wounded May 31, 1864; promoted to First Lieutenant, January 16, 1865; honorably discharged. Dura P. Dow. Promoted to Corporal, January 14, 1863; died of disease February 26, 1863. Charles H. Hopkins. Wounded severely in the arm at Antietam, September 17, 1862; discharged on account of wounds January 7, 1863. Dustin B. Smith. Re-enlisted February 17, 1864; transferred to Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers January 30, 1865; mustered out June 28, 1865. HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 281 Allen Steele. Died of disease at Washington, D. C, January 23, 1862. Job F. Thomas. Wounded slightly at Antietam, Sep- tember 17, 1862; discharged on account of wounds Decem- ber 14, 1863. William Henry Thomas. Discharged for disability February 13, 1863. Henry Taylor. Died at Washington March 6, 1862. Joseph Gardner Winn. Killed at Antietam, Md., Sep- tember 17, 1862. Joseph F. Floyd. Enlisted as a recruit February 12, 1864; killed at the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Charles E. Osgood. Enlisted as a recruit February 25, 1864; wounded May 16, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps January 30, 1865; honorably discharged. Seventh New Hampshire Regiment This regiment was enlisted at Manchester for three years, mustered into the United States service December 14, 1861, and left for Florida, by the way of New York under command of Col. H. F. Putnam of Cornish, January 14, 1862. Colonel Putnam was killed July 18, 1863, and was suc- ceeded in the command by Colonel Joseph C. Abbott of Manchester. The regiment was in the service in Florida and South Carolina till April, 1864, when it was ordered to Virginia. Some of the more important battles in which this reg- iment was engaged were: The assault on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, and Oulstee, Florida, February 20, 1864. It was also engaged in many of the battles near Richmond, Va. In Company B of this regiment were the following Hudson men : Leander H. Cummings. Age 18; promoted to Cor- poral, May 6, 1862; wounded and captured July 18, 1863, at 282 HISTORY OF HUDSON Fort Wagner, S. C; died of wounds July 28, 1863, at Charleston, S. C. Albert Campbell. Age 18; discharged January 7, 1862, by civil authority. William J. Fifield. Age 24; deserted August 6, 1862, at Nashua. Harrison Fifield. Age 44; discharged for disability February 18, 1862, at New York City. William L. Walker. Age 22; re-enlisted from First New Hampshire Regiment October 1, 1861; promoted to Sergeant, August 1, 1864; mustered out December 27, 1864. Otis A. Merrill. Company H; age 18; enlisted Au- gust 15, 1862; promoted to Sergeant, January 26, 1865; discharged June 26, 1865, at Goldsborough, N. C. Award- ed "Gilmore Medal" by Major General Q. A. Gilmore for gallant and meritorious conduct during operations before Charleston, S. C. Andrew J. Berry. Age 21; enlisted. August 21, 1862; killed July 18, 1863, at Fort Wagner, S. C. Eighth New Hampshire Regiment This regiment, also, was enlisted at Manchester for three years, commanded by Hawkes Fearing, and mus- tered in, December 23, 1861. It left for Ship Island, Miss., by way of Boston, Janu- ary 25, 1862, and served in Louisiana and other states bor- dering on the Mississippi river, till the expiration of its term of service. Like some others of the New Hampshire regiments it saw much hard service, and was engaged in the following battles and actions: Georgia Landing, La., October 27, 1862; Fort Bislancl, La., April 12 and 15, 1863; Siege of Port Hudson, La., May 25 to July 8, 1863; Natchitoches, La., March 31, 1864; Piney Woods, La., April 2, 1864; Wilson's Farm, La., April 7, 1864; Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864; HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 283 Cane River, La., April 23, 1864; Monett's Bluff, La., April 24, 1864; Bayou Rapid, La., April 26, 1864; Snaggy Point, La., May 1, 1864; Alexandria (Wilson's Landing,) May 14, 1864; Marksville, May 16, 1864; Bayou De Glaize or Mo- reauville, May 17, 1864: Yellow Bayou, May 18, 1864. The following Hudson men were in this regiment: Levi E. Cross. Company A; age 30; discharged for disability at Carrollton, La., October 27, 1862. Robert Douglass Caldwell. Company A; age 40; mustered out January 18, 1865. Abel F. Gould. Company A; age 21; re-enlisted from First New Hampshire Regiment, September 12, 1861; drowned in Red River, Alexandria, La., May 10, 1862. James Hales. Company D; age 25; deserted No- vember 20, 1864, Natchez, Miss. Charles A. Russell. Company E; age 18; killed Oc- tober 27, 1862, Labadieville, La. John Smith. Company E; age 41; mustered out Oc- tober, 1864. Amos M. Young. Company C; age 18; transferred to Company D, December, 1861; wounded June 14, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.; re-enlisted January 4, 1864, cred. Nashua; transferred to Company A, Veteran Battalion, 8th N. H Volunteers, January 1, 1865; mustered out Oc- tober 28, 1865. John P. Young. Company D; age 19; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps May 1, 1864. Ninth New Hampshire Regiment This regiment was organized at Concord, enlisted for three years, and left for the seat of war, August 25, 1862, under command of Colonel Enoch Q. Fellows of Sandwich. The regiment reached Washington on the evening of the 27th, and the next morning marched across the Long Bridge into Virginia, where it was assigned to the com- mand of General Whipple at Camp Chase. 284 HISTORY OF HUDSON The following are some of the more important battles in which the regiment was engaged: South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862; Antietam, Md , September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1864; Pe- tersburg, Va., June 17 to July 27, 1864; Mine Explosion, Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Three Hudson men were in this regiment: Jesse S. Bean. Company C; Corporal; age 26; wound- ed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; transferred to Company K, 5th Invalid Corps, January 15, 1864; dis- charged July 5, 1865, at Indianapolis, Ind. Thomas P. Conrey. Company C; age 22; captured May 12, 1862, at Spottsylvania, Va.; died August 28, 1862, Andersonville, Ga. Elias L. Foote. Company F; age 18; died of disease October 3, 1862, at Antietam, Md. Tenth New Hampshire Regiment This regiment, enlisted for three years, and composed mostly of men of Irish birth or descent, was organized at Manchester, mustered in, September 5, 1862, and left for the front on the 22d, under command of Colonel Michael T. Donahoe of Manchester. The Tenth took part in the battle of Fredericksburg in December, 1862. During 1863 the regiment was serv- ing in the neighborhood of Norfolk. In 1864 it joined the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Cold Harbor. The most of its service was with the Army of the James. The Hudson men in this regiment were: Charles H. Kershaw. Corporal, Company B; desert- ed October 29, 1862. William H. Durant. Company B; discharged for dis- ability May 20, 1863; enlisted in the Invalid Corps, Sep- tember 2, 1864; mustered out November 15, 1865. HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 285 John D. Farnum. Company B; transferred to Veter- an Reserve Corps, August 15, 1863. Joseph French. Company B; mustered out June 21, 1865. Francis Tetro. Company B; mustered out June 21, 1865. Robert French. Company C; mustered out June 20, 1865. Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment On the tenth day of August, 1862, the Governor of New Hampshire gave permission and issued recruiting pa- pers to raise and officer a regiment in Belknap and Carroll Counties, provided it could be done in ten days. On the sixteenth day of August the Adjutant General of the State was notified that ten full companies had been organized and were ready to be mustered into the United States service, which was done respectively as follows: Company A, August 30; Company B, August 30; Company C, September 5; Company D, September 5; Company E, September 5; Company F, September 5; (Company F raised in Merrimack County.) Company G, September 9; Company H, September 9; Company I, Sep- tember 9; Company K, September 10. Joseph H. Potter, an officer of the regular army, with the rank of Captain, was appointed Colonel. John F. Marsh, a native of Hudson, who had had ex- perience under Colonel Franklin Pierce in the Mexican war in 1847, was Lieutenant Colonel, and George D. Savage, Major. The twelfth regiment was encamped for drill at Con- cord, N. H. It was mustered as a regiment September 26, 1862, and left for Washington, D. C, the next day, arriving at Camp Chase September 30, where it was joined to Col- onel Wright's Division of General Casey's command of the Reserve Army Corps Defences of Washington. 286 HISTORY OF HUDSON This regiment participated in many hard fought bat- tles. We find the following record in relation to John F. Marsh: "Marsh, John F. F. & S; "Born in Hudson; age 34; Res. Hudson, Appointment Lt. Colonel, Sept. 17, 1862; Mustered in Sept. 17, 1862; Wd. May 3, 1863, Chancellorville, Va. Disc. Feb. 5, 1864, to date Jan. 26, 1864, to accept appt. in V. R. C. "Enlisted June 10, 1861, as private Co. B. 6th Wiscon- sin Inf. (While in Hastings Minn.) Not mustered as pri- vate, Appt. Lieut. June 19, 1861. Appt. Capt. Co. D. Oct. 30, 1861; to date Oct. 25, 1861; Wd. Aug. 28, 1862, Gaines- ville; Disc. September 13, 1862; to acct. appt. as Lt. Col. 12 N. H. Vol.; Brevt. Col. U. S. V. to date Mar. 13, 1865; for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Chan- cellorsville, Va. "Veteran Reserve Corps "Marsh, John F. F. and S. 24 Inf; b Hudson, age 35, res. Hudson; App. Lt. Col. Jan. 22, 1864; accepted Jan. 27. 1864; resigned Aug. 17, 1865." Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment The thirteenth regiment, enlisted for three years, left Concord October 6, 1862, under command of Colonel Aaron Fletcher Stevens of Nashua. George Bowers of Nashua was Lieutenant-Colonel. The regiment reached Washing- ton on the evening of the eighth, and on the ninth crossed the Long bridge to Camp Chase on the Virginia side of the Potomac. It served all its time in Virginia, excepting a few days' march through Maryland. This regiment had a very honorable record. The Ad- jutant General's Report for 1865, Vol. 2, page 339, says of it: It is but justice to the regiment to say that no officer of the command has ever been cashiered or dismissed the service ; that one half or more HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 287 of its officers are kept on detached service in various capacities in the army, while the general intelligence and honesty of its men, have won for the regiment, a character for trustworthiness, efficiency and integrity in the discharge of their duties, second to none in the service. It has cap- tured five pieces of artillery in one charge, and with its division taken six- teen pieces more, has captured three battle flags; and taken more prison- ers from the enemy than the number of its own ranks; and has never been driven from the field, or from its position by the enemy. Some of the more important battles in which it fought are the following: Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Siege of Suffolk, April and May, 1863; Walthall Road, May 7, 1864; Swift Creek, May 9 and 10, 1864; Kingsland Creek, May 12 and 13, 1864; Drury's Bluff, May 14 and 16, 1864; Cold Har- bor, June 1 and 3, 1864; Battery 5, Petersburg, June 15, 1864; Battery Harrison, September 29 and 30, 1864. In Company I of this regiment eighteen Hudson men enlisted September 20, whose names are given below: James M. Greeley, Sergeant. Age 41; discharged for disability at Washington, D. C, February 25,1863; en- listed in Heavy Artillery, September 6, 1864. Nathan M. Blodgett, Corporal. Age 24; discharged by order at Portsmouth, Va., November 30, 1863. Reuben Cummings, musician. Age 32; mustered out June 21, 1865. Alden M. Jones, musician. Age 42; mustered out June 21, 1865. George W. Batchelder. Age 20; captured October 27, 1864; died of disease at Salisbury, N. C, February 12, 1865. Henry Butler. Age 35; wounded December 13, 1862; promoted to Corporal April 1, 1863; mustered out June 21, 1865. Bradford Campbell. Age 18; mustered out June 21, 1865. Henry T. Colburn. Age 26; discharged for disability at Concord, N. H., July 20, 1863. Gilman F. Chase. Age 27; transferred to Company C, September 25, 1862; transferred to brigade band Janu- ary 25, 1863; mustered out June 21, 1865. 288 HISTORY OF HUDSON Rufus M. Fletcher Age 25; mustered out June 21, 1865. Lorenzo Fuller. Agel8; mustered out June 17, 1865. Frederick F. Hickox. Age 38; mustered out May 12, 1865. Napoleon E. Jones. Age 18; mustered out June 21, 1865. William B. Lewis. Age 25; promoted to Corporal April 1, 1863; wounded slightly May 16, 1864; promoted to Sergeant June 7, 1864; mustered out June 21, 1865. Jacob Marshall. Age 19; died of disease at Ports- mouth, Va., August 21, 1863. Otis R. Marsh. Age 30; wounded severely October 27, 1864; discharged by order May 28, 1865. Andrew J. Smith. Age 32; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 26, 1864. James G. Smith. Age 20; died of disease at Ports- mouth, Va., October 3, 1863. First Regiment New Hampshire Heavy Artillery Company F of this regiment was recruited in Nashua by its Captain, Daniel J. Flanders, mustered in, September 6, 1864, and soon after left the state for Washington, where, after its arrival, it was organized with eleven other Com- panies, into a regiment, under command of Colonel Charles H. Long of Claremont. During the fall and winter this regiment was engaged in ganison duty not far from Washington, and was mus- tered out June 15, 1865. In Company F of this regiment were the following sixteen residents of Hudson: Samuel M. Walker, Corporal. James McCoy, Corporal; reduced to ranks June 1, 1865. George W. Berry; appointed musician, December 16, 1864. Lucius T. Buker, James M. Greeley, James S. Blodgett, Horace J. Hamblet, HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 289 Albert A. Campbell, James N. Corliss, Austin T. Merrill, George S. McCoy, John W. Fletcher, Frederick F. Smith, Frank J. Fuller, Willard O. Winn, Samuel A. Greeley. The following is a list of other Hudson men who en- listed into the United States' service during the war: John H. Phillips. Enlisted for three years in Troop M, First New England Cavalry; mustered in, September 15, 1862; transferred to Invalid Corps, September, 1863; discharged for disability January 27, 1864. Wanen Smith. Enlisted in Troop A, First Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry; mustered in, March 24, 1864; promoted to Corporal May 1, 1864; wounded severely Au- gust 25, 1864, and died of wounds soon after. Jonathan Burbank. Enlisted for nine months in Com- pany E, Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment; mustered in, October 9, 1862; mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., Au- gust 13, 1863; sick at Memphis and died soon after. The following Hudson men enlisted in Company F, Eighteenth New Hampshire Regiment for one year; mus- tered in, September 28, 1864. Levi E. Cross, Corporal. Mustered out June 10, 1865. Cyrus Cross. Mustered out June 10, 1865. These men from Hudson enlisted into the United States' Navy: James H. Shaw. Enlisted in the navy April 19, 1861, and was honorably discharged April 19, 1865. Thomas M. Senter. Enlisted for two years June, 1862; re-enlisted for two years February 27, 1865. George E. Senter. Enlisted as an Acting Master's Mate June, 1862; resigned June, 1863. Joseph W. Wallace, Michael Harney and Samuel L. Beverly, enlisted in the navy, but the dates of their enlist- ment are unknown. Names of Hudson men who enlisted in Massachusetts regiments: 290 HISTORY OF HUDSON Almon S. Senter. Enlisted in Sixth Massachusetts Regiment for nine months; afterwards in Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and served through the war. Aaron B. Frost. Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment. Jamison Greeley. Company M, Fourteenth Massa- chusetts Regiment. Samuel M. Walker. Company C, Sixteenth Massa- chusetts Regiment. William Livingston. Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Reg- iment. Henry H. Ford. Third Massachusetts Regiment, Heavy Artillery, November 7, 1863; discharged 1865. Names of men enlisted in unknown Massachusetts regiments: George McQueston, Alexis Baker, Henry H. Dane, Patrick Bradley, James O. Dane. Myron W. Harris and Henry Harris, two brothers, enlisted in an unknown Maine regiment. Names of Hudson men drafted in 1863, who furnished substitutes: Augustus F. Blodgett, Obadiah F. Smith, Nehemiah H. Gage, Ira Templeton, E. Wesley Hill, Willard O. Winn, John B. Marshall. In 1864: Charles H. Grant, Arus H. McCoy, Edwin S. Gowing, Lucius F. Robinson, Benjamin H. Kidder, John C. Smith. List of Hudson men not drafted, who furnished sub- stitutes: David Clement, Jr., Alphonso Robinson, Daniel M. Greeley, David O. Smith, Franklin A. Hill, Charles Steele, Emery Parker, Kimball Webster, Augustus F. Morrison, Willard H. Webster, Alfred C. Ripley. HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 291 The names of these twenty-four substitutes, together with thirteen other recruits furnished by the town, all be- ing non-residents, and principally aliens, are omitted. In making up the foregoing lists of soldiers, it has been the purpose of the compiler to give the names of those, and those only, who were residents of this town, a few of which are credited to other towns. It has also been our endeavor to make the lists perfect and complete, so as to include the names of all the resi- dents of Hudson who served in the army or navy of the United States in any capacity during the war; yet it is pos- sible that omissions may have occurred in instances of men enlisting in other states or in the navy; but if there are any such, it is believed that they are very few in number. At the close of the war this town was credited at the Adjutant General's office with twelve more men than its full quota under all the calls for soldiers, and it was claimed that twenty-one more men than its quota had been fur- nished, after allowing all due credits to other towns. The entire number of enlistments credited to Hudson by the Adjutant General was one hundred and twenty-five. The amount of bounties paid by the town, a portion of which was afterwards reimbursed by the State and United States, was thirty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty- five dollars. ($3*6,725.) The whole number of different men enlisted, as shown by the foregoing lists was 106 Of this number one was discharged by civil authority 1 Number of men in the service 105 Re-enlisted 9 Wounded 13 Taken prisoners 4 Transferred to Veteran Invalid Corps . . 6 Killed 4 Died of wounds 3 Died of disease 9 292 HISTORY OF HUDSON Drowned 1 Discharged for disability 15 Officers 2 Deserted 3 Honorably discharged at end of service .... 68 105 Mexican War In the war between the United States and Mexico, in 1847, Hudson furnished at least one soldier. He was John F. Marsh, born here February 1, 1828, who served several months in the Ninth Regiment of the United States Army, otherwise known as the New England Regiment, command- ed by Col. Franklin Pierce under Gen. Winfield Scott. Spanish-American War Hudson also furnished one soldier for this war, in 1898, James G. Wentworth, who served through the war and re- ceived an honorable discharge. CHAPTER XXIV Tax Lists and Homesteads, 1793 Invoice of 1793 In 1793, the selectmen made and recorded a much more elaborate and detailed invoice than had been cus- tomary. This showed the number of polls, horses, oxen, cows, three-year olds, two-year olds, yearlings, acres of or- chard, tillage and mowing, pasture and wild land and build- ings, taxable to each resident of the town. These items were grouped into the North and the South ends — one hundred and eleven tax-payers in the South end, and one hundred and twenty-two in the north end, or two hundred and thirty-three in all, including fifteen or more non-residents. The summary was as follows: Polls, 204; horses, 66; oxen, 192; cows, 315; three- year olds, 142; two-year olds, 134; yearlings, 149. Acres of orchard, 72; acres of tillage and mowing, 963; acres of pasture, 544; acres of wild land and buildings, 4,739; total, 6,318. The returns on the area of lands were not very exact, as the whole number of acres accounted for by the select- men was but a little more than one-third of the actual num- ber of acres in the town at that date, as well as at present. The number of acres returned was six thousand, three hundred and eighteen, when as a fact there were more than seventeen thousand acres of land in Nottingham West in 1793. The selectmen of that year were Asa Davis, Samuel Marsh and Phineas Underwood. 293 294 HISTORY OF HUDSON Tax List, 1793 South End Invoice: Samuel Wason, Asa Davis, James Caldwell, Lt. Thomas Wason, David Cummings, Elijah Fletcher, Robert Stewart, Joseph Gould, Andrew Seavey, Theodore Merrill, Moses Johnson, Jr. 7 Dea. Isaac Merrill Abel Merrill, Frenton Hauck, Farwell Parker, John Butler, Jr., Jonas Hardy, Benjamin Chase, Joseph Winn, Capt. William Burns, Stephen Chase, John Chase, Benjamin Marshall, John Ditson, Joseph B. Wilson, Ebenezer Burbank, John Caldwell, Samuel S. Haywood, Mansfield Huey, Jonathan Tenney, Elnathan Searles, Lt. Alexander Caldwell, Eliphalet Hadley, Moses Wason, Joseph Caldwell, James Wason, Capt. David Cummings, Thomas Hamblet, Benjamin Merrill, Col. James Ford, Jonathan Gould, John Merrill, Moses Johnson, Robinson Brown, George Burns, Friend Moody, Zaccheus Colburn, Dea. Samuel French, Asa Wyman, Joshua Chase, Phineas Underwood, Joseph Winn, Jr., James Pemberton, Ephraim C. Chase, Ens. Isaac Colburn, Lt. John Pollard, Jonathan Burbank, Thomas Pollard, Jonathan Hardy, John Caldwell, Jr., Waldo Haywood, Robert Glover, David Campbell, Dr. George Wood, Samuel Caldwell, Enos Hadley, TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 295 Wid. Sarah Winslow Heirs, Col. John Tyng, Lt. Jacob Fletcher, John Col burn, James Sherburn, James Gibson, Esq., Dea. Barnabas Gibson, John At wood, Henry Marshall, Nathan Winn, Samuel Brown, William Gibson, Parrot Hadley, Stephen Hadley, Timothy Smith, Jonathan Blodgett, Wilder Greeley, Samuel Hamblet, Joseph Blodgett, Jr., Lt. Ashael Blodgett, Ebenezer Pollard, Lt. Samuel Pollard, Joseph North End Invoice: Seth Wyman, Capt. John Haseltine, Andrew Seaton, John Smith, Jr., Wid. Mary Duty, Samuel G. Smith, Abraham Smith, Ens. David Lawrence, Philip Marshall, Isaac Page, Wid. Eleanor Eastman, Joseph Steele, Dudley Tyng, Esq., Mark Gould, Lot Spalding, John Wilson, Lt. Joseph Butterfield, Lt. Abial Colburn, Joshua Hamblet, Phineas W. Blodgett, Capt. Joseph Kelley, Richard Cutter, William Pease, Zachariah Hardy, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., Robert Douglass, William Smith, Jabez Blodgett, Capt. Joseph Greeley, Joseph Blodgett, Jeremiah Blodgett, Baniah Blodgett, Ebenezer Pollard, Jr., Asa Pollard, Caldwell. Seth Wyman, Jr., John Ayer, Samuel Smith, Mansfield Smith, Lt. Thomas Smith, John Smith, James Smith, Jonathan Lawrence, Philip Marshall, Jr., Seth Page, William Graham, William Steele, 296 HISTORY OF HUDSON Ezra Burbank, Capt. David Peabody, Lt. Benjamin Kidder, Joseph Hobbs, Peter Robinson, William Burroughs, Hugh Smith, Jr., John Hale, Dea. Samson Kidder, Elijah Marshall, James Melvin, Wid. Rebecca Barrett, Lt. Isaac Barrett, David Tarbell, Dea. Thomas Marsh, Moses Hadley, Nathaniel Hale, Capt. Peter Cross, Dea. EbenezerCummings, Lt. Reuben Spalding, John Gilson, Ebenezer Marsh, William Marsh, John Lewis, Samuel Hills, Philip Hills, Enoch Foote, Thomas Hills, Levi Cross, James Hills, Daniel Marshall, William Hills, Nathaniel Hills, Samuel Hills, Jr., Capt.Ezekiel Greeley,Heirs, Levi Andrews, Moses Greeley, Simeon Robinson, Jonathan Butterfield, Samson Kidder, Jr., Josiah Merrill, David Peabody, Hugh Smith, Cofran Patten, Thomas Hale, Ens. Nathaniel Marshall, Wid. Ruth Marshall, David Glover, Joel Barrett, Capt. Simeon Barrett, Amos Davis, Jonathan Marsh, Eleazer Cummings, Thomas Searles, Peter Cross, Jr., John Cummings, Lt. Reuben Spalding, Jr. Samuel Marsh, Esq., Joshua Pierce, Richard Marshall, John Peteres, Samuel Marsh, Jr., Ebenezer Hills, Ens. Elijah Hills, Wid. Hannah Hills, Jeremiah Hills, David Hills, Isaac Marshall, John Goodspeed, Nathaniel Hills, Jr., Wid. Esther Greeley, Noah Greeley, Thomas Andrews, Joel Andrews, TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1793 297 Aaron Hood, Thomas Senter, John Robinson, Zaccheus Greeley, Wid. Mehitable Tarbox, Reuben Sargent, Wid. Sarah Tarbox, Aaron Tarbox, Lot Marshall, John Marshall, Henry Hale, Henry Merrill, Paul Tenney, Jonathan Lund, Page Smith, Capt. Abraham Page, Nathaniel Haselton, Amos Wyman, Ebenezer Richardson, Samuel Richardson, Gideon Butler, James Corliss, John Davidson, George Davidson. North End names, 122; South End names, 111; total, 233. At the South End there were certainly thirteen non- residents. At the North End probably two non-residents, and possibly a few others at each section. Family Sketches and Homesteads From the preceding lists, with such other knowledge as the writer has of the localities and the ancient abodes of the early inhabitants of this town, it is possible at the date of this writing, 1912, to fix approximately the locations where many of the leading citizens and tax-payers of Not- tingham West had their farms and dwellings one hundred and nineteen years ago. By dint of extensive study and lengthy and exhaustive research many facts and data concerning these early fam- ilies have been gathered, some of which will now be given in the following items, in the hope that they may prove of interest to their descendants. Of course this information cannot, in all cases, be defi- nite and exact, but it is believed that it at least approxi- mates correctness. The North End will be taken first, but not alphabeti- cally. 298 HISTORY OF HUDSON North End Settlers Wyman, Seth and Seth, Jr., lived near Pelham line at the Captain Henry Butler place, or at the next house north, where a cellar may be now seen. Haseltine, Captain John, lived on what was afterwards the Jeremiah Smith farm, now the Charles Stowell Smith place, near Pelham line, and on the road to North Pelham. Lawrence, Ensign David, lived at or near Lawrence Corner. Lawrence, Jonathan, is supposed to have been a broth- er of David and to have lived on the Nashua road from Lawrence Corner, on what was later known as the "Devil Jim" Smith farm, and for many years the Eaton place. Steele, William, lived on the old Steele farm in the north-east part of the town, which is now occupied by Os- wald P. Baker. Steele, Joseph, lived near his brother William, a little north. Robinson, Simeon, first resided at the north-east cor- ner of the town, and when a portion of Londonderry was annexed to it in 1778, the north-east corner was about four rods from his house. He later lived on the Howe road, and in 1793 it is believed that he resided at the place now occupied by Alphonzo and John A. Robinson. Peabody, Captain David, probably lived on what was afterwards the Cummings place, west of the Robinson farm. An old cellar some eighty rods north of the present buildings marks the spot where the Peabody house is said to have stood. Kidder, Lieutenant Benjamin, is understood to have resided on what was later the Charles Wood place at the corner of the old Tiger road, which was laid out in 1793. TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, I973 299 "Beginning at the road that leads from Left. Benja- min Kidder's to Capt. David Peabody's at a Black oak tree near said Kidder's house." Kidder, Samson, Jr., probably lived on the farm later owned by Deacon Benjamin Kidder and Benjamin H. Kid- der. His father was probably Lieut. Benjamin. Deacon Samson Kidder, who lived in town, may have been a broth- er to Lieut. Benjamin, possibly the father of Samson Jr. Hobbs, Joseph, lived next house easterly from the Samson Kidder place on the Londonderry road. A cellar is still visible south of the road. Merrill, Josiah, probably lived on the place long owned by Wood, easterly of the Hobbs farm. Robinson, Peter, lived on the same road near London- derry line, possibly on the old Simeon Robinson place near Londonderry corner. He may have been Simeon's son. Burroughs, William, lived near the old Tiger road laid out April 3, 1793. The place is now grown up to wood. The cellar is visible near the old road. Hale, John, lived on the Blanchard farm, on the hill north-easterly from the Center, and north of the old road. His wife was the daughter of Nathaniel Hills, and was born in the Hills' garrison. Kidder, Deacon Samson, possibly lived on the farm now owned and occupied by Clifton E. Buttrick. The house may have been on the old road north of the present Buttrick house. Marshall, Ensign Nathaniel, lived on Barrett's hill, at what is at present the B. F. Willoughby farm. Marshall, Elijah, lived, it is almost certain, on Barrett's hill at the present Melvin place, adjoining the last farm mentioned. See laying out of the Tiger road, April, 1793. Marshall, Widow Ruth, lived at the same place as Elijah. 300 HISTORY OF HUDSON Melvin, James, lived to the north-east of the present Melvin farm, where, not many years since, stood a stone chimney. This was towards the pond some distance to the east of the old Tiger road. Glover, David, probably lived on Barrett's hill, but it is not quite certain just where; if not, it was a little north. Somewhat later the Glovers owned a small tract on the north side of the road, which later became the James Mel- vin place. Barrett, Widow Rebecca, who was the wife of James Barrett, lived on Barrett's hill near where the Hiram Cross, or the Arden C. Cross, place now is. Barrett, Joel, probably lived north of Barrett's hill on the old Tiger road, at what was later the Cross, and later still the Blanchard, place, but it is not certainly known just where. Barrett, Lieutenant Isaac, lived on Barrett's hill, on the Robert A. Andrews homestead. Barrett, Captain Simeon, also had his home on Bar- rett's hill near where William A. Andrews now resides. Tarbell, David, lived on the north-west side of Bar- rett's hill road, a little east of its junction with the Hiram, or Walter H. Marsh road, where the ancient cellar may still be seen. The ancient Londonderry corner, previous to the annexation of 1778, was on this David Tarbell farm, some fifty or sixty rods north-east of the buildings. Davis, Amos, son of Nathaniel, was born in this town June 8, 1769. His father, Nathaniel, lived at an earlier date not far from Kelley's Ferry, or Taylor's Falls bridge. The ancient cellar is still visible on the triangular piece of land between the Derry road, Library street and Ferry street. Later he lived at what was more recently the John M. Thompson farm. Here, also, Amos lived in 1793. This farm adjoined the Deacon Thomas Marsh place. TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1793 301 Marsh, Deacon Thomas, was the son of John, Sr., and brother of John and Samuel. He settled first near a sand hill on land later owned by his grandson, Enoch S. Marsh. Not very far from this place, and south of the brook, there is another ancient cellar. The family removed to a spot south of the Hiram Marsh house, where Walter H. Marsh has lately built a cottage. It is not probable that Thomas Marsh ever resided in the house south of the brook. Marsh, Jonathan, son of Deacon Thomas, seems to have resided with his father in 1793, all the real estate being assessed to him, while his father was assessed for two cows only. Hadley, Moses, owned a grist mill — and perhaps a saw mill — near the outlet of Otternick pond. The cellar where he lived was north of the road, on the crest of a hill west of the brook, at the old Messer place, as it was later called, and where John Cutter afterwards resided. Later on he had a mill near where Melendy's box shop has been for several years past, which was situated on the same brook, but lower down. Cummings, Eleazer, son of Eleazer, was born June 16, 1765. Eleazer, Senior, bought ninety acres of the south end of the Joseph Hills farm August 1, 1728. He made a settlement not very long after. He erected a house on the higher ground about twenty rods north of the present house of the writer, Kimball Webster. Here Eleazer, Jr., lived in 1793. This house was torn down in 1847. Hale, Nathaniel, was the twin brother of Sarah, wife of Eleazer Cummings. He probably worked for Mr. Cum- mings. He was born April 20, 1767. He was assessed for no real estate. Searles, Thomas, was the son of Jonathan, born Au- gust 28, 1754. He was assessed for no real estate, and had no permanent home at the south end. 302 HISTORY OF HUDSON Cross, Captain Peter, was the son of Nathan and was born September 28, 1729. April 22, 1724, Nathan bought forty-five acres of land next south of what afterwards be- came the Deacon William Cummings place, with the island at the mouth of Nashua river and two pieces of meadow. He settled on it not very long after. Cross, Peter, Jr. There were probably two houses on the Cross farm. Captain Peter and Peter, Jr., were each assessed for one-half of the real estate. Their houses were situated a little to the south-west of the Catholic cemetery. Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, was the son of Deacon William, who settled on the farm next south of the Spald- ing place and next north of the Cross place. Ebenezer lived on this same place. The house stood on the east side of the Derry road, a little west of Lucien M. Tolles' barn. There was also another house west of the Derry road, nearly opposite this, but a little more south. Cummings, John, son of Ebenezer, born November 21, 1771, was assessed for a poll tax only. Spalding, Lt. Reuben, born in July, 1728, was the son of Ebenezer. He lived on the west side of Derry road, where Charles W. Spalding now resides. This was the old Spalding farm, which was first settled by John Taylor, who had a garrison here, and which afterwards came into the possession of John Marshall. Lieutenant Reuben was the father of Reuben, Jr., who owned one-half of the farm. Reuben, Jr., died November 20, 1798. Marsh, Samuel, Esq., was the son of John, an early settler. He was born about 1733, and resided on the old Marsh farm next south of the Joshua Pierce place, which seems to have been owned by John Marsh as early as 1743 # By his second wife, Sarah Poole, Samuel Marsh had a son, Fitch Poole Marsh, who later owned the north part of the same farm. TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 303 Pierce, Joshua, lived on the old Pierce farm, next north of the Marsh place above noted. This was early owned by Edward Spalding, and was a part of the original Joseph Hills farm. He died September 25, 1857, aged one hun- dred and one years. The farm was later owned by his son, James Pierce, Esq., and later still by Abram Ferryall. Marshall, Richard, owned a farm adjoining Joshua Pierce on the north. The house stood on the west side of the road. This land was purchased of Josiah Cummings, October 13, 1784, and sold to Joshua Pierce, November 1, 1802, after which it formed the north part of the Pierce farm. Lewis, John, appears to have lived on the farm next north of the Richard Marshall place, on the old Nathaniel Hills garrison farm where the Hills brothers first settled. This place was subsequently owned by Clifton M. Hills, and now, 1912, by J. H. LeGallee. Lewis was first as- sessed here in 1791, and probably died in 1796 or 1797, as in the latter year the property was assessed to his heirs. Hills, Samuel, was the son of Nathaniel, Sr., and was born in Hills garrison, September 2, 1725. He was as- sessed in 1746, and probably died about 1799, as the estate in 1799 was assessed to the "Heirs of Samuel Hills," and in 1802 to the Widow Sarah Hills. He lived next north of the Hills garrison farm, on a place later owned by Oliver Sptake and Tyler Thomas. Hills, Thomas, was the son of Ezekiel and Hannah, born March 30, 1751. He was the father of Amos, and in 1793 probably lived on the farm with his mother, Hannah, either in the same house or on the opposite side of the road, at the Amos Hills place — "Hills Row." Hills, Hannah, was the widow of Ezekiel, grandfather of Amos, who died May 14, 1790, aged 72 years and 11 months. Hannah died September 27, 1816, aged 97 years. 304 HISTORY OF HUDSON She lived on Amos Hills' place on the north side of the Derry road — "Hills Row" — a little west of a small brook. Cross, Levi, was a non-resident. He lived a little north of the town line in the edge of Litchfield, on what was afterwards the Colonel Cross farm and later the Aaron Cutler place. Hills, Jeremiah, son of James and Abigail, was born March 1, 1727. He was the grandfather of Colonel Wil- liam, and the great-grandfather of Granville Hills. He lived on the Granville Hills place, and died April 4, 1810. This place is now owned by Charles W. Hill. Hills, James, the son of Jeremiah, was born August B, 1765, and lived on the farm with his father. Hills, David, also a son of Jeremiah, was born July 15, 1770. He was probably living with his father in 1793. Marshall, Daniel, lived not far from the Litchfield line near where John B. Marshall resided, until his house was burned. He is supposed to have been a descendant of John Marshall, an early settler in town, and may have been his son. He must have been seventy years, or more, old in 1795, since he paid no poll tax in that year. Marshall, Isaac, was probably the son of Daniel, and born January 26, 1771. He lived on the same farm as his father, but possibly not in the same house, as there may have been two houses on the place. Hills, William, the son of Henry, and grandson of Henry, was born March 3, 1751. He married Sarah Smith, and resided on the farm that had been his father's, and probably his grandfather's. Later this place belonged to Stephen D. Greeley, and is now the Dooley farm. He moved to Antrim, N. H., in 1810. Hills, Samuel, Jr., was the son of Nathaniel who was the son of Nathaniel, and was called Junior for the reason that he had an uncle Samuel Hills living on the Litchfield TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 305 road. He lived on the farm later belonging to his son, Abijah, and afterwards to Franklin Augustus Hills. Greeley, Widow Esther, who had been the wife of Ezekiel, probably lived on the south side of the Derry road, nearly opposite the No. 9 school house, where the old cel- lar may still be seen. If that is not the exact spot it was near there. Greeley, Noah, son of Ezekiel and Esther, lived with his mother in 1793. Andrews, Levi, lived on the north side of the Derry road between the Jackson E. Greeley place and the No. 9 school house. The old cellar is still visible there. Andrews, Thomas, son of Levi, was born May 2, 1771, and lived with his father in 1793. Greeley, Moses, built the Jackson E. Greeley house, previous to which time the exact location of his residence is uncertain. He resided in this house until his death on August 15, 1848, at the age of eighty-four years. He lived very near the same place in 1793. Hale, Henry, son of Deacon Henry, was born May 21, 1740. He lived on a portion of the land that had been his father's near the Center, the exact location of which is not known. Merrill, Henry, son of Daniel and Mary (Hale) Mer- rill, was born July 17, 1763. He lived at the Center on the farm that formerly belonged to his grandfather, Deacon Henry Hale, afterwards to Reuben Greeley, Esq., and now, 1912, to John Wentworth. Tenney, Dr. Paul, who came into this town to reside, seems to have been a man of ability and a physician of skill. He lived at Hudson Center, on the south side of the Pelham road, at what was later Tenney's Tavern, and after- wards the Dr. James Emery homestead — now owned by Henry C. Brown. 306 HISTORY OF HUDSON Smith, Page, son of Samuel and Hannah, was born February 28, 1750. He married Lydia Haselton, and lived eighty rods south-east from Hudson Center, on the top of a hill, and at the south side of the Pelham road, where his son Jefferson lived later. Page, Captain Abraham, resided at several places in town at earlier dates, but in 1793 he lived at what has been for many years the Haselton farm. In 1793 he was about seventy-seven years old. At that date there seems to have been two houses on the place. Haselton, Nathaniel, lived in 1793, on the farm later owned by his son, Luther, and later by his grandson, George W., and now by his great-grandson, Arthur W. Haselton. Abraham Page owned this place before him. The old Haselton house stood a short distance south of the present one, where its old cellar may be seen. Butler, Gideon, lived easterly of the Haselton road on a road, now discontinued, but formerly running from the Haselton place easterly over Corliss hill, and south-westerly to the Bush hill road west of Chase hill. Beside this old road the ancient house cellar may still be seen. Corliss, James, resided at the easterly foot of Corliss hill, on the North Pelham road from Hudson Center. Smith, Samuel, the father of Henry, and the grand- father of Dustin B. Smith, resided near where Henry lived — now the home of Henry F. Smith. Smith, Mansfield, son of Samuel and Jeanette, was born January 17, 1779. He lived near his father. Duty, Widow Mary, lived on the Duty place at Bush hill, on the old road leading easterly from the Bush hill road to the place formerly belonging to J B. Smith. Marsh, Ebenezer, son of Samuel, Senior, was born January 13, 1767. He resided at his father's old home- TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 307 stead on the Litchfield road, the farm now belonging to Josiah K. Wheeler heirs. Hills, Philip, son of Oliver and Abigail, was born March 2, 1754. He seems to have lived at Hills' Ferry, where a ferry across the Merrimack was operated for many years — first by Nathaniel Hills and later by his descend- ants. This was near the Litchfield road. The place was owned by the Hills until a few years since, when, as the estate of George E. Hill, it was sold to J. W. Howard. Hills, Ebenezer, son of Oliver and Abigail, was born December 25, 1767. He resided a short distance from Hills' Ferry, on the farm that later was the home of Os- good Hill. Hills, Ensign Elijah, son of James and Abigail, was born March 15, 1738. He lived on the north side of the Derry road, two and one-half miles from Taylor's Falls bridge, and on a farm later occupied by his grandson, Al- den Hills. The place is now known as the Alverne farm, owned and occupied by Dr. Alfred K. Hills. Senter, Thomas, lived on the Derry road. Just where his house stood is not known to a certainty, but it was not far from the small Senter burial ground at Potash Corner, and probably was where the Jeremiah Heath house is now located. He was a deacon of the church. His death oc- curred December 25, 1834. South End Kelley, Captain Joseph, at one time owned the ferry near where Taylor's Falls bridge now is, and lived in a house about thirty rods east of the bridge, at the present junction of Campbell avenue and Main street. He re- sided here and operated the ferry for many years, but lived at several other places in town at different times, and pos- sibly may have lived a little further south in 1793. 308 H1STOKV OF HUDSON Cutter, Richard, came here from Menotomy, now Cambridge. He settled on the south bank of Otternick brook, half a mile east of Taylor's Falls bridge, and nearly south of the George W. Marshall house. For his second wife he married, April 6, 1789, Ruth (Hadley) Merrill, daughter of Parrot Hadley. She afterwards married Aaron Hamblet. Douglass, Robert, lived on a farm situated on the north side of the road leading from the town pound to Bush hill. This farm later belonged to James McCoy, and now, 1912, to John Lenahan. Smith, Timothy, lived on the place afterwards known as the "Jim" Barrett place, near the brook, and near where Pollard's, later Winn's, mills were located. He was a prominent citizen of this town for many years. Smith, William, was the son of Timothy, and lived on the homestead with his father. They were each assessed for an equal amount of land of each grade. At one time there were two houses on the place, one of them just north of the present one. Greeley, Wilder, son of Ezekiel and Esther, and broth- er of Sarah, wife of Joseph, was born February 19, 1771. When he was twenty-two years of age his son, Moody, was born, October 7, 1793. At this time he was living near his brother-in-law, Joseph. Greeley, Captain Joseph, was born September 29, 1756, and died May 13, 1840. He lived on the farm for- merly owned by his father, later by his son Samuel, and now by his grandson, Samuel A. Greeley, the son of Sam- uel. This farm was situated on the Lowell road, a little more than two miles south of the bridge, and was the old Greeley place first settled by Samuel, Senior. Wason, Samuel, lived a short distance west of the Wason road, as it is called, on the north side of Bush hill. TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 309 The old cellar is still to be seen there, on the land of Henry Davis. Wason, Moses, son of Samuel, was born November 9, 1771, and lived with his father. He paid a poll tax only. Davis, Asa, Esq., occupied and owned a farm which later came into the possession of his son, Daniel T. Davis, later still was owned by his son-in-law, Samuel Morrison, and now belongs to his grandson, Augustus F. Morrison. This farm lies on the northerly slope of Bush hill, on the Pelham road, and near what was No. 3 school house. Pre- vious to Davis' time it was the property of a Caldwell. Caldwell, Joseph, probably lived on the north slope of Bush hill, at or near the place formerly belonging to Wil- liam Caldwell, and not far from the Asa Davis farm. Caldwell, James, resided at or near the Moses Smith place, so called, a little northerly of the summit of Bush hill. This farm lies on the Pelham road, and is now owned by George E. Caldwell. Wason, James, at eighty-three years of age lived at the top of Bush hill, on the east side of the Pelham road, where Samuel Walker lived later, and later still Oscar O. Arm- strong. In 1793 he was assessed only for a horse and cow. Wason, Lieutenant Thomas, son of James, when about forty-five years old was assessed for the real estate then, or formerly, belonging to his father. Cummings, Captain David, son of Ephraim, was born May 20, 1738, and lived where his father first settled, in the early settlement of the town. His wife was Elizabeth Butterfield. His house stood a little south of the road, at the foot of Bush hill. At one time there were two houses on the place a short distance apart. Cummings, David, son of Captain David, was born about 17(53, and lived with his father. He married Phcebe Wyman. 310 HISTORY OF HUDSON Merrill, Benjamin, son of Ensign Nathaniel and Olive (Luncl) Merrill, was born January 24, 1768. He lived for many years on a farm in the south-east part of the town, at the end of a bridle path that turns off from the Back road near the Burnett place. He died there. Stewatt, Robert, owned and occupied the farm later owned and occupied by Thomas Gowing, and now by George T. Gowing. It is in the south-east part of the town, near the Pelham line and Gumpus pond. Ford, Colonel James, was assessed here as early as 1763, and up to 1799. Where he came from is not known. He owned and occupied the Samuel Gowing farm in the south-east part of the town, now owned by Edwin S. Gow- ing. He was the clerk of Captain Samuel Greeley's Lex- ington Company in April, 1775. He was in the army at Cambridge six months in 1775, and was a lieutenant. Also he was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He raised a company of which he was the captain for fourteen days at Ticon- deroga in 1777; he was the captain of a company at Ben- nington for two months in 1777, and was severely wound- ed at the battle of Bennington. Gould, Joseph, came here in 1748. The old Joseph Gould place is in the south part of the town on what was once the Bowman road, now discontinued. It is south-east of what was formerly the T. S. Ford farm, and not far from New Found meadow. Once this road could boast of two houses, but they have long since gone to decay. Seavey, Andrew, came here in 1762, if not earlier. He lived at the south-east corner of the town, not far from the Goulds. He died June 1, 1802, and was buried in the small cemetery at the south end. Johnson, Moses, settled here as early as 1770, on the farm later owned by Timothy Ford, later still by his son, Timothy S. Ford, and now by James A. Sanders. He was the son of Colonel William and Abigail (Widow Stickney) TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 311 Johnson, and was born May 13, 1737. April "20, 1758, he married Anna Moody, daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Bradstreet) Moody, born January 10, 1737. They had a large family of children. Brown, Robinson, resided on the farm once owned by Grant and later by Hoffman — the first house west of the Samuel Gowing place. Merrill, Deacon Isaac, son of Samuel and Susanna, was born August 20, 1754. February 25, 1779, he married Olive Merrill, born December 4, 1751, who was probably the daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. He lived on the Back road, the second house south from the old ceme- tery, south of Musquash brook, and north of the T. S. Ford place. In 1777 he was in the army in New York and served two months. He was also in the Ticonderoga com- pany eight days. Burns, George, son of George and Martha, was born February 5, 1743. He married Elizabeth Adams, and lived on the Back road at the south part of the town — the exact location is not known at this time He had a Revolution- ary War record. Moody, Friend, is said to have lived at the south part of the town, on a farm later owned by Elias Barron. It was the first house on the west side of the road, southerly from where the old Davenport road intersects the Back road. He was a prominent townsman for many years. Colburn, Zaccheus, was born February 16, 1765, and was the son of Thomas, who was killed by lightning. He owned a farm on the Back road, which later became the property of Thomas B. Wason, who married Colburn's daughter, and which now belongs to James F. Wilson. The house was the first one south of the junction of roads. The place was known for many years as the Wason farm. Chase, Joshua, seems without much doubt to have lived for many years on the old Chase place, east of the 312 HISTORY OF HUDSON Lowell road, where his son, Jacob, afterwards lived and died, and which was later owned by Benjamin F. Chase Jacob's son. It is a little south of the highway leading from the Lowell to the Hack road. Chase, Benjamin, son of Joshua, was born August 17, 1765. He resided on the homestead farm with his father. There were two houses on the place. Underwood, Phineas, probably moved from Merrimack to this town about 1785. He was on the board of select- men for several years, and proved to be a prominent citi- zen. He lived on the Lowell road, and on the farm next north of the Joseph Winn farm, which was later owned by Reuben Spalding, and now belongs to his daughter, Mrs. John Groves. He died May 9, 1798, aged 45. Winn, Joseph, was born at Woburn, Mass., November 17, 1723, and came into town with his father, who settled here at an early date. He lived on the west side of the Lowell road, next south of the Underwood farm, later owned by Paul T. Winn, and now by Elmer C. Winn. Winn, Joseph, Jr., was the only child of the foregoing Joseph, and remained on the home farm, which has always been owned by the Winn family since its first settlement by Joseph. It is the next farm north of the old Colburn place. Colburn, Ensign Isaac, lived upon the old Colburn place settled at an early date by his father, Captain Thom- as Colburn. It is the next farm north of the Stephen Chase place, and the house is at the end of the road. It is now owned by Eugene Donnelly heirs. Burns, Captain William, son of George, was born Oc- tober 29, 1744. He lived on the old homestead where he was born, east of the Lowell road, and which has been owned and occupied by Robert Groves for many years. TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 313 Pemberton, James. He had a long and honorable Revolutionary War record. He resided for several years on the west side of the Lowell road near the Blodgett cem- etery. At this time he lived farther south, near the Burns place. Chase, Stephen, lived on the farm so long owned by the Chases, the house being nearly one-half mile west of the Lowell road, near where is now the point known as the "Five Cent Limit" on the Lowell line of the electric rail- way. He may have been a son of the elder Stephen, who lived there before him. It was the first farm south of the old Thomas Colburn homestead. Ephraim Chandler and John Chase were his sons. Marshall, Benjamin, lived a little south of the Stephen Chase farm, probably between the River road and the river, and possibly at the ferry. The exact location is not known. Pollard, Lt. Samuel, purchased of Ezekiel Chase, Au- gust 9, 1773, a farm of one hundred acres, more or less. It was the first farm north of Tyngsborough line, and south of the Ferry road. The cellar may be seen south of the old Ferry road on a rise of ground near a very large elm tree. It is nearly south, and some forty rods distant from the old Ford house now owned by Paul Butler. Burbank, Jonathan, who married Elizabeth Cummings, lived on a farm later belonging to Harris, and now to Ed- ward F. Eayrs, it being the next north from the Wilson Mills place. It was conveyed to Jonathan by his father, Samuel Burbank, November 1, 1792. (Recorded Vol. 30, Page 473.) Wilson, Joseph B., owned and occupied the farm and mill on Nacook or Musquash brook. It was the farm next south of the Jonathan Burbank place, and was long known as the Wilson Mills, there being a grist mill and saw mill there. 314 HISTORY OF HUDSON Haywood, Samuel Smith, lived on the old Haywood farm on the hill west of Deacon David Burns' place, and west of the road. The house was at a considerable dis- tance from the road, and on the south side of the hill — nearly half way to the Lowell highway. Its cellar is yet visible. He died April 1, 1801, aged sixty-eight years, and was buried in the Blodgett cemetery. Huey, Mansfield, lived on the northerly part of Bush hill, and east of most of the other Bush hill settlements. The farm was the same as that later owned by Daniel Smith, and still later by Daniel Butler Smith. The build- ings were burned a few years since. There was no public road to the place. The Huey house was a little further east than the Daniel Smith house, on a tract of land later owned by Dustin B. Smith. The old cellar is still visible. Glover, Robert, the son of Robert and Jane (Burns) Glover, lived for many years on the north side of Bush hill, where he seems to have been born July 9, 1741. Searles, Elnathan, son of Jonathan and Thankful, was born here May 26, 1763. He lived for many years on the old homestead of his father, Jonathan Searles, who settled there in 1741. It lies in the east part of the town, a little south of the road leading from the North Pelham highway to Bush hill. It is the same farm that has since been called the Floyd place, and is now owned and occupied by Aaron Estey. Caldwell, Lieutenant Alexander, lived on the west side of Bush hill, on the farm later occupied by his son, Alex- ander, Jr., south of the Spear place, and near by where Fred E. Smith has erected a house. This was the old Caldwell place. Atwood, John, was probably the son of William. He was the father of John, Elizabeth and Sally, by his first wife, and by his second, the father of David, William, Dan- iel and Rachel. He lived on the Lowell road, about a mile TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 315 south of the "Bridge," where, later, his son, David, lived nearly all his life. The place is now known as Elmhurst. Hardy, Zachariah, was the son of Nathaniel and Es- ther, and was born October 12, 17(59. There is a discrep- ancy of two years in his age as given at the time of his death. He became an orphan when young, as on April 24, 1777, his father enlisted for three years in the Continental army, in Colonel Moses Nichols' Regiment, and as no later report of him appears he probably died in the army. Zach- ariah was brought up, in the south part of the town, by Samuel Pollard, who had no children of his own. He lived for many years at what was afterwards known as the Gillis place, at the junction of the Lowell road with Library street. Blodgett, Jonathan, son of Joseph, Senior, was born December 5, 1726. He lived on the west side of the Low- ell road. His farm was a portion of the original Joseph Blodgett place, and was later owned by John Chase. It now belongs to Augustus F. and Harry D. Blodgett. Blodgett, Jabez, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth, was born January 4, 1767. He married Rachel Pollard, and they had fifteen children— six boys and nine girls — all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood and lived each beyond half a century. He seems to have lived on his father's home-stead or very near there. Marshall, Henry, was the father of Samuel and several other children. He lived on the east side of the Lowell road, less than a mile from the "Bridge." The place was later occupied by his son, Samuel, who died April 23, 1852. The house was burned some time in the forties. The cel- lar and well may still be seen some twenty rods south of the brick power-house. Blodgett, Joseph and Joseph, Jr., lived at the old farm of the first Joseph, on the Lowell road, two and a half miles from the "Bridge." The exact location of their dwelling cannot now be determined, but it seems probable that it was at the house now belonging to Philip J. Connell. CHAPTER XXV History of the Schools The matter of education was a prominent one in the minds of the early settlers of New England, and almost simultaneously with the planting of the church was the founding of the school. In this respect the province of New Hampshire was scarcely behind Massachusetts in prompt and decided action. In 1719 a school law was enacted, and it remained in force until after the Revolu- tion, which provided — That each Town in the Province having the number of fifty house- holders shall be constantly provided of a school master to teach children to read and write, and when any town has one hundred families or house- holders, there shall also be a Grammar school set up and kept. . . And some discreet person of good conversation, well instructed in the tounges, shall be procured as master thereof Every such school master to be suitably encouraged and paid by the inhabitants If any such Town should neglect the due observance of the Law for the space of six months, it should incur a Penalty of ^20. In 1721 this law was amended in respect to towns hav- ing one hundred families, so, instead of the town being liable to a fine, it should fall upon the selectmen, if the town for one month should be without a grammar school. The records of this town do not show that this regula- tion in regard to schools was very closely followed. In fact, the town books are suspiciously silent in relation to the affairs of education. It was not until the annual town meeting, March 10, 1766, that we find the first entry of this kind. Then it was Voted to raise £\v> lawful money for the support of a school in this Town the present year. A little over two years later, September 26, 1768, 316 HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 317 Voted to raise ,£400 Hampshire money, old tenor for schooling this present year. At a special meeting October 9, 1769, an attempt to raise money for schooling was voted down. Two years later the sum of eight pounds was raised for schooling, this money to be divided into four equal parts. In 1772, the same amount was raised, and the following year this sum was doubled. At this meeting, November 1, 1773, it was voted to divide the town into four school districts, and di- vide the money equally among these. At the annual meeting the following year, adjourned to March 28, 1774, an article in the warrant to see if the town would maintain a "standing school " in the town, was voted in the negative. On September 19, sixteen pounds was agreed upon as a suitable sum to expend for educa- tion that year, this amount to be divided as heretofore into four parts. In 1775 eight pounds was raised and in 1776 twelve pounds was raised for schooling. For two years, the dark period of the Revolution, there is no mention of money for schooling. November 1, 1779, Voted to raise ,£300 L. M. for schooling this present year. September 25, 1780, Voted to raise ,£450 L. M. for schooling this present year. September 24, 1781, Voted to raise .£36 L. M. for schooling. This sum was raised successively for six years suc- ceeding, but in 1788 the sum was increased four pounds, so it became forty pounds. September 1, 1785, a committee of three, consisting of Asa Davis, John Haseltine and Isaac Merrill, was appoint ed to re-district the town , and there is no doubt that these gentlemen attended to their duties, and divided the town into nine school districts, within a reasonable time after their appointment. For some unknown reason their re- port was not accepted by action of. the town until March 318 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 21, 1799,. more than thirteen years after their election tv office. The school division of the town as planned by this committee, with the exception of dividing No. 9 so as to form another district known as No. 10, remained substan- tially the same for one hundred years, or until 1885, when the town became a single school district. School Houses March 21, 1799, the first action relative to building school houses was defeated in the town meeting. A peti- tion was read, signed by Henry Hale, Page Smith, Moses Hadley, Henry Merrill, Paul Tenney, Jesse Davidson and William Gibson, asking to be set off as "a squad" by them, selves and to have their share of the school money to be expended as they found it most convenient. This request was granted. At this meeting, too, the long delayed re- port of the committee for re-districting the town was adopt- ed with the exception of the "squad mentioned in the fore- going page." Rkport of District Committee We the subscribers being chosen a committee to divide the town into Districts for schooling, and number the same, and report to ihe town as soon as maybe, agreeable thereto we have divided it into nine districts as followeth (Viz.) The names in No. 1 : Thomas Hamblet, Silas Gould, John Merrill, Moses Johnson, I >ea. Isaac Merrill, Lt. Win. Burns, Friend Moody, Eld. Samuel French, Abel Merrill, George Burns, Jona. Tenney, The place formerly Samuel Brown, the place formerly Thomas Hamblet, John Butler, Robert Stewart, Maj. James Ford, Benja. Merrill, Joseph Gould, Andrew Seavey, Jona. Gould. No. 2. Joseph B. Wilson, Samuel Burbank, Henry Chase, John Pol- lard, Thomas Pollard, Benjamin Marshall, Stephen Chase, Isaac Colburn, Joseph Winn, Jane Seavey, Samll. Pollard, James Farmer, Ebenezer Pol- lard, Jeremiah Klodgett, Joshua Chase, Jonathan Hardy. No. 3. Ebenezer Rand, Abner Watkins, Capt. David Cummings, Jos. Bradley, James Wason, Lt. Thomas Wason, James Caldwell, Joseph Caldwell, Asa Davis, John Huey, Nathaniel Seavey, Wid. Martha Cald- 'HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 319 «r.-ell, Robert Glover, Samuel Wason, Samuel Caldwell, Alexander Cald- well, Kliphalet Hadley, En OS Hadley, Ichabod Eastman. No. 4. Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Haywood, John Caldwell, Joseph Greeley, Edward Tenney, Jonathan Blodgett, James Pemberton, Timothy Pollard, Timothy Smith, Parrot Hadley, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., Stephen Hadley, Richard Cutter, Wm. Atwood, Abijah Reed, Wb. Gibson, Phin- eas YV. Blodgett, Henry Marshall. No. 5. Seth Wyman, Lt. John Haseltine, John Haseltine, Jr., Jona. Bradley, Wid. Mary Duty, Samuel Smith, Huey, Jona. Searles, Elnathan Searles, John Campbell, Gideon Butler, Robert Patten, James Roby, Page Smith. Capt. Abraham Page, Wd. Sarah Kenney, Henry Hale, Lt. Hugh Smith, Lt. Thomas Smith. No. 6. Capt. Joseph Kelley, Capt. Peter Cross, Wd. Phebe Cum- mings, Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Lt. Reuben Spalding, John Whittle Wd. Martha Davis, Dea. Thomas Marsh, Capt. Samuel Marsh, Joshua Pierce, Richard Marshall, Samuel Hills, Samuel Marsh, Philip Hills, Dan- iel Pierce, Timothy Patch, Thomas Cross, Philbrook Colby, Moses Had- ley. No. 7- Ens. David Lawrence, Jona. Lawrence, John Smith, David Campbell, E Grimes, Wm. Grimes, Robert McAdams, Andrew Robinson, Philip Marshall, George Burroughs, Isaac Page, Jacob Page, Jos. Steele, Peter Robinson, Jr., Capt. David Peabody, David Peabody, Jr., Amos Robinson, Wm. Steele. No. 8. John Hale, Samson Kidder, Nat. Marshall, Elijah Marshall, Wd. Ruth Marshall, Benja. Melvin, Thomas Barrett, Moses Barrett, Isaac Barrett, Ens. Simeon Barrett, David Tarbell, Richard Hardy, Josiah Bur- roughs, Wm. Burroughs, Nat. Burroughs, Eliphalet Hills, Joel Barrett. No. 9. Lt. Benja. Kidder, Joseph Hobbs, Joseph Nichols, Wm. Gibson, Simeon Robinson, Zach. Greeley, John Robinson, Lt. Ebenr. Tarbox, Lt. Henry Tarbox, John Marshall. Wd. Deborah Marshall, Thomas Senter, Levi Andrews, Capt. Ezekiel Greeley, Nathaniel Hills, Daniel Marshall, Wm. Hills, Jeremiah Hills, Doct. Joseph Gray, Lt Ezekiel Hills, Thomas Hills, Ens. Elijah Hills. Note: — Wm. Gibson, is set off from District No. 4 to Davidson's squad. Nottingham West, Jan. 16, 1786. ASA DAVIS, JON. HASELTINE, Committee. ISAAC MERRILL. There were twenty names given in list No. 1 ; 16 in No. 2; 19 in No. 3; 18 in No. 4; 19 in No. 5; 19 in No 6; 18 in No. 7; 17 in No. 8; and 22 in No. 9^; making the total number of families, according to the report, 168. 320 HISTORY OF HUDSON District Number One covered the south-east corner of the town, and was known as "Musquash." The school house was, and is now, on the east side of the Back road, a short distance north of Musquash brook, and probably on the site of the Nottingham meeting-house. District Number Two covered the south-west part of the town, and was known as "The Red school house Dis- trict." The house was located on the Chase and Colburn road a short distance west of the River road. District Number Three was situated at the east side of the town, north of Number One, and was known as "Bush Hill District." The house stood on the east side of Bush Hill road, near the Asa Davis, since, the Morrison homestead. District Number Four was located at the west part of the town, north of Number Two and east of Number Three district. The school house for many years, and until about the middle of the last century, stood in the side of the Blodgett cemetery, a little north but very near where the iron gate now is. This was on the site of the second, or Nottingham West meeting-house. This house was burned in 1855 and another was built on the west side of the high- way near "Elmhurst." District Number Five, called "Hudson Center Dis- trict," was located east of Number Four and north of Num- ber Three, and included the center of the town. For many years the house stood near the summit of Corliss hill, on the west side of the road. Later it was located on the north side of the Pelham road, a little less than one-half mile south-east of Hudson Center. District Number Six, known as the "Farms District," was situated north of Number Four on the west side of the town, and extended north to Litchfield line. The school house was located on the west side of the Derry road, and between that and the highway leading from that to the Litchfield road, near the junction of the two roads. About 1852 a new school house was built a short distance south- HENRY O. SMITH, M. D. HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 321 erly, on the east side of the Derry road, which was changed into a dwelling house by Menzell S. French about 1898. District Number Seven, or "Frog Corner District," covered the north-east section of the town bordering on the Londonderry and Windharn lines, and including "Law- rence Corner." The house was located at the junction of the Steele and Robinson roads, about one-half mile north- west of Lawrence Corner. District Number Eight included all of Barrett's hill, for which it was named, with several families to the south and west. The school house was situated on the northerly side of the highway a short distance westerly of the sum- mit of Barrett's hill. District Number Nine, or "Kidder District," was sit- uated west of Number Seven, and was bounded north by Londonderry line, south by Number Eight, and west by Number Ten. The school house was at the top of the hill on the Kidder road, east of the Derry road. District Number Ten, set off from Number Nine in 1806, was a small district called "Hills' Row," and was sit- uated at the north part of the town, west of Number Nine and east of Number Six. The house stood on the north side of the Derry road, a short distance west of the junc- tion of the highway that leads to Barrett's hill. Returning to the town records we find that at a meet- ing held March 6, 1797, it was voted not to raise any money to build school houses, and the same result followed an at- tempt of this kind in 1799, also at a town meeting held March 16, 1804. A school house was built in District Number Five, by the inhabitants of the district, about 1806. It is probable that school houses were erected in all of the districts not far from this time, but were built by the respective dis- tricts. The property of each district was assessed to pay the necessary expense of building these houses. These buildings, as the writer remembers them thirty years or more after their construction, were similar in design, but 322 HISTORY OF HUDSON they varied somewhat in size, according to the number of pupils in the district. Their width was nearly equal t© their length. The roof was pyramidical with the vertex in the center. The entrance was at the middle of the front of the building. The teacher's platform and desk was on the other side, directly opposite the entrance. The seats and desks for the pupils were made of heavy, hard pine plank and were placed on the two sides of the school room, at the right and left of the entrance, leaving a floor space between of sufficient width for recitations and other purposes. The seats were built on an incline, ascending as they reached back to the wall. Those farthest removed from the floor were larger than the front row, and intended for the older pupils. The front seats, occupied by the smallest scholars, had no desks, while those at the other seats were built with a height in proportion to the anticipated size of the pupil. But frequently a small child was obliged to oc- cupy a seat intended for one several years older, or it might be the case would be reversed. Under either situa- tion the result was far from satisfactory. The boys were given the seats on one side of the house, while the girls had those on the other. So the two divisions sat facing each other, with neither directly in front of the gaze of the teacher. The back seats were built along the wall continuous the entire length of the building, but the other seats were built in tiers and stood on sills four inches square or more, with passage-ways between running down to the recitation floor. Each bench was long enough to accommodate two pupils comfortably, but in case of an extra number of schol- ars three were placed in the room designed for two. This crowding the pupils into such close quarters was often a source of great annoyance to the teacher, as they were more apt to be mischievous and had their attention drawn away from their studies by the actions of a seat-mate. There are no statistics at hand to show the number of pupils attending the schools in town previous to 1847. The HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 323 population in 1810 was given as 1,376, and in 1850, forty years later, was 1,312, consequently the number of school children in town since the building of the school houses to the latter date could not have varied much. The statistics for 1847, as given by the superintending school committee, and the number of weeks of school are given in the follow- ing table: School Report, 1847 ,8| 11 2 H 1) !/3 1. «c .Sis £ C/3 — m £ u to V > 3 1 1st. $ 6.00 14 30 14 16 23 2d. 18.00 9 20 10 10 17 2 1st. 6.00 14 42 20 22 29 2d. 18.00 9 52 31 21 42 3 1st. 4.00 14 20 13 7 16 2d, 6.00 12 26 22 4 19 4 1st. 7.00 13 50 18 32 38 2d. 17.00 8* 60 33 27 47 5 1st. 6.00 18 26 7 19 16 2d. 15.00 6 36 19 17 30 6 1st. 5.66 14 29 14 15 18 2d. 18.00 8 40 22 18 37 7 1st. 6.00 m 27 10 17 18 2d. 16.50 7 30 15 15 23 8 1st. 5.33 10 18 3 15 14 2d. 15.00 6 30 13 17 23 9 1st. 5.68 10 21 11 10 14 2d. 16.00 9 34 21 13 20 10 1st. 5.00 8 10 5 5 19 2d. 17.50 4 18 11 7 16 "The whole number of scholars attending school, win- ter term, 346; summer term, 273. "The number who have not attended school is 37 in summer, and 36 in winter." From the selectmen's report for the same year, the following is quoted: 324 HISTORY OF HUDSON DISBURSEMENTS OK SCHOOL MONEY, 1847 Paid Thomas Gowing for Dis " Samuel Davis, Jr., " ' " William Caldwell, " ' '' Abel Buttrick, " " Luther Haselton, " ' " Alfred Cummings, " " Elias Burns, " " Allen Andrews, " " John Greeley, " " Jonathan Hill, " rict No. 1 $48.11 2 48.11 3 .... , 38.49 4 ....•••.. . 48.11 5 48.11 6 48.11 7 38.49 8 38.49 9 38.49 10 38.49 $433.00 It appears from the foregoing statistics that the total amount of money expended for the year 1847, with 207 weeks of school for the ten districts, having an attendance of 346 pupils, was only $433.00, or an average of little more than two dollars per week of school. This was an average for each pupil attending school of about #1.25 for the year. The amount is very small when compared to the an- nual expenditure for the same purpose at the present time. For the year 1910 the expense of maintaining the schools in Hudson reached the following figures: Paid for teachers and superintendent . $2,845.00 Fuel and incidentals .... 1,200.35 Music 136.00 Repairs 62.05 A total of $4,243.40 The contrast between the sums expended in 1847 and 1910 becomes more significant when we understand that the number of pupils at the latter time was only 220 com- pared to 346, sixty-three years ago. To offset the cost per pupil of $1.25 in 1847, in 1910 it was $19.29, an increase of $18.04, or a little more than 1400 per cent. In 1910 the Hudson school district also paid $1,304.85 for tuition for pupils attending high school in Nashua and other places. HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 325 The following table, prepared as accurately as possible from statistics found in the annual town reports, shows the amount of school money appropriated, the number of schol- ars attending schools, average cost per scholar, and average number of weeks of school, at intervals of five years from 1855 to 1910, inclusive. School Statistics School money Number of schol- Average Average ars attending cost per No. weeks school scholar of school 307 $1.97 15.3 283 2.26 19.6 250 3.03 No stat. 235 4.60 19.7 205 6.90 22.1 180 8.00 24.2 188 8.06 30. 206 8.99 30. 204 10.87 30. 203 12.81 28. 208 16.28 32. 220 19.29 33. Town School System At the annual town meeting, March 10, 1885, it was voted to adopt the town system of schools, whereby the ten existing districts were abolished and one district pre- vailed for school purposes. This was a pioneer movement along this line, and Hudson was one of the very few towns of the state to adopt this system previous to the passage of the Act by the Legislature at the June session, 1885, approved Au- gust 13, of the same year. Among the provisions of that law were the following stipulations: Year from town and state 1855 $604.45 1860 639.82 1865 757.63 1870 1,081.63 1875 1,415.03 1880 1,439.67 1885 1,516.01 1890 1,852.79 1895 2,218.97 1900 2,601.54 1905 3,385.93 1910 4,243.40 326 HISTORY OF HUDSON' Section 1. The divisions of towns into school districts heretofore ex- isting is hereby abolished, and each town shall hereafter constitute a sin- gle district for school purposes; provided however that districts organized under special acts of the legislature may retain their present organization. Section 4. The duties heretofore devolving upon superintending and prudential committees shall hereafter be performed by a school board of three persons in each town, to be chosen by ballot at the annual school meeting, and to hold office for three years; provided however, that at the first election under the act, one person shall be chosen for three years, one for two years, and one person for one year, and thereafter one person shall be chosen each year. It proved that there were those in Hudson opposed to the change in the system, so at an adjourned meeting held March 17, 1885, action was taken to reconsider the vote of the town passed to adopt the town system of schools. Seventy votes were recorded in favor and seventy-five against a reconsideration. A school board was chosen at this meeting consisting of the following members: Kimball Webster, for one year; David O. Smith, for two years; Daniel Gage, for three years. One of the principal advantages claimed by the advo- cates of the town system over the old district system was the consolidation of schools, some of which had become very small, containing not more than seven or eight schol- ars each. Although consolidation of the schools — wherever the same was adopted — met with bitter and determined opposi- tion from many citizens, the school board immediately com- menced the work for which they were elected, and in 1885, the first year under the new system, the ten school dis- tricts in Hudson were consolidated so as to form seven, in consequence of which the average length of schools under the old system of 21.7 weeks was increased to 30 weeks. Further consolidation was not practicable until the new school buildings were erected in 189(5. Previous to the annual school meeting March 17, 1896, the matter of build- ing two new school houses — one near the Bridge and the other in the vicinity of Hudson Center — was seriously dis- HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 327 •cussed by the citizens of those localities, and the matter was brought before the annual meeting of the district. A committee of seven was chosen to investigate the situation and report at an adjourned meeting. During the next four weeks the subject met with much earnest discussion, both in favor and opposition, by the citizens. As the right of suffrage had been granted to women in school affairs, they entered as deeply into the discussion of the question as the men. The result was, at the ad- journed meeting April 14, there was the largest assem- blage of voters ever held in the town. Taking both males and females there were nearly seven hundred names on the list, and a good majority of these were present. The ques- tion excited some very animated discussion from both sex- es, pro and con, but when a vote was taken it resulted in favor of building the new houses. A building committee was chosen for each school house, and the sum of eight thousand dollars was appropri- ated to meet the expense of constructing the buildings. Two thousand dollars was to be raised by taxation that year, and the balance of six thousand to be hired and paid at the rate of two thousand a year. It was also voted to locate the house at the Bridge upon the land of William F. Chase, on Sanders, now Library street, Mr. Chase gener- ously donating a large lot for that purpose. The commit- tee on this building was authorized to expend five thou- sand dollars on its construction and furnishings. This board consisted of George A. Merrill, Willis P. Cummings and William F. Chase. The second school house was first located on land of David Clement at the Center, but later it was decided to build on a lot presented to the town by David O. Smith, and the committee, consisting of Nathaniel Wentworth, El- mer D. Clement and Henry O. Smith, was authorized to expend three thousand dollars in building and fitting up this house. The larger house was to be two stories, with two rooms on each floor, and a basement, while the smaller building 328 HISTORY OF HUDSON was to be of one story, with two rooms. The work pro- gressed so rapidly that both of these houses were ready for occupancy before the close of the year, the Center house for the fall term of school and the other for the winter term. It was then possible to grade the town schools. The school near the Center received the name of the Smith School, in honor of Dr. David Onslow Smith, a na- tive and life-long resident of the town. Dr. Smith had been a successful teacher in his younger years, but studied medicine and became a very skillful physician. He ever retained his interest in the schools, doing more for them in his long life than any other man. He was superintend- ing school committee as early as 1862, serving in that ca- pacity for many years. When the town system was adopt- ed he served as a useful member of the board of education for seven years. Whether he was officially connected with the schools or not, his interest in them never grew less, and he visited them often, assisting them with the benefit of his ripe experience and sound judgment. He presented the school house that bore his name a fine bell placed in the bell tower. Not only in association with the schools, but in all walks of public and private life Dr. Smith was an honorable and useful citizen. The larger school building, situated on Sanders, now Library street, received the name of the Webster School, in honor of Mr. Kimball Webster, one of the older resi- dents of Hudson. Mr. Webster placed a bell in the tower of the building, and later purchased about 13,000 feet of land on the north side of the Webster school lot and gratuitously conveyed the same to the school district for the use and benefit of this school. At the time of the building of the Webster school house, the committee was not authorized to finish the rooms on the second floor, as it was not deemed necessary then. But it soon became evident that the rooms on the lower floor were inadequate to accommodate all who should attend that school. HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 329 Accordingly, at the annual school meeting in 1899, March 21, $1,500 was voted to complete the finishing of the Webster school building and improve the school lot. The committee chosen attended to the duty, and expended $1,781.67 in making the improvements, which action was accepted by the district. A town sewer having been constructed through San- ders, now Library, and School streets to the river, in the autumn of 1904, at the annual school meeting in March, 1905, it was voted to furnish the Webster school house with a modern sanitary arrangement, which work was com- pleted during the spring of that year at an expense of $530.34. The grading about the yards having been com- pleted and the grounds otherwise made attractive, Hudson could well afford to boast of her new school houses and point with pride to her school management. With the exception of about thirty pupils, living at the extreme southern and northern sections of the town, in Numbers One and Nine, all of the children in town attend- ed the Smith and Webster schools, with the exception of the pupils at high schools or academies in other places, and whose tuitions are paid by Hudson under Chapter 96 of the Session Laws of 1901. The town pays about fourteen hundred dollars annually for this purpose. The Smith school house, with all its furnishings, was consumed by fire on the evening of December 7, 1907. The building with its contents was insured for $2,200. At the annual school meeting March 17, 1908, the dis- trict voted to build a new school house, similar in size to the Smith building, with two school rooms, without base- ment. The site selected was on the east side of the Pel- ham road south-east of Hudson Center, partly on land of John Wentworth and partly on land of the heirs of Eli Hamblet. Nathaniel Wentworth, Henry C. Brown and John A. Robinson were chosen as a building committee. Nine hundred dollars was appropriated for the purpose in addition to the amount received from insurance. 330 HISTORY OF HUDSON The school lot, which contains more than an acre of land, and is an exceptionally fine lot for the purpose, was generously donated by its owners — one-half by John Went- worth and one-half by Arvilla and Souvina Hamblet. The building committee obeyed its instructions, and on the 21st of September, 1908, a little more than nine months after the destruction of the Smith school house, a suitable, well equipped school building had been erected, finished and furnished ready for occupancy. At the time the Smith building was burned, the bell, in falling, was broken, and Henry C. Brown generously donated a new one and placed it in the tower of the new building. That school is now called the Hudson Center school. CHAPTER XXVI Customs of the Early Settlers The early settlers had few of the conveniences and comforts that are now considered necessary for the enjoy- ment of life. They were mainly dependent upon their farms for the supply of their needs, and this was utilized by their own labor. Very little food was purchased. Meats were obtained from the flesh of the domestic animals raised upon the farm, or from the wild creatures that roamed in the surrounding forests. Ice for the preservation of these and other articles of food was not thought of in those days. Often portions of the animal slaughtered were loaned to neighbors, who repaid the debt when they replenished their larder with similar products. By this co-operation families in a neighborhood were able to have a supply of fresh meat at almost all times. Such portions as were not suitable to be eaten fresh were salted, and in this manner kept for several months. Every family had its beef and pork barrels, which were usually filled in the fall or early winter, as a supply for the following summer. In the spring, during the fishing season, when shad and alewives ascended the Merrimack in immense num- bers, many families salted one or two barrels of catches of these fish, for summer consumption. Lamprey eels also added to the summer store. Fire-places The chimneys in nearly all the houses built before 1830, were very large, and thus occupied a great amount of space in the center of the dwelling, standing so that there were fire-places upon at least three sides. These re- ceptacles for heating and cooking purposes were made of 331 332 HISTORY OF HUDSON sufficient capacity to take in wood in four-foot lengths, often even greater length than that. In the winter a back- log, a foot or more in diameter, was placed across the huge and-irons at the extreme rear, while a huge forestick was placed in front. The space between these was filled with smaller and lighter wood, and a hot fire resulted as soon as these sticks had become enveloped in the fiery folds. Not only did this fire warm the room, but gave it a cheerful ap- pearance, as well as making it comfortable. Very often a bar of iron was used for a forestick, especially in warm weather. The houses were not made very tight, and good venti- lation was obtained by the constant current of air passing up the wide-mouthed chimney. A long seat made of boards, with a high back as a pro- tection from the wind, was placed before the fire for the convenience of the family at eventide. This piece of rough furniture was known as "the settle." In sitting before one of these open fires, when the weather was cold and the winter wind was whirling the snow in great winding sheets, the backs of those not occupying one of these wide seats would be shivering while their faces would be almost blis- tered. When the hour for retiring came, so much of the fire as remained was carefully covered with ashes, so that the coals would keep all night, and in the morning they had only to be raked apart, when a new supply of wood thrown upon them would be quickly ignited and the fire for the day was begun. This task was called "raking up the fire." In this way fire was seldom lost in cold weather, but in the summer it frequently happened that the coals got so low that they could not be restored. Many families had what was called a "tinder box," with steel and flint, with which they would strike fire so the tinder would ignite. Home-made matches, which were made by being dipped in melted brimstone, were set on fire by touching them to the burning tinder. By this slow process a fire was started. CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 333 Sometimes a fire was kindled by flashing powder in the pan of a flint-lock musket, with tow held within radius of the sparks thus made. Friction matches did not come into general use until about 1836. As strange as it may seem now they were received with considerable distrust for a time. Old-time Cooking The cooking was done over and before an open fire, except when the brick oven was used. In the open-fire cooking boiling was accomplished by suspending kettles with hooks, which were hung upon the iron crane, or arm, with which every fire-place was provided. These hooks were of different lengths, so as to admit of the kettles be- ing held higher or lower as might be necessary. An ad- justable hook, which was called a "trammel," was found upon almost every crane. In early times meat and poultry were often cooked by being suspended by a cord before the fire. One end of this cord was attached to the wooden pin overhead, the object to be cooked fastened to the other end. A dish was set underneath to catch the drip. The cord was then twisted, until upon being released it would unwind, and by the momentum thus gained it would rewind itself, in which manner the different sides of the meat would be alternately presented to the fire. But finally the cord would cease to move and at length would become sta- tionary, when someone must be on hand to give it another twist, so it would again be set in motion. Meats roasted before an open fire in this manner were very fine. Later meats and poultry were roasted in a tin kitchen of cylindrical form, about two feet in length and fifteen inches in diameter, open in front and provided with a spit. The meat was placed upon the spit arranged so that one end passed through a hole made for the purpose, while the other was passed through a slot upon the opposite side. In this way the meat was suspended in the center of the inclosed space. When prepared the kitchen was placed 334 HISTORY OF HUDSON before the fire, the bright surface of the tin inside reflect- ing the heat powerfully upon the meat that was being cooked. Upon one end of the spit was a small crank which could be used to turn the roast or to hold it in any position desired. By careful attention the cooking would be done evenly on all sides. There was a door in the back side which could be opened to allow of the basting of the meat. The gravy went into the bottom where there was a small spout at one end. By tipping, this could be turned out into a dish. Potatoes, and sometimes eggs, were roasted by placing them in the hot ashes and covering them with coals. Po- tatoes cooked in this way were much better than if boiled. The brick oven, located at the right of the fire-place in the kitchen, was in nearly every house. These ovens were quite large, and in most families were heated once and sometimes twice a week. For heating the oven well-sea- soned pine wood was considered necessary. Beans, Indian puddings, brown bread and sometimes meats, pies and other articles of food were cooked in these ovens. For a time the Dutch oven was used in many families for cooking bread and many other things. This was a flat, cast-iron kettle four or five inches deep, with a cover of the same material. It stood upon legs two or three inches high, and the cover, which rounded up in the center, had a rim on the outside about one and one-half inches high. When the dish was prepared for cooking the oven was placed upon a bed of live hard-wood coals, and the cover filled with the same. These coals could be replenished as often as was necessary. It was sometimes used for frying. Before cooking stoves came into use, bread, pies, etc., were baked in front of the fire in a tin baker. This was made of the same kind of tin as the "kitchen," and it was about twenty inches in length, the bottom a foot wide, in- clining forward considerably, and set on legs. It had a perpendicular back four or five inches wide; the top was adjustable and slanted upward. It had a sheet-iron bake CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 335 pan suspended between the top and bottom. When the baker was set before the fire, at a suitable distance, the very bright surface of the tin had the same effect as in the case of the tin kitchen. This kitchen and baker came into use about 1830. A simpler mode of baking was frequently resorted to when rye cakes, Indian bannocks, or other thin cakes, were spread an inch or more in thickness upon a trencher or hard wood board kept for the purpose, and these plain plates were placed before the fire on an incline as steep as the objects baking would allow. Stoves were made, in limited numbers, in the last quar- ter of the 18th century, but did not come into general use until many years later. Box stoves for heating school rooms and churches came into use about 1820. Previous to that time school rooms were warmed by open fires, while meeting-houses were not warmed at all. The only fire in the churches at that time was carried in foot stoves by women. Cooking stoves began to be used as early as 1830, but did not come into general use until ten years later. The first cooking stove was very simple in construc- tion, and insufficient in operation, as compared with our modern cooking ranges. The Franklin fire-place was invented by Benjamin Franklin. It was made of iron and set out into the room, and was connected to the chimney by a funnel about a foot in diameter. The frame was ornamented with brass. It had a large iron hearth, on which an open fire was kept. As it was all within the room less of the heat escaped by the chimney than did by the fire-place. In other respects it was not radically different in its results from the fire- place. Middle Names The custom for individuals to have middle names, now nearly universal, was almost unknown among the early 336 HISTORY OF HUDSON settlers. The first instance found in the Hudson records where a child was thus distinguished was that of the son of William and Sarah (Harwood) Cummings, when they christened their third child John Harwood Cummings, giv- ing him his mother's sirname. This child was born April 24, 1733. Other examples were Ephraim Chandler Chase, son of Stephen L. and Phebe (Chandler) Chase, born Au- gust 28, 1758; Phineas Wheeler Blodgett, son of Joseph and Dorcas (Wheeler) Blodgett, born October 9, 1761; Benjamin Durant Chase, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Hamblett) Chase, born April 13, 1769; Caleb Swan Ford, son of James and Sarah Ford, born December 19, 1775; Daniel Taylor Davis, son of Asa and Elizabeth (Cummings) Davis, born December 5, 1776; and Thomas Boyd Wason, son of Thomas and Mary (Boyd) Wason, born November 2, 1785. It will be noticed that usually the child was given for a middle name the sirname of the mother. In 1800 but seven double names appear upon the list of taxes; in 1812, twelve; and in 1830 the number of per- sons with a middle name had increased to twenty-seven in a list of 280 names. First Shoemakers It was an early practice among the settlers to tan the skins of the animals killed on the farm for use in making custom boots for the men and shoes for the women and children. The process required a year's time to accomplish the tanning, but most excellent quality of leather was ob- tained, which after being made into shoes for men, women and children, while not so fine looking as the modern foot- wear, was more serviceable. Itinerant shoemakers, going about the country making up shoes for different families, were quite common, plan- ning so as to call on the families that patronized them about once a year. They would often stop a week at a place, boarding with the family for whom they were working, and CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 337 when their job was done here they would shoulder their kit and move on to the next family needing their work. The first shoemaker to settle in this town of whom we have any record was Thomas Marsh, who lived here as early as 1741. Top boots were not much worn until after the beginning of the 19th century, and leggins or buskins were worn over the shoes to keep the snow out. They were knit and reached nearly to the knees, being widened at the lower end so as to fit over the upper part of the shoe. They were tied on firmly with leather strings, one passing under the instep and the other over it. All footwear was sewed by hand, until the beginning of the 19th century, when pegged boots and shoes were in- troduced. They were unpopular for a while. Economy had to be practiced, and in no way more than in foot-wear. Nearly all the young people and many of the older ones went bare-foot from about the first of April to the coming of cold weather in November. Fre- quently the young people, and older ones too, would carry their shoes in their hands in going to church on Sunday, stopping just before reaching the meeting-house and put- ting them on. In this manner pride and economy were both satisfied. Homespun Clothes Clothing was made from flax and wool produced on the farm. Most of the women of that day were capable of taking the wool as it came from the sheep, cleansing, card- ing, spinning it into yarn, and weaving it into cloth, and then making this product into clothes for the family. The carding was done with hand cards until the invention and introduction of carding by machinery moved by water pow- er. The rolls that came from these mills were spun into yarn upon hand spinning wheels. The yarn was woven into cloth by the hand loom, which was a large, heavy af- fair, and occupied the larger part of a good-sized room. 338 HISTORY OF HUDSON The yarn which went lengthwise of the cloth was called the warp, and had to be drawn into the harness by hand; that which went the other way was called the woof, weft or filling, and came from the shuttle. The yarn used in the shuttle was first wound upon quills about three inches in length, which were made from pieces of elder with the pith punched out, leaving it hollow. The yarn was wound upon these by a "quill wheel," which was a noisy machine. The winding of the yarn upon the quills was often done by the larger girls, while the woman of the house was weaving. This last was hard work, and five or six yards were considered a fair day's work. Cotton was sometimes bought and manufactured in about the same way. Yarn intended for knitting was generally colored, either in the wool or after the spinning. The dye pot, made of brown earthern ware, with a piece of board for a cover, usually had its place in the chimney corner, just inside the fire-place. The dye was made of indigo dis- solved in urine. The yarn to be colored was put into this liquid where it was allowed to remain for several days, or until it was thoroughly colored. Butternut bark, maple bark, and many other things were used for coloring. The cloth for men's clothes was called "fulled cloth." After it was woven it was taken to the clothier at a "fulling mill," where it was fulled, dyed, sheared and pressed. That worn by women was simply dyed and pressed and was called "pressed cloth." Baize, a coarse, woolen cloth with a long nap, dyed in plain colors, was woven for women's use. Some of the women wove very elaborate and handsome bed spreads, who showed much skill and ingenuity in designing and making the figures upon them. Flax was also a product of almost every farm. In the fall it was pulled and placed upon the ground where it re- mained exposed to the weather for several weeks, until the woody parts were rotted and the fibre had become pliable. Then it was broken by an implement called a flax brake, CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 339 which broke the woody part into short pieces. It was then "swingled," which was done by beating it with a hard wood paddle about thirty inches in length, called a "swingling knife." This separated the fibre from the useless parts. The next process was to draw it repeatedly over the "flax comb," which was made by setting about eighty steel spikes, seven or eight inches in length, and made very sharp, into a hardwood plank. The combing took out all of the small pieces of the woody parts that had been left after the swingling. This removed also the short sections of fibre, which was tow, and was sometimes spun into wrapping twine. After the flax had been combed and suitably prepared, it was put upon the distaff and spun with the linen wheel, operated by the foot resting upon the treadle. This wheel was about twenty inches in diameter and had two grooves in the outer rim, one for a band to drive the fliers and the other to drive the spool with a quicker motion to take up the thread. Linen was woven into cloth and made into table cov- ers, dresses, shirts, sheets, handkerchiefs, strainer cloth and many other useful articles. Thread for sewing shoes was also made from linen. In warm weather men and boys worn linen clothing. Cider Mills Many of the farms had a cider mill, where the apples, mostly natural fruit of poor quality, were made into cider. Cider made from apple juice and fermented was a common drink in almost all families, and was among the furnishings of the table at meal times. A jug of cider was often car- ried into the field as the beverage for the day. Cider, after it had been drawn from the barrel and had become warm, was considered unfit to drink, so the economical farmer turned this into the vinegar barrel to help replenish that. The cider mill in those days, until as late as 1850, was usually turned to grind the apples by horse power, after 340 HISTORY OF HUDSON which many of the saw mills run by water power had an outfit for making cider, where the neighbors would take their apples, and return home with three or four barrels of the pure juice obtained from a cart full of the fruit. These places were great retreats for boys, who delighted to suck the sweet liquid through straws. Lights and Lamps The tallow candle was the principal dependence for artificial light in those days. The blazing open fire in the fire-place aided in this direction, and frequently was the sole dependence. This gave a certain cheerful, hospitable appearance to a room that cannot be obtained from any other means of lighting, not even including the bright elec- tric light of to-day. The candles were usually called "dips," this term de- rived from the way they were made. The material from which the candles were prepared was obtained from the fatty portions of the creatures killed on the farm, which were carefully saved for that purpose. The fat was tried out or rendered by heating over the fire. The liquid tallow thus obtained was cooled in kettles or pans and kept for use when needed. To make the candles this tallow was melted in a large kettle. Wicking made of cotton was cut into lengths about twice that of the candle to be made, and was then doubled over a stick made for that purpose, and these lines twisted loosely together. The sticks or supports for the wicking were about two feet in length and three-eighths of an inch in diameter. One-half dozen of these wicks were placed on each stick at an equal distance apart Two long side-poles or supports were placed at a sufficient space to allow the hanging crosswise of the small rod with the row of wicks. Then enough of these last were arranged to make the required number of candles. These preliminaries arranged, the person who was to dip the candles would take the first rod with its suspended wicks and dip it into the hot tallow until the liquid came CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 341 nearly to the rod in his hand. The dripping row would then be restored to its position, the next line served in the same way, and so on until the entire length had been made. Then he would start back with the first one, and go over the same course again, the tallow that had attached itself to the wick having cooled by this time. This process was continued until sufficient tallow had adhered to make the candle of the required size. While the candles were being dipped it was necessary to have them suspended in a position where a cool draft of air would circulate and thus cause them to oool quickly. The dipping of them into the hot tallow had to be done rapidly or more tallow would be melted away than would be taken up by the performance. As fast as the tallow in the kettle was taken out by this process so as to become of insufficient depth to take the whole length of the candle, hot water would be poured into the vessel, when the tallow would rise on top, and the work could go on until only a a thin layer of tallow was left floating on the water. As simple as this may appear it really required considerable skill and experience to "dip" candles successfully. This work was usually done by the women. While it answered a purpose, the tallow candle made a poor light, and was unsatisfactory in many respects. It smoked and flickered, and required frequent "snuffing," or cutting away the burned section of the wick. If this was not done the burned portion of the wick would fall over and melt into the top of the candle causing the tallow to run down on the side and so drop upon the table. To clip off this burnt section of the wick a little instrument that was operated something like scissors was made, with a re- ceptacle at the top to hold the portion of wick snipped off. This article was called "snuffers," and this outfit was made complete by a little tray which sat on the table near the candle-stick to receive the discarded portions of wick. A more primitive way of snuffing the candle was by pinching off the end with the fingers, but this had to be 342 HISTORY OF HUDSON done quickly and dextrously or burned fingers would be the result. Finally an improvement was devised in the making of candles by having a mould, a hollow tin receptacle of the correct size for a candle. The wick would be placed in the center of this and the tube filled with tallow. When this had cooled, a candle, smoother and better than one made by the old method, was obtained. Many kinds of candle-sticks were in use, made of brass, tin, iron, glass or even wood. Some were highly ornamented, while, as it may be supposed, others were ex- tremely plain. Even potatoes and turnips, or some other substance that would afford a footing for the candle to stand upon, were pressed into service occasionally. Eventually whale oil was introduced as a lighting fluid, and this was considered a great improvement over the tallow dip. But there were disagreeable features about this. When allowed to stand too long in the lamp it gave out an offensive odor, and the outside would be covered with the oil. The wicks required even more frequent at- tention than the candle, and they did not light quickly. Neither was the light very much brighter than that of the well-trimmed candle. Several other kinds of oil were used to more or less extent, but did not come into general use. A lighting fluid that was to displace all of these others was on the way. This was kerosene, which began to be used as early as 1858. This was first obtained from the distillation of mineral wax, bituminous shale, coal, etc., and hence was also called coal oil. It sold at first for $1.50 a gallon. A few years later it was made by the distillation and purification of petroleum in immense quantities and came into general use for lighting purposes. It has some- times sold at retail as low as ten cents a gallon. customs of the early settlers 343 Soap Making Almost every family fifty years and less ago made their own soap, known as "soft soap," as it was in liquid form though very thick. All the good hard wood ashes made during the year were saved and stored in a dry place. All the refuse portions of fat and grease were carefully laid aside for use at the same time. This soap making took place in the spring as soon as the snow had melted away, or late in the fall, and it was generally considered to be- long to the duties of the good housewife, and it was no easy work that she had on hand. The ashes were placed in a large tub kept for the purpose, or quite often the half of a molasses hogshead, which had been sawed in two at the middle by the farmer. This was called "the leach," and sticks and brushwood or straw had been strewn over the bottom, in order to give the liquid that was to form the lye a chance to run out. Water was brought from some near- by spring or from the well, and poured into the cask hold- ing the ashes. After the ashes had become completely saturated with water the lye would be drawn out at the bottom. The lye was tested as to strength by placing a fresh Qgg in it. If the egg floated on its surface the lye was of sufficient strength to make a good quality of soap, and good luck was assured. The soap grease, with sufficient lye, was placed in a large kettle and boiled together, and when it was taken out if it did not separate it was good soap. When, after boil, ing, the lye and grease separated, it was due to using poor ashes and weak lye. Sometimes potash was put into the lye to strengthen it. Soap making was a hard job for the women, and was dreaded as much as any undertaking during the year. It usually preceded the spring cleaning. 344 HISTORY OF HUDSON Modes of Travel In the early times the roads were commonly in poor repair, bridges and culverts were lacking on many of the streams, and but few carriages were owned in town. Peo- ple generally rode on horseback. Often the man rode in the saddle and the woman on the pillion behind him. To make it an easier matter to mount and dismount, horse blocks of wood or stone were used at the church and other places. Small articles were carried in saddle-bags, balanced, one on each side of the horse. Grain was carried to mill in bags laid over the horse's back, so divided that one-half rested in each end. In fact, nearly all of the light carrying had to be done on horseback until wagons became common. Snow-shoes were in common use among the men, in traversing the country, hunting or performing winter jour- neys when the snow was deep. It was not infrequent that women wore them. Snow-shoes were made of a light piece of wood, com- monly ash, bent into an elongated curve, egg shaped, about three feet long and a foot wide at the greatest width. The ends met so as to form a sort of handle. About three inch- es from each end of the curved bow was a thin, flat piece of wood; this was connected with the sides and a strong elastic network of leather strings woven in. This leather netting made a surface which held up the wearer, the snow- show being fastened to the feet by means of stout strings running to the sides and over the instep and around the heel. The real fastening was at the toe, so that in walking the forward end of the snow-shoe would be lifted, while the rear end would drag on the snow. The material of which it was made being very light the snow-shoe was not bur- densome, and the elastic network gave such a springy ef- fect to the step that it not only prevented the person from sinking into the most fluffy mass to any depth, but it en- CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 345 abled him to advance at even greater speed than he could have walked on the solid ground and with less weariness. Snow-shoes were much worn by the Indians, who were adept in making them, and it is supposed the early white settlers got the idea from them. They are yet worn extensively in Canada and the British provinces where the winters are long and snow falls to a great depth. Bean Porridge A favorite dish among the pioneers, and frequently seen upon their tables in cold weather, was bean porridge. In winter times it was made in large quantities. First a piece of corned beef was cooked and into the broth of this was put white beans, with a thickening of Indian meal, the whole properly seasoned and allowed to cook a long time. This really made a very palatable dish, and left in the ket- tle to be warmed over and over, from day to day, until the last of it had been eaten, it was believed to improve in quality, hence the old time saw that was very popular: Bean porridge hot; Bean porridge cold ; Bean porridge best When nine days old. Farm Tools Some of the farming tools were very crude, clumsy and heavy. Before iron shovels came into use a rude im- plement to take their place was fashioned out of a piece of oak plank, sharpened at one edge and this shod with iron. These were called "shod shovels," and were in common use until the beginning of the 19th century. Of course they were heavy and clumsy. Hay and manure forks were made of iron by the blacksmith. They had large tines, either round or flat, and bent easily, and were apt to be- come loose in the handle. Cast steel forks did not come into general use until 1837. Hoes were also made by the 346 HISTORY OF HUDSON blacksmith and were on a par with the iron forks. The eye to receive the handle was welded or riveted on. A strip of steel was welded on the cutting edge. Some of the blacksmiths made scythes, axes, knives, and many other implements used on the farm. Clocks Clocks were not in general use until after 1820, the time of day often being noted by marks on the window ledge or the front door. There were in some of the more wealthy families the tall, old-fashioned clock since known as "Grandfather's clock," which frequently stood in the hall- way. The face of this was usually ornamented with some bright pictures, and its bell had a resonant ring, so that when it tolled forth the hours it could be heard in all parts of the house. These clocks are now considered valuable as heirlooms. They were seven feet in height, and reached from floor to ceiling. Some of them were originally quite expensive, having been imported from England. They were in mahogany cases, had brass movements, of hand- some design, with inlaid faces upon which the day of the month and phases of the moon were shown, as well as the hour and minutes and seconds of time. The cost was from fifty to one hundred dollars, and sometimes higher than this last figure. About 1800 manufacturers in this country began to make clocks, and they gradually became common in the families. Many had wooden running gear, but kept very accurate time, and were not as expensive as the English clocks. During these periods watches were too expensive to be very common. In almost every home were one or more noon marks, and some had sun dials before clocks came into common use. In fair weather, by means of these devices, time could be computed with considerable accuracy; but at night time or on stormy days or cloudy weather these failed, and the CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 347 families were left to calculate the time as best they could by their judgment as to the swiftness of the passing hours. The sun, the stars and the planets were also guides to those versed in the knowledge of astronomy. Sheep Washing About the first of June came the annual sheep wash- ing, when the creatures laden with their winter's growth of wool were driven to some convenient pond or stream of clear water, not less than three feet deep, and given a thor- ough wetting and scrubbing. This task was frequently turned over to the large boys, who rather delighted in the performance. The sheep about to be given this washing was seized, carried bodily into the water, and being careful to keep the head above the water, the animal was soused up and down until quite clean. The wool was squeezed be- tween the hands, until thoroughly washed, and the water passing through became clear. Running water was con- sidered better for the purpose than that in a pond which was still. The sheep were then turned into the pasture for the wool to become dry before being sheared. A large fleece of wool on the sheep before being washed contained an in- credibly large quantity of dirt. When sold the washed wool brought a much higher price than the unwashed of the same quality. Roots and Herbs It was the custom with most families to gather and lay up a stock of roots and herbs for the family use in medic- inal purposes. Sage, catnip, pennyroyal, thoroughwort, spearmint, tansy, wormwood, snake root, cherry bark, pip- sissewa, elder blossoms, and many other roots and herbs were among those selected. Many of the aged women, who had reared large families, were skillful in the use of these simple remedies, and they were often called in cases of 348 HISTORY OF HUDSON sickness instead of employing a doctor. These herbs, while generally effective, were not harmful in the influ- ence upon the general health of the person. Most of the herbs were gathered when in bloom, and were tied in small bunches and suspended from the rafters in the attic to dry and keep in good condition. A pleasant aromatic odor was thus created in the upper part of the house. This practice of laying in a stock of nature's remedies by the household began to wane more than fifty years ago, and to-day very few, if any, follow up the practice, preferring to send to the druggist for the extract of the plant they wish to use. The Open Well Naturally the first supplies of water for the settlers were procured from some spring or clear-running brook. The favorite place was carefully cleared of all rubbish, such as broken-down branches of trees and dead leaves, when pure, limpid water was easily secured. But these fountains were not always convenient to the housewife, who had usually to bring the supply of water, and again they would become more or less contaminated as the settlements in- creased. No one had thought of arranging to have water running into their sinks. In order to save much of the labor in bringing the water from long distances, in some cases, it became the custom to dig wells near the house. This was a decided improvement over the old way, and as the water could not be dipped from wells, that were frequently of considerable depth, a contrivance known as the well- sweep was devised. This consisted of a large post with a crotch at the upper end, to receive a long, stout pole fas- tened with a sort of hinge about midway in its length. The post was firmly set in the ground about fifteen or eighteen feet from the well, and it was the rule that this should stand above the ground to a height two-thirds as great as the depth of the well. The arm or well-sweep was nicely balanced and held in place by an iron or wooden pin secur- CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 349 ing it at the top of the post. Then the heavy end was loaded with rocks sufficient to lift the bucket attached to the opposite end, when the vessel, filled with the sparkling water, should be raised from the well. This bucket was fastened to a slender pole, long enough to reach from the curb to the surface or even bottom of the water in the well. Of course the upper end of this small pole was attached to the small end of the sweep. Though apparently a primitive affair, this old-fashioned well-sweep worked very nicely, and it was a comparatively easy task to raise the large wooden vessel made by the local cooper from the innermost recess of the well to the top of the rude curbing. The poet saw the rare exhilaration of this scene and immortalized it in his song, "The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, the moss-covered bucket," as it rose brimming and tempting from the well. Had he chosen to picture to us some rustic maid at her morning task of bringing the water for the breakfast table, he might have outrivaled Whittier's delineation of Maud Muller "raking the meadow sweet with hay." Eventually pumps made from white pine logs cut upon the farm, and drilled with huge augers so as to form a hol- low stem, were utilized for the purpose of drawing water. Ready made pumps are too modern to need description, having been sold upon the market since about 1850. Some farmers installed what was known as "the chain pump." This was worked by a crank and windlass, over which an endless chain passed. This chain, with metal buckets at- tached within eighteen inches of each other, worked through a wooden tube which rested upon a support near the bottom of the well, where the chain passed beneath a small pulley. By means of the crank being turned and the chain put in motion water was forced up through the tube to the surface. Chain pumps were common soon after 1850. 350 HISTORY OF HUDSON Sugar Making Sugar was not used in such large quantities as it is to- day, and it cost much more than at the present time. A pound of sugar was worth about the same as a pound of butter, and was often bartered one for the other at the country store. Brown sugars of different shades were gen- erally used on the table and also for cooking. But the common sweetening was West India molasses. In some localities sugar from the rock maple sap was made to a considerable extent, but in this town there were but a few sugar maples. Light-brown sugar was supposed to contain the least dirt and was in the greatest favor. The Havana, which came in large boxes containing about five hundred pounds, was called the sweetest. White sugar was but little used, and that came in cone-shaped loaves weighing twenty-five pounds each. These were wrapped in strong paper of a dark-blue color. The loaf was crushed and prepared for use by means of a hammer and a large, strong knife. La- ter this sugar came crushed into irregular shapes and small pieces before offered for trade, and was known as "crushed sugar." Refined and granulated sugar began to be used soon after 1850, but did not come into general use for a decade later. The retail price of white sugar was about ten cents a pound, and brown sugar sold for from six to eight cents a pound, the lightest colored being the highest in price. During the Civil War sugar was very high, sometimes sell- ing three pounds for a dollar. Wheat Flour Wheat flour was not sold much in barrels until after the beginning of the 19th century, and was not much used in most families until many years later. The majority of farmers raised more or less wheat, which they had ground CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 351 and bolted at some grist-mill. This made a sweet, but dark-colored bread. Rye was also treated in this way and made into flour. Still very little bread was made from flour for many years. It was made from rye and Indian meal mixed and called "brown bread." Bread was also made from rye, wheat, and Indian meal, and sometimes barley. The miller was paid for grinding these grains by taking "toll," as it was called, from the grist. This amount was fixed by law or custom, and he was entitled to one- sixteenth, or two quarts from every bushel. Finally, when Central New York state had become developed by the settlers, wheat was brought here in bar- rels from Western New York, and called Genesee flour. These barrels were easily distinguished from those that came later from Ohio by being hooped with flat hoops, while the latter were round, being really half round, having been made from small poles split in twain. As the inhabi- tants pushed westward, flour for New England came far- ther and farther from that direction, until St. Louis flour became common here. Flour in those days was in some re- spects much inferior to that of the present time, when the roller process and other improved methods are employed in its preparation. Spirituous Liquors During the first settlements and for many years after- wards the use of spirituous liquors was almost universal by all classes of people. Occasions on which people assem- bled in numbers were not considered fully satisfactory un- less liberal quantities of liquor were provided. It was so at raisings, ordinations, funerals, weddings, log-rollings, and so on, without distinction as to the class; a good supply of New England rum, or some other strong drink, was always supplied and expected. Even the devout minister, who was supposed to be very near perfection, when he made his pas- toral calls upon his parishioners, would have felt slighted if 352 HISTORY OF HUDSON something of that nature had not been placed before him, as he seldom refused to partake. Temperance societies on the total abstinence plan were organized in the early part of the 19th century, and as early as 1840 the Washingtonian movement swept over New England. It required the signing of a pledge to abstain from the use of all intoxicating beverages. This created considerable excitement at the time, and earnest workers entered the field. Tramps In recent years we have come to know something of the tramp, the idler who goes about the country seeking to get his living without working, and frequently making him- self an object of dislike and dread. Before these appeared on the stage of action, there was an aimless class of strag- glers wandering up and down the country, seldom begging yet ever expecting enough of food to satisfy the inner man, and, when their clothes became too ragged, an old coat or other garment with which to replace their own, which at some time had been given them by another pitying person. These outcasts were often old men, who, in some cases, had been too shiftless to lay by money for future use, or unfortunate, and thus had become footballs of for- tune, who wandered from one town to another, seeking alms at the houses they passed, and sleeping at night in barns or outbuildings. Most of them were fond of cider, and this in some cases explained their pitiable condition. Though generally harmless, occasionally they frightened the women and children on account of their uncouth ap- pearance. In fact, some of them were mildly insane. The majority of them were paupers who would remain at the almshouse during the winter, but when warm weather came on would start on their periodical trips over the country, trusting to the generosity of the farmers to get their living. Usually, older men than the modern tramp, they were more CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 353 deserving of pity and help. Among these homeless wan- derers was occasionally a woman, who had seen brighter and better days. Social Ways In the days of our forefathers, a century or more ago, the people were much more social than are neighbors at the present time. This may have been due partly to the fact that they were more dependent upon each other. At that time books and magazines and even newspapers were scarce, so local topics became the news of the day. In the absence of reading matter and other means of amusement so common to-day, the neighbors, at the close of the day's work, would visit each other's homes, where all of the latest gossip would be threshed out over a mug of cider and a dish of apples. Here the prospect of the crops was dis- cussed and the plans for the next quilting bee talked over by the older members, while the younger ones played check- ers and other games, cracked nuts and laughed in merry glee over some joke or good story. Altogether these occa- sions were pleasant and served to bind the people in closer ties of friendliness. Afternoon visits were of frequent occurrence, when the women would take their sewing or knitting work with them, and perhaps accomplish nearly as much as they would if they had stayed at home, besides having a pleas- ant chat. The inhabitants of the rural districts are much better educated than in those days, but are less hospitable and neighborly. Breaking Roads Always after a heavy snowstorm, which would block the roads with drifted snow, so as to make traveling by single teams difficult, if not impossible, the roads were broken out and made passable. On these occasions the farmers would get together with their ox-teams, improving 354 HISTORY OF HUDSON the opportunity to yoke up whatever unbroken steers they might have as a good time to "break them in," with their first lesson in work. Sometimes as many as ten or more yoke of cattle would thus be hitched to a sled. A log would sometimes be fastened crosswise under the forward end of the sled, or a plow or log to the side — perhaps both — a doz- en or more of the old men would stand upon the sled, the younger men and boys would start the long team and away the whole string would go, at times hidden by the snow- clouds they would send into the air as they plowed their way through great masses of snow. It was jolly fun for the boys, but men, oxen, boys and steers would come home tired and glad it was over, though just as eager for the merry work when another old-fashioned snowstorm would follow. Sometimes the drifts were too solid for the cattle to trample down and too steep to climb over, when men with shovels would cut a channel through those places. It has happened that the snow would be piled so high and solid that a pathway would be tunneled through like an under- ground railway. But if the big snowstorms were more fre- quent and severe in those days, requiring a greater effort to keep the roads passable, there were no "snow bills" for the town to pay, as each and every farmer turned out will- ingly and gladly to the task of "breaking roads." Beards or Smooth Faces The frequent change of fashion, in one form or anoth- er, is shown in the matter of beards. It was almost the universal custom for men to have clean-shaven faces, or at least shaven once a week. This was usually done on Sun- day morning at home, so they would appear at church properly barbered. A few men, with very heavy, dark beards, and with more than common pride in their personal looks, shaved twice a week, but always at home. The hair, by men and boys, was worn longer than at the present time. It is doubtful if any one in Hudson ever CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 355 wore the powdered wigs that were such a feature among the gentry of colonial days. The hair was usually cut by some one in the family. Long, full beards were worn by very few until after the days of the "'49er." The California pioneers of that year, when the gold craze was attracting thousands to the Pacific slope, during their five or six months' journey across the continent to the mines of the Golden West, were forced to allow their beards to grow long and unkempt. Months in the mines restricted them from returning to the old home custom, so full beards became the fashion. Upon return- ing to the East these gold-diggers seemed to have set the fashion this way, though it was some time before full beards were looked upon with favor. Some took to shaving a part of the face, and in this way, side-whiskers, chin whiskers and the mustache came into vogue. At the present time there seems to be an inclination to return to the smooth face. And so the pendulum moves to and fro, continually changing the customs and fashions. Title of Mister Many years ago the title of Mister, commonly ex- pressed "Mr.," was not applied to all men as at present. It was then intended as a title of honor to the few rather than of respect to all. It was almost always placed before the name of the minister. The term "Goodman" was fre- quently used in referring to an average person. Justice of the Peace In early times more honor and dignity was attached to the office of Justice of the Peace, or Quorum, and these officers had larger jurisdictions than at present. There was generally but one in the smaller towns, and he, in most cases, really exercised the powers and duties of an attorney in the fullest sense. Ezekiel Chase, Esq., seems to have been the first justice resident in this town, and he received 356 HISTORY OF HUDSON his commission as early as 1747, soon after the incorpora- tion of the town as Nottingham West. He held the office for many years. His son, Ezekiel Chase, Jr., received a commission about 1760, and held it until his death July 12, 1767, in his 39th year. Asa Davis was commissioned about 1776, and contin- ued to hold the office for thirty years. Samuel Marsh was commissioned about 1786, and continued as an acting jus- tice for many years. Publishing the Banns When a couple had concluded to marry they made known their intentions to the town clerk, who posted a no- tice of their intended marriage in one or more of the churches. This was called "being published." This notice was required by law three Sabbaths before the marriage ceremony was performed, so that if any one knew of any reason why the couple should not be united in wedlock they could appear and make it known. This custom was abol- ished before the middle of the last century. Highway Fences Horses and cattle, and sometimes hogs, were allowed on the highway, which was therefore called "the poor man's pasture." To protect their fields and crops from such animals, fences were built and maintained along the roads by all farmers. The presence of these creatures feeding upon the high- ways was very annoying and troublesome, and frequently the cause of much ill-feeling in the neighborhood. This practice went out of vogue towards the middle of the 19th century, and gradually the highway fences have been al- lowed to go the way of other oldtime customs. customs of the early settlers 357 Farm Methods The methods of securing the hay crop have undergone great changes since the middle of the last century. Much of the heavy labor done then has been transferred to horses working with machines. At that time all grass was cut with hand scythes. It was the custom for the farmer to rise between daylight and sunrise. The scythes had been sharpened the evening before, and the mower was ex- pected to be in the field and ready to start on his first swath just as the sun would peep above the eastern hori- zon. In this way the mowing would be done mostly in the cool part of the day. It was considered also that the grass cut easier when the dew was on it. About nine o'clock the boys and old men who did not feel equal to swinging the scythe spread out the hay to dry. When the sun had got up so that the ground was thoroughly dry the hay that had been raked the day before and left in cocks was "shak- en out," so it would be ready to draw into the barn im- mediately after dinner. The grass cut upon that day was raked later in the afternoon, and left in windrows, or cocks, to be dried more completely the next day. The day's work in the hayfield was seldom completed until after sunset, and cases have been known where it was kept up until after dark. Grain was all reaped by hand with sickles. Grain cra- dles did not come into general use until after the first quar- ter of the 19th century. "Reaping time" varied somewhat in different seasons, but rye and wheat were usually cut between the time of cutting the English grass and the meadow crop. The grain, after it was reaped, was bound into small bundles and put into stooks, where it was left to stand for several weeks until thoroughly cured. Oats were reaped later, usually before the meadow had all been harvested, for the products of the lowlands, though of an inferior quality, was an important portion of the fod- 358 HISTORY OF HUDSON der for the young cattle. These meadows were often situ- ated two or three miles away from home. One advantage of these tracts, of which there were several of considerable size in this town, was the fact that they did not require any fertilization except what they got from the flowages of the streams that ran through them. Very few of the meadows are now mowed, and most of them have been left to be covered with a growth. "Hills' meadow," of which mention has already been made, consisted of one hundred and fifty acres, and was divided into sections of from five to ten acres each, owned by different farmers. This was situated about two miles south-east of Taylor's Falls. Another extensive tract of this kind called "The Fine meadow," was located mostly in Litchfield, but accommodated many farmers at the north end of this town, who owned a few acres each in it. About a mile south of the Hills meadow was the Gerrish meadow, and the Davenport meadow was not far from this last. Still farther south was "Musquash meadow," and in the east part of the town near the Pelham line was "The New- found meadow," which was one of the largest in town. Like the Hills meadow, they were all divided and subdivid- ed into lots, so probably every farmer in town owned a tract of these lowlands, unless he was fortunate enough to own a smaller meadow on his home farm. These last pro- duced a better quality of fodder than the larger ones, which were known as "bog meadows." These tracts were cut late in the season, after all of the highlands at home had been harvested, and the day in the meadow, while it meant long hours and hard work, was usually the scene of considerable merriment and sometimes of rough sport. There was the early breakfast, the long drive in a hayrick in the morning, the long swaths to be cut, and the frequent potations from the jug filled with hard cider or something more stimulating. Sometimes the din- ner would be taken along, at others the boy would go home to get it, or it might be the farmer's daughter would bring CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 359 it into the field. In either case it was not missed, and hard work made good appetites, so it took a good sized pail or basket to feed these hungry half-dozen toilers in the mead- ows. In the afternoon there was the raking and pitching, and what was known in meadow parlance "poling out." This consisted of carrying on two stout poles great tumbles of hay where the bog was too soft to admit of the team coming to them. It took two men, one at each end of the poles, which had been placed under the cock to be moved, and it was considered the hardest part of the day's work. He who had the forward end generally bore the heavier portion of the load, but the man at the other end had the disadvantage of not being able to see just where he was going. So it was not infrequent for him to fall over some hummock or hassock in the pathway. It seemed some- times, though of course it was not so, that he who led sought the roughest course he could find, instead of follow- ing the smoothest path. But the height of hilarity and enthusiasm was reached when the last load was being drawn out of the meadow. Not infrequently this was the largest one of the season, and usually the cargo was not in readiness to be started homeward until long shadows were creeping across the landscape. To insure its safety it was usually bound with a stout pole running the length of the load. As the oxen were started and the great bulky load was seen to move at last, the welkin would ring with the shouts of the workmen, who were never too tired to ex- press their pleasure at that time. Often, in the large mead- ows, several gangs of hands would be at work at the same time, in which case there would be an earnest rivalry to see who should get his tract finished first. Haying in those days was usually begun the first Mon- day after the Fourth, and including hay and grain, upland and meadow, with all hand labor, was not completed until the last of August or the first of September. All of the tools used in haying were made by the local blacksmith and of course were clumsy and heavy. The 360 HISTORY OF HUDSON light steel forks, similar to those in use now, were not in- troduced until about 1840. The horse rake was used by a very few about 1845, but did not come into general use until several years later. These rakes had steel spring teeth without wheels or guides and scratched up so much dirt and rubbish that they did not find much favor with the farmers. It required a boy to ride the horse and a strong man to operate the rake. Another rake that came into more or less use at that time had wooden teeth, and was known as the "revolver," which required a man, a boy and a horse to operate it, though it did more satisfactory work than the other. The first wheel rake was made of wood, and was hard to operate, both for horse and man. This was succeeded by the spring-tooth rake, which has been greatly improved since it was introduced nearly fifty years ago. The first mowing machine used in town was owned by James Pierce, Esq., about 1863. It had but one driving wheel, and was very imperfect, as well as hard to operate. It had a four-foot cutter bar, and did quite good work. A little later mowing machines were improved and came into general use. "Old" and "New Tenor" The following terms occur frequently in the old records and histories, when money matters are spoken of: "Old Tenor," "New Tenor," sometimes "Middle Tenor," "Ster- ling," "Lawful money," "Continental money," and "Bills of Credit." They occur in this history, and a little expla- nation may not be out of place. "Old tenor" was paper issued by Massachusetts about 1737, and by Rhode Island three years later. Each note bore the statement that its value was equal to gold or silver coin. "New tenor" was an issue made by Massachusetts in 1741. Between these dates the province had issued what became known as "Middle issue, or tenor." All of CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 361 these became very much depreciated after a few years. So in reckoning it was usual to distinguish between the differ- ent issues. "Lawful money" was money which by law was a legal tender for debts and dues. "Sterling" was an English term, and was gold and sil- ver coin of standard weight and fineness, so that at all times it was worth its face value. "Bills of Credit" was paper issued by authority of the state to circulate as money. "Continental money" was issued by Congress to bridge over the financial situation during the Revolutionary War, and soon became entirely worthless. Hence the ex- pression, "Not worth a continental." After the Revolution and previous to 1850, prices were more generally spoken of in English currency than in that of the United States. Some of the more common terms of value then in vogue were "four pence ha' penny," which was six and one-fourth cents, and "nine pence," or twelve and one-half cents. There were silver coins, principally Spanish pieces, which represented these values. When these coins became worn so that the inscription could not be read, a cross was made upon each side, after which they were passed for five and ten cents respectively. A shilling was 16 2-3 cents; two shillings was 33 1-3 cents; two and threepence, 37 1-2 cents; three and nine- pence, 62 1-2 cents; four and sixpence, 75 cents; five shil- lings, 83 1-3 cents; five and sixpence, 87 1-2 cents; seven and sixpence, $1.25; nine shillings, $1-50; ten and sixpence, $1.75; fifteen shillings, $2.50; sixteen and sixpence, $2.75. These terms, almost universally used for so many years, are now seldom heard. CHAPTER XXVII Items of Interest and Local Names It is impossible to ascertain where or at what time the first mill in Hudson was built. It appears that Joseph Winn had a mill not many years after the incorporation of the town at the place on Musquash brook later occupied for many years by Joseph B. Wilson. Mr. Wilson operated a saw and grain mill here, and the same mill was owned and occupied by Benjamin Merrill, and since him by Ed- ward F. Eayrs. Another mill at the privilege of the old Isaac Winn mill, near the James Barrett place, existed at an early peri- od. The road from the River road over Bush hill to Pel- ham line, laid out March 27, 1747, is mentioned in the rec- ords as "laid out to the Mill brook near the saw mill." It is not known who built this mill or who owned it at this time, but some of the Pollards operated it later, if not at that time. A saw and grain mill was located there for many years, but the supply of water usually failed in the summer season. Near the outlet of Otternick pond on Otternick brook, tradition claims an older mill than either of the preceding, a saw mill built about 1710. There is no record to tell who the builder was, or the exact date. The first settlers need- ed sawed lumber, and it must have been almost impractica- ble to have transported it from Dunstable, across the Mer- rimack, without a bridge or even an established ferry. Un- doubtedly it was one or more of these early settlers who constructed this primitive mill. About 1778, Moses Hadley built a grist mill and prob- ably a saw mill on the south side of the road upon the same stream. This mill stood near the site of the one last described, and twenty or more years later Mr. Hadley 362 ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 363 purchased the Richard Cutter farm, below this place, and built another saw and grist mill. This site was near that of the Melendy box shop of the present day. This mill was operated as late as 1870. In 1820, and for several years later, a clothing mill, and probably a carding mill, were located on Otternick brook about forty rods above its outlet into the Merrimack. At the laying out of a highway May 15, 1820, we find the following mention in the selectmen's records: "from the River road — by request of Capt. Joseph and Oliver Pollard — to their house near the River. They having paid the damage." These Pollards at that time were probably own- ers of the clothing mill. Later it seems to have been owned by Edward Field for several years. Operations at this mill seem to have ceased about 1830. A saw mill stood a little north of the Derry road on the Thomas Senter place, and near the small Senter bury- ing ground, for a great many years. It was destroyed by fire after 1860. It is understood that a grist mill was also located at the privilege. Samuel Marshall owned a saw mill located on the sec- ond brook a little less than one mile below Taylor's Falls bridge and not far removed from the Merrimack River. This mill stood for many years, but was finally suffered to decay and fall to pieces about 1835. Silas Hills, who lived towards the westerly end of Bar- rett's hill, erected a saw mill on the small brook north of his house between 1840 and 1845. He operated this mill when sufficient water flowed in the brook to give the neces- sary power. After several years of usefulness this mill was allowed to fall to ruin and decay. Cyrus Warren had a shop on the south side of Otter- nick brook, a little east of the River road, where he manu- factured planes for many years. His brother William erect- ed a shop for the same purpose on the north bank of the brook nearly opposite. Cyrus Warren removed to Nashua in 1857, and William died May 9, 1861, after which time no 364 HISTORY OF HUDSON more planes were manufactured in this town. The shops of the Warren brothers were afterwards converted into file factories, where John Turner, Samuel Walton, and others followed that business for a number of years. At some time a small mill stood at the brook, a little south of the Litchfield line on the east side of the River road. But it disappeared long since. After his death the mill erected by Moses Hadley was operated for many years by the Willoughbys, Ethan and Mark. Sometime previous to 1858 the mill was acquired by Daniel L. French and his son, Edward Payson French. They installed a large amount of machinery and engaged in the manufacture of extension tables and other furniture, an industry they followed with success for several years. This business was done under the firm name of French & Gould. Later Albert Shedd & Co., with Warren Spalding and Jacob F. Spalding, conducted a similar business here. They were succeeded by George S. Wood, who operated both the mills and also the table shop, for several years. The mills were burned in 1874 and rebuilt; they were again destroyed by fire about 1888. In December, 1892, George O. Sanders commenced the building of a box shop on the site of the present factory of Charles F. Melendy. He operated his mill for a few years, when it was burned and he rebuilt, to sell it to Mr. Melendy, who has made extensive additions to the shop and improvements, doing an increased business in the manu- facture of boxes. In 1820. the town contained four saw mills, four grain mills, two clothing mills and one carding mill. The Pine Tree Law It will be remembered by the careful reader of the Charter of Nottingham West that all xohite pine trees grow- ing within the territory and fit "for the royal navy" were reserved to the King for that use. Similar reservations were made in all the grants of townships throughout the province made by the royal governors. ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 365 As early as 1722 the New Hampshire General Court passed an act making it a penal offense for any person to cut white pine trees of twelve inches in diameter and over, a law that remained in force until the Revolution. In fact, this law had considerable to do with augmenting the trou- bles that led to the rebellion of the colonists. The fine for cutting trees twelve inches in diameter was £b\ twelve to eighteen inches, ,£10; from eighteen to twenty-four inches, .£20; exceeding twenty-four inches, £50. Besides all lum- ber from trees unlawfully cut was forfeited to the King. It is evident that this law must have been very unpop- ular with the farmers whose lands were covered with white pine forests, whose products were not only useful but need- ful in the construction of farm buildings and meeting- houses, and more essential to the inhabitants than to the King's royal navy. Persons styled "Surveyors of the King's Woods" were appointed by the King to see that this law was not broken, and at the time of the organization of Hillsborough Coun- ty, Gov. John Wentworth held that office, coupled with the power to enforce its unpopular aims. It was a part of the duties of the deputies chosen to help carry out the law to mark, at the expense of the owner of the land, all the pines deemed suitable for the royal use, with a "broad ar- row." This must be done before the settler could begin his clearing. Then, if one of the King's officers found one of these trees marked or unmarked, he would seize the log and sell it for the benefit of the royal treasury. The fol- lowing incident, narrated in the History of Hollis, by Sam- uel T. Worcester, is typical of the spirit of the times: Pine Tree Riot in Weare "In the spring of 1772 an incident occurred in the town of Weare, in the northerly part of Hillsborough County, that well illustrates the bitter, settled hostility of public sentiment to this odious law. 366 HISTORY OF HUDSON "A citizen of that town by the name of Mudgett, with others, had been charged by a deputy surveyor with un- lawfully cutting the king's trees, the lumber made from which was then at one of the saw mills in Weare. A com- plaint was made against the offender and a warrant issued for his arrest, and put into the hands of Sheriff Whiting for execution. "The sheriff, taking with him an assistant, repaired to Weare and arrested the accused. The arrest being late in the afternoon, the prisoner suggested that if the officer would wait until the next morning he would furnish the necessary bail for his appearance at the next court. "The sheriff acquiesced in the suggestion, and he, with his assistants, went to a tavern near by to pass the night. "The coming of the sheriff, with the nature of his mis- sion, to Weare, was very soon made known to the towns- men of the accused, who, to the number of twenty or more, met together, and during the night made their plans for bail of a different sort from that understood by the sheriff the evening before. Very early in the morning, while the sheriff was yet in bed, he was roused from his slumbers by his prisoner, who told him his bail was waiting at the door. "Whiting complained at being so early disturbed in his slumbers. The proposed bail, however, without waiting to listen to any complaints of this kind, promply entered the sleeping room, each furnished with a tough, flexible switch, an instrument better adapted for making his mark upon the back of the sheriff than for writing the name of his bail at the foot of a bail bond. Without allowing their victim time to dress himself, one of the company, as is said, held him by the hands, and another by his feet, while the rest in turn proceeded to make their mark upon the naked back of the sheriff, more to their own satisfaction than for his comfort or delight. "Having in this way, as they said, squared and crossed out their pine tree accounts with the principal, they after- wards settled substantially in like manner with his assist- ants. ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 867 "Having in this manner satisfied their accounts with these officers their horses were led to the door of the tav- ern, ready saddled and bridled, with their manes, tails and ears closely cropped, and their owners invited to mount and leave. Being slow to do so, they were assisted upon their horses by some of the company, and in that plight rode away from Weare, followed by the shouts and jeers of the rioters. "The sheriff was not of a temper to overlook or for- give such gross abuse and insults. He at once appealed to the colonels of the two nearest regiments of militia, and with their aid called out a posse comitatus who, armed with muskets, marched to Weare to arrest the offenders. The rioters for the time disappeared, but afterwards surrend- ered themselves, or were arrested, and eight of them were indicted for assault and riot, at the September term of the Superior Court, 1772. "At that term they were arraigned and all pleaded that they "would not further contend with our Lord the King but would submit to his Grace." Upon this plea the court fined them the very moderate sum of twenty shillings each with cost. "This slight punishment for such an outrage upon the high sheriff, when executing the legal process of the court, indicated that the sympathies of the bench were quite as much with the prisoners at the bar and common sentiment, as with the sheriff and the Pine Tree law. This law, as it was enforced, was more oppressive and offensive to the people of those times than the stamp act and the tea tax, and there is little doubt that the attempted execution of it contributed quite as much as either or both of those laws to the remarkable unanimity of the New Hampshire yeo- manry in the hostility to the British government in the War of the Revolution that soon followed." The incident just related may be justly claimed as among the very first overt acts of the people against the King. 368 HISTORY OF HUDSON "The Dark Day," May 19, 1780 The circumstances and appearances which marked this memorable day, as nearly as can be gathered from what was long ago related by aged people who witnessed the phenomenon, were as follows: The morning exhibited nothing remarkable except a smoky atmosphere, and a pale glimmering of the eastern sky. About eight or nine o'clock a thick haze obscured the sun. The heavens assumed a brassy appearance, some- thing like the moon under a total eclipse. About ten or eleven o'clock a gloomy and melancholy darkness involved all terrestrial objects. The domestic fowls and the birds and beasts repaired to the retreats of night ; consternation and terror seized the minds of mortals, who imagined the final end of all things was near. About noon the darkness was so great that it was necessary to light candles in the houses. This singular darkness and coppery hue of the sky lasted through the remainder of the day, and the following night was one of intense darkness. On the succeeding day the sun rose bright and clear. The Connecticut state legislature was in session at the time, and a motion was made to adjourn. A Mr. Daven- port, a member, arose and said: "Mr. Speaker, this is either the day of judgment, or it is not. If it is not, then there is no need of adjourning. If it is, I desire to be found doing my duty. I, therefore, move that candles be brought in and that we proceed to business." The motion prevailed. September 6, 1881, was a day of darkness. The weath- er was warm and the sky began to look yellow in the fore- noon. Everything had a yellowish appearance, and at times a greenish cast. It became quite dark. At times the clouded atmosphere presented a beautiful appearance. The darkest part of the day was about two o'clock in the ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 369 afternoon, but the darkness was different from that of night, it being extremely gloomy. Lights did very little good. It became normal about four o'clock in the after- noon. Cold Summer The spring and summer of 1816 were very cold and backward in New England. There were heavy frosts gen- erally in this section during every month of the summer season. In the latter part of the season but little rain fell and crops suffered on that account, as well as from frost. Most of the farmers in Hudson raised but little corn, and what they did succeed in growing was more or less frost- bitten, of small size and poor quality. It was said that there was not a bushel of sound corn, raised in town that year. A few, among whom was Wiliard Cummings, who planted ten acres of corn, were fortunate in raising a large quantity, and while it was not perfect, owing to the scarcity it sold at a high price, and was in great demand. It was difficult for farmers to procure seed corn for planting the following spring. There were fair crops of rye, wheat, potatoes and barley, but the hay crop was light. The spring of 1817 was normal, and average crops were raised that year. Cold Friday "The Cold Friday" of 1810 occurred on the 19th of January. In many places the cold was so severe that per- sons exposed to the elements were frozen to death, though no fatality of this kind was reported in Hudson. A strong wind prevailed, doing much damage, blowing down build- ings and trees. One who remembered it, said, "It was difficult to stand on one's feet, the wind was so strong." Thousands of tall trees were blown down, so that great de- struction was done to the forests. The cold was not so in- 370 HISTORY OF HUDSON tense as we have had it at other times, as indicated by the thermometer, the temperature being from fifteen to twenty degrees below zero. The mercury is said to have fallen fifty-five degrees in twenty-four hours, from Thursday to Friday noon. The Great September Gale On the 22d of September, 1815, one of the most vio- lent tempests ever experienced in New England, as far as is known, swept over Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire and vicinity. It raged about four hours, doing an immense amount of damage. Many houses and barns were unroofed or blown down, while fruit and other trees suffered greatly. Millions of feet of timber were destroyed in the forests. Hudson suffered greatly from this storm, and it became the most prominent subject of conversation for some time. Along the seacoast the tempest raged still more furiously, and the loss to shipping was great. Many lives were lost at sea. Solar Eclipse of 1806 The only total eclipse of the sun during the 19th cen- tury visible in New England, occurred on the 16th of June, 1806, between the hours of 10 a. m., and 1 p. m. The whole duration of the eclipse was three hours and nine min- utes, and the time of the total obscuration was two minutes and twenty-seven seconds. The day was clear, with scarcely enough wind to move the leaves upon the trees. At the time of the total eclipse it was said the planets Mars, Venus and Mercury were vis- ible, and the larger stars in Orion and Ursa Major. It was so dark during the eclipse that the bees returned unladen with sweets to their hives; the fowls went to their roosts; and the cattle in the pastures ceased grazing. The dark- ness was so great that objects could be seen only a short distance, and a considerable amount of dew fell on the grass. ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 371 February 12, 1831, an eclipse of the sun, the largest that had been witnessed since the total one in 1806, took place between 10.30 a. m., and 2.15 p. m. At five minutes past one o'clock 11.29 digits of the sun's surface were cov- ered. The weather was fair, allowing a favorable view of the phenomenon. At the time of the greatest obscuration the planet Venus was visible. Owing to the great distance of the moon from the earth at the time of the eclipse, it was not total, but the sun was so nearly covered that it appeared in the form of a beautiful narrow ring of burnished gold. Many people in Hudson supplied themselves with pieces of smoked glass and were delighted at the wonderful and beautiful display. Old Style and New Style Julius Caesar, forty-six years B. C, established the mean length of the year at 365 1-4 days, and decreed that every fourth year should have 366 days, and the other three years 365 each. This was known as the Julian Calendar. But this was not correct in its results. The Julian year ex- ceeded the true solar time by eleven minutes and fourteen seconds, causing the vernal equinox, in the course of cen- turies, to fall back several days. To correct this error and restore the equinox to its proper place, Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, directed the days to be suppressed in the calendar. This was accepted by the Catholics. The Protestant countries of Europe and America, however, were unwilling to adopt the new calen- dar because of its Popish origin, and they continued to re- tain the Julian system, or Old Style, as it was called. At length, in 1751, the British Parliament adjusted the calendar by providing that eleven days should be taken out of September, 1752, making the third day of that month the fourteenth, and that the year 1752 should commence with the first day of January. It was also arranged that every fourth year a day should be added to February, except such 372 HISTORY OF HUDSON as were divisible by one hundred and not multiples of four hundred. This became known "New Style." Organization of Hillsborough County Previous to 1771 there had been no division of New Hampshire into counties. Until that time the sessions of the General Court had been usually held at Portsmouth for the entire province. This was inconvenient to the inhabi- tants to the west of the Merrimack. Complaints were made by these people of that fact, and as early as 1754, a large portion of the settlers of the towns between the Mer- rimack and Connecticut rivers united in a petition to the General Court setting forth their grievance, and praying for a division of the province into counties. Finally, after repeated demands of this kind, the Court assented on March 19, 1771, and passed an act dividing the province into five counties, which were designated by the English names of Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Grafton and Cheshire. These names were bestowed by Governor Wentworth in honor of friends of his in England prominent in the government. The County of Hillsborough was organized the same year, with the county seat fixed at Amherst. Two of the first Judges of the Court of Sessions were Matthew Thorn- ton, of Merrimack, and Samuel Hobart, of Hollis. Benja- min Whiting, also of Hollis, was the first High Sheriff. Judge Hobart was made first County Treasurer and Regis- ter of Deeds, his office being at Hollis. Visit of General Lafayette to Concord The capital of New Hampshire was visited by General Lafayette June 22, 1825, when thousands of the citizens of the state embraced the opportunity of greeting the friend and companion of Washington, as well as a champion of the American colonies in the days of their struggle for in- dependence. Hudson was well represented upon that oc- ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 373 casion, among those taking the journey being many of the surviving veteran soldiers of the Revolution. More than two hundred of the companion-in-arms of the great French patriot were present. Edmund Parker of Amherst, was chief marshal of the day, Receiving the General at Pembroke, the civic escort proceeded towards Concord, and at the line] between the towns was met by a military escort called out for the occasion. This was under the command of Gen. Bradbury Bartlett, a grandson of Colonel Joseph Cilley of Revolutionary fame. The procession then marched up Main street to the North End, then returned to the State house, where the* military company formed on either side of the walk from the street to the capitol steps. The marshals, committee of arrangements and guests passed between the lines to Representative Hall, where the governor, council, senate and house of representatives were assembled. On entering the hall the presence of General Lafayette was announced to the convention, which rose to receive him. He was then introduced to Governor Morrill, who addressed him briefly in an appropriate speech, to which he replied. He was afterwards introduced to the members of the council and president of the senate by the governor. The president of the senate introduced him to each of the senators and to the speaker of the house, who performed a similar duty to each of the representatives. He then descended to the area below the hall and met the Revolutionary soldiers, where he was welcomed in their behalf by Gen. Benjamin Pierce. A dinner was served in the state house park, with about eight hundred of the citizens who assembled to honor the illustrious guest, who was seated at the right of the chief marshal of the day. Pounds Every town was required by law, under severe penalty, to maintain a good and sufficient pound, in which any per- 374 HISTORY OF HUDSON son could impound any swine, neat cattle, horses, sheep or other creatures doing damage in his inclosure, or any such creature going at large in any highway or common in vio- lation of any law or by-law of such town. A pound keeper was chosen annually, as one of the necessary town officers. The first mention found upon the town records of this town in relation to a pound, was that at the annual meet- ing March 7, 1737, "Voted that Joseph Hamblet, Jr., and Samuel Butler should have their pay for building a pound that the town now uses." This pound was probably in that part of Nottingham that later fell into Pelham. October 8, 1744. "Voted to build two pounds, one near Samuel Greeley's house and one near the house of Henry Baldwin." Henry Baldwin's house was near Beaver brook and the house of Samuel Greeley was about two miles south of Taylor's Falls bridge. March 9, 1747. "Voted to build a Pound near Mr. Abraham Page's Dwelling house, and chose Lieut. Joseph Winn and George Burns to effect the same." Mr. Abraham Page's house at that time was on the east side of the Lowell road, about twenty rods southerly from the first turnout on the street railway. These pounds may not have been all built, but such as were made were probably of wood. This last one was ac- cepted by the town May 18, 1748. March 5, 1759. "The town voted to erect a Pound to be set upon the town's land near the meeting-house." This was probably on the common near the Blodgett cemetery. March 9, 1772. "The town voted to build a Pound and set it on ye high land between Nehemiah Hadley's and Timothy Smith's, and chose Lt. Reuben Spalding, Asa Davis and William Burns a committee to effect the same, and also voted to build it with stone, and to be 33 feet within the walls, the height to be six feet of stone and one foot of wood, and that it shall be accomplished by the mid- ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 375 die of September next, and that the wages shall be fifteen shillings silver old Tenor per day for a man and ten shill- ings for a yoke of oxen and four shillings and sixpence for a cart." The pound was completed by the committee chosen, and the date of its erection, 1772, was carved upon its eas- terly gate-post. At the next annual meeting the town elected Timothy Smith keeper of the new pound. The town continued to use it to impound domestic an- imals at all times when required, for more than one hun- dred years, since which time it has fallen into disuse. In 1859 the town paid Silas T. Steele $11.58, for a new gate. In 1887 — the pound not having been called into use for several years, and having become slightly out of repair — some of the citizens of Hudson caused an article to be placed in the warrant for the town meeting, in substance: "To see if the town will vote to sell the Pound." When it came before the town for action in open meet- ing, objections were made to its sale, but rather it was thought that it should be kept by the town as one of its ancient relics. A vote was passed to put it into repair. Mark Bachelder repaired it at an expense of $11.50. There it stands today (1912), substantially in good re- pair; the old gate strong and ready for duty again at at an instant's notice. The large iron pad-lock, corroded with time, still hangs at the latch, as it has done in the past, to secure the entrance from unlawful tramps and in- truders. Citizens of Hudson! Behold your ancient pound where your ancestors placed it, and where it has stood for one hundred and forty years. It has withstood all the storms and tempests of the times. It is still strong and may stand for centuries yet to come. Our fathers taught us the noble lesson to do good, honest, thorough work. Then let the structure remain as a monument or relic to 376 HISTORY OF HUDSON greet our descendants for all time. Desecrate not a single stone. In every town are found local names applied to ponds, hills, streams, etc. It can be shown how a few such names in this town originated. "Tarnic Pond" This name was derived from the Indian name, Wat- tannock, which applied to a certain extent of territory, greater or less, situated on both sides of the Merrimack, near the mouth of the Nashua river; if, indeed, it did not apply to a small tribe or subdivision of a tribe of Indians that inhabited this place before the advent upon the scene of the first white settler, a statement made by some of the early historians. From the Massachusetts Court records of 1662, in the description of a grant of five hundred acres of land laid out to Joseph Hills of Maiden, and surveyed by Jonathan Danforth, we quote the following: Laid out to Joseph Hills of Maiden 500 acres of Land in the Wilder- ness, on the Eastern Side Merrimack River. One Parcel of the same containing (450) Acres Joineth to said River. Beginning at Wattannock Right Over Against the Island which Ly- eth at the mouth of Nashua River, Running up Merrimack 450 Poles by the River. Fox's History of the old township of Dunstable, page 22, says: "The valleys of Natticook, of Salmon brook and the Nashua, (or Wattannock as it is called in the Court Rec- ords,) especially near their mouths, were favourite resorts and abodes of the Indians." Nason's History of Dunsta- ble, page 61, under the head of "Water Supply," says: "For about two miles and a quarter along its western, border flows in a quiet current the beautiful Nashua River, once the favourite resort of the aborigines. It was an- ciently called the Watananock." McClintock's History of New Hampshire, page 131, says: ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 377 "During the year 1702 the colonial court of Massachu- setts built a trading-house for the Indians, and established a fortified garrison at Watanic — the Indian name of Nash- ua — which was afterwards called Queen's garrison, and was situated about sixty rods easterly of Main street in Nashua, and about as far north of Salmon brook." In the History of Hillsborough County, N. H., page 458, may be found : "Otternick (pond), more commonly called Tarnic, — lies about one mile east of the Merrimack, — contains 38 acres and empties into the river by Otternick brook about 80 rods below Taylor's Falls bridge The name was derived from an Indian name, variously given in the ancient records as Wattananuck, Watannuck, Watananock, Watananuck, Watannack, &c." New Hampshire As It Is, published in 1856, gives the names of the ponds in Hudson as "Little Massabesick and Otternick." New Hampshire Agriculture, 1874, page 428, also gives the same names to the ponds. The Statistical Gazetteer of New Hampshire, published in 1874 by A. J. Fogg, page 203, gives the name "Otter- nic," the terminal letter being dropped. The United States Topographical Survey, made in 1904, Manchester quadran- gle, gives the names of the ponds as "Otternic" and "Rob- inson's." The brook flowing from Watannock pond, as it was formerly named, to the river, afforded the inhabitants of the town a most bountiful supply of the small fish called alewives, whose flesh, although containing a large quantity of small bones, was very delicious and of fine flavor. This was the most noted brook along the river for the ascent of this migratory fish in May of each year. Myriads of them could be seen in it on their way from the river to the pond — about one mile — to deposit their spawn. The town appointed wardens "to take care that the fish are not obstructed in their passage up Wattannock Brook." 378 HISTORY OF HUDSON This action was taken for many years, and laws were passed by the General Court to prevent their obstruction. Robinson's Pond The original name of this sheet of water was "Little Massabesic," an Indian appellation said to mean the place of much water. Near the end of the eighteenth century Simeon Rob- inson settled on the north side of this pond, where some of his descendants still reside. During the last half century the name of the pond has undergone a gradual change until it has come to be almost universally known as Robinson's Pond. Barrett's Hill The old Londonderry line passed over Barrett's hill in a north-westerly and south-easterly direction, but so as to leave the majority of the inhabitants there north of the line. When that portion of Londonderry was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778, most of the farms on Barrett's hill were owned and occupied by Barretts, and they and their descendants continued to reside there for many years later. Hence the name. Bush Hill The name of Bush hill, which is situated in the south- east part of Hudson, and boasts several good farms, may be found in the early records of the town. Considerable research has been made by the writer to ascertain the ori- gin of the name, but without any success. Probably it will never become known. Hills Row This name was applied to a section of the Derry road extending: from the Alden Hills house about two miles east- ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 379 erly towards Londonderry. Nathaniel Hills once owned a tract of land there containing nine hundred acres, which was divided into farms of about one hundred acres each. Most of these farms were conveyed to his brothers and sons, who became residents upon them. As the result the name of Hills was to be found at nearly every house within the section mentioned for more than a hundred years. Two male residents, only, by the name of Hills, reside there at present. "The Farms" This name was given to that section extending from Taylor's Falls bridge up the Merrimack to Litchfield line, and included all the farms embraced in the original grant of four hundred and fifty acres of land to Joseph Hills in 1662. "Taylor's Falls Bridge" This locality was named from Taylor's Falls, a slight fall in the Merrimack some eighty rods below the bridge. It is supposed that the falls were named for John Taylor, who was one of the first settlers on Hills farms, or possibly for William Taylor, who was one of the early settlers near the falls. School Districts and School Houses School house Number One was called "Musquash," being situated near the brook bearing that name, the In- dian name of which was Nacook, and not far from Mus- quash pond. Number Two was known as "The Red School House," having, in the early part of the nineteenth century, taken its name from its color. Number Three — "Bush Hill" — was located on the hill of that name. 380 HISTORY OF HUDSON Number Four, formerly known as the "Old South," derived its name from the South meeting-house or the South common. Number Five, "Corliss Hill," was situated near the summit of a hill by that name, at the east part of the town. Near the base of this hill and on the east side, James Cor- liss settled about 1787, and the Corliss family continued to occupy the place until recent years. Hence the name. Number Six, "The Farms," from Hills' farms. Number Seven, "Frog Corner." The origin of this name, by which the district has been known from time out of memory, is not now ascertainable. Number Eight, "Barrett's Hill." Number Nine, "Kidder District," was situated near the farm once owned by Benjamin Kidder. Number Ten, "Hills Row." "Thurston's Jump" This is a precipitous, rocky bluff situated one mile dis- tant from Hudson Center in a south-easterly direction, and a short distance north of the Haverhill and Nashua electric line. It is considered one of Nature's curiosities, and has been visited by many people. This bluff is of a considera- ble magnitude. It was related to the writer many years ago by an aged person, that this name was derived from the fact that a cer- tain Mr. Thurston, after duly indulging in the "ardent," lost his balance upon the brow of the cliff, fell over the precipice and rolled to its base. He received some bruises, but was not seriously injured. A little later a deer, with a dog close upon its trail, coming to the cliff, went to the bottom many feet below, with a single bound. The dog soon followed. The result was that neither dog nor deer retained a whole limb. items of interest and local names 381 "Moose Swamp" This swamp is located at the north-east corner of Hills' meadow near the Bush hill road. It derived its name from the fact that the last moose known to have been in this town was killed by Asa Davis, Esq., at this place, about the beginning of the nineteenth century. "Chase Hill" Quite a lengthy and steep rise in the Bush hill road, a little north of Moose swamp, has long been known by this name. An old cellar a short distance north of the high- way at this place, indicates the site of a former dwelling. This was the home of Daniel Chase for many years subse- quent to 1792. Town Commons The South Common, as it was formerly called, origi- nally contained four or five acres when acquired by the town from Benjamin Whittemore in 1748. A piece of this land was taken for a cemetery, roads were laid out upon it, and probably it was otherwise infringed upon until its size was reduced to less than one and one-half acres. In 1798 a piece of it was given to the proprietors of the South meeting-house, then building, "to set said meeting house on, so long as a meeting house shall be continued there." Soon after the South meeting-house had been sold by the proprietors and removed from the common, Zaccheus Colburn, a grandson of Captain Thomas Colburn, one of the early settlers of the town, sold the common at auction, for the sum of sixty-seven dollars, Joseph Blodgett being the purchaser. The conveyance was a deed of quit claim, dated March 11, 1845, and recorded in Vol. 285, Page 408, and signed by Zaccheus Colburn, Mary Hills, Lydia Har- ris, Sarah Colburn, Paul Colburn, Isaac Colburn and Susan E. Proctor, with their wives and husbands. 382 HISTORY OF HUDSON Beginning at a small elm tree at the intersection of the roads near Eben Hadley's; thence northerly across the road leading to Winn's Mill' to Nathan Blodgett's land; thence westerly by said Blodgett's land and land of Mrs. Doil to the south east corner of the grave yard ; thence wes- terly by the grave yard wall to the south west corner of the yard ; thence northerly by the grave yard wall to Mrs. Doil's land; thence westerly to the county road ; thence southerly by the road to land of Joseph and Jos- eph Blodgett Jr.; thence easterly by said Blodgett's land to the place of beginning. Apparently there was some error or misunderstanding in regard to the ownership of this common. A nephew of Zaccheus Colburn, Captain Isaac, who died March 5, 1890, aged 91 years and three months, several years previous to his decease, in a conversation with the writer concerning the ancient meeting-houses of the town, stated: That two meeting-houses were built upon the lands of his grand- father, Captain Thomas Colburn. That these lots were to revert whenever they should cease to be used for the pur- pose for which they were given. This was true of the lot near Musquash brook where the first meeting-house was built in 1734, but does not seem to have been the case with the South common. The town records plainly show that this common was formerly owned by Benjamin Whittemore, and seems to have been acquired by the town from him in 1748. No conveyance is to be found, yet it may have been recorded in Masachu- setts. There is no evidence whatever that at any time it belonged to Thomas Colburn. Hence the supposed error. The Common at the Center, or North Common, as well as the old burying ground adjoining the same, are both located upon land that was included in the farm of Deacon Henry Hale, though no conveyance of either by him to the town can be found. The common and burying ground together form a triangle, surrounded by roads and lying directly across the highway from the site of the North meeting-house, erected about 1771. They are bordered by the Windham road on the north, by the Pelham road on the south-west, and by a short piece ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 383 •of road, passing between these two, on the east. The common contains some two acres. It is not known whether the common or the burying ground was the -first to be occupied, but it seems probable that, at the time the North meeting-house was built, or soon after, Deacon Hale gave this land — surrounded by roads and thus cut off from the rest of his farm — for a com- mon and public burying ground both. The burying ground contains one-half an acre, and was located at the south-east corner. However the titles to this land may have been ac- quired from Deacon Hale, the ownership of the same by the town is not known to have ever been questioned by anyone. The old militia trainings were held upon this common. At one time a set of hay scales was located upon the south side, opposite the Tenney tavern, which occupied the site where Henry C. Brown's house now stands. In 1859 the near-by neighbors planted the common with trees, and otherwise improved it. Many of these trees did not thrive, but several are still alive and flour- ishing. Stocks For the punishment of minor offences stocks were for- merly in vogue in this town, and perhaps the whipping post, too, although no record of the latter is found. The stocks were made of timbers with holes in them for the feet — and frequently for the hands as well — one- half of each hole being in each of two timbers, one of which was above and rested upon the other. The offender was made to sit at a convenient distance in front of the ma- chine, and the upper timber was raised until the feet could pass between them. Then the ankles were placed in the parts of holes in the lower timber and the other was low- ered and locked in its place. The process was repeated 384 HISTORY OF HUDSON with the hands in another set of timbers higher up, and thus the culprits were confined securely until such time as they were released by the officer in authority. On September 21, 1747, at a town meeting held at the house of Benjamin Whittemore, it was voted "to erect a pair of stocks." "Voted three pounds Old tenor money to erect the same. "John Marshall was chosen to build said stocks." It is not known where these stocks were located, but it seems most probable that they were placed upon the common soon after its acquisition from Mr. Whittemore. "Potash Corner" This corner is situated on the Derry road at the "four corners" near the small Senter burying ground in the north-easterly part of the town. It is not known how the name was derived. "Lawrence Corner" Lawrence Corner is situated in the east part of Hud- son, near Beaver brook, and took its name from a Law- rence family that resided in that vicinity for many years. Library Park For several years previous to 1911 the small triangular tract of land, containing about an acre and a fourth, or fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven feet, situated some sixty rods to the north-east of Taylor's Falls bridge and on the south-east side of Derry road, had been under discussion by the citizens of Hudson, residents of that section, as a public park for the town's use. On the high ground and not far from the north angle of this tract, a very ancient cellar, of some historical value, was situated. ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 385 It was undoubtedly the site of Nathaniel Davis' home. Nathaniel Davis came into this town — probably from Ha- verhill, Mass. — as early as 1755, and settled near the ferry — now Taylor's Falls bridge — where he remained for sev- eral years. At one time he seems to have owned the ferry. He became an influential citizen, had a large family of chil- dren, and later removed to what became the John M. Thompson farm, one and a half miles to the north, and died there September 18, 1783, aged 58 years. About 1891 George O. Sanders came into possession of this triangular piece of land, for which he paid a large price — said to have been about thirteen hundred dollars. Later he plotted it into nine or ten small building lots and offered them for sale, but did not succeed in selling any of them. Several years later the title of this land was acquired by parties living in Nashua, by whom it was divided into eleven house lots and offered for sale at public auction, of which two lots, only, were actually sold. In the early spring of 1911 a party that had acquired the title to one of the lots sold, began preparations for for erecting a small house thereon. It was then apprehended by the inhabitants that, should a majority of these lots be built upon with buildings necessarily small and, most likely, of an inferior quality, it would prove to be of no real benefit to the town, and might possibly prove to be detrimental. The matter of acquiring this tract for a public park had long been in agitation, but no real aggressive move- ment towards its attainment had ever been inaugurated. At the annual town meeting in March, 1911, the war- rant contained an article as follows: To see if the town will vote to purchase or acquire the triangular tract of land situated near Hudson Bridge, bounded by Ferry Street, San- ders Street and the Derry Road, and owned by Charles S. Clement and others, for town purposes ; raise and appropriate money therefor or take any other action relating thereto that may be deemed expedient. 386 HISTORY OF HUDSON This article was by vote indefinitely postponed. Later a subscription paper was circulated which was signed quite liberally, and a considerable sum of money subscribed. In the meantime the small house, which had been be- gun on one of the lots, had progressed quite rapidly. A special town meeting was called, to meet on the 15th day of May, 1911: "To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to ac- quire the land by the Right of eminent domain for a public park." At that meeting the following resolution was offered by Dr. Alfred K. Hills, who had always been keenly inter- ested in the acquisition of this land for a park. Resolved, That the Board of Selectmen of the town of Hudson are hereby authorized to acquire by condemnation or other proceedings, and grade the triangular piece of land, bounded by Derry Road, Sanders and Ferry Streets, for the purpose of a public park, to be known as Library Park, provided there shall be no expense to the town whatever. The same Board of Selectmen are also authorized to appoint a com- mission to lay out said park and a superintendent to care for the same, also without expense to the town. This resolution was passed by a unanimous vote. Dr. Hills proposed to bear all the expense for the purchase of the land and the grading of the park, with such assistance as the venerable Mrs. Mary Creutzborg might wish to give. This land was then procured of the several owners at the expense to Dr. Hills and Mrs. Creutzborg of sixteen hundred and ninety dollars. To satisfy the owner of the house which had been erected, and to compensate him for the small lot upon which it stood, another much larger and more desirable site was procured upon which a cellar was constructed, to which the building was removed. In doing this an expense of seven hundred and seventy dollars was incurred which was paid from the fund raised by individual subscriptions already mentioned. A little later the tract was surveyed by an engineer, and properly laid out for a park, soon after which the grading ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 387 was commenced. When brought to a proper grade it was heavily surfaced with soil and seeded with lawn grass. Also the roads upon the east and south sides were lowered to harmonize with the grade of the park. An ornamental and enduring little structure, largely of concrete, and well adapted as a pleasant resting place for those awaiting the electric cars, is placed at the south- east corner of the park. A rough granite boulder is locat- ed near the south-west angle, and facing the south-west, on whose front is securely bolted a heavy circular bronze tab- let bearing this inscription : Library Park The gift of Mary Field Creutzborg. 1911 This was all completed in 1911 by Dr. Hills and Mrs. Creutzborg. In the spring of 1912 the park was planted with ornamental shade trees and shrubbery, and otherwise beautified. This is one of Hudson's most valuable assets, and it is greatly appreciated by her citizens, who feel very grateful to the donors for their considerate generosity. Warning People Out of Town In May, 1719, it was enacted by the General Court of New Hampshire, "That if any person came to sojourn in any town in the province and be there received and enter- tained by the space of three months, and not having been warned by the constable to leave the place, and the names of such persons, with the time of their abode there, and when such warning was given, returned to the quarter ses- sions; such person shall be reputed an inhabitant of such town, and the town is liable to maintain such person. It is also enacted, that any person so warned out, and neglect- ing for fourteen days to remove, may by a warrant from a Justice of the Peace be sent from constable to constable unto the town where he properly belongs, or had his last residence, at his own charge, if able to pay the same, other- wise at the charge of the town sending him." 388 HISTORY OF HUDSON In early times the selectmen were very alert in pre- venting new-comers from becoming town charges. Incase they had been legally warned and notified to leave within a certain time, if later they became so impoverished as to need aid, the town was not liable for their support, but as- sistance must be sought at the place from whence they came. It is not implied that the constable had power to eject from town the persons notified, but in case of need the town could not be compelled to assist them. Some- times persons of considerable means received a warning. May 15, 1749, William Hills and his family were warned to leave the town by Thomas Kinney, constable, by order of the selectmen. June 17, 1751, Lydia Mansur, with her child, living at the house of Thomas Brown, was warned to leave town by order of the selectmen. October 17, 1751, Mary Cloyd and her child, residing at the house of John Tarbox, were warned out of town by order of the selectmen. April 2, 1755, Mary Lowell was warned to leave town. (Widow woman late of Londonderry). October 26, 1758, Nathaniel Jewell, wife and family, late of Dunstable, warned to leave town by order of the selectmen. June 4, 1759, order from selectmen to warn Mark Per- kins and family and mother, Mary Perkins, to leave town. August 17, 1759. Like order to Daniel J. Shepard and his wife. June 10, 1761. Martha Chase of Newbury, Mass., warned to leave town. June 18, 1761. Jeremiah White, wife and family of Ipswich, warned to leave town. July 30, 1762. Elizabeth McMaster, wife of Samuel McMaster of Pelham, ordered to leave town with her family. June 30, 1763. Zebediah Richardson, late of Pelham, warned to leave town by order of selectmen. Also same date, Mary Lowell, widow woman, warned to leave town. TTEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 389 July 4, 1764. Roland Rideout, Judith Rideout, Susan- na Rideout, Nathaniel Rideout and Abigail Rideout warned to depart and leave the town. June 16, 1769. Order to warn Robert Bettys, Hannah Bettys, Andrew Bettys, Jr., and Esther Bettys to leave town. August 28, 1769. Rhoda Lund warned to leave town. April, 1770. Mary Brown warned out of town by the constable and returned to the Court of General Sessions. Also Esther Jarvis and her children warned out and returned at the same time, by Samuel Greele, Jr. January, 1771. Rhoda Lund and Esther Blanchard warned out of town by Jeremiah Blodgett and Samuel Hills and "returned to ye clerk of ye court of General Sessions." September 30, 1776. Order to John Hale, constable, to warn Thomas Campbell to leave the town. September 30, 1776. Order to John Hale, constable, to warn Patrick Lanagee and Elizabeth Lanegee, his wife, to leave town. March 3, 1777. A like order to warn William Bailey, a minor, to leave town. October 27, 1779. Order to warn Joseph Parey to leave town. At the annual town meeting, March 1, 1790, the elev- enth article in the warrant was as follows: To see if the town will vote to take David Campbell out of the Gould (Jail) at Amherst where he is confined for his Rates for the year 1788. It was "Voted, that the selectmen take this article into consideration and act as they think proper." Murders The first murder committed in this town, so far as is now known, occurred June 26, 1775, when Samuel Davis, son of Ensign Nathaniel Davis, was slain with an ax in the hands of Roland Rideout, an insane person. Davis was engaged in constructing a water hedge at the shore of the Merrimack river, on the line between his 890 HISTORY OF HUDSON father's land and the Cummings farm, about sixty rods north of Taylor's Falls bridge. He was born in this town December 21, 1757. Probably Rideout was assisting in the work, as on March 6, 1775, the town voted to give Nathan- iel Davis four shillings per week, lawful money, for keep- ing Roland Rideout. Rideout continued to cause the town much trouble and expense, until 1779, when he was removed to Wilton at an expense to the town of ;£30-5s-0d lawful money. A very sad event occurred in this town June 14, 1873, in the cold-blooded murder of a beautiful, promising, chris- tian young woman, which cast a gloom over the entire community. A happy family, residents of a humble home in the north-east section of the town, comprised Charles Wood, his wife, Louisa (Cummings) Wood, and two daughters, Ella F., nearly twenty-one years of age, and Emma E., who was in her twentieth year. A young man, William H. Jewett, who had no steady employment, but who traveled upon the road a portion of the time, selling goods in a small way, had become ac- quainted with the family, and very much attached to the elder daughter. He was very persistent in pressing his attentions upon her, and continued to do so for a considerable period of time. Finally, acting in accordance with parental advice, the young lady rejected the ardent wooer. He immediate- ly became desperate, and on that beautiful June day, hav- ing come to her home prepared for the deed, he discharged his revolver at her point blank. The bullet entered her forehead and passed through her brain. From the same weapon he sent a second bullet into his own head. He died from the wound two days later, while his victim lived just one week after the fatal shot was fired. She died on June 21, 1873. This was a stunning blow to the unfortunate family, from which they never fully recovered. CHAPTER XXVIII Great Storms and Freshets The Merrimack River, usually so calm and beautiful, at times is transformed into raging violence and becomes appalling in its appearance. Freshets at irregular periods have been recorded when great damage was done. These floods resulted from sudden thaws, with excessive, warm rains, melting large bodies of snow, especially when the ground was frozen, or from long storms when great quanti- ties of rain fell. Usually the first form proved the most dangerous, as in addition to the uncommon volume of water the river would be filled with floating cakes of ice broken up by the warm weather and rain. With the present system of storage of surplus water, and lack of the great forests to hold the snow, great fresh- ets are not liable to occur as frequently as formerly. Still it is only a few years since that the Merrimack in forty- eight hours was transformed from a peaceful river flowing gently down to the sea into a foaming, roaring torrent car- rying terror and destruction in its pathway. The proprie- tors of locks and canals on the Merrimack River were the pioneers in the matter of retaining, as far as possible, any overflow to be used in times of drought and low water. This was done for the beneht of the big mills along the stream, and by means of dams at the outlet of Lake Win- nepesaukee, and other bodies near the head-waters of the Merrimack, hundreds of square miles of country have been flowed to several feet in depth, and held in reserve to the time of need. These reservoirs are mostly in Bel- knap and Carroll counties. This partial control of the sur- plus water has served to check somewhat the volume of the floods at the periods of overflows. A few of the most noted and destructive freshets within the records of those times 391 392 HISTORY OF HUDSON are described here. Chase, in his History of Haverhill, Mass., gives the following account of a freshet in 1740: "The summer of 1740 was remarkable for the amount of rainfall which fell and flooded the country, as the subse- quent winter was for the severity of the cold. It was prob- ably the most severe winter that had been known since the settlement of the country. "After a very wet summer and fall, November 4th it set in very cold. On the 15th a foot of snow fell, but on the 22d it began to rain, and it rained three weeks togeth- er. This produced a freshet in the Merrimack 'the like of which was not known by no man for seventy years.' The water rose fifteen feet in this town and floated off many houses. "On the 12th of December, the river was closed by the severity of the weather, and before the first of January, loaded teams, with four, six and eight oxen passed from Haverhill and the towns below to the upper long wharf at Newburyport." Freshet of 1818 A destructive freshet occurred in the spring of 1818, of which Chase speaks in his history, as follows: "In the spring of 1818 occurred one of the most re- markable freshets recorded in the history of the Merrimack towns. The snow had been suddenly melted by a violent rain, and the water rushed down the valley of the Merri- mack with the greatest fury, tearing up the ice, which was nearly two feet thick, with the noise and convulsions of an earthquake. "Driven into immense dams the ice rolled and flew about in every possible direction. The river was raised twenty-one feet above common highwater mark; the coun- try around inundated; buildings were removed and de- stroyed; and ruin spread on every side. The noble bridge across the Merrimack at Rocks Village became a total GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 6U6 wreck, and its fragments were soon lost to sight in the an- gry and merciless flood. The appalling sublimity of the great freshet of 1818 will never be forgotten by those who witnessed its desolating march." Bouton's History of Concord, N. H., describes the freshet of 1818 in the following words: "On Tuesday, May 5th, was an unusual freshet. The intervale was covered with water, and the river extended from its usual channel to from one to two miles. Bridges in the town were impassable for a number of days. No spring freshet is recollected to have been so high. The bridge between Boscawen and Canterbury was carried away." Freshet of 1824 Bouton's History of Concord, page 771, contains an extract from the Diary of John Kimball, which speaks of this freshet as one of great violence. February 10-11 a great thaw set in, and on the 12th the ice left the river and carried off Federal bridge. Freshet of 1839 Another extract from Mr. Kimball's Diary says: "1839, January 26, Rained for twenty-four hours; the river rose fifteen feet in fifteen hours, and came within three feet of the door steps of the house, and to the top of the sills of the barn, which was occasioned by the river being damned up by ice. "It carried off all the bridges on the river except Fed- eral bridge and that so damaged as to be impassable." At Amoskeag Falls this freshet created great havoc and presented a sublime spectacle. Great cakes of ice went tearing over the dam, and for a time the first cotton mill which had been recently built on the river bank near to the brink of the tumbling waters was seriously threat- ened. It subsided without doing any particular harm. 394 HISTORY OF HUDSON Great Freshet of 1841 In his History of Concord, page 444, Bouton speaks of this freshet of January 2, 1841, as "one of the most re- markable ever known on the Merrimack in the winter. On Tuesday week the cold was excessively severe, the mercury down to sixteen, eighteen and nineteen degrees below zero in the morning. Wednesday moderate, eight degrees be- low zero, and commenced to snow. Thursday, rain and strong south wind. Friday, as warm as April. At noon the river had risen four or five feet; by night its banks were nearly full. "About seven in the evening the ice started, and im- mediately a crashing sound, nearly as loud as the report of a small cannon announced the destruction of the east part of the Free bridge, and pier after pier, and section after section followed, till a little past eight, all but one pier on the west was carried away. "One pier of the Federal bridge and two lengths of stringers were carried away. The ice blocked up the chan- nel of the stream above the Lower bridge, and turned the water over the intervale, thus saving the bridge. Fears were entertained that the river had cut a new channel for itself, but it soon resumed its old channel. "The ice between Wattanummons and Federal bridges was piled up in such quantities that some of it remained till the following May." The writer of this — at that time being a boy of twelve years of age — well remembers the freshet of 1841, together with the sudden and severe thaw which caused it. The early winter had been severely cold, and an un- usual amount of snow had fallen for the season, The change in the temperature was sudden and radical. The weather became almost as warm as summer, with south and southwest winds accompanied by a great fall of rain. The snow nearly all was quickly melted and this water ad- ded to the large amount of rain that fell, raised the river to GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 395 an uncommon height. The ice was broken up the whole length of the river from the lake to the sea, which created furious onslaughts of the swirling flood and caused much damage to property, to say nothing of lives that were en- dangered. Nearly all of the bridges above that at Taylor's Falls were swept away. Freshet of 1843 The winter of 1842-3 was remarkable for its deep snows and cold weather. The first of April, 1843, about four feet of snow lay on the ground at Hudson. The melt- ing of the snow during this month caused a very high river. Bouton's History, page 453, gives the following account of this outcome: ''April 27. The freshet in the Merrimack River has been higher at Concord than has been known for a great number of years. The water, which a week ago last Mon- day was the highest, fell some four feet by the last of the week. Since that time, in consequence of rains and rapid melting of snow, it has been rising again. A great portion on the intervale is submerged, and the entrance into Con- cord from the east over Federal and Free bridges is im- possible." Freshet of 1852 A very noted freshet occurred in the Merrimack val- ley about April 23, 1852. A wooden bridge over the Nash- ua river in Canal street, Nashua, was carried away. The water in the Merrimack came up on the boarding of the Taylor's Falls bridge about twenty inches, rising nearly to the floor of the bridge. The water overflowed the road from the end of the bridge nearly to the Concord railroad station, covered Bridge and Hollis streets, so that it was necessary to use boats. 396 HISTORY OF HUDSON HlGHWATER OF 1862 April 20, 1862, the Merrimack River was very high, but not as high by two or three feet as it was in April, 1852. The ice having left the river earlier, very little dam- age was done by the high water along this part of the river. Freshet of April 16, 1895 A freshet occurred in April, 1895, which raised the Merrimack to a higher point than any previous for many years. The river overflowed its east bank opposite the mouth of the Nashua river, and covered the land as far east as Webster street The ice had principally left the river sometime previous, so that at this time little damage was done along this section of the Merrimack. Great Freshet of 1896 On March 2, 1896, the Merrimack was higher at this point than it had been since 1852. It was not far from the same height it had reached at the latter date — probably a little higher. If this is true it was the highest freshet that has taken place here for about a century, so far as I have been able to learn by historical evidence or family tradition. It rained almost continuously Saturday and Sunday, February 29 and March 1. The river was rising very rap- idly on Sunday, and the ice, having been weakened con- siderably from the warm sun of the previous days, was broken up and went out on this day before the water had become extremely high. Before midnight, March 2, the river gained its highest point, and began, slowly at first, to recede. The weather turned colder Tuesday, March 3, and the water fell very rapidly. At the highest point during this freshet, the water covered all of the traveled part of Webster street directly GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 397 west of the house of Kimball Webster, so it was just six feet, six and one-half inches lower than the top of the stone underpinning of that house near the front door. The sur- face of the flood was between three and four feet only be- low the floor of the iron bridge across the Merrimack. This was two feet higher than the deck of the wooden bridge that spanned the river at the same point in 1852. The water was several feet deep in Hollis and Bridge streets on the west side in Nashua, and it became neces- sary to resort to boats for transportation between Hudson and Nashua. Accounts of other freshets, of greater or less severity, on the Merrimack might be given, but these few, which are the most noted and remarkable that are recorded, will suffice. Great Snow Storm of 1888 A most remarkable snow storm took place in March, 1888. In the forenoon of Monday, the 12th, snow began to fall moderately, but increased during the afternoon and that evening it fell furiously. A strong wind was blowing from the north-east, and the damp, heavy snow was drifted badly on the country roads. The storm did not stop until the morning of the 13th, and as it cleared away all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania and other sections of the country were blocked by the storm. The highways were universally impassable for teams, and a large amount of shoveling was required before they could be opened. Almost all of the railroads in New England were complete- ly tied up for one or two days, and some of them for much longer. The annual town meeting in New Hampshire fell upon Tuesday, but very few were held in the state on that day. In Hudson a few of the legal voters whose residences were near the town house — the place of the meeting — met and legally adjourned until Saturday, March 17. On that date 398 HISTORY OF HUDSON the town meeting convened, and its regular functions were performed, officers elected and business transacted as usual. A majority of the towns in the state took similar ac- tion, only a very few being able to carry on the regular business as intended. CHAPTER XXIX Ferries and Bridges Eleazer Cummings established the first ferry across the Merrimack of which there is any account. This was soon after the town of Nottingham was incorporated, and crossed just below the mouth of the Nashua river. The ferry was continued at this place by Mr. Cummings until about 1742, when, as family tradition relates, in considera- tion of an agreement to convey himself and family over the river free of expense at all times when practicable, he re- linquished his rights to another person, who established a crossing below the present location of Taylor's Falls bridge. If this person's name was Dutton or not there is nothing to show now, but the ferry was called Dutton's Ferry, for Jo- siah Dutton, who owned it at one time. The old ferry road on the east side descended the river bank near where the present highway meets the bridge, and the way to the ferry on the west side was where Crown street intersects with the river. February 6, 1749, John Snow conveyed to Ezekiel Page a certain tract of land in the Township of Dunstable. now in Nottingham West, containing thirty-six acres, in consideration of ,£460 Bills of Credit, Old Tenor, the deed recorded in Vol. 2, page 377, Hillsborough County Reg- istry of Deeds: Beginning at the south east corner (S W) at a Black Oak tree stand- ing on the Bank of Merrimack River marked with I. B. being the north west corner of Joseph Lemon's Esqr's land, thence easterly by marked trees to a pine marked I. B. being the south east corner. Thence north- erly by Josiah Cummings land 30 tods and a half to a stake and stones in the north east corner, thence westerly a straight line to a stake & stones being about 10 rods from said River, keeping the same width as at the east end — that is 30 1-2 rods from the south line. 399 400 HISTORY OF HUDSON Thence running north west to Merrimack River to a stake & stones on the bank of said River. Thence southerly down said River to the first bound. Bounded northerly by Nathan Cross' and Morgson's land & Easterly by sa Witnessed by Eleazer Cummings and Benjamin Snow. The land conveyed by this deed included all that was used for the purpose of the ferry on the east side of the river, extending northerly of the bridge several rods so as to include the Ferry road. Ezekiel Page and his brother John probably carried on the ferry for many years. Captain Joseph Kelley owned and operated this ferry for nearly twenty years, beginning about 1776, and he was succeeded by Joshua Hamblet, who was proprietor until he was drowned in 1812. His son Josiah then owned and con- tinued this ferry until Taylor's Falls bridge was completed, when it was discontinued, after a continuous existence of eighty-five years. It is possible there were other persons owning the ferry during these many years, but if so it was only for short periods and the names of the parties have not been preserved. Hills' Ferry Not many years after the incorporation of Notting- ham, Nathaniel Hills, who had settled about half a mile northerly of the old Hills garrison place in 1739, established a ferry across the Merrimack known as the Hills' Ferry, soon after his settlement here. Mr. Hills died April 12, 1748, and he was succeeded in the ownership of the ferry by his son Oliver, born November 18, 1727, and died after 1783. His son, Philip Hills, born May 2, 1754, appears to have been the next owner of this ferry, which he operated for many years, though he probably resided on the west side of the river in his later life. There was a ferry house on that bank. He died July 14, 1841. Oliver, son of Philip Hills, lived at the Hills Ferry place, where he died April 6, 1863, aged 56 years. His son, George E. Hills, FERRIES AND BRIDGES 401 was the last of that family to reside there. He was born there in 1836 and died in 1904. Hills' Ferry was always owned and operated by the family, until 1827, when it was discontinued. Hardy's Ferry This ferry was located in the southerly part of the town, and was established by Jonathan Hardy, who was first assessed in 1743. The earliest mention of the ferry in the records was at the laying out of a highway, March 26, 1746, running from the county road to Hardy's Ferry. This crossing of the Merrimack was nearly oppo- site the South Nashua station on the Boston & Maine rail- road The cellar of the old ferry house may be seen on the east side of the river. This was later known as Pollard's Ferry, and appears to have been owned for many years by Capt. John Pollard, son of John Sr., who was born November 20, 1752. Later this was called Corey's Ferry. This ferry, like the others mentioned, was discontinued about the time of the building of the bridge at Taylor's Falls. Taylor's Falls Bridge As the number of inhabitants increased and the traffic across the river became greater, the need of a bridge was apparent. Accordingly, in 1826, some of the more promi- nent citizens of Hudson and Nashua Village signed a peti- tion to the State Legislature calling for a charter to build a bridge, and this was granted to "The Proprietors of Tay- lor's Falls Bridge" for that purpose. At that time there was no bridge across the Merrimack between Lowell and Manchester, though there was one at each of those places. Taylor's Falls bridge was completed in 1827, and opened as a toll bridge. The structure was built of old growth native white pine teamed from New Boston, and was of lattice work. It was 509 feet in length, with a road- 402 HISTORY OF HUDSON way about sixteen feet in width, but had no sidewalks. The sides were covered with boards, and it had a shingled roof over it. The easterly span was 153 feet and ten and one-half inches in length ; the middle span was 143 feet and seven inches; the westerly or Nashua section was 164 feet and eight and one-half inches, not measuring any part of the pier or abutments. The piers had one tier of faced stone on the outside filled with loose stones, all laid dry without any cement. The expense of building this bridge was a little less than twelve thousand dollars. This was no small under- taking for the stockholders, but it proved a profitable in- vestment in the end. It should be remembered that Nash- ua Village, had, but a short time before the building of this bridge, sprung into existence. Seven years before the completion of Taylor's Falls bridge, a few of the leading citizens of that part of Dunsta- ble now comprising Nashua had conceived the idea of build- ing mills at Mine Falls on the Nashua river, where a saw mill had been erected on or before 1700, according to Fox. This original idea was finally abandoned, and the present site of the mills was adopted, thus locating the town three miles east of the position it would have occu- pied had the first plans been carried out. In 1823, a charter was granted to Daniel Abbott, Moses Tyler, Joseph Greeley, and others under the name of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, with a capital stock of $300,000, divided into three hundred shares of $1,000 each. The capital stock was afterwards increased to one million dollars. Within a year considerable of this stock had been disposed of to capitalists, work was begun on the dam at Mine Falls, and the excavation of the canal which was to lead to the proposed factories. This canal is about three miles in length, with a width of sixty feet, a depth of six feet, with a head and fall of thirty-three feet. In 1824, a charter was obtained by the Nashua Manufacturing Com- pany for the purpose of building a "canal with the neces- FERRIES AND BRIDGES 403 sary dams and locks to connect the Nashua with the Mer- rimack River." This work was carried out so the way was open for the transportation of goods in the spring of 1826. The lower dam across the Nashua river was built at this time. The locks, which were near the east end of what is now Lock street, were of solid stone, twenty-four feet high; each lift being ten feet wide and eighty-one feet long. They cost $20,000, while the canal dam added ten thousand dollars to this sum. The canal was of great advantage to the growing vil- lage, which was rapidly becoming the center of business for the surrounding towns. It was well situated as regard- ed the transportation of the merchandise of the day. Boats plied up and down the Merrimack between Concord, Man- chester and Lowell, while the route was continued to Bos- ton by the Middlesex canal. In May, 1825, a portion of the lower water privilege, now occupied by the Jackson Company, was sold by the Nashua Manufacturing Company to Charles C. Haven and others, who were incorporated under the name of Indian Head Company, for the purpose of erecting woolen facto- ries. These works went into operation in 1826. The pop- ulation of Dunstable in 1820 was 1,142, and in ten years it had increased to 2,417, the gain made mostly at the manu- facturing village which had come into existence within the period. Not many years after the bridge was built at Taylor's Falls an ice jam and high water pressed so hard against the Hudson pier that fears were entertained for its safety. To avoid this danger in the future an ice break was erected in 1834, which is still in its place. The original bridge was lighted nights by oil lanterns always hung at the north side. In the winter season, when snow was on the ground so as to make sleighing, the floor of the bridge was kept covered with it. The toll-house was located on the north side about fifty feet west from the 404 HISTORY OF HUDSON end of the bridge. The gate crossed the road from the toll-house to a high fence on the south side, and was usual- ly kept open in the day time, but closed at night and bolted. Zadok Farmer was the toll-gatherer for many years, but sometime before it became a free bridge John M. Sanders held the position. The enterprise proved profit- able, netting satisfactory returns to the stockholders, and it continued as a toll-bridge for twenty-eight years, when under a petition to the supreme judicial court, the county commissioners laid out a public highway over the bridge from Nashua to Hudson, and it became a free bridge in 1855. Eventually the bridge became unsafe for travel, and at the annual town meeting, March 8,1881, "Kimball Web- ster, Stephen D. Greeley, Osgood Hill, James B. Merrill and Enoch Cummings were chosen a committee to exam- ine Taylor's Falls Bridge, and to consider what in their judgment would be best, to repair or rebuild, and to report at an adjourned meeting the 22d, to which time this meet- ing was adjourned." At the adjourned meeting the com- mittee reported that it considered any repair of the old bridge inexpedient and unprofitable, and it unanimously recommended the building of a new one, its construction to be begun as soon as practicable. This committee also advised the building of an iron structure to take the place of the wooden one. This report was accepted, and the committee was authorized to confer with a committee ap- pointed by the city of Nashua relative to building a new bridge. At the annual town meeting March 14, 1882, this com- mittee reported that after careful investigations, coupled with the work of the committee for the city of Nashua, they adopted from among several proposals from different com- panies that submitted by the Corrugated Metal Company, of East Berlin, Conn. It also decided that the grade of the bridge be raised two feet above the old one, which would make the new stone masonry upon the piers and abutments FERRIES AND BRIDGES 405 about five feet in height. The contract was awarded to this company for $19,500, the stone work under the bridge included, and the contractors were to remove the old struc- ture, having the old material. After the bridge had been placed in position and opened for travel it was thought best to add an extra railing on the south side for the further protection of the public. The cost of the bridge and the repair of the ice pier, as far as the town of Hudson was concerned, is shown in the following report: Contract with Corrugated Metal Co $9,750.00 Corrugated Metal Co., extra railing 250.00 Corrugated Metal Co., extra railing at end of bridge 189.00 C. J. Griswold & Son., extra work on pier and abutment 53.00 C. W. Spalding for stone 132.00 For labor fitting and laying stone 113.45 For sewer pipe, grate, use of derrick, cement, blacksmithing, etc 49.30 For grading 69.30 *Services of Engineer, E. H. Hewins, of Boston 75.00 Traveling expenses, postage, etc 29.62 $10,710.67 This included the total expense of the bridge to Hudson, excepting the repairs of the ice pier, which amounted to 99.93 Total expense $10,810.60 Hudson received from Nashua towards the ex- pense $1,500.00 Hudson received from Londonderry 800.00 Hudson received from Litchfield 1,200.00 Total $3,500.00 Leaving an actual expense to Hudson of ... . $7,310.60 * Mr. Hewins was a bridge engineer, and was employed to report upon the strength and value of the bridge. He did no other engineering in connection with its building. 406 HISTORY OF HUDSON The bridge was completed so as to be open to public travel November 29, 1881, though James Ryan had crossed it with a light team the evening before. With the exception of new planking once in two or three years, an occasional tightening of the rods and a new coat of paint, the bridge received very little repairs for fourteen years. This was in 1895, and in order to strength- en it for the passage of the electric cars running between Nashua and Lowell, the railroad company put in all new floor beams, and materially strengthened the structure in other ways at an expense of $10,000, all of which was borne by the company. In response to a petition from a number of citizens in the autumn of 1908, the selectmen of Hudson built a wind- shield on the north side of the bridge to protect those crossing the river, from the biting blasts of winter that had a wide sweep down the course of the stream. A similar petition was presented to the city of Nashua, which was complied with the following year, These fences were to be removed during the summer months. In the summer of 1909 another and more serious ques- tion asserted itself in the minds of the people, and this was the safety of the bridge in allowing the passage of the heavy electric cars, which were more than double the weight of those first used on the line when the transit of them was allowed. To settle the matter the city govern- ment of Nashua called an expert engineer from Boston, a Mr. Pettee, to test the bridge and report as to his finding. He found it unsafe and reported accordingly. Not satisfied with this report another engineer was asked to make an examination and he corroborated Mr. Pettee's statement. The selectmen of Hudson immediately issued a call for a special town meeting, and this was convened Septem- ber 22, 1909, when it was voted to take action in regard to building a new bridge of iron or steel. The selectmen were authorized to confer with representatives of Nashua and the managers of the Boston and Northern street railway FERRIES AND BRIDGES 407 relative to what should be done. It was also voted that Kimball Webster and Sidney P. Gowing should serve as a committee to act in conjunction with the selectmen. This committee, with the Board of Public Works of Nashua, formed a joint committee, which held numerous meetings, and procured plans and specifications for a new steel bridge, with a road-bed twenty-eight feet in width and a sidewalk six feet wide. This structure was to be of suffi- cient strength to carry a fifty-ton car. Bids were also pro- cured for building the bridge above the foundation of stone work. The lowest bid was from the Boston Bridge Com- pany, which was for #38,692.00. At the annual town meeting, March 8, 1910, an article "to see if the town would vote to raise sufficient funds to build a bridge across the Merrimack at Taylor's Falls" was indefinitely postponed. At this meeting a new board of selectmen, consisting of Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley and Guy A. Hop- kins, was elected. The plan of building a concrete bridge instead of a steel structure was now agitated. The select- men, with the committee on bridge, Messrs. Webster and Gowing, met with the Board of Public Works of the city of Nashua, in joint convention to consider the feasibility of this plan. The result was a warrant for a special town meeting in Hudson to be held May 14 to act upon the mat- ter. In order to have the necessary number of voters at the meeting an earnest effort was made in that direction, with satisfaction, so when the vote was taken there were 192 voting in favor of the construction of a concrete bridge and two against it, the entire number of ballots cast being 194. The selectmen elected in March, with Kimball Web- ster and Nathaniel Wentworth, were authorized to confer with the Nashua Board of Public Works, and with them to procure the construction of a concrete bridge across the Merrimack in place of the iron bridge then spanning the river. The joint committees acted promptly, so that June 408 HISTORY OF HUDSON 6, 1910, a contract was signed by the joint committee or? one part and Fred T. Ley & Co., (Limited) of Springfield, Mass., on the other. This provided for a reinforced concrete bridge according to the specifications of a plan furnished, the structure to consist of five arches, with four piers and an abutment at each end, the roadway to be thirty feet clear with an overhanging sidewalk on the north side six feet in width. The contractors were to provide for the necessary travel — restricted — over the river during the construction of the new bridge, at their own expense. Ten days of cessation of traffic was allowed the builders in which to remove the old bridge, the new structure to be finished within 120 days, Sundays and stormy days except- ed. The cost was fixed by the contract at $74,480.00. The difficulty and expense of the construction of the foundations on the Nashua half of the bridge very much exceeded the same on the Hudson end. The abutment and two piers of the latter were located on solid ledge foundation, and the water was only a few feet in depth. The Hudson abutment was in excellent condition and only needed to be faced in concrete. Both the Nashua piers were located in water thirteen or fourteen feet deep, with an unsafe bottom, which needed to be piled to insure an en- during foundation. The original abutment here had been set on a treacherous support. Work was begun upon the Hudson abutment by the contractors June 14, 1910, and continued with a rapidity and regularity so that the last pieces of the old iron bridge were removed November 14. The first teams to cross the new bridge, which was still unfinished, was on November 17. The electric railroad track was laid through the cen- ter of the bridge, November 23, and the first electric car to cross the new bridge passed over about eight o'clock the same evening. The running of cars over the old bridge had been suspended about the middle of July. During this interim of more than 130 days, all passengers going to or from Nashua by the electric lines were compelled to walk over the bridge. FERRIES AND BRIDGES 409 The work upon the bridge was not finished, but was suspended for that season by the contractors December 19, and was resumed the following spring. Later in the season of 1911 the westerly pier, or pier No. 4, was found by engineers to be defective, it having places in the interi- or containing weak concrete. This defect was to be over- come by reinforcing the pier with a solid concrete wall of several feet in thickness around it. But the work was begun too late in the season to complete it, so that it had to be suspended until the spring of 1912. The Hassam pave- ment was placed upon the bridge in September, 1911. The work of reinforcing and strengthening pier No. 4, as had been recommended by the consulting engineers, J. R. Worcester & Co., of Boston, Mass., which engineers have a reputation of being one of the most reliable and best equipped firms of engineers in New England, was completed about the first of September, 1912. The engi- neers made a final report, September 4, 1912, which report is copied in full and is self explanatory: Sept. 4, 1912. Bridge Committee of Town of Hudson and City of Nashua, N. H. Gentlemen : We would respectfully report that the Contractor for the Taylor's Falls Bridge has completed the work of reinforcing Pier No. 4, to our sat- isfaction and that we see no reason why the bridge may not now be safely accepted by the Committee. When we first examined the bridge about a year ago, we found a con- dition of the foundation concrete of Pier No. 4, which indicated that it was not properly cemented. This condition we considered to be of such gravity that we recommended that a careful examination be made of this foundation concrete, not only in Pier No. 4, but also in Pier No. 3. This further examination having been authorized by you we had va- rious holes excavated in both these foundations, and found that the con- dition in Pier No. 4 was very bad, while in Pier No. 3 the concrete was fairly good. It seemed as if there were danger in allowing Pier No. 4 to stand as it was through the winter, and a design was prepared by us for reinforcing the foundation. The execution of this reinforcing was en- trusted to Fred T. Ley & Company, the Contractor for the Bridge. 410 HISTORY OF HUDSON The scheme for strengthening consisted in driving a row of piles around the foundation and enclosing them in a coffer dam about two feet away from the old foundation. The space between the coffer dam and the old foundation was filled with first class concrete, and the top was capped with a heavily reinforced ring of concrete surrounding the old pier and wholly enclosing all the material of the quality of which there was the slightest suspicion. The Contractor was able to get in the piles, the coffer dam and the most of the concrete before being driven out by high water in December. This afforded sufficient protection to the pier to prevent any damage. As soon as the water dropped this summer, the coffer dam was pumped out and the work carefully examined. No injury being discovered, the cap- ping of reinforced concrete was applied. As stated in our report of October 23, 1911, we consider that the bridge, except for Pier No. 4, which has now been repaired, is free from defects which impair its strength or durability. The blemishes to its ap- pearance which we have noted, are not, in our opinion, of structural im- portance. We take pleasure in adding that in the matter of repairing Pier No. 4 we have found the contractor desirous of doing everything to our entire satisfaction, sparing no expense to accomplish a good job; and we believe in this he has been successful. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) J. R. WORCESTER & CO. A final meeting of the joint committee was held at the City Hall, Nashua, October 14, at 7.30 p. m., when there were present, William H. Barry, mayor, president ; John Hagerty, Frank T. Lewis, Joseph Rousseau and Erwin O. Hathaway, city engineer; clerk of the Board of Public Works of Nashua, and Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, Kimball Webster and Guy A. Hopkins, of the committee of Hudson. The report of the engineers was read, when it was voted unanimously that the bridge be accepted and that the balance due the contractors, Fred T. Ley & Co., be paid. CHAPTER XXX Cemeteries and Burial Grounds There are in Hudson eight cemeteries or burial places* These are known respectively as Hills Farms Cemetery, Ford Burial Yard, Blodgett Cemetery, Old Hudson Center Burying Ground, Senter Yard, Sunnyside Cemetery, Hud- son Center Cemetery, and Catholic Cemetery. While there is no positive proof of the fact, it has long been conceded by the older inhabitants that the Hills Farms cemetery is the most ancient in town. Hills Farms Cemetery The original part of this cemetery is situated upon level, sandy land nearly midway between the Derry and Litchfield roads, bounded northerly by the highway called Derry Lane, and about two miles from Taylor's Falls bridge. This section was laid out upon the south-east cor- ner of the Hills garrison farm, where Nathaniel Hills and his brothers, Henry and James, settled in the pioneer days of Hudson. The exact date of its being laid out, or of the first in- terment, are not known, but must have been several years subsequent to the time of the Hills settlement, as two or three young children of Nathaniel Hills were interred in the ancient burial ground at South Nashua, near the South Nashua railroad station, after Mr. Hills and his family had lived at the garrison house. The early settlers seldom erected head stones with in- scriptions at the graves of their deceased friends and rela- tives, so the markings that are found do not indicate the earliest interments. It is probable that this place was used as a burial ground previous to 1730. 411 412 HISTORY OF HUDSON The first mention of this cemetery to be found in the town records is under the date of April 4, 1749, when the town Voted to change the highway between land of Edward Spalding and Roger Chase by the Farms burying ground. It was again referred to December 13, of the same year, in another lay-out of the same road, Derry Lane, which "runs the North side of said Burying place." The most ancient date found upon the head stones in this yard is that of "Joseph, son of Capt. Ezekiel and Mrs. Esther Greeley, who died Sept. 18, 1749." The date 1738 is found upon a common stone at the head of an ancient grave, but there is no other inscription whatever. There is no record found to show that this yard was ever conveyed to the town, but it was used as a public burial place, and it is it probable that it was given for that purpose by Nathaniel Hills. The family names most frequently found upon the head stones are Hills, Greeley, Spalding, Marsh, Marshall, Pierce, Cross and Sprake, all of which were numbered among the early settlers upon the Hills Farms. About 1873, small additions of one rod in width were made by the purchase of land upon the south and west sides, and the yard was soon after inclosed by a stone wall with iron gates. The additions, with other vacant land in the yard, were laid out into lots, streets were graded, the bushes destroyed and other needed improvements made The yard as inclosed contained a little less than one and one-half acres. By Chapter 190 of the Laws of 1885 this yard was in- corporated under the name of "The Farms Cemetery." This charter was amended by Chapter 159, Laws of 1905, by changing the name to "The Hills Farms Cemetery." Since the extensive improvements made in 1873, the yard has been under the supervision of officers, who have kept it in excellent condition. CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 413 Dr. Alfred K. Hills, in view of a needed extension of these grounds, purchased a large tract of land adjoining on the east and extending to the Derry road. He has had about six acres of this land surveyed and bounded, as an intended addition to the old cemetery. This proposed ad- dition has a frontage of 330 feet on the Derry road, extend- ing westerly at a right angle 760 feet on the south side to the corner of the old cemetery wall. On the north side it runs 873 feet to Derry Lane. When this addition, with the proposed improvements, is accomplished, it will make this yard the most spacious, with the exception of the Catholic cemetery, and the most accessible, convenient and attractive in Hudson. Ford Cemetery The next burial yard in order of antiquity, and claimed by some to be the most ancient, is a small cemetery in the south part of the town, south of and near the location of the first meeting-house, erected in 1734. It was the usual custom of the early settlers of New England to have a burying ground, or church yard, as it was called, adjoining the meeting-house lot, sometimes extending on three sides. In this case this could not be done on account of the char- acter of the land surrounding the house of worship, but a lot as near by as could be found suitable was selected. This place was laid out and consecrated to the use of a burial ground not far from the date of the building of the church in 1734. The oldest inscription found in this yard is that of En- sign John Snow, which is dated March 28, 1735. Ensign John Snow was assessed in 1734, and the town records give the date of his death as March 21, 1735. This is a small yard, containing about one-half acre. It has been used by a few families, residents of the south part of the town, and has been carefully kept. It is in- closed by a stone wall, with an iron gate. 414 HISTORY OF HUDSON The most frequent names among the inscriptions are Snow, Merrill, Ford, Fuller, Gowing and Barron. Within this yard is the grave of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first settled minister of the town, who preached here more than half a century. Blodgett Cemetery The third burial yard in order of age is the Blodgett cemetery, which has sometimes been called "The Old South," and is located near the Lowell road, about one and one-half miles south of the bridge. It contains about one acre, and was acquired by the town from Benjamin Whit- temore for a meeting-house site and for public uses. The second meeting-house erected by the town in 1748, stood on the southerly side of the yard and near the present gate of the cemetery. This burial plot was the church yard flanking the church on the rear and both ends. As we have seen, in time the meeting house was moved away, and a school house, No. 4, was built upon its site. This, in the winter of 1855, was burned. Before this time a question seems to have arisen as to the validity of the town's title to the lot. At a town meet- ing held at the North Meeting-house, November 28, 1839, a committee consisting of Jeremiah Smith, Thomas B. Wa- son and Daniel T. Davis, was chosen "to examine into the claim the town has to the common and grave yard near the South meeting house." At the annual meeting March 11, 1840, the town "Voted to accept and record the Report in relation to the boundary line of the burial ground at South meeting house, Viz:" The undersigned a committee chosen at a legal Town meeting to es- tablish the boundary lines of the Burying ground at the South meeting house in Hudson have attended to the duty of their appointment, ask leave to report. The committee met on the 14th day of Feb., 1840, on the premises together with Reuben Greeley Esq., the owner of the lands on the east & CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 415 north lines of the said Burying ground, and the said committee and the said Reuben Greeley Esq. did mutually agree to establish said east & north lines of said Burying ground as follows, to wit: Beginning at the south east corner of said Burying ground, at the corner of the wall, on the north side of the highway, at a stone set in the ground with stones about it; thence N. 21° W. 14 rods 17 links in the direction of the wall which is now partly built, to a stone set in the ground with stones about it; thence S. 67° W. 16 rods 10 links to a stone set in the ground with stones about it at the highway. THOMAS B. WASON, JEREMIAH SMITH, Committee. DANIEL T. DAVIS, As the site of the old meeting-house upon which the school house stood was a part of the public land bought by the town of Benjamin Whittemore, in 1748, when the school lot was abandoned the land reverted to the town, and was added to the cemetery. A little later a cemetery associa- tion was organized, and it is understood was incorporated either by the state legislature or under the revised statutes. Then the yard was inclosed by a stone wall, with iron gate, was cleared of bushes and rubbish and otherwise improved. Family lots were located and laid out upon the vacant grounds, and, either from carelessness or willfulness, new lots were plotted upon the mounds of ancient graves, which were obliterated by this vandalism, which seems to the writer inexcusable, and lacks the veneration that rightfully be- longs to the memory of our departed ancestors. Land in Hudson has not yet become so dear as to make it necessary to use the same ground more than once for burial pur- poses. The most ancient date found among the inscriptions of this yard is that of Priscilla Chase, who died October 5, 1749. The names that most frequently appear on the head stones in this yard are Blodgett, Greeley, Burns, Chase, Pollard, Winn, Wason, Hale, Caldwell, Page, Wilson, Cross, Merrill and Burbank. 416 history of hudson Old Hudson Center Burying Ground The old cemetery at Hudson Center contains about one-half acre. The land was given for the purpose by Dea. Henry Hale about 1775. There is a tradition that a Mrs. Gibson was the first person buried in this yard, but the date has not been preserved. The oldest inscription is that of John Haselton Smith, son of Page and Lydia Smith, who died September 5, 1778, aged two years and eight months. This yard, being small, became filled with graves many years since, and burials ceased to be made there. It was a public burial place, and after it became filled, it was for many years neglected, and became overgrown with bushes and small trees. The question of removing the remains was at one time agitated, for the purpose of adding the ground to the public common. A petition was circulated to call a special town meeting, April 22, 1871, but the at- tempt to carry out this idea was opposed by a majority, and the article was dismissed. The discussion aroused by this action may have at- tracted the attention of a wealthy son of Hudson, Mr. John Foster, who had been a merchant in Boston for many years. A young brother of his, John Hastings Foster, born December 11, 1811, and died April 26, 1818, and whose little head stone can be seen now, helped to stimu- late the sentiment of Mr. Foster to a righteous indignation over the neglect of the town's people. In 1886 he offered to pay the town one thousand dollars, to be expended in clearing up, fencing and improving this yard, the town agreeing henceforth to keep it in proper condition. This matter came up for consideration at the annual town meeting in March, 1887, when the generous offer was gladly accepted. A committee consisting of Kimball Web- ster, Daniel M. Greeley and Henry C. Brown was chosen to build the wall and improve the yard. Later Mr. Foster increased his gift to twelve hundred dollars. CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 417 The committee contracted with Mr. Moses Davis, of Nashua, but a native of Hudson, to build a granite wall, laid in cement, every stone of which should reach through the wall, supported by a substantial foundation and capped with long stones. The wall was completed within the ex- pense of twelve hundred dollars, but without any profit to Mr. Davis, who made as good a wall as was possible with the money regardless of any benefit to himself, on account of his interest in the town. The yard was cleared and made as attractive as possi- ble, and when Mr. Foster came with his only daughter to see it, he was entirely satisfied with the work in every re- spect. That he might express this satisfaction in a more substantial manner he soon after forwarded the committee three hundred dollars, to be divided equally among the members, to pay them for their services as building com- mittee. The citizens of Hudson owe an enduring debt of gratitude to Mr. Foster for his patriotic generosity, and to Mr. Davis also. The names most frequently found in this yard are Smith, Barrett, Haselton, Page, Marshall, Robinson, Cor- liss, Glover, Hale and Merrill. The Senter Burying Ground A small burial place containing about three-fourths of an acre, and called the Senter yard, is located in the north- easterly section of the town, at "Potash Corner," so called in years gone by. The home of Dea. Thomas Senter, from whom it probably derived its name, was near by. The yard lies in that part of the town annexed to Notting- ham West from Londonderry, in 1778, and from the dates of the inscriptions it appears to have been a place of burial for many years previous to the annexation, by several fam- ilies that formerly resided in the south-east corner of Lon- donderry, as well as others living in Nottingham West, now Hudson. 418 HISTORY OF HUDSON The names most frequently found are Senter, An- drews, Greeley, Farley, Kidder and Hobbs. The most an- cient date is upon a stone roughly marked E L e. KID. Feb. 24, 1759. This may be an abbreviated form for Kid- der. The next date reads as follows: Here lyes the body of Mrs. Jean Senter, wife to Mr. John Senter. She died July 10, 1765. Aged <57 years. The yard is situated upon very hard, gravelly ground, where the digging is difficult, but it seems to be nearly filled with graves, though only a small percentage of them are provided with head stones and inscriptions. Many years since this little cemetery was inclosed by a very respectable stone wall, but as time passed on it was neglected, until some of the wall had fallen down, so that cattle from the adjoining pastures could enter here and feed at their pleasure. Bushes began to grow above the resting-places of the dead, and altogether the yard became forsaken and neglected. But in 1897 the selectmen, acting under the session laws of that year, repaired the wall, set an iron gate, and transformed the cemetery into a very re- spectable condition. Hudson Center Cemetery When the old cemetery at the Center had become nearly filled with graves, the necessity for a new yard in that vicinity became apparent. Accordingly an association was formed for that purpose in 1849, and at its first meet- ing, December 24, a permanent organization was effected. By-laws were adopted and officers chosen. The signatures to the by-laws were : Eli Hamblet, Reuben Greeley, Jefferson Smith, John M. Farnum, Joseph B. Dane, Jeremiah Smith, Daniel M. Greeley, James Melvin, Amory Burnham, Dustin B. Smith, Thomas Smith, 2d, Henry Smith, Jr., CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 419 James Smith, 2d, William F. Lewis, Noyes Tenney, Kimball Smith. The officers elected were: Jefferson Smith, Joseph B. Dane, James Smith, 2d, Dustin B. Smith, Daniel W. Robinson, Directors; Amory Burnham, Treasurer; Eli Hamblet, Clerk. Land for the use and purpose was donated by Reuben Greeley, Esq., and it was inclosed later by a substantial stone wall. Tastefully laid out into lots and streets, less than half a mile westerly from Hudson Center, the new cemetery is very convenient to the people of that vicinity. The expense incurred was paid from the sale of lots. After the Nashua and Rochester railroad was laid out, an addi- tion was made to the cemetery by the purchase of the land between the original bounds and the railroad land, making a total area of about three acres. This cemetery has been kept in an excellent condition, and a large number of beau- tiful monuments have been erected here. Sunnyside Cemetery This cemetery is situated on the northerly side of the road leading from the bridge to Hudson Center, about three-fourths of a mile from the former place. The first meeting of the Hudson Cemetery Association, as the soci- ety was named, was held at the house of Ethan Willough- by, December 6, 1845. Articles of association were signed at this meeting, and it was agreed to purchase a piece of land from William Hadley, situated on the north side of the road leading from the North meeting-house to Mr. Hadley's dwelling house. This plot was about two hun- dred feet deep and one hundred and thirteen feet wide, and designed to be used forever as a cemetery. The articles of association were signed by Ethan Willoughby, David Burns, Paul Colburn, Abiather Winn, Cyrus Warren, Mark Willoughby, 420 HISTORY OF HUDSON Nathan Marshall, Benjamin A. Merrill, William Hadley, William Blodgett, David Clement. There is no record found of any meeting being held for several years after the organization of the association. Still it is probable that meetings were held, as the follow- ing account has been preserved : Money Paid Out June 1, 1846, paid William Hadley for land $13.00 November 3, 1849, paid order of Cyrus Warren 4.00 7, " paid order of Charles W. Clement . . 19.00 January 5, 1852, paid order of Ethan Willoughby .... 25700 " interest on same 6.50 The money paid Mr. Willoughby was undoubtedly for the stone wall with which he inclosed the ground, as it ap- pears, in 1851, and incidental expenses. The sale of the first lot recorded is Lot No. 17, to Al- fred Cummings, April 8, 1851. Previous to 1885 all the lots in the cemetery had been sold, and during that year one acre of land on the east side was purchased, and the wall removed so as to include this addition. The new ground was then laid out into lots, and since then all of these lots have been taken up. In 1910, a half acre of land was secured of George W. Marshall for a second addition, and this has been improved. The incorporators at their meeting of organization voted that the yard should be called "The Hudson Ceme- tery," and therefore that is the legal name, but of late years it has been generally known as "Sunnyside Ceme- tery.'' It contains many fine monuments, but unfortu- nately the adjoining grounds do not offer, at present, very favorable opportunity for further enlargement. Catholic Cemetery This cemetery, situated on the east side of the Derry road, about three-fourths of a mile north-easterly of Tay- CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 421 lor's Falls bridge, was laid out and consecrated by the Church of the Immaculate Conception, of Nashua, in or about 1857. Ten acres of land were bought for the purpose of a cemetery, extending easterly from the Derry road about three-fourths of a mile. Excepting about an acre on the east side that is swampy and unfit for cemetery purposes, nearly all of the lots of this yard have been taken up. With few exceptions, the interments made here are of persons who were non-residents, principally from Nashua, and num- ber several thousands. In 1907, a strip of land one hun- dred feet wide was secured on the north side and an en- largement made to this cemetery. Cemetery of the Unknown In addition to the eight burial places already described, there is one more in town, humble and unpretentious though it is, destitute of a monument or head stone to give an in- scription or record as to the names of those persons whose bodies filled the graves beneath the many mounds, which are still visible, but diminishing year by year. This yard formerly belonged to the old town poor farm, which, situated on the Derry road at the north-east part of the town, the second farm on that road south-westerly of the Londonderry line, was bought by Hudson in 1828, in the days when the resident poor were kept at the town farm. The town maintained this farm for forty years, when, in 1868, it was sold and the few paupers boarded out at the town's expense. So far as it is possible to ascertain from the records, the number of unfortunate inmates of the alms- house during those two score years, varied from six to sev- enteen, the average being from ten to twelve. Many of these eventually found their last resting-places in unmarked graves in this Potter's field. Not a few of them had been prosperous citizens at some time in their lives, but had met with reverses of fortune, and thus their declining years 422 HISTORY OF HUDSON were passed in darkness, and the closing scene became one of pathos and lasting sadness. The number of deaths at the alms-house during the forty years of its occupancy is impossible to be ascertained at this time, but the average was probably more than one a year. The remains of these, or at least a majority of them, were interred in the pasture, some distance west from the highway, without any identifying marks to dis- close the name of the person sleeping away the years in an unmarked grave, where the feeding cattle were allowed to roam at their will, trampling upon the mounds of those who once had their friends and loved ones, but whose mem- ories are now lost to the world. Beyond dispute this was an inexpensive way to dispose of the poor worn-out bodies, but would it not have been much more creditable to the town of Hudson to have had these unfortunates interred in some ground set apart for that purpose? If there could have been no inscribed head stones, the town could at least have had the graves num- bered and recorded, so that in coming years the name of each occupant might be ascertained if nothing more. CHAPTER XXXI The Foster Fund — Surplus Revenue In our description of the Center cemetery we have had occasion to speak of the generous assistance given its im- provement by Mr. John Foster, Jr. John Foster, Sr., who was an inhabitant of this town, kept a grocery store in the Eli Hamblet house at Hudson Center for about nineteen years, from 1811 to 1829 inclusive, where he was generally liked and seems to have had a good business, considering the size of the place. He removed from town prior to 1830. Mr. Foster married for his second wife, Miss Lucy Hastings, of Bolton, Mass. Four children were born to them while they lived in this town: John Hastings Fos- ter, born December 11, 1811; Emily Foster, born August 25, 1813; John Foster, born December 30, 1817; George Foster, born September 23, 1821. Of these children, the eldest, John Hastings Foster, died April 26, 1818, in his seventh year, and was buried in the old cemetery at Hudson Center. John Foster, Jr., became a wealthy merchant in Bos- ton, where he died in 1897. Previous to his decease he executed a will under date of November 21, 1896, in which he provided for many very substantial bequests to cities, towns, public institutes, many of them charitable, and for other purposes. In this will he showed that he still re- membered his native town: Twenty-third — "I give and bequeath to the town of Hudson, in the state of New Hampshire, the sum of five thousand dollars to be held and invested as a fund, the interest and income of which are to be expended under the direction of such person or persons as the inhabitants of said town may from time to time designate, in procuring any needed medicines and proper delicacies for sick or infirm inhabitants of said town, and in relieving the wants of worthy poor and needy inhabitants of said town who are not paupers." 423 424 HISTORY OF HUDSON This came before the town as one of the articles to be acted upon at its regular town meeting March 8, 1898. It was thankfully and unanimously accepted by the town, and Kimball Webster, Hiram Cummings and Henry O. Smith were appointed a committee to take charge of the same. The amount of the legacy was soon after received from the executors and was invested by the committee in the town of Farmington, N. H., four per cent bonds. The •income has since been distributed among the worthy poor of the town, according to the provisions of Mr. Foster's will. It has apparently been the means of relieving or pre- venting much suffering and has caused the happy smile of gladness to cover many despondent faces, as well as be- stowing sincere thankfulness for the thoughtful generosity of Mr. Foster. Surplus Revenue In 1836 the United States Congress enacted a law transferring $37,468,859.97, the surplus revenue, to the sev- eral states. This money had accumulated from the sale of public lands. The New Hampshire Legislature, at the November session, 1836, passed an act authorizing the state treasurer to receive the public funds and give a certificate in behalf of the state that the amount should be safely kept and re- paid whenever called for. In accordance with the congressional provision, New Hampshire was to receive its share in four regular instal- ments, January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, 1837. The first three, amounting to $669,086.79, were received by the state, but the fourth was never paid. The state also passed an act to deposit this money with the several towns in the following compound ratio: One-half of each town's share was to be made out according to its proportion in the last assessment of public taxes, and the remaining half ac- THE FOSTER FUND — SURPLUS REVENUE 425 cording to the number of ratable polls in 1836. The towns were to receive their several shares after voting to accept the money, pledging their faith to safely keep and repay it, and appointing an agent to receive it and execute a certifi- cate of deposit. This certificate, to be signed by the town agent, re- cited, first, that the town had complied with the conditions of the law; second, that it had appointed an agent, and third, that the state treasurer had paid him the money. The agent also certified that the sum had been deposited with the town, and that the town was legally bound, and its faith solemnly pledged for the safe keeping and repayment of the same. The law compelled the state treasurer to pay over the amounts on receipt of the certificate from the agent; made the towns accountable for the money, and provided that in case they did not repay it on request of the treasurer he could issue his execution for it and collect it of any citizen who could have redress from other citizens. It was made unlawful for the towns to appropriate or expend these funds ; in case they did, double the amount could be recovered in an action of debt against them, one-half for the county and the other half for the complainant. However, they might loan the money, and appropriate the income for such pur- poses as they saw fit. Naturally the towns were eager for the money. At a town meeting February 13, 1837, it was Voted to accept their proportion of the public money of the United States which may be deposited with the State. Voted that the Agent which the town shall choose be authorized to pledge the faith of the town for the safe keeping and repayment thereof, by executing a certificate of deposit agreeably to the form prescribed in an Act prescribing for the distribution of the Public money of the United States which shall be deposited with this state, passed January 13, 1837. Chose David Burns agent for this town for to obtain the money of the State Treasurer and execute the certificate of deposit. Chose David Burns, Amos Hills and James Pierce, a committee to put the above mentioned money to use, and to take care of the same; to continue in office until the annual meeting in March, 1838. 426 HISTORY OF HUDSON On March 31, 1837, the town "Voted to authorize the selectmen to borrow two hundred dollars of the surplus money." March 14, 1838, the town "Chose James Pierce, agent, to take care of the surplus money, and that the Inhabitants have the preference before others." In town meeting assembled on March 13, 1839, it was Voted to take $600. of the surplus money — principal — to pay town debts. March 10, 1840, it was "Voted that James Pierce shall have charge of the surplus money. "Voted to take all the interest money of our Surplus money for Schools. "Voted to take $400. of the Surplus money to defray town charges." On June 13, 1840, the town "Voted to repair the road leading from John Gillis' to Taylor's Falls Bridge.* "Voted to appoint a committee to repair the road, build a fence and plant shrubbery, the expense to be defrayed by taking the Surplus money in connection with the tax from the Taylor's Falls Bridge. "Chose William Hadley, Parker Smith & John Gillis as a committee." On March 9, 1841, it was voted by the town "Not to expend any of the Surplus money, neither principal nor interest." * The requirement for special repairs upon this road was occasioned by sand being blown into it to a considerable depth, from the land on the north side, which, at that time, was a veritable desert of blowing sand fiom this road to the Ferry road. A tight board fence was built on the north side of the road, extending from near the Gillis buildings on the eait to near the top of the hill on the west, and a row of willow trees was set out on each side ol the highway. The board fence as constructed was about six feet in height. These willows flour- ished abundantly, and in a few years became very beautilul as shade trees bordering the roadside. Before many years, the south side row, owing to their rapid growth, became detrimental to the productiveness of the land abutting the road, owned by Mr. Gillis, and they were re- moved. Those on the north side were removed, a few at a time, as the abutting land was re- claimed and utilized for building lots. The remaining trees were removed in 1895, when the electric line was constructed over this road. THE FOSTER FUND — SURPLUS REVENUE 427 March 8, 1842, "Voted that the surplus revenue be divided equally among the school districts which shall be kept as a permanent literary fund until called for by the state, using annually the interest accruing therefrom. The 2-3 of a District receiving 2-3 as much as a whole District. Each school District shall be responsible for the money received." The school districts received some more than two hun- dred dollars each The money was kept by the several districts for a time, and the interest from it expended annually for school purposes. After a longer or shorter time most of the dis- tricts expended their respective shares in constructing or repairing school buildings. Number Six received about thirteen dollars interest annually from the agent who had the funds in charge, until 1853, when the district erected a new school house, and voted to use the surplus money in defraying the building expenses. Several other districts expended theirs in a similar manner, until, in 1885, when the town adopted the "Town System" of schools, only two of the ten districts retained their surplus revenue money — numbers Three and Five. Collections from the sale of public lands having exten- sively fallen off about 1837, is said to have been the reason that the fourth instalment was never paid. The United States has never called upon the states for the return of the surplus revenue, and it is not likely that it ever will do so. CHAPTER XXXII Additional Church History Congregational and Presbyterian Churches Any original church records that may have once ex- isted, in relation to the two most ancient churches organ- ized in this town, of an earlier date than 1796, excepting such as are to be found in the town records, have been mislaid or lost. The founding of the Congregational church November 30, 1737, has been traced in a former chapter. Its first minister, the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, was the son of Dea. Isaac Merrill, and was born in West Newbury, Mass., March 1, 1713, graduated at Harvard College in 1732, and was ordained as pastor over the infant church. The Pres- byterian church was probably organized at the North meeting-house as early as 1771, with the Rev. John Strick- land ordained as its pastor July 3, 1774. The church records begin with the settlement in the pastorate of Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher, February 24, 1796. Elsewhere in this history may be found copious extracts from the town records relating to the building by the town of the first and second meeting-houses, the building of the North meeting-house, by the Presbyterians, and of the South meeting-house, by the Congregationalists. At the time Mr. Fisher was ordained, the members of the Congregational church numbered a little over fifty, and while he was pastor, about five years, thirty-six were ad- mitted. At the end of his pastorate in 1801, it was found that there was an arrears on his annual salary of .£310, over one thousand dollars, or to be exact, $1,013.92. He asked for a dismissal, which was granted, and the town paid the deficit, members of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches 428 ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 429 being exempt from any part of this tax according to a vote of the town, passed October 30, 1797. For fifteen years, following the close of Mr. Fisher's pastorate, the church was inactive and very few members were added. Preaching was sustained but a small part of the time, until October 15, 1816, when the Congregational church united with the members of the Presbyterian de- nomination and organized a Presbyterian church under the Londonderry Presbytery. The names of only eleven Pres- byterians and thirteen Congregationalists are given as form- ing the union. But soon after the new organization was accomplished many former members of the old churches were admitted. Though there was no settled minister until 1825, preaching was maintained nearly all of the time, and this was divided between the two meeting-houses, twenty-four Sabbaths at the North meeting-house and the balance at the South house, so as to accommodate the people living in the different parts. During this period the pulpit was sup- plied by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, Rev. Samuel Harris, Rev. Mr. Starkweather, and others. November 2, 1825, Rev. William K. Talbot was or- dained under an agreement that he should remain as pastor for five years at a salary of four hundred dollars annually. At this time the church had a membership of about ninety, but during Mr. Talbot's pastorate at the end of four years, more than one hundred new members had been admitted. But his salary was so much in arrears that he requested his dismissal. The church, claiming that he had agreed to re- main another year, refused to grant his request. There- upon he appealed to the Presbytery. The church, still op- posed to his release, chose Elder Jonathan Hills as a com- mittee to attend the Presbytery and there oppose his dis- charge by that body. A lengthy article was submitted showing why Mr. Talbot should not be allowed to go. Among these arguments were the following: "The subject to which we have to call your attention is one of the deepest moment to us, one which tires our 430 HISTORY OF HUDSON hearts and brings darkness and discouragement on our future prospects. "After being destitute of the settled ministry for about thirty-six years, through your beneficence we were blessed with a faithful pastor, whose labors God has been pleased to own in a most wonderful manner, and we may safely say that, that union which marked our proceedings on the day of his consecration has not in the least been marred by a closer and more intimate acquaintance. . . . The Rev. Mr. Talbot commenced his ministry and nearly $350 was subscribed for his support. "On the 2. of Nov. 1825 he was ordained to the pas- toral charge of the church and congregation, and the Pres- bytery then became responsible for only $50. "The first year we were negligent in collecting the sum subscribed until the revival of religion commenced and then neither minister or people had much time to think of the consequence of an arrearage and another year passed before much was collected. "By this time we began to see that unhappy conse- quences would attend. "Many had died; out of the town sixty deaths had oc- curred in one year, and ten or more of the best families had providentially removed to other places of residence — five of whom were elders or elders elect. "We also found that there was not the sum of $350 which could be annually collected by reason of failures, deaths and removals, and a portion that was subscribed, because of poverty, could not be collected" The request of Mr. Talbot was granted by the Presbytery, when he re- moved from town. After the resignation of Mr. Talbot the church had no settled minister for fifteen years, but had irregular preach- ing by different ministers, among whom were Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, a Methodist minister, Rev. Samuel Harris, Rev. Mr. Wheeler, Rev. Mr. Lawrence, Rev. Willard Hol- brook, and others. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 431 At an ecclesiastical council composed of ministers and delegates from several Congregational churches convened at the South meeting-house September 29, 1841, the Pres- byterian church organization, after an existence of twenty- five years was dissolved, and its members were organized into a Congregational church to be called the Evangelical Congregational Church of Hudson, N. H. The organiza- tion adopted the articles of faith of that denomination. The names of twenty-six members were enrolled at the time of its organization, and sixty others united as members of the church within the next two years. A new meeting-house was built in 1842. It was fifty by forty feet, and was located about one-half mile east of Taylor's Falls bridge, near the Methodist meeting-house, erected two years before. May 31, 1844, the church and society extended a call to the Rev. William Page, who had been their temporary minister for a considerable time past. He accepted at a salary of $450 a year, and was ordained as pastor, August 14 of the same year. • Mr. Page bought land within a short distance of the meeting-house, upon which he erected a residence, where he lived while he remained in town. His pastoral relations continued until 1852, when his request for a dismissal was granted by an ecclesiastical council, June 28 of that year. During his administration about thirty members united with the church, The Rev. Daniel L. French commenced preaching as a supply the first Sabbath in November, 1852, and remained until his decease July 20, 1860. Many united with the church during his pastorate of eight years. In summing up the vital facts relating to the history of this church in Hudson, the Rev. D. L. French, in the History of New Hampshire Churches, has this to say of this church, beginning with its first pastor: There was no special revival under Mr. Merrill's ministry, but some were added to the church by letter, and some by profession. The princi- 432 HISTORY OF HUDSON pal difficulty which existed in the latter part of his ministry arose from disagreement between the Presbyterian and Congregational view of church polity. He was considered a good man, although not a great preacher. He died the same year that Mr. Fisher was settled. Mr. Fisher's ministry was not blessed with special revivals. From Mr. Fisher's ministry to the settlement of Mr. Talbot there was a great deal of division in town, arising from the Baptist and also the Presbyterian and Congregational views. Some years previous to Mr. Talbot's ministry the two churches had united under the Presbyterian form of government. So that the state of things in town seemed more settled, and there was a good deal of revival interest the four years that he was here. A portion of the church was very strongly attached to him, and were unwilling that he should leave. There was a good deal of excitement under his preaching, and probably many false hopes indulged. He was in some respects a peculiar man. From his ministry to Mr. Page's there was some division. Prior to Mr. Page's ministry the church agreed to give up the Presbyterian plat- form and become Congregational. Mr. Page's ministry was blessed with very pleasant revivals. From 1861 to 1868 the pulpit was supplied the greater part of the time by Addison Heald, Rev. Austin Richards of Nashua, Rev. S. D. Pike of Nashua, Rev. Benjamin Howe and Rev. Silas M. Blanchard, the last two of whom became permanent residents of this town, and also mem- bers of this church. For eight years succeeding, no preaching was sustained by this church or society. Then, October 2, 1876, Rev. John W. Haley began to supply the pulpit. Soon after, the society applied to the New Hampshire Home Missionary Society, from which they received material aid. Many were united with the church. Mr. Haley continued to sup- ply the pulpit here until November, 1878, when on the 24th of that month he preached his farewell sermon. Some difficulties had arisen between Mr. Haley and his people, upon which they were not able to agree. An ecumenical council was called, which convened at the meet- ing-house, December 29, 1878, which gave Mr. Haley a dismissal. REUBEN GREELEY, Esq. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 433 Rev. S. D. Austin, of Nashua, commenced to supply the pulpit soon after the dismissal of Mr. Haley, and he continued in that position until 1892. Rev. Fred E. Winn, a native of this town, the son of William F. and Lucy M. (Richardson) Winn, born December 14, 1863, supplied for nearly a year following Mr. Austin, 1892-3. Rev. Franklin P. Chapin became a resident of Hudson in 1893, and preached here as the Congregationalist minis- ter until 1907. During the pastorate of Mr. Chapin, in 1906, the meeting-house, which was built in 1842, was raised several feet, a vestry made in the basement, new windows supplied, a modern heating arrangement put in, and many other repairs and improvements made. These improve- ments incurred an expense to the society of nearly $3,000. Rev. Edgar F. Blanchard followed Mr. Chapin, and came here in 1907. He was an unmarried man, but made his home in this town. He remained here until 1909. Rev. Lewis E. Perry commenced to supply the pulpit soon after Mr. Blanchard left. A convenient parsonage, with modern improvements, was erected on Library street in the summer of 1910, and Mr. Perry removed his family there. He remains at the head of this church. The Baptist Church and Society The Baptist church was organized May 1, 1805, with sixty-five members who had been dismissed from the Bap- tist church in Londonderry, of which they had constituted a branch for several years, acting in harmony with that church, but sustaining preaching and the ordinances of the church. The church was organized by an ecclesiastical council, called for that purpose, at the house of Thomas Senter in the north-east part of the town, and was called "The Bap- tist Church of Christ of Nottingham West." The following are the names of the sixty-five members of the new church : •434 HISTORY OF HUDSON Maria Hobbs, James Eastman, Zacheus Greelee, Lucy Greelee, Polly Sargent, Thomas Senter, Ebenezer Wood, Moses Greele, Joseph Rovvell, Barnabas Taylor, Esther Greele, Mrs. Had ley, Mrs. Atwood, Mrs. Blodgett, Polly Farmer, Reuben Winn, Mrs. Dakin, Stephen Hadley, Robert Douglass, David Cummings, Mrs. Wilson, Richard Haselton, Polly Gibson, Mrs. Tarbell, Samson Kidder, David Robinson, Noah Robinson, Susanna Davis, Lucy Dinnis, Lydia Page, Betsey Campbell, Phebe Miles, Rachel Merrill. For several years after its organization the church did not enjoy the labors of a settled pastor, but the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Thomas Paul, (colored), Rev. Robert Jones, Rev. Samuel Ambrose, and Joshua Young. Joseph Hobbs, Jr., Hannah Townes, George Mentor, Aaron Senter, Mehitabel Tarbox, Esther Senter, Eunice Senter, Polly Wood, Polly Greele, Joseph Chase, Mehitabel Taylor, Moses Hadley, Tabitha Merrill, Anna Blodgett, Ashael Blodgett, Asahel Blodgett, Jr. Susanna Pollard, Justus Dakin, Patty Harda, Hannah Hadley, Mrs. Douglass, Mrs. Cummings, Mrs. Tallant, Jerusha Wyman, Lydia Richardson, Benjamin Abbott, Joanna Kidder, Martha Robinson, Rebekah Robinson, Hannah Robinson, Nathaniel Currier, Hannah Marshall, ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 435 The labors of Rev. Thomas Paul were especially effec- tive, and many united with the church under his preaching. The first settled pastor of the church was Rev. Ezra Kendall, who assumed charge November 3, 1808, and re- signed March 5, 1810. It appears that the meetings were held at the North meeting-house when it was not in use by the Presbyterians or Congregationalists, and sometimes at the South meet- ing-house. After Mr. Kendall resigned, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Isaiah Stone, Rev. John Perkins, and others, until 1814. June 19, 1811, the Baptist society was incorporated, and all the right of the proprietors to the North meeting- house and the lot of land upon which it stood, was con- veyed to it November 26, of the same year. The pews were owned by individuals as personal property, and their own- ership was not affected by this conveyance. Rev. Daniel Merrill, who had several years previous, probably as early as 1793, preached in town as a Con- gregationalist minister, was invited to the pastorate of the church in May, 1814. The following extract is from the centennial address, delivered by Rev. Brinton M. Web- ster of Lyme, N. H., May 1, 1905: "There is a copy of Mr. Merrill's acceptance in the record book, which occupies several pages and is indeed a remarkable composition, showing that he was a man of no small talent. We pause here to say a few words concern- ing him. "He enlisted for three years in the Continental army, and after serving probably that length of time, began a literary course at the age of nineteen, which extended seven years and included a course at Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1789. "Some time after his graduation he became pastor of a large Pedo-Baptist church in Sedgewick, Maine, where he remained for several years; but having, with most of his 436 HISTORY OF HUDSON church, been converted to the Baptist sentiments, he and they received baptism at the hands of Dr. Baldwin and Elisha Williams in 1805, and it became a Baptist church. Some of the older people of this town have related to some now living, that Rev. Mr. Merrill was once a Congrega- tional minister in this place, but that when he changed his views, the Pedo-Baptists became very bitter against him. "This accounts for some things that have been said of him in other histories, that he was a zealous and able de- fender of the sentiments of the Baptist denomination. His controversial writings exhibit discrimination, scholarship and untiring zeal in the cause in which he felt himself par- ticularly commissioned. He made the distinguishing sent- iments of the Baptist very prominent, and it was not diffi- cult for a stranger, having heard him preach one sermon, to decide with what Christian denomination he had cast his lot. "While in Nottingham West, in 1819, he wrote a vol- ume of two hundred pages at the request of Pedo-Baptist churches in New York, stating his views of the Baptist doctrine and his reasons for adopting them. "During his stay in Nottingham West he was chosen to deliver the election sermon before the governor, council, senate and house of representatives of the state of New Hampshire, June 5, 1817. His subject on that day was 'The Kingdom of God.' His name is found as chairman of a committee from Maine, then a part of Massachusetts, who obtained a charter for an educational institution, which afterwards became Waterville College, and then Colby University. "One of his sons, Rev. Thomas W. Merrill, assisted in starting a school which led to the founding of Kalamazoo, Michigan, College. Another son, Moses Merrill, was a missionary to the Indians, writing a history of the Gospels, in the Indian language for their instruction. Others of his children settled in this town, Joseph Merrill, and Jo- anna, a daughter, who married Reuben Greeley. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 437 "After Mr. Merrill had settled it became necessary to make choice of two deacons, and October 30, 1816, Moses Greeley and David Burns were chosen, both serving faith- fully in that capacity for many years. It is said that their official relations were marked with uncommon unanimity and entire satisfaction to the church, until their resignation in 1834, on account of declining years. Dea. Moses Gree- ley died August 15, 1848, aged 84 years, and Dea. David Burns died April 20, 1876, aged 87 years and seven months, about sixty years after he was chosen to the deaconship. "Dea. Moses Greeley presented the Baptist church with the first bell hung in this town, and also the commun- ion set which was used until recently. The bell was cracked several years ago and replaced by a new one. "Dea. David Burns presented the church with the clock over the main entrance. "At a church meeting held November 22, 1817, it was voted to allow the use of the meeting-house 'the second Lord's day in February, May, August and November, and also the first fifth Lord's day which shall come in any month of the year,' to the Presbyterians, provided 'we have their meeting house when they have ours.' Joseph Winn, Reuben Greeley and Elder Merrill were chosen a committee to confer with the Presbyterians and inform them of the action of the Baptist church. It was also pro- vided that their meeting-house should be accepted by the former at confirmation times and conference, with the un- derstanding they should enjoy the same privilege with the Presbyterian house. "This exchange of privileges should be explained by saying that about two years before, on the 15th of October, 1816, the Congregational church united with the Presby- terians, there being eleven of the latter denomination and thirteen of the former. These parties owned and occupied the South meeting-house, and still owned pews and desired to worship a part of the time in the North meeting-house, for the accommodation of a part of their people. In Oc- 438 HISTORY OF HUDSON tober, 1818, a bond was given by the Presbyterians to the Baptist society, giving them the right to hold services in their meeting-house at certain times. Thus two denomi- nations worshipped at both meeting-houses, alternately, when the Baptists were at the South the Presbyterians were at the North." Mr. Merrill resigned in September, 1820, and during the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Isaac Wescott and Rev. Otis Robinson. In May, 1823, an invitation was extended to Rev. Jos- eph Davis to take the pastoral charge of the church after ordination. He accepted and was ordained June 18, 1823. Under his ministry the church enjoyed a good degree of prosperity and several persons were baptized. He resigned November 5, 1824. Then there was another period of over three years in which the church had no settled pastor, although the desk was supplied most of the time. Among the supplies were Rev. Otis Robinson, Rev. George Evans, Rev. Samuel Elliott and Rev. John Peacock. In the winter of 1827 there was an extensive revival, when sixty-one persons are reported as being baptized in the year named, it being the largest number in any year of the church's history. In April, 1828, Rev. Benjamin Dean assumed the pas- torate, but the outcome seems to have been an unhappy one. His ministry is reported as "a dark and trying time for the church." His connection with the church termi- nated under painful circumstances June 26, 1830. He was deposed by an ecclesiastical council and excluded from the ministry for immoral conduct. Following this unpleasant experience the church re- mained "in a tired and desolate state, without an under shepherd for nearly four years." During the period Rev. Otis Robinson, Stephen Pillsbury, Amos Haynes and others supplied the pulpit. It is only just, to say that Mr. Dean afterwards made a ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 439 public confession of his wrong-doing, and asked forgiveness of the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, both of which were present at the South meeting-house. He had previ- ously asked forgiveness of the former church. In after years he was restored to the membership of the Baptist church. The next pastor was Rev. Bartlett Pease, who assumed charge of the church in March, 1834, and his pastoral la- bors terminated in April, 1839. Thirty-six are reported to have been baptized during these five years, and in 1838 Enoch S. Marsh and Benjamin Kidder were chosen dea- cons. During the summer and autumn of 1839 the desk was supplied by Rev. Stephen Pillsbury. The succeeding reg- ular pastor was the Rev. John Upton, who commenced his labors in November, 1839, and resigned in August, 1841. The attention of the church and society had been for several years turned to the object of having a more conven- ient house of worship, but a difference of opinion respect- ing location, with some other circumstances, had prevented any decisive action. In 1841 an agreement was reached, a suitable site selected, and a deed secured from Reuben Greeley to the Baptist Society, so that the house was erect- ed and dedicated that year. In September, 1841, Rev. Jonathan Herrick assumed the pastoral care of the church. He was a very zealous laborer in his calling, and many united with the church under his ministry. In 1842, forty-one were baptized. Mr. Herrick was dismissed at his own request, Sep- tember, 1843, and the desk was supplied for a few months by William H. Eaton, a student connected with Brown University. On December 4, 1843, Rev. Joseph Storer began to preach for the church as a supply, and continued as such until January 1, 1845, when he became the regular pastor. During the year 1845, a joint stock company made up principally from members of the church, built a parsonage 440 HISTORY OF HUDSON for the accommodation of the minister, which was a few years later presented to the society. Mr. Storer was a very zealous and faithful minister, loved by all connected with his church and society, and universally esteemed and respected by his townsmen. He was retained in his position as pastor until May, 1855, longer by nearly five years than any other pastor of this church, when, in consequence ot failing health, he was com- pelled to resign. Among the aged and prominent mem- bers removed by death during his pastorate were Dea. Moses Greeley, Amos Hills, Abigail Dakin, Betsey Cutter, Rebecca Hadley and Abigail Pollard. Twelve were bap- tized in 1849. It was during the pastorate of Mr. Storer, about 1850, that the first organ was purchased. Dr. David O. Smith, then a newly settled physician in town, was chosen as music director. The following is an extract from a resolu- tion passed May 27, 1855: Resolved, That in Brother Storer we realize the enlightened and dis- criminating Gospel preacher, the devoted and affectionate pastor, whose sole aim is to promote the kingdom of Christ in the salvation of souls, also a judicious counselor, a sincere and confiding friend, as well as a beloved and respected citizen. In 1853, Isaac D. Colburn was appointed Ly the church "to study for the ministry and use his gifts in public. " He became a minister, and served as a missionary In Burmah for many years, but returned, and died in Nashua in 1907. Rev. W. H. Dalrymple began to supply the pulpit of this church in June, 1855, and was settled as its pastor in the following August, retaining the position until March, 1858. A large number of young people united with the church under his pastorate. The next pastor was Rev. George L. Putnam, who was ordained July 16, 1858, remaining until November, 1863, when he resigned. During Mr. Putnam's pastorate, the parsonage, built in 1845, was presented to the society. In 1860, extensive and ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 441 substantial repairs and alterations were made to the audi- torium of the church, the pastor contributing of his own handiwork the pulpit. Following the resignation of Mr. Putnam, Rev. Bart- lett Pease, a resident minister, supplied the pulpit for nearly one year. Rev. Henry Stetson was pastor from October, 1864, to June 1, 1868, when he was dismissed at his own request. During his pastorate Dea. Enoch S. Marsh died, December 19, 1865, and Dea. Benjamin Kidder resigned. Hiram Cummings and John M. Thompson were chosen to fill these vacancies October 4, 1866. November 1, 1868, a call was extended to Rev. A. W. Chaffm, which was accepted by him. Public recognition services were held December 23. Mr. Chaffin gained the love and respect of the entire community. Thirty-three were baptized during his pas- torate. In 1872, Mr. Chafnn became quite feeble physi- cally, and his mental faculties were impaired, but he was retained as pastor until April, 1873. He soon removed from the town, but his health continued to decline, and he died soon after his removal. Rev. George A. Glines, the next pastor, held that posi- tion from September 1, 1873, to April 1, 1875, when he resigned. Rev. George W. Kinney assumed the pastorate Janu- ary 1, 1876, and resigned in 1879, after which time the pul- pit was supplied by several ministers until May, 1881, when an invitation was extended to Rev. William P. Bartlett, who accepted. He was ordained June 28, 1881, by a council called by the church, and he was dismissed at his own re- quest in March, 1883. Lewis L. Fish was chosen deacon October 12, 1881, and Eli Hamblet in April, 1882. Rev. T. M. Merriman was next called to officiate in May, 1883. He remained with the church a little over three years, when he resigned October 3, 1886. 442 HISTORY OF HUDSON A week later, October 10, the Rev. Charles C. Spear was invited to become the pastor, and he accepted the offer. During the years 1887 and 1888 extensive repairs and alterations were made in the auditorium. An alcove was built for the pipe organ, new pews were purchased, a pulpit set and colored windows were put in. A new set of Baptist hymnals was bought. Mr. Spear resigned January 11, 1891. Rev. David L. Wentworth was next called to the pas- torate and he was ordained by a council, April 30, 1891. He resigned on the same day and month two years later. As an appreciation of his services resolutions were read and adopted. During Mr. Wentworth's term William G. Cross and Marcell H. Smith were chosen junior deacons, June 6, 1892. Dea. John M. Thompson died January 27, 1893. October 22, 1893, Rev. C. D. Swett accepted a call to the pastorate; March 21, 1898, he resigned. In 1897, a long needed vestry, a two-story building containing assembly hall, dining-room, kitchen, ladies' par- lor, and coat room, was erected and presented to the society by Dr. David O. Smith, his wife, Hannah P. Smith, and her brother, George W. Haselton, who jointly bore the en- tire expense of erecting the building. September 4, 1898, Rev. George W. Kinney, a former pastor of this church, was called to a second term, and he accepted, remaining a little more than two years, to re- sign November 1, 1901. Rev. Bernard Christopher was the next pastor called, in January, 1902, and remained a little over five years, re- signing February 1, 1907. Centennial Anniversary On Monday, May 1, 1905, the one hundredth anniver- sary of the little Baptist church of Christ, organized in Nottingham West, May 1, 1805, was celebrated with appro- ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 443 priate services. Rev. Brinton M. Webster, of Lyme, N. H., formerly of Hudson, delivered a very interesting his- torical address. He stated that during its existence of one hundred years the church had had twenty pastors, of whom the following were then living: Rev. George Kinney, Rev. William P. Bartlett, Rev. T. M. Merriman, Rev. Charles C. Spear, Rev. David L. Wentworth, Rev. George A. Glines, and Rev. Bernard Christopher, the pastor then serving. The largest number of members at any time was 167, in 1828. In 1847, the number was 139; in 1878, 117; in 1885, 125; in 1905, 94. During the century the church had had thirteen deacons, as follows: Thomas Senter and Nathaniel Currier, chosen May 7, 1805; Moses Greeley and David Burns, chosen October 30, 1816; Enoch S. Marsh and Benjamin Kidder, chosen April 1, 1838; Hiram Cum- mings and John M. Thompson, chosen October 4, 1866; Lewis L. Fish, chosen October 12, 1881; Eli Hamblet, in April, 1882; William G. Cross and Marcell H. Smith, chosen junior deacons June 6, 1892. Marcell H. Smith re- signed the office in 1901, and William C. Haselton was chosen to fill the vacancy, April 6, 1902. Of these, eight had died at the time of the centennial: Nathaniel Currier, date not given; Thomas Senter, December 25, 1834, aged 83 years; Moses Greeley, August 15, 1848, aged 84; Enoch S. Marsh, December 19, 1865, aged 69; Benjamin Kidder, February 16, 1874, aged 77 years and 7 months; David Burns, April 20, 1876, aged 88 years and 7 months; John M. Thompson, February 27, 1893, aged 62; Eli Hamblet, August 5, 1896, aged 86 years and 2 months. Five of the deacons were then living: Hiram Cummings, Lewis L. Fish, (a resident of Windham), William G. Cross, Marcell H. Smith and William C. Haselton. Of these, Hiram Cummings died January 10, 1910, aged 88 years and 3 months. The deacons at the present time (1912) are William C. Haselton and Charles H. Chase. Rev. C. R. Upton was pastor from September 22, 1907, to August 27, 1909. 444 HISTORY OF HUDSON In the spring of 1909, the parsonage erected in 1845 by members of the church and later presented to the soci- ty, was totally destroyed by fire. A new one was built in the fall of the same year. November 1, 1909, Rev. Walter R. Anderson, the present pastor, began his work with this church. The number of church members September 1, 1911, was 119. The average attendance in the Sunday-school during the year 1911, was 57. This church has an organ which has been pronounced by expert organists to be the best for its size to which they have ever listened. It was built by Woodbury and Harris of Boston expressly for Dr. David O. Smith, at a cost of two thousand dollars. Dr. Smith, an expert musician in almost all of its branches, personally planned the selection of the various stops. The instrument was installed in April, 1888, and was presented to the church and society by Dr. Smith. Methodist Episcopal Church and Society Prior to 1830, a considerable number of substantial res- idents of this town had embraced the religious opinions of the Methodist denomination. The dismissal of Rev. Mr. Talbot by the Presbyterians in November, 1829, at his own request, together with the events which led up to it, left that society in a weak condition. Thus the members of that society, in the hope of improving their condition, en- tered into an agreement with the Methodists to hire the Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, a minister of the latter profes- sion, and that gentleman preached here during the year 1830 and probably a part of 1831, occupying the Presby- terian pulpit at the South meeting-house. Mr. Tolman may have been instrumental in laying the foundation of the present Methodist Episcopal church in Hudson, which was organized in 1840. At any rate the converts to that form of belief seem to have increased from .mm *> 'ft Us '--"«*" - s \ DAVID ONSLOW SMITH, M. D. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 445 that date, and in 1839, Rev. Jared Perkins, the Methodist minister in charge of the Nashua station, came to Hudson and lectured and exhorted in the old school house in Dis- trict Number Four, which stood a short distance north of the South meeting-house, and near the spot of the present gate of the Blodgett cemetery. Mr. Perkins also held meetings in other parts of the town, assisted by J. P. Chap- man of Nashua, E. A. Rice of Lowell, Rev. Sullivan Hol- man and others. A number of persons manifested a desire that regular meetings be held, and a church be established among them. The annual conference appointed the Rev. Abraham Fol- som pastor in charge of this station. Mr. Folsom was a man of energy and zeal, and his la- bors were crowned with abundant success in the organiza- tion of a church which has endured to the present time, and which has for all these many years been one of the indispensable religious organizations of Hudson. An ef- fort was made by him to raise funds for the building of a house of worship, and twelve hundred and fifty dollars were subscribed and collected for that purpose. A meeting was called, trustees appointed and a society legally constituted. The first board of trustees consisted of Cyrus Warren, Nathaniel M. Morse, David Clement, Ethan Willoughby and John Gillis. The meetings for the first year, or until the house was completed, were held in the South meeting- house, when not occupied by the Presbyterians. When this meeting-house could not be obtained, meetings were held in school houses, private dwellings, and sometimes in groves. At a meeting of the society, August 1, 1840, it was voted to build a meeting-house, to be fifty by forty feet in size. Land was given for the site by Mr. Abiather Winn. A plain, modest building was soon after erected, which was dedicated with appropriate services December 2, 1840. The location of this house was about one-half mile east of Taylor's Falls bridge, on the south side of the highway 440 HISTORY OF HUDSOPT leading to Hudson Center. The site was a short distance in a westerly direction from Melendy's box shop of later years. At a meeting December 10, a constitution was adopt- ed and signed by the following persons: James Wilson, David Clement, Fred Peabody, Nathaniel M. Morse, James Ford, Nathan Marshall, John W. Underwood, Zadoc Farmer, Fitch P. Marsh, VVillard Spaulding, Zaccheus Colburn, Asa Merrill, Cyrus Warren, Albert Harris, Aaron Frost, George W. Kuhn, James Wellman. The meeting-house contained forty-four pews, which were sold at auction, from which sale a sum was realized sufficient to pay the cost of the building. The amount of the subscription raised the year before by Mr. Folsom was refunded to the subscribers. Two or three years later a small parsonage was erect- ed at a cost of about four hundred dollars. This was lo- cated near the south-west corner of the meeting-house. But this location proved to be unpleasant and inconvenient. Accordingly a new parsonage lot was secured on the north side of the highway, adjoining on the east the Congrega- tionalist meeting-house lot. Since then this site has been occupied by the house of Miss Winn. The parsonage was removed to that location, and an ell and small stable added to the main building. The exact date of this removal was not recorded, but it was not far from 1848. The interior of the church was extensively repaired and remodelled, in 1869, at an expense of about three hundred dollars. The pulpit was changed from the west to the east end of the auditorium, and seats for the singers were conveniently arranged in the rear of the pulpit. The pews were turned around and made to face the east instead of the west, as formerly, and numer- ous other needed improvements were made. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 447 The Nashua and Rochester railroad, now a part of the Boston and Maine system, which went into operation in the fall of 1874, was run between the meeting-house and the highway. The situation of the building was thus made not only inconvenient but somewhat dangerous. In this dilemma the trustees voted to remove the house to the north side of the highway, near to the parsonage and upon the same lot. The meeting-house was soon after removed to the new location, and quite extensive changes made. The house was raised to a sufficient height to permit the construction of a commodious vestry in the lower story. An addition of twelve by twenty-four feet was made to the rear, or north end, furnaces were put in and other improvements made. The expense of these improvements, including the cost of removal, was about $1,500. The meeting house was rededicated January 24, 1878. On Sunday, August 3, 1879, a little over one and one- half years after the dedication of the new church, immedi- ately after the close of services, the stable connected with the parsonage was set on fire from the flames of an oil stove, and that building, the parsonage and the meeting- house were all very soon reduced to ashes. The buildings were insured for $1,500, less than one- half of their real cost and value. The loss was severely felt, and came near to being a fatal blow to the devoted church and society. A small hall near the bridge, owned by Mr. James Carnes, was the most available place that could be obtained at that time to hold services, and meetings were held there until a new house could be erected. This hall was in the south part of the second story of the building since occu- pied by Baker Brothers as a store. When the matter of anew house began to be earnestly discussed among the members of the society, quite a serious difference of opinion was found to exist in regard to the most suitable and satisfactory site for its location. While 448 HISTORY OF HUDSON - some were strongly in favor of rebuilding on the old loca- tion, many others were equally as firm in believing that a place nearer the Bridge would much better accommodate the members, especially those living in the east part of Nashua, which portion formed at that time a large propor- tion of the membership, while adding material strength and prosperity to the little church. The matter was settled by the majority in the choice of the location where the brick church was soon after erected and has since stood. The land was purchased from James Carnes for five hundred dollars. Citizens of the town and benevolent persons, some of whom were former residents gave their support by sub- scription, and in April, 1880, arrangements were per- fected for the building of a new meeting-house, 40 by 70 feet, of brick and wood, two stories high, with tower and spire at the north-east corner. A building committee was appointed, consisting of Solomon A. Davis, Kimball Webster, Augustus F. Blodg- ett, John H. Baker and Abi A. Sanders. This committee caused the new church to be erected and finished according to the plans adopted, so that the second meeting-house of the First Methodist Episcopal church and society of Hud- son was dedicated December 7, 1880. The basement or vestry was of brick, and the building above was of wood with a brick jacket. The church con- tains an audience room and vestry of ample size, and is re- puted to be one of the most convenient and pleasing country churches to be found in the state. The church edifice, with the cost of the land, aside from a considerable amount of material and labor contrib- uted by members of the society, with others not belonging to the same, cost about $7,000. To meet this sum were the following resources : Insurance on the buildings destroyed by fire . . $1,500.00 Old church lot sold 225.00 Individual contributions 1,059.55 ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 449 Pledged on evening of dedication $466.00 Donated soon after dedication 512.67 Received from miscellaneous sources 8.30 Amount of available funds $3,771.52 To make up this deficiency the trustees voted to pro- cure a loan from the Church Extension Society of $2,500, and to obtain the balance through temporary loans. The earnestness with which the church worked to re- move this indebtedness is shown by the fact that on Janu- ary 1, 1882, it had been reduced to $1,027.12. The last of the indebtedness in building and furnishing the church was paid May 4, 1887, when the society became entirely free from debt. From the date of the destruction of the meeting-house and parsonage, August 3, 1879, to 1893, the society being destitute of a parsonage was obliged to obtain such accom- modations as were possible for the home of the pastor and his family. This was not always as convenient as could be wished. As early as 1888 a lot of land was procured by the trustees on Baker street. At a meeting of the trustees August 26, 1893, it was voted that a building committee which had already been chosen by the Quarterly Conference, "be instructed that after a sum of $2,200 shall be raised or pledged, including the funds of the society and Fletcher fund — to build a par- sonage and stable at a total expense not to exceed $2,500." These instructions were executed by the committee during the autumn of that year. The building committee consisted of Rev. C. H. Farnsworth, James G. Walker, Augustus F. Blodgett and Kimball Webster. How to obtain the amount of money desired — $2,500 — with which to build the parsonage was an unsolved prob- lem. The society had on deposit in the savings bank, the Fletcher fund, so-called, six hundred dollars. The fund named was a part of the amount bequeathed to the society by Mrs. Dorinda A. Fletcher under her last will, as follows : 450 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1st. I will and bequeath to the First Methodist Episcopal society of Hudson, to be held and applied by the trustees of said society or their successors, two hundred dollars ($200). Second. The residue of my property, whether real estate, personal or mixed, to the First M. E. Society of Hudson, to be held and invested by them as a permanent fund, the interest thereof to be annually applied as follows : One-fifth part to the Missionary society of said church, four fifths to the support of Christ's cause, as the Official Hoard of said church shall direct. The will was dated March 18, 1879. Mrs. Fletcher deceased about 1883. July 1, 1883, the treasurer of the trustees received from the estate of Mrs. Fletcher $799.28. The amount of $600 was deposited as a permanent fund, and the balance was paid to the Church Extension Society towards the liquidation of the church debt. Bequest of Mrs. Tinker April 20, 1885, Mrs. Rebekah (Hill) Tinker, long a res- ident of this town, died and the Methodist society became the residuary under her will. January 1, 1887, the treas- urer received from her estate the balance of $991.78. The greater part of this legacy was expended in the cancellation of the debt incurred in the building of the church in 1880, as the will placed no restriction upon it. Donation of Lucinda W. Floyd Mrs. Floyd was a widow, and a resident of the east part of Hudson. She owned an estate of less than $2,000 in value. She died April 4, 1888, aged 01 years. Previous to her death she made a deposit in the New Hampshire Banking Company of Nashua, a savings bank, of three hundred dollars in the name of the Methodist so- ciety of Hudson. additional church history 451 Bequest of Mrs. Electa Atwood Mrs. Electa (Haywood) Atwood, widow of William Atwood, born in this town where she always lived, died January 27, 1887, aged 82 years and 7 months. She left a will by which she made the Methodist society of Hudson the residuary. Her estate in all amounted to a little more than $500. After another legacy of $200, together with funeral expenses, charges of settling the estate and other debts, a balance of $26.19 was paid to the treasurer of the society September 19, 1888. This was the poor widow's mite. She gave all she had. A subscription was taken up by which there was real- ized towards building the parsonage the sum of $745. Mr. Abram Woodbury, aside from contributing one hundred dollars towards the above amount, had previously deposited in the savings bank, in the name of the society the sum of five hundred dollars, to be used towards build- ing a parsonage. This, when drawn with the accumulated interest, amounted to $530.40. In addition to this, two other deposits were drawn at at this time, amounting to $514.99. All of this gave an en- couraging start towards the new parsonage. Accordingly, at a meeting of the trustees August 26, it was voted "That a parsonage shall be built in accordance with the foregoing vote, that the treasurer be instructed to draw the Fletcher fund from the Nashua Savings Bank and apply the same towards the expense of said parsonage and stable, with the understanding that said fund of $600 shall remain as a permanent fund according to the terms of the will of the late Dorinda A. Fletcher, and the income or interest thereof, of not less than four per cent per annum, be paid annually as provided for by said will." In conformity with the foregoing vote, the Fletcher fund was drawn January 5, 1894, and expended by the com- mittee, with the other available funds, in building the par- sonage and stable. The Fletcher fund at that time amount- 452 HISTORY OF HUDSON ed to $624.24. The whole amount received by the building committee was $2,419. 93. A convenient and commodious parsonage, with a bath room and other modern improvements, was erected, with a stable attached, at a total cost of $2,497.96, land and insur- ance not included. Mr. Abram Woodbury, a much-honored and very be- nevolent citizen of Hudson, made it possible at that time for the society to materialize this long discussed and much needed acquisition without the necessity of incurring any burdensome debt, by contributing more than six hundred dollars towards the expense. Mr. Woodbury died January 30, 1894, aged 71 years and 6 months. He died intestate, but it became known after his decease that he had left a deposit in a Nashua savings bank in the name of the Methodist society of Hud- son for the amount of five hundred dollars. This deposit was without restrictions or conditions, but previous to his decease he had expressed to his wife a desire that it should remain for the present as a fund, and not to be expended in the building of the parsonage. For several years after the Fletcher fund had been taken from the savings bank and expended towards paying for the building of the parsonage, a considerable feeling seemed to exist with many members of the church and so- ciety — a part of the trustees included — that the terms of the will of Mrs. Fletcher had not been strictly adhered to, and that the Fletcher fund, as it was then managed, ex- isted in little more than a name. The Woodbury fund had, in a way, taken its place. And now, ten years after the decease of Mr. Woodbury, the deposit left the society by him, with its accumulated interest making it about six hundred dollars, was still on deposit. As this matter continued to be agitated, on March 27, 1904, at a meeting of the trustees, it was voted, after a careful consideration, that the treasurer draw the Wood- bury fund from the bank, and deposit six hundred dollars of it upon a new account as the Fletcher fund. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 453 In consideration of this change, and the fact that Mr. Woodbury had previously given more than six hundred dollars towards building the parsonage, it was voted that it should be known hereafter as the "Woodbury Parsonage." Through a parsonage agent previously appointed by the Quarterly Conference this change was effected by the treasurer. Quarter Centennial December 7, 1905, occurred the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of the dedication of the brick church, and appropriate and pleasing ceremonies were carried out in commemora- tion of the fact. A little more than two hundred dollars was collected by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Bragg, for the bene- fit of the church at this time. January, 1906, the auditorium and vestry were fur- nished with electric lights. In October, 1894, about 2,204 feet of land from the north-west corner of the church lot was sold to Cummings Brothers for one hundred dollars, by the Quarterly Confer- ence and trustees. December 21, 1908, the same party, for the sum of $285, bought from the westerly and north- erly parts of the church property 15,720 feet of land, leav- ing a remainder of 18,540 feet. The church lot had been covered with a growth of oak trees, and the grove of these left to stand made a pleasant protection during the summer months. But these trees were becoming ancient, and beginning to show signs of decay. Many of them were white oaks, and seemed the especial attraction for brown tail moths. Accordingly, in November, 1908, the trustees voted to have these trees removed, which was done in the spring of 1909. In April, of the same year, a steel ceiling was applied to the church auditorium at a cost, with the painting, of about $285. 454 history of hudson Bequest of Mr. Tolles Mr. Lucien M. Tolles, for many years a resident on the Derry road in this town, died January 15, 1911. Al- though a Baptist, Mr. Tolles had generously assisted the Methodist society at the time of building the brick church in 1880, and also at the time of building the parsonage. At his decease he remembered the Methodist society of Hudson by a bequest of one hundred dollars. Honored Names The following list contains the names of a few of the many persons that were ever ready to give the church and society substantial aid and assistance; many of them in its early years, when it was greatly in need of encouragement and wise counsel, sustaining it when troubles were met and disasters sometimes threatened its very existence: Nathaniel M. Morse, John W. Underwood, Zadoc Far- mer, Nathan Marshall, Franklin Wilson, Fitch P. Marsh, Cyrus Warren, John N. Marshall, Solomon Chase, Abijah Hill, Solomon A. Davis, Benjamin F. Bus well, Abram Woodbury, Mrs. Louisa J. Dudley, Mrs. John N. Marshall, Mrs. Mary Hills, Harriet P. Wason, Charlotte A. Wason, Mrs. Dorinda Fletcher, Mrs. Rebekah H. Hill, Mrs. Dan- iel Moore, Mrs. Miranda W. Chase, Mrs. John W. Under- wood, Mrs. Harriet S. Hill, Mrs. Clarissa Wilson, Mrs. Mary J. Woodbury, and many others equally as deserving names might be added to swell the honored list. Memorial Windows At the time of the building of the church in 1880, eight very handsome and appropriate memorial windows were put in by the friends of some of the persons who were formerly very active members of the society. These win- dows were inscribed with the following: names: ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 455 Jonathan C. Dudley, Rebekah H. Hill, Eben & Mehitable Pollard, Harriet P. Wason, Charles T. Spaulding, J. Gardnkr Winn, Harriet S. Hill, Nathan Marshall. Jonathan C. Dudley resided near Taylor's Falls bridge in Hudson. He died March 29, 1865, aged 43 years. Nathan Marshall was a native of this town, but died in Nashua, July 6, 1866, aged 44 years and 6 months. Eben Pollard and Mehitable Pollard, his wife, were both life residents of Hudson. He died October 3, 1886, aged 66 years. Mrs. Pollard died September 9, 1891, aged 86 years and 1] months. The four above mentioned were buried in the Sunny- side cemetery in this town. Harriet S. Hill was the wife of Abijah Hill, and was a resident of Hills Row. She died August 7, 1873, aged 58 years, and was buried in the Hills Farms cemetery. Harriet P. Wason was a native of this town, born April 24, 1825, and died April 19, 1859. She was buried in the Blodgett cemetery. J. Gardner Winn, son of Joseph and Margaret (Burns) Winn, was born in Hudson, and died of wounds received in the army, September 18, 1862, aged 34 years. Charles T. Spaulding died in Nashua while a young man, leaving a widow and one son. Pastors During the seventy-three years of the existence of the church, 1839 to 1912, inclusive, thirty-five pastors have been stationed here by the conference. The names of these ministers, with the dates of their service here, are as follows: 1839. Abraham Folsom, who died in Hampton, N. H., March 31, 1872, aged 78 years. 456 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1840. Charles H. Chase, who died at Chicago, 111., May 19, 1904, aged 86 years and 6 months. He was buried at Plymouth, N. H. 1841-2. Moses A. Howe. 1843. A. H. Worthing. 1844. Jacob Boyce. 1845-6. Matthew Newhall; died May 4, 1875, in Greenland, N. H., aged 75 years. 1847-8. Jonathan Hall. 1849-50. Isaac W. Huntley, who died at Manchester, N. H., November 6, 1852, aged 31 years. 1851. George F. Wells, who died April 8, 1883, in North Woodstock, N. H., at the age of 80 years. 1852. Rev. Mr. Cathers. 1853. Kimball Hadley. 1854-5-6. Supplied by students from the Biblical In- stitute, at Concord, N. H. 1857. R. Edmund Danforth; died at Keene, N. H., June 28, 1863, aged 29 years. 1858-9. John W. Johnson, who died at Sunapee, N. H., April 12, 1862, at the age of 51 years. 1860-1. Lucien W. Prescott. 1862-3. William Hewes, who died at Lawrence, Mass., December 17, 1890, aged 82 years. 1864-5. B. W. Chase. During his pastorate an ex- tensive revival took place, when over fifty people are said to have been received into the church. 1866-7. Samuel Beedle, who died at Hull, Mass., Jan- uary 8, 1891, aged 79 years. 1868-70. Otis Cole. 1871-3. Charles A. Cressey. 1874. W. W. Smith. 1875-6. John D. Folsom. 1877-9. Albert F. Baxter. 1880-2. Charles W. Taylor. 1883-4. William Woods. 1885. Frederick C. Pillsbury. <. i'i» ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 457 1886. Frederick H. Corson. 1887. George A. Scott. 1888-91. Silas G. Kellogg, who died in Hudson, De- cember 21, 1891, aged 68 years, 8 months and 27 days. 1892. Sullivan Holman, who died April 15, 1896, at the age of 76 years. 1893-4. Charles H. Farnsworth. 1895. E. O. Bullock. 1896-7. George W. Buzzell. 1898-9. John D. Folsom, a second term. 1900-2. William J. Atkinson. 1903-5. Lyman D. Bragg. 1906-12. Francis O. Tyler. The number of communicants April 1, 1912, are . . 53 Members of Sunday school 112 Members Home Department 15 Members Cradle Class 18 Total membership of Sunday school .... 198 Alvirne Memorial Chapel The Alvirne Memorial Chapel is located on Derry road about two miles from Nashua, and takes its place naturally among the pine trees of the Hills Farms ceme- tery addition of about twenty acres, purchased by Dr. Al- fred K. Hills for this purpose. Commenced late in the year of 1908, it was consecrated on November 12, 1909, Rev. William Porter Niles of Nashua, and Rev. William M. Grosvenor or New York, officiating. It was built by Dr. Alfred K. Hills in memory of his deceased wife, Ida Virginia Creutzborg. While primarily a Mausoleum, it also serves as a Mortuary Chapel, and is of a distinctive character not inconsistent with its monu- mental purpose. In accordance with the directions of the donor, it is so arranged that services may be held, from time to time, by various denominations. The furnishings include a small organ, which answers an excellent purpose. 458 HISTORY OF HUDSON The building is sixty-four (64) feet long, and thirty-six (36) feet wide, built of weathered granite with cut granite trimmings. The roof is strongly constructed and covered with heavy graduated slate in various shades of green and purple; the cornices and trimmings of the roof are of heavy copper. The exterior walls are rapidly being covered by beautiful branch ivy. As far as possible, the chapel has been made fireproof, the floor being of reinforced concrete, the exterior of the roof being slated and no exposed woodwork showing on the outside. The interior finish of the roof is of quartered oak; the same material is used for all the trusses and beams in the ceilings and doors, and choir stalls. The floor is red Grueby tile laid in pattern of hexagons and quatrefoils. The interior walls are lined with gray brick up to the spring of the ceiling. The walls of the chancel are lined with Grueby tiles, many of them made especially for this chapel. Symbols of the Evangelists and other church symbols are indicated on some of the special tiles. The floor of the chancel is of gray Tennessee marble; the altar is of this same gray marble, on the front of which are the letters "I H. S." and a cross in gold; on each side of the chancel are two tablets to mark the names of the remains of those in the crypts underneath the chancel floor. The ceiling of the chancel is panelled in a slightly richer fashion than the main church ceiling, a little cusping being introduced in the panelling. The windows are of stained and leaded glass, contain- ing church symbols, and are set directly into the stone mullions, the outside being protected by heavy copper wire screens. On the east front of the main gable there is a small belfry containing a cast bronze bell; a granite cross marks the chancel gable. Two large mullion windows at each end, and five smaller windows on the side, light the main church. The color scheme of the glass is peculiarly pleasing, being in soft warm tones of purple and amber. There is a small vestry provided, containing a fireplace and provision for records, with separate entrance on the ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 459 southerly side, thus giving an opportunity for processions at services, if desired. The main vestibule is also on the southerly side; the entrance is through large folding oak doors, made extra heavy and thick, panelled and cusped, and ornamented with heavy wrought iron hinges made from special designs. Two large leather covered doors studded with bronze nails and plates, open to the main church. In designing and building the chapel, the intention was to have it express a fitting and monumental character, and at the same time allow of its use for purposes of a mortuary chapel connected with the cemetery; also a place where services might be held during the summer months. Every- thing connected with the building and construction have been so arranged as to do away with the need of repairs or up-keeping. The construction was carefully overseen, and extra effort was taken to have everything made solid and permanent. The foundations were made especially large and deep, and the walls of unusual thickness. No attempt was made at display, the whole idea being to erect a quiet, and dignified building, that would take its place naturally in rather a solemn setting. All the materials used are practically indestructible in the high, dry atmosphere of the locality. The granite for the exterior walls, by a fortunate chance, was found nearby in an old moss-grown, weather beaten stone wall, and the va- ried colors, shapes and surfaces give a pleasing and, already with the lapse of a very short time since completion, anti- quated appearance. The building seems to have weathered many bleak New England winters, and whether this be a virtue or de- fect, it was attained without striving, by taking advantage of materials close at hand. Dr. Hills is constantly seeking to add something to embellish both the exterior and the interior of the building. Already, by the planting of evergreen, laurel and ivy, with a handsome driveway, which circles near the doorway, the exterior presents a more finished appearance, and the 460 HISTORY OF HUDSON interior has been embellished by the addition of various pieces of an ecclesiastical nature, all showing evidences of careful study and consideration. Recently he has built an iron fence around the whole tract, including the old cemetery. The architect of the building, Hubert G. Ripley, of Boston, and the builder, John W. Duff, of Boston, studied the subject carefully, in collaboration with Dr. Hills, in the endeavor to produce a permanent, dignified and fitting result. CHAPTER XXXIII Public Libraries No library of a public nature is known to have existed in this town prior to 1797, when Samuel Marsh, Joseph Winn, Phineas Underwood, Eleazer Cummings, John Pol- lard and Joseph Greeley petitioned the Legislature for the incorporation of a library, and on December 9 of the same year an act was passed incorporating the same by the name of the Nottingham West Social Library. While this was not a free library, strictly speaking, any worthy citizen of the town could enjoy all the advan- tages it afforded, on payment of certain small fees and dues for the purpose of keeping it replenished with books and defraying its running expenses. The proprietors, who were among the most intelligent and influential residents of the town, displayed most excel- lent judgment in the selection of books, many of which were standard works of a high order. This library continued in active existence for nearly fifty years, to the great benefit of all who availed them- selves of its privileges; then, by mutual consent, the asso- ciation was dissolved and the books were distributed among the proprietors. In 1856, George W. Haselton, Eli Hamblet, Jefferson Smith, Daniel M. Greeley, Reuben Greeley, J. O. Dane, James Emery, David B. Andrews, William F. Lewis, Bart- lett Pease, Alvan Smith, David O. Smith, Benjamin F. Sprague, Job D. Thomas and Benjamin Dean formed them- selves into an association called the "Hudson Center Li- brary." They all subscribed and paid into the treasury small amounts of money, and adopted a constitution, June 20, 1856. 461 462 HISTORY OF HUDSON" November 11, 1856, the following officers were elected.: Bartlett Pease, president; Alvan Smith and George W. Haselton, vice-presidents; Eli Hamble'i, secretary, treas- urer and librarian. It appears by the records that the association pur- chased, as a nucleus for their collection of books, the Cab- inet Library, a series of twenty volumes by Samuel G. Goodrich, better known under his pseudonym of "Peter Parley." Subsequent records show the addition of only two books, so that it does not appear that this library ever con- tained more than twenty-two books in all. It was kept at the home of the librarian, Eli Hamblet, and books were loaned to its members until 18(30, after which its active ex- istence seems to have come to an end, since no further record relating to it is found. A legislative act was approved April 11, 1891, "to pro- mote the establishment and efficiency of free public libra- ries." This act provided for the appointment of a board of library commissioners by the governor and council, and further provided that "said board is hereby authorized and directed to expend upon application of any town having no free public library owned and controlled by the town, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars for books for any such town entitled to the benefits of this act, such books to be used by said town for the purpose of establishing a free public library, and said commissioners shall select and pur- chase all books to be provided as aforesaid." At that time very few free public libraries existed in this state, outside of the cities and large towns. At the annual town meeting, March 14, 1893, it was unanimously voted to accept the benefits of this law's provision, but no library trustees were chosen. A short time afterwards the selectmen appointed Kimball Webster, Henry O. Smith and Oswald P. Baker, trustees for the new library. Before any action had been taken or substantial PUBLIC LIBRARIES 463 progress made, it was learned that by the will of the late Adoniram Judson Greeley, five hundred volumes of books, to be selected from his private library of nearly three thou- sand, had been bequeathed to the town of Hudson for a free public library. Dr. Greeley was a native of this town, being the oldest son of Reuben and Joanna C. (Merrill) Greeley, and was born September 10, 1818. He died at Olneyville, R. I., September 1, 1893. At the annual meeting, March 13, 1894, the town by vote accepted Dr. Greeley's bequest. Through the gener- ous impulses of his immediate heirs his entire collection of books was presented to the town, from which eighteen hundred and seventy-eight volumes were selected for the benefit of the new library. In honor of the memory of the donor making this be- quest, and in consideration of the generosity of the family making the donation, the library was named the Greeley Public Library of Hudson, N. H. The state, through the library commissioners, fur- nished the new library one hundred books, eighteen hun- dred and eighty-nine were selected from Dr. Greeley's col- lection, including eleven purchased with the proceeds of old books sold, and citizens of the town donated thirty-five volumes. Mrs. Emma B. Merrill was appointed librarian by the trustees, and the library was opened to the town's people June 20, 1894, at the residence of George A. Merrill, with two thousand and twenty-four books catalogued and on the shelves. The institution was appreciated from the very first by the citizens of the town. During the eight months of its first year, ending February 15, 1895, the average number of books loaned each month was one hundred and eighty- one and one-half. The library was kept at George A. Merrill's, until April, 1895, when, owing to the resignation of the librarian, 464 HISTORY OF HUDSON Mrs. Merrill, it became necessary to take it to some other place, and it was moved into what was then called Web- ster's hall, in the third story over Baker Brothers' store. Miss Mary N. Webster was appointed librarian. The library remained here until June 7, 1909, more than fourteen years, when it was removed into the new Hills Memorial Library building. The several librarians during these years, with their terms of service, were as follows: Mrs. Emma B. Merrill, ten months, to April, 1895; Miss Mary N. Webster, one year and ten months, to February 15, 1897; Miss Maud S. Andrews, six years and seven months, to September, 1903; Miss Ina V. Martin, two years and five months, to February, 1906; Mrs. Eliza B. Leslie, from February, 1906, to the present time, 1913. While the advantages afforded by this free public li- brary might, perhaps, at first have been more fully utilized by the town's people, yet the patronage steadily increased and, on the whole, has been quite satisfactory. During the first full library year, which ended Febru- ary 15, 1896, the whole number of books loaned was two thousand, five hundred and twelve, a monthly average of two hundred and nine and one-third. During the last library year, previous to its removal, which ended Febru- ary 15, 1909, the number loaned was three thousand, eight hundred and eight, a monthly average of three hundred and seventeen and one-third. In the fourteen years and eight months, ending February 15, 1909, there were loaned thirty-five thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one volumes, or a monthly average of two hundred and three and seven- tenths for the time. Ever realizing the great necessity for a permanent, commodious, and fireproof public library building in Hud- son, and fully cognizant of the fact that suitable sites con- veniently located for such a building were fast being taken up, and anticipating that within a very few years it would become difficult to procure such a site at any reasonable price, Kimball Webster, in 1903, purchased land at the cor- PUBLIC LIBRARIES 465 ner of Ferry and Sanders, now Library, streets, and on September 17, 1904, conveyed the same to the town of Hudson as a site for a public library building. Deed of Library Lot Know all men by these Presents. That I, Kimball Webster, of Hudson, county of Hillsborough, and state of New Hampshire, In consideration of having long been a resident of the town of Hudson, and having in common with its other citizens en- joyed the numerous benefits derived from its wholesome government, and in view of the future needs of said town of Hudson, and of the welfare of its citizens, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and do for myself and my heirs, by these presents, give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said town of Hudson forever, a certain tract of land situated in said Hudson, con- taining 32,460 feet, more or less, bounded and described as follows: From this point the deed proceeds to give a descrip- tion of the tract in the usual phraseology of such instru- ments, a verbatim repetition of which would entail a useless waste of space and time. It should suffice to say that the circumscribing line commencing at a stone bound at the junction of Ferry and Sanders streets, runs easterly by said Ferry street nearly two hundred and twelve feet to a stone bound at land of Charles H. Hanscom; thence south- erly by said land nearly one hundred and thirty-eight feet to a stone bound on other land of Kimball Webster; thence westerly by said Webster land nearly two hundred and fifty-two feet to a stone bound at Sanders street ; thence northerly by said street to the place of beginning. This land formerly belonged to the Nashua Coal and Ice Company of Nashua, and was conveyed to Kimball Webster by said company, July 9, 1903. The above described land was given by Kimball Web- ster to the town of Hudson as a site for a public library building, on the understanding that such portions of it as might not be needed for such building, or its proper sur- roundings, might be used as sites for other public buildings, or for any proper public uses needed by said town of Hud- son. 466 HISTORY OF HUDSON As the chief object in the gift of this land is to provide a suitable site for a public library, the said lot must front on Sanders, now Library street, and no building must ever be erected between the library building and said street, and there must be given ample space so that it may never be unduly crowded by other structures. Also this deed was given upon the condition that within a reasonable time after the acceptance of this con- veyance, the town should cause the grounds to be cleared up and put into a respectable and attractive condition. In no case was the town ever to sell, dispose of or convey these premises, or any part of them, to any person or cor- poration for any purpose whatever. In case the town should ever sell or convey, or even attempt to sell or convey, any part or the whole of said premises, such parts or the whole of the lands so sold or conveyed, or so attempted to be sold or conveyed by the town, were immediately to revert to the donor or his es- tate. The deed of conveyance was duly signed and sealed September 17, 1904. The possession of a location for the future home of the Hudson free public library was now an assured fact for all coming time. Hitherto it had been a homeless waif drifting from one shelter to another. Now it seemed only to await the erection of a proper structure for a permanent abiding place. It had not long to wait. In every human undertaking the right man to take the helm seems to appear at the proper time and place; so now further aid for the Hudson free public library looms above the horizon in the person of Dr. Alfred Kimball Hills of New York. Dr. Hills was born in Hudson, October 23, 1840, the son of Alden and Nancy Currier (Kimball) Hills, and the great-great grandson of James Hills, one of the three broth- ers who are credited with having been the first settlers of this town. PUBLIC LIBRARIES 467 Dr. Hills married Martha P. Simmons, June 6, 1865. She died, childless, in New York, June 8, 1885. June 11, 1887, he married Ida Virginia Creutzborg of Philadelphia. Dr. Hills purchased of his father the old homestead in Hudson, of nearly two hundred acres, upon which he erected a fine and spacious summer residence which he named "Alvirne." Here he and his wife spent the sum- mer seasons for many years, residing in New York during the winters. The two daughters born to them died in infancy. Mrs. Ida Virginia Creutzborg Hills died May 4, 1908. She was an educated and refined lady, of a happy, cheerful disposition and a generous, philanthropic nature, and was loved and respected by all who came within the charmed circle of her acquaintance. For more than twenty years she took much delight in occupying her beautiful summer home in Hudson, where she became endeared to a large circle of friends and neigh- bors. It is said to have been her cherished design to some- time procure the erection of a suitable and permanent struc- ture for the housing of the Hudson public library, which would be an enduring honor to the town and a perpetual source of pride to its people. She died suddenly at fifty-one years of age, in the very prime of her life and usefulness. Soon after his wife's decease Dr. Hills began arrange- ments for carrying her wishes into effect, in the construc- tion of a building of stone and other indestructible mate- rial, which should be durable, ornamental and convenient, such as he knew she had designed to provide for the use and benefit of the people of her adopted town. A plan for a library building was procured and sub- mitted to the selectmen, with the request that they call a special meeting for its consideration. This meeting was called for the first day of September, 1908, and the warrant for the same contained the following article: 468 HISTORY OF HUDSON To see if the town will vote to accept the proposition of Dr. Alfred K. Hills to erect a memorial Library building on the lot given the town by Kimball Webster according to the terms embodied in the proposition. At this meeting, on the afternoon of September 1, the following proposition was submitted by Dr. Hills: To the Town of Hudson, State of New Hampshire. I am moved by many reasons to make the following offer to said town : If the town will vote to accept the proposition at a legal meeting of the voters, I will cause to be built at my own expense a public library building in said town within a reasonable time on the lot generously do- nated to the town by the Honorable Kimball Webster, on the corner of Ferry and Sanders Streets, the building to be essentially like a sketch which I have exhibited, subject to such improvements or changes as may occur to me and be more to my taste. The library shall be known as the Hills Memorial Library, and shall be so designated and marked in the interior or exterior as may seem most fitting to me, and I also include the right in some proper way to designate the generous donation of the site by Mr. Webster. The library in its use and management shall always be non-sectarian, and the books now constituting the free library of the town shall be placed therein, and such books as may be added thereto, to be for the perpetual use as a free public library. The town accepts my offer on the foregoing terms and agrees to keep the library building in suitable repair so long as it exists and to main- tain it. ALFRED K. HILLS. "Voted to accept the proposition of Dr. Alfred K. Hills to erect a Memorial Library Building." At the biennial meeting of the town, November 3, 1908, the following article from Dr. Hills was read by the town clerk: "In behalf of the departed friend in whose memory it is proposed to erect this library building I accept the thanks that have been so generously offered. "Mrs. Hills in her lifetime was a voluminous reader, and fortunately for her she was generously supplied with books. This did not, however, prevent her from sympa- thizing with those who were less fortunate. "It had been in our minds for some years to erect a suitable building in this town to supply the needs of a pub- Mrs. IDA VIRGINIA CREUTZBORG HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARIES 469 lie library, and we had been collecting books with a view to properly stocking the same. "The recent sad event has brought the culmination of our project sooner than was expected. While it is not my intention to make promises that may be broken, or to boast of intentions which may be unfulfilled, I will simply say that it is our intention to make the tribute worthy the beautiful character which it is to commemorate. "It was my intention to have accomplished the pur- pose single-handed, but I could not resist the appeal of a saintly, heart-broken mother, to be allowed to join me in its construction, therefore the work will be done by mother and husband jointly. "I think that you will agree with me that the proposed building is not only artistic in appearance, but convenient in arrangement and practical in construction. "The working model was furnished by my own library at 'Alvirne,' the product of Mrs. Hills' brain in conjunc- tion with our architect. I want to say in this connection that our friend, Mr. Ripley, of Boston, has entered into this work, as one of love as well as of profession. It seems to me that he has made a most happy hit. If arrangements can be promptly made it is hoped that the roof may be on this fall so that the inside finish may be done during the ensuing winter. "I shall be glad to see the building dedicated in early June of next year." At a town meeting the following resolution was unan- imously adopted: Resolved : That we, the legal voters of Hudson in town meeting as- sembled, with a deep sense of gratitude hereby express our heartfelt thanks for the generous gift to the town of a magnificent library building to be dedicated to the memory of Ida Virginia Hills, a woman to whose memory no higher tribute can be paid than one simple word — beloved. Our thanks are due Dr. Hills and that venerable mother, for carrying forward the wish that she so fondly cherished. This grand gift cannot fail to be a source of pleasure and profit to the entire community, and of untold value to generations yet unborn, long after we all here present shall have joined our kindred dust. 470 HISTORY OF HUDSON The construction of this building was commenced in October, continued through the winter and completed in May, 1909. Two bronze tablets were placed upon the outside front, under the portico, inscribed thus: In memory of Ida Virginia Creutzborg, wife of Alfred Kimball Hills- This Library is erected by her Mother and Husband. May Fourth Nineteen Hundred and Eight. This last inscription indicates the date of Mrs. Hills' death. A small brass tablet in the inside bears the following statement: The Nucleus, consisting of 1889 volumes, for the foundation of this Library was donated to the Town by Adoniram Judson Greeley and his heirs in 1893. Another similar tablet in the interior is inscribed as follows: The land on which this Building stands was donated to the Town by Kimball Webster. Hills Memorial Library was dedicated with appropri- ate exercises on June 11, 1909, it being the twenty-second anniversary of the marriage of Dr. Alfred K. Hills and Ida Virginia Creutzborg. The library room was filled to its utmost capacity. An invocation was pronounced by Rev. Francis O. Tyler. The presentation address was delivered by Dr. Hills. The address of acceptance was given by Kimball Webster. Ap- propriate music was interspersed throughout the exercises. A few remarks were made by Rev. C. R. Upton of the Baptist church; also a short address by Rev. E. F. Blanch- ard, of the Congregational church. An able and scholarly dedicatory oration was pro- nounced by Arthur Stedman Hills, Esq., a prominent Bos- ton attorney, and a nephew of Dr. Hills. The library books were removed into the new quarters and placed upon the shelves, on Monday, June 7. Wednes- PUBLIC LIBRARIES 471 day following was omitted as a library day, and the new building was opened for the first time for the exchange of books on Saturday, June 12, 1909, the next day after the dedication. At the annual town meeting, March 9, 1909, the fol- lowing action was taken : "Voted to have the names of all the men from this town — so far as may be known — who served as soldiers or sailors, or did other military duty in any Colonial or other war in which this country has been engaged from 1745 to 1898, and who, at the time of enlistment or service, were residents of this town, suitably engraved on tablets and conspicuously placed in the new Hills Memorial Library building, and that the sum of four hundred and fifty dol- lars be appropriated to effect the same." The following committee was chosen: Kimball Web- ster, Philip J. Connell and Nathaniel Wentworth. Four metal tablets — three of them large and one small — were procured, beautifully engraved with three hundred and twenty-seven names of patriots from this town, and placed upon the walls of the trustees' room, over the vesti- bule, in July, 1909, by C. H. Buck & Co., of Boston, at an expense of four hundred and forty dollars. The names of these men — the number in each of the several wars, with other details — are mentioned elsewhere in this history. They were made up as follows: Colonial Wars, 1745-1760, 51. War of the Revolution, 1775-1783, 152. War of 1812, 1812-1815, 18. Mexican War, 1847, 1. War between the States, 1861-1865, 104. Spanish-American War, 1898, 1. 327^ For the library year ending February 15, 1910, six hundred and eighty-six books were added to the shelves, making the total number as shown by the accession list 472 HISTORY OF HUDSON at that time to be four thousand one hundred and fifty- three, which number included six volumes that had been lost or destroyed. These six hundred and eighty-six new books were sub- stantially all donated by parties benevolently inclined, who have the welfare of the library at heart. Dr. Hills presented about six hundred of this number, among which were many valuable works. Col William A. Crombie, of New York, a friend of Dr. Hills, donated some very good books. Hermon F. Dane, of Nashua, a native of this town, and born near Hudson Center, May 12, 1840, gave a complete set of twenty-three volumes, bound in calf, of the "Journal of Proceedings of the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States, and the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows," from its founda- tion, February, 1821, to 1908. Also "Journals of Proceed- ings of the R. W. Grand Lodge of New Hampshire," 2 Vols, from 1844 to 1880. Mr. Dane had previously given many other valuable books to the library of his native town. CHAPTER XXXIV Secret and Fraternal Orders National Grange The National Grange was organized at Washington, D. C, December 4, 1867, by several men connected with the Agricultural Bureau there. The names of the seven founders of this order were: William Saunders, John Trimble, F. M. McDowell, J. R. Thompson, W. M. Ireland, O. H. Kelley and A. B. Grosh. These men were all familiar with the condition and needs of the farmers and their families throughout the United States, and realized the great necessity of organi- zation among them for the promotion of their interests and the fuller development of their intellectual powers and so- cial conditions. The grange was designed to meet and ameliorate these wants. Grange in New Hampshire In the summer of 1873, the National Grange commis- sioned Eben Thompson, of Vermont, a deputy to organize subordinate granges in New Hampshire. The first grange organized in this state was Gilman, No. 1, at Exeter, John D. Lyman, Master, which was insti- tuted by Mr. Thompson, August 19, 1873. At the date of the organization of Hudson Grange ten subordinate granges had been instituted in New Hamp- shire, all by Deputy Thompson : Bartlett, No. 2, at Kings- ton; Amoskeag, No. 3, at Manchester; Merrimack River, No. 4, at Canterbury; Lovell, No. 5, at Washington; Hales- town, No. 6, at Weare; Granite, No. 7, at Milford; Sulli- van, No. 8, at Newport; Claremont, No. 9, at Claremont, and Souhegan, No. 10, at Amherst. 473 474 HISTORY OF HUDSON Hudson Grange, No. 11, was instituted in school house Number Six, on the evening of December 8, 1873, by Deputy Thompson, with twenty charter members — ten men and ten women. Names of Charter Members Kimball Webster, Tyler Thomas, Josiah K. Wheeler, James B. Merrill, Charles W. Spaldim Joseph Fuller, Lorenzo Fuller, Lucien M. Tolles, Henry A. Merrill, Rossill Hills, Mrs. Abiah Webster, Mrs. Eliza A. Thomas, Mrs. Abbie A. Wheeler, Mrs. Persis A. Merrill, Miss Susan Spalding, Mrs. Belinda Fuller, Mrs. Carrie S. Fuller, Mrs. Emily T. Tolles, Mrs. S. E. Merrill, Miss Lizzie J. Webster. The officers elected and installed at the organization meeting were: Master, Overseer, Lecturer, Steward, Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Treasurer, Secretary, Gate Keeper, Ceres, Pomona, Flora, Lady Asst. Steward, Kimball Webster. Josiah K. Wheeler. Charles W. Spalding. Joseph Fuller. Lorenzo Fuller. Henry A. Merrill. Lucien M. Tolles. James B. Merrill. Rossill F. Hills. Abbie A. Wheeler. Susan Spalding. Abiah Webster. Belinda Fuller. A little later, Joseph Fuller and Belinda Fuller each resigned from office, and Tyler Thomas and Persis A. Merrill were elected and installed to fill the vacancies. Hudson Grange participated in the organization of New Hampshire State Grange at Manchester, December SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 475 23, 1873, at which date the state contained but seventeen subordinate granges. Of the twenty charter members assisting in the organ- ization of Hudson Grange, three withdrew, seven were suspended for non-payment of dues, and six died as loyal members on the following dates: Emily T. Tolles, June 18, 1876; Rossill F. Hills, December 24, 1876; Tyler Thomas, November 24, 1887; James B. Merrill, May 9, 1901; Persis A. Merrill, January 4, 1905; and Josiah K. Wheeler, June 10, 1911 ; while four of the twenty — Kimball Webster, Abiah Webster, Abbie A. Wheeler and Lizzie (Webster) Martin — still continue as members at this writ- ing—April, 1912. Masters Kimball Webster, 1874, '75, '76, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97. Lucien M. Tolles, 1877, '78. Tyler Thomas, 1879, '80, '85, '86. James B. Merrill, 1881, '82. Josiah K. Wheeler, 1883. Aldon E. Cummings, 1884. William A. Andrews, 1887, '88. George H. Abbott, 1889, '90. Arthur L. Joy, 1898, '99. Frank A. Connell, 1900, '02, '05. Charles A. McAfee, 1901. Frances M. Cummings, 1903, '04. Arthur S. Andrews, 1906, '07, '08, '09, '10. Gerry F. Parker, 1911. Allen B. Andrews, 1912. Places of Meetings Subsequent to its organization, December 8, 1873, three meetings of the grange were held at the house of its overseer, Josiah K. Wheeler. From January 14, to May 1, it met at the house of the lecturer, Charles W. Spalding. 476 HISTORY OF HUDSON Working tools, rituals, regalia and other paraphernalia were procured, and by-laws prepared and adopted. The first initiation of a candidate occurred on March 13, 1874. From about May 1, 1874, until June 30, 1876, the grange occupied Carnes hall. This was a small, unfinished room in the second story of a building then owned by James Carnes, and which now forms the southerly part of the Baker Brothers' store edifice near Taylor's Falls bridge. This, after being plastered, made a comfortable home for a small grange. At a meeting on January 19, 1876, it being impossible to arrange satisfactory terms with the owner about the rent of the hall, it was suggested that the grange build a hall, and thus have a home of its own. At this same meet- ing a committee was chosen to investigate and report as to a suitable location, and also a committee to procure de- signs. During its occupancy of Carnes hall — a period of a little more than two years — the grange held seventy-four meetings and initiated twenty-eight candidates. It was fairly prosperous for those early days in grange history, when it was far more difficult to secure members than it is at the present time. At a meeting held on February 16, 1876, the following resolution was passed. Resolved that we build a hall provided there are sufficient funds raised by taking stock, the stock all to be owned by members of Hudson grange. A little later this association was incorporated as "Hudson Grange, No. 11, Patrons of Husbandry," of Hud- son, N. H. Subscriptions for stock were secured, a building com- mittee chosen and all necessary arrangements perfected for building a "grange home" for the use and benefit of Hudson Grange. A location on the land of James B. Merrill, a little south of the Methodist church, was secured, and building SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 477 operations were begun in the early spring of 1876; it was completed and occupied by the grange for the first time, September 6, 1876. The building consisted of a basement and two small tenements — a grange hall with two ante-rooms. The attic was used as a banquet room. The grange room was not large, but of sufficient capacity to accommodate the num- ber of members comprising Hudson Grange at that time — a little less than fifty. It was moderate in size, and easy of access, pleasant and admirably arranged, and was a model "grange home." It was the headquarters of Hudson Grange for a little more than fourteen years, during which period it held two hundred and seventy-three meetings and received by initia- tion thirty-four members. From various causes the number of members became somewhat reduced, and as early as the spring of 1890, sev- eral of the stockholders, dissatisfied with the amount of dividends received from their investment, advocated the sale of the property. Others, including some of the largest stockholders, were desirous of retaining it for the benefit of the grange. In the fall of 1890 this property was sold at auction to Lucien M. Tolles, in accordance with a majority vote of the stockholders. This was a very serious and discouraging blow to the loyal and devoted members of the little grange. At a meeting on November 5, a communication was received from Nashua Grange — which had also become considerably depleted in membership — suggesting a plan of consolidation of the Nashua and Hudson Granges. This project was almost unanimously rejected by this grange. During these fourteen years the grange membership included a number of able and interesting debaters, and at nearly every meeting when the time was not devoted to some necessary grange work, a debate or discussion was held on some interesting theme of the day. As a result 478 HISTORY OF HUDSON nearly all the practical questions of the farm, the house- hold and the home, and all the live subjects relating to the town, state and nation, were discussed with interest and ability. The first of December, 1890, the grange removed to the house of James E. Merrill on Central street, and there occupied a room in the second story of the ell, where it re- mained for five years. Those five years included the darkest and most dis- couraging period in the history of Hudson Grange. Its membership had dwindled to a number less than twenty. Fifteen meetings, only, were held, and one candidate initi- ated, in all that time. A few of the members became de- sirous of surrendering the charter, and the prospects for the future looked dark indeed. Yet, officers continued to be elected and installed an- nually, the dues to the State grange were paid regularly and promptly, the Pomona grange by invitation was enter- tained several times at the Methodist vestry, and all neces- sary expenses promptly paid by a loyal membership deter- mined to preserve the charter with its original number, and to await patiently for the dawn of a new and enduring prosperity. The realization of these hopes began in 1895. In the summer of that year George G. Andrews, a merchant at the Bridge, erected a storehouse thirty by sixty feet, ground dimensions, and two stories high. By fair prospects of fu- ture rental he was induced to make the second story of the structure into a hall, twenty-nine by thirty-eight feet, with two convenient ante-rooms. A banqueting room with a small kitchen was installed in the attic. This hall was of moderate size, but was well arranged and convenient for a "grange home," or a lodge room. Hudson Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 94, was instituted about the time this building was completed, and occupied the hall for a lodge room. SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 479 Hudson Commandery, No. 139, United Order Golden Cross, organized May 27, 1881, also occupied the above quarters. November 16, 1895, twenty-one applications for mem- bership in the grange were received and referred, together with two requests for reinstatement. These applications were from many of the most substantial citizens of Hudson. The last meeting at the house of Mr. Merrill was held on December 4. Two more applications were then re- ceived, increasing the number to twenty-five. On December 12, 1895, the new hall was occupied by the grange for the first time, and the first and second de- grees of the order were then conferred upon twenty candi- dates. Two days later three other candidates were given the same degrees. From then until the present writing Hudson Grange has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted season of continued prosperity, and has steadily, and at times rapidly, increased its membership. Soon after the new Odd Fellows building was com- pleted the grange removed from Andrews hall to that place, which it occupied for the first time February 23, 1903. It had remained at Andrews' hall eight years and two months, where it had held one hundred and sixty-five meet- ings, and at its removal it had a membership of one hun- dred and sixty. At the date of this writing — April, 1912 — it is still oc- cupying Odd Fellows' hall, where it has held about one hundred and six meetings, not including any such as were convened exclusively for the purpose of receiving and as- signing proposals for membership. The total number of meetings held by this grange since its organization is about seven hundred and forty- eight. Thus Hudson Grange, after an existence of more than thirty-eight years, appears to be in a prosperous condition, 480 HISTORY OF HUDSON and we believe it will continue to increase in influence and usefulness as well as in numbers. On September 1, 1911, its membership, as returned to the secretary of the State grange, was three hundred and twenty-six, which has since been increased. Its present master, Allen B. Andrews, its fifteenth consecutive master, is an energetic young man, born in Hudson, October 18, 1889, the son of Arthur S. and Lin- nie F. (Butler) Andrews. He is the third master of Hud- son Grange bearing the name of Andrews. Odd Fellowship in Hudson Prior to 1895, two lodges of Odd Fellows had existed in Nashua for many years. Quite a considerable number of the young and middle-aged men of Hudson became members of these lodges. For several years previous to the above date the or- ganization of a lodge in Hudson had been discussed by these members, but no decisive action had been taken. Hudson Lodge, No. 94, was instituted October 15, 1895, in the new Andrews hall by officers of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, in answer to sixteen petition- ers, fourteen of whom were present and became charter members. The names of these were: Charles C. Leslie, Charles A. Daniels, Henry F. Lund, Joshua VV. Jones, William Hutchinson, Walter R. Coombs, Elmer D. Clem- ent, Charles A. McAfee, George H. Abbott, John C. Groves, Horace A. Martin, Charles H. Bachelder, Walter F. McQuesten and Willis L. Fuller. In the evening of the same day twenty-six candidates were elected to membership and initiated into the order, the entire number thus becoming forty. Charles C. Leslie was installed Noble Grand, Joshua W. Jones, Secretary and George H. Abbott, Treasurer. As the membership of the lodge increased the build- ing of an Odd Fellows hall was agitated, which agitation continued for several years without any practical result. SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 481 In 1902 an association was organized and incorporated for this purpose. Many members of the lodge, as well as many outsiders, became stockholders, a lot was purchased on Central street, and a commodious and convenient build- ing erected upon it. This building contained a large and well arranged "lodge room," with suitable ante-rooms and other necessary accommodations, as well as a spacious ban- queting room, with kitchen connected, in the basement. Another large hall, called Association hall, was fitted up in the first story, with a roomy stage and other needed appointments. This building was finished, furnished and the lodge room dedicated ready for occupation, early in 1903, to which the lodge removed in February of that year, and which it has since occupied as its home. It is a living and vigorous organization, with a mem- bership of about one hundred (1912), and by its brotherly aid in sickness, and the liberal appropriations from its funds to the "widow and orphan," is quietly diffusing its genial influence in Hudson. Echo Rebekah Lodge Soon after the organization of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., in October, 1895, the formation of a Rebekah Lodge was suggested and advocated. Several meetings were held to discuss the venture, which were addressed by some of the grand officers. These efforts bore fruit in the institution of Echo Rebekah Lodge, No. 73, in Andrews hall, on May 29, 1896, by G. M. Clinton Collins, assisted by other grand officers. There were twelve petitioners, eleven of whom pre- sented themselves and assumed obligations as charter members of the new lodge. Their names were: Charles A. Daniels, Willis L. Fuller, Adelia E. Fuller, Lilla J. Woodward, Helen M. Lund, H. F. Lund, Susie E. Mc- Afee, S. Rose Nason, Lucy A. Joy, H. Lizzie Blodgett and Frances M. Cummings. 482 HISTORY OF HUDSON At the evening session fifty-four candidates received the degree, making a membership for the new lodge of sixty-five. Frances M. Cummings was installed Noble Grand, E. Drusilla Walker, Secretary, and Hannah E. Con- nell, Treasurer. It continued to hold its meetings twice each month, at Andrews hall, until February, 1903, when it removed to the new Odd Fellows hall, where it still remains. It is a vigorous organization and has a membership of one hundred and fifty-seven, (1912). Hudson Commandery Hudson Commandery, No. 139, United Order of the Golden Cross, was instituted May 27, 1881, in the Grange hall. It is purely a beneficiary order, and notwithstanding that it had a fair number of charter members when organ- ized, and for some years afterwards, and added many mem- bers by initiation, owing to deaths and withdrawals its membership has become very much depleted. It still exists (1912) and has always paid its death ben- efits fully and promptly, but its future outlook is not en- couraging. CHAPTER XXXV Highways and Byways Previous to its charter, and while Nottingham re- mained a part of Dunstable, there is no evidence found of any highways being laid out on the east side of the Merri- mack, now in the town of Hudson. The first tax list for the town of Nottingham, made by the selectmen in 1733, contained the names of fifty-five persons, of whom twelve at least were residents in that sec- tion of the town which now forms a part of Tyngsborough, Mass., eight, in what is now Litchfield, and about seventeen, within the present limits of Pelham. This would show that at that time the population of what is now Hudson, did not exceed twenty families, nearly all of which were settled a short distance east of the Merri- mack, between the town line of Hudson and Litchfield on the north, and the state line on the south, a distance of about seven miles. No roads had been laid out and constructed for the accommodation of these pioneer settlers, and they traveled from house to house by paths that had become worn by common usage. With few culverts or bridges, these crude roadways wound over many rough places, but served a very good purpose for their horse-back riding, and for the small amount of traffic that was done by ox teams. The first attempt to lay out a public highway by the town of Nottingham, as found recorded, was February 15, 1734, a little more than one year after the incorporation of that town. The selectmen laid out a highway four poles wide from Dracut line, near Long Pond, to Natticook, (Litchfield) line. It passed below Musquash dam, and to the north- east side of Davenport meadow. 483 484 HISTORY OF HUDSON At the annual meeting, of the same year, the town by vote refused to accept the road as laid out. A second high- way was laid out by the selectmen, March 26, 1746-7, from Litchfield, southerly through the town. At this time the province line had been settled and adjusted, so the road ended at the Tyngsborough line. It began at Litchfield line near the house of John Robinson, and was laid out southerly, passing near the fol- lowing residences: Nathaniel Hills, John Marsh, Eleazer Cummings, John Marshall, Deacon Samuel Greeley, Thom- as Pollard, Lieut. Joseph Winn, Samuel Burbank, Samuel Huston, and to the province line. The road was three rods wide. At a town meeting, June 8, 1747, "it was voted not to accept the highway as laid out." As a large percentage of the inhabitants of the town lived near this road as laid out, and would seem to have been well accommodated by it, it is hard to understand at this time why it should have been rejected. March 19, 1744, when Nottingham was a district, a road was laid out at the east side by the selectmen, three poles wide. This road began near the house of Rev. Mr. Merrill, and ran easterly over land of Fletcher, Col. Tyng and part of Kimball's farm, to Samuel Butler's land and to land of Henry Baldwin and between Baldwin's farm and Kimball's farm to highway leading to Londonderry. Thence partly easterly and all on Kimball's farm to Baldwin's bridge over Beaver brook, and partly easterly through Baldwin's farm to Dracut line. October 24, Joseph Hamblet and John Marshall, selectmen, laid out a highway at the east side of the district of Nottingham, from Dracut line to Joseph Hamblet's, and Deacon Butler's house, "and so across his farm and up Beaver creek to Londonderry line. The high- way is three poles wide from one end to the other." It will be remembered that at that time the district of Dracut bounded the district o Nottingham on the east, and Pelham as incorporated two years later was made up, HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 485 about one-third from the east part of Nottingham and about two-thirds from that part of Dracut that fell int New Hampshire on the settlement of the province line in 1741. This highway, or so much of it as has not been dis- continued, is now principally in Pelham. March 26, 1747, a road was laid out three poles wide from "the Little bridge, so called, to Hardy's ferry." The same was again laid out, or changed, December 5, 1757, from Lieut. Winn's field, westerly over the Little bridge, so called, and so to "the road that is now trod to Hardy's ferry." "Derry Lane" was laid out March 26, 1747, two poles wide, from the road that leads to Litchfield to Londonderry road. In 1749, it was voted by the town to change the above mentioned road "between Roger Chase's and Edward Spalding's by the Farms burying ground; running between Ezekiel Greele's and Reuben Greele's and Samuel Hills'." In 1791, November 6, the town again changed this road as follows: "beginning at the north-east corner of the Farms burying place, and from thence north-easterly two poles wide to the Derry road." March 27, 1747, a road was laid out three poles wide from the highway that leads to Litchfield, near the Blod- gett cemetery, and running easterly by the Chase hill and over Bush hill to Pelham line. The Searles, or Spear road, north of Bush hill was laid out three poles wide, March 27, 1747, and began at the road last described. It thence ran easterly over land of Glover, and at the south side of his house and on Glover's land, and on land of Searles, and at the north side of the house of Ebenezer Blodgett, and at the north side of the house of James Marsh ; thence easterly on Marsh's land to land of Benjamin Frost; thence running on land of said Frost and land of Onesiphorus Marsh to Pelham line. 486 history of hudson Part of Derry Road May 12, 1747, " A road viewed and laid out three poles wide. Beginning upon Derry line near Nathaniel Hills Jr's. From thence running by Thomas Marsh's dwelling house, and so running by John Marsh's house and James Hills' and Joseph Pollard's, and Ezekiel Hills' and Henry Hills' and so running between Ezekiel Greele's house and barn; Thence running to John Marshall's land, running on said Marshall's land and on Dutton's land to a pine tree." Road Over Musquash Bridge This road was laid out May 21, 1747, and seems to have been a piece of the same highway laid out February 15, 1734, and rejected a little later. County Road, 1749 After a road had been twice laid out by the selectmen, through the town of Nottingham, north and south, and had been twice rejected by a vote of the town, a petition by the selectmen was presented to the Court of General Quarter Sessions at Portsmouth in 1748, for the appointment of a committee to lay out such highway. The court appointed as a committee, John Goffe, Joseph Blanchard and Joseph French, who were among the most able men in the prov- ince. The report of the committee was dated February 9, 1749. It was given in detail, with all the bearings and measurements included. A great part of this detail will be omitted here, but many of the more important landmarks will be noted. The committee said, "that we have attended to the service, and have laid out a highway from Litchfield through Nottingham West, southerly, to the province line; as near the river as we apprehend is of most convenience for the public and for the best advantage of the inhabitants of said HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 487 town of Nottingham West." They began at a pine tree in the northerly line of said Nottingham West. They ran from thence to the westerly side of a house William Taylor built. Thence southerly to Samuel Hill's house; thence southerly to a stake near Roger Chase's house; thence to Josiah Cummings' corn barn, and to Mr. Marsh's fence near his house; thence the committee ran easterly across the meadow fifty-two rods, which was but two and one-half rods wide; thence south-easterly to near John Marshall's barn; thence to the east end of Abraham Page's barn; thence to an oak by Benjamin Whittemore's house; thence to an oak near Samuel Greeley's house; thence to a stake east of Joseph Winn's barn; thence south through said Winn's orchard, 18 rods, which 18 rods was but two and one-half rods wide; thence to a stake near Joseph Winn, Jr. 's corn barn; thence to Stephen Chase's fence; thence to a stake four rods west of Burbank's barn; thence four rods west of Burbank's house; thence to a stake four rods west of Samuel Merrill's house; thence to a dry pine tree marked south of the "Great" bridge; thence to the prov- ince line. The road was laid out three rods wide with the exceptions before noticed. This highway, with a few unimportant changes that have been made, is the same now traveled from Litchfield by the Wheeler place and by Charles W. Spalding's, the Derry road and Library street, and following the Bay State electric railway to Stewart's Corner and Tyngsborough line. Province Line to Pelham June 15, 1749, a road was laid out three poles wide, beginning at the province line, leading from Captain Fletcher's to Daniel Merrill's; and running easterly by the north side of Daniel Merrill's house and to the north side of Thomas Brown's house, and near the Widow Spalding's house and to Pelham line. This is the same road that now 488 HISTORY OF HUDSON crosses Tyngsborough line east of the River road and runs easterly near the T. S. Ford house, and by Gowing's. The Daniel Merrill place was probably the same as the Ford place, the Brown place the same as E. S. Gowing's, and the Spalding place now the George T. Gowing place. Nacook Brook and Wind-Mill Hill June 23, 1749, a road was laid out three poles wide from near Thomas Brown's, and crossing Nacook brook, and over Wind-mill hill, and running to Seth Wyman's corner, and the south side of Hezekiah Hamblet's house. The greater part of this road has been discontinued. Wason's Road to Pelham This road was changed in 1749, and again November 11, 1760, and also September 14, 1764, and again July 6, 1767. Road over Corliss Hill, and Haselton Road In 1748, a road was laid out two poles wide, beginning on Corliss hill, near the house of Thomas Kenney, and running south-westerly and westerly, and crossing the Has- elton road a little south of A. W. Haselton's house, and it continued south-westerly into the Pelham road west of Chase hill. It has all been discontinued. The Back Lowell Road Laid out October 15, 1749, three poles wide. This road began near the Rev. Mr. Merrill's orchard and ran northerly, and over the Burns hill to the Lowell road near the Blodgett cemetery. There has been very little change in this road. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 489 Belknap Place Easterly October 13, 1749, a road was laid out two poles wide from the County road near the Belknap place, northerly from the brook, and running easterly on Page's and Clark's land to land of Abraham Page, Jr. October 13, 1749, a road from the last described road to the road leading to Hudson Center, was laid out two rods wide. Rocky Hill Road This road was laid out two poles wide, October 13, 1749, and began near John Marshall's well (now Charles W. Spalding's). It ran easterly and over the Rocky hills, so called, into the Barrett's hill road, then called the Lon- donderry road. It has all been discontinued. Rev. Mr. Merrill's Road October 1, 1751, a road was laid out, partly for the ac- commodation of Mr. Merrill, from near his house to near Deacon Greeley's. This road was two rods wide, and a greater part of it has been discontinued. From County Road to Pelham This road began at what is now Library street, at Ferry street, and was laid out three rods wide, August 31, 1752. Its course was easterly, south-easterly and easterly, to Hudson Center, and south-easterly over Corliss hill, and to Pelham line. It is called the Pelham road, and has had but few minor changes since it was laid out in 1752, and was accepted March 19, 1753. 490 history of hudson Bowman Road The Bowman road, so called, was laid out two poles wide, January 19, 1754. It extended from the road formerly- laid out, to Joseph Gould's house, at the south-east part of the town, and has all been discontinued. Old Daniel Smith Road This road, which has all been discontinued, was laid out February 3, 1755, two poles wide. It was on Bush hill and extended to the Smith place, then owned by John Huey. November 9, 1757, the selectmen laid out two roads, each two rods wide. One was on land of Seth Wyman, Henry Snow and Hezekiah Hamblet. The other began near Daniel Simond's house, and ran southerly, on land of Henry Snow and land of Joseph Butler to the road that leads from John Hamblet's to Hezekiah Hamblet's. Proba- bly both of these roads have all been discontinued. September, 8, 1762, a road two rods wide was laid out which began at the Pelham road on the south side of Bush hill and ran westerly and south-westerly by the old Tim Fuller place, and southerly and south-westerly into the Back road near the old Elias Barron place, thence by the old Davenport road to Stewart's Corner. It has been largely discontinued. September 14, 1764, a road was laid out two rods wide, from the road at the south side of Bush hill to Pelham line. Smith Road In 1765, a road two rods wide was laid out from Sam- uel Smith's land, westerly by land of Lieut. Joseph Butler, and southerly by the James Marsh heirs' land to the town road. This was near the Dustin B. Smith place. In 1765, a road was laid out from Thomas Brown's house to the province line. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 491 September 26, 1773, a road was laid out from the town road near Moses Johnson's, south-westerly, to the province line. This road was three rods wide. Also another road, three rods wide, beginning at said last road near a small brook, and running westerly to the County road. This last has long been known as the Burse road. June 29, 1773, a road was laid out from the London- derry road and town line, near Lieut. Hugh Smith's, to the Londonderry road which leads by Thomas Smith's. This was in the Smith district. November 1, 1774, a piece of road was laid out on the south side of Bush hill, running westerly and south-westerly, which has since been discontinued. 1780, the road at the east part of Hudson by the McCann place, southerly, to Pelham line, was laid out two rods wide. 1781, a road, two rods wide was laid out from John Smith's house to the Hugh Smith road, and by Thomas Smith's cider mill to Samuel Smith's house. This road was in the Smith district. A piece of this road was to be exchanged for a piece of road laid out in 1765. April 19, 1789, a road was laid out from the place now known as the Donahue place, northerly to the Windham road near the Patrick Donahue place. This road was dis- continued November 4, 1844. October 22, 1791, a road two rods wide was laid out from the County road, east of the house of Eleazer Cum- mings, thence easterly to the Ferry road. This has some- times been called the Haverhill road. November 20, 1791, a road two rods wide was laid out from near the house of David Tarbell, southerly, to near the north end of Otternick pond, and south-westerly to the road leading to Keller's ferry. This was a part of Barrett's hill road. December 20, 1792, a road was laid out from the Derry road, two rods wide, southerly, to what is now the Chase place, and continuing southerly and south-westerly to the 492 HISTORY OF HUDSON Barrett's hill road and still southerly to Henry Hale's, now Hudson Center. April 3, 1793, the Tiger road, so called, was laid out two poles wide. It began at the Robinson road, near the house ot Benjamin Kidder, now the Wood, or Batchelder place, and ran southerly to Barrett's hill near the house of Elijah Marshall. It has all been discontinued. February 19, 1797, a road two rods wide was laid out from the town road near David Tarbell's house, thence running northerly and westerly, and by various bearings, by Jonathan Marsh's and Amos Davis' to the Derry road. This is known as the Hiram Marsh road. March 3, 1800, a piece of road two rods wide was laid out near Lawrence Corner. Bridle Road An act was passed by the Legislature, June 16, 1801, authorizing the towns of Nottingham West and Windham to establish a bridle road over Beaver brook, from Law- rence Corner to Windham road in Windham. The road was laid out and built, subject to gates and bars. April 12, 1880, this was laid out as an open road, fifty feet wide. In 1801, a road two rods wide was laid out near Law- rence Corner. March 11, 1806, the Haselton road was laid out two rods wide from the Pelhatn road, southerly, to the Bush hill road, near Daniel Chase's barn. September 28, 1807, a road two rods wide was accept- ed from near Ens. David Lawrence's, and running west- erly and south-westerly to land of Jonathan Lawrence. (From Lawrence Corner towards Hudson Center.) August 27, 1810, a short piece of highway was laid out near the North meeting-house, through land of John Tal- lant. This was probably the road east of the cemetery and common. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 493 Wason Road March 12, 1816, "Voted to open a road from the road leading to Pawtucket bridge to the house of Thomas B. Wason." Mr. Wason then lived on the south side of Bush hill where George H. Davis now lives. The road was not constructed at that time. The above described road, formerly known as the "Wason Road," was laid out by a court's committee about 1821, and constructed about one year later. November 28, 1822, a road was laid out two and one- half rods wide, from Stewart's Corner, as now known, south-easterly, until it forms a junction with the Back Lowell road. This is a part of the Lowell road. May 15, 1820, a road one and one-half rods wide was laid out from the County road near Otternick brook, west- terly, about one hundred rods to the carding mill of Capt. Joseph and Oliver Pollard. This road was discontinued March 14, 1837. August 14, 1824, it was voted to accept the report of the committee, which was that there should be a road "be- ginning at Hamblet's Ferry; thence easterly to the road leading from the North meeting house to Litchfield." This is now a part of Ferry street. February 10, 1827, the Howe road at the north-east part of the town was laid out. February 10, 1827, the Derry road was straightened between Elijah Hills' (the Alfred K. Hills place) and Wil- lard Spalding's. The old road was discontinued March 11, 1828, and March, 1855. March 13, 1827, "The selectmen were authorized to lay out a highway from Hamblet's Ferry to the South meeting house." June 8, 1827, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to lay out a highway from Hamblet's Ferry, by Moses Had- ley's, to the North meeting house." This is the road from the bridge to Hudson Center. 494 HISTORY OF HUDSON In 1828, the County road was straightened in several places between Taylor's Falls bridge and Stewart's Corner. A part of the Hardy's ferry road was discontinued March 13, 1832. February 9, 1835, the selectmen were authorized to lay out a road from near Elbridge Dow's to James Smith's, 3d. This is a part of the Windham road, from a little east of Hudson Center to the Eaton place. March 31, 1837, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to lay out a new highway from James Smith's to the road near Lawrence Corner." This was also a part of the Windham road. March 8, 1842, the road between the Bar- rett's hill road and Hudson Center was straightened. The road over Swan hill was discontinued by a vote, November 4. 1844. March 9, 1844, the Back Lowell road was straight- ened, south of the Timothy Ford place to the new Lowell road, as laid out November 28, 1822. March 10, 1844, the road on Barrett's hill, near the house of William T. Bald- win, (now William A. Andrews) was straightened. April 5. 1845, the road was straightened from the "Senter" bury- ing ground, to near the house of Thomas Senter, Jr., two and one-half rods wide September 30, 1852, the highway from the "Senter" burying ground, northerly, to Londonderry line, was laid out by the county commissioners, but was not constructed until 1854. Bridge Road A highway over Taylor's Falls bridge was laid out by the county commissioners, in 1854. This began at a point in the center of the highway, in the city of Nashua, at the railroad crossing, northerly of the passenger depot of the Concord railroad in said city, running south-easterly along the center line of the existing highway to Taylor's Falls bridge; thence easterly in the center line of said bridge, through said bridge, and to a point in said highway in HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 495 Hudson, S. 30° 49' E. of an elm tree, and thirty feet from it; said tree being about three hundred and forty feet from the easterly end of said Taylor's Falls bridge. "The above described, is to be the center line of said new highway." It was laid out " three rods wide the whole distance, with an addition of seventy feet on the north side of said center line, through the bed of said Merrimack River; and with an addition of fifteen feet on the south side." The boundary line between the town of Hudson and the city of Nashua was determined to be in the center of the bridge, an equal distance between the two abutments. May 26, 1857, the selectmen, authorized by a vote of the town, made a change in the road north of the Barrett's hill road and leading to the Deny road. May 27, 1857, a road two rods wide was laid out from near the Congregational church, south-easterly, to near the pound. It was widened one-half a rod in 1902. Webster Street May 6, 1859, the county commissioners laid out the highway, now called Webster street, three rods wide. This highway extends from near Taylor's Falls bridge, in a northerly direction, to the former Litchfield road, near the house formerly of Josiah K. Wheeler. It is some more than one mile in length. It was constructed in 1861. Seavey Road This road was laid out by the selectmen, September 27, 1862. It began southerly of the house of Simeon Rob- inson, near the brook; thence running northerly and north- easterly to near the school house in district number seven; thence north-easterly and easterly, partly by roads formerly laid out, to the road leading to Steele's. It was laid out two and one-half rods wide. 496 history of hudson Barrett's Hill Road September 5, 1873, this road was widened and straight- ened from the William H. Chase house, (now C. E. Walch's) south-westerly and westerly, to the Derry road, near Library street. The easterly part remained two rods wide and the westerly part was laid out three rods wide. Part of Library Street December 12, 1874, a part of what is now Library street was laid out by the selectmen three rods wide. It began at the junction of the Barrett's hill road with the Derry road, and extended southerly to the corner of land of A. G. Hutchins. Part of Derry Road August 26, 1876, a piece of the Derry road, by land of George O. Sanders, from the junction of Library street to the junction of Ferry street, was laid out three rods wide. Litchfield Road August 21, 1877, the selectmen widened and straight- ened the Litchfield road, from a stone bound on the west side of the highway, standing on a line between Hudson and Litchfield, thence southerly to the house of Josiah K. Wheeler. The road was laid out three rods wide. Breakneck Hill Road A road at Breakneck hill, in the north-east part of the town, was laid out three rods wide, December 13, 1877. Ferry Street Ferry street was widened and straightened December 1, 1886, from land of John E. Hanscom easterly to the Cutter road. It was laid out fifty feet wide. JOHN J. BAKER HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 491 Baker Street This street was laid out July 23, 1889. It extended from the Derry road, northerly to land of the Methodist parsonage, thence easterly to the Derry road. The first part was laid out fifty feet wide and the last part was laid out forty feet wide. Cutler Road In June, 1889, the county commissioners laid out a road from the Londonderry road north of the John Barrett place, and running south-westerly to the Putnam road, and westerly over the Putnam road to John D. Marshall's; thence south-westerly to the Litchfield line, and through a corner of Litchfield, and partly by the old Cutler road to Litchfield line, and south-westerly to the Derry road near Justin E. Hills'. This road was laid out three rods wide. Derry Road July 3, 1889, this street was widened and straightened from the junction of Baker street and the Derry road at the land of George G. Andrews, westerly, to a stone bound ten feet south of the Sherman wheelwright shop. It was laid out fifty feet wide. Groves' Road December 1, 1889, the selectmen laid out a highway two rods wide from near the house of Robert Groves, west- erly to the Lowell road. Lowell Road In 1895, at the time of the building of the electric street railway from Hudson bridge to the Tyngsborough line, through Hudson, the selectmen widened and straight- 498 HISTORY OF HUDSON eneci the highway the whole distance. It was laid out three rods wide and substantial granite bounds were set on the west line at each angle and curve. Library Street August 10, 1896, a part of Library street was widened and straightened from the south side of Ferry street to the north side of Central street, formerly the Lowell road. The street was laid out three rods wide and was bounded on the west side. School Street This street was laid out November 10, 1897, from Li- brary street on the south side of the Webster school build- ing, westerly three hundred feet and was made fifty feet wide. June 18, 1899, the highway westerly from the Congre- gational church was straightened by making an addition to the northerly side of said highway, for a distance of three hundred and eighty-one feet. Water Street June 26, 1899, Water street was laid out by the select- men from Library street, easterly, to the north-west corner of land of William G. Wood. The street was laid out thirty-three feet wide. This chapter contains a brief sketch or description of almost one hundred highways, or streets, that have been laid out, either by authority of the town or county, from the date of the incorporation of Nottingham in 1733, to 1900, a period of one hundred and sixty-seven years. These comprise nearly all of which any record can be found, and a considerable percentage of this number have been discontinued. A great part of the highways in the north-east part of the town, or so much as was annexed HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 499 from Londonderry in 1778, were laid out by that town be- fore the annexation. State Highways By the provisions of Chapter XXXV, of the laws of 1905, the state highway law became sufficiently matured in this state so that some of the towns began to raise and ap- propriate money for the permanent repairs of some of their main highways. To entitle a town of the size of Hudson to receive state aid in these permanent improvements, the town was required to raise and appropriate for that purpose one dollar and fifty cents on every one thousand dollars of its valuation. At the annual town meeting in March, 1905, Hudson voted to raise and appropriate for the permanent repairs of its main highways the sum of $1,077. This entitled the town to state aid, which was forty per cent of the amount appropriated, or $430.80. The sum total of these two amounts was a little more than fifteen hundred dollars. This was the joint amount to be ex- pended for permanent improvements of its highways in the town of Hudson for 1905 by the selectmen, with the con- sent and advice of the governor and council, and under the supervision of the state engineer. Through some misunderstanding or failure to agree between some members of the governor's council and the selectmen as to what roads the betterments should be ap- plied, the permanent improvements of the highways in Hudson were not commenced, and the appropriation made for that purpose was held over until the next year. In March, 1906, substantially the same amount was raised for state roads as in 1905, which for the two years, including the state aid, made a little more than $3,000 to be expended. A contract was made to construct a first-class macadam road, beginning at the end of Taylor's Falls bridge, thence 500 HISTORY OF HUDSON through Postoffice square to Derry road, and by the Derry road as far as the joint fund would pay for its construction. The construction of the road was finished during the fall of 1906, from the bridge to near the house of Alden E. Cummings, some more than one-half a mile. This road was well constructed and has given good satisfaction, and after having had six years of constant wear is still a good macadam road. In 1907 the amount of $1,134 was raised by the town for state roads, which together with the state aid made the joint amount to be expended $1,587.60. The macadam road was extended on the Derry road as far as the gate at the Catholic cemetery. In 1908 the required amount was raised to entitle the town to receive state aid, and was expended. As the valuation of the town increased a little from year to year, so the appropriation for state roads became proportionately a little greater. For 1908 a macadam road was constructed, beginning at Postoffice square and follow- ing Central street as far as the house of Charles E. Cum- mings. The appropriation for 1909, together with the state aid, was about $1,610. This was applied to Central street and the Lowell road. The macadam road was extended from the point where it was left in 1908, as far as Otternick brook, southerly of the overhead bridge. Up to this time for four years, the state roads in Hudson had been con- structed by contract each year. In 1910, a macadam road was constructed from the Catholic cemetery, where it was left in 1907, following the Derry road to near the house of Charles VV. Spalding. This year for the first time the construction was done by the town, through its selectmen under the direction and supervision of the state engineer. In 191 1, the macadam road was continued from Charles W. Spalding's, by the Derry road to the Marsh corner, so called. This was also done, as in 1910, by the selectmen. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 501 Towards the accomplishment of the construction of so long a piece of state road in 1911, Dr. Alfred K. Hills gener- ously contributed the amount of $2,000, and Walter H. Marsh, another very generous citizen, gave the amount of $600 for the same worthy object. In 1912, the state road was extended from the Marsh corner, by the Derry road, to the house of Dr. Alfred K. Hills. Dr. Hills again contributed very liberally towards good roads in Hudson. He paid $1,500 in cash and gave all the material of which the road was constructed. It was built by the town, as in 1910 and 1911. This road was constructed of different material from that of the macadam roads heretofore made in this town. It was taken from a gravel bank on the farm of Dr. Hills, very convenient to the road which was being improved. The town bought a heavy road roller in 1912. The gravel was screened and applied in different grades — the coarser at the bottom and thoroughly rolled, all being done under the supervision of an experienced road builder. At this time, September, 1912, the road appears to be a very good one. Hudson has now a little more than three miles of state roads. CHAPTER XXXVI Steam and Electric Railroads At the June session of the New Hampshire Legislature of 1868, the Portland and Rochester Railroad Company and the Nashua and Epping Railroad Company— both of which had been previously incorporated, but neither of which had done any construction work — were united into one corpor- ation under the name of the Nashua and Rochester Rail- road, which road now forms a part of the Boston and Maine Railroad system. This, the only steam railroad passing through Hudson, was constructed, and put into operation in the fall of 1874. It crosses the Merrimack River at Nashua about sixty rods below Taylor's Falls bridge, and pursues a north-easterly course through Hudson Center to Beaver brook, a distance of some four miles, and enters Windham. There is but one railroad station in this town, and that is at Hudson Center, where Henry C. Brown is station agent. By an act of the Legislature passed at the June session, 1883, the Worcester and Nashua Railroad Company and the Nashua and Rochester Railroad Company were author- ized to unite upon certain specified conditions, the united corporations to be known as the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad Company. This road forms a contin- uous line from Worcester, Mass., to Rochester, N. H., a distance of ninety-five miles, where it connects with the Portland and Rochester Railroad, making a direct line to Portland, Maine. This is a single track road east of Nashua, and has, in addition to its passenger traffic, numerous freight trains passing over it daily, which condition has resulted in many serious and fatal accidents from collisions occurring be- tween Nashua and Rochester. 502 STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 503 Street Railways The Nashua Street Railway Company was incorpor- ated August 14, 1885, with an authorized capital stock of 550,000, to be operated by horse or other power. This road, which was of the narrow gauge type, as originally laid out, passed over Kinsley, Main and Canal streets to the Concord (now Union) railroad station, and its motive power was furnished by horses. Quincy A. Woodward was its superintendent. Frequent efforts were made by Hudson citizens to in- duce the management of this street railway to extend its tracks to the west end of Taylor's Falls bridge, but with- out success. In the spring of 1887, some of the leading men of Hudson were given to understand that if they would raise one thousand dollars towards defraying the expense, the management would favor the extension of the tracks to the Taylor's Falls bridge, and, whenever the corporation char- ter could be amended so as to permit it, over the bridge into Hudson. The following subscription paper was drawn up, cir- culated and signed: Hudson, N. H., May 17, 1887. We the undersigned agree to pay each the sum subscribed below, to the Nashua Street Railway Company, provided said company will extend their track from some point as it is now laid, near the Concord Railroad Station in Nashua, to a point near the west end of Taylor's Falls Bridge, and to procure an amendment to the charter of said company as soon as possible, permitting said track to be extended into Hudson, and as soon as may be thereafter to extend the same across said Taylor's Falls Bridge into said Hudson. Said company to operate said extension so as to accommodate the Hudson travel, making at least one trip each hour for ten hours of the day, and continue to operate the same indefinitely, all unavoidable deten- tions excepted. Kimball Webster, $100. J. M. Cummings, $17. N. P. Webster, 100. Nathan Cummings, 17. William F. Chase, 100- Martin Brothers, 25. 504 HISTORY OF HUDSON James A. Sanders, $25. Cummings Brothers, $25. George G. Andrews, 50. Nancy B. Merrill, 50. William Hutchinson, 20. G. O. Sanders, 50. McQuesten & Chase, 25. Joseph Fuller, 50. F. A. Cummings, 17. Aaron Cutler, 50. Mrs. A. M. Sherman, 25. E. A. Martin, 25. W. H. & C. C. Leslie, 10. $781 The charter was amended August 17, 1887, authoriz- ing said company to extend their street railway across Taylor's Falls bridge into Hudson, and over and upon the roads in said Hudson. The company, however, did not accept the money sub- scribed by Hudson citizens, nor did it make the proposed extension, for six years. In 1893, the track was laid from Nashua Junction north-easterly through East Hollis street and over the bridge into Hudson, where it terminated near the east end of Taylor's Falls bridge. It was opened for public travel into Hudson, July 22, 1893. Operated as a horse railway, it gave fairly good sat- isfaction to the people of Hudson for about two years. In 1894, a controlling interest in this road wj s acquired by capitalists connected with the Lowell and Suburban Street Railway in Massachusetts. In 1895, permission having been granted by the Legislature, the road was reor- ganized as a standard gauge electric railway, and under the supervision of P. H. Sullivan, at that time the manager of said Lowell and Suburban Electric Railway, which had been extended from Lowell to Lakeview in Tyngsborough, Mass., the road was built through Hudson to the state line — a distance of more than five miles — and from there to Lakeview. The line was constructed in a thorough and substan- tial manner. Also Taylor's Falls bridge was repaired and improved by substituting for all the old floor girders new and much heavier and stronger ones. The structure at that time fourteen years old, was otherwise strengthened STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 505 in its remaining parts, and thoroughly fitted to stand the strain of the new traffic. All this was done at an expense to the company of about ten thousand dollars, as has been described. The road was opened to the public in August, 1895, and from that time has been constantly operated be- tween Nashua and Lowell with very little interruption, and has given the public very satisfactory service. Hourly trips have been made in the winter season, and half-hourly in the summer. The running time from Nashua to Lowell is about an hour and ten minutes, and the fare is twenty cents. Hudson, Pelham and Salem Electric Railway Company This company was incorporated by an act of the Legis- lature, approved March 7, 1889, with power to construct, maintain and operate a railway from a point at or near the Merrimack river bridge in the town of Hudson, over and upon such highways and lands as may be necessary in the towns of Hudson and Pelham in the county of Hillsbor- ough, and Windham and Salem in the county of Rocking- ham, to some convenient point on the state line in or near the highway leading from Wilson's Corner, a village or crossing in the town of Salem, to Ayer's Village at the Massachusetts line. The capital stock was not to exceed $200,000, and two years was given the company in which to construct the road. However, it was not built within the limit of the time allowed. By a legislative act, approved February 5, 1901, the capital stock was increased to $300,000, and the time of construction extended two years from March 7, 1901. It was completed so far as to be opened for public travel, September 8, 1902. The road passes from its junction with the Nashua electric railway near the east end of the bridge, easterly 506 HISTORY OF HUDSON through Hudson Center, thence south-easterly to Pelham line, a distance in Hudson of four and a half miles. Its course continues through Pelham Center, Canobie Lake Park in Salem, Salem Depot, Salem Village and Ayer's Village to Haverhill, Mass. Branches are also con- structed from Pelham Center southerly through Pelham and Dracut to Lowell, and from Point A., near Canobie Lake Park, south-easterly through Methuen to Lawrence, Mass. During the first year of this road's operation, the de- sire to make the quickest possible time between the differ- ent points on its lines resulted in driving its cars at a very high rate of speed, with little or no diminution of velocity when descending the steepest grades or rounding the sharpest curves. So reckless and dangerous did this rapid running appear to the patrons of the road that disaster was predicted by some of them, and not a few were actually afraid to ride over the lines. On Sunday afternoon, September 6, 1903, a car for Nashua, heavily laden, principally with excursionists, fam- ilies and others returning from Canobie Lake Park, while passing, at a terrific rate of speed, around the long curve half a mile west of Pelham Center, met a car approaching in the opposite direction. The inside of the curve at that time was covered with trees, and the vision so obstructed thereby that neither of the motormen could see the other car until the distance separating them was very short. The cars came together with a terrible impact. Some of the passengers leaped to the ground, but many who did not, and especially those sitting in the front ends, were either killed or badly wounded. The number of those killed and those who ultimately died of their injuries was quite large; many others were maimed more or less seri- ously, and both cars were badly wrecked. The killed and wounded were largely citizens of Nashua, though Hudson had to mourn the loss of one of her most prominent business men, George G. Andrews, STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 507 postmaster, merchant, former town clerk, selectman and representative. His wife, Mrs. Anabel C. Andrews, occu- pying a seat with him, was so seriously injured that her life was despaired of for a long time; she ultimately re- gained such a measure of health as to be comfortable, but can never be entirely well again. Without delay the company began to negotiate settle- ments of the claims for deaths and injuries resulting from the accident, and in a short time nearly all were satisfac- torily adjusted without resort to the courts. This accident proved very expensive to the company. As an apparent result the running time was soon changed, so as to very materially reduce the speed of the cars over all the lines of the road, and to the present time, 1912, the former high rate has never been restored. Later the company became insolvent and the road passed into the hands of a receiver, but the company has since been reorganized. The line has always been operated with reg- ularity. Hourly trips in winter and half-hourly in summer are made between Nashua, Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell. Rapid Transit The Goffe's Falls, Litchfield and Hudson Street Rail- way Company was incorporated by an act of the legisla- ture, March 7, 1903. By a legislative act of 1905, the time allowed for the construction of the road was extended two years to March 7, 1907. An act was passed February 27, 1907, changing the name from Goffe's Falls, Litchfield and Hudson Street Railway Company to the Manchester and Nashua Street Railway. George W. Clyde of Hudson, Isaac N. Senter of Litch- field, and the late Wallace D. Lovell of Boston, were fore- most in obtaining the charter of this road, and later, with a few associates, they perfected its organization. 508 HISTORY OF HUDSON Strenuous efforts were made by them to interest capi- talists in financing the road so as to insure its building, but they met with no substantial success until 1906. Early in that year capitalists of Manchester became interested and obtained its franchises, soon after which the construction of the road commenced. During 1906 the road was built from Goffe's Falls in Manchester — where it connects with the Manchester Street Railway — southerly through Litchfield and Hudson, to a point near Taylor's Falls bridge, where it forms a physical connection with the Hudson, Pelham and Salem Street Railway, and also the Lowell line of the Nashua Street Railway, as permitted by its charter. The length of the road is about twelve and one-half miles. It was thoroughly constructed, with heavy rails, and it is nearly all outside of the highways and over private lands. The grades are very light, and it has very few curves. There are many long, straight stretches which permit of "rapid transit," which name the cars bear. The line was opened to the public January 1, 1907. Its cars — as also those of the Hudson, Pelham and Salem electric line — are run on the Nashua Street Railway tracks from the junction at the east end of the bridge to Main street in Nashua. The running time from Nashua to Manchester is one hour. The distance is about eighteen miles, and the fare is twenty-five cents. From the bridge at Hudson to Man- chester the fare is twenty cents, and the running time forty-five minutes. Hourly trips are made, and in summer half-hourly in afternoons. CHAPTER XXXVII Hudson Village Let us attempt to picture to ourselves that part of the town of Hudson with its principal point of radiation near Taylor's Falls bridge — where now is situated our quiet, at- tractive little residential village with its one hundred and seventy-five happy homes — as it existed in the spring of 1834. There was no village here at that date. The only vil- lage in Hudson was at Hudson Center— two miles distant — and that was very small. It contained three small stores, one tavern, one meeting-house, one practicing physician and eight or nine residences. Military trainings in May, required by law once each year, were held on the town common. Hay scales were located on the south side of the common. Only seven years prior to this date, in 1827, the bridge had been completed by a few of the most enterprising men then residents of Hudson and Nashua Village, and opened as a toll bridge, spanning the Merrimack between these two points. It was a covered bridge with a road way sixteen feet broad and no sidewalk. A row of single sash windows upon each of the sides was inserted when the bridge was built, each window containing twelve lights of small glass. The glass, as it became broken by mischievous boys or from accidents, was seldom if ever replaced. The bridge was lighted at night by lanterns specially made for the pur- pose, and after they became broken — which was not very long — by common glass lanterns which were invented a short time previous. The lanterns were filled with whale oil and hung in their places before dark, and would burn until after mid- 509 610 HISTORY OF HUDSON night, and sometimes until daylight. A walk through the bridge in the night time, especially after the lights were extinguished was a dark and gloomy experience. The bridge was five hundred and nine feet in length, and the toll gate was located about fifty feet west of the westerly or Nashua end. The fixed rate of toll assessed for crossing the bridge was for foot people one cent. For a single horse and carriage it was never less than five cents each way, and for the earlier years of the bridge, the toll was consid- erably more. For oxen and all kinds of double teams the toll was graded according to the number of animals, size of load and other conditions. The old Joshua Hamblet ferry house then stood on the river bank about thirty feet south-east from the present location of the Martin barn connected with the store build- ings. This was a small one-story house, without paint, and had stood for many years. The Hamblet dwelling house, where Mr. Josiah Hamblet, the former ferry man, and his family resided, was situated at the present junction of Derry road and Campbell avenue. Captain Joseph Kelley formerly kept a tavern at this place. A long horse shed stood north of the ferry road where the Martin wheelwright and blacksmith building is now located. This shed was formerly for the accommoda- tion of the tavern and the ferry. No other buildings were located near the bridge. The old Eleazer Cummings farm house, erected more than one hundred years prior to that date, stood in the field, three hundred yards north from the end of the bridge, and overlooking the Merrimack. About the same distance in a south-easterly direction was the old colonial farm house of Zachariah Hardy, later owned by John Gillis, which remained there until within a few years, when it was removed and a modern one supplied its place. This house is now owned by the daughters of Mr. Gillis. HUDSON VILLAGE 511 Only two other sets of farm buildings, or buildings of any kind, were situated within one-half mile of the bridge in Hudson. The new road from the bridge to Zachariah Hardy's house was opened in 1827, seven years previous. The county road was straightened from Hardy's south- erly about three miles, and also a little later was straight- ened and improved from Hardy's Corner to Hudson Cen- ter. The old ferry road, now Ferry street, is one among the the most ancient highways in Hudson, but was very nar- row and quite crooked. The Derry road, which included a piece of the old county road, formed a junction with the ferry road, near the south-east corner of the present Library Park. Library street is also a part of the old county road. Webster street was not laid out until many years later, 1859. At the date of which we are writing no railroad had entered Nashua. The Middlesex canal from Pawtucket Falls to Charles- town and Boston was completed in 1804. The canal at Amoskeag Falls at Manchester, with sufficient locks, known as "Blodget's Canal," was commenced by Hon. Samuel Blodget in May, 1793, and completed by him about four- teen years later. The Merrimack River between the head of Middlesex canal near Lowell, and Concord, N. H., had been consider- ably improved by the proprietors of the canal, by removing obstructions from the channel and by the construction of locks in several places along the river. Many canal boats were plying between Concord and intermediate points by the river and canal, to and from Boston. The dimensions of those boats were approxi- mately as follows: length near eighty feet, width nine feet, depth in center three and one-half feet or more. Their sides were made in the woods from large, old growth, native white pine trees, worked into suitable shape and size with 512 HISTORY OF HUDSON a whip saw and broad axe. A single plank, varying in thickness at different points, reached the entire length of the boat. Thib gave it great strength. The boats were propelled down river by long oars, and when the wind was favorable, by a large square sail, with which every boat was provided. They were forced up stream against the current, along near the shore, by means of strong ash poles made for that purpose, the lower ends being strongly shod with steel points. It was con- sidered very hard labor to pole a loaded boat up stream, especially when the river was swollen by rains above its ordinary stage. They were taken through the canal by means of horses traveling on the tow path and drawing the boats. Three men furnished an ordinary crew for a boat. These boats carried wood, shingles, boards, brick, potatoes and other farm produce, together with almost all kinds of merchan- dise. On their return trips they would often load with sugar, molasses and other kinds of groceries, dry goods and all additional articles needed in the country. Many of these boats were owned in the towns between Lowell and Concord. The canal from the Merrimack to the Nashua river was opened in 1826, with the necessary dam and locks. The locks were of solid stone masonry twenty-four feet high in all. Each lift was ten feet wide and eighty-two feet long. Sometimes considerable quantities of wood and lumber were shipped from Hudson to the Boston and Charlestown markets, including the brick yards at Charles- town. The migratory fish were still abundant in the Merri- mack and its tributaries at the time of which we are writ- ing- in the summer of 1835, the ice break, which is still standing in the river a short distance above the bridge, was erected by the proprietors to protect the pier on the Hud- son side, which had previously been considerably weakened by a severe ice freshet. HUDSON VILLAGE 513 The first notable change in the condition after 1834, leading towards the beginning of the development of the village which was to follow later, was the store building with its two tenements and stable. The buildings occu- pied substantially the same location as the present site of the Martin store near Taylor's Falls bridge. The main portion or front had formerly stood a little south of the present Hudson Center school house. It had been the dwelling house of one of the Tenney family. It was re- moved to the place described as early as 1837. December 14, 1837, Joseph Greeley conveyed to Ste- phen D. Greeley one undivided third part of land and buildings in Hudson. Beginning on the highway and on land of Alfred Cummings, a little south-east of Josiah Hamblet's ferry house; thence westerly and northerly by said Cummings land to Merrimack River; thence down said river to land owned by Taylor's Falls Bridge Company; thence easterly upon said bridge company's land and said Hamblet's land to the bound first mentioned, excluding any land belonging to Hamblet and the highway. The exact date at which the Greeley building was first opened as a general country store is not known at the pres- ent time, but it is certain that Mr. Sanborn Sleeper was the proprietor of a store there as early as 1840, and possi- bly two or three years previous. Cyrus Warren, a young man from YYeathersfield, Ver- mont, married, June 6, 1826, in Nottingham West, Susanna B. Winn, born in Nottingham West, daughter of Reuben and Mary Winn. They settled, after their marriage, in Nashua Village, where their two children, George Henry and Harriet, were born. About 1837, Mr. Warren purchased land from his brother-in-law, Abiather Winn, and erected a plane shop with suitable machinery on the south side of Otternick brook, between the Lowell road and the Hadley mill. Mr. Warren also built a cottage house on the south side of the Hudson Center road, north of the plane shop. It was re- 514 HISTORY OF HUDSON moved by the railroad and is now owned by Mrs. Ellen F. Bundy. The plane business conducted by Mr. Warren was not extensive, but he managed it profitably and acquired an enviable reputation for making the best planes manufac- tured in New England. For a time his brother William was connected with him in the business, but later William built a plane shop of his own on the north side of the brook. Cyrus Warren continued to manage the business of plane making here until 1857, soon after which he removed to Nashua. John Gillis settled here on the Zachariah Hardy farm in 1838. The Willoughby brothers, Ethan and Mark, came here from Hollis and settled as early as 1838. They acquired the Hadley mills, formerly built by Moses Had- ley, and after his decease, September 9, 1829, had been owned by the Hadley family. They each built a home soon after settling here, but the exact date is not known. The house of Ethan was situated near the mill on the west bank of the mill pond, and is the same now owned by Charles F. Melendy. Mark constructed his home north of the Hudson Center road — a little west of the William Hadley, or Newcomb house — which is now owned by T. LaOuerre. October 8, 1838-, the Nashua and Lowell railroad was opened to public travel from Lowell to the large Jackson elm at Amory street in Nashua. On December 23, of the same year the bridge over the Nashua river had been com- pleted and the cars were run to Main street station. In 1840, a line of stages was operated from Nashua Village, over Taylor's Falls bridge, on the east side of the Merrimack, through Manchester — at that time a growing manufacturing village containing thirty-five hundred in- habitants — to Concord. This was also the same year in which occurred the famous campaign and election of Wil- liam Henry Harrison as president of the United States. "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." was the rallying cry. Jk 'Mi W 1 j i 1 i i ., i ; "" .... From Photo by C. E. Paine METHODIST CHURCH, 1880 HUDSON VILLAGE 515 During the campaign some of the whigs of Nashua had a genuine log cabin constructed and placed on wheels, which was fully equipped with all the paraphernalia, includ- ing coon skins, hard cider, and other necessary fixtures. During the most heated part of the campaign this cabin was driven from Nashua, through Hudson, Litchfield, Man- chester, Hooksett and Pembroke, to Concord, making al- most as good time as the stage coach, which it followed closely. As it passed along the road many of the patriotic women residents cheered the company by throwing to the breeze their red flannel petticoats. The population of Hudson in 1840 was 1,144. The following summary is copied from the returns of the marshal who took the United States census, showing the products and resources of the town for that year: Horses, 135; neat cattle, 1,241; sheep, 1,403; swine, 585. There were raised, 173 bushels of wheat, 377 bushels of barley, 6,453 bushels of oats, 3,419 bushels of rye, 1,219 bushels of buckwheat, 8,341 bushels of corn, 18,090 bushels of potatoes, 2,398 pounds of wool, 2,698 tons of hay and ten pounds of maple sugar. The value of the products of the dairy for the year was $6,987. There were three stores — two at or near the Center and one at the Bridge — with a capital of $2,600. There were also two grist mills and three saw mills. The number of polls in Hudson was 236, and the valu- ation was $380,614. The town was obliged to pay four dollars and thirty-one cents out of every thousand dollars of the state tax. The first Methodist meeting-house in this town, which stood near the Hadley-Willoughby mill, was built in 1840. The Congregational meeting-house, which is still standing, was built two years later, in 1842. The building long known as the "Old Ark," which is still standing between the railroad and Central street, was 516 HISTORY OF HUDSON removed from near where Charles W. Spalding's house now is, by Amos Davis, Jr., about 1842. It was a long, narrow, one-story building. The roof was removed and a second story added. This second story was much broader than the original building, and projected six or eight feet on each side, which formed piazzas the whole length of the building, about forty feet. Ultimately, a considerable part of these piazzas was inclosed within the building. A pri- vate school, or high school, was maintained in this building for several years. Mr. Sleeper was succeeded in the Greeley store in 1842 by Hermon Dane. He removed here from Hudson Center, and after a residence of two years at the Bridge, removed to Nashua. Mr. Dane and his wife, Clarissa (Bar- rett) Dane, were the parents of the late Hermon F. Dane, a popular auctioneer for many years, who was born at Hud- son Center, May 12, 1840, and who died in Nashua on the 71st anniversary of his birth, May 12, 1911. In 1840, Willard Spalding built the house on the east side of Derry road, now owned by Mrs. Mary M. Spalding. This house replaced a smaller, ancient one on the same spot, formerly owned by Mr. Joshua Pierce. Paul Colburn built his home a little west of the Congregational meeting- house not very long after that church was erected. The place was owned for many years by John E. Brown, and at the present time by Walter A. Peavey. Mr. James Carnes, formerly of Newbury, Vermont, removed to this place from Henniker, N. H., in 1841 or 1842. In 1844 he bought of the proprietors the old South meeting-house erected in 1798. From the timber and ma- terial procured from that building he soon after built him- self a home, at the corner near the present watering trough at Postoffice square. Mr. Carnes was a blacksmith and a wheelwright and proved to be a useful man in the youthful village. Soon after his settlement he changed the old Kelley horse shed, before mentioned, into a blacksmith shop, which was used for that purpose by himself, Jonathan HUDSON VILLAGE 517 C. Dudley and others, for about fifteen years. Mr. Carnes also, from the timber resulting from the demolition of the old meeting-house, a little later built a store building with a basement. This building occupied a part of the same site now covered by Cummings Brothers' wheelwright shop. Mr. Carnes for several years, later occupied the build- ing as a grocery store. About 1851, not having made a full success of the grocery business, he closed it out and im- mediately established the manufacture of "Paddy" wheel- barrows, as they were usually called, being such as were used by laborers when grading railroads. The store was changed into a manufactory and the wheelbarrow business was conducted there by Mr. Carnes with good success for some years. He employed several men. Later he changed it into a general wheelwright busi- ness. The building with all machinery, tools and entire contents was totally destroyed by fire in 1859. Mr. Carnes later rebuilt this building and re-established the wheel- wright business. John N. Marshall, who had kept a small store at Hud- son Center for several years, occupied the Greeley store at the Bridge in 1845, and remained for about two years. He also returned later and again occupied the same place in 1850 and 1851. Moses Worcester, with his son, Moses A. Worcester, occupied the Greeley store in 1847, and remained there three years. Dana Sargent succeeded Worcester & Son for a time. Thomas H. Ewins came here from Salem, N. H., in 1852, and managed a store there, until November 1855. Hills and Marshall— George W. Hills and David C. Marshall — followed Mr. Ewins in business in the store, but continued as a firm only one year, when Mr. Marshall, being in feeble health, withdrew, and the business was conducted by George W. Hills for more than twelve years, until 1869. The streets when mentioned hereinafter will be desig- nated by their modern names. 518 HISTORY OF HUDSON Rev. William Page, at that time the Congregational pastor, built a fine residence on the south side of Central street, in 1844. It is the same now owned and occupied by Rufus E. Winn. William Blodgett also erected his cottage house on the same side of Central street, and near that of Mr. Page, the same year. It is now owned by Caldwell Buttrick. John Cross built a fine set of farm buildings, about 1849, on the east side of the Derry road, it being the same owned for many years by the late Lucien M. Tolles, and now by James S. Bannister. Jonathan C. Dudley, when a young man, came from Weare, N. H., to Hudson, as a blacksmith with Mr. Carnes, in whose employ he remained for a time. Later he man- aged that business on his own account, then, for a time, in company with William F. Lewis, and later with Thomas S. Clough. In 1849, Mr. Dudley bought one acre of land near the present Methodist meeting-house, to which he removed a wheelwright shop formerly owned by David W. Burns, and which stood a short distance south-westerly from the Con- gregational meeting-house. Mr. Dudley remodeled this building into a cottage house, which was occupied for about two years by Charles W. Clement, who was also a blacksmith. Mr. Dudley later occupied it as a home. It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Eva M. Emerson, the only daughter, or child, of Mr. Dudley. Mr. Dudley died March 29, 1865, aged 43 years. In 1850, John Goss of Londonderry, erected a cottage house for his son, Henry S. Goss, on the south side of Cen- tral street, which house is now owned by Rufus E. Winn. For several years Henry S. Goss operated machinery at one of the mills for carding wool. The Hudson postoffice was removed from Hudson Center to the Greeley store building, September 15, 1853, and Thomas H. Ewins appointed postmaster. George W. Hills built his residence on the north side HUDSON VILLAGE 519 of Central street in 1855. It is now owned by the heirs of William Hutchinson. In 1857, James B. Merrill constructed his buildings, a little west from the house of Mr. Hills, which are now owned by his daughter, Annie G. Merrill. In 1856, Josiah K. Wheeler built a fine residence on the west side of the Litchfield road, now Webster street. William Warren built a house on the north side of Central street, about 1854. This house is now owned by Mrs. James C. Thorning. Mr. Warren died May 9, 1861, aged 43 years. Dana Sargent built a fine residence on the north side of Central street as early as 1860. The house was a short distance east of the William Hadley house, and was long known as the Woodbury place. George W. Marshall, a little later, erected a house and barn north of Central street, a little west of the Sunny- side cemetery. In 1857, Holt and Jones of Nashua, were engaged in the .manufacture of cotton goods at the mill formerly of Isaac Winn. They remained in business there two or three years. In 1858, French and Gould were quite largely en- gaged in various manufactures at the Willoughby mills, which was continued by them and other parties for sev- eral years. At one time, extension tables were manufac- tured here in large numbers. Albert Shedd & Co., were engaged in business there in 1867. About 1857, Nathan Marshall erected a fine set of farm buildings on the west side of the Lowell road. This was later known as the Amos Farnum place, and is now owned by Wilber L. Abare. About the same time Fred- erick Steele built the buildings on the west side of the Lowell road, which are now owned by Frank M. Winn. The highway now known as Webster street, from Tay- lor's Falls bridge northerly up the river to the Josiah K. Wheeler house, was laid out in 1859, and constructed two 520 HISTORY OF HUDSON years later. Kimball Webster removed and rebuilt his house on Webster street in 1860, after the highway had been laid out, but one year in advance of its construction. This house had formerly stood on the east side of the Derry road, where it was built in 1848 by Alfred Cum- mings. James Ryan built his house on what was formerly a part of the Cross farm in 1867. It was on the west side of the Derry road. This is the same house now owned by Charles A. McAfee, once owned by George E. Small. Mr. James Carnes built a store building with a small hall on the second floor on the west side of Central street at Postoffice square. This structure was commenced in the early sixties, but was not completed for several years. Mr Carnes traded here for a few years, and it was occupied at times by Francis A. Marden, Waldo P. Walton, Willard H. Webster, and others. James Carnes died November 29, 1883, aged 69 years and 6 months. This building was enlarged and improved by Nathan P. Webster in 1890, and is now owned by Ba- ker Brothers, John J. and William W. They have occupied it as a grocery store for twenty-two years, since October 15, 1890. Charles W. Spalding built his fine residence on the original John Taylor garrison farm, on the west side of Derry road, in 1870. Nathan Cummings removed here from the north-east part of Hudson about 1872, and erected his house on the north side of Highland street, it being the first dwelling there. It is now the abode of Charles B. Gilbert. In April, 1895, the house was practically destroyed by fire. Mr. Cummings died September 23, 1894, aged 76 years. The house was rebuilt by James M. Cummings, son of Nathan. Alonzo G. Hutchins, at that time doing business here as a blacksmith, built a cottage house on the west side of Library street in 1872. It is now owned by Walter J. Harwood. In the same year, Mrs. Martha Pollard put up her cozy house on the north side of Central street. This is now NATHAN P. WEBSTER HUDSON VILLAGE 521 owned by her niece, Emma M. Taylor. Martha Pollard died September 9, 1911, aged 93 years and 9 months. Albert O. Titcomb constructed a small house on the south side of Ferry street in 1871 or 1872. This is the same house owned by the estate of the late Nathan Cum- mings, and occupied by his son, James M. Cummings. A little later, another small house was built by Oscar Austin, a short distance east of the last mentioned one. Later, this was enlarged and improved by Charles H. Bas- sett, and was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1912. It was replaced by a cement structure the same year. In 1873, George M. Clark built a small house on the east side of Derry road beyond number six school house. This has since been materially enlarged, and is now owned by James A. Phillips, the rural mail carrier of Hudson route number two. William H. Leslie came to Hudson from East Pem- broke, N. H., in 1872, and erected a dwelling on the east side of Derry road. James G. Walker built his house on the east side of Webster street in 1873. A story was ad- ded to it in 1898. George O. Sanders began building his fine residence on the west side of Derry road in 1873, and finished it two years later. It is now owned by Harry B. Kenrick. Charles White erected his dwelling on the high land overlooking the Derry road and the Merrimack valley, in 1874. It is still occupied by Mr. White, an old veteran. Hiram Cummings moved and rebuilt his large two-tene- ment house on the north side of Central street in 1874. This formerly stood on the Cummings farm at the north- east part of Hudson. Hiram Cummings died January 7, 1910, aged 88 years. In 1874, the Nashua and Rochester railroad, now a part of the Worcester, Nashua and Portland division of the Boston & Maine system, was opened for traffic through Hudson, with but one station and that at the Center. William P. Annis built his home on the east side of 522 HISTORY OF HUDSON Litchfield road in 1875. This is the same place now owned by Smith L. Jacobs. William F. Chase built a fine residence on the north side of Central street in 1876. It is now owned by the heirs of William F. Winn. Mr. Chase died March 15, 1899, aged 67 years. The grange building on the south side of Central street was erected by an association made up from members of Hudson Grange in 1876. It is now owned by the Nashua Protestant Orphanage Association. William T. Merrill built his home on the north side of Central street in 1876. Mr. Merrill died May 10, 1885, aged 59 years. Aaron Cutler built a house on the east side of Library street in 1875. A little later he put up another small one, a little farther south. The Greeley store buildings before mentioned — at the time owned by Elisha Z. Martin — were totally destroyed by an incendiary fire, together with their contents, the post- office included, on the night of October 21, 1876. Nathan P. Webster was then proprietor and was also postmaster. Mr. Webster kept a general assortment of groceries, in- cluding flour, grain and other goods generally sold in a retail country store. Mr. Martin, in 1877, rebuilt, and these are the same buildings now occupied as a store by Daniels and Gilbert. Frank A. Cummings erected his house at the corner of Library and Highland streets in 1877. The First Methodist Episcopal, or "Brick Church," near the Bridge, was erected in 1880. The iron bridge over the Merrimack, erected to supply the place of the wooden bridge built in 1827, was con- structed in 1881. In 1882, Miss Mary A. Winn built a fine house on the north side of Central street, near the site where the Meth- odist meeting-house was destroyed by fire, August 3, 1879. Mary A. Winn died June 3, 1884, aged 43 years. Since the decease of Miss Winn, the house has been owned by her sister, Josephine A. Winn. HUDSON VILLAGE 523 In 1882, Willis P. Cummings, for Cummings Brothers, Willis P. and Charles E. Cummings, bought the wheel- wright shop, tools and lot from James Carnes. Since that purchase the Cummings Brothers have made several addi- tions to the real estate, and enlargements to the buildings and have supplied them with modern machinery. They employ constantly several men. Charles M. Woodward built a house at the corner of Highland and Pleasant streets as early as 1882. It is now owned by a non-resident. James A. Sanders commenced the building of his row of cottages on the south side of Ferry street in 1885, and added to them from year to year. In 1889 he had built three. In 1890 he had five completed. In 1892 he had eight. Edgar Smith remodeled the George B. Griffin house, formerly the "Red House," on the east side of Derry road, about 1886. It is now owned by Clarence E. Walch. The next house south now owned by Aldon E. Cummings, was rebuilt by his father, John Cummings, about 1850. Mrs. Wilhelmina L. Carnes, widow of James Carnes, removed a small building which stood near the Carnes homestead, to the west side of Campbell avenue. This was about 1884. She had the building reconstructed into a house, which she occupied for a time, but later sold it and removed to Derry. In 1911, this house was pur- chased by Professor Charles L. Norton, and by him was thoroughly remodeled and improved, and supplied with all needed modern improvements. It is now occupied by Joseph A. Torrey. Willis P. Cummings erected his fine house on the south side of Central street in 1887. George G. Andrews erected a fine residence on the north side of Ferry street, at the corner of Baker street, in 1887. Mr. Andrews succeeded Nathan P. Webster in the Greeley-Martin store, and also as postmaster, in 1892. He remained in business there until his sudden and tragic death, September 6, 1903. 524 HISTORY OF HUDSON As early as 1888, Drusette S. Annis, wife of William P. Annis, commenced the building of a home on the north side of Ferry street. This place is now owned by Sumner N. Perkins. James M. Butler, in 1888, built a good house on the south side of Highland street. It is now owned by his son, Albert S. Butler. John H. Baker was the first to build on Baker street. He located his home on the west side of the street, in 1888. James E. Merrill erected his home on the south side of Central street, in 1888. Frederick Steele built a line house on the south side of Ferry street as early as 1888. It is now owned by Clara M. Albee. Rev. Silas G. Kellogg, the Methodist pastor here at that time, constructed a residence on the west side of the Derry road in 1889. Mr. Kellogg died December 21, 1891, aged 68 years, 8 months and 27 days. The place is now occupied by Charles H. Harvey. Ezra A. Martin built a very fine residence on the west side of Baker street in 1889. These buildings were a total loss by fire in September, 1890. William W. Baker built a residence on the site of the destroyed buildings during the winter of 1899-1900. George A. Merrill began the building of his fine home on the east side of Maple avenue, in 1889. Mrs. Hannah J. Clyde erected a fine two-tenement house, suitable for a home for herself and daughter, in 1890. This is on the south side of Central street. Abi A. Sanders built his home on the west side of Ba- ker street in 1890. It is now owned by Edwin H. San- born. Nelson H. Pease also built his dwelling on the south side of Highland street in 1890. Alvirne, the beautiful summer home of Dr. Alfred K. Hills and his wife, Ida Virginia (Creutzborg) Hills, was built in 1890. It is situated on the south-east side of the Derry road, on the former homestead of the late father of HUDSON VILLAGE 525 Dr. Hills, Alden Hills, which contained 181 acres. This was a part of the Nathaniel Hills' Tyng land elsewhere mentioned in this history. In 1891, George O. Sanders built a block of five tene- ments at the corner of Library and Highland streets. This building is now owned by John D. Sullivan of Nashua. James Ryan erected a home on the east side of Pleas- ant street in 1891. This place is now owned by Elmer D. Clement and occupied by Charles A. Shepard. In 1891, George E. Small built his residence on the east side of Webster street. Mr. Small died October 29, 1900, aged 63 years and nine months. This place is now owned by Sanford S. Springer. John M. Thompson erected a fine house on the north side of Highland street in 1891. Mr. Thompson died Jan- uary 27, 1893, aged 61 years and 11 months. The place is now owned by Herbert L. Boynton. James E. Parker, in 1892, built his fine home on the west side of Derry road. In 1892, Gerry Walker built a house on the west side of Baker street. It is now owned by Miss Mary E. Gilson and Mrs. Lucy C. Nichols, sisters. In 1893, Walter E. Harris built a good home at the south-west corner of Campbell avenue. The place is now owned by Professor Charles L. Norton, who has very much improved and enlarged it. It is one of the most modern, most convenient, and finest residences in Hudson. Arthur L. Joy also erected his home on the west side of Maple avenue, in 1894. A few years later he built a small store nearby. During the same year, 1894, George P. Woodward erected a very fine and expensive house on the west side of Litchfield road, or Webster street. A few years later Mr. Woodward removed to Lowell. The place is now owned and occupied by Abraham Ferryall. 526 history of hudson Hudson Water Works In 1891, George O. Sanders was the owner of the finest and best furnished residence in Hudson. He was a manufacturer and the owner of a large wood-working plant, situated on the west side of the Merrimack near the mouth of the Nashua river. He obtained his supply of water for domestic purposes at his home from a deep, open well, raised by means of a wind-mill. In the spring of the same year he bought land ot Na- than Cummings on Highland street, upon which he erected a stand pipe and began to install water works in a small way, chiefly to supply his own buildings and premises. But at the earnest request of a few of his neighbors that appreciated the great convenience of having a plentiful supply of good running water for domestic use, he was induced to enlarge his plant sufficiently to furnish them. After an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a sufficient quantity of water from a large well excavated a little north of the stand pipe, he purchased several acres of swamp land, situated six or seven hundred feet north-easterly from his stand pipe, which included a small, muddy pond of about two acres in area, and which had been known by the name of Spruce Swamp, or Little Tarnic pond. He laid a small pipe from the stand pipe to the pond, and by means of an engine and pump commenced to force water from the pond into the stand pipe. He laid pipes from the stand pipe through Highland street and Derry road to his own residence, and by Derry road and Ferry street as far west as near Taylor's Falls bridge, and com- menced to distribute water to supply his own necessities and also those of a few customers — probably not exceeding twenty in all. He also extended a small pipe through the river to his manufacturing plant in Nashua. This first distribution was in the fall of 1891. This pond water was much colored and contained a large quantity of sediment and swamp mud. HUDSON VILLAGE 527 Yet the pond from its natural situation must necessarily be protected from any considerable quantity of surface drainage. The Hudson Water Works Company was incorporated March 9, 1893. A little later it was organized with George O. Sanders, president, and Linda P. Sanders, treasurer. The water from the swamp pond proved to be of poor quality, and unsatisfactory for domestic uses, both to Mr. Sanders and all his water-takers, and its use was discontin- ued in less than two years after its distribution was com- menced. The old Hadley-Willoughby, or Wood Mill, which was situated on the bank of Otternick brook, a little south-east and near where Charles F. Melendy's box manufactory now stands — was totally destroyed by fire about this time, and George O. Sanders purchased its site, containing sev- eral acres of land, together with all its water rights and other privileges thereunto belonging. In the early part of 1893, Mr. Sanders erected a box shop on the site now occupied by that of Mr. Melendy. This manufactory was later destroyed by fire and recon- structed, and has since been greatly enlarged and improved. In April, 1893, Mr. Sanders conveyed a part of the land he had recently bought, to the Hudson Water Works Company, for location of a large well, from which to draw a supply of water, for a pumping station, and for other needed uses. This well, situated on the north side of the brook and west of the highway — which has since, to a large extent, supplied the stand pipe with water — was excavated, pipes were laid through Central street and connected with the former system of pipes near Hudson bridge, a pump was installed at the well, and the water began to be forced from the new well into the stand pipe by a circuitous route. The pipe through Sanders, now Library street, through which the water now passes, and which materially shortens the distance, was not located until several years later. 528 HISTORY OF HUDSON This water from the well, which became available to Hud- son water-takers in 1893, was far superior in quality to that formerly drawn from the small mud pond. The Hudson Water Works Company bonded its plant for $20,000 at five per cent interest. These bonds were held in Nashua for several years. Sometime previous to June, 1901, the water works were reported to have been sold to parties in Boston, but those parties, after managing the business for a few months, failed to make a full success, and George O. Sanders again became the principal owner of the stock of the company. Previous to July 1, 1903, all, or nearly all, the stock of the Hudson Water Works Company was sold and trans- ferred to parties in Portland, Maine. The bonds of the company were also transferred from Nashua to Maine, and were increased in amount to $25,000, the full amount al- lowed by the charter. The Hudson Water Company was incorporated in 1905, act approved February 14, 1905. With the exception of the names of the incorporators, a slight change of the name of the company, and a change in section eight, the charter of 1905 is substantially identi- cal with that of 1893. In the former charter of 1893, sec- tion eight permitted the company, under certain specified conditions, to borrow money and issue bonds therefor, not to exceed the amount of $25,000. Section eight of the charter of 1905, contained a similar provision, providing for the issue of bonds, but without limit as to the amount to be issued. The growth of Hudson village since the water began to be distributed among its inhabitants in 1891 — about twenty-one years — has not been phenomenal, but it has had a constant, healthy increase from year to year. It has now one hundred and ninety-two houses, or ten- ements, five hundred and seventy inhabitants, three stores, two wheelwright shops, two blacksmith shops, a very exten- sive box manufactory, employing constantly about one HUDSON VILLAGE 529 hundred men, two meeting-houses, two parsonages, and a modern, well-equipped, four-room school house. It also boasts one of the most substantial, convenient and beauti- ful modern public library buildings to be found in this state, which contains more than 5,000 books. It has three lines of electric railway service passing through the village, giving its inhabitants direct and constant communication — half-hourly in summer and hourly in winter — with the cities of Nashua, Manchester, Lawrence, Haverhill and Lowell, and many other points of less importance. The natural scenery along the beautiful Merrimack, where it forms the boundary for nearly seven miles between the city of Nashua and the town of Hudson, presents a very rare charm, and it is believed that few points in New England can equal it. This unpretending little village, nestled upon the bank of the Merrimack, made up principally of happy, humble homes of honest industry, is at present increasing in growth and population much more rapidly than at any former time in its history. CHAPTER XXXVIII Physicians It has been impossible to obtain sufficient data to give as full and accurate an account of all the physicians who have plied their profession in this town, while being resi- dents of the same, as is desirable, yet the following exhibit is believed to contain the names of nearly all those who have practiced the healing art while living here as citizens. Previous to 1850, several of the Nashua physicians had considerable practice in this town, and such practice of the Nashua doctors seems to have steadily increased, until at the present time they attend patients in Hudson in a large majority of cases, notwithstanding that our town physicians have been equally as skillful and trustworthy. Dr. Ezekiel Chase Dr. Ezekiel Chase, son of Thomas and Sarah (Stevens) Chase, was born in Newbury, Mass., November 30, 1707. He was married in Newbury, May 20, 1729 — then of Gro- ton, Mass. — by the Rev. John Tufts, to Priscilla Merrill, daughter of Deacon Abel Merrill of Newbury. Priscilla Merrill was a sister of the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first minister ordained in this town. Dr. Ezekiel Chase was the fourth in descent from Aquilla Chase, who was born in England in 1618, and came to this country, probably before he had attained his majority, and settled in Newbury. He came to Nottingham — later Nottingham West — about 1740. He was first assessed here in 1741, and for the last time in 1780, and consequently was a citizen of this town for forty years. He was the first resident Hudson physician of whom there is any record. He probably practiced medicine con- 530 PHYSICIANS 531 tinuously during those forty years. He was the first in- habitant of this town to hold a commission as Justice of the Peace, being appointed to that office in 1747. October 21, 1740, in consideration of three hundred and sixty pounds lawful money, Joseph Snow conveyed to Ezekiel Chase, one hundred acres of land in the south part of Nottingham, on the Merrimack River, a short distance from where the province line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts was established in 1741. He was one of the Hudson selectmen for nine years, moderator of annual town meetings eleven years and was town clerk. Priscilla, his wife, died February 22, 1768, in her fifty- ninth year. Some time after this event he married for a second wife, Elizabeth . Ezekiel and Elizabeth Chase conveyed the farm of one hundred acres, which he bought of Joseph Snow in 1740, to Samuel Pollard, August 9, 1773. Deed recorded Vol. 10, page 79, Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds. March 26, 1779, they conveyed to John Pollard fifty- four acres of land with buildings, lying near the former tract and on the Ferry road, with two adjoining tracts. Dr. Chase was not assessed in Nottingham West after 1780, and no further record in any way relating to him can be found. Undoubtedly he removed from town about that time. Dr. John Hall Dr. John Hall was a resident of this town in 1779 and 1780. Little is known of him. His residence was with or near that of Captain Samuel Marsh, about one and one- fourth miles north of Taylor's Falls bridge on the River road. There is a record of the birth of children of John and Alice Hall: John, born February 26, 1779; Thomas, born February 21, 1780. 532 history of hudson Dr. Joseph Gray Dr. Joseph Gray came into town about 1782, and was assessed here until 1792. He resided on "Hills Row," near what later became the Warren Hills farm. We find re- corded the births of children of Joseph and Lucy Gray: Lucy, born February 5, 1785; Joseph, born February 9, 1788. He appears to have had a former wife, as there is a record of the birth of Henry, son of Joseph and Susan Gray, May 27, 1783. Dr. Apollos Pratt Dr. Apollos Pratt practiced herein 1803 and 1804. In this town, March 15, 1804, he married Sally Wason, who was probably the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Wason, born March 24, 1778, and twin sister to Hannah, who died young. There is no further record of him. Dr. Paul Tenney Dr. Paul Tenney was born in Rowley, Mass., April 11, 1763. On November 2, 1790, he married Sarah Gibson, born in Pelham, September 26, 1767. He came into this town as early as 1789, and followed his vocation here for over thirty years. For two years he lived near the Joseph Blodgett place on the Lowell road. Afterwards his resi- dence was at Hudson Center on the south side of the Pel- ham road, and at the place later owned by Dr. James Em- ery, and now, 1912, the home of Henry C. Brown. He owned quite a large farm. His children were: Noyes, born September 26, 1791, died January 30, 1853; Kimball, born April 18, 1793, died August 16, 1832; Daniel, born June 15, 1795, died November 20, 1840; James, born June 25, 1798, died May 30, 1842; Paul, born March 1, 1802, died December 9, 1842; Silas, born September 4, 1805; Franklin, born January 17, 1808. PHYSICIANS 533 His wife, Sarah, died October 25, 1818, at the age of fifty-one. December 2, 1819, he married Sally, who was the daughter of Elijah and Miriam Hills, and who was born in this town, April 13, 1774. Dr. Tenney died April 6, 1821, and was laid in a tomb he had constructed near his residence, where his first wife and several of his children were also placed. This is the only tomb in Hudson. He was a man of intelligence and ability, and a physi- cian of skill. Dr. Nathaniel P. Marsh Nathaniel Peabody Marsh, son of Jonathan and Betsey (Sawyer) Marsh, was born in Nottingham West, August 20, 1791. He studied medicine with Dr. Paul Tenney, and be- came an educated physician as early as 1817. He settled in Bow, N. H., where he practiced his chosen profession with good success for a brief period. He died of consump- tion December 17, 1819, at the age of twenty-eight years. "A man of much promise and much lamented." Dr. Daniel Tenney Dr. Daniel Tenney, son of Dr. Paul and Sarah (Gib- son) Tenney, born in Nottingham West, June 15, 1795, studied medicine with his father and became a practitioner in this town before his father's death in 1821. He resided for a time in the John Strickland house, later known as the Pease house. He continued to prac- tice his profession here until after 1831, when he removed to Derry, where he continued to practice until his decease. This occurred very suddenly in Boston, April t>, 1840, under most distressing circumstances. Dr. Dustin Barrett Dr. Dustin Barrett, son of Isaac and Roxanna (Marsh) Barrett, was born in this town in 1794. He became a prac- ticing physician in his native town about 1817. He mar- 534 HISTORY OF HUDSON ried, June 8, 1826, Hannah Chadwick, of Bradford, Mass., and died June 1, 1831, aged 37 years. He is said to have been a physician of much skill. June 2, 1823, John Fos- ter conveyed to Dustin Barrett, physician, seven acres of land a short distance east of the town house, upon which he built a house. This house has had the reputation of always having been occupied by physicians. Dr. Barrett was its first occupant, and after his de- cease, Dr. Daniel Tenney was its tenant. Dr. Henry M. Hooke was its occupant from about 1843 to 1848, when Dr. James Emery for a time lived there. September 21, 1854, Mary E. Barrett, daughter of Dr. Dustin Barrett, of Bradford, Mass., conveyed it to Dr. David O. Smith. Dr. Smith occupied it as his home until his decease, February 15, 1906. The family of Dr. Smith still reside at the old homestead. Dr. Elijah Colbu rn Elijah Colburn, son of Zaccheus and Rachel (Hills) Colburn, born in this town, September 8, 1795, was gradu- ated at Harvard Medical College with the degree of M. D. in 1823. He began his professional life as a physician in his native town, but as early as 1825, permanently settled in Nashua Village, then a part of the township of Dunstable, containing about one thousand inhabitants. The name of Dunstable was changed to that of Nashua, January 1, 1837. Dr. Colburn was one of the first physicians to estab- lish himself in the new and growing village of Nashua, and is said to have been the first to travel with a horse into the adjoining towns, including that of Hudson. He had a long and useful career. As a physician and surgeon he was among the very best at that time in Nashua. He married, June 22, 1826, Sarah Belknap, of Framingham, Mass. He died in Nashua, January 13, 1881. physicians 535 Dr. Zaccheus Colburn The youngest son of Zaccheus and Rachel (Hills) Col- burn, born January 5, 1801, also became a physician in Hudson, where he continued as a practitioner for several years. Previous to 1840 he removed to Manchester, N. H., where he settled permanently, and where it is said he acquired an extensive and successful practice, which he followed for many years. He died in Manchester. Dr. Henry M. Hooke Dr. Henry M. Hooke came to Hudson Center several years after the decease of Dr. Barrett, probably near 1843. He remained here, where his practice gave general satis- faction, until about 1848, when he removed to Lowell, Mass., and died very suddenly soon after. Dr. James Emery Dr. James Emery came into this town as a physician as early as 1848. He was a young man about twenty-six years of age. His experience as a physician at that time was necessarily quite limited. His wife was a daughter of John Goodspeed of Litchfield. In 1849, he purchased the Dr. Paul Tenney buildings, with twelve acres of land, at Hudson Center, which he continued to occupy as his home for many years. He be- came popular as a physician and acquired an extensive practice here. He continued to practice his profession with good suc- cess, until about 1879, when by reason of failing health he was compelled to retire. He died September 30, 1880, aged 58 years and three months. He left no surviving children. 536 history of hudson David Onslow Smith David Onslow Smith, only child of Alvan and Patty (Robinson) Smith, was born November 12, 1823, at Not- tingham West and died February 15, 1906, aged eighty-two. He studied at Nashua Literary Institute and at Pink- erton Academy at Derry, New Hampshire. For several years he taught public and private schools in his own and neighboring towns with great success. In 1850, he gradu- ated from Harvard Medical School with honor, winning the prize offered to the student passing the best examina- tion in surgery. After graduation he settled in Hudson in the same year, and soon had a large practice. He married, August 30, 1855, Mary Hannah Greeley, born October 30, 1832, and died in Hudson, December 27, 1867, daughter of Reu- ben and Joanna C. (Merrill) Greeley of Hudson. He set- tled in the Dr. Dustin Barrett house, situated a short dis- tance east of Hudson Center, which he purchased Septem- ber 21, 1854. They had five children, all born in Hudson: Minnie Eugenie, born June 5, 1856; Edmund Greeley, born Au- gust 10, 1857, died March 29, 1869; Martha Robinson, born July 21, 1859; Herbert Llewellyn, born January 9, 1862; Henry Onslow, born December 18, 1864. He married (second) Hannah P., daughter of Luther and Polly L. (Smith) Haselton, born in Hudson, September 20, 1835. Dr. Smith was a physician deeply skilled in the vari- ous branches of his profession. He was always studious, very industrious, and never allowed himself to neglect his patients. His large, long-continued practice extended largely into the adjoining towns of Pelham, Windham and London- derry. Greatly interested in music, he taught singing schools in several towns, and for a number of years served as con- ductor of a chorus recruited from several surrounding HERBERT L. SMITH, M. D. PHYSICIANS 537 towns. He also composed considerable music of merit. In early manhood he held the office of captain in the state militia. In politics he was a Republican and was a mem- ber of the constitutional convention of 1889. Dr. Herbert Llewellyn Smith Dr. Herbert Llewellyn Smith, eldest son of David O. and Mary H. (Greeley) Smith, was born in Hudson, Janu- ary 9, 1862. He completed his preparatory course in 1878, by graduating from the Nashua high school and went from there to Dartmouth College, from which he graduated with the class of 1882. He afterwards entered Harvard Medi- cal School, where he received the degree of M. D., in 1887. During his years of student life he assisted in the pay- ment of his expenses by teaching the village school at Hanover, 1882-1883, and by teaching English and short- hand writing in the Boston high school, 1883-1887. In 1886-87, he was house surgeon in the Boston City Hospital, assistant superintendent of that institution in 1887-89, and acting superintendent a portion of that time. Entering the practice of medicine in Boston, in 1889, he was professor of surgery in the Boston Dental College, from 1889 to 1896, and surgeon to out patients and assist- ant surgeon to the Boston City Hospital from 1890 to 1896. He studied in London, Paris and Vienna, in 1891-92; was secretary of the Suffolk District Medical Society from 1891 to 1896; secretary of the Boston Medical Association from 1892 to 1896; professor of clinical surgery in Tufts Medi- ical School in 1885-1896, and made special study of frac- tures of the elbow joint and devised a method of treatment, which has since been used extensively in hospital practice and recommended by authorities. While at the hospital he invented apparatus and in- struments now in general use. In 1896, after an attack of pneumonia, his health failed and he was obliged to give up work for a year, and remained during that time at the old home in Hudson. 538 HISTORY OF HUDSON He opened an office, in 1897, in Nashua, and has since then been engaged in practice there, where he has taken high rank in both medical and surgical circles. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the New Hampshire Medical Society, the Ameri- can Medical Association, the New Hampshire Surgical Club, and the Nashua Medical Association. He is a mem- ber of the staff of the Nashua Emergency Hospital and St Joseph's Hospital. In addition to attending to the numer- ous and exacting demands of a large practice, he has pre- pared and published various medical papers, including those on original operations for fractures of the elbow joint and cleft palate. Dr. Smith is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Nashoonon Encamp- ment, and Canton A., of Nashua. He is a member of the Ancient York Lodge, No 89, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Meridian Royal Arch Chapter, No. 9; Israel Hunt Council, No. 8; St. George Commandery, Knight Tem- plars; Edward A. Raymond Consistory, thirty second de- gree, of Nashua, and Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Dr. Herbert L. Smith married in Charlestown, Mass., September 24, 1890, Charlotte S. DeWolfe, born in Charlestown, April 22, 1867, daughter of Lewis E. and Louisa (Graves) DeWolfe. The children of this union have been: Theodora Lottchen, born in Vienna, Austria, January 18, 1892, and died in Charlestown, February 18, 1899; David Onslow, born in Boston, November 22, 1893; Llewellyn DeWolfe, born in Nashua, April 18, 1898; Marion Louise, born in Nashua, February 3, 1900. Dr. Henry Onslow Smith Dr. Henry Onslow Smith, youngest son of Dr. David O. and Mary H. (Greeley) Smith, born December 18, 1864, is the only resident practicing physician in this town at PHYSICIANS 539 this time. After a thorough education at Dartmouth Col- lege and Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, followed by a year's service as resident physician in a New York hospital, he began practice under the oversight and guidance of his father in 1888, at the age of twenty-four years. His practice from the first has increased and improved gradually but steadily until the present, when it is quite extensive in this town, and also in several of the adjoining towns. He is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Soci- ety, and the American Medical Association. He has been a trustee of the public library since it was established and has been its treasurer from the first. He is a director of the Nashua Protestant Orphanage Association. He is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Nashoonon Encampment, and Canton A., of Nashua. He has been a useful member of the board of health for sixteen years and has been its chairman for the greater part of the time, and is still acting in that capacity. He is also a member of the school board, which office he has held for several years. September 4, 1889, he married Marcia A. Deering of Waterboro, Maine. He and his wife reside near his father's homestead. They have one son, Deering Greeley Smith, born in Hudson, June 5, 1896. CHAPTER XXXIX Voting Lists of Hudson The first printed check list used at any election in this town was at the annual town meeting, March 10, 1874. For many years prior to that date the law provided that: The selectmen shall lodge with the town clerk, and shall also cause to be posted up in one or more public places in the town, an alphabetical list of all the legal voters therein, fifteen days at least prior to any meet- ing for the choice of state or county officers, representatives in congress, or electors of president and vice president. The selectmen shall be in session, at some convenient place, for so long a time as shall be necessary, within three days next preceding any such meeting, for the purpose of correcting said list; and one session shall be for two hours at least on the day before the opening of the meet- ing. Notice of the times and places of holding said sessions shall be given upon said lists at the time of posting up the same. The selectmen shall hear all applications for the insertion of the name of any person on said list, or the erasure of any name therefrom, and may examine the party or any witness thereto, upon oath, which may be administered by any member of the board. They shall insert the name of every legal voter omitted, and erase the name of every person not a legal voter. Previous to 1874, these check-lists had been written by the selectmen. When the check-list was printed for the first time in that year, at an expense of six dollars, some of the town's leading citizens considered it a piece of extravagance, and predicted that it would never be re- peated. However, it proved to be much more convenient for the clerk when checking the names of voters, and saved considerable time, permitting the business of the meeting to be completed at an earlier hour than formerly. The many names filled much less space in print than when 540 VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 541 written, and could be more quickly identified and checked by the clerk. Hence no written check-list has been made or used in this town since that time. Check-List for 1874 Allen, William H. Andrews, George G. Annis, Parker B. Atwood, David Baker, John H. Barron, Alden H. Batchelder, Mark Bennett, Marcus F. Berry, John VV. Berry, George W. Blanchard, Silas M. Blodgett, Elmer H. Blodgett, Augustus F. Blood, John Bowles, Prescott Burleigh, Marcellus Burnham, Amory Burns, David Butler, Henry W. Buttrick, Clifton E. Caldwell, Robert D Caldwell, Thomas Campbell, Bradford Carnes, James Chase, John Chase, William F. Chase, Nathaniel Cheney, George Clement, David Clyde, Samuel W. Colburn, Paul Colburn, Isaac Andrews, Gilman Andrews, Robert A. Annis, William P. Baker, Alexis Barrett, James Barron, Solomon R. Belknap, Andrew J. Berry, Daniel M. Berry, Edward F. Blake, Joseph H. Blodgett, Austin Blodgett, Warren Blodgett, Nathan M. Bowers, Benjamin S. Burleigh, Freeman Burnett, James Burnham, John A. Burns, Luke Butler, Moses Brewin, Barnard Caldwell, Nathan Caldwell, George E. Carlton, Joseph G. Case, George F. Chase, Benjamin D. Chase, William H. Chase, Samuel Choate, Joseph Clement, David, Jr. Coburn, James M. Colburn, George P. Colburn, Henry T. 942 HISTORY OF HUDSON Colburn, Newton Connell, Tobias Conneil, John Corliss, James Corliss, Austin D. Cross, William G. Cross, Levi E. Cummings, Hiram Cummings, Frank A. Cutter, James Dane, John O. Davis, Joseph Donahoe, Francis P. Doughty, George L. Durgin, James A. Eaton, Alfred Emerson, Arthur S. Ford, Thomas J. Ford, James Ford, Moses B. Ford, James C. Fuller, Joseph Fuller, Cyrus Gage, Daniel T. Gillis, John Glover, Andrew M. Go wing, Samuel Gowing, Edwin S. Greeley, Jackson E. Greeley, S. Augustus Greeley, Daniel M. Griffin, Rufus K. Groves, Robert Hamblet, Wilbur Hamlett, Alvin Hardy, Joseph Harris, Myron W. Haselton, George W. Colburn, Daniel A- Connell, Philip Connor, John Corliss, James N. Corliss, Daniel P. Cross, Hiram Cummings, Nathan Cummings, Enoch Cressey, Charles A, Dane, Charles F. Davis, George H. Donahoe, Timothy Donnelly, Owen Durant, George W, Dutton, John E. Eaton, James A. Emery, James Ford, Timothy S. Ford, William R. Ford, David C. Fox, Henry J. Fuller, Benjamin Fuller, Lorenzo Gage, Daniel Glines, George A. Glover, Warren Gowing, George T. Greeley, Stephen D. Greeley, Samuel Greeley, James C. Greeley, John Grover, Asaph Guyon, Henry M. Hamblet, Eli Hamlett, Horace J. Harris, Albert Harvey, Edward Heath, Jeremiah VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 543 Heath, Henry W. Hill, Warren Hill, Abijah Hill, Granville Hill, Osgood Hill, George E. Hills, Alden Hills, Albert J. F. Hills, Edwin E. Hills, Rossill F. Hills, Joseph A. Hoffman, George Hull, James Hutchins, Alonzo G. Jaquith, George D. Kelley, William Kelley, John Kidder, Benjamin H. Lenahan, Thomas Leslie, William H. Lewis, Harvey G. Marsh, Otis R. Marshall, Frederick O. Marshall, Albert H. Marshall, John B. Martin, Elisha A. McCoy, James Melvin, Frank P. Melvin, William Merrill, James B. Merrill, Henry A. Merrill, William Miller, William D. Millet, James Morrison, Augustus R. Newcomb, Charles H. O'Neil, Michael Pollard, Joseph F. Hill, Thomas Hill, Justin E. Hill, F. Augustus Hill, Robert D. Hill, Alonzo Hills, Henry H. Hills, George W. Hills, Silas Hills, Arthur F. Hills, Clifton M. Hodgman, John S* Hopkins, J. W. Hunting, Silas Ingersoll, Joy, Lemuel T. Kelley, John H. Kelley, Bernard J. Kuhn, George W. Lenahan, John Lewis, William F. Marsh, Hiram Marsh, Walter H. Marshal], Henry Marshall, George W. Martin, Elisha Martin, Dwight E. McDonald, George Melvin, Tolford D. Merrill, Benjamin A. Merrill, William T. Merrill, George E. Miller, William W. Miller, Franklin P. Morrison, Samuel Morse, Nathaniel M. O'Connell, Michael Poff, Peter Powell, John W. 544 HISTORY OF HUDSON Putnam, John P. Richardson, Elijah Robinson, John B. Robinson, Frank P. Robinson, Henry C. Ryan, James Sanford, Wilmot P. Sargent, Dana Senter, John L. Senter, Simon A. Shaw, James H. Simpson, Samuel Smith, Samuel Smith, Obadiah F. Smith, Kimball Smith, Samuel, 2d Smith, Daniel B. Smith, Frederick F. Smith, William H. Smith, Reuben P. Smith, David O. Smith, Norris Smith, Henry F. Spalding, Reuben Spalding, Benjamin Sprake, Oliver Stearns, Ephraim Steele, S. Alpheus Stewart, Robert S. Tandy, Ezekiel Taylor, William H. Thomas, Tyler Thompson, Martin V. B. Thorning, James C. Towle, William H. Trow, George W. Turner, John Walton, Waldo P. Putnam, Moses A. S. Ripley, Alfred C. Robinson, Simeon Robinson, Lucius F. Robinson, Alphonzo Sanford, John Sanford, Hamlin B. Sargent, William F. Senter, Charles E. Senter, Eliphalet Shea, John Simpson, Samuel R. Smith, Alvan Smith, Henry Smith, Dustin B. Smith, Daniel Smith, John C. Smith, Isaac N. Smith, Andrew J. Smith, George A. Smith, Edgar L. Smith, Martin Spalding, Charles YY Spalding, Jacob F. Spear, Thompson Sprake, Jonathan Steele, Frederick Steele, Charles, Sullivan, John Taylor, Reuben Templeton, Ira Thomas, Wellington H. Thompson, John M. Tolles, Lucien M. Towns, Joseph W. Trow, Richard Walton, James D. Warren, Adams F. VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 545 Watts, Hugh Webster, John Webster, Nathan P. Webster, Kimball Wentworth, Nathaniel Wheeler, Josiah K. Wiggin, A. C. Willard, Peter E. Willoughby, Mark Willoughby, Edwin Wilson, Franklin Wilson, George H. Wilson, J. Frank Winn, John Winn, J. Sylvanus Winn, Rufus E. Winn, Paul T. Winn, Joseph Winn, Amos Winn, William F. Winn, Ira E. Wood, Charles Wood, George W. Wood, George S. Wryn, John Wyles, William W. Wyman, Elbridge Young, Israel W. Young, John P. The list contained th ree hundred and twenty-one names, of which two hundred an d eighty-four cast a ballot, leaving thirty-seven that did not vote at the meeting mentioned. Check-List, 1909 This list, used at the town election, March 9, 1909, contained three hundred and eighty-four names — sixty-three more than the list of 1874, thirty-five years before — an in- crease of about nineteen per cent. On this list are found forty-nine names that were on the list of 1874, or about fifteen and one-half per cent in thirty-five years. Abbott, George H. Ackerman, William G. Adams, Prescott A. Andrews, Howard A. Andrews, William A. Annis, Joseph F. Baker, John J. Baker, William W. Barker, Carl E. Barry, Lawrence M. Bassett, Joseph E. Abare, Wilber L. Ackerman, William H. Andrew, Arnold Andrews, Robert A. Andrews, Arthur S. Baker, John H. Baker, Oswald P. Barker, Eugene L. Barron, Irvin E. Bassett, Charles H. Batchelder, Allen H. 546 HISTORY OF HUDSON Batch elder, Reuben Bell, C. P. Blanchard, Edgar F. Blodgett, Augustus F. Blodgett, Elmer H. Blood, William J. Boynton, Herbert L. Bradley, Allen E. Brown, John E. Bruce, Elias A. Burneche, Annide Butler, Albert S. Butler, George F. Buttrick, Clifton E. Caldwell, George E. Campbell, Charles E. Campbell, Osman S. Campbell, Carl H. Chandler, Bradish L. Chase, Charles H. Chase, William Clark, George M. Clement, David Clement, Harry E. Clyde, George W. Cobb, Bert H. Colburn, Daniel A. Connell, Robert T. Connell, Harry J. Coombs, Walter R. Corliss, Alonzo Cram, John F. Cummings, Hiram Cummings, Frank A. Cummings, Charles E. Cutler, Aaron Daniels, Charles A. Davis, Belevich, Alexander Blanchard, Henry W. Blodgett, Harry D. Blodgett, Austin J. Blood, George F. Boyle, John H. Boynton, John E. Brown, Henry C. Brown, Alvin S. Buchanan, George H. Butler, Henry Butler, Henry C. Buttrick, Leander C. Buttrick, Caldwell Campbell, Bradford Campbell, William H. Campbell, Frank E. Chamberlain, Cornelius W. Chapman, Frank M. Chase, Samuel Cheney, George Clark, Henry Clement, Elmer D. Clifford, Patrick Coates, James G. Cochran, Frank B. Connell, Frank A. Connell, Philip J. Connell, Otis R. Coombs, Elmer L. Cote, Philip H. Cross, Arden C. Cummings, Willis P. Cummings, Aldon E. Curtis, Ulysses G. Daniels, William T. Davis, George H. George W. VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 547 Davis, Henry Donahoe, Patrick Donnelly, Charles Donnelly, Edward B. Doty, Norman A. D. Dunklee, Charles E. Durant, Joel P. Durivage, .Frank Eaton, Walter D. Eayres, Winslow P. Estes, Charles F. Ferryall, Fred Fisher, Oliver A. Ford, Thomas J. Freeman, Andrew N. French, Simon Fuller, Albert A. Galvin, Dennis F. Gay, Elbridge Gay, Warren O. Gilbert, Charles B. Girouard, Joseph Glover, Charles H. Gowing, Sidney P. Gowing, Edwin S. Greeley, Daniel M. Greeley, John P. Greenwood, Cyrus N. Griffin, Charles E. Groves, Robert Groves, Robert G. Gaudette, John B. Hanscomb, Charles H. Harvey, Charles H. Harwood, Walter J. Harwood, Harry Haselton, William C. Hills, Franklin A. Dodge, Walter D. Donnelly, Eugene Donnelly, John Dooley, George N. Downs, Edwin P. Durant, Lucius W. Durivage, George H. Eaton, Alfred Eayres, Edward F. Emerson, Harry D. Estey, Aaron P. Fish, Burton K. Ford, Charles M. Foster, Charles W. French, Menzel S. Frost, Neil W. Fuller, Willis L. Gatz, Arno E. Gay, Leonard A. Gester, Albert Gilbert, Leon A. Glover, Andrew M. Goodale, Walt M. Gowing, George P. Gowing, Edwin E. Greeley, Samuel A. Green, Job W. Griffin, George E. Griffin, John E. Groves, John C. Groves, William H. Hammond, Harry L. Harvey, J. F. Harwood, Harold J. Harwood, Walter T. Haselton, Arthur W. Hersey, Franklin J. Hills, Orlando G. 548 HISTORY OF HUDSON Hoag, David T. Holt, Eugene A. Hopkins, Charles H. Howe, James P. Hunter, Frank H. Jacques, Napoleon Joy, Arthur L. Jewell, Albert Kimball, John R. LeBoufe, Archie Lemoy, Philip C. Leslie, Charles C. Leslie, Eugene W. Manning, Fred J. Marshall, Frank E. Marshall, John B. Marshall, Dana S. Marshall, Eugene J. Martin, Ezra A. McAfee, Charles S. McAfee, Alfred H. McCoy, James McCoy, Herman R. McCoy, Elgin L. Melendy, Charles F. Melvin, Allen H. Merrill, James Everett Merrill, Warren E. S. Montgomery, Francis Montgomery, Frank Morey, Dell E. Morris, William Morrison, Augustus R. Norton, Charles L. Olney, Edwin Osgood, Anson A. Payne, Faybian Hoag, James H. Holton, Lewis M. Hopkins, Guy A. Howe, James G. Hutchinson, William Jacques, Frank A. Jennings, Wilbur S. Kenrick, Harry B. LaQuerre, Joseph LeGallee, Joseph H. Leonard, Sidney W. Leslie, William H. Lewis, Harvey G. Marsh, Walter H. Marshall, Natt W. Marshall, George W. Marshall, Herbert W. Martin, Horace A. Maxfield, Hayden S. McAfee, Carl A. McCann, George W. McCoy, Arus McCoy, Daniel G. McQuesten, Walter T. Melvin, Augustus J. Merrill, George A. Merrill, Benjamin A. Miller, Charles L. Montgomery, William J. Morey, Henry Morrill, Edwin H. Morris, Arthur E. Norris, Herbert L. Ober, Andrew M. Orne, Thomas J. Osgood, Edward C. Payne, Victor W. VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 549 Paine, Clinton E. Parker, Charles C. Parker, Gerry F. Parker, Phineas A. Perham, George A. Perkins, Basil N. Phalen, Frank Pollard, Raymond J. Questrom, Samuel Ratte, Peter T. Reed, Elijah R. Rich, Forrest A. Rivers, Eugene Robinson, Alphonzo Robinson, Frank P. Robinson, George W. Rogers, Frank P. Roleau, John Rounsevelle, John Sanders, Abram Sargent, Nathaniel Shattuck, John Sheldon, David P. Shores, Fred F. Simpson, Alfred L. Simpson, Fred S. Smith, Osman W. Smith, Isaac N. Smith, Hiland Smith, Irvin A. Smith, Henry O. Smith, Fred E. Smith, Arthur Smith, Sherman W. Smith, Elmer F. Snow, Royal G. Spalding, Charles L. Parker, George H. Parker, James E. Parker, F. Laton Pease, Nelson H. Perkins, Sumner N. Peterson, Gustave Phillips, James A. Pudvah, Charles J. Rancour, Henry Ratte, Cyril Reed, George D. Rich, Walter G. Robarge, Joseph E. Robinson, Henry C. Robinson, John A. Robinson, Lester W. Rogers, Harry E. Rolland, Fred Sanborn, Edwin H. Sargent, Frank W. Senter, Eliphalet Shaw, Frank Shepard, Charles A. Shores, William F. Simpson, Edward G. Sinclair, Henry Smith, Henry F. Smith, Charles S. Smith, Nelson Smith, Herbert N. Smith, James Smith, Marcell H. Smith, Arthur W. Smith, Perley B. Smith, George L. Spalding, Charles W. Spalding, Edward A. 550 HISTORY OF HUDSON Stearns, William W. Steele, Silas T. Steele, Frederick Stevens, George A. Tardy, John Thomas, Pearl T. Thompson, George F. Thorne, Albert Tolles, Lucien M. Trow, Wallace G. Trufant, John M. Tvviss, Daniel L. Twiss, George W. Tyler, Francis O. Vantine, Charles Vose, George H. Walch, Chester M. Walker, James G. Walker, Henry E. Webber, George K. Welch, Henry N. Wentworth, John Wheeler, Josiah K. Wildes, Frank H. Willoughby, Harvey M. Wilshire, Frank Wilson, James F. Winn, Frank M. Winn, William F. Winn, Leon E. Woodbury, Fred E. Wyman, Steele, Charles A, Steele, George S. Steele, Fred G. Stewart, Albert A. Taylor, William H. Thompson, Fred W. Thorne, Charles Thorne, Arthur Trow, Arthur A. Trufant, Albert Trull, Christopher B. Twiss, Walter Twiss, Howard Upton, Charles R. Vaughn, Henry E. Walch, Clarence E. Walker, Gerry Walker, Laurentio E. Watts, William H. Webster, Kimball Wentworth, Nathaniel Weston, Jesse S. White, Charles Willoughby, Benjamin F. Wells, Edward J. Wilson, Hiram Winn, Elmer C. Winn, Rufus E. Winn, Frank A. Wood, George H. Woodward, Charles M. Fred D. CHAPTER XL Official Roster The following is a list of moderators of annual town meetings, town clerks and selectmen of the town of Not- tingham, from 1733 to 1741. Moderators of Annual Town Meetings Captain Robert Fletcher, 1733. Henry Baldwin, 1734, '37, '38. John Butler, 1735, '41. Joseph Snow, 1736, '39. Thomas Colburn, 1740. Selectmen 1733, Henry Baldwin, Captain Robert Fletcher, John Taylor, Joseph Snow, John Butler. 1734, Henry Baldwin, Robert Fletcher, Zaccheus Lovewell, John Butler, Eleazer Cummings. 1735, John Butler, Robert Fletcher, Thomas Colburn. 1736, Daniel Fletcher, William Cummings, John Butler. 1737, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Hamblet, John Butler. 1738, Henry Baldwin, John Butler, Joseph Hamblet, Joseph Winn, John Baldwin, 1739, Eleazer Cummings, Zaccheus Lovewell, Jonathan Snow. 1740, Thomas Colburn, Zaccheus Lovewell, John Snow. 1741, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Hamblet, Thomas Gage. Town Clerks Henry Baldwin, 1733, '34, '37, '38, '41. John Butler, 1735, '36. Jonathan Snow, 1739, '40. Until 1741, the town of Nottingham was supposed to be wholly in Massachusetts, and was under the laws and jurisdiction of that commonwealth; but upon the settle- ment of the province line in that year, the town was divid- ed, and the greater part fell within the limits of New Hampshire. Nottingham in this state became a district, 551 552 HISTORY OF HUDSON and remained as such until 1746. There is no record of any town or district meeting from November 22, 1741, to August 9, 1743, at which last meeting the first district of- ficers were elected. Moderators of Annual Meetings. Selectmen and Town Clerks of the District of Nottingham. Moderators Henry Baldwin, 1743, '44. Thomas Colburn, 1745. Thomas Gage, 1746. Selectmen 1743, Zaccheus Lovewell, Ezekiel Chase, Samuel Greeley. 1744, Ezekiel Chase, Joseph Hamblet, John Marshall. 1745, Zaccheus Lovewell, Samuel Greeley, Samuel Butler. Samuel Greeley was elected district clerk at the first district meeting that is found recorded, and was re-elected each year afterwards as long as Nottingham remained a district. The charter of Nottingham West as a town, as has been already stated, was dated July 5, 1746, and the first meeting for the election of officers was held July 17 of the same year. The following lists present the names of the persons who have held the several offices of moderator of annual town meetings, town clerks and selectmen from the year 1746 to 1913, with the years in which they were respec- tively chosen : Moderators Zaccheus Lovewell, 1746. Thomas Colburn, 1747, '48, '49, '50, '51, '53, '58. Ezekiel Chase, 1752, '54, '55, '56, '57, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '76. Abraham Page, 1759, '60, '71, "12, 73, '74, '75, '77, '78. Daniel Merrill, 1761. Ephraim Cummings, 1762, '63. Henry Hale, 1769. George Burns, 1770. OFFICIAL ROSTER 553 Asa Davis, 1779, '80, '83, '84, '85, '98, '99, 1800, '01. William Burns, 1781, '82, '95. Timothy Smith, 1786, '88, '89, '90. Samuel Marsh, 1787- Phineas Underwood, 1791, '92, '93, '94. Moses Johnson, 1796, '97. Jesse Davidson, 1802, '03. Isaac Merrill, 1804, '05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12. Robert Patterson, 1809. Caleb S. Ford, 1813, '14, '15, '16, '17, '19, '21, '22, '24, '23, '26, '27, '28, '29, '32. Noah Robinson, 1818. Joseph Greeley, 1820, '23. Thomas B. Wason, 1830, '31, '33, '34, '35, '36, '37, '38, '39. Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, '41, '42, '43, '44, '45, '47, '48. Jeremiah Smith, 1846. Ethan Willoughby, 1850, '51. James Emery, 1853, '54, '59, '60, '66. James T. Palmer, 1855, '56, '57. Benjamin F. Chase, 1858. Timothy S. Ford, 1861. William H. Chase, 1S62, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71. Caleb Richardson, 1872. Jacob F. Spalding, 1873. Dana Sargent, 1874, '75, '77. Benjamin A. Merrill, 1876. Josiah K. Wheeler, 1878, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90. Stephen D. Greeley, 1879, '80. Kimball Webster, 1891, '92, '93, '94. Nathaniel Wentworth, 1895, '96, '97, '98- George W. Clyde, 1899, 1900, '03, '04. '05, '06, '07, '08, '09. Henry C. Brown, 1901, '02, '10, '11, '12, '13. For the years 1849 and 1852 the election of moderator is not recorded. Town Clerks from 1746 to 1913 Samuel Greeley, 1746. Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1747. Doctor Ezekiel Chase, 1748. Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1749 to 1776. Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1777 to 1781. Son of the last Samuel. Timothy Smith, 1782 to 1784. Asa Davis, 1785 to 1795 and 1801 to 1807. 554 HISTORY OF HUDSON Joseph Greeley, 1796 to 1800. James Gibson, 1808 to 1811. Joseph Greeley, Jr., 1812 to 1S15. Joseph Pollard, 1816, '17. Asa Blodgett, 1818 to 1825. Foster Towns, 1826. Reuben Greeley, 1827 to 1837. James Pierce, 1838 and 1839. Henry M. Hooke, 1840. Daniel McCoy, 1841. Dustin B. Farnum, 1842 and 1843. Paul Colburn, 1844 to 1856. William H. Chase, 1857 and 1858. John C. Webster, 1859. Eli Hamblet, 1860 to 1868. Josiah K. Wheeler, 1869 and 1870. Waldo P. Walton, 1871, '72, '74. James Emery, 1875 and 1877 to 1S79. James G. Walker, 1876. James B. Merrill, 1873 and 1880 to 1890. John J. Baker, 1891 to 1883 and 1902 to 1909 and 1911 to 1913. George G. Andrews, 1894 to 1898. George E. Merrill, 1899 to 1901. George W. Clyde, 1910. Selectmen from 1746 to 1913 1746, Samuel Greeley, Zaccheus Lovewell, Eleazer Cummings. 1747, Ezekiel Chase, John Marsh, John Marshall, Samuel Greeley, Jr., James Wason. 1748, Thomas Colburn, Samuel Greeley, Ezekiel Chase, William Cummings, James Hills. 1749, John Marshall, Stephen Chase, Joseph Winn, Henry Hills, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 1750, John Marsh, Samuel Greeley, Jr., George Burns. 1751, Samuel Merrill, Eleazer Cummings, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 1752, George Burns, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Josiah Cummings. 1753, Samuel Marsh, Abraham Page, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 1754, Thomas Colburn, Samuel Greeley, Jr., James Hills. 1755, Ezekiel Chase, Roger Chase, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 1756'57, Ezekiel Chase, Samuel Greeley. Jr., Ephraim Cummings. 1758, Abraham Page, George Burns, James Hills. 1759, Abraham Page, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Roger Chase. 1760, Daniel Merrill, Ezekiel Hills, Henry Snow. 1761, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Eleazer Cummings, Daniel Merrill. OFFICIAL ROSTER 555 1762-'63, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Ephraini Cummings, Samuel Marsh. 1764, Ezekiel Chase, George Burns, Asa Davis. 1765, Henry Hale, Abraham Page, Ezekiel Hills. 1766, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Ezekiel Chase, Ephraim Cummings. 1767, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, Asa Davis. 1768, George Burns, Nathaniel Davis, Ezekiel Hills. 1769, Abraham Page, Henry Hale. Asa Davis. 1770, George Bums, Samuel Moor, Nathaniel Davis. 1771, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, Nehemiah Hadley. 1772-74, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, John Haseltine, Jr. 1775, John Haseltine, Jr., Asa Davis, William Burns. 1776, Samuel Marsh, John Caldwell, William Burns. 1777, Samuel Marsh, Timothy Smith, George Burns, Jr. 1778, John Haseltine, John Caldwell, Andrew Seavey. 1779, Samuel Marsh, David Lawrence, Moses Johnson, Samuel Wa- son, Samuel Greeley. 1780, Asa Davis, James P'ord, David Lawrence. 1781, Samuel Marsh, John Hale, Isaac Merrill. 1782 and 1784, Timothy Smith, John Haseltine, Jr., Samuel Bur- bank, Jr. 1783, Timothy Smith, Nathaniel Davis, Samuel Burbank, Jr. 1785-'88, Asa Davis, John Haseltine, Jr., Isaac Merrill. 1789, Asa Davis, John Haseltine, Jr., Phineas Underwood. 1790-'92, Asa Davis, Phineas Underwood, Thomas Hills. 1793-'94, Asa Davis, Samuel Marsh, Phineas Underwood. 1795-'96, Samuel Marsh, Page Smith, Isaac Colbum. 1797, Samuel Marsh, David Lawrence, Isaac Merrill. 1798, Asa Davis, Thomas Senter, Jonathan Burbank. 1799, Jonathan Burbank, Isaac Merrill, Thomas Hills. 1800 and 1804, Asa Davis, Isaac Merrill, Page Smith. 1801, Asa Davis, Page Smith, Kleazer Cummings. 1802'03, Asa Davis, Page Smith, Jesse Davidson. 1805-'06, Asa Davis, Isaac Merrill, Caleb S. Ford. 1807, Asa Davis, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson. 1808, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson, Jeremiah Smith. 1809 '10, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson, Noah Robinson. 1811, James Gibson, Jonathan Burbank, Moses Greeley. 1812. Jonathan Burbank, Moses Greeley, Reuben Sargent. 1813-'14, Moses Greeley, Joseph Greeley, Jr., Jeremiah Smith. 1815 '16, Moses Greeley, Benjamin Merrill, William Hills. 1817-T9, Caleb S. Ford, Thomas B. Wason, Jacob Chase. 1820, Caleb S. Ford, Reuben Sargent, David Burns. 1821, David Burns, William Hills, Noyes Tenney. 1822, David Burns, Jacob Chase, Noyes Tenney. 556 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1823, Noyes Tenney, William Hills, Oliver Pollard. 1824, Oliver Pollard, Noah Robinson, Reuben Greeley. 1825, Oliver Pollard, Noah Robinson, Ebenezer Ford. 1826, Reuben Greeley, James Pierce, William Hills. 1827-'28, Reuben Greeley, James Pierce, Jacob Chase. 1829, Caleb S. Ford, James Pierce, John Burnham. 1830, James Pierce, William Hadley, Joseph Blodgett, Jr. 1831, James Pierce, William Hadley, Thomas B. Wason. 1832, Caleb S. Ford, Jeremiah Smith, Noah Robinson. 1833, Noah Robinson, Timothy Ford, Jabez P. F. Cross. 1834, Noah Robinson, Jabez P. F. Cross, James Wilson. 1835, Reuben Greeley, Noah Robinson, Jabez P. F. Cross. 1836, Reuben Greeley, Thomas B. Wason, David Robinson. 1837, Thomas B. Wason, Reuben Greeley, Paul Hardy. 1838, Thomas B Wason, Paul Hardy, Dustin B. Farnum. 1839, Paul Hardy, Dustin B. Farnum, Jabez P. F. Cross. 1840 '41, James Pierce, William Hadley, Warren Pollard. 1842, Thomas Marsh, Greenleaf B. Farnum, Gilman Andrews. 1843, Thomas B. Wason, Amos Hills, Paul Colburn. 1844, Thomas B. Wason, Amos Hills, Gilman Andrews. 1845, Jabez P. F. Cross, Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith. 1846, Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith, Samuel Morrison. 1847, Paul Hardy, Jabez P. F. Cross, Stephen D. Greeley. 1848, Paul Hardy, Jeremiah Smith, Stephen D. Greeley. 1849, James Pierce, Alvan Smith, Benjamin F. Chase. 1850, Paul Hardy, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 1851, Alvan Smith, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 1852, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley, George W. Burns. 1853, James Pierce, George W. Burns, George W. Hills. 1854, Stephen D. Greeley, Hiram Marsh, Benjamin F. Chase. 1855, Benjamin F. Chase, Luther Pollard, John Cross. 1856, David Clement, John Cross, James T. Palmer. 1857, James T. Palmer, Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill. 1858, Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill, Samuel Gowing. 1859, Alvan Smith, John P. Pierce, Noah O. Robinson. 1860, Hiram Marsh, Samuel Gowing, Silas Hills. 1861, Eli Hamblet, Samuel Gowing, Daniel T. Gage. 1862, Daniel T. Gage, Samuel Gowing, Caleb Richardson. 1863, Daniel T. Gage, John Chase, Alden Hills. 1864, Eli Hamblet, Alden Hills, Benjamin A. Merrill. 1865-'66, Stephen D.Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Josiah K. Wheeler. 1867-'68, Stephen D. Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Benjamin A. Merrill. 1869, Eli Hamblet, Joseph Fuller, John M. Thompson. OFFICIAL ROSTER 557 1870, Eli Hamblet, John M. Thompson, James 15. Merrill. 1871, John M. Thompson, James B. Merrill, Augustus F. Blodgett. 1872, James B. Merrill, Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh. 1873, Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh, Charles W. Spalding. 1874, Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, John Lenahan. 1875, Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, Charles Steele. 1876, Josiah K. Wheeler, John M. Thompson, George W. Trow. 1877, John M. Thompson, Charles Steele, George W. Trow. 1878, John M. Thompson, Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn. 1879, Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn, Charles W. Spalding. 1880, Lucien M. Tolles, Charles W. Spalding, William S. Weston. 1881, Charles W. Spalding, Mark Batchelder, Arthur S. Andrews. 1882, Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Clifton E. Buttrick, 1883, Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Robert A. Andrews. 1884, William F. Winn, James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn. 1885, James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn, George G. Andrews. 1886, Daniel A. Colburn, George G. Andrews, James G. Walker. 1887, George G. Andrews, Edwin S. Gowing, Henry C. Brown. 1888, Edwin S. Gowing, James F. Wilson, Daniel Gage. 1889, James F. Wilson, Daniel Gage, David Clement. 1890, Daniel Gage, David Clement, John M. Thompson. 1891-'92, Philip J. Connell, James P. Howe, Charles A. Steele. 1893, James P. Howe, Charles A. Steele, Justin M. Sleeper. 1894, Lucien M. Tolles, Henry C. Brown, Jesse S. Weston. 1895, Lucien M. Tolles, Jesse S. Weston, George P. Woodward. 1896, James F. Wilson, Fred A. Coburn, Edward A. Spalding. 1897-'98, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, Joseph H. LeGallee. 1S99, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, George S. Steele. 1900, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, Fred H. Daniels. 1901, Arthur S. Andrews, Joseph H. LeGallee, John Wentworth. 1902, George A. Merrill, William F. Winn, Elmer D. Clement. 1903-'09, James P. Howe, Philip J. Connell, George F. Blood. 1910, Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, Guy A. Hopkins. 1911-T2, Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, George W. McCann. 1913, Henry C. Brown, Frank A. Connell, John A. Robinson. Delegates to General Court, Etc., From 1733 to 1913 1733. Captain Robert Fletcher and Zaccheus Love- well, delegates to the Massachusetts General Court to get the non-resident lands taxed for the support of the minis- try, and to get a proportion of the lands for the town, given to Dunstable by the proprietors or others. 558 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1734, March. Zaccheus Lovewell, delegate to the Massachusetts General Court to procure the passage of an Act allowing the town to assess a tax of ten shillings each, upon all the cattle driven into the town to pasture, in addi- tion to the usual rates. 1734, June. Captain Robert Fletcher, Henry Bald- win, Joseph Snow and Joseph Hamblet, delegates to the Massachusetts General Court, to answer for the town in all matters relating to the petition of the people of "Natti- cook" to be incorporated as a separate township. 1734, November. Captain Robert Fletcher, delegate to the Massachusetts General Court, to procure a grant of province lands to aid the town to maintain a public school. 1741. Captain Thomas Colburn, delegate to the Mas- sachusetts General Court, to procure the abatement of the county tax, in consequence of the town being divided by the new province line. 1747. John Marsh, delegate to the New Hampshire General Court, upon the petition of the town, for the pas- sage of an Act for the taxing of lands of non-residents. 1748. Deacon Samuel Greeley and John Marsh, dele- gates to the New Hampshire General Court, to answer to a citation in relation to a petition of Josiah Cummings and other inhabitants of the town, to be released from paying taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill. 1760, March 17. Ephraim Cummings chosen delegate to the New Hampshire General Couit, to make application to have the lands of non-residents laid under tax. 1762, January 15. Captain Samuel Greeley chosen Representative for Nottingham West and Litchfield, to represent said towns in the General Assembly. Captain Samuel Greeley was re-elected March 4, 1762. Captain James Ford, delegate to the Provincial Con- vention at Exeter, January 25, 1775. Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial Convention at Exeter, May 17, 1775, and to act for the town for six months. OFFICIAL ROSTER 559 Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial Convention at Exeter, April, 1775. John Haseltine, Jr., delegate to the County Congress at Amherst, 1775. 1778, May 80. William Burns chosen delegate to the convention to meet at Concord, June 10, to form a new plan of government. 1781. Timothy Smith chosen to represent the town at a convention to be held at Concord on the first Tuesday of June, to form a new plan of government. 1786, October 30. Reuben Spalding chosen delegate to the convention "to make a general plan for Paper money." 1788, January 28. Ebenezer Cummings chosen dele- gate "to sit in the convention at Exeter on the second Wednesday of February next, in order to consult and ex- amine the Federal Constitution." 1850. Ethan Willoughby, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution. 1877. Dana Sargent, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution. 1889. David O. Smith, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution. 1903. George W. Clyde, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution. 1912. Henry C. Brown, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution. Representatives to the General Court from 1775 to 1913 Prior to October, 1780, this town was classed with Litchfield for the election of Representatives. The names of those elected from this town are given in the following list : Captain Abraham Page, 1775, '76. Asa Davis, 1777, '79, '92, '93, '94, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08. 560 HISTORY OF HUDSON Captain Samuel Marsh, 1784, '85, '86. Ebenezer Cummings, 1788. Colonel Joseph Greeley, 1795, *96, '97, '98, 1811, '1 Robert Patterson, 1809, '10. Isaac Colburn, 1812. Isaac Merrill, 1813, '14, '16, '17. Noah Robinson, 1818, '20, '21. Thomas B. Wason, 1819, '28, '30, '31, '33, '35, '36. Caleb S. Ford, 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27. Reuben Greeley, 1829. Joseph Greeley, Jr., 1837. David Burns, 1838, '39, '47- Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, '41, '42. William Hadley, 1843, '44, '46. James Cames, 1848. James Pierce, 1850. Joseph Storer, 1851. William Warren, 1852, '53. James Emery, 1854. Hiram Marsh, 1855. Benjamin F. Chase, 1856. Paul Colburn, 1857. Luther Pollard, 1858. Granville Hill, 1859. Samuel Morrison, I860. William H. Chase, 1861. Addison Heald, 1862. Samuel Gowing, 1863. Stephen D. Greeley, 1864. Eli Hamblet, 1865. Isaac Colburn, 1866. Benjamin Kidder, 1867. Thomas Gowing, 1868. Daniel M. Greeley, 1869. Daniel T. Gage, 1870. Josiah K. Wheeler, 1871. Samuel Greeley, 1872. Dana Sargent, 1874, '75. James B. Merrill, 1876. Lucien M. Tolles, 1877. Waldo P. Walton, 1878. A constitutional convention assembled at Concord, De- cember 6, 1876. This convention proposed amendments HENRY C. BROWN OFFICIAL ROSTER 561 changing the constitution in thirteen particulars, all of which except two were adopted by the people. These adopted amendments provided for a change in the time of the election of all state and county officers, senators and representatives to the Legislature, from the second Tuesday of March, annually, to the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, biennially. The tenure of office of all the officers mentioned was changed from one, to two years. Under the revised constitution the following men have been elected representatives, each for the term of two years : John M. Thompson, elected November, 1878. Justin E. Hill, elected November, 1880. Nathan P. Webster, elected November, 1882. William F. Winn, elected November, 1884. Nathaniel Wentworth, elected November, 1886. Charles W. Spalding, elected November, 1888. The constitution was amended in 1889, providing that the Legislature should convene on the first Wednesday of January, biennially, instead of the first Wednesday of June. William W. Baker, elected in November, 1890. George W. Haselton, elected November, 1892- George G. Andrews, elected November, 1894. Edwin S. Gowing, elected November, 1S96. John J. Baker, elected November, 1898. Kimball Webster, elected November, 1900. Philip J. Connell, elected November, 1902. John A. Robinson, elected November, 1904. George H. Abbott, elected November, 1906. George W. Clyde, elected November, 1908. Jesse S. Weston, elected November, 1910. Edward A. Spalding, elected November, 1912. No Representatives were elected for 1787, '89, '90, '91, 1832, '34, '45, '49 and '73. Votes for State President from 1784 to 1792, Inclusive 1784, Meschech Weare, 45; all cast. 1785, George Atkinson, 42; John Langdon, 5. 562 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1786, John Langdon, 66; all cast. 1787, John Langdon, 86; John Sullivan, 7. 1788, John Langdon, 33; John Sullivan, 9. 1789, John Pickering, 78; John Sullivan. 2. 1790, John Pickering, 88; all cast. 1791, Josiah Bartlett, 80; all cast. 1792, Josiah Bartlett, 72; all cast. Votes for Governor from 1793 to 1912, Inclusive 1793, Josiah Bartlett, 55 ; all cast. 1794, John Taylor Gilman, 50; all cast. 1795, John Taylor Gilman, 67; all cast. 1796, John Taylor Gilman, 56; all cast. 1797, John Taylor Gilman, 57; all cast. 1798, John Taylor Gilman, 74; all cast. 1799, John Taylor Gilman, 49; all cast. 1800, John Taylor Gilman, 49; Timothy Walker, 3. 1801, John Taylor Gilman, 51; all cast. 1802, John Taylor Gilman, 40; John Langdon, 19. 1803, John Taylor Gilman, 31 ; John Langdon, 28. 1804, John Langdon, 73; John Taylor Gilman, 34. 1805, John Langdon, 72; John Taylor Gilman, 54. 1806, John Langdon, 90; Timothy Farrow, 1. 1807, John Langdon, 96; Justus Uakin, 1. 1808, John Langdon, 69; Thomas Senter, 6. 1809, Jeremiah Smith, 111; John Langdon, 50. 1810, Jeremiah Smith, 113; John Langdon, 44. 1811, Jeremiah Smith, 111; John Langdon, 68- 1812, John Taylor Gilman, 112; William Plummer, 65. 1813, John Taylor Gilman, 116; William Plummer, 80. 1814, John Taylor Gilman, 136; William Plummer, 83. 1815, John Taylor Gilman, 121 ; William Plummer, 86- 1816, James Sheafe, 114; William Plummer, 97. 1817, James Sheafe, 106; William Plummer, 103. 1818, William Plummer, 97; Jeremiah Smith, 03. 1819, William Hale, 74; Samuel Bell, 82. 1820, Samuel Bell, 95; Jeremiah Mason, 70. 1821, Samuel Bell, 103; all cast. 1822, Samuel Bell, 131; John Foster, 1. 1823, Levi Woodbury, 106; Samuel Dinsmore, 65. 1824, David L. Morrill, 152 ; all cast. 1825, David L. Morrill, 158; all cast. 1826, David L. Morrill, 152; Benjamin Pierce, 7. 1827, Benjamin Pierce, 81 ; David L. Morrill, 19; Jonathan Nye, 11. OFFICIAL ROSTER 563 1828, John Bell, 103; Benjamin Pierce, 7G. 1829, John Bell, 95; Benjamin Pierce, 84. 1830, Matthew Harvey, 115; Timothy Upton, 97. 1831, Samuel Dinsmore, 108; Ichabod Bartlett, 103. 1S32, Samuel Dinsmore, 114; Ichabod Bartlett, 98. 1833, Samuel Dinsmore, 135; all cast. 1834, William Badger, 132 ; all cast. 1835, William Badger, 116; Joseph Healey, 54. 1836, Isaac Hill, 126; all cast. 1837, Isaac Hill, 77; Jeremiah Smith, 1. 1838, Isaac Hill, 139; James Wilson, Jr., 94. 1839, John Page, 142; James Wilson, Jr., 89. 1840, John Page, 138; Enos Stevens, 78. 1841, John Page, 137; Enos Stevens, 79. 1842, Henry Hubbard, 139; Enos Stevens, 59. 1843, Henry Hubbard, 132; Anthony Colby, 57. 1844, John H. Steele, 91; Anthony Colby, 57; Daniel Hoyt, 13. 1S45, John H. Steele, 91; Anthony Colby, 44. 1846, Jared W. Williams, 125; Anthony Colby, 61; Nathaniel S. Berry, 20. 1847, Jared W. Williams, 141; Anthony Colby, 75; Nathaniel S. Berry, 17. 1848, Jared W. Williams, 153 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 93. 1849, Samuel Dinsmore, 157; Levi Chamberlain, 67; Nathaniel S. Berry, 12. 1850, Samuel Dinsmore, 144; Levi Chamberlain, 62 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 7. 1851, Samuel Dinsmore, 105 ; John Atwood, 104; Thomas E.Saw- yer, 31. 1852, Noah Martin, 135; John Atwood, 64; Thomas E. Sawyer, 37. 1853, Noah Martin, 135; James Bell, 42; John H. White, 36. 1854, Nathaniel B. Baker, 135; Jared Perkins, 53; James Bell, 84. 1855, Ralph Metcalf, 145; Nathaniel B. Baker, 119; Asa Fowler, 5. 1856, Ralph Metcalf, 147; John S. Wells, 138; Austin F. Pike, 2. 1857, William Haile, 152; John S. Wells, 129. 1858, William Haile, 150; Asa P. Cate, 124. 1859, Ichabod Goodwin, 133; Asa P. Cate, 125. 1860, Asa P. Cate, 152; Ichabod Goodwin, 150. 1861, George Stark, 152; Nathaniel S. Berry, 151 ; Levi Bartlett, 1. 1862, George Stark, 135 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 131 ; Paul J. Wheeler, 10. 1863, Ira A. Eastman, 130; Joseph A. Gilmore, 97; Walter Harri- man, 53. 1864, Joseph A. Gilmore, 149; Edward W. Harrington, 121. 1865, Frederick Smyth, 134; Edward W. Harrington, 96. 564 HISTORY OF HUDSON 1866, Frederick Smyth, 130 ; John G. Sinclair, 118. 1867, Walter Hatriman, 144; John G. Sinclair, 132. 1868, Walter Harriman, 158; John G. Sinclair, 146. 1869, Onslow Stearns, 139; John Bedel, 114. 1870, Onslow Stearns, 133; John Bedel, 93 ; Samuel Flint, 31; Lo- renzo D. Barrows, 3. 1871, James Pike, 147; James A. Weston, 112; Lemuel P. Cooper, 7. 1872, Ezekiel A. Straw, 139; James A. Weston, 123; Lemuel P. Cooper, 14; John Blackmer, 6. 1873, Ezekiel A. Straw, 125; James A. Weston, 103; John Black- mer, 4. 1874, James A. Weston, 148; Luther McCutchins, 128; John Black- mer, 4. 1875, Hiram R. Roberts, 149; Person C. Cheney, 128; Nathaniel White, 2. 1876, Person C. Cheney, 148; Daniel Marcy, 142. 1877, Daniel Marcy, 144; Benjamin F. Prescott, 130. 1878, Frank A. McKean, 146; Benjamin F. Prescott, 137. Under the amended constitution the election of Gov- ernor and other state and county officers, was changed from March to November, and made biennial. The first election under the revised constitution took place November 5, 1878. 1878, November, Natt Head, 150; Frank A. McKean, 130; Warren G. Brown, 10. 1880, Charles H. Bell, 161; Frank Jones, 140. 1882, Samuel W. Hale, 129; Martin V. B. Edgerly, 121. 1884, Moody Currier, 161; John M. Hill, 135; George Carpenter.il; Larkin D. Mason, 3. 1886, Charles H. Sawyer, 131; Thomas Cogswell, 95; Joseph Went- worth, 2. 1888. David H. Goodell, 179; Charles H. Amsden, 142 ; Edgar L. Carr, 5. 1890, Charles H. Amsden, 160; Hiram A. Tuttle, 136; Josiah M. Fletcher, 2. 1892, Luther F. McKinney, 148; John B. Smith, 146; Edgar L. Carr, 6; William O. Noyes, 1. 1894, Charles Busiel, 179; Henry O. Kent, 96; David C. Knowles, 5 ; George D. Epps, 3. 1896, George A. Ramsdell, 180; Henry O. Kent, 79; John C. Kerry, 4; Gardner J. Greenleaf, 1. OFFICIAL ROSTER 565 1898, Frank W. Rollins, 141 ; Charles F.Stone, 121; Augustus G Stevens, 4. 1900, Chester B. Jordan, 193; Frederick E. Potter. 107; Josiah M. Fletcher, 5; Sumner F. Claflin, 4. 1902, Nahum J. Bachelder, 168; Henry F. Hollis, 97; Michael O'Neil, 6; John C. Berry, 4. 1904, John McLane, 201 ; Henry F. Hollis, 97; Sumner F. Claflin, 7, David Heald, 5. 1906, Charles M. Floyd, 135 ; Nathan C. Jameson, 99; Edmund B Tetley, 19; William H. McFall, 3. 1908, Henry B. Quinby, 200; Clarence E. Carr, 104; Edmund B. Tetley, 5 ; Walter H. Lewis, 4; Sumner F. Claflin, 2. 1910, Robert P. Bass, 208; Clarence E. Carr, 88; Asa Warren Drew, 3. 1912, Franklin Worcester, 130; Winston Churchill, 97; Samuel D Felker, 75; William H. Wilkins, 6; Alvah H. Morrill, 1. Post-Offices and Postmasters Prior to 1818 there was no post-office in town, and mail matter for Nottingham West people went to the post- office at Litchfield, which had been in operation since 1804. A post-office by the name of Nottingham West was established at the Center, July 12, 1818, and Reuben Greeley was appointed postmaster. The name was changed from Nottingham West to Hudson, June 9, 1831. It was discontinued March 3, 1835, and re-established April 25, 1835. After considerable contention between the citizens resident at the Center and those of the small village de- veloping near Taylor's Falls bridge, the office was removed to the latter place, September, 1853. It was discontinued a second time, April 13, 1868, and re-established September 21, 1868. Hudson post-office remains at the Bridge at the present time. Two mails are received daily — one from the Nashua post-office and one from the Boston & Maine railroad at the Union Station in Nashua. The rural sections of the town are well provided for by the rural mail service. Two routes — Nos. One and 566 HISTORY OF HUDSON Two— have been established from this office, while No. Three from Nashua passes through the town. About twenty families in the north-east section of the town are well accommodated by No. One from Derry. The following list of postmasters exhibits the names of all who have been appointed to that office in this town, from 1818 to 1913, with the dates of their appointments and the length of their terms of service. Reuben Greeley, served from July 12, 1818, to April 17, 1829. James Tenney, served from April 17, 1829, to March 3, 1835. Elbridge Dow, served from April 25, 1835, to Novem- ber 13, 1849. Reuben Greeley, served from November 13, 1849, to September 15, 1853. Thomas H. Ewins, served from September 15, 1853, to December 3, 1855. George W. Hills, served from December 3, 1855, to April 13, 1868. Willard H. Webster, served from September 21, 1868, to November 15, 1869. Nathan P. Webster, served from November 15, 1869, to July 24, 1878. Waldo P. Walton, served from July 24, 1878, to April 14, 1879. Nathan P. Webster, served from April 14, 1879, to July 23, 1892. George G. Andrews, served from July 23, 1892, to Oc- tober 6, 1893. John J. Baker, served from October 6, 1893, to Octo- ber 18, 1897. George G. Andrews, served from October 18, 1897, to September 6, 1903. Charles A. Daniels, served from October 1, 1903, to the present, 1913. Paul Colburn was appointed postmaster, October 27, 1863, but failed to qualify and enter upon the duties of OFFICIAL ROSTER 567 this office, and George W. Hills was continued in office until 18(38, when he was succeeded by Willard H. Webster. A post-office, called Hudson Center, was established at the railroad station at that place, November 1, 1876, and Eli Hamblet appointed postmaster at the same time. Mr. Hamblet held the office to the date of his death, August 5, 1896 — nearly twenty years. September 1, 1896, Henry C. Brown was appointed to fill the vacancy and continued as postmaster until the Hud- son Center office was discontinued, March 15, 1910. Population By the provincial census taken in 1767, Nottingham West contained a population of five hundred and eighty- three, with two slaves. By order of His Excellency, John Wentworth, Gov- ernor, a census of the town was taken in October, 1773, in which the population of Nottingham West was returned as follows: Unmarried men, from sixteen to sixty years, 41. Married men, from sixteen to sixty years, 88. Boys, sixteen years and under, 150. Men, sixty years and upwards, 14. P'emales, unmarried, 179. Females, married. 100. Widows, 16. Male slaves, 2. Female slaves, 2. Total population, 592. In September, 1775, a census was taken by order of the New Hampshire Convention, when the town was cred- ited with six hundred and forty-nine inhabitants. There were twenty-two men in the army and four slaves. The first census taken by the United States was in 1790, since when an enumeration has been made every de- 568 HISTORY OF HUDSON cennial. In these reports the population has been given out as follows: 1st census, 1790, 1,064. 7th census, 1850, 1,312. 2d census, 1800, 1,267. 8th census, 1860, 1,222. 3d census, 1810, 1,376. 9th census, 1870, 1,066. 4th census, 1820, 1,227. 10th census, 1880, 1,045. 5th census, 1830, 1,282. 11th census, 1890, 1,092. 6th census, 1840, 1,144. 12th census, 1900, 1,261. 13th census, 1910, 1,344. GEORGE G. ANDREWS CHAPTER XLI Personal Sketches George G. Andrews Levi Andrews settled in Nottingham West, now Hud- son, with his wife, Bridget, in 1778. They had at least six children: Letitia, Joel, Levi, James, Thomas and Hannah. All, with the exception of Hannah, were born previous to their settlement in this town. Thomas, the fourth son and fifth child, was born May 2, 1771. He married, first, Hannah . They had six children: Lucinda, Nathan, Levi, Allen, Dustin and Dan- iel. His wife, Hannah, died March 17, 1800. He married, second, Prisia Hutchinson. They had four children: Rob- ert, Gilman, Hannah and Fanny. Gilman Andrews was born in Hudson, December 26, 1806. He married in Derry, N. H., September 9, 1834, Sophia J. Senter, daughter of Charles and Harriet (Greeley) Senter, born in Hillsboro, N. H., May 14, 1816, a grand- daughter of Dea. Moses and Hannah Greeley. They had three children: Charles T., born May 18, 1837; Mary J. born April 25, 1839; and George Gilman, born April 29, 1847. Sophia J., wife of Gilman, died June 20, 1860. He married, second, Hannah Goodspeed-Cross, born in Litch- field, January 14, 1810. She died July 28, 1865. Gilman Andrews died May 25, 1886. George Gilman Andrews was a native, and life-long resident of Hudson. He was born on the Andrews home- stead on "Hills Row," so called. The first forty years of his life were passed there. In 1887, he built a house on Derry road in Hudson, near Taylor's Falls bridge, and re- sided there until his death, September 6, 1908, though his places of business for some years were in Boston and Nashua. 569 570 HISTORY OF HUDSON In 1892, he purchased of Nathan P. Webster the gen- eral store on Postoffice square in Hudson, remaining in that business until the time of his death. He was also postmaster, had held all the offices in the gift of his town, filled them faithfully, and was always keenly alive to any- thing which concerned Hudson. He was a man of decided opinions, fearless in their expression, and a man of sterling integrity. He married, November 9, 1870, Anabel C. Fol- lansbee, daughter of Franklin G. and Ardelle (Morse) Fol- lansbee, born in Manchester, May 28, 1849. They had one child, Maude Sophia, born in Hudson, August 28, 1871. John Julian Baker John Julian Baker, son of John H. and Lovisa U. (Webster) Baker, was born in Pembroke, N. H., August 21, 1856. His parents moved to Hudson when he was a child and he was educated in the public schools here, Nashua Literary Institute, and Pembroke Academy. In 1870, he entered the employ of Nathan P. Webster as clerk, continuing until 1885, when he was appointed to the United States railway mail service running between Boston and Keene, N. H., and was in this service four years. In 1890, he, with his brother, William W. Baker, established a grocery and general store at Hudson Bridge. He served as postmaster from October 6, 1893, to October 18, 1897. At present he is Hudson's town clerk, having been elected thirteen years, and for twelve years he has been town treasurer. He represented the town in the legislature in 1899. Mr. Baker is an Odd Fellow and be- longs to Granite Lodge, No. 1, of Nashua. William Wallace Baker William W. Baker, the younger son of John Henry and Lovisa U. Baker, was born in Hudson, September 21, 1865. He received his education at the public schools in his native town and at McGaw Institute at Reed's Ferry. WILLIAM W. BAKER PERSONAL SKETCHES 571 In 1885, when twenty years of age, he entered the em- ploy of his late uncle, Nathan P. Webster, as clerk in his store at the Bridge, and was soon after appointed assistant postmaster, which position he held for five years, or until October 15, 1890, when he and his elder brother, John J. Baker, entered into a copartnership in the grocery, meat and grain business at Hudson Bridge. This business he has pursued constantly except few and short intervals, to the present time. He was elected to the state Legislature as a Representative from Hudson in November, 1890. He belongs to no secret or fraternal orders. In politics he has always been a clean-cut Demo- crat, ever true to his convictions. On December 16, 1899, he was united in marriage with Sarah L. Oldall, daughter of Sidney F. Oldall and Eliza- beth Brownlee Oldall, born in Montreal, Que. There have been born to them three children, all boys, and all living at this writing, 1913: John E., born Febru- ary 25, 1901; Sidney F., born May 25, 1905 ; Wallace G., born February 8, 1907. Henry C. Brown Henry C. Brown, son of Darwin and Rhoda M. Wood- ward, was born in Delton, Sauk County, Wis., February 25, 1859. His father was county surveyor of Sauk County at the time of his death, September 3, 1862. Henry was adopted by John D. and Eliza W. Brown, of Nashua, N. H., a little later. He left Nashua with his father and mother in 1867, first going to Berea, O., and two years later they settled on a farm in Raisinville, Michigan. In 1882, the elder Mr. Brown disposed of his farm in Michigan and returned with his family to Nashua. Mr. Brown acquired his education at the public schools at Nashua, and at Raisinville. He soon after entered the service of the Worcester and Nashua railroad. 572 HISTORY OF HUDSON He married, October 9, 1883, Clara J. Bryant, of Iras- burg, Vt. She is a descendant of Captain Jonas and Hul- dah (Putnam) Kidder. Captain Kidder was born in Hud- son, November 16, 1743, and died November 1, 1837, aged 94, and was buried in the Hills Farms cemetery. By reason of ill health, in 1884, Mr. Brown left the employ of the railroad and spent several months in Michi- gan. After his return he entered the employ of the Nashua Manufacturing Company for a time, but settled at Hudson Center with his father in April, 1886. His father died September 29, 1900, aged 73 years and 7 months. His mother died April 7, 1910, aged 94 years and 9 months. Both were born in Bridgewater, N. H. Mr. Brown had a son, Freddie L., born in Nashua, February 20, 1886, and died in Irasburg, Vt., September 28, 1888, and one daughter, Ina L., born October 6, 1889. She married, May 12, 1908, Howard A., son of Arthur S. and Linnie (Butler) Andrews, born in Hudson, February 8, 1883. Mr. Brown was elected a member of the board of selectmen for the years 1887 and 1893. He was also elected to the board of education in 1892. In all, he has served more than ten years in that capacity. In 1913, he was elected as chairman of the board of selectmen by the joint ballots of the two principal parties. In 1908, he was chairman of a committee to build the new school building at Hudson Center. He was elected to the state constitutional convention at Concord in 1912, and he has always been a Republican. He received the appointment of deputy sheriff for Hillsboro County in 1904, and still retains the office. He has performed the duties of moderator of town meetings for several years. He has been station agent for the Boston & Maine railroad at Hudson Center since 1896. He was postmaster at Hudson Center from June, 1896, until the discontinuance of the office in 1910. He has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of the town, and also in the welfare of the schools. WILLIS P. CUMMINGS PERSONAL SKETCHES 57B Mr. Brown is a descendant of Deliverance and Abigail Woodward, who were among the first settlers of Hanover, N. H., and one of the grantees. He has been a member of Granite Lodge, No. 1, L O. O. F., since 1895. Willis P. Cummings Willis P. Cummings, the eldest son and child of Hiram and Abby (Clark) Cummings, was born in Lowell, Mass., January 27, 1850, his parents moving to Hudson when he was six years of age. His education was acquired at the public schools in Lowell and Hudson, and at the Nashua Literary Institute. When nearly twenty years of age, in November, 1869, soon after the railroad was completed to the Pacific coast, he went to California, at the earnest solicitation of his uncle, John B. Clark, formerly of Lyndeboro, N. H., who at that time was heavily interested in the business of sheep-raising in the San Joaquin Valley, Mercedes County, Cal. Mr. Clark then herded, on an average, 10,000 sheep in that valley, and desired the assistance of young Mr. Cummings, to aid him in the supervision of the difficult and compli- cated business. He remained in the employ of Mr. Clark about two years, at the end of which time he returned home. After his return, Mr. Cummings established the carpenter and building business at North Chelmsford, Mass. He married, March, 1873, Hattie D., daughter of Hart- well and Sarah (Blood) Lawrence, born in Merrimack, N. H., March 21, 1851. Their daughter, Bertha Ella, was born in North Chelmsford, March 12, 1875. He removed to Hudson, January 1, 1876. His uncle, John B. Clark, having died in 1876, at the request of his executor, Mr. Cummings went to California a second time, in February, 1877, to assist in the settlement of the estate, at which he was employed about three months, when he returned to Hudson. 574 HISTORY OF HUDSON His wife, Hattie D., died February 2, 1885, and he married, second, November 11, 1885, Frances M., daughter of David and Hannah M. (Hall) Clement, born in Hudson, November 14, 1857. Mr. Cummings continued in the business of building, with success, until September, 1880, when he established the wheelwright and carriage business near the bridge in Hudson. A year later, in 1881, he and his brother, Charles E. Cummings, entered into a copartnership, under the firm name of Cummings Brothers, since which time they have constantly done a large carriage business. Mr. Cummings was naturally a musician. He com- menced playing in the band in 1861, and was connected with the band as a musician for more than forty-five years, nine years of which he was drum major of the Regimental Band. He is a charter member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has filled all the offices in the lodge. He is also a prominent member of Hudson Grange, No. 11, Patrons of Husbandry. Charles E. Cummings Charles E. Cummings, the youngest son of Hiram and Abby (Clark) Cummings, was born in Hudson, November 19, 1862. He received his education at the public schools of his native town, and at the Nashua Literary Institute and at McGaw Institute at Reed's Ferry, in Merrimack, N. H. Before he attained his majority, in 1881, he entered into a partnership with his brother, Willis P. Cummings, in the wheelwright and carriage business, which they have steadily pursued for thirty-one years. He married, September 30, 1896, Laura Belle, daugh- ter of Augustus and Lucy E. (Chase) Blodgett, born in Hudson, October 10, 1861. He is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., of Hudson, and has filled all the offices in the lodge. personal sketches 575 Deacon Moses Greeley Deacon Moses Greeley, (Joseph, Benjamin, Joseph, Andrew, the emigrant, 1635) was born in Haverhill, Mass., November 29, 1764, and died in Hudson, N. H., August 15, 1848. He was married, first, in Hudson, to his cousin, Hannah Greeley, daughter of Ezekiel, (Benjamin, Joseph, Andrew, the emigrant, 1635.) She was born October 1, 1768, and died in Hudson, February 17, 1793, leaving two daughters, Harriet and Sophia. He married, second, Mary Derby, born in Acton, Mass., January 27, 1773, and died in Hudson, N. H., Sep- tember 25, 1856. She was the daughter of Corporal Thomas Derby, (John, Richard, Roger, the emigrant), and Lucy (Brewer) Derby, daughter of Captain Daniel Brewer (French and Indian War), Lieutenant John (Colonial Wars) and John the emigrant, 1642. Mary's mother, Lucy (Brewer) Derby, was the woman who sheared her sheep, spun the wool, wove the cloth, colored it with butternut bark, made the uniform and car- ried it to her husband, then in temporary camp, and told him to go and fight for his country. He went, and was wounded at the battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, and died the next day. Mary was the mother of ten children, five boys and five girls. She was a woman of strong character, a faithful wife and a highly regarded member of the Baptist church in Hudson. Deacon Moses Greeley was a blacksmith and farmer, and was well to do for those days, being a large land owner and a man of great integrity. He was highway surveyor in 1800, and selectman, 1811-1816. He was deacon of the Baptist church, and gave it the first bell hung in the town of Hudson. His will, made December 13, 1843, was pro- bated September 5, 1848. (Nashua Probate Vol. LVII, Page 32). 576 HISTORY OF HUDSON Reuben Greeley Reuben Greeley, eldest child of Deacon Moses and Mary (Derby) Greeley, was born in Nottingham West, now Hudson, July 8, 1794, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. He married, November 27, 1817, Joanna C. Merrill, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Su- sanna (Gale) Merrill, born in Sedgwick, Maine, September, 1795. They had twelve children, four of whom died young. Those that reached manhood and womanhood were: Ado- niram Judson, born September 10, 1818; Susan M., born December 21, 1819; Daniel Merrill, born October 12, 1821; Moses R., born August 13, 1826; Henry Clay, born Octo- ber 15, 1830; Mary Hannah, born October 31, 1832; Ann E., born January 23, 1836, died July 18, 1857; Frances Victoria, born February 4, 1839. Mr. Greeley was a member of the board of selectmen for 1824-'26-'28 and 1835-'37, and was chairman of the board for five of the seven years. He was town clerk for 1827 to 1837, eleven years, and he represented the town of Not- tingham West in the Legislature for 1829. He was one of the prime movers in having its name changed to Hudson, in 1830. Appointed postmaster of Nottingham West, when the office was first established at the Center, July 12, 1818, he filled the office until April 17, 1829, and again became postmaster from November 13, 1849, to September 15, 1853. His first commission, as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hillsborough, was issued January 19, 1819, and continued until his decease. Mr. Greeley performed quite a large amount of justice business in this town. He drew and executed numerous deeds, wills, mortgages, agree- ments and other legal papers. He was careful in the tran- saction of all affairs, and his written documents were always drawn with great precision. He also did a large amount of probate business. He owned a large farm at the Center PERSONAL SKETCHES 577 and was a good farmer. In the Baptist church he was very prominent. Previously a Whig in politics, he affiliated him- self with the Republican party in 1855. Mr. Greeley was one of the most intellectual of the town's former residents, and his broad experience gave him great prestige in the transaction of business among its in- habitants for many years. He died in Hudson, March 30, 1863, aged 68 years and 8 months. His wife, Joanna C. M. Greeley, died June 20, 1890, aged 94 years and 4 months. Alden Hills James Hills, (Samuel, Joseph, the emigrant) who was born in Newbury, Mass., February 25, 1697, was the young- est of the three brothers who settled, when he was a young man, at Hills' garrison, which was then in Dunstable. In 1723, he sold all his interest in the garrison place in Dunstable, and returned to his native town of Newbury, where he married, December 26, 1723, Abigail, daughter of Daniel and Esther Merrill, of Newbury. He continued to reside in Newbury, until 1737, when he returned with his family and settled on "Hills Row," then in Litchfield, on the farm later, of Col. William Hills, now owned by Charles W. Hills. They had eight children, four boys and four girls, the youngest of whom was Elijah, born in Litchfield, March 15, 1738. Ensign Elijah Hills married, December 23, 1762, Miri- am, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Proctor) Kidder, and settled on the old Hills homestead then in Nottingham West. He died January 3, 1828; his wife, Miriam, died August 14, 1822. They had eight children, three boys and five girls. Elijah Hills, the youngest, was born in Notting- ham West, December 14, 1778, and died March 10, 1833. He married Betsey, daughter of Henry and Sarah Tarbox, born in Nottingham West, January 26, 1782. She died July 17, 1857. They had seven children: Parker, Kim- ball, Thomas, Alden, Eliza, Warren and Edwin P. 578 HISTORY OF HUDSON Alden Hills, born on the old homestead, September 10, 1807, married, in Plymouth, N. H., November 27, 1834, Nancy Currier Kimball, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Currier) Kimball, born in Plymouth, January 17, 1814. Alden Hills died September 9, 1891. Nancy, his wife, died January 6, 1910. Alden Hills resided on the old homestead of his father and grandfather, which was a large and productive farm. He was one of the selectmen of Hudson for 1863 and 1864, and collector of taxes for several years, and held other of- fices of honor and trust. He never sought preferment. His life's work was the tilling of the soil. He was a grand specimen of one of "nature's noblemen" — an honest man. Hiram Marsh George Marsh, with his wife, Elizabeth, emigrated from Norfolk County, England, in 1635, and settled in Hingham, Mass., in June of that year. They had four children, two sons and two daughters, all born in England. Their second son and third child, Onesiphorus Marsh, was born in England in 1630, and married Hannah Cutler of Hingham. He removed to Haverhill about 1674. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all born in Hingham. His wife, Hannah, died March 17, 1686. He died in Bradford, May 15, 1713, aged 83 years. John Marsh, the second son and fourth child of One- siphorus and Hannah (Cutler) Marsh, born in Hingham, August 19, 1663, married, November 16, 1688, Lydia, daughter of Robert and Ann (Grant) Emerson, born Au- gust 11, 1667. He lived on Marsh Hill, Haverhill, Mass. Lydia died February 11, 1720. John Marsh died Novem- ber 24, 1733. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters. John Marsh, the oldest son and third child of John and Lydia (Emerson) Marsh, was born in Haverhill, Au- gust 19, 1693. He was married, December 8, 1718, to Sa- PERSONAL SKETCHES 579 rah Severance of Kingston, N. H., born in 1698. They lived for a time in Haverhill, but removed to Londonderry and later to Nottingham, now Hudson. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. John Marsh died November 20, 1777. Sarah, his wife, died January 28, 1786. Thomas Marsh, the oldest son and child of John and Sarah (Severance) Marsh, was bornin Haverhill, Decem- ber 14, 1719. He married, November 17, 1741-'44, Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth (Whittier) Greeley, of Ha- verhill, born February 15, 1724. He settled in Nottingham, now Hudson, as early as 1741; at first on "Hills Row," and later on the farm afterwards owned by his grandson, Hiram Marsh. His wife, Ann, died April 19, 1770; he died July 3, 1808. They had ten children, six sons and four daugh- ters, all born in Nottingham, or Nottingham West. Jonathan Marsh, the fifth son and seventh child of Thomas and Ann (Greeley) Marsh, born in Nottingham West, March 4, 1759, and married, June 27, 1785, Eliza- beth, daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Little) Sawyer, born in Hampstead, N. H., June 29, 1767. He died October 1, 1830. His wife died April 26, 1855. They had ten chil- dren, six sons and four daughters. Hiram Marsh, the fifth son and seventh child of Jona- than and Sarah (Sawyer) Marsh, was born in Nottingham West, November 9, 1800. He married, November 27, 1828, Olivia, daughter of John and Esther (Hadley) Goodspeed, born May 9, 1810. He was a life-long resident on the farm settled and improved by his grandfather, Thomas Marsh, and occupied later by his father, Jonathan. He was a fru- gal, industrious husbandman and farmer, a valued townsman and a kind husband and father. When a young man, he united with the Baptist church and remained a consistent member until his death. He was a member of the board of selectmen in 1854 and 1860, and represented his town in the Legislature of the state in 1855. He was chosen chairman of a commit- tee of three, October 14, 1861, to relieve the families and 580 HISTORY OF HUDSON dependents of soldiers serving in the army, and continued to occupy that position to the end of the war. Many other offices of honor and trust were filled by him. He died January 25, 1879. Olivia (Goodspeed) Marsh died May 24, 1899. Walter H. Marsh Walter Hiram Marsh was born in Hudson, December 6, 1852, the youngest of nine children of Hiram and Olivia (Goodspeed) Marsh. He married, January 8, 1874, Lizzie 5. daughter of Salem and Betsey Stanley (Shaw) Wilder, born July 28, 1853. She died October 2, 1881. They had four children: Walter Wilder, Hiram Stan- ley, (born in Hudson), Marion and Elizabeth. He married second, June 11, 1885, Addie Elizabeth, daughter of John C. and Elizabeth (True) Mason, of Winchester, Mass. Their children were Edith and John Leland. At an early age Mr. Marsh engaged in business in Boston. Since 1876, he has been connected with the well- known publishing house, the Butterick Publishing Com- pany of New York, and for the past twenty-one years has acted as their New England manager and general agent. For thirty years he was a resident of Winchester. In 1900, he came into possession of the Marsh homestead (first settled by his great grandfather, Thomas Marsh), where he now resides. James B. Merrill James B. Merrill, son of Deacon Benjamin and Sarah (Plummer) Merrill, and great grandson of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first minister settled in this town, November 30, 1737, was born in Nottingham West, now Hudson, May 6, 1824. Mr. Merrill received his education at the public schools in his native town. He worked with his father on the farm until he became twenty-one years of age. He then WALTER H. MARSH PERSONAL SKETCHES 5S1 learned the carpenter's trade and pursued the calling of carpenter and builder in Lowell, Nashua, Hudson and else- where for many years. Later in life he was mostly en- gaged in farming. He married, January 22, 1857, Persis A., daughter of William and Persis G, (Moore) Winn, born in Hudson, June 10, 1832. The children from this union were Annie Ger- trude, James Everett and George A. Mr. Merrill early affiliated himself with the Republican party at its organization in Hudson in 1855, and was ever after a staunch Republican. He took a deep interest in all the affairs relating to the town of Hudson. He repre- sented the town in the Legislature in 1876,' and was one of the board of selectmen of the town in 1870 to 1872, being chairman of the board the last year. He was town clerk for twelve years, 1873, 1880 and to 1890, and was also town treasurer for thirteen years. He was one of the committee of five chosen on the part of the town of Hudson, in 1881, to construct, with the city of Nashua, a new bridge across the Merrimack river, to replace the old one. He was a charter member of Hud- son Grange, No. 11, and its first secretary, and held the of- fice of Master. In his religious preferences Mr. Merrill was a Congre- gationalism and was a devoted member of that church in Hudson. He stood high in the regard and esteem of his fellow townsmen, and was faithful in the discharge of all his various duties, honest and conscientious in his dealings, and a worthy representative of a noble great grandsire, Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. James B. Merrill died in Hudson, May 9, 1901. Persis A. Merrill died January 3, 1905. John A. Robinson John Abner Robinson was born in Hudson, N. H., December 28, 1863. He married, March 5, 1890, Julia 582 HISTORY OF HUDSON Anna Webster, born October 26, 1867, the daughter of Kimball and Abiah (Cutter) Webster. They have no chil- dren. Mr. Robinson served the town as selectman in 1897 to 1900, and was again elected to that office at the last an- nual town meeting, March 11, 1913. He was a member of the Legislature from this town for the term of 1905. Mr. Robinson is a descendant of several of the older families of Hudson. On the maternal side are the Hasel- ton, Haseltine, Smith and Page families. Abraham Page, whose name appears in the ancient records, was his great, great, great, great grandfather. On the paternal side his ancestor, Simeon Robinson, became a resident of Hudson by the annexation of a part of Londonderry to Nottingham West, in 1778, as one of the new corners between the two towns was established "at a large Black Oak tree marked, standing about 4 rods East of Simeon Robinson's house." This was a little west of, but near the Tvviss road. The birthplace of Simeon or the date of his settlement in Londonderry is not known. He was born, probably, in 1744, as the record of his death is given as November 22, 1820, aged 76 years. He settled on the farm near Robinson pond in Hudson, about 1786. This farm has since then continued in the Robinson family. Simeon married, first, Susannah Tarbox, by whom he had four sons, Daniel, David, Isaac and Noah, and two daughters, Hannah and Susan. David, born March 4, 1775; married, Dceember 13, 1798, Martha Anderson, born October 13, 1774. He died December 12, 1864; she died February 28, 1860. Their children were: Pat^y, David, John Anderson, Anna Da- vidson, Isaac, who died young, and Louisa. John Anderson, born September 16, 1802; married, December 8, 1836, Marinda Caldwell, born May 16, 1810. He died August 14, 1865; she died January 23, 1897. Their children were: Alphonzo, Sarah Jane, Henry C. and Angelah, who died young. Alphonzo, born November 5, 1837; married, December 23, 1862, Louisa Ann Haselton, born November 8, 1838. PERSONAL SKETCHES 583 Their children were: John Abner, Clarence Luther, who died young, and Hattie Louisa, who died February 27, 1912. Reuben Spalding Ebenezer Spalding, an early resident on a part of the Joseph Hills farm before Nottingham received its charter from Massachusetts, was a son of Edward, born in Chelms- ford, January 13, 1683. He had a son, Reuben, born July 26, 1728. In the Spalding family he was the first of four in a direct line to bear the name, and all were born here. The second Reuben was born September 6, 1761, and was a life-long resident of Hudson. He married Susanna Pierce, October 10, 1780. Their son Reuben was born March 2, 1781. He mar- ried Hannah Barrett, daughter of Isaac and Susanna (Page) Barrett of this town. Reuben, the subject of this sketch, was born July 1, 1811. He grew to manhood in Hudson and Londonderry, and acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen he began to learn the car- penter trade, which he subsequently followed as a journey- man for several years. He was afterwards employed for fourteen years at the Jackson machine shop in Nashua, as a pattern maker, and worked in the same capacity in the railroad shops at Lowell and Nashua for twenty-one years. In 1859, he purchased the old Underwood place in Hudson, which contained one hundred and twenty acres, and was one of the most fertile and productive farms in town. He took great pleasure in tilling this farm, and was an in- dustrious and progressive farmer until his death. He mar- ried, January 17, 1839, Emily Brooks, of Townsend, Mass. Two children sprung from this marriage: Reuben Leander, born in Nashua, February 3, 1844, and George E., born July 20, 1848, who died in infancy. Emily, his wife, died July 26, 1849. He married, October 15, 1851, Sarah E. Laton, daughter of Captain Thomas Laton, of Nashua. 584 HISTORY OF HUDSON" There were children, also, of this marriage: Charles L., born in Nashua, April 5, 1854, and Sarah Maria, bom July 12, 1858. Reuben L., married, January 1, 1866, Abbie E., daugh- ter of Amos and Electa S. Winn of Hudson. They had two children: Edward A., born May 20, 1869, and George, who died in infancy. His wife died October 20, 1875. De- cember 18, 1879, he married Mary E., daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Bennett) Dickerson. The result of this union was a daughter, Emily M., born February 18, 1882. Edward A. Spalding married, October 27, 1888, Anna E. Sanders, of Washington, Vt., and resides in Hudson. They have one child, Ned, be n May 26, 1910. Charles L. Spalding married, January 7, 1886, Sarah B,, daughter of William T. and Lucy A., (Byam) Merrill, born in Hudson, January 13, 1863. They have two chil- dren: Helen C, born in Hudson, January 10, 1887, and Harold M., born July 20, 1889. They live in Hudson. Sarah Maria married, June 23, 1892, John C. Groves, son of Robert and Elizabeth Groves, of Hudson. They settled on the old homestead in Hudson, and have two sons, Reuben Spalding, born July 28, 1893, and Robert Laton, born July 20, 1895. Mr. Spalding was a Democrat politically, but never sought office; yet he was a member of the board of select- men in Hudson for two years, 1874 and 1875. He attended the Episcopal church. He died October 4, 1901, aged 90 years. His wife, Sarah E., died June 3, 1898, aged 79. He was an honor to his native town while he lived, and was a worthy exponent of this one among the most ancient and honored families of Hudson. Kimball Webster (I), John Webster came from Ipswich, Suffolk Coun- ty, England, to Ipswich, Mass., where he was made a free- man in 1635. He died about 1646, and his family after- REUBEN SPALDING PERSONAL SKETCHES 585 wards removed to Newbury. His wife was Mary Shats- well. They had four sons and four daughters, as follows: Mary, John, born in 1633, Hannah, Abigail, Stephen, Eliz- abeth, Israel and Nathan. On October 29, 1650, Mary, the widow of John Webster, married John Emery of Newbury, and died April 28, 1694. Hannah Webster, second daughter and third child of John and Mary Shatswell Webster, married, April 1, 1657, Michael Emerson, and they settled in Haverhill, Mass. They had fifteen children, the oldest of whom was Hannah, born December 23, 1657, who married, December 3, 1677, Thomas Duston. She was the famous Indian heroine. (II). Stephen, second son and fifth child of John and Mary (Shatswell) Webster, was born in Ipswich, Mass., removed to Newbury, and from there to Haverhill in 1653. He was a tailor by trade, a man of influence, and was one of the selectmen in 1669. He married, first, March 24, 1663, Hannah, daughter of John Ayer, of Salisbury, who died June 2, 1676. He married, second, May 26, 1678, Widow Judith Brown. He died August 10, 1694. His children, all by his first wife, were: Hannah, John, Mary, Stephen, Nathan and Abigail. (III). Stephen, second son and fourth child of Ste- phen and Hannah (Ayer) Webster, was born in Haverhill, January 1, 1672, and died March 9, 1748, aged seventy-six. He was one of eight men in the garrison of John Webster, March, 1690. He married Widow Mary Cook. They had six children: Samuel, John, Stephen, William, Ebenezer and Mary. (IV). Ebenezer, fifth son and child of Stephen and Mary (Cook) Webster, was born in Haverhill, September 20, 1711. He married, March 1, 1737, Mehitable, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Day) Kimball, of Bradford, Mass. Their children were: Lydia, Isaac, Mary, Ebenezer, Jona- than, Stephen, Moses and John. (V). Ebenezer, fourth child and second son of Eben- ezer and Mehitable (Kimball) Webster, was born in Haver- 586 HISTORY OF HUDSON hill, February 1, 1744, and died in Pelham, N. H , March 14, 1823. He was married three times and settled in Pel- ham. He married in Pelham, November 29, 1770, Rebecca Baldwin, probably of Pelham. They had three children: Sarah, Ebenezer and Rebecca, the last of whom died young. His wife, Rebecca, died, and he married, second, in Pel- ham, December 31, 1775, Martha Barker. She died with- out issue, and he married, third, in Salem, N. H., October 14, 1778, Elizabeth Bradford of Salem, formerly of Bev- erly, Mass., daughter of Captain Simon and Eunice (War- ren) Bradford, born in Beverly, September 6, 1754. She died in Amherst, N. H., March 27, 1844 They had nine children, all born in Pelham: Rebecca, Nancy, Moses, Simon, Isaac, Asa, John, Benjamin and Betsey. Ebenezer Webster was a quiet, industrious farmer in Pelham, residing just south of North, or White's pond, where he spent all his life after his marriage. (VI). John, seventh child and fifth son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Bradford) Webster, was born in Pelham, December 25, 1791. He married, August 22, 1815, Han- nah, daughter of Eleazer and Sarah (Hale) Cummings, born in Nottingham West, now Hudson, August 4, 1794. She was a great granddaughter of Deacon Henry and Mary (Bartlett) Hale, and also a great granddaughter of Nathan- iel and Ann (Worm) Hills, of Hills' Garrison, both of Not- tingham West. John resided upon the old homestead in Pelham, ex- cepting one year in Meredith, 1819, and one year in Hud- son, 1834, until 1841, when he sold his farm in Pelham and removed to Amherst, N. H., where he remained until 1846, when he returned to Hudson, and bought a farm on Bush hill, where he lived for twenty years, and then made his home with his daughters, Mrs. Titcomb and Mrs. Baker, until his death, March 1, 1883. Mr. Webster was a man of great energy and unremitting industry, by which he had been able to provide for his large family of children, and insure for himself a comfortable support in his old age. He PERSONAL SKETCHES 587 was drafted in the war of 1812, and served in Captain Haynes' company at Portsmouth, where he obtained an honorable discharge. He was a loyal citizen, a good husband and father, an attentive son, supporting his aged parents until their death, and doing his duty faithfully in every position. For many years he was universally called "Honest John Webster." Mrs. Hannah (Cummings) Webster performed faith- fully her part in life as wife, mother and Christian. Indus- trious and frugal, she cared for her large family of children, physically, morally and religiously, and her children learned from day to day by precept and example. She united with the Congregational church in Pelham, and was an esteemed member of other churches of the same denomination where- ever she resided. She died in Hudson, February 3, 1871. The children of John and Hannah (Cummings) Web- ster were: Elizabeth B., married Warren Blodgett; Moses; Sally Hale, married Simeon Titcomb; Eleazer C, died young; Lovisa U., married John H. Baker; Lucy Ann, married Daniel B. Cluff ; Kimball; Hannah Jane, died un- married; John C; Nathan P.; Willard H.; Milton E , died young; and Orrin P. (VII). Kimball, seventh child and third son of John and Hannah (Cummings) Webster, was born in Pelham, November 2, 1828. His education was acquired at the common schools of Pelham and Hudson. He grew up a farmer boy inured to hard work, and prepared for the toil and labor that have since been his lot. He also worked upon the quarries in Pelham in 1847 and 1848. He was one of the California pioneers of "forty-nine." April 17, 1849, six months before attaining his majority, after hearing of the great gold discovery in California, he left home and went to Independence, Missouri, where with a company of twenty-eight men fitted out with pack mules and horses, he traveled over the trail to California, arriving in the Sacramento valley October 13, after spending six months on the way, and experiencing many hardships. He 088 HISTORY OF HUDSON engaged in mining on the Feather and Yuba rivers, and in June, 1851, went to Oregon, then a territory, as was also California. He was engaged upon the surveys of the public lands in Oregon, and in the spring of 1852, was commissioned a deputy surveyor. His work was in the Willamette and Umpqua valleys. He returned home by the way of the Isthmus of Panama in the fall of 1854. In 1855, he was employed as a surveyor and land ex- aminer by the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad company, in the western part of Missouri. In the summer of 1858, he resided in Vinal Haven, Me., and was in the service of the Bodwell Granite Company. Since that time he has been a resident of Hudson, where he owns and occupies a portion of the farm purchased by his great grandfather, Eleazer Cummings, in 1728. Mr. Webster married, January 29, 1857, Abiah Cutter, daughter of Seth and Deborah (Gage) Butler Cutter, born in Pelham, February 1, 1837. Their children were: Lizzie Jane, born January 11, 1858, married Horace A. Martin, resides in Hudson; Ella Frances, born August 19, 1859, married Frank A. Walch, and resides in Nashua; twins, two boys, born June 26, 1861, and died soon after; Eliza Ball, born July 14, 1862, and married Charles C. Leslie, resides in Hudson; Latina Ray, born July 26, 1865, died November 12, 1887; Julia Anna, born October 26, 1867, married John A. Robinson and resides in Hudson; Mary Newton, born August 9, 1869, married George H. Abbott, and resides in Hudson; and twins, male and female, born June 10, 1876, and died the same day. They have eight grandchildren and seven great grand- children. (1912.) Mr. Webster has been a surveyor and engineer. He had an experience of fifty years in tracing old lines and boundaries and finding lost land marks. In this he was considered an expert, with very few superiors. PERSONAL SKETCHES 5BD He has always been a Democrat in politics, and al- though in the minority party politically in his town, he was selectman four years, being chairman of the board. He has twice been chairman of a committee to re- appraise all the real estate in Hudson for taxation, and was chosen a third time, but declined to serve on account of his advancing age. He represented his town in the state Legislature for the term of 1901 to 1902. He was a mem- ber of the school board of Hudson for seven years, 1885- 1893. He has been one of the trustees of the public library since its organization in 1894. He was chairman of a com- mittee of five to build a new bridge over Merrimack river in 1881. In 1910, he was again a member of another com- mittee of five for the town of Hudson, including the select- men, to build another bridge to replace the former one, which had become unfit for the increasing traffic. He has been a continuous acting Justice of the Peace since 1859, drawing numerous deeds, wills and other legal papers. His practice in the probate courts has been ex- tensive. He has been a trustee in savings banks in Nashua for many years. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, F. and A. M., of Nashua, and has been largely identified with the history of the order of Patrons of Husbandry in Hills- borough County. He was the first to become interested in the establishment of a local grange in Hudson, and was its Master for ten years. He was one of the few to organ- ize the New Hampshire State Grange, December 23, 1873, and also Hillsborough County Council, March 4, 1874, of which he was Master two years, and its secretary from De- cember, 1876, until the organization, April 17, 1883, of its successor, Hillsborough County Pomona Grange, No. 1, when he was secretary of that body, which office he con- tinued to hold to December, 1888, when he declined a re- election. He has always been much interested in historical mat- ters and ancient landmarks, including genealogies. 590 HISTORY OF HUDSON In the Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire, published in 1908,. under Webster ances- try, page 23, Ebenezer Webster, are several very important errors. The genealogy will be found correct in this article, also as given in the History of Hudson, in the History of Hills- borough County, N. H., published 1885, by J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, page 482. Nathan Pierce Webster Nathan Pierce Webster, the fifth son and tenth child of John and Hannah (Cummings) Webster, was born in Pelham, N. H., May 19, 1835. In his seventh year his parents removed to Amherst, N. H., and when he was twelve they returned to Hudson. He was educated at the public schools in Amherst and Hudson and a private academy at Hudson Center. While in his minority he worked with his father on the farm at Bush hill and one season on a farm in Dracut, Mass. In the later years he spent the winters at making shoes with some of his brothers, in a small shoe shop at the home- stead. In 1857, at the age of twenty-two years, he was em- ployed at quarrying and cutting stone in Vinal Haven, Me. In 1858, he engaged in the periodical business in Boston, which he pursued with success for several years. May 17, 1860, he married Susan M. Morrison, daugh- ter of Samuel and Achsah (Davis) Morrison, born in Hud- son, November 27, 1838. The fruit of this marriage was one son, Brinton M. Webster, born in East Cambridge, Mass., October 6, 1864. Susan Webster died October 6, 1864. He married, second, Josephine E. Rollins, daughter of Hiram Rollins, of Chelsea, Mass., born February 29, 1840. They had two children: Moses R., born in Hud- son, April 24, 1879, and Adele G., born May 17, 1880, and died July 21, 1897. WILLARD H. WEBSTER, 1837-1869 PERSONAL SKETCHES 591 brother, John C. Webster, at Danbury Depot, N. H. They kept a large store, including groceries and a variety of other goods. He remained in Danbury two years, until 1868. In 1869, he and his brother, Willard H. Webster formed a copartnership in the grocery business in Hudson. Willard Webster died November 23, 1869. He then as- sumed the full ownership and management of the store, which he conducted with success until 1892, when by rea- son of declining health he sold out his business to George G. Andrews. He represented the town of Hudson in the Legislature in 1882. He was postmaster from November 15, 1869, to July 24, 1878, and from April 14, 1879, to July 23, 1892, more than twenty-two years in all. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. Although fond of hunting and fishing, he never permitted sport to interfere with his business. His integrity as an honest man was beyond question by all who knew him. He died January 28, 1893. His wife, Josephine, died January 30, 1907. Willard H. Webster Willard H. Webster, son of John and Hannah (Cun> mings) Webster, was born in Pelham, N. H., March 22, 1837. In 1841, the family removed to Amherst, N. H., and in 1846, to Hudson. Willard was instructed in the public schools in Amherst and Hudson, and a private acad- emy at Hudson Center. He married, June 9, 1859, Sophia C. Foster, daughter of David and Sophia (Coburn) Foster, of Hudson, born June 6, 1839. A daughter, Ida S., was born to them July 18, 1860. His wife, Sophia, died November 15, 1860, and* this daughter was brought up by her grandmother, Mrs. Foster. He married, second, October 19, 1863, Addie M. 592 HISTORY OF HUDSON Walton, of Maine, born March 12, 1843. The following children resulted from this marriage: George Walton, born August 31, 18G4; Melville Trevett, born May 6, 1866, died September 18, 1867; and Minnie Louise, born February 21, 1869. Mr. Webster was brought up by his father to assist him on the farm, and for a short time he made shoes. For several years after he attained his majority he was engaged in the newspaper work in Boston, with three of his broth- ers. In the winter of 1867, while caring for his parents on the farm in Hudson, his youngest brother, Orrin P. Web- ster, then doing a successful business in Boston, came to his father's in January, and died of tuberculosis, February 3, 1867. Willard immediately removed to Boston to save his brother's business from going to ruin by default. He re- turned to Hudson in September of the same year, but not until after having received into his system, in some way, the germs of the "white plague." He had been a young man with a strong will and a great ambition, and had in- herited a very strong constitution. In the spring of 1878, he entered the grocery business in Carnes' store at the Bridge. He was appointed post- master of the Hudson office, September 21, 1868. He, with his brother, Nathan P. Webster, formed a firm in the grocery business in the old store at the Bridge, in the spring of 1869. He struggled against the progress of the disease for more than two years, but his iron constitution and his indomitable will and ambition could not prevail. He died November 23, 1869, thirty-two years of age, and a noble young man in the prime of life, universally loved and respected. GENERAL INDEX Accident on Pelham electric rail- way 506, 507 Agriculture of Hudson .... 24 Aix la Chapelle, treaty of . . .226 Alarm of Ticonderoga . 257—260 Albany, march to 228 Alvime memorial chapel, 457 — 460 summer residence, 467, 524 Ameriscoggin Indians . . . 35, 55 Ammunition required of towns, 225 Amoskeag canal 511 falls 33,393 camping-place . 71 fishing at . 29, 39 Andrews' hall ...... 478, 479 Anecdotes of Wonnalancet . . 40 Area of town of Hudson, 17, 293 (2) Association test 236, 237 names of signers, 237 — 239 Atwood, Mrs. Electa, bequest, 457 Ayers village 505 Back road 186, 187 Lowell road . . 488, 493, 494 Baker Bros., store 520 Baker street 497 (2) Baldwin's bridge 484 Baldwin house 374 Banns, publishing of 356 Baptist church . . . 428, 433—444 society . . 217, 221 (3), 222 Barbarity of the English against the Indians 52, 53 Example of Temple Bar, 53 Barrett's hill . . 23, 32 (2), 363, 378, 380, 489, 492 Barrett's hill road, 491, 494 (2), 495' 49G (2) Barrett, "Jim," place .... 308 Barrett place 179, 362 Barrington, settlement of ... 49 Batchelder place 492 Battles of the Civil War . . 280, 282, 287 Bean porridge 345 Beards 354 Beaver brook . . 24, 91, 130, 145(2), 146, 151, 153, 155, 374, 484, 492 Beef tax 248 Belknap place 489 road 489 Bell, church 437 Bennington appeal 259 Hudson men, 242, 260 pay roll . . . 260, 261 Bill of rights 249 Bills of credit 360 Biographical sketches . 297 — 315, 569—592 Blodget canal 511 Blodgett cemetery . . 86, 106, 121, 169, 177, 195, 313, 320, 374, 414, 415, 485, 488 farm 85, 86, 119 garrison . . 72, 83 — 85, 87, 118, 169 Joseph, place . . 315 (2) Bloody Brook battle 76 Board of public works, Nashua 407 (3) Boating on the Merrimack . . 403 Boots, with tops 337 593 594 HISTORY OF HUDSON Boston Bridge company . . . 407 Boston & Maine railroad . . . 502 Boston & Northern street railway 406, 407 Boundary disputes . 88, 137—146, 149—154, 189 Hudson of . . . 17, 154 Nottingham West . 484, 485, 495 pine"F" .... 145 (2) Bounties paid soldiers in Civil War .... 274 (5), 275, 291 Bounty on wolves 22 Indian scalps 52 Bowman road 310, 490 Box shop 527 Breaking roads 353 Break-neck hill road 496 Brenton's Farm . . 31 (2), 33, 82, 129 (2), 130, 137, 144 Brenton land 116 Brick church, when built . 448, 522 Bridges 399—522 Bridge road 494 Bridle road 492 Brown University 218 Brunswick, Me., depredation . . 50 Bunker Hill, Hudson men at . 243, 255, 256 (2), 257 Burbank farm 164 Burgoyne's fleet 257 Burnett place 310 Burial grounds (See Cemeteries) 21 Burying ground of Indians . . 104, 197, 201 Burns hill 75 place 314 road 186 Burse road 491 Bush hill . . 23, 125—127, 165, 171, 181, 182, 309, 314, 37S, 490, 491, 493 district 320, 379 road . . 320,381,490,492 Cambridge church 83 platform 204 Canada expedition 229 Canal boats 511, 512 street bridge, Nashua . . 395 Candle making 341 sticks 342 Canibas Indians 51, 52 Canobie Lake park .... 506 (2) Canoe trip, a long 164 Carding mill 363 wool 518 Carletonfarm 111,112 Carnes' blacksmith shop . . . 516 grocery store .... 517 store building .... 520 Catholic cemetery . .105,108,420, 421, 500 Cavalry, Hudson men in . . . 287 Cemetery, Blodgett .... 86, 121 Center 383 Hills Farms .... 174 Senter 307 South Nashua . . . 169 history of, . 411 — 422 unknown dead,421,422 (See Burial Grounds) Census (See Population) Centennial anniversary, Baptist 442—444 Chain pumps 349 Chamberlain-Paugus tradition . 66, 67 (See footnote, 67) Charlestown, Mass 75 Old, No. 4 . . . 228 Charter of King Charles . . . 137 Chase hill 127, 180, 381 place .... 123, 311, 491 (John) place 315 Check lists 540—550 Chester, settlement of .... 49 Church affairs unsettled . . . 213 extension society . . . 449 heating house .... 208 GENERAL INDEX 595 Church history (See Different De- nominations; also Meet- ing Houses) lot deeded to town . 222 (2) services 20 S in open air . . 218 Cider mills 339 Civil conflict in New England, 48, 49 War, Hudson's part in . 273 amount paid 274 beginning of hostilities . 276 bounty .... 274 (5), 275 contributions 275 drafted men .... 290 (2) important battles in which Hudson men were engaged 277, 278, 279, 281, 287 not drafted but furnished substitutes . . . 290, 291 private subscriptions . . 275 relief, soldiers' families, 274 soldiers' aid society . . 275 soldiers in the army,276 — 292 Clerk of town, . . . . 94, 142, 169, 551, 553, 554 Clocks 346 Clothing mill 363 Cohas brook 33 (See Suskayquetuck) Colburn farm .... 122, 123, 312 land .... 121, 122, 176 (Thomas) place ... 313 Cold Friday 369 summer 369 Colonists, loss of life 58 Committee of inspection . . 239, 240—244 safety . . 236, 237, 240, 243, 244 " to set value " on pro- visions . . . 241, 246 Commons 195 ; 381, 382 Congregationalists in Hudson, 182, 183, 201, 202 (2), 203 (2), 204, 205 (3) Congregationalists union with Pres- byterians, 210, 214, 215, 218 (4), 223, 428—433 house 515 parsonage 433 Connecticut river campaign . . 228 Constables, 1731-2 119 Constitutional convention 560, 561 (2) Corn rate .... 247, 248, 249 (2) Continental money . . . 240, 241 alarm over situation, 241, 245, 248, 360, 361 tax 248 Cooking, old time 333 stoves 335 Corey's ferry 171, 401 Corliss hill 320, 488 school house . . . 380 Corrugated metal company . . 404 County of Hillsborough . . . 372 road . . 120, 486, 489, 493, 494, 511 Cows 293 Crime — see Murder. Cromwell's falls 18 Cross farm 108 house 106 Crown Point army rations, 230, 257 expedition, 228 (2), 229 road 229 Cummings farm 102 house .... 105 ferry 113, 199 tavern .... 106, 173 (Eleazer.Jr.) farm . 110, 111, 178, 510 (Ephraim) house . 125 farm . . 126 (Josiah) farm . . . 115 (William) farm 109 Cummings-Darrah house . . . 173 Curtis farm 148 deed of 148 596 HISTORY OF HUDSON Currency, terms of 361 Customs of early settlers, 331 — 352 Cutler farm 363 road 297(2) Daniels & Gilbert store ... 522 Dark day, 1780 368 days of the Revolution, 250 — 252, 258—260 Davenport meadow . . . 358, 483 Davis farm . Ill, 112 (2), 165, 820 ferry 385 (Nathaniel) place ... 320 Deaths in Dunstable during Indian wars 55 — 57 Declaration of rights 246 plan of government, 247, 249 Decoy point 62 Deed, Nathaniel Hills . . 134, 135 Deer keepers 22 (3) Delegates to General Court, 557 — 659. (See Representatives, 559 —561) Depasition of parents of Capt. John Lovewell regarding loss of life in old Dunstable . . . 55 — 56 analysis of account . . 56 Derry lane 485 road 106, 320, 485 part of, 486, 491, 493, 495, 496 (2), 497 (3), 501,511 "Dipping candles" 341 Discovery hill 74, 75 (See Burns' hill) District meetings . . 142, 143, 552 Doctors — see Physicians Dooley farm 304 Dover massacre 50 Dracut boundary . . 124, 144, 145 next Tyngsboro . 146 corner 154 line 161, 184, 485 Dutnmer's war 50 Dunstable area 88, 89 deserted 72 grant of 88 inhabitants of ... 93 in Litchfield . 129, 137 in the Indian wars . 46, 51,53—55 land in 121 line 153 loss of life in wars,55 — 56 loss of population 58, 403 massacre near Nashua River .... 53—55 old line 144 petition 147 population. 1680, 55, 56, 57 (3), 58 Dutch oven 334 Dutton's ferry . . . 178, 399, 400 Duty Farm 306 Early settlers, character of . . 20 Eaton farm 172, 298 Echo Rebekah Lodge . . 481, 482 Eclipses of the sun .... 370, 371 Elections, change in time of, 560, 561 Electric cars . 406 (2), 408, 503, 508 railway 426 England and France at war . . 47 Differences taken to New England 48 Elmhurst 177, 315, 320 Embargo act 267 Emery homestead 305 Endicott survey 137 English currency 361 Equal suffrage 327 Farewell address of Passaconna- way 30 Farms cemetery . . . 412, 485 (2) Farms district 320, 380 The 379 Farm methods, old times . . . 357 tools 345 GENERAL INDEX 597 Farmington, Me., scene of Indian mission 49 Ferry, first across the Merrimack 105, 171 (3), 178 (2), 239, 385, 399, 401, 510 house .... 171, 40U' 510 road, 106 (2), 166, 171, 399, 400,426,491,498,510,511 street . . 489, 493, 496, 511 Fight brook 64 "Fine meadow" 358 Fire, burning of Methodist meeting- house 447 Fireplaces 331 First Methodist Episcopal church 522 First meeting-house . . . 183 — 192 First settlers of Hudson .... 48 civil troubles . 49, 79, 80 (2) First white child born in town . 84 Fish 21, 22 (4), 23, 512 wardens 377 Fisher lawsuit 220 Five cent limit 313 Fletcher fund 449, 450 garrison 83, 87 Floyd, (Lucinda W.) donation, 450 place 314 Ford cemetery 413 farm 126 house 126 Forests, early 19 last of primeval trees . 20 to-day 19 waste of 20 Fort Edward, defence of . . . 229 Sumter, capitulation of . 276 William Henry, massacre, 228 Foster cemetery wall . . 416, 417 fund 423, 424 Foxcroft land 116 French and Indian War . 225—230 hated by Mohawk Indians 55 French manufactory 364 Freshet of 1818 392 1824 393 1839 393 1841 393 1843 395 1852 395 1862 396 1895 396 1896 .... 396,397 Friction matches 332 Frog Corner district . . . 321, 3S0 Fruit 19 Fryeburg, Me 63 Fulled cloth 338 Fuller farm 176 Funeral charge 217 Gage, (John) place 124 Game 21, 22 Gardner survey 137 Garrison farm 303 houses in Dunstable . 72, 80, 82, 83 (2), 85, 87 (3) Genesee flour 351 Gerrish lot 121 meadow 358 Gillis place 315, 510, 514 Goffe's falls (Pokechuous), 33, 508 Gold-diggers of '49 355 Cowing (Samuel) farm .... 310 Gospel, support of 249 (See Minister's Kates) Could, (Joseph) place .... 310 Covernment, plan of . . . 244, 249 unsettled ... 48 Grandfather's clock 346 Grange building 522 charter members . . . 474 Hudson, instituted, 474 — 480 National 473 New Hampshire . . . 473 Masters 475 :.'J> HISTORY OF HUDSON" Grange, places of meeting, 475 — 479 Grant of land, first . . .74, 88, 92 to Passaconnaway . . 32, 34 to Wonnalancet .... 37 Grass of pioneer days . . .19, 20 Great freshet of 1841 .... 394 1896 . ... 396 snowstorm, 1888 . . . 397 Greeley, (Ezekiel) house . . . 131 (Jackson E.) house . 305 -Martin store, see Greeley, Martin, Webster, Andrews, Daniels & Gilbert. place 209 public library .... 463 (Samuel) house, 170, 308, 374 store 513,517 Gregorian calendar 371 Green Mountain road .... 230 Grist mills 364 (See Mills) Groves road 497 Gumpas pond . . 124, 125 (2), 310 Hadley mill .... 362, 364, 514 -Willoughby mill, 515, 527 Hale farm 305 Hamblet's ferry . . .493 (3), 510 Hardy's Corner 511 farm 171 ferry .... 171, 401, 485 house 510 road 494 (Zachary) farm . . . 514 Haselton farm 306 (2) road . . . 127, 488, 492 Haverhill road 491 Haying in old time . . . 357—360 Herbs 347 Highways and byways . .488 — 501 (See Roads) fences 356 repairs of . . . 246, 247 High water, 1862 396 Hills Farms cemetery, 174,411,413 deed, 100, 107, 111 (2), 112(2), 116 enumerated . . . 136 ferry . . 116, 117, 400 first survey .... 74 garrison 72 grant .... 97, 102 second survey . 74, 75 78, 79, 82 (2), 86, 98, 100 settlers on farm . 116, 118, 131, 132, 136 (2), 143, 172, 189 tablet ... 82, 83, 87, 113, 132, 166 visited by Paugus . 73, 82(2) Hills meadow, 75, 78, 79 (3), 85, 169, 358, 381 meeting-house . 193, 194 (2), 200, 2U1 memorial library . 470 — 472 building, 464 mills 363 Row . 82, 129—136, 174, 303, 304, 378, 380 district 321 (Ezekiel) farm 132 (James) farm 132 (Joseph) farm . 136, 173, 178, 301, 303 (Franklin) farm . . 134, 305 (Nathaniel) farm .... 303 Homespun clothes 337 Homesteads 297—315 Howard's farm, Dunstable, . . 122 Horses, number in town . . . 293 Horse rakes 360 sheds (meeting house) . 196 Howe road 493 Hudson, a frontier town . . . 225 boundary 154 GENERAL INDEX 599 Hudson bridge 497 name 158 perils from Indians . 225 population . . 155 — 157 Center buryingground,416 cemetery . . 418, 419, 420 cemetery associa- tion .... 419 district .... 320 library .... 461 school .... 330 post-office . . 518 Commandery . . 479, 482 free public library . 466 — 472 Lodge, I. O.O. F. . . 478, 479 (2), 480 men in the Civil War First regiment . . .276 Third regiment . . 277 Fourth regiment . . 278 Seventh regiment . 281 Eighth regiment . . 282 Ninth regiment . . 2S3 Tenth regiment . . 284 Twelfth regiment . 285 Thirteenth regiment, 286 First regiment, N. H. artillery . . 288, 289 sharpshooters . . . 279 Company G sharpshoot- ers 280 other service . 289—291 enlistments .... 291 casualities . . 291, 292 honorably discharged, 292 men in the Mexican War, 292 Spanish-American War, . . .292 Pelham & Salem electric railway . . . 505 — 508 Hudson street railway company, 507 village . . , . 509—529 water company . . . 528 works company, 527, 528 (2) Ice break 403, 511 Incorporation of town . 142, 143 (2) ballot 143 Independent Order Odd Fellows, 478, 479 (2), 480, 481 Indian and French War . 230—255 Indian Head company .... 403 Indians, Ameriscoggins at Nashua, 55 at Nashua 103 Pennacook 38 Souhegan ..... 38 bounty on scalps ... 52 burying ground at Hudson, 104, 105 Canibas tribe . . .61, 52 character ... 40, 43, 49 Christian, the friendly red man 50 conduct during King Phil- ip's War .... 39—41 cornfields 105 depredations in Dunstable, 55, 56, 57 (3) Nashua . . . . 54, 55 cost in lives ... 58 in local history . . 18, 26 kill "Goody" Cummings, 99 massacre at Dover . 39, 40 Mohawks not at Nashua, 55 plague 27 religion 3S, 39 Sokoki 51, 52 armed by whites . 52 Toby, pilot for Lovewell, 60 tribes 38 visit Nashua 103 warfare . . 58, 59, 225, 226 wrongs . . 42 — 45, 46, 47 600 HISTORY OF HUDSON Inhabitants of Hudson, 1733 . 96, 97 (See Population) Innholder 247 Intercine troubles affect the colon- ists 49 Inventory of products and resources of Hudson 510(4) Invoice of 1793 293 Iron bridge 522 Island at mouth of Nashua river, 78 of Wickasauke 18 Items of interest . . . .362 — 375 Itinerant shoemaker 336 Jackson manufacturing company, 403 Johnson road 491 Julian calendar 371 Justice of the peace 355 Kancamagus 27, 28 sachem of the Pennacooks, 41 Kelley's ferry . . 239, 307, 400, 491 tavern 239, 510 Kennebec Indians — See Canibas Kerosene 342 Kidder district 321, 380 road 321 " King's Highway, the" . . . 177 King Philip 42 King Philip's conduct of Wonnalan- cet 39, 40 general effect, 41, 46, 47 last stand . . 46, 47, 52 wife and son . . . . ,53 (See King Philip's War) 18,39 William's War 47 Kitchen "cooker" 334 Lafayette in New Hampshire, 372, 373 Lakeview 146, 504 Lamprey river, troubles .... 50 Land owners (note) 163 Law committee chosen . . 241, 246 regulating prices .... 241 Lawful money 360, 361 Laws of the colony, first codifica- tion 76 Lawrence Corner . 32 (2), 145, 172, 384, 492 (4) road 489, 492 Lexington, muster at the Center, 252 news of 242 volunteers for war, 252 Libraries public 461 Greeley 463 Hudson Center . . 461, 462 Nottingham West social, 461 Library building .... 467—470 lot 464—466 park .... 384—387,511 street .... 496, 498 (3) tablet 387 Librarians .... 462, 463, 464 (5) Lights and lamps 340 Linen fabrics 91, 92, 339 Litchfield township 129 area 130 boundary . . 129, 130 line . 145, 147, 154, 161 original proprietorsl29 part of Dunstable, 129 taxes 148 territory 148 rendezvous of troops, 229 roads .... 495, 496 Little bridge 171 Massabesic pond, 23, 377, 378 (See Robinson's pond) Tarnic pond 526 Littlehale's meadow 188 Londonderry claim . 93, 94, 147 — 156, 232, 244 (See Londonderry, grant of), 89 annexation, 209, 211 boundary, 92,93,145, 147, 148 GENERAL INDEX 601 Londonderry, charter of . . . .91 first house ... 91 line, 150, 160, 202,499 manufactures 91, 92 meeting-house . 149 pioneers of . . .90 road . 493, 494, 497 (2), 498 settlement of . .49 (See Scotch-Irish) Long pond .... 144—146, 483 Lovewell's expedition to Pequaket, 60—63 fight . . .57, 63—73 relief .... 71—72 second expedition . 109 men . . 60, 61, 64 (3), 73 war, beginning of . 49, 51, 53 Lovewell farm 123, 124 garrison 72 house 124 town, grant of . . . 113 Lowell and Suburban street railway, 504, 508 back road .... 4S8, 493 road . 177, 493, 494, 497 (2) 498 Loyalist (See Tory) Lutwych's brook, scene of massa- cre 54, 57 ferry 113 Macadam road 500 (2) McCann place 491 Madawaska 51 Maiden, Mass 75 Mammoth road 124 Manchester & Nashua electric rail- way 507 Manchester street railway . . 508 Market prices for provisions fixed by court 241 Marsh farm 110 (Fitch P.) farm .... 41 Marsh homestead 307 road 492 Marshall mill 363 Martin store 513, 522 Massacre of Lieut. French and party 53 Middle names 335 tenor 360 Middlesex canal 511 (2) Mill brook 362 Mills, 121, 362 (4), 363 (3), 364, 515 Militia 225 Military affairs in New England, 1777 .... 258—260 spirit 225 Mine Falls canal 402 Minister, settling first .... 183 afterwards . 184, 200 rates . 202—206, 208 (2), 209, 210 (2), 211, 212(2), 213 (2), 215, 217, 219, 220 (4), 221 (7) last entry 22 tax (See Rates) Minute men of Hudson . 252 — 256 Mission of Norridgewock . 49 — 51 Mister, title of 355 Meadow, Hills . 78 (2), 79 (4), 358 haying 358, 359 Meadows 19, 20 Meeting-house, first . . . 183—191 description of . . . 188 destruction of, 190, 191 when built .... 181 where located . 187, 18S second 190, 191 dimensions .... 196 horse sheds .... 196 location 197 moving .... 197 (2) new 199 new location . . . 198 repairs .... 198 (6) vote to sell . 199, 200 (2) 602 HISTORY OF HUDSON Meeting-house, last built by town 200 pastor of 200 second Congregational . 201 location 201 Presbyterian . . . 206, 207 North . 207, 208, 210 (3), 212 new 217 repairs on old . 218 (4) Methodist 445, 448, 449, 515 Congregationalist . . . 515 Melendy box shop . . 363, 364, 527 Menotomy 308 Merrill meeting 201 (See Second meeting-house) road 489 Merrimack river . 17 (2), 41, 88, 129 boating .... 403 ferries 399 ignorance of its course 137—140 surveys . . 138—140, 202, 511 scenery .... 529 (See Freshets) to Keene, road . . 230 valley .... 43 — 45 Merry Meeting Bay massacre . 50 Messer place 301 Methodist Episcopal church . 444 — 452 honored names .... 454 house 515 memorial windows, 454, 455 pastors 455 — 157 quarter centennial . . . 453 Mexican War 292 Moderators . . . 551, 552 (3), 550 Modes of travel 344 Mohawk Indians 52 (See Christian and Friendly In- dians) 55 Monson garrison, defense of . 227 Moose, last in town 23 swamp 23, 381 Morey farm 148 Morrison farm 165, 320 Mowing machine, first . . .360(4) Murders 389 Musquash bridge road .... 486 brook . . 201,311,320 mill, 121, 188, 313, 362 dam 483 meadow 358 pond 24 school .... 320, 379 Muster rolls of 1745 to 1760 . 227— 230 • 1775 253—255 sketches of the men, 255 — 256 Ticonderoga soldiers . 258 Nacook brook 24 mill . . 121,201,313 road 488 Narragansett, battle of .... 77 Nashaway plantacon 76 Nashua, city of 25 canal and locks . . 403 derivation of name . 377 massacre, 1724 ... 53 and Lowell railroad . . 514 and Manchester electric rail- way 507 and Rochester railroad . 419, 447, 502 and Rochester railroad . 521 electric railway . . 505, 508 garrison or "trading house'' 377 Indians 26 Manufacturing company 402, 403 river 376, 402 canal .... 403,512 lower dam .... 403 locks 403 street railway company . 503 GENERAL INDEX 603 Natticook brook 54 massacre of . . 53, 55,57 Indians 26 lands 129 (2) line 129, 184 valley 376 Navy, men in the 289 New England freedom .... 225 Newfound meadow 358 Newmarket, formerly Lamprey Riv- er 50 "New tenor" 360 Nipmuck Indians 27 Noon marks 346 Norridgewock, mission of . . .49 atrocities of the Eng- lish (note) .... 50 expedition 50 North End common 382 settlers . . . 298—307 meeting-house . . . 200(2), 207 account of raising, 208 first minister 208, 209 (2) lot ... . 209,211,212(2), 214, 217, 221, 222 pew holders . . . 223, 224 house 429, 493 Nottingham (original) settlement of 49,88 area 130 boundary 94 boundary . . . 141 — 146 charter . . .93, 94, 128 first town meeting . . 94 incorporation .... 93 loss of territory . . . 189 officers .... 551, 552 residents of, 1733 . 96, 97 taxes 148 meeting-house . 194, 414 Nottingham West . . 147, 149 (2), 150, 151, 155, 156 Nottigham West, area .... 293 change of name . . . 158 charter .... 159—161 families .... 163—182 line . . 166, 189, 190, 225 men in the French and Indian wars . 226 — 230 officers of 552 taxpayers, 1775 . . . 230 1779 . . 232 meeting-house . 191, 194, 320, 414 in the Revolution . 236 — 268 social library .... 461 war of 1812, 270—272, 364, 399, 417 (2), 292 Number Four Fort . . . .228,291 school house, 194, 445 nine school house . 305 (3) one school house . . 200 Nuffield 89 Official roster 551—567 "Old ark" 515,516 "Old College, The" 168 Old and new style of computing time 371 Old and new tenor 36q Oldest mill in Hudson .... 362 Old oaken bucket 349 Old South school house . . .380 Oldtime cooking 333 Orchards, acres of 293 Orthodox (See Congregationalists) Ossipee fort 60, 69, 71 river 51 Otternick brook, derivation of name . . 24, 308, 362, 377 (2), 493 pond . . 23 (2), 24 (3), 75, 78. 362, 377 (2), 301, 491 Oxen 293 Oyster River (Durham) .... 50 604 HISTORY OF HUDSON Page homestead 180 Palmer's place 119 Parks (See Commons) Parsonage, Baptist . . . 439—441 Congregationalist . 433 Methodist . . 446, 449 Pastors (See Ministers) Pawtucket bridge 493 fishing place . . 29, 33 Pay roll of Ticonderoga men . 257 Bennington . 260, 261 Pedo Baptist 436 (2) Pelham boundary 161(2) Center 146 electric railway .... 506 collision . . . 506, 508 families excluded . . . 161 part of Hudson 96 purchase of old meeting- house 191 dispute 203 road 489, 492 Pennacook Indians 26 change of sachems . 41 comparison of . . . 52 confederacy of . . .27 Island 28 Pequaket 51 derivation of name . . 51 fight 57—60 "Pine tree hill" ... 52 Pequot War 46, 47 Personal sketches . . . 569 — 592 Petition to be annexed to Massa- chusetts 141 Physicians of Hudson . . 530 — 539 Pilgrims at Plymouth 46 Pierce farm 11, 113, 303 Pine forests 19 tree "F" .... 145 (3), 153 hill 52 law 364, 365 riot in Weare . 365—367 Pioneers of Hudson, hardships of, 48 families . . .98, 12S Plane manufactory 363 Plymouth colonists . . . . 46, 47 Point A 506 Pokechuous (Goffe's) falls ... 33 Pollard's farm 119 (2) ferry 171, 401 mill 362, 363 Polls 155 (See Population), (note) . 163 1793 293 1840 . . . 515, 541—550 Ponds 23 Population . . 96, 97, 156 (5) 157, 236, 483, 515, 568 Portsmouth men 242 Postmasters 566, 567 Post offices 518, 565, 566 Potash Corner . . . 307, 384, 417 Potatoes 92 Pounds 373—376 Pound keeper 374 Preaching, money for .... 183 house, 189, 201, 210, 249 Presbyterians in Hudson . 182,202, 203 (3), 204 (4), 205 (2), 206 first minister . . 208, 209 (2) names 217 names of 214, 215 open dissension . . 218,222, 223, 428, 233, 237 protest of 216 services 208 union with Congregational- ists 210, 214 President Lincoln's call for troops, 276 Presidents of state, votes for . 561, 562 Province line . . 146, 147, 487, 551 Public libraries 462—472 Publishing the banns 356 Pumps 349 GENERAL INDEX G05 Quakers Ill (2), 128 Quebec expedition 226 Queen Anne's War . . .47, 48, 58 Queen's garrison 377 "Raking up the fire" 332 Rapid transit railway 507 Red house 523 Reed house 110 Red school house district . 320, 379 Relief to soldiers' families during Civil War 274 (3) by subscription .... 275 Soldiers' Aid society, 275(3), 276 (2) Religious differences . . 209—224 Representatives to General Court, 559, 560 revise constitution, 561 (3) (See Delegates) Residents (See Population Revo- lutionary War) 236 prompt action . . . 236 rolls . . 261, 264—268 Rhode Island campaign . . . 262 Hudson men . 263 River road 320 Roads . . 483(4), 484(5), 485(4), 486 (3), 487 (2), 488 (4), 489 (4), 483—498 state highways . . 499 — 501 Robinson's pond . 23, 24, 377, 378 Robinson road 321, 492 Rochester, settlement of ... 49 Rocky hill 489 road 489 Rogers Rangers 226, 227 Roots and herbs 347,348 Saco river 51 (2), 62 Sagamon of Pawtucket .... 35 St. Francis mission . . . . 39, 41 refuge . . 51, 55 Salmon brook 376. 377 Sand plain 426 storm 426 Sanders box shop .... 364, 527 water supply . . 526 — 528 Saratoga campaign 262 roll of Hudson men . 262 Scarlet brook 146 Schedule of prices fixed by the court 241 School district No. 1 . . 320, 379 No. 2 . . 320, 379 No. 3 . . 320, 379 No. 4 . . 320, 380 No. 5 . . 320, 380 No. 6 . . 320, 380, 399, 427 No. 7 . . 321, 380 No. 8 . . 321, 380 No. 9 . . 321, 380 No. 10 . . 321, 380, 427 (3) first money for .... 316 history 316—330 houses . 318—321 (2), 322, 326—328(4), 329, 330, 399 lots 327 money, 1S47 324 1910 . . . 324, 325 pupils 322, 323 report 323 Smith 328 statistics 325 "standing" 317 street 498 Webster 328 Scotch- Irish colonists . . 49,88,89 charter 91 grant 138 manufactures . 91, 92 names 90 title 90, 91 the potato .... 92 Scouting parties . . .51, 170, 175, 227 (4), 228 (4), 229 (3), 230 (2) 606 HISTORY OF HUDSON Sharpshooters in Civil War . . 280 Sheep washing 347 Shepard, Rev. Thomas company, 83 Shoemaker, first in town . 336, 337 Searles road 495 Seavey road 495 Second meeting-house . 190 — 196 dimensions, 196,201,209 pews 195 Selectmen, first board . . .93, 94 1142.142,245,551,552, 554—557 Senter burying ground . . 307,363, 384, 417, 418, 494 (2) farm 363 September gale 370 Settlers, first 49, 79 Sewer 329 Slaves in Hudson 236 Smith, "Devil Jim" . . . 172, 298 district road 491 road 490 school 328 house burned . . 329 Snow house 126 (2), 127 shoes 344,345 storm, 1888 397 Soap making 343 Social ways in old times . . . 353 Sokokis Indians 51 battle with . . 60 number of ... 52 Soil of Hudson 18, 19 Solar eclipse of 1806 370 Soldiers' aid society 275 Soldiers in the Civil War. 276—292 at Bunker Hill, 255, 256 Bennington, . 260, 261 bounty .... 240(4) depreciation of currency, 240 French and Indian Wars, 225 —230 memorial tablets . . . 471 Soldiers in the Mexican War . 292 Revolution, advance pay vot- ed 236 Rhode Island . . .262, 263—268 Spanish American War, 292 Ticonderoga, 257 — 260 wages . . . 242, 243(4), 244, 245 (3), 246, 247 (3), 248 (note) . . . 256, 257 War of 1812 . . . 270, 271 Souhegan garrison, defence of 227 (2) Indians 26 Island 28 river . . 129 (2), 130, 165 South common 381, 382 end settlers . . . 307 — 315 South meeting-house . . 218 (3), 219 (3), 381, 414 (2), 415, 429, 237,493 515 Spalding farm . 112,113,302,303 house 120(2) Spanish-American War . . . 292 Spinning craze 91 and weaving .... 337 Spirit of '76 251, 252 John Langdon's patriotism, 259 Spirituous liquors 351 Sprake place 131 Spruce swamp 102, 526 Stage line 514, 515 "Standing school" 317 Stark garrison, defence of . 227 (2) Stark's hill 62 independent command at Bennington . . 259, 260 State highways 499, 501 tax 515 Steam and electric railroads . 502 Steele road 321 Sterling 360, 361 Stewart's Corner .... 493, 494 GENERAL INDEX 607 Stocks 383 Stone dam 145, 146(2) Stone walls 21 Stoves 335 Street railways 503, 504 Streets (See Roads) Sugar making 350 Suncook (Lovewell's town) . . 113 Sun dials 346 Sunnyside cemetery . . . 419, 420 Surface of town 18, 19 Suskayquetuck brook 33 river 32 Surplus revenue .... 424 — 427 Surveys of 1662 74 Surveyors of the woods . . . 365 Table of current prices .... 241 shop 364 Tallant road 492 Tallow candles 340—342 Tarbox house 148 Tarnic pond 24, 376, 377 Taverns 239, 247 Taxation, Act of 141 church . . . 202, 203, 209 dissension, 142, 147 (2), 148 payment of 148 petition 149 school 325 state .... 152, 185, 515 Tax collectors 142, 148 lists, 1733 95, 96 (3) payers, 1783 . . . 96, 97, 110 1742 112 1778 . . 153, 154, 162, 163(2) 1775 .... 230—232 1779 . . . . 232—235 1793 . . . . 294—297 1733 483 report of com. . . 141 Taylor's falls 18, 86 bridge . 23, 102, 117, 119,174,178.239(2), 307, 308, 363, 377, 378, 385. 395, 399, 400, 401(3), 402, 403, 404(3), 405,406(4), 407, 408 (3), 409 (5), 410, 426 (2), 494 (3), 495 (4), 499, 502, 503 (3), 504 (5), 508 (4), 510, 513, 514, 522 company . . . 513 Taylor garrison . . .72, 83, 86, 87 farm . 110, 173, 181 Taylor's ferry 385 Temperance societies .... 352 Tenney's tavern 305, 383 Thornton's ferry . . .54, 57, 113 Thurston's jump 380 Ticonderoga alarm . . . 257—260 Tiger road 492, 298, 299 (2) Timber and wood 19 Tin baker 334 Tinder box 383 Tinker, (Mrs. Rebekah) bequest, 450 Tippecanoe log cabin .... 515 Title of "mister" 355 Toll bridge 509, 510 house 404 (2) Tolles, (Lucien M.) bequest . . 454 Tories 239 Town clerk (See Clerks) center of . . . 186, 199, 211 commons 219, SSI house 201, 224 land 195 meeting, first, 94, 95, 122, 126 1740 140, 141 1742 141, 142 annual, 1734, 185, 189, 190 how headed .... 142 608 HISTORY OF HUDSON Town meeting, first under new charter . . 162 where held . 193,200, 201 (2), 209(2), 551, 552 school system . 325, 326, 327 Tramps 352 Travel in old times 344 Tray rock 145, 146 Treasurer, first 95, 126 Tyng's island 18 Tyng land . 82, 117, 124, 130, 131, 136, 525 Tyngsboro, part of Hudson . . 96 boundary .... 146 line 497 Tyng township 137 Turpentine gathering .... 102 Unknown dead 421, 422 United Order Golden Cross . 179, Volunteers in Revolution . . .242 Votes for state president . 561, 562 governors . . 562 — 565 Voting lists 540—550 Wachusett Indians 35 Wages a day 247 paid teachers, 1847 . . 323 Walker farm 181 Warning people out of town . 387 list 388 War of 1812 268—272 rates 243, 262 Warrant for town meeting . 94, 143 Warren plane shop, 363, 364,513,514 Wason farm 311 road .... 308, 488, 493 Watanic 377 Wattannock 376, 377 (2) brook 22 (4) pond 108 Waterfalls of the Merrimack . . 17 Wicasuck falls 18 Water power 24 Water street 49S Water works of Hudson . 526, 527 Webster school 328 (3) building . . . 498 store 522 street . . . 495, 511, 519 Weld garrison, killed at . . . .57 Well sweep 348 Wells 348 West Running brook 91 Wheat flour 350 Wheelbarrow manufactory . . 517 Wheelwright deed . . 29, 90, 91 (2) shop .... 518,523 Wickasauke island, 18, 35.36, 37, 40 Wild animals 21 Will, (Joseph Hills) 78 Wilson's Corner 505 mills . . . 121, 171, 313 Willoughby mill 364 Willows along Gillis road . 426 (2) Windham 155, 202 road . . 491, 492, 494 (2) Windmill hill 488 Winn farm 312 homestead . . .120 (2), 176 mill 362 (2) Woodbury fund 452 parsonage .... 453 Wooden bridge 522 Wood mill 515, 527 and timber 19 place 492 table shop 365 Wool washing 347 Worcester & Nashua railroad . 502 Worthy poor, Foster fund, 423, 424 Wrongs committed against the In- dians by the English . . 52, 53 PERSONAL INDEX Abare, Wilber 1 545 Abbott, Benjamin 434 Daniel 402 George H., 108, 475, 480 (2), 545, 561, 588 Col. Joseph C 281 Ackerman, William G 545 William II 545 Adams, Benjamin .... 95, 129 Elizabeth 311 Mary (Widow) .... 230 Prescott A 545 Albee, Clara M 524 Allen, Ira 259 Rev. Mr., of Merrimack . 67 William H 541 Ambrose, Samuel 434 Amsden, Charles H. 564 Anderson, Samuel 152 Rev. Walter R. . . 444 William 224 Andrews, Allen 324, 569 Allen B 475, 480 Anabel C. 507 Arnold 545 Arthur S. . 475, 480, 545, 557 (2), 572 Bridget 569 Charles T. 569 David B 461 Daniel 569 Dustin 569 Fanny 569 George Gil man, 478, 497, 504, 503, 523 (2), 557(3), 561,566(2), 569(3), 591 Andrews, Gilman, 223, 541, 556 (4), 569 (2) Gilman, Jr. . . . 569 (2) Hannah (Mrs. Thomas), 569 Hannah 569 Howard A. . . 545, 572 James 569 Joel 295, 569 Letitia 569 Levi . 150, 151, 154, 232, 296, 305 (2), 319, 569(2) Linnie B 572 Linnie F. (Butler) . 480 Lucinda 569 Mary J 569 Maud S 464 Nathan 569 Robert 569 (Mrs.) Robert . 276, 541 Robert A. . . . 545, 557 (Mrs.) Robert A. . . 275 Sophia J 569 Thomas . . 305, 569 (2) William A. . . 300, 475, 494, 545 Annis, Drusette S 524 Joseph F 541 Parker B 541 William P. . . 521, 524, 541 Armstrong, Oscar 309 Ashley, Colonel 257 Atwood, Daniel 314 David . . . 314, 315, 541 Electa (Haywood), 451 (2) Elizabeth 314 609 610 HISTORY OF HUDSON Atwood, John . . 295, 314, 563 (2) John, Jr 314 Rachel 314 Sally 314 Sarah 223 William . . 314, 319, 451 Atkinson, Eleanor or Helen . 76,77 George 561 Hugh 76 Theodore . . .161 (2) William J 457 Austin (Asten), Abial . . .61, 68 Rev. S. D 433 Zebediah 71 Ayer, Ebenezer 61, 68 John 295 William, M. D 71 Ayers, Samson 206 Bachelder, Charles H 480 Nahum J 565 Badger, William 563 (2) Baker, Alexis 290, 541 John E 571 John Henry . 448, 524, 541, 570 (2), 587 John Julian, 520(2), 545, 554, 561, 566, 570 (2), 571 Louisa U. (Webster), 570(2) Nathaniel B. . . . 563 (2) Oswald P 462, 545 Sidney F. 521 Wallace G. 571 William W. . . 520 (2), 524, 545, 561, 570 (3) Bailey, William 389 Baldwin, Daniel 54, 57 Henry . 94 (2), 95 (2), 96, 142 (2), 143, 188, 374, 484, 551 (7), 558 John . . . 134, 143, 551 Rebecca 586 Sarah 134 Susana 134 Baldwin, William T 494 Bane or Bean, Captain .... 50 Bannister, James 518 Barker, Benjamin 199 Carl E 545 Eugene L 545 Martha 586 Mehitable 174 Thomas 264 Barrett, Dr. Dustin, 533, 534 (3), 536 Hannah 583 Isaac . 210, 211, 232, 238, 242, 261, 296, 300, 319, 533, 583 James . . 143, 149, 151 (2), 154, 179, 232, 300, 362, 541 James, Jr 232 Joel .... 296, 300, 319 John 90, 129 Mary E 534 Moses . . 149, 151 (2), 154, 230, 232, 237, 264 Capt. Moses, 232, 246, 254, 255, 319 Simeon . 115, 151 (2), 238, 248, 253, 264 Capt. Simeon . . 230, 232, 296, 300, 319 Rebecca .... 296, 300 Rozanna (Marsh) . . 533 Susanna (Page) . . . 583 Thomas 319 Barron, Alden H 541 Elias, 61,68, 69, 70, 311,490 Irwin E 545 Solomon R. 541 Barrows, Lorenzo D 564 Barry, Lawrence M 545 William H. 410 Bartlett, Gen. Bradbury . . . 373 Ichabod 563 (2) Josiah . . . 152, 562 (3) Levi 563 PERSONAL INDEX Gil Bartlett, Rev. William P., 441, 443 Bass, Robert P 565 Bassett, Joseph E 545 Batchelder, Allen H 545 George W 2S7 Mark . . 375, 541, 557 Reuben 545 Baxter, Rev. Albert F 456 Bean or Bane, Captain .... 50 Jesse S. 284 Bedel, John 277, 564 (2) Beedle, Samuel , 456 Belknap, Andrew J. 541 Sarah 534 Bell, C. P 546 James 563 (2) John 115, 563 (2) Samuel 562(4), 564 Bellingham, Richard 37 Bellows, Benjamin 228 Joseph 271 Bennett, Marcus F 541 Berry, Andrew J 282 Daniel M 541 Edward F 541 George W 288, 541 John C. 564, 565 John W 541 Nathaniel S 563 (7) Bettis, Andrew, Jr 389 Esther 384 Hannah 384 Robert . . 255,256,264,389 Beverly, Samuel L 289 Bixby, William 232 Blackmer, John 564 (3) Blair, James 90 Blanchard, Rev. Edgar, 433 (2), 470 Edgar F. 546 Elizabeth . . 78, 79, 109 Esther 389 Hannah . 57, 78, 79, 109 Henry W 546 John 122, 226 Blanchard, Capt. Joseph . 108, 115, 145, 184, 186 (2), 188, 192, 227, 228 (2), 486 Lydia . 57; child of . 57 Nathaniel 57 Peter 167 Rev. Silas M. . 432, 541 Thomas . 53 (2), 54, 107 Blodgett, Abigail 84, 85 Anna 434 Asa . . 158,221,223,554 Ashael . . 217, 232, 237, 264, 295, 434 Ashael, Jr 434 Augustus F. . . 189, 290 315, 448, 449, 541, 546 Austin 541 Austin J 546 Beniah 295 Daniel 83, 84 Dorcas 336 Dorothy . 84, 85, 86 (2), 170, 175 Dorothy (Perham) . 175 Ebenezer . . 84, 85, 162, 163 (2), 196, 485 Elmer H. . . . 541, 546 George F. . . . 546, 557 Harry D. . . . 315,546 Jabez 295, 315 James . . . 127,164,228 James S 288 Jeremiah, 84,143, 227(2), 230, 232, 238, 248, 295, 318, 389 Jonathan . . 84,217,230, 232, 254, 264, 295, 315 (2), 319 Jonathan, Jr 230 Joseph . . 83 (2), 84, 95, 97, 118, 119, 128, 143, 162, 163, 169, 170, 175, 188, (note), 196, 217, 223, 230, 233, 239, 242' 248, 260 (2), 261, 264, 295, 315, (2), 319, 336, 381, 382, 532, 541 612 HISTORY OF HUDSON Blodgett, Capt. Joseph .... 315 Joseph, Jr. . . 295, 315, 382, 556 Joseph, 2d, 84 (2); chil- dren, 84, 85 (2), 86 (3) Joseph, 3rd, (first white child born in Hudson), 84 Lizzie 481 Martha 119 Nathan 382 Nathan M. . . . 287, 541 Phineas W. . . 217, 223, 295, 319, 336 Rebecca 84, 85 Samuel ... 83, 84, 511 Susan 83 Thomas, 83 ; children, 83 ; will . . 83, 84 Thomas, 2d 84 Vinnie 86 Warren .... 541, 583 William .... 420, 518 Blood, John 541 William J 546 Bodwell, Hannah 81 Henry 81 Bourne, Captain 50 Bouton, Rev. Nathaniel, version of Symmes' sermon . . 67 Bowers, Benjamin S. 541 George 286 Bowles, Prescott 541 Boyce, Jacob 456 Boyd, Mary 336 Thomas 152 Rev. William 89 Boyle, John E 546 Boynton, Herbert L. . . . 525, 546 John E 546 Bradbury, John . . . 162, 227 (2) Sanders . . 230 (2), 264 Bradford, Elizabeth 586 Eunice (Warren) . . 586 Capt. Simon .... 586 Bradley, Allen E. 546 Jonathan . 230, 233, 242, 253, 258, 261, 264, 319 Joseph 318 Patrick 290 Bradstreet, Anna 311 Bragg, Lyman D 457 Brenton, William, 31(3), 33, 129, 144 Brewer, Capt. Daniel .... 575 Lieut. John 575 John, the immigrant . 575 Brewin, Barnard 541 Brooks, Emily 583 Brown, Alvin W 571 Darwin 571 Eliphalet 264 Eliza W 571 Henry C. . . 305, 329, 330, 383, 416, 502, 553, 557 (3), 559, 567. 571 (4), 572 (3), 573 Ina L 572 James . . . 246, 2G5, 271 Freddie L 572 John D 571 (2) John E 516, 546 Judith 585 Mary 389 Rhoda W 571 Robinson .... 294, 311 Samuel . 168, 233, 262, 265, 295. 318 Thomas . 388, 487, 488, 490 Warren G 564 Browne, G. Waldo, in relation to Chamberlain-Paugus duel, (note) 67 Bruce, Elias A 546 Bryant, Clara J 572 Walter 147 Buchanan, George H. . . . . 546 Buck, C.H.& Co 471 Buker, Lucius T 288 Bullock, E. 457 PERSONAL INDEX 613 Bundy, Ellen F 514 Burbank, Ebenezer 294 Eunice Hardy . . . 164 Ezra 2y6 John 54, 57 Jonathan . 263, 265, 289, 294, 313 (2), 555 (4) Samuel . . 143, 162, 164 (2), 196, 230, 238, 313, 318, 484 Samuel, Jr. . . 230, 233, 555 (2) Widow 223 Burneche, Annide 546 Burnham, Amory . . 418, 419, 541 John 556 John A 541 Burleigh, Freeman 541 Marcellus 541 Burnett, James 541 Burns, Abigail 121 David . . 222, 223, 314, 419, 425 (2), 437 (3), 443 (2), 555 (3), 560 David W 518 Elias 324 George . . 143, 162, 164(4), 165, 190, 191, 192, 193 (2), 195 (2), 196, 211, 230, 233, 238, 244, 258, 265, 294, 311, 312, 318, 374, 552. 554 (3), 555 (3) George, Jr. . 230, 233, 239, 311, 555 George W 555 (2) Jane 314 (2) John 164 (2), 165 Martha 311 Mary 164 Suke 541 Thomas, 143, 162, 164, 165(2) William . 121,210,230,233, 238, 239, 240 (2), 244 (2), 246, 253, 258, 265, 294, 312, 318, 374, 553, 555 (2), 559 Burroughs, Benjamin .... 154 George . 149, 151, 211, 233, 319 Geotge.Jr., 149,151,154 James 233 Josiah . . 151 (2), 154, 255, 258, 265, 319 Josiah, Jr 154 Nathaniel . . 233, 319 William . 154,233,296, 299, 319 Busiel, Charles 564 Buswell, Benjamin F 454 Butler, Albert F 524, 546 Elizabeth .... 124, 125 George F 546 Gideon . 217, 233, 244. 255, 263, 265, 297, 306, 319 Henry . 287,298,541,546 Henry C. 546 Jacob 143 James M 524 John . . 95 (2), 96, 124 (2), 125 (2), 143 (2), 186 188, 318, 551 (8) John, Jr. . . . 95, 96, 294 Lt. Joseph .... 490 (2) Moses 541 Paul 127 Samuel . . 95 (2), 96, 143, 374, 484 (2), 552 Butterfield, Ann 84 Benjamin 84 Elizabeth .... 309 Jonathan .... 296 Capt. Joseph . 95, 107, 188 Joseph 145 Mary 84 (2) Samuel 57 William 149 Buttrick, Abel 324 Caldwell .... 518, 546 Clifton E. . . . 299, 541, 546, 557 (2) 614 HISTORY OF HUDSON Buttrick, I.eander C 546 Mary 275 Buzzell, George W 452 Caldwell. Alexander . . 215, 223, 231, 233, 237, 254, 258, 265, 271, 294, 314, 319 Alexander, Jr 314 George E. . 309,541,546 Hannah 181 James . 165 (2), 177, 203, 204, 215, 219, 231, 233, 237, 258, 265, 294, 309, 318 James, Jr 237 John, 162, 165 (5), 203(6), 213 (2), 214, 231, 233, 237, 239, 240, 241 (2), 243, 244, 258, 263, 265, 294, 319, 555 (2) John, Jr. . . . 198, 294 Joseph . 143,162,165(2), 166, 203 (2), 215, 323, 237, 294, 295, 309, 318 Joseph, Jr 143 Martha 318 Marinda 582 Nathan .... 278, 541 Robert D. . . 283, 541 Samuel . 214, 231, 233, 237, 265, 294, 319 Thomas . 231, 233, 237 254, 265, 541 William . . . 309, 324 Campbell, Albert A. . . . 282,289 Bradford . 287, 541, 546 Carl II 546 Charles E. .... 546 David . . 217, 233, 294, 319, 389 Frank E 546 James 203 John . . . 231,244, 254, 265, 319 Campbell, Osman S 546 Samuel, 233,254, 263,265 Thomas . . . 255, 265 William H 546 Canibas, Indian sachem . . 51, 52 Carkin John 106 Cargill. David 90, 91 David, Jr. 90 Cargin, John, 163, 227, 228 (2), 229 Carleton, Ezra 265 Jeremiah 112 Joseph G 541 Cames, James, 219(2), 447,516(2), 517 (3), 518, 519 (3), 523, 541, 560 Wilhelmina L. . . . 523 Carpenter, George 564 Carr, Clarence E 565 Edgar 1 564 George D. 278 Carter, Benjamin 57 Case, George F 541 Casson, William 162 Gate, Asa P 563 (3) Jonathan, Jr 271 Cathers, Rev 456 Center, Isaac N. (See Senter) . 507 Chaswick, Hannah 534 Chaffin, Rev. A. W. ... 441 (3) Chamberlain, Cornelius W. . . 546 John . . .61, 66 (2), 67 (4), 68 Levi .... 563 (2) Champlain, Samuel de .... 55 Chandler, Phebe 336 Chapin, Rev. Franklin P. . 433 (3) Chapman, Frank M. 546 J. P. 445 Chase, Aquilla 530 Benjamin .... 294, 312 Benjamin D. . . . 336, 541 Benjamin F. . . . 312, 553, 556 (5), 560 Benjamin W. 530 PERSONAL INDEX 615 Chase, Charles H. . . 443, 456, 546 Daniel 381, 492 Elizabeth (Hamblet) . 336 Elizabeth 531 Ephraim C. . . . 265 294, 313, 336, Ezekiel, M. D. . . 127, 143, 149, 162, 166 (4), 171, 190. 192, 193, 195, 196, 204, 231, 233, 335, 530 (2), 531, 552 (3), 553. 554 (4) Ezekiel, Jr. ... 313, 356 Gilman F 287 Henry .... 231, 233, 318 Jacob .... 555 (2), 556 James 233 John . . 258, 265, 294, 313, 315,541,556 (3) Joseph 234 Joshua . 229,231,233,254, 255,265,294,311,312,318 Martha 389 Micajah . . . 232, 263, 265 Miranda W. 454 Moses 336 Phebe (Chandler) . . .336 Nathaniel 541 Priscilla . . . 415, 530, 531 Dea. Rogers . 117, 131, 133, 162, 166 (2), 190, 191, 485, 487, 554 (2) Samuel 541, 546 Sarah (Stevens) .... 530 Solomon 454 Stephen . 193, 196 (2), 228, 230, 232. 254, 258. 263, 265, 294, 312, 313 (2), 318, 487, 554 Stephen, Jr. . 230,232, 238, 254, 255, 265, 313 Stephen L 336 Thomas 530 William 545 William F. . . 327 (2), 503, 522 (2), 541 Chase, William H. . 496, 541, 553, 554, 560 Cheney, George 541, 546 Person C 564 (2) Christian, the friendly Mohawk, 50 Christopher, Rev. Bernard, 442,443 Churchill, Winston 565 Cilley, Col. Joseph 373 Claflin, Sumner F 565 (3) Clark, George M 521, 546 Henry 546 James 90 Jeremiah 95 John B 573 (4) Rose 76, 77 Clement, Charles W. . . 518, 420 Charles S. 3S5 David . 327,420,445,446, 541, 546, 556, 557(2), 574 David, Jr. . . . 290, 541 Elmer D. . 327, 480, 525, 546, 557 Frances M 574 Hannah M. (Hall) . 574 Harry E 546 Clendennin, Archibald .... 90 Clifford, Patrick 546 Clough, Thomas L 518 Clyde, George W. . . 507,546,553, 554, 559, 561 Hannah J 524 Samuel W. 541 Cloyd, Mary 388 Cluff, Daniel B 587 Cobb, Bert H 546 Coates, James G 546 Coburn, James M 541 Cochran, Frank B 546 Coffin, Major 148 Samuel F 279 William 232 Coggswell, Thomas 564 Colburn, Lt. Abiah 295 Daniel A., 542, 546,557(3) 616 HISTORY OF HUDSON Colburn, Edward 144 Elijah 534 Enoch 542 Fred A 557 George P 541 Hannah 123 Henry T. . 122,287,541 Hiram . 424, 443 (3), 542 Isaac . . . 123, 265, 312, 318, 881, 382, 555, Isaac, Ens. . 294, 541, 560 Isaac D 122, 440 John 295 Mary 121 Mary, 2nd .... 123 (2) Moses 108 Nathan 542 Newton 542 Paul . 381, 419, 516, 541, 554, 556, 560, 566 Rachel (Hill) . . 534, 535 Sarah 381 Thomas, 95 (2), 97, 113 (2), 114 (7), 115, 121, 185, 186 (2), 187, 188, 193, 195, 551 (3), 552 (2) Capt. Thomas, Jr. . 119, 121 (2), 122 (4), 123 (4); children of, 123; death, 123; 128, 141,143,162, 176, 196, 311, 312, 313, 381, 382 (2), 554 (2), 558 Thomas, Jr., 3rd . 123 (2), 192 Dr. Zaccheus . . 123,223, 294, 311, 386, 381 (2), 382, 534, 535 Colby, Anthony 563 (5) Philbrook .... 232, 319 Collis, Alonzo 546 Daniel P 542 James . . . 223, 297, 306, 380, 542 James N 289, 542 Collins, G. M. Clinton .... 481 Corning, Nathaniel 230 Corson, Frederick H 457 Cory, V. P. 76 Cote, Otis 456 Philip H 546 Connell, Frank A. . . 475,546, 557 Hannah E. . . . 85, 482 Harry J 546 John 542 Otis R 546 Philip J. . . 315,471,542, 546, 557 (2), 561 Robert T 546 Tobias 542 Connor, John 542 Converse, Capt. Josiah . . . .271 Cook, John 246, 265 Mary 585 Coombs, Elmer I. 546 Walter R. . . . 480, 546 Cooper, Lemuel P 564 (2) Courey, Thomas P 284 Crane, John F 546 Crombie, William A 472 Cressey, Charles A. . . . 456, 542 Creutzborg, Ida Virginia . . . 457, 467 (2), 470 (2) Mary . . .386,387(2) Cross. Arden C 300, 546 Austin D 542 Cyrus 289 Hannah Goodspeed . . 569 Hiram 300, 542 Jabez P. F. ... 223, 553, 556 (6), 560 John 229,518,556 Joseph, 242, 258, 260, 261,265 Levi E. . . . 283, 289, 296, 304, 542 Levi S 107 Nathan . . 53 (2), 54, 95, 97, 103, 107 (3) ; deed of farm, 107, 10S; children, 10S (2); 109 (2). 116, 128. 162. 168, 187, 265, 302 (2), 400 PERSONAL INDEX 617 Cross, Peter . .228,230,233,238, Cum; 241,242,246,253.260,262 —265,290,302 (2), 319 Peter, Jr 296, 302 Thomas 265, 319 William G. . 442, 443 (2), 542 Cummings, Abby (Clark) . 573,574 Abraham, 98, 100 ; chil- dren of, 100; 110, 111, 113, 125 Abraham, (3d) . . 100 Abraham (4<-h) . . 100 Ann 98, 100 Anna 99 Alden E. . . 102, 475, 523, 546 Alfred . . . 324, 520 Benjamin 99 Bertha Ella . . . 573 Brothers . . 504. 517, 523 (2) Charles E. . . 500,523, 546, 574 (3) Capt. David . 126, 210 (2), 211 (2), 214, 230, 233. 237. 240, 242, 247, 254,258, 262, 265, 294 (2),309 (2), 318, 434 David, Jr. . . 214, 309 Dorcas 110 Ebenezer . . 22 (3), 54, 57, 96,99(2), 110. 197, 216,230,233,238,239, 241—244, 246, 248, 253, 265, 296, 302 (2), 319, 559, 560 Eleazer . . 95 (2), 99, 100(2), 101 (2), 102, 103, 105 (3), 106 (5) ; children of, 106; 107, 109, 110(2), 116, 118, 125, 128, 143, 168, 178, 188, 190, 192, 196, 230, 301 (2), 399 (2), 400, 461, 484, 540, 551 (2), 554 (3), 555, 586, 588 Eleazer, Jr., 95,96,110, 111; estate, 111 (2); children, 111 (7); 116. 128, 162, 163, 168, 173, 198, 208, 229, 233, 238, 296, 301 Eleazer, 2d . 106, 162, 185, 187 Elizabeth . 57, 98, 99, 126, 167, 180, 336 Enoch 404 Ephraim . 95, 97,100, 124, 125 (3) ; children of, 125, 126 ; 128, 143 (2), 162, 180 (2), 205, 206, 309, 552, 554, 558 Francis M., 475,481,482 Frank A . 504, 522, 542, 546 "Goody" Hannah Hattie D. 99, 126 . .574 Hiram, 441,521(2), 546 573, 574 Isaac, 98(3), 99; chil- dren of, 98; 100, 162, 167 (4) Jacob 100 James M., 503, 520,521 John . 98; children of, 98; 100, 125,296,302 John Harwood, 110, 336 John, Jr. . . 57,98,99; children of . . 99, 108 John, 2d 100 Jonathan .... 100 Joseph, 100 (2), 110,126 Josiah . 60,100,109(3), 110, 113 (4) ; deed of, 113, Love well, gran- tee, 113 (6), 114 (2), 115 (5) ; death, 116; 121,125,162,196,203. 303, 399, 487, 554 Josiah, Jr., 115,230,233 618 HISTORY OF HUDSON ' uniniings, Lydia 99 Mary . . 99, 110, 111 Miraim 115 Nathan ... 52, 503, 520 (2), 52G Nathaniel . 98, 100 (2); children of, 100 ; 106, 125, 434, 443 (2) Peter 125 Phebe .... 106, 319 Priscilla . . .99, 126 Priscilla (Warner), 124 Rachel (Proctor) . Ill Rebecca 110 Samuel . . . . 99 (2) Sarah . 73, 98, 100 (2), 110, 12G, 180 Sarah Hale . . .586 Sarah (Harwood) . 336 Thaddeus .... 110 Thomas . . 96 (2), 98 ; children of, 99, 100, 124, 125 Willard 369 William,22(2), 60,95, 96, 99 (2), 108, 109; chil- dren of, 109; 110 (2), 116, 125, 128, 143, 162,187,262,263,302, 336, 551, 554 Willis P. . 327, 523 (3), 546, 573 (5), 574 (3) Currier, Hon. Moody .... 564 Samuel . . 253, 255, 265 Curtis, Ulysses G 546 Cutler, Aaron . . 303, 504, 522, 546 Abiah 588 Deborah (Gage) . . .588 Hannah 578 Nathan 99 Seth 588 Cutter, Betsy 440 James 542 John 301 Richard . 295, 308, 319, 363 Thomas 265 Dakin. Abigail 440 Ebenezer . . 143, 162, 167, 168 (2), 230, 238 Justus . . . 167,230,233, 242, 253, 258, 260, 265, 434, 562 Levi . . 167, 168, 230, 238 Dalrymple, Rev. W. H. ... 440 Dane, Charles F. 542 Clarissa 516 Henry II. 290 Hermon 516 (3) Hermon F 516 James O. 290, 461 John 542 Joseph 418, 419 Danforth, Jonathan . 32 (2), 37, 74, 75 (2), 79, 144 (2), 145, 153 (2), 376 R. Edmund .... 458 Samuel 145 Daniels, Charles A. . . . 480, 481, 546, 566 Fred H 557 William T 546 Darrah, Arthur . . . 163, 168 (2) Charles . . . 163, 168 (3) Davidson, George .... 231, 297 Jesse . 318,553,555 (4) John 297 Davis, Amos .... 296, 300 (2) Amos, Jr 516 Asa . . 23 (3), 156, 165 (4), 177, 199, 205, 206(3), 214, 218, 219, 220 (3), 222 (2), 230, 233, 237, 239, 240, 242, 243, 244, 247 (2), 252 (2), 254, 258, 262,266,293, 294,309,317,319,336,374, 381, 552, 555 (14), 559 Benjamin 227 Daniel Taylor . . 165, 223, 231, 309, 336, 414, 415 Eleazer, 61, 68 (2), 69, 70 (2) Elizabeth .... 252, 336 PERSONAL INDEX 619 Davis, George H. . . 493, 542. 546 George W 546 Henry 309, 547 Jabez . 95, 97, 111 (5), 112, 116, 128, 163 James 256 Joseph 542 Joseph, Rev 438 Josiah 61, 78 Martha 319 Moses 417 (3) Nathaniel . . 228, 233, 246, 248, 254, 266, 300 (2), 360 (2), 385 (2), 389,390,555(6) Ruth Ill Samuel 389 Samuel, Jr. 324 Solomon A. . . . 448, 454 Susana 434 Thomas Ill Dean, Rev. Benjamin . 438 (2), 461 Derby, Mary 573 (3) John 575 Lucy (Brewer) . . .475 (2) Richard 535 Roger 535 Thomas 575 D'Estaing, Count 262 DeWolfe, Charlotte S 538 Lewis E 538 Louisa (Graves) . . 538 Dickinson, Elizabeth (Bennett), 584 Enoch 584 Mary E 384 Dinnis, Lucy 434 Dinsmore, Samuel . . 562, 563 (3) Ditson, Samuel 214 John 294 Samuel 214 Dodge, Walter 547 Donahue, Francis P. 542 Patrick .... 491, 547 Timothy 542 Donnelly, Charles 547 Edward B 547 Donnelly, Eugene, 547; heirs . 122 John 547 Owen 542 Dooley, George N. . 407, 410, 547 557 (2) George W 133 Doty, Norman A. D 547 Doughty, George L 542 Douglas, Daniel 143 Douglass, Robert, 214,294,308,434 Dow, Elbridge . . . 222, 223, 556 Dura P 280 Downs, Edwin P 547 Drew, Asa Warren 565 Druse, Mary 84 Dudley, deposed as Governor . 48 John 152 Jonathan C, 55, 517,518(6) Josiah . . . .162, 168(3) Louisa J 454 Duff, John W 460 Dummer, appointed governor, 49; news of Lovewell's fight, 71 ; orders protection for Dunstable 72 Dunklee, Charles E 547 Durant, George W 542 Joel P 547 Lucius VV 547 Samuel . . 231, 233, 241, 254, 266 William H 284 Durgin, James A 542 Durivage, Frank 547 George H 547 Duston, Thomas 585 Dutton, John 271 John E 542 Josiah 399 Duty, Mary 295, 306, 319 Eames, Rev. George 438 Henry 268 Eastman, Eleanor 295 Ichabod . 231, 233, 237, 254, 266, 319 6-20 HISTORY OF HUDSON Eastman, Ira 563 James .... 266, 434 Nicholas . . . 231. 233, 258, 266 Eaton, Alfred .... 172. 542, 547 (Mrs.) Alfred ... 172 (2) James A. 542 Walter D 547 William H. 439 Eayres, Edward F. . .313,362,547 Winslow P 547 See Ayers Edgerly, Martin V. B 564 Eliot, the Apostle, 29, 38; his de- scription of Wonnalancet, 40; influence of ... 43 Elliott, Rev. Samuel 438 Emerson, Ann (Gray) .... 538 Arthur S 542 Benjamin H 266 Eva M 518 Harvey D. 547 Jonathan, 22, 256 (2), 266 Lydia 173, 578 Michael 585 Samuel 5(5 Robert 578 Timothy . . 195, 206 (2), 229, 231. 237 Timothy, Jr 231 William 271 Emery, Bertha 81 Dr. James . .305,461,532, 534, 535 (2), 542, 553, 554, 560 John 585 Endicott, Gov. John, ... 31 (2) Epps, George D. 56 Estes, Charles F. 547 Aaron P. 547 Estey, Aaron 314 Evans, Edward 12S Evered, John 35, 37 (2) Ewins, Thomas H., 517 (2), 518, 566 Farmer, Edward . . 231, 233, 237 James 318 Polly 434 Zaddock . . 404, 445, 454 & Robinson . . .222 (3) Farnsworth, Rev. Charles II. . 449. 457 Farnum, Dustin B. . . 554, 556 (2) Edward 118(2) Green leaf V. . . . . 556 John U 285 John M 418 Sarah . 18 Sarah, 2d, 118; children of US Farrah, Jacob . . . 61, 66, 68, 73 Joseph 61, 68 Farrow, Timothy 562 Farwell, Jonathan 266 Lt. Josiah . 53 (2), 54, 57, 61, 64 (2), 67, 68 (2), 70 (3) Oliver 54, 57, 99 Felker, Samuel 1). . ... 565 Fells, August 146 Fellows, Col. Enoch Q. . 277, 283 Nathaniel 271 Ferryall, Abram . . .111,303,525 Fred 547 Field, Edward 363 Fifield, Harrison 282 William J 282 Fish, Burton K 547 Lewis L 441, 443 (2) Fisher, Rev. Jabez Pond . 214 (2), 215 (2), 216 (3), 217 (2), 218 (5), 219, 220(5), 428, 429, 432 (2) Oliver A 547 Fiske, Mr., teacher of Wonnalan- cet 40 Flanders, Capt. Daniel J. . . . 288 Fletcher, Col. Aaron 286 Daniel . 95, 184, 188, 551 Dorinda A. (Mrs.) . 449, 450 (2), 451, 452, 454 PERSONAL INDEX 621 Fktcher, Elijah 294 Ezekiel . . .95, 184,188 Jacob 295 John W 289 Josiah M. . . . 564, 565 Capt. Robert . 87, 94 (3), 95, 163, 184, 185, 188, 551 (4), 557, 558 (2) Rufus M. 288 Samuel 564 Flint, Samuel 564 Floyd, Charles M 565 Joseph F 281 Lucinda 450 Fogg, Andrew J. 377 Follansbee, Anabel C. . . . . 570 Ardelle (Morse) . . 570 Franklin C. . . . 570 Folsom, Abraham, Rev., 445(2), 455 John D 456,457 Foot, Isaac 266 Ford, Caleb Swan, . . . 336, 553, 555 (6), 580 Charles M 547 David C 542 Ebenezer 556 Henry H 290 James 542, 555 James C 542 Col. James . . 126, 210, 216. 231, 233, 237, 240, 241, 242, 246, 247 (2), 248, 253, 256, 257, 258, 260 (2), 261 (4), 264, 266, 290, 310, 318, 336, 446, 558 Moses B 542 Sarah 336 Thomas J 542, 547 Timothy S. . . 126 (2), 186, 310, 311, 542, 553 William R 542 Foster, Charles W. 547 David 591 Emily 423 Foster, John . 221, 416 (3), 417 (2), 423 (3), 534, 562 John, Jr 423 (2) John H 423 (2) George 423 Sophia (Colbum) . 591 (2) Fowler, Asa 563 Fox, Charles J., quotation from, 47, 54 ; Parris massacre . . 58 Henry J 542 Foxcroft, Ira 102 Freeman, Andrew N. .... 547 French, Alice 98 Rev. Daniel L. . . 364, 431 Lt. Ebenezer, 53 (2), 54, 57 Edward P 364 Eliza L. 284 Enoch 296 Hannah 175 Joseph ... 99, 285, 486 Menzell 110 Mtiizell S. 547 Robert 285 Elder Samuel . . 231, 233, 239, 294, 319 Lt. Samuel . . 98, 99, 211, 258, 266 Simon 547 Timothy . . 310, 494, 556 & Gould 51 Fressell, Mary 115 Frost, Aaron B. 290, 446 Benjamin . . .22, 143, 162, 192, 193, 485 Neil W. 547 Frye, Jonathan ... 61, 63 (2), 66, 68 (2), 69 Fullam, Jacob 73 Fuller, Adelia E. 481 Albert A 547 Belinda 474 (3) Benjamin 542 Carrie S 474 Cyrus 542 622 HISTORY OF HUDSON Fuller, Frank J 289 Joseph, 474 (3), 504, 542, 556 Lorenzo . 288, 474 (2), 542 True 490 Willis L. . . 480, 481, 547 Gage, Daniel . . 326, 542, 557 (3) Daniel F. . 542, 556 (3), 560 Nehemiah H 290 Thomas, 142, 143 (3), 551, 552 Galusha, Rachel 57 Galvin, Dennis F 547 Gatz, Arno E 547 Gaudette, John B 547 Gay, Elbridge 547 Warren 547 George I. of England 48 Gester, Albert 547 Gibson, Barnabas 295 James . . . 143, 255, 295, 554, 555 (4) John .... 71, 216, 296 Joseph 61, 68 Mary E 525 Sarah 532 William . 22, 217 (3), 218, 233, 262, 266, 295, 318, 319 (3) Gilbert, Charles B. . . . 520, 547 Leon A 547 Gillis, John . . 426(3), 445, 510(2), 542 Gilman, John Taylor . . .562 (16) Joseph 547 Joseph A 563 (2) Girouard, Joseph 547 Glines, Rev. George A., 441, 443,542 Glover, Andrew M. . . . 542, 547 Charles H 547 David . 214, 233, 254, 255, 256, 266, 296, 300 Jane (Burns) 314 Robert . 143, 162, 206, 217, 231, 233, 256, 263, 266, 294, 314, 319 Glover, Robert, Jr 314 Warren 542 Goffe, John 486 Col. John . 58, 71, 170, 175, 226, 227 (4), 229 Maj. John . . . . 58, 89, 90 Goodale, Walter M 547 Goodell, David H 564 Gookin, Rev. Opinion ot Wonna- lancet 38, 39 Goodrich, Samuel G. ("Peter Par- ley.") 402 Goodspeed, Esther (Hadley) . 579 John . . 296, 535, 579 Olivia 579 Goodwin, Ichabod .... 563 (2) Goss, Henry S. 518 (2) John 518 Gould, Abel F 277, 283 Elijah 266 Jonathan .... 294, 518 Joseph . 143,162,196,199, 231, 233, 310, 318, 490 Joseph, Jr. . . . 231, 254, 266, 294 Mark 295 Samuel .... 95, 162, 184 Silas 318 (lowing, Edwin E. 547 Edwin S. . 290, 310, 488, 542, 547, 557 (2), 561 George P 547 George T. . 310,488,542 Samuel . . 310,311,542, 556 (4), 560 Sidney P. ,119, 310, 324, 560 Thomas, 223, 310, 324, 560 Mrs. Thomas .... 275 Graham. Eleanor . 151 (2), 154, 233 William ... 151 (3), 295 Grant, Charles H. 290 Graves, Samuel .... 90 (2), 91 Gray, Henry 532 Dr. Joseph . . . 319,532(2) PERSONAL INDEX 623 Gray, Lucy 532 Susan 532 Gregg, James 91 Griffin, Charles E 547 George B 523 George E 547 John E 547 Rufus K 542 Grimes, E 319 William 319 Griswold, C. J 405 Greeley, Abigail 170 Adoniram Judson, M. D., 463 (3), 470 Andrew 575 (2) Ann 119 Benjamin . . 174,256,266 575 (2), 579 Daniel M. . 290, 416, 418, 461,542,547,569 Mrs. Daniel M ... 275 Esther . 170, 296, 305 (2), 308, 412, 434 Capt. Ezekiel . . 131 (4), 132, 151 (2), 154, 162, 170 (2), 227, 231, 23H; heirs, 296, 305 (2), 308, 319, 412, 485, 486, 575 Hannah .... 569, 575 Harriet 575 Horace 131 Jackson E. . . 305 (2), 542 Mrs. Jackson E. . . . 275 James C. 542 James M. . .275,287,288 Mrs. James M. . . . 275 Jamison 290 Jane 169 Joanna C. (Merrill) . 463 536, 577 John 324, 542 John P 547 Greeley, Col. Joseph, 158, 217 (2), 233, 242, 248, 254, 255, 295, 308, 402, 513, 560, 575 Joseph, 170, 256 (3), 258, 262, 266, 319, 412, 461, 554, 539, 575 (2) Joseph, Jr. . 554, 555, 560 Lucy 434 Mary (Derby) .... 576 Mary Hannah .... 536 Moses, 158, 215, 223, 296, 305, 434, 437 (2), 440, 443 (2), 555 (4), 569, 575 (3), 576 Noah 296, 305 Polly 434 Rachel . . . 85, 169, 170 Reuben, 158, 208, 222 (2), 223, 305, 414, 415, 418, 436, 437, 439, 461, 463, 485, 536, 554, 556 (6), 560, 565, 566 (2), 577 Reuben, Jr. 419 Ruth 579 Maj. Samuel, 84, 143, 153, 162 (4), 169 (5), 170 (2), 189, 195, 196, 201, 205, 209, 231, 239 (2), 240, 245, 246, 252, 253 (2), 254, 264, 266, 374 (3), 551 (3), 553, 554 (2), 555, 558 (2) Dea. Samuel . . 484, 487, 542, 558, 560 Maj. Samuel, Jr. . 84, 131, 143, 162, 170, 193, 199, 233, 239, 389, 553 (3), 554 (11), 555 (2) Samuel, 3d 170 Samuel A. . 169, 308, 547 Sophia 575 Stephen D. . . . 133,304, 404, 513. 542, 553, 556 (8), 560 624 HISTORY OF HUDSON Greeley, Susan C 86,231 S. Augustus .... 542 Wilder . . . 215, 295, 308 Zaccheus, . 215,233,297, 319, 434 Green, Job W 547 Samuel 100, 110 Capt. Thomas 79 Greenleaf, Gardner 564 Greenwood, Cyrus N 547 Grosher, A. B 473 Grosvenor, Rev. William M. . 457 Grover, Asaph 542 Groves, Elizabeth 584 John C. . . 480, 547, 584 Mrs. John 312 Robert . . . 164, 312, 497, 542, 547, 584 Robert G 547 William D 547 Guyon, Henry M 542 Hadley, Dorothy 179 Eben 382 Ehphalet . . 217,231,233. 237, 294, 319 Eliphalet, Jr. . . 231, 233. 237, 29-1, 319 Enos . . 233, 266, 294, 319 Hannah 434 Kimball 456 Moses . . . 211, 231, 233, 238, 258, 266, 296, 301, 318, 319, 362 (2), 364, 434, 493, 514 Nehemiah . . . 206, 555 Parrott . . 231, 233, 238, 295, 308, 319 Ruth 308 Seth . 231, 233, 238, 248, 253, 266 Stephen . . 233, 238, 260, 261, 266, 295, 319, 434 William . . . 223, 419 (2), 420 (2), 426, 514, 519, 556 (3), 560 Ilaggerty, John 410 Hagin, Philip . 223, 231, 234, 238, 258, 266, 307, 400 (2) Richard 140 Haile, William 563 (2) Halbert or Hurlburt, Ebenezer, 71 Hale, Elizabeth 207 Henry, 176, 197, 206, 207 (2), 208 (2), 209, 212, 214 (2), 218, 222, 231 (2). 233 (2), 237, 248, 297, 305, 318, 319, 382, 383 (2), 416. 492, 552, 555 (2), 586 Henry, Jr. . . 239, 242, 262, 266, 305 John . . 231, 233, 239, 241, 242, 243, 246, 261, 296, 299, 389 (2), 555 Mary 176, 305 Mary (Bartlett) .... 586 Nathaniel 296, 301 Samuel W 564 Sarah 208, 301 Sarah H. S. 75 Thomas 296 William 562 Hales, James 382 Haley. John W. . . .432 (2), 433 Hall, Alice 531 John 233, 531 Jonathan 456 Thomas 531 Hamblet, Aaron 308 Alvin 542 Asa 266 Eli, 329, 423, 441. 443(2), 461, 462 (2), 542, 554. 556 (5), 557, 560, 567 (2) Hezekiah . . . 143, 271, 488, 490 (2) Horace J. . . . 288, 542 John . . 95, 96 (2), 143, 2L'7, 490 Joseph . . . 95, 96 (2), 185, 186, 188, 484, 551 (3), 552, 558 PERSONAL INDEX 625 Hamblet, Joseph, Jr. . .22,95,96, 143, 374 Joshua .... 295, 400 Josiah . . 143, 219, 400, 510 (2), 513 Ruth 308 Samuel .... 231, 295 Thomas . 239, 242, 261, 294, 318 (2) Wilbur 542 Hammond, Harry L 547 Isaac W. . . 258, 264 Hanscomb, Charles H. . . 465, 547 John E 496 Harda, Patty 434 Hardy, Asa 271 Daniel . 231, 233, 238, 242, 244, 253, 258, 266 Esther 315 Isaac . . 234, 258, 263, 266 John 234 John.Jr 234 Jonas 294 Johathan, 143, 162, 171 (2), 229, 231, 258, 266, 294, 318, 401 Jonathan, Jr 238 Moody 234 Nathaniel . . 234, 238, 254, 266, 315 Paul 556 (6) Perry 266 Richard . . 231, 234, 238, 254, 266, 319 William F 278 Zachariah . . 295,315,510, 511, 514 Harmon, Captain 50 Harney, Michael 289 Harris, Albert 446, 542 Henry 290 Lydia 381 Myron W 290 542 Rev. Samuel . . . 429. 430 Walter E 525 Harrison, Edward W. . . 563 (2) Walter . . . 263,264(2) Gen. William Henry, 269, 514 Harwood, Esther 109 Harold J 547 Harry 547 Ens. John . . 57, 61, 73 Sarah 109, 336 Walter J 547 Walter T 547 William . . 96(2), 290 Hart, Col. John 229 Harvell, James 128 Harvey, Charles H 547 Edward 542 J. Frank 547 Matthew 563 Haselton or Heselton, Arthur W. 179 (2), 306, 547 tieorge W. . . 306,442, 461, 462 Capt. John . . 156, 176, 214, 231, 234, 237, 239, 240, 254, 266, 295, 298, 317, 319 (2) John, Jr. . . . 234, 238, 240 (2), 244, 319 Justin E 497 Luther . . 306, 324, 536 Lydia 306 Nathaniel . 126, 179 (3) 214, 229, 297, 306 Richard 434 William C. . 443 (3), 547 Hassell, Anna 56, 70 Benjamin . . 56,61,70(2), 71 (4), 96 (2) Joseph 56, 70 Richard 70 Hastings, John 416 Lucy 423 Hathaway, Erwin 410 Hauck, Frenton 294 626 HISTORY OF HUDSON' Haven, Charles C 403 Haynes, Amos 438 Haywood, Samuel Smith . . . 294 314, 319 Waldo 294 Head, Natt 564 Heald, Rev. Addison, 275, 432, 460 Mrs. Addison 275 David 565 Healey, Joseph 563 Heath, Henry W 543 Jeremiah 542 Hennesey, Peter 278 Hersey, Franklin J 547 Rev. Jonathan .... 43D Heseltine, John 555 John, Jr. . . 555(5), 559 Heselton, A. W 488 George W. . . 542, 561 Hannah P. .... 536 Louisa Ann .... 582 Polly L. (Smith) . . 536 See Haselton, and Hes- eltine. Hewes, William 456 Hewins, E. H 405 (2) Hickox, Frederick F 288 Hill. See Hills. Abijah 543 Alonzo 543 F Augustus 543 George E. 130, 543 Granville 543 Harriet S. ... 454, 455 (2) John M 564 Jonathan 324 Mrs. Oliver 275 Osgood 543 Rebekah H 454, 455 Robert 543 Thomas 543 Warren 543 Hills, Abigail, 77, 78 ;second, 78, 82, 304, 307 (3) Hills, Abijah .... 134, 454, 455 Abner 81 Abraham 81 Albert J. F. 543 Alden . 131 (2), 132 (2), 223, 307, 378, 525, 543, 556 (2), 577 (2), 578 (3) Dr. Alfred K. . 130,132,307. 386 (3), 387, 413, 457 (2), 459, 460, 466 (2), 467 (3), 468 (5). 469, 470 (4), 472, 493, 501 (4), 524, 525 Amos . . . 132,223,303(2), 425, 440. 556 Ann . . .73, 118, 132, 136 Ann Lunt 77 Ann Worm . 73, 80—83, 586 Anna 81 Arthur F 543 Arthur S 470 Benjamin 78, 81 Charles W., 132, 133,304,577 Clifton M 303, 543 Daniel 78 David 296, 304 Deborah 77 Ebenezer . . .81, 296, 307 Edna 82 Edwin E. 543 Edwin P 577 Elijah . 82, 131 (2), 132, 136, 229,231,234,238,239,242, 248,253,258,262,266,296, 307, 319, 493, 533, 577 Elijah, Jr 577 (2) Eliphalet 215, 319 Eliza 577 Elizabeth 77, 81 Enoch . 81, 133 (4), 134 (2), 136 E. Wesley 290 Ezekiel . . 132(2), 136,161, 163, 197, 198, 199, 211, 231, 234, 238, 240, 241 (2). 24o, 246. 247, 268, 2."..'.. 266, 303 (2), 319, 486, 554, 555 (2) PERSONAL INDEX (327 Hills, Franklin A. . . 134 (2), 290, 305, 547 George E 307, 400 George W. . . 517 (3), 518, 543, 556, 56(3, 567 Gershom . . 77, 78, 86, 112 Granville . . . 133, 304, 556 (2), 560 Hannah, . 77,78(3), 82,118, 133, 234, 296, 303 (2) Hannah Smith, 76; children of 77 Helen Atkinson, 76; children of ' . 77 Henry, 78, 79(3), 80, 81 ; mar- riages, 81 (3) ; children, 81 (2) ; death, 81, 82 (2) ; 95,96, 97, 112 (2),1 13, 11 6, 117, 128, 131 (2), 132, 133, 136, 161, 162,195, 199, 228, 304, 413, 486, 554 Ida Virginia . . 468, 469 (2), 470, 524 Isaac 563 (3) James, 77, 79, 80 (3), 81 ; chil- dren, 82; removal, 82; 112 (2), 113, 131, 132, 136, 161, 162, 190, 192 (2), 193 (2), 196,296,304,307,411, 466, 486, 554 (3) Jeremiah . . 82, 132 (2), 228, 231, 234, 238, 248, 253, 266, 304 (3), 319 John 77, 78 Klder John 429 Jonathan 81, 223 Joseph, 74 (4) ; sketch of, 75; public service, 76; mar- riages, 76, 77 (2); children of, 77(3); will, 78.79; 78 (2), 86, 101 (2), 109, 110, 112, 130, 136, 173, 178, 376, 577 Joseph A. 543 Hills, Josiah 78 Justus K 132, 561 Kimball 577 Mary . . 77,78,81,381,454 Mehitable 77 Mellen 149 Miriam 533 Nancy Currier (Kimball), 466 Nathaniel, 73, 77, 79, 80 (2) ; children, 80, 81, 82 (2), 95 (2), 96, 112, 113, 116 (2), 128,129, 130(5), 131, 132, 133 (2), 134 (4), 135 (3), 136, 149, 154, 161, 194, 227, 296, 303, 304 (2), 307, 319, 379, 400 (2), 411 (3) 412, 484, 486 Nathaniel, Jr., 131, 133, 134 (2); children, 134; deed, 134(5), 135,136,161; 163, 234, 296 Oliver . . 81, 231, 334, 238, 254, 266, 307 (2), 400 Orlando G 547 Osgood 404 Parker 577 Philip 296, 306 Rebecca 77, 79 Rose Clark, 76; children of • 77 Rossill F. . 474 (2), 475, 543 Mrs. Ruth 133 Sally 533 Samuel. 77 (2), 78; children of, 78; 79 (2); will, 79(2), 80; 81, 82, 112(3), 116, 131, 134, 161, 163, 215, 231, 234, 238, 253, 267, 271, 296, 303, 304, 319, 389, 4S7, 577 Samuel. Jr 296, 304 Sarah . . 73, 77, 81, 82, 303 Silas 363, 513, 556 Simeon . . 134, 256 (2), 206 028 HISTORY OF HUDSON Hills, Steven 77 Susana Raldwin .... 136 Thaddeus 81 Thomas . 132, 215, 221, 234, 238, 258, 267, 303, 319, 555 (2), 577 Warren . . 132 (2), 532, 577 Col. William . . 78, 82, 132, 133 (2), 149, 158, 223, 231, 233, 238, 258, 267, 296, 304, 319, 388, 555 (2), 556 (2), 577 Hoag, David T 548 James 11 548 Hobart, David 260 Samuel 372 (2) Hobbs, Joseph . 151 (2), 154, 215, 233, 267, 296, 299, 319 Joseph, Jr 434 Mary .434 Hodgman, John S 543 Hoffman, George 543 Hogkins, John 28 Holbrook, Rev. Willard . 221, 230 Hollis, David ■ . . 215 Henry F 565 (2) Holman, Rev. Sullivan . . 445,457 Holt, Eugene A 548 & Jones 519 Holton, Lewis M 548 Hooke, Dr. Henry M., 534, 535 (2), 554 Hood, Aaron 267, 297 William . 151 (2), 154, 233 Hopkins, Charles H. . . 280.548 Guy A. . . 410, 448, 557 J. W 543 Houston or Huston, Samuel . 143, 162, 171, 192, 227, 228, 229 Howard, J. W 130, 307 Howe, Rev. Benjamin .... 432 James G 548 James P. . . . 548, 557 (3) Moses A. 456 Howlet, Alice French 98 Sarah 98 (2) Thomas 98 Hoyt, Daniel 563 Hubbard, Henry 563 (2) Huey, Henry, 228,231,233,238,254 James 228 John . . . 143, 162 (2), 171, 203, 227, 231, 233, 318, 319, 490 Mansfield . . 217, 294, 314 Hull, James 543 Hunter, Frank H 548 Hunting, Silas 543 Huntley, Isaac W 456 Huse, John 101 Huston or Houston, Samuel . 484 Hutchins, Alonzo G. . . . 520, 643 Hutchinson, A. G. (See Hutchins) 496 William . . 480,504; heirs . . . 519, 54S Jackson, John H. 277 Jacobs, Smith 522 Jameson, Nathan C 565 Jacques, Frank A 548 Napoleon 548 Jaquith, George D 543 Jarvis, Esther 389 Jefts, John 61, 73 Jenness, Richard .... 141, 142 Jennings, Wilbur S 548 Jewell, Albert 548 Daniel 388 Jewett, John 98 Samuel 143, 162 William H 3y0 Johnson, Ichabod 61, 73 John 271 John W 456 Joseph . . 258,260,261. 263. 267 Josiah 61,68 PERSONAL INDEX 629 Johnson, Moses . 199, 201, 210 (2), 216.231,233,239,242, 245, 260, 294, 310, 318, 491, 553, 555 Moses, Jr 294 Mister ...... 54, 57 Noah 61, 68 William S 310 fones, Ephraim 267 Frank 564 Joshua W 480 (2) Josiah . . . . 61, 68 (2), 70 Napoleon E 288 Rev. Robert 434 Jordan, Chester B 565 Joy, Arthur 1 475, 525, 548 Lemuel T. ". . . . . . . 543 Lucy 481 Kelley, Bernard J 543 John 543 John H. 543 Capt. Joseph . . 231, 233, 253, 254, 255, 267, 295, 307, 319, 400, 510 Orrin H 473 William 543 Kellogg, Rev. Silas G., 457, 524 (2) Kendall, Ebenezer 197 Rev. Ezra .... 235 (2) Kenney or Kinney, Rev. George W 441, 488 Sarah 319 Thomas .... 388, 488 Kenrick, Harry B 521, 548 Kent, Col. Henry O. . . . 564 (2) Kershaw, Charles H 284 Keyes, Elias 90 Solomon . . . . 61, 69 (2) Kidder, Lt. Benjamin . . 60, 71 (3), 151 (2), 154, 215 230, 233, 248, 296, 298, 299 (2), 319, 380, 439, 492, 560 Deacon Benjamin . . 299, 441, 443 (2) Kidder, Benjamin H., 290, 299, 543 Hannah (Proctoi) . . 577 Henry .... 144 (2), 146 Huldah (Putnam) . . 572 Joanna 434 John 149, 393 (2) John R 548 Capt. Jonas . . .572 (2) Joseph, 56, 140 (2), 577, 578 Miriam 577 (2) Nancy 33 Mellows, Edward 76 Hannah Smith ... 76 Melvin, Albert H 548 Augustus J. 548 Benjamin .... 149, 319 Daniel 61, 68 Eleazer 61, 68 Frank P 543 James . . 296, 300 (2), 418 Tolford D 543 William 543 Menter, George 434 Merrill, Abel . . 143, 162, 176, 181, 231, 234, 267, 294, 530 Abigail 81, 577 Adoniram Judson . . 576 Annie E 536 Annie Gertrude . 519, 581 Asa 446 Austin T 289 Dea. Benjamin . 223, 294, 310, 318, 362, 555, 580 Benjamin A. . . 420, 553, 556 (2) Daniel . 81, 143, 162, 176, 198, 305, 437 (2), 488, 489, 552, 554 (2), 576, 577 Rev. Daniel . 435 (2), 436, 488, 576 Emma B. . . . 463, 464 (2) Esther 81, 577 Frances Victoria . . . 526 George A. . . 327, 463 (2), 548, 557, 581 George E. . . 524, 543, 554 Henry . . . 297, 305, 318 Henry A. . . 474 (2), 543 Henry Clay 57(3 Isaac . . 156, 210 (2), 211, 217 (2), 220 (2), 221, 234, 294, 311, 317, 318, 428, 555 (6), 560 James B., 404, 474 (2), 475 (3),476,r,19,543,554,557, (3), 560, 580 (3), 581 (3) Merrill, James E 524,581 Joanna 436 Joanna C 576 John . .227,231,234,242, 254, 267, 294, 318 John, Jr 271 Joseph 436—438 Josiah . . . 215, 296, 299 Lucy A. (Byam) . . . 584 Mary 176, 305 Mary Hammond . . . 576 Moses 436 Moses R. 576 Nancy 275, 504 Ens. Nathaniel . 231, 234, 239, 242, 261, 310 Nathaniel, Jr., 231, 234, 239 Rev. Nathaniel . 126, 166, 169, 176 (2), 182, 184, 186, 191 (2), 198, 200 (2), 201 (4). 202, 203, 204 (2), 209 (3), 210, 212, 217, 218, 229, 311, 414, 428, 530, 580, 581 Olive 311 Otis A 282 Persis A. . . 474, 475, 581 Mrs. Persis A 474 Priscilla . . . 166, 530 (3) Rachel 434 Rogers 246, 267 Ruth 308 Samuel . . . S5, 227, 311, 487, 554 Samuel, Jr. . . 85 (2), 196 Sarah (Plummer) . . .580 Sarah B. 534 Susan M. 576 Susanna 3H Susanna (Gale) . . . 576 Mrs. S. E. 474 Tabitha 432 Tamison 176 Theodore 294 684 HISTORY OF HUDSON Merrill, Thomas W 436 Warren E. S 548 William . . 198, 229, 231, 234, 237, 240 241, 243, 253, 255, 258, 267, 543 William T„ 522(2), 543, 584 Merriman, Rev. T. M. . . 441, 443 Meserve, Col. Nathaniel . . .228 Nathaniel M 543 Metcalf, Ralph 563 (2) Miles, Phebe 434 Miller, Charles L. 548 Franklin P 543 George W 278 William D 543 William W 543 Millett, James 543 William F 278 Mitchell, George 140 John, 143,162,165, 177(2) June 177 Montawxampate, sagamon of Sau- gus 35 Montgomery, Francis .... 548 Frank 548 William J. . . . 548 Moody, Anna 311 Anna Bradstreet . . . 311 Benjamin 311 Friend . 234, 294, 311, 318 Moore, Col. Daniel 262 Mrs. Daniel 454 John 89 Maj. Samuel . . 95,123(2), 129,231,234,254,267,555 Morey, Dell 54S Henry 148, 548 Widow 203 Morrill, David L. 562 (4) Edward H 548 Morris, Arthur E 548 William 548 Morrison, Achsah (Davis) . . 590 Augustus F. . . 290, 309 Morrison, Augustus R., . 177, 543, 548 James 90 John 90 Samuel . . 309,543,556, 560, 590 Mrs. Samuel . . . 275 Susan M 590 Morrow, Alvin H 565 Morse, Hannah A. 85 Nathaniel M. . . . 445, 454 Moulton, Captain 50 Murdough, Samuel 96(2) Myric, Joseph 234 Nanamocomick 35 (3) Nason, S. Rose 481 Nesmith, Benjamin 198 James 90 Nevins, Robert 143, 163 Newcomb, Charles H 543 Newhall, Matthew 456 Newton, Mary 588 Nichols, Alexander 90 James 90 Joseph 319 Lucy C 525 Col. Moses, 260 (2), 261— 263, 315 Niles, Rev. William Porter . . 457 Nobhow 35, 37 Nonatomenut 36, 40 Norris, Herbert L 548 Norton, Prof. Charles L. . 523, 525, 548 Noyes, William L 564 Nye, Jonathan 562 Ober, Andrew M 548 O'Connell, Michael 543 Oldall, Elizabeth (Brownlee) . 571 Sarah 1 571 Sidney F 571 Olney, Edward 548 PERSONAL INDEX 635 O'Niel, Michael 543, 565 Ordway, Nehemiah . . . 154, 234 Orne, Thomas J 548 Osgood, Anson A 548 Charles E 281 Edward C 548 John . . . 254, 255, 267 Page, Abraham . . 22, 172 (4), 178 (2), 254, 255, 267, 297, 306 (2), 319, 487, 552, 554 (3), 555 (5), 558, 559 (2), 582 (5) Capt. Abraham, Jr., 177,178 179 (4), 180, 197, 199, 205 (5), 206 (5), 217, 231, 234, 237, 241, 244, 274 (3), 489 Abram 162 Caleb 197 Dorothy (Hadley) . . .179 Elizabeth 179 (2) Esther 180 Ezekiel . . 149,154,162,177, 178 (2), 228, 234, 399, 400 Isaac . . 149—151, 154, 162, 177, 178, 197, 215, 237, 234, 295, 319 Jacob 319 John 400, 563 (3) Judith (Worthen) . . .177 Lydia 434 Samuel . . 126, 180 (2), 199 Seth 295 Rev. William . . 431 (2), 432 (3), 518 (2) Paine, Clinton E. 549 Palmer, James T. . . .552,556(2) Parey, Joseph 389 Parker, Charles C 549 Edmund 373 Emery 290 Farwell 294 F. Laton 549 George II. 549 Gerry F 475, 549 Parker, James E 525, 549 John 32 (2), 37 Phineas A 549 Parkhurst, Abigail 100 Joseph 84 Mary 84 (2) Parris or Parrish, Ariel .... 213 family, massacre of . . .58 Hannah 58 Robert 58 Partridge, Richard 138 Passaconnaway, 27 — 36; character, 42—45, 91 Patch, Timothy 319 Patten, Cochrane 215 Cofran 296 Matthew 199 Robert 319 Patterson, Robert .... 553, 560 Paugus, 52 (2), 60, 65, 66(3), 67(4); note 67, 73 (2) Paul, Rev. Thomas . . . 434, 435 Payne, Faybian 548 Victor W 548 Peabody, Capt. David . . 151 (2), 154, 205 (2), 206 (2), 210 (2), 215, 234, 263, 267,296,298,319 David 319 Fred 446 Peacock, Rev. John 438 Pease, Rev. Uartlett . . . 439, 441, 461, 4G2 John 98 Nelson H 524, 549 William 295 Peavey, Walter A 516 Penn, William 43 Pemberton, James . 209, 231, 234, 254,255,260,261,263, 267, 294, 313, 319 Perham, Dorothy . . 84, 170, 175 George A 549 James, 95(2), 148, 185, 186 Jonathan . . .22, 95 (2) Joseph . . 84, 95 (2), 188 HISTORY OF HUDSON Perkins, Basil N 549 Jared 563 Rev. John . . 435, 445 (2) Mark 388 Mary 388 Sumner N. . . . 524, 549 Perry, Ebenezer . . 231, 234, 253, 263, 267 Rev. Lewis E. . . . 433 (2) Obediah 56 Thomas 267 Jonathan 246 Peters, John 296 Peterson, Gustave 549 Phalen, Frank 549 Phillips, James A. . . 110,521, 549 John H 289 Pickering, John 562 (2) Pierce, Benjamin . . 373, 562 (2), 563 (2) Daniel 267, 319 David 108 Esther 231 Col. Franklin . . 285, 292 James . . 303, 360, 425, 426 (2), 554, 556 (2), 560 John P 556 Joseph . H8 Joshua . 216, 223, 234, 296, 302, 303 (3), 316, 516 Susanna 583 Pike, Austin F. 563 Rev. S. D. 432 Pillsbury, Frederick C. . . . .456 Rev. Stephen . 438, 439 Plummer, William .... 562 (7) Poff, Peter 543 Pollard, Abel 223 Abigail 440 Amos . . . 119,229, 231, 258, 267 Asa 295 Barbara 118 Benjamin 118 Pollard, Calvin 556(3) Dorcas 119 Eben 455 (2) Ebenezer . . 119, 231, 234, 239, 253, 268, 295, 318 Ebenezer, Jr 295 Edward 118 Elizabeth 118 James 119 John . 118, 119, 216, 217, 227, 228(2), 231, 234, 238, 242, 253, 260, 268, 294, 318, 401, 461 John, Jr.,231, 234, 288, 242. 261, 263, 268, 295, 401 Joseph . . . 118,131, 132, 136, 161, 162, 232, 234, 238, 263, 481, 492, 554 Joseph F. 543 Mary 119 Luther . . .86, 556, 560 Mrs. Luther 275 Martha 520, 521 Mary 118 Mehitable .... 455 (3) Molly 119 Nathaniel 118 Oliver . . . 118, 492, 556 Rachel ... 119 (2), 315 Raymond J. 549 Samuel . . 119, 166, 232, 235, 242, 246, 258, 268, 313, 315, 318 Sarah 118 (2) Susanna 434 Thomas . . 95,96,118(2); children, 118; 128, 260, 261, 268, 294, 484 Thomas, Jr. . 118, 119(4); children of, 119, 122; 132, 143, 162, 196 (2), 318 Thomas, 3d 119 Timothy . . 119, 232, 235, 238, 255, 268, 319 PERSONAL INDEX 637 Pollard, Walter 118 Warren 556 William 118(3) Poole, Sarah. (See Sarah Marsh) 302 Porter, Daniel 154 David 235 Potter, Chandler E., extract from history 60 Frederick E 565 Col. Joseph H 285 Powell, John W. 543 Pratt, Dr. Apollos 532 Sally (Wason) .... 532 Prescott, Lucien W 456 Benjamin F. . . 564 (2) Proctor, Daniel Ill (2) James 96 Jonas 96 Rachel 110, 111 Susan 381 Pudvah, Charles J. 549 Putnam, Rev. George I., 440(2), 441 Isaac 271 John P 544 Moses A. 544 Ramsdell, George A 564 Rand, Ebenezer 318 Rasle, Rev. Sebastian, S. J., 49—51; author Abnaki dictionary, note 50 Ratte, Cyril 549 Peter T 549 Rawson, Edward 37 Reed, Abijah . . 232, 253, 255, 256 (2), 258, 263, 268, 319 Elijah R. . . . 110 (3), 549 George D. 549 Col. James 257 (2) Rice, E. A 445 Rich, Forrest A. 549 Walter G. 549 Richards, Rev. Austin .... 432 Richardson, Caleb . . . .553,556 Ebenezer .... 297 Henry . . . 232, 234 Hugh .... 95, 143 Rev. Isaac . . .183 Lydia 434 Phebe 106 Capt. Robert . 95, 129 Samuel . . . 217, 297 Thomas . . 61, 68, 143 Timothy ... 61, 68 William 197 Rev. Zebediah . . 127 Zebediah .... 388 Richey, James 154 Rideout, Abigail 389 John 175 Judith 389 Nathaniel 389 Roland . . 389 (2), 390 (3) Susanna 389 Ripley, Alfred C 290, 544 Hubert G. 460 Rivers, Eugene 549 Robarge, Joseph E 549 Robbins, Lt. Jonathan, 57, 61, 66, 68 Roberts, Hiram R. 564 Robinson, Alphonso . . 290, 298, 544, 549, 582 (2) Amos 319 Andrew . . . 235, 319 Angelah 582 Anna Davidson . . 582 Charles A 279 Clarence Luther . . 583 Daniel 582 Daniel W 419 David . . 223, 434, 556, 582 (2) David, Jr 582 Douglas 154 Frank P. . . . 544, 549 George W 549 Hannah ... 434, 582 1538 HISTORY OF HUDSON Robinson, 1 1 at tie Louisa . . . 583 Henry C. . 544, 549,582 Hiram 590 Isaac 582 (2) John, 154, 234, 255, 256, 268 (2), 297, 319, 484 John A. . 298, 329, 549, 557 (4), 561 John Abner . . 581, 582 (2), 583 John Anderson, 582 (2), 588 John B 544 Josephine E. . . . 590 Lester W 549 Louisa 582 Lucius F. . . . 270, 544 Martha .... 175, 434 Noah, 222, 223,434,553, 555, 556 (5), 560, 582 Noah 556 Rev. Otis ... 238 (3) Patty 582 Peter . . . 154, 296, 299 Peter, Jr. . . . 154,215, 234- 319 Rebecca 434 Sarah Jane .... 582 Simeon . . 151 (4), 153, 154 (2), 234, 296, 298, 299, 319, 378, 495 544 (2), 582 (4) Susan 582 Roby, James 319 Rogers, Frank P 549 Hannah, 100 (2), 101(4), 102 Harry E. 549 Mary 101 Capt. Robert .... 226 Thomas, Jr. . . . 100, 101 (4), 102 Roleau 549 Rolfe, Ezra 175 Rolland, Fred 549 Rollins, Frank W. 565 Roswell, Sir Henry 137 Rounsevelle, John 549 Rousseau, Joseph 410 Rowell, Joseph 434 Rowls 91 Runnawit 91 Russell, Charles A. 283 Ryan, James 406, 544 Samoset, his greeting 46 Sanborn, Edwin H. 524 Sanders, Abi A 448, 524 Abram 549 Anna E. 584 George O, . 364, 385, 496, 504,521,525,526,527(5) James A. . . . 126, 310, 504, 523 John M 404 Linda P. 527 Sanford, Hamlin B 544 John 544 Wilmot P 544 Sargent, Abel 268 Benjamin 102 Dana . . . 517, 519, 544, 553, 559, 560 Edward 102 Frank W. 549 Nathaniel 549 Polly 434 Reuben . . 215, 297, 555 William F 544 Saunders, William ...... 473 Savage, Maj. George I). . . . 285 Sawyer, Charles H 564 Elizabeth 579 Enoch 579 Sarah (Little) .... 579 Thomas E 568 (8) Scott, Ceorge A 459 Gen. Winfield 292 Scribner, Rev. Matthew . . 213 (2) PERSONAL INDEX 639 Searles, Jacob 234 Elnathan . . 217, 268, 294, 314, 319 Jonathan . . 232,234,237, 301,314(2), 319 Thankful 314 Thomas . . 232, 234, 268, 296, 314 (2) Seavey, Andrew . 232,234, 239, 254, 268,294,310,318,555 Mrs. David 275 Jane 318 John 256, 268 Nathaniel .... 234, 318 Rufus 271 Senter, Almon S. 290 Charles 569 Charles D 544 Eliphalet .... 544, 549 George E 289 Harriet (Greeley) . . .569 Mrs. Jean 418 John L 544 Lt. Joseph 199 Simon A 544 Sophia J 569 Thomas, 214(2), 219, 256(2), 268,297,417,433.434(2), 443 (2), 555, 562 Thomas, Jr. . . . 215, 494 Thomas M. . . . 289, 307, 319, 363 Severance, Caleb . . 234, 256, 260, 261, 268 Joseph . . . • . . .268 Joshua . . 256, 263, 268 Samuel . . . 121, 122 Sarah .... 173, 579 Shattuck, John 549 Shaw, Frank 549 James H 293, 544 Shea, John 544 Sheafe, Jacob 562 (2) Shedd, Albert 364 & Co. . . . • • 519 Sheldon, David P 549 Shepard, Charles A. . . . 525, 549 Rev. Thomas .... 83 Sherburne, James 295 Sherman, Mrs. M. A 504 Shores, Fred E 549 Shute, Samuel, appointed governor, 48 ; last official act, 49 (2), 89 Simmons, Martha P. 467 Simonds, Daniel . .162, 180, 490 Joseph 90 Martha 180 Simpson, Alfred L 549 Edward G 549 Fred S 549 Samuel 544 Samuel R 544 Sinclair, Henry 549 John G 564 (3) Skinner, Rev. Thomas .... 183 Sleeper, Justin M 557 Sanborn 513 Small, George E. . . . 520,525 (2) Smith, Abraham 295 A Ivan . .461,462,536,544, 556 (5) Andrew J. . . . . 288, 544 Arthur 249 Arthur W 549 Charles Stowell . 298. 549 Daniel, 154, 314 (2), 490, 544 Daniel Butler . . 314, 544 David Onslow . . 290, 326, 327, 328 (2), 440, 442, 444 (3), 461, 534, 536 (3), 537, 538 (2), 544, 559 Deering Greeley . . . 539 Dustin B. . . 280, 306, 314 418, 419, 490, 544 Edgar 523 Edgar 1 544 Edmund 536 6'40 HISTORY OF HUDSON Smith, Edward 268 Elmer F 549 Fred E 314, 549 Frederick E. . . . 289, 544 George A 544 George L, 549 Hannah . . 76, 77, 306, 442 Henry 544 Henry, Jr 418 Henry F. . . 306,544,549 Henry Onslow, 327, 424, 462 536, 538 (2), 549 Henry P 280 Dr. Herbert Llewellyn, 536, 537 (2, 538 (2) Herbert N 549 Hiland 549 Hugh . . 150, 151, 205 (2), 206 (2), 215, 223, 232, 234, 258, 296, 491 (3) Hugh, Jr. ... . 214, 296 Irwin A. 549 Isaac N. 549 (2) James . 172, 215, 223, 295, 298, 494 (2), 549 James, 2d 419 (2) James G. 288 Jeannette :^)6 Jefferson . . 179, 223, 306, . . 418 (2), 419, 461 Jeremiah, 176, 223,298, 414, 415, 418, 553, 555 (2), 556 (2), 562 (4), 563 John, 150, 154, 215, 232,234, 271, 283, 295, 319, 491 John, Jr. 214,295 John B 306, 564 John C 290,544 John H 416 Kimball 419, 544 Llewellyn De Wolfe . . 538 Lydia 416 Mansfield . . 214, 295, 306 MarcellH.,442,443(3), 549 Smith, Marion Louisa .... 538 Martha Robinson . . . 536 Mary H. (Greeley), 537, 538 Minnie Eugenie .... 536 Nelson 549 N orris 280, 544 Obadiah F. . . . 290, 544 Osman W. 549 Page, 22, 179, 211 (2), 212. 214,217,221,232,234, 242, 254, 261. 268, 297, 306, 318, 319, 410, 555 (4) Parker 426 Patty 536 Perley B 549 Reuben P. 544 Samuel, 215, 232, 234, 237, 242, 254, 306 (2), 319, (2), 490, 491, 544 Samuel, Jr, 232, 234, 258, 260, 268, 295, 306 Samuel, 2d 544 Samuel G 295 Sarah 304 Sherman W 549 Theodora Lottchen . . 538 Thomas, 151 (2), 210(2), 215, 232, 234, 244, 295, 319, 491 (2) Thomas, 2d 418 Timothy . 179 (2), 211, 212, 232, 234, 239. 242, 244, 246 (2), 247, 260, 261 (3), 268, 295, 308 (2), 319, 374, 375, 553 (2), 555 (3), 559 Warren 289 William 296, 308 William H 544 W. W 456 Smyth, Frederick .... 563, 564 Snow, Benjamin . . . 197, 227, 400 PERSONAL INDEX 641 Snow, Bridget . . 127 (3), 180 (2) Elizabeth 126 Henry . . 127, 163, 180 (2), 490 (2), 554 John 126.127,551 Ens. John . . 94, 95 (2), 96, 126; children of, 126,127 (3); 128 (2), 142, 163 (2), 180 (2), 183, 184, 186,399, 413(2) Jonathan 551 (2) Joseph . . 126, 127, 551 (2) J.t. Joseph, 94, 95, 97, 127 (2), (children), 127, 128 (2), 143, 162, 166, 180(2), 188, 530, 558 Mary 126 Rebecca 127 Royal G 549 Sarah 127 Spalding, Benjamin 544 Charles L. . . 549,584(2, Charles T. . . . 455 (2) Charles W. . 86 (2), 302, 405, 474(2), 475, 487, 489, 500 (2), 516, 520, 544, 549, 557 (4), 561 Ebenezer . . 95,96, 112; children, 112; sketch, 112, 113; deed, 115, 116: 128,149,163,173. 147, 583 Edward . . 22 (2), 95 (2), 96, 97, 112; married, 112; children, 112, 113; 116, 128, 195, 196, 412, 485, 549 Edward, Jr. . . . 112(2) Edward A. . . 557, 561, 584 (2) Elizabeth . . . .112 (2) Emily 583 Emily M 584 Esther 112 Spalding, Ezekiel 188 George 584 George E. 583 Harold M 584 Helen C 584 Jacob F. . 364, 544,553 John L 130 Levi . . . 112, 198, 257 Lot 295 Lucy 112 Mary 163 Mary M 516 Ned 584 Phineas . 95 (2), 96, 143 Reuben . . 232, 234, 248, 253, 268, 296, 302 (2), 312, 319, 374, 544, 559, 583 (3) Reuben, Jr. . . 296, 302 (2), 557 (2) Reuben, 2d .... 583 Reuben, 3d .... 583 Reuben, 4th ... . 583 Reuben, 5th ... . 584 Reuben Leander, 583, 584 Robert Laton . . .584 Sarah 112 Sarah E 584 Sarah Maria . . 584 (2) Susan 474 (2) Warren 364 Williard . . 446, 493, 516 Zaccheus . . 95, 163, 185 Spear, Rev. Charles C, 442(2), 443 Thompson 544 Spooney, Edward 71 Sprague, benjamin F 461 Oliver 271 Sprake, Captain 223 Jonathan 544 Oliver 303, 544 Springer, Sanford S 525 Squandon 52 Stark, George 563 (2) Gen. John . 257, 259 (4), 260 642 HISTORY OF HUDSON Starkweather, Rev. Mr. . . .429 Stearns, Ephraim 544 Ezra S., researches . . 55 Onslow 564 (2) William 550 Steele, Allen 281 Charles . . 290, 544 557 (2) Charles A. . . 550, 557 (2) Fred G. . . . 124 (2), 550 Frederick . . 519, 544, 550 George S. . . 124 (2). 550, 557 (2) John 563 (2) Joseph . . 151 (2), 154, 215, 223, 234, 295, 298, 319 Samuel 271 Silas T. . . 124 (2), 376, 550 S. Alphonso 544 Thomas 90 William . 151,154,215,234 295, 298, 319 Stetson, Rev. Henry 441 Stevens, Aaron F. 276 Augustus G 565 Ebenezer 142 Eleazer 141 Enos 563 (3) George A. 550 Reuben . . . .149, 173 Sarah 126 Stephen .... 147, 149 Stewart, Albert A 550 Robert . 205, 206 (2), 214, 232, 234, 237, 294, 310, 318 Robert S. 544 Stickney, Abigail 310 Thomas 260 Stoddard, Rev. Sampson . 183 (4) Charles F 565 Rev. Isaiah .... 435 Rev. Joseph . . 439, 440 (3), 660 Straw, Ezekiel A 564 (2) Strickland, Rev. John, 200 (2), 208, 210, 214. 428 Sullivan, John . . . .544,562(2) John D 525 Patrick H 504 Swan, Mercy 99 Swett, Rev. C. U 442 Symmes, Capt. John 27 Rev. William ... 63, 67 Talbot, Rev. William K. . 429, 430 (3), 442 (2) Tallant, Abiather 256 John 217, 492 Tappan, Mason W 276 Tarbell, David . 22, 232, 234, 239, 296, 300 (2), 319. 491, 492 Tarbox, Aaron 215, 297 Betsey 573 Ebenezer . . 148, 151 (3), 154, 234, 319 Henry . 148, 154, 234, 248, 271, 319, 577 John 388 Mehitable 297 Sarah 297, 577 Susannah 582 Tardy, John 550 Tash, Capt. Thomas 229 Taylor, riarnabas 434 Charles W 546 Ebenezer 162 Emma M 521 Henry 281 John . 86 (3); children, 86, 94, 95, 97, 110, 116 (2), 128,163,188,194,302(3), 379, 520, 550 Joseph 227 Mehitable 434 Reuben 544 Thomas 227 William . . 161, 162, 181, 192, 234, 379, 487 William H. . . . 544, 550 PERSONAL INDEX 643 Temple, Christopher 65 Templeton, Ira 290, 544 Tenney, Dr. Daniel, 532,533(2), 534 Edward 319 Franklin 532 James . 158, 223, 532, 566 Jonathan .... 294, 318 Kimball 532 Noyes, 419, 532, 555(2), 556 Dr. Paul . . 222, 297, 305, 318, 532(2), 533 (3), 535 Sarah 533 (2) Silas 532 Tetley, Edward B 565 (2) Mehitable 434 Tetro, Francis 285 Thomas, Mrs. Eliza A 474 Job F 281, 461 Pearl T. . . 75, 130, 131, 194, 550 Tyler . . 303, 474 (2), 475 (2), 544 William Henry ... 281 Wellington II. . . .544 Thompson, Benjamin . . 162, 227 Charles 237 Dorothy (Blodgett), 175 Eben . . . 153, 473 (3) Fred H 550 George F 550 John M., 300, 385, 441, 442, 443 (2), 544, 556, 557 (6), 561 (2) J. R 473 Martin V. B. . . . 544 Matthew 372 Thome, Albert 550 Arthur 550 Charles 550 Thorning, James C 544 Mrs. James C. . . . 519 Thurston, Dorcas 81 Tinker, John 35, 37 Mrs. Rebekah . . 450 (2) Titcomb, Albert 52 Simeon 587 Toby, I.ovewell's pilot .... 00 Todd, Andrew 203 Capt. James 228 Tolles, Emily F 474, 475 Lucien M., 109, 302, 454 (3), 474 (2), 475, 477, 518, 544, 550, 557 (5), 560 Tolman, Rev. Samuel H., . . 430, 444(2) Tomlinson, Capt. John . . 138,140 Torrey, Joseph A 523 Torry, William 32 Towle, Capt. Joseph 271 William H. 544 Towne, Capt. Archelaus . . 257(2) Towns, Foster 554 Hannah 434 Joseph W. 544 Trevette, Capt. James .... 271 Trimble, John 473 Trow, Arthur A 550 George W. . . 544, 557 (2) Richard 544 Wallace G 550 Trufant, Albert 550 John M 550 Trull, Christopher B 550 Turner, John 364, 544 Tuttle, Eben 277 Hiram A 564 Twiss, Daniel L. 550 George W 550 Howard 550 Walter 550 Tyler, Francis O. . . 457, 470, 550 Moses 402 Tyng, Benjamin . 143, 162, 181 (2) Dudley 295 Col. Eleazer . 71 (2), 72 (4), 73, 108 (2), 181 Col. John 295 Capt. Jonathan . 18, 40, 42 (3), 124, 130, 181 Capt. William .... 137 644 HISTORY OF HUDSON Underwood, Aquilla . . .129 (2) John W. . . 446, 454 Mrs. John W. . . 454 Phineas, 121, 293, 294, 312,401,553,555(2) Sarah 84 Unanunquosett 36, 37 Upton, Charles R. . . 443, 470, 550 Rev. John 439 Timothy 563 Usher, Robert ... 57, 61, 68, 73 Vantine, Charles 550 Varnum, John 203 Joseph 145 Mary 105, 106 Thomas 145 Vaughan, George, Lt. Governor, 48(3) Vaughn, Henry E 550 Vinton, Hannah 100, 110 Vose, George H 550 Wahhangnowit 91 Wahawah (Wawa) .... 63. 65 Waite, John 78 (2), 107 Walch, Clarence E 523 Frank A 588 Waldron, Isaac 22S Maj. Richard . . 39, 40 Walker, Alexander 90 E. Drusilla 482 Gerry 525, 550 Henry E 550 James 96 James G. . 449, 521, 550, 554, 557 John . 232, 235, 238, 254, 256, 268 Joseph 96 Laurentio E 550 Robert 96 (2) Samuel 309 Samuel M. . . . 288, 290 Timothy 562 William, (Capt.) ... 288 Walker, William 1 277, 282 Wallace, Joseph W 289 Walton, Addie M 591 George 141, 142 James D. 544 Orrin P 592 Samuel 364 Waldo P. . . . 520, 544 554, 560, 566 Warner, Priscilla 99, 124 Samuel 99 Warren, Adams F 544 Cyrus . 363 (2), 419, 420, 445, 446, 454, 513 (3), 514 (2) William . 363 (2), 514 (2), 519 (2), 560 Watkins, Abner 318 Watts, Hugh 279, 545 William H 550 Wason, Charlotte A 454 Hannah 182, 532 Harriet P. . . 454. 455 (2) James . . 143, 162, 181 (2), 182 (2), 190, 193, 203, 204 (2), 230, 232, 235, 239, 294, 309 (2), 318, 554 Margaret 532 Moses . . 214, 294 (2), 309 Sally 532 Samuel, 181, 206, 215, 220, 232, 235, 237, 240—243, 245, 246, 254, 261, 268, 308, 309, 319, 532, 555 Lt. Thomas . . . 318, 336 Thomas B. . 158, 206, 215, 223, 229, 232, 235, 237, 254, 268, 294, 309, 311, 336, 414, 415, 493 (2), 553, 555, 556 (6), 560 Weare, Mesech . . . 237, 259, 561 Robert 90 Webb, John (known as John Ev- ered) 35, 37 (3) PERSONAL INDEX 645 Webber, George K. 550 Webster, Mrs. Abiah . . .474 (2), 475, 588 Adele G 590 Abigail 585 Abigail, 2d 585 Asa, 2d 586 Benjamin 586 Betsey 586 Rev. Brinton M. . . 435, 443, 590 Ebenezer .... 585 (3) Eleazer C. 587 Elizabeth 585 Elizabeth Bradford . 580, 587 Ella Frances .... 588 George Walton . . . 592 Hannah 585 (4) Hannah (Ayer) . . . 585 Hannah (Cummings),587, 590, 591 Ida S. 591 Israel 585 Jesse S. . . 407,410,550, 557 (4), 561 John . . 545,585 (5), 586 (2), 587, 590, 591 John (the immigrant), 545, 585 John 585 (3) John, J r .... 585,586 John (3d) .... 586 (2) John (4th) .... 586(2) John (5th) 587(4), 590, 591 John C. . . 554, 591 (2) Josephine 591 Julia A 581, 588 Kimball . 75, 82 ; home- stead, 102, 105; 290, 301, 326, 328 (4), 397, 404, 407 (3), 410, 424, 448, 449, 462, 464, 465 (3), 468 (2), 470 (2), 471. 474 (2). 475(2), 503, 520, 545, 550, 553, 557 (4), 561, 581, 584, 587 (2) Webster, Latina Ray .... 588 Lizzie Jane .... 424, 474, 588 Lucy Ann 587 Louisa U 587 Mary 585 (2) Mary (2d) 585 Mary (3d) 585 Mary Cook .... 585 Mary N. .... 464 (2) Mary (Shatswell) . 585 (3) Mary Sophia .... 570 Melville Trevett . . 592 Milton E 587 Minnie Louisa . . . 572 Moses, . . 685 ; second, 586 ; third, 587 Moses R. 590 Nancy 586 Nathan . .585; second, 585 Nathan P. . . . 503, 520, 522 (2), 523, 545, 561, 566 (2), 570 (2), 571, 587, 590 (2), 592 Orrin P 587 Rebecca . ,586 (2); sec- ond 586 Sally Hale 587 Samuel 585 Sarah 586 Simon 585 Sophia 591 Stephen . . 585 (2); sec- ond, 585(2); third, 585 Susan 590 Willard H. . . 290, 520, 566,567,587,591(5), 592 (2) William 585 Weetamoo 36 Welch, Henry N. 550 Weld, Rev. Thomas 56 Wellman, James 446 646 HISTORY OF HUDSON Wells, Edmund J 550 George F. ...... 456 John 232, 235 John S 563 (2) Wentworth, Benning . . 147, 149, 160, 161 Rev. Daniel I.., 442(2) James G 242 John . 48, 49, 156, 305, 329, 365, 550, 567 Joseph 564 Nathaniel . 179,327, 329, 407, 471, 545, 550, 553, 561 Westbrook, Colonel 50 Wescott, Rev. Isaac 438 Weston, James A 564 (4) William S. 557 Wheeler, Mrs. Albee A. . . 474 (2) Abigail 77 David 77 Dorcas 336 Josiah K. . 110 (8), 168, 173; heirs, 307,474(2), 475 (2), 495, 496, 519(2), 545, 550, 553, 554, 556, 557 (3), 560 Paul J 563 Sarah 77 Wheelock, Rev. Mr. . . . 429, 430 Wheelwright, Rev. John ... 90 White, Charles . . .521 (2), 550 Jeremiah 388 Capt. John 72 John H 563 Nathaniel 564 Whiting, Benjamin 372 Samuel .... 113, 132 Samuel, Jr. . . 57, 61, 63, 68,80 Whitney, Isaac 71 Samuel 57 Zachariah 71 Whipple, Col. Thomas J. . . . 278 Gen. William, 259(2), 262 Whittemore, Benjamin . . 189 (3) r 192—195, 232, 235, 246, 256, 268, 3S1. 382, 384(2), 414, 415, 487 Benjamin, Jr. . . 232 Whittle, John 319 Ruth 174 Sarah 102 Wicomb, Seth 248 Wiggin, A. C 545 Wilder, Betsey Stanley (Shaw), 580 Lizzie S. 580 Wildes, Frank H. 550 Wilkins, Cyrus 271 William H 565 Wilks, Francis 138 Willard, Peter E 545 Williams, Elisha 435 Jared W 563 (3) Roger 43 Willoughby, Benjamin E., 299, 550 Edwin 545 Ethan . . 364,411(2) 420 (2), 445, 514 (2), 553, 559 Harvey M. . . . 550 Mark . 364, 419, 514 (2), 545 Wilshire, Frank 550 Wilson, Mrs. Clarissa .... 454 Franklin .... 454, 545 George 268 George H 545 Hiram 550 James 556 James, Jr 563 (2) James F. . . 186, 206 (2), 311,446,545,550,557(7) John 295 Joseph . 206 (3), 222, 232, 235 Joseph B. . 214, 220, 223, 294, 313, 318, 362 (2) PERSONAL INDEX 647 Winn, Abathar 254 Ahbie E 584 Abiatha . . . 120, 121, 232, 235, 238, 242, 268,411, 445, 513 Amos 545, 584 Benjamin . . . 121, 196 (2) Electa S 584 Elizabeth 121 (2) Elmer C. . 120 (3), 312, 550 Frank A 550 Frank M., 181, 519, 550 (2) Rev. Fred E 433 George H. 513 Harriet 513 Capt. Isaac . 179, 362, 519 Ira E 545 James 254 John 545 Judith 232 Joseph . 95 (2), 96, 97, 119, 120 (5), 121, 128, 143, 162, 190, 196(2), 239,258,260, 261 (2), 268, 294 (2), 312 (3), 318, 362, 374, 437, 455, 481. 484, 485, 487, 545, 554, 551 Joseph, Jr. . .119, 120(3); childien, 121, 122; 143(2), 162, 186, 195, 196, 220, 223, 232, 234, 239, 242, 294, 312, 4S7 Joseph (3d) 120 Joseph (4th) 120 J oseph Gardner, 281. 455 (2) J. Sylvanus 545 Josephine 522 Josiah . . 95, 96, 119, 120 Katherine 121 Leon E 550 Lucy M 433 Margaret 455 Martha (Blodgett), 119, 120 Mary 513 Winn, Mary A 522 (3) Micajah 121, 230 Nathan 121, 295 Nehemiah . . 254, 256, 268 Paul Tenney . 120, 312, 545 Persis A 581 Persis G. 581 Reuben 434 Rufus E. . . . 518 (2), 545, 550 (2) Susanna 121 Susanna B 513 Sylvanus 127 Willard 290 William 581 William F. . 433, 522. 545, 550, 557 (6), 561 Winslow. Sarah, heirs .... 295 Wise, Sarah 77 Wonnalancet, 27, 28 ; captive, 29(2), influence over his father, 33 ; sacrifice, 35; derivation of name, 36; succeeds father, 36; petition of, 36, 37 (4), 38 (3); commission of, 38,39; conduct, 39 — 41 ; last days, — 42; character, 42 — 45; treatment of 47 Wood, Charles . . 298 (2), 390 (2), 545 Ebenezer . . 175, 215, 434 Ella F. 390 Emma E 390 Dr. George 294 George H 550 George W 545 George S 364, 545 Lewis 390 Polly 434 William 456 William G 498 Woodard, John 163 Woodbury, Abram . . 451,452 (3), 453, 454 648 HISTORY OF HUDSON Woodbury, Fred E 550 Levi 562 Mary J 454 Woods, David 73 Jonathan 72 Nathaniel 60, 71 Thomas 61, 63 Woodward, Charles M. . 523, 550 George P. . 525(2), 557 Lilla J 481 Quincy A 503 Worcester, Asa 231 Franklin P. . . . 565 J. R. & Co. . . 409,410 Moses 517 Moses A 517 Samuel T 365 & Son 517 Worm, Ann 80, 81 Worthen, Judith 177 Worthing, A. H. 456 Wright, Ebenezer .... 95, 129 Wright, Joseph .... 96 (2), 143 Sarah 100 Winkel 199 Wryn, John 545 Wyles, William W. 545 Wyman, Amos 297 Asa 294 Charles A 278 Daniel . . . 232, 237, 268 Rev. Ebenezer . . .183 Elbridge ...... 545 Ezra 268 Fred 1) 550 Jerusha 434 Leonard 223 Phebe 309 Seth . 61, 63, 65 (3), 66— 68, 69 (2), 199, 215, 232, 235, 237, 241, 295, 298, 319, 485, 490 Seth, Jr 295, 29S Thomas 235