.^^ "^^ •^A V s ^^ % ^^ ,xV A-^^'"^/. ,0 - .^^ ''t. "f,. v-^' •■*>• V',. .^^ -0" ^^. y- o <> -Ci, HISTORY OP CHESHIEE^^'SULLIVAS COUNTIES. J NEW HAMPSHIRE. EDITED BY D." HAMILTON HURD. ^7- . 2. 1.70 /•? PHILADELPHIA: J. W. LEWIS c^- CO. 1886. C5 H Q Col'YKKJHT, ISMi, UY J. \V . I.F.WIS tt TO. -IAS. It. ItoiHiKltS I'UlNTlNi; iUMI'ANV. nill.ADKI.I'in V. PREFACE. Lv presenting this work to the public, tlie [)ul)lisliers claim tliat tlu'V have at least endeavored to laithfuUy {"ulfill their j)romise.s. The most competent persons have been employed in the preparation ol' the woi'k, and it is sincerely hoped that readers in the various towns of the counties will lind the narratives [)f their special localities interesting and instructive. The work has been com- piled from anthenticated and original sources. The preparation of the " History of (Jheshire and Sullivan Counties" upon tiie within elaborate plan imposed u[)on both editors and publishers a task of no small magnitude, and one wdiich they have keenly felt. They submit the work to the [lublic ti'usting that their just expectations may be lully rt'alized. The PiBLLsnERS. CONTENTS CHESHIRE OOUKTY. OHAPTEIl I. GENERAL HISTOllV IT. IlENCII AND BAR III. I.VTKKXAI. IJII'IIOVEJIEKTS. PAOE 1 TOWN HISTUEIES. P.\GE 114 123 180 jni) ALSTEAD I'HESTERFlET.Ii DUBLIN KITZWII.I.IAM . . (ilLSUM IIAURISVILLE 210 HINSDALE 357 JAFFRKY 220 KEEXE 24 MARLIiORiHCII 231 iMARLOW :il4 XELSON 3IS P.VGE RICHMOND 322 EINDGE 332 ROXBURV 329 STODDARD 331 SULLIVAN 340 SURRY 342 TROY 340 SWANZEY 37.'-, WALPOLE 408 WESTJIORELAND 457 WINCHESTER 54) SULLIVAI^ COUNTY CHAPTER I. UEXERAL III.STORY . H. BENCH AND BAR . . TOWN HISTORIES. PAGE ACWORTII 10 CHARLESTO'WN 23 CLAREMONT 40 CORNISH 141 CROYDON 150 GOSHEN 108 GRANTHAM 170 LAXGDON. ISl PAGE LEMrSTER 1S5 NEWPORT 200 PLAINFIELD 310 SPRINGFIELD 317 SUNAPEE 330 UNITY ■ :ig4 WASHINGTilN 391 APPENDIX 400 BIOGRAPHICAL. CHESHIRE COUNTY PA (IE Appl'-lnn, .Ii'shk* K 191 Hull, Diivi.l 582 Boycleii, Elijah 302 Buyden, Freileric 3G8 Briggs, Oliver L 5ii'2 Biiffuiii, Ciileb T lOG Bilffuiil, Iliiskell 518 Biirt, Chailos W lii Burt, Lieiiteuant-Culuncl William 11 15 Carpenter, Aigeriiuii S , 112 CIianiliL-rhiin Paniily 513 Cole, Theodorp 520 Dickinson, Ansel •. 584 Elliot Family 104 Esty, Henry 524 Faulkuer, ITon. F. A 13 Faulkner, Francis A 12 French, Ahijah 51G Frost, Itufus S ' 300 Fuller, John H lOS Graves, Josiah O 454 Greenwood, ColoitL-l W. H 304 Gustiue, EdwanI 113 PAGE Haile, AVilliani 367 Hale, Ex-Govcrnor Sjinun,-! W 107 Harris, Gordis D lOD Hemenway, Luther 30G Holbrook, Daniel H no Holbrook, J. J m Horton, Edgar K 530 Horton, Egbert C 530 Knowlton, Janu-s 311 Lane, F. F n Leonard, Levi V,'. C 193 McCollester, Rev. .*^. H 295 Patten, Daniel W 528 Robertson, George 371 Stearns, John 374 Thompson, Albeit 525 Turner, Family 553 Twitchell, Dr. Anio.s 113 White, Shiibael 527 Whitney, Charles 308 Wilkinson, Solon S 313 W'inch, Nathan 310 SULLIVAN COUNTY. I'AGE Aitains, Daniel N 356 Uakor, Edward D 15 Balconi, George L 131 llurton, L. W 3U2 Clark, William 132 ' Colby,Iiu 13 I Dunbar, George W 165 man, Charles U 134 Farwell, George N 130 [ Fisher, Leonard 1* , 13'J Freeman, P. C 14 I Goss, Benjamin F 177 Goodhue, David P 3U2 Graves, L. J 137 PAfiE Hall, Rufus 178 Hatch, Mason 298 Howard, Rev. Lewis 359 McDauiel, Charle.s 353 Parker, H. W 9 Paris, Sherman, residence of. 33 Quimby, Samuel 35^ Richards, Josiah 138 Runals Family (the) , 3^2 Sanborn, Thomas 300 Smith, Alvah , 194 Swett, John L 297 ToUes, Nathaniel 135 Wait, Albert S ic. ix - ^ S 9^^ =5 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. CHAPTER I. (lENERAL HISTORY. BY WIIXARD BILL. Geographical — Topographical — Geological — Botanical — V Manufactures— Courts and County Buildings — County ' Officers— Aboriginal Occupancy— Population from 1867 to 1880. Geogr.vphicai.. — The proviuce of New Hanipshire was divided into five counties in 1771. One of tiiese was named Cheshire, deriving its name from a county in the west of England, cele- brated for its manufacture of cheese; hence, the name originally. Kcene and Charlestown were made the shire-towns. July 5, 1827, the county was divided, the northern portion taking the name of Sidlivan County. This division left Cheshire County with its present limits, situate in the southwestern part of the State, bounded on the north by Sullivan County, east l)y ITillsl)orougli County, south by the Sttite of Massachusetts, and west by the west bank of the Connecticut River. It extends, lis greatest length thirty-one miles north and south, and twenty-six miles in extreme width east and west. It contains twenty-three towns, eight of which were incorporated in the reign of George II., — namely, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Keene, Richmond, Swanzey, Walpole, Westmoreland and Winchester, — ten in the reign of George III., — namely, Alstcad, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, 1 Gilsum, Jafifrey, Marlow, Nelson, Rindge, Surry, Stoddard, — and five under the govern- ment of New Hampshire, — namely, Harris- villc, Marlborough, Roxbury, Sullivan and Troy. TOPOGEAPHICAI.. — The surface of Cheshire County is greatly diversified. From the valley of the Connecticut on its west to the towering height of Grand iSIonadnock on the east, rising to an altitude of three thousand one hundred and eighty-six feet, is a succession of hill and valley and plain, in various places of great natural beauty. Numerous lakes and ponds feed a network of streams of greater or lesser extent. The Con- necticut River is the largest stream in botii State and county. Rising among the mountains of the extreme north of the State, it flows in a southerly direction, forming the boundary line on its west low- water bank between the States of New Hampshire and Vermont ; thence, pass- insr throuffh the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut, it empties into Long Island Sound. Its valley is noted for its productiveness. Ex- cluding the falls, the average fall of the river is about one and one-half feet to the mile. At Bellows Falls its descent is forty-nine feet, furnishing ample power for manufac'turing uses. Other streams lend beauty and utility to the surface of the county, the principal of which are the Ashuelot, Cold and branches of the 1 HISTORY OP CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Contoocook. The Asliuelot River, rising in numerous ponds in Washington, Sullivan County, flowing in a southwesterly direction througli the towns of Marlow, Gilsuni, Surry, Keene, Swanzey, Winchester and Hinsdale, where it empties into the Connecticut, is one of the most important manufacturing streams in the State. All along its course are many im- proved water-powers. It is fed by branches from ponds that have been converted by dams into reservoirs, and thercl:)y affording many water-jiowcrs of thcniselves. One of these rises in Stoddard and flows throuirh the northwest corner of Nelson, southeast corner of Sullivan and northwest corner of Roxbury to Keene, and one from Dublin through Marlborough to South Keene, where it joins the branch from Stoddard. Another stream comes from Troy, flowing through the southwest corner of Marl- borough and joins the Asliuelot in Swanzey. The Asliuelot is about forty miles in length, Area. Altitude. Spoonwood Pond, Nelson 0.25 Long Pond, Nelson and Hancock 1.2 1338 North Pond, Harrisville 0.2 1218 Geological. — When, in the beginning, this planet, earth, was hurled, revolving, into space by the power of an Almighty hand, a.seething, fiery, gaseous mass of molten elements, it gradually took form from its revolutions, and thereby consistence and compactness. In the pro- gress of centuries the surface became crusted over, holding within its l)osoni a mighty mass of molten matter, freijucntly convulsed by throes of sufficient pow(n' to elevate mountain heights and depress to ocean beds, separating, disintegrating and mi.xing the earth's crust in a manner to print in ineffaceable characters the great story of the Creation, — a creation not yet completed. In C'heshire County we find those characters frequent and prominent. Briefly — \ery briefly, for sjiace forbids otherwise — we will endeavor from its source to the Connecticut ; falls about to sketch a few of the more prominent " Foot- one thousand feet, and drains a basin of three hundred and seventy-five S(piare miles, or two hundred and forty thousand acres. The Cold River, rising in Sullivan County, flows, in a southwesterly direction, seventeen miles through Alstead and Walpole, and furnishes water-power to a limited extent. It drains a basin of sixty thousand acres nearly. The branches of the Contoocook River, in the eastern 23ortion of the county, furnish some good water-powers. The Partridge Brook, rising in Lake Spoffbrd, flows through Chester- field and Westmoreland, where it empties into the Connecticut, is a rapid stream, falling five hundred feet in its course of nearly six miles, and affording constant water-power, but only partially utilized. In a tabulated form we give the principal bodies of water in the county, with area of each ih square miles and decimals thereof, with altitude in feet above the sea, and towns where located, — Area. Warren Pond, Alstead 0.5 Spoflbrd Lake, Chesterfield 1.0 Breed Pond, Nelson 0.7 Woodward Pond, Roxbury 0.3 Swanzey Pond, Swanzey 0.2 Stacy Pond, Stoddard 0.7 Altitude. 550 738 1250 1150 prints of the Creator." From the elementary or molten period the earth ]iassed into the igneous period. We now see the unstratified rocks, of which the enduring granite is the low- est of the series and the great frame- work of the earth's crust, and by for the most abundant, rising to the greatest heights, thrown uj) by the subterranean forces. From an endless monotonous plain these forces are now operat- ing with a power beyond all human conception to transform this plain into a broken surface, from mountain peak to ocean bed. Of granite, Cheshire County contributes her full share of earning the sobriquet of the "Granite State." Her quarries of granite are unsurpassed. The coarser granites are of the oldest formation. Cotemporary with the beginning of the igneous period, the atmosphere, heavily charged with minerals in a gaseous form, condensing from the effect of the cooling cartji, was deposited, forming another coating of rock material. This was the vaporous period. So far the earth had been surrounded by an atmosphere so dense annierged at times, and is underlaid by the oldest rock formations. This ridge belongs to a chain of ridges that was the first to appear above the ocean. The dc- jnTssiou of the Connecticut Valley, that embi-aces a large portion of the county, carries with it the later rocks, and has been, and is, the source of drainage of the highlands to the northward. The eastern part of the county, comprising portions of Jaffrey, Dublin, Harrisville, Nelson and Stoddard, rests upon the edge of a large area of porphyritic gneiss. Another area of it forms the elevated and rugged portions of the towns of C'hesterfield, Swanzey, Winchester and Hinsdale, while it appears in Fitzwilliam, Jaf- frey and Marlow. A variety of gneiss known as the protogene gneiss extends from the State line, through Winchester, Richmond, Swanzey and Keene, to Surry, where it changes its form and extends to and into Sullivan County, lu Surry and Keeue the jirotogene is often found of a dee]) red color. Encircling this protogene we find hornblende, schist, and, girting this, (juartzite. A large surface area of the Jfoiital- ban schist in one tract extends from Stoddard to the State line through the towns of Rindge, Fitzwilliam, Richmond, Troy, Jaffrey, Marlbor- HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ough, Roxbury, Sullivau, Nelsou and Stoddard. These I'ocks are feldspathic and ordinary mica schist. Tlic mica is seen in large spangles, cither black or white. In Rindge a variety is found in which quartz predominates, heavily charged with iron pyrites, that decomposes when brought in contact witii the atmosphere ; tlie rock crumbles and the soil is colored reddish- yellow from tlio presence of the iron peroxide. The ]\[ontall)an rocks in Clieshire County are supposed to be of the same age with that which composes the summits of the higher "White Mountains. A band of micaceous <(uartzite, full of fibrolite, two miles wide, crosses the towns of Marlow, Alstead, Gilsum and Surry, carrying gigantic veins of granite, in whicli the mica plates are large and of commer- cial value. For many years they have been mined in Alstead for glass. The latest group of rocks so far found in the county are known as the Coos group. Its constituents are (piartz- ite, argillite and calcareous schist. A large area of Walpoie is covered by the former, and it is found in all the towns adjoining the Con- necticut River. Mount ^yantastiquet, in Hins- dale and Ciiesterfield, is composed of argillaceous and mica schist. The eruptive rocks are very sparingly represented in this county. The only eruptive rock of any extent in the valley of the Connecticut in this county is found in West- moreland and forms most of the hill southeast of the west depot. Inclosed in the Montalban schists of Fitzwilliam, Troy, Marlborough and Roxbury we find oval deposits of eruptive granite. These arc extensively quarried, and are held in high repute for building and monu- mental purposes. I'crnieating Surry Mountain are veins of quartz, bearing metalliferous depos- its. A large outlay has been exjjended in eiforts to mine it, but not, so far, with success. De- posits of infusorial silica, formed of decayed organisms, arc f()un(l of excellent quality in various places and especially so in Fitzwilliam. liog ii-on-ores of the nature of ochre occur at Chesterfield, Walpoie, .laffrcy and Surry. BoTAmcAL. — From papers prepared by ^Villiam F. Flint, B.S., of Winchester, we glean the following facts relating to the botany of Clicshii'c County. Altitude has nnich to do in the distribution of plants. A large part of the area of the county has an altitude of more than five hundred feet above the sea-level. Following the trend of the Montalban rocks, in the eastern part of the county we find vege- tation of the Canadian type. In the valley of the Connecticut and of its tributaries we find a larger number of siiecies, some characteristic of Southern New England. The county was formerly covered by a dense forest, through which the sun scarcely penetrated at inid-day. .\.long the valleys of the Connecticut and Ashuelot Rivers were forests of the finest white l)ine, the most valued of our timbers, and reserved by King George in his grants of the several townships for His Majesty's navy. His officers provoked the displeasure of the early settlers by carving their "broad arrows" on the tallest mast-trees. The higher lands were covered with heavy growths of hemlock, maples, birches, beeches and red oak, while belts >f spruce were common. The original forest presented the same haracteristics as at the present day, save the restrictions imf)0sed by the lumberman. The old pine forests are represented by thick, thrifty grou'ths of their sajilings. These are general all over the county. Their conversion into wooden-ware has been and is a source of a large industry and of much wealth. Next to the pine, the hemlock is the most frequently found of any conifer; oi'iginally they competed with the pine in diameter and height. In the cold swamps of the river towns and throughout the eastern towns we find the black spruce and the balsam fir, and u])on the dry drift knolls and sandy plains we find the pitch-pine. In the cold peat swanq« and springy lands of Fitzwilliam, Rindge and Jaffrey we find the tamarack in abiuidance. A variety of the yew, generally known as the "ground hendock," is common. Passing from the sombre evergreen, we turn to the deciduous trees, presenting every phase of change, from the leafless branches of winter-time to the delicate green of spring, the full foliage of summer and the gorgeous hues of autumn, when nature's artist paints with every conceivable shade of color in tints that art cannot produce, ami aivintr to the AnieiMean GENEllAL HISTORY. forests a hcauty nowhere else to he tbiind. Of the ilccidiious trees, the maple is the best represented. The white maple is mostly found in the valleys, upon the intervale lands. The red maple is common everywhei-e. The rock or sugar ma[)le is the largest of the genus, is found in all of the towns, and fills an impor- tant part in tiie economy of the county, furnish- ing both sugar and tindicr. The largest groves of the rock maple are found in the northern and eastern towns of the county. (Jilsum, particularly, is noted tor its manufacture of sugar. The birch is generally found, but attains its fullest development in the eastern towns. The gray and black birch are moi-e common in the southern and southwestern towus, while the yellow and white birch arc found everywhere. The bass is quite ct)mmou upon the bauks of the river terraces. The black cherry and the white ash are found sparingly in nearly all the deciduous forests. Confined to a strip of territory five to ten miles wide, bordering the Connecticut River, we fiud the elm, chestmit, white oak, black oak and three species of the hickory. The red oak is very generally distributed. Upon the alluvial soil of the Connecticut we fiud the Cottonwood, the butternut and the Ixilm of (7 dead, or balsam poplar. Two species of the poplar are found, — the one of small dimensions, often springing uj) in great abundance where woodlands are cut away ; the other, the black poplar, is of more pretentions proportions. In spring its young leaves are clothed with white down, that can be seen a long distance, and thereby readily distinguished. Of the shrubby plants, the heath family has about twenty species in the county. This is a family distin- guished alike for beauty and abundance of bloom, and for economic purposes. Included in this family are two cranberries, three species oi Idackberry and the huckleberry. The rhodo- dendrons are the finest of the heaths. The uuxximum sjjecies is found in Fitzwilliam and Ivichmoud. To this familv belongs the kal- mias, including the mountain laurel, found in the southern portion of the county. The rose family is numerously represented. Of the herbaceous plants we have a large family. W^ild flowers abound everywhere. The space of this article will not permit us to mention but few of the species of vegetation with which the Creator has made glad our fields and forests. Soil and Staple Productions. — Natur- ally, in a county so greatly diversified in eleva- titin by valleys, plains and hills, we should fiud the soil varying materially ; even the intervale lauds along the several streams bear very little similarity in fineness or ])roductiveness. Often we see the lesser streams dividing lands of striking dissinularity and of natural fcrtilitv. The intervale lands along the Connecticut River are proverbial for grain-growing capa- city. Some of the finest farms in the entire State are found in the four towns bordering upon this stream. .:Vlong the Ashuelot Valley are extensive plains, whose soils widely vary, and, lacking the dense fogs of the former stream, is subject to later frosts in the spring aud earlier in the autumn. INIany fine farms, however, are found along this stream. The uplands are of a granitic nature, and, as a general rule, far less productive than in fornici- times ; much of it is too rough for cultivation, and is better adapted to the growing of timber than of grain. The plain lands are easier to cultivate, but require the best of husbandry to produce satisfactory results. Judicious drainage has converted many un- sightly, worthless swamps into the best of grass lands. The census of 18,S0 conveys an iilca of the county staple productions. With "is.jlj farms, embracing an area of 23.3, ^ Oi .-• ^ Oo Cn " ^ '^ ^J — .J -J K-i c^ CO to ^ _. 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COOO c? — Ci to 00 3i -DOO . -I C^ ^l OC :3 CO -^ --■"-■ Settlement. — It has been before stated that settlement came upward from the soutJi along the Connecticut River ; but it was retarded, again BENCH AND BAR. and again beaten back, mainly through the animosity and depredations of Indians, lleach- ing the month of tlie Ashuehjt, it appears that it left the Grreat River. Reaching Upper Ashuelot (now Keene), in 17.34, the same year it took root at Lower Ashuelot (Swanzey), Earlington (Winchester). Some two years after, in 1736, a settlement was made at Plinsdale, and later in the towns above on the Great Kiver. Until the close of the Revolutionary War settlement proceeded slowly ; it then took a new impetus and proceeded rapidly. We insert on the preceding page a census table, containing a tabulated statement showing the movement of population of the several towns in Cheshire County at each census since 1767, inclusive, with dates of incorporation and first called names. In 18(jl the tocsin of war sounded high and loud over a startled land, and the wires flashed the dread news that armed rebellion had fired upon Sumter's fated walls. In the great up- rising of the North that followed, in the defense of the nation, Cheshire County responded to every call for troops with alacrity. On South- ern soil it shed its best bh)od in order that the country might live. The lapse of time has dimmed in part the remembrance of the heroism of that hour, but we now enjoy the fi'uits of no- ble effort and of vietoi-y won. The following table shows the number of soldiers furnished by each town in response to the several calls, the number of soldiers who were killed or died in the service and the amount of municipal war loan awarded to each town, — Killed Municipal Towns. Soldiers, and Died. War Loan. Alstead 98 ... $8,375.00 Chesterfield 85 20 7,416.67 Dublin 91 25 9,100.00 Fitzwilliam 101 45 7,991.67 Gilsum 57 ... 5,400.00 Hinsdale 112 ... 10,.533.33 Jaflrey 119 ... 9,933.33 Keene 404 25 37,900.00 Marlborough ,56 ... 5,600.00 Marlow 52 18 4,866.67 Nelson 69 6 5,981.67 Richmond 68 14 5,050.00 Rindge 86 16 8,260,00 Roxbury 17 ... 1,633.33 Stoddard 66 3 5,358.00 Towns. Soldiers. Sullivan 26 Surry 32 Swanzey 148 Troy .•")4 Walpole 145 Westmoreland 82 Winchester 134 Killed Municipal id Died. "War Loan. 12 2,600.00 6 2,666.67 5 12,325.00 10 4,425.00 12,660.00 10 7,975.00 12,8(i6.67 CHAPTER II. BKXCil AM) i:.\U. Amokg the earliest members of tlu' lefjal pro- fession in this section of New England \\'a8 Elijah Williams, a native of Deerfield, Mass., who settled in Keene in 1771. During the Rev- olution his sympathies were with the mother- country, and after the battle of Lexington he Joined the British in Bo.-^ton. He died in Deer- field. Hon. Daniel Nkwcojib .-settled in Keene in 1778 and commenced ])ractice there in 1783. He was apjiointed chief judge of Cheshire County in 1790; was justice of the Superior Court of .ludicature from April 6, 1 7!)6, to 1 798. He was the first State Senator from Keene. He died July 14, 1818. Hox. Peter Sprague \\as an early lawver in Keene. He became prominent here in 1792. He was elected to Congress in 1797 and re- elected in 1799. He died in 1800. Noah Cooke settled in Keene in 1791, and remained in practice there until his death, on October 1.5, 1829. He was admitted as an at- torney in 1784. Hon. Samuel Dinsmoor was born in Wind- ham July 1, 1766. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1789, and settled in Keene in 1792. He was appointed postmaster in 1808, and in ISll was elected to Congress. He held numerous positions of trust and res^^onsibility, aifd was elected Governor of New Hampshire in 1831, 1832 and 1833. He died March 15, 1835. Among those in })ractice in Keene from 1 794 to 1813 were Hon. Samuel Hunt (member of Congress), David Forbes, Samuel West, Noah R. Cooke, Foster Alexander, Lockhart Willard, 10 HISTORY OF CIIESIIIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Elijah Dunbar, Samuel Prescott, Seth New- comb, E. Butteilield and Wm. Gordon. Hon. James Wilson commenced practice in Keeue in 1815. He graduated at Harvard University in 1789, and was admitted to the bar in ]7'.t2. In 18(1!) he was elected to Con- cn-ess. He died Januarv 4, 1839. Mr. Wilson was a lawyer of distintiuished ability, and had but few equals in tiie State. Joseph Buffum, Jr., commenced practice in Keene in 181(3. He was elected to Congress in 1819. Levi Chamberlain was one of the leading lawyers in New Hampshire. He held various official positions, and in 1849 was the Whig can- didate for Governor. He was a member of the Peace Congress in 1861. He died August ."U, 1868. Ho was in stature tall, elegant in mamiei-, genial and witty. Joel Pauker was admitted to the bar in Keene in 1817. He was ap])ninted justice of the Supi-eme Court of Judicatiue from January 8, 1833, and was chief justice from June 25, 1838, to June 24, 1848. He was subsequently professor of law in Harvard for a period of twenty years. The following were in practice in Keene in 1818 : Noah Cooke, Sanuiel Dinsmoor, Fo.ster Alexander, Elijah Dunbar, Joseph Buffiim, Jr., James Wilson, Levi Chamberlain, Elijah Parker, .loel Parker, Fr. Gardner and Thomas M. Edwards. Elijah Parker was a graduate of Dartmouth College and a prominent lawyer in Keene for many years. Thomas M. Edwards graduated at Dart- mouth in 1813. He was born in Providence in 1795, and was brought here by his parents at an early age. He was postmaster in Keene from 1817 to 1829; was member of Legisla- ture, Presidential elector, member of Congress, and was first president of the Cheshire Rail- road. He was a prominent citizen of Keene, a thorough scholar, an al>le lawyer and a success- ful financier. He was a man of great energy and executive ability. He died May I, 1875. Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., son ot Governor Samuel Dinsmoor, was a prominent and in- fluential citizen. He was clerk of the Sen- ate in 1826, 1827, 1829 and 1831 ; he was postmaster at Keene, cashier of the Ashuelot Bank and later its president, and was Governor of New Hamp.shire in 1849, 1850 and 1851. He died February 24, 1869. General James Wii>son commenced prac- tice in Keene in 1823. He was one of Keene's most active, prominent ami esteemed citizens. Except the years 18:!8 and 1839, when he was a candidate for Governor (and 1833), he was in continuous service in the liCgislature from 1825 to 1840. In 1828 he was Speaker of the House. He was elected to Congress in 1847 and re- elected in 1849. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he was offered a brigadier-general's commission, which ill health prevented him from accepting. He represented Keene in the Legislature in 1870 and 1871. Phineiias Handerson was born in Am- lierst, Mass., December 13, 1778. He studied law in the office of Hon. George B. Upliam, of Claremont. Soon after his admission to the bar he established himself in Chesterfield, at that time one of the most flourishing towns in the State. He was president of Cheshire bar from the time of the organization of the county until his death, March 16,1853. He removed to Keene in 1833. Hon. Levi Chamberlain speaks of him as "one of the most respected and influ- ential members of the profession, and that influ- ence was the ri'sult of his faithful, upright and able performance of duty." The various pul)lic trusts to which lie was repeatedly cidled by those who knew liim best show in what estimation he was held by his fellow-citizens. His only son, Henry C. Han- dcreon, .served as captain in the war ; was after- wards postmaster in Keene, where he died in 1 874. His seven daughters are still living ; two unmarried in the homestead in Keene. (See town history of Chesterfield for additional fVicts.) Saljia Hale was a well-known lawyer of Ki'cne, highly respected and esteemed. He was deeply interested in matters pertaining to the history of Keene, and pi'epared the "Annals of Keene," a volumi> of rare interest. Beside holding other official positions, he was elected a member of Congress. William P. Wheeler was a lawyer who i-anked with the ablest in the State. He was £>y\A.f.T>-il^'^' BENCH AND BAR. 11 lulniittcd to practice in 1842 :iud settled in Keene, where lie remained until his death, in May, 1 iS7(). He was county solicitor for ten years, and in 1855 and 1857 was a candidate fi>r Con- gress. FarxitmFlsh Lane, now the oldest menibe: of the Ciieshire County bar, and for severa' years pi-esident of the Cheshire County Bar As sociation, was born in Swanzey, N. H., March 15, 181(3. The first one of this family to settle in New Hampshire was his great-grandfather, Elkanah Lane, who came from Norton, Mass., about the middle of the eighteenth century, purchased laud in Swanzey, became a tariuer and was a resident of the town and left numerous de- scendants. He was a man of perseverance and stei'ling honesty of purpose and thought. His son Samuel inherited the farm of his father, married Scott and had five sons, — Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel and Luther, — and one daughter, Lucy. He served in the War of the Revolution, and althongli a man df quiet and unassuming manners, was a sturdy patriot and loyal citizen. He died about 18o5, aged eighty-four years. Ezekiel, his fourth son, was born in Swanzey in 17!H). He settled on a firiu ad- joining the ancestral homestead and was a life-long resident of the town. He was a kind husband, good citizen, and, like his father, a man of retiring disposition. He married, early ill life, Rachel, daughter of rarimni and Rachel (Thayer) Fish. (Farnum Fish was a native of Massachusetts, but for many years a citizen of Swanzey. He was au energetic fiu-mer and man of in)te, and one of the controllhig spirits of the town, and with commendable public spirit endeavored to advance its interests. He received the highest respect from his fellow- townsmen, ^^'llo elected him to various town offices. He held the commission of justice of the peace for many years and was a captain of militia. He accumulated consider- able property, consisting of real estate. He died about 1829.) Of the ten children of Ezi- kiel and Rachel (Fish) Lane, eight ai'e now- living. Farnum Fish Lane commenced life without any of the adventitious aids that are usually supposed to assist in gaining distinction. A farmer's boy, his early years, until he reached the age of six- teen, were passed tm the farm assisting in the work. Then his aspirations f>r an education could no longer be resti'aincil, and, leaving home, he engaged as a farm labore]' and com- menced working and savino- for that object. After attending various academies, ])rincipally at New Ipswich and Hancock, he taught school tor six winters, and, thinking, with Sydnty Smith, that " the law is decidedly the best pro- fession for a young man if he has anything in him," he entered the office of Thomas M. Ed- wards, of Keene, as a law student. He aji- ])lied himself with diligence and assiduity to the study of his chosen profession, and, in July, 1843, was admitted to the bar, and since that time has been actively employed in the labors of the law. He commenced practice in Winchester, and, in 184(5, moved to Walpole and was there for three years. In 1849 he became a resident of Kei'ue, and has aih'ancetl agreeably and pros- perously. He is a member of Social Friends Lodge, F. and A. M., and of Cheshire Royal Arch Chapter of Keene. Mr. Lane married, October ;>0, 1 84(i, Harriet Locke, daughter of John and Harriet (Locke) Butler, of Winchester. Their chiklren are Helen L., who married Augustus Lucke, of Sherbrooke, Canada, and Emily Ij. ^Ir. Lane was a Whig until the organization of the Repul)lican jiarty, with which he has ever since acted, but never as a mere partisan, or a politician using jiolitics for |>ersonal I'lids. The law has been his sole profession. He has never sought a jiublic office, and yet he has been rewarded with the fullest trust and confi- dence of the })eople. For ten years he held the office of county solicitor, and was also county treasurer. He was elected to the Legislature from Walpole in 1847 and 1848, and then again from Keene in 18(i2 and 18(j.'>, that criti- cal period in the country's history when the wai'-clouds darkened the horizon and legislative responsibilities were heavy. He is jirobajjly best known as a sound and wise counselor, one who labors diligently on his cases, making the 12 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. most complete and exhaustive research before attempting to present liis case or give an opinion. As an advo(!ate, he uses nothing like splendid action or boistei'ous demonstration, but, what is of far more account, clear, potent, sober thought, carrying conviction to tlie mind that can or cares to think There comes witii wliat he says tile feeling always of an earnest, candid man, saying notliing for mere effect, and only what tiie case justly warrants. By reason of this gen- eral confidence, insjiired by manner and method, he is always a powerful antagonist, who has the ear and confideiice of Ixrth judge and jury. Al though, as before mentioned, the oldest member of the Cheshire County bar, he is still in full practice, with more vigorous liealtli than he has enjoyed for years. Francis A. Fatlknek. — The Faulkner tiimily occupies quite an historic place in Ne\\- Enu'land annals. " Mr. Edmond Faulkner, the emigrant, was one of the purcliasers and first settlers of Andover, Mass., which was bought from the Indians about January, 1(346, for £Q, and a <'oat." Tlic following extract from the will of Francis Fauconee, Gent., of King's Cleave, Soutliampton, England, made September 1, 16(52, and proved 21st May, 1663, connects him beyond doubt with this honorable English family. " Item : I give and bequeath to my brother, Edmund Fauconor, that is living in New England, £200 of lawful money of England." Tliis family is entitled to l)ear anus as follows : "Arms — Sable, three falcons argent, beaked, legged and belled or Crest — A garb or (or gules), banded, argent. The name Faulkner was va- riously spelled in those days, and in this \\ill it has as many spellings as the word occurs times. The " Mr." was of significance as a title of respect, and showed the possessor to be of an English family of consequence. But three or four in Andover were entitled to bear it. Edmond Faulkner was marrieil by John Win- throj) to Dorothy Robinson, February 4, 1647, at Salem. This was the first marriau-e recorded of an Andover citizen. He Mas a man of edu- cation, energy and distinction, and connected closely and prominently with all public atlairs. He was one of the ten freeliolders who founded the church in Andover in 1645. He kept the first inn, which wa.s burned in 1676 by the In- dians, and died January 18, 1686-87. His son Francis, "husbandman," named doubtless from the maker of the King's Cleave ^\•ill, born 1()57, died 1732; married, October 11, 1675, Abigail, daughter of llev. Francis Dane, who was min- ister of Andover for nearly half a century. Her name is prominent in connection with the witch- craft delusion. She was accusi'd (if "The felony of M'itchcraft," found guilty and condemned to death, but through the efftirts of her many powerful friends was not executed, although for more than eleven years the sentence of di'ath hung over her. She stands out one of the brightest and strongest figures on that dark page of history. [See for full account "Bailey's His- torical Sketches of Andover, Mass."] This worthy and sorely-tried couple left three sons, Edmund, Ammiverliammah and Paul, of whom the second removed to Acton, j\Iass., in 1735, erected mills, and l)ecame a manufacturer, dying August 4, 1756. His son, Francis, born in Andover Septo^mber 29, 1728, died in Acton, Mass., August 5, 1805. For thirty-five years toM'n clerk of Acton, member of the Provincial Congress of 1774, a member of the Committee of Safety, and several impoi'tant conventions of the Revolution, in all these positions he proved himself a man of sound judgment and culti- vated mind, and an able legislator. He held a military commission under George III., but be- came an ardent patriot, and one of the foremost op])osers of the oppressive acts of Great Britain. Early in 1775 he was elected major of a regi- ment organized to oppose English invasion. At sunrise of the ever memorable 19th of April, he marched with a considerable number of men to resist the British troops then on their way to Concord. He participated in that historic engagement, and the pursuit of the British to Charleston. [See Shattuck's " Histoiy of Concord."] He was lieutenant-colonel of the Middlesex militia, which reinforced the Con- tinental army at tiie iK'cujiation of Dorchester Heights, March, 1776, and commanded the regiment which guarded the prisoners of Bur- goyne's surrender on the march to Cambridge. By his second wife, Rebecca, daughter of Cap- tain Kies, of Brookfield, a participant in that / . Ett,^ •* -byAS lUtC'W! (f.J^. Ju^t.^.^i^J<2^-^-.-^^ BENCH AND BAR. 13 bloody engagement known as Lovell's fight, he had eleven children, the oldest of whom was Francis, of Billerica, one of the pioneer woolen manufacturei-s in New England. He was born January 31, 1760, died February 12, 1843. He was twice married and had twelve children. By his firet wife, Elizabeth Jones, M'ere Charles, born September (i, ITS"), died in Calcutt;i, August, 1809, and Francis, who was born at Watertown, INIass., February 29, 1788, came to Keene in 1809 or 1810. June 10, 1818, he married Eliza, daughter of Eli Stearns, of T^anca.ster, Mass. He died November 29, 1842. His wife died October 5, 18(39. Their children wlio lived to maturity were Charles S., born May 17, 1819, died July 28, 1879; Elizabeth J., "born May 25, 1822; Francis A.; William F., bom July 7, 1831, died May 1, 1874. Francis Faulkner was one of the early manu- facturers of New Hampshire, in which business he continued until his death, in 1842. He was a man of sterling integrity, generous and wise in public matters, as in private. He was loved and respected by all ; an ardent supporter of the Unitarian Society, of which he ^\as one of the tbunders. Hon. Fraxc'is Augustus Faulkner, son of Francis and Eliza (Stearns) Faulkner, was liorn in Keene, N. H., February 12, 1825. As a youth he was studious, and, in 1841, went to that celebrated j^reparatory school, Phillips Ex- eter Academy, where he acquitted himself with ability and was fitted for college. He graduated with honor at Harvard University in the class of 184(5, which numbers among its members such distinguished names as Hon. George F. Hoar, Prof Francis J. Child, Prof. George M. Lane, Dr. Calvin Ellis and Henry A. Whitney. Tiie friendships and associations thus formed were among the warmest and highest of his life, and his love for the classics and general literature there acquii'ed continued all his days, and showed itself in his public and private life. Choosing the law for his profession, he began its study in 1847 in tlie ofBce of Hon. Phinehas Handerson, of Keene, and, in connec- tion there\^ith, attended the Hai'vard Law Sclidol. He was admitted to practice at Keene, at the Sejjtember term of court in 1849, and immediately formed a jwrtnership with William P. Wheeler, which firm, as Wheeler & Faulkner, first appeared upon the docket at the May term, 1850, and from that time for nearly thirty years enjoyed a remarkably extensive and successful practice, and was engaged in nearly every case of jirominence or importance tried in Cheshire County. To the honorable and leadmg positicjn taken by the firm much was due to Mr. Faulkner. During his active practice Mr. Faulkner ac- complislied an amount of work whicli excited the wcjnder and admiration of the; court and his asso- ciates at the bar. To a finely-organized brain was united robust, health and untiring industry, and an ardent love for his profession. These, with his coi-rect and methodical habits, made labor almost a pleasure, which success only in- creased, while defeat did not diminish it. During the life of Mr. Wheeler the unassuming nature of Ml-. Faulkner, acknowledging the Iiigh ability of his partner as an advocate (and he was rarely, if ever, excelled in tliis county), [ireferred to take tiie more laborious, but unpre- tending, work of preparing their causes, botii for trial of facts and on tpiestions of law, and of drawing all pleadings and formal paj)ei-s, leaving Mr. ^V'heeler to present them to the court. He was always thoroughly prepared in season for every cause in which they were engaged, whether before the jury or the court, and his patient research, accurate knowledge and pains- taking care made his papers and briefs mt)dels of skill and learning, and of great weight with the court. When circumstances caused him to aj)pear as an advocate, it was at once seen that lie had far more than ordinary power in that c^ipacity. Always dignified and courteous, he depended upon fairness and ability to win his causes, never resorting to anytliing like a trick. He displayed a peculiar power of sifting evidence and dis- ch)sing the trutli, and knew wliere his strength lay and how to use it. His memory wa.s retentive, his knowledge of iiuman nature quick and accurate, and in his judgment of the character of a client or witness he was seldom at fault. His argumcTits to C((urt or jui-y were concise and vigorous, alxiundingin 14 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. apt illustrations and citations, expn?ssed in earm>st, simple laiiguagt>, but wnvoying a logic Vhicli was convincing. Wiicn oniv ongagvd in a CISC he made Ids client's cause his own and scrvcil him with i-aiv fidelity tsition on the bcncli of the Supivme Court, to which he was appt>intM, and ag-ain solicitwl to take, his in- timate knowUxlge of all mattei-s of practict' and j)i"occihnv would have bivn found of great ust> and his decisions have bivn a valuable additiou to the li-g-al literatuiv of the State, Mr. Faulkner ivpiisentcd Kcoue in the State Lttjislatuiv in ISol. 18o2, 1859 and 18G0; was cln>stni minierator twenty-two times, successively, in town-meeting, fn>m 18o7 to 1803, and was an alderman in the fii-st city gtn-eriuucut ; was i-ounty solicitor fwm 1 8-^o to 1 8(50 ; ct^mmissioner of eniMllment during the Relx>llion; was ap- pointtxJ assix"iate justice of the Supreme Court in 1874, but decliutxl to serve; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 187G, luid held various other positions of honor and trust. He was lai-gely intcrt'steii in the s^x-ial busi- ni«s and financial life of Kwne ; was a director of the Cheshire National Bank and the Asliuelot National Ixink, and succtwltxi Mr. "S^'heele^ as j^ivsident of the Chesiiire Piwident Institution. Ilighlv valuixl asa financial advisoi', many sought and were pivfitcil by his judicious ci)unsel. In jx»liiics he was a stanch Repnbliam, one of the strongt-st local kadei-s of that psu-ty. and a pri>minent memlier of the State and Comitj- Committces. His upright character, stn>ng per- sonality, p^^itive c\>uvietions and jH>pularity gave him iufluence in all circles, and there was no one whi>se counsel was moiv sought in emer- gencies and whose judgment and foivsight did better service in seasonably detecting threatened evils and in devising the best means for the ginieral snxnl. Durinsr the vears of anxietv and sacrifice of the great Civil ^\ ar he laboreil loy- ally for the cause of the Union, and, by his un- tiring enthusiasm, able counsel and jwrsonal ef- forts, did nuieh more fi>r the «mse than he could have done in any other M-ay. In ivligion he was a Unitarian and an active memlxT of the society at Kivne, whose liberality in all chamtcls of religious influence was never found wanting. Mr. Faulkner niarrie»l, IVx-ember 18, 1849, Caivline, daughter of Hon. Phinehas Handerson. .He was very happy in his domestic life, and thc>se who did not si\> him in his home can hanlly be s:ud to have really known him. It was there that he threw off" the bunlens and jx^r- plexities of his busy lite and finind the only re- laxation he ever alloweil himself — in the society of his wife and chililreu. They lovingly remember how his natural buoyancy and love of fun, represseil by hours of exacting business, at home showeapers and went at once to duty. lie was ein-olled and niuslereortc(l for duty at Fort Snelling August 1 7(li. II is com- pany elected iiim captain August III, and lie was commissioned August "21, 1S(!2. His was appointed color company (C), and ordered into immediate service. The defenseless condition of Ihe fi'ontier in consequence of the removal of all regular sol- diers and movable armament, and (he departure of the five regiments of volunteers, ex|)osed the State to the horrors of Indian warfare. A con- spiracy of Indian tribes, led by the war-clii(>f of the Dakotahs, liittlc (^row, inaugurated the " Minnesota ISIassaere." I'rompt and de- cided action was required to suppress it. The new recruits, inexperienced and poorly c(piipped, were called upon to ])rot«'t the State. Angust 2()th, Captain JJurt was ordered to march with ('Ompanies (^ and I to Fort lli])ley. From there his comj)any was ordered to Chijipewa Agency to guard the govermnent stores and show the Chippewas the futility of any at- tempt at rebellion. A "<-ouncil of ])eace " with this tribe was soon held at ^^>rt Kipley, Cap- tain ]5iu"t being chosen one of' the members by the Governor, and by its action peaceful rela- tions were continued with the tribe. In this Captiun Burt rendt^red good service. A special session of the Legislature was called to consider the condition of affairs, and Captain ]iurt was particularly requested by the (Tovernor to attend as a member, and by special order he was [)laeed on detached service for that j>ur])ose and to secure ilut neeiled clothing for the poorlv- clad members of his company, who had Inn- riedly left their homes in sunumr dress, ex- pecting, after receiving a good military outfit, to enjoy a short furlough. The Legislature closed its session, the military clothing was ■ promised ; two days were taken for his person- al matters, in which time his books, papers and business were transferred to agents, his office vacated, and he was on his way to rejoin his company. His life hereafter was to be given to his coimtry in hard and exhausting service, which finally sai)ped (he strong vigor of his stalwart manhood and caused his untime- ly death. The Seventh Minnesota was assigned to duty as guard of th(^ Sioux prisonei's at Man- kato, where Captain's Burt's detachment joined them, and, November, 24, 18G2, his company was mustered into the United States .service. The military connni.ssion convened .sentenced three hundred of the captives to close confinement and thirty-nine to death. Thirty-eight of these brutal miu'derers were simultaneously ex- ecuted by hanging, December 2(), 18(j2. Caj)- tain Btn't, as officer of the day, received great credit for his services in carrying out this im- |)or(an( order. After guarding the three hun- dred ])risoners until spring, Captain Burt, with his comj)any, was detailed as military escort to convey the Sioux to Kock Island, which M^as successfidly done. He also took part in the campaign of the summer of 1863 against the hostile Indians and captured AYo-wi-uap-a, the sou of Litde ( 'row. This expedition drove the scattered hostiles beyond the Missonri, and the troops reported at Fort Snelling September 16, 1863. Tlu! Seventh was now ordered to St. Tjiiuis, where it served until April 20, 1 8(j4, Cajitain Burt being commissioned major November 6, 1863. He was detailed as a member of a general court- martial to be convened April 14, 1864 ; but as his regiment was ordered South, he pre- ferred to go with it. The first station was Paducjdi, Ky., which place they guarded till June tilth, -when they were ordered to Mem- phis, and assigned to the Thii'd lirigade, First 18 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Division, Sixteentii Army Corps, uuder Gene- ral A. J. Smith. From this time the service was hard, exliausting marching, coupled with deprivations and splendid fighting. lu the desperate three days' battle of Tupelo, Miss., July 12th, 13th and 14th, the regiment won high honors ; at the Tallahatchie, August 7th and Sth, again gained praise. In September the First Division made one of the hai'dcst marches of the war, in pursuit of General Price, through Arkansas and Missouri, — three hundred and twenty miles in nineteen days on ten days' rations. Another march ensued across the entire State of Missouri, the troops wading through mud and snow, and fording icy rivers. The corps participated in the great battle at Nashville, Deceml)er 15th and 16th, and after- wards joined in the jnirsuit of Hood through Tennessee. They then went to Clifton, Tenn., next to Eastjjort, Miss., then to New Orleans, and in March, 1865, to Dauphin Island, where the army wa.s reorganized for the siege of Mo- bile. March 20, 18ti5, the corps was landed on the e;ist side of Mobile Bay, and on the 25th marched to invest Spanish Fort, the principal eastern defense of Mobile. This fort ^vas in- vested March 27th, and reduced April Sth. The Seventh was constantly under fire, and bore the greater part of the labor and exposure of the siege. After the surrender of Fort Blakely, April 9th, Mobile was occupied by the Union army. The Sixteenth Corps broke canip for a march to Montgomery, April 13th. From there the Third Brigade went to Selma, Ala., where the Seventh did garrison duty until it was ordered North to be nnistered out of service, and left Selma July 20th, and marched to Vicksburg. From there Major Burt was sent in advance of the regiment, first to St. Louis, then to Fort Snelling, Minn., to pi'epai'e muster-out rolls, and thus expedite the discharge of the men. The troops were discharged August 16, 1865, at Fort Snelling. Originally possessed of a strong constitution, the exposure of army life exhausted Major Burt's vitality, and although the surgi'ons rec- ommended a " sick leave " as absolutely essen- tial to recnperatc his strength, it was not granted by the corps commander, as such an efficient officer could not be spared. To him the muster out came too late. He returned to Keene ; but health never returned, and while on a visit to his only surviving sister (Mrs. Shar- lot A. West), at Worcester, ]\Iass., he died, March 15, 1866. He was commissioned brevet lieutenant-colonel United States volun- teers by President Johnson, March 20, 1866, the I'ank to date from April 8, 1865, " for gal- lant and meritorious services at the siege of Spanish Fort, Molnle Harbor, Alabama." Colonel Burt was a superior man. His ideal of life and its duties was high. He felt a sense of obligation to make the best use of all his faculties, and amid all discouraging circum- stances he preserved unweakened his integrity and independence. The structure of his char- acter was systematic, soliproach was announced, when four miles from town, by the discharge of a gun two miles distant. This was followed l)y others stationed along the line, and as it entered the town it was welcomed l)y the ringing of bells, the cheers of thousands and the raj)id discharge of cannon. The Suffolk IJrassBand, of Boston, accompa- nied the train and furnished excellent music for the occasion. A large procession proceeded to the town hall, where a meeting of the stockholders was held; after which the procession was reformed and marched back to the dejwt, where fifteen hini- dred peo[)le partook of a sumptuous baiKjuet l>reparc(l by the citizens of Keeue. After dinner Hon. Levi Chamberlain, in an appropriate speech, welcomed the assemblage to Keene. Hon. Thomas M. Edwards, president of the cor[)oration, followed ; after which speeches were made and sentiments offered by many eminent citizens of Boston and other parts of Xew England. At the hour of de- parture the train moved off on its way to Bos- ton amid the cheers of the assembled multitude. The remaining portion of the road, from Keene to Bellows Falls, Vt., was completed January 1, 1849. The Cheshire Railroad is the connecting-link between Boston [via Rutland), and Burlington. It extends thi'ough the county from Winchen- don, ]\Iass., through the southwest corner of Rindge, through Fitzwilliam, Troy, Marlbor- ough, Keene, southwest corner of Surry, West- moreland and Walpole, where it crosses the Connecticut River at Bellows Fulls, in Vermont. The entire length of the road is fifty-three and one-half miles. Within the county it is forty-two and three-fourths miles. It is one of the most thoroughly-constructed roads in the country. Its bridges, culverts and abut- ments, built of cut granite, are models of civil engineering. The general management, from the beginning, has been excellent, and its o^jcra- tion unusually free from accidents. The cost of the road and equipments amounted to $2,717,535.26. The ammal receipts for 1884 were $586,685.02 ; the ex]icnditurcs for the same year, $4(i."),575.7!l. Four gentlemen have acted as presidents of the road during its existence of thirty-.seven years, namely, Hon. T. i\I. Edwards, Thomas Thatcher, E. Murdoch, -Ir., and Him. William A. Ru.ssell. Superintendents, B. F. Atlams, L. Tilton, E. A. Cliapin and Reuben Stewart; Treasurers, C. J. Everett, F. W. Everett and F. H. Kings- bury; Master Mechanics, David Upton, George W. Perry and F. A. Perry. Mr. Stewart, the present superintendent, is a veteran in the .service of the company. He commenced his service for the road in 1845, and was employed three years in its construc- tion. He subsecpiently served as ticket agent, general freight agent, cashier and auditor. He was assistant superintendent for two years un- der Mr. E. A. Cliapin, and has held the office of superintendent for the past twenty years. AsiiUELOT Railroad. — Before the comple- tion of the Cheshire Railroad measures for build- ing a railroad through the fertile and populous valley of the Ashuelot River were already taken. The Ashuelot Railroad was incori>orated July 10, 1846, and the first meeting fi)r organization under the charter was called at Winchester May 27, 1848. John H. Fuller, Es(j., of Keene, was cho.scTi president; Francis Boyden, of Hinsdale, clerk. In November, 1849, the company contracted with Messrs. Boody, Ross & Co., of Spring- field, Ma.ss., for building the road, and the work was speedily pushed to completion. On the 9th of December, 1850, the road was opened for public travel. This road extends from Keene to South Ver- non, Vt., a distance of twenty-three and three- fourths miles. Its length in Cheshire County is twenty-three miles. As it leaves Keene it passes through Swan- zey, Winche.ster and the southern part of Ilius- 22 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. tliile ; tlioiice crossing the Connecticut Eiver at South Vernon, Vt. It follows the beautiful valley of the Ashuelot River, which affords abundant water-power, a considerable portion of which is improved and a great variety of manufactures is carried on. The road is of a very light grade and one of the best-constructed roads in New England. In 1850 the company leased the road to the Connecticut River Railroad for a terra of ten years, from January 1, 1851, at a rent of thirty thousand dollars per year. At the expiration of this lease it was leased to the Cheshire Railroad until January, l,S(i5, at twelve thousand dollars per annum. The road continued to be operated by the Cheshire Company until April 21, 1877, when it was again leased to the Counectieut River Road at a rental of thirty per cent, of its gross earnings, under which management it uow re- mains. The cost of the road, with equipments, to 1875, amounted to five hundred thousand dollars. The receipts and expenditures are included in the accounts of the Connecticut River road. Sullivan County Railroad. — The Sulli- van County Railroad, extending from Bellows Falls, A^'t., to Windsor, in the same State, a distance of twenty-six miles, was incorporated July 10, 1846, and completed February 5, 1849. This road crosses the Connecticut River at Bellows Falls, and, miming mainly through Sullivan County, N. H., recrosses the river at Windsor. Nearly two miles of this road run through the northwest portion of Walpole, in Cheshire County, where the growing village of North Walpole is situated. This road is operated by the Connecticut River Railroad, and with the latter forms a part of the Central Vermont system. Concord and Claremont Railroad. — The original charter for this road, extending from Concord to the Sullivan Railroad, in or near the town of Claremont, was obtained June 24, 184S. The corporation, as it now exists, is a con- solidation of the Contoocook Valley, Merri- mack and Connecticut Rivers and Sugar River Railroads. The first-named branch extends from llop- kiuton, through Henniker, to Hillsborough Bridy;e, a distance of fifteen miles. This road was also chartered June 24, 1S4S, and com- pleted in December, 1849. The Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers por- tion, constructed under the original charter, extends from Concord, through Hopkinton, Warner, the southern portion of Sutton, to Bradford, a disbuice of twenty-seven miles. It was completed July 10, 1850. The Sugar River portion extends from Brad- ford, through Newbury, in the county of Mer- rimack, and through Suuapee and Newport, to Claremont Junction, on the Sullivan Railroad, a distance of twenty-nine miles. It was incor- porated July 2, 1866, and completed for travel in Se2)tember, 1872. The consolidation of the three branches above mentioned was effected October 31, 1873, and the entire length of the road is seventy-one miles. Its length in Sulivan County is about eighteen miles. It is now under the same man- agement as the Northern Railroad. MoNADNOCK Railroad. — -The Monad nock Railroad was incorporated December 13, 1848; the charter was revived July 6, 1866. It was completed for travel June 10, 1871, and ex- tends from Winchendon, Mass., through Rindge and JafFrey, to Peterborough, a distance of fif- teen and four-fifths miles. Its length in Che- shire County is about ten miles. Leaving Winchendon, it passes through a low valley between the hills in Rindge until it reaches the head-waters of the Contoocook River, near the village of West Rindge. It then follows down the valley of Contoocook to East JafFrey, and thence to Peterborough. The Upper Contoocook furnishes consider- able water-power. Cotton and wooden-ware mills ai'e located along its course in Rindo-e and Jaffrey, and this road has been of great benefit to these towns. The cost of this road amounted to the sum of §366,829.47. The annual receipts for 1884 were §27,342.39; the expenditures for 1884, $22,009.01. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 23 J. Livingston, of Peterborough, was its first j)resideiit, and C. A. Parks, of JaflFrey, treas- urer. After its completion it was operated by the company until October 1, 1874, when it was leased to the Boston, Barre and Gardiner road for ninety-nine years. The lease was transferred to the Cheshii-e Railroad January 1, 1880, for six years, at a rental of twelve thousand dollars per annum, with the option of extending the same for fif- teen years thereafter. The road is still ojierated by the Cheshire Company. Manchester and Keene Railroad. — This road was incorporated July 10, 1864; its e etfeetual. They, however, neither killed nor wounded any one. The wliites fired whenever an Indian presented himself, and several of them were seen to fall. Before noon the savages ceased firing, but they remained several days in the vicinity. The guns first fired were heard at the firt in Swanzey, the commander of which immediately sent an express to Winchester, witli information that the Indians had made an attack uj>on Upper Ashuelot. From ^V"i^chester an express was sent to the next post, and so on from post to post to Northampton, where Coloi:el Pomeroy commanded. Collecting all the troops and militia there, and pressing all the horses in the place, he instantly, at their head, set out for Upper Ashuelot, and on his way added to his number all the disposable force iu the interme- diate settlements. In little more than forty- eight hours from the time the express started KEENE. 29 from Swaiizey lie, with four or five hundred iiieu, arrived at Upper Ashuelot, the distance urnt. Among the ashes they discovered human bones, and the leg of an Indian, micon- sumed. As it is known to have been the custom of the Indians to take the most effectual means in their power to conceal the amount of their loss, they had doubtless placed in this house, before they set it on fire, the bodies of such of their party as had been killed, which they had not otherwise concealed. The number, as near as could be ascertained, was nine, and one or two were burnt in the barn of Mr. Blake. The next day incpiiry was made for Mark Ferry, the hermit. As he did not reside among them, and had never performed the duties of relation, friend or companion to any of the settlers, they felt little solicitude for his fate ; but, Colonel Pomeroy offering to send a party of men, they agreed to send a j)ilot to the place where they supposed he might be found. This was Ferry meadow, on the stream called Ferry Brook, within the present limits of Sullivan, whither he had repaired, as to a place of safety, when driven l)y the flood from his cave from Bullard's Island. They found his horse confined under the shelter of the root of a fallen tree, and, looking further, espied him perched high upon the limb of a large tree, mending his clothes. His personal appearance indicated that he had not received the benefit of shaving, nor ablution, for months. They compelled him to descend, brought him to the fort, led him to the officers' quai-ters, and, with mock formality, introduced him to all the officers and gentlemen of the party. Apprehending no further danger to the settlers, Cd, and in all the trials to which he was put, and they were many and severe, he beat every antagonist. Not long after his arrival at the village the tribe lost a chief by sickness. As soon as hi.'- decease was made known the women re[)aired to his wigwam, and, with tears, sobs and clamorous lamentations, mourned his death. The fimeral ceremonies performed, the men sought Blake, dressed him in the Indian costume, aud invested him with all the authority and privileges of the deceased, as one of the chiefs of the tribe aud as husband of the widow. In the family to which he now stood in the relation of father there were, as lie has often remarked, several daughters of uncommon beautv. Yet, notwithstanding; this mod fortune, he still had difficulties to encounter. The tribe was divided into two parties, his friends and his enemies. The former consisted of the great mass of the tribe, who respected him for qualities to which they had not equal pz"e- tensions ; the latter, of those who were envious of his success and had been worsted in their contests with him. These, to humble his pride. sent far into the northern wilderness, and pro- cured a celebrated Indian runner to run against him. At the time assigned, the whole tribe assembled to witness the race, and a Fi'ench- man, from Quebec, hap[>ened to be present. Perceivintr the excitement among then, he ad- vised Blake to permit himself to be beaten, intimating that fatal conse(iuences might ensue if he did not. The race was run, and Blake, as advised by the Frenchman, jiermitted his antagonist to reach the goal a moment before he did. He persisted, however, after his return from captivity, in declaring tiiat he might have beaten him if he had tried. The event of the race restored harmony to the tril)e, and Blake was permitted to live in peace. But, remembering the family he had left, lie felt anxious to return to his home. After much intercession, the^tribe propo.sed that if he would build a house like those of the English, he should be permitted to go to (Quebec. Pre- suming that, when there, he could more easily obtain his liberty, he gladly acceded to the pro[)osition. With such tools as the Indians possessed he prejiared tlie necessary timber, splitting the boards from the tree, and soon completed his task. He then went to Quebec and gave himself uj) to the French. He had been there but a short time, when his Indian wife came in a canoe to reclaim him. He re- fused to return, l)at, she soliciting and even demanding him, he declared to her that, if he should be compelled to set out with her, he would overturn, the canoe and drown her, upon which she concluded to return without him. In the fall the P^reneh commandant gave Blake his election to pass the winter, as a laborer, with a farmer in the vicinity of Quebec, or be confined in the common gaol. He chose the latter, and had no reason to regret his choice, as he had a comfortable room and sufficient rations assigned him. He remained in confinement until spring, when his liberation was procured. KEENE. 31 CHATTER II. E.EE'SE— (Continued). Close of the [ndian Troubles — Keturn of the Settlers — Up- per Aslmelot Again (Occupied — Incorporation of the Town — Captain Jeremiah Hall Appointed Agent — The Pii-st Petition for Incorporation, in 1 751 , not Granted —The Petition of 1753— Charter Granted April 11, 1753 — First Meeting of Proprietors — The Town Revisited by Indians. The year 1750 witnessed the return of the settlers to the Upper Aslmelot, from whence lliey had been driven a few years previously by the merciless Indian war whidi was carried on by King Philip. Upon the reoccupation of the place the set- tlers at once decided to present a petition to the Governor for the incorporation of the territt)ry, and the first movement for the incorporation of the town by the State of New Hampshire was under date of February 11, 1750, when Ctiptain Jeremiah Hall was appointed to pre- sent the ease to the Governor as follows : " We whose Names are Hereunto Subscribed In- liabitauts of tbe upper Ashuelot for a Long time Labour under many Great Diliiculties lor waut of Town Priviledges we Do Tliercfore Hereby Constitute and Impower our Trusty friend Cap' Jeremiah Hall to Represent our Difficulties to his Excellency the Governor of New Hampshire and to Any Others Con- cerned In that affiiir that we may be Incorporated Into a Town and Likewise we give power to him to Chuse a man to assist him In the aftaires " Upper Ashuelot February y'' 11* 1750 " William Smeed Ebenezer D.ay Ebenezer Nims Gideon Ellis David Nims Michaell Medcalf Ephraim Dorman Michaell medcalf jr Nathan Fairbanks Oliver Medcalf Joseph Elles Abijah medcalf ■ Jonathan Underwood Jabez Hill John Rogers David Foster Nathan Blake Amos Foster " " We the Subscribers Do hereby Impower Cap' Jeremiah Hall to Pertition In our behalf for the Upper Township on Ashuelot River where we Dwell to his Excellency the Governour of New Hampshire and all Concern'd in that aftair In the same form that it was laid out by the Massachusetts "Upper Ashuelot Feb^^ 11"= 1750 Nathan Fairbanks Joseph Elles Nathan Blake Ebenezer Day Gideon Ellis Michael Medcalf David Foster Oliver medcalf Michaell medcalf jr Abijah medcalf Samuell Hall Jesse Hall " " William Smeed Ebenezer Nims David Nims Ephraim Dorman Jabez Hill Jonathan underwood John Rogers Elijah Dorman February 20th, Benjamin Guild was chosen to assist Capttiin Hall in " Petitioning His Ex- cellency " as follows : " We whose Names are Hereunto Subscribed Being Propriators of the Upper Ashuelot Township so called Do hereby Impower M' Benjamin Guild to joyne with Cap' Jeremiah Hall in Petitioning His Exelency the Govoner of the Province of New Ham- shire He observing the Instructions Given by others of the Propriators to the said Cap' Hall "Wrentham Feb' 20'" 1750 " John Whiting William Hancock Daniel Haws Samuel Danils Joseph Fisher Esther Messenger Samuel Fisher Jonathan Whiting Benjamin Guild Jacob Bacon ( )bediah Blake Natli" Fairbnks Ebenezer Daniells Abigail Guild Nathaniel Ware Robert Blak Hannah Dale Seth Hcaton Abner Ellis Elijah Blake Asa Richardson Josiah Fisher for the Sarah Greene hares o f A a r o n .Toseph Richardson Fisher Daniell maceene Nathan Bucknam " The following is the first petition for the in- corporation of the town, 1751 : ■' To His Excellency Banning Wentworth Eslc, coming up, saw the Indians, 3+ HISTOllY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. attacked them, and drove them to the plain west of the factory. An express was instant- ly sent to Keenc, and a party of fifteen men under Captain Mctcalf went out to meet them. This party went first to the foot of the hill, beyond Mr. Heatou's, supposing the Indians would there cross the Branch. E.emainin<; tiiei-e a short time without discovering any In- dians, a Mr. Howard proposed to go to another ford still farther up. Josiah French, a shrewd man, observed, " Those who wish to meet with the Indians had better stay here; I feel no de- sire to see them, and will go over the hill witii Howard." It was agreed to go over the hill ; but no sooner had they reached the top of tlic nearest eminence than they discovered nine In- dians crossing at the ford they had left. They lav in wait for them a few hours, but did not see them afterwards, lleturning to the fort, Howard received no mercy from the men, women and children within it. Sevei-al days afterwards the men went in a body, and armcid, to hoe Mr. Day's corn, near Surr}', and discov- ered tliat an old house in that neighborhood had been burnt ; it was supposed to have been set on fire by the same jiarty of Indians. Afterwards, but in what year is not recol- lected, another, and the last, party of Indians made a visit to Keene. The inhabitants had cleared and fenced a large common field consist- iiio; of about two liundred acres, which was used as a cow pasture, and the access to it was by a path which ledsoutliwardly along the high ground east of the place where tiie turnpike and Baker's lane unite. When driving their cows to this pasture, it was the custom of the inhabitants not to go in the path, for fear of a surprise, but on one or the other side of it. Early one morning they came suddenly upon a party of Indians, concealed in thick bushes and busily engaged in mending their moccasins. They instantly stai'ted up and escaped. It was afterwards ascca-taincd that the leather with which they were mending their moccasins had been stolen the night before, from a tannery at Walpole (or C'iiarlestown). CHAPTER III. K EE X E— ( CoiiiiHiierf). WAR OF TIIE REVOLUTION.' First Reference to the War in Town Records — Vote to get Stock of I'owiler, Lead and Flints — Keene in the Bat lie of Lexington — Tories — Bobea Tea — Various Resolutions — List of Patriots — Battle of Bennington — Captain Mack's ^•ortie — Elijah Williams — His Return to Keene — Un- pleasant Reception — List of Foot Com]iany in Keene in 1773_Alarm-List of 1774. The first reference on the town records to the War of tlie Revolution is under date of 1774. In a M'arrant calling a town-meeting to be held the 26th of September the following articles were inserted : " To see if it be the mind f)f the town to provide ammunition for a town stock, and grant money for the same;" and " To see if it be the mind of the town to sign the covenant and engagement, which was sent and recommended by the committee of corre- spondence, relating to the non-importation agree- ment." Upon the first article the town " Voted, to get a stock (if ammunition for the town, viz.: 200 His. of good gunpowder, 400 Wit^. of lead, and 1200 flints; and to raise twenty-four ]>ounds, lawfid money, for jiroviding said artit^les." Upon the other article the following ])ream- ble and vote were adopted : " HV/crca-s' the towns in this ])rovince have chosen members to rep- resent them in a General Congress of all the colonies, now sitting at the city of Philadelphia, to consult and determine what steps are neces- sary for the colonies to adopt, Voted, therefore, not to sign the non-importation agreement until we hear what measures said Congress have agreetl upon for themselves and their constitu- ents." October 17th, Captain Isaac Wyman and Lieutenant Timothv Ellis were chosen delegates to attend the County Congress at Walpole. No information concerning the object or proceed- ings of this Congress has been obtained. In the winter of this year Elijah Williams, Esq., instituted a suit against a citizen of Keene, the writ being in the form then usual, commenc- 'Extracted from "Hale's Annals. " KEENE. intj, "George the Tliird, by tlie grace of God, King," ete. Inuiiudiately afterwards a large iuuhIkt of people, many coming from the neigh- Iioriug towns, assembled at Keene, seized Wil- liams aud took him with them to their place of meeting, which was a barn standing by itself in a field. They required him to stop the suit, and to promise that he would issue no more writs in the name of the King Perceiving he had no alternative, he complied, and was then set ut liberty. On the 4th of January, 1775, at a legal town- meeting, the inhabitants " Vokd, to come into the measures recommended by the Continental Congress, in their association agreement." They chose, agreeably to said advice, Isaac Wyniaii, Timothy Ellis, Thomas Baker, Dan Guild and William Ellis a Committee of Inspection. They also chose Isaac Wyman to represent the town at the meeting to be held at Exeter on the 21st day of said January, for the choice of dele- gates to the Continental Congress. At a town-meeting held February 23d, Cap- tain Isaai! Wyman was chosen "to represent the town in the General Assembly, holden at Portsmouth, on the said 2."3d day of February, and so, day by day, during their sessious." On the 1 9th of April was fought the battle of Lexington. The in.stant that news of the battle arrived in town, which was in the fore- noon, Captain Dorman, who then commanded the militia, called upon Captain Wyman. " The regulars," said he, "have come out to ( 'oncord, have killed six men, and the battle was raging when the messenger started. What shall be done?" "Send expresses," said Cap- tain Wyman, "to every part of the town, notify- ing the inhabitants to meet, forthwith, on the green, and be governed by theirdecision." Ex- presses were sent, the citizens met in the after- noon, and a vote was unanimously passed that a body of men should be sent to oppose the reg- idars. The question was asked, " Who shall lead them?" Captain Wyman was nominated, was chosen, and, though for advanced in years, cheerfully consented to go. Volunteers were then called for, and about thirty presented them- selves. Captain Wyman directed them to go home immediately and prepare provisions for their use, "for," said he, "all the roads will be full of men, and you can procure nothing on the way;" and he then ajjpointed sunrise the next morning the time, and his house the place of rendezvous. At sunrise they met, and im- mediately started for Concord. In the after- noon General Bellows, (Jolonel John Bellows and Thomas Sparhawk arrived from Walpole, and, riding to his house, in(|uirod for Captain Wyman. Being answered tiiat he had started at sunrise, at the head of a company of men, thev exclaimed, "Keene has shown a noble spirit!" and iiastened onwards. They were soon followed by a party of men from Walpole. At an informal meeting of the inhabitants, held (in the 27tli of April, they chose Timothy Ellis a delegate to meet the committee at Exeter, and to sit, as a member, in the Provincial Congress, whenever they convene. He ex- pressed his willingness to accept the office, but declared that he had not, and could not, in season, procure money enough to bear his ex- penses. The inhaliitanls, thereupon, "l'o/. Chose Captain Stiles, Major Ellis and Cap- tain (triswold delegates to meet at Surry, and consult with the delegates of the other towns. A])ril 27th, Jeremiah Stiles was chosen a delegate to UKH't in the convention to be held at Concord for the purpose of forming a Con- stitution and plan of government for the State. At a meeting held March '2, 1 779, the town " Vnird that the selectmen be a committee to give the representative instructions to use his influence that the delegates from this State to the Continental Congress lay claim to the New Hampshire Grants, so called, provided (hat Congress will not confirm the same into a new State." In this year ('a|itain Mack, of Gilsum, probably incited by some of the zealous Whigs in Keenc, collected a party with a view of ap- prehending several Tories who resided here, and who were suspected of furnishing the enemy with provisions. On the evening of the 30th of May ' they assembled at Partridge's tavern, near Wright's mills, on the road to Surry. In the night Mack sent forward several men with directions to place themselves separatelv at the doors of those houses where the Tories resided, and prevent their escape. At sunrise he rode into Keene, at the head of his party with a drawn sword ; and when he came to the house of a Tory he ordered the sentinel standing at the door to "turn out the prisoner." The prisoner being brought out and placed in the midst of his party, he proceeded onward. Having gone through the street, collected all of them and ' 'J'lie first line of a song, remembereil by an aged citizen, tixes tlie ilny wlien tliis parly visitt'4 Ki-cne : •' (In tlie tliirty first of May, Appearoil in Keenc, at iireali of ilay, A mob, liotli liobl and stout, " Tliose wlio lived in tliese times well remember ihal Ibe muses were not silent amid tlic din of arms. 40 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. searched their cellars for provisions, of which he found little, he returned to the tavern of Mr. Hall, and confined them in a chamber. But, when lie first made his api)carance, information was sent to Mr. Howlet, who then commanded the militia, of the commotion in the village. He instantly sent expresses to warn his company to a])pear forthwith in the street, with their arms and ammunition. They came about the middle of the forenoon, were paraded, facing south, in front of the meeting- house, then standing south of where it now does — on a line with the north line of West Street — and were ordered to load their guns witli powder and ball. Mack paraded his com- pany across tlie street from the tavern to the Watson house, facing their antagonists. Col- onel Alexander, of AVinchester, who tlien com- manded the regiment, had been sent for, and now came. He asked Captain Alack if he in- tended to pursue his object. " I do," replied he, "at the hazard of my life." "Then," said the colonel, emphatically, " you must prepare for eternity, for you shall not be permitted to take vengeance, in this irregular mode, on any men, even if they are Tories." This resolute speech cooled the ardor of many, .\fter deliberating a while, Mack ordered his party to face about, and led them a short distance southward ; and the militia then went into the meeting-house. Not lono- afterwards the mob faced about affaiu, and marchiKl silently by the meetiug-house, towards Surry; but though silently, they did not march in silence, for the women, as they passed, furnished noisy and lively music, on tin pans and warming-pans, until they disap- peared from view. At a meeting held July 7th the town chose "a committee to hire and agree with five men to serve in the Continental army, on the best terms they can ;" and the same committee were empow- ered to hire two men for the Rhode Island ser vice, at the town's charge. October 20th the town voted to i-aise three hundred and thii'ty pounds for paying the charge of raising men for the defense of the State of Rhode Island, and the sum of four hundred and thirtj-'One pounds for the charge of raising men for the Continental service. June 27 1780, the town voted to give fifty dollars (as it is valued and stipulated in the act of court) to each able-bodied man that will enoawe in the Continental service, iu behalf of the town, for the space of six months. In the warrant calling a town-meeting, to be held July 20th, the following article was inserted : " Whereas, liy an act ol' the General Assembly of this State, each town is obliged to provide (monthly) a quantity of beef for the use of the Continental army, for the space of five months ; therefore to see what method the town will take to i)rocure said quantity of beef." At the meeting the town voted "to raise eleven thousand three hundred and nine pounds of beef, each person to have liberty to pay his equal pro- portion thereof in beef, or to ])ay so much money in lieu thereof as h'e was taxed in the last State and Continental tax." On the 24tli of January, 1 781, the selectmen, reciting that, " by a late act of the General As- sembly, each town is oblige to furnish their quota of men for the Continental army as soon as possible," called a meeting, to be held Febru- ary 7th, " to sec what method the town will take to raise their quota." At a meeting thus called the f()llowiug votes were passed : " Voted, to choose a committee to make an average of M'hat service each man has done heretofore, as to hiring men or going per- .sonally into the service of the United States." Upon further consultation and consideration, it was voted to ])ostpone the average to some future time, and " Voted, to divide the ratable inhabit- ants of the town into twelve equal classes, and each class to procure a man to serve in the Con- tinental army the space of three years, or during the war, upon their own charge, as soon as may be." At a meeting held April l(i, 1782, the town voted to choose a committee to make an account of the service each man lias done in the present war, and make an average, so tliat each man may have credit for what he has alicady done; and also to divide or class the inhabitants into twelve e(jual classes (credit for what each man has done to be given him), and each class to provide, or hire, a man for the space of three KEENE. 41 years, or during the war, upon their on cost; said classes to be so made tiiat each pay equal taxes. At a town-meeting held June 19, 1783, the town " Voted, unanimously, tiiat tiie representa- tive be instructed to use iiis influence that all who have absented themselves fi-om any of the United States of America, and joined with, or put themselves under the protection of, the ene- mies of the United States, be utterly debarred from residing; within this State." This vote was passed at the I'cquest of the representative, Daniel Kingsbury, to be instructed on the sub- ject. The treaty of peace with Great Britain hav- ing secured to tlie Tories the privilege of retui'u- ing to this country to collect their debts and and settle their affairs, Elijah Williams, Esq., came to Kceuc for that purjwse in the begin- ning i)f this year. His appearance here so ex- asperated the zealous Whigs that they seized him and carried him before Thomas Baker, Esq., a justice of the peace. What were the charges against him, or whether any charges were exhibited, has not been ascertained. The justice, perhaps with a view to protect him from outrage, ordered liim to recognize for his appearance at the Court of Sessions, to be held at Charlestowu, in April, and committed him to the custody of the sheriff. With this the pop- ulace wore not satisfied, and they discovered an intention of assaulting and Ijeating him ; but he was surrounded and guarded to his lodgings 1)V the old and the young men who happened to be present. The animosity of the Whigs, aggravated probably by the arts of those who were in- debted to him, was, however, so great that they determined he should not thus escajie their ven- geance. On the day before that appointed for the sitting of the court a party concealed them- selves in the pines near Fisher Brook, intend- ing, when he passed with the sheriff, to get him into their power. The sheriff passed without him, relying upon the promise he had made to appear at court the next day. This circum- stance excited their suspicions ; they came im- mediately into the street, seized Williams at his lodgings, and, placing him in the midst of them, repaired to a tavern in Ash Swamp. When lie arrived there two bundles of black- beech rods were produced, from which it ap- peared that a plan had been concerted to compel him to run the gauntlet, with the view, prolta- bly, of inducing him, by such harsh treatment, again to leave the country. But by this time a large number of considerate citizens had as- sembled and arrived at the tavern. A proposi- tion was made that the whole subject should be referred to a committee. A committee was ap- pointed ; their rei>ortwas too favorable to Wil- liams to suit the majority, and was rejected. Another conmiittec was appointed, who reported that he should leave tiie town the next day and leave the State the next week. This report was agreed to; but the minority, still dissatis- fied, privately sent out messengers, to collect more of their friends. This being communi- cated to those who were disposed to protect Williams, they advised him to retire imme- diately. An attempt was made to prevent him from mounting a horse, which had been offered him by a friend. A conflict ensued, in which the horse was overthrown, and several persons were knocked down with clubs. Heat length, however, mounted, with the assistance of his friends, and rode through the crowd, which continued to oppose him. The next day he repaired to C-harlestown, and presented himself to the court, which thereupon passed the following order: "That Elijah Williams, Esq., now in the keeping of Isaac Griswold, by virtue of a mittimus from Thomas Baker, Esq., continue in the custody of the said Isaac until he shall have tran.saoted the business upoii which he came into this part of the country, and then be permitted to leave this State, upon his good behavior, without further molestation." After settling his affairs Williams repaired to Nova Scotia. Shortly after, in consequence of ill health, he returned to Deerfield, his native town, died, and wits Inu'ied by the side of his ancestors. The following is a list of the foot company in Keene in 1773 : " Lieut. Benjamin Hall. Josejih Gray. Ensign Michael Metcalf. Samuel Hall. Clerk Simeon Clark. Jesse Hall. 42 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Serj. Elijah Blake. Serj. Thomas Baker. Serj. Isaac Esty. Serj. Jede. Carpenter. Corp. Dau Guild. Corp. Joseph Blake. Corp. Aliijah Metcalf. Benjaniiii Archer. Jonathan Archer. Ashael Blake. John Brown. Elisha Briggs. John Balch. Benjamin Balch, Jr. Luther Bragg. Samuel Bassett. John Burt. Nathan Blake, Jr. Obadiah Blake, Jr. Royal Blake. Naboth Bettison. Thomas Baker, Jr. John Pray Blake. Cephas Clark. Seth Clark. Eliphalet Carpenter. Ebenezer Carpenter. Samuel Chapman. Silas Cook. Isaac Clark. Simeon Clark, Jr. Jonas Clark. John Day, Jr. John Daniels. Reuben Daniels. John Dickson. Addington Daniels. Ebenezer Day, .Jr. Jacob Day. James Dean. Timothy Crossfield. Joseph Ellis, Jr. Gideon Ellis, Jr. Simeon Ellis. Timothy Ellis (3(1). William Ellis. Caleb Ellis. Stephen Esty. James Eady. Henry Ellis. Benjamin Ellis. Benjamin Ellis, Jr. Joshua Ellis. Jabez Fisher. Silas French. David Foster, Jr. Peter Fiskin. Aaron Gray, Jr. Peter Hubbert. Seth Heaton, Jr. John Houghton. Joseph Hills, Davis Howlet. Ziba Hall. Jonathan Heaton. Luther Heaton. Nathaniel Kingsbury. Daniel Kingsbury. Stephen Larrabee. Daniel Lake. Ezra Metcalf. Jonathan Metcalf. Moses Marsh. Eli Metcalf. Daniel Metcalf. William Nelson. David Nims, Jr. Ebenezer Newton. Asahel Nims. Eliakim Nims. Zadock Nims. Alpheus Nims. Joshua Osgood. Benjamin Osgood, Jr. Amtjs Partridge. Jonathan Pond. Abiathar Pond. Nathan Rugg. Josiah Richardson. Eleazer Sanger. Abner Sanger. Robert Spencer. Jeremiah Stiles. Richard Smith. John Swan. Jacob Town. Joseph Thatcher. Abraham Wheeler, Jr., Joseph Willson. William Woods. Oliver Wright. Jedediah Wellman. David Willson. Daniel Willson. Thomas Wells. John White. James Wright. Zadock Wheeler. Walter Wheeler. Samuel Wadsworth. Abijah Wilder. Jonathan Wheeler. Thomas Wilder. Thomas IMorse. Ephraim Leonard. Peter Daniels. William Goodenow. Luke Metcalf. .John Griggs. Isaac Wyman, Jr. " Errors excepted. " Epheaim Dorman, C. " To Col. Josiah AVillard, Keene, August 7, 1773." • The following is the alarm-li.st belougiiig to Keene : Lieut. Seth Heaton. Dea. David Foster. John Day. Abraham Wheeler. Nathan Blake. Joseph Ellis. Uriah Wilson. Ebenezer Nims. David Nims. Gideon Ellis. Lieut. Andrew Balch. Aaron Gray. Ebenezer Day. Eliphalet Briggs. Benjamin Archer. Capt. Isaac Wyman. Doct. Obadiah Blake. Lieut. Timothy Ellis. Thomas Frink, Esq. Doct. Josiah Pomeroy. Doct. Gideon Tiffany. Elijah AVilliams. Israel Houghton. Samuel Woods. Samuel Daniels. Jesse Clark. Joseph Brown. Robert Gillmore. Obadiah Hamilton. Peter Rice. Elisha Ellis. Isaac Billings. Josiah Ellis. Timothy Ellis, Jr. Ichabod Fisher. William Gray. Benjamin Hall, Jr. Benjamin Osgood. Nathaniel Hall. Samuel Woods, Jr. John Connolly. Samuel Colhoun. Ebenezer Cooke. Daniel Snow. Eliphalet Briggs, Jr. CHAPTER IV. KEEtiE— {Com i lined). ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. First Cougrcgational Church — Second IJongregationiil Church — Unitarian Church — Baptist Church — St. .lames' Church — Methodist Church — Roman Catholic Chiircii. The First Congregational Church. — • The first reference to the ecclesiastical history of the town found on the old proprietors' records is under date of September 30, ITofi. At a proprietors' meeting held at Keene, then known as the township of the Upper Ashuelot, September ;](), l7.3(i, it was voted "that they will build a Meeting-house at theupper township on the Ashuelot, so called, 40 feet long, 20 feet stud, and 30 and 5 feet wide, at the south end of the town street (to underpin, cover and KEENE. 43 inclose the same, and lay down hoards for the lower floor), at the place appointed by the Gen- eral Court's committee ; and that Messrs. Jere- miah Hall, Samuel Daniels, Joseph Richardson, Stejihen Blake and Josiah Fisher be a com- mittee to build or let the same ; and to see that said work be completely performed by the 2(jth day of June next." The first jiastor was the Rev. Jacob Bacon. He was called to settle as the minister of the new plantation May 5, 1 73.S, and was ordained October 18th of the same year. The committee who presented the call consisted of Jeremiah Hall, David Foster, Isaac Clark, Josiah Fisher and Ei)enezer Nims. The church was organized October LS, 1737, and soon after David Foster and Josiah Fisher were appointed deacons. Rev. Mr. Bacon was dismissed in 1747. The town was chartered in 1753, and at the first meeting held under the new charter it was voted to build a meetinir-house of slabs for tem- porary use, and in the following December it was voted to build a meeting-house forty-five feet long antl thirty-five feet wide. This house was erected on the common and used till the fall of 1786, when it was removed to the west side of the common and rebuilt as the court-house of Cheshire County. The second house of worship was erected in 1786, and was an enterprise of no small magnitude for those early days. The pews were bought in anticipation of its being built and were generally paid for in cattle, which were sold at great discount. The following items are extracted from the records of the buildinsr o committee : " To a journey in February, 1787, to Sutton, Frank- lin and Boston, to purchase oil, glass and vane, £1 4s. Od. " To a journey down with 27 head of cattel to AVrentham, December, 1787; also, a journey to Provi- dence to buy the glass for the meeting-house ; and expense of keeping said cattel, £5 3.s. lOd. " May, 1788. — To a journey to Providence after the glass ; to caning glass from Providence to Wrentham ; also, a journey from Providence to Boston, 19s. Id. " Paid for cattel more than they sold for in cash, £16 18s. 5d. " To cash to defray the expenses of Samuel Heaton down to Wrentham after the glass for the meeting- house, wagon and two horses, £1 18s. 4rf. " Paid Mr. John Ward & Co., Providence, for glass, £38 5s. 4rf." The pews sold for £941 os. Raised by tax, four hundred pounds. The building committee consisted of Lieu- tenant Benjamin Hall, Deacon Daniel Kings- bury, Major Davis Howlet, Mr. Benjamin Anlier, Lieutenant Reuben Partridge, Mr. Abi- jah Wilder and Mr. Thomas Baker. The pews were sold at auction, as follows : PEW.S ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. £ S. Daniel Newcomb, Esq., Xo. 15 IS Abijah Wilder, No. 20 18 10 Daniel Xewcomb, Esq., No. 17 18 Benjamin Hall, No. 18 IS 10 James Wright, No. 62 17 Thomas Baker, Jr., No. 19 16 10 Nathan Blake, Jr., No. 61 16 10 Abel Blake, No. 57 15 10 Isaac Billings, No. 46 15 10 Josiah Eichardson, No. 34 16 Aaron Ernes, No. 16 15 Colonel Timothy Ellis, No. 63 15 10 Thomas Baker, Esq., No. 14 15 Benjamin Hall, Esq., No. 47 14 Aaron Willson, No. 24 14 Israel Houghton and I n^ .,- ., , Elisha Briggs, J Alpheus Nims, No. 9 14 David Howlet, No. 21 14 Isaac Blake and 1 x^ .i- i . rv , , , ^^0. 2/ 14 Joseph Blake, ) Royal Blake, No. 60 14 Thomas Field, No. 26 15 Asa Dunbar, Esq., No. 35 14 Alexander Ralston, No. 33 14 John Swan, No. 59 13 10 Luther Emes, No. 36 13 10 Jotham Metcalf, No. 28 13 10 Daniel Kingsbury, No. 56 13 10 Reuben Partridge, No. 31 12 10 John Houghton, No 30 12 Cornelius Sturtevant, No. 45 12 Elijah Dunbar, No. 10 12 Abraham Wheeler, Jr., No. 3 11 10 Eliphalet Briggs, No. 48 11 (» John P. Blake and | jjo. 29 10 10 Andrew Slylield, J David Nims, Jr., No. 8 10 10 William Wood.s, No. 11 11 10 Benjamin Archer, No. 51 10 Benjamin Hall, No. 49 10 Eli Metcalf, No. 12 10 10 44 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. £ s. Benjnmin Bakh, No. 50 10 Isaac Griswold, No. 44 10 Daniel Ncvvcomb, Esq., No. 1 10 10 Ebenezer Day, No. 55 10 Thaddeus Metcalf, No. 13 10 Ephraim Wright, No. 42 10 10 David Wilson, No. 22 10 10 Joshua Durant, No. fi4 10 Eri Richardson, No. 23 10 John Dickson, No. 43 10 Samuel Bassett, No. 7 10 David P^oster, No. 53 10 Asahel Blake, No. 32 10 Jesse Clark, No. 52 10 Hananiah Hall and | jj^^_ g^ jq „ Samuel Osgood, ) Josiah WiHard, No. (J 10 Josiah Willard, No. 41 10 John Stiles, No. 4 '. 10 10 Joseph Brown, No. 39 10 Bartholomew Dwincll and ] -,- , -.q q John Stiles, i Daniel Wilson, No. 38 10 Dan Guild, No. 2 10 Simeon Clark, No. 37 12 10 Josiah Willard, No. 40 10 PEWS IN THE GALLERY. Thomas Baker, Jr., No. 13 9 10 Stephen Chase, No. 16 8 10 Benjamin Kemp, No. 10 9 10 Timothy Balch and | ^^^^ j„ ^ ^^^ Ebenezei- Robbins, i Elisha Briggs, No. 15 7 10 Eliakim Nims, No. 11 7 10 Daniel Newcomb, Esq., No. 8 7 Elisha Briggs, No. 12 6 10 Benjamin Willis, Jr., No. 20 6 15 Isaac Billings, No. 6 6 15 Elisha Briggs, No. 14 6 15 Asa Ware and 1 jj^_ 23 10 Jonas Osgood, J Daniel Kingsbury, No. 19 6 05 Eliphalet Briggs, No. 21 G Elisha Briggs, No. 7 5 10 Nathaniel French, No. 9 5 Millet Ellis, No. 22 4 10 Daniel Newcomb, Esq., No. 18 7 Elisha Briggs, No. 25 4 05 Abijah Wilder, No. 24 9 Reuben Partridge, No. 5 4 05 Thomas Field, No. 4 4 10 Alexander McDaniels, No. 2 4 05 Eliphalet Briggs, No. 3 4 05 Tiinothy Balch, No. 1 5 The pews on the ttoor (.•^ixty-three) sold for seven hnndred and eighty-nine pounds ; those in the gallery (twenty-five) for sixty pounds ; the whole number for eight hundred and forty- nine pounds, — about three thousand dollars. This church was remodeled in 1828 and sev- eral times since. ]\Ir. Bacon's successor as pastor was Rev. Ezra Carpenter, who was installed October 4, 1753, over the united chui-ch of Keene and Swanzey. He remained about seven years. At the separation of Keene from Swanzey the Keene C^luuTh was organized with foifrteen male members, and June 11, 1761, Rev. Clement Sumner was ordained as pastor. He officiated about eleven years, and was succeeded, in 1777, by Rev. Aaron Hall. He was ordained Feb- ruary 18, 1778, the church at this time consist- ing of seventy-seven members. Mr. Hall officiated as pastor thirty-seven years. He died August 12, 1814. During his ministry two hundred and eleven menabers were received into the church. Rev. David Oliphant was the next pastor, installed May 24, 1815. He remained about three years and was succeeded by Rev. Z. S. Barstow, D.D.,Avho was ordained July 1, 1818. Dr. Barstow's pastorate covered a period of fifty years. He resigned March 1, 18(J8. Rev. J. A Hamilton was his helper from February 1*, lS(il, till August 10, 18(j5, and Rev. J. A. Leach from August 16, 1866, till September 21, 1867. Rev. William S. Karr, installed July 9, 1868, left January 1, 1«73. Rev. Cyrus Richardson, from July 10, 1873, till July 10, 1883. The church at present (1885) has no settled pastor. Congregational Society ^ (Unitarian). — This society was organized March 18, 1824, by an as.sociation of sixty-nine men, under the statutes of the State of New Hampshire. It took the designation of " Keene Congregational Society." Mr. Creorge Tilden is now, and has been for some years, the only survivor of that original membership. Among the original ' Tlie items Tor this sketch were very kindly furnished by Rev. William Ovue White. KEENE. 45 members were Samuel Dinsmoor and Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr. (each Governor of New Hamp- shire), Thomas M. Edwards (late a member of Congress), Salma Hale (member of Con- gress) Silas Perry (the Revolutionary soldier), John Elliot, Aaron Appleton, John Prentiss, Francis Faulkner, James Wilson, Jr., William Lamsou, Sumner Wheeler and Benjamin F. Adams ; and Phineas Handorson, in l.S.3(), and William L. Foster, in 1S42, added their names. Levi Chamberlain was a punctual attendant, althoiiglx his name is not ou that early list. The time-honored deacons, Samuel Wood, Jr., and Adolphus Wright, are there, — the one serv- ing upwards of twenty-nine and the other thirty- five years,^fitly succeeded in office by John Clark, who also served (until his death) nearly twenty-seven years. Add to such names among the departed, as chronicled above, the sons of Francis Faulk- ner, who, in a business career or at the bar, achieved renown; or men like W^illiam P. Abbott, of Nashua, who, thirty years ago, joined the parish heart and hand ; and it be- comes evident that its influence has left its mark upon the community. And }'et, without the scores of earnest, faithful, industrious men with their households, who have adorned a more quiet career, the society could not have let its light shine as it has. Rev. William Orne White says : " I deemed myself fortunate in succeeding, in 1851, such ministers as Thomas Russell Sullivan and Abiel Abbot Livermore, one of whom hatl given nine and a half and the other thirteen and a half years to the parish, and had left beliind them tlie record of earnest work, and that ' good name ' which ' is better than precious ointment.' " The church edifice was enlarged by one-third its space and remodeled in 1867—68. Early in 1869, through the gift of one thou- sand dollars by the late Charles Wilson, the germ of the Invalids' Home was planted, which by subsec^uent bequests of five thousand dollars and upwards from the late Mrs. Rebecca H. Cooke, and one thousand dollars from the late John J. Allen, as well as through numerous sub- scriptions and the co-operation of friends in other parishes in Keene, has been enabled to reach its present state of efficiency. Nearly five thousand dollars were paid to- wards the missionary etforts of the American Unitarian Association by members of the parish during the twenty -seven years of ilr. White's ministry, besides contributions to Freedmen's Schools, the New Hanq)shire Or- phans' Home and other charities. Mr. White's predecessor had been eminently faithful to this department of parish exertion. Mr White recorded two hundred and thirty- one baptisms, all but a very few being in Keene. In Keene or its vicinity he officiated, during his pastorate, at nearly five hundred burials. It is proper to add that the Keene AtheuEeum (precursor of the Keene Public Library) owed its origin largely to effijrts of persons of our own parish. Yet, in saying this, the cor- dial co-operation — during the war and at other times — of generous-hearted souls in all the parishes, in the behalf of the soldiers, frecd- men, etc., cannot be forgotten. Baptist Church.' — Baptists from Middle- borough, Mass., located in the east j)art of Westmoreland, where they constituted a church in 1771. This family sjiread into the west part of Keene. Here a church of the same faith was recognized by an ecclesiastical council ou the 9tli day of September, 1816, consisting of thirteen members. It was gathered under the ministry of Rev. Charles Cummings. The churcli was received into the Dublin Baptist Association in Octolier of that year. A small meeting-house, with square pews and a gallery, was built that autumn. It was situated in that part of the town known as "Ash Swamjj," and dedicated December 25, 1816.^ Worship was continued here, at irregular periods, under many discouragements, till 1838, when Baj)tist preach- 1 By Rev. William H. Eaton, P.D. 'This meeting-house was built mainly tlirough the agency of David Carpenter, whose son, Caleb Carpenier, paid largely toward the removal of the debt on the new house on Court Street. The frame of the ohl house still exists, in part, in the dwelling-house on the corner of Middle and Summer Streets, now owned by Mr. James Donnelly. The bell is slill preserved and is now used in die new church. 46 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ing was commeuced in the village. The effort was so successful that a brick meeting-house, forty-five feet by sixty-eight and a half feet, on Winter Sti'eet,' was dedicated September 17, 18.")!l. The interest in the village was started and the house built under the efficient labors of Rev. John Peacock. He baptized forty-six during the year and a half of his ministry. Rev. Mark Carpenter, late of Mil- ford, was publicly recognized as pastor of the church on the 22d of April, 184U, and dis- missed on the '^d of October, 1844, having liaptized sixty into the fellowship of the church. He was succeeded by Mr. Hoi'ace Richardson, of Cornish, a recent graduate of Newton Theo- logical Institution, who was ordained May 7, 1845. He was dismissed April 1, 1846. After him Rev. (xilbert Roi)bins, late of Rumney, took charge of the church, commencing his laboi-s in August of that year. He remained here eleven years, tendering his resignation in June, 1857. It was a time of sowing and not of reaping, though he had the privilege in one associatioual year of baptizing twenty- two. In 185.3 a convenient two-story parsonage, with a small barn, was built on the west side of Court Street, about one-half mile fronj the meeting-house. The lot measured .sixty-six feet front, with an average depth of about one hundred and fifty-five feet. The land and buildings cost sixteen hundred and fifty dollars. In October of 1857, Rev. Leonard Tracy be- came the pastor, and in June of 1 86-) gave up his charge, respected and beloved by all. In the mean time he baptized twenty-six. In the autumn of 1863 the attention of the people was directed to Mr. William N. Clarke, of Caze- novia, N. Y., a recent graduate of Hamilton Theological Seminary, and he was ordained the pastor January 14, 1864. He remained here five years and a half, in which time he baptized twenty-two and gave a moral impulse to the church. While he was here a new organ was 'The building committee for tlie house on Winter Street. were Levi Willard, William Stowits and Amasa Brown. The house remains on its original location, though oc- cupied for secular purposes. purchased, costing twelve hundred and fifty dol- lars. He closed his labors here May 9, 1869. He was succeeded by Mr. Austin V. Tilton, a graduate of Newton Theological In.stitution, and a .sou of Rev. J. D. Tilton, of Milford. He was ordained September 30, 1869, and con- tinued his labors here till May 5, 1872. He " labored for dii-ect .spiritual fruit," and had the satisfaction of adding to the church, by baptism, twentv-five in less than three years of his ministry. On the 26th of May, 1872, Rev. William H. Eaton, D.D., late of Nashua, was invited to be- come pastor. After spending about two months with the people he accepted the call. He was in- stalled September 1st. The question of a new house of worship had been under discussion for sometime. After the settlement of Dr. Eat, it was "Voted that the sum of eight dollars be paid to Ephraim Dorman for his services in going to Portsmouth on business relating to the charter. Voted to Benjamin Bellows one Jiundrcd and twenty-two Spanish milled dollars for his services and ex- penses in getting the cliarter of Keene. Voted to raise one hundred and twenty-two pounds, old tenor, for the use of preaching the present year. Chose Ephraim Dorman one of the assessors of the town." At the second meeting Dorman was one of a committee to see that the proprietors' title to lands in the township be lawful and good ; if so, to give them liberty to have them I'ecorded in the jjroprietors' " Book of Records." Feb- ruary 23, 1762, he was on a committee to draw lots for a division of lands among the proprie- tors of the town. March 7, 1769, he was moderator in town-meeting. In 1773 he was captain of the foot company of Keene, number- ing one hundred and forty-six men ; was also one of tlie first to start a company for the seat of war after the fight at Lexington, April 19, 1775. Now does not this man deserve a monument of marble or bronze, with this inscrijition on it : " He gave his property, his life, his all, to Keene ?" Captain Ephraim Dorman died in Keene May 7, 1795, aged eighty-five. To show the contrast in f)atriotism one hundred years ago, as compared with tiie present time, read the following : " At a town-meeting held in Keene Sept., 1773, voted to give Dea. David Foster liberty to lay out three acres of land ou the "West Beach Hill, in the common land, in such place as he may choo.se, in recompense for his services done for the proprietary in eight years pai. 17(>7, aged 7 years and 4 days. '■ In the midst of life we are in death. O hap[)y child, how soon thy race was run '. Now free from anxious care and sorrow. While with thy Saviour and forever l)lest." No. 5. — In memory of ye Widow Betsej^ Fair- banks, ye wife of Capt. Nathan Fairbanks ; she deed. Feb. ye 26th, 1772, in ye 69th year of her age- No. 6. — Here lies the body of William, eldest son of the Rev. Clement and Mrs. Elizabeth Sumner, who died December 13th, 1765, the day of his birth. '"Time how short, eternity how long!" No. 7. — "In memory of Mrs. Zipjiorah, wife of Mr. Ezra Harvey, who deed. Oct. ye 30th, 1778, in ye 27th year of her age. No. 8. — In memory of Zipporah, daughter of Mr. Ezra Harvey and Elizabeth his wife; she died Janu- uary 21st, 1778, aged 2 years 7 mo. 21 dayes. No. 9. — In memory of David Baker, son of Thomas Baker, Esq., and Mrs. Sarah, his wife, who died January ye 27th, 1789, in ye 20th year of his age. " Time was I stood where thou dost now. And viewed the dead as thou dost me; Ere long thou'lt lie as low as I, And others stand and look on thee." No. 10. — Capt. Ephraim Dorman, died May 7th, 179o, aged 85. Capt. Dorman was one of the first settlers and an original proprietor of the town of Keene. No. 11. — Mrs. Hepzibah Dorman. No. 12. — In memory of Mrs. Abigail, wife of Genl. James Reed, who departed this life August 27th, 1791, in the 68th year of her age. " There's nothing here but who as nothing weighs. The more our joy the more we know it's vain ; Lose then from earth the grasp of fond desire, Weigh anchor and some happier clime explore." Mrs. Abigail Reed. No. 13. — Memento Mori. This stone is erected to perpetuate the memory of Madam Ruth Whitney, who departed this life in the 72d year of her age. She was successively married to the Revd. David Stearns, of Luningburg, and the Revd. Aaron Whit- ney, of Petersham, both of whom she survived. For diligence, patience, piety and knowledge, she was 52 HISTORV OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. eminently distinguished. As this stone cannot tell all her virtues, suffice to say that as a wife, she was prudent and faithful ; as a mother, discreet and ten- der ; as a neighbor, friendly and charitable; as a Christian, intelligent and exemplary. A life thus spent terminated with composure on the first of No- vember, 1788. "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remem- brance." Tlie old burying-ground on Washington Street lias been used as a j)lace for Ijurying tlie dead since the year 1788. I remember ;dmost every one that has been interred here in the last fifty years, and the number is between two and three thousand. As I first remember it, it was surrounded on all sides with a stone wall, the same kind that may be found to-day on almost all our hill farms. There was a small building in the liack part of the yard, painted black, to keep the tools in for digging the graves, also for storing the biers. There were two biers, one for adults and one for children. At a funeral the coffin was placed on the bier, and a black cloth, called a pall, spread over it. Eight persons were selected, called the pall-bearers, four to carjy the body, the other four to walk on before to assist when necessary, the mourn- ers and friends following behind on foot. Thus the funeral procession moved along until it reached the grave, when the last ceremony was performed, the church bell tolling all the while. In those days the bell was also tolled in the morning of the day of the funeral as a notice to the people of the town that a funeral was to take place on that day. After striking the bell a few times in the morning of the day of the funeral, the age and sex was struck, — if for a male, one blow ; if for a female, two ; then the number of blows corresponding to the number of years the person had lived. So the bell tolled its story and those hearing its sound could tell who was to be buried on that day. About 1830 the tombs on the west side of the yard were built ; those on the south some years later. These tombs were used for many years, but it was always a very unpleasant duty to open them ; coffins would soon decay and fall in pieces, and many times in the spring of the year I have known the snow to melt and run in at the door and cause the bodies to float around. There are probably at this time the remains of about one hundred bodies in these tombs. These receptacles for tlie dead are now but seldom used. I will begin on the riffht- hand side as we go in through the gate, and give the names of the owners and inscriptions on their tombs : No. 1. — Phinehas Fisk. No. 2. — William Lamson. No. 3.— Thos. Edward and John Hatch. No. 4.— John Elliot. No. 5. — David Carpenter. No. 6. — Noah Cooke. No. 7. — F. Faulkner and R. Montague. No. 8.— Aaron Hall. No. 9. — C. Chapman, D. Heaton, J. Towns. No. 10.— J. Wright, E. Wright, E. Wright (2d). On the left-hand side : No. 1. — Samuel Dinsmoor. No. 2. — James Wilson. No. 3.— John H. Fuller. John H. Fuller died Feb. 24, 1869, aged 77 yrs. and 4 mos. Pamelia, wife of John H. Fuller and daughter of Rev. E. Conant, died July 27, 1829, aged 30. Foster A., their infant son, 1829. Sarah A., their daughter, December 25, 1838, aged 19. James G., tlieir son, Jan. 25, 1853, aged 27. In memory of Lucius D. Pierce, Attorney at Law, Winchendon, Mass., died May 8, 1858, aged 38. Fred K. Bartlett, Attorney at Law at St. Croi.x Falls, Wis., died Dec. 1, 1858, aged 39, husbands of Lucy and Sophia, daughters of John H. Fuller. No. 4. — Charles G. Adams. No. 5. — Joseph Dorr and Ormand Dutton. No. C— Eli Metcalf, died August 3, 1835, aged 85. Elizabeth Metcalf, died Feb. 13, 1842, aged 86. They gave their whole property in charity. No. 7. — S. Hastings, L. B. Page, A. Dodge. No. 8.— Abel Blake and Nathan Dana. In May, 1853, Just before the centennial cel- ebration came off, the tombs, being in rather a dilapidated condition, through the efforts of Rev. Z. S. Barstow and others, were put in good condition and whitewashed, so as to appear decent on that occasion. I think nothing has been done to them since. In 1847 the town voted to build a new fence around the yard ; so the old wall was removed and the present fence put up ; the old black hearse-house has since been taken away. In 1855 the town purchased of Thomas M. Edwards what Mas then called the old nuister- ficld, for the new cemetery on Beaver Street, KEENE. 53 and many of the remains liave been removed from the old grounds to the new, as the old yard was nearly full. The writer at the time the land for the new cemetery was bought was one of the selectmen of the town, and, with a few, urged the necessity of purchasing more laud, — that is, going as far as Beach Hill, — but the very tvise men told us that this lot would answer for fifty years at least. On one of the first monuments we see in going into this old cemetery we read, " To preserve from oblivion the memory of Wm. M. Pierce." Now it was from this old grave-stone that I selected my text, and by copying the inscrip- tions on all of the monuments, will do my share towards preserving them. I will let each stone tell its own story, and should there be among your readers those that find the name of a dear relative or friend among this long list, I am confident they will do what they can towards keeping the old burying-ground on Washing- ton Street sacred. Let it be a pleasant place for us to visit while living, and a safe place for our bones when dead. When this last shall take place, we will simply leave this injunction to Ijody-snatchers and gossips : " Let our dead alone— resurrecting neither our bodies nor our faults." I have arranged the list alj)habeti- cally, also giving the oldest date first in each case: No. 1. — la memory of Lt. Daniel Adams, who died Oct. 27th, 1813, aged 59 yrs. No. 2.— Children of b" F. and L. R. Adams : Mary Jane, died Feb. 18, 18.34, aged 2 yrs. ; Julie Ann, died July 1, 1837, aged 1 yr. ; Frank Benjamin, died Dec. 5, 1842, aged 4i yrs. No. 3. — Abigail Adams, died Aug. 4, 1841, .aged 72 yrs. No. 4.— Elijah Adams, died Dec. 31, 1862, aged 76 years. No. 5. — Amanda Adams, wife of Elijah Adams, died July 25, 1852, aged 66 years. No. 6. — Hannah T. Fowler Adams, wife of Levi M. Adams, died Aug. 25, 1850, aged 27. No. 7. — D. Adams (marl)le monument). No. 8.— Daniel Adams, M.D., died June 9, 1864, aged 90 yrs. 8 mos. 10 days. No. 9.- — Nancy Adams, wife of Dr. Daniel Adams, died May 14, 1851, aged 70 yrs. 8 mos. 15 days. No. 10. — Edward Knight Aldrich, son of Dunbar Aldrieh,died Marcli 27, 1831, aged 1 yr. 8 mos. No. 11. — Abbott (marker). No. 12. — Mary Ann Abbott, daughter of Daniel and Polly Abbott, died Sejit. 20, 1831, aged 6 years 20 days. " The fairest flower soon fades away." No. 13. — Frank Fisk Albee, son of John .T. and Harriet M. Albee, died Aug. 13, 1854, aged 4 mos. and 22 days. No. 14. — Ella Maria, daughter of John J. and Harriet M. Albee, died Oct. 14, 1855, aged 3 weeks. No. 15. — ^Harriet Fisk Albee, wife of John J. Alliee, died July 23, 1858, aged 34 years. No. 16.— Capt. Eliphalet Briggs, died Oct. 11, 1776, aged 42 yrs. No. 17. — Mary Cobb, wife of Capt. Eliphalet Briggs, died June 9, 1806, aged 69 yrs. No. 18.— Eliphalet Briggs, died March 23, 1827, aged 62 yrs. No. 19. — Elizabeth Briggs, wife of Eliphalet Briggs, died March 23, 1819, aged 49 yrs. "Virtue alone is happiness below." No. 20.— Polly Briggs, died July, 1795, aged 3 yrs. ; Sally Briggs, died July, 1795, aged 9 mos. ; daughters of Eliphalet and Elizabeth Briggs. No. 21. — Eliza S., daughter of Eliphalet and Emma Briggs, died Aug. 2, 1839, aged 14 yrs. No. 22. — Briggs (granite monument). No. 23.— Eliphalet Briggs, ob. June 13, 1853, aged 65 yrs. No. 24.— Lucy Briggs, ob. Dec. 19, 1845, aged 57 yrs. No. 25.— Sarah W. Briggs, ob. July 10, 1873, aged 43 yrs. No. 26. — Nancy A. Briggs, wife of William .S. Briggs, died Feb. 14, 1868, aged 46 yrs. No. 27. — Daniel Adams Briggs, born Feb. 21, 1847, died May 26, 1847. No. 28.— Ellen Briggs, daughter of L. H. and E. H. Briggs. No. 29. — Mary A., wife of Joseph W. Briggs, and daughter of Josiah Colony, born Sept. 14, 1825, died April 11, 1859. No. 30.— Wilder Briggs, died March 15, 1827, aged 34 yrs. Charles S., son of W. and Sally Briggs, died May 20, 1827, aged 4 mos. Sally Briggs, wife of Wilder Briggs, died May 20, 1851, aged 66 yrs. No. 31. — Louisa Briggs, 1788 (granite marker). No. 32.— Elijah Blake, died April 3, 1791, aged 7 mos. No. 33.— Parley Blake, died August 29, 1797, aged 6 weeks and 4 days. " And these babes must pay their due. Sine riper years must pay it too." No. 34.— Mrs. Sally E., wife of Capt. Abel Blake, who died July 16, 1803, aged 40 yrs. " Death is a debt to nature due. Which I have paid, and .so must you." No. 35. — In memorv of !\[r.s. Elizabeth, wife of 54 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Mr. Nathan Blake, who died July 19, 1804, aged 83 years. " Let me not forgotten lie. Lest you forget that you must die." No. 36.— Mr. Nathan Blake, died August 4, 1811, in the 100th year of his age. No. 87.— Ruel C, son of Ruel and Betsey Blake, died Feb. 5, 1818, aged 11 inos. and 23 days. No. 38. — Mary Ann, daughter of Rufus and Betsey Blake, died Oct. 26, 1838, aged 16 yrs. and 4 mos. No. 39. — Elizabeth C, daughter of Ruel and Betsey Blake, died Nov. 13, 1838, aged 18 yrs. and 1 mo. No. 40. — Sarah R., daughter of Ruel and Betsey Blake, died March 20, 1834, aged 7 yrs. and 8 mos. No. 41. — Stephen A., son of Ruel and Betsey Blake, died Oct. 31, 1835, aged 6 yrs. and 10 mos. No. 42. — James, son of James and Ruth Bufl'um, died May 27, 1837, aged 6 yrs. and 5 mos. No. 43. — Charles, son of James and Ruth Buffum, died June 2.5, 1837, aged 1 yr. and 1 mo. No. 44. — Susan, daughter of James and Ruth Buf- fum, died March 3, 1840, aged 6 weeks. No. 45.— Mary B. Buffum, died Aug., 1869, aged 47 yrs. No. 46. — Ruth Bliss, wife of James Buffum, died Nov. 23, 18.53, aged 51 years. In tliis old buiying-ground on Washington Street have been buried many of our friends that we like to keep in remembrance ; and amouj them the name of one who, while in life, said the last words at the grave of more of the dead lying here than any man now living — the Rev. Dr. Z. S. Barstow, who for fifty years was the pastor of the old Congregational Church. The inscription on his tombstone tells the whole story better than I could do it. Also may be found the name of Deacon Elijah Carter, one of Dr. Barstow's good deacons; also of the Hon. Ith'r Chase, the father (I have been told) of the late Cliief Justice Salmon P. Chase. All, I think (that ever knew her), will agree with me in saying that the line on the monument of Miss Eliza Carter was strictly true. Although she had passed her three-score years and ten, " She was always young." The names of Hon. Levi Chamberlain, the two Dinsmoors (Samuel and Samuel, Jr.), Lieutenant Charles B. Dan- iels, who gave his life for his country, Miss Catherine Fiske, the founder of Keene Female Seminary, and many other names that we have known and respected will be found in this number. Akso the name of Mi.ss Lvdie Beals, aged one hundred and two years, the oldest in this burying-ground. No. 47.— Thomas Baker, died July 15, 1806, aged 76. '' No more my friends, don't mourn for me, I'm gone into eternity. Make sure of Christ while life remains. And death will be eternal gain." No. 48. — Sarah Baker, wife of Thomas B.aker, died April 24, 1807, aged 75. No. 49.— Benjamin F. Brown, died May 28, 1851, aged 43. No. 50. — Benjamin F. Brown, adojited son of B. F. and C. Brown, died August 7, 1839, aged 4 years. No. 51. — Sarah Brown, died January 25, 1843, aged 34. No 52.— Dea. Amasa Brown, died March 22, 1843, aged 73. No. 53. — Lucy C, daughter of Wm. and .Vnn \V. Brown, died March 20, 1844, aged 7 years. No. 54. — Ann W. Fiske, wife of William Brown, died July 24, 1854, aged 55. No. 55. — Eunice Brown, died Aug. 7, 1847, aged 39. No. 56. — In memory of Amasa Brown, who died April 13, 1847, aged 80 years. " No. 57. — In memory of Hannah, wife of Amasa Brown, wlio died January 4, 1847, aged 70 years. No. 58. — Dea. Lebanon Brown, died July 21, 1846, aged 35. No. 59.— Polly Brown, died Aug. 7, 1856, aged 64. No. 60.— Mrs. Susan Brown, died May 22, 1857, aged 61. No. 61. — James, son of William and AnnaBlacka- dore, died Aug. 15, 1817, aged 2 years and 3 months. "Frail as the flower that blossoms but to die." No. 62. — Sally Bond, daughter of John G. and Sally Bond, who died Sept., 1809, aged 7 months. No. 63.— Mrs. Lydie Beals, died Feb. 13, 1815, aged 102. No. 64. — Charles Barnhart, died June 7, 1829, aged 32. No. 65.— David Barker, died Aug. 7, 1829, aged 33. No. 66. — David S. Barker, died at Havana, Cuba, June 24, 1843, aged 21. No. 67. — Miss Hannah, daughter of Mr. Aaron and Mrs. Sarah Blanchard, died Nov. 25, 1832, in her 31st year. No. 68. — James, son of Nathan and Harriet Bassett, died July 1, 1833, aged 8 years and 9 months. No. 69.— Samuel Bassett, died Nov. 8, 1834, aged 81. No. 70. — Martha, wife of Samuel Bassett, died June 19, 1842, aged 86. No. 71. — Jemima C, wife of Geo. A. Balch, died Sept. 2, 1850, agea 45. No. 72. — George W., son of Geo. A. and .lemima Balch, died April 13, 1848, aged 15 years. KEENE. 55 No. 73.— Artemas A. Boyden, died April .30, 1844, aged 23. No. 74. — Emily C, daughter of John and Celecta H. Bowker, born Jan. 12, 1842, died Sept. 26, 184i). " Beautiful, lovely, 81ie was but {;'iven, A fair bud on earth To bloom in Heaven." No. 75. — Pollen C, daughter of John and Celecta H. Bowker, born Feb. 9, 1851, died Dec. 30, 1853. " So fades the lovely blooming flower." No. 76. — Sarah Abbie Bridgnian, died July 12, 1850, aged 2 years and 7 months. No. 77. — Frank, son of Edward and Sarah E. Bow- tell, died March 25, 1852, aged 1 year and 4 months. No. 78.— George Burrell, died Dec. 24, 1853, aged 34. No. 79.— Mary Ann Pitchard, wife of C. A. Brooks, died Dec. 4, 1854, aged 33. No. 80. — Lovey Ann, wife of Courtney Bingham, died April 16, 1871, aged 69. " Asleep in Jesus." No. 81.— Rev. ZedekiahS. Barstuw, D.D., for tifty years pastor of the First Congregational Church in Keene, ordained July 1, 1818, resigned his pastorate July 1, 1868, died March 1, 1873, aged 82 years and 5 mouths. "I have fought a good fighl, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." Elizabeth Fay Barstow, for fifty-one years the wife of Rev. Z. S. Barstow, died September 15, 1869, aged 77 years. " She opened her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue was the law of kindness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he prai-eth her, and let her own words jiraise her." Timothy Dw-ight, eldest son of Rev. Z. S. and Elizabeth F. Barstow, died Dec. 22, 1820, aged 5 months'. Elizabeth Whitney, only daughter of Rev. Z. S. and Elizabeth F. Barstow, died Jan. 3, 1832, aged 7 years and 4 months. No. 82.— Z. S. B. (marble marker). No. 83.— E. F. B. (marble marker). No. 84.— James Crossfield, died Feb. 25, 1853, aged 75. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." No. 85. — Hannah, wife of James Crossfield, died May 18, 1809, in the 58th year of her age. No. 86. — James Crossfield, died June 21, 1811, in the 60th year of of his age. No. 87. — Roxana, wife of James Crossfield, died May 20, 1856, aged 64. "There is rest in Heavou." No. 88.— Emily J., daughter of K. and R. G. Crossfield, died April 29, 1854, aged 19 years and 6 months. No. 89. — Lestina, wife of Samuel Crossfield, died April 2, 1857, aged 31. No. 90. — Here lies the body of Mrs. Clarinda, wife of Mr. Daniel Chapman, and daughter of Mr. Aden Holbrook, who died Dec. 6, 1812, aged 29. No. 91. — Calvin Chapman, born July 28, 1776, died Aug. 3, 1855. No. 92. — Sarah Nims, wife of Calvin Chapman, born May 9, 1777, died Feb. 22, 1834. No. 93.— Calvin Chapman, Jr., born Jan. 11, 1803, died Oct. 26, 1872. No. 94.— David W. Chapman, died March 31, 1852, aged 45. "Tread lightly where thy father sleeps. Within his cold and narrow bed. For one his bridal vigil keeps. Above the wept and sainted dead. Tread lightly by his narrow tomb. And o'er it plant the gentle flowers. In a far brighter laud than ours." No. 95. — Rebecca, wife of David W. Chapman, died Aug. 9, 1856, aged 43. No. 96. — George, son of David W. and Rebecca Chapman, died March 25, 1838, aged 2. No. 97. — Warren, son of David W. and Rebecca Chapman, died June 17, 1851, aged 12. No. 98. — Sophronia S., wife of King B. Chapman, died Nov. 18, 1849, aged 29. No. 99. — Mary Ann, daughter of King B. and Sophronia S. Chapman, died Aug. 4, 1849, aged 4 years. No. 100. — Jonathan C. Carpenter, died Sept. 24, 1815, aged 2 years 8 months and 8 days. No. 101.— Mira H. Willard, wife of Caleb Carpen- ter, died March 12, 1857, aged 49. No. 102.— David W., died Sept. 18, 1832, aged 2 years and 10 months ; Julia E., died Jan. 23, 1843, aged 3 years and 11 months ; children of Caleb and Mira H. Carpenter. No. 103.— The Hon. Ith'r Chase, died Aug. 8, 1817, aged 55. " And now. Lord, what is my hope — ■ Truly my hope is ever in thee." No. 104. — Eliza Carter, born in Dublin March 5, 1792, died in Keene Dec. 7, 1864. "She was always young." No. 105. — In memory of Charles Carter, died Oct. 20, 1817, aged 29. " There is rest in Heaven." (Masonic emblem.) No. 106. — The grave of Dea. Elijah Carter, who died Feb. 2, 1835, aged 71 years. " Go, hajjpy spirit, seek that blissful laud. Where ransomed sinners join the glorious band 56 HISTOKY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Of those who fought for truth, blest spirit, go, And perfect all the good begun below." No. 107.— Mary, wife of K. Carter, died Nov. 16, 1839, aged 28. No. 108.— Benaiah Cooke, died Aug. 8, 1852, aged 62. No. 109.— Joiiah Cooke, died Sept. 11, 1834, aged 2 years. No. 110.— Mary Eliza Cooke, died Aug. 17, 1837, aged 3 years. No. 111.— George Cooke, died Feb. G, 1838, aged 9 months. No. 112.— Frederick Cooke, died Aug. 9, 1842, aged 14 months. No. 113. — Mary R. Cooke, died Jan. 7, 1855, aged 15 years and 10 months. No. 114.— Harriet W. Cady, died Oct. 9, 1841, aged 43. No. 115. — Rev. Reuben Collins, of the M. E. church, died Dec. 24, 1842, aged 32. No. 110. — Comfort Conner, died May 14, 1820, aged 37. No. 117. — My husband, John S. Currier, died July 31, 1844, aged 32. No. 118. — Coolidge (granite monument). No. 119.— Henry Coolidge, obt. 1843, aged 55. No. 120.— Caroline C. Coolidge, obt. 1846, aged 33. No. 121. — Lawson Coolidge, obt. 1849, aged 41. No. 122.— George H. Coolidge, born Feb. 15, 1811, died Jan. 26, 1868. No. 123.— Hannah Taylor, wife of Josiah Colony, died June 30, 1846, aged 51. " The memory of the departed is endeared as a de- voted wife, a kind and aU'ectionate parent, a regardful neighbor. A calm and serene death followed a quiet and contented life." No. 124. — Harry, son of Henry and Mary Colony, died Sept. 12, 1855, aged 10 months and 26 days. No. 125. — George R., son of Willard and Priscilla Clark, died Aug. 18, 1847, aged 24. " No pain nor grief, no anxious fear, Invades thy bounds ; no mortal woes Can reach the peaceful sleep here, While angels watch its soft repose." No. 126.— Ebenezer Clark, died Aug. 1, 1848, aged 77 ; Eunice, his wife, died April 14, 1865, aged 87. No. 127.— Sands Caswell, died Nov. 10, 1851, aged 29. No. 128. — Mrs. Nancy Crandell, daughter of Wil- liam Esty, died March 25, 1852, aged 60. No. 129. — Jesse Corbett, died Aug., 1866, aged 76. No. 130.— Betsy Twitchell, wife of David Carter, died Jan. 20, 1853, aged 80. No. 131.— Levi Chamberlain, died Aug. 31, 1868, aged 80 years. " How calm he meets the friendly shore Who lived adverse to sin I" No. 132. — Harriet A. Goodhue, the dearly beloved wife of Levi Chamberlain, died June 26, 1868, aged 67. " The guileless soul, the calm, sweet trust. Shall have a large reward." No. 133.— Elijah Dunbar, Esq., died May 18, 1847, aged 87. No. 134.— Mary R., wife of Elijah Dunbar, died Nov. 29, 1838, aged 70. No. 135.— Polly, daughter of Elijah and Mary Dunbar, died May 25, 1795, aged 4 years ; Laura Elizabeth, daughter of Elijah and Mary Dunbar, died Jan 11, 1810, aged three years. No. 136.— Mary Ann Dunbar, died June 2, 1820, aged 20. No. 137.— Mrs. Hannah Dunn, died Oct. 8, 1828, aged 84. " The sweet remembrance of the just, Shall flourish when they sleep in dust." No. 138.— Asa Duren, died April 5, 1871, aged 69. No. 139. — Maria V. Wood, wife of Asa Duren, died May 18, 1854, aged 64. No. 140. — Augustus, son of Asa and Maria Duren, died Nov. 5, 1829, aged 7 months and 12 days. No. 141.— Cynthia Duren, died April 22, 1861, aged 61. No. 142. — Dinsmoor (marble monument). Samuel Dinsmoor, born July 1, 1766, died March 15, 1835, aged 68 ; Mary Boyd, wife of Samuel Dins- moor, and daughter of Gen. George Reed, of London- derry, died June 3, 1834, aged 64; Mary Eliza, daughter of Samuel and Mary Boyd Dinsmoor, and wife of Robert Means, of Amherst, born Dec. 2, 1800, died August 16, 1829, aged 28 ; Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., born May 8, 1797, died Feb. 24, 1869, aged 69 ; Anna Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., and daugh- ter of Hon. William Jarvis, of Weathersfield, Vt., born June 30, 1818, died July 17, 1849, aged 31. No. 143.— Samuel Dinsmoor, died March 15,1835, aged 68. No. 144.— Mary Boyd, wife of Samuel Dinsmoor, died June 3, 1834, aged 64. No. 145. — Mary E. Dinsmoor, wife of Robert Means, died Aug. 16, 1829, aged 28. No. 146. — Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., died Feb. 24, 1869, aged 69. No. 147. — Anna E. Jarvis, wife of Samuel Dins- moor, Jr., died July 17, 1849, aged 31. No. 148. — Julie A. Fiske, wife of William Dins- moor, died Jan. 4, 1854, aged 39. No. 149.— Abiathar Dean, died Oct. 2, 1832, aged 64. No. 150.— George C. Dean, died Oct. 2, 1835, aged 35. No. 151. — To the memory of Charles B. Daniels, born Aug. 30, 1818, graduated at the W. P. Military Academy June, 1836, was mortally wounded while KEENE. 57 gallantly leading liis company in the assault of the enemy's works at Molino Del Rey, Mexico, Sept. 8, 1847, and died of his wounds in the city of Mexico Oct. 27, 1847, aged 31 years. "By the purity of his life and fidelity to the de- mands of his profession, he adorned it by his valor, he fulfilled its sternest demands." No. 152. — To the memory of Jabcz W. Daniels, born Aug. 1, 187<5, died Oct. 7, 18o2, aged 82 years. "A just man who walked in all the commandment^ of the Lord blameless." No. 15.3. — To the memory of Eleanor Daniels, born May G, MIS, died June 29, 18G3, aged 90 years. No. 154. — Caroline E. Daniels, daughter of Warren and Caroline C. Daniels, died Feb. 25, 1836, aged 8 months. No. 155. — Davis (granite monument). No. 156.— Abby Z., daughter of H. and A. T. Da- vis, died July 29, 1853, aged 5 months. No. 157.— Lueian H., died Dec. 16, 1845, age died April 2, 1842, aged 89. No. 8. — Betsey, wife of Thomas Baker, died Sept. 12, 1839, aged 75. No. 9. — In memory of Emily, daughter of Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Betsey Baker, who died JIarch 17th, 1813, in the 9th year of her age. "So fades the lovely blooming flower, Frail solace of an hour ; So soon our transient comforts fly. And pleasure only blooms to die." No. 10. — Two infant sons of David and Amanda H. Baker, died Oct. 2, 1829, and March 29, 1831. " Departed innocence to memory dear, Shall oft receive the tribute of a tear. While fond affections mourn thy early tomb." No. 11.— David Baker, died April 20, 1868, aged 72 years and 8 months. " Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." No. 12.— Solomon Blake, died Oct. 30, 1809, in the 32d year of his age. No. 13.— Dr. Obadiah Blake,' died June 22, 1810, in the 92d year of his age. ' Thomas Baker, in 1773, belonged to the Foot Guard of Keene ; in 1776 he, with Don Guild and Eliphalet Briggs, was chosen a committee to put in execution certain resolves passed by the town, among them one to prevent profane cursing and swearing ; also to prevent everybody from spending their time in tippling-houses and being out after nine o'clock at night. - Dr. Obadiah Blake belonged to the Alarm-List of Keene in 1773 ; he also was chosen one of a committee to hire a minister in 1761. The Rev. Clement Sumner was settled about this time, and this committee was voted twelve pounds, lawful money of the Massachusetts Bay, for the trouble and charges in providing for the ordination KEENE. 69 No. 14. — Lydia, wife of Dr. Obadiah Blako, died June 28, 1810, aged 77 years. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." No. lo. — In memory of Royal Bhike, born June 30, 1706, died Oct. 9, 1827. No. 16. — In memory of Phillis, wife of Royal Blake, born Nov. 3, 1763, died Sept. 6, 1827. No. 17.— Eli Blake, died July 14, 1837, aged 70 years. No. 18. — Deliverance, wife of Eli Blake, died April 14, 1845, aged 70. No. 19. — Josei>h Brown, died Jan. 3, 1836, aged 71. No. 20. — Keziah, his wife, clied Jan. 3, 1836, aged 72. No. 21.— Ami Brown, died Sept. 27, 1858, aged 88. Mary E., wife of Ami Brown, dieil Oct. 23, 1853, aged 87. ' No. 22. — Hepsey, daughter of Ami and JIary E. Br(jwn, died Oct., 1803, aged 2 years and 9 months. " Sleep on, sweet child. And take thy rest, God hath pronounced Such children blessed." No. 23. — Hepsey Brown, died April 6, 1831, in the 24th year of her age. " Hear what the voice of Heaven i)roclaims For all the pious dead ; Sweet is the savor of their names, And soft their sleeping bed." No. 24.— Allen Brown, died July 10, 1840, in the 31st year of his age. " I leave this world without a tear, Save for the friends I hold so dear; To heal their sorrows. Lord, descend, And to the mourners prove a friend." No. 25.— Wealthy M., wife of Allen Brown, died June 29, 1840, in the 28th year of her age. " Stop each fond parental tear. And each fraternal sigh, She is freed from all her troubles here To dwell with God on high." No. 26. — Sylvia E., wife of Joseph Brown, died Jan. 10, 1857, aged 51. " Go, peaceful spirit, rest, Secure from earth's alarms, Go sleep upon the Saviour's breast, Encircled in His arms. " We weep to see thee die, We mourn thy absence yet, O may we meet thee in the sky. And there our tears forget.." No. 27. — Calvin Brown, died Aug. 31, 1826, in the 35th year of his age. " My flesh shall slumber in the ground Till the last trumpet's joyful sound. Then burst the chains with sweet surprise And in mv Saviour's image rise." No. 28.— John F. Brown, died May 18, 1827, in the 34th year of his age. " Is this the lot that all must die? Will death no ages spare? Then let us all to Jesus fly. And seek for refuge there." No. 29. — Squire Brown, died Dec. 18, 1829, aged 31. " Dear companion, now in your bloom. Behold me mouldering in this dark tomb; When God doth call us, all must go. Whether we are prepared or no." No. 30. — Esther Billings, consort of Mr. Isaac Bil- lings, died June 1, 1806, aged 64 years. No. 31.— Sarah Bor.sh, died April 1, 1852, aged 6 weeks. No. 32.— Edmund Beebe, died July 3, 1848, aged 40. " Weep not for me." No. 33. — Lucinda C, wife of Edmund Beebe, died Nov. 7, 1855, aged 53. " Dearest mother, thou h.ast left us. Here thy loss we deeply feel. But 'tis God that hath bereft us ; He can all our sorrows heal." No. 34.— Charles E., died Nov. 3, 1836, aged 'tl months ; I-:ithca Amelia, died March 3, 1846, aged IS months, children of Edmund and Lucinda C. Beebe. " Farewell, dear idol of our hearts. To thee short life was given. Thy morning broke most sweetly here. Thy evening closed in Heaven." No. 35. — Jane M., daughter of Edmund and Lu- cinda C. Beebe, died Nov. 11, 1857, aged 16 years and 2 months. " Friends nor physicians could not save, My mortal body from the grave, Nor can the grave confine me here — When Jesus calls I must appear." No. 36. — Hannah C, wife of Stilman Buss, died Sept. 13, 1849, aged 37 years. No. 37. — Mary Jane, daughter of Stilman and Han- nah C. Buss, died April 11, 1852, aged 13 years. " Farewell, dear Mary, thou art gone To join thy mother dear. And left thy friends to mourn alone In this cold world so drear. " But, Mary dear, we hope to meet. In that world above. Where those dear friends have gone before. Where all is peace and love." No. 38. — Ferdinand, son of Stilman and Hannah C. Buss, died April 7, 1854, aged 9. " Farewell, sweet one in Heaven, Where thou art shining now, 70 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. I know tluit siu ;ind sorrow Are banished from thy brow." No. .39.— Calvin Bragg, died March 1, 1810, aged 42 years. No. 40. — Sally, wife of Aaron Gary and former wife of Calvin Bragg, died Aug. 1, 1840, aged 62 years. No. 41.— Huldah Bragg, died Dee. 10, 1818, aged 18. No. 42. — Mary, daughter of Roswell and Raehel Bragg, died May If!, 1841, aged 8 years and 4 months. No. 43.— Eliza Bragg, died Sept. 29, 1872, aged 63 years 5 months 29 days. " (tone but not forgotten.'' No. 44.— Wm. Britton (2d), died Jan. 28,1836, aged 62 years. A native of Mansfield, Mass. No. 45.— Sarah S. Banks, died July 2, 1836, aged 26 years. No. 46. — Rosdelino, daughter of Theodore and Betsy Bolio, died July 3, 18o4, aged 1 year and 12 days. " Weejj not ; to mourn it is not meet. For all that's earthly sure will fade ; Look then above and hope to greet Thy loved one now an angel made." No. 47.— Andrew H. Blodgett, died May 3, 1872, aged 58 years. No. 48.— Charles A. Bates, son of J. M. and Eliza Bates, died June 16, 1806, aged 11 years and two mouths. " Dearest Charlie, thou hast left us." No. 49.— .lohn Colony, died June 24, 1797, aged 67 years. No. 50.— .Milly, wife of John Colony, died Jan. 24, 1X11, aged 77 years. Xo. 51. — Timothy Colony, died Aug. 29, 1.S36, aged 72 years. No. 52. — Sarah, wife of Timothy Cohmy, died April 27, 1853, aged 82 years. No. 53. — Mary, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Colony, died Aug. 22, 1819, aged 26. No. 54. — George, son of Timothy and Sarah Colony, died Feb. 4, 1820, aged 9 years. No. 55. — Lockhart, son of Timothy and Sarah Col- ony, died December 23, 1823, aged 23 years. No. 56. — Lucy H., wife of Charles K. Colony, died April 21, 1.H56, aged 36 years. " I go to my Father." No. 57. — Georgcett C, daughter of C. K. and L. H. Colony, died July 16, 1846, aged 10 months. " Beautiful and lovely. She was but given, A fair bud to earth. To bloom in Heaven." No. 58. — Roscoe C, son of C. K. and L. H. ( 'ninny, died April 8, 1848, aged 2 months. " Thou art gone, dearest boy, Love's bright cord riven, Thou hast joined little sisters Now angels in Heaven.' No. 59. — In memory of Lovey, daughter of Je.sse Clark, Jr., and Delano Clark, who died Jan. 22, 1800, aged 15 years and 8 months. No. 60. — In memory of Fanny, daughter of Jesse Clark, Jr., and Delano Clark, who died Sept. 20, 1799 aged 1 year and 1 month. No. 61. — In memory of Mrs. Betsey, relict of Dea. Simeon Clark, who died Aug. 5, 1817, aged 86 years. No. 62.— Gideon Clark, died Sept. 6, 1859, aged 73 years. No. 63. — Delano Ware, wife of Gideon Clark, died Oct. 22, 1867, aged 76 years. No. 64. — Mary M., daughter of Gideon and Delano Clark, died Oct. 6, 1825, aged 2 years. No. 65.— Franklin G. Clark,' ' died Jan 23, 1837, aged 21 years. No. 66. — Charles S., son of W. and C. Crane, died March 8, 1854, aged 6 months. No. 67. — Charles Cooke, died Aug. 18, 1824, aged 57 years. No. 68. — Mary, widow of Charles Cooke, died Nov. 23, 1852, aged 81 years. No. 69. — Harriet M., daughter of Charles and Har- riet Cooke, died Aug. 19, 1818, aged 3 years and 7 months. No. 70.— Nancy C. Miller, wife of Wm. P. Cochran, died Jan. 9, 1871, aged 51 years 1 month and 21 days. No. 71. — Austin, aged 4 years and 4 months ; Cor- nelia, aged 2 years and 6 months — children of Wm. P. and Nancy C. Cochran, died Jan. 9, 1854. No. 72. — William E., son of Wm. P. Cochran, died Nov. 25, 1874, aged 19 years 9 months and 1 day. No. 73. — John Chamberlain, died Aug. 29, 1870, aged 75 years. No. 74. — Sylvia P., wife of John Chamberlain, died Oct. 28, 1852, aged 55 years. " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth." No. 75.— John Chamberlain, died Aug. 12, 1849, aged 19 years and 9 months. " Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth." No. 76. — Nancy, wife of John Chamberlain, died .Fune 10, 1822, aged 24 years ; Olive H., wife of John Chamberlain, died April 15, 1826, aged 34 years. ' 1 was an apprentice with Franklin G. Clark in my fath- er's old .shop on Washington Street. At the end of hisMp- prenticeship Clark started in the stage, with one of my sisters and her young child, for Troy, N. Y. The stage was overturned, Clark killed, and my sister and child badly hurt. KEENE. 71 No. 77.— Elisha Chamberlain, died June 11, 1840, in tlie 78th j-ear of his age. " Thy virtue and thy worth Shall fond remembrance cheer, And ease the aching heart, That drops the falling tear." No. 78. — Susannah, wife of ElishaChamberlain, died May 10, 1846, aged 80 years. No. 79. — Ellen E., daughter of Wm. and Mary Chamberlain, died March 18, 1847, aged 3 years. No. 80.— Thonas Dwinell, died July 9,1866, aged 70. Arabella, died Aug. 26, 1865, aged 7.'), wife of Thomas Dwinell. No. SI.— Thomas Dwinell, died April 14,1838, aged 84. No. 82. — Sarah, wife of Thomas Dwinell, died Nov. 29, 1845, aged 84. No. 83. — Mary, daughter of Mr. Thomas and Sazy Dwinell, died 26 July, 1811, aged 13 years 3 months and 12 days. No. 84. — Charles E., son of Benjamin and Fanny Dwinell, died April 24, 1838, aged 7. No. 85. — Mary Ann, wife of Oren Dickinson, died April 20, 1840, aged 3\. No. 86. — Elvie, daughter of Oren and Emily Dick- inson, died Dec. 13, 1858, aged 2 years 2 months and 12 years. " She is gone, aye gone forever. Dead to earthly grief and care ; But she lives in Uod's own kingdom, We will hope to meet her there." No. 87. — Elmer F., son of Oren and Emily Dickin- son, died June 17, 1864, of wounds received in battle near Petersburg, Va., aged 23. A member of the 23d Reg. Mass. Vols. " He dwelleth in heaven, yet deep in our hearts. His image is grown and now departs ; And while we yet linger we watch and we wait, Till death who has parted again shall unite." No. 88. — In memory of James Daniels, who died April 25, 1814, aged 53. No. 89. — Ezra Daniels, died Sept. 3, 1835, aged 75. No. 90. — Charles Daniels, died March 0, 1849, aged 46. Minna, his wife, died Dec. 29, 1861, aged 59. No. 91. — John D., son of Charles and Minna Dan- iels, died Aug. 23, 1845, aged 3 years and 9 months. No. 92. — Bethiah, wife of Dea. Eli Dort, departed this life June 10, 1833, aged 71. No. 93.— Arvill, wife of Obed Dort, died June 3, 1843, aged 37. "The storm that wrecks the wintry sky No more disturbs her calm repose, Than Summer evening's latest sigh, That shuts the rose." (Erected by an affectionate son). No. 94. — Lewis Edgar, son of Obed and Louisa Dort, died May 5, 1854, aged 4 years and 6 months. " My precious boy, a short farewell ; 'Tis hard to jiart with thee. But God beheld thee far too pure For our own society. " We miss thy lovely face. Thy sweet and prattling voice ; Lone and sad your mother is, Without her lovely boy. "Dear mother, weep not; tears will hide My glory from thy view ; For soon you'll follow me. And then we'll string the harp anew." No. 95. — Hannah, consort of Mr. Joshua Durant, died October 10, 1798, aged 48. No. 96. — ilrs. Cynthia Emery, died June '>, 1823, aged 31. No. 97. — Archelaus Ellis, died Feb. 26, 1845, aged 67. No. 98. — Mrs. Polly Houghton, wife of Archelaus Ellis, died July 26, 1865, aged 85. " We lay thee down with many a sigh, In the cold lap of Mother earth ; But thy remembrance shall not die. Nor the dear memory of thy worth. No. 99. — Miss Fanny, daughter of Archelaus and Polly Ellis, died March 10, 1832, aged 17. No. 100. — Mrs. Charlotte, daughter of Archelaus and Polly Ellis, died Jan. 9, 1835, aged 21. No. 101. — Elmina D., wife of Eugene S. Ellis, died March 1, 1872, aged 57 years 10 months and 25 days. " Mother at rest in Heaven." No. 102.— Mary E., died Sept. 11, 1841, aged 10 months ; Franklin E., died Jan. 18, 1843, aged 10 months; children of Eugene S. and Elmina D.Ellis. " Here lies the grief of a fond motherand the blasted expectations of an indulgent father. They lived be- loved and died lamented." No. 103.— George S. Ellis, died Oct. 29, 1872, aged 52 years 7 months and 10 days. " Father at rest." No. 104.— Nathaniel Ellis, died Nov. 16, 1857, aged 28. " Dearest husband, thou has left us ; Still thy loss I deeply feel ; But 'tis God that hath bereft us. He can all my sorrows heal. "Yet again I hope to meet thee. When the day of life is fled ; Then in Heaven with joy to greet thee. Where no farewell tear is shed." Rosa Jane, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah J. Ellis, died April 12, 1858, aged 1 year and 3 months. 72 HISTORY OP CllESHIilE COUxNTY, NKW HAMPSHIRE. "Sweet little Rose, have you gone To join your father dear? Though hard to part, we must not mourn, But hope to meet you there." No. 105.— Daniel Fi.sher died Marc'h 30, 1859, aged 72. "Blessed arc the dead who die in the Lord." No. 106. — Susan Shaw, wife (lavs. No. 13. — Edward S., son of Stephen and Louisa Chase, born Feb. 16, 1851, died June 2, 1800. No. 14. — Mary Jane, daughter of Stephen and Lou- i.sa Chase, born Sept. 15, 1838, died Oct. 30, 1860. No. 15. — Emily A., daughter of Stephen and Lou- isa Chase, died Dec. 15, 1867, aged 37. " Asleep in Jesus." No. 16.— Alba Chase, born July 13, 1812, died Nov. 18, 1874. " With us thy name shall live Through succeeding years. Embalmed with all our hearts can give, Our praises and our tears." No. 17.— Charles Chase, born July 17, 1803, died Aug. 4, 1860. " He liath gojie home." No. 18.— Charles D. Chase, born Sept. 24, 1840, died at Jackson, Miss., July 20, 1863 ; member of 9th Eeg. N. H. V. No. 19. — Lucia M., daughter of Charles and Han- nah Chase, died Oct. 3, 1859, aged 15 years, 2 months and 17 days. "We miss our dear Lucia." No. 20. — Charles E., son of Charles and Hannah Chase, died Sept. 15, 1839, aged 1 year, 11 months and 28 days. No. 21. — George M., son of Charles and Hannah Chase, died Dec. 20, 1842, aged 5 mouths. No. 22.— Ziba Chase, died July 7, 1850, aged 50. No. 23. — In memory of Stephen, son of Lt. Stephen Chase and Mrs. Betsey, his wife. He died June 8, 1797, in the 7th year of his age ; whose death was oc- casioned by the fall of a tree. " How short the span, Short from the cradle to the grave !" No. 24.- — Hosea B., son of Hosea and Hannah D. Chase, died Sept. 26, 1839, aged 5 weeks. No. 25. — William H., son of Hosea and Hannah D. Chase, died Sept. 23, 1860, aged 16 years, 11 months and 23 days. " One less to love on earth. One more to meet in Heaven." No. 26.— Bela Chase, born Dec. 2, 1795, died Jan. 31, 1868, aged 72. No. 27.— Charlotte J., daughter of Albert and El- len M. Church, died Sept. 9, 1850, aged 2 years and 9 months. No. 28.— William D., son of Albert and Ellen M. Church, died Aug. 6, 1850, aged 3 years and 10 months. No. 29. — Nancy, widow of Elihu Dort, wife of George Allen, died July 13, 1875, aged 76. No. 30.— David B. Dort, died Jan. 29, 1859, aged 44. No. 31.— Charles F., died March 24, 1855, age, 1702, it was voted that the neck of land where Isaac Clark and Amos Foster were buried be apj)ropi'iated and set a^jart for a buryiug-phice for the town. Tliis land had been used for a Innying-place for some years before 1762, but at this time it was set apart from the commou Uuid, by the original proprietors, to be forever kept as a burying-plaee. Here I find a monu- ment erected to the memory of Amos Foster, who died in March, 1761, so I am sure this neck of land is the one meant in the old records, 6 thus conclusively proving this to be tlie oldest place of burial in town. There are indica- tions to show that there have been bui'ir his gun. Isaac Clark and wife were buried in this old burying-place, but in what grave no man can tell, as the marble that marked the spot has entirely disappeared. The following is a list of tlie inscriptions on all the monuments now standing : No. 1. — Iq memory of Mrs. Hannah, wife of Mr. Royal Blake, who Dcc'd Nov. ye 21st, 1779, aged 19 years. No. 2. — In memory of Joseph, son of Mr. Royal Blake ' & Mrs. Hannah, his wife, he Dec'd Nov. ye 7th, aged 12 weeks. No. 3. — In memory of Mrs. Zipporali Blake, wife of Doct. Obadiah Blake, who Dec'd Feb. 25, 1785, aged 57 years.^ ' Royal Blake was a member of the foot company, 1773. He died October 9, 1827, ageJ seventy-one, and was buried in the old yard pear the Sawyer place. 2 Clement Sumner was the first settled gospel minister of the town (April 27, 1761). Dr. Obadiah Blake was one of the committee to make the settlement. This committee was voted twelve pounds, lawful money of the Massachu- setts Bay, for the trouble and charge in providing for the counsel at Mr. Sumner's ordination ; also five pounds for paying Mr. Sumner for five weeks' preaching before his settlement. It was voted by the town this year that " the Rev. Mr. Sumner's salary be stated on commodities as they be now, and so from year to year. Commodities as they be now : wheat at 3s. 2Jt/. sterling per bushel ; pork at 3'/. per pound ; beef at 2d. per pound : Indian corn at l.s. 8rf. per bushel ; rye at 2s. Gd. per bushel; labour in tlie summer at 2s. per day." This was afterwards recorded upon the suggestion of Mr. Sumner that the article of beef was stated above the market price. Dr. Blake was one of tlic selectmen in 1702 ; he also belonged to the alarm-list in 1773. He has one grandson still living,— Mr. Cyrus Blake, now living in Newton, Mass., an old man. Justin I). Blake, of Ash Swamp, Oscar and Orman Colony, of the Cheshire Republican, and Joshua D. Blake, of Surry, are wreat- grandsons. The Blake family was noted for their great strength. Joshua D. Colony told me that on one occasion his father, with his horse and wagon loaded with one thousand brick, got stuck in the mud near where Deacon Binney used to live, and was about unloading, when Royal Blake came along and told him to hold on a miuiite. He crawled under the wagon and, putting his shoulder under the axle-tree, told Colony when he heard the old wagon crack to put on the lick. The load was lifted and he drove along. He was also known to take a barrel of cider out of his cart alone and carry it into the cellar. No. 4.— Dea. Simeon Clark,' died 9 Dec., 1793, aged 70. No. 5. — Unity Diu-ant, Consort of Mr. Joshua Du- rant,- died 29 Nov., 1781, aged 20. No. 6. — Here lies the Body of Mr. Naham, who Dec'd [the rest obliterated]. No. 7. — Ellis , Henry , Jedatiah Foster [the rest gone]. No. 8. — Here lies buried Mr. Amos Foster,'' who Dec'd March the 22, 1701, in the 40th year of his age. No. 9.— My Father. No. 10. — In Memory of Mrs. Hannah, Wife of Mr. John Grundy, Jun'r, who Dec'd Oct. 3, 1783, in ye 31 year of her age. "Here lies the grief of a fond mother. She was a dear and dutiful daughter, A kind wife and a tender mother. Reader, behold as you pass by, As you are living, once was I." No. 11. — In memory of Mary, Daughter of Jere- niiah Stiles, Esq.,* & Mrs. Mary, his wife ; she Dec'd April ye 17, 1781, aged 1 Day. 1 He belonged to the foot company, 1773. In 1778 was paid £2 2s. id., balance for serving in the late war. 2 He lived on the Baker place, Ash Swamp. Our Mr. Joshua D. Colony was named after Mr. Joshua Durant, and to show that it meant something in those days, the boy was presented with a fine wool sheep. ' Amos Foster left, by will, one-half of his property to tlie town. The value of the legacy is not known ; but, in August, 1702, the town voted that Mr. Sumner's settlement and his salary for the first year should be paid from this fund. * Jeremiah Stiles was the writer's great-grandfather. He was a man whom the town of Keene delighted to honor, for he was in some office in the town from February 15, 1709, until his death, December 6, 1800 — more than thirty years, lie lived on the corner of Cross and Washington Streets, where Mr. Clark's house now stands. He be- longed to the foot company in 1773, to the Committee of Safety, 1770, was a representative of the town, delegate to the Constitutional Convention held at Concord, 1778, se- lectman, town clerk, assessor, petit and grand juryman, moderator in town-meeting, one of the committee to ar- range for the settlement of the Rev. A.aron Hall, and a subscriber to the fund to purchase the first town-clock ever in Keene, in 1797. He and his good wife, Mary, were buried in the old graveyard on Washington Street. Now will the present generation consent to have that neck of land set apai-t by the first settlers for a place to bury their dead be plowed up and planted, as was the case of the old yard on the Robinson farm ? I can't yet quite be- lieve it, but time will tell. The town voted, March 3, 1789, to fence the several burying-places in the town and draw a committee of four for that purpose, who are hereby authorized to call on their neighbors to turn out and do said work without any cost or charge to the town. Chose Major Willard, Michael Metcalf, KEENB. 83 CHAPTER YI. KEESE— {Continued). BANKING INTEREST. The Cheshire National Bank — The Ashuelot National Bank — The Keene National Bank — The Citizens' National Bank — The Cheshire Provident Institution for Savings — The Keene Five-Cent Savings-Bank — Keene Guarantee Sav- ings-Bank. The Cheshire Bank was chartered with a capital of $100,000, by the State of New Hampshire, in 1803, for a period of twenty years, or till 1824; then till 1844, and again till 1864, inclusive. The original corjiorators were Judge Daniel Newconib, Noah Cooke, Esq., and Elijah Dunbar, Esq. John G. Bond, Judge Newcomb's son-in-law, procured most of the stock subscriptions, among which are the names of Samuel and Nathan Applcton, Eben Francis, Stephen Salsbury, John Bellows, Josiah Knapp and several others of Boston, Daniel Newcomb, John G. Bond, AVilliam Lamson, Moses Johnson, Alexander Ralston, Stephen Harrington, Eben Stearns, Joseph Hay ward and Foster and Luther Alexander, of Cheshire County, with fifty-five others on the list. The first building for the bank was of brick, two stories high, and was taken down in 1847 to make way for the Cheshire Railroad's pas- senger station. Daniel Newcomb was president from 1804 to 1811, when he resigned, and in the " war period," soon after, the banic struggled against insolvency till November, 1813, when Samuel Grant was ch(jsen president and Na- thaniel Dana cashier, in place of i\.rba Cady (who was elected February, 1806, and whose predecessor was E. Dunbar), and a revival of credit and business secured. Mr. Grant was president till July, 1829, and Salma Hale, his successor, till March, 1842, at which time Levi Chamberlain was made president, and steps were taken to reorganize the bank under its amended charter, available from 1844 to 1864, inclusive. In this reorganization John Elliot Levi Pattridge and Captain Jolin Houghton." A vote was passed, August 27, 1792, to fence the several burying- grounds ; also, in March, 179.5, and .July "25, 179.5, the town was divided into districts for burying their dead. was chosen president ; was succeeded in 1 856 by Levi Chamberlain and in 1861 by John Henry Elliot, under whom, at the expiration of its charter, the bank was made national, Avith a ctipital of $200,000. James Henry AVilliams was cashier from 1841 to 1847, then Zebina Newell till 1855, then Royal H. Porter, when the bank's State charter expired, tie continues to be cashier at this writing, with John Henry Elliot as president. The bank's j)resent granite building was erected in 1847, and has all the modern defenses against invasion. The Ashtielot Bank, of Kecue, was incor- porated January 2, 1833, with a charter for twenty years, and commenced business early in that year. The corporators named in the chai'ter were John H. Fuller, Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr.. Phineas Fisk, John Elliot and Justus Perry, and the first meeting was held at Stephen Har- rington's hotel on February 19, 1833, when f(irty-rive additional members were admitted to the corporation, making in all fifty. The j)i't'sent baukiug-hou.se was built in 1 833, under the direction of John Elliot, at a cost of $2998.24. The first board of directors were Samuel Dinsmoor, John H. Fuller, Thomas M. Ed- wards, William Buffum, George S. Root, Phin- eas Handersou and Benjamin F. Adams, the last-named being the only surviving member. The first president ^\•as Samuel Dinsmoor, who served until his death, in 1835. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., wln> was continued in the office until he resigned, in 1853. Thomas !M. Edwards was chosen president in 1853, and held the office till elected to Congress, in 1859, when he resigned, and William Dins- moor succeeded him, and was annually re-elected until his resignation, in 1869, when Mr. Ed- wards was again chosen, and held the office till his death, in 1875. George A. Wheelock was appointed president upon the death of Mr. Edwards, in 1875, and has been annually re- elected since. Two Governors of the State and one Repre- sentative in Congress are among the foregoing list of jiresidents of this bank. Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., was cashier fi-om 84 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. March, 1833, to Juue, 1835; Henry Seymour, from June, 1835, to August, 1830 ; Thomas H. Leverett, from August, 183fi, to June, 1869; and Henry O. Coolidge, from Juue, 1869, to the present time. The l)auk was rechartercd December 17, 1852, and was converted into a national organi- zation February 17, 1865, under the name of " The Asliuelot National Bank of Keene," and its corjjorate e.xistence has beeu extended to February 17, 1905. The original capital was $100,000. In July, 1875, it was increased to $150,000. The present board of directors consist of George A. Wheelock (president), Caleb T. Buf- fum, Charles J. Amidon, John M. Parker, Al- fred T. Batchelder, Henry O. Coolidge and Christopher Robb. Keeke National Bank. — The Cheshire County Bank was organized August 11, 1855. First Board of Directors, Zebina Newell, George Huntington, AVilliam Haile, Frederick Vose, Amos A. Parkei', Lawson Robertson and Har- vey A. Bill ; Presidents, Zebina Newell, Fred- erick Vose, Edward Joslin ; Cashiers, George W. Tilden and J. R. Beal. Mr. Newell held the office of president from organization till his death, March 29, 1858. Succeeded by Frederick Vose, who held the oflSce till his death, November 24, 1871. Succeeded by Edwin Joslin, the present incumbent. George W. Tilden held the office of cashier from first organization till his death, February 8, 1879. Succeeded by J. 11. Beal, the present incumbent. It was organized as a national bank February 7, 1865. First board of directors: Frederick Vose, John Bowker, Edward Joslin, Amos F. Fiske, Reulien Stewart and Horatio Kimball. Original capital, $100,000 ; present capital, the same. Present l)oard of directors: Edward Joslin, John Bowker, Elisha F. Lane, Josiah G. Bel- lows and Alfi'ed T. Batchelder. This bank occupies its own banking-house, having purchased the building of Henry Pond when the Cheshire County Bank was organized ; rearranged and made substantial improvements to the building during the year 1883. Citizens' National Bank Mas incdipirated September 18, 1875, and commenced business October 1, 1875, No. 2299, with a capital of $100,000. The first board of directors were William Haile, Henry Cohmy, Stephen D. Osborne, Caleb T. Buffum, Janaes Burnap, Samuel W. Hale and Daniel W. Tenney ; President, Stephen D. Osborne; Cashier, Obed G. Dort. In January, 1878, Obed G. Dort was elected president and Henry S. Martin cashier, and continued in office until the present (1885). Present capital, $100,000 ; surplus, $25,000. Present officers : Obed G. Dort, president ; H. S. Martin, cashier ; Obed (t. Dort, James Burnap, Joiui Synionds, Elijali Boyden, Sam- uel W. Hale, Clark N. Chandler and William P. Chamberlain, directors. ChESIIIKE PltOVIDENT InsTITITION FOR Savings was ehai-tered in July, 1833, and organized August 13, 1833. The incor- porators were Thomas Brilows, Samuel Grant, John Wood, Salma Hale, Eliphalet Briggs, Justus Perry, Aaron Hall, Levi Cham- berlain, Azel AVilder, Abijah AVilder, Jr., John Elliot, Oliver llolman, J. Colony, Amos Twitchell, Charles G. Adams, Levi W. Leonard, John H. Steele, James Walker, Azel Hatch, Walter Tufts, Joseph Weeks, Larkiu Baker, Elijah Carpenter, Levi Blake, Abner Boyden, William S. Brooks and Georsje Tilden. The first officers were Amos Twitchell, presi- dent ; Justus Perry, first vice-president ; Abijah Wilder, Jr., second vice-president ; George Til- den, secretary and treasurer. First trustees : Salma Hale, John Wood, Levi Chamberlain, Larkin Baker, John Elliot, Phinehas Fisk, Azel Wilder, Walter Tufts, Levi Blake, Levi W. Leonard, Timothy Hall, Samuel Wood, Jr., Oliver Holman, Thomas M. Edwards and Eliphalet Briggs. Board of investment : Justus P((rry, John Elliot, Samuel Wood, Jr., Azel Wilder and Levi Chamberlain. The first deposit was made September 10, 1833, by Ashley Spaulding ; amount, $100. The following is a list of the presidents from 1833 to 1885: Dr. Amos Twitcliell, from 1833 KEENE. 85 to 1(S53, deceased; Hon. Salraa Hale, from 1853 to 1856, resigned; Hon. Levi Chamber- lain, from 1856 to 1867, deceased; Hon. Sam- uel Dinsmoor, from 1867 to 1870, deceased ; Hon. William P. Wheeler, from 1870 to 1877, deceased ; Hon. Francis A. Faulkner, Esq., from 1877 to 1880, deceased ; George Tilden, from 1880 to 1883, resigned; Edward C. Thayer, from 1883 to 1885, resigned ; George A. Wheelock, from 1885 — present incumbent. The secretary and treasurers : George Tilden, from 1833 to 1880; O.scar G. Nim.s, from 1880— present incumbent. The officers for 1 885 are Gecjrge A. ^^^heelock, president; A. T. Batclielder, William S. Briggs, vice-presidents ; O. G. Ninis, secretary and treasurer; Trustees, John Henry Elliot, Henry C. I»ipi'r, E. H. Porter, Edwai-d Fari-ar, F. C. Faulkner, J. R. Beal, George W. Stearns, C. J. Amidon, Barrett Riphy, J. G. Bellows, George H. Tilden, Silas Hardy, Reuben Stewart, F. H. Kingsbury and Frederick A. Faulkner; Board of Investment, A. T. Batchelder, Barrett Rip- ley, R. H. Porter, J. H. Beal, Reuben Stewart ; Auditors, J. R. Beal, '\\'illiam S. Briggs, George H. Tilden, F. C. Faulkner and Silas Hardy. The Keexe Fivi-:-Cent,s Sa vinos-Bank was incorporated in 1868. The incorporators were as follows : John H. Fuller, Allen Giffin, Edwai-d Joslin, John Grimes, Caleb T. BuiFum, George Holmes, Dauphlin W. Buckminster, Samuel O. Gates, George W. Ball and Samuel Woodward. The first board of trustees were Edward Jos- lin, John Bowker, George W. Ball, Caleb T. Buffum, D. W. Buckminster, Clark F. Rowell, John Humphrey, George Holmes, AVm. Haile, O. Sprague, Elijah Boyden, Henry Colony, F. Vose, H. O. Coolidge and P. Batcheller. The first officers were John H. Fuller, presi- dent ; Samuel ^Voodward and Farnuni F. Lane, vice-presidents ; O. G. Dort, treasui-er. The presidents have been Jolm H. Fuller, Far- num F. Lane, Samuel A\'oodward, Henry Colony and C. T. Buffum ; Treasurers, O. G. Dort- and G. A. Litchfield. First deposit made by Xellie I. Rowell, Jan- uary 1, 18G9 ; amount $10. The present deposits amount to $1,800,000. The officers for 1885 are C. T. Buffum, president ; Edward Joslin, Elijah Boyden, vice- presidents ; G. A. Litchfield, secretary and treasurer ; Trustees, F. A. Perry, George W. Ball, H. O. Coolidge, Clark f' Rowell, John Humphrey, Don H. Woodward, N. O. Way- ward, John O. Jones, John B. Fisk, Obadiah Sprague, Elbridge Clarke, F. E. Keyes, Hiram Blake, Joseph B. Abbott and George C. Hubbard; Board of Investment, C. T. Buffum, Edward Joslin, F. A. Perry, J. O. Coolidge and Hiram Blake. KeENE GitAKANTY SAVIN(iS-BANK was incorporated in 1883, Avith a guaranty fund of $50,000. Farnum F. Lane, James Burnap, Henry Colony, John Symonds, Obed G. Dort, John E. Colony, John S. Collins, Charles L. Russell and Asa C. Dort, incorporators. The first lioard of trustees was composed of Henry Colony, Obed G. Dort, Horatio Colony, Samuel W. Haile, Farnum F. Lane, George E. Colbrook, Clark X. Chandler, James Burnap, John S. Collins and George G. Davis. The first jiresident was J. Burnap ; treasurer, O. G. Dort. The officers for 1885 are : Presiiiid from the estates of these gentlemen by their administra- tors. Mr. Timothy Hall presented the academy a bell, antl also the V)linds of the building, and Mr. Elij)halet Briggs presented ;i set of globes, valued at one liuitdred dollars. Li the spring of 185;> a committee of the associated school districts proposed to purcliase the property for a High School. The first meet- ing of the trustees, to consider the proposition, was held at the academy April 28, 185;?. Pres- ent — S. Hastings, William Lamson, Charles Lamson, Eliphalet Briggs, Daniel Aikens and Levi Chamberlain. A't a sul)se(pient meeting, held June 13, 1853, it was voted to lease the property to the districts for ten years, at an annual rent of two hundred and fifty dollars, the first three years' rent to be expended in repairs on the buildings. At the expiration of the lease it was renewed for three years, at three hundred and fifty dollars for the first two, and four hundred and fifty dollars for the third year. December 19, 1866, a committee, appointed by the districts, was chosen to select a lot for a 88 HISTORY OF OHKSHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. High School building, vrnd the academy lot was decided upon ; and eight days latiT, December ■27tli, tiiey made application to buy ; the trustees, ho\\'ever, rt'fused to sell, claiming they had no authority. January 10, 1867, a petition was presented to the selectmen to lay out the lot, with the buildings, for the use of the High School. The trustees pi-otested against the districts' tak- ing tiie pmpci-ty, but on the oOtli of January, same year, tlie selectmen laid out the lot, for the use of the High School, and awarded six thousand one hundred dollars damages. Tlie sum was not accepted, and tlie trustees ap]ilietl to the Legislature, at the June session, for the incor- poration of tiie academy, and a charter was given. September 22, 1868, the subject came up for hearing before Judge J. E. Sargent, referee, with [Ton. T. M. Edwards for plaintitls and Hon. able W. P. Wheeler for defendants and the tlecision was in iavor of the High Scliool. The present officers antl trustees of Keene Academy are as follows : W. S. Briggs, pres- ident ; S. S. Wilkinson, vice-president; R. H. Porter, secretary and treasunT ; W. S. Briggs, R. H. Porter, Solon S. Wilkinson, Bar- rett Ripley, (leorge E. Holbrook, Isaac Rand, John Humphrey, Chas.Bridgman, S. G. Griffin, S. D. Osborn, Allan Gerould, Jr., Elisha F. Lane, S. Hale, Azro B. Skinner and I. N. Spencer, trustees. Amount of the fund April 1, 1885, was, §22,731.36. The High School opiMied with Mr. Tor- rance as princi]ial, and tlie principals from that time to the })resent have been as follows : Chas. E. Bruce, L. W. Buckingham, A. J. Bur- bank, S. H. Brackett, Hooper, and M. A. Bailey the present incumbent. CHAPTER VIII. KEENE— (CoH(iniieii). MISCELLANEOUS. Masonic — Odd-Fellows — Other Societies — Public Library — The Press — The Sentinel — The Cheshire Republican — The New England Observer — Keene in 1831 — Post-Office — Court-Houae — -The King's Cannon — Manufacturing In- tei'ests — Members of Congress — Governors — War of the Rebellion — Soldiers' Monument — Physicians — City of Keene — First Charter Election — Officers Elected — Mayors, Aldermen, Councilmen and Clerks to Present Time — Present Officers. Social Friends Lodge, F. and A. M. was chartered June 8th, 1825; but in 1827 tiie Morgan troubles began in Western New York, resulting in a strong Anti-JNIasonic party, which spread over the whole northern jiart of the country, continuing for ten years, when it ceased to exist. During this time Social Friends Lodge, with most of the other lodges in this |)art of the country, wound up its affairs and ceased to exist. In 1855 a few bretiiren having tlie interest of tlie craft ;it heart, begtui to talk up the matter of reviving Freemasonry in this town ; so they met for I'chearsals in Deluge Engine-House, only one of them being able to answer a word of the lectures. They soon aj)j)lie(l to the Grand Master for a charter ; he told them he could not give them a charter, because there was one already in existence. In the course of time John Prentiss succeeded in finding the old charter of 1825, when they were allowed by the (jrand Lodge to go to work. Accordingly, the first stated coniniunicatidu was held April 9, 1856, in Odd-Fellows' Hall, where the meetings continued to be held until 1860, when the lodge leased and occupied the apartments in the east end of St. John's building. In 1868 the rooms were found to be too small for the growing onhr of I'^reemasonry, when the building was enlarged, and the lodge moved into a larger hall in the west end of the hiiilding, using the old hall for an armory and banquet hall. In 1869, owing to the rap)id growth of the order, several of the older members, thinking it would be for the good of the cnift to start an- KEENE. 89 other lodge, applied to the Grand L(.id,iie, and a chartei- was granted for the Lodge of the Temple. In 1874 the Masonic apartments in St. John's building were again enlarged, by increasing the size of the lodge-room and adding a large ban- quet hall in the third story of the building. The followino; is a list of I'ast IMasters : A. S. Carpenter was elected W. Master June 11, 1856. Barrett Ripley was elected W. Master April 26, 1858. A. S. Carpenter was elected W. Master again April 11, 1859. R. H. Porter was elected W. Master Ajiril 2, 1860. T. .1. French was elected W. M.aster April 22, 1861. Don H. Woodward w.as elected W. Master April 14, 1862. Edward Gustine was elected \V. Master April 18, 1864. S. S. Wilkinson was elected W. Master April 10, 1865. S. A. Carter was elected W. M.aster April 23, 1866. Horatio Colony was elected W. Master April 15, 1867. C. S. Coburn w:is elected W. Master April 6, 1868. L. J. Tuttle was elected W. Master April 11, 1870. O. M. Holton was elected W. Master March IS, 1872. F. L. Howe was elected W. Master March 30, 1874. F. K. Burnham was elected W. Master March 29, 1875. H. W. Hubbard was elected W. Master March 20, 1876. Elisha Ayer was elected W. Master March 26, 1877. O. M. Holton was elected W. Master again March 4, 1878. George A. Gordon was elected W. Master March 3, 1879. S. M. Ray was elected W. Master March 7, 1881. George H. Fames was elected W. Master March 6, 1882. George G. Dort was elected W. Master March 2, 1885. Lodge of the Te.mple received a dispen- sation April 6, 1869, from the Most Worship- ful Grand Master Alexander M. Winn, who ajjpointed Bnjther A. S. Carpenter tlie first Master, Brother D. W. Buckminster as the first Senior Warden, and Brother Edward Farrar a.s the first Junior M'arden. This new lodge was an oifshoot of Social Friends Lodge. But little work was done by tlie lodge while under dis- pensation. At the annual meeting of the M. W. Grand Lodge, the June tbllowlng, a petition was presented asking the Grand Lodge to grant a charter to this new lodge. There was opposition from soiue members of Social Friends Lodge to granting this charter, not in a factious spirit, but doubting the expe- diency or necessity of anotlier lodge at Keene ; and it was argued with considerable force, by some ISIasons, that two lodges would be an iu- juiy instead of a benefit to Masonry. The weigiit of the evidence presented to tiie Grand Lodge convinced them that the good of Masonry would be promoted by granting a charter. Therefore a charter was granted to the new lodge, to be called The Lodge of the Temple, to be numbered 88 and assigned to District No. 3. Soon after the formation of Lodge of the; Temjile business throughout the country beciune prostrated, and the effect was such that very few petitions were presented to the lodge ; under the circuiti stances, the lodge became financially embarrassed, so much so that its future life, prosperity and usefulness were anything but encotu'aging ; Init by strict econ- omy during the prosperous times thtit followi'd, the lodge is now placed upon a solid foundation financially, having a membership of over ninety and every indication of a long and useful career. The relations that exist between Social Friends Lodge and Lodge of the Temple are of the most fraternal and pleasant character, and the idea that two lodges are not needed at Keene has, it is hoped, long since passed away. The following is a list of the Past Masters : A. S. Carpenter was appointed W. Master April 6, 1869. Thomas E. Hatch was elected W. Master Decem- ber 25, 1869. Edward Gustine was elected W. Master April 5, 1870. E. E. Lyman was elected W. Master Ai)ril 4, 1871. Francis Brick was elected W. Master April 1, 1873. Daniel McGregor was elected W. Master .June 5, 1875. John G. Stone was elected W. Master April 4, 1876. George J. Appleton w:is elected W. Master April 3, 1878. F. H. Whitcomb was elected W. Master April 6, 1880. George W. Flagg was elected W. Master Ajiril 4, 1882. O. G. Nims was elected W. Master March 28, 1884. 90 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Cheshire Eoyal Arch Chapter. — This chapter was reorganized Oct. 1 2, 1 859. The High Priests iiave been : H. M. Streeter, 1859 ; Bar- rett Ripley, 1861 ; T. E. Hatch, 18().3; J. H. Elliot, ]8()5; E. Gustine, 1867; S. A. Car- ter, 1869 ; E. Ayer, 1872; L. J. Tuttle, 1875; O. M. Holton, 1879; Geo. W. Flagg, 1881; J. B. Fisher, 1883; M. V. B. Clark, 1885. The chapter is in a flourishing condition ; its financial standing is sotnid, and its membershi]) is about one hundred and fifty. More than five hundred members have been enrolled upon the books of this association of Masons since May 4, 1816, at which time it commenced to work in Keene under dispensation. The charter was granted to the Hon. John Prentiss, founder of the Neio Hdinpshire Sentinel, and Rev. Brough- ton White, (jf Westmoreland, the latter becom- ing its first High Priest. The meetings were tiicTi held in Prentiss' (now Whitcomb's) block, in the attio of which may be found, to-day, a part of tlic 1)1(1 cha])ter furniture. The par- aphernalia, however, was taken to Iowa, and used in a chapter there by the late Genei-al James Wilson, who was High Priest of Cheshire Chapter for a number of years previous to its dormancy, wliieii was brought about ])rior to 18.35, by the Morgan c^xeitement. The ciiarter of Cheshire Chapter bears date of IVIay 1, 1819, and was signed ])y Thomas Smith Webb, Dep- uty-General Grand High Priest, whose name is familiar to Free-Mtusons throughout the country and wliose "Masonic Monitor" has founfl a j)lace in every Masonic liljrary. One hundred years ago Thomas Smith Webb was a book- liinder on Main Street, Keene. He was ini- tiated as an Entt'red Apjirentiec December 24, 1790, passed to the degree (jf Fellow Craft December 27, 1790, and raised to the sublime degree of Master-Mason December 27, 1790, in Rising Sun Lodge, No. 4, Keene. Subse- quently he became very promim^ntas a Masonic author and ritualist. He elaborated the ritual of the Order of the Red Cross, and, by borrow- ing from the esoteric rituals of both the lodge and chapiter, connected it with Masonry, and thus the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross became a part of the; so-called American York Rite of Free-Masoul•^'. TIic charter of Che- shire Chapter was declared forfeited aud ordered to be stricken from the Grand Chapter books, June 14, 1843, the chapter having failed to make retiu-n since 1835. It was restored Octo- ber 12, 1859. The early records are not extant, but are complete since the revival of the chap- ter, October 12, 1859, since which time the meetings have been continuous. There is also a council located here called St. John's Council, No. 7, with Josiah L. Seward, T. I. M. Hugh de Payens Commandery.^ — In 1863 the matter of having a conunandei'y of Knights Templar at Keene was agitated by the Masons of Keene and vicinity. At that time there were but a very few Knights Templar in New Hampshire. The Grand Commandery of the State had been formed. The Masons of this section were informeil that it would be nec- essary that a certain number of Chapter Masons should take the Templar degree, then apply to the Grand Commandery for a dispensation or charter. It was found necessary to have the recommendation of some Sir Knight, who be- longed to some commandery and resided in this vicinity. Only one could be found. That was Sir Knight Oliver G. Woodbury, of Westmore- land. He was a member of Vermont Com- mandery, Xo. 4, Windsor, \i. By the request of sonic^ ('ha]rt('r Masons of Keene, Sir Knight Woodbuiy made ari'angements with this eom- tnandery to confer the Templar degrees on the following Masons (as the records show) : Don H. Woodward, H. M. Streeter, Barrett Ripley, Elisha F. Lane, Edward Gustine, William S. Briggs, John H. Elliott, Edward Farrar, John A. Chamberlain. November 30, 1863, they started for Ver- mont to receive the degrees. On arriving at Windsor they were informed that the Grand Commandery of Vermont considered it essential tliat the council degrees should be taken before receiving the Templar degrees. By a dispen- sation they received the council degrees in As- cutney Council, at Windsor, Vt., November 30, 1863. After receiving the council degrees they continued their journey to Hartford, Vt., where By Ilun. E. (lusline. KEENE. 91 the meeting of tlie commaadeiy was held at tliat time. At tliat early day of Templar Ma- sonry they had no ])artieular plaee in the dis- trict for holding meetings. The officers desig- nated where and when the meetings should be held. Under such circumstances they did not always find suitable accommodations. On this occasion the meeting was held in the attic of the hotel. One window in the gable end, the rough boards and bare raftei's were calculated to impress on thi' minds of the candidates the rough iiabit and ccjurse fare of our ancient Sir Knights. The kind and cordial greeting that was extended to them by the Sir Knights made the; surroundings appear very pleasant. After two days of pilgrimage they returned to tiicir homes, well pleased with the Sir Knights whom tiiey had met and thc^ Templar degrees. In lS()(j the Sir Knights applied lor a dis- pensation, which was granted by Eminent Grand Commander Charles A. Tufts, August 20, ISlili, to Thomas E. Hatch, Edward Gustine and their associates. Sir Knight Hatch was ap- pointed by Grand Commander Tufts as his proxy to organize this new commandery, whicli was done September 7, 1866. It received its charter at the annual conclave of the Grand Commandery, September 25, 1866. Thomas E. Hatch was a]ipointed its first Commander, and held the office one year. After procuring suitable jewels and regalia, on De- cember 4, 1866, the officers of Hugh de Payens Commandery, of Melrose, Mass., under the command of Eminent Sir Knight L. L. Fuller, visited this new commandery (of the same name) and assisted in conferring the degrees. At the annual assembly in 1867, Simon G. Griffin was elected Eminent Connnander. In 1876, Solon A. Carter was elected Eminent Commander. In 1878, Solon S. Wilkinson was elected Eminent Commander. In 1880, Don H. Woodward was elected Eminent Com- mander. In 1883, Frank L. Howe was el(>cted Eminent Commander, and is its jjresent Com- mander. The several Commanders have been very efficient and satisflictory officers. The commandery was chartered in 1866 with nine charter members ; in 1884 it had a membership of one hundred and fifty. Accepted Scottish Rite was organized August 7, 1884, under the authority of "The Supreme Grand Council, Sovereign Grand In- spector-General, 33d and last degree, for the United States of America." Bodies meet jointly, in St. John's Hall, third Thursday of each month. New Hampshire Consistory: Frank H. Whitcomb, 111. Com.- in-Chief Cheshire! Chapter Rose Croix : Frank L. Howe, M. W. P. M. Monadnock Council, Princes of Jerusalem : Brainard T. Olcott, M. E. S. G. M. Ashuelot Lodge of Perfection : Frank H. AVhitcomb, T. P. G. M. ; George W. Flagg, Deputy for New Hampshii-e. Active members of the Supremo Council for New Hampshire,— George W. Flagg, 33° Deputy ; Frank H. Whitcomb, 33°; Brainard T. OlJott, 33°. The membershij) of tiiese bodies is large, and the funds rate second in amount among the Masonic organizations in this city. Keene Natural History Soceety was organized October 23, 1871, and incorporated May 31, 1880. George A. Wheelock, presi- dent ; Sanniel Wadsworth, vice-president ; D. W. Gilbert, secretary and treasurer ; C. F. Rowell, I. J. Prouty, W. R. Dunham, E. J. C. Gilbert and H. Blake, executive committee ; Ira D. Gates, custodian. Keene Humane Society was organized December 18, 1875, and incorporated Jiuie 3, 1879. President, Charles H. Hersey; Vice- Presidents, C. T. Buffiim, E. A. Webb, A. B. Hay ward, E. A. Renouf, S. G. Griffin, Hora- tio Colony, Mrs. C. S. Falkner ; Directors, Horatio Kimball, A. B. Skinner, Mrs. C. T. Bufi'um, Mrs. S. D. Osborne, Mrs. C. Bridgman, Mrs. A. S. Carj^enter, James Marsh, Mrs. O. G. Dort, Dr. G. B. Twitchell, Mrs. W. P. Wheeler; Secretary, Miss. E. Henderson; Treasurer, Clark F. Rowell ; Prosecuting Attorney, John T. Abbott. Invalids' Home was incorporated Novem- ber, 1874. President, Mrs. A. S. Carpenter; Directors, Mrs. G. D. Harris, Mrs. E. C. Thayer, Mrs. R. H. Porter, Miss E. J. Faulk- ner, Mrs. K. (_'. Scott, F. F. Lane ; Secretary, Miss B. M. Dinsraoor; Treasurer, I. N. Spencer. Public Schools. — The following gentlemen 92 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEAV HAMPSHIRE. compose the board of officers for Union School District : Rev. Edward A. Renouf, chairman of the Board of Education ; Wilton H. Spalter, sec- retary of the board ; Henry S. Martin, treasurer of the district ; Wilton H. Spalter, agent of the district; Ira D. Gates, janitor of High School building. The Board of Education is comjjosed of the following : George Tilden, term expires March 1885; George A. Wheelock, term exjjires Mar(;h, 1885 ; Henry S. Martin, term expires March, 1885 : Wilton H. Spalter, term expires March, LSSfi; Joseph B. Abbott, tei-m expires ]\[arch, 1881! ; Ira J. Prouty, term expires March, 188() ; Rev. Edward A. Renouf, term expires Marcli, 1887 ; t'harles H. Hersey, term exjiires March, 1887 ; John AV. Sturtevant, term expires March, 1887. IL'f/h School, Winter Street. — The High School building, completed in 1876, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, is a model in architectural design, and will accommodate over three hun- dred pupils. In addition to the High School proper, tlirre arc four grammar schools, of the first, second and third grades, kept in the build- ing. The instructors are IMiddlescx A. Bailey, A.M., principal ; William F. Gibson, sub- master ; Miss E. M. Taft, assistant ; Miss Alice M. Whitcomb, assistant. Grammar Schools. — First Grade : High School building, Miss M. A. Wheeler, S. Liz- zie Green (assistant). Second Grade : Rooai 1 , High School build- ing, Miss Julia D. Hatch ; Room 2, High School buildins, Miss Helen M. Ho\Yard. Third Grade: Room 1, High Schocjl building. Miss Lizzie M. Nims ; Room 2, School Street, Miss Carrie R. Hutchins. Fourth Grade : Room 1, Centre Street, Miss Carrie E. Whitcomb ; Room 2, School Street, Miss Fannie M. Rhan ; Room 3, Church Street, Miss Sarah L. Bixby. Secondary Seliools. — I^iucoln Street, Flora E. Sargeant ; Main Street, Harriet A. Hemenway ; Pearl Street, Annie M. O'Connor; School Street, Gertrude E. Stone ; Washington Street, S. Annie Strong; Fuller School, Anna F. Downer. Primary Schools. — Lincoln Street, Jennie A. Tuttle ; Main Street, Anna E. Bates ; Pearl Street, Nan L. Hart; School Street, Nellie M. Towne ; AA'ashington Street, Hattic M. Metcalf ; Centre Street, Jennie S. Abbott ; Fuller School, Mary A. Conroy. Suburban Districts. — The schools not belong- ing to the Union District are ten in number, and are placed under charge of a superintendent. The superintendent of suburban schools is Gardner C. Hill. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Beaver Brook Lodge, No. 36. — Eugene M. Keyes, N. G. ; D. H. Dickersou, V. G. ; Frank M. Davis, Rec. Sec; A. W. Dickinson, Treas. ; Frank E. Joy, Per. Sec. Friendship Rebehah Degree Lodge, No. 6. — Elsie M. Fay, N. G. ; Ella M. Griffith, N, G. ; Kate C. AVard, Roc. Sec. ; Abby J. Roby, Treas. ; Carrie L. Geer, F. Sec. 3Ioiiaclnock Encumpiiient, No. 10. — Clinton Collins, C. P. ; R. AY. Ward, S. W. ; C. Pressler, H. P. ; AYalter W. Glazier, Scribe ; Sylvester Spaulding, Treasurer. United Ordeii of the Golden Cross. — Keene Coinmandery, No. 90, and Ashuelot Council, No. 833, Royal Arcanum, are situated liei-e. Independent Order of Good Tejiplars. — Refuge Lodge, No. 59, was organized Jaim- ary 20, 1882. Keene Light Guard. — Company G.: Cap- tain, Francis O. Nims ; First Lieutenant, Edward P. Kimball ; Second Lieuteuaut, Charles AY. Starkey ; Sergeants, Charles E. Joslin, D. H. Dickinson, A^'illiam H. Reyoum, E. O. Upham, C. H. Clark. Company H. — Captain, George AY. Fisher; First Lieutcntmt, Jerry P. AYellman ; Second Lieutenant, Frank Chapman ; Sergeants, E. A. Shaw, F. E. Barrett, O. G. Nims, Sumner Nims. Battalion. — This organization was organized October 17, 1877, and comprises Companies G and H of the Second Regiment. The follow- insf are the officers of the Battalion : Com- mander, Lieutcnant-Colouel Fred. A. Faulkner ; Major, Albert AY. Metcalf; Clerk, J. C. Reed ; Treasurer, Oscar G. Nims ; Executive Commit- KEENE. 93 tee, Frank Chapman, Jcriy P. Welliuan, E. M. Keyes ; Committer on Arms, Eqiiipmonts and and Uniforms, Captain G. W. Fislier, Cap- tain F. O. Nims, Lientenant C W. Starkey; Armorer, Vi\ AV. Ross. A Post of the Grand Army of the Re- ru BLTO was organized here in 18(j8 ; reorganized January, 1880. L. ^V. Foskett, Commander : L. H. Starkey, Senior Vice-Commander ; Ambrose A. Stik'S, Junior Vice-Commander ; William yV. Ross, Adjutant; L. D. Darling, Quarter- master ; H. W. Eastman, Officer of the Day ; ,1. S. Warner, Officer of the Guard ; Dr. G. B. Twitcliell, Surgeon ; E. E. Bissell, Chaplain. AxciKXT Order of Hiberxiaxs was or- ganized April 5, 1874. Fire Derartment, 1885. — -The officers are : Chief Engineer, George D. A\ heelock ; Assist- ants, J. A. Batchelder, H. H. Barker, "William H. Reyoum, C. L. Kingsbury, H. W. Harvey ; Clerk, C. L. Kingsbury. Keene Steamer and Hose Company, No. 1.— E. S. Foster, captain ; H. H. Haynes, lieutenant ; J. P. A^'ellwan, foreman of hose ; G. H. Piper, engineer ; D. E. Ladd, assistant engineer ; H. W. Keyes, clerk ; M. V. B. Clark, treasurer. Deluf/e Hose Company, Xo. 1. — O. P. Applin, foreman ; Charles Balch, first assistant ; (ieorge F. Howe, second {Assistant ; Edward Stone, clerk; Charles G. Gihnore, secretary and treasurer; Fred. H. Towue, steward. Phcenix Hose Company, No. 4. — M. L. I.,an- dei-s, foreman ; AVm. R. ^\'iggett, first assistant ; Charles S. Carkin, second assistant ; F. F. Stearns, clerk ; Frank P. Gaynor, secretary and treasurer ; F. N. AVoods, steward. Washington Hooh-and- Ladder Company, JVo. 1. — Joseph E. Ciriffith, foreman ; George Blais- dell, fii-st a.ssi.stant ; E. A. Seaver, second a.ssistant ; A. E. Fish, secretary and treasurer; Fred R. Smith, steward. Public Library.' — In the old " Annals of Keene," under date of 1815, we find this para- graph,— " We do not now stand apart from the rest of the world ; neither our position, nor the circumstances that surround us, present any features, grand, remarkable or romantic. . . . The deeds of our an- I By Mrs. M. R. Osborne. cestors are interesting to us, not merely because they were the deeds of our ancestors, nor because they are viewed through the long vista of past time, but prin- cipally because they were performed by a few meu of stout hearts and strong wills, amid perilous and re- markable circumstances ; and are appreciated by the vast importance of their consequences. Individuals are lost in the multitude, and a multitude excites no interest." And ^A•hat is true of individuals is also true of institutions, — they have a history interesting to none, perhaps, outside of their own immediate vicinity, and yet the annals of a town or coimty would be incomplete without this record. Hence, tin's sketch of the Keene Public Libraiy. The Keene Pulilie Library had its beginning in 1859 in a joint stock-company, represented and sustained by an association of stockholders, each holding one or more shares at five dollars per share, subject to assessment annually. An- nual subscribers, by the payment of two dollars, were entitled to all the privileges of the library. In 1859 by-laws and a constitution were drawn up and subscribed to, as follows : " We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together for the establishment of a library in Keene, under the corporate name of the ' Keene Public Li- brary,' agreeably to the preceding Constitution and By-Laws, for the objects and upon the conditions there- in expressed; and we hereby adopt said Constitution and By-Laws as a part of our articles of agreement. .Vnd we further agree that our first meeting be held on the 3d day of May, 1850, at the Town Hall in Keene, at 7J o'clock P.M., and be organized as the majority shall decide. " Wm. P. Wheeler. Geo. Cook. Faruum F. Lane. I). H. Sawyer. Leonard Bisco. Edward A. Webb. Geo. B. Twitchell. Oilman Josliu. John Henry Elliot. Wm. Henry Thayer." William S. Briggs. At the first annual meeting of the stockhold- ers a board of twelve trustees was elected, con- sisting of the same persons, with the aildition of John Bowker. George B. Twitchell was chosen chairman, and William H. Thayer sec- retary (whose duty it should be to prepare a catalogue), and Leonard Bisco librarian, "the Trustees agreeing to pay him the sum of fifty dollars for the use of the room and the care and delivery of books, including all the duties of I^ilirarian for one year." 94 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. " On the opeuing of the Library, Sept. 3tl, the Secretary reaJ a brief address, which tlie Board agreed to publish in the Newspapers, with soiiMi alteratious." The first sum voted for books was oue hundred dollars. At the first annual meeting, in May, the treasurer's re- port represented the sum of two hundred dol- lars. Of tlie twelve gentlemen elected trustees, only four have y the stockholders (consisting of William P. Wheeler, George A. Mlieelock and F. S. Strat- ton) to confer with a committee chosen by the city, in relation to surrendering the shares of the stockholders to the city, and take any action deemed necessary to transfer .the library and any other property of the association to the city. The committee chosen by the city were William Dinsmoor, Asa Smith (couucilmen), S. S. Wil- kinson (alderman), with full authority to con- summate the transactions ; and on February 1, 1874, F. S. Stratton and George A. ^\llee- lock, on the jJart of the association, and William Dinsmoor, on the part of the city, met and for- mally transferred the library to the city, under tiie following conditions and regulations, viz. : " The city shall furnish suitable apartments, and for five years shall expend the sum of not less than three hundrtnl dollars, and after that a sum of not less than five hundi'cd dollars, for the purchase and i-epair of books, until such time as the Library shall receive an income of not less than one thousand dollai's per annum." The city also voted to maintain " a free public library, \^hich should be well I'quipjjed with standard, historical and general works, constitu- ting an armory in which our young men might furnish tht>mselves weapons for the intellectual contests of the day, and every care should be exercised in its formation to guard its shelves strictly from worthless books." They also decreed that the joint standing committee should have charge and management of said library, appoint a librarian and define his duties and make all such rules and regulations as they shall deem proper. Alderman Wilkinson and Councilmen Dinsmoor and Smith constituted that committee, and leased the rooms of the Social Union, and the books i-ecommended, 433 in number, were purchased, which, with the 2G44 received from the association, made a total of 3077 volumes. The first librarian was Cy- rus Piper, who reported at the annual meeting valuable gifts of books, reports, public docu- ments, etc., and not a book lost during the year. In 1877 the city passed an ordinance "com- mitting the Library to a Board of Trustees consisting of six persons, three of whom may be ladies, and all to serve without compensa- tion, to be appointed as follows : two for one year, two for two years and two for three years, and at the expiration of the term of office of each two, their successors shall be ap pointed for three years." William P. Cham- berlain, Mrs. H. M. Hatch, A. B. Heywood, Mrs. M. R. Osborne, D. W. (lilbert and Mrs. E. J. C. Gilliert constituted the board of trus- tees, four of whom have remained on the board until the present time, and the librarian then. Miss Brooks, who succeeded her father after his decease, is still at her post. The mayor, in his review of the library the third year after its transfer to the city, depre- cated the fact " that so large a per cent, of the books read were fiction, revealing a frivolous taste prevailing in the community." In 1880 the Keene Public Library became a member of the Library Association, tuid the trustees availed themselves of the valuable aid afibrded KEENE. 95 thereby to increase tlie efficiency of their library. The lack of two things liad been a hindrance to its growth and prosperity, viz. : a proper classification of books and a catalogue that would be a more comjilete guide in the finding of books. In 18S1 a large, commodious and well- lighted room was provided by the city in City Hall Block, and the books were renumbered and classified, according to their subjects. A card-catalogue had also been completed, based U2)on the same jjlan, and containing copious ref- erences to the contents of books, and an exhaust- ive analysisof the subjects treatedin them. A new method of keeping the record of books loaned and returned, has been adopted, which, in effici- ency and simplicity is mucli superior to tlie old ledaer svstem, and lost books can be more easily traced. The book committee of three persons, chosen from the board of trustees, have always aimed to carry out the legitimate object of a pub- lic library — that of furnishing the meaus of in- struction and education, instead of amusement only, and have placed on the shelves works of an enduring charactc^r, such as should I'ender it more valual)le as it increases in size, instead of filling it with books of a sensational nature, which will become valueless when their short day has passed. Many valuable gifts have greatly enhanced the value of the library. And before closing this fragmentary sketch permit me to invite the citizens of our county, when visiting Kcene for business or pleasure, to step into our Public Library, where our obliging and business-like librarian will show the admirable working of the card-catalogue (whicii cost days and months of continuous labor), where the anxious seeker after some missing-link, with which to complete his essay or discussion, is directed straight to the liiddeu truth or historical fact, and thus mucii valuable time is saved. Tiien, passing on to the Reference Department, i)ause and look over the table covered with the best magazines, and if it chance to be out of school hours, you will see pupils seated around it, not to read the stories, but to glean choice bits of kuowledge from the excellent articles on science, biography and travel, contributed by master-minds in our own and foreign lands. But the grandest portion of our library is the solid books of reference and excellent maps and charts. Here you -will find the members of our higher grades of school, with pencil and note- book in hand, carefully noting facts and dates to aid them in acquiring the liberal education which is the birthright of every child in Keenc. One who has been abroad many years said, on returning here to his native city, " I find the beauty of Keene greatly enhanced by her fine public and private buildings, her broad streets beautified and arched by the spreading branches of her noble elms ; but the crowning gem to me is her Public Library, with its almost faultless appointments." But this " beginning," we trust, is only the earnest of the future Public Library of Keene, when, througii the munificence of our late gen- erous citizen, John Symond.s, supplemented by the aid of both of our citizen.s, a fire-proof build- ing, with its library hall filled with light alcoves, holding their precious treasures, its well- appointed reading-room, its art gallery and museum of natural history, when the fifty-five hundred volumes shall be multiplied, it may be five times, it may be ten, and who knows, but a hundred-fold ! Tlie present board of trustees are AVilliam P. Chamberlain, Dexter W. Gilbert, Charles H. Hersey,Mrs. E. J. C. Cilbert, JVIiss Kate I. Tilden, Mrs. M. R. Osborne; Mrs. L. M. Converse, librarian ; ]\Iiss Z. B. Gilmore, as- sistant librarian. The Press. — The first newspaper in Keene was the New Hampshire Recorder and Weeldij Advertiser, established by James D. Griffith in 1787. This was continued until March .3, 1791. The Neio Hampshire Sentinel was established in Alarch, 1799, by John Prentiss, who was connected with it nearly half a century. His son, John W., became associated with him in October, 1828, and the paper was conducted under the firm-name of J. & J. W. Prentiss until June 20, 1834, when John Prentiss again appeai-s to be the sole proprietor. In 1838 the firm again became J. & J. W. Prentiss. In 1847 J. W. Prentiss again assumed control, and soon after Alfred Godfrey became associated 96 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. with its publication, under the name of J. W. Prentiss & Co. July G, 1855, the Avierican Neii'S was uuited with the Sentinel, and the firm became A. Godfrey and G. S. Woodward. It was subsccj^uently published by S. & G. S. Woodward; later by Thomas Hale, G. S. Woodward, Albert Godfrey and T. C Rand. In July, 18(i5, the firm consisted of T. C. Rand, G. S. Woodward and Oliver L. French. In 1 8(5G it was issued by George Ticknor & Co. From December, 1866, to 1868, Mr. French was the sole proprietor. ]\Ir. T. C. Rand then purchased an interest, and the Sentinel was conducted by Rand & French until Sep- tember, 1872, when C.J. Woodward purchased an interest, and the jiaper was then issued by the Sentinel Pul)lishing Company, which name has continued to the jiresent time. No further change appeared in the ownership of the paper until j\Iarch, 1880, when Mr. William H. Pren- tiss became a member of the firm, and the )S'e/i\'alpole in tlie night, took possession of the (aunou and Ijrotight it in triumph to Keene. The whole population of Walpole were in- dignant at being deprived, in this way, of their valued trophy, and determined to appeal to the laws to recover it. Several attempts to tirrest the offenders proved abortive, but this only added to their zeal. A respectable citizen of Walpole was sent to aid tlie sheriff. Knowing tliat he whom they most wished to secure con- cealed liimself whenever apprized that the oiHeer was visible, they lay in ambush for him in the swamps south and west of his father's residence. It happened that Dr. Adams was at this time gunning, as was his frequent habit, in the same grountls. He saw tliem, and knowing that they saw him, he walked hurriedly away. They fol- lowed ; he hastened his walk, they theirs, until tiie walk became a run, and the run a race. His Iviiowledge of the minute topograjjhy of the place enabled him to take sucli direction as might be.st suit his purpose. Methiuks I see him now, lightly springing from hassock to hassock, from turf to log, now and then looking back, with ftice sedate and eagle eye, to see how his jjur- suers sped. By turning and winding he led them into a bog, and gained distance while they were struggling to gain firm foothold. They outran him, liowever, and arrested him at his door ; but were soon convinced they h:id not caught the right man, and returned, not the less irritated, to \\'alpole. Several of the delinquents were at length arrested and brought to trial. The court (Chief Justice Smith, afterwards Governor, presiding) decided that the said cannon was not the j)rop- erty of the said town of Walpole, and the de- fendants were discharged. It was immediately drawn near tlie court-house, loaded and fired. " May it please your honor," said Ct)unselor Vose, " the case is already reported." This was the year in wliich tiie sufferings from the Embargo exasperated a large portion of the people of New England. It is worthy of note that the selectmen of Keene, on being legally requested so to nt call of the Governor." And most thoroughly was this resolution carried out. Keene respond- ed promptly to the call of her imperiled country. Kev'. William ( )rne White, in speaking of this "war-meeting," in the admirable address delivered by him in Keene, July 4, 1876, says,— " It was a memorable scene, when, in the sunlight of the afternoon of May 20th, 1861, the late Ex-Gov- ernor Dinsmoor stood upon the platform erected for the occasion, on Central Square, and, in ])resence of a multitude, said, as he introduced to them Hon. James Wilson, still happily spared to us (both deco- rated with the red, white and blue) : ' Amid the gen- eral gloom which pervades the community there is yet one cause for congratulation, — that we at last see a united North.' Representing diflerent i)olitical or- ganizations, these honored men served to typify the patriotism, which, in that trying hour, fused so many hearts in one. How the women, moved with a com- mon purpose, toiled week after week, year after year, in connection with the ' Soldiers' Aid Society,' or to help the benevolent work of the United States Sani- tary Commission ! - How like romance sound some of the surprises caused by the handicraft of the New Hampshire women.-' A Dublin soldier-boy, in his distant hospital, gains strength to scan the names in- scribed upon his album-quilt, and is strangely stirred as the names grow mf)re and more familiar, until at last he sees the handwriting of his own mother. " As we recall those memorable days, how that com- pany of the Second Regiment, moving forth fromour railroad station, at the signal of prayer, comes back to our minds, and those tents of the New Hampshire Sixth, as for weeks together they whitened the plains beyond the Ashuelot ! How shall I speak of the cour- age, the patience, the devotion of such men ? I aban- don the attempt. In summer and winter, week in and week out, they have their perpetual orator. There he stands in brazen panoply of armor ! If you have never heeded him, you will not heed me! But in 'So early as March 11, 1862, the town votes three thou- sand dollars for the relief of wives, children or parents of volunteers. ' After the subsidence of the war five hundred dollars a year were paid by a combination of persons in the va- rious religious societies, for two or three years, to the " Keene Freedman's Aid Society.'' The "Ladies' Charita- ble Society " unites, as it has for many years, the sympa- thies of all the parishes. The " Invalids' Home " was founded chiefly by the aid of the " Keene Congregational (or Unitarian) Society, " its chief benefactor being the late Charles Wilson, who left to the Home the sum of one thou- sand dollars. . KEBNE. 101 his meditative attitude, to me he speaks, uot wholly of the storm-cloud of battle, nor of freedom dawning upon millions of a once enslaved race ; he seems to dream, besides, of brighter days for his country, days when ' men shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.' The time shall come when no living tongue among their comrades shall be left to tell of Lane and Leverett, of Metcalf and Flint, Crossfield and Rugg, and Howard and Cheney, and their asso- ciates, who returned, not alive, to the dear old home ! One by one, all who bore part in the gigantic contest shall have passed onward. Yet even then, God grant that those silent lijis may speak eloquently to the fu- ture dwellers in this happy valley, of those sons of Kcene who, in behalfof their country, presented 'their bodies a living sacrifice.' " Tlie record of" Keene during the War of the Rebellion is one in which her citizens may justly feel a patriotic pride. Captain Henry C. Han- derson recruited the first volunteers. The first company raised became Company G of the First Rt'giment, A. J. Sargent, cajitaiu. The follow- ing companies also went out from Keene : Com- pany A, Second Regiment, T. A. Barker, cap- tain ; Company F, Fifth Regimeut, H. T. H. Pierce, captain ; CJompany E, Sixth Regiment, O. G. Dort, captain ; Company I, Ninth Regi- ment, John W. Babbitt, captain ; Comjjany G, Fourteenth Regiment, Solon A. Carter, captain. A portion of Company K, Third Regiment, was also from Keene. The Sixth Regiment was organized at Keene, commanded by Colonel Nelson Converse, and later by Colonel S. G. Griffin, afterwards major- general. A portion also of Company K, Third Regiment, was from this town. The following is the roll of honor : Captain Henry N. Metcalf, killed at Gettysburg. A. W. Heuton, died of wounds. May 25, 1862. William H. Hookins, died of wounds, July 25, 1862. G. H. Muchmore, first lieutenant, killed at second battle of Bull Run. J. H. Jenks, sergeant-major, killed at Ced.ar Creek, October 19, 1864. Edward E. >!?turdevant, major, killed at Fredericks- burg. Henry Holton, died March 17, 1863. John A. Drummer, died December 9, 1861. John G. Darling, died. Henry White, died December 9, 1861. C. C. Cheney, died February 26, 1862. Henry Flint, died October 16, 18G2. George W. Marsh, drowned August 31, 1862. Henry Sprague, died August 17, 1863. C. D. Chase, died July 20, 1863. F. J. Leverett, died October 2, 1863. E. J. Perham, died October 26, 1862. C. E. Towns, died February 20, 1865. N. T. Dunn, died September 8, 1864. L. M. Parker, died June 20, 1865. Edwin Marvin, died December 15, 1862. E. F. Dickinson, died of wounds, June 17, 1864. H. W. WiUard, died Jlarch 3, 1865. Charles J. Wilder, killed October 13, 1864. Soldi EKs' Moximknt. — The first move- ment for the erection of a soldiers' memorial in Keene was started in 1868, when two thousand dollars was voted for the purpose, and a build- ing committee chosen. In August, 1870, an additional sum of five thousand dollars was voted, and a committee of five chosen to erect upon Central S(piare such a moiuiment as they should think best. The monunu'ut stands at the extreme south end of the jjark in Ceutral Scpiare, facing the south. It was designed by Martin Milmore, of Boston, and was cast by the Auies JMaiuifactur- ing C'ompany, of Chicopee, Mass. It consists of a bronze figure of a soldier, t'ight feet in height, standing at rest ; the butt of the musket is placed upon the ground, and, passing uj) between the right arm and the body, is su])- ported by the right hand, which is raised to- wards the shoulder and grasps the piece in a firm but pliant manner. The figure rests priueipally upon the right leg, while the left is advanced to an easy posi- tion, giving balance and repose to the whole. The drapery is that of a common soldier in the late war, including the overcoat, which was so useful in active service, and which now serves so admirably as a foil to the stiffness of the or- dinary costume and gives to the figure something of the grace necessary to a work of art. The pose of the figure is easy, at the same time firm and commanding. The countenance ex- presses that clear intelligence and sterliug com- mon sense which distinguishes the true Ameriam volunteer, and the whole aspect of the statue is that of the cinirageous, ready, firm and patriotic citizen-soldier. The figure stands upon a pedestal 102 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. of lloxbuiy granite, composed of the following .sections : A lower liase, seven and one-half feet sqnare and fifteen inches high ; second base, six feet two inches square and eighteen inches high ; third base, five feet four inches square and nine inches Jiigh ; fourth base, four feet ten inclies .square and twelve inches high. On these four bases rest the die, wliich is four feet S(|uare by five feet eight inches in lieight ; the whole .sur- mounted by a cap, five feet four inches square and eighteen inches thick. On tlie south of the die is a bronze tal)let, forty-eight by thirty-three inches, bearing the following in.scription : "Keene will cherish in perpetual honor the mem- ory of her sous who fought for liberty and the integ- rity of the Republic. 1861-1865. " The honor of the heroic dead is the inspiration of posterity." The entire lieiglit of the jjedestal is twelve feet ten inches, and the total lieight of the pedes- tal and statue twenty feet ten inches. Surround- ing the monument, and distant from it ten feet, is a granite curljing. The monument was dedicated October 20, 1871, amid a large concourse of people. Many distin- guislied guests were also present, among whom were General Kilpatrick, General Garfield, Gov- ernor Weston and staft", Mr. ^Nlihnore, of Boston, and others. The introductory address of the day was delivered by Major-General S. G. Griffin, who was president of the day. The presentation address was delivered by Dr. Geo. B. Twitehell, and Mr. Geo. H. Gilbert, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, responded with an addi-ess of accept- ance. The oration was delivered by General Judson Kilpatrick. Remarks were also made by Governor Weston, Senator Patterson, General Garfield, Colonel C^irroll D. Wright, Martin Milmore, Hon. Thomas M. Edwards, Hon. Ro- sea Parker, General Natt. Head, General M. T. Donahue and Hon. Peter Sanborn. Physicians. — The following jihysicians have practiced in this town : Dr. Daniel Adams, Amos Twitehell, Chas. E. Adams, (son of Dr. Daniel), .Fos. Wheeler, Thaddous INIcCarty, Daniel Hough, .1. B. Douseman, George B. Twitehell, — — Smith, .J. F. Jeni.son, Tlios. B. Kitteredge, Dr. Cole, A. S. Carpenter, H. H. Darling, Ira Prouty, Wm. Geddes (deceased), Wm. R. Dur- ham, Geo. W. Flagg, I. J. Prouty, Dr. G. C. Hill, Mrs. G. C. Hill, G. H. Bridgman, S. M. Dinsmoor, A. B. Thurston and J. H. Leaeh. City of Keene. — The first meeting of the legal voters of Keene for the choice of city and ward officers was held on the second Tuesday in Afiril, 1(S74, when the following officers were elected ; and on the 5th day of May fol- lowing were duly clothed with administrative powers. 1874. M.iyor: Horatio Colony. Aldermen: Ward 1, Horatio Kimball; Ward 2, Edward Farrar ; Ward 3, Don H. Woodward ; Ward 4, Francis C. Faulkner ; Ward 5, Reuben Stewart. City Clerk: Heury S. Martin. President Common Council : Heury H. Darling. Councilmen : Ward 1, Alanson S. Whitcomb, Fran- cis French, Franklin J. Ware ; Ward 2, Henry H. Darling, Miles S. Buckminster, George W. Holbrook ; Ward 3, Joseph R. Deal, James W. Dodge, Nathan G. Woodbury; Ward 4, Frederick H. Kingsbury, Leander W. Cummings, Charles N. ^Vildcr ; Ward 5, William Dinsmoor, Oscar J. Howard, Horace Ham- blett. 1875. Mayor : Horatio Colony. Aldermen: Ward 1, Solon S. Wilkinssing to soon raise to eight hundred or a thousand tons per day. Mr. Harris has been a pronounced Whig and Republican, casting his first vote for President in 1848 for General Taylor. He represented Chesterfield in the State Legislature of 1873, and Keene in that of 1881. He is a Unitarian in religious belief, and a member of Lodge of the Temple, F. and A. jNL, of Keene. Possessed of a powerful will, untiring energy and industry, and endowed with a high order of business talent, he has overcome all obstacles that confronted him. With his strong physique and resolute nature, he has been a man of one purpose — his business. Generous, kind-hearted, public spirit- ed, energetic and wide-awake, Mr. Harris is a good representative of the clear-headed, ambi- tious, successful business men of Cheshire County. DANIEL H. HOLBROOK. It is probable that no other name is so inti- mately connected with the introduction of water into Keene and the construction and care of the water-works, in the mind of the public, as Daniel H. Holbrook, and it seems apjjropri- ate to give a space in this record to his life. Daniel H. Holbrook (7), son of John and Mercy (Hill) Holbrook, was born in Swanzey, N. H., January 8, 1806, and is consequently seventy-nine years old. He comes of an old Massachusetts family, dating in American resi- dence to the early days of the colony, and going back through centuries of honorable and dis- tinguished existence in England, where the family is entitled to bear arms. The first American emigrants of the name, and the pro- genitors of tiie greater nnmlx'r bearing the name to-day, were John and Thomas, brothers, who settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1640. Accoi'ding to the best autliorities attainable the following is the line to Daniel H. : John (1), was a man of consideration, had quite a family, and a son, John (2), who became a resident in Weymoutii. His son, John (."3), settled in Ux- bridge, where he was a man of public note, and entrusted witli various offices. John (4) mar- ried, in 1732, a native of Mendon. John Hol- brook (6) was born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1778, and was the son of John Holbrook (o), a farmer in the fertile valley of the Blackstone River. This farmer, John (5), married Rhoda Thay- er, of Mendon, a daughter of a promi- nent, numerous and honorable family of New England, and emigrated about the year 1800 to Swanzey, N. H., where he passed the remainder of his life. John (6) had a decidedly mechani- cal turn of mind and learned the trades of car- pentei', joiner and wheelwright. In 1799 he enlisted as a soldier for nine months in the so- called French and Sjjanisli War, to rej^el inva- sion. He married, in Mendon, Mass., Mercy, daughter of Daniel and Mercy (Howard) Hill. He was a skilled mechanic, and, after working at his trade for two years, he also removed to Swanzey, settling in the south part of the town, where, in process of time, he purchased land for a home, and erected buildings thereon. He lived to be about sixty, — dying May 7, 1838. Althonah a strouo; adherent to Jefiersonian De- moci'acy, he was not an active politician, but was much interested in military matters, and was infiuential in forming a company of men, who, like himself, were exempt from military service. In this comj)any he held a lieutenant's commission, and was noted as a disciplinarian. His children who became adults were Rhoda, married Nathan Cheney, resided in Boston, where she died, leaving one child, Ellen ; Dan- iel Hill ; Abida, marzied Hiram BoUcs, lived and died in Baraboo, Wis. ; Sophia, married Carlostine Blake, and now lives in Keene (her two children, John H. and Nathan C, died when young men) ; Susan A., married Randall Bolles, lived and died in Swanzey (her chil- dren were Hiram H., M. Maria (Mrs. Angell), Abida A. (Mrs. Abijali Holbrook), Ellen E. <2^, t:gyrt^^ y- ^- '• KEENE. Ill (Mrs. Frederick Farr) ; Cliloe, married James Pierce, lives in Sliarpsville, Pa. (has children, Jonas J., Walter and Wallace (twins), Franklin, James B.); John ; Mercy H., married Ebenezer Flanders, of Hopkinton, Mass., and now lives in Henniker (^Irs. Mercy Holbrook was born July 1, 1800, and died in December, 1876). Daniel Hill Holbrook was named from his maternal o-randfather, Daniel Hill, a worthy farmer of Mendon, Mass., — a man of stront; physi(jue and of strong mental qualities. He fought valiantly in the Continental army of the Revolution, ami, at a hale old age, was gathered to his fatiiers, honored and mourned by all. Daniel Holbrook, imtil he was sixteen, was given such educational advantiiges as were af- forded by the old-time district schools, and was especially apt and ready in mathematics, ac- quiring such skill in mental calculations as to surprise even now many expert accountants. He labored with his father until 1825, both as a carjionter and farmer, when he went to Bos- ton, and was a witness to the imposing ceremo- nies attending the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument. He remained in Bos- ton a year or two, then returned to Swanzey, and commenced that life of hard work which, united with good judgment and skill, during the course of years, built up not only financial prosperity, but also a character for integrity, ability and sterling common-sense. He became a farmer and also mauufactuied lumber, which latter business acquired, in time, large propor- tions. He purchased, in 1832, the mills known as Holbrook's Mills, which he rebuilt in 1845. He became, in connection with manufacturing, an extensive dealer in lumber, purchasing the product of other mills, filling many contracts with railroad corporations, sending many rafts down the Connecticut, and shipping largely to Keene, Brattlcborough and other places. In 1865, his diligence and attention to business having met a satisfactory return, he sold his mill and removed to Keene, wdiere he has since resided. He married, September 5, 18.37, Caro- line, daughter of Josiuh and Sojihia (Lawrence) Prime. She died December 5, 1880. Their children were Ellen S. (died young), Chloe P., John J. (see biography) and Frances V. (^Irs. D. M. Nichols). Since his residence in Keene, Mr. Holbrook has been most active in his connection with the water- works. In 1868 he was one of a commis- sion of five elected by the town to introduce water into the city, — build necessar}' dam,s, reservoirs, etc. Tiie greater part of the super- intendence of this work i'ell upon Mr. Holbrook, and from that time to the present he has been prominently connected with it. He has been superintendent and commissioner, and in 1872 he successfully conducted the water under tiie i^shuelot River, and introduced the water on the north side. His wise judgment, practical experience and mechanical skill have been of great benefit to the city in this branch of public service. He consented to serve as assessor iuid supervisor of Swanzey in 1849, but could not spare time from his business to acc^ept other proffered offices. He was a Jeffersonian in pol- itics until 1872, supporting the Democratic nominations. Since then he has acted indejien- dently of party. With a strong mind and \\ell-preser\ed phy- sical powers, Mr. Holbrook is passing the closing years of his life, cheered by the affection of lov- ing daughters, and blessed with the esteem of a large range of acquaintance, who prize him for his sterlino; worth. JOHX .TOSIAII HOLBROOK, A. jr. John Josiah Holbrook, only son of Daniel H. and Caroline (Prime) Holbrook, was born ill Swanzey, X. H., December 10, 1844. He received an academic education, shoA\"ing the true qualities of a successful student, at the sem- inaries of his native town and Townshend, Vt., and at the High School of Keene. He prepared for college at New London, N. H., and entered Brown University, from which he was gradu- ated in 1872, and where, as expressed by one of his university professors, " he distinguished himself above all others by his taste and aptitude for experimental science," and w'as an enthusi- astic and earnest worker. After graduation, with deep religious consecration, he pursued the three years' course of study at Newton (Ma.ss.) 112 HISTORY OP CHESHIRP] COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Theological Seminary, eompletiug his studies therein LSTo. He had a special fitness, however, as a teaciier of" mathematics and natural sciences, and deeming that he could do efficient service in that sphere, and follow a useful path of religious duty in that direction, lie became the professor of natural sciences and mathematics at New London Academy. He showed great ability as an instructor, and, after two years' time, he removed to Keene, now his father's home. From 1.S79 until the time of his death, which occurred in Keene, March 24, 18S4, he followed the pi'ofession of civil engineering and surveying. Mr. Holbrook was a ready writer, and did much valuable work for the press during a pe- riod of several years, and was frequently called to preach. His sermons were carefully consid- ered and showed a deep religious spirit, which was the foundation of his character. He was favorably known in Keene and in the coranui- nity as a successful business man of Christian integrity. He took an active interest in public affairs, and in his business was brought into a pleasant relationship with many citizens of this county, both in public and private matters. He was a devoted and beloved teacher in the Sab- bath-school of the Baptist Church, of which he had been a valued member and earnest worker for eighteen years. There was never anything in Mr. Holbrook's life for his friends to regret, and there was much for them to bear in loving remembrance. He was exceptionally happy in his friends and asso- ciates, and signally so in the dear home circle, where his aged father and sisters now mourn his " going before." The following extract from a letter written by the Rev. J. L Seward, now a Unitarian clergy- man of Lowell, voices the sentiment of a large circle of sorrowing frientls, " who knew him but to love him : " "I cannot forbear a word of sympathy and an expression of esteem for one \\honi I so greatly respected. His fine presence, scholarly mind and gentlemanly deportment were all cal- culated to attract friends and call forth their respect and approbation. From my first ac- quaintance with him our relations were cordial and agreeable. I valued his friendship and appreciated his worth. He was one of those noble men who.se enjoyment is in the attainment of truth and knowledge ; whose friends, are not only their kins-people and acquaintances, but the great laws and truths which God has given for our study and contemplation in the great book of nature. T sympathized with his love for mathematics and natural science, and I respected his modesty, his manliness, his love of study and his devotion to duty." ALOERNOX SIDNEY CARPENTER, M.D. Algernon Sidney Carpenter, M.D. , afteralong professional life, most of which was passed in Keene, died March 4, 1885. He Mas son of Dr. E. and Judith (Greene) Carpenter, and was born in Alstead, N. H., October 16, 1814. He descended from a somewhat noted medical family, his father having been an able and suc- cuccessful physician; and several uncles and other relatives were celebrated for their profes- sional skill. After an academic course he read medicine with his father, and then entered the medical college at Middlebury, Vt., graduating about 1837. He practiced his profession a short time in Gardner and Northfield, Mass., and then settled in Keene. In 1859, Novem- ber 30th, he married Jane F., daughter of Hon. Henry and Calista (Pond) Coolidge. Tliey had two daughters, — Mary Algerniene and Caroline Sidney. A2:)art from his professional duties, Dr. Car- penter felt a deep interest in all that pertained to the welfare of Keene, and was a ju'ominent factor in social circles. He possessed rare con- versational powers, expressing his thoughts with well-balanced and discerning intellect and ready wit. Few surpassed him in repartee, and his satire was keen and cutting. He took a great interest in, and gave much of his time to, Free- Masonry. In 1855, the Social Friends Lodge of that order having been for some time dor- mant, he caused its revival, and at tiiat time was the only Free Mason in town who knew the work. He was Master of the lodge in 1850, 1857 and 1859. He was a charter member and first Master of the Lodge of the Temple. ^^^^^-/TM, c£Ct^c£y^ ^^ c (^^^ z >6o ^^^ y (Jcc^ (i AcX(_ ^ v>-> ^' woop '*- Selectmen Ti.M"^' Fletcher [ " Aecp"' & votetl that the Select men Sign the Same in behalf of y'' Town " Attest Nath' S. Prentice Toipn Clerk" In the House of Representatives, December 2G, 1783, it was " \'oted, Tliat the prayer of sjtiil petition l>e so far gitinted iis to receive the money whidt is now in the hands of Nathan Fay, one of the constables, amounting to £1530.. IS'.. 0. Continental Currency it" tliat tlie treasurer disctnint the stime out of tlie taxes calUxl for from the Towu of Alstead in tlie year 17S0." Tlie Council coucun-ed tlie same day. Certificate of Selectmes about Taxes. " These may Certify that it appears by Samuel Kidders Tax bill for 17So— that Lot X^' 5 in the Eighth Range was Taxetl in the war Tax two shillings and tenpenee and X" 4 in the Tenth Range three shillings and nine pence to the same fcix — and to the state tax N" 5 in y' Eighth Range 3/10— and N" 4 in y' lO"' Range 5/ 2 — and in ye County Tax N" 5 in y' S"" Range 1/ all in the said Kidders Tax bills who was constable for 17SS which said Lots belong to the Confiscated Estate of Simon Baxter an Absentee '• £0 . . 16 . . 7. " Alstead January 2P' 17S6. " Isaac Temple "i "BF.x..MVoon SeUctmen ! oj " Reibex Hatch | Ahiead " Joel Chaxdler 1 " Portsm' Feby 14, 1780. " Received an order for sixteen shillings and seven pence. " Amos Shephekp.' In 17S9, Gideim Delano and Eli Snow killed a wolf each in Alsteiid, for wliich they received a !?tate boimty. PeTITIOX for AtTTHORITY TO TaX NoX-ReSIPEXT Laxps. " To the Hon"" Senate and house of Representatives of the State of New Hamjishire in general Court Convened at Portsmouth on the S"" day of January A. D. 1790. " The Petition of the Selectmen of Alstead humbly sheweth that said Town hes a Large Shair of roads and Bridges to Support it being a Veri mountainous town and to ad to these burdon the County have lately laid out a Road through the Soutlieasterly part of said Town through the non-residents Land about three niilds which is no advantage to said inhabitants therefore your petitioners pray that the Selectmen of said town lay a Tax of two pence per acor on all the nonresidence Land in Said town to be Laid out on the roads through there own Lands, or other ways as you in your great wisdom Shall see meet. " and we as in Huty bound shall ever pray. ^ in be half of "Oliver Shepaep V the Seleehnen ] o/Ahtead." January 11. 1790, the matter was before the House of Representatives, and a he:iring oixlereil for the next session. January 21, 1791, a bill grauting the author- ity asked for was pa.ssed and concurreil in by the Senate. Remoxstraxce agaixst Settixg Off a Parish. " To his Excellency the Governor and Hon''''' General Court of New Hampshire. " We the subscribers inhabitants of the Town of Alstead, being this day informed that a petition is circulating in the ejist part of this Town to the gene- ral Court praying to be set ofl" as a Distinct parish ; Now we would inform the Hon*"'' General Court, that the situation of this Town is such that a Division would be hurtful to the whole on many reasons that might be given as the matter is suden and unex- pected to us till this date, and the Notice we had accidental and the voices of the inhabitjmts have not been asked, and a day of hearing on the said petition might be a Large bill of Cost to this Town — ^we pray therefore that the petition aforesaid might not have a hearing as in Duty bound shall ever pray. ■ Alstead may 31* 1793." " Reuben Hatch. Nath° Man. Job Thompson, Jr. John Worster. Joel Chandler. Ebenezer Palmer. Asa Hatch. Paul Robins. Absalom Kingsbery. Josiah Crosby. Edward Waldo. Ephraim Kingsbery. Isaac Brown. No;ih Vilas. John Robbins. Moses Farnsworth. Joshua Wood. Lemuel Barker. ALSTBAD. 121 Jijsiali Robcns. William thompson. John Burroughs. Benj" Baxter. William Hlade. Elisha Kiugsbery. Ilichard lOmerson. Daniel I'erin. John Sladc, Jr. Daniel Waldo. Elkanah Stephens. Nath' Rust. David Hale. Frederick wardner. Isaac Cady. Judah Hatch. Phinehas Hatch. Joshua Crane. Asa Grant. Chr' Williams. Jonas Farke. Mason Hatch. John Fletcher. Jonathan King. Michel Grant. James Kingsbery. Nath' Clark. Tho' Farnsworth. Nath' Cooper. Amos Shejiard. William Simons. Abel Hebbard. Jacob Cheever. Sam' Sladc. James Brown. Nathaniel Right, Junr. Azel Hatch. Jacob Wardner. Thomas Root. Josiah Cook. Dan' Williams. Joseph Cady. Josiah Cook, .Jr. .ri)se[)h I'eck. John Ladd. Rich'' Beckwith. Luke Harris. Benj' Cutter. Jesse Watts. David Hodgman. Josiah Brooks. Roswell Waldo. Elias Brown. Gideon Delano." Kemonstranck of Selectmen. " To his E.Kcellency the Governor, the Hon''''' senate and house of representatives, in General Court Assembled, may it please your honors. " We, the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Alstead, beg Leave to inform your Honors that this day we ware inform'' that a Petition is now Circulat- ing in the East part of this Town praying to be set off as a distinct Parish, or otherwise, as the General Court may think proper. This matter has twice been before the inhabitants of this Town and twice Reject- ed by a Large majority, as a division of this Town at present would be very injurious to this Town in General, and they have not brought there petition before the inhabitents to know their minds on the matter. As selectmen and Guardians of the ])ublic affairs, we pray the petition aforesaid might not liave a hearing. "Alstead, may 31* 1793. " Isaac Temple, \ Selectmen " Oliver Shepard, J of Alstead." Petition for the Incorporation of a Re- ligious Society. " To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives for the State of New Hampshire in General Court Assembled. "The Petition of a number of Inhabitants of the Town of Alstead, in said State " Humbly Sheweth, — That whereas your Petition- ers, being a compact Society in one part of the Town, and some years p.ast built them a meeting-house and settled them a Minister, when there was no other set- tled minister in the Town, and have ever since paid a tax towards the support of their Society by them- selves, without being called upon to support the ministry any other way ; but still we find ourselves under some embarrassments, not having legal author- ity to call on one another for the taxes so made, and having got the approbation of the Town by their Vote in Town-meeting — legally appointed therefor — There- fore your Petitioners humbly pray that all those now paying taxes, or that may hereafter choose to pay taxes towards the support of the ministry & meeting- house, with us may be incorporated into a Society solely for that purpose. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray. " Alstead, 26'" Nov'., 1793. "Nath' S. Prentice. Larnard Mann. Isaac Kent. John Wait. Abel Phelps. Stephen Bridgham. Oliver Brown. Moses Blanchard. William Wood. Paul Gale. Laban Johnson. S^-dis Miller. Spencer Brown. Thomas Wood. Solomon Prentice, Jr. Elijah Holbrook. Eli Harrington. Jon" Newton. Samuel Smith. Benj" Wood. Amaziah Wheelock. Asa Whitcomb. Elisha Gale. Abra" Brown. Sylvester Partridge. John Brooks. John Bryant. John Kent. Jonathan Atherton. Je-sse Fay. John Wood. John Brimmer. John Bridgham. Eph"* Barnard. Daniel Newell. Sartell Prentice. Nathan Fay. Phineas Olds. Thomas Taylor. Samuel Ball. .Tedidiali .Johnson. Abel Childs. Thoma.s Wait. Jonas Newton." James Arcli. The original was .signed also hy Abel Dut- ton, William Richardson, Aristides Iliiestis, Timotliy Child, Eleazer Miller. In House of Representatives, December 31, 1793, a, hearing was ordered for the second Wednesday of the next session ; meanwhile the petitioners were to post a copy of the ])etitiou in .some public place in the town and deliver a 122 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. copy to the town clerk, which the following certificates show was complied with : " Cheshire, ss. March 11*, 1794. This petition and order of Court thereon, was delivered to me this day, and this day I read it in open Town-meeting, in the Town of Alstead. " Isaac Temple, T: Clerk. " Agreeable to tlie order, herein contained, this Pe- tition and order of Court has ben Posted up in the Town of Alstead. " Tho' Taylor, " SiMox Brooks, Jr., " Job Thompsox, Jr., " James Kingsbury, Selectmen." Vote of Town in Favor of the Incorporation OF A Religious Society. " In a warrant. Legally executed, for calling a Town-Meeting in the Town of Alstead, on the nine- teeth day of Nov"', Last past, was the following arti- cle (viz.) article 3*: " To see if the Town will approve of the persons paying Taxes to the Rev*" Levi Lankton, to be incor- porated into a society by themselves, for the purpose of Maintaining their minister and Meeting-house. "In Town-Meeting, Nov" 19'\ 1793, article 3^ the Question being put wheather the inhabitants of this Town will approve of the persons paying Taxes to the Rev"" Levi Lankton, to be incorporated into a society by themselves, for the purpose of Maintaining their minister and Meeting-house, passed in the affirma- tive. " A true copy of Record "Attest — Isaac Temple, T: Clerk. " Alstead, Dec"' 20'", 1793." " At the annual Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Alstead, holden March 10'", 179-5. " Article 16'", — To see if the inhabitants aforesaid will vote that the persons that now do or may here- after pay Taxes to the Rev'' Levi Lankton may be In- corporated into a Society for the purpose of Soporting their Minister and Meeting-House. " Passed in the affirmative. " Alstead, May 13"", 1795. " Moses Hale, "Daniel Perin, " Abel Phelps, " Jn° Brigham, " Ephraim Kingsbertt, " The above is a true copy of record. " Attest, Daniel Perin, Town Clerk." Selectmen of Alstead. The foregoing petitions, etc., resulted in the incorporation of a society by the name of the Second Parish in Alstead, tlie act passing the House June 15, 1795, the Senate the next day, and receiving the approval of Governor Gilman, June 18, 1795. Petition of Elisha Kingsbery for Loan. " To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the State of New Hampshire, to be Convened at Amherst in said State on Wednesday, the fourth day of June, 1794. " Humbly Sheweth your Petitioner. "That your Petitioner did, in the year 1792, at great Expence, build a Liuceed Oil Mill, and in the year 1793, on his own Expence, & on the same Dam build a Paper Mill, both which mills are nearly finished and do good business to the great advantage and benefit of the Public in this part of the State. That your Petitioner finds a great demand for his Paper, not only in this, but in the Neighbouring State of Vermont, so that not only the saving of the importation of that valuable article in this part of the State is made, hut is also likely to bring a considera- ble Quantity of money into this part of the State. — That the demand for paper has increased so much that he finds himself uuable to procure Stock sufficient to supply all his customers by reason of this great ex- pence in Constructing his works. "Therefore prays that your Honors would grant him the Loan of two hundred pounds for one or two years, upon security of the Mortgage of the Mill, to the st^ite that he may be enabled to carry on his works to the better advantage of the publick and save the importation of those articles into this part of the State. And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound will ever pray. " Alstead, May 3P', 1794. " Elisha Kingsbeky." The foregoing was before the Legislature June 9, 1794, and a committee appointed to consider the matter ; but I am uuable to find any record of their report. — (Hammond.) HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD. BY OEAN E. RANDALL. CHAPTER I. Geography and Geology. — -Chesterfield is bounded on the north by Westmoreland and Keene, on the east by Keene and Swanzey, on the south by Winchester and Hinsdale, on the west b}' the Connecticut River, or, more strictly speaking, by Brattleborough and Dummerston, in Vermont. The area of the town, exclusive of the Connecticut, which flows along its western border for a distance of about six miles, is probably between forty-two and forty- four square miles. The first recorded per- ambulation of the town lines took place in 1793, at which time the line between Chester- field and Westmoreland was measured by Jonas Robbins, of the latter town, and found to have a length of " seven miles and three- fourths and fortv-four rods," its direction being; " east, 10° \%y south." The line running from the northeast corner of Chesterfield to the southwest corner of Keene wiis described as having a length of one mile and sixteen rods, and a direction of "south, 8° 30' east;" and the line running from the southwest corner of Keene to the northwest corner of Swanzey as having a length of two hundred and sixty-three rods, and a direction of "east, 8° 30' south." The line between Chesterfield and Swanzey was surveyed the same year by John Braley, and was described as iiaving a direction (starting from the northwest corner of Swanzey) of "south, 33i° west;" but its length was not stated. According to measurements made at a later date, this line has a length of nearly foiu" and one-half miles. The same surveyor also surveyed, in 1793, the line that separates Chesterfield from Win- chester and Hinsdale, and found it to have a direction of " west, 10o-° north," starting from the southeast corner of Chesterfield. The length of this line was also not stated, but it is about seven and seven-eighths miles. The surface of the town is, for the most part, hilly, the meadows and plains being compara- tively limited. At a few jjoints on the Con- necticait there are small meadows and plains, some of the latter having an elevation of two hundred feet, or more, above the river. There are also small meadows in other parts of the town, through which flow some of the larger brooks. Wautastiquet, or West River Mountain, lies in the extreme southwest corner of Chesterfield and northwest corner of Hinsdale. This mountain rises abruptly from the Connecticut, and has an altitude of about twelve hundred feet above sea-level. From its summit, iu the days of the early settlements, the Indians are said to have watched the oj^erations of the settlers in the vicinity of Fort Dummer. Hence, the name of Indians' Great Chair has been applied to a particular portion of the summit of this mountain. The longer axis of Wantasti(juet is nearly parallel to the river, and has a length of from three to four miles. There are several hills in the town worthy of 123 124 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. iiuntioii. Mount Pistarccii, near Chesterfield Factory, lias an altitude, j)rol)al)ly, of about one thousand t'oet above the level of the sea. Streetei" Hill, in the northwestern (|uarter of the town, is so called because it was at one time inhabited by several families of the name of Strccter. Its altitude is somewhat greater tlian that of Pistareen. Atherton Hill, iu the eastern part of Chesterfield, received its name from the circumstance that Joseph Atherton settled on it in 1795. There are several other lulls iu the town tJiat are higher than Streeter Hill. There arc no large streams of water flowing tltrou(/h Chesterfield, but tiie Connecticut flows along its western bortler. Its height above sea-level, at a point opposite Brattleboroiigh, is two hundred and fourteen feet. The largest brook, flowing M'holly within the limits of the town, is Catsbane Brook. This stream rises in the low lands south of the Centre village, and in tlie vicinity of Barrett Ilill, and flows in a nortiiwesterly direction for the distance of about five miles, emptying into the Connecticut uear the West village. The name of this brook Ciui only be accounted for by the following tradition, which has been handed down from the first settlers : At a very early period iu the town's history two men, whii were traveling through the forest, stopped on the banks of the brook to eat their lunch. Haviug finished their meal, one of the men said he wished to set out again on the journey. Tiic other replied that he wished to take another draught of the water of the brook before leiiving. " For your sake," said his companion (using at the same time certain emphatic words), " I wish this water had catsbane iu it ! " He probably meant rats- bane. In all probability, this singular name was applied to the brook a number of years before the settlement of the town. Partridge Brook, in some respects the most important stream that has its origin iu the town, is the outlet of Spaffbrd's Lake. It takes the water of the lake from the "channel" uear Factory village, flows a short distance in a southeasterly direction, then, turuing sharply to the northward, plunges down through a deep gorge, and flows on, for a distance of about two miles, to the Westmoreland line. From the Hue it coutiuues its course iu a northwesterly direction through Westmoreland, tor a distance of four miles, or more, and empties into the Connecticut near the county farm. It is certain that this brook was known by its present name before Chesterfield was settled, inasnuich as it was called Partridge Brook, in the proprietary records of M'est- morelaud, as early as 1752. There are also several other brooks in Chesterfield of lesser importance. Spaflbrd's Lake lies nearly iu the centre of the northern half of the town. According to an estimate based on the proprietors' chart, or plan, this beautiful sheet of water has an area of about seveu hundred square acres. This estimate may be somewhat too small ; but, from all the information the writer cau obtain relating to this subject, it appears to him that the area of this lake cannot exceed one thou- sand acres. The shore of the lake is, for the most part, either sanily or rocky ; and its water is remarkably pure, being supplied, in great part, by springs beneath its surface. Pierce's Island, iu the southwestern part of the lake, contains from four to six acres, ludiau relics — principally stone pestles and arrow-heads — have been found on it. It is not known with certainty how the lake came by its name of S})atford"s Lake, but the tradition has always been that a mau of tlie name of Spaffbrd once lived uear its shore ; heuce its name. There are good reasons for believing that the lake received its name before the town was actually settled, and that the Spaffbrd who is said to have lived near its shore was a hunter, whose residence was only temjxirarv. Catsbane Island, which lies about half a mile below the mouth of Catsbane Brook, in rhe Connecticut, is worthy of mention. This islaud CirKSTKRFIKIil). 1-25 — wiiich is in view i'rom tlie lower ferry — eon- tains but a few ;ieres, and is principally noted as being, in all probability, near tli(\ place where the Indians (M'ossed (lie rivei' on their way to ( 'anada, after havinti; defeated Sei'geant Taylor's [)Mrty in .Tnly, 174.S. It is ])ossible, however, that the place ralh^d " ( 'attsbane," in kSero-eant 'l\aylor's diary, was (he mouth of Catsbane I?i-ook'. [ The rocks of Chesterfield belong principally to that gronp of rocks denominated by Professor C. H. Hitchcock flic Co()s (rmup, and consist of <|nart/ite, gneiss, mica slate, mic'a schist, horn- i)lende rock and c^)nglonlerat(^ In the sonth- eastern i|narter of the town there is foinid, in great abnndanee, a rock calle(), 1 7.'5(). Sauuiel Chamberlain, of Wcslfoi'd, Mass., was empowered, December 13, 1737, to call the first meeting of the proprietors of No. 1 for organi- zation. It is not known, however, that any scttlcnieiit was attenijjted iu (his township under the Massachusetts charter, in fact, the inctu'sions of the h^rcnch and Indians into this part of the ("onnecticnt Valley rendered any attempt to settle the new township extremely hazardous lor some years snbse([uent to 1737. A treaty of peace between France and Kng- land was signed at Aix-Ia-(jhapelle, ()etobei' 7, 174.S ; but, in this country, hostilities did not wholly cease for some time ; f<)i', June 20, 1 749, the Indians assaulted No. 4, and carried off Enos Stevens, son of ('aptain Stevens. In 1750, '51 and '52 there was peace in the Con- necticut Valley. Movements we^ro now ma(l(! to get the towushi[)s that had been cliart(>red by Massachusetts, but which had been severed from that province by the final determination of the southern boundary of New Hampshire, recliar- teretl by the government of the latter |)roviucc. Some time in the year 1751, .losiah Willard, John Arms and fifty-six others petitioned Gov- ernor Benning Wcntworth to recharter Town- ship No. 1. The following is a copy of the petition : "Province of [ To His Excellency Benning Went- New Hamj/. J worth, Esq., Gov'' in and over His Maj'-™ Province of N«w Hamp'', &(^, the Hon' His M.oj'''' Council. "The Petition of the Subscribers iiumbly Shew.s that Sundry of your Petitioners some years before the last Indian War luid entered on a tract of Tiand 126 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ('ailed N". Oue, on the Easterly Side Connecticut River, and adjoining to the same next above Win- chester, under the Grant of the Massachusetts Bay, but since the Dividing line Between the s'' Massa- chusetts and the Province of New Hamp' has been ascertained by his Majesty, Wee find that the same falls within the Province of New Hampshire, and are Desirous to pursue our former Intention of making a Settlement there if we may be favored with a grant from his Majesty of that township, under Such Re- strictions as other Towns Holding under his Maj- esty in this Province. " Wherefore your Petitioners pray that a Grant may be made tliem of the said Township N°. one, in Such a way and manner as y' Excellency & Hon" See meet, & y' Peti" as in Duty Bound Shall ever pray—." Ill accordance with this petition, Governor Wentworth, with the advice and consent of the Council, granted a charter, February 11, 1752, to Josiah Wilhird and others, incorporating Township No. 1 under tlie name of Cliester- field. Why this name was bestowed upon No. 1, when it w;is rechart<^'red, is not known with certainty. It is probable, however, that tiie name was given to the town by Governor Wentwortli and his Council, either in honor of the Earl of Chesterfield or the town of the same name in p]ngland. Certain circumstances lead to the belief that the name was bestowed in honor of the former. In the first pla(«, the Earl of Chesterfield was a man of much note at the time the town was reehartered, having not only held important government offices, but having just brought about an important reform of the calendar, that took effect the same year (1752). lie was also distinguished as an orator and writer. In tlie second place, it is well known that (irovernor Benniug Wentworth was fond of naming towns in New Hampshire in honor of distinguished men and places in England. The names of the grantees of Chesterfield, as appended to the charter, were as follows : . "Josiah Willard, Nathan Willard, Valentine But- ler, John Arms, John Arms, Jun'r, Oliver Butler, Oliver Willard, Oliver Willard, Jun'r, Josiah Wil- lard, Jun'r, Nathan Willard, Jun'r, Wilder Willard, John Moore, William Willard, Caleb Trobridge, William Lawrence, John Hunt, Simon Hunt, Jona- than Hubbard, Samuel Kennada, Solomon Willard, Billy Willard, Simon Cooley, Joseph Willard, Wil- liam Deen, Simon Stone, Peter Oliver, David Hub- bard, Thomas Pain, John Wheelwright, Nathaniel Wheelwright, Joseph Wheelwright, Jeremiah Wheel- wright, Simon Willard, Benj'a Lynd, John Spaftbrd, Silas Spafford, Sam'l Davis, Phineas Wait, Joanna Wetherby, Elias Alexander, John Brooks, James Whitney, Abraham Kendel, Benj'a French, Josiah Brown, Ebenez'r Day, John French, Jun'r, Sam'l Greeley, Will'm Spalding, Moses Gould, Will'm Down, Robert Fletcher, David Field, Sam'l Field, David Sterns, John Kendel, Daniel Kendell, James Stootley, His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., one tract of land to contain five hundred acres, one whole share for the Incorporated Society for the prop- agation of the Gospel in foreign parts, one whole share for the first settled minister of the Gospel in said Town, one whole share for a Glebe for the min- istry of the Church of England, as by law estab- lished. Samuel Wentworth, of Boston, Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Samuel Smith, John Downing, Sampson Sheaffe, Jno. Wentworth." Theodore Atkinson was secretary of the province. Richard AVibird, Samuel Smith, Sampson Sheaffe and John Downing were members of the Council at the time the town- ship was regranted. Colonel Josiah Willard, the leading grantee, was, for many year.s, a resident of Winchester. The charter of Chesterfield is similar to those of other towns granted by Governor Went- worth. The township is described therein as follows : "All that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New Hampshire, containing by admeasurement twenty-three thousand and forty acres, which tract is to contain sis miles square, and no more ; out of which an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers, one thousand and forty acres free, according to a plan and survey thereof, made by our Governour's order, and liereunto an- nexed, butted and bounded as follows, — viz.: begin- ning and adjoining to a stake and stones near the bank of Connecticut river, which is the northwest- erly corner bound of a place called Winchester, thence running south seventy-eight degrees east upon Winchester line aforesaid, till it meets with the CHESTERFIELD. 127 western line of the lower Ashuelots, so called, then carrying all the breadth of land between the river of Connecticut aforesaid and the said Ashuelots, so far up northerly as will make the contents of six miles square, bounding on this extent by a stake and stones near the bank of the river, and thence running south, seventy-eight degrees east, till it meets with the Ash- uelots aforesaid." The cliarter provided tliat the township should be divided iuto seventy e([ual shares, and tliat a tract of laud near the eentre of the same should be " reserved and marked out for town lots," containing one acre each. Every grantee was entitled to one of these lots. In accordance with a provision of the charter, the town was surveyed (as were also Westmoreland and Walpole at the same time) and a plan of it drawn by Josiah Willard and Benjamin Bellows. This plan was finished March 18, 1752, and is now in the office of the Secretary of State, at Concord. It shows that the general out- lines of Chesterfield Mere about the same when the first survey under the new charter was made as they are now. The line between Keene and Chesterfield, running irom the northeast corner of the latter town to the south- west corner of the former, was stated to be about two hundred and twenty-five rods in length. The same line, as measured by Jonas Robbins, in 1793, was found to be "one mile and six- teen rods" long, or one hundred and eleven rods longer than in 1752. Fnim this circum- stance it might be inferred that this line had been lengthened before 1793, and that the line between Swanzey and Chesterfield, which was described in the original plan as being five miles and one hundred and eighty rods long, corresf)ondingly shortened. No record of .any such alterations in these lines has, however, been found. Owing to the loss of the projirietary records, nothing is known concerning the meetings of the proprietors of the town, or the business transacted at such meetings, save what is to be inferred from the proprietors' " chart," or plan of the town, which, fortunately, has been pre- served, and is in tolerably good c(jndition. It is not known when or by whom this plan was made ; but it is evident that it was made as early as 17(J0 or 1761, inasmuch as the earliest deeds sometimes refer to it. Governor Wentworth's share (five hundred acres) lay in the northwest corner of the town, and is known at the present day as the Gover- nor's Farm. ^U'cording to the plan, John Weutworth also had a share of three hundred acres. These two shares are indicated on the plan as " B. and J. Wentworth's shares," and formed a tract bounded on the north by West- moreland line and <>n the west by Connecticut River. It had an average length of about six imndred and eighty-seven rods and a width of two hundred rods. Aaron Smith, son of Moses Smith, the first settler, settled on Governor B. Wentworth's share about 1767, as did after- wards his brother, Benjamin Smith. John ^yentworth's share was located just east of the Governor's Farm, and was purchased by Wil- liam Randall in 17f Captain Kimball Carl- ton, of Chesterfield. The record says that this 140 HISTOllY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. compauy " marched from Chesterfield and towns adjacent, July 22, 1777." It took part in the battle of Bennington, on the 16th day of August following. The following are the names of men in this company who have been identified with certainty as belonging to this town : Josiah Hastings, ensigu. Amos Partridge (or Pat- Daniel Farr, sergeant. tridge). Noah Emmons, corporal. Benjamin Streeter. Thomas Metcalf. Daniel Baldwin. Joseph Metcalf. Jacob Farr, Jr. Charles Farr. Jonathan Cobleigh. William Farr. Samuel Peacock. Lemuel Stoddard. xVmos Hobart (prob.ably Jonathan Farr. Hubbard). Jonathan Hildreth, Jr. Aaron Fisk. Theodorus Bingham. Samuel D. Converse. According to tradition, John Pierce and others of Chesterfield (whose names are not now known), took part in the battle of Bennington as independent volunteers. Oliver Brown aud Thomas Farr are said to have driven cattle for the use of the American army. The British captured the cattle, whei'eupon the two young men went into the ranks and served as soldiers. It has always been claimed that the roar of the cannon on that eventful day, was heard by several differeut persons in this town. It was heard, it is said, by the wife of Aaron Fisk, who lived ou the hill west of Spaflbrd's Lake. Greatly agitated thereby, she walked about the house as long as it continued. The most of Captain Carlton's men .served two months aud two days, and received pay at the rate of £4 10s. per month, each. No Chesterfield men are known to have been killed at this battle, and the names of those who were wounded, if any, have not been as- certained. In Jnue, 1777, Gustavus Bingham and John Grandy, both of Clicsterficld, enlisted ; but in what regiment has not been determined with certainty. Both were discharged January 10, 1778. The town paid bounties this year (1777) to the amount of £100 8,s. In 1778 Chesterfield paid bounties to the amount of £66 13s. 9cZ. The name of only one of the men who enli.sted this year has been ascertained, viz., John Hill, aged twenty-three years. He enlisted in Captain Wait's com- pany, Stark's regiment, and received, in May, a bounty of twenty pounds. In 1779 the bounties and mileages paid by the town to soldiers amouuted to upwards of four hundred pounds. In the spring of this year the following Chesterfield men enlisted in Captain Ej)hraim Stone's comjjany. Colonel Mooney's regiment : Jonathan Cressey. John Putnam. Martin Hildreth. Each received a Ijounty of thirty pounds, aud eleven pounds for one hundred and ten miles of travel (to Providence). Colonel Mooney's regiment was raised for the defense of Rhode Island. In July, the same year, the followiug men eulisted for the town of Chesterfield : William Nichols. Phineas Hemenway. Thomas Woolev. David Pierce. Simon Pierce. Tluy enlisted in the " Continental service" f\)r the terra of one yeai", aud received a boimty of sixty pounds each. In the summer of 1780, Francis Crane, Williaui Lee, Reuben Still, David Still, Nathan Dodge, all enlisted for the town of Chesterfield, and served a £e\v months, at the least. Crane, in a petition dated April 7, 1783, .stated that, " being at Glasgo, in the Bay State, on or about the Twentieth of sd July [i.e., July, 1780], he, the Deponent Did by misfortune and axcident Cut off two of his Fingers aud was thereby Dis- abled to go forward to the army, and was under the care of Doc : Primous, a noted aud ap- proved Doctor & Surgeon, near four months, &c." The following is the doctor's certificate : " East Windsor, June the 27, 1782. " whereas, I was imployed to Doctr francis Grain, of said East Windsor, for the Los of too fingers and a CHESTERFIELD. 141 weakness in his Breast wliicli said Grain was unfit for Soldier's Duty from July, 1780, till January ; given under my hand. " Peimous Masamit, Doctor.'^ Tlio following (jhesterfield men also enlisted this year (1780) in Colonel Moses Nichols' regiment, raised for the defense of West Point : John Pratt (who appears Daniel Baldwin. to have been appoint- Noah Emnion.s. ed a lieutenant). Aaron Cressey. Ebenezer Saflbrd. In October the same year, the British and Indians burned Royalton, Vt., and committed other depredations in the vicinity of that town. It seems that Captain Josiah Hartwell, perha2)S of Chesterfield, with a few men from his town (whose names have not lieen ascertained), was among those who went in pursuit of the enemy, ("aptaiu Hartwell's pay-roll, " allowed by tlie ( General Court's sj)ecial Connuittee in the lump," amounted to <£37 14s. 4cZ. The following is an extract from a petition sent to the Legislature by the selectmen of Chesterfield, dated June 1, 1786 : "... We would humbly inform this House, that we hired one Merifield Vicary, who served in Coll : Hazell's Regt, and we have obtained his Dis- charge ; we also hir'd one Nath' Merrild [Merrill] for three years and also one Silas Ray, who served dur- ing y" war, — and your humble Petitioners beg we might have credit for what service we have done in y' war, &c." The Legislature allowed seventy-two pounds for Silas Ray. Merrill and Ray were members of Captain John Grigg's company, Colonel Scammel's regiment ; as were also Levi Farwell and John Daniels, both of Chesterfield. At a town-meeting held January 11, 1781, a settlement was made with Nathan Thomas and others for lead furnished for the use of the town on the occasion of a certain " alarm," in October, 1776. The cause of the "alarm " has not been ascertained. The following is a state- ment of the amount of lead furnished, together with the names of those who furnished it : Nathan Thomas, 6 pounds, 6 ounces ; Noah Emmons, 1 pound, 12 ounces; Abel Emmons, 3 pounds ; Jonathan Farr (2d), 9 pounds, 8 ounces ; Captain Simon Davis, 9 poimds. It was voted to allow six Continental dollars per pound for the lead ! In August, 1794, C!hesterfield "Voted to make up the soldiers' wages equal to forty shil- lings per mouth, including the jjay which Con- gress has given them, exclusive of the cloth- ing." The names of but few Chesterfield men who were wounded or killed, or who lost their lives from any cause while serving their country in the struggle for independence, have been ob- tained by the writer. According to the town records, Nathan Bishop died in the army in 1777 ; David Stod- dard, Sr., wont into the army, it is said, and never returned ; Elisha Bingham was discharged from the service and died while on his way home ; Gustavus Bingham was also wounded in the head some time during the war, but re- covered. As already stated, John Davis (or Dawes) was officially reported as killed, and Jo- siah Walton as wounded, at Bunker's Hill ; but the.se two cases are somewhat in doubt. Chesterfield's Part in the Contro- versy ABOUT THE NeW HAMPSHIRE GrANTS. — The year 1781 will ever be memorable in the annals of Chesterfield ou account of the ex- citement and strife that existed within its bor- ders, arising from what is known in the history of the States that took part therein as the " Controversy about the New Hampshire Grants." The government of New York claimed jurisdiction as far eastward as the Con- necticut, by virtue of a grant from Charles the Second to the Duke of York, in 1674. In spite of this claim. Governor Benning Went- worth, of New Hampshire, continued to grant townships west of the Connecticut, having made, up to 1764, inclusive, about one hundred and twenty-nine grants, including Brattlebor- ough, Bennington and many other now import- ant towns of Vermont. 142 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. After the establishment of the iudepeudeuce of Vermont, a majority of the inhabitants in a number of towns in the western part of New Hampshire were desirous of forming a union with the former State. Among the towns in favor of this project was Chesterfield, in which a bitter partisan spirit seems to have been en- gendered, that came near culminating in blood- shed. Two, at least, of the Board of Selectmen for the year 1781 belonged to what may be called the Vermont party. These were Samuel King, Jr., and Moses Smith, Jr. By them a town- meeting was called, in the name of the " Gov- ernment and Good People of the New Hamp- shire Grants," to be held on Tiun'sday, March 29th. The second article in the warrant for this meeting was, " To see if the town will agree to establish or accept of the union agreed upon between the Legislature of the State of Vermont and the Committee of the New Hamji- shire Grants, held at Windsor in Februar}', 1781." The third article was, "To choose one or more members to sit in the Assembly of Vermont on the first Wednesday of April next, in case the union takes place, or in the Convention at Cornish un the aforesaid day, as the circumstances may require." At this meeting it was voted to accept the terms of union mentioned in the warrant, and Deacon Silas Thompson and Samuel King, Jr., were chosen to repi'esent the town in the As- sembly of Vermont. The number of votes in favor of union with that State was ninety ; against, thirty-two. On the 2d day of May following another town-meeting was held, called, as the record states, " agreeable to the order of the State of Vermont." At this meeting E2)hraim Baldwin was chosen town clerk. Sixty-nine men then took the oath prescribed by the law of Ver- mont, and proceeded to vote for chief judge, as- sistant judges, high sheriiF, judge of Probate and justices of the peace, all for the " County of Washington, in the State of Vermont." At another meeting, held the 14th day of the same month, several more " freemen " were sworn in. The town was now completely in the posses- sion of the " Vermont jiarty," and remained so during the rest of the year ; but the adherents of New Hampshire were by no means inactive, and stoutly opposed the proceedings of the ma- jority. On the 25th day of August, the same year, Nathaniel Bingham, Michael Cressey, William Lee and James Robertson drew up a memorial to the Council and House of Representatives of New Hampshire, in which they deplored the action of the partisans of Vermont, and gave the names of eighty of the inhabitants of Chesterfield who declared that they still re- garded themselves as subjects of New Hamp- shire. The memorialists concluded by begging for advice and protection, and subscribing them- selves as " loyal and affectionate subjects." On the 5th day of November following, in the evening, several of the inhabitants of Ches- terfield met at the house of Nathaniel Bingham, a short distance north of the Centre villao-e, on what is now sometimes called Wetherbee Plill, for the purpose of nominating one or two per- sons to be commissioned as justices of the peace by the New Hampshire Legislatiu-e. While they were assembled for this purpose, Samuel Davis, of Chesterfield, acting as constable under the authority of Vermont, entered Mr. Bingham's house, with several others, and attempted to serve a " precept " on James Rob- ertson. Dr. Belknap says that the precept, or writ, was in an action of del»t. Davis, how- ever, was not able to accomplish the object of his visit, on account of the opposition, as he al- leged, of Mr. Bingliam and John G randy, Jr. On the 12th of the .same month warrants were issued for the arrest of Bingham and Grandy, "in the name and by the authority of the freemen of the State of Vermont," and they were soon after- wards committed to tiie jail in Charlestown, from which they sent a petition to the General Assembly of New Hampshire, praying for CHESTERFIELD. 143 relief. Bingbam also seut a letter to the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, containiug a statement of the facts relating to his and Grandy's arrest and imprisonment. Colonel Enoch Hale, of Kindge, sheriff of Cheshire County, hav- ing been authorized by the Assembly to re- lease all the prisoners in the Charlestown jail confined by the Vermont authorities, endeavored to execute his commission without delay, but was himself arrested and committed to the same jail by a 2 ; discharged August 13, 1863 ; discharged for disability. Eugene F. Hastings, corporal. Company A, Four- teenth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in September 22, 1862; discharged July 8, 1805. Hubbard W. Henry, private. Company F, Four- teenth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; died of disease at Alexandria, Va., February 7, 1864. Dwigbt L. Herri ck, private. Company C, Eighteenth New Hampshire Infantry; one year; mustered in August 31, 1864 ; discharged June 10, 1865 ; promoted to corporal. Sidney B. Higgins, private. Company E, Sixth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in November or December, 1861 ; first discharge for disability ; re-enlisted, and was mustered as ser- geant in the same company and regiment De- cember 24, 1863 ; promoted to first lieutenant March 6, 1865 ; discharged July 17, 1865 ; wounded October 1, 1864. John W. Hildreth, private. Company E, Sixth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in November 28, 1861 ; discharged September 29, 1862 ; discharged for disability. George L. Hildreth, private. Company E, Sixth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in December 7, 1861 ; discharged July, 1862 ; dis- charged for disability. Taylor E. Hill, private. Company F, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mus- tered in September 23, 1862 ; discharged July 8, 1865. Frank J. Holt, private, Company A, Eighteenth New .Hampshire Infantry; one year; mustered in September 13, 1864; discharged June 10, 1866. Joseph Holt, private. Company F, Eighteenth New- Hampshire Infantry ; one year ; mustered in October 28, 1864; discharged May 18, 1865. George Hopkins, enlisted in various organizations. Way land N. Hosley, private. Company F, I'ourth Vermont Infantry; three years; enlisted Sep- tember 2, 1861 ; discharged September 21, 1864 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Ccu-ps November 15, 1863. Henry H. Howe, sergeant. Company F, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; discharged July 8, 1865. Barton Howe, Jr., private. Company C, Eighteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; one year ; mustered in August 31, 1864 ; discharged June 10, 1865. Robert Jackson, private. Seventh Connecticut Infan- try; mustered in September, 1864; wounded in the mouth. (.'harles B. Lewis, private, Company C, Seventeenth United States Infantry ; three years ; enlisted September 17, 1861 ; discharged January 21, 1863; first discharge for disability ; re-enlisted, and was nuistered, for one year, as corporal in Company E, Eighteenth New Hampshire Infan- try, September 26, 1864; promoted to sergeant ,Iune 1, 1805; discharged June 10, 1865. 148 HISTOKY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Reuben A. Lewis, private, Company A, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; one year; mustered in September 20, 18(54; discharged July 8, 1865. Lucian 0. Lincoln, corporal, Company F, Fifth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in October 23, 1861 ; discharged July 7, 1862 ; first discharge for disability ; re-enlisted, and was mustered, for three years, in Company F, Four- teenth New Hampshire Infantry, October 2, 1862 ; discharged July 8, 1865. Horace S. Lincoln, private. Company F, Eleventh New Hampshire Infantry ; three years; muster- ed in July 28, 1864; discharged July 17, 1865; transferred to Company F, Sixth New Hamp- shire Infantry, June 1, 1865. James M. Martin, private. Company D, Second New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in September 17, 1861; died of disease at Harrison's Landing, Va., August 11, 1862. Henry J. McClenning,private,CompanyF, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; muster- ed in September 23, 1862 ; died of disease at Washington, D. C, August 7, 1863. J. Milo Richardson, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; did notleave the State ; soon discharged for disability. Daniel E. Robbins, private, Company F, Sixth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in November 28, 1861; served three years; re-en- listed as a veteran, and was mustered in the same company and regiment, January 4, 1864 ; dis- charged July 17, 1865 ; severely wounded in the head at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. Otis Saflbrd, private, Company K, Second New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in September 2, 1861 ; discharged July, 1864 ; re- enlisted and was mustered for one year in Com- pany ¥, First New Hampshire Cavalry, February 28, 1865; discharged July 15, 1865; wounded in the right leg at the second battle of Bull Run, Va. Norman D. Satford, private, Company E, Fifth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in November 28, 1861 ; discharged October 6, 1862 ; first discharge for disability ; re-enlisted and was mustered for one year as sergeant in Company E, Eighteenth New Hampshire Infantry, Sep- tember 24, 1864 ; promoted to first sergeant April, 1865; discharged June 10, 1865. Leavitt W. Safford, private, Company F, First New Hampshire Cavalry; one year; mustered in March 16, 1865 ; discharged July 15, 1S65. Otis H. Scott, private. Company F, Fifth New Hamp- shire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in October 23, 1861; discharged December 22, 1862; dis- charged for disability. George D. Scott, private, Comi)any F, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; discharged July 8, 1865. Henry Herbert Snow, private. Company F, Four- teenth New Hampshire Infantry; three years; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; discharged May 25, 1863 ; discharged for disability. .Tames S. Stoddard, private. Company F, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; discharged July 8, 1865 ; promoted to corporal September 26, 1863 ; to sergeant, February 12, 1864; at the battle ot Winchester, Va., he was hit five or six times in different parts of his person and clothing, one bullet entering his mouth and knocking out several teeth. Edwin H. Streeter, private. Company I, Ninth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in August 15, 1862 ; discharged June 10, 1865 ; pro- moted to corporal March 1, 1865. Alljert W. Streeter, private, Company I, Ninth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in August 15, 1862; died of disease at Falmouth, Va., February 6, 1863. Herbert N. Streeter (brother of Albert W.), jirivate. Company I, Ninth New Ham|isbire Infantry; three years ; mustered in August 22, 1862 ; died of disease at Falmouth, Va., February 7, 1863 ; wounded in the hand at the battle of South Mountain, Md. Marshall S. Streeter, private. Company F, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in September 23, 1862 ; wounded in the left leg at the battle of Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864, and died from the effects of the wound at Baltimore Hospital, October 9th, the same year. Herbert B. Titus, Company A, Second New Hamp- shire Infantry ; three years ; discharged June 10, 1865; commissioned second lieutenant June 4, 1861 ; first lieutenant, August, 1861, and .issigned to Company F ; promoted to major of the Ninth New Hampshire Infantry June 14, 1862; com- missioned colonel of the same regiment Novem- ber 22, 1862 ; discharged September 27, 1864, but reinstated by Special Orders No. 377, par. 18, War Department, November 1, 1864 ; at the battle Of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right shoulder ; March 15,1865, he was appointed brigadier-general by CHESTERFIELD. 149 brevet, " for gallant and meritorious services during the war." David B. Tyrrel, private, Company A, Second New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in August 24, 1861 ; discharged August 24, 1864. Everett C. Tyrrel, private, Company D, Second New Hampshire Infantry ; three years ; mustered in September, 1861; discharged May, 1863; dis- charged for disability. David S. Walton, Jr., private. Company I, First Ber- dan's United States Sharpshooters; three years; enlisted September 11, 1861 ; discharged Decem- ber 10, 1862 ; discharged for disability. Lyman H. Warren, private, Seventeenth United States Infantry; three years; enlisted September 16, 1861 ; appointed second lieutenant October 13, 1862 ; brevetted captain July 2, 1863 ; appointed captain October 25,1865; slightly wounded in one of his feet at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va. ; died at Houston, Tex., September 18, 1867. Alonzo W. Wheeler, private. Company F, First New Hampshire Cavalry; one year; mustered in March 8, 1865 ; discharged July 15, 1865. Of the seventy-four men wlio.se names have Ijeen given above, none were killed in battle ; one died from the effects of a wound received in battle ; eleven were wounded and survived ; six died of disease. The amount of the bounties paid Ijv the town during the war was twenty-four thousand six iiundred dollars. Twelve persons were drafted and paid a com- mutation of three hundred dollars each, and twenty-.seven furnished substitutes at an expense of from one hundred to four hundred dollars each. Increase and Decrease of Popula- tion. — A census taken by order of the provin- cial government in the year 1767 shows that Chesterfield then had 365 inhabitants. In 1 77.3 the number of inhabitants was 747, of whom 400 were males. In kSeptember, 1775, the selectmen made an enumeration of the inhabit- ants of the town and found the number to be, including 36 men absent in the army, 874. Of this number, 462 were males. No slaves were returned in these early censuses. During the War of the Revolution many families came into the t()\\n from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. By the year 1786 the number of inhabitants had reached 1535, notwithstanding the unsettled state of affairs that existed in the town during the Revo- lutionary j)eriod. The number of inhabitants of the town in every tenth year since 1790 (inclusive) has been as follows : 1790, 1905; 1800, 2161 ; 1810, 1839; 1820, 2110; 1830,2046; 1840, 1765; 1850,1680; 1860, 1434; 1870, 1289 ; 1880, 1173. The District Schools. — The schools are mentioned for the first time, in the records of the town, in the warrant for a town-meeting held the second Tuesday in June, 1767. At that time the town had not been divided into school-wards, or districts, and what few schools there were, were taught in private houses. The sum of money raised for school purposes in 1767 (if any) was not recorded; but at the annual town-meeting in 1771 it was voted to raise fifteen pounds for the support of schools. From 1771 to 1779 the amount raised annually seems at no time to have exceeded fifty pounds. During the next five years the town was in a more or less disturbed condition, and little or no money appears to have been raised for the support of .schools. In 1776 the town was divided into several school-wards, and each ward allowed to employ an instructor ; but it was not till 1787 that the town was divided into any considerable number of wards, nine- teen of them having been established that year. Frequent changes were made in the lines of these wards previous to 1815, about which time the term " district " was adopted in the place of " ward." When or where the first school-house was built in Chesterfield has not been a.scertained. It is doubtful if one was Iniilt befi)re 1785. The oldest school-houses now standing appear to have been erected between 1800 and 1812. The one in District No. 7 is known to have been built about ISIO. Before the building of n 150 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. sch(joI-houses the schools were taught, as already stated, ID private houses. At cue time, near the begiuniug of the present century, the school in District No. 7 (the Hardscrabble District) was kept in (iibson Willard's barn. Many of the schools were much larger in tlie first quarter of this century than at present ; some of them, it is said, had nearly one hundred scholars each. In the winter of 1816-17 the little school-house in the district last mentioned is said, on good authority, to have been occupied by at least eighty pupils. The number of scholars in the district is now about fifteen. The largest dis- trict in the town, N'o. 13 (which includes Ches- terfield Factory), has at present aliout sixty scholars ; the next largest, No. 1 (which in- cludes West Chesterfield ), has about thirty-five. The average number 'of scholars attending school each year jirevious to 1847 has not been ascertained. Since that date the nuinljer for each fifth year has been as follows : 1847, 438 ; 1852, 342 (?) ; 1857, 430 ; 1862, 355; 1867,300; 1872,265; 1877,225. The number of scholars enrolled in 1883 was 218. The amount of money raised yearly by tax- ation for the support of schools was, from 1785 to 1798, usually one hundred pounds; from the latter date to 1805, four hundred dollars. From 1805 to 1847 the amount raised annually appears to have varied from four hundred antl forty dollars to eight hundred dollars; from 1847 to the present time it has been from eight hundred dollars to fifteen hundred dollars. Since 1829 each district has received annually a portion of the " literary fund," this town's share of which, for a number of years, has aver- aged not far from one hundred dollars. The greatest number of districts in which schools have been maintained since 1817 has been, apparently, sixteen ; at present the number is thirteen or fourteen. Chesterfield Academy. — On the 12th day of January, 1790, the New Hampshire Legislature passed an act entitled " An Act to incorpoi'ate an Academy in the Town of Ches- terfield, by the name of the Chesterfield Acade- my." In the preamble of this act it is stated that " the education of youth has ever been con- sidered by the wise and good as an object of the highest consequence to the safety and happi- ness of a People;" also, that "Peter Stone, of Chesterfield, gentleman, and sundry other jjer- sous, have voluntarily contributed certain sums of money for the purpose of establishing and suj^i^orting a public school, or academy, in said Chesterfield." ■ The first section of the act sets forth the object of the academy, namely, " the promoting piety and virtue, and the instruction of youth in such branches of useful Literature as the trustees hereby appointed shall think proper to direct." The same section also empowered Rev. Abraham Wood, Solomon Harvey, phy- sician, Moses Smith, Es(|., Silas Richai'dson, Zur Evans, Simon Willard and Abner John- son, gentlemen, all of Chesterfield, to act as trustees. The third section provided that " Abraham Wood and other trustees, as afore- said, and the longest livers and survivors of them, and their successors, be the true and sole visitors, trustees and governors of the said Academy, in perpetual succession forever." The foui'th section fixed the number of trustees at not less than seven, nor more than eleven, and provided that the major part of them should be "laymen and respectable freeholders." In the sixth section provisions were made for the holding, by the trustees, of real and personal estate, provided the annual income from tlie real estate should not exceed five hundred pounds, and that from the personal estate should not exceed two thousand pounds, " both sums to be valued in silver, at the rate of six shillings and eight-pence by the ounce." It was enacted by the eighth, and last, section that all estate, both personal and real, held within this State for the use of the academy, should be exempt from taxation ; and that students of the academy should also be exempt from paying poll-tax. CHESTERFIELD. 151 It has usually been stated tliat the academy was not opened till August 14, 1794, but the records of the institution show that this state- ment is, in all probability, incorrect. August 31, 1791, the trustees voted to hire Sheldon Lo- gan " to instruct in the a\xi a building on the common for the use of the school. AMiether the academy building was completed before August, 1794 (the school, iu tiie mean time, being kept in some other house), cannot now be determined with certainty. For many years after its incfjrporation the academy had the reputation ctf being one of the best schools in the State, ranking second, it is said, to Phillips Academy, at Exeter. It was attended bv students from all the neierh- o boring towns, and some came from remoter places, even from the Southern States. Many of tiiose who sought instruction at this insti- tution became, later in life, eminent iu the var- ious trades and professions. It was a common practice, in the earlier years of the academy, for the trustees to grant the use of the academy building, and sometimes other property, to certain persons stykxl "adven- turers," on condition tiiat they should employ an instructor and keep the school in operation. •It seems that the property held by the trustees for the benefit of the academy never produced an income sufficient for its support ; and some- times this income and the tuition fees together amounted to less than the expenses. The prop- erty held by the trustees seems to have cvinsisted almost wholly of real estate. This included, about the year 1800, a part, if not all, of the glebe-land, in the southeastern quarter of the town. In 1808 the Legislature passed an act grant- ing to the trustees the privilege of raising money by lottery for the benefit of the school. Elijah Dunbar, Benjamin Cook, John Putnam and Phineas Handerson Mere chosen managers of this lottery ; but the records of the academy do not show how much money was obtained in this way. The sum allowed by the act of the Legislature to be raised was five thousand dol- lars ; but probably only a small part of this sura was ever actually obtained. Tlie act was extended, howevcu-, by tiie Legislature in 1S14. The number of '' adventurers " for the year last mentioned was odc hundred, and the defi- ciency to be madc^ up by them amounted to eighty-eight dollars and sixty-seven cents. September 11, 1818, the trustees voted "that Caj)tain Benjamin Cook sell to the highest bid- der the privilege of selling liquor on the com- mon on exhibition day, and that the money so raised be applied to building the stage and paying Mr. Hardy a balance of about nine dol- lars due him for arrearages of board for the last year." The exhibitions that wi^re given by the stu- dents of the academy during the pei'iod of its greatest prosperity were notable incidents in the history of the school, and even of the town. It was a part of the by-laws of the institution that no student should take part in these exhi- bitions until he had been a member of the school at least twelve weeks, unless he had had previous instrut'tion in the art of declaiming under a competent teacher ; and all students to whom parts M'ere assigned, in any public exhi- bition, were obliged to make careful preparation " in order to perform their parts accurately and 152 HISTORY OF CHESHIEE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. preserve the reputation of the Academy." The names of all the jjreceptors of the acad- emy from its incorporation till 1847 have not been obtained ; but some of them were as fol- lows : Sheldon Logan was, perhaps, preceptor 1791 -94. It is certain that he was engaged by the trustees for one year, beginning August 14, 1794, at a salary of one hundred pounds. John Noyes was preceptor two years, com- mencing his duties September 1, 1795. He was a graduate of Dartmouth C'ollege and at one time represented the Southern District of Ver- mont in the Congress of the United States. Broughton Wright (?) was preceptor one year from August or September, 1797. Levi Jackson, of Chesterfield, was preceptor 1799-1805. (See Biographical Notices.) Daniel Hardy taught at least one year, begin- ning in the autumn of 1805. Isaac Fletcher, a student of Dartmouth Col- lege, was preceptor in 1808. He married, in 1812, Abigail, daughter of Peter Stone, Sr., of this town, and afterwards practiced law at Lyn- don, Vt. Jonathan Hartwell ^vas preceptor in 1809. Asa Keyes was preceptor two years from April Ifi, 1810. He was a graduate of Dart- mouth College and became a distinguished law- yer. He died in Brattleborough, Vt., June 4, 1 880, at the great age of ninety-three years. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Asa Britton, Esq., of Chesterfield. McConihe appears to have taught six months in 1812. Otis Hutchins, of Westmoreland, was pre- ceptor two years at least, commencing in the autumn of 1812. He was again eno-asred in the spring of 1820 for the term of three years. His salar)' was to be raised in part by subscrip- tions, which could be paid in cloth, provisions, wood, etc. He died in Westmoreland October 6, 1866. Elisha S. Plumb was preceptor 1815-16. Thomas Hardy was jjreceptor 1817-19. He was again engaged to teach in 1834 for the term of ten years, and was to receive as salary all the tuition fees. He was also to have the privilege of selling books and stationery to the students. The trustees also agreed to provide twenty-five days' work each year for Mr. Har- dy's farm. He was released from his engage- ment, at his own request, February 6, 1838. Mr. Hardy was one of the most efficient and respected teachers ever connected with the acad- emy. He was a graduate of Dartmouth Col- lege and spent many years in teaching. The entire number of pei'sons under his instruction during his career a.s a teacher was six thousand seven hundred. He died March 3, 1864. George Freeman was ])receptor three months in 1822; Rev. John Walker, six months or more in 1823 ; John Chamberlain in 1824. Josiah W. Fairfield was preceirtor 1824-26. He was a native of New Boston, this State, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1827. He married I^aura, daughter of Asa Britton, Esq. , of this town, in 1829, and settled in Hudson, N. Y., where he died, December 3, 1878. Edward P. Harris was preceptor 1827-28 ; Oliver M. Smith, 1830 ; James W. Eaiery, 1831. Charles L. Strong was preceptor 1832-33, and again in 1841-44. Mr. Strong was a grad- uate of Amherst College and was a teacher by profession. He married, in 1843, Prusha, daughter of Ashl)el Wheeler, Sr., of Chester- field, and died in this town August 2, 1847. John E. Butler, of Jamaica, Vt., was an as- sistant teacher in 1833. He afterwards became a distinguished lawyer in the State of Vermont. Samuel H. Price was preceptor 1838-39 ; Nathan Kendall, 1845-47. Since 1850 the academy has not been in a flourishing condition and for several years has been closed. The original academy building stood on the southeastern part of the common, at the Centre village, a few rods from the old meeting-house. It was a two-story structure surmounted by CHESTERFIELD. 153 a belfry, iu whicli, liowever, there was no bell. April 9, 1859, it was burned to the ground. A new building was erected the same year, having nearly the same location, by School Di.strict No 5 and the trustees of the academy, conjointly, on condition that the same should be used both for the district school and a High School or academy. The Churches. — The First Congregational Church of Chesterfield was probably organized in 1771, but it is evident that a site had been selected for a meeting-house, on the common, as early as 17()7 ; for, in tlie record of the ac- ceptance of a new road by the town that year, mention is made of the " meeting-house place." April 24, 1770, the town voted to raise one hundred pounds, to cover the meeting-house frame, that had already been erected. June 8, 1772, it was voted by the town to take .seveuty- tivc pouiuls of the money appropriated for the highways and use it iu finishing the outside of the meeting-house. Thisliuilding stood on the common, at the Centre village, about thirty-five feet south of the site of the present town-house, and was about sixty feet long and forty-five feet wdde. It was two stories high, with two rows of windows, and originally had a porch on each end. The west porch, however, was removed in accordance with a vote passed by the town in 1815, and a projecting bell-tower built in place of it. The bell in this tower was rung on week-days at noon and at nine o'clock iu the evening. All the town-meetings were held in this house from September, 1771, till it Wits bvirnetl down by an incendiary fire, March 1, 1851. It was also used by the students of Chesterfield Academy for their public exhibi- tions. The present Congregational meeting- iiouse was occupied, for the first time, in No- vember, 1834. le first settled minister in Chesterfield was Abraham Wood (see Biographical Notices), who came from Sudbury, Mass., at the age of about twenty-four years, and was ordained pastor of the First Congregational Church December 31, 1772. For half a century JNIr. Wood was the sole pastor of this church. Before i\Ir. Wood came to Chesterfield, John Eliot preached for a while " on probation ; " but, for reasons whic^h he did not see fit to make public, he declined an invitation to become the settled pastor of the Congregational Churcii in this town. After Mr. Eliot's declination the town voted (Octo- ber 12, 1772) to invite Mr. Wood to I)e their pastor, wliich invitation was accepted by him in a letter dated November 17, 1772. At a special town-meeting held the 7th day of the following Decend)er, preparations were made for the ordination of Mr. Wood. It was voted, — "1. That Thursday, the 31st day of the same month, sliould be the day on which the ordination was to take place. " 2. That Elisha Roekwood shoiUd liave £S for pro- viding and entertaining with victuals, drink, lodgings and horse-keeping the whole of the council of minis- ters, delegates and other gentlemen of di.stiuctiou. " 3. That the sum of £9 should be raised to defray any expenses arising from the ordination. " 4. That the town concur with the vote of the church, to send invitations to other churches to assist in the ordination. " 5. That the window-caps of the meeting-house should be of straight, solid wood, with cornice on the front. " 6. That two or three Sabbaths a year should be granted to Mr. Wood, to enable him to visit his friends, so long as he should be the pastor of the church." For the first nineteen years of his ministry Mr. Wood received an annual salary of sixty-five pounds, which sum was raised to eighty pounds in 1792. From 1800 to 1822 the average sum raised yearly by taxation, for the support of preaching, was about two hundred and seventy- five dollars. After the latter date no taxes were assessed for the support of religious instruction. In the year 1800 the names of forty -seven tax- payers were recorded in the town records as being persons who were meml)ers of the "Universal Restoration Society," and consequently ex- 154 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. eniptecl (by tlie Bill of Rights) from paying min- ister rates. lu 1802 the names of thirty-one tax-payere were recorded as being members of the " Republican Society," and, therefore, " not holden by law to pay taxes for the support of Congregational ministers." ilr. Wood having become, a few months be- fore his death, unable to attend to his pastoral duties, Rev. John \\'alker was installed as col- league pastor April 30, 182;>. Mr. Wood re- tained his ministry, however, till he died, Octo- ber 18, 1823. During his pastorate three hundred and twenty-four pei-sous united with the church, either by profej^sion or by letter, including those who were members when he was ordained. The number of persons bap- tized was seven hundred and sixty-five. At the date of Mr. Walker's installation as col- league pastor the church had one hundred and thirteen membci-s, and eight more were admitted during the year. Besides Rev. Abraham AYood, this church has had the following pastors : Rev. John Walker, from April 30, 1823, to April 22, 1829 ; Rev. Elihu Smith, May 23, 1832, to December 2, 183-t; Rev. Josiah Ballard, Au- gust 5, 1835, till the following spring ; Rev. Hosea Beckley, 183G-42 ; Rev. Benjamin E. Hale, August 31, 1842, to November 11, 1847 '> Rev. Ebenezer Xewhall, July 23, 1852, to July 2, 1854; Rev. Jeffries Hall. April, 1858, to April, 1866; Rev. Albert E. Hall, November, 1882, to the present time. The " Universal Bcstoration Society " was or- ganized as early as 1798, and perhaps e;u-lier. The annual meetings for the election of officers were regularly held tor many years before the societv was incorporatetl ; but services seem to liave been held only occasionally. In June, 1818, fifty-five membere of the society peti- tioned the Legislature for an act of incorpora- tion. The petition was granted, and an act passed incorporating Oliver Baker, Stephen Streeter and Jonathan Cochran, with their as- sociates and successors, into a society- to be i known as the " Universal Restoration Societj'." Previous to 1830 the Universalists held tlieir meetings for worship, for the most part, in school-houses and private dwellings ; for the town would not vote to allow them the use of the meeting-house at the Centre village, for any purpose whatever, till 1816, when they were permitteil to hold a convention in it. January 2, 1830, it was voted by the town to grant the use of the meeting-house to the Universalists, every alternate Sunday, for one year. The same year, however, the house now occupied by them, at the West village, was built. The names of very few of the Universalist preachers who preached in Chesterfield before 1830 are now known. January 2, 1822, it was voted by the society to hire Robert Bart- lett, of Langdon, to preach on five Sundays during the year, provided he could be engaged for five dollai-s per Simday. In 1823-26 the society appears to have had preaching only four Sabbaths each year. In April, 1828, arrangements were made to engage Rev. TA'illiam S. Balch to preach eveiy fourth Sunday during the year ensuing, if he could be engaged for eighty dollars. Since 1830 the Uuivei-salists of Chesterfield have usually held services in the meeting-house at the West village every alternate Sabbath, em- ploying a pastor in connection with societies in Winchester, Westmoreland, and Putney, Vt. The pastoi-s of the Uuivei-salist Society have been, since 1830, as nearly as can be ascertained, as follows : Rev. Philemon R. Russell, about two years, between 1830 and 1835; Rev. Stephen A. Barnard (Unitarian), 1835-37 ; Rev. Charles Woodhouse, 1838-41 and ag-ain in 1843; Rev. AA'illiam X. Barber, for a while between 1841 and 1843 ; Rev. Josiah Marvin, 1844-45 ; Rev. Edwin H. Lake, from about 1851-54 ; Rev. Hymen B. Butler, 1854-56 ; Rev. Sullivan H. :M'Collester, 1857-62 ; Rev. Oliver G. AYood- bury, 1862-70 ; Rev. Joseph Barber, 1871-77 ; Rev. Hiram B. [Morgan, 1878-81 ; Rev. Ed- CHESTEKFIELD. 155 ward Smiley, 1882-84; Rev. Wiufiekl S. Wil- liams, 1884-5. Baptist Church. — No records of the Baptist Church of Chesterfield have been fduiid, but it is known that Nathan Worden, a preacher of this denomination, settled in the town as early as 1787, and in 1819 a society was incorporated under tiie name of the " First Baptist Church." Several persons of the Baptist persuasion had an interest in the church built by the Uuiver- salists in 1830, and for a few years held ser- vices in it. This society has been extinct for many years. 3Iethodist Episcopal Church. — The organiza- tion of the present Metliodist EpiscojKil Society of Chesterfield dates from June 18, 1out 18.i5, when the busi- ness was continued by Arnold, at first associated with Nathaniel Walton for a few years, and then alone. From 1844 to 1865 this tannery \vas owned by Sumner Warren, now of Keene, who carried on a pretty extensive business. The business w:is afterwards continued for a while by Earl Warren, of Westmoreland. At present there is no tannery in operation in Chesterfield. There are now only three grist-mills in the town, — Bradford C. Farr's, at Factory village, Prusha W. Strong's and Warren W. Farr's, at the West village. The laro-est saw-mill in Chesterfield was built by the Steam Mill Company, at the former vil- lage, in 1872. In 1878 this mill was burned, but was rebuilt the same year by James H. & George Goodrich. It has an engine of forty- five horse-power, and is now owned and run by James H. Goodrich. The Butlers' steam saw- mill is located on the upper part of Catsbane Brook ; O. R. Farr's and W. W. F;u-r's saw- mills are at the West village. Taverns and Hotels. — The earliest tav- erns were merely private houses situated near the principal highways, and whose owners availed themselves of the opportunity to add to the income derived from their farms by provid- ing food and lodging for hungry and weary travelers, and an abundance of sj)irituous and fermented drinks for the thirsty. After a while a law was passed compelling tavern-keepers and retailers of sjiirituous liquors to obtain a license from the selectmen. The first recorded licenses for this purpose were granted in 1792, in which year four persons were licensed as taverners and one to sell spirituous liquors. It is not at all probable, however, that one person enjoyed a monopoly of the trade in strong di-ink that year. In 1793 there were only two licensed tavern- ers, while five persons were licensed to retail spirits; and in 1794 the number of tavern-keep- ers was three, the number of retailers of spirits remaining the .same. In 1800 there were seven licensed tavern-keepers and only two licensed retailers of liquors. Among the etirliest tavern-keepers were Oli- ver Cobleigh, Nathaniel Stone, Andrew Hast- ings, Abraham Stearns, Nathaniel Bingham and Ebenezer Harvey, Sr. Ebeuezer Harvey's tavern stood on the site of the late Parker D. Cressey's residence at the Centre village, and was probably one of the old- est taverns in the town. In 1801, Levi Mead came to Chesterfield, from Lexington, Mass., and lived in the house now occupied by Roswell Butler, at the Centre village, which he kept as a tavern. In LSI 6 158 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. he built at the same village what was known for many years as the Mead tavern, and \\liicli is now called the Chesterfield Hotel. Siure his death, in 1828, this tavern has had several dif- ferent owners, among them his sons, Bradley and Elias. From 1860 to 1868 it was owned and kept by Parker D. C'ressey, and since 1876 it has been owned by Lucius Thatcher. The jiresent hotel at Factory village, known as the Sjiaffbrd House, was built in 1807 by Elnathan Gorham for a dwelling-house. It was first used as a tavern by Pressou Farwell. Afterwards it was owned and kept many yeiirs by Samuel Burt, who, in 1867, sold it to San- ford Guernsey. In 1880, it was purchased of Mr. Guernsey by ^Valtcr J. Wheeler. Its present proprietor is Alfred L. Proctor. In 1831, Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., built a large stone house on the old Pierce homestead, near the lake, which he kept as a tavern several yeai's. The tavern which Amos Smith kept near the river, in the northwestern (piartcr of the town, and which was afterwards kept by his son, George Smith, was frequented by boatmen and raftsmen in the days when merchandise was transported up and down the river by means of boats, and logs were conducted down in rafts. The same is true of the old Snow tavern, after- wards the town poor-house. The Pros2:)ect House, situated on an eminence near the southern shore of Spafford's Lake, of which it commands a fine view, was built in 1873 by the late John W. Herrick, of Keene. Since its erection it has been enlarged aud other- wise improved. This hotel is kejit open only during the summer, and is now owned by Hon. Charles A. Rapallo, of New York City, one of the judges of the Court of Apj^eals for the State of New York. It has been managed, since 1879, by A. R. Mason, of Keene. Post-Offices. — The post-office at the Centre village (Chesterfield) was established ^Vugust 1 2, 1802. The following persons have been postmasters at this village : Ebenezer Harvey, commiasioned August 12, 1802. Asa Britton, commissioned November 10, 1810. Daniel Waldo, commissioned December 30, 1830. Warliam R. Platts, commissioned October 4, 1833. Nelson W. Herrick, commissioned August 6, 1841. Warham R. Platts, commissioned September 11, 1843. Charles J. Amidon, commissioned May 29, 1849. Henry 0. Coolidge, commissioned April 2, 1851. Warham R. Platts, commissioned May 20, 1853. Henry O. Coolidge, commissioned August 10, 1861. James M. Herrick, commissioned February 27, 1867. Romanzo C. Cressey, commissioned April 9, 1868. Murray Davis, commissioned October 24, 1873. James H. Goodrich (2d), commissioned October 0, 1875. Sevvall F. Rugg, commissioned August 5, 1881.. The post-office at Factory village (Chester- field Factory) was established January 12, 1828. The postmasters at this village have been as follows : George S. Root, commissioned January 12, 1828. Horatio N. Chandler, commissioned December 14, 1835. Samuel Burt, Jr., commissioned July 28, 1838. Bela Chase, commissioned August 6, 1841. Samuel Burt, commissioned December 30, 1844. David W. Beckley, commissioned April 26, 1850. Samuel Burt, commissioned September 11, 1854. David W. Beckley, commissioned July 20, 1861. James C. Farwell, commissioned January 15, 1866. The post-office at the West village (West Chesterfield) was established April 17, 1866, at which time James H. Ford was commissioned postmaster. He held the office till November, 1870. Since December 19, 1870, Emory H. Colburn has been postmaster at this village. Physicians. — The following are the names of some of the physicians who have practiced their profession in Chesterfield for longer or shorter periods: Dr. Elkanah Day, 1767 (or eai'lier) till ; Dr. Moses Ellis, before 1787 Dr. Samuel King, 1785 (or earlier) till Dr. Solomon Harvey, about 1775-1821 (or later) ; Dr. Barnard, about 1779 ; Dr Joshua Tyler, from between 1776 aud 1781 till 1807; Dr. Oliver Atherton, from about 1787 till 1812; Dr. Prescott Hall, about 1806; Dr. CHESTERFIELD. 159 James R. Grow, about 1812 ; Dr. Oliver Baker, 1809-40; Dr. George Farrington, 1814-1(3; Dr. Joshua Converse, to 1833 ; Dr. Jason Farr, several years previous to 1825 ; Dr. Jerry Lyons, 1814-25; Dr. Philip Hall, a number of years previous to 1828 ; Dr. Harvey Car- penter, 1827 or 1828 till 1852; Dr. John P. Warren, 1842-44; Dr. Algernon Sidney Car- penter, 1841 ; Dr. John (). French, abtmt ten years, from 1844 or 1845 ; Dr. John F. But- ler, 1854 to the present time; Dr. Daniel F. Randall, 1855 to the present time ; Dr. Willie G. Cain, August, 1884, to the ])resent time. Dr. George Farrington died in Chesterfield July 29, 1816, aged forty-seven years. The fol- lowing epitaph is inscribed on his gravestone in the old town burying-ground at the Centre village : " Here lies beneath this monument The dear remains of one who spent His days and years in doing good ; Gave ease to those oppress'd with pain ; Restor'd the sick to Health again, And pnrifl'd their wasting blood. He was respected while on Earth By all who knew his real worth lu practice and superior skill. The means he us'd were truly blest — His wondrous cures do well attest. Who can his vacant mansion fill ? Borne on some shining cherub's wing To his grand master, God and King, To the grand lodge in Heaven above, Where angels smile to see him join His brethren in that lodge Divine, Where all is harmony and love." Dr. John F. Butler is the son of Jonathan and Martha (Russell) Butler, of Marlow, and was born June 14, 1831 ; graduated at the Harvard Med- ical School March, 1854, and came to Chester- field the next April. lu the spring of 1864 he joined the Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers as assistant surgeon, and served till the war closed, when he returned to Chesterfield. He married, in 1857, Julia, daughter of Rev. Silas Quimby, of Lebanon, and who died August 19, 1861. In 1863 he married Celia A., daugh- ter of John L. Brewster, of Lowell, Mass. Dr. Daniel F. Randall has resided in Ches- terfield since 1855, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was born May 24, 1829, and is the sou of Menzias R. Randall, M.D., a veteran physician of Rehoboth, i\Iass. He graduated at the medical school in Woodstock, Vt., in 1852, and settled in this town in 1855, where he has ever since resided. He married Miss Amelia C. French, of Berkley, Mass. Lawyers. — Hon. Phineas Handci-son was probal)ly the first lawyer who practiced his pro- fession in Chesterfield. His (iffice was at the Centre village, where he resided from 1805 or 1806 till 1833, when he removed to Keene. (See Biographical Notices.) Hou. Larkin G. Mead, who read law with j\Ir. Handersou, also practiced in this town till 1839, \Ahen he removed to Brattleborough, Vt. (See Biographical Notices.) Charles C. Webster, Es(i., late of Keene, practiced law in Chesterfield from July, 1839, to January, 1846. Hon. Harvey Carlton, now <<{ AA'incliester, engaged in the practice of law in this town from 1841 to 1854. Allen P. Dudley, Es(p, now of San Fran- cisco, Cal., practiced law in Chesterfield a while previous to 1855, about whit'h time he removed to California. William L. Dudley, Es(j., connnenced the practice of law in this town in 1846, but re- moved to California in 1.S49, and resides at present in Stockton, engaged in the practice of his profession. Spaffoed's Lake as a Su.m.mer Resort. — A In-ief descrijition of Spafford's Lake has been given in another place. Though it had been for many years a favorite resort for local fisher- men and the students of the academy, and had occasionally been visitetl by pleasure-seekers from abroad, it was not till within the past twelve years that any measures were taken to establish a hotel, boat-house, cottages, etc., for the accommodation of persons who desire to with- draw from the noise and tumult of the "mad- 160 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ding crowd," and spend a few weeks in the quietness of the country. It is true that " Old Captain Bulky, 'a sailor by trade. Who round the world many voyages had made," had a sail-boat on this lal'Ce many years ago ; as did afterwards Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., whose l)oat, sometimes manned hy an experienced sea- man, was used more or less by sailing-parties for several years. Pierce's Island, too, has been for a long time a resort for students and others who desire to enjoy camp-life for a few days at a time. Nevertheless, as stated above, it wai< not till within the past twelve years that people have resorted to the lake in large numbers (excepting, perhaps, a few instances) for recrea- tion and diversion, and for the holding of religious, and even political meetings. In 1873 the Prospect House, as mentioned in another place, was built by John W. Herrick, of Keeue, and was designed for the accommoda- tion of persons who might come to the lake seeking health or pleasure. The boat-house, on the southern shore of the lake, was finished in 1875. Near it are a skat- ing-rink, dining-hall, lodging-house, etc., now managed by Frank H. Farr, as is also the boat- house. On the southern and western shores are pretty extensive picnic-grounds. On the one west of the lake I^ucius Thatcher has a large stable for horses, a lodging-house, restaurant and skating- rink. A number of individuals have also erected private cottages near the lake, which are occu- pied most of the time during the hot season. The little steamer " Enterpri.se," the con- struction t)f which was mainly due to the efforts of John W. White, was finished in 1876. " Her model was drafted by D. J. Lawlor, of East Boston, Mass. Her length is 40 feet, breadth of beam 15 feet, depth of hold 4 feet. 1 "Captain Bulky" was the sobriquet of Captain . who is said to have put the first sail-boat on the lake. draft 28 inches, diameter of propeller-wheel 32 inches. Her engine is of 8 horse-power, boiler of 12 horse-power. Her carrying capacity is about 125 persons, though upon occasion as many as 150 have been on board at a single trip." No serious accident has occurred on or about the lake since it has become popidar as a resort, except the drowning of the musicians Conly and Eeitzel. In the afternoon of Friday, the 2Gth day of May, 1882, George A. Conly, basso, and Her- man Reitzel, pianist, of Clara Loui.se Kellogg's concert company, were drowned in the lake while rowing for pleasure. These gentlemen, with others, came over from Brattleborough, where the company had an engagement to give a concert in the evening of the next day. Having procured a boat at F. H. Farr's boat-house, Conly and Reitzel started out, leaving the rest of the party on land, and were last seen by the latter off the northern point of the island. Not having returned at the proper tinje, fears were entertained for their safety, as a strong southerly wind was blowing, and the waves were running j)retty high. Search \\'as conscipiently made for them, and their boat found bottom upwards ; but not till the next day was unmistakable evi- dence obtained that they had l)een drowned. Vigorous efforts were then made to recover the bodies of the unfortunate men, by dredging, liy firing a cannon, by exploding dynamite car- tridges in the lake anil by the employment of various other devices. The bodies were not found, however, till they rose, Reitzel's being discovered floating ^^\■d- nesday forenoon, the 7th day of the follow- ino- June, and Conly's Wednesday morning, the 14th day of the same month. The latter was without coat or shoes, and had evidently made a desperate effort to save his own and, perhaps, his companion's life. The place of the disaster seems to have been about sixty rods northeast of the northern point of the island. Mr. Conly was a native of Southwark, now CHESTERFIELD. 161 part of Philadelpliia, and was thirty-seven years old ; Mr. Keitzel was a native of New York, and was only nineteen years old. A(;ed Persons. — The following is proba- bly an incomplete list of the persons who have died in Chesterfield at an age of ninety years or more : Mrs. Mary Hamilton, December 10, 1842, aged ninety. Mrs. Lydia Clieiiey, April 4, 1S")9, aged ninety. Mrs. Orpha Pre.sho, April 17, 185(j, aged ninety. Thomas Dunham, March 20, 1870, aged ninety. Mrs. Sarah Johnson, December 31, 1837, aged ninety. Mrs. Sally Hinds, August 24, 1864, aged ninety. Asa Fullam, December 14, 1870, aged ninety. Mrs. Persis Dudley, January 13, 1885, aged ninety. Mrs. Judith Tyler, August 11, 1854, aged ninety- one. Elisha Rockwood, February 13, 1832, aged ninety- one. Mrs. Betsey Smith, January 26, 1863, aged ninety- one. Mrs. Sophia Day, Xovemberll, 1883, aged ninety- one. Mrs. Grata Thomas, August 5, 1884, aged ninety- one. Samuel Hamilton, October 19, 1878, aged ninety- one. Jonathan Cressy, April 2(>, 1824, aged ninety- one. Mrs. Polly Spaulding, February 22, 1885, aged ninety-one (very nearly). Mrs. Mary Putnam, January 30, 1830, aged ninety- two. Stephen Sireeter, Sr., March 11, 1845, aged ninety- two. William Clark, Sr., February 19, 1849, aged ninety- two. Amos Crouch, August 18, 1861, aged ninety-two. Mrs. Submit Sanderson, June 27, 1822, aged ninety- three. Ebenezer Robertson, April 22, 1882, aged ninety- four. Nathaniel Bacon, September 10, 1828, aged ninety- five. Mrs. Mary Titus, May 7, 1845, aged ninety-five. Mrs. Clarissa Norcross, May 30, 1877, aged ninety- five. Mrs. Rachel Jackson, March 12, 1836, aged ninety- six. Timothy Ladd, August 30, 1834, aged ninety-six. 11 John Butler, Septemlicr 10, 1883, aged ninety- seven. Mrs. Esther Faulkner, November 29, 1876, aged one hundred and one years, one month, seven days. Mrs. Sarah Draper, December 19, 1863, aged one hundred and one years, live months, sixteen days. Mrs. Hannah Bailey, November, 1822, aged one hun- dred and lour years, three months. The olde.'^t per.son now living in the town is Mrs. Sophronia (Manu) Pierce, burn in Smith- field, R. I., June 14, 178.5. Civil List. — TOWN CLEElvS OF CHESTERFIELD (1770-1885). Ephraim Baldwin, 1770 to 1784. Jacob .\niidon, 1785 to 1799. Solomon Harvey, ISOO to 1817. Abraham Wood, Jr., 1818 to 1833. George H. Fitch, 1834 to 1835. Oscar Coolidge, 1836 to 1838. Nelson W. Herrick, 1839 to ls42. Warham R. Platts, 1843 to 1844. Sumner Warren, 1845. Harvey Carpenter, 1846 to 1848. John 0. French, 1849 to 1852. Henry O. Coolidge, 1853. Arza K. Clark, 1854. Henry O. Coolidge, 1855 to 1867. Hermon C. Harvey, 1868. Henry O. Coolidge, 1869. Hermon C. Harvey, 1870 to 1873. Murray Davis, 1874 to 1875. Edward P. F. Dearborn, 1876. Hermon C. Harvey, 1877 to 1882. James H. Goodrich (2d), 1883 to the present time. SELECTMEN OF CHESTEEFIELD (1767-1885). 1767. — Simon Davis, John Snow, Jonathan Hil- dreth, Eleazer Cobleigh, Ebenezer Davison. 1708-69.— No record. 1770. — Jonathan Hildreth, Silas Thompson, Elka- nah Day, Thomas Emmous, Nathaniel Bingham. 1771. — Moses Smith, David Stoddard, Timothy Ladd. 1772. — Same as in 1771. 1773. — Zerubbabel Snow, Ephraim Baldwin, Mar- tin Warner. 1774. — Same as in 1773. 1775. — Nathaniel Bingham, Ephraim Hubbard, Stephen Carter, Mose.s Smith, Jr., John Davison. 1770. — Ephraim Baldwin, Michael Cressey, Sam- uel Hildreth, Moses Smith, ,Tr., Ephraim Hubbard. 162 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1777. — Samuel Fairbanks, Elisha Rockwood, James Robertson, Nathaniel Bingham, Jonathan Fair (2d). 1778. — Samuel Hildreth, Moses Smith, Abner Johnson, Kimball Carlton, Jacob Hinds. 1779.— Jonathan Hildreth, Oliver Cobleigh, War- ren Snow. 1780. — Michael Cressey, Elisha Rockwood, Andrew Hastings. 1781. — Moses Smith, .Ir., Abner Johnson, Samuel King [Jr.]. 1782. — Samuel King [Jr.], .Jonas Fairbanks, Ab- ner Johnson, Moses Smith, Eleazer Jackson. 1783. — Ebenezer Harvey, Eleazer Ponieroy, Elea- zer Jackson, Captain Davis, Lieutenant Fletcher. 1784. — Benjamin Haskell, Pelcr Stone, Amos Hub- bard. 1785. — Paul Eager, Jacob Aniidoii, Reuben Graves. 1786.— Martin Warner, William Hildreth, ICzra Day. 1787. — Eleazer Jackson, Michael Cressey, Benja- min Haskell. 1788. — Eleazer Jackson, Benjamin Haskell, Silas Richardson. 1789. — Moses Smith, Abner Joluison, Solomon Harvey. 1790.— Same as in 1789. 1791.— Same as in 1789. 1792. — Solomon Harvey, John Braley, .Tames Wheeler. 1793.— Eleazer Jackson, Peter Stone, Silas Rich- ardson. 1794. — Same as in 1793. 1795. — Eleazer Jackson, Silas Richardson, Asahel Shurtleff. 1796. — Eleazer Jackson, Silas Richardson, David Stoddard. 1797. — Michael Cressey, .lacob .Vniidnii, Abraham Stearns. 1798. — Joseph .Vthei'ton, Benjamin Haskell, Oliver Browu. 1799.— Same as in 1798. 1800. — Eleazer Jackson, James Wheeler, Asahel Shurtleft". 1801.— James Wheeler, Asahel Shurtleir, Joseph Pattridge. 1802. — Martin Pomeroy, Jose()h Pattridge, John Day. 1803. — Joseph Pattridge, John Day, Ebenezer Har- vey. 1804. — ,lohn Day, Ebenezer Harvey, Jr., Wilkes Richardson. 1805.— Same as in 1804. 1806. — John Kneeland, Abraham Stearns, Josiah Hastings, Jr. 1807.— Same as in 1806. 1808. — ^John Kneeland, John Putnam, Araasa Makepeace. 1809. — John Putnam, Joseph Atherton, Benjamin Cook. 1810. — John Kneeland, Amasa Makepeace, Josiah Hastings. 1811. — Joseph Atherton, Oliver Brown, Phineas Handerson. 1812. — John Kneeland, Oliver Brown, Levi Jack- son. 1813.— Same as in 1812. 1814.— Same as in 1812. 1815. — .John Kneeland, Hlijali Scott, Asa Fullam. 1816. — John Kneeland, Joseph Pattridge, Elijah Scott. 1817. — .Joseph l^attridge, Benjamin Cook, ,Tohn Day. 1818. — Benjamin Cook, John Day, Robert L. Hurd. 1819.— .Same as in 1818. 1820. — John Kneeland, .lohn I'ntiiiim, Robert L. Hurd. 1821. — ,)olin Kneeland, .Idhn Putnam, Nathan Wild. 1822.— John Kneeland, Nathan Wild, Nathaniel Walton. 1823.— Same as in 1822. 1824.— Same as in 1822. 1825.— Same as in 1822. 1826. — John Kneeland, John Putnam, Orlo Rich- ardson. 1827. — Orlo Richardson, Ezekiel P. Pierce, Na- thaniel Walton. 1828. — Orlo Richardson, Otis Aniidon, Xathaniel Walton. 1829.— Nathaniel Wallcm, Otis Aniidon, Abishai Wetherbee. 1830. — Otis Aniidon, Abishai Wetherbee, John Harris. 1831. — John Harris, Otis Amidon, Joseph Holden. 1832. — Joseph Holden, Moses Dudley, ,lohn Har- ris. 1833.— Moses Dudley, .Joseph Holden, Charles Con- verse. 1834. — Nathaniel Walton, Charles Ckmverse, Orlo Richardson. 1835. — Orlo Ridiardsoii, Charles Converse, Moses Dudley. 1836. — Ezra Titus, Asa Marsh, Samuel tioodricli. 1837. — Samuel (ioodrich. Chandler A. Cressey, Al- pheus Snow. CHESTERFIELD. 163 1838.— Ara Hamilton, Chandler A. Cressey, Al- pheus Snow. 1839. — Alpheus iSnow, Reulien Marsh, Ara Hamil- ton. 1840. — Ara Hamilton, Oscar Coolidse, Mark Cook. 1841.— Same as in 1840. 1842. — Sam'l Goodrich, Reuben Marsh, N. Walton. 1843. — Ara Hamilton, Reuben Marsh, Nathaniel Walton. 1844. — Nathaniel Walton, Reuben Marsh, Samuel Burt, Jr. 1845 — Ara Hamilton, Al]ihens Snow, Parker D. Cressey. 1846.— Nathaniel Walton, Parker D. Cressey, Jo- seph C. Goodrich. 1847. — Ezra Titus, Parker T>. Cressey, Richard Hopkins, .Tr. 1848. — Samuel Burt, Jr., Warham R. Platts, Otis Wheeler. 184!). — Alpheus Snow, Moses Dudley, A rad Fletcher. 1850. — Chandler A. Cressey, Oscar Coolidge, Ben- jamin Pierce. 1851.— Warham R. Platts, John M. Richardson, Sumner Albee. 1852. — Joseph C. Goodrich, Arza K. ('lark, George Chamberlain. 1853. — Arza K. Clark, Alpheus Snow, .Joseph C. Goodrich. 1854. — James H. Goodrich, Reuben Porter, Asa Smith. 1855.— Ebenezer P. Wetherell, OIney Goff, Ransom Farr. 1856. — ,\rad Fletcher, .Fohn Heywood, John M. Richardson. 1857. — Same as in 1856. 1858.— Arad Fletcher, l^ichard H. Hopkins, Wil- liam Clark. 1859.— Same as in 1858. I860.— Rodney Fletcher, Henry O. Coolidge, Tru- man A. Stoddard. 1861.— Same as in 18G0. 1862.— Rodney Fletcher, Charles C. P. Goodrich, George Goodrich. 1863.— David W. Beckley, Arza K. Clark, Charles C. P. Goodrich. 1864.— Same as in 1863. 1865. — David W. Beckley, Henry O. Coolidge, Levi L. Colburn. 1866.— Same as in 1865. 1867.— Henry O. Coolidge, Eli R. Wellington, Frederick L. Stone. 1868. — Samuel J. Pattridge, George Goodrich, John W. Davis. 1869. — George Goodrich, John W. Davis, James H. Goodrich. 1870. — James H. Goodrich, John B. Fisk, Murray Davis. 1S71 — < ieorge Goodrich, .lames H. Goodrich, Mur- ray Davis. 1872. — Murray Davis, James H. Goodrich, Amos R. Hubbard. 1873. — Murray Davis, .\mo8 R. Hubbard. George S. Fletcher. 1874. — James H. (ioodrich (2d), George S. Fletcher, John W. Davis. 1.S75. — .lames H. Goodrich (2d), John L. Streeter, George S. Fletcher. 1876.— John L. Streeter, Amos R. Hubbard. Wil- liam Atherton. 1877. — William .\therton, John L. Streeter, George Goodrich. 1878. — William Atherton, .Murray Davis, George Goodrich. 1879. — Murray Davis, George Goodrich, David Holman. 1S80.— Same as in 1879. 1881. — Jlurray Davis, Larkin D. Farr, David Hol- man. 1882.— Same as in 1881. 1883.— Same as in 1881. 1884.— Larkin D. Farr, Hazelton Rice, David Hol- man. 1885.— Larkin D. Farr, Warren H. Butler, William Atherton. REPRESENTATIVES OF GENERAL COU 1775. Archb. Robertson. 1776. Michael Cressey. 1777. Michael Cressey. 1778. Michael Cressey. 1779. Nath. Bingham. 1780. None chosen. 1781. No representative in the New Hampshire Legislature, but Saml. King, Jr., and Silas Thompson represented the town in the Ver- mont Assembly. 1782. Samuel Kingf.lr.]. 1783. Samuel King [Jr.]. 1784. Samuel King [Jr.]. 1785. Ebenezer Harvey. 1786. Moses Smith. 1787. Moses Smith. 1788. Moses Smith. 1789. Benjamin Haskell. CHESTERFIELD IN THE RT (1775-1885). 1790. Moses Smith. 1791. Moses Smith. 1792. Eleazer Jackson. 1793. Eleazer .Jackson. 1794. Simon Willard. 1795. Simon Willard. 1796. Simon Willard. 1797. Eleazer Jackson. 1798. Simon Willard. 1799. Benjamin Haskell. 1800. Benjamin Ha.skell. 1801. Simon Willard. 1802. Simon Willard. 1803. Simon Willard. 1804. Simon Willard. 1805. Simon AVillard. 1806. Simon Willard. 1807. Simon ^Villard. 1808. Levi Jackson. 1809. Levi Jackson. 1810. Levi Jackson. 164 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1811. Levi Jackson. 1812. Phin. Handersou. 1813. Phin. Hauderson. 1814. Benjamin Cook. 1815. Benjamin Cook. Phin. Handerson. 181G. Benjamin Cook. John Putnam. 1817. John Putnam. Joseph Atherton. 1818. John Putnam. .Tohn Kneelaud. 1819. John Kneeland. Benjamin Cook. 1820. John Kneeland. 1821. Levi Jackson. 1822. .John Kneeland. 1828. Ebenezer Stearns. 1824. Ebenezer Stearns. 1825. John Kneeland. 1826. John Putnam. 1827. Ezekiel P. Pierce. 1828. Orlo Richardson. 1829. Orlo Richardson. 1830. None chosen. 1831. Nathan Wild. 1832. Nathan Wild. 1833. Otis Amidon. 1834. Otis Amidon. 1835. Otis Amidon. 1836. Charles Converse. 1837. Charles Converse. 1838. Otis Amidon. 1839. Thomas Hardy. 1840. Oscar Coolidge. Ara Hamilton. 1841. Oscar Coolidge. Ara Hamilton. 1842. Jay Jackson. Edwin Sargent. 1843. Ara Hamilton. 1844. Jay Jackson. Nathaniel Walton. 1845. Ara Hamilton. John Pierce. 1846. Nathaniel Walton. Saml. J. Pattridge. 1847. None chosen. 1848. Harvey Carpenter. 1849. Alpheus Snow, .lohn Harris. 1850. John Harris. David Hay. 1851. David Day. 1852. Harvey Carlton. Saml. J. Pattridge. 1853. Jos. C. Goodrich. 1854. Jos. C. Goodrich. 1855. Ara Hamilton. 1856. Otis Amidon. 1857. Barton Skinner. 1858. Barton Skinner. 1859. Arad Fletcher. 1860. Arad Fletcher. 1861. J. M. Richardson. 1862. J. M. Richardson. 1863. C. C. P. Goodrich. 1864. C. C. P. Goodrich. 1865. Rich. H. Hopkins. 1866. Rich. H. Hopkins. 1867. Henry 0. Coolidge. 1868. Jas. H. Goodrich. 1869. Jas. H. Goodrich. 1870. Warren Bingham. 1871. George Goodrich. 1872. C. C. P. Goodrich. 1873. Gordis D. Harris. 1874. John F. Butler. 1875. John F. Butler. 1876. John Harris. 1877. John Harris. 1878. Oran E. Randall. 1879. Oran E. Randall. 1881. Murray Davis. 1883. John L. Streeter. 1885. W. A. Pattridge. DELEGATE.? FROM CHESTERFIELD TO THE fONVEN- TIONS FOE REVISING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE. In 1791, Eleazer Jackson ; in 1850, Ara Hamilton and Moses Dudley ; in 1876, Jay Jackson. Dr. Solomon Harvey was the delegate from Ches- terfield to the convention that ado[)ted the Federal Constitution in 1788. SITI'ERVISOKS OF THE CHECK-LIST. Eleazer Randall, James H. Goodrich, Russell H. Davis, chosen November, 1878. John L. Streeter, Richard A. Webber, William Atherton, chosen November, 1880. Rodney Fletcher, John L. Streeter, Richard A. Webber, chosen November, 1882. Charles C. P. Goodrich, Amos R. Hubbard, Her- schel J. Fowler, chosen November, 1884. MEMBERS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE FROM CHESTERFIELD. Levi Jackson, 1812, '13, '14, '15. Phineas Handerson, 1816, '17, '25, '31, '32. Nathan Wild, 1833, '34. Murray Davis, 1885. Levi Jackson was also a member of the Council in 1816, '17. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Jacob Amidon, born in Mciidon, Mass., in ITi")."^ or 1754, was in college at the time of" the comnieneement of the Revohition, bnt soon en- listed in the patriot army, and .served during the most of the war, with the exception of tvventv- eight mouths, during which time he was detained a prisoner on a British prison-ship. December 23, 1782, he purchased in Chester- field a portion of lot No. 5, in the eighth range, and probably settled in the to\\n soon after- wards. He resided near the Centre village, on the farm afterwards owned and occupied many years by his son Otis, and built the house now owned by the Methodist Society of Chesterfield, and used as a parsonage. He probably engaged in trade for a while after coming to Chesterfield, as he was styled, in the deed of the land he had purchased in this town, a " trader." In 17.S5 he was chosen clerk of the town, and held the office, by successive electious, till ISOO. He was also selectman in 1785 and 1797. His wife was Esther, daughter of Timothy Ladd. She died March 26, 1852, in her ninetieth year. He died Feln-uary 11, 1839, aged eighty-five years. Otis Amidox, son of Jaci)b Amidon, born April 26, 1 794, settled in Chesterfield, after his marriage, on the old homestead, and continued to reside here as long as he lived, engaging to some extent in agriculture, and, for a while, in trade at the Centre village. For many years he took a prominent part in the affairs of the CHESTERFIELD. 165 town and cluircli, serving the former in the capacity of selectman in 1828, '29, '?,() and '31, and representing it in tiie (xeneral Court in 1833, '34, '35, '38 and '.">(!. For a long time, also, he held the otHce of justice of tlie peace, the duties of which he was well ipialified to perform, and was one of the veteran " 'Scpiires " of the town. He married, in 182o, Nancy, daugiiter of Benjamin (^)oi^, and had only one son that lived to adult age — Hon. ( 'harles J. Amidon, now of Hinsdale. He died July 22, 18()6. Joseph Atherton, sonof Oliver Atherton, of Harvard, Mass., and a descendant of James Atherton, of Milton, INIass., was horn August 15, 1750. He married, in 1771, Hannah Farnsworth, of Grotou, Mass. June 28, 1794, he purchased, in Chesterfield, lots Nos. 11 and 12, in the fourth range, and soon after settled on one of them. The hill on which he lived, and on which he huilt a large dwelling, is now called " Atherton Hill." He was selectman in 179S, ■; !», 1809, '11, and representative in 1817. He died .\pril 4, 183!t, " honored and respected by his neighbors and townsmen." Dr. ( )r>] VEf! Baker, son of Dr. Oliver Baker, born in Plainfield August Hi, 1788, studied medicine in the Medical Department of Dart- mouth C'ollege, under Dr. Nathan Smith. In 1809 he settled in Chesterfield, where he prac- tised his profession till 1840. He then removed to West Hartford, Vt., where he remaineil about two years. He afterwards practiced in Plain- field, and in Windsor, Vt. He died at his daughter's home, in Plainfield, July 4, 1865. Ei'iiiiAiM Hai,[iwin was in Chesterfield in 176.'>, in which year he bought land in this town. He was town clerk from 1770 to 1785, and selectman in 1773, '74, '76. He was also, for .some time, justice of the peace. His name ap- pears for the la.st time on the ta.\-lists for 1790. (For an account of his citation before the New Hampshire Assembly, for alleged Toryism, see under "^\^^•(lfth(• licvdlutiou). Nath.\niel Bix(;ham appears to have settled in Chestei-ficld as early as 1767. In the deed of the land purchased by him in this town he was styled a "cooper." He lived on Wetherliee Hill, a short distance north of the Centre village. He was selectman in 1770, '75 and '77 ; representative in 1779. (For an account of his arrest and imprisonment by Vermont officers, etc., see under " Controversy about the New Hampshire (Jrants "). He died April 26, 1802, in his seventy seventh vear. Asa BmTT().\,born in Kaynham, ^lass., April 30, 1763, settled in Chesterfield in 1790 or 1791, near Spafford's Lake. From tiiis fiirm ^fr. Britton removed to Ciiesterfield villaorn in 1769, son of John Crouch, of Boxborough, Mass., afterwards of Chesterfield, settled in this town in 1802 or 1803. In his youth lie had no opportunity to attend school ; nevcrtiielcss, he learned to read and to write his name. In his early manhood he had to contend with poverty and adversity, but by liai'd lalior and extemc prudence suc- ceeded in gaining some property. lie was noted for his promptness in paying his debts, and with him " the ' first ' of the month was always the first day." A strict observer of the Sab- bath himself, he l)rought up his children to attend chiu-ch, and would not allow them to play or visit on that day. He was married three times. He died August 18, 1861. John Dahlixc;, from Winchcndon, Mass., appears to have settled in Chesterfield in 1778, in which year he bought land here. He was one of the ])arty that made the famous march to (Quebec in 1775, under com- mand of Benedict Arnold, through the wilder- ness of Maine. On this march the men suflPered extremely from cold and iituiger. flohn used to relate that, having; one dav found the les of a dog that had been killed for food, he scorched off the hair and ate every morsel of flesh and skin that he coulil get from it. He declared that he never ate anything in his life that tasted better! At one time, while in the army, he came near dying of small-pox. He probably settled in Chesterfield soon after buvinur his land CHESTERFIELD. 167 he and his wife (according to a tradition iu the family) coming from AVinchciidon on foot. His first wife (Sarah Blood, of ( Jroton, Mass.) died in 1804. He afterwards married twice. He was au active, enterprising man, and at one time owned an extensive tract of timber-land in the "Winchester woods," from which he cut large quantities of lumber, sawing it in a mill erected for that purpose, then drawing it to the Con- necticut and rafting it down to Hartford. He died Marcii 28, 1824, in his seventy-third year. Sa.miel Davis settled in Chesteriield as early as 1766. There are reasons for believing that he was the son of Samuel Davis, of Lunen- burgh, Mass., who was pmbably one of the grantees of Chesteriield. He owne. He learned, nevertheless, to read, and to cipher in the four fundamental rules of ai'ithmetic. At the age of fifty years he was admitted to the school for deaf-mutes, at Hartford, Conn., for the term of one year. He made rapid progress, and acquired knowledge that was of great use to him during the remaining years of his life. His wife was Lucinda Trowbridge, of Pomfrct, Conn. He died July 25, 1861. Samuel Goodrich, born in Fitchburg, Mass., September 6, 1788, .settled in Chesterfield in IS 1.3, on the farm now owned and oc- cupied by Willard Henry, and where he con- tinued to reside till his death. He was a man of great industry and perseverance, and his life was one of ceaseless activity. Though not an extensive farmer, in comparison with some, he was nevertheless a successful one ; and his suc- cess in this respect is a fine illustration of what intelligent and well-directed effort can accom- plish in overcoming natural obstacles. 168 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. His wife was Hannah Cain, of Weymouth, Mass. lu 183G, ';j7 and '42 he held the ollice of selectman. He died Jaunary 1, 1877. David W. G( )oi )urcH, from Gill, Mass., settled in Chesterfield alxiut ISlO. He was a cloth- dresser by trade, and had n mill on Catsbane Brook, at the West village. After following his trade for some years, he engaged in farming. His wife was Salome, danghter of Benjamin Wheeler. He died at the"Kneeland place" (now owned and occupied by his son, Charles C. P. Goodrich, Esq.), March 22, 1 857. William Haile, son of John and Eunice (Henry) Haile, was born in I'utney, Vt., ATay, 1807. At the age of alxiut fourteen years he came to this town witli his parents, but was soon afterwards taken into the family of Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., with whom he lived till he was about twenty-one years old. Having attended school about two years, he entered, in 1823, Mr. Pierce's store as a clerk. In 1827 or 1828 he borrowed a small sum of money and opened a store on his own account at the Centre village. With characteristic sagacity, he soon foresaw, however, that Hinsdale was destined to become a busy and thriving town on account of the abundance of power furnished by the Ashuelot River. He therefore, in 1S.'{4 or 1835, re- moved to that town , where he continued to en- gage in mercantile pursuits until 1846, when he became interested in the lumber business. In 1849 he began, as a member of the firm of Haile & Todd, the manufacture of cashmercttes. Afterwards the name of tlie firm was changed to that of Haile, Frost & fV)., by which name it is known at present. Tiiough extensively engaged in business, Mr. Haile took a prominent part in political affairs. With the exception of two years, he represented Hinsdale in the General Court from 184G to 1854; was elected to the New Hampshire Sen- ate in 1854 and 1855, of which body he was also president the latter year, and was again elected representative in 1850. The next year he was elected Governor, to which office he was re-elected in 1858. In 1873 he removed from Hinsdale to Keene, where he had built a fine residence. He did not cease, however, t(> take an active part in business till his death, which occurred July 22, 1876. Mr. Haile married, in 182s, Sabrana S., daughter of Arza Walker, of Chesterfield. Phineas Handerhox, son of Gideon and Abi- gail (Church) Handerson, was born in Amherst, Mass., December 13, 1778. He was born in his grandfather's house, whicli was torn down, when it was more than a hundred years old, to make room for the Agricultural College. While he was yet an infant his parents removed to Claremont, this State, his mother making the journey on horseback and carrying him in her arms. Having obtained what education the common .schools of tiiat town afforded, he began the study of law in the office of Hon. George B. Upham. In 1805 or 1806 he settled in this town, in which he pracliced his profession till 1833. While a resident of Chesterfield he fre- quently held town and State offices. In 1811 he was selectman ; in 1X12, 181."> and 1.S15 he represented the town in the General Court ; in 1816 he was elected State Senator, an office to which he was re-elected in 1817, 1825, 1831 and 1832. He married, 1818, Hannah W., daughter of Rev. Samuel Mead, of ^^'alpole. She died December 30, 1863. In 1833 he re- moved to Keene, where he continued the prac- tice of law. At the time of his death, in March, 1854, he was president of the Cheshire bar. The Harris Familv. — The founder of the Harris family in Chesterfield was Abner Harris, a probable descendant of Arthur Harris, who emigrated from England to America at an early period, and was living in Dnxbury, Mass., in 1640. Abner Harris came from Woodstock, Conn., and appears to have settled in Chester- field in 1777. His will was proved August 23, 1798. One of his sons was Jolui Harris, who lived and died in Chesterfield. John married, in 1783, Hannah Colburn, of this town, and had a CHESTERFIELD. 169 family of eleven chiklreu, three of whom are now living, the youngest being more than eighty years old. The clilest of the three, Wilder Har- ris, l)orn ]\Iay 11, 17!)7, now resides in Brattle- borough, Vt., but was a resilient of this town till l,Sfj.5. Another son of John Harris and brother of Wilder Harris was John Harris, Jr. He was a farmer in Chestertield, and married, in 1808, Luna, daughter of Abel Fletcher, of this town. He was selectman in lS.3()-.'?2, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1849-50. He died Febi'uary 27, l.S5(!, aged seventy-one years. A third son of John Harris, Sr., was Norman Harris. He was engaffcd a number of vears in mercantile business and in "packing" in Cali- fornia. He died at Bellows Falls, Vt., July 22, 1875, aged seventv-oue vears. Two other sons of John Harris, Sr., Ezekiel and P]rastus, were farmers in Chesterfield dur- ing the greater part of their lives. Both died in Brattleliorough in 185i). Cai'T. Ebkxkzek Hakvky wasof Northfield, Mass., in 1758, having come to that town from Sunderland. He appears to have removed from Northtield to Winchester, and from that town to Chesterfield. September 17, 1772, he pur- chased of Elkanah Day, of this town, a part of house-lots Nos. 5 and 5, in the tenth and eleventh ranges. This land was near the com- mon at the Centre village, which was mentioned in the deed as having been conveyed to the town. In June, 1777, he was sentenced by the ''Court of inquiry " at Kcene to be confined to the limits of his farm and to pay a fine for al- leged hostility to the American cause. Pie appears also to have been a zealous partisan of Vermont in the controversy about the " New Hampshire Grants." He was selectman in 1783 and 1803; representative in 1785. He was the first jiostmaster in Chesterfield com- missioned by the United States, holding the office from 1802 to 1810. He died in 1810. One of his sons, Rufus Harvey, Sr., lived and died in Che.sterfield. For many years he (Rufus) was a deputy sheriff for the county of Cheshire. Di!. Solomon Hakvey was in Dummerston, Vt., in 1778, of which town he was clerk sev- eral years. He appears to have settled in Ches- terfield in 1775 or 1776, and to have taken an active part in the affiiirs of the town during the War of the Revolution. In 1788 he repre- sented Chesterfield in the convention that adopted the Federal Constitution. He was se- lectman in 1789-92; town clerk, 1800-17. He probalJy died in Chesterfield after 1820. Ben.f. H.AsKELLwasin Chesterfield in 1784. He appears to have settled on lot No. 12 or 13, in the thirteenth range. Justice of the j)eace ; selectman, 1784, 1TS7, 1788, 1798, 1799; rep- resentative, 1789, 1799, 1800. Some of his de- scendants now live at Ascott, Lower (Canada ; but whether he himself removed to that town has not Ix'en ascertained. He removed from Chesterfield, however, between 1815 and 1819. Eleazek Jackson, supposed to have been a descendant of Edward Jackson, who came from London, ICiigland, and settled in what is now Newton, Mass, as early as 1643, was born May 12, 1736 In 1767 he was in Walpole, Mass., but afterwards removed to Wrentham, and thence, in 1771, to Dudley. He was originally a clothier by trade. October 6, 1778, he took a deed of eighty-two acres of land in Chesterfield, upon which he settled. This laud is a part of the farm on which his grandson, Jay Jackson, now resides, and has always been, since I77S, owned by members of the Jackson family. He was selectman in 1782, 'S3, '87, '88, '93-'9(i and 1800; repre- .sentative in '92, '93, '97. In 1791 he was the delegate from Chesterfield to the convention for revising the ( "onstitution of the State. He died Noveml)er 11, 1814. His wife was ]\achel Pond, who died March 12, 1S;J6, at the great age of ninety-six years. One of his sons, Enoch Jackson, married Martha, daughter of Andrew I'hillips, and lived on the paternal farm till 1837, when he 170 HISTOKY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. removed to Winhall, Vt., where he died at the ag;e of nearly eighty-four years. He was a III it 0(1 )H'di'strian and seldom made use of a horse in performing long journeys. His soij, Jay Jackson, still resides on the ancestral farm, as mentioned above, and is a well-known farmer. Levi Jacksox, son of Eleazer Jackson, was one of the most intellectual men that Chester- field has ever produced. Of him his nephew, Jay Jackson, writes as follows : " III a history of the town of Chesterfield, justice to the memory of Hon. Levi Jackson seems to require something more tlian the Inire mention of his name; for probably no one ha.'* (lone more for the honor of the town, or to elevate the moral and intellectual standard of the community in which he moved. " The youthful years of Levi were principally spent in company with his father and brothers in clearing up and cultivating their new farm ; but he manifested a desire to obtain a better education than the common schools of that day were calculated to impart, and tfjld his father that he thought he might afford to send one of his numerous family of boys to college. Improving his meagre common-school privileges, and dividing the remainder of his time between his labors upon the fiirm and his fireside studies, with the benefit of a few months at the then infant institution of Chesterfield Academy, he cjualified himself for college, and entered Dartmouth in 1797, two years in advance. Graduat- ing in 1799, his services were immediately secured by the trustees of Chesterfield Academy as preceptor of that institution, which position he held for six con- secutive years. During this time the academy ac- quired an enviable reputation as a literary institution. P(jssessing a fine personal appearance, an una.ssumed dignity and firmness, yet easy and pleasant in his manners and conversation, it was said of him that he commanded both the love and the fear of his pupils and the respect of all. " On retiring from the preceptorshij) of the acad- emy, he engaged in trade at Chesterfield Centre, and continued in that business during the remainder of his life. He was a member of the N. H. House of Representatives in 1808, '09, '10 and 'II, and again in '21 ; a member of the State Senate in 1812, '13, '14, and '15, and of the Council in 181G and '17. Modest and unaspiring in his deportment (unlike many of our modern politicians), the ofiices of honor and trust that he lield were unbought and unsought by him, but be- stowed upon him by an appreciative constituency in consideration of his eminent qualifications for the same. " A man of temperate habits and strong constitu- tion, in the full strength and vigor of life and useful- ness, and with a pros[)ect liefore him amounting to nearly a certainty that, if his life was spared, he would soon be called to fill the highest ofiice in the gift of the State, his unexpected death, which occurred August 30, 1821, at the age of 49, was a severe loss to the toW'U, the State and the community, and brought deep mourning upon his family and friends; but his memory will be cherished while virtue, honesty and intelligence are justly appreciated." S.VMi'Ki. KiN(i, .son iif Dr. Samuel King, ap- pears to have settled in Ciie.stertield about 177."^. He probalily came from Petei'sham, Mass. He \va.s "lie of the most conspicuous characters in the history of the town. In 1776 he refused to sign the " A.ssociation Test,' and in June, 1777, he was summoned before the "court of inquiry," at Keene, " as being inimical to the United Statt^K of America;" was tried and sentenced to pay a fine and to ])e ctmfined to the limits of his farm. \\ hen the contro- versv about the "Grants" was at its heisj-ht, lie espoused the cau.se of ^'erlllont, and la- bored strenuously to effect the tuiion of the disaffected towns with that State, and at one time held a commission as colonel in the Vermont militia. According to the rec- ords of the (Superior Court of Cheshire County, he was indicted at the .same time with Samuel Davis, for attempting to break up the Inferior Court in September, 17S2 ; luit this indictment was (juashed. In 17S1 he was chosen, to- gether with Deacon Silas Thompson, to repre- sent Chesterfield in the General Assembly of Vermont, and was .selectman the same and the following year. In I 7. AViiile a young man he went to Boston, and became, in 1851, a member of the great drv-ooods tirm of Jordan, Marsh A: Co., the senior partner of which is Eben I). Jordan. Mr. Marsh re- tained his connection with this firm till his death, which occurre(l .June 1."!, 1865, "having shared in all the struggles, vicissitudes and triumphs of the house." His brother, Charles Marsh, is si ill a member of the same iirm. Levi Mead, son of Matthew Mead, was ixrn in Lexington, Mass., October 14, 1751). Soon after the A\'ar of the Revolution began he enlisted in the American army, and served dur- ing the whole war. In 1 7S2 he married Betsey, daughter of Joseph Converse, who settled in Chesterfield about 1704. In October, 1800, he purchased of Asa Brit- ton, of this town, what is l, 1828. Lai!KIn(J. ^[^;A|), born in Lexington, Mass., October 2, 17!)5, was the son of Levi Mead. He was educated at the Chesterfield Academy and at Dartmouth College, and then read law with Hon. Phinens Handerson. For nianv years he was a prominent member of the Cheshire bar. He was a man of culture, and possessed rare business qualities. He was ever foremost in promoting the cause of edncatiim, and took great interest in the public schools. Jn 18;?!» he removed to Brattleborongh, where he resided the remainder of his life, and where he con- tinued to jiracticc his profession. He procured the chai'ter fiir the first savings-bank in Ver- mont, now called the ^'ermont Savings-Bank of Brattleborongh, and was treasurer of the institiitiiiM about twentv-five vears. In 1846 he was a nicniln'i' of the A'erniont Senate. He died July 6, I. Si;!). His wife was Mary Jane, daughter of Hon. John \oyes, of Putney, \t. ( )ne of his sous is the well-known sculptor, Larkin G. Mead, Jr., who was born in Chest(>rfield January :i, 1835, but removed to Brattleborongh with his ]»arcnts in 1830. In 1S62 he went to Florence, Italy, where he has since re.sided the greater part of the time. Among the most ini]iortaiit of his works are the "Recording An«jel," the colossal statue " Vermont," " Ethan Allen," "The Returned Soldier," "(Jolumbus' Last Ap])eal to Isabella," " America," the bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, "Venice, the Bride of the Sea," etc. John Pieuoe, came to Chesterfield from Groton, j\Iass., between 1770 and 1776. According to ti'adition, he .served in the last French and Indian Wnv. On coming to Ches- terfield, he a])pears to have located at what is 172 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. now the Centre village, where he may have kept a small store. At the same time he owned a large (juantity of land in the town, much of which he is said to have sacrificed to the cause of liberty during the War of the Revolution. Together with others of this town, he also took jiart in tlie battle of Bennington, probably as an indcj)endent volunteer. April 19, 1782, he purchased of Samuel Davis Converse the western half (the other half lying iu iSpalfbrd's Lake) of lot No. 12, in the tenth range, on which he built a house. Here he passed the remaining years of his life, erecting, after a while, a larger and more commodious house near the highway that formerly led from the Centre village to Westmoreland. Me died July 7, IS] 2, aged sixty-nine years. EzKKiEL P. PiERCT., son of Joiui and Tabi- tha (Porter) Pierce, was born Ajiril 20, 1785, and spent the most of his life in Ches- terfield. About 1821 he opened a store at the Centre village, where he also kept a tavern for some time. He afterwards engaged in trade for a while at Factory village, and in London- derry, Vt. The first " patent accelerating wheel-heads," for spinning wool, that were made in Chesterfield, were manufactured by him at Factory village, probably about 1820. He also engaged to some extent in the manu- facture of bits and augers. In 1827 he repre- sented the town in the (icneral Court. He died May 23, 18()5. Warham R. Pi.atts, son of Captain Joseph Platts, of Rindge, born July 18, 1792, married Syrah Harvey iu 1821, and settled in Chester- field. For about twenty-one years he was post- master at the Centre village. He was also, for many years, a de])uty sheriff' for Cheshire County, and for a while sheriff' of the county. He was always interested in the affairs of the town and in national polities. In 1848 and 1S51 he held the office of selectman, and was town clerk in 184;)-41. He died February 21, 1872. John Pctnam, born in Winchester May 10, 1761, came to Chesterfield in his boyhood, and lived in the family of Ebeuezer Harvey, Sr. Iu 1779 he enlisted in Colonel Hercules Mooney's fegin)ent,and served for a while. This regiment was ordered to march to Rhode Island. In 1801 he married Mary, daughter of Joseph Con- verse, and lived many years at the ( 'entre vil- lage, in the large house that once stood near the south side of the common, and which was burned about 1 845. Though he commenced life in very humble circumstances, he succeeded, by his sagacity and perseverance, iu acquir- ing a considerable fortune, owning much tim- ber-land in the Winchester woods. For a number of years he was one of the trustees of the academy, and served the town in the ca- pacity of selectman in the years 1808, '09, '20, '21 , '26. He also rejiresented the town in the Legislature in 1816, '17. '18 and '26. He died November 17, 1849, at the age of eighty-eight years. Eleazer Randall, son of Eleazer and Clarissa (Wheeler) Randall, was born in Ches- terfield February 27, 1820. Having learned the carj^enter's trade when a young man, he en- gaged pretty extensively, from about 1850 till 1860, in the construction of railway aud other Iniildings in Vermont, Western Canada aud Michigan, being associated, most of the time, with Marshall H. Farr and his own brothers, — Shubel H. and (teorge Randall. He married, in 1846, Elvira Rumrill, of Hillsborough Bridge. From 1860 till the time of his death he enwaoed in farming, iu Chesterfield, on the farm that lie had owned and managed since 1850, and which is now owned by his sons, Orau E. and Frederick R. Randall. He died .hdy .".0, 1882. Silas Richardson, a descendant of John Richardson, who came to this country from England, appears to have settled in this town about 1776, having come from Mendon, Mass. He was one of the original trustees of Ches- terfield Academy, aud was selectman in 1788, 1793-96. He died in 1803. His wife was CHESTERFIELD. 173 Silence Daniels, of Medway, Mass., and one of his sons Orlo Rifliardson, mai-ried Nancy Wild, of tiiis town, and settled here. In 1826-28, '34, '35, he (Orlo) also held the office of selectman, and represented the town in the Lcgislatnre in 1828-29. lie died May 27, l,S.-)2. His son, .John i\Iilton Richardson, Ixirn November 25, 1807, is a tarmei' and jnstirc of flie peace in Chesterfield. Ahciiihai.I) RoBKirrsDN, burn in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 170S, emigrated to America in 1754, with his wife, Elizabeth (Wats(in), and children, James, William, John (?) and Anna (?). Archibald and his wife were dissenters from the old-established Church of Scotland, and joined with the "New Disciples." Their names ap- pear among tho.se of the subscribers for the new book of " Confession of Faith," a eoj)y of which is now in possession of their great-grand- son, Timothy N. Robertson. They came to Chesterfield (having lived a few years near Boston), after their son James had settled here, l)Ut just how long after has not been ascei'tained. December 14, 1775, .Vrchibald was chosen to represent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the " Provincial Congress" that was to assemble at Exeter the 21st day of the same month, being tlie first person ever chosen by the town for such purpose. After living here a number of vears he removed to Brattleborongh, or Ver- non, Vt. He died in Rrattleborough in 1803. Jamks R()iiEr,Ts()X,son of Archibald Robert- son, born in Scotland March 8, 1741, came to this country with his father in 1754. For a few years after coming to this country he worked in old Dunstable and vicinity, and, jtrobably, also took part in the last French and Indian War. In the summer of 1762 he came to Chesterfield, and began to prepare a home for himself and future wife. The place where he built his cabin is about thirty rods west of tiie present residence of his grandson, T. N. Robertson. When the war broke out between the mother-country and the American colonies he ardently espoused the cause of the latter. though a Briton by birth. lu September, 1776, he enlisted in Captain Houghton's company of Colonel Nalium Baldwin's regiment. In 1777 he was a lieutenant in Colonel Ashley's regi- ment, but the date of his commission lias not been ascertained. He was, also, at one time a member of the town "Committee of Safi^tv." During the I'ontroversy about the New Hamji- shire Grants he was firm in his opposition to the Vermont party, by some of whom he ap- pears to have been rather roughly treatetl. He died March li», 1830. His first wife was Sarah Bancroft, of Dun.stable (now Tyngsbor- ough), ilass. She died .lune 28, 17!)8, in her fifty -fiftli year. Elisha RocKwodi), born in (iroton, ]\Iass., November 20, 1740, purcha-sed in Chesterfield, in 1769, the larger part of housedots Nos. 7 and 8, in the tenth range. In his deed he was styled " a clothier." He took a prominent j)art in the aftairs of the town during the War of the Revolution, being one of the town Com- mittee of Safety in 1777. He also was select- man the same year and in 1780. He died Feb- ruary 13, 1832. The Saho knt Family. — The founder of the Sargent family in Chesterfield was Erastus Sar- gent, a great-grandson of Digory Sargent, of Massachusetts, who was killed by the Indians about 1704, and whose wife and children were captured and taken to Canada. Erastus mar- ried Annas, daughter of Warren Snow, of Chesterfield, and lived many years here, fin- ally removing to Stukely, P. Q., where he died August 24, 1847, aged se\enty-five yeai's. One of his sons, Edwin Sargent, married Sally, daughter of David Stoddard, of this town, and lived here the most of his life. He represented the town in the General Court in 1842. One of his sons, Charles R. Sargent, engaged to a considerable extent, in his earlier years, in school-teaching ; l>nt at the time of his death, which occurred in Hinsdale April 2, 1880, he was one of the commissioners of Cheshire County, to which office he had been twice elected. 174 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Wm. Shiirt[J-:ff came to Chesterfield from Ellington, Conn., in ITS?, and died here in 1801. His wife was Hannah Cady, and one of his nine children was lloswell ShiirtlefF, horn Augu.st 29, 1773. At the age of about nineteen years Rosvvell entered (-hesterfield Academy, where he studied Latin, going tiirough Ho.ss's Grammar in just two weeks. One of his mates at the academy was Tjevi Jackson, who was afterwards his classmate and room-mate at I)artmoutli College. After a while he took up the study of Greek, and went through the " Westminstei' (ireok Grammar" in one week. In 1797 he and .laelcson entered Dartnniuth two years in advance, and graduated in 1799. From 1800 to 1804 he was tutor in that college; from 1804 to 1827, professor of divinity; from 1827 to 1838, professor of mora! jihilosiipiiy and pcilitical economy. For nearly twenty years he was also college jireacher, and pastor of the church on Hanover Plain. He was a man of great intellectual force, an exci'llent teacher and a devoted friend to all young men who were striving to obtain an education. He died at Hanover Fel)rnary 4, 18(il, in his eighty- eighth year. MttsEs SiriTH, the first settler of Chesterfield, was of Iveicester, Mass., in 1738, where he owned laud |)urchased of John Nobles, oi' Norwicli, ('i)nn. In 17(J1 he was of Hins- dale, as was stated in the deed of the land which he purchased in ('liestcrtield that year. His wife was Elizal)etii , who died July 2(), in hersixty-firslyear. He was selectman in 1777, 1771-72. The inscription on his gravestone is as follows : " In memory of Ensio-n Moses Smith, the first settler in ( 'hesterfield, who de parted this life Dec. y" 30th, 1780, in y' 75th year of his age." He was buried in the town graveyard, situated near the " river road " and a short distance south of the residence of C!harles C. P. Goodrich, Esc^. Moses Smith, Jr., son of Mo.ses Smith, the first settler, married, in 17(j8, Phebe, daughter of John Snow, of Chesterfield. He M-as one of the first settlers in the eastern {)art of the town, having purchased, December 25, 17()4, lot No. 12, in the sixth range. He was lientenant in 1777, and justice of the ])eace for many years. He was also one of the original trnstees of the academy. During the controversy about the ''New Hampshire (Ji-ants" he espoused the cause of Vermont, and at one time the New Hampshire government gave orders for his arrest. He held the office of selectman in 1775, '7G, '7S, '81, '89-91, and was repre- sentative in 1786-88, '90, "91. About 1824 he removed, \vith his son Moses, Jr., to Pike, Allegany County, N. Y., where he died about 1830, aged eighty -seven years. John Snow appears to have settled in Ches- terfield in 17()2, which year he and Moses Smith built the first saw-mill erected in tlic towu. He probably lived on (ir near what was afterwards the town jtoor-tarm. He un- doubtedly came from some town in ]\Iassa- ehusetts. He was selectman in 17(17, and died May 12, 1777, in his seventy-second year. One of liis sons, Zerubbabel Snow, married Mary Trowbridge, of \\'orcester, Mass., and settled in ('hesterfield betVtre 177(1. He was one of the selectmen in 1773-74, and died April 12, 1795, in his fifty-fourth vear. Another son of John Snow, AVarren Snow, married Amy Harvey, and settled in this town in 1769 or 1770, having come from Princeton, Mass. In 1777 he was a member of the "Com- mittee of Inspection and Correspondence " of Chesterfield, and selectman in 1779. He died in 1824. Ali'hel'S Sxow, a grandson of Zerubbabel Snow, was born in Chesterfield May 10, 1791. He married, in 1815, Salome, daughter of Perley Harris, of this town. In his youth he attended school only a few weeks ; nevertheless, by private study, he afterwards succeeded in acquiring an ordinary etlncation. He had a special aptitude for arithmetic, and it is said that even persons who ought to have been his CHESTERFIELD. 175 .superiors in this brancli of mathematics some- time.s .sought his aid in tlie solution of difficult problems. When a yount;- man he learned the blaeksmitli's trade, which he followed tiir many years at the West village. He also engaged in farminu livino- a loni; time on the farm now owned and oeeujiied by Horace D. Snutii. He was selectman in IS;>7-39, '4o, '49, '')3, and represented the town in the (Tcneral Court in 1849. He died May 28, 1869. Ehenezer Stkaens, l)orn in 177(), son of Ebenezer Stearns, of Milford, Ma.ss., appears to have come to Chesterfield about 1797. About 1800 he opened the iirst store at Factory village. In ISO.") the Chesterfield Manu- facturing Com[)any was incorjjorated, of which he was agent and treasurer most of the time from 1809 to 1821. He was an active, enterprising man, and did much to promote the welfare and interests of the village in which he lived. In l.S2?)-24 he represented tlie town in the Legislature. He died October 11, 1825. David Stoddard may have come from Rut- land, Mass. He appears to have settled in Chesterfield about 1767, on the farm now owned and occupied by Truman A. Stoddard. Whether he was married more than once is not known ; but the name of the wife who came to Chesterfield with him was Joanna : He was selectman in 1771 and 1772, and in the .spring of 177o he enlisted in Captain Hind's company of the Third New Hampshire Regiment. According to tradition, he died while in the army. One of his son.s, David Stoddard, Jr., mar- ried Sarah French, and lived on the paternal farm in this town. Peter Stone, a descendant of Simon Stone, who came to this country from England in J6;j5, was l)orn in Groton, Mass., August 25, 1741. In 1773 he married Abigail Fassett, of Westford, Mass. March 27, 1777, he pur- chased, in Chesterfield, of Silas Thompson, the farm on wiiich the latter settled (cou.sisting in part, at least, of k)t Xo 12, in the thirteenth range). He appears to have come to this town with his family in 1778 or 1779. He built, at an early period, the house owned and occupied by the late Charles N. Clark. In 1790 he helped establish the academy. In his efforts to aid others he became involved in debt, and was obliged to mortgage his farm, which he eventually lost. Though permitted to remain in the house which he formerly owned (lieing old and infirm), he chose not to do so, and passed his last days in the sehool-h(juse that stood on the site of the present one in School- District No. 10. He died about 1820 (as nearly as can be ascertained), having survived his wife a number of years. Wari{EX Stone, a grandson of Peter Stone, was born at St. Albans, A^t., in 1808, but came, at an early age, to Chesterfield, whence his father and mother had removed but a few years Ijefore. His early years were spent in manual labor, and in obtaining such education as the schools of the town afforded. As he approached manhood, however, the desire to pursue the study of medicine became so strong that he resolved to quit the rural scenes of his youth and devote his life to that calling for which he had an especial fitness. Accordingly, he went to Keene and studied a while with the distinguished Dr. Twitchell, afterwards attending the medical school iu Pittsfield, ]\Iass., from which he graduated with the degree of ^M.D. in 1831. The next thing to be done was to find a suitable location for practicing his pi-ofession. Endowed by nature with a bold and enterprising spirit, he at last decided to .seek his fortune in the far- distant regions of the South. He accordingly went to Boston, where, October 10, 1832, he took j>assage for New Orleans in the brig " Amelia." The brig was wrecked on Folly Island, near Charleston, S. C, but the ]>asseugers were rescued, Dr. Stone especialK- displaying on this occasion the firmness and presence of mind lor which he \vas noted. Cholera also broke out among the passengers 176 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. and crew, from which he, too, suffered with tlie rest. He finally arrived, however, in New- Orleans, late in Xoveniljer or early in Decem- Iht, in ])0()i- health and with insnffieient elothing. -Vfter a \vhile he sneceeded in getting employment, in a subordinate ea[)aeity, in ( 'harity Hospital, of which he afterwards became assistant surgeon. In January, 1S;')7, he was appointed professor of anatomy iu the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana, and soon afterwards professur of surgery — a position that he held till he resigned it, in the spring of 1872. In 1839 he established, in cdunection with I^r. William E. Fvcnnedv, a private hospital. In 1S41 he was unfortunate enough to lose one of his eyes from " a specific inflammation contracted from a child." When the war broke out in 1861, Dr. Stone was aj>i)ointed, l)y the Confederate authorities, surgeou-general of Louisiana, in which capacity he rendered very efficient service. After the occupation of New Orleans by the Federal forces he was imprisoned for a while by General Benjamin F. Butler. As a surgeon, Dr. Stone possessed remarkable skill, and successfully performed the most diffi- cult operations. He was, in fact, "the admit- ted head of the profession in the Southwest." He died in New Orleans December 6, 1872. Stephen Stkeetek, Jh., son of Stephen and Sarah (( 'liaud)erlain) Streeter, was born December 7, 1782, about which time his father and mother came from Oxford, Mass., to Ches- terfield. He was locally celebrated as a poet, being noted also fur his retentive memory. Some of his songs, epigrams and longer poems were very pofjular with his contemporaries, and he well merited the appellation of the " Bard of Streeter Hill." He died May 22, 1864, having never marrieil. Sii,As Tho^ii'son, of Dnnstai)le, Mass., pur- cha.sed iu ( 'lie.sterficld, March 12, 176(5, lot No. 12, in the thirteenth range, and i)robably settled on the .same soon after. This lot formed part, at least, of the farm which lie sold in 1777 to Peter Stone, Sr. After selling this fiirm he lived on the one now owned by Henry J. Dunham. He took a prominent part iu the affairs of the town and the church, being one of the deacons of the latter. Together with Colonel Samuel King, he represented the town, after its union with Vci'mont, iu the Asscml>ly of that State. In 1770 he was .selectman, and in 1776 coroner for Cheshire ( 'onnty. His wife was Abigail Bancroft. He died April 25, 1S(I6, in his seventy-second year. E/,i!.\ Tins, son of Joseph and Mary (Bige- low) Titus, was born in Chesterfield January 15, 178!). ]>eing of a .studious turn of mind and fond of mathematical studies, he is .slid to have ap- plied himself so assiduously to these in his early years as to have seriously overtasked his brain — a circum.stance which caused him to change his course of life. He, nevertheless, fol- lowed .school-teaching to a considerable extent, and acquired the reputation of being one of the best teachers of his time. After his marriage he also engaged in farming in this town, and for a while held a colonel's commission in the New Hampshire militia. He also helcar ; but it was before May, 1777. At the second town-meeting, held I\Iay 29, 1771, the town granted fifteen pounds for preaching. The money appears to have been ex- pended in the course of the summer, as, in Sej)- tember of the same year, they voted to have a month's preaching that fall and granted nine pounds for the purpose. The whole number of voters in Dublin in 1770 was only twenty-three. A list of these voters, certified by Joseph Twitchell and John Muzzey, two of the assessors of that year, con- tains the ibllowing names : Levi I'artridge, Thomas Morse, Eli Morse, William Green- wood, Joseph Greenwood, Joseph Adams, Asa Norcross, Henry Strongman, Silas Stone, Ivory Perry, Samuel Twitchell, Moses Mason, .ftiel Wight, Joseph Twitchell, Ebeuezer Twitchell, Reuben Morse, Daniel Morse, Benjamin Mason, Moses Adams, John Muzzey, Eleazer Twitch- ell, Joshua Lealaud, Edward West Perry. 184 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. The (jualificatioo for a voter at that period was " twenty pounds estate to one single rate, beside the poU." Following is tax -list for 1771 : £ s. d. " Levi Partridge 2 6 Tliomas Morse 3 10 G Eli Morse 3 1 6 Joshua Lealand 12 6 William Greenwood 3 7 Joseph Adams 2 6 (3 Asa Norcross 1 15 Joseph Greenwood 2 2 Josiah Greenwood 14 6 CalebHill 11 6 Henry Strongman 2 6 Silas Stone 1 14 Ivory Perry I 18 Isaac Bond 3 Samuel Twitchell 2 6 Moses Mason 19 Simeon Ballard 15 Joseph Twitchell 1 12 6 Benjamin Learned 110 Simeon Johnson 16 Moses Johnson 13 6 Ebenezer Twitchell 1 15 Joseph Morse 14 Eleazer Twitchell 13 Reuben Morse 1 18 6 Thaddeus Mason 1 14 John Eanstead 18 Daniel Morse 1 16 Benjamin Mason 2 11 6 Daniel Morse 1 10 6 Moses Adams 4 8 William Beal 1 1 John Wight 19 6 John Muzzey 1 17 Elias Knowlton 1 6 John Knowlton 12 6 Robert Muzzey 1 8 Ezra Twitchell 1 15 6 Joseph Mason 10 David Johnson IS Daniel Greenwood 18 Jonathan Knowlton 18 Samuel Ames, jun 4 Daniel Wood..'. IS 3 Rufus Huntley 18 Nathaniel Bates 18 Gershora Twitchell 18 Joseph Turner , 3 Joseph Drury 4 Benoni Death 1 6 John Swan 4 Caleb Greenwood 2 ,0 Thomas Muzzey 18 John Morrison 16 "Sum total £72 18 6 " Or $246.42." The following is a list of priees in 1771 : " Dublin, July 10, 1777. — We, the suliscribers, being appointed by the town of Dublin to state the ]irices of sundry commodities, transferrable from one person to another, having met and considered the matter, have resolved that the prices hereafter annexed shall be the prices for all such articles within our town, viz : — £ s. d. " Wheat, per bushel 6 Rye and malt, per bushel 4 Indian corn, per bushel 3 Oats, per bushel 1 8 Peas, per bushel 6 Beans, per bushel 6 Cheese, per pound 6 Butter, per pound 9 Carriage of salt, for every ten miles land carriage, per bushel 10 Flax, per pound 10 Sheep's wool, per pound 2 2 Yarn stockings, per pair 6 Men's all-wool cloth, well-dressed, per yard 8 Men's farming labor, July and August, per month 3 And by the day 3 May, June and September, per month... 2 10 And by the day 2 6 April and October, per month 1 15 And by the day 2 3 February, March and November, per month 14 And by the day 2 December and January, per month 18 Carpenters and house-joiners, per day 4 Mill-wright and mason, per day 4 6 Hay in the field, per ton 1 10 Hay after secured, per ton 2 Making men's shoes, per pair 3 And others in proportion. Pasturing a horse, per week 2 I'asturing oxen, per week 2 6 Pasturing a cow, per week 10 A yoke of oxen, per day's work 1 6 Pasturing a horse, per night 8 Keeping a horse by hay, per night 1 Oxen a night by grass 1 Oxen a night by hay 1 6 Two quarts of oats 3 A meal of victuals 10 Ijodging, per night 3 Boarding a man, per week 6 Good flax-seed, per bushel 6 " Henry Strongman, ] " William Greenwood, i Committee.'' Reuben Morse and Moses Adaius, members of the above committee, did not sign the report. DUBLIN. 185 CHAPTER II. D\J BLIN—{CoHiiiiue' & honors are Wonted To Endulge Prop" in the Like Circumstances & Your Memorial- ist Shall Ever pray — ' Jan^ 24 1763.'= " Tho» Sumner. ' The name originated as follows: Samuel Gilbert and Thomas Sumner were prominent in procuring tlie grant. Their families were connected by marriage, and the town was named by taking the first syllable of each name and coining the word Gilsum (7. IC Hammond). 207 208 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. This grant was made to Samuel Gilbert, Thomas Sumuer and others. At the first meeting of the proprietors Thomas Pitken, Jr., was chosen moderator; Clement Sumner, proprietors' clerk ; and Sam- uel Gilbert, treasurer. The first settlers of the town were Jonathan Bliss and Josiah Kilburn, in 1762. March 9, 1769, the west part of the town was set off, and, with a portion of Westmore- land, incorporated into the town of Surry. September 27, 1787, the southeast part of the town was set off, joined with portions of Keene, Stoddard and Packersfield (Nelson), and incorporated into the town of Sullivan. A dispute relative to the boundary line be- tween this town and Stoddard was settled by an act passed June 27, 1797, by which the "curve line of Mason's Patent " was made the dividing line of the two towns, and Gilsum lost another tract of land. In 1873 a few acres of land was taken from Sullivan and annexed to this town. War of the Revolution. — Gilsum did its full share in the War of the Revolution. In 1775 the town had a population of forty- nine males above sixteen years of age, and during the war furnished twenty men, as fol- lows : Isaac Griswold. Brooks Hudson. Zadoc Hurd. Ebenezer Kilburn. Captain Elisha Mack. Thomas Morse. Jesse Smith. Ananias Tubbs. Frederick Tubbs. Samuel White. David Abraham. David Adams. Peter Beebe. David Bill. Stephen Bond. Iddo Church. Thomas Church. Josiah Comstock, Samuel Crame. Joseph French. War of 1812.— In the War of 1812 seven men from Gilsum were in the service : — Eoswell Borden. Iddo Kilburn. John Raynioud. David Bill. Jonas Brown. David Dort. Ira Ellis. 26, 1776, with Joseph Spencer, moderator, and Obadiah Willcox, clerk. Prior to 1789 the records of the town are missing. Timothy De- wey was clerk in 1787. The following is a list of clerks from 1789 to 1885 : Zadok Hurd, 1789. Robert Lane Hurd, 1790, '91, 1801, '02, '03, '04, '05, '11, '12. David Blish, 1792, '93, '94, '95, '90, '97, '98, '99, 1800. Josiah Hammond, 1806, '07, '08, '09, '10, '15, '10, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31. Elisha Fisk, 1813. Obadiah Pease, 1814, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22 '23. Luther Abbott, 1832, '33. David Brigham, 1834, '35. Israel B. Loveland, 1836, '37, '38, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44, '46, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58. Allen Buster, 1845. M. L. Goddard, elected in 1856, but removed. Henry E. Rawson, 1859, '65, '66. Ezra Webster, 1860, '61, '62, '63, '64; died in office. Calvin Chandler, 1864. George Henry McCoy, 1867, '68, '69, '70, '72, '73, '74, '75, '70, '77. John Gould, 1871. John A. Smith, 1878. Benjamin H. Horton, 1879. L. W. F. Mark, 1880, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85. Representives. — From 1789 to 1793 Gilsum Surry and Sullivan formed a representative dis- trict. Previous to this Gilsum had been classed with Various towns. From 1795 to 1827 it was classed with Surry. Since 1825 the town lias been entitled to one representative ; the list is as follows : Civil History. — The first town-meeting of which we have any account was held August Luther Whitney, 1827. Aaron Day, 1828, '29, '31. Josiah Hammond, 1830. Jehiel Day, 1832, '34. Allen Butler, 1833, '35. John Horton, 1836, '37. David Bell, 1838, '39, '41. David M. Smith, 1840. William Kingsbury, 1842. E. K. Webster, 1843, '44. F. W. Day, 1845, '46. John Hammond, 1847, '48. Samuel Isham, Jr., 1819, '50, '56, '57. Amasa May, 1851, '52. David Ware, 1853. John Livermore, 1854. Ebenezer Jones, 1855. F. A. Howard, 1858. Ezra Webster, 1859, '60. D. W. Bill, 1861, '62, '74, '76. J. M. Chapin, 1863, '64, '67. H. E. Rawson, 1865, '66. GILSUM. 209 A. D. Hammond, 1868, '69. Allen Hayward, 1870, 71. J. S. Collins, 1872, '73. William L. Isham, 1875, '77. J. J. Isham, 1878. lu November, 1878, Gil.sum was classed with Sullivan, and Francis C. ]Minor was representa- tive. In 1880 Gilsum was classed with Sul- livan, and the representative was from the latter town. L. R. Guillow, 1882-83 ; George J5. Rawsou, 1884-85. Ecclesiastical.- T/ie Congregational Church was organized October 27, 1772; the first church building was erected and dedicated in 1794, and the first pastor was Rev. Elisha risk, installed May 29, 1794. Other pastors have been Revs. E. Chase, S. S. Arnold, Wil- liam Hutchinson, Henry White, George Lang- don, J. Tisdale, Ezra Adams, E. E. Ba.ssett, Horace Wood, Silvanus Hayward and George W. Rogers, present pastor. The Methodist Church. — A Methodist Church was organized here, in 1843, by Rev. Samuel S. Dudley, and in 1848 a house of worship was erected at a cost of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. The church was disbanded in about 1874, and the house sold to the town. Rev. John Gove was probably the first preacher of this faith here in 1801. The late Bishop Elijah Hedding preached here in about 1806. The Baptists also held services here for some time, but the church is now extinct. A Chris- tian Church also once existed in Gilsum, and also a branch of the Mormon Church, or " Lat- ter-Day Saints," both extinct. Physicians. — The first physician in Gilsum was Abner Bliss. Among other physicians were Benjamin Hosmer, Henry Kendrick, 1-1 Obadiah Wilcox, J. E. Davis, B. Palmer, Isaac Hatch, Dudley Smith, T. S. Lane, G. W. Hammond (he was one of the prominent men of the town and an eminent physician ; he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850, member of the State Senate in 1855-56, and died January 30, 1872, at the age of seventy years), K. D. Webster, C. C. Bingham, C. F. Kingsbury, A. H. Livermore, M. E. Loveland, A. R. Gleason and I. A. Loveland. Military Record, 1861-65. — The follow- ing were in the service from this town : Thomas W. Bingall. Joseph Collins. S. H. Howard. H. H. Nash. John A. Blake. S. W. Bridge. J. L. Davis. J. W. Everdon. A. R. Gleason. G. J. Guillow. Isaac W. Hammond. C. H. Harris. Franklin Nash. S. D. Nash. Drafted. Temple Baker. G. W. Bancroft. L. White. C. H. Wilcox. G. C. H. Deets. A. E. Howe. John Howard. M. J. Howard. E. G. McCoy. A. A. Morse. H. H. Nash. O. Nash. E. E. Roundy. F. W. Roundy. H. E. Wilcox. Lucius Davis. Jotham Bates. C. W. Spooner. A. H. Waldrou. The fii-st three secured substitutes ; the fourth paid commutation of three hundred dollars. The followino; were also drafted : H. L. Bates. Joel Cowee. J. Guillow. G. H. McCoy. C. E. Crouch. All but the last-named secured substitutes. There were also, in addition to the above twenty- one substitutes furnished. HISTORT OF HARRTSVILLE. BY S. 11. BEMIS. CHAPITER I. TiiK town of Harrisville was formerly a part of the towns of Dublin anil Xtlson, and inuor- poi-atwl by an act of the Legislature in the year 1870. The followiug- i.s that portion of the act defining its territorial limits : " An act to constitute tlie town of Harrisville from a part of the towns of Dublin and Nelson. "Section 1. That all that part of Dublin and all that part of Nelson lying within the following lines and boundaries to wit : Beginning at a stake marked ' D. M.,' standing in the line of Marlborough and Dub- lin at the southwest corner of lot No. 22, in the eiglith range in said Dublin : thence north the length of three degrees in the lines of Marlborough and Roxbury, to the northwest corner of Dublin at a stake marked ' D. K.;' thence south, seventy-nine degrees and forty-five minutes east, seven rods to the southwest corner of the town of Nelson at a stake i marked ' D. N.,' 1S64; thence north, eleven degrees i east, the length of one lot to a stake marked ' N. R., 18t)4 ' ; thence south, seventy-nine degrees and forty- > five minutes east, to a stake standing on the east shore of Breed Pond, so called ; thence northerly on the east shore of said pond the length of one lot to a stake and stones ; thence south, seventy-nine degrees and forty-five minutes east, on the northerly line of lots in the third range in said town of Nelson from the north line of Dublin to a stake and stones stand- ing in the westerly line of the town of Hancock marked ' N. H. ;■ thence south, twelve degrees and thirty minutes west, . to the southwest corner of Hancock and the southeast corner of Nelson to a stake stand- ing in the wall ; thence south, seventy-nine degrees east in the line of said Hancock and Dublin eight hundred and seventy-nine rods to a stake and stones ; thence south on the line of Hancock and Dublin and Peterborough and Dublin to the southeast corner of No. 1, in the eighth range of lots in said Dublin, at a stake and stones ; thence westerly on the south range- , 210 line of range eight in said Dublin to the place of beginning: be and the same is hereby severed from the towns of Dublin and Nelson and juade a body politic and corporate by the name of Harrisville." Section 7 of said act authonized Milan Harris. Darius Farwell, Milan W. Harris, or any two of them to call the first meeting of the town. Agreeably to the authority here given them they proceeded to call the first meeting of the town by posting the fol- lowing warrant : "(L. S.) The State of New Hampshire to the in- habitants of the town of Harrisville, as constituted by an act of the Legislature passed July 2, 1870, qualified to vote in town atlairs : You are hereby notified to meet at Eagle Hall, in said town, on Satur- day, the thirteenth day of August next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, to act upon the following sub- jects : '■ 1. To choose a moderator to preside in said meet- ing. " 2. To choose all necessary officers and agents for the present year. " 3. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to borrow such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expense-* of the town. "Given under our hands and seals this twenty-ninth day of July. 1S70. •Mii^AX Hakris, ) Authorized "Darius Fakwell, I to call "Mii.AX AV. Harris, j said meeting." Ou tiic 13th day of August, 1870, agreeably to the above call, was holdeu the first town-meeting ever held in Harrisville. It was a bright, snuny day of the latter pait of the summer, wheu nearly every voter in this new town assembled to take part in this, their first town-meeting. S;imuel T>. Bemis was chosen moderator : Stephen L. Randall, clerk ; and Par- tus Farwell, Samuel D. Bemis and (teorge Wooil were chosen selectmen ; and Hon. Milan HARRISVILLE. 211 Harris was I'hosen agent of the town to act with tiie selectmen in the settlement of affairs with the towns of Dnl)lin and Nelson. At the auiiual town-meeting in 1871 the following were tlie town officers : Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; Stephen L. Randall, clerk ; Darius Farwell, Samuel D. Bemis, selectmen ; Hon. Milan Harris, representative to Legislature. 1872. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; Frank P. Ward, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, George AVood, George F. Tufts, selectmen; Samuel D. Bemis, rep- resentative to Legislature. 1873. — Darius Farwell, moderator; Stephen L. Randall, clerk ; Darius Farwell, Zophar Willard, Luther P. Eaton, selectmen ; Hon. Milan Harris, representative to Legislature. 1874. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; Stephen L. Randall, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Zophar Wil- lard, Luther P. Eaton, selectmen ; Aber S. Hutch- inson, representative to Legislature. 1875. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator; Charles C. P. Harris, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Orlando Fogg, Joel F. Mason, selectmen ; Abner S. Hutchinson, representative to Legislature. 1876. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator; Charles C. P. Harris, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Francis Strat- ton, Daniel W. Barker, selectmen ; Luke Tarbox, representative to Legislature. 1877. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator; Fred. Colony, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, George T. Tufts, Winslow Royce, selectmen ; Sylvester T. Symonds, represen- tative to Legislature. 1878. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; Fred. Colony, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, George F. Tufts, Winslow Royce, selectmen ; Sylvester T. Symonds, representa- tive to Legislature. 1879. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; Fred. Col- ony, clerk ; Darius I'arwell, George Davis, George Wood, selectmen. 1880. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator; George F. Tufts, clerk ; George Davis, Joel F. Mason, Aaron Smith, selectmen. 1881. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator; George Davis, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Charles C. Farwell, Everard C. Willard, selectmen ; George F. Tufts, representative to Legislature. 1882. — Francis Stratton, moderator ; George Davis, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Charles C. Farwell, Ever- ai'd C. Willard, selectmen. 1883. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; George Davis, clerk ; Samuel D. Bemis, Charles C. Farwell, Everard C. Willard, selectmen ; George F. Tufts, representative to Legislature. 1884. — Francis Stratton, moderator; George Davis, clerk ; Charles C. Farwell, Everard C. Willard, se- lectmen. 1885. — Samuel D. Bemis, moderator ; George Da- vis, clerk ; Aaron Smith, Francis Stratton, Jacob G. Lakin, selectmen. In 1876, Samuel D. Bemis was chosen dele- gote to the convention to revise the Constitution. The number of votes cast for I'residcut have been as follows : 1872.— Horace Greeley, 6G ; U. S. Grant, 95. 1876.— .Samuel J. Tilden, 101 ; R. B. Hayes, 93. 1880.— Winfield S. Hancock, 89 ; James A. Gar- field, 82. 1884. — Grover Cleveland, 73 ; James G. Blaine, 68 ; scattering, 4. Manufacturing of Wooden-warE .vnd Lumber.— The mannficture of wooden-ware was first commenced in what is now Harrisville by George Handy and Nathaniel Greely, in 1838. Mr. Greely soon sold out to IMr. Handy, who continued the business many years. Handv did a business of about ten thousand dollars a year. About 18o0 these mills were sold to Asa Fair- banks, who run them five years. Samuel W. Hale, now ex-Governor Hale, came in posses- sion of them. In 1860 he sold them to El- bridge G. Bemis, by whom they were rebuilt and much enlarged and improved. He owned them about five years. They are now owned by Charles C. & Henry J. Farwell, by whom they have been further improved and the busi- ness greatly enlarged. Just below the factories, and near the Centre village, A. E. & M. K. Perry, in 1845, built a saw-mill and box-shop, and for a number of years did an extensive bus- iness in the manufacture of shoe-boxes. In 18")5 this mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. It is now owned by Zophar Willard, who does a large business in the manufacture of clothes- pins, cloth-cases and dimension lumber. At this mill, when owmed by the Messrs. Perry, a terrible accident occurred. Charles K. Mason, Esq., now one of the leading citizens of Marl- borough, while attempting to adjust a belt upon 212 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. a grindstone, had his left arm torn from his shoulder. In 1849, EibridgeG. Bemis, George W. Bemis and kSylvester T. Symonds erected a large wooden-ware shop just below the "Great Meadows," on the stream that takes its rise in Breed Pond, now called Silver Lake. The year following they built a saw-mill upon the opposite side of the stream. Quite an exten- sive business was carried on here in the manu- facture of wooden- ware and lumber for a good many years, but the business is now so depressed that but little is done. These mills are now owned by S. T. Symonds, one of the original owners, and his son, Dana T. Symonds. In 1 8(59 a new dam was built just above these mills, by the Breed Pond Company, which converts the " Great Meadows" into a reservoir. The first saw-mill in the west part of the town was built by Moses Adams, on lot eighteen, ranse ten. The second was erected bv Eli Green- wood, and stood where the grist and saw-mill built by Lambert L. Howe, now stands. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1878. It has been rebuilt several times. In August, 1826, it was carried oif by a cloud burst upon Monad- nock Mountain. This was the same night as the slide upon the White Mountains, which caused the destruction of the Willey family ; the mill was carried to the meadows below, almost intact, and from there Mp the stream from Breed Pond, which here intersects with it, opposite where the railroad depot now stands. There was no perceptible rise of water in the lat- ter stream except from the water which ran up from the overflow of the stream below. In 1834 a saw-mill was Ijuilt by Robert Worsly and Lyman Russell, on land of A\ orsly, about one-fourth of a mile above the mill just de- scribed. It afterwards passed into the hands of Nathan & Heath, who added a clothes-pin shop. This mill has been demolished a number of years. Railroad. — For a great many years the project of a railroad from some point on the line of railroad running through the eastern and central part of the State, through tliis town to Keene, thereby connecting the eastern and western parts by rail, was from time to time considerably agitated. Several surveys previous to the year 1870 had been made, and the pro- ject was found to be entirely feasible. A com- pany was soon formed which offered to build the road, provided a gratuity of two hundred thousand dollars could be raised to assist them in its construction. With the exception of the town of Dul)lin, all the towns and the city of Keene upon the line of the road voted gratui- ties varying from two and one- half to five per cent, on their valuations. In Dublin several town-meetings were held, and while a majority of the voters voted for the gratuity, the rccpii- site two-thirds required by law could not be ob- tained. The people of the manufacturing por- tion of the town, which is now Harrisville, were unanimously in favor of the proposed gratuity, while those in the exclusively farming portion of Dublin, thinking that they might not receive quite as much benefit from a rail- road as their neighbors in the manufacturing part of the town, — a rather narrow view to take as a general rule — steadfastly refused to vote the gratuity. In consequence of this refusal, a peti- tion was presented to the Legislature of 1870 to sever that part of Dublin and Nelson de- scribed in this chapter, and have the same con- stitute a new town, to be called Harrisville, in compliment to the Alessrs. Harris, who had been so largely instrumental in building up the manufacturing at the village ; this petition was favorably considered and a charter granted in accordance, which was received by great demon- strations of joy l)v almost every person within the limits of the new town On the 10th day of August, 1872, a town-meeting was held and a gratuity of five per cent, was voted almost unanimously. Owing to the great business de- pression which followed soon after, the matter WHS allowed to rest until 1876, when a perma- nent survey was completed and the work of g-radino' commenced in August of the same ( HAKRISVILLE. 213 year; before its completion, however, the lunds of the company became exhausted, and the en- terprise remained at a standstill until 1878, when the road was completed, and trains com- menced to run. There are now four passenger- trains daily over the road, and a heavy business is done in the carrying of freight, with tlie bus- iness constantly increasing. There are three depots in town, — one at the east part, one at the Centi'c villay-e and one at West Harrisville. The old towns run mail stages to Harrisville, and the benefit to this and the adjoining towns can best be estimated after we consider that we were formerly twelve miles from any railroad facilities. Harrisville would not part witii her railroad for ten times five per cent. BusiXES.s Statistics.' — Bethuel Harris, son of Erastus Harris, of Medway, Mass., came to this place a.d. 178G, destitute of pecuniary ability. He having bought his time of his father when eighteen years old, having learned Ihe carpenter's trade, worked at that business about five years, when he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land lying partly in the town of Nelson and partly in Dublin, mostly woodland, which, in addition to his trade, he improved for five years. His wife was daugh- ter of Al)el Twitchell, of Dublin, who was the first inhabitant of tiiis place. Bethuel Harris had ten children, — six sons and four daughter.?. He continued his carpentering and agricultural business until 1813, when his health failed, being much troubled witii sciatica. At this time he purchased water-power and a small building, and commenced, in a very limited de- gree, the business of mamifacturing wooleu goods, which, to a con.siderable extent, was done by hand, as power-looms and spinning were not known at that time ; but, in 1817, he increased the building and added machinery, putting his sons, as fast as old enough, at work in that l)usi- ness. In 1821 he built a large, three-story brick house, and moved from his farm down near his mill. This was the second dwelling ' Bj Charles C. V. Harris, Esq. built near this water-power. In 1825, Bethuel, in company with his oldest son, Cyrus, built a commodious brick mill and filled it with im- proved machinery, increasing the business of manufacturing four-fold. They continued the business for six years, when his son Cyrus retired from the company ; Bethuel contin- ued alone for two years ; when his .sou Cyrus returned and purchased a lialf-interest and continued the business for five years; Cyrus then retired and built a large brick store building, also a large stone mill on the water-power next below that of Bethuel Harris', in 1840-47, when, on the completion of the building, his health failed. Accordingly, he did not fill the buihling with machinery. On the 14th of April, 1848, said Cyrus Harris deceased. The mill which he built went into the possession of Colony & Sons. It has been successfully operated by them imtil the present time, they having improved and greatly in- creased the property. The present corporate name of the company is Cheshire Mills Com- pany. Bethuel Harris was born at Medway, Ma.ss., August 14, 1769; he came to this place when but seventeen years old. After working with his father for some years, he commenced busi- ness on his own account at his trade. He was a man of much energy and decision of charac- ter, a just man and much respected among all his acquaintance. He persevered in whatever he engaged in, and, for the most part, was moderately successful. Although striving under many discouragements, yet he overcame many obstacles. He not only succeeded in carpen- tering and agricultural business, but he was the chief in.strument in establishing the manufac- turing business, which has proved to be the business of the place, and has been continued by him, his sons and the Messrs. Colony up to the present time, in a great degree very success- fully. Bethuel Harris was not only a just, up- right and straightforward man, but, for a man of his pecuniary ability, which was very limited 214 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. at the first, he was very charitable and liberal, always showing his Christian faith by his works of generosity and liberality in every good cause, having in view the good of his fellow- beings both in this present and the future world, believing that faith without works is dead, being alone. He not only con- tributed about three thousand dollars for the erection of church buildings, but live years be- fore his decease gave the church, for a perma- nent fund, twelve hundred dollars; he also pre- sented each of his children (ten in number) with a valuable slip, or pew, in the church ; also, he provided a family cemetery on what is called the Harrisvillc Island, presenting each of his children a nice and beautiful lot for their use and for their families', amounting, for slips and cemetery grounds, to nearly twelve hundred dollars. Therefore, we have a living evidence of the fruits of a devoted and just life of a hum- ble man. Very much more could be said of his private character and life, both pul)lic and private, but the writer, being a direct descendant from the said Bethuel Harris, refrains from saying anything further, hoping and trusting that his memory may long be revered by gen- erations yet to come in his lineage and descent. Milan Harris, second son of Bethuel Harris, at the age of thirty years, in the year 1829, pur- chased the old Twitchell water-power, at the Twitchell Pond (so called), on which was a saw and grist-mill, which he ran for one year, when he, in connection with Henry Melville, of Nelson, built a commodious brick mill, three stories high, in 1833 ; but, before the building was filled with machinery, his partner, Henry Melville, deceased. Said Harris continued in the completion of the mill, and put in one set of machinery f jr manufacturing woolen goods, and commenced manufacturing, and carried on the business for some three or four years, after which Almon Harris, the third son of Bethuel Harris, connected himself with Milan Harris in said business, when the com]xiuy was known by the name of M. & A. Harris, who contin- ued the business successfully until 1846, when Almon Harris retired from the company and went to Fishersville, N. H., and built a large mill at that place and carried on the manufac- turing business very successfully during his life, some thirty years. After Almon Harris retired from the company of M. & A. Harris, Milan Harris continued the manufacturing business until 1858, when his oldest sou, Milan W. Harris, became associated with him. The company was then known by name of I\I. Harris & Co. until alwut 1872, when it was incorporated under the name of M. Harris' Woolen Manufacturing Company, and contin- ued until the corporation was dissolved, about 1882. Baptist Church.' — So fiir as it can be as- certained, several families of the Baptist faith and order lived in the northwest part of the town, and in neighboring towns, at an early period. The first mention of the Baptist Society in the town records is found in the following article for a town-meeting, to be held April 29, 1784: "To hear the plea of those who call themselves the Baptist Society, for being ex- cused from paying Mr. Sprague's salary, and to act anything relating thereto, as the town may see proper." Rev. Edward Sprague was the Congregational minister in the town at that time. In the petition presented to the town it was stated that the selectmen had rated them to Mr. Sprague for the year 1784, and they beg leave to tell them that they look upon it as an unjust and real grievance. At the town-meeting it was voted to excuse all those from paying Mr. Sprague's salary for the last year who had made a profession of the Baptist persuasion in this town, provided they bring a certificate from the clerk of their society that they were in comnmniou with them before Mr. Sprague's salary was assessed, and they were excused for the present year. The Baptists in town at this time were a branch of the Baptist • Prepared by Rev. J. P. Chapin, of Pottersville, N. H. t HAllRISVILLE. 215 Church in Richmoud, under the pastoral care of Elder Maturin Ballon (tlic 2:randfather of the late President J. A. Garfield), the first Baptist minister who preached in town. He preached his first sermon in the house of John Muzzy. He preached in town occasionally till the close of the year 17 have been dismissed by letter to other churches, 55 have died, and 11 have been excommunicated, leaving, at this date, (Ajjril 1, 1885) 61 members in regular standing, of which 20 are non-resident members, leavins 41 resi- dent members. Virtually, this church has been a missionary church, many having come here to labor in the mills, and, after being here for a time, united with the church ; afterwards, mak- ing their residences at other places, they asked and received letters of dismission and recom- mendation to other sister-churches. HISTORY OF JAFFREY CHAPTER I. Geographical — Original Grant — Early Settlements — Names of Pioneers — Incorporation of Town — First Town-Meet- ing — Officers Elected — Town Clerks — Representatives — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church — Con" gregational Church, East Jaffrey — Baptist Church — Uni" versalist Church — Schools — Lawyers — Physicians — War of the Revolution — War of 1812— War of the Rebellion — Post Offices — Banks — Population — Railroads. The town of JafFrey lies in the southeastern part of the county, aud is bounded as follows : North, by Marll)orough and Dublin ; east, by Peterborough aud Sharon ; south, by Rindge and rit2rwilliam ; west, by Fitzwilliam, Troy and Marlborough. It is fifteen miles from Keene, the shire-town of the county ; forty-five from Concord, the capital of the State ; and sixty-two from Boston, — seventy-eight by rail- road. The area is about twenty-two thousand acres ; about one thousand is covered with water, and the uninhabitable area of the mountain in Jaf- frey is about three thousand two huudred acres. The surface of the town is hilly and moun- tainous. The Grand Monadnock is situated in the northwest part of the town aud south part of Dublin. Its highest peak is a little south of the line of Dublin, and has an altitude of 3186 feet above the level of the sea and 2029 feet above the centre of the town. The motuitaiu is celebrated as a summer resort. •Condensed mainly from "History of Jaffrey," a work of six hundred and fifty pages, by Daniel B. Cutter, pub- lished in 1880. 220 The town was granted by the IMasonian pro- prietors, under the name of Middle Monad- nock, No. 2, November 30, 1749, to Jona- than Hubbard and thirty- nine others, resi- dents of Hollis, Lunenbiu'g and Dunstable. The Masouian prof)rietors were residents of Portsmouth and vicinity, twelve iu uutuber, who j^urchased of John Tufton Mason, great- grandson of Captain John Mtisou, for fifteen hundred pounds, his right and title to a tract of land lying iu New Hampshire, granted to said Captain John Mason by the Coiuicil of Plym- outh in 1629. The purchase was divided into fifteen shares, of which Theodore Atkinson had three shares, Mark H. Wentworth two shares, and Richard Wibbard, John Wentworth, John Moifat, Samuel Moore, Jotiiam Odiorue, George JafFrey, Joshua Pierce, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Wallingford and Thomas Packer, one share each. Nine additional members were af- terwards admitted, aud the shares increased to eighteen. The new members were John Rindge, Joseph Blanchard, Daniel Pierce, John Tufton Mason, John Thomliusou, Mathew Liv- ermore, AVilliam Parker, Samuel Solly and Clement March. The territory is described as " extending from the middle of the Piscataqua river, up the same to the fartherest head thereof, aud from thence northwestward uutil sixty miles from the mouth of the harbor were fin- ished ; also, through Merrimack river to the fartherest head thereof, and so forward up into the laud westward until sixty miles were fin- ished, aud from thence overland to the end of JAPPREY. 221 sixty miles accounted from the Piscataqua river, together witli all lands within five leagues of the coast." Immediately after the purchase the above- described tract of land was divided by the pro- prietors into townships. Those around the Mouadnock Hills, as the mouutaiu was then called, were named Monaduocks, designated by numbers. After the survey of the townshij) and the division of it among the proprietors, to en- courage settlement a bounty of one hundred and forty-two pounds was offered to the first five men who, with their families, should settle within one year from this date (June, 1750) and remain one year, and in the same projJortion to one or more fiimilies complying \\ith the above condition. Whether any settlement was made does not appear from any known i-ecord. A traditionary report makes it appear that a family by the name of Russell (Joel Russell) did attempt a settlement in the south part of the town, and while there had a son l)orn, who was the first white child born in the township. AVhe- ther he settled soon enough and remained long enough to receive the bounty does not appear. lu 1752 we have a reliable account of a settle- ment by Moses Stickney, Richard Peabody and seven othei-s, and that while there Simon Stick- ney, sou of jSIoses, was born December i), 1753, making- him the first white child born in Jaffrey, aside from the Russell tradition. This settlement of Stickney and others proved a fail- ure, through fear of Indians, and they all left except a man known as Captain Platts, probably the pioneer of Rindge. The first permanent settlement was made about 1758 by John Grout and John Davidson. Grout settled on lot 20, range 10, and David- son on lot 21, range 3. Grout was a prominent man. He made, with Gilmore, an early report of the settlement of the town to the proprietors. He died in 1771. There is a tradition that he was buried where the meeting-house was after- wards built. John DavitL'^on remained a per- manent settler, and died in ISH. It is also re- [jorted as true that his eldest daughter, Betsey, was the first wliite child born in Jaffrey. List of the pioneers of Jaffrey, per report of Gilmore, Grout and Hale : John Borland. JosejA Caldwell. James Caldwell. James Caldwell, Jr. Thomas Caldwell. Chrysty. Daniel Davis. Joseph Dun lap.' John Davidson.' Thomas Davidson. Thomas Emery. Fiteh. Koger Gilmore.' John Gilmore.' ■Tohn Gront.' Glover- Enoch Hale. Hale. John Harper.' Wid. Henderson. Joseph Hogg.' William Hogg.' Robert Holmes. Jona. Hopkinson. David Hunter. Ephraini Hunt. John Little. Andrew McAlister. Alex. McNeil. William Mitchel. Munroe. James Nichols. Organ. Jona. Parker. Kussel. .John Swan. William Smiley.' Joseph Turner.' William Turner.' Thomas Turner. Solomon Turner. Taggot. George Wallace. Thomas Walker. Robert Weir. Mathew Wright.' Leranus Wright. The settlement of many of the first inhabitants was of short duration. They seemed to be a log cabin population, fond of living in a forest. Most of them were Scotch-Irish from London- derry. Of those who became permanent set- tlers of that race, were John and Roger (xil- more, William Smiley, Joseph Turner, Joseph Hodtje, William Turner and William Hodge. After the incorporation of the town a large emi- gration from Massachusetts purchased their lands, with all of the improvements, and became the permanent settlers of the town. Of the history of the settlers reported b)- Grout, Gilmore and Hale, but little is known. Alphabetically arranged, we find the first on the list to be John Borland. He was the first set- ' Permanent settlers. 222 HISTORY OP CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIR,E. tier in what is now East Jaffrey, and liuilt the first mills in that place. In 1778 he sold his place to Deacon Eleazer Spofford, of Dauvers, and left town. Four taniilies hy the name of Caldwell — James, James, Jr., Joseph and Thomas — were among the first settlei-s. When the town was incorporated, the name of James Caldwell ap- pears on a committee chosen to procure preach- ing, and Thomas Caldwell is represented in Hale's report as the owner of a saw-mill on lot No. 22, range 5. Nothing more is known of the family of Caldwell. The name of Thomas Emery is found in Hale's report as the owner of the right of Nathaniel Pierce, which included the lot on which was built the Millikeu tavern, afterwards the farm of John Felt, and now (1873) of Levi Briffham, and also the farm of Clarence S. Bailey. Solomon Grout settled on lot 13, range 0, — the Isaac Bailey farm, — and was road surveyor in 1774 and selectman in 1776. A Widow Henderson, by Grout and Gil- more's report, settled on lot 17, range 3, now the farm of S. Garfield. Jonathan Hopkinsou's place of settlement is unknown. Robert Holmes was from Londonderry ; his brother Abram settled in Peterborough. He settled on lot 12, range 3, afterwards the farm of Joseph Thorudike, John Conant and Frank H. Cutter. The first frame house in Jafli-ey is reported to have been built on that farm, per report of Grout and Gilmore. David Hunter settled on lot -5, i-ange 6, after- wards the farm of David Gilmore, Esq., now (187G) the fiirm of Mai-shal C. Adams. When the first militai-y company was organized he was chosen ensign. John Little settled on lot 15, range 4, now the farm of John Quin. He was highway surveyor in 1774. His successor appears to have been Simpson Stuart. Alexander McNeil settled on lot 12, range 5, and was, by tradition, the first inn-keeper in Jatfrey. From the town records, he appears to have been quite a prominent man. In 1774 he was chosen one of a committee to i>rocurc preach- ing, one of a committee to examine the accounts of the selectman and constable, and one of the committee to build the meeting-house. In 1775 he was one of tlie Board of Selectmen, and moderator of the annual town-meeting in 1776. In 1779, at the annual town-meeting, the town voted that Alexander McNeil should not keep tavern. He prol)ably left town soon after. William Mitchel settled on lot 12, rano;e 4, afterwards the farm of James Gage and his son, Jonathan Gage. Present owner, Michael D. Fitzgerald. In 1774 he was chosen auditor of accotmts and deer-reeve; in 1775, surveyor of roads and sealer of leather; 1776, surveyor of roads. He probably left town in 1777 or 1778. Andrew McAlister settled on lot 14, range 4, afterwards tlie farm of John Briaut, now owned by Samuel D. Jewell. James Nichols settled on lot 17, range 1, afterwards owne<:l by Benjamin Cutter, Benjamin Frost, John Frost and John Frost, Jr. ; now uninhabited. John Swan was owner of lot 6, range 4 ; lot 5, range 5 ; and lot 21, range 6. On which lots he settled is not known. Thomas Walker was owner of lot 16, range 2 ; lot 7, range 6 ; lot 11, range 1. On which he settled is not known. George Wallace, settlement unknown. Robert Weir settled on lot 6, range 5. In 1 773, when the to\Am was incorporated, he was chosen one of the auditors of accounts and high- way surveyor; in 1776 he was chosen town clerk and first selectman. Leranus Wright settled on lot 14, range 8. His successor was Francis Wright, inn-keeper. When the town was incorporated, in 1773, the town-meeting was held at his place. The fai-m is now owned by Dana S. Jaquith. Most of the early settlers were born in the State of Massachusetts, some in Londonderry, JAFFEEY. 223 N. H., some in England and some in Ireland. David Bailey was born in England ; Jolin Davidson and William Smiley in Ireland. They were a race of hardy adventnrers, inured to toil and hardship, fit inhabitants for a new townshi|i. They were mostly young men, un- married, in r^eareli of a future home. They made a purchase of land, cleared a few acres, 'Imilt thereon a cabin or log house, returned ti) theii' original home, aud there married and took with them their wives, with their household furniture, to the home in the forest, — a bridal tdur full of hope and expectation of a rich future reward ; not only a reward of gold and silver, but one of a large progeny. In that they were not often disappointed, as the emigration from Jatfi'ey, iu after-years, to the States of Vermont, New York, Ohio and most of the Western States, will abundantly verify. The sons and daughters of JaiFrey and their descendants may l>e found not only in town, but in most of the cities East aud West, holding positions of wealth, honor and trust. Incoepoi;ation of Towx. — The to\\n was known by the names of Monadnock, No. 2, Middle Monadnock and Middletown, until it was incorporated by the Governor and Council, August 17, 1773, and named in honor of Hon. George Jaffrey, a member of the Council. The first meeting of the projH'ietors was held in the house of Joseph French, of Dunstable, January 16, 1750. The first town-meeting was held September 11, 1773, as follows : " Jaffrey Sept. 14, 1773. "Then the Freeholders and Inhabitance ofs'' town being meet agreeable to the foregoing Warrant, " I''"'' Choose Capt. Jonathan Stanley moderator to Govern s'' meeting. " 2'y Choose mr W" Smiley Town Clerk. "Choose Capt. Jonathan Stanley, First Selectman. " mr. W" Smiley Sec'' Selectman. " mr. Phineas Spaulding third Selectman. " Choose Mr. Roger Gilmore, Tythingman. " Choose Hugh Dunlap and John Harper, Field- Drivers. "Choose John Davidson, Constable. " Choose Koger Gilmore, Robert Wire and Samuel Sherwin a Committee to Count with the Selectmen and Constable. " Choose David Allen, W"> McAlister, Robert Wire, Ephraim Hunt, W" Turner and John Gilmore, Soy- vors. " Choose i\Ir. W°' Hogg and Mr Joseph Wright Fence Vewers." " Jafirey Sep' 28. Then the Freeholders and In- habitance of s'' town being mett agreeable to the Fore- going Warrant, " !'■'' Choose Capt. Jonathan Stanley moderator to govern s'' meeting. " 2'>' Voted Eighty Pounds L : M : to be worked out on the Rods. "3'J Voted that Capt. Jona. Stanley, Alexander Mc-Neill and Jeames Caldwell be a Committee to Provide supplies of Preaching for s'* town. " 4''' Voted six Pounds Lawful Money to support the Gospel in said town. " The second Town Meeting held in s'' Town Sept. 28, 1773." The f illowing persons appear to have been voters at the time of the organization of the town : ' David Allen. John T. Anderson. Stephen Adams. Thomas Adams. Jethro Bailey. Isaac Baldwin. John Borland. John ]?riant. Kendall Briant. Alpheas Brigham. Jona. Blodgett. George Clark. Jeames Caldwell. Henry Coffren. Joseph Cutter. Daniel Davis. John Davidson. Robert Dunlap. Hugh Dunlap. Thomas Emory. Wm. Fisher. John Gilmore. Roger Oiilmore. Robert Gilmore. Hiram Greene. Oliver Hale. John Harper. Ebn' Ingals. Jona. Jewett. John Little. Alex' Mc-Neal. W'» Mc-Alistcr. Peter Mc-Alister. W" Mitchell. Samuel Milliken. W'" Miliken. Dennis Orgon. Samuel Pierce. Jacob Pierce. Oliver Proctor. Jona. Priest. Daniel Priest. Daniel Priest (2''). W" Smiley. Jona. Stanley. David Stanley. Phineas Spaulding. Sam' Sherwin. Joseph Thorndike. Joshua Thorndike. W'» Turner. Joseph Turner. Nathaniel Turner. Simon Warren. 224 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. John Hanley. Elias Hathorn. Eben' Hathorn. Elred Hetrech. .Jason Hemingway. W" Hogg. Joseph Hogg. David Hunter. Ephraim Hunt. Peter Warren. Isaac Wesson. Eph" Whitcomb. Robert Wier. Matthew Wallace. Sam' Woodbury. Mathevv AVright. Francis Wright. Joseph Wright." TOWN C'I.EIiKS. Wm. Smiley, 1773, '74, '75, '77, '83. Robert Weir, 1776. Roger Gilmore, 1778, '79, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1800, '01. Adonijah Howe, 1780, '81, '82, '91, '92, '93, '94, 1802, '04, '06, '07, '08. Jedediah Sanger, 1785. Abel Parker, 1789. Alex. Milliken, 1790. David Smiley, 1803, '04. David Page, 1805. Samuel Dakin, 1806, '07, 'OS, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15. Oliver Prescott, 1816. Wm. Ainsworth, 1817, '18, '19, '20, '21. Henry Payson, 1822, '23, '24. Thomas Adams, 1825, '26, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32. Benj. Cutter, 1823, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, '47. Jonas M. Mellville, 1840, '41. John Fox, 1848, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '66, 57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63. Joseph P. Frost, 1864, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85. EEPRESENTATIVES. Those marked (*) were born in JaftVey. Henry Coffeen, May 11, 1775, to third Provincial Congress at Exeter. William Smiley, 1784. John Gilmore, .1785, '86. Abel Parker, 1787, '91, '92, '93, '97, '99. Benjamin Prescott, 1790, '96, 1809, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17. Joseph Thorndike, 1794, '95, '98, 1800, '01, '02, '03. Adonijah Howe, 1804, '05, '18, '19, '20, '21. David Page, 1806, '07. Labau Ainsworth, 1808. Oliver Prescott,* 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26. William Ainsworth,* 1828, '29, 30. Levi Fisk, 1831,* '32, '33. John Conant, 1834, '35, '36. Edward Spaulding,* 1837, 38, '39. • Samuel Patrick,* 1840. John Felt, 1841, '42, '43, '44, '45, '47. Laban Rice, 1846. Peter Upton, 1848, '49, '50. John Fox,* 1851, '62, '63, '64. David C. Chamberlin,* 1856, '57. John A. Prescott,* 1858, '59. Charles H. Powers, 1860, '61, '78. Samuel Ryan, 1862, '63. Frederick W. Bailey,* 1864, '65, '68, '69. Addison Prescott,* 1866, '67. Benjamin Pierce,* 1870, '71. Frank H. Cutter,* 1872, '73. Alfred Sawyer,* 1874, '75. Joseph W. Fassett, 1876, '77. Thomas Annett, 1879, '80. John H. Fox, present representative. STATE SENATORS, NATIVES OF JAFFREY. Asa Parker, 1826, '27. Levi Fisk, 1835, '36. EcCLESiASTiCAi. — Congregational Cli urcli . — The provisions of the Ma.souian grant required tliat a ffoofl, convenient meeting;-hoiise be built within six years from the date of the charter, and made provision for that purpose by a gift of three hundred acres of land. No meeting- house appears to have been built «hen the town was organized. The ne.xt year after, on the 26th day of April, the matter of Ijuilding a meeting-house was brought before the town. The town votwd " to build one on the common, near the senter this and the ensuing year." " Voted, s"" house is to be forty feet wide, Fifty-five in Lenth. Posts twenty seven feet in Lenth. Roger Gilmore, William Turner Alex' Mc-Neill a Commit- tee to see the same affected, the above Committee to Vendue s"* house to the last bider." At a meeting in July following, the town " Voted, to Reconsider their vote in Building a meeting-house also their vote in Chose of Committee, then Voted s** meeting-house Sixty feet in Lenth, Forty five wide, the Posts twenty seven leet in Lenth also Voted to have a Porch at each end of s'' hous. " Voted Mr. Roger Gilmore, Mr. Will-^ Turner, Mr. Mathew Wallace be a Committee to see the work af- fected in Building s** house. " Voted that the Com"'' shall Expose s"" house to sail at Public 'Vendue by the first Wednesday of Sept next, also Voted that the Great timber of s'' house be hewed by the first day of Decem"^ next, also Voted Fifteen JAFFREY. 225 Pounds L. M. towards building s'' house, to be Paid by the first day of December Next, also Voted that s'* house shall be Raised by the Middle of June Next at the towns Cost. Vokd sixty Pounds to be Paid by the middle of June next towards building s'' house. Also Voted that the whole cost shall be Paid by the first of June in the year 1776 as the afors'd house shall be Finished. That the Fraim be well under Pined with good stone and lime, and the outside all well Corapleated, and Collored like Rindge meting-house, and lower floor lead Duble, and Pulpit like that in Rindge meting-house all the above work compleated by the middle of June 1776." The house was completed in 1799, and in the following year the warrant for town-meeting had following article : "To see if the town will make any allowance to Capt. Henry Cofleen for the Barrel of Rum that he paid for, which was expended at the Raising of the nieeling-house. " Voted that the Selectmen settle with Capt. Cof- feen in behalf of the town." The church was organized May 18, 1780, with the following members: Kendal Briant and wife Mary, (Martin). John Briant. Daniel Emery and wife, Jane. Eleazer Spofford and wife, Mary (Flint). John Combs and wife, Bathsheba. James Gage and wife, Sarah (Lamson). Oliver Proctor and wife, Elizabeth. Isaac Bailey and wife, Susanna. Isaac Baldwin and wife. John Wood and wife. Nehemiah Greene and wife. James Haywood and wife, Keziah Haywood. Jonathan Priest and wife. Ephraim Whitcomb and wife, Elizabeth. Jerome Underwood and wife, Lucy (Wheat). John Eaton. William Slack. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Laban Ainsworth, who continued in service nearly fifty years. In 1831, Rev. Giles Lyman was ordained as a colleague, and preached in town till 1837, when, on account of ill health, he received his dismission. He married, December 14, 1835, Louisa Whitney, of Winchendon. 15 Josiah D. Crosby was settled in 1838, and dismissed in 1850. Leonard Tenney, settled 1845 ; dismissed 1857. John S. Batchelder, settled 1858; dismissed 1865. Rufus Case, settled 1868 ; removed 1875. The church has had no settled pastor since Mr. Case. The desk is at present supplied by Rev. W. W. Livingstone. Tlie Congregational Church at Ead Jaffrey was organized in 1850 with twenty-three members. The pastors have been as follows : Rev. J. E. B. Jewett, George A. Adams, F. D. Austin, Silas W. Allen, D. N. Goodrich, Wil- liam H. Dowden, J. C. Staples and E. J. Riggs. Baptist Church. — The Baptist Society in Jafirey was formed in April, 1820, and on April 6, 1829, the following notice was pub- lished in the Keene Sentinel, viz. : " We, Benjamin Prescott, Alpheas Crosby, Paul Hunt and others, have formed ourselves into a Reli- gious Society, by the name of the First Baptist Church and Society in Jaffrey, and are hereby known by that name. " Joseph Joslin, Clerk." The church was formed May 28, 1814. pastors. John Parkhurst, 1818. Elder Cummings, 1825. Calvin Greenleaf, 1831-35. Appleton Belknap, 183.5-46. E. H. Bailey, 1846-61 ; died January 4, 1868. Franklin Merriam, 1862-65. A. E. Reynolds, 1866-69. E. J. Emery, 1869-71 ; settled in Swanzey. J. S. Haradon, 1873 ; died August 4, 1875. Leonard J. Dean, 1875 ; a graduate of Newton Theological Seminary. T. C. Gleason, present pastor. The meetings of the Baptist Cliurch and Society were held, as voted, in the .school-house in District No. 1 till 1822. In 1819 the Baj^- tists were no longer taxed for the support of the minister settled by the town, but had the privilege of using the same for the support of the one of their choice. The use of the meet- 226 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ing-house for public preaching was, in 1822, also divided by the town among the diiFerent denominations of Christians according to the valuation of their projierty. From this time the Baptists occupied the house their propor- tion as assigned till 1839. On the 5th of February, 1829, the church voted to build a meeting-house near the house of Mr. Mellville, and chose Benjamin Prescott, Joseph Joslin and David Chadwick a commit- tee for that purpose. The house was completed and ready for use June 12, 1830, and dedicated June 30th. In 1873 the house was repaired, with the addition of a vestry, and such other improve- ments as were deemed necessary. Universalid Church. — The First Universalist Society, Jaffrey, N. H., was organized Novem- ber 16, 1822. Captain John Stone was chosen moderator ; Caleb Searle, clerk ; John Cutter, treasurer ; Mr. John Cutter and Colonel Oliver Prescott, committee. PASTORS. N. R. AVright and Andrew O. Warren. E. W. Coffin. J. P. McCleur. W. J. Crosby. James H. Little. F. W. Bailey, present pas- tor. Delphus Skinner. Warren Skiuner. J. D. Williamson. Robert Bartlet. J. V. Wilson. Stillman Clark. S. W. Squires. C. C. Clark. A church was formed in 1858. The present meeting-house was built in 1844. Schools. — In 1775, two years after the in- corporation of the town, eight pounds were raised for a school, to be divided into five parts. In December of that year the town voted to sell one of the school lots and to use the inter- est on tlie proceeds of the sale for the support of a school. In 1777 the town voted to pay the interest of £100 for two years for the use of a school ; in 1778, £12 ; in 1779, £200 (depre- ciated currency); in 1781, £1000; in 1783, £50 ; in 1785, £50; in 1786, £30; in 1787, £40; in 1788, £40; in 1789, £50 ; in 1790, £40; in 1791, £60; in 1792, £65; in 1793, £80; in 1794, £80; in 1795, |200 Federal money ; afterwards the town raised what the law required. A school was taught here by Josiah Forsaith from 1807 to 1809, inclusive. In 1832 Mellville Academy was incorpora- ted. The grantees were Asa Parker, Luke Howe and John Fox. It was named in honor of Jonas M. Mellville, who made a very liberal do- nation in aid of the enterprise. In 1 833 a suit- able building was erected, which is now used for a school-house. The school was opened in the fall of 1833 under the instruction of Horace Herrick, prin- cipal, and Miss Aurelia Townsend, assistant. He remained till 1836. The following individuals were afterwards employed as teachers : Roswell D. Hitchcock, William Eaton, Harry Brickett, Charles Cut- ter, David C. Chamberlain, Sarah French. The academy continued in operation till the es- tablishment of the Conant High School. In 1868, John Conant, Esq., of Jaffrey, gave the town the sum of seven thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be used for the sup- port of a High School in said town. The town- house in the centre of the town was altered and repaired to meet the wants of the town. The lower story is used for the school and the upper one for a town hall. In 1872 the school was opened for instruction. The present principal is A. S. Annis. Lawyers. — David Smiley, Samuel Dakin, William Ainsworth, Albert S. Scott, Clarence A. Parks and J. B. Twiss. Physicians. — Adonijah Howe, Willis John- son, Abner Howe, M.D., Adonijah Howe, Jr., Luke Howe, D. C. Perry, Amasa Kennie, S. L. Richardson, R. R. Perkins, A. J. Gibson, G. A. Phelps and O. H. Bradley. Wae of the Revolution. — The follow- ing is a list of soldiers from Jaffrey in the Revolution : Ephraim Adams. Samuel Adams. Samuel Ober. William Osgood. JAFFREY. 227 Thomas Adams. George Atridge. Daniel Avery. Joseph Bates. Jonathan Blodgett. John Brian t. Alpheas Brigham. Asaph Brigham. Joseph Brooks. Simeon Burt. Joseph Cutter. Moses Cutter. Nathan Cutter. James Cutter. John Davidson. Matliew Davis. Jonatlian Dean. Benjamin Dole. Jolin Dole. Hugh Dunlap. Daniel Emery. Daniel Emery, Jr. James French, Jr. Robert Gilmore. John Gilmore. Dudley Griffin. Jacob Gould, Jr. John Hale. Lieutenant John Harper. Daniel Harper. Ebenezer Hathorn. James Haywood. Ebenezer Ingals. Benjamin Jacquith. John Mathews. William McAlister. Benjamin Prescott. Moses Peabody. Joseph Perkins. Jacob Pierce. Kendall Pierson. William Pope. Jonathan Priest. Asa Priest. Oliver Proctor. James Reed. Abraham Ross. Bezaleel Sawyer. Jesse Snow. Mifchael Silk. William Smiley, Jr., died ' in service, at Ticondero- ga, 1776. Phineas Spaulding. Benjamin Spaulding. Jonathan Stanley. Samuel Stanley. James Stevens. John Stone. Benjamin Stone. John Taggart. Jonathan Taylor. Peter Tower. Lieutenant William Tur- ner. Samuel Wier. Joseph Wilder. Ezra Wilder. Ephraim Whitcomb. Elias Whitney. Cotton Whiton. Francis Wright. The following is a list of soldiers of the Revolution, not included in the above list, who settled in town during or after the war : Stephen Adams. Francis Mason. Lieutenant Oliver Bacon. Lieutenant Abel Parker. Isaac Bailey. Whitcomb Powers. Isaac Bailey, Jr. William Redfield. Hart Balch. Joseph Robbins. Jacob Baldwin. Moses Stickney. Lieutenant Samuel Buss. Moses Stickney (2d). John Cox. David Stratton. Thomas Dutton. James Turner. William Emery. Henry Thompson. Samuel Emery. Lieutenant Jerome Under- Nathan Fish. wood. Jonas Gerry. Isaac Wesson. Thomas Goff. Nathan Hunt. John Lake. Lieutenant Benj. Law- rence. War of 1812.— Silas Wilder. Abel Winship. Ithamer Wheelock. Thomas Wheelock. Joseph Wright. The following soldiers from the town served in the War of 1812 : Oliver Warren, captain Daniel Adams, received $11.20 Thomas Chadwick, received 10.69 David Chaplin, received 11.20 Ethan Cutter, received 4.50 Isaac Cutter, received 20.78 Samuel Dutton, received 11.00 James Eaton, received 11.20 Walter Eaton, received 11.20 Austin George, received lO.-ll Robert GofF, received 9.33 Henry Hapgood, received 16.12 Stacy Hodskins, received 16.12 Moses Hunt, received 16.12 Abel Nutting, received 16.12 Philip Peak, received 11.29 Moses Pierce, received 11.20 David Sawtell, received 11.20 Samuel Stratton, received 13.43 War with Mexico, 1846.— David Cutter and George F. Cutter from this town served in the Mexican War. War of the Rebellion.— Number of men who enlisted and were in service was 151 ; number killed in battle, 5 ; number who died in the service, 23. Charles W. Webster, quartermaster. Fourteenth Regi- ment. C. Frederick Webster, first lieutenant. Fourteenth Regiment ; promoted to quartermaster. Charles W. Adams, Second Regiment, Company A> Lysander A. Adams, Sixth Regiment, Company F. John Q. Adams, a marine ; died at Portsmouth. Benj. Abanton, Ninth Regiment, Company I. Warren F. Allen, Sixth Regiment, Comjiany F. Henry A. Atherton, Sixth Regiment, Company E. Calvin Bailey, Sixth Regiment, Company F. Spencer L. Bailey, second lieutenant. Fourteenth Regiment. Alraon W. Bailey, Sixteenth Regiment; died. Harvey N. Bailey, Troop D. Charles Baker. John F. Berry. 228 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Christopher Bartenbach, Fourteenth Eegiment, Com- pany (,T. Hiram Bennet, Troop B. John F. Briant, Second Eegiment, Company A. Edmund Brady, Ninth Regiment, Company B. James T. Brown, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Samuel L. Bolles, Troop C. Alonzo Butteriield. Henry Buekwoukl, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company F. Jacob Buckwould, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Cliiirles A. Carter, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Oscar Eugene Carter, died. John Caldwell, Eighth Eegiment; died. Daniel M. Colburn, Ninth Eegiment, Company I. Lysander J. Coudray, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company F. Edwin E. Cutter, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Edward E. Cutter, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Gustavus A. Cutter, Fourteenth Eegiment. John C. Cummings, Sixteenth Regiment; died. John W. Darling, died. Frank DeWier. Frederick Donaldson, Troop C. Charles W. Diamond, Second Eegiment, Company C. James Dadwell, Sixth Eegiment, Company E. Morty Downs, Tenth Regiment, Company K. James E. Douglass, Troop D. Charles D. Emery, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Charles Farouch, Eleventh Regiment, Company C. Luther W. Fassett, Sixteenth Regiment, Company E. Danvers C. Fassett, Heavy Artillery. Joel E. Fassett, Fourteenth Regiment, Company E. John Flynn, Eleventh Regiment, Company C. John Frost, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. George Gilmore, Ninth Regiment. William T. Gleason, Sixth Regiment, Company I. William H. Goodrich, Fifth Regiment, Comjiany H. Theodore Hanscomb, Sixth Regiment, Company H ; promoted to captain. John S. Hartwell, Fourteenth Regiment. John H. Hartwell, Second Regiment, Company A. John Hecker. Horace J. Hill, Third Regiment, Company I. Peter Hogan. William Hoyt, Eleventh Regiment, Company I. Andrew Johnson, Ninth Regiment, Company K. Robert Jones, Troop. Joshua R. Joslin, Second Regiment, Company H. Henry H. Joslin, Second Regiment, Company H. Joseph H. Joslin, Second Regiment, Company A. Albert N. Joslin, Fifth Regiment, Company F. John F. Kidder, Sixth Regiment, Company E. Charles D. Kimball, Sixteenth Regiment, Company F. Elisha A. Kingsbury, Sixth Regiment, Company E. Dexter B. Knowlton, Sixteenth Regiment. Joseph S. Lucy, Sixth Regiment, Company F ; died. David W. Lacy, Sixteenth Regiment, Company I. Charles D. Law, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. John Leathers, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. George L. Lowe, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Andrew Lindsay, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company F. George H. Long, Troop D. Jerome W. Leighton, Fift.h Eegiment, Company F. Alvin H. Martin, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Chas. B. Merrifield, Fourteenth Eegiment, CompanyG. John McCuun, Troop B. Lawrence Montgomery" Troop H. Henry F. Morse, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Nahum W. Mower, Fourteenth Eegiment, CompanyG. ThomasS. Mower, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Barnard Mulligan, Troop A. Charles H. Nutting, Fourteenth Eegiment. Edward N. Nutting, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company F. Jacob Newell, Jr., Sixteenth Eegiment Company F. Henry C. Osburn, Fourteenth Eegiment, CompanyG. James E. Petts, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Samuel Paine, Eleventh Eegiment, Company C. Albert S. Pierce, Fourteenth Eegiment. Henry Pierce. Gurley A. Phelps, Fourteenth Eegiment. Joel H. Poole, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. John W. Poole, Fourteenth Eegiment. Ivers E. Pollard, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. Levi Pollard, Second Eegiment, Company A. Oren D. Prescott, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. George P. Preston, Sixth Regiment, Company K. Leonard Rand, Fourteenth Regiment, Company C. Jonas C. Rice, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. Herbert C. Richardson, Fourteenth Regiment, Com- pany G. George W. Richardson, Fourteenth Regiment, Com- pany G. Darius P. Richardson, Fourteenth Regiment, Com- pany G. Ednumd F. Ritchie, Second Eegiment, Company A ; died. Henry Eitchie, Sixth Eegiment, Company E; died. Darius Eitchie, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company I. George C. Eitchie, Sixteenth Eegiment, Company I. Abram Eobins. William B. Eobbins, Ninth Eegiment, Company G. Alfred Eobbins, Fourteenth Eegiment, Company G. William H. Wolf, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. Benjamin Sanford, Sixth Regiment, Company D. Charles A. Sargent, Eleventh Regiment, Company C. Grenville Shedd, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. JAFFREY. 229 Leonard E. Spaulding, Fourteenth Regiment, Com- pany G. Austin A. Spaulding, Fourteenth Regiment, Com- pany G. Leander Spaulding. Alfred Spaulding. Daniel W. Stevens, Sixth Regiment, Company F. Henry A. Smith, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G ; died. Charles M. Smith, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. Samuel A. Stratton, Sixth Regiment, Company F. Ira Smith, Sixteenth Regiment, Company I. Aaron Smith, Eighth Regiment. Henry Steven.s, Sixth Regiment, Company C. Josiali Stebbins, Sixteenth Regiment, Company F. George Steele, Sixth Regiment, Company F. Philip Stedman, Sixth Regiment, Company D. Levi E. Stedman, Eleventh Regiment, Company D. Elbridge G. Tarbox, Fourth Regiment, Company I. Jackson Taggart, died in prison. Martin Tehu, Troop C. Henry A. Thompson, wounded. Joseph S. Thompson, Fifth Regiment, Company K. Francis Thompson, Sixth Regiment, Company F. Henry A. Turner, Fourteenth Regiment, Company G. Albert S. Verder, Sixth Regiment, Company E. Charles W. Verder, Fourteenth Regiment. Sylvanus W. Waters, Sixth Regiment, Comjiany K. Charles Wilson, Seventh Regiment, Company D. John Wilson, Eleventh Regiment, Company C. Frank Wetherbee, sharpshooters. (xeorge F. Wilbur, Troop B. Edwin F. Wheeler, Sixteenth Regiment, Company F. John F. Wheeler, Sixteenth Regiment, Company F. SOLDIERS IX SERVICE FOE OTHER STATES. Clarence S. Bailey, captain Massachusetts Cavalry. Henry H. Cragin, Ohio Volunteers. AVilliam L. Cutter, Iowa Cavalry. Benjamin F. Lawrence, Massachusetts Battery. Lucius Upton, Massachusetts Battery ; died. John R. Verder, Connecticut Volunteers. Whole number of soldiers iu service, one hundred and fifty-one. SOLDIERS KILLED IX BATTLE. Luther W. Fassett, Second Regiment, at Evansport, Va., April 2, 18G2. Sylvanus C. Waters, Sixth Regiment, at Antietam, September 17, 1864. Frank Weatherbee, sharpshooters, at Antietam, Sep- tember 17, 1864. Henry Ritchie, Second Regiment, at Pegram House, Va., September 30, 1864. Charles Carter, Fourteenth Regiment, at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. Whole number killed in battle, five. SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE .SERVICE. Joseph Caldwell, Eighth Regiment, at Thibodeaux, La., 1862. Joel E. Fassett, Second Regiment, at Jaftrey. Edmund Ritchie, Second Regiment, at Philadelphia, October 2, 1862. Charles D. Emery, Fourteenth Regiment, at Wash- ington, November 14, 1863. Henry A. Smith, Fourteenth Regiment, at Poolsville, Md., January 7, 1863. Charles M. Smith, Fourteenth Regiment, at Pools- ville, Md., January 12, 1863. Almond W. Bailey, Sixteenth Regiment, at New Or- leans, June 7, 1863. John C. Cummings, Sixteenth Regiment, at Mound City, October 23, 1863. John W. Darling, Sixteenth Regiment, at Butte la Rose, La., May 17, 1863. Jacob Newell, Jr.. Sixteenth Regiment, at Baton Rouge, La., April 15. 1863. Hiram Benuet, cavalry, at Point Lookout, Md., Sep- tember 11, 1864. Daniel M. Colburn, Ninth Regiment, Virginia, No- vember 29, 1864. Charles A. Sargent, Ninth Regiment, at Salisbury, N. C, October 23, 1864. Leonard Rand, Fourteenth Regiment, at Camp Para- pet, May 28, 1864. Henry H. Cragin, 1864; an Ohio volunteer. Jackson Taggart, cavalry, at Andersonville, Ga., Sep- tember 21, 1864; grave No. 9460. John Q. Adams, at the Marine Hospital, 186-. Lucius Upton, August 7, 1864 ; Massachusetts Bat- tery. Albert N. Joslin, Fifth Regiment. John F. Kidder, Sixth Regiment, at Alexandria, Va., November 11, 1862 ; grave No. 425. Harvey N. Bailey, cavalry, at Westford, Mass., March 8, 1865. Joseph S. Lacy, Fifth Regiment, at Yorktown, Va., May 11, 1862. Oscar Eugene Carter, died. Whole number died of disease, twenty-three. Po.st-Office. — Peter Lawrence was the first postmaster. The office was probably established during the winter of 1801. April 1, 1846, the name of the office was 230 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. changed to Factory village, and located in that , place. On the 8th of December, Factory village was changed to East Jaffrey. The office at Jaffrey was re-established No- vember 6, 1846. Banks. — The Monadnock State Bank was in- corporated in 1850; capital, $50,000. John Conant was chosen president and Peter Upton cashier. Directors, John Conant, Benjamin Cntter, Jonas M. Mellville, James Scott, Rnfus Haywood, Samuel Ryan, Jr., Solomon Allen. In 1855, John Fox was chesen president, and in 1857, James Scott, of Peterborough. In 1865 the Monadnock National Bank wa.s incorpo- rated ; capital, $100,000. James Scott was chosen president ; Peter Upton, cashier. Beu- janiin Cutter was chosen president in 1870; cashier, Peter Upton. Peter Upton is the present president, and H. D. Upton, cashier. The present directors are Peter Upton, A. S. Coffin, B. D. Whitney, O. H. Bradley, Benjamin Pierce, Julius Cutter and John H. Cutter. Monadnock Savings-Bank was incorpo- rated in 1869. President, Oscar H. Bradley ; treasurer, Peter Upton ; the present trustees are O. H. Bradley (president), Benjamin Pierce, James S. Long, George A. Underwood, J. B. Stedd, J. T. Bigelow, Dexter Derby, C. B. Perry, John H. Fox, A. Sawyer, D. P. Emory, Julius Cutter and R. H. Kitredge. Population. — In 1775, at the beginning of the war, the number of inhabitants was 351. In 1783, 1033; in 1790,1235; 1800, 1341; 1810, 1336; 1820, 1339; 1830, 1354; 1840, 1411; 1850, 1497; 1830,1452; 1870,1256; 1873, 1288 ; 1880, 1267. The Monadnock Railroad was completed and opened in June, 1871. The first trip, from Wiuchendon to Jaffrey, was made November 22, 1870. HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH. BY REV. S. H. MCCOLLESTER. CHAPTER I. The early liistoiy of Marlborough, like that of the surrounding towns, is somewhat obscure and traditional. However, it is known that in the reign of Xing James I. Europeans came to this country and explored along the Merri- mack River, and that, as early as 1623, a settle- ment was made at Strawberry Bank (now Portsmouth). The settlers were few and mostly fishermen. Though the waters and lands in this region were inviting, immigration was slow because of the wildness of the country and the opposition of the Indians. In 1635 the Plym- outh Company, in order to promote settlements, divided up their property in New England among themselves before they surrendered their charter to the King, and the whole of what now constitutes New Hampshire fell to the lot of Captain John Mason, who was one of their number. He at once took steps to forward settlements and opened the way for them into different parts of the State. At his death, No- vember 16, 1635, his grandson, Robert Tufton, assuming the name Mason, carried on the work and was permitted to witness many new settle- ments along the streams and on the hills. At his departure he left his estate to his two sons, John and Thomas, who became of age about 1738. The entire State had now been surveyed and divided into townships. They at length ef- fected a sale of the unsettled parts to a company in the eastern division of the State, who be- came known as the " Masonian Proprietors." They soou directed their attention to lauds about the Monadnock Mountain. No doubt, the ease with which these could be cleared, on ac- count of their elevation and the richness of the soil, attracted their attention, and so the way was opened for the settlement of eight townships around this grand old mountain. They were known as Monadnock No. 1, No. 2, etc. Marl- borough was Monadnock No. 5, and afterwards its name was changed to Marlborough by set- tlers who came from Marlborough, Mass. This brings us to the first settlement in town, which was by William Barker, a native of Westborough, Mass. He was one of the "original proprietors," and had drawn several lots in this division. Perhaps because of his financial interest, he was first led to explore the region in 1761, and select a lot on West Hill, on what is now a part of Troy. The next year he returned to the same place, with tools and provisions, to make a clearing for a future home. It is supposed he felled the first trees and con- structed the first camp in this then wild land. This must have been a lonely experience, by day and night. Still, he was ready to endure and persevere because of hope and promise. As his supply of provision was consumed, he turned his steps homeward, having made the beginning of a permanent settlement. In tiie spring of 1764 he returned and resumed his work of clearing, and built a log house, and so prepared the way for the removal of his family. Early in the ensuing fall, with his wife and three small children, they bid adieu to many kind friends and neighbors, and started on the long and trying journey to their new home. Their means of conveyance was an ox-team. This was a first-class mode of traveling at that 231 232 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. time. They found a passable road from West- borough to Winchendon, Mass., but from the latter place they were obliged to select their own way and get on as best they could througli the extended forests. Just how long it took them to make this distance of less than twenty miles, without any beaten track, no record shows. We can but surmise they must have been thankful when their destiny was i-eached, 17th of September, with no disposition to re- trace their steps for the present. Now, see them in their rude home, really the first home in Marlborough. Their neighbors now are the bear and the bison, the wolf and the panther, the hawk and the partridge. Still it was home. Fancy could have but pictured to them better days and fairer scenes. They could have but felt they were sowing for others to reap. Noble adventurers they were, building better than they knew ! Isaac McAllister, not long after this first set- tlement, came hither to seek a spot for another home. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Barker, and so there were kindred attractions to draw these families near together. Mr. McAlli.ster chose the lot which is known as the Deacon Farrar place. Here he made a log house, and before the winter set in it was occupied by his family, consisting of a wife and four children. This was the first settlement within the present limits of the town, and some four miles distant from Mr. Barker's. So, no doubt, during the winter of 1764—65 these two families comprised all the inhabitants of Monadnock No. 5. How little we can know of the hardships and strange experiences of these early pioneers! There must have been some other motives than those of the mere adventurer prompting them in their risks and severe undertakings. It would seem they desired to do so that others might enter into their labors and become greatly blest. It was even thus. From that feeble beginning what an outcome ! Generations have come and gone, but that simple, sweet home-life in the wild forest has been preserved and multiplied. The two homes have been supplanted by the many. Thus it is, — ^the log hut first, the cottage afterwards ; the rude first, the cultured last. The first-born in town was Dolly, tlie daugh- ter of Isaac and Hannah (Goddard) McAllister, during the first winter they passed in INIarlbor- ougli. Their family continued to increase till it numbered five girls and six boys. We can little guess how and where these children played, when and how much they went to school, or how they spent their Sundays. But this we know : that, in spite of wilderness and unfavoring fortune, they blossomed out into noble manhood and womanhood. How true it is, that " necessity is the mother of invention " and character as well ! 1765. — If no Horace Greeley, as yet, had said, " Young man, go West," still it was "westward, ho!" with the young men even at this early date of our country's history. So one Silas Fife, a young man, in this year hav- ing heard of Monadnock No. 5, with gun in hand and a well-filled knapsack on his back, bade adieu to his old home in Bolton, ]\Iass., and alone set out for what seemed an Eldorado to hiiti. No doubt, he had experienced fairest visions in sleep and wakefulness of an enchanted land, whither his adventurous spirit was bound to lead him. At length he pitched his camp at the foot of the Monadnock Mountain, on what was afterwards known as the Deacon Baker place. Here he began at once to make for him- self a future home, having obtained a title of tliis section of land. The fish of the brooks and the game of the woods furnished him mostly with food. In the course of a few sum- mers he had converted a portion of the wilder- ness into a farm, where he was raising corn and potatoes; and, more than this, he had built a good log house, which was too large for himself to occupy alone. The cage and the food were ready for some fairy bird. Accordingly, he re- turned to his native town, — probably to his first love, whose wooing had captured his heart long MARLBOROUGH. 233 ago, — and took for his bride Abigail Houghton. They were married in Boston, and then made their wedding tour to tlieir new home under the shadows of the Old IMouaduock. Just how tliey traveled and how long it took them to reach their destiuatiou no record states. It is certain they were not drawn by any iron steed with lungs of fire and breath of steam, uor whirled over a macadamized road in a coach- and-f(iur at the rate of two-forty. But " where there is a will, tliere is a way," and so in due time they found themselves settlers in the new town, united in hand and heart, to serve the race and forward civilization. In 1765, Benjamin Tucker and wife, with five sons and two daughters, came from Leices- ter, Mass., and settled not far soutli of tlie spot where the old meeting-house stood. They were well suited to pioneering service. They seemed to be abundantly supplied with good common sense. Tliough deprived of school advantages, they made the most possible out of present op- portunities. It is impossible to decide whether fate or fortune led Mr. Tucker to select the spot for his liome ; however, it turned out to be very fortuitous, for the great highway from Boston to Keene passed directly by it ; so the log house of small ([uarters w;is supplanted at length by a more imjjosing structure, which was used as a tavern. lis proprietor, by tact, integrity and congeniality, became popular as a public enter- tainer. This house was the place where the " Proprietors " delighted to meet for the trans- action of their business. No doubt, they were wont to have jolly experiences in their gather- ings, as well as discouraging adventures and almost insurmountable obstacles. It is fortunate they could laugh and weep, hope and fear, trust- ing all the while in an overruling Providence and willing for the right. Mr. Tucker acted an important part in the early public meetings, being often chosen as clerk, assessor or treasurer. This same year Daniel Goodnow, of noble stock, came from Marlborough, Mass., and took up his abode iiere. Just where he first resided is not known, but probably in that part of the town which was afterwards set off to Troy. He brought with him a wife and several eliil- dren. If their history is somewhat deficient, we know they bequeathed good blood to after generations. During this year Abel Woodward and his family settled in town on what has been known as the Joslin place in later times. For some reason he thus early sought the valley for his home, while other settlers had pitched their camps or built their log huts on high grounds. It is difficult for us to guess the motives that prompted these early adventurers. Great dis- parit}"^ of tastes and desires have always existed among men. Our forefiithers could have been no exception to this law ; accordingly, they sought the hill and the vale; they loved the mountain and the valley; they delighted in having homes on highland and lowland ; they were fond of the novel, the picturesque and the sublime ; so they were ready to dare and do for rising generations. We now can dimly sur- mise the trials they experienced and the hard- ships they endured for the s;ike of those who should come after them. But they nobly wrought, and their names should l)e forever blessed. In 17(36 the first town-meeting was held by the proprietors now settled in Monadnock No. 5. It convened at the house of Isaac IMcAllis- ter. The object was to take steps towards lay- ing out roads through the township from Keene to Dublin, from Keene to Rindge and from Swanzey to Fitzwilliam. They eyideptly were conscious of the fact that jjublic roads are a necessity for civilization and progress. Indian trails and spotted trees may answer the turn of wild men, but they can never satisfy the wants of advanced humanity. Roads must be built before the school- house or the church can exist. As soon as highways were made to the feudal castles, or to pass near them, they gave place to Gothic cathedrals. The Orients built pyramids for the dead ; the Occidents built roads for the 234 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. living. As our forefathers opened up the first liighways the straggling wigwams disappeared, aud smiling cottages soon fringed the roads, thereby giving free coui-se to commerce and the trains of wisdom and spiritual activity. How clieering it is that God works with men aud crowds into their hearts \aster jnirposes and broader truths than, in their childish thoughts, they are wont to undei"stand or appreciate ! In 1767 the first saw-mill was erected. AA'e can hardly tell by whom or just when, but tra- dition says it was built at the confluence of the brooks near the school-house in District Xo. 4, and that Daniel Harrington controUetl it. Dur- ing tliis year, it is said, Jedediah Maynard put up a frame house on what is kno^^^^ as the Artis Collins place, and which, in fact, con- stitutes a part of the house ownetl by his de- scendants at the present time. Another was built on the site of the Congregational Church by Abijah Tucker. These houses must have been quite a wonder in those days of log cabins, with their rude chimneys, thatched roofs and slassless wiuchiws. During this vear the immi- grations to tliis town were much larger than they had been heretofore in the same period. Near the close of this year the Provincial Legislature required a census to be taken of the town, and the returns show that the population consisted of Unmarried men from 16 to 60 years of age 9 Married men from 16 to 60 years of age.... 16 Boys of 16 years and under 25 Men 60 years and above 1 Females unmarried 26 Females married 16 Total 93 This, we see, is quite a settlement to have been made in some three years in the wilds and woods of Xew England. During this or the following year a grist-mill and another s;iw-mill were built in the noitli part of the township, on what was afterwards known as the Richardson Brook. This was the fii-st grain-mill in this resrion. Previously, the settlers had been obliged to go six and more miles to get their grain ground, following trails and roughest tracks. They must have learned what it was to earn their bread by the sweat of the brow. Stone relics of this old mill are to be seen at the present day. Its rudeness would bear a strik- ing contrast to the little machine which thumps away day and night in pumping and throwing water from the brook near where the old mill must have stood to buildings high on the hill. The last is better than the first ; the new than the old ; the cultivated garden than the Avild morass. In 1769 the proprietors felt the time had come to direct their hands and hearts towards building a meeting-house. They made it bind- ing on every owner of land to bear his share of the expense in accomplishing this noble work. It apjiears that there was general interest felt in this enterprise. Their experience and self-sac- rifices tendetl to excite their religious natures, and make them feel dependent on God and de- sirous to obey his commandments. We imag- ine when they came together for worship, it was in sincerity and truth. So their united hearts must have stimulatetl each individual soul in those trying times, causing them to feel " how good and how pleasiint it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." The In-corpor.\tiox of the Town. — From 1770 to 1774 there was a large in- crease to the population ; so much so, that it was felt an application should be made to the Pro- vincial Congress for the right of incorporating the township into a town. A committee accordingly was chosen to this end, and in 1775 a charter, or grant, was obtained. Henceforth they chose town offices and raised means ac- cording to the laws of the State to meet the de- mands of the town. Now they were soon en- abled to complete their meeting-house, provide for preaching and support one or more schools. In naming the town, some desired it to be called Oxford, others Salisbury, others Worces- ter and still others Marlborough. But, no doubt, the last name was decided upon because MARLBOROUGH. 235 so many liad emigrated to it from Marlborough, Mass , and that old town was dear to their liearts, and for this reason they delighted to honor and commemorate it. The records show the new town was presided over from its inception with a good show of dignity and honesty. The majority seemed bound to have things about right. They were forced to have some ofBcers for their protection wliicii have become obsolete, and we nowadays cannot see why there was ever a demand for them, such as tithingmen, deer-reeves and hog- reeves. The office of tithingmen was brought from England here. Even in parts of Great Britain the office is still kept up. Its design is to preserve the Lord's day holy. So the duty of the tithingmen was to keep order in the house of worship, to prevent all unnecessary labor and travel on Sunday. They were honored with a badge of the office, and occupied a conspicuous place in the church, that they miglit discover any improprieties during the service. It was their privilege to speak out in meeting if they saw any laughing, swearing or roguery. They frequently thought they had sufficient cause to exercise their authority, or, at least, it was no uncommon thing for them to rebuke and chastise right in sermon-time. Only think of men, women and children sitting on hard boards for two or three hours during the forenoon service, and as long in the afternoon, listening oftentimes to prosy preaching and harsh singing ! Who could blame the old folks for nodding and the children for playing? If such were the order of Sunday service at the present day, we judge tithingmen would still be a necessity. Possibly, we are going to the other extreme, often preferring fifteen-minute essays for sermons which hit nowhere, and operatic music which pleases the head, but touches not the heart. Perhaps, in our haste, we give the French, even, a chance to say of us, " How the Americans rush out of their churches and their cars ! " The duty of the deer-reeves was to protect the deer so that they should not be destroyed at unseasonable periods, or be cruelly treated at any time. Would it not be well if we could have officers appointed in this age to protect the harmless birds and quadrupeds ? Certainly, there is a demand for leagues to be formed to guard laml and water, preventing cruelty to animals. The hog-reeves were of special importance when our town was new, for the swine were allowed to run at large, and wex'c as much given to rooting then as now. However, the law was that they should be yoked and their noses wrung. This was frequently neglected ; so much damage would be done by their roving and root- ing. The duty of the hog-reeve was to see that these creatures were properly equipped for their liberty. For some reason it becmne the custom to elect the recently married to this office. If it were not esteemed very honorable, at times it was very onerous. This office was regarded as most essential for many years, and still stands on our statute books. But jjublic opinion, if it does not always create the laws, does execute them, if they are executed at all. For this rea- son we want pul)lic sentiment right, and then we will have good laws that can be put in force. The more we study and learn the facts of the first inhabitants of our town, the more we must Ije convinced that they wei'c men of heroism and moral strength. They laid a good founda- tion ; they wrought grandly ; their example is worthy of imitation. As they felled the forest and dug up the soil, they sowed good seed, which is still yielding manifold. Their lives, as from some pure spring bursting from Mo- nadnock's lofty brow, have floated down to us on the currents of time, like the little boats, adorned with flowers and lighted with starry flames, which the South Sea Islanders set afloat on the seas to be borne to their descendants dwelling in fairer realms. So the flowers and lights of our ancestral past have filled our gar- dens with countless charms, and gilded our ways with brightest hopes. 236 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. CHAPTER II. MARLBOROUGH— (Co««J««e(J). THE BEVCLUTIONAKY PEKIOD. At the )ircaking cat of the Revolutionaiy War Marlhorongh was but sparsely settled. The census that was taken in 1775 gave three hundred and twenty-four inhabitants ; of this number, one luindred and forty-eight were fe- males and one hundred and four were boys under sixteen years of age ; so there could not have been more than sixty men qualified for military service. As British invasion was made on the 19th of April, 1775, the red-coats marched upon Lexington and Concord, and con- sternation and terrible anxiety spread through the whole land. Then we had no independent government ; at best, were only under colonial instructions. The total population of the coun- try then did not exceed three millions. But the first crack of British muskets and roar of British cannon, within our borders, startled our brave yeomanry throughout the land. Axes were dropped in the forests, plows were left in the fields, drums were beaten, bells were rung, muskets were snatched from over mantel-pieces, powder-horns and ball-pouches were slung over the shoulders, blankets were tied to the backs, men with determined minds and patriotic hearts were rushing to the fields of strife. Devoted wives and tender mothers could but weep bit- terest tears; still, they bid their noble husbands and brave sons go forth doing valiantly for God and country. Yes, a Stark quickly fled from his saw-mill at Londonderry, Putnam quit his farm at Pomfret without stopping to change his dress. All were bound to drive the enemy from our soil ; they were ready to tear down King George's statue and melt it into bullets to shoot down British invaders. If from earliest time tiiere had been a tendency to reverence the King, and trace one's pedigree to a kingly source ; if the heroes of Homer de- lighted to call Olympus father ; if the historic families of Sparti and Macedon clung to the all-seeing Zeus as their progenitor ; if the great Julius Cfesar fancied that he was the son of the beautiful Aphrodite ; if the old Teutonic tribes believed that there was a sacredness in being the subjects of kingly rule, — Americans were not to submit to any such delusion. They had suffered wrongs under the King as long as they could. Somehow they felt they must and would be free. At this sudden burst of martial flames the thirteen colonies were remarkably free from Toryism. The Pilgrims and the Virginian adventurers had been here long enough to real- ize that America was bound to have a govern- ment of her own. Her lands, her waters, her climates and her skies were truly American, and why should not this be true of her political administration? It was soon made evident, as her l)rave men sprung to arms and marched with quick step to fields of carnage and death, that it was to be a reality. Marlborough, with other towns of the Granite State, was not slack»in assuming its share of hard- ships in the pending Revolution. If our town did not have any soldiers in the battles of Lex- ington and Concord, on account of being so re- mote from the seat of war, it did send forth Moses Tucker, Timothy Rodgers, Robert Worseley, Daniel Collins, Lieutenant James Brown and Pearson Newell, who were in the memorable battle of Bunker Hill, the 17th of June, 1775. At the close of this year, it is said, there were in the array in the vicinity of Boston from our town, sixteen men. After the evacuation of Boston by the Brit- ish a thousand soldiers left this post, under the leadership of Benedict Arnold, pressing their way towards Quebec through the dense woods of Maine. They advanced to the Kennebec River and then embarked in boats, forcing their way with the greatest difficulty up the current to its head-waters ; thence they bore their boats, heavily burdened, across to the river Chaudiere and passed down to the St. Lawrence, six miles above Quebec. In this perilous experience the sufferings must have been beyond descrip- MARLBOROUGH. 237 tion. Several of our soldiers were among the number. Robert Worseley was one of them, who says they were terribly harassed by the Indians, and became so reduced in rations that they were forced to eat the leather of their shoes and cartridge-boxes. At one time, as they emerged from the woods a dog saluted them and they shot it. Mr. Worseley relates that " it fell to his lot to dress it, and as he was taking out the entrails, the famishing men snatched away the flesh, having for himself only what he could clutch in his hands." Although they ate the flesh raw, Mr. Worseley asserts that " it was the sweetest meat he ever tasted." In another company of this expedition, Mr. A\'orseley says, " some of the men came across the carcass of a hog, which was eaten quicker than he could tell a lie." Truly, those were times tliat tried men's bodies as well as souls. In July, 1776, a regiment of New Hamp- shire militia was raised to increase our army in Canada ; but a change was made, so that it was sent to Ticonderoga to aid in defending that part of our country. On the roll of this regi- ment we find the names of Benjamin Goodenow, Abel "W^oodward and Peter Tozer, who enlisted from Marlborough. In September of the same year another force was called for from New Hampshire to reinforce the army in New York, and in the following December it came under the immediate command of General Washing- ton. Among the names from our State we find those of Daniel Goodnow and Jonah Har- rington. In the spring of 1777 England decided to in- vade the States from the north with seven thousand troops besides a large artillery train and several tribes of Indians, all under the command of General Burgoyne. Accordingly, steps were at once taken by the colonists to en- list men for three years, or during the war. Our State was called upon to furnish one hundred and nineteen men ; the quota for JNIarlborough was six. Colvin Goodenow, Frederick Free- man and Reuben McAlisterenlisted immediately and the town offered a county which soon in- duced Adino Goodenow, Timothy Rogers and Jabez McBride to give in their names, thus meeting the demand made upon our town at this call. Peter Tozer joined the army not long after. These men were mustered into service and put into Colonel Scaramel's regiment, in which Andrew Colburn, of this town, was lieu- tenant-colonel. This force was engaged in the battle of Stillwater and the men proved them- selves daring and loyal. Though they were in the thickest of the battle, they faltered not, but seemed bound to live or die for their coimtry. Lieutenant-Colonel Colburn and Frederick Freeman were killed in this battle. All this while the British had been making ready to invade our land from the north ; and in the spring of this year, unexpectedly, they advanced towards Lake Champlain. As this became known it created groat alarm and excite- ment ; and soon from all the tomb. The old meeting-house, if it has di.sappeared, still lives in the memories of many. It was truly the first meeting-hou.se of our native town. Do you not .see it in imagination, on the hill, with its broad, open common, its long row of MARLBOROUGH. 243 horse-sheds and its thickly-crowded city of the dead? It was well li.tthted within. How the pulpit, standing- on the north side, towered above flooi- and even gallery ! The old sound- ins-lward hung; from the oeiline above it, and close underneath was the deacon's pew, with the communiontable. Those box-jxnvs, with their movable seats and high nartitions, furnished with open work at the top toward the aisles, were quaint indeed, and would be curiosities to-day. Theu those long front-gallery seats on three sides, backed by those elevated pews, would look strange to the young of the present age. But that church used to be crowded with worshippers. The staid people occupied the seats below, the large choir those in front above ; the single men those on the west, and the un- married women on the east ; and the boys and girls took possession of the highest pews when they could, for in tjiose they were mostly out of sight of minister aud all the worshippers below. What loug and forcible sermons were wont to be preached from the pulpit ! and what tremendous singing came down and went up from that gallery ! How the young folks often sported in those pews, and the hard-working and aged nodded as the minister ]>reached au hour or an hour and ;r iialf long I The people demanded tliese protracted services morning and afternoon ; and for years they endui-ecl tiiem, even in the winter, without any artificial heat save what might come from a few foot- stoves. During the time between the services the men would converse in squads by the horse- sheds, and the women would assemble in parties among the pews, and then politics, religion and business matters would be discussed ! But the memories of that old church are sacred, and should always I'emain so. No doubt the pros- jjerity of our town is largely indebted to the early worship in that sacred place. However, so long as the people of the town wei-e taxed for the support of preaching, the I'eligious progress was disturbed every now and then. They wanted liberty of conscience in spiritual as well as in civil affairs. They nat- urally differed as to doctriues. Some were Calvinists, some Armiuiaus and others Arians ; and the ministers strongly felt, at times, it would be no more than right that their views should be preached — -occasioually, at least — in the old church. Now in 1819 a State law was enacted which met the demands, giving to the legal voters the privilege to decide how and when their ministe- rial tax should be paid. This encouraged the different sects in town to assert their rights, aud for each to claim the old meeting-house a por- tion of the Sabbaths for religious worship. Accordingly, a division was made, in keeping with the wishes of the people, aud, in 1835, the proportion stood as follows for the year : Unitarians, one and two-third days ; Baptists, six and two-third days ; Methodists, ten and oue-third ; Cougregationalists, thirteen ; Uni- versalists, twenty aud one-half. This method did not work well, for it tended to defeat tiie permanent settlement of a minister, and oc- casionally resulted in having no service in the church on Sunday. In 1778 the first minister. Rev. Joseph Cum- mings, of Topsfield, Mass., was settled in town. He was a graduate from Harvard University, and came well recommended. Still, at his iu- stallment, some of the brethren chose to conse- crate him to the Gospel work here, hesitated aud questioned the propriety of so doing from certain discoveries brought out during his ex- amination. Still, he was settled on a salary of S133..33 annually. But before the end of the first year some disturbances arose ; however, a few members were added to the church, and saveral children were baptized. But people and pastor were dissatisfied with each other, and December 1, 1780, Mr. Cummings was for- mallv dismissed. But after this he brought an action against the town for certain damages, and recovered some two hundred dollars. This controversy proved a great injury to religious growth in town, and for a few years the people 244 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. did not seem disposed to settle another minister. However, during this period, supplies were fur- nished by Revs. J. Dammon, John Ramming- ton, Elijah Leonard, Caleb Blake, Ebeuezer Hill and Solomon Adams. Either of the last two the town and church would have been glad to settle. In 1792 Rev. Holloway Fish, of Upton, Mass., preached on trial, was called, and .settled the same year as a Calvinist-Congregational minister. Mr. Fish was a native of Upton, a graduate from Dartmouth College iu 1790. He was a fair scholar, of a serious turn of mind, and exemplary in his daily walk. He was plain and positive in his preaching. He enjoyed the confidence of his people generally. Dur- ing his pastorate of some thirty years, one hun- dred and seventy-eight were added to the church, and three hundred and three children were baptized. Mr. Fish died in town Septem- ber 1, 1824, aged sixty-two years, and was buried in the cemetery by the old meeting- house. At his deatli a separation took place between the town and church, and a new organization was made and denominated " The First Evan- gelical Congregational Society of JIarlborough." At its inception thirty-.seven men affixed their names to the con.-ressed it, to save souls. He was remarkably favored in his married relations, haviuo- a oifted and devoted helpmate in his Christian work. Mrs. Lyman was really a brilliant MM:)nian, in- fusing good cheer into the hearts of all with whom she wrought. The memory of INIr. and Mrs. Lyman will always remain sacred in the town of Marlborough. He departed this life in \S7-2. His immediate successor here was Rev. Henry H. Underwood, but he ministered to this people only some seven months. In 1869, Rev. Silas P. Cook preached on trial for a short period, and then was settled with a tfreat unanimitv of feeling on the i)artof the society, but at his own request he was dis- missed the following year. He was regarded as a young man of ability and promise. In 1870, Rev. John L. ^Merrill was called to this church and installed as its pastor the fol- lowing year. He is a native of Haverhill, this State. He was graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1856, at the age of twenty-three, and afterwards went through a divinity course in Princeton Theological Seminary. He made a good record in both of these institutions. Soon after leaving the seminary he was settled in Chauceford, Pa., where he continued his labors successfully for five years. Then for a year he was principal of the combined High Schools of Lancaster City, Pa. In 1866 he accepted a call to settle over the Congregational Church of Ac- worth, N. H., where he labored for four years with great success, till he was settled in Marlborough, where he is still endeavoring to do faithful ser- vice to his church. He believes in progress; however, he would not be classed with the new school of theology. He is strictly evangelical and thoroughly Presbyterian in his views. He so writes, preaches and lives as to be highly re- spected by his followers. ]Mr. Merrill has shown himself a real friend to the cause of education, having given consider- able time to the schools in town, and been a prominent factor in making improvements in methods and management. He has been an earnest advocate of temper- ance and other reforms. He has largely iden- tified himself with the interests of the town for the past fifteen years. During his ministry here extensive improvements have been made in his own church edifice, and a chapel vestry has been secured. His church has seemed to pros- per under his leadership. The Congnwational is the strongest church in town, representing the largest membership and the most w^ealth. They liave a good brick church edifice, and a convenient and jile^'^ant })arsonage. The Methodist Church. — The first IMethodist preaching in town was at the house of Daniel Emerson, in 1793, by the Rev. John Hill. Mr. Emerson was a ISIethodist by nature, and could not be satisfied with any other doc- trine or mode of worship. So he was ready to make self-sacrifices and do all iu his power to introduce what to him seemed the best expres- si(m of Christianity. History implies that the first Methodist preaching in the State was in this town. It is said that after that first meet- ing it was not long before there were several of the most respectable familes in Marlborough and adjoining towns formed them.selves into a class and quite a number soon became members of this church, constituting the First jNIethodist Episcopal Church of Marlborough. At this time the Emersons, the Herricks, theRussells, the Richardsons, the Wakefields, Metcalfs and Whites were among the most active workers. The meetings were held in private houses for some time. They had frequent revivals, and their numbers were greatly increased. As they 240 HISTORY OF CHESHIRK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIEE. Inul not a luinUter settlevi among them, they ap|x>inteil one of their own raembt^rs for a given time 10 leai.1 them. Alfivil Meti-alf, Ebenezer Horriek. EK^uezer Walliugtonl. Abner Kus?ell and others sorveii in this capsicifr. In 1S42 a meeting-hous^ \ras bnilt at Pot- tersville i^now West Harrisvilleli, Wing eonsid- en-il the most central place, as the Methodists then were situated. This was a decidetl aolue\-ement, tor hitheno thev had been obligeil to hold their Qnanerly Meetings in kirns and gr«:>ves. Regular Sunday services were now held in this churvh. and the Methodist cause ad\-;mceil rapidly. Meerings coniinuevl to be held her* till 1 859, when Rev. Thomas L. Fowler wsis supplying this j>eople with preach- ing; it w;v? decideil to hold the meetings on the Sjibbath half of the time in the Baptist Church at the village, which was then nnoccu- pitil. This prvned to be a fonunate movement, for the population had concentnitetl largely >nt" the village, diminishing the number of tants in the vicinity of Potters\-ille, and crta;ii;g a demand for Methoilist meetings where m<.n~t of the jieople retsided. Accorviiugly, steps were so«.>n taken to purchase the Baptist Churdi, and with success : s«^» that the meetings were held all the time in the village. The meeting-house at P<.»tteisville was sold and a parsonage ^vas built ::; "he village, gi ving this dmreh superior ad van- tages to what it had heretofore enjoyed. Thence- forth it experienced a gradual grv>wTh. It has siistaint\l regular services on the Sabbath, ainl become a power among the other ehurdies for good. Its preachers, ftnr the moist part, have be«a effic" " -"•;- rs, doing excellent work tlur the . the people geaaerally. Among s«.une of its earlier itinerant preacher? were the famous Lorenzo Dow, Bishop Hed- i:..^ - ' Manin Renter, who became a college . - : and among those assigned to this i-harge, laboring for a year or more, whcee namesare esj»ecially cherished.are Revs. Samoel S. Dudley. Ira Carter, Thomas L. Fowler, Cole anil IWkeiell. With searcelv an ex- ception, the many pastors over this chun^h have lx!en loyal to tlie tempenmce «iuse. and truly interested in the public schools and the common interests of the town. Every Christian Church seems to have a di- vine apjwintment and a special mission to ful- fill. Thus it is with the Metliodists. By its ze:tl, devotion and perseverance, it has taken marvelons strides, and accomplisheil in a given time what no other church has ever achieved. In little more than a century it has come tosur- jwss any other Protestant sect in its number of communicants and Sunday-school scholars It consecrates some two new chnrch edilices every day in the year. AMiile all Christians cannot he Methodists, any more than all the stars can beci>rae planets, or all the flowers dahlias, still ~t rejoice at the grand Christian work liitv are achieving and wish them a hearty "Cto.1 speed!'* The Baptist Chtrch. — Among the earliest settlers of the town there were those who were of the Bjiprist persu:ision, and previous to its incorporation Btiptist meetings were occasionally held at private houses. It was not popular then to be a Baptist, and only thoge who were strv>ng in the taith could endure the contumely that WTiis oftesi b -"^-^ "Txin them. But the sincere aini thou_ heart and mind are quite certain to succeed in the end. Thus it was with" these Christians. Their early leader was Elder Joseph Ciimmings, who was a man of moral fortitude and mental strength. like Mckses leading the «Aildr«i of laaeL he bid his tollowers "'gt* forward." and they were obedient to the command. They ware zealous in trying to have the town release them nom helping support that form of wvs^p whi«ji was not most cor . ;irts. They pe.'si^ed in this, ■-,... .;„ .^. :... uiey gained their olgect. After the meeting-house was built then they felt it vonld be no more than right that they should have the privilege of •xvupying it a portioo of the time. They were aiu.'Ufir the first to move in this direction, and MARLBOROUGH. 247 (lid not desist from their piirjwse until succl'SS crowned tiieir efforts. But after this, perhaps on account of location, several of the leading famlies went to Pottersville to worship, because a strong Baptist society — for those times — had been established there. For years Elder Charles Cumniings and the venerated Elder Willard proclaimed the (ilospel to the ho.-, a Baptist edifice was built in the village. At this period and afterwards this church was very prosperous. T^hongh its members did not represent great wealth, still they were earnest in their religions work. They preached and they sang with the Spirit. Among their ministers we forget not the Elder Charles Cummings, who was ad- \auced iu years at that time. How venerable he looketl as he stood in the pulpit ! His voice was expressive of a good heart, and his thoughts of a strong mind. He preached because he had something to say. The old and young loved Elder Cumming-s beaiuse he loved them. He went home rich to heaven, having laid up great treasures while on the earth. Another gifted l)reacher ^\•as Rev. A. L. Danforth. He was .settled in the town some four years. As a writei', he was free and ea.sy, strdiig and original in thought, forcil)le and |)leasiug in deliverv. He was graduated from Jliddleburg College and Newton Theological Seminary. He de- parted tills life a few years after leaving Marl- biirongh. Still another minister wlm won the hearts of his people was Ivev. Charles Clarke. He was a close student and more than an average preacher. He was thoroughly inter- ested in every good cause and lent hi.-^ inllnencc for the right, fearless of con.se(|uences. His example is worthy to be followed and his name to be always cherished. Other al)li' and efficient ministers .served this people. .\t length reverses came to them through deaths ani)atli. Their Sunday- school was revived. When there should chance to be a minister wanting, a lay-service would be held on the Sabbath. Rev. Edwin Davis, a native of Marlborough, was the first settled minister in the new church. He so worked that it could never be said of him, " A man is not without honor save in his own country." After him came Rev. Wan-en A. Bassett, a young man of sterling ((ualities as to head and heart. He was suffered to minis- ter to this people only about a year before a fatal disease caused his departure to the higher life, leaving the sweetest memories to all who had known him. Rev. Judson Fisher was his successor, who proved himself an able and worthy Christian teacher. After him. Rev. Truman \. Jackson supplied the pulpit for one year, who afterwards gave his life in behalf of his country. Then Rev. H. P. Osgood served this church as their leader for six years. He gave them good sermons and identified liimself with the general interests of the town. After he left for another field of labor his place was filled by Rev. L. L. Ricord, A.M., a devout Christian man and scholar ; but he was not physically strong, and before two years had passed he was obliged to give up his fav- orite calling and submit to the fatal disease that had been preying upon his system for years. In the midst of a sympathizing jieoplc the good man was translated, becpieathing to his family and the church a true Christian character and life. After the departure of Mr. Ricord, Rev. E. I. Swift ministered to this people for one year; and after this Rev. R. T. Sawyer, B.D., served them for another twelve montlis. His successor was Rev. H. W. Hand, B.D., remain- ing with theni for three years. Under his ministry the seeds ^''f^'ited by otliers, and especially by Mr. Ricord, were so ripened that a church was formed, consisting of twenty- nine members. Mr. Hand continued in this charge for three years, and on his leaving, Rev. E. B. Burgess took his place and ministered faithfullv to the welfare of the church till he MARLBOROUGH. 249 felt it his duty to resign, and he was followed by Rev. R. T. Polk, who coutiuued iu charge of this church for nearly five years. He gave his people excellent sermons and was a zealous worker in behalf of temperance and education. At the resignation of Mr. Polk, in the autumn of 1864, this church numbered some sixty members. In 1878, by subscriptions, a parsonage was built near the church edifice. In 1883, Rev. Edwin Davis, in honor of his father and mother, who were very strong Universalists and who, so long as they lived, did all they could in word or deed for their faith, presented this church with a fine- toned bell, — a most generous and appropriate gift. Again the society raised quite a sum of money and put a new and comely tower and steeple upon the church, suitable for the new bell. A town-clock is now attached to the bell. All enjoy the sweet tones as they peal out the hours of the day and the night and the calls for worship. Thus this society, from a small beginning and in spite of difficulties, has attained to an lionorable position in town, and is represented Ijy a respectable number of good Christian men and women. The Catholics. — At the present time there ai-e some twenty Catholic families in town, aud the initiatory steps have been taken towards building a church edifice for them. At least, a site has been secured for such a purpose. It can but be hojjed that this may be consummated soon, if the Catholics are to remain in town ; for it would be much better for them to have a place where they could worship on the Sabbath, and so be more under the influence of the priest than they now are. This would make it better for the people generally, relieving them oftentimes of much anxiety. It is unfortunate for any not to have a place of worship, because such are likely to become lawless and immoral ; especially is this true of the Catholics, since they are so dependent on their religious leaders for direction and instruction. CHAPTER V. MARLBOROUGH— (C(»i«t«w«Z). EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. The early settlers of New England felt a deep interest in the cause of education. Their religion taught them that it is a duty to culti- vate mind and heart. They had realized the effects of ignorance and slavery of conscience in the mother-country. It would seem that they aimed to take advantage of the successes and failures of the past. Certainly, they would shun all (jbstacles possible. They did not be- lieve in aristocracy, but commonalty ; therefore they were not iij favor of educating the few to the neglect of the many. They soon found there was somethino; here in the new land, in the very air, light, soil and climate, congenial to their purpose. So they early built, not only the church, but the school-house ; they not only secured the minister, but the teacher. Here they opened the first public school of the world. It is true, classic Greece had produced eminent poets and philosophers ; sunny Italy had boasted of her arts and culture ; Spain had been noted for her institutions and libraries ; France had gloried in her arms and military exploits; Eng- land had established her Oxford and Cambridge Universities ; but it had been left for America to surpass them all in founding the common school. This means, educate the whole people. Accordingly, laws were made in the first legis- latures of our laud that every well child, after such an age, must be in school for so many months of each year, until he should become sixteen or eighteen yeai-s old. As our State was incorporated, this was one of its leading regu- lations, being extended to each town aud re- quiring the same, as it should become settled, to allot a portion of land to school purposes. This was true of Marlborough. However, it is not supposed there was any public school in town for the first few years of its settlement. The inhabitants were then too scattered for the chil- dren to assemble in one place for instruction ; 250 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. but tradition assures us that they were taught privately in their homes. In 1770 the record shows that William Barker, Isaac McAllister and Riciiard Rob- berts were ciioseu a committee to expend the money accruing from the school land ; and it would seem several schools wer'e in operation the following winter in different parts of the town. These must have been kept in private houses, as no school-houses had then been built. In 1777 the town was divided into four dis- tricts, and the succeeding year it raised five hundred dollars for the support of schools ; and the same year, because of the increase of population, another division was made as to districts, and measures were taken for building a school-house iu each squadron, as it was called. Provision was made in case that any district should neglect its duty in this regard, the selectmen were to see that the work was done. In 1 794 tlie conditions of the town had so changed that it was found necessary to redis- trict the town again, making eight in all. Three of these afterwards were set off to Troy when it was incorporated. Some of these schools were now large. The northeast district numbered sixty and more scholars, whose brick school-house stood close by the Cofran place. It would be a curiosity now to look upon school-houses like those first ones in town. As our fathers described them, with the great, big fire-places, the long, flat benches, the awk- ward desks, when they had any, were they not quaint, indeed ? Their only ornamentations were those gashes and grotesque figures, the carvings of tiie boys, made when the master's back was towards them. What a striking con- trast these would make placed beside some of the elegant school buildings of the present day ! Then, those teachers, too, — men for the most part ; and they were men in avoirdupois surely, — with their ponderous rulers, moving about the school-rooms or going round the districts to board. There were as many classes as there were different students. How the boys would rush out of doors at recess and loiter back as the call was given by thumping ou the window ! But we may criticise those schools as much as we please; still, the scholars, for the most part, did learn to think, and did become noble men and women. From time to time the districts have been changed from necessity. After a portion of the town was set off to Troy and Roxbury there was a demand for eight districts, and for many years they were well supplied with chil- dren, and some of the rooms would be crowiled in tiie winter. But several of them now are left almost destitute of scholars. It would seem the district system has had its day, and that some new method is demanded to meet the wants of our people. As the money raised for the support of the schools is being expended, it is not accomplishing the good it should. The districts must be abandoned and the sciiools supported in the centres where tiie scholars are ; and those liviug at a distance must be provided with means by the town, so that such scholars can enjoy the same educa- tional advantages that others do. It is not so now. In the small districts, where there are onlv from four to ten children, thev cannot have good schools. In such there caunot be life enough to stimulate teacher and scholars. In the village the schools have been full, and often crowded, so that the seating capacity has frequently been increased. The old red school-house that stood near the Abner Boyden store used to be filled to overflowing some terms ; and when it was left for the new house, with its two rooms, which has been converted into the Congregational chapel, many felt that it was larger than what was demanded. But, at length, its rooms were crowded, and in 1874 this house was left for a new and commodious one, which was built the same year costing, with the modern improvements, some eight thou- sand dollars. This school has aimed tti keep abreast of the times. Its present conveniences MARLBOROUGH. 251 affonl the means for classifying and grading from the primary to the high grammar school. As the district system shall be given up in town, the demand for a High School, which is some- wliat jjressing now, will be increased, and will be established, it is hoped, and right speedily, too. The town has received three legacies for the support of the schools, — one in 1828 from Abijah Tucker, of eighty dollars; another from Lydia AV. Wyman, in 1863, of five hundred dollars ; and another from Asahel Collins, in 1883, of ten thousand dollars. Select schools have been taught in the village in the fall, until recently, for many years. These have been of a high order for the most j)art. They have been under the direction of ex- perienced teachers. \yho of his old scholars does not recall with pleasure the name of Luther Norris, who was so tall and so scholarly, and who departed this life so unexpectedly ? Who that was so fortunate as to be under the tuition of Samuel Blanchard, A.B., does not think of him with grateful feelings? Then there were James B. Lane, A.B., Ransom N. Porter, M.D., S. H. McCollester, A.M., Charles F. Kings- bury, A.M., Rev. C. E. Houghton, B.D., and others, who excelled as teachers. These schools were well attended. They numbered all the way from forty to a hundred scholars, many of whom have since become eminent in profes- sional life. Perhaps the most noted is Professor A. E. Dolbeare, of Tufts College, who ranks among the first scientists of Ameri(a. Then there are Andrew C. Stone, B.L., a successful lawyer ; Joseph C. Shattuck, a superintendent of schools in Colorado ; Daniel Woodward, M.D., and J. Q. A. McCollester, A.M., M.D., prosperous physicians. Ellen and Eliza Stone, Maria and Julia N. Wakefield, Harriet Hol- man and others, became famous teachers. The teachers who were natives of IVIarl- borough are many. Could they all be mar- shaled together, they would form quite an army — not to move onward with the pride and pomp of war, banners flying, martial strains resounding, guns cracking, cannon roaring, the victors shouting aloud and the conquered cry- ing for mercy. Not thus with this force. Their progress could not be compared to the march of warriors, but to an advance far more bril- liant in its triumphs, and to laurels more im- perishable. They would struggle mostly to develop thought, inspire joy and grow love for order and improvement. The ancient Persians, in educating the young, aimed at a fondness for valor ; the Athenians, at a love for the fine arts; the Spartans, at physical endurance; but these would aim at an education vastlv more comprehensive — the development of the whole being. Their calling would be one of con- tinuous sacrifice. They would not be moved by a love of ease, nor of wealth, for their chosen calling proffers no such rewards. The best teachers have never been remunerated as are the cashiers in our banks, or the leadinar clerks in our mercantile establishments. Now, none can feel for a moment that a higher order of talent and culture is required to manage trade and stocks than is demanded to educate the young. The true teacher's vocation is high and holy. His fame is worthy to go down through the ages. His \vork will be beautiful when the statues of Phidias and the pictures of Raphael shall have passed into dust. It would be pleasant to hold up to view each one of all this host, were it possible. But for want of space and time we can at most scan but a few. One of the vetei-ans is Colonel Cyrus Frost, who is still living, but has passed somewhat beyond four-score years. In his day he was classed among the best teachers. He taught a portion of the time for twenty years. Though he lived in the age of the birch and the ferule, still he was not wont to use them ; yet, he was successful in teaching the most difficult schools. The secret is, he was master of himself and loved teaching, and the unruly boys soon discovered this, and there- fore feared to " cut up," but became inspired 252 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. with his spirit. Such a teacher works for im- mortality. Jairus Collins, Esq., ranked among the best. He began to teach in 1835, and taught nearly fifty terms. He was a stirring teacher, that found no time to sit in the school-room. He was apt to teach and to govern. He kept his scIkwIs too busy in study and thinking to have much time for play. It is a question if his scholars ever doubted for a moment, while un- der his charge that he was master, or even dreamed of carrying him out of doors, as was frequently the custom to do with some teachers. He was verily the master of the situation when in the school, and bound to fulfill his duty. Henry Clay Tenney, Esq., made himself prominent as a teacher. He was winning in his manners and gifted in imparting his thought, and natural to control. He was no repeater or machine in the school-room, but was truly a conveyer of luiowledge. He taught, not only in our common but higher schools, with great .success. John Q. A. McCollester, M.D., taught school for several years in i)ublic schools and in academies, proving that he was a teacher of " the manor born." His schools, like freighted cars, run still. He did not practice rushing the precocious and neglecting the dull scholars. He seemed to be aware that Bristol dia- monds are bright and pointed by nature, and yet are liable to be soft and worthless ; while those of India are naturally rough and hard, but become brilliants by abrading and polish- ing. Somewhat so he appeared to look upon his scholars, and treated them impartially. Joseph C. Mason, Esq., has devoted himself mostly to the work of education. The West has been his field of labor, where he has won bright laurels as a teacher. He has served as superintendent of public schools in Missouri for several terms. Professor Joseph C. Shattuck has won his way to eminence as a pedagogue in C'ulorado. From the school-room he has advanced to a popular and efficient superintendent of public schools in his adopted State. He evidently has come to understand teaching and teachers, judging from his addresses before institutes and from his annual reports. Hannah Jones, a graduate from Mount Hol- yoke Seminary, followed teaching in this town and afterwards in Ohio for years. She strove to fit herself thoroughly for her work, and so long as she taught, it is said, she did not allow herself to go before her classes without special preparation. She reminds us of the • gifted Arnold, who was asked why he always looked over those branches that he had taught for years before going into recitation. He replied that " he wanted his pupils to draw from a running stream and not from a stagnant pool." Miss Ellen Herrick taught for years in dif- ferent parts of the West, developing tact and fitness for instructing the young. She was quiet in her work, but her teaching told. It cannot be explained just how the sunlight colors the rose and paints the star, but it is done, and quietly too; thus it is with some teachers: they are still in their operations, but they accomplish great results. Miss Herrick comes under this class. ]\Iiss Maria Wakefield has honored the teacher's profession with years of faithful ser- vice in the school-room. She believed in ren- dering her school sunny and pleasant ; so she, like Speusippus of old, adorned it with the pictures of joy and hope, niakir.g it attrac- tive and beautiful. To her, education embraced a sreat deal : so she wanted to do all she could to allure the young onward and upward in the paths of knowledge She would have the school-room, if she could have her way, the pleasantest place possible. Miss Harriet C. Holman was truly successful as a teacher of primary scholars. Somehow she was drawn to children and they to her. It was interesting: to witness her in the midst of fifty or sixty bright-eyed boys and girls. If in school-hours, they would be busy on their seats MARLBOROUGH. 253 or active on the floor ; or if at recess, or wlien the school was not keeping, tliey were sure to be about her, having a happy time. The chil- dren were certain to love their school and make good progress in tlieir studies. Miss Ellen R. Stone has been devoting her whole time to teaching for a quarter of a cen- tury in different parts of New England. She lias taught fourteen years in one school in Boston, where she is now teaching She is a born teacher. As the sculptor can see his beau- ideal in the rough block of marble, so she be- holds in every child an immortal mind to be developed, and is skilled in bringing it out on the part of all who come under her charge. She is acquainted with the elementary and higher branches of learning ; so she has resources for illustrating and making plain her instruction. She has not sought schools, but they have sought her. She does not become rusty because she studies to keep up with the times; yea, ahead of them. Such teachers do not grow old, at least in feel- ing. She never uses the scholars' minds as mere mills in which to grind out so many books each term, but is sure to teach her pupils to think. She can never be accused of sticking to the text-book in recitation, or of asking leading- questions. She may be now classed as a model teacher. Miss Eliza A. Stone wrought in the teacher's vocation for several years with striking success. She became an adept in the school-room. She strove to follow nature, realizing that while she has supplied the world with but a bushel of diamonds, she has furnished whole mountains of iron ; so she would give most abundantly of those things which the young need and can use. Really, there is no higher calling than that of the teacher. All honor to all who have served our town in this capacity ! May their names be so enshrined in hearts as to live when the granite of our hills shall have passed away ! Now, if we would have our town prosper, we must cherish our schools. If we would show ourselves Christians and patriots, we must sus- tain and bless them. If they are not what we would have them, we must not find fault with them and then remain inactive, but we should set ourselves to work to remove the evils. The prosperity of our schools depends upon indi- vidual and united efforts. If we would sup- plant the failures with successes ; if we would have moral, mental and physical culture char- acteristic of every school-room, and the dis- tinguishing features of every scholar in our schools, we nuist foster and improve them. CHAPTER VI. MARLBOROUGH— (C'jnrofession Dr. Carter reached no inconsid- erable eminence ; his practice extended much into' adjacent towns and somewhat into places more remote. He removed to Peterborough in 1812, and from there to Dublin in 1820, where he died January 9, 1828. Dr. Carter was succeeded by Dr. Epln-aim K. Frost, who commenced practice here soon after the removal of Carter from the town, in 1812. Dr. Frost was a native of Jaffrey. His early education was obtained in a school of three months each year ; later, from a cour.se in Dartmouth C-ollege. He studied medicine with Dr. Carter, paying his way by teaching school. He remained in practice here some six years and then removed to Swanzey. He afterwards em- igrated to Lincoln, Neb., where he died in 1871. Dr. James Batcheller was born in Roy- alston, Mass., June 5, 1791. He was the son of Dr. Stephen Batcheller, the first physician of that town, who established himself there in 1768, and continued in practice until his death, in 1829, at the age of eighty-three. Dr. James Batcheller spent his youthful days in his native town ; attended schools and academies ; then taught school two years in Pennsylvania. On his return he studied his profession with an elder brother. Dr. Stephen Batcheller, Jr., and after- ward attended medical lectures at Dartmouth, and took his degree of M.D. In May, 1818, he came to Marlborough by invitation from Rev. Halloway Fish, and established himself as a practicing physician. He was very social and was generally liked by the people as a man and physician ; was possessed of moi-e than ordinary ability and was frequently called out of town for consultation. So extensive was his prac- tice that it required the services of three horses to enable him to visit his numerous patients. As a physician he ranked high, as is evident fi-om tlie fact that he was honored for some time with the presidency of the New Hampshire Medical Society. Dr. Batcheller was widely known as a poli- tician. He was chosen Representative and Senator to the General Court of New Hamp- shire ; was also elected counselor, and performed the duties of each with honor to himself and benefit to his constituents. He was also a dele- gate to the convention to revise the Constitution of New Hampshire in 1850-51. He was no timid advocate of the cause of emancipation of the slave, and this, too, when it required strong nerves to stem the large majorities against him. At a meeting in Concord, for the purpose of discussing the anti-slavery- question. Dr. Batch- eller and Genei'al Franklin Pierce (afterwards President of the United States) were pitted again.st each other. So well did the doctor ar- gue his side of the question, that he convinced his opponent, and, as they came out of the meeting. Pierce slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Doctor, you are right; but the time has not come yet." He was also a zealous advocate of the cause of temjjcrance, and was one of the first to pro- claim the doctrine of total abstinence. After a residence of some thirty -seven years in Marlborough he removed to Fitzwilliam, to be near his sons, who had previously established themselves in business there. He obeyed some calls for about a year, when, his health suddenly failing, he gave up practice altogether. From that time he continued to become more and MARLBOROUGH. 255 more feeble in body aud mind, and at length, helpless as an infant, gave up life without a struggle. Although he was not a college gradu- ate, he was well educated. He was quick in motion, rapid in speech and of untiring energy. He read much, thought much and continued to gain as well as impart knowledge. He was a man in the noblest sense of the term, a pleasant companion, true friend, good neigh- bor ; and it may be truly said of him that the world was better for his having lived in it. Samuel A. Richardson was born in Dub- lin December 2.'5, 1830. He was the youngest of four children, and the only son of Abijah and j\Iary (Hay) Richardson. His parents were of the old Dublin stock,— a little austere in manner, perhaps, as was the fashion of the time, but good types of those sturdy virtues, such as honesty, piety, industry and thrift, which characterized a former generation in that mountain-town. His early life was spent on his father's farm, assisting in its duties and la- bor, as was usual with farmers' boys of the period. The common schools of Dublin at that time were equal, if not superior, to any in Cheshire County, and the early education and training of the son were mostly gained in the somewhat famous School District No. 2, which h;is produced many young men who have made their mark in the various walks of life. The Rev. Dr. Leonard, who was singularly uner- ring in his estimates of young men, early marked him as a boy of promise, and one who would some day be heard from in the battle of life. The good doctor was wont, in his old age, to enumerate the scores of Dublin young men who had fulfilled the promise of their youth and his own prophecy of success, and " Dr. Sam" was always mentioned among the number. As young Richardson approadhed manhood he supplemented his common-school education with such higher advantages as could be ob- tained at the Hancock Literary and Scientific Institute, an institution quite flourishing in those days, and the Normal Institute, at Reed's Ferry. Beyond this, we are not aware that he enjoyed the benefit of any special school training before commencing the study of that profession to which he has devoted his life. He early conceived the idea of a medical education, and in the intervals of fiirm-work bent his mind and studies in this direction. He was obliged to rely almost entirely upon his own resources and earnings ; and we find him making the first decided move in this direction by attending a course of medical lectures at Philadelphia, in ]852. The following spring (1853) ho entered his name as a student in the office of Albert Smith, M.D., LL.D., of Peterborough, at that time among the most eminent professors and medical teachers in the State. He attended a course of medical lectures at the Woodstock (Vt.) Medical College in 1855. In July, 1855, he located as a physician in Marlborough, taking the place of Dr. James Batcheller. He quickly gained the esteem and confidence of the people and a fair share of the business. Not content, however, with his medical acquire- ments, in the spring of 1856, Dr. Richardson secured another physician to till his place tem- porarily, and attended still another course of lectures at Aliiany, N. Y., receiving from that college the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He also spent some time as resident physician at the Albany County Almshouse Hospital. The six following years were busy ones to him. Having returned to Marlborough, he entered upon the full tide of a very extensive and successful prac- tice. His skill and good judgment were early recognized, and he was soon called to [)ractice more or less in all the adjoining towns. In ad- dition to the arduous duties of his profession, he identified himself to a considerable extent with the manufacturing interests of the town. In 1862, when the cloud of civil war dark- ened our horizon. Dr. Richardson offered his services to his country, and, in September of that year, was appointed assistant surgeon of the Thirteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volun- 256 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. teers, of which Aaron F. Stevens (afterwards general) was colonel, and George B. Twitchell, M.D., of Keene, was surgeon. Under date of September 9, 1878, General Stevens says: "I desire to reaffirm now whatever you may find in my army reports favorable to Dr. Richard- son, or in appreciation of his talents, industry and professional accomplishments, his kindness of heart, and ever prompt discharge of his du- ties in camp, field or hospital. He was a man of superior talent and extraordinary resources, admirably adapted to public professional ser- vice, as well by his force of character and power of organization as from his professional knowledge and accomplishments." Samuel J. Martin, son of Jefferson and Rhoda (Davis) Martin, was born in Weston, Windham County, Vt., September 9, 1830. When three years of age his parents removed to Mount Holly, Rutland County, Vt., where he received his early education, dividing his time between his studies and farm-work. Previous to his seventeenth year his help was much need- ed at home, and he consequently had limited ad- vantages for study. At this time, however, he entered Black River Academy, at Ludlow, Vt., and spent two terms each year during two years, and for the next four years studied at the same place during one term of each. His studies during this time were confined to the English bninches ; but he afterwards spent two terms at Chester Academy, and there pursued the study of Latin with other higher branches, earning money to defray his expenses by teach- ing penmanship and day-school. After leaving school he eno-aged in teachino;, and continued it with the exception of one year — when he was in poor health — until his twenty-eighth year. He early developed a taste for the medical profession, but in his desire to enter it was op- posed by his father, who jJreferred that he should become a farmer. Accordingly, at the age of twenty-eight, he yielded to his father's wishes and purchased a farm with money a part of which he had earned by teaching. At the end of one year, becoming dissatisfied with farm- ing, he began the study of medicine at home under the direction of A. E. Horton, M.D., of Mount Holly. One year later he sold his farm and gave his entire attention to his studies, and, after three years' study and taking two full courses of lectures, graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia. He began his practice in February, 18(33, at Marlborough, and remained there until April, 1866, doing a successful practice, and at that time removed to Walpole, N. H., and there, in addition to his practice, opened a drug-store with another gen- tleman, who managed the latter business, while he devoted himself chiefly to his profession. At the end of eighteen months, having lost everything, he closed out his interest in the drug-store and gave himself unremittingly to his studies and practice. The force of circumstances induced him to investigate the suljject of homoeopathy, and, at the end of one year's observation and careful thought, he embraced the principles of that school. Not having recovered from his failure in the drug business, and desiring a larger field of action, he removed to the West in 1869. After spending four months looking for a place to settle, he established himself nt Racine. Wis., where he has since resided, building up an ex- tensive practice and making for himself a most worthy reputation as a skillful practitioner. During iiis residence in Marlborough he was elected superintendent of public schools. He has filled the office two terms as vice-president and one term as president of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of Wisconsin. He is also a member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy and the Illinois Homoeopathic Medical Association. Dr. Martin has given much attention to self- culture and by extensive reading and observa- tioH has acquired that knowledge of men and things which, with his excellent conversational powers, renders him a most agreeable and so- cial companion. This is but a brief outline of MARLBOROUGH. 257 the life aud history of one who, though having many experiences In common witli others, has yet given an example of continued effort and will-power that entitles him to an honorable mention in these pages. Dr. GEoRfiE L. Haerixgtox, son of Leon- ard B. and Eunice G. Harrington, wa.s born in Winchcndon, Mass., November 11, 1844. In his childhood and youth he was quiet and un- assuming, yet always thoughtful, fond of his books and anxious to gain knowledge. Hav- ing made the most possible out of his public- school and academic privileges, he became a medical student in the ofBce of Professor AVal- ter Carpenter, of Burlington, Vt. Here he enjoyed peculiar advantages under the instruc- tion of a wise and experienced teacher. Indue time he entered the Medical Department of the Vermont University and graduated iu course M.D. In the winter of 1872 he settled in Marl- borough as a physician. Naturally enough, for the first two years he did not have a great run of practice. However, it became evident to those who early employed him that he was no quack, but one determined to establish himself in the confidence of the people by his works; and so gi-adually he grew into public favor, all the while extending his professional work. Long since it became extensively known that, if he is not a mau of many words, he is a man of second thought, keen discernment and sound judgment. He never has been known to praise himself or tell of wonderful cures and almost miraculous deeds wrought by his skill. Per- haps he has been too reserved and reticent at times for his own good and highest success. In the long run, no doubt, he will lose nothing from such a constitutional habit. The wise Soc- rates said he never had regretted keeping si- lence, but had often sorrowed for much speak- ing. From the fact he is an M.D., it is plain he does not think he knows it all, for he spends much time among his books and finds it a neces- sity to acquaint himself with the latest journals and modern works of his profession. In the sick-room he is affable and naturally adapts himself at once to the situation of things. He seems to possess a ready faculty of reading dis- ease, and a willingness, in case he fails of its diagnosis in any particular instance, to acknowl- edge his lack of comprehending it. Such frank- ness is a virtue, and most commendable, espe- cially in a physician. So the sick under his charge can scarcely fail of trusting and confid- ing iu him as a medical adviser. In not a few cases he has proved himself a skillful and cul- tured physician. Already he has won a good field of practice, and certainly his future is more promising than the present or the past. He has proved himself a useful citizen and a Christian gentleman. With truth it may be said of him that he is a true friend to the sick and a well-wisher to all in health. Dr. Nathaniel H. Merriam was born in Chelsea, Mass., October 24, 1854, but his father's family soou removed to Lexington, Mass., whore they now reside. He graduated at Philips Academy, Andover, in 1874, and entered Amherst College in the class of 1878. His college course was interrupted by sickness, which became so persistent that he was obliged to abandon his graduation and remain at home for a considerable period. At the famous cele- bration of the centennial of the battle of Lex- ington, in 1875, he was on the staff of Colonel W. A. Tower, chief marshal of escort for Pres- ident U. S. Grant. At an early age he chose the profession of his late uncle. Dr. Nathaniel W. INIcrriam, of IMaryland, and began his studies with the late Dr. Currier, a physician of note in Lexington. In 187(5 he traveled in Great Britain and the Continent, returning with im- proved health ; attended lectures at Massachu- setts General Hospital, Harvard University. In 1878 he entered Dartmouth ]\Iedieal Col- lege, where his abilities attracted attention, and he was appointed assistant to the chair of sur- gery, then occupied by Professor P. S. Conner, of Cincinnati, graduating in 1880. He married 258 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Miss E. L. Cottrell, daughter of Asa Cottrell, Esq., of Ijexington, and entered into active practice in Marlborough, N. H., in 1880. He is a member of tlie New Hampshire State Medi- cal Association, and served as delegate from that society to the American Medical Associa- tion, at Washington, in 1884, and is a member of that l)()dy. He enjoys a large and successful practice in Marlborough, especially in surgery, to which he is enthusiastically devoted. CHAPTER VII. M AELnOROUG H— ( CotHiuued). INDUSTRIES OF THE TOWN. For many years after the settlement of the towuship the excellent water-power afforded by the numerous streams running through the town was considered of little value, beyijnd what was used for the sawing of lumber and the grinding of grain. In Chapter II. allusion M'as made to the first saw-mill, built by Daniel Harrington, and the first two grist-mills, built by Joseph Collins and Abijah Tucker. Both of these had a saw-mill connected with them, thus rendering it comparatively ea.sy for the settlers to obtain lumber for building purposes. The one built by Joseph Collins was sold by him, in 1771, to his brother-in-law, James Lewis, after which we hear no more of this mill, and it probably remained in existence only a few years. Mr. Tucker continued to carry on his mill until the infirmities of age compelled him to give up labor, after wdiich he let the mill for several years to different parties. His mill-dam was the first obstruction placed across the river ; and at that time it was no unusual sight, in the spring of the year, to see shad below the dam, which had run up from the Connecticut River. About 1826 this mill came into the posses- sion of Charles Holman, who for many years carried on an extensive lumber business. In 1837, Mr. Holman erected the stone mill, which he continued to occupy until old age rendered him unfit for labor, and the mill then came into the possession of his sons-in-law, Messrs. Thurston & AVilkinson. In 18 — they built an addition to the mill, and put in ma- chinery for the manufacture of nailed and dove- tailed boxes and trunk-cleats. There was also a saw-mill built at an early date by Benjamin Tucker and his sons, a little below the outlet of Meeting-House Pond, on the site of the Whitney & Tarbell Mill, so called. A native poet of that day, whose rhym- ing gives evidence of considerable inventive genius, notices this mill in the following verse : "Tucker's boys built a mill, Half the time it did stand still ; When it went it made a noise ; Because it was built by Tucker's boys." The present mill was erected by William C. Mason and Nathaniel Tottenham in 1840, who intended to saw out chaiixstock; but, failing in their design, the mill was left in an unfinished state till 1845, when it was purchased by Amos A. Mason and Charles R. Bemis, who finished the mill and commenced the manufacture of cane-seat chair-frames. In 184(3, Mr. Bemis sold his interest in the business to Mr. ISIason, who carried it on for several years. He was succeeded by diilerent parties, each of whom remained but a short time, and about the year 1850 it came into the possession of Charles D. Tarbell and Jared I. Whitney, who for several years carried on an extensive lumber business in connection with the manufacture of chair-seat frames. In 1866, Mr. Tarbell sold his intere.st in the mill to Mr. Whitney, who continued the business some two or three years, and then sold to Mortimer M. Stowe. The mill is now in the possession of Amos A. Mason, and occupied by Miles Cudworth as a stave-mill. William Tenney, Sr., built a saw-mill, prob- ably about 1780, on the Baker Brook, about half-way between the bridge and the saw-mill since owned by Miles Cudworth. The latter MARLBOROUGH. 259 mill was Ijiiilt hy Riifus Brooks some twenty years since. In 1867 he sold to Francis L. Mason, who nsed it as a saw-mill and also for tlie manufacture of clothes-pins. After the death of Mr. Mason, Miles Cud worth purchased the mill, and used it for the purpose of getting out pail-staves until it was hurned, December 3, 1877. There was a saw-mill on the Roaring Brook, in Roxhury, which is supposed to have been built by Bart Grimes. We have no account of the building of this mill ; but it must have been previous to 1800. This was afterwards owned by Esq. Holman. A saw-mill was erected by Jesse Hunting at the outlet of Cummings' Pond about 1800. It is said, when Mr. Hunting was building this mill, that old Mr. Tayntor (father of Jedediah), passing near the spot on his way through the woods, remarked to Mr. Hunting, " This is an excellent plase to build a mill, but where is your water?" This meaning will be readily understood by all who are acquainted with the surroundings. About 1805, John Wiswall, Sr., built a saw- mill on the river, near what is now called the " Day Bridge." This, however, was washed away in a few years, and never rebuilt. About this time a mill was erected on the Marlborough Brook, upon the site of the old Harrington mill. This was owned by Jonathan Whipple, who probably sold it to Joseph Wel- lington. When the latter left town it came into the j)ossession of Captain John Lane, who con- tinued to own and occupy it until the great freshet of 182G, when it was carried away. Samuel Collins built a mill (probably a saw and grist-mill) at an early date on the site of the lower mill of the Marlborough Manufactur- ing Company. In 1803 this was owned by Daniel Fisk, who converted a part of it into a fulling-mill. In 1807 it was purchased by Ebenezer Hill, who did considerable business at dressing cloth. He remained here eight years, and then sold to John B. Farrar, who continued the business for several years, and then sold to Gilmau & Nelson Converse, who used it as a lumber-mill. They also engaged in the manufacture of powder-kegs. In 1834 the building was destroyed by fire, and some time after the privilege passed into the hands of Asa Greenwood, who erected the main building, now standing, and engaged in the lumber busi- ness. Of the mills erected in the south part of the town, now within the limits of Troy, we can say but little beyond the fact that there was a grist- mill built by Phinehas Farrar, in 1784, a few rods above the Forestall mill. This was after- wards owned by Daniel Gould. Alexander Parkman also built a fulling-mill iu that part of the town about 1778. Jacob Osborne is believed to have been the first to erect a saw-mill on the privilege now oc- cupied by Levi A. Fuller. As this was a part of the tavern property, it was bought and sold in rajiid succession for many years. Mr. Fuller, the present owner, purchased it of his father in November, 1863. In the spring of 1872 thig mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Fuller imme diatcly erected a neat and substantial liuilding, and is at present engaged in the manufacture of bail-boxes, pail-staves and coarse lumber. Some years since a mill was erecteil on the stream, a few rods below the above-mentioneil Fuller mill, by Isaac Fuller, and was used for the manufacture of various kinds of wooden- ware. Osgood J. Bemis succeeded Mr. Fuller, and for several years manufactured pail-handles to some extent. In the fall of 1871 he lost the mill by fire, and built the present structure, which is now occupied by Levi A. Fuller, in connection with his other mill. In 1837, James Hobart built a saw and stave- mill on the Baker Brook, which was the one since owned by Aaron Mason. Hobart car- ried on the business for a short time ; but, not making it profitable, it passed into the hands of Mr. Masou, who retained possession of it until the destruction of the dam by the freshet of 260 HISTOEY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1869. The dam was never rebuilt, and the property soon passed into other hands. A part of the mill was taken down and the remainder converted into a barn. Some time previous to 1800, Samuel Collins built a grist-mill at what is now called " Marl- borough Glen." This was in use by Mr. Col- lins and his sons until 1830, at which time, being somewhat out of repair, it M'as deserted, and the same year Joseph Collins built the mill now owned by Osgood R. Wiswall, which he used as a grist-mill for a few years, and then, selling to George Harvey, removed farther down the river, and about the year 1840 com- menced to erect the one now owned by the late Barton Blodgett. Before it was completed Mr. Collins died, and the mill soon after came into the possession of Still man Buss, under whose skillful management it soon won the name of being the best flouring-mill in Cheshire County, and was extensively patronized, not only by the people of the adjoining towns, but by those from a distance of more than twenty miles around, and so famous did this mill become that Mr. Buss was obliged, during a part of the time, to run it night and day. In 1861, Jede- diah T. Collins purchased an interest in the mill, which was carried on under the firm-name of Buss & Collins. After the death of Mr. Buss, Barton Blodgett bought one-half of the mill, and continued in company with Mr. Col- lins for several years, when he purchased of Mr. Collins his share, and continued to run it until his death. It is now owned by D. R. & F. A. Cole. Eliphalet Stone erected a fulling-mill at the outlet of Stone Pond, on the site of the present saw-mill, at an early date. This was jJi'obably the first mill for dressing cloth within the limits of this town. Mr. Stone divided his time be- tween the farm and mill for many years, until, meeting with some reverses, he tlivided his property between his sons, Calvin and Shubael ; and Calvin, taking the mill, resumed the business of dressing cloth. He removed the old fulling-mill to the oppo- site side of the road and converted it into a dwelling-house for his father ; Ijuilt a saw-mill in place of it, and also a new fulling-mill a few rods below. Calvin Stone, Jr., with his brother Solon, succeeded their father in the business, and during their occupancy the fulling-mill was burned, and the present building erected. Sev- eral different kinds of wooden-ware have been manufactured here by different parties, such as clothes-pins, pail-handles, staves, etc., but at present little business is done. Josiah Fish Iniilt the mill now owned by James Townsend in 1813. This was used by him for a fulling-mill. He was succeeded by Calvin Page, who carried on the business suc- cessfully for several years. He also had a ma- chine for carding wool into rolls for the accom- modation of those who could spin. In 1837, James Townsend purchased the mill and com- menced the manufacture of woolen yarn, which business he has prosecuted with success to the present time. He also makes hose, knit-jackets, sheep's-gray cloth, etc., and his goods are some of the best found in market. Pails. — Pails were first made in this town by Robert Carpenter, who commenced the busi- ness in the mill now owned bv Osgood R. Wis- wall. The pail-lathe used by Mr. Carpenter was but a rude affair, compared with those in use at present. It would now be considered a slow and tedious job to match the staves by hand and drive the hoops with a hand-driver ; but, thanks to the inventive genius of the Yankee, these obstacles have been overcome and the facilities for manufacturing pails greatly increased. Mr. Car^jenter remained here but a short time, and then, in company with Charles Cooledge, commenced pail-making where N. Winche's pail-shop now stands a building hav- ing been erected for that purpose by Calvin Page, who then owned the privilege. Jedediah T. Collins and others continued the pail busi- ness at the Collins mill till 1836, when it came into the possession of George Harvey, who car- MARLBOROUGH. 261 rit'il oil the business for seven years. During tliis time he built the house now owned by the lieirs of Luther Smitii. In 1843 he traded the house and mill to his brother James, taking in exchange the farm on whioii he now resides. The business was continued by James Harvey some two years ; but uot being successful, and becoming somewhat involved in debt, the prop- erty passed into other hands. Car]3enter & C'ooledge carried on tlie business at the Page mill until 18.32, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Carpenter going to Orange, Mass., where he again entered into the pail business on a more extensive scale. Mr. Cooledge returned to Troy and set up the same business, which he carried on for several years. Joseph Cum- niings now hired the Page mill and manufac- tured ]iails until April, 1834, when it was burned. The shop now owned by Nathan Wiuch was erected by Charles Gilbert and Cyrus Frost, who manufactured chairs there for sev- eral years. In 1837, Frost sold his share of the mill to George Holman. About this time they commenced the manufacture of pails. Silas Collester and Simeon Whitcomb soon after purchased an interest in the business, and Mr. Gilbert retired. Mr. Holman soon sold to his partners, who continued the business until 1852, when they sold to Nathan Winch, who is still the proprietor. In 1837, Asa Bemis built a saw-mill on the South Branch, in con- nection with which the following year he com- menced to make pails. He continued in this busi- ness until the infirmities of age rendered him unfit for labor, when he sold his business to Amasa Fuller, Jr., who is the present owner. Pails were quite extensively manufactured at the brick mill now owned by the Marlborough Manufacturing Company. This was built in 1835, by G. & N. Converse, for a pail-factory. It soon passed into the hands of Asa Green- wood. He, in a short time, sold to Robert Carpenter, who, in a few years, was succeeded by Nelson Howe ; and the business was success- fully conducted by him until 1859, when it was purchased by George Thacher, who continued the manufacture of pails till 1806, when he sold to Croodhue Tenney and Chai-les O. Whitney, who, in a short time, in connection with others, organ- ized as the IMarlborough Manufaeturino; Com- pany. William Tenney commenced the pail and tub business in this town in 1 853, at the lower mill of the Alarlltorough Manufacturing Companv. He had previously had considerable experience in this branch of business, having prosecuted it with success in Swanzey, also in Winchen- don, Westminster and Ashburnham, Mass. In 1864, having acquired a competency, he retired from the business, and was succeeded by D. W. & W. ]M. Tenney, who enlarged the factory, and by putting in more machinery increased their facilities for manufacturing both tubs and pails. They also did considerable at the lum- ber business. At the time of the decline in M'ooden-ware, in 1870, the Messrs. Tenney sold the mill to the Manufacturing Company, who converted it into a woolen-mill. In 1868, J. & L. Knowlton commenced pail-making in con- nection with their clothes-pin business, at first putting in only one lathe. Afterwards, giving up the manufacture of pins, they from time to time added more pail machinery, until they now have facilities for making from one hun- dred to one hundred and fifty thousand pails annually. In 1870 they erected a saw-mill on the opposite side of the river, which is used mainly for getting out their stock. Blanket-Mills. — The most important branch of industry, and that which has added most to the prosperity and growth of the town, is the manufacture of horse-blankets. The Monadnock Blanket Company was in- corporated in 1868, at which time they purchased the Holman Mill, and commenced the manufacture of horse-blankets. They have a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, em- ploy forty or fifty hands aud produce from seventy-five to eighty thousand blankets yearly. The amount of their pay-roll is from thirteen to fifteen hundred dollars per month. 262 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Charles O. Whitney and Warren H. Clark commenced business in 1873, and formed what is now known as the Cheshire Blanket Com- pany. Their place of business is the mill which was erected by Mr. Whitney in 1869, and used by him as a chair-shop until, in company with Mr. Clark, it was fitted up for the manufacture of blankets. These enterprising men have added to their business from time to time, until they now have an investment of not less than twenty thousand dollars, and facilities for pro- ducing fifty thousand blankets annually. They have fifty employes, and their pay-roll amounts to eleven hundred and fifty dollars per month. Thus it will be seen that in this little village there are annually manufactured no less than one Inuidred and seventy-five thousand horse- blankets, giving employment to one hundred and fifty hands. Breed Poxd Company. — The facilities for manufacturing in the village have been greatly increased by the Breed Pond Company, which was incorporated in 1851. The object was to flow the Breed Pond, so called, in Nelson, in order to form a reservoir. This company consisted of Charles Holman, Stillman Buss, Nelson Howe, Whitcomb & Collester, James Townsend, F. R. Thurston, George Handy and Fay & Joslin. These enterprising gentlemen immediately went forward and constructed a dam at an expense of about four hundred and fifty dollars, making a ])ond which covers about six hundred acres. In the fall of 1861, Stillman Buss and Jede- diah T. Collins constructed, attheir own expense, what is now called the " Little Reservoir," near the Marlborough and Harrisville line. This was intended to save what water would otherwise be wasted at night. This came into the possession of the Breed Pond Company in 1 864. As manufacturing increased, it was found that these two ponds were not sufiicieut to supply the demand for water, and another reservoir was builtatBemisville, in the autumn of 1868, which flows about one hundreout the old Monadnock. Perhaps a third of the peo- ple are devoted to cultivating the soil. Many of these are good livers and some of them have become forehanded. It is true, the land is not wanting of stones, nor of a great diversity of surface ; nevertheless, it can mostly be appro- priated to cultivation and pasturage. It is sad that some farms which were among the best, should have become neglected, buildings rotted down or removed, and the fields allowed to grow up to brush and woods. As an excuse for this, it has been said the land is worn out, but science and modern developments are clearly showing this to be a mistake. Really, the resources of our land have scarcely begun to be developed to their fullest extent. Tlie plea that our climate and .soil rannot be used so as to make it pay is false. It is wrong to talk thus, especially to our young men, saying " You must go West, if you are to get a good living by tilling the land." Now, there is something about our light, air, water and soil favorable to producing the best men and women. Just com- pare those who remain here and are industrious and faithful with those who emigrate to the West, and we are confident that in the end the former will be better oif than the latter. This is the rule ; of course there are exceptions. We ought to realize that there are physical blessings among these hills and valleys which are uot to be found in Ohio, Illinois or Califor- nia. Then, when we add to these the mental and moral advantages, we should cling to our native State and town, resolved that we will make the most possible out of these natural bestowments. In this way our lands would be utilized to a greater extent than they are, and made to pro- duce two blades where but one grows now. The wasted fields would be redeemed, the hills and back farms would no longer be deserted, men would not be standing idle at the corners of the streets in our villages and cities because spindles and looms had been stopped from over- production. Let our lands be improved as they should be, and this would do nuich to ward ofl' hard times and level up society, so that capi- tal and labor would be more evenly balanced. No other investments in this world are so sure as those made in improved lands, and the more owners of the soil, the better for the country. So, really, the highest hope for the prosperity of our town, as well as others, is based in no small degree upon the improvement of our farms. Therefore, let the stones be cleared fi-om our mowings and built into walls, for they make enduring fences; let the muck be taken from our swamps aud scattered upon our fields ; let some of our sand-hills be spread over the low- lands ; let the fertilizers be freely used with other manures and enrichments, and what pro- gress would be made in farming, and what harvests would be gleaned from our fields ! Foremost among our farms is that of George Thatcher. The mowings, pastures aud wood- laud are well proportioned. The soil is uatur- MARLBOROUGH. 267 ally rieh and is under a good state of cultiva- tion. In favorable seasons he lias taken there crops of jjrass from the same land. All the j;;rains, roots and fruit common to this climate tlourisli on this soil. Mr. Thatcher is a born fixrmer, though he has been successfully engaged in various kinds of business at different times. Ho is a native of Keene, born in 1815, but has long been an inhabitant of Marlborough and has come to be regarded as one of its old settlers. He is a man of good judgment and keen perception. Let him examine a farm, a wood-lot, a horse or an ox, and he can tell you all about it. It is safe for him to deal in lauds or stock. No doubt at times he often wonders why others do not see as he sees ; but he sees because he cannot help it. By industry and economy he has be- come one of the wealthiest men in town. He has done much towards its improvements, and par- ticularly its highways. In fact, he is the in- ventor of one of the best road-scrapers now in use. He is a man that tends to his own busi- ness, and so plans that his work is all the while advancing. Besides his pet farm, he is the owner of much real estate. He is the laud- king in Marlborough, and a good one. Under his ruling the town will be greatly benetited and advanced. The Richardson farm is known as oue of the best. Its acres are many and favorably situated. The cultivated portion occupies a handsome ridge sloping to the south. This is just suited to growing corn, grass and fruit. Then there is a fine intervale, or meadow, with good pasturage. Besides these, it has a large ap]>le orchard in an excellent state, and an extensive sugar-lot. This farm is now owned by Stilraan Rich- ardson, who was born on it December 25, 1820. However, he left it after he became of age, and for a long while resided in Maine, but some years since he returned to the place of his birth, purchasing the old home, that he might im- prove it and spend the rest of his days upon it. And what a change he has jiroduced ! The old l)uildings of his father have lieen supplied with new ones throughout. The wasted fields have been vastly more than redeemed. AVhile Mr. Thatcher's is situated in the extreme southern, Mr. Richardson's is in the northern part of the town. The latter has illustrated that our soil may be made to produce thirty and sixty-fold. The intervale on the Connecticut River and the prairies of the West do not do any better than this, on an average. Mr. Richardson is a lover of good stock, and has his farm well supplied with it. He makes farming pay. Another attractive farm is that of Almon C. Mason. Though considerably elevated, still, it inclines for the most part to the south, and is warm land. It is a farm consistins: of one hunilred and sixty acres, well wooded, and the cultivated portions are free from stone, and smooth, so that the mower will run over the whole of it. Mr. Mason has been on it lint a few years, and, though he came out of the store upon it, still, he is .showing that it is natural for him to cultivate the soil, and that the true farmer can be as much of a man as the mer- chant. In short, who is so independent as the well-to-do farmer? Mr. Mason is a young man, born in Sullivan, N. H., February 27, 1849. He appears, really, to enjoy his calling. Why should he uot? It is one of the noblest aniontr men. J. Kilburn Southwick also has a good farm, one of the warmest in town, and has long been noted for its fruits. Who has not heard of the pears, raw-ripes and grapes of Uncle Enoch White, who long lived on this place? ]\Ir. Southwick and his father have made great changes for the better since it came into their possession, and are still improving it. It is now stocked with milch cows, which furnish a large portion of the village with milk. Mr. Southwick is interested in farming more from the fact, than any other, that he discovers so much in his work to illustrate geology, chem- istry, zoology, etc. Were it not that he could 268 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. fiud, while farming, some time for reading and study, he would not be likely to continue it very long ; but he so manages as to keep him- self posted in the affairs of the day, and to have the opportunity of pursuing, more or less, some course of history or branch of science. Thus, while the hands are at work, the mind has some- thing to do. This renders the employment pleasant, for there is consciousness of mental growth. By saving the odd moments, Mr. Southwick has become one of the best-informed men. He has had considerable to do in town matters. He is showing how the farmer can become a scholar while tilling the soil. He was born November 8, 1847 ; so he -is in the prime of life, — religious, intelligent, honest, do- ing honor to his vocation. Among the many other good farms which deserve special mention, and would receive it if space would permit, are those of Charles Ryan, Wilbur F. Wallace, Cyrus F. Greeley, Daniel Town, Rufus S. Frost, George A. Robinson and George L. Fairbanks. CHAPTER VIII. MARLBOROUGH— (CyH(i'»»c'/). SHORT BIOGRAPHIES. Rev. Charles Cummings, son of Rev. Joseph and Anna Cummings, was born in Sea- brook, N. H., September 23, 1777. At the age of two years his parents removed to Marlbor- ough, where he passed his childhood. He was married in 1798, and settled in Sullivan, and became the father of several children, who were an honor to their parents, — -among whom is Mrs. Elijah Boyden, one of the most amiable, talented and highly-esteemed women in Marl- borough. It wais about this time, or a little later, that he felt impressed that it was his duty to preach the gospel, as he understood it. He struggled with his convictions for several years, feeling deeply his incompetency for the work, having but a limited education, such as was furnished by the common schools of those early days ; but finding no rest for the body or peace for the mind, his strong convictions of duty prevailed. In 1805 he was licensed to preach by the Bap- tist board of ministers, and received ordination in 1810, in Sullivan, where he formed a church and labored for many years, all or a part of the time. He was also instrumental in organizing churches in Keene, Swanzey, Marlborough, Peterborough, Hillsborough, Lyndeborough and Anti'im, and preached more or less in other towns in Sullivan, Hillsborough and Merrimack Counties. In 1820 he was called to the domestic mis- sionary work. He was truly one of the pio- neers in the ministry. A man of great energy and earnestness, not shrinking from any per- sonal sacrifice for the good of the cause he loved so well and labored so faithfully to sus- tain, nothing but utter inability could deter him from meeting his appointments, many times traveling until late in the night, and throucrh the scorchins heats and drenchins: rains of summer. He had a strong physic^xl constitution, which enabled him to endure the arduous labors through which he passed. The following was copied from the Chn'stian Watchman and Reflector some time after liis decease. It is from the pen of Rev. G. Rob- bins, who officiated at his funeral, being at that time pastor of the Baptist Church in Keene. Speaking of his succesful labors in the ministry, he says : " He was a man of a kind, concilia- tory spirit, humble, prayerful and zealous in every good work, and he belonged to a class of men that ought never to be forgotten, — that class which performed the labors and endured the privations of the pioneers of our cause in this State " After his decease, which occurred in 1849, the Dublin Association, as an expres- sion of regard to his memory, passed the fol- lowing : " Resolved, That his faithful and arduous labors in MARLBOROUGH. 269 planting new churches in fields before unoccupied, and breasting the force of opposition commonly inci- dent to such a work, claims from us not only a tribute of high respect, but of affectionate and Chris- tian remembrance ; and, as life is still spared to us, may a sense of our increased obligations stimulate us to renewed devotion in the service of our di- vine Master." He never wrote his sermons ; but, in the early years of iiis ministry, he would select a text of Scripture before going to the field (for at that time he tilled the soil), and while laboring with his hands he mentally studied and wrought out his sermons. He had a strong, sympathetic nature, and possessed the power to move and sway his audience to a remarkable degree. It was no unusual thing to see the congregation bathed in tears. The last few years of his life he labored in Pottersville, and preached up to the last Sabbath but one before his death, which occurred in Roxbury, N. H., December 27, ] 849, aged seventy-two years. Rev. Osgood Herrick, son of Ebenezer and Ivydia (Eaton) Herrick, was born in Marl- Itorough, November 19, 1799. He worked upon his father's farm until the age offifteen, when he was placed in a store iu Keene, where he remained until he was twenty-one, giving entire satisfaction to his employers. In the year 1818, at a time of great religious declension, Mr. Herrick and two others became subjects of the renewing influences of the Holy Spirit, and in the month of July of the same year united with the Congregational Church iu Keene, under the pastoral care of Rev. L. S. Bastow. ' Soon after, he felt an ardent desire to become more extensively useful than he could iu the business in which he was engaged. Accordingly, he resolved, as soon as t^ircumstanees would al- low, to prepare himself for the ministry. In the spring of 1821 he commenced the study ot Latin, and in the fall of 1822 was admitted a member of Dartmouth College. As he al- lowed himself but little time for preparation, he entered college under many disadvantages, and conseqently severe study became necessary during his first collegiate j-ear. It was during this year that his constitution was impaired and the foundation of that disease laid which resulted in his death. In the autumn of 182() he graduated at Dartmouth College, being regarded as one of the most distinguished of his class. The fol- lowing year he was engaged in teaching in the State of Virginia. In 1827 he became a mem- ber of Andover Theological Seminary, where he remained the usual term of three years. On leaving the seminary he received a unan- imous call to become the pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Milbury, and on the 9th of December, 1830, was ordained and installed over that church and society. Ten days subsequent he was united in mar- riage to Miss Emily Wilder, of Keene. Mr. Herrick was a self-made man. By his own perseverance he overcame difficulties from which most young men would have shrunk. By his industry and economy, he de- frayed nearly the whole expense of his educa- tion. Diligence and perseverance were among the most distinguishing traits in his character. He was never idle. He felt the work of the ministry was too great and too important to admit indolence, and he felt too great an inter- est iu the salvation of men and the honor of his Di\'ine Master to be discouraged by any diffi- culties that were surmotintable. Mr. Herrick's talents were more useful than splendid. He excelled rather in a clearness of mind than brilliancy of imagination. His views were .seldom confused or his conceptions feeble on any subject to which he directed his atteution. He was a man of sound, practicable wisdom. He formed his opinions on subjects after taking a comprehensive view of their va- rious bearings, and generally with such preci- sion as not to have occasion to change. He was also a man of firmness of purpose, — did not form any plan of action without careful exami- nation and a conviction of dutv ; but, when his 270 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. conclusions were formed, he was not waver- ing, aQtl only on the presentation of weighty reasons did he desire to change. Cautious to resolve, convinced he was right, he firmly, and with all the energies of his soul, executed his res- olutions. His mind was well balanced ; and his facul- ties were not only well proportioned, but culti- vated in due symmetry. As a preacher of Divine truth, Mr, Merrick was clear, instruc- tive, energetic and expressive. He never aimed, in the solemn work of preaching the gospel, merely to amuse the fancy or gratify a fastidi- ous taste, but to enlighten the mind, arouse the conscience, affect the heart and save the soul. His manner of delivery was earnest and impres- sive; his eloquence, that of clear thought, .sound argument and ardent feeling. As a pastor, he was devoted and laborious, ever ready to coun- sel the afflicted, to instruct the inquirer, to en- courage and edify the saints ; as a fi-iend, frank, affectionate and obliging. He died at Milbury, Mass., March 16, 1837. Asa Geeexwood. — Should it be asked to whom is Marlborough most indebted for its imj)ortaut internal improvements, without hesi- tatancy the reply must be, Asa Greenwood. Though not a native of the town, still, as soon as he took up his abode here, which was in 1836, he began to put up stone structures. Nearly all the granite buildings and bridges in this vicinity were erected by him. He was a genius, and greatly given to mechanical inven- tion. He was remarkable for planning, and executing as well. He became skilletl in work- ing on wood and stone. He aimed at thor- oughness ; no work of his was slighted. Really, he builded for the ages. For centuries the generations to come will have the oppor- tunity of looking upon what he conceived and what he builded. In 1853 he removed to Illi- nois, where he resided till 1877, when he came to Dummcrstou, Vt., to visit his son, Colonel \V. H. Greenwood, and so, with him. he was permitted to visit Marlborough once more and Dublin, his native town ; and, on his return to his son's, he sickened and passed away at the ripe age of four-score years. His remains were brought to Marlborough, and his funeral service was held in the church he built, and he was in- terred in the cemetery which originated with him. So his ashes rest as he longed to have them, — in Graniteville Cemetery, in the lot he selected and marked with a granite monument, bearing the name Greenwood ; but his epitaph is written in the hearts of all who knew him in lasting characters, telling of a generous and honest man, who thought for himself and lived for others, building better than he knew, by loving God and man. Cyrus Wakefield, son of James and Hannah (Hemenway) Wakefield, was born in Marlborough February 14, 1811. His father's ftirm was included in that territory which, the following year, was set oft' to make the town of Roxbury ; hence the report that he was a native of Roxbury. The following condensed sketch of his life and character is taken from Eaton's " History of Wakefield and Reading," Mass. : " His father's occupation was that of a farmer, and thus his early associations were connected with the rugged discipline of a New England farm. " The executive and administrative qualities of his mind began to develop very early in life. There were numberless projects in his busy child-brain, to the accomplishment of which he bent, not only his own, but also the abilities of his brothers. "At an early age he grew restive. Some of his relatives had gone to othef States, and, at times, would return to tell what they had seen and done in the great cities. His father's farm would seem now too small for his growing ambition. The successes of his friends kindled in his own bosom a generous emulation. He, too, would try his fortune in the great world outside. He had heard of the fame of Mr. Appleton, of Dublin, who bad emerged from MARLBOROUGH. 271 obscurity like his own, Init who was then widely known as a successful and an honorable merchant. What others had done he could do ; and he incessantly urged his views upon his father, who as constantly presented the other and darker side, showing how many who went to the city lost health, time and even chai'acter in their pursuit of wealth, and were ultimately ol)liged to return in disgrace to their native towns. But at the age of fifteen years, with his parents' consent, he went to Boston, declar- ing that he would achieve success and make a name of which his friends would be proud. "Arriving in Boston, he at first entered a small retail grocery-store of Messrs. Wheeler & Bassett, on Washington Street, but soon after secured a clerkship with Messrs. Stearns, Cobb ct Winslow, on India Street. While in their employ he conceived the jjlan of doing busi- ness on his own account, since he had some time at his command not required by his em- ployers. His employers gave him the liberty to buy and sell empty barrels and casks. He attended evening schools, both of an academic and mercantile nature; visited the various de- bating societies and churches; observed care- fully the habits of the people ; listened, so far as his time would allow, to the various courses of scientific lectures, for which his mind had a keen relish, and thus laid the foundation of what general knowledge he possessed. " In 1 8.38 he formed a copartnership with his younger brother, Enoch H. Wakefield, whicii lasted until 1844. In the latter part of this partnership the fortunate sale of some rat- tan, thrown out as refuse from a ship, led to the foundation of the business which has since made his name famous all over the world. "In the year 1 8 5«, ]\Ir. Wakefield resolved to begin the manufacture of cane in this coun- try, and to utilize, so far as possible, the whole of the material. " Commencing with a few machines, the in- crease of business soon compelled his removal to Wakefield, where his manufactories and store-houses now contain flooring of fifteen acres. "Among the many gifts to the town bearing his name, the Memorial Hall, costing one hun- dred thousand dollars, stands pre-eminent. " Mr. Wakefield was a man of iron will and resolute purpose, combined with great physical endurance. Energy, perseverance and an in- domitable courage in the face of almost in- su])ei'able obstacles were his prominent charac- teristics. He had a keen perception, and re- sults that other men reached by hard thought seemed to intuitively come to him. He knew human nature thoroughly, and could read a man at a glance. To those who knew him best he revealed at times a warm, genial and tender nature, though to a stranger he might seem distant. He \vas charital)le, giving not only in large sums to public enterprises, but cheering the hearts of the poor with his gener- ous gifts. Many students struggling for an education remember with gratitude his timely aid. As a merchant, he was shrewd, industri- ous, persistent and careful in the details of his business. His character and deeds are thus epitomized in the resolutions adojrted by his fellow-citizens on the evening after his death: " ' The valuable citizen, the prosperous merchant, the progressive leader in ornamental and architectural improvements, the friend and helper of education, the chief promoter of our local industrial pursuits, our munificent namesake, whose numerous and gen- erous benefactions will remain his enduring mem- orials.' " Mr. Wakefield died very suddenly on Sab- bath morning, October 26, 1873, at the age of sixty-two years and eight months." Rev. Cyrus Stone, son of Shubael and Polly (Rogers) Stone, was born in Marlborough June 9, 1793. Became a professing Christian at nineteen years of age, and remained a far- mer up to the age of tw^enty four years. His attention being then turned to the condition of the pagan world, he determined, after mature deliberation, to devote himself to the preaching of the gospel among the heathen. 272 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. He speut a year and a half at the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, after wliicli he en- tered Dartmouth in 1818, graduating in the class of 1822. I*ossessed tif little means and receiving but slight help from othei"s, he mainly supported himself, botli in his preparatory and through his collegiate course, by his own exertions, laboring on the farm in summer, and in winter teaching in Fitzwilliam, Westminster, Vt., and other places. His influence in college and in all these places of temporary labor was decidedly felt as a Christian M'orker. After graduating at Dart- mouth he at once entered Andover Theolog-ical Seminary, graduating thence in the class of 1825. It being deemed l)y the American Board desirable that their male missionaries to India at that time should be possessed of some med- ical knowledge, he spent the autumn of the same year at Hanover, N. H., in attendance on medical lectures. Early in 1826 he continued his medical studies at the Harvard Medical School, spending the year in their prosecution as well as in the performance of a large amount of re- ligious work in Boston and vicinity. During this year he was united in marriage to Miss Atossa Frost, daughter of Col. Joseph and Zilpha (Roberts) Frost, of his native town, and with her sailed from Boston for Bombay in the ship " Emerald " — Captain Heard — on the 7th of May, 1827, arriving safely in India in Sep- tember of the same year. In 1841, after four- teen years' service, he was compelled, by the state of his own as well as his wife's health, to return to America. He preached at various times in Bingham, Me., Harwich, Saugus, and East Bridgewater, Mass., and then located for several years in Melrose, Mass., seven miles from Boston, and engaged in the publication of the Iloihcr's Assistant and Happy Home, monthly magazines of a religious character, and of books of a similar kind for families. His final work, however, was in the ministry. He was instrumental in founding and provid- ing with a permanent house a church in Beechwood, a portion of Cohasset, Mass.; and he was called to be the pastor of the flock he had gathered. Here he died on the 19th of July, 1867. Jairus B. Collins, M.D., son of Samuel and Lydia (Mathews) Collins, was born in Marlborough April 21, 1794. He studied medicine with Dr. Ephraim K. Frost, of this town, and at the completion of his studies, in 1822, he removed to Londonderry, Vt., where he was a successful physician up to the time of his death, which occurred February 3, 1851. Jeremiah Stone, ]\I.D., son of Shubel and Polly (Rogers) Stone, was born in Marlborough November 2, 1798. He graduated at t)art- mouth Medical College December, 1825. He commenced the practice of medicine in Tops- field, Mass., January 6, 1826, and remained there eleven years. Finding a country prac- tice, with its long and tiresome rides, was im- pairing his health, he removed to New Bedford, and thence to Provincetown, Mass., in 1864, where he remained until his death, with the ex- ception of two years spent in Chatham. In town affairs he ever took an active inter- est, endeavoring to build up the place and ren- der it truly prosperous. Foremost in all good movements, he cordially espoused the cause of anti-slavery in its earliest days, when it was unpopular to be an Abolitionist. He was an ar- dent supporter of temperance, and an earnest worker in the Congregational Church, of which he had been a member since 1814. He was an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medi- cal Society. He was intolerant of quackery in every form and strict in his views of profes- sional etiquette. Prompt in decision, self-reli- ant in the emergencies of his profession, he in- spired and retained confidence in his skill. Though often abrupt in his manners, yet be- neath was a warm heart that beat in sympathy with the needy and oppressed. Earnest in his convictions, decided in his opinions and cheer- ful in his disposition, he carried the elasticity of MARLBOROUGH. 273 youth into the last years of his advanced life. Tall and erect, of powerful presence, he in- spired with hope the sick who sought his aid. To a naturally buoyant spirit was added the sustaining power of a strong and earnest religious faith, that made belief to him a bright and clear reality. He died April 23, 1875. Timothy L. Laxe, M.D., son of John and Mary (Livingstone) Lane, was born in Marl- borough September 1, 1800. He studied med- icine with Dr. Batcheller. Attended school first at Groton, Mass., afterwards at Hanover, N. H., where he graduated in medicine in 1824. He located first at Sullivan, in 1825; removed to Lunenberg, Vt., in 1832 ; remained there until 1834, when he went to Gilsum, N. H., where he lived until 1838 ; from thence to Daysville, 111. ; practiced medicine there till 1841, and then removed to Fillmore, 111., and continued the practice of his profession until his death, September 4, 1849. Rev. William C. Whitcomb, son of Dea- con Simeon and Sally (Lincoln) Whitcomb, was l)orn in Marlborough February 9, 1820. He was in his childhood singularly dutiful to his parents, nev^er requiring discipline to enforce their commands ; and in mature years was ever anxious, according to his means, to pro- mote their welfare. He received from them a religious training, and in 1837 united with the Congregational Church in this town. He pursued his literary and classical course at the academies in Jaffrey, Troy and Ashby. He earned his money to attend them by teach- ing, always living in the most economical way. He studied theology at Gilmauton Theo- logical Seminary, completing his course in 1847, at which time he was licensed to preach. He received several calls to settle in New Hampshire, but declined, as he wished to ob- tain further help for his work by attending the lectures of Professor Park, in Andover Theo- logical Seminary. He remained at Andover two years as a licentiate student. 18 May 1, 1851, he was ordained pastor of the church in Stoneham, Mass. May 1, 1852, he was married to Miss Harriet L. Wheeler, of Concord, Mass. In August, 1855, he was dis- missed from the church in Stoneham, after which he labored with the churches in Globe village (South bridge), in North Carver and in Lynnfield Centre, all in Massachusetts. He received a commission as chaplain of the United States Hospital at Newbern, N. C, which bears the signature of Abraham Lincoln and Edward M. Stanton, dated July 5, .1862, which he held to the time of his death. His labors in Newbern, Portsmouth and Morehead City, N. C, were very abundant and interest- ing, and continued two and one-fourtli years. In the summer of 1864 he came home on a furlough of some length. In September he returned to meet the sad effects of the yellow fever, brought treacherously by the enemy to our soldiers. Soon after his return he was attacked with malarial fever, and, before he had fully recovered, was taken with acute bronchitis, from the efifects of which he died at the hospital in Morehead City, October 29, 1864. Mr. Whitcomb's character was strong-lv marked, and he possessed many excellencies. He had an untiring activity, always doing with his might what Km hands found to do. He was in a remarkable degree frank and out- spoken, being incapable of disguise and know- ing little of concealment. But for nothing was he more distinguished than for a warm, lovins: CD ' c heart. He set a value on friends, and was true in his friendships. That he had a devoted attachment to his family is seen in the fact that, when absent on his chaplaincy, his general practice was to write to tliem daily. He was a decided Congregationalist, but loved all Christ's disciples of every name — union among Chris- tians being a favorite theme. He cherished an affectionate remembrance of his native town, in evidence of which may be mentioned the gift of a bell for the school-house in the village a 274 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. short time before his death. He loved the slave and the colored race, and from an early age was ever ready, according to his ability, to aid the cause of emancipation. From the outbreak of the slaveholders' re- bellion he took a lively interest in the struggle ; and that he was able with so much cheerfulness to sejjarate himself from a family he loved so well may be taken as evidence of true patri- otism . Mr. Whitcomb had qualities of mind and heart which could not fail to render him popu- lar and useful as a pastor. Much good, we are assured, was accomplished by his labors in connection with the churches to which he min- istered. But his active temperament and habits, his self-forgetfulness in his zeal to do good, his sympathy with the suifering, his cheerfulness, and readiness with thoughts and words for every occasion, seemed to fit him especially for the labors to which he was devoted, as hospital chaplain; and much was he loved by those who were the objects of his beneficent labors. Mr. Whitcomb was a pleasant newspaper correspondent. As an author, he published two volumes of original and selected matter in prose and poetry to comfort the bereaved. Although he fell in his prime, still he has left a full and useful life. DuNX'AN Abel Baker was born April 8, 1797. Like most lads in this town at that early day, he was brought up on a farm. He possessed a good constitution, was athletic and energetic and seldom failed to accomplish the object of his desire. His educational advan- tages were mainly limited to the district school, which at that period was much less efficient than now. These advantages, however, were well improved, and he became one of the best and most advanced scholars in his district. Having mastered the branches taught in the district school, he was sent to an academy in New Salem, Mass., where he studied one term and then commenced teaching. For several years he taught school in the winter, and as- sisted his father on the farm in the summer. As a teacher, he was very successful, and his service.= were sought by the best and most de- sirable school districts. He married April 18, 1821, and located upon a farm in the adjoining town of Troy, and de- voted his attention to agriculture. His admir- able qualities of head and heart were soon recog- nized by his fellow-citizens, and he became one of the leading men of the town. His sound judgment, practical wisdom and general intelli- gence fitted him for any position in the com- munity, and he was consequently elected at dif- ferent times to almost all the civil offices in the town. He served the town some fifteen years as selectman, — the most of the time as chairman of the board, — and represented it in the Legis- lature of the State in the years 1840-42. In all the public positions he was called to fill he was faithful and honest, and none of his constituents ever had reason to feel that they had misplaced their confidence. He did a large amount of business in the set- tlement of estates. His ability and familiarity with the law fitted him for civil practice. After a long and useful life he died, September 26, 1878, calmly, and in the full assurance of a glorious immortality. Osgood Collester opened his eyes upon life in this town February 12, 1815. He was born a singer and musician. He was the youngest of twelve children of Samuel and Si- lence Collester. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm and his youth in his brother Charles' shoe-shop. Becoming of age, he still worked at the shoe-bench, having become a skilled craftsman. It should be stated that he enjoyed fair advantages at the common schools, but, from his childhood, he exhibited remark- able musical talent. It was as natural for him to sing as for the lark. His voice was as melo- dious as the nishtino-ale's ; his ear was correct as to time, pitch and harmony. He began early to play the violin. At about the age of MARLBOROUGH. 275 twenty-five he commenced to give instruction in vocal music in his native town, and to lead the choir in the old church on the hill. Step l)v step lie continued to advance, till demands were made upon him to teach singing-schools in and out of town. He was gifted with re- markable aptness and ability to instruct. As soon as he was financially able, he put himself under the tuition of Lowell Mason and other distinguished teachers and composers of music. After this he devoted himself entirely to teach- ing and the study of music. He became an efficient pianist as well as violinist. He sung for a series of years, on the Sabbath, in churches at Winchendon, Worcester and Fitchburg, Mass. He composed many popular pieces of music and compiled several singing-books. He, by his own efforts, deservedly won the title Professor of Music. He was truly popular as an instructor in Teachers' Institutes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He died in 1873, with the high reputation of being Marlborough's foremost son in the divine art of music. Rev. Luther Wiswall was born in Marl- borough, January 9,1801. He early developefl a thirst for knowledge, but had only limited educational privileges, having simply the ad- vantages of common schools till he was seven- teen years of age, after which time he attended two terms at an academy, and pursued his studies at home as he had opportunity. In 1822, Mr. Wiswall united with the Congregational Church. His activity in the church led to his election as deacon, and he also superintended the Sabbath-school for several years. In studying the Scriptures, to qualify himself for the duties of his office, he liecame interested in study for its own sake, and the thought often arose that he would like to preach the gospel. In 1829 he purchased a small farm, and the following year married and settled down in life as a farmer. But his mind was not at ease, and four vears later he sold his farm and stock, removed to Maine and entered the serai- nary at Bangor, where he was graduated in 1836. The following year he was settled as pastor of the churches in Brooks and Jackson, Me. Here he labored very acceptably for four years, when he removed to Windham, in the same Stiite, where he spent the remainder of liLs days. Mr. Wiswall's intellectual structure was of a marked character. He had great mental acuteness, was profoundly logical and of sound judgment. He was also a sound theolo- gian, and an able defender of the " faith once delivered to the saints. " Nor did he belong to that class of preachers who think it unprofit- able to preach the doctrines, the great vital truths of the gospel. He regarded them as the teachings of Infinite wisdom, fitted to the spiritual wants of men of all ages, countries and climes, and as the power of God unto salvation to all who conlially receive them. Socially, Mr. Wiswall was one of the most genial and companionable of men. A quiet wit, guided by strong common sense, added much to the pleasure of social intercourse with him. On the first Sabbath in March, 1885, he preached his last sermon and administerefl the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and during that service informed the people that he felt that it was the last time he should ever be with them on such an occasion, as he was growing more weak and feeble every day. And in this he was not mistaken, for only two weeks from that day he entered into that rest which re- mains for the people of God. Though late in entering the ministry, he lived to preach the gospel forty-seven years. Jairi's Collins. — New Hampshire would not be the Switzerland of America were it not for her granite hills, lofty heights, deep dells and hard soil. If she has not been remarkable for growing corn, she has been for producing men. There is something favorable in her climate and atmosphere to yielding full harvests 276 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. of rugged human characters. If they arc likc'lv to be somewhat liard and rough, it is in a good sense, showing power of endurance and of overcoming tlic greatest difficulties. The subject before us is a good illustration of the granite stock. He was of hardy origin and good blood. He was brought np to push for himself ; and he did push, whether sawing wood, or laying stone wall, or studying Colburn's arithmetic, or mastering Murray's grammar. He had a mind of his own and was bound to use it. He made the most he could out of his early school advantages, which were derived from the district school and from a short time in the academy. He seemed resolved upon becoming a teacher in the public schools ; and before he was of age he made his first trial, and with success, which was the beginning of a long series of terms in town and out of town. He soon earned the reputation of being a " thorough teacher." It appeai-s as though more than half of the active men and women in town now were once his scholars. He has been and is still a thorough Marl- boroughite. He has been connectetl, more or less, witli jiulilic affairs for the la.st forty yeai-s; per- haps, no other man more so. He is now sixty- eight yeai"s of age, his birth having occurred April 13, 1816. He has been called to fill all the leadinsi officers in town from tliat of mod- erator to that of legislator. For many years he has served on the School Board. He has held the office of justice of the peace since 1852. He, no doubt, lias written more wills, settled more estates and done more probate business than any other one in town. He has been a workman at almost any craft ; 80 he has been one of the most useful men in the village and town to do little and great jobs when peculiar tact and skill were required. He is noted for being accommodating. He has served as sexton for many years. He has strong religious convictions and has been ready to make sacrifices in their behalf. He was the prime mover and donor in building the parsonage and improving the church edifice of the Universalist Society. He long acted as Sunday-school superintendent and is still most loyal to his church. He is a stanch temper- ance worker and tobacco hater. He is a man that wants his way, because he feels it is right ; still, he is kind, obliging and evidently desirous to help all. It can be said of him, he is a use- ful man. Nelson Conveese, born October 10, 1810, married Sally M. Jones, September 10, 1829. His mother dying when he was but four years of age, he was placed in the family of a sister, where he remained until grown to manhood. Soon after his marriage he removed to Newport, Vt., and loaited on a farm. Two years later he returned to Marlborough and engaged in the mill business in company with his brother Gil- man. Losing their mill by fire soon after commencing business, he then turned his atten- tion to book-making for a short time; but, find- ing the business not sufficiently remunerative, he gave it up, and became interested in the man- ufacture and sale of trusses and supporters, which business he continued until the comple- tion of the Cheshire Railroad, wlien he was ap- pointetl station-agent at the Marlborough station. Subsequently he was transferred to the station at Bellows Falls ; but, finding the position an undesirable one to occupy, he gave it up and returned to Marlborough, and purchased the residence in the village which he still occupies. He then engaged in the stone-quanying busi- ness, which he continued on his o\vn account, and as agent for othere, for many years, in the mean time purchasing and improving consid- erable real estate. His first wife dying in 1872, in 1873 he married, for his second, Mrs. Fannie M. Ever- ett, of Fitzwilliam ; for the last ten years he h;is kept a public-house for the accommcxlation of travelers, but has sold no intoxicating liq- uors. Being a person of an active and sanguine te.nperament in early life, he naturally took the MARLBOROUGH. 277 lead in all enterprises of a public character. Hi.s military career commenced at the age of sixteen. In 1838, through liis instrumentality probably more than that of any other individ- ual, the Marlborough Cadet Company was or- ganized, uniformed and equipped. He soon became its commander, antl from thence rose to the command of tlie Twelfth Regiment of the New Hampsiiire militia Re-entering the ranks again, he attained the position of major-general of the Third Division of the New Hampshire State Militia. Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion, in the spring of 1861, he com- menced a weekly drill of all citizens of the town wlio chose to assemble for that purpose, thus preparing them for the duties of actual service, in case they were called for. In the autumn of that year he was appointed colonel of the Sixth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers. The regiment was organized at Keene, and left there in December for Wash- ington, and from there was sent to Cajie Hat- teras. In consequence of severe and chronic indisposition, he was obliged to relinquish the active duties of the field, and, instead of asking for a furlough and continuing under pay from the government, he adopted the less selfish course, and resigned his commission at once. He has officiated as moderator in town-meet- ings for many years ; has held the office of se- lectman for three years, declining to serve again when elected ; he represented the town two years in the Legislature, was county commis- sioner for three years, and one of the building committee for erecting the present court-house at Keene. He has also held the office of deputy- sheriff for six years, and was twice unanimously nominated by the county delegation for the office of sheriff of the county, but declined ac- cepting it, and has held the coiiiniission of jus- tice of the peace for thirty years. In all these ]30sitions his rect)rd has been an honorable one to himself and creditable to the town. As a citizen and neighbor, his sympathies are always with those in trouble, and, conse- quently, his counsel and advice are oftcner so- licited, perhaps, than those of any other indi- vidual in town. Edwix Davis, son of Jonah and Sarah (AVilkinson) Davis, was born May 8, 1821, under favorable circumstances. His ancestry reaches back to the first settlers of New Eng- land. His father was a man of mental strength, good judgment, and emulous to do good as he had opportunity. His mother wa.s a woman of remarkably good common sense and generous feeling. They were both desir- ous to make the most possible of their only child. So Edwin was fortunately cared for in his early childhood, and at a suitable age was sent to the district school. Being of a genial disposition and full of fun, he was very much of a favorite among his school-mates. He always stood well in his classes. Having mas- tered to some extent the common branches, he left home at the age of fourteen, to attend Mel- ville Aiademy, in Jaffrey. Now, for several years, he spent most of his time in academies, pursuing the sciences, mathematics, English and classical literature. At the age of seventeen he taught his first school, in Swanzey, N. H. Though a mere boy, he proved himself able to instruct and govern young men and women who were his seniors. For a numl)er of successive winters he taught with commendable success. After this he decided to study for the ministry, and entered upon his theological course under the direction of Rev. William N. Barber, and after- wards continued it under the tuition of Rev. C. Woodhouse. He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the annual s&ssion of the New Hampshire Convention of Univcrsal- ists at Winchester, June 19, 1845. His first stated engagement to preach was in his native town, where his labors were crowned with suc- cess. In 1845 he removed to Richmond, N. 11., where he remained some five ye. Hulbert, Esq., of Ashtabula, O. He has taken great interest in the Grand Army of the Republic, having attended as a delegate the National Encamp- ments at Indianapolis, Baltimore and Denver. He is Past Commander of Post 39, Department of Massachusetts. He is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, and Past Master of Phoenician Lodge, in Lawrence. He has been twice a member of the Common Council of Lawrence, and was one year president of that boily. He has served as a member of the Massachusetts Republican State Central Com- mittee. For the years 1880 and 1882 he was a member of the Massachusetts Senate, serving upon the committees on the judiciary and rail- roads. He Mas a delegate from his district to the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1884, and favored the renomination of Presi- dent Arthur at that time. He has been an extensive traveler, having been largely through the United States and twice to Europe. He is at present city solicitor of Lawrence, ilass. Daniel B. Woodavard, M.D , eldest son of Stilman and Eunice (Buttrick) Woodward, was born in Marlborough, N. H., October 1, 1835. He- was the eldest of six children, — four sons and two daughters, — all of whom but one, the youngest son, are married and still living. Mr. Woodward was early instructed to caie for and cultivate his father's farm, and thereby at an early age was inured to solid physical labor. He was emphatically a worker in his boyhood. His early education was limited to the brief terms of the district and select schools of his native town. He early imbibed an ener- getic inclination to think and study for himself, being encouraged by his judicious and strong- minded mother, who had had experience in teaching in the district schools of her native town and vicinity. His youthful mind waxed stronger and stronger, while laboring on his father's farm and in the wooden-ware shops near his home, till he arrived at his majority. when he spent two brief terms at Westminster Seminary, Vermont. He was unpretending, studious and methodical in his attainments, — progressive, persevering, hopeful and bound to succeed. He commenced his professional studies under the efficient instructions of Dr. Samuel A. Richardson, of Marlborough. While pursuing his studies, not being unmindful of his duty when his country called, he enlisted in her servnce, and spent three successive years in a cause that lay near to his heart, — his country's freedom. During this time he suffered the hardships and privations incident to the field, the camp and the hospital ; ever efficient, faithful and true on the field of battle, as elsewhere. He continued his professional studies in the hos- pitals of the LTnited States army, and subse- quently entered Harvard Medical College, of Boston, Mass., where he graduated March 8, 1865, and receival the degree of M.D., and immediately began the practice of his profes- sion in Troy, N. H., in plain view of his old homestead, where he remained actively and efficiently pursuing the profession of his choice. The 17tli of May, 1865, found the doctor uniting his interests with the lady of his choice, Miss Ellen A. Burt, of Plymouth, Vt. In 1868, Dr. Woodward decided to leave the early field of his profession, and removed to Ellenburg, Clinton Counts', N. Y., where he continues to practice his profession. The doctor's early temperate habits, invig- orating out-door exercises and methodical studi- ousness, have developed a sound mind in a strong body, enabling him to perform the suc- cessive duties of each returning day almost unmolested by sickness or pain. In Dr. AVood- ward we see that the child and youth was father of the man. John Wilxje Conveijse, son of Nelson and Sallie JI. (Jones) Converse, was born in Marl- borough, July 3, 1848. Though a farmer's boy, and always obliged to labor at the farm- MARLBOROUGH. 285 work, he was regarded as being of a thoughtful ane far to the westward yet. Nature has been, indeed, propitious to him, giving but slightest hints of approaching age. It is true, his locks are frosted ; but his step is quick and firm, and his general appearance implies that he is right in the vigor of lite. Mentally, he is stronger tlian ever. It could not well be otherwise, for he has thought and felt and been truly interested in the works of God and man. His mind has ruled the body, making it sui)missive to prin- ciple. He has been no radical, rushing to the north or south in pursuit of the enchanted cave of the magnet; nor a conservative, with knees smiting together like Belsha/zar's, declaring there is nothing gootl but in the past. He has been fortunate in making a safe voyage, thus far, between Scylla and Charybdis. He is a native of Swanzey, N. H., and came to Marlborough in 1851, as a clerk in the Pro- tective Store ; but at l(?ngth he bought out the stockholders and continued in trade for him- self, at Lowellville, for some three years, when he purchased and removed into the store now owned by him and Mr. William Xason. Be- coming somewhat worn and weary of store con- finement, in 1 874 he sold out and removed to Grafton, Mass., having purchased a good farm there. But his hands had been toy /i. H BJi«'«« C^^i^r**^ ^c^**^ 1 MARLBOROUGH. 303 cliargetl satisfactorily for nearly three years, when he resigned, being desirous of extending his business interests, and went to Boston, and, in company with Josiali L. Crosby, engaged in merchandising on Court Street. This firm car- ried on business successfully for two years and a half, when Mr. Boyden, on account of the death of his brother Abner, sold out his inter- est in Boston and returned to ]\Iarlborough. After settling his brother's estate Elijah, in company with his brother William, took the stock of goods and store of his deceased brother and commenced trade under firm-name of W. tt E. Boyden. In 1840 they erected and occu- pied their new store. In 1845, Mr. Boyden was again appointed postmaster, and held the office until 1852, when he resigned, and about the same time G. D. Richardson & Co. pur- chased the stock in trade of the Boyden brothers. In 1854, Mr. Boyden was appointed route mail-agent between Boston and Burlinu;- ton, which office he continued to hold until 1860, when he resigned, and has since not been in active business life. Mr. Boyden married, April 5, 1838, Anna G., daughter of Rev. Charles and Mary (Hem- enway) Cummiugs. "Rev. Charles Cummings was born in Seabrook in 1777 and passed his childhood in Marlborougli ; was married in 1798 and settled in Sullivan. He was licensed to preach, in 1805, by the Baptist Board of Ministers, and ordained, in 1810, in Sullivan. He was instrumental in organizing churches in Keene, Swanzey, Marlborough, Hillsborough, Lyndeborough and Antrim. In 1820 he was called to the domestic missionary work. He was a man of great energy and earnestness, not shrinking from any sacrifice for the good of the cause he loved so well and labored so faithfully to sustain. He was a man of a kind, concilia- tory spirit ; humble, prayerful and zealous in every good work, and he belonged to a class that ought never to be forgotten — that class which performed the labors and endured the privations of the pioneers of the c^iuse of re- ligion. He never wrote his sermons ; but, in the early work of his ministry, he would select a text of Scripture before going to the field (for at that time he tilled the soil), and while laboring with his hands he mentally studied and wrought out his sermons. The last few years of his life he labored in Pottersville, and preached up to the last Sabbath but one before his death, which occurred in Roxbury, N. H., December 27, 1849." Mr. and Mrs. Boyden have an adopted daughter, Emelia, born No- vember 6, 1849, who married, September 27, 1872, Clark N. Chandler, of Keene, of the firm of Dort tt Chandler, druggists. They have one child, Carl Boyden, born November 10, 1877. Mr. Boyden is a Democrat politically, and as such, in 1865 and 1866, he received the highest vote of his party for State Senator. He has always taken a deep interest in political mat- ters, and by extensive reading has kept himself thoroughly conversant with the politics of the country, though in no sense has he been an office-seeker ; and no jiolitical or other influence can move him which does not first convince his sense of right. Careful and conservative, his keen foresight and delii)erate judgment make his advice and counsel of peculiar value. He is one of the vice-presidents of the Five-Cents Savings-Bank of Keene, and a director of the Citizens' National Bank of the same city. In town aifairs he has taken an active part, and held many responsible offices of trust. He has held the office of justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. Universalist in his religious belief, he has contributed liberally of his time and means toward the establishment of the church of his chosen faith, and his wife, a lady of marked superiority, has been an active worker in the Sabbath -school. A ready and fluent speaker, Mr. Boyden is often called upon on public occasions, and offici- ated as president of the day at Marlborough's Centennial celebration. 304 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Mr. and Mrs. Boyden have had the advan- tages of intercourse with other countries. In August, 1878, they started on a voyage to Europe, and, after sojourning for a time in England and France, they wintered under Italia's sunny skies and completed their home- ward voyage in the iSIay following. Soon after their i-eturn to Marlborough Mr. Boyden, at the urgent solicitation of his many friends and townsmen, gave an interesting account of their travels, in his social, pleasing and attractive style, and subsequently repeated the account in a large number of the towns in the county. Possessing an ability for the discharge of public duties, a well-balanced judgment, almost uniformly correct in its results, and an integrity of character that was never touched by whisper or reflection, Mr. Boyden was fitted to assume and administer all the duties to which he has been called. He is a good neighbor, a warm and welcome friend, a genial companion, a wise counselor and a worthv citizen. COLONEL WILLIAM HENRY GREENWOOD. William Henry Greenwood, the youngest sou of Asa and Lucy Greenwood, was born in Dublin, N. H., March 27, 1832, but his parents removing to Marlborough when he was but a few years old, his childhood was passed there. He was more than an ordinary boy, quiet in his manners, kind in disposition, persevering in effort and possessed of a strong will. He early showed a fondness for machinery and a skill with tools, and constructed many pieces of curious handicraft in his boyhood. He inherited his mechanical tastes from his father, who was remarkable for his inventive faculties, and did much to promote the improvement of Marl- borough during his residence there, and was a strong man, mentally and morally — all of which characteristics his children largely inherited. William H. remained at Marlborough until he was eighteen years old, attending the public schools and assisting his father in the various public works upon which the latter was en- j gaged, when he entered the Norwich Univer- I sity, Vermont, graduating in 1852. While at the university he easily mastered the highei mathematics, and the professor in that depart- ment, a gifted mathematician, was surprised al the original solutions and developments which Mr. Greenwood would bring before the classes. In 1852 he went to Illinois, and was employed in the construction of the Central Military Tract Railroad, now the Burlington and Quincy. Upon the completion of that road he engaged upon what was then known at the American Central Railroad, and was with that interest when the great Civil War broke out. He en- listed in the fifty-first regiment Illinois Vol- unteers January 17, 1862, and was commissioned first lieutenant of company H from enlistment, and captain of the same company and regiment from May 9, 1863. But it was not as a line officer that Col. Green- wood made his mark. Soon after the battle of Stone River, General Rosecrans made inquiry for competent engineer officers to organize a topo- graphical service, and he was selected for this duty, and, for better facilities for seeing the coun- try, he was ordered to report to General Stanley, at that time chief of cavalry for the Army of the Cumberland. The relation then established continued to the end of the war. Colonel Green- wood remaining a part of this commander's military family until the fall of 1865. No of- ficer served in the Army of the Cumberland who was present at and participated in more battles, actions, aifairs, skirmishes than Colonel Greenwood. The great battles in which he was an active participant embrace such names as Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, three months of Atlanta campaign (an almost continous fight, including Peach-Tree Creek, the assault on Kenesaw) ; finally, in the last great service of the Fourth Corps, the action at Spring Hill, the next day the battle of Franklin, and very soon the battle of Nashville, which ended the mission .^-^'7 -Z^/^i^'C/^-^^ Marlborough:. 305 oC tlie Army of the Cumberland in the destrue- tiou of Hood's army. It would be impossible to describe the value of such services as those rendered by Colonel Green- wood. Tlie importance of having a staff officer who can not only carry out the orders of his commander, but, in a ease of emergency, orig- inate and execute plans, can be best appreciated by those having such an officer as Colonel Green- wood. His education and experience made him a master t)f topography. His coolness and dar- ing fitted him to carry out orders in the face of danger. He thoroughly understood field forti- fications and many times his commander retired safely to rest because he knew Colonel Greenwood had charge of the work.. In July, 1864, wlien General Stanley was appointed to the command of the Fourth Corps, Colonel (ireensvood was com- missioned by the President lieutenant-colonel and inspector, to date from July, 1864. In this position he rendered important service in find- ing out the movements of the enemy, the dis- positions of his lines, the positions of his bat- teries. These were his constant employments, and his active, enterprising nature thrived in iiard work, and detested ease and idleness. His faults, happily, were t'ew, and were those of a man fearless and careless of danger. Many a time he rode miles thi'ough woods and thickets to communicate between detacheil portions of the troops, sometimes alone, or only with an orderly. Care for himself was the last thing to which to give thought. In July, 1S65, the Fourth Corps landed in Texas, taking post at Victoria, Lavacca and San Antonio. Colonel Greenwood was put in charge of the Gulf and San Antonio Railroad, which had been destroyed by the rebel jjeneral John Magruder. With the burned and bended railroad iron, and such timber as could be gathered out of the Guadaloupe bot- toms, he soon had the cars running to Victoria, saving immense expense and labor. After com- pleting his work in Texas he was employed upon the Kansas Pacific Hailroad. He was appointed chief engineer of this road, and while 20 liolding this position he made surveys on the thirty-second and thirty-fifth parallels through to San Fraucisco. During his service for the company, he constructed one hundred and fii^y miles of railroad in one hundred working days, and the last (kn- laid ten and a quarter miles of track in 10 hours, — a feat, perhaps, never equaled in railroad construction. In 1870 lie made the first general report in favor of nar- row gauge — three feet, i. e., — railroads, and was appointed general manager of construction of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Upon completion of the first division of tliis railroad he was appointed general superintendent, and remainetl until the road was finished to Canon City. He next went to ^Mexico, in company with General W. S. Rosecrans and General W. J. Palmer, with a view of constructing a national railroad in that country. ^Yhile eng-aged in this service he visited England and the Con- tinent in the interest of this road, but failina: to get the concessions asked for from the Jlexican government, he returned to New York, and established himself as a civil engineer. In May, 1878, he took charge of the construction of the Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad, for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Com- pany, and in March, 187!), took charge of the Marion and ]McPherson Railroad. During his numerous surveys he had several encounters with the Indians, in which his war experience came well to hand. The hardships from cold, from hunger and exposure duriun' this pioneer service in the railways of the great plains, were such as few men have experienced. As an engineer. Colonel Greenwood had few peers in his profession. No obstacle that nature had interposed, as it were, in frolicsome mood, in the canons and mountains of the West, deterred this engineer of science, of skill and daring, and railroad trains now run securely where before the wild mountain sheep feared to climb. The skillful capitalists who built these wonderful railroads of Colorado well appreciated his worth, and when the Sullivan and Palmer 306 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Companies undertook the International and Interoceanic Railroads from the City of Mexico to the Pacific coast, Colonel Greenwood was called as the most reliable man to locate the great work. It was while engaged in his work in Mexico that he was murdered near the public highway, at Rio Hondo, Mexico, on Sunday, August 29, 1880. The following letter received by General Stanley gives the details : " Colonel Greenwood was on his way to the capitol from his camj) near Toluca, accompanied by Mr. Miller, engineer, and a servant, to pass the Sabbath with his family. About nine miles from Mexico, near Rio Hondo, he stopped at an inn. Here there were a number of men, who, seeing his horse, laid a plot to obtain possession of it. They rode ahead some distance, where they remained am- bushed ; anil when Col. Green\TOod approached alone, having ridden on ahead of his compan- ion and servant, they rushed out upon him, hoping that the frightened horse would throw his rider, and, in that way, they might obtain possession of the animal. This plot failed, and their only way to obtain the horse was to murder its master. His body was found on tiie roadside by Mr. Miller, a ball having pierced the right hand and body, leaving the impression that he had been shot while in the act of drawing his revolver. His horse, carbine and revolver were taken, but his watch and money were found upon his person. The assas- sins were probably disturbed in their act of plunder. His body was brought to the capitol and placed in the American Cemetery. The sad event was deeply deplored by every one here, where, by his many virtues, he had gained many warm friends. " P. H. MoRGAX, U. S. Legation. "Mexico, November 23, 1880." Thus perished all that was mortal of this earnest, good and brave man, who had seemed to have a charmed life, escajjing the bullets of his enemies in war, passing unharmed through numerous attacks of Indians, enduring hardships from cold and hunger from which few could have survived. In the spring of 18.S2 his remains were brought from Mexico, and placetl in the cemetery at Dummerston, Vermont. Colonel Greenwood was a member uf the American Society of Civil Engineers, and had surveyed and superintended the construction of over 3000 miles of railroad. This was a great work for one man to do, only forty-eight years and a few months old at the time of his death. This quiet man, almost bashful in his modesty, had realized the object of his youthful ambition, and made himself a great engineer. His works are a monument to his great worth as a soldier, and as a man of practical science he was among the first. But there must be something said concerniny; Colonel Greenwood's domestic life, which was especially felicitous. May 19th, 1857, he married Evaline, daughter of Joel Knight, Jr., and Fanny Duncan (daughter of Dr. Abel Duncan, of Dummerston, Vermont), the fam- ilies of Knight and Duncan being among the most prominent and respected families in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Gi'eenwood had no chil- dren, but adopted a beautiful little girl, who died some years ago. Her death was a great grief to them. In 1873 he purchased the farm which had been the property of the Knight family for several generations, and it is now the home of Mrs. Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood found in each other congeniality, sympathy and help. In war and in peace, wherever it was possible for her to reach him, l)y sea or by laud, she was always near to cheer and encourage him with the love and devotion of the true wife. LUTHER HEMENWAY. The records of the lives of many of our New England men may seem humble and unpretend- ing when compared with those more brilliant and world-renowned, but they are such only relatively. The farmer, the manu- "M/1 :r HiWtv: ^^^^r^^^^^^^^-ZJ^ft^ MARLBOROUGH. 307 facturor and the mechanic eacli has his place in the structure of society, and it re(j[uires the dift'erent individualities to give beauty and finish to the whole. Fur more than a century the name of Hemenway lias been a familiar and respected one in the towu of Marlborough, and among the old and leading manufacturers, who deserve especial mention, is Luther Hemenway. The name is variously spelled on old records, as Hemingway, Heinmenway, Heninway, etc. The family was among the early settlers of Framing- ham, Mass., and was also of those wlio served their adopted country in her long and success- ful Revolutionary struggle with England. Ebenezer Hemenway, of Framingham, married Hannah Winch, ^lay 17, 1711. Samuel, born in Framingham, August 3, 1724, married Hannah Rice. Their son, El)enezer, born in Framing- ham, May 2(i, 1760, married, in 1786, Ruth, daughter of Amos and Mary (Trowbridge) Gates. She was born February 12, 1768. In 1787, Ebenezer Hemenway removed with his young wife to commence a life of activity and establish a home in Marlborough, N. H., and settled on what is now known as the Franklin Smith place. He took an intelligent interest in all the public movements of the town, giving of his time and means to forward the prosperity and welfare of its citizens. Congregationalist in his religious belief, he .was a member of that church for more than forty years. He was a man of sound judgment, Christian integrity, and was universally respected. He died Octo- ber 27, 1839. His widow died October 18, 185-1. Luther, son of Ebenezer and Ruth ((lates) Hemenway, was born in Framingham January 2, 1787, and came to Marlborough with his jiareuts when but sis months old. He married, for his second wife, October 26, 1813, Eliza Cummiugs, of a family well-known and honored in New Hampshire. He was a black- smith by trade, and had a shop in Marlborough, and was familiarly known as Captain Hemen- way. He was a stanch man, an old-time Whig, interested in educational affairs, and was one of the number who formed the Social Library Association. He removed to Jaffrey, where he died February 13, 1872. Luther Hemenway, youngest son of Luther and Eliza (Cummings) Hemenway, was born in Marlborough January 15, 1827. He mar- ried, December 7, 1853, Mary C, daughter of Joshua and Eliza (Rice) Davis, of Roxbury. Their children were INTary Lizzie, born August 0, 1859, died September 20, 1860; George A., born October 28, 1861, was drowned August 21, 1864 ; Fred. D., born April 30, 1860 (he received the educational advantages of Cushing Academy, Ashburnhani, and Commercial Col- lege, Boston) ; and Katie M., born September 27, 1871, died November 5, 1872. Ijuther Hemenway's education \vas acquired at the disti'ict schools, supplemented by two terms at Melville Academy, Jaffrey, to which place his father had removed. He improved his time and opportunities to the best of his ability, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, w'heu he left home to engage in business pursuits, and came to Marlborough March 1, 1S48, where he estab- lished himself with his brother Charles, and commenced making clothes-pins, having pre- viously invented a machine by which the man- ufacture was facilitated and cheapened. He remained with Iiis brother two years and was then employed by Mr. Snow in the manufacture of boxes and toys. After continuing with him for about two years Mr. Snow failed, and Mr. Hemenway, by his prudence, economy and fore- thouglit, having laid ujJ some money, he pur- chased the stock, and with a partner, E. JVC. Eveleth, under the firm-name of Evelcth & Hemenway, continued the business until 1861, some nine years, when Mr. Eveleth sold his interest to Mr. Hemenway, and he carried on the manufacture alone for four years. Geo G. Davis was associated w'ith him for a time, the firm-title being L. Hemenway & Co. Mr. Hemenway has also been engaged in other branches of manufacturing and is still tloing 308 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. something in the line. He started life with a determination to accomplish something and to do honest work, and now he can feel that he has earned the right to rest, or at least to enjoy the success of his hard, unwearied labors of many years. Mr. Hemcnway is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd-Fellows, and has been an active worker and officer of the order, his mem- bership dating back over thirty years. As to his politics, prior to our Civil War he was a Democrat, l)ut voted for James A. Grarfield, and may now be considered an Independent Repub- lican voter. He is versed in the business affairs of the town, having served its interests as select- man for several years, and held other minor offices. His religious faith is that of the Uni- versalists. Mr. Hemenway is characterized by modest and unassuming manners, strong attachments, great love for his friends, and is a good neighbor, loyal citizen and a worthy example of what perseverance, diligence and fidelity can accom- plish. He belongs to that class of New Eng- landers who, while unostentatious and unpretend- ing, are yet the true benefactors of the commu- nity in which they live, in that they add to the material prosperity of tlieir respective localities, and leave behind them tangible I'esults of their life's work. CHARLES (). WHITNEY. In the year of our Lord 1634, John Whit- ney embarked in the "Elizabeth and Ann" from England for the shores of New England. He settled in Watertown, Mass., and his sons were John, Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas and Jonathan. Many of their descendants settled in Framingham, Mass., and, about the middle of the eighteenth century, several families mi- grated from Framingham, Mass., to New Hamp- shire. In 1771, Joliu and Jonathan Whitney (brothers), of Framingiuim stock, came from Dunstable and located in that part of Fitzwil- liam now Troy. They lived for jiine years in a log house, purchased land and afterwards built a house which was constructed for a tav- ern and kept by them for eight years, during which time they did a good business and ac- cumulated considerable property. They closed their house to the public in 1788 and turned their attention to farming, and continued to- gether for a few years, then divided their farm and other business interests. Jonathan moved to Hartland, Vt., in 1810. John resided on the farm until his death, in 1820. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and was in the famous battle of Bunker Hill. His wife was Mary Jones, of Framingham. The children of John and Mary (Jones) Whitney wei-e Nathan, born in 1781, died in 1811 ; Polly, born 1783, married Luke Harris, died 1813; Sophia, born 1795, married Eseck Dexter, settled in the West ; Lucy, born 1785, died 1794; Sally, born 1787, married George Farrar ; John, born 1789, married Augusta Fish, went West; Betsey, born 1792, married Luke Harris, died in 1858; Luke, l)orn 1798, married Lovina White, settled on the Woodward farm, where he died in 1841, leaving three children, — Ann E., who married, November 27, 1862, Goodhue Tenuey, of Marl- borough ; Charles O. ; and Francis L., a soldier in the great Civil War, who died in Washing- ingtou, D. C, from effect of wounds received at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Charles O. AVhitney was born May 4, 1838, in Troy, N. H. His father dying when he was but three years old, and the f\imily being in liuml)le circumstances, he went to live with liis uncle, Ira Godding, of Troy, N. H., where he remained until he was about twelve years old, when Mr. and ^Nlrs. Godding died and the young lad was thrown u})on his own resources. Now commenced his hard straggle with the world for a living, and for the next four or five years Charles made his home in any family where his labor would suffice for liis board and "'•'S ■ hyAH-BM->'* MARLBOROUGH. 309 clothing. Of course, witli all these adverse cir- cumstances, he had but little time or opportuu- itv for education, but contrivc(l to get a few weeks iu the winter at the district school when there was not much out-door labor. ^lauy a boy, situated in like manner, would have been disheartened and taken to evil wajs, l:>ut he plodded on with quiet, patient industry, and when seventeen years of age he went to worlc for Charles Carpenter, of Troy, \\ ho manufae tured rakes and also carried on a saw and grist-mill. He remained with him about two vears, and atterward went to Gardner, IMass., and worked two years for Haywood Brothers in their chair manufactory. All this time Mr. Whitney was working diligently and assiduously, endeavoring to improve his mechauical skill. At the breaking out of the war, when tlie demand for fire-arms was largely increased, he went to Springfield, ^Nlass., aud worked for the United States government making muskets, continu- iug in this em[)loyraent nearly two years. While in Springfield, November 27, 18(i2, he married Frances F., daughter of Hyman Bent, of Fitzwilliam, N. H. She was born October 27, 1838. In 186:! he returned to South Gardner, Mass., and was for a short time in the employ of INI. M^ right tt Co., manufac- turers. But Mr. Whitney had conceived tlie plan of furthering his business interests, and his early life of labor had taught him prudence and economy, and ho now determined to start in business on his own account, aud, taking Rod- eric L. Bent, his l)r()ther-in-law, into partner- ship, under the firm-title of Whitney ct Bent, lie besan chair manufacturino- and carried this (in for more than tiiree years, with a fair per- centage of profit on the capital invested. In 18(i6, Mr. ^Miituey disposed of his interest in tiie business and moved to Marlboroug-h, N. H., of which place lie has since been a resident. In company with Mr. Goodhue Teiiuey, he bought the brick mill licjonging to (Jcorge Tiiatchcr, and they began manufacturing wooden pails, but, after three months' time, dis- posed of their stock and machinery, and, in con- nection with Dr. S. A. Richardson, D. A\'. Tenney aud Charles K. Mason, they formed a copartnersiiip under name of Marlborough Manufacturing Company, and in the spring of 1867 they made the first horse-blankets manu- factured in Marlliorough. This manuiacture proved a most important branch of industry and added much to the prosperity and growth of the town. After three years INlr. Whitney withdrew from the company, purchased land, erected a building, and, creating a new water- power, resumed chair manufacturing, which he carried on for a few years. In 1873, Mr. Whitney, with Warren H. Clark, formed what is now known as the Cheshire Blanket Company, and fitted up tlie mill, in which Mr. Whitney formerly made chairs, for the manufacture of blankets, and conducted this industry. These enterprising men have added to their business from time to time, and in the spring of 1880 they greatly enlarged their manufacturing facilities by the erection of a new mill, ibrty by forty-five feet, two stories high, now making seven sets of machinery. They have a cajiital stock of !|?40,(X)fJ and can produce five hundred blankets a dav. This firm is also largely engaged in the manu- facture of satinets, produces as many as twenty- five thousand yards per mouth, and the annual production, when running on full time, is three thousand bales. The children of Charles O. and Frances (Beut) Whitney are Frank R., born in Gard- ner, INIass., August 29, 1866, died August 25, 18.S5 ; Charles W., born August 4, 1877; aud Robert L., born September 10, LS80, in Marl- borough. PolitiaiUy, Mr. Wliitney has always been a Republican ; has served as selectmau and in various other offices. He is an attendant of the Universalist Churcii, and his son Frank had, at the time of his death, been assistant superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for two years. 310 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Mr. Whitney has been aud is a man of great industry, perseverance and pluck, aud to him is due, in a large measure, the improvement of the water-power in Marlborough. He was one of twelve Odd-Fellows, mem- bers of Beaver Brook Lodge, of Keene, to form the Paquoig Lodge, which was instituted Janu- ary 13, 1869. He was also- one of a committee of five to build the present Odd-Fellows' build- ing, which was occupied April 1, 1875, and dedicated the June following. Mr. Whitney's early manhood was one of hard toil, but, by ])ersevering efforts, from hum- ble beginnings, unaided, he has acquired a com- petency and stands well in the esteem of his fellow-townsmen, and is a good type of the self- made men of the (Jnuiite State. NATHAX WIXCH. The Wincii famil}- was an old and much- respected on<> in the early days of tiie town of Framingham, Mass., and emigrants from tSuifoIk Co., England, bearing that name appear on old records as early as 1643. In 1673, February 11, Samuel (1 ) Winch, of Framingham, the progen- itor of the branch now residing in ^Marlljorough, N. H., married Hannah Gibbs. Samuel Winch was a useful and valued citizen. He was one of the original memlx'rs of the church in Framingham, which was formed in 17Ul; he served as selectman in 1709, tithiugman in 1718, and died August 3, 1718, leaving a good name. His son Thomas (2), born in 169-1, mar- ried Deborah (jleason, October 23, 1718, settled in Framingham, where he died September 22, 1761. Thomas (3), Jr., second sou of Thomas and Deborah ((jleason) Winch, was born June 2o, 1723; married, December 20,1743, Elizabeth Drury. (Meb (4), son of Thomas, Jr., was born in Framingliam, September 26, 1744, married Mehitable Maynard, and in 1768 settled in that part of Fitzwilliam now Troy, N. H. He purchased land, on which he was obliged to fell the trees and otherwise clear the place in order to bring it into a state of cultivation, built a log house, and became a good fiirmer. He owned about two hundred acres at one time. The children of Caleb and Mehitable (Maynard) Winch were Joseph, Xabby, Betsey, Thomas, John, Hetty, Nathan, Caleb, Ebenezer and William. Caleb Winch was a man of untiring- energy and possessed great strength of character. I ] He was one of the first to respond to his coun- try's call, and was a brave and patriotic soldi(>r of the Revolution. He took part in the battle of Lexington, and was one of the attendants of the British in their inglorious retreat to Boston, and served his day and generation well. But unfortunately the memory of most of his ser- vices in defense of American liberty has per- ished with the generation of which he was an important factor. The historian of his adopted town thus writes of him : " He was an intel- ligent and useful citizen, and took a deep in- terest in all those enterprises which had for their object the improvement of his fellow-men. In nearly all of the public business of the town he acted a prominent part, thus showing the estimation in which he was held by those who had the best means of knowing his real merits. Although not lilcssed with a liberal education, he possessed talents of a high order, and he has certainly left conspicuous ' footprints upon the sands of time.'" He died January 12, 1826. Nathan (.5), born March 1, 1781, passed his early days with his parents on the fiirm, became a farmer and succeeded to tiie homestead. He married, first, Polly Davidson; she died in 1834, and he married Asenath, her sister. Some time after the death of his father he sold his tlu'm and purchased the situation long known in Trt)y as the " Winch Place." He resided there until his death in 18-51, aged 70 years. He wsis a Congregationalist in religious belief, and an active, worthy citizen. His children were Nathan, Mary (Mrs. Josei)h I'utney), Calvin, and Arethusa (^Irs. (Jeo. ]:5nt'klin). Nathan Winch, son of Nathan and Polly *v_-^^^^fe^ ^i^^^A. ^^^■^"^-^^C^ 2^-i^'Z'Z^i tf^i MARLBOllOUGrt. 311 (Davidson) Wiiidi, was born in Fitzwilliam, April '1, 1807. He improved liis limited educa- tional advant;iges to the utmost, taught school four winters, and worked on the farm summers. He remained on the old homestead with his parents, assisting in the farm labors, until he reached his majority ; then he engaged in work in a factory for making pails, iu Troy. Then, hav- ing the ambition that is characteristic of our New England boys to improve his circum- stances, he bought a water privilege in Swauzey, fitted up a building, and carried on pail manu- facturing for six years and then sold out his business. At this time, by his hard lalior, unre- mitting industry, and by rigid econom}', he had accumulated some money, and with the little lie received from his share of the old homestead he was able to purchase a farm, which he did in Troy, and for seven years was occupied in farming. He then resumed manufacturing, and came to Marlborough in 18o2, purchased a factory and continued until 1868, when he re- turned to Swanzey and was in the same busi- ness there, when his building was burned, and he removed to Marlborough and purchased an interest in his former business there, and after- wards became sole proprietor, continuing till May, 1881, when his son, George F., who is now in business, succeeded him. During his residence in Swanzey, Mr. Winch married, October 20, 183;'>, Abigail Bucklin, of Wallingford, Vt. Their children were Franklin B., died aged 15 years; Adelia, died aged 7 years; Dorothea, died July 31, 1872; George B., died aged 7 years; and George F., born in 1850, married, November 6, 1873, Laura I., daughter of Gilman and Harriet (Atwood) Griffin. (They have one child, Abbie Amelia, born June 12, 1877.) Mr. Winch's first wife died April 23, 1867, and he married, second, Nancy Winzell, of Ashland, Mass. ; she died January 28, 1872. His third wife was Mrs. Lucinda Scoville, daughter of Jesse and Lucy (Emery) Stone. They were married August 6, 1872. Mr. Winch has been a man of persevering- energy. Starting from an humble beginning, he entered upon manufacturing, and through it, with the labor of his hands, he has acquired a competency. Republican in politics, he has never been a political aspirant, but has been alive to matters of public interest. He served as selectman in 1847, in Troy. His religious belief is that of the Orthodox Congregationalists, and both his wife and himself are members of the church. He is of social disposition, a good neighbor, liberal and pul)lic-spirited and a use- ful citizen, and, at the age of seventy-eight, iiis intellect is clear, his perception keen as tliat of many nnich younger men. In his life Mr. Winch illustrates what may be accomplished by energy, patience, pcrscvcranci' and industry. JAMES KNOWLTOX. The Knowlton family belongs to the early history of New England ; for not more than two decades subsetpient to the landing of tlu' " Mayflower" at Plymouth, Mass., and the settlement of that town by the Puritans, we find, on old records of Essex County, Mass., that John Knowlton, the progenitor of the family bearing the name, was a freeman of Ipswich, in 1641. He died iu 1054, leaving children bearing the names of John, Abraham and Elizabeth. His brother Thomas was also an inhabitant of Ipswich iu 1648, and married, November 24, 1668, Hannah Grew. He was a man well known and respected in the com- munity, a deacon of the ('hurch and a prison- keeper. He died April 3, 1692. John (2), son of Johu (1), was a resident of Wenham in 1680. Among their descendants have been many prominent men in the law, ministry and other professions. Deacon John Knowlton, probably a lineal descendant of him whose name he bore, was born in Holliston, Mass., January 24, 1745. He married Martha Jen- nings, April 20, 1769, and migrated to that part of Dublin, N. H., now known as West 312 ItlSl^ORY OF CHESfilUE COUNTY, NEW HAMfSttlRE. Harrisville, and became a farmer, as was the custom of" most of the pioneers iu that section of the country. His wife died August 7, 1797, and he married, February 19, 1798, Elizabeth, daughter of John Wight. Their sou, Luke, who was born August 1, 1801, married Mercy Bemis, December 28, 1826. He succeeded to part of the old homestead, and remained in Dublin until 1849, when he came to Marl- borough. He was a stone-mason by tiade, and for many years worked with Asa Greenwood. He was a good and worthy citizen, and a member of the Universalist Church. He died December 6, 1882, in the eighty-second year of his age. He had sons, James and Luke. Luke enlisted, in 1862, in Company A, Four- t(!L'nth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, and served through the war, doing his duty like a brave and patriotic citizen. James Knowlton, oldest child of Luke and Mercy (Bemis) Knowlton, was born in Dublin, N. H., December 20, 1828. He mar- ried. May 2.3, 1854, Emily, daughter of Dexter and Abigail (Adams) Mason, of Dublin. She is a descendant of honorable New England families, is a lady of education and has been a successful school-teacher. Their daughter, Lilla M., was born April 16, 1857. James Knowltou had no other opportunities for obtaining an education than the common schools of his native town, but such time as could be giveu to that pur2:)ose was faithfully improved. He followed the trade of his father, that (if stone-masonry, Morking for him until he had attained his majority, when he com- menced business life for himself. He was em- ployed on the work of the Burlington and Rut- land Railroad, and for three 3'ears superin- tended ditferent gangs of workmen. He had a natural taste for mechanics, an ambition to im- prove his prospects and also add to his " stock ill trade" of acquirements. He became a ma- chinist, and was engaged by J. A. Fa}^ & Co. in setting up machinery, etc., remaining in their employ seven years. In 1862, Mr. Knowlton purchast'(l of (J. H. & S. W. Stone their manufactory of clothes- pins in Marlborough, and carried on this manu- facturing for six years. In 1868 he com- menced making wooden pails, which he has continued until the present time, taking his brother Luke into partnership iu 1865, under the firm-name of J. & L. Knowlton. The busi- ness has lai-gely increased, the number of pails manufiictured iu 1884 being one hundred and ninety-four thousand. Mr. Knowlton is also a contractor and l)uilder, and has been actively engaged in the erection of many of the houses in Marlborough of the present time. He sujjerintended the building of the dam at the reservoir at Marl- borough Glen, which is one of the largest and best constructed in this section antl is one of the best water privileges in Cheshire County. The whole length of the dam is 255 feet ; length of roll-way, 94 feet; extreme height, 35_feet; height of roll-way, 32 feet. Material used, 3500 tons of granite and other stone, 57,000 feet of lumber, with 3000 pounds of iron; costing about §3000. He superintended the building of the reser- voir dam at Bemisville iu 1868, and in 1881 he built the dam for the so-called Dublin reservoir, on the Mount Monadnock Brook. This was the last reservoir constructed by the Breed Pond Company. It was built on a solid ledge, wholly of stone, is one-half mile at its widest point and flows back a mile and a half The length of the dam is 125 feet, height, 23 feet, and width on the bottom, 40 feet. Mr. Knowlton was a charter member of the Odd-Fellows' lodge in Marlborough, and has held the office of Noble Grand. Politically, his affiliations are with the Republican party, but he has never sought or filled any office in its gift, being entirely devoted to his business. In his religious preferences he is a Universalist, and was among the principal movers and pro- moters of the church of " faith and love " in ^Marlborough, and is a liberal contributor to its support. From childhood he has been strictly MAKLBOROUGH. 313 temperate, and has never bouglit a glass of liquor. He is a strong, enterprising, progressive man, such an one as is needed in every community, and whose energy and influence are potent for action and advance. As a manufacturer and business man, he is a persistent, industrious, practical worker, careful in the details of his business, and his efforts liave been rewarded with financial success. As a friend and neigh- bor, he is kind-hearted and social ; as an employ- er, considerate of the interests of his woi-kmeu ; as a citizen, he enjoys universal confidence and esteem, and is one of the representative men of Marlborouy;h. SOLON STONE WILKINSON. Solon Stone "\Vilkin.son, was born in Marl- borough, March 22, 1828. It was his good fortune to come into this world in a very pleas- ant home. His father was kind and judicious ; his mother was affectionate and decidedly gifled in heart and mind. His childhood was j^assed on a farm, where the air was invigorating and the scenery strikingly beautiful. In the dis- trict school he was quite a favorite among his mates, being large-hearted and full of good nature. The boys used to enjoy hearing Solon laugh. In his studies he aimed to be faithful and did rank well as a scholar, excelling in declamation. He early learned the harness and .saddler's trade of his father, who was emi- nently successful in this business for more than three-score years. Reaching his majority, he still continued working for his father, and going in company with him for si'veral years, being highly esteemed as a citizen and a Chris- tain. At length he left jNIaidborough and settled in Keene, that he might have a larger field in which to work a)id trade. Here, for twenty years and more, lie was at the head of an extensive business in manufacturing and selling harnesses, saddles, trunks, etc. Though closely confined to his calling, still he has found time to work in church, Sunday-school, the temperance cause and social ways, so as to make his influence felt for good, proving that he is living to render the world wiser and better. He was a popular adjutant-general on ex-Governor Hale's staff. He is naturally very social aud genial ; accordingly, he makes hosts of friends. Not hmg ago he found it necessary to leave his store and trade, that he might not be .so closely confined in-doors, and since the change he has been engaged with his brother, Warren S. Wilkinson, of Springfield, Mas.s., who has become a successful and wealthy gentleman, in manufacturing woolen goods in Marlborough. So he has come back to his native place to do business, but still resides in Keene, where he has a pleasant home within and without. His wife was the daughter of Charles and Polly Holman, who delights in making her home most inviting. They have one, son who has advanced into manhood and is proving himself a blessing to his parents and the world. Mr. Wilkinson is large and well-proportioned in body, mind and heart. He is a worthy son of his native town. HISTORY OF MARLOW. CHAPTER I. The town of Marlow lies iu the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On tlie nortli, by Sullivan County ; ou the east, by Sullivan County and the town of Stoddard ; on the south, by Gilsum, and on the west, by Alstead. The townshi]) was granted October 7, 1761, to William Xoyes and sixty-three others, at which time it received its pi'esent name. The reservation of five hundred acres for Governor Wentworth was located in the south- west corner. The conditions of this grant were not wholly complied M-ith, and the in- habitants, on the 30tli of Decembei-, 1771, petitioned for an extension of the charter, which was granted January' 24, 1772, for a term of three years. In the petition they stated that twenty-eight families were resident in town, and that five more were to settle the following spring. The grantees were residents of Connecticut, principally in the vicinity of the towns of Lyme and Colchester. Among the first settlers were Thomas and Samuel Gustin, Elisha and Solomon Mack, Jasper and Nathan Huntley and Joseph Tubbs. By an act passed June 21, 1797, all that portion of the town, as originally granted, lying east of the curve-line of Mason's patent, containing some four thousand acres, was de- clared to be under the jurisdiction and a part of the town of Stoddard. An academy flourished here for some years, which was largely patronized by the inhab- 314 itants of the county and did a good work in the cause of education. The first town-meeting was held ]\Iarch 2, 1766, at the house of Samuel Gustin. Joseph Tubbs was chosen moderator and Sanuiel Gus- tin, clerk. The first selectmen were chosen March ll!, 1766, viz. : Joseph Tiibl)s, Samuel (iustin and Martin Lord. The earliest buildings were erected uear Baker's Corners, by John Gustin. Nathan Huntley settletl near Marlow Hill and Josejjh Tubbs in the south part of the town. The first meeting-house was erected iu 1798, ou Marlow Hill. It was taken down in 1845 and removed to the village and used as a Union Church. The Methodist Church also originally stood on Marlow Hill, and Rev. Peter Jacobs was the first minister. The Uuiversalist Church here was organized in 1847, and the first pastor was Rev. N. R. Wright. There are now three cluirchcs in town, — Christian, Methodist and Uuiversalist. In the early days the people of the town were generally Baptist. A Congregational Church, \s'ith nine members, was formed here in 1823, but was long since discontinued. The first physician in the town was, proba- bly, Dr. Isaac Baker. Others have been Thomas J. Stevens, Lyman Brooks, Reuben Hatch, Dr. Richardson, R. G. Matlier and Marshall Perkins. In olden times, Baker's Corners was the cen- tre of business in the town, containing a store, potash manufactory and hotel. The first store was opened by a Mr. Lamphcre on the " Hill," MARLOW. 315 and the hotol of most not*; was Ivopt l)y ^Vliiion Smitli, familarly known as " Peg Smith." Thi; iirst hotel in the town was located at Baker's C'Orners, and Samuel Richardson was pro- prietor. The first store in South Marlow was opened bv Joel Tcnney. The first tannery in tlio town was built l>y Ward Ware. The first tannery at Marlow village was built by L. Iluntly in 1S.35. This has been succeeded by the present large tanning establishment of Hon. James ]5urnap. DOCUMENTARY HISTORY. Inventory of 1773. " A True Inventory of :ill the Poles and Ratable Kstate in the Township of Marlow Taken this twenty Sixth day of April 1773 by us the Subscribers Select- men of Said Marlow " Thirty four poles — twenty Eight o.\en — ^forty two Cows — fifteen three years old — Eight two year cdd — thirteen year old — two Horses — one hundred and forty four acers of Mowing IamiX — Seventy Nine acers of arable Land — Sixty four acers of iiuster Land — " A True List attest "NicoDEMES Miller 1 Selecimen of "Sam" Canfield J Marlow " i)rovince of New Iminpshire A])ril y"" 26"' 1773 "County of Cheshire ss parsonally appeared Nico- denis Miller and Samuell Cantield Selectmen of Mar- low and made Soloom oath to the above Inventory by them Taken & Signed by them as above Is Just and True as there set down taken " Before me " B Bellows Justice Peace " Relative to the Election of Representative, 1776. "To the Honcrabel Counsel & assembeley of the Colony of New hami)shire to be Conveaned & as- sembled at Exeter on the third wensday of De- cember Instant. "The Petiteion of tlic Inhabetitants of the Towns of marlow Alsted and Surrey Humbeley Sheweth that where as it is the advice & Deriction of the Conte- nantel Congrace Reletve to the asumeiug Civel Gov- ernient in this Coloney have advised and Dericted I lie Provenslial Congras of this Colony Preveus to Ihfir asuiming a forme of Ceviel Government that they at their Convenshon Do Grant worants for a full and free Election of Representetves in this Coloney & where as veeres Cuppleingof veraes Towns toGether in the wesetern Parts of Coloney and allowing but one Representetve to a Cuppling and we being Defer- antly Treted from the Mager Parts of this Coloney who are allowed a Representetivc to Each Town and where as the Towns of marlow Alsted & Surrey are Towns InCorprated with all the Inverabel Privelig- eses & Eraunities that any other Town or Towns Do or may In Joy In this Coloney & being thus Cupplcd together as aforeSaid are abriged or Curtailed of the Privelig of Each EndeviDial Town Elec('ting a Rep- resentetivc which we Humbely Conceve Can not be Constred to be a full & free Election or Representa- tion of the Said Coloney agreabel to the advice of the Contenantal Congress above Resited we there fore your Humbel Petiteshers would be such the Honera- bel Counsel & House of Representetives that Preves to the further Preserving the Plan of Civel Govern- ment that there may worants be Granted for a full and free Election or Representation of Each of the Endvedial Towns above menchened Presewent to the advice of the Contenantal Congrace aforesaid thus Shall your ITumbel Petisonors as In Deuty B of viarlow " N : B as marlow is the oldest Charter of any Town that Joins on it we think it very improper that other Towns Should InCroach on our Rights & Priv- eliges &C " the within riten petetion is Excepted and by the town Voted to be Sent to the Honourable Counsil and Asemby " JosATH RoYCE toim Clark " Relative to Taxes, 1784. "State of Newhampshire " The Petition of the Town of Marlow humbly Sheweth That in the Proportion taken in 1777 the Town of Marlow Sent in their Inventory according to the best of their Knowledge Includeing all within the Original Limitts of Said Town — after which the General Court by their Special order Resolv'' that a certain part of the Land aforesaid with the Inhabit- ants thereon so far as the Masonian grant Extended Should pay their proportion another way whereby your Petitionei's where Deprived of a Considerable part of their Strength which they Expected in pay- ing the Quotas of Taxes Laid on them in conse- quence of their Proportion and also was Doom"* their Supose* proportion in 1780 Including the Land aforesaid Therefore your Petitioner humbly Pray* that So much of their Taxes As hath been So Laid on them may be abated that they may only pay their Just proportion of Taxes in Said State which they Ever Desire to do and no more and your Pctitionei'S as in Duty bound will Ever pray Nath" S Pkentice in behalf of Said Touni" Relative to East Line of the Toirn, 1798. " To the honarble Senate and hous of Representatives in .Icneral cort Convened at Concord on the thurd Wedingsday of this Instant November " your pertisherners humbley Shweth that whereas an act has Ben past Giving Juresdiction of a part of marlow to Stodderd to the grate deterament of said marlow and must unavoidable Ruen said town if Said act is not Reconsedered tharefore your portish- erners humbley prayeth that your honers will make thare Case your Case and then Consider wheather you would Be willing to have your towns Cut to peaces without the Concent of the inhabetents then your portisheners thinks they Shall be Abel By thare agent to Shew the unreasonable ness of that act which your jiortishoners thinks neaver would Ben past if the honerable Cort at that Time had farly un- derstod the situation of Both towns that Stoddard is Biger without that Strip than marlow is with it by Reason of Washington Exersising Juresdiction over a Considerable part of said marlow and your portish- eners humbley prayeth that they may not Be tore to peases to Set up thare nabering towns thow they are willing to sutler with other Towns But not to be tore to peaces to set them up tharefore your portisheners humbley Requestes that act may Be Reconsidered and your portisheners as in duty Bound Shall Ever Pray " Marlow November IG* 1798 " Elisha Huntley ] Select " Abijah MArK ]■ Men of " Wells Way J marloto" MARLOW. 317 Remonstrance to the Establishment of the East Line (iii by the Act of 1797. "To the Honourable senate & house of Representa- tives to be convened at Concord on the third Wed- nesday of November — " The Petition of the Proprietors of the town of JIarlow humbley shews that the General court at their sessions in June 1797 sett off the southeast part of Marlow containing About four thousand acres of s'' JIarlow under tlie Jurisdiction of the town of Stod- dard haveing About twenty faniylies on the same which we concieve was obtained by A Very wrong Representation of the Matters of fact And we your Pctioner not thinking it necessary at that time to send in A written remonstrance against the town of Stod- dard petition fully believing that the honourable court would never take off from the lesser towns and to put to the Greater where the town taken off from the Inhabitants to be taken off had not Requested it but to their great Disappointment it was done, and we your Petioners being fully sensible that s'' Act being carried into effect according to the liberty the town of Stoddard have taken and mean to take by taxing our Lands under the Lay out of the Proprietors of s'' Stoddard which your Honours will be sensible lays a foundation for A continered multicipticity of Law- suits to the Great damage of the publick and to the total Destruction of Many of Your Petitioners Interest on both sides and whereas the Proprietors of s'' Stoddard as well as the town have taken the most unwearied paiues to Defraud us and Arrest our Lands from us by every strategem that Depraved human natnre could Invent and we are fully persuaded your honours when fully possest of the facts will not uphold them nor strengthen them in their inthusiasm but will Repeal s'' Act and let us peaceably enjoy our Land as other Citizens do which is the humble prayer of your petitioners as in duty bound sliall pray •'Marlow June 4'" 1798 ^ "ELlJjiH Frink In Behalf of the Petitioners " All that portion of Marlow lying cast of the curve-line of Ma.son's patent was decreed to belong to Stoddard by an act pa.ssed June 21 , 1797. HISTORY OF NELSON. CHAPTER I. The town of Nelsou is located in tlie eastern part pf the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Stoddard ; east by Hillsborough County; south by Harrisville, and west by Sullivan and Roxbury. The township was granted l)y the Masonian proprietors, and went by the name of Monad- nock No. 6 until February 22, 1774, when it was incorporated and named Packersfield, in honor of Thomas Packer, of Portsmouth, one of the largest proprietors. In 1777 an attempt was made to have the name changed to Sullivan, which was unsuc- cessful. By an act passed September 27, 1787, a por- tion of the northwest part of the town, about two miles square, was combined with portions of Keene, Gilsum and Stoddard, and incorpor- ated into the town of Sullivan. The formation of the town of Roxbury, De- cember 9, 1812, took oif'thesoutiiwest corner of this town, and a portion of Keene and Marl- borough. The name of the town was changed to Nel- son, October 1, 1814, in accordance with a vote of the Legislature in .June previous. Tlie boundary line between this town and Roxbury was changed June 15, 1820, a small tract of land being severed from the former and annexed to the latter town. -Tune 25, 1835, the farm of Ebenezer Tarbox was severed from Stoddard, and annexed to Nelson. 318 Breed Batchelder, a Tory during the Revolu- tionar}' War, and Dr. Nathaniel Breed, com- menced settling the town in 1767-68. PETITION FOR AN INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN, 1773. "Province of New Hampshire. "To his Excellency John wentworth Esq" Captain General-Govoner and Commander in Chief in and over Said Province and the Honourable his majes- tys Council for Said Province. " Humbly Shewes Breed Batcheller of monadnock, Number Six in the County of Cheshire and Province afore Said Gentleman, as agent for the Proprietors of Said monadnock, that the Said Proprietors & the Public Labour under many Disadvantages for want of the Said Proprietors being Incorperated into a Town, & Invested with Town Priviledges The Pro- prietors of Said monadnock this year are ordered to pay a Certain Sum, towards the Province Tax, which Cannot be assessed upon the Inhabitants of Said monadnock for want of Town officers to assess the Same "your Petitioner Conceives that an Incorporation of Said manadnock, would Greatly Encourage and faceletate the Settlement, & tend to the Good order thereof. — "Whereof he in there behalf, prays your Excellency & Honours, would incorjiorate Said Proprietors into a Town by the name of Packersfield and invest them with Town Privilidges, and your Petitioner as in Duty Bound will Ever pray " November 1"" 1773— "Breed Batcheller agren^" The town was incorporated by the Governor and Council, and named Packensfield, February 22, 1774. NELSON. 319 PETITION FOR CHANGE OF THE NAME OF THE TOWN, 1777. "State of New-Hampshire. " To the Honourable Council & House of Represen- titives in General Court assembled. "The Petition of the Inhabitants of Packersfield Humbly Sheweth Whereas your Petitioners are by Charter obliged to hold their annual meeting in august which is a busy time of the year we desire your honours would order our annual meeting for the future to be in March, also that the name of our town may be altered to the name of guLlVAN — Likewise as our town is Liable to be Divided at the Governours pleasure we pray that we may not be Divided without the Consent of the Major part of the town. "and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray " Packerfield December 22°'' 1777 " Nath" Breed in the Name and behalf of the Town " The Hou.se of Representatives granted leave to " bring in a bill," but it was finally ordered " to lay tor consideration." GEORGE BRINTNALL'S ORDER TO MARCH, 1778. " m' george Brintnall Sir "you are hei-eby ordered to march immedately to the Hon' Committee of Safty or muster master genral at Exeter there to Receive your Billiten and E.xpence money as one Engage'' in the Continental Servise for nine months according to the orders I Reciev'' from Co' Enoch Hale "Packerfield may-ye 5"' 1778. " James Bancroft, Capt RELATIVE to TAXES, TOWN RECORDS, ETC., 1778. " To the Honorable the Counsil and assembly of the Estate of Newhamshire — " We the Subscrib.ers Select Men of the Town of Packerfield in the Countie of Cheshire Humbly Re- quest Your Honours that You Would be Pleased to Grant them Some farther Time for Paying in the State tax for the Reasons following Viz — "first because We Receiv'' the act for Making the tax but about a Week Past & the time is too Short to Sell the Lands Seacondly because Maj' Breed Batchel- lor who is Proprietors Clerk has absconded and Joyned the Enemy (tho we have searched) we can- not find the Plan or Records of the Proprietors Rights or the Publick Lotts therefore as the Greater Part of the Township is Owned by Persons Living Out of Town and Unknown to us We Cannot Make the Rates according to Law Without a Plan of the Town We Shall Endeavour to Git One from the Lord Proprietors Records — "Likewise We Would Request Your Honours to acjuaint Us Whether the Late aditiou to an Act En- titled an act to assess Real and Personal Estates Viz all Other Real Estate Either Lands or Buildings Not Included in the first act is Likewise to be Rated in all Other Town and Parish Rates as Apprehend Was the Intent of the act but by a Clause in the act Seems Doubtful to Some what was Intended and Your Pe- titioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray " Packerfield Febv 9'" 1778. ' Amos Skinn .N y NER j Packerfield " RELATIVE to ESTATE OF THOMAS PACKER, ETC., 1780. "To The Honourable Council and House of Repre- sentatives, of the State of New Hampshire, In gen- eral Court assembled. May it please your Honors. "The Petition of the Select Men of the Town of Packerfield humbly Sheweth. — Whereas the last general Assembly of this State was pleased to pass an Act, to Suspend the payment of the Taxes of the Lands of mr Thomas Packer, until the Dispute with respect to the last Will and Testament of his late Father, Thomas Packer Esq', is determined Which Act or Order of the said general Assembly involves the Town in much Difiiculty, as by this Means We are prevented Settling with the Treasurer of this State, And receiving the Money oi'dered by Law to be paid by Sd Treasurer for the Beef which this Town has provided And sent to the Army. Therefore Y'^our Petitioners humbly pray That your Honours would be pleased, to pass an Act or Order, That the Sd Suspended Tax, Should Answer So much with the Sd Treasurer, that the Town may draw their Proportion of money for the Beef which the Town has provided. And your I'etitioners as in Duty bound Shall ever pray " Packerfield Decem"^ 30'" 1780. "William Barker ) Select Men of the "John Brown ) town of Packerfield'' return of ratable polls, 1783. " Pursuant to A Vote of the General assembly of the State of New Hampshire Directed to us we Re- turn Ninety Male poles paying a pole tax for them Selves within the Town of Packerfield "Packerfield November 10'" 1783 320 IirSTORY OF (JIIKSHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. " To tlio (ioiicral assciiibly lor the State of New : Hainpshiri — "Samel Giiii'fiN, ) Sekct- "CONSIDKII O.S(ii)(>i), ] men." IIIOI.A TIVH TO A DIVISION Ol' THE TOWN I'olt THE KOUMATION OE SUI.MVAN, 178G. "To llie Honourable tlic Senate and House of Repre- sentatives for the State of New Hampsliire in Cieneral (lourt Convean'' At I'ortsnioiilli I)eeenil>er A. 1). 178(1. "The petition in lieliulfof the Town of Paekersfeild Hnnilily Sheweth tliat your petitioners luive ben Serv' Witii a Copy of a petition and order of Court thereon signed by a number of the Inhabitants of the TowiLs of (lilsom Stoddard & Vi-(;\\ Sctiiig forth in S'' petition that tlie Situation ol'a iiund)cr of tlie Inhabi- tants of the Towns aforesaid Togather with Part of tlie inhabitants of the Town of Packerfeild is sueh that they Cannot be aecoinedaled with Privileges Ivinal to the other Inhabitants of their respective Towns, one Part of which Ascertion your Petitioners absolutely Deny IJecause there is not one Inhabitant on the Land in i)ackersfeild Praid for in Said Peti- tion — " Althoug at a meeting of (he Inhabitants of the Town of Packerlield in the month of March A. D. 1784 There was a Petition Sign'' by a Number of the Inhabitants of the Towns of Oilsom Stoddard and Keen Prcferdin Said meeting praying that the Town of Packerfeild would Vote off a Certain part of Packerfeild to be Erected into a Town S'' part to Contain Two Miles East and west and Two miles and a half North and South which would Contain one Eighth Part of Said Packerfeild and from the reasons offered at that Time and through the inadvertency of the People the jiraycr of Said Petition waa granted upon Conditions that all the respective Towns Con- cern'' ware mutually agreed thereto (Senee AVMiich Period) not supposing that the petitioners referd to would obtain their request before the general Assem- bly) have proceeded to agree upon a Center for Erecting a meeting House and have made provision for the Same therefore if the Prayer to the Inhabi- tautsof the town of (iilsom and others Preferd to the (leneral Court Should be (Jranted it will be a means of removing the Present Center and frustrate our Design in Puilding a House for Public Worship and thro the Town into the uttermost Confusion imagin- able and as we look upon your Honours as Guardians of the State your Petitioners flatter themselves that your honours in your known Wisdom Will not Erect a New Town on the ruins of older imes : therefore your Petitioners pray that the prayer of the petition referd to may not be {^ranted "As in Duty Hound Shall ever pray " SoEOMON Waedwele "j Select men of "SoEoMON Inhales ^ the town of "Peeatiaii Day ) I'ackerfeild "Paekersfeild Decern' 1st 178<;" Tlie nortlnvest part of the town was severed, and, with [)ortionsoC ({ilsum and Ivecno, incor- porated info tliG town of Snllivaii. petition OE liUril liATCUICEl^ER, CONCEKNINII JIEK hushand's confiscated e.state, 1789. " State of New-Hampshire. — " To the Honorable Senate and House of Re|)re.senta- tivesln general Court assembled. — " May it please your Honors. The Petition of Ruth IJachellor of Packeislicld, humbly sheweth. That your Petitioner is the Widow relict of Breed Hatchellor Esq' late of S" Pack^rslieM— Deceased. Who in the Time of the Controversy with Britain, was dissatisfied with the Measures the States Adopted, in order to obtain their Liberties, and delivering themselves from the hands of the Britons, And there- fore Left his Wife, Children & Estate, and went to the British Army. Upon which the whole of his Estate, real & personal was Confiscated. And your Petitioner with her Children, was left in dis- tressing Circumstances, her Children being then Small, And unable to earn their Living, tho your Petitioner, by the Indulgence of the honorable Judge of Probates, has been for some Years past, indulged with the Improvements of the Home Farm, which when mr. Batehellor left it was new And ruff, the Fences made Chiefly of Timber, which now arc mostly rotten And Decayed. And the Buildings are greatly decayed & impaired. By which our Ilaltita- tioiis are rendered uncomfortable, And the profits of the Farm are greatly lessened and rendered insuffi- cient to afford the Family, with all their Labour & Industry a Comfortable Suppiut. Therefore your Petitioner humbly Prays that your Honors would take into your serious Consideration the Case of a poor widow And a Number of Fatherless Children, and grant the said Home Farm to your Petitioner & her Children And to their Heirs forever. That they may be encouraged to repair the Buildings & Fences, by which the Farm may be rendered Capable of alfording the Family a Support, And Your Peti- tioner as iu Duty bound, shall ever pray. — " Packersfield June 2d, 1789. "Ruth Batcheller" NELSON. 321 lu lluiise of RcprcsciiUitivcs, Jiuic \'2, 17(S'J, it was voted that Mrs. Iiat<"lieller have the use of the estate free of rent until the matter was finally settled. CERTIFICATE OF NUMBER OK RATAHLE I'OI,LS, 1794. "This Certifies that their is in the Town of I'ack- ersfield one Hundred and forty two MiUc Poles of twenty one Years of ago and upwards paying a pole tax for them-Selves — "Sam' Griffin 1 iSelcct Men "Amos Child Jo/ I'ackersfield •' Packersficld June y" 2" 1794 "This Certifies that a legal Town Meeting held in the Town of Packersficld on the twenty eighth Day of April Last the Inhabitants Voted unanimously that the Selectmen of Said Town Petition the .General Court at their next Session for leave to send a Repre- sentative "Sam' Griffin 7'. 67er/t " Packersficld June y' 2d 1794—" relative to REPRESENTATIVE, 1794. " To His Excellency the Governer the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire to be Convened at Amherst on the first Wednesday of June next — 21 "Humbly Shewcth your Potitinors Iniial)itants of the Town of Packersficld have for Some Years past been Classed with the Town of Dublin for Represen- tation that Said Dublin have now Come of age and Send a Representative for them Selves by which means your IVtitinors not having a SufBcicnt Number paying a pole Tax for them Selves are left Ilnrepre- sented — Therefore Pray your Honors to take our Case into your wise Consideration and grant us re- Icafe in the Premises Either by Classing or Granting us leave to Send a Representative by our Selves and your Petitinors as in Duty bound Shall ever pray &c — " Sam' Griffin "1 Select Men "Amos Child ) of Packer^eld " Packersficld June y" 2'' 1794—" The Conguegationai, Church was organ- ized January 31, 1781, with Jaeob Foste'r as pastor, who remained until November 23, 1791. His successors were Revs, (iad Newell, Josiah Ballard, Daniel French, W. P. Gale, A. H. Cutter, J. Ordway, E. Dow, J. Marsh, C. Willy, Mark Gould, T. W. Darling and G. H. Diinlap, oiu- present minister. The present cliurch clerk is V. C. Atwood. HISTORY OF RICHMOND. CHAPTER I. Geographical— Original Grant— First Settlements— Names of Pioneers— The First Town-Meeting— Officere Elected — List of Voters at First Town-Meeting- AVar of the Revolution— List of Soldiers — Votes of the Town— War of 1812— List of Soldiers— War of the Rebellion- Names of Soldiers — Ecclesiastical History— Post-Offices —Physicians— Civil History — Representatives — Town Clerks. The town of Riclimoud lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : North by Swanzey; east by Troy and Fitz- william; south by Massachusetts and west by Winchester. The township was granted February 28, 1752, to Joseph Blanchard and otliers, in sev- enty-one shares. In 17(jO, the grantees having represented tiiat in consequence of trouble witii the Indians they had been unable to comply with the con- ditions of the grant, an extension was granted " until His Majesty's Plenary Instructions shall be received." This extension was granted by the Governor and Council June 11, 1760. By the grant above mentioned, Richmond territory extended as far north as the northeast corner of Swanzey, there running to a peak. This triangular tract, with a base on Swanzey south line of three and one-half miles and forty rods, was severed from Richmond and annexed to Swanzey December 11, 1762. Another portion of the town was taken off June 23, 1815, combined with portions of Marlborough, Fitzwilliam and Swanzey, and incorporated into the town of Troy. 322 By an act api)roved July 2, 1850, tlie north- west corner of the town was annexed to Win- chester. The first permanent settlement of this town was pi'obably made in 1671 or 1672. Mr. Bas- set in his recently-published " History of Rich- mond," says : There is a tradition that one Sylvester Rog- ers or Rocherson, from Rhode Island, in 1750, made a clearing of about an acre, on which he erected a strongly-built log-house, for the dou- ble purpose of a shelter and a defense against the Indians ; that he abandoned the premises after a few months and returned to Rhode Is- land, in consequence of information received from a friendly Indian of an intended vjsit of hostile savages lurking somewhere, it may be supposed, in the vicinity, and that the place where his clearing was made was on the farm afterwards settled by Jonathan Gaskill and now owned by Jesse Bolles. This story may be substantially true, with the exception of tlie date of the occurrence, which we are inclined to believe should be some years later — say 1754 or 1755 — when hostilities were resumed be- tween the French and English colonies, and this from the ftict that there was no grant or survey of the township made prior to 1752, and that no rights of pre-emption were secured to squatters at that time. However this may have been, it matters little, as no permanent settlement was made ; the real question at issue being. When, where, and by whom was the first permanent settlement made ? Most of the RICHMOND. 323 evideui-e at hand bearing on the matter of time of the first comers indicate qnite strongly that 1762 was the year when the tide of emigration commenced in force. Now Lemuel Scott, if we may credit the inscription on his grave-stone, was born 17(>5, and Philadelphia Kempton, daugh- ter of Stephen Kempton, was born in 1763, and tliese are reputed to be the first male and female children, of white parents, born in the town ; hence it is presumable that not many families, prior to this date, could have been here for any great length of time. Again, when Jacob Eurap came to town there were but five fam- ilies in town, and he came after the birth of his eldest son, Stephen, who was born January 30, 1761. This is the statement of Mr. Nathan Bowen, a grandson of Mr. Bump, and is prob- ably the most reliable testimony to be had from any person now living touching the question of time. This would seem to fix the time of Mr. Bump's advent in 1761 or 1762, as his second son, Asa, was born in Richmond, January 29, 1763. Some deeds of the first settlers were record- ed in the Cheshire records, and among these the deed of Col. Josiah Willard to Thomas Wooley, who is sujiposed to be one of the very first in town, bears date of 1763, and the conveyance included the land on which he built his house ; but oral tradition says he was living on his place in 1758. He may have been the first permanent settler. Henry Ingalls bought in 1763; in fact, no deed has been found back of that date, but from this it may not be infeiTed that no one was here before that time. Probably but very few families made tlieir advent here before 1762; and that the south- ern and western portions of the town were first occupied appears quite probable, as the towns adjoining on these sides had been to some extent settled, while on the eastern border what was called Monadnock, No. 4 and No. 5, remained an unbroken wilderness. Paths leading to Royalston, Warwick and Winchester were first made, by which the first immigrants came into town, and these were afterwards laid out and made into public roads, and portions of the same have so remained to the present time. We may safely assume that those who located on the old road leading from Winchester to Royal- ston were among the first that came, viz.: the two Casses, (John and Daniel), Azariah Cura- stock, John Dandley, Francis Norwood, Jacob Bump, Silas Gaskill, and Thomas Josslin, to- gether with some others that located away from this line, as John Martin, John Scott, Con- stant and David Barney, Thomas Wooley, Reuben Parker, Oliver Capron, Edward Ainsworth, Jonathan Gaskill, Jonathan Sweet, Jonathan Thurber, Ephraim Hix, Henry In- galls, Stephen Kempton, Jedediah and Jona- than BuflFum, and many others who were here before 1765. These came mostly from Smith- field and Cumberland, R. I., and from Reho- both and Attleborough, Mass., as did the others that followed. The first town-meeting was held March 27, 1765, as follows : " At a Legal meeting of ye free Holders and other Inhabitants of the town of Richmond in the Prov- ince of New Hampshire Being Held at the house of John Cass Inuholder in ye Town on ye 27tli day of March A. D. 1765 Agreeable to the Charter of ye town Appointing the Last Wednesday of March to be the day for choosing town officers for the annual meeting. " Then voted and chose John Cass Moderator for this meeting. "Then voted that all free holders in ye town should have Liberty to vote in the choice of town officers. "Then voted and chose Daniel Cass town Clerk. " Then voted and chose John Cass, Di^niel Cass, John Martin, Selectmen and assessors for this present year. " Then voted and chose Timothy Thompson, Con- stable. "Then voted and chose John Cass, Town Treasurer. " Then voted and chose John Dandley, Tithingman. "Then voted and chose Jonathan Gaskill, Survey- or of highways. "Then voted and chose Joseph Cass Surveyor of highways. "Then voted to dismiss this meeting. " John Cass, Moderator. 324 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. " Province of New Hampshire March ye 27th, A. D. 1765 tlie Persons Before named was sworn to the faithful discharge of their several offices Accord- ing to Custom. " JosiAH WiLLAED, Jus. Peace." LIST OF VOTERS AT THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING. Jonathan Atherton. Solomon Atherton. Moses Allen. Ezra Allen. Edward Ainsworth. Abraham Barrus. Jacob Bump. Constant Barney. David Barney. Joseph Barney. Jedediah Buflum. Jonathan Buffura. Daniel Cass. ■ Deacon John Cass. Joseph Cass. Thomas Crane. Azariah Cumstock. Azariah Cumstock, Jr. Moses Cumstock. Aaron Cumstock. Abner Cumstock. John Dandley. Jonathan Gaskill. Silas Gaskill. Sylvanus Harris. Uriah Harris. Anthony Harris. Ephraim Hix. Peter Holbrook. Henry Ingalls. Edmund Ingalls. William Josslyn. Thomas Josslyn. James Kingsley. Stephen Kempton. John Martin. Gideon Man. Oliver Mason. Elijah Meader. Reuben Parker. Israel Phillips. David Russell. Abraham Randall. Joseph Razee. John Robinson. Timothy Robinson. Daniel Read. David Read. John Scott. Jonathan Sweet. John Sprague. Timothy Thompson. Jeremiah Thayer. AUes Thayer. Nehemiah Thayer. Nathaniel Taft. Silas Taft. Jonathan Thurbur. Thomas Wooley. John Wool e v. War of the Revolution. — The first ref- erence on the old town records in relation to the War of the Revolution was nnder date of April 6, 1775, — " Voted, To raise three pounds, eight shillings, which the Congress has sent for to this town." The first company from this town was under command of Capt. Oliver Capron, Juue 12, 1775, as follows : Capt. Oliver Capron. Lieut. David Barney. Sergt. Henry Ingalls. Sergt. Rufus Whipple. Sergt. David Russell. Corp. H. Thurber. Corp. Jas. Westcoat. Privates. Solomon Aldrich. William Aldrich. Nathan Barrus. Jeremiah Barrus. William Barney. Samuel Carpenter. Azariali Cumstock. John Ellis. John Garnsey. The following were pany in 1776 : I. Whipple, 2d Lieut. Daniel Whipple, Corp. Abiel Knap. Eleazer Martin. Eli Page. Daniel Peters. Israel Peters. Timothy Robinson. David Shearman. Jeremiah Thayer. John Wooley. in a Winchester com- B. Ellis, Sergt. J. Wcoley, Drummer. Zebulon Streeter. Henry Ellis. Amos Hicks. Asa Hicks. Azariah Cumstock Oliver Garnsey. Amos Garnsey. The following pany, viz. : Daniel Shearman. Allis Thayer. James Cook. David Barney. Jonathan Kingsley. Privates. Simpson Hammond. Ebenezer Peters. James Tilson. John Garnsey, Jr. Jr. Moses Cumstock. Daniel Freeman. were in a Swanzey com- Abiel Knap. Barnard Hicks. James Westcoat. Caleb Ellis. Timothy Martin, Jesse Martin, Joseph Al- len and Beiij. Starkey were in the service. At the town-meeting held on May 16, 1777, it was " Voted, That eight months constitute a turn in the service, and that a bounty of twelve pounds be given for said service. " Voted, Also, that all who have done Turns or parts of Turns in the war to have credit in the rates. " Voted, To allow the men their expenses, and pay for their time, that went to Cambridge on the alarm at time of the Concord fight in the year 1775. " Voted, To raise money to hire men to go into the service for eight months, or a longer time. Chose Isaac Benson, CajJt. Capron and Constant Barney a committee to hire the men. " Dec. 3. Voted, to increase the bounty to soldiers to twenty-four pounds instead of twelve, for a Turn, or eight months, to be allowed in the rates." In Captain Davis Howlett's company, of KICHMOND. 325 Colonel Ashley's regiment, which marched from Keene May 4, 1777, to reinforce the Continen- tal army at Fort Tieonderoga, were Lieutenant Edmund Ingalls, Timothy Robinson, Ebenezer Barrus, Sylvanus Cook, John YlWs, Jonathan Kingsley, Israel Peters, Peletiah Razey, John Wooley, Jonathan Westcoat. These were prob- ably all from Richmond. The following company was enlisted in June, 1777, for the northern frontier : A Muster Roll of Capt. Oliver Capron's company, in Col. Samuel Ashley's regiment of militia, whichmarched to the relief of Tieonderoga, 1777. Cajit. Oliver Capron. Sergt. Michael Barrus. Lieut. Henry Ingalls. Corporal John Ellis. Ens. Rufus Whi|)ple. Drummer J. Woolley. Sergt. Sol. Atherton. Privates. David Barney. Asel Harris. David Hix. Abner Aldrich. Samuel Hix. Samuel Carpenter. Simeon Hix. James Cook. Seth Ballou. Constant Barney. Reuben Parker. Oliver Barrus. Eliphalet Hix. Eli Page. Jeremiah Bullock. Daniel Thurber. Stephen Kemptou. Johp Barrus. Benjamin Ingalls. Othniel Day. Jefirey A. Barney. William Goddard. David Russell. James Shafter. Benjamin Thrasher. Hezekiah Thurber. Jonathan Bosworth. Samuel Hunting. Philip Aldrich. Israel Whipple. Peter Holbrook. The following were in a company in the battles of Bennington and Stillwater: Lieut. Henry Ingalls. Corp. Samuel Hicks. Sergeant John Ellis. Privates. Benjamin Ingalls. Joseph Ingalls. Eli Page. James Westcoat. Eliphalet Hicks. John Wooley. James Shafter. Nathan Bullock. Jeremiah Bosworth. Peletiah Razey. James Cook. Peter Starkey. Jonathan Kingsley. Simeon Hicks. Jeffrey Barney. Reuben Parker. Jeremiah Barrus. January 14, 1778, it was " Votedto raise men for the Continental Service for the duration of this present war with Great Britain, or three years." " Chose Rufus Whii)p]e, Edmond In- galls and Mr. Nicholas Cook a committee to hire said men." At the annual meeting it was " Voted That the Committee of Safety stand another year, or until another is chosen." June 15th it was " Voted Not to increase the bounty put on by the State." " Voted To raise three men to serve until the first of January next, unless soon discharged. Chose John Bar- rus, Daniel Head and James Westcoat a com- mittee to hire the men, and to pay the sum or sums the committee shall give for said men." " Walpole, February 13th, 1778. " This is to Sartifle the town of Richmond that Rufus Whipple hath got mustered Thirteen men for the town of Richmond to Sarve two years in the Co- nental Sarvis. "Peleg Williams, Lieut. Noah Porter. Jona. Willard, Esq. John Withy. Samuel Royes. Lewis Clisco. Asa Crasson. John Smith. Henry Carter. Jeams Wier. Joseph Powers. Thomas Hunt. Nathaniel Powers. Jeams Marrel. Abner Powers. William Taggart. " John Symonds. September 6th it was " Voted Not to allow the men credit that have done more than their proportion in the war with Great Britain." October 21st it was " Voted For the General Court to hire one man for said Richmond that is wanting for the Continental army for one year. June 4, 1781, it was " FofecZ To raise fourteen men under the State of Vermont. Chose Ed- mond Ingalls, Rufus \Vhipj)le ami Noah Curtis a committee to hire said men, and to proceed in that method they shall think most to the advan- tage of said town." May 6,1782, it was " lofed to proceed to raise twelve Continental men." The following is a summary of the service Richmond performed in men and money : 326 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. £ s. " In 1777 — Continental men, 15, paid. ...465 " 1778 " " 13, " ...555 12 " 1779 " •' 5, " ...180 " 1781— Frontiersmen 15, " ...102 10 War of 1812. — The town wa.s represented in the War of 1812 by the following : Dan. C. Bryant, Lieut. Carlton Bryant. Chauncey Bryant. Samuel Bryant. William Buffum. Stephen Buffum. John Cass, Jr. Moses Garnsey. Amos Howe. Cromwell Kelton. Townseud Parker. Daniel Thornton. Jedediah Buffum (3d). Lewis Whipple.' Jared Ballou. Henry Whipple. Richard Boorn. James Whipple. Thomas Bryant. In other companies were: NoahBisbee, Jr., Esq.' Nathan Cass. Seth Bisbee.' Aaron Martin. Daniel Jlan. Daniel Buffum. Stephen Man. Olney Ballou. Chandler Man. Benoni Ballou. Arnold Man. Samuel Barrus. Mordica Cass. Moses Tyler. Laban Cass. Joseph Jessop. Jesse Bishop. Nathan Perry (died). Townsend Parker. The following were drafted : Jacob Whitcomb. Chandler Man. Thomas Goddard. Salmon Martin. Samuel Barrus. Martin Cass. Nahum Perry. Lewis Aldrlch. William Barrus. Ellis Thayer. Ellis Thayer (2d). Eli Page (2d) Jeremiah Bolles. Millens Barrus. Paul Jilson, Jr. Benjamin Newell. War of the Rebellion. — The town re- sponded nobly during the War of the Rebellion. The following is a list of the soldiers from the town : Arlon S. Atherton, second lieutenant Company I, Third Regiment. Andrew S. Arnold, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Moses Allen, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment; killed September 19, 1864. 1 Noah Bisbee, Jr., and Lewis Whipple were killeil, and Seth Bisbee was wounJed, at the battle of Lundy's Lane, .Tilly 24, 1814. Frederick R. Bowen, Company A, Second Regi- ment. Edwin N. Bowen, first lieutenant Company I, Third Regiment. Henry R. Bowen, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Alfred R. Bowen, Company A, Second Regiment. William Brown. Charles Ball, Company F. Fourteenth Regiment. Abner S. Barden, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment. Otis A. Barrus, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment ; killed at Winchester, Va., September 16, 1864. Alden F. Ballou, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died September 2, 1863. E. Napoleon Buffum, Company F, Sixth Regiment; died of disease in Maryland, October 8, 1862. James H. Buffum, Company H, First Regiment. Albert Bolles, Second New Hampshire Cavalry. George A. Barrus, Company B, Eighteenth Regi- ment; died .Tune 16, 1863. Henry E. Ballou, Company B, Twenty-seventh Regi- ment, Massachusetts. Benjamin F. Barrus, Company I, Third Regiment ; died of wounds July 15, 1862. Henry R. Bolles, Company I. Third Regiment ; acci- dentally shot April 23, 1862. Albert E. Barrus, Company G, Eighteenth Regi- ment. Ira Marshall Barrus, Company I, Second Regiment, Massachusetts. John W. Barrus, Company I, Second Regiment ; Mas- sachusetts. John Bolles, Massachusetts Regiment ; died in Libby Prison. Artemas B. Colburn, Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment ; died September 19, 1864. Roland M. Combs, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment. Reuben H. Combs, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment. Jarvis Cass, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at New Orleans June 20, 1863. Anson L. Cass, Company F, Fifth Regiment. Henry O. Curtis, Company H, First Regiment; Heavy Artillery. Harvey G. Cheney, Company D, Second Regiment, Massachusetts. John Dingman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Rufus Freeman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. John H. Hitchcock, second lieutenant Company I, Third Regiment. Lorenzo Harris, Jr., Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment. Caleb Harris, Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Massachusetts ; died October, 1864. KICHMOND. 327 Almoii L. Jillson, Company G, Fourteenth Regi- ment; ilietl at battle of Laurel Hill, Va. Anson R. Jillson, Company A, Second Regiment, Massachusetts ; died at battle of Laurel Hill, Va. Silas F. Jillson, Company A, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts ; died. Nathan M. Jillson, Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts. Herman L. Lincoln, Company F, Sixth Regiment. Stephen W. Martin, Company I, Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, Massachusetts; died. George Martin, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment. John A. Morse, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Ansel Macomber, Company F, Sixth Regiment. John E. Norwood, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment. Benjamin Newell, Jr., Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment ; died October 14, 18G4. Daniel H. Pelkey, Company I, Third Regiment. Dexter Palmer, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at Concord, N. H., August, 1863. Nahum Putney, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at Algiers, La., June 12, 1803. John A. Paine, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; mustered October 23, 1862 ; mustered out, Au- gust 20, 1863. Warren S. Pickering, Company A, Eighteenth Regi- ment. Volney Piper, sergeant-major Company E, Fourth Regiment. Denzil Rice, sergeant. Company E, Third Regiment. Amasa W. Perry, Eleventh United States Infantry. John Stark ey, Jr , first sergeant, Company F, Sixth Regiment; died August 29, 1862. Walter A. Scott, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment; killed at Winchester, Va., September 21), 1864. Henry E. Tolman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Jonas I. Thompson, corporal Company C, Fourth Regiment. Samuel Thompson, second lieutenant. Company F, Sixth Regiment. L. Warren Wright, adjutant Fourteenth Regiment. Stephen W. Williams, Company I, Sixteenth Regi- ment. William Whipple, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Vibbert Whipple, Company A, Second Regiment. Alfred P. Whipple, Company F, Second Regiment, Massachusetts. Julius M. Whipple, Company A, Second Regiment. S. Wright Wood, Company E, Sixth Regiment. The First Baptist Church was organized in 1768. The present Baptist Cliiurh was or- ganized March 24, 1835, and the society No- vember 25, 1836. The Uxitariax Church was organized in 1837. The Universalist Church was formed in April, 1837, and at dedication of their iinst liouse of worship, November 22, 1837, the sermon was preached by Rev. Hosea Ballon. INIethodist Church. — The first Methodist Church in this town was organized in 1840 and dissolved in 1870. A second organization was effected in Jnne, 1871. The Society of Friends also held meet- ings in this town. The first physician was Dr. Aaron Aldrich. Dr. Ebenczer Swan was here in 1776; died 1820. He was followed by B. Harkness, Amos Howe, Martin Brittan, John Parkhnrst, George W. Hammond, Franklin Wallace, Lewis Ware, J. P. Willis, C. C. Wheaton, Alviu Ballon, L. Smith, S. P. French, C. J. Town, E. J. Duunell, John Heard, J. R. Hardy, Geo. F. Shore. The celebrated Hosea Ballou was born in this town April 30, 1771, and here was born also Elizabeth Ballou, mother of the lamented President Garfield. "The site of the birth- place of Hosea Ballou is now a most attractive place in a valley scooped out from the rough hills and mountains of the Granite State, and known as Ballou's Dale, surroimded by the most romantic scenery, the beauties of which he used to dwell upon in after-years, and to sing their praise in verse. The neighboring country is of a bold and rugged character, and is to this day but thinly settled." Post-Office. — The first post-office was es- tablished July 4, 1812, with Job Bisbee post- master. The following is the list from that time to the present : Job Bisbee July 4, 1812 Ono. T.Cass July 24, 1829 Stephen Wheeler Aprl. 24, 1832 John Parkhurst Sept. 6,1837 Danford Tyler Nov. 10, 1840 Jarvis Weeks July 8, 1845 Amos G. Bennett May 6, 1858 Daniel R. Spaulding July 16, 1861 328 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. L. W. Wright Dec. 19, 1870 Charles H. Lyon May 10, 1871 Amos Martin Mar. 7, 1873 Andrew Dodge July 12, 1875 Warren Kenop Aprl. 6, 1877 John E. Norwood Dec. 18, 1877 Charles Norwood May 7, 1883 The North Richmond office was established September 15, 1853. The postmasters have been, — Harvey Martin Sept. 15, 1853 Edson Starkey June 16, 1856 Harvey Martin Oct. 30, 1856 Discontinued June 17, 1879 Ee-established July 3, 1879 Orlow E. Parsons July 3, 1879 Orlan H.Martin Aprl. 13, 1880 Civil History. — The following is a list of representatives from 1776 to 1885: Oliver Capron, 1776 and 1783. Daniel Read, 1777. David Barney, 1778. Noah Curtis, 1779 and 1782. Jonathan Gaskill, 1787, 1789 and 1790. Nathaniel Aldrich, 1810. Jonathan Atherton, 1814 to 1817 and 1819. Benjamin Newell, 1817, 1818 and 1820. Joseph Newell, 1824 and 1825. Jonathan Rawson, 1827 to 1830. Russell Whipple, 1831. Nahum Aldrich, 1837 to 1840. Jarvis Weeks, 1840 and 1841. Nicholas Cook, 1842, 1845 and 1846. Kendall Fisher, 1843 and 1844. Stephen Randall, 1847 and 1848. William Wright, 1849 and 1850. Willard Randall, 1851 and 1852. D. B. Aldrich, 1853 and 1854. Moses Tyler, 1793, 1796 to 1802. Rufus Whipple, 1794 and 1795. James Cook, 1802 to 1807. Joseph Weeks, 1807 to 1810, 1811 to 1814, 1821 to 1824, 1826, 1830, 1832 to 1835. Samuel P. French, 1855. John Starkey, 1856 and 1857. Abner Twitchell, 1858 and 1860. Asahel Kelton, 1859. Hosea B. Aldrich, 1861 and 1863. Asa H. Bullock, 1864. N. G. Woodbury, 1865 and 1866. Edson Starkey, 1867 and 1868. Asa H. Bullock, 1869 and 1870. Elbridge G. Bemis, 1871 and 1872. Andrew G. Willoby, 1873. Alnion Twitchell, 1874. Edwin N. Bowen, 1875 and 1876. Joseph B. Abbott, 1877. Hiram P. Sprague, 1878. John E. Norwood, 1883 and 1884. The following is a list of town clerks from 1765 to 1885: Daniel Cass, 1766. Henry Ingalls, 1766 to 1792. Samuel Gaskill, 1792 to 1798, 1799 to 1802. David Ballou, 1798. Joseph Weeks, 1802 to 1822, 1823 and 1827. Jonathan Rawson, 1824 to 1827 and 1831. Benjamin Newell, 1828 and 1829. Ono. T. Cass, 1830. Jarvis Weeks, 1832 to 1836, 1837 to 1844, 1845, 1853, 1854, 1856 and 1857. Stephen Wheeler, Jr., 1836. Amos W. Newell, 1844, 1846, 1847 and 1855. Henry B. Swan, 1848 and 1849. William Bassett, 1850 to 1853. N. G. Woodbury, 1858, 1800 to 1865. D. R. Spaulding, 1859. Jarvis Ingalls, 1865 to 1871, 1880 to 1884. Amos G. Bennett, 1871 to 1875. Edward F. P. Dearborn, 1875 (one month). George W. Newell, 1876 to 1880. Almon Twitchell, 1884 and 1885. HISTORY OF ROXBURY. CHAPTER I. This town lies near tlic centre of the coniitv and is bounded as follows : North by Sullivan ; east by Nelson and Ilar- risville ; south liy Marlborough and west by Keeuc. An attempt was made to form this town in 179() from portions of Packersfield (Nelson), Dublin and Marlborough. A committee aj)- pointed to examine the premises reported favor- ably, but it met with opposition from the towns it was to be taken from, and the scheme was defeated. A petition froiu the inhabitants " of the southwest part of Packersfield, north part of Marlborough, and east part of Keeue," present- ed to the Legislature in 1812, asking to be incorporated into a town, was successful, the territory asked for being incorporated December 9th, of that year, as a town by the name of ]\oxbury. June 15, 1820, Samuel Griffin and his estate were severed from Nelson, and annexed to this town. By an act passed July 1, 1868, the entire town of Roxbury was annexed to Keene : I'riiridiiu/, said act should be adopted by a majority vote in each town. The act, how- ever, was not adopted, and Eoxbury remains as it was. I'ETITIOX FOR AX INCORPORATION, 1796. " Your Petitioners inhabiting the south west part of Packersfield, the North part ot Marlboro' — and North-west part of Dublin — " Humbly Shew " That they live very remote from the Center, but more so from the Meeting-Iiouses of their respective towns — "That the situation is such by reason of distance & bad Roads, that they cannot attend Public Worship &c. with any convenience — " That they are destitute of many Town preveliges. That some of their duties, as members of the several Towns are very burdensom — " That the town of Packersfield, has voted off a Tract of Land at the south west corner thereof and Marlboro' — has voted off a Tract at the North End therof for the purpose of making a Township — "That what has been voted off (in their opinion) is inadequate to make a Township — " That your Petitioners have Petitioned the several Towns for a small addition to said grants, Init without success — " That if the Tract of Land already voted off, with the addition of asmall piece of Packersfield, Marlboro, and Dublin, might be Incorporated a distinct Town- ship it would be highly advantageous to your Petition- ers and the Public Interest. — • " The prayer of this their humble Petition, therefore is, that your Honors would appoint a Committee to Examine the said Premises at the cost of your Peti- tioners — "And your Petitioners further pray, that the Com- mittee so appointed might be directed (if after due examination they Should think it reasonable to make a Township as afore said) to fix the Bounderies and make their report to the Honorable General Court, to be holden in June next — "And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray— " LoTT CooKE, in behalf of (he I'etiHoiurs. — "9th Dec, 1796— " 329 330 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. This petitition was referred to a committee, who reported as follows : REPORT OF COMMITTEE. "your Committee appointed in December the 8, 1796 to take into Consideration & vew the Situation of the SQuthwest part of Peclversfield and the North part of Marlborough & the Norwest part of Dublin as Set forth in the Petition of Lott Cooke and others. " Report as followeth, " Having Explored the above mentioned towns & the Situation of the premises pray'' for in the aforeS'' Pe- tition are of the opinion, that the prayer thereof be granted So far as that thay be incorperated as a town according to the Descriptions following " Begining at the Southesterly Corner of Sullivan then running Easterly till it Strikes the East line of Lot number Six in the fifth Range of Lots in the town of Peckersfild then running Southerly on S"* line till it Strikes the Norwest corner of Lot N° 7 in the 2'' Range of Lotts in Peckersfield, then running Easterd- ly on the North Line of the 2'' Range till it Strikes Breeds pond so called then Southerly till it Strikes Dublin line, then on the north line of Dublin East- erdly till it comes to the northeastly corner of Lot N° 19 in the 10 Rang, thence Southerly on Sd line till it Strikes the Southesterly corner of Lot N" 19 in the 7 Rang in S"* Dublin then Running Westerly on S"" line till it Strikes Marlborough East line, then taking thre ranges of Lotts of the north End of Marlborough in- cluding two gores of Land one on the north line and the other on the west line of S'* Marlborough against Sd Ranges, and from the norwest corner of Marlbor- ough on the west line of Peckersfield to Sullivan South Line then Easterly on Sullivan South Line to the first menctioned bounds. " Dublin Apreel 12, 1797. "all which is Submitted by your Committee — " Nath' Emerson "Ben.t" Prescott." The plan met with opposition, and was de- feated in June following. The Congregatioxai. Church in this town was organized August 15, 181 <>, with Rev. C. Page pastor. He was dismissed on INIarch 2, 1819, and from that time until 1837 the church was without a pastor. Rev. Alanson Rawson became pastor in May, 1837, and dismissed May 3, 1842. January 1, 1843, Rev. Ezra Adams assumed the pastorate and continued about six years. Other ministers have been Revs. B. Smith and S. H. Tolman. HISTORY OF STODDARD. CHAPTER I. This town lies in the uortheastcrn part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Sullivan County, on the east by Hills- borough County, on the south by Nelson and Sullivan, and on the west by Sullivan, Gilsum and Marlow. The township was granted by the Masonian proprietors to Colonel Sampson Stoddard, of Chelnisfoi'd, Mass., and others, and went by the names of Monadnock No. 7 and Limerick, until it was incorporated, November 4, 1774, and named in honor of Colonel Stoddard. Set- tlements were made in 1769 by John Taggart and others, who, for a time, obtained bread- nieul in Peterborough and carried it to their homes on their backs. By an act passed Sep- tember 27, 1787, the southwest corner of the town was combined with portions of Gilsum, Keene and Nelson, and incorporated into the town of Sullivan. The lines of Gilsum and Marlow, as char- tered, extending some distance cast of the curve- line of Mason's patent, as surveyed by Joseph Blanchard, and the west side of Stoddard, being .said curve-line, caused a serious di-spute as to which should have jurisdiction over the terri- tory in question. This was settled in favor of Stoddard June 16, 1797. June 2-3, 1835, the farm of Ebenezer Tar- box was severed from Stoddard and annexed to Nelson. The following Stoddard men were in First New Hampshire Regiment : Samuel Morrison, enlisted January 1, 1777; dis- charged December, 1781. llirhard Richardson, enli.-iteil Ajiril 3, 1777 ; dis- cliarged April 5, 1780. Nathaniel Richardson, enlisted April 3, 1777; died .Tune 24, 1777. The manufacture of gla.ss-ware was carried on to same extent at South Stoddard for many years. WARRANT FOR TOWN-MEETING, 1776. "By Virtue of an order from the Select men of Stoddard to me I Warn all the Freeholders and oather inhabitants of the Town of Stoddard To meet att the Dwelling house of Ens" John Tenneys in Stoddard on Wednesday the twentieth Day of June next at Eleven oOlock forenoon then and there to act on the following articles if they see fit " 1"' To Chuse a moderator to govern Said meeting — "2''' To See if the Town will Chuse a Select man in the room of Isaac Kenney who was Chose that of- fice and refuses to Barve the Town — " 'A'-' To See if the Town will Chuse two Constables in the room of Ephraim Adams and Benoni Boyn- ton, who was Chose and refuse to Sarve y° Town " 4'-'' To See if the Town will a gree to hire any preaching this present Summer — and Chuse a Com- mittee for the Same — ".')'? To raise Such Sum or Sums of money as Shall be thot proper — " G''' To See if the Town will Chuse a Commitee to open Such of the propriators roads that was Laid out in this town before it was incorporated as shall be thot necessary " 7''' To See What the Town will Do in respect to Isaac Kenueys Taken as alls oath " S'-'' To have the Town agree where the preaching Shall be if they hire any " 9'y To see if the Town will Chuse a Commi'tee to reckon with oliver Parker and to receive his ac- compts and give him recipts — and to Demand of him the Said parker the Town Book of records 331 332 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. With the incorporation and all the records that are past "Stoddard may y' 22'* 1776 " Isaac Temple Town CIr " remonstraxf'e against the election of joseph eounseval. " Colony op Newhamp"^ " to the Hon"" Counciele and house of Representa- tives for s** Colony — "the Petition and prayer of the subscribers Inhabit- ants of Stoddard in S'' Colony humbly Sheweth that m' Joseph Rounsivile may not have a Seat in Court for Reasons here mentioned firstly because he is not worth the money Seccondly because he is not leagly Chousen the Town not being warned to Chuse a Representitive But to Chuse a Comt"' to Chuse one and accordingly he was Chosen by Comt'"'' "Stoddard August 2'' 1776 " Jonathan Bennett Joel Gilson Oliver Parker William Dutton John Dutton Isaac Kenney Asa Adams Moses Kenny " Thomas Adams disorder at a town-meeting, 1776. "The Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants of Stoddard in the Colony afores'' humbly Sheweth That on the Last Thursday of the month of march Last past at Stoddard afores'' was held y" annual meeting, so called, for the Town afores'' when after Chusing by hand Vote The Town officers for the Ensuing Year (among which Officers were Two Constables Chosen) The Town Clerk and Selectmen then chosen utterly refused to permit the s'' Constables to take the Oath of office, declaring that y" former Selectmen should make y" assesment, and the former Constables col- lect the same, for the Ensuing year, after the Trans- acting of which it was requested of the moderator to Adjourn y'' s'' meeting, upon which he called a Vote to see if it was the mind of y* Inhabitants so to do who almost unanimously voted that s"* meeting be not adjourned, but the moderator notwithstanding did declare the same adjourned untill y"" Second day of may then next, at which Time a Number of your petitioners protested against y'" proceedings of s'' meeting for the Reasons afores'' your Petitioners fur- ther shew that on the Twelfth day of June Instant a small Number of the Inhabitants of y" s'' Town did meet Together at a place never before that Time used for that purpose in a Tumultuous manner to the Number of about Eight persons to vote upon Sundry Articles and things in the notification herewith Ex- hidited, mentioned, by means of all which proceed- ings the utmost disorder and Confussion is introduced into y" s"* Town, and the most unhappy Consequences are reasonably Expected to take place, wherefore your Petitioners (being a major Part of the Inhab- itants freeholders and others Legally Qualified to Vote in Town meetings) humbly pray your Honors to take this our Petition into your wise Consideration and to a point some Legal method for calling a meet- ing of y" Inhabitants of s'' Town as soon as may be in order to transact y" necessary business of y" Town and restore peace and Harmony amongst the Inhab- itants or otherways to Grant us releif as to your Hon- ors shall seem fit, and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall Ever pray "Stoddard June 18, 1776. " John Dutton Daniel Kenny Jonathan Bennett Moses Kenny Oliver Parker Samuel Parks Reuben Walton Ebeuezer Wright Asa Adams Ephraim Adams John Joyner John N mther Joel Gilson Timothy Jlather Moses Bennett Richard Emerson William Dutton Zach' Adams Joseph Dodge Thomas Adams Benoni Boynton Isaac Kenney " 111 House of Representatives, September 19, a hearing was ordered for the next session. SUMMONS TO OLIVER PARKER, 1776. "Stoddard may y'' 22* 1776. " To Oliver Parker — you are hereby required to ap- pear att the Dwelling house of m' John Tennys in Stoddrad afore S** on Wednesday the fifth Day of June next at Ten oClock fore noon then and there to make answer to a Complant Brought to us against you wherein you appear inimical to america in a number of alegations fail not of apperence at your peril — as your neglect will be faithfully reported to the Coni- mitee of Safty for the Colony of New Hampshire given under our hands at Stoddrd afore Said — " Alexander Scott ^ Commitee " Nathaniel Emerson V of safty "Amos Butterfield ) for Stoddard" PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776. " Att a meeting of the Commitees of Safty for the Towns of Stoddard Camden and marlow met at the house of m' John Tenneys on the fifth Day of June 1776 to hear and Examine into a Complaint Brought to us against one oliver Parker of Stoddard — setting STODDAKD. 333 forth the S'' paiker to be inimical to america and its Liberties Proceed and Chose m' Sam" Gustin Chair- man — " The inclosed Complaint is the same that was Brought to us, and has ben fully suported and prov"* — " upon which we Came to the following resolution viz — " 1*' it is the opinion of the Committees that y' s'' parker is notoriously Disafl'ected to the american Cause — "2^' it is the opinion of the Commitees that the S'' parker is so notoriously Disaffecf that he the S'' parker be Emedeately Disarmed from all instruments of war — " 3''' that tlie S'' parker be Coufin'' to the Lot of Land his house stands on on the penalty of being Sent to the Common goal of the County of Cheshire — or find good Bonds to the Sattisfactiou of the Com- mitee of Safty in the Town of Stoddard "4'y all persons are forbid to have any Deleaings with y" S'' parker on y' penalty of being Consider'' enimies to america — " And furthermore while we ware setting a Com- plaint was brought to us by m' Nathaniel Emerson of Stoddard against the s'' Parker setting forth that the s*" Parker tilloniously brock down his y'' s* Emersons fence and has continu"* to do it for some days and turns his Cattle into his improvements — and a Cita- tion was sent to the s'' Parker to appear and defend y'' same, but he pay"* no regard at all to the Summons but dities all authority to bring him to Justice (mean- ing y' Committee of Safety) — John Nois mather — Joel Gilson — Zach' adams — -Eli adams — and william Button all of Stoddard was Summon'' to appear as Evidences in the above Cause but refused to appear and seam"* to appear as abetters of the s'' Parker by their deniing the authority of the Committee — Treat- ing y" Committee with scurulous Language " By Order of the Several Committees " Attest " Sam" Gustin Chairman " Stoddard June y*^ 5'" 1776 " " Stoddard June y' 5'" 1776 " Att a meeting of the Committees of Safety of Stoddard and marlow and Camden, met to try a cause depend* between oliver Parker a reputed Tore, and the Liberty of America — ^y" said Parker being sited to appear on this Day, but defyes y° authority of the Committee of Safety — and dos not appear — " A part of the evidence brouglit against said Parker was the following, which he acknowl- edged to have written to Mr. Boynton : "A Receipt to make a Whig — Take of conspiracy and the root of pride three handfulls two of ambition and vain glory, pound them in the mortar of faction and discord, boil it in 2 quarts of dissembling tears and a little New England Bum over the fire of Sedi- tion till you find the scum of folly wood to rise on the top, then strain it through the cloths of Rebillion, put it into the bottle of envy, stop it with the cork of malice, then make it into pills called Conspiracy of which take nine when going to bed say over your hypocritical prayer, and curse your honest neighbor in your bed chamber and then go to sleep if yon can, it will have so good an effect that all the next day you will be thinking how to cozzen cheat lie and get drunk abuse the ministers of the Gospel, cut the throats of all honest men and plunder the Nation." Parker was committed to jail in Exeter, Xov. ■J, 1778, and was under bonds not to go out of ("hesiiire County in 1 782. PETITION OF OLIVER PARKER : ADDRESSED TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776. " Humbly sheweth Oliver Parker of Stoddard in the County of Cheshire in s'' Colooy that he was upon y" 5"" day of .lune Current by Order of Certain Committees directed to be disarmed, and not to go from his Lot of Land on which he Lives, upon y'^ penalty of being Committed to y'-' County Goal, and by s'' Committees deemed an Enemy to his Country, your petitoner avers and declares that s'' Committees had not y'" least proof of his being inimical to his Country, but that they proceeded to act as they did with regard to him merely upon malice, and that he openly Challenges any person or persons whomsoever to prove the least thing against him with respect to his being in any way or manner disaffected to the Cause of Liberty, wherefore he prays your Houers to point out some reasonable and just method for him to make his Innocence in y"" premises manefest, and to be Liberated from y'" unjust decree of s"* Committees — " June 18 1776 " Oliver Parker." SUNDRY INHABITANTS RELATIVE TO FOREGOING: AD- DRESSED TO THE Committee of Safety, 1776. '■ The Petition and Remonstrance of the Subscribers Inhabitants of Stoddard in s'' Colony sheweth, that We have for a Number of years been acquainted with Capt Oliver Parker of Stoddard afores'' and have Es- pecially since y'' Unhappy War commenced betwixt Great Britain and the Colonys been personally Knowing to his Good disposition In the Cause of Liberty and that he has done his part as an Individual towards y" support of y" War and on Every Occasion as a military officer obeyed orders and done what was required of him, notwithstanding which he was 334 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Lately summoned to appear before Certain Commit- tees to answer a Complaint again him as an Enemy to America, and without letting him Know what y' Complaint was or to what he was to answer to they proceeded to confine him to that Lot of Land his house stands upon, and to order that no persons deal with him on pain of being deemed Enemies to their Country, now as your petitioners are certain that there was no grounds to found this resolution upon, but that mere malice and falshood directed y' whole proceedings, they ])ray that your Honors would re- verse y'^^ afores'' unjust degree or by some means let y" matter be fairly and impartially determined. "Stoddard June 18 1770 ' John Dutton Jonathan Bennett Reuben Walton Moses Keijney Benoni Boynton Thomas Adams Joel Gilson William Dutton John Joyner Asa Adams Moses Bennett .Toseph Dodge Isaac Kenney Daniel Kenney Samuel Parks Ebenezer Wright John N Mather Timothy mather Richard Emerson Zachariah Adams Isaac Barit." The following, relative to a disputed liue, was addressed to the General Assembly, 1776 : "The Humble prayer and petition of the Select men of Marlow and Stoddard, met to agree on some method to proceed in relating to a Contested Strip of Land claimed by both Towns — Came to the following agreement, viz: We humbly pray the General As- sembly would give us their advice in this Difficult matter and during the Dispute between Britain and the Colonies that is Wheather Stoddard shall Tax to their Western Bound called the patent or Curve Line — or Wheather marlow shall Tax to their Eastern Bound — or so far East as to in Clude all that first settled under their Charter for as we Expect to pay Taxes with the rest of our Breathern so Each Town claiming a right to Tax a few famileys will soon create Confutions and Divitions which we would by all means indevour to avoide, praying att the same time that the words (every person) might be Left out in their answer if they are pleased to give one^ — its was incerted in their former answer for as We appre- hend will give no Satisfaction — for this reason — one man will say he is under Stoddard when he is under marlow — and another will say he is under marlow when he is under Stoddard — so we pray that the ad- vice may Set some Bound for to gide us in this matter — that thereby we may Shun the Difficulty that hag subsisted between the said Towns for some years past — and as is Duty Bound Shall ever pray — " Dated att Stoddard may y' 24'" 177(!— "Stephen Gee 1 Select men " NicoDEMUs Miller '- of I " Abisha Tubs marlow " Alexander Scott i Select me» " Nathaniel Emersox ) of Stoddard." The folli)\viiig' is a petition of inhabitants living on the disputed land in 1776 : " To the Honourable Counsel and House of Repre- sentives for the State of New Hampshire — " We your Humble purticioners Beg Leave to In- form your Honours that we are in Great Dificulty by Reason of being taxed to two Towns Viz Stoddard and Marlow Altho we be Long to Stoddard and Live East of the Patten I^ine yet the Town of Marlow has taxed us a Considerable Number of years we Humbly beg your Honours to take the matter into Considera- tion and order where we shall pay our taxes for we are not able to pay to two Towns as we your Humble Purtitioners In Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray — " John N mather Dan Brockway Ebenezer Farley Timothy Mather Stephen Twitchel Isaac Barritt" Ephraim Brockway The following, relative to the disjiuted line, was addressed to the General Assembly in March, 1777 : '' Humbly Shew — "The Subscribers Freeholders & Inhabitants ot Stoddard in the County of Cheshire in said State — "That your petitioners with Others entered into & upon a Certain Tract or parcel of land bounded Westerly on the Patent Line, so called, Easterly on the Society land, so called, and northerly on Monad- nock Number Eight and southerly on Monadnock Number Six of the Contents of about Six Miles Square called Monadnock Number Seven — "That in November 1774, the said Inhabitants prefer'd a petition to the then Governor and Council of said province, setting forth 'among other things, their Situation, and praying that the said lands might be Erected into a Township, and the Inhabitants thereof Incorporated into a Body Politick, to have Continuance and succession forever — which petition was Granted, and Letters Patent in due Form ac- cordingly passed — " That in the Year last passed the Selectmen of the Towns of Marlow and Stoddard Unknown to STODDARD. 335 your Petitioners Applied to the General Assembly for Advice and Directions Touching tlie Taxation of a Number of your petitioners who they said were settled under the Late Kings Grant of Marlow — That the order made inconsequence thereof Very Sensibly Affects them and is lilcely to create Great uneasiness which is the Bane of New Settlements — " That as your petitioners are settled within the undoubted Limits of Stoddard aforesaid they are umvilliiig to be taxed Else wliere and the Application aforesaid to the Late General Assembly was prema- ture; — That the Right to the Soil your petitioners are Willing to Contest with any person at Common Law — " Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that Your Honours would not hold them to pay taxes to the Town of Marlow where they do not belong — (and as they are within a Town Corporate are under the Regulations of Law). That your Honours would not Interfere in their Title nor do anything that may seem to Affect the same; ynur petitioners pray — " Oliver Parker John Button Jonathan Bennett Joel Gilson Daniel Kenney Moses Bennett Zachriah Adams Th"' Adams Reuben walton Moses Kenney John Joyner Samuel Parks William Button Isaac Kenney Richard Emerson Asa Adams Benoni Boynton Amos Taylor John N mather Timothy mather Salvenus Beckwith Benjamin Joseph Dodge Jr Joseph Dodge Elijah Morse Joseph O Taylor Isaac Barit Eph" Adams " ACTION OF THE LEfilSLATUKE. " In the House of Representatives March 21"' 1777— "The Committee of both Houses on the petitions of Marlow and Stoddard made report that it is their Opinion that the Inhabitants living on the Lands in lispute between the Towns of Marlow and Stoddard lo abide by the Resolve made by the General Court jf this State on the 12 Day of June 1776, respecting Taxation until the matter in dispute be settled by Law or Agreement as therein mentioned — but that the said Inhabitants do Military duty in the Town (if Stoddard as has been usual, signed Nich° Gilman Chairman which Report lieing read and Considered, Voted that the same be received and accepted and that the said inhabitants govern themselves accord- ing. " Sent up for concurrence " John Dudley Speak' p temp' " In Council the Same Day read and concurred " E Thompson Secy " The result was in favor of Stoddard, their claim to all territory as far we.st as the curve- line of Mason's patent being allowed, thus tak- ing portions of the towns of Marlow and Gil- sum. RELATIVE TO AN ALLEGED ILLEGAL TOWN- MEETING. "We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Stoddard Being Desirous of peace and unity — att all Times. But more Especially in these Days of Trou- ble and rebuke — When not only those who formerly Stiled them Selves our Parents. But our own Domes- tics are Levying war against us — and using all means to Bring us into and keep us in Divitions — which we would use all Lawfull means to put a Stop to, and to Cultivate good order and harmony among us and as authority is allways the only means whereby any part of the Community, when Greav'' Can Lawfully have Redress — " We therefore Humbly pray the Hon*"'" General assembley for the Colony of New Hampshire, Would be Graciously pleased to Condecend to give us y'' inhabitants of poor pensive Stoddard their advice — in Regard to our annual march meeting — held in this Town the 28"' Day of march Last past — the people being Legally Warned and met — the Votes Ware Called for — for a moderator — a motion Was made — Wheather it would not be Best and Quicker to Chuse him by nominating and Lifting up y' hand — the Question was accordingly put by one of the former Select men — past in the afiermitive — and no objection made — after y" moderator was Chose — a nother motion was made to have all y'" oather Town officers Chose by nominating and Lifting up the hand — ye modera- tor accordingly put y" Question and it passed in the affermitive — and no objection made in y' Least — and if there is any Law how to Chuse Town officers We Look upon this way to be y" Law — and if there is no Law we think the Town has a right (and it is neces- sary) to Say how they will proceed for that year or for that meeting — but we went on and Chose all our Town officers in peace Without any objection and after y' Choice of all y" officers was made — there Came on a Despute about a publick meeting house Spot — now there has been a Divition about y'' meet- ing house ever Senee y° Town was Settled and when ever there was any thing to be acted upon Conccri - 336 HISTOKY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ing a meeting house — -a Quaril insued — and So it was now. nothing Done but Disputing and hard words — a motion was made to have that article Dis- mised or y'^ meeting adjorned — but Could not be ob- tained — y' moderator Calling on them to proceed and Do business or he would .adjorn y' meeting — Which after a While more Spent in Talk and Nothing Done. y'' moderator Declair"" j" meeting Stand adjorn'^ to the Second Day of may next— and no Sort of objection made all rested in peace till S'' 2** Day of may — y"-' Select men being Sworn — and had Taken y" List or Valuation of the Town and now there is a party risen up against the meeting Saing it is invailed and on this reason that y' officers ware voted in by nomina- ting and Denies, all y'' authority of Town officers Oliver parker a Common Tore being y'" ring Leeder — and We Supose about fourteen or fifteen have Sent to y" General Cort to have y" Said meeting Disanul'' and Void — But we pray y" Sd meeting may Stand good for many reasons — as y° Town has proceed in their public Business in many instances — and it Would put y" Town into y'' utmost Confution to have ye meeting put by and as in Duty Bound Shall ever pray for your advice we are your Humble Cousti- tuants — " Alexander Scott Kobart Prockter Silas Wright Thoms Adams John Robbe Abel adaras Caleb Wright James Willson David Robbe John Farley John McDonald Amos Taylor Isaac Temple David Willson John Jackson Allan Speir AmosButterfild John Taggard Abram raorrison Ephraim Brockway David Scott Robert Blood Nathaniel Emerson Silvanus Bikwith James Scott John Tenny " Richard Richardson .JOHN ROBBE, WOUNDED SOLDIEE, 1778. " Peterborough Jan' 1, 1778. " May it please your Honors " Permit me address you in behalf of Sarg' John Robbe of Stoddard, in the County of Cheshire, and State Aforesaid, the said Robbe being in the Engage- ment at Benniugtown, under my Command, was there much Wounded & Disabled from Getting his Future Support beg Leave to Recommend the said Robbe to the Favour of the said state as your Honors in your Wisdom shall think iitt — am with due Respect " your Honors most Hum' Ser' " John Stark, B 1> G "To the Hon'ble Council & Assembly for the Stair of New Hampshire — " John Robbe appealed to the inhabitants of Stoddard January 28, 1778, to ask the Legisla- tore for assistance, which they voted to do at a meeting February 2, 1778. They al.so by vote recommended Mr. Robbe very higlily. In House of Representatives, May 23, 1778, voted that said Robbe was entitled to half pay and thirty pounds for extra expenses. "State of New Hampshire May 23'* 1778 " To Gilman Esq' R. G. Pursuant to a Vote of Council & Assembly pay Joth° Blanchard for John Robb Six pounds towards s** Robb'' Expences in be- ing cured of a wound r'' at Bennington — " M. Weare Prest " Richard Richardson, Soldier, 1782.— In a petition dated Stoddard, November 5, 1782, Richard Richardson slated that he " was out in tiie .service of his country in the first three years' service in the present war." He further stated that he was paid in State notes, and held one for £43 18.s., and one for seventy-three dollars, which he wanted paid. soldier's order, 1784. "Stoddard May 25'" y' 1784 " To the State Treasury of New Hampshire pleas to Pay Mr. Jacob Copling the ballance Due to me for the year 1781 and his Receipt on the back of this or- der Shall be your discharge from me you will tind my name in Capt Caleb Robinsons muster roles " JosiAH Hardy " RETURN OF RATABLE POLLS, 1783. " Stoddard December y" 3'' 1783 then apeerd Isreal towns Ephraim Adams and James Scott Selectman of Sd Stoddard and made Solem oath that att present there is in y' town of S* Stoddard one hundred and four Rattebel " Before me " J Rounsevel Just pece." RELATIVE TO THE FORMATION OF SULLIVAN, 1786. " Stoddard Dec' 4"' 1786 " at a legal meeting this day " Voted not to oppose the southwest corner of this Town being set off Keen, Packertield, Gillsom &c " Attest : " Eleaz' Blake T : Clerk—" " Stoddard Novm' 10'" 1786 " This may ceertify, to whom it may concern — that we the Subscribers — have receiv'd of M' Ezra Osg(jod a Petition Sent to the General Court by a number of the Inhabitants of the Sou west Part of Stoddard " Ward Eddy ) Select men GHT J of 'Peter Wrk of Stoddard" STODDAKD. 337 The southwest part of the town was set off September 27, 1787, combined with jjortions of Keone, Gilsiim and Nelson, and incorporated into the town of Sullivan. PETITION^ FOR AUTHORITY TO LEVY A SPECIAL TAX TO BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE AND REPAIR ROADS, 1787. "The Memorial of your Petitionees Humbly Shew- eth that : being Chosen a Committee by The Town of Stoddard, to Petition the General Court that a Tax of one penny p' Acre Annually to be laid on all the Lands in said Stoddard for three Years : to be Appro- priated Towards Building a Meeting House and re- pairing the Publick Roads Leading from Hancock to Marlow : likewise from John Taggards to Washing- ton line: Also from Israel Townses Esq', to Packer- field line, the leading Road to Keen — The first third part of Said tax to be Asses'd in the Year 1788 — " Your Humble Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray — " May 21'" Anno Domini : 1787 " Israel Towne \ " Ephriam Adams I Committee " " Jacob Copland ) Tliis petition was granted September 27, 1787. COMMITTEE TO LOCATE A MEETING-HOUSE, 1787. " Your humble pertisiouers Beg leave to inform Your honours that the Town has Laboured under Dificalty for a Number of preceeding Years In re- guard to agreeing upon a Meeting house Spot, at a Leagal Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabi- tents of the Town of Stoddard Quallified to Vote in Town meeting Leagally warned and met for the fol- lowing purpose (Viz) " Voted to Chose a Committee finally to Determine where the Meeting house Shall be arected in this Town and for the same purpose Nominated Esq' Penniman of Washington and Sam' Grift'en Esq' of Packerfled. Likewise m' John Muzzey of Dublin we Your humble pertisiouers pray That the above said Committee may be appointed & Impowered accord- ing To the afour Said Vote and we Your humble pertisioners as in Duty bound Shall Every pray " Peter Wright 1 Stledmen in "Israel Towne > behalf of the Town "Stoddard, September 8th, 1787." THEIR REPORT. " We Your Committee .Within Named haveing Repaired to the Town of Stoddard, and Viewed the 22 Situation of said Town, & the Inhabitants thereof beg leave to report that it is our opinion that the Meeting- house there to be erected, be placed on the fifteenth Lot in the Ninth Range upon a Tract of land Given toy" Town of Stodard by John Tenney for a Meeting- house Spot burying Yard &c and We have Erected a Stake and Stones upon s'' Common for y" Bounds of Said Meetinghouse " p' Tho' Penniman, for y" Committe "octo'y'3P 1787" PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO LEVY A TAX ON NON-RESIDENT LANDS, TO BUILD A ROAD, 1794. " A Petition in behalf of the Inhabitants of the Town of Stodard in said State Humbly Sheweth " That your Petitioners are Situate on the Hight of land Betwixt the great Rivers Connecticut and Mire- mac where the land is very Mountanious and Rocky: which Causes our Roads to be Extremely Deficualt to make & Repair the Same: And whereas the Commit- tee api^ointed to lay a Road from Hales Bridge in Walpole to Macgregores Bridge in Gofestown: Hath laid out anew Road through the Said Town of Stod- ard which will be of Ctreat Utility to the Public if opned and made Passable : But will lay an unsup- ortable Burthen on the Inhabitants in Said Town : as it passes through a large tract of unimproved land owned by Nonresidents and Remmote from the Set- tlement : which will Raise the Value of the land through which it Passes : and it appearing Reasona- ble that the owners of Said land Should assist in Oppening and Making passable the Same: and the like privildges Being granted to other Towns in Sem- meril Situation : We your Petitioners Humbly pray your Honnours to take our Case under your wise Consideration and grant that an Act may pass im- powering the Said Town of Stodard to lay a tax of two pence p' acre on all the land in Said town for the Sole Purpose of Making Passable the Roads and Bridges in said Stoddard: And your petitioner as in Duty Bound will Pray "Natha" Emerson "January 1 1794" Granted June 11,1 794. RELATIVE to THE DISPUTED LINE BETWEEN THIS TOWN AND MARLOW, 1798. " The Petition of us the subscribers Humbly shews that the General Court at their session in June A D 1797 set off the south East Part of Marlow under the Jurisdiction of the Town of Stoddard, And we Your Petitioners living on s"* Land being fully pursuaded that thair Honours would not have subjected us to so unreasonable a burthen had thay known our situa- 338 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. tion & the true circumstances we are under the one part setling under Marlow have been at Great Ex- pence to defend our persons & Properties from the unjust demands made & Extorted from us by the Town of Stoddard and the other part being made to believe by the Unrighteous persuasions of Stoddard Proprietors that the Lands were theirs and thereupon we purchased of thera at A Very dear rate, which took at that time of many of us all our properties And after living many Years in this Rough wilder- ness have been at the expence of every thing but life, And now we find that marlow holds their right of soil it being decided by Law And those of us that Purchased of Stoddard have to Purchase our Lands over again at A great price & have been subjected to A Large bill of cost in Disputing the title & the Town of Stoddard Refusing to ])ay any Part of s'' expence and we being fully sensible that stoddard cannot have any Accurate survey or knowledge of those Lands Layed out under Marlow And that Stoddard and Marlow both Claim the Jurisdiction to part of s* Land on Account of their being two Curve Lines which will keep the Inhabitants in Vexetion & con- fusion. And being fully sensible that it will be for the Good & peace of us the Inhabitants to continue as we Really were within the Jurisdiction of Marlow And being fully sencible that stoddard left off two Ranges of their lots on their E.ast line to Extend to the west on Marlow as the Proprietors of stoddard by that Conduct thought to git about nine or ten of Mar- low setlers to count for Stoddard in order to fulfil their Charter which we flatter ourselves will not be Justified. And Stoddard will be a much larger Town without any part of Marlow than Marlow will be they holding the whole within their Charter, And there- fore on every principal of right, And for ourselves And offspring to injoy any degree of comfort we think it our duty to humbly pray your Honours to Repeal the foregoing Act And let us remain in and under the Jurisdiction of Marlow As your Petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray. •' November 7'" 1798 " Aaron Matson Bani Henry Ebenezer Blake Nathen Sam' Messinger Ephraim Brockway John Henery J' Ephraim Brockway Jur Nathaniel Gilson Joseph Brockway Timothy Bailey Isaac Barritt Ziba Henry Jesse Farley " ANOTHER DOCUMENT RELATIVE TO THE DISPUTED LINE, 1796. "The Petition of the inhabitants of the Town of Stoddard states that in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and fifty-Three the Town of Stoddard was Granted to Sampson Stoddard and others by the Masonian Proprietors and was bounded westward upon the head line of Maso- nian patent; that in the year Anno Domini 1773 they received their Charter of incorporation from his excellency Penning Wentworth Esq' which gave the Town of Stoddard jurisdiction over a cer- tain tract of land seven miles square lying east of said Patent or head line — that in the year Anno Domini 1762 the Town of Mario was granted and incorpora- ted which Grant intersected the Town of Stoddards Grant nearly Two miles whereby each Town had concurrent jurisdiction over the same territory — and thereupon application was made to the provincial assembly of New Hampshire to settle the Jurisdic- tional line between said Towns — And said assembly in the year A D 1776 resolved that said inhabitants should pay their taxes to the Town of Mario but should do military duty in the Town of Stoddard — That in the year A D 1777 application being made to the General assembly a second time to settle the aforesaid dispute they recommended by a special re- solve mentioning the Town of Washington and all other Towns in similar circumstances (of which Stoddard was one) that the inhabitants living on said strip or disputed Grant should pay their taxes to the Towns lying east of the head line of Masons patent untill the same should be further settled and established by law— That in the year A D 1784 The Town of Mario petitioned the General assembly for an abatement of their taxes in consequence of the re- solve of the General assembly which passed in the year 1777 — upon which petition the General assembly then resolved that the Town of Mario be abated one fourth part of all their taxes from the year A D 1777 to the year 1784 — and the Town of Mario have ever since that period relinquished all jurisdiction to the same land and have ever since omitted and refused to make return of the same in their valuation — That the same has been uniformly since the year A D 1777 returned by the Town of Stoddard and set to their valuation — That large sums of money have been as- sessed since that period upon the inh.abitants living thereon, and many lots of land there lying have been sold by the Collectors of Stoddard at publick vendue for the non-payment of taxes assessed thereon — In the year A D 1792 the Original Proprietors of Mario finding that the Masonian Proprietors had extended their bounds upwards of twenty miles farther west- ward than their original grant warranted — and in- tending to avail themselves if possible of the invalid- ity of the act which passed the General assembly in the year 1777— giving jurisdiction to Stoddard — STODDARD 339 Commenced Two actions of ejectment to recover pos- session of those lands wliich were sold at vendue by the collectors of Stoddard — and upon which lands the Proprietors of Mario had paid no taxes for upwards of twent3'-five years — In which actions the Original Proprietors of Mario recovered possession against the vendue purchasers under Stoddard in consequence of a defect in the act which passed in the year 1777 giv- ing jurisdiction to the Town of Stoddard — We there- fore pray this Honorable Court to take into their wise consideration the circumstances and situation of the Town of Stoddard and if legal and constitutional to establish and confirm the doings of the Selectmen of Stoddard and ratify the assessments which have hitherto been made — And also to settle the Jurisdic- tional line between said Two Towns and give the Ju- risdiction of the strip so-called to the Town of Stod- dard if tonsistent with the Interest and happiness of both Towns — And also to settle the Jurisdictional line between Gilsom and Stoddard^ " And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray— " Stoddard Dec 6'" A D 1796 " Jacob Copelasd Agent for Stoddard " The Hue was established in favor of Stod- dard June 16, 1797. CoNGEEGATtONAL Church. — This church was orgauized September 4, 1787, with seven members. The first settled pastor was Rev. A. Coltou, October loth, 1793, and re- mained until October 1, 1795. He was succeed- ed by Rev. Isaac Robinson, D.D., January 5, 1803. He died in 1854 and was succeeded by Revs. Josiah S. Gay. S. L. Gerould, Savage, Ricket, Colburn, Southworth, and the present acting pastor, J. H. Thyng. HISTORY OF SULLIVAN. CHAPTER r. This town lies north of the central j)art of the county and is bounded as follows : North by Gilsum and Stoddard ; east by Stoddard and Nelson ; south by Roxbury and Keene, and west by Gilsum and Keene. The town was incorporated September 27, 1787, and comprised territory severed from Stoddart, Gilsum, Keene and Packersfield (now Nelson). It was named in honor of Gen. John Sullivan, who was at tiiat time President of the State. By an act approved January 10, 1794, the west line of the town was " lengthened out and continued south into the town of Keene 157 rods further than by the act of incorporation." July 7, 1X74, a few acres of land were sev- ered from this town and annexed to Gilsum. The following is a copy of the petition for incorporation, addressed to the General Court in 1786: " Humbly shew your Petitioners, The Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Towns of Keene, Packersfield, Gil- som, and Stoddard. That they live remote from the centre of their respective Towns and by reason of dis- tance and bad roads are deprived of their town privi- leges — That they cannot enjoy these conveniences of public worship — That some of their duties as mem- bers of their several towns are by their situation very burdensom. — That if they might be incorporated into a seperate and distinct township it would be highly advantageous to them, and no detriment to the towns to which they now belong — That they are encouraged to hope that no objections will be made to their being thus incorporated unless by the town of Gilaom, and that those objections may be easily obviated. " The prayer of this their humble Petition therefore is — That the tract of land marked out upon the plan 340 herewith exhibited may be set off from the several Towns aforesaid into a distinct Township by the name of orringe and the Inhabitants of it incorporated as aforesaid — and Your Petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever pray. " August 22'' 1786. " Inhabitants of Keene " Roswell Hubbard Zadock Ninis Joshua Osgood Erastus Hubbard , "Inhabitants of Packerfield " Grindal Keith Oliver Carter "Inhabitants of Stoddard " ■ Burnam William Burnam Nathan Bolster Samuel Wyman Saml Seward Ezra Osgood Josiah Seward Elijah Carter " Inhabitants of Gilsom James Row Timothy Dimmock James Pratt Joseph Ellis William Cory Samuel Cory John Chapman Benjaman Chapman Benj" Ellis Simeon Ellis Nathan Ellis John Chapman Jun' Timothy Dewey Tho' Morse Jesse Wheeler Lockhart Willard Jonathan Baker John Dimick Joshua Cory Jonathan Heaton James Locke Jun' James Locke Ebenezer Birdit John Row" The following is the report of the committee on foregoing petition, 1787 : " We the Subscribers being a Committee Appointed by the General Court of this State to View the Cor- ners of Keene Packerfield Gilsom and Stoddard have- ing Viewed the primeces Beg Leave to Report, as their Opinion that the parts of Towns Petitioned for to be made into a Town lies Very Convenient for that purpose by Reason of being incorapassed all Round with Mountains and Broken Land that is al- most impassable Besides their Lying Very Remote SULLIVAN. 341 from the Towns to which they Now Belong to— but it must Consequently, if incorporated into a New Town Leaves Some of the Towns from which those parts of Towns were Taken Especially Gilsome in a Broken and inconvenant Shape as may be made to appear by the Plan of s" Town if S" Gilsome Could be acomedated by Being anexed to any other parts of Towns which Lies Joyning it is our opinion that it might be a Publick advantage and much for the ac- comedation and Benifit of the Petitioners " Alstead September y' 24, 1787 " Lem" Holmes " Absalom Kingsbery" " The Petition of the select Men of the towns of Keene and Sullivan in said State Humbly Sheweth^ " That whereas in the year 1789 — an Act passed the General Court to Incorporate a town by the Name of Sullivan and in and by said Act the Bounds of Said town are Affixed and Determined — But as they will not Close agreeable to said Act^We your Humble Petitioners pray an Amendment may be made to Said Act, in the following manner (Viz) the West line of Said town to be lengthened South into Keene one Hundred fifty seaven Rods thence East twenty Eigth Degrees & 30 minutes South, to the East line of said Keene, thence North on said line to the Bounds from Which they set out from in said Act "and whereas by said Amendment the Lines will run as they ever were Expected to run by the town of Keene and likewise by said Petitioners for Sulli- van — It is the Humble Request of Said towns that said Amendment take Place — And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall ever Pray '■ Keene Decem' 20'" 1793 " Lock' Willard ) Select Men " David Willson j of Keene " " Erastus Hubbard I Select Men " Eliakim Nims I of Sullivan " This petition was granted January 10, 1794. PETITION FOR THE GRANT OF A TOWNSHIP: AD- DRESSED TO THE GENERAL COURT, 1798. " The Petition of the subscribers, Inhabitents of the State of New Hampshire, Humbly Sheweth — '■ that your Petitioners being inform'* that there is within the limits of this State lands as yet unlocated ; and your Petitioners being desirous to lay a founda- tion for the settlement of our Children within the bounds of there Native State. "We therefore pray that a township may be granted to your Petitioners, for actual Settlement un- der such restrictions and limits as your Hon' body may think propper, that we may not have the dis- agreeable Sight of Seeing our Sons Emigrating to other States and prehaps, Kingdoms — " And as in Duty bound will ever pray. "Sullivan, Nov'. 10'\ 1798. "Roswell Hubbard. Thomas Powell, Jun. Elijah Carter. David Powell. W™ Muzzy. Joseph Powell. Elijah Osgood. Jonathan Powell, Dan' Wilson, Jun'. Samuel Seward, Junr. Josiah Seward. Junr. Paul Farnsworth. W". Munroe. Theophilus Row. Oliver Carter. Joseph Seward. Er.nstus Hubbard. James Row. Joseph Ellis, Junr. Daniel Farnsworth. Roswell Hubbard, Jun'. Thomas Seward. Wi" Bridge. Ichobad Keith. Daniel Willson. Elijah Rugg. John Willson. Josiah Seward, gorge Nims. James Comstick. James W. Osgood. Peter Barker. Charles Carter. Abijah Seward. James Willson. Nathan Bolster. Calvin Nims. Isiah Willson. Olover Brown. Sam' Willson. Phelander Nims. Frederick Nims. Ezra Osgood. Samuel Seward. Elsworth Hubbard. Abel Carter. George Hubbard. Samuel Clarke. Thorn* Morse. Henry Carter." In 1790 the town voted £5 for preaching. The services were held in a barn until 1791, when a small house was erected, and in the same year £6 was raised for church purposes and in the following year £15. The church was organized October 17th, and consisted of twenty-two members. Among the first preach- ers were Lawrence, Brown, Woolly, Cotton, Randall, Kendall, Stone, Clapp, Eaton, Wm. Muzzy, Josiah Peabody, Josiah Wright, Al- anson Alvord, Thos. S. Norton. There are now tliree churches in this town, two Congregational and a Union Church. HISTORY OF SURRY. CHAPTER I. This town was incorporated Marcli 9, 1769, and comprised territory severed from the towns of Westmoreland and Gilsum, largely from the latter. That portion taken from the former had been known as Westmoreland Leg. By the act of incorporation the first meeting was to be called by Peter Hayward, the firet settler in town, and Ebenezer Kilburn had liberty to " poll off" with his estate to Gilsum. Surry was one of the towns that voted to unite with Vermont, and, in 1781, the majority of the selectmen refused to call a meeting for the election of a member of the Legislature, in obedience to a precept from tliis State, " being under oath to the State of Vermont." Lead and silver were discovered on Surry Mountain many years ago, and attempts have been made from time to time to mine the ore. A mine on the east side of the mountain, which is being worked at the present time by the Granite State Mining Company, produces gold, silver, copper and lead in considerable quan- tities. The town derived its name from Surry, in England. The following Surry men were in the First New PLimpsliire Regiment in the war of the revolution : Joshua Church, enlisted March 18, 1777 ; discharged April 30, 1780. Anthony Gilman, enlisted July 1, 1777; taken pris- oner. Samuel Liscomb, enlisted May 8,1777; discharged December, 1779. Jacob Bonney, enlisted May 20, 1777 ; died July, 1778. 342 PETITION OF LEMUEL HOLMES : ADDRESSED TO THE GENERAL COUET, FEBRUARY 10, 1780. " The Memorial of Lemuel Holmes, Captain of the Corps of Rangers— Humbly Sheweth, " That your Memorialist was captivated by the British Array on the le"" Day of November, A.D. 1776, at Fort Washington (so called) and carried into New-York, where he was detained a Prisoner untill the 20"" D-iy of September, A.D. 1778 ;— That during this Period your Memorialist had scarce any Allow- ances from the Continent & none from this State, & your Memorialist is led to suppose that the Reason of his being neglected by said State was, that thro' Mistake he was never returned as belonging to the said State ; — That your Memorialist was detained in New-York five Weeks after he was exchanged, for Want of Money to discharge his Billet, having had no Remittances for that Purpose ; — That after your Memorialist was permitted to leave New-York, {hav- ing previously been obliged to hire the Money to dis- charge his Billet) he was under a Necessity of taking a Journey to Philadelphia to procure said Money to be granted & remitted by the Honorable Continental Congress, which Journey cost him much time & nearly all the Money he had before received, which was seven hundred Dollars on Accompt. — And your Memorialist would also humbly represent in Behalf of himself & Samuel Silsby, Daniel Griswold & Wil- liam Haywood, Soldiers from said State in the Corps commanded by your Memorialist, that your Mem- orialist & the aforesaid Soldiers were considerable Sufferers by loosing several things at the time of their Captivity & by Expences afterwards arising from Sickness, the necessary Charges of getting Home & loss of time afterwards, as will more fully appear from the Accompt herewith transmitted. — Wherefore, your Memorialist, in Behalf of himself & the afore- said Samuel Silsby, Daniel Griswold and William Haywood, humbly prays this honorable Court to take SURKY. 343 the foregoing Memorial & Representation, together with the Accompt herewith transmitted, into their wise Consideration and act thereon as they in their Wisdom shall see just & proper ; — and your Memor- ialist as in Duty bound, shall ever pray, &c. — " Lemuel Holmes, Captain." " PETITION OF THOMAS DODGE, SOLDIER, 1783." " Humbly Shews, "Thomas Dodge, in the year 1777, he inlisted into the continental service for three years, for the town of Surry, in the county of Cheshire, and received from Said Town a Bounty of one hundred Dollars ; that he served during the whole term ; and when he applied to the treasury of this State for his Wages, the receipt he had given the Town of Surry for said Bounty was lodged against him and redacted out of his Wages — Your Petitioner therefore prays, that this Assembly will take his case into consideration and make an order to The Town of Surry to refund said hundred Dollars, or grant such other relief in the premises as to this hou'''" Court shall seem expedient and proper — and your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray. " Charlestown N°. 4, Oct^ 24'", 1783— " Thomas Dodge." petition of lemuel holmes, soldier : addressed to the general assembly, 1782. "Humbly Sheweth, " The petition and memorial of Lemuel Holmes — of Surry in said State — that on the first day of Jan- uary, seventeen hundred seventy-six — your petitioner engaged as Lieutenant for the term of one year in the service of this and the United States — and on the sixteenth day of November following, was taken prisoner at Fort Washington — That previous to the captivity of your petitioner (viz) on the first of Sep- tember the same Year — I had an appointment by his Excellency Gen' Washinton to the office of Captain — That by being made prisoner, your petitioner was prevented receiving a commission agreable to such appointment — but was, however, returned and ex- changed as such — after having continued prisoner in Kew York almost two years — That when released, your petitioner immediately applied to the Congress for direction and settlement of my accounts — and there received asmall sum in Continental money on account — and was directed by Congress to apply to the state to which I belonged for a settlement of the whole — That your petitioner, in consequence, applied to the hon. Assembly of this State about two years since — but by a multiplicity of business or some other cause to me unknown — my said application was and has been since neglected — whereby asetlementof my ac- counts has never yet been effected, nor any sufficient payment or compensation rendered for the services and sufferings of your petitioner — That more over, your petitioner hath been informed that Congress ordered some allowance to be made to those super- numerary Officers who returned home — " Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that your honors will take tlie several matters herein liefore suggested, into serious consideration — and point out some eligible method for a speedy settlement of my accounts — and whereby I may obtain the balance in my favor without greater cost and trouble — .\.nd that in the mean time your honors would direct and order a reasonable sum for my present relief and support — Or, other wise grant such relief and direction in the premises — as to your honors in wisdom may seem best. — "And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray " Lem" Holmes " Dated at Concord this 13"> June 1782—" 111 House of Representatives, June 14,1782, lie was granted an allowance of thirty pounds, " hard money." The following is a petition of Lemuel Holmes, 1794 : "To the Honourable General Court of the State of New Hampshire convened at Amherst on the first Wednesday of June 1794 " The petition of Lemuel Holmes for himself and Samuel Silsby Niles Beckwith, William Hayward & Daniel Griswold all of the State afforesaid and County of Cheshire who are yet Living who were taken prisoners at fort Washington in the Year 1776 with your petitioners that Belonged to the State of New- hampshire and who have Never had any Compensa- tion for the time they were prisoners nor the Loss of their Baggage and arms and what is infinitely wors the Loss of their health and Constitutions : altho their accompts with mine were Considered by our Committee and Sent forward to Congress but were with many other State accompts not Considered So that we your petitioners are without any Redress un- less your Honours will pleas to interpose in our Be- half and make a Grant of So much of the unlocated Lands in Said State as your Honours in Your Wis- dom may think Reasonable under Such Restrictions as to Selling as may Seem best for the State " and I Your humble petitioner will be under Such obligations to Survey and Settle Said Lands in Behalf of them as Shall be Reasonable as Your pe- 344 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. titioner has a Number of Sons who would Settle Said Lands which might be of Some Servis to the State but would Satisfy your petitioner that the State for which he has undergon too many hardships to men- tion think that his friends feel for his Misfortunes and will Compensate for his I^osses " and your petitioner as in Duty bound will pray "Surry June y 2'' 1794. "Lemuel Holmes." Hon. Lemuel Holmes was lieutemint in a company of rangers from January 1, 1776, un- til the 1st of September following, when he was ajipointed captain by General Washington. On the lOtli of November next following he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington and carried to New York, where he remained in captivity until September 20, 1778. He was town clerk of Surry for some years, and repre- sented Gilsum and Surry in the House of Representatives in 1784-86, 1789-92. He was elected a member of the Governor's Coun- cil in 1790 and held the office four years; was a judge of the Court of Common Ple;is for the county of Cheshire until 1808, at which time he was debarred from holding the office any longer by reason of having arrived at the age of seventy years. He lived for some years at the foot of Bald Hill, in Surry, and is described as being an agreeable and courteous gentleman, of strict integrity and a prominent man in his day. Subsequently he removed to Vermont, and there died. The following is relative to the collection of beef for the army, 1786 : " M' Speaker Sir Whereas Co' Gideon of Exeter Was appointed a Collector of Beef for the year 1780 and under him John Mellen Esq' Collector for the County of Cheshire S"* Mellen did in the year 1780 Collect 739 lb of Beef more than he Excepted for to Co' Gideons and Because S* Returns do not agree with the Return on the Book the Treasurer Cant Credet the Town of Surry for any Part of the Beef which was Delivered to S"* Mellen therefore it is Motioned that the House Give orders that the Treasurer Receive Said Recepts and Credet the Town of Surry for the Same which the Treasurer is Ready to do upon Receiving the order "Lemuel Holmes " Portsmouth F'" y» 22 1786 "Surry, Cap' Giddings returned 2600"' Beef" RETURN OF RATABLE POLLS, 1783. "A return of the Male inhabitants of the Town of Surry of Twenty one years of age and upwards pay each one for himself a Poll-Tax " Eighty two " By order of the Select men "Lemu" Holmes Town Clerk" The following, relative to date of annual meeting, was addressed to the Council and House of Representatives in 1784 : " Humbly sheweth your Petitioners Thomas Har- vey Joshua Fuller and William Barran Selectmen for the Town of Surry for the year 1783 That whereas the Holding of Annuel Meetings on the Last Tues- days of March is attended by many inconveniencies, in consequence of the new Constitution taking place and the inconveniency of Holding it by adjournment by reason of its being so late in the Month " Therefore, We your Petitioners pray that if your Honours see fit would appoint the Annual Meeting to be held earlier in the Month of March for the Future " As in Duty Bound will ever pray " Lem" Holmes Town Clerk " by order of the Selectmen "Surry March 24"" 1784" By an act passed April 13, 1784, the time for holding the annual meeting was changed from the last Tuesday of March to the first Monday in the same month. date of annual meeting changed, 1785. " State of New Hamp' " In the House of Representatives Feb" 23'' 178.5 "Whereas in and by an Act passed the 18"' of April A. D. 1784 it is Enacted that the Annual Meeting in the Town of Surry shall be held on the first Monday in March annually, but as the Inhabitants have not had Notice thereof, and the said first Monday so nigh that Legal notice connot be given of the business necessary to be transacted at said Meeting — There- fore — " Resolved that the Meeting for the Present year be held on the fourth Tuesday of March next and that the present Select men give notice in the usual man- ner of the time place & Design of Said Meeting and the Officers chosen at said Meeting are to give notice that the annual meeting of said Town is to be held on the first monday in March annually in future — " Sent up for Concurrence "Geo: Atkinson, Speaker " In Senate the same day read & Concurred " E Thompson Sec" SURRY. 345 The following is a petition for authority to declare that whenever any or all of them shall have made a Publick Profession of Religion of any Denom- ination whatever contrary to our Denomination we will agreeably to the Constitution freely relinquish all Right of Taxing such Professors to the Support of our Minister •' Fourthly, We doubt in our minds whether the Motive of their thus petitioning is not more to an- swer sinister Views, such as forming a Center to ad- vance private property and continue small Disputes than to promote Harmony and good Order " Lemuel Holmes raise money by lottery to work a silver mine, 178G: "The Petition of the Subscribers Humbly sheweth that they have Discovered a place in Surry in the county of Cheshire, where they Are persuaded there is a Valuable Silver Mine, that they Wish to make an Experiment of the worth and (Quantity of said Mine, that by the best computation they can make, it will cost three or four thousand Dollars, before they can reap any considerable advantage therefrom, that they conceive it would a very considerable advantage to the Publick, should they succede to their Reason- able expectation, in opening said Mine, that it will be extremely Difficult, if not impossible for them, to advance the necessary Expences for effecting the Same Experiment, that Encouraged by your Honours known Wisdom and Public Spirit ; the Prayer of your Pe- titioners is that they or others as your Honors shall see fit may be Authorised by the help of a Publick Lottery for that purpose, to raise the sum of two thousand Dollars, or any other Sum that your Honours shall see fit, to assist them in opening the same, and they as in Duty bound shall ever jjray. " FebJ 1" 1786 "Jed'' Sanger ~v Committee in " Joseph Blake y behalf of the Oioners " W" Russell j of said Mine." REMONSTRANCE AGAINST THE INCORPORATION OF A BAPTIST SOCIETY, 1800. "We a Committee being appointed by the Inhabit- ants of the town of Surry at a legal Meeting October 11, 180U, to remonstrate against the prayer of the Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants living in the southwest part of said Surry that they with others may be incorporated into a Religious Society to be called and known by the Name of the first Baptist Society in Westmoreland, beg leave to state " First, That the Town of Surry is but a very small Incorporation and have not one Inhabitant to spare without injuring said Town, there being not more than 80 Freeholders therein " Secondly, Those petitioning Inhabitants are not more than three and a half and some not more than two Miles from the Meetinghouse in said Surry "Thirdly, In their petition they have stil'd them- selves professors of Religion by the Denomination of Baptists, and to say the Truth, we are obliged to say, that not one of those petitioners belonging to Surry ever made any Profession of Religion of any Denom- ination that we know of, especially, Baptist — and we ' John Stiles ' JoNA' Robinson ' Nathan Howard Committee'' CONSENT OF SUNDRY PERSONS TO FOREGOING. " We whose names are hereunto subscribed, Inhab- itants of the Town of Surry hereby give our Consent to the Remonstrance of a Committee appointed by said Town against the Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants thereof, with others praying to be incor- porated into a Baptist Society as in our minds we doubt the Sincerity of some of those Petitioners be- longing to said Surry and that they do not duly con- sider the Consequence of an Incorporation ' Lemuel Holmes Nathan Howard Abia Crane Philip Monro Jonathan Smith Ichabod Smith Sylvester Skinner Abner Skinner Eldad Skinner Jonathan Skinner Obadiah Wilcox Moses Field Asa Wilcox Daniel Smith Asa Holmes Calvin Hayward Jn° McCurdy Levi Fuller Cushman Smith Asahel Harvey John Stiles thos Harvey Cyrus Harvey Eli Dort Jona' Robinson." The society mentioned in the foregoing was incorporated December 10, 1800, and com- prised persons from the towns of Surry, Wal- pole, Westmoreland and Keene. There was originally a Congregational Church in this town, formed January 12, 1769, with Rev. Daniel Darling as pastor. Other pastors have been Rev. Perley Howe, Rev. G. S. Brown, Rev. Ezra Adams and vari- ous others. The Methodists now have a church in this town. HISTORY OF TROY. BY M. T. STONE, M.D. CHAPTER I. Troy comprises an afea of twelve square miles, four hundred and eighty-five acres and thirty-five rods, and had a population in 1880 of seven hundred and ninety-five. The total valuation, April 1, 1885, was $376,892; number of polls, 203; horses, 117; value, $7639; oxen, 52; value, $3207; cows, 201 ; value, $6208 ; other neat stock, 72 ; value, $1226; sheep, 34; value, $136; hogs, 5; value, $71; stock in trade, $28,540; bank stock, $1700; out of State, $700; interest money, $8722; mills and machinery, |15,000; real estate, $283,443. Our business is represented by one blanket- mill, one box-shop, one tannery, one chair-stock factory, two tub, pail and bucket manufactories, one wheelwright-shop and grist-mill, one livery- stable, one barber-shop, one shojJ for turning pail-handles, two general stores, one dealer in Yankee notions, two hotels, two churches and one semi-monthly newsjjaper. At what time the first settlement was made in this territory we have no authentic history. Dr. Caverly, in his history, published thirty years ago, says it was beyond the recollection of men then living. About 1746, or a little later, the territory in the vicinity of Monadnock Mountain was pur- chased from the proprietors of Mason's grant, and were divided into townships, which were given the common name of Monadnock, but distinguished by different numbers. 346 Monadnock No. 4 was called Marlborough, and No. 5 Fitzwilliam, and from these towns the larger part of the territory of Troy was taken. The first individual known to have settled within this territory was William Barker, a native of Wcstborough, Mass., who came here in the year 1761, and selected the location for liis future home, supposed to be the spot now known as the Joel Holt place, on West Hill. He did not move his family until nearly three years later, they arriving at their new home in September, 1764. In 1770, a road having been built by his residence, he opened a public-house, the first in town, and which he kept for many years. Here, on April 2, 1776, a daughter was born, — the first child born in the town. During the next fifty years the population increased more or less rapidly, until the town contained quite a village, which commanded the trade for quite a distance around. The surface being hill}^ and uneven, it was inconvenient for the inhabitants to reach the centres of their respective towns, and having become accustomed to do. much of their private business here, thought it would be for their con- venience to transact their pulilic business here also, and the village, having been built up on the borders of two towns, was under a divided jurisdiction, which was not conducive to its prosperity, and these were the reasons urged for TROY. 347 an act of incorporation, which was granted by the Legislature in June, 1815, the town being formed from the southerly part of Marlbor- ough, the northerly part of Fitzwilliam and easterly parts of Richmond and Swanzcy. The subject was first agitated in 1794, and for many years was opposed by the inhabit- ants of the different towns, the contest at times being exciting and interesting. The first town-meeting was held on the 20th of the July following when officers were chosen to hold office until the annual meeting in March. Church History. — The first efforts of our early settlers, afler getting settled in their new homes, were directed to establishing and main- taining a Christian ministry. Most of them had been religiously educated, and placed a high estimate upon religious institutions, and even those who made no pre- tension to piety never thought of living with- out some one to officiate for them in the sacred office. Their first places of worship were rude, but their hearts were in their work, and their zeal, energy and personal sacrifices might be profita- lily studied by their descendants. The first meeting-house was built about 1815, and stood on what is now the North Park. The next year the proprietors, in consideration of the sum of twenty dollars, relinquished to the town all their interest in the same, excepting tlie pews wliich had been sold to individuals. Some years later this building was moved to its present situation, and fitted up for a town hall. September 16, 1815, the Congregational Church was organized, ten men and their wives subscribing to articles of faith and covenant. The organizing coancil consisted of Rev. H. Fisk, of Marlborough ; Rev. John Sabin, of Fitzwilliam ; and Rev. Ezekiel Rich, an evan- gelist, who became the first pastor. He gradu- ated at Brown University, 1808, and Andover Theological Seminary ; was installed Decem- ber 20, 1815, and remained j)a.stor until July 18, 1818. He continued to reside in Troy until 1845. He died some years after at Deep River, Conn. November, 1819, a new religious society was formed by the name of the First Congregational Society of Troy, and was a party with the church in supplying the pulpit until 1824, when a new constitution was adopted, the society taking the name of the Congregational Society of Troy. Rev. Seth E. Winslow was employed as a stated supply three years, from 1820. After him Rev. Messrs. Peabody, Pitman and Erwin were employed for short periods. Rev. Stephen Morse, a graduate of Dart- mouth College, 1821, was installed second pas- tor, August 26, 1829, and was pastor until January 31, 1833. During this year preaching was maintained by supplies. On December ICth a new society was formed, called the Trinitarian Congregational Society of Troy. During the years 1834 and 1835 the present church was built. Previous to this time the church worshipped in the town hall with the Baptist society ; Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy was installed third pastor and first of the new society, January 16, 1836, and was dismissed February 27, 1844. He was a graduate of Amherst College and Auburn Theological Seminary. Rev. Luther Townsend was ordained and installed March 5, 1845, and dismissed May 22, 1860. He graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege, 1839, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1842. From this time until September, 1865, preach- ing was maintained by supplies, who were the Rev. Messrs. Easenon, Perry, Whitcomb, Jen- kins, Alexander, Miller, Brown, Spauldiug, Roberts and Beckwith. Rev. Daniel Goodhue came in the fall of 1865, and remained until about April 1, 1868, Rev. Levi Brigham taking his place. He was 348 HISTORY OF CHESHIKE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. born in Marlborough, Mass., October 14, 1806 ; graduated at Williams College, 1833, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1836 ; ■ commenced preaching in Dunstable, Mass., September, 1836 ; left Dunstable and com- menced preaching in Saugus, May, 1850 ; left Saugus and commenced preaching here, 1868, and remained pastor until September 12, 1876, when he moved to Marlborough, Mass., where he now resides. The services of Rev. James Marshall were secured in February, 1877 ; he was pastor until his death, which occurred in April, 1878. Eev. David W. Goodale became pastor September, 1878. He was born in Doug- lass, Mass., December 28, 1847 ; graduated from Monson Academy, 1871 ; Amherst College, 1875; Andover Theological Seminary, 1878. Was ordained and installed October 1, 1878. He resigned in September, 1883, and moved to South Sudbury, Mass., where he now resides. He was succeeded by Rev. Josiah Merrill, the present pastor. The Baptist Church was organized Novem- ber, 1789, with a membership of twenty-five, and was called the Fitzwillium Baptist Church. From this time until 1791 they were without regular preaching, being supplied by preachers of the neighboring towns. In 1791 Mr. Rufus Freeman was licensed to preach and did so for an indefinite time. Until 1836 they held their meetings in schools and dwelling-houses. This year they united with the First Congregational Society in meeting at the town-house under the labors of Rev. Obed Sperry, and continued to do so until 1848, when their present house of worship was erected, and dedicated January 17, 1849. The following-named ministers have served as pastors for terms varying from one to fourteen years : Revs. Rufus Freeman, Aruna Allen, Darius Fisher, D. S. Jackson, Obed Sperry, John Woodbury, P. P. Sanderson, Phineas Howe, A. M. Piper, A. B. Egleston, April, 1854, to April, 1855 ; Joseph B. Mitchell, April, 1855, to April, 1856 ; Thos. Briggs, May, 1856, to June, 1857 ; John Fairman, July, 1857, to February, 1859 ; C. D. Fuller, February, 1859,to March, 1860; Bille, March, 1860, to July, 1861 ; W. H. Chamberlain, August, 1861, to September, 1862. From this time until 1865 preaching was maintained by supplies, or by the individual members reading sermons. Rev. J. S. Herrick became p;istor in 1865, and acted as such until failing health compelled him to resign, Feb- ruary 23, 1879, and was succeeded by his son, D. F. R. Herrick, who was ordained March 18, 1879. Failing health soon compelled him to resign, and preaching was again maintained by supplies ; Rev. Mr. Shaw supplying from August, 1880, until February, 1881 ; Rev. O. E. Brown was pastor from September, 1881, until November, 1884, and was succeeded by Rev. W. F. Grant, the present pastor. Educational History. — In the grant given these townships, one lot of one hundred acres was reserved in each for the benefit of the schools. These lots were disposed of at an early period, and the interest expended for schools. In 1778 the interest of the Fitzwil- liam lot was five pounds, two shillings. There is no record showing that any money in addition to the above had been expended previous to this time, when one hundred pounds was voted to be raised by tax, and it was dealt out very sparingly, for two years after only twenty-five pounds had been expended. The building of a meeting-house, the sup- port of the ministry and the war, so occupied the public mind that but little attention was paid to the support of schools. Twelve pounds were raised in 1782, twenty pounds in 1785 and fifteen pounds in 1787, and probably ex- pended under the direction of the selectmen. In 1789 thirty pounds were raised. This year an efibrt was made to establish a grammar- school, but the article was " passed over " in town-meeting. In 1777 the town (Fitzwilliam) was divided into four equal squadrons for schooling ; re- districted in 1788, and, having become more TROY. 349 thickly settled, again re-districted in 1794. Up to this time there had been no school-houses, the schools having been kept in private rooms. The first scliool-house on land now in Troy was built by Fitzwilliam in 1790, and stood on tlie east side of the road near the present resi- dence of Willard Wliite. At the first meeting after the incorj)oration of the town a committee was chosen to regulate the school-districts, and they reported six. District No. 6 was so small that a school could be maintained but a few weeks in each year, and consequently little benefit was derived therefrom. It was united with No. 3 in 1831. In 1838 the town was again re- districted. District No. 1, or the Village Dis- trict, was divided, the northern half being called No. 1, and the southern half No. 2. No 2 was changed to No. 3 ; No. 3 to No. 4 ; No. 4 to No. 5, and No. 5 to No. 6. In 1878 the selectmen and superintending school committee were instructed by the town to again reorganize the districts, which they did by making four districts of the six, consti- tuting a Village District and three out-districts; tile Village District to consist of Nos. 1 and 2, together with a larger part of Nos. 5 and 6, adding a part of No. 5 to No. 4, and part of No. 6 to No. 3, thus making four districts, as they are at present ; No. 1 to contain three schools — one grammar and two primary — the school-house in No. 1 to be used for the north primary, that in No. 2 for the south primary, the grammar school to be in the room under the town hall. The citizens have at all times used their best efforts to promote the cause of popular educa- tion. For several years after the incorporation of the town the amount annually raised for the support of schools was two hundred and fifty dollars, in addition to the interest of the literary fund. This amount has been gradually raised until the present time, when the whole amount of school money is twelve hundred dollars. The whole number of different scholars at- tending school the past year wius one hundred and sixty-two, — sixty-four boys, and ninety- eight girls, — with an average length of all schools for the year of twenty-one and nine- tenths weeks. MiiJTARY History. — In everything calling for an exhibition of pure patriotism, disinter- ested benevolence, or the characteristics of good citizens, the names of the first settlers stand conspicuous. The following are the names of those from this town known to have enlisted in the American army during the War of the Revolution : Benjamin Tolman. Jacob Newell, Jr. Ezekiel Mixer. Pearson Newell. James Brewer. Caleb Winch. John Farrar, Jr. Peter Starkey. At the time when the bugle sound was first heard upon the battle-field of Lexington there were not more than twenty-five male inhabit- ants over twenty-one years of age, within the limits of what is now Troy, capable of bearing arms. Most of them were heads of families, who had just settled upon this wild land, and, however much inclined, they could not have left their fields for the camp, only at the expense of bringing upon their ftimilies a great amount of suffering. No men were more ardently attached to liberty, or to the leading measures of tho.se days, than the early settlers of this town. The small number of enlistments should not be at- tributed to any want of patriotism, or indiffer- ence, for there can be no stronger claims upon man's services than those of his family, and next to this is his country, and justice and humanity forbid that the former should be sacrificed to the latter. In every instance where arrangements could be made to protect the families from extreme suffering, the opportunity was gladly accepted, and laying aside the implements of husbandry, the father hurried to the assistance of his coun- trymen. Some of them arrived at Lexington just in 350 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. time to dispute the progress of tlie British forces. They were at Bunker Hill aud Ben- nington, at Stillwater and Ticonderoga. They all served honorably through the war, and fought nobly for the cause so dear to every heart. Benjamin Tolman, Ezekiel Mixer, Pearson Newell and John Farrar, Jr., took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. In the battle of Bunker Hill Tolman was in the thickest of the fight where, in a hand-to- hand conflict with a British soldier, his gun was wrenched from him ; l)ut he stood his ground, defending himself as best he could with the weapons nature furnished him, until his com- mander, seeing his condition, brought him an- other musket, with which he continued to fight until ordered to retreat. Mixer served in the same company with Tolman, and by his side for over two yeai'S, both sharing alike the same pleasure and suffering. At the battle of Ben- nington, August 16, 1777, when the troops under General Stark made that ever memor- able charge which crowned the American army with victory, Mixer was shot in the body and carried from the field to a rude shelter, linger- ing in great agony until morning, when he expired. Pearson Newell sustained the loss of his gun, powder-horn and cartridge-box, for which he was afterwards allowed by the State two pounds, fourteen shillings. Toryism became so rife in the colonies that Congress, in March, 1776, took measures to dis- arm all persons disaffected to the cause of Ameri- can liberty, and passed a resolution upon the subject and sent it to all the colonies. In this State the Committee of Safety had the resolutions printed in circular form, and sent to every town in the State ; it I'ead as follows : "Colony of New Hampshire, &c. " Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776. " To the sekelmen of Monadnock, No. fice : " In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the Honorable Continental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all Males above twenty- one years of age (lunatics, idiots, and negroes ex- cepted), to sign the Declaration on this paper, and when so done to make return thereof 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 Colony. " M. Weare, Chairman." "In Congress, March 14th, 1776. "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United States immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies, 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 Fleet and Armies. " E.vtract from the minutes. " Charles Thompson, Secretary." "In consequence of the above Resolution of the Continental Congress and to show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties, and properties 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 risk of our lives and fortunes, with Arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies, against the United American Colonies." This was signed bv all the inhabitants in Troy except the following, and duly returned by the selectmen : William Barker, Jonathan Shaw, Icabard Shaw, Daniel Lawrence. The citizens of Troy were not behind their fellow-citizens in manifesting their patriotism when the hostile cannon boomed upon Fort Sumter, but, in common with the great majority of the people of the North, gave their support to the government. The following extracts taken from the records will show the action taken by the town : " May 8, 1861.— Fofed, That the town guarantee to those that have or may enlist from this town, that their wages shall be made up to them so that the amount will equal twenty dollars per month, and that we will pay them ten dollars in advance at time of enlisting, said sum of ten dollars to be taken from their wages." "October 21, 1861.— Fo^ed, To instruct the select- TROY. 351 men to use any money, not otherwise appropriateil, that may be in the treasury, or to borrow monies if necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act, in chapter 2480, Pamphlet Laws, 1S61, authorizing cities and towns to aid the families of volunteers and for other purposes." "July 20, 1862. — Number of citizens liable to mili- tary duty, as enrolled by the selectmen, eighty-two. Number who were or had been in the U. S. service, twenty-eight." "August 27, 1862. — Voted, That we pay each re- cruit or volunteer who is accepted and mustered into the service of the U. S. for the war, unless sooner discharged, the sura of one hundred dollars. " Voted, That we pay fifty dollars in addition to the one hundred dollars, providingthe town is called upon to furnish men to fill up the old regiments. " Voted, To limit the bounty to the number required to fill our quota and not to be paid until the men are mustered into the U. S. service. " Voted, That no bounty be paid to any man who receives a commission before leaving the state." The selectmen were autliorizcd to borrow a sum of money sufficient to meet these calls, not to exceed three thousand dollars. "September 21, 1863. — Voted, That the town ]iay the drafted men, who are,br may hereafter he drafted, for three years, or their substitutes, on or after being mustered into the U. S. service ten days, three hun- dred dollars, and the selectmen were instructed to borrow a sum not to exceed four thousand dollars for the purpose of carrying the foregoing vote into ef- fect. " Voted, That the selectman raised, if necessary, an additional sum not to exceed five thousand dollars for the same purpose." " December 5, 186'i.— Voted, That the selectmen pay the citizens of the town who shall enlist for three years (until the quota is filled), the sum of three hun- dred dollars, on being accepted and mustered into service. '^ Toted, That the town assume the responsibility of paying the United States and State bounties to citi- zens of the town who shall enlist, on being mustered into service, and the selectmen were instructed to borrow ten thousand dollars for the purpose. ' " Voted, That the selectman hire recruits out of town, if it can be done satisfactorily, to help make up the quota of the town." "May 7, 1864. — Voted, To pay the men that have already enlisted into the U. S. service under the present call for two hundred thousand men, three hundred dollars." " July 30, 1864.— Fo^-rf, That we pay volunteers, or enrolled men, or their substitutes, one hundred dollars for one year, and a corresponding sum for the number of years they may enlist, not exceeding three, if they are accepted and mustered into service, to fill up the quota of the town under the present call for five hundred thousand men, to be paid when mustered into service. "Voted, That we pay the drafted men or their substitutes, two hundred dollars, to be paid as soon as mustered into service. " Voted, That the selectmen borrow a sum not ex- ceeding six thousand five hundred dollars for the purpose. "Voted, To choose an agent to procure substitutes. "Choie Elmund Bemis as sai, giving employment to about twenty hands, the value of the yearly production being about twenty thousand dollars. The tannery is owned and run by K. M. Silsby. In 1782 or 1783, Jason Winch came here from Framingham and built a tannery on the site now occupied, and carried on the business for a few years, but, being unfortunate in it, he closed up the business and left town. In 1815 Lyman Wright purchased the tan- nery. He soon built a new one, which stood nearly over the stream, and a little lower down thau the present one. Some years after he moved it iiirther up-stream and toward the north, putting an addition on the east end, which is the principal part of the tannery of the ])resent day. The business was afterwards carried on by Wright & Foster and Francis Foster. In 1869 the tannery passed into the hands of W. G. & R. M. Silsby. The former re- tired from the firm about two years ago. The capacity of tlie tannery is about fifteen hauds, but at present only seven are employed in the manufacture of wax upper leather. George S. Colburu, of West Gardner, iVIass., manufactures chair-stock, hubs, etc., on East Hill, employing from three to six hands. Webster Corey turns pail-handles at his shop on A\'est Hill. The wheelwright business is conducted by Winthroj) Knights at the North End. At <:liiferent times, various enterprises have been carried on, with varying degrees of success, f()r longer or shorter periods. In 1812 Constant Weaver built a pottery, the first in town, and for many years this was an imjjortant industry, and earthen-ware of different kinds has been made here until about three years ago, when, owing to the competition of large establishments, the Inisiness was aban- doned. In 18.")1 B. F. Grosvenor commenced making fur hats in the house now occupied by J. S. Bhss. The business was afterwards carried on by E. P. Kimball, who served an apprenticeship under Grosvenor. Mr. Kimball carried on the business of tinsmith in tlie same house for a number of years, and at one time had ten ped- lars on the road. Miscellaneous. — Troy is situated ten miles southeast of Keene, on the Cheshire Railroad. The surface is very hilly and uneven ; the highest point is Gap Mountain, situated in the easterly part, and separated from Monadnock by quite a deep ravine. The broken surface affords almost every va- 356 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. riety of soil, and there are some well-cultivated and productive farms. There are some quite extensive meadows in the eastern, and also in the western, part. The South Branch of the Ashuelot passes through the centre of the town. This rises from Rock wood Pond, in Fitzwilliam, flowing north, and receives many tributaries. The principal is the Ward Brook, which drains the westerly slopes of jMonadnock and Gap Moun- tains. The greatest natural curiosity is, prob- ably, the falls in this brook. Within about one-half mile from the village the waters of this stream descend, within a few rods, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet, so that in high water this cataract presents quite a sublime spectacle. The air is dry and pure, and the scenery is magnificent, and is the nearest point to the grand old Monadnock Mountain. We have two hotels, — the Monadnock, C. Vi'. Abbott, proprietor, and the Kimball House, Charles Haskell, proprietor. The two stores are kept by E. P. Kimball & Son, and C. W. Whitney, and II. C. Newton deals in Yankee notions. In 1872 Mr. Newton commenced the pub- lication of the Home Companion, which was issued (piarterly until 187<), monthly until July, 1885, and since, semi-monthly. Representatives. — The following gentle- men have served as Representatives for the years named : 1816-17. Dauiel W. Farrar. 1818. Sylvester P. Flint. 1819. Daniel W. Farrar. 1820-22. Daniel Cutting. 1823. Daniel W. Farrar. 1824. Daniel Cutting. 1825. Daniel W. Farrar. 1826. Kev. Ezelciel Rich. 1827-28. Dauiel Cutting. 1829-31. Daniel W. Farrar. 1832-33. Lyman Wright. 1834-35. Chester Lyman. 1830-37. Daniel Cutting. 1838-39. Jonathan Clark. 1840-12. Abel Baker. 1843-44. John W. Bellows. 1845. Jeremiah Pomeroy. 1846-17. Thomas Wright. 1848-49. John W. Bellows. 1850-51. Brown Nurse. 1852-53. Jotham H. Holt. 1854. Aldin Egleston. 1855-56. Lyman Wright. 1857-58. Joseph M. Forristall. 1859-60. Edwin Buttrick. 1861-62. A. M. Caverly. 1863-64. David W. F.arrar. 1865-66. Edmund Bemis. 1867-68. Elisha H. Tolman. 1869-70. Augustus Hodgkins. 1870-71. Charles W. Whitney. 1873-74. George W. Brown. 1875-76. William N. Watson. 1877-78. William G. Silsby. 1879-81. Asa C. Dort. 1883. Charles W. Brown. 1885. Edwin Buttrick. HISTORY OF HINSDALE. BY HON. .1. M. STEBBINS. CHAPTER I. Geographical — The Squakheags — Initial Events — First Set- tlements — Charter of the Town — First Town-Meeting — Officers Elected — Injian Troubles — Captain Elienezer Hinsdale — Early Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church — Univei'salist Church — Methodist Church— Bap- tist Church — St. Joseph's (Ionian Catholic Church. The town of Hinsdale lies in the sontli western part of Cheshire Connty, and is bounded as follows: On the north hy Ciiesterfield, on the ea.st by Winchester, on the south by Massachu- setts, and on the west by the Connecticut River, which separates it from Vermont. The Connecticut River, about midway between the north and south lines of Hinsdale, tibruptly changes its southerly coiu-se and for a mile or more runs to the northeast, passing around Cooper's Point and Clai-y's Island, when it again changes its course to the southeast, and runs a half a mile in that direction to the mouth of the Ashuelot, and at Poraeroy's Island resumes its southerly course. The waters in til is great bend of the Connecticut and at the mouth of the Ashuelot were known to the Indians as Squakhcag — the speariug-place, or a place for spearing salmon. The name was also applied to the territory in the towns of Hinsdale and Vernon, Vt. The Squakheags were a numerous and powerful tribe, whose principal villages were on the plains and bluffs near the great bend in the river. They fortified Coojtor's Point, the bluff sometimes called Fort Hill, to which place they resorted when pressed or tlireatened by enemies, and from this hill could be seen the meadows and streams for a long distance above and below, from which they gathered their supplies of corn and salmon. The remains of the fort, and of their villages and granaries still exist, and the relics of the tribe, with their tools and weapons, are often found. Nawellet, a chief of the tribe, in 1687, grante a highway two rods wide liad been laid from Northfield to the Ashuelot, and this had been extended before 1740 to Merry's Meadow. The travel and transportation between Northfield and Fort Dummer, on the east side of the Connecticut, crossing the river above the mouth of Broad Brook, had made a pa. i)urdeu of paying for it, were not disposed to burden themselves further with the expense necessary for the support of a regular preacher. It was, in fact, twenty-five years after the Iniild- ing was completed before a pastor was settled. This period has been described as the dark ages of the church iu Hinsdale. The early fathers had been set off to another parish, or had dis- appeared. The town had ceased to be a little community of farmers, and became a field for tlie missionary. After the construction of a road up the Ashuelot Valley from the old ferry below ( 'ooper's Point, great quantities of lumber were iiauied to the landing to be rafted, giving employment to a number of raftsmen and lumbermen, who took up their abode in the town, and many boatmen were called here to aid in taking large boats up the rapids in the Connecticut, between the Ashuelot and West Rivers. In the first half of this century nearly all heavy merchandise was carried on these boats to the towns on or near the river-banks for more than a hundred miles above the State line. In seven miles above the landing in Hinsdale the river falls thirteen feet. From five to ten extra men were required to be taken on at Hins- dale to push one of these boats up the rajiids ; and, at certain seasons, a number of upward- bound boats arrived at the landing daily to await the arrival of the swift-water men, as they were called. These easy-going, hardy l)oatmen, and many of the lumbermen, were given to merry-making, drinking and fighting. Their influence was opposed to the church and religion, and they never appeared to feel the need of either ; and the few inhabitants who saw the need of both were not able to support a regular pastor. After Mr. Gay, the pulpit was unsupplied for some years, except by some neighboring min- ister occasionally, when Rev. Mr. Low and Rev\ Mr. Lawsou supplied for a time, followed by Rev. Mr. Andrews, a Baptist clergyman, for the five years ending in 1821. In the mean time a Sunday school was organized, which numbered eighty members. , The early church records having been de- stroyed, and the church supplied by ministers of different denominations, a coun(i] was held October 8, 1821, "to take into consideration the concerns of the Congregational Church iu Hins- dale." The council found only four male and five female meaibers of the original church, and these were reorganized under a confession of faith and covenant. From 1825 to 1832 the Home Missionary Society sent to the chiu'ch as supplies Rev. Mr. Griswold, Rev. ^Ir. Smith and Rev. Mr. Longley. Rev. Eliphalet Strong, a graduate of Harvard in 1824, was ordained May 17, 1832, over a church of fifteen mem- 362 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. bers, which increased to fifty the next year. He was dismissed in 18:15, and for a time was confined in an insane asylum, but recovered, and removed to Illinois. Rev. Joseph Marsh, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1824, was installed May 2.'>, 18;15. During his ministry the church occupied its new edifice, erected in the village in 1835, and forty-one were added to the church. He was dismissed tiie day his successor, the Rev. Gardner S. Brown, a graduate of Dartmouth, was ordained. Mr. Brown entered on his ministry with much enthusiasm. A young man, with a good voice, and other attractive personal c[ualities, he would have made an impression in any place. He seemed to feel sincerely what he often said in his pulpit with characteristic force, " Woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel !" At the outset he filled the pews with listeuers, who were moved and impressed with his teachings, and many came to the fold, while the influence of the church for the first time in many years be- came the leading influence of the town. But the change was not all due to the f)reacher. The water-powers in the Ashuelot had called here a number of new men and families, which wrought a great change in the character of the place. Among these were Caleb Todd, who first begau in this town the manufacture of woolen fabrics, and Pardon H. and Pliny Mer- rill, who constructed the canal aud imjiroved the upper falls. Colonel Levi Green, Jonathan Brown, William Ilaile, Dr. F. Boyden, Deacon Windsor Bowker and others, all of whom were business men of intelligence and character, young, or in the prime of life, desirous of bring- ing their homes under the influence that good schools and the church ouly can give. Besides these. Deacon A. kShattuck, Henry Hooker, William aud Lewis Taylor and others, natives of the town, were active members of this church. All those who are named above, whether natives or not, took active parts in the affairs of the society and town, speaking in the evening meet- ings, in which the pastor encouraged them, until they acquired the art of speaking well, and there came to be less of exhortation than debate or discussion, more spirited than is usual on such occasions. The pastor was in the habit of pre- siding, never hesitating to criticise a speaker, or to stop him if he talked too long. At one of these meetings the Universalist minister at- tempted to speak, saying, " In the pejice of God there is liberty " " No liberty for you, sir, here," roared Pastor Brown, before another word could lie uttered. The interest in religion could not, under the circumstances, long be confined to one society. Good men protested against what they called the insolence of the young pastor and the doc- trine of eternal punishment, which, they said, he made the principal part of his sermons aud creed. Talk upon religious subjects prevailed in stores, shops and wherever men were in the habit of meeting, as well as in vestry meetings. The result was that the Universalist Church, organized a few years before, and until then languishing, had just lived, all at once revived. It began its new life by expelling an original memljer who was alleged to have used profane and abusive language, and averred that "he joined the society to bother a brother member," and, gathering in many converts, it completed, in 1840, the edifice the church now occupies. At this time there was a class of men — vil- lagers and farmers of much influence in the town — who were in the habit of spending their evenings in the post-ofiice and stores. Some of these men were ([uite intelligent and sensible, and, withal, very good talkers. They discussed, iu little groups, politics, religion and local topics with much pleasantry, and often with a good deal of spirit. Among these, the man listened to with the most amusement was John Stearns, a tall, swarthy young farmer, who lived on his farm two miles out of the village, where the original Shattuck built his fort. There was no end to his sallies and stories, aud he could make sport of a loco-foco or a backslider without of- fending his victims. There were others like HINSDALE. 363 lim who were never found inside of ii cluircb, et weri' not scoffers, but sought to make the iiost of life with little thought of the hereafter. iVhen a church-member faltered, or did aught miss, tliey discovered and published it. This irobal)ly led the churches to undue vigilance. Vt all events, cases of discipline were very com- iion, and for causes which would now not be leemcd to warrant it. In the hard-cider Presidential campaign in 840 the vestry-meetings were nearly deserted or the gatherings in the stores and other pulilic )laces, where Mr. Stearns talked to little groups vhich gatliered about him, laughing at his wlitical jokes and comments on current events, vhich were, perhaps, as good as the best in the lewspapers of the pi'esent time. During this campaign a controversy arose be- ween Caleb Todd and the church, which ended, f it has yet ended, only upon the death of Mr. fodd more than thirty years afterward. The Jiurch record shows that Brother Todd made Iiarges atjainst Deacon Windsor Bowker. At i hearing before the church Deacon Bowker nade no defense, and the church having decided igainst Brother Todd, and the latter having re- cused to abide by the decision, a council of pas- ors and delegates was called to consider the grievances between him and the church, and be- ;ween him and Deacon Bowker. Before the 'ouncil assembled Deacon Bowker brought •harges against Brother Todd, declaring "he lad taken the gospel steps with him and had ■eceived no satisfaction." This matter was also ■eferred to the council. The record shows thatan ecclesiastical council assembled November 3, 1840, but what action was taken in relation to iny of tlie charges does not appear. But it does i|)[)car from the record that at a (luu-ch-meeting, held February- 3, 1841, charges were presented Igainst Caleb Todd, on which he was excom- iiuuiicated. What the charges were does not njtpear from the record, which only shows that charges and grievances were made or existed. If the charges were preserved or extended on the record, the real nuitiuy which led to the excommunication would not probably be disclosed. It has never been believed or sug- gested that the charges were for disgraceful conduct, or for any cause which might not be the result of some misunderstanding. Be that as it may, the excomnuiuication did not affect his standing as an upright citizeu whose char- acter and integrity were such that he would readily have been admitted into any church of the same faith, except that by which he was expelled. It may be that he could not yield to the pastor, whom he haame a subject of contention in the church, iu which the pastor became involved. The latter is reported to have said in his pulpit that " even the Almighty could not make two four, or break the will of man." No allusion was probably intended to any particular man or case, but some persons insinuated that the will referred to was the stubborn will of Caleb Todd, and others that it was the last will and testament of the de- ceased brother, that could not be broken. Whatever was intended, the effect under the circumstances, with other things, was to alienate both the friends of Mr. Todd and the heirs from the pastor and those sustainiug him. The 364 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. M'ill-case, after one or more trials in court, was compromised, and the will was not broken uor tiie dissensions stayed. In 1843 about a score of members (but only a part of tlie disaffected) asked to be dismissed from the church. A committee appointed to visit and labor with them performed their duty apparently without success. Their re- quest not being granted, Dr. Frederick Boy- den and otiiers sent to the church a communica- tion declaring tliemselves " free and independ- ent of the church," and a dozen or more members were thereupon suspended or expelled and others soon after " cut off." A class of jNIethodists was then formed, in which a num- ber of those " cut off" found fellowship. At the next meeting of the church, action was taken for tlie dismission of the pastor. A council assembled April, Ki 1844, and, accord- ing to the record, it was happy " to find that the church and pastor, Eev. G. S. Brown, have from the betjinninji' been united in affec- tion and remained steadfast in maintaining, against a heavy pressure of hostile influences, the order and faith of the gospel;" but it adjudged tiiat tlic relation between the pastor and his people should be dissolved. During the ministry of Mr. Brown much good work was dt)ne by the minister and con- gregation. Although they were upon some things divided, the people generally did not suffer their differences to impair the good feeling which prevailed among tliem or prevent them from co-operating heartily in whatever they thought miglit improve their social or religious condition. Tlie children were greatly interested in the Sunday-school, which was well attended, and three times on Sundays the pastor preaciied, and preached well, to full pews. In his view, it was not the duty of a good shep- herd with soft words to lull his flock into dull contentment with their present condition so long as he could see higher and better jiastures to which they might be led, but to lead them gently and kindly, if he could, and rouse and drive them, if need be, fighting for them or against them, if he must ; despite his faults and misfortunes, his influence, upon the whole, was good. He had many devoted friends in the congregation, among whom there was, under him, genuine harmony and good fellowship. Upon his dismission he retired forever from the ministry. After teaching for a time in New York he devoted the remainder of his life to the practice of medicine with success, and was buried in Alstead, his native town. Rev. Moses Geroukl was installed October' 30, 1844. His patient and fiiitiiful work in trying to heal the dissensii)ns in the church was not wholly imsuccessful. Some of the suspended members, at their request, were restored ; others, having luiited with other churches, were quietly dropped. The bitter- ness which had existed between a few members of the church subsided, and the strife at least diminished. The Universalist, Baptist and Methodist Churches were organized before or during his ministry, and by reason of the differences, each had received some recruits from the original society. The religious inter- est greatly increased under Mr. Gerould's ministry. There was improvement in the at- tendance upon all the church services, and in the numbers uniting with the several churches. With the building of a railroad, in 1851, another element, the Catholics, came to stay. Their church is now, and is likely to be, one of the principal churches in the town. To the end of his ministry Mr. Geroukl had the confi- dence and respect of all parties in every church, and, for his work as a pastor, a citizen and friend of education, he deserved the gratitude of the people of the town. He was dismissed Feb- ruary 2, 1853, and moved to Canaan, N. H. For two years following there was no settled pastor. Rev. William A. Patten sup- plying for a pdrt of the time. Rev. Moses H. Wells was installed May 1, 1856. He is described as a most excellent man and faithful preacher. Ninety-one were HINSDALE. 365 added to the church during his niini.stry. At his own i-equest, on account of failing health, his people, witli much reluctance, were com- pelled to yield to his dismission August 31, 18(!5. Rev. J. S. Batchelder was installed March 6, 1866, and continued a ministry which was acceptable to his people for moi'e than five years, until, at his request, he was dismissed, December 5, 1871. llev. C. C. Watson was settled December l."5, 1871, and, at his request, was dismissed October 30, 1877. Under him the interests of the church and societv were carefullv guarded, and the influence he exerted over his people was salutary and elevating. He was suc- ceeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Henry H. Hamilton, a graduate of Amherst and Audover, who was installed March, 1878. The society is now in a prosperous condition. The church lumibers one hundred and fifty- three; the Sunday-school, one hundred and eighty-five ; the usual congregation, about three hundred and fifty to four hundred. The church edifice has recently been repaired and enlarged. Tlie principal audience-room con- tains a large organ and sittings for four hun- dred and fifty ; the vestry, a small organ and seats for two hundred and fifly. The First U^fiVEESALisx Church ok H1N8DALK was organized by Ivory Soule and others. At the first meeting, held Octoljer 4 1833, Otis Doolittle was chosen moderator ' Pliny Smith, treasurer; Joab Davis, clei-k ' Henry Ide, T. J. Pierce and Arad Cooper, trustees. They built their meeting-house, as above stated, in 1840. Tlie church numl^ers about fifty, the congregation about one hundred and fifty. It has had many preachers, but none for a long term. The present incumbent is Rev. E. A. Reed. The IMethohist Episcopal Chtrch. — A class of eight members was organized in 1842, and in the first year was largely increased. The church now numbers seventy members ; the Sunday-school, eighty-five ; the congrega- tion, one to two hundred. The church, l)uilt iu 1875, has sittings for three hundred. The first minister, appointed in 1843, was Franklin Thurber. He was followed by Jared Perkins, Samuel McKeau, Charles Chase, H. M. Matter- son, W. H. Jones, John Hillman, A. C. Har- dy, Henry Dorr, Edward Bradford, A. ( '. Colt, F. J. Folsom and F. J. Felt. Bapti.st CHmcH OF Hinsdale. — A small Baptist society liad long existed iu the north pai-t of the town. The Baptist Church of Hiusdale was organized, or reorganized, jNIay 3, 1873, by Lemuel Liscomb, W. A. Hortou, Ira Barrett, Thomas F. Dix, Zenophen Streeter, J. E. Randall, H. B. Streeter and others, and, with the aid of ^Mr. Esty, of Brattle- borough, soon after built tiie small brick church in the village. St. Joseph's Parish (Catholic), Rev. J. J. Holahan, pastor, was established in 1884. In this parish there are about ninety families. The Sunday-school numbers sixtv ; the usual congregation, about three huntlred. The new church, when fiuislicd, will accommodate four hundred. CHAPTER II. HINSDALE— (Cnntimied). Manufacturing Interests— Militarj' — Schools — Newspapers. Manitfactures. — In the meadows and up- lands in Hinsdale for nearly six miles, near and along Connecticut River, tliere are some lands of the best quality, which were occupied and improved by the early settlers. The town is one of the smallest in extent iu the State, including less than ten thousand acres. It exteuds south of the Ashuelot River about three miles. At the mouth of the Aslmelot it is less than a mile wide, and less tlian a quarter of a mile on the Massachusetts State line. A mountain range rises along the eastern border, extending into Winchester. The views from the roads on this range, with the Green Moun- 366 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. tains in the distance and the long river winding through many miles of the nearer meadows, are as beautiful and picturesque as any in the valley. Above the great bend in the Connecticut, and north of the Ashuelot, the town is from three to four miles in width, but a sandy plain inter- venes l)etweeii Merry's Meadow and the moun- tains (111 tiie east. There are few very good farms in tiie town, and only a small portion of the whole territory can be called good farming land. On the hills and plains some farms have been deserted and are used only for pastures or are left to grow up to wood. There probably never were more than fifty families at one time deriving their support from agriculture. By far the larger part of the population are maintained by the avails of their labor in the mills and shops of the village. More than sixty years ago Caleb Todd began the manufac- ture of woolen goods. He was succeeded by Dan. H. Ripley, John Todd, Governor William Haile and Rufus S. Frost. The business is now continued by Rufus S. Frost and William H. Haile, under the name of the Haile & Frost Company, manufacturers of cashmerettes and flannels, employing from two hundred and fifty to three hundred persons. C. J. Amidon & Son, successors of Bishop & Boyden, make the same kind of goods, and employ from one hun- dred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty. The Brightwood Mills, owned by George C- Fish, and the firm known as G. & G. A. Robertson, are each extensive manufacturers of manilla paper. The other principal manufac- turers are Newhall & Stebbins, makers of mowing-machines and lawn-mowers ; the Jen- nings &Griffin Manufacturing Company, chisels, knives and cutlery ; Holman & Merriman, ma- chinists ; (!. D. Merriman, iron foundry ; Hins- dale Machine and Tool Company, vises ; M. S. Leach and John W. Battles, carriages ; and John G. Snow and Luke Parks, boxes and wooden- ware. Schools.' — The schools of this town followed 1 By C. P Hall. the old district system, and each was conducted \vithout reference to any other, with about the efficacy and support found in other towns, till 1S77, when two of the three districts cornering in the village united and built a good house. In 1878 a town High School was organized, which proved a successful and important ele- ment in the school system. Its establishment made a more thorough organization in the lower schools a necessity, that pupils might be better fitted when they came to the High School, and during the next two years the Third District in the village was united with the other two, and tiie schools were thoroughly graded into two primary, two secondary and one grammar. In 1884 the districts were abolished and the town system adopted in their place, so that now the outer schools are put on a par with those in the village, and hence the system is made more efficient than it could be under tlie old arrange- ment. This town was the first in this county to adopt this system, whicii the last Legislature has made universal throughout the State. Military.^ — -The military spirit of this town responded promptly to the attack upon the government in 1861, and on the 11th of May the people voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars to fit out volunteers and care for their families. Already her sons were aroused, and some of them enlisted in the Second New Hampshire and other regiments. Other meet- ings followed, at whicii the people showed their interest in having the Rebellion put down by their readiness to care for and aid those who were willing to risk their lives in doing it. On the 9th of August, 1862, immediately following the call for three hundred thousand men, the town voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to all who would enlist under that call, and to raise eight thousand dollars to meet the expense, thinking that the quota of the town was about forty. It was soon learned that the quota was only twenty. In the mean time the forty had enlisted, thirty-seven of 2 By C. P. Hall. 1^ //C-^^'^^^<^^/i^- '-o-U ^2^^u^ HINSDALE. 367 them in one day. Then came the questions, "Who shall go?" "Shall the whole bounty hf paid ? " Many of the soldier boys had enlisted to go together, and said so in words not to be misun- derstodd. After a somewiiat heated discussion of the questions at issue for a few days, wiser counsels prevailed, and it was voted to ])ay the bounty to all who had enlisted. This satisfied the boys and proved the best course tor the town in every way, for the extra men were set down to the credit of the town when it was not so easy to get men. Here, as throughout the North, the pulse of patriotism beat with a flush of fever during these days of a nation's peril. In October seven thousand three hundred and fifty ddllars was i-aised to aid the families of soldiers, and in the ^larcli following two thousand dollars ; and this aid continued to the close of the war. In the fall of I860 the town voted a bounty of three hundred dollars to any who \\ere mustered into the service of the na- tion. The whole number of men enlisted from this town is eighty-nine, who served in the following regiments: Fourteenth New Hamp- shire, 4l^ ; Eighteenth New Hampshire, 9 ; First United States Sharpshooters, 6 ; Fifth New Hampshire, 5 ; Second New Hampshire, 3 ; Sixth New Hampshire, First New Hamp- shire Cavalry and Eighth Vei'mont, each 2 ; Third New Hampshire, Second Vermont, Fourth Vermont, Ninth Vermont, Tenth Mas- sachusetts, Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, Sev- enty-ninth New York, Eighth Louisiana, Sev- inleenth United States Infantry and the Navy, 1 each ; and in unknown resiments, <:>. Newspapers. — The Star-Spangled Banner was established here by Hunter & Co. in 1863, and was published until April, 18X."). The Prof/rcss was started in 1884, and dis- continued in 1885. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. WILLIAM ILVILE. William Haile, son of John and Eunice (Henry) Haile, was born in Putney, Vt., in May, 1807. In 1821 the family moved to Chesterfield, N. H., where the sou attended school till he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the store of Ezekiel Pierce as a clerk. At the age of twenty-one, having borrowed a small sum of money, he opened on his own account a stoi'e in the Centre village of Chesterfield. Here he carried on business for the next seven years with success. While the population and trade of the town were continually dimmishing, his own irade constantly increased. In 1 834, with the little capital he had accumulated and a credit which greatly exceeded his capital in money, he opened a general country store in Hinsdale, in which he remained for the next fifteen years. His mercantile business in such a small village and trade centre was necessarily limited, but it is safe to say that few men in the same circum- stances and conditions could have accomplished more. He possessed qualities which in a mer- chant almost insure success and gave him credit which was not dependent on his possessions. With his strong personal attractions, his train- ing and natural aptitude for trade, his honesty and untiring devotion to business, it is not strange that he succeeded and prospered finan- cially in all his undertakings. From 1847 till his death he was actively engaged in the manu- facture of cashmerettes, repellents, flannels and other goods in Hinsdale, having for his part- ners at different times Caleb Todd, Daniel H. Ripley, John D. Todd and Rufus S, Frost. He was also interested in other enterprises and was an efficient ofBcer in various local institu- tions. He took an active and prominent part in church affairs and was a member of a number of the principal benevolent societies. Though ex- tensively engaged in business, he took a promi- 3(i8 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. nent part in political affairs. With the exception of two years, he represented Hinsdale in the State Legislature from 1840 to 1854 ; was elected to the New Hampshire Senate in 1854-55, of which liody lie was also president the latter year, and was again elected Representative in 1856. The next year he was elected Governor, to which office he was re-elected in 1858. He was the first Governor of the State elected by the Republican party. In 187.'j he removed from Hinsdale to Keene, where he had built a fine residence. He did not cease, however, to talce an active part in business till his death, which occurred July '22, 1876. FREDERIC BOYDEN, M.D.^ The life-record of a physician, however dis- tinguished, is at best imperfect and fragmentary. The best years of manhood are spent in the practice of a laborious profession, among a limited circle of friends and patrons, and his fame and memory are often embodied in the simple but impressive words, " the beloved physician." It is only now and then that a physician like him whose virtues we commemo- rate, by his long residence, by his talents and integrity, by his individuality and strong points of character, comes to be regarded as a promi- nent man in the community, not only within but outside (jf his profession, and his loss to be widely and dcei)]y felt. Frederic Boyden was born at Deerficld, Mass., in the year 1810, and was therefore sixty-one years of age at the time of his death, which occurred November 11, 1871. An accident in early life prevented him from eu- srascins: in asriculture or mechanic arts and caused him to turn to the more thoughtful pur- suits of the student and scholar. Having selected the profession of medicine, he studied the prescribed time, and took his diploma at the Medical School of Harvard 1 By W. S. Leonard, M.D. University, then, as now, one of the first and best New England medical colleges. He located in Hinsdale, and commenced practice about fifty years ago. For a (piarter of a cen- tury he was the only physician permanently located in town; other doctors came and went away, some of them remaining for a year or two, but he had no competitor for any length of time. The requirements and the standard of medical education have changed much in the last third of a century, yet there can be no question but Dr. Boyden stood in the front rank among physicians of the time as a sound, well-read, self-reliant and skillful ]M-actitioner. In the best and busiest 3'ears of his practice he was associated more or less intimately with such men as the elder Dr. Twitchell, at that day one of the first physicians and surgeons in New England, also with Dr. Adams, of Keene, a physician of much eminence and skill. The co- temporary of such physicians, Dr. Boyden, in addition to his extensive knowledge, doubtless gained something from the great stores of ex- perience garnered up by these eminent men. Dr. Boyden was considered to have special skill in what is technically called diagnosis, or " the art of distinguishing one disease from an- other," and in prognosis, the judging of tlie progress and termination of disease by symp- toms. In these departments his judguient was particularly good. It has been said of him that it was very rare fi)r a patient to recover when the doctor had pronounced the case hoj)eless, and on the other hand, a favorable opinion from him, as to the chances of recovery in a seem- ingly desperate case, gave encouragement and hope alike to patient and friends. It was thought the doctor had unusual suc- cess in the treatment of acute inflammatory diseases, in typhoid fever, as it prevails in the Connecticut and ^Vshuelot Valleys in autumn, in pneumonia and lung affections generally^ TJie tj'pe and character of the same disease varies much in different sections of the country, and even in different localities in the same State, ^^. HINSDALE. 369 but Dr. Boyden, by liis long expi'rieuce and oliservatiou, understood perfectly every pha.se of the acute diseases which visit the Ashuelot Valley, and knew how to combat them. So far as the minor " ills which flesh is heir to " were concerned, the aches and pains which are un- comfortable but not dangerous, the doctor (especially in the later years of his practice) rather avoided the treatment of these. He did not want anything to do with them, but left them to be treated by younger and more en- thusiastic practitioners, who needcrneath a manner a little abrupt, the result of a peculiar nervous temperament, he possessed a genial disposition and a kindly heart : "For the lives that look so cold, If their stories could be told, Would seem cast in gentler mold, Would seem full of love and s])ring." The doctor never seemed to grow old. He was alike the companion of old and young men, adapting himself with equal facility to either, but remaining young and fresh in all his feel- ings and sympathies to the last. It is needless to speak of his integrity of character, of his un- swerving honesty, of his honorable and upright dealing with his fellow-men, of his great per- sonal influence for good in the comnuinily, ever increasing as the years rolled by. In the good life which he lived was embodied his religion, — a religion en)inently vital and practical, a re- ligion above all creeds and dogmas : " For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight, His can't be wrong whose life is in the right." In the summing up of a character .so rounded ^'U^lyAJl.FlUcl-l' ■£ yff^e^w^c HINSDALE. 371 and perfected by the virtues of an honorable and useful life, we can exclaim with truth that "The elements So mixed in him that Nature miglit stand up And say to all tlie world, This was a man." GEOr!( i !■; liOnKRTSON.' The Robert.son family is of Scotch descent- The fatiier, William Robertson, was born in Lasswade, Scotland, July 21, 179;5. Little or nothing of Ids early life is known except that he served as an apprentice at tlie trade of a paper-maker for seven years, accordinj;' to the old custom. He married Christenna Ross, of Edinburgh, February 1-1, 1817, and in 1818 or 1819 emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, wherehe resided about two years, working at his trade very likely, and then removed to Plartford, Conn., living there till the autumn of 182;5, when he removed to Putney, Vt., engaging in the manufacture of paper in that little Vermont town, and this was his home for most of the years following until, in his old age, he moved to Hinsdale, N. H., with his good wife, where they passed their declining years near the home of one of their sons. They are remeud)ered by tlie present generation as most charming old people, whom age failed to render morose or querulous, enjoying the society of the young, — retaining always the Scotch dialect and the sturdy virtues of their Scotch lineage. Mrs. Robertson par- ticularly was one of the most delightful old ladies we ever recollect to have seen, — so brisk, so cheery and .sympathetic, so fresh and young was she in all her feelings and impulses to the last. Seven children were the fruit of this union, viz.: Ann, Marion E., George, John, Jean X., Edwin R. and Christenna C. It is not our purpose to follow the fortunes of each of these descendants more than to say that they have all filled bravely and well their positions of duty in the world and preserved the honored name of Robertson 'By W. S. Leonard, M. D. intact from dishonor, — worthy descendants of an honored father and mother; but we desire to put on record a brief sketch of one of the sons, George Robertson, whose portrait appears in this history and who pas.sed many years of a success- ful and honorable business life in Hinsdale. George Robertson was born in Hartford, Conn., April 19,18-22. The family moved to Putney, Vt., when he was less than two years of age. His boyhood and early lile were un- marked by any uuusual events. The common schools of the ])eriod were brief and the oppor- tunities of ac({uiring an education were very limited, and Mr. Robertson was wont to regret that better opportunities were not afforded him for acquiring an education ; as a young man, he was full of life and energy, fond of athletic sports, mirthful and endowed with a fair share of true Scotch grit and pluck. At an early age he began to work in his father's pa])er-mill with his brothers, so that he may almost be said to have been a papei'-maker from the cradle U) the grave. Before the older boys, (icorge and John, were of age the father removed tempoi-arily to Co- hoes, N. Y.,and leased a paper-mill there; after a .short time, not .satisfied with tin; outlook, he proposed to the sons that they should return to Putney, that he would re-buy the paper-mill there, give the young men their time, as was the fashion in those days, and transfer t(^ them the whole charge of the mill, under the firm-name of George & John Robertson. This was ac- cordingly done, and the young men, not yet hav- ing attained their majority, went into business for themselves, and it is proof of the foresight and sagacity of their father that this firm con- tinued undisturbed for many years, and to-day John Robertson, the younger of the two sons, owns the same paper-mill. George Robertson moved to Hinsdale in 1 849, but continued to be in partnership with his brother John at Putney until 1850, and his brother was in like manner a partner with him in the paper industry which George built up at Hinsdale. 372 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. On locating in Hinsdale, Mr. Robertson bought, in company with others, a paper-mill which had been built by Thomas & Cutting in 1845, and at once commenced the manufacture of paper. This was destroyed by fire in 1851. He immediately rebuilt and resumed bu:?iness ; again, in 1 8(58, a desti'uctive fire consumed the mill and machinery. After an interval he put up another mill and had it in working order in 1865, but in 1881 an accident almost as serious as a conflagration overtook the firm ; by the bursting of what is colled a rotary bleach the mill and a large portion of the machinery were laid in ruins. Such a series of misfortunes, which would have driven to despair many a brave man, had no effect to dishearten Mr. Rob- ertson. He knew no such word as fail. He commenced to rebuild at once, although it was late in the autumn, and the next spring found him ready for business again with a better mill and more extensive machinery than ever before; so that, whereas in the early years of his business he could manufacture only about eight hundred and fifty jjounds of paper a day, he could now, in 1882, turn out from four to five thous- and pounds in the same length of time. But this stout-hearted man of such indomita- ble energy and perseverance, who had the iron will and steadfastness of purpose to build up time and again a new business out of the ruins of the old, was overtaken at last by a most grave and lamentable accident, which ended his life in the midst of its best and busiest years. Two of his sons were building a new paper-mill on the Ash uelot River, in the town of Winchester three miles above. On the after- noon of the 24th of May, 1882, he rode up to the site of the new works in process of erection, and while talking with his son, by some strange mishap, a huge derrick fell, and in its down- ward course struck him upon the head, fractur- ing the skull and causing injuries from which death ensued in a short time. So passed away, in the full maturity of his life, with strength unabated and the prospect of many years of usefulness in store for him, a man who for thirty-one years had pursued an honorable and upright business career in Hinsdale and won for himself a high position in all the re- lations of life. In glancing at his life record and the various accidents and casualties therein recorded, one might naturally get a wrong im- pression of the every-day life of this good man and prominent citizen. The misfortunes which occasionally overtook him were, after all, mere specks in the pathway of a successful career, so speedily did he rise above them, and there came to liini in the intervals many years of uninter- rupted business prosperity and happiness. He was exceedingly happy in his family relations. He married, May 13, 1844, Abigail "Wyman, of Jamaica, Vt., and the union was blest with six children ; two sons died in early childhood, and four arc living, viz.: Frank W., George A., Edwin C. and Orren C, all of whom are married and follow the profession of their father. In reviewing the salient points in Mr. Rob- ertson's character we are impressed, first of all, with his intense energy, his grit, pluck and per- severance under difficulties. His life in this re- spect conveys an important lesson to all those who are disposed to give up and fold their hands because fortune seems against them. Ob- stacles and hindrances only made him put forth the more determined efforts to overcome them, and his success should be a means of inspiration to all young men who are compelled to be the architects of their own fortunes. Mr. Robert- son was ever a public-spirited man ; anything that was for the public good always received his cordial approval and aid ; without seeking office, he at one time or another filled many im- portant posts within the gift of the town. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and prominent in the councils of Golden Rule Lodge. In politics he was originally a Whig ; but when the ^^•ave of Know-Nothingism swept over New England, the sturdy Scotch instincts which he inherited from his ancestors could ill HINSDALE. 3Y3 brook tlie dooma that a man niiist he horn in any particular country in order to be of good stanchng in a party, and he sundered tlie (jld tie?; and united with the Democratic party, to which he adhered as long as he lived. He was a generous man, kind to tiie pnor and (>v('r ready to give to any benevolent object; his sympathies were easily enlisted and he never stopped to measure the length of his purse when any worthy enterprise called for aid. fSaid he to a gentleman who solicited a subscription for some meritorious project, " Put me down for such a sum as you think I ought to pay." Two or three instances have come to light when Mr. Robertson assisted worthy young men who were struggling to get a start in life, simply because he saw that they were woi-thy and needed aid, and in every case this assistance on his jjart was the means of insuring success in after-life to these young men, who remembered his timely generosity with gratitude. We have alluded elsewhere to tlic liapjiy family relations of Mr. Robertson ; lie was a devoted husband and a loving father. There seemed to be a community (jf interests one toward another, and a great unanimity in all that pertained to home happiness and domestic comfort. To his sons he was at once father, counselor, companion and friend, — entering into all their projects with tlie enthusiasm and interest of an elder brother, tempering the impulsive- ness of vouth with his mature ind<::mcnt and discretion. He was an active member of the Congrega- tional Church and Society for several years be- fore liis death, and his piety was of that practii^al kind which found its best expression in works. His pastor. Rev. H. H. Hamilton, says of liim : " He was for five years superintendent of the Sunday-school, and under his administration it was very successful. He was greatly interested in the children and had a way of gaining their affections. To his pa.stor he was loyal and a kind personal friend. As a Christian, he was positive in his convictions and an earnest seeker after truth. Religious experience to him was a reality ; his faith was strong and he was never troubled with doubts. He was converted late in life ; but the change was real, the work thor- ough; no one justly doubted the reality of the change or questioned his sincerity. We all mourn the loss of a large-hearted Christian man." And yet another personal friend puts on record these words : " With him honor and probity were garments for every -day wear ; his religious convictions, never unduly obtrusive, were not for Sunday ministration alone, but were his companions in the routine work and details of a busy life. His broad charity of thought was proverbial. He was ever ready to cast its mantle over the shortcomings of others. In practical every-day life he thus illustrated his entire sin- cerity and belief in the religion he professed." It is an incident often mentioned in these later years that the be;iutiful poem entitled "Over the River," by Nancy A. W. Priest, afterwards Mrs. Wakefield, was written by her in the summer of 1S.')7, while an employe in the mill of George Robertson. This exquisite gem of poesy has found its way into many hearts all over the world, and given the writer, whose early death we have never ceased to deplore, an enduring; fame in the annals of American litera- tvire. We know not how we can more appropriately close this life-sketch than by quoting the con- cluding lines of another lyric by the same author, less famous, it is true, and not even found in the published volume of her poems, but nevei'tlieless bearing the impress of a genuine poet. These seem pertinent to the close of the good life we have attempted to portray, and are, at once, a solace and a benediction, — "And I thought it were pleasant and sweet to die, To pass from this world of care and strife, To close on its sorrows my glazing eyes, To open again on a better life. And when we shall bow to the common fate. May we find that the life-paths our feet have trod, Lead up to the shining, pearly gates Of the city whose builder and head is God." 374 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. JOHN STEARNS.' In preparing a brief biographical notice of one of Hinsdale's oldest and most widely known citizens, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, it is proper to refer briefly to the genealogy of the Stearns family. It appears that Nathaniel Stearns, the grandfather, came from Hebron, Conn., and is supposed to have settled for a time in Northfield, Mass., and then removed to what is now Hinsdale. The first notice of him in the old town records is in 1774, where he is termed Lieutenant Stearns, and there is a record of his marriage to Dorcas Sanger, January 4th of that year. Walter, his eldest son, was liorn in the latter part of the same year, being the oldest often children. He married Thena Shattuck in August, 1797. And just here it is pertinent to trace out the re- mote ancestry of the Shattuck family, in order to show that the farm owned and occupied for so many years by John Stearns came down in a dii'ect line of descent by way of the Shattuck race. Daniel Shattuck located in Merrv's Meadow in ITM). He built a fort on both sides of the little brook where now stands the large barn liuilt by John Stearns. This fort was assaulted and partly burned by the Indians in 1746. Daniel Shattuck had a son Daniel born in 1727. He was a soldier at Fort Dummer in 1756 and afterwards captain of a company at the battle of Stillwater in 1777. He died in 1809. This Daniel Shattuck had two wives, — Mary, daugh- ter of Stejihen Smith, of Sunderland, Mass., and for his .second wife, Lucy, widow of Martin Smith, of Amherst, Mass. He hod seven chil- dren, among them a son named Makepeace, who married Lydia Grandy, and the last-named were the parents of Thena Shattuck, the wife of Walter Stearns. Walter Stearns was a resident of Hinsdale all his life, with the exception of seven years, from 1801 to 1808, when he resided in Dover, Vt. 'By W. 8. Leonard. He reared a family of thirteen children, namely : Fanny, Roxie, John, Emily, Rhoda, Elliot, Maria, Gracia, Nathaniel, Horace, Walter, Mary and Charlotte. Of this great family there remains now only Maria, formerly wife of the late Dayid Blancli- ard and later wife of the late Kimball C. Wor- den. She at present resides on Canal Street. Only two of the sons settled in town, Elliot, a farmer and for many years a prominent and highly-esteemed citizen, and John, the subject of this sketch. John Stearns was born in Hins- dale, August 10, 1801. Of his early life we can record little beyond the fact that he was reared a farmer, with the limited educational advantages which were the lot of farmer boys of that period ; but what he lacked in book knowledge he made up in tact, keen observa- tion and good judgment. On February 25, 1825, he was united in mar- riage to Esther Webster, of Northfield, Ma.ss., a most estimable woman and a connection of Noah Webster, of dictionary fame. It is most fitting that we trace his career from the time that he assumed the management and ownership of the large and productive farm which, until his time, had been in the hands of the Shattuck family, and which he bought and where he resided for more than half a century. Besides being a good farmer, he early turned his attention spe- cially to dealing in horses and cattle, and became widely known all through Northern New Eng- land as a shrewd and successful buyer and trader He also dealt more or less in real estate, being one of the owners, with John Ray, of the old Americfin House, at Brattleborough, and the Ashuelot Hou.se, at Hinsdale, was more than once his property. He may be said literally to have carved out his own fortune, and ere he had reached middle life he had amassed a hand- some property and was accounted one of the solid men of the to^\n. In his day he wielded great influence in town afi^airs, and though never accepting any public office, yet he exercised a controlling jjower over all important measures. ^»,-,— ^ -, T1-* -.-» /-./-* T T XT m\"'' XT riTir TT 4 Atr»LiTTTT>T? tnl buvf "lAHRU^t^- .=J-^yp^t\. J Lxiec^^ ^ IIIN81.)AJiK. ■^^■^ a It was a sotirc'u of gnitifioatioii tn liiiii in liisoUl ago to c'oiMjwrc tlio Hinsdale of fifty yoai's ago, tlicn a small Iiaiiiiot with a few scattered houses, witli (ho iliiisdalo of to-ilay, an enterprising, thriving village, with its tasteful residences, prosperous manufactories and material wealth and prosperity, and to feel that he had contrih- uted not a little toward making the town what it is l>y his good judgment and far-sightetl pru- dence and sagacity. In private life Mv. Stearns was a most genial c(>m|ianion, hearty, mirthful and given to hospilaiily. There is some subtle inlluence which imliucs I hose men niio possess broad acres, large barns and luxuriant meadow lands, who deal much and largely in horses and lilt cattle, wideh tends to make them g(!nial and overflowing with hospitality. For many years "Uncle John" and his good wife dispensed a gold<>n hospitality at the old Stearns homestead, making their home a true New England home in tiic most ample sense, and it is sad to think how fast these suiuiy luimes are disa[)pearing from our country hill-sides and valleys, and (hat the stiu'dy virtues and generous, hospitable manners, of which these good people were tiie types, are gradually fading out of oni- Anieri- ean life. Mr. Stearns had a keen |)erccption of wit and humor, enjoyed a good Joke or a laughable story and couM iiimself (ell one on oc(!asion. ()fthis iiiculty the inlirmities of age never bereft him, and many of his witty savings and iiits of (juict satire and humor will loiij; be reineniber- ed among the local traditions of tiie town. Ilnclc John was not unmindful of tiie S(a'ip- liiral injunction to iiK'reascand miilti|>ly and re- plenish the eardi. A tiunily of eight children was born (o him, vi/. : Jane R., Elvira, Dwight \V., Janode, h'ranklin, Newton, Charles and I'^llcn. All of tliciii uro. living; all have fiimi- lies of their own and occupy honorable and use- I'lll positions in life. In the siimiiicr of I.STS the family circle was i>rokeii by the death of | the mother, Mrs. Stearns, who passed away, al'ler a lingering illne.ss, at the ripe age of sev- enty-nine years, — a noble woman, who embodied in herself the hou.sehold virtues of patience and unvarying kindness, and who was univensally respected and beloved by all who know her. 'I'Ik' death of this iiiithful and devoted help- mates had a profound eflect upon Mr. Steams. It was a rending asunder the ties which bound him to this world. Already an old man, he gradually withdrew more and more from (he world withoiK, and for (he last year or two of his lil'c rarely left (he old homestead. His iinal sickness lasted only a few hours. lie died on December 2, 1884, i|uietly and peacefully, under tlie roof that had sheltered him so many years, surroundeil iiy his <;hildren and friends. This sketch woulil beincomphste if wcs should neglect to menlion some ol'the cotemporaries of John Stearns, — men who wvw more or less as- sociated with him in town alliiirs and whose loss liinsdalo has been (sallek back far enough through the vista of tlie past to remember when Mrs. Howe (after- wards Mrs. Toots) came in her old age to the house of his grandfather. Rev. Bunker Gay, to beg him to write out the narrative of the mas- sacre of her husband by the Indians, and the details of her captivity in Canada ; and this story, written in the most terse and vigorous English, can be found to-e- tween the south and east branches of said river, about five pearch east of the bank of the main river, and thence running each way as described on the plot." The report was accepted and the lands contained in said townships were declared to lie in and constitute a part of the county of Hampshire. The line thus established was the dividing line between Upper A.shuelot and Lower Ashuelot, and since Upi)er Ashuelot took the name ofKeene, and Lower Ashuelot the name of Swanzey, this line lias continued to be the dividing line between the two towns. To prepare the township for settlement, a committee was sent by ifas&ichusetts in May, 1734, to lay out sixty-three house lots. The first step taken by the committee must have been to lay out a street or highway. They commenced on the south side of the South Branch, about thirty rods from where it meets the Ashuelot River, and then ran southerly up over Meeting-House Hill, and then down to the west side of the moat. The length of this highway was about a mile anil a half The house-lots that were laid out upon this road were about sixteen nxls in width, and some forty rods in length. Thirty-two lots were laid out upon tlje west side, and thirty- one upon 376 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. the east side. A few yeai's aftei* the lots were laid out the south lots on the east side were thrown up and two lots laid out on the west side at the south end, and several of the centre lots on the east side were altered by moving them back a number of rods in order to lay out on Meeting-House Hill a piece of land-common. The object of laying this land-common was to have a place to set a meeting-house, to have a burying-ground and a public common. The design of having sixty-three house-lots was to have sixty for actual settlers, and to have one lot for the first minister, one for the ministry and one for schools. After the house- lots had been laid out the townshij) was ready for settlement, when sixty persons should pur- chase rights in the township, upon which to set- tle themselves or to settle one of their children. A share was one house-lot and one of the sixty- tiiree lots of each division into whicii all of the land in the township was subsequently divided. Tiio terms of admission were, that eacli set- tler should pay five pounds for a riglit ; that he should actually live on iiis land within three years after his admission, and continue there for the space of two years after in pez'son, and witli his family, if such he had ; that he should, with- in five years from his admission, build a house on his land of eighteen feet square and seven feet stud at tlie least, and within the same time sufficiently fence and till or fit for mowing eight acres of land ; and in case any settler fail of performance, his right to be forfeited, and the committee for admitting settlers were required to take of each at the time of admission a bond for twenty pounds for the use and benefit of the settlers in case he should fail to perform the conditions mentioned. The first meeting held by those who became proprietors of the township was at Concord, Mass., June 27, 1734. At this meeting Nathan- iel Hammond, of Littletown, was chosen mod- erator ; Ephraim Jones, of Concord, clerk ; John Flint, of Concord, Joseph Hill, of Bllier- ica, Thomas Cutler, of Lexington, Eleazer Rob- bins, of Harvard, and Nathaniel Hammond, of Littletown, were chosen to manage the pruden- tial aifalrs of the township. The five pounds required of each proprietor for admission was to reimburse tlie province the money advanced to pay committees and the expense of the survey of the township and the house-lots and for building a house of public worship, or to be used as the General Court should order. The meeting of the proprietors that was iield June 27th adjourned to meet in the township of Lower Ashuelot September 18tli, at ten o'clock, forenoon. This meeting was adjourned to eight o'clock the next morning, to meet ou house- lot No. 1. The division of the house-lots was made by drawing lots for them. The following' are the names of the sixty proprietors, and the number of the house-lot which each drew : Josiah Dival, 1 ; Thomas Hapgood, 2 ; Thomas Kendal, 3; Samuel Bacon, 4; James Heaton, 5; John Haldin, 6 ; AVilliam Rogers, 7 ; John Mead, 8 ; Jo- seph Lee, 9; Daniel Brown, 10; Joseph Hill, 11; James Wallis, 12; John Flint, for his son, Ephraim Flint, 13; Elnathan Jones, 14; Benjamin Keed, 15; Benjamin Whitney, 17; Nathaniel Hammond, for his son-in-law. Chamberlain, 18; James Houghton, Jr., 19; John White, 20; John Muzzey, 21 ; Jonathan Prescott, 22; David Cutler, 23; John King, 24; Jo- seph Hill, Jr., 25; Robert Gumming, 26; Nathaniel Hammond, 27; James Henry, 28 ; Thomas Cutler, 29; Hezekiah Sprague, 30; Benjamin Heywood, 31 ; Jon- athan Hammond, by his father, 32 ; Joseph Haskel, 33; Ele.izer Robbens, 34; William Whitaker, 35; Samuel Douglass, 3(5 ; Aaron Lyon, 37 ; Benjamin Thompson, 88; Nathaniel Whitemore, 39; Thom.is Kendal, 40; Timothy Stearns, 41; John King, 42; John Lampson, 43 ; John Slorr, 44; John King, for his son, 45; John Mewharter, 46 ; Nathaniel Mattoon, 49; Ephraim Jones, 50; William Lyon, 51; Benja- min Farusworth, 52 ; Oliver Wallis, 53 ; William Arms, 54; Charles Prescott, 55; Enos Goodale, 56; John Taylor, 57 ; Ebenezer Conant, 58 ; William Carr, 59; Thomas Heaton, 60; Thomas Kendal, 61 ; Sam- uel Doolittle, 62; Gardner Wilder, 63. School lot was 16, ministry lot, 47 ; minister's lot, 48. Some alterations were made in the house-lots by a committee chosen for that purpose in 1739. SWANZEY. 377 The following is the report of the committee, and the plan of the house-lots aftei' the altera- tions had been made : '• This Plan Describeth the House Lotts in ye Lower Ashuelot township so called laid out in part By Mr Nathaniel Dwight in May 1734 and since then agre- able to a vote of ye proprietors theares Been Con- siderable alteration made in them from ye Waiey they Were first proposed to be Laid out by a Commit- tee chosen for that End (as appears by this plan) by Laying a peace of Land common for sating up an house for publick worship &c. and bounding the Eastwardly End of ye Lotts on ye Eastwardly side of ye Road on ye second and third Division Lotts and on ye Westerly side of ye Eoad thears sum variation made in ye roads betwen ye Lotts viz The Road of four Rods wide on ye south side of ye Lott is added to sd Lott in full, satisfaction for ye Road of four Rods Wide taken out of ye north side of ye Lott No 25 which was don by agreament of ye committee and ye person who is ye present proprietor (or owner) of sd No 31 & 25 and Likewise by a free consent of ye present owner of ye Lott No 31 ye Road is turned in at ye North-Eastwardly Corner of it and Runs somthing angling Cross sd Lott Leaving part of if on ye soutli and south Eastwardly side of ye Road as appears by this plan Laid out in December, 1733, by Benj" Brown, surveyor. " Thomas Cresson, 1 " Samuel GuNN, - Commiitee." " Bexj' Browx, J Three general divisions characterize the sur- face of Swanzey. The largest division is com- posed of tliat part which is elevated above the plains and meadows. It is of granite forma- tion, and macli of it is quite uneven, although not so much so as to unfit a large proportion of it for farming purposes. There are many hills ; some of them are quite rugged and have an elevation of several hundred feet above the adjacent plains and meadows. Five of the most prominent of these elevations have been designated mountains. These are Mount Hug- gins, in the northeast part of the town ; Mount Chaisson, on the west side of Ashuelot River, about a mile and a half from the centre of the town ; Mount Cfesar, near the centre of the town ; Picket Mountain, in the southwest corner of the town ; and Franklin Mountain, lying south of the Ashuelot River and being partlv in Winchester. There are many hundred acres of plain land. The soil of the-se plains is generally rather light and dry, and is not well adapted to high culti- vation, but profitable crops of corn, rye, oats and buckwheat have been raised upon them, and to some extent they have been cultivated for the hay crop. It is suppo.sed, by many, that the surface of the plains was formed when Ashuelot Valley was a lake, and that it was by the action of the water of the lake that the material which composes the surface of the plains was so finely distributed as is .seen upon our level plains. The proportion of intervale and meadow-land to the upland in Swanzey is quite large, and the quality of the soil is in marked contrast. At some period large quantities of earth, com- posed largely of clay, were distributed over the valley, which was subsequently covered by the sand of the plains. The sand formation that covers the clay formation varies from a few inches to forty or fifty feet. In some places the clays come to the surface upon the upland. Where it does, the soil is of excellent quality. Since the Ashuelot Valley ceased to be a lake the rivers have been doing their work to mould the surface into its present formation. From hundreds of acres the sand has been removed, and in many places several feet of the clay earths. The result of these operations has given to the low lands of the town, in most cases, an excellent soil. The eiFect of the drift period is seen in many places. It is the mo.st noticeable of any place in the town at East Swanzey. The distribution of boulders from oiu' own hills and mountains, from those in adjacent towns at the north, and from some mountains far away have been very profuse. In many places they are very thick, and many of them quite large. Upon our plains and meadows they are not to be seen. The great amount of material dis- tributed through the valley since their distribu- 378 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. tioii has buried them in these places generally entirely out of sight. Of the forests of Swanzey, at the time the township was granted, the most extensive was white pine. Upon the plains it was the prin- cipal timber, and it constituted a large amount of the timber upon the intervales and hill lands and it was generally of excellent quality. Hemlock, next (o pine, was the mo.st abundant. Large numbers of these trees grew upon the intervales, and many of them were of large size, and upon the hill land they constituted a large part of the timlier, particularly in the valleys. Red oak was mingled amongst other forest-trees in most places. There was much good white-oak timber in the southwest part of the town, and in the southwest corner there was some chestnut. The soil of the intervales and meadow land was congenial for the growth of the elm. INIany of these trees upon these lands were of majestic proportions. Black- birch, yellow-birch and white-birch were found in many places. The poplar was not an un- common tree. Rock-maple could not be con- sidered as one of the principal forest-trees, but upon some of the intervales and hills a suf- ficient number of them were found of good size, and so conveniently together as to make good sugar-orchards. White-maple was more widely diffused than the rock-maple, but less majestic. The shagbark walnut grew in many parts of the town, particularly about the centre and in the westerly part. Some of the hills were largely covered with beech. Hard-pine grew upon some of the plain.s, black-ash in the swamps, white-ash in some of the valleys amongst the hills, where the soil was rich. Of the wild animals, the early settlers of the town were familiar with the bear and M'olf. They knew that occasionally a deer, a cata- mount, a lynx was seen. Of the denizens of the larger rivers, they knew .something of the habits of the salmon, the shad and the lam- prey eel. The great trouble of the early settlers were the Indians. It M'as some twenty years from tlie time that the first settlements were made before they could feel themselves not in danger from them. It is proliable at first they were not much ajiprehensive of danger, but this feel- ing of security could not have been of long du- ration. As early as 1738 a fort had been par- tially built around Capt Nathaniel Hammond's house. November 6th, of this year, the pro- prietors voted that eighteen pounds of powder and thirty-six pounds of lead be purchased for a reserve stock. Subsequently, the proprietors voted to finish the fort around Captain Ham- mond's house, and a committee was chosen to see to the building of two more. The com- mittee were directed to build one of the two upon Meeting-House Hill, and the other around John Evans' house. Apprehensions of danger from the Indians continued to increase, and by the spring of 1797 they had become so grave that it was deemed necessary, for the safety of the in- habitants, to abandon the settlement. Such articles as could not be taken away were buried in the ground or concealed that they might es- cape destruction or being captured by the Indians. To have left the settlement under such circum- stances must have been very sad. It was full ten years from the time the settlement was commenced. During this time much hard work had been done, much land had been cleared of the heavy timber that was found upon it, houses had been built, roads had been laid out in different directions, and work enough done upon them to make them useful in pass- ing to and from the neighboring towns ; mills had been built and the building of a school- house had not been neglected. It is traditional history that only one building escaped destruc- tion by the hands of the Indians. The following list gives, as far as has been ascertained, the names of the inhabitants pre- vious to the abandonment of the township, with the year in which their names first appeared upon the records, and, as far as we are able, the place from which each came : SWANZEY. 379 Nathaniel Hammond, Littleton, Mass., 1737; Charles Lummis, Bolton, Mass., 1737 ; John Evans, Bolton, Mass., 1737 ; Samuel Farnsworth, 1737 ; Thomas Cres- sou, Sunderland, Mass., 1737 ; William Carr, Deer- field, Mass., 1737 ; Samuel Hills, Sunderland, Mass., 1737 ; Benjamin Jethro Earns. 1737 ; Benjamin Brown, Concord, Mass., 1738 ; Abraham Graves, Hat- field, Mass., 1738; Samuel Mitchel, 1738; David Beld- ing, 1738; William Grimes, Lancaster, Mass., 1738; Samuel Gunn, Sunderland, Mass., 1738 ; Nathaniel Gunn, Sunderland, Mass., 1738 ; Ephraim Jones, Concord, Mass., 1739 ; William Scott, 1739; Andrew Gardner, 1739; Charles Armes, 1740 ; Timothy Brown, Brookfield, Mass., 1740; Thomas Hammond, Little- ton, Mass., 1740 ; Rev. Timothy Harrington, 1741 ; Jonathan Hammond, Littleton, Mass., 1741 ; Nathaniel Hammond, Jr., Littleton, Mass., 1741 ; Eliakim King, 1743; James Heaton, 1743; Seth Heaton, Wrentham, Mass., 1744; Joseph Hammond, Littleton, Mass., 1744 ; Samuel Belding, 1745 ; Charles Earns, 1746 ; Samuel Chamberlain, 174t); Samuel Hills, Jr., Sunderland, Mass., 1746; Timothy Hammond, Littleton, Mass., 1746. It is evident from the above list of persons wlio settled in tlie townsliip, tliat most of those who were grantees did not intend to settle in it. They might have become grantees to forward the settlement of new towns, or their motives might have been speculative. The above list includes only Nathaniel Hammond, Jonathan Hammond, James Heaton, Ephraim Jones and William Carr, who were original grantees. The first settlers of the town were much embarrassed by the result of the settle- ment of the boundary line between Ma.ssa- chusetts and New Hampshire. When they came here they had no doubt but the territory belonged to Massachusetts. On the 3d of October, 1740, they held a meeting to consider what should be done to relieve them from their embarrassed condition. The following extract, from the records of this meetiug, disclo.ses the general feeling of disappointment : " The proprietors being informed that by y° Deter- mination of his majesty in Council Respecting y' Controverted bounds between y'' province of y" Massa- chusetts Bay and New Hampshire they are Exclude^ from this province of y" Massachusetts Bay to y' which they always supposed themselves to belong therefore they unanimously voted that a petition be presented to y" King's Most Excellent Majesty setting fourth our Distressed Estate and praying we may be annexed to Y' said Massachusetts province also unanimously voted that Thomas Hutchinson E^q, be impowered to present y" said petition to his Majesty and to appear and fully to act for and in y' behalf of this town re- specting the subject matter of said petition according to his best discretion." By this establishment of the boundary line the inhabitants of the town not only lost the protection they had a right to claim from Massachusetts, but they also lost all legal claim to their lands vested in any act of that prov- ince. In the face of tliese discouragements, it is little wonder that they eventually left tlieir possessions and fled to their former homes in Massachusetts. The exact time that the settlers commenced to return to the township is not known. It is probable that it was at the same time that the settlers commenced to return to Keene. The proprietors of the two townships up to this time seem to have moved simultaneously in all transactions connected with the settlement of the two townships. The proprietors of Upper Ash uelot held their first meeting at Concord, Ma.ss., June 20, 1734. Those of Lower Ashuelot held their first meet- ing at the same place, June 27,1734. Both of these proprietors' meetings were adjourned to meet in the respective townships the 18th of the following September. The two townships ap- pear to have been abandoned at the same time. The " Annals of Keene " contain the follow- ine: in relation to the resettlement of that town : o " In October, 1748, peace was declared between England and France. The Indians, however, con- tinued their depredations until June, 1749, and a treaty of peace was not made with them until Sep- tember of that year. "On the restoration of jjeace the settlers, who had been driven from their lands by the war, made prep- arations to return. The exact time when Upper Ashuelot was again occupied has not been ascer- tained. It was probably some time in 1750, — cer- tainly as early as 1751, as it is within the recollec- tion of Thomas Wells, now living, who came to reside 380 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. here in 1752, that eight or ten dwelling-houses had been erected." The settlers did not find, after their return, that they were relieved from apprehension of danger from the Indians. In 1754 the Indians were engaged in capturing individuals, destroy- ing property and causing a general alarm in the frontier settlements in the province of New Hampshire. In 1755 armed laborers with a guard of four soldiers went to work in the Great Mead- ows. The soldiers were in advance. They heard a rustling in the bushes and supposed that it was caused by a deer, and one of the soldiers fired at the spot. The noise proved to have been made by Indians. When the gun was fired the Indians supposed they were dis- covered and they fired at the soldiers. The laborers coming up, saw the Indians and attacked them and drove them to the plain at the north. An express was instantly sent to Keene and a party of fifteen men, under Captain Metcalf, went out to meet them. The Indians made their escape. This may have been the last time hostile Indians were seen in Swanzey. The place where these Indians were discovered in the meadow has been known from that time to the present as the Indian Meadow. The statement has been made in some jjub- lislied works that many of the inhabitants of Swanzey lost their lives at the hands of the In- dians. We do not think these statements are well authenticated. If any one was ever killed in the town, or if any inhabitant of the town was killed when away from the town, the fact does not appear in any of the town records, nor is there any traditional evidence who they were or where they were at the time. The only person who is known to Swanzey people to have suffered personal harm by the hands of the Indians was Thomas Cresson. He was born in 1722, and died in Swanzey in 1821, lacking but a little more than one year of being one hundred years old at the time of his death. His father, Thomas Cresson, came to Lower Ashuelot, when his son was a lad, from Sunder- land, Mass. Thomas Cresson, Jr., went with a party from about here for the protection of Fort Dummer, and was captured near that fort and carried to Canada. It was some three years after his capture that he was permitted to return. A number of persons are now living who re- member having seen Thomas Cresson in his old age. It is stated in Belknap's " History of New Hampshire " that Deacon Timothy Brown and one other gentleman was captured by the In- dians, and it is also stated in the same work that some women and children were captured in Lower Ashuelot ; names not given. Belknap's history is good authority. Lower Ashuelot was granted by New Hamp- shire as Swanzey, July 2, 1753, to the fol- lowing piersons : Nathaniel Hammond. Abraham Graves. William Grimes. Benjamin Grout. Thomas Cresson. Thomas Cresson, Jr. William Hill. William Cresson. William Carr. Elijah Graves. Samuel Belding. Eliakim King. Jonathan Woodcock. Joshua Graves. Abner Graves. D.avid Belding. Timothy Brown. James Heaton. James Heaton, Jr. William Heaton. Samuel Hills. Nathaniel Hills. J. Woodcock, Jr. Jonathan Hammond. Thomas Nutter. Ebenezer Hills. John Prat. Timothy Prat. Samuel Prat. Joseph Hammond. Thomas Hammond. Seth Gay. Asa Grout. Daniel Arms. Ebenezer Arms. Nathaniel Gunn. Wyat Gunn. Daniel Gunn. Ebenezer Sprague, Jr. Ebenezer Sprague. Joseph Merchants. Noah Bodman. Benjamin Shelding. Mark Ferry. Jonathan Tracey. John Tracey. Phinehas Tracey. Jonathan Arms. Jonathan Bardwcll. Oliver Wit. Oliver H.ammond. Joshua Prime. Joseph Write. Benjamin Brown. Simon Davis. Samuel McClenon. Zebulon Balord. Stephen Nutter. Caesar Freeman. Samuel Gaylon. James Blood, Jr. Christopher Grout. His Excellency B. Wentworth, Esq. SWANZEY. 381 All rights that wore supposed to have been acquired by the jjroprietors from Massachusetts were confirmed to them by Xew Hampshire. Previous to the abandonment of the town more than half of the land had been divided among the projirietors. At a meeting held at Concord, IVIass., October 9, 1734, the proprietors voted to divide the intervale land called the Great meadow, and so much of the intervale, on the South Branch, as lies below Town- House Bridge, into sixty-three lots, as equal as practicable in area and (quality, and appointed Eleazer Robbins, J^athaniel Hammond, Eph- raim Jones, Benjamin Read and Nathaniel Mat- toon as a committee to make such division. These lots averaged about eight acres each. At a, meeting held at Concord, June 11, 1735, the committee appointed to make this second division made their report which was accepted, and the proprietors drew for their shares. At a meeting held in the township September 8, 1736, it was voted to make a division of twenty acres of the undivided lauds to eacii owner of a house-lot, and appointed Xathauiel Hammond, Nathaniel Mattoon, James Heaton, Benjamin Haywood and Peter Evans a com- mittee to make said division. This called the third division of the intervale land, included most of the remaining intervale and meadow land in the township. The lots laid on the South Branch, above where the Town-PIouse Bridge now stands, were called the South Branch meadows, those on the Pond Brook the Pond Brook meadows, those on the Ashue- lot River, above West Swanzey, the Mill mea- dows and those between AVest Swanzey and M'estport were called the Hypoueco meadows. The lots of the third division were drawn October 27, 173(J. At a meeting held at Concord, March 10, 1737, it was voted to make a fourth division of the undivided lauds. These lots were laid out on the upland, about two-thirds of them being between the road which runs through the centre of the town and the road which runs from West Swanzey to Westport, on the east side of the river. The remaining third was laid where the road now runs from Town-House Bridge to Keene, and ujion the hill east of this range of lots. Nathaniel Hammond, Benjamin Read, Samuel Chamberlain, Ephraiiu Jones and Nathaniel Mattoon constituted the committee for making this division. At a meeting hekl in the township, at tiie house of Captain Nathaniel Hammond, Sep- tember 7, 1737, it was voted to draw lots for the fourth division shares, and that he who should draw No. 1 should make his pitch on the morning of the lltth. He who should draw No. 2 should make his pitch on the after- noon of the same day and that this should be continued, making two pitches per day, until the division should be completed. In this divi- sion the lots eaoh contained about sixty-five acres. At a meeting held at the same place, October 26, 1737, it w;is voted to make a fifth division, each lot to contain one hundred acres. This pitch was made in the following manner : The proprietor who drew the right to make the first pitch made his selecti(jn in any part of the un- divided land he chose, and had his land laid out in form to please himself Number two had the same privilege, and so on in numerical order. This resulted in farms being surveyed into all conceivable shapes. The marsh-meadow lots must have constituted the sixth division. These lots were laid out in good form. A seventh divisicjn, each share to contain fifty acres, was made February 6, 1760. These shares were pitched in any ]ilace and in any shape that the proprietor might choose. A division of fifty acres was made April 18, 1774. The lots were pitched the same as the fifth and seventh were. A division of ten acres was made Nov'ember 11, 1803 ; a division of nine acres was made June 7, 1809, and a divi- sion, being the last one, was made Mav 7, 1833, containing three acres. The time that the last division was made lacked but a little over a 382 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. year of one hundred years from the time that the first proprietors of the township drew lots for tlieir liouse-lots. As Richmond was granted February 28, 1752, it contained a tract of land lying on the east of Swanzey, that extended to Keene line, that was afterwards known as Richmond Gore. December 11, 1762, this gore was disannexed from Richmond, and annexed to Swanzey. The length of the west line of this gore was seven miles. The north line ran on Keene thirty rods ; the east line ran on Marlborough and Fitzwilliam six miles and one hundred and thirty rods ; the s(jutli line, which severed it from Richmond, was about three miles and a half in length. The original grant of the township of Lower Ashuelot, six miles square, and the annexation of Richmond Gore, gave to Swanzey all of the territory that the town ever contained. The present shape of the town is owing to having had land included within its bounds that had been granted for another township previous to being included within the bounds of Lower Ashuelot, and by having some of its territory taken to form the town of Troy, by having about three hundred and fifty acres annexed to Marlborough, and a small piece annexed to Keene. Those who first surveyed Lower Ashuelot could not have been aware that they in- cluded within its bounds a large tract of land that belonged to Winchester. Winchester's claim was good, as their grant was made pre- vious to the grant of Lower Ashuelot. The line, as first run, extended six miles from the southwest corner of Keene, south thirty-nine degrees, west to a corner, and thence east six miles. One cau see by looking at the map of Swanzey that this survey carried the southwest corner of Lower Ashuelot far into Winchester. When Troy was incorporated, in 1815, a num- ber of hundred acres of the southeast corner of the Richmond Gore was taken from Swanzey to form that town. The north end of the gore had previously been taken from Swanzey and annexed to Marlborough. The Richmond Gore had been, jjrevious to being annexed to Swanzey, surveyed into ranges and lots. The lots contained about one hun- dred acres each. At the time this gore was an- nexed to Swanzey but few, if any, settlements had been made upon it; l)ut the lots were taken up and settlement made quite fast afterwards. Nearly all of the territory that comprises No. 9 School District, the East Swanzey School District and the district in the hollow was in the Richmond Gore. The methods of managing the municipal affairs of Lower Ashuelot were very different from the present methods of managing town affitirs. Money was raised by the proprietors to pay for preaching, for the support of schools, to build and repair roads and bridges, and for all municipal expenses by making an assess- ment equally upon the proprietors' shares. It made no difference whether the ])roprietor lived in the township or not, or whether any part of his land had been brought under cultivation and buildings erected upon it or not, he had to pay one-sixtieth part of the expenses of the township. Instead of town officers, committees were chosen by the proprietors for special pur- poses. After the to\vnship had been re-granted by New Hampshire, there was a change of meth- ods. Town-meetings were held and town offi- cers elected. From 1753 to 1885 there has been considerable change in the expenses of towns, in town officers and in the duties of towns. These changes may be shown by copies of town records. The New Hampshire charter made the fol- lowing reservations : " For His Excellency, Benning Wentvvorth, Esq., one tract of land, to contain five hundred acres, one whole share for the Incorporated Society for the Prop- agation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; one whole share for the first settled minister of the Gospel in said Town ; one whole share for a Glebe for the min- istry of the Church of England as by law established. SWANZEY. 383 " Voted March 4, 1766, to build a good and suffi- cient pound, thirty-five foot square, in the highway at the end of John Frary's house. " At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Swanzey, legally met at the meeting-house in said Swanzey, on Tuesday, the fifth day of March, 1771, the meeting being opened, Capt. Joseph Hammond was chosen Moderator ; then the meeting was ad- journed for the space of half an hour to meet at the house of Lieut. Johnathan Whitcomb. Re-assembled at the time and place appointed. Thomas Applin was chosen Town Clerk ; Thomas Applin, Samuel Hills, Benjamin Brown, David Elijah Groves, chosen Selectmen. Voted, that the Selectmen be assessors. Caleb Sawyer was chosen constable ; Capt. Joseph Hammond, chosen town treasurer ; Thomas Ham- mond and Amasa Parker, chosen tythingmen ; Lieut. Joseph Whitcomb, Joseph Cummings, Henry Morse, David Belding, Roger Thomjison and Benjamin Brown, chosen surveyors of highways ; Elisha Scott and Elijah Belding, chosen fence viewers ; John Starkey, sen., deer-reef; Wyat Gunn, Ebenezer Hills and Jonathan Woodcock, Jr., chosen hogreaves ; Na- than Scott and Gardner Duston, chosen field Drivers; Samuel Belding, chosen sealer of leather. Voted, to accept of the settlement of accounts with Capt. Jon- athan Hammond as treasurer for the years 1768 and 1769, as presented to the town by the selectmen. " Voted, to raise forty pounds lawful money to make and repair road. " Voted, that labor at the roads be set at two shil- lings and eight pence per day, from the first day of Apr. to the first day of Oct, and the rest of the year at two shillings per day. " Voted, that swine may go at large on the common, yoked and ringed according to law, from the first of Apr. to the last of October. " Voted, to allow Mr. Elijah Graves fifteen shillings lawful money for his services as selectman. "At a meeting of the inhabitants of Swanzey in the Providence of New Hampshire, held at the meeting-house in said Swanzey, on Monday, the 8th day of May, 1775. " Voted, that Mr. Samuel Hills be appointed a Dep- uty to represent this town at the Convention of Dep- uties proposed to be held at Exeter, on the 17th day of this instant ; and that he be fully empowered and authorised in behalf of this town, to join with the Deputies of other towns in addopting and pursuing such measures as may be judged most expedient to pursue to restore the right of this and the other col- onies ; and that he be emjjowered as aforesaid, to act for the space of six months if the said Convention of Deputies shall judge it to be necessary. " Foied, December 18, 1775, That it is the opinion of the town that Colo. Jose[)h Hammond, Maj. Elisha Whitcomb, Capt. Joseph AVhitcomb, Jr., Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb, Mr. Thomas Ham- mond, Mr. Benjamin Brown and Lieut. Daniel Warner be chosen a Committee of Safety agreeable to the advice of the Continental Congress, and we ac- knowledge them a Committee of Safety for this town, and we a2)prove of what they have acted in that ca- pacity. " Voted, March 4, 1777, to allow to Mr. David Belding twenty shillings for his time, trouble and ex- penses as a selectman last year, and to Colo. Ham- mond, Thomas Hammond and Elijah Groves nine shillings each for their services as selectmen last year; to allow Thomas Applin twelve shillings for his service as selectman last year. " Voted at a special town-meeting, January 22, 1778, That this town approves of the Articles of Confedera- tion and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by the Continental Congress, and desire that the same may be ratified and con- firmed. " Voted, That our Representative at the General Court be instructed to concur with the Representa- tives of the other towns in this State in appointing and calling a full and free representation of all the Deputies in this State for the sole purpose of framing and laying a permanent plan or system for the future government of this State agreeable to a vote of the General Court. " Voted, May 12, 1778, To send one man to meet with the Convention at Concord, the tenth day of June next, and Calvin Frink, Esq., was chosen. " Voted, March 2, 1779, To allow Calvin Frink twenty-five pounds as a reward for his services as Delegate for the town in the Convention, held at Concord, June 10, 1778." A town-meeting was held May 2, 1781, "to choo.'se one or more persons, if the town shall think propper to convene at Concord on the second Tuesday in June next for the sole pur- pose of forming and laying a permanent plan or system of government for this State." At this meeting Rev. Edward Stoddard was chosen a delegate to represent the town in tiie convention. A town-meeting was held December 31, 1781, " to see if the town would accept of the Con- stitution or form of Government agreed upon by the Delegates of the jjeople of this State in 384 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUiNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Convention, bognu and held at Concord on the second Tuesday of June hist." Tlie question was jjut, " wlietiier tlie voters present do accept of the Constitution or plan of Government as it has now been read ?" Thirty-one voted to accept it; five declined voting either way, three of \Nhoni declared they had not perused it sufficiently ; two said they did not know whether they belonged to the State of New Hampshire or Vermont, and one objected against one article, viz., respecting the governor, that no man shall be eligible as governor more than three years in any seven. At a town-meeting held May 28, 1783, seventy-three voters were present, and voted on reconsidering the Constitution or plan of gov- ernment. Fifty-eight voted to accept the Cou- stitutif)n as it stood ; fifteen voted not to accept it without alteration. At a town-meeting held October 6, 1783, it was " voted, that it is the opinion of this town that, with rcsj)ect to the proposed alteration of the eighth article of the Constitution of the United States, that each State ought to be taxed according to the wealth of each State ; but whether numbering the persons or taking the value of the land according to any mode of valuation that is practicable be the best way to ascertain the wealth of each State we are by no means able to determine, and do therefore con- fide in the wisdom and judgment of tlie Legis- lature of the State, to act as they shall think most just and equitable." Thomas Applin, Calvin Frink and Aaron Parsons were chosen "a committee to draft in- structions to the delegate in the General Court. The first town-meeting held in Swanzey un- der the Constitution, which had been adopted, was held March 2 1784. The chief executive officer of the State under this Constitution was styled a President. The town officers ele(;tetl at this meeting were: Moderator, Samuel Hills ; town clerk, Calvin Frink ; selectmen, Isaac Hammond, David Belding, Jr., and Benjamin Hammond. Of the votes given for a president of the State, Meshech Weare had 10 ; George Atkin- son, 21 ; John Sullivan, 2. Of the votes given for two senators for Cheshire County, Thomas Applin had 14; Daniel Newcombe, 2; Calvin Frink, 27; John Bellows, 5; Simeon Olcot, 5; Benjamin Bellows, 1. " Voted at this meeting to grant forty-eight shillings to Rev. Mr. Godchird as a reward for his services as a member of the late Convention for forming a Consti- tution for this State. " Voted, to grant Capt. Samuel Hills fifteen shillings as a reward for his services as a member of the afore- said Convention. "Voted, March 1, 1775, to raise twelve pounds for the purpose of trimming the burying ground. " Voted, March 7, 1786, to raise £4 13s. Ip. to com- plete the fencing of the burying ground." At a legal meeting held October 30, 1 786, a plan for emitting paper money by the General Court was read. The vote was unanimous against approving the measure. A committee was chosen for suggestinc; al- terations in the plan, consisting of Koger Thompson, William Grimes, Wyman Richard- son, Abraham Randall, ElLsha Whitcomb, David Belding, Jr., and Ebenezer Hills. No- vember 13, 1780, the committee made the fol- lowing report : " That twenty thousand dollars be emitted on the same plan that the General Court proposed to emit the ten thousand pounds, with the addition to have it a tender for all debts due in this State and in lieu of the forty thousand pounds that the General Court proposed to emit on land security that the Statenotes, be called in, and the holder in lieu of said notes to receive certificates of the same sum, in lieu of the same so that the interest of said notes may cease, and the certificates to be received in allout standingtaxes, seventeen voted in favor of the report, and two against it." A town-meeting was called December 4, 178(J: " To see if the town would agree with some person to pay the last State tax required to be paid in facili- ties by the first of January next, and repay such per- son or persons in cattle or any other way they shall agree. SWANZEY. 385 " Voted, That the selectmen lie imixiwered to agree with Mr. Nathan Capron who has uiukrtaken to pay said tax for the town " Vdfed, That the selectmen, together with Maj. Elisha Whitcomb, Maj. .Jonathan Whitcomb, Lut. Samuel Wright and Mr. David Belding, Jr., be a committee to e.xamine into the requests of several constables representing such assesments in their hands against such jiersons, as they have not had op- portunity to collect and make such an adjustment and abatement to such constables as they shall judge ecjuetable." The foreooing; votes sliow the financial eon- dition of the town at tliat period. The war for Independance iiad been successfully prose- cuted and Independence achieved, hut there had been no well-matured plans adapted for a State or for a General Government. The fi- nances of the country were in a deplorable condition, taxes were heavy in consequence of the war, the people were without money, and to pay their taxes was almost an impossibility. " Voted March 5, 1793, That each man be allowed four pence per hour for each hours actual labor at the highways, and two pence per hour for a plough, two pence per hour for each yoke of oxen, and one pence per hour for every cart used at said highway. " Voted, To allow Mr. Moses B. Williams six shil- lings for warning sundrey persons out of town." It appears to have been lawful at this time for towns to refuse a settlement to such persons as they thought might be likely to become a 2)ublic charge. At the annual town-meeting, March 5, 1793, the following subject was taken into considera- tion : " Whereas, Mr. John Harvey and others, inhabi- tants of Swanzey, have requested said town that they would vote that they and their land may be annexed to the town of Marlborough, representing they live much more convenient to Marlborough Meeting- House than Swanzey, &c. "The town having considered of the said request, think the same to be reasonable therefore. " Voted, That Messrs. John Harvey, Kember Har- vey and Samuel Stearns, and the land whereon they dwell, and the laud belonging to Mr. Timothy Har- vey be set oil' from the town of Swanzey and annexed to the town of Marlborough, said tract of land lies in the northeastwardly part of said Sw-anzey and is the most northwestwardly part of that gore of land which was set off from Richmond to Swanzey, and is as follows, viz: Beginning at a heap of stones, being the southeast corner of the town of Keene, then runs on said Keene west 8 degrees north, 32 rods to the old corner of Swanzey, then runs south, 34 degrees west on Swanzey old line 418 rods to a white pine tree, then runs east 20 degrees, 30 minutes; south on com- mon land 212 rods to a stake and stone in the patent line, then runs on the patenfline north 9 degrees, 30 minutes east, 418 rods to the first mentioned corner containing three hundred and five acres." At the annual town-meeting, March l.''>, 1832, the following was part of the business trans- acted. " Voted, To provide each soldier with 1 pound powder on muster day. " Voted to hold the next annual meeting at the Baptist meeting-house." The collecting of all the taxes to be assessed in the town of Swanzey the ensuing year was then set up at public auction to be struck off to the lowest bidder be to produce bonds to the accept- ance of the selectmen fi)r the payment of the same into the state, county and town treasuries as directed by the Statesmen, and also to make a full statement with the town treasurer ten days before the annual town meeting in March, 1833, or to receive nothing for his services as collector for said year, and they were struck otf to Jonathan Whitcomb, he being the lowest bidder, for the sum of $28.00, after which the said Whitcomb withdrew his bid when they were again set up on the same conditions as at first and struck off" to Israel Brown, he being the lowest bidder, for the sum of $18.15. The following report shows the expenses of the town for the year jjrior to March 13, 1832 : " We, the undersigned, have carefully re-examined the books, receipts and orders of the past year and find the receipts into the treasury exactly as reported at the annual meeting, on the 13th instant, and we also present a more definite report of the disburse- ments from the treasury than was made at said meet- ing,— 386 HISTOKY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. " Paid for support of poor $244 62 for schooling 673 61 repair of Sliite Bridge 81 87 Plank for otlier Bridges 39 24 on account of Small Pox 22 75 Non-Resident Highway 00 00 Taxes worked out 17 57 Eunice Graves 15 26 a Note for Blodget Place 38 50 muster expenses & Powder 51 79 Selectmen 54 91 Sup. School Committee 15 26 outstanding school Order 40 38 other outstanding Orders 62 71 Incidental Charges 61 76 Cash in Treasury 133 77 Total $1,553 98 " Out standing orders at the time of settlement, $20.51, which, deducted from the money on hand in the treasury, will leave a balance of $113.26. " Elijah Sawyer, 1 Selectmen " Joseph Woodward, - of " Benjamix Hamblet, I Swamey. " We, the undersigned committee, appointed at the last annual meeting to examine the selectmen's ac- count of money expended the last year, have attended to the business assigned us and report that the above statement of the selectmen we find to be correct, and not varying materially in the sum total from their first report. Their disbursements are in the present report more regularly classed, and we cheerfully give our sanction to the same, all which is submitted by " James Henry. " Amos Bailey. " Ephraim K. Frost." At a town meeting held November 5, 1832, to vote for electors for President and Vice- President of the United States, Jackson elec- tors liad 197 ; opposition, 116. Vote for electors, November 7, 1836 : Van Buren electors had 139 ; opposition, 45. At this meeting, November 7th, the sense of the voters was taken upon the State making an appropriation for an insane hospital ; twenty-five voted in favour of the measure and seventy-six against it. The following action was taken by the town upon the division by the State of the surplus revenue divided by the United States between the States. " State of New Hampshire. " Che.shire, Ss. "To the inhabitants of the town of Swanzey, in the county of Cheshire, in said State, qualified to vote in town affairs " Greeting " You are hereby notified and warned to meet at the old meeting-house in said Swanzey on Saturday, the twenty-fifth day of February, 1837, at one o'clock P.M., to act upon the following subject : " To see if the town will vote to receive their share of the surplus money. "To see if the town will choose an agent to take the charge of said money. "To see what disposition shall be made of the money." At the meeting held in pursuance of the fore- going warrant the town — " Foto/, To receive said surplus money, 112 voting in favour and 86 against. " Voted, To choose an agent to obtain and loan said money. " Voted, That Elijah Carpenter be our agent for the above purpose, and that he loan said money in sums not exceeding $300.00, nor less than $50.00 giving the town of Swanzey the preference and report his doings annually at the March meetings and voted said Car- penter be our agent during the pleasure of the town. " Voted, at the annual meeting for 1838 that Elijah Carpenter agent for said town to loan money of the surplus revenue pay the interest arising thereon into the town treasury, taking said treasurer's recept therefor." At the Presidential election in 1840 the Van Buren electors received 244 votes ; the Harrison electors, 143 ; the Birney or Abolition electors, 1. The one vote was the first vote ever cast at a Presidential election against slavery in tiie town. It was cast by John AVithington, an old, stanch Democrat. Mr. Withington had be- come convinced that it was his duty to vote against slavery, and what he conceived to be his duty to do he would do it. The feeling against political action at that time was very strong, by both Whigs and Democrats. The Presidential election that year in Swanzey was probably the SWANZEY. 387 most exciting one ever held in the town. Nearly every V(3ter in town voted. At the Presidential election in 1 844, James K.Polk electors had 211 votes; Henry Clay electors, 81 ; James S. Birney electors, 33. At til is election the town voted upon the question (if abolishing capital punishment, — 111 voted in tavor, 184 against. ''Voted, March 12, 1850, to repair the old meeting- liduse for a town-house. Chose Amos Bailey, David and Lymau Parker a committee to make the repairs. " Voted, That the committee expend a sum not ex- ceeding seven huny an industrious farmer, who l)y iiard work was clearing up his land and was supporting a large family. There was at this time a consider- able amount of travel through the centre of the town. ISIui'h of the travel from Cheshire County and Vermont going to Boston took this route. This travel consisted largely of farmers going to Boston to dispose of some of the sur- plus products of their farms. This travel was sufficiently large as to make it an object for some of the farmers to keep public-houses. One of these, which was quite a noted one, was on the hill iu that part of Swanzey which was taken in 1815 to form the town of Troy. Other public-houses were kept at the Centre. It was the custom of larg-e numbers of the farmers, in the fall of the year or in the early winter, to make up a load from the products of tiie form, together with some articles that had been made by the wife or daughters, and go himself to Boston and market them, and make purchases of some of the principal articles that would be needed the coming year. Large num- bers of these loads were drawn by a single horse, some would make up a load for two horses, and in some cases oxen were brought into requisition. These loads were largely made up of a few hundred pomids of pork, a few tubs of butter, a number of cheeses, a box or two of poultry, a web of frocking and a piece of flannel. The return load would consist of a few bushels of salt, a few gallons of rum, a few gallons of molasses, a few j^ounds of tea, a jack-knife for each of the boys, and a piece of goods to make the wife a dress and some trinkets for the girls. This method of the farmers was not very ad- vantageous to the country trader, but still it left some business for him, and this business con- sisted almost entirely of taking in farm pro- ducts in exchange for goods, and sending these goods to a distant market to exchange for new stock of goods. Mills, both saw-mills and grist-mills, were regarded as a prime necessity at the very com- mencement of the settlement of the town. The following extract from a i:)roprietors' meeting of March 16, 1737, testifies that the subject of building necessary mills was early entertained : " Voted That two hundred acres of land adjoining the Upper Great Falls in the Great River, to lay as convenieutly as may be to said falls be laid out to Ephraim Jones his heirs and assigns at his or their cost upon condition that he the said Jones his heirs and assigns at his or their cost upon condition that he the said Ephraim Jones his heirs and assigns shall build a good saw-mill at said falls on or before the 15th day of August next and maintain it ten years at least and to saw for and sell boards to the proprie- tors, at the same price they generally do at other places said land to be laid out by the committee and surveyor which shall be chosen to lay out the next division of land to include said fall reserving free liberty for the setting up of a grist-mill at said place when the proprietors shall think it necessary. If the said Ephraim Jones, his heirs or assigns (who are to have the liberty before any other) shall decline it, and if at the end of said ten years, or any time for- ward the said Jones, his heirs or assigns, shall neglect or refuse to keep up and maintain a saw-mill at said place then the privilege and conveniency for a saw- mill at said place to revert to the proprietors." The saw-mill was built by Jones, and there can be little doubt but that he subsequently built a grist-mill at the same place. These mills stood a few rods below the site of the present mills at West Swanzey. They shared the fate of the other buildings of the township at the hands of the Indians. Before the township was resettled after its abandonment, and there was propriety in rebuilding mills at this site, Mr. Jones had died, and mills have never been built at that site. Previous to 1760, Captain Joseph Whitcomb had taken up his residence at West Swanzey. He had five sons. Some of these, if not all, came with their father. They all became in- habitants of the town. Captain Whitcomb and sons obtained four acres of the two hundred acres on the west side of the falls, and erected 390 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. a saw and grist-mill, where the woolen-mill now stands. In 1800 these mills had been supplying the farmers with manufactured lumber, and grinding their grain for forty years. On June 1, 17o9, David Belding, Elisha Scott, Joshua Graves and Abner Graves ob- tained a grant of fifty acres of laud at Factory village, in consideration that they build at that place a saw and grist-mill within two years, and keep the mills in good repair for ten years and do work for customary prices. They ob- tained from the proprietors of Keeue the right to take the water from the East Branch, through a canal, to furnish the water-power for their mills. John Whitcomb and sons built the first saw and grist-mill at East Swanzey, in al)Out 17. SO. Captain Samuel Brown and Moses Board- man Williams had a fifty-acre lot pitched and surveyed at Westport, June 2, 1774, which included the falls ; mills were erected there at an early date. Richard Stratton commenced the business of cloth-dressing previous to 1800 at West Swan- zey', and Colonel Elisha Whitcomb built a card- ing machine at East Swanzey at an early date. A tannery had been built and was in success ful operation at what was long known as the Blake tannery. Captain Timothy Bishop had at one time a small foundry on a brook up amongst the hills in the east part of the town. Carpenters, shoemakers and blacksmiths were scattered through the town. But it was to the farmers in the town up to 1800 that the mill- owners and the mechanics looked for employ- ment. The fact was that nearly^ every man in town M'as engaged in farming. The tavern- keeper, the trader, the mill-owner, the clothier, the carder, the carpenter, the shoemaker, the tanner, the blacksmiths, the nail- maker, the brick-makers had their farms. They carried on their farms to a great extent by exchanging their "oods and their labor for labor to culti- vate lands already cleared and for clearing up more land. In 1800 there were many large and substan- tial houses in the town, many of more moderate proportions and not a large number of small framed houses and but a small number of log ones. Probably there never was much necessity for using the log house for any great length of time. Timber was abundant and of little value and plenty of mills to manufacture it. The oldest type of the best houses that had been built previous to 1800 was a two-story house in front and one-story at the back part. Tlie plan was to have two good-sized front rooms on the lower floor and to have two good- sized chambers on the second floor. The centre of the rear j)art contained a large kitchen, and at the ends of it bed-room, pantry, cupboards, entries, etc. To accommodate the three large rooms on the lower floor and the two front chambers, a very large chimney was built in the centre of the house. Another type, and one from which a larger number was built than from the first, was to have the same construc- tion upon the lower floor, but without the second story in front. A fashionable type for the best houses at a later date was to build with two stories and with a four-cornei'ed flat I'oof. If it was built with two rooms upon each floor, it had usually a chimney at each end of the house. If it contained four rooms upon each floor, the chimneys were built bet^veen the front and rear rooms. From the standjDoint of 1830 a considerable amount of business had been engaged in in the previous thirty y^ears of a different character from that pursued jirevious to 1800. Perhaps the first business taken hold of was the weaving of cotton cloth by the women. It was a number of years after machinery had been put in operation in this country for spin- ing cotton yarn before the weaving of cot- ton cloth by the power-loom was successfully accomplished. During this time cotton yarn was made in the mills and distril)uted throujih SWANZEY. 391 the couutiy to be woveu by womeu. Large amounts of this ^^•ol■k were done in Swaiizey ; men went with teams to Iliiode Island and (tbtained the yarn and put it out to be woven. There was in abnost every house oue or more looms and some of the family busy at work weaving. About 1810 a mill was built at the Factory village for making cotton yarn. Subsequently looms were put into the mill. In 1830 the mill was in active operation making cotton cloth. About 1820 a small amount of machinery was running at East Swanzey, by William Ryder, Phineas Stone and Henry Cooper, making cotton yarn. Between 1800 and 1830 an important busi- ness was commenced by tlic owners (if saw- mills in manufacturing lumber for the princi- [lal towns low down upon the Connecticut River. There was at this time a large amount of superior pine timber in the town. In the winter a number of mills were heavily stocked with this timber. The mills at this time were all sash-mills, and, compared with the present circular-mills, lumber was sawn very slowly by them. To make up for this, they were kept running during the mouths of March, April, May and June, night and day. As soon as the lumber was sufficiently seasoned, teams were em- ployed to cart it to the bank of the Connecticut River, at Northfield, Mass., or Hinsdale. At these places it was packed into large rafts and floated down the river to such places as Spring- field, Hartford and New Haven, and there sold. The principal men engaged in this business were John Stratton, Major Benjamin Whit- comb, Moses Howard, Alvin Hohnau, John Chamberlain, Daniel H. Holbrook, Lyman Parker and Roswell Parker. This business was of great advantage to the farmers. INIany of them owned considerable quantities of timber, which they could dispose of to the manufacturers for cash. Most of the farmers at this time had one or more pairs of oxen. These were usually kept busy in the winter, logging. Those who had timber of their own could cut and draw it themselves ; those who had not timber of their own could usually find employment fir themselves and teams by working for the mill-owners, who generally bought lots of standing timber and hired it cut and drawn. The lumber that was carted to Northfield, as most of it was, had to be drawn over North- field Hill. The road was rather steep upon both sides. That \\ hich was carted from East Swanzey had to be drawn over the Potter Hill and over the Fish Hill. Both of these hills were steep upon both sides. Most of the teams for carting had two yoke of oxen ; some would have an extra horse and some would be one pair of oxen and a horse. The loading of the wagons was most frequently done (inc day, that the team could start as ([uick as daylight the next morning. They would reach the river and unload before dark, and return home during the night. The prices paid for work, and the wagons and sleds used those times, were very different from the price paid for work at the present time and the wagons and sleds used. Four dollars for carting a load of lumber with two yoke of oxen, to Northfield, was about a fair price; and in the winter, when a man got for himself and a pair of oxen for a day's work one dollar and twenty-five cents, he thought that he was fiiirly paid. The wagons used, most of them, were made with a wooden axle-tree skeined. Brakes for wagons were unknown in those days. As some of the hills were so steep on the road over which the lumber had to be carted that went to the river, one pair of oxen could not manage a load drawn by two yoke, and so a false pole was used, that both pair could hold back in going down the steep hills. The sleds had long run- ners, shod with wood. Another business introduced into the town was the working up the red oak timber into shocks. The business consisted in ffoinu; into the wo(jds, cutting down the best red oak trees, 392 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. sawing them up into blocivs of the lengtli of a stave for a molasses hogshead ; then in splitting these blocks up into staves ; then in shaving and jointing the staves ; tiien in binding tliem to make tlie bulge of the hogshead ; then in ^Jacking enough in a bunch to make a hogs- head, and bending them firmly together. They were then carted to ('onnectieut River and transported down the river loaded on the top of a raft of boards or carried in a large boat made for transporting freight up and down the river. The sliooJc market was at New Haven, Conn. There were men at that place who bought them and shipped them to the West Indies. The making of palm-leaf hats was intro- duced into the town previous to 1830, and at that time many of the women were busy mak- ing hats. Soon after ISOO, if not before, the travel from Keene for Boston was diverted from the road that passed through Swanzey Centre. At first it went through Marlborough and Jaffrey ; but soon the turnpike was built through the east part of Swanzey, which soon became a great thoroughfare for freighting, for private traveling and staging. After the travel had left Swanzey Centre there was but little busi- ness for public-houses to do, that were on the road that passed through there; but soon the Underwood tavern was Iniilt at the Factory village, which for a long tinu^ was popular and well 2)atronized. Benjamin Page was born in 1792, and died when about sixty-six years old. During the time after he was twenty-one years old to the time of his death he was one of the marked men of the town. He was intensely in earnest to become rich, and wns extremely visionary. These traits in his character led hina to engage in many different branches of business. He at first en- gaged in trade at Swanzey Centre ; next he commenced to make woolen flannels at the place of his birth, the old Ephraim Page homestead. The spinning of the yarn for these flannels and the weaving was done at first by hand. A shop was built in which to do the work, and women were employed. His next move for making these goods was to purchase, at East Swanzey, the cloth-dressing business, and change the ma- chinery for making flannels. About 1830 the business of making flannels was given up, and machinery for making pails wa.s put into tlie mill. This was the first of the pail-making business in Swanzey by machinery, and was nearly the first that was done anywhere. A very little had been done in Troy and Marlborough. We will now take a look at Swanzey as it was in 1830, and notice some things that dated a few years from 1830. The old growth pine timber was quite abund- ant. Large tracts could be seen of these stately forest-trees upon the plains and upon the hills. Many of these trees appeared in another form, which gave to the town a disagreeable aspect. At a time when pine timber was not considered of any value it was cut and burned up on the land. In cutting the timber upon land for the purpose of bringing it under cultivation, many large pine-trees would be found that it would be a great task to cut and burn up. The result was that many of these trees were left standing when the land was chopped, and were killed by the fire when the land was burned. And it was very frequent to find at this date, when cut- ting off a timber-lot, old, defective ti-ees that were not worth cutting and would be left, and then fire would run through the lot and they would be killed. Such trees could be seen in all directions, some with bark on, some with it partly off and some with it all off; some of the trees would have limbs on ; some would have nearly all their limbs gone; some were black, having been burned after they had become partially dried. Nowhere in Cheshire County was to be found, in 1830, a road over which there was more staging, more teaming and more general travel- ing than the turnpike in the east part of Swan- SWANZEY. 393 zev. The travel by stage between Keene and Boston nearly all went over this road. In sum- mer soon aftiT d:\yliglit, and in wint(>r before daylight, four-horse stage-coaches would start and pass down over this road. In summer the stages from Boston would pass before dariv, in winter it would V)e aftei- dark. Tlie passengers aboard the coaches would be made up usually of some from Keeue, some from other towns in Cheshire County, many from Vermont, a few from the northeast of New York and frequently some from Canada. The teams that one would see on the road going south would be one of six horses, with a great load of bags of A^ermont wool; then would bi' seen more frequently two-horse teams going the same way, some with loads of grain from the Connecticut lliver towns, loads of butter and loads of cheese from Vermont. When these teams came back, if they went through to Boston, they would l)e loaded with all kinds of merchandise for the traders, or such stocks as the manufacturers had to purchase for their special business. In those times people who went to visit friends went very generally witli their own teams ; some ^vould have a nice pair of horses and a nice carriage, some with a nice pair of horses anails : Benjamin Read, Asa Clark, J. W. Murphy, Silas B. Patridge, John S. Sargent, Edward Woodward, Calvin Alexander and H. W. Mason. A. W. Banks and J. Mason Read owned one of the mills a number of years, and during this time they manufactured chair stock and pail-haudles. The lower mill privilege at East Swanzey was brought into use by G. G.Willis and Nelson Howe about 1852 for manufacturing wooden- ware. They built a substantial dam, erected good buildings and equipped the mills with the best of machinery. Mr. Howe continued with Mr. Willis a kw years as a partner, when he disposed of his interest to Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis left the premises after having been in possession some fifteen years. Nathan Winch and George F. Bucklin were the successors of Mr. Willis, but they continued in business but a short time, when they disposed of the estab- lishment to George F. Lane. Not far from 1858, Elkanah and Frederick Augustus Lane, two brothers, commenced work for a new manufacturing establishment about a half-mile above East Swanzey village. They subsequently manufactured chair-stock, pails and horse-blankets. It is now some years since anything has been done at this place. It is owned by E. F. Lane, of Keene. Not far from the time thai: the Lanes built this mill Batchellor & Bigelow Iniilt the mill at present owned by Edward A\'ilcox. Messrs. Batchellor & Big- elow did business at the mill but a few years. We presume that it is about thirty years since Ephraim Murdock, Jr., purchased the mill-site at the Factory village, where the old cotton- factorv stood, and begun the makino- of ijails, and continued the business up to the time of his death, which luay have been five years ago. Mr. Murdock had for a time associated with Mr. William Nason, and he may have had others in company with him. Between the time that Archer Camiibell op- erated the cotton-fiictory and the time that it was burned, it was run a short time by George Olliver. In 1840 it was being run by Jarvis Bates & Bros. ; later it was run by Barns Bros. In 1840, Daniel Kimball was the owner of the Underwood tavern and its manager. Later, Franklin Goodnow was in |)Ossession of the premises. For many years Daniel H. Holl^rook was the owner of the saw-mill at the outlet of Swanzey Pond. He manufactured principally old-growth pine lumber and he shipped it largely to the markets low down on the Con- necticut river. Roswell Whitcomb built a mill upon Hypo- SWANZEY. 397 neco Brook to manufacture wooden-ware stock some years previous to 1860. He operated the mill a number of years with financial success. Moses Howard was born not far from the commencement of the present century. He died a number of years ajjo. Durius; his life, after he reached his majority, he was engaged in various kinds of business: was a large far- mer ; dealt extensively in lumber, although not a mill-owner ; made shook and built bridges and roads. Colonel Henry Starkey and his son John were engaged many years in making shook. We will now give the present business situa- tion of the town. At Westport, James Marsh owns all of the water-power and the mills connected with the water-power, and uses the mills for making pails. He owns a store building for the sale of goods and the stock of goods. He owns a larire number of dwelling-houses in the village. o o o Jerome Field manufactures wooden-ware and uses steam-power. A considerable amount of granite is quarried on the side of Franklin Mountain, not far from the village. . The business at West Swanzey consists of the woolen-mill, managed by Obadiah Sprague ; the wooden-ware business of Charles Russel and George E. AA^hitcomb ; the wooden-ware busi- ness of Frank Snow ; the box business of Solon Snow & Son ; the box business of Obadiah Sprague and Orlow Parsons. Towns & Fames have a grist-mill. Solomon Fox has two stores, at which are kept a general assortment of goods. George Brooks deals in flour, grain and groceries. H. B. Evans keeps a livery stable. Frank Snow usus steam-power for his manufacturing, and furnishes power for Solon Snow & Son's box business and for the grist-mill. All the rest of the manufacturing in the village is done by water-power. A few years since Obadiah Sprague built at the place now called Spragueville two large, substantial mills. One was designed for a woolen-mill, the other for a saw-mill and for manufacturinar o lumber into merchandise. The mills were in operation but a short time before they were burned. The woolen-mill has not been rebuilt. The other has been, and a company consisting of Obediah Sprague, Charles Hawes and James L. Wright are manufacturing in it boxes and extension-tables. George Garfield bought the Murdock establish- ment at the Factory village after Mr. Mur- dock's decease and is doing an amount of busi- ness equal to that done by Mr. Murdock ; we presume, Mr. Orren Dickinson has been in busi- ness at this village a long time. Most of this time he has had a grist-mill and much of the time he has manufactured sash, doors and blinds. At present some of his sons are with him in the manufacturing business. A Mr. Howe owns the old Underwood tavern and keeps a public-house. The upper mill privilege on the South Branch is owned by E. F. Lane & Son and they manufacture flour- buckets. The next be- low is owned by Edward Wilcox and he makes boxes. The next privilege down the stream is owned by E. F. Lane. Of the four mill privileges at East Swanzey, there is at present mills upon three of them. The mill upon the other was burned two years since and has not been rebuilt. The upper one of those that are in use is operated by James M. Ramsdell for making different kinds of wooden-ware. The next one is owned by Wil- der P. Clark, of Winchendon, and he makes pails exclusively. The lower one is in posses- sion of George F. Lane & Sons ; they make buckets and pails. Mr. Lane the senior mem- ber of this firm, has been longer in the business of manutactijring wooden-ware than any other person now in the business in Swanzey. The mill that E. F. Lane now owns was formerly owned by him. The mill at the outlet of Swanzey Pond has been owned a number of years by the Lom- bards. They manufacture pail-stock, box- 398 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. stock and lumber generally. Walter Perry has a mill on a brook in the south part of the town. He uses both water and steam and makes pail and tub-stock and pail-handles. There is machinery in Swanzey for making wooden-ware and boxes sufficient to work eight thousand cords of timber, mostly pine, in a year. Most of this timber is obtained in the town. The large amount that is yearly cut does not appear to reduce the quantity. The timber used is almost exclusively second-growth pine. Since the commencement of using this kind of timber for making wooden-ware, large tracts of land have been left to grow up. It grows very fast, and, thus far, the supply has ]>een equal to the demand. Probably tliere has been no time for the last fifty years when more acres of land in Swanzey were covered with growing timber than there is to-day. The owners of mills in Swanzey have suf- fered severely by fire. The cotton-factory at Factory village was burned. When George F. Lane owned the mills where E. F. Lane now owns he was twice burned out. The mill that was built by Elkanah and Frederick A. Lane, and which was used at last for making horse-blank- ets, was burned a number of years ago. Of the four mill-sites at Easi Swanzey, the upper one has been burnt oif three times ; the next one below, twice ; the other two, once each. As we have before stated, Obadiah Sprague had two large and substantial new mills burned at Spragueville. Mr. Walter Perry has been once burnt out. Frank Snow, at West Swanzey, had a large mill, nearly new, burned. And we think that mills have been twice burned on the site now owned by James Marsh, at Westport. The aggregate loss from the burning of dry- houses at the wooden-ware establishments has been very great. The loss of a few hundred dollars by the burning of a dry-house has been a common occurrence since the wooden-ware business was commenced in the town. Swanzey has a n^ilitary record >vhich is highly creditable. The history of the town during the Revolution shows that tiie public sentiment of the town was decidedly in favor of the Revolutionary cause. The following record shows the promptness with which the musket was shouldered on learning of the bat- tle at Lexington and Concord : A company consisting of one lieutenant, one ensign, fiiur sergeants, four corporals and fifty- two privates, marched from Swanzey at day- light on the morning of April 21st, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Ham- mond. (Vol. xiii. p.526.) Twenty-two of them enlisted at Cambridge for eight months, and the remainder returned after an absence of fifteen days. We do not claim that all of this company was composed of Swanzey men, but that they composed a large part of it there can be no doubt. One of those from Swanzey, who enlisted for eight months, was Captain Jonathan Whitcomb. He was made a captain, and his company was attached to Colonel Reed's regiment. The following gives the return of Captain Whitcomb's company June 14, 1775 ; onecaptain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, one fifer, fifty-one privates. A return of the com- pany June 21, 1775, showed that two of the number had been wounded. In 1777 the town of Swanzey " Voted that each man that shall, pursuant to orders from Colonel Ashley to Captain Whitcomb, en- list into the Continental army for three years, or during the war with Great Britain, shall be allowed and paid by the town £26, and also, that each man in this town that has already done service in the present war shall be allowed for the same in such proportion as shall be deter- mined by a committee to be appointed for that purpose, allowing a year's service at £13 6s. 8cl. " The committee for this pxn-pose consisted of Thomas Applin, Calvin Frink, Samuel Hills, Dauiel Warner, Henry Morse and Joseph Whitcomb, Jr., who reported as follows: SWANZEY. 399 " SwANZEY, Feb. 23, 1778. "We, the subscribers, being a committee appointed by the town to receive the accounts of such pereons as have done or procured any service to be done iu tlie present war, and to consider the same and make them such allowance therefore as we should think reasonable and just, and having attended the busi- ness whereto we were appointed, do find and report to the town as follows, viz: That we think it just and reasonable that there be allowed and paid as the town shall agree. "To John Aplin, for 3 days in the militia and 2 months to Bennington, £4 lis. Id. " David Belding, Jr., for a term in the militia to Otter Creek, £17 (is. " Samuel Belding, Jr., for service in the e.xpedition to Canada, done by Annanius Tubs, £15. " Lieut. Moses Belding, for 13 months' service in the army, £28 3s. 4(/. " Ensign Timothy Bishop, for 12 days in the militia to Cambridge, 2J months' service at Ticonderoga by hire, 1 month in the militia to Ticonderoga, aud 12 days to Otter Creek, £10 4s. 2d. " Daniel Bishop, for 12 days in militia to Cam- bridge, 1 month to Ticonderoga, 12 days to Otter Creek and two months' service to Bennington, £9 2s. 6rf. "Elijah Belding, for 12 days in militia to Cam- bridge and for 2' mouths by his brothers, £6 13s. 4rf. " Eleazer Brown, for 1 months' service iu the militia to Ticonderoga, done by Levi Durant, and 12 days service in the militia to Cambridge and 12 to Otter Creek, £4 15s. id. "Wright Brown, 2.v months' service at York, £5 8s. 4rf. "Thomas Cresson, Jr., for a term in the militia to Cambridge, a month's service in militia to Ticonde- roga and 12 days to Otter Creek, and for service done by his son, £15 12s. 6d. " Nathan Cresson, for 1 month's service to Ticon- deroga and 4 months in the Continental service, £10 16s. 8d. " Joseph Cummings, for 9 days in militia to Cam- bridge, 2J months done by Enoch Cummings, and a term in militia to Otter Creek, and 2 months done by Simeon Taylor, £11 8s. 9d. " Thadeus Cummings, for 2J months by Enoch Cummings, £5 8s. 4c?. " Ephraim Cummings, for service in militia 5 days, and for 1 month and 6 days' service in the army, 1777, £2 19s. 6d. " Caleb Cook, for 4 months' service done by Ben- jamin Parker, £8 13s. id. " Greenwood Carpenter, for 2j months' service done by his son, £5 8s. 4rf. "William Carpenter, for 2.i months' service to Ti- conderoga and 1 month at Cambridge, £7 lis. 8'/. "Enoch Cummings, for8T months' service at Cam- bridge 1775, also 12 days in militia to Otter Creek, 1777, £19 5s. lOd. " Nehemiah Cummings, same as above, £19 5s. \0d. " Nathaniel Dickinson, for 1 month at Ticonderoga and 4 months in the army, done by Henry Stevens, 1777, £10 16s. 8(/. "Joseph Dickinson, for 12 days in militia to Cam- bridge, 4 months in army by Henry Stevens, and for 12 days to Otter Creek, £11 5s. lOrf. "Benjamin Day, 25 days in militia at Stillwater in 1777, and 4 months' service before he came to Swan- zey, £16 19s. lOrf. "Joseph Day, 5 months at Ticonderoga and 12 days in militia to Otter Creek, £11 14s. 2'/. " Amos Day, 10 months at Cambridge, £21 13s. 4f/. " Joseph Durrant, 12 months in army, £26. " Levi Durant, 8 months at Cambridge, 1775, and 12 days in militia at Otter Creek, £18 4s. 'Id. "John Follett, Jr., 12 days at Cambridge and 1 month at Ticonderoga, £3 18s. id. "Calvin Frink, 4 months at Cambridge, 1775, and 1 month at Ticonderoga, 1776, £10 16s. 8rf. " Joshua Graves, 5 months at Ticonderoga by hire, 1 month in militia at Ticonderoga and 5 days in militia, 1777, £13 7s. id. "Elijah Graves, Jr., for 3 days in militia, 1775, 10 months at Canada by Isaac Billings, 1 month at Ti- conderoga and 25 day sat Stillwater, 1777, £26 Os. 11(/. " Daniel Gunn, 12 months in army, £26. " Wyat Gunn, 12 days to Cambridge, 21 months at Ticonderoga, £7 3s. id. "Thomas Greene, 1 year and 8 mouths' in array, £13 6s. M. " Joseph Greene, 1 year and 8 months in army, £43 6s. Sd. Abraham Griffith, 8 months in army at Cambridge, £7 6s. 8d. " Abuer Graves, 1 month at Ticonderoga, £2 3.?. id. " Charles Grimes, 12 days at Cambridge and 9 months in Continental Army by hire, and 12 days at Otter Creek, 1777, £22 3s. Id. " Colo. Joseph Hammond, 9 days at Cambridge, 5 months in army by hire, and 12 days at Otter Creek, 1777, £13 Os. 5d. " Thom.as Hammond, 21 months by Joseph Ham- mond, Jr., and 2 months by Daniel Day, £9 15s. Oif. " Isaac Hammond, in militia to Cambridge, and 2 400 HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. months in array by Daniel Day, and going to Otter Creelc, £6 I'j.?. 2(/. " Edward Hazen, 12 days to Cambridge, and 12 days to Otter Creelc, and for 2 months by bis son, £6 19s. 2rf. "Samuel Hills, 12 days to Cambridge, 12 days to Otter ('reek by hire, 50 days in militia to Westsvard, 1777, and tor money paid for town to hire men for Continental army, £12 lis. 2d. " Ebenezer Hills, 10 months to Canada, £21 13«. 4rf. " Nathaniel Hills, Sr., Si months in army at Cam- bridge, £18 10s. 4rf. "Nathaniel Hills, Jr., 10 months in army at Can- ada, £21 13s. 4rf. "Joseph Holmes, 2 months in army at Bennington, £4 6s. 8rf. "Dennis Hafferon, 10 months in army at Canada, 1776, £21 13s. 4(/. "Michael Hafferon, 10 months in army at Canada, 1776, £21 13s. 4rf. " Benjamin Hews, months in army at Cambridge> 1775, £13. " Benjamin Hews, Jr., 6 months in army, 1776, £13. " Benjamin Hammond, 2) months at York, 1776, £5 8s. 4d. "Joseph Hammond, Jr., 8J months at Cambridge, 1775, and for 1 month more at Cambridge, £21 Is. 8rf. " Charles How, 4 months at Cambridge, 1776, by hire, £8 13s. 4d. "Theodore How, 6 weeks at Winter's Hill, 1776, and 4 months at Cambridge, 1776, by hire, £11 18s. 4d. " Uriah How, 15 days in militia to Cambridge, 1775, 6 weeks at Winter's Hill, 1776, 5 days in 1777, and 2 months in army to Bennington, 1777, £10 2s. Ad. " Jethro Kimball, 12 days in militia at Cambridge, 1775, and 5 months in army at Ticonderoga, 1776, by hire, £12 lis. 8d. " Eli Kimball, to Cambridge in militia, and 1 year in Continental army, 1776, £27 18s. " Elkanah Lane, Jr., 4 months in army by his brother, and in militia to Ticonderoga, 1776, £10 16s. 8d. "Justus Lawrence, 2| months in army, 1777, £5 18s. "Lieut. Henry Morse, 2| months in army at Ticon- deroga, 1776, and for money paid town to hire men for army, £12 5s. 1le, and made the old rocky hills yield an abundance for man and beast. After the lapse of more than a century and a quarter, it is impossible for the historian to tell what character all the early settlers of this town bore, only from tradition. However, it is in- ferred from their acts found recorded in the records of the town, and such stray informa- tion as has been gathered from other sources, that most of the first settlers were men of great force of character, patriotic in their political 408 sentiments, strict in their religious observances, frugal and industrious. The intellectual attain- ments of the first settlers were not of a high order ; but in time men of culture took up an abode here. It may be that some of the first settlers letl their country for their country's good and made a new home for themselves and families ; but this is not probable, for only one instance is known of a sheriff dogging -the heels of a runaway, and that was Colonel Ben- jamin Bellows, who afterwards was the most prominent settler that ever settled in town. His great crime was this, he hail not ready mouey sufficient to satisfy all his creditors be- fore he left Massachusetts. It is not positively known whether the Aborigines ever occupied permanently the terri- tory now embraced by the lines forming the town of Walpole or not ; but one thing is cer- tain, that annually, in the months of May and June, very large numbers collected iu the vi- cinity of the Great Falls (now Bellows Falls), for the purpose of catching shad and salmon, it being the best fishing-ground to be found in all New England. The blossoming of the shad-tree {Amelanchier Canadensis) was the signal for all the Indians for many miles around, and even from Canada, to gather about the falls for the purpose of catching shad and salmon. Multitudes of these fish would ascend the Con- necticut every spring, to deposit their spawn at its head and at the source of its tributaries. After a long-weary journey from the ocean the shad were barred further progress by the rapid flow of the water. In the basin below the rapids the shad would gather in myriad num- WALPOLE. 409 bers, and make futile attempts to ascend, but made a failure every time. The Indians, perched on the rocks below, with their scoop-nets, found no difficulty in ap- peasing their hunger during the shad season. In time the shad became discouraged in their attempts to ascend the main stream, when they would descend the river till a suitalde tributary was found, which they would ascend and ful- fill nature's laws, and return to the salt water in August — shad poor. The salmon, more agile than the shad, bound on the same mission, would ascend the most rapid portion of the falls with apparent ease ; so rapid is the stream that an iron bar suspended over the current will not sink, but float on the water. It is said that salmon have been seen darting up tiiis cascade with the sjieed of a locomotive, with two or three lamprey eels in tow, that had fastened themselves upon the sitles of the salmon at the dawn of day by suction. There is sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that there were large numbers of Indians who lived a part, if not all the year, near the railroad station at Cold River. lu the immediate vicinity and also a half-mile be- low, the plough-share of civilization has un- earthed Indian skeletons, spear-heads, arrow- heads, heaps of clam-shells and numerous other Indian relics, which, together with the rude carvings on the rocks below the Falls, are in- dubitable evidences of there having been a famous lodgment for Indians about this vicinity long before the pale-faces' eyes rested on this nat- ural landscape of beauty. One-half mile south of Cold River is a spring of chalybeate waters, thought by the Indians to possess remarkable medicinal qualities. There was a tribe of In- dians who frequented this spring, called the Abanake&s or Abanarquis (meaning the pines), from whom the spring derives its name. The Indians drank freely of the water and washed themselves all over with it, claiming it would cure cutaneous diseases. It might have been potent in its effects on the red-skins; but no one ever knew of any sanitary effects it had on white people. It is very offensive to most ])eo- ple, both in taste and smell ; one glas* of it be- ing sufficient for a life-time with ordinary peo- ple, unless driven to the very verge of death from thirst. One hundred and thirty-six years ago, (in May or June), if a person with a good field- glass had been perched on tlie highest point of Fall Mountain (now called Kilburn Mountain), a bird's-eye view would have revealed to him, near where Cold River station now is, several scores of wigwams ; their dusky owners cross- ing and re-crossing the basin below the falls in their bark canoes ; while their squaws were on shore doing their drudgery ; their papooses wal- lowing in the filth around the wigwams, and the Indian maiden loitering about in the shade of the stately elms, stringing her ornaments and wampum. A few rods south from the In- dian camping-ground were the now fertile plains, then studded with dwarf pitch-pines and an uneven growth of white birch. In turning to the east, a gloomy forest of hemlock, which was the home of the gaunt, ravenous gray wolf, that made the night hideous with his howl, presented itself to view. In the far dis- tance down the river, a shadowy view of the towering pines on Boggy Meadow was seen. This is the most arable, productive section of the town ; but it was not cleared for more than eighty years afler the first settlenient of the town. The reasons were : first, the great amount of labor necessary to remove the heavy timber growing there and, secondly, the un- healthiuess of the atmosphere which arose from decaying vegetable matter, producing malaria. The glass, when pointed to the southeast, would bring to view the highest elevation of land in town — Derry Hill — the altitude of which is more than thirteen hundred feet above the level of the sea. This tract of land was covered with a heavy growth of beech, birch and sugar-maple timber, which has been mostly cut ofl', and now a second growth is almost 410 HISTORY OP CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ready for the axe. Ou looking to tlie west, almost iiiuler one's feet is the narrow defile between Fall Mountain and Connecticut River, where the St. Francis Indians, from Canada, used to travel, before Walpole was settled, ou their marauding expeditions to the border settlements in Massachusetts. Many were the captive whites who plodded along this narrow defile on their way to Canada, to be sold to the French, downcast, weary, footsore and hungry. The territory north of Walpole to Canada line was one unbroken, gloomy forest, excepting No- 4 (now Charlestown). Game was plenty. There were the stately moose and his third cousin, the sprightly, graceful red deer, that lived on the scanty, uncut herbage of the openings in sum- mer and browsed on the twigs of deciduous trees in winter. The flesh afforded appetizing viands for the hungry pioneer. The huge, ungainly black bear was frequently met, seen moving about with his shuffling, plantigrade gait, hunt- ing for some fresh esculent or newly-fallen nuts from the beech-tree or acorns from the oak. Bear steak then, as now, was considered a delicacy. The smaller game embraced the raccoon, the gray and black squirrel, the quail and partridge — all of which the ready fowling- piece would bring to the sportsman's feet. The smaller streams were crowded with spotted trout, which had never been lured by the seducing fly of Isaac Walton. Among the carnivorous animals were the lynx, the wild-cat and cata- mount ; the latter had his lair on Fall Moun- tain. The woodlands wore a weird appearance — old decaying trees, which had fallen in every conceivable direction, fantastic forms of with- ered limbs and old standing trees, denuded of their bark, contrasted strangely with the fresh- ness of later youth. Reptiles sported in the slimy pools of the lowlands or crawled un- harmed over piles of decaying timber. The rattlesnake lay coiled asleep in some sunny nook, or was noiselessly drawing his hideous form over mouldering vegetation, in quest of some luckless frog. His general habitat, in summer, was in the vicinity of Cold River, but in winter he sought repose in the clefts of rocks on Fall Mountain. Nights were made hideous by the dismal moan of the catamount or the howl of the gray wolf, when hunger forced them in squads or packs to seek something to sustain life. Silence reigned by day, save oc- casionally the roar of the " Great Falls," or broken, perhaps, by the often-repeated tattoo of the male partridge, morning and evening cheer- ing his mate. The red man was the sole occupant of the soil, and was as wild as the savage beasts around him — a predatory vagabond, in constant war- fare with his own race ; seeking the destruction of the early settlers, or leading them into a captivity worse than death ; the bark of the white-birch his canoe ; strings of shells his ornaments, his calendar and his coin ; huts made of bended saplings and evergreen boughs, roofed with the skins of animals and the rind of trees, his habitation ; leaves of the forest his bed ; his religion, if any, the adoration of na- ture ; his morals not much above the instinct of intelligent animals; disputing with them the occupancy of the forests, and dividing with the squirrel and bear the fruits of the hills — lazy, improvident, wicked. The Indian, naturally sullen, morose and mercenary in his disposition, and having been driven from time to time from the graves of his fathers, and his fishing and hunting-grounds by the encroachments of the whites, needed but little to incite him to plunder and the most cruel barbarity; consequently he was found continually harassing the frontier settlements, in small predatory bands, burning the habi- tations of the early settlers, destroying their cattle, killing men, women and children or forcing them into captivity, where they would be held for many years away from their chil- dren and friends. It seems truly wonderful, to many persons in these "piping times of peace," that any one WALPOLE. 411 could be found who had tlie courage, Imrdihood or even temerity to plant himself in a howling wilderness, far removed from any friendly neigh- bor and almost under the tomahawk of merciless Indians, the white man's deadly foe. But when it is considered that many pioneers m a ucw country, like oni-s, had everything to gam and nothing to lose bnt their scalps; that famili- arity with danger, as with everything else, breeds contempt ; that the early lessons of children in bygone days were the stories of murder, treachery, pillage and rapine perpe- trated by Indians ; that such stories were re- counte