lass __F_+4- Book J>^wr V 6 \ -> v _\ ^tf\ £* 1 \ io V- L*7\ >?L^ -IS*?-' CAar-fer Xf'rre ^SS'^. C*( Ctrritk -. O^ "** 7tf WJ( 4 BBJIT T OJT SOME THINGS ABOUT COVENTRY -BENTON NEW HAMPSHIRE. BY WILLIAM F. WHITCHER. NEWS PRINT, WOODSVILLE, N. H. 1905. .£38 Only 200 Copies Printed. No PREFACE. This volume does not purport to be a complet e and ex- haustive history of the town of Coventry- Ben ton. It is simply a collection of some things connected with its history. It is a small town, one of the smallest in the state. During all its life it has been one of the typical back-towns, but there are many now living in other towns and other states who cherish a strong love tor it as the place of their birth and early life. The collection and weaving together of the facts and traditions contained in this volume has been a source of recreation to the author, and if the sons and daugh- ters of the town find a source of pleasure in the perusal of its pages he will be amply repaid for time and labor spent. Only two hundred copies of the book have been printed. The work has been done at odd times in a village printing establishment, and the fact that the printer has kept pace with the writer, distributing his type whenever eight or six- teen pages were printed, may be made the excuse for the page and more of errata at the end of the volume, and for typographical errors which have passed the proofreader un- noticed. The volume makes no pretension to literary style or finish, but the author believes it contains much valuable historical material which is worthy of preservation. He of- fers the book, without apology, for what it is, not a town history, but "Some Things about Coventry-Benton, N. H. Woodsville, i\T. H., September, 1905. TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. The Proprietary 1-15 II. The First Settlement .... 16-34 III. Later Comers and Growth . . . 35-65 IV. Coming and Going 66-113 V. The Benton of Recent Years . . 114-123 VI. Religious and Social Life . . . 124-142 VII. Town Meetings and Politics . . 143-202 VIII. The Schools 203-209 IX. The Militia and Soldiers . . . 210-218 X. The Cemeteries 219-236 XI. Births, Marriages and Deaths . . 237-276 XII. A Future Summer Resort . . . 277-281 XIII. Some More Things 282-290 Errata 291-292 Index 294-213 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ^ Surveyor's Plan of Town Frontspiece • Earliest Plan of Town . . . Facing Page 10 ' William Whitcher . / Peter Howe .... f Darius K. Davis . . ' Edward F. Mann . . v George W. Mann . . / Amos Whitcher . . 7 Charles H. Whitcher v' Winthrop C. Whitcher » James E. Whitcher . J Ira G. Howe ... •J Ira Whitcher . . . v William F. Whitcher > Chase Whitcher . . J Daniel Whitcher . . > Prescott Parker . . - David Whitcher . . 26 28 50 58 60 62 62 62 62 72 74 78 84 90 94 94 VI Ezra B. Mann .< 94 Geo. Henry Mann .* g 4 * James H. Keyser »» 10 g ■i William D. Veazey « 114 < William W. Eastman .... «« 116 J Lebina H. Parker « 1 William Kendall «» * Meeting House *< v Rev. George W. Cogswell . . * WlNTHROP G. TORSEY .... J "The Hollow," Town Hall, Store and Post Office .... *« 133 Gilbert P. Wright « 174 Bartlett Marston »* 17 4 i Silas M. Welch << i 74 Charles C. Tyler « J Caleb Wells . . << . William T. Torsey . CHARLE8 B. KEYSER . George H. Clark Orman L. Mann . . Rev. George E. Brown 118 122 130 130 130 174 180 James Page << iqq 180 180 190 190 190 ' Charles A. Veazey .... 1/ Moses B. Mann s Paul M. Howe •' Norman J. Page V A. Elmore Tyler .... J Daniel M. Howe - Pardon W. Allen .... ' Carriage Road and Summit of Moosilauke i Parker House * Tip Top House 190 194 194 194 194 214 214 278 280 280 Some Things About Coventry — Benton, N. H. CHAPTER I. THE PROPRIETARY. In the early part of the decade between 1760 and 1770, His Excellency, Benning Went worth, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New Hamp- shire, George the Third, By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., would have been an exceedingly busy official had he given personal attention and superintendence to his official acts. During these years he granted charters to some scores of townships, lying in what is now the northern part of the state of New Hampshire, and the north-eastern part of Ver- mont, opening the way for the settlement of what was an unknown country until the close ot the so-called French and Indian wars, a decade before. The charter of Haverhill was granted May 18, 1763, and its settlement began immediate- ly. The township of Warren was granted a little later, July 14, 1763, and this was followed by the issue of a char- ter to the township of Peeling, now Woodstock, September 24, in the same year. Rumney had been chartered in 1761, as had also the towns of Orford and Lyme, to the south of Haverhill, and Bath and Lyman to the north. The charters granted had taken in the territory in the Connecticut and SOME THINGS ABOUT Baker's river valleys, of which some knowledge had been gained bv soldiers participating in the wars of the decade before, and by hunters, trappers and an exploring expedition or two. After these grants had been made in 1763, Governor Wentworth's geographers made the discovery that there was an ungranted territory lying to the east of Haverhill, and to the west of Peeling (Woodstock) which had not been disposed of; and so, January 31, 1764, he granted to Theophilus Fitch and sixty-four others, a new township by the good old English name of Cov- entry, which, by the terms of the charter, was "bounded and butted" as follows: "Beginning at the south-easterly corner bounds of the town of Haverhill, thence running south fifty-eight degrees east six miles and one-half mile, thence north twenty-four degrees east, seven miles and three-quarters of a mile, thence north fifty-five degrees west, about six miles to the north-westerly corner of Haverhill aforesaid, then south twenty-five degrees west by Haverhill aforesaid to the bounds begun at." The charter contained the usual provisions : Whenever the township should have fifty families resident and settled therein, it should have the liberty of holding two fairs annu- allv ; a market might also be opened and kept one or more days each week as might be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants ; the first meeting for the choice of town officers should "be held on the second Tuesday of March next" and the said meeting should be notified by Theophilus Fitch, Esq., who was appointed the moderator of the first meeting. There were also the usual charter con- ditions, viz. : "1st. That every grantee, his heirs or assigns, shall plant and cultivate five acres of land within the term of five COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. years, for every fifty acres contained in his or their shares or proportion of land in said township, and to continue to improve and settle the same by additional cultivations on penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in the town- ship and of its reverting to us, our heirs and successors, to be, by us or them, re-granted to such of our subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same. — "2nd. That all white and other pine trees within the said township fit for making our royal navy be carefully pre- served for that use and none to be cut or felled, until our special license for so doing first had and obtained, upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such grantee, his heirs and assigns, to us, our heirs and successors, as well as being subject to the penalty of any acts of Parliament that now are, or hereafter shall be enacted. — "3rd. That before any division of the land be made to and among the grantees, a tract of land as near the center of the said township as the land will admit of, shall be reserved and run out for town lots, one of which shall be allowed to each grantee, of the contents of one acre. — "4th. Yielding and paying therefor, to us, our heirs and successors, for the space of ten years, to be completed from the date hereof, the rent of one ear of Indian corn only, on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1764. — "5th. Every proprietor, settler or inhabitant shall yield and pay unto us, our heirs and successors, yearly and even- year forever from and after the expiration of ten years from the aforesaid 25th day of December, namely, on the 25th day of December in the year of our Lord 1774, one shilling proclamation money for every hundred acres, he so owns or possesses, and so in proportion for a greater or less tract of said land, — which money shall be paid by the respective per- SOME THINGS ABOUT eons aforesaid, their heirs or assigns, in our Council Cham- ber in Portsmouth, or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all other rents and services whatsoever." The names of the sixty-five grantees were : Theophilus Fitch, Esq. Eliphalet Sealey David Stevens Amos Weed Benjamin Weed Peter Weed Hezekiah Weed Joseph Davenport Samuel Cressey Deodate Davenport Isaac Armsdale Ephraim Smith John Bettis Peter Husted Jehiel Bowton David St. John Charles Smith Abraham Weed Nathaniel Loundsbury Obadiah Stevens Nathaniel Weed Eliphalet Sealey, Jr. Sylvanua Sealey William Fancher Nathaniel Hoit Theopholis Hanford Nathaniel Waterbury John Fancher James Banks Joshua Ambler Samuel Weed Isaac Weed Ebenezer Hoit Josiah Waterbury Gideon Leeds Obadiah Sealey Ebenezer Schofield Samuel Belding James Smith Jesse Smith Samuel Bowton Zebulon Husted Joseph Ambler John Bates Reuben Weed Abner Stevens Obadiah Stevens, Jr. Eleazer Bowton, Jr. Wix Sealey Silas Hoit Daniel Benedict Enos Weed Hezekiah Davenport James Schofield C . VESTRY— BESTOX. X. H. ■ ' . --. - 7 ■ -. < 7 .-. " i.i "~-~.v_: ::. 7: John Fancher, Jr. . 1 ' .. - . T ■ -}.- 7 -r- -. L: 7-:~; 7 --- r MarkH.Wentworth,Esq. 7 - - .-■: A:"-: - 7 - Theodore Atkinson, Jr. . E 1 t H - 7 ;- .- 7;-;. - 7. Z- . A -7- rz .zz -.:.-. t^ - A-;-r -^ 7i •.::■ :..-:^ — ^:^ _v z:-. 1 : :z: : • i v : r ■_ . ■ . - I • ' . :. -■.- : : •'.:.=-. I : i ;- : - ! v "- : : :„- ?: _••-. r. : : :. : ' .T '. - ' 7 :z 7" / : _' 7. Z " - '. ' zz -. - : \ -.-.- te far the Church of England as bv law es- --::--•:: <:z~. " r -'.:.-. 7: •: -.-."'.-. : :.:•-: 7 ■ :/-. _• . --7 -.- ; { :z- - . : -.:.-. :~ - ->-- - - ':."- - ;l: 7- i- - : 7 : — z . . .: :'." Z.-.17. . - • „ . . . . _ " "-".:_" " " >.:-.= ^; :.;-^:-::77-'::-;71: :. :7 - ':.-. ~.-.-.-.~- -.■': :;r 'z imself fire hundred acres in the north-west corner of the town, which was to be accounted as two shares. 77- : — z. ':zz.zz-.-\\\:-. -z\ ~ .7 ;. \z-.-z 7: — i- "7-. ---7-1 for by making The Hon. John Temple. Theodore A'-:.-- i. Tz-.-.-l\7-. A'-zz-.z. 7: -- :\:y :: - - -: ?; -.-;-:.-r. and Mark H. Wentworth. Esq.. a relative, four of the sixty-fire individual grantees. The township thus granted was ample in territory, but it was not territory attractive to settlers. It contained Moos- ilanke. Sugar Loaf, Black. OwFs Head and Blueberry ^:u::i::-. Zz-:- — --.-. . :~r:- iz . zz-.z-j-. : :-::- ;- next to Warren line, along the Oliverian. in what were afterwards called Coventry Meadows, at the foot of Sugar L.'-r. ill ::- M-r ::" B'.u^-^rrj n;;i:\;i :ri: 77'— 77 line, and a strip of territory running along the north part of the town next to Tjandaff line, and a little way up the three SOME THINGS ABOUT streams afterwards called Whitcher Brook, Davis Brook and Tunnel Stream which were capable of settlement, but the remainder of the 24,000 more or less acres in the town- ship was mountain and nearly one-seventh of the entire township was inaccessible to the hardy surveyors of the latter part of the eighteenth century, and was never divided into lots, but remained for a century or more undivided non- resident lands, appearing in the investigation made in recent years only as shares of the original proprietors. - Warren, Haverhill and Landaff were quite early and quite rapidly settled, but the settling of Coventry through the one hundred and forty years of its history has been slow, and for the past fifty years has been at a standstill, — more, the settlements of earlier years are reverting again to forests. Just who the original grantees were, from what section or town they hailed, 'juet why Governor Wentworth gave The- ophilus Fitch, Esquire, the eleven Weeds, the Sealeys, Smiths, Stevens, Husteds, Davenports and Fanchers a town- ship does not appear, but so far as can be learned , they never went to Coventry, but sold their rights or shares in the township to others. It was not till just prior to the war of the Revolution that any settlements were made in the town, and these were few, and were all on the Coventry Meadows, so called, and near the Warren line, until the beginning of the 19th century when settlements were begun in the north part of the town. These settlers held their lands by titles somewhat preca- rious, as the grantees and their assigns and successors made few attempts to protect their interests and realize on their holdings until 1797, when they held the first meeting of which record exists at the inn of Amasa Scott in Haver- hill, April 12, in that year. It appears from the record CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 7 of that meeting that the ownership of the shares in the township had by that time passed into hands other than those of the original grantees. The seventy-one shares, in- cluding the Governor's reservation, were represented as fol- lows : Nathaniel Peabody, by Nathaniel Webber as agent, 34 rights or shares ; Obadiah Eastman, 4 ; Josiah Burnham, 9 ; Jonathan Hale, by A. Nixon agent, 9 ; Reuben Page, 3 ; John Weed, by Salmon Niles agent, 1 ; John W. Chandler, 7 ; Mark H. Wentworth, by Ben Porter atty., 2 ; Onesiphorous Flanders, 1, in all, seventy rights or shares. Hon. John Winthrop Chandler, of Peacham, Vt., was chosen moderator of this meeting and Obadiah Eastman, Esq., of Coventry, clerk. That proprietors had held pre- vious meetings somewhere appears from the fact that John W. Chandler, Maj. Moody Bedel and Obadiah Eastman, Esq. were made a committee to examine into the appropri- ations and expenditure of monies previously made, and to examine and settle all demands against the pro- prietary for services and expenditures. It was also voted that the monies advanced by Joseph Pearson for the redemption of the town, which had been sold for the county tax in 1795, be considered a just charge against the proprietary. Provision was made for roads, one from Haverhill through Coventry Meadows to Warren town line, a road which had been surveyed in 1796, and another called "The North and South road", to to be constructed from Warren town line to LandafF town line, a road which was surveyed by Maj. Caleb Willard in September, 1797. A tax of four dollars and fifty cents on each proprietor's right was levied for the purpose of building these roads, and the meeting was adjourned until Sept. 19, 1797. The proprietors held meetings with greater or less fre- SOME THINGS ABOUT quency until surveys had been made so far as practicable, the last meeting of which a record was made being held July 4, 1818. Some of the most important votes passed at these various meetings were : Sept. 19, 1797. Voted that an account exhibited by Obadiah Eastman, Esq. for sundry services done in behalf of said proprietors in the years 1788, 1789, 1790 and 1794, be allowed, amounting to thirteen pounds, sixteen shillings, £13, 16s. Voted likewise that another account be allowed to the aforesaid Eastman for labor on the road, and for other services done in the year 1796 amounting to thirteen pounds, twelve and nine pence, £13, 12s 9d. Sept. 20, 1797. Voted, that John W. Chandler and Obadiah Eastman Esquires and Artemas Nixon be a com- mittee to receive and examine claims to lands of all persons settled in said township, the rights said pitches have been made under, the time of pitching, settling and the im- provements made on each settlement, the claims and merits of each claimant, and that each claimant make out a return of all lands so claimed, by length of line and point of com- pass, commencing each with some known and established boundary and monument and file the same with the clerk of said proprietary on or before the second Tuesday of June next. Voted, that each person who has not pitched any land to his right or rights in said town have liberty to pitch one hun- dred and five acres to each right at any time previous to the last day of February next, and not after. Said pitches to be made under the direction of the committee before mentioned, and the persons who neglect to make their pitches as afore- said shall have one hundred and five acres of land drawn to COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. each right, in lieu of the pitch above mentioned by such per- sons, and in such manner as shall be hereinafter mentioned. "Voted, that the return of a road leading from Warren to Landaff through the town of Coventry made and surveyed by Major Caleb Willard, dated the 11th day of September, A. D. 1797, be accepted by the meeting and be considered as a direction for the road committee in the expenditure of one-half the monies voted for making and repairing high- ways." June 14, 1798. At this meeting Obadiah Eastman, Henry Gerrish and John W. Chandler were chosen a com- mittee to lay out the town into one hundred acre lots. And it was voted, that the committee complete a survey of the first division of one hundred acre lots in said town already begun, and that they immediately afterwards go on and make a sec- ond division of hundred acre lots, and that they proceed to make such other and further divisions of the lands in said town into hundred acre lots, or into fifty acre lots, as in their discretion may be most beneficial to the proprietors, with the addition of five acres to each hundred acre lot, and two and a half acres to each fifty acre lot, for the purpose of highways. June 15, 1798. "Voted, that Samuel Mastin, Moses Noyes, Samuel Eaton, Barnabas Niles, Joseph Lund, Jehiel Niles, Onesiphorus Flanders, Ezekiel Chapman and Ephraim Lund and their assignees, heirs, etc., be quieted in the pos- session of the several lots of land as stated in the report of the committee appointed to receive and examine the claims of settlers." January 17, 1799. "Voted, that the account of Col. Hen- ry Gerrish, for surveying the town of Coventry in October, 1798, be allowed, amounting to $30.65, and the account of 10 SOME THINGS ABOUT John W. Chandler, amounting to $29.67, for the same ser- vice be also allowed." January 18, 1799. "Voted, that Alden Sprague, Jona. Hale, Esquires, and Stephen P. Webster be a committee to investigate and establish the boundarv line between Haver- hill and Coventry, also that Jonathan Hale be added to the committee to complete the survey of the town. "Voted, that Alden Sprague, John W. Chandler and Ste- phen P. Webster be a committee to petition the General Court for abatement of state taxes now existing against the town of Coventry. "Voted, thatObadiah Eastman be allowed $49.25 for ser- vices of himself and hands in lotting out the town of Coven- try, boarding the surveyors and hands, keeping their horses, procuring spirits, etc., as per bill." [At this meeting ad- ditional accounts were also allowed to Stephen P. Webster, Obadiah Eastman, Nathaniel Webber, Onesiphorus Flanders, Jonathan Hale, Reuben Page, Joseph Pearson, John W. Chandler and Artemas Nixon, amounting to $105.95 for services in surveying, warning the proprietary meeting, tav- ern expenses, etc.]. May 28, 1800. "Voted, that John W. Chandler, Jona. Hale and John W. Tillotson, Esquires, be a committee vest- ed with discretionary powers to lay a statement of facts be- fore the General Court at its next session relative to an en- croachment of the town of Warren upon the town of Coven- try, in consequence of the doings of a committee appointed by the General Court to determine the boundary lines be- tween the following towns, viz. Piermont, Orford, Went- worth and Warren, and request to know if it was the inten- tion of said Court that the boundary lines of said Coventry should be affected by the proceedings of said committee." Earliest plan of Coventry. Caleb Willard's Survey, 10 lots next to Haver- hill line, made July, 1786. Colonel Gerrish's Survey, the 110 lots in centre of town, made in 1798. John McDuffie's Survey, the lots on the east, enclosed in heavy lines, made in 175)9. The plan also outlines the various brooks and streams, and the north and south road through centre of town. CO VENTR Y— BE XT ON, N. H. 11 [This committee doubtless attended to the duty assigned them, but it does not appear that they were able to reverse the decision of the committee above mentioned appointed by the General Court. The charter line between Warren and Coventry was south 58 degrees east, but Warren, by the de- cision of the General Court committee, overlapped the origi- nal charter line so that the new line between Warren and Coventry ran south 74 degrees and 30 minutes east, and this was never changed. Warren thus obtained several hundred acres from the originally chartered Coventry, much of which has since proved to be valuable timber land.] February 3, 1803. "Voted, that the plan of survey made by John McDuffie of certain lots of land lying in the town of Coventry, under the direction of Obadiah Eastman, Es- quire, be accepted. "Voted, that the plan of certain lots of land surveyed by Caleb Willard and known by the name of Willard's survey be accepted. "Voted, that James Masters, James Curtis, Robert Whit- tom, Samuel Marston, Moses Noyes, Onesiphorus Flanders, Samuel Eaton, Barnabas Niles, Joseph Lund, Ezekiel Chap- man, Ephraim Lund, Pelatiah Watson and Samuel Jack- son, their heirs and assigns be quieted and confirmed in the possession of the several tracts of land that have been here- tofore voted to them." At a meeting which had been called by the proprietors and held at the tavern of Dr. Amasa Scott in Haverhill Feb- ruary 29, 1804, Obadiah Eastman was chosen moderator and William Coolidge clerk. The following shares or rights were represented ; Moor Russel, 4 ; Simeon Eastman, 2 ; Obadiah Eastman, 4 ; Nathaniel Webber, 6 ; Stephen Couch, 1 ; John Montgomery, 1 : Jona. Hale, by his attor- 12 SOME THINGS ABOUT ney, William Coolidge, 10 ; in all 30 shares. This compar- atively small number of shares represented, and the change in ownership from the date of the first meeting, heretofore mentioned, in 1797, is explained by the fact that, during the intervening seven years, most of the lands which the survey- ors had been able to reach had been divided into lots, each shareholder or proprietor obtaining his lots in fee ; the claims of first settlers, because of pitches made, had been settled and clouds on their titles removed ; and during the previous year, 1803, a town government had been organized. The meet- ing, however, was an important one. It ratified, established and confirmed the first and second division of hundred acre lots, it authorized the laying out a road through the north part of the town embracing the road from Porter's ferry and the old court Louse in Haverhill and from Wells River to the road which was already travelled through the north-east part of Coventry to Portland, or in such other direction to- ward Peeling as might be judged most beneficial to the pub- lic. Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Hale and James East- man were made a committee to lay out the road. It was also voted to pay the amount of an execution which had been obtained against the proprietors in favor of Chase Whitcher of Warren. At an adjourned meeting, however, held May 2, 1805, it was unanimously resolved that the suit against Chase Whitcher for encroachment on the lands of the proprietors be revived and prosecuted. At another adjourned meeting, held December 20, 1805, two hundred and twenty-five acres of land were granted to William Coolidge upon condition that the said Coolidge within three years from the first day of January, 1806, "should build, erect and complete a good and sufficient grist-mill upon the Gulph Stream (afterwards called CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 13 Whitcher Brook) running through lot numbered thirteen, in Gerrish's survey, and keep the same in good repair and procure, or give good attendance therein, during the term of ten years from the erection and completion of said mill, to the acceptance of the selectmen of the town of Coventry, aforesaid, for the time being." At a meeting held at the tavern of Nancy Hale, in Cov- entry, June 16, 1814, Thatcher Goddard and Onesiphorus Flanders were appointed a committee to make a division of the common land lying between Gerrish's, McDuffie's and Willard's surveys and Warren line, this land having been surveyed into lots of thirty-five acres each. A plan of this division was made, known as the third division, and was ac- cepted at an adjourned meeting held May 29, 1816, thus completing the surveys and divisions of land by the pro- prietors. The meetings subsequently held by the proprietors were chiefly for the purpose of settling up the affairs ot the pro- prietary. The last meeting of which record exists was held July 4, 1818, and at this meeting a tax of two dollars and fifty cents was levied on each share of the undivided lands for the purpose of paying the debts of the proprietary. The entire amount expended by the proprietors in protecting their rights in the township, in surveying and dividing into lots such of the territory as was surveyable, in paying the expenses of proprietors' meetings, through a term ot twenty years, in redeeming lands sold for taxes, in defending and prosecuting lawsuits and in surveying and constructing high- ways was a little upwards of $4,000. For this they had ob- tained in regularly numbered surveyed lots of land including grants and pitches by settlers and the Governor's reservation, some 22,000 acres, leaving about eight thousand acres undi- 14 SOME THINGS ABOUT vided. This was in two tracts, a small one on the easterly side of Black Mountain, and a larger one, of from six thous- and to seven thousand acres, on the sides and summit of Moosilauke Mountain. This land was never divided into lots, but was held by various parties, as shares or rights in the names of the original proprietors, was taxed as non-resi- dent, until about 1889 or 1890, when all the shares had been acquired by Ira Whitcher, of Haverhill, a native of the town, who divided the territory into four tracts, numbered one, two, three and four, and later sold them as such tracts. The records of the meeting of the early proprietors show an earnest effort on their part to secure a settlement of the township, and to realize something from their rights. But the task of making a flourishing farming town out of Coventry was an impossible one, and the proprietors doubt- less expended nearly as much money in their attempts to make the township a valuable property as they ever secured in return. Only a few of those who were proprietors pre- vious to 1800 ever attempted to make a settlement in the town ; Jonathan Hale, Obadiah Eastman, and Samuel Marston. It was a non-resident proprietary, and absentee landlord- ism rarely pays, even under favorable conditions. Some of these non-resident proprietors, however, were greatly interested in the town, and merit more than a passing notice. John W. Chandler, of Peacham, Vt., was the son of Gen. John Chandler, a Revolutionary soldier, and was born in Newtown, Conn., in 1767. He removed to Peacham, Vt., with his father as one of the earliest settlers in that town. He was representative to the General Assembly in 1797, Judge of Probate from 1797-1800 and in 1806, 1808, 1809, 1817-1821 ; Register of Probate in 1805 ; Councillor in CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 15 1814-1815; Judge of the County Court in 1800-1806, 1813-1817. Died in Peacham July 15, 1855. Reuben Page was a younger brother of John Page, of Haverhill. He was was born in Rindge, N. H., in 1753. He served in five campaigns in the Revolutionary war. Went to Corinth, Vt., in 1780 and settled in the north- east corner of the town. Part of the farm is in Newbury. He died August 3, 1843 and is buried in the "Grow bury- ing ground," in the southwest corner of Newbury, Vt. Stephen P. Webster, of Haverhill, was a son of Rev. Stephen Webster, of Haverhill, Mass., and Mary (Little). Graduated at Harvard in 1792. Married Mary Peabody of Atkinson. State Senator, 1803-1806. Councillor, 1839-40. 16 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER II. THE FIRST SETTLEMENT. Just when and where the first settlement was made in Coventry, and just who was the first settler does not appear. There were seieral settlements made prior to the year 1800, as appears from the record of settlers claims allowed by the proprietors at their meetings in 1798, 1799 and 1800. At a meeting of the proprietors January 18, 1799, Eph- raim, Rachel and Silas Lund were quieted in the possession of 76 acres of land on the Oliverian, which they claimed had been settled in 1777, and this same year Josiah Burnham, whose attempted survey of a part of the town had never been cccepted by the proprietors, was also quieted in the posses- sion of 82 acres, on his claim that he had settled and improv- ed the same in 1777. Pelatiah Watson had also settled ad- joining Burnham and the Lunds in 1778, and he obtained at this same meeting possession of 40 acres, as did Stephen Lund 82 acres in the same locality, which he claimed was settled in 1783. In the absence of other testimony it may be set down as tolerably certain that the Lunds, with Burn- ham and Watson, were the first settlers of the township, and that they made pitches and began to establish homes in the year 1777. Jonathan Hale had also begun a settlement in the immediate vicinity a little later, and had obtained large grants from the proprietary. In 1783 he purchased the Stephen Lund tract, in the same year the Ephraim, Silas and Rachael holdings ; in 1784 the Pelatiah Watson tract, and in 1787 he bought out Burnham's rights. This gave him a tract, much of whioh was improved, of upwards of a thous- C VENTR T—BEXTOX. N. H. 1 7 and acres, which he com- I ""hatcher Goddard in 1' though he continued to live on it for manv vears as an inn- keeper, in a house on the Coventry Meadows road bet what is now known as the Hyde farm and the farm owned ininiings, and which was known at first as the Xiles farm. The antecedents of the Lun >n and Burnham are unknown, and where they went after leaving Coventr except in the case of Burnham, purely a matter of conject- ure. Burnham, who had some knowledge of surveying, came early to the town, pitched a lot for himself, and made surveys of other lots, but the surveys were not recognized as valid by the proprietors. The year 1805 found him in the jail at Haverhill, imprisoned for debt. Among those who occupied the same loom with him in the jail were Row man, Esq., and Capt. Joseph Starkweather, lik: imprisoned for debt. On the evening of December 17. I - ".a quarrel arose between them, the result of which was that both men were fatally stabbed by Burnham, his weapon being a large double edged knife which he had car- ried with him when he went to jail. Burnham was tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung July 15. \ - S, but the date was subsequently changed to August 12. in order that he might "have further time to prepare for death." Hi; execution, which occurred at Haverhill, and which was the second occurring in Grafton county, was one of the great events of the time. It occurred on Powder House hill at Haverhill corner in the presence of 10,000 people, who had gathered from near and far to witness the gruesome spectacle. Entertainment was rare in those early days, and the most was made of this one. Previous to the .tion a lengthy sermon, preceeded by music and prayer. 18 SOME THINGS ABOUT was delivered to the assembled multitude by the Rev. David Sutherland of Bath, the victim about to be launched into eternity furnishing the preacher with his most vivid illus- trations. Barnabas Niles and his son Salmon settled on the Mead- ows, somewhere about 1778, just to the north of the settle- ments made by Ephraim Lund, Stephen Lund, Burnham and Watson, their farm being what is now known as the Hyde farm. To the south were Joseph Lund, James Ford, Jehiel Niles and Elisha Ford, on land now known as the James Crimmings and A. L. Warren farms, while a little later Robert Elliott established himself also on the Meadows near Haverhill line. Almost coincident with these first settlements on the Meadows were those made next to Warren line and near the base of Moosilauke, in the neighborhood afterwards known as High Street, by Obadiah Eastman, Samuel Marston, Moses Noyes and Samuel Jackson. Each of these settlements was made prior to 1790, those of Obadiah Eastman, Moses Noyes and Samuel Jackson being presumably the oldest. Obadiah Eastman, with his sons, established themselves on what was afterwards known as the Lathrop farm, on the North and South road, so called, about a mile from Warren line. This farm came to be one of the best in town, but has been abandoned for nearly fifty years, and the substan- tial stone walls once surrounding its fields and pastures now surround a vigorous forest growth. The buildings have long since vanished, but a recent visit to the spot where they once stood, shows an acre or two of land still free from forest growth, the cellar walls still intact, a few feet from the house cellar the smoke-house cellar (about five by six feet) with walls in nearly as good condition as when Squire COVENTRY— BENTON, 7T. H. 19 Obadiah constructed them nearly a century ago, and the walls of the various yards about the barn and the out-build- ings still in good condition. The settlenjeDt lot of Moses Xoyes. and the two lots of Samuel Jackson, ^ere nearer Warren line than the Eastman homestead, and covered the territory now known as the Dickey farm, and the farm next north-west, toward Warren Summit. Samuel Marston settled the farm which later came into the possession of Jonathan Welch and his sons, Silas and Bartlett Welch. Marston came to Coventry from Chichester, and two of his sons, David and Jonathan, were among the first settlers of the north part of Coventry, about 1804 or 1805, while another son, Joseph E., remained for a time on the old homestead. Samuel Jackson purchased his one hundred acre lot in 1783, of one Francis Porter, of Pe- terborough, and paid for it one hundred dollars. His pur- chase was made in good faith, and he began its settlement immediately, and had made for himself a comfortable home- stead, when, in 1800, he discovered his title was worthless, and he petitioned the proprietors for relief. They gave him a title to his land, in view of the improvements he had made, at a meeting held May 23, 1800. Aside from these settlers on the Meadows and at Hi^h Street, clearings had been made and homes established near Haverhill line at the foot of the mountain lying between Owls Head and Sugar Loaf. A survey of ten one hundred acre lots had been made there by Major Caleb Willard for Gen. John W. Chandler, of Peacham, by order of Samuel Atkinson, dated July 9, 1786. In the same year James Masters, James Curtis and Robert Whittom settled on lots numbered 6, 7, and 8. This section was subsequentlv known as the "Page Neighborhood," or "Page District." 20 SOME THINGS ABOUT None of these settlers remained many years in town, and the work of settlement they had begun was carried on by others. Of these early settlers who established themselves in town prior to 1800, there were two or three who took an active part in the direction of affairs : Salmon Niles, born March 11, 1768, the son of Barnabas Niles, came to town with his father, and took a leading part, both in his own right and as representing others, in the meetings of the proprietary, and also, after the town government was organized, filled various town offices with efficiency. Of his eight children born in town, none remained there, and, early in the centu- ry, his farm passed into other hands. Major Jonathan Hale, of whom mention has previously been made in the chapter on the proprietary, and whose farm on the Meadows was the largest in town, and whose house was one of the notable inns on the road between Haverhill and Plymouth, was born in Bradford, Mass., about 1740, the youngest son of Jonathan and Susanna (Tuttle) Hale. His family was a notable one. His eldest brother, Dr. John Hale, was a physician at Hollis, N. H., and was a surgeon in the Old French war and in the Revolutionary war. His sister, Abigail, married Col. William Prescott, of Peppcrell, Mass., who commanded the Massachusetts troops at Bun- ker Hill. The historian Prescott was their grandson. His brother, Dr. Samuel Hale, came to Newbury, Vt., as one of the earliest settlers, and his sister, Martha, was the wife of the Rev. Peter Powers, the first minister of Newbury and Haverhill. Jonathan Hale removed with his parents to Sut- ton, Mass., and later lived in Concord, N. H., from whence he came, to the Coos country at the time of the early settle- ment of Haverhill and Newbury. During the war of the Revolution he was a member of the Committee of Safety CO YEXTR Y— BE XT OX. X. H. 2 1 of Haverhill. He was also 2nd Major in Col. Moray's twelfth New Hampshire regiment of foot, his commission dating from 1775. In 1781 he was sent by Gen. Jacob Bailey to West Point with dispatches for Washington. Mr. F. P. Wells, the historian of Xewbury, Vt., thinks that at that time he lived in that town. He continued to reside in Coventry after he had sold his farm to Thatcher Goddard, in 1800, but took no important part in town affairs after the organization of the town government. He died in 1837, at an advanced age, and if anything can be judged from the tax list, he must have been in somewhat reduced circumstan- ces. While in 1833 he was still assessed for 140 ac: land, with a horse and chaise and three cows, in 1836 his taxable property consisted of a horse valued at $10 and three cows valued at $50. Major Hale was, however, a man of superior education for his times, and his services to the proprietary of Coventry, and to tne early settlers, was of first importance. Little is known of his family, except that one daughter, Mary Hale, born Nov. 2'6, 1777, became the wife of William Coolidge. Esq.. one of the very earliest set- tlers at the north part of the town, and for the first yeai its organized history prominent in town affairs. He had three other daughters. Nancy. Susanna and Bitty. Obadiah Eastman was undoubtedly the leading man in town affairs, both in securing the division of the town into :n encouraging its settlement, in building roads, in protecting the rights of the proprietors against the encroach- ment of Haverhill and Warren, as well as of individuals, in securing the organization of a town government, and, in short, doing anything and everything to promote the inter- f the town to which he so thoroughly devoted his best endeavors. He was the first Justice of the Peace of the 22 SOME THINGS ABOUT town, appointed in 1789, the moderator of the first town meeting, a member of the first board of selectmen, the first to represent the town in the General Court, when Coventry and Warren constituted a representative district, indeed, it is no disparagement to others to call him the first citizen of Cov- entry in its early days. He was born in Amesbury(?), Mass., May 7 , 1747. His wife, Mehitabel, was born April 27, in the same year, and they were married Nov. 19, 1767. Mr. Eastman rendered good service in the war of the Revolution, and came to Coventry and established his home sometime before the close of the war. He reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and he alone of the earliest seftlers has descendants still residing in town. He died Jan 10, 1812, and was buried in the High Street cemetery. A marble monument was in recent years erected over his grave, which has also been marked by the Sons of the American Revolution with the insignia of the Society. Some idea of the number of inhabitants of the town in 1789 may be gathered from the petition sent to the General Court, Dec. 11, 1788, asking for the appointment of Mr. Eastman as a Justice of the Peace. The petition states that the signers are "a greater Dart of the inhabitants of Coven- try." and it is signed by Ephraim Lund, Jeremiah Brown, Robert Elliott, Daniel Doty, Onesiphorus Flanders, Josiah Burnham, Joseph Flanders, Timothy Lockwood, John Marston, Ebeneezer Bailey, Samuel Bowdy, Nathan Mead and Silas Lund. All these signers were residents on the Meadows, at High Street, or on the Willard survey tract, no settlement having been made in the north part of the town. During the war of the Revolution none of the settlers, so far as is known, entered the army, but the straggling and COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 23 struggling settlers endeavored to do their patriotic duty as the following extract from Hammond's Town Papers shows : "To the Hon'ble Gen'l Court of the State of New Hamp- shire, now sitting at Portsmouth. "Humbly show that the inhabitants of Coventry in said State, that when called on, they hired one Jacob Whittier and one Edward Clark to serve as soldiers of said town in the Continental army during the war, and gave them a gen- erous bounty — that said town is so far removed from the seat of government, and not organized with town officers, never made a regular return of them, and that there is an extent now against them for delinquency, wherefore, your petitioners pray that they may be credited with said Whittier and Clark, and have an order to discharge said extent, and your petitioners as in duty shall ever pray, etc. Feb. 1786. "(Signed) Moses Dow, in behalf of said town." Proof of the services of Edward Clark was furnished, and the town was allowed therefor the sum of £60. The census of 1790 gives the population of the town as 80. There seems to have been no hurry on the part of pioneer settlers in locating in the north part of the town, which, however, subsequently became, and still remains, the most important section of the township. The forests were heavy, the soil was in the main rocky, the surface was hilly, the slope of the land was to the north, and the section was with- out roads, and miles removed from the settlements in the south and west part of the town, and from the center of North Country life at Haverhill. One of the charac- ters of the section during the early part of the last century, Ben Wiser, who lived by fishing, hunting and his wits, and many of whose stories and sayings are still remembered by 24 SOME THINGS ABOUT the older people, once remarked of North Coventry : "When the Almighty made the world, he made a will. He gave over all the country east of Swift water to the fowls of the air and the wild beasts, and the Whitehers, Tylers, Howes and Marstons, who broke that will, will never prosper." There was. however, some degree of prosperity, but it was prosperity won by dint of the sternest sacrifice and the most unremitting toil. When the first town meeting was held, Dec. 30, 1801, for the purpose of organizing a town government, there were no residents on the north side of the town, but in the years intervening between 1804 and 1812 several settlements were made, the first being by William Coolidge, William Whitcher, David Marston and Jonathan Marston, followed soon after by Kimball Tyler, Jesse Tyler, Peter Howe, Daniel Howe, Daniel Xoyes and Abraham Norris, Of the thirty-three rateable polls found on the first recorded tax list in 1812, these eleven above mentioned had established for themselves homes in the north part of the town. William Coolidge, son-in-law of Jonathan Hale, settled in 1803 or 1804, and cleared his farm from the vir- gin forest, on land which is now a part of the farms of George Bailey and Birt Cox. He was the one settler of the town of liberal education, as the proprietors' records and the early town records, in elegant handwriting, orthography and punctuation, so rare in early town records, abundantly attest. He was clerk at many meetings of the proprietors, the first town clerk, and for several years one of the select- men. He built and operated the first grist-mill in town, and a few years since the circular mill stones were to be seen in the yard of the clapboard mill of the late William East- man. He was born January 28, 1777, and his wife, Mary CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 25 Hale was born the same year. None of his four chil- dren, three sons and one daughter, remained in town, but removed with their parents in 1816 to Vermont. His mill privilege and the land lying to the east of it, being what is now known as the Annis farm, he purchased of John W. Chandler in 1804, and removed to it, erecting a house on the North and South road, near the meeting, house some three years later. This property he sold upon his removal from town to Moses Knight, of Landaff. It had become by that time considerably improved, the price obtained being $1325. He rendered the town great service, but during the hard times following the war of 1812 became financially in- volved and lost most of his property, acquired with so much self sacrifice and hardship. Mr. Coolidge was a native of Middlesex county, Mass., his immediate family residing, during the war of the Revolution, in Waltham. David Marston, son of Samuel Marston, settled and be- gan clearing his farm on a lot west of that of William Cool- idge about 1805, which, with the additions purchased in 1808, is now the farm owned by Orman L. Mann. He was a man of shrewdness and tact, and was prominent in the early settlement of the north part of the town, filling all the various town offices with marked ability, serving for sev- eral years as town clerk, selectman, constable, collector of taxes and the then important office of ty thing man. David Marston was born Sept. 17, 1779, probably in Coventry, and married Susannah Bronson, of LandafF, (born July 29, 1777) Jan. 23, 1803. Their two daughters, Mehitable and Lucy, and their son, William Coolidge, were born in Coventry. William Coolidge Marston, born July 28, 1815, removed to Haverhill, where he was a substantial citizen and prosperous farmer. Hie son, Moody C. Marston, and grand- 26 SOME THINGS ABOUT son, John G. Marston, are well known citizens of Bath. William Whitcher was born in Warren, on the farm cleared and owned by his father, near Coventry line, the locality since known as Warren Summit, May 23, 1783, the third of the eleven children of Chase and Hannah (Morrill) Whitcher. Chase Whitcher was one of the first settlers of Warren, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and a direct descendant of Thomas Whittier, through Na- thaniel, Reuben and Joseph, who came from England in 1638, and settled at first in Newbury, Mass., afterwards re- moving to Haverhill, Mass., where, in 1688, he built the house in which his most famous descendant, John Greenleaf Whittier, was born, which, until the death of the latter, has since been in the Whittier family, and is now owned by the Whittier Memorial Association. The name of the descend- ants of Thomas has been variously spelled — Whittier, Whit- cher and Whicher, the former being the most common form, though, until the beginning of the nineteenth century it was pronounced as of two syllables, "Whit-cher," Chase Whit- cher was more famous as a hunter and trapper than a farm- er, and his son William doubtless learned of the opening for a settlement in the north part of Coventry through the fa- ther's hunting expeditions. He married Feb. 25, 1807, Mary, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Collins) Noyes, of Landaff, born Nov. 5, 1787. To them were born be- tween the dates, Dec. 26, 1807, and Feb. 24, 1831, a fam- ily of sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters, all of whom, with a single exception, lived to marry and establish homes of their own. He purchased parts of lots numbered 15, 13, 22 and 59, and built his first house on the spot where his son, Ira Whitcher, some forty years afterward es- tablished his home. He took an important part in town af- William Whitcher. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 27 tairs, serving as tax collector, constable, selectman and agent for building highways, in short, filling for many years, all the various town offices. He was a pioneer in building highways, and did more than perhaps any one man to secure communication with the adjoining towns of Bath and Haverhill, which, in the early part of the century, had be- come leading business, political and social centres. After the death of Obadiah Eastman and the removal from town of William Coolidge, he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace, and for years was familiarly known as "the Squire," in later years, "the Old Squire." He was a man of deep piety, of old school puritanical principles and notions, and was for many years, in the early history of the town, in the habit of conducting religious meetings in barns, school houses, or private houses, in his capacity of regularly licen- sed local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, or aa assistant to the early circuit riders who now and then made appointments on their horseback pilgrimages through the backwoods towns. He was never elected a representative to the General Court, but he lived to see four of his sons, Mos- es, Ira, Chase and Daniel, serve successive terms in that body with honor to themselves and credit to the town. His life was one of great activity and he lived to see the town, for which he had done so much, a prosperous community, dying in March, 1859, in the 76th year of his age. Jonathan Marston followed his brother David, about 1807, and settled on the North and South road, clearing the farm which remained his homestead until his death, and which is no v owned by Alfred Morrill. His sons, Orrin, Bartlett and Jonathan Hale, all established themselves in town, but later removed, J. Hale going to the northern part of New York, Orrin to Franconia and Bartlett to Woods- 28 SOME THINGS ABOUT ville. Jonathan was married to Phebe, daughter of Peter How, who came to Landaff from Bradford in 1792. Of the children of Peter How, four besides Mrs. Marston came early to Coventry, Daniel How, who settled on the hill to the south of William Coolidge's, first settlement, Peter How Jr., who about 1808 settled a little to the west of William Whitcher, Nathaniel How, who came a little later, and Mary, wife of Major Samuel Mann, who came still later. These were all thrifty, substantial people, who added to the prosperity of the new settlement. Daniel How was twice married and had a large family. His youngest son, Daniel M. Howe, with several of his grandchildren and great- grand children, still reside in town. None of the descend- ants of Peter How, are now in town, and none of his chil- dren are now living. Nathaniel How died comparatively young. One son, Nathaniel Goodall Howe, is now (1904) living in Lafayette, Ind., where he has been a leading citi- zen and prosperous man of business, and is greatly interest- ed in his native town. The Tyler brothers, Kimball, Elisha and Jesse, came to Coventry from Lands ff about the year 1807. Elisha set- tled on lot No. 6, Gerrish survey, next to Landaff line, and the farm became in time a large one, noted for its fine or- chards and fruit trees, but has long since been abandoned, and is now almost entirely cohered with forest growth. Jes- se Tyler settled in the same neighborhood, while Kimball settled further toward the west on the farm just off the road leading from the meeting house to Tunnel stream, near its junction with the county road to Easton. He lived there until his death, and to him and his wife, Sally Streeter, were born a family of fourteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and several of whom remained Peter Howe. CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, X. H. 29 in town. Several of his grandchildren are at the present time residents of Benton and are prominently identified with its interests. Kimball Tyler was born Sept 17, 1783. His wife, Sally Streeter, was born Feb. 28, 1784. They were married in LandafF, Apr. 15, 1805, and soon afterwards re- moved to Coventry. Abraham Norris came to Coventry from Bath in 1809, and settled on the corner lot adjoining Bath and Haverhill. The farm is now owned by Lebina H. Parker. Two of his sons, David Marston Norris and James Norris, and one daughter, Martha Norris, were lifelong residents of the town. Daniel Noyes, a brother of the wife of William Whitcher, came from LandafF to Coventry about the same time, but remained only a few years, when he returned to Landaff. In the year 1812 the different sections of the town had been settled, and there were 33 ratable polls, twelve of whom were in the north part ot the town, while the other twenty-one had their homes on "the Meadows," at "High Street" and in the "Page District." But the settlement of the town had been begun. The town was yet a wilderness, with clearings here and there, which were the beginnings of the farms of the next generation. The Jonathan Hale farm comprised more than a thousand acres, and the inven- tory of 1812 showed that in this tract there were 20 acres of arable land, 20 acres of mowing land, and 30 acres of pas- turage. Robert Elliott had five acres of arable land, four acres of mowing, and ten acres of pasturage. The Obadiah Eastman farm had four acres of arable land, 24 acres of mowing, and 32 acres of pasturage. On the north side of the town William Coolidge had ten acres each of mowing: and pasture. David Marston six acres each, Jonathan Mar- ston ten acres each, Elijah Wilson five acres each, Jesse 30 SOME THINGS ABOUT Tyler ten acres each, Daniel How two acres each, William Whitcher five acres each, and Peter How, Jr., five acres of mowing and three acres of pasturage. At "High Street" Samuel and Robert Jackson had three acres of arable land, 11 of mowing, and 15 of pasture, and on "the Meadows" James and Elisha Ford had one acre of arable, 11 of mow- ing and eight of pasture. The other settlements were only small clearings. In the entire township there were barely three hundred acres redeemed from the wilderness. The roads from the north of the town were little more than bri- dle paths, and except that through "the Meadows," were hardly worthy of the name of roads. That through the "North and South Woods" had been bushed out and ox- carts could possibly be driven over it during the summer, and horses hitched to sleds could make their way during the winter, but these answered the purpose, since there were no chaises or carriages in town. The settlers had little to sell. They made maple sugar, and potash from the abundant wood ashes resulting from the land clearings. They raised some herds grass and clover, from which they threshed and winnowed out seed for sale, but exports to the towns of Ha- verhill and Bath were few, and imports were less, since a little money must be obtained in some way with which to pay taxes. The dwellings were, for the most part, especial- ly in North Coventry, built of logs and were small and prim- itive structures ; the furniture was of the simplest, and the problem was to secure enough from the soil in the way of food upon which to obtain a bare subsistence. Clothing was home made from flax or wool, and each of the Drimitive homes of the town obtained by dint of ingenuity and pains- taking effort the manufactured article from the raw material. The flax was raised, rotted, broken, hackeled, spun and GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 31 woven ; the wool was sheared, washed, carded, rolled, spun and woven, and the resultant cloth was by home hands made to do for the ever increasing families, for children were the most prolific crop. In the inventory for 1812 there are no sheep enumerated, and there doubtless but few in town, cos- sets kept near the door, for many years were yet to pass be- fore sheep and lambs would be safe from bears, wolves and the Siberian lynxes, with which the forests abounded. Some of the housewives obtained now and then a fleece of wool from a LandafF or a Warren neighbor in exchange for knots of "tow and linen" yarn, but wool and cloth were precious commodities, The buildings in the town, housing forty families, were valued this same year at $2415. They were hardly dwellings with all modern improvements. As for other property there were 39 horses, 32 oxen and 139 cows and other neat stock from one year old and upwards. There seems to have been one capitalist in town, for Obadiah Whitcher, who lived near the Warren line, was assessed for $200 money at interest. The hardships borne by these ear- ly settlers, and their contentment and cheerfullness under these hardships seem at the present time almost incredible. Some of them gave up the contest and migrated to other towns where they deemed conditions more favorable, but those who remained illustrated the theory of the scientists as to the "survival of the fittest." The beginning had been made. A town government had been made. The first town meeting was warned by Obadi- ah Eastman, Esq., to be held December 30, 1801, at the dwelling house of Major Jonathan Hale, on request of the following freeholders of the town : Robert Elliott, Samuel Jackson, James Ford, Samuel Jackson, Jr., 32 SOME THINGS ABOUT Salmon Niles, Obadiah Eastman, Jr., Elisha Ford, James Eastman, Samuel Marston, Barnabas Niles. The officers chosen were : moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Samuel Jackson, Oba- diah Eastman, Barnabas Niles ; constable, Elisha Ford. This meeting was simply for organization. The first regu- lar March town meeting was held March 9, 1802. At this meeting the officers elected were : moderator, Barnabas Niles ; town clerk, Salmon Niles; selectmen, Samuel Jack- son, Obadiah Eastman, William Coolidge ; constable, Elisha Ford ; surveyors of highways, James Eastman, Bar- nabas Niles. It was voted to raise the sum of thirty-eight dollars for the support of schools, eighteen dollars to defray town charges and forty dollars for the purpose of repairing roads. It was also voted that "each man working on the road be allowed seven cents an hour, a yoke of oxen the same, each man to find his own* diet and tools." At this meeting no votes appear to have been cast tor Governor, Councillor, Senator and County officers. Perhaps the town authorities did not understand that they had suffrage rights in this matter. March 24, 1802 the freeholders and other voters of Coventry and Haverhill met at the dwelling house of Major Jona. Hale, innholder, for the choice of a represent- ative to the General Court. Dr. Ross Coon, of Haverhill, was chosen moderator and Col. Moody Bedell, of Haverhill, representative. The meetings for the choice of representa- tive appear to have been held subsequently in Haverhill until Coventry, in 1807, was classed with Warren for the choice of representative, and the meeting was again held in Coven- try. A meeting was held August 30, 1802 for the purpose of voting for members of Congress at which eight votes COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 33 were cast, all for the regular candidates of the Federalist party, Samuel Tenney, Silas Betton, Clifton Claggett, Sam- uel Hunt and David Hough. The growth of the town during the next ten years is indi- cated to some extent by the appropriations made at the an- nual town meeting of 1812. It was voted to raise seventy dollars for schools ; thirty dollars to defray town charges, and two hundred dollars for making and repairing highways. These were certainly liberal appropriations in view of the in- ventory of taxable property in the town to which reference has already been made. The names of the voters in the town as appearing on the check list in this latter year were : Jonathan Hale, Philip Knowton, Salmon Niles, Stephen Jeffers, Levi Doty, William Whitcher, Daniel Howe, Daniel Noyes, William Coolidge, Jonathan Marston, Joseph E. Marston, James Eastman, Peter Eastman, Samuel Jackson, Jr., James Ford, Abner Willoughby, Benjamin Woodbury, William Mead, Hugh Matthews, Daniel Davis, Robert Elliott, Peter Howe, Jesse Tyler, Kimball Tyler, David Marston, Abraham Norris, Obadiah Eastman, Moses Eastman, Samuel Jackson > Robert Jackson, Elisha Ford, Samuel Aspinwall, Elkanah Danforth. Obadiah Whitcher, Here were 34 legal voters state officers was but 24. For Governor, William Plummer received 12. but the highest vote cast for 34 SOME THINGS ABOUT John Taylor Gilman, 8. For Councillor, Abel Merrill, 19. Jonathan Franklin, 5. The independent voter was abroad, but the Jeffersonian Democracy was in the majority, which was all the more ap- parent at the November election, when the eight Madison electors received ten votes each, to one each for the Clinton electors. COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 35 CHAPTER III. LATER COMERS AND GROWTH. The growth of Coventry was not rapid during the next generation, counting a generation's life at thirty-three years, but it had been healthy and sure. It was still in 1835 a backwoods town, with poor roads, inadequate schools, with- out a church edifice, post-office or store, but the population had nearly trebled, being about 400, and the legal voters at the annual March meeting of 1835 numbered a little up- wards of ninety, though for state and county officers but seventy-four votes were polled. The check list for that year contained the following names : Abel Batchelder, Israel H. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis, Kimball Tyler, Samuel Howe, Jacob Whitcher, James Hinkley, Kinsley H. Batchelder, Samuel Mann, William Howe, Nathan Coburn, William Whitcher, William Whitcher, Jr., William Hand, Samuel Kimball, Joseph S. Lock, John K. Davis, Nathan B Davis, Jonathan Davis, Jonathan Noyes, Edwin Tyler, David Whitcher, Chellis Goodwin, Jesse Hinkley, Daniel Howe, Abraham Norris, George W. Cogswell, Ara Smith, Moses Whitcher, Amos Whitcher, Amos Kimball, Richard Brown, John S. Batchelder, Enos Wells, 36 SOME THINGS ABOUT Orrin Marston, Thomas French, Winthrop G. Torsey, Charles K. Merrill, James Flanders, William Mann, John Stowe, Jr., William Keyser, Humphrey P. Tyler, Timothy Ayer, J. P. Ayer, Joseph Rollins, Elijah Gray, Jonathan Welch, Hugh Matthews, Jesse Eastman, Jr., John Jeffers, John Lathrop, Jacob Currier, James Ford, Deliverance Woodward, David Chase, Levi Bradish, Rexford Peirce, Moses Mead, James Kent, Stephen Jeffers, Samuel Page, Niles Doty, Peter Howe, Jonathan Marston, James H. Cox, Moses Torsey, Israel Flanders, John Brown, John Stowe, Francis Oakes, Elisha Tyler, Benjamin C. Hutchins, Alvah Ayer, Milton Southard, Elijah S. Gray. Barzilla Pierce, Chase Whitcher, Jr., Jesse Eastman, Benjamin M. Eastman, Josiah F. Jeffers, Calvin Bailey, Elisha Ford, Daniel Batchelder, Weare Leavitt, Arthur L. Pike, Phineas Gould, Aaron Knight, Jonathan Hale, James J. Page, David Page, Edward P. Coolidge, William Doty, Robert Coburn. With the exception of two farms subsequently cleared at the base of Moosilauke up the Tunnel stream, and in two or CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 37 three other localities, where farms were afterwards cleared adjoining those already settled, the settlement of the town was in 1835 complete. Its subsequent growth was largely from the inside rather than from the outside. The land ca- pable of cultivation had been taken up and the period of set- tlement was being followed by a period of development. The early poverty had been to some extent overcome as is evidenced by the fact that in the inventory for the year three taxpayers were assessed for property valued at upwards of" $2000, viz.; Moses and William Whitcher, Jr., $2138, Deliverance Woodward $2361, and Moses Mead $2231, while several, Kinsley H. Batchelder, Daniel Howe, Nathan Coburn, Enos Wells, Daniel Batchelder, David Chase, Aaron Knight, and Peter Howe were each assessed upon property valued at $1000 and upwards. Two taxpayers had money at interest, Elder George W. Cogswell, a minister of the Free Will Baptist denomination, and Moses Mead, be- ing assessed for $300 each. Of those coming into town and becoming with their fami- lies permanent residents between the years 1812 and 1835, some merit more than passing notice. John Buswell came from Hill in the year 1812 and entered the employment of Dr. Thatcher Goddard. His wife was Lucinda Pike, a sis- ter of Isaac Pike, of Haverhill, Mrs. James Harriman, of Warren, and of Arthur L. Pike, who for several years was a resident of Coventry, though he afterwards removed to Ha- verhill. Mr. Buswell subsequently removed to Warren, then to Haverhill, but later returned to Coventry purchasing the farm at the west end of "the Meadows" where he lived until his death in 1858. He was a man of much force of character, an old time Federalist, a devoted Whig, a wor- shiper of Henry Clay, and in 1855 cast one of the two last 38 SOME THINGS ABOUT Whig ballots ever polled in town. His family of thirteen children, with one exception, lived to the estate of manhood and womanhood. One son, Moses P. Buswell, lived for many years in town, afterwards removing to Haverhill, where he still resides. Stephen Jeffers and Levi Doty settled in what afterwards became the "Page District" in 1812. The Dotys were for several years residents of the town, but later removed to Haverhill. In 1813 James and Elisha Ford were occupy- ing the meadow farm afterwards known as the A. L. Warren farm while Daniel Davis, Esq., and William Mead had also established themselves on the Meadows. On the north side of the town Samuel Morrill and James Rogers were among the new comers. James Rogers came from Greenfield, Mass., and married Hepzibah Tyler, a sister of Kimball Tyler, May 9, 1813. Samuel Morrill married Rhoda Howe, a sister of Peter Howe. Chase Whitcher, Jr., had begun a settlement on the North and South road about a mile distant from Jonathan Marston's to the South, and was married March 21, 1813 to Mary Green, of New Holderness. They had no issue, and his farm is now a part of the forest lands of the International Paper Co. Asa Hinkley also settled the same year next to LandafF line a little to the east of the Abraham Norris farm, but a few years later removed with his sons, James and Jesse, just over the line in Haverhill. The new settlers in 1814 were William Rogers, Moses Torsey, Robert Rollins, Joseph Rollins, Michael Moulton and Jacob Moulton on the north side of the town. Moses Torsey settled to the east of the North and South road on the farm afterwards owned by his son Winthrop G. Torsey. During his occupancy of the farm he trapped and killed forty-nine bears and just missed his fiftieth through the COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 39 theft of his trap. His son, Winthop G. Torsey, lived in town until his death at an advanced age, serving on the board of selectmen, and filling various town offices. One of his sons, Moses Torsey, Jr., moved to Haverhill. One daughter, Sally, married Elisha Kimball of Methuen, Mass., another, Betsey, married Robert Coburn, and an- other, Mary, married Orrin Marston, both of Coventry. William T. Torsey, son of Winthrop G., was also promi- nent in town affairs. His only daughter, Emeline, is the wife of Milo H. Annis, of Woodsville. The family was noted for thrift, economy and the virtues of a strict Puritan- ism. On the south and west the new comers were Nathan Fifield, William Fifield, Isaac Fifield, William Bickford, Elkanah Danforth and Sylvanus Emery, but none of them remained long in town. The check list for 1815 shows but forty names. The hard times following the second war with England had produced their due effect and at the March meeting held at the house of James Eastman at "High Street" only 20 ot the 40 voters made their appearance. The north side of the town was represented only by Peter Howe and William Whitcher. William Coolidge, Daniel Howe, David and Jonathan Marston, Samuel Morrill, Abraham Norris, Kim- ball, Elisha and Jesse Tyler and Moses Torsey were not present. With the two exceptions named the voters were all from the south and west part of the town, and but two new names appeared on the list of voters, Samuel Fairbanks and Nathan Barber. It is perhaps unnecessary to state that the north part of the town was not recognized in the choice of town officers. In 1816 three new names appeared on the check list, Eli- jah Gray, Nathan Willey and Moses L. Hobart. Elijah 40 SOME THINGS ABOUT Gray settled on what is now a part of the Dickey farm, so called, near High Street, and his buildings were a little to the east of the buildings on that farm. His farm has for the most part grown up to forest, and the site of the farm house is marked by an old cellar near the Moosilauke path. Moses L. Hobart kept the tavern on the Meadows, and dur- ing his stay in town was active in town affairs. There were but thirty-seven names on the list. In 1817 several new names appeared on the check list, among them : Moses Knight, Ira Martin, Enos Wells, Samuel Page and James B. Davis. Moses Knight came from Landaff and purchased the William Coolidge farm, which later passed into the possession of Joseph Annis. Moses Knight with his sons were hard working men, but re- mained in town but a few years when they removed to East Haverhill. Ira Martin came from Bradford and settled on the road leading from North Benton to Haverhill. His wife was Sally Flanders, of Haverhill, whom he married March 7, 1802. Perhaps the most notable new voter was Capt. Enos Wells who came from Canaan in 1816 and established him- self on the South road, his farm afterwards becoming the property of his son George. For a period of more than thirty years Capt. Enos Wells was a personality to be reck- oned with in all affairs of the town, social, religious, po- litical. Social affairs in those early days clustered around the military order. Training days and muster days were great days, and Captain Enos Wells was a marked figure on these occasion. He was a man of religious fervor, and long before a church edifice had been erected in town he was one of the first to welcome the itinerant Methodist preachers and early identified himself with that denomination. Cap- CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 41 tain Wells had a gift for politics, as is evidenced by the fact that two years after his advent in town, in 1818, he was elected selectman and from that time on, until he retir- ed from the active affairs of life, he was almost constantly in the service of the town as selectman or representative in the General Court. In 1827 he was chosen representative from the classed towns of Warren and Coventry, and at the an- nual town meeting in 1828 he was chosen agent to secure from the legislature an act permitting Coventry to send a representative by itself. He was successful in securing the desired legislation, and in 1829 was awarded the honor of being Coventry's first representative in the Great and Gener- al Court. Capt. Wells was a man of fair education, of great shrewdness and tact, and on a larger field of action would have won great fame as a politician. His children by his first marriage all died in infancy. He married for his second wife Sally Clark, of Landaff, who bore him three sons, Caleb, George and Enos C, all of whom are still living, the two first named in Haverhill, and the youngest in Lynn, Mass. Capt. Wells in later years built himself a house on Whitcher brook, near his sawmill, where he resid- ed until his death, while for several years previous to their removal from town, his sons occupied farms on the South road, so called, in near proximity to that of their father. At present all of these are numbered among the abandon- ed farms of the town, and only the remnants of a dam mark the site where the sawmill once stood. Samuel Page also came to Coventry, from Haverhill, Mass., in 1816, and purchased one of the farms in the Wil- lard survey. He was known as "Bear" Page, just why does not appear. It may have been to distinguish him from another Samuel Page, or the nickname may have been given 42 SOME THINGS ABOUT him from some personal peculiarity, or still again, and what is more probable, it may have been given from the number of bears, with which the mountain forests abounded, he had been successful in killing. He was never himself prominent in town affairs, but of his five sons, three, James J., David and Daniel D., became influential citizens. David remained in town but a few years, married Margaret Taylor, of Derry, and removed to Haverhill Corner, where he was engaged in various speculative enterprises, and was from 1844 until his death, a member of the Grafton County bar. His son, Samuel T. Page, graduated from Dartmouth in 1871, was admitted to the bar, resided in Haverhill, repre- sented that town in the state legislature, was Register of Probate for several years, removed to Manchester, and in 1903 returned to Haverhill, where he is still practicing his profession. A daughter, Elvira, married Hon. Alvin Bur- leigh, of Plymouth. Another daughter, Martha, died soon after her marriage to a Mr. Whitney, of Keene. James J. Page, son of Samuel, received a good educa- tion, and for years followed the occupation of schoolmaster during the winter season, caring for his farm in the summer. Many elderly people have vivid recollections of him as school master, a man well versed in the "three It's", and strong on discipline, even though maintained by "birch and rule." Several of his daughters were teachers, notably, Eliza, Laura, Elizabeth and Mary, while his son, James, was one of the famous district schoolmasters of the day. Norman, the son of James, is following the profession of teacher, and is at present principal of a high school in the southern part of the state. There was a sort of teach- ing instinct in the family. James J. Page entered actively into town affairs almost on attaining his majority, served as CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 43 superintending school committee, selectman, representative to the General Court, and, in the days when the voters of the town had become, almost without exception, Democrats, and the unanimous Democracy had become divided into fac- tions, was the acknowledged leader of the Page faction or party. His brother, Daniel D. Page, was only less promi- nent in the affairs of the town. He served as selectman, as member of the legislature, and held various town offices, at times and seasons when it was thought safer for him to be a candidate than for his brother James. While James J., late in life removed to Haverhill, buying a small farm on the river road a little south of the Newbury bridge, Daniel D. remained in town until his death, but each of his four sons left town soon after reaching their majority. James Page married Olive A., daughter of Jonathan Hunkins, who had settled at the end of the road on the Tunnel Strean, and set- tled on the farm of his father, living there until his death, the farm since being in the possession of his widow and children. It is the only farm in the south or west section of the town which has remained in the same family through three gen- erations. James served as town clerk, selectman and rep- resentative, and was for years the efficient superintendent of schools. Another son of Samuel, Caleb, remained in town but a little time, when he removed to Haverhill. He mar- ried a sister of Isaac Pike. Another son, Joshua, was drowned before reaching manhood. The new names appearing on the check list in 1818 were those of Timothy Ayer, Benj, R. Davis, John Huntress, Abner Palmer, Jonathan Welch, Stephen Lovejoy and Abel Marshall. Of these Jonathan Welch alone remained in town for a sufficient length of time to become permanently identified with its interests. He settled in the "High Street" 44 SOME THINGS ABOUT neighborhood, and his two sons, Silas M. and Bartlett, both became prominent citizens, each serving on the board of selectmen, and both dying in their early manhood within a few days of each other of malignant diptheria. George Welch, one of the sons of Silas M., still resides in town, and another, Edgar, is engaged as a carpenter, builder and manufacturer of woodwork at Barton, Vt. James Ball came to Coventry in 1819, but soon removed to East Landaff where he lived to an advanced age, and where some of his descendants still reside. Nathaniel Howe, brother of Daniel and Peter Howe, also settled in town the same year. The names of John Ford, James Harford and Moses Knight, Jr., also appear on the check list for the first time this year. The new voters in 1820 were John Atwell, Augustus Coburn, Caleb Page and Ona Snow. John Atwell was a native of Maine ; he married Dolly, a sister of William Whitcher, and settled on a farm on the road leading to the east part of the town, afterwards known as the Stephen Sherman farm, but now destitute of buildings, and mostly grown up to young forest. He was- killed by a falling tree, and his widow survived him but a few years. One son, Chase Whitcher Atwell, went to Massachusetts, and at the time of his death, about 1889, was engaged in the real estate business in Boston. Caleb Page was a son of Samuel Page, but after his marriage removed to Haverhill and dur- ing the latter part of his life lived on the Oliverian road in East Haverhill, near the Benton line. Augustus Coburn was the first of a family coming later to town, who were im- portant factors in its life. New names added to the voting list in 1821 were Aaron Knight, Asa Howe, David Corwin, Ezra Niles, John Flan- CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 45 ders, Noadiah Lund, Thomas Treffren, Moses Mead and David Elliott. Aaron Knight was the son of Moses Knight, and Moses Mead was the son of William Mead, who had settled on the Meadows some years previously. The son, Moses, lived in town the greater part ot the time for the next thirty years, and for much of the time was engaged in the profitable occupation of peddling. Asa Howe, a brother of Peter and Daniel, came from LandafF to the north part of the town, but remained only a few years, when he remov- ed to Sutton, Vt., where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1822 the name of James J. Page appears on the voting list, and he became immediately active in all the affairs of the town. Of liberal religious views, fond of good living, a good story teller, holding pronounced views in politics and on social questions he became early a leader. William Jenness had become the owner of the large Jonathan Hale farm, and his name was another of the new ones appearing in 1822. In the latter part of the same year Israel Flan- ders, accompanied by his father, Josiah Flanders, came to town from Bradford, Vt., and settled in the easterly part of North Benton on the farm where he lived until his death, followed the next year by his brother, James Flanders, who settled on a farm adjoining. Josiah Flanders had been a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and lived but a few years after coming to town. His grave is in the East ceme- tery. In each of the three cemeteries in town is found one such grave, that of Obadiah Eastman being at High Street, and thai of Joseph Young in the West cemetery. Israel Flanders married Polly, a sister of Enos Wells, who bore him two sons and two daughters ; John, LaFayette, Mahala, who married John E. Keyser, and Hannah, who married for her first husband Nelson F. Noyes. John settled on a 46 SOME THINGS ABOUT farm near his father where he resided until his death in 1903. LaFayette removed to Haverhill where he still resides. Hannah lives with a daughter in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Mahala, the widow of John E. Keyser, still resides in town. Israel and Polly Flanders were simple, quiet, thrifty, God fearing people, who brought their family up, so far as lay in their power, to follow in their steps. They "got religion" of the fervid Methodist sort early, and enjoyed it during their long lives of nearly ninety years. They seldom ventured far from home, their hill farm supplied their simple wants, they knew nothing of the fret and anxiety caused by hustling and bustling to secure large wealth. They avoided debt, and while their earthly possessions were few, they would have scorned the thought of being regarded poor. There are some scores of people living who would travel some distance to hear "Uncle Israel" once more sing in a Methodist prayer meeting : "Oh how happy are they Who their 8aviour obey," etc. or to hear "Aunt Polly" declare that she meant "to perse- vere on to the end and at last land her weary soul in the broad bay of heaven, to go no more out forever in a never ending eternity." Aunt Polly sometimes mixed her figures of speech, but she was fervidly eloquent. James Hopkins Cox also came to town in this same year, 1822, and established himself a little to the east of the North and South road, where he cleared a farm which became pro- ductive, though it was a common saying that there was no place on his farm where an ox cart could stand level except on the barn floor. His eldest son, Albert, settled near him on reaching his majority, while his second, Thomas, lived with his father until about 1865, when they sold their farm CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. IT. 47 and removed to Lisbon. His youngest son, George, re- moved to Bath, and later to Manchester. Mr. Cox was a man ot a good deal of energy and originality of character. He was outspoken, not to say loud spoken, in his views, and his neighbors were never at a loss to know where he stood on any question of interest to the public. His name appears on the check list for the first time in 1823. Other new names were those of David Quimby, Joseph Pearsons, Ben- jamin Page, Robert Hunkings, Joseph Day and Smith Jackson. New names on the list in 1824 were Daniel Batchelder, Daniel Day, Moses French, Samuel Page, Jr., and Asa Smith. Daniel Batchelder was a clergyman, who remain- ed in town but a little while, but his son, Daniel Batchel- der, Jr., who became a voter in 1825, became during the next twenty years one of the leading citizens of the town. He served on the board of selectmen, for several years rep- resented the town in the General Court, where, in 1840, he secured the passage of the act changing the name of the town from Coventry to Benton. There are few of the resi- dents of the North Country who do not remember "Dan Batchelder", who from 1830 to 1860, was probably the most popular country auctioneer for a large section of Grafton county, New Hampshire, and Orange county, Vermont. Rough and brusque in manner, boisterous in his demeanor, quick witted, and ready with story and repartee, he was in himself an attraction on auction days, and knew just how to deal with the crowds who attended the sales of farm crops, farm stock, farming utensils, and "other articless too numerous to mention", which went to make up the auctions at farm houses. He was a man of great tact, and of influ- ence in the councils of his party. He removed from Benton 48 SOME THINGS ABOUT to Corinth, Vt., but later returned to New Hampshire, buy- ing a home in Haverhill, near what is now Pike, where he spent the later years of his life. Ara Smith settled on the South road in North Benton, in what was known as the Wells neighborhood. He had one son, Henry, who left town in early manhood. Other new comers whose names appear on the check list for the first time in 1826 were Nathan Coburn, Robert Coburn, Jacob Currier, William Mann, Josuha Knight, (a son of Moses Knight), Jonathan Noyes, Joseph Palmer and Daniel Patch. Nathan and Robert Coburn were brothers of Au- gustus Coburn, who came to town six years before. Na- than became prominent in town affairs, serving as town clerk, selectman and representative, but removed from town in 1835. Robert was less active, but was greatly interested in religious matters, was licensed and later ordained as a preacher in the Christain denomination, but, while preach- ing occasionally, never held a regular pastorate. The hill lying to the east of the South road, and to the west of what were known as the Clough and Wright farms, was long known as "Coburn hill." Jonathan Noyes was a brother of the wife of William Whitcher. He remained but a few years in town, when he returned to his native town, Landaff. William Mann settled just off the East road next to Lan- daff line, and near Tunnel Stream, and his farm was one of the best in that section. The buildings have long since dis- appeared, but as late as 1860 the apple and fruit orchard, which he had planted, was one of the best in town. The new names in 1827 were those of James Hinkley, Nathan Johnson, Jonathan Bailey, Moses Ellsworth and Benjamin C. Hutchins. The latter had a large family, and of his sons, Lucius, Joseph, Benjamin F. and Noah, were CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 49 tor a long time residents of the town. Noah married Hannah Jesseman, of Franconia. A daughter married Rev. George Brown, the well-known Advent clergyman of Centre Haverhill, and their son, Solomon J., resides in Ben- ton on the William T. Torsey farm. Noah Hutchins died of consumption in middle life, and his widow subsequently married William T. Torsey. Lucius Hutchins spent the most of his life in town, but none of his family now live there. Joseph Hutchins, late in life, removed to Haverhill, and one son, Charles, resides in Woodsville. Benjamin F. Hutchins died in the early fifties of cancer, and his three daughters married and removed from town. The eldest daughter, Susan, married Kimball F. Woodman, of Bath. The widow of Benjamin F. Hutchins subsequently married Amos C. Mann. The Hutchinses all resided in the east part of the town, as did Asa Merrill, who married the daughter of Benjamin C. While none of the family succeeded in ac- cumulating property they were, for the most part, industri- ous people, who contributed to the growth and development of the town. There was a comparatively large immigration into the town in 1827, and the tax list of 1828 bore a large number of new names. These were : Nathan B. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis, John K. Davis, Israel H. Davis, Jona- than Davis, Jonathan Davis, Jr., William Davis, William Doty, Daniel Doty, Winthrop Elliott, David Elliott, Fay- ette Wells, Daniel Coburn, Jacob Whitcher, Thomas W. Ford, Daniel Young, Wm. Keyser, Oliver Farmer, Sam- uel Tyler; Winthrop G. Torsey, Amos Tyler, Abel Batch- elder, Jeremiah Davenport and Roswell Elliott. William Keyser settled in the east part of the town, clear- ing the farm on which his son, James H., now lives. He was also a cooper by trade, and found plenty of occupation 50 SOME THINGS ABOUT for the exercise of his trade. In later years, when the man- ufacture of potato starch became an important industry in Benton, Bath, LandafF and Franconia, he did an extensive business in the manufacture of starch casks, and by patient unremitting toil made his farm one of the best in the east- ern section of the town. His sons, Charles B., John E. and James H., all remained in town, being numbered among the most useful citizens. Fayette Wells was a brother of Capt. Enos Wells, and David and Caleb Noyes came from LandafF, remaining, however, but a little time, when they returned to LandafF. The Elliotts and Dotys lived on the Meadows. Jacob Whitcher was a younger brother of William. He married Sarah Richardson, of Warren, and settled near Haverhill line at the foot of Black Mountain, his farm subsequently being known as the Charles M. Howe farm. The buildings have long since dis- appeared, and a large part of the farm has reverted once more to forest His sons, Hazen, Jacob, Jr., Alonzo, Levi and Stephen, left town in early life, removing to Mass- achusetts, where their descendants still live, in Stoneham, Woburn and Quincy. A daughter, Sarah Jane, married the Rev. Andrew K. Crawford, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman of New York. She died at an early age, leaving two children. The Davis family settled in North Benton and were for many years largely identified with the growth and develop- ment of the town. Jonathan Davis married Miriam Bart- lett and came from Essex county, Mass., to Northfield, N. H., where his eleven children were born, and all of whom, except one, David, who remained in Northfield, came with him to Coventry in 1827 or a few years later. Of his sons who came to Coventry, Nathan B. Davis married Abigail S. Darius K. Davis. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 51 Batchelder. He settled on the farm at the summit of what is now known as Davis hill. Of his six children three died in infancy, but three grew to the estate of manhood and wo- manhood. Darius K., born in Northfield, Nov. 7, 1825, married Susannah, daughter of Daniel and Phebe Howe. He resided in Benton until about 1860, when he removed to Northfield and to Haverhill, where he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits at East Haverhill, Pike and Warren Sum- mit for many years. In more recent years he has resided in Woodsville with his only child and daughter. Mrs. Oliver D. Eastman. As a young man before leaving Benton he served as superintending School Committee and also as one of the selectmen of the town. His brother Abel, S. E. B., born in Benton, Aug. 28, 1827, removed to Indianapolis, where he still resides. His sister, Abigail, born in Benton Apr. 29, 1837, married W. H. H. Grimes, of Franconia, and also removed to Indianapolis, where she has since resid- ed. Nathan B. was prominent in town affairs, holding all the various town offices. He removed to Haverhill about 1859. Jeremiah B. Davis, the second son of Jonathan and Miriam, married Susan, daughter of Kimball and Sally Streeter Tyler, and settled near the County road just to the north of Kimball Tyler's farm, the buildings standing near the farm buildings now owned and occupied by Byron A. Tyler. They had a large family of children, Wesley, Mary, Laban T., Eliza, Kimball T., Sally, Jeremiah B., Jr., Constantine and Dennison. Of these, only one, Mary, who married Charles B. Keyser, now resides in town. Laban T. resides in Lynn, Mass, and Jeremiah B. in Easton. Israel Davis married Sally Batchelder, a sister of the wife of Nathan B., who bore him one son, Israel B., who was familiarly known as "Gould" Davis, alleged physician, 52 SOME THINGS ABOUT insurance agent, and "promoter" in a small way of various schemes. Israel remained in town but a short time, remov- ing to Haverhill, where he lived many years on the Lime Kiln road, so called. John K. Davis married Sarah Ann Marshall, and settled on the South road on a farm recently owned by George Brill. They had four sons, Lorenzo D., who removed to Tilton ; Marcellus M., who was for many years in the em- ploy of the Boston, Concord and Montreal railroad as road master, and who, about 1874, moved west ; Frank and Gil- man. They had also two daughters, Maria and Sally Ann. Jonathan Davis, Jr., also married a Batchelder, Lydia, a sister of Abigail and Sally, and settled at the top of the hill on the west side of what is known as Davis brook. Of their two daughters, Irene became the wife of William T. Tor- sey and Sabrina died at about the age of seventeen. George Davis, another son of Jonathan and Miriam, was a Wesleyan Methodist clergyman. He married Phebe Bradbury, and spent a brief time in town, living near his brothers, but his life was naturally an itinerant one, and he died in Canaan, leaving one son. William Davis married Sarah Torsey and settled on a farm just to the north of that of his brother Jonathan. He left town sometime in the sixties, removing first to Tilton, and later to Piermont, where he died about 1897. They had two daughters, Amanda, the wife of Edward E. Grimes, of Piermont, and Anna. Three daughters were also born to Jonathan and Miriam Davis. Polly was the first and Sally the second wife of Moses Batchelder, a brother of the wives of Nathan B. Isra- el and Jonathan Davis, Jr. It was not often that two families became so closely connected by marriage as did GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 53 these two of Davis and Batchelder. The other daughter, Irene, married a Philips but did not reside in town. Two of the Batchelder brothers, Kinsley and Abel, came to Ben- ton about the same time as did the Davises and remained in town some years. The Davis family was a large one, and for many years, indeed until about 1860, was an important element in the life of the town. Israel, Jonathan and William Davis were members of the Free-will Baptist church and will long be remembered for the part they took in the prayer meetings of their denomination. They used to sit in the "Amen Corner", and the "Amens" of Israel and William were frequently heard by those a mile distant from the meeting. Jeremiah B. had for a time a li- cense to preach and exercised his right in the barns and school houses and farm kitchens, which were the places of meeting for religious worship in the days before the meeting house was erected. There was a fervid emotional element in the Davis' nature, which in times of revival, gave rise to shouting and bodily exercises, which were a source of amuse- ment, if not of edification, to the younger element in attend- ance on the revival services. But one representative of this large Davis family is now in town, Mary, the widow of Charles B. Keyser, the daughter of Jeremiah. In 1829 there were six new names added to the check list: Elisha Ford, Jr., Kimball Tyler, Jr., Moses Whitch- er, Horace Webber, Hazen Hinkley and Benj. M. Eastman. The first three named were sons of early settlers, indicating that the town was beginning to grow and develop from with- in, a fact made the more patent the next year, 1830, when among the new names on the list were those of Jesse East- man, Jr., Orrin Marston, Marcus B. Jackson, Elijah Gray, Jr., Kimball Tyler, Jr., Moses Torsey, Jr., and William, 54 SOME THINGS ABOUT Whitcher, Jr., all sons of early settlers. Moses and Wil- liam Whitcher, soon after reaching their majority, formed a partnership, engaging extensively in farming and in the manufacture of lumber, and soon became noted for their energy, enterprise and thrift. William died at an early age, and his widow, Lucinda, married Harrison Blake and re- moved to LandafT. Moses married Sarah, the daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Koyce, and was killed by the falling of a tree in March, 1846, in the thirty-ninth year of his age. He had served on the board of selectmen, and represented the town in the General Court, was town clerk, and, at the time of his death, was doubtless in point of business enter- prise and ability, in the merited confidence reposed in him by his townsmen, the first citizen of his town. Marcus B. Jackson was the eldest of the seven children of Samuel Jackson, Jr., who was prominent in town affairs in the first quarter of the century. The other children were Dan Young, William Wilson, Fletcher, Eliza, Thomas Branch and John. The family removed to Haverhill, where the sons, especially Marcus B., Thomas Branch and John be- came leading citizens. Kimball Tyler, Jr., remained but a few years in town, going to Stoneham, Mass., where he was followed later by several of his brothers and sisters. Jesse Eastman, Jr. remained in t'own a few years, but with most of his family, left for other localities. Orrin Marston mar- ried a daughter of Moses Torsey and established his home on a farm he cleared just north of the long stretch of forest through which the North and South road runs. He spent nearly his whole life in town, but after the death of his wife, removed to Franconia, where he spent his last years. One of his sons, Stephen Marston, lives in Woodsville. Among the new comers in 1829 were John Stow, Ebe- CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 55 neezer Scribner, William Lane, Samuel Kimball, Ezekiel C. Rogers and John Browley. John Stow settled at first on the David Marston farm, later owned by William Whitcher, and now owned by Bert Cox. He later remov- ed to the eastern part ot the town on what is now known as the Charles B. Keyser farm. Still later he .owned an excel- lent farm on the hill to the west of Enos Wells' saw mill, which had formerly been occupied by the Luther brothers. This is now numbered among the abandoned farms, and though largely grown up to forest, and with buildings long since gone, is known as the Stow place. One son, William C, known as Carlos Stow, resided in town some years, as did also his eldest son, John Stow, Jr., and his two young- est sons, Nathan and Nathaniel, known as the Stow twins. Later these two latter married sisters, Ruth and Julia Weed, and removed to Stoneham, Mass. Among the new comers in town in 1830 were John Brown, Richard Brown, David Whitcher, Daniel Weeks, Charles K. Merrill, Timothy Ayer, Levi Bradish, David Chaney and Daniel Chaney, Jr. David Whitcher was a brother ot Wil- liam Whitcher. He settled near his brother Jacob, but died in 1835. He was one of the selectmen of the town at the time of his death. He married Phebe Smith, and his three sons, Joseph, David and Daniel removed to Meredith. The brothers, John Brown and Richard Brown came from Andover. The former settled on a hill farm to the south- west of William Keyser's, where he lived until his death. His son, Jonas Galusha, lived in town until about 1868, when he removed to the farm at Haverhill Centre, where his son, Rev. George E. Brown, and his grandsons, Jonas N. and Allen Brown now reside. Another son, John C. Brown, removed to Michigan in 1856, following his broth- 56 SOME THINGS ABOUT er Jesse, who had gone there earlier, another, Daniel W. Brown, died in early manhood. One daughter married Joseph Hutchins, and his youngest daughter, Eliza, married John Flanders, and still resides in Benton. Jonas G. Brown was one of the most thrifty and substantial citizens of the town, and acquired a competence trom his farming and lumbering operations. His mill on Tunnel stream, which he owned in company with Ira Whitcher, was the first in the north part of the town to substitute the circular saw for the old fashioned "up and down" saw. His wife was Angeline Whiteman, of Warren. He embraced the Ad- ventist faith, and for many years refrained from voting be- cause of conscientious scruples. His son, George E. Brown, has been for many years a respected minister of the Advent denomination. The eldest of his three daughters, Merium, married Chester Clough, of Benton ; Clara J., married YVil- lard W. Coburn, of Haverhill. Both are deceased. A daugh- ter of Clara, is the wife of Russell T. Bartlett, of Woods- ville. The youngest daughter of Jonas G. Brown, Imogene, is the wife of Calvin W. Cummings, of Ashland. Richard Brown settled in what was known as the "South Neighbor- hood", on a farm adjoining that of James H. Cox. He lived here until about 1860, when he removed with his son Leon- ard to Bath on the farm owned by William Burnham at the foot of Bradley Hill. One of his daughters married Bart- lett Marston, and another, Nelson F. Carter, the latter re- moving to Michigan. There were few new settlers in town in 1831, and the check list for 1832 shows but two new names, Asa Noyes and Calif Day. John Lathrop purchased the Jesse East- man farm in 1832, and Josiah F. Jeffers began to clear his farm and establish himself on the North and South road, CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 57 the last settled on the road from High Street to North Ben- ton. Deliverance Woodward had purchased the Jonathan Hale farm and came to reside upon it, entering actively into town life. Edward P. Coolidge, the son of William Cool- idge, returned to town to reside with his grandfather, Jona- than Hale. Other new voters in 1833 were Weare Leavitt, Hiram Pool, Paine Blake, Timothy Hildreth, Timothy Wilmot, David Young, Jr., Daniel Weeks, Amos Whitch- er and John Stow, Jr. During the next two years most of the new names appear- ing on the voting list were sons of early settlers, the chief exceptions being those of George W. Cogswell and Barzilla Pierce in 1834, and Samuel Mann in 1835. Barzilla Pierce was a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, who lived only a short time in town. He was a man of Episcopal proportions, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, but he never reached the Episcopacy. This was reserved for Elijah Hedding, who was Presiding Elder for several years of the New Hampshire district of the New England Conference, and who, according to tradition, once preached in David Marston's barn in North Benton while visiting the Landaff Circuit. This is believed to be the only time that a bishop, or one who was to become a bishop, ever visited the town. Major Samuel Mann, who married Mary Howe, a sister of Daniel and Peter, settled on the farm subsequently owned by his son, George W. They were the parents of seven sons, Jesse, Moody, Amos C, Samuel, James A., Edward F. and George W. Jesse went to Massachusetts, where he resided several years, re- turning later to Bath, where he resided during the remain- der of his life. While in Massachusetts he resided in Charleston, and was one of the leaders of the mob which 58 SOME THINGS ABOUT burned the Ursiline convent in Somerville. After his re- turn to New Hampshire he became prominent in the organ- ization of the Native American, or Know Nothing party, and was frequently on the stump in behalf of his party, and later of the Republican party. He was appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln mail agent between Littleton and Boston, a position which he held for seven or eight years. Moody be- came a resident of Haverhill, where he took a prominent part in politics, being as uncompromising a Democrat as his brother. Jesse was Whig, Know Nothing and Republican. Amos C. spent the early part of his life at sea, but later mar- ried for his second wife, the widow of Benjamin F. Hutch- ins, and lived for several years on the John C. Brown farm on the Tunnel Stream at the foot of the path leading to the summit of Moosilauke. Samuel, disappointed in a love affair, left home suddenly, and nothing was heard of him for nearly twenty years, during which time he served in the army during the Mexican war, being bearer of dispatches for Gen. Zachary Taylor, afterwards going overland to Cal- ifornia with the forty-niner's. In the early fifties he return- ed home, having long been regarded as dead, and married his former sweetheart, Sarah Bailey, of Newbury, Vt., and resided for some years on the Hinkley place, just over the Benton line, in Haverhill, removing later to Benton to the farm now owned by his nephew, Orman L. Mann. James A. married Hannah, daughter of William and Mary Whitch- er, and lived for a time in Newbury, Vt., removing about 1848 to Woburn„Mass., where he died in 1874. His chil- dren and grandchildren still reside in Woburn, Medford and Arlington, one daughter, Mrs. Abbie Kendrick, living in Northern Michigan. Edward F. died in early manhood, and George W. lived in Benton until his death in January, Edward F. Mann. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 59 1901. He married first, Susan, (laughter of William and Mary Whitcher, who bore him five sons, Ezra B., Edward F., George Henry, Orman L., and Osman C. Ezra B. entered the employ of the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad, married Ellen S., daughter of George W. and Sa- rah (Glazier) Bisbee, of Center Haverhill, and settled in Woodsville. After several years service on the road as freight conductor he purchased an interest in the drug store of George S. Cummings, which business he has since con- tinued, and has also been the active promoter of every en- terprise which has led to the rapid growth and depelopment of that village. He has served the town of Haverhill on the board of selectmen, has represented it for two years in the legislature, and has been, and is, one of the recognized leaders of the North Country Democracy. He is president of the Woodsville Aqueduct and Electric Light Co., a trus- tee of the Woodsville Savings Bank from its beginning, and is a large owner of real estate. Edward F. also entered the employ of the railroad before reaching his majority, and at his death in August 1892, was the general superintendent of the Concord and Montreal R. R. system. He was one of the leading Democratic politicians of the state, represent- ed Benton twice in the House, the Second Senatorial district twice in the Senate, and when a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket ran largely ahead and was defeated by a narrow majority. No railroad man in recent years enjoy- ed more the confidence of his associates or greater popular- ity with the traveling public. He married Elvah G., daugh- ter of Chase and Sarah (Royce) Whitcher, who still resides in Concord. George Henry followed the example of his two brothers and early entered the employ of the railroad, where he was for nearly thirty years freight and passenger conduc- 60 SOME THINGS ABOUT tor, leaving some two or three years since to engage in mer- cantile business in Woodsville, where he still resides. He represented Haverhill for one term in the Legislature. Os- man C. died in 1870 in his 18th year, but his twin brother, Orman L., is a prosperous and successful farmer in town. He has been active in town affairs and has rilled with credit to himself the various town offices. George W. Mann mar- ried second, Sarah Bisbee, of Haverhill, who bore him three sons and two daughters. Melvin J. resides in Woodsville, and has for several years been a conductor on the Air line express train, his run being between Concord and Woods- ville. Hosea also entered the employ of the railroad, and was a passenger conductor until the spring of 1898, when he left the road to engage in the furniture business in Little- ton, where he still resides. Moses B, graduated from the New Hampshire State College, and began the study of law, but at the beginning of the first Cleveland administration was appointed to a clerkship in the naval office in the Boston Custom House. He was subsequently appointed inspector, a position which he still holds. He is married and resides in Maiden, Mass. Susan is a successful teacher, and Min- nie is the wife of Sims Nutter, and since the death of her father, has resided in Woodsville. George W. Mann spent his entire life in Benton after his father moved there in 1835. He was in his religious faith an ardent Universalist, and in politics a democrat, of whose orthodoxy no question was ever raised. He represented his town in the Legisla- ture several times, and filled all the various town offices. He received his education in the district schools and in New- bury seminary, and was for many years superintendent of schools He was also for several years, by the appoint- ment of the governor, a member of the State Board of Ag- George W. Mann. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. If. 61 riculture. Of his family of ten children but one, Orman L., now resides in town. Major Samuel Mann, when he came to town in the latter part of 1834 or 1835, purchased his farm of his brother-in- law, Nathaniel Howe, who died in the latter year. Major Mann was a man of marked peculiarities. He never went with the tide, but in most matters flocked by himself. Coventry — Benton — was a Democratic town ; Major Mann was, therefore, a Whig. Nearly all the people of the town attended religious services, Major Mann remained at home. In 1840 the town voted nearly unanimously for a change of name from Coventry to Benton, Major Mann casting one of the two negative votes. He never drifted with the current, but always used two oars and rowed up stream. He was interested in political affairs, but was never a candidate for office. Of his six sons who grew to manhood, and lived as all did to good old age, three, Jesse, Moody and George W. were born politicians and ardent partisans. In caucus- es, conventions and campaigns they were in their natural el- ement, They were party men ever and always, never ques- toning the party label and always voting the straight ticket. George W. Cogswell lived in town but a few years, but he became more closely identified with the life of the town than many who spent an entire life-time within its limits. He was schoolmaster, teacher of writing schools, farmer, man of business and preacher. During his residence in town, to which he came from Landaff, he resided on the farm now owned by George Bailey. He was ordained a minister of the Free Will Baptist denomination, and by his preaching in barns, farm house kitchens, and school houses gained many adherents to his denomination, and after his return to Landaff was the minister to the Free-Will Baptist 62 SOME THINGS ABOUT society, which he was more instrumental than any other in organizing, for a period of more than twenty years. He knew nothing of theological schools, was unacquainted with systematic theology, but he knew the people of Coventry and Benton and suited his preaching to their circumstances in life and to their environment. He used plain Anglo- Saxon speech of the homely sort. He illustrated his topics with incidents from the daily life of the people whom he ad- dressed, and his hearers were never at a loss to understand him. He frequently took a round about way to get at the point he wished to make, but he usually arrived. He was quaint, original, and what was of great importance with his Free Will Baptist hearers, he had the sing-song, plaintive minor utterance, which was known among his brethren as "the heavenly tone." Some of his sermons were long re- membered. On one occasion he discoursed for an hour or more on the text ; kk I would not live always." He dwelt at great length on the dissatisfactions, griefs and disappoint- ments of earthly life and gave reason after reason why long continued existence upon this sublunary sphere was unde- sirable, but finally he summed it all up by saying : "Now brethren, I want to be honest with you, the chief reason why I would not live always is because I know I can't." During the Millerite excitement some of his flock became partial converts to that delusion, causing the Elder great concern. Among these were Deacon Winthrop G. Torsey, who absented himself from the Elder's ministrations for a year or more. At last the Elder was called upon to offici- ate at a funeral, at which nearly all the people of the town were present, including Deacon Torsey. The Elder did not follow the usual line of remarks customary on such occasions, but proceeded to just "'do up" the Millerites in general, and Amos Whitcher. Charles H. Whitcher. James E. Whitcher. Winthrop C. Whitcher. EXTBY—BEXTOX. X. H. ■dv recognized, Deacon Torsev in particular. '.-r. ;':.-_ -r:-!:-r- ':.-. ~:.- ----'..:.-'.. 'j \z_- : :':.-. . : z -.-:.- : the town as to why be had adopted tine «™— — 1 order of ser- vice, and his rep! at somewhat long experience had taught him that "the best time to catch bears was when they was raound." He returned after a few years to T^andaff and later to Ear: Landaff, now East on. where he died at an ad- vanced age. One of his sons, John, is a physician in . Hampton, and others reside in T^awdaff and Lisbon, where :: .-_-- :.:-': : .zz -i: ::-.'. .:z.z-. Amos Whitcher, the fourth son of William and Mary hitcher, became a voter in 1833. and for more than as an active and useful member of the commu- He married Polly Young, of Franconia, and they were the parents of Luanda C, who married Horae: un, of Landaff: Amaren A., who married Emery B. White, of Landaff; Charles H.. E.. Fi.rence, who married William C. Young, of Bath, and The two eldest daughters removed with their husbands to Stoneha: . and were followed later by the sons. Charles H. was a carpenter and wood worker. and served the town as town clerk cral years before leaving Benton. He married Minerva, daughter of David Bowman, of Benton, and both are deceased. Winthrop C. is a merchant in Stoneham. James E. was a prominer: izen of that town, serving on the board of selectmen, and represented the town for two terms in the Massaehv.- Legislature. He died a compara: :ng man in 1 Albion G. lived in Stoneham for sever?! but now lives in Barre. Yt. Amarett is still living, the oldt- the grandchildren of William Whiter, a L died in 1871. and Florence Y. resides in Bath, the onlv one of 64 SOME THINGS ABOUT Amos Whitcher's family now living in New Hampshire. Amos removed with his wife to Stoneham in 1878 or 1879, and died there in the early part of 1880, his wife surviving him a few years. In his early life he followed the trade of cooper, was a captain of the militia. He afterwards became a carpenter and builder, and superintended the erection of numerous large farm buildings, dams, saw mills and potato starch mills. He had great skill in effecting cures of scrof- ulous and fever sores, was in great demand as a nurse, and was for several years the undertaker for the town, manufac- turing the plain pine coffins used before the day of caskets. He was for more than twenty-five years postmaster, and served for several years as town clerk. If there were sick he visited them, if there were mourners he essayed to comfort them, if there were those in trouble he had sympathy for them. He was a Baptist, a "Free Wilier" in its most em- phatic sense. Other denominations were perhaps well enough in their way, but the one true apostolic church was the Free Will Baptist. He magnified his office of deacon, and never gave countenance to false lights. His keenest en- joyment was found in attendance upon the quarterly and conference meetings of his denomination. His home was a free hotel for Free Will Baptist ministers. He never suffer- ed business, even though most pressing, to interfere with what he regarded his religious privileges and duties. It is perhaps needless to say that he never became a rich man, or even possessed of a modest competence, but that never troubled him. He laid up treasures in heaven. The year 1835 may be taken as bringing to a close the settlement of Coventry. Thereafter the growth and devel- opment was mainly from within. There were some new comers during the next period of thirtv-five years, and there CO YEXTR Y—BEXTOX, X. H. 65 were also those who went to Massachusetts or went west, but the life, social, political and religious, of the town for the next generation was determined for the most part bv the families of the first settlers and those who succeeded them in the next generation. 66 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER IV. COMING AND GOING. The period from 1835 to 1870 was perhaps the most im- portant one in the history of the little mountain town. It was the period of growth and development, and the period in which there was also the beginning of a decadence. The real growth was for the most part from within. There were large families, and the sons of former settlers made homes tor themselves near their parents. There were a few new comers who came to stay, but the most of those who came to town came for a brief stay, being properly classed as transients. Immigration was also followed by emigration, and in this latter event the town lost some of its best, most enterprising and substantial citizens. Roads were improv- ed, school houses were erected, a meeting house was built, religious societies were organized, support was given to stated religious worship, manufacturing industries were es- tablished, chiefly those of the lumber industries, a semi-week- ly mail gave the north part of the town postal facilities, but at a certain point growth ceased and retrogression began. The reasons for this are not far to seek. The opening of the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad gave better facil- ities for marketing the products of the farm and forest, es- pecially the latter, and brought the people more into con- tact with the outside world, and gave the more energetic of the younger element the idea of bettering their fortunes. Then the railroad, which only crossed the town for a short distance on the south-west corner, did not come near enough to its water power to encourage the establishment of manu- C TESTE Y— BE XT OX. W. H. factoring industries aside from those of saw mills and potato starch mills. Benton was still i; a back town" and yielded to the fate of back towns. Bnt the chief reason for first a halt, and then decadence, lay in the fact that by the years II - 50 all the land suitable for agricultural purposes and for the establishment of farm homes had been taken up and much of that which had been cleared was found to yield unsatisfac- tory results for the toil and labor expended. Even the lum- ber industry was not largely profitable. The forests and the water power sawmills were miles away from the railroad, and their products had to be hauled long distances over hilly and poor roads. It was not easy for lumbermen to compete with those in other localities where the railroad ran through virgin forests. The older families, however, clung for 7 to their homes, and while some were emigrating there were also immigrators, and there was a healthy growth and de- velopment until the years just after the war of the rebellion. William Howe came to town in 1835, bur shortly removed to Colebrook, where some of his descendants are still living. Francis Oakes established himself in the east part of the town and remained several years, later removing bifl, and later still to Landafi where he was killed in a brawl by a neighbor, one LaFayette IfcComieD, about 1859, the assailant being indicted for manslaughter, bid curing acquittal on the ground of self defense. Of the of Francis Oakes, Harvey and Frank rendered good service in the war of the rebellion, both dying of wounds or disease : Holli- "athan are deceased; William is a reputable izen of Easton, while Philemon P., after various domestic and lega. entanglements in the law . - also a farmer, trader and general utility man in the same town T Oakes has had a varied and somewhat 68 SOME THINGS ABOUT checquered career, but somehow he has always come out safely trom predicaments which would have discouraged anyone else. He is something of a poet, and on town meeting oc- casions, both in Benton and Easton, he has rendered valu- able services to the taction, whose cause he, for the time be- ing, espoused. Among the new voters in 1836 were : Abijah Wright, his son, Alvah C. Wright, Samuel Whitcher, Joseph Annis, Alfred Tyler, James Blake, Rextord Pierce, James A. Mann, James Norris and Daniel Emerson. Abijah Wright settled in the High Street neighborhood, and his two sons, Alvah C. and Gilbert P., became prominent in the affairs of the town. Alvah C. lived for several years on a farm to the west of Enos Wells' sawmill, adjoining the Stow place, was collector of taxes for several years, and in political affairs exercised considerable influence. Gilbert P. Wright, who became a voter in 1837, married Phebe, daughter of Jona- than and Phebe (Howe) Marston, and cleared a farm to the east of that of Winthrop G. Torsey, and adjoining that of Israel Flanders. He subsequently moved to a house he built on the road leading from Bartlett Marston's by the Da- vid Clough farm to the Stephen C. Sherman place on the East road, where he lived until he removed to Haverhill about the year 1875. He had a large family of children, none of whom are now residents of Benton. David L. re- mained in town for several years after his father removed to Haverhill, and another son, Newell C, is a resident of Haverhill, with something of prominence as a Democratic politician, and a veteran of the Spanish war. Gilbert P. Wright was a man of marked peculiarities. Like Moses of old, he was slow of speech, measuring his words with rhythmi- cal precision, but when he had once spoken there was no COVEXTRT—BEXTOX. X. H. doubt as to his meaning. Ira Whitcher used to look after the subscription of his neighbors to that orthodox Democrat- ic organ, the New Hampshire Patriot. Gilbert had given Ira the funds to pay a years subscription, but the paper, for some reason, did not arrive, and this was the message he left one day at the home of Mr. Whitcher : *'I want the Squire — when he goes to Concord — to call at the Pa — triot office — and tell them — if my paper does not come — I will not take it — and if they do not send it right away — I — will — stop — it." Gilbert's ;, Pa — triot" came the next week. and ever thereafter, so long as he kept his subscription paid. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist' church, served as selectman, and was an industrious, useful citizen. Samuel Whitcher was the fifth son of William and Mary NoyeB) Whitcher. He purchased what was after- wards known as the Stephen C. Sherman farm, and in May . married Emily Quimby, of Lisbon. He resided in Benton until about 1845, when he removed to East Landaff, now Eastun, where he died in October, 1879. Of the chil- dren of Samuel, Lydia is the wife of W. Harvey Policy, of Quebec, P, Q. ; Betsey S. is the wife of William Kendall, of Benton : David S. died in early manhood at Littleton, where he was engaged in the practice of law : Daniel J. is a leading citizen of Easton, a member of the Xew Hampshire Legislature 1878-79; Charles O. lives in WoodsriDe; and Susan E., was the wife of George H. Clark, of Benton, and died in April, 1900. Joseph Annis came from Bath and settled on the William Coolidge farm which had subsequently been owned by Moses Knight. He died Jan. 5, 1859. at the age of 76, and his wife, Betsey Currier, of Bath, died in 1865, aged 77. Of 70 SOME THINGS ABOUT his children, Samuel C. Annis was a life long resident of the town, dying in 1899, at the age of 84. Of the children of Samuel C. and Mary F. (Smith) Annis, George W. lives in the west ; Milo H. is a veteran locomotive engineer in the employ of the Boston & Maine R. R., residing in Woods- ville ; and a daughter, Anna, is the wife of Paul M. Howe, of Haverhill. John S. Annis, another son of Samuel C, died in Benton in 1902, in his fifty-first year. Perley M. An- nis, son of Joseph and Betsey, resided in Benton until 1856, when he removed to Stoneham, Mass. William H. Annis died at the age of 65, in 1897 ; and George G. Annis re- moved to Groton, Vt., soon after attaining his majority. One of the daughters of Joseph Annis, Betsey J., married Wil- liam F. Morse and removed with her husband to Thornton in 1854. There were other daughters, Ruth, Rachael and Mary, who removed from town early in life. Col. James Norris was the eldest son of Abraham and Polly Norris, the only one of the Norris sons who was a life long resident of the town. Abraham Norris died in 1840, in his fifty-ninth year. James learned the trade of carpen- ter and joiner and followed this occupation until shortly be- fore his death in 1890, at the age of 77. In his early life he was interested in military affairs, and attained the rank of Colonel in the militia. He served for two years as town clerk and was for many years collector of taxes. He mar- ried when in middle life, Miss Georgianna S. Dean, of Lan- caster, but the marriage was an unhappy one, ending a few years later in divorce, the cause being the total unfitness for each other of two very excellent people. In his later years his older sister, Martha, who died in 1888 at the age of 82, was his housekeeper. Martha Norris was for some years the tailoress of the town, visiting the various families in GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 7 1 turn, and constructing from the homespun of the day, gar- ments for the boys of the family. This was before the days of "store clothes." Martha was not an expert in styles. She had one pattern which she adapted as best she could to the boys of various ages and sizes. The cloth was strong, and she took honest stitches. There are now old boys who remember with mingled emotions the garments they wore in their boyhood, fashioned and constructed by the honest hands of Martha Norris. They had tremendous wearing qualities. David M. Norris, another son of Abraham and Polly passed most of his life in town. He was thrice married. By his first marriage he had twin daughters, Harriet and Helen, who inherited many of the peculiarities of the Norris family. David had a quick, jerky manner of speech, and his opinions were expressed in a manner not to be misunderstood. One winter there had been quite protracted revival services with many conversions, but David, though attending many of the meetings, was unmoved. In the following spring he was at work for Ira Whitcher engaged in cleaning forest lands. He was found one evening by his employer standing apparently in deep meditation before a huge pile of burning hardwood logs. Turning and pointing to the blazing heat he said : "According to some folks tell, Ira, I s'pose hell's just as much hotter than that as you can think, but d d if I believe it. A man couldn't live in it two minnits." Merrill Norris, another son of Abraham, emigrated to Michigan. Joseph Dean Xorris married a daughter of Sewell Waterman, of Bath, and established himself as a carpenter and builder in Swiftwater, Bath, where he lived until his death in 1901. Nathan Howe died early in 1835, at the age of 42. His wife was Rachael Coburn, twin sister of Nathan Coburn, who removed from town with his sister in the autumn of 72 SOME THINGS ABOUT 1835. Mrs. Howe subsequently married Isaac Bickford, and died in 1862, and was buried in Benton, in the west cemetery by the side of her first husband. Their children were: Nathan Coburn, born Sept. 17, 1817 ; Stedman Wil- lard, born Apr. 21, 1822 ; Ira Goodall, born May 19, 1826 and Kimball Tyler, born May 19, 1828. All removed to Massachusetts, where they died, leaving families, except Ira G., who, in 1843, at the age of seventeen, went west to grow up with the country. He went into the valley of the Wabash, settling at Lafayette, Ind. It was a heavily tim- bered, well watered section with a rich and fertile soil, well covered with oak, beech and black walnut. The river was the dividing line between the timber lands of Indiana and the prairie country extending westward across the Mississip- pi to the Rocky Mountains. The locality was then but thin- ly settled, most of the land still belonging to the govern- ment ; now it is one of the finest farming and manufacturing sections in Indiana, many of the farms being worth from, $100 to $150 per acre. Mr. Howe found employment in a store until he reached his majority, when he entered into mercantile business, both his partner and himself becoming very successful. His partner subsequently founded Purdue University. At the age of fifty Mr. Howe gave up this bus- iness, engaging in farming, which he has since continued, and now in his 79th year still has the oversight of his 2700 acres of well etocked farms. In 1856 he married Nancy Jennings, of Framingham, Mass. They have two children, a daughter, the wife of William A. Shipley, of Lafayette, and a son, who is in business with his brother-in-law in La- fayette, the firm name being Howe & Shipley. Nathan Coburn was the most important member of the Coburn family, who came to Coventry from Piermont, was Ik a G. Howe. COVENTRY— BENTON X. H. one of the selectmen and town clerk at the time of his re- moval, and had several times represented the town in the Legislature. He was a man of fine presence, of good edu- cation, and his removal was a loss long felt. He married Mary Parker, of Lisbon, a daughter of the late Levi Parker, a leading citizen of that town, and their large family of chil- dren were born in Coventry. They were : Xathan Parker, born Feb. 6, 1817; Levi Parker, born May 12, 1819 : Alonzo, born October 16, 1821 : Lydia W., born July 23, 1823 ; James Fisk, born Xov. 26, 1825 ; Benjamin Frank- lin, born Xov. 13, 1827 ; Mary Jane, born March 24, 1830 ; Sally Ann, born Sept. 20, 1832, and Daniel Jen- ness, born May 15, 1835. His sons all became successful business men in their adopted state. The eldest, Nathan Parker Coburn, amassed a large fortune in the boot and shoe manufacture, being a partner of ex-Governor William Claflin, the Clan 1 in & Coburn factories being situated in Hopkinton. He was numbered among the millionaires of the state, but his native town had a warm spot in his heart, and he never forgot the old school house at the foot of the loner hill in district Xo. 5, with George W. Cogswell as © © o school master. Xathan Coburn lived in a house standing a little to the south of the George W. Mann house, which has long since disappeared, and only faint traces of the cellar can now be seen. Edward and William Lother came to town from Xewbury, Vt., in 1836 and settled on the hill to the west of Enos Wells, their farms subsequently being purchased by John Stow and Alvah C. Wright. They remained in town but a few years, and returned to Xewbury, Vt. Edward H. Lo- ther, of Woodsville, is a son of Edward Lother, and a daughter is the wife of Albert H. Leighton, of Woodsville. 74 SOME THINGS ABOUT Other new voters in 1837 were Joseph Webber, Elijah S. Gray, Elieha Meader, Henry Thrasher, Jeremiah Merrill, Asa W. Merrill, Jonas G. Brown, Samuel C. Annis, Gil- bert P. Wright and Ira Whitcher. Elisha Meader soon after removed to Haverhill, where he spent his life, and his sons and grandsons were numbered among the influential citizens ot the town. Asa W. Merrill married a daughter of Benj. C. Hutchins and lived with his family for the great- er part ot his life in the east part of the town, for a number of years on a farm to the eastward of that of Israel Flanders. Such of his family as are now living have become widely scattered. Mention has already been made of Jonas G. Brown, Samuel C. Annis and Gilbert P. Wright. Ira Whitcher was the seventh child, and the sixth of the ten sons of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher. He was born Dec. 2, 1815, and died Dec 9, 1897. His early life was one of the hardships of poverty, unceasing toil, and of educational advantages the most limited. In a few weeks in a backwoods school for two or three winters, he learned to read, write and cipher, and there his school education end- ed. There were few or no books accessible, and had there been a well stocked library, it would have made little differ- ence, since he had little time for reading. He did how- ever, have access to the Town Officer and a copy of the New Hampshire statutes owned by his father, the Bible, Web- ster's spelling book and one or two of the old time readers, and by the time he reached his majority he knew these few books, and with the aid of these had obtained a more prac- tical, if not more liberal education than some of the young men of his age who had attached to their names the degree ot A. B. On reaching the age of twenty-one he hired out to his brother Moses, for whom he worked six years for the Ira Whi~ CO VENTR Y— BE XT ON, N. H. 7 5 compensation of twelve and a half dollars a month and board. He picked up enough by extra jobs to purchase his clothes, and saved his entire wages, purchasing the farm on which he lived until the spring of 1870, and building the house on which he established his home on his marriage in the autumn of 1843. He became administrator of. the estate of his brother Moses at his death in 1846, engaged in the business of lumbering, farming becoming a secondary con- sideration, and followed this successfully to the time of his death. He was elected one of the selectmen in 1842, and for the next twenty-nine years, until his removal from town was constantly in its service, holding at various times every possible town office, except those of grave digger and super- intending school committee. It is not too much to say that for a period of a quarter of a century no citizen was so thoroughly identified with the interests of the town as was he, and no one individual did as much for its prosperity. He was thrifty, and practiced rigid economy, and was at the same time generous and open handed. He believed in liberal appropriations for roads, schools and other matters of interest to the town, and was a liberal supporter of religious meetings. He identified himself with the Methodist Epis- copal church, and was a life long supporter of its institu- tions. At the same time he was no sectarian, and all re- ligious denominations had his hearty support. He repre- sented Benton six times in the Legislature, served for six years as one of the commissioners of Grafton county, was a member of Constitutional convention of 1850, was the agent for the town for a series of years in the management of its law suits and was frequently appointed referee in cases to be settled out of court. There was no member of the bar residing in Benton, so for a period of twenty-five years he 76 SOME THINGS ABOUT did much of the work for his townsmen for which in the larjre towns legal talent was employed. He was a conveyancer, writer of wills, admistrator and executor of estates, guardian of minors and of insane, and legal advisor in small and in large cases as well, and tor the most part without money and without price. The late Attorney General, Daniel Barnard, once remarked that he regarded Ira Whitcher to be one of best lawyers in the state, and that he knew of few men in the profession whose opinion in an important case he would value more highly. In 1870 Mr. Whitcher removed to "Woodsville in order to be close to railroad communication, but retained and added to his landed interests in Benton, until a few years before his death he sold several thousand acres to the Winnipesaukee and the Fall Mountain Paper companies. Woodsville in 1870 was little more than a struggling collection of a dozen houses, a store and a rail- road station. To him, more than to any other individual, was due its growth and prosperity during the next twenty-five years. He was himself successful in business, accumulating a handsome property, but he possessed also a broad public spirit. He was largely instrumental in securing for the vil- lage the water works and electric light service, the removal of the county seat from Haverhill Corner to Woodsville, and the erection of the substantial new court house, which was built under his personal supervision, the establishment of the Savings and National banks, while the Woodsville Free Public Library building, a Methodist church property freed from debt, the gift of a fine pipe organ and a fund for the support of the church are among the monuments left by him. After removing to Woodsville he made himself an ac- tive factor in Haverhill town life, serving for several years on the board of selectmen, and representing the town in CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 11 1891, when in his 76th year, in the Legislature. In poli- tics Mr. Whitcher was a Democrat, of the Andrew Jackson school. During the Civil war he was an ardent supporter of the war measures of the Administration, and gave of his time and energy to keep tull the quota of soldiers from his town where opposition to the war was rife. His integrity was never questioned, and his tenacity of purpose was such that he knew no such word as failure in the accomplishment of his plans. He married, Nov. 27, 1843, Lucy, daughter of Samuel and Dorcas (Foster) Royce, of Haverhill, and their four children were born in Benton ; William Frederick, August 10, 1845 ; Mary Elizabeth, July 16, 1847 : Frank, June 21, 1849, and Scott, Nov. 2, 1852. The daughter became the wife of Chester Abbott, and remained with her father, giving him in his old age devoted care and attention until her death in April, 1897. The two younger sons died in early manhood, Scott, Jan. 22, 1875, and Frank, who had asso- ciated himself in business with his father, Nov. 7, in the same year. William F. prepared for college at Tilton sem- inary, graduated from Wesleyan University in 1871, entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, filling im- portant pastorates in Newport and Providence, R. L, and New Bedford, Mass., until 1881, when he joined the editori- al staff of the Boston Traveller, becoming editor-in-chief four years later. In 1892 he became literary editor of the Bos- ton Daily Advertiser, and three years later assumed the charge of the Court reports, which have for many years been a special feature of that paper. On the death of his father in 1897 he resigned his newspaper position and in the spring of 1898 removed his family to Woodsville, where he has since resided. Besides devoting himself to the affairs of the 78 SOME THINGS ABOUT estate of his father, he is the editor and proprietor of the Woods ville News, and has taken an active part in the affairs of the village and town, representing Haverhill in the Leg- islature in 1901, and 1903, serving each session on the com- mittee on the judiciary. He is interested in historical and genealogical studies, and his collection of books bearing upon American political history and biography is one of the largest and valuable in this state. Several new names appeared on the list of voters in 1838. Among those who moved into town, but whose stay was brief, so that they could hardly be regarded as factors in the life of the town were ; Lorenzo D. Cummings, John Cum- mings and Benj. Little, who lived for a time on the Mead- ows and at High Street. The Rev. Geo. Davis lived for a short time near his brothers, Nathan B. and Jonathan in the east part of the town. William Gannett acquired the Jonathan Hale farm and lived there several years, a bust- ling, enterprising man of affairs. About 1855 he sold this large tract of more than a thousand acres to the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad, and removed to East Haver- hill, owning until his death the large farm now owned by Alonzo Smith. Levi Whitcher, David M. Howe, Bartlett Marston and David M. Norris were voters for the first time this year. Both Davids were of course namesakes of David Marston. Levi Whitcher was the eldest son of Jacob and Sarah (Richardson) Whitcher. He was a deaf mute, but obtained a fair education, learned the sign language, mar- ried and removed to Quincy, Mass., where he resided until his death. He had several children, and his descendants still live in Quincy and adjoining towns and cities in Mass- achusetts. Some of them have reverted to the original way of spelling the family name, Whittier. Caleb Knight was William F. Whitcher. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 79 a son ot Moses Knight, but he removed soon after attaining his majority to East Haverhill, living there until his death about 1870. His descendants are now widely scattered. David Marston Howe was the son of Peter and Mary (Powers) Howe, born March 9, 1817. Peter Howe was married to Mary Powers Nov. 22, 1812, and of the four children the two eldest were daughters. Sally, born July 22, 1813, married a Streeter and lived in Lisbon. Phebe, born Feb. 24, 1815, married first Edwin, son of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, by whom she had one son, Isaac H., and second, Moses X. Howland, of LandafF. The youngest son, Moses Whitcher Howe, married Lau- ra C. White, daughter of Jacob M. White, of LandafF. He resided with his parents for some years after his mar- riage, but later purchased the farm now owned by Orman L. Mann, residing there till about 1866, when he removed to Stoneham, Mass., where he was killed a year or two later by a runaway team. He left two sons, Herbert P. and Harry, both born in Benton, and both now residing in Stoneham. David M. Howe married first Betsey, daughter of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, born Aug. 20, 1818. Two years previous to his removal to Stoneham, Mass., about 1821, he resided on the farm subsequently owned by his brother Moses. He married second Mrs. Ann Parker, of Stoneham, who survives him. He was a thrifty, quiet, in- dustrious citizen, and his removal from town was deeply re- gretted by his fellow townsmen. Granville E. Flanders, whose name first appeared on the check list in 1839, lived for some twenty years on what is now known as the David Dickey farm at High Street and which was then one of the finest farms in town. James Blake, Joseph Blake, Maturin B. Hall, Rufus Hall, Chase 80 SOME THINGS ABOUT Cawley and Alexander Pollard were also new comers in this and in the previous year, living in the Page district and on the Meadows. The name of Samuel Coburn also appears on the check list this year, but none of these appear to have remained long in town. Peter Howe 2nd came on the active stage of affairs in 1839, and remained in a state of activity until his death at the age of 66, in 1880. The word "active" is perhaps a misnomer, since such activity as it was, never resulted in any valuable accomplishment. He married in 1839 Har- riette W., daughter of Elisha Tyler, and settled on a farm to the south of that of his father and to the east of that of his brother Samuel. Peter was a character. As a boy he was troublesome to his father, and "Uncle Daniel" was ac- customed to call him a "pesky rogue." The name stuck, and he was known during his entire life as "Pesky Peter" or "Pesky Pete." His farm was naturally one of the most productive on Howe hill, but Peter never assisted nature. He was never guilty of work except on rare occasions when he was forced to it by stern necessity. His farm conse- quently went to ruin, his stock was only half housed and half fed, and Peter was usually on the road behind a half starved horse endeavoring to trade in something with some- body, it made little difference to him what or with whom. He was fertile in schemes of speculation, all of which were of an inconsequential character, and it is to be doubted if he ever at anv one time in his life possessed the sum of five dollars in cash. He was always willing to ob- tain credit, and was profuse in promises to pay, and store- keepers for miles about his native town were familiar with "Pesky Peter." He would journey ten miles to East Lan- dafF to secure a cat of a certain color and transport it twenty CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 81 miles to Wells River, Vt., with the understanding that he would receive a dollar for it, should it prove satisfactory. He attended auctions and funerals and other festivities wherever a free dinner was to be had. He was the victim of all kinds of practical jokes, some of which were heartless- ly cruel, just because he was "Pesky Peter." His first wife was an inoffensive woman, but was not what her neighbors regarded as "capable." She bore him three children, suffered from hardship and poverty and gave up the contest in 1856, at the age of 37. Peter found a second helpmeet in the per- son of Emily Merrill, of Woodstock, who managed somehow to survive him. Emily was not brilliant, but she had spirit, and there were times and occasions when Peter was forced to bestir himself and actually work. His eldest son, Rufus W., died in 1864 at the age of 25. His two daughters, Ellen and Lucina, married and are living in California. A son by the second wife, Harry L., a young man of much promise, was killed while in the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad, at the age of 22. Peter was also something of a matrimonial agent. One of his efforts in this direction was when he secured a wife for "Nat" Mulliken, the consid- eration being an ox yoke and one dollar cash. John C. Brown, John Stow, Jr., and Laban Tyler were voters for the first time this year. The latter remained but a short time in town, removing to Stoneham, Mass., where he remained until about 1855, when he went to Michigan. One Waite Brown, a halfwitted ne'er-do-well, was also a resident in town for two or three years, but soon removed to Haverhill, just a little west of the Amos M. Pike farm on the road to North Haverhill, where he managed to eke out an existence for himself and family, and had time to dwell on love and manufacture poetry, such as it was. 82 SOME THINGS ABOUT William K. Bruce came to town when a boy with Wil- liam Keyser. He lived after reaching manhood on the farm now occupied by the widow of Charles B. Keyser, and died May 7, 1858, at the age of 37. He became a voter in 1830, as did William Howe 2nd. The latter was a son of Daniel and Phebe (Eaton) Howe. He was subject to at- tacks of insanity, and was three or four times an inmate of an insane asylum. He emigrated with his family to Michi- gan sometime in the fifties. Hazen Whitcher was a son of Jacob and Sarah (Richardson) Whitcher. He married Sally, daughter of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, and settled on a farm to the south of that of Samuel Howe, and which is still known as the Hazen Whitcher place. After some years he removed to Stoneham, Mass., and established him- self in the hardware business, subsequently adding to this that of undertaking. Both he and his wife lived to an ad- vanced age, the latter being about 90 at the time of her death in 1899. They left one daughter, Sarah Richardson, the wife of Col. Oliver H. Marston, of Stoneham. Hazen Whitcher served his adopted town in various official posi- tions, was a successful business man, and left at his death a handsome estate. James Harriman and wife came from Warren to the farm in the High Street district since known as the Harriman farm, where he resided several years, returning finally to Warren Summit where they resided until their death. Mr. Harriman was a quiet, easy going sort of a man, but what he lacked in push, energy and bustling activity was more than made up by Mrs. Harriman. She was a member of the famous Pike family, a sister of Isaac, Samuel and Ar- thur L. Pike, and was a woman of marked personality and character. She combined all the tenderness and sympathy CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 83 of womanhood with the physical strength and hard headed business ability of manhood, and had the thorough respect of the business men of the surrounding towns with whom she was associated in many important transactions. New names appearing on the check list in 1841 were those of Moulton B. Richardson, Stephen Bailey, Edward Martin, David Young, Jr., Stephen Jeffers, Jr., David Bailey, Eb- eneezer Glover and Hosea Litchfield. The latter lived on the farm which had been owned by Jacob Whitcher, and which later came into the possession of Charles M. Howe. In 1842 the new names were those of Benjamin Elliott, Kimball Corliss, Ephriam Cross, George Morton, Bailey Martin, Seldon Willey, George W. Mann, Hiram Elliott, Joshua Page and Reuben Richardson. Benjamin Elliott spent most of his life in LandafF, but at two or three differ- ent times resided in Benton. He had a large family, but only one of his sons, Hiram, was ever a resident of the town. A daughter was the wife of Daniel Burnham, who resided in town for several years, as did one of his sons, William H. Burnham. Benjamin Elliott was not always strictly tem- perate in his habits, and he had the reputation of drawing the long bow, or in other words, of being prone to exaggera- tion. In the old days when minor cases were tried before jus- tices of the peace, it was remarked that Ira Goodall, of Bath, made frequent use of Thomas Elliott and Benjamin Elliott as witnesses. Benjamin one day, when feeling in a commu- nicative mood, made this boast : "Give us Squire Swan for justice, Squire Goodall for lawyer, and me and my brother Tom for evidence, and we'll beat all h 11." In 1843 the names of Milton Southard, John Nason, Samuel Pike, Asa F. Copp, Jeremiah Farnum, Perley M. Annis, Isaac Wyman and Chase Whitcher 2nd appear for the 84 SOME THINGS ABOUT first time on the voting list. Chase Whitcher 2nd was the son of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, born Jan. 20, 1822. On attaining his majority he was employed by his brother Moses, and after the death of the latter had the man- agement of the large farm belonging to the estate. He mar- ried Sarah Royce Whitcher, the widow of his brother Moses, and they were the parents of three children. One, Hannah, died in infancy; Frances C. born Aug. 22, 1849, died in Woodsville Oct. 4, 1889 ; Elvah G., born Nov. 19, 1850, married Hon. Edward F. Mann, and has resided, since the death of her husband, Aug. 19, 1892, in Concord. Chase Whitcher was one of the most active citizens of the town un'il his removal to Concord in 1875. He was en- gaged in the lumber business in partnership with his brother Ira until about 1857, and subsequently conducted success- fully a large lumber business on his own account. He owned in whole or in part several sawmills in East Landaff, now Easton, as well as in Benton, and was also a large owner of real estate. Of a generous, impulsive disposition, with warm sympathy for those in distress, or in need of financial assistance, he was the constant helper of many who in their shiftlessness and improvidence abused his friendship and generosity. He became involved in later years in ex- pensive litigations which seriously affected the value of his otherwise large property. He represented Benton six times in the State Legislature, in 1852, 1853, 1865, 1866, 1869, and 1870, and was during a period of twenty-five years al- most continuously in the service of the town in various ca- pacities, such as town clerk, postmaster and selectman. He was always ready to promote any project for the interest of the town. He had a deep interest in politics, was active in the councils of his party, the Democratic, and enjoyed a Chase Whitcher. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, JST. IT. 85 large acquaintance with politicians and public men. While never charged with disloyalty, he was one of the large num- ber of Democrats, who during the war of the Rebellion, was not in hearty sympathy of the war measures of the Adminis- tration. He removed to Concord in 1875, erecting a house on Court street, now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Edward F. Mann. His last illness occurred in Benton, where he had retained large property interests, and he died there in his old home May 4, 1883 at the age of 61. In 1844 the voting list contained a large number of new names. These were : Samuel Royce, Geo. T. Banfield, Moses W. Tyler, Elisha Tyler, Jr., John E. Keyser, Caleb Brown, William F. Morse, Jona Clement, James P. Flan- ders, Jonathan Merrill and William Eastman. Moses W. Tyler was the son of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler. He went to Stoneham, Mass., for several years, but returned to Benton about 1865, remaining for three or four years, when he returned to Stoneham, and a little later removed with his family to the west. His wife was a daughter of Prescott Parker. William F. Morse married Betsey Annis, and was for several years the town blacksmith, his shop be- ing located on the Annis farm near the meeting house. He removed about 1852 to Thornton. Samuel Royce was the son of Stephen Royce, of LandafF, born in 1782. He mar- ried Dorcas Foster, of that town, and lived in Landaff and Haverhill until after the death of" his wife in 1842, when he came to Benton and resided for a few years with some one of his daughters. Of his six daughters five married. Merab was the wife of Samuel Howe ; Sarah, the wife of Moses, afterwards ot Chase Whitcher ; Lucy, the wife of Ira Whitcher ; Hannah, the wife of Aaron P. Glazier, and Lydia, the wife of Moses Noyes of Haverhill. Mr. Royce 86 SOME THINGS ABOUT subsequently removed to Nashua, married Elizabeth Searle, but on her death returned to Benton about 1870, living with his daughter until his death, Sept. 5, 1873, at the age of 91. He was a man of wide and varied reading, of good educa- tion, but impractical and visionary in business matters. He bore a life of poverty cheerfully, was an ardent Methodist, with a gift for exhortation, and was one of the early pioneer abolitionists. He never fretted, never permitted debts or poverty to give him anxious thought, and during his long life was a happy optomist. Perhaps this accounted for his ninety-one years of life, free until the last from pain and sickness. John E. Keyser was the eldest son of William Keyser. He married Mahala, daughter of William and Polly (Wells) Flanders, and with the exception of absences on two or three occasions, when he spent two or three years in Stoneham and Lynn, Mass., he resided in Benton until his death, Jan. 7, 1896, at the age of 73. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but in his later years he followed farming, owning the Israel Flanders farm. For years he was chorister and leader of the Benton choir, a position in which he took great pride, and in which, while he occupied it, he never permitted his authority to be questioned without a ruction, and there were sometimes ructions. From 1843 till his death, thirty- five years and more later, William Eastman was one of the best known citizens of the town. He had been unsuc- cessful in business in Lisbon, and unfortunate in a love affair, and he came to Benton and built a clapboard mill near the dwelling house of Amo3 Whitcher on Whitcher brook in "the Hollow," and here for a period of nearly thirty years he manufactured spruce clapboards. He never married, though until late in life he talked much of taking CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 87 to himself a wife when he found the right person. He built himself a good house, one of the best in town, fin- ished it completely, but occupied it alone for many years, cooking his simple meals himself. This was not because he was averse to society, for no man was fonder of it than he, and no one was more welcome in the social circles of young people than "Uncle Billy" with his violin. He was a fine bass singer, and for years was always to be found in the choir gallery on Sundays, where he used to sing, as he ex- pressed it, "with the spirit and the understanding also." He had a song reciting the old time campmeeting experi- ences which he was sometimes persuaded to sing to the great delight of his audiences, and there are many elderly people who recall the delight with which they listened to "Uncle Billy's" description of "the bumble bee with his tail cut off." His clapboard mill gave him a profitable business, and he would have become a comparatively wealthy man had he in- vested with care and prudence the profits of his business, but, himself the soul of honor, he found it difficult to believe that any of his fellow men were dishonest, and he became the easy prey of the designing and unscrupulous. His old age was one of poverty and hardship, ill deserved after his long life of simple, plain living and unremitting toil. He died Aug. 6, 1879, in his 86th year. Poor "Uncle Billy" ! Edwin Tyler, son of Kimball, and Jesse M. Brown, son of John, became voters in 1845, but soon left town, the former going to Massachusetts, and the latter seeking his fortunes in Michigan. Burton French also lived in town for two or three years, and his thousand and more large sugar maples to the east of Tunnel stream on the side of Moosi- lauke, were for many years one of the famous sugar camps of the section. He married Eliza, daughter of Jeremiah B. 88 SOME THINGS ABOUT and Susan (Tyler) Davis, and lived later on a small farm near French pond in Haverhill. Other new comers were Ambrose Merrill, William Bacon, Samuel Randall, Jona- than Hunkings, Joseph Whiteman and Nicholas Whiteman. William Bacon, better known as "Bill" Bacon, was long remembered for a prayer he offered in a protracted meeting the night of his conversion. He and a chum of his, Ben Elliott, rough fellows of the ungodly sort, came to the meeting to scoff, but, as it turned out, remained to pray. "Bill" got under deep conviction, went to the mourner's bench, was converted and immediately became anxious con- cerning his friend Ben, and prayed for him thus : "O Lord, there is a great sinner here to-night, Ben Elliott ; if he dies before morning he'll surely go to hell, which favor we ask, Amen." Ben was converted that same night. Jonathan Hunkings came from the southern part of the state, and set- tled on the Tunnel stream to the south of the John C. Brown farm, where he erected a saw mill, cleared a farm and erected the house where the Parker House, a summer hotel, now stands. Mr. Hunkings was a man of good education, and was a valuable addition to the citizenship of the town. He was a Whig in politics, and afterwards a Republican, and though the town was overwhelmingly Democratic, he was frequently elected to town offices, serving as superintending school committee and selectman. Failing in health he sold his mill and farm about 1865 and removed to Haverhill, where he died Aug. 5, 1866, aged 67. Of his three sons Harvey A. died in early manhood, Joseph resided in La- conia, and Thomas H. removed west. A daughter, Clara J., married and removed to California, and another daughter, Olive A., the widow of James Page, still resides in town on the James J. Page homestead in the west part of the town. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 89 In 1846 the new names on the voting list were : John G. Buswell, son of John Buswell, John L. Stevens, Sylvester Eastman, James Eastman, James A. Cox, son of James H. Cox, Daniel Burnham, Sewall Waterman, J. Dean Norris, Elijah Curtis and David Young, Jr. Sylvester Eastman was a grandson of Obadiah Eastman, a first settler. Ex- cept for a few years spent in northern New York he lived in Benton, first on a small farm on Howe hill, and later, until his death, Jan. 19, 1860, at the age of 45, in the house now owned and occupied by Orman L. Mann, He married Louisa, eldest daughter of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, and of their three children, George E. resides at North Haverhill ; Ruth J. is the wife of Cnarles A. Veazey, of Benton, and William has always resided in town and has been active and prominent in town affairs, serving as town clerk, collector of taxes and selectman, and member of the Constitutional Convention of 1888. Myron Bailey, who became a voter in 1847, resided with his mother on the farm now owned by George Bailey. He married a daughter of Samuel Peters, of Haverhill, lived on the Peters farm for several years and removed to Bethlehem. David Clough came to town from Bath and lived during the latter part of his life on the farm lying on the road run- ning south-east from the Stephen C. Sherman farm. He died Sept. 27, 1865, at the age of 62. One son, Chester C. Clough married Marium, daughter of Jonas G. and An- gelina (Whiteman) Brown, lived for several years on a farm adjoining that of his father-in-law, but after the death of his wife removed to Lisbon, where he still resides. Another son, Merrill Clough, resides on the Lime Kiln road in Ha- verhill. The names of Elisha Clement, Samuel Angier, Jonathan Clement, Darius K. Davis, James P. Tyler and 90 SOME THINGS ABOUT Horace Ames also appear on the voting list in this year. In 1848 Thomas F. Cox, son of James H. Cox, Silas M. Welch, son of Jonathan Welch, and Daniel Whitcher be- came voters for the first time, and new comers in town whose names appeared on the voting list were : John W. White- man, Walter Mulliken, Horace Bailey, Willis Chase, John Webber, Moses McConnell, Wilson Weed, Calvin Bailey, Samuel Morrill, Lyman Page and Cornelius Carr. Daniel Whitcher was the ninth son of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, and was an active personality in the affairs of the town during his residence there, and continued his activity in the towns of his subsequent residence, Landaff and Bath. He was born Jan. 20, 1827, and died in Bath in March, 1894. On reaching his majority he associated himself with his father who then resided on the farm now owned by Birt Cox. They were also owners of a sawmill in Landaff on the Wild Ammonoosuc, where they afterwards lived, and where a hamlet grew up subsequently known as Whitcher- ville. A starch mill was built here, and Mr. Whitcher was for several years quite extensively engaged in the manufac- ture of potato starch, not only at this mill, but at several other mills, which he owned in part or wholly, in Bath and Haverhill. A tannery was also built which was in success- ful operation for several years, as was also a country store which he opened and conducted. He became the chief party in the litigation with the towns of Landaff and Bath over the petition for a highway down the Wild Ammonoosuc from the County road in Landaff to Swiftwater village in Bath, known as the "Bunga road" litigation, which ended successfully in the laying out and construction of the road in 1860. This was perhaps the most famous road case ever known in northern New Hampshire, and there is little doubt Daniel Whitcher. CO YENTR Y—BEXTON, N. H. 91 that the towns involved on the one hand, and the petitioners on the other, expended enough money in the fifteen years of litigation to have built the road two or three times over. The Bunga road controversy was a dominant factor in the politics of several towns for years, and much bitterness of feeling was engendered. Aside from this, however, Daniel Whitcher was a born litigant, and there was hardly a court docket for a period of a quarter of a century in which his name did not appear as plaintiff or defendant in one or more suits. He was always aggressive, resourceful, never a quit- ter, and usually a winner. Upon the decadence of the po- tato starch industry, and the abandonment of the tannery business he moved from Whitcherville to Bath, purchasing the large farm near "Rum Hill," and carried on an extensive lumber business until a short time before his death. He was interested in the affairs of the town, and was the prime mover in the establishment of the Unitarian church in Bath and in the erection of the house of worship. He was an ardent and devoted advocate of the Unitarian faith. In politics he was a Democrat. He represented Benton in the Legislature in 1858 and 1859, his election each time being the result of a heated "Bunga road" campaign in which he won out by a single vote over the late George W. Mann. Later he rep- resented Landaff in the same body, after spending the en- ergy of years and much money in fighting that town in the Bunga road case, and its successful efforts to secure a divis- ion of the town. His business ventures were generally successful and lucrative, but he never became a wealthy man. Litigation is a costly luxury. He married Nancy R. Knight, the daughter of Mrs. Catherine Knight, who had become the eecond wife of his father, William Whitcher. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living. Four 92 SOME THINGS ABOUT of the daughters are living in Massachusetts, and one, the wife of William V. Ashley, resides in Woodsville. Among the new voters in 1849 were Abel S. E. B. Davis, son of Nathan B. Davis ; Caleb Wells, son of Enos Wells ; Leonard J. Brown, son of Richard Brown ; and Wil- liam T. Torsey, son of Winthrop G. Torsey. The former remained but a few years in town, and removed to Indian- apolis, Ind., where he still resides. Leonard J. Brown, while retaining a voting residence in town until his father, as previously mentioned, removed to Bath, spent the most of his time in Concord, employed at his trade of stone cutter. William T. Torsey married first Irene, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Batchelder) Davis, and resided first on a farm adjoining that of his father, and then, until his death, in March, 1894, at the age of 66, on the farm on the East road now owned by Solomon J. Hutchins. He married second Hannah, widow of Noah C. Hutchins. He served several vears on the board of selectmen and filled various other town offices. Caleb Wells was a prominent figure in town affairs until his removal to Haverhill about 1869. He was edu- cated in the schools of the town, and at Newbury Seminary, and was active in church work, and in all other matters per- taininii to the social and educational welfare of the town. He was for many years superintending school committee, tax collector, and served several years on the board of select- men. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1867 and 1868, and for a period of twenty years was one of the leading citizens of the town. Always interested in political matters he has taken prominent part in the affairs of his adopted town, serving on its board of selectmen, and is still one of the leaders of the Haverhill Democracy. He has the same untiring persistence which characterized his father in CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 93 political matters, and his political opponents have learned that it is unsafe to leave him out of their reckoning in contests. The names of Daniel Wilson. Amos Wilson. Hezekiah Morse, Charles Gifford, Francis Dwyer, David Chase, Na- than Chase and Raymond Page appear this same year for the first time. Charles Gifford was of Scotch ancestry, and had all the Scotch thrift. He settled on a small farm on the hill road leading from the No. 5 school house. He was a rigid Presbyterian, a quiet, God fearing man of the old puri- tanical school. His eldest daughter, Mary, was the wife of Francis Dwyer, who came to town with him, and who re- sided at first on the farm on the old road to North Haverhill, now owned by Lucetta Tyler, of Stoneham, and whose large family of children were all born in Benton, but are now widely scattered. Francis Dwyer was for many years the only Irishman in this town, peopled by those of English blood. He spent some years in California, and on his re- turn purchased the farm now owned by George Bailey. Another daughter of Charles Gifford, Laura, married John W. Gray, of Easton. and a son, John O. Gifford, married a daughter of Myron S. Woodward, of Bath, and now re- sides in Haverhill. Daniel Wilson came to town from Franconia with his son Amos, and several of his large family besides his son Amos, subsequently became residents of the town. Until his family left town, about 1877, they resided on the farm lying to the north of the meeting house near Landaff line and now owned by Jane Fackney. Amos Wilson married Sallv, daughter of William and Marv (Noyes) Whitcher, who was born May 25. 1 >' 1 7 , and who died in 1893. Of their four children William F. and George M. are deceased, while Susan M.. the wife of 94 SOME THINGS ABOUT James M. Spinney, and Alice S., wife ot John Noyes, reside in Woodsville. Amos Wilson is a man of simple tastes, of strict integrity, and devout piety. He makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Spinney. In 1850 Charles B. Keyser, Moses W. Howe, David Whitcher and John Flanders, sons of early settlers, became voters. Charles B. Keyser married Mary, daughter of Jeremiah B. and Susan (Tyler) Davis, and settled on the farm at the base of Moosilauke formerly occupied by Wil- liam K. Bruce. He was a substantial citizen, and filled various town offices with credit and efficiency. David Whitcher, born June 17, 1828, is the youngest of the ten sons of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, and the only one now living. On coming to his majority he entered into partnership with his brother Daniel. This, however, was of brief duration. He married Sally A. Noyes, daughter of Amos and Hulda Noyes, of LandafF, and purchasing a farm near North Haverhill village, devoted himself to farm- ing. He has been one of the most successful of North Country farmers. A few years since he purchased the Na- thaniel M. Swasey estate in North Haverhill, where he has since resided, and some six years since retired from active farming and now devotes himself to caring for his large in- vestments. He is a man of decided convictions, religious and political, which he never hesitates to avow. He has never been a candidate for public office, and has devoted himself during his long life to proving that farming in New Hampshire can be made to pay. Of his two children, the eldest, a son, died at the age of eleven, and his daughter, Mrs. Hattie Blanche Sanborn, resides with her three chil- dren near her parents in North Haverhill. He is a frequent visitor to his native town, in which he takes a deep interest, David Whitcher. Prescott Parker. ■n^HH £*■- f ^ ^V ^jdi B^B V ff vj{, 1 Rr Ezra B. Mann. (i. Henry Mann. CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, N. H. 95 though strongly of the opinion that while it is a good town in which to be born, it is also a good town from which to emigrate. James M. Harriman was the eon of James and Ruth (Pike) Harriman, and he spent much of his life in town at High Street, though living for a few years at East Haverhill, where he followed the business of blacksmith. In his later residence in town he lived on the William C. Bixby farm, served on the board of selectmen, and died in "Warren, July 19, 1898, at the age of 70. Jonathan B. and Ansel Stickney purchased what is known as the A. L. Warren farm on the Meadows at the foot of Owl's Head, and were prominent and useful citizens while remaining in town. They returned to Warren about the year 1860. William Carpenter came to North Benton from Bath with his son Emery B. Carpenter, and the Carpenter family formed quite an element in the population for several years. Emery B. Carpenter remained in town several years, clearing a farm which is now abandoned and covered with forest, about midway between the Hollow on Whitcher brook and the Stowe place. For several years there was a laid out highway between these locations, but it has long since been discontinued. Of the sons of Emery B. Carpenter, Moses B. resides in Haverhill ; Calvin J. in Landaff, and Chester has been for many years in the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad and lives at Fabyan. A daughter of William Carpenter, Adeline, married John P. Cox, and of their two children, Edward L., who became town clerk for two or three years, is deceased, and Roberto C, known as "Birt" Cox, resides in town on the farm formerly owned by David Marston and William AVhitcher. Alonzo Carpenter mar- ried a daughter of Daniel Howe, and removed to Stoneham, 96 SOME THINGS ABOUT Mass., and Charles Carpenter, Jr., after a few years' resi- dence in town, removed to Haverhill. Hiram King, a brother of Russell King, of Haverhill, lived on a farm in the Page district which subsequently passed into the possession of Ex-Governor John Page, of Haverhill. Randall Hill and Lafayette Hill were new comers on the Meadows in 1850. The list of new names on the voting list of 1850 was quite a lengthy one : Nelson B. Carter, Amos G. Torsey, Jona Hale Marston, George Wells, Nathan C. and Nathaniel H. Stow (the Stow twins), William P. Siddons, Darius Clough, Robert Dwyer, Aaron Hand, John P. Cox, Nathaniel French, Moses P. Bus well, Bartlett Welch, and Henry Kimball. Some of these have been already mentioned. Nelson B, Carter married a daughter of Richard Brown, and went west. Amos G. Torsey, a son ot Capt. Winthrop G. and Theodosia Torsey, married Elizabeth, daughter of Levi Brooks and settled on a small farm later owned for many years by Ephriam Cooley. He served for several years as superintending school committee, was engaged in teaching winters, but died of consumption in May 1857, at the age of 27. Jona. Hale Marston was the youngest son of Jona- than and Phebe Howe Marston. He married Lucy Thurs- ton, a stepdaughter of Amos Woodward, who came to Ben- ton from Northern New York in 1852 and settled on the homestead farm ot his father. A few years later he sold his farm to James A. Cox and removed to New York and later to the far west. George Wells, born March 18, 1828, was the second son of Enos and Sally Wells. He married Car- oline, a daughter of Jacob Morse, of Haverhill, and settled on a farm on the South road near that of his father. He removed to Haverhill about 1865, where he is still living, 00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N.H. 97 a prosperous farmer. While in Benton he served as town clerk and selectman, and was one of the most useful citizens of the town. William P. Siddons, an Englishman, a tailor by trade, lived for several years on the South road, on the first farm to the south of that of Samuel C. Annis. His wife was a Clark, a sister of the wife of Capt. Enos Wells, who, after the death of Mr. Siddons, married John Hyde, who lived on the Meadows. There were several daughters in the Siddons family, one of whom, Jane, married George Tyler, the youngest son of Kimball Tyler, and another, Eliza, was the first wife of Charles S. Newell, of Haverhill. Darius Clough, a brother of David, came from Bath, and lived for a few years on a farm adjoining that of his brother. Robert Dwyer, a brother of Francis, lived on a farm lying to the south of the Bath road. The boys of that day who are now living have pleasant recollections of Robert Dwyer's orchard. It bore fine fruit, and Robert did not always har- vest the entire crop. Aaron Hand and his family lived for two or three years, a hand-to-mouth existence, on the Abra- ham Norris farm. Aaron was shiftless. He preferred going fishing to work. He promised work for his neighbors in ex- change for provisions, but was laggard in the fulfillment of promises. Mrs. Hand always insisted that Aaron would pay when time and health permitted, and her frequent assertion that "Aaron's word is God's truth," became a proverb. John P. Cox, who married Adaline Carpenter, was an hon- est, hard working man, but one who lacked the faculty of getting ahead. He lived in town, for the most of the time on the road from the "Hollow" to the Stow farm, until his death in March 1876, at the age of 64. His widow was twice remarried, and died in Woodsville, in August 1890, at the age of 70. Moses P. Buswell, son of John Buswell, 98 SOME THINGS ABOUT spent much of his life in town engaged in farming, but in later years has lived in Haverhill. Henry Kimball lived in the High Street district, but remained in town only a short time. The check list for 1852 shows quite a lengthy list of new comers and new voters. Of the latter there were Truman Gray, James Gannett, George Tyler, William H. Annis and Enos C. Wells. Other names were Samuel Pike, Wil- liam Sampson, John Dunlap, John Hyde, Moses Hyde, William Hyde, Sumner Hardy, Samuel A. Mann, Charles M. Howe, John Russell, Stephen C. Sherman and James C. Sherman. Truman Gray was a brother of the wife of Emery B. Carpenter. He wished to marry Sarah, the eldest daughter of Samuel Howe, but was forced by the opposition of her parents to relinquish his hopes, and removed to Mass- achusetts with his brother John, who was also a resident of Benton for a brief period, where he has since resided. Sarah Howe married Parker Swasey, of Hardwick, Vt., who was killed in 1864 in the battle of the Wilderness. She remained a widow until some four years since, when she again met Truman Gray whose wife had died shortly be- fore, and they were married after a separation of nearly forty years, and now reside in Cambridge, Mass. William H. Annis, the son of Joseph and Betsey (Currier) Annis, went to Lynn, Mass., and later to Groton, Vt., where he died in 1897, at the age of 65. George Tyler was the youngest son of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler. After the death of his father he built a new house on the old home- stead, and resided there most of the time till about 1864, when, after the sudden death of his two children from ma- lignant diptheria, he disposed of his property and went to Massachusetts. Enos C. Wells, the youngest son of Capt. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 99 Enos Wells, purchased the Siddons place, and married Annette, the daughter of Jacob Morse, of Haverhill. They remained in town, however, but a few years, when they re- moved to Lynn, Mass. John Hyde with his sons, Moses and William, settled on the Meadows, but the sons remained but a short time. John Hyde was at one time a large land owner. He married for his second wife the widow of Wil- liam P. Siddons. He became a convert to the Second Ad- ventist faith, and became insane the year following the war, and after his release from the New Hampshire Asylum re- moved from town. The farm known as the Hyde farm is now owned by Peter Bolieau. Charles M. Howe settled on the hill near Haverhill line, and had quite a large family of daughters and one son, Charles H. Howe, who enlisted in the Eleventh regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, and died of disease while in the service. Charles M. Howe was not a man of prepossessing appearance, but his loyalty and devotion to the Republican party was beyond question. During his twenty years residence in town his party »vas small in numbers, and in the factional Democratic contests over the selection of town officers, and representative to the General Court, the Republicans in close contests lined up with the Democratic factions, as friendship and other consid- erations dictated, all except "Uncle Charley." Deaf to the most potent appeals he would persist in the closest of con- tests, in voting for Charles M. Howe, on the ground that he was the only Republican whom he could trust. Stephen C. Sherman came to Benton from Lisbon with his son James C. Sherman, and purchased the farm on the East road to the west of that now occupied by Solomon Hutchins. Later, after his son James C. moved to Manchester, he sold this and purchased the Kimball Tyler homestead where George LOFC. 100 SOME THINGS ABOUT Tyler had lived. Mr. Sherman had seen service in the war of 1812, was fond of political discussion, in fact, any kind of discussion. He was never known to assent to the opin- ions of others, his standard remark being, "Well, I dunno, that is a question." He was a regular attendant at religious services, and greatly prized his position as teacher in Sunday school of a bible class of middle aged women. The mem- bers of his class used to say, "Mr. Sherman is a deep bible scholar", but it never appeared that he did anything except to talk platitudes and fire biblical conundrums at the simple minded, but good, women. The next year, 1853, found William C. Bixby, Caleb Morse, George Brown, Amos Woodward, John W. Mulliken, Nathaniel Mulliken and Nelson F. Noyes in town, and Timothy E. Howe, son of Daniel Howe, became a voter. He soon afterward removed to Lisbon where he engaged in the boot and shoe business and became a successful busi- ness man. Caleb Morse was a brother of William F. Morse, and was engaged with him as a blacksmith until both left town a little later. George Brown established himself for a few years on the South road, and was the pioneer in distill- ing spruce oil, an industry that later became quite an im- portant one. He remained in town, however, but a few years. Amos Woodward came from the northern part of New York, built himself a log house and cleared a farm to the north of the Stow farm and engaged quite extensively in the burning of charcoal. After a few years residence in town he returned to New York, and none of his large family of children remained in tdwn. Two of his sons, Hiram and George, enlisted in New Hampshire regiments and rendered valuable services during the war of the Rebellion. Nelson F. Noyes, the eldest son of Moses Noyes, of Haverhill, who GO VENTR Y— BENTON, JST. H. 101 married Polly, the eldest daughter of Daniel Howe, married Hannah Flanders, but shortly afterwards removed to Haver- hill. Walter Mulliken had come from Haverhill some two or three years earlier, and he was followed this year by his father, John W. Mulliken, and his brothers, Nathaniel and George W. Walter remained in town but a few years, but his father remained until his death, about 1863, and Nathan- iel and George for several years later. The Mullikens es- tablished themselves to the north of the William K. Bruce or Charles B. Keyser farm next to Landaff line, but the buildings are now in ruins and the farm is for the most part now grown up to forest. George W. Mulliken is now a resident of Haverhill. William C. Bixby was a member of a Warren family, and one of five brothers who entered the christian ministry. One of his brothers, Moses H., became a leading clergyman in the Baptist denomination, and an- other was a successful Congregational pastor in Massachu- setts, but William C. adhered to the Methodist faith of his parents. He never united with an annual conference, but was ordained both deacon and elder, and supplied Methodist pulpits for several years before settling down on his High Street farm, the one now owned by De Elden Tibbets. He was a man of devout piety, and of more than ordinary intel- lectual ability, but he suffered from physical peculiarities which perhaps prevented him from entering the conference as a traveling minister. Chester Spooner became a voter in town in 1854, and was a resident for several years at intervals until his death some time about 1880, at the age of upwards of 90 years. Two of his sons subsequently became residents of the town, Wil- liam tor a few years, and Alonzo, who still resides in the town in the Hollow. Several of the sons of Alonzo Spooner 102 SOME T1I1XGS ABOUT have also at various times lived in town, Daniel, Horace and Oscar. William Merrill and Abraham Taylor were the owners ot the sawmill on the Oliverian, just south of the Meadows, and Jacob M. White, who spent two or three years in town before removing to Landaff, lived on the farm which had been previously occupied by David M. Howe. "March" White, as he was tamiliarlv known, had a largfe family of children, tour sons: Emery B., now living in Stoneham, Mass. : Edwin, who removed to Washington Territory; John, who resides in Lawrence, Mass., and Charles, who lives in Stoneham, Mass. His four daughters, Laura, Ann, Mary and Susan, all reside in Mass. Mr. White was a man ot good education, and maintained an active interest in the political and other questions of the day. In 1855 he was one of the active spirits in the Native American or Know Nothing movement. Jonas Hurlbut built himself a log house and cleared a few acres of land on Coburn hill to the west ot the David Clough farm, but was employed for the most ot the time in the sawmills of the town. He remained but a tew years. Other new voters this year were C. T. Cogswell, Josiah Downey, Walter Pike, Clifton S. Mardin, Moody Styles and Nathan Blodgett, the latter living near the Haverhill line on the road leading: north-east from the Meadows. In 1855 there was quite an addition to the list of ratable polls, many of these being employes connected with the charcoal kilns which were built near East Haverhill after the opening of the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad. Most of these were not voters, but among those entitled to vote were : William Sampson, L. W. Parker, Chase S. Cawlev, Benjamin Cummings, William Hart well, Joseph Place and Franklin Butler. Calvin Corliss settled this year in the COVEXTIiY—BEXTOX. X. H. west part of the town. Horace W. Gordon came from Lan- daff, married Lucinda C. , daughter of Amos Whitcher, and lived in town for some ten y : uently removing oneham, Mass., where he lived until his death. Eli- sha Hibbard came from Haverhill, and established himself as a blacksmith in the Hollow, where he lived for several II - wife, by hi= first marriage, was a daughter of John anc lirown. Janet GrL zier came from Haver- hill, and established the but wheel-wright in the Hollow. HLs wife was Almira Elliott. Their eldest daugh- ter. Alma, is the wife of Charles Clark, of Haverhill ; an- other daughter, Alice, is the wife of Thomas E. Taylor, of \\ Winnie married Fred Aldrich, of Haverhill, and a son, t: Bart J. Glazier, is a clergyman of the Adventist faith. Amo- C. Mann became a voter in town for the first time this year. The new names on the voting list in 1856 are those of -:er Cor.--. J ghna Howard, Daniel Spaulding, William R. Park, Albert Buswell, Alonzo ner, Arthur Knapp. William Caswell, Daniel W. Brown, Thomas H. Hur.k:r.z-. Henry Fuller. Prescott Parker and Prescott Parker, Jr. Daniel W. Brown died in 1859, at the a^e of 25. and Thomas H. Hunkinjrs remained in town but a few years. All the others named, except the Parkers, may be properly classed as transient-. Pr - tl Parker and Prescott Parker, Jr., came from Lyman, and purchased the farm on which "March" White was then liv- ing and remained there until they purchased the farm on whi,h Lebina H. Parker now lives in the corner of the town adjoining Haverhill and Landaff. P tl Parker. Jr.. was an industrious, thrifty man and became one of the most useful citizens of the town. He served for several vea: 104 SOME THINGS ABOUT the board of selectmen and represented the town in the legis- lature in the years 1877-78. He died June 13, 1898, in his 77th year. His widow survives him, residing with her son, Lebina H. Parker. One son, Frank C, lives in Lisbon, and a daughter, Dora, lives with her mother and brother. The new voters in 1857 were Roswell L. Cady, William Swain, Ezra C. Winchester, Charles M. Badger, Elisha C. Durant, William Harden, James B. Clark and Morin Knight. William Harden came from East Haverhill, and lived for a few years in the Hollow at North Benton, where he carried on blacksmithing. A few years later he removed to Canada but subsequently returned to Benton where he lived till his death. A stepdaughter married William H. Burnham. He had three daughters. One married Fred P. Burnham, of Bath ; another Charles Hutchins, of Woods- ville, and another, Solomon J. Hutchins, who lives on the William T. Torsey farm in Benton. Moren Knight lived for several years with his brother-in-law, Daniel Whitcher, but later married and removed to Landaff, where he still resides. Otis Brooks came to town in 1858, and remaining: o for several years, being engaged in the sawmills of the town, but later removed first to Easton, then to Franconia. Wes- ley B. Davis, the eldest son of Jeremiah B. and Susan (Tyler) Davis returned to Benton after an absence of several years in Massachusetts, and soon after was ordained a min- ister in the Advent denomination. His ministerial career was, however, brief, and in the early sixties he went west, and little, if anything authentic, was heard of him after- wards. Benjamin H. Tyrell also became a resident of the town in the latter part of 1857 or early in 1858, and lived for several years on the hill near Charles M. Howe. Later he lived in the High Street section. He was employed in lum- CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 105 bering, and had a large family of children, none of whom now live in town. Ephraim Cooley came from Sugar Hill. His wife was Adaline, a daughter of Daniel Wilson. He purchased a small farm to the east of the meeting house, where he lived until his death in 1897, at the age of 83. A son, Holman D., died in 1892, at the age of 49, and his eldest daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of Byron Bailey, of Woodsville. His youngest daughter, Myra, married Den- nison B. Davis, and died in 1881, at the age of 26. Joseph Nudd, Stephen Perkins, Charles Jacobs and John Burbank settled in the south part of the town in 1859, and Lorenzo T. Davis, Chester C. Clough and Leonard Moody became voters in the north part. Russell Kimball, with his son-in-law, Curtis Fletcher, came from Haverhill, and lived a few years on the John C. Brown farm on Tunnel stream. There were four new comers in 1860. Darius dough came from Bath, and settled near his brother, David Clough, but after a little returned to Bath. Alden E. Hurlburt came from Haverhill, and was for several years a resident of the town. Henry A. Glazier also came from Haverhill, mar- ried Elizabeth, a daughter of Benjamin H. Tyrell, and pur- chased the Samuel C. Annis farm near the meeting house. Daniel Spooner, Horace L. Carr, Stephen Marston, George Wilson, George W. Mulliken and Rufus W. Howe, sons of residents became voters for the first time this year. The population of the town in 1860 was 494, the largest reached by any census taken. The vote cast for Governor and representative to the General Court was 103, which had never been exceeded except in 1858, when the vote was 109, and in 1859, when the vote was 111. But these were two of the four famous Bunga Road years when there was the bit- terest of contests between George W. Mann and Daniel 106 SOME THINGS ABOUT Whitcher for the legislative honors. In 1857 the vote was 103 ; in 1861 it was 103, but thenceforward it diminished. It is perhaps safe to say that the town reached the height of its prosperity in 1860. A glance at the different dis- tricts or sections of the town with the names of the residents of each section will be of interest. In school district No. 1, or the High Street neighborhood, so called, there were, naming the families in order from Warren line, those of James M. Harriman, William C. Bixby, Bartlett Welch, Joseph Nudd, Silas M. Welch, Chester Spooner, John Lathrop, and Josiah F. Jeffers. The David Dickey farm was not then occupied, and the Eljah Gray farm was abandoned. On the Meadows, in school district No. 2, following the road from Warren line to Haverhill line, there were : Jonathan and Ansel Stickney, Melinda Place, Nancy Pike and her son, Walter F. Pike, John Hyde, E. Hill and his sons, Randall and Lafayette, John and Moses P. Buswell and Nathan Blodgett. In "the Page Neighborhood", or in school district No. 3, there were, following the road from Haverhill line, Ephraim Cross, James J. and James Page, John Burbank, Corne- lius and Horace L. Carr, Chester Corliss and Daniel D. Page. Hiram King, who had lived for some years on the Gov. John Page farm, had left a year or two before, and the farm was unoccupied, but Jeremy Titus had erected a sawmill to the north of Sugar Loaf, which he was then op- erating, though his house was just over the line in Haverhill. In North Benton in school district No. 5 the residents were : from Haverhill town line on the Swiftwater road to the school house, Prescott Parker, Prescott Parker, Jr., George W. Mann, Mrs. Louisa Eastman and Amos Wilson ; from the school house on the Haverhill road to the Haverhill CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 107 town line, Charles C. Tyler, Moses W. Howe, and Francis Dwyer ; from the school house on the road up Howe hill, so called, Charles Gifford, Daniel Howe, Daniel M. Howe, Alden E Hurlbutt, Samuel Howe, Peter Howe 2nd, Charles M. Howe and James B. Clark ; from the school house to and including "the Hollow", the eastern boundary of the district, Daniel Whitcher, Peter Howe, James Norris, Ira Whitcher, Chase Whitcher, Elisha Hibbard, John E. Key- ser, William Eastman, Amos Whitcher, William Harden and Samuel C. Annis ; and on the road up the brook, John P. Cox. In district No. 4 Henry A. Glazier on the Annis farm west of the meeting house ; Ephraim Cooley on the east, and Daniel and George Wilson on the north ; on the South road, so called, Enos C. Wells, David M. Norris, Horace W. Gordon, Caleb Wells, George Wells, Enos Wells, the Stow farm unoccupied, James A. Cox, Orrin, Samuel E. and Stephen B. Marston ; on the road leading easterly from James A. Cox's, James H. and Thomas F. Cox, Bartlett Marston, William T. Torsey, and Gilbert P. Wright. In district No. 6, Winthrop G. Torsey, Jeremiah B. Davis, George Tyler and James C. Sherman, (on a road southerly) David Clough, William Davis, Jonathan Davis, Joseph Hutchins, Noah C. Hutchins, Jonas G. Brown, David Bowman, William Keyser, James H. Keyser, Russell Kimball, Curtis Fletcher, Jonathan Hunkings, Charles B. Keyser, John W. Mulliken and Nathaniel Mul- liken ; from No. 6 school house southerly, Israel Flanders, Lafayette W. Flanders, Asa Merrill and John Flanders. In the decade from 1860 to 1870 most of the new comers in town were but transient residents, and the most of the young men on reaching their majority, or a little later, left for other localities, as did also many of the older residents 108 SOME THINGS ABOUT who had been active in the affairs of the town. Benjamin F. and Ashael L. Warren purchased the Stickney farm on the Meadows in 1860 and for a number of years were prom- inent in town matters. A. L. Warren was a most success- ful farmer. He removed to Haverhill about 1883, where he still resides on a farm near Pike. The Rev. George W. Richardson came to North Benton in 1860 and remained for two years, pastor of the Free Will Baptist society, occu- pying the pulpit of the Union Meeting house on alternate Sundays with the Methodist preacher. Elder Richardson's disquisitions on Old Testament history were something great. He came from Vershire, Vt., and went from Benton to East Tilton. James H. Keyser, son of William Keyser, who had left home some years before, returned about the year 1860, and took up his residence with his father. He built a sawmill on Tunnel stream and engaged j n the lum- ber business until the lumber lands in that section of the town were sold to the Fall Mountain Paper Co. Since then Mr. Keyser has given his entire time to farming, and has served the town in various capacities as tax collector, town clerk and selectman. William Spooner, Daniel Hoyt, James Buswell, George Corliss, Charles Howe, son of Charles M., John Harris, Laban T. Davis, son of Jeremiah B., Frank Oakes, and John E. Oakes were new voters in 1861, and in 1862 the following new names appeared on the check list : Henry Whitcher, a son of Winthrop C. and Mercy (Noyes) Whitcher, Franklin Ferguson, Prescott Blake, Warren Blake, Henry Hutchins, son of Lucius, Ar- thur Wilson, son of Daniel, Stephen Marston, son of Orrin, Moody Howland, John Copp and Benjamin Hatch. Pres- cott Blake purchased a farm in the Page district which he occupied for some years, and Benjamin Hatch came from James H. Keysek. COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 109 East Haverhill and leased the Daniel Whitcher farm on the removal of Mr. Whitcher to Whitcherville in Landaff. New names on the list in 1863 were those of Marcellus M. Davis, son of John C, Nathan Blodgett, Jr., Wesley Marston, son of Bartlett, Merrill Clough, son of David, Philemon P. Oakes, Lyman Bemis, George E. Brown, son of Jonas G., George W. Mulliken, son of John W., Amos C. Mann, Kirk Bowles, William Bliss and Sherburn Glea- son. William Bliss came from North Haverhill, and leased the blacksmith shop in "the Hollow." Sherburn Gleason entered the employ of Chase Whitcher, while Amos C. Mann purchased the farm on Tunnel stream which had been oc- cupied for a few years by Russell Kimball. In 1864 the new names appearing on the list were those of John E. French, Taylor P. Blake, son of Prescott, Jere- miah A. Clark, William H. Weld, R. Clement Clough, Charles H. Whitcher, son of Amos, George E. Eastman, son of Sylvester and Louisa, and Francis A. Brooks. Charles H. Whitcher married Minerva, daughter of David and Hannah Bowman, purchased the blacksmith shop, and the house adjoining that of his father, but about 1872 re- moved to Stoneham, Mass., where he resided until his death. He was elected town clerk on reaching his majority, and served for several years. George E. Eastman remained a resident but a short time. He married Rebecca Bronson and removed to Bath, and later to North Haverhill, where he still resides. Holman D. Cooley, son of Ephraim, and Joshua Page, son of Daniel D., were voters for the first time in 1865, and other new names on the list were those of Charles W. Winchester, John E. Oakes, who married Mary, a daughter of Daniel Wilson, Cornelius Dwyer, Ed- ward P. Devlin and George W. Bemis. The latter, with 110 SOME THINGS ABOUT his brothers, Lyman aud Moses P., purchased the Jonathan Hunkings property and engaged in the lumber business. The two brothers remained with him but a short time, and he carried on the business alone until about 1860, when he disposed of it to J. G. Ramsdell. Martha, a sister of George W. Bemis, married Philemon P. Oakes. None of the Bemis family are now in town. Moses P. resides in Haverhill. Cornelius Dwyer, a brother of Francis, came from Benton and purchased the Daniel Whitcher farm. Cornelius had spent nearly all his life at sea, and was hardly what would be called a scientific farmer. Some of his neigh- bors took advantage of his inexperience and sold him farm stock at what were most emphatically war prices. Corne- lius also engaged in the liquor traffic, but possessing him- self an inordinate love of "the craythur" he did not gather riches to himself by this means. He returned to Boston after some three years, having perhaps gained a little in his knowledge of agriculture, considerably more in experience in trading in oxen and other live stock, but poorer by far in earthly possessions. Hie methods of farming furnished amusement for the boys. James M. Copp, a local preacher of the Methodist Epis- copal church, whose family had resided for many years in Haverhill, married Marietta, daughter of Josiah F. and Asenath (Wright) Jeffers, and came to reside with Mr. Jeffers, preaching on Sundays in surrounding towns. On the death of the latter, in September 1866, he combined the lumber business with his ministerial labors, the result of which was that the small property which had been accumu- lated by his father-in-law was nearly all lost to his family. Mr. Copp was not a Whitefield as a preacher, and was still less a success as a business man. Willard W. Coburn, who 00 VESTR T—BEXTOX. X. H. Ill had lived as a boy in the family of Jonas G. Brown, and whose daughter, Clara, he married became a voter this year, . and continued to reside in Benton on the J. G. B farm, engrajringr also in the lumber bonnen I r some ~ after Mr. Brown had removed to Haverhill. He was active in town affair- - red as selectman, and filled various other town offices. His brother, Ransom Coburn, who married nia, daughter of Jonas G. Brown, was later associated with him in business. Both removed from town about 1*74. Xathan Blodget and his son, Xathan, Jr., left town in 1866, and their farm was purchased by W. T. Bowen. ^ew names appearing on the voting list in 1867 those of "Winthrop C. Whitcher, son of Amos, Edward F. Mann, son of George W., William F. Whitcher, son of Ira, and Harrison Day. None of these became permanent pen- dents, though Edward F. Mann retained a voting residence there until his marriage in 1881. Winthrop C. Whitcher graduated at the New Hampton Institute, was for several years a licensed minister ot the Free Will Baptist denomi- nation. He went to Stoneham, Mass., about 1873, liere ill resides, en^aoed in the jrrocerv business, and is an active and devoted layman of the Methodist Episcopal church. Other new names on the voting list were : John G. Howe, Nathaniel Clark. Charles House. Biehard Drown and John Crimmings. The latter purchased the Xancy Pike farm on the Meadows, which is now owned and occupied by his son, James Crimmini - -. New voters in 1*6* were: John A. True, Edward M. True, John Page, son of Daniel D.. Moses Clough, Tristram Hartwell. Castanus Marston, son of Orrin, Orrin Eastman, Thomas Stacy, Fredrick S. Howe, son of Samuel, Isaac H. Tyler, Hiram Bowen, Henr;- M. Whiteman and Joseph Pond. The True brothers 112 SOME THINGS ABOUT resided in the Page district, and participated actively in town affairs. Tristram Hart well lived on the George Wells place, and Orrin Eastman and family lived with his relative William Eastman in "the Hollow." John L. Stevens mar- ried the widow of Bartlett Welch, and resided on the Welch farm at High Street. The new voters in 1869 were : Marcellus Tyrell, son of Benjamin H., James Crimmings, son of John, Geo. Henry Mann, son of George W., Spafford W. Cowan, Charles Collins, Charles Clark, son of Jeremiah A., David Wright, son of Gilbert P., Parker Bancroft, James E. Whitcher, son of Amos, Edward L. Cox, son of John P., Ransom Coburn and S. H. Chamberlin. James Crimmings is the © only one of these now residing in town. James E. Whitcher removed to Stoneham, Mass., engaging in the grocery busi- ness until his death in 1881. He was prominent in town affairs there, twice representing the town in the Massachu- setts legislature, and serving on the board of selectmen. Geo. Henry Mann entered the employ of the B. &. M. rail- road, and resides in Woodsville. E. L. Cox lived in town until his death, and was for two or three years town clerk. Charles Collins came from Haverhill, and purchased the Charles Gifford farm. He was a veteran of the Civil war. Both he and his wife, a daughter of Eli Pike, of Haverhill, are now deceased. In 1870 the only new voters were : Austin Willey, George W. Annis, son of Samuel C, Charles A. Veazey, Clifton Pike and Hiram Scales. Charles A. Veazey married Ruth J., daughter of Sylvester and Louisa (Whitcher) Eastman, and purchased the Amos Wil- son farm near the No. 5 school house, where he lived until he removed to "the Hollow", where he still resides, engaged * ' © © in a "general store" business, while Mrs. Veazsy is post- GO VENTRY— BENTON, N H. 113 mistress. His son, William D. Veazey, graduated at New Hampton Institute, studied law in the office of Charles F. Stone, of Laconia, and is in the active practice of his profession in that city, a member of the firm of Jewell, Owen & Veazey. He has thrice been elected solicitor for Belknap county, and holds that office at the present time. His daughter, Jennie, married W. A. Brown, and resides in Bellows Falls, Vt. The abandonment of farms had be- gun as this period closed, and the census of 1870 showed a decrease in population. The town had lost some of its best families by death or removal. Among those might be men- tioned the Stowes, the Browns, the Wellses, the Davises, with a single exception, and others were soon to follow. Benton farms were ceasing to have attractions for the young men as they came to the estate of manhood, and the lumber industry was becoming less and less profitable as railroads were extended into the forests of Coos and Carroll counties. Not all, by any means, who left town bettered themselves, but emigration had set in, and the places of those who left were hardly made good, either in numbers or in quality by new comers. 114 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER V. THE BENTON OF RECENT YEARS. In the last thirty years Benton has undergone the changes incident to the mountain towns of the state which are with- out railroad facilities, and which have not built up a summer resort business. The sale of the forest lands to the Winni- pesauke and Fall Mountain Paper companies put an end to the manufacture of lumber and the six saw mills which had done a flourishing business went into decay, were torn down, and the machinery was sold. The paper companies, indeed, began operations in the forests, but they imported their labor, adding nothing to the permanent prosperity of the town. On the contrary, the wholesale destruction of the forests materially decreased the town's material wealth and re- sources. The exodus of the representatives of the older families continued, and most of those who came in to take their places remained but a short time, or, remaining perma- nently, were lacking in the enterprise, thrift and energy of those who had gone. In the decade, 1870-1880, Ira, Chase and Amos Whitcher, Orrin, Bartlett, Samuel E. and Stephen Marston, Gilbert P. Wright, Jonathan Davis and James J. Pao-e were anions: those who removed from town, while death was busy in the ranks of the residents who had contributed to the prosperity of the town. Among these were Charles C. Tyler, John P. Cox, Peter Howe, Winthrop G. Torsey, Samuel A. Mann, Amos C. Mann, and Ara Smith. Charles C. Tyler was one of the characters of the town. He married, before reaching his majority, Diana Bishop, and they were parents of eleven children, all of whom, save one, William D. Veazey. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 115 grew to the estate ot manhood and womanhood. Charles was shoemaker, farmer, mail carrier, dealer in calves and sheep, manufacturer of wild strawberry and raspberry pre- serves, tax collector, and sort of general utility man. He was not noted for being a hard-working man, but the fact that he enjoyed poor health may have accounted for his dis- taste for manual labor. It was a mystery to many how he managed to feed, clothe, and provide well for his family of eleven children, but he did it. He was always cheerful and hopeful, never discouraged, and never overburdened with debt since never able to obtain large credit. It was the ver- dict of his townsmen that he was possessed of "calculation". More than one industrious, hard-working citizen has exclaim- ed : "If I only had Charles Tyler's calculation, I would be a rich man." He never accumulated property, though he sometimes boasted that "Chase Whitcher and I pay a larger tax than any other two men in town." He died suddenly in 1878 at the age of 51. His widow still lives in town, as do five of his sons, Fred M., Byron M., Alfred E., Leslie and Carroll. One son, Charles Wilder, lives in the West. The eldest of the family, Lucetta S., married Amos M. Pike and resides in Haverhill, another daughter, Hannah, resides in Stone- ham, Mass., and the youngest daughter, May, is the wife of Albert A. Foss. Pardon W. Allen, who married Dorcas, a daughter of Samuel and Merab (Royce) Howe, came to town in 1871, and remained several years. He lived on the Ira Whitcher farm and filled various town offices, serving for several years as town clerk. He was a justice of peace, and magnified his office. There is on record in the Grafton registry of deeds an agreement signed by Justice Allen in his official 116 SOME THINGS ABOUT capacity, according to which a man and his wife were divorced, the wife promising never to trouble the husband, the cash consideration being specified. It is probably the only divorce on record in New Hampshire on the authority of a justice of the peace. He removed to Haverhill about 1880, where he has since resided. Charles Cutting, William Tibbetts, C. E. True, E. L. True, Charles Wilder Tyler, Stephen Marden, Charles L. Spooner, and Chester Drown were voters in Benton in 1871. William Tibbetts remained in town till his death, a few years later. Chester Drown lived for a few years on the Amos C. Mann farm on Tunnel Stream. In 1872, Gilbert P. Wright, Jr., and Newell C. Wright, sons of Gilbert P., George H. Clark, son of Jere- miah A., William W. Eastman, son of Sylvester, Solomon J. Hutchins, son of Noah C, Dennison D. Davis, son of Jeremiah B., Stephen Plant and Frank Whiteman were new voters. The Wright brothers, a little later, removed to Haverhill, where Newell C. has been somewhat prominent in local politics. He was also a member of the 1st. Regt. N. H. Volunteers in the Spanish-American war. George H. Clark married Susan, daughter of Samuel and Emily Whitcher, and a few years later purchased the Peter Howe farm, where he has since resided, a prosperous farmer, and one of the town's most substantial citizens. He has served as selectman, and has been one of the active promoters of the local Methodist church. His wife died, April 24, 1900, at the age of 41. William W. Eastman is the youngest son of Sylvester and Louisa (Whitcher) Eastman. He was born in northern New York, October, 1850, but came to Benton with his parents when a child, where he has since lived. He has been active in all the affairs of the town, has served as selectman, road agent, tax collector, town clerk, William W. ; - COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 117 and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1888. He is actively engaged in farming, owning the Ira Whitcher and Chase Whitcher farms, residing on the latter. He has also engaged in lumbering, and is justly recognized as one of the most influential citizens of the town. He married, first, Georgia Aldrich, of Haverhill, who died Apr. 19, 1892 ; second, Mrs. Edna Morse Eastman, widow of Jo- seph Eastman, of Easton. Solomon J. Hutchins married the daughter of William Harden, and resides on the William T. Torsey farm on the East road. Frank Tyrrell, son of Benjamin H., John S. Annis, son of Samuel C, and Fred M. Tyler, son of Charles C, became voters in 1873. John S. Annis married Ida Tyler and lived in town until his death in 1903. Fred M. Clark, married a daughter of James H. Keyser, and has al- ways lived in town, since the death of his wife on the Jonas G. Brown farm. He had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Only one, the youngest, resides at home. Mr. Tyler has inherited many of the characteristics of his father. New voters in 1874 were : Olin A. R. True, De Elden Tibbets, son of William, Franklin Hill, John McLean, Orman L. Mann, son of George W., and Roberto C. Cox, son of John P. De Elden Tibbets is a farmer, owning the William C. Bixby farm at High street, and has spent several years in the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad. Orman L. Mann is the only one of the eight sons of George W. Mann who has remained in town. He is a successful and prosperous farmer, and is one of the leading citizens in the town. He lives on the Louisa Eastman farm and owns the Moses W. Howe farm and also in connection with his son-in-law, Charles C. Tyler, the old homestead farm of 118 SOME TII1XGS ABOUT his lather, George W. Mann. Roberto C. Cox, or Birt Cox, as he has chosen to call himself since reaching his majoritv, married a daughter of Alonzo Spooner and lives on the Daniel Whitcher farm, where he has also a small saw mill, a cider mill and a blacksmith shop. George E. White came to town in 1874. purchased the Josiah F. Jeffers and the Joseph Xudd farms, but remained only a tew years when he removed to Haverhill. Wilbur F. True was a new voter in 1875, but soon after become station agent at East Haverhill where he still resides. Nathan D. Hutehins. son of Lucius, was also a voter for the first time this year, but did not remain long: in town. Al- bion G. Whitcher, son of Amos. William B. Page, son of Daniel D., Leman S. Keyser. son of John O., and Cleve- land Tyrrell, son of Benjamin H., became voters in 1876, but soon left town. Alfred Morrill purchased a farm in the Page distpict, and later purchased the James A. and James H. Cox farms at North Benton where he still resides. George Welch, son of Silas M., became a voter 1877 and has since resided in town. Other new voters were Melvin J. Mann, son of George W., A. Elmore Tyler, son of Charles C, and Lebina H. Parker, son of Preseott. A. E. Tyler is still living in town and has until recently been with his son, Charles C on the George W. Mann farm. Le- bina H. Parker remained with his father on the homestead farm, and is one of the most influential citizens of the town. He has not only followed the pursuit of farming but has en- gaged in other enterprises, owning the creamery at Woods- ville as well as Benton, and is also proprietor of the Parker House, a new and commodious summer hotel at the base oi" Muosilauke, erected on the site of the Jonathan Hunkings homestead. He has been active in all town affairs has served Lebina H. Parker. COVENTRY— BEXTOX, X. H. 119 for many years as chairman of the board of selectmen, represented the town in the legislature of 1887, and was delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1903. Mr. Parker is unmarried and resides with his mother and sisters on the homestead farm. Gilbert P. Wright moved to Haverhill this year, and Eben T. Hardy moved to the Wright farm, remaining for several years. Frank B. Parker, son of Prescott, became a voter in 1879 but removed soon afterward to Bath and later to Lisbon where he still resides. Jesse Tyler, son of one of the early settlers, came to the High street section of the town in this year but a little later removed to Warren. In 1880 Fred P. Burnham, a son of Daniel, and who married Lucy, daughter of William Harden, purchased the small farm opposite the Peter Howe place, but after a few years removed to Bath. John C. Speed, a Civil War veteran, came to town, remaining until his death in 1901 at the age of 64. Halsey R. Howe, son of Samuel, was a voter for the first time this year. He remained on the homestead farm with his parents becoming the owner after the death of his father in 1899. He was twice married. A daughter by his first wife married Wade Lane, of Woodsville. He died in 1904, leaving a widow and one son. David F. Richardson came from North Lisbon, and purchased the Hunkings mill and farm, also the Amos C. Mann farm, and for several years carried on an extensive lumber business. After he sold his lumber lands to the Fall Mountain Paper Co. he removed to the Hollow, keep- ing a general store until 1891, when he sold out to Charles A. Veazey, and removed to North Haverhill, where he died a year or two later. He served as selectman, town clerk, and represented the town in the legislature of 1891. He 120 SOME THINGS ABOUT married Lillian Wilmot, a granddaughter of Samuel Howe. In 1881 Edgar S. Welch, son of Silas M., and Byron M. Tyler, son of Charles, became voters. The former married a daughter of Benjamin H. Tyrrell, lived a few years at High Street, where he was engaged in the lumber business, and then removed to Barton, Vt., where he is engaged as contractor and builder. Byron M. Tyler spent a few years in Stoneham, Mass., but returned to Benton, where he owns the Jeremiah B. Davis farm. He is also proprietor of the Woodsville and Benton stage, and carries the daily mail. He has been twice married. Paul M. Howe, eldest son of Daniel M and Susan (Clough) Howe, became a voter in 1882, and took quite an active part in town affairs during the next few years until he entered the employ of the Pike Manufacturing Co., at Pike, where he has since lived. He married Anna J., a daughter of Samuel C. Annis. Gard- ner F. Hurlburt, son of Alden E., was another new voter. He remained in town several years, but now resides in Ha- verhill. John Sheldon came to the High Street neighborhood in 1883, and George Damon purchased the Amos C. Mann farm on Tunnell Stream. Charles Bion Keyser, son of JamesH., was a new voter, as was also Frank Foss. None of these now reside in town. New names on the voting list in 1885 were: Fred M. Richardson, Isaac Lindsay, and W. E. Bell, and these were followed the next year by Henry E. Weeks, A. L. Phelps, who moved to the Daniel D. Page farm, Samuel E. Hight and E. P. Weld. In 1887 Moses B., son of George W., and Sarah (Bisbee) Mann, became a voter, as did also Leslie G., son of Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler. Williard Bean took up his residence this year on the Jeremiah B. Davis CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 121 farm. In 1888, Sara, son of Daniel M. and Susan (Clough) Howe became a voter, as did Norman J., son of James and Olive A. (Hunkings) Page, and Harry, youngest son of Daniel D. Page. W. Sims Nutter married Minnie, daugh- ter of George W. and Sarah (Bisbee) Mann, and came to reside with his father-in-law. He is a son of the late Josh- ua Nutter, of Bath. After the death of Mr. Mann, in 1901, he removed to Woodsville. George E. Wilson came to Benton in 1889, but soon afterwards removed to Bath. The new voters in 1890 were ; Lewis French, who purchased the Bartlett Welch farm, and John Gilman, who also settled in the High Street district, but both left town a little later, French selling his farm to De Elden Tibbetts. John Fack- ney and W. F. Fackney bought the Daniel Wilson farm in 1891, and subsequently purchased the S. C. Annis farm, where they now reside. Carroll B. Tyler, youngest son of Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler, became a voter in 1892. In 1893 William Philbrick came to the Page dis- trict. William D. Veazey, son of Charles A., became a voter, but later went to Laconia, studied law, and is engaged in the practice of his profession in that city. Frank Moulton, who lived in the John E. Keyser house in the Hollow, was postmaster until he left town some four years later. Harry H. Elliott purchased the George Tyler farm and has since resided in town. The new voters in 1894 were : Harry Little, who pur- chased the Silas M. Welch farm at High Street ; Lee A. Collins, son of Charles ; William Kendall ; George Inger- son ; and John Wallace. The latter came to live with Charles B. Keyser, and has since purchased the Keyser farm. William Kendall came from Easton, where he had been been engaged for several years in the lumber business 122 SOME THINGS ABOUT in partnership with his brother-in-law, Daniel J. Whitcher. He purchased the small farm opposite the Peter Howe place, and made improvements by repairing the buildings and erecting new ones, making his residence one of the most at- tractive in town. He has served the town in the various town offices, and represented it in the legislature of 1897, enjoy- ing the distinction of being the only Republican representa- tive ever elected in Benton. Indeed, except in his case, the town has had an unbroken succession of Democratic repre- sentatives, returning in 1904 to its ancient faith in the elec- tion of Lebina H. Parker to the General Court. In 1895 Albert A. Foss, who married May, the youngest daughter of Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler, and Ar- thur A. Delaney, who married the youngest daughter of John and Eliza (Brown) Flanders, became voters. George W. Bailey purchased the C. A. Veazey farm in 1896 and has since resided in town. George Belyea came from War- ren to the farm adjoining the old sawmill site north of War- ren Summit station. James Ramsey took up his residence on the Winthrop G. Torsey farm. Stephen H. Dexter mar- ried a daughter of Frederick M. Tyler, and became a voter in 1897, and Joseph Peltier moved to the Hollow, where he has since resided. E. L. Morse, who married a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Clough) Howe was another of the new citizens. Among those who have become voters by reason ot attain- ing their majority, or who have moved into town to remain for more than a year or two, since 1897, are : Chas. P. Col- lins, son of Charles ; Alonzo Annis, son of John ; George Brill ; Willard M. Marden ; Napoleon Burke, Jr. ; John E. Cox, son of Birt ; Durward W. Hutchins, son of Solomon J. ; Ernest T. Page, son ot James ; Rodney Rollins ; and William Kendall, COVENTRY— BENTON, NIL 123 Charles C. Tyler, son of A. Elmore. At the present time the town has but a little upwards of forty voters, and the population, according to the census of 1904, was but 209. This is for the most part in the north part of the town. The most of the families settling in town in the first half of the last century are unrepresented. Wil- liam W. Eastman is a great-grandson of Obadiah, chief of the first settlers ; Ernest T. Page is a grandson of James J. and a great-grandson of Samuel ; Orman L. Mann is a grandson of Samuel ; Alonzo Annis is a great-grandson of Joseph; Daniel M. Howe is a son of Daniel; James H. Keyser is a son of William ; George Welch is a grandson of Jonathan ; Solomon J. Hutchins is a grandson of Benjamin C. ; Birt Cox is a son of John P. ; and the Tyler brothers, Fred M., A. Elmore and Byron M., are grandsons of Kim- ball. On the other hand the names Whitcher, Wells, Mars- ton, Coburn, Brown, Davis, Wright, Lathrop, Knight, Torsey and Flanders, once so prominent, have disappeared from the voting list. There has been a decadence, but Benton is by no means, as yet, an abandoned town. It has a past which is fondly cherished by her widely scattered sons and daughters, and there are not a few who believe that the march of events will bring her a prosperous future. 124 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER VI. RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL LIFE. The religious and social life of the town has been to a large extent one, and such as been peculiar to the town is that which has characterized the northern part of the town, since the interests of the High Street neighborhood have been from this point of view largely identified with those of Warren, as have those of the Meadows, and the Page Dis- trict with East Haverhill. There has not, so far as known, ever been a religious organization in these last named sections, except that for a few years when the Rev. William C. Bixby lived at High Street, it is probable that a Methodist class was organized and meetings were held at the High Street school house and in private dwellings. The Adventists also some- times held religious services in the school house. The com- munity at the north part of the town was, however, at the beginning, and has been in the subsequent years, one by itself, and has furnished whatever has been characteristic and distinctive in Coventry and Benton social and religious life. "The Hollow," or Whitcher Hollow, as it has usually been called, has been the center, for here was the first sawmill and gristmill, the blacksmith and wheelwright shops, the post office, except for the few first years after it was estab- lished, the store, and just up the hill to the east "around the turn", the meeting house. Haverhill Corner was ten miles distant, and Bath Lower Village seven, and in the early days the roads were either poor, or there were none at all, and the Coventry settlers had little communication with the outside world. They had little to sell. They burned wood TRY— BE. 7 ." _ " . H. 1 . r i- - i^:^ :-ii.:i :: -.':- -.z:-z: ' - -~ :■. ■■-.-- i-:_- z"'---'-- '-'- - ..'-.''-'-- " -"- '-'.'' \' -•' - . .'. '-■--. ~.:.-~ v l .- -^.- - •-^'-' '--'-- :.' —--7 ''■-'• '■'--■'•■'- ~ -.:-. -'-'.-'. '.--. -'-.- •.:•--::■ \z.-.~ h: ::: •■-.- :: ---.::-' a.: :\- 7,i:i n 17- •- kill stores. later, after ther had bnik sawnulb, the* l-ii.^: :: ZLn vil. » Lr.-i.-2 i - , --•:- - :.-.- :■-: i - 1.-. :r ■ •-. - --, . .: j, :: " •' : 1 --..-- :i-j " I T~ - * ~* { - ;._n ."i * ..'rl '_ . i I ". ■ 1 * 1_? . -. 1 . 1 -. r.-*i~::- iirz-.^'-.-zr:- . - 71I ^ - . i-: .::- -=r..:. -1.11 V -..J. ill r". — -r.-r Ir^-^l-J : ". 11 _' - . . ~ 1 " lr- i~i 1 . :•! ::-.• ; - 1 .:.'r" _.r~ -i 1 .1 1 .•::' : ? :: - > i..-^i ..1 ill ---I:, iri-1.: 7 iilzj : -.: - 1 their world. They rarely 1 '.'.:: I1-1 ;• -'i- mi- rr.n :".::- umiriiT-r-: Ir. 7i- 1 '• ill -1 ~ — T7r llilr ;_- -.L-. • "1 ill^llr-V-r? Ill :..i1t: rr:n l-^iii-r: -iiiri :V. i. .1-- ::^: - 11 :: T :-.--! .1 :: -1 7 :- 1 ..•-■... _-~l-..- - -. •- : ::.-. character. Chain and tables were work and plain Brag, if w* of high thinking The social lite was of the neighborhood ds '. 1 '- * - '. ~-:\Z r- '.J I-r.il'.'1'..lti-: _:-"t"" .-.::: ;i---. :— _- ?;- . ir -ix.r I7 -r_i.i- -^; r i-.il-i Li::::.-: . -.: — .1:t7 T - "•'-•17 ^1- ~ r~ t.*7*. •-" T.-r 11 1 ':.-:-. ~ '..- 1 i-:ir ;.:.:• ;: ;•::;• ?.-. _r . . . • ±-.r~>\-+ '-.z~--~~t~ ':-...: '.: '.:- -z~\~. 1-, 7 — -- - - 7 — ~ - . . 1 1- f.M'odinglj actively on the far the fact that the only two chare* orj 126 SOME THINGS ABOUT formed in town were of these denominations. Just when the churches were organized does not appear, as the early records have been lost, but the Free Will Baptists appear to have had the advantage of the earlier organization. In the Free Baptist Register for 1833, LandafT and Coventry are classed as a single church, with Samuel Cole and George W. Cogswell as ministers, ordained during the previous year, and with Ira Eaton of Landaff, and Horace Webber and Robert Coburn of Coventry, as licensed ministers. The Lis- bon quarterly meeting of which the LandafF and Coventry churches were constituent members was organized in 1833, and in the statistical report for the year 1835, printed in the register, Coventry appears for the first time as a separate church, with Samuel Cole as minister, and with a member- ship of 50. George W. Cogswell became minister to the church, the next year, 1836, the membership then being reported as 25. He sustained this relation until 1865, though at various periods other ministers were engaged as pastors for terms of one, two or three years. Elder John Norris came from Maidstone, Vermont, and preached for the larger part of the years 1854-55. Elder George W. Richardson was another resident minister in the early sixties. Elder John Davis came out from Centre Haverhill, and Elder Lorenzo D. Jeffers from East Haverhill, and minister- ed to the people, sometimes for a few Sundays and sometimes for months. Elder A.. C. Manson, who resided at Sugar Hill, also preached in Benton for two years. Capt. Winthrop G. Torsey and Jeremiah B. Davis were licentiates, but for a period of thirty years Elder Cogswell was the minister of the Coventry and Benton church. Other Elders of the denomination might be the preachers, but Ben- ton was his parish, and all this time he kept jealous watch- CO VENTB Y— BENTON, N H. 127 care over it. When there was no one else to preach, the Elder drove over from Landaff and proclaimed his message. He was in demand for funerals, since he had the gift of making his congregation weep, and the success of a funeral as a matter of entertainment depended upon the amount of weeping the officiating minister could cause. The Elder had tact also. Some ministers would give offense by omitting mention in their prayers of some of the relatives of the de- parted. Some cousin or aunt or grandchild or grandparent would be forgotten by the minister as he enumerated the relatives, and then there was trouble because of the slight, but Elder Cogswell managed never to give offense. After beginning with the nearest relatives and going through the list to the best of his recollection, he always had this saving clause in his prayer by asking comfort for "all the other relatives of the deceased whether of near or remote degree of kindred, whether present or absent." The membership of his church varied in the thirty years from 56, the largest number in 1852, to 19 in 1837. This latter number, the Elder always pointed to with pride since it was obtained by the death of one, and by the expulsion of six. The 19 were evidently the saving remnant, since growth began immedi- ately afterwards, reaching high-water mark in 1856 and never falling belew 40 during his ministry. He never had a stated salary, but accepted the free will offerings of his people. These were sometimes in cash, but more frequent- ly in eggs, butter, cheese, oats, wheat, potatoes, veal, pork, beef, vegetables of all kinds, etc., etc. The Elder never struck for a higher salary, and the people never complained. If he did a little outside business in trading in horses and cattle, loaning a little money now and then on good security, this was regarded as perfectly legitimate, and the Elder had 128 SOME THINGS ABOUT an eye for points in both horses and cattle. In 1866 Elder Morrison of Topsham became the minister, and was the regular preacher for most of the time till 1871, when Elder J. Chamberlin became the minister for a brief period. In 1877 Elder Lorenzo D. Jeffers of East Haverhill became the minister for a year or more, and after this there was no regular Free Will Baptist preaching in town. Win- throp C. Whitcher, son of Amos, was duly licensed as a min- ister in 1878, but it does not appear that he ever preached in his native town. He soon afterward removed to Stoneham, Mass., and after 1880 no report was made of the church to the Lisbon quarterly meeting or the New Hampshire yearly meeting. The organized church rapidly disintegrated through the death and removal of its members, and is now numbered among the things which were. Just when Methodism obtained its foothold in town does not appear, but the beginnings may be traced to the year 1801, when Elijah R. Sabin, who had been appointed by the New York conference preacher to a territory embracing all of northern New Hampshire, tinder the name of Lan/lafF circuit, stopped over Sunday on his way to Landaff at the house of Chase Whitcher, near Warren Summit, and held religious services under the maples at what is now known as the Harriman place. His congregation was for the most part from Coventry, from High street, and the Meadows, and when he left on Monday he organized a Methodist class of three, two of whom were Chase Whitcher and his daugh- ter, Dolly, afterwards the wife of John Atwell, who was one of the early settlers of North Coventry. William Whitcher, the eldest son of Chase, was then a boy of 18. He did not become a member of that class, the first in the entire north country except that organized a year or two previously at CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 129 Landaff, but his life-long attachment to Methodism began with that Sunday in 1801 under the ministrations of the first apostle of Methodism in Northern New Hampshire, Elijah R. Sabin. When he set up his own home in the north part of the town he had become a Methodist and later was a licensed exhorter and local preacher for many years. He was reinforced later by Daniel Howe, Enos Wells, Israel Flanders and others who became the nucleus around which the Methodist Episcopal church was gathered. The other early settlers were for the most part — Peter Howe, the Mars- tons, Wrights, Coburns, Davises, and Browns — Free Will Baptists, though there were a few, like for instance, the Tylers and Manns, who were inclined to a more liberal sort of faith. Coventry was a part of the Landaff circuit from 1801 to 1824, when it became a part of the Orford circuit, and three years later, in 1827, a part of the Haverhill cir- cuit. From 1827 to 1851, Coventry — Benton — was made a part of a circuit which was composed of various churches, and was classed at different times with Haverhill, East Ha- verhill, North Haverhill, Bath, Landaff, Lyman and Lisbon. In 1851 Swiftwater and Benton were made an appointment in the New Hampshire conference, and were so continued till 1904, a period of 53 years, during which time the Methodist preachers occupied the pulpit of the union meeting house on alternate Sundays until 1879, when an arrangement was made by which there were services at Swiftwater in the morning and at Benton in the afternoon. In 1904 Benton was abandoned by the appointing power of the Methodist church, and Swiftwater was classed with Landaff as an ap- pointment. In the early davs, previous to 1846, when the meeting house was erected, though a Methodist class was organized 130 SOME THINGS ABOUT as early as 1816, there was no regular preaching by the iten- erants of this denomination. They came as suited conveni- ence and circumstances. Their pulpits were in barns, school houses and private dwellings, as opportunity offered. Among the preachers who visited the town were those whose names became historic in New England Methodism. The mention of a few of these will suffice : Asa Kent, Elijah Hedding, Solomon Sias, Jacob Sanborn, Lewis Bates, Abraham Mer- rill, Samuel Kelley, Benjamin R. Hoyt, Dan Young, Charles Baker, George Storrs, Ebenezer Ireson, N. W. Aspinwall, Charles A. Cowing, Holman Drew, Silas Quimby, Chas. D. Cahoon, Justin Spaulding, E. Brown, and G. W. H. Clark. In 1844 and 1845 Henry H. Hartwell was one of the three preachers assigned to the Haverhill, East Haver- hill, North Haverhill and Benton circuit, and he devoted much of his time to Benton. Under his ministrations there was a wide spread old time revival, and in 1846 the Union Meeting house was erected, and thenceforward until 1904 the town enjoyed stated religious services. The Union Meeting house society was duly incorporated, and at the an- nual meetings the pew holders would declare their religious preferences, and the occupancy of the house for the different Sundays of the year was determined by these preferences. The Free Will Baptists and Methodists were entitled to the use of the house for the most of the time, and as a general rule, used it on alternate Sundays down to the disintegration of the former church, when the house by a sort of common consent passed under Methodist control. During all of this period, however, the Universalists, and later the Second Ad- ventists had the use of the house for services of their own for a few Sundays of each year whenever they were favored with the presence of ministers of their respective denomina- Benton Meeting House, Erected 1846. Rev. George W. Cogswell. Dea. Winthrop G. Torsey. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 131 tions. Between the years 1846 and 1851 the Methodist ministers who were appointed over the Benton church were : 1846-47, Newell Culver; 1848, E. Brown; 1849, G. W. Bryant ; 1850, the pulpit was supplied by Joseph E. King, principal of the Newbury, Vt., seminary. In 1851 Daniel W. Barber was appointed to Swiftwater and Benton. The membership of the two churches, which for statistical purposes were henceforward regarded as one, was reported as 111, including 25 probationers. A parson- age owned jointly by the two churches was erected at Swift- water, adjoining the church there, but it was understood that the pastor was to devote half his time to his Benton flock. The appointments subsequently made were as follows : 1852-3, Thomas J. Andrews; 1854-5, Oloff H. Call; 1856-7, Charles R. Homan ; 1858-9, John English; 1860- 1, Greenleaf P. Warner; 1862-3, Joseph Fawcett ; 1864-5, John English; 1866, Alfred B. Best; 1867, G. C. Xoyes ; 1868-70, Samuel F. Lougee ; 1871, Henry Chandler; 1872, Arnold Adams; 1873, supply; 1874, supply; 1875, supply; 1876, supply; 1877, supply; 1878, supply; 1879, William Ramsden; 1880-1, Claudius Byrne; 1882, J. M. Buffum ; 1883-4, L. W. Prescott ; 1885-6, C. E. Rogers ; 1887-8, J. N. Bradford; 1889-91, Henry Hammond, 1892-4, I. C. Brown; 1895-6, J. R. Dinsmore ; 1897, A. G. Smith; 1898-1900; E. C. Clough ; 1901-3, W. A. Hudson. There is no separate record of the Benton mem- bership, but at the beginning of the union of the church with that at Swiftwater in a single quarterly conference, the mem- bership of the two churches was about equal, but beginning with about 1870 that at Benton began to decline, and at the time of the abandonment of the field by the denomination the present year, had become but a mere handful. For the 1 32 SOME THINGS AB UT years 1873-78 the churches at both Benton and Swiftwater had no regular pastor appointed by the conference, but the pulpits were occupied by John Currier one year, John Wins- low for two years, J. S. Jewett, a local preacher from War- ren, one year, while some of the time during this period a young Free Will Baptist clergyman from Maine, and the Rev. S. E. Quimby, then living at Newbury, Vt., acted as occasional supplies for a few months at a time. The Benton pulpit was also occupied at various times by ministers of the Advent faith. The meeting house was repaired and thor- oughly renovated in 1869, the lofty choir gallery being torn down and placed on a small platform opposite the pulpit, while the overhead vestry was abandoned and a smaller one constructed in the north end of the basement. Some twenty years later other repairs were made. The salaries paid preachers, either Free Will Baptist or Methodist, were not large. The Baptists on two or three occasions secured a regular pastor with promise of a salary varying from $300 to $400, but there were arrearages, failures to pay, and these pastorates were brief. The Methodist pastors were promised salaries varying from $350 to $450 for the two churches at Swiftwater and Benton, besides the use of the parsonage, and these were usually paid, if the proceeds of donation parties were added. None of the Benton ministers, however, ever became purse proud. The Benton meeting house was a center of social life, and except for the post office almost the only center. Until within a few years the order of the Sunday services was, preaching in the morning, immediately followed by Sunday school, preaching at 1.30 p. m. and a prayer or conference meeting at 5 o'clock during the summer months, and at early candle lighting during the winter. Not all the people attended COVENTRY— BE XT OX. X. H. 133 the Sunday school at the nooning hour. That was designed for the youngsters and women. The men adjourned to the Ions: row of horse sheds where thev discussed the sermon to which they had listened and — other matters. Nearly every- body "went to meeting." The object may have been to listen to the sermon and worship, while with some, the instinct of getting together, keeping touch with each other, furnished by the noon hour, or in other words, the social instinct may have been the impelling force. If great inspiring thoughts were not imparted by the sermons of George W. Cogswell or John Davis or Charles R. Homan or John English, it was something for the hard-working men and women to don © © Sunday clothes, get together and exchange views. The "meeting house" prevented the West district, the East dis- trict, and the South district of this backwoods community from becoming isolated sections. The meeting house, even as a Sunday rendezvous, to say nothing of its being a place of worship, was worth vastly more to Benton than it ever cost. The singing schools were also held at the meeting house, and what singing schools they were. When one re- members Joseph Y. Cheney, with his violin, one of the most famous old time singing masters, it is useless to talk of conservatories of music. And there were other things con- nected with the singing school which bring up tender recol- lections. The choir in the Benton church was a famous one before the choir gallerv was degraded nearlv to the level of © « © j the floor. That choir, in its palmiest days, should have been heard to be appreciated. There was no organ or other instrument of music until more degenerate times. John E. Keyser reigned supreme with his tuning fork. His favorite choir, all trained by "Joe Cheney", held the seats in the early sixties. There were Charles H. Whitcher, Winthrop 134 SOME THINGS ABOUT C. Whitcher, James E. Whitcher, Amarett A. Whitcher, Florence E. Whitcher, William F. Whitcher, Mary E. Whitcher, Frances C. Whitcher, Elvah G. Whitcher, Edward F. Mann, George Henr) T Mann, Van Buren Glazier, Phebe A. Howe, Dorcas Howe, George Wilson (who couldn't sing, but didn't know it) and "Uncle Billy" Eastman. There was music in "Uncle Billy's" soul, and in his voice as well. Dr. Eben Tourjee of the Boston Conservatory would have turned green with envy to hear that choir sing the Easter Anthem, with the solo by "Uncle Billy," beginning with, "And did he rise? etc." One of the great musical events occurred on one occasion when John Keyser's sensibilities had been ruffled and the choir was on a strike. Elder Cogswell occupied the pulpit. "Uncle Billy" never struck, and he occupied the gallery alone, but "Uncle Billy" sang bass. The Elder took in the situation. He spied the wife of Deacon Amos Whitcher in her pew. In her younger days she had attempted to sing. The Elder said : "Sister Polly, if you will go up in the gal- lery with brother William, you can sing soprano, he can sing bass, and Til sing alto, and I guess we'll have some singing, even if brother Keyser has a sore throat." Sister Polly went; she sang soprano, "Uncle Billy", bass, and the Elder came in on the alto. They just sang. The recalcitrant choir sitting down stairs in the pews enjoyed the Elder's alto and "Aunt Polly's" soprano, even if John Keyser did look glum. Some of the ministers will be remembered, not only for their godliness and saintliness, and they were for the most part of this sort, but also for other peculiarities. Elder John Davis informed the congregation one Sunday that he was "bound for the Kingdom," and was going "as far as God CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 135 and my legs will carry me." Elder Cogswell, on a funeral occasion, when the death was caused by diptheria, announced "they are having diptheria up our way, and the young folks are scared and are getting religion." It was also on this oc- casions that he gave his famous recipe for the cure of the dread disease, a compound of West India moHsses, cayenne pepper and salt pork, with the formula for preparation. Joseph Fawcett, the Methodist clergyman of the time, sat in the pulpit with the Elder. He was a scholarly man, an able preacher, who, somehow, had been appointed to Swiftwater and Benton. The personification of dignity and culture, he sat during the Elder's discourse with a broad smile illuminating his face. After the service, while at the house of one of his parishioners, his good wife took him to task for his jolly demeanor on so solemn an occasion, but his reply was : ''When I feel tickled I can't feel solemn." Jo- seph Fawcett was an Englishman. His use and abuse of his h's was a great source of amusement to the young peo- ple. There was quite a wide spread revival during his pas- torate, and in the special services which were held he was assisted by the Rev. Lewis P. Cushman, then at Landaff. The sermons were of the old fashioned orthodox variety. George W. Mann, who was an ardent Universalist, felt called upon to warn the young people not to be led away by fears of hell, and now and then in the midst of the revival services exercised his gift in this direction. One evening, after Mr. Cushman had made a specially fervent appeal, Mr. Mann started in to refute what had been said, when Mr. Cushman interrupted, saying, "let us sing," and with his powerful voice started the hymn : "Jesus, Great Shepherd of thy sheep, To thee for help we fly, 136 SOME THINGS ABOUT Thy little flock in safety keep, Fer oh, the wolf is nigh." Mr. Mann sat down. Later in the evening he made a second attempt, when the versatile Mr. Cushman was ready with another hymn, beginning: "Vain man, thy fond pursuits forbear, Repent,, thine end is nigh, Death at the farthest can't be far, Oh, turn before thou die." The Universal ist brother gave it up. Then there was Dan- iel W. Barber, the man with the wooden arm, who preached the doctrine of Christian perfection, and with scrupulous and painstaking care collected his salary ; Charles R. Ho- man, who was strong on church discipline and kept a sharp lookout for any deviation on the part of members of his flock from paths marked out by the Methodist discipline ; John English, tw r ice the appointee at Swiftwater and Benton, who drove a good horse and who was ready always to accept do- nations of country produce ; Greenleaf P. Warner, who was Methodist pastor during the days of the war, and whose strong Democratic pro-slavery sentiments led to his leaving the ministry shortly after the close of his Benton pastorate ; A. B. Best, a Dublin University educated Irishman, who somehow couldn't adapt himself to Benton, and whose stay was brief; Elder Morrison, the Free Will Baptist, who smoked a clay pipe, ate large quantities of saleratus to aid his digestion, and who constantly called attention to the topic "under consideration," though his hearers were never able to ascertain what the topic vvas. These were characters among the Benton ministers, and some of them will be long remembered. The visits of the Presiding Elders were events of importance, and among those who were specially welcomed CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 137 were William D. Cass, Newell Culver, James Pike, Elisha Adams and Lorenzo D. Barrows. The Free Will Baptist quarterly meetings now and then held with the Benton church were also great occasions. The ministers and delegates from a dozen or so churches were present, and the meetings usually began Friday after- noon and continued through Sunday. Everybody attended, and there was a general holiday. The religious services were fervid and always of an evangelistic character, and •'The eating and the drinking, too, Were beautiful and foine." Half a century ago when Benton was peopled by a church going community, the meeting house was well filled. They were all there ; the Marstons, Torseys, Davises, Wellses, Browns, Whitchers, Shermans, Manns, Flanders, Keysers, Wrights, Coburns, Tylers, Howes, Giffords, Eastmans, Annises, Wilsons, Glaziers, with several families from South Landaff and Bunga. Every now and then were re- vivals or protracted meetings, when the Methodists and Bap- tists would unite in a spirit of brotherly love and harmony which continued until it came to a disposition of the converts. Deacon Amos Whitcher was on the lookout for recruits for the Baptists, while his sister, Louisa, wife of Sylvester Eastman, who was fully as ardent a Methodist as Deacon Amos was Baptist, had as sharp a look out for Methodist re- cruits. The efforts of "Uncle" Amos and "Aunt" Louisa to gain adherents to their respective denominations were sometimes productive of anything but brotherly and sisterly love, and sometimes before the convert was safely landed he had escaped both nets and remained in a backslidden state until reclaimed at the next protracted meeting. There was no country store in town, and in its absence the 1 38 SOME THINGS AB UT post office was another social center. Previous to 1844 the town was without a poet office, and for many years after its settlement, letters were obtained from the Haverhill office ten miles distant. In the year, however, after the County road, so called, from Haverhill Corner through Coventry, Bunga, and East Landaff to Franconia had been completed, a mail route was established between Haverhill Corner and Fran- conia, with post offices at Benton and East Landaff. Ira Whitcher was the first postmaster, but having been elected to the legislature in 1845, he resigned, and Chase Whitcher was appointed. He, too, was elected to the legislature in 1852, and on his resignation Amos Whitcher was appointed, holding the office for nearly thirty years, until his removal from town. Subsequent postmasters were Frank Moulton and D. F. Richardson. After the removal of the latter from town Mrs. Ruth J. Veazey, wife of Charles A., was appointed postmistress, and still holds the office. In the early fifties the route from Haverhill to Franconia was abol- ished, that town, as well as East Landaff, being accommo- dated by a new route from Littleton, while Benton and Haverhill Center were given a mail twice a week over a route from North Haverhill. This was maintained until about 1885 when a new route with daily mail was established from Woodsville with post offices at Swiftwater, Whitcher- ville, Benton and Wildwood. A few years later the Whitcherville post office was discontinued, and in 1902, on the establishment of a rural delivery route covering the Swiftwater and a part of the Benton territory, the Swift- water post office was also discontinued. The present route is from Woodsville through Benton to Wildwood with a daily mail, and with offices at the two last named places. The palmy days of the post office were when Amos ti o H CO YEXTR Y—BEXTOX. N. H. 139 Whitcher wag the postmaster and the office was located in the kitchen of his dwelling house. The mail days were Wednesdays and Saturdays, the carrier making the trip to North Haverhill in the morning: and returning in the evening. The town's people did not carry on an extensive correspond- ence with the outside world, but there was always a chance of receiving a letter, so most of the families of the town were represented, by from three to five members, at the post office on the evenings when ''Uncle Amos'" or "Aunt Polly," assisted by other members of the family, emptied the con- tents of the bag on the kitchen table, and proceeded to sort and deliver its contents to the crowd that surged around them looking over the shoulders of the post office family to ascer- tain as far as was possible for whom letters were received, with such additional information as might be gained from a glance at the postmarks and the handwriting on the envel- opes. If anyone received a letter the fact became generally known and there were more or less accurate surmises as to the writer and the contents of the epistle. Going to the post office on Wednesday or Saturday evenings was an event of no small importance. If there were no letters there were the usual newspapers, Isaac Hill's New Hampshire Patriot or Bedding's Democratic Republican, printed at Haverhill. One or both these staunch organs of the Democratic party were taken in nearly every household, and such families as did not subscribe had no delicate scruples concerning borrowing. For many years but one copy of a Whig — afterwards Re- publican — newspaper came regularly in the Benton mail. Ira Whitcher took the Xew Hampshire Statesman, a fact which gave rise in the minds of some to suspicions concerning his Democratic orthodoxy. The literary appetite of the few who made pretentions to literary tastes was appeased by the 140 SOME THINGS ABOUT True Flag, Graham's Magazine and Ballou's Dollar Monthly, for each of which there were now and then subscribers. Deacon Amos Whitcher and two or three others of the Bap- tist brethren took The Morning Star, while Zion's Herald went regurlarly into several Methodist homes. During the presidential campaigns a club of subscribers to the Boston Post weekly campaign edition was usually gotten up, for Benton was nothing if not a Democratic town by an over- whelming majority. There were always crowds at the post office on the arrival of the mail, and the boys and girls and young people were out in force. "Aunt Polly's" kitchen would be packed. It is little wonder that some of the youngsters intimated that she was not possessed of a sweet disposition. Their presence and behavior would have ex- hausted the patience of a saint. The Benton post office was indeed a social, and at the same time something of a literary center. The young people had something of the same op- portunities enjoyed by their elders in the meeting house horse sheds on Sundays. There were few social organizations. Indeed, there is a record of but one, a body of the Independent Order of Good Templars. This came into being in 1868, flourished for a little while, and went out of existence some two years later. The leading spirits in this organization were : George W. Mann, John E. Keyser, Charles H. and Win thro p C. Whitcher, and George Henry Mann. There were of course large numbers of the opposite sex belonging, but the leading spirits were those above named. The records which are still in existence indicate that when Henry Mann left town the life and enthusiasm of the lodge departed. Benton did not furnish good soil for lodges and fraternal organizations. Most of the people were too much concerned with the prob- COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 141 lems of daily existence to give much time to such matters, and as they cost money the practical question which arose was, do they pay? The good people who joined the Good Templars were for the most part those who never "looked upon the wine when it is red," and were in no particular danger of becoming inebriates. The few who were not total abstainers who became members served a good purpose per- haps in furnishing the lodge with business aside from the routine ritual, since considerable time was consumed at the meetings, after the lodge got fairly organized, in dealing with those who had violated their pledges. Those who drank now and then were expelled, and the total abstainers finally came to the conclusion that they would still remain total abstainers if there were no lodge. And then again, Henry Mann had entered the employ of the railroad, and had moved out of town. There were, during the century of the town's history, a few who contented themselves with out-of-town lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows, but they were very few. The great majority of the citizens of Benton were never "jiners." They had simple tastes, and they lived plain simple lives. They were mutually helpful. They were honest in their dealings with each other, and there was in all the life of the town a high tone of morality. Family ties were strong, the obligations of neighbors were recognized and kept, and departure from the paths of strict morality brought a loss of social caste. The people were homoge- neous. Not until recent years was there any infusion of the Irish or French Canadian, but the families were for the most part descended direct from the English who settled Essex county, Mass., in the years between 1630 and 1650. The most enterprising and ambitious did not remain in town. They sought other localities, and many of them won success 142 80ME THINGS ABOUT and positions of honor and influence in other communities. This was due of course largely to natural ability, but there was also the influence of the social and religious environ- ments in early life in this sparsely settled, mountainous, sterile, backwoods town of Coventry — Benton. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 143 CHAPTER VII. TOWN MEETINGS AND POLITICS. Coventry — Benton — was a town which almost from the beginning of its history made much of its town meetings, and its citizens were pronounced in the expression of their political opinions. In the early days they were for the most part Federalists, but later, when the north part of the town came to be settled, the residents of that section were Jeffer- son ian Democrats, and in the days of Andrew Jackson the town became unanimously Democratic. It remained pretty nearly so for years, and even after the organization of the Republican party, and the transference of New Hampshire from the Democratic column to the Republican column of states, Benton always remained faithful to its Democratic allegiance, though in the past few years the voters have been nearly equally divided in their political preferences, and once, in 1896, the Republicans elected their candidate for Representative to the General Court. In the days, however, when the town was unanimously or nearly unanimously Democratic, there were bitter contests for the town offices and for the office of representative, all the more bitter perhaps, since nearly all parties to the con- tests were Democrats. For many years there were three parties ; the Page party, led by James J. and Daniel D. Page, and having their adherents for the most part in the Page district, the Meadows and at High Street ; the Wells party, of which Capt. Enos Wells was the head, with his sons for lieutenants, and the Whitcher party, of which Wil- liam Whitcher, and later his sons, were the head. Neither 144 SOME THINGS ABOUT of these parties or factions was ever quite able to control a majority of the voters, and so the way was opened for alli- ances, offensive and defensive, for bargains and deals, and the opportunity was improved and there were alliances, bar- gains and deals, and Benton political campaigns lasted all the year round. It was a dull boy, brought up in Benton, who had not become a pretty well trained politician by the time he reached his majority. But the town meetings were not wholly given over to politics. In proportion to its means the voters of few towns ever taxed themselves more generously for the support of highways and schools. The appropriations were made with care, and money raised by taxation was for the most part expended economically and judiciously. The first town meeting was held at the house of Major Jonathan Hale, Dec. 30, 1801, and was tor the purpose of organizing a town government. Obadiah Eastman was chosen moderator, Salmon Niles, town clerk, and Samuel Jackson, Obadiah Eastman and Barnabas Niles, selectmen. The town meetings thereafter were as follows : [1802.] Meeting held March 9, at the house of Major Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Barnabas Niles ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Samuel Jackson, Obadiah Eastman, William Coolidge ; constable, Elisha Ford ; sur- veyors of highways, James Eastman, Barnabas Niles. Voted to raise $38 for the support of schools, $40 for re- pairing roads, and $18 for town charges. March 24, a meeting of the voters of Haverhill and Cov- entry for the choice of representative in the General Court was held at the house of Major Jona. Hale. Chose : mod- erator, Dr. Ross Coon, of Haverhill ; representative, Col. Moody Bedell, of Haverhill. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 145 August 30. A meeting was held to vote for members of Congress. Eight votes were cast, all for Samuel Tenney, Silas Betton, Clifton Claggett, Samuel Hunt and David Hough, all Federalists. Voted to alter the road from the foot of hill below Jona- than Hale's grist mill to Mr. Elisha Ford's cornfield. [1803.] The annual town meeting was held at the house of Major Jonathan Hale, March 8. Chose: moderator, Major Jona. Hale ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Hale, William Coolidge ; con- stable and collector, Elisha Ford ; treasurer, James East- man ; surveyors of highways, James Eastman, Barnabas Niles, Nathan Mead ; hog reeves, David Marston, Jonathan Hale, William Blair; fence viewers, Samuel Jackson, Bar- nabas Niles, Hugh Matthews ; tything men, Obadiah East- man, Robert Elliott. Voted to raise $40 for the support of schools, $130 for making and repairing roads, $22 to defray town charges, a total of $192. March 24. At an adjourned meeting, voted for state and county officers. For governor, John Langdon, dem., re- ceived 3 votes ; John Taylor Gilman, fed., 4. Ten votes were cast for councillor, senator aEd county officers, of which the Democratic candidates received 3, and the Feder- alists 7. Chose: William Coolidge, pound keeper, and voted that the- lower stable in the barn of Salmon Niles be made pound. [1804.] Annual town meeting held March 13, at home of Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, William Coolidge ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, William Coolidge, Salmon Niles, Samuel Jackson, Jr. ; constable, Elisha Ford ; sealer of weights and measures, Salmon Niles ; sur- 146 SOME THINGS ABOUT veyors of highways, Samuel Jackson, Barnabas Niles, Na- than Mead ; ty tiling man, David Marston, Jr. The vote for state and county officers showed that the Jef- fersonian leaven had begun to work. For governor John Taylor Gilman, fed., received 3 votes; John Langdon, dem., 11. For county officers 16 votes were cast, of which the Democratic candidates received 13. April 13. At an adjourned meeting voted to raise $20 for defraying town charges, $35 for support of schools, and $70 to repair highways, a total of $125. A need was evidently felt of a pound, for the voters pro- ceeded to provide for one, which certainly would seem to have been ample in strength to hold the most unruly of cattle. Voted that, with the permission of Major Hale, a pound be built at or near the corner of his land ; said pound to be built of stone, 30 feet square 4 feet thick at the base, 18 inches at the top, 6 feet high, to be capped with white pine or hemlock timbers 10 x 12 inches, with one gateway 3 feet wide, to be provided with a gate of timber not less than 3 inches thick, and fitted to the gateway ; that the pound be set up at vendue to be struck off to the person who will be- come obligated to erect the same by the 30th day of June for the lowest sum of money. The pound was bid oft by Samuel Jackson for $18.75. Voted to raise $40 for the purpose of procuring a stand- ard of weights and measures. August 27. At a meeting held 11 votes were cast for members of Congress : Democratic 6, Federalist, 5. Nov. 5. At a meeting held to vote for presidential elec- tors, the Democratic ticket headed by Oliver Peabody re- ceived 6 votes, the Federalist ticket headed by John Goddard, 4. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 147 [1805.] March 12. Annual town meeting was held at house of Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Barnabas Niles ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Obadiah Eastman, Salmon Niles, Samuel Jackson, Jr. ; highway surveyors, David Marston, James Ford, Daniel Doty ; high- way surveyor for north district, William Coolidge ; collector of taxes, David Marston, at 5 per cent. Voted to raise $20 to defray town charges, $200 to make and repair high- ways, and $20 for schools. The vote for state and county officers showed a turn in the tide politically, since John Taylor Gilman, fed., received 8 votes tor governor, and John Langdon 7. For county officers 17 votes were cast, and Charles Johnston received the entire number for county treasurer. The choice of Wil- liam Coolidge for surveyor of highways "in the north dis- trict" indicated that the settlement of that part of the town had been begun. [1806.] March 11. Annual town meeting held at the house of Major Jona. Hale, occupied by Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; town clerk, Salmon Niles; selectmen, William Coolidge, Samuel Jackson, Jr., Daniel Davis ; highway surveyors, Moses Eastman, Daniel Doty, Daniel Davis, William Coolidge ; pound keeper, Daniel Davis ; hog reeves, Daniel Doty, Jeremiah Jackson, Winthrop Elliott ; tything man, Obadiah Eastman; collec- tor of taxes and constable, David Marston, with compen- sation at 4 3-4 per cent. Aug. 25. A meeting was held to vote for representative in Congress. The Democratic congressional ticket headed by Jedediah M. Smith received 16 votes, to one cast for the Federalist candidates. [1807.] March 3. A meeting of the voters of Warren 148 SOME THINGS ABOUT and Coventry for the choice of representative to the General Court was held at the dwelling house of Daniel Davis in Coventry. Chose : for moderator, William Coolidge ; for representative, Obadiah Eastman. March 10. The annual meeting was held at the dwelling house of Robert Forsaith. Chose : moderator, William Coolidge; town clerk, William Coolidge ; selectmen, Wil- liam Coolidge, Daniel Davis, Salmon Niles ; highway sur- veyors, Samuel Jackson, Salmon Niles, Nathan Mead, Wil- liam Whitcher ; tax collector and constable, David Marston, compensation 4 per cent; tything man, sealer of weights and measures, and surveyor of lumber, Samuel Jackson ; hog reeves, William Whitcher, Jonathan Marston, James Ford, Robert Elliott, Jr., Joseph E. Marston. Voted to raise $20 to defray town charges, $200 for making and re- pairing highways, $25 for support of schools. For governor 14 votes were cast, all for John Langdon. [1808.] March 8. Annual town meeting was held at the house ot James Eastman. Chose: Moderator, William Coolidge ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, William Coolidge, Daniel Davis, Elisha Ford ; highway surveyors, James Eastman, Elisha Ford, Daniel Doty, William Whit- cher ; tything man, William Coolidge; pound keeper, Daniel Davis ; hog reeves, Moses Eastman, Daniel Davis, Daniel Doty, William Coolidge. Voted to raise $200 for highways, $40 for schools, $160 for town charges, a total of $400. For governor John Langdon received 18 votes, John Taylor Gilman, 1. Aug. 29. At the Congressional election the Federal can- didates received 14 votes, the Democratic 8. Nov. 4. At the Presidential election the Federal elec- 'EXTET—BEXTOX. X. H. la- teral ticket headed by Jeremiah Smith rec ei v e d 10 rotes, the Democratic, headed by John Langdon, 8. Coventry pol- itiea for the rear 1808 are not easily understood. ":S:-y." -•-.-.'." A -S----..-Z --':.-.-.:--'-.- *1 .--.-- try and Warren for the choice of representatives was held at •':.-. :. ;••: .: Z'l-.Z. Z' --■■:-. Z'z. —. n:-:rri::r. '"' : \ f iir: Kaufman ; representative. Daniel Da March 14. Annual town meeting was held at home of Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Obadiah Eastman, town clerk, Salmon XOes : selectmen, Daniel Davis. Samuel Jackson, Jr.. Moses Eastman: highway surveyors, Samuel Jackson, Jr., Benjamin Woodbury, Robert Elliott, Jr., William Whkcher: tax collector and constable, Salmon Xiles. who agreed to collect taxes free of expense to the town ; superintending school committee. William Coolidge, ** - . ■--.'>. Ar :i -\'.'.. " '.'— : X .!:■ : '.■.•:::-•. V - rf Z ■- . Z :- :ed to raise $60 for town charges, $200 for highw $64 for schools, a total of $324. Z - gorernor, John Langdon, dem., received 13 rotes, Jeremiah Smith, fed.. 13. [i8io.~ March 13. Annual town meeting was held at hous e of Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Samuel Aspin- wall ; town clerk. Samuel Aspinwall ; selectmen. Daniel Davis. Samuel Jackson, Jr.. Moses Eastman: highway surveyors. Robert Jackson, Benjamin Woodbury, Robert EH ion. Jr., Jonathan Marston, Jesse Tyler; superintend- ing school committee, Obadiah Eastman, Daniel D William Coolidge ; collector of taxes, Samuel Jack s on, Jr. , to collect free of expense to the town ; constable, Benjamin Woodbury : hog reeres. Peter Eastman, Winthrop Elliott, William Mead, Jonathan Marston. 150 SOME THINGS ABOUT Voted to raise $300 for highways, $70 for schools, $35 for town charges. For governor John Langdon received 13 votes, Jeremiah Smith 8. Aug. 7. At a meeting to vote for members of Congress held at the house of James Eastman only five votes were cast, all for Josiah Bartlett, John A. Harper, David L. Morrill, Samuel Densmore, Obed Hale. [i8ii.] March 5. The voters of Warren and Coventry met at the house of Samuel Aspinwall in Coventry for the choice of representatives to the General Court. Chose : moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; representative, Abel Merrill. March 12. Annual town meeting was held at house of Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Daniel Davis ; town clerk, Samuel Aspinwall; selectmen, Daniel Davis, Samuel Jackson, Jr., Moses Eastman; superintending school com- mittee, Obadiah Eastman, Daniel Davis, William Coolidge. Voted to raise $200 for highways, $20 to defray town charges, $70 for schools. The vote for governor was : John Langdon 11, Jere Smith 1. [1812.] March 13. The annual town meeting was held at the house of James Eastman. Chose : moderator, Wil- liam Coolidge; town clerk, Samuel Aspinwall; selectmen, Daniel Davis, Samuel Aspinwall, Obadiah Eastman. Voted that Samuel Aspinwall, Elisha Ford, Daniel Davis, David Marston and Kimball Tyler be a committee to divide the town into school districts. Voted to raise $70 for schools, $30 for town charges, and $200 for highways. The vote for governor was : for Wil- liam Plumer 12, John Taylor Gillman 8. Nov. 2. At the Congressional and Presidential election the Democratic ticket received 10 votes, the Federalist 1. CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, K. H. 151 [1813.] March 9. The annual town meeting was held at the house of James Eastman. Chose: moderator, Wil- liam Collidge ; town clerk, William Coolidge ; selectmen, William Coolidge, David Marston, Abner Willoughby ; collector of taxes, William Whitcher, with compensation at 1-2 of 1 per cent. The report of the committee dividing the town into five school districts was accepted. Voted to raiee for highways $200, for schools $70 for town charges $50, total $320. The records of the town for the years 1811-1813 were very imperfectly kept. [1814.] March 8. The annual town meeting was held at the dwelling house of William Coolidge. This was the first time the meeting was held in the north part of the town. There were 45 names on the check list. Chose : moderator, Jonathan Hale ; town clerk, Samuel Aspinwall ; selectmen, William Whitcher, Samuel Jackson, Obadiah Eastman; highway surveyors, Abraham Xorris, William Rogers, Sam- uel Fairbanks, James Ford, Obadiah Eastman ; tything men, Stephen Jeffers, Samuel Morrill ; treasurer, James Eastman ; fence viewer Chase Whitcher. Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $70, for town charges $110. The vote for governor was : for William Plumer 21, for John Taylor Gilman 21. On the question of calling a con- stitutional convention 43 votes were given in the negative. Voted to divide the town into five highway districts. Aug. 29. At the Congressional election held this day, 15 votes were given for the Democratic ticket headed by John F. Parrat, and 10 for the Federal ticket headed by David Webster. A tax of $95.30 was levied to build a 152 SOME THINGS ABOUT school house in district No. 5. [1815.] Feb. 23. At a special town meeting Daniel Davis was chosen town clerk to fill vacancy caused by re- moval of Samuel Aspinwall from town, and Robert Jackson selectman to fill vacancy caused by removal of Samuel Jackson. March 9. At a meeting of voters ot Warren and Coven- try at the house of James Eastman for choice of representa- tive to the General Court. Chose : moderator, Jonathan Merrill ; representative, Capt. Joseph Patch. March 14. Annual meeting was held at house of James Eastman. Chose : moderator, James Eastman ; town clerk, Daniel Davis ; selectmen, James Eastman, Robert Jackson, Obadiah Eastman ; highway surveyors, William Rogers, Peter Howe, Jr., Stephen Lund, John Russell, Robert Jackson. Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $75, for town charges $65. The vote tor governor was : John Taylor Gilman 4, William Plumer 17. [1816.] March 12. Annual meeting at house of James Eastman. Chose : moderator, Daniel Davis ; selectmen, James Eastman, William Whitcher, Elisha Ford; highway surveyors, Stephen Jeffers, Moses L. Hobart, James East- man, Elisha Tyler, William Whitcher; collector of taxes, Jeremiah Jackson, compensation to be 4 3-4 per cent. Voted to raise for roads $300, for schools $100, for town charges $50. The vote for governor was : James Sheafe, fed., 7, William Plumer, dem., 20. Nov. 4. At the Congressional and Presidential election Jeremiah Jackson was elected moderator. Only seven votes were cast for congressmen and electors, and those were all for the Democratic candidates. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 153 [1817.] March 4. A meeting of Warren and Coventry voters was held at the house of Moses L. Hobart in Coven- try for the choice of representative to the General Court. Chose : moderator, Jonathan Merrill ; representative, Capt. Joseph Patch. March 11. Annual meeting held in school house in dis- trict No. 1, High Street. Chose: moderator, Jonathan Hale; town clerk, Daniel Davis; selectmen, Daniel Davis, Robert Jackson, Moses L. Hobart ; constables, David Marston, Elisha Ford ; highway surveyors, Samuel Page, Nahum WilJey, Obadiah Eastman, Moses Knight, William Whitcher. Voted to raise for schools $200, highways $200, town charges $35, for support of poor $50. Voted that the poor be set up at auction. The support of Daniel Tyler was bid off by Kimball Tyler at 62 cents a week, and Persis Tyler by William Whitcher at 5 cents a week. The vote for governor was : William Plumer, 1 ; James Sheafe, 5 ; Josiah Bartlett, 25. Sept 6. At a special town meeting called to fill the vacancy in the board of selectmen, caused by the removal of Moses L. Hobart from town, chose William Whitcher. Voted that the selectmen be vested with powers to lease or release a certain cow to Hugh Matthews, now the proper- ty of the town. [1818.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held at the school house in district No. 1. Chose : moderator, David Marston ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, William Whitcher, Enos Wells, Jonathan Marston ; highway survey- ors, J. B. Davis, Jonathan Hale, James Eastman, Kimball Tyler, Peter Howe, Jr. ; collector, David Marston, with 154 SOME THINGS ABOUT compensation at 4 1-2 per cent ; constables, David Marston, Elisha Ford. Voted to raise for town charges $60, schools $150, roads $300, to pay town indebtedness $150. The vote for governor was : Josiah Bartlett 7, William Plumer 26. [1819.] March 9. Annual town meeting was held at the school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, James Eastman, Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Marston ; highway surveyors, Timothy Ayer, John Buswell, Samuel Page, John Huntress, David Marston ; treasurer, Moses Knight ; col- lector, William Whitcher, with compensation at 1 per cent ; constables, Jonathan Marston, John Buswell. On refusal of Capt. William Whitcher to serve as collector, David Marston was chosen. Voted to raise for support of schools $150, town charges $50, roads $200. The vote for governor was Samuel Bell 21. March 13. The voters of Warren and Coventry met in Coventry for choice of representatives. Chose Capt. Joseph Patch, representative. [1820.] March 14. The annual town meeting was held at the school house district No 1. Chose : moderator, Jon- athan Hale ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, Rob- ert Jackson, Enos Wells, Obadiah Eastman ; highway sur- veyors, Robert Jackson, Elisha Ford, Stephen Jeffers, Kim- ball Tyler, Peter Howe ; collector, John Buswell, with com- pensation at 2 per cent. Voted to raise for highways $225, for schools $150, for town charges $70. The vote for governor was for Samuel Bell 30. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 155 [1821.] March 13. Annual meeting was held at the school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, David Marston ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Robert Jackson, Obadiah Eastman ; highway survey- ors, James Harford, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Aaron Knight, Augustus Coburn. For governor 31 votes were cast, all for Samuel Bell. Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $150, for town charges $29 to be expended in care of the poor. [1822. J Jan. 9. At a special town meeting, chose : Jesse Eastman, town clerk, and Elijah Gray, selectman, to fill vacancy caused by the removal of Obadiah Eastman from town. March 12. The annual town meeting was held in the school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, David Marston ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Joseph Niles, David Marston ; highway surveyors, Samuel Jackson, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Kimball Tyler, Augustus Coburn ; collector, Aaron Knight. For governor 29 votes were cast, all for Samuel Bell. Voted to raise for highways $250, for schools $150, for town charges and support of the poor $75. [1823.] March 11. Annual meeting at the house of James Eastman. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Joseph Niles, William Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Jesse East- man, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Aaron Knight, Nathaniel Howe; treasurer, Enos Wells; collector, David Marston, with compensation at 2 per cent. For governor 41 votes were cast, all for Levi Woodbury. Voted to raise for roads $300, for schools $100, for town charges $125. 156 SOME THINGS ABOUT March 12. The voters of Warren and Coventry met at the house of James Eastman for choice of representative. Chose : moderator, Daniel Patch ; representative, Col. Amos Tarleton. [1824.] March 9. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk ; David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Daniel Batchelder, Augustus Coburn ; highway surveyors, Timothy Ayer, Daniel Batch- elder, Caleb Page, Israel Flanders, David Marston ; collec- tor, David Marston, with compensation at 3 1-2 per cent. For governor 43 votes were cast, all of which were for Levi Woodbury. (Coventry had by this time become a pretty reliable Democratic town.) Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $100, town charges $95. [1825.] March 8. Annual meeting at the school house near James Eastman's. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Daniel Batchelder, James J. Page ; highway surveyors, Jonathan Welch, David Elliott, Stephen Jeflers, James Ball, Nathan- iel Home ; treasurer, Enos Wells ; collector, David Mars- ton, with compensation at 3 1-2 per cent. For governor 47 votes were cast, all for David L. Morrill. Voted to raise for highways $300, for town charges $70, for schools $100. Voted to accept the North and South road as a laid out highway. [1826.] March 4. Annual town meeting in school house in district No. 4. Chose : moderator, Enos W T ells ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, James J.Page, William Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Daniel Patch, David Elliott, Moses Mead, James H. Cox, Jona- than Marston ; collector, David Marston, with compensa- CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 157 tion at 2 per cent. For governor, and other state, and coun- ty officers, 44 votes were cast, all for Democratic candidates. Voted to raise for town charges $125, for schools $100, for roads $300. [1857.] March 13. Annual meeting held at house of Maj. Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Daniel Patch ; town clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, James J. Page, Jesse Eastman ; highway surveyors, Daniel Patch, Jonathan Hale, James J. Page, Enos Wells, William Whitcher ; collector, Moses Mead, with compensation at 2 per cent. For governor, congressmen and state and county officers 40 votes were cast for the Democratic ticket. March 15. The voters of Coventry and Warren met at the school house in district No. 1 for the choice of represen- tative. Chose : moderator, James Dow ; representative, Enos Wells. Aug. 18. James Eastman deeded the burying ground at High Street to the town. [1828.] March 11. Annual town meeting held in school house, district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Daniel Patch ; town clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Jesse Eastman, Augustus Coburn ; highway surveyors, Daniel Patch, Thomas W. Ford, Samuel Page, James Ball, Nathaniel Howe, Elisha Tyler; collector, Moses Mead, at 2 1-2 per cent. The vote for governor was : Benjamin Pierce 50, John Bell 4. Voted to raise for town charges $40, for schools the amount required by law, for building and repairing high- ways $500. Chose Enos Wells agent of the town to secure from the legislature an act entitling the town to representation in the General Court. There were 81 names on the check list. 158 SOME THINGS ABOUT Nov 3. At an election held for presidential electors the ticket headed by John Harvey (Jackson) received 39 votes, that headed by George Sullivan (Adams) received 12 votes. [1829.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Daniel Patch; town clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Augustus Coburn, Jesse Eastman. For the first time Coventry elected a representative to the General Court as a town by itself. The effort to secure a special act had been successful, and Enos Wells was elected representative. The vote for governor was : Benjamin Pierce 46, John Bell 11. Voted to raise for highways $500, town charges $87, for schools $100. [1830.] March 9. Annual town meeting held at the dwelling house of David Marston, North Coventry. Chose : moderator, Daniel Patch ; town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; se- lectmen, James J. Page, Augustus Coburn, Nathan Coburn ; representative to General Court, Nathan Coburn ; collector, James J. Page, with compensation at 2 per cent. The vote for governor was : Matthew Harvey 56, Timothy Upham 7. It was voted to divide the fourth school district, creating the sixth in the east part of the town. Voted to raise for schools $100 for town charges $87, for highways $400. [1831.] March 9. The annual town meeting was held in the school house in district No. 5 for the first time. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk Nathan Coburn, selectmen, Nathan Coburn, James J. Page ; representative, Nathan Coburn. The vote for governor was: Samuel Dinsmore 58, Ichabod Bartlett 5. It was voted to divide the town into seven school districts. COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 159 Voted to raise tor support of schools $100, town charges $200, roads $500, poor $110. [1832.] March 13. Annual town meeting at dwelling house of David Marston. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Jesse Eastman, Jr., Nathan Coburn. The vote for governor was : Samuel Dinsmore 68, Ichabod Bartlett 4. Voted to raise for schools $100, town charges $300, high- ways $300. Nov 2. At a meeting to vote for presidential electors the vote for electoral ticket, headed by Benjamin Pierce (Jack- son), was 57, for that headed by Langley Boardman (Clay) was 6. [1833.] March 12. Annual town meeting at school house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batch- elder, Jr. ; town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; selectmen, Nathp.n Coburn, James J. Page, Daniel Batchelder, Jr. ; represen- tative, Nathan Coburn. Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $150, for town charges $75. [1834.] March 11. Annual town meeting held at the dwelling house of Deliverance Woodward. Chose : moder- ator, Daniel Batchelder ; town clerk, Deliverance Wood- ward ; selectmen, Daniel Batchelder, Nathan Coburn, De- liverance Woodward ; representative, Daniel Batchelder. For governor 73 votes were cast, all for William Badger. Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $150, for town charges and poor $300. [1835.] March 10. Annual town meeting, school house, district No. 5. Chose: moderator, Daniel Batchel- der; town clerk, Nathan Coburn; selectmen, Daniel Batch- elder, Nathan Coburn, David Whitcher ; representative, 160 SOME THINGS ABOUT Daniel Batchelder. The vote for governor was : William Badger, dem., 72, Joseph Healey, whig, 2. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $500, for high- ways $500, for schools $150. Oct. 31. Special town meeting. Chose: Moses Whitcher town clerk, to fill vacancy caused by removal of Nathan Coburn from town ; James J. Page selectman, to fill vacancy caused by removal of Nathan Coburn ; Peter Howe select- man, to fill vacancy caused by death of David Whitcher. [1836.] March 8. Annual meeting at house of Deliv- erance Woodward. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batchelder ; town clerk, Deliverance Woodward ; selectmen, James J. Page, Deliverance Woodward, Daniel Batchelder; repre- tative, Daniel Batchelder ; highway surveyors, Alvah Ayer, Deliverance Woodward, Stephen Jeffers, Jonathan Marston, Chellis Goodwin, Nathan B. Davis, Jacob Whitcher, John Stow ; sealer of weights and measures, Moses Whitcher ; constables, James J. Page, Alvah C. Wright ; superintend- ing school committee, David Page, Moses Whitcher, Daniel Batchelder ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, Peter Howe, Jacob Currier, John P. Ayer, Nathan B. Davis. For governor, Isaac Hill 78 votes ; William Badger 1. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $300, highways $100, schools $150. There is no record of a meeting in November for the choice of presidential electors. [1837.] March 14. Meeting in school house, district No. 5. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, Deliverance Woodward; selectmen, Enos Wells, James J. Page, Peter Howe ; highway surveyors, John Lathrop, D. Woodward, Stephen Jeffers, Asa Smith, Chellis Goodwin, Nathan B. Davis, Jacob Whitcher, Elisha Tyler ; sealer of CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 161 weights and measures, D. Woodward ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, D. Woodward, Peter Howe; hog reeves, Caleb S. Ford, Elijah S. Gray, Moses Mead, Edwin Tyler, Alfred Tyler, William Whitcher, Jr. ; constables, Moses Mead, Nathan B. Davis; representative to General Court, Enos Wells. For governor 65 votes were cast, all for Isaac Hill. Voted to receive from the state the "surplus revenues." Voted that Deliverance Woodward be agent to receive the town's proportion. Voted that it shall be at the option of the agent to receive it in specie or bills. Voted that the money be loaned to inhabitants of the town in sums of not more than $100, or less than $25, to a single individual, on real estate security. Voted that the town bring suit against the town of Bos- cawen tor support of Betsey Bowley, and that James J. Page be agent to prosecute the action. [1838.] March 13. Annual meeting at house of Ben- jamin Little. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batchelder ; se- lectmen, Enos Wells, James J. Page, Peter Howe; repre- sentative, Daniel Batchelder ; highway surveyors, John Cummings, Benjamin Little, Stephen JefFers, James H. Cox, Peter Howe, Alfred Tyler, Jacob Whitcher, Jonas G. Brown ; constables, Daniel Batchelder, William Gannett, Moses Whitcher ; surveyors of lumber, John Lathrop, Wil- liam Gannett, Peter Howe, Moses Whitcher, Jonas G. Brown ; sextons, Jonathan Marston, Jacob Whitcher; tyth- ing men, Enos Wells, Peter Howe. The vote for governor was : for Isaac Hill 72, James Wilson 7. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $250, for schools $150, highways $600. 162 SOME THINGS ABOUT Voted that James J. Page be agent to take charge of the © © © "surplus money." [1839.] March 12. Annual meeting in school house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, David Page ; town clerk, Enos Wells ; selectmen, Moses Whitcher, David Page, Winthrop G. Torsey ; representative, Daniel Batchelder ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Caleb S. Ford, Ste- phen Jefters, Richard Brown, William Whitcher, Jr., Israel Flanders, Hazen Whitcher, William Keyser ; school tax collectors, Jonathan Welch, Caleb S. Ford, David Page, Bartlett Marston, Moses Whitcher, Nathan B. Davis ; sealer of weights and measures, Amos Whitcher ; constables, © Moses Whitcher, Daniel Batchelder, James J. Page, John Cummings ; tything men, Nathan B. Davis, Samuel Tyler. The vote tor governor was : John Page 77, James Wilson 11. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $300, for schools $150, highways $300. August 20. Special town meeting in district No. 5 school house. Voted "to discontinue the Meadow road from Haverhill town line to Warren town line, provided the Turn- pike Company assume to build and repair said road, and assume liabilities." Chose a committee of five to carry this vote into effect — Daniel Batchelder, Moses Whitcher, Win- throp G. Torsey, Enos Wells, James J. Page. [The con- dition imposed on the Turnpike Company was not accepted.] Voted that Capt. Amos Whitcher make out a roll of the soldiers who did military duty in 1838, and the selectmen pay the soldiers. [1840.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held at the school house in district No. 5. Chose : moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, Enos Wells ; selectmen, James J. Page, Enos Wells, Moses Whitcher ; representative, CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 1 63 James J. Page ; highway surveyors, Jonathan Welch, Solon Woodward, Samuel Page, Winthrop G. Torsey, Samuel Mann, Nathan B. Davis, Hazen Whitcher, Elisha Tyler; school tax collectors, Josiah F. Jefters, David Elliott, M. Hull, W. G. Torsey, Ira Whitcher, John Stow, Jr. ; Con- stables, Moses Whitcher, Daniel Batchelder. The vote for governor was : John Page 74, Enos Stevens 6. Voted that James J. Page, Enos Wells, Moses Whitcher, and Daniel Batchelder be a committee to transact any busi- ness relative to the Meadow road, and that the town raise $320 to be expended under their direction. Voted to hold the annual meetings in the north and south parts alternately. November 2. The meeting to vote for presidential elec- tors was held in the school house in district No. 5. For the Democratic ticket, headed by John W. Weeks, 73 votes were given ; for the Whig ticket, headed by James Healy, 9. It was in the year 1840 that the town took the name of Benton, an act changing the name from Coventry having been passed by the legislature of 1839, which was ratified at the annual meeting in March, 1840, by a vote of 77 to 2, Major Samuel Mann and Ira Whitcher giving the two neg- ative votes. There were two motives for the change : Cov- entry was a backwoods town, and Coventry people were the objects of ridicule on the part of the aristocratic class in Bath and Haverhill. If only the name Coventry could be got- ten rid of! Then there was no doubt as to the political sen- timent of the town. A community, who in the year of "Tip- pecanoe and Tyler, too," would stand by Martin Van Buren by a vote of 73 to 9, might pretty safely be called a Demo- cratic town. And was not Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, who, according to the plan of the Jackson dynasty, was to succeed Martin Van Buren in 1844, the heir apparent to 1 64 SOME THINGS ABO UT Democratic idolatry ? Coventry would rid itself of its hated name and at the same time swear allijjiance to the coming president, and it did it. But the result of the election of 1840 blasted the hopes of the Missouri senator, and a change of name did not change the character of the town. It was in this year, 1840, too, that the factions, which for the next thirty years contended for political and official honors in the town, were separated by pretty clear dividing lines. Whigs, and later Republicans, did not count for much, and were pretty thoroughly absorbed in one or the other of the Demo- cratic factions, Page — Wells — Whitcher. From 1840 to 1870 inclusive no one was elected a representative to the General court unless he bore the name of Page, or Wells, or Whitcher, except for the years 1857 and 1860, when George W. Mann, who had married a Whitcher, was elected. No one of these factions ever had of itself a clear majority of the votes, and this fact led to deals and bargains, and the good old Democratic doctrine always prevailed that "to the victors belong the spoils." The chief political prize was the office of representative, but there were other spoils — town clerk, selectmen, highway surveyors, tax collector, school committee, not to mention fence viewers, hog reeves, and such like. Politics was a serious business to the voters of Benton. A campaign began on the evening of the March election and usually lasted all through the year, when com- pacts more or less binding were made and unmade. Politics entered into business relations, into social life, into church life, even sometimes becoming a factor in revivals of religion. The town in these thirty years, until by death or removal of the leaders of the factions, was a town of partisans. In the year 1840, a Page was elected representative, and a Page, Welle, and Whitcher made up the board of selectmen, but it CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 1 65 wa8 not till long years afterwards that this latter was repeat- ed. [1841.] March 9. Annual town meeting held at dwell- ing house of Chase Whitcher on North and South road. Chose : moderator, James J. Page ; town clerk, Moses Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, Moses Whitcher, John Lathrop ; representative, James J. Page by a vote of 68 to 4 for Moses Whitcher. For governor, John Page received 69, all the votes cast. Highway surveyors, John Lathrop, Solon M. Woodward, Lewis Sawyer, Joseph Annis, Ira Whitcher, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, Humphrey P. Tyler ; school tax collectors, John Lathrop, Caleb S. Ford, Aaron Knight, Charles K. Merrill, Ira Whitcher, John C. Brown ; constables, Daniel Batchelder, Ira Whitcher, Caleb S. Ford ; tything men, James J. Page, Moses Whitcher, John Lathrop. One looks in vain for the name Wells in the foregoing list. The "thirty years' warfare" between the factions had begun in earnest. Voted to raise for town expenses and support of town poor $250, for highways $300, for schools $150. [1842.] March 8. Annual town meeting held in dis- trict No. 5. school house. Chose : moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, Moses Whitcher, selectmen, James J. Page, John Lathrop, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Alvah C. Wright, David Elliott, James J. Page, Orrin Marston, Ira Whitcher, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen W T hitcher, Humphrey P. Tyler; sealer of weights and measures, Caleb S. Ford ; surveyors of lumber, John Stow, Jr. , James J. Page, Ira Whitcher, John Lathrop, Moses Whitcher; con- stables, Caleb S. Ford, Ira Whitcher. The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 69. Moses Whitcher had 48, James J. Page 10, Enos Wells 1, and Moses 166 SOME THINGS ABOUT Whitcher was elected. For governor Henry Hubbard had 67, Enos Stevens 4. Voted to raise for town expenses and support of poor $300, for highways $350, for schools $150. [1843.] March 14. Annual town meeting at house of John Buswell. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, Moses Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, John Lathrop, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Alvah Ayer, Caleb S. Ford, Benjamin Parker, Gilbert P. Wright, David M. Howe, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, Humphrey P. Tyler ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, Ira Whitch- er, John Lathrop, James J. Page, Caleb S. Ford ; supt. school committee, James J. Page, John Lathrop, Moses Whitcher, William Whitcher. For representative, James J. Pao-e had 1 vote, Moses Whitcher 45, and Moses Whitcher was declared elected. The vote for governor stood : Henry Hubbard 48, John M. White 4, Anthony Colby 2. Voted to raise for town charges $300, for schools $100, for high- ways $300. Voted that the interest on the surplus revenue be distributed equally among the ratable polls on the 1st of April. [1844.] March 12. Annual town meeting in district No. 5 school house. Chose : moderator, James J. Page ; town clerk, Moses Whitcher ; selectmen, James J. Page, Ira Whitcher, Winthrop G. Torsey ; highway surveyors, James Harriman, James J. Page, John Buswell, Bartlett Marston, James Norris, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, William K. Bruce; surveyors lumber, William Eastman, Moses Whitcher, Enos Wells, John Brown, Jacob Currier; superintending school committee ; Moses Whitcher, James J. Page, John Lathrop. On the first ballot for representative there was no choice. It stood, James J. Page 10, Enos Wells 17, John Lathrop COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 167 20, Moses Whitcher 40. The second ballot resulted as fol- lows : James J. Page 4, Enos Wells 14, John Lathrop 16, Moses Whitcher 53, and Moses Whitcher was declared elected. The vote for governor was: John H. Steele 81, John H. White 6. Voted to raise for schools $150, for town charges $300, for highways $400. Nov. 4. At the Presidential election the Democratic ticket, headed by William Badger, received 83 votes, and the Whig ticket, headed by Joseph Low, 8 votes. [1845.] March 11. Annual town meeting at the dwell- ing house of John Lathrop. Chose ; moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Moses Whitcher; selectmen, Enos Wells, Nathan B. Davis, Winthrop G. Torsey ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, John Buswell, Ephraim Cross, Joseph Annis, George W. Mann, Noah C. Hutchins, Hazen Whitcher, William K. Bruce ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, William Eastman, Ira Whitcher, James J. Page, Enos Wells ; constables, Nathan B. Davis, James Norris, Caleb S. Ford ; superintending school committee, James J. Page, Nathan B. Davis, Moses Whitcher. William Eastman was elected sealer of weights and meas- ures and was re-elected annually for a period of 28 years. Ira Whitcher was elected representative on the second ballot. The result of the first ballot was : James J. Page 1, William Whitcher 1, Moses Whitcher 2, Jeremiah B. Davis 2, Enos Wells 40, Ira Whitcher 40 ; second ballot, Enos Wells 40, Ira Whitcher 45. The vote for governor was : John H. Steele 71, Anthony Colby 10, scattering 2. Voted to raise for town charges $300, for schools $200, for highways $350. [1846.] March 10. Annual town meeting in school 168 SOME THINGS ABOUT house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, Ira VVhitcher ; town clerk, Moses VVhitcher ; selectmen James J. Page, Jeremiah B. Davis, George W. Mann ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Daniel Bailey, Daniel D. Page, Winthrop G. Torsey, David M. Howe, Nathan B. Davis, Jeremiah A. Clark, Joseph Hutchins ; surveyors of lumber, William Eastman, N. B. Davis, Moses VVhitcher, Enos Wells, John Stow, Jonathan Clement ; constables, Daniel D. Page, Jo- siah F. Jeffers, Ira VVhitcher, James Norris, Chase VVhit- cher, 2nd. The ballot for representative resulted as follows : Samuel Howe 2, James J. Page 3, Enos Wells 22, Ira Wh-itcher (55. The vote for governor was : Jared M. Williams 68, Nathaniel S. Berry 9, Anthony Colby 9. Voted to raise for town charges $250, for highways $400, for schools $200. March 21. Ira Whitcher was appointed town clerk to fill the vacancy caused by death of Moses Whitcher. [1847.] March 9. Meeting at house of John Bus well. Chose: moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, Ira VVhitcher ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Peter Howe, Jonas G. Brown ; highway surveyors, Robert Gray, Caleb S. Ford, Jonathan Marston, William VVhitcher, Israel Flanders, John Brown, Sewell Waterman, Joseph Annis ; constables, James Harri- man, William F. Morse, Caleb Ford ; surveyors of lumber, Ira Whitcher, James J. Page, William Eastman, John Stow, Enos Wells, William Whitcher ; superintending school committee, James J. Page, George W. Mann, Peter Howe. The result of the election for selectmen and representative was a pretty complete triumph for the Wells faction, and Messrs. Page and Mann declined toserve. This left "Uncle Peter" in charge of the schools for the year. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 169 One should have known "Uncle Peter" to properly appreci- ate the situation. He could read and write and "figger," and his library consisted of the Bible and the Farmers' Almanac.) There were two ballots for representative. The first stood : Winthrop G. Torsey 1, William K. Bruce 1, Ira Whitcher 1, William C. Stow 1, Daniel D. Page 1, Sam- uel Howe 6, James J. Page 35, Enos Wells 43. On the second ballot Capt. Enos won out as follows : whole number of ballots 90, W. G. Torsey 1, John Stow 1, Daniel D. Page 1, Samuel Howe 4, James J. Page 32, Enos Wells 51. (The Page contingent were, however, on deck the next year, and Capt. Wells did not secure the usual second term.) The vote for governor was : Jared W. Williams 78, An- thony Colby 10, Nathaniel S. Berry 5. Voted to raise for schools $200, for town charges $200, for highways $300. [1848.] March 14. Annual town meeting at district No. 5 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Ira Whitcher; selectmen, Daniel D. Page, Jo- nas G. Brown, Jonathan Hunkings ; highway surveyors, Jonathan Welch, William Gannett, Daniel D. Page, Jona- than Marston, William Whitcher, Noah C. Hutchins, J. Dean Norris, John Brown, Samuel C. Annis ; constables, William Gannett, George W. Mann, Robert Gray; sur- veyors of lumber, William Eastman, William C. Stow, Ira Whitcher, Jonas G. Brown ; superintending school commit- tee, Jonathan Hunkings, Darius K. Davis, James J. Page. James J. Page was elected representative on the first ballot : whole number of votes 90 ; W. G. Torsey 1, Samuel Howe 9, Enos Wells, 33, James J. Page 47. The vote for governor was : Jared W. Williams 83, 170 SOME THINGS ABOUT Nathaniel S. Berry 9. Voted to raise for town expenses $300, schools $250, highways $400. Nov. 7. At the meeting to vote for presidential electors the ticket headed by Samuel Tilton received 75 votes, and that headed by James Bell 11. [1849.] March 13. Meeting at dwelling house of Wil- liam Gannett. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Ira Whitcher; selectmen, Daniel D. Page, Nathan B. Davis, Jonathan Ilunkings ; highway surveyors, James Har- riman, Jacob Place, James A. Cox, William Whitcher, William Davis, Merrill Norris, W. Carlos Stow, Samuel C. Annis ; surveyors of lumber, William Eastman, W. C. Stow, Jonas G. Brown, Amos Whitcher, Robert Gray, Enos Wells ; superintending school committee, James J. Page, George W. Mann, William Eastman. The whole number of votes cast for representative was 82. Ira Whitcher received 1, Darius K. Davis 1, Robert Coburn 1, Nathan B. Davis 3, Winthrop G. Torsey 11, Enos Wells 18, James J. Page 47, and James J. Page was declared elected. The vote for governor was: Samuel Dinsmore 79, N. S. Chamberlin 13, Nathaniel S. Berry 4. Voted to raise for town charges $250, for highways $500, schools $200. On an article in the warrant to see if the town would vote to settle the Rev. William C. Bixby as minister and give him the minister lot of 100 acres of land, voted in the negative. [1850.] March 12. Annual meeting in school house, district No. 5. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Chase Whitcher; selectmen, Nathan B. Davis, James COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 171 J. Page, Josiah F. Jefters ; highway surveyors, James M. Harriman, Nathan M. Chase, Cornelius Carr, Bartlett Marston, Daniel Whitcher, William Davis, Elijah Curtis, John C. Brown, Caleb Wells; surveyors of lumber, Ira Whitcher, William Eastman, Daniel Whitcher, Jonas G. Brown, Josiah F. Jeffers, George Wells, Bartlett Marston, John Buswell ; constables, Peter Howe, 2nd, Daniel Whitcher, Caleb Wells. Two ballots were taken for representative. On the first the whole number of votes cast was 90. Jonathan Hunkings had 1, Peter Howe, 2nd, 1, Kimball Tyler 2, Enos Wells 2, Samuel Howe 2, Daniel D. Page 37, Ira Whitcher 42. On the second ballot 87 votes were cast. There were scattering 6, Daniel D. Page had 31, Ira Whitcher 50, and was de- clared elected. The vote for governor was: Samuel Dinsmore 74, Levi Chamberlin 17, N. S. Berry 5. Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $200, high- ways $400. Oct 8. At a special town meeting held for the purpose of choosing a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, ch x-'e : moderator, Ira Whitcher, delegate, Ira Whitcher. [1851-] March 11. Annual town meeting held at house of William Gannett. Chose : moderator, Ira Whit- cher ; town clerk, Chase Whitcher ; selectmen, Nathan B. Davis, James J. Page, Josiah F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, James Harriman, Jonathan Stickney, Cornelius Carr, Bart- lett Marston, Myron Bailey, Amos Wilson, Elijah Curtis, William Keyser, Gardner G. Annis ; constables, Moses W. Howe, Thomas F. Cox, James Harriman ; surveyors of lumber, Jonas G. Brown, Ira Whitcher, Gilbert P. Wright, William Eastman, John Buswell, Abel S. E. B. Davis; 172 SOME THINGS ABOUT superintending school committee, George W. Mann, James Page, Caleb Wells. The whole number of votes cast for representative was 102. Jonas G. Brown had 1, John K. Davis 1, Caleb Wells 1, James J. Page 1, Daniel D. Page 44, Ira Whit- cher 54, and was declared elected. The vote for governor was : Samuel Dinsmore 74, Thomas E. Sawyer 18, John Atwood 8. Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $250, high- ways $400. [1852.] March 9. Annual meeting held in No. 5 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, George W. Mann ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Darius K. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis ; highway surveyors, James Harriman, William Gannett, Hiram King, Gilbert P. Wright, Moses W. Howe, John Flanders, Samuel Howe, William K. Bruce, Enos C. Wells ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells, Amos G. Torsey, Thomas F. Cox ; constable, Samuel Pike ; treasurer, Ira Whitcher. Chase Whitcher was chosen representative on first ballot, which resulted as follows: Whole number of votes, 91; Caleb Wells had 1, Winthrop G. Torsey 1, Darius K. Davis 4, Enos Wells 6, Robert Coburn 11, Chase Whitcher 68. For governor the vote was : Noah Martin 76, Thomas E. Sawyer 20, John Atwood 3. Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $250, high- ways $450. The money raised by taxation for the support of schools was apportioned to the school districts as follows : district No. 1, $26.07; No. 2, $39.80; No. 3, 25.03; No. 4, $45.06; No. 5, $63.56; No. 6, $42.69; No. 7, $7.50. Nov. 2. At the election for choice of Presidential elec- tors the vote for Democratic electors was 76, Whig 9, Free CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 173 Soil 3. [1853.] March 8. Annual meeting at district No. 1 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, George W. Mann ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Darius K. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, John Hyde, James J. Page, Thomas F. Cox, Amos Whitcher, John Flanders, Samuel Howe, William K. Bruce, Samuel C. Annis ; superintending school committee, Darius K. Davis ; collector, James Norris ; treasurer Ira Whitcher. Chase Whitcher was chosen representative as the result of the following ballot ; whole number of votes 75 ; Samuel Pike had 1, Robert Coburn 14, Chase Whitcher 60. The vote for governor was : Noah Martin 76, James Bell 8, John H. White 3. Voted to raise for town charges $350, schools $300, high- ways $450. [1854.] March 4. Annual meeting at 5th district school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Caleb Wells; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Silas M. Welch, Gilbert P. Wright ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Jonathan Stickney, Joseph Blake, Gilbert P. Wright, Amos Wilson, Darius K. Davis, Samuel Howe, Walter Mulliken, Caleb Wells ; constable, George W. Mann ; supt. school committee, Amos G. Torsey ; collector of taxes, Daniel Whitcher ; treasurer, Ira Whitcher. A ballot for representative resulted in the choice of Enos Wells. Whole number of votes was 100. Necessary to a choice 51. Caleb Morse had 1, Chase Whitcher 1, Darius K. Davis 1, Stephen C. Sherman 3, William Eastman 7, Daniel D. Page 36, and Enos Wells 54. The vote for governor was : Nathaniel B. Baker 90, James Bell 10, Jared Perkins 3. Voted to 174 SOME THINGS ABOUT raise for town charges $350, for schools $300, for highways $350. [1855.] March 13. Annual meeting at 1st district school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Caleb Wells ; selectmen, Silas M. Welch, Gilbert P. Wright, George W. Mann ; highway surveyors, John Lathrop, W alter F. Pike, Calvin Corliss, Leonard Brown, Charles C. Tyler, Abel S. E. B. Davis, Daniel Howe, John E. Keyser, George Wells ; supt. school committee, Amos G. Torsey, James Page : constable, George W. Mann ; col- lector, Daniel Whitcher; treasurer, George W. Mann. The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 104. Necessary to a choice 53. Caleb Morse had 1, Enos Wells 1, Robert Coburn 3, Chase Whitcher 3, William Eastman 12, Jonathan Hunkings 26, and Daniel D. Page 58, and the latter was declared elected. For governor, Nathaniel B. Baker had 74, Ralph Metcalf 25, James Bell 2. Voted to raise for town charges $350, for schools $300, for highways $350. [1856.] March 11. Annual town meeting in district No 5 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Chase Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, George \Y. Mann, Bartlett Marston ; highway surveyors, Silas M. Welch, Jonathan Stickney, Joseph Blake, Gilbert P. Wright, Ira Whitcher, Jeremiah B. Davis, Samuel Howe, Walter Mulliken, Nathaniel Stow ; supt. school committee, James Page, Amos G. Torsey ; constables, Jonathan Stickney, Daniel Whitcher. The whole number of votes cast for repre- sentative was 84. Necessary to a choice 43. Enos C. Wells had 1, Enos Wells 5, Jonathan Hunkings 16, Daniel D. Page 62, and Daniel D. Page was elected. The vote for governor was : John S. Wells 73, Ralph Metcalf 20. Gilbert P. Wright. Bartlett Marston. Charles C. Tyler. Silas M. Welch. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 175 Voted to raise for town charges $600, for schools $300, for highways $400. November 4. At the presidential election 85 votes were cast for the Democratic electoral ticket headed by Daniel Marcy, and 23 for the Republican ticket headed by W. H. H. Bailey. [1857.] March 10. Annual town meeting in school house district No. 1. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, George Wells ; selectmen, James J. Page, Bart- lett Marston, William T. Torsey ; highway surveyors, Bart- lett Welch, Nathan Blodgett, Joseph Blake, William T. Torsey, George W. Mann, David Clough, James A. Clark, Nathaniel Mulliken ; supt. school committee, Caleb Wells, James Page ; constables, George W. Mann, James B. Clark, William Smith ; collector, James Norris. Amos G. Torsey, Jonathan Stickney, and William Davis were appointed liquor agents, on the condition that they should not run the town into debt, and that they should charge 20 percent, profit up- on each pint or quart sold and no more. The vote for repre- sentative was : whole number of votes 103 ; necessary to a choice 52; William Whitcher had 1; George Wells 1, James B. Clark 2, Chase Whitcher 2, Daniel Whitcher 35, George W. Mann 62, and George W. Mann was elected. The issue in this election and also in the next three was that of "Bunga Road". There was for the time being a new alignment of factions over this issue, and Wellses, Pages, and Whitchers were for the time forgotten. The candidates for representatives in these four years each belonged to the Whitcher faction, and were brothers-in-law. There was warm politics. With less than 500 population a vote of 108 or 111 indicated that the voters were out. When the Bun- ga road controversy was settled, there was a profitable falling 176 SOME THINGS ABOUT off in the vote. The vote for governor was : John S. Wells 80, William Haile 23. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- ways $400. [1858.] March 9. Annual meeting at the 5th district school house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, George Wells; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, William T. Torsey, Caleb Wells; highway surveyors, James Harriman, Walter F. Pike, Roswell Hardy, Gilbert P. Wright, Ira Whitcher, David Clough, Charles M. Howe, W. Carlos Stowe, Nathaniel Mulliken ; constables, James Norris, Silas M. Welch ; collector, James Norris. The whole number of votes cast for representative was 109. Necessary to a choice 55. Charles M. Howe had 1, James J. Page 1, George W. Mann 52, Daniel Whitcher 55, and Daniel Whitcher was declared elected. The vote for governor was : Asa P. Cate 92, William Haile 16. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- ways $550. [1859.] March 8. Annual meeting in 1st district school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, James Norris ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Caleb Wells, Josiah F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Charles Carpenter, Roswell Cady, William T. Torsey, Ira Whitcher, Noah C. Hutchins, Bjnjamin H. Tyrrell, Samuel C. Annis ; constables, Ira Whitcher, Silas M. Welch; supt. school committee, Walter F. Pike; collector, Horace W. Gordon. The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 108, necessary to a choice 55. Charles M. Howe had 1, George W. Mann 50, Daniel Whitcher 57, and Daniel Whitcher was elected. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. Ill In these close contests Charles M. Howe, a Republican, disgusted that his political brethren voted with one or the other Democratic faction according to personal friendship, or — substantial reward — voted regularly for himself as the only man in town whom he could trust. The vote for governor was Asa P. Cate 94, Ichabod Goodwin 17. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- ways, $500. [i860.] March 13. Meeting in 5th district school house. Chose: moderator, Daniel D. Page; town clerk, James Page; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Jonathan Hunt- ings, Josiah F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, James M. Har- riman, Moses P. Buswell, James J. Page, Gilbert P. Wright, James H. Keyser, Chase Whitcher, Benjamin H. Tyrell, Caleb Wells ; tax collector, Caleb Wells ; superintending school committee, James Page, Caleb Wells; constables, Elisha Hibbard, Jonathan B. Stickney ; agent to manage town law suits, Ira Whitcher. The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 103, necessary to a choice 52. John E. Keyser had 1, Caleb Wells 1, Jonathan Hunkings 16, Daniel D. Page 33, and George W. Mann 52, and George W. Mann was elected. For governor 83 votes were cast for Asa P. Cate and 20 for Ichabod Goodwin. Voted to raise for town charges $600. for schools $300, highways $700. November 6. At the presidential election the Douglas Democratic electoral ticket headed by Henry P. Rolfe re- ceived 55 votes, the Breckinridge Democratic headed by Ab- ner Greenleaf 7, and the Republican ticket headed by John Sullivan 18. 178 SOME THINGS ABOUT [1861.] March 12. Meeting in district No. 1 school house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, James Page ; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Jonathan Hunk- ings, Bartlett Welch ; highway surveyors, Silas M. Welch, Jonathan Stickney, John Savage, Gilbert P. Wright, Chase Whitcher, David Clough, Daniel M. Howe, David Bowman, Caleb Wells ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells, with remuneration at 1 1-2 per cent. ; agent to man- age law suits, Ira Whitcher. The whole number of votes cast for representative was 72. Necessary to a choice 37. William T. Torsey had 2, Jona- than Hunkings 19, James Page 51, and James Page was elected. The vote for governor was : George Stark 82, N. S. Berry 21. Voted to raise for town charges and support of poor $500, schools $300, highways $150 in money and $300 to be ex- pended in labor at 10 cents an hour. [1862.] March 11. Meeting held in district No. 5. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Amos Whit- cher ; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Bartlett Welch, William T. Torsey ; highway surveyors, Bartlett Welch, Moses P. Bus well, George Corliss, S. Emery Marston, Chase Whit- cher, Israel Flanders, James H. Keyser, Charles Gifford, George Wells ; superintending school committee, George W. Mann ; collector, Caleb Wells with compensation at 2 per cent. ; to manage law suits, Ira Whitcher. Three ballots were had for representative. First, whole number of votes cast 86, necessary to a choice 44. Ira Whitcher had 1, Daniel D. Page 4, William C. Bixby 18, Caleb Wells 22, James Page 39. Second, whole number of votes 88, necessary to a choice 45. George W. Mann had l,Ira Whitcher 2, Daniel D. Page 2, William C. Bixby CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 179 22, Caleb Wells 21, James Page 40. Third, whole number of votes cast 87, necessary to a choice 44. George W. Mann had 2, William C. Bixby 19, Caleb Wells 22, and James Page 44, who was declared elected. The vote for governor was : George Stark 74, Nathaniel S. Berry 18. Voted to raise for town charges and town debt $600, schools $300, highways $400 in labor and $100 in money to be expended by the selectmen. Three special town meetings were held in the autumn of the year which will be noted in a later chapter. [1863.] March 10. Annual meeting in the school house in district No. 1. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, Amos Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, William T. Torsey, James Page; highway surveyors, James M. Harriman, Ashael L. Warren, John Savage, Gilbert P. Wright, Prescott Parker, Jr., Lafayette W. Flanders, James H. Keyser, Alden Hurlbert, George Wells ; collector, Caleb Wells ; to manage town law suits, Ira Whitcher. Five ballots were taken for representative. First, whole number of ballots 89, necessary to a choice 45. Daniel D. Page had 1, Charles M. Howe 1, Caleb Wells 12, William C. Bixby 12, Ira Whitcher 27, Chase Whitcher 36. Sec- ond, whole number of ballots 90, necessary to a choice 46. William C. Bixby had 7, Caleb Wells 11, Ira Whitcher 35, Chase Whitcher 37. Third, whole number of ballots 90, necessary to a choice 46. Caleb Wells had 2, W. C. Bixby 7, Chase Whitcher 40, Ira Whitcher 41. Fourth, whole number of ballots 90, necessary to a choice 46. Caleb Wells had 1, Nathan Blodgett 2, W. C. Bixby 3, Chase Whitcher 40, Ira Whitcher 44. Fifth, whole number of ballots 92, necessary to a choice 47. Chase Whitcher had 1, William T. Torsey 1, Amos Whitcher 1, Caleb Wells 1, W. C. Bix- 180 SOME THINGS ABOUT by 7, Daniel D. Page 33, Ira Whitcher 48, and Ira Whit- cher was declared elected. The vote for governor was Ira A. Eastman 82, Joseph A. Gilmore 10. Voted to raise for debt and town charges $800, schools $300, highways $400 to be paid in labor and $100 in money to be expended by the selectmen. [1864.] March 10. Meeting held in school house No. 5. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, James Page, Charles B. Keyser ; highway surveyors, Charles Jacobs, Nathan Blodgett, T. Prescott Blake, George Wells, Amos Wilson, Thomas F. Cox, William T. Torsey, Thomas H. Hunkings, Alden E. Hurlbert ; constables, George Wilson, Ashael L. Warren ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells ; tax collector, Caleb Wells ; agent to manage town law suits, Ira Whitcher. There were two ballots tor representative. First, whole number of votes 83, necessary to a choice 42. Charles B. Keyser had 1, Daniel D. Page 1, Caleb Wells 8, Ashael L. Warren 9, Chase Whitcher 25, Ira Whitcher 39. Second, whole number 81, necessary to a choice 41. Nathan Blod- gett had 1, Charles B. Keyser 1, Caleb Wells 8, Ashael L. Warren 9, Chase Whitcher 20, Ira Whitcher 42, and Ira Whitcher was declared elected. The vote for governor was : E. W. Harrington 76, Joseph A. Gilmore 12. Voted to raise for town charges $700, schools $300, high- ways $500, of which $100 was to be expended by the select- men. Action was also taken in regard to draft which will be noted in another chapter. November 8. The vote for presidental electors was : Democratic 84, Republican 12. -a*,- ** ^ i 1 'JSS& ££1 H [ ^3fc *6^ Vj WCbJVk i I '*^^^^^l Caleb Wells. James Page. William T. Torsey. Charles B. Keyser. COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 181 [1865.] March 9. Meeting held in school house dis- trict No. 1. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, Charles B. Keyser, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Jo- siah F. Jeffers, Moses P. Buswell, James Page, Thomas F. Cox, Prescott Parker, Jr., Moses Clough, George Mulliken, John Harris ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells ; collector, William T. Torsey. There were two ballots for representative. First, whole number of votes 76, necessary to a choice 39. Scattering 4, Nathan Blodgett 10, Caleb Wells 25, Chase Whitcher 37. Second, whole number of votes 75, necessary for a choice 38. Nathan Blodgett had 9, Caleb Wells 24, Chase Whitcher 41, and Chase Whitcher was declared elected. There is no record of the governor vote. Voted to raise for town charges and town debt $1400, school $400, for highways $100 in money to be expended by the selectmen and $500 in labor at 15 cents an hour. Voted to discontinue that part of the Whitcher brook road laid out by the selectmen of Landaff and Benton, which lies in the town of Benton. This action was subsequently declared to be illegal and the road was continued open. [1866.] March 8. Meeting in school house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, George W. Mann, Daniel D. Page, George Wells ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Ashael L. Warren, James Page, S. Emery Mars- ton, Francis Dwyer, L. W. Flanders, Samuel Howe, George W. Bemis, John E. Oakes ; superintending school committee, George W. Mann, Caleb Wells; collector, Bart- lett Mareton. For representative the whole number of votes was 77, 182 SOME THINGS ABOUT necessary to a choice 39. William T. Torsey had 2, Wil- liam C. Bixby 8, Caleb Wells 15, Chase Whitcher 52, and Chase Whitcher was declared elected. The governor vote was : John G. Sinclair 77, Frederick Smyth 13. [1867.] March 12. Meeting in district No. 1 school house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Daniel D. Page, Chase Whitcher ; highway surveyors, William C. Bixby, Ezra C. Winchester, James Page, Gilbert P. Wright, Samuel A. Mann, Joseph Hutchins, Richard C. Drown, Daniel M. Howe, John E. Oakes ; collector, Bart- lett Marston. For representative ; whole number of votes cast 80, neces sary to a choice 41 ; Daniel D. Page had 10, Samuel Howe had 14, Caleb Wells 56, and Caleb Wells was declared elected. For governor John G. Sinclair had 78, Walter Harriman 12. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $500, highways $700, labor to be at 12 1-2 cents per hour. [1868.] March 10. Annual meeting in vestry of Union meetinghouse. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Chase Whitcher, James Page ; highway surveyors, James M. Copp, John H. True, S. W. Elliott, Jeremiah A. Clark, Winthrop C. Whitcher, William T. Torsey, Charles B. Keyser, Charles Collins, Arthur Wilson ; supt. school committee, George W. Mann, James Page; collector, Winthrop C. Whitcher; representative on first ballot without contest, Caleb Wells. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $600, schools $500, highways $600 in labor at 15 cents per hour, and $100 in money to be expended by the selectmen. COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 183 November 3. At the presidential election, the Democratic electoral ticket headed by John S. Buswell received 70 votes, the Republican headed by Amos Paul, 9. [1869.] March 9. Meeting in vestry of Union meeting house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, John H. True, Ira Whitcher; highway surveyors, John L. Stevens, John Crimming8, Joshua Page, Stephen T. Marston, Amos Whitcher, Merrill Clough, Charles B. Keyser, Alden E. Hurl- bert, Jeremiah A. Clark ; superintending school committee, George W. Mann, James Page ; collector, Joshua Page. For representative, the whole number of votes was 72, necessary to a choice 37 ; George W. Mann had 1, Charles B. Keyser 1, John H. True 2, Daniel D. Page 13, William T. Torsey 23, Chase Whitcher 42, and Chase Whitcher was elected. For governor, John Bedel, dem., 72; Onslow Stearns, rep., 20. Voted to raise for town expenses and debt $1500, schools $500, highways $700 in labor at 15 cents per hour. [1870.] March 8. Meeting in vestry of Union meeting house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, James H. Keyser; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, John H. True, Ira Whitcher (John H. True subsequently resigned and James Page was appointed to fill vacancy) ; highway surveyors, John L. Stevens, E. M. True, Alvin Blake, Hazen Chamberlin, Samuel C. Annis, William T. Torsey, James G. Ramsdell, Alden E. Hurlbert, Jeremiah A. Clark. For representative, the whole number of votes cast was 82, necessary to a choice 42 ; James Page had 1, James H. Keyser 1, William T. Torsey 3, Daniel D. Page 6. James E. Whitcher 6, Jeremiah B. Davis 7, Chase Whitcher 53, 184 SOME THINGS ABOUT and Chase Whitcher was declared elected. For governor, John Bedel, dem., 67; Onslow Stearns, rep., 19 ; Samuel Flint, labor reform, 4. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $500, highways $800 in labor and $100 in money. [1871.] March 14. Annual town meeting in vestry of Union meeting house. Chose : moderator, Chase Whitcher ; town clerk, Chsrles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Chase Whit- cher, Asahel L. Warren, William T. Torsey ; highway sur- veyors, Benjamin H. Tyrell, Asahel L. Wnrren, James Page, Bartlett Marston, Samuel C. Annis, William T. Tor- sey, Willard W. Coburn, Alden E. Hurlbert, S. H. Cham- berlin ; superintending school committee, M. W. True; col- lector, Charles C. Tyler ; treasurer, Chase Whitcher. For representative, the whole number of votes cast was 81, necessary to a choice 41. William T. Torsey had 1, Ellery P. Cowan 11, James H. Keyser 20, Edward F. Mann 49, and Edward F. Mann was declared elected. * For governor, James A. Weston 63, James Pike 21. Voted to raise for town charges $1000, highways $800, schools $500. James Page was chosen agent to defend law suits against the town. [1872.] March 12. Meeting in vestry of Union meet- ing house. Chose : moderator, Chase Whitcher ; town clerk, Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Asahel L. Warren, William T. Torsey; highway surveyors, David L. Wright, A. L. Warren, Pardon W. Allen, S. E. Marston, Samuel C. Annis, W. T. Torsey, Willard W. Coburn, Samuel Howe, Jeremiah A. Clark ; superintending school committee, Charles H. Whitcher, Moses W. True ; collector, James Norris. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 185 [May 27. George W Mann appointed town clerk on re- moval from town of Charles H; Whitcher ; Edward F. Mann appointed superintending school committee.] The whole number of votes for representative was 88, necessary to a choice 45. Charles H. Whitcher had 1, Rich- ard C. Drown 1, James E. Whitcher 4, Edward F. Mann 82, and Edward F. Mann was declared elected. Such unanimity never occurred in Benton before, and it has never occurred since. The vote for governor was James A. Weston 84, Ezekiel A. Straw 20. Voted to raise for town charges $800, schools $500, high- ways $900. November. At the presidential election, the vote for the Democratic electors, headed by William P. Wheeler, was 66 ; for the Republican, headed by Lyman D. Stevens, 15. [1873.] March 11. Annual meeting in vestry of the Union meeting house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page, town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, Pres- cott Parker, Willard W. Coburn ; highway surveyors, David L. Wright, John Crimmings, James Page, Gilbert P. Wright, SpafFord W. Cowan, John Flanders, James H. Keyser, Samuel Howe, Nathaniel Clark ; superintending school committee, James Page ; collector, Prescott Parker ; treasurer, James Page. For representative, the whole number of votes was 72, necessary to a choice 37. David L. Wright had 1, Edward F. Mann 30, Daniel D. Page 38, and Daniel D. Page was elected. For governor, James A. Weston had 60 ; Ezekiel A. Straw 14. Voted to raise for town charges $900, schools $500, high- ways $1000 to be expended in labor at 15 cents per hour. 180 SOME THINGS ABOUT [1874.] March 10. Meeting in vestry of meeting house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, Prescott Parker, Gilbert P. Wright ; highway surveyors, Ezra C. Winchester, Wil- liam Tibbetts, James Page, Alonzo Spooner, Spafford W. Cowan, Gilbert P. Wright, Jr., Alden E. Hurlbutt, James H. Keyser, Frank Clark ; school committee, James Page ; collector, James Norris ; treasurer, James Page. Daniel D. Page was elected representative. The vote for governor was : James A. Weston 65 ; Luther McCutcheon 14. Voted to raise for town charges etc., $1000, schools $600, highways $1000, 15 cents per hour to be allowed for labor. [1875.] March 9. Meeting held in vestry of the meet- ing house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, Amos Whitcher ; selectmen, Charles E. True, James H. Keyser, James Page ; school committee, James Page ; collector, James Norris ; treasurer, James Page. Voted that highway surveyors be appointed by the selectmen. The whole number of votes cast for representative was 90, necessary to a choice 46. Asahel L. Warren had 2, Wil- liam T. Torsey 38, George W. Mann 50, and George W. Mann was declared elected. The vote for governor was : Hiram R. Roberts 80, Person C. Cheney 20. Voted to raise for town charges, etc., $1000, schools $500, highways $1000 labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. [1876.] March 14. Meeting held in vestry of the meet- ing house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, Amos Whitcher; selectmen, Charles E. True, James H. Keyser, James Page ; highway surveyors, Benjamin H. Tyrell, Asahel L. Warren, James Page, Alonzo Spooner, Pardon W. Allen, William T. Torsey, Peter Howe, Charles B. Keyser, Lyman Bemis, Jr. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 18 7 The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 69, necessary to a choice 35. There were scattering 4. Prescott Parker had 2, James Page had 13, George W. Mann 50, and George W. Mann was declared elected. The vote for governor was : George D. Marcy 67 ; Per- son C. Cheney 14. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $500, highways $800, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. November 7. At the presidential election, the Tilden electors received 60 votes, the Hayes electors 16. For delegate to the constitutional convention 61 votes were cast. James H. Keyser received 1, Prescott Parker 1, James Page 2, Daniel D. Page 4, Samuel Howe 17, and George W. Mann 36, and George W. Mann was elected. [1877.] March 13. Meeting held in vestry of the meeting house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, Pardon W. Allen ; selectmen, Charles B. Keyser, Moses W. True, William W. Eastman ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, Joshua Page, Alonzo Spooner, Edward L. Cox, Ephraim Cooley, Kendrick Howe, James H. Keyser, Lyman Bemis, Jr. ; collector, James Norris. For representative whole number of votes cast 69, neces- sary to a choice 36. George W. Mann had 1, Pardon W. Allen 1, William T. Torsey 20, Prescott Parker 47, and Prescott Parker was declared elected. The vote for gover- nor was : George D. Marcy 70, Benjamin F. Prescott 18. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $400, high- ways $600, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. [1878.] March 12. Meeting held in vestry of meeting house. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, Pardon W. Allen ; selectmen, George. W. Mann, William W. Eastman, Moses W. True ; superintending school com- 1 88 SOME THINGS AB UT mittee, Frederick S. Howe ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, A. L. Warren, William B. Page, Eben T. Hardy, W. W. Eastman, Darius D. Davis, Kendrick S. Howe, Charles B. Keyser, Nathaniel Clark ; auditors, A. L. War- ren, W. T. Torsey ; collector, Orman L. Mann. The whole number of votes for representative was 74, necessary to a choice 38. George W. Mann had 1, Wil- liam T. Torsey 28, Prescott Parker 45, and Prescott Parker was declared elected. For governor Frank A. McKean had 69, Benjamin F. Prescott 15. Voted to raise for town charges, $700, schools $400, high- ways $600, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. Nov. 5. The first biennial election for choice of state officers was held. Edward F. Mann was chosen moderator. The vote for governor was: Frank A. McKean 53, W. G. Brown 14, Natt Head 6. Chose : William T. Torsey, Benjamin H. Tyrell, James H. Keyser supervisors of check list. [1879.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, Edward F. Mann ; town clerk, Pardon W. Allen ; selectmen, Moses W. True, Charles B. Keyser, Prescott Parker; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, A. L. Warren, 8. Elliott, Curtis Chamberlin, W . W. Eastman, William T. Torsey, Kendrick L. Howe, Charles B. Keyser, Nathaniel Clark ; treasurer, Amos Whitcher (on his removal from town James H. Keyser was appointed) ; superintending school committee, Moses W. True (on his removal from town Pardon W. Allen was appointed) ; collector, Orman L. Mann. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $400, high- ways $700. Tax was levied to pay the school house in- COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 189 debtedness in districts No. 4 and 5. [1880.] March 9. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Edward F. Mann ; town clerk, James H. Key- ser ; selectmen, George W. Mann, Eben T. Hardy, Ed- ward M. True ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, William Tibbetts, W. H. Morrill, Cutler Chamberlin, Nathan D. Hutchins, Merrill Clough, Fred S. Howe, Nathaniel Clark, W. W. Eastman ; treasurer, C. A. Veazey ; collector O. L. Mann ; appraisers, Ashael L. Warren, O. L. Mann, Dan- iel M. Howe. Voted to raise tor town charges $500 ; town debt $500, schools $400, highways $450, with labor at 15 cents per hour. Nov. 2. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Edward F. Mann ; supervisors of check list, Pardon W. Allen, Benjamin H. Tyrell, Daniel M. Howe. The whole number of ballots for representative was 63, necessary to a choice 32. Thomas E. Taylor had 3, Wil- liam T. Torsey 7, James H. Keyser 15, George W. Mann 38, and George W. Mann was elected. The vote for governor was : Frank Jones 66, Charles H. Bell 12, Warren G. Brown 6. For presidential electors the Democratic candidates received 66, the Republican 12, Greenback 6. [l88l.] March 8. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, P. W. Allen ; town clerk, Edward L. Cox ; se- lectmen, George W. Mann, Eben T. Hardy, Edward M. True ; highway surveyors, William Tibbetts, W. H. Mor- rill, Lyman Bemis, Solomon J. Hutchins, W. W. East- man, Daniel M. Howe, Birt Cox, Merrill Clough. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $350, highways $500 to be expended as selectmen see fit. [1882.] March 14. Annual town meeting. Chose : 190 SOME THINGS ABOUT moderator, James H. Keyser; town clerk, Edward L. Cox ; selectmen, William W. Eastman, James H. Keyser, Lebina H. Parker ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, Norman Martin, Albert Morrill, Eben T. Hardy, E. L. Cox, Alonzo Spooner, Charles P. Collins, Sylvester Wheeler, Merrill Clough ; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $300, highways $400. March 7. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, P. W. Allen, Ransom Coburn, Charles A. Veazey. The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 70. Ashael L. Warren had 5, James H. Keyser 26, George W. Mann 39, and George W. Mann was elected. For governor Martin V. B. Edgerlv had 58, Samuel W. Hale 18. [1883.] March 13. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, J. H. Keyser, Lebina H. Parker; auditors, Charles A. Veazey, O. L. Mann, D. M. Howe ; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe. Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $400, highways $600 to be paid in labor at 15 cents per hour. [1884.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, Daniel M. Howe ; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; selectmen, William W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, Lebina H. Parker ; highway surveyors, Edgar S. Welch, Frank Hardy, Alfred Morrill, Albert Lindsay, L. H. Parker, Horace R. Spooner, Halsey R. Howe, Ransom Coburn, Nathaniel Clark ; superintending school committee, Pardon W. Allen ; collector, Edgar S. Welch. Voted to raise for town expenses and indebtedness $1200, George H. Clark. Orman L. Mann. Rev. George E. Brown. Charles A. Veazey. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 191 schools $400, highways $400, with labor at 15 cents per hour. November 4. Presidential and biennial election. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Geo. H. Clark, C. A. Veazey. (There is no record of the vote for governor and presidential electors. ) [1885.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, Pardon W. Al- len ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, L. H. Parker ; school committee, P. W. Allen ; highway survey- ors, E. S. Welch, John Russell, Jr., Eben Morrill, Leman S. Keyser, S. H. Chamberlin, W. T. Torsey, Halsey R. Howe, Fred M. Tyler, Nathaniel Clark. Voted to raise for town expenses $500, schools $400, high- ways $600 in labor at 15 cents per hour. [1886.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, P. W. Allen ; town clerk, David F. Richard- son ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richardson, James H. Keyser ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- man, Paul M. Howe. Voted that the highway commission- ers be appointed by the selectmen. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $600, labor to be paid at 15 cents per hour. November 2. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, S. H. Chamberlin ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe. The representative contest this year was an animated one. The Republicans were united and stood by their candidate, leaving the Democratic factions to fight it out among them- selves. Seven ballots were necessary to elect. S. H. Chamberlin was the republican candidate, and the Demo- cratic aspirants were several. The ballots were as follows : 192 SOME THINGS ABOUT First, whole number of votes 53 ; James H. Keyser had 1, William T. Torsey 1, William W. Eastman 5, Lebina H. Parker 10, George W. Mann 17, S. H. Chamberlin 19. Second, W. W. Eastman 1, Prescott Parker 1, W. T. Torsey 1, L. II. Parker 9, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Third, J. H. Keyser 1, W. T. Torsey 1, Oman L. Mann 2, L. H. Parker 11, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Fourth, W. T. Torsey 1, Charles A. Veazey 1, William B. Page 3, L. H. Parker 10, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Fifth, David F. Richardson 1, W. B. Page 2, L. H. Parker 12, G. W. Mann 19, S. H. Chamberlin 22. Sixth, G. W. Mann 1, D. F. Richardson 5, S. H. Chamberlin 25, L. H. Parker 30. Seventh, whole number of votes 58, necessary to a choice 30, D. F. Richardson I, S. H. Chamberlin 22, Lebina H. Parker 35, and Lebina H. Parker was declared elected. The vote for governor was : Thomas Cogswell, dem., 37 ; Charles H. Sawyer, rep., 18; Joseph Wentworth, green- back, 6. [1887.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, Moses B. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- ardson ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richard- son, Moses B. Mann ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- man, P. M. Howe ; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richard- son, Daniel M. Howe. Voted that road commissioners be appointed by the selectmen. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $(>00. Voted that the North and South road be discontinued. [1888.] March 8. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- ardson ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 193 S. Welch; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richardson, D. M. Howe ; constables, W. W. Eastman, D. F. Richardson. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, highways $600, for town debt $1200. Nov. 6. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : mod- erator, Moses B. Mann ; supervisor of check lists, Orman L. Mann, Horace R. Spooner, Norman J. Page. The vote for governor was democratic, 46 ; republican 17, prohibition 3, and the same party vote was given for presidential electors. Two ballots were had for delegate to constitutional con- vention : 1st, whole number of votes 48, necessary to ac- tion 25, Moses B. Mann had 1, Norman J. Page 3, Paul M. Howe 12, George W. Mann 12, William W. Eastman, 20 ; 2d, whole number of votes 54, necessary to a choice 28 ; M. B. Mann had 1, N. J. Page 5, G. W. Mann 7, P. M. Howe 13 and Wm. W. Eastman 28, and Win. W. Eastman was declared elected. [1889.] March 14. Annual town meeting held in the hall in "the Hollow," which later was purchased by the town and became the town hall. Chose: moderator, Moses B. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richardson ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar S. Welch; auditor?, Alfred Morrill, George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe; road commissioners, William Tibbitts, Franklin Hill, George H. Clark, Clarence Spooner, Charles B. Keyser. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, highways $600, with labor at 15 cents per hour. [1890.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann, (declined to serve) then chose Norman J. Page ; town clerk, D. F. Richard- eon ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, Norman J. Page, W. Sims 194 SOME THINGS ABOUT Nutter; road commissioners, James M. Harriman, John Crimmings, Norman J. Page, Horace R. Spooner, Alonzo Spooner, Fred M. Tyler. Voted to raise for town charges, $300, (the town was at last out of debt,) schools $400, highways $600. November 4. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Norman J. Page ; for governor, Charles H. Amsden, dem. had 38, Hiram A. Tuttle, rep. 17, A. S. Fletcher, pro. 3. This was a warm election for Benton. For supervisors of check list, Daniel M. Howe and W. F. Bean were elected on the first ballot. Horace R. Spooner was elected on the fourth, but declined to serve, and Frank A. Moulton was elected on the sixth ballot. It took nine ballots to elect a representative. Paul M. Howe was the Republican candidate, while the Democrats had two, Lebina H. Parker and David F. Richardson. The Republicans however did not give their candidate full support. The highest vote he received was 12, and on one ballot he fell as low as 5. The first ballot stood whole number of votes 46. M. B. Mann had 1, P. M. Howe 10, L. H. Parker 15, David F. Richardson 20. The fifth ballot gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Parker 20, D. F. Richardeon 25. The eighth gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Par- ker 19, D. F. Richardson 26. On the ninth P. M. Howe had 7, L. H. Parker 7, and D. F. Richardson 32, and D. F. Richardson was declared elected. [1891.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richard- son ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, W. S. Nutter, James M. Harriman : auditors, Paul M. Howe, William B. Page. Voted that road commissioners be appointed by the select- men. Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400, Moses B. Mann. Paul M. Howe. A. Elmore Tyler. Norman J. Page. OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 195 highways $600. [1892.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, William W. Eastman ; selectmen, W. S. Nutter, W. W. Eastman, W. B. Page. Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400, high- ways $600. November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose: moderator for two years, William B. Page ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, L. H. Parker, Chas. A. Vea- zey. For governor, McKinney, dem. had 32 votes, Smith, rep. 14, Carr, pro. 2. The Democratic candidates for electors received 32 votes, Republican 18, Prohibition 1. [1893.] March 9. Annual meeting. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, James M. Harriman, Paul M. Howe ; road agent, James H. Keyser. W. W. Eastman was first chosen, but declined to serve. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $600, town library $15. [1894.] March 8. Annual meeting. Chose: town clerk, William W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, J. M. Harriman, Paul M. Howe ; road agent, W. W. East- man. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200, high- ways $600, for purchase ot road machine $100, for town li- brary $15. November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for two years, George W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, O. L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Chas. A. Veazey. The vote for governor was : Henry O. Kent, dem., 29 ; Chas. A. Bussel, rep., 15 ; D. C. Knowles, pro., 2. 196 SOME THINGS ABOUT [1895.] March 14. Annual town meeting at town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, J. M. Harriman, P. M. Howe; road agent, W. Sims Nutter. Voted to raise for town charges $500, schools $300, high- ways $400, town library $15. [1896.] March 12. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk W. W. Eastman; selectmen, William Kendall (declined), L. H. Parker, Geo. H. Clark, W. J. Hardy ; road agent, W. Sims Nutter; library trustee, P. M. Howe. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $600. November 3. Biennial and presidential election. Chose: moderator for two years, Norman J. Page ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Harry H. El- liott. For representative, whole number of votes cast 53. Ne- cessary to a choice 27 : Orman L. Mann, dem., 24 ; William Kendall, rep., 29, and William Kendall was declared elected. The vote for governor was: Kent, dem., 25: Ramsdell, rep., 23; Barnard, national, 1. For presidential electors; Democrat, 21 ; Republican, 29 ; National, 2. [1897.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: moderator, William D. Veazey, in absence of Norman J. Page ; town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, Geo. H. Clark, Fred M. Tyler. Eight ballots were had tor road agent, W. Sims Nutter being elected. There- upon W. W. Eastman resigned as town clerk. The select- men appointed James H. Keyser in his place, and then the meeting proceeded to further business. It was a particularly "hot time''. Chose : library trustees, Geo. H. Clark, Byron CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 197 M. Tyler. Voted to raise for town expenses $300, schools $400, highways $600. [1898.] March 10. Annual town meeting at town hall. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann in absence of N. J. Page ; town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, Geo. H. Clark, Albert W. Morrill ; road agent, Orman L. Mann, on the 7th ballot. The office of road agent had become quite an important one, in fact, so far as emoluments were concerned, the most important in town. Voted to raise for town expenses $350, schools $400, highways $600. November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hutchins, William I. Eastman. The vote for governor was : Stone, dem., 27 ; Rollins, rep., 13 ; Stevens, pro., 2. [1899.] March 9. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, J. H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, Geo. H. Clark, (declined,) Albert W. Morrill, W. W. Eastman ; road agent, Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts. Voted to raise for town charges $350, schools $300, high- ways $600. [1900.] March 8. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, John S Rogers, William W. Eastman ; road agents, Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts. Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $400, high- ways $800. November Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator, in absence of George W. Mann, L. H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J, Hut- 198 SOME THINGS ABOUT chine, Ervin A. Marden ; Moderator, for two years, Lebina H. Parker. The vote for governor was: Potter, dem., 21; Jordan, rep., 29 ; for presidential electors Dem., 28, Rep., 22, Pro- hibition 1. [1901.] March 14. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, William Kendall, John S. Rogers ; road agents, Orman L. Mann, James Crimmings. Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- ways, $600, town library $15. [1902.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. Chose: town clerk, W. W. Eastman; selectmen, L. H. Parker, William Kendall, Geo. H. Clark ; road agent, O. L. Mann, DeElden Tibbets. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200 above the amount required by law, highways $600, Memorial day $10. Orman L. Mann declined to serve as road agent and W. W. Eastman was chosen in his place. W. W. Eastman was also chosen tax collector. November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for two years, L. H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, dem., W. F. Fackney, rep., Byron M. Tyler, rep. ; delegate to constitutional convention, L. H. Parker. The vote for governor was : Hollis, dem., 18 ; Bachelder, rep., 18 ; Elliott, ind. rep., 2 ; Berry, pro., 1. [1903.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: town clerk, W. W. Eastman; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, (declined to serve,) L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, Stephen H. Dexter; road agent, B. M. Tyler. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $800, Memorial day $10. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 199 [1904.] March 11. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, S. H. Dexter ; road agent, B. M. Tyler. Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $800, Memorial day $20. November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator for two years, Lebina H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hutchins, Ervin A. Mardin. The vote for governor was; Hollis, dem., 19; McLane, rep., 19. Presidental electors, Democratic 22, Republican 21. The whole number of ballots for representative was 40, necessary to a choice 21. William Kendall, rep. had 10, Lebina H. Parker 30, and Lebina H. Parker was declared elected. Coventry-Benton like other New Hampshire towns had its quota of Justices of the Peace, the first appointed being Obadiah Eastman in 1806. His successors with the date of their respective appointments were : 1812, William Coolidge; 1814, Daniel Davis; 1822, William Whitcher; 1822, Jesse Eastman ; 1831, Nathan Coburn ; 1835, Daniel Batchelder ; 1837 Deliverance Woodward; 1838, Enos Wells ; 1840, John L. Corliss ; 1842, James J. Page ; 1843, Moses Whitcher ; 1845 John Lathrop ; 1847, Ira Whitcher ; 1850, James Harriman, Jonathan Hunkings ; 1851, Nathan B. Davis ; 1855, George W. Mann ; 1857, Daniel D. Page ; 1861, Chase Whitcher; 1863, Caleb Wells; 1866, James Page ; 1867, Amos Whitcher ; 1872, Edward F. Mann, Ben- jamin H. Tyrrell; 1874, James H. Keyser ; 1878, Pardon W. Allen ; 1880, William B. Page ; 1885, Orman L. Mann ; 1889, William W. Eastman ; 1892, Paul M. Howe ; 1898, 200 SOME THINGS ABOUT Charles A. Veazey, Lebina H. Parker. Some of these held commissions but for a short time, owing to deaths or removal from town. Those who held commissions for the longest period were William Whitcher from 1822 until his death in 1859, a period of 37 years ; James J. Page from 1842 till his death in 1880 ; Ira Whitcher from 1847 till his death in 1897, a period of 50 years ; and George W. Mann from 1855 till his death in 1901, a period of 46 years. It might be thought that, during these years when all the voters were of the same political party, the annual elections would be tame affairs, but political fights, especially when they are of a personal or family character, are always the bitterest. In the decade from 1850 to 1860 the "Bunga Road" controversy dominated the politics of the town, and indeed the question of whether this proposed highway along the banks of the Wild Ammonoosuc river, in the towns of Bath and Landaff, should or should not be built had much to do with political conditions in the county. The proposed road touched no part of Benton, but the Bunga Road ques- tion, for a period of ten years at least, overshadowed the Compromise act of 1850, its later repeal, the Kansas- Nebraska troubles, the anti-slavery struggle, and dominated not only the political life of Benton but entered into the social, educational and religious life as well. The four years in which George W. Mann and Daniel Whitcher were the opposing candidates for representative to the General Court were years when "Bunga Road" was the one absorbing theme. Phenomenally large votes were polled in those years. Voters were imported from other towns by both factions and kept in town long enough to gain a color of voting residence. The making of the check list was the work of artists. When Squire Page quoted to Squire Whitcher, who was chairman CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 201 of the Board of Selectmen, some pertinent decisions of Judge Story relating to what constituted a voting residence, Squire Whitcher replied that while Judge Story might be an excel- lent lawyer, "Judge Story is not revising this particular check list here today." It would, perhaps, be incorrect to say that money was used at elections in the purchase of votes, but in those strenuous days candidates and their par- ticular friends were inclined to be friendly to those standing in need of friendship. A man who was unable to purchase a yoke of oxen, or to obtain funds to build a spruce oil dis- tillery, or to procure a team for hauling lumber, or to under- take a logging job, or who could not make living wages for the support of himself and family during the winter months, was naturally inclined to remember favorably at the polls the leader of whichever faction aided him. Many of the smaller homesteads in town were mortgaged either to Ira Whitcher or to Chase Whitcher. It was not strange that mortgagor should be a partisan of mortgagee. There were acts of charity to the poor. The gift of a barrel of flour, or a pair of boots, or an overcoat immediately preceedino- election, or the promise of it immediately after, was not perhaps without its influence ; but there was a sentiment against the use of money to purchase votes. As a matter of fact there was not a surplusage of money in Benton. As an illustration of this sentiment this incident may be mentioned : Sarah Glazier promised Henry Sisco that she would marry him if he would vote for George W. Mann for representa- tive. Henry voted for George, but when he came to claim Sarah's hand her moral nature revolted, and Henry was informed that she could never think of marrying a man base enough to sell his vote. This may be taken as pretty con- clusive proof that while in the Bunga Road days, and later, 202 SOME THINGS ABOUT factional feeling ran high, there was no need of stringent bribery laws in Benton. The moral sentiment which found illustration in the Glazier- Sisco incident rebelled at bribery. The incident is beautiful except for the one little blemish — Sisco, who had been pledged to vote for Daniel Whitcher, did vote for George W. Mann. Benton voters, like other voters in other towns throughout the state, are irrevocably committed to purity of elections. It is such little blemishes as have been hinted at which have been magnified into stories of bribery. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 203 CHAPTER VIII. THE SCHOOLS. There were never any high schools or academies in Cov- entry-Benton, only the district schools such as were common to the small rural towns of the state. The school houses were of the old fashioned type of buildings down to the sixties, when in the three districts, numbers four, five and six, in the north part of the town, new buildings were erected on more modern plans, but the most expensive of these, that in number five, cost less than $1200. The old type of building is well remembered. It was, of course, small, unpainted, and placed as near the geographical center of the district as possible. The entrance was at one end, the teachers desk at the other. On each side of the house there were rows of plank benches, with desks constructed by the town carpenter, in front, the boys occupying one side of the house and the girls the other. In the early days heat was obtained from a large fireplace, and later, after stoves had been invented, from a big stove placed in the middle of the floor, the heat of which nearly roasted the youngsters on the front seats, while on the cold winter days the big boys and girls on the back seats next the wall shivered and froze. As for school furniture there was none, except a blackboard at one end of the house, and in one or two of the districts some small outline maps. The curriculum, or course of study, was of the go as you please order. It was arranged to meet the requirements of babies on the front seats who were trying to master the alphabet, and from these all 204 SOME THINGS ABOUT the way up to those who were "doing the sums" on the last pages of the arithmetic, who formed the class in gram- mar and who "analyzed and parsed" Milton's Paradise Lost, and Young's Night Thoughts. There was in the early days but one term of school a year, eight or ten weeks in winter, but later a summer term of eight or ten weeks was added. This latter was not so largely attended. The youngsters made up the school. The older ones had to work, and there was no time for school in the hoeing and haying season. From four to twenty-one was the school age in the winter, or beyond twenty-one if marriage had not put an end to school life. District number five was the most populous, and for many years there were from fifty to sixty scholars crowded into the little school house (now trans- formed into a dwelling house) in the winter term. It was the typical country school. There were from four to five classes in reading, from three to five in spelling, the same number in arithmetic and in geography, two in grammar, and one or two in history. Then there were the writing lessons, the enforced writing of compositions by the older pupils to be read before the entire school, the "speaking pieces," to say nothing of instruction in book-keeping, with now and then elementary algebra for an advanced few. It was primary, grammar and high school combined for sixty pupils all in one poorly lighted room, with such ventilation as came through the doors and windows. Judged by the standard of the modern system of graded schools, the schools of Benton and similar towns were only apologies, and poor ones at that, but judged by the product they turned out, they would compare favorably with the graded schools of the villages of today. The average boy and girl in Benton learned to read intelligentlv, and to write a fair hand, got a GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 205 fair knowledge of geography, learned the parte of speech, and if Colburn's Mental Arithmetic was used, was an expert mathematician. Pretty much the same ground was gone over winter after winter, under different teachers too, the ground covered was small, but in the course of ten or a dozen winters it was covered pretty thoroughly, and it is a better education to really know a few things well than to half know a great many, in fact, better to really know be- yond all question that three and two make five than to be dimly guessing that x plus y equals a divided by b. Not much money was spent on Benton schools. It should be said, however, in justice to the voters, that they usually spent all they could afford. The real fact is that they never had much money to spend. In proportion to its means Coventry-Benton made liberal appropriations for schools. The boys and girls who attended them, for the most part, made the best use they could of the opportunities offered and many of them availed themselves of additional facilities furnished by the academy at Haverhill, and later of the academies and seminaries at Newbury, Vt., New Hampton, Northfield and Tilton, while a few were able to pursue a college course of study. The chief factor in the old time district school was, of course, the teacher, and there were teachers and-teachers. Some of these were remembered for excellence of work or for peculiarities of administration or methods of instruction. The records of the early districts have long since disappeared, but there is well authenticated tradition that the first schools in the town were taught by Obadiah Eastman, Obadiah Eastman, Jr., Jonathan Hale, William Coolidge, David Marston and Salmon Niles. The early schools were at High Street and on the Meadows. The first schoolmaster in the north part of the town was 206 SOME THINGS ABOUT William Coolidge, and when two schools were maintained David Marston became a kind of assistant to Squire Cool- idge. James J. Page was for many years a notable school- master, but his schools were for the most part at High Street, on the Meadows, or in other towns. George W. Cogswell was for a number of years one of masters in the north part of the town. He was noted for his proficiency in arithmetic, for the excellence of his penmanship, and for "keeping order." This last qualification was one of the great essentials in the early days. Birch withes, and heavy rock maple rulers, with physical courage and strength to wield them, were regarded among the things of first import- ance. George W. Cogswell, James J. Page and Nathan B. Davis were adepts in the use of these implements of educa- tion. In later years famous Benton teachers of the second generation were Caleb Wells, George W. Mann, Darius K. Davis, Amos K. Torsey and James Page. Some of these had gained their inspiration from Moses H. Bixby, of War- ren, who as a young man had taught for two or three winters in number four. Mr. Bixby was a man of marked ability, and later, was for many years a Baptist missionary to Burmah, and still later, was tor many years, until his death in 1903, pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in Providence, R. I. Other well remembered teachers of half a century or so ago were George W. Fisher, of North Haverhill, Luther C. Morse, of Center Haverhill, Eugene B. Gale, of North Haverhill. There were also some famous school ma'ams. Among these were Elvira Clark, of LandafT, Emma F. Orcutt, of Newbury, Vt., Mary Carleton, of Haverhill, Sarah R. Howe, of Benton, Susan D. Morse, of Haverhill, and Lizzie R. Page of Benton, many of whose pupils are still living and who have vivid recollections of the CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 207 ways and means devised to induce them to really accomplish something. Miss Orcutt found many of her pupils unable, except by dint of great effort to master the multiplication table. She finally induced the whole school to sing it to the tune of "Yankee Doodle," and the thing was done before the boys and girls realized that they had been learning the de- tested table. The visits of the superintending and pruden- tial school committee were great occasions. They were ex- pected as a matter of course to make speeches. Some of these latter are well remembered. George W. Mann never failed to quote from Pope : " 'Tis education that forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent th~ tree's inclined." Amos Wilson was at one time prudential school committee in district No. 5. On the first day of the term he called be- fore the forenoon recess to consult the teacher about fuel, when he was invited to address the school. Amos was not a speechmaker, but he put on a bold front and made this brief address : "Children, I'm glad to see you have im- proved much." This was certainly complimentary to the teacher, who had been at her post a little over one hour. James Page never failed to exhort the pupils to so apply themselves that they should become "stars of the first magnitude." There were no graduation exercises at the close of the school year, but then there was that famous last day of school, when the superintending committee paid his final visit, when the fathers and mothers were present, when there were the show recitations, when the boys "spoke pieces" and the girls read compositions, and when everybody was relieved to know that for three months at least it was over. The evening spelling schools in winter brought 208 SOME THINGS ABOUT together the scholars of the various districts in exciting rivalry for the honor of being the most accomplished speller in town. Winthrop C. Whitcher bore with becoming modesty this honor for several years, having probably "spelled down" more schools than any other of his time, but after many triumphs went down in ignominious defeat on the little word "gnaw," which he spelled "knaw." George W. Mann, Caleb Wells and Amos G. Torsey were among the champions of their day, though this would hardly be suspected by those who have seen specimens of their orthography in later years. As has been previously noted, to "keep school" success- fully, first of all it was necessary to "keep order," and various tortures were invented by various teachers to accomplish this end. "Lickings" amounted to little more than tests of endurance, but in this particular they had their uses. To shed tears when the schoolmaster "licked" you was to lose caste. To take a sound "licking" without a whimper was to be a hero. "Lickings" were nothing, but to bend over and hold down a nail in the floor, or to hold out a book at arms length, or to be sent over to sit with the homliest girl in school, or, worst of all, to be sent to Squire William Whitcher's house to have that rigid old puritan just talk to you, some of these were genuine punishments. The success of the schools in towns like Coventry-Benton was due in no small degree to the excellence of the text books. There were not many of these, but among them were some of the best. It is doubtful if there was ever compressed into small text book compass so many of the essentials of a first-class English education as were found in Webster's spelling book, supplemented by Adams' and Colburn's arithmetic, Morse's geography and the American CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 209 Preceptor. Benton has now, like other New Hampshire towns, the town system of schools. The separate district system has been abolished, the prudential committee has given place to the town board of education, there is a more or less uniform course of study, and a more pretentious system, but meas- ured by results, it may fairly be questioned whether there has been during the last half century, any phenomenal advance. 210 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER IX. THE MILITIA AND SOLDIERS. Coventry was not settled to any considerable extent until after the War of the Revolution, so that no soldiers enlisted for service in that war from the town. The proprietors, however, with such inhabitants as were in the town hired two men to represent them for a time as soldiers in the war, as appears from a petition presented to the General Court in February, 1786, as follows : "To the Honorable Court of the State of New Hampshire now sitting at Portsmouth. Humbly shew the inhabitants of Coventry in said state, that when called on they hired one Jacob Whittier and one Edward Clark to answer as soldiers for said town in the Continental army during the war and gave them a generous bounty. That said town are so far remote from the seat of government and not organized with town officers, never made a regular return of them, and that there is an extent now against them for delinquency, where- fore your petitioners pray that they may be credited for said Whittier and Clark and have an order to discharge said ex- tent, and your petitioners as in duty shall ever pray, etc. Moses Dow, in behalf of said town." Accompanying this petition was a certificate of Edward Clark to the effect that he served during the war in Col. Hazen's regiment for the town of Coventry and had received full satisfaction of Samuel Atkinson in behalf of the town for his hire or bounty ; also a certified copy of a discharge CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 211 signed by George Washington which stated that Edward Clark had been honored with a badge of merit for four years service. The town was allowed £60 for the service of Edward Clark. It does not appear that any action was taken in the case of Jacob Whittier. Among those who rendered the patriot cause service during the war for independence, and who later became residents of the town were, Obadiah Eastman, the most prominent of the early settlers, Josiah Flanders, the father of Israel and James Flanders, and Joseph Young, who made his home with his daughter Polly after she married Amos Whitcher. The grave of Obadiah Eastman is in the cemetery at High Street, that of Josiah Flanders in the East cemetery, and that of Joseph Young in the West cemetery in the north part of the town. In the war of 1812, Joseph Edmonds, fifer, and Moses Welsh and Jacob Whitcher, privates, served for six months, from July 27, 1812, to Jan. 27, 1813, at Stewartstown in a detatched company under command of Ephraim Mahurin. The company was ordered there because of danger of preda- tory excursions of the enemy from Canada, and because contraband trade was rife on the frontier, by which the government was defrauded of revenue and the enemy furnished with supplies. This company was followed Apr. 6, 1813, by another in command of Edward Freeman, which served till Oct. 6, the same year. Of this latter company Peter Eastman, of Coventry, was lieutenant. These appear to be the only Coventry men who saw service in the second war with Great Britian. Stephen C. Sherman, who came to Benton from Lisbon later, rendered service at Lake Champlain, and in his latter years was granted a pension. In the war with Mexico Daniel Batchelder, of Coventry, 212 SOME THINGS ABOUT was captain of Co. H, Ninth United States infantry. This regiment was under command of Truman B. Ransom, of Vermont, and was a part of the brigade of Gen. Franklin Pierce. Capt. Batchelder was born in Corinth, Vt., May 10, 1803. He was appointed adjutant of the Thirteenth regiment Aug. 13, 1833, and Captain of the Sixth Company of Infantry March 27, 1839. He represented the town of Coventry in the legislature in 1833, '34, '35, '36, '87, '38 and '39. Subsequently he removed to Haverhill and was representative from that town in 1845. March 6, 1847, he was appointed a Captain in the Ninth, or New England Regiment, United States Infantry, having recruited a large part of a company in Haverhill and other nearby towns. Before the regiment sailed from Newport, R. I., he was de- tailed in recruiting service at Fort Adams, where he remained until he resigned in March, 1848. Samuel A. Mann, son of Major Samuel Mann, had enlisted in the regular army previous to the Mexican war, and served with Taylor's army during the entire war. He was in several of the most im- portant battles and was detailed for a term as bearer of dispatches to General Taylor. Though the town furnished but few soldiers in the three wars named, military titles were common in the decades between 1830 and 1850, though they were won on the blood- less arenas of the training ground and muster field. There were Captains William Whitcher, Enos Wells, Winthrop G. Torsey, Amos Whitcher, Gilbert P. Wright, and several others whose military fame has been forgotten, to say nothing of a lengthy list of lieutenants, ensigns, sergeants and cor- porals. The town also boasted one field officer — a colonel. James Norris was noted chiefly for his extreme diffidence, a quality which led to extreme awkwardness, but he became GOVENTB Y— BENTON, N. H. 213 corporal and went up through the various grades of promo- tion until he became a full fledged colonel. He only saw one general muster day in this capacity, and ignominiously failed. Once a colonel, however, always a colonel, and he was ever after until his death, Dec. 25, 1890, at the age of 77, Colonel James Norris of the New Hampshire State Militia. During the War of the Rebellion there were no enlist- ments from Benton till the summer of 1862, when under the call of the President for more men the town was called upon to fill its quota. There were 89 persons in town liable to military duty, and an effort was made to secure enlistments. Ira Whitcher was appointed enlisting agent, and as a result of his efforts, he enlisted Leonard Moody Aug. 6, who was mustered into Co. A, 9th regt. as private, died of disease at Washington Feb. 16, 1863 ; Daniel M. Howe, Aug. 15, mustered into Co. G, 11th regt. as private Sept. 2, was severely wounded at Spottsylvania Court House May 12, 1864, and was discharged for disability Apr. 2, 1865 ; Charles W. H. Howe, Aug. 15, mustered into Co. G, 11th regt. Sept 2, as private, died of disease at Washington Dec. 31, 1862; David Bowman, Aug. 16, mustered into Co. G, 1 1th regt. Sept. 2, as private, died of disease at Mt. Sterling, Ky., Apr. 17, 1863; Williard W. Coburn, Aug. 18, mus- tered into Co. G, 11th regt. as private, severely wounded at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862, discharged for disability Sept. 20, 1863; Isaac H. Tyler, Aug. 21, mustered into Co. G, 11th regt. Sept. 2, as sergeant, discharged June 6, 1865 as private. Mr. Whitcher enlisted several others at this time, but they were credited to the quota of other towns, LandafF, Bath and Haverhill. Kimball Davis, son of Jere- miah B. Davie, enlisted July 18, 1863, in the 1st New 214 SOME THINGS ABOUT Hampshire light battery, and was mustered in under the name of William T. Davis. He was later credited to the quota of Benton, and was mustered out with his battery June 9, 1865. George Tirrell, son of B. H. Tirrell, enlisted in a Vermont regiment in 1861, was discharged for disability and died a little later at his home in Benton. Jeremiah B. Davis, Jr., enlisted in the 1st cavalry, but was credited to Haverhill. The town took action in September 1862 to encourage further enlistments, but there was no favorable result, and with the exception of Kimball Davis and Jere- miah B. Davis, Jr., above named, there were no volunteers from the town after August 1862. At a special town meeting Sept. 2, 1862, Ira Whitcher moderator, it was voted to pay the sum of $100 bounty to each volunteer enlisted since August 14 and to such as may enlist before September 15 for three years or during the war ; also the sum of $50 to each volunteer for nine months when mustered into the service of the United States. Voted that the selectmen be authorized to hire money for this purpose on the credit of the town. At a special town meeting Oct. 10, 1862, Ira Whitcher moderator, it was voted that the selectmen be authorized to hire money on the credit of the town for the relief of families of volunteers who may be in needy circumstances. When the call for more men came in 1863 the quota of the town was not full and draft was ordered. A special town meeting was held Sept. 29, 1863, Ira Whitcher mod- erator. Voted to raise a committee ot three to take the matter ot draft into consideration and report at an adjourned meeting. Chose : Ira Whitcher, Caleb Wells and Chase Whitcher. Voted to submit the whole matter of meeting draft and devising best means of procuring substitutes to the Daniel M. Howe. Pardon W. Allen. Both the above rendered honorable service in the War of the Rebellion. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 215 committee appointed, to report at an adjourned meeting Oct. 15. At the adjourned meeting Oct. 15 voted to leave the whole matter with the committee. For the annual town meeting, March 19, 1864, the following appears in the record. "The committee that was chosen to provide for the relief of those drafted or conscripted into the service of the United States having reported verbally that they had procured on the credit of the town $300 and expended the same to relieve George E. Brown from the draft, on motion voted that the town approve of and pay for the same." Another call for men was issued July 18, 1864. The town did not respond with volunteers, and the committee chosen the year previous proceeded to meet the draft that was ordered by the purchase of substitutes, under the authority of a special town meeting held Aug. 31, 1864, James J. Page moderator. The committee reported the existing condition of affairs with draft threatened. It was moved that the town offer bounties to enlisted men of $800 for one year, $500 for two years and $800 for three years. This motion was debated at length, and it appearing that even if it were adopted volunteers would not be forthcoming, the motion was withdrawn, and it was voted to submit the whole matter to the committee with authority to act for the town. At the regular meeting for voting for presidential electors, Nov. 6, 1864, the committee submitted the folic /ing report : "The undersigned, a committee chosen by the town to provide for filling quota under call of July 16, 1886, submit the following statement of facts. The quota was eight men. The provost marshal made a draft to fill the quota, with the addition of 100 per cent, making 16 men in all : Henry A. 216 SOME THINGS ABOUT Glazier, James Page, James H. Keyser, Horace W. Gordon, Emery Marston, Philemon P. Oakes, Nathaniel Mulliken, George Wells, B Laderbush, Wesley B. Marston, Claudius Libertie, Chester C. Clough, Lafayette W. Flanders, Moses W. Howe, Francis Dvvyer, and William T. Torsey. Henry A. Glazier and Lafayette W. Flanders were discharged because of disability, and Claudius Libertie on accouut of being a foreigner. We procured one volunteer at a cost of $700, and seven substitutes for whom we paid $5385, one each for the following named drafted men : George Wells, Nathaniel Mulliken, Emery Marston, Wesley B. Marston, Moses W. Howe, James H. Keyser and Chester C. Clough. These were mustered into service for three years. The whole sum paid out is $6085. The selectmen of the town have provided us with notes against the town signed by them in behalf of the town, for the following sums, all payable to individuals of the town or bearer on demand ; nine for five hundred dollars each, three for three hundred dollars each, three for two hundred dollars each, and one for eighty-five dollars, said notes having been endorsed by the payees and others of the town. We have been able to raise the money required on these notes now outstanding against the town. To meet this indebtedness we have placed in the hands of the selectmen demands due from the state to indi- viduals for whom substitutes were furnished and to the indi- viduals who volunteered as bounties to the amount of twenty- five hundred dollars. (Signed) Ira Whitcher, Caleb Wells, Chase Whitcher. It was voted to accept the report, and the selectmen be instructed to collect of the state the amount due for the CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 217 bounties and appropriate the same in part payment of the notes before described, and that they be directed to hire money to meet the balance of all or any part of said notes as may be demanded by the bearers thereof. It appears that the $2400 was subsequently collected of the state, and the selectman hired money on the credit of the town to pay these notes, though it would be a matter of extreme difficulty to find any law, under color of which the town could legally incur indebtedness, or raise money by taxation to hire substitutes for men drafted into the military service of the United States. The fact was that most of the drafted men were of themselves or their immediate friends unable to procure substitutes, and there was a common and unanimous feeling on the part of the voters of the town that no citizen should be forced into the army against his will. So the town in its corporate capacity assumed the burden, illegal though it was, and in time paid the debt. It may not have been the most exalted kind of patriotism, but there was this about it, the citizens of the town stood together for the personal protection of each other from a draft. It is to be doubted if any other town in the state purchased substitutes for drafted men and raised the purchase money by public taxation. This part of Benton's military history is at least unique. The substitutes were assigned to the Seventh Regi- ment, and all except two rendered honorable service. Dennis Hayes, substitute for Moses W. Howe, and John Adams, substitute for James H. Keyser, deserted. It should perhaps be said in behalf of these drafted men that no one of them has as yet applied for a pension. There was one Benton man who previous to the draft disabled himself by cutting off the thumb of his right hand in order to escape. Had he only waited he might have saved his thumb, and also spared 218 SOME THINGS ABOUT himself the nickname of "Thumby" which clung to him through life. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. ff. 219 CHAPTER X. THE CEMETERIES. The earliest establishment of cemeteries in the town is that at "High Street," the two in the north part of the town being of later date. There was a small cemetery in the north part of the town in what is now a field at the top of the hill a few rods to the south of the present East cemetery, but all traces of it have been lost for many years. There is also a small cemetery on the Meadows on the A. L. Warren farm, but only a few of the graves are marked. The following are the inscriptions on the headstones. Caleb S. Ford died January 6, 1848. Elisha Ford died Feb. 14, 1849, in his 79th year. Salome Ford, wife of Elisha Ford, died July 26, 1853, in her 83rd year. High Street Cemetert. The cemetery at "High Street" is in a very neglected condition. Many of the head- stones have fallen and are partly buried under decaying grass and leaves, while others are broken and the pieces so scattered that the inscriptions are indecipherable. The following were, however, found there in the autumn of 1904. Mrs. Ruth, wife of Obadiah Eastman, Jr., died October 19, 1813, in the 33rd year of her age, Bert L. Littlefield died April 10, 1861, ae. 26. Judith, daughter of Timothy and Betsey Ayer, died Jan. 13, 1834, ae. 19 yrs. 7 mos. 220 SOME THINGS ABOUT Elijah Gray died 1823, ae. 78 years. Elijah Gray died Nov. 6, 1855, aged 83 years. Alitha, wife of Elijah Gray, died Apr. 19, 1862, aged 82. William D. McQuestion, son of Daniel and Betsey Patch, died January 14, 1829, aged 4 years, 2 mos. Eunice G., daughter of Granville and Isabel Flanders, died Dec. 26, 1856, aged 17 years. Susan G., daughter of Granville and Isabel Flanders, died Nov. 3, 1856, aged 12 years. Mr. Stephen Batchelder died March 15, 1827, in the 22d year of his age. Louisa J. Welch died Feb. 27, 1863, ae. 21 years. Silas M. Welch died Feb. 23, 1863, ae. 38 years, 4 mos. Bartlett Welch died March 16, 1863, ae. 33 years, 4 mo. Nancy, wife of Silas M. Welch, died Apr. 28, 1877, ae. 55 years. Franklin, son of Bartlett and Alice R. Welch, died Oct. 1, 1873, aged 19 years, 6 mos. Alice R. wife of John L. Stevens, formerly wife of Bart- lett Welch, died Sept. 16, 1877, aged 44 years. Effie, daughter of D. L. and L. M. Wright, died Mar. 26, 1872, ae. 6 mos., 23 days. Hetty, wife of Curtis C. Swift, died March 18, 1836, ae. 20 yrs. Lucinda, wife of Joseph Nudd, died Dec. 29, 1869, ae. 58 yrs. Abijah Wright died Feb. 26, 1870, aged 91 years. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 221 Hannah, wife of Abijah Wright, died Apr. 18, 1852, ae. 74 years. Josiah F. Jeffers died Sept 21, 1866, aged 55 years. William Sampson, died June 16, 1845, aged 76 years. Mary, wife of William Sampson, died December 14, 1861, aged 86. Hugh Matthews died Sept. 23, 1838, aged 87 years. John Jeffers died Sept. 5, 1859, ae. 77 years. Lydia, wife of John Jeffers, died Dec. 8, 1831, aged 27 years. Susan, wife of John Jeffers, died Apr. 27, 1833, ae. 30 years. Polly, wife of John Jeffers, died Sept. 19, 1861, aged 76 years. Samuel Jackson died Jan. 28, 1813, in his 70th year. Obadiah Eastman, Esq., died Jan. 10, 1812, aged 64 years, 8 months. Mehitabel, wife of Obadiah Eastman, died Dec 27, 1815, aged 68 years, 8 months. [The above inscriptions are on a white marble monu- ment, which bears on its base the words ''Erected by Ira Whitcher in memory of one of the first settlers of Coventry."] Moses Eastman died March 6, 1813, in his 31st year. Eliza Boynton, wife of James Eastman, died Jan. 29, 1813, aged 35 years. Ruth Welch, wife of Jonathan Welch, died Dec. 19, 1855, aged 66 years and 6 mos. 222 SOME THINGS ABOUT. There are in this cemetery scores of unmarked graves, or of graves where gravestones have been broken and destroyed. Just over the Benton line there is a email cemetery at Warren Summit, in which the late Ira Whitcher erected a monument which bears the following inscriptions. Chase Whitcher died Feb. 1836, ae. 82. Hannah Morrill, his wife, died Oct. 31, 1826, ae. 68. Chase Whitcher died Jan. 26, 1850, ae. 62. Mary Green, his wife, died Dec. 14, 1863, ae. 77. The first named Chase Whitcher was one of the first settlers of the town of Warren, and his sons William, Jacob, Chase and David were among the first settlers in the north part of Benton. In this same Warren Summit cemetery is another monu- ment with these inscriptions. James M. Harriman b. June 8, 1828— d. July 19, 1898. Sarah J. Cady, his wife, b. May 18, 1845— d. Aug. 18, 1899. East Cemetery, North Benton. The two cemeteries in the north part of the town are both well kept and compare favorably in appearance with those in other rural sections of the state. Just why the lot where the first burials were made, and which has been previously mentioned as in a field to the south of the present East burying ground, was aban- doned does not appear, but it is likely that a new ground was secured when the present highway was built, and the old highway which ran by the abandoned cemetery was dis- continued some time in the thirties. The inscriptions on headstones and monuments in the present East cemetery situated on an elevation a little to the west of the meeting house are as follows : GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 223 Francis A. Oakes died August 8, 1863, aged 23 years. Martha A. Day, his wife, died Sept. 1, 1863, aged 24 years. Hezekiah Smith b. Jan. 25, 1796, d. Oct. 18, 1871. Nancy Hoit, his wife, b. Sept. 17, 1796, d. Sept. 18, 1883. [They were the parents of Mrs. Samuel C. Annis.] James M. Sherman d. March 1, 1858, aged 7 mos. Joseph Annis died June 5, 1859, aged 76 years. Betsey Currier, wife of Joseph Annis, died Jan. 16, 1865, aged 77 years. Samuel C. Annis, b. May 27, 1815, d. Mar. 15, 1899. Mary F. Smith, his wife, b. June 6, 1825, d. Aug. 27, 1892. Alonzo Annis, son of Samuel C. and Mary Annis, died Feb. 7, 1865, aged 5 years and 6 months. Betsey J. Morse died May 9, 1866, ae. 47, [daughter of Joseph and Betsey Annis, and wife of William F. Morse.] William H. Annis, b. Mar. 2, 1832. d. Dec. 30, 1897. Eliza A., daughter of William F. and Betsey J. Morse, d. July 27, 1842, ae. 2 years. Eva M., daughter of John and Eliza Flanders, d. Oct. 23, 1858, ae. 1 yr., 3 mos. Elias P., son of Alvah C. and Mary K. Wright, d. Jan. 21, 1842, aged 4 years, 8 mos. Israel Flanders died Dec. 10, 1887, aged 87 years. Polly Wells, his wife, died July 25, 1894, aged 96 years. Josiah Flanders died April 8, 1836, ae. 78 years. Deborah M. Flanders, his wife, died Sept 12, 1846, ae. 82 years. 224 SOME THINGS ABOUT Elmer N., son of Nelson F. and Hannah Flanders Noyes, died May 16, 1856, aged 2 yrs. 2 mos. Enos Wells died Oct. 16, 1862, aged 71 years. Lois, wife of Enos Wells, died Apr. 4, 1821, aged 31 yrs. Sally Clark, wife of Enos Wells, died Oct. 18, 1894, aged 93 yrs., 11 mos. Chester, son of Enos and Sally Wells, died Feb. 7, 1843, aged 7 months. Ephraim Cooley b. Dec. 13, 1816, d. Nov. 29, 1897. Holman D. Cooley b. Feb. 23, 1843, d. Feb. 17, 1892. Myra Cooley, wife of Dennis D. Davis, b. Oct. 3, 1854, d. Aug. 13, 1881. William Leighton died Aug 18, 1877, aged 35. Mary E., wife of Charles K. Merrill, died Oct 8, 1839, aged 45 years, 9 mos. Daniel W. Brown died June 28, 1859, aged 26 years. Olive, wife of John Brown, died Nov. 12, 1844, aged 50 years. Betsey, wife of John Cox, died June 1, 1855, aged 77. James A. Cox b. Feb. 20, 1822, d. June 8, 1897. Sarah J., wife of James A. Cox, died June 6, 1881, aged 59. Leonard C, son of James A. and Sarah J. Cox, d. Apr. 26, 1853, aged 13. Hannah C, daughter of James H. and Hannah Cox, died Oct 5, 1852, ae. 20 yrs. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 225 Benjamin, eon ot James H. and Hannah Cox, d. Mar. 14, 1837, aged 6 weeks. Caroline C, wife of Lemuel Cashier, d. May 1, 1857. James H. Cox b. 1795— d. 1879. Hannah French, his wife, b. 1801— d. 1877. George W., son of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. Mar. 14, 1849, ae. 2 years. Hosea M., son of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. March 24, 1859, aged 1 mo. Sarah L., daughter of Bartlett and Anna Marston d. Oct. 16, 1863, ae. 19 years. May B., daughter of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. Oct. 27, 1864, ae. 4 years. Lafayette Wells d. July 18, 1830, aged 25. Hannah, wife of Chellis Goodwin, d. June 22, 1831, ae. 34. Sally, wife of Chellis Goodwin, d. Dec. 21, 1832, ae. 29. Ara Smith d. Oct. 5, 1876, aged 76. Margaret, wife 'of Ara Smith, d. May 21, 1851, ae. 52 yrs. Ruth E. d. May 21, 1833, ae. 8 years. Susan P. d. August 10, 1833, ae. 6 years. Laura A. d. Aug. 29, 1833, ae. 4 years. George B. d. March, 1836, ae. 3 years. [Children of Ara and Margaret Smith.] Nathan K., son of John K. and Sarah Davis, d. March 8, 1846, ae. 11 mos. Mary, wife of Orrin Marston, d. Feb. 5, 1867, aged 53 years. 226 SOME THINGS ABOUT Sarah J., daughter of Orrin and Mary Marston, died Sept. 27, 1867, aged 23 years, 10 months. Castanus P., son of Orrin and Mary Marston, b. August 27, 1845— d. February 3, 1887. Amos C. Mann d. Aug. 22, 1875, aged 70 years. Lyman Bemis d. June 18, 1887, aged 47 years. John L., son of Asa and C. R. Dowse, died Oct. 19, 1882, aged 6 years. Benjamin C. Hutchins d. Feb. 27, 1857, aged 74 years. Sally Hutchins, daughter of Benjamin C. Hutchins, d. Aug. 17, 1826, ae. 26 yrs. Noah C. Hutchins d. Jan 19, 1860, aged 37 years. Benjamin F. Hutchins d. Dec. 30, 1856. aged 44 years. Ellen B. Hutchins, d. Apr. 29, 1892, aged 75 years. Myra Ann, d. Dec. 19, 1863, ae. 23 years. Emma M., d. June 28, 1861, ae. 17 years. George C. F. d. Mar. 8, 1864, ae. 14 years. Moses C. W. d. Mar. 17, 1864, ae. l'O years. Benjamin W. d. Mar. 17, 1864, ae. 8 years. [Children of Benjamin F. and Ellen B. Hutchins.] Samuel Bishop died Sept. 27, 1858, aged 83 years. Betsey, wife of Samuel Bishop, died March 6, 1864, aged 88 years. Franklin Bishop d. Feb. 16, 1852, aged 31 years. Martin Bishop d. Jan. 10, 1852, aged 24 years. Helen Ann Bishop, wife of James Hall, d. Jan. 10, 1848, aged 20 yrs. Sarah Ann Bishop, wife of George W. Kendall, d. June COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 227 18, 1847, aged 21 years. Maria W. Bishop died Nov. 13, 1846, aged 24 years. William Keyser, died Jan. 20, 1865, aged 68 years. Abigail Keyser, his wife, died Mar. 26, 1861, aged 65 years. William K. Bruce died Mar. 7, 1858, aged 37 years. Hannah E. Keyser died July 4, 1848, aged 24 years. David Clough died Sept 27, 1865, aged 62 years. Miriam M. Clough, wife of Chester Clough, died May 11, 1871, aged 32 years. Stephen C. Sherman b. Feb. 11, 1792— d. Oct. 19, 1879. Hannah, wife of Stephen C. Sherman, b. Jan. 14, 1796, — d. Oct. 26, 1880. Hittie B. Sherman, wife of C. F. G. Smith, died Feb. 4, 1872, aged 39 years, 8 mos. Darius K. Davis d. Feb. 10, 1869, aged 1 year 4 mos. Abel E. Davis d. Feb. 9, 1869, aged 10 years, 8 mos. [Children of I. B. and E. F. Davis.] Levi Brooks died Aug. 16, 1857, aged 61 years, 3 mos. Francella N., daughter of Levi and Eveline Brooks, aged 12 years, 7 mos. Timothy Brooks died May 25, 1859, aged 24 years. Isaac Brooks died March 27, 1852. aged 15 yrs., 4 mos. John O. Keyser died Feb. 16, 1891, aged 69 years. Eliza L. Harriman, hie wife, died June 22, 1893, aged 79 years, 11 months. John Wilson b. England 1812— d. March 4, 1891. 228 SOME THINGS ABOUT George P. Wilson b. Jan. 6, 1891— d. Apr. 21, 1893. Mildred E. Wilson b. May 27, 1889— d. Apr. 22, 1893. Emily J. Wilson b. Aug. 13, 1884— d. Sept. 6, 1899. John E. Keyser died Jan. 7, 1896, aged 73 years. Willie S. Keyser, son of John E. and Mahala S. Keyser, died March 24, 1867, aged 16 years, 5 mos. Lydia A. Merrill, wife of Stephen H. R. Marden, 1839 — 1901. West Cemetery. This cemetery, situated on the main road to Bath and Haverhill, near the school house in district No. 5, has been much improved in recent years, and the lots are in the main well kept. There is a fund of $500 estab- lished by the late Ira Whitcher the income of which is to be applied annually for the care of this comparatively small burying ground. The following are the inscriptions on the monuments and tombstones : Kimball Tyler b. Sept 27, 1783, d. Aug. 28, 1856. Dorothy Day, wife of Kimball Tyler, b. Sept. 4, 1793, d. Mar. 7, 1868. Sally Streeter, wife of Kimball Tyler, b. Feb. 28, 1784, d. May 1, 1842. Sally S. Tyler, daughter of Alfred Tyler, d. May 28, 1847, aged 5 years. Alfred Tyler d. Apr. 11, 1843, ae. 28 years. Laura E. Keyser, wife of Frederick M. Tyler, b. July 28, 1857, d. Oct. 16, 1893. Ray E. Tyler b. Nov. 15, 1884, d. June 3, 1893. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 229 Alice E. Tyler b. Aug. 14, 1890, d. June 5, 1893. Scott I. Tyler b. July 11, 1882, d. June 7, 1893. [Children of F. M. and Laura E. Tyler.] Carrie A. Spinney, wife of Byron M. Tyler, b. 1859, d. 1897. Beulah L. Foss d. Sept. 2, 1891, aged 9 months. Harvey A. Hunkings d. Jan. 17, 1859, aged 28 years. Eugene T. Bowman d. Oct. 16, 1859, aged 7 years. Myron P. Bowman d. Mar. 24, 1859, aged 4 years. John M. Bowman d. Apr. 10, 1859, aged 6 months. [Children of David and Hannah Parker Bowman.] Asa Hinkley died Nov. 11, 1848, aged 88 years. Margaret Hinkley, his wife, died May 11, 1848, aged 75 years. James Hinkley died April 7, 1845, aged 43 years. Charlotte Bradish, wife of Edwin Tyler, died Oct. 31, 1851, aged 31 years. Lucinda Bradish died Sept. 9, 1842, aged 25 years. Samuel Smith died at the residence of his son, July 5, 1842, aged 74 years. He formerly resided in Londonderry, Vt. Thomas French died June 2, 1837, in his 80th year. Ruth French, his wife. Charles C. Tyler died July 27, 1878, aged 51 years. Susan M., daughter of Charles C. and Diana Tyler, died Nov. 15, 1862, aged 1 year, 8 mos., 15 da. 230 SOME THINGS ABOUT Dexter, son of Charles C. and Diana Tyler, died March 18, 1882, aged 18 years. Mary J. Clark, wife of A. E. Tyler, b. Dec. 13, 1867, died June 26, 1894. Jonathan Davis died Sept. 23, 1888, aged 80 years. Lydia G., wife of Jonathan Davis, died January 7, 1894, aged 87 years. Eveline S. Davis died Oct. 2, 1840, aged 1 year. Winthrop G. Davis died May 22, 1847, aged 3 years. Sabrina E. Davis died January 18, 1863, aged 14 years, 4 months. [Children of Jonathan and Lydia G. Davis.] Abraham Norris died Sept. 7, 1840, aged 58 years. Polly Norris died Sept. 26, 1861, aged 79 years. Martha Norris died Oct. 16, 1888, aged 82 years. James Norris died Dec. 25, 1890, aged 77 years. Allie A. Howe, wife of Kendrick L. Howe, died Feb. 24, 1883, aged 17 years, 5 mos., 15 days. Ben D. M. Howe died Sept. 4, 1880, aged 4 mos. Silas, son of Daniel M. and Susan Howe, died Feb. 28, 1858, aged 8 mos. Samuel Howe d. Feb. 5, 1899, aged 86 years. Merab Howe d. Nov. 25, 1888, aged 77 years. Royal Howe, son of Samuel and Merab Howe, died Aug. 28, 1852, aged 12 years. John C. Speed died March 13, 1901, aged 64. Israel H. Davis b. Sept. 12, 1804, d. Nov. 23, 1888. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 23 1 Sally Batchelder, wife of Israel H. Davis, b. Jan. 15, 1804, d. April 11, 1898. Sally, wife of Abel Batchelder, died Feb. 16, 1833, aged 65 years. Nathaniel Howe b. June 14, 1793, d. Feb. 3, 1835. Rachel, wife of Isaac Bickford, late consort of Nathaniel Howe, died Dec. 10, 1862, aged 67 years. Lucinda, daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel Howe, died November 8, 1833, aged 1 year. Jonathan Davis died January 26, 1843, aged 69 years. Nathan B. Davis b. 1798, d. 1864. Abigail S. Davis b. 1802, d. 1891. Abigail S. Davis 1833—1835. Sally Ann H. Davis 1835—1836. Eveline B. Davis 1843—1847. [Children of Nathan B. and Abigail S. Davis.] Peter Howe 2nd, died Sept. 1880, aged 66 years. Harriet W., wife of Peter Howe 2nd, died May 20, 1856, aged 37. Rufus W. Howe died Nov. 23, 1864, aged 25 years. Harry L. Howe died July 16, 1890, aged 22 years. Samuel Mann died July 19, 1842, aged 69 years. Mary, his wife, died Nov. 15, 1866, aged 86 years. Edward F. Mann died Sept. 7, 1842, aged 24 years. Samuel A. Mann b. May 6, 1812, d. Oct. 26, 1873. Sally Bailey, his wife, b. June 18, 1809, d. Oct. 26, 1895. Mary J. Coburn, daughter of Nathan Coburn, died Oct. 5, 1832, aged 2 years. 232 SOME THINGS ABOUT John Stow died Oct. 23, 1858, aged 73 years, 7 months. Sally, wife of John Stow, died June 5, 1859, aged 71 years. Reuben K. Stow died April 16, 1833, aged 19 years. Joseph Stow died March 18, 1835, aged 9 years. Daniel K. Stow died July 10, 1835, aged 15 years. Jacob Whitcher died Jan. 11, 1841, aged 50 years. Sarah Richardson, his wife, died May 2, 1834, aged 45 years. Stephen R., son of Jacob and Sarah R. Whitcher, died Jan 1, 1843, aged 23 years. Loren D., son of Jacob and Sarah R. Whitcher, died Sept. 3, 1821, aged 1 year. George H., son of James A. and Hannah Mann, died Feb. 12, 1841, aged 2 years. George W. Mann 1821—1901. Susan M. Whitcher, his wife, 1825—1854. Osman C. Mann died Oct. 20, 1870, aged 17 years, 10 months. Joseph Young died March 30, 1852, aged 82 years, 9 months. Eunice Young died August 21, 1853, aged 80 years 2 mos. Daniel Howe died February 7, 1860, aged 74 years. Phebe Howe, wife of Daniel Howe, died July 2, 1876, aged 83 years. Otis, son of Daniel and Phebe Howe, died August 31, CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 233 1841, aged 10 years. Betsey S., daughter of Elisha and Susan Meader, died December 27, 1839, aged 19 years. Samuel Royce died Sept. 25, 1873, aged 91 years. Dorcas, wife of Samuel Royce, died June 30, 1842, aged 60 years. Ruth, daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Royce, died Janu- ary 27, 1842, aged 18 years. Lydia M., wife of Moses Noyes, daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Royce, died Oct. 14, 1850, aged 32 years. William Whitcher died March 5, 1859, aged 75 years. Mary, wife of William Whitcher, died Sept. 27, 1843, aged 61 years. James Whitcher died August 30, 1837, aged 16 years. William Whitcher, Jr., died Oct. 16, 1839, aged 30 years. Moses Whitcher died March 18, 1846, aged 38 years. Chase Whitcher died May 4, 1883, aged 61 years. Sarah, wife of Chase Whitcher, died Feb. 17, 1878, aged 64 years. Frances C, daughter of Chase and Sarah Whitcher, b. Aug. 22, 1849— d. Oct. 4, 1889. Hannah, daughter of Chase and Sarah Whitcher, died Oct. 15, 1854, aged 11 months. Edward F. Mann, Sept. 7, 1845— Aug. 19, 1892. Marian, daughter of Edward F. and Elvah G. Mann, Feb. 13, 1882— Nov. 3, 1896. Samuel Whitcher b. Aug. 24, 1814, d. Oct. 8, 1879. Emily Quimby, wife of Samuel Whitcher, b. Jan. 25, 234 SOME THINGS ABOUT 1818, died May 5, 1888. David S. Whitcher b. Nov. 30, 1846, d. Mar. 11, 1881. William F. Polley born December 28, 1865, died Sep- tember 18, 1895. Susan E. Whitcher, wife of George H. Clark, born Apr. 20, 1859, died Apr. 24, 1900. John P. Cox died Nov. 19, 1876, aged 64 years. Adaline M. Carpenter, his wife, died August 5, 1890, aged 70 years. Harriet Noyes, daughter of Jonathan Noyes, died Apr. 15, 1836, aged 11 months. Benjamin, son of Jonathan Noyes, died Oct. 10, 1842, aged 8 months. Samuel Noyes, son of Jonathan Noyes, died Oct. 8, 1842, aged 16 years. Spaftord W. Cowan died Oct. 12, 1891, aged 80 years. Alantha Parker, wife of Spafford W. Cowan, died Nov. 24, 1892, aged 73 years. Peter Howe died Nov. 11, 1871, aged 84 years. Mary Powers, wife of Peter Howe, died Feb. 6, 1876, aged 87 years. Ann Powers, wife of James Snow, died Feb. 5, 1869, aged 81 years. Frank, son of P. W. and Dorcas Allen, died Apr. 24, 1881, aged 22 months. John S. Annis died May 16, 1902, aged 50 years. Moses Torsey died Apr. 29, 1842, aged 71 years. OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 235 Sally, wife of Moses Torsey, died Feb. 18, 1853, aged 75 years. Winthrop G. Torsey died Nov. 12, 1873, aged 74 years. Theodosia, wife of Winthrop G. Torsey, died March 27, 1861, aged 61 years. Amos G. Torsey died May 21, 1857, aged 27 years. William T. Torsey died March 6, 1894, aged 66 years. Irene, wife of William T. Torsey, died June 18, 1867, aged 33 years. Amos W., son of William T. and Irene Torsey, died July 25, 1863, aged 3 years. Ella E., daughter of Horace W. and Lucinda C. Gordon, died July 11, 1858, aged 2 years. Georgie Aldrich, wife of William W. Eastman, Apr. 16, 1861— April 19, 1892. Sylvester Eastman died January 19, 1860, aged 45 years. Louisa Whitcher, wife of Sylvester Eastman, died May 4, 1899, aged 77 years. Winthrop G., son of William and Sarah Davie, died June 17, 1864, aged 15 years. Moses Carpenter died January 2, 1858, aged 64 years. Mary Brown, his wife, 1799 — 1863. Phebe J., wife of Alonzo D. Carpenter, died Oct. 10, 1857. Martha J., wife of Halsey R. Howe, died Oct. 20, 1878, aged 26 years. Herbert F., eon of Halsey R. and Martha J. Howe, died Dec. 17, 1889, aged 11 years. 236 SOME THINGS ABOUT Prescott Parker born Nov. 30, 1821— died June 13, 1898. Myrtie E. Keyser, wife of John Wallace, died Feb. 26, 1900, aged 26. Charles B. Keyser died March 24, 1900, aged 74 years. It will be noted that none of the inscriptions bear a death date prior to 1830 except a few of those in the "High Street" cemetery. There were deaths in the north part of the town, but in the struggle for existence which the pioneer settlers were making in that part of the town the graves were unmarked, a fact which speaks eloquently of the poverty endured and hardships borne by these early settlers. COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 237 CHAPTER XI. BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. The record of births, marriages and deaths as found in the books of the town clerk is especially incomplete, mea- ger and unsatisfactory during the fifty years between 1830 and 1880. The early settlers started well but their de- scendants grew careless and for ye&rs there was seldom an entry made by the town clerk. Such entries as were made have been carefully copied for this chapter, together with such information as has been obtainable from other sources, this latter being enclosed in brackets or appended in the form of foot notes. Marriages. At Coventry, March 7, 1802, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice of the Peace, Ira Martin, of Bradford, Vt., to Sally Flanders, of Haverhill. At Coventry, April 21, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Jus- tice of the Peace, Jeremiah Jackson to Anne Niles, both of Coventry. At Coventry, Sept. 8, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice of the Peace, Robert Elliott, Jr., of Coventry, to Senthe SpafFord, of Haverhill. At Coventry, Oct. 2, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice of the Peace, Winthrop Elliott, of Coventry, to Polly Lufkin, of Haverhill. Oct. 16, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice of the Peace, Josiah Flanders, of Haverhill, to Abigail Mead, of Coventry. At Coventry, December 13, 1807, by William Coolidge, Justice of the Peace, Elisha Clifford, of Wentworth, to 238 SOME THINGS ABOUT Betsey Tyler, of Coventry. March 14, 1809, by William Coolidge, Justice of the Peace, Peter Eastman to Sally Fuller, both of Coventry At New Holderness, March 21, 1813, by Robert Towle, rector of the Episcopal church, Chase Whitcher, of Coventry, to Mary Green, of New Holderness. May 9, 1813, by William Coolidge, Justice of the Peace, James Rogers, of Greenfield, Mass., to Hepzibath Tyler, of Coventry. Jan. 23, 1814, by William Coolidge, Justice of the Peace, Mr. Obadiah Eastman to Mrs. Eunice Eastman. At Coventry, Feb. 10, 1814, by Daniel Davis, Justice of the Peace, David Elliott to Mary Mead, both of Coventry. June 9, 1814, James Eastman to Polly Boynton. June 20. 1819, by Daniel Davis, Justice of the Peace, Mo&es Mead to Mary Matthews, both of Coventry. At Coventry, Dec. 2, 1819, by Daniel Davis, Justice of the Peace, James Ford to Betsey Ayer, both of Coventry. Dec. 8, 1819, by Abel Merrill, Esq., of Warren, John Lathrop, of Chelsea, Vt., to Lavina Eastman, of Coventry. By Nathan Coburn, Justice of the Peace, Robert Gray, of Coventry, to Mary Stickney, of Orford. Oct. 29, 1821, by William Whitcher, Justice of the Peace, Elisha Kimball, of Methuen, Mass., to Sally Torsey, of Coventry. At Coventry, January 18, 1823, by William Whitcher, Justice of the Peace, Winthrop G. Torsey, of Coventry, to Theodoeia Tyler, of Piermont. Dec. 28, 1823, by William Whitcher, Justice of the Peace, Robert Coburn to Betsey Torsey, both of Coventry. In Coventry, July 6, 1828, by Rev. Daniel Batchelder, Levi James, of Newbury, Vt., to Cyrene Batchelder of 00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N.H. 239 Coventry. At Coventry, Oct. 14, 1830, by Nathan Coburn, J. P., Jonathan Coburn to Mrs. Lucy Connor, both ot Haverhill. June 16, 1833, by Elder George W. Cogswell, Chellis Goodwin to Olive Flanders, both of Coventry. At Coventry, Nov. 2, 1833, by Nathan Coburn, Esq., Orrin Marston to Mary Torsey, both of Coventry. Feb. 5, 1834, by Elder Barzilla Pierce, Milton Southard to Steneth Ayer, of Coventry. In Coventry, Apr. 18, 1834, by Elder George W. Cogs- well, John Jeffers to Polly Royce, both of Coventry. In Lisbon, July 6, 1834, by George W. Cogswell, Jacob Whitcher, of Coventry, to Rebecca Allen, of Lisbon. In Coventry, Oct. 1, 1837, by Elder Horace Webber, Edwin Tyler to Charlotte Bradish. In Coventry, Feb. 12, 1838, by Enos Wells, J. P., Hazen Whitcher to Sally Tyler, both of Coventry. [Hazen Whitcher was the son of Jacob and Sarah Rich- ardson Whitcher. Sally Tyler was the daughter of Kim- ball and Sally Streeter Tyler. They resided in Benton for a few years after their marriage when they removed to Stoneham, Mass. Both lived to an advanced age. Of their children one daughter, Sarah Richardson, the wife of Col. Oliver H. Marston, of Stoneham, is living. March 5, 1838, by the Rev. O. F. Willis, James A. Mann to Hannah Whitcher, both of Coventry. [James A. Mann was the son of Samuel and Mary Howe Mann. Hannah Whitcher was the daughter of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher. They lived for a time in Newbury, Vt., then moved to Woburn, Mass. James A. Mann died in March, 1874, and Hannah, his wife, died in August, 1896. Of their children Moses W. lives in West Medford, 240 SOME THINGS ABOUT Mass., Abbie, wife of Kendrick, lives in Michigan, and Lucy E. in Woburn, Mass. April 28, 1838, by Enos Wells, Justice of the Peace, David M. Howe, son of Peter and Mary Powers Howe, to Betsey, daughter of Kimball and Sally Streeter Tyler. [Thev lived in Benton until about 1856, when they removed to Stoneham, Mass., where they resided until their death. David M. Howe married 2nd Mrs. Ann Parker, formerly of Bath, who still lives in Stoneham. Dec. 30, 1840, by James J. Page, Justice of the Peace, John Hardy, of Haverhill, to Lucy Tyler, of Coventry. Jan. 11, 1846, by Robert Coburn, minister, Russell Coburn to Eliza Ann Coburn, both of Benton. Mar. 17, 1846, by Robert Coburn, Noah C. Hutchins, of Benton, to Hannah Jesseman, of Franconia. [They resided in Benton. Noah C. Hutchins died in March 1860. Their daughter Eveline married Rev. George E. Brown, then of Benton, now of Haverhill. A son, Solomon J. Hutchins, resides in Benton. Hannah married 2nd William T. Torsey. He died March 6, 1894. She died July 30, 1897.] July 10, 1846, by Robert Coburn, minister of the gospel, Alfred Webber, of Benton to Mary Ann Webber of New- bury, Vt. Dec. 17, 1839, by Rev. Harris Johnson, Josiah F. Jef- fers to Aseneth, daughter of Abijah Wright. [They lived in Benton at High Street until the death of Mr. Jeffers, when the widow removed from town to make her home with her daughter Marietta, the wife of a Methodist Episcopal clergy- man, Rev. James M. Copp. Their son, Samuel G., also removed from town about 1870.] Feb. 9, 1842, by Rev. John Gould, Daniel D. Page, of Benton, to Charlotte A. Baleyn, of Hinsdale. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 241 Jan. 28, 1847, Charles C. Tyler, son of Kimball and Sally Streeter Tyler, to Diana, daughter of Samuel Bishop, of Landaff. March 7, 1852, by the Rev. D. W. Barber, Nelson F. Noyes, of Haverhill, to Hannah, daughter of Israel and Polly Flanders, of Benton. [Nelson F. Noyes was the son of Moses and Polly Howe Noyes.] March 23, 1875, Fred M. Tyler, 23, son of Charles C. and Diana Tyler, to Laura E. Keyser, 17, daughter of James H. Keyser, both of Benton. March 11, 1878, Dennis D. Davis, son of Jeremiah B. and Susan Tyler Davis, 29, to Myra S. Leighton, daughter of Ephraim and Adaline Cooley, both of Benton. May 28, 1878, William VV. Eastman, 28, son of Sylvester and Louisa Whitcher Eastman, of Benton, to Georgie A. Aldrich, 18, of Haverhill. Oct. 15, 1879, Kendrick L. Howe, 23, son of Daniel M. and Susan Clough Howe to Allie E. Collins, 15, daughter of Charles T. and Sarah Pike Collins, both of Benton. Dec. 30, 1881, Frank B. Parker, 25, son of Prescott and Maria Parker, of Benton, to Mattie B. Haywood, 18, of Haverhill. June 3, 1882, Byron M. Tyler, 28, son of Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler, of Benton, to Rose B. Clark, 26, of Haverhill. Nov. 21, 1882, John F. Foss, 21, to Lovia B., 21, daughter of John and Eliza Brown Flanders, of Benton. Aug. 15, 1886, Frank Aikin, 41, to Ann R. Shaw, 35, daughter of Lucius Hutchins. Jan. 15, 1887, William B. Page, 29, son of Daniel D. and Charlotte Page, of Benton, to Hattie E. Warren, 29, of Haverhill. 242 SOME THINGS ABOUT Jan. 22, 1888, A. A. Foes, 24, to May Tyler, 19, of Benton, daughter of Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler. November 23, 1888, Bert E. Buzzel, 20, to Kate S. Howe, 18, of Benton, daughter of Daniel M. and Susan Clough Howe. November 29, 1888, Charles C. Bean, Jr., 20, to Elgie M. Flanders, 20, of Benton, daughter of John and Eliza Brown Flanders. Nov. 29, 1888, George H. Gilman, 27, of Benton, to Carrie L. Sawyer, 21, of Haverhill. February 9, 1889, Horace R. Spooner, 27, of Benton to Blanche A. Humphrey, 18, of Newbury, Vt. May 14, 1889, Paul M. Howe, 28, son of Daniel M. and Susan Clough Howe, to Anna C. Annis, 33, daughter of Samuel C. and Mary Smith Annis, both of Benton. [They lived in Benton till about 1895 when they removed to Pike, where Mr. Howe has since been in the employ of the Pike Manufacturing Co.] July 2, 1889, Moses Stone, 31, of Benton, to Eliza Paradis, of New Market. Dec. 2, 1889, Edward W. Balkam, 77, of Haverhill, to Adaline M. Norris, 67, of Benton. [The wife was a daughter of Moses C. and Mary Brown Carpenter. She married 1st John P. Cox, by whom she had two sons, Ed- ward L., deceased, and Birt, now residing in Benton. She married 2nd David M. Norris, who died in Benton May 24, 1889. Mrs. Balkam died in Woodsville, Aug. 5, 1890.] Feb. 18, 1890, Freman Thebado, 22, to Exilda Paradis, 16, both of Benton. March 4, 1890, George W. Ingerson, 48, of Benton, to Mary E. Whiteman, 35, of Manchester. Aug. 27, 1890, Norman C. McLeod, 26, of Benton, to CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, X. H. 243 Kate McLeod, of Whiton, P. Q. July 18, 1891, Daniel Spooner, 25, to Nora Bourke, 17, both of Benton. Dec. 8, 1891, John Wallace, 23, to Myrtie E. Keyser, 18, adopted daughter of Charles B. and Mary Davis Keyser, both of Benton. Dec. 12, 1891, Clarence A. Spooner, 26, to Lilla M. Temple, 18, both of Benton. May 18, 1891, Nahum W. French, 37, of Haverhill, to Lena E. Brooks, 25, daughter of Charles T. and Sarah Pike Collins, of Benton. Aug. 24, 1893, James Murdock, 37, to Eveline Fackney, 19, both of Benton. Apr. 5, 1894, George Fillion, 22, to Delandra Derosha, 24, both of Benton. Dec. 17, 1895, Willie I. Eastman, 22, to Lulu M. Cox, 18, daughter of Birt Cox, both of Benton. June 30, 1896, Charles P. Collins, 19, son of Charles T. and Sarah Pike Collins, to Gracie M. Mann, 19, daughter of Orman L. and Ella Haywood Mann, both of Benton. Oct. 21, 1896, Arthur C.Delaney, 28, to ElgieM. Bean, 28, daughter of John and Eliza Brown Flanders. Xov. 24, 1896, Stephen H. Dexter, 24, to Estella Tyler, 18, both of Benton, daughter of Frederick M. and Ella Keyser Tyler. Sept. 16, 1897, Edgar L. Morse, 38, of Easton, to Kate H. Buzzel, 26, of Benton, daughter of Daniel M. and Susan Clough Howe. Sept. 12, 1897, Clarence Fifield, 23, to Charlina C. Tyler, 17, of Benton, daughter of Frederick M. and Ella Keyser Tyler. Aug. 31, 1898, A. E. Tyler, 44, son of Charles C. and 2 44 SOME THINGS ABOUT Diana Bishop Tyler to Isabel Muir, 36, of Bath. June 11, 1900, William R. Severance, 22, of Stone- ham, Mass., to Edna W. Tyler, 23, of Benton, daughter of Frederick M. and Ella Keyser Tyler. Nov. 28, 1900, Willis A. Brown, 29, of Bellows Falls, Vt., to Jennie F. Veazey, 26, of Benton, daughter of Charles and Ruth J. Veazey. April 20, 1901, Carroll B. Tyler, 30, son of Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler, to Veronia D. Tibbetts, 19, daughter of De Elden Tibbetts, both of Benton. Nov. 16, 1901, Byron M. Tyler, 43, of Benton, son of Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler, to Helen F. Corwin, 43, Peterborough. Jan. 10, 1902, Alonzo Spooner, 68, of Benton to Marga- ret J. Dacey, 39, of Penacook. March 28, 1903, Stephen H. R. Marden, 65, of Benton, to Emma J. Carden, 47, of Westford, Mass. Apr. 20, 1903, Oscar F. Spooner, 26, son of Alonzo Spooner, to Eva Moses, 16, both of Benton. Births. The record of births is very incomplete in the town records, and but little additional information can be gleaned from the members of the families still residing in the town. Of the early families there are almost no repre- sentatives remaining in town, and correspondence with widely scattered representatives reveals the fact that there was gross carelessness in keeping the family records, and that in many instances, such meager records as were kept have been lost. There are now widely scattered representatives of scores of families, who lived in town prior to 1850, who are anxious to learn something concerning their ancestry and of the history of their respective families during the early GO VENTR Y—BEJSTTON, JST. IT. 245 life of Coventry, but are unable themselves to furnish any- thing beyond unreliable tradition. In connection with the meager record of births found in the books of the town clerk there is also in some cases a record of the marriage of parents. The full record is here given together with such other facts as have been obtained by correspondence and inquiry. Obadiah Eastman, Esq., b. May, 7, 1747. Mehitabel, his wife, born Apr. 27, 1747. Jesse, b. Sept. 13, 1769. Sarah, b. July 31, 1771. James, b. Mar. 12, 1774. Obadiah, Jr., b. Oct. 5, 1777. Mehitabel, b. Feb. 21, 1780. Moses, b. Dec. 21, 1782. Ruth, b. July 26, 1785. Peter, b. June 3, 1788. James, son of Obadiah and Mehitabel Eastman, m. Betsey Boynton (b. Oct. 8, 1778), Aug. 28, 1798. Jesse, b. July 28, 1799. Rosilla, b. Sept. 14, 1803. Louisa, b. June 29, 1805. Nancy, b. June 13, 1808. Sylvester, b. Aug. 3, 1814. Betsey, b. Sept. 22, 1816. Moses, b. December, 14, 1818. [There was also a younger son, James.] Sylvester Eastman, son of James and Betsey Boynton Eastman, m. Louisa, daughter of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher, b. Dec. 22, 1812. [Of their three children George E., m. Rebecca Bronson, 246 SOME THINGS ABOUT who with her two daughters resides at No. Haverhill ; Ruth J., m. Chas. A. Veazey, and resides in Benton, their two children having removed from town, William D. Veazey engaging in the practice of law in Laconia, and Mrs. W. A. Brown residing in Bellows Falls, Vt. ; William W. m. first Georgia A. Aldrich, of Haverhill, 2nd Mrs. Edna Eastman, of Easton, and resides in Benton.] Phebe Eastman, b. June 9, 1808. Caroline Eastman, b. Dec. 3, 1810. [They were the daughters of Moses and Eunice Eastman.] Children of Peter and Sarah Eastman. Asa Eastman, b. Feb. 18, 1810. Abigail Eastman, b. Aug. 28, 1812. Adaline Eastman, b. June 18, 1814. Obadiah Eastman 3rd, b. Nov. 6, 1804. Ezra Eastman, b. Nov. 9, 1808. Ebeneezer Eastman, b. Aug. 22, 1810. Ruth Eastman, b. Sept. 8, 1814. [These were children of Jesse Eastman.] Jeremiah Jackson, b. Oct. 9, 1783, d. June 12, 1817. Ann, his wife, b. May 23, 1783. CHILDREN . Olive, b. July 27, 1804. Artemas, b. April 27, 1806. Sarah, b. April 19, 1808. Hannah, b. May 8, 1810. Mary Ann, b. July 27, 1812. James, b. November 9, 1814. Betsey, b. April 19, 1817. COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 247 William Coolidge, b. Jan. 28, 1777. Mary Hale, his wife, daughter of Major Jonathan Hale, born Nov. 23, 1777. Married, May 19, 1800. CHILDREN. Mary Bridge, b. July 8, 1801. William Frederick, b. July 28, 1804. Edmund Preble, b. Apr. 29, 1806. Jonathan Hale, b. Dec. 17, 1807. Salmon Niles, b. March 11, 1768. Millie, his wife, b. Apr. 4, 1779. CHILDREN. Joseph, b. June 28, 1798. Ezra, b. Aug, 29, 1799. Millie, b. July 27, 1803. Sally, b. Mar. 16, 1805. Synthia, b. Nov. 4, 1806. * Mira, b. Aug. 6, 1807. Marenda, b. Sept. 9, 1808. Jesse, b. March 8, 1810. Salmon, Jr., b. May 14, 1812. Levi, b. Jan. 26, 1814. Louisa, b. October 9, 1817. Mary, b. June, 15, 1820. Cyrus, b. December 1823. [The family early removed from town, Salmon Niles having come from Rumney to Coventry. None of his chil- dren remained in town on reaching manhood and woman- hood, but they have descendants living in Ohio and Indiana filling responsible positions in the social, political and finan- cial world.] 248 SOME THINGS ABOUT Joseph E. Marston, b. June 20, 1777. Ruth, his wife, b. Oct. 12, 1780. John Westley Marston, b. Apr. 22, 1804. [Whether Joseph E. Marston was a relative of David and Jonathan does not appear. Some of the descendants of Jonathan think he was an elder brother, but are not certain. He remained in town but a short time, living at High Street.] Peter Howe, Jr., b. September 16, 1787. Mary Powers, b. April 13, 1790. Married, November 22, 1812. Sally Howe, b. July 22, 1813. [Sally married Streeter, of Lisbon, where she lived until her death, and where and in adjoining towns a number of her descendants are still living. Other children were Phebe M., born Feb. 24, 1815, who married 1st Alfred Tyler. One son, Isaac H. Tyler, served during the War of the Rebellion in the 11th New Hampshire Vols., and at last accounts was living in Wisconsin. She married 2nd Moses N. Howland, of LandafF, by whom she had several children, one son being a successful farmer in Pier- mont. David M., born March 9, 1817, married Betsey Tyler, lived in Benton and Stoneham, Mass, where both died. Moses W. married Laura, daughter of Jacob M. White, lived in Benton and Stoneham, Mass., where his widow and two sons, Herbert and Harry, still reside.] Thais Jackson, b. Feb. 6, 1801. Amos Jackson, b. Jan. 9, 1803. Moses Jackson, b. Sept. 28, 1805. Samuel Jackson, b. Nov. 14, 1807. Mehitabel Jackson, b. Mar. 13, 1810. 00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 249 CHILDREN OF THOMAS JACKSON. Marcus B., b. December 14, 1808. Dan Young, b. February 11, 1810. William Wilson, b. March 2, 1812. Fletcher, b. August 25, 1814. Eliza Jackson, b. March 3, 1818. Thomas Branch, John, [These sons and daughter of Thomas Jackson removed to Haverhill in early life, the sons becoming leading citizens of the town.] CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM AND POLLY NORRIS. Martha, b. April 2, 1807. Betsey, b. March 12, 1811. James, b. July 4, 1814. David Marston, b. Nov. 5, 1816. Merrill, b. Sept. 13, 1820. J. Dean, b. David Marston, b. September 17, 1779. Susannah Bronson his wife, b. July 29, 1777. Married, January 23, 1803. CHILDREN. Mehitabel, b. November 27, 1808. Lucy, b. September 7, 1811. William Coolidge, b. July 28, 1815. [William Coolidge Marston was a prominent citizen of Haverhill. One son, Moody C, married a daughter of John White, of Wells River, Vt. He rendered honorable service in the 11th N. H. vols. He is at present a prosper- ous farmer in Bath. He has two children, John G. and Clara, wife of Martin W. Howland of Woodsville.] 250 SOME THINGS ABOUT Ebenezer Gage Knight son of Jeremiah Knight, born November 19, 1829. Benjamin R. Davis, b. June 21, 1791. Betsey Stuart, his wife, b. December 13, 1791. Married December 12, 1811. CHILDREN. Elias S., b. July 27, 1813. Alvan, b, July 3, 1815. Betsey, b. October 4, 1817. Erastus, b. November 23, 1819. Belinda E., b. October 31, 1821. Benjamin R., Jr., b. November 11, 1823. James Harford and Betsey Hill, married January 13, 1818. CHILDREN. Viania, b. July 19, 1818. Sylvanus, b. May 16, 1820. James Jr., b. Sept. 29, 1822. John, b. January 27, 1824. James Jeffers, b. August 7, 1823. Elvira French, b. August 10, 1822. Submit Page, b. Sept. 21. 1822. Addison Wyman Eastman, b. April 30, 1823. Hugh Matthews, b. November 20, 1750. Mary, his wife, b. August 28, 1775. CHILDREN. Mary Jane, b. February 14, 1803. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 251 Caroline, b. October 29, 1806. Lucinda, b. April 13, 1809. David, b. August 14, 1811. Hetty, b. April 14, 1816. Sophronia, b. October 13, 1819. Eliza Swan, b. October 29, 1821. Loeza Doty, b. June 15, 1801, d. October 21, 1816. William Doty, b. August 2, 1805. Curtis Doty, b. July 10, 1807. Niles Doty, b. February 14, 1809. [Niles Doty lived at East Haverhill until his death at an advanced age about 1880. A daughter ot his still resides on the homestead farm.] Hugh Alexander Rogers, b. May 22, 1819. Mary Gould Jeffers, b. August 5, 1821, Philena Eastman, b. April 24, 1822. Jonathan Welch, b. August 7, 1797. Ruth, his wife, b. January 14, 1790. Married, Decem- ber 2, 1819. CHILDREN. Silas Morrill, b. April 23, 1826. Bartlett, b. February 10, 1828, d. March 17, 1829. Bartlett, b. November 9, 1829. CHILDREN OF WIDOW MARY TYLER. Lydia, b. February 4, 1826. Jesse, b. Oct. 4, 1827. Mary Jane, b. May 19, 1829. 252 SOME THINGS ABOUT James Trefren, b. May 28, 1815. Orrin Trefren, b. May 24, 1817. Amy Trefren, b. May 7, 1819. David Marston Trefren, b, February 9, 1822. Gilman Trefren, b. March 1, 1824. Jesse Eastman 2nd, b. July 28, 1799. Sarah, his wife, b. Dec. 29, 1796. Married, August 12, 1821. James Eastman, b. May 12, 1823. Mary H. Palmer, b. June 24, 1800. Joseph F. Palmer, b. October 7, 1803. James Palmer, b. March 24, 1805. Sally W. Palmer, b. Apr. 28, 1807. Judith G. Palmer, b. August 17, 1809. Daniel Doty, b. June 15, 1766. Salatha, his wife, b. August 28, 1768. CHILDREN. Adaniah, b. September 11, 1789, d. July 1, 1813. Levi, b. June 15, 1792, d. April 22, 1813. Barnabas, b. June 15, 1794, d. Oct. 9, 1798. Jesse, b. May 8, 1795, d. June 14, 1795. Clarinda, b. April 5, 1798. Jacob Currier, b. Nov. 27, 1798. Susan Whitcher, b. Dec. 25, 1802. Married, December 25, 1821. CHILDREN. Susan W., b. January 1, 1823. John W., b. May 7, 1824. Patience F., b. November 28, 1825. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 253 Moses Ci b. January 8, 1829. Alonzo, b. Dec. 23, 1830. CHILDREN OP JONATHAN AND PHEBE HOWE MARSTON. Orrin, b. Jan. 15, 1809. Bartlett, b. April 28, 1816. Jonathan Hale, b. July 1, 1818. Phebe, b. March 7, 1823. [Phebe married Gilbert P. Wright. They had a large family of children, several residing in Haverhill, while others have made homes in other localities. Mrs. Wright is still living in Haverhill.] James B. Ball, b. Dec. 31, 1797, married Roxana Co- burn, May, 1816. CHILDREN. Mary, b. October 3, 1816. Rachel, b. August 3, 1818. Lois W., b. December 1, 1821. Enos W., b. April 6, 1823. [This family removed to East LandafF, now Easton, where several descendants of James B. and Roxana Ball are still living.] Kimball Tyler, b. September 9, 1783. Sally Streeter, b. February 28, 1784. Married, April 15, 1805. CHILDREN. Relief, b. November 2, 1805. Lucy, b. August 2, 1807, d. May 4, 1812. Kimball, b. December 9, 1808. [He lived but a little time in Coventry after reaching his 254 SOME THINGS ABOUT majority, but removed to Stoneham, Maes., where he spent most of his life.] Sally, b. May 27, 1810. [m. Hazen Whitcher]. Susan K., b. September 14, 1812. [m. Jeremiah B. Davis, by whom she had issue. Wes- ley, deceased ; Mary, married Charles B. Keyser, resides in Benton; Laban T., resides in Lynn, Mass.; Eliza, m. Burton French of* Haverhill ; Kimball T. ; Sally, deceased ; Jeremiah B., Jr., resides in Easton ; Constantine, deceased ; Dennis D.] Edwin, b. August 20, 1814. Alfred b. March 13, 1816. Betsey, b. March 22, 1818. [m. David M. Howe.] Laban, b. January 26, 1820. [Lived for several years in Stoneham, Mass., then removed to Michigan.] Eliza, b. October 16, 1821. Moses K., b. March 14, 1823. [m. daughter of Preecott Parker, lived in Stoneham, Mass. and Benton and then removed to Michigan.] Charles C, b. July 2, 1827. [m. Diana Bishop, and lived in Benton till his death at the age of 51.] George, b. May 27, 1831. [m. Jane Siddons, daughter of William Siddons and lived in Benton, Stone- ham, and Lynn, Mass.] Lucetta, b. January 9, 1832. [Unmarried and resides in Stoneham, Mass.] Asa Page Knight, b. August 13, 1827. Ezekiel Day, b. January 10, 1819. Samuel E. Day, b. January 3, 1821. Daniel Day, b. April 28, 1822. Abigail G. Day, b. May 30, 1823. 00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 255 James Hopkins Cox, b. January 10, 1797. Hannah French, b. June 28, 1800. Married, March 1, 1821. CHILDREN. James Albert, b. February 20, 1822. [There were two other sons, Thomas F., who lived with his father until the family removed from town, and George W., who learned the wheelwrights trade, lived at Swiftwater and Haverhill for a few years and removed to Manchester.] Aaron Knight and Betsey Currier were married, Decem- ber 23, 1819. CHILDREN. Louisa K., b. September 15, 1820. Caleb, b. March 5, 1822. Moses, b. November 15, 1823. Moses Mead, b. August 11, 1800. Mary, his wife, b. December, 1797. CHILDREN. Warren, b. August 20, 1820. Emeline, b. January 1 , 1823. CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND POLLY WELLS FLANDERS. John, b. July 9, 1826. [m. Eliza J. daughter of John Brown, d. 1904.] Mahala, b. July 3, 1828. [married John E. Key- ser. Since the the death of her husband in 1896, resides in Benton.] Lafayette Wells, b. September 18, 1830. [m. 1st, Ann Wright, daughter of Russell Wright of Haverhill, 2nd, Marietta, daughter of Joseph Hutchins. Removed to 256 80ME THINGS ABOUT Haverhill about 1870, d. 1905.] Hannah Goodwin, b. May 6, 1832. [m. 1st, Nel- son F. Noyes, 2nd, Dexter. Resides with daughter in St. Johnsbury, Vt.] CHILDREN OF DAVID AND PHEBE SMITH WHITCHER. David Marston, b. June 30, 1831. Daniel Batchelder, b. July 6, 1833. Joseph, b. [These three brothers removed to Meredith and have since with their children resided in Meredith and New Hampton.] Samuel Coburn Young, son of David Young, Jr., b. December 24, 1827. Augustus Coburn Young, son of David Young, Jr., b. September 16, 1830. CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND EL ATA KIMBALL. Chauncey, b. June 24, 1831. Daniel, b. January 1, 1833. Mary, b. Sept. 23, 1834. CHILDREN OF ROBERT AND BETSEY TORSEY COBURN. Moore Russell, b. July 4, 1824. Rosella, b. July 7. 1826. Robert Gilman, b. June 28, 1828. Betsey Jane, b. September 16, 1830. Moses Torsey, b. February 19, 1833. Augustus, b. April 1, 1836. Josiah Nelson, b. January 11, 1846. Chester Hutchins Noyes, son of Jonathan Noyes, b. June 12, 1833. OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 257 Nathan Coburn Stow and Nathaniel Howe Stowe, sons of John and Sally Stow, b. May 3, 1829. [These brothers married sisters, Ruth Weed and Ann Weed and removed to Stoneham, Mass.] Sarah Stow, daughter of John and Sally Stow, b. April 3, 1831. CHILDREN OF KINSLEY AND BETSEY BATCHELDER. Sally Sanborn, b. February 13, 1832. Mary Ann, b. November 15, 1833. CHILDREN OF NATHAN AND MARY PARKER COBURN. Nathan Parker, b. February 6, 1817. Levi Parker, b. May 12, 1819. Alonzo, b. October 16, 1821. LydiaW., b. July 23, 1823. James Fisk, b. November 6, 1825. Benjamin Franklin, b. November 13, 1827. Mary Jane, b. March 24, 1830, d. Oct. 5, 1832. Sally Ann, b. Sept. 20, 1832. Daniel Jenness, b. May 15, 1835. CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL AND RACHEL COBURN HOWE. Nathan Coburn, b. September 7, 1817. Stedman Willard, b. Apr. 21, 1822. Ira Goodall, b. May 19, 1827. Kimball Tyler, b. May 19, 1828. CHILDREN OF ENOS AND SALLY CLARK WELLS. Caleb, b. Oct. 19, 1826. George, b. March 18, 1828. [d. July 29, 1905.] Enos C, b. March 20, 1830, [d. August 8, 1905.] 258 SOME THINGS ABOUT William Whitcher, b. Mar. 23, 1783. Mary Noyes, b. Nov. 5, 1787. Married, February 15, 1807. CHILDREN. Moses, b. December 26, 1807 ; [see p. 54.] William, Jr., b. December 26, 1808, d. Oct. 16, 1833, [see p. 54.] Amos, b. May 18, 1810 ; [see pp. 63-64.] Louisa, b. December 22, 1811 ; [m. Sylvester East- man,] see p. 245. Winthrop Chandler, b. February 20, 1813. Samuel, b. August 24, 1814; [see p. 69.] Ira, b. December 2, 1815, [see pp. 75-78.] Sally, b. May 25, 1817, [see p. 93.] Hannah, b. April 4, 1819, [see p. 239.] James, b. October 1, 1820, d. Aug. 20, 1837. Chase, b. January 20, 1822, [see pp. 84-85.] Mary, b. October 28, 1823. Susan, b. May 20, 1825, [see p. 59.] Daniel, b. January 20, 1827, [see pp. 90-91.] David, b. June 17, 1828, [see p. 94.] Phebe, b. February 24, 1831, [m. Mosely M. Brooks of Franconia, lived in Woburn, Mass., d. June 4, 1870.] CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 259 [William Whitcher was a descendant of Thomas Whittier — the name formerly pronounced Whit-cher — who came to America from "Millchill part of Wiltshire," England, Apr. 24, 1638. Thomas settled first in Salisbury, Mass., after- wards lived for a short time in Newbury, Mass., where he married Ruth Green, and shortly afterwards removed to Haverhill, Mass., where he was prominent in the early his- tory of that town. He died in Haverhill, November 28, 1696. CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND RUTH GREEN WHITTIER. Mary, b. August 9, 1647. John, b. December 23, 1649. Ruth, b. August 1, 1651. Thomas, b. June 12, 1653. Susanna, b. March 27, 1656. Nathaniel, b. August 11, 1658. Hannah, b. September 10, 1660. Richard, b. June 27, 1663. Elizabeth, b. November 21, 1666. Joseph, b. May 8, 1669. Nathaniel, son of Thomas and Ruth Green Whittier, m. August 26, 1685, Mary, daughter of William Osgood, of Salisbury, Mass. They resided in Salisbury, Mass. CHILDREN. Reuben, b May 17, 1686. Ruth, b. October, 14, 1688. Reuben, son of Nathaniel and Mary Osgood Whittier, m. December 19, 1708, Deborah Pillsbury, of Newbury, Mass. They resided in Salisbury, Mass. 260 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHILDREN. Mary, b. September 25, 1709. Nathaniel, b. August 12, 1711. William, b. November 20, 1714. Reuben, b. 1716. Richard, b. 1717. Joseph, b. May 2, 1721. Benjamin, b. May 4, 1722. Joseph, son of Reuben and Deborah Pillsbury Whittier, m. January 13, 1743, Martha, daughter of John Evans, of Nottingham, N. H. They also resided in Salisbury, Mass. CHILDREN. Deborah, b. September 4, 1744. Dorothy, b. November 30, 1745. Sarah, b. September 18, 1747. John, b. June 19, 1749. Reuben, b. September 19, 1751. Chase, b. October 6, 1753. Joseph, b. October 31, 1755. John, Chase and Joseph were among the first settlers of Warren, N. H., and spelled their names according to pro- nunciation — Whitcher — this spelling being retained by the descendants of John and Chase. Chase Whitcher, son of Joseph and Martha Evans Whit- tier, m. July 6, 1777, Hannah Morrill, of Amesbury, Mass. They resided in Warren. CHILDREN. Levi, b. September 22, 1779, died in infancy. Dolly, b. January 22, 1781, m. John Atwell. William, b, May 23, 1783. GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 261 Molly, b. April 16, 1785, died unmarried. Chase, b. Sept. 5, 1787. Levi 2d, b. August 31, 1789, died unmarried. Jacob, b. June 22, 1791. Miriam, b. March 18, 1794, m. Joseph Davis Wil- loughby, of Holderness. Martha, b. July 18, 1798, m. Elisha Fullam. David, b. January 15, 1803. The four sons of Chase and Hannah Morrill Whitcher were among the first settlers of Benton, as has already been noted, and his daughters, Dolly and Martha, also lived for some years in town. David m. Phebe P. Smith, March 20, 1828. Their eldest son, Joseph, was born August 25, 1829. (For this family see p. 256.) Jacob married Sarah Richardson, of Warren, and moved to Coventry where he died in 1834. Their children were all born in Coventry and were : Levi, b. October 29, 1815, (see p. 78.) Hazen, b. May 21, 1817, (see p. 82.) Stephen, b. June 18, 1819. Alonzo, b. June 8, 1821. Lorinda, b. August 3, 1825. Jacob, b. June 8, 1827. Sarah Jane, b. Aug. 31, 1830. The sixteen children of William and Mary Noyes Whit- cher were all born in Benton and, as has already been noted, most of them settled in town, becoming important factors in its life. Amos Whitcher ra. Polly Young, of Lisbon, December 24,1835. (Seep. 63.) 262 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHILDREN. Lucinda C, b. October 7, 1836, m. Horace W. Gor- don, d. October 27, 1871. Amarett A., b. June 23, 1840, m. Emery B. White. Charles H., b. February 10, 1843, deceased. Winthrop C, b., March 22, 1845. James E., b. November 29, 1847, deceased. Florence V., b. May 3, 1852, m. December 4, 1878, William C. Young. Albion G., b. August 28, 1854. Winthrop Chandler Whitcher, son of William and Mary Noyes, m. Mrs. Mary Priest Noyes, the widow of Samuel Noyes, Jr., of Landaff, where he resided until his death, leaving four children, Moses, Ward P., Henry and Sarah. Moses was twice married, residing in Landaff until shortly before his death in May, 1902, when he removed to Lisbon. He left two daughters, one, Pheeb, the wife of Daniel J. Whitcher, of Easton, and Jean, a teacher in the schools of Quincy, Mass. Ward P. m. Pheeb Perkins, of New Hamp- ton, and lived at Tilton and later at Lisbon where he was engaged in the insurance and drug business until his death in 1896. He left two sons, Frank P., who resides in Wash- ington, and Chase R., a successful architect in Lisbon. Henry is a prosperous farmer in Landaff. His sons, Charles C. and John W., have been extensively engaged in the lum- ber business. One daughter, Mrs. H. E. Heath, resides in Ponema, and another, Mercy, with her parents. Sarah married La Fayette McConnell and resides in Landaff, Mary, daughter of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher, m. June 1, 1841, Jason Titus of Lyman, residing in that town for many years when they removed to Lisbon where COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 263 they lived during the remainder of their lives, celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1891 . Of their children, Charles H., Holman D., Theron W., Fred M. and Bertha May are living, and Herman P. and George W. are deceased.] CHILDREN OF BARLTETT AND ANNA BROWN MARSTON. Laura A., b. June 20, 1840, married George Wilson. Wesley B., b. October 24, 1841, [deceased.] Sarah L., b. May 18, 1844, [deceased.] George W., b. Aug. 14, 1846, [deceased.] Rhoda J., b. June 26, 1848, m. C. C. Hildreth. Henry G., b. March 27, 1851. Elvah S., b. May 3, 1853, m. A. A. Clement. Lucy M., b. April 7, 1855, m. George Sargent. Hosea M., b. Feb. 2, 1858, [deceased.] May B., b. March 6, 1860, [deceased.] Luvia E., b. April 13, 1863, m. C. W. Sawyer. Peter Howe 2d, b. July 4, 1814. Harriett W. Tyler, his wife, b. April 4, 1814, m. October 24, 1837. CHILDREN. Rufue W., b. June 16, 1839. Harriet Ellen, b. December 22. 1844. 284 SOME THINGS ABOUT Lucena M., b. June 10, 1846. Samuel Whitcher m. May 4, 1840, Emily Quimby, of Lisbon. CHILDREN. Lydia E., b. June 22, 1841, m. William H. Polley. Betsey S., b. February 5, 1844, m. William Kendall. David S., b. November 30, 1846, [deceased.] Daniel J., b. February 2, 1849. Charles O., b. November 21, 1852. Susan E., b. April 20, 1859, [deceased.] CHILDREN OF JAMES J. AND FANNY MEAD PAGE. Lavinia Farnham Mead, b. August 13, 1826. Eliza Ann, b. October 20, 1828. Laura Ann Whittaker, b. September 28, 1831. James, b. February 10, 1834. Elizabeth R., b. Mary, b. CHILDREN OF IRA AND LUCY ROYCE WHITCHER. William F., b. August 10, 1845. Mary E., b. July 17, 1847, (deceased.) Frank, b. June 21, 1849, (deceased.) Scott, b. Nov. 2, 1852, (deceased.) William F. m. let, December 4, 1872, Jeanette M., daughter of Dr. Ellsworth Burr, of Middletown Conn. She died in Maiden, Mass., Sept. 30, 1894. Their son, Burr Royce, b. New Bedford, Mass., November 6, 1878, gradu- ated Dartmouth college 1902, Dartmouth Medical 1905, is house physician St. Luke's hospital, New Bedford, Mass. William F. m. 2d, November 4, 1896, Marietta A. Hadley, of Stoneham, Mass.] 00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N B. 265 John Brown, b. November 22, 1784, son of Caleb Brown of Bristol. Olive Colby, b. January 16, 1793, daughter of John Colby, in. January 7, 1813. CHILDREN. Jonas G., b. December 17, 1814, m. Angeline Whiteman. Sally, b. October 13, 1815, m. Benjamin Cilley, of Andover. John C, b. September 21, 1817, m. Louisa Carter, of Portland, Me. Mary, b. February 8, 1820, m. Benjamin Cilley, of Andover. Susan, b. March 17, 1822, m. Joseph Hutchins. Jesse M., b. March 4, 1824, m. Emma Van Ant- werp, Michigan. Abigail S., b. February 28, 1827. Eliza J., b. April 15, 1830, m. John Flanders. Daniel W., b. April 18, 1833, d. June 28, 1859. Julia Ann, b. April 18, 1835, m. Elisha Hibbard. Jonas G. Brown, b. December 17, 1814, m. January 1838, Angeline Whiteman, b. October 5, 1814. CHILDREN. Marium M., b. December 23, 1838, m. Chester C. Clough, deceased. George E., b. May 31, 1841, m. Eveline Hutchins. Olive, b. September 1842, d. Auguet 1843. Clara A., b. July 8, 1847, m. November 1865, W. W. Coburn, deceased. Cyrenia M., b. May 1, 1850, m. 1869 Ransom Coburn. 266 SOME THINGS ABOUT Imogene, b. September 2, 1853, m. March 17, 1880, C. W. Cummings. CHILDREN OF GEORGE E. AND EVELINE HUTCHINS BROWN. Jonas N., b. September 25, 1864, m. Emma Ban- croft, January 8, 1888. Allen M., b. April 13, 1867, m. Elizabeth Titus, April 10, 1889. Abbie F., b. June 29, 1869, d. July 28, 1879. Marium M., b. October 9, 1871. C. Ida, b. March 10, 1874. Josie L., b. September 27, 1876. Grace Edith, b. March 31, 1881. Joseph Hutchins, m. November 17, 1839, Susan Brown Emerson, daughter of John and Olive Brown. CHILDREN. Marietta, b. October 22, 1840, m. L. W. Flanders. Ella A., b. February 24, 1843, m. Frank Wilmot. Jane B., b. November 18, 1846, m. Moses Clough. Sally Ann, b. October 22, 1848, m. Moses P. Bemis. Charles A., b. September 4, 1853, m, Emma Hardin. Jeremiah B. Davis, b. May 7, 1803, d. June 28, 1884; Susan Tyler, b. September 14, 1811, d. January 29, 1891 ; married June 1831. CHILDREN. Wesley B., b. August 27, 1832. Mary A., b. March 17, 1834, m. Chas. B. Kezer. Eliza C, March 4, 1836, m. Burton French, deceased. Laban T., b. August 22, 1838. Kimball T., b. September 5, 1841. Jeremiah B., Jr., b. May 30, 1844. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 267 Sarah W., b. October 26, 1846, deceased. Dennis D., b. March 8, 1849. George C, b. July 4, 1850, deceased. Jonathan Hunkins m. Betsey Smith October 17, 1*826. CHILDREN. Joseph Smith, b. April 21, 1828. Harvey Augustus, b. April 29, 1830. Thomas Hewes, b. August 17, 1832, d. June 1, 1834. Thomas Hewes, b. August 3, 1834. Olive Ann, b. May 30, 1837, m. James Page. Clarissa Jane, b. July 7, 1840. William Keyser, b. Cabot, Vt., January 5, 1797; Abi- gail Eastman, b. Concord, N. H., July 27, 1795 ; m. 1819. CHILDREN. Mary J., b. August 1, 1820, Northfield, N. H. John E., b. August 17, 1822, Northfield. Henry Eastman, b. July 3, 1824, Northfield. Charles B., b. January 12, 1826, Northfield. Laura, b. April 9, 1828, Coventry. James H., b. September 25, 1830, Coventry. CHILDREN OF GEORGE W. AND SUSAN WHITCHER MANN. Ezra B., b. November 2, 1843. Edward F., b. September 7, 1845. George Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1848. Orman L. ) b December lg 1852 (Jsman C 3 George W. Mann m. 2d, Sarah, daughter of Gad Bisbee, February 1855. CHILDREN. Melvin J., b. March 8, 1856. 268 SOME THINGS ABOUT HoseaB., b. May 27, 1858. Susan M., b. January 3, 1860. Minnie S., b. December 4, 1862. Moses B., b. January 20, 1865. CHILDREN OF CHARLES C. AND DIANA BISHOP TYLER. Lucetta S., b. April 15, 1848, m. An:os M. Pike. Charles W., b. October 28, 1849. Frederick M., b. July 17. 1851. Alfred Elmore, b. April 7, 1853. Hannah W., b. June 26, 1855. Byron M., b. August 12, 1858. Susan M., b. February 22, 1860, deceased. Dexter E., b. November 12, 1862, deceased. Leslie G., b. November 30, 1864. May, b. May 30, 1867. Carrol B., b. June 3, 1869. CHILDREN OF DANIEL AND NANCY KNIGHT WHITCHER. Kate K., b. May 16, 1853, [deceased.] Moses K., b. November 28, 1855, d. April 9, 1862. Nellie G., b. October 22, 1857, m. John Gauss, of Salem, Mass. Lizzie R., b. July 16, 1859. Carrie Ardelle, b. July 6, 1861. Josie L., b. April 8, 1863. Ira D., b. October 4, 1865, d. February 14, 1867. Mary B. B., b. February 10, 1869, [m. William V. Ashley.] Dan Scott, b. November 22, 1873, d. May 17, 1878. William Sidney, son of John E. and Mahala Flan- ders Keyser, b. October 5, 1850. COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 269 CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND MERAB ROYCE HOWE. Sarah R., b. October 20, 1837 ; m. 1st Parker Swa- sey, Cabot, Vt., killed in Battle ot Wilderness ; 2d Truman W. Gray, Cambridge, Mass. Julia, b. February, 1839, d. 1898 ; m. 1st Rev. H. S. Norris; 2d Rev. Fred D. Chandler. Luthera L., b. 1840, d. 1877; m. 1st Henry C. Wilmot ; 2d Paul N. Meader. Phebe A., b. 1843, d. 1903, m. Paul N. Meader. Dorcas, b. January 31, 1845, m. Pardon W. Allen. Fred S., b. December 1847, m. Mary Atkinson. Royal R., b. 1849, d. 1851. Halsey R., b. 1851, d. April 1904; m. 1st Martha Foster, of Bath, 2d Lilla Bisbee. CHILDREN OF PARDON W. AND DORCAS HOWE ALLEN. Guy L., b. 1866, d. 1868. Linwood H., b. 1871, d. 1894. Effie E., b. 1874. Ward W., b. June 23, 1877. Frank W., b. July 9, 1879, d. 1881. CHILDREN OF FRED M. AND LAURA KEYSER TYLER. Edna W., b. September 13 1876. Stella C, b. February 22, 1878. Charlena C, b. September 20, 1879. Le otE F ;i b - Feb ™^ U ' 1881 - Prescott Parker, Jr., b. November 30, 1821; Maria Fitzpatrick, b., November 9, 1832 ; married November 17, 1854. 270 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHILDREN. Lebina H., b. November 18, 1855. Frank B. b. August 29, 1857. Dora A., b. August 19, 1859. CHILDREN OF DANIEL M. AND SUSAN CLOUGH HOWE. Kendrick L., b. March 12, 1856. PaulM., b. July 1, 1860. Sam, b. July 20, 1866. Kate S., b. November 20, 1870. William T. Torsey and Irene W., daughter of Jonathan Batchelder Davis, m. April 21, 1852. CHILDREN. Emerline S., b. November 12, 1854. Amos G., b. April 21, 1861, deceased. CHILDREN OF SAMUEL C. AND MARY SMITH ANNIS. George W., b. June 23, 1847. Mary Jane, b. September 22, 1849, deceased. John S., b. August 12, 1851, deceased. MiloH., b. May 16, 1853. Anna, b. May 10, 1856. Alonzo, b. July 5, 1858, deceased. Carrie, b. November 16, 1861, m. Martin L. Mitch- ell, of Belfast, Me. Milo H. Annis and Emerline S., daughter of William T. and Irene W. Davis Torsey, m. December 26, 1874. CHILDREN. Ella Carrie, b. October 28, 1890, d. August 24, 1891. Emma, b. October 10, 1896. Darius K. Davis, m. Susan E., daughter of Daniel and CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 271 Phebe Eaton Howe, 1853. CHILDREN. Addie, Dariah, b. November 12, 1854, m. O. D. Eastman, M. D. James Page m. Olive Ann Hunkins June 4, 1863. CHILDREN. Ella Misselle, b. September 12, 1864, m. Frank H. Pope. Norman J., b. November 13, 1866. Ernest Tilden, b. May 18, 1876. CHILDREN OF NOAH C. AND HANNAH JESSEMAN HUTCHINS. Eveline, b. June 4, 1847, m. George E. Brown, Sep- tember 9, 1863. Salmon J., b. October 13, 1849, m. Jennie, daugh- ter of William Hardin. Caleb Wells, b. October 29, 1826; m. 1st, November 11, 1849, Martha H., daughter of Sylvester Gordon, b. September 11, 1828, d. February 21, 1871; m. 2d Lucy Ann, daughter of Slysvester Gordon, b. January 22, 1827, d. December 20, 1899. CHILDREN. Helen A., b. June 10, 1849, m., September 7, 1871, George C. Clifford, d. November 8, 1897. Ella G., b. November 11, 1857, m., November 11, 1877, Edwin U. Hamlett. Herbert E., b. November 10, 1861, m., November 19, 1882, Ida A. McGinnen ; d. May 8, 1899. Scott, b. October 29, 1865; m., January 6, 1898, Belle M. Hadlock. Addie Bell, b. September 11, 1867, d. January 5, 1869. 272 SOME THINGS ABOUT George Wells, b. Benton, March 18, 1828, d. July 29, 1905. Caroline Morse, b. Haverhill, May 24, 1830, d. May 8, 1905, m. October 14, 1849. CHILDREN. Albinus, M., b. July 17, 1850. Stella E,, b. July 6, 1854. Flavius M., b. November 20, 1860. Frank E., b. February 16, 1863. Arthur G., b. September 29, 1867. Fred P., b. August 31, 1870. Fred P., son of Edward L. and Emma L. Cox, b. No- vember 9, 1880. Charles, son of Jeremiah B., Jr., and Melissa Davis, b. September 12, 1881. Scott, son of Dennis and Myra Cooley Davis, b. March 24, 1881. Ernest P., son of Edward E. and Emma C. Humphrey, b. July 12, 1881. Nettie J., daughter of Edward M. and Josephine True, b. August 17, 1881. Georgie E., daughter of Sylvester and Emma Wheeler, b. September 30, 1881. William II., son of Edward and Victoria Gilman, b. Sep- tember 14, 1881. Fennette, daughter of Charles and Anna Shaw, b. June 13, 1866. Lillian B., daughter of Benjamin and Mary Gilchrist, b. June 1, 1886. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 273 Alexander, eon of George and Rebecca Wilson, b. No- vember 13, 1886. Carrie M., daughter of J. F. and Luvia B. Foss, b. Au- gust 2, 1887. Frank P., son of Gardner and Annie Hurlburt, b. Au- gust 3, 1887. Horace F., son of David F. and Lillian Richardson, b. October 7, 1887. Harold, son of David F. and Lillian Richardson, b. March 28, 1889. Herbert C, son of Lewis E. and Gertrude French, b. January 9, 1890. Ray M., son of William Sims and Minnie Sarah Nutter, b. August 31, 1890. George, son of Murdock and Mary McLeod, b. March 20, 1891. Edith C, daughter of Sam and Cora White Howe, b. June 20, 1891. Lester, son of Fred E. and Delia E. Whiteman, b. July 23, 1891. Karl Gile, son of Horace R. and Blanche Spooner, b. August 31, 1891. Robert'F., son of Harry H. and Nora B. Elliott, b. April 25, 1892. DEATHS. Obadiah Eastman, Esquire, January 10, 1812. Samuel Jackson, January 29, 1813. 274 SOME THINGS ABOUT Elizabeth Eastman, January 30, 1813. Moses Eastman, March 6, 1813. Jeese Tyler, April 5, 1813. Lucy, daughter of Kimball Tyler, May 4, 1813. Asa, son of Peter Eastman, August 14, 1814. Abigail, daughter of Peter Eastman, May 20, 1813. Ruth, wife of Obadiah Eastman, October 12, 1814. Ebenezer Eastman, March 3, 1813. Jeremiah Jackson, June 12, 1817. The town records down to the year 1881 are barren of necrology, except the few foregoing records which appear in the earliest book. Those recorded since and including 1881 are as follows : Mrs. Philena Hutchins, June 18, 1881, ae. 93. George Henry Stowe, son of William C. and Eunice Brooks Stowe, December 29, 1881, ae. 31. Mary L., wife of Jeremiah B. Davis, Jr., August 12, 1881, ae. 26. Allie A., wife of Kendrick L. Howe, February 28, 1882, ae. 17. George E. Shaw, April 16, 1885, ae. 44. Nelson B. Lindsay, December 13, 1886, ae. 62. Lyman Bemis, Jr., January 1887, ae. 47. Matilda K. Lindsay, April 4, 1887, ae. 61. Lucius Hutchins, September 18, 1887, ae. 77. Israel Flanders, December 10, 1887, ae. 87. OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 275 Martha Norris, October 6, 1888, ae. 82. Merab, wife of Samuel Howe, November 24, 1888, ae. 76. Jane King, May 12, 1889, ae. 63. David M. Norris, May 24, 1889, ae. 74. Herbert, eon of Halsey R. Howe, December 17, 1889, ae. 11. Mary J., wife of Alonzo Spooner, December 29, 1889, ae. 49. James Norris, December 27, 1890, ae. 77. Susan K., wife of Jeremiah B. Davis, January 29, 1891, ae. 79. John O. Keyser, February 14, 1891, ae. 69. John Wilson, May 4, 1891, ae. 79. Georgie A., wife of William W. Eastman, April 19, 1892, ae. 31. Phebe M. Gilman, June 2, 1892, ae. 51. Mary F., wife of Samuel C. Annis, August 27, 1892, ae. 67. Alantha, wife of Spafford W. Cowan, November 24, 1892, ae. 73. Eliza L. Keyser, June 22, 1893, ae. 78. Laura E., wife of F. M. Tyler, October 16, 1893, ae. 36. William T. Torsey, March 6, 1894, ae. 65. Polly, wife of Israel Flanders, July ,27, 1894, ae. 96. Sally Bailey, wife of Samuel A. Mann, April 20, 1895, ae. 85. 276 SOME THINGS ABOUT Alden Cooley, March 26, 1896, ae. 75. John E. Keyser, January 7, 1896, ae. 73. William Hardin, December 10, 1896, ae. 85. Hannah Torsey, wife of William T. Torsey, July 30, 1897, ae. 73. Carrie S., wife of Byron M. Tyler, August 20, 1897, ae. 37. William H. Annis, December 30, 1897, ae. 65. Preecott Parker, June 13, 1898, ae. 76. Samuel C. Annis, March 15, 1899, ae. 83. Samuel Howe, February 13, 1899, ae. 86. Charles T. Collins, May 10, 1899, ae. 68. Myrtie E., wife of John Wallace, February 26, 1900, ae. 26. Charles B. Keyser, March 24, 1900, ae. 74. Susan E., wife of George H. Clark, April 26, 1900, ae. 41. George W. Mann, January 6, 1901, ae. 79. Ann R. Hutchins, February 9, 1901, ae. 84. Lydia A. Merrill, February 11, 1901, ae. 64. John C. Speed, March 13, 1901 , ae. 64. John S. Annis, May 16, 1903, ae. 50. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 277 CHAPTER XII. A FUTURE SUMMER RESORT. It is a little difficult to explain why Benton has never be- come a summer resort town. It certainly has every natural advantage. It is a mountain town, Moosilauke, Black, Sugar Loaf and Owls Head, or Blueberry mountains cover- ing nearly its entire territory. The view from Moosilauke is one in which the combination ot beauty and grandeur is unrivaled in the entire mountain region of New Hampshire. A small hotel was erected on its summit in 1860, which has since been enlarged, and in most seasons is well patronized, but the great mass of tourists pass it by, continuing their journey to the White and Franconia moun- tain region. The summit is a little difficult of access, theie being but one carriage road, that leading from Warren, with foot paths and bridle paths from North Woodstock and North Benton. Moosilauke, gem of the mountain region, will sometime, however, come into its own and its glories will have the wide recognition they so richly merit. Within the last three years Mr. L. H. Parker has erected a commo- dious hotel near the base of the mountain on the North Ben- ton side which is already attracting deserved attention and patronage, and which can hardly fail to become a popular resort. But the charm of Benton scenery lies along the road which skirts the northern edge of the town. This road over- looks the picturesque valley of the Wild Ammonoosuc and for a distance of five miles gives views of Moosilauke, the Kinsman range in Easton, with Lafayette rising in the dis- 278 SOME THINGS ABOUT tance beyond, views that for rare beauty rival any to be found in the state. Bethlehem, Whitefield, Jefferson, Jack- son, Sugar Hill and Franconia have been discovered and their discovery utilized. Benton awaits its discoverer. He is coming, and the farms of North Benton which have not as yet grown up to forest will in the not distant future become the summer homes of statesmen, diplomats, financiers, au- thors, artists, poets and divines. Why not? The town has every natural advantage of elevation, scenic grandeur and beauty, and location. It has a magnificent destiny. The view from the summit of Moosilauke must be seen to be appreciated. It surpasses that obtained from any other New England peak, since its 5000 feet of elevation is to a large extent isolated, with no nearby neighbors of like ele- vation to make the prospect a great billowy sea of mountains like that seen from the summit of Mount Washington. There is a beauty in the broad flat area of the summit at first sight seeming so desolate and barren, which attracts when one comes to give it a little attention. In the summer sunlight it is green with mosses and lichens, thirty kinds of mosses, while harebells and mountain cranberries with their million of flowers make it seem like a garden with a green border of firs and spruces and birches below. And then, except for the sing- ing of the purple finches, snow birds and the mountain whistler, which are now and then heard on a summer day — the splendid silence. During a period of a quarter of a century there were few more frequent visitors to the summit of Moosilauke than William Little, the historion of Warren. None have ever studied with more painstaking care the pano- rama of scenic beauty spread out on every hand, and none ever more thoroughly appreciated it. Take this, his descrip- tion of a sunset view : COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 279 The 6un is going down, and it is cold you say. Let us travel with our eyes around the whole horizon. Look over to the south first. How the ruby light is gleaming on Lake Winnepisseogee, "The Smile of the Great Spirit;" see that tall shaft just on the horizon beyond. It is Bunker Hill monument standing "down by the sea." Carry your eye round to the west: Mt. Belknap is first, then Wachusett in Massachusetts, the Unca- noonucks, and to the right of them, Jo English, Kearsage, Mt. Cardigan, Monadnock, and Croydon mountains. Close by is Water, nomee, Cushman, Kineo, Mount Carr, Stinson mountain in Rum- ney, Smart's mountain in Dorchester, Mt. Cube in Orford, Sentinel mountain in Warren, and Piermont mountain. Across the Connecticut river to the southwest is Ascutney, and beyond it, further down, is Saddle mountain, Graylock, and Berk- shire hills, in Massachusetts. Then wheeling round towards the north are Killington peaks, sharp and needle like, shooting up above the neighboring hills; farther north and directly west, is Camel's Hump, unmistakable in its appearance; then Mt. Mans- field, towering above the thousand other summits of the Green mountains. Above and beyond them, in the farthest distance, are counted nine sharp peaks of the Adirondacks in New York, Mt. Marcy higher than all the rest. To-morrow morning at sunrise you will see the fog floating up from Lake Champlain this side of them. In the northwest is Jay peak on Canada line, and to the right of it you see a hundred summits rising from the table lands of Canada. Then there is the notch at Memphremagog lake, Owl's head by Willoughby lake, and Monadnock in northern Vermont. Close down is Black mountain, Owl's head of New Hampshire, and Blueberry, Hogback and Sugarloaf mountains in Benton. Then north is Cobble hill in Landaff; Gardner mountain in Bath and Lyman, and Stark Peaks away up in northern Coos. To the right, and stretching away in the northeast in Maine, you see a long rolling range of hills, the water-shed between the At- lantic ocean and the St. Lawrence river, said by Agassiz to be the oldest land in the world. East of these is the white summit of the Aziscoos, by TJmbagog lake. Nearest and to the north-east is Mt. Kinsman, the Profile moun- tain; and above and over them Mt. Lafayette, its sides scarred and jagged where a hundred torrents pour down in spring, its peaks splintered by lightning. South of this and near by, are the Hay- 280 SOME THINGS ABOUT stacks. Over and beyond the latter are the Twins, more than five thousand feet high ; and just to the right of them Mt. Washington, dome shaped and higher than all fhe re6t. Around this monarch of mountains, as if attendant upon him, are Mts. Adams and Jef- ferson, sharp peaks on the left, and Mt. Moriah, the Imp, Mt. Mad- ison and Monroe, Mt Webster, the Willey Notch precipice, Double head, and a hundred other great mountains standing to the right and front. A little to the south is Carrigan, 4,800 feet high, black and sombre, most attractive and most dreaded, not a white spot nor a scar upon it; covered with dark woods like a black pall, symetrical and beautiful, the eye turns away to return to it again and again. Mt. Pigwacket in Conway, its neighbor, always seem gray in the hazy distance, Chocorua rises farther south, and Welch mountain, Osceola, Whiteface, Ossipee, Agmenticus, on the sea coast; Mt. Prospect and Red hill fill up the circle. This view to the north and east is the most magnificent mountain view to be had on this side of the continent. The most indifferent observer cannot look upon it without feeling its grandeur and sublimity. Forty ponds and lakes are sparkling under the setting sun. Two in Woodstock, the little tarn in the meadow where the Asquam- chumake rises; Stinson pond in Rumney, Lake Winnepisseogee, Winnesquam, Long bay, Smith's pond, Squam lake, Mascoma lake, two ponds in Dorchester, Baker ponds in Orford, Indian pond, Fairlee Pond, and numerous others in Vermont; Tarleton lakes, Wachipauka pond, by which Rogers and his rangers camped, Kel- ley, and Horse-shoe ponds; two others in Haverhill, Beaver mead- ow ponds in Benton, and many more with names unknown ; how they all gleam and glisten, and look like silvery sheens. The Pemigewassett, the Asquamchumake, the Ammonoosuc, and the Connecticut, from their wooded valleys are flashing in the setting sun. The villages with their church spires are gleaming. See Brad- ford, Haverhill Corner, East and North Haverhill, Newbury, Woods- ville and Wells River, down there in the Connecticut valley. A hundred spires are shining on the hills of Vermont. Landaff and Bath are lighted up, and Warren, Wentworth, Campton, Franco- nia, Lake Village, and Laconia all come distinctly out as the sun goes down. Now see the sun just touching the Adirondacks beyond Lake Tip Top House, Mount Moosilauke. Parker House, Base of Moosilauke on Tunnel Stream. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 281 Champlain in the west. There is a rosy blush on the White moun- tains, the Green mountains are golden, while all the peaks behind which the sun is going down are bathed in a sea of glorious light. How it changes! Darkness creeps over the eastern peaks, the Green mountains are going into shadows, the vermillion, pink, ruby, and gold of the Adirondacks, is fading away, and the stars are coming out. But look! there is a silver line on the eastern horizon. 'Tis the moon rising. But Luna don't come from behind the hills. Her upper limb as she creeps up is distant twice her diameter from the land horizon. That bright band twixt moon and earth is the ocean. It is a sight seldom seen from New Hampshire's moun- tains. The view is the grand thing of Moosehillock. But if it should happen to be cloudy, as is frequently the case, there is much of interest about the top of the mountain. Garnets an inch in diam- eter, with perfect faces are found by the carriage road, forty rods from the house. The best tourmalines in New Hampshire are also obtained in the same locality. Down in the Tunnel are magnifi- cent quartz crystals. On the south peak is a curious furrow. Mr. James Clement says it was undoubtedly plowed by an iceberg drift- ing from the north-east to the south-west, when New Hampshire mountains were under the ocean. No person can fail to notice it. "Jobildunc" ravine where the Asquamauke leaps down a thousand feet at an angle of 80 degrees, is much visited. The Seven Cas- cades between the two peaks of the mountain on Gorge brook, are also well worth a visit. The stream descends at a sharp angle eight hundred feet over a series of steps, and after a great rain is a most magnificent sight. One of these days the Moosilauke Railroad Co. will utilize its charter and build its road from Glencliffe Station on the Boston & Maine to the summit of Moosilauke and a new chapter in the history of this mountain town will then begin. 282 SOME THINGS ABOUT CHAPTER XIII. SOME MORE THINGS. From data which have been furnished the author by Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, of Fitchburg, Mass., it is evident that the grantees of the town of Coventry were residents of the ancient towns of Stamford and Norwalk, Connecticut, the most of them living in Stamford and many in that parish of the town which is now New Canaan. Mr. Stearns in the course of his historical research and work on the histories of Fitch- burg, Mass., and Rindge, N. H., became familiar with the early records of these early Connecticut towns, and a com- parison of the names of the grantees, as given in the charter of Coventry, with names he has found in the Stamford and Norwalk records settles the question of the residence and identity of grantees beyond all reasonable doubt. Theophilus Fitch, son of John Fitch, and second cousin of Governor Thomas Fitch, lived during his lifetime in Nor- walk, which adjoined Stamford until new towns were created by division of older towns. He was a magistrate from 1754 to 1776. In 1754 he was chosen a deputy to the General Assembly from the town of Norwalk, and was apparently a prominent man of his time. He had ten children born in Norwalk, 1737-1758. John Fansher (more commonly called Fancher) lived in Stamford, m., November 17, 1736, Eunice Bouton. John Fancher, Jr., son of John and Eunice, b. July 15, 1737, lived in Stamford. William Fancher, son of John and Eunice Fancher, b. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 283 November 13, 1739 ; m. in New Canaan Parish, January 2, 1776, Sarah Smith. Eliphalet Sealey lived in Stamford, m., December 10, 1724, Sarah Holley. He had eight children, and among them Eliphalet, Jr., Wix and Sylvanus. Wix Sealey, son of Eliphalet and Sarah, m., November 4, 1756, Mary St. John, and probably settled in New Canaan. Eliphalet Sealey, Jr., b. in Stamford April 10, 1730, m., May 10, 1750, Sarah Scrivner. Sylvanus Sealey, son of Eliphalet and Sarah, b. Novem- ber 17, 1738, m., April 7, 1758, Rebecca Tuttle. Obadiah Sealey, son of Obadiah, b. May 8, 1728, m., May 10, 1750, Abigail Crissey, a sister of Samuel Crissey, grantee, and lived in Stamford. Samuel Crissey, son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Hoit) Crissey, b. in Stamford March 28, 1734, m., April 5, 1759, Hannah Buxton. Daniel Stevens, son of Thomas Stevens, b. March 30, 1711, m., February 1, 1734, Judy Webb, and lived in Stamford. Admer Stevens, son of Thomas, and brother of Daniel, b. November 13, 1720, m., November 27, 1750, Mary Tut- tle, lived in Stamford. Obadiah Stevens, son of Thomas, and brother of Daniel and Admer, b. March 29, 1707, m. Deborah Jessop. Obadiah Stevens, Jr., son of Obadiah, b. May 17, 1745, m., February 4, 1770, Sarah Skelding. Joshua Ambler, son of Stephen and Deborah (Hoit) Am- bler, b. September 9, 1723, m., April 6, 1749, Bethia Weed. Joseph Ambler, son of Stephen, and brother of Joshua, b. October 4, 1726, m., October 17, 1751, Elizabeth Reed. 284 SOME THINGS ABOUT Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin and Isaac Weed were broth- ers, and were sons of Benjamin Weed, of Stamford. Peter, Abraham, Nathaniel and Enos Weed were broth- ers, and were sons of Abraham Weed. Hezekiah and Reuben Weed were brothers, and were sons of Daniel Weed. Sylvanus Weed was a son of Jonas Weed. There were many Hoyts in Stamford, and several bearing the names of Ebenezer, Silas and Nathaniel, so that it can- not be distinguished which were Coventry grantees. Joseph, Deodate and Hezekiah Davenport were brothers, sons of John and Sarah Bishop Davenport, and grandsons of Rev. John Davenport, all of Stamford. Gideon Leeds, son of Cary Leeds, b. May 4, 1716. There was more than one Ebenezer, and more than one James Schofield of an age possible for them to have been grantees, and the same may be said of the Smiths, Ephraim, James, Jesse and Charles, so that it is difficult to identify which particular Ebenezer, Ephraim, etc. was grantee. Zebulon Husted lived in Stamford from and after 1733, and while the name of Peter does not appear he was doubt- less one of the Husted family. There was a St. John family in Stamford, though the name of David does not appear on the records. There were four John Bates of a probable age. James Bates, son of Nathaniel, b. 1734. Nathaniel Loundsbury, son of Henry, b. 1715. Theophilus Hanford was probably one of a numerous New Canaan family of that name. Joseph Lockwood, son of Joseph, b. June 30, 1731. Thomas Seymour, Jr., lived in New Canaan, m., Novem- ber 24, 1761, Sarah Wescott. CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 285 Daniel Benedict was of the numerous New Canaan family of that name. John Battes was probably Bates and one of the four Johns previously named. Nathaniel Waterbury, 6on of Jonathan, b. April 26, 1724, m. Rebecca Holley and lived in Stamford. Josiah Waterbury was probably one of the same family which was numerous in Stamford though his name does not appear in the' records. Samuel, Jehiel and Eleazer Bouton were of Stamford, Samuel and Jehiel were brothers, and sons of Nathaniel Waterbury, and Eleazer was a son of Eleazer. Of the 61 grantees named, aside from the officials who were friends of Governor Went worth, all except Matthew Fountain, Adonijah Brown and James Banks are accounted for as residents of Stamford or Norwalk or New Canaan, and a more careful search might result in finding the names of these. If these grantors sent one of their number to examine the township which had been granted them the fact that none of them settled on their new possessions may be easily explained. Jonathan Welch, father of Jonathan Welch, came to the High Street section of Coventry from Massachusetts about 1790 and was one of the early settlers. A few years later he left home one day taking the road which led to the north part of the town through the Notch between Black mountain and Moosilauke, and was never seen or heard from afterwards. The boy Jonathan was brought up in the family of Obadiah Eastman. This road after having; been abandoned for nearly a century, except as it was used in the winter for logging and hauling lumber from a sawmill on Tunnel stream 286 SOME THINGS ABOUT to the Warren Summit railroad station, was rebuilt by private parties in 1903, and at the session of the legislature in 1905 was made a state road. It will doubtless, in the future, be one of the favorite mountain roads. By this road the Parker House is only about five miles distant from the Warren Summit, or GlenclifF railroad station. The wife of Samuel Page, and mother of James J. and Daniel D., was Submit Jeffers, a native of Hampstead, N. H. Stephen Jeffers of the same town had come to Coventry about 1810, and it was through his influence that Samuel Page who had settled first in Haverhill from Haverhill, Mass., about 1811, came to Coventry about 1816. Samuel Page reared a large family of children, Samuel, Caleb, James J., Sarah Ann, David, Sybil, Daniel D., Elvirah C, Joshua, John and Mary. Daniel D. married in 1842 Charlotte A. Balyen, who was born in Enfield, but who had moved with her parents to Hinsdale when quite young. Their children were : Joshua, b. September 4, 1843; John S., b. October 10, 1846; George C, b. Au- gust 28, 1849; Emma C, b. 1851; Frank, b. February 23, 1854; William B., b. July 3, 1856; Harriet E. b. April 1, 1859 ; Herman H., b. May 3, 1862 ; Harry E., b. March 31, 1867. Nathan Mead, who settled in Coventry in what was known as the Page district, was a native of Connecticut. He served the patriot cause in the War of the Revolution, and at its close married Mary King and removed to Peach- am, Vt. He came to Coventry in 1802 where he cleared up a large farm and raised a large family. One of his COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 287 daughters, Fanny, married James J. Page, and two of his sons, William and Moses, were prominent citizens until their removal from town. Major Samuel Mann, father of George W. Mann, who came to Coventry in 1835, was descended from Richard Mann, b. in Cornwall, England, emigrated to America and settled in Plymouth, Mass., in 1645, m. Rebecca, daughter of Elder William Brewster. Richard Mann, son of Richard, b. in Plymouth, Mass., February 5, 1652, m. Elizabeth Southworth. Nathaniel Mann, son of Richard J., b. in Scituate, Mass., October 27, 1693, m. Mary Root, resided in Hebron, Conn. John Mann, son of Nathaniel, b. in Scituate, Mass., No- vember 20, 1720, m. Margaret, sister of Rev. Samuel Peters D. D. Matthew Mann, son of John, b. in Hebron, Conn., De- cember 20, 1741, m. Hannah Moody. He settled in Orford about 1765 with his brother John. He died in Orford in 1825. Samuel Mann, son of Matthew, b. in Orford in 1773. He married Mary Howe, of LandafF, and resided in that town until he removed to Coventry. Peter Howe and Daniel Howe, the sons of Peter Howe, a Revolutionary soldier of Landaff, were known during the last thirty or forty years of their long lives as "Uncle Peter," and "Uncle Daniel." They were seldom spoken of in any other way, and their farms are still known as the "Uncle Peter" and "Uncle Daniel" farms. They 288 SOME THINGS ABOUT were quiet, substantial, God' fearing men, and their hustling, active, energetic, talkative helpmeets were known as "Aunt Daniel" and Aunt Peter." The latter for years was the midwife in nearly all maternity cases for miles about and was famed for her skill and success. Hospitable, charitable, neighbor- ly, thrifty, she was indeed "Aunt" to the entire neighbor- hood. "Aunt Daniel" was famed for her excellence as a cook, and was also as famous for her apologies concerning the quality of her food. Away back in the forties she had on one occasion invited the Rev. H. H. Hartwell to supper. "Aunt Daniel" was a devout Methodist, a typical Martha, who believed nothing too good for her minister. She made careful and elaborate preparation, and when at last her guest was seated at a table laden with good things, she be- gan : "Now Brother Hartwell, I'm sorry, but really I haven't anything here fit to eat." "All right Sister Howe," said her guest, "I'm not particular, so just get me a bowl of bread and milk." "Aunt Daniel" protested, but the clergyman insisted, and made his supper on bread and milk. Peter Howe, father of Peter and Daniel, came to Landaft in 1791 from Bradford where he had settled after the War of the Revolution, purchasing land for a homestead from Simeon Eastman for £100 lawful money. Benton in 1905 is in point of population one of the small towns of the state. Some sections which were formerly settled and occupied by the owners of farms have been abandoned. In the Hisrh Street neighborhood the families have dwindled to two, and the same may be said for the Page district. A section of the Meadows which had become depopulated is now, however, one of the best farming sections in town, the new comers, for the most part thrifty French Canadians, OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 289 having erected substantial new buildings and greatly im- proved the run out farms. A school house has been erected, and the children of the district are being given that of which their parents are destitute, a knowledge of letters. In the north part of the town, except on the road leading from Bath and Haverhill line to Tunnel Stream and the Parker House, and on Howe hill, the farms are for the most part unoccu- pied, but those still cultivated are in a better state of culti- vation than in former times, and the value of farm products has not materially decreased. The decay of the lumber in- dustry has not been wholly an unmixed evil. There are better farms and better farmers than ever before, and there are those who make farming pay. A well conducted cream- ery gives a ready market for milk, and farm products find a ready sale. The town has good roads, mails twice a day, free rural delivery in the morning, and the regular mail through the post office in the evening. The post office and country store in the "Hollow" and the meeting house where religious services are regularly held furnish, as of old, social and religious centers; two schools are maintained under the town system aside from that on the Meadows, and political conditions still continue strenuous and interesting. If anyone doubts this let him attend a Benton town meeting. Benton may be small, but there are those who love the old town, and are confident of her future. ADDENDA. Gilbert P. Wright, son of Abijah Wright, b. in Hebron, July 18, 1815, d. July 20, 1888; m., 1841, Phebe Mars- 290 SOME THINGS ABOUT ton, daughter of Jonathan and Phebe Howe Marston, b. Coventry, March 7, 1823. CHILDREN. Russell W., b. April 22, 1842, deceased. Ellen H., b. February 13, 1844, deceased. Jonathan M., b. August 30, 1845, deceased. David L., b. April 19, 1847. Phebe A., b. May 12, 1849. Gilbert P., b. December 27, 1850. Newell C, b. November 21, 1852. Charles W., b. July 11, 1855. IraB., b. October 1, 1861. Mary B., b. July 19, 1863. William R.< b. February 11, 1867. OO VENTJR Y— BENTON, N H. 291 ERRATA. Page 4, 8th line, for "David" Stevens read "Daniel." Page 4, 14th line, for Samuel "Cressey" read "Crissey." Page 28, 16th line, for "Nathaniel" Goodall Howe read "Ira." Page 44, 5th line from bottom, for "Augustine" Coburn read "Augustus." Page 47, 11th line, for "Asa" Smith read "Ara." . Page 63, 11th line, tor "fourth" read "third." Page 68, 1st line, for "checquered" read "chequered." Page 71, 11th line for "thrice" read "twice." Page 71, 3rd line from bottom, for "Nathan" Howe read "Nathaniel." Page 79, 9th line, for "Edwin" Tyler read "Alfred." Page 85, 14th line, for "Moses W." Tyler read "Moses K." Page 95, 15th line, also 7th line from bottom, for "Wil- liam" Carpenter read "Moses." Page 96, 1st line, erase "Jr." after name of Charles Car- penter. Page 104, 4th line, for "Frank C." Parker read "Frank B." Page 105, 8th line, for "Dennison" D. Davis read "Den- nis. Page 109, 4th line, for "John C." Davis read "John K." Page 110, 4th line, for "1860" read "1870." Page 110, 9th line, for "Benton" read "Boston." Page 115, 13th line from bottom, Leslie Tyler resides in Medford, Mass. Page 117, 15th line, for Fred M. "Clark" read "Tyler." Page 117, 15th line, for Ida "Tyler" read "Clark." Page 156, 21st line, for Nathaniel "Home" read "Howe." 292 ERRATA. Page 215, 4th line from bottom, for "1886" read "1864." Page 257, 27th line, for October "19" read October "29." Page 270, 10th line, add after the word "Jonathan" the words "and Lydia." Page 271, 17th line, for "Slyvester" read "Sylvester." Page 287, 11th line, for "Richard J." read "Richard, Jr." 293 294 INDEX OF NAMES. NDEX OF NAMES. A. Armsdale, Isaac, Ashley, William V., 4 268 Abbott, Chester, 77 Aspinwall, Samuel, 33, 149 150 Adams, Rev. Arnold, 131 151 152 John, 217 Atkinson, Mary, 269 Aiken, Frank, 241 Theodore, 5 Allen, Pardon W., 115, 184, 186 Theodore, Jr., 5 187, 188, 189, 190 Atwell, John, 44 191, 199, 234, 269 Chase W., 44 Guy L., 269 Ayer, Alvah, 36, 160 166 Linwood H., 269 Betsey, 238 Effie E., 269 John P., 160 Ward W., 269 Judith, 219 Frank W., 269 Timothy, 3C ,43, 154, 156 Rebecca, 239 219 Aldrich, Georgia A., 217, 235, 241 Steneth, 36 Ambler, Joshua, 4,283 Joseph, 4,283 B. Ames, Horace, 90 Annis, Anna C., 70, 120, 242, 270 Bacon, William, 88 Mary J., 27o Badger, Chas. M., 104 Alonzo, 122, 123, 223, 270 Bailey, Byron, 36, 105 Betsey J., 70, 223 Calvin, 90 Geo. G., 70, 171 David, 83, 168 Geo. W., 70, 112, 270 Ebenezer, 22 John S., 70, 117, 234 270, 276 Horace, Geo. W., 90 122 Joseph, 68 , 69, 165, 167 Jona, 48 168, 169, 223 Myron, 89, 171 Milo H., 39 , 70, 270 Stephen, 83 Mary F., 223, 273 Sarah, 58 Perley M., 70,83 Sally, 231 Samuel C, 70, 74, 107, 170 Col. Jacob, 21 173, 176, 183, 184 Bancroft, Parker, 112 223, 270, 276 Barber, Rev. D. W., 131, 136 William H., 70, < 223, 276 Nathan, 39 Carrie, 270 Banfield, Geo. T,. 85 Ruth, 70 Bartlett, R. T., 56 Mary, 70 Miriam, 50 Rachel, 70 Ball, James B., 44, 156, 157, 253 Angier, Samuel, 89 Mary, 253 Andrews, Rev. Thorn 16 J. 131 Rachel, 253 INDEX OF NAMES. 295 Ball, Lois W., 253 Blake, Paine, 57 Enos W., 253 James, 68 Balkam, Edward W., 242 Joseph, 79, 173, 174, 175 Batchelder, Abel, 35, 4S , 53, 231 Prescott, 108, 180 Daniel, 47 Warren, 108 Daniel. Jr., J6, 37, 47 Alvin, 183 156, 159, 160, 161, 162 Blair, William, 145 163, 199, 211, 212 Bliss, William, 109 John S., 35 Blodgett, Nathan, 102, 106, 111 Kingsley H., 27, 35, 53 175, 179, 180, 181 Cyrene, 238 Nathan, Jr. J 109, 111 Moses, 52 Bowdy, Samuel, 22 Mary Ann, 257 Bowman, David, 107, 178, 213, 229 Stephen, 220 Minerva, 63, 109 Sally, 51, 52, 231, 257 Bowles, Kirk, 109 Lydia, 52 Bowen, W. T., 111 Abigail, 50, 52 Hiram, 111 Baleyn, Charlotte A., 240 Bourke, Nora, 243 Bates, James, 5, 284 Bouton, Jehiel, 4, 285 Jobn, 4, 284 Eleazer, Jr., 4 Banks, James, 4, 285 Samuel, 4, 285 Bedell, Moody, 7, 144 Boynton, Betsey, 245 Benedict, Daniel, 4, 285 Polly, 238 Bettis, John, 4, 285 Brill, George, 122 Bean, W. F., 194 Bradbury, Phebe, 52 Elgie M., 243 Bradford, Rev. J. N., 131 Chas. C. Jr., 242 Bradish, Levi, 36, 55 Belding, Samuel, 4, 284 Charlotte, 229, 239 Bell, VV. E., 120 Lucinda, 229 Belyea, George, 122 Bronson, Susanna, 249 Bemis, George W., 109, 110, 181 Rebecca, 109, 245 Lyman, 110, 186, 187, 226 Brewster, Elder William 287 274 Brown, Jeremiah, 22 Moses P., 110, 266 John, 35 , 55, 166, 168 Martha, 110 169, 265 Best, Rev. A. B., 131, 136 Richard, 35 , 55, 162 Bickford, Isaac, 72 Jonas G., 55, 5t , 74, 107 William, 39 161, 168, 169, 170 Rachel, 231 171, 172, 265 Bisbee, Ellen S., 58 John C, 55, 265 Sarah, 60 George E., 55 109 214, 265 Gad, 267 Allen, 55, 266 Lilla, 269 Jonas N., 55, 266 Bixby, William C, 100, 101, 106 Daniel W., 56 10?. 224, 265 124, 170, 178, 179, 182 Jesse M., 56 , 87, 265 Bishop, Samuel, and fam ily, 226 Leonard, 56 , 92, 174 Diana, 114, 241, 256, 268 George, 100 Betsey, 226 Waite, 81 Helen A., 226 Caleb, 85, 265 Sarah A., 226 Willis A., 113, 224 Maria W., 226 Rev. E., 131 296 INDEX OF NAMES. Brown, Rev. I. C, 131 Olive, 224, 265 Eliza, 56, 265 Marium, 56, 265 Clara J., 56, 111, 265 Sally, 265 Mary, 265 Susan, 265 Abigail, 265 Julia Ann, 265 Cyrenia, 111, 265 Imogene, 266 Marium (2) 266 Adonijah, 285 Browley, John, 55 Bruce, William K., 82, 101, 166 167, 169, 172, 173 Brooks, Otis, 104 Francis A., 227 Levi and family, 227 Lena E., 243 Elizabeth, 96 Bryant, Eev. Geo. W., 131 Burnham, Josiah, 16, 22 Daniel, 83, 89 W. H., 83 Fred P.. 119 Burleigh, Alvin, 42 Buswell, John, 57, 106, 154, 166 167, 171 Moses P., 37, 96, 97 106, 181 John G., 89 Albert, 103 James, 108 Butler, Frank, 102 Burbank, John, 105, 106 Burke, Napoleon, Jr. 122 Buffum, Rev. J. M., 131 Burr, Jeanette M., 264 Buzzell, Bert B., 242 Kate Howe, 243 Byrne, Rev. Claudius, 131 c. Cady, Sarah J., Carleton, Mary, Cawley, Chase, Carden, Emma J., Carr, Cornelius, 222 206 80, 102 244 90, 106, 171 Carpenter, (William) Moses C, 95. 235 Emery B., 95,98 Moses B., 95 Calvin J., 95 Chester, 95 Adaline, 94, 234 Alonzo, 95 Charles, 96, 176 Carter, Nelson B., 56, 96 Louisa, 265 Caswell, William, 103 Carr, Horace L., 105, 106 Call, Rev. Ollof, H. 131 Cady, Roswell, 104, 176 Casbier, Caroline C, 225 Chapman, Ezekiel, 9, 11 Chandler, John W., 7, 8, 10, 14 19, 25 Rev. F. D., 269 Chase, David, 36, 37, 93 Willis, 90 Nathan, 93. 171 Chaney, David, 55 ChamberJin, S. H., 112, 183, 184 191, 192 J. R., 128 Cutler, 189 Chandler, Rev Henry, 121 Cheney, Joseph Y., 133 Choir, the Benton, 133, 134 Cilley, Benjamin, 265 Clark, Edward, 23 Charles, 103, 112 James B., 104, 107, 175 Jeremiah A., 109, 167, 175 182, 183, 184 Nathaniel, 111, 185, 188 189, 191 George H., 116, 191, 193 196, 197, 198 Frank, 186 Mary J., 230 Rose B., 241 Susan E., 276 Sally, 41, 224 Ida, 117 Elvira, 206 Clement, Jonathan, 85 Elisha, 89 Clifford, Elisha, 257 INDEX OF NAMES. 297 Clifford, G. C, 271 Corl iss, Kimball 83 Clough, Chester C, 56, 89, 105 Chester, 103, 106 216, 227 John L., 199 Marium, 227 George, 103, 108, 178 Merrill, 89 109, 183, 189 Calvin, 102, 174 190 Copp, Asa E. 83 Darius, 95, 105 John, 108 R. Clement, 109 Rev. James M., 110, 182, 240 Moses, 111, 181, 266 Colby, 265 Susan, 270 John, 265 Eev. E. C, 131 Cowan, Alantha, 275 David, 175, 176, 178 Spafford 112, 185, 186, 234 Coburn, Nathan, 34, 35, 48, 71, 72 Ellery P 184 73 158, 159, 160 Coll ins, Chas T., 112, 182,190, 276 199, 231, 237 Allie E.' 241 Robert, 36, 39, 48, 126 Lee A., 122 170, 172, 173 Chas. P. 122, 243 174, 238 Cool idge, William, 11, 12, 21, 24 Augustus, 44, 155, 156 27, 29, 32, 33, 144, 145 157, 158 147, 148, 149, 150 Daniel, 49 151, 199, 205, 247 Nathan P., 73, 257 Edward P., 36, 57, 247 Rachel, 71, 72 Mary Bridge, 247 Levi P., 73, 257 William F., 247 James Fisk, 73, 257 Jona Hale, 247 Benj. F., 73, 257 Cooley, Alden, 276 Daniel J., 73, 257 Epbraim , 105, 107, 187, 224 Willard W,, 110, 111, 184 Adaline, 105 185, 213, 265 Holman D., 105,109,224 Ransom, 111, 112, 190 Myra, 105, 224 265 Rebecca, 105 Jonathan, 239 Cole , Samuel, 126 Russell, 240, 256 Connor, Lucy, 239 Eliza A., 240 Corwin, Helen, 244 Roxana, 253 Cox James H. 36, 46, 107, 156 Rosella 256 161, 224, 225, 255 Robert G., 256 Thomas F., 46, 90, 107, 171 Betsey J., 256 172, 173, 180 Moses T., 256 181, 255 Augustus, 256 Hannah C, 224 Josiah Nelson, 256 J. Albert, 46, 89, 107, 170 Lydia W., 73, 257 224, 255 Mary Jane, 73, 257 Betsey, 224 Sally Ann, 73, 257 George, 47, 255 Alonzo, 257 Sarah J., 224 Cogswell, Rev. Geo. W., 35, 37, 57 61, 126, 133 John P., 95. 96, 97, 107 114, 234 135, 206 Roberto C, (Birt) 95, 117, 118 C. T., 102 123 Corwin, David, 44 Edward L., 112, 187, 189, 190 Colburn, Samuel, 80 John E., 122, 189 298 INDEX OF NAMES. Cox, Fred P., Lulu M.. Crimmings, John, 271 243 111, 183, 185 194 James, 17, 18, 111 112, 198 Crissey, Samuel, 4, 283 Cross, Ephraim, 83, 106, 226 Cummings, Calvin W., 56, 266 Lorenzo D., 78 John, 78, 161, 162 Benjamin, 102 Curtis, James, 11, 19 Elijah, 87, 171 Currier, Jacob, 36, 48, 160, 166 252 Rev. John, 132 Susan W., 252 John W., 252 Patience F., 252 Betsey. 223 Moses C, 2 Alonzo, 253 Cutting, Charles, 116 Cushman, Bev. L. P., 135 D. Davis, Daniel. 32. 38, 147, 148 149, 150, 152, 153, 199 James B., 40, 153, 155 Benj., K., 43, 250 " family of, 250 Jonathan, 49, 50, 52 Jonathan, Jr., 35,49,52 107, 114, 230 Nathan B., 35, 49, 51, 160 161, 162, 163, 167 170, 171, 199 206,231 Jeremiah B., 35, 49, 51, 88 107, 126, 167, 168 172, 173, 266 Israel, 35, 49. 51, 230, 231 William, 49, 52, 107, 170 175,235 Darius K., 51, 89, 170, 172 173, 270 Abel S. E. B., 51, 92, 171 174 Davis, Israel B., 51, 227 George, 52, 78 Wesley B., 104, 266 Dennis D., 105, 116, 188 224, 241, 267 Laban T., 108, 266 Marcel! us M., 109 Elder John, 126, 133, 134 John K., 52, 172, 225 Jeremiah B., Jr., 214, 266 Kimball T., 213, 266 Mary A., 51, 53, 94 266 Eliza C, 51, 87, 266 Sarah W., 51, 266 George C, 267 Addie D., 271 Charles, 272 Scott, 272 Amanda, 52 Anna, 52 Miriam, 52 Maria, 52 Sally Ann, 52 Mary L., 274 Susan K., 275 Abigail, 51, 231 Irene, 52 Sabrina, 52 Polly, 52 Lydia G., 230 Dacy, Margaret J., 244 Damon, George, 120 Davenport, Jeremiah, 49 Joseph, 4, 284 Deodate, 4, 284 Hezekiah, 4, 284 Day, Joseph, 47 Martha A., 223 Calif, 56 Dorothy, 228 Ezekiel, 254 Samuel, 254 Daniel, 254 Abigail, 254 Danforth, Elkanah, 33, 39 Dean, (J corgi ana S., 70 Delany, Arthur C, 122, 243 Devlin, Edward P., 109 Dexter, Stephen II., 122, 198, 199 243 Dinsmoro, Rev. J. R., 131 INDEX OF NAME 8. 299 Doty, Daniel, 22, 33, 49, 147, 148 Eastman, Orrin, 111, 112 149, 252 Moses, 33, 147, 148, 149 family of, 252 150, 245,274 Levi, 33, 38 Peter, 33, 149, 211,238 William, 49 245 Loeza, 251 Jesse, Jr., 36, 159, 252 Curtis, 251 Joseph 211 William, 36, 251 Mehitabel, 221, 245 Niles, 36, 251 Eliza Boynton, 221 Dow, Moses, 23 Ruth, 219, 245,274 Downey, Josiah, 102 Mrs. Eunice, 238 Dowse, 226 »«. ... Lavinia, 238 Drown, Richard, 111, 185 Sarah, 245 Chester, 116 Rosella, 245 Dunlap, John, 98 Nancy, 245 Dnrant, Elisha C, 104 Betsey, 245 Dwyer, Francis, 93, 107, 181 Phebe, 246 Robert, 96, 97 Caroline, 246 Cornelius, 109 Abigail 246, 267, 274 Asa, 246,274 Elizabeth, 274 E. Adaline, 246 Obadiah 3rd., 246 Eastman, Ohadiah, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Edna M., 117 12, 14, 18, 20, 26, 29 Ezra, 246 81, 32, 33, 144, 145 Ebenezer, 246,264 147, 148, 149, 199, 205 Addison W., 250 211, 221, 245, 273 Philena, 251 Obadiah, Jr., 82, 150 William I., 197, 243 152, 153, 154, 155 Oliver D., 51, 271 205, 219, 238, 245 Georgie A., 275 James, 12, 32, 33, 145 Eaton, Samuel, 11 148, 150, 151 Edmunds, Joseph, 211 152, 154, 157, 238 Elliott Robert, 18, 22, 29, 31, 33 245, 252 145, 148 149, 273 Benj. M., 36, 53 Daniel, 45, 155 156, 163 JesBe, 36, 53, 54, 155 165, 238 157, 158, 199, 245 Winthrop, 49 147, 149 William, 85, 86, 87, 107 237 166, 167, 168, 169 Roswell, 49 170, 171, 173, 174 Hiram, 83 Sylvester, 89, 235, 245 Almira, 103 George E., 89, 109, 245 Benjamin, 83 William W., 89,116,123 Thomas, 83 187, 189, 190 Robert Jr., 237 191, 192, 193,194 8. W., 182 195, 196, 197, 198 Harry H. 196 199, 235, 241, 245 Ellsworth, Moses, 48,221 Louisa, 106, 137, 235 Emery , Sylvanus, 39 245 Emerson, Daniel, 68 Ruth J., 246 English, Rev. John, 131 , 133, 166 300 INDEX OF NAMES. F. Fackney, John, W. F., Jane, Eveline, Fairbanks, Samuel, Fancher, William, John, John Jr., Farmer, Oliver, Fawcett, Rev. Joseph, Ferguson, Franklin, Fifield, Nathan, William, Isaac, Clarence, Fitch, Theophilus, Fitzpatrick, Maria, Flanders, Onesiphorun, 121 121, 198 93 243 39, 151 4, 282 4,282 5 49 131, 155 108 39 39 39 243 2, 4, 282 269 9, 10, 11 12 Joseph, 22 Josiah, 45, 211, 223 Israel, 36, 45, 46, 107 122, 156, 162, 168 ' 178, 223, 255, 274 James, 36, 45 John, 45, 46, 56, 94 107, 173, 185 223, 255, 266 Lafayette, 45, 46, 107 179, 181, 216, 255, 266 James P., 85 Polly, 46, 223, 275 Granville, 220 Eunice G., 220 Susan G., 220 Eveline, 243 Deborah, 220, 239 Sally, 40, 237 Olive, 239 Hannah (Goodwin), 45 46, 101, 241, 255 Mahala, 45, 46, 239, 256 Lovia B., 241 Elgie M., 242 Fletcher, Curtis, 105, 107 Ford, Elisha, 18, 30, 31, 33, 36 37, 144, 145, 148 152, 153, 154, 219 James, 18, 30, 31, 33, 36, 37 147, 148, 151, 238 John, 44 Thomas W., 49, 229 Elisha, Jr., 53 Caleb S., 161, 162, 165, 166 167, 168, 219 Salome, 219 Forsaith Robert, 148 Foss, Albert A., 115, 122, 242 Frank, John F., Carrie, Foster, Martha, Fountain, Matthew, French, Moses, Burton, Nathaniel, Lewis, Thomas, Elvira, Hannah, Nahum W., Herbert C, Fuller, Henry, Sally, G. Gannett, William, Qt James, Gauss, John, Gerrish, Henry, Gifford, Charles, John O., Mary, Gilchrist, Lillian B., Oilman, John, Geo. H., Phebe M., William H., Glazier, Aaron P., Sarah, Janes, Van Buren, Alma, Henry A., Alice, Gleason, Sherburn, Glover, Ebenezer, Goddard, Thatcher, 120 241 273 269 5 47 87 96 121 36, 229 250 225^ 255 243 273 103 ,161,169,172 98 268 9 93, 107, 178 93 93 272 121 242 275 272 85 201 103 134 103 105, 107, 216 103 109 83 13, 17, 21 INDEX OF NAMES. 301 Goodwin, Chellis, 35, 160, 225, 239 Hannah, 225 Sally, 225 Gordon, Horace W„ 63, 103, 107 176, 216, 233 Martha, 4, 271 Lucy Ann, 271 Gould, Phineas, 36 Gray, Alitha, 220 Elijah, 36, 39, 40, 220 Elijah Jr., 50, 220 Elijah S., 36, 74, 155, 161 Robert, 238 Truman, 98, 269 Green, Mary, 38, 222, 238 H. Hadley, Marietta A., 264 Hadlock, Belle M., 271 Hale, Jonathan, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 20, 33, 36, 144, 145 147, 150, 153, 154 157, 205 Susanna Tuttle, 20, 21 Nancy, 13, 21 Hitty, . 21 Samuel, 20 Mary, 21, 247 Martha, 20 Hall, Rufus, 79 Maturin B., 79 Hamlet, Edwin, 271 Hammond, Rev. Henry, 131 Hand, Aaron, 96, 97 William, 35 Hanford, Theophilus, 4 Harford, James, 44, 155, 250 Viania, 250 Sylvanus, 250 James, Jr., 250 John, 250 Hardin, William, 104, 107, 276 Emma A., 266 Jane, 271 119 119, 189, 190 Lucy, Hardy, Eben T., Sumner, Roswell, Frank, W. J., 176 190 196 Harriman, James, 82, 166, 170 171, 172, 199 Mrs. James, 82 James M. 3> r , 95, 106 176, 177, 179 194, 195, 196 Eliza M., 227 Sarah, 222 Harris John, 108, 181 Hartwell, Rev. H. H. 288 Tristram, 111, 112 William, 102 Hatch, Benjamin, 108 Haynes, Dennis, 217 Haywood, Mattie B., 241 Heath, Mrs. H. E., 262 Hibbard, Elisha, 103 107, 117, 265 Hight, Samuel E., 120 Hildreth, Timothy, 57 C. C, 263 Hill, LaFayette, 96, 106 Randall, 96, 106 E., 106 Franklin, 117, 193 Betsey, 250 Hinkley, Asa, 38, 229 James, 35,2 Jesse, 35, 38 Hazen' 53 Margaret, 229 Hobart, Mo«es L., 39 , 40, 152, 153 Hoit, or Hoyt, Ebenezer, 4,284 Nathaniel, 4, 284 Nancy , 223 Silas, 4, 284 Homan, Rev. Cbarles R., 131, 133 136 House, Charles, 111 Hoyt, Daniel, 108, 123 Howe (or How), Asa, 44, 45 Allie A., 230 Charles M., 98, 99 107, 176 177, 179 Charles H., 99 , 108,213 Daniel, 24, 28, 30, 33, 35 37, 107, 129, 174 232, 287 David M., 79, 102, 166 168, 240, 248 Daniel M., 107, 178, 182 189, 190, 191, 193 302 INDEX OF NAMES. Howe, Daniel M., 194, 213, 230, 270 Dorcas, 115, 134, 269 Edith C, 273 Fred S., Ill, 188, 189, 269 Halsey R., 119, 190, 191 235,269 Harriet Ellen, 81, 264 Harriet W., 231 Herbert, 275 Ira G., 27, 257 John G., Ill Julia, 269 Kate S., 241, 270 Kendrick, 187, 188, 230 241,270 Kimball T. 72, 257 Lucena M., 81, 264 Luthera L., 269 Merab, 230, 275 Martha J., 235 Moses W., 79, 94, 107, 171 172, 216, 217, 248 Nathan C, 72, 257 Nathaniel, 28, 44, 71, 155 156. 157, 231, 257 Paul M., 120, 190, 191, 192 194, 195, 196, 199 242,270 Phebe M., 248 Phebe, 51, 79, 232, 234 269 Polly, 101 Peter, 24, 28, 30, 33, 36, 37 107, 114, 152, 153 154, 160, 161, 168 186, 234, 248, 287 Peter, 2d, 80, 107, 171, 231 263 Rhoda, 38 Rufus W„ 105, 231, 263 Royal R., 269 Samuel, 35, 98, 107, 168 169, 170, 171, 181 184, 185, 187, 230 269, 276 Sam, 121, 270 Sally. 79, 248 Syrah R., 98, 269 Susan E., 270 Susanna, 51 Stedman W., 72, 257 Howe, Timothy, 100 William, 67 William, 2d, 35,82 Howard, Joshua, 100 Howl and, Moses N., 79, 248 Moody, 108 Hudson, Rev. W. A. 131 Hull, M., 163 Humphrey, Ernest P., 271 Blanche A., 242 Huntress, John, 43, 154 Hunkins, Jonathan, 88, 107, 169 170, 171, 174 177, 178, 199, 267 Harvey A., 67 , 88, 229 Joseph, 88, 267 Thomas II., 88, 103 180, 267 Olive A., 43, 88, 26 Clarissa, J., 88, 267 Robert, 47 Hutchins, Ann 11., 276 Benjamin C, 36, 48 49, 226 Benjamin F., chil- dren, 226 Benjamin F., 48 49,226 Charles A., 266 Durward, 122 Ella A. 266 Eveline, 264, 271 Henrv, 108 Ellen" B., 266 Emma M., 266 Joseph, 48, 49, 56, 107 168, 182 265,266 Jane B., 266 Lucius, 48, 49, 274 Marietta, 266 Myra A., 226 Nathan I)., 118, 189 Noah, 48, 49, 107, 167 169, 176, 226 240, 271 Philena, 274 Solomon J., 116, 123, 171 Susan, 149 Sally Ann, 226, 266 Husted, Peter, 4 INDE± OF NAMES. 303 Husted, Zehulon, 4 Hurlburt, Jonas, 102 Alden, 105, 107, 179 180, 183, 184, 186 Frank P., 273 Hyde, John, 97, 98, 99, 106, 173 Moses, 98, 99 William, 98, 99 J. Ingerson, George, 121 J. Jacobs, Charles, 105, 180 Jackson, Samuel, 11, 18, 19, 30, 31 33, 144, 146, 147 148, 149, 151, 152 155, 221, 248, 273 Robert, 30, 33, 149, 152 154, 156, 160 161, 162 Jeremiah, 110, 147 237, 246 Samuel, Jr., 31, 33, 150 Smith, 47 Thomas, 249 Marcus B., 53, 54, 249 Dan Young, 249 William Wilson, 249 Fletcher, 249 Eliza, 249 Thomas B., 249 John, 249 Thais, 248 Amos, 248 Moses, 248 Mehitabel, 248 Olive, 246 Artemas, 246 SaTah, 246 Hanah, 246 Mary Ann, 246 James, 246 Betsey, 246 Jeffers, Josiah F., 36, 56, 106, 162 163, 167, 171, 173, 176, 177 181, 221, 240 James, 238, 250 Jeffers, John, 36, 221, 239 Levi, 238 Lydia, 221 Lorenzo D., 126, 128 Mary Gould, 251 Marietta, 110 Polly, 221 Stephen, 33, 36, 37, 151 152, 154, 156 160, 161, 162 Stephen, Jr., 83 Susan, 221 Jenness, William, 45 Jesseman, Hannah, 240, 271 Jewett, Rev. Jeremiah S.. 132 Johnson, Nathan, 48 K. Kendall, William, 121, 196, 198 199,264 Betsey, 69 Kent, James, 36 Kendrick. Abbie, 58 Keyser. William. 36. 49, 50, 107 162, 171. 227. 267 John E., 45. 46, 50, 86 107, 133, 140 174, 177, 267, 276 Charles B., 50, 53, 94, 101 107, 180, 182 183, 187, 188 193, 267, 276 Mary Jane. 267 Henry E., 267 Laura, 267 Abigail. 227 James H., 50, 107, 108 123, 177, 178. 179 183, 184, 185, 186 187, 189, 190, 192 195, 196, 197, 199 216, 217, 267 Leman S.. 118, 191 Charles Bion, 100 John O., 227, 275 Eliza L., 275 Laura E., 241, 228 Myrtie E., 236, 243 William S., 265 Hannah E., 227 304 INDEX OF NAME 8. Kimball, Samuel, 35 , 55, 256 Lother, Edward, 73 Henry, 96, 98 E. H., 73 Russell, 105, 107, 109 William, 73 Elisha, 238 Lovejoy, Stephen, 43 Amos, 35 Lougee, Rev. Samuel F., 131 Chauncy, 256 Locke , Joseph S., 35 Daniel, 256 Loundsbury, Nathaniel, 4, 284 Mary, 256 Lufki n. Polly, 237 King, Hiram, 96. 106, 172 Lund, Ephraim, 9, 11, 16, 18, 22 Rev. J. E., 131 Joseph, 9, 11, 18 May, 287 Noadiah, 45 Jane, 275 Rachel, 16 Knapp, Arthur, 103 Silas, 16, 22 Knight, Aaron, 36, 37, 44 , 45, 155 165, 255 Stephen, 18, 152 Asa P., 254 M. Caleb, 79, 255 Catherine, 89 Mann , Amos C, 57, 58, 103, 114 Ebenezer, 250 226 Jeremiah, 250 Edward F., 57, 58, 231 Joshua, 48 Edward F., 2d, 59,84,111 Louisa, 254 184, 185, 188, 189 Moses, 25 , 40, 153 154, 254 190, 199, 233, 267 Ezra B., 59, 267 Moses, Jr., 44 George W., 57, 58, 59, 83 Morin, 104 106, 135, 140, 164 Nancy R., 89, 268 167, 168. 169, 170 Knowton, Philip, 33 172, 173, 174, 175 177, 178, 179, 181 L. 182, 183, 185, 186 187, 189, 190, 192 Lane, Wade. 119 193, 194, 195, 196 William, 55 197, 199, 200, 207 Lathrop, John, 36, 56, 106, 160 232, 267, 276 165, 166. 167 Grace, M., 243 174, 199, 238 George Henry, 59, 60, 112 Leavitt, Weare, 36, 57 140, 141, 267 Leighton. A. H., 73 Hosea B., 60. 268 Myra S., 241 James A., 57 58,68,232,239 William, 224, 241 Jesse, 57, 58 Leeds. Gideon, 4, 284 John 287 Lindsay, Albert, 190 Lucy E., 240 Isaac, 120 Matthew, 287 Nelson B., 1 274 Moody, 57, 58 Matilda K •1 274 Melvin J., 60. 118, 267 Litchfield, Hosea, 83 Moses B., 60, 120, 192, 193 Little, Harry, 121 194, 268 Benjamin, 161 Moses W., 239 William, 278 Minnie, 60, 121, 268 Littlefield, Bert L., 219 Mary, 231 Lockwood, Joseph, 4,284 Marion, 233 INDEX OF NAMES. 305 Mann, Nathaniel, 287 Marston, Orrin, 114, 165, 225, 239 Osman C, 59, 267 Rhoda J., 263 Orman, L., 59, 60, 61, 117 Samuel, 9, 11, 14, 18 123, 188, 189, 191 19, 32 192, 193, 195, 196 Sarah J., 226 197, 198, 199, 267 Sarah L., 225, 263 Richard, 287 Stephen, 105, 107, 108 Samuel, 28, 35, 57, 61, 163 114, 183 231, 287 Samuel E., 107, 114, 178 Samuel A., 57, 58, 98, 114 181, 184, 216, 225 182, 212, 231 Wesley B., 109, 216, 263 Sally Bailey, 231 William C, 25, 249 Susan, 60, 268 Martin, Ira, 40, 237 William, 36, 48 Bailey, 83 Manson, Rev. A. C, 126 Norman, 190 Marston, Bartlett, 27, 56, 78, 107 Marden, Clifton S., 102 114, 162, 166, 171 Stephen, 116, 228, 244 174, 175, 181, 182 Willard M., 122 184, 225, 253, 263 E. A., 198, 199 Bartlett, chil- McLeod, Kate, 243 dren of, 225 George, 273 Castanus, 111, 126 McGuinness, Ida, 271 David 24, 25, 27. 29 McDuffie, John, 11 33, 145, 146, 147 McConnell, Moses, 90 148, 151, 153, 154 McLean, John, 117 Elvah S., 155, 156, 205 Mas-ters, James H., 19 249, 263 Marsh all, Sarah Ann, 52 George W., 263 Abel, 43 Henry G., 263 Matth ews, Hugh, 33, 36, 145 221 Hosea M., 263 250 John, 22 Mary, 238, 250 John Westley, 248 Caroline, 251 John G., 26, 249 David, 251 Jonathan, 24, 27, 29, 33 Eliza S., 251 36, 148, 149, 153 Hetty, 251 154, 156, 160, 161 Lucinda, 251 168, 169. 252 Mary J., 250 Jonathan Hale, 27, 96 Sophronia , 251 253 Mead, Nathan, 145, 146, 286 Joseph E. 33, 148, 248 Moses, 36, 3" r, 45, 156, 157 Lucy, 25, 249 161, 238 Lucy M., 263 Mary, 238, 255 Luvia E., 263 William, 33, 38, 149 Laura A., 263 Abigail, 237 Moody C, 25, 249 Emleine, 255 May B., 263 Warren, 255 Mary, 223 Fanny, 264 Mehitabel, 25, 249 Meader, Elisha, 74, 233 O. H., 82 Betsey S., 233 Phebe, 4, 68 PaulN.* 269 Orrin, 27, 36, 53, 54, 107 Merri 11, Asa, 49, 74, 107 306 INDEX OF NAMES. Merrill, Jeremiah, Jonathan, 85, 152, William, Mary E., Lydia, 228, Emily, Charles K., 36,55, 165, Mitchell, Martin L., Moody, Leonard, 105, Morrill, Samuel, 38, 90, Alfred, 118, 190, 193, W. H., Eben, Hannah, Morrison, Elder 128, Morse, William F., Edgar L., Hezekiah. Eliza A., Betsey J., Caleb, Caroline, Annette, Susan D., Morton. George, Moses, Ezra, Moulton, Michael, Jacob, Frank, Muir, Isabel, Mulliken, John. Nathaniel, 100, 101 175, 176 George, 100, 105 Walter, 99, 101. 173 Murdock, James, N. Newell, Charles S., 70, 85, 100, 122, 100. 173, 96, 121, 138 100, 101 74 153 101 224 276 81 224 270 213 151 197 189 191 222 136 168 243 93 223 223 174 272 99 206 83 244 S8 38 194 244 107 , 107 216 181 ,174 243 77 Niles, Marinda. Millie, Myra, Sally, Salmon. Salmon, Jr.. Synthia, Nixon, Artemas, Norris, Abraham, Adaline, David M.. Helen, Harriet, Rev. H. S., James, 247 247 247 247 18, 20, 32,33, 14-4 145, 147, 148 149, 205, 247 247 247 8, 10 24, 29, 33. 3:. 151. 230. 240 67, 242 20, 71, 78, 107 242, 249, 275 71 71 269 20, 68, 70. 107, 166 107, 168, 173, 175 176, 184, 186, 1S7 213, 240. 27:. Joseph Dean. 89, 109, 240 Rev. John, 120 Martha. 70. 71, 230, 249, 275 .Merrill Tolly. Betsey. NoyeB, Asa, Chester EL, Daniel, Rev. George C Mary, Jonathan. Mose6, 70. 71. 240. 27:. 230, 240 240 .V, 266 24. 20. 33 131 20. 258 35, 48, 234 9, 11, 18. 10 Moses of Haverhill, 86, 233 Nelson, 100, 224, 241 Sally A., 94 Samuel. 26 Sarah Collins, 20 iles, Anna, 221, 237 Nudd, Joseph, 105, 106, 220 Barnabas, 9, 11, 18 , 32, 144 Lucinda, 220 145, 146, 147 Nutter, W. Sims, 60, 121, 194, 195 Cyrus, 247 100 Ezra, 247 Jesse, 247 0. Jehiel, 0, 20 Joseph, 155, 247 Oakes, Francis, 30, 07 Levi, 247 Frank. 67, 108, 223 Louisa, . 247 Harvey, 67 Mary, 247 Hollis, 67 IXDEX OF NAME 8. 307 Oakes. John E.. 108, 181, 182 Page Norman J.. 121. 193, 194 Martha A.. 223 196, 1-7. 271 Nathan. 1 Raymond, 93 Philemon P.. " SB, 109 Reuben. 10. 15 110. 216 Samuel. 36. 40 . 41. 153. 154 William. 67 155. 157. 163, 2S6 Orcutt. Emma F.. 206 Samuel. Jr.. Samuel T. Submit. 47 42 250 P. William B.. US 188 192, 194 195. 199, 241. 288 Paj^e. BeDJamin, 47 Palmer. Abner. 43 Caleb. 43. 44 156 Joseph. 48 Daniel D.. 42, 43. 106. 143 James. .". 169. 170. 171. 172 Joseph F.. 252 174. 177. 17-. 1TB Judith G. 252 180, 181, 182, 1-3 Marv. 252 186, 187, 199, 296 Sally W., 252 David. 42. 168, .74. 199 Park William R.. 103 Ernest T.. ... B, 271 Pait ti. Mrs. Ann. - U Eliza A.. 42, 264 Alantha, 234 Elizabeth R.. 42. 201 - - Benjamin. 166 Ella Misselle. 271 Dora A.. 104, 270 Elvira. 42 Frank B.. 104 .119 241.270 Emma. .- L. W.. 102 Frank. Lebina H.. 103. 104. 118 George C. .- 122, 100, 191. 192 Harriet, 2Bfl 193. 194. 196. 197 Harry E.. 121 -- J, 198, 200. 2? -"- Herman. .- Mary. 31 James J.. 36. 42. 43. 45. 106 Prescott. 103. 106 114. 143, 156, 157 Prescott. Jr.. 103 106. 179 158, 159. 160. 161 1S1. 1-5.15^ 162, 163, 16-5. 166 1-7 188,192 167. 168. 160, 171 23-5 - 172. 173. 175. 177 Patch. ] .157 158,23 17-. 200. 206. 214 Joseph. 152, 153. 1-54 - - .- W. D.. 220 James. 42. 43. 106, 174. 175 Pear= on. Joseph. 10. 47 17-. 17v. 180, 181, 1-2 Pelton. Joseph. 122 183. 186, :-- : Perk ns. Stephen. 105 284, .' 271 Pierce. Barzilla, " John, 106. Ill Rexford. - John S.. -- Pike Amos M.. 115 Joshua. t - Arthur L.. ■-■ Joshua 2d. 109 ,183.1-7. 28fl Clifton. Ill' Laura. 42, 264 Lucinda, 37 Lavinia F.. 264 Nancy. 106 Lyman. 90 Samuel. 83, i Mary. -- - - Walter F.. 102. 174. 178 Martha. A2 Philbrick. William, 308 INDEX OF NAMES. Phelps, A. L., 120 Royce, Lydia, 85, 233 Place, Joseph, 102 Merab, 85, 269 Jacob, 170 Polly, 239 Malinda, 106 Ruth, 233 Plant, Stephen. 116 Sarah, 54, 85 Pollard, Alexander, 80 Russell, John, 98, 152 Polley, Lydia E., 69 John, Jr., 191 W. H., 264 W. F., 220 s. Pool, Hiram, 57 Pope, Frank H., 271 Sabin, Rev. E. R.,' 128 Porter, Francis, 19 St. John, David, 284 Powers, Ann, 234 Sampson, William, 98, 102 221 Mary, 79, 234 Mary, 221 Rev. Peter, 20 Sanborn, Hattie B., 94 Prescott, Rev. L. W., 131 Sargent, George, 263 William, 20 Savage, John, Sawyer, Lewis, 178, 179 165 Q- Chas W., Carrie L., 263 242 Quimby, David, 47 Scales, Hiram, 112 Emily, 69, 233, 264 Schofield, Ebenezer, 4, 284 Rev. S. E., 132 James, 4, 284 R. Sealey, Eliphalet, 4. 283 Eliphalet, Jr., 4, 283 Ramsdell. J. G., 110, 180 Obadiah, 4, 283 Ramsden, Rev. Win., 131 Sylvanus, 4, 283 Ramsey, James, 122 Wix, 4,283 Randall, Samuel, 88 Scarle, Elizabeth. 86 Kichardson, David F., 119, L38 191 Severance, W. R., 244 11)2 193 194 Seymour, Thomas, Jr., 4. L'S4 Rev. Geo. W. 108 126 Shaw, Ann R., 241 Fred M., 120 Fennette, 272 Harold, 273 Geo. E., 274 Horace F 273 Sheldon, John, 120 Moulton B., 83 Sherman, Stephen C, 98, 99, 173 Reuben, 78 211, 227 Sarah, 50 James C, 98. 99, 107 Rogers, Rev. C. E., 131 Hannah, 227 Ezekiel, C, 55 Hitty, 227 Hugh R., 251 Siddons, William P., 96.99 James, 38, 238 Eliza, 97 J. S., 198 Jane, 97 William, 58, 151, 152 Smith, Ara, 35 47,48,114. Rollins, Joseph, 3t >, 38 160, L'L'.". Robert, 38 Rev. A. G., 131 Rodney, 122 Hezekiah, 223 Koyce, Samuel, 85. 233 Nancy, 223 Hannah, 85 Margaret, 225 Dorcas, 233 Samuel, 229 Lucy, 77 , 85, 264 Phebe, 55, 256 INDEX OF NAMES. 309 Smith, Betsey, 267 Swift, Hetty, 220 William, 175 Mary F., 223, 270 T. Ephraim, 4, 284 Charles, 4, 284 Tarleton, Amos, 156 James, 4, 284 Taylor, Abraham, 102 Jesse, 4. 284 Margaret, 42 Snow, Ona, 44 Thomas E., 103, 189 Southard, Milton, 36, 83, 239 Temple, John, 5 Spafford, Senthe, 237 Lila M., 243 Spaulding, Daniel, 103 Thrasher, Henry, 74 Speed, John C, 119, 230, 276 Thurston, Lucy, 96 Spinney, Carrie A., 229 Tibbetts, De Elden, 101 117, 197 Spooner, Alonzo, 101, 103, 186 Veronia, D., 244 187, 190, 244 William, 116, 186 Chester, 101, 106 189, 193 Daniel, 101, 105, 243 Tillotson, John W., 10 Clarence, 193, 243 Titus, Jason, 262 Horace R., 101, 190, 193 Bertha May, 263 194, 242 C. Harvey, 263 Carl Gile, 273 Herman, 263 Oscar 101, 244 Holman D., 263 William. 101, 108 Fred M., 263 Mary J.. 275 George W., 263 Sprague, Alden, 10 Jeremy, 106 Stacy, Thomas. 111 Theron W., 263 Starkweather, Joseph, 17 Torsey, Moses, 234, 235 Stevens, John L., 112, 120, 183 Moses Jr., 53 Abner, 4, 283 Winthrop G , 36, 38, 39, 49 Alice R., 220 62, 107, 114 Daniel, 4, 283 162, 163, 166 Obadiah, 4, 283 167, 168, 169 Obadiah, Jr. , 4, 283 170, 212, 235 Stickney, Ansel, 95, 106 238 Jonathan B ., 95, 106, 171 William T., 39, 92, 107 174, 175, 177, 178 175, 176, 178 Mary, 238 179, 180, 181 Stowe, John, 36, 54, 55, 160, 163 182, 183, 184 165, 168, 169, 231 186, 187, 188 John, Jr., 36. 55, 57, 81 189, 191, 192 Geo. Henry, 274 235, 270, 275 Nathan, 55, 96, 257 Amos G., 96, 172, 174 Nathaniel, 55 , 96, 174, 257 175, 270 Sarah, 257 Mary, 39, 239 Sally, 232 Betsey, 39 238, 256 W. C, 55, 169, 170. 176 Sally, 39 235, 238 Streeter, Sally, 29, 228, 253 Emerline, 39, 270 Styles, Moody, 102 Hannah, 276 Swain, William, 104 Theodosia, 235, 238 Swasey, Parker, 98, 269 Irene, 235 Swift, Curtis, 220 Trefren, Thomas, 45 310 INDEX OF NAMES. Trefren, James, Orrin, Amy, David M., Gilman, True, John H., Edward, M., M. W., C. E. Nella J., John A., V T Wilbur F., Olive, A. R., Tyler, Kimball 252 252 252 252 252 182, 183 111, 112, 183 189 184, 187, 188 116, 186 272 111, 112 116 118 117 24, 28, 29, 33, 35 150, 153, 154, 155 L68, 171, 228, 253 Jesse, 24. 28, 29, 33, 149 Elisha, 28, 36, 152, 157, 160 Samuel, 49, 162 Amos, 49 Kimball, Jr., 53. 54, 253 Alfred, Isaac H., Laban, Moses K., Edwin, James B., George, Charles C. 79, 161, 228 248, 254 79, 213, 248 81, 254 81, 254 35, 87, 161, 229 239, 254 97, 98, 107, 254 107, 114, 115 174, 184, 229, 241 254, 268 Fred M., 115, 117, 123, 228 229, 268, 269 Byron M., 115, 120, 123, 196 198, 229, 241 , 268 Alfred E., 115, 118, 123, 198 230, 243, 268 Leblie, 115, 120, 268 Carroll, 115, 121, 244, 268 Charles W., 115,121,268 Charles C. ,2nd, 117, 123 Jesse, 2nd, 119,251,274 Humphrey P., 36, 165, 166 Betsey, 238, 240, 254 Hepzibath, 38, 238 Theodosia, 238 Sally, 82, 239, 254 Tyler, Lucy, 240 253, 274 Mary, 115 242 251, 268 Lydia. 251 May J., 251 Relief 250 Susan K.. 51. 254 Kliza, 254 Lucetta. 93, 254 Harriet, 80, 263 Lucetta S., 115, 268 Hannah, 114, 268 Dexter, 268 Estelle, 243, 260 Charlina C, 243, 269 Edna W., 244. 269 Louis F., 269 Laura E., 275 Carrie S., 276 Tyrell (or Tirrell), Ben- jamin H., 104, 176, 177, 184 186, 187. 188, 189 190, 199 Marcellus, 112 Frank, 117 Cleveland, 118 ( ieorge, 214 Elizabeth, 105 V. Veazey, Charles A., 112, 189, 190 191, 192, 195 Jennie F., 244, 246 Ruth J., 89, 138 William D., 113, 121, 196 200, 246 W. Wallace, John, 121, 236, 243 Myrtie, 276 Warren, Ashael L., 18, 108, 179 180, 181, 184, 186 188, 189, 190 Benj. F., 108 Hattie E., 241 Warner, Rev. Greenleaf, P., 136 Watson, Pelatiah, 11, 16 Waterman, Sewall, 89, 16s Waterbury, Nathaniel, 4, 285 INDEX OF NAMES. 311 Waterbury, .Tosiah, 4, 285 Webber, Joseph, 74 John, 90 Mary Ann, 240 Horace, 126 Nathaniel, 10 Webster, Stephen P., 10, 15 Weed, Amos, 4, 284 Benjamin, 4, 284 Peter, 4, 284 Hezekiah, 4, 284 Abraham, 4, 284 Sylvanus, 4, 284 Ruth, 55 Julia, 55 Nathaniel, 4, 284 Samuel, 4, 284 Isaac, 4, 384 Reuben, 4. 284 Enos. 4. 2S4 Wilson. 90 Weeks, Daniel. 55, 57 Henry E., 120 Welch, Jonathan. 10. 36, 43. 44 156, Iti2. 163. 169 250. 285 Silas M., 19. 44. 90. 10(5 173. 174. 176, 178 220. 251 George. 44. 118, 123 Bartlett, 19. 44, 96, 106 175. 178, 220. 251 Edgar S., 44, 120, 190, 191 192, 193 Louisa J., 220 Nancy. 220 Franklin, 220 Alice R., 220 Ruth, 221 Weld, E. P., 120 W. H., 109 Welsh, Moses. 211 Wells, Enos, 35, 40, 107, 129. 143 153. 154. 155, 156, 157 158, 159, 102, 167, 169 170, 171, 172, 173, 174 199, 212, 224, 257 " Caleb. 41, 92, 107, 171, 172 173, 174, 175, 176, 177 179, 180, 181. 182, 199 214, 215, 257, 271 Wells, George, 41, 96. 107, 171, 174 175, 176, 178, 179, 180 181, 216, 257, 272 Enos C, 41, 98, 107, 172 174, 257 Fayette, 49, 225 Lois, 224 Sally C, 224 Polly, 45, 223 Helen A., 271 Ella G.. 271 Herbert E.. 271 Scott, 271 Addie Bell, 271 Albinus M., 272 Stella V., 272 Flavius M., 272 Frank E.. 272 Arthur G., 272 Fred P.. 272 Fred P., of Newbury, 21 Wentworth. Mark H., 5 Whitcher, Chase, 12, 26, 128. 222 260, 261 Chase. Jr., 3fi. 151, 165 23S. 261 Chase 2nd, S3, 84, 85 107. 138. 168 170. 171, 172 173, 174. 175 177, 178, 179 180, 181. 182 183, 184, 199 214, 215, 258 William, 24. 26, 30, 33 35. 128, 143. 148 149, 151. 152, 153 155, 156, 157, 161 162, 166, 167, 168 169, 170, 175, 199 200, 212, 233, 259 260. 261 Moses, 35. 37, 53, 54 160, 161, 162, 163 165, 166, 167, 179 253, 258 William Jr., 35, 37, 53 54, 233, 238 Amos, 35, 57, 63, 64, 65 107, 114, 137, 138 162, 170, 173, 178, 179 312 INDEX OF NAMES. Whitcher, Amos, 186, 188, 199, 212 Obadiah, 31, 33 Jacob, 35, 49, 50, 1(50 161, 211, 232 239 261 David, 35, 55, 159, 160 256, 261 Samuel, 68, 69, 165 166, 233, 258, 264 Hazen, 50, 82, 161 162, 163, 165 166, 167, 239 Ira, 14. 26, 74, 75, 76 77, 107, 114, 138, 163 165, 166, 167, 169 170, 171, 172, 173 174, 176, 177, 178 179, 180, 181, 182 183, 199, 200, 213 214 ,215, 258, 264 Daniel, 90, 91, 92,^107 171, 174, 175 176, 200, 258 268 Charles H., 63,109, 140 180, 181, 182 184, 185, 262 Winthrop C, 258, 262 Winthrop C, 2d, 63, 111, 114 128, 140 182, 262 James E., 63, 112, 183 185, 2(52 Albion G., 68, 11(5. 2(52 David S.. (59, 234, 264 Daniel, J., 69,262,264 Charles O., 69, 264 William F., 77, 78, 111 264 Frank, 77, 264 Scott, 77, 264 David, 2d, 94, 258 Henry, 108, 262 James, 258 Louisa, 235, 245, 258 Sally, 258 Hannah, 58, 239 258 Mary, 258 Susan, 59, 232, 258 Phebe, 258 Whitcher, Levi, 261 Stephen, 261 Alonzo, 261 Jacob, 2d, 261 Lucinda C., 63, 262 Amarett A., 63, 262 Florence V., 262 Moses, 2d, 262 Ward P., 262 Phebe, 262 Jean, 2(52 Frank P., 262 Chase R., 262 Charles C., 262 John W., 262 Mercy, 262 Lydia E., 264 Betsey S.. 264 Susan E. 116, 234, 2(54 Lucinda, 54, 103 Sarah Ft., 82, 239 Hannah Morrill, 222 Mary Green, 222 David M.. 256 Daniel B., 256 Joseph, 256 Burr R., 264 Kate K., 268 Moses K., 268 Nellie G., 2(58 Lizzie R., 268 Carrie Ardelle, -'tis Josie L., 268 Ira D.. 268 Mary B., 268 Dan Scott, 268 Dolly, 44 Sarah Jane, 50 Sarah Royce, 84, 233 Frances C, 84, 233 Elvah G., 59. 84 Wheeler, Sylvester, 190 George, E., 272 White, Emery B., (53, 102 Jacob M., 102 John, 102 Edwin, 102 Charles, 102 George E., 118 Laura, 102, 248 Ann, 102 INDEX OF NAMES. 313 White Mary, 102 Susan, 102 Whiteman, Joseph, 88 Nicholas, 88 Henry M., Ill Frank, 116 Lester, 273 Angeline, 56, 265 Mary E., 242 Whittom, Kobert, 11, 19 Whittier, Jacob, 23 Thomas, 26 Thomas and direct descendants, 259, 260 John Greenleaf. 26 Nathaniel, Keuben, Joseph, Willard, Caleb, Austin, Willey, Nathan, Wilmot, Timothy, Henry C., Frank, Willoughby, Abner, Wiser, Benjamin, Wilson, Elijah, Amos, Daniel, George, Arthur, John, George E., Susan M., Alice S., Alexander, Mary, Winchester, Ezra, 26 26 26 7, 9, 11, 19 112 39, 153 57 269 266 33, 151 23 29 93, 171, 173 180, 183, 207 93, 106, 107 105, 107, 180, 263 108, 182 227, 275 121, 228 93 94 273 110 104, 182, 186 Chas. W., 109 Winslow, Rev. John, 132 Woodbury, Benjamin, 54, 149 Woodward, Deliverance, 36, 37, 57 159, 160 161, 199 Amos, 100 George W., 100 Hiram, 100 Solon, 163, 165 Wright, Abijah, 68, 220 Alvah C., 68, 165, 223 Wright, Gilbert P., 68, 74, 107 114, 166, 171, 172 173, 174, 176, 177 178, 179, 182, 186 212, 253, 289 David L., 68, 112. 184 185, 220, 290 Newell C, 68, 116, 290 Hannah, 221 Gilbert P., Jr., 116, 186 290 Aseneth, 240 Russell W., 290 Ellen H., 290 Jonathan M., 290 Phebe A., 290 Mary, 290 Charles W., 290 Ira B., 290 William R., 290 Wyman, Isaac, 83 Y. Young, Augustus, 256 David, 49 ./ David, Jr., 57. 256 Eunice, 232 Joseph, 211, 232 Polly, 63 Sam C, 256 William C, 63 1