USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 N422 1307931
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00055 5406
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofn1779lord
bethany body
A HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF NEW LONDON
MERRIMACK COUNTY
NEW HAMPSHIRE
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1779-1899
"Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur."-AENEID, Book I, 574.
CONCORD, N. H. : THE RUMFORD PRESS. 1899.
COPYRIGHT, 1899 BY MYRA B. LORD
1307931
PREFACE.
From the inception of the History of New London to its consummation has doubtless seemed a long time to those interested in the town and its people, and a brief résumé of the undertaking is perhaps the simplest explanation that can be tendered.
The first definitive action of the town was at the March meeting in 1891, when Rev. George W. Gardner, D. D., was appointed historian, and the sum of $300 was raised and appropriated towards the expense of publication. Dr. Gardner, with his intimate acquaintance among the people, his thorough cult- ure, and ample experience, would have ably accomplished this to him pleasant task had life and health been spared. He had prepared the first draft of an in- troductory chapter and gathered together a few family records, but he was sorely stricken in the sudden death of his son Clarence, and the work slipped from his feeble, yet willing, hands ere it was scarce begun.,
In the autumn of 1895, following the decease of Dr. Gardner, the question of the History having been left with the selectmen, the board entered into an arrangement with Mr. Edward O. Lord. During the ensuing winter and spring Mr. Lord devoted his time largely to the gathering of historical material, and in house-to-house visitations copied family records and made voluminous notes relating to earlier residents of the town as they were recalled by those with whom he conversed, the townspeople as a whole being quick to show their appreciation of the work thus undertaken, and in many instances freely tendering the use of valuable books and documents. In addition the several burying-grounds were gone over and inscriptions and dates copied for refer- ence purposes. In short, by months of diligent research Mr. Lord obtained the larger part of the material from which the genealogical portions of this vol- ume have been compiled and written.
As earlier considered the scope of the History was much narrower, limited to the annals of the town as a corporation with biographies of some of the leading citizens. The interest awakened through Mr. Lord's efforts, however, seemed to call for something more comprehensive, and at the annual meeting in March, 1 896, after an explanation of his plans and purposes the town increased the original appropriation so as to secure to him the sum of $500 towards publica- tion expenses. Advance subscriptions for the book and orders for portraits were then solicited. The response was both prompt and generous, and has made possible the volume herewith presented. To a donation from Mrs. Susan F. Colgate is due the additional chapter on the Centennial History of the Baptist Church. Mr. Lord also devised the plan which has been followed in the arrangement of the several chapters of the book-giving the history of the
37.50 3-31.65 M5 26
iv
PREFACE.
town and people by distinct and consecutive periods, thus rendering it especially valuable for reference ; but as other matters interfered with his original purpose of writing the History from the materials he had gathered, this task was under- taken by one whose desire to see the accomplishment of the work is her apol- ogy for venturing into a field where far abler hands were needed.
The opening chapter of the History was written in June, 1896. From the first the scope of the volume broadened, as more people became interested, until finally the problem was how to condense into the possible limits all that it seemed so desirable to preserve. At the very last it was decided to give a gen- ealogical index, though entailing increased labor and expense as well as delay in publication. A special map of the town, showing the chief topographical features and including a complete list of present residences and public build- ings, has also been added for convenience of reference. It has been the ear- nest desire of the author to make the record of each family entitled to represen- tation as full and accurate as possible, and to each and every person who has in any way aided towards this end grateful acknowledgment for all courtesies extended is hereby made, especially to the elderly ones who by their interest and encouragement and recollection of long-past events have done so much in establishing the earlier historical data.
So the book comes to an end ; and these last words are written on the one hundred and twentieth anniversary of the town's incorporation, in the closing year of the nineteenth century. That it has its imperfections and inaccura- cies no one realizes more keenly than the writer. But " Who shall decide when doctors disagree? " and who shall say which is right when even family registers conflict on important facts and town records and gravestone inscriptions add still further to the confusion? And again, as in many instances, where no authentic records existed it was inevitable that mistakes should creep in. For all its errors, for all that may be found wanting, the kindly indulgence of those who may read the volume is craved, in the hope that here and there in its pages may be found pleasant memories of bygone days.
JUNE, 1899.
MYRA B. LORD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
General Topography-Indian Encampments-Paleface Proprietors-The Pioneer Settlers and Their Environments .
2
CHAPTER II.
Heidleburg-Incorporation-First Town-meeting-First Schools-First Highways-Saw-mill and Grist-mill-Revolutionary Soldier-Elder Ambrose-Oath of Allegiance-The Church and Meeting-house- First Census-Elder Seamans-End of the First Decade-Second Census-Kearsarge Gore Lots Annexed-Representation-School Districts-The Mill Controversy
II
CHAPTER III.
New London at the Close of the Eighteenth Century-The 1800 Invoice and Tax List-Residents not Owners of Real Estate-Non-Resident Tax-payers-Highways-A Stroll over the Town in May, 1800, Calling on the Inhabitants and Noting the Homes of the Resident Proprietors-Names of Town Officials from 1779 to 1800
44
CHAPTER IV.
Origin, Descent, and Families of the Resident Land-owners in the Year 1800, and of Those Men Who are Known to Have Lived in Town Before that Year, but Who Were then Deceased or had Removed to Other Places
63
CHAPTER V.
Second Historical Period-New Institutions-School Districts and Schoolhouses-Time-worn Receipts-Early Teachers-Soldiers of 1812-Church Matters-Territorial Changes-Town Poor-Miscel- laneous Notes-" New London Jacobinism Unveiled "-Poverty Year, 1816-The Great Whirlwind of 1821-Invoice Summary- Town Officials, 1801-1825
· 173
CHAPTER VI.
Genealogies of Families Living in New London from 1801 to 1825 Inclu- sive, Together with the Origin and Descent of Those Who Removed Hither During Those Years
213
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
Third Historical Period-Building of the Baptist Church-Springfield and Wendall Lines-Opening of Stage Route-Founding of New London Academy-The Scythe Works-Early History of Scythe- ville-Establishment of Poor Farm-Survey for the Northern Rail- road-Tree-planting Episodes-Printed Reports-New London's Crowning Honor-Town Officials, 1826-1850 . 293
CHAPTER VIII.
Genealogies of Descendants of Earlier New London Families, for the Period from 1826 to 1850 Inclusive, and of New Real Estate Own- ers During This Period
325
CHAPTER IX.
Fourth Historical Period-The New Town House-Reorganization of New London Academy-Passing of the First Church and Town House-Rolls of McCutchins Guards and State Militia-New Lon- don's Record in the Civil War-The Blizzard of 1862-Laying of the Corner Stone, and Dedication of the New Academy-Mechanics' Hall Statistical Data-Town Officials, 1851-1875
403
CHAPTER X.
Genealogies of Descendants of Earlier New London Families for the Period from 1851 to 1875 Inclusive, and of New Real Estate Own- ers who Acquired a Residence During the Same Period . ·
439
CHAPTER XI.
Fifth Historical Period-Endowment Fund of Colby Academy-Centen- nial Anniversary of New London's Incorporation-The Church Centennial-Burning of Colby Academy-Free Public Library- West Part Burial-ground-Statistical Data-Town Officials, 1876-
1898
.
544
CHAPTER XII.
Genealogies of Descendants of Earlier New London Families for the Period from 1876 to 1898 Inclusive, of New Real Estate Owners Who Acquired a Residence During the Same Period, and of Tax- payers not Real Estate Owners Resident in the Town from 1896 to 1898 570
CHAPTER XIII.
Summer Residents and Summer Homes
643
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Centennial History of the Baptist Church-Historical Sketches of Secret Fraternities and Other New London Institutions . . 664
APPENDIX.
New London (Extract from State Papers)-The Mountain Scenery of New London (Reprinted from the Colby Academy Voice)-Addenda and Errata-Genealogies Received too Late for Insertion in their Proper Order-Genealogical Index · 729
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Band, New London Cadet
728
Blood, Robert R., Surg .- Gen.
446
Bohanan, George S., Prof.
574 74
Burpee, Anthony C., Col.
702
Burpee, Edwin P. .
448
Clough, Joseph M., Gen.
452
Colby, Anthony, Gov.
Frontispiece 336
Elkins, John P., M. D. .
556
Farren, William A., Rev.
692
Farwell, Fred
468
Farwell, Reo A.
466
Farwell, Reo E.
588
Flanders, Walter P., Esq.
342
Gardner, Celia (Hubbard)
474
Gardner, George W., Rev., D. D.
664
Gay, Charles W., Dea.
594
Gay, Baxter, Capt.
592
Greenwood, Nahum T.
.
480
Hall, Francina, Mrs.
. 634
Hall, Villa, Miss
634
Hayes, J. Marshall, Hon.
486
Haynes, Martin A., Hon.
260
Herrick, George H. W., M. D.
354
Herrick, George W.
352
Herrick, Joseph C., Dea.
688
Herrick, Jonathan, Capt.
256
Keil, Frances (Gates)
346
Knight, Ephraim, Prof.
492
Knight, George M.
494
Knowlton, N. Columbus .
. 496
Knowlton, N. Woodbury, Capt.
.
258
Knowlton, Willie M.
. 600
.
Brown, Josiah, Esq.
Colby, Daniel E., Gen.
.
ix
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Lamson, Charles A., M. D.
602
Law, John K.
604
Littlefield, Anna M., M. D.
498
Lord, Myra B.
606
Manahan, William H., Hon.
358
Manahan, Valentine, M. D.
356
McCutchins, Luther, Gen.
360
Messer, Augustus S.
612
Messer, Matthew
128
Messer, Richard H., Hon.
364
Messer, Stephen
362
Messer, William S.
508
Morgan, Micajah, Dea.
688
Phillips, Joseph E.
372
Pingree, John D.
616
Pingree, Ransom C.
276
Prescott, James D. .
618
Putney, Charles F. .
620
Putney, Henry W. .
520
Putney, Martha (Pingree)
516
Quackenbos, George Payn, LL. D ..
622
Quackenbos, John D., M. D. .
624
Sargent, Ebenezer
136
Sargent, Jonathan Everett, Judge
1 38
Sargent, Newton L.
628
Sargent, Prudence (Chase)
1 36
Sargent, Sylvanus T.
382
Seamans, Augustus W.
280
Seamans, Daniel S.
384
Seamans, Frank F.
284
Seamans, Frank M.
284
Seamans, Henry W.
280
Seamans, James M.
282
Seamans, Job, Elder
146
Seamans, Madam
146
Seamans, Manning .
148
Seamans, Manning (2d)
282
Shepard, Aaron
160
Shepard, George
I54
Shepard, James E. .
528
Shepard, Moses
158
Shepard, Phœbe (Dow)
158
Shepard, Sarah (Tenney)
160
Smiley, Adelaide L., M. A.
262
Smith, R. Maria, Mrs.
632
x
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Thompson, Lucien, Esq.
226
Thurston, Clara (Messer)
636
Todd, Charles A.
722
Whipple, Amos H.
538
Whipple, Ashley C., M. D.
536
Whipple, Sherman L.
540
Whipple, Solomon M., M. D. .
534
Whittier, Stephen
286
Worthen, Ai .
642
Worthen, Albert S.
400
Worthen, Byron, Hon.
402
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Glimpse of Sunapee
648
Baptist Chapel and Church
676
Burpee Homestead .
222
Centennial Views.
546
Colby Academy
558
Elkins Cottage
586
Fishing scenes
650
Heidleburg plan
730
In Carnival Attire (Summer Guests)
630
King's Hill brook
652
Little Sunapee
IO
Lot plan (Alexandria Addition)
. 64, 735
Map, Official Survey
186
Map of Lake Sunapee and Vicinity
658
Map, Topographical and Residence, with Key
570
Mt. Kearsarge from Colby hill .
738
Mt. Kearsarge from Morgan hill
54
Nirvana Cottage
626
Pingree Homestead (Oldest house standing in 1897) .
118
Plan of horse sheds
39
Pike brook, Soo-Nipi Park
I32
Ragged Mountain
736
Soo-Nipi Park Lodge
642, 644
Soo-nipi Park views
654
Sunapee Ouananiche and Saibling
650
View from Sunny Ridge
. 610
West Part Burial-ground .
. 560
Willow Farm .
660, 662
Fac-simile of church dedication programme
294
Four Corners views .
310
Lake Sunapee
656
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF NEW LONDON,
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY- INDIAN ENCAMPMENTS - PALEFACE PROPRIETORS - THE PIONEER SETTLERS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS.
"A goodly heritage" is the simplest epitome of the New London of to-day, as from some one of its lofty hilltops the eye ranges over the varied features of the landscape. Viewed in the soft, clear light of a perfect June morning-rugged hill- sides dotted with cattle, broad fields of grass and grain that rise and fall like the waves of the sea in the fresh breeze that sweeps down from the mountains, stretches of woodland, placid lakes and babbling streamlets-it is indeed a pleasant land. Even in winter, when the smiling fields are veiled in a snowy mantle and the leafless trees bowed down beneath a weight of gleaming crystal, it is only another scene in nature's ever- changing kaleidoscope.
As a hill town it is a step in advance of far-famed Rome. There are few indeed of its well-kept roads that do not lure the unwary traveller down one descent in order that he may gain the needed impetus to mount the succeeding rise of ground in search of yet another. From the geographical centre to the outlying districts the hills look across in friendly greeting one to another-Colby (formerly Minot's), Knight's (formerly Messer), Burpee, Davis (formerly Rowell's), Hunting, Mor- gan, Bunker, and Emery's (formerly Kimball's)-perpetuating the memory of those who at different periods of the town's existence have given individuality to the localities.
2
2
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Within the borders of the town is included a portion of fair Lake Sunapee; Otter pond, the connecting link between the great lake and the spur-divided bays of Little Sunapee ; Lake Pleasant, the source of the Blackwater; Clark (formerly Har- vey) and Messer ponds,-each with its attendant tributaries and outlets, and all giving of their piscatorial treasures to the skilful angler who knows the secrets of deeps and shallows. The division of the rainfall is a feature peculiar to the town. From its lofty elevation-some 1,400 feet above sea level- it becomes the " dividing line" between two great rivers. Near the schoolhouse in the north district may be found two brooks, one of which, bending to the west, reaches the Con- necticut through the Sunapee lakes and Sugar river ; the other flows towards the sunrise, and reaches the Merrimack through the Blackwater and Contoocook rivers. In the west part of the town is an ancient homestead whose roof-tree defines the dividing line even more sharply-on the one side the pattering raindrops descend to the Merrimack, on the other to the Con- necticut. There is abundant water-power at various points, and this has been utilized in many ways ever since the pale- face has held sway over the lakes, ponds, rivers, and brooks.
Quite a stretch of imagination is required to picture the hills and valleys of to-day clothed with a primeval forest which demanded years of toil from the early settlers and their successors ere it gave place to fruitful fields and succulent pastures. Hundreds of acres have been cleared, and still there is woodland enough left to pleasantly diversify the land- scape-the dark background of spruce, fir, hemlock, and pine relieved by the paler greens of ash, birch, beech, and maple in the early summer, or toning down the flaming banners that come with the frosts of autumn, heralding the dying year. In the depths of the woods and swamps, out in the open fields and pastures, lining the roadsides and bordering the streams, are the shrubs and wildflowers common to this latitude, besides a few varieties which the enthusiastic botanist classes among his " rare " specimens. On some of the cleared lands which the busy axe of the woodsman is opening up continually, nature makes a desperate effort to reassert herself, and blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry bushes spring up as if by magic, so that there is an abundant supply of these spicy fruits.
3
INDIAN ENCAMPMENTS.
Geologically considered, New London, in common with the greater part of New Hampshire, belongs to the Archaean time, the surface rocks being granite, quartz, gneiss, mica, etc., in endless varieties. Some of the granite is porphyritic, occasion- ally of very coarse granulation, specimens having been found with distinctly marked crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica from one to four inches in dimension. In some localities a very good quality of building granite can be quarried. Very fine specimens of quartz crystals have been found on the south shore of Lake Pleasant, and the low water of the summer season lays bare a setting of smoky quartz that here and there reveals to the watchful mineralogist aquamarine beryls of more than ordinary beauty. Not far from the same locality a mix- ture of flesh-colored feldspar is found that has been pronounced by experts to be as good as any in the United States, while up in the northwest part of the town small deposits of graphite crop out occasionally in the rugged ledges. All in all, it may be said safely that the farmers have an inexhaustible supply of " fencing material" close at hand. A story is told of an inquisitive passer-by attempting to quiz a farmer who was laboriously picking small stones from his field to add to the already massive walls, by asking what he proposed doing with his present crop. "I calculate," said the owner, as he care- lessly balanced a good-sized specimen on his horny palm, " the Lord kind o' reckoned on my being a pretty tough cus- tomer to get along with, and so laid in a good supply of weapons." The traveller paused for no further questioning.
The Great Spirit endowed His red children with an unerring instinct to guide them in their search for the food which nature supplies so bountifully to those who know her secrets, and in times of peace Indian encampments were always made near the water-ways. What was more natural than that they should settle upon the shores of a lake teeming with fish and wild fowl, and that they should have given it its characteristic name of Soo-nipi (Sunapee), or Goose water, from the flocks of wild geese that make it a resting-place in their semi-annual flights across this region? Skimming the blue water of the larger lake in his light canoe, the Indian sought its source, and cross- ing the intervening brooks and Otter pond penetrated to the farther shore of the smaller Sunapee. A trail to the south
4
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
opened up Clark and Messer ponds ; another, stretching away to the east, led over the highland to the upper end of Lake Pleasant.
There are unmistakable proofs that at some time previous to the advent of the white men these localities were favorite haunts of the Indians, though they had disappeared as a people prior to the earliest settlers. From the sand-bar on the Edmund Davis shore of Lake Sunapee were unearthed seven or eight arrowheads with quartz points, several pieces of Indian pottery, and chippings of quartz and flint, which have been preserved in Fred E. Longley's private collection. A valued relic from the easterly shore of Little Sunapee is an Indian gouge plowed up by Asa Ray. Three stone fireplaces, and other well-au- thenticated traces, would indicate a more or less permanent settlement on the easterly shore of Lake Pleasant, not far from the Scythe company's large tenement-house ; while near the outlet of Big brook, at the northerly corner of the same lake, is "Indian point," where there are five more fireplaces, and where the near-by intervale was cleared sufficiently to admit the planting of a little maize. John D. Pingree has a stone mortar-pestle, found near Lake Pleasant by George R. Mac- Farland, which, could it find words, might tell of hours of patient labor in the hands of Indian women ere the cakes of coarse meal were ready for the glowing coals. From the above- mentioned Indian point came two arrowheads,-one with a war point of quartz, the other tipped with flint for killing game. Mr. Longley found there also a perfect quartz spear-point and several chippings. On the Pingree farm, lying only a little west of this same Lake Pleasant, the earliest settler found a fireplace with ashes so fresh it seemed as though the red man had but just gone away, startled at the approach of his white brothers.
A circumstance which lends additional weight to the theory that this region was much frequented by the aborigines, dates back to 1746,-a period when the English frontier settlements were constantly harassed by bands of hostile Indians acting as allies of the French. In April of that year a party from the St. Francis tribe, which had its headquarters at the mouth of the St. Francis river, near the Canada line, and whither a remnant of the Penacooks had retired, attacked Woodwell's
5
PALEFACE PROPRIETORS.
garrison in Hopkinton and carried off eight captives, who were to be taken to Canada and there held for ransom. The thrill- ing story of the attack, and of the hurried flight through the valley of the Warner river to Kezar lake, Sutton, and Clark pond, New London, then along the easterly shore of Little Sunapee, and on towards the north and northwest till their destination was reached, has been set forth in heroic verse by C. C. Lord, Esq., of Hopkinton, and published under the title of "Mary Woodwell." Mary was one of the party of eight who made the journey over this route, and was ransomed after three years of captivity and untold hardship.
Such are some of the tokens of the aboriginal inhabitance of this region. That the northerly and easterly shores of the three lakes were the sites of such settlements as the red men made, and that the water-ways along the valleys were Indian thoroughfares, is certain, and it is not strange that in these same localities the Penacooks found temporary abodes, as inch by inch they were driven back from the lands of their fore- fathers. But the pioneer settlers of New London had nothing to fear from Indian incursions or depredations. There were no treaties to arrange, no bartering for the right of possession. The white men came, saw that the land was good, and then made the best terms possible with the grantees or lord proprie- tors. The former had received their title from the Masonian proprietors, who in 1746 had purchased from John Tufton Mason, a descendant of Capt. John Mason, all of the former's rights in the grant conferred by the Plymouth council to Cap- tain Mason in 1629.
Going back yet another step in search of the source of proprietary rights, the ownership is transferred to the king of England, who claimed it by right of the Cabot discoveries along the Massachusetts coast in 1497, though there had been discoveries and fruitless attempts at settlement by other nations covering a prior period of nearly 500 years. The English government, after several disheartening failures in its schemes of colonization, at length granted to the Plymouth company about 1610 the tract of land lying between the parallels of 38º and 45° and known as North Virginia. Captain Mason, by virtue of his services in the English navy and army, in 1629 received a grant or patent of the land " from the middle of the
6
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
" Pascataqua River, and up the same to the farthest head there- " of, and from thence northwestward until sixty miles from the " mouth of the harbor were finished ; also through Merrimack " river to the farthest head thereof, and so forward up into the " land westward, until sixty miles were finished; and from " thence to cross overland to the end of the sixty miles accounted " from Pascataqua River, together with all islands within five " leagues of the coast." In 1635 the Plymouth company, before surrendering their charter to the king, divided their property in New England among themselves, and a large sec- tion of the present state of New Hampshire fell to the lot of Captain Mason, who died in London in December of that same year.
The land lying between the Pascataqua and Merrimack rivers as defined in the grant of 1629, came into the possession of John Tufton Mason, and was by him sold to the association at Portsmouth termed the Masonian proprietors. When these began to issue grants, and it became necessary to settle the boundary lines of their territory, they claimed as the westerly limit of their patent a curved line starting from the point on the south line of the state which marked the finish of the sixty miles from the seacoast, and from thence crossing "overland to the end of the sixty miles accounted from Pascataqua River " on the east line of the state, this line describing at every point a radius of sixty miles from the coast. The patent line thus claimed was run by Robert Fletcher in 1768, and started from the south on the westerly line of Fitzwilliam ; thence running north and northeast, it terminated in Conway. A segment of this line later on marked the northwestern boundary of New London, for, among other grants of this territory issued by the Masonian proprietors, was one termed Alexandria Addi- tion,-a tract of land which, after undergoing sundry subtrac- tions and additions, forms the New London of to-day.
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