USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > Annals of Charlestown in the county of Sullivan, New Hampshire > Part 1
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Rev. JAAZANIAH CROSBY, D. D.
Annals of Charlestown
in the County of Sullivan, New Hampshire by =
JAAZANIAH CROSBY
Published by The NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1834
Reprinted by THE NOVELTY PRESS CHARLESTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE 1905
INTRODUCTORY
C HE writer of these Annals, published by "The New Hampshire Historical Society"in 1834, the Rev.Jaazaniah Crosby, was born in the town of "Cockermouth",now He- bron, on the 3rd. day of April 1780,in a log cabin, and work- ed hard on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old, when desirous of obtaining an education, he walked eighty miles to Exeter, where he entered Phillips Academy.
Here he studied two years on a charity foundation, and in 1800 entered Harvard College; graduating in 1804, partially supporting himself meanwhile, by writing in the office of the Clerk of the Courts.
Immediately after graduation he returned to Exeter, where he acted as assistant teacher for a year, and then commenced the study of theology under Rev. Dr. Appleton, then of Hampton, afterwards President of Bowdoin Col- lege. Here he came under the influence of Rev. Dr. Buck- minster of Portsmouth, by whom he was encouraged to pro- ceed, and assisted in his studies, and was finally licensed to preach in 1808, by the Piscataqua Association, Dr. Buck- minster acting as Scribe and writing his certificate of li- cense. He preached his first sermon at Greenland, and in 1809 preached for some months at Lyndeborough, and also at Freeport, Me., thence coming to Charlestown, where he
received a unanimous "call", and was installed in 1810 o- ver the South Parish.
Of a genial and sympathetic nature, he naturally fell much under the influence of Dr. Buckminster, and followed him in the new movement, which at the beginning of the last century, broke away from the severe Calvinism of the Puritans, and abjured the thunders of Sinai, for the milder teachings of the Mount of Olives. This genial nature and his sympathy with all their feelings and thoughts made him intensely popular with his parishioners, particularly with the younger ones, and he had an innate love of fun and merriment which endeared him to them especially, and he could tell a good story, and enjoy a good joke with any of them. The church which he describes in the Annals was for many years the only one in the village, and was always well filled, the people driving in from North Charles- town, South Charlestown, "Hemlock" and "the Borough", in big wagon loads every Sunday. One of my earliest recol- lections is of Deacon Sam Putnam's big Bass Viol, which before the purchase of an organ, filled a prominent part in "When rolling years shall cease to move", of grand old "Denmark".
Dr. Crosby never preached controversial sermons, and he says at the close of his "Annals" speaking of the religious character of Charlestown, "that the people did not care enough about religion to quarrel about it"! This state of peace continued until 1835, when a "Revival" largely instigated by people from other towns, resulted in the e- rection of a Methodist Church, which however only lasted a few years, and the building has been converted into ten- ements.
This was followed in 1839, by a Congregational So- ciety of the old fashioned Orthodox type, formed by some of the people who clung to the traditions of their fathers, and which is still in existence, as well as an Episcopal, and a Roman Catholic Society, made necessary by the changes in the population.
Dr. Crosby occasionally exchanged pulpits with the Unitarian ministers of Keene, Walpole and Dublin, but his most frequent exchange was with the good old Orthodox minister of Springfield, Father Smiley, who was wont to say, "Brother Crosby is in a greivous error; but I love Bro- ther Crosby." Father Smiley was a little dried up looking man, and a great contrast to Dr. Crosby's portly figure, and I remember the delight of the young folks, when he popped his head up in the pulpit one morning, and announced as his text, "I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley."
He had one favorite sermon, on The Prodigal Son, in which he described the older brother as "a good honest fellow out in the field, digging potatoes", and which "Aunt Polly" Bellows said she had heard seventeen times!
But this is not relevant to Dr. Crosby. - Personally as I have said he was rather portly, of medium height, with a large head, and a very high forehead, and a gener- ally benevolent expression. He had a habit when talking of crossing his hands on his chest, and rotating his thumbs a- bout each other which amused the children, of whom he was very fond; and another one of repeating in his prayers, petitions that the Lord would make his congregation, "a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Harvard College conferred on him the degree of Doc- tor of Divinity in 1853, forty nine years after his gradua- tion. On the 15th. of December, 1864, his parsonage was burned over his head, and although he escaped with his life, he died at the home of his son in Cambridge, Mass., from erysipelas, brought on by the shock, on the 30th. of Decem- ber.
His remains were brought to Charlestown, on the 3rd. of January, 1865, and were interred in the beautiful Cemetery, where they rest among those of the great ma- jority who had listened to his ministrations, and by whom he was respected and beloved.
The church which he describes in his Annals was de-
stroyed by fire in March 1842, and on the walls of its suc- cessor, whose dedicatory sermon he preached, can be seen the following tablet. -
Rev. JAAZANIAII CROSBY, D. D.
Born in Hebron, N. H., April 3, 1780 Graduated Harvard College 1804 Ordained Pastor of this Church 1810 Died in its ministry December 30, 1864
Surviving most of the members of his original parish, yet he renewed the circle of his friendship in his advancing years, and his parishioners, with other friends, have united to erect this Memorial of his worth and of their grateful affection.
The wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who publisheth Peace.
During the last ten years of his ministry, he was pro- vided with an assistant or Associate Pastor, the Rev. Ad- ams Ayer, Edward Barker, and Livingston Stone succeed- ing in that capacity.
SAMUEL WEBBER.
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SOUTH PARISH CHURCH, 1905
Annals of Charlestown
e CHARLESTOWN is situate in a delightful and fertile valley, bounded on the east by a range of high hills, and on the west by the Connecticut river. Although they have not, like the mountains and rivers of other regions, been made the theme of the poet's song, it requires but little aid from the imagination to believe them equally entitled to the same honor. But the portion of the town, peculiarly adapted to awaken the attention of the traveller, is the vil- lage. As he views it in its secluded loveliness, guarded by the barriers of mountain and river, he might pardonably fancy it secure from the vices, which contaminate the world without, and be ready to trace in its beauty, and its seeming peacefulness and innocence, a resemblance to an- cient Eden. But let him rest, when imagination shall have carried him thus far, lest, if his investigation proceed, he find that there are not impassable barriers against the evils and vices, which are the universal portion of mankind.
The village is situate between two meadows, called the upper and lower meadow. The former contains about two hundred acres, and the latter (called also the great meadow,) about five hundred. The soil of these is alluvial and exceedingly fertile in all kinds of produce, necessary to the sustenance of man and beast. There are other mead-
ows of different sizes, which, together with the two alread- y mentioned, contain about twelve hundred acres. The length of the town is about thirteen miles, and its breadth varies from three to four and a half miles. The number of inhabitants is about 1700, and has varied very little during the last twenty years.
The first settlement of Charlestown, originally called Number Four, (usually written No. 4,) was in 1740, under the authority of Massachusetts. The first account found in the records of the General Court of Massachusetts, relative to the settlement of the banks of the Connecticut, now called Charlestown, is a report of a committee, stating that it was expedient to lay out a range of towns from, or be- tween, the Merrimack and the Connecticut, and on each side of the last mentioned river. This report was made on the 15th of January, 1735, and was voted to be concurred in; but when the committee was appointed, or for what pur- pose, whether for that embraced in the report, or some oth- er, does not appear in the record of the report, nor is any clue to it to be found by a careful examination of a full in- dex, and of portions of the records, as far back as the year 1730. On the subsequent day, (Jan. 16, 1735,) in pursu- ance of the above report, and its acceptance, a committee was appointed to lay out the range of Towns.
On the 30th of November, 1736, is found in the records a report, purporting to be a further report of this commit- tee, begging leave to amend their first report in conse- quence of having found upon examination, subsequent thereto, of other grants and plans, that the lower town- ships as first reported, interfered with those laid out and designated by the name of the Ashuelot townships, which interference they had corrected in a plan of the townships accompanying the report, and submitted for the accept- ance of the General Court. This report as amended with the accompanying plan, was voted to be accepted. In the records, however, is found no mention of the first report; and neither of the reports, nor the accompanying plans,
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are to be found upon the files of the State Papers. In the amended report, which, as recorded, is very short, and merely referring to the plan, it appears that the townships were numbered successively from 1 to 9 inclusively; and that the committee had given hearing to applications for grants to persons, purposing to become settlers in four townships, and had appointed a time in the month of May next ensuing, for a hearing of applications for grants in the remaining townships. After this, the records are silent with respect to these townships, as far as shown by the index, until the year 1749, June 24, when a vote was passed for the raising of 100 men for the defence of the western frontiers, and in assigning the distribution and location of these, it is specified, that 25 of them should be posted at No. 4, which was the same now called Charles- town.
In June, 22d, 1750, in the bill voted for the establish- ment of forces and garrisons, fifteen men, including one captain and one sergeant, were voted for the post at No. 4.
In January, 23d, 1752, in a similar bill, passed for the establishment of forts and garrisons, the captain, one ser- geant and fifteen men were voted for the fort at No. 4, with a provision, that allowance should be made to them for billeting, 4s. 6d. per week for each man. In June 14th, 1753, it was voted to withdraw the garrison of ten men from No. 4, and Capt. Phinehas Stevens should be offi- cially requested to take charge of the arms and stores that were public property, and keep them safely for the use of the government. On the letter files is found a copy of a letter from the Secretary, Mr. Josiah Willard, to Capt. Stevens, requesting him to take this charge, as the gov- ernment had determined to withdraw the garrison. It would appear that this was afterward rescinded or sus- pended, probably in consequence of some remonstrance from the settlers of the town, since on the 24th of the ensuing January, that is, in 1754, there is a vote to the effect, that no more pay be granted to the garrison of ten
men at No. 4, and again directing that Capt. Stevens should be directed to take charge of the arms and stores. Hence, it would appear that the garrison had been main- tained several months at the expense of the province of Massachusetts, after the first vote to withdraw it. On what grounds this was done, does not appear from any- thing in the records, in the acts of the Court on file, or in the files of letters. The last vote, however, appears to have been carried into effect, though apparently not wise- ly; since on the 26th of November, of the same year, Gov. Shirley sent a special message to the House, to recommend to the consideration of the House the propriety and impor- tance of affording protection to No. 4, although the same was within the limits of New Hampshire; stating as the occasion of the message, the receipt of a petition presented by Capt. Phinehas Stevens and others, inhabitants of No. 4, praying for aid on account of their peculiar exposure to the assaults of the Indians. In this message Governor Shirley dwells on the importance of No. 4, as an advanced frontier post; and urges, as a motive, the conciliating of the favor of his Majesty, which he thought would be especially secured by their granting the aid solicited. From some reason or other, no proceedings were had upon this message, at least none appear on record till Jan. 9th, 1755, when, on consideration of the above petition, it was voted that Capt. Phinehas Stevens should be authorized by the Captain General to enlist fifteen men, to serve from the 15th of February to the 15th of October, next ensuing, or till his Majesty's pleasure should be known on the sub- ject, provided it were signified before said 15th of October.
The force, thus raised, was probably disbanded at the time assigned for the period of enlistment, since on the 15th of February, 1756, Gov. Shirley sent another message to the House in consequence of a petition from the inhabi- tants of No. 4, stating their apprehensions of an assault from a combined force of French and Indians, and that they had been disappointed in their expectation of aid and
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Eagle Hotel, Charlestown, New Hampshire
protection from their own government. The message recommends them to the attention of the General Court, and advises that the aid solicited should be granted. No immediate proceedings are recorded as ensuing on this message, nor is any further mention made till June 10th, of the same year, when it is recorded, that the General Court having received and considered the petition of John Spafford, in behalf of the inhabitants of No. 4, praying for aid and defence against the Indians, grant to him leave to enlist within the province ten men, to be in pay and sub- sistence of the province until their place should be sup- plied by Gov. Shirley, or until the further orders of the Court.
This force was accordingly raised; as on the 18th of April, 1757, appears a record of a vote to dismiss the garri- son of ten men kept by the province at No. 4, in case Lord Loudoun, then the commander in chief of the King's forces throughout all the provinces, should, as it was ex- pected he would do, station there a detachment of the Royal troops, for the protection of the inhabitants. After this, no further mention is made of No. 4 in the records of Massachusetts, save a very brief record a year or two sub- sequent, to "slight" the petition of the inhabitants of No. 4 for aid; no mention being made of the particulars of the petition, or the occasion of its presentation.
The first settlement of Charlestown was by three fam- ilies from Lunenburg, Massachusetts, by the name of Farnsworth. During twenty years the inhabitants suf- fered, with little intermission, from the ravages of the French and Indians; and, of course, became more familiar with the dangers of war than with the arts of husbandry. What have since been denominated the peaceful labors of the husbandman were then unknown, for the tranquility of the laborer was perpetually disturbed by the apprehen- sion of savage incursions. Instead of enjoying the privi- lege of sitting under his vine and fig tree, with none to make him afraid, he was obliged to go forth to his labors
with the implements of war as well as with those of hus- bandry. Even in the temple of the God of peace the wor- shipper was compelled to appear with the weapons of war.
In 1743, the inhabitants of No. 4, began to consult their safety by erecting a fort. It was situate a few rods south of the meeting house, in front of the late residence of Dr. David Taylor. It covered about three-quarters of an acre and was protected on the north by picket posts, about one foot in diameter and fourteen feet high. From the house of Simon Sartwell, near the meeting house, was dug a sub- terranean passage, leading to Col. Abel Walker's cellar, and thence to the fort.
The first depredations by the enemy on the borders of New Hampshire were made early in the spring of 1746. No. 4 was then, and long after, the northern frontier, and of course exposed to peculiar sufferings. On the 19th of April in the above named year a party of Indians appeared at No. 4, burnt the saw and grist mill and captured John Spafford, Isaac Parker and Stephen Farnsworth. The captives were conveyed to Canada, but soon obtained their freedom.
In the beginning of May the enemy returned to No. 4, and on the second day, while a few people were near a barn about sixty rods from the fort, eight Indians, who had concealed themselves in the barn, fired upon the party and killed Seth Putnam, one of the foldiers belonging to the fort. Major Josiah Willard, the commander of the garrison, with two soldiers, ran near to them undiscovered and fired upon them, which caused them to retreat in great haste. The Indians reported to the prisoners in Canada, that at this time two of their number were mortally wounded and died soon after.
Another contest took place on the 24th of May. Capt. Paine from Massachusetts, having arrived with a troop of horse, about twenty of his men went 50 or 60 rods from the fort to view the place where Putnam was killed, and before they discovered the enemy, they were attacked by
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SOUTH PARISH CHURCH, completed 1798
a large body of Indians, who immediately endeavored to cut off their communication with the fort. Captain Stev- ens, the commander of the garrison, came out with a body of men for their relief and a severe action ensued, which continued a considerable time. At last the enemy fled; and, as was supposed, with considerable loss. Stevens lost Aaron Lyon, Peter Perrin, Samuel Farnsworth, Joseph Allen and Joseph Marcy. Obadiah Sartwell was captured and four of his men were wounded. The Indians in their haste left some of their guns and blankets.
In the same year, on the 19th of June, a large body of the enemy again appeared at No. 4. Capt. Stevens and Capt. Brown, marching with about 50 men from the fort into a meadow, discovered the enemy in ambush, before they had time to fire. Stevens began the attack, and a severe action was fought. The enemy were repulsed. Stevens lost none on the spot, but Jedidiah Winchell was mortally wounded and died soon after. David Parker, Jonathan Stanhope and Noah Heaton were wounded, but recovered. "Several blankets, hatchets, spears, guns, etc., were left on the ground, which were sold for forty pounds old tenor."
A party of the enemy again appeared at No. 4 on the 3d day of August. Suspicions of their appearance were ex- cited by the barking of dogs. Scouts were sent out from the fort, and had proceeded but a few rods, before they were attacked and Ebenezer Phillips was killed. The resi- due effected their escape to the fort. The enemy sur- rounded the garrison and endeavored for three days to take it, but finding their efforts ineffectual they withdrew, after having burnt several buildings and killed all the cat- tle, horses, etc., within their reach.
In the summer of 1746 Capt. Ephraim Brown, from Sudbury, arrived with a troop of horse to relieve Capt. Josiah Brown. The Sudbury troop tarried about a month, at the end of which they were relieved by a company, commanded by Capt. Winchester, who defended the place
till autumn, when the inhabitants, fatigued with watching and weary of the dangers of the forest, deserted the place entirely for about two or three months. During this re- cess the Indians and French were so ice-bound in Canada that the frontiers suffered only in apprehension. In March, 1747, Capt. Phinehas Stevens, who commanded a ranging company of about 30 men, marched to No. 4 and took possession of the fort. He found it uninjured by the enemy and an old spaniel and a cat, which had been domesticated before the evacuation, had guarded it safely through the winter, and gave the troops a hearty welcome to their tenement.
Finding the post entire, Captain Stevens determined to keep possession of it. He had not been there many days when he was attacked by a very large party of French and Indians, commanded by M. Debeline. On the 7th of April, 1747, "our days being very much disturbed, gave us reason to think that the enemy were about, which occasioned us not to open the gate at the usual time. But one of our men being very desirous to know the certainty ventured out privately to set on the dogs about 9 o'clock in the evening, and went about twenty rods from the fort, firing off his gun and urging on the dogs. Whereupon the enemy, being within a few rods, immediately arose from behind a log and fired; but, through the goodness of God, the man got into the fort with only a slight wound. The enemy, being then discovered, arose from all their ambushments and attacked us on all sides. The wind being very high and everything exceedingly dry they set fire to all the old fence. They also set fire to a log house about forty rods distant from the fort, to the windward, so that in a few minutes we were entirely surrounded by fire, all which was performed with the most hideous shouting from all quarters, which they continued in the most terrible man- ner till the next day at 10 o'clock at night, without inter- mission, in which time we had no opportunity either to eat or sleep. But notwithstanding all their shouting and
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EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1905
threatenings our men seemed to be not in the least daunt- ed, but fought with great resolution, which undoubtedly gave the enemy reason to think we had determined to stand it out to the last degree, and, although they had pro- vided themselves with a sort of fortification, which they had determined to push before them, and so bring fuel to the side of the fort in order to burn it down; yet, instead of performing what they threatened, and seemed to be immediately going to undertake, they called to us and de- sired a cessation of arms until sunrise the next morning, which was granted; at which time they said they would come to a parley. Accordingly the French General, Debeline, came with about 50 or 60 of his men with a flag of truce, and stuck it down within about 20 rods of the fort, in plain sight of the same, and said if we would send three men to him he would send as many to us, to which we complied. The General sent a French lieutenant, with a French soldier, and made the following proposal, viz .: If we would immediately resign the fort we should have our lives, and have liberty to put on all the clothes we had and also take a sufficient quantity of provisions to carry us to Montreal, and bind up our provisions and blankets, lay down our arms and march out of the fort; and that we should be assured of using our clothes and provisions for our own comfort. Upon our men's returning he desired that the captain would meet him half way and give an an- swer to the above proposal. He did not wait to have me give him an answer, but went on in the following manner, viz .: That what he had promised he was ready to per- form, but upon our refusal he would immediately set the fort on fire, or run over the top; for he had 700 men with him; and if we made any further resistance and should happen to kill one Indian, we might all expect to be put to the sword. The fort, said he, I have resolved to have or die. Now do what you please, for I am as easy to have you fight as to give it up. I told the General that in case of extremity his proposal would do; but inasmuch as I was
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