USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New-Hampshire, being statistics, compiled on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town; May 19th, 1850 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 B39h 1136779
M.L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 8863
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofbedford00bedf_0
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MERR
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MANCHESTER
MAP of the Town of BEDFORD, N.H.
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HISTORY
OF
BEDFORD, NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
слова Медаль Ванда STATISTICS,
COMPILED ON THE OCCASION
OF THE
ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN ;
May 19th, 1850.
BOSTON : PRINTED BY ALFRED MUDGE, No. 21 SCHOOL STREET. 1851.
NOTICE BY THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
1136779
THE undersigned, having completed the labors assigned them, present to the inhabitants of Bedford this volume, illustrative of their past history. They gratefully ac- knowledge the co-operation, in this work, of the citizens generally, and their cheerful assistance in collecting materials, furnishing information and fixing dates. The Committee have also availed themselves of the town- books - graveyard inscriptions -records in family bibles - ancient newspapers, and manuscript journals : wherever they have resorted to published works, they have given credit, accordingly, in the proper place.
If under some heads, as the Centennial Celebration and Genealogies, there may appear to the reader to be too much minuteness of detail, it should be remembered, that what may now seem to be small items, may in fifty or one hundred years hence, be of incalculable importance. The only regret is, that such a work was not commenced at an earlier period, when much that is now lost was
1V
NOTICE BY THE COMMITTEE.
within the memory of some living. After all their endeav- ors to attain accuracy, it is feared some errors will be found in dates and names, as is almost unavoidable in a work like the present. In the order of arrangement, too, some matter may seem to come in anomalously, being introduced in one part, when it properly belongs to another part of . the volume. But it was hoped -if the important facts were given-it would not be viewed of much conse- quence whether they were or were not in exactly the right section. But the compilation, such as it is, is com- mended to the candor of the community.
PETER P. WOODBURY, THOMAS SAVAGE, WILLIAM PATTEN.
CONTENTS.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION :=
Page.
Preliminary Arrangements,.
9
Measures preparatory to a History of the Town,.
11
Order of Procession,
14
Order of Exercises,
14
Address,.
17
Festivities of the Occasion,
52
HISTORICAL NOTICES OF BEDFORD :-
Topographical Notices of the Town,
97
Origin of the Township,
100
Indians on Merrimac River,
102
Settlement of the Town,
106
French War,.
121
Revolutionary War,
123
Changes in Manners and Customs,
133
SKETCH OF THE CHURCH AND MINISTRY :-
Ministry
138
Church,.
159
Meeting-Houses, .
162
GRAVEYARDS, SCHOOLS, BRIDGES, REMARKABLE EVENTS, &C. :
Graveyards,
172
Schools,
174
Bridges,
176
Pounds,
178
Mills,
179
-
vi
CONTENTS.
Fatal Casualties, Remarkable Cases of Preservation, &c. 181 Extracts from Hon. Matthew Patten's Journal, 184 Notices of Changes in the Occupancy of Farms in the past and present times, 187
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS :-
1
Physicians who have Practised in Bedford,. 198
Lawyers, . . 199
Sacred Music,. 200 Hops, 203
Fish, Wild Game, etc., 204
Population of Bedford, 206
Bills of Mortality for the last Twenty-five Years, 207
Longevity, 207
Marriages, 208
Graduates of Colleges,. 213
Town Officers,. 214
Justices of the Peace and of the Quorum,. 223
Coroners,
228
Military Statistics, 229
SKETCH OF PISCATAQUOG VILLAGE, 234
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :-
Col. John Goffe, 242
Major John Goffe, 246
Rev. Joseph Goffe,. 247 Dea. John Holbrook, 254
Hon. John Orr 254
Hon. Benjamin Orr, 258
Rev. Isaac Orr,. 263
William Parker, Esq., 266 Hon. Matthew Patten, 268
David Patten, Esq.
268
John Rand, Esq. 269
Isaac Riddle, Esq., 271
Hon. John Vose,. 272
John Wallace, Esq., 273
Aunt Sprague, 275
vii
CONTENTS.
GENEALOGIES OF OLD BEDFORD FAMILIES :
Abbott,
278
Adams,
279
Aiken,.
279
Atwood,
284
Barnes,
286
Barr,
289
Barron
290
Bell,
291
Boynton,
292
Burns,
293
Chandler,
294
Darrah,
297
Dole, or McDole,
298
Furguson
299
French,
300
Gage,
306
Goffe,
306
Gordon,
308
Hall,
310
Hogg,
311
Holbrook,
311
Jenness,
312
Mack,
313
Manning,
313
McAffee,
314
Mclaughlin,
315
McQuesten,
316
Martin,
316
Moore,.
317
Orr,
320
Parker,
323
Patten,
324
Prichard, 326
Rand,.
326
Riddle,
327
Spofford, 334
Shepard,
335
-
1
viii
CONTENTS.
Smith,
337
Stevens
338
Swett,
339
Vosc,. 340
Walker,.
341
Wallace,
344
Woodbury,
348
APPENDIX,
355
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE
TOWN OF BEDFORD, N. H.
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.
NOTICE was given publicly by advertisement and from the pulpit, that a meeting of the inhabitants of Bedford would be held at the Town-House, on Wednesday, Feb. 7th, 1849, to take into consideration the approaching 19th of May, 1850 ; which completed a Century from the incorporation of the town. Met according to notification.
Voted, - Samuel Chandler, Esq., Chairman of the meeting, and Dr. P. P. Woodbury, Secretary.
After discussing for some time the subject of the call, it was thought expedient to commemorate the day by a public address - and such other exercises as may be thought best at some future day.
Voted, - That a Committee of three be appointed by the chairman to have the subject brought before the town, by an article in the warrant for the annual town-meeting, in March next, and address the citizens on the subject at that time ; P. P. Woodbury, Thos. Savage and William Patten, were appointed this committee.
At the annual March meeting, an article to this effect hav- ing been inserted in the warrant, the subject was presented, and received with the most cordial feelings by the inhabitants, and it was-
2
10
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Voted, - That they would celebrate the day, -and that the same individuals, P. P. Woodbury, Thos. Savage and W. Patten, be a committee to carry the same into effect.
The committee met at Dr. Woodbury's, March 23d, 1849. After consultation, it was agreed to direct the following letter : -
Bedford, March 23d, 1849.
ISAAC O. BARNES, Esq.
Dear Sir : - The undersigned, being a committee ap- pointed by the town of Bedford, at their last annual town- meeting to carry into effect the commemoration of the 19th May, 1850, - that being one hundred years since its incor- poration ; - We hereby respectfully invite you to address the inhabitants of Bedford, on that occasion.
The materials for such an address are abundant.
Yours Respectfully, PETER P. WOODBURY, THOMAS SAVAGE, WILLIAM PATTEN.
Boston, March 27th, 1849.
Gentlemen :- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23d inst., inviting me to be pres- ent and address the inhabitants of Bedford on the 19th May, 1850, - being the hundredth anniversary of the incor- poration of that town.
Although I am highly flattered by the kind partiality which has prompted you to extend to me this invitation, yet I assure you, gentlemen, I accept with great reluctance and very many misgivings, because I am very sensible, that the com- mittee could have confided the task to much abler men- natives of our town. Yet, under all the circumstances, I am constrained to comply with your request, and will, if I have the ability to do so, be with you on the day proposed, and discharge, as well as I may, the obligation which this call imposes upon me.
I remain, Gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
ISAAC O. BARNES.
Messrs, P. P. Woodbury,
Thos. Savage, Committee.
William Patten,
11
OF THE TOWN OF BEDFORD, N. H.
MEASURES PREPARATORY TO A HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
CENTENNIAL.
The inhabitants of Bedford, Male and Female, are request- ed to meet at their Town-House, Monday, 30th of April, next, at 2 o'clock, P. M., to see what measures shall be adopted to celebrate the 19th May, 1850.
P. P. WOODBURY, THOS. SAVAGE, WILLIAM PATTEN,
Committee.
April, 30th, 1849. - Met agreeably to notice : chose Sam- uel Chandler, Esq., President, and Dr. P. P. Woodbury, Secretary.
Individuals were appointed to prepare Genealogical and Statistical accounts, as follows :-
To Rodney Mclaughlin, was assigned the history of the Barron and Martin families.
Ann Orr, -history of the Orr family.
Isaac Riddle, - history of the Dea. Aiken family.
Samuel Chandler, - history of the Smith family.
Moody M. Stevens, -history of the Moore and Elijah Chandler family.
William P. Riddle, - history of the Riddle and Aiken family.
John Goffe, -history of the Goffe family.
Joshua Vose, Jr., - history of the Vose family.
James Walker, -history of the Walker family.
Gardner Nevins, - history of the Barnes family.
P. P. Woodbury, - history of the Gordon family. David Atwood, - history of the Bell family.
Cyrus W. Wallace, -history of the Wallace family.
Daniel Moore, -history of the Burns family.
Samuel Abbott, - history of the Abbott and Rand family.
The above families were thus assigned, because they had become extinct in town, or had no representatives that would feel themselves responsible without such assignment.
12
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
B. F. Wallace, was appointed to prepare a History of Piscat- aquog Village. The Selectmen, in connexion with the Town Clerk, to give lists of town Officers, Representatives, Popu- lation, Valuation, Taxation, Support of Paupers, Bridges, &c., &c. Rev. Thomas Savage, was designated to prepare a History of the Church and Ministry, Schools, &c. P. P. Woodbury, table of Physicians. James Walker, table of Attornies. Adjourned to May 28th, 1849.
May 28th, 1849. - Met according to adjournment. Chose P. P. Woodbury, T. Savage and W. Patten, a Committee to petition the Selectmen to have the subject brought before the Town, for their action.
The subject was brought before the Town at their next meeting, and the Town directed the same Committee, viz .- Woodbury, Savage and Patten, to do what they should think best, in regard to the contemplated celebration ; calling meetings, making preparations, &c., &c. Also, the town ordered the Selectmen to employ some one to make a map of the town, by actual survey, and have a lithographic im- pression of the same, to be attached to the contemplated History of the Town, by the above Committee.
(The survey was made, and the map drawn by B. F. Wallace, Esq., - see copy annexed. )
At their annual meeting, the town also voted $300, to meet the expenses of the publication ; the money to be refunded to the town after the sale of the books. At this meeting, also, the town still directed the above committee to procure and have the necessary arrangements made, for the centennial.
April 28th, 1850. - A meeting was called by the Chair- man of the Committee, at which meeting, Samuel Chandler was chosen Chairman, and James Walker, Secretary. Imme- diate arrangements were made for the celebration.
The following gentlemen were chosen to act on the occasion :-
President of the day.
PETER P. WOODBURY.
Vice Presidents.
THOMAS CHANDLER, JOHN MCALLISTER,
MOODY M. STEVENS, SAMUEL CHANDLER, JOHN FRENCH,
THEODORE GOFFE,
JOHN PATTEN.
13
OF THE TOWN OF BEDFORD, N. H.
Committee of Arrangements.
District, No 1. - Leonard C. French.
2. - Willard Parker and Daniel Moore.
3. - Isaac Darrah and John Patten.
4. - John Adams and Adam Chandler. 5. - Andrew Dow and G. W. Riddle.
6. - Joseph H. Stevens.
7. - John Barr.
8. - L. C. French, 2d, and Thos. Holbrook.
9. - Charles F. Shepard.
10. - John Goffe.
11. - Eljiah C. Stevens.
12. - Gardner Nevins.
13. - Rodney Mclaughlin.
14. - James Walker.
Union District. - Simon Jenness.
The 19th of May coming on the Sabbath, it was concluded to have the celebration on the 22d; it was further decided to supply the tables with meats and other refreshments, suitable for the occasion, free of expense ; and, also, that the several Committees of Arrangements invite all the inhabitants within their respective districts, to contribute money and provisions for the occasion ; and further, that the Committee of Invita- tions, -P. P. Woodbury, T. Savage and W. Patten, -invite all absent friends and natives of the town, with others, at their discretion. More than three hundred printed cards of invitation were forwarded, and many more that were written.
May 22d, 1850 .- The Sabbath previous, (the 19th) was a pleasant and beautiful day ; the Monday and Tuesday follow- ing were very rainy ; but on the morning of the 22d, the sun rose with all his splendor and beauty, the day was remark- ably fine and brilliant, and this is the more worthy of note, as several days after the 22d, were rainy, causing the remark to be made - that Providence seemed to give us one delightful day, among a number that were unfavorable. As early as 8 o'clock, A. M., the people began to assemble. On the Satur- day previous, the tables, - with a platform for the speakers, elevated about four feet, with an area of twenty feet square, -
14
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
were arranged on the common immediately south of the town house. It was expected to attend the exercises of the fore- noon in the new Presbyterian Church ; but, in consequence of the number of people, nearly 3000, it was found to be im- practicable. The procession having reached Dr. Woodbury's, there received the President of the day, Vice-presidents, Orator, Chaplain, and Committee of Arrangements. It then made a circuit near the church and back to the common, where the company took their appropriate seats, attended with martial music. The following is the order of procession, and of the exercises of the day :-
Bedford Centennial.
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
The Procession will form precisely at 10 o'clock, at the Presbyterian Church.
AID. CHIEF MARSHAL. AID.
AID. PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. AID. ORATOR, AND CHAPLAIN.
VICE PRESIDENTS, AND READERS OF THE CHARTERS.
COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
INVITED GUESTS.
CITIZENS GENERALLY.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
- I. VOLUNTARY FROM THE CHOIR.
II. INVOCATION AND READING OF SCRIPTURE, BY REV. CYRUS W. WALLACE.
15
OF THE TOWN OF BEDFORD, N. H.
III. HYMN,-BY NATHANIEL GREENE, ESQ., BOSTON.
READ BY REV. JAMES T. WOODBURY, OF ACTON, MASS.
O God, who heard our fathers' prayer For liberty and life - Who ruled the Elemental war, And shielded them from strife - To Thee we bend, to Thee we raise, With grateful hearts, the hymn of praise.
Thou, whom our fathers fled to serve, Who didst their steps sustain, When they their trembling hearts did nerve To seek this far domain - To Thee their children bend, and raise, With grateful hearts, the hymn of praise.
God of our fathers, hear us now, Incline thine ear, we pray, And mercy to their children show, Assembled here to-day, While they, to Thee, attempt to raise, With grateful hearts, this hymn of praise.
IV. READING OF THE CHARTER FOR NARRAGANSETT, NO. V. BY JAMES W. SAVAGE, ESQ., N. Y. CITY.
V. READING OF PETITION AND TOWN CHARTER, BY D. B. FRENCH, DART. COLLEGE.
VI. PRAYER, - BY THE PASTOR, REV. THOMAS SAVAGE.
VII. PSALM LXXVIII. READ BY REV. THOMAS SAVAGE.
(Tune, " St. Martins." Congregation will unite with the Choir.)
Give ear ye children to my law, Devout attention lend ; Let the instructions of my mouth, Deep in your hearts descend.
My tongue by inspiration taught, Shall parables unfold, Dark oracles, but understood And own'd for truths of God,
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Which we from sacred registers, Of ancient times have known ; And our forefathers' pious care, To us has handed down.
Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs - That generations yet unborn, May teach them to their heirs.
Thus shall they learn, in God alone, Their hope securely stands - That they may ne'er forget his works, But practise his commands.
VIII. ADDRESS, - BY HON. ISAAC O. BARNES, OF BOSTON.
IX. ORIGINAL HYMN, - BY MISS STEVENS, BEDFORD. READ BY REV. STEPHEN T. ALLEN, OF NEW YORK CITY. Tune, " Lisbon."
Roll back, thou tide of time, Nor let thy pace be slow, And place us where our fathers stood A hundred years ago.
Theirs was a thorny way, A rugged path they trod ; Theirs too, a noble courage was, To dare so wild a road.
Heroic, brave and true, In Heaven alone their trust, Our fathers faced a savage foe, Nor deemed the act unjust :
The dark and deepning shade Of forests bending low, O'er hill and dale was densely spread A hundred years ago.
To-day, with grateful hearts, Their memories we recall- Commemorate departed worth, To God ascribing all.
X. BENEDICTION, - BY REV. SAMUEL ABBOTT, OF ANTRIM, N. H.
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ADDRESS.
ADDRESS :
BY HON. ISAAC 0. BARNES.
THIS is an occasion of unusual interest to all of us. It is an important epoch, not only in the history of our town cor- poration, but of the nation, and even of the world, which can scarcely be passed in silence, or regarded indifferently. It is a point of time, when all seem inclined to pause and review, as carefully and as much as it may be done, the events of the past.
The end of the present year completes a period of one hundred years, comprising the last half of the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth centuries ; and it may be well said to have been infinitely more eventful than any other equal portion of time since the apostolic age. One hundred years ago, Europe, -enlightened, refined, intellectual Europe, - had scarcely emerged from barbarism. George the Second sat upon the throne of England. The bloody massacre of Culloden had just been enacted; and had released the then new House of Hanover from further fear of the return of the Stuarts. Louis the Fifteenth reigned in France. Pope Benedict, in the eternal city. Elizabeth was Empress of Russia. Philip the Fifth was King of Spain ; and Frederick the Great, and Theresa ruled, with despotic sway, in Austria and Germany.
The population of Great Britain was not half as large as that of the United States is now. The whole number of British colonial subjects, on this continent, including those upon the adjacent islands, was less than three millions. There was no such nation as the United States; there were, instead, a few feeble and unimportant English colonies, made up of exiles from the mother country ; having fled hither to escape persecutions, the most cruel, vindictive and unnatural. These colonists were still struggling with poverty, and still alarmed by constant incursions of the yet unconquered savage. The Canadas and Louisiana belonged to the French. That adroit and ambitious nation, had, long before, established a line of missionary stations from the gulf of the 3
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
St. Lawrence to the falls of St. Mary's, and thence to the mouth of the Mississippi : the Jesuits were employed as their agents, -an order of the Roman Catholic Church most efficient and most faithful to their engagements. It is true, at that time, the mission-house had declined, and given place to the military garrison ; but the subsequent conduct of the savage, along the French frontier, proved, but too clearly, that he had been taught to hate the English, and stimulated to the most ferocious deeds of cruelty on our borders. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, concluded only two years before, in 1748, while it was said to have secured only a "hollow peace " to Europe, really afforded no safety whatever to the British colonists here.
A hundred years ago, the New Hampshire troops had just returned gloriously triumphant from the capture of Louisburg. A Portsmouth merchant, William Vaughn, had planned this expedition ; Geo. Whitfield, the celebrated English preacher, then in this State, had furnished this motto for the flag of the New Hampshire regiment, viz: " Nil desperandum Christo duce." It was, in fact, a religious, and anti-Catholic crusade. So were all the inter-colonial wars, in which our fathers were engaged, on this continent. Hitherto, England had been a second-rate power ; now, since the death of Louis the Fourteenth, the splendor of the Court of St. Cloud began to pale : the relative strength of the two kingdoms had just been subjected to a severe test, - the French had failed to restore Charles Edward, the grandson of the renegade James, to the throne of his ancestors, - Catholic supremacy on the island of Great Britain was at an end. Soon the great struggle, on this continent, between these mighty antagonists was to come: the tempting prize was all the rich alluvial lands in the great valley of the Mississippi. It was soon to be decided, once and always, whether the French and Cathol- icism, or the English and Protestanism, were to be in the ascendant, and control the destinies of this nation.
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