USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 B39 1148939
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 8830
E
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofbedford1737bedf
BEDFORD CENTER FROM BELL HILL.
HISTORY
OF
BEDFORD
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FROM 1737 1
1
BEING STATISTICS COMPILED ON THE OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN, MAY 15, 1900
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN
CONCORD, N. H. THE RUMFORD PRINTING COMPANY
1903
Notice by the Publishing Committee.
1850.
1148939
The undersigned, having completed the labors assigned them, present to the inhabitants of Bedford this volume, illustrative of their past history. They gratefully acknowledge the cooperation 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, grave- yard inscriptions, records in family Bibles, ancient newspaper 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 Geneal- ogies, 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 incalcula- ble importance. The only regret is that such a work was not com- menced at an earlier period, when much that is now lost was within the memory of some living. After all their endeavors 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 consequence whether they were or were not in exactly the right section. But the compilation, such as it is, is commended to the candor of the community.
PETER P. WOODBURY. THOMAS SAVAGE. WILLIAM PATTEN.
Notice by the Publishing Committee. 1903.
In accordance with the appointment made pursuant to a vote of the town, the undersigned undertook the labor of preparing and publishing a history of the town, which should supplement that pub- lished in 1851. Their effort has been to produce a book which might compare favorably with the excellent work of their predeces- sors. The book is intended to contain all the facts stated in the earlier edition, as well as such additional items of interest as have arisen since the publication of the former work.
They have gratefully to mention the assistance of Miss Mary E. Manning, Miss Martha R. Woodbury, Mrs. Lyman Kinson, Miss Evelyn Stevens, Mrs. Charles H. Woodbury, and Mr. George C. Gil- more in the preparation of some of the articles, and to all others who have shown a sincere interest in this work, they render the thanks of the town.
To Mr. George W. Fowler of Pembroke they also desire to par- ticularly express their thanks for the assistance he has rendered them in their work.
The genealogies have been furnished in most cases by representa- tives of the families concerned, and except when specified were compiled by Miss Mary E. Manning.
The illustrations are those of the oldest houses in town, so far as the committee have been able to ascertain the date of their erection. They are all pictures of houses built prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
In compiling the article on Fatal Casualties the committee have endeavored to enumerate all the events which should properly be described under this head, still some occurrences may not have been related ; if so the omission is unintentional.
The record of births, deaths, and marriages has been made up from the town records. They have been followed exactly except in cases where they have been known to be incorrect.
V
NOTICE BY THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
The record of the men of Bedford who enlisted in the army from other towns than Bedford is necessarily incomplete. So far as is possible all such names have been included, but there were men born and brought up in Bedford who enlisted elsewhere, and whose names the committee cannot now ascertain. The numbers on the map are situated in each school district as follows, inclusive :
District No. 1, 1-76
District No. 6,
235-277
2,
77-108
7, 278-314
3, 109-147
8, 315-348
4,
148-198
9, 349-389
66
5,
199-234
10,
390-410
The order of arrangement of the present history departs some- what from that adopted in the former edition of the book, but the committee has indulged the hope that the change is in the direction of improvement.
The services of the committee have been voluntary and without recompense, but the task of compiling and arranging the matter, while somewhat arduous, has for the most part proved exceedingly agreeable.
The story of the town's part in the greater work of the state and nation's history is not fully, cannot be fully, told. It is largely a silent record of men who cheerfully and promptly performed their public and private duties in a spirit of high determination to do well the work they had set their hands to do.
The reader must be wise enough to see between the lines many things which are beyond the power of the historian to portray.
Conscious that full justice has not been given to the work com- mitted to their care, they yet present this book to their fellow-towns- men in the confident expectation that they will be "to its faults a little blind, and to its virtues very kind."
That this book may be of aid to coming generations in an appre- ciation of what their fathers were and did, and that to their fellow- townsmen it may be a source of interest and improvement, is the hearty wish of the committee.
JOHN A. RIDDLE. WILLIAM M. PATTEN. QUINCY BARNARD. ARTHUR W. HOLBROOK. GORDON WOODBURY.
Table of Contents.
PAGE.
Centennial Celebration .
1
Address, Isaac O. Barnes .
.
7
Festivities of the Occasion
34
Letters Read
59
Historical Notices
72
Topography and Industries
72
Brickmaking
73
Fish and Wild Game
77
Streams and Ponds .
79
Bedford Men of Note
82
Indians on the Merrimack
83
Early Settlement
85
Origin of the Town .
90
Mason and Gorge's Claim
95
First Proprietors
100
Incorporation .
105
The Proprietors' Records
117
Roads, Landings, and Bridges Manchester & Milford Railroad
214
Bridges
221
Landings .
231
Piscataquog Village
232
Industries :
Mills
238
Tanneries and Cooper Shops
247
Blacksmith Shops
248
Cider Mills
250
Shoemaking
251
Stores
252
Spinning and Weaving
254
Pounds
256
220
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Taverns
258
The Church
263
Members, 1850
264
Members, 1904
268
Notes from Records .
271
Universalist Society .
274
Baptist Society
275
Ministry
Rev. John Houston .
Rev. William Pickles
294
Rev. David McGregore
298
Rev. Thomas Savage
311
Rev. Arthur Little .
320
Rev. Ira C. Tyson
321
Rev. Daniel H. Colcord
323 323
Rev. Charles H. Fields
324
Rev. William C. Lindsay
324
Rev. Albert P. Watson
325
The Meeting-house
326
Dedication of New Town Hall
337
Fiftieth Anniversary Church Dedication .
354
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration . Address, Rev. Ira C. Tyson
355 367 382
Ministerial Land .
389
Presbyterian Vestry
400 402 404
Bedford Messenger
405
Ladies' Social Circle
412 417
Schools
List of Teachers
433
College Graduates
446
Physicians of Bedford
448 462
The French War
466
The Revolutionary War Bedford Men in
480
498
War of 1812
502
Graveyards .
Parsonage Association
Music in Bedford
Lawyers of Bedford
277 281
Rev. Albert D. Smith
ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Militia
502
The Civil War
511
Bedford Men in
515
Spanish-American War
524
Extracts from Records
525
Societies of Bedford :
Agricultural Society
550
Lyceum Association .
552
The Grange
553
Lafayette Lodge of Masons Golden Cross Commandery
568
Slavery in Bedford
573
Changes in Manners and Customs
578
Early Settlement in Ohio .
588
Changes in Occupancy of Farms .
592
Fatal Casualties, etc.
634
Longevity .
645
Statistics of Taxation .
648
Invoice of 1750
656
1801
658
1850
662
1901
677
Population .
691
Vital Statistics :
Births
694
Marriages
738
Deaths
759
Town-meeting
783
Boards of Selectmen
784
Town Treasurers
788
Constables
789
Justices of the Peace
790
Moderators
792
Representatives
793
Town Clerks
794
Tax Collectors .
794
School Boards .
795
Library Trustees
796
Delegates to Constitutional Convention
796
567
Library
570
x
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Town-meeting :
Supervisors of Check-lists
797
Vote for Governor
797
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration .
801
Genealogies
821
Addenda
819, 1129
The History of 1903
1130
List of Illustrations.
Bedford Center from Bell Hill
The Grain Rock .
Frontispiece. . Opposite page 44 80
The Pulpit
Indian Rock
82
The Walker Monument
86
The Old Meeting-house
328
The New Town House
338
The New Meeting-house
357
The Old Graveyard
382
Center Graveyard and Vestry
384
Center Graveyard-west view
384
Joppa Graveyard
386
South Graveyard
388
Schoolhouses :
Districts 1 and 2
416
Districts 3 and 4
422
Districts 5 and 6 428
Districts 7 and 8
484
Districts 9 and 10
440
Old Houses :
Col. Daniel Moore House and Moore's Tavern . 480
Houston House and Riddle House 596
Walker House and Chandler House . 608
Holbrook House (Gilchrist Tavern) and Joppa Store 626
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, February 7, 1849, to take into consider- ation the approaching 19th of May, 1850; which completed a cen- tury from the incorporation of the town. Met according to notifica- tion.
Voted, Samuel Chandler, 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, Thomas Savage, and William Patten were appointed this committee.
At the annual March meeting, an article to this effect having been inserted in the warrant, the subject was presented, and received with the most cordial feelings by the inhabitants, and it was-
Voted, That they would celebrate the day, and that the same individuals, P. P. Woodbury, Thomas Savage, and William 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 appointed by the town of Bedford, at their last annual town-meeting, to carry into effect the commemoration of the 19th of May, 1850,-that being
2
2
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
one hundred years since its incorporation,-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 present and address the inhabitants of Bedford on the 19th of May, 1850,-being the hun- dredth anniversary of the incorporation 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, gen- tlemen, I accept with great reluctance and very many misgivings, because I am very sensible that the committee 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 pro- posed, 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, Thomas Savage, William Patten, Committee.
MEASURES PREPARATORY TO A HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
CENTENNIAL.
The inhabitants of Bedford, male and female, are requested 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, THOMAS SAVAGE, WILLIAM PATTEN, Committee.
April 30th, 1849. Met agreeably to notice; chose Samuel Chan- dler, Esq., president, and Dr. P. P. Woodbury, secretary.
Individuals were appointed to prepare genealogical and statistical accounts, as follows :
3
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
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 Deacon 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 them- selves responsible without such assignment.
B. F. Wallace was appointed to prepare a history of Piscataquog village. The selectmen, in connection with the town clerk, to give lists of town officers, representatives, population, valuation, taxation, support of paupers, bridges, etc. Rev. Thomas Savage was designated to prepare a history of the church and ministry, schools, etc. P. P. Woodbury, table of physicians. James Walker, table of attorneys. Adjourned to May 28, 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 con- templated celebration, calling meetings, making preparations, etc. 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, ap- pearing in the history of 1851.
At their annual meeting the town also voted $300 to meet the expenses of the publication, the money to be refunded to the town
4
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
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 chairman of the committee, at which meeting Samuel Chandler was chosen chair- man, and James Walker, secretary. Immediate 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, Moody M. Stevens,
Samuel Chandler, John French.
John McAllister, Theodore Goffe, John Patten,
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 J. Dow and G. W. Riddle.
6 .- Joseph H. Stevens.
7 .- John Barr. 8 .- L. C. French, 2d, and Thomas G. 'Holbrook.
9 .- Charles F. Shepard.
10 .- John Goffe.
11 .- Elijah 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 occa- sion, free of expense; and, also, that the several committees of arrangements invite all the inhabitants within their respective dis- tricts to contribute money and provisions for the occasion; and further, that the committee of invitations, P. P. Woodbury, T. Sav- age, 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 writ- ten.
5
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
May 22, 1850. The Sabbath previous (the 19th) was a pleasant and beautiful day. The Monday and Tuesday following were very rainy, but on the morning of the 22d, the sun rose with all his splen- dor and beauty, the day was remarkably 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, were arranged on the common immediately south of the town house. It was ex- pected to attend the exercises of the forenoon in the new Presbyte- rian church, but, in consequence of the number of people, nearly 3,000, it was found to be impracticable. 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 exer- cises 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.
III. HYMN. By Nathaniel Greene, Esq., of Boston.
Read by Rey. James T. Woodbury, of Acton, Mass.
O God, who heard our father's 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.
6
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
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., New York City.
V. READING OF PETITION AND TOWN CHARTER.
VI. PRAYER.
VII. PSALM LXXVIII.
By D. B. French, Dartmouth College. By the pastor, Rev. Thomas Savage. 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,
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 practice his commands.
VIII. ADDRESS. By Hon. Isaac O. Barnes, of Boston.
IX. ORIGINAL HYMN. By Miss Stevens, of 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, To 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.
7
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Heroic, brave, and true, In heaven alone their trust, Our fathers faced a savage foe, Nor deemed the act unjust.
The dark and deepening 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.
ADDRESS.
BY HON. ISAAC O. BARNES.
This is an occasion of unusual interest to all of us. It is an im- portant epoch, not only in the history of our town corporation, 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 infi- nitely 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 II 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 XV reigned in France, Pope Benedict in the Eternal City. Elizabeth was empress of Russia. Philip V was king of Spain, and Frederick the Great and Theresa, ruled with despotic sway in Aus- tria 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 unnat- ural. 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 St. Lawrence to the falls of St. Mary's,
-
8
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
and thence to the mouth of the Mississippi. The Jesuits were em- ployed 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 cru- elty 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 Ports- mouth merchant, William Vaughn, had planned this expedition ; George Whitefield, the celebrated English preacher, then in this state, had furnished this motto for the flag of the New Hampshire regi- ment, viz .: " Nil desperandum Christo duce." It was, in fact, a religious and an anti-Catholic crusade. So were all the inter-colo- nial wars in which our fathers were engaged on this continent. Hith- erto, England had been a second-rate power; now, since the death of Louis XIV 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 de- cided, once and always, whether the French and Catholicism, or the English and Protestantism, were to be in the ascendant, and control the destinies of this nation.
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