USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Exeter > Men and things of Exeter. Sketches from the history of an old New Hampshire town > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01187 9126
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MEN AND THINGS OF EXETER. SKETCHES FROM THE HISTORY OF AN OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN.
EXETER : ONE HUNDRED COPIES, PRINTED AT THE NEWS-LETTER PRESS.
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NOTE.
This fragment is made up of a series of hastily written articles which appear- ed in the columns of the Exeter NEWS- LETTER, in 1871. A few copies were printed in this form for presentation to the writer's friends.
The sketches make no pretensions to any merit except truthfulness and accu- racy, and are merely materials towards the complete history of Exeter, which it is hoped may make its appearance be- fore the present generation passes off the stage.
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MEN AND THINGS OF EXETER.
I.
INTRODUCTORY AND OUTLINEAR.
The earliest permanent settlement of New Hampshire, by Europeans, was made at Little Harbor, now within the limits of Rye, and at Dover Point, in 1623. How soon afterwards the more ad- venturous of the "fishermen and traders" who constituted the early population there, explored the river as far upward as the falls of Squamscott, we have no record. There is a distinct tradition, however, that there were residents in Exeter before the arrival of Wheelwright and his followers from Massachusetts in 1638. Whether they were occupying un- der the deed of the Indian sagamores of 1629 to Wheel wright, or whether the alleg- ed deed of that date is spurious, are questions which need not be discussed here.
Rev. John Wheelwright, a friend and fellow collegian of Oliver Cromwell, who had been vicar of Bilsby in Lincolnshire,
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England, brought his family to this country in 1636, landing in Boston. The next year he was banished from the col- ony of Massachusetts, on account of al- leged "antinomian and familistic" reli- gious opinions ; and in the spring of 1638 established himself, with several persons who were driven from Massachusetts for the same cause, with a number of his former friends and parishioners from England, and with others of whom we have no definite previous knowledge, at the falls of Squamscott; to which he gave the name of Exeter. »
Mr. Wheelwright at once gathered a church here, and became its minister. He also drew up a form of civil govern- ment, which was essential for the peace and good order of the infant settlement, as the laws of Massachusetts were not in force here, and New Hampshire had as yet no laws. The instrument drawn by Wheelwright was styled a"combination," and was signed by the heads of families, and inhabitants. It was modified after a time, and re-adopted in its primary form in 1640, as appears by the original instrument of that date, in the handwrit- ing of Wheelwright, and signed by him and thirty-four others, now preserved in the Town Clerk's office.
Wheelwright's church, which was, of course a primitive structure and of small dimensions, was situated on the hill North of the house of Richard Bliss, Esq. and near the brick and tile manufactory of Wiggin and Dolloff. It was the faslı- ion of that day to make a burial ground of the yard which surrounded the church; and for many years it has been common to find the bones of the early
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settlers of Exeter in the clay excavated for the manufactory. Wheelwright's house is located by tradition, a little southwest of the church ; in the field in rear of the house occupied by the Miss Rowlands. The first minister of Exeter remained here but about four years, when, upon the extension of the juris- diction of Massachusetts over the settle- ments of New Hampshire, he removed with some of his warmest supporters, to Wells in Maine.
The people of New Hampshire remain- ed under the government of Massachu- setts until 1680. During that period, Ex- eter was a place of little political impor- tance, not being once represented in the "great and general court," as were Do- ver, Portsmouth and Hampton nearly every year. Yet the material interests of the people were steadily on the increase here, and there were valuable accessions to the population. When John Cutt was appointed the first governor of the prov- ince, Exeter furnished him one of his ablest councillors, in the person of John Gilman.
Then came the eventful period of the Indian hostilities, in which Exeter, be- ing on the frontier, was for a series of years greatly exposed to the incursions of the savages. Many of her citizens lost their lives, and others were carried into captivity, during this trying period of her history.
Exeter partook largely of the popular indignation that was aroused in the prov- ince by the tyrannical conduct of Gov. Cranfield ; and, at a later date, was the scene of a rather serious outbreak against the crown officials, for attempting with a
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high hand to enforce the laws against persons charged with trespassing upon the forest pines marked for masts for his majesty's navy.
The earlier half of the eighteenth cen- tury was a severe test of the pluck and endurance of the inhabitants of New Hampshire. We learn that the winters were often of unusual length and severi- ty. The labors of the husbandmen met with but scanty returns, and the domes- tic animals were terribly reduced in numbers by the extreme cold and the want of food. Exeter must have suffer- ed greatly, in these years ; though, as the business of her people was not exclu - sively agricultural, she probably escaped with less injury than some of the neigh- boring towns.
After the extension of the settlements of New Hampshire, which followed the close of the French war, there was a time of greater prosperity. Exeter, during the administration of the last royal gov- ernor, was a thriving and important town. Gov. Wentworth, who was fond of parade, encouraged the formation of a batallion of cadets here, officered by the leading citizens, and armed and uni- formed in the handsomest style, accord- ing to the governor's taste. Some of his Excellency's warmest and most trusted friends were residents here.
But when the first mutterings of the storm that led to revolution and inde- pendence were heard, the men of Exeter ranged themselves at once on the side of the colonists. And throughout the times that tried men's souls, our town was the headquarters of the State, in both civil and military matters.
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II.
PRE-REVOLUTIONARY.
The feeling inspired in the breasts of the people of Exeter, by the oppressive acts of the British parliament which led to the American Revolution, found utter- ance in a series of patriotic resolutions, adopted "almost unanimously," at a town meeting, in January, 1774. After specifying, in indignant terms, the griev- ances of the colonists, the town concen- trated their views into the resolve,- ""That we are ready, on all necessary oc- casions, to risk our lives and fortunes in defence of our rights and liberties." These were bold words, but they were supported by acts of equal boldness, as we shall see.
The two most obnoxious of the British ministers, Lords North and Bute, were burnt in effigy, in front of the old jail, which stood where the house of N. K. Leavitt, Esq. now is. We can imagine the exultation of the liberty-boys at a demonstration so expressive and deci- sive. In September, 1774, when the in- habitants of Boston were reduced to sore straits by the operation of the Boston post bill, our town imposed a tax, asses- sed in regular form, upon the citizens, and to be enforced by distraint, to raise money to relieve them.
But in December of the same year, the men of Exeter were called upon to put to the proof their principles of resistance to tyranny, and were found equal to the occasion. A plan was devised, among the bolder, leading patriots of the prov- ince, to seize the arms and ammunition at Fort William and Mary, at the en- trance of the harbor of Portsmouth,
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which was then slenderly garrisoned, but which was soon to be fully manned. It was arranged that the party which was to proceed down the river, under the leadership of John Sullivan, John Lang- don and others, to make the seizure, should be supported by a stronger body of men from Exeter, who wereto make their appearance in Portsmouth in sea- son to secure the withdrawal of the war- like stores, in spite of all opposition.
Accordingly, a detachment of about twenty-five armed horsemen, under Na- thaniel Folsom, Nicholas Gilman and Dr. Giddings, left Exeter in the night fixed for the undertaking, and rode into Ports- mouth about daybreak in the morning. They ordered coffee at the inn of James Stoodley, who looked with no small as- tonishment on their martial array. But they made no allusion to the business which brought them there.
About eight o'clock in the morning, James Hackett, with fifty or sixty of the bold Exeter boys, on foot, marched into town, and took their station at the hay- market, in Portsmouth, where they wait- ed for orders. This, of course, created great astonishment; but little informna- tion could be elicited by any inquiries. At nine o'clock, Langdon made his ap- pearance at Stoodley's, and acquainted the party there that the raid was com- pletely successful, and that Sullivan was then passing up the river in the boaty loaded with the munitions which had but lately been the dependence of one of his Majesty's forts, but were ere long to be used against his authority by the op- pressed and indignant colonists. Thus, in this first overt armed resistance of
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America to the British authority, the anen of Exeter took a leading part.
The principal citizens of the town were open and decided in their determination to oppose the parliamentary measures. John Phillips, the founder of our Acade- my, a man of learning, wealth and culti- vation, though little fitted by habit or inclination for strife, was firm and out- spoken for the liberties of America. Na- thaniel Folsom, who had been distin- guished as an officer in the French and Indian wars, and who was a member of the first Continental Congress, was ready to take up arms in his country's cause, at a moment's notice, and did afterwards render valuable service as a provincial major-general, until he was, by reason of . the unworthy jealousies of others, allowed to be dropped.
Nicholas Gilman, the trusted friend of the royal governor, was no less firmly devoted to the defence of popular rights, and, with his active and efficient sons, then just come upon the stage, was a most important and indispensable aid to the cause. He was afterwards the successful manager of the finances of the infant State, and the stay and staff of President Weare; and his sons became, in their turn, favorite and important officers of New Hampshire.
Enoch Poor had been for some years engaged in shipbuilding in the town, and, accustomed to the management of men, was ready to tender his best services in aid of America's cause. His appointment in the army was peculiarly fortunate for the country. He became a general of light infantry, was greatly esteemed by Lafayette and by Washington; and
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his early death was deeply lamented.
James Hackett was also a ship-builder, and as such labored for his country faith- fully and well. He was appointed a lieutenant-colonel of one of the regiments, but his services could not be spared from the coast defences. He did, however, serve in Rhode Island, on one occasion, as an officer in John Langdon's company of light horse. Such were a few of the leading spirits of our town, as the alarni of war was about to be sounded.
III. REVOLUTIONARY.
The famous expedition of the British troops from Boston to Lexington and Concord, took place on the nineteenth of April, 1775. Early in the evening of that day, a flying report of the affair reached Exeter, which was soon after confirmed by news received from Haverhill, that the enemy was at Lexington, that the country was in arms, and a severe action had commenced, which was raging when the messenger left to alarm the inland towns.
Our streets were filled with excited men until a late hour at night. About daybreak an express arrived in town, with further and more authentic intelli- gence. The bells were immediately rung, and the drums beat to arms. It happened that three of the leading patriots of the town, N. Folsom, N. Gilman and E. Poor, were absent, at Dover; but there were enough others to determine what part Exeter should take in the emergency. The unanimous voice was, for every man who could possibly be spared, to march
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at once to the help of our suffering breth- ren. John T. Gilman, then twenty-one years of age, was peculiarly active in for- warding the preparations of the Exeter volunteers.
Bullets were cast and cartridges made, with all speed, and every one lent a help- ing hand. The women encouraged their brothers and sons to offer their services, and contributed their aid to fit them out for their hurried campaign. About nine o'clock in the morning, no less than one hundred and eight of the brave boys of Exeter were paraded at the court-house, (nearly opposite the lower church, ) armed and equipped, and ready to march.
"What road shall we take ?"
"By Haverhill."
"Who shall lead us?"
"Capt. Hackett."
"Are you all ready ?" asked Hackett. "Yes," was the unanimous response.
"March !" was his laconic order.
One who was of that extemporized band of soldiers, Bas left an account of their march. He says that the men wore sad countenances while taking leave of their wives and friends at home, but there was no flinching. Once fairly upon the way, however, their spirits rose, and they soon resumed their cheerfulness. They had a drum and fife, but no flag, for the stars and stripes were yet in the future. But they were well armed, especially those who had the bright muskets which Gov. Wentworth had taken pains to provide for his "cadets," little suspecting that they were so soon to be used in rebellion against his royal master.
The Exeter company marched through Haverhill to the ferry, but found that
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town in great distress. A destructive fire had raged there only forty-eight hours before, consuming the finest part of the village; this, in addition to the intelli- gence of the commencement of hostilities, was particularly depressing to the inhab- itants. At nightfall, they reached Bragg's tavern in Andover, and passed the night in that town. Resuming their march at an early hour the next morning, they reached Menotomy at noon, and halted upon the common at Cambridge, about two o'clock. Here they were taken charge of by some officers ; their alarm post was assigned them, and two or three rooms in one of the college buildings were given them for quarters. There they passed the first night of their mili- tary service, without even knapsacks for pillows, and the college floors, as one of their number quaintly remarked, "as hard as any other floors !"
The next morning, the company made choice of officers. James Hackett was elected captain, John W. Gilman and Nath'l Gookin, lieutenants, and John T. Gilman, Gideon Lamson and Noah Em- ery, sergeants. The company soon after went through their exercises on the com- mon, and evidently attracted no little attention.
The next day, a report came that the British were landing at Chelsea. Capt. Hackett had the honor of being the first to receive marching orders : the company from Londonderry followed. They marched as far as Medford, where they were met by the information that the British had re-embarked. At Medford, they found N. Folsom and E. Poor, who were going to the headquarters of the
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army. Gen. Heath reviewed the New Hampshire troops, and on Sunday Dr. MacClintock of Greenland, and Dr. Bel- knap of Dover, preached to them.
The Exeter company remained at Cam - bridge not far from a fortnight, and were highly complimented by Gen. Heath. Then, the emergency having passed, and arrangements being in progress for form- ing a permanent military establishment, they were permitted to return home.
Exeter had also its Committee of Cor- respondence, charged with looking after the interests of the patriotic cause. An example of the work which fell to their share, may be found in a dingy letter, which is still preserved, dated at Ports- mouth, April 21, 1775, and signed by H. Wentworth, chairman, by which the com - mittee of Exeter are informed of "the attack upon the people of Ipswich," and of the expectation of the arrival of two ships of war in Portsmouth, and contain- ing a request for "four or five barrels of powder." On the back of the letter is a receipt by the messenger, for four barrels of powder, which were delivered by N. Gilman and Dr. Giddings; together with a memorandum of sixty-eight barrels more, in the possession of the friends of liberty in Exeter and the neighboring towns. This powder was undoubtedly a part of that which was seized at Fort William and Mary, in December, 1774.
IV. THE PRESS.
The first printing office in Exeter was opened by Robert Luist Fowle, a nephew and former partner of Daniel Fowle, who
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introduced the "art of arts" into New Hampshire, at Portsmouth, in 1756. In the differences of opinion which arose re- specting the rights of the Colonies, imme- diately prior to the Revolution, the uncle and nephew, it is said, were found upon opposite sides, and the result was a disso- lution of business connections, in 1774. Robert, who favored the ministerial par- ty, procured the printing materials which had belonged to Furber of Portsmouth, and removed with them to Exeter, where he established himself in business the same year. Thus Exeter was the second town in New Hampshire to establish that powerful instrument of civilization, the printing press; and now for near a centi- ry has maintained it.
Robert Fowle carried on the business of a printer here until about 1778, when his tory proclivities became so obnoxious that he was obliged to decamp. It is said that he was employed to print some of the paper money then issued by New Hampshire, and soon afterwards there was found to be in circulation a great quantity of bills of the same typography, but with forged signatures. Suspicion at once fastened upon Fowle, that he had supplied his loyalist friends with the printed sheets ; and instead of awaiting an investigation, he hastened to place himself within the British lines at New York.
His brother Zechariah Fowle succeeded him in the printing business in Exeter, and continued it until his death, which took place toward the close of the war. He was a tolerable workman, and his of- tice must have been quite well furnished for the times, as he was able in 1780 to
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issue an edition of the laws of the State, in a volume of 180 folio pages. In the few specimens of his printing which are now extant, his name does not usually appear in the imprint, but only the place and year.
After peace was declared, Robert Fowle, who was a pensioner of the British gov- ernment, on the ground of his loyalty, returned to New Hampshire, and in 1789 married Sarah, the widow of his deceased brother, and continued to live in Exeter for about six years. He then removed to Brentwood, as it is supposed, and died there in 1802.
Henry Ranlet was the next on the list of printers in Exeter. He was in busi- ness in 1787, and probably earlier. He was an excellent workman for that day, and issued a large number of books and pamphlets. He printed many works for publishers residing in Boston and Wor- cester, Mass., and Portsmouth. He add- ed to his office the types for printing mu- sic, and published at least ten or twelve volumes of collections of vocal and instru- mental music. Mr. Ranlet continued in business until his death in 1807.
A considerable part of this time, there was another printing office in the town. John Lamson, who was a partner of Mr. Ranlet in 1787, was associated with Thom- as Odiorne in the printing business in 1793, and conducted it alone in the fol- lowing year.
Mr. Odiorne issued several works, in very neat style, about the same date.
In 1794, William Stearns and Samuel Winslow brought out a few publications here. Mr. Stearns, in 1795 or 1796, was engaged in printing. and also in binding,
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the first edition of the New Testament ever issued in this State. The honor of first printing the Scriptures in New Hampshire has heretofore been claimed by New Ipswich in 1815, and by Dover in 1803, but Exeter was years in advance of them, as the above date indicates.
Charles Norris was a partner of Mr. Ranlet in 1806-7, and continued in the occupation of a printer until 1832. From 1810 to 1817 he was connected with others, his first partner being John Sawyer. Among the apprentices to whom Mr. Norris tanght the typographic art, was William Robinson, who afterwards be- came the founder of our magnificent Fe- male Seminary.
Mr. Norris was a good printer, and did a great deal of book work for himself and others. In connection with Ephraim C. Beals, he printed for E. Little & Co. of Newburyport, a translation of Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, in 1810, which was really beautiful in its typography, and ' has never been excelled by any work from the Exeter press, before or since.
The imprint of Samuel T. Moses is found upon a number of publications be- tween the years 1820 and 1824; and from 1824 to 1830 the nanie of Abel Brown ap- pears on several small works, as publish- er; though the latter was not a practical printer.
In 1818, John J. Williams first began printing on his own account. He after- wards took his brother Benjamin J. Wil- liams, who was a book-binder, into part- nership, and they carried on for many years, under the firm of J. & B. Williams, a large and profitable printing, stereo- typing and publishing business. Their
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operations terminated about the year 1840; and during that period they issued a vast number of works of every description. The series of popular novels from their press, in 24mo, including works of Scott, Marryatt and Bulwer, neatly bound in morocco, are still often met with and easily recognized.
John C. Gerrish's name first appeared upon a title-page, about 1824. He was then, and continued for three or four years, in partnership with Laban A. Ty- ler, who was not, however, a practical printer. Capt. Gerrish had an office in Exeter, and was engaged in printing of various kinds, until about 1840, when he retired from the business. He died within the past year, highly respected by all who knew him.
Lewis F. Shepard, who had served his time in the office of Messrs. Williams, had an office here for a year or two, about 1832-3, when, by reason of impaired health, he quitted the occupation and re- moved into Maine. He was an excellent workman, and in every relation of life was highly esteemed.
Francis Grant had a printing office here as early as 1840. He was a bookseller and binder, and was the publisher of a little work, formerly much used in our com- mon schools, entitled, "A Book for New Hampshire Children, in Familiar Let- ters from a Father." This little volume was prepared by Mr. Hosea Hildreth, and was very popular, running through five editions, the first of which was printed by S. T. Moses in 1823, the third by Mr. Norris in 1829, the fourth by Capt. Gerrish in 1833, and the last by Nathaniel S. Adamsin 1829. Mr. Adams is remem-
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bered as a man of convivial habits and of much humor.
James Derby was the publisher of one or two works, about 1831. He was an ingenious mechanic, and did something in the manufacture of stereotype plates, though he was not himself a printer. He was engaged in the publieation of "Scott's Family Bible" here, which was to have filled somne six or more large volumes ; but after the completion of the New Tes- tament in two volumes, the remainder of the undertaking was abandoned.
There were several other printers, who were apprentices of Mr. Norris or Messrs. Williams, who issued one or more small works each, bearing the Exeter imprint, but of whose history nothing further is known.
Samuel Bartlett Clarke, who had been engaged in the News-Letter office, as one of the proprietors, from 1840, died in July, 1857, having sustained a high char- acter as a man of excellent business ca- pacity and integrity.
Oliver Smith, who died recently, was also one of the proprietors of the paper for nearly the same period, and was after- wards employed for several years in the News-Letter office as a journeyman. He was a person of decided character and of sturdy honesty.
In the foregoing list are embraced the names of most, if not all, of the principal persons who have been connected with the press in Exeter, except those who are now living. Of these latter it is proper to make but brief mention.
Samuel Hall, who has been connected with the News-Letter as proprietor or printer for more than thirty years, is still
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to be found in the office, composing stick in hand, as active and attentive to busi- ness as ever.
Thomas D. Treadwell, who was for many years employed by Messrs. Wil- liams, and afterwards in the News-Let- ter office, has for some time past been engaged in farming, just outside the vil- lage of Exeter, which he finds preferable to the confined life of a printer.
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