USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Boscawen and Webster, Merrimack Co., N.H., August 16, 1883. Also births recorded on the town records from 1733 to 1850 > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Boscawen and Webster, Merrimack Co., N.H., August 16, 1883. Also births recorded on the town records from 1733 to 1850 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 B65 1951881
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 9366
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/onehundredfiftie00bosc 0
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTLEMENT
OF
BOSCAWEN AND WEBSTER,
MERRIMACK CO., N. H.,
AUGUST 16, 1883.
ALSO
BIRTHS RECORDED ON THE TOWN RECORDS . FROM 1733 TO 1850. .
CONCORD, N. H .: PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1884.
TWA7800
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1951881
Preliminary, and meetings of the committee 3-7
Invitations and programme 9-1I
Morning of the day. and meeting on site of Old Fort 13
Memorial service at the cemetery 14
Address of Hon. John Kimball
16-20
Reply of John C. Pearson, chairman, for the towns 21
Address of welcome, by Nathaniel S. Webster
24
Address of Charles C. Coffin
25-47
Address of Rev. Arthur Little, D. D.
48-58
Speech of Rev. Samuel C. Bartlett, D. D , LL. D. . 59-63
64-66
Address of Hon. Henry P. Rolfe
66-70
Poem, by Rev. Frank Haley
71
Congratulatory letters
73-90
Report of the treasurer . 91
Correction in regard to Thomas M. and Charles A. Lang Births recorded in the town records-1733-1850
93
95-184 ·
.. 66 proprietors' records 185
Biographical sketch of Charles Hubbard Amsden
. 187-189
Samuel Colcord Bartlett
. 189, 190
Charles Carleton Coffin
. 190-194
Enoch Gerrish
. 195, 196
.. Ezra Sheldon Harris
. 196, 197
John Kimball
. 197-201
.
Benjamin Ames Kimball William Smith Kimball
. 201-203
203, 204
66
Arthur Little
. 205, 206
.. Ephraim Plummer 207
Henry Pearson Rolfe .
. 208-211
Publication of proceedings and agreement
213
Goodspeed-4.50
Address of Hon. Stephen M. Allen .
LIST OF PORTRAITS.
Opposite page
Charles Hubbard Amsden
187
Samuel Colcord Bartlett
59
Charles Carleton Coffin
25
Enoch Gerrish .
195
Ezra Sheldon Harris
196
John Kimball .
16
Benjamin Ames Kimball
201
William Smith Kimball
203
Arthur Little
48
Ephraim Plummer
207
Henry Pearson Rolfe
66
PRELIMINARY.
In the month of December, 1882, Charles C. Coffin, of Boston, meeting by chance Isaac K. Gage, of Penacook, at the railroad depot, remarked that the year 1883 would number the 150th since the settle- ment of the town of Boscawen. It was suggested that a town with a history so marked as that of Bos- cawen, which had sent forth so many men of high intellectual attainments and lofty character, should commemorate its 150th anniversary. The proposi- tion was so heartily concurred in by the citizens, when presented by Mr. Gage, that in February, 1883, the following article was inserted in the war- rant for calling the annual town-meeting :
"To see if the town will vote to have a celebration the ensuing year, and, if so, to see what sum of money the town will raise for the purpose, and to choose the necessary committee to carry out the same."
At the meeting of the town, the following vote was passed :
"To raise the sum of $300; and the selectmen are instructed to appoint a committee to make all neces- sary arrangements."
The following committee was appointed :
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Nehemiah Butler, Isaac K. Gage, Nathaniel S. Webster, Charles W. Webster, Frank L. Gerrish, Peter Coffin, and Samuel B. Chadwick, of Boscawen ; Sherman Little, William W. Burbank, Moody A. Pillsbury, and Henry H. Gerrish, of Webster.
MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.
April 14, 1883, the members of the committee, excepting H. H. Gerrish, met at the town hall in Boscawen, agreeable to previous notice.
Meeting was called to order by the chairman, N. Butler, Esq., and Isaac K. Gage was chosen secre- tary.
Remarks were made by Butler, Gage, C. W. Web- ster, and Sherman Little.
Letters were read from C. C. Coffin, Esq.
On motion of Peter Coffin, Voted that the cele- bration take place August 23, 1883.
Made choice of Frank L. Gerrish as treasurer for the committee.
Voted that there be a committee of five,-three from Boscawen and two from Webster,-to report the order of exercises for the occasion at an ad- journed meeting.
N. S. Webster, F. L. Gerrish, Isaac K. Gage, Sherman Little, and W. W. Burbank were appointed said committee.
Voted that a committee of three be chosen to see what can be done by the citizens of the town, and others interested, to assist in furnishing supplies, etc., for the occasion.
.... ...
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Messrs. C. W. Webster, S. B. Chadwick, and M. A. Pillsbury were chosen.
Adjourned to May 5, at 2 o'clock P. M., to meet at the town hall.
May 5, met according to adjournment.
Present, N. S. Webster, C. W. Webster, Gage Coffin, F. L. Gerrish, Little, Burbank, and Chadwick.
In absence of Judge Butler, made choice of C. W. Webster as chairman pro tem.
After some remarks, voted to adjourn at the call of the chairman.
May 19, 1883, met according to notice from the chairman, at the town hall, at 2 P. M.
Present, Messrs. Butler, C. W. Webster, N. S. Webster, Peter Coffin, F. L. Gerrish, Gage, and Lit- tle, of the committee, and C. C. Coffin, of Boston- Judge Butler in the chair.
Remarks were made by C. C. Coffin, and by sev- eral members of the committee.
On motion, voted to change the time from August 23 to October, 1883, providing suitable speakers for the occasion could be obtained.
The following committees were appointed :
On Invitation, Reception, etc.,-Isaac K. Gage, N. S. Webster, Henry H. Gerrish, and Peter Coffin.
On Preparation, Dinner, Music, and Place- Messrs. F. L. Gerrish, W. W. Burbank, S. B. Chad- wick, C. W. Webster, Sherman Little, and M. A. Pillsbury.
Voted to adjourn at the call of the chairman.
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June 30, 1883, met agreeable to previous no- tice.
Present, Messrs. Gage, F. L. Gerrish, N. S. Web- ster, Pillsbury, H. H. Gerrish, and S. B. Chadwick.
Sherman Little was chosen chairman pro tem.
Being unable to procure the services of Rev. Arthur Little, of Chicago, and C. C. Coffin, Esq., of Boston, as speakers for the occasion at the time before named (October 3, 1883), after remarks by several members of the committee it was voted to rescind the vote fixing the time at October 3.
On motion, it was voted to hold it August 16, 1883, so as to accommodate Messrs. Little, Coffin, and others, who could be present at that time.
C. W. Webster having resigned as member of the committee, Samuel Choate was appointed by the selectmen to fill the vacancy.
Voted to adjourn at the call of the chair.
August 25, 1883, met according to previous no- tice.
Present, Messrs. N. S. Webster, Gage, F. L. Ger- rish, and Peter Coffin.
In consequence of the death of Judge Butler, N. S. Webster was chosen chairman.
Voted thanks to Mrs. Abial R. Chandler, of Lawrence, Mass., and Enoch P. Corser, of Nashua, for the several amounts given to aid the committee in settling any deficiences there might be in the treasury.
. Voted to adjourn to Saturday evening, September I, 1883, at town hall.
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September 1, 1883, met according to adjournment.
Report of the treasurer was called for, after read- ing of which it showed a deficiency of $25.69, and said amount was due the treasurer, which amount was paid into the treasury as follows :
N. S. Webster, I. K. Gage, S. Choate, J. C. Pear- son, S. B. Chadwick, Peter Coffin, and F. L. Gerrish, the sum of $3.67 each.
Voted to adjourn sine die.
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INVITATIONS.
The Committee on Invitations issued the following card :
"The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Boscawen will be celebrated Au- gust 16th, 1883, on which occasion all the sons and daughters and their descendants, and former resi- dents, will be welcomed home. A reply is expected from each person receiving this invitation.
ISAAC K. GAGE, N. S. WEBSTER, HENRY H. GERRISH, PETER COFFIN,
Committee of Invitation."
It was discovered that the sons and daughters of the town were widely scattered, some in Maine, more in Massachusetts, some in Vermont, others in Con- necticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, upon the prairies of Indiana and Illinois, in the far North- West, and around the golden gate of the Pacific shore. Many were the responses expressing the intention to be present on this notable occasion, or sincerely regretting that they could not revisit on that day the dear old towns that gave them birth.
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It was apparent that the church would accommo- date but a small portion of those who signified their intention of being present, and a spacious tent was provided, of area sufficient to shelter several thou- sand, persons. Settees were also obtained, that the audience might enjoy with comfort the exercises of the day.
Citizens of Boscawen and Webster dispensed lib- eral hospitality, welcoming from afar their old-time friends. Housewives and maidens gave willing ser- vice in preparing for the event.
Under the direction of Prof. John Jackman, the singers of both towns rehearsed choice music during the week preceding the celebration.
Nathaniel S. Webster was appointed president of the day, John C. Pearson chief marshal, and Edgar Raymond, George E. Kimball, Roscoe S. Boyce, and Josiah Flanders, assistant marshals.
The following order of exercises was prepared :
·
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II
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF BOSCAWEN.
AUGUST 16, 1883.
ORDER OF EXERCISES. FORENOON.
Meet at the old Fort near the Messrs. Gill, at 11 A. M. MUSIC BY THE BAND. March to the Cemetery where the first Church was located. Presentation of Memorial by Hon. John Kimball, of Concord. Response for the town by J. C. Pearson, Esq. PRAYER. HYMN BY THE AUDIENCE. March in procession to the town hall, where a collation will be served.
AFTERNOON. MUSIC BY THE CHOIR. Welcome by N. Butler, President of the Day. MUSIC. PRAYER. Historical Address by C. C. Coffin, of Boston. MUSIC. Address by Rev. Arthur Little, D. D., of Chicago. MUSIC. Address by President Bartlett, of Hanover.
Poem by Rev. Frank Haley, of Boscawen. Short addresses by other persons. DOXOLOGY. BENEDICTION. J. C. PEARSON, Chief Marshal.
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THE DAY.
The day was auspicious. The sky, which for many weeks had glowed with summer heat, was overcast with clouds, not wholly obscuring the sun, but tem- pering its burning rays. At an early morning hour the citizens, their wives, sons, and daughters, were at work making the last preparations. In the town hall, the ladies were preparing a munificent repast. Around the tent a volunteer committee of gentle- men sliced baskets full of beef, ham, and tongue. From the steaming cauldrons and kettles came the aroma of boiling coffee. Other gentlemen arranged settees, flung the stars and stripes to the breeze, and performed the last duties incident to the occasion.
At an early hour came long processions of car- riages from Salisbury, Franklin, Northfield, Canter- bury, Concord, and Hopkinton,-citizens of all ad- joining towns coming to accept the large hospitality and enjoy the pleasures of a holiday,-stabling their horses by the fences of the highway and in the adjoining fields. The morning train on the North- ern Railroad brought its complement of visitors from Franklin, Bristol, Lebanon, and intermediate stations. . The express train from Boston, lengthened by many cars, brought guests and visitors from Boston, Low-
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ell, Nashua, Lawrence, Manchester, and Concord. Through the courtesy of the railroad officials, the train was stopped at the pathway leading down to the railroad from the site of the Old Fort, where the guests were met by the marshals and the Hopkinton Cornet Band, and escorted to the residence of Mr. Gill, the first framed house erected in Boscawen, by Rev. Robie Morrill, the second minister of the town.
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE CEMETERY.
The first transaction by the proprietors of the plantation of Contoocook was the selection of a site for their meeting-house,-a knoll in the cemetery on King street. In the historical address, further on, will be seen what the meeting-house was in their esti- mation. It will also be seen that the Boscawen meet- ing-house has ever been a remarkable beacon light, throwing its radiant beams far and wide. That the site of an institution of such far-reaching influence might be forever preserved, several gentlemen, for- mer residents, united, at the suggestion of Mr. Chas. C. Coffin, of Boston, in setting up a fitting memorial stone.
The assembled company, under the escort of the band, proceeded to the cemetery, where a platform had been erected, by the side of which stood a beam (a timber in the first meeting-house), which, upon the demolition of the house, about 1775, was framed into the barn of Mr. Daniel Carter, and which was cut out by its present owner, Mr. Lyssias Emerson, to add to the interest of the occasion.
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.
The memorial stone, of Concord granite, stands probably upon the spot once occupied by the pul- pit of the meeting-house, beside the grave of Dea. Isaac Pearson, who, according to tradition, expressed the desire in his last hours to be buried where the pulpit once stood, thus giving his testimony to the efficiency and influence of the first minister.
Upon a brass plate embedded on the southern face is the inscription :
FIRST MEETING-HOUSE
IN
BOSCAWEN,
Built
ON THIS SPOT 1739: USED UNTIL 1767.
This stone erected 1883 BY
John Kimball, Enoch Gerrish,
Charles C. Coffin,
Benjamin A. Kimball,
Arthur Little, Moses G. Farmer,
Charles H. Amsden, Charles H. Ames.
The assembly was called to order by the chief marshal, and prayer was offered by Rev. Arthur Lit- tle, D. D., of Chicago. In behalf of the donors, Hon. John Kimball, of Concord, presented the memorial to the town.
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ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN KIMBALL.
Gentlemen of the Board of Selectmen, and Citizens of Boscawen :
It is well authenticated by history and tradition, that as early as 1733 the original proprietors of Contoo- cook set apart the lot of land here enclosed as a suit- able place in the plantation for the meeting-house.1
The piece of timber exhibited here on this occa- sion was taken from the log meeting-house built where this large assembly is congregated to-day.2
More than one hundred and fifty years ago the colonies of Massachusetts Bay granted to several persons, inhabitants of the town of Newbury, Massa- chusetts, the tract of land, seven miles square, situate on the west bank of the Merrimack river, adjoining Penny Cook plantation in New Hampshire. One of the conditions of this grant was, that the proprietors should build a convenient meeting-house, and settle a learned and orthodox minister within four years. Before the erection of the meeting-house religious services were held in the town-house, or in private dwellings.3 At a meeting of the proprietors, held at Contoocook (the name given to the "plantation") 6 September, 1738, "It was voted there should be a meeting-house built at the plantation aforesaid of forty feet long, and of the same width of Rumford
1 Prop. Records, p. 19.
"The timber was about ten feet long, twelve inches wide, and six inches thick, of white pine, and neatly hewn. It was furnished by Lysias Emerson, Esq., whose wife is a descendant of Winthrop Carter, an early settler.
* Prop. Records, p. 18.
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John@ kimball.
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meeting-house, and two feet higher, and said house to be built with logs."
"Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Lieut. Joseph Coffin, Mr. Jacob Flanders are chosen a committee to agree with a man or men to build said meeting-house."
December 20, 1738. "Voted, That there should be 100 pounds in money raised to enable the com- mittee to go on in building a meeting-house at the plantation aforesaid."
"Voted, That the aforesaid Committee should view Rumford meeting-house and proportion Contoocook meeting-house according to their best skill and Judgement."
It is to be inferred from the above votes that the building committee visited Rumford, "viewed " their house, and their "best skill and judgement " was to make the change as expressed by the vote of the pro- prietors by adding two feet to its vertical propor- tions. The house at Rumford, as given by Joseph B. Walker at the one hundred and fiftieth anniver- sary of the First Congregational Church in Concord, 1880, was forty feet in length and twenty-five in width. It was one story, and its rough walls were pierced with small square windows, sufficiently high from the ground to protect its occupants from the missiles of Indian foe. The precise height is not given ; but we find that the inhabitants of Rumford the same year decided to enlarge the accommoda- tions by the erection of galleries. This addition would indicate that the height was from fifteen to eighteen feet, and the house at Contoocook was to be two feet higher, or nearly twenty feet.
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The meeting-house was completed in the winter of 1739-40. The site selected was near the centre of the cemetery on " the plaine " where we stand to- day. The usual dedication service seems to have been omitted, as we find no mention made of it in the records. It was in this church and on this spot where the Rev. Phineas Stevens,1 their first minister, was ordained October 8, 1740. Rev. Ebenezer Price says, in his annals, "the expense of ordination, as paid by the proprietors, amounted to {104, old tenor, a rare specimen of the simplicity and economy of that age." (The articles charged in the bill of the committee were 352 pounds of beef, 172 pounds of pork, 60 pounds of butter, 48 pounds of sugar, 8
1 Abiel Abbott, in his history of Andover, Mass., gives the following gen- ealogy :
JOHN STEVENS1 d. 1662. Children-John, Nathan, Ephraim, Joseph, and Benjamin.
JOHN.2 Children-John, Nathan, Ephraim, Ebenezer, Joshua, Samuel, David, Abiel, and Benjamin.
EBENEZER.3 Children-Aaron, Ebenezer, Phineas, Asa, and Jacob.
PHINEAS+ was b. in Andover, 1715; entered Harvard college, 1730, "at the age of 15;" grad. 1734. Ordained the first minister of Contoo- cook, N. H., Oct. 8, 1740. Married, Ist, Jane, daughter of Joseph Gerrish, of Newbury, Mass., Nov. 24, 1741 ; she was b. Oct. 12, 1717. Married, 2d, Sarah Varney. He d. Jan. 19, 1755. Child by Jane : Jane, b. Jan. 20, 1743.
Children by Sarah : Sarah, b. May 26, 1748; Abigail, b. Nov. 12, 1749; John, b. March 7, 1752; Phineas, b. April 2, 1754.
Rev. Timothy Walker wrote in his diary as follows :
"Feb. 1, 1746. Mr. Stevens came and lodged at our house."
"Feb. 2. He preached here and baptized, Abraham ye son of Abraham Col- by, Ebenezer ye son of Sampson Colby, and Abigail ye daughter of James Abbott Junior."
"I preached at Contoocook."
"March 9, 1746. Preached at Contoocook. Mr. Stevens preached for me, and baptized Peter ye son of Nathaniel Rix."
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turkeys, 8 geese, 4 bushels of malt, 26 pounds of cheese, 49 gallons of molasses, 35 gallons of rum, with other necessary items too numerous to men- tion.) Mr. Price further says, "that the proprie- tors experienced a very interesting and solemn prov- idence in the sudden death of their Rev. and be- loved pastor, Mr. Stevens, who died Jan. 19, 1755, in the sixteenth year of his ministry." They raised £90, 17s, old tenor, to meet the expense of his funeral, and his remains lie buried within this en- closure.
Mr. Stevens was graduated at Harvard college in 1734. "That he was very dear to the people of his charge, and his services satisfactory, are evidenced by their united attachment to his interest amid the trying scenes and sufferings to which both he and they were called." His sons John and Phineas died in the war of the Revolution. The erection of this house of public worship is an event in the set- tlement of Boscawen so important in itself, and so influential on the subsequent history and character of the town, as to call for the adoption of some meth- od of keeping the memory of it fresh in the minds of successive generations of its inhabitants in all time to come. What more fitting or enduring than to mark the spot by granite and brass?
Memorial stones have been set up in all ages, to call to mind some great event deemed important to be transmitted from one generation to another in an enduring manner. We have an illustration of this custom when Joshua, the great Hebrew leader, with his host, was about to pass over Jordan to take pos-
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session of the promised land : he caused memorial stones to be set up, "That when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when it passed over Jor- dan, and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever." We meet here to-day to set up this stone as a memorial, with the hope that when your children come here to view the place where their ancestors sleep, they will pause, and ask their fathers, in the language of Scripture, "What mean ye by these stones?" and that their hearts will be inspired with a deeper reverence for the religious spirit of their ancestors when they are told that on this spot they built their first meeting-house, and here they congregated for the worship of God in the wilderness.
Moved by this spirit of reverence for the religious element in the character of our ancestors, the donors of this memorial, having gone out from the home of our youth to do our life work amid other scenes, find gratification in returning to participate in this one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town, and in giving this expression of our feel- ings on this consecrated spot. In behalf of my asso- ciates I present this stone to our native town, and bespeak for it the care and preservation which the object of its erection deserves.
John C. Pearson, chairman of the Board of Select- men, accepted the memorial in behalf of the town.
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REPLY OF JOHN C. PEARSON.
Respected Sir :
The citizens of the old town of Boscawen, which to-day for the purposes of this celebration has as- sumed its original symmetrical proportions, -- seven miles long and seven miles broad,-receive from you and your associates this token of your respect and affection for your birthplace, and promise to pro- tect and care for it as best they may ; and when our children and children's children shall ask us, What mean ye by these stones? we will say to them, They are for a memorial, set up by men who, born and reared here in this good old town, have gone forth into " the world's broad field of battle," and having achieved that success in life they so richly deserve, have, at this home-coming of the children of the old mother, erected this monument to commemorate and perpetuate, so far as they can, those principles of morality and religion which have always been so prominent in this town, and which, more than any other influences, have made Boscawen and Boscawen men and women what they are and have been,-a power for good in the land.
Sir, we thank you for this substantial monument, and trust that the influences and principles which it commemorates may be as enduring as the granite of these memorial stones.
The choir, under the direction of Prof. John Jack- man, sang a hymn written for the occasion by Rev. Frank Haley, pastor of the Congregational church.
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ORIGINAL HYMN .- TUNE, NETTLETON.
Here where first our fathers builded
For themselves the house of God ; Here where holy hearts have worshipped, Here where holy feet have trod ; Here where heroes found new courage, Burdened mothers rest from care,
In the message of the preacher, In the scripture, in the prayer ;
Here where youths and maidens cherished Dreams of swiftly coming days ;
Where the children thought of heaven While the choir sang hymns of praise ;
Here we set this sculptured granite. On this consecrated place, In remembrance of our fathers. To our children's latest race.
May the God who went before them In the wild Contoocook then,
Rule the lives of Boscawen's children, Make us valiant, faithful men. Worthy of our fathers' purpose, Worthy of their noble zeal,
Worthy of their high endeavor,
Heirs of their enduring weal.
The benediction was pronounced by Dr. Little.
PROCESSION.
A procession was formed, a long line of carriages and people on foot, which proceeded to the meeting- house.
At the residence of Mr. Meader, a transparency gave the information that it was the first law office of Daniel Webster, and the birthplace of John A. Dix.
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In the hands of President Bartlett of Dartmouth col- lege, in the procession, was the favorite gold-headed cane of Daniel Webster. A salute was fired from the premises of C. W. Webster, and the bell upon the academy, the gift of Daniel Webster, rang out its peals.
DINNER.
In the town hall, which was tastefully festooned with flags, the invited guests sat down to a bountiful dinner, including the choicest delicacies of the pan- try and closet.
The president of the day called the company to order, and the divine blessing was invoked by Rev. Cyrus W. Wallace, D. D., of Manchester.
In the pavilion, dinner was served to an assembly estimated at three thousand. .
EXERCISES OF THE AFTERNOON.
The exercises of the afternoon were held in the pavilion, the company being called to order by the marshal, J. C. Pearson, announcing the following list of officers :
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