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Gc 974.2 C67 2026998
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
E ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 8451
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE
PUBLISHED BY
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY OF
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RT CAYNE CALLE
THE COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA
Compiled for the Historic Activities Committee by Mrs. Wendell Burt Folsom
EXETER, N. H. The news-Letter Press 1937
78 8190 9
FOREWORD 2026998
The Society of Colonial Dames of New Hampshire has supplied a valuable record in this list of garrison houses and sites in the state. Fifty years ago a considerable num- ber still remained, if not in their original form, many at least still recognizable for what they once had been. Today few survive, and these few so disfigured by changes in outer shell as to be difficult to identify. Fire, removal to make room for modern buildings, abandonment and dilapi- dation have worked as agencies in their destruction.
Quite different were these local strongholds from the corn-cob cabins reared with notched logs, found west of the Hudson, which have become fixed in the popular mind as the type of log houses of the early settlers. Ours were built of squared timbers, hewn or sawn, from six to eight inches thick, laid flat one upon another, closely fitted at the corners. Strong beams across the tops of the walls, pro- jecting beyond the outer surface of the lower story, gave support to the attic, or to the second story, where there was one. This second story usually took the form of a framed box larger than the structure on which it rested. A space of several inches was thus left open between the outer surface of the lower story and the inner surface of the upper that gave opportunity to meet attacks, whether of fire or weapons, at close quarters. The windows were usually small squared openings in the timbers, closed with heavy shutters. Practicable loop-holes were left in proper places. The garrison was often surrounded by a palisade - sometimes equipped with "flankarts" - and in some cases lined on the inside with compartments which could be used by fugitive families. The stout palisade itself, surrounding a house or houses, is sometimes called a gar- rison. A well would be included, if possible, within the enclosure: there are records which mention one in the cellar, and others from which it appears that the well lay completely outside the defenses, or that water must be brought at peril from a nearby spring or brook.
In the Gilman Garrison at Exeter, built about 1655, can still be studied the form of construction of the typical gar- rison. At the corners were erected white oak posts, into which the wall timbers are mortised. The second story, suspended on the ends of transverse beams, shows the two forms of juncture in use, halving and dovetailing. The single window aperture remaining from the primitive time
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is a rectangular opening, eighteen inches wide by twelve high, cut in the log. The massive front door was studded with nails to hamper the enemy's axe. In addition a heavy wooden grating, which went by the name of portcullis be- cause it closed from above, could be let down as protection when the door stood open.
A garrison of one story represented a protected family home, probably at a distance from other houses. The two- story building was a community stronghold, owned and occupied as a residence by a prominent man, but assigned to certain families near by as refuge in time of peril. The regular garrisons, when their occupants were not caught off guard, were quite defensible against ordinary attacks by the Indians, who rarely came in large companies or undertook a sustained siege. Garrisons were usually placed on an elevation, with ample cleared space about them. They were not so much forts, as fortified houses.
The importance of garrisons in the defense of the new settlements during the Indian wars can hardly be over- estimated. Without them whole districts would have gone back to wilderness. Even with such refuges at hand the wily foe succeeded too often in their strategy of intercept- ing the men at work outside, or sneaking into the enclosure if the guard relaxed. Their practice was to hide for days in the neighborhood, watching with the patience and in- visibility of prowling beasts until a door was left ajar, or a group moved too far from their guns in the field; then they struck without warning or pity. The garrisons were reasonably secure, but food came from outside; cattle and crops must be tended, and immunity from attack for a con- siderable period often led to some fatal carelessness which resulted in disaster.
After the close of the wars, when all danger from Indians had passed, owners of garrisons proceeded to make them more sightly and comfortable. Windows were cut, clapboards concealed the rough timbers, the inside was plastered and adorned with wainscotting, planed boards took the place of puncheon floors of halved logs. Only the one-story buildings, abandoned to use as shed or store- house, kept their original form, and these gradually yielded to the destructive effects of time. The only garrison in the state now visible in nearly its original form is the one- story Damme Garrison preserved in the Woodman Institute in Dover. The best example of the roof construction of a building of a single story is to be found in the Frost Gar- rison at Eliot, Maine, a few miles across the New Hamp- shire border.
ALBERTUS T. DUDLEY, Exeter Historical Society
PREFACE
This compilation for the Historic Activities Committee was begun as a list of garrisons which still exist in whole or in part, the sites of others and the names of the men who built them. As interesting material came to light it was deemed best to include details of construction of the various types of the garrisons, and a few of the stories connected with them which illustrate the horrors of Indian warfare. The older histories pay little attention to the setting of the events which they record, and it is from gazetteers, town and county histories and occasional papers of the last half of the nineteenth century that the material was necessarily collected. These works vary in historical sense and in style, but they were written by men aware of the need to record what was fast disappearing. The com- piler confirmed her data as far as possible by study of deeds, visits to sites and interviews with local historians. It seemed desirable to add to the list of garrisoned houses, the forts and block houses built solely for defense. The illustrations of old wood cuts are from The History of New Hampshire, by John N. McClintock, 1888; the Damme and Smith Garrison Houses and Indian Attack pictures are by the courtesy of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.
Thanks are due to those whose names appear with the data which they supplied, and especially to Mrs. Albertus True Dudley for very valuable assistance in the general revision of the material. E. K. F.
It ought ever to be remembered for the honor of New England that as their first settlement, so their preservation, increase, and defense, even in their weakest infancy were not owing to any foreign assistance, but under God, to their own mag- nanimity and perseverance.
JEREMY BELKNAP
GARRISON HOUSES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
AMHERST
Although there is no named garrison house in Amherst, Mr. John Farmer, in his Historical Sketch of Amherst, written in 1820, states:
"Near this period (1753) there were seven garrisoned houses, which afforded places of security to the inhabitants in time of alarm and danger. Besides these there were, according to Douglass, a fort or blockhouse which was maintained at the public expense. . .. Though Amherst was for some time one of the frontier towns, and exposed to their (Indian) incursions, yet it is not recollected that they ever committed much mischief in this place; nor is there recorded any account of their killing any person within the precincts of the town."
BARRINGTON
Cate Garrison : The site of the garrison house of Deacon William Cate, "the leading figure in the town," is on Hard- scrabble Hill, near the present Meeting House in East Bar- rington.
Hunking Garrison: The site of Captain Mark Hunking's garrison is near Winkley's Pond and the Madbury town line, two miles from Hardscrabble Hill. Its cellar hole was visible in 1930. Captain Hunking, a distinguished sea cap- tain and merchant of Portsmouth, died in this house, in 1782. (John Scales, historian, authority for both gar- risons.)
BEDFORD
Goffe Garrison: The site of the garrison house of John Goffe is on the place lately owned by Theodore A. Goffe, opposite Judge Peter Woodbury's present home, a little way down the stream on land still owned by the Wood- burys, who are Goffe descendants.
Walker Garrison: The site of the Robert Walker gar- rison house is in the North part of the town, on the place of Mr. Jesse A. Walker.
Garrison : Site of an old garrison "on the Patten place."
Garrison: Site of an old garrison (supposed) on the place of Mr. Josiah Walker. (The History of Bedford gives the sites of the above garrison houses.)
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
BRENTWOOD
Stephen Dudley Garrison: This garrison house was built by Stephen Dudley, son of Rev. Samuel Dudley, of Exeter, about 1684, and at that time was in the town of Exeter. It was a two-story house with the second story projecting over the first. It was torn down over a hundred years ago, or before 1835, and some of the timbers were incorporated in the present home of Mr. John H. Dudley. The garrison house was situated a short distance down the hillside at the left of the present house and its site may still be seen as a slight depression in the land. The old timbers showing the marks of the broad axe may be seen in Mr. Dudley's cellar.
The story is told of an Indian attack at a time when the women were making soap, and that they poured the hot soft soap down through the holes in the upper story pro- jection upon the attackers. (Mrs. John H. Dudley.)
Henry Marshall Garrison: This house at Marshall's Cor- ner, the oldest house standing (1937) in Brentwood, was built about 1705, and used as a garrison. Its walls are made of planks set vertically. (Mrs. Dudley.) Date of building is over the door.
Nicholas Dudley Garrison: The garrison house of Nich- olas Dudley stood on the site of the late Deacon Thomas Stowe Robinson's home, on Deer Hill Plain. Stephen Dud- ley, by deed dated 23 June, 1713, gave this land "east of Deer Hill Mill," to his son Nicholas. The deed was acknowl- edged in 1716, and the house probably built before 1723, when Nicholas's first son was born.
Nicholas4 Dudley (Stephen3, Rev. Samuel2, Gov. Thomas1) was born in the Stephen Dudley garrison house 27 August, 1694. He married Elizabeth Gordon, of Exeter, daughter of Nicholas Gordon. Nicholas Dudley died at his. home (this garrison) July, 1762.
Province of To Mr. Nicholas Dudley, of Exeter N. Hampshire S Greeting
You are hereby, in his Majesty's name, authorized and required to keep your house in suitable posture of Defence against the Indian Enemy with the men under-mentioned and also as many else as shall list under you without weak- ening other frontier garrisons, until you shall receive con- tradictory orders from the Militia, hereby requiring you to see that strict watch and ward be by yourself and them continually kept, as you will answer the contrary at your peril.
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OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Given under our hands at Exeter* this 11th day of April, 1724.
John Gilman, Majr. James Leavitt, Lt. Benjamin Thing, Qr. Master
John Gilman Eliphalet Coffin Captains
Nicholas Smith 1
Joseph Dudley
Enlisted
Joseph Meseet ( ?)
(History of the Dudley Family, by Dean Dudley, Vol. 1, pp. 240-247)
*Brentwood was not set off from Exeter until 1742.
William Graves Garrison: The site of this garrison is on the lawn east of General Rufus E. Graves's house, on the main road from Exeter through Brentwood to Fremont. The garrison house was built, probably, by William Graves who was born June 17, 1704, and died April 17, 1777. He was granted thirty acres of land by the town of Exeter in 1725, and was living in Brentwood in 1743. The garrison was made of heavy, square timbers, planked and clapboard- ed, and when taken down about 1860-1866, was painted red. The old well, beside a beautiful maple tree, is still (1937) in use. (Information about this garrison given by General Graves, 1936.)
CHESTER
Benjamin Hills Garrison: Benjamin Hills died Novem- ber 3, 1769, or 1779. His house was a garrison with port holes, and was standing in 1869. His great grandson, Ben- jamin, lived in it that year. (History of Chester, John Carroll Chase, 1926, p. 444.)
Tolford Garrison: Major John Tolford, in 1724, built a house on the Walnut Hill Road, which was used as a gar- rison. The second story was enclosed with a brick and mortar wall to protect occupants from Indian attack. There was a well in the cellar. The house was later used as a tavern. In 1883, Mr. Clarence O. Morse took down the old house. He stated that in one stick of timber there were five hundred feet of lumber. (p. 414.)
CONCORD
The following data relative to the Concord garrisons are taken from the History of Concord, 1725-1853, by Na- thaniel Bouton, D.D.
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
At a general meeting of the intended settlers of a tract of land called Penny Cook, held at Andover 'the eight day of february, Anno Domini 1726: Agreed and voted that a block house of twenty five feet in breadth and forty feet in length be built at Penny Cook for the security of the set- tlers.' (p. 80.) This vote was carried out, for in the spring of 1728 'the block, or meeting-house, was finished.' (p. 91.)
Reverend Timothy Walker, aided by a grant of fifty pounds from the town, built his two-story house in 1733-4. It still stands, altered and enlarged, at the head of North Main Street. It was forty by twenty feet, with gambrel roof, and chimneys of flat stones laid in clay mortar and plastered inside with a composition of clay and chopped straw. In 1739 it was first appointed a garrison house, and fortified by a wall of timbers. The walls of the Concord garrisons 'were built of hewed logs which lay flat upon each other - the ends, being fitted for the purpose, were in- serted in grooves cut in large posts erected at each corner. They enclosed an area of several square rods; were raised to the height of the roof of a common dwelling-house, and at two or more of the corners were placed boxes where sen- tinels kept watch. In some cases several small building's - erected for the temporary accommodation of families - were within the enclosure.' (Bouton, 153.)
1739. Five pounds were granted to Mr Barachias Far- num to enable him to build a flanker to defend his mills, 'provided he give security to the town that in case he shall not keep a garrison at his dwelling-house, the town shall have liberty to take said flanker, and convert it to their use.' Mr Farnum's mill was on Turkey River, and his house also in that neighborhood. (p. 144.)
The following official document presents an exact view of the state of the settlement in 1746.
GARRISONS IN 1746
Province of New Hampe
We, the subscribers, being appointed a Committee of Militia for settling the Garrisons in the frontier Towns and Plantations in the sixth Regiment of Militia in this Prov- ince, by his Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., Gov- ernor, &c., having viewed the situation and enquired into the circumstances of the District of Rumford, do hereby appoint and state the following Garrisons, viz .:
The Garrison round the house of the Reverend Timothy Walker to be one of the Garrisons in sd Rumford, and that
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OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
the following inhabitants, with their familys, viz .: [here follow eight names] be, and hereby are, ordered and stated at that Garrison.
Also, the Garrison round the house of Capt. Ebenezer Eastman to be one Garrison, and that the following inhabi- tants, with their familys, viz .: [thirteen names] be, and hereby are, ordered and stated at said Garrison. (On east side of river.)
With the same formula the document appoints garri- sons round the houses of the following persons, with lists. The locations are Bouton's, 1853.
Henry Lovejoy. (West Parish, where Levi Hutchins now lives; ten families.)
Jonathan Eastman. (Mill Road, opposite house of Aaron Shute; eight families.)
Lieut. Jeremiah Stickney. (Where Joseph Stickney now lives ; twenty families.)
Joseph Hall. (Where the late Dea. Jonathan Wilkins lived ; fifteen families.)
Timothy Walker, Jr. (Near where George Hutchins now lives; twenty-two families.)
And, inasmuch as the inhabitants who reside in the Garrison round the house of Mr George Abbot; the Garri- son round the house of Mr Edward Abbot, and the Gar- rison round the house of Mr James Osgood have as yet made no provision for house-room and conveniences in the respective Garrisons where they are placed, for themselves and familys, and the season of the year so much demanding their labor for their necessary support that it renders it difficult to move immediately - Therefore, that they for the present, and until January next, or until further order, have leave, and be continued in the several Garrisons where they now are, and so long as there stated, to attend the necessary duty of watching, warding, &c, equally as if the same had been determined standing Garrisons.
Joseph Blanchard ) Benjamin Rolfe Come, &c Zacheus Lovewell
Rumford, May 15, 1746.
Province of District of Rumford, March ye 21st, 1746-47 New Hampe {
We, the subscribers, Committee of Militia, &c, at the request of sundry of the inhabitants of Rumford aforesd representing their uneasiness with the orders not being complyed with, and the pressing of the enemy having com- pelled two of the stated Garrisons to break up, and by that
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
means apprehending a further view and settlement to be necessary -
Have therefore repaired to Rumford aforesd and re- viewed their circumstances and do still continue the follow- ing Garrisons, as at first, viz: The Garrison round the house of the Revd Timothy Walker - Also, the Garrison round the house of Jeremiah Stickney - and have further ordered that the house of Mr Edward Abbot, being near and convenient to make one joynt defence with sd Stick- ney's Garrison, be likewise garrisoned-both which housen to be looked upon, and in all Garrison priviledges and duties to be, one Garrison; - Also, that the Garrison round the house of Mr Timothy Walker, jun., - and Mr Joseph Hall, be continued with the inhabitants before ordered there; and that the Garrison round the house of Mr Henry Love- joy and the Garrison at Jonathan Eastman's house [out- side the settlement, at West Parish and Millville] be thrown up and not kept, until the inhabitants posted at these Garrisons, or either of them, shall have further assistance and be ready to return; - and in the mean time they are respectively ordered to the following Garrisons, as may be most convenient for them [those mentioned above] which four garrisons, in our judgment, is as many as can be admitted for the interest and safety of the inhabitants, and the places well situated for the defence of the town. Joseph Blanchard Benjamin Rolfe Zacheus Lovewell Comee
Early in the year 1748 the inhabitants of Concord, Can- terbury and Boscawen petitioned the provincial government to have the garrison which had been abandoned at the grist mill of Henry Lovejoy in West Concord renewed. They set forth that 'the two last mentioned places are greatly dis- tressed for want of a suitable grist mill - and that it is the only mill in all three towns that stands under the com- mand of the guns of a garrison. That the ill consequences of abandoning the said garrison the year past has been severely felt by us. That the said Lovejoy appears desir- ous of residing there again, provided he might be favored with such a number of soldiers as just to keep his garrison with a tolerable degree of safety.' (N. H. Town Papers, Vol. XI, p. 391. History of Canterbury, p. 35.)
Benjamin Abbot's House. Although this house was not listed as a garrison, it was built for protection against In- dian attack. Benjamin Abbot ... became a proprietor by purchasing an original right. ... He built and lived in the house on the south side of the Bog Road, leading to Dunbar-
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OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
ton, near South Street. The house was framed, and the spaces between the studs filled with brick and mortar. The eaves projected over the sides, that, if attacked by Indians, he might fire down upon them, or pour water, if they at- tempted to burn it. The house is now owned by his great- grandson, Jeremiah S. Noyes, Esq. (Bouton, p. 623.)
DEERFIELD
Longfellow Garrison: The site of the first garrison house is one mile south of Deerfield Parade on the road to Nottingham. Else Cilley Chapter, D. A. R., marked this site with a boulder and bronze tablet, which reads: "Site of the Garrison House built by Capt. Jonathan Longfellow, in 1743. The farm paid for in Slaves. Bought in 1765 by Major Simon Marston, who served during the Revolution- ary War, and since occupied by his descendants."
DERRY
The section of old Londonderry which contained the garrisons is now East Derry and Derry Village.
Garrison Houses: Notwithstanding Londonderry dwelt in comparative security from Indian attacks, a few garrison houses were built to which the people could repair should danger impend. The house of Capt. James Gregg, near his grist mill built in 1722, was a garrison, and also the house of Samuel Barr, now Mr. Thwyng's. The town paid for a flanker for Rev. Mr. McGregor's dwelling, and there were other garrisons in the East Parish. In the West Parish a garrison stood on the spot where now (1882) stands the house of Jonathan W. Peabody. Mr. John A. Plumer, who was born in the old house, remembers when a boy looking through the holes cut in the immense timbers, through which an assailed party could thrust their guns. John Woodburn, a proprietor who died in 1780, is said to have lived in a garrison house.
In June, 1718, the province of New Hampshire enacted a law requiring towns to keep on hand one barrel of good powder, two hundredweight of bullets, three hundred flints for every sixty listed soldiers for use in case of an Indian attack. Londonderry obeyed the law of the land and al- ways had a full supply of the required ammunition. A few of the bullets are still kept and ready for use. People were paid for taking charge of the town stock. By vote of the town at one time the stock of powder was stored in the attics of the meeting houses, a pleasant and useful place in case of lightning during church services. In 1745, voted to
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
buy two barrels of gunpowder and lodge one-half in the old meeting-house, and the other half in the new. (History of Rockingham County, Hurd, 1882, p. 571.)
DOVER
In that part of the town of Dover, which lies about the falls in the river Cochecho, were five garrisoned houses; three on the north side, viz. Waldron's, Otis's and Beard's ; and two on the south side, viz. Peter Coffin's and his son's. These houses were surrounded with timber-walls, the gates of which, as well as the house doors, were secured with bolts and bars. The neighboring families retired to these houses by night; but by an unaccountable negligence no watch was kept. (History of New Hampshire by Jeremy Belknap, p. 124. Chapter X. The War with the French and Indians, commonly called King William's War.)
Walderne Garrison: A marker on the National Block shows the site of the Major Richard Walderne (Waldron) garrison house where he was massacred June 28, 1689, with a score of others. The house, built about 1664, was sur- rounded with a stockade and fortified as a garrison in 1674.
The story of the betrayal of four hundred Indians as- sembled at Dover in 1676, and the horrible revenge on Wal- dron thirteen years later, is told in all histories. Belknap offers some justification of Waldron's conduct. (Chap. V, p. 75.)
Otis Garrison: The Richard Otis garrison house, the second house he built in Dover, stood on a grant of fifty acres on the west side of Central Avenue, then called "the Cart-way," on the site of the house which stands on Mt. Vernon Street south of the Christian Science Church. He made it a garrison when the Indian Wars began, by sur- rounding it with a high stockade which enclosed a large yard in which he had his blacksmith shop. He resided here several years preceding the massacre of June, 1689, when he was shot by the Indians. (New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1851, Vol. 5. - Genealogy of the Otis Family, Hon. Horatio N. Otis, of New York. Also, History of Dover, John Scales.)
Heard Garrison: The site of Captain John Heard's gar- rison is supposed to be near where the brick house known as the Bangs house, on Central Avenue, now stands. "On Dec. 5, 1662, John Heard received a grant of fifty acres of 'upland under ye Great Hill at Cochecho, on ye south side of the great Hill, beloe the Cartway, at the sec- ond desent of the great hill and soe to the southward fiftie poell in Breathe and eightie scoer in lenkth.'" On this grant Capt. Heard built his house.
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