USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 1
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1
RATIONI
APPETITUS
PAREAT
THE FITZWILLIAM ARMS.
(SEE PAGE 808.)
B. B. Whiterose
THE
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM,
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
FROM
1752 TO 1887.
BY
REV. JOHN F. NORTON, A.M.
WITH A
GENEALOGICAL RECORD
OF MANY FITZWILLIAM FAMILIES BY JOEL WHITTEMORE.
" Gather up the fragmeuts that remain that nothing be lost."
NEW YORK : BURR PRINTING HOUSE, 18 JACOB STREET. 1888.
COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY JOEL WHITTEMORE.
Fão
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION
. . xiii
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING THE TOWN.
Location of the Town-Boundaries-Changes in these-Size-Face of the Country-Its Rocks and Ledges-The Underlying Rock-Geological Structure-Elevation-Soil-Wood and Timber-Climate-Frosts -Healthiness-Productions of the Soil-Wild Small Fruits-The Rhododendron-Forests-Common Fruits-Birds and Wild Animals -Ponds-Streams-Drainage of the Town-Its Water-shed ... 17-26
CHAPTER II.
THE INDIANS OF SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
List of Authorities-Orthography of Indian Names-The Five Great Tribes of New England-The Pantuckets-The Pennacook Division -Tribes Subordinate to these-Mohawks-Grand Chief of the Pen- nacooks, Passaconaway-Wonolanset-Numbers of New Hamp- shire Indians-Character and Habits-Provocations to Cruelty- Food-Implements-Domestic Life-Claims to the Land-Sales of Land-Removal from Southern New Hampshire-Indian Remains- Confirmatory Statements-Court-Martial at Groton, Mass., 1706- Letter of Gov. Saltenstall, of Conn .- Capt. John Lovewell. .. 27-40
CHAPTER III.
THE MONADNOCK REGION IN 1740-THE OLD MILITARY ROAD.
The " Grand Monadnock "-Covered anciently by a Forest-" The Bald Peaks "-Early Explorers Deceived-The Country around appar- ently a great Plain-Views of Monadnock from Fitzwilliam.
THE OLD MILITARY ROAD.
Forts on the Connecticut River-The Road from these to Lake Cham- plain-The Connecting Link with this from Eastern Massachusetts-
vi
CONTENTS.
The Two Branches of the Latter-The Course of the More Important Branch-How Used Anciently .41-46
CHAPTER IV.
GRANTS OF THE LANDS IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Deficiency of Records-Early Explorers-Gold Fever-Ascent of the White Mountains-Royal Claims-Grant of Plymouth (Eng.) Com- pany-Ferdinando Gorges-Capt. John Mason-Their Grant-Di- vision of it-Mason's Death and Estate-Robert Tufton Mason-The Mason Family-Sale of Grant to the Masonian Proprietors-Their Reservations-Monadnock Townships-First Grant of Monadnock No. 4-Forfeiture of the Same-Second Grant to Sampson Stoddard and Others-Division of This-Ranges, Lots, etc .- Plan of Town- ship-Drawing and Choice of Lots. 47-69
CHAPTER V.
ACTS OF THE PROPRIETORS, 1765-1815.
Call for the First Meeting-Officers Chosen-Other Meetings-" The Fifty Settlements "-Funds Raised-Provision for Roads-Provision for Locating Meeting-House and Cemetery-Committees for this- Difficulties Encountered-Meeting-House Raised-Mr. Benjamin Brigham's Candidacy and Settlement-Sale of Pew Ground-Move- ment for Incorporation-Support of the Pastor-Roads and Bridges -Later and Last Acts of the Proprietors-Settlement with the Treasurer. 70-89
CIIAPTER VI.
EARLY ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 1768-1800.
Provision for Religious Privileges-The Proprietors not settlers-Mr. Nehemiah Parker's Ministry-Meeting-House Built-Its Appearance -Interior Arrangements-Mr. Benjamin Brigham's Candidacy-His call-His Acceptance-Council for His Ordination-Church Organ- ized-The Covenant-Sketch of the Signers-Early Members- " Half-Way Covenant " -- The Church in Councils- Expenses of it met-Sabbath Congregations-Their habits-Church Music-Offi- cers of the Church-Harmony in it-The First Pastor's Sickness, Death and Character-His Sermons 90-105
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
SETTLERS FROM 1762-1800.
General Observations.
Detached Families mostly-From Whence-Their Expectations-General Character - Age - Intelligence- Families- Property-Dwellings- Domestic Habits-Style of Living-Dress-Means of Communica- tion-Social Qualities-Visiting-Amusements-Regard for Re- ligious Ordinances-Church-Going-Use of Intoxicating Drinks- Farming-Manufactures.
Personal.
Sources of Information-Many Family Names now Extinct in the Town -Benjamin Bigelow-James Reed-Jason Stone-The Mellen Fam- ily and others, 204 names in all .106-145
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY TOWN HISTORY. 1773-1800.
Movement for Incorporation-Opposition to this-Committee to ask it of the Governor and Council-Charter Granted-The Charter-The Name Fitzwilliam-First Town Meeting-Injury of the Book of Records-The first Town Officers-Record of the Annual Meeting, 1774-Petition for Pew Ground in the Meeting-House-Records of Pew Associations-Warning out of Town-Reasons for this-List of persons warned out, 1775-1789-Appropriations and Arrangements for Schools -- Call for Beef for Continental Army-Instructing Rep- resentatives-Paupers-Conventions-Petition to raise funds to support "The Great Road "-Licenses-Tabular List of the Owners of the Lands in Town, 1798, and Valuation of the Houses. . 146-187
CHAPTER IX.
ECCLESIASTICAL, HISTORY FROM 1800 ONWARD.
Rev. Stephen Williams's Pastorate-Unusual Conditions of the Call given to him-His Character and Dismission-Rev. John Sabin called- Councils for his Ordination-Location of a new Meeting-House- This Built and Consumed-Another Meeting-House erected-Cost of it-Religious Differences among the People-The Division-Re-
viii
CONTENTS.
organization of the 1st Congregational or Unitarian Society-Its Ministers and History-The Unitarian Ladies' Benevolent Society- The Orthodox Society formed-Its Church Edifice built-Settle- ment of Rev. Horace Herrick as Colleague Pastor-Death of Rev. John Sabin-The Ministry of Revs. Abraham Jenkins, John Woods, William L. Gaylord, John F. Norton, and John Colby-Families of these Pastors-Deacons-Church Membership-Parsonages-The Sabin Home-Church Centennial-Female Benevolent Society -- The Baptist Church and Society-Its Acting Pastors and Pastors-Meet- ing-House Erected and Repaired-Membership-Benevolent Society -Methodist Episcopal Society-Its Houses of Worship-Its Minis- ters-Sabbath-School-Benevolent Work. . 188-215
CHAPTER X.
FITZWILLIAM IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Opening of the Struggle-Congress at Philadelphia-Committee of In- spection-Their Complaint against Breed Bachelor-Condition of the Town, 1775-Excitement-The Lexington Fight-Military Com- pany Organized-Minute Men-Training Band-Citizens Inspected -Census, 1773 and 1775-Col. James Reed-His Regiment at Bun- ker Hill-New Hampshire Troops in that Battle-Needham Maynard's Statement-The Declaration of Loyalty-Appropriations to pay Soldiers' Wages and Furnish Provisions-Fitzwilliam Soldiers in the Continental Service-Difficulty in locating them-Where and under Whom they served-Arnold's Expedition-Lists of Pension- ers-Abigal Clay's Petition-The War of 1812-1814 .216-250
CHAPTER XI.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1773-1886. FINANCIAL MATTERS.
Constables-Town Treasurers-Moderators-Town Clerks-Representa- tives-Selectmen-Auditors-Collectors-Candidates' Names and Votes for the Chief Executive of New Hampshire, 1784-1886-Ap- propriations-Depreciation of the Currency-Authorized Scale of this-Allowance for labor on Roads-Highest taxpayers in 1793, 1803, 1813, 1823, 1833-Taxes usually paid with promptness-Ex- traordinary Expenses, 1861-1869-High Credit of the Town-Fund- ing of the Town Debt-Rate of Taxation, 1869-1880-List of the Legal Voters, February 21st, 1820-Names on Check-Lists, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1884, and Number of Votes cast .. 251-273
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
FITZWILLIAM IN THE REBELLION.
Antagonism between Freedom and Slavery-The Missouri Compromise -Attempt to set it aside-Action of the Town concerning it- Election of Abraham Lincoln-Attack upon Fort Sumter-Blood shed in Baltimore-Excitement in Fitzwilliam-Action of the Town, May, 1861-Call for Soldiers-First enlistments-Aid for Soldiers' Families-Bounties offered-The Selectmen authorized to Hire men to fill Quotas-New offers of Bounties-Reports con- cerning amounts paid out-The resident Clergymen appointed a Committee to keep a record of Fitzwilliam in Suppressing the Rebellion-They declining the Service, a new Committee appointed -Incorporation of their Report in this History-Fitzwilliam men in the several N. Hampshire Regiments-Tabular record of them- The Men in the United States Regular Service-Those enlisted in other States-Summary of numbers-General record of these Sol- diers-Summary of Bounties paid-Deaths in the Service-Incidents -Experience of William Dunton and others-Miss Hannah A. Adams's (Mrs. Morris Collins) Work at the West-The Soldiers' Monument-Its Dedication 274-312
CHAPTER XIII.
EDUCATIONAL.
School Lands-Their Location-Lease of the same-Rent-Early Ap- propriations for a School-Committees to provide Schools, and man- age the same-Districts organized-Their number and location- Redistrieting the Town-The first School Houses-Early School Teachers-Early School Discipline-Branches taught in the early Schools-Supervision of the same-The earliest Superintending School Committees-Rev. Mr. Sabin's criticism upon the prevailing system - List of Superintending Committees, 1842-1887- The Printed School Reports-Tabular Statements respecting Attend- ance, 1843-1887-High School-Literary Fund-Common School Association-Its Meetings and Work-The Fitzwilliam Lyceum- Farmers' and Mechanics' Club-Musical Talent and Culture-Tem- perance Societies-Libraries-Volumes in the Town Library-Library of District No. 1. 313-349
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Military Companies-The earliest-The Infantry Company-Its Captains -Cavalry Company-Artillery Company-Its Captains-Town Hall -The Edifice Itself-Changes in it-The Town in possession- Rooms for Town Officers and Library-The Bell and Clock-Im- provements about and upon the Common-Fire Department-De- structive Fires-Savings Bank-Post Offices and Postmasters-Pop- ulation-Census at Different times-Cemetery and Burials-Tabular list of Deaths and Interments-Deaths of Professional Men-Deaths of persons of Eighty years and upward-from Accidents-by sui- cide-List of persons of over Eighty Years, living, January 1st, 1887-Pauperism-Connection with the World-Cheshire Railroad- Merchants and Traders-Their Names and Places of Business-Inns and Hotels-Free Masons-Odd Fellows' Lodge-Wild Animals- Destruction by and encounters with them-Hunting of them .. 350-411
CHAPTER XV.
FITZWILLIAM INDUSTRIES.
Agricultural Matters-Productions of the Soil-Mechanical Trades- Domestic Manufactures-Tanneries-Sawmills-The Scott Mill- Grist Mills-Taxation of Mill Property-Wooden Ware-Manufac- ture and Peddlers of the Same-Other Manufactures-The Granite Industry-The value of the Stone-The Beginning of this business - The Individuals and Firms now engaged in it - Amount shipped .412-422
CHAPTER XVI.
PROFESSIONAL.
Classes of these-Sketches of the Civilians, Lawyers, Physicians, Clergy- men and Distinguished Educators who were born, or have resided, in the Town, 57 in number-List of College Graduates from Fitz- william 423-447
Genealogical Register 448-803 Appendix-The name of the Town. 805-810
Index of Families that are arranged under other names in the Genealogical Register 811-814
Historical Index. 815-829
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
Jonathan Sabin Adams. faces page 453
John Jarvis Allen, 456
Reuben Angier. 461
Stephen Batcheller. . 464 .
Hyman and Levinah Johnson Bent, 468
Charles Bigelow, .
413
Amos Jewett Blake, Esq ..
4:7
Joseph Blodgett, 480
Rev. John Stillman Brown, 800
Josiah Everett Carter, 506
Rev. John Colby, . 204
Silas Cummings, M. D., 526 802
Jonas Damon,
Joseph Wright Fassett, 560
Jesse Forristall,
572
Rev. William Luther Gaylord, . 204
Aaron Rysing Gleason, M. D .. 583
204
Rev. Abraham Jenkins, Jr., .
204
Samuel Kendall, .
620
John Kimball, 622
Rev. John Foote Norton, 204
Amos Andrew Parker, Esq .. . 653
John McClary Parker, 399
William Fisher Perry.
663
David Perry, 662
Charles Perry, 665
Calvin Brigham Perry. 402
Charles William Perry. 664
Phinehas Reed, 691
Rev. Horace Herrick,
xii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
HIon. Edward Cambridge Reed, faces page 440
Rev. John Sabin, 209
Mrs. Mary Sabin, . 208
Daniel Spaulding, 221 . Whittemores. Five Generations. . 779
Charles Whittemore,
Joel Whittemore, 400
Rev. John Woods, ,95
VIEWS.
Park and Soldiers' Monument, 304
The Town Hall, 356
I. Village from the Pinnacle,
II. Village from the Jaffrey road, S 337
I. Congregational Church and Sabin Parsonage, 2 :06
II. Village from the West,
Whittemore Homestead, 772
MAPS AND PLANS.
Plan of the Town as originally allotted, 66
Map of the Town in 1807 : original by Samnel Hemenway, 132 Map of the Town in 1887 : drawn expressly for this work, 186
360 Three Villages, ·
Leaf from the burned Record Book-reduced facsimile, .
154
Fitzwilliam Family Portraits, 807
Wentworth-Woodhouse, Yorkshire, England, 809
The Fitzwilliam Coat-of-Arms, Frontispiece.
INTRODUCTION.
E VERY community has its history, of more or less impor- tance, and no people that is wise will leave this to be for- gotten or rendered of little value by the uncertainties of tradition.
From time to time, during a period of more than thirty years, the attention of the inhabitants of Fitzwilliam has been called to this subject, for at the close of one of his Historical Lectures which the late Dr. Silas Cummings gave to the people of this place before 1860, he said : " My impression is that we should resolve ourselves into a Committee of the Whole on the matter of a Town History, each report the his- tory of his own family, and choose a Committee to embody the facts, and read them at meetings called expressly for this pur- pose. This matter of a Town History is important ; ten years ago we had many more materials than we have now, and in ten years more all will be lost."
This project not being deemed feasible, the subject was discussed at various times, both publiely and privately, by persons interested in the work, till in March, 1871, it was brought formally before the Town, when a Committee, con- sisting of Dr. Silas Cummings and Messrs. Charles Bigelow and Samuel Kendall, was appointed to collect materials for a History. These were all busy men in their several spheres of life, and it could hardly have been expected that they would be able to pursue the matter systematically and reach definite results.
Under such a vote, however encouraging it might be as a beginning, it soon appeared that no substantial progress could be made without a more definite plan and securing more re- sponsibility for the work. Accordingly, at the Town Meeting March, 1882, the Selectmen were instructed to appoint a
xiv
INTRODUCTION.
Committee of three to prepare a manuscript History of the Town, similar in details to the Histories of Rindge, Peter- borough, and Marlborough, and Five Hundred Dollars were appropriated to pay this Committee for their services. Un- avoidable difficulties prevented the choice and qualification of such a Committee, and nothing was done till March, 1884, when the subject was again brought before the Town. At this meeting the Town voted to appoint a Committee of three to carry into effect the former vote, and chose Joel Whitte- more, of New York, as a member of said Committee, and instructed the Seleetmen to complete the number, which was done by the appointment of John M. Parker and Calvin B. Perry. The Committee thus constituted opened negotiations with Rev. John F. Norton, of Natick, Mass., whom they had known while a Pastor in Fitzwilliam from 1868 to 1873, as familiar, to some extent, with historical work, and engaged him to write the History. Later Mr. Whittemore, one of the Committee, assumed the responsibility of collecting and arranging the Genealogical part of the work.
The result of these arrangements is now offered to the in- habitants of Fitzwilliam and such others as from birth, resi- dence, acquaintance, or for any other reason may be inter- ested in the character, condition, or progress of this Town since it began to be settled in 1752.
As to the sources of information open to the historian in this case, what follows should be noted.
Rev. John Sabin, Pastor in Fitzwilliam for more than forty years, gave to the people of this place four Historical Lec- tures, the first in 1836 and the remaining three in 1842, and these were devoted exclusively to the interests, condition, and progress of this Town, civilly, socially, intellectually, morally, and religiously, during the eighty years that had elapsed since its settlement. These Lectures (in manuscript) have been freely consulted in the progress of this work.
Dr. Silas Cummings left three Historical Lectures of the same general character, two of which he appears to have given to the Fitzwilliam people in 1859 and one in 1873. Some portions of these were made up from extracts from the
XV
INTRODUCTION.
ancient records of the Proprietors, of the Town, and of the Church, but in general they were filled with interesting facts concerning the early settlers of the town, their privations, their hardships, character, and progress. Besides these Dr. Cummings collected and noted upon slips of paper or in blank books, in the hurry of his professional life, many anecdotes concerning the first settlers, and detached accounts of many of their families, all of which he doubtless hoped to arrange at his leisure, so that they would aid in the preparation of a Town History. These have been of much use, though the connecting links which kept them together in Dr. Cummings's mind, and would have rendered them of greater service to him, have been entirely lost.
Mr. Charles Bigelow collected a multitude of facts relating to the location of the early settlers, mainly in the southern and western portions of the Town, adding Genealogical records, more or less complete, of the families located.
The Town owes not a little of the value of this History to the industry, zeal, and public spirit of these men, but they had not even commenced the preparation of anything for the press. All the facts collected by them it has been necessary to restate, rearrange, and complete from other sources, to pre- serve the continuity and harmony of the History. Whenever extracts have been made from the Lectures of Rev. Mr. Sabin and Dr. Cummings, due credit has been given.
The carly Pastors of the Church, Rev. Benjamin Brigham and Rev. John Sabin, in addition to a careful entry upon the Church Records of admissions and dismissions, baptisms administered and marriages solemnized, appear to have made a record of deaths not only in cases where they officiated at funerals, but also of all others coming to their knowledge.
Belknap's History of New Hampshire, the great store-house of facts respecting the early history of this State, and San- born's, Whiton's, and Barstow's Histories of New Hampshire have rendered not a little aid in this work. To make the Chapter " Fitzwilliam in the Revolutionary War" as complete as possible, much information has been obtained from the ancient Military Rolls and other papers in the office of the
xvi
INTRODUCTION.
Secretary of State at Concord. Special aid has been received from Volumes 14 and 15 of the New Hampshire Records, re- cently printed by the State and sent to the several towns and cities.
The old and later Records of the Proprietors, of the Town, and of the Churches have yielded a great amount of informa- tion, and the same is true of the Reports of the Selectmen, of the Town Treasurers, the School Committees, and Library Supervisors. The Records of the Military Companies, of the Common School Association, of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club, of the Temperance Associations, of the Savings Bank, and other organizations have been freely consulted, while the valuable Report of the Committee for preparing Rolls of the Fitzwilliam Soldiers in the Rebellion has been mainly trans- ferred to these pages.
Much has also been obtained from the Massachusetts State Library, the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Boston Public Library, and the Natick (Mass. ) Town Li- brary, while a number of the people of Fitzwilliam have given time and thought to the collection of important facts that have been preserved only in the memories of the aged.
Something has also been gathered from the published His- tories of the neighboring towns.
Among those whose aid has been of special service in the preparation of this volume are : The Hon. Secretary of State, Mr. Thompson, at Concord, and Hon. Isaac W. Hammond, who for a number of years has been the Editor of the New Hampshire Records, volumes that reflect much honor upon the State.
We have also been materially assisted by the Gentlemen in charge of the Libraries named above, as well as by Rev. J. H. Temple, Historian of Northfield and Framingham, Mass .; Amos A. Parker, Esq., Capt. Jonathan S. Adams, Milton Chaplin, Esq., Messrs. J. E. and C. C. Carter, Mrs. Selina P. Damon, and Mrs. John Kimball.
Others who have assisted materially will find due credit given them for their aid in connection with the several items they have furnished.
FITZWILLIAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION, PRODUCTIONS, ETC.
Location-Boundaries-Size-Face of the Country-Ledges-Underlying Rocks-Geological Structure-Elevation-Soil-Climate-Agricultural Productions-Fruits-Rhododendrons-Forests-Birds and Wild Ani- mals-Lakes and Ponds-Streams.
O F the five towns in Cheshire County, N. H., that border on Massachusetts, Fitzwilliam is the most eastern but one, and is bounded on the north by Jaffrey and Troy, on the east by Rindge and Jaffrey, on the south by Roy- alston and Winchendon, in Worcester County, Mass., and on the west by Richmond and Troy, chiefly by the former. On the line that separates Massachusetts and New Hampshire Fitzwilliam borders upon Royalston and Winchendon in the proportion of about three to the former and one to the latter. The northern boundary of Fitzwilliam is not a continuous, di- rect line, and never has been, the north-east corner of the rhomboid which would naturally have constituted this town having, from the first, been a part of Jaffrey. As originally laid out, about one fifteenth part of what otherwise would have been Fitzwilliam belonged to her neighbor.
The remaining part of the northern boundary, or about three fourths of the whole, was originally a straight line, separating Fitzwilliam from Marlborough ; but when, in 1815, the new town of Troy was incorporated, taking portions of its territory from Marlborough, Fitzwilliam, Swanzey, and Richmond, but largely from the two first mentioned, this line became like a
2
18
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
series of steps gradually ascending from the north-west corner toward the north-east.
As originally surveyed and granted, the territory may be considered as designed to constitute a town of six miles square, or thirty-six square miles, with some allowance for ponds and waste lands. The measurements as given in the grant would make the actual size of the town about forty square miles. The early surveys often made generous allowances for ponds and bad lands. In the original survey of Rowley Canada ( Rindge), the surveyor made an allowance of ten thousand aeres, which was reduced to five thousand acres by the Exec- utive Council ; bnt even this would make the allowance nearly eight square miles. The shape and boundaries of the township as originally laid out, as well as at present constituted, will be best understood by referring to the maps of the town else- where in this volume.
Though lying near mountains of considerable height and commanding a view of grand mountain scenery, Fitzwilliam is not mountainous. But it is very hilly ; indeed, almost its entire surface may be said to be made up of ranges of hills or single elevations, with comparatively narrow intervals between them. The sides of these hills have furnished for four gen- erations good pasturage, while upon the tops of these ranges some good farms may be found with a fair proportion of land suitable for mowing and tillage.
The town is noted for the superabundance of its stones, rocks, bowlders, and ledges. Respecting this feature of the town, Rev. John Sabin gives this testimony in the historical lectures delivered by him in 1836 and 1842, the three lectures of 1842 having been rewritten and enlarged from the single lecture of 1836 :
Besides what appears to be so near a solid rock below, the rock and stone abound at the surface ; there is a heavy top-dressing of them. Few travellers for the first time passing the town but will notice and speak of this as the roughest place they have ever seen, and will almost wonder where our stone walls came from, because it must be all are now on the ground that ever could be made there. These are rather fright- ful to the stranger, but peaceable things let alone. And the fact is, as
19
ROCKS, LEDGES, ETC.
we become acquainted with them they lose much of the frightful. It is seldom you hear a piece of land spoken against here because it is rocky. And really the land does not produce fewer or smaller trees- or less grass for the rocks. Much use is made of them, and not every man will allow you to go on his farm and take them away, especially the best of them. And young men who go out from this to look them a situa- tion are very apt to name the want of stone as an objection.
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