USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 L99d 1127485
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01187 9308
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofl1735dono
THE HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE
.
BENJAMIN LYNDE, JR.
THE HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF LYNDEBOROUGH
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1735-1905
BY
REV. D. DONOVAN AND JACOB A. WOODWARD
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN
ANDY HOLT J. H. GOODRICH LUTHER CRAM REV. D. DONOVAN JACOB A. WOODWARD
HISTORY COMMITTEE
THE TUFTS COLLEGE PRESS H. W. WHITTEMORE & Co.
1906
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١
1127485
1735 Granted by the Province of Massachusetts as SALEM-CANADA
I753 Chartered by the Masonian Proprietors as LYNDEBOROUGH
1764 Chartered by the Province of New Hampshire as the TOWN OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Benning Wentworth, Governor
Preface.
It is said that many years ago some of our most gifted and in- telligent citizens felt that the history of Lyndeborough ought to. be written while aged men and women were still living whose recollection reached back to the later days of many of the pio- neers. Had it been commenced then, doubtless many things of great interest would have been preserved for us which are now either entirely lost, or shrouded in impenetrable haze. The rea- sons which then prevented are not now clearly manifest. But the thing was not done, and the years rolled on and carried away the fathers and mothers, revered repositories of facts and traditions which would undoubtedly have both enlivened and enriched the pages of our present volume.
The interest in having a history was, however, revived in the March meeting of 1889. The town then voted to celebrate its One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary, and on the same day, also, voted to appropriate two hundred dollars towards prepar- ing and publishing its history. Messrs. D. C. Grant, J. H. Goodrich, J. A. Woodward, L. Cram, and E. C. Curtis were chosen as the History Committee. The next year three hun- dred dollars were added to the former appropriation ; and a year later, on motion of Hon. B. G. Herrick, the town instructed its committee "to proceed with the work as fast as consistent with getting up a good history." Thus an earnest interest in obtain- ing a history became manifest.
About that time, Rev. Frank G. Clark published his " His- torical Address," prepared for the 150th anniversary. It was entitled "Salem-Canada-Lyndeborough," and almost deserved to be called a "history in miniature." This he kindly and generously permitted to be freely used as an aid in compiling the more extended work ; and for the very valuable aid thus ex- tended the compilers unite in expressing to him most hearty and unfeigned thanks. Readers will learn from the frequent citation from this address as authority how much they are indebted to Rev. F. G. Clark.
The committee for several years reported very little progress. Meantime, two of its members, Messrs. Woodward and Curtis,
x
PREFACE
declined to serve. The former had already collected many genealogical records which remained in his care during this in- active period, and served at a later day to forward the work. Very many and valuable facts had been collected by Mr. Good- rich, but were in a detached form awaiting combination to ex- hibit their utility and real worth. Mr. Grant's collection was of a miscellaneous, and, perhaps, necessarily, of an unclassified nature, and very much of it was difficult to decipher. The col- lections thus made were reported by the chairman as about all that were needed for the publication of the history.
Upon learning this Hon. B. G. Herrick moved that the resi- dent pastors, Rev. O. E. Hardy and Rev. D. Donovan, be added to the History Committee, to assist in arranging the materials and preparing them for the press, and the town so voted. The committee thus constituted had held but one session when Rev. Mr. Hardy resigned his pastorate and removed from town, in 1899. Early, also, in the year 1900, our Chairman, D. C. Grant, was removed from us by death. The vacancies thus made were filled by electing Mr. Andy Holt as chairman, and Rev. A. M. Rockwood, the new pastor, in place of Mr. Hardy. After a few months, however, Mr. Rockwood declined to serve, and Mr. Jacob A. Woodward was again elected a member of the History Committee, which then consisted of Messrs. Andy Holt, Chair- man, J. H. Goodrich, Clerk, Luther Cram, Rev. D. Donovan and J. A. Woodward. The two-members last named seemed to be selected to shape the work, while the others agreed to render every assistance which they could. And it may here be stated that unusual harmony and even kindly feelings have governed their action in labors which, however pleasant in themselves, have at times been very perplexing and exacting.
The committee thus constituted commenced the process of in- specting, classifying and combining materials, collecting new and collating both new and old matter, and composing the whole into narrative form somewhat approaching unity. The task was undertaken without undue presumption, and has been as faith- fully prosecuted as circumstances seemed to permit ; and it is hardly necessary to state that its completion, so long delayed, is viewed by them with emotions of grateful relief. Our cordial sympathies are tendered to our generous fellow-citizens who have unstintingly voted their money for and earnestly desired to see the finished book. We trust that, all in all, it will not utterly disappoint their hopes.
xi
PREFACE
Justice and gratitude alike demand appreciative recognition and mention of our friends and helpers. Among the very help- ful volumes consulted are the Province Records and State Papers, edited by Bouton, Hammond and Batchellor, to which we add the Histories of Exeter, Weare, Hancock, Peterbor- ough, Antrim, Francestown, New Boston, Amherst, Milford, Wilton, Mason, Temple, Rindge and possibly a few others. We are indebted, also, to our State Library and to our Hon. Secretary of State, Edward N. Pearson, as well as to our Registrar of Deeds, Col. Dana W. King, for courteous as- sistance and permission to consult the archives of our county which are in their custody ; and it is presumed that some of the old deeds and conveyances will possess a measure of interest for present readers who may, perchance, occupy some of the tracts there described. We extend sincere and hearty thanks to Maj. D. E. Proctor, Trustee, and Miss Mary E. Abbott, Librarian of Wilton Public Library for free use and consultation of the vol- umes of that institution, and to Miss Doane, Librarian of Mil- ford Public Library for similar courtesy. The Historic Genea- logical Society's Library in Boston afforded us valued assistance respecting Benjamin Lynde, Jr., Esq., and his heirs, who at one time owned a large portion of our town ; the portrait of him which forms our frontispiece was obtained from a painting in possession of Mrs. Oliver of Boston who kindly permitted it to be copied for this history, and whose late husband, Dr. F. E. Oliver, was a great-grandson of Benjamin Lynde, Jr.
The Committee regards it as a piece of good fortune that Mr. H. W. Whittemore had charge of printing the book. Mr. Whittemore is a son of Lyndeborough and shares in the inter- ests and traditions of some of her old, substantial families. He has taken great pains with the work and has rendered effective and interested assistance in every department of it.
The illustrations in Part I. were furnished chiefly by home talent, some by Mr. E. D. Putnam, now of Antrim, some by Mr. John P. Proctor of North Lyndeborough, and a few from other sources.
Finally, we tender sincere and grateful acknowledgments and thanks to all our neighbors and friends who generously en- trusted us not only with printed volumes, but also with private documents to aid in our investigations. Nor would we forget the uniform patience and kindness of our more aged fellow-citi- zens in our almost inquisitorial quizzing at times. They have
.
xii
PREFACE
truly merited our gratitude and esteem. And though our book may omit some facts which both we and its readers may wish had been recorded and include others which might have been omitted with little injury, this very condition may serve to ex- plain partly, at least, our earnest quest to obtain the best possi- ble matters to put on record.
We now commit our history to the considerate judgment of all our citizens and friends, confidently trusting that it will in no wise diminish their affection and esteem for the old Town of Lyndeborough.
South Lyndeborough, Jan. 18, 1906.
Contents.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Summary View I-7
II. The Indians 8-12
III. The Canada Expedition of 1690 13-20
PART I.
I. Assumptions of Massachusetts. Extracts from Jour- nal of her Legislature . 21-30
II. Salem-Canada Sawmills, Roads, and Meetinghouse . 31-39
III. Sale of Mason's Estates 40-56
IV. Lyndeborough under the Charter of the Masonian Proprietors . 57-10I V. Physical Features of Lyndeborough : Flora, Geology, Topography, Ponds, Streams, etc. 102-13I
VI. Lyndeborough under Provincial Charter 132-150
VII. Lyndeborough in the Revolutionary War 151-206 VIII. The Militia 207-227
IX. The War of 1812 and the Mexican War 228-23I
x. Lyndeborough in the Civil War 232-242
XI. Lyndeborough's Contributions to Other Towns 243-256
XII. Town Officers, Collectors of Taxes, etc. 257-275
XIII. Ecclesiastical Matters . 276-32I
XIV. Ecclesiastical Matters (continued) 322-336
XV. History of the Baptist Church and Other Religious Interests 337-353
XVI. Public Schools and Teachers 354-380
XVII. Libraries : Social, Franklin, South Lyndeborough Circulating, and the Public Library 381-388
XVIII. Lyceums 389-394
XIX. Local Organizations : The " Scataquog " Silver Mine ; Lyndeborough Mutual Fire Insurance Co .; and Grand Army of the Republic. (For Auxiliaries, W. R. C. and S. of V. see Appendix) 395-400
XX. Pinnacle Grange 40I-407
XXI. Stores and Merchants 408-414
XXII. Taverns and Temperance .- Tavern Keepers .- Tem- perance Influences 415-421
XXIII. Mails, Post-Routes and Stages 422-427
XXIV. Roads and Bridges 428-438
XXV. Public Buildings : Halls and Schoolhouses 439-450
XXVI. Mills and Other Industries 451-462
XXVII. The " Olden Time " in Lyndeborough 463-481 XXVIII. Old Deeds . 482-489
xiv
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
PAGE
XXIX. Old Cellar Holes and Building Sites 490-497
XXX. Cemeteries 498-502
XXXI. Owners and Transfers of Real Estate 503-540
XXXII.
Town Fairs and Celebrations : Agricultural ; 150th Anniversary ; Dr. Herrick's Poem; Centennial of Lafayette Artillery Co. 541-578
XXXIII. Biographical Sketches
579-619
XXXIV. Professional Men : Ministers, Physicians ; Trades- men; Authors and College Graduates 620-625
XXXV.
Miscellaneous Items : People, as to Race; Census of 1767; Salt and Molasses; The Smallpox in 1794 and a Poem; Smallpox in 1853 and Spotted Fever ; The Extension of the Wilton or Peterborough R.R. to Greenfield; Fires, Accidents, and Incidents . 626-637
XXXVI. Mortuary Record since 1861
638-645
PART II.
Preface to Genealogies 649-650
Genealogies 651-904
Appendix
905-907 Index
· 909-932
Errata
933
List of Illustrations.
BENJAMIN LYNDE, JR. Frontispiece
NORTH SIDE OF PINNACLE 9
MAP OF SALEM-CANADA AND LYNDEBOROUGH 2I
WINN MOUNTAIN 31
LENTICULAR HILLS AT NORTH LYNDEBOROUGH I04
PINNACLE FROM STEPHENSON'S HILL I07
BADGER POND III
SENTER'S FALLS 113
MOUNTAIN VIEW I51
SOLDIER'S MONUMENT 233
VIEW FROM WALKER'S HILL 243
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 277
REV. E. B. CLAGGETT 30I
BAPTIST CHURCH 337
LINDEBOROUGH CENTRE 409 SOUTH LYNDEBOROUGH 4II
439
CITIZENS' HALL
44I
VIEW FROM LUTHER CRAM'S HOUSE
595
JACOB A. WOODWARD .
649
RODNEY C. BOUTWELL
665
NANCY J. BOUTWELL
666
DR. HENRY W. BOUTWELL
668
ROLAND H. BOUTWELL
671
ROSWELL M. BOUTWELL
672
BENJAMIN J. CLARK
697 699 700
REV. B. F. CLARK
703
REV. F. G. CLARK
707
CRAM COAT OF ARMS
710
LUTHER CRAM
715
ELI C. CURTIS
727
W. W. CURTIS
728
REV. D. DONOVAN
733
JOHN C. GOODRICH
749
JOHN H. GOODRICH
751
JOHN R, GOODRICH
752
GRANT BROTHERS
754
DR. ISRAEL HERRICK
BENJAMIN G. HERRICK
765 769
JOTHAM HILDRETH
771
GEN. ALFRED HOLT
775
ANDY HOLT 776
TOWN HALL
PETER CLARK
WILLIAM H. CLARK
xvi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
DR. W. A. JONES . 789
WILLIAM JONES .
790
RESIDENCE OF G. W. PARKER 815
G. W. PARKER 816
CHARLES L. PERHAM 820
MAJ. DAVID E. PROCTOR
825
DAVID PUTNAM
830
NATHAN RICHARDSON .
841
GEORGE ROSE 845
FRANKLIN SENTER 850
EDWARD PAIGE SPALDING 856
DR. HENRY E. SPALDING 858
JOEL H. TARBELL 867
CHARLES F. TARBELL 868
JOSIAH WHEELER . 877
DANIEL B. WHITTEMORE 883
WILLIAM L. WHITTEMORE 885
MEHITABLE TRASK WOODWARD 897
GEORGE T. WOODWARD
898
THE HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH.
General Introduction.
CHAPTER I.
SUMMARY VIEW.
The town of Lyndeborough is one of the chartered political divisions of the State of New Hampshire. The territory of which it is a part, was granted by the King of England to the Plymouth Company, or as it was more commonly called, the Council of Plymouth, in the year 1620; granted again in 1622 by the same king, James I., to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Cap- tain John Mason ; and further, granted to Captain John Mason in 1629, by the Council of Plymouth. But quite a portion of this territory at a later day was granted by the Colony of Mas- sachusetts to the soldiers of the Canada Expedition of 1690 and to their heirs, in consideration of their services. This land was again re-granted by the Masonian proprietors, and was finally granted incorporation as a town by the Charter of the Royal Governor, Benning Wentworth. Thus our territory has passed through several hands.
QUESTIONINGS.
Some perplexing questions must naturally occur to our thoughtful citizens, in consequence of the statements above made ; such as: "Why is our town called Lyndeborough ? " "Why was any former name changed to this?" "How came our State to be called New Hampshire ? " "What right had the Colony or Province of Massachusetts to make grants of land in New Hampshire?" "How has our territory been from time to time governed and protected ?"
Now, it will not be denied that our citizens could cultivate their soil just as well, at least so far as the manual labor is concerned, without as with, the ability to answer readily such questions. But it surely would neither unnerve their arms . nor dwarf their intellects to know how to answer them in a
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HISTORY OF LYDEBOROUGH
proper and correct manner. And, furthermore, conscious of possessing a correct knowledge of their true history, they would feel that they are resting on ground well nigh as firm as the enduring granite of their native hills.
GENERAL SURVEY.
To this end a hasty glance at the relation of New Hampshire to other colonies and movements in this new world will not at the outset be amiss. Let it be distinctly borne in mind, that after the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, more than a century intervened before a single European colony had been planted on this continent north of Florida. There was voyaging to and fro, and traffic in various commodities, and explorations of the coast by both public and private enterprise. But not a permanent settlement was planted, not a firm foothold was gained on these shores during all the years of the sixteenth century. The honor of the first colony on American soil north of Florida belongs to France. Port Royal, now Annapolis, Nova Scotia, founded by the French, in 1604, heads the list, in regard to age. Next in order of time came Jamestown, Vir- ginia, in 1607. Then came the Dutch colonies of New Nether- lands in 1614 ; the Plymouth, or Old Colony of Massachusetts, in 1620; and the Piscataqua settlements at Dover and Ports- mouth in 1623 ; while the colony of Massachusetts Bay, includ- ing Salem, 1628, Charlestown, 1629, and Boston, 1630, followed in order. At an early day, the two Massachusetts colonies united, forming one Province, under one Governor, taking the name of the more populous and powerful plantation, Massa- chusetts. This came speedily forward as the most prosperous and influential of the New England colonies.
GRANTS.
I. The first charter having a direct bearing on our State history was that granted by King James the First to "Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight," and called by the king, "Captain of our fort and island of Plymouth." This grant was made to him as the President of the Council of Plymouth and included "all that circuit etc., in America from forty degrees north latitude to forty-eight degrees, and by the breadth aforesaid, from sea to sea, with all seas, rivers, islands, etc.,": "And the same shall be called by the name of NEW ENGLAND IN AMERICA."*
* Bouton, Prov. Papers I, p. 3 ; Bouton, I., p. 5.
3
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
This grant bore date of November 3, 1620, and was conse- quently issued before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. It promised a new charter, for better assurance; and the council was to be favored in all constructions, and aided by all officers .*
2. The second charter, dated Aug. 10, 1622, was issued to " Sir Ferdinando Gorges of London, Knight, and Captain John Mason of London, Esquire," by the Council of Plymouth. This assigned " to them, their heirs and assignes, all that part of the main land in New England lying upon the sea-coast betwixt ye rivers of Merrimack and Sagadahock, and to the furthest heads of the said rivers, and soe forwards up into the land westward until three-score miles be finished from ye first entrance of the aforesaid rivers, and half way over "; which they, the grantees, "intend to name THE PROVINCE OF MAINE." In the same year, according to Palfrey, t "the Council granted to Gorges and Mason the country bounded by the Merrimack, the Kenne- bec, the ocean, and the river of Canada, and this territory they called Laconia." A like statement is also made by the Maine historian, Williamson, and by Belknap. #
3. The charter of Massachusetts gave to Sir Henry Roswell and others, under date of March 19, 1627-8, a title to "all that part of New England which lies and extends between a great river there commonly called the Merrimack, and a certain other river there called Charles River," and also all those lands "lying within the space of three English miles on the south part of Charles River " ; and also, "all those lands which lie and be within the space of three English miles to the north- ward of the said river called Merrimack, or to the northward of any and every part thereof." The last statement of this grant is especially important to remember, for it gives the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, a line which in later days caused long and acrimonious disputes.
4. The grant which most intimately concerns us as citizens is that made to Captain John Mason by the Council of Plymouth, bearing date of Nov. 7, 1629. It confirms to him, "his heirs and assigns, all that part of the mainland in New England lying upon the sea-coast, beginning from the middle part of Merri- mack River, and from thence to proceed northwards along the sea-coast to Piscataqua River, and so forwards up within the said river and to the furthest head thereof, and from thence northwestward until three-score miles be finished from the
*P. P. I., p. 9. İN. E., 397 ; also 202.
#N. H., p. 4.
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
first entrance of Piscataqua River ; also from Merrimack through the said river and to the furthest head thereof, and so forwards up into the lands westwards, until three-score miles be finished." Thus Mason's charter, issued at least a year later than that of Massachusetts, made his territory a distinct, sepa- rate colony. The lands specified were beyond the bounds of the Bay colony, and were never properly subject to her dictation. The tract thus bounded was called New Hampshire.
5. Other grants of greater or less importance were issued which may be studied at one's leisure. Such were those to John Wheelwright of Exeter ; to Edward Hilton of Dover; and to Gorges and Mason and their associates of Portsmouth. But the connection between these and our town history is more re- mote, and hence we pass these with a mere mention of them.
TERRITORY DIVIDED.
"Near the close of the year," (1631), says the historian Whiton,* "Mason and Gorges by mutual agreement divided Laconia into two parts." Gorges took the tract lying east of the Piscataqua, and called it MAINE; while that lying between the Piscataqua and the Merrimack, " was confirmed to Mason by a new patent, and called NEW HAMPSHIRE, after the County of Hampshire, in England, the place of his residence."
For several years Mason, his associates, and those whom they employed, managed the settlements. But these grew very slowly and yielded their owners much trouble, but very little gain. Mason himself lived but a few years to enjoy his new possessions. He died in 1635, having expended large sums in improvements from which he never realized any adequate returns. "His name," says the historian Whiton, "merits the grateful remembrance of future generations, as the FATHER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE."t "His personal property in New Eng- land," says another writer, "seems to have been appropri- ated by his former servants and agents, with what justice it is unnecessary to inquire."}
DISTURBANCES.
About that time there was great religious agitation in the neighboring colony of Massachusetts. The peace of the Boston hierarchy had been disturbed by a man, who, according to Cot-
* Whiton, p. 10. t Whiton, p. 13. # Mcclintock, p. 39.
5
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
ton Mather,* " had a windmill in his head." This was because he taught that " there ought to be fair dealing with the Indians, that the civil magistrate had no right to interfere in religious matters, and that in such matters there should be complete soul- freedom." They banished him from the colony ; but deferred execution on account of his ill health. They purposed and pre- pared to send him back to England, but he eluded their vigi- lance, fled southwards through the wilderness to hospitable sav- ages, and afterwards became the founder of the first government on earth to grant its citizens complete religious freedom, - Roger Williams of Rhode Island. But he was not the only troubler of their camp. Mrs. Anne Hutchinson was becoming very popu- lar in Boston about that time, and her brother-in-law, Rev. John Wheelwright, a college mate of Oliver Cromwell, was in Brain- tree, near by, and in sympathy with her. The Boston authori- ties banished both. Then there was also Captain John Under- hill, who had trained their militia, and led a detachment of their forces in exterminating the ferocious Pequods ; he, also, sympa- thized with Wheelwright, and for this reason was deposed from his captaincy and banished from the colony.
An Episcopal minister also who had been persecuted in Eng- land for imbibing dissenting views, one Hansard Knollys, came into the colony in 1638, and was grievously suspected of antinom- ianism.t Forbidden to remain, he departed from Boston before his time limit expired, and went away with two strangers from Piscataqua, who invited him to accompany them to their home. He and Captain Underhill reached Dover near the same time, while John Wheelwright found a home at Exeter. Mrs. Hutch- inson with many of her friends went to Rhode Island and shared the hospitality of Roger Williams. But afterwards when Massa- chusetts was striving to get jurisdiction over Williams' territory, she fled to the Dutch colonies, where, at a later day, she and all her household perished by the hands of the savages. #
These cases have received more attention, because they illus- trate the claims which Massachusetts made to jurisdiction over the places in which those outlawed exiles found homes.
PLOTTING AND SCHEMING.
Mr. Knollys became pastor in what afterwards was called Dover. In 1636, Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts " wrote to Dover that if the latter dared to receive any persons that had
* Elton's Williams, pp. 116-120. + Backus I, p. 82.
# Backus I, p. 375 ; Elton's Williams p. 160.
6
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
been cast out from the Bay, it would be taken ill," and threaten- ing them, that if such exiles were received, "they should survey their utmost limits and make use of them." * This they had evidently been doing for several years. It was not the work of one year or of one person. For, in 1632,1 Captain Wiggin went to England and formed a company of "honest men," according to Winthrop, and with their aid purchased the entire Hilton Patent for £2,150. The purchasers were all Puritans and friends to Massachusetts, who had been "writ unto by the Governor and Magistrate of Massachusetts, who encouraged them to purchase the said lands, in respect they feared some ill neighborhood from them."# Immediate steps were taken after the purchase to submit the territory to Massa- chusetts jurisdiction. One of Wiggin's people had stabbed another, and he requested that the culprit "might be tried in the Bay, if the party died." "The Governor answered, that if the Pascataqua lay within their limits (as it was supposed) they would try him."§ Another offer of a like nature was made the following winter, but the authorities after conferring on the matter, "did not," as Winthrop wrote, " think fit to try them here." So the scheme to turn over the colony to Massa- chusetts dragged. Intense hostility to the design sprang up among the original planters of Hilton's Point, who occupied the soil, and the salesman proved unable to deliver the goods.
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