USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 16
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Giving up the idea of farming, he began to attend school at Atkinson academy, and later making the acquaintance of Rev.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Elijah Fletcher [father of Grace Fletcher, the first wife of Daniel Webster] of Hopkinton, accepted his generous offer of assistance in obtaining an education so far as to make his home in the Fletcher family while pursuing his own studies in the intervals of teaching school. Dec. 18, 1786, he was m. to Sarah Knowlton, b. Manchester, Mass., April 15, 1763, dau. of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Woodbury) Knowlton, the ceremony being performed by Mr. Fletcher. [Sarah (Knowl- ton) Trussell was a sister of two of the N. L. pioneers, Ezekiel and Robert Knowlton. ] Moses' preference for farming was so decided that, as his health had by this time become estab- lished, he purchased a small farm in Dunbarton; and res. there and in the east end of Hopkinton until March 17, 1804, when he removed to N. L. He was granted a government pension in 1786, and was admitted to full pay ($96 per annum) in 1821. He was a hard-working man all his life ; never used spirit or cider as a beverage ; had no sickness until he was 80, and after recovering from that, until his last illness seized him he never failed of a few hours' labor in the open air on each working day. Two days before his death he came in, com- plaining of cold and weakness ; a nameless fever attacked him, and he fell asleep in Jesus, March 13, 1843. In stature he was five feet, eleven inches, thin of flesh, with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, which curled on his neck and in old age was white as the driven snow. His wife, Sarah (Knowl- ton) Trussell, d. April 20, 1841. Children :
I. Moses, b. Dunbarton, Aug. 25, 1788 ; d. Dec. 11, 1789.
2. Sarah, b. March 24, 1790; d. N. L., Oct. 1, 1855.
3. Ezekiel Knowlton, b. Hopkinton, Sept. 27, 1795 ; m., Feb. 9, 1825, Emily Colburn, and res. in N. L.
4. Luther Montgomery, b. November, 1802 ; m., Oct. 14, 1849, Eliza Story, and res. in N. L.
WHITTIER, ABNER .- Francis Whittier and his sons Daniel and Francis were among the early settlers of Sutton, and Abner Whittier, who was in N. L. soon after 1780, was proba- bly a connection of the elder Francis. They were all industri- ous, respectable citizens, and their numerous descendants in- herited the characteristics of their forefathers. Abner Whittier was the son of Abner and Elizabeth (Dow) Whittier of Ames- bury, and of the fifth generation from Thomas and Ruth
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(Green) Whittier of Haverhill, Mass., who were very early emigrants. Abner was b. Sept. 18, 1757; m., Jan. II, 1783, Nabby (Abigail), dau. of Peter and Ruth (Nichols) Sargent, b. January, 1761, and took up his abode on the present David Baldwin farm on Pleasant street. He very early built the house which to-day forms a part of Mr. Bald- win's dwelling, and in which Elder Seamans held a " preach- ing service" in 1789. Abigail (Sargent) Whittier d. soon after the birth of her second child, and Abner m. (2) her sister Judith, b. November, 1764. Abner d. Dec. 24, 1828, aged 71 years ; Judith d. Feb. 11, 1841, aged 76 years. The children of Abner Whittier were,-
I. Ruth, b. July 1, 1784 ; never m., but lived in N. L. with her father, brother Stephen, and uncle Stephen Sargent (son of Peter). She d. in the house now owned by Joseph H. Messer, Aug. 23, 1845.
2. Osgood, b. March 16, 1787 ; m. Sally, dau. of Jonathan and Lucy (Parker) Davis of Sutton, b. April 5, 1797, and res. in N. L.
3. Phinehas, b. Aug. 27, 1789 ; m., Jan. 7, 1813, Sally P., dau. of Samuel and Sally (Peaslee) Andrew of Sutton, b. Sept. I, 1794, and res. in that town ; was a man of great physical endurance, and was with Col. Stephen H. Long when he made his famous exploring tour of the Rocky Mountains in 1816. He d. in Lowell, Mass., July 10, 1854. Children :
(1). Alden P., b. Sept. 29, 1814 ; m., Dec. 30, 1840, Ruth, dau. of Osgood and Sally (Davis) Whittier, b. May 14, 1823, and res. in Sutton. Children : (a) Elbridge G. d. in service, Sept. 17, 1863 ; (b) Alvah ; (c) Mary J., m. Frank B. Sargent and had (a) Edith, (b) Agnes ; (d) Ellen S., m. Josiah C. Hardy and had (a) Alice M., (b) Arthur J., (c) Ada C.
(2). Judith S., b. June 24, 1817.
(3). Achsah D., b. Jan. 22, 1820.
(4). Samuel A., b. Sept. 21, 1822 ; m., Aug. 1, 1848, Sarah J. Heath of Cabot, Me.
(5). Cyrus, b. Aug. 3, 1824.
(6). Phinehas, b. March 10, 1827.
(7). Nancy, b. Dec. 4, 1829; m., November, 1846, Capt. Samuel Rowell of Sutton. Children : (a) Achsah J., b. August, 1848; m. Reuben Dickey ; d. May 9, 1872 ; child (a) Enola. (b) Henry A., b. Aug. 21, 1850. (c) Charles E., b. June 5, 1852 ; m., and had (a) Maud, (b)
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Mabel. (d) Grace A., b. Sept. 8, 1854 ; m. (1) Reuben Dickey, and had (a) Reuben E .; m. (2), June 22, 1875, Herbert B., son of Stephen and Sarah (Cheney) Swett. b. Wilmot, Oct. 7, 1853, and res. in N. L. (e) Emma V., b. March 23, 1858; m. William Hardisty, and had (a) Isabel, (b) Lillie E. (f) Cora D., b. Nov. 26, 1861 ; m. Fred Adams. (g) Selina M., b. April 2, 1864 ; m., Oct. 9, 1886, Byron E. Perkins. (h) Clinton C., b. Nov. 20, 1867. 4. Cynthia, b. Dec. 13, 1790 ; m., Sept. 24, 1812, Dea. Josiah Nichols of Sutton, who d. April 1, 1869; Cynthia d. May 27, 1845. Children :
(1). William Carey, b. Jan. 6, 1816; m. Maria Baldwin. Children : (a) Harriet, m. Jerome Dunn, and had (a) Lillian, b. June, 1861, d. March 9, 1883 ; (b) Enoch, m. Sarah Kibbey.
(2). Lois H., b. April 30, 1818; m. John C., son of Ezekiel and Dolly (Chellis) Little of Sutton, b. March 16, 1817 (his second wife). Two daus. of John C. Little by his first wife, Mary Ann Baker of New Boston, m. into N. L. families : Emma Emily, b. Jan. 20, 1854 ; m., Nov. 27, 1878, Frank W., son of Nathaniel C. and Caroline (Chad- wick) Knowlton, b. May 5, 1855. Mary Ann, b. April 9, 1861 ; m., Sept. 2, 1876, Henry E., son of Timothy H., and Eliza (Davis) Quimby, b. June 26, 1852.
(3). Ruth W., b. July 4, 1819; m., 1851, Ebenezer S., son of Joseph and Anna (Sargent) Putney of N. L., b. Aug. 20, 1822, and res. in N. L.
5. Abigail, b. Nov. 12, 1793 ; m. Eliphalet, son of Capt. Elipha- let and Anna (Wadleigh) Gay, b. Dec. 8, 1787, and res. in N. L.
6. William, b. May 19, 1795 ; m. Polly, dau. of Rev. Robert Dickey of Wilmot, and res. in Wilmot and N. L.
7. Abner, b. July 28, 1797 ; d. September, 1797.
8. Stephen, b. Aug. 3, 1799 ; m. Almira, dau. of Rev. Robert Dickey of Wilmot, and res. in N. L.
9. Judith, b. Jan. 12, 1802 ; m. Capt. Stephen Davis, and res. in N. L.
WHITTIER, THOMAS .- At the town meeting held Feb. 22. 1780, Thomas Whitier was chosen swine driver. He probably is the pioneer who made the clearing and built the log house on the Stephen Dean farm, afterwards occupied by Lieut. Joseph Colby, but on this question no direct evidence, docu- mentary or traditional, has been discovered. Certain circum-
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
stances and an agreement of dates indicate it, however. That he was chosen to a town office as stated above is all that is known of him personally ; of his family and antecedents there is no inkling, except the appearance of Abner Whittier in the same locality about 1789. Thomas and Abner may have been brothers. In 1798 Thomas Whittier of Newport attended a church council in N. L., and it is quite probable that he was identical with the one mentioned above.
WOODBURY, LIEUT. BENJAMIN .- Lieut. Benjamin Woodbury, who with his family became a resident of the town previous to 1790, was a reputed descendant of the William Woodbury who came from Wales to Beverly, Mass., in 1628. This William had a son of the same name, who piloted one of the vessels in the expedition against Port Royal in 1704. Lieutenant Wood- bury succeeded Ensign Nathaniel Everett, the pioneer settler on the Crockett farm, where he kept a tavern, and in a way was headquarters for the transaction of public business. In fact, no man, during the decade from 1790 to 1800, held so many offices as did Lieutenant Woodbury. He was a justice of the peace, and very many of the early real-estate conveyances were acknowledged by him. In 1802 he removed to the house on Summer street known as the " old George Williams place," leaving his sons Daniel and Jonathan on the homestead. At the time of his death, April 20, 1809, he was 58 years of age. Elder Seamans, who attended his funeral, makes the following note concerning the occasion and the man :
" I think there were the most people together that I ever saw " in our meeting-house upon the Lord's day, and it was a very " solemn, affectionate time. After the public exercise was "over, the Corps was carried out at the door, and viewed. " Then the brethren of the chh. were drawn up two deep, in a " circle upon one side of the coffin, and sisters, in the same " forme, upon the other ; and the rest of the people, the men in "a great circle round the brethren and the women round the " sisters. Then proceeded into the grave yard (a very long " procession) and formed round the grave in the same order, " and deposited all that remained of dear brother Woodbury in " the silent grave : there to sleep until the resurrection of the " just. I esteemed brother Woodbury as a pillar in this church. " He made a credible profession in the reformation in 1793,
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
" and has lived in a good measure according to it. He ap- " peared in his last short illness to be steadfast in the faith, " comfortably assured of his interest in Christ, and died in " hope. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. He was " an honest, industrious man : and in that way acquired a good "property."
Lieutenant Woodbury and his wife, Zillah, who m. (2), June 2, 1814, Jonathan Pillsbury of Candia, had the following children :
I. Zillah, b. Sept. 28, 1774 ; m., May 13, 1793, Seth, son of Ephraim and Lois Gay, b. Attleboro, Mass., in 1771, and res. in N. L.
2. Jonathan, b. July 23, 1776; m., Sept. 19, 1799, Lois, dau. of Elder Job and Sarah (Easterbrooks) Seamans, b. April 2, 1779, and res. in N. L.
3. Daniel, b. June 15, 1778; m., Oct. 8, 1801, Rhapsima Mes- senger, and res. in N. L.
4. Phineas, b. Nov. 21, 1780; was appointed U. S. engineer in 1813 ; d. March 12, 1817, at Haverhill, Mass., as he was journeying to N. L., ill with tuberculosis. He was buried at Haverhill, West Parish, under Masonic auspices.
5. Olive, b. Jan. 11, 1783 ; m., Nov. 19, 1807, Job, son of Elder Job and Sarah (Easterbrooks) Seamans, b. Feb. 11, 1781, and res. in N. L.
6. Manley G., b. July 13, 1785 ; m., about 1807, Eliza., dau. of Capt. John and Molly Woodman, and removed to Massachu- setts.
7. Dillah (Delia), b. Aug. 13, 1787 ; m., April 10, 1808, Joseph Pike of Sutton, son of Lieut. Thomas and Phebe (Brockle- bank) Pike of N. L. ; res. in North Sutton.
8. Roxana, b. March 27, 1790; m. Benjamin Chase, a student of Dartmouth college, who taught school in N. L. during a vacation from his college duties. They res. in New Orleans, where Roxana d.
9. Benjamin, b. Aug. 13, 1792 ; m. Miss Pettengill of Salisbury ; became a Congregational clergyman ; had pastorates in New England, and then removed to Ohio.
WOODMAN, CAPT. JOHN .- About the year 1795 there came to N. L. Capt. John Woodman, a man who became more than ordinarily influential in town affairs. In his house, which stood south of the old meeting-house, was established the first store. Here he did business for a number of years, first with his partner, James Mcfarland, later alone, and was finally
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
succeeded by his son, Benjamin Emory Woodman. Captain Woodman also acquired a considerable interest in real estate. He was a prominent Mason, and some of the earliest meetings of the Masonic lodge were held at his house, where he, in addition to the store, kept a public " tavern " for the accommo- dation of travellers. This building was burned during the Woodmans' occupancy. Captain Woodman also built the hip- roofed house on the opposite side of the road, which was later owned and occupied by Samuel Greenwood. His wife, Polly Woodman, d. July 14, 1852, aged 87 years. Children :
I. Benjamin Emory, m. Mary -, and res. in N. L.
2. Mary, m., July 8, 1810, Thomas, son of Asa and Mary (Perley) Burpee, b. Rowley, Mass., Dec. 13, 1782, and res. in N. L. 3. Eliza, m., about 1807, Manley G., son of Lieut. Benjamin and Zillah Woodbury, b. July 13, 1785, and removed to Massachusetts.
WOODWARD, ELIPHALET .- Two Woodward brothers, Elipha- let and Stephen, came to Sutton before 1787, and settled in the northwest part of that town. In 1798 Eliphalet came to N. L., and seems to have located first near where Henry Quimby now lives, but finally bought of Benjamin Bunker the Hiram Sar- gent farm at the northerly end of Lake Pleasant, where he lived till his decease, Feb. 23, 1826. Miss Tamar Woodward, perhaps a sister of Eliphalet, d. in N. L., Nov. 17, 1853, aged 84 years. Eliphalet was b., May 28, 1758, at Haverhill, Mass. He m. Martha Gage, b. at Pelham, July II, 1758. They res. first at Atkinson, then Haverhill, Mass., then Plais- tow, then Sutton. At these several places they became parents of children, who in their mature years stamped their own high character and that of their parents on their many descendants, who have lived in N. L., some of them, to the present day. The characteristics of parents and children were, as one who knew them well has said, "honesty, integrity, and capability." Eliphalet Woodward served in the Revolutionary war. Martha (Gage) Woodward d. Sept. 29, 1847. Children :
I. Joseph, b. Atkinson, Dec. 19, 1780 ; m., Oct. 24, 1805, Polly, dau. of John and Molly (Pingree) Dole, b. March 9, 1785, and res. in Sutton and N. L.
2. Abigail, b. Haverhill, Mass., Nov. 30, 1782 ; m. Cyrus Tay- lor, and moved to Ohio, where she d. March 25, 1873.
3. Eliphalet, b. Plaistow, Nov. 29, 1784 ; d. May 8, 1807.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
4. Ednah, b. Sutton, March 20, 1787 ; m., about 1808, Nathaniel, son of Benjamin and Betsey (Daniels) Bunker, b. Dec. 2, 1789, and res. in N. L.
5. James, b. March 3, 1789 ; m., Dec. 8, 1814, Dolly, dau. of John and Molly (Pingree) Dole, b. Oct. 22, 1793, and res. in N. L.
6. Daniel, b. March 24, 1791 ; d. March 31, 1791.
7. Amos, b. May 31, 1792 ; m. Sylvia, dau. of Capt. Amasa and Susanna (Shepard) Sargent, b. Nov. 24, 1796, and moved to Hanover ; d. Dec. 19, 1873.
8. Rhoda, b. Feb. 6, 1794 ; d. Feb. 17, 1794.
9. John K., b. July 9, 1795 ; m. Aug. 8, 1820, Mehitable K., dau. of John and Susanna (Johnson) Sargent, b. March 14, 1801, and res. in N. L.
IO. Isaac, b. March 15, 1797; m., Feb. 6, 1827, Hannah K., dau. of John and Susanna (Johnson) Sargent, b. Oct. 28, 1802, and res. in N. L.
II. Mary E., b. N. L., March 27, 1799; m., Oct. 12, 1819, Stephen, son of John and Susanna (Johnson) Sargent, b. Sept. 20, 1796, and res. in N. L.
WRIGHT, JOSHUA .- The only light which the town records throw upon the history of Joshua Wright, who signed the peti- tion for a coroner in 1794, is that his taxes for that same year were abated, but the " History of Sutton," Vol. II, p. 1019, says that he and his wife, Molly (Chadwick) Wright, came from Enfield, and after living for some years in N. L., where their children were born, removed to Sutton, where they both d.,-Molly on Feb. 3, 1811. Children :
1. Hannah, b. Nov. 16, 1792 ; m., April 23, 1820, Isaac, son of Jesse and Hannah (Blaisdell) Fellows of Sutton, b. May 17, 1791, and had five children ; d. Nov. 15, 1855.
2. Sally, b. April 25, 1794 ; d. Feb. 24, 1796.
3. John, b. Nov. 22, 1795 ; m., July 26, 1827, Belinda, sister of Isaac Fellows above, b. Dec. 7, 1807, and had eight children ; d. Feb. 25, 1872.
4. Lydia, b. May 22, 1798; d. Feb. 18, 1877.
5. Betsey, b. April 27, 1800 ; m., Nov. 9, 1820, Nathaniel Flan- ders of Hopkinton.
6. Joshua, b. Aug. 27, 1802 ; m. Emily West of Bradford, and had nine children.
7. James, b. April 28, 1804 ; d. April 14, 1868.
8. Zadock, b. Oct. 4, 1806 ; d. Oct. 12, 1882.
9. Susanna, b. Oct. 2, 1809 ; d. July 17, 1872.
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NEW INSTITUTIONS.
CHAPTER V.
SECOND HISTORICAL PERIOD-NEW INSTITUTIONS-SCHOOL- DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLHOUSES-TIME-WORN RECEIPTS- EARLY TEACHERS-SOLDIERS OF 1812-CHURCH MAT- TERS-TERRITORIAL CHANGES-TOWN POOR-MISCELLA- NEOUS NOTES-" NEW LONDON JACOBINISM UNVEILED "- POVERTY YEAR, 1816-THE GREAT WHIRLWIND OF 1821 -INVOICE SUMMARY-TOWN OFFICIALS, 1801-1825.
A careful study of the records during the second period of the town's history,-from 1801 to 1825 inclusive-brings to light no startling innovations, but rather the indications of a steady, healthful growth along social, educational, and busi- ness lines. The fathers of the town met year after year in solemn conclave, elected officers, appropriated money for high- ways, schools, and the various town charges, and in most respects adhered religiously to long-established methods of procedure. The commercial credit of the country, which had depreciated so much during the struggle for national indepen- dence, gradually revived, and with confidence restored in busi- ness circles, even the small country town shared in the result- ant prosperity, and larger comforts and privileges gradually found their way into the necessarily straitened lives of the early settlers.
Among other benefits, one which stood first in order, and perhaps in importance, was the New London Social Library, incorporated as a body-politic and approved by Gov. J. T. Gil- man, June 12, 1801. Elder Job Seamans, Dr. John Cushing, Lieut. Thomas Pike, Levi Harvey, Esq., James Hutchins, Theophilus Cram, Jonathan Woodbury, and Jonas Shepard had been shareholders in the Social Library Association, organized in 1796 by citizens of Sutton, New London, and Newbury, but which was more particularly a Sutton institution. The original patrons of the New London corporation were Elder Job Seamans, Lieut. Joseph Colby, Ezekiel Knowlton, Dea. Ebenezer Hunting, Dea. Zebedee Hayes, Nathaniel Fales, Jonathan Everett, Josiah Brown, Jonathan Woodbury,
1
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Jonathan Greeley, David Smith, Joseph Slack, John Slack, John Adams, Jr., Jonas Shepard, Greene French, Joseph Messer, Seth Gay, Samuel Messer, Jr., Lieut. Ebenezer Shepard.
The first meeting was held Sept. 1, 1801, at the home of Josiah Brown, and in due course of time the necessary officials were chosen and rules and by-laws adopted. The modest library, of scarce a hundred volumes in its beginning, soon became an important factor in the educational development of the youth of that generation. Probably modern young people would find little of interest in the solid literature which was then considered the proper mental pabulum, but men who in after life attained prominence in their callings gratefully ac- knowledged their indebtedness to the influence of the books so eagerly yet thoroughly perused in earlier years. The first board of officers consisted of Lieut. Joseph Colby, Jonathan Woodbury, Ezekiel Knowlton as directors ; Josiah Brown (at whose house the library was kept), treasurer and librarian ; Joseph Messer, collector ; Jonathan Woodbury, clerk. Shares were two dollars each, and a small yearly assessment provided for the gradual enlargement of the library. Books might be exchanged during the afternoon of the first Monday of each month, and a graded system of fines tended to make patrons both careful and punctual. Miss Sarah Brown, a grand- daughter of Josiah Brown, has the only book of records which has been preserved. This covers a period of ten years, but the organization existed for perhaps a half-century, when the books were distributed among the shareholders.
The state militia was a time-honored institution, and it is to be regretted that no extended records of the New London com- panies of the very earliest days have been preserved. Thurs- day, Oct. 29, 1795, Elder Seamans has this note in his diary : " By request, I attended the training in this town, and prayed " with the company ; this was the first time I was ever called " to this service in this town." The annual company and regi- mental musters were great occasions, and to judge from the numerous items which figured yearly in the selectmen's ac- counts, the town fathers were not sparing of expense that the soldiery might be well fed and furnished. One year they burned twenty dollars' worth of powder. Another entry is,-
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NEW INSTITUTIONS.
"' Paid Joseph Colby Esqr for powder, rum and provision for " soldiers on muster day and for a book for town records " $32.27." Among others who served as captains were Amos Currier, Robert Knowlton, Nathan Herrick, John Pike, Stephen Sargent, Benjamin Woodman.
Mention should also be made here of King Solomon's lodge, No. 14, A. F. and A. M., which held its first meeting under char- ter June 16, 1802, at Lieut. Benjamin Woodbury's hall. The detailed history of this nearly century-old lodge is given else- where in this volume, but it must not be forgotten that there were members of the "Society of Freemasons" in the town for several years previous to the above date. Elder Seamans refers to them on two occasions (see pp. 43, 44, 81). The new lodge became a strong local influence, and numbered among its members several of the wealthiest and most promi- nent men in the community.
An old file of New Hampshire Registers is authority for the existence of the New London Musical Society. The annual meeting was held on the second Tuesday of November, and the officers elected in 1818 were Nathan Herrick, president ; Stephen Sargent and Perley Burpee, vice-presidents ; Solomon Adams, Job Seamans, Jr., Thomas Burpee, 2d, directors ; Job Seamans, Jr., clerk. In 1821, Asa Gage was president ; Jona- than Herrick, vice-president ; Job Seamans, Jr., secretary, treas- urer, and librarian ; Thomas Burpee, 3d, Jedediah P. Sabin, and Jonathan Everett, directors. The last mention of the soci- ety is in 1823.
The same source of information establishes the date of the first post-office, which was kept in William Clark's store on Summer street, he serving as postmaster from 1819 to 1827. Andover was the nearest point on the regular route of the post- rider who collected and delivered the weekly mail, which reached the outlying towns through the medium of a local car- rier. Amos Page is said to have been the first man to carry mail through New London, beginning in 1815. His section was from Hillsborough to Springfield. Sometimes there would be two or three letters for this town, quite often more. There were subscribers to the New Hampshire Gazette in 1803, the three copies coming to this town being credited to Dow & Harvey, J. & D. Woodbury, Thomas Pike. The New
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Hampshire Patriot was an early favorite with New London patrons, and Elder Seamans and Joseph Colby were subscrib- ers to Boston papers. The letter rates of the present sink into insignificance beside the cost of that luxury in the early part of the century, when the carriage on a single sheet for a less distance than forty miles was eight cents, and not exceeding five hundred miles, twenty-five cents, with two and three sheets paying double and triple rates.
In 1801 there were three licensed "taverns," or private houses open to public entertainment,-Capt. John Wood- man's, at the southerly end of the cemetery ; Lieut. Joseph Colby's, the Colby homestead on Main street, which he built and occupied in 1800, and Lieut. Benjamin Woodbury's, the original dwelling-house at Crockett's corner. Joseph Colby also " kept store" in his house, carrying a stock of goods appraised at $100. Another license granted that year was to Robert M. Wallace, who appears to have bought out Wood- man & Macfarland. He was allowed to sell spirituous liquors in his store " on all public meeting days " for one year.
Josiah Brown had succeeded Lieut. Levi Harvey as town clerk, and on the warrant of a special meeting called for March 30, 1801, a carefully executed " [L. S. ]" is used for the first time. This meeting was to choose a representative of the classed towns of Sutton and New London, and for the first and only time in the eight years that this arrangement prevailed, a New London man, Joseph Colby, Esq., received the honor of an election. Two years later New London had 100 polls,-a number sufficient to entitle it to individual representation. Under the new order Joseph Colby was again chosen to the office, and held it successively for fourteen annual terms.
According to the tax-list for 1801 there were three school- districts in the town,-eastern, northern, and western-not including the eleven settlers in what was strictly speaking the north-east district. The earliest schoolhouse in the east or Low Plain district had at least two locations, and ended its career as the original Amos Hunt house on "Adeline's hill," having first been used as a dwelling by John Everett, son of Ensign Nathaniel Everett. Those who were set off in this locality were Penuel Everett, Capt. Eliphalet Gay, William Gay, David Gay, Jonathan Greeley, Dea. Ebenezer Hunting, Israel Hunt-
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