USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampstead > A memorial of the town of Hampstead, New Hampshire : historic and genealogic sketches. Proceedings of the centennial celebration, July 4th, 1849. Proceedings of the 150th anniversary of the town's incorporation, July 4th, 1899, Volume I > Part 11
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Prayer Rev. Albert Watson, Windham [ William H. Davis Response-Quartet J John S. Corson Mrs. F. W. Emerson Mrs. Albert H. Little Andrew M. Moulton
Reading Town Charter
Historical Address Miss Harriette E. Noyes
Solo ยท
Miss Abbie F. Chandler, Haverhill
Poem of the Day. Rev. William T. Bartley, Ph. D., Salem
" America " .
Band and Congregation
INTERMISSION. LUNCHI.
Afternoon.
At the call of the President, there will be the reading of the Letters by the Committee on Invitation, followed by remarks by several invited guests-from five to ten minutes eachi, interspersed with Vocal and Instrumental Music.
Evening.
BAND CONCERT AND FIREWORKS.
MUSIC.
The Music of the day will be furnished by the Hampstead Cornet Band. Mixed Quartet of Hampstead,
William A. Davis, Mrs. F. W. Emerson, John S. Corson, Mrs. Albert H. Little Male Quartet of Hampstead, Forrest E. Merrill, John S. Corson, William A. Davis, Eugene L. Spinney Miss Abbie F. Chandler, Haverhill, Mass. Miss M. Jenness, Charlton, Mass., and friends from Haverhill.
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HAMPSTEAD, 1749-1899.
The century's old, with noiseless feet, Still gliding on with movements fleet, Have brought this time we haste to greet, Old Hampstead's natal morn.
What wonders vast, when we look back, Along time's ever widening track, And count the years, a fateful pack, Have happened since that dawn.
Our father's God, with guiding hand, Close watching o'er our favored land, Has arranged all, by wonders planned The changes since that day.
The din of battle's wild alarms, A suffering country's call to arms, And brooding peace, with changing charms Of aspect, grave or gay.
The Indian on his savage raid, The dun deer 'neath the maple's shade, Here beavers and sleek otters played, And leave wolf's hungry pack.
Where once the savage warwhoop rumg, The psalms of David now are sung, And where the smoke of wigwams hung, Now smokes the chimney's stack.
The sound of bells across the hills Comes echoing, till the silence thrills, And all the air with music fills, That tells of home and rest.
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A century and a half has flown Since first across these hills, there shone The light of Ford's lone campfire, thrown Across the lake's calm breast.
We come today, a grateful band Of freemen, in fair Freedom's land, With friendly hearts and open hand, To meet the welcome guest.
From Hog-hill meadow, wet with dew, And fair lake Wentworth's waters blue, That once the wandering red men knew, They gather here today.
The Handle far has sent its share, The Peak brought out its daughters fair, From Christian street comes many a pair, With spirits light and gay.
From Timberlane there comes a string Of little Noyse'y Ayers, that bring A welcome presence as they fling Glad voices on the air.
All Norcross road has come to town And with them brought good neighbor Brown, While from Kent's farm of much renown, Old Atwood's sons are here.
Of Emersons there's full a score, Of Tabors half as many more, And Heaths and Davises galore, In numbers large and strong.
The Ordways of Old Gov'ners Isle, The Johnsons and the Moultons, while The Keezers come to swell the pile Into a mighty throng.
Of Collins, Hoyts, and Marbles, true, And Nichols there are one or two. And good old Shannon sends a few, The Brickett's wood to see.
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The Calefs grand have come to town, From old John Calef (of great renown And warlike deeds) descended down Through many a family tree.
The Royal oak its Sawyer sends, While through the Morse'y path that tends, Back for a century, there wends The Marshalls of our rhyme.
These good old names of fair renown, Since first old Hampstead was a town, Through many a scion have come down Until the present time.
But when I look the township o'er And think how very many more, Who tilled these fields in days of yore, Are crumbled into clay,
I feel that from my feeble art, Though I am sure no lack of heart,
Perhaps by far the better part, Are absent from my lay.
From their glad spirits, hovering low, O'er these fair scenes may blessings flow, And many an inspiration grow, Until we feel them near.
And when about your firesides fair, You gather for your good nights there, Just breathe one little silent prayer, For those who once were here.
And ofttimes when our eyes are wet, And hearts are filled with vain regret, " We'll have a thought of kindness yet." For Old Lang Syne a tear.
GEORGE R. BENNETTE, M. D.
July 4th, 1899.
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The late Judge Isaac William Smith thrilled the hearts of the large audience in the Congregational church, May 18, 1897, at the exercises attendant upon the dedication of our Public Library, by alluding so feelingly to the affection he had "always cherished for his native town," and prayed so hope- fully that " his life might be spared to help celebrate the 150th Anniversary in 1899."
His remarks awakened a response from the people. A de- cision seemed to have been given then and there that the cen- tury and a half anniversary of Hampstead as a corporate body should be fittingly observed.
The sudden death of Judge Smith in November, 1898, was an event deeply deplored by all; as he would doubtless have rendered valuable aid in the preparation, progress and enjoy- ment of the celebration.
The following article in the warrant for the annual March meeting was read with universal interest :
" Article 10 : To see if the town will vote to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town during the coming summer .. . and to pass any other vote that may be necessary relating thereto."
At the annual meeting of the inhabitants of the town qualified to vote for Senator held March 14, 1899, the town voted to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town on the coming fourth of July.
Town voted to elect a committee to make all necessary ar- rangements for the celebration, and chose the following com- mittee : Tristram Little, Joshua F. Noyes, Nelson Ordway, Joseph G. Brown, William A. Emerson, Charles W. Bailey (resigned), George R. Bennette, James W. Sanborn, Rufus P. Gardner, Walter A. Allen, Isaac Randall, John S. Corson ; and the Selectmen : Charles W. Garland, Everett Moulton, and Benjamin W. Clark.
The sum of $500 was thought to be necessary to meet the expenses of the celebration at the annual March meeting ; but serious obstacles arising as to the proposed manner of raising
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the money, and other questions of minor import which were earnestly discussed by the committee and townspeople for nearly a month, were generously met, and aroused more enthusiasm from the people.
The first meeting of the committee elected by the town to make arrangements for the celebration was holden at the Town House in the afternoon of April 6, 1899, all the mem- bers of the committee being present. They organized with the choice of Charles W. Garland, President ; John S. Cor- son, Secretary ; and James W. Sanborn, Treasurer.
They elected the following as sub-committee to solicit funds for the expenses of the celebration : Wallace P. Noyes, James W. Sanborn, Charles F. Adams, Hamlin S. Martin, Daniel N. Hoyt, Nathaniel E. Bartlett, George H. Bragg.
" Voted to hold the exercises in " Brickett's Grove."
" Voted to have a parade in the A. M."
" Voted to invite Miss Harriette E. Noyes to prepare and read an historical and genealogical sketch of the town from its first settlement to July 4th, 1899."
Other features for the entertainment of the guests were discussed, and committees were selected to perfect each part.
Committee on Exercises, Programme, etc .: Rev. Rufus P. Gardner, Dr. George R. Bennette, William A. Emerson.
Committee on Music : John S. Corson, Dr. Walter A. Al- len, Rev. Rufus P. Gardner.
Committee on Invitations : Rev. Rufus P. Gardner, Dr. George R. Bennette, William A. Emerson.
Committee on Decoration : Dr. George R. Bennette (re- signed), John S. Corson, Prof. Forrest E. Merrill, Edson S. Pressey, Tristram Little.
Committee on Fireworks : Isaac Randall, William A. Em- erson.
Committee on Antiquarian Exhibit : Dr. George R. Ben- nette, Misses M. Ianthe Nichols, Harriette E. Noyes.
Committee on Transportation : Isaac Randall.
A committee of ladies were selected to have full charge of
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the refreshments and lunch : Mrs. Dr. George R. Bennette, Mrs. Henry Noyes (resigned), Mrs. John E. Mills, Mrs. Rob- ert Hart, Mrs. James Hunt, Mrs. Caroline Kelsey, Mrs. Julia A. Martin (resigned), Mrs. Mary (Morse) Darby, and Miss Ada E. Nichols.
Chief of Police : Charles B. Gilman.
Specials : Frank E. Darling, Henry W. Tabor, Charles P. Tabor, James Hunt, James H. Bond, William A. Little, W. Amos Fitts, William Keezer, George H. Bragg.
The committee held meetings from time to time, until the day of the celebration, to confer together upon the most pleas- ant way to observe successfully the coming event. The mem- bers of the several committees were faithful to the duties as- signed them. The citizens of the town whether old or young, or in whatever station in life, lent their aid in a spirit of good fellowship and common interest, united in a purpose that the home-coming of the sons and daughters of Hampstead might be a joyous one.
The anniversary exercises were commenced by appropriate services in the churches in town on July 2d. At the Congre- gational church Rev. Theodore C. Pratt, who was pastor of the church from 1869 to 1870, and the oldest pastor now liv- ing, preached from II Peter 3: 11, "Grow in grace," etc., being practically the same sermon which he preached in that pulpit twenty-nine years before when he left the pastorate of the church.
Communion was held in the afternoon. In the evening union services were held. Reminiscences of the church work in town were given by Rev. T. C. Pratt, of Auburn, N. H .; Rev. Albert Watson of Windham, N. H., former pastors ; Prof. Joseph D. Bartley, of Bradford, Mass .; Rev. William T. Bartley, of Salem, N. H., son and grandson of Rev. J. M. C. Bartley, the third pastor of the church in town ; Rev. Lewis N. Fogg, of the West Hampstead M. E. Church; Rev. John K. Chase, of East Hampstead (Baptist) ; Prof. Forrest E. Merrill, of the High school. Appropriate music was rendered by a quartette.
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
As the clocks struck the hour of twelve on the morning of July fourth the restless sleepers were aroused by the merry ringing of the " Paul Revere bell," in the tower of the " old meeting house," which seemed to ring more joyously than ever as it ushered in once again the glorious national holiday. The booming of cannon and small arms, together with the ringing of bells, snapping of crackers and the tooting of horns, also told that the event of a year, of a life-time, was to be cele- brated.
The preparations for the day's enjoyment were begun early. The parade was the first feature of the day. A general in- vitation had been extended to all to meet at the old meeting house, and in the grounds of the High school, near by, at nine o'clock.
The line of march was formed as soon as convenient after the hour designated in the following order :
William A. Emerson, Chief Marshal.
Aids, Robert Hart, Henry W. Tabor, Arthur M. Emerson, William J. Keezer.
Hampstead Cornet Band, I. William Hoyt, Leader, twenty men.
Grand Army Veterans, Charles H. Grover, Commander.
Granite State Council No. 1, Jr., O. U. A. M., James Henry Bond, Commander.
Carriage containing the Chairman of the Invitation Com- mittee, President of the day, and the Historian. George Nor- ton, driver; followed by carriages containing the committee of arrangements, town officers, invited guests, and private citizens ; the children from the public schools led by teachers, Miss Abbie J. Whittier, Miss Esther Bailey, and Miss Addie B. Gardner.
The procession proceeded to Moulton's Corner, thence to Brickett's Grove on the shores of the Wash pond, where the speakers, committee and invited guests were escorted to the grand stand.
Throughout the town many private residences were decor-
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ated, while along the line of march and the entire village, flags, and red, white and blue bunting presented a holiday appear- ance. The Town House, High School, and Public Library were especially artistic in the display of the national emblems. The arch at the entrance to Brickett's Grove, made by Tris- tram Little, who made one of similar design for the Centen- nial celebration, was an object of interest, bedecked with small flags and bunting.
The speakers' stand was most elaborately canopied and fes- tooned with patriotic colors and emblems, an arch in front with " 1749 .- Hampstead-1899." being tastefully wrought in evergreen.
As the guests assembled about the grove they were received by the Reception Committee which consisted of the full com- mittee of arrangements, assisted by Harold E. Corson, Wal- lace P. Noyes, Frank N. Pillsbury, Henry Noyes, George H. Bragg, Mrs. Mary E. Eastman, Mrs. Susan E. Pepper, Mrs. Flora A. Sanborn, Mrs. Mary J. Fellows, Mrs. Mary F. Heath, the Misses Abbie C. Grover, Sarah O. Brickett, Addie B. Gard- ner, Esther J. Bailey, Mary E. Spollett, Lillian J. Clark, while the Hampstead Cornet Band rendered inspiring music.
At about eleven o'clock, Mr. Charles W. Garland, chairman of the selectmen and president of the day, called the people (estimated as two thousand ) to order, with the following words of welcome.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :-
Yon all know the object of our gathering here today. It is our one hundred and fiftieth birthday, and we have asked you all to come with us and help us to celebrate the day in a manner that will be uplifting and helpful to all.
The other day I received from the state authorities a letter asking co-operation in the matter of forming an Old Home Week Association. The idea has been so well circulated in the papers, that it is not necessary for me to explain it today ; suffice it to say that we have for once got ahead of the state au-
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thorities, and have already made plans for our Old Home Week. After I received that letter, I came home from work one night tired, and perhaps fell asleep. I may have dreamed, but sud- denly the things of every day life were gone from me ; I seemed to see, as it were, a vision. I looked all over this broad land of ours, and I saw innumerable throngs; trains loaded with human freight all marching, or converging toward one central spot, the old Granite State, the Mecca of the Pilgrim. Then the scene was changed, I looked again, and all up and down through this good old State, on every hillside and in every peaceful valley, I saw the old homestead ; I saw in my vision the travelers stained and weary, approaching the portals of the old home : I saw the doors swing wide open : I saw the aged father and mother with trembling steps and eyes dimmed with age : I saw the sons and daughters who had remained at home to keep the precious heritage of their fathers, and, as they approached the door, I saw the embrace of friends long sep- arated : I saw the clasped hands, and I heard the greetings. There came a sound of innumerable voices all in one, and the words I heard were the typical New England welcome : the words we have so often loved to hear " Come right in, and make yourself at home, I am so glad to see you."
Ladies and gentlemen, friends, and invited guests, in behalf of the old town of Hampstead, it gives me great pleasure to- day to repeat to you from the depth of my heart the words that I heard in my vision, " Come right in with us today, and be at home," and may the day be one of profit and pleasure to us all.
Rev. Theodore C. Pratt of Candia read the 127th Psalm; after which Rev. Albert Watson of Windham, said the follow- ing prayer.
Oh Thou God of our fathers, our God, our Hope, our Life, our All; it is unto Thee we turn this morning with loving gratitude, with thanksgiving in our hearts, and praise on our lips, for all the good that we have received at Thy hands.
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Truly Thou hast dealt tenderly and kindly with us as a peo- ple. We thank Thee we have here a goodly heritage ; the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. We thank Thee that Thou didst give us worthy fathers who laid foundations deep and solid ; upon which others have built gold, silver and precious stones. We thank Thee for their wise foresight, for their ster- ling character, for their intense love of country combined with love of righteousness. And now Lord, we pray that Thy bless- ing may rest upon those unto whom is committed this great trust. We give praise unto Thee that the house is built, and that the Lord himself built it; and that our quiver is full, and we are constrained to rejoice today. We thank thee for our State and Nation, and for the part this town has taken in pro- moting the welfare of both. We thank Thee for the men who responded to the call of duty in the hour of their country's peril, and who went to the front and fought valiantly in her de- fense. We thank Thee for the memory of those who have passed on, and for those who still remain to help keep green the memory of their comrades. Bless, we entreat Thee, the men who are now at the front, who are seeking to preserve intact those principles of true righteousness and liberty which have helped to make our nation what it is today. Bring to a successful conclusion the Peace Conference at The Hague. We pray that as an outcome of that Conference we may have peace now and always, and that men everywhere may love and serve each other as brethren. We commend unto Thee our President ; give his counsellors wisdom. The Lord bless today all our homes, every family represented in this great gathering ; all the guests ; all the friends from abroad, and may everyone realize today that the welcome just spoken so heartily is indeed the welcome of the whole town. We pray, O Lord, that Thy blessing may rest upon the dear old church which has been such a powerful factor for good in the history of this town. We pray for the other churches in town, for our schools, for our town officers, for our teachers, and for- the pastors in this town, the Lord bless them all.
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May we each and all receive a token for good, and be en- couraged to go forth from this gathering with a purpose to live clean, sweet, and fruitful lives to the honor and glory of our God. Bless the exercises of the day. Command Thy benediction to rest upon the faithful and hard working com- mittees ; smile, we entreat Thee, upon the young president ; give Thy benediction to her who will lead our thought in reminiscences, who will present to us in part a delightful sur- vey of the history of this town. The Lord bless those who shall follow. and shall speak from the fullness of their hearts that which Thou shalt give them to say. And we pray that the exercises of this day may all redound to Thy praise and glory and to the good and profit of every one of us. We would not forget those who are sick and in trouble today, who do not share these rejoicings because their hearts are filled with heaviness. The Lord bless them where they are, and give them the cheerful hope and consolation that there is a day coming, a celebration in which sickness and disap- pointment is never known, and in which true righteousness will reign supreme, and all we ask is in the name of our dear Lord, unto whom with the Father and with the Holy Ghost we ascribe everlasting praise, Amen.
A response "Come to our hearts and abide " (Macy) was sung by the mixed Quartette of Hampstead : William H. Davis, Mrs. Frank W. Emerson, John S. Corson, Mrs. Albert H. Little.
The Town Charter was read by Mr. Andrew Morse Moul- ton, whose father, Mr. Caleb Moulton, performed the same service at the Centennial Celebration.
The President then introduced Miss Harriette Eliza Noyes of Hampstead, who gave the historical address.
ADDRESS.
The Historian Macauley has said, " A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."
While our beloved Stars and Stripes, the flag of our coun- try, her representative over all lands and seas, signals to- day the glad tidings of American independence, and the whole people are celebrating with songs of gladness, the bravery of our noble ancestors, in establishing freedom from England's tyranny, we do not forget this national day, but honor ourselves as well as our ancestors, as we point with pride to the work of the early founders of Hampstead, and fittingly celebrate her one hundred and fiftieth birthday, by recalling the historic truths which mark the progress of our town's growth.
We look back through the space of time to the year 1492, when Queen Isabella of Spain, listened to the cause of Chris- topher Columbus and fitted out for him the small vessels in which to undertake his perilous voyage across the untried sea. When the success of that voyage was heralded over the old world, how Henry VII, that shrewd and thrifty monarch of England, learned of the wonderful journey across the un- known western ocean, and of the lands awaiting to be taken, sent over John Cabot, to secure a share in the New World. England acquired a title, through him, of the vast domain stretching from sea to sea.
Briefly, we will review the voyage of Capt. John Smith to the new lands ; the presenting of his charts to Prince Charles, who named the new land New England ; the contentions over the grants conveyed to Capt. John Mason, and the naming of
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his lands New Hampshire ; the establishing of fishing stations at Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter, and Hampton ; the claiming of these settlements by the Massachusetts Bay Colony ; the an- nexation of them to Massachusetts ; the division of the Bay Colony into Counties in 1643, when all of the towns north of the Merrimac river constituted the " Old Norfolk County ", which comprised Dover, then including Durham, Stratham, and the city of Dover. Portsmouth, which included the towns of Newcastle, Newington, Greenland, part of Rye, and the city of Portsmouth. Exeter made up of the present towns of Epping, Newfields, South Newmarket, Brenthood, Freemont and Exeter. Hampton, comprising the towns of Hampton, North Hampton, Kingston, East Kingston, Danville, Kensing- ton, Hampton Falls, parts of Rye and Seabrook.
Salisbury included the towns of Amesbury, Merrimac, and Salisbury in Massachusetts, South Hampton, Newton, and part of Seabrook in New Hampshire.
Haverhill, the Indian name being Pentucket, included Ha- verhill, Methuen, the northern part of Lawrence in Massa- chusetts, Atkinson, nearly all of Plaistow, a large part of Sa- lem, and all but a small portion of the northern part of Hamp- stead in New Hampshire.
When New Hampshire became a Royal Province January 22, 1680, the four northern towns were taken from the county, Salisbury and Haverhill now only were left of the county.
Haverhill was a frontier town for nearly seventy years, and few towns suffered more from the savage attacks of the bloodthirsty Indians, who resented the encroachments on their lands and liberty. The Indian massacres of Haverhill have been often related. The inhabitants were unprepared to de- fend themselves, surrounded by an immense and mostly un- explored forest, thinly scattered over a large tract of land. We read that the people went to church with any convenient means of defense. They went with a gun primed in one hand, and a Psalm book in the other. The inhabitants lived in peril. Every man was a soldier, until the confirmation of Peace at Falmouth, in July of 1727.
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The years following 1720, were one of the most critical periods in the town's history. Disputes and difficulties be- tween the "proprietors and commoners " and the rest of the land holders. Charters for towns in the north country were being granted. Kingston received a charter in 1694, London- derry in 1719, and Chester in 1722, which caused a series of suits and contentions that lasted nearly a third of a century, which almost resulted in a civil war. The most determined contest during the trouble was that part of Haverhill, as origi- nally laid out, known as the " Peke " or " Corner " or " north- erly angle " of the town, to which both Londonderry and Salisbury laid claim.
The " commoners " of Haverhill complained that people were settling on the 4th and 5th divisions of lands. Richard Hazen jr., and Nathan Webster were of the committee to meet the disputants, and see what would satisfy them, to the number of thirty-nine persons, whose grievance was: "though they had noe material objection, against ye division of the commons, yett since they had bore charges, lost friends by the Indians, and did desire some particular piece upon ye proprietors grant, of which they would be easy and for ye future rest contented, and proceed to request as followeth, namely :-
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