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 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
Where once the parish was traversed by bridle paths and beaten walks, we have at the present day forty-six miles of the finest roads that skill and money can maintain. In 1889 there were 9,136 houses in Hampstead and an area of 2,248 acres, while we, with an area of 8,350 acres, have less than 210 dwelling houses.
At an ordinary meeting of the Society, 27th May, 1898, Mr. George W. Potter gave mention to the charters, and many reminiscences of the place. He said Hampstead com- prised 2,240 acres, and at the highest point was 443 feet above the level of the sea. Nearly sixty years ago it contained about 9,000 inhabitants, and from the Hampstead Record of July 22, 1899, we learn the present population is about 80,000.
Sir Richard Temple expressed the opinion "that the Hampstead of the present, if less picturesque and artistic than the Hampstead of the past, is yet far more imposing, and in a comparison with the surroundings of the capital cities of other countries, might fairly be ranked amongst the grandest suburbs of Europe."
227
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Thomas Park, of Church Row, Hampstead, published a work, " Morning thoughts and midnight musings." In it he says, " I have surveyed the beauties of the Continent through the eyes, and the representative of others, I am quite satis- fied to possess a miniature of them close at home. Hamp- stead to me is Italy in many of its views, Switzerland in its diversity of its aspects, Montpelier in its salubrious air, Spain in its pure chalybeate, and dear England in all its domestic and amicable associations."
We learn that Hampstead, England, was once the home of many laundresses, that only " a few years ago the Western Heath was white on a fine summer's day, from the vast quantities of linen placed there to dry ; and in the days of the eighth King Henry the washing of the Royal household was done there." We also read " that the springs and wells were often dry in a very warm summer, and that the water from the ponds was used for household purposes, and also car- riages, carts, horses, and nearly everything that needed to be cleansed was taken there to be washed."
From these notes it seems very evident that Hampstead, England, had its wash pond. I may here suggest to the many who have asked, have you learned how our beautiful " Wash pond" received its name ? that possibly Governor Wentworth, who came from England to Portsmouth De- cember 12, 1740, and was appointed Governor of the Province of New Hampshire in 1741, and who purchased the " Island farm " in our " Islandy pond " April 14th, 1741, which, ten years before, was given in part to a member of his Majesty's Council as a present (for services rendered the Haverhill proprietors), may have noted a resemblance in form, waters, location or surroundings of the pond in the central part of " Timberlane " to the ponds in old England where they did their washing, and named it the " Wash pond." We find a record extant, where it was so called before 1743, in a deed of land bordering on the shores of the Wash pond, formerly owned by Peter Eastman. Also, it is so called in a petition to the Governor in 1743 from a neighboring parish.
228
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
We read that many distinguished people celebrated in lit- erature, art and science, drama and statesmanship, and great men of all kinds, have been connected or resided in Hamp- stead.
Charles Dickens was extremely partial to and constantly turned his suburban walks towards Hampstead Heath. In a picturesque cottage, with its pretty balcony environed with creepers, Leigh Hunt lived for some time. Byron and Shelley visited him there. The sisters Agnes and Joanna Bailee, who acquired no small fame as a poetess, and also wrote several popular plays which were greatly praised by Sir Walter Scott, lived for a time on Hampstead Hill.
The mother of Alfred Tennyson spent the last years of her life and died there about 1861. Her poet son was a constant visitor during her life.
The famous " Kitcat Club " met in a house in Hampstead. Admiral Sir Edward Parry, the Arctic explorer, lived there, as did the elder William Pitt, the founder of the British em- pire.
Edward Henry Bickersteth, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Exeter, labored thirty years in the ministry of the Episcopal church in Hampstead ; while there he wrote sev- eral literary works; the one best known, and very widely circulated in the United States, is his. "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."
Dr. Butler, when he was Bishop of Durham, whose work " Butler's Analogy," was and is now used quite extensively in many of our academies, colleges and seminaries, lived in the house built and occupied by Sir Henry Vane. The house from which he was taken for execution in 1662, had probably received and welcomed within its doors such men as Crom- well, Milton and Fairfax. It is now occupied as a Sailors' Daughter's Home, and under the patronage of royalty, in- cluding Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Canterbury, and others.
Among the noted residents in Hampstead was Mrs. Bar-
229
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
bauld, the wife of a Presbyterian minister, who, in the esti- mation of Wadsworth, was the first of American literary women. He greatly admired Mrs. Barbauld's " Address to life," written in extreme old age, and was said to have been heard muttering to himself " I am not in the habit of grudg- ing people their good things, but I wish I had written those lines."
" Life! We've been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather.
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear,
Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh or tear: Then steal away, give little warning:
Choose thine own time:
Say not good night, but in some brighter clime, Bid me good morning."
Sir Rowland Hill, also Sir Francis Palgrane, the noted his- torian of the Norman conquest, and many antiquarian essays, lived there, as did also Keats, who composed the well-known " Ode to a nightingale," " A thing of beauty is a joy for- ever," and other imperishable works.
Steevens, the commentator of Shakespeare, Mrs. Siddons, Steele, Addison, Miss Lucy Aiken. Mrs. Opie, Dr. Johnson, Sterne, and many other famous authors had homes in Old Hampstead.
Sir Walter Besant, one of the best known English novel- ists at this day, still lives in Hampstead.
For a century and a half, Hampstead was a favorite resort of painters. Herbert, whose frescoes adorn the House of Parliament, lived and worked in Hampstead. G. Ramsey Clarkson, William Blake and others famous in art, made homes in that town.
Lords Wilberforce, Mansfield, Spencer and Erskine, are noted as eminent statesmen and lawyers of the place.
I have noted these interesting items in regard to Hamp- stead in London, feeling that so many of our townsmen may never behold the fair land across the waters, or have the privilege of listening to the glowing accounts of visits to the place from those more favored, hoping we all may be im-
230
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
pressed in some degree, with the truly striking resemblance as to natural scenery, between our pleasant country home and the land made famous in literature, art and science, from which we received our town's name.
While our public buildings or private homes have none of the grandeur of European cities, or can we boast of such a long array of distinguished people of world-wide fame within our borders, we can and do pride ourselves that thrift and indus- try shows about our simple homes ; that no country town has fairer ponds, or more attractive scenery for lovers of the quiet beautiful in nature; that no dishonor has ever stained our good name as a town.
We have always had a just pride that the settlers of this town were in nearly every instance descended from emigrants to Essex County, Mass., from England. The Littles from Uni- corn street near London bridge, and so on, and from Yorkshire, Hampshire, Lancestershire, Wiltshire and other counties, there have sprung a race of noble men and women, examples of honesty, integrity, and sincere worth.
Let us remember that our Hampstead has a history of less than two hundred years, while Hampstead, London, has a history to record, of more than a thousand years, and we must hope to progress as the years roll on. Let us ever strive to be an honor, and worthy to be called the " American name- sake " by the historic English suburb of London.
October 4th, 1899.
EDUCATIONAL WORK IN HAMPSTEAD.
The progress of education in Hampstead was carefully told by the late Caleb Moulton, in a pamphlet prepared in 1876, for the educational department of New Hampshire, at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. I copy such portions of it as were not taken from Judge Smith's address at our centennial celebration, and appears elsewhere, in these pages ; also from the Decadal Year Book and catalogue, prepared in 1884, by Osman C. B. Nason, A. B., preceptor of our High school at that time, with such other items concerning our schools as have been taken from " The Sketch of Hampstead High school," 1894, by Prof. Merrill, principal of the school.
Mr. Moulton said,-" The literary history of Hampstead, is in some respects quite different from that of some of the neighboring towns. Education seems to have been one of the first questions to engage the attention of the fathers. There is a tradition handed down from the grandfather of the writer, that a private school was kept at different dwelling houses a portion of the time of each year for several years prior to the incorporation of the town in 1749. Be that as it may, it is certain that the next year the voters took the matter in hand in earnest, and made ample provision for the education of the children, considering their circumstances.
In 1752, 200 pounds, old tenor, was raised by taxation for school purposes, and expended by the selectmen ; they being empowered to limit the several school districts. There is no record showing the number of districts, but the general be- lief seems to be that there were four.
For many succeeding years the selectmen were instructed to limit, or divide the districts as formerly. The amount of school money was, in a few years, increased to 400 pounds, old tenor, and the same amount was raised, even when the
(231)
232
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
town refused to raise money to pay the town officers for their services. While there appears to have been some few who refused to vote for raising money for school purposes, there were enough true friends of education always found ready to take care that the children did not suffer on this account.
In 1767, 20 pounds, lawful money, was raised, and in 1782 it was raised to 30 pounds.
About the same amount was raised yearly until 1800, when $75 was raised to support a woman's school, to be propor- tioned the same as other money. From this and other evi- dence, we may infer that female teachers had not been em- ployed previous to that time.
Although there is no record of the election of a school com- mittee until the year 1801, there is not much doubt, but that such committee had been chosen in many previous years.
It was the custom to choose the clergyman, physician and some justice of the peace, for a school committee, and for the committee to serve without remuneration ; still there were men selected to fill the office who were willing to serve, and no bills for service were paid until within the last thirty years.
In 1804, there were six districts, but whether there were as many schoolhouses, is not known for a certainty. New dis- triets were formed from time to time, until 1820, when there were eight. The eighth was soon united to number two, on ac- count of the small amount of money received. Another number eight district was formed by severing number seven, but the separation lasted only a few years, when the same districts were reunited.
During the last quarter of a century, there has been an in- creasing interest on the subject of education. Parents have been more careful about sending their children to school, and children have appeared to be more anxious to attend. And this may account, in part, for the dissatisfaction in some of the districts in regard to the division of school money. The amount raised by taxation for school purposes, has uniformly been proportioned according to the valuation of the school
233
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
districts, and the literary fund, and interest on what is called the parsonage fund, has for a series of years been divided equally among the several distriets."
I note from the " Decadel Year Book " as follows: "At just what time the higher branches of study began to be taught in the town cannot be ascertained. They were prob- ably introduced into the regular district school at such times as there was a demand for them, and when teachers could be secured who were competent to teach them. Such studies as algebra, history and surveying, were taught at the time when our oldest citizens began their school days.
Private schools, however, have been held in the towns at va- rious times, at which many of the advance studies were doubt- less pursued.
For any very extended course of study in the higher branches most of our people attended Atkinson Academy which had long afforded superior advantages. It was here that the late Benjamin D. Emerson laid the foundation for his after acquirements. Often was he seen passing along the road on horseback on his way to and from school there.
Those who best knew the needs of the town, however, real- ized the advantages which would acerue to it from the found- ing of a free institution of higher instruction within our own town. Such a one was Benjamin Dudley Emerson, whose warm interest and affection for his native town and solicitude for the education of the youth of Hampstead, as elsewhere, can best be seen from his letter sent to the committee of arrange- ments of the centennial celebration, in 1849.
No further reasons need be sought as to why Mr. Emerson gave money for the founding of the Hampstead High school." Mr. Emerson died in 1872.
EXTRACTS FROM THE WILL OF BENJAMIN D. EMERSON.
" I, Benjamin D. Emerson of West Roxbury, in the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, make this my last will and Tes- tament.
234
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I bequeath and devise as follows :
(Clauses from I to VII relate to personal bequests.)
"8th. All the residue of my estate, real and personal, I direct shall be sold by my executors, at public or private sale, according to their best discretion, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and the proceeds applied as herein- after directed.
Whereas it is my desire to provide for the establishment and permanent maintenance in my native town of Hampstead, in the state of New Hampshire, of a school to be called " The Hampstead High School ", and to be for the free use and benefit of that town forever, but only upon the following con- ditions, namely :---
First. That within two years from the final probate of this Will, there shall be procured from the Legislature of said State an act of incorporation, making seven persons, namely, John Ordway, Tristram Little, William C. Little, Amos Buck, Amos Ring, and Frederick A. Pike, together with the pastor of the present Congregational Society in town for the time being, ex-officio, or such of said persons as shall then be liv- ing and residing in said Hampstead, together with such other persons residing in said town as said Legislature may name in the place of any who may have deceased or removed from said town, a body corporate by the name of the " Trustees of Hampstead High School," with the power to fill all va- cancies that may occur in their own body, and to establish, govern, maintain, and administer a high school in said town of Hampstead, subject to the substantial observance of the following principles and regulations, which are to be regarded as the fundamental constitution of said school, namely : (1) The said school shall be open and free to youth of both sexes belonging to said town of Hampstead, impartially and with- out distinction ; but no scholar shall be admitted who shall not have attained the age of twelve years, and who can read, write and spell the English language with reasonable correct-
235
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ness and facility, considering his or her age ; nor shall any scholar be admitted or retained who does not sustain a good moral character. (2) The whole number of scholars in said school shall not exceed thirty at any one time. (3) No person shall be appointed to the office of preceptor or master of said school, who has not been regularly graduated at some Univer- sity or College in our country, or who does not sustain a good moral character. (4) It shall be the duty of the preceptor to commence the daily exercises of the school by reading, or caus- ing to be read, some portion of the sacred scriptures, and by prayer; and on each alternate Saturday during school term, he shall be required to devote one half hour at least to instruction calculated to improve the manners and morals of his pupils, impressing on their minds the duty of practising the cardinal virtues of truth, temperance, modesty, industry, benevolence, and especially filial love and obedience, and def- erence and respect for old age. The last named virtues, which have been too much neglected in later years, should be made an important part in every youth's education : they are indis- pensable to the forming of good morals and good manners, as well as the religious character. I cannot too strongly urge their claim upon those who have in charge the education of youth. The emphatic words of Sacred Writ are, " Honor thy father and thy mother." "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God." On each other alternate Saturday during term time, said preceptor shall devote one half hour or more to the incul- cation of the doctrine and practice of religion as displayed in the Old and New Testaments, and as exemplified in the conduct of our great exampler, Jesus Christ, and his disciples ; care- fully excluding all sectarianism and uncharitableness, as tend- ing to not only to make the narrow way still narrower with- out necessity, but even turn it from its heavenly direction : it being believed that simply inculcating the doctrine of the Saviour and his apostles, as nearly as possible in their own language, without attempting to make proselytes to the pe-
236
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
culiar views of any class of Christians, is the best instruction in religious knowledge.
Second. That within three years of the final probate of said Will the said town of Hampstead shall erect a suitable and substantial schoolhouse, satisfactory to said trustees, on a lot of land containing not less than one acre, measuring not less than two hundred and ten feet on any side, and situated in said Hampstead, on the main road between the Old Meet- ing House and the house formerly owned by Dr. James Knight, at the corner of what is called " Kent's Farm Road," and shall within said three years convey said lot of land, with said schoolhouse finished and well fitted for the reception of scholars, to the said Trustees for the use of the said High school forever : the said lot to be planted with not less than fifty ornamental shade trees, one half elms, and the other one half sugar maples, and the distance between the schoolhouse and the road to be not less than one hundred feet.
Now, therefore, in case the foregoing conditions are com- plied with, then, and not otherwise, I direct my executors to pay one half of the net proceeds of the sale of my real estate in West Roxbury, together with one-half of any net in- come of such proceeds that may accrue before the time of such payment, to the said Trustees of the Hampstead High School upon the following trusts : namely, to invest the same, and from time to time to change the investments, having re- gard always to the safety of the fund, rather than to its pro- ductiveness ; and all the net income thereof, but no part of the principal, to apply to the use, benefit, and support of said High School, forever.
* *
In witness whereof I hereto set my hand and declare this to be my last will in the presence of three witnesses, this twenty-fourth day of February A. D. eighteen hundred and seventy-one.
BENJAMIN D. EMERSON."
237
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In 1873, through the efforts of Mr. Frederick A. Pike and Judge Fowler, assisted by Dr. Josiah C. Eastman, an act to incorporate the Trustees of the Hampstead High School was secured by an act of the Legislature.
After much discussion as to the location of the new build- ing, it was finally voted, on the 30th day of October, 1873, to purchase the lot owned by Jesse O. Bailey, with building thereon, with the two acres of land, as it seemed best fitted for the needs of the town and to meet the requirements of the will.
Tristram Little, Nelson Ordway and Amos Clark were chosen a building committee. The building was erected by Moulton D. Pressey of Haverhill ; when completed, it cost about $9000. Mr. John Lyman Little of Atkinson acted as mason for the cellar of the High school building, and is said to have found nearly enough stones in the cellar of the build- ings removed from the premises to build the cellar of the High school building.
From measurements by the late Caleb Moulton the house is 48 feet long by 38 feet wide, has 30 foot posts, is cov- ered with a slate roof, topped by a 40 foot spire, with the cardinal points of the compass and a fine metallic weather vane. The hall on the first floor is 36 by 38 feet, and the school room above is of the same size, is neatly finished and blinded, and is furnished with approved modern school room furniture.
Mr. Myron P. Dickey commenced the first term of school ten weeks, May 4th, 1875, with the full complement of scholars selected from each district in town, according to the number of school children.
Mr. Dickey remained four years and one term. The fol- owing are the names of the pupils who attended under Mr. Dickey :-
John W. Adams, Charles Adams, Nathaniel E. Bartlett, Mary J. Bean, George L. Bragdon, Mabel A. G. Brown, Myra M. Bartlett, George E. Brown, Frederick L. Clark, Mary E. Clark, Flora A. Corson, Linus L. Chase, Emma F. Chase, Charles O. Carr, Kate E. Coaker, Jennie E.
238
MEMORIAL OF THE TOWN OF
Coaker, Wallace E. Currier, Alice M. Davis, Albert H. Emerson, Charles H. Emerson. Daniel Emerson, Emma E. Emerson, Frank W. Emerson, Albert Eastman, J. Bartlett Eastman, William E. Fitts, Carrie M. Fitts, Charles W. Garland, Lillie R. Griffin, James N. Haseltine, John E. Haynes, Mary E. Heath, Hattie E. Hoyt, M. Lillie Hoyt, Edward W. Hall, Etta M. Hunkins, Mattie M. Irving, H. Albert Irving, Willie L. Johnson, George A. Johnson, Ella F. Johnson, George E. Kent, Frank Keazer, William A. Love, Orrie B. Little, William F. Little, Alice M. Little, George A. Lake, Mary S. Lawton, Ruth A. Marshall, Marilla Moulton, Charles B. Marshall, Dennis Maley, Kate E. Mayley, Dana G. Marble, Walter Marble, Fred D. Marble, Cynthia S. Mills, Mary B. Morse, James Noyes, Isaac W. Noyes, Arthur O. Page, Ella F. Page, Edwin S. Pressey, Isaac Randall, Nellie T. Randall, Abbie R. Randall, Helen F. Rundlett, Orren B. Rundlett, Elwood L. Shannon, Sarah Sagar, John C. Sanborn, Susie C. Smith, S. Kate Smith, Alice N. Smith, Ida M. Tabor, .Etta M. Tabor, Henry W. Tabor, Lizzie I. Tabor, Annie J. Tabor, Al- bert W. R. Verburght, Willie C. Wilson, Inez A. Wilson, Albert G. Wood, George G. Williams, Nellie R. Williams.
Mr. Dickey was succeeded by Mr. Forrest E. Merrill, who remained at that time about five years, and had in addition to the names in the foregoing list as his pupils :--
Cora M. Bassett, Abbie M. Corson, Fred W. Corson, Willie Dyer, James Lawton, Arthur H. Little, Mary Lake, John E. Mills, George E. Morse, Moses C. Morse, Newell G. Moulton, Willie Pike, Charles Page, Gilbert Rowe, George E. Rand, Clarence L. Sawyer, Charles Stevens, Susie N. Stinson, Walter J. Tabor, Myra C. Townsend, and Mary A. Williams.
The first class to receive diplomas, as completing a course of study, was the
CLASS OF 1880.
Alice M. Little, teacher. Resides Haverhill, Mass.
Katie M. Mayley (Mrs. Henry Merrick), Danville, N. H.
Emma F. Chase (Mrs. John Hunt), Salem, N. H.
H. Albert Irving, Boston, Mass.
Albert H. Emerson (mar. Susie N. Stimson, class of 1SS1), res. Haverhill.
CLASS OF 1881.
Daniel Emerson (mar. Esther Plunkett), shoe man'r, Hampstead.
Dana G. Marble, died at Hillsboro', N. H., aged 24 years.
Susie N. Stimson (Mrs. Albert H. Emerson, see class 1880).
CLASS OF 1882.
Emma F. Emerson (Mrs. Elwin A. Edgerly), Haverhill, Mass.
CLASS OF 1883.
Lillie E. Noyes (Mrs. George A. Sawyer), Atkinson, N. H. Jennie E. Coker, Manchester, N. H.
George G. Williams, Haverhill, Mass.
239
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CLASS OF 1884.
Arthur H. Little (mar. Annie R. Emerson, class 1885), Hampstead, N. H. Moses C. Morse (mar. Nellie Simpson), Hampstead, N. H. George E. Morse.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.