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 24
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Carlos W. Noyes, b. Manchester, N. H., served in 1st Reg. N. H. Vol. H. artillery, from July 14, 1863, to June 5, 1865, credited Londonderry, N. H.
Richard B. Watson, b. Charlestown, Mass., served in Co. G, 10th N. H. Reg. from Aug. 14, 1862, to Jan. 21, 1865.
Asa T. Worthen, b. Fremont, N. H., served in 11th N. H. Reg. from Aug. 15, 1862, transferred to U. S. Navy, Oct. 14, 1862, to Mar. 7, 1863.
Charles Bassett, b. Pittsfield, N. H., served in 2nd Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf. from Aug. 16, 1861, to Dec. 19, 1865, appointed corporal Nov. 1, 1864, sergeant, Dec. 7, 1864.
Frederick Spollett, b. Derry, served in 1st N. H. Reg. Vol. Inf. from Sept. 17, 1861, to Sept. 25, 1864.
Benj. F. Evans, b. Strafford, N. H., served in 10th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf. from Sept. 1, 1862, to Dec. 15, 1863. Wounded at Racoon Ford, Va.
Loren M. Chase, served in Co. A. 4th Mas. Cavalry, from Nov. 13, 1863, to Nov. 14, 1865.
Others in town whose service I have not, are :-
George G. Pinneo, Albert G. Rand, Elmer Lowell, Charles Godfrey, Charles F. Evans, James D. Felley, George W. Baker, John Little, Jacob Townsend and Reuben Beebe.
Hampstead has one whose heroism has placed him among the " Heroes of the nation," Daniel G. George. The sketch of his army and navy life we take particular pride in recording.
Daniel G. George, born in Plaistow, N. H., July 7, 1840, son of Lyman P. and Eliza S. (Horton) George. Enlisted from Salem, N. II., Sept. 10, 1861, in Co. D, 1st Mass. Cav- alry, Capt. A. H. Stevens commanding, under Col. Robert Williams. He was discharged from army and navy service June 17, 1866.
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As Mr. George relates the following interesting items of his remarkable army and navy experiences he makes no per- sonal claims for distinction. He is well known as the only living survivor of the crew engaged in the destruction of the Rebel Ironclad Albemarle, in the Roanoke river, on the morn- ing of Oct. 27th, 1864, in company of the brave Associate Commander, who has been called "the Pride of the American Navy," Lieut. Commander William B. Cushing.
In 1857, Daniel G. George, then seventeen years of age, joined a whaleship at New Bedford and set sail for a four years' ernise in the Arctic ocean. When but three days out to sea he was instructed into the romance of a whaler's life, with the smashing of his boat by a " right whale," and left for some hours at the mercy of the waves. Again, amid the howl- ing of a fierce storm, the ship was saved only by a remarkable coincidence. Once he was rescued from a freezing bath in the Arctic ocean, himself and mates a mass of ice. Again, in a tempest, or furious gale, he was thrown from the top gal- lant yard into the sea. While sailing on the coast of South America their ship was overtaken by a furious tempest and entirely submerged in a huge wave and saved only by their cargo of oil.
It was after four years of such experiences that he enlisted in the service of the U. S. He was raised to Orderly Ser- geant in his regiment, was in many guerilla skirmishes, the battle of Antietam and twenty-one other general engagements, was taken prisoner at Aldee, when fifty out of fifty-four men in his company were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
He was not then captured, however, until his horse, pierced with bullets, fell upon his lame leg, which was before broken and fractured at Hilton Head.
As a prisoner he was marched from Aldee to Stanton, June 17, 1863, barefoot, the confederates having stolen his boots. The last fifty miles of his journey his feet became so wounded and lacerated that every step was marked by blood. From Stanton he was taken to Libby prison. Ten days later he was
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removed to Castle Thunder, and finally to Belle Isle, from thence he escaped, having induced his guard to run away with him. Their passage through the whole route was one of great excitement and danger. All day he lay in negro cabins, at night they pressed on in their dangerous march. After reporting at headquarters he was ordered to Annapolis and re- turned to his regiment.
When his term of enlistment expired he reenlisted, and every man but two of the company followed his influence, the only company of the regiment to reenlist as a whole. For this action the government gave a month's furlough as a company. They went to Boston, and while in Faneuil hall before a crowded audience, his Capt. (Charles F. Adams Jr.), eulogized him so generously that Gov. Andrews there pub- licly promised, and afterwards presented him with a captain's commission, but preferring to remain in his own regiment he declined the distinguished honor. He soon after received a lieutenant's commission in his own regiment (1st Mass. Cav- alry), but having applied for a transfer to the navy he de- clined the commission. He then became an able seaman in the U. S. navy, and was ordered to the Receiving Ship sta- tioned at Brooklyn Navy Yard.
While on the Receiving Ship a draft was made for men for the U. S. sloop of war Chicopee. During all of his service his firm friend, or chum (as George calls him) was Edward J. Houghton ; they had resolved not to be separated. The draft for the Chicopee took Houghton but not Daniel George, but he resolved to go with his friend if possible. They found one William Smith, an ordinary seaman, who had been drafted but preferred to remain where he was. An exchange of pa- pers was made. Daniel G. George became William Smith, an ordinary seaman, and Smith became George, an able sea- man, each to answer to the other's name. When the drafted men were called and William Smith was named, Daniel G. George stood as Smith, and became one of the crew of the Chicopee stationed in Albemarle sound, Capt. Arnold
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in command, and was made coxswain of Lieut. Walker's boat.
Upon learning of Commander Cushing's intended purpose of capturing or destroying the Albemarle, George, Houghton, and another ordinary seaman, volunteered to go with Cush- ing, the only men who volunteered unasked. Their request was granted. Thus George, Houghton, and thirteen others, including Lt. Com. Cushing, constituted the crew of one of the most daring, successful and important expeditions of any war, which was to destroy a mighty engine of war.
We read in a description of the Rebel Ram Albemarle, by one who helped build her, "She was the most perfect vessel of her size ever constructed." In an account of the battle of the Ram Albemarle off the mouth of the Roanoke river, May 5, 1864, which was then told "to be the bravest, most deter- mined action of vessels afloat for the last one hundred years."
" In this battle the Albemarle received over three hundred heavy shot and shell, was struck by a vessel of thousands of tons burden, steaming at a speed of eleven miles an hour without being damaged by her, fighting single-handed, nine heavily armed Federal gun boats from 3 P. M. until dark, on a spring day, without losing a man, with no damage beyond a denting on her armor, and at her own pleasure returning to her moorings at Plymouth."
" The most skilled mechanics gold could hire were employed in her construction. The construction of the ram had cost the Confederates $1,500,000," so said Admiral Porter in his testimony.
In Report No. 157, of the 2d Session of the 44th Congress of the United States, the committee stated that " the Rebel Ram Albemarle was destroyed by a torpedo boat under com- mand of Lieut. W. M. Cushing, on the night of Oct. 27, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C.
This report says, "Lieut. Cushing and his men received the thanks of Congress on Dec. 20th, 1864." They were signed by Schuyler Colfax and Abraham Lincoln.
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In Report No. 849, of the 47th Congress in the Senate of the United States. we read, " Lieut. Cushing, the pride of the American Navy." "Daniel G. George and W. B. Cush- ing pulled the lanyards which immortalized them both."
In the same Congressional Report an honorable senator is made to say, "The romance of war has seldom developed a more extraordinary character, and never has exhibited more elevated though unconscious patriotism and sublime courage than Daniel G. George."
This report from Congress was to the fact of Mr. George having been paid prize money for his aid in capturing the Albemarle, and led to attacks upon his claims which were silenced by the following letter which was written to sustain the rights of Daniel G. George "alias Bill Smith."
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, March 21, 1883.
I recognize this day Mr. William Smith, whom I have not seen since 1866, as the William Smith who served with me on board the U. S. Ship Chicopee as an ordinary seaman in the years 1864, 1865, 1866.
He is genuine. During my association with him he won the reputa- tion of being an honest, faithful, and brave man, and during my term of service with him he received from the U. S. Navy Dept. from my hands, as the Executive Officer of the Chicopee, a Medal of Honor for an act of gallantry performed on Oct. 27, 1864, in participating in the destruction of the Rebel Ram Albemarle.
Very respectfully, A. R. McNAIR, Lt. Com. U. S. Navy.
The following is the paper which accompanied the Medal of Honor handed to Mr. George by Lt. Com. McNair of the U. S. Navy.
" Forwarded Mar. 15, 1865. I. B. Montgomery, Commandant Navy De- partment, Washington. I have the pleasure of transmitting herewith the Medal of Honor awarded to you by the Secretary of the Navy, in General Orders No. 45, dated Dec. 31, 1864, for gallant and meritorious conduct while serving on picket boat which destroyed the Rebel Ram Albemarle, at Plymouth, Oct. 27, 1864.
Please acknowledge the receipt,
Very respectfully,
G. WELLS, Secretary of the Navy.
WILLIAM SMITH, Seaman,
Washington Navy Yard."
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The details of the remarkable affair have been known from George's own words to many of our townsmen. He says, " No account that I have read gives a fair representation of the fact. One account which has been taught in our school as history, says : 'Every man save two, were killed or drowned on the spot,' whereas only two were lost, one being shot, the other reported drowned."
Old soldiers say " Nothing in the annals of war history, re- cords a more unequal contest, and splendid pluck, a more desperate effort, and magnificent result." Thrilling indeed, is the story as George relates it (doubted by none), telling us how he sat in the bow of the torpedo boat with his friend Houghton and Lt. Cushing, how at Cushing's order to lower the torpedo, George and Houghton managing the wrench, did so quickly, Houghton detaching it from the end of the spar, which he did by pulling his lanyard, leaving the torpedo afloat under the bottom of the ram, several feet under water, but not wholly separated from the boat, for " Dan " still held it by a lanyard or small cord attached to the mechanism, which, when pulled, would explode it whenever Cushing should give the order to pull and explode the deadly engine of destruction. While he believed that it would be instant death to every man in the crew, he obeyed the order without any hesitancy, nota moment was lost. Cushing and Dan pulled their lanyards to- gether. In another instant they, the boat, their comrades, were being hurled over logs, through the air in every direc- tion, into the river, some thirty feet distant. He says there existed not a doubt in his mind but he had pulled his last earthly rope, but immediately, however, he found that he was not dead, but in the Roanoke River, and that it was next in order to make one more effort for life, which he did by strik- ing out manfully to where he supposed the shore to be, seri- ously impeded by the weight of sidearms, pistols, sabres, ammunition, and a heavy peajacket, with pockets full of hand grenades of which he found it impossible to divest himself for a time, but as if to prove the old adage true that "fortune
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favors the brave," he touched a log, and, clinging with one hand divested himself of useless arms and ammunition. In this situation he was captured and dragged, with two others of his brave comrades, to the shore as prisoners.
It has been said that one Southerner was a match for several Yankees, but on this occasion of sendingt hese eleven boys to Salisbury prison, it required one hundred rebel soldiers fully armed and equipped, to do the simple duty of escorting them.
The horrors of that prison have been often related, but never realized until we have listened to the tale of one who has experienced the horrors and miseries endured by the victims.
After five months in that dreadful den, George was released among a ragged, starving multitude of 2,000 wretched, emaci- ated men, who were permitted to once more look upon beau- ful nature, and walk with freedom the soil of their native land. When he entered that fatal enclosure there were 10,000 men strong in their courage, but death had taken 8,000 from the ranks.
Mr. George rejoined his messmates, who gladly received him on board the U. S. sloop of war Chicopee, where he remained until the 17th of June, 1866, when he returned to his childhood scenes.
He married Miss Lizzie Beardsley of Exeter, N. H. They have ten children, all living.
The regular army of the U. S. has received several recruits in later years from our boys, and Hampstead has now a rep- resentative in Charles Clough, son of George A., and grand- son of Charles W. Clough, who enlisted in August, 1899, in the 26th Mass. Infantry, for service in the Philippines.
THE CEMETERIES.
" The boast of Heraldry, the pomp of power, And all beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour; The path of glory leads but to the grave." Grey's Elegy.
There are ten burial places in Hampstead. The earliest occupied by our ancestors as far as we learn, is situated about one-fourth of a mile from the Peter Morse " Garrison House " and mill. It has been written that there are one hundred graves without a stone to mark the spot. From searching about the desolate spot, there was seen about twenty-five or thirty sadly neglected graves, marked generations ago by flat stones at the head and foot of the graves, but without in- scription. It is said that there are one or more with a rudely chiselled " J," which may have marked the grave of some Johnson, as they were numerous in that location in the early history of Hampstead. The ground is now turned into com- mon pasturage, a fence running through it, with graves on either side.
We are told that here were buried the bodies of Peter Morse and wife, Tamosine (Hale) Morse, Lieut. Edmund Morse and his two wives, Rachael Rowell and Priscilla Carl- ton, members of Nathan Webster's family, several of the Johnson families, and others of that section of the town. The greater number of deaths in that quiet resting place, it is said, were from the dreaded throat distemper in years from 1735 to 1760, which originated in a Mr. Clough's family, a short distance away, in West Kingston.
The Center burial ground seems to have been selected soon after the first settlement in the central and southwestern parts of the town. Here became the resting place of pastor and people, many of the early settlers and townsmen.
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Quaint headstones, inscribed with names and memories now held in reverence, are thickly placed over the sacred ground. It is probable that the earlier graves were not marked by either stone or wood. In former days gravestones were generally brought from England, all finished, except the inscription or lettering of name and age of the deceased. Some bore designs of weeping willows, angels' faces, hearts, and even coffins are seen in cemeteries or old burial places in our town.
The custom of marking the resting places of the dead by erecting monuments, whether in the form of pyramids, obe- lisks, triumphal arches, churches, tablets of bronze or brass, the unhewn shaft or simple pillar, is but a natural expression of the better feelings of man, and the reverence with which he holds his kindred.
While there are many costly and fine monuments in our cemeteries, appropriately inscribed, there is a certain fitness between the memorial and the family to whom they were placed in kindly remembrance. On the face of the tomb of Rev. Henry True (see illustration) is the inscription :-
This Monument is sacred to the Memory of REV. HENRY TRUE, A. M., First pastor of the church in Hampstead, Who suddenly departed this life on the 22d day of May, 1782, in the 57th year of his age and 30th of his ministry. He left a widow and eight children to mourn over his tomb. Revelation was his guide, And reason his companion. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, and a faithful friend. Prudence, Integrity, Condecension and Dignity Are happily united in his character, together with Judgment, learning and devotion. A testimony of his worth is embalmed in the minds Of his acquaintances, to whom he was endeared in life, and by whom he was lamented in death.
With cheering beat the radiant sun March'd to his full were drearie blaze, But while we mark'd the course it run To other climes, it sped its way To fill a more exalted sphere. The saints rejoice to see its ray And angels hail him welcome there.
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Close · by are stones marked
MRS. RUTH TRUE, relict of Rev. Henry True, Æt. 82 Also one inscribed :-
This Monument is erected in remembrance of DEA. JOHN TRUE, In testimony of his excellent virtues as a member of civil and religious society. He was born of eminently pious parents, December 26, 1761, And deceased December 3, 1824. As an officer in the church he was prudent, devout, and fervent in spirit, As a magistrate he was discriminately upright and just, As a friend and neighbor he was faithful and benevolent.
His works of piety and love Remain before the Lord. Honor on earth and joys above Shall be his sius removed.
The first person buried in the Center ground was a Mr. Hadley, who was drowned in the Island Pond.
A rude stone, with the following inscription in print, rude- ly chiselled, shows the deceased to have been of the earliest generation in New England :---
In memory of MRS. MARY AYER, widow of Deacon James Ayer, Who died May the 14, 1777, in the 87 year of her age, Mother of the wife of Rev. Henry True.
Some of the early inscriptions are as follows :-
Here lies buried the body of Mr. MICHAEL JOHNSON, who died Aug. 25, 1746, in the 60 year of his age.
In Memory of Mr. JOHN JOHNSON, son of Mr. Michael and Mrs. Mary Johnson, died Feb'y 26th, 1756, in ye 56th year of his age.
Here lies buried the body of Mr. JONATHAN PIERPOINT, A. M., who departed this life Jan'y 12th, 1758, Æt. 62.
JOSIAH DAVIS, d. 1796, aged 72. Mr. JABEZ HOIT, died Sept. 17, 1843, aged 78. Weep not, dear friends, I tell you all I go to dwell with Christ on high; I hear my blessed Savour call, And trusting in his promise, die.
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Mrs. CHARLOTTE, wife of Mr. Jabez Hoit, died Feb. 7, 1828, Æt. 63.
Friends nor physicians could not save My mortal body from the grave; Nor can the grave confine me here When Christ summons me to appear.
A tomb erected bears the following inscription :-
This monument is erected to the memory of JOHN HOGG, Esq., who departed this life March 6th, 1795, in the 91 year of his age.
Mrs. ELIZABETH HOGG, relict of John Hogg, Esq., departed this life Nov. 30th, 1796, in the 93d year of her age.
Stones marked with a design of an urn read :-
CAPT. HEZEKIAH HUTCHENS departed this life June 13, 1796, Æt. 68.
MRS. ANNA HUTCHIENS, relict of Capt. Hezekiah Hutchens, died May 6, 1812, Æt. 78.
DANIEL LITTLE, Esq., died Jan. 13, 1841, Æt. 91.
A tender husband in his days, A much lamented friend lies here; When Christ returns to call him forth The rising day will show his worth.
HANNAH, wife of Daniel Little, Esq., died March 23, 1822, Æt. 65.
The pains she long endured are now removed, Her body moulders in the silent tomb,
But gone, we trust, to some more blissful home, Her spirit reigns where joys in fulness live.
Mr. MOSES LITTLE, died March 11, 1831, Et. 53. When death is sent by God above, Calls us from those we fondly love, He does not always warning give. Dear friends, be careful how you live.
Mrs. MARY, relict of the late Moses Little, died?April 5, 1845, aged 61.
The dead we may never bring again, Or wake to life their sleeping clay, Whose time of pain & tear are done, For joys that pass no more again.
M. 23, 1751. SAMUEL STEVENS, Deceased. A. 25, 1750, RACHEL STEVENS.
The land chosen for the burial of the dead in the West District, bordering on or near the Sandown line, on a hill from which miles of the surrounding country is seen, was settled early, and we find names of Pressey, Chase, Currier,
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Tucker, Merrill, Eastman, Calef, and others of the early set- tlers of that section. There are many inscriptions on stones crumbling to decay, of interest in their day, showing them to be above the ordinary ones in use.
TIMOTHY STEVENS, died June 19, 1801, aged 79 yrs. ELIZABETH STEVENS, his wife, died Feb. 21, 1830, aged 89 yrs. MRS. POLLY STEVENS, daughter of Mr. Timothy & Mrs. Elizabeth Ste- vens, who died Feb. 2, 1797, Æt. 23. Here I must lie within this grave, My flesh and bones a rotting. When this you see pray think of me, Less I shall be forgotten. I once had life as well as you, But now my days are over; Here I must stay till judgment day, Then meet my great Jehovah.
Sacred to the memory of MARY STEVENS, daughter of Mr. Timothy & Mrs. Susanna Stevens, who died August the 12, A. D. 1772, in 19 year of her age.
Sacred to the memory of SARAH STEVENS, daughter of Mr. Timothy Stevens, who died July 21, 1787, in the 4th year of her age.
MEMENTO MON. In Memory of Mrs. ELIZABETH LITTLE, Consort of Samuel Little, daughter of Mr. Timothy Stevens, who died Sept. 15, 1794, Æt. 83.
"Sacred to the memory of MARY STEVENS, daughter of Mr. Timothy Stevens & Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, who died August the 12, A. D. 1772, in 19th year of her age.
Mr. JOHN BARTLETT, died Nov. 14, 1841, Æt. 61.
Behold and see, as you pass by, As you are now so once was I; As I am now so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me.
The same stone bears the inscription,
Near this spot Mr. Bartlett's Father and Mother and child were interred.
Memento Mon. In memory of Mr. JAMES HUSE, who departed this life April 11, 1753, Æt. 54.
Dea. JACOB TUCKER, died July 24, 1804, Æt. 87.
Mrs. LYDIA TUCKER, consort of Mr. Jacob Tucker, died Nov. 2, 1795, Æt. 72.
Miss ALICE TUCKER, daughter of Mr. Jacob Tucker, died May 12, 1801.
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Here lies interred Dea. SAMUEL CURRIER, who departed this life Sept'r ye 24th, 1766, aged 56 years 7 months & 9 days.
Come, Mortal Man, And Cast an eye, Come Read thy Doom, Prepare to Die.
In memory of JOANNA MERRILL, consort of Rev. Daniel Merrill, of Sedwick, in the Province of Maine, and daughter of Benjamin and Betsey Colby, died Oct. 28, 1793, ag. 23.
This is the place where Christians see And end of all eternity. Here their lived bodies rest in dust,
There souls rejoicing with the just, Till Christ in triumph shall appear To raise their bodies from the flesh and fair, Their soul and body reunited Shall reign in glory reserected.
ROBERT ROGERS, d. 2, 7, 1770, ag. 69.
CAPT. SIMON MERRILL, d. Apr. 24, 1819, ag. 87. A soldier in the Revolution.
MARY, W. of Capt. SIMON MERRILL, d. Apr. 12, 1850, ag. 72. Mrs. SARAH LITTLE, died June 23, 1823, Æt. 48.
Her soul was tranquil and serene, No terrors in her looks were seen, The Saviour's smiles dispel'd the gloom And smoothed her passage to the tomb.
Memento Mon. In memory of Mr. JONATHAN COLBY, who departed this life July 18th, A.D. ye 1793, age 80.
Ye grey-headed sinners all Remember that death shall call, Yet after that God's trumpeter Will summons you to judgment. Therefore repent and believe That thro' Grace you may receive From Jesus life and favor, Then in Heaven reign forever.
The new cemetery at the village, recently laid out, some- times called the " The Eastman Cemetery," finds the graves of many of our citizens deceased within the past fifteen years, and monuments of modern design, the most imposing being that of Dr. Eastman's, the illustration of which appears in this book. It is a beautiful spot overlooking the Wash pond and surrounding country. The inscriptions are all of modern thought or scripture passages rather than those from phrases selected for use on stones of former years.
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At the boundary line of Atkinson and Hampstead on the East road, is a plot of land set off from the old Harriman Farm, in which are buried the bodies of Mr. Harriman and his wife (a sister of Gen. Israel Putnam) and their colored servant. The stones are broken but traceable, and bear the inscriptions-
Mr. REUBEN HARRIMAN, departed this life, Oct. 12, 1808, Æt. 82. Mrs. MENITABLE HARRIMAN, departed this life, March 4th, 1788, ÆEt. 61.
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