USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > An historical sketch of Troy [N.H.] and her inhabitants, from the first settlement of the town in 1764 to 1855 > Part 4
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Asa, the youngest child, never married, he died at an early age. William, the next youngest, went while a single man to Burke, Vt., where he resided till his death which was several years since. John before mentioned, married Polly Robbins of Warwick, Mass. and lived on the farm he first pur- chased till the year 1795, when he sold and purchased another lot, lying about one-fourth of a mile south-east from the house now owned by Franklin Woodward. There he built a house and resided some fourteen years: he then moved to Wallingford, Vt., where he remained between twenty and thirty years, and from there he re- moved to the western part of New-York, where some of his children still reside. Timothy in 1790, married Ruth Robbins, sister of his brother John's wife, and lived with his brother, on the farm first purchased, un- til it was sold, as already stated. He then purchased the farm and built the house now owned by Amos Knowlton, where he lived until 1850. He then moved to Winchendon and lived with his son Alvah, until his
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death which occurred March 7, 1856. Mrs. Godding died November 7, 1854. Mr. Godding lived in Troy over 70 years and few men have left a better impression upon the minds of the people.
Alexander Parkman is another of the many individu- als of whose early life the writer can obtain no informa- tion. He was by trade a clothier, and must have settled as early as 1777 or '78 on the plat of ground a little east of Mr. Carpenter's saw-mill, and now owned by Col. Wright. His house stood near an apple tree which may be distinctly seen from the road; and he had a ful- ling-mill a short distance below the saw-mill. He work- ed here at his trade several years, and it being a time when families manufactured their own cloth, he found a plenty of the material to occupy his time in the usual season for dressing. A share of the publie business was also entrusted to his care. He was town clerk of Marl- boro' in 1784 and '85 and occupied other important po- sitions; and there is nothing upon the record to show that he did not discharge his duties to the satisfaction of the people. In 1788, he made arrangements for remor- ing to Cherry Valley, N. Y. and employed William Tenney, Sen., who with an ox team conveyed his family and goods as far as Bennington, where they were over- taken by a severe storm and obliged to halt. Finding it impossible at that time to proceed farther with his load, Mr. Tenney commenced his retreat, leaving Mr. Park- man to find other means of conveyance, whenever the travelling should be sufficiently favorable. Mr. Park- man had several sons, one of whom went, while young, to Boston, engaged in the mercantile business, and soon acquired a large fortune.
In 1779, the Nurse family, consisting of the father, Joseph Nurse, and mother, four sons and two daughters, came from Hopkinton Mass. and settled on the land now owned by Mrs. Amadon. They lived in the house, a part 4*
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of which is now standing there until 1794, when Mr. Nurse and his son Ebenezer, built the house farther south. and now owned by Daniel Starkey. Jonathan, the oldest child, lived with his parents a few years after they came to Fitzwilliam, and then moved to Ohio. Hannah, the oldest daughter, married Colmon Sanders, but it is not now remembered where they settled. Joseph went while a single man to Dumister, where he afterwards married and settled. William married Lydia, daughter of John Bruce, and settled on the farm now occupied by Lorenzo Dexter, but after residing there a few years he removed to Warwick. Prudence married a Moseman and settled in Newfane, Vermont. Ebenezer married Pris- cilla Poor of Royalston, Mass. and settled on the home
farm with his parents. Reuben, the youngest child, married Jerusha Bruce and settled with his brother Eb- enezer, who was to share with him the farm after the decease of their parents. But after residing there about five years, he sold his interest in the farm to David White and removed to Pelham. Mrs. Nurse, the moth- er. died in 1783, but the father lived until 1808, when he died at the advanced age of 94.
Daniel Farrar was born in Lincoln, Mass., March 25. 1755. He was a descendant of Jacob Farrar who has been already mentioned as immigrating to this coun- try in 1658. He was the son of Daniel Farrar, 2d, who was the second son of Daniel Farrar who was a grandson of Jacob. Whereas, Phinehas Farrar (who has before been mentioned) descended from the eldest son of Daniel Farrar. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war he had just arrived at manhood, and was among the first to take up arms in defence of the liberties of his country. He was one of the minute men at Concord, fought in the battle of Bunker Hill, where a musket ball clipped a lock of his whiskers, and took an active part in the various operations of the army in the
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vicinity of Boston. His term of enlistment, however, soon expired, when he retired from the army, married a daughter of John Bruce of Sudbury, and settled in Lin- coln, where he resided until 1779, when he purchased of Samuel Curtis of Marlborough, Mass. a lot of land in Marlboro', N. H., which lot constitutes the most of the farm recently owned by the late Daniel Cutting. The deed was dated January 15, 1779. Early in the fol- lowing spring he built a log-house a few rods west of the site of the school house in district No. 3, to this he re- moved his family and devoted his time to the clearing and cultivating of his land. Occasionally he would im- prove a day in assisting his father Bruce, who was at the same time clearing a part of his land, and it so hap- pened that he was with him at the time he was killed in the manner before mentioned. In 1783, he removed to the Bruce farm, and the following year, he sold the lot first purchased to his brother George, who had already lived with him there about one year. To the improve- ment of the farm upon which he now resided he devoted the most of his energies, and, possessing a strong consti- tution, and great powers of endurance, he could perform more labor than usually falls to the lot of most men.
CHAPTER IV.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THOSE FROM THIS TOWN WHO TOOK PART IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
As we have passed over a large proportion of that pe- riod distinguished for the Revolutionary war, it is prop- er that we should pause a moment, and see how the in- habitants of what is now this town stood affected in ref- erence to that contest. At the time the awful clarion of war first sounded upon the fields of Lexington, there could not have been more than twenty-five male inhabi- tants, over 21 years of age, within the limits of Troy capable of bearing arms. And when we consider that the most of these were heads of families, and that they had just settled upon a portion of the wild land of the State, we can see if they had been ever so much inclined to have exchanged the field for the camp, they could on- ly have done this, at the expense of bringing upon their families almost unendurable suffering. Hence the small number of enlistments should not be attributed to a want of patriotism, or to indifference in respect to the great interests of the country, for it would be difficult to find men more ardently attached to liberty, and to the lead- ing measures of the whigs of that day, than were the most of the first settlers of this town. But there are no stronger claims, of an earthly nature, upon man's ser- vices than those of the family. Next to these stand those of the country. Justice and humanity forbid that
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the former should be sacrificed to the latter. But in most instances in which it was possible to make such an arrangement as to protect the family from extreme suf- fering, the opportunity was gladly improved, and the father laid aside the implements of husbandry, and hur- ried to the assistance of his countrymen, who were strug- gling amidst scenes of conflict and blood. And the fol- lowing are the names of those who are known to have entered the American army from the limits of this town :
BENJAMIN TOLMAN, JAMES BREWER,
JACOB NEWELL, JR., CALEB WINCHI,
EZEKIEL MIXER,
JOHN FARRAR, JR.,
PEARSON NEWELL, PETER STARKEY.
Mr. Tolman led the way, and has the honor of taking an active part in the battle which opened the bloody drama. On receiving information of a threatened inva- sion, he seized his musket and marched directly for the scene of war. On his way he was joined by others on a like expedition, and they arrived at Lexington just in season to dispute the progress of the British forces. He joined the patriots in pursuit of the enemy on the retreat from Lexington, pouring upon him a galling fire, until they arrived at Charlestown Common, when they reluc- tanly gave over the pursuit. And in the battle of Bunker Hill which followed he was in the thickest of the fight, where in the hand to hand conflict his gun* was wrenched from him by a British soldier; but he stood his ground defending himself as best he could with the weapons nature had furnished him, until his com- mander seeing his condition quickly brought him anoth- er musket, with which he continued the fight until or- dered to retreat.t He was in the army about two and a
* Mr. Tolman was paid by the State for other losses in the battle of Bunker Hill, as follows : "For shoes, 1s .; for stock- ings, 2s .; for trousers, 2s. 6d .; for shirts, 5s .; for sundries, 2s.
+ This is related on the authority of his grandson Elisha H. Tolman.
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half years, and was on duty at various stations; but the last battle in which he was engaged was that of Benning- ton, where he passed through one of the most trying scenes in his military career. His companion in arms, one who had been for months his most intimate friend, received his death wound while fighting by his side, and he was compelled to bear him from the field and close his dying eyes. Mr. Tolman's term of service* having expired, Sept. 25, 1777, he retired from the army and resumed his labors on the farm.
Jacob Newell, Jr., was the eldest son of the Jacob Newell of whom some account has been given. Effort has been made to ascertain the time when he first enter- ed the army but without avail. It is quite probable, however, that he was one of the company enlisted in this vicinity by Capt. James Reed of Fitzwilliam, who on the 26th of April, 1775, was commissioned as a Colonel by the Committee of Safety of Massachusetts with "beating orders." There is no tradition in the family of his hav- ing been in the battle of Bunker Hill, but he joined the expedition that was fitted out against Canada and was stationed several months at Ticonderoga. He was un- der St. Clair in his retreat to Fort Edward, and from thence he accompanied the main body of the army to the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk. And it is evident from many of his anecdotes which are now remembered, that he was in the two battles of Stillwater, and that he witnessed the surrender of the British army under Bur- goyne. It is said that he was in the army five years, but as no records have been kept by the family, it is difficult to trace his military operations after the year 1777.
Ezekiel Mixer has been mentioned as being among the first to break the gloom of the wilderness, and to open a spot for human habitation within what are now * His compensation was £4 10s. per month.
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the limits of Troy. He was also among the first to strike for liberty and the suppression of British rule in Amer- ica. No sooner did he learn of the threatening attitude of the British than, in company with his friend Mr. Tol- man, he hastened to Lexington, and both there, and at Bunker Hill, he fought by his side, and exhibited a bravery known only among those who are fighting for their lives and homes. He served by the side of his friend, in the same company over two years, sharing with him his pleasures and suffering; and it is no won- dler that they formed an ardent attachment. But the time was hastening when the ties that united them were to be severed forever. In the summer of 1777. Gen. Burgoyne at the head of a large army advanced from the North by way of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, with the view of cooperating with General Clinton, who at this time held possession of New-York, in cutting off communication between the New-England and the South- ern or Middle States. But he had scarcely reached the valley of the Hudson, when finding his stores of provision failing, he dispatched Col. Baum with a large body of Indians, Hessians and Tories to seize a quantity of pro- visions which the Americans had collected at Benning-
ton. Intelligence of this expedition soon reached the vigilant Stark who prepared to give the enemy an un- welcomed reception. On the 14th of August the Brit- ish were rapidly advancing upon Bennington, but find- ing the Americans preparing for battle, they halted and intrenched themselves upon the borders of the town. The 15th, it rained in torrents and neither party was dispos- ed to commence an engagement. But on the morning of the 16th the storm had passed, and the sun shone brightly upon the distant hills, and Stark determined to attack the enemy in his intrenchments. With his keen eye he scanned the ground, formed his plans, and as- signed to each subordinate officer a particular part in the
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bold and daring enterprise. Seldom has an officer ex- hibited more self-possession, greater sagacity or formed his plans with better judgment, than did the American commander on this momentous occasion. The troops having been drawn out ready for the attack, Gen. Stark addressed them in this laconic speech: "There's the en- emy, boys; we must flog them or Molly Stark sleeps a widow this night." "Forward, men-march." "The order was executed by his men, and they rushed on with a hurrah for the breast-work, behind which were the to- ries, and where was the most desperate resistance. Our men rushed to the breast-work to the very muzzles of the guns, many of them scaled it, while others went round to join the flanking parties who had driven the Germans from their intrenchments, and all joined in a hand to hand encounter with the tories, with bayonets and clubbed muskets."* In this desperate struggle Mixer, who had exhibited his accustomed bravery was observed to fall, and his friend carried him from the field to a rude shelter, where it was found that a musket ball had penetrated his body near the navel. The wound of course was mortal, but he lingered in great agony the most of that night, but towards morning expired; and Mr. Tolman was left to convey the melancholy intelli- gence to his distant relatives.
Pearson Newell was the second son of Jacob, and joined the army at Cambridge in May, 1775. The tra- dition in the family is that he was not a volunteer, but was drafted soon after his brother enlisted. Whether so or not he was attached to Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb's company and fought under this officer in the battle of Bunker Hill, where it appears by the returnst that he sustained the loss of his gun, powder-horn and cartridge- box, for which he was afterwards allowed by the State
* History of Manchester-C. E. Potter, Esq.
¡ Sce Army Rolls in the office of the Secretary of the State.
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$2 14s. Shortly after this he was joined to a small detachment under the command of Lieut. Elijah Clay. but on the 11th of September following he was ordered with others to report himself again to Capt. Whitcomb. but sudden death prevented his complying with the order.
From the record of the acts of the first settlers of the town it would seem that in every enterprise, calling for exhibition of pure patriotism, disinterested benevolence and the characteristics of a good citizen, no name stands out more conspicuous than that of James Brewer. an aged man he is remembered by a few of the older inhabitants of the town, and the records of Marlborough and Fitzwilliam fully attest to the value of his public services as a citizen, but it is to be regretted that so lit- tle is known of him as a military man. He was in the army about three years, during which time he must not only have witnessed, but participated in many scenes, an account of which would have been exceedingly interesting had it been handed down to us. The battle of Lexing- ton, while it foreshadowed the most fearful results, and spread consternation among the weak and timid, only served to rouse the patriots to the highest pitch of indig- nation. Expresses were sent to every town, and the cry of "to arms," resounded from hill and valley. At that time Capt. Mann, one of the most devoted patriots of Keene, prepared to organize a company* of volunteers,
*THE FOLLOWING WAS CAPT. MANN'S MUSTER ROLL :
"WILLIAM PARKER, JOIIN FISHI,
SAMUEL CAMPBELL,
DANIEL COLLINS,
JOHN BUXTON, JOHN ADAMS,
JOSEPHI HODGMAN,
JOHN THOMAS,
EBENEZER CARLTON,
REUBEN WORSLEY,
GEORGE WOOLSON,
JOHN SLOAN.
JONATHAN ROBINS,
AMOS COLBURN.
ISAAC BARRETT,
THOMAS TARBALL,
ZACCHECS HODGMAN,
SAMUEL SCRIPTURE,
JOSEPII BLOOD,
ELIJAH AVERY,
EBENEZER BLOOD,
JEREMIAH HOLT,
LIEUT. JAMES BREWER,
SAMUEL WRIGHT,
CAPT. BENJAMIN MANN,
ISAAC FLAGG,
JOHN GILSON."
SAMUEL ABBOTT,
Army Roll, Secretary's Office.
6
SIMEON IIILDRETII,
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and in a short time, at the head of a respectable body of soldiers, he took up his line of march for the scene of war. Of this company James Brewer was chosen 1st Lieutenant, and Capt. Mann being advanced in years and in feeble health, was able to be on duty but a small proportion of the time, consequently in his absence the command devolved upon Lieut. Brewer. This company arrived at Charlestown in the afternoon of the 17th of June, a few minutes only after the termination of the bloody encounter on Bunker Hill,* so that it missed the pleasure of reaping for itself golden laurels on that eventful day. But Lieut. Brewer was not the man to be idle. He had enlisted in his country's cause and his best energies were devoted to her service. He was at- tached to the New-Hampshire Brigade under Gen. Sul- livan and was posted on Winter Hill through the most of the summer of 1775. After the arrival of Washington on the 2d of July, Brewer was employed in various movements planned by that illustrious man, and he re- mained in the vicinity of Boston till some time after its evacuation by the British in March, 1776. After this he was stationed some months at Ticonderoga, and there is some probability that he was in the battle of Stillwa- ter, but the writer can obtain no certain knowledge of his military career, after the retreat of the army under St. Clair, from the North.
Caleb Winch was one of the first in this vicinity to
*This is stated on the authority of Capt. Asa Brewer of Fitzwilliam, who has frequently heard his grandfather relate the circumstances. But there would seem to be some mistake about this statement, inasmuch as we find from the returns in the office of the Secretary of the State, that Lieut. James Brewer was paid by the State for the loss of one pair of shoes sustained by him in the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June £2 12s. Capt. Mann was paid for the loss of a gun in the same action £11 5s. The probability is that this company was engaged late in the action.
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respond to his country's call. But unfortunately the memory of most of his labors, in defence of American liberty, has perished with the generation of which he was a worthy unit. He enlisted as a volunteer, for three months only, the circumstances of his family not permitting him to serve a longer term. He was in the battle of Lexington, and was one of the unwelcomed at- tendants upon the British in their inglorious retreat to Boston. It is supposed that he was in the same com- pany, some part of the time at least, with Mr. Tolman, as their names are frequently coupled in the traditions respecting them. But we cannot learn that he was in the battle of Bunker Hill. on the contrary, it seems more probable that at that time he was stationed at some important outpost.
John Farrar, Jr., son of John Farrar of whom some account has been given, entered the army near the com- mencement of the war. He and two younger brothers, Joseph and William, were members of Capt. Nixon's company of Minute Men, in 1775; but we cannot learn whether his brothers entered the army from Fitzwilliam. or from Framingham, the place of their birth. It is generally believed, however, by those who have the best means of judging, that Samuel did not take up his res- idence in Fitzwilliam till after the close of the war, and that Joseph never resided here. It is said that John possessed a peculiar combination of mental qualities. In addition to a large share of common sense, he had ready wit, a keen perception of the ludicrous, and none better enjoyed a good joke. These characteristics together with his great mirthfulness rendered him a particular favorite of the soldiers: and whenever they wished to carry out any particular plot, requiring the agency of a rogue, he was just the man, for his great shrewdness was a pretty sure guaranty of success. And it would not be surprising, if at that period of life, he would
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sometimes gratify his love of fun at the expense of mor- al principle. The good lady, on seeing her best goose chasing the young soldier, who to appearance was vainly striving to escape from the fierce attacks of his enraged antagonist, was quite ready to assure him that the fowl was very harmless, and would soon give over the pur- suit, but it being continued till distance obscured the view, she came to the conclusion that an evil spirit had unfortunately taken possession of the brute. But had she seen the line, to which were attached the hook and bait which the unsuspecting animal had swallowed, and was thereby involuntarily pursuing the fugitive, she would doubtless have been impressed with the fact that evil spirits, sometimes at least, assume the human form. And could she have looked a little farther and seen the rude soldiers exulting over their ill-gotten repast, she might have been filled with the greatest indignation, un- less peradventure her love of country was paramount to all things else, and she consoled herself with the con- sciousness of having contributed a mite to the patriot cause. Mr. Farrar resided in Fitzwilliam some years after the war, but eventually moved to South Hadley where he died March 20, 1809.
Peter Starkey was in the army but a few weeks. lle was drafted just before the battle of Bennington, and it is said that he took an active part in that sanguinary conflict. Soon after this, for some reason, he obtained his discharge and returned home.
"Toryism had become so rife in the colonies in the carly part of 1776, that Congress took measures to dis- arm all persons who were notoriously disaffected to the canse of America. Accordingly in March 1776, they passed a resolution upon the subject. This was enclosed to all the colonies. In this State the Committee of Safe- ty had the resolutions printed in a Circular, and sent to every town in the State. The Circular was as follows :
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HISTORY OF TROY.
"COLONY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, &C .: COMMITTEE OF SAFETY,
April 12, 1776.
To the Selectmen of Monadnock No. fire: In or- der to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Hon- orable Continental Congress into execution, you are re- quested to desire all Males above twenty-one years of age, (lunatics, idiots and negroes excepted. ) to sign the DECLARATION on this paper, and when so done, to make return thereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GENER- AL ASSEMBLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
. M. WEARE, Chairman."
"IN CONGRESS, MARCHI 14th, 1776.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies. Conventions and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United States immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies. who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMER- ICA, or who have not associated and refused to associate to defend by ARMS, the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleet and Armies.
Extract from the minutes.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary."
"In consequence of the above Resolution of the Con- tinental CONGRESS, and to show our determination in joining our American brethren. in defending the lives. liberties and properties of the inhabitants of the UNIT- ED COLONIES:
We the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes. with ARMS, oppose the 6*
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hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armics against the United American COLONIES."
This was signed by the following persons, and duly returned by the Selectmen :
"BENJAMIN TUCKER,
*DAVID WIIEELER,
JONATIIAN FROST,
JOIIN FELTON,
THOMAS RIGGS,
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