USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > Annals of the town of Concord, in the county of Merrimack, and state of New-Hampshire, from its first settlement, in the year 1726, to the year 1823 > Part 10
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About the commencement, and during the war of the revolu- tion, the Small Pox often appeared in different sections of the country, owing, probably, to the frequent communications with Canada, where the disease then prevailed ; to the free intercourse that was necessarily held by the people with the soldiers and ar- my, and in some instances it was supposed to have been sent into the country as a means of annoyance by the enemy.
In July, 1775, Dr. Carrigain visited a patient in a neighboring town, who proved to be sick with the Small Pox. He took it the natural way. The nature of his disease was not discovered, un- til John, the son of Mr. Nathaniel West, who lived on the oppo- site side of the street from Dr. C. also took the disease. The Doctor inoculated his own family, then consisting of five mem- bers, who all recovered. Mr. West's family consisted of nine, six of whom had the disease the natural way, the others escaped. Mr. West, aged 58, died. It was first known on Saturday that the Small Pox was in the town ; so great was the alarm, that the next morning (Sunday) the inhabitants assembled, en masse, and com- menced the erection of a " Pest House" in a retired grove west of the late residence of Capt. Benjamin Emery, and such was the zeal and activity with which they applied themselves to the work, that by night a convenient house to consist of four rooms had been hewed, framed, and raised, and the boards for covering, and brick for the chimney were drawn on to the ground. Dr. Carrigain and his family remained at their own house opposite to where Charles Walker, Esq. now resides ; fences were run a- cross the street to cut off all communication, and a road was open- ed through the fields. Mr. West's family was conveyed to the Pest House. None of the inhabitants were inoculated. The house afterwards served occasionally for the reception of transient soldiers of the army, who either had or were suspected to have the disease.
The question naturally arises, why were not all who were ex- posed to the infection immediately inoculated ? A law was then in force "for the prevention of the spread of the Small Pox," which forbid under a penalty any person inoculating without leave from court, and the people in those days were brought up in the belief that laws were made to be obeyed.
In 1793, the Small Pox again appeared in a family in the west- erly part of the town. The family consisted of thirteen mem-
106
APPENDIX.
bers, all of whom had the disease without inoculation. Mr. Jonathan Stickney, the father, and an infant child, died. The manner in which the infection was conveyed to this family never has with certainty been aseertained.
In the winter of 1812-13, when the disease known by the dif- ferent appellations of Malignant Pleurisy, Spotted Fever, Bilious Pneumonia, &c. spread so generally through the N. E. States, this town was visited in common with others. The character of the disease was that of a Typhoid Pneumonia, not alarming at first, but in its progress discovering a malignancy that too often rendered ineffectual all the boasted remedies of our profession. It was, however, confined principally to the soldiery, then quar- tered in the town-but few of the citizens fell victims to it .*
In the winter of 1816-17, the disease appeared again in the westerly section of the town, preceded by a season, remarkable for its coldness, long droughts and frequent frosts, that almost de- stroyed the hopes of the husbandman. It now assumed a charac- ter different from its appearance in other places. Its accession in the worst cases was by an erysipelatous inflammation of the ex- tremities, that soon ran into gangrene, and generally destroyed the patient.
The summer of 1816 was uncommonly cold throughout the United States, and throughout Europe, except some of the most northern parts of it. Vegetation was very materially affected by this state of the weather. The small grains generally were in abundance, and very good, but the crops of hay were deficient, and Indian corn, by the frosts in August, was almost lost. But for the inclemency of the season, the inhabitants were compensated with a greater share of health than had ever been known since the settlement of the town.
Those who are in the habit of noting the effects of the varia- tions of the weather on the human constitution will recollect that hot and dry summers are uniformly unhealthy-hot and wet sum mers less so .- This season, which was cold and dry was the most healthy throughout the United States of any in the recollection of the oldest physicians.
The number of inhabitants in this town in 1767, was 752; 1052 in 1775; 1747 in 1790; 2052 in 1800; 2393 in 1810; 2838 in 1820. The average number of deaths for the last thirty years has been 27. Of the whole number of deaths about one 12th part have lived to the age of 80 years and upwards-sexe- ral to nearly 100. The names of 85 aged persons, are found a- mong the records of deaths kept since 1798, whose ages amount to 6634 years. In the year 1815, there were living in this town 60 persons, whose ages amounted to the sum of 4320 years.
* The Spotted Fever, in 1813, made its appearance March 10, and continued un. til the middle of May.
Casos of the inhabitants,
98
deaths
6
Regular Soldiers,
.
49
7
Volunteers,
100
11
247
24
107
APPENDIX.
[NO. VII.]
Names of the Physicians, Attorneys and Justices of the Peace who have resided in Concord.
PHYSICIANS.
1. Dr. EZRA CARTER, from South-Hampton, settled here in 1740 ; died in 1767 .- See page 35.
2. Dr. - EMERY, who afterwards settled and died at Frye- burgh, Me.
3. Dr. EBENEZER H. Goss, son of the Rev. Thomas Goss, of Bolton, Mass. He married a daughter of Rev. Mr. Walker, and now resides in Paris, Maine.
4. Dr. PHILIP CARRIGAIN, born in New-York, settled here in 1768, and died in 1806 .- See page 62.
5. Dr. PETER GREEN, A. M., M. M. S. Hon. Soc. was born at Lancaster, Mass. in 1745 ; graduated at Harvard Coll. 1766 ; re- moved to Concord in 1772, and has practised successfully more than half a century.
6. Dr. SAMUEL ADAMS, M. D. from Lincoln, Ms. practised here a short time.
7. Dr. ZADOK HOWE, M. D. from Franklin, Ms. practised here several years ; removed to Billerica, in 1814.
8. Dr. THOMAS CHADBOURNE, M. D. commenced practice here in 1814 ; and is one of the present physicians.
9. Dr. MOSES LONG, from Hopkinton, practised in this town several years, and removed in 1823.
10. Dr. MOSES CHANDLER settled here in 1816, and is a prac- tising physician.
11. Dr. HENRY BOND, M. D. practised a few years, and remov- ed to Philadelphia, in 1820.
12. Dr. SAMUEL MORRIL, from Epsom, removed into this town in 1820 ; and is in practice
13. Dr. PETER RENTON, from Scotland, settled in this place in 1822, and is in practice.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
*Peter Green, § William Pickering, H. 1797. *Edward St. Loe Livermore, +Samuel Green, Samuel A. Kimball, D. 1806. Samuel Fletcher, D. 1810.
Charles Walker, H. 1793. ĮPhilip Carrigain, D. 1794.
George Kent, D. 1814.
Richard Bartlett, D. 1815.
*Thomas W. Thompson, H. 1786. Amos A. Parker, D. 1819. Moody Kent, H. 1801.
*Deceased. +Now Associate Justice of the Superior Court. || Removed to Chichester. §State Treasurer.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE,
In Concord, since the adoption of the constitution in 1784, with the date of their appointments.
*Peter Green, * | Dec. 25, 1784.
*Timothy Walker, * | Dec. 25, 1784.
108
APPENDIX.
*Aaron Kinsman, Jan. 4, 1787. *William Duncan, May 16, 1791.
*John Bradley,* May 16, 1791. William A. Kent, * | June 18, 1796.
*Thomas W. Thompson, * Dec. 1, 1796. (1) Jacob Abbot,* June 20, 1797. (2) Samuel Green, * | Dec. 6, 1800. Stephen Ambrose, * Dec. 8, 1800. Jonathan Wilkins, June 19, 1802. Albe Cady, * June 19, 1802. (3) Philip Carrigain, * June 12, 1805. Isaac Emery, Dec. 12, 1808. *Peter C. Farnum, Dec. 13. 1808. Timothy Carter, Dec. 13, 1808. Samuel Morril, Dec. 12, 1808. (4)
Charles Walker, * June 15, 1805. Ballard Haseltine, May 31, 1809. Jonathan Eastman, Sept. 20, 1810.
William Pickering, Sept. 20. 1810. (5)
Samuel Sparhawk, * Mạy 30, 1811. -* Paul Rolfe, June 15, 1812. John Odlin, June 18, 1813. Samuel A. Kimball, Sept. 17, 1813.(6)
' Moody Kent, * Jan. 31, 1814. Isaac Hill, Nov. 5, 1819. Amos A. Parker, 1819. Isaac Dow, June 22, 1821.
Richard Bradley, June 28, 1821.
Jonathan Eastman, Jr. do. Samuel Fletcher, June 29, 1821. Richard Bartlett do. 1821.
George Kent, do. 1821.
John Farmer, May 16, 1823. Robert Davis, Nov. 1823.
(1) Then residing in Salisbury,-(2) Now of Brunswick, Me .- (3) Then residing in Plainfield .- (4) Then of Epsom .- (5) Then of Greenland -- (6)Then of Dover. Those preceded by a * are dead ; those in Italicks are not in commission; those followed by a * were afterwards Justices of the Peace and Quorum, and those with a I were Justices throughout the State.
[NO. VIII.]
Names of Town-Clerks, Selectmen and Representatives, since the year 1732.
TOWN CLERKS.
1732 Benjamin Rolfe, Jan. to March. 1766-1769
Benjamin Rolfe.
Timothy Clement, from March.
1769-1778 Timothy Walker, jr.
1733-1745 Benjamin Rolfe. 1778-1787 John Kimball.
1746-1749 Ezra Carter.
1787-1796
Caleb Chase.
1749 to 1766 Interregnum-no town offi- 1796-1819
John Odlin.
cers.
1819 to Francis N. Fisk.
APPENDIX. 109
SELECTMEN.
1732 .- Jan. to March, Ebenezer Eastman, John Merrill, Edward Abbot. 1732 .- March. Ebenezer Eastman, John Chandler, Jeremiah Stickney, Joseph Eastman, Edward Abbot.
1733 .- Ebenezer Eastnian, Benjamin Rolfe, Ephraim Farnum.
1734 .~ Benjamin Rolfe, Jeremiah Stickney, John Merrill.
1735 .- Benjamin Rolfe, Ebenezer Eastman, Jeremiah Stickney.
1736 .- Benjamin Rolfe, James Osgood, Joseph Hall.
1737 .- Benjamin Rolfe, John Chandler, Richard Hazeltine.
1738-1739 .- Ebenezer Eastman, Benjamin Rolfe, Barachias Farnum.
1740-1711 .- Benjamin Rolfe, John Chandler, Ehenezer Eastman.
1742-1743 .- Benjamin Rolfe, Ebenezer Eastman, Jeremiah Stickney.
1744-Benjamin Rolfe, Barachias Farnum, John Chandler,
1745 .- Benjamin Rolfe, John Chandler, Jeremiah Stickney.
1746 .- John Chandler, Ebenezer Eastman, Richard Hazeltine.
1747-1748 .-- Ezra Carter,John Chandler, Richard Hazeltine.
1749-John Chandler, Ezra Carter, Jeremiah Stickney, Ebenezer Virgin, Henry Lovejoy.
[From 1749 to 1766, there were no town officers appointed.]
1766-Benjamin Rolfe, Joseph Farnum, John Chandler, jr.
1767 .- Richard Hazeltine, Philip Eastman, Amos Abbot.
1768 .- Benjamin Rolfe, Ebenezer Hall, Reuben Kimball.
1769 .- Reuben Kimball, Ebenezer Hall, Timothy Walker, jr.
1770 .-- Timothy Walker, jr. Reuben Kimball, Benjamin Emery. 1771 .- Philip Eastman, Timothy Walker, jr. Benjamin Emery.
1772 .- Timothy Walker, jr. Joseph Hall, jr. Phinehas Virgin.
1773 .- Jolın Kimball, Amos Abbot, Timothy Walker, jr.
1774 .- Timothy Walker, jr. Reuben Kimball, Thomas Stickney.
1775 .- Timothy Walker, jr. Reuben Kimball, Benjamin Emery.
1776-1777 .- Reuben Kimball, Amos Ahbot, Jolın Kimball.
1778 .- John Kimball, Joshua Ahbot, Joseph Hail.
1779 .-- Timothy Walker, Ezekiel Dimond, John Kimball.
1780 .- John Chandler, James Walker, Thomas Wilson.
1781 .- Timothy Walker, John Kimball, James Walker. 1782 .- Timothy Walker, Benja nin Emery, Thomas Wilson.
1783-1786 .- Timothy Walker, Reuben Kimball, Thomas Stickney.
1787 .- Joseph Hall, Henry Martin, Thomas Wilson. 1788 .- Timothy Walker, Benjamin Emery, Chandler Lovejoy.
1789-1790 .- Reuben Kimball, Timothy Walker, Asa Herrick.
1791-1793 .- Timothy Walker, Reuben Kimball, Benjamin Emery.
1794 .- Timothy Walker, Reuben Kimball, John Bradley.
1795-1796 .- Timothy Walker. John Bradley, Henry Martin. 1797-1798 .- John Odlin, Richard Ayer, John Eastman. 1799 .-- Timothy Walker, Jolın Odlin, Henry Martin. 1800 .- John Odlin, Jonathan Wilkins, Henry Martin.
1801 .- Jonathan Wilkins, John West, Stephen Ambrose.
1802 .- Timothy Walker, John West, Stephen Anibrose. 1803 .- Jonathan Wilkins, John West, Stephen Ambrose. 1804-1805 .- Jonathan Wilkins, John West, Amos Abbot, jr. 1806-1807 .- Ebenezer Dustin, Enoch, Coffin, Edmund Leavitt.
1808 .- Enoch Coffin, Samuel Butters, Timothy Carter. 1809 .- John Odlin, Amos Abbot, jr. Nathaniel Abbot. 1810 .- Nathaniel Abbot, Edmund Leavitt, Sherburne Wiggin. 1811 .-- Nathaniel Abbot, Edmund Leavitt, Abiel Walker.
1812 .- Nathaniel Abbot, Amos Abbot, jr. Abiel Walker.
1813 .- Nathaniel Abbot, John Odlin, Amos Abbot.
1814 .- Nathaniel Abbot, Nathaniel Ambrose, Nathan Stickney. 1815 .- Nathaniel Ambrose, Joshua Abbot, Richard Bradley. 1816-1817 .- Joshua Abbot, Richard Bradley, Samuel Runnels. 1818 .- John Odlin, Nathaniel Abbot, Nathaniel Ambrose. 1819 .- Abiel Walker, Joseph Walker, Jeremiah Pecker.
1820 .- Richard Bradley, Isaac Farnum, Jeremiah Pecker. 1821 .- Richard Bradley, Isaac Farnum, Jeremiah Pecker.
1822 .-- Albe Cady, Isaac Farnum, Isaac Dow.
1323 .- Jeremiah Pecker, Isaac Farnum, Isaac Dow.
15
110
APPENDIX.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1775. May 11 .- Timothy Walker, jr. elected delegate to the provincial con- gress. [ He was one of the committee who in 1776, drew up a declaration of Independence by this State.]
1777. Gordon Hutchins. [Col. H. being absent this year in the army, Col. Thom- as Stickney was appointed. ]
1778. Timothy Walker, jun.
1779. Nathaniel Rolfe. - Jonathan Hale and Timothy Walker, jr. delegates to convention in Sept .- Thomas Stickney delegate in December.
1780. Jonathan Hale.
1781. April. Timothy Walker, delegate to convention for forming constitution.
1782-1784. Timothy Walker.
1785. Peter Green.
1786, 7. Jolin Bradley.
1788. Peter Green .- Benjamin Emery, delegate to convention for adoption of con- stitution.
1789. Peter Green.
1790. John Bradley.
1791. Timothy Walker.
1792. John Bradley.
1793. William Duncan.
1794, 5. Daniel Livermore.
1796. John Bradley.
1797. William A. Kent.
1798-1800. Jacob Abbot.
1801. William A. Kent.
1802. John Bradley.
1803 -- 1805. William A. Kent.
1806-1808. Samuel Green.
1809, 10. Stephen Ambrose.
1811-1813. Stephen Ambrose and Thomas W. Thompson-
1814. Thomas W. Thompson and Richard Ayer.
1815. Richard Ayer and George Hough.
1816. George Hough and John Odlin.
1817. John Odlin and William A. Kent.
1818. William A. Kent and Thomas W. Thompson.
1819. Abiel Walker and Nathan Ballard, jr.
1820, 1. Stephen Anbrose and Nathaniel Abbot.
1822. Stephen Ambrose and Samuel Morril.
1823. Stephen Ambrose and Samuel Fletcher.
[NO. IX.]
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.
Garrisons in 1746.
1. On the E. side the river, at Capt. Eastman's.
2. At Rev. Mr. Walker's, near Horse-shoe pond.
3. At Capt. Lovejoy's, where L. Hutchins now lives.
4. At Mr. Edward Abbot's, where the Souther house stands. [In this ancient building, now owned by Porter Blanchard, the first male and female children were born, viz. Edward and Dor- cas Abbot.]
5. At Capt. Stickney's.
6. At James Osgood's-near the site of Bullard & Waterman's store.
7. At Capt. Timothy Walker's.
8. At Deac. Joseph Hall's-the Wilkins place.
9. At Jonathan Eastman's, on the mill-road.
.
111
APPENDIX.
10. There was subsequently a garrison at Deac. Abbot's, near the late residence of Mr. Thompson.
It is said, these were the only garrisons, or fortified houses, erected in this town during the Indian wars.
Newspapers published in Concord.
The first newspaper published in this town was the Courier of New-Hampshire, commenced by George Hough, Jan. 6, 1790 ; and discontinued Oct. 30, 1805.
2. The Mirror, by Moses Davis, was commenced Sept. 6, 1792; and discontinued in 1799.
3. The New Star, by Russell and Davis, was commenced in April, 1797. It was published in an octavo form weekly about six months.
4. The Republican Gazette, by Elijah Russell, was commenced Feb. 5, 1801; and discontinued in 1802. [Mr. Russell died at Washington, Vt. May 25, 1803.]
5. The Concord Gazette, by William Hoit,jr. and Jesse C. Tut- tle, was commenced July 6, 1806 ; and its publication continued un- til 1819-during which time several changes took place in its pro- prietors.
6. The American Patriot was commenced Oct. 18, 1808, by William Hoit, Jr. and published until April, 1809 ; when Isaac Hill purchased the establishment, and altered the name of the paper to the New-Hampshire Patriot. It was published from 1811 to 1814, by Isaac and Walter R. Hill; and from 1819 to 1823, by Isaac Hill & Jacob B. Moore. It is now published by Isaac Hill, under the name of New-Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette.
7. The Concord Observer, by George Hough, was commenced Jan. 1, 1819, and continued to April 1, 1822; when John W. Shep- ard purchased the establishment, and the paper is now published by him under the name of New-Hampshire Repository.
8. The New-Hampshire Statesman was commenced by Luther Roby, Jan. 6, 1823; and is still published by him for Amos A. Parker, the editor and proprietor.
Concord Musical Society. -
In 1801, Deac. Joseph Hall, "from a desire to encourage and promote the prac- tice of sacred musick in Concord," made a donation to this Society, which had been previously incorporated," of $500 in the U. S. six per cent. stock. The orig- inal sum was to be kept entire, and the interest accruing to be applied to the benefit of said society, in such manner as a majority shall direct.
*Incorporated June 15, 1799.
112
APPENDIX.
Notes on the Weather, &c.
[No regular journal of the weather has ever been kept by any person in Concord, and it is impossible therefore to give an ac- curate account of the extremes of heat and cold. The follow- ing notices are copied from a blank leaf in an old account book belonging to Mr. BENJAMIN KIMBALL, who lives near the river on the eastern shore.]
1762. The winter of this year was very severe. Snows were frequent, and so deep as to prevent passing in any direction for two months-being nearly 6 feet on the level.
1772. In January, occurred a great flood. Thick masses of ice passed down the river and were left upon the intervals.
1789. Uncommonly pleasant winter-grain sowed in December-and boating continued until 29th Jan. 1790,
1795. Boating across the river 17th January.
1796. The last boating 30th November.
17:17. Nov. 25, passing on the ice.
1798. First boating April 2.
1799. First boating April 6. Spring very backward-May scarcely exhibiting the usual mildness of April.
1800. First boating April 3; last boating Dec. 10, and immediate passing on the ice.
1801. First boating March 12.
1802. April 4, good passing on the ice with horses.
1804. First boating April 7.
1805. Ditto March 7.
1810. Considerable frost July 18.
storm.
1812. April 13, snow fell to the depth of 6 inches. May 4th and 5th, cold snow June 5, appletrees in full bloom.
1815. Snow fell first week in December, and it continued good sleighing until March following, without rain. Sept. 23d of this year will long be remembered for the violence of a gale, which extended over the whole of New-England, and was very destructive.
1816. Cold season-the hopes of the farmer cut off:
1817. First passing on the ice with horses, Dec. 23.
1818. March 1, commenced a heavy fall of rain, and on.the 3d, the water rose above the banks of the river.
1819. Mild winter-journeying with wagons, &c. the whole season.
April 5, great fresh, and Federal Bridge swept away by the ice.
May 19, extraordinary high fresh, the intervals entirely flooded, and looking like an inland sea.
1820. May 26, apple-trees in bloom-a cold storm of hail and rain-hail two inches deep.
Oct. 17, the highest fresh for 36 years.
1824. Feb. 10 and 11, great thaw and rain. On the 12th the river suddenly rose about 15 feet, the ice being very thick, and swept away the Federal and Con- . cord Bridges, in part. The ice in immense masses covering the intervals along the river, presented a curious spectacle.
3779
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