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 2
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
13
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
The inhabitants, at a meeting in March, 1730, instructed the committee before named to invite Mr. TIMOTHY WALKER, a graduate of Cambridge, who had just finished his theological studies, to settle with them. On the 14th of October, the proprietors renewed this invitation ; and established the salary for the year ensuing at £100, to be in- creased £2 yearly until it should amount to £120 per annum, which, together with the use of the parsonage, should thereafter constitute the emolu- ments of their minister. £100 were also voted as a settlement. To the invitation of the people, Mr. Walker returned the following answer :
" Penacook, Oct. 14, 1730.
"To THE ADMITTED SETTLERS OR GRANTEES OF PENA- COOK.
" Whereas formerly by a committee you have invited me to settle in the ministry in the said township; upon which invitation I have advised with learned, pious and judicious divines in the ministry, who have jointly advised me to take up with your invitation, provided you vote a sufficient maintenance for me; and you having this day re- newed your invitation to me, and done what satis- fies me upon the account of salary :- I therefore, being deeply sensible of the importance of the charge, and my own insufficiency to discharge the duties of the same, do accept your call, humbly relying upon the all-sufficient grace of God, which alone can enable me suitably to discharge the same, earnestly desiring your prayers, as well as all oth- ers of God's people, that such plentiful measures of His grace may be afforded to me, as may en- able me to discharge the duties of so sacred a function, to his acceptance and your edification ;
1730. Oct. 14 .- Voted, that Mr. Cutting Noyes have fifty acres of land in the township of Penacook-provided the said Noyes shall do the blacksmith's work of the town from the date hereof .-- Prop. Records.
3
14
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
that so both you and I may rejoice together in the day of the Lord Jesus.
TIMOTHY WALKER."
01
The ordination of Rev. Mr. Walker took place on the 18th of November following. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. John Barnard,* of An- dover, Mass. ; charge by Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Andover ; and right hand of fellowship by the Rev. John Brown, of Haverhill. The church was composed of sober and industrious inhabitants ; and during the whole course of Mr. Walker's min- istry, we do not find that any dissentions or difficul- ties arose. The people were united in interests and feelings, were educated in the same principles, and generally adopted like habits ; and perhaps all strictly united in one mode of worship, and were constant in the observance of religious ordinances.
The meeting-house was this year repaired ; and the first burial-place in Concord located and en- closed. The first bridge in the township was built over Soucook river. By an order of the general court of Massachusetts, founded upon a petition of the proprietors, they were empowered to exercise the privileges and immunities of a town in the as- sessment and collection of taxes, &c. But from some imperfection in the order itself, or some other cause, it was not made use of.
Jan. 31st, 1731, the petition of the inhabitants, &c. of Penacook was renewed, praying for town privileges, and representing that there were then in the settlement eighty families. February 1, a re- port was made in favor of the petitioners, accepted, and the act accordingly passed.
The first legal meeting of "the inhabitants of the plantation of Penacook," was holding at the meeting-house, Jan. 11, 1732. Capt. Ebenezer
*There is this peculiar circumstance in your settlement, that it is in a place, where Satan, some years ago, had his seat, and the devil was wont to be Invocated by for- saken Salvages : A Place which was the Rendezvous and Head Quarters of our Indian Enemies."-Barnard's Sermon, p. 29.
15
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
Eastman was appointed moderator ; and the neces- sary town officers were chosen " to stand to the an- niversary meeting in March" following. This meeting was called by " Benjamin Rolfe, by order of the General Court." In the afternoon of the same day, after a notice for that purpose had been issued by the new authorities of Penacook, the in- habitants voted to raise £110 for the support of the ordained minister. At the next meeting, on the 6th of March, besides choosing town officers, the in- habitants voted a bounty of 20s. for every wolf " killed within the township;" also a bounty of 6d. for killing rattle-snakes, " provided, that the des- troyer of such snakes shall bring in a black joint of the tail or with the tail to the selectmen, or either of them." A penny was also voted "for the encouragement of killing of black-birds within the township for the year ensuing, the head being brought to the selectmen or any of them,and burnt." The proprietors this year appropriated 100 acres, including the privileges on Turkey river, to " any suitable person who would build a grist mill."
In 1733, the "plantation of Penacook" was in- corporated by the government of Massachusetts as a town by the name of Rumford, it being satisfacto- rily ascertained, as set forth in the preamble to the act, that " the plantation is competently filled with inhabitants, who have built and finished a conven- ient meeting-house for the public worship of God, and sometime since have settled a learned ortho- dox minister among them," &c. This name was given from that of a parish in England. The town at their several meetings this year, voted to give Rev. Mr. Walker £50, for building him a dwelling- house, provided that he gave the inhabitants and freeholders a receipt in full for his salary until the 16th of January that year, in consequence of the depreciation of money, it not being equal to silver at 17s. the ounce. £30 were appropriated of the monies in the town treasury for the purchase of am-
16
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
munition for the use of the inhabitants. It appears that some fears were entertained of the hostile dis- position of the Indians, although no act of aggres- sion had been committed. The sum of £16 was also voted for the support of a school during the winter and spring ensuing ; and the selectmen were empowered to provide a school. It was also voted in town meeting that the selectmen should " find books for the use of the inhabitants and freehold- ers of the town or plantation, on the town's cost, so far as they shall think necessary." Mr. James Scales, afterwards minister at Hopkinton, was em- ployed to teach the first school; and after him, Mr. Joseph Holt, of Andover, Mass.
From this period until 1739, the affairs of the town continued to prosper with little interruption. Some useful internal regulations were adopted --- improvements on the lands were constantly mak- ing-the meeting-house was further repaired-and increased attention was paid to the school. In 1735, also, a committee was appointed to petition gov- ernment for the establishment of a new county, the county of Essex then comprehending all the new grants made by Massachusetts north of Ha- verhill.
1734. May 27 .- " 20s. for each grown wolf," and " 1s. for each rattlesnake," which should be killed this year, were voted. At a meeting holden the 14th Nov. of the same year, Capt. Ebenezer Eastman and Henry Rolfe, Esq. were chosen to petition the General Court for an order of said Court for raising of money for de- fraying the ministerial charge, and the other charges of this town for this year and during the court's pleasure."
At the next town meeting, holden on the 26th day of December,£110 were raised for said purpose. The town clerk was also empowered to " ask and receive of John Wainwright,Esq. the clerk of the honorable committee of the Great and Gen- eral Court, appointed to bring forward the settlement of the township, the book of the proceedings of the said committee, and all the other papers belonging to the town and proprietors," and to receipt for them. Wainwright had for several years been clerk to the proprietors of Penacook. Some disagreement arising, they ap- pointed another in his stead, to whom he refused to deliver the records. Nor was the matter compromised until Wainwright received from the proprietors an entire lot of land in the new township-upon which he gave up the records to his succes- sor. The grant was made June 19, 1734.
17
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
In 1737, the controversy between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire was heard before commission- ers appointed by the Crown. Many attempts had previously been made without success to settle it. New-Hampshire took its name from grants made by the council of Plymouth to Capt. John Mason. Of these there had been four or five, all containing more or less of the same lands. Exceptions be- ing taken to all of them, the controversy had turn- ed upon the construction of the Massachusetts charters. At a hearing before the king in council, in 1677, the agents of Massachusetts, by advice, disclaimed jurisdiction beyond the three miles north of Merrimack river specified in the original charter-and it was determined they had right as far as the river extended ; but how far it did ex- tend was not expressly mentioned. It seems, how- ever, not to have been doubted-and soon after the government was transferred from Old England to New, it was known by the name of Merrimack as
At the meeting March 11, 1734, the necessary town officers were chosen, and some highway regulations adopted. The premiums on wolves and rattlesnakes were continued.
1735. At a meeting of the " inhabitants and freeholders of the town of Rumford on the 19th of May, 1735, it was put to vote by the moderator, whether they would choose a representative or not, and it passed in the negative." Benjamin Rolfe, Esq. was constituted attorney in behalf of the town to sue the treasurer, John Chandler, for monies not paid over to the town. At the next meeting, holden on the 22d Sept. of the same year, " about £62 were raised for schooling and build- ing part of a bridge over Soucook river," and defraying other expences of the town. A committee was empowered to hire a school-master for four months "the next winter and spring."
A meeting was called on the 10th of December of this year, and a committee ap- pointed to superintend the building of the bridge over the Soucook, and see that the work was " clone well and faithfully." At the annual meeting holden March 9, this year, £50 were granted Rev. Mr. Walker " to enable him to clear a pasture and to bring it to English grass," 30l. of which was to be paid in 1736, and the re- maining 204. in 1737. 10s. bounty on wolves and the same sum on rattlesnakes, continued. Henry Rolfe, Esq. was " chosen and desired to assist and join with others that are or may be chosen for to use proper means for to get the county of Essex divided into two counties." The seats in the meeting-house were ordered to be repaired, a door made for the pulpit, and the windows put up.
18
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
far as Penacook. If the original charter of Mas- sachusetts had continued, it is not probable any dif- ferent construction would ever have been started. But in the new charter, the boundary was different- ly expressed, and a construction was given which made the line to commence 3 miles north of the mouth of the Merrimack, and run west to the South sea, or the other possessions of the King.
About this time, the government of Massachu- setts made grants of several towns between Merri- mack and Connecticut rivers-amongst the rest, Penacook, &c. And the government of New- Hampshire supposed that Mastachusetts was taking this step in order to strengthen their title by pos- session. After some delay, commissioners were appointed to settle the line, and met at Hampton, N. H. on the Ist of August, 1737. Mr. Livingston of New-York, presided. After many weeks spent in hearing parties and evidence, and having doubts whether the Massachusetts new charter compre- hended the whole of the old colony, they made a decree, with contingencies, subject to the determi- nation of the King. The agents of both govern- ments were active at the British court-and a pa- tient hearing was had, though the judgment of the commissioners was for some reason entirely laid aside. It was determined there that the northern boundaries of Massachusetts should be a line three miles from the river as far as Pawtucket falls, thence west to the New-York line .*
1736. At the annual meeting in March, the usual business was transacted, and some improvements in highways, &c. agreed upon. There was also a meet- ing holden May 18th, same year, called for the purpose of choosing a " person to represent them at the Great and General Court to be held at the town house in Boston," on the 26th next then following ; but the people declined electing.
1737. It appears by warrants recorded that a town meeting was holden in March of 1737, but its proceedings are not on record. At the meeting holden May 16th following, the town again declined sending a representative to the General Court. It does not appear that any other business was transacted.
* Hutch. Mass. vol. ii. p. 342-350.
19
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
The inhabitants at a meeting in 1739, ordered a garrison to be built around Rev. Timothy Walker's dwelling-house. £5 were also granted Mr. Bara- chias Farnum, to enable him to build a flanker in order to defend his mills, on condition that he should garrison his own dwelling-house. Their ap- prehensions were now increasing of an attack from the Indians, who inhabited the wilds on the north and west, especially as strong parties of them had visited different places within a few days march, and some offences had been committed. No disas- ters, however, happened to the inhabitants of Rum- ford until the fatal attack in 1746.
On the 11th of June, 1740, in pursuance of a precept from the Government of Massachusetts, the first representative from the town of Rumford (Benjamin Rolfe, Esq.) was elected. His instruc- tions were to prefer a petition to his Majesty that the inhabitants " may be quieted in their posses- " sions, and remain under the jurisdiction of the " Massachusetts Bay; also to petition the General " Court to use their influence with his Majesty in " in that behalf." At a meeting in September, " the " town being informed that by the determination of " his Majesty in Council respecting the controvert- " ed bounds between the province of Massachusetts
1738. The annual meeting for 1738 was on the 29th March. Galleries to the meet- ing-house were ordered to be built, and other repalrs to be made ; also the burying ground to be fenced. The town again, at their meeting 24th May this year, refused sending a representative.
1739. At the meeting in March, it was voted that a school be kept within this town from the 20th Oct. till 20th of April 1740. A meeting was holden Nov. 7th this year; when it was voted that there should be " a good and sufficient garri- son built around the Rev. Mr. Timothy Walker's dwelling house as soon as may be conveniently, at the town's cost." 5l. were also granted to Mr. Barachias Far_| num to enable him to build a flanker in order to defend his mills, provided the said Farnum shall give security to the town that in case he shall not keep a garrison at his dwelling house, the town shall have liberty to take said flanker and convert it to their own use." Another meeting was holden on the 28th Dec. of this year, and a committee appointed to inform of all breaches and prosecute for viola- tions of the act for the preservation of Deer, &c.
20
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
" Bay and New-Hampshire, they were excluded " from the former province, to which they always " supposed themselves to belong-voted unani- " mously, to prefer a petition to the King's most " excellent Majesty, setting forth their distressed " estate, and praying to be annexed to the said " Massachusetts province."
By an act of the General Assembly of New- Hampshire, passed March 18, 1741-2, Rumford was made a distinct parish or district, and authori- zed for six years to exercise certain necessary cor- porate privileges.
The first school-house in this town was erected in 1742. About this time, the wife of Mr. Jonathan Eastman was taken prisoner by a party of Indians, and carried to Canada. She was soon after redeem- ed by her husband, and returned to her family.
The opening of the French war in 1744, caused a general anxiety throughout the colonies, and par- ticularly on the frontiers most exposed to Indian depredations. Gov. Wentworth, in his message to the General Assembly in May of this year, exhorts them " to consider with great tenderness the dis- " tress the inhabitants on the frontiers are in at " this juncture, and to make their unhappy situation " their own : to consider them as every day expos- " ed to a surprize from the enemy," and that if provisions for their safety were neglected, they would " become an easy prey to a cruel and bar- " barous enemy." Measures were accordingly
1742. The annual meeting this year was on the 31st March. Messrs. Edward Ab- bot, John Merrill and Nathaniel Abbot were directed " to take care and build a school-house for this town, as they shall in their best judgment think best-the said house to be built between the widow Barker's barn and the brook by the clay- pits."
1744. On the 28th March, the meeting for choice of officers, &c. was holden this year. 20s. O. T. for each wolf, and 2s. O. T. for each rattlesnake were voted to be allowed for this year. A vote passed granting liberty for such persons as chose to hire a mistress to use the school-house, until the town had occasion therefor. On the 21st Jan. B. Rolfe was elected to represent the district of Rumford in the Gen. Assembly at Portsmouth.
21
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
taken for the safety of those towns most exposed, and small detachments were ordered to the aid of the settlements at Canterbury and Contoocook, (now Boscawen.) The inhabitants of Rumford were as yet without military succour, and they empowered Benjamin Rolfe to petition the legislature of New- Hampshire " for such a number of soldiers as " might be sufficient with the divine blessing to de- " fend them against all attempts of their enemies." His petition* was presented in June, of that year, but no detachment was ordered out. In December, the inhabitants again authorized Mr. Rolfe to peti- tion the General Assembly of this province for aid ; and also " to represent to his Excellency the Gov- " ernor and General Court of the province of the " Massachusetts Bay, their deplorable circumstan- " ces, being exposed to imminent danger both from " the French and Indian enemy, and to request of " them such aids as to their great wisdom should " seem meet, and which might be sufficient to ena- " ble them with a divine blessing vigorously to re- " pel all attempts of their enemies." Like peti- tions were also presented in 1745, and a detach- ment of men was stationed here from Billerica, for a few weeks, by direction of the government of Massachusetts.
On Friday, the 7th of August, 1746, a party of In dians from Canada, to the number of about one hund- red, came into this town, and meditated the destruc- tion of the place on the Sabbath following. The in- habitants had for some time previous been expect- ing an attack, and had made an earnest application
1746. A meeting of the citizens was called on the ninth of February ; and Cap- tain Ebenezer Eastman and Mr. Henry Lovejoy were appointed a committee to " represent the difficult circumstances of the inhabitants of Rumford to the great and general court at Portsmouth, respecting the danger we are exposed to both from the French and Indian enemy, and request of them such aid and protection as they in their great wisdom shall think meet."
* See Appendix No. III.
4
22
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
to the Governor for military aid-and fortunately Capt. Daniel Ladd, with a company of forty men from Exeter, arrived in town the same day. There had previously been a company stationed here from Billerica, for a short time, and also one from Ando- ver. The inhabitants were aware that a considera- ble body of Indians was in the vicinity, but had as yet discovered but few, who were out on scouts. The Indians themselves, hearing of Capt. Ladd's approach, determined to lie concealed until Sunday following, when they intended to massacre the peo- ple assembled in the meeting-house. But the peo- ple on Sunday went armed to their devotions, and placed sentinels in different quarters to look out for the approach of the Indians, who had the night previous secreted themselves in the bushes adjacent to the meeting-house, which stood nearly on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Mr. John West. One party of them was concealed in a thicket of alders,then growing where Dr. Green's house now stands, and another was hid in the bush- es on the north, between the meeting-house and Mr. Emery's, near the prison. Some few of them were seen by a little girl during the exercises, but she did not make known the discovery until the meeting closed, when the people marched out in a body; and the Indians observing their arms, con- cluded to abandon the attack. They then retired
1747. April 2. Capt, Eastman, from Penacook, came into the house, and mo- ved that the house would consider their circumstances at Penacook, with regard to the enemy, and would grant them men to help them .- Assembly Records.
- April 3. Voted, that there be allowed to John Osgood 12s. 6d. for expense for coffins, &c. for the men killed at Rumford last year .- Ibid.
- Voted, that his Excellency the Capt. General be desired to give orders for enlisting or impressing 144 good effective men, to be employed under proper offi- cers in defending the frontiers, guarding the people at work, and scouting, to be posted as follows, viz. 30 at Rochester, 6 at Barrington, 10 at Nottingham,- 20 at Canterbury, 20 at Contoocook, 24 at Penacook, &c .- Ib.
-- Nov. 12. Phineas Stevens, Ebenezer Eastman and Jeremiah Clough, in be- half of the inhabitants of Contoocook, Rumford and Canterbury, petitioned for aid against expected attacks from the Indians. Nov. 13, orders were issued for enlisting 15 soldiers, five for each of said places .- Ib.
23
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
to the woods on the west towards Hopkinton, with the design to intercept Capt. Ladd and his men, who they supposed were to pass that way on the following morning.
On Monday morning, the 11th, seven of the in- habitants sat out for Hopkinton, two on horses, and the others on foot, all armed. They marched on leisurely, and Obadiah Peters, having proceeded some distance forward of the others into a hollow, about one mile and a half from the street, sat down his gun and waited the approach of his friends. The Indians, thinking themselves discovered, rose from their hiding-places, fired and killed Peters on the spot. At this moment, Jonathan Bradley and the rest of his party had gained the summit of the hill. Bradley was deceived in the number of the enemy, supposing the few whom he saw near Pe- ters to compose the whole party. He ordered his men to fire, and they rushed down among them. The whole body of Indians instantly arose, being about 100 in number. Bradley now urged his men to fly for safety ; but it was too late-the work of destruction had commenced. Samuel Bradley was shot through the body-stripped of his clothing and scalped. To Jonathan, they offered " good quarter," having been acquainted with him; but he refused their protection, his heroic spirit thirst- ing to avenge the death of his comrades. He fought with his gun against the cloud of enemies, until they struck him on his face repeatedly with their knives and tomahawks, and literally hewed him down. They then pierced his body, took off his scalp and clothes. Two others, John Bean and John Lufkin, attempting to fly, were killed by the same fire with Samuel Bradley. Alexander Rob- erts and William Stickney fortunately escaped death, but were made prisoners and taken to Can- ada. Immediately after the melancholy affair took place, an alarm was given from Walker's garrison to the people on the interval, and elsewhere, at
24
ANNALS OF CONCORD.
some little distance. They soon assembled and consulted on measures of safety. The soldiers sta- tioned at the garrison, and several of the inhabi- tants then repaired to the scene of slaughter. As they approached, the Indians were seen upon the retreat. The bodies were brought away in a cart, and were interred in the church-yard on the follow- ing day .* The number killed of the Indians was unknown to the inhabitants until some time after, when the information was obtained from Roberts, who had made his escape from captivity. He stat- ed that four were killed, and several wounded, two mortally, who were conveyed away upon litters, and soon after died. Two they buried under a large hemlock tree in the Great Swamp, about half a mile south of the scene of slaughter. The other two were buried at some distance from them, near Tur- key river. Roberts found the two bodies under the log after his return from captivity. The head of one was taken away, it was supposed by wild beasts. For the skull of the other, a bounty was paid by the government.
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.