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 3
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Stickney, after about one year's detention in Can- ada, found means to escape with a friendly Indian, and proceeded on his way home to within about one day's journey of the white settlements, when they fell short of provisions. The Indian directed Stick- ney to light a fire and encamp, while he would go in quest of game. After Stickney had prepared his camp, he went out to hunt, and in attempting to cross a river on a log, fell in and was drowned.t
Jonathan Bradley was an officer in Capt. Ladd's company, from Exeter, and stationed here for the defence of the inhabitants. He was about thirty years of age when killed ; and was the elder broth-
* Mr. Reuben Abbot, lately deceased at the age of 100 years, was fixed upon by the inhabitants to bring away the bodies of his slaughtered townsmen. He pro- cured an ox-cart at Eastman's fort, and brought away their bodies under the guard of the soldiers and inhabitants. The writer was indebted to this venerable old man for the particulars of the massacre.
+ Tradition.
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er of Samuel Bradley. He was a man of much coolness and decision; and his vigorous defence against the overwhelming force which crushed him to the earth, is sufficient proof of his determined bravery.
Samuel Bradley was a citizen of this town, and the father of the Hon. John Bradley, who died in 1815. He was a most amiable and promising young man; and his wife, who afterwards married with Richard Calfe, of Chester, and survived both, in the latter years of her life, used to speak with great affection of the husband of her youth, and of his tragical end. She died Aug. 10, 1817, aged 98 years.
Obadiah Peters, of Rumford, was probably a son of Seaborn Peters, who lived in J. Eastman's fort. It appears that at the time of his death he belong- ed to a company under the command of Capt. Na- thaniel Abbot. He had been out in the expedition against Cape Breton, in 1745, in the company com- manded by Capt. Eastman.
John Bean was from Brentwood, and Lufkin from Kingston.
The initials of those who fell were soon after marked on a large tree, standing near the fatal spot, which stood the only monument of the sanguinary conflict, until within a few years, some person cut it down. It is, however, pleasing to learn that the descendants of Samuel Bradley are about to erect a durable monument over the spot where their worthy ancestor was killed.
The Indians continued in the neighborhood, in small parties, and on the 10th of November follow- ing, killed a Mr. Estabrooks, on the road between the street and the place of the former massacre.
Early in February, 1747, the inhabitants empow- ered John Webster to apply to the General Assem- bly for military assistance. In his petition, he states that there were upwards of eighty families then residing in Rumford, and that they raised an-
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nually four times as much provision as was requi- site for their own support. Having some reason to apprehend an attack from the Indians in considera- ble force, a petition was preferred to the Governor in June, stating that traces of the enemy had been discovered by the scouts ; that guns had been heard at Rumford and Contoocook at different times ; that from the situation of the inhabitants they were ex- posed to attacks from the enemy, the experience of the whole war having taught them, "that whenever any smart attack was made upon the settlements on Connecticut river, the enemy had never failed of sending a considerable number to visit their river," the Merrimack. The inhabitants at some seasons could work together in bodies, so as not to be so greatly exposed, but haying and harvesting now commencing, it was "impracticable without vast detriment to the whole, and utter ruin to some." A guard of twenty-four men was stationed here from the middle of March to the beginning of May ; and subsequently, by order of the Governor, thirty soldiers were detached for the assistance of the inhabitants, who remained with them until they had secured their crops.
October 23d, Dr. Ezra Carter, in behalf of the inhabitants of Rumford, represented by petition to the General Court, that they were " destitute of soldiers, and very much exposed both to the French and Indian enemy, and daily expect, by the experi- ence of the last year, invasions by them, by reason of their killing one man on the 10th of November last, and on the 19th of said November, they were discovered by their tracks in a small snow, and pray your honors to consider our dangerous circumstan- ces, and grant us such protection as you in your great wisdom shall think meet." In November, another guard of five men was ordered here, and similar assistance was afforded the inhabitants of Canterbury and Contoocook.
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In the fall of 1747, a large party of Indians again made their appearance in the south-west part of the town, and for several weeks continued rang- ing about the woods, and destroying the cattle, horses, &c. of the inhabitants. Jeremiah Bradley had a fine field for fall grazing, and into this many of the citizens had turned their sheep and neat cat- tle. The reports from the guns of the Indians were frequently heard, and numbers of cattle were de- stroyed. The inhabitants at length rallied in a strong party armed, and proceeded cautiously in two divisions towards the enemy. In the woods near the field, one party found numerous packs, &c. belonging to the Indians, and concluded to await their approach in concealment. As they were ap- proaching, one of the men, through accident, or an eager desire to revenge his losses, fired his musket, and alarmed the wary Indians, who, observing the smoke of the gun, filed off in an opposite direction. The whole party then fired, but with little injury to their tawny adversaries. The body of an In- dian was, however, sometime afterwards found se- creted in a hollow log, into which, it was supposed, having been wounded by the fire of the party, he had crawled, and expired.
In August of this year died Capt. EBENEZER EASTMAN, one of the wealthiest and most active of the early settlers. He was born at Haverhill, Ms. in 1689. His father's house and buildings were de- stroyed, with several others, by the Indians in their memorable attack upon Haverhill, March 15, 1698 .* Young Eastman, at the age of 18, joined the regi- ment of Col. Wainwright in the expedition against Port Royal. In 1711, when the British fleet under Admiral Walker arrived in Boston harbor, the land forces were organizing with great despatch. East- man now had the command of a company of sol-
* There is a tradition in the family, that sometime previous to this, Eastman's father and a Mr. Abbot, from Andover, were made captives by a party of the Pen- acook Indians, and were carried to what was afterwards called Sewall's island in the river.in this town. No particulars can be collected.
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diers, and embarked in one of the transports. The fleet soon sailed up the St. Lawrence, and met with no accident " until they got up off the Virgin " Mountains ; the weather then proving foggy, " and the wind freshening, the Admiral asked the " pilots what was best to do? who advised that as " the fleet was on the north shore, it would be best " to bring to, with their heads to the southward."* The Admiral obstinately refused : and the awful consequence was the destruction of nine ships, the loss of many lives, and the total failure of the ex- pedition, which was designed for the conquest of Canada. The part which Capt. Eastman acted on this occasion, though noticed by none of the his- torians, is thus related by his grandson,t now living. The pilots, who were perfectly aware of their per- il, being well acquainted with the river, could not but be panic-struck at the orders of the admiral, which the captains of the transports seemed bent to follow. Eastman, whose company was on board one of them, represented to the captain their im- minent peril, and beseeched him to " haul to wind- ward, that they might escape the breakers." The captain was a true loyalist, and exclaimed " he would follow his commodore, if he went to h-11." Eastman then stated the circumstances to his men, and informed them that if they would support him, he would assume the control of the vessel, and at- tempt to shun the rocks. This he accordingly did, by ordering the captain to his cabin, and the helms- man to alter his course. They escaped wreck, and when the following morning exhibited to the eyes of the astonished crew, the bodies of the dead and wrecks of the vessels which covered the St. Law- rence, the humbled captain, on his knees, acknowl- edged his deliverer, and desired his friendship. In the morning, Capt. Eastman appeared before the Admiral, who abruptly asked-" Capt. Eastman,
* Penhallow.
+ Jonathan Eastman, Esq.
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where were you, when the fleet was cast away ?" " I was following my commodore," replied he. " Following your Commodore! (said the Admiral in surprise.) .... You d -- d Yankees, are a pack of praying devils ; you have saved your own lives, and prayed my men all to h-ll." Capt. Eastman soon after his return entered with zeal into the sub- ject of a new settlement at Penacook. And during his life, was a persevering, influential and useful citizen. He was at the reduction of Louisbourg in 1745, and held a commission in the New-Hamp- shire forces, under the intrepid Vaughan. He died soon after his return, in his house on the east side of the river, which was then fortified against the attacks of the Indians.
From this period, it is not known that any seri- ous mischiefs were committed by the Indians against the inhabitants of Rumford, although they occasionally suffered some losses in cattle and other property, which the savages chanced to meet with, while ranging through the woods and about the farms of the settlers. They were indeed in constant alarm, and for several years continued their addresses to government for the means of de- fence. The petition of Dr. Ezra Carter and anoth- er, in 1756, states, that " they had been subjected to great loss of time, for several years past by dis- turbances from the Indians, and particularly for the two last years past, about one fourth of the inhabi- tants had been driven from their settlements dur- ing the busy season of the year, and the whole obli- ged to divert their attention from husbandry to re- pair their garrisons, and provide for the safety of their families."
1748. Capt. John Chandler was elected representative of the town of Rumford to the General Assembly, on the 2d January. In March, the lines of the town were perambulated and marked.
5
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In January, 1749, Benjamin Rolfe, in behalf of the inhabitants of Rumford, preferred a petition to the Governor and Council for an act of incorpora- tion .* The proprietors of Bow remonstrated against the measure, and their influence prevailed.
A petition for the same purpose was also presen- ted July 14th, 1756, by Ezra Carter, in behalf of the citizens. An act was framed, and after being read in the house of Assembly, was, through the influence of members interested in the Bow lands, rejected.
On the 28th of April, 1752, Amos Eastman of this town, in company with John and William Stark of Dunbarton, and David Stinson of Londonderry, being on a hunting expedition near Baker's river in Rumney, were surprized by a party of Indians, ten in number, of the St. Francis tribe. Eastman and John Stark were made prisoners; Stinson and William Stark, attempting to escape, were fired upon. Stinson fell, was dispatched, scalped, and stripped of his wearing apparel. His comrade succeeded in escaping. John Stark and Eastman were carried prisoners to Canada, and sold to the French. They remained in captivity about three months, were redeemed, and returned home. The Indians now exhibited signs of hostility at Can- terbury. Rev. Mr. Walker went up to confer with them, and a chief returned with him to Rumford.t A short time after, two persons were taken away from Canterbury by the Indians.
* See Appendix, No. IV.
+ Rev. Mr. Walker, who was beloved by all his parishioners, was also esteemed by the Indians, and when not in open war, they used to visit his house, where they were always well treated. At one time, they came to his house, complaining in angry terms that the white people possessed their lands unjustly. Mr. W. infor- med them that they were purchased of their chiefs, and that the deed, signed by them, was to be seen in Boston. He finally advised them to go and see it. To this they assented ; and on their return. called and took some refreshments, and said that they had seen the paper, and were perfectly satisfied. This deed is the famous instrument of Wheelwright, now generally believed to be a forgery. Af- ter the peace, a number of warriors encamped near the minister's house. Mr. W. was absent, and his wife was under great apprehensions of injury. The Indians perceived this, and said to each other, " minister's wife afraid." Upon this,one de- livered her all the guns, and said they would call for them the next day. This they did, and were to her kind and affable.
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From 1749 to 1766, the year after the incorpo- ration of the town by the name of Concord, there are no records of the proceedings of the town or its officers. The town, in fact, existed only as a parish of Bow. About this time commenced the perplexing controversy between the proprietors of Bow and the inhabitants of Rumford. It is per- haps well known, that by the construction of the charter of Massachusetts, by King Charles II. in 1677, the jurisdiction of that state extended for three miles to the north of Merrimack river. The government of Massachusetts, in 1725, granted to sundry petitioners the township, afterwards called Rumford ; and in 1728, made the grant of Suncook, now Pembroke, to the forty-seven soldiers, or their legal representatives, who were engaged with the celebrated Lovewell against the Indians at Pe- quackett. These two grants comprised about thir- teen square miles, all lying within the supposed limits of Massachusetts. At the time of survey- ing and laying out the lands at Penacook, it ap- pears that a committee was empowered by the gov- ernment of New-Hampshire, to proceed to Pena- cook, and request the surveyors to desist from laying out the lands, as they were claimed by that gov- ernment. They, however, proceeded to execute the business of their commission, and the plantation settled with much rapidity. In May, 1727, two years after the grant by Massachusetts, the govern- ment of New-Hampshire granted to Jonathan Wiggins and others, a tract of eighty-one square miles, which included more than two thirds of both Rumford and Suncook. No settlements were made, however, by the proprietors of Bow, nor did any difficulties arise in consequence of the con- flicting grants, for about twenty years, during which time Rumford and Suncook had each set- tled a minister of the gospel, and converted the wilderness into fruitful fields.
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Meantime the controversy between this state and Massachusetts, respecting the boundary line, had been carried before the King, and upon report of commissioners appointed to mark out the dividing line, he decided in 1740, that the northern bounda- ry of Massachusetts should be a curve line pursu- ing the course of the Merrimack river, at three miles distance on the north, beginning on the At- lantic ocean, and ending at a point due north of Pawtucket falls ; thence due west to his Majesty's other possessions. By this determination, all the settlements on the river above Pawtucket falls, fell under the jurisdiction of New-Hampshire. There was an express declaration, however, in the decis- ion of the King, that private property should be respected. The inhabitants of Rumford, immedi- ately after learning the determination of the King, petitioned to be restored to the province of Massa- chusetts ; but were unsuccessful. In 1750, the proprietors of Bow commenced numerous suits for the ejectment of the settlers living within the lim- its of their grant. The course which they pursued was extremely vexatious and calculated to prolong the dispute, if not utterly to ruin many of the set- tlers, who had made great and expensive improve- ments on the lands. Every action was commenced for so small a parcel of land, that, by a law of the province, there could be no appeal home .*- The courts and juries were interested in the lands, or prejudiced against the settlers ; and justice could hardly be expected to result under such circum- stances. The actions were continued to successive
* " But your petitioners' greatest misfortune is, that they cannot have a fair, im- partial trial, for that the Governor and most of the Council are proprietors of Bow, and by them not only the judges are appointed, but also the officers that impannel the jurors ; and the people are also generally disaffected to your petitioners on ac- count of their deriving their title from the Massachusetts. And all the actions that have hitherto been brought are of so small value, and, as your petitioners appre- hend, designedly so, that by a law of the province there can be no appeal from the judgments of the courts to your Majesty in Council ; and if it were otherwise, the charges that would attend such appeals would be greater than the value of the land, or than the party defending his title would be able to pay."-Petition of Rer. Mr. Wulker and Benjamin Rolfe, Esq. to the King.
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terms, but decided by both inferior and superior Courts in favour of the plaintiffs. The defendants, and also the inhabitants generally of both Rumford and Suncook, now petitioned to the King for an im- partial trial, and commissioned Rev. Mr. WALKER to proceed to England and lay all the circumstances. before his Majesty, empowering him to defend the suits at the Court of St. James.
In 1753, upon the petition of the inhabitants of Rumford, the General Court of Massachusetts gran- ted £100 sterling, towards the expense of defend- ing the suits brought against them by the proprie- tors of Bow. 'The Massachusetts agent, Mr. Bol- lan, was instructed to use his endeavors to obtain such determination of his Majesty in Council, as should quiet the grantees of lands from that prov- ince in their possessions. Mr. Walker went to England in 1753, and again a short time after, and succeeded in obtaining a trial on appeal before a committee of the Lords of the Council. Sir William Murray, afterwards Lord Chief-Justice Mansfield, was his counsellor and advocate, with whom he formed a particular acquaintance. After a patient hearing of all the parties concerned, the commit- tee of the Council reported, that the judgments of the courts of New-Hampshire in the case should be reversed, and the appellants be restored to " what they had lost by means of said judgments." This was approved by his Majesty in Council on the 29th December, 1762 .*
Thus ended the disagreeable controversy with the proprietors of Bow, during the continuance of which, the inhabitants of Rumford had been with- out town privileges or government, and were har- rassed with numerous vexatious suits, and subjec- ted to the expense of attending almost every term of the courts, then exclusively holden at Ports- mouth.
* See Appendix, No. V.
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On the 17th June, 1765, the government of this State- granted the charter of the town of CONCORD, comprising " a part of the town of Bow, and some lands adjoining thereto." The bounds, as descri- bed in the charter, began " at the mouth of Contoo- cook river, which is the S. E. corner of Boscawen; thence S. 73° W. by said Boscawen 4 miles ; thence S. 17º E. 7 miles 100 rods; thence N. 73° E. 4 miles to Merrimack river, there crossing the river and still continuing the same course to Soucook river; then beginning again at the mouth of Con- toocook river aforesaid, from thence running N. 73º E. 606 rods from the easterly bank of Merrimack river, or till it shall come to the S. W. line of Canterbury ; thence S. E. on said line 2 miles 80 rods ; thence S. 17 E. to Soucook river aforesaid ; thence down said river, till it comes to where the line from Merrimack river strikes the Soucook riv- er."
By the provisions of the act, the first meeting was to be holden on the 3d Tuesday of August, 1765, and Samuel Emerson, Esq. was authorized to call the first town meeting; but in consequence of his neglect, no meeting was notified; and a special resolve was passed by the Legislature on the 27th November, of the same year, for calling a meeting for the choice of town officers, &c. on the third Tuesday of January, 1766.
1766 .- At the first legal meeting of the inhabi- tants of Concord, Lt. Richard Hazeltine, who died in 1818, was moderator; Peter Coffin was appoint- ed clerk, and Joseph Farnum, Lot Colby and John Chandler, jun. selectmen. The meeting for the choice of officers for the year ensuing was holden March 4th. On the 25th, another town meeting was holden, and measures taken to provide schools in the different sections of the town-there having previously been but one school in town. Every man was taxed " five days' work on the highways and pound this year."
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Dr. EZRA CARTER died Sept. 17, 1767, at the age of 48. He was a native of South-Hampton, in this state ; studied physic with Dr. Ordway of Salisbu- ry, Mass. and settled in this place about 1740. He was a good scholar, though not liberally educated -a skilful practitioner, and a man universally be- loved. Soon after his removal here, he was hon- ored by the inhabitants with civil trusts, which he executed with zealous fidelity. It is to be regret- ted that of Dr. Carter, as well as of others who lived at a later day, so few particulars can be col- lected. Enough, however, is known to warrant the assertion that few men excelled him in a benevo- lent spirit and good humored exertions to promote the peace and welfare of society. He was a man of wit and pleasantry, and when called to visit the sick and desponding, never failed to administer, with his remedies for the body, a cordial to the mind. Dr. Carter, though frequently menaced by the In- dians, never suffered from their attacks. About the time of the Bradley massacre, he had gathered into winrows his hay then cut, on the plat of ground extending on the west of the street, near the site of the Capitol. During the night, several Indians secreted themselves in the hay, intending to surprise the Doctor on the following morning. Providentially, a storm of rain commenced early in the morning and continued for several days with little abatement, during which the Indians retired. After peace was restored, the Indians informed the doctor of their meditated attack, and that conceiv- ing the Great Spirit to have sent the rain for his shelter, they dared not remain. On the 10th of November, of the same year, (1746) a Mr. Esta- brooks came for the doctor to visit a patient. Through some difficulty in catching his horse, the doctor did not immediately follow Estabrooks. In a very short time, the alarm was given that Esta- brooks was killed, and a party proceeding on the road after him, found his body near the path. This
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was one of the last acts of Indian hostility in this section of the country. On a certain occasion, Dr. Carter was called to visit a sick family in Bow. Add- ed to their other sorrows, poverty had thrown around them her tatters and rags. Disease is ever loth to quit such company. The family were a long time sick -- the doctor was their constant attendant-and on their recovery, the poor man felt new troubles coming upon him. "How, doctor," said the un- happy man, " am I to pay you, for all your kind- ness, your attention and medicine ? You see here a large family, destitute of every thing, save the bare necessaries of life." " I have been faithful to you," replied the doctor, " and am I not entitled to a re- ward ?" " You are, doctor, oh, you are !" said the trembling wife, " but do wait a little-we can't pay you now." " I can inform you, my good friends," said the inexorable physician, " that I am knowing to your having property enough to satisfy my de- mands-and moreover, that I shall have it before leaving the house." The poor family were thunder- struck-they knew that no friendly feelings subsist- ed between the proprietors of Rumford and Bow- but had always heard the doctor applauded as a man of benevolence and mercy. They knew not what to do. At this moment, away scampered a flock of kittens across the room, which the doctor seeing, caught one of them and put it in his pocket. " I told you I should have my pay, (said the doctor) -I have got it .- Good bye, and God bless you !" Many anecdotes of this kind are related of him; and one of the last acts of his life, was equally no- ble. Just before his decease, he looked over his accounts, filled out receipts against all poor per- sons, who were indebted to him, with directions that his executors should deliver them to those con- cerned immediately after his death. This was ac- cordingly done.
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