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 5
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1790. Aug. 30. The town voted " one hundred pounds for building a house for the accommodation of the General Court," to be 80 by 40 feet, and 15 feet post.
1792. Oct. 11. The 11th regiment, for the first time paraded on Eastman's plain.
1794. Dec. 8th, The town voted " to give, in addition to the Continental pay for the town's quota of minute-men, so much as shall make each one's pay eight dol- lars per month, and one month's pay to be advanced to each man when they shall be called to march."
1796. The inhabitants voted to finish the town-house, and appropriated £60 for that purpose.
1797. At a meeting in December, it was " voted that the men that enlist, shall have ten dollars with what the Congress give, and if called into service to have one month's pay in advance." Also, " voted that the selectmen give those persons that shall enlist, a HANDSOME TREAT at the expense of the town."
1798. This year, the lines between Concord and Loudon, were perambulated and fixed by the selectmen of the respective towns.
1800. Lines between Hopkinton and Concord, and Canterbury and Concord, perambulated By the selectmen ; and again in 1808.
1805. Lines run between Boscawen and Concord by selectmen,
1813. Bye-laws adopted relative to extinguishing of fires.
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one in the centre. The roofs of the wings are lev- elled at the outer ends and rise ten feet against the body of the centre ; the roof of the centre rises thirteen feet, presenting gable ends in front ; from the middle of which, the cupola rises, eighteen feet square, to the height of fifteen feet above the ridge ; thence in an octangular form, thirteen feet in diameter, seventeen feet, and is covered with a roof in the form of an inverted acorn rising to the height of nine feet, and surmounted with a gilt ball, thirty-three inches in diameter, on which stands an eagle six and a half feet in height, with its wings partially expanded. Each front has in its lower story three doors and six windows, and in its upper story, nine windows, with a semi-elliptical window in each gable end : four windows in the south, and two in the north end. The outside walls of the building are of granite stone, hammered, and built in a plain style-the only ornament being a Tuscan frontispiece of stone work at each central front door. The roof and cupola are of wooden materials. The roof is ornamented with a coving appropriate to the Doric order, and a balustrade up- on the wings. The square part of the cupola is ornamented with twelve Ionic columns, three at each corner, placed in a triangular position, with an appropriate coving and balustrade. The octan- gular part has one Ionic column at each corner, surmounted with an urn.
In the second story of the centre is the Repre- sentatives' chamber, with an arched ceiling rising thirty feet from the floor, elegantly finished with stucco-work. The north wing contains the Senate chamber, eighteen feet in height, with a beautiful ceiling of plaistering, ornamented with stucco-work, supported by four Ionic columns and an equal number of pilasters. This room, for its neatness and elegance of finishing, is not perhaps inferior to any in the United States. In the south wing are contained the Council chamber and anti-chamber,
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both of which are finished in a handsome style. In the same wing, in the lower story, which is di- vided into two parts, are the Secretary's and Treas- urer's offices, over which is a suite of committee rooms. In the north wing, under the Senate cham- ber, is a spacious room intended for public hear- ings before committees of the legislature. Under the Representatives' chamber, is an opèn area, in which are eight Doric columns, supporting the flooring above. This area, with the adjacent pas- sages in the wings, cooled by the current of fresh air passing through the spacious doors and windows opening into them, affords, in the warm month of June, a delightful retreat to legislators, when fa- tigued by long attention to their arduous duties, or heated by the ardor of debate, above stairs ; and it is by no means an uncommon case to see them availing themselves of the benefits of this pleasant retirement.
The lot on which the State House stands con- tains something more than two acres, enclosed on its sides with a solid wall of hammered stone about five feet high ; the front fences are of stone posts and sills and iron castings, with gates of the same material.
The expences of building this house, including the fences, the lot of ground on which it stands and the furniture of the house, amounted to nearly eighty-two thousand dollars. Few public build- ings in the United States are superior to this in the beauty of its construction, or the convenience of its apartments. The architects were Messrs. Stuart J. Park and Levi Brigham ; the superintending committee, Messrs. Albe Cady, William Low and Jeremiah Pecker. The lot of land on which the building stands, the stone for the house, and drawing the same, were furnished the State by a few public spirited individuals, at an expense of about $4000.
The State Prison was erected in 1812; and cost, with the appurtenances, about $37,000 ;
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since which time nearly $5000 have been drawn from the public treasury to defray the expense of additional buildings, and a new work house, the first one having been destroyed by fire in 1819. The prison is situated on State street, north of the Capitol, and is three stories high, built entirely of granite. It is 70 feet in length, 36 feet wide, the walls of which are three feet in thickness. It con- tains in all 36 cells, the dimensions of which are 8 feet by 9, with the exception of six in the upper story, for the accommodation of the sick, &c. which are 10 by 17. The yard is enclosed by a faced wall of 259 feet by 192, fourteen feet high, sur- mounted by a range of pickets ten feet in length. Connected with the prison, is a house for the ac- commodation of the warden, his family, guards, &c., built also of granite, four stories high, exclu- sive of the basement, and is 49 feet by 22. The officers, &c. of this institution are a warden, phy- sician, chaplain, deputy-warden, four guards, two overseers of the work-shops-the whole of whom receive their pay directly from the proceeds of the prison, with the exception of the warden, whose salary, $800, is drawn from the treasury. The Governor and Council, for the time being, consti- tute the board of directors, or visiters. The con- victs are employed in stone-cutting, coopering, smithing, shoe-making, weaving, and tailoring.
The meeting-house was erected in 1751. Pre- vious to this, the inhabitants worshipped in the building, erectedin 1727, for the defence of the set- tlement. In 1802, an addition was made to the front of the present house, consisting of a semi- circle, projecting thirty feet, and divided into seven angles, with a gallery. This alteration makes the house one of the largest and most convenient in the State.
The county Court-House was originally the town house, and was altered and repaired during the year 1823, expressly for the purpose of accommodating
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the courts, at the expense, partly of the town, and partly of individuals. It is one of the most com- modious county buildings in the State.
The Society of Friends have a meeting-house, standing near the Congregational church. And the building of a new brick church for the Baptists was commenced in the fall of 1823, a few rods south of the Capitol.
An act of the Legislature, passed July 1, 1823, constituting the county of Merrimack, established this town as the seat of justice. This measure, so highly beneficial to the people of the new county, will also prove a source of additional business to he town.
During the brief period which has elapsed since the commencement of the present century, many estimable and useful men have departed. Nearly all the children and grand-children of the first set- tlers have left the stage ; and a new generation, ac- tuated by different motives, enjoying superior ad- vantages, are succeeding them, reaping the fruits of their toils, their enterprize and watchfulness. It is to be hoped they will imitate their virtues, their strict moral habits, and their persevering industry in the common pursuits of life.
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Biographical notices.
It will not be deemed impertinent, in closing these brief sketches, to notice some of the most distinguished citizens of this town, who have de- ceased. In doing this, the writer is actuated by no other motive than a wish to perpetuate their good fame, and with it, the salutary influence of their examples. The memory of great and good men, whatever may have been their sphere of action, exalted or humble, should be warmly cherished, if
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not for the delight with which we may contemplate their character, and the lessons we may draw there- from,-at least for the rich impressions it may give the generations that are to come.
If many names of worth and usefulness are left unnoticed, the apology must be, not that the writer was unwilling to extend these notices, but that, af- ter a long period of diligent research, he has been able to obtain no more.
Sir BENJAMIN THOMPSON.
BENJAMIN THOMPSON, though not a native of this town, spent several years of usefulness in the place. He was born at Woburn, Mass. March 26, 1753. His father died while he was very young, leaving him to the care of a guardian. He received a com- mon school education, and was placed first with Dr. Hay, a physician of Woburn, where during the intervals of study, he amused himself in making sur- gical instruments, &c. which he finished in a hand- some style. He was next placed as clerk in a store at Salem. His aversion to this business was soon manifested, and he was oftener found with a pen- knife, file and gimblet under the counter, than with his pen and books in the counting-room. He was fond of the study of chemistry, and enthusiastic in his devotion to mechanics and mathematics. At Salem, he undertook to prepare some fire works, or rockets. While pounding the ingredients, it was supposed a particle of sand, treacherously conceal- ed in the mass, caused a scintillation, and the whole exploded in his face and bosom. The injury which he experienced was severe, and added to a tempo- rary loss of sight, the skin of his face and bosom was taken away with the bandages. Such an ap- prentice, it might easily be perceived, would not answer the purposes of a merchant.
Young Thompson continued his studies and phi- losophical inquiries with diligence. Among other
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things, he attempted to solve that great desidera- tum-perpetual motion. After residing at Salem and Boston about two years, he returned to his mother in Woburn, his friends receiving him with unwelcome pity, impressed with a belief that he would never fix his mind upon any regular employ- ment, by which he could gain a support.
Through the kindness of a friend, Thompson was admitted to the philosophical lectures com- menced at Cambridge about the year 1769; this was a rich feast to him, and he zealously improved his opportunity, making rapid advances in his fa- vorite studies. In 1772, he commenced school- keeping in Bradford, Mass. ; and soon after remov- ed to this town. He taught school here with suc- cess ; and afterwards married Mrs. Sarah Rolfe, widow of B. Rolfe, Esq. and daughter of the first minister of Concord, by whom he had one daugh- ter, lately living in France. Pleased with parade and the beau monde, and enjoying from the good- ness of nature all the personal recommendations, which attract the admiration of the world, he nev- er appeared at public entertainments, or in fashion- able circles, without being respectfully noticed. In an excursion, which he made from Concord to Portsmouth, with his lady, to be present at a military review or some holiday, his gen- teel appearance and manly, impressive address at- tracted the observation of many, and among others he was particularly noticed by the governor, Went- worth, who invited him to his party, and never spoke of Mr. Thompson but with delight. The civil and friendly manner, in which he had thus been treated by the Governor, was not mere etiquette, as was sufficiently manifested a little time after- wards, by having the offer of a Major's commis- sion. This mark of esteem and confidence was peculiarly gratifying to Mr. Thompson, as he pos- sessed a genius and taste for military operations.
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Mr. Thompson lived with his wife about two years ; when the revolution commencing, and being . a staunch friend of the government, he was obliged to quit his family and rural residence ; and he re- tired within the lines of the British army. In Oc- tober, 1775, he went to Rhode-Island ; embarked for Boston harbor ; and in January following, sailed for England. On arriving in London, he was in- troduced to Lord Germaine, (afterwards Lord Sackville) then presiding at the head of the Amer- ican department, who conceived a warm friendship for him. In his office, he enjoyed an honorable post, until, nearly at the close of the contest, he was sent over to New-York ; raised a regiment of dragoons; obtained the provincial rank of lieuten- ant colonel, and became entitled to half-pay, which he received till his death.
After his return to England, in 1784, the King conferred upon him the honor of knighthood. This event was a prelude to public honors elsewhere .- Sir Benjamin Thompson had become acquainted with the minister of one of the most respectable German princes. This, together with his growing greatness, induced his Serene Highness the Elector Palatine, reigning Duke of Bavaria, to invite him into his service, and honorable terms were propos- ed to him. He applied for, and obtained the King's permission to proceed to Munich. Here he soon obtained considerable influence in public affairs- was instrumental in the introduction of various re- forms in the police-and enjoying the confidence and patronage of the Prince, he had an opportunity to reduce to practice his schemes of economy and public improvement. He was soon raised to the highest military rank, and created a Count of the Empire. The remembrance of his native land, and of his youthful enjoyments in this town, induc- ed him to add to his title that of Rumford. Men- dicity had become a public calamity in many of the German cities, and threatened the most alarming
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consequences. Conceiving the project of applying a remedy, and having taken the proper measures, Count Rumford, at a given day and hour, accom- panied by several military officers, and a body of troops, issued orders for seizing all the beggars at Munich ; and being determined to obviate the pos- sibility of disgrace, attached to such a measure, he began by arresting the first proper object with his own hands. No sooner had he done this, than the officers and men, without making any scruple or difficulty whatever, cleared the streets with prompt- ness and success ; but at the same time with all imaginable good nature-so that in the course of a single day, not a beggar was to be seen in the whole range of the metropolis. But to sweep away the whole mendicant tribe, would have done nothing effectual, had not houses of industry been opened for their constant employment, and wholesome viands been procured them. His scheme succeeded ad- mirably. By active exertions, he introduceď vari- ous manufactures, and thus affording employment to the poorer classes, prevented a renewal of for- mer scenes of indolence, suffering, and vice .- Wherever he went, his schemes for the public ad- vantage were well received ; and his fame, as a phi- losopher and philanthropist continued to increase. He received many favors from the sovereigns of the continent. The Elector Palatine created him a Count, and procured for him the order of St. Stan- islaus, from the King of Poland; made him a knight, chamberlain, privy counsellor of state, lieutenant general in his service, as Duke of Bavaria, colonel of his regiment of artillery, and commander-in- chief of the general staff of his army. He was al- so honored by all the learned societies of Europe, and of his native country. But these high-sound- ing titles were mere baubles, when compared to his just fame as a philosopher. He made liberal bequests to different institutions in his native coun- try ; and died at his country seat of Auteuil, France.
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where he had spent the latter years of his life, in 1814. An eloquent eulogy on his character was read before the Institute of France, by M. Cuvier, Jan. 9, 1815, in which a just view is taken of his various discoveries in science, and of his personal exertions and fame.
Little did his friends, who witnessed with sorrow his juvenile pranks, his disregard of any regular business, anticipate his future fame. Little did the scholars who attended to his instructions in this village in 1773-4, and who were sometimes amused with his athletic exercises, and his odd experiments -dream that their master was to be clothed with the stars of princes, and acquire a fame that should be lasting and honorable. While contemplating his character, we do not stop to inquire the motives which induced him to abandon the cause of his na- tive country ; but reflect, that, though driven from her shores, and grown illustrious amongst her ene- mies, he yet bequeathed to her institutions his es- tate, to her citizens his fame.
Hon. THOMAS W. THOMPSON.
On the first day of October, 1821, died the hon- orable THOMAS W. THOMPSON. He was born in Boston, Mass. in the month of March, in the year 1765. His father, the late deacon Thomas Thomp- son, was a native of Alnwick, in North-Britain. His mother, Isabella White, was born in Glasgow, in Scotland. The period of their emigration from Europe to Boston is not recollected. They remo- ved from Boston to Newburyport, when he was quite young. He was fitted for college at Dum- mer Academy, in the parish of Byfield, in Newbu- ry, Mass. by the venerable Samuel Moody, a Pre- ceptor, who was no less distinguished for talent at governing his pupils, than for his thorough knowl- edge of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. He entered the college at Cambridge in the year 1782, and received the degree of A. B. in 1786.
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Soon after he left college, the insurrection in Mas- sachusetts, of which Daniel Shays was nominal leader, broke out, and he entered into the army as an aid to General Lincoln, commander of the army of Massachusetts, and served during the whole campaign, in a severe winter, and until the insurrec- tion was quelled. He afterwards pursued the study of Theology, in order to qualify himself for the pul- pit. While engaged in that study, he was appointed a Tutor in the College at Cambridge ; he accepted the appointment, and was very much a favorite with the students, to whom he was rendered pecu- liarly agreeable by the suavity of his manners, and native, easy, unaffected politeness-qualities, at that day, too rare among the learned instructors of colleges. Leaving the office of tutor, he com- menced the study of law, under the tuition of The- ophilus Parsons, " the giant of the law," who then lived at Newburyport. Being admitted to prac- tice at the bar, he came into New-Hampshire in June, 1791, and commenced practice near the south meeting-house, in Salisbury, where he remained about one year, and then removed to the river road, in Salisbury, where he continued in the prac- tice of law until he went the first time to Wash- ington, a representative in Congress. He then withdrew from judicial courts, though he contin- ued through life to give advice as a counsellor at law. Soon after he came into this State, his tal- ents, industry, integrity, and knowledge of the law, introduced him to a very extensive and lucrative practice, and he became well known at the bar, in most of the counties in this State.
In the year 1801, he became a member of the board of trustees of Dartmouth college, and con- tinued such, until he resigned his seat a short time before his death. Of this board, he was an active and efficient member. He was, from 1305 to 1307, a Representative, and once a Senator in the Congress of the United States. He represented the
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town of Salisbury once or twice in the Legislature. After his removal to Concord, he was several times elected a Representative of that town. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of this State at a time when party spirit was at its great- est height ; and, even at that time, his political opponents bore willing testimony to his candor, ability and impartiality in the discharge of the du- ties of that office.
In the year 1809, he removed from Salisbury to Concord, where he ever after resided until his death. In August, 1819, he sat out on a journey to Quebec, and was on board the steam-boat Phœ- nix, bound from Burlington to Canada, at the time of its destruction by fire at midnight on lake Cham- plain. The vessel was all on fire, and the people on board were leaving her in two small boats, while he was left asleep. Waking, he saw the sit- uation of the vessel, and that the last boat was leaving her. He jumped into the boat, already filled nearly to sinking, and was the last person who escaped from the burning vessel. The terrors and fatigue of that night probably produced the disease which put a period to his life.
Hon. TIMOTHY WALKER.
The honorable TIMOTHY WALKER, son of the first minister of Concord, was born in 1737, on the pa- ternal farm where he died, May 5, 1822. His ear- lier years were employed in the pursuits of hus- bandry, and the acquirement of an education ; he was a good farmer, and his reputation as a scholar stood high in the class which graduated at Cam- bridge in 1756. He at first designed to engage in the work of the ministry, and qualified himself for that purpose. But the increasing complaints of his country were to him the premonitions of a mighty struggle, and convinced him that she would soon need active spirits on her side. He resolved to re-
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linquish his favorite design, and exert himself for the good of his country.
At the commencement of the revolution, a peri- od of much doubt and peril, when most men were agitated, and many trembled for the fate of the colo- nies-Walker was found among the most judicious, yet determined supporters of the revolution. In almost every town of the country there were many still loyal to the British crown, and who, though in common with their fellow citizens they felt its un- hallowed oppressions, were yet willing to endure them. To counteract their exertions was required the utmost vigilance of every friend of liberty. At this critical moment, when the alternative presented of abandoning the country, or arresting her inbred enemies-when personal friendships must be sacri- ficed at the altar of freedom, and the charities of private life be broken off in watchfulness of public enemies,-Walker was eminently useful; and though he exerted himself to prevent unnecessary riots or tumultuous proceedings, he was vigilant in pursuing the proper course to subserve the inter- ests of the country. He was entrusted with vari- ous duties by the government, and in 1776, was a member of the Committee of Safety for the State, who in the recess of Congress, exercised the pow- ers of that body. He commanded a regiment of minute-men in New-Hampshire, was afterwards paymaster of the New-Hampshire forces, and serv- ed a campaign at Winter-Hill under General Sulli- van. He was a member of the convention which formed our excellent Constitution, was afterwards frequently elected a Representative and Senator to the State Legislature, and was ever found an unde- viating advocate of the cause of his country. He was for several years chief-justice of the court of common pleas, and was respected for his up- rightness and candor.
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At an advanced age, Judge Walker retired from active life to the enjoyment of his farm, and domes- tic ease and affluence. In private life, he was amiable and sincere ; in his manners, frank and honorable ; and in his conversation, exhibiting the agreeable powers of an independent and well cul- tivated mind. To the aged, he was a cheerful and kind companion ; to the young, a paternal friend and counsellor : and both had before them in his life a pattern of public and private rectitude.
Doctor PHILIP CARRIGAIN.
Doctor PHILIP CARRIGAIN, was born in the city of New-York, A. D. 1746. His father, who was also a physician, emigrated from one of the British ports, to that city ; where he died after a short residence. From the little that has been preserv- ed of his history, it is known that he was for some time, a student, or an assistant, in one of the Hos- pitals in London ; and that he was in the service of the Pretender in Scotland, A. D. 1745; and from memorials he has left, appears to have been a fin- ished scholar. Doct. C. was brought in his youth to Haverhill, Mass. where he studied physic with the late Doct. Bricket. He came to Concord in 1768, where he established himself as a physician and surgeon. There were then but few of the fac- ulty, in this section of the country ; and as he dis- covered extraordinary skill and decision, in the management of the cases confided to him, he rose rapidly to the highest eminence in his profession, and for the greater part of his succeeding life, had a more extensive practice, than perhaps, any other physician of his time, in the State. He died in August, 1806. His lady died the December pre- ceding. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Clough, Esq. of Canterbury, and was remarkable for the strength and fortitude of her mind ; and for her humanity and judgment, in attending and ad- ministering to the sick.
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