USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > Facts relating to the early history of Chester, N.H., from the settlement in 1720 until the formation of the state constitution in the year 1784 > Part 5
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Daniel Dolbeer,
Amos Paine,
James Richardson,
Parker Carr,
Daniel Webster,
* Amos Emerson was Capt. and Simeon Morrill Ensign, of the 3d Comp. of Battalion I. David Forsaith, Ensign of the 8th Company of the II Battalion, in 1776.
Jeremiah Richardson,
Thomas Shannon,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Parker Morse, Peter Severance, Lt. Josiah Flagg,
Henry Stephens, John Paine, Jonathan Berry, (was shot in the war.)
The above are supposed to be all the " soulders " until Dec. 19, 1777. Not all of the above served ; several procured substitutes.
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INSTANCES OF LONGEVITY.
James Wilson, d. 1739, a. 100 years.
James Shirley, d. 1754, a. 105 years.
Alexander Craig, died in 1760, a. 98 years. William Craig, d. 1775, a. 100 years.
Mrs. Craig, (his wife,) d. 1775, a. 100 years. James Shirley, d. 1791, a. 100 years.
James Wilson, d. 1793, a. 100 years.
Thomas Wason, d. 1800, a. 100 years.
James Otterson, d. a. 103 years.
Mrs. Healey, d. a. 100 years.
John Burley, a mariner belonging to Chester, sailed from New- buryport in July, 1781 ; was taken prisoner by the enemy, car- ried to Ireland, and thrown into prison, where he died in the sum- mer of 1782.
ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE SOCIETIES. 1740. n
Province Anno regni regis Georgii secundi Magna Brit- New of Hamp.Stanica, Francias, et Hibernia, Decimo quarto.
An act to enable the two congregations in the town of Chester to raise money to pay their respective minister's salary, &c.
Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Chester, in the Prov- ince of New Hampshire, have represented to this court that they labor under great difficulties with respect to raising their minis- ter's salary, and collecting the same, and have petitioned this court for relief :
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor, Coun- cil, and Representatives, convened in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, that each congregation in said town be and hereby is authorized and empowered to act separate and dis- tinct from each other, as to parish affairs, and that each respective congregation be and hereby is authorized and empowered to pay their respective minister's salary, for the defraying the charges of building and repairing their respective meeting houses and other parish charges ; and to choose wardens in each congregation to assess the persons and estates of eachi congregation as (much as) shall be raised by them respectively for the ends and purposes aforesaid ; and to choose collectors to collect the same, which col- lectors shall have the same power and authority as constables in this Province by law have to gather and collect rates ; and that such wardens, chosen as aforesaid, be and hereby are, authorized and empowered to give a warrant to such collectors as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as Selectmen are authorized and empowered to do. And that John Calfe, Ephraim Hazelton, and Enoch Colby be and hereby are authorized and empowered to call the first meeting for the Cong. parish, and Capt. Samuel Ingalls, John Tolford, and John Carr to call the first meeting for the Presbyterian parish ; and the said congregations shall have power to choose all officers necessary to manage and transact parish af- fairs, as other parishes have, or ought, by law, to have, within this Province.
Aug. 7, 1740. Read three times in the House of Representa- tives and passed to be enacted.
ANDREW WIGGIN, Speaker.
Eadem Die. Read three times at the Council board, and voted a concurrence. RICHARD WALDRON, Sec'y.
Same day. I assent to the foregoing bill,
J. BELCHER. Copy-THEO. ATKINSON, Sec'y.
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In the attic of J. S. Brown's hotel, I found the papers of Col. John Webster, among which are the muster rolls. In addition to those already given, I find the following names :
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Ezekiel Morse,
Nathan Lane,
Jeremiah Griffen,
Elijah Tolford,
Theophilus Lovrin,
William Towl,
Benjamin Whittier, Capt.
July 25th, 1776.
David Weatherspoon, James Bell,
Joseph Linn,
Hugh McAffee,
John McClellan,
James Aikin,
David Taylor,
Moses McFarland.
June, 1776, Army of Canada, (The Northern Continent.)
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MISCELLANEOUS.
Massabesic pond is the only considerable body of water which was included within the bounds of the Charter of Chester, al- though there are several small ponds. Massabesic is estimated at about twenty miles in circuit. It was formerly the residence of several families of Penacook Indians, and its name is sup- posed to be derived from two Indian words, " Massa" signi- fying great, and " peseag," lake. This is very probable from the fact that there was no other considerable pond in the vi- cinity. These words are explained in Ralle's dictionary of the Abenaquis tongue, which was the language spoken by the Penacooks. Alewives formerly came up into this pond in great abundance, and formed one means of support to the set- tlers in its vicinity, as did also the falls at Amoskeag. The cave known as the Devil's den is near the eastern shore of Massa- besic. It is an irregular cavity in the ledge, extending in a slight- ly oblique direction nearly sixty feet into Mine Hill. " Penacook path " formerly passed over the east side of this hill ; the road now however goes on the west side. There is another cave in Rattlesnake IIill, on the west side of the pond.
Many of the names which formerly existed in town are now gone ; the following are some of these : Blunt, Campbell, Goodhue, Graham, Tolford, Varnum, Berry, Boyd, Carswell, (formerly lived in the woods now owned by J. Webster, ) Colby, Craig, Crosett, Foss, Gilchrist, Leach, McPhedris, McPherson,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Megee, Moulton, Neal, Healey, Powell, Presson, Quenton, Tyler, Whiting and Weatherspoon. Several other names exist only in the towns which have been taken from Chester, or are represented by females only, such are Aiken, Calfe, Glynn, Blaisdell, Craw- ford, Dickey, Wardwell, Richardson, Towle, &c.
Sherburne Dearborn is now the oldest individual in Chester. He completed his 93d year, Sept. 6, 1851.
Mrs. Hills died in Chester in 1851, aged 99. Mr. Benj. Pike Chase, now resident in Auburn, is in his 90th year, and retains his faculties in a great degree ; his father removed to Chester when he was nine years of age.
Robert Knowles and Joseph Carr are now between eighty and ninety years of age.
The first pauper mentioned is Sarah Berry in 1752. No other is mentioned until 1768. By 1768 occur the names of Abigail Davis, widow Ambross, widow Basford and widow Hills. The names of some of the most respectable inhabitants are recorded as bidding off the aforesaid paupers to board-such are Winthrop Sargent and Lt. Thomas Hazelton.
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CHESTER probably received its name in compliment to George Augustus II. of England, who came into possession of the titles and estates of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in 1714. He did not become King until 1727. This derivation is, like most conjectures in regard to the names of towns, uncertain. More likely it is named from the city of Chester, in Cheshire, England.
About 1790, John Tolford, son of Dea. Wm. Tolford, in a fit of insanity, shot Timothy Wells, killing him instantly. He was afterwards confined.
About 1830, a man by the name of Welsh, now residing in Au- burn, unintentionally killed an individual by a blow on the head with a stake in a dispute. He was committed to the State prison for the offense of manslaughter, but was subsequently pardoned.
58
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
It was at the bridge over " Exeter river," mentioned under date 1720, that the money was to be deposited by Mr. Odiorne, and that Capt. Mitchell, of Londonderry, was apprehended on suspic- ion of being the rogue. See Parker's Hist. of Londonderry, and the N. H. Historical Collections, Vol. 2, (1823.)
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The manner in which I came to know the date of the erection of the first house was this. The house was built by Samuel In- galls, and John Hall, of Chester, who is a descendant of Ingalls, remembers having heard Nathaniel, son of Sam1 Ingalls, say that he was four years of age at the time his father moved into the " great house." By the Chester records Nathaniel Ingalls was born Dec. 12, 1727. Hence the house was probably built in the spring or summer of 1732.
In looking over some old accounts, I found among the town papers an entry to the following effect : "The following individ- uals were allowed ten shillings this year, on account of their set- tlement in the Chestnut Country, 1720." The names were those given under the head of "First Settlers." There were three such lists, one of 1720, one of 1721, and one of 1722.
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NATHAN WEBSTER
Of Bradford, (b. July 21, 1715,) m. Martha Blaisdell, of Ches- ter, in 1742. Their son Nathan, b. Dec. 26, 1743, m. Eliz. Clifford, in 1771. Their son Josiah was born Jan. 16, 1772. He fitted for college under Mr. Remington, of Candia, Mr. Thay- er, of Kingston, and Hon. Stephen P. Webster, graduated at Dartmouth in 1798, and studied theology with Rev. Mr. Peabody, of Atkinson. He d. March 27, 1837. (IIist. Reg. vol. 1, No. 4.)
SMITH AND CARR.
The traditions in regard to the taking of Smith and Carr are not at all well defined. Of the descendants of Smith none now reside in Chester ; some of the descendants of John Smith, his brother, however, are still in Chester, viz : Capt. David Shaw, whose mother was daughter of Silvanus, and grand-daughter of
59
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
John Smith. His mother used to tell the story of her great un- cle's capture, although in a very confused manner. She was, when I saw her, over ninety years of age. I have heard the same account from some other old inhabitants of Chester. No recollection of the fact of Carr's capture exists in the families of his descendants, who are, however, numerous in Chester.
REV. MOSES HALE.
In regard to Rev. Moses Hale, I obtained the date of his birth from Mr. Coffin, of Newbury. Moses is not mentioned on the town books of Newbury as a son of Justice Thomas Hale, but in the latter's will he speaks of his son Moses, without, however, re- ferring to his having been at college. He gives him land in Row- ley, from which circumstances Mr. Coffin doubts whether this Moses was the minister of Chester. The will of Thos. Hale was made in 1730. The children mentioned by Justice Thomas Hale in his will are the following : 1. Thomas, (b. according to New- bury Rec. in 1683,) 2. Ezekiel, (b. 1689,) 3. Nathan, (b. 1691,) 4. Daniel, (b. 1697,) 5. Joshua, (b. 1701,) 6. Moses, (b. ac- cording to Mr. Coffin's supposition, in 1703,) 7. Edna, (b. 1684,) 8. Mary, (b. 1687,) 9. Hannah, (b. 1699.) Two other children, not mentioned in the will, died young, viz : Sarah, (b. 1693,) Ebenezer, (b. 1695.)
Mr. Coffin mentions a will written by Jacob Hale, of Boxford, in 1731, in which he mentions his father Joseph, and his brothers, Abner, Ambrose, Joseph and Moses, who was born Dec. 25, 1701. Joseph Hale, the father, was of Newbury, and married Mary, dau. of William Watson, of Boxford.
The death of Rev. Moses Hale, I obtained proximately from Mr. Sibley, of Cambridge, by means of the old triennial catalogues of Harvard.
Sept. 1853. I have recently ascertained that my suppositions in regard to Mr. Hale being a native of Boxford, are true. The following facts are all I know at present about him. He was son of Joseph and Mary Hale, and was born at Boxford, Mass., Dec. 25, 1701. He graduated at Harvard, and was settled at Chester, as has been stated, whence he was dismissed by council, in 1735. IIe returned to Haverhill, where he died in the year 1760. IIe m. Mrs. Abigail Wainwright, Sept. 28, 1731. (These are cer- tain.)
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
REV. JOHN WILSON.
Rev. Mr. Wilson's history I took principally from Farmer's N. H. Gazetteer. I also obtained some information from his grand- son, Benj. Mills, of Chester. There is a mistake in the Gazetteer of several years in the date of his death. I copied the inscription from his tombstone.
REV. EBENEZER FLAGG.
Mr. Flagg's birth-place I have stated to be Woburn. I do not however consider this as certain. A portrait of Mr. Flagg is in the possession of the French family in Chester.
CAPT. INGALLS.
I obtained my information in regard to him from the Andover, Haverhill and Chester records, and from Mr. John Hall, of Ches- ter, whose wife is one of his descendants ; also from Benj. P. Chase, of Auburn.
LIEUT. SMITH.
My information in regard to Lt. Smith was from the Chester records, and from Deac. Thomas Smith, of New Boston, his grandson. Also, some facts from B. P. Chase, in regard to his dwelling, &c.
MAJOR TOLFORD.
My information was from the town records, and from various aged people who recollect him. I copy the following from the Collections of the N. H. Hist. Soc., Vol. IV, p. 201 :
" He was selected in 1754, being then a Major, by the Govern- ment of N. H., as one of the officers to command the party sent to explore the Coos county, which party set out March 10, and in 7 days reached the Connecticut river at Piermont. They were accompanied by John Stark, who had been, the preceding year, a prisoner among the Indians and was acquainted with that region, as a guide. After passing one night, and making such observa- tions as their time would allow them, they returned, and on the 13th day from the time they left, reached Concord."
Clough says in his journal, " In the afternoon we scouted some (Aug. 20, 1746.) in the woods, but made no discovery. But Capt. Tolford with his men discovered where there had laid some
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Indians in ambush, and also found where the Indians had roasted some corn."
ABNER CLOUGH'S JOURNAL.
Abner Clough's journal of the march of Capt. Ladd and his men sent by the Governor and Council of N. H., to protect the inhabitants of Rumford and the adjoining towns against the incur- - sions of the Indians.
"July 14, 1746. Firstly, marched from Exeter to Beach plain, in Kingston. On the 15th day marched to Chester, and there took more men. On the 16th day enlisted more men. On the 17th day marched from Chester town to a place called Isle Hook's pond, and scouted around the pond, and then camped ; about 11 miles." The company continued to scout through Rum- . ford, Canterbury, &c., until the 31st, and then returned to Exe- ter; and on the 5th of August started again. "Isle Hook's . pond" answers very nearly to what is now known as " Lakin's pond."
"Aug. 5. Marched to Beach plain, in Kingston, and there camped. And on the 6th day marched to Chester town, and it rained, and there camped, and on the 7th day marched about three miles above Massabesic pond, and there Lieu. Jonathan Bradley overtook Capt. Ladd and his men. Lieut. Bradley being not well rode up after the company and said that he came along by a place called the North Branch, in Chester, and there he said that he tracked a scout of Indians, about 12 or 15 as he thought there might be, and was very confident that they were Indian's tracks. And Capt. Ladd took about twenty of his men and went back and ranged the woods where he thought likely to discover something of these Indians, as he saith, but could make no discovery, and so went down to Kingston and Exeter, and told the news about the Indians being tracked." Capt. Ladd again marched through Chester on his way to Concord, Sept. 6. The rest of Capt. Ladd's men continued on after he left them on the 7th, to Con- cord. Several of them (and among them Lt. Bradley,) were killed at Concord on the 11th, by a party of Indians, of which the scouting party discovered in Chester, made a part. Coll. of N. H. Hist. Society, Vol. IV. p. 201. 5
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
In 1775, the population of Chester stood thus :
Males, under 16,
384
Males, under 50, over 16, 273
Males, over 50, 101
Females,
787
Fire arms fit for use,
175
Powder in private hands,
30 lbs.
Whole population,
1545
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The list of school teachers previously given was taken from the Town records, and is probably nearly correct.
The list of Revolutionary soldiers I found in an old book, say- ing on the cover, "This is for what is allowed to soldiers." On the back of it is the date Dec. 19, 1777.
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GRADUATES OF CHESTER. (Incomplete.)
grad.
. died.
Ozias Silsby,
1785
1833
Josiah Webster,
1798
1837
Francis Brown,
1805
1820
William White,
1806
1831
Edmund Flagg,
1806
1815
Samuel D. Bell,
1814 Harvard.
Samuel Emerson,
1814
John Bell,
1825 Union.
1830
Thomas Tenney,
1825
Luther V. Bell,
1826 Bowd.
James Bell,
1826 Bowd.
David Pillsbury,
1827
Sewall Tenney,
1827
Stephen Chase,
1832
1851
Edmund Flagg,
Bowd.
Charles Tenney,
1835
Christopher S. Bell,
1838
1838
Daniel Tenney,
1841
Charles E. Dearborn,
1842
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
John W. Ray,
1843
Charles H. Bell,
1844
David Bremner,
1850
George Bell.
1851
PETITION FOR GRANT. (Copy.)
From the Council Records of 1719.
A petition for a township in ye Chestnutt Country, signed by about 100 hand, preferred by Mr. Hughes, Sept. 24, 1719. Min- uted-Read again, Apr. 28, 1720.
To his Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., Capt. Gen11 & Com- . andr in Chief in an over His Majesty's Province of New Hamp- shire, &c., and the Honble the Council, now sitting in Council at Pourtsmouth, in and for said Province :
The humble petition of sundry of the Inhabitants of sª Prov- ince Humbly sheweth That yr Petitioners have associated them- selves together to settle a certain tract of waiste land containing Eight miles square, laying in the Province of New Hampshire aforesa, and adjoining on the East to Kingston and Exeter, and on the South to Haverhill, and on the West and North to ye woods. And forasmuch as y" Petitioners are informed that sundry persons belonging to severall Towns in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay design to petition yr Excellency & Honrs to have the same lott of land granted to them for a township. Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray that they may have the preference, (having been at a vast expense of blood and treasure to maintain the same against the Enemy.) and that the said tract of land may be granted a township to them, and as many more as are willing to settle the same, so as to make up the number of one hundred (aud twenty-five) persons, under such limitations for the settling of it as y" Excellency & IIon". will. in your great wisdom. see convenient for the speedy settling thereof, and yr Petitioners ever will pray as in duty bound.
Sept. 24, 1719.
Thos Phipps, Jos. Pierce,
Henry Sherburne, Benj. Gambling,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Tho. Packer.
Jos. Sherburne,
Joseph Tilton,
Clement Hughes,
Nath11 Batchelder, jr.,
Sam1 Plaisted,
John Cram,
Elez" Russell,
Philemon Blake,
Samuel Hart,
Jacob Stanyan,
Eph™ Dennett,
Rob Row, Senr.,
John Preston,
David Tilton,
Benj. Sanborn,
Reuben Sanborn,
Joseph Sanborn,
John Morrison,
James Prescott,
Sam1} Blake, jr.,
Jonathan Prescott, jr.,
Nath" Healey,
Richard Sanborn,
Nath11 Sanborn,
Richard Clifford,
Joseph Batchelder,
George Veazi, jr.,
John Sealy,
Jonathan Sanborn,
Jethro Tilton,
Nathan Longfellow,
Ichabod Robie,
Sam11 Sanborn,
Edward Sanborn,
Jacob Green,
John Prescott, jr.,
Henry Dyea,
Zachariah Clifford,
Benj. Fifield,
Joseph Batchelder, jr.,
Sam11 Blake, senr.,
Benj. Fogg,
Edward Gilman,
Joseph Love,
John Searll,
Jacob Gilman,
William Godfree,
Joseph Young,
Nehemb Leavitt,
Ephraim Hoit,
John Morrison,
Abraham Sanborn,
Sam" Elkins,
Israel Blake,
Robt Wadle, jr.,
William Healey,
Jeremiah Sanborn,
Charles Stuart,
Daniel Tilton,
Enoch Sanborn,
Thomas Veazi,
Daniel Lovering,
Joshua Prescott,
Ebenezer Lovering,
John Cass,
Jona" Robinson, Reuben Smith,
Daniel Ladd,
Abner Herriman,
Thomas Veazi, jr.,
Sam11 Prescott, Nath11 Batchelder, senr., John Ladd,
Nath11 Stevens, jr., James Leavit,
Wm. Stevens, Porchth,
Sherburne Tilton,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Oliver Smith,
Jona" Plummer,
Edward Fifield,
John Smith,
John Gilman, jr.,
Benj. Tole,
John Knowles,
Caleb Tole,
Sam11 Veazi;
Abraham Drake,
Benj. Veazi,
Sam11 Smith,
Thomas Veazi, jr.,
Thomas Garton,
Nicolas Norris,
James Purckins,
John Norris,
Jacob Moulton,
Nicolas Seavy,
Jonathan Nason,
Thomas Rollins,
Elisha Smith,
Joseph Lorrane,
Jonathan Dearborn,
John Roberts,
Thomas Leavitt,
Moses Norris, senr.,
James Fogg.
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SMITH AND CARR.
Since writing the account of the captivity of Smith and Carr, I have received a very particular account of it from Dea. Thos. Smith, grandson of Lieut. Smith, who was surprised by the In- dians and taken captive in Chester, viz: "The facts are re- markably clear in the Deacon's mind. John Carr was brother-in- law of Lieut. Smith ; his sister being Smith's wife, and Carr was but 18 years of age when they were captured by the Indians. It was on this wise, viz : They were making a tree (or brush) fence to secure the cow from the Indians. One tree lodged against its neighbor, and they were watching to see which way another would fall, (with a view of bringing down the first,) when they were surprised by the crack of a rifle and the ball passed between them, touching Smith. The Indians sprang upon and seized them, a scuffle ensued in which Smith turned the butt of his gun and brought it down with a view of sinking the lock into the head of Capt. Joe English, the leader of the Indians, but missing his aim he struck him on the side of the head which sallied him back, but English recovering threw Smith, and they (Smith and Carr) were both secured and led away. They pro- ceeded northward till night, when the keepers each managed to secure his prisoner for the night. They were not allowed to see
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
where each other lodged. Smith's captor cut a notch in the spreading root of a beech tree, and after several trials fitted in the ankle of the prisoner, then drove down a stake firmly against the notch so as to make the foot secure while the prisoner was lying on his back. His arms were also tied behind him with the sin- ews of deer. Thus he rested. The next morning they pursued their journey, but not rapidly ; the prisoners not being allowed to speak to each other. The next night Smith took special notice in which direction from him Carr was placed. He was secured as on the night previous, with the addition however of having hooks put over the elbows and driven firmly into the ground. Resolving to make his escape, after his Indian was asleep, (the Indian slept on the ends of the cords with which he was bound,) he gradually tried the strength of his strong arms, and the hooks gave way. Then he found that the cords would give. He continued to strain upon them until he could get his thumbs under the cord that stretched across his breast ; then with that aid he raised it upon his chin, then got it to his mouth, and after long trial succeeded in raising it over his nose, and finally over his entire head. Soon he extricated himself entirely without waking the Indian. He might have killed the party but thought it would be murder. Leaving them to their pleasant dreams they found a stream of water in which they traveled as far as possible to elude the dogs. At length they climbed some trees and soon the day dawned, when they heard the alarm-whoop of their disappointed captors, which was answered by another party on the opposite side of them. Their position was now, of course, a critical one, directly between two parties of Indians so near as to answer each other with the voice. Descending they made their way back towards Chester, where they arrived on the evening of the third day after their capture. The garrison was at Chester, not ' Londonderry.'"
The above is the relation of Dea. Smith, of New Boston, now over eighty years of age. It was furnished me by Rev. Mr. Kel- logg of that town. I presume it is substantially correct. The other party of Indians which he refers to was probably a part of the company who captured them. They were probably prowling about in the neighborhood, having left the care of Smith and Carr to those who claimed the right of masters over them. Mr. Kel-
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
logg adds, " The Indians from whom they escaped surprised and killed two or three men the next day while working in a field near Concord."
REV. MOSES HALE.
Since writing the account of Mr. Hale, I have become satisfied that he was not, as has usually been supposed, a native of New- bury, and born in 1703, but of Boxford, and born Dec. 25, 1701.
I have several letters which induce me to believe so, from which I make these extracts. (From Mr. Coffin, author of the History of Newbury, dated 25 Oct. 1851.) "Now, as Thomas Hale in his will, mentions his son Moses, just as he does his other sons, and makes no allusion to his having been at college, and gives him land in Rowley, the question is, is this Moses the one who was settled in Chester, N. H. ? He was settled in 1731, and the will was made in 1730. I am in doubt about it." "Among the wills in Ipswich I find one written in 1731, by Jacob Hale, of Boxford. In this will he mentions his father Joseph, his brothers Abner, Ambrose, Joseph and Moses. He also mentions his only child Mary. His father Joseph, was of Newbury, and married Mary Watson, dau. of Wm. Watson, of Boxford. Now it is pos- sible that the Rev. Moses Hale, of Chester, was born in Boxford, and was the son of Joseph and Mary Hale." Also, from Mr. Coffin in a later letter, which I have lost I have it stated that he has since become certain that Mr. Hale was not a native of New- bury.
(Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater, writes as follows :) " Thomas Hale had a son Moses, born in 1702-3. He died in Rindge in June, 1763. This, however, cannot be the one settled in your town, as it appears by the records of the town of Rindge, he had two children born in Rowley-one 28 Feb. 1732, the other, 28 Nov. 1733." The town records of Rindge say, " Mr. Moses Hale was born in Newbury, and died in Monadnock, No. One, June 19, 1752." (In pencil marks,) On grave-stone, 1762, June 19th."
(Eliphalet Hale, of Keene, died recently, a. 80, as follows :) "The father of my great grandfather (i. e. the grandfather of the Newbury Moses Hale,) had three sons, viz : Thomas, (b. 1658,) Joseph, (1671,) and Samuel, (1674.) I do not know whether
68
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
the latter had any children. If not, the Chester Moses must have been either my grandfather, or the son of my great grandfather's brother Joseph. I do not see how he could have been my grand- father, as he was at that time residing in Rowley, or at least hav- ing children born unto him in that place." These children were " Moses, born in Rowley, 28 Feb. 1732, Enoch, born in Rowley, Nov. 28, 1733, and Nathan, b. in 1743." (Mr. E. Hale con- tinues,) " I think my grandfather, (i. e. the Newbury Moses) was not the Rev. Moses Hale who settled in Chester. I have never heard that he was a graduate of Harvard College, or had ever been settled in the ministry."
As it appears conclusively that the minister of Chester was not Moses Hale of Newbury, it only remains to prove that he was of Boxford. This can be done by the veritable Dictum of Aristotle, de omni et nullo. The circumstances and the testimony of the de- scendants of the Hale family prove that Rev. Mr. Hale was either one or the other of these two-either of Newbury or Boxford. . He cannot be of Newbury, unde sequitur-he must be of Boxford.
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In regard to the throat distemper of which so many people died in N. HI. in 1735 and 6, the only words in Mr. Fitch's account of the subject, in regard to Chester, are the following communicated by Joseph B. Felt, of Boston :
" In Chester have died under ten, twenty-one. One family lost three."
I have in my possession some leaves of one of Mr. John Web- ster's ledgers, dated from 1752 to 1758, from which I copy the following charges against Mr. Flagg with the prices annexed, preserving the original orthography :
Augost 14. Mr. flag moer debt. to 2 Quarts of rhom,
£ s. d. $
0:19:0
=
1.033
15. moer to half a bushel of salt,
0 17 0
=
.93}
to pear of shobockels,
0 10 0
=
.55
to one pear of garters,
0 8 0
=
.44
2 nots of thread,
16. moer to 3 yards of silk ferret,
0 10 6 = .572
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
18. moer to 2 Quarts of rhom, 0 19 0
=
1.032
19. moer to one peck of salt,
86
=
.422
20. moer to 2 Quarts of Rhom,
0 19 0
=
1.03}
22. moer to 4 shets of paper,
0 2 0
=
.11
23. moer to one Quart of west indea rhom,
0 12 0
=
=
.66
27. moer to one Quarter & half of cambrick, to one Quart of rhom,
1 10 0
=
1.66
0 12 0
=
.66
28. moer to one pint of rhom,
0
6 6
=
35号
30. moer to one Quart of rhom,
0 12 0
.66
Septem. 2. moer to 3 bisket,
0 1 3
=
.07
5. moer to 4 poond of taller at 5s pr. p.,
1
00
=
1.11
6. moer to one Quart of rhom,
0 9 6
=
.79}
8. moer to 6 bisket,
0 30
.16}
10. moer to Earthen wear, to one Quarter of buckorm,
0 46
=
.242
11. moer to 2 Earthen poots, one small mog, to one Quart of rhom,
0 9 6
=
.794
12. To one small poot,
0 30
=
.16₺
This will serve to exhibit the prices of articles in those times, and also what the principal articles of traffic were :
The price of cambric cloth was
$4.40 per yard.
-
66 shallorn 66
1.48
66
66 silk ferret
194
66
.
66 burkram 66
99
66
66
one cotton handkerchief,
1.99
66
66 2 needles,
05를
66
66
3 darning needles,
07
66
60 sugar, per lb. was from 33 to 44 cts.
66
pepper, per oz. 13 cts.
66
66 molasses, per quart, 94 cts.
66 peas, per bushel, 83.
66
66 brandy, per pint, 53 cents.
66
of powder, per lb. 2.61.
66
66 of shot, 55.
a fish hook. 05}.
66
66 a penknife, 88.
66
a gimlet, 22.
1 18 0
=
2.10
0 15 0
=
.823
51
tape, 60
horn comb,
27
66 rum, per quart, from 79 to 66 cts.
biscuit, each (singly) 5} cts.
70
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Mr. Webster probably began to keep a store as early as 1745 ; he kept first where Mr. Frank Morse lives, in Hall's Village. About 1750 he had a clerk (or partner) named John Patten.
If the above were reckoned in " Old Tenor currency," I have set them too high. I think however that they reckoned by "law- ful currency," probably.
The houses which were standing in the centre of the town built before 1750, are these. The list was taken from John Hall, of Chester :
Where Jacob Chase lives, lived Jacob Chase, (b. 1728,) house built about 1750.
Elijah Hall, - - Underhill, date not known.
Jno. West-Nath1 Blaisdell, 66
Mrs. P. Bell-Rev. Mr. Flagg, about 1736.
Mr. Armsby-Jonathan Blunt, about 1740 or 45.
J. Robinson-Pearson Richardson, not known.
Mr. Fitts-Nathan Fitz, about 1745 or 50.
Mr. Quigg-Col. Jno. Webster, about 1740.
Mr. Bremner-Ebenezer Dearborn, about 1735.
Col. Clay-Jona. Goodhue, before 1740.
Watts house - McNeal.
Up the lane-Archd Dunlap, probably about 1740 or 50. 66 " -Asa Dearborn,
Benj. Davis, Jr .- Robt Graham, (afterwards N. Long) ab't 1740. Capt. Shaw-Silvanus Smith, 1740.
Greenough house-Paul Smith, 1740.
In J. Webster's woods-J. & T. Carswell, 1740 or 45.
Opposite J. Webster's-Col. W. White, 1735 or 40.
Jno. Sanborn-Thomas Glynn, built before 1744.
Opposite the house of Moses Webster-Winthrop Sargent, about 1750.
S. Cowdry-Francis Towle, about 1740 or 45.
Isaac Morse-Stephen Morse, " 1750. John Hall-John Carr, " 1735 or 40. Poor house-Capt. Hugh Shirley, uncertain.
S. Kendall-John Towle, (afterwards his son Anthony Towle) uncertain.
71
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
H. Hall-Henry Hall, about 1740.
On cross road-Rev. Mr. Wilson, about 1735.
Mr. Emerson-Sam1 Emerson, Esq., about 1735.
Miss Pressey-Enoch Colby, about 1735 or 40.
Thos Hazelton-Thos Smith, (block house) about 1735-38. Mr. Wilson-Wm. Powell.
Mr. Reed-John Aiken. Jacks Hill-Jonathan Jack.
David Shaw, Jr .- Ens. James Quenton.
a little north of Dan1 Wilson's barn-Father of John Wilson. Joseph Carr-James Crawford. at the end of cross road beyond Mr. Pickett's-Francis Towle. Capt. Hazelton-John Colby.
In a house between Miss Pressy's & Capt. Hazelton's-Benj. Colby Nearly opposite John Robinson's-Dr. John Ordway.
James Bell-William Bell.
Long-Daniel Greenough.
Dr. Whittemore-Col. Simon Towle.
Mr. Lane-Eben Townsend.
Jona. Dearborn - - Glidden.
Opposite David Shaw, Jr's, nearly-Joseph French.
Between D. Shaw, Jr's and Frank Morse's, on E. side of road- Benj. French.
Capt. Swain-James Shirley.
Half way from Cowdry's to M. Webster's-Abraham Sargent.
on road from poor house to Wid. Mills'-Adam Morrill.
North of Morrill's house, 25 rods-Ephraim (father of Nathan) Fitts.
Wardwell house-James Wardwell.
Calvin Hill-Jacob Hill, of Newbury.
Amos Green-Nathan Webster.
Asa Wilson-Wm. Wilson.
Jacob Green-the father of James Wilson.
Eaton house-Samuel Wilson.
Basford on " Gt Hill"-Jona. Moulton.
Walter Morse-Pearson Richardson first lived there.
Ed. Sleeper-Jethro Colby, son of Enoch.
near Sleeper's - Stockman.
John Morse-Samuel Robie.
72
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Joseph Robinson-Dr. Benj. Page.
Frank Stevens-Pearson Richardson. Wm. Tenney-Jacob Wells. Near Tewksbury's house-Benj. Fuller.
Near Derry line, on same road - Campbell.
Reynolds-Moses George. Wid. Chase Bradshaw.
Niles-Capt. Samuel Ingalls.
Luther Hall-Capt. Dow.
Tolford House-Maj. John Tolford.
Parker Morse-Benj. Hazelton.
Merrill-Dea. Tolford.
Samuel Hazelton-Peter Hazelton.
Wm. Hazelton-John Hazelton (grandfather of John.) Robert Shirley-Thomas Hazelton (father of Moses.)
Eph. Davis-Abel Webster.
John Hazelton-James Aiken.
Jonathan Emerson, son of Michael and Hannah Emerson, was born March 9, 1669|70.
Jonathan Emerson and Hannah Day were married June 15, 1699. Their children were
Jonathan, b. May 8, 1700; d. May 24, 1700.
John, June 7, 1701. Nathaniel, Sept. 25, 1703.
Timothy, Novr 30, 1705. Samuel, Jan. 8, 1707|8. Richard, Sept. 29, 1710. Hannah, Decr 3, 1712. Jonathan, June 10, 1715. Abigail, - Moses, Decr 22, 1717. Nehemiah, Apr. 24, 1721. Mehitable, Jan. 30, 1723.
73
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Anthony Towle, an early inhabitant of Chester, was a native of Hampton, son of Caleb and Zephorah, and was born April 30, 1703.
Francis Towle, his brother, was born Jan. 13, 1711.
Jonathan Moulton, an early settler, was born at Hampton, son of Robert and Lucy, June 5, 1702.
John Smith, father of Paul and Silvanus,-all three of whom were settlers,-was born probably at Hampton, June 21, 1669 ; he was son of John and Huldah Smith.
Josiah Small, an early settler, was probably of Dover or Pis- cataqua.
The Prescotts were of Hampton ; as were also the Robies.
-
The town of Chester labors under a great disadvantage in the matters of History, owing to the loss both of the early Church Records in the time of Mr. Hale until 1736, (supposed to have been destroyed or stolen by Mr. Bradstreet,) and the entire rec- ords of the Presbyterian Society until about 1815. The Church Records in Mr. Flagg's ministry at Chester were not kept comme il faut. The Parish Records begin at the incorporation of the Society in 1740.
-
End of the " Facts relating to the History of Chester," collected "at a vast expense of blood and treasure " by Charles Bell, Esq., resident in said Chester, Rockingham Co., State of New Hamp- shire, ss.
F82213.
5990P
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