USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. II > Part 113
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PRIEST The Priests of New England are de- scended from various early stocks. Degory Priest was one of the Pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth in 1620. He died a few days after. Janu- ary I, 1621. His wife. a sister of a Mr. Allerton. an 1 their children came afterward. Other Priests were Emanuel, of Marblehead: James, of Wey- mouth ; and John, of Woburn.
(1) Joseph, son of Quick Priest, was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire. He was married Oc- tober 24, 1782. in Northwood, by Rev. Edmund Pillsbury, to Betsey Demeritt, of that town, and they were the parents of thirteen children, namely : Joseph, died young; Nathan, Sukey, Sally, Betsey, died young : Nancy, William, Polly, Hiram, Thomas Jefferson, Harriet. Joseph and Betsey.
(II) Thomas Jefferson, son of Joseph and Betsey (Demeritt) Priest, was born in Nottingham, January 22, 1806, and died Mareh, 1850, aged forty- four years. He spent his early life on his father's farm. and was for some years employed in the cot- ton mills of Pittsfield. Returning to the farm, he spent the remainder of his life in agricultural em- ployment. He married Harriett True, born in Chichester, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathaniel True and his wife, who was Miss James, of Mas- sachusetts. She died about 1875. Their children were: True W .. Ellen Eliza and Henrietta T.
(III) True William, eldest child and only son of Thomas J. and Harriett (True) Priest, was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, October 19,
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1835. After acquiring his early education in the common schools of Nottingham and Great Falls, now Somersworth, he went to Manchester, where he learned the machinist's trade while in the employ of the Amoskeag Machine Company, where he served about two and a half years. He afterward worked for the Great Falls Manufacturing Com- pany of Great Falls, and the Essex Machine Com- pany of Lawrence, Massachusetts, remaining a few years in each place. In 1854 he entered the service of the Jersey Central Railroad, at Elizabethport, where he was machinist foreman for five years.
In 1861 he enlisted as fireman in the United States navy, and was assigned to the warship "Kearsarge." After blockading the Rebel steamer "Sumter" for a time at Gibralter, the "Kearsage" went in pursuit of the "Alabama," the great de- stroyer of American merchantships, and after two years, fought and sank her off the harbor of Cher- bourg, France, June 19, 1864, winning a brilliant victory and ridding the sea of the greatest scourge that ever sailed. The "Kearsarge" returned to the United States, and landed at Boston a part of the crew of the Rebel ship, "Florida." which had been captured. At Boston, Mr. Priest was discharged as a first-class fireman, November, 1864, after serv- ing nearly three years. He was next employed as a machinist at the Portsmouth navy yard four years, and at Rutland, Vermont, as foreman of the machinist department of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad seven years. He then left mechanical em- ployments, and engaged in the confectionery busi- ness in Providence, Rhode Island. for a short time, and then returned to Portsmouth, where he has been actively engaged as a liquor merchant up to the present time (1907).
Mr. Priest is a Democrat, has been somewhat ac- tive in politics, and served as councilman of Ports- mouth for one year, and as alderman for two years. For thirteen years past he has been engineer of steam engine No. 4 of the Portsmouth fire depart- ment. He is a member of the following named fraternal and beneficiary organizations: St. John Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons ; Wash- ington Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3; Council, Royal and Select Masters: Dewitt Clinton Commandery, Knights Templar; Osgood Lodge. No. 48, Inde- pendent Order Odd Fellows; Damon Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias; Portsmouth Lodge, No. 97, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler and a past district deputy ; Storer Post, No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past commander; Massasoit Tribe, No. 17, Improved Order of Red Men; Knights of Malta ; Lodge No. 3. Knights of the Golden Eagle ; the Kearsarge Naval Veterans of Boston; the Country Club; the Portsmouth Athletic Club, and the Portsmouth Yacht Club.
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Mr. Priest married, January 2, 1866, Elizabeth H. Wendell, born in Portsmouth, daughter of E. S. Wendell, of Portsmouth. Their children were : Carrie H., Harriett G., Effie and Oliver Wellington. Carrie and Effie are deceased.
This name seems to have originated SALTER from a guild or fraternity known as the Salter's Company. The first record of these found is in a deed dated 1394 in the seven- teenth year of King Richard II, granting the licenses to the Company of Salter to be a guild in honor of "the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Church of All Saints, commonly called All Hallows, Broad Street" in London. A half century later this com- pany received by a letter its first hall and certain religious services were to be performed there. This. guild appears to have been founded in 1380. During the reign of James I it owned nearly eleven thou- sand acres of land in Ulster, Ireland, and subsequent- ly was the holder of two hundred and fifty thou- sand acres in the county of Londonderry. The name. is found as the surname of an individual in 1423, when William Salter was possessed of an estate called Bokenhamis, in England, where for two hun- dred years his ancestors were lords of the manor. Walter Salter was living in the time of Richard III in 1482. A tablet is erected to himself and wife in. the church in Tottemgen in the county of Norfolk. In 1524 Henry Salter was one of the sheriffs of Norwich, England, and in 1655 John Salter was mayor of that city. In 1663 John Salter was one of the twenty-four aldermen appointed for that city when its charter was renewed by Charles I. He died November 20, 1669, at the age of seventy- seven years, and was buried in the church of St. Andrew. The name is still frequently found in England, especially in the vicinity of Norfolk, There are several distinct families of the name in America, their arrival dating previous to the eight- eenth century. The most numerous families have been those descended from John Salter, who set- tled at Odiorne's Point, New Hampshire and those of Richard Salter, an early resident of Monmouth county, New Jersey. Both families have been con- spicuous in social and political life. A family of the name resided in North Carolina during the- Revolution, and furnished two brothers to the Pro- vincial congress. The earliest found of record was William Salter, who was admitted a freeman in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, May 25, 1636, and Samp- son Salter was admitted a freeman at Newport, Rhode Island, March 20, 1638. There were soldiers of this name in King Philip's war.
(I) According to the traditions of the New Hampshire family the first of that name in this. country was John Salter, who came from the west of England, near Exeter, and located first at the Isles of Shoals, settling later at Odiorne's Point. He probably brought his wife with him. An old writing made July 19, 1724, mentions Captain Sal- ter from the Shoals, and in 1729 Captain John Sal- ter was before the royal council to give testimony regarding the cruise "after ye Eastern Indians." In 1728 John Salter's name appears among the tax- payers in Newcastle, and in 1731 he asked the gen- eral assembly to be set off to Rye. Odiorne's Point is still a part of Rye which would indicate that his petition was granted. In 1743 he was among.
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those who borrowed money probably for the devel- opment of his property. In 1748 he with others signed a protest against an election return. His will was probated at Exeter in 1755. It was dated May 12, 1752, and in it he styled himself "of Rye in the Province of New Hampshire, Gent, being sensible of my mortality and being advanced in years." This will disposes of inuch personal prop- erty and real estate, and it would indicate that he was in comfortable circumstances for his time. The will mentions his wife Amy, his sons Richard and Titus, grandsons John and Alexander Salter and John Randall, and his daughters mentioned were: Mary Mace, Elizabeth Ruby, Charity Leach, Marjorie Hall, Martha Sanborn and Sophia Sloper, each of whom received five shillings. He also men- tions Elizabeth, the widow of his son Alexander, and granddaughters Mary and Lucy Salter. The North Church records of Portsmouth show that John, the son of John and Martha Salter, was bap- tized October 3, 1730. From this it would appear that John Salter was twice married, as his will calls his wife Amy. His son Titus was executor of his will, and did excellent service as a soldier in the Revolution. Salter's Marsh is still one of the landmarks of the locality. The children of the first wife were: Captain Titus, Richard, Alexander, John, a daughter whose son John Randall is men- tioned in the will, whose christian name cannot be discovered, Mary Eliza, Charity, Marjorie, Martha and Sarah.
(II) Captain Titus Salter, eldest child of John and Martha Salter, was born in October, 1722, prob- ably in Newcastle, New Hampshire, and died Sep- tember 20, 1798. He married, in 1745, Elizabeth Bickford, who died in 1776. He was a man of much note in the colony, and as before stated was active and prominent in the Revolution. Four days before the battle of Bunker Hill the schooner owned by Captain Titus Salter was seized by the British ship "Scarborough." Captain Salter retaliated on the second of October following by the seizure of the ship "Prince George" bound. to Boston with one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two barrels of flour for General Gage's army. This very much pleased General Washington, and on January 5, 1776, Captain Titus Salter was instructed to enlist ninety men for the garrison of Fort Washington and also to order every inhabitant of the Isle of Shoals to leave that dangerous location. On July 8, 1779. the committee of safety in Exeter appointed Titus Salter captain of the armed ship "Hampden" in the Penobscot expedition, and in 1783 the general assembly gave a vote of thanks to Captain Titus Salter for liis good service for the state. March II, 1790, Titus Salter made a contract with the state of New Hampshire, and on November 18 fol- lowing this contract was renewed by Alexander Ilamilton, secretary of the treasury, on the part of the United States, to crect and
maintain
a
lighthouse
at
the
entrance
to
Portsmouth harbor.
lle presented a memorial
and planned the fortifying of this harbor,
in 1755, and in the same year was authorized to take command of the fortifications. His muster roll shows his nephew, Titus Salter, junior, son of his brother, Richard Salter, as a private in his company. Captain Titus Salter remained in command at Ports- mouth until July, 1779, when he was ordered and commissioned as before noted to the command of the ship "Hampden." This vessel carried twenty guns and was captured by the English in Penobscot Harbor, but his name does not appear on the list of prisoners. He was again in command of Fort Washington, at Portsmouth, in 1782. At the out- break of the Revolution he was the leader of the party that took possession of the powder which the British had stored in Fort William and Mary (now Fort Constitution). This powder was after- wards used by the Patriot army at Bunker Hill.
Captain Salter married, July 1I, 1745, Elizabeth Bickford, and their children were: John, Anna, Hannah, Amy, Henry, Eliza, Sarah, Mary and Titus.
(III) Titus (2), youngest child of Titus (1) and Elizabeth (Bickford) Salter, was born 1764, in Portsmouth, and died in that town, 1840. He was a successful merchant and ship owner in Ports- mouth, and during the War of 1812 was stationed at Fort Washington in Portsmouth Harbor. He lived in the old Salter mansion built by his father in 1720, which is still standing on the corner of Salter and South streets, adjoining the South Mill Bridge in that town. He married Nancy Salter, daugh- ter of his Uncle Richard and Elizabeth (Odiorne) Salter. She was born 1778 and died 1825. Their children were: Ann, Mary, Henry and Charlotte. The first became the wife of Christopher Toppan, who was a merchant and ship owner, and at one time mayor of Portsmouth. The second was the wife of J. M. Tredick, a merchant and ship owner and president of the Rockingham Bank. The son receives further mention in the following para- graph.
(IV) Henry Perkins, only son of Titus (2) and Nancy (Salter) Salter, was born October 1, 1801, in Portsmouth, and died October 12, 1851, at the age of fifty years in that town. He was interested in the management of his father's ships, of which he was part owner, and continued the latter's busi- ness as a merchant and ship owner. He was also a director of several banks in Portsmouth. He thus continued until his early death, and was a respected and esteemed resident of New Hampshire's only seaport. He married, January 10, 1831, Mary Chris- tie, born September 29, 1806, died November 16, 1890, daughter of John Christie, a sca captain of Portsmouth. Their children were: James H., Edwin, Charles C., Thomas P., Albert T., and Annie M. James H., Edwin and Albert T. were successful shipmasters; Charles C. was a graduate of Harvard College and pursued a professional life. The daugh- ter Annie became the wife of Edwin Putnam, pay director of the United States navy, and now retired rear admiral of the United States navy.
(V) Thomas Perkins, fourth son and child of Henry P. and Mary (Christie) Salter, was born
BY THE NAME OF
BAL COMBE
FORCICER
Ge & Balcom
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January 24, 1837, in Portsmouth. He was edu- cated in a private school conducted by the well- known master, William C. Harris, in Portsmouth. After leaving school he engaged actively in the shipping business in New York City, where he continued many years as head of the firm of Salter & Livermore with success. About 1897 he retired from business and returned to his native place, where he died March 16, 1907.
This is an English name of consider-
BALCOM able antiquity, and in some of the early records is spelled Balkcom. The name is derived from hill and dell. Al- though the name does not appear among the orig- inal inhabitants of Charlestown, Massachusetts, it was, nevertheless, identified with the early settle- ment of that place, and was afterwards trans- planted into the interior of the colony. There were two immigrants of this name who arrived in New England prior to 1690, viz: Henry, who established himself at Charlestown; and Alexander, who set- tled first in Providence, Rhode Island, and later in that part of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, which is now Attleboro. George Edward Balcom, of Nashua, is a descendant of the first named immigrant.
(1) One record at hand states that Henry Bal- com, probably of Balcome, in Sussex, England, im- migrated about the year 1664, but the "History of Charlestown" antedates this record, claiming that he was there as early as 1655, and that he was ad- mitted an inhabitant September I, of that year. He was a blacksmith. He purchased property in Charlestown, in 1664, and resided there for the re- mainder of his life, which terminated February 29 or April 29, 1683. There is evidence that he partic- ipated quite actively in public affairs. The value of his estate was inventoried at three hundred and fifty-four pounds. He was twice married, and his first wife, whose maiden name does not appear in the records, bore him one daughter, Sarah, who died December 8, 1666. His second wife, whom he married August 12, 1666, was Elizabeth Haynes (also spelled Haines), daughter of Deacon John Haynes, of Sudbury. Deacon John Haynes im- migrated from England in 1638, settling in Sud- bury, and was with two others granted three thous- and and two hundred acres of land at Quinsiga- mond, now Worcester, Massachusetts. Mrs. Eliza- beth Balcom, who was admitted to the Church at Charlestown May 23, 1669, survived her husband many years and was living in 1713 at Sudbury, whither she removed in 1694, taking her family with her. The children of Henry Balcom's second marriage were: Hannah, born March 16, 1668, died April 21 of the same year; John, born October 15, 1669; Elizabeth, born August 16, 1672, became the wife of Gershom Rice; and Joseph, who is referred to in the succeeding paragraph.
(II) Joseph, youngest son and child of Henry and Elizabeth (Haynes) Balcom, was born in Charlestown, December 17, 1674. Another record says that his birth took place October 17, and that
he was baptized on the 20th. He settled in Sudbury and died there September 15, 1745. The maiden name of his wife was Tabitha Mossman, and she bore him six children.
(111) Joseph (2), son of Joseph and Tabitha (Mossman) Balcom, was born in Sudbury, January 13, 1713, and died elsewhere in 1744. The house which he erected in Sudbury is still standing, and is in an excellent state of preservation. He married Deboralı Boise, and was the father of six children.
(IV) Jonas Balcom, son of Joseph and Deborah (Boise) Balcom, was born in Sudbury, August 7, 1735, He was enrolled in the Colonial military service and participated in the expedition to Crown Point. His death occurred September 13, 1810. He married Grace Holden, and had a family of three children.
(V) Joel, son of Jonas and Grace (Holden) Balcom, was born in Sudbury, in 1764, and died in IS39. His wife was before marriage Lucy Brown, and she became the mother of eight children.
(VI) Cortes, son of Joel and Lucy (Brown) Balcom, was born in Sudbury, February 6, 1804. He settled in Nashua, and died in that city, Decem- ber 25, 1893, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. He married Phebe Temple, and was the father of nine children.
(VII) James Edward, son of Cortes and Phebe (Temple) Balcom, was born in Nashua, October 27, 1826. He was one of the pioneer ice dealers in Nashua, and carried on business for many years, or until succeeded by his son. In politics he acted with the Republican party from the time of its formation, and was a prominent figure in muni- cipal affairs, serving in both branches of the city government, also as street commissioner, and was representative to the legislature for two terms. He died in Nashua, March 27, 1888. He married Sarah M. Grimes, and had a family of three children, of whom the only survivor is George E.
(VIII) George Edward, son of James E. and Sarah M. (Grimes) Balcom, was born in Nashua, April 2, 1855. His preliminary studies were pur- sued in the public schools, and he concluded his education with a commercial course at a business college in Boston. His training for active life was directed by his father, whom he succeeded in the ice business, as previously stated, and since becom- ing sole proprietor of the business it has greatly increased both in magnitude and importance. His ice houses, which are located both in Nashua and Hudson, have a total capacity of twenty thousand tons, and in addition to a large force of employees he operates twenty wagons, which require the ser- vice of thirty-six horses. He also deals extensively in coal. His horse-shoeing and repairing are done in his own blacksmith shop, and his business facili- ties are among the largest of their kind in southern New Hampshire. Politically Mr. Balcom is a Republican, and he has rendered able public ser- vices in the capacity of councilman and alderman. He is a member of Pennichuck Lodge, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the Guards
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Club, and is an attendant of the Universalist Church.
Mr. Balcom married Ida J. Morse, daughter of Edward Morse, of Nashua (see article on that family in this work). Mrs. Balcom is a leading spirit in all movements relative to social and mental improvement, and also in works of charity and benevolence, having served as secretary and as vice- president of the Women's Club, and she is at the present time secretary of the Day Nursery. Mr. . and Mrs. Balcom have two children : Lillian M., born February 16, 1883, and Everett M., born De- cember 16, 1884.
ATHERTON This early Colonial family dates its advent in America from 1635. It numbers among its members many good and prosperous citizens, and from it have sprung several men of distinction. Descend- ants of the early settlers are numerous in Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and others are scattered throughout the western states. In the ancient records the name is sometimes written Aderton.
(1) James Atherton came from Lancashire, Eng- land, in 1635, with his kinsman, Humphery Ather- ton, who was afterwards mayor general of the Massachusetts Bay Colony troops. James settled in Dorchester, whence he removed to Lancaster, where he was one of the earliest settlers and a prominent man. The "15th: I Mo: 1653," "James Aderton" subscribed "a true Coppie of the Lawes and orders first enacted and made by those ap- poynted and improved by the General Court as it is found in the old book" and became a resident. In the valuation of estates upon which to draw meadow and second division his estate is placed at sixty- nine pounds, five shillings. He was alloted land as late as the seventh division. His house lot lay on the east side of the neck jutting eastwardly on Pen- icock river and westerly upon another range of lots, &. Ilis intervale lot was on the east side of Pen- icock river, &. Each contained twenty acres. Hc received other lands in subsequent divisions. "The ninth of the first month, 1654." "Att a towne meet- ing assembled upon Legall warning it is agreed by the towne that their should not be taken into the towne above the number of thirtie familyes and the subscribed names as to the understood that hence- forth they are to be accounted townsmen." The name of Jomes Atherton is one of the twenty-five subscribers to the above. He did not remain per- manently in Lancaster. As early as 1678 he was in Milton. In 1698, being then of Milton, he con- veyed his land in Lancaster to his eldest son James. He afterwards removed to Sherborn, where he died in 1707, aged eighty-four years. James Atherton's wife's name was Hannah; they are said to have had twelve children, of these seven were born to them in Lancaster as follows: James, 1654; Joshua, 1656; Hannah, 1657; Mary, 1660; Elizabeth, 1666; Deborah, 1669; and Joseph, 1672.
(11) Joshua, second son and child of James and Ilannah Atherton, was born in Lancaster, "3:13:
1656." In the command for settling the garrisons, he is mentioned among the residents of Bare Hill, but later he resided near Still River in Harvard. In 1720 Joshua Atherton petitioned for a highway to Brook Meadow and the meadows adjacent, and requests that the second division intervale and con- veniency belonging to the estate of his father and also the second division land of William Lues, now in his possession, may be put upon record. He mar- ried Mary Gulliver.
(III) Joshua (2) son of Joshua (1) and Mary (Gulliver) Atherton, married Hannah Rogers.
(IV) Joseph, son of Joshna (2) and Hannah (Rogers) Atherton, was born in Harvard, Massa- chusetts, about 1728. He married Mary Hutchins.
(V) Jonathan, son of Joseph and Ilannah (Rogers) Atherton, was born in Harvard, Novem- ber 11, 1759. He served in the Revolution. He was one of the first settlers of Cavendish, Vermont, about 1782, and was the first representative elected to the legislature from that town. He was a farmer and also practiced law until his death, March 21, 1826. He married Nancy Bridge, and they were the parents of Nancy, married John Parker; Fannie, married Oliver Farwell; Jonathan. mentioned be- low; Joseph, died at Clarendon, Vermont, and Stedman.
(VI) Jonathan (2), eldest son and third child of Jonathan (1) and Nancy (Bridge) Atherton, was born in Cavendish, October 14. 1787, and died May 17, 1875, aged eighty-seven years. having spent his entire life on the ancestral homestead. He was a man of marked ability and great decision of char- acter, of simple tastes, and fond of reading. lle married Roxana Ives, born in Ludlow, Vermont, June 21, 1797, only daughter of Captain Elihu and Phebe (Hall) Ives. She was a cousin of the late Bishop Silliman Ives, of South Carolina. and the late N. K. Hall, of Buffalo, United States district judge, a member of President Fillmore's cabinet ; she was also a descendant of the immigrant, John Moore, of Connecticut, who was the ancestor of George Kennan, the author, and Professor S. F. Morse, and of Chancellor Kent. She was educated at a young ladies' school in Middlebury, Vermont, and before her marriage taught school. She died May 16, 1891, in the ninety-fifth year of her age. The children of Jonathan and Roxana (Ives) Ather- ton were: Jonathan 1., died in infancy ; Ellen R., born 1819, married Edwin Clement. July 11, 1839, and died in 1902. Solon I., born 1821, died November 8, 1891. Joseph V., born September 17, 1823, died 011 the old homestead. January 16, 1897. Harriet M., born 1826, died 1828. Everett H., born September 25, 1828. Henry B.
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