USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > Gill's Nashua and Nashville directory, 1843 > Part 2
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > Gill's Nashua and Nashville directory, 1843 > Part 2
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After Lovewell's fight, May 8, 1725, O. S. (May 19th, N. S.) no attack was made by the Indians upon Dunstable. Yet for several years after, the towns of Bedford, Pembroke, Dunbarton and Concord were subjected to their ravages. Occasionally, for a long time, appeared mysteriously individual Indians, who sought vengeance on some offending settler. The following is one story handed down by tradition .- " An Indian appeared in Nashua, several years after the war had ceased, enquiring for "Jo Snow," who had, at some former period, slain a kinsman. For a long time the duty of revenge had been transmitted, and the desire nourished, and the descendant of the aggrieved and restless warrior had come thus far through the wilderness, even from Canada, guided by tradition alone, to avenge and pacify his spirit. This errand was in vain, for "Jo Snow " had long ago de- parted."
For forty years Dunstable had scarcely advanced at all. It now increased rapidly. The inhabitants were, however, extremely poor. The inenrsions of the enemy, the heavy public taxes occasioned by protracted wars, the suspension of all regular busi- ness, and the thousand and one evils that necessarily follow so long and disastrous a contest, were rea-
Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville. 19
sons amply sufficient for the retrograde movement of our frontier settlements. So poor was Dunstable, that from 1719 to 1733 the town voted not to send a representative to the General Court.
Among the interesting items of town affairs at this period, we find the following :
"Septemr. 2, 1718. Voted, that John Lovewell, senior, and his son John, (the hero of Pequawkett,) should hav libety to bild a dam in the highway over Salmon brook, not to incommode the highway." This was at the little bridge, near the house of Miss Alld.
" March 2, 1719, it was voted, that Lt. Henry Far- well and Joseph Blanchard shuld hav the libety to erect for themself two Pewes on there own charge at the west end of the meeting-house." Previously the floor of the meeting-house had been divided into two sections by an aisle in the centre, with rows of benches on either side, one for the use of the women and the other for the men.
The amount of taxes raised by the town, from 1726 to 1733, for general expenses, including the support of the ministry, varied from $250 to $100 per year.
The first record relative to public schools in this town, is dated November 3, 1730. According to a statute of the colony, every settlement containing fifty houscholders should provide a school-teacher. Dunstable, from reasons which affected its prosper- ity, had neglected this duty, and accordingly was in- dicted by the grand jury. The town voted that "it be left with the selectmen to provide and agree with a person to keep a writing school in the town directly," and that "the sun of ten pounds be granted and raised for defraying the charges in the last mentioned concern, and other town charges."
At this time, the inhabitants of Hollis and Hudson were desirous of being erected into separate town- ships ; the question of erecting a " decent meeting- honse ;" the controversies respecting the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire;
20 Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville.
the sectarian disputes about the Orthodox and New Lights ;- all these were affairs of town meetings, and with the consequent protests and reconciliations, the victories and defeats, may be some excuse, or rather may have been causes for the neglect of the support of public schools. For many years after- ward we find no notice of appropriations, or any allu- sion to the subject.
In 1731, the town now called Hudson was sepa- rated from Dunstable, and was then called Notting- ham.
In 1732, Merrimac was set off, under the name of Rumford.
July 3, 1734, Litchfield was incorporated.
In 1736, Hollis was set off from Dunstable, by the name of " the West Parish of Dunstable." Its In- dian name was Nissitissit.
Township after township was taken away from the original "Dunstable Grant," until 1741, when, after a long and violent controversy, the boundary line was established between New Hampshire and Mas- sachusetts, severing Dunstable nearly in the middle, and, saving a small section set off to Hollis, some time after, Nashua and Nashville retain the territory which the "old town" had in 1741, a territory of 18,878 acres.
In 1732, the old meeting-house had become so dilapidated, that the town voted to build a new one. The trouble of location is not of modern date. A year passed, and various meetings had been held without being able to determine the location of the new house. Finally, it was decided to build it "about four rods castward of where the meeting- house now stands." Nineteen persons entered their protest against it. The house was not built till 1738. It stood not far from the state line, and near the old burying ground.
Immediately after the state line had been deter- mined, it became necessary to erect a new meeting- house in a more central situation. Again selfish
Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville. 21
interests, will, and power clashed. In June, 1746, the town voted "that the place for preaching the gospel this summer be at Ephraim Lund's barn." Finally, the town accepted the proposition of Jona- than Lovewell and others to build the meeting-house on their own account, and to have the liberty of sell- ing all the wall pews for their own benefit. The house was built in the autumn of 1747, " on a spot of rising ground about six rods west of the main road," which is a few rods northerly of the present south meeting-house. It was about twenty-eight feet by forty, had a small gallery, and was divided into the men's side and the women's side.
Rev. Mr. Prentice was succeeded by Rev. Josiah Swan, who was ordained December 27, 1738. He was dismissed in 1747.
April 4, 1746, the town was incorporated by the State of New Hampshire, having previously acted under a charter obtained from the General Court of Massachusetts in 1673.
Until this time, there had not been any school in town. September 29, 1746, it was voted, that "Jona. Lovewell be desired to hire a schoolmaster until next March for this Town, upon the cost and charge of this town." Two dwelling houses, one in the north- ern, and the other in the southern section of the town, were designated, in which the school should be kept, one half of the time at each place, by the same master.
Rev. Samuel Bird was the next minister. He was settled some time in 1747. Mr. Bird was a " New Light." At the present day he would be called a Methodist. This was considered a great triumph by the New Lights, at whose head was Jonathan Love- well. The other party had for their leader, Col. Jo- seph Blanchard. Blanchard discovered that Mr. Bird had been settled illegally, and, after great trouble, the Orthodox party triumphed, Mr. Bird's settlement was set aside, and he soon after left the town, probably in 1751.
In 1749, the town voted " to hire a school for eight
22 Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville.
months." One teacher only was to be employed, and the school to be kept in four different places alternate- ly. Further record of schools, we have not, until 1761. In 1775 the town was divided into four school districts. From 1775 to 1790, about $100 was raised annually for the support of schools.
Between 1752 and 1756, died John Lovewell, at the great age of one hundred and twenty years. No one in New Hampshire has ever exceeded this age. Of his carly history little is known. A tradition in his family states, that he was an ensign in the army of Cromwell, and left England on account of the restora- tion of Charles II. in 1660. As early as 1700, it is said, that he was often spared by the Indians, as the French governor allowed no bounty on white haired scalps .- On the north side of Salinon brook, by the road side near Miss Alld's house, and just above the bridge, the cellar of his house may still be seen. There, for a long time, even when very much advanced in years, he kept a small store and mill. He must have been extremely vigorous, for as late as 1745, when more than a hundred years old, he was very constant in his attendance upon church, and after 1752 used to chase the boys from his orchard with his cane. It is proper to state that there are grounds for doubting the accu- racy of the age above mentioned. That he lived to a very great age there can be no doubt. His children were, John (of Pequawkett memory,) Hannalı, "Zac- cheus (a colonel in the army) and Jonathan.
In 1754, a new meeting-house was built opposite the present tavern stand owned by Silas Gibson, about two miles below this village. From this time until 1759 there was constant wrangling, and an Ec- clesiastical Council was called to settle the difficul- ties. After much trouble a union was effected between the two societies. Jonathan Lovewell purchased the house in which Mr. Bird had preached, moved it, and converted it into a dwelling-house, now occupied by Jesse Bowers, Esq.
For u period of twenty years the town was with-
Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville. 23
out an ordained minister. Finally, Rev. Joseph Kid- der was settled March 18, 1767. In 1796, the civil connection between the town and Mr. K. ceased, but he continued to preach to his society until his death, September 6, 1818. Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry was ordained as his colleague, November 3, 1813, but was dismissed in April, 1819.
From the commencement of the Revolution to the end of the cighteenth century, we find nothing in the history of the town that we deem important to name in this abstract. Mr. Fox has chronicled, how- ever, much valuable information relative to the activ- ity of several of the distinguished citizens of the town, in those events which are the most prominent, the most important, and the most interesting in the annals of our country. We must remark the fact, that in May, 1775, nearly one in every five of the citizens of New Hampshire, able to bear arms, were in the army of the Revolution, while "Old Dunsta- ble" sent nearly one half of her able bodied inhabitants to Bunker's Hill, under Capt. William Walker. At this battle none were killed of Capt. W.'s company, and but two wounded.
Until the year 1800, the village of Dunstable was at the "Harbor." Before 1803, a few houses had been erected near the banks of the Nashua, on the north side, through the influence of Robert Fletcher, Esq., who confidently predicted that it would be a place of good business. There was no building between the river and Salmon brook, the whole plain being one unbroken forest. At that time, too, the hill, between Messrs. Kendrick and Tuttle's store and the river, was the worst one on the stage route between Amherst and Boston.
The 4th July, 1803, may be considered as the birth day of Nashua. On that day was launched the first canal boat, for the regular transportation of goods, ever built in this vicinity. It was built by Mr. Fletcher. The opening of a rail-road, at the present day, is not of more importance than was considered
!
24 Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville.
the launching of the canal boat at that time. There was a great gathering of the people, and great were the rejoicings. Daniel Abbot, Esq. delivered an oration, the boat was christened the "Nashua," and the village, which had, until then, been called " In- dian Head," received the name of NASHUA VILLAGE.
In 1803, the post office was established, and Gen. Noah Lovewell appointed postmaster.
In 1812, was built the " Old South Meeting-house," and dedicated November 4th, on which occasion the sermon was preached by Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
In 1817, a dam was thrown across Nashua river, a few rods above Main street, and a grist mill was erected on one end of it by Dea. James Patterson, and a saw mill at the other, by Willard Marshall. Some time after, another dam was built, where the dam of the Jackson Company now stands, and a mill erected.
In 1820, when the census was taken, there were returned from Nashua, 1 meeting-house, 9 school districts and houses, 6 taverns, 5 stores, 3 saw mills, 3 grist mills, 1 clothing mill, 1 carding machine, 2 bark mills, 3 tanneries.
In 1820, public attention was turned towards man- ufactures. Many years previous, Judge Tyng, of Tyngsborough, in a conversation with George Sulli- van, predicted that the valley of the Merrimac would be a great manufacturing region, and pointed out the locations at Lowell, Nashua and Amoskeag. The prophecy has become history. An account of the rise and progress of manufactures in Nashua will be found in the sketches of the corporations.
Taylor's Falls Bridge was built in 1826. It was the first bridge that was built, crossing the Merri- mac between Lowell and Amoskeag. It was doomed a hazardous investment by many, but it has realized the most sanguine expectations of its projectors.
January 1, 1837, Dunstable changed its name to Nashua.
Annals of Dunstable, Nashua and Nashville. 25
June 23, 1842, Nashua was divided into the towns of Nashua and Nashville. [Sec act of division.]
We close this sketch with an extract from the manuscript to which we are indebted for the foregoing information.
Speaking of the spot on which now stand the vil- lages of Nashua and Nashville, at the commence- ment of the present century, Mr. F. says, " The whole plain upon which the village stands, was covered with its native growth of pines, and was considered gen- erally as of very little value. 'Dunstable plains' were often the subject of merriment and seemed to some, the embodiment of the idea of the poverty of the soil. It is said that some wicked wag in our Le- gislature once undertook to disparage our soil, de- claring that 'it would not support one chipping squir- rel to the acre,' but this, as well as the story that 'a grasshopper was once seen perched upon the top of a dry mullen stalk, with the tears rolling down his cheeks, looking in vain to discover one stalk of green grass,' is a grievous slander and device of the ene- my."
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26
POPULATION
or DUNSTABLE AND NASHUA.
- [FROM MANUSCRIPT OF CHAS. J. FOX.]
1680
30 families, or about 120 inhabitants.
1701
25
180
1711
13
86
250 6
1756 about 100 rateable polls or
450*
1767
262 males 258 females
520
1775
376
329
705
1783
578+
1790
632
66
1800
862
1810
1,049
66
1820
1,142
66
1830
2,417
1836 2,105 males 2,960 females, 5,065
1837 2,138
3,472
5,610
1838 2,167
3,524
5,691
66
1810 2,285
3,675 66
5,960
1840 August, U. S. Census
6,054
60
1730
50
* This included a part of Hollis. Of these rateable polls " not abovo forty woro able to boar town charges." So says a petition of that day.
t In 1783 there were in Dunstable 88 dwelling-houses and 74 barng.
AN ACT TO CONSTITUTE THE TOWN OF NASHVILLE.
SECTION 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That all that part of the town of Nashua, in the county of Hills- borough, lying westerly and northerly of a line com- mencing upon the Nashua river at the east line of Hollis and running thence down said river to the bridge erected over said river by the Nashua and Lowell Rail-Road Company, thence from the south- west corner of said bridge, castwardly by said Rail- Road to the old Ferry Road so called, thence by said last mentioned road to the Merrimack River, be, and the same is severed from the town of Nashua and made a body politic and corporate, by the name of Nashville.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all real and personal property including all debts, claims, and de- mands of every kind now owned by and due to the town of Nashna, except the site and materials pur- chased by said town for the erection of a Town House, and which were not the property of said town prior to April last, all school and other funds owned by said town and the public money deposited with said town of Nashua, shall be divided between said towns in the proportion of one dollar to Nashville and one dollar and thirty-seven cents to Nashua, and if said towns cannot agree upon the division of any of such property, IIon. Titus Brown of Francestown, Hon. Simcon P. Colby of Weare, and John Porter, Esq. of Derry, upon the request of either town, may make di- vision of the same. When in their opinion any of
28 An Act to Constitute the Town of Nashville.
said property cannot be divided without loss or detri- ment, they may assign the whole or any part thereof to the town wherein it lies, and may order said town to pay over such sum of money to the other as in their opinion is equitable, according to the foregoing pro- portion, and may fix the time of payment.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That all taxes as- sessed since March last upon the polls and estates of those residing within the limits of said Nashville, and all non-resident taxes assessed within any school district within said Nashville, and upon all corporate property lying within said limits, shall be collected by the collector to whom the same has been commit- ted for that purpose, and, after deducting therefrom the State and County taxes, and such sums as have been expended for schools and the repair of roads within the limits of said Nashville, shall be by him paid over to the town of Nashville in the same way and manner in which he is directed to pay over the same to said Nashua ; and the Treasurer of said Nash- ville, when chosen and qualified, shall have the same power to issue an extent against sucli collector for neglect to comply with the provisions of this act that he would have if such collector had been chosen by said town of Nashville.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That all debts and liabilities heretofore incurred by said town of Nashua, and all sums which may be recovered on any process against said town or to which said town is a party in any court, and the municipal expenses of said town, since the tenth of March last, shall be paid by said towns in the same proportions in which the property was divided, excepting the liabilities and expenses incurred by the purchase of a site and materials for a Town House, which shall all be paid for and owned by said Nashua alone.
SEc. 5. Be it further enacted, 'That all paupers who have a settlement in said Nashua shall be chargeable to the town within whose limits such paupers last re- sided while gaining such settlement.
An Act to Constitute the Town of Nashville. 29
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That in all assess- ments of State and County taxes, until the Legisla- ture shall otherwise order, the town of Nashville shall pay eleven dollars and ninety-six cents and the town of Nashua shall pay sixteen dollars and ninety-four cents of every thousand dollars, and the State and County Treasurers shall issue their respective war- rants accordingly.
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That Charles F. Gove, William Boardman, and Charles J. Fox, or any two of them, may call the first meeting of said town of Nashville, by posting up a warrant for that pur- pose as the law directs, at which meeting either of said persons may preside until a moderator be cho- sen, and at such inceting all necessary town officers may be chosen.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the town of Nashville shall form a part of Counsellor district numbered three, and of Senatorial District numbered seven, and the militia thereof shall belong to the Fifth Regiment. [Approved June 23, 1842.]
3*
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Manufacturing Corporations.
We have said that the public attention towards Manufactures, in this vicinity, was excited soon after 1820. The idea that first suggested itself was that of building mills at Mine Falls. In 1822, it was decided that it would be better to bring the water down by a canal to the village, and accordingly a few individuals, who had conceived the idea, purchased the greater portion of the lands in and around the village, and up to the Falls, and were incorporated in June, 1823, by the name of the Nashua Manufac- turing Company, with a capital of one million of dol- lars. The capital stock was fixed by the original grantees at $300,000, divided into shares of $1,000 each. Of these, Augustus Peabody took 75 shares, Daniel Webster 60 shares, Daniel Abbot 30 shares, Joseph, Ezekiel and Alfred Greeley 30 shares, and Benj. F. French 30 shares. In 1824, most of the stock having been taken up, the works were com- menced. The dam at Mine Falls was built, and the excavation of the canal begun, under the superin- tendence of Col. James F. Baldwin, of Boston. This canal is three miles long, fifty feet wide, and six feet deep. Head and fall, thirty-five feet. Ira Gay, Esq. was engaged as machinist, and Col. William Board- man as wheelwright and engineer. Mill No. 1 was erected and went into partial operation in 1825, and into full operation in 1826. Mill No. 2 was com- pleted in 1828, and Mill No. 3 in 1836.
In December, 1824, a charter was obtained by the Nashua Manufacturing Company, for building a ca- nal to connect the Nashua and Merrimac rivers. It was built in 1825, and opened for the transportation
31
Manufacturing Corporations.
of merchandise in the spring of 1826. The locks are of solid stone, 29 feet high, each lock being ten feet wide and eighty-two feet long. They were built under the superintendence of Col. Baldwin, and cost $20,000. The canal cost a further sum of $10,000.
In May, 1825, a portion of the lower water privi- lege, now occupied by the Jackson Company, was sold by the Nashua Company to Charles C. Haven and others, who were incorporated by the name of "Indian Head Company," for the purpose of erecting woollen factories. Their works were commenced immediately, and went into operation in 1826, under the agency of Mr. Haven. The Indian Head Com- pany survived but two or three years, and sold the whole property to a new company, incorporated in 1830, by the name of the "Jackson Company." Since that time cotton goods alone have been manu- factured by the new company.
NASHUA MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Incorporated June, 1823. : : : Capital, $900,000. Agent-THOMAS W. GILLIS. Clerk-JOHN A. BALDWIN.
Three cotton mills, each 155 feet long and 45 feet wide. Two of five and one of six stories high.
No. 1 mill -- 6,528 spindles and 220 looms-No. 14 shirtings and drills.
No. 2 mill-10,560 spindles and 300 looms-No. 22 printing cloths and jeans.
No. 3 mill-6,144 spindles and 190 looms-No 14 sheetings.
600 female operatives-90 male do.
Manufacture 8,500,000 yards cloth per annum.
Use 6,000 bales cotton, weighing 2,600,000 pounds, per annum.
Use 110,000 pounds starch, 7,000 gallons sperm oil, 4,500 pounds leather, and 600 cords hard and pine wood, annually.
32
Manufacturing Corporations.
Canal 3 miles long, 50 feet wide, 6 feet deep, head and fall 35 feet. 46 tenements for overseers, board- ing-houses, &c.
2 brick houses for agent and clerk.
Large machine shop, 150 feet long and 40 feet wide, occupied by shuttle and bobbin makers, lock- smiths, gunsmiths, manufacturers of axes, hoes and ploughs, and by artisans in other branches.
A Savings Institution is connected with this com- pany, instituted in 1826, intended originally for the benefit of those in the company's employ, but now is open for the deposites of any one residing in the town. Five per cent. interest is allowed.
JACKSON COMPANY.
Incorporated July 1, 1830. : : Capital, $600,000. Agent-EDMUND PARKER. Clerk-JAMES A. DUPEE.
Mill No. 1 is 154 feet long and 48 feet wide, and contains 6,400 spindles and 198 looms, for the manu- facture of No. 14 sheetings, 37 and 46 inches wide.
Mill No. 2 is 150 feet long and 48 feet wide, and contains 5,376 spindles and 183 looms, for the manu- facture of No. 14 sheetings 37 inches wide, and shirtings 30 inches wide.
350 female operatives-00 male do.
Manufacture annually about 5,000,000 yards of cloth, and use 2,000,000 pounds cotton.
Use 62,000 pounds starch, 4,000 gallons sperm oil, 3,500 pounds leather, and 600 cords wood, per annum.
37 tenements, for agent, clerk, overseers, board- ing-houses, &c.
A saw mill, grist mill, and a large shop occupied by housewrights, &c., also belong to this company.
A Savings Institution, for the exclusive benefit of the operatives in their employment, is connected with the company.
Nashua and Lowell Rail-Road Corporation. 33
Rail Road Corporations.
NASHUA AND LOWELL RAIL ROAD COR- PORATION.
President-Daniel Abbot.
Treasurer-Charles J. Fox.
Clerk pro tempore-Onslow Stearns.
Directors-Daniel Abbot of Nashville, Jesse Bow- ers of Nashua, Charles H. Atherton of Amherst, Henry Upham and Henry Timmins of Boston.
Superintendent-Onslow Stearns.
Freight Master-E. T. Merrill.
'Conductors-Nathaniel P. Kimball and James N. Elkins.
Ticket Seller-Abraham Mitchell.
The project of extending the Lowell Rail-Road to Nashua was first contemplated in the spring of 1835. A charter for this purpose was granted by the Legis- ture of New Ilampshire, June 23, 1835, and by the Legislature of Massachusetts, April 16, 1836. In May, 1837, the work was commenced under the di- rection of Uriah A. Boyden, Esq. as Engineer. Oc- tober 8, 1838, the road was first opened for the trans- portation of passengers, as far as the Great Elm near Judge Parker's house, where a temporary depot was erected. December 23, 1838, the bridge across the Nashua and the depot near Main street were comple- ted, and the cars, for the first time, came up to the present terminus. Its length is fourteen miles 1429 feet, and its total cost about $380,000, being about $27,000 per mile including fixtures and apparatus.
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