USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > Haverhill's historic highlights > Part 13
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THE FORT WENTWORTH MYSTERY
After Rev. John Williams returned from Canada where he was taken as a captive following the Deerfield Massacre (1704), he wrote a book, "The Redeemed Captive." This was an account of his capture and trip up the Con- necticut River to Canada, and the two years he was held as a hostage, first by Indians and later by French authorities. So far as is known this was the first time the area (Newbury, Vermont and Haverhill, New Hampshire) was de- scribed as "Cowass" in a written document.
Five years later (1709) Thomas Baker was captured in another raid on Deerfield, Mass. and taken up the Connecticut River to Canada. In 1710 Baker was ransomed and returned to his home via the Connecticut River route. In 1711 he led a group to the "Coos Intervals" looking for Indians. He went up the Oliverian and followed a small stream through Warren, Went- worth, Rumney, and Plymouth (modern names) which later became known as Baker River. As proof of the trip, Massachusetts voted to pay him in 1712 for Indian scalps taken on his trip to Coos and Merrimack River.
The warfare between France and England prevented any settlement of the area for over 40 years. Charlestown (known as No. 4) was the northern outpost. It is said that a few courageous hunters came up the Connecticut River from No. 4 as far as the mouth of the Ammonoosuc in 1751. It is cer- tain that John Stark (later famous General John Stark) and one Eastman were captured by Indians near Rumney and brought to the Connecticut River via the Oliverian and then to Canada (1752). They were ransomed and re- turned over the same route in the fall of 1752.
The very next year (1753) Governor Wentworth sent a company of 16 men in command of Captain Zacceus Lovewell from Concord (Rumford) to the Coos Region with Stark as a guide. They stayed only one night (March
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17) near the Connecticut River and returned to Concord. This established a well marked trail from Concord to Coos.
In 1754, Governor Wentworth sent Captain Peter Powers with a small party to explore the Coos and Upper Coos to find out what forts, if any, the French and Indians had in the area. Powers left Concord June 15, 1754, came over the trail marked by John Stark the year before to Coos, and then he continued north to a point above Lancaster. He returned along the Con- necticut River and reported that they camped at the mouth of the Wells River on July 5. The next day they crossed the Connecticut River at the Ox-bow and returned to Connecticut via the route so well known to them. Obviously, they built no fort at Groveton or Woodsville as they had traveled from Con- cord to above Lancaster and then back to Wells River in only 20 days.
Rogers' Rangers made their attack on the St. Francis Indians in the fall of 1759. He selected the mouth of the Ammonoosuc River as a place to ren- dezvous. He asked General Amherst to send supplies up the Connecticut River to Coos. Lt. Stevens, who was to bring them up the river from No. 4, had specific orders mentioning the Wells River opposite the mouth of the Am- monoosuc.
Kenneth Roberts, in his book "Northwest Passage," described the Rogers' Rangers trip to Canada (1759) and their return via the Connecticut River. He concluded that the supplies were to be ready for Rogers at Lower Coos at the mouth of the Ammonoosuc River. He completely discounted any possi- bility that the meeting was near Groveton. Also, Rogers himself clearly identifies the meeting place as "Amonsook River at the end of Cohase Inter- vales in the Connecticut River and about 60 miles from No. 4."
It must be obvious that had there been any Fort Wentworth at "Upper Coos," it would have been mentioned by Captain Powers or Major Robert Rogers in their accurate and detailed reports. Colonel Potter, in his "Mili- tary History of New Hampshire from 1623 to 1861," apparently decided in error that "Coos Meadows" was "Upper Coos" and that since Governor Went- worth had intended to build a fort at the "Upper Coos," he must have done it although the legislature never authorized it. Thus, the mysterious Fort Wentworth was never built at the Upper Coos, and the crude shelter which the Rangers used in 1759 can scarcely merit the name "Fort Wentworth."
For nearly 100 years there have been those who argue that a Fort Went- worth once existed in the "Upper Coos" region. Apparently, it was never mentioned by any of the early explorers, nor was it shown in the early maps. This is not designed to revive the old argument but merely to point up the known facts and the uncertainty of the so-called Fort Wentworth. The June 1962 issue, Volume XVII, of the New Hampshire Historical Society treated
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this subject quite thoroughly, and its conclusion seemed to be simply that Fort Wentworth is still a mystery.
SOME HISTORIC SPOTS
1. Timothy Bedel-grave marker-Ladd Street Cemetery-1787. One of First Settlers.
2. Haverhill Common. Col. Johnston gave it and helped clear it.
3. Ox-bow. First clearing on Connecticut River at Coos.
4. Powder House Hill. Josiah Burnham hanging-1806.
5. Howard Island. Josiah Howard died there 99 years old in Haverhill (1762-1839).
6. Bliss Tavern. Former home of Mrs. Sullivan.
7. John Hazen House Location on Ox-bow meadow (1765 to about 1930).
8. Captain Timothy Barron grave and marker in Horse Meadow Ceme- tery, probably first to be buried there (1797).
9. First Court House and Jail. Marker south of Green's Store-North Haverhill.
10. Col. Johnston House. Former home of Jesse R. Squires. Marker set 1925.
11. Coos Turnpike, Haverhill to Warren-1807. Marker at west end of Court Street.
12. Ladd Street Bell. First in North Country. Bought and installed in 1802. First in Ladd St. Church, later in school house, now K. of P. Hall.
13. Briar Hill School House. One of oldest in town. Location marked in 1935.
14. Gen. Moses Dow Farm (now owned by heirs of late U. S. Senator Henry W. Keyes).
15. Capt. Ebeneezar Mackintosh-in Boston Tea Party-gravestone in Horse Meadow Cemetery, residence East side of North Haverhill St. Marker.
16. South Newbury (Bedel) Bridge-1866.
17. Woodsville to Bath-Covered Bridge-1829.
18. Soldiers' Monument. North Haverhill for soldiers of Haverhill in Revolutionary War, Civil War and Spanish War, erected in 1912 for 150th anniversary of first settlement at that point. See picture on page 141.
19. Jeremy Ladd Cross, monument on grave in Ladd St. Cemetery (fa- mous Mason).
20. Tablet on Woodsville Court House for all Haverhill soldiers (152) who served in World War I.
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HAVERHILL'S HIGH HOPES
To foretell the future is always a pleasant pastime! What changes will occur in the next century may far exceed even a vivid imagination of today. If these predictions appear like dreams of events quite unlikely to take place, it must be recognized that they are not beyond the realm of possibilities. Who can say these dreams will not come true!
Haverhill is a large town with fertile fields which have made it one of the leading agricultural areas of the state. It is fortunate in having nearly seven miles of its western boundary on the never failing water supply of the Connecticut River. This river is well controlled by storage dams and in the foreseeable future will be freed of all pollution, which will make the area even more valuable and desirable.
Also, the town has an ideal geographic location. Nature has done much to make it an area with great possibilities for development. The plains, which border the Connecticut Valley farms almost all the way from the southern boundary of the town of Bath to the Piermont north line, may well become the location of some large industrial plants. The hills may later be found to contain valuable minerals, stones, and metals, some of which have no known value at this time.
Methods of transportation are changingly rapidly. It may be anticipated that railroads will only carry freight of the long haul variety, perhaps within the next generation. To replace the passenger service will be automobiles driven by electric power that they generate for themselves. Also, the airplane will be so completely transformed that present models will appear as anti- quated as Model T Fords are today.
Communication will be so advanced that telephones will be as outmoded as Indian smoke signals now are. It will then be possible to converse with friends at great distances without any wires and, by new television technique, the parties will be clearly visible to each other.
Super highways will be commonplace. It will be possible to drive from Haverhill to Montreal, Boston, New York, or Portland, Oregon in an incred- ibly short period of time. Left turns will be completely eliminated. All glare from headlights will be overcome, and they will penetrate fog. Speed on these highways will be within the limit of not less than 90 and not over 150 miles per hour.
Within a century all watches will run on tiny electric batteries. Homes
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and offices will be heated by the sun's rays. Most automobiles will be equipped to travel on water as easily as on land.
Haverhill's present little used airport will be one of the most active spots in town by 2063. Other spots used by vertical landing aircraft will be the spacious common at Haverhill Corner, the Community Field at Woodsville, and many private spots.
The population explosion and the desire to live outside the cities but within commuting distance will greatly increase the local population. New industries will provide employment for all who wish it. The total population will exceed 25,000, composed of at least 50% retired people, many of whom will be over 125 years old.
In less than 100 years from now, all mail and parcel post will be delivered by air. Atomic energy will furnish all electricity for all purposes. Houses, public buildings, and factories will be heated by atomic energy. A capsule no larger than a small bean will furnish the energy needed to heat a one family home for a year.
All television sets will pick up at least 100 channels and all programs will be in color. Programs from every part of the world via Telstar will come through just as clear as they now do from nearby local stations.
All homes will be air-conditioned. They will have a flat roof on which private planes can make vertical landings.
The future of Haverhill will be even more glorious than its past.
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HAVERHILL (1763)
The Haverhill of Hazen and Howard Had all the same hills of today ; The river was winding seaward, No dams obstructed its way. The valley was charming and quiet, Green covered with stately pine.
At night the same moon and stars, And daily the same sun would shine. The river with fish abounding, The forest a surfeit of game.
Two centuries later this is Unfortunately not the same.
Then Red Men roamed the region; They traveled a well marked trail.
Some times by canoe on the river, But never by motor or rail. Their captives were brought here and rested, On route to the North from a raid, Where Stark and Baker and others Were held 'til a ransom was paid. Four heroes returned from a victory At Montreal late in the Fall. The Indian trail led to Coos, Where they made a fortunate call.
At home, they were given a charter, With conditions written so clear, Into the wild North they must go To settle and pioneer. Thus in the spring of sixty-three Did HAVERHILL have its birth.
Thanks to these men of courage Who could foresee its worth. Each passing year makes more clear Our duty to emblazon In gold the names we should revere, As Stark, Bedel and Hazen.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
"H. K."-the Author
3
Foreword
4
A Word from the Author
5
A Brief Chronology
6
Fifty-five Firsts
7
Charter
9
The Deerfield Massacre
12
Captain Benjamin Wright
14
Fall of Montreal
17
Early White Visitors
19
John Stark and Haverhill
21
Johnson, Pattie and Webb
23
Pages and Pages
25
Haverhill Indian Names and Lore
29
Colonel Joshua Howard
31
Five Haverhills
33
Maj. Uriah Stone
35
"Horse Meadow"
36
Hazen the Founder
37
Timothy and Moody Bedel
41
Captain Ebenezer Mackintosh-"The Rioter"
44
Colonel Charles Johnston
48
Colonel John Hurd
50
Three "Powers"
54
Haverhill-Piermont Boundary Dispute
58
James Woodward
60
Dartmouth at Haverhill 63
The County Seat
66
Early Connecticut River Navigation
70
137
Haverhill during the American Revolution
The Coos Turnpike
Who Said Canals?
Powder House Hill
The Ladd Street Bell (1802)
Three Famous Farms
The Public Hanging of Josiah Burnham (1806)
Banking in the Coos Region (1804)
The Big Cucumber Story
The Governor's Farm
Haverhill's Only Congressman (1841-1845)
Woods-ville
Haverhill Newspapers (1799)
101
Haverhill's Many Bridges
103
200 Years Ago
109
National Bank of Newbury (1833-1963)
112
Travel, Trails, and Trials
113
Haverhill-Newbury
115
The Railroad Comes to Town (1853)
117
Twenty School Districts
121
Early Church Difficulties
123
Masonry in Haverhill
125
First Church in Woodsville
126
Six Portals to Eternal Rest
129
The Fort Wentworth Mystery
131
Some Historic Spots
133
Haverhill's High Hopes
134
Haverhill (1763)
136
94 97 98
73 76 81 83 85 87 89 91 93
138
OLD SAYINGS*
Beggars must not be choosers.
Build your cage before you catch the bird.
Always goes butter side down.
Saturday night brings all rogues home.
It was said, if any thing set well, that it set like a duck's foot in the mud.
The bird that can sing and won't sing, must be made to sing.
They who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
A short horse is soon curried.
By his chips a workman is known.
If you sing before you eat, you will cry before you sleep.
Too late to whet the sword when the trumpet sounds to draw it.
If anyone is very forgetful, they say, "Can't remember from hall door to the latch."
They say the Devil is always nigh when you are talking about him. Necessity is the mother of invention.
He that will not stoop for a pin, will have to stoop for a meaner thing. Busy as a bee in a tar bucket.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Where there is smoke there must be some fire.
Save at the spigot and waste at the bung.
Straws show which way the wind blows.
Look ere you leap.
All's fish that cometh to the net.
Time tries the truth in everything.
Kill two birds with one stone.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Time or tide wait for no man.
Hunger is the best sauce.
You must summer and winter one before you can know them.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Like locking up the stable after the horse is stolen.
*These sayings are taken from the pamphlet Old Sayings, Old Signs, and Riddles or Conundrums which was compiled by Miss Eliza Cross of Haverhill, New Hampshire in her ninety-sixth year.
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The shoe is on the other foot now.
Out of the frying pan into the fire.
The least said the soonest mended.
Ask me no questions, and I will tell you no lies.
When doing any thing not thoroughly, would say, "Give it a slick or promise."
They say if you work between sunset and dark, you are working for a papered room.
Fingers were made before knives and forks, when one takes anything in his fingers.
If you dream of the dead, you will hear from the living.
It is said, when you manage your own affairs, that you paddle your own canoe.
All the fun in the world comes in the getting ready.
It is a poor leg that can't shake its own stocking.
If you go out at one door and go in at another, you bring a stranger. All is fair in politics.
You must look two ways for Sunday.
Make the head save the heels.
Don't have too many irons in the fire.
One white foot, buy him; two white feet, try him; three white feet, deny him; four white feet and a white nose, take off his hide and throw him to the crows.
Self-praise goes but little ways, and praise to the face is open disgrace. That is where the shoe pinches.
It is always well to find out whether it is bread or a stone, before you bite. Like a jewel in a swine's snout.
A new broom sweeps clean.
Well begun is half done.
A poor workman complains of his tools.
A stitch in time saves nine.
No great loss without some small gain.
If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.
Good fences make good neighbors. First come, first served.
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Soldiers' Monument in North Haverhill
141
EARLY SETTLERS
These early settlers of Haverhill came in the year
1761
Michael Johnston-John Pettie-Abraham Webb.
1762
John Hazen-Joshua Howard-Thomas Johnson-Joshua Poole-John Page-Simon Stevens-Jassiel Harriman-Uriah Morse.
1763
Nathaniel Merrill-James Bailey-Maxi Haseltine-John Taplin-Eli- sha Locke - Jonathan Sanders - Uriah Stone - James Woodward - Jacob Kent.
1764
Jonathan Elkins-Edward Bayley-James Abbott-Jonathan Goodwin -Joshua Hayward-Timothy Bedel.
1765
Ezekiel Ladd and Six Brothers-Joseph Hutchins-Asa Bailey-Richard Young-Simeon Goodwin-William Eastman.
1766
Reuben Young
1767
Timothy Barron-John Mills-Ebenezer Rice-John Way-Nathaniel Weston.
1768
John Hunt-Asa Porter-Andrew Crocker-Charles Johnston-Ephrain Wilson-Joseph Haines.
1769
James Corliss-Jonathan Ring-John Chase-John Hew. 1770
Thomas Simpson-Amos Kimball-Leal Crocker.
Charles Bailey-Daniel Wood. 1771
1772
Luther Richardson-Stephen Smith-Samuel Hall-Daniel Stevens- Jonathan Hale.
1773
Ebenezer Sanborn-Bryan Kay.
1774
Ebenezer Mackintosh.
This is but a partial list of the pioneers who came to Haverhill from Hav- erhill, Mass., and southern N.H. A total population of 387 were known to live here in 1774 when John Hazen died.
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CHARTER NIGHT PROGRAM
Harold K. Davison, Chairman, Haverhill Bicentennial Committee, Presiding
1. Selection McLure's Student Band
2. Prayer Rev. Myron Wilder, Newbury, Vt.
3. Salute to flag, led by A descendant of Jacob Bayley and A descendant of John Hazen.
4. America the Beautiful by Audience and Chorus led by Mary Rowe
5. Introduction of Newbury Bicentennial Committee.
6. Messages read by Chairman, Walter Jock.
7. "Other Times, Other Ways." Mary Wells Ross
8. Choral Selection Mary Rowe's Chorus
9. Introduction of Haverhill Bicentennial Committee.
10. Messages read by Chairman Davison.
11. Selection McLure's Student Band
12. "1763 a Decisive Year in American History." J. Duane Squires
13. Choral Selection Mary Rowe's Chorus
14. Announcements.
15. Star Spangled Banner by Band, Chorus and Audience
16. Benediction Rev. Ralph Bruce, Woodsville, N. H.
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The HF Group Indiana Plant 068984 2 3 00
9/5/2006
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