USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > Historical sketch of the town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her inhabitants from the first settlement of the territory now within the limits of the town in 1764-1897 > Part 7
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April, 1812, Daniel Ball, a native of Holden, Mass., came from Marlborough, where he settled in 1786, and bought of Simeon Brooks the Abraham Brooks farm on West Hill, afterwards owned by Stephen Harris. He was a farmer and resided there until his death.
Luke Harris, son of Christopher, married and moved into the house with his father, about this time, living there a few years when he moved into the Whipple house. He bought the farm on which Josiah Lawrence first settled, in 1818, and lived there about six years, selling out to William Lawrence and moving to the Thomas Tolman house. In 1825, he built a house for Salmon Whittemore. A few years after he bought the pail mill built by Moses Curtis and commenced making pails. Shortly after this he bought the house built by Jonathan B. French and lived there until 1836, when he sold the pail shop to Charles Coolidge, and his house to Nathan Winch, and built the house now owned by E. P. Kimball. This year he bought of Elijah Harrington the gristmill and water privilege, which is the site now occupied by the old blanket mill. The next year he took the gristmill down
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and commenced immediately to build a factory, which was completed the following year, and used to manufacture woolen cloth. He moved to Sterling, Mass., in 1841, and after residing there five years he went to Richmond; and in 1858, he moved to Nelson, where he died.
Early in the spring of 1812, Constant Weaver came with his family from the state of Rhode Island, and bought the tavern of Josiah Morse. He kept the tavern about two years, when he sold it to Elnathan Gorham and returned to Rhode Island. During this time he constructed a pottery near the tavern, which was the first establish- ment of the kind in town. Several unsuccessful attempts to find clay, of a suitable quality for manufacturing ware, were made before the right material was obtained, which was found near what is now the brick yard, and where the requisite supply was obtained. Mr. Weaver did little work himself, but committed the management of the pottery to his son, who did not make a success of it and consequently but little was accomplished.
Sylvester P. Flint came here this year from Fitchburg and bought the Ball tavern and farm of one Fuller, who obtained them of Christopher Harris. He did not adver- tise to keep a public house, although he occasionally entertained travelers who had previously been accustomed to stop there. It is quite probable that he was con- siderable of a business man, as he was chosen one of the selectmen of the town in the years 1815, 1816 and 1818, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1818. He moved to Keene in 1821.
Elnathan Gorham was a clothier by trade and was settled in Chesterfield, but being desirous of changing his business he came here and bought the tavern of Weaver, continuing the public house in which he did an active business for several years. He removed to Ohio in 1820,
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SETTLERS FROM 1800 TO 1815.
where he died Sept. 20, 1824. He was a very enterprising and public spirited man, and while here he took a deep interest in the prosperity of the town.
In October of this year, Pelatiah Hodgkins, son of Hezekiah, married and settled on the home farm, where he always resided.
In 1815, Nathan Newell, son of Jacob Newell, Jr., built part of the house now occupied by E. P. Kimball. He had married and resided some time previous in what was the Warren store. He was a blacksmith by trade, and his shop stood where Mrs. C. W. Brown's stable now stands. In 1818, he sold this house to William Stearns and moved into the house then owned by Solomon Goddard, where he lived about one year, when he moved to Richmond.
This year, Lyman Wright bought the Warren stand and the Winch tanyard of David White and Joshua Har- rington, who had obtained them of Warren at the time he left town. He was a native of Fitzwilliam, and learned the trade of tanner and currier in Templeton. He soon built a new tannery, which stood nearly over the stream and a little lower down than the Silsby tannery. Some years after he moved this building a few feet up the stream, and towards the north, putting an addition on the east end, which was the one burned a few years since. While he was building his tannery and making the neces- sary arrangements for housekeeping, he boarded with Col. Farrar, but after his marriage he lived in what was the Warren tavern, which was not changed much until 1841, when he covered the frame with brick walls and remod- eled the inside. The store which had been attached to the north end of the tavern he removed around to the south and made it into a dwelling house. In 1836 he built the sawmill, afterwards owned by Charles Carpenter,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and which stood near the site of the present Troy Blanket Mills, and also the house owned by Carpenter. At this time the only road to the premises was a common footpath; the road by the mill and across the pond to the Jaffrey road was not laid out until about 1850. Col. Wright was an active and enterprising man, and held various offices, both civil and military, and was much esteemed by his fellow eitizens.
In December of this year, Stephen Farrar, third son of George, married and settled on the farm now owned by Walter Elliot. The buildings on the farm were constructed for him by his father, and he resided there until March 15, 1831, when he exchanged farms with Timothy Kendall, and came to the village to live, on the farm now owned by Mrs. A. W. Whitcomb.
Calvin Davis of Hancock came here this year and built a house on the site now occupied by the one owned by the Troy Blanket Mills, and known as the Chapman house. The north room on the first floor was finished for a store; the remainder of the building was used as a tenement. Mr. Davis traded here until 1820, when having become somewhat embarassed in his business he sold his location to-Holbrook from Keene, who continued the store.
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
AN ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR .- BENJAMIN TOLMAN .- EZEKIEL MIXER .- JACOB NEWELL, JR .- PEARSON NEWELL .- JAMES BREWER .- JOHN FARRAR, JR .- JOSEPH AND WILLIAM FARRAR .- JAMES DEAN .- PETER STARKEY .- THE ASSOCIATION TEST .- CONTINENTAL CURRENCY .- ALARM LIST.
The American Revolution is one of the most interesting events in modern history. In this event, feeble colonies, amidst want, poverty and misfortune, without an army or navy, and without the munitions and implements of war, boldly stepped forth and successfully combated the veteran armies of a powerful and oppressive nation, impelled by the spirit of liberty, and directed by an over- shadowing Providence. It is but proper that we should consider how the inhabitants of what is now the town of Troy stood affected in relation to that contest. On the 19th of April, 1775, when the clarion of war first sounded upon the fields of Lexington and Concord, there were probably not more than twenty-five male inhabitants over twenty-one years of age, within these limits, capable of bearing arms. The region was sparsely populated, and most of these were heads of families, who had but recently settled upon this wild land; and if they had been ever so much inclined to exchange the field for the camp, they could only have done so at the expense of bringing upon their families almost unendurable suffering, for it was extremely difficult for them to provide food and clothing for themselves and those dependent upon them. There are no stronger claims, of an earthly nature, upon
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HISTORY OF TROY.
man's services than those of the family. Next to these stand those of his country, and justice and humanity forbid that the former should be sacrificed to the latter. Hence the small number of enlistments should not be attributed to a want of patriotism, or to indifference in respect to the great interests of the country, for it would be difficult to find men more ardently attached to liberty and to the leading measures of the day than were the early settlers of this town.
In most instances in which it was possible to make such an arrangement as to protect the family from extreme suffering, the opportunity was gladly improved, and the father laid aside the hoe and the plow, and hurried to the assistance of his countrymen who were struggling amidst scenes of conflict and blood. The following are the names of those who are supposed to have entered the American army from the limits of this town.
Benjamin Tolman,
Pearson Newell,
Jacob Newell, Jr.,
James Brewer,
Ezekiel Mixer,
John Farrar, Jr.,
Peter Starkey.
Benjamin Tolman was the first to respond, and took an active part in the battle which opened the bloody conflict. On receiving information of the threatened inva- sion, he seized his musket and marched for the scene of war. On the way he was joined by others on a like expedition, arriving in season to dispute the progress of the British forces at Lexington. He joined in the pursuit of the enemy on their retreat, and in the battle of Bunker Hill he was in the thickest of the fight. In a hand-to- hand conflict, his gun was wrenched from him by a British soldier; but he stood his ground, defending himself with the weapons Nature had furnished him, until his captain, seeing his condition, quickly brought him another musket,
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REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
with which he continued to fight until ordered to retreat.
Mr. Tolman was paid by the State for articles lost in the battle, as follows: "For shoes 1s .; for stockings 2s .; for trousers 2s. 6d .; for shirts 5s .; for sundries 2s." He was in the army about two and a half years, being on duty at various stations, and receiving a compensation of €4 10s. per month. The last battle in which he was engaged was that of Bennington, where he passed through one of the most trying scenes of his military life. Ezekiel Mixer, his companion in arms, and the one who had been his most intimate friend for two years, received his death- wound while fighting by his side. Mr. Tolman bore him from the field and closed his dying eyes. His term of service having expired, Sept. 25, 1777, he retired from the army and resumed his labors on the farm.
Ezekiel Mixer has been mentioned as being among the first to break the gloom of the wilderness, and to select a site for a habitation within what are now the limits of Troy. He was also among the first to strike for liberty and the suppression of British rule in America. As soon as he learned of the threatening attitude of the British, in company with his friend, Mr. Tolman, he hastened to Lexington, and both there and at Bunker Hill he fought by his side, exhibiting bravery known only among those who are fighting for their lives and homes. He served in the same company and by the side of his friend over two years, sharing with him his pleasures and suffering, and between them an ardent attachment was formed. But the time was hastening when the ties that united them were to be severed forever. In the summer of 1777, Gen. Burgoyne, at the head of a large army, advanced southward from Canada, by way of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, with the view of cooperating with Sir Henry
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Clinton, who at this time held possession of New York, hoping to cut in two the American forces in New England and the Middle States. Burgoyne had scarcely reached the valley of the Hudson, when he found his stores of provision failing, and having received information that the Americans had collected provisions, cattle and horses at Bennington, he sent a detachment under Lieut .- Col.
Baume "to scour the country," to capture these supplies, to test the disposition of the people, and to levy contribu- tions on the towns. With this detachment was a con- siderable body of Hessians, Tories and Indians. Among other things, Baume was directed to bring back to Burgoyne at least 1300 horses. But the British com- mander entirely misapprehended the temper of the people. Intelligence of this expedition reaching the vigilant Stark, he prepared to give the enemy an unwelcomed reception. On the 13th of August, Baume was rapidly advancing upon Bennington, but to his surprise found that Stark's command was contesting his advance and preparing for battle; he halted and formed entrenchments upon the borders of the town. The 15th being rainy, neither party was disposed to commence an engagement. But on the morning of the 16th the storm had passed, and the sun shone brightly upon the distant hills, and Stark deter- mined to attack the enemy in his entrenchments. With his keen eye he scanned the ground, formed his plans, and assigned to each subordinate officer a particular part in the bold and daring enterprise. Stark attacked vigorously in front, exhibiting great sagacity and self-possession. When the troops were drawn out ready for the attack, Gen. Stark addressed them in this laconic speech: "There are the red-coats; we must flog them or Molly Stark sleeps a widow this night. Forward, men,-march!" The order was executed by his men, and they rushed with
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REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
a hurrah for the breastwork, behind which were the Tories, and where was the most desperate resistance. The men rushed to the breastwork to the very muzzles of the guns, many of them sealing it, while others went round to join the flanking parties who had driven the Germans from their entrenchments, and all joined in a hand-to-hand encounter with the Tories, with bayonets and clubbed muskets. After two hours of hard fighting the battle was practically won. In this desperate struggle, Mixer, who had exhibited his accustomed bravery, was observed to fall, and his friend carried him from the field to a rude shelter, where it was found that a musket ball had penetrated his body, causing a mortal wound. He lingered in great agony until morning, when he expired, and Mr. Tolman was left to convey the sad intelligence to his distant relatives.
Jacob Newell, Jr., was the eldest son of Jacob Newell, of whom some account has been given. At what time he entered the army is uncertain. It is quite probable that he was one of the company enlisted in this vicinity by Capt. James Reed of Fitzwilliam, who on the 26th of April, 1775, was commissioned a colonel by the Committee of Safety of Massachusetts, with "beating orders." There is no tradition of his having been in the battle of Bunker Hill, but he joined the expedition that was fitted out against Canada, and was stationed several months at Ticonderoga. He was under St. Clair in his retreat to Fort Edward, and from thence he accompanied the main body of the army to the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk. It is quite probable that he was in the two battles of Stillwater, and that he witnessed the surrender of the British army under Burgoyne. It is said he was in the army five years, but as no records were kept by his family, it is difficult to trace his military operations.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Pearson Newell was the second son of Jacob, and joined the army at Cambridge, in May, 1775. The tradition of the family is that he was not a volunteer, but was drafted soon after his brother enlisted. Whether so or not he was a member of Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb's company and fought under that officer at the battle of Bunker Hill, where it appears that he sustained the loss of his gun, powderhorn and cartridge box, for which he was afterwards allowed by the State £2 14s. Shortly after this he was joined to a small detachment under the command of Lieut. Elijah Clav, but on the 11th of September following, he was ordered with others to report himself again to Capt. Whitcomb, but sudden death prevented his complying with the order.
From the record of the acts of the first settlers of the town it would seem that in every enterprise, calling for an exhibition of pure patriotism, disinterested benevolence and the characteristics of a good citizen, the name of James Brewer stands conspicuous. The records of Marl- borough and Fitzwilliam fully attest to the value of his public services as a citizen, but very little is known concerning his military career. He was in the army about three years, during which time he must not only have witnessed, but participated in many of the scenes which form an interesting period in the history of the country. The battle of Lexington, while it foreshadowed the most fearful results, and spread consternation among the weak and timid, only served to rouse the patriots to the highest pitch of indignation. Expresses were sent to every town, and the call "to arms," resounded from every hill and valley. At that time, Capt. Benjamin Mann, one of the most devoted patriots of Keene, organized a company of volunteers, and in a short time, at the head of a respect- able body of soldiers, he took up the line of march for the
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REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
scene of war. James Brewer was chosen 1st Lieutenant of this company. Capt. Mann was able to be on duty but a small proportion of the time, owing to advanced age and feeble health, consequently in his absence the command devolved upon Lient. Brewer. This company reached Charlestown on the 17th of June, and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill, although engaged late in the action. Lieut. Brewer was paid 6s 11d for the loss of a pair of shoes in the battle. Lieut. Brewer was not an idle man, and his best energies were devoted to the service of his country. He was attached to the New Hampshire brigade under Gen. Sullivan, and was stationed at Winter Hill through most of the summer of 1775. After the arrival of Washington on the second of July, Lieut. Brewer was employed in various movements planned by that illustrious man, and he remained in the vicinity of Boston till some time after its evacuation by the British in March, 1776. He was in Capt. James Lewis' company of Col. Enoch Hale's regiment, which marched from New Hampshire, June 29, 1777, under command of Lieut. Col. Thomas Heald, to reinforce the garrison at Ticonderoga, where he was stationed several months, and it is quite probable that he was in the battle of Stillwater.
John Farrar, Jr., son of Maj. John Farrar, entered the army in 1781, as appears from the following state- ment.
To Mr. Thompson, Secretary for the Honorable Assembly of New Hamp- shire, Greeting :-
Agreeable to the order of Court April 7, 1781 Requiring of us to make a return of our Soldiers in the Continental Army by the 10th of June next, which soldiers' names are as follows viz. John Barker and Joseph Fassett engaged during the War some years ago.
The names of those engaged last March for the term of three years next ensuing the date are as follows viz. Stephen Richardson, John Farrar, Stephen White, Daniel Gould, Jr., and James Foster which have
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HISTORY OF TROY.
been mustered before the Superintendent at Keene soon after their engagements, as will be made to appear to you by his returns.
Joseph Nichols, Levi Brigham, Josiah Hartwell, Selectmen For Fitz- william.
Fitzwilliam, May the 28th, 1781.
FITZWILLIAM.
1 John Barker never joined.
2 Joseph Fassett Deserted 1780.
3 Stephen Richardson Must. Feb. 23, 1781.
4. John Farrar .. Apr. 3, 4
5 Stephen White .. Feb. 27, ..
6 Daniel Gonld, Jr. Feb. 23,
7 James Foster Feb. 23,
8 Rufus Patrick July 15, 1782. Must. by B. Ellis. Certified Nov. 7, 1775.
Those enlisting in 1781 were for three years, or the war, and each received a bounty of twenty pounds which was paid in specie.
John Farrar had two younger brothers, Joseph and William, who were members of Capt. Nixon's company of Minute Men, in 1775, and probably entered the army from Framingham, the place of their birth. It is said that John possessed a peculiar combination of mental qualities. In addition to a large share of commonsense, he had ready wit, a keen perception of the ludicrous, and none better enjoyed a good joke. These characteristics, together with his great mirthfulness, rendered him a particular favorite with the soldiers; and whenever they wished to carry out any particular plot, requiring the agency of a rogue, he was just the man, for his great shrewdness was a pretty sure guaranty of success. And it would not be surprising, if at that period of life he would sometimes gratify his love of fun at the expense of moral principle. The good lady, on seeing her best goose chasing the young soldier, who to appearance was vainly striving to
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY. 89
escape from the fierce attacks of his enraged antagonist, was quite ready to assure him that the fowl was very harmless, and would soon give over the pursuit, but con- tinuing until distance obscured the view, she came to the conclusion that an evil spirit had unfortunately taken possession of the animal. But had she seen the line, to which were attached the hook and bait which the unsus- pecting goose had swallowed, and was thereby involun- tarily pursuing the fugitive, she would doubtless have been impressed with the fact that evil spirits, sometimes at least, assume the human form. And could she have looked a little farther and seen the soldiers exulting over their ill-gotten repast, she might have been filled with the greatest indignation, unless peradventure her love of coun- try was paramount to all things else, and she consoled herself with the consciousness of having contributed a inite to the patriot cause. Mr. Farrar resided in Fitzwil- liam some years after the war, but eventually moved to South Hadley, where he died, March 20, 1809.
James Dean also served in the war of the Revolution as shown by the following abstracts taken from the Record Index to the Revolutionary War Archives in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Appears with rank of Private on Muster Roll of Capt. Jacob Miller's Co., Col. Ephim. Doolittle's Regt., dated Aug. 1, 1775-Enlisted April 25 1775-Service 3 mos. 16 days. Residence, Monadnock, No. 5.
Appears with rank of Private on Company Return of Capt. Miller's Co., Col. Doolittle's Regt., dated Winter Hill, Oct. 6, 1775.
Appears among signatures to an order for Bounty Coat or its equivalent in money, due for the Eight Months Service in 1775, in Capt. Jacob Miller's Co., Col. Ephraim Doolittle's (24th) Regt., dated Winter Hill, Oct. 31, 1775-Payable to Lieut. Samuel Burbank-Eneamped at Winter Hill.
Dr. Caverly states that Caleb Winch served in the Revolutionary army, but his name has not been identified in
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HISTORY OF TROY.
the Revolutionary Rolls, and the tradition concerning him is not sufficiently definite to justify placing his name in the foregoing list.
Peter Starkey was in the army but a few weeks. He . was drafted just before the battle of Bennington. He was in Colonel Nichols' regiment at the battles of Bennington and Stillwater. Soon after this, for some reason, he obtained his discharge and returned home.
Toryism had become so rife in the Colonies, that in March, 1776, the Continental Congress took measures to disarm all persons who were notoriously opposed to the cause of America. They passed a resolution on the subject, a copy of which was transmitted to all the Colo- nies. The Committee of Safety for New Hampshire, under the leadership of Hon. Meshach Weare, immediately sent to the several towns a copy of this resolution, and also a pledge of loyalty for the citizens of each town to sign. This pledge was called the "Association Test;" all those who refused to sign it were supposed to be Tories, and were looked upon by their neighbors with suspicion.
The circular was as follows:
COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, &C.
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
April 12, 1776.
To the Selectmen of Monadnock, No. five: In order to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Honorable Continental Congress into execu- tion, you are requested to desire all Males above twenty-one years of age, (lunatics, idiots, and negroes excepted,) to sign the DECLARATION on this paper, and when done, to make return thereof together with the name, or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman.
IN CONGRESS, March 14th, 1776.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conven- tions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United States immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective
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REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMERICA, Of who have not associated and refused to associate to defend by ARMS the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleet and Armies.
Extract from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
In consequence of the above Resolution of the Continental CONGRESS, and to show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties and properties of the inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES: We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with ARMS oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American COLONIES.
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