USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town > Part 18
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[From page 148 to here was published in the Peterboro TRANSCRIPT, March 23, 1911.]
ANNALS OF PETERBOROUGH
BY JONATHAN SMITH
[A large number of the papers of our town his- torian, Dr. Albert Smith, recently eame into the possession of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, of Clinton, Mass., to be deposited, after inspection, with the Peterborough Historieal Society, among which are many of great historieal value. At the suggestion of members of the society, Judge Smith has re- tained, temporarily, possession of them with the purpose of editing the most important to be printed and bound as part of the society's Historieal Col- leetions. Many of these papers are fragmentary, and in case of some, the writing is illegible.
The following is a copy of one of these papers, this will be followed by others, some of which are too long for insertion entire, but of which abstraets will be given, accompanied by such editorial eom- ment and collateral explanation as may seem proper. When revised and published, they will, taken to- gether, form a valuable and accessible addition to the history of Peterborough.]
EDITOR TRANSCRIPT :- I have in my possession a letter written by Daniel Abbott to Dr. John H. Morison in 1841. Abbott was a native of Lynde- boro, where he was born July 31, 1769. He died in Westford, Mass., January 27, 1854. Coming to Peterborough when he was twelve years old, he lived in town all his life up to 1834, except an absence of four or five years. He carried on the business of ehair- manufacturing, and was also a mer- chant in the Goodrich building, oppo- site the old Phoenix counting house. The letter was probably called forth by Abbott's reading Dr. Morison's Centennial ยท Address. The incidents narrated gives a good picture of the habits and character of the people of that day, though according to modern standards not altogether a creditable one. It was just after the close of the Revolution, when the laxity of habits and the general demoralization follow- ing a long war were at their height. The letter reflects the general social conditions, customs and manners of the people in the country towns in the years immediately following the Revo- lutionary struggle, and is especially valuable in that it contains the names
of substantially all the householders in town in 1785, and where they lived. It is of great interest to all students of our local history, and is as follows:
"REMINISCENCES OF PETERBOROUGH, AS IT WAS IN 1785."
"The town was divided into east and west by what was called the "Street road," running from Peter- boro Slip, (now Sharon) by James Smith's house on a straight line west of John Little's and Elihu Thayer's to a bridge over the river near Dea. Hunt's. The northeast was ealled 'the north end,' the south-west towards Jaffrey was called "the South;" the middle east, where Mr. Treadwell, the Parkers and Butlers lived, was called 'Caper Corner,' and the west road to Hancoek was ealled 'Windy row,' in consequence (it is said) of the inhabitants having mueh wind on their stomachs and letting it out freely over their tongues. The inhabitants of the East side of the Street road, beginning at the South on the Street road, were James Smith, William McCoy,-Miller and his son Samuel Miller (on Wm. Gow- ing place,)-Cunningham, Robert Gray and Zeb. Dodge, Silas Pieree and Nathan Dix's store, Wm. Houston, John Gray, near the old meeting house, Jotham Blanchard (on the John Little place,) East :- Thos. Little, Sr., Isaae Mitehell (near the old pound) Adams Gragg (Thayer place,) Daniel Warren, Dea. Hunt place). Down the river on the left bank-Wm. Swan, Thos. Steele. From the Felt plaec toward Temple-Samuel Morri- son, John Blair, Randall McAllister
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(on Wm. Field place), James Cunning- ham, Thos. Stuart; South-John White and Wm. White. South-east on the mountain, Abijah Spofford. North of the pond, Charles White (on Brackett place,) Wm. White (on Gibb place), Michael Woodcock, Uriah Bass. From site of late Presbyterian meeting house east-Samuel Gordon, Samuel Cunningham (Dunbar place), Capt. David Steele, James Templeton Samuel Treadwell, and in this neigh- borhood, Abel Parker, Widow Butler, Thos. McCoy, Charles McCoy, and one other man whose name I have forgotten. On road from near Capt. Steele's to the north end :- Mathew Gray (Genl Steele place), Robert Swan (on Swan place) Philip Cum- mings. On the hills,east-Kalso Gray; north,-Capt. Wm. Alld, Samuel Wiley, John Gragg and Samuel Gragg. North road to (now Greenfield) Abm. Holmes Robert Holmes, Samuel Wilson John Gragg Jr. North-west,- Israel Holt (Marshall place), David White; East of the mill brook,-Joseph Ham- il, Patrick White, Thos. McCloud. Road from north end of school house to Greenfield,-Samuel Miller, James Miller, Thos. Miller, David Hovey, Richard Hovey. South of this road, John Swan, Uriah Ballard. I may have forgotten some in the north end, but think not more than two or three. Most of the foregoing were large families, and it is my opinion that there were as many souls east of the Street road in '85 as at this time, (1841). There were many more young men as the tide of emigration had not commenced. I do not rec- ollect of more than one young man leaving the town until some years afterward, John Ferguson left about the year '88.
"Those who lived on the west side of the Street road were :- Daniel Cady (on Widow Stuart place) Wm. Smith Esq., - Pierce (tanner on Dea. Field
place), old John Scott,-Felt, and his son Oliver, Major Robert Wilson, Francis Porter, Harvey Barnes and Dr. Smiley (on Mrs. Morrison's place near the old meeting house) Isaac Mitchell, (near the old pound). From Hunt's corner to Carter's, do, Wm. Scott and Wm. Scott Jr. At Carter's corner, Widow Sarah Morrison, Dr. John Young, and Samuel Houston, John White Sr. (on Robert White place. By the Wallace brook, Wm. Powers. West road to Peterboro Slip,-James Richey, Wm. Miliken, Dea. Wm. Nay Sr. (Shedd place), Dea. Wm. Nay Jr., From James Richey's to Wm. Smith Esq., Mathew Wallace (Samuel Morrison place), Daniel Cray (Boynton place). At the Mill,- Capt. Thos. Morison. West,-John Smith. South,-Dea. Robert Morison, Lt. Wm. Moore, Dea. Robert Smith. On the (then) road to Jaffrey,-Widow of Thomas Smith, Nathaniel Holmes, Dea. Thos. Davison and Thos. Turner. On James Wilder place, Simpson Hogg, -Shipley (on the Penniman place.) West, on the Samuel Hogg place, a man by the name of Dada. West, John Morison. Below the great bridge on the left bank of the river lived Richard Finch and Andrew Bailey. At Evan's Mill, Nathaniel Evans and his son Asa Evans, Dea. Samuel Mitchell. On road to South, John White Jr. From Evan's mill to Dublin, David Steele Jr. (Whitte- more place) Rev. David Annan, Lt. Wm. Robbe, Capt. Alex Robbe, Nathaniel Whittemore, Wm. Robbe 2nd. West road from Evans Mill to Hancock (Windy row,) Samuel Blount on Flint place. (I believe no one lived on the John Scott place,) George Duncan, Paul Whittemore (Pierce place), Dea. Samuel Moore (on the late Spring place, Samuel Mitchell), and I believe a Mr. John- son on the Carley place. Isaiah Taylor,
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Alexander Stuart, on the Washburn place, Samuel Moore, John Mitchell. On East road to Hancock, Henry Ferguson (the good), Benj. Mitchell, Charles Stuart, Elijah Puffer, Silas Barber, Joscph Fletchea and James Nay.
"There were five miserable old school houses in town which were seldom occupied, located as follows: one next old Mr. John Smith's ( South village), one at the foot of the hill north of Mr. Ferguson's, on at Hunt's corner, one near James Cunningham's, and one near Abram Holmes.
"In 1790 Jeremiah Smith Esq., re- commended to the town to build six new ones. The town however built but five, in 1791.
"Previous to '85 a great deal of land belonging to new residents was sold at auction to pay taxes, and sold at such low prices as to prove a total loss to the owners, and it was said that the auctions (were) exceedingly well managed by, or for the owners. There were very few who were able to buy at any price, but those who had a little money, and a disposition to take advantage of the times, brought land at their own prices, while others were too conscientious to meddle with the business. Henry Ferguson, (the just) believing that ill- gotten wealth would not be durable prophcsied with regard to some of them, one in particular, for that and other things, that sooner or later 'it would all go.' These were his words said to myself, and he was a true prophet.
"The 'Gridley farm,' so called, included the Whittemore farm, ex- tending to the river, the Samuel Robbe farm, the Annan do. the Lieut. Robbe do. the John Scott do. and I believe the Peabody do. were all sold to pay taxes and were a total loss to the heirs of Gridley. Many other lots in towns were sacrificed in the same way.
"I will give you an old story relating to the 'mill farm,' (socalled,) late (the) Evans farm. It extended from where the Baptist meeting house now stands south to John White's farm and east and west from the Gridley farm on to the side of the old meeting house hill. When Dea. Mitchell first came from Londonderry to Peterboro he bought the mill farm from a man by the , name of Bogle, and occupied it for a number of years, expecting it was free from incumbrances. Capt. Thos. Mori- son was sitting musing at home one Sunday, and all at once started up 'Dod,' said he, "Samuel Mitchell has lost his farm, Esq., Wilson, (Hugh Wil- son, who left town about the be- ginning of the Revolution, living on the McCloud farm) has a mortgage of fifteen hundred dollars on it.' He went straightway to Dea. Mitchell (it being Sunday) and told him the circum- stances of the case. The Deacon, being easily excited, was half crazy and went immediately to Wm. Smith Esq., and related his trouble to him. He 'was undone', he said, he 'had lost his farm.' Esq., Smith in his cool, deliberate manner asked him if it was not possible that Esq., Wilson's deed had not been recorded. The Deacon said there was not a doubt of it. 'Well,' said Smith 'take my horse to- morrow morning and go to Ports- mouth and learn for a certainty.' Thc Deacon was averse to going, and went to see Wilson who told him his deed was recorded long ago. Esq. Smith still insisted on his going to Ports- mouth; he finally went, in the course of three or four days, and found that Wilson's deed had just been lodged in the office and on file. The event proved that Mitchell was saved and Wilson was ruined, he had to sell his farm and leave town. ($1500 was considered a very large sum at that day.)
"Peterboro had more than her share
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of credit for the irregularities and dissipation of that time than she was entitled to. It was soon after the Revolution and the old Soldiers and others used to collect at Robert Gray's and other places from Peterboro Slip, now called Sharon, (and from) Society land, now Greenfield, to partake of the 'Oh be joyful' and have a sprec and sometimes a knock down. They found very good help in P. and many a spree they had.
"I very well remember the training spoken of in your address. You are aware that I could not have told the story in so good language but I could have told more of it. I think it was in 1786, the two companies, east and west, made choice of their officers for the first time after the Revolution. The east company chose Thos. Mc- Cloud, Capt., Robert Swan and James Smith Lieuts., and Wm. Houston Ensign. The west company chose John Smith, ("Square John, " a son of Wm. Smith) Capt., John Moore and Samuel Mitchell Lieuts., Nathaniel Holmes, Ensign. Well of course they must call the two companies together and give them a trial. They met at Wm. Houston's, a bbl. of rum was provided for the occasion in order that every one could get a drop. The day came and all Peterboro and all Peterboro Slip, &c., &c., were assembled at an early hour. Thetrainingcommencedand the rum was made free use of so that by evening they were not only rich but merry and apparently very happy, and to make their happiness complete they commenced a knock-down be- tween Peterboro and (now) Sharon men. Mathew Wallace put some of them under keepers for swearing, and in fact swore as much himself as they had done. You mentioned the bbl. of rum with the head knocked out. By the bye the bbl. of rum was all gone by evening and they sent for a half bbl. which John Smith and James
had procured to do their roling with. In the evening the rum became a little too fiery, and a large tub was placed in the middle of the floor and filled with Grog and with many bowls and dippers every one helped himself to as much as he pleased, and perhaps to as much as was necessary." (For habits of the people in regard to drink, sce Mr. Morrison's address, page 300 of Smith's History, and note at bot- tom of page.) "Many stayed all night and the next morning found them in good spirit. Second day, a great game of ball (which was much practi- ced at that day) was proposed on Scott's hill and the two Captains chose their men, from forty to fifty on each side. The game went on with great exertion on both sides till each side had but one to make, and Capt. Smith had the ground. At the last knock Ensign Houston caught the ball by which means Capt. McCloud won the victory. 'Well Capt. McC.' (said Capt. S.) 'you have beat me but you could not do it again.' Night being at hand and the rum all spent an adjournment took place as a matter of course.
"In '85 there were ten two-story houses in town to wit: Henry Ferguson's Capt. Alex Robbe's, Dea. Thomas Davison's, John Smith's, Capt. Thos. Morrison's, Wm. Smith's Esq., Jotham Blanchard's (on the John Little place which was burned since 1800) Isaac Mitchell (burned in 1788 of 1789), Capt. David Steele, Esq., Wilson (on the McCloud place.) "At this time and for some years after Salmon were caught in the river in the month of October.
"The highest prices given for mowing and carpenter's work, were from forty- four to fifty cents per day, and cotton and linen shirting was from 44 to 50 cents per yard, and of course seven days work would only buy cloth enough for a pair of shirts, and cows
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were sold at auction for about five dollars. Those were the glorious times of exclusive spccie currency. "Peterboro was indebted to New Ipswich for money hired in the time of the revolution and was not able to make the money to discharge the debt. New Ipswich used to send up and takc and drive off wholc stocks of cattle and sheep unless some com- promise could be made. I will here relate an instance: Mr. James Miller and his brother Wm. had each a fine flock of sheep, and Hills and others of N. I., came up and took both flocks and started for New Ipswich, Hugh Miller (than a boy) contrived of his own accord to meet them on the road and set on the dog and scattered them to the four winds, and they gave up the the pursuit and the sheep were rescued. This same Hills came up in '85 to arrest Adams Gragg (uncle to Hugh and General M.) for a debt which Gragg said he did not owe. They met at Major Wilson's, Gragg with a pistol in his hand went into the Street and proclamed that if any man attacked him that he would shoot him. Hills advanced and Gragg shot him in the leg, Hills prosecuted and Gragg proved Hills was not legally authorized and he had to pay the costs for his trouble.
[The writer here goes on to relate many stories current among the people of that day. They illustrate the customs and habits of the inhabit- ants, and the rude, rough manners of the settlers in a town not then 35 years old. We copy a few :- ]
"Mosey Morison went to London- dcrry, Vt., and built a mill for a man by the name of Patterson, and after his return he called to see Wm. Smith Esq., and wife (his sister.) 'Well,' said S. 'have you built a good mill for Patterson,' 'yes very good,' was the reply. 'Well, has he got a good millseat?' 'Yes very good,' 'Well,
has he got plenty of water?' 'yes, plenty, but he will have to cart it four milcs."
"Old Billy McCoy (who lived on the late John Chapman place) went in company with one Moore of P. Slip to New Ipswich, and returning home in the night thro' the Sharon woods, having plenty of rum with them, they fell out by the way, fought a scvcre battle, McC. being most corncd of the two got a scvere beating. Thcy travelled on together till they camc to the fork of the roads where Moore was to turn off to go home when McC. said, 'Come, neighbor Moore, you must go home with me, you have licked me so bad that I can't get home alone. Moore was so friendly that he accompanied him home, took supper and lodging. In the morning McC. said, 'Come, neighbor Moorc, take some bitters with me this morn- ing,' that done Moore was going home, McC. said to him, 'you was so good as to come home with me last night, I'll go a piece with you this morning.' When they got into the woods McC. said to him, 'Now strip, Moorc, I was drunk last hight and you lickcd me; now I am going to lick you.' Moore was for pleading off, but McC. said, 'Strip quick Moore or I'll strip you.' Moore had to strip and McCoy gave him a severe flogging and they parted good friends.
"Old Mr. Miller, (on the now Gow- ing placc) had a family of thirtcen children-two sons and eleven daugh- ters. His sons and nine of the daugh- ters were married. He was afflicted, or rather, perhaps blessed with in- sanity for he was always when in that state very happy and very eloquent. He pretended to understand and talk Latin. When Mr. Annan would use a Latin word he would look up and ha! ha haw! to show that he under- stood it. One Thanksgiving day when most of hischildren had come home and
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when at dinner, his son-in-law, John Taggart, a man of good sense and well doing, was talking on some re- ligious subject, 'Johnny Taggart,' said he, 'I don't like you,' 'Why don't you like me, father,' said Taggart. 'You are an Armenian (Arminian') 'What is an Arminian, father,' said Taggart, 'Gad, its just nothing at all,' not being able to answer the question. One day he undertook to pray for his children individually, and began by telling his Maker that he was without the 'valuation or shadow of turning', and concluded as follows: 'Be thou, O Gad! with all our friends whether absent or apart. And be thou, O Gad! with Joseph Miller and family, and be thou, O Gad, with Samuel Miller and be thou, &c. with Thomas Turner and family, and be &c. &c. with Robert Thompson of Coleraine and family,' and so on in the same strain, with Moses Cunning- ham and family, with pond John White,-George Conn of Sliptown, and with Doct. Taggart, and-of the Eastward, and so on until he came to Johnny Taggart, when he looked up with impudence and exultation and said, 'But as for Johnny Taggart, Gad, he can take care of himself.' "At a gathering at Major Wilson's, Wm. Scott presented an order from Mr. Annan running thus :- "John Smith, (brother of William Smith,) collector pay Wm. Scott two shillings and sixpence he receipting this order.' Smith (took) the order and asked Scott to receipt it. Scott, for the sake of fun, said, 'No Smith, you must receipt the order,' 'Well,' said Smith, 'I'll leave it out with you for a mug of toddy.' Scott (replied) 'Well, who will you leave it to,' Smith (said) 'there are three men who have been on the grand jury, I'll leave it to them.' The men were John Gragg, Thos. Stuart and Billy Houston, 'Agreed' said Scott. Their
judgment was that Smith should receipt the order. They left it out again and again with the same result. Scott and Smith agreed finally to join in paying for the toddy. Smith then said, 'Well, Scott (we) will leave it to somebody else.' Scott replied 'who will you leave it to?' 'I'll leave it to Samuel Houston.' 'Oh, said Scott,' if we leave it to Sam I'm gone for, Sam has sense,' Sam looked at the order,' Poh!' said he, 'it is plain as the nose on a man's face. Why you must receipt the order, Smith.' 'There! said Scott, 'I told you I was gone for, Sam has sense.'
"Thos. McCoy once fancied that his corn in the field was disappearing too fast, and found a beaten track thro' the woods direct to the field. He went to Temple and borrowed a bear trap with teeth from Major Hale, and set it in the track. Mr. Tread- well made a rolling bee (black logs,) which was common in those days. The neighbors were all collected at the rolling and all at ance they heard a dreadful screaming in the woods. Not knowing what could be the matter they all ran to the spot, where they found Sewall Parker, (then a boy,) in the trap. They took him out and carried him home, (poor Sewall carried the scar made by the teeth of the trap to his grave). Old Abel (his father) being absent at the time came to where they were at work and said to Tom McCoy 'Where's Sewall?' The answer was, 'Gath, I vow I don't know, I'm not Sewall's keeper,'- - 'you, Tom McCoy! you set a trap to catch my boy.' One of Sewall's sisters was living at James Templeton's one winter and Sewall went there on an errand, and it was said she slipped a lump of butter into Sewall's bosom. Wm. Templeton, suspecting what was there invited S. to go to the barn and when there nothing would do but he must wrestle
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with him, and hugged him up until the butter melted and ran down through his 'unmentionables.' In Sewall's later days x x x nothing would put him in a rage so quick as to mention the name of bear trap or butter.
"In 1785 there was not a building of any kind between Doct. Young's (Loving place at Carter Corner) and Evans Mill; and from the top of the hill where there is a small stream of water to said mill was an unbroken forest, and there were but two families in what has since been justly called 'Smith's village.' I" have observed
before that Nathaniel Evans and his son Asa lived in one family, and there also lived Dea. Mitchell's family. The Dea. Mitchell house, (my late residence was then standing, a wasted frame. xxxxx
I will close by subscribing my- self, Yours truly,
DANIEL ABBOTT.
New York, 5th May 1841."
I have pursued the phraseology of the letter and punctuated only where necessary to make clear the writer's meaning.
[From page 156 to here was published in the Peterborough TRANSCRIPT, Oct. 16, 1913.]
THE OLD PETERBOROUGH LYCEUM.
BY JONATHAN SMITH.
Among the many institutions that have contributed to the development of the town and helped to make it what it was and is, the old Peterbor- ough Lyceum should have prominent place. It was a post-graduate school wherein its members, composed of most of the intelligent and active citi- zens, studied the different questions affecting their industrial and educa- tional welfare, gave their knowledge and acquired experience to their fel- lows, and debated pro and con the ideas put before them in the various papers read before it. First organized in 1828, it had an intermittent life for thirty years, and passed out of exist- ence within the memory of many now living. As in all other movements of the time for the uplift of the people, so in this, Dr. Abiel Abbott was the leader, the moving spirit, and in its earlier years until incapacitated by advancing age, its most active sup- porter. At the time of its organiza-
tion, he was 62 years of age, but as alert and active in every good cause as most men of half his years. Under a call dated November 20, 1828, and signed by Abiel Abbott, Samuel Smith, John Gordon and Albert Smith, a meeting was held at Samuel Smith's counting room on the 8th of December following, when a commit- tee was appointed to draft a constitu- tion and a set of Regulations for the government of the Lyceum. Dr. Abbott was chairman of this commit- tee, and drew up the constitution, which is in his handwriting, and at an adjournment of the meeting,the same was adopted. The fees were: for membership 50 cents, and annual dues 50 cents. The first board of officers were-Albert Smith, secretary; Abiel Abbott, treasurer; James Walker, Thomas Payson, John Gordon, Ex- ecutive Committee. The Chairman was appointed at the opening of every session by the chairman of the pre- ceding meeting.
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The following is a list of those who joined at the time of the organization: Abiel Abbott, James Walker, Samuel G. Smith, Samuel Smith, John H. Steele, James Perham, Albert Smith, William E. Treadwell, J. Addison, Smith, Moody Davis, Timo. K. Ames, Nelson Fuller, Samuel Richardson, Abel Boynton, William Wilson, Sam- uel Steele, Nath'l H. Moore, Jonathan Bowers, Robert White, Nathan Pow- ers, Hugh Miller, William Scott, Timothy Fox, Cyrus Felt, Thomas Payson, Wm. Harper, John Gordon, Addison Brown, Samuel Miller, Jr., John Smith, Jefferson Fletcher, Wm. Smith 2nd, Wm. H. Gowing, Cyrus Ingalls, William Follansbee, Henry F. Cogswell, Ebenezer Fairbanks, Jona- than Holmes, Moses Dodge, Norton Hunt, John Field, Jonas Loring, 42 members. This is a remarkable list, and includes many men of exceptional ability. It may be doubted if any town in the State at that day could show an abler citizenship.
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