USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town > Part 21
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TEACHERS OF SCHOOLS 1840.
District No. 1. 1st division. Sum- mer, Miss Harriet White; Winter, Mr. D. C. Winslow; Summer term, 8 weeks; Winter term, 9 weeks .; No. 1. 2nd division. Miss Sibyl Gates; Miss A. W. Adams. 8 weeks. 9 weeks .; 2. Miss Sibyl Cutter. Mr. James Morison. 11 1-3 weeks. 7 1-3 weeks; No. 2, 2nd division. winter, Miss Olive G. Smith. 9 1-3 weeks; No. 3. Miss Julia Piper. Mr. J. L. Butler. 10 weeks. 9 weeks .; No. 4. Miss Harriet Field. Mr. Thomas Hay. 10 weeks. 11 weeks. No. 5. Miss Elizabeth Whitcomb. Miss N. B. Rolfe. 10 weeks. 15 weeks .; No. 6. Miss Anna W. Swan, Mr. Thomas Clark. 5 weeks. 10.weeks; No. 7. L. A. Barker. Mr. J. G. Par- ker. 9 weeks. 11 weeks. No. 8. None. Miss Cheney for Winter term, 13 weeks; No. 9. Miss Abbie A. Abbott. Mr. M. N. White. 13 weeks. 12 weeks. No. 10. Miss Elizabeth White. Miss E. B. Wilson. 8 weeks. 11 weeks .; No. 11. 1st. Division. Miss Lucy S. Wright. Mr. L. G. Wright. 13 weeks. 12 weeks. No. 11. 2nd. Division. Miss S. E. Swan. Miss S. E. Swan. 13 weeks. 12 weeks.
This gives an aggregate of 118 weeks in summer and 151 weeks in winter, which divided among fourteen schools gives an average of a little more than eight weeks in summer and a little less than eleven in winter or nineteen during the year, a little more than one third of the time. The whole number of scholars during the summer was 483, and in winter 554. The average wages in summer was $5.53 per month, in winter, $17.25. The whole amount raised by tax for schools is considerably less than two dollars a year for each scholar, and according to the present valuation, it is a mill and a half on the dollar. Yet many are complaining that so much
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money is raised for schools, and think it a useless and burdensome expense. New roads and bridges they must have at any rate, they cannot endure to travel the old road any longer, but their children must travel the same old path to learning, and think them- selves fortunate that they are allowed any path at all. They grudge a mill and a half on a dollar to cultivate the minds of their children, but they will readily give ten times this sum to save a little labor to their horses. Many have yet to learn that the cheapest and best policy in the end it go give a liberal support to the public schools
TOWN LIBRARY. Ninety dollars were appropriated to this object. The number of volumes now in the library is about 1,000, many of which bear evidence on their very face that they are well read, though not well used.
NEWSPAPERS. These may properly be classed under the head of Educa- tion as it is from these that the knowl- edge of events now taking place is acquired.
NEWSPAPERS TAKEN IN PETER- BOROUGH IN 1840.
Name: Abolition Standard. Where published, Concord, N. H. Weekly. No. of copies, 3. Am. Traveller, Boston, Semi-weekly. 5 .; Boston Atlas, Bos- ton, semi-weekly, 2 .; Barre Gazette, Barre, Mass., weekly, 1; Boston In- vestigator, Boston, weekly, 3; Boston Courier, Boston, weekly, 2; Boston Courier, Boston, semi-weekly, 4; Bos- ton Statesman, Boston, weekly, 9; Boston Notion, Boston, weekly, 4; Boston Weekly Messenger, Boston, 7; Boston Pilot, Boston, weekly, 2; Baptist Missionary Magazine, Boston, monthly, 5; Christian Advocate and Journal, New York, weekly, 3; Chris- tian Register, Boston, weekly, 3; Common School Journal, Boston, semi monthly, 3; Cheshire Republican, Keene, weekly, 2; Christian Reflector,
Worcester, Mass., weekly, 1; Christian Herald, Exeter, N. H., weekly, 2; Exeter News Letter, Exeter, N. H., weekly, 1; Fitchburg Sentinel, Fitch- burg, Mass., weekly, 1; Globe, Wash- ington, D. C., semi-weekly, 2; Guide to Church Perfection, Boston, weekly, 5; Haverhill Gazette, Haverhill, Mass., weekly, 1; Herald of Freedom, Con- cord, weekly, 9; Hill's N. H. Patriot, Concord, weekly, 3; Home Missionary, New York, monthly, 1; Log Cabin, Al- bany, N. Y., weekly, 2; Literary Souve- nir, Lowell, Mass .; weekly, 11; Liter- ary Repository, Lowell, Mass., semi- monthly, 10; Ladies' Pearl, Lowell, Mass., monthly, 19; Ladies Magazine, New York, monthly, 1; Ladies Com- panion, Philadelphia, monthly, 4; Lowell Journal, Lowell, Mass., weekly, 1; Moral Reform, New York, semi- monthly, 18; Missionary Magazine, Boston, monthly, 1; Morning Star, Dover, Weekly, 5; Missionary Herald, Boston, monthly, 4; Mercantile Jour- nal, Boston, weekly, 15; Mother's Monthly Journal, Utica, N. Y., month- ly, 1; Maine Visitor, Boston, semi- monthly, 1; N. H. Statesman, Con- cord, weekly, 3; N. Y. Evangelist, New York, weekly, 1; National Eagle, Claremont, weekly, 2; N. H. Baptist Register, Concord, weekly, 15; N. H. Sentinel, Keene, weekly, 3; N. Y. Observer, N. Y., Weekly, 1; Protes- tant Vindicator, New York, semi- monthly, 6; Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia, weekly, 2; St. Lawrence Republican, Ogdensburg, N. Y., week- ly, 1; Signs of the Times, Boston, semi-monthly, 1; The Watchman and Observer, N. Y., weekly, 1; The Uni- versalist, Boston, monthly, 4; The Western Carolina, Salisbury, N. C., weekly, 1; The Massachusetts Spy, Worcester, Mass., weekly, 1; The Trumpet and Universal Magazine, Boston, weekly, 2; Universalist Re- pository, Boston, monthly, 1; Ver- mont Telegraph, weekly, 1; Whip and
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Peterborough in 1840.
Spur, Newport, N. H., weekly, 4; Youth's Cabinet, Boston, weekly, 6; Zion's Watchman, New York, weekly, 1; Zion's Herald, Boston, weekly, 10; Zion's Banner, Lowell, Mass., weekly, 1; Western Messenger, Cincinnati, O., monthly, 2; Christian Examiner, Bos- ton, every two months, 2; N. A. Review, Boston, quarterly, 1; N. H. Patriot, Concord, weekly, 12; Farm- ers Cabinet, Amherst, weekly, 39; Nashua Gazette, Nashua; weekly, 31; N. H. Telegraph, Nashua, weekly, 37.
It appears from this account that there are about 370 papers and peri- odicals of various kinds that are taken by the inhabitants of this place, most of them published weekly. These furnish a great amount of reading. But the number of papers falls much short of the number of families, and probably not half of the families in town have the privilege of reading the newspaper and, consequently, must remain ignorant of what is going on in the world. Yet these men help choose our rulers and legislators. How much can they know of the principles or measures even of the party to which they belong? It is the duty of every good citizen to take, read and pay for a newspaper.
NEW BUILDINGS, CHANGES OF REAL ESTATE, MISCELLANEOUS. A large two story boarding house at the North Factory has been finished. The Phoenix Factory Company built an- other two story house in the Factory yard west of the range previously built. (Sheet torn and several lines missing. J. S.) Dr. Cutter fitted up into a dwelling house the wooden (missing) from the house he bought of Dr. Richardson north of Stephen Forbush. Joseph H. Ames built a house on west side of the river oppo- site burying ground, and sold his old house to Meril C. Peavey for $600. J. B. Holt added another story to his store for a milliner's shop, afterwards
gave up trade, purchased the house north of the late Thomas Wilson and erected a building for the manufacture of fancy soap. Samuel Holmes turned his house round so as to front on the road running north of his house, and commenced repairing and enlarging it for a public house. Timothy K. Ames removed the house which stood in the corner nearly opposite the Farnum Tavern to a spot a little south of John P. Lovejoy. William Moore bought Moody Davis' house in ex- change for land in Michigan. Mr. Davis bought a farm in Clarendon, N. Y., and moved there in August. Dr. Cutter sold at auction the house he bought of Dr. Richardson to John Farnum for $660, who afterward sold it to Curtis Cutler for $700. Meril C. Peavey sold his house north of Job Hill's to John Dickenson. Russell Tubbs sold his farm to McCoy. Daniel Edes sold his farm to McCoy. Joel Brown leased his house and store to C. C. Boutwell for three years.
Powers & Pratt dissolved partner- ship, goods sold at auction. Pratt bought house of Bernard Whittemore, and continued tailoring business. Powers continued the sale of clothes and commenced the manufacture of pocket books. Goodridge & Smiley dissolved partnership, and Goodridge & McGilvray succeeded. Mr. Smiley removed to Power's building. A piece of new road east of Capt. Wil- son's constructed and opened for travel in May. (The next five lines are torn and mutilated. They relate to the organization of the Tree So- ciety, which has already been de- scribed. J. S.) Sidney Nelson broke into J. B. Holt's store in the night, was found guilty on trial, and sen- tenced to three years in the State Prison.
These are the principal events of a public nature that have transpired in Peterborough during the year 1840.
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Such as they are I have recorded them. How valuable or interesting they are, I shall not presume to say. CURTIS CUTLER. Peterborough, March 27, 1841.
Then read before the Peterborough Lyceum."
Peterborough in 1841.
Dr. Abiel Abbott needs no introduc- tion to any one having the least ac- quaintance with the History of Peter- borough. He came to town in 1827, and for twelve years was minister of the Congregational Society. A col- league, Rev. Curtis Cutler, was then installed with him. Dr. Abbott con- tinued to reside in Peterborough until 1854, when he removed to West Cam- bridge, Mass., where he died in 1859, at the age of 93 years. During his whole active life, up at least to 1846, he was the leader in all educational and social movements, and his influ- ence was as strong as it was beneficent and uplifting. No man of his time made so deep an impress for all that was wise and helpful upon the people as he. His work in town has never received adequate recognition. It should be carefully written out, that it may be placed among the perma- nent records of Peterborough.
"ANNALS OF PETERBOROUGH FOR 1841."
"Whoever writes the annals of such a town as this cannot expect to record much that is new or interesting. His main object will be to put down facts and incidents as they occurred with- out embellishment or enlargement. Most that is narrated will, doubtless, be considered as trivial, but may, perhaps, gratify the curiosity of some antiquarian who may turn over the moulding papers of the ministerial library.
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SEASONS. January 4, 6, 7 and 8, a heavy rain, causing a freshet. Most of the snow was dissolved, the ice in the river was broken up. The abut- ment on the east end of the bridge in the centre village was undermined, and a part of the bridge carried away, and the pier in the middle was injured. Two young men, Samuel Hadley and Moses Hale, being on the bridge when it fell, were precipitated into the river but were drawn out without injury. The bridge above the village was swept away. January and February were favorable for business. March 6 and 7 a snow, about a foot and a half deep with a wind; 13th, a snow of about the same depth. Both snows much drifted and more in quantity than had fallen all the winter before. April, cold and rainy and travelling very bad. May 2nd, snow fifteen inches deep on the hills and drifted, month cold, spring backward; apple trees in blossom not before the last of the month. July 28, some frost. July and August, drought severe. Corn, potatoes and spring grain injured. September 4, a great shower, little rain in the vicinity. October, cold. November 8, snow; 30th, snow for sleighing. The month cold. Decem- ber, little snow, tolerable sledding, wheeling good. The month generally mild and pleasant.
CROPS. Corn, potatoes and spring grain shortened by drouth, hay, mid- dling. Price of produce about the same as the year preceding.
TOWN OFFICERS. Timothy K. Ames and Stephen P. Steele, Repre- sentatives to the Gen. Court; John Todd, Jr., Samuel Adams and Samuel Miller, selectmen; Samuel Gates, town clerk; William Moore, Treasurer; Superintending School Committee, Curtis Cutler, J. B. French, Albert Smith, Daniel B. Cutter and Z. Jones. The valuation of the town was $693,- " 495, exceeding the valuation of 1840,
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Peterborough in 1841.
$29,932. Number of polls taxes, 414. Amount of taxes assessed, $6415. Some of the items on the tax- Schools, $1000; Highways, $1000; Bridges, $400; Jaffrey .road, $2200.
A road from the South Factory village to Jaffrey village, up the river, has been (torn) at an expense of $2200. The bridge above the centre village, which was carried away, has been re- paired. In the centre village a stone bridge has been built over the Con- toocook, 110 feet in length and 26 feet in width; the length of each abutment 15 feet, the foundation of which is six feet below the bed of the river, the width of the pier between the abut- ments, 4 feet, resting on a base of six feet. The spring of the arches com- mences four feet above the foundation proper, and extends 12912° of a circle of 20 feet radius, the chord of which is 38 feet, and the perpendicular from the chord to the lower surface of the top of the arch is 12 fect. There is a break water on the upperside of the pier four feet thick at the base and end, ten feet high, extending 12 feet up the river, with the proper slant and taper, and capped with a long stone, bolted at each end. The bridge contains 32,104 solid feet, equal to 2,469 tons. The expense of the bridge and breakwater is $1800. Each end of the bridge from the abutments was made at the expense of the town. Asa Greenwood was architect. The bridge was begun the 22nd of June and com- pleted November 19. For a more par- ticular description of the bridge, see the drawing and a memorandum of the agreement of Asa Greenwood and the Selectmen of Peterborough in the Ministerial Library.
OBITUARY. January 19, Mrs. Mat- toon, 32 years, consumption, long illness; 24, Child of Rev. Z. Jones, 4 mos., lung complaint; 25, Timothy, son of N. J. Hadley, 17.9 mos., paraly-
sis; March 12, Gilman Miller, 35 years, shot himself, intemperate, not a na- tive; 18, Widow Weston, 75, paralysis; 26, Widow Shepard, 88, lung fever; 26, Elijah Stone, 58, intemperate, native of Jaffrey; April 23, Abigail, daughter of J. Moore, 15, typhus fever; June 6, Mis. Hanscom, 37, con- sumption; 20, Widow Wilder, 86, suddenly; 22, Two sons, twins, of J. Bowers, 7 years, 4 mos., drowned together in Goose Brook; July 9, James Welch, 30, consumption; 14, William Ballard, 78, dropsy and strangling; 15, Child of Osgood Hutchinson, 14 years, fits; 25, Daugh- ter of Thos. Mathews, 2 years, scar- latina; 31, Jonathan, son of John Smith, 1 year, 2 mos., scarlatina; 31, wife of Rev. Z. Jones, 26, con- sumption, died at Salem, N. Y .; August 17, wife of E. A. Fair- banks, 21, consumption; September 12, wife of Simeon Forbush, 67, affection of the heart; 16, Lydia Wil- der, 25, consumption; 16, Infant son of Luther Twitchell 4 mos., bowel of Luther Twitchell, 4 mos., bowell disease; Child of Chas. Thompson, scarletina; October, Child of W. Stanley, 3, Cholera Infantum, sud- denly; 16, Sybil Parker, 73, Consump- tion; November 8, Child of B. Bement 1 ycar; 14, Leonora, daughter of J. Morse, 22, Consumption; 27, Eliza Grecn, 21, Consumption; December 11, son of Thos. H. Bullard, 2 yrs., Scarletina; 11, son of A. E. Blodgett, 4 mos., suddenly; 24, Samuel Alld, 74, Rupture of blood vessel; 25, Mathew Gray, 69, Cachexy, died in Greenfield, buried in Peterborough; 26, Child of S. McCoy, 3 mos., Dropsy in head. Total, 33. Two were between 85 and 90; 4 between 70 and 80; two between 65 and 70, one was 58; four between 30 and 40; five between 20 and 30, females, of consumption, two between 15 and 20; two, seven years old, drowned; eleven under 3 years old.
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Nine died of consumption, one male, eight females.
Samuel Alld was the youngest son of William Alld, who, with his family, came from Merrimack to this town in 1778, and bought the farm on which the Bogle family lived near Bogle brook. On the decease of his father, he came into possession of the farm and lived upon it until he sold it to Watson Washburn and moved into this village. He has been lame and infirm several years. None of the family remains in town. "April 4, Wm. H. Harrison, President of the U. S., died. May 14, a Fast was re- commended by President Tyler. Re- ligious services-prayers by Rev. Z. Jones and Rev. J. H. Morison. Dis- course of Rev. C. Cutler from Ps. XIII 6 and 7. Wm. Ballard, a farmer from Andover,, Mass., lived in this town more than forty years. None of his children by his first marriage remain in town. His son Josiah, educated at Y. College, is settled in the ministry at Medfield, Mass.
NEW BUILDINGS. CHANGES OF REAL ESTATE. Joseph H. Ames built and occupied his house on the west bank of the river. Edward Leathers built a house south of J. H. Ames'. Samuel Edes built a house south of E. Leath- er's. Samuel (torn)- built a house south of S. Edes's. Joel Damon built a house north of the Stone bridge on the river bank. Asa Davis built a house near the Stone Mill. Samuel (torn) built a house on the south side of the road east of E. Fairbanks. H. N. (torn) bought the house where the Baptist Church now stands, moved it east of L. Clark's house, and has repaired it. Samuel Holmes moved, enlarged and repaired his house, etc., and opened a tavern. H. N. Dunbar bought the tavern stand of J. Farnum, which is now occupied by H. Warren. The Baptist Society has built a brick meeting house opposite to the Con-
gregational meeting house, under which are rooms for stores. The Phoenix Factory Company have built a house in the factory yard west of the range previously built. Nathaniel Fish moved a tenement from the fac- tory yard to south of A. Sawyer's, and has repaired it. Leander Clark pur- chased Wm. Connor house opposite Holmes' tavern. James Howe built a house north of the burying ground. Samuel and Jane McCoy built a house north of the Hannaford house. Dr. P. D. Badger purchased Watson Washburn's house on the east side of the street. Meril C. Peavey pur- chased J. H. Ames' house north of Abial Peavey's house. Henry Carter built a house south of N. T. Buss house. John Farnum built a house south of Henry Carter's. Timothy K. Ames moved a tenement near his dwelling house, and placed it a little south of the house he moved a year previously, and repaired it. Samuel McCoy sole his farm north of N. Moore's to Zadock Merriam. . A school house was built in district No.6. "February 5. A large company rode to Keene. Seventy couples. Sixty-four sleighs. A dining party.
"The bell on the Congregational Meeting house having been broken, a new one has been procured, weigh- ing 1858 lbs. The expense $191.14 by subscription, $315.78 received for the old bell, making whole expense of $506.92. September 23, the new bell was raised and hung. The alleys in the meeting house have been car- peted, the desk covered, rugs procured, etc., by a subscription of $71.16 by the ladies. The ladies have constituted their Pastor a Life Member of the American Unitarian Association by a subscription of $30. In August, the Peterborough Social and Benevolent Society was organized, who meet in the afternoon monthly or oftener. The object of the Society, as the name
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imports, are mutual improvement and charity. Congregational Sabbath School-Teachers, 31, 19 females; scholars, 153, females 94, males 59; 59 under 10 years; 65 between 10 and 15; 22 between 15 and 20; 7 over 20. A Bible Class of between thirty and forty adults, taught by Mr. Abbott. Several classes are continued through the winter. October 31, P. M., the school was particularly addressed by the Pastor, the Superintendent, Wil- liam Moore, and Wm. Scott, Esq., made an able report of the condition of the school, which together with the returns of the teachers, is deposited in the Ministerial Library. The an- nual contribution for the Sabbath School Library was $13.
"THE PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY has purchased a bell, weight 1,258 lbs., cost, $375.19; carpeted the meeting house, $50; lamps for door, $28; money contributed for foreign and domestic missions, $92; Bible Society, $19.63; Education Society, $24.50; Peace Society, $11.50; Abolition So- ciety, $66.50; Minister's Salary, $500; presents to him, $60; the amount, $1227.32. Some donations and con- tributions omitted. Sabbath school of Presbyterian Society for 1840-1841, eighteen teachers, average number of scholars, 140, kept through the winter. Superintendent, N. H. Moore. De- cember 1, the Baptist Meeting House was dedicated. Mr. Z. Jones deliv- ered the discourse from Ps. 73, 16 and 17. Mr. Carpenter offered the dedi- catory prayer. The Clergy of other denominations in town were invited to dine with the Association. The Baptist Sunday School, twelve teach- ers, average number of scholars, 88. Rev. Jones and Osgood Hutchinson, Superintendents. Kept through the winter. Mr. Chase has succeeded Mr. Brewster in the ministry of the Methodist church.
"July 25, Mr. McGinn, a Mormon
Preacher, began public service and has continued most of the time since; has been aided a short time by Mr. Snow. November 27, six persons were immersed by Mr. Ginn. Previous to the date of this paper, thirty-five have been immersed.
"Agents of several societies and others have delivered lectures, ad- dresses, etc., in town. Franklin Spaulding several lectures; H. C. Wright, a non-resident, two or three lectures; Mr. Z. Jones, one in oppo- sition to Mr. Wright; St. Clair, four anti-slavery lectures; J. S. Adams, lecture on the Moon; Mr. Morton, agent of the Peace Society, two or three lectures; Messrs. Fletcher and Miller, several lectures on temper- ance; Lewis, a colored man, lectures on Abolition and African Mission to Mendi, a woman preacher; Mr. Hale, agent of the N. H. Temperance So- ciety, several lectures-formed a cold water army of 150 children and youths.
"June. Presbyterian and Congre- gational Churches held their meetings in this town connected with which were several societies.
July 21. A Temperance Society was organized in town consisting of 461 members.
"April 3. Lyceum closed for the season. Was well attended. Twelve lectures were delivered.
"Nov. 9. ' The ACADEMIC SCHOOL was examined-well taught by Rev. Z. Jones and Miss Rolfe. The Aca- demy closed during the winter term.
"February 8. Alvah Ames closed his dancing school, about fifty pupils. Exhibition satisfactory to parents and spectators.
PUBLIC COMMON SCHOOLS. There . are twelve districts in which fourteen schools have been kept. The summer schools taught by females, eight of the winter schools taught by females and six by males. Number of pupils in
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summer, 443; in winter, 571. The time in which the schools were kept in summer and winter, 250 weeks; giv- ing an average to each school of a little less than eighteen weeks during the year, about one-third part of the year. The average attendance has been four-fifths of the whole number of scholars, so that one-fifth of the privilege is lost or not improved. For a more particular account of the Dis- trict schools, see the Report of the Superintending School Committee de- posited in the Ministerial Library.
[Here follows a list of the news- papers and periodicals taken in town in 1841. The list does not differ materially from the list for 1840, and is omitted. J. S.]
From this, it appears that 103 papers and periodicals are taken in town. Of these, 54 are weekly, four semi-weekly, twenty-eight monthly and seventeen quarterly. A society of fourteen persons was formed for taking Periodical Publications at $3 a share. Fourteen agreed, and period- icals are taken.
These are the principal events of a publie nature, which have occurred in® town during the year 1841, and are here recorded by
ABIAL ABBOTT.
Peterborough, March 26, 1841.
Read before the Peterborough Ly- ceum.
Peterborough in 1842.
Dr. Albert Smith, the author of the following paper, except for a brief period in his carly professional years, was a resident of the town through his whole life. No man was more ac- tive in every movement for the better- ment of its social and industrial con- ditions than he down to the last days of his life. He was especially promi- nent in the Lyceum, and contributed more to its success than any other one
individual. His,communications cov- er a wide range of topics-professional, historical, geographical, as well as social and ethical. Though knowing him intimately, and familiar with his family and professional life, I have been surprised in looking over his papers to discover how varied and ex- tensive his activities in every good cause were, and how much he did for the well being of the peopleof his native town. The writing of his History of Peterborough, absorbing as it did the entire time of his last few active years, was the least of his contributions. It is quite true to say of him, that noth- ing-no movement, no enterprise, no organization which had for its aim to make Peterborough a better or busier place, or its people happier, more in- telligent or more moral, was foreign to him, or failed to enlist his active and earnest support. Some parts of his annals, the writing is so faded as to be illegible, and a few words may be incorrectly given. Most of it, however, can be read. The copy here given is substantially correct so far as it goes.
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