USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town > Part 8
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ing held in Peterborough, Sept. 22, 1753." The interesting history of the "Home of the Smith Family," by Jonathan Smith, (page 30) in giving a certain petition, dated Oct. 4th, 1750, in which the name of the town appears, states : "It shows that the town was already called Peter- borough, and is the earliest known men- tion of the fact."
This is an error ; the first mention of the name Petersborough in the proprie- tor's records was in 1750, but the name of our town, in the different forms of spell- ing, can be found in the Massachusetts Archives, in many documents antidating the year 1750; these are copied-with the dates and forms of spelling given-on the following pages of the New Hamp- shire State Papers : September, 1739, Peters Burrer, Vol. 24, page 309 ; June, 1740, Peterborough, Vol. 24, page 137; May 13, 1747, Petersborough, Vol. 9, page 8; Jan. 26, 1748, Peterborough, Vol. 28, page 186 ; 1748, Peters Borough, Vol. 29, page 231 ; Dec. 3, 1748, Peter- borow, Vol. 29, page 246; June 16, 1749, Petersburrough, Vol. 28, page 447 ; June 30, 1750, Petersburrough, Vol. 28, page 339; Dec. 3, 1750, Peterbourrow, Vol. 29, page 439, and in the years be- tween that and 1760-the year the town's present name was finally and definitely fixed by incorporation-it was in most in- stances, spelled with the letter "s" fol- lowing the prefix Peter.
Thus the first mention of the name of our town, with the orignal spelling, which we have been able to find anywhere, is on page 309, Vol. 24 of the State Papers, in an act of confirmation by the Massa- chusetts House of Representatives to Jeremiah Allen; dated September, 1739, of a 500 acre tract of land, in what is now Sharon and which was surveyed the July previous, described as "adjoining to a new township called Peters Burrer."
It will be seen that the early spelling of the name of the town was, generally, in- consistent with the name of the Earl of Peterborough, and the suggestion that it was probably named in his honor, as
stated in the town history (page 51) must in the light of certain facts, be classed as an error. The town was called "Peters Burrer" (1739) six years before the Earl's death ( 1745.).
From pages 75 and 76 of Sawtelle's History of Townsend, Mass., I copy the following :
"Among the inhabitants of Concord, were some of the leading men of this province, at the time of the settlement of Townsend, and onward. December 6, 1737, 'a township east of Monadnock hills, on the southern branch of Contoo- cook river,' was granted to Samuel Hay- ward, and others, of Concord. This township was afterward principally owned by Peter Prescott of Concord, who was a large landholder and speculator. Tradi- tion says that Peter Prescott, during the time he passed at Peterborough, lived in semi-subterranean cave, snugly en- a sconced in an abrupt hillside with a sunny outlook; and that his Concord friends, and the land speculators, would talk about 'Peter's burrow,' of 'going up to Peter's burrow'-hence Peterborough or the name of the town."3
Dr. Albert Smith, the learned author of our town history, stated (page 51) that he knew "nothing in what manner Peter- borough received its name," depending entirely upon what he heard his father say. The error might very naturally and gradually have crept in-hefore the elder Smith's time-as the Earl of Peter- borough, like Capt. Kidd, was the subject
(3) This abode of Peter Prescott-the first white man's dwelling place in town, the site of which should be permanently marked-was. according to record and tradition, on the land now owned by Mrs. B. P. Cheney, some distance southeasterly from her fine dwelling house on the hill and two or three rods northeasterly fron the present granite watering trough on the north side of Cheney Avenue. The first of the several lots Prescott drew were Nos. 7 and 70, fifty acres each, together making a double lot ; the records show that the first was drawn as his home-lot and it comports with tradition that it was on a hill sloping to the south and near a spring. The record of deeds also shows that Prescott sold both of these lots to William Scott, but on account of threatened Indian raids, Scott did 110t settle there until about 1749, when he caine, with his newly wedded wife, and built a house on or near the site of Prescott's former abode : this house was standing within the mem- ory of those 110w (1906) living.
SCRAPS OF EARLY MILITARY HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
BY JAMES F. BRENNAN.
I am pleased to note the interest mani- fested by the TRANSCRIPT and others to save the meagre historical matter, now existing, relating to our local military or- ganizations prior to the War of the Re- bellion. At best the data collected at this late day must be incomplete and unsatis- factory ; it is, nevertheless, important that what we can rescue from the ravages of time should now be permanently recorded. Only fragmentary data for the half century prior to 1845 is obtainable, for instance, a summons to appear for drill, served up- on George W. Hadley, is preserved ; it is dated Aug. 31, 1839, the organization be- ing the Peterborough Guards; they were to assemble at Col. Whitcomb French's Tavern at 8 a. m., Sept. 10; officers sign- ing summons, Samuel C. Oliver, Captain, and Judson Wilkins, Sergeant. - At that time there were two military companies in town, the Guards and the Light Infan- try. A copy of a subscription paper is also preserved, dated May 5, 1840, con- taining the names of thirty-eight, to pur- chase tents for the Peterborough Light Infantry. It was Captain Oliver who re- sponded to the toast, "First Light Infan- try and Peterborough Guards," at the Centennial celebration of the town, Oct. 24, 1839. Another summons of the Peter- borough Guards to drill is preserved, dated Sept. 1, 1840, to assemble at French's Tavern, I p. m., Sept. 7; officers, Joseph H. Ames, Captain ; James Swan, Sergeant. Only such scraps of information are in existence to give us a gleam of the facts which showed the interest of the people in the military affairs of that time.
The Peterborough Light Infantry, in existence for many years and formally or- ganized under the state law in the spring
of 1845, was, during its palmy days, one of the best drilled and equipped military organizations in New Hampshire, being regarded with much interest and pride by the inhabitants of the town; on its roster were the names of the most substantial citizens, preserving the military spirit for which the town was ever notable. It ex- isted during a peaceful period of our na- tional history, when it was not called up- on for active war duty, and finally dwin- dled into inefficiency at the date of the commencement of the great War of the Rebellion, when it was informally dis- banded, some of its younger members en- listing in the regiments then forming for active and serious war duty.
It is a lamentable fact that very little historical data of this company exists and there are but few persons now living, possibly only one, Col. Charles Scott, who participated in its early organization and who can give reliable information relative to its inception and progress; it is hoped that those interested will preserve in some written memorandum the facts they have, or, better still, send them for publication, as the TRANSCRIPT requested last week.
The reports of the Adjutant General's office at Concord go back only to 1858, and no mention of the Peterborough Light Infantry is found therein until 1861, the official papers and rosters mak- ing no mention of this organization,-not even the date of its organization and dis- bandment. The records of companies, in the period before the War of the Rebel- lion, was not kept complete at Concord or elsewhere and little or no information can be obtained in the records of that of- fice; there are some rosters of commis- sioned officers of companies of the state
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militia between the Revolutionary War and the War of the Rebellion, from about 1800 to 1855, but the names of the privates or the names of the towns where the companies were located are not given. There were some forty odd regiments in this time, with from six to ten companies each, and unless one is familiar with the names of officers, it is not possible to lo- cate the companies.
In view of the very meagre history of the Peterborough Light Infantry now available it was fortunate that the record book of the company was saved from some old papers of the late Capt. Christo- pher A. Wheeler, who died July 18, 1896, and it is largely from this record book that the data here published is taken.
This record book is 12 by 8 inches in size and on its outside cover is printed, "Company Orderly Book. Property of the State of New Hampshire." On its first page is written the following :
Peterborough, April 7, 1845.
We, the Field Officers of the 22d Regt., permit the Officers in Peterborough who are commissioned as officers of the First Light Infantry of said 22d Regt. to En- list men within the limits of said Peter- borough and Sharon, who are liable to do Military duty to the number not Exceed- ing Sixty-four who shall be holden in said company with the same privilege of other Independent Companies. We also approve of the following Uniform, Viz. : Leather caps trimmed with brass and Gold lace, White Plumes red tops, a black Silk Cravatt on the neck, Coat Dark Mixed Casimere trimmed with yellow lace and Pants of the same, Short Boots worn un- der the Pants, which must be worn by all the members of said Company when on Military duty, unless dispensed with by the Commanding Officer of said Com- pany.
JOEL BROWN JOEL F. BROWN W. H. H. HINDS Field Officers of the 22d Regt. 4th Brigade 3d Division N. H. Militia.
On the second page are the signatures of men who enlisted from April, 1845, to to May, 1851 ; each name is accompanied with the date of the enlistment; names with an x have at some time, apparently, been stricken from the roll.
First Light Infantry Company, 22d Regiment.
We, the undersigned, agree to enlist, remain in the first Light Infantry Com- pany now commanded by Samuel Ja- quith. We agree to adopt the uniform as established by the Field Officers, we also agree that quarters of said Company may enact such Bye laws for the due manage- ment of the Company from time to time as they think proper. April 8th, 1845.
x Samuel Jaquith, x Wm. Thompson, James C. Thorning, John A. Perkins, x Warren Nichols, Asa F. Gowing, x Au- gustus D. Jaquith, x Charles C. Kidder, x Samuel F. Maynard, x George A. Hunt, x Charles Childs, x Horace Taft, x Benj. S. Nichols, x Isaac G. Peaslee, x George Thayer, George W. Buss, x Thomas Kos- son, James O'Donnell, John D. Holmes, Samuel R. Twist, x Parker Heart, Jona- than Howe, Samuel Howe, Montgomery Howe (as cook), x Eri Spalding (as cook), John R. Miller, Madison D. Chapman, Andrew P. O'Donnell, Ezra C. Chapin, Charles F. Bruce, x Phinehas Whitcomb, Charles B. Curtis, x Harrison D. Wash- burn, Harlam Bassett, x Benjamin Owen, Wilber C. Tenney, Thomas Nichols, Amos W. Foster, Albert Holt, Christopher A. Wheeler, John R. Gregg, x Leonard W. Stanley, John Little Jr., x B. F. Wilder, David Smiley 3d, x Charles B. Chapman, x Jona. H. Keyser, x George Cragin, Chas. Scott, Amaziah Fairbanks, Ira Holt, x Luke Murphy Jr., Hosea Pierce, Joseph C. Fifield, Enoch Foster, Joel O. Avery, Isaac D. White, N. C. White, Isaac J. Cutter, George S. Perkins, Charles A. Miller, x James S. T. Remedy, Warren W. Puffer, x W. W. Butler, x A. B. Earls, James Smiley. Charles Hadley, Calvin Leathers, James M. Barker, Benjamin B. Barker, George W. Stearns, Mynard D. Barker, Darius D. Barker, x Alonzo H.
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Scraps of Early Military History of Peterborough.
Russell, George A. Jewett, William B. Stearns, W. H. Goldthwait, Charles C. Kidder, Wm. H. Scott, Jones Dodge, John Farnum 2d, Warner Parker, Joseph H. Bahh.
To give the names of the military men of 1847-9, we copy the following report of Capt. C. A. Wheeler to the selectmen, dated Oct. 26, 1847, as required by law, of those who had performed military duty during the year : Commissioned officers, Christopher A. Wheeler, Asa F. Gowing, George Cragin; non-commissioned officers and privates, John R. Gregg, clerk: George W. Buss, Hiram McCoy, James M. Barker, Isaac D. White, Harlam Bas- sett, Noah Smith, Montgomery Howe, James Wilson, Joseph L. Carter, John Leathers Jr., Joseph B. Pierce, James C. Thorning, George A. Hunt, James O'Don- nell, John D. Holmes, Samuel B. Twist, Jonathan Howe, Samuel Howe, John R. Miller, Madison D. Chapman, Andrew P. O'Donnell, Ezra C. Chapin, Charles F. Bruce, Phinehas Whitcomb, Charles B. Carter, H. D. Washburn, Benjamin Owens, Wilber C. Tenney, Thomas Nich- ols, Amos W. Foster, Albert Holt, Leon- ard W. Stanley, John Little Jr., B. F. Wilder, David Smiley, Charles B. Chap- man, Johnathan H. Keyser, Charles Scott, Amaziah Fairbanks, Ira Holt, Isaac J. Cutter.
The report of Oct. 11, 1848, contained the following names : Commissioned of- ficers, C. A. Wheeler, George W. Buss, Hiram McCoy; non-commissioned of- ficers and privates, Joel O. Avery, George W. Buss, James M. Barker, Charles F. Bruce, Harlam Bassett, Benjamin B. Bar- ker, Mynard D. Barker, Darius D. Barker, Ezra C. Chapin, Joseph L. Carter, Charles B. Carter, James O'Donnell, Amos W. Foster, Amaziah Fairbanks, Joseph C. Fi- field, Enoch Foster, Asa F. Gowing, John R. Gregg, Montgomery Howe, Ira Holt, Charles Hadley, George A. Jewett, Calvin Leathers, Hiram McCoy, John R. Miller, Charles H. Miller, Benjamin S. Nichols, Hosea Pierce, John N. Perkins, George S. Perkins, Warren W. Puffer, Alonzo H.
Russell, Charles Scott. Eri Spalding, Da- vid Smiley 3d, James Smiley, George W. Stearns, William B. Stearns, William H. Scott, James C. Thorning, Samuel B. Twiss, Wilber C. Tenney, Isaac D. White, Nathan C. White, H. D. Washburn.
In the report of Oct. 22, 1849, the fol- lowing names appeared : Commissioned officers, Charles Scott, John N. Perkins, and C. A. Wheeler; non-commissioned officers and privates, G. S. Perkins, Charles Hadley, Joseph C. Fifield, Hosea Pierce, N. C. White, I. D. White, James C. Thorning, John D. Holmes, Samuel B. Twiss, John R. Miller, C. F. Bruce, John Farnum 2d, James M. Barker, D. D. Bar- ker, John Little Jr., David Smiley 3d, Amaziah Fairbanks, Ira Holt, Enoch Fos- ter, Calvin Leathers, A. H. Russell, Charles A. Miller, James Smiley, Wm. B. Stearns, Asa F. Gowing, Charles B. Car- ter, George A. Jewett, Benj. S. Nichols, Montgomery Howe, Charles C. Kidder, Jones Dodge.
The dates and places of meetings for drilling in town and musters out of town (given in this old book) are as follows :
Samuel Jaquith, Captain or Command- ing Officer of the Company. May 20, 1845, to assemble at I p. m., Town House; Sept. 4, 1845, to assemble at 12 m., Town House; Sept. II, 1845, to assemble at 6 a. m., Reed's Tavern, Smith Village, Wilton; May 19, 1846, to assemble at 12 m., Town Hall; Sept. 15, 1846, to assem- ble at I p. m., Town Hall; May 18, 1847, to assemble at I. p. m., Town Hall.
Christopher A. Wheeler, Commissioned Captain, Aug. 10, 1847. Oct. 5, 1847, to assemble at I p. m., Unitarian Meeting House; Oct. 11, 1847, to assemble at 5 a. m., Col. J. Wilkins' Tavern, West Wil- ton; May 16, 1848, to assemble at I p. m., Unitarian Meeting House; Sept. 16, 1848, to assemble at I p. m., Unitarian Meeting House; Sept. 23, 1848, to assemble at 5 a. m., Judson Wilkins', West Wilton.
Charles Scott, chosen Captain, Dec. 5, 1848. May 15, 1849, to assemble at 12 m., Unitarian Church; Sept. 8, 1849, to as- semble at I p. m., Unitarian Church;
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Sept. 18, 1849, to assemble at 5 a. m., Brickett's Hotel, New Ipswich; May 21, 1850, to assemble at I p. m., Unitarian Church; Sept. 18, 1850, to assemble at I p. m., Town Hall; Sept. 27, 1850, to as- semble at 6 a. m., L. E. Nutt's Hotel, Amherst.
The Amherst muster was the last for the next ten years, during which period the condition of the military was not very active, but the beligerent aspect preceed- ing the great War of the Rebellion awoke again the military spirit, and in the early part of 1860 an attempt was made to have a uniformed company, and the following is a copy of a paper found :
"We the undersigned agree to become members of a military company, under the name of the Peterboro' Light Infantry, said company to be organized agreeably to the Laws of the State of New Hamp- shire, provided 51 names can be obtained who will subscribe to the following con- ditions, viz : The Uniforms to be light grey trimmed with red and gilt buttons, the cost of coat and pants not to exceed fif- teen dollars. Each person to pay Seven dollars on signing his name, and the re- mainder when the Uniform is completed. All money to be refunded to subscribers unless 51 names are obtained. Aug. 25, 1860. Christopher A. Wheeler, Samuel I. Vose, Samuel Jaquith, George H. Long- ley, Gustavus A. Forbush, H. B. Wheeler, Chas. Nims, Chas. Scott, George Steele, J. D. Holmes, D. Miller, G. M. Spauld- ing, Jacob Upton, J. M. Nay, E. B. Cav- ender, Nathan C. Forbush, J. H. Fay, J. C. Nay, C. R. Richardson, John Upton, John Cragin, S. B. Piper, C. F. Winch, John B. Dane, S. P. Longley, Patrick McLoughlin, J. D. Diamond, I. D. White, Martin White, Wm. White, P. C. Cheney, K. C. Scott, Asa F. Gowing, S. W. Wheeler, Henry Field, John Little, C. V. Dearborn, Henry E. Osborn, Samuel Woods, James Templeton, John S. Rines, W. H. Longley, J. H. Spofford.
The last military muster, under the old regime, was held at Nashua on Octo- ber II, and 12, 1860, on the ground which
was named Camp Goodwin in honor of the governor, and on the IIth day many companies reported on Railroad Square in that city. This was as Col. John H. Gage says in his report: "the first at- tempt in fifteen years toward the revival of the military spirit and fame of New Hampshire, the first considerable parade of the military, within ten years, and the first general encampment ever known in New Hampshire." On this occasion the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Compa- ny of Boston and the Lowell Mechanics' Phalanx escorting Brig. Gen. Butler and staff, Adj. Gen. Schouler of Massachu- setts and Maj. Reynolds and Lieut. Win- der of the U. S. Army were guests of the camp. The tents and equipage of this encampment were borrowed from the state of Massachusetts.
The officers of the Peterborough Light Infantry on this occasion were Capt. Christopher A. Wheeler, Ist Lieut. Sam- uel I. Vose, 2d Lieut. Samuel Jaquith, and the company appeared in uniforms bor- rowed from a military company in Fitch- burg, Mass. This muster evidently re- kindled in Peterborough the latent mili- itary spirit which had been allowed to flag and a meeting was held of which the following is a record :
PETERBOROUGH, Oct. 30, 1860.
Met agreeable to warrant. The bills and accounts of Nashua Encampment were presented and allowed. On motion of Capt. Charles Scott it was voted that we go on and get up a good uniform of the same material as we have a sample, well trimmed, with a cap and plume, the whole expense not to exceed the sun of $25.
The vote to purchase the uniforms was 42 yea, 16 nay, but we find no record that the unifornis were ever purchased. More serious active military duty was about to be performed than this company, as then organized, was suited for, and the last at- tempt to reorganize the company was for- ever abandoned. On April 15, 1861, the Secretary of War made a requisition on the State of New Hampshire for one reg-
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Scraps of Early Military History of Peterborough.
iment of volunteers, not under 18, nor over 45 years old, for the terrible war, the magnitude of which was not at the time appreciated ; none of the old military companies-with the exception of the Abbott Guards of Manchester-appeared with officers in command to enlist in the First New Hampshire Regiment ; Col. John H. Gage resigned and Mason W. Tappan was commissioned colonel for ac- tive war duty.
This period constituted an epoch in the military history of the nation, state and town ; up to this time meagre and unsat- isfactory data was preserved : during and since that great war the military history of our town can be written from well pre- served facts.
Much information on the condition of the local military companies can be gleaned from our local newspaper the files of which have been examined and the following abstracts, during the period covered by this article, have been made as follows :
The Peterborough Messenger of Sept. 23, 1848, has the following : "Training Day-Last Saturday, (the 16th,) two mil- itary companies paraded about the streets of our village in the afternoon. One of them, the Peterborough Light Infantry Company, under command of Capt. C. A. Wheeler, came out in their usual uniform, presenting a fine appearance. The other company, which has a variety of names, such as the "Old Company," the "String Beans," the "Slam-bang," the "Old Floodwood," &c., &c., was commanded by Capt. C. Ritchie. This company in this place, as in most others, is composed of those who train "for the fun of it," and of those who do duty rather than pay fines. So they dress as they do at any other time, only some of them rig out as badly as possible. Those who feel a pride in doing military duty, join a company in which there is some expense to show the feathers right, and they have to foot the bill themselves. Even in the "Flood- wood Company." the soldier is put to more expense than he receives pay for.
ʻ
The only right way to do the military business, in our humble view, is, if we must have it, to have none but volunteer companies, and have them fully compen- sated for their trouble in doing duty, by the state."
In the great 4th of July celebration of 1849 the printed report shows that the procession was escorted by the Peterbor- ough Light Infantry Company under command of Capt. Charles Scott.
Charles Scott, captain, and G. S. Per- kins, clerk, sign an advertisement head- ed "Don't Give Up the Ship," dated Dec. 5, 1849, in which the members of the Peterborough Light Infantry Co. were re- quested to meet at the Town Hall the next evening to choose officers and trans- act other important business.
The same officers under date of Dec. 19, 1849, again invited the members to meet the 29th, asking all members and all who feel an interest to be present ; from this call we quote the following : "It has been suggested that we reorgan- ize or send in and get disbanded. The question has been asked, which will be the best for the credit of the company, to leave the stage now while the credit of the company stands good, or linger out a miserable existence, which it is certain must be the case, if there is not more in- terest felt by the members? For 50 years has the name of the P. L. I. been known as among the first in the ranks of the 22d Regiment. Shall it cease to be so? Action will be taken at the meeting in reference to the above. The choice of officers will also come before the meet- ing."
Capt. Charles Scott called a meeting of the P. L. I. at the Town Hall at 6 o'clock in the evening of March 12, 1850, for the purpose of choosing officers, as all officers must be commissioned before April Ist.
The TRANSCRIPT of May 8, 1850, says editorially : "Training Day-This annual gala-day is soon to return. We under- stand that the old companies in several towns are not coming out. We hope this is true and that the Old Company in Pe-
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terborough will do likewise and save the town considerable expense. This yearly farce has been enacted over and over un- til the community are satisfied of the ut- ter inefficiency and folly of it. We do not wish to see the military entirely abol- ished, but would offer any reasonable en- couragement to any body of men who or- ganize a company and take pride in learn- ing and doing a soldier's duty. There is a mock sentimentalism abroad which stands aghast at the sight of a musket, and cries away with all means of national defense, the militia, the army and navy. We should learn a lesson from these states, which having entirely abolished the militia, have seen the impracticabili- ty of it, and made attempts to reinstate it. Our own legislature, we trust, will do something, not to destroy all military spirit, but to save what yet remains. The self-styled peace men, who consider all military display profanation, are learning that there is no more ready way to anni- hilate the whole business, than the con- tinuance of the present system."
A. Pevey, under date of May 13, 1850, had an advertisement offering for sale at auction at French's hotel, the 18th of that month, 13 uniforms and parts of P. L. I. equipment.
The TRANSCRIPT under date of May 28, 1851, states: "The Peterborough Light Infantry, commanded by Capt. Charles B. Carter made a fine display on Tuesday last. This time-honored company, which always wins laurels of praise, partakes of the general debility which is fast using up the militia. The state has adminis- tered an occasional tonic to support its decline, but doctoring will not save it. The ranks of the P. L. I. were small at the recent drill; we observed in them several officers who have been honorably discharged from duty, but who seem de- termined to stand by the colors till the , powder, had stepped out, was very last gun is fired," etc.
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