USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Barnstead > History of Barnstead [N.H.] from its first settlement in 1727 to 1872 > Part 9
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MAILS.
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The first mail was brought into Barnstead by one Bragg, on horseback, on his route from Dover to Ply- mouth, a distance of sixty-five miles. His saddle-bags contained oats for his horse, as well as the news of the day. Sometimes he used but three pints of oats in the whole distance. One day Bragg was interrogated thus : " How did you get along in using so few oats?" " Ah !" said he, " I dealt them out with discretion."
The first postmaster in Barnstead was Charles Hodg- don, Jr. His office was kept in his private house, on the Province road.
In 1808 another mail route was established. The driver carried it in saddle-bags and on horseback. It started from Gilmanton Ironworks on Mondays, and returned on Tuesdays of each week.
On this route the first mail carrier was John S. Shan- non of Gilmanton. His wife was a daughter of Moses Rand. His saddle-bags were full of newspapers-none, however, could obtain papers other than subscribers. At first the New Hampshire Patriot was the only paper. After-
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wards the New Hampshire Statesman made its appearance. At the winding of the horn, crowds would cluster around Shannon to learn the news-the old saddle-bags would be unstrapped, and the news, foreign, domestic and political, would be unfolded. Subscribers were supplied for the week, and a newspaper was regarded as one of the great luxuries of the age. Shannon, independent of his papers, was well versed in what was going on from abroad ; he always had great news for the crowd, and a good word for all who came to make inquiries.
After a while the mail route was extended from Dover to Concord, through Barnstead, when Shannon, instead of going on horseback, drove a horse and wagon. News- papers began to increase. The New Hampshire Patriot, edited by Isaac Hill, continued to be the principal political medium by which the democracy of Barnstead were edu- cated and trained. Shannon also acted as our first ex- press man in the transmission of the mails and newspa- pers, and in the doing of errands, and sometimes carried a passenger. John I. Tuttle, Samuel G. Berry and others, were the successors of Shannon in this business.
At Barnstead Centre, a second post office was soon af- terward established, with John Peavey as postmaster. Another, also, was started at North Barnstead, of which S. G. Webster was the keeper.
THE STAGE COACH.
The first coach was started here May 23, 1823, and run from Portsmouth to Meredith Bridge, up one day and
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down the next. It was drawn by four horses ; provisions were made for them on the way by the shareholders. The name of the driver was Bean. When it started off the road was lined with men and boys to witness its exit, and cheered it at the crack of the whip, when the first mud turned up to bespatter its polished wheels. It was, in- deed, a novelty in Barnstead to see a coach drawn by four horses, winding over the hills and at the speed of seven miles an hour. The same stage route is con- tinued to this day, varying the route only by touching at the Parade, and passing around by the way of Pitts- field. Other mail and passenger routes have since been opened to meet the railroad cars at Alton Bay, and at Concord. A railroad is now opened to Pittsfield. Its steam whistle reverberates along the valley of the Sun- cook, and it is hoped one will sooner or later find its way within the lines of Barnstead in such form as to super- sede the stage coach in that locality almost altogether.
THE SOCIAL LIBRARY.
This was incorporated in 1807, under the name of the " Barnstead Social Library." It at first contained about three hundred volumes, all in good, strong binding. Its works were miscellaneous, historical, biographical, poeti- cal and religious. Whether this Town Library, which had so good a beginning, has of late been replenished and enlarged, or not, we are unable to state. If it has not, we most fervently pray that it may be.
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WAR OF 1812.
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When this war broke out, a recruiting officer, by the name of Neally, a sergeant from the regular army, came to Barnstead, and opened an office. - His only assistant was a youth by the name of Grant. Grant was skilful on the violin in playing the "Soldier's Joy" and " Yankee Doodle." His music, which inspired the rustic dances in that recruiting service, is well re- membered. To facilitate this enterprise, the enrolled militia company was called out at the Parade. They formed in front of the church, were drilled, and at length were drawn up into line - were applauded and treated copiously. Sergeant Neally, by permission, then advanced and addressed them thus :
" Fellow soldiers, attention ! It affords me the high- est gratification to witness the discipline and good order in this large and noble company of citizen soldiers. The town of Barnstead has reason to be proud of her defend- ers. Fellow soldiers ! Your beloved country is engaged in a bloody war with Great Britain ; we must, as valiant patriots, go forth to maintain her honor and support her flag. Will you help in this crisis? All those who will volunteer in their country's cause will, at the word MARCH, advance three paces to the front. Forward, march !"
All eyes were upon the officer ; but not a soldier moved. At length, old Wiggins Jacobs, although a little lame, hobbled to the front, with measured step, gun erect, and with a determined visage, just as if he meant war.
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The uniform of this recruit was rather of the oriental style. His long coat was of the swallow-tail fashion, and out a little at the elbows ; his boots were short, not quite meeting the legs of his pants at the knee. His fire-lock, without a flint, was somewhat laden with rust. And his old slouched hat was minus about one half of its brim.
Still, our hero was the observed of all observers. He stood forth as the champion, on whom Barnstead was to' depend, in that bloody war. By the determination of his countenance and the flash in his eye, all were given to understand that John Bull and his hosts were not long to remain upon these shores - that in the face of such valor, Britain would be nowhere.
The gallant recruiting officer, although well pleased with the valor evinced in this instance, was not quite satisfied with the numerical strength which his patriotic eloquence had called forth.
He, however, rallied a second time, in a different man- ner, and at length had no difficulty in obtaining his requi- site number of recruits, who gallantly represented Barn- stead in that war.
SOLDIERS OF 1812.
Among the men who served were :
Capt. John Peavey, John Kaime,
Jeremiah Davis,
Chandler Peavey,
Franklin Chesley, Silas Bunker,
Dearborn Bunker, Timothy Bunker,
Paul G. Hoit, James Davis,
Joseph Foye, Gardner T. Barker,
Jonathan Rand, John Place,
Winthrop Rand, Wentworth Rand,
Thurston Conner.
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Of the above soldiers, Franklin Chesley served near the lines of Canada, and died in the service. He was the son of Jonathan Chesley, was a man of much culture. He left a wife and one child. T. Bunker, who served in the same company, returned. He was a son of John, and is said to have been a great mimic and wit. Hoit served on the northern frontier, but whether he fell there or not we are not informed. He was a lieutenant.
On the frontier, Barnstead was well represented by its "regulars," and on the seacoast by its militia. Captain John Peavey, with a company of militia, was stationed for some months at Fort Constitution, in Portsmouth. Joseph Foye was in several battles, was wounded, but af- terwards lived to a good old age. Jonathan and Win- throp Rand were on the frontier, but neither returned. Kaime served as a sergeant. He never returned. Chand- ler Peavey served on the frontier and returned. He was in several battles. S. Bunker was among the enlisted, served through the war, and returned home unharmed. Gardner T. Barker, b. at Lee, who married Martha W. Huntoon of Gilmanton, served, returned, and afterwards resided a considerable time in Barnstead. Thomas E. Barker, Colonel of the 12th N. H. Regiment in the rebel- lion, was his son. John Place was a son of Joseph, of the Revolution. Thurston Conner died at Barnstead July 13, 1872, aged 85.
" Of God-like man !- if thus he e'er appears,
'Tis when his truth outlives declining years, Who ventures all in strength of youth or age, In deeds divine, his energies engage; Who with one hand sustains a falling brother, Yet grasps his country's flag firm in the other; To flaunt its folds on freedom's towering height, He onward bears it, battling for the right."
[Carerly's Merrimac, p. 73.]
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MEXICAN WAR.
Nicholas Kenison served there. He was a brave sol- dier, but was killed in battle.
Alfred T. Munsey, also served in the Mexican war. He returned uninjured, and afterwards served as an officer against the rebellion.
LAWYERS.
Since the year 1825, Barnstead has given to lawyers but little support. Previously, when lumbering was the chief employment of laborers, when the products of the forest and the wages of laborers were low, and when New England rum was a common beverage, it was then that the traders in merchandise would entangle the lumbermen in long lists of credits, and before they were aware of the danger, the law would begin to be enforced upon them.
It was not uncommon for a neighboring lawyer to issue half a dozen writs against one debtor. The deputy sheriff having them in charge would then come to Barn- stead and proceed to attach his real estate and put all his
. personal property under the care of a keeper. On a forced sale the property, in some instances, would not be more than enough to cancel the costs of suit; and then the farmer's real estate would be subjected to an oppres- sive mortgage or his body to a disgraceful imprisonment. Such were some of the results of the law as administered by the country lawyers fifty years ago.
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In these times, as appears, there is in the law a differ- ent practice. The debtor has rights, as well as the cred- itor. A man's homestead is usually protected, and his body, for debt, is seldom arrested or imprisoned. In this, the lapse of half a century has wrought an important im- provement.
CALEB MERRILL, Esq., was the first lawyer settled, and in practice, in Barnstead. His office was at the Parade. He was from Chester, and commenced practice here in 1811. He was a man less disposed to obtain riches than to impart professional advice gratuitously. He never en- ticed his clients into hasty litigation, but proved true to the honor of his calling; in cooling the passions of the con- tending parties, and in bringing them to amicable settle- ments.
Mr. Merrill was a good citizen, a sound lawyer, and commanded a respectable business. In 1819 he removed to Pittsfield, where he resided until his death. He left a widow and children.
ISAAC O. BARNES, ESQ.
Mr. Barnes commenced practice here in 1822. He was a graduate of Middlebury College, and had been a law stu- dent from the office of Titus Brown, Esq., of Fran- cestown. He was a native of Bedford. In form Mr. Barnes was tall, and when first at Barnstead was thin and in slender health ; but the change of place and the coming in to a more invigorating atmosphere, soon im- parted to his countenance a more healthy hue, and restored him to vigorous health. The lady whom he afterwards married, was a sister to Gov. Woodbury ; and being a democrat, he sought and obtained of the government va- 1 19
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rious offices, which from time to time he held until his death. He practised law in Barnstead about nine years, and then went to Lowell, Mass. In 1833 he removed to Boston, and very soon was appointed Naval Agent for that port. Afterwards, under the Bankrupt act of that time he was made Commissioner for Massachusetts. At one time he held the office of United States Marshal at Bos- ton, and for a time was President of the Lafayette Bank, and at last obtained the office of United States Pension Agent at Boston, and continued in that position until his death.
While in practice Mr. Barnes resided in a cottage at South Barnstead, but cared less for the law than for politics ; was always cheerful and happy - enjoyed the society of his friends - took an active part in all good works, except temperance, and was usually full of wit and sarcasm.
At Boston he boarded at the Bromfield House for many years. His evenings were mostly spent with a circle of listeners, deeply entertained with his fund of amusing anecdotes. One of his jokes has been poetized as follows :
NO PRECEDENT.
" A jolly old fellow was Isaac O. B., Very large, very fat, very fond of a spree, Very fond of his glass, very fond of a smoke, But fonder by far, than all these, of his joke.
To a political barbecue Isaac once went, And with other good fellows the day gaily spent,
In eating and drinking, which did not agree With the spacious interior of Isaac O. B.
Yet on arriving at home and going to bed, With stomach o'erloaded, and very light head, He was soon taken ill, and was so short of breath, That he thought he was called by the grim angel, Death.
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So he sent for a doctor, renowned for his skill, Who, hearing that Isaac was fatally ill, Did not tarry a moment, but unto him sped, And found the old gentleman groaning in bed.
With feet very hot, and his face very red, And crying out, surely, " I soon shall be dead." " Oh ! nonsense !- pooh-pooh !" said the skilful M. D., Your case is not hopeless, my dear Mr. B.
" In fact 'tis quite simple. The cause is quite plain, And you'll soon be as right as a trivet again."
" No, doctor," groaned Isaac, "I'm stricken by death, He's got me now, sure-oh ! I haven't got breath
To tell how I suffer." "Oh! come now, sir, come," Said the doctor; 'tis plain you must suffer some, But your pulse is not high, you'll come to no harm, For no man ever died, with his feet like your's, WARM."
" I know of a case," gasped Isaac O. B., So your statement does not at all reassure me ; I know of a man, and his name I'll repeat, John Rogers, the martyr - he died with warm feet."
One other story of this hero will finish our account of him.
At the time when President Jackson removed the de- posits from the old United States Bank, the Lafayette Bank in Boston had been recently chartered, with Isaac as President. It became, among others, what was then called a pet bank, which, by the government, was regarded a much safer institution in which to deposit the public moneys, than the old United States Bank, which was then called a monopoly. Consequently nearly a million of dollars from the government fell into this bank for safe keeping ; the old bank, which had been the medium, and which had sustained the merchants of the country was to be crushed out, and consequently the merchants of Bos- ton, many of them, at least, must necessarily fail and come to want.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
In a little time the financial affairs of the country be- came unsettled, merchants began to tremble in their boots, and at length the financial trouble was seen coming, as it soon did come, with a crash.
Many of these merchants were the political friends of Isaac, and when their distress came they applied to his bank for relief, and true as the story goes, through his ten- der mercies they did not apply in vain ; they were sustained.
This crisis came in 1837-8, and thereupon the govern- ment had occasion to send a committee to this bank to investigate its standing and to count up its thousands that had been deposited there.
When the Committee arrived Isaac, the President, re- ceived them in his usual manner with jovial good cheer ; and after hearing as they did many of his best anecdotes, the Committee cautiously informed him of their business, and desired him to pilot them in investigating the affairs of the Bank.
He welcomed them to the Bank, and appeared happy in the extreme. But says he : "Gentlemen, I'll give ye the keys, I hope you will be successful. I've tried long to ferret out this matter. If you can find any money there, you'll do better than I can."
An investigation of several days was had-the Commit- tee returned home about as wise as they came-the de- posits were gone, and all the bills had become worthless, consequently their favorite Bank at once came to an end.
MOSES NORRIS, EsQ. He was a graduate from "Dart- mouth" in 1828, studied law with Isaac O. Barnes, and in 1832 became his successor in practice at Barnstead. Norris was a good scholar, a well-read lawyer, and stood high in the profession, although much of the time was de-
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voted to politics and other matters. In 1834 he removed to Pittsfield, his native town, and opened an office. There he became one of its representatives, and was speaker of the House of Representatives in the years 1840-41. Afterwards he was chosen a Representative to Congress, and in 1850 was elected by the Legislature United States Senator. He afterwards removed to Man- chester, where he resided until his death in 1858. He was rather slack in his business habits, seemed unambitious, yet he was honest and generous to a fault. He left a widow and three children, but as yet no stone marks the place where he rests. His son in the rebellion took sides with the confederacy and served as a soldier in the rebel army.
JEREMIAH ELKINS, EsQ. In 1836 Mr. Elkins came to Barnstead, where he resided until his decease in 1845. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College, and of the class of 1820. He spent the first years of his professional life in Washington, D. C., and in a successful practice. Leaving there he opened an office in Laconia, where he continued for some time previous to his removal to Barnstead. At his decease he left a widow, and two daughters by a former marriage.
ALBERT E. HODGDON, EsQ., was born here, read law with Mr. Norris and Judge Perley, practised some time in Barnstead, and died here in 1847. He was the son of Charles Hodgdon, Esq.
BENJAMIN WINKLEY, EsQ., was the son of Benjamin Winkley, Senior. He practised law in Barnstead from 1847 to 1849.
CHARLES SMITH GEORGE, EsQ., being educated to the law was admitted to the bar in 1845. He however pre-
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
ferred agriculture to the business of the forum, and is now engaged in that most healthful and interesting employ- ment. He was a son of Rev. Enos George, and indeed " is a chip of the old block." In truth we may say of him, he is a good lawyer, a ready speaker, and an honest farmer. His wife Almira, was the daughter of Zechariah Boody Waldron, who was a descendant of the famous Major Waldron, who was slain at Dover, by the Indians, on the night of June 27, 1680.
His son, Enos George, Jr., has contributed much by way of encouraging the publication of this history, and his generous kindnesses will long be remembered by its editor.
CHARLES R. ROGERS, EsQ., was admitted to the bar in 1848. He practised law here about two years. His office was at the Centre. He left town some time in the year 1850.
H. B. LEAVITT, EsQ., practised law in Barnstead in the years 1853-4. In 1861 he enlisted in the 7th Regt. N. H. Vols., and afterwards was appointed to the command of a company. At the charge on Fort Wagner, Charleston, S. C., he fell at the head of his company. He was a brave officer.
THE LAW.
Reason and the experience of the past would seem to teach that law was not made so much for the honest as for the depraved. Such have been the improvements in Barn- stead, of late, in brotherly kindness, temperance, and fair dealing, that at this time no lawyer appears to be needed in this locality. Confident we are that its honest yeomanry have appropriated to themselves a sufficient knowledge of
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the law, at least so far, as to be admonished to keep out of it, and to avoid its penalties. However : .
"We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape till custom make it Their perch and not their terror."
[ Shakespeare.]
PHYSICIANS.
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DR. JOSEPH ADAMS, was our first physician. He was an original permanent settler. He was a son of Rev. Joseph Adams, of Newington, was born in 1727, and was educated at Harvard. His father had schooled him for the ministry, but the son preferred physic rather than the- ology. In 1792 he came to Barnstead and settled on the Province road, near Gilmanton line, on a farm owned by his father. It was an elevated location, overlooking Beauty Pond. His wife was Joanna Gilman, daughter of Major Ezekiel Gilman, of Exeter.
Dr. Adams was quite advanced in age when he settled. His farm pleased him and he continued to reside here to the end of his days.
His children were Ezekiel Gilman, Joseph, Ebenezer, Dudley, John, Benjamin, Nathaniel, and two daughters, Betsey and Abigail ; the one married John and the other William Janvrin, both of Seabrook, in 1784. These Jan- vrin families are now numerous in Newburyport and vici- nity. One of the boys, Joseph A. Janvrin, a name-sake of Dr. Adams, has been a sea captain, is now in trade, and
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resides in the city of Lowell. The descendants of Dr. Adams are some of them, at least, intermingled by marriage with the Hodgdon family. They at this day are quite numerous and are generally much respected. Rev. John G. Adams of Lowell, is one of them.
Of Dr. Adams we read the following from the Diary of JOHN ADAMS, late President of the United States, wherein he refers to him thus :
" June, 1771 .- At Tilton's in . Portsmouth, I met with my cousin Joseph Adams, whose face I was once as glad to see, as I should have been to see an angel. The sight of him gave me a new feeling. When he was at College he used to come to Braintree with his brother Ebenezer. How I used to love him? He is broken to pieces with rheumatism and gout now ; to what cause is his ruin to be ascribed ?"
DR. JEREMIAH JEWETT, SR., was from Rowley, Mass., came in the year 1792, being then a young man. Pre- viously he had taken a circuit to the great lake, to Wolfs- boro' and to Merideth, with the view of settling in that neighborhood. But on his return he accepted a cordial invitation, which had some' time before been extended to him to make Barnstead his home. The contrast between the old county of Essex, his former place of residence, and this then new place with its sparse population, its bad roads, and with its otherwise discouraging aspects, was very great. Yet a spirit of enterprize pervaded the people ; they were about to erect a church and promised many other improvements. He found a boarding place on the high ground near the Mill, at the house of John Bunker, and at once commenced the business of his profession ; which soon extended beyond Barnstead into Acton, Bar- rington, and other towns. His mode of conveyance was
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on horse-back, carrying medicines in saddle-bags. In 1795 he purchased five acres of land, bordering on the Parade, lying on each side of the brook ; and thereupon built a dwelling house. This was the second house erected at the Parade, the first being Ben. Hodgdon's, the same now owned by Samuel Kaime.
DR. JEWETT married Temperance Dodge, of Rowley. For a quarter of a century he was the only physician in Barnstead. He had received his education at the common schools and at Dummer Academy, in Newbury, and had studied medicine with Doctors Torrey and Spofford of Rowley. Like inany other physicians he was fond of making long visits, never in a hurry, delighted in conver- sation, was rather slack in his habits, and had little or no determination to accumulate property.
In stature he was five feet ten inches, thick set, dark complexion, his hair tinged with gray, was quick in his gait and in his manner of speaking. He had served a few months in the army of the Revolution, under Gen. Wash- ington, and at one time was a guard over the prisoners then quartered at Cambridge. His house at Barnstead was quite central ; the selectmen often held their meetings in it ; and from this circumstance he was approbated a tav- erner. Consequently he had a large swing-sign painted blue ; on this was the picture of a dolphin, with a spear aimed at it, and under it were the words " Catch a Dol- phin ;" on the other side was the picture of an anchor and under it were the words "Cast Anchor,"
" JEREMIAH JEWETT, 1799."
The design of this inscription was impressive ; intend- ed perhaps to induce the traveller to " cast anchor" and turn in to partake of the repast then about being prepared for him. 1
20
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
The Doctor was surgeon of the 10th Regt. for many years. On parade days he wore a cockade and was equipped with a sword. He always had the most intimate relations with Parson George. On this account, at his decease, Mr. George declined to take part in the funeral exercises, but took a seat in the midst of the mourners.
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