USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New-Hampshire, being statistics, compiled on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town; May 19th, 1850 > Part 12
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DECLARATION OF THE INHABITANTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" Colony of N. Hampshire, &c. - Committee of Safety, " April 12, 1776.
"To the Selectmen of Bedford : - In order to carry the underwritten resolve of the Honorable Continental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all Males, above twenty-one years of age, (lunatics, idiots, and negroes excepted,) to sign the Declaration on this paper, and when so done, to make return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman."
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HISTORICAL NOTICES OF BEDFORD.
"In Congress, March 14, 1776.
" Resolved, -That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed, within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by Arms, the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleets and Armies.
" Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary."
" In consequence of the above Resolution of the Continen- tal Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American brethren, in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the United Colonies, We, the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."
Signers in Bedford. - "John Wallace, jr., James Caldwell, William Caldwell, John McKinney, Asa Barnes, Samuel Tirrel, jr., John Moor, James Wallace, James Martin," &c. [See Appendix.]
The list has about 100 signatures, only a few of which, as they stand, are given here, as, with one exception, all the inhabitants were willing to sign, as appears from the following return.
" To the honorable, the Council and House of Represent- atives, for the Colony of New Hampshire, to be convened at Exeter, in said Colony, on Wednesday, 5th inst. :
" Pursuant to the within precept, we have taken pains to know the minds of the inhabitants of the town of Bedford, with respect to the within obligation, and find none unwil- ling to sign the same, except the Rev. John Houston, who declines signing the said obligation, for the following reasons ; Firstly, Because he did not apprehend that the honorable Committee meant that Ministers should take up arms, as being inconsistent with their ministerial charge, Secondly,
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Because he was already confined to the County of Hillsbor- ough, therefore, he thinks he ought to be set at liberty before he should sign the said obligation. Thirdly, Because there are three men belonging to his family already enlisted in the Continental Army.
JOHN GOFFE, Selectmen. JOHN ORR,
Bedford, June 4th, 1776."
Should any one have the curiosity to examine the work from which the above is an extract, they would find much to interest them. In the return from Amherst it is stated, " all who have seen it have signed, except" -then the names of four are given, who refused to sign. So from Londonderry, the return says, " we find none who refuse to sign except the following persons," naming fifteen. In some towns, all the inhabitants signed the agreement.
Many interesting facts might, no doubt, be collected con- cerning those who went into the Revolutionary service from this town. There was one in particular, George Orr, whose life was so eventful, that some account should be given. The following facts are from his daughter, Ann Orr, and they extend back to his childhood, long before the Revolution. George Orr, losing his parents when an infant, was brought up till the age of sixteen, by an Aunt Dinsmoor, of Windham. At that age, he went to sea in the merchant service. But as it was then a time of war, he was pressed on board a British man-of-war, and continued in the naval service three years. Peace being restored, he was paid off and honorably discharged in London, from whence he travelled on foot through the country to Edinburgh, took passage for America, and returned to his friends in Bedford.
Intending to settle on a farm, he purchased a piece of land in Goffstown, and went to sea once more, to obtain a little more money to make his last payment and secure a title. But as war had again broken out, he was, on his very first voyage, pressed again into the British navy, and kept there seven years more, generally on the Mediterranean Station. At length an order being received to send a vessel on to the New England coast, the captain of that vessel, requested the commander of the ship, on board which George was bound to Gibraltar, to exchange a number of Yankee seamen, who he feared might desert when they came into a New England
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port, and give him an equal number of Europeans for his voyage.
George, speaking the broad Scotch dialect, was taken for a Scotchman, and being asked if he was willing to change ships, readily agreed, and thus, in an unexpected moment was released from the Mediterranean Squadron, and found to his great joy, that the ship was to be anchored in Portsmouth harbor, where he had friends that would aid him in making his escape. As soon as the ship arrived, he persuaded another sailor to accompany him, took the first chance of securing a boat and making their escape. They were closely pursued, but finding friends ready to conceal him, he soon arrived safely in Londonderry. Advertisements were sent after, but he had nothing to fear; the inhabitants of the place would have risked their lives rather than to have given him up. The ship could make but a short stay, so that he could soon bid defiance to naval authority. He, however, always spoke with respect concerning his officers, and said the se- verity they practised was generally indispensible. He boasted, that through the service, he never got a single scratch from the boatswain's cat. [Thanks to Congress, flogging is now abolished in the American Navy.] As he had never been heard from by his friends, his land had been conveyed to another, and he was left, after ten years' hard service on the ocean, with nothing but the sailor's suit upon his back. The good ladies of Londonderry soon furnished him with clothing. His health was unimpaired, and he was willing to labor, but being no landsman, he was unskilful in farming, and dared not trust himself again on the ocean. As his only resource, he engaged in boating on the Western lakes. Commencing at Schenectady they pursued their course in batteaux, up the Mohawk river, carrying their canoes and baggage from one stream to another, till they reached Lake Ontario, thence pursuing their voyage through the lakes, till they met the Indian traders at Mackinaw, and exchanging their goods for furs, returned to Schenectady in the fall, making but one trip in a year. In this business he spent seven years more of his life. With the little property thus acquired, he returned to Bedford, purchased fifty acres of wild land, built a cottage, married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Wallace, and set himself to clearing up his farm, but was again interrupted by a call to take up arms in defence of his country. He was with the army at Ticonderoga, and was a boatswain under Gen. Arnold, on Lake Champlain. Here a ball split open the
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wristband of his shirt, and broke the skin on his hand, which was all the wound he received. Having completed his term of service, he returned to Bedford, and steadily pursued the cultivation of his farm. He died, Oct. 17, 1807.
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CHANGES IN MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
IT may be well to glance for a moment at the contrast between the past and the present, as to modes of living, habits, customs, &c. The present generation, surrounded with conveniences and luxuries of life, can but imperfectly comprehend the living and fare of their progenitors. The fine fabrics of the present day, of woollen, linen, silks, &c., were worn by few. Shoes were but little worn in the sum- mer, except on the Sabbath and holidays; they were gene- rally carried in the hand until they got near the meeting, when they were put on. Wheat flour was but little used, chiefly on Thanksgiving-days, and other festival occasions ; Rye and Indian was the common bread of the country. Broths were the common food, particularly Barley broth, which was the food for morning, noon, and night, at some seasons of the year. Milk was quite a luxury ; Tea and Coffee were rarities seldom enjoyed.
It is related of Dea. Orr, father of the late John Orr, Esq., a man remarkable for Scotch wit and fondness for joke, that at one time he went to Boston, to sell his butter and other produce, and having got through, at the close of the day, and being greatly fatigued, he put up at a place of entertainment in Boston, and being asked what he would have for supper, spoke of his fatigue, and said he would like something to restore his spirits. The landlady suggested a cup of tea would be good for him, which he readily accepted, and of which he drank several cups. After he had done, the lady said it was customary to turn the cup upside down to signify no more was wanted. He apologized, and said he would remember it. The next morning instead of a cup of tea, he took, at breakfast, a bowl of bread and milk, and not wanting the whole, he finished, and then turned the bowl upside down, with the contents on the table. The hostess admin- istered a severe reprimand, but he pleasantly replied, she must not blame him for following her direction.
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Splinters of pitch pine, and pitch pine knots were used for lights, instead of candles. Many a scholar of Bedford has studied his lesson by this light, who has afterwards become distinguished in public and private life.
There has been a great change in travelling vehicles. The first buggy-wagon, was owned by Stephen French, and Seth Page obtained the second from Samuel Hodge, of Frances- town, N. H. Venerable farmers, with their wives on pillions behind them, rode to meeting on horseback. The manner of borrowing and lending among our ancestors, was truly patri- archal. A neighbor killed a calf, no part of it was sold, but distributed among relatives and friends, the poor widow always having a piece, and the minister not being forgotten ; if he did not get the shoulder, he got a partion as good. And when a neighbor wished for help to break up his ground, and a num- ber of yokes of oxen were necessary, all he had to do was to let it be known, and not only the oxen and plough could be had, but a man to drive. The inhabitants generally were well acquainted with each other, - their circumstances and wants. The needy and destitute always found a helper, and that, too, with a good and generous heart. There was no aristocracy, - all considered themselves on an equal footing. At the present day, though there is in this town, more than usual equality of condition, yet the change is no doubt great. The Grandmothers were often robust, hardy women, not unwilling to work in the field, reaping grain, &c., as occasion required. Such entries as the following, in Matthew Patten's Journal, are not uncommon.
" Aug. 20, 1763. - I worked at the meadow, and I got 100 cocks this week, and there came up a shower about the middle of the afternoon, and catched about 20 cocks ready for raking. This week Alex'r Orr's wife reaped a little more than half a day."
In those early days, there was a propensity for frolic and fun that would hardly consist with modern gravity. We are now more artificial, and society is less tolerant of the native outbursts of feeling and humour. There is another anecdote related of the same man, that so sadly misunder- stood the Boston landlady. People then were less scrupulous in the use of language than now. On one occasion, some words escaped him, that were thought highly out of character, and they got to the ears of the minister ; one said to another,
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I must certainly rebuke him, for using such terms. The other said, you had better let Orr alone. However, on one occasion, when several of the clergy were together, and Deacon Orr among them, one of them reprimanded him for the objectionable language. "How could you suffer yourself to speak so ?" "Why what was it !" The expression was mentioned to him. " And what o' that," said he, " D' ye expect me to be a spirit an nae flesh ?"
The murder of McQuade, by Indians, has been alluded to. Burns, the survivor, had to bear occasionally the ridicule of one of his neighbors, who called in question his courage in this affair. He intimated that Burns' imagination had conjured up the Indians, or peradventure, if it was by Indians, they were Squaws, -not warriors. At one time, one Cald- well, threw this up to Burns, at his house. "Well, well, perhaps you may yet be scared, -by Indians, - Squaws or not." Very soon, Caldwell set out for home ; it was just on the edge of evening. He had no sooner gone, than Burns took down his wig, and putting it on, followed Caldwell. He soon approached him, and stepping cautiously, broke the dry twigs off as he passed along ; Caldwell hearing the sound, immediately suspected it was an Indian, and jumped into the bushes, where he stood still ; Burns did the same. Caldwell ventured out, and looking round very circumspectly, moved on again ; Burns too stepped out and moved on after him, breaking more twigs off as he passed along. The moment Caldwell heard the footsteps of the supposed Indian, he would dart into the bushes, and Burns would do the same. At last, Caldwell could endure it no longer, he set out on the run, at the top of his speed. In getting to the nearest house, he had to pass a small brook, over which, was a single square stick of timber, which served for foot people to pass over without getting wet. But Caldwell took the safe cut, and terror giving wings to his speed, went directly through the brook at two bounds, and up the bank, and into the house of his friends, about four rods off. When fairly in, and as soon as he could get his breath, he cries out - " Where's the gun ?" There happened to be only a single person in the House at the time, a female. "I say - give me the gun, I have seen a thousand Indians, in the woods, they will be here in a moment." On this, in came the owner, making serious enquiries, what was the matter. "Oh, says Caldwell, I have just come from Burns', and I have seen a thousand
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Indians, and they will be here in a moment, no doubt they are now looking through the cracks of the house."
" Oh !" said Moor, the owner of the house, "its nothing else, Caldwell, but Burns, who is making a fool of you, come with me, down to the brook, and I have no doubt you'll see him." To cut the story short, the result was, that Burns was never troubled with any more slurs on his valour.
There was a great deal of primitive simplicity and warm- heartedness among the first settlers. They were principally established near the river ; but John Orr, (already mentioned,) Benjamin Smith, and William Moor, selected farms west of Strawberry Hill. Being separated from the main settlement by miles of dense forest, they were warmly attached to each other, and as Mr. Orr had not been accustomed to labor in his native country, he would have found it difficult to get along with his work, if his more skilful neighbors had not cheer- fully lent him assistance. "Indeed," said Catharine, wife of Benjamin Smith, more than sixty years afterwards, "I am sure that Billy and Ben never grudged the time they spent helping John Orr to clear his land, for he was a father to us all, and they were never with him without hearing something that did them good. When there was any difficulty, we were all but one family ; we were healthy and contented ; the only thing we missed, was our sanctuary privileges. We could seldom hear a single sermon without going to London- derry. But we did na' always stay at home. Annie Orr, (grandmother of Rev. Silas Aiken, ) and I, carried my Robert in our arms when he was ten months old, travelling on foot, to Mr. McGregor's meeting ; Ben went with us, but he did us little good, for he was not worth a fig to carry a bairn. It was a weary journey, but we had a good will to the way, and were never a hair the worse for it. We had a day's preaching once in a while in some barn. In one instance, Margaret Orr left her children at home, and went with John to meeting ; but she got no good of the sermon, for thinking of the little ones she had left at home. 'They might be careless, and tittle-tottle down to the brook and fall in and be drowned ; I'll not do so again ;' said she. The next Sabbath, John, and such of the children as were able, went to meeting, and Margaret staid at home to take care of the baby ; and taking her Bible to read a little, the child slipped out and was gone ! As soon as she missed it, she ran to the brook, but it was too late ; She could only wade into the water and draw it out,
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take it in her arms, carry it home, a corpse, and watch in silence till the meeting was done."
The above information is from the late Miss Ann Orr, who had it from the lips of old Mrs. Smith. The following, from the same source, is a graphic sketch of the death-bed scene of a good man. 1752; John Orr was seized with a malignant fever; he seemed to be aware that this might be his last sickness. "He sent for us all," said the venerable Mrs. Smith, when she was more than eighty years of age, "and we gathered around his dying bed, and there was mourning there, such mourning as could not now be heard around the death-bed of a father. He took Matthew Patten by the hand, and told him that he must now take his place in town affairs. ' See that the records are fairly kept, and everything done in an orderly manner.' He gave each one of us such advice as he knew we needed." "And you remember it yet, I suppose ; " said Miss Orr. "How can I e'er forget it? 't is the last thing I shall think of in this world, if I have my senses."
Mr. Orr, was, no doubt, a fine specimen of a shrewd, pious, plain-hearted Scotchman, such as Scott has represented the father of Jeannie Deans, in the " Heart of Mid-Lothian."
Changes have taken place at the present day, some for the better and some for the worse. Customs used to prevail, of which it may be said, " They are more honored in the breach than the observance." Of these, one was, having ardent spirits at funerals, a practice that was once almost universal. It is said, that at the funeral of Maj. Goffe, a barrel of rum was set out before the house, for all to help themselves, and it was all gone before night.
Then with regard to the Sabbath, it was formerly better observed than now. The following article appears in the town- meeting warrant for 1779 ; - " As for some time past, the Sabbath has been greatly profaned, by persons travelling with burthens upon the same, when there is no necessity for it, - to see whether the town will not try to provide some remedy for the same, for the future." Catechistical instruction in families, and schools, now so much neglected, then generally prevailed, while now the Sabbath School system presents some advantages not then enjoyed.
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SKETCH OF THE CHURCH AND MINISTRY.
SKETCH OF THE CHURCH AND MINISTRY.
MINISTRY.
THE religion of the first settlers, was for the most part, that of the Church of Scotland, to which country, their ancestors originally belonged, and from which they emigrated nearly a century before their children came to America.
Of this church, the acknowledged founder was John Knox,* who had learnt from Calvin, in Geneva, the form of ecclesiastical government that is known as Presbyterian. The Scotch Kirk, as it is called, was the true child of the Reformation, being, from the first, strongly opposed to the Church of England, which was viewed by them as not having come out from the abominations of Babylon the great ; but only as having shaken off a few of the grosser corrup- tions of Rome.
Neither did the followers of Knox sympathize cordially with the Puritans, or Congregationalists, as they are now called. The great Puritan principle of Church government, that every congregation ought to be governed by its own laws, without being subject to the authority of synods, pres- byteries, or any ecclesiastical assembly whatever, was a prin- ciple from which the Presbyterian dissented. This, however, was about all the difference. "It is in this," says Mosheim, " their notion of ecclesiastical government, that the difference between them and the Presbyterians, principally consists ; for their religious doctrines, except in some points of very little moment, are almost entirely the same with those that were adopted by the Puritans."
* The dwelling-house of Knox is still standing in Edinburgh. This inter- esting relic which has narrowly escaped destruction, is now in course of repair and restoration, and it is said, will, when completed, resist the ravages of time, probably for as long a period as has elapsed since the Reformer's era. McCrie's Life of Knox, just republished, would be a valuable accession to the family library.
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MINISTRY.
About 1650, quite a number went over from Argyleshire, in the West of Scotland, to the counties of Londonderry and Antrim, in the North of Ireland. Warmly attached, as might be expected, to the Presbyterian doctrine and discipline, in which the Church of Scotland was united, - thèse Scottish emigrants were exposed to the persecutions in which the Protestants of Ireland were involved during the reign of Charles 1st and James 2d, until 1680, the period known as the British revolution, when William and Mary ascended the throne. They then enjoyed more toleration, but still, as they dissented from the Church of England, they were subject to many embarrassments, among which not the least was, being obliged to support a minister of the established religion. Besides, they were continually liable to great hard- ships and dangers, and many of them suffered in the siege of Londonderry, that memorable affair in 1689, when James 2d, with a powerful force from France, made a descent on Ireland. Accordingly they resolved to emigrate to America.
Springing from such an origin, as did most of the early inhabitants of this town, it might be expected they would be decidedly Presbyterian in doctrine and discipline. That they were so, appears very early in their petitions to be incorporated as a town, in which they say, -" Your petitioners, as to our particular persuasion in Christianity, are generally of the Presbyterian denomination." The Church of Scotland has been prolific in great and good men. From her bosom have gone forth sons who have been luminaries in the church and the world. Ralph Erskine, George Campbell, and Thomas Chalmers, are names that will go down with lustre, to the latest generations. It is a church dear to the hearts of multitudes now in heaven, and multitudes still on earth. The sacramental seasons, the service at the tables, adapting instruction to the old, the middle-aged, and the young, who took seats in succession, the tokens that have now disap- peared, but were then solemn, and perhaps necessary: the preparatory days, and the Monday service, and the gathering together, when the country was thinly settled, on Friday or Saturday, from different and sometimes distant towns, to hold sacred communion with God and each other, furnished altogether a most thrilling occasion, and must have had a most happy religious influence on those who enjoyed the privilege. It was not uncommon to go from this town, and
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from New Boston, and even Antrim, to Londonderry, on these sacramental festivals, which occurred only twice a year.
The first Presbytery in New England was constituted in Londonderry, April 16, 1745, and was called the " Boston Presbytery." It was by this body, the church in Bedford was organized, according to the Presbyterian form of govern- ment. Immediately on the incorporation of the town, they turn their attention to the settlement of a stated ministry. At the first town-meeting after the charter, we find the following vote : - " Voted, That the ministers be enter- tained at Sam'l Patten's, at the charge of the town." A call was given to three candidates in succession, but without any important results.
July 26, 1750. " Voted, There be a call given to the Rev. Mr. Alexander Boyd, to the work of the ministry in this town." At the same meeting it was " Voted, That Capt. John Goffe, Dea. John Orr, and Mr. Hugh Riddle are to present a call to the Rev. Mr. Alexander Boyd, to the work of the ministry in this town, and are commissioned to prosecute the call to the Presbytery, and to all intents needful thereto."
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