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 16
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SCHOOLS.
been distinguished as teachers in this town, should be men- tioned the name of Ann Orr. For about half a century she taught in various districts of this and other towns, with ac- ceptance and success. As a teacher of children, she was almost without an equal, and she will long be remembered by a multitude who enjoyed her instructions.
The following anecdote was related of Miss Orr, at the Centennial Celebration, by the President of the day : - " I once had," she said, " a lad in my school, who troubled me very much. He would not get his lesson, though he ap- peared not to be idle. I kept my eye on him a day or two ; I had an article he wanted ; I said to him, James, if you will get me a perfect lesson you shall have that article. At the time of recitation I had a perfect lesson. Now, James, I see you have a good mind, as good, if not better than any in school, I shall always expect, and I intend to have, perfect lessons ever after this ; and it was so, I had no more trouble with James."
The following poetical tribute to Miss Orr, is from one of her scholars. It is an extract from a poem, too long for a place in this volume : -
" Near half a century flitted by, The summer's sweetness, winter's sigh Still found her at her chosen post, To educate the youthful host. Her labor's o'er, but memory still Will feel a deep and touching thrill,
As back it passes to those days When we indulg'd in jocund plays."
Miss Orr was an extraordinary character ; what she lacked in the graces of refinement, she made up in strength and vigor of thought and action. In conversation, she was always sensible and animated. At times she was masculine in her bearing ; but her active usefulness with many excellent qualities, made ample amends for the want of that softness that belongs to the female character.
There are now fifteen school districts in the town - of which one extends into Merrimac, another into Amherst.
Piscataquog Academy was incorporated in 1847; it has a Board of Officers and Trustees ; it is situated in a pleas- ant village, and has been useful and prosperous. The gen- tlemen who have taken charge of it successively, are Dr. Leonard French, D. C., Fitchburg, Mass. ; Hiram Wason,
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Esq., D. C., Charles Warren, H. U., Benj. F. Wallace, Esq., D. C., Bedford ; Mr. Amos Abbot, once missionary in India. This academy went into operation in 1842; Messrs. Walker, Bowman, Stark and Riddle, of the village, were among the founders.
Select schools have been sustained in other parts of the town; at the centre, Miss Adeline Willey taught with suc- cess ; she married Mr. Charles Aiken, of this town, and now resides in Wisconsin. Rev. J. C. Bryant, A. C., formerly pastor of the church in Littleton, Mass., now missionary in South Africa, taught at the centre with success. Mr. J. W. Pilsbury, D. C., now residing at Milford, N. H., and Rev. Mr. Turner, then from the Seminary at Andover, now min- ister in Iowa, instructed select schools at the centre of the town. At the west part of the town, Rev. Mr. Wilder mis- sionary in India, and Rev. Mr. Kendall, now Professor of Jackson College, Illinois, from the seminary at Andover, taught select schools. To these should be added the names of Dodge, and Rev. A. W. Burnham, once teachers of note in this town.
BRIDGES.
Ar a town meeting, held June 11, 1759, " Voted, Robert Walker, Hugh Riddle, and John Moor, be a committee to build a Bridge across Piscataquog river," which was built near where the bridge now stands.
Jan. 22, 1770. Maj. John Goffe was employed by the town to build the second bridge over Piscataquog river. It was raised July 16, 1770, and they finished laying the plank, Dec. 12, 1770. It was built near the former. While raising the bridge, six men were thrown off, of whom Mr. Holmes, Mr. Dugal, and Joseph Moor, were seriously injured, the latter so much so, that he died in thirty hours.
Nov. 1785. " Voted, John Patten, Adam Dickey, Joseph Patten, Lieut. John Orr, Ens. John Riddle, be a committee to repair or rebuild the Piscataquog Bridge, and build it near the same height as the present one, or as they may see proper."
Nov. 1795. Chose a committee consisting of Benj Barron, Lieut. John Riddle, Lieut. John Patten, John Orr, Esq., and Mr. James Darrah, to build a new bridge. This committee
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was to sell the work to the lowest bidder, and the construc- tion was to conform to a plan exhibited ; the bridge to be finished by June 1, 1796. It does not appear from the min- utes of the meeting who built the bridge; but at a meeting held March 23, 1796, John Orr, Mr. Joseph Patten, and Maj. Stephen Dole, were a committee appointed to inspect the timber and workmanship of the rebuilding of Piscataquog Bridge. They reported to the town at the next meeting after the bridge was finished, Aug. 29, 1796; and the town ac- cepted the report of the committee, which recommended to allow David Riddle $2,00 for extra work and timber on said bridge, from which it seems that David Riddle must have been the builder in 1796.
March 26, 1812. Isaac Riddle, Samuel Chandler, and William Moor, were appointed a committee to build Piscata- quog Bridge, the north abutment to be of split stone, (the south abutment being built of stone the year before,) with a middle pier built of wood, with good and substantial railing, stringers and plank. Wm. Riddle, Esq., was the builder of this bridge, which was completed in the summer of 1813 or '14.
Oct. 17, 1828. A committee was chosen, consisting of Capt. Wm. Patten, Col. Wm. P. Riddle, and Jonas B. Bow- man, Esq., to rebuild Piscataquog Bridge. This committee were authorized to draw money not exceeding $300, if ne- cessary. Builder, John P. Houston, in 1829.
Oct. 4, 1842, a committee was chosen consisting of Fred. G. Stark, James Walker, and Wm. P. Riddle, to reconstruct and rebuild Piscataquog Bridge. This is the bridge now in use, the abutments on both sides the river were widened, a lattice, similar to the granite bridge, made, and the whole finished as a bridge ought to be in such a thoroughfare of travel. It was completed in 1843.
In connection with this subject, the following vote is im- portant : -
March 10, 1835. " Voted, That any highway district, that will build their bridges with stone abutments, and cover the water courses with good substantial stone arches, so that the town will not hereafter be called upon to furnish timber and plank, for the repair of such bridges, such district shall receive from the town treasurer, the amount of money such bridge would cost the town for timber and plank for the term of twenty years. And for the better security of the town,
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the stone work of such bridge or bridges shall be done to the satisfaction of the Selectmen, for the time being, or of such committee as the town may choose for that purpose. And as the splitting and preparing stone for such bridges will require some stone-tools and iron work, it is further provided, that the Selectmen may advance a part of the money, at their discretion, to enable such district to prosecute the work to its completion. The better to enable the several districts to judge whether they will be able to build their bridges of stone, the Selectmen are hereby ordered, while taking the invoice, the present year, to estimate the yearly expense to the town in timber and plank for the several bridges in town."
By the good effect of this vote, the town is not obliged, except in a few instances, to supply timber and plank for small bridges ; stone arches and stone stringers having been thrown over most of the streams in Bedford.
POUNDS.
THESE mementoes of ancient times are still seen in our country towns, but they are falling into disuse compared with former years.
At the first town-meeting, Jan. 8, 1750, to accept the char- ter, it was " Voted, to build a Pound near Samuel Patten's." This Pound was built of logs, and stood about eight rods south-west of Samuel Patten's house, on the second piece of land cleared in town. The last trace of this rude receptacle of strays, are probably not within the recollection of any now living.
April 28, 1786. " Voted, to build a new Pound, of stone, on the south-west corner of the Common, by the meeting- house, 32 feet square, and 7 feet high. Building committee, James Wallace, John Riddle, and John Houston, Jr. The committee to employ such men as will answer to build said Pound, and they be paid by order on the Treasurer."
March 28, 1809. " The Selectmen shall be a committee to fix the place and vendue the building of a new pound." The location selected, was where it is now standing, north of the Riddle mills, near the stone school-house.
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MILLS.
MILLS.
BEFORE any mills were erected in Bedford, the inhabitants were under the necessity of going to Dunstable to get their grain ground, at Chamberlain's Mill, at the "harbor," south of Nashua Village. After this, Chamberlain erected mills at Merrimac, near the mouth of Souhegan river, and here the Bedford people were better accommodated.
About 1745, Col. John Goffe, who used to live at Derry- field, opposite Goffe's falls, moved to Bedford, on the farm formerly the residence of Theodore Goffe, Esq., and more recently owned by Jonas B. Bowman, Esq. There he built a grain mill, near the mouth of Crosby's brook, which mill was resorted to by the people of Goffstown and New-Boston. In a few years he built a saw-mill, near the grain-mill ; soon after this, John Wallace built a saw-mill on the same stream, near where the road now passes from Bedford centre to the vil- lage. Elisha Lincoln built a saw-mill, east of the Gordon- house, on the same stream. Some time after, this mill was taken down by Josiah Gordon, and re-erected about one hundred rods north, near where David Atwood's turning and shingle mill now stands. Mr. Boies built a saw and grain-mill near the school-house, in district No. 6, on the same stream. At the head of the meadows, Samuel Vose built a mill. The brothers, Cyrus W. and Frederic Wallace, built a turning- mill near where John Wallace had his saw-mill. David At- wood has at the present time, 1850, a turning and shingle- mill in operation.
These mills are on the same stream of water, and there are individuals in town who have known seven running and doing business at the same time. On the same stream and at the mouth of Crosby's brook, Richard Dole built a fulling- mill, and manufactured and dressed woollen cloth in great quantities. Within a few years, this mill (not by an 'excel- sior ' process,) has been turned into a cider-mill, where, by water power one hundred bushels of apples can be ground in one hour, and converted into cider. On this stream, Jonas B. Bowman, Esq., built a grain and saw-mill of expensive and superior workmanship, which was consumed by fire in 1844. At the same place was a bark-mill, connected with a tannery, owned by Mr. Wm. Goffe, which was burned at the same time. On the same stream and near the same place, Theodore Goffe, Esq., and Bernice Pritchard had a mill.
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On Piscataquog River, the first mill was built by one Da- vidson, brother-in-law to Robert Walker, which was swept away. About the year 1775, Mr. John Little built a grain and a saw-mill. Dea. Benjamin Smith built a grain-mill near his house, in the south part of the town, about the year 1778 ; this mill was in operation in 1818. Col. Daniel Moor built a saw and grain-mill, on the stream near his house, about the year 1770. These mills were taken down by Robert Wallace, about 1805.
Sarah Riddle, who afterwards married Dea. James Wallace, was employed to tend the grain-mill, by Col. Daniel Moor. His direction to Sarah was, never to take toll from a widow's grist, or a man who brought his grain on his back. " But," said she, "I always felt vexed when two bushels of grain came in one bag."
Mr. Thomas Atwood built a grain and saw-mill, with cir- cular saws, &c., in 1833, near the one erected by Col. Moor ; this mill is now owned by Capt. Hale.
About the year 1780, John Orr, Esq., built a saw-mill on his farm about one hundred rods above Smith's grain-mill, on the same stream. John Riddle built a grain and saw-mill on the same stream, near where they now stand, the grain-mill having lately been turned into a shingle and turning mill. These mills have lately been purchased by Mr. Damon, of Amherst, and put into good repair, and are now in successful operation.
Mr. Farley has a mill for turning, boring and sawing, in the wheelwright business, on a branch of the same stream, above.
The " James Gilmore Mill," not now in being, was located on the same stream, one mile above the one last mentioned, not far from this were the "Chubbuck Mills," so called.
James Darrah built a saw and grain-mill near his house, south-east corner of the town, on a stream of water coming out of Sebbins' pond, and near where it empties into Merri- mac River. These mills are now in successful operation.
William Moor built a saw and grain-mill on the same stream as above, one hundred rods north, now owned and carried on by Daniel Ferguson.
Josiah Walker built a saw-mill on his farm, near Merrimac River, now in operation. Wm. Patten built a saw-mill two hundred rods above the one just mentioned, which has since been removed.
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In another part of the town, Dea. Phineas Aiken built a saw-mill on the stream running through his farm. It is now in existence and is owned by the brothers John and Franklin Shepard, who have two saw-mills and a shingle-mill in suc- cessful operation. On the same stream, Sewell Stratton built a saw-mill in 1845, about one mile and a half above Shep- ard's Mills, which is doing well.
There was formerly a saw-mill near where M. M. Stevens now lives, that once did considerable business.
FATAL CASUALTIES, - REMARKABLE CASES OF PRESERVATION, ETC.
July 16, 1770. Joseph Moor was killed at the raising of Piscataquog Bridge.
May 5th, 1775. John Patterson was killed at the raising of Lieut. J. Little's barn. At another time, his brother, Rob- ert Patterson, had been at the raising of M. Patten's barn, and on the same day was drowned in the Merrimac. Several individuals, at different times have been drowned in this river ; in one instance a party were crossing in a boat in the evening, opposite the Goffe place, the boat was upset, and Mrs. Griffin and two men were drowned; Mrs. Griffin was a daughter of Maj. John Goffe.
Many casualties, no doubt, have occurred from time to time since the settlement of the town, that have gone into oblivion. For instance, we find the following entry in Matthew Pat- ten's Journal.
June 2, 1766. "John Frain was found in the eddy below Patterson's brook, and I was notified as a Selectman to go see him buried."
About 1776 or 7, Luke Eagan, who, at the time was keep- ing school in Bedford, at or near Capt. Thos. Chandler's, was returning one Sabbath evening in the winter, from London- derry, where he had been to spend the Sabbath with Rev. Mr. Davidson, and after crossing the river, was misled into a wood-path, and was found dead next morning not far from John G. Moor's, probably overcome by cold. This man had been well educated in the Roman Catholic Church, and had taken priest's orders, but having become a Protestant, he was excommunicated. He had served a short time in the
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Revolutionary war. On the Monday morning after his death, the scholars assembled as usual, and about 10 o'clock, A. M. his body was discovered by some men passing that way.
About the year 1791 or 2, at a training at the centre, Joseph Bell had his ankle shattered by firing a cannon, which made him lame for life.
There have been, in this town, some cases of successful surgery worthy of record.
March 26, 1822. Dr. P. P. Woodbury was called to the son of Capt. Rufus Merrill, two years old, who was suffoca- ted, apparently, from some foreign substance in the trachea or throat. A probang was passed into the stomach through the œsophagus or swallow, but to no good effect. The child had frequent fits of suffocation, and would lay perfectly senseless. The Doctor performed the operation of tracheotomy. An incision being made into the windpipe, a white bean of the largest size was extracted, perfectly dry ; it had been in the trachea two hours. During the operation the child was senseless, had no need of being held, and was to all appear- ance dead, exhibiting no motion whatever. In less than three minutes the child was playing with a watch. Not twenty drops of blood was lost in the operation ; the child recovered, and the wound healed, without any untoward symptoms.
July 24, 1824. Doctor Woodbury was called to visit Miss Edie McIntire, who had been taking away rye in the sheaf, on the beam of a barn. By some misstep, she fell the dis- tance of seven or eight feet, and struck directly on the sharp point of a stake, erect in a cart below, from which situation one man was not able to extricate her. So completely was the girl transfixed with the stake, that it was necessary to break it off at its insertion in the cart-body, and it was car- ried with the girl upon it, some distance from the barn before it was taken from her. The stake first struck on the fleshy part of the ischium and passed laterally into the lower bow- els about two inches, thence through the rectum to the left, up the body in an oblique direction, and out at the left breast about three inches from the nipple. It fractured three ribs in its passage, the stake passing through the body twenty- seven inches. It was five inches in circumference at largest end. It came out of the breast six or seven inches, so that she could take hold of it with both hands while the stake was in her. It was made of a young hemlock, and the bark with the knots was just stripped off. The stake is now
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deposited in the Medical Institution at Dartmouth College Edie was a grown girl, large size, aged fifteen.
" On my arrival," says Dr. Woodbury, " I found her on a bed with her common clothes on, - her friends thought her dying ; I was requested not to do much for her for fear she would die with more pain ; her pulse was scarcely percepti- ble. Her breathing short and hurried, with a cold sweat on her skin ; she had an extremely ghastly countenance ; did not incline to say much ; submitted to what was done for her without any apparent concern or sensation. She said she had no pain - made no complaint - but was very faint. There was but a trifling hemorrhage from the wounds. After the application of simple dressings to the wounds, I endeavored to excite the system. She soon began to breathe better - her pulse began to be more perceptible, and her skin grew more moist and warm; I now left her for the night. Without more particulars, suffice it to say, she recovered. In her first attempts to walk, her body inclined a little to the left, but she soon became erect. Six weeks from the time of the accident, she was able to attend school sixty rods from home. During confinement I bled her five times. She subsisted seventeen days wholly on water, in which Indian meal had been boiled. The next year I saw the girl robust and hearty, living at the house of Mr. Thomas Shepard, where she was when the accident happened."
A man by the name of Trull was drowned in the Merri- mac, what year is not known ; also, a son of Dea. Jonathan Rand.
April, 1826. Mr. John W. Moore, fell from a building on which he was at work, at his brother's, Capt. Robert Moore, and died in a few hours. This Providence was the more remarkable, as it was just one month from the death of his wife.
In the winter of 1829, Jonathan Campbell was found frozen to death, in a pasture not far from the Chubbuck place.
1830. Alexander McCoy was killed at the village by a boy in a passion.
June 15, 1837. A great hail storm, about 3 o'clock, P. M., passed over the place, doing great damage to window- glass, crops, &c. The funeral procession of Gen. Riddle's wife was passing from the village to the centre burying ground, and the horses were almost unmanageable. The hail-stones were very large. Some of them were seen on the ground next day.
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Sept. 1839. Two sons of Dwelly Mitchell, aged fourteen and sixteen years, with another boy, went out in a skiff one Sabbath morning on the Merrimac, the boat was upset, and the two brothers were drowned, the bodies were found a few days after, near the place.
In March, 1845, a dreadful murder was committed at Man- chester, in the evening, on the body of Jonas Parker, which awakened the deepest interest in this town, because Parker had lived here some years, and was well known among us.
Oct. 1849. A young man by the name of Jewett was killed by falling from a chestnut tree. The tree was in Am- herst, the funeral was attended at his father's in this town.
Nov. 5, 1849. David Houston went to Manchester one Monday morning, - was seen during the day - started, as was supposed, to come home towards evening, and it was presumed he had fallen into the Merrimac or Piscataquog river. His body was found near Hudson, June 22, 1850.
April, 1850. Otis Hardy, of the village, in a fit of delirium tremens, committed suicide by cutting his throat. He left a wife and children.
July, 1850. Bradford Leach, aged twenty-five, was drowned in the Piscataquog river, near the village.
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EXTRACTS, FROM HON. MATTHEW PATTEN'S JOURNAL.
" March 29, 1755. Was chosen town-clerk. Voted to give me six pounds, old tenor, for what I should record for the town this year, and they were to find me paper to write the minutes of the town on."
" October 17, 1755. About 4 o'clock in the morning, there was an exceeding great earthquake, reported by those that observed, to be seven different shocks. They were all in about an hour, or less. The first was exceeding hard, and of some minutes continuance ; the others not much more than a second or two, except the last, which was a hard shock, but short, but not so hard as the first. On the 19th, there was another shock of an earthquake, a little before sunset. On the 22d, about 9 o'clock in the evening, there was a smart shock of an earthquake, about as hard as the shock on the 19th, but not so long continuance."
" October 29, 1755. Snow fell, ankle-deep."
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EXTRACTS FROM PATTEN'S JOURNAL.
" July 18, 1756. John Smith of New Boston, informed me that a bear had bit my heifer, (that he had in keeping,) so she could not live. I got Mr. McNeil, of New Boston, to butcher her for me."
" September 13 & 14, 1756. A great frost, so as to kill all the corn-leaves."
" November 27, 1756. Went to Londonderry, to know when the Gen. Court set; found it to be next Tuesday. On the 30th set out for Portsmouth ; went as far as Mr. Murphy's, in Londonderry, and received an account that the Gen. Court had adjourned till Tuesday, 14th December, next."
" September 4, 1757. Mr. Houston lectured in the forenoon on the 1st chapter of John, and preached in the afternoon, it being the first sermon ever preached in our meeting-house. 11th, Mr. Houston lectured in the forenoon on the 12th, 13th, and 14th v. of the first chapter of John, and preached in the afternoon, from Amos, fourth chapter and 12th verse."
" January 22, 1758. Mr. Houston lectured on part of the 3d chapter of John's gospel. There were but 15 persons at meeting, by reason of the snow, which was deep, and poor paths."
" June 8 & 9, 1759. Fished at Namaskeag Falls and got 120 shad, and I gave Robert McMurphy 10 of them ; and I got 4 shad and a small salmon, for my part, from the setting- place. Wm. Peters fished for me by the halves."
"July 15, 1760. I joined with Sam'l Patterson, to fish for salmon, and catched 2; one weighed 12} lbs., and the other 18 lbs. The small one I had, and the large one he had. 16th, We raised the bridge over Piscataquog river, and set our net that night, and by morning we had a 9 and a 6 pound salmon ; the large one I had, and the small one Patterson had."
" March 12, 1761. This morning about 2 o'clock, a con- siderable smart shock of an earthquake, which wakened me out of sleep."
" March 4, 1762. I attended a meeting of the towns of Amherst and Bedford, at Bedford meeting-house, to choose a representative ; I was chosen moderator by a unanimous choice, and Col. Goffe was chosen representative by 46 votes, and Capt. Barron had 13."
" April 1, 1764. Snow fell near 3 inches deep."
" June 7, 1771. Attended the funeral of Capt. Barron, and was one of the under bearers."
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GRAVEYARDS, SCHOOLS, BRIDGES, ETC.
" July 3, 1771. I went to Derryfield meeting-house, and heard Mr. Ward of Plymouth preach."
" November 27, 1779. I have 2 bushels of corn a day for writing."
"May 19, 1780. Was a thunder-shower in the morning, and was followed by an uncommon darkness; such as is not remembered. It was so dark that one could not know a man but at a small distance, and were obliged to keep a light in the chimney to see to go about, and the night was so extra- ordinary dark until 1 o'clock, that a person could not see his hand when held up, nor even a white sheet of paper. Day and night cloudy. Cause unknown. The works of the Lord are great and marvellous, and past finding out until he gra- ciously pleases to reveal them."
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