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 17
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Matthew Patten was occasionally called, at that early day, to go great distances, to survey land and lay out towns. At one time he went for that purpose to Piermont. Although our extracts from his journal are already somewhat copious, yet his entries on that journey, will be read with interest as presenting a curious contrast, with the facilities and appliances of travel at this day, and also fixing the date of some transac- tions connected with the early history of that township.
" September 25, 1765. I set out for Coos, to help to lay out the town of Piermont, and arrived at Pennykook, and lodged at Mrs. Osgood's. 26th, - I bo't some pork and other things I wanted, to carry me through the woods, and I arrived at Baker town, and lodged at Call's. 27th, - I arrived at Lieut. Brown's, in Plymouth, and lodged there. 28th, -It rained all the forepart of the day ; in the afternoon, I arrived at Jotham Cummings' the uppermost house in Plymouth, and lodged there. 29th, - Was Sabbath-day, and I had a sore on the sole of my right foot, that I was lame with, and lay by. 30th, - I set out, and got a little more than 3 miles beyond Baker River Falls in the new road, and camped ; and Col. Greely, Esqrs. Webster and Bartlett, and one Page, came to me and camped with me."
" October 1. I arrived at Coos, about 1 or 2 o'cl'k, P. M. ; lodged at Mr. Atkinson's, in Haverhill. 2d, -I went to surveying in Piermont. 21st, - I finished laying out what was proposed to be laid out. 22d, - We got our things, and some provision to last us home; got to Mr. Ladd's the last
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house on our way, in Coos. 23d, -Set off early in the morning, and arrived at Captain Brainerd's camp, in Rumney. 24th, -We came a mile on this side Smith's River. 25th, - We arrived at Pennykook, and lodged at Mrs. Osgood's ; Lieut. Martin's expenses, and mine, there, were £5. 26th,- I came home in the evening."
Mr. Patten's daughter, lately deceased, stated that while he was camped out, one night, in or near Piermont, there came along a poor family, going from Massachusetts to settle in Piermont. They staid the night in the camp, and during the night, the woman, who had been exhausted and well-nigh famished, with the tedious journey, seemed to be near dying. The husband waked up Mr. Patten, and begged he would let them have something to sustain her. They arose, got some nourishing food prepared, and she revived. Some years after, Mr. Patten was passing that way, and as he came opposite a comfortable dwelling and good farm, a lady at the door called to him by name. Surprised, he stopped, and it proved to be the family he had assisted in distress. Providence had smiled upon them, and they wished to express their gratitude.
The writer was at Piermont a short time since, and saw an old inhabitant of the town, who told him, that a good plan of the township, drafted by Mr. Patten, was still preserved with the town records. There was no settlement in the town till 1768, as appears by "Historical Sketches of the Coos County," by Rev. Grant Powers.
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NOTICES OF CHANGES IN THE OCCUPANCY OF FARMS IN THE PAST AND PRESENT TIMES.
William Holmes lived on the Reed place, north of Stephen French, Jr. James Linn lived where Stephen French, Jr., now lives. Dea. James Wallace married Linn's daughter, and Linn afterwards lived and died at James Wallace's. Dea. James Wallace first lived in a log-house, at the foot of the meeting-house hill, near where Chandler Spofford now lives; he afterwards built, lived and died in a house that was destroyed by fire on the spot where Phineas French's brick house now stands.
Rev. John Houston, when first married, lived with John Mclaughlin, about seventy rods south-east of Calvin Snow's,
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on the south side of the Mclaughlin farm, now owned by Rodney Mclaughlin, a grandson. In a few months, Mr. Houston built and moved into a part of the house Mr. Spofford now inhabits ; he afterwards built, lived and died in a house in which his grandson, John Houston, now lives.
Rufus Merrill lived where Daniel Barnard now lives. Widow Alfred Foster lived where Joseph Marshall . now lives.
Oliver L. Kendall, Thomas Kendall, and Nathan Kendall, built the houses they now occupy.
Isaac Riddle, Esq., built and lived on the place now owned by his son, Isaac, of Manchester, and at present occupied by Joseph Flint. David Gillis, blacksmith, lived where John Conner now lives. Widow Wm. Barnes lived where Orin Mudge now lives. John Houston (son of the first minister) lived where Dr. P. P. Woodbury now lives. Simeon Chub- buck, grandfather of Fanny Forrester, now Mrs. Judson, lived on what is known as the Chubbuck place, south of the Bancroft pasture, so called. Ensign Chubbuck lived on the " Globe," about sixty rods north of Dr. Woodbury's ; he kept a public house for entertainment, called " The Globe Tavern."
Robert Lincoln lived where Leonard and Riddle French now live ; John Lincoln lived on the same farm. The house stood about fifty rods south-east of the present building; it was burnt down. Phares Shirley lived where Wm. Bursiel now lives. It was taken off the Gordon farm. John McLaughlin settled on the Gordon farm. Samuel Gordon bought of Mclaughlin, and sold to his brother, John Gordon, at an early period of the settlement. John lived and died on said farm ; it is now owned by Adam Gordon and P. P. Woodbury, son and son-in-law of Josiah Gordon, Esq. William Barnett lived on the south side of the Gordon farm, on the hill. Francis Barnett, brother of the above, lived on the Beard farm, now owned by Gen. Wm. P. Riddle. Samuel Terrill lived on the hill where Moses Marshall now lives. Samuel Bowman lived where Henry McGrath now lives. Amos Gardner lived near, the house now down. John Wallace lived where Thomas Bursiel now lives ; the old house was moved to Piscataquog village by a grandson, Frederick Wallace. Dr. Paul Tenney lived where Bradbury Rowe now lives, recently occupied by Dr. P. P. Woodbury. Elisha Lincoln built and lived where John Parker lived, the place more particularly known as the Gen. Montgomery
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place ; this house is not standing. Christopher Rice lived where David Atwood and David G. Atwood now live.
John Wilson lived where widow Samuel Moor now lives. Dea. Wm. Boies lived where Ebenezer Holbrook lives.
One Monday morning, it is said, Boies saw one of his neighbors, by the side of the road, sitting on a log. Says Boies, "What are you doing here, man, so early ?" He replied, "I was thinking what Mr. Houston was preaching about yesterday, and I could na make the preaching come together." Boies replied, " Trouble yoursel na about that, man, -a' ye have to do, man, is to fear God and keep his commandments." And his neighbor used to say, " This was the best preaching for me I ever heard; always, when perplexed about texts of Scripture and preaching, this advice of Boies put the matter at rest."
Lieut. Samuel Vose and brother James, grandsons of Proprietor, lived where Brooks Wortley, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Plummer, now live.
John Moor lived where Robert Moor, a grandson, now lives. Wm. Kennedy lived on the south part of said farm ; houses not now standing. Andrew Walker lived where Joseph H. Stevens now lives. Joseph Cochran lived where Joseph and Calvin Butterfield now live. Cochran was killed by the fall of a tree, directly opposite John Mullet's house. Cochran had two daughters ; Samuel Moor married one, and Mr. Dunlap, of Goffstown, married the other. John Mullet, blacksmith, has lived where he now lives. John and Hugh Riddle, with Robert Adams, lived where Capt. McAllister now lives. Riddle's house was about seventy rods west of the present building. John Riddle had one daughter, Mary, who lived on the Isaac Atwood place, in a house by herself ; she was never married, and died about 1813. Patrick Larkin lived where Wm. McDole Pherson now lives ; Larkin married Robert Adam's daughter, Elizabeth. When Larkin asked Adams for his daughter, Adams said he did not know as he had any particular objection against him, but he did not like the Roman Catholic religion. Larkin's parents were Catho- lics, and Adams was a Scotch Presbyterian. Larkin obviated the objection by the shrewd remark, "If a man happened to be born in a stable, would that make him a horse ? "
Thomas Boies lived where John and Thomas Barr now live. Fergus Kennedy lived on the same place, about eight rods directly east of Wm. McDole Pherson's. Boies married
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Kennedy's daughter; and Samuel Barr, father of Thomas and John, married Boies's daughter.
Jesse Richardson built and lives where he now does. James McPherson built and lives where he now does. John McKenny lived where Joshua Vose, father and son, now live. Maj. John Dunlap lived where Robert Dunlap, a son, now lives. John McPherson lived where Michael Boynton now lives. Whitefield Gilmore lived where Silvanus John- son now lives.
Until after the Revolutionary war, there was but one settlement between Whitefield Gilmore's and the New Boston line. John Barnes, a brother of Asa, lived on land now owned by Leonard C. French, north-east of the Dea. Craig farm. Samuel Eaton lived where Timothy Townsend now lives. Nathaniel Baldwin lived where Phineas C. French now lives. Elijah Buxton lived where David Witherspoon now lives, known as the " Tinker farm."
Robert Patten lived where Wm. Tolford, a son-in-law, now lives. Patten's settlement was the first in that part of the town after the Revolution. David and William McClary lived where James McDole now lives. Samuel Morrison, and then Robert Gilchrist, lived where Moses Gage now lives. John Armstrong, where George Webber now lives. Dea. John Craig, where Joseph Tinker now lives. Samuel Gilchrist, where Ralph, Thomas and Abiel Holbrook, now live. Alexander Patten, where Benj. Stevens now lives. Alexander Caldwell, where David White now lives. John Pratt, where David Stevens now lives ; known as the " Bryant farm." Ezra Baldwin, where Sewell Stratton now lives.
Jesse Worcester,* (father of J. E. Worcester, the philologist and geographer,) lived where Benj. Nichols now lives. David French, where David Wright now lives, place of the late
* " There Worcester, (that noble name,) From whom a bright descendant came, He lived just over " Joppa hill," And, as you cross a rippling rill, You rise a summit ; there's the spot,
(Where Nichols now has cast his lot,) Where Joseph E., in boyhood's days, Indulged in many prattling plays ; Not dreaming, ere his locks were gray, --- Our Anglo-Saxon he should sway." 1
[ Extract from MSS. poem already alluded to.
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Ebenezer French. Coburn French built and lived where he now does. John Craig lived where Franklin Wright now lives.
John Bell lived near Bedford Centre, about sixty rods south-west of the Rev. Thomas Savage, (at his first settle- ment,) afterwards, he built, lived and died on the brow of the west end of the " Bell hill," so called. George Whitford now lives on the Bell place. Samuel and Jonathan Currier, brothers, lived where Frederick Hodgman now lives ; Samuel on the south, and Jonathan on the north side of the farm. At an early period, Alexander Orr lived on the same farm ; Orr married Jane McConihe, of Merrimac, and John Gault, a Revolutionary soldier, married Orr's daughter Molly, and Daniel Mclaughlin married Fanny, a daughter of Gault, and Mr. Chase, of Hillsborough, married another daughter. On the same farm, at the north side, lived James Underwood, first on the list of lawyers, a connection of the Litchfield family of that name.
James Houston, brother of Rev. John Houston, and Sam- uel, blacksmith, son of James, lived where Benj. Dowse now lives. Samuel was totally blind the latter part of his life, rather fond of conversation, loved to tell of a quaint reply that he once heard given to the enquiry, "What is the difference between the Presbyterian and Congregationalist ?" "O, the difference is this. 'The Congregationalist goes home and eats a regular dinner between services, but the Presbyterian postpones his till after meeting.' " This Dowse place was where Mr. McGregor, when a youth, passing through town from Londonderry to Chestnut hills, took refuge from the pursuit of a tremendous black snake that chased him, with head erect, something like a mile. It is said that a snake of immense proportions used to be seen in these woods.
Matthew Patten, one of the first settlers, lived on the plains, on the second piece of land that was cleared in town ; he afterwards built and lived where Samuel Gardner now lives. On the same farm, the late David Patten, Esq., a son of Matthew, lived and died. Adam Patten built and lived where he now does. Rev. Thomas Savage resides in the brick cottage, built for him by Capt. William Patten.
Fergus Kennedy lived where Nathan Cutler now lives. At an early period, Hugh Campbell lived on this farm. Old and young Drs. Cutler, lived on this place. John Smith,
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name of celebrity, Englishman, deerskin breeches-maker, lived here for many years. Hugh Campbell soon after built and lived in the field between the old school-house and James McQuaid's. The school-house stood at the foot of the hill, by the large stone, as you go from the farm of the late John Orr, to the centre of the town. Campbell married Molly Smith, daughter of Dea. Benjamin Smith.
Robert Walker, one of the first settlers of the town, lived on the Jesse Walker place. At an early period of the settle- ment, Robert Walker and Samuel Patten exchanged places ; the descendants of Walker still live on the same farm, and the descendents of Patten also live on the same farm. Joseph Houston lived where John O. Houston recently lived. Daniel Vose, where Adam Campbell now lives. Daniel Campbell, where he now lives, with Thomas Campbell, father and son.
Gawn Riddle lived where John Goffe, son-in-law of the late William Riddle, Esq., now lives. The old house stood at the foot of the hill opposite the saw-mill. John Riddle, a son of Gawn, lived where Isaac Cutler now lives. David Riddle, another son of Gawn, lived on the " White place," where John D. Riddle, a son of David, now lives ; the origi- nal house was a few rods west of the present dwelling. Isaac, another son of Gawn, lived east, at the centre of the town, on the place now owned by Isaac Riddle, a son. Richard Mc- Allister, where the late William Riddle lived, now owned by his daughter, Laura; the old house stood a few rods west.
James Gardner built and lived where he now does. Ezekiel Gardner lived where Senter Farley now lives, for- merly occupied by Gregg Campbell. Robert Morrill lived about seventy-five rods south of Tenny Campbell's. Garnet Rowel lived where Solomon Manning now lives. William Campbell, who first introduced the hop-plant into town at an early period, lived on the same farm. Seth Page lived where John Seavy now lives. Joshua Bailey, where Samuel Need- ham now lives. Dea. John Aiken, where the late Dea. Phineas Aiken lived and died. £ Individuals now living, remember, when working at Dea. Phineas Aiken's, while his mother was living, that in the absence of the person who took the head, she would ask a blessing at table.
Dea. Matthew Miller, and afterwards, Silas Shepard, lived where Ephraim Hardy now lives. John Morrison, where Barney Cain formerly lived; house now unoccupied. Tho's
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Shepard, where he now lives. William Flint, where he now lives. James Campbell, where Nathaniel Flint now lives. Edward Lyon, where Eber Pike now lives. Henry Park- hurst, where Simon Jenness now lives. James Mann, father of Eleanor, where Rufus Parkhurst now lives. Asa Barnes, one of the original proprietors, where the late Nathan Barnes lived, and where Gardner Nevens, a son-in-law of Nathan, now lives. Capt. Nathan Barnes built and lived where Dea. John French now lives ; the place once owned by Capt. Perry. Nathan Barnes, Nehemiah Kittredge, Ned Lyon, James Campbell, and others, hauled clay from the south part of the town, and burned brick on the farm of Dea. John French. Kittredge said they went over stones in the road, as high as the hub of the wheel.
John Rand, Esq., lived where Seth Campbell now lives, and where John O. Houston once lived. Ezekiel Gardner lived where James Campbell now lives. Mrs McQuaid lived at the foot of the Joppa hill. Adam Butterfield, Widow Robert Adams, Page Campbell, Isaac Campbell, and Robert Campbell, where they now do. The progenitors of the Campbell family came to this town from New Salem, or that vicinity. John Richardson lived where the late David Ste- vens lived and died. Stephen Nichols, where John Shepard now lives. Cornelius Barnes, between the grave yard, at the west part of the town, and Nehemiah Kittredge's; house now torn down; he was a brother to Asa. Nehemiah Kittredge lived where his son Nehemiah, and Mr. Gage, now live. Nehemiah, jr., built and removed to the new house. Benja- min Sprague, where Leonard C. French, 2d, now lives. Moses Dennis where Parker Butterfield lives. David Sprague where David, a son, and William Hobart, blacksmith, now live. The Sprague family came from Billerica.
Matthew Patterson lived where Moses Swett, first, second, and third, lived. Ebenezer Swett, where Frederic, his son, now lives. Daniel Robbins built and lived where he now does. Nathan Butler, where he now lives. Sanford and Alfred Roby where they now live. Benjamin Barron, where Daniel Swett now lives. John Gardner where David Cady now lives. Robert Giffin and Charles Black, with one other, lived on or near the farm now owned by Shearburn Dearborn. Black was drowned on his way from Amherst, in Baboosack brook.
John McIntosh lived where Isaac Gage, jr., now lives. 25
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David and William McClary lived where M. M. Stevens now lives. Thomas Bennett, and afterwards Hugh McConike, where Thomas Gage lives.
To the east, Solomon Gage lived where Amos Harris now lives. Daniel Muzzey where Solomon Gage now lives. Barney Cain, or McCain, where Dwelly Mitchell lives. Adam Dickey, where Isaac Gage lives. Robert Matthews, where George Hodgman lives, and Willard Parker lived before him. Thomas Wallace, where the late George O. Wallace lived. Joseph Wallace where Thomas Moore now lives. John Parker, where John Kinson lives. Wm. Cald- well, where George W. Gage now lives. John Parker where Parker Hodgman lives. Archibald Lawson, about sixty rods south-east of Parker Hodgman's. He was from Braintree, Massachusetts, and kept Bachelor's Hall many years. Mr. Amos Harris ploughed up here, a sickle of very old construc- tion. Jonathan Dowse built and lived where Mr. Thompson now lives. John McAffee lived where James Morrison now lives.
The late Samuel Morrison lived and died in the house which he built a few rods north of his brother James. Hugh Orr, brother of the late John Orr, lived where Brooks Shat- tuck now lives, formerly the place of Capt. William Chandler, now of Nashua. Samuel Patterson, where Widow Stephen Goffe now lives. Nathaniel Patterson, on the same farm, a few rods south of the Isaac Atwood place, where Benjamin Hall lives. The house, when occupied by Peggy Patterson and her brother, was burnt down. The inmates, it is said, were far from living harmoniously. Dea. John Houston, a neighbor, and most pacific man, as the flames were doing their work, remarked, " we see, a house divided against itself cannot stand." James Patterson lived where Robert Houston now lives. Thomas Townsend, where Isaac Dow now lives, on the west side of the road. Thomas Matthews, where the late Dea. William Moor lived, at present occupied by Joseph C. Moor. Col Daniel Moor, where Stephen Dole Esq., and afterwards Joseph Colby, Esq., lived ; at present occupied by Daniel Jacquith. Samuel Gerrish, where Robert Moor now lives. Robert Wallace, where Lemuel N. Wright now lives. Thomas Atwood where Henry Hale now lives. Joseph Scobey, where the late Col. William Moor lived, and at present, Mr. Jones. The name of Scobey, though long extinct in town, is still found among the inscriptions in the old graveyerd.
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The late Daniel Moor, son of Col. William Moor, where Daniel Parker now lives. William Burns lived where William Moor now does, on the Richard Gregg place. John Burns, where George M. Way now lives. Eleazer Dole, where Thomas Hackett now lives. Thomas Wells, on the brick-yard; the house occupied only while making brick. James Smith, brother of Adam Smith, where the late Hugh Riddle lived, and at present, his son-in-law, Willard Parker. Waldron, tanner, lived where Phineas C. French now lives. Dea. Benjamin Smith, where John D. Armstrong lives. James McQuigg, where the late Matthew McAffee lived, and where his son Samuel now lives. Hon. John Orr, where Samuel Pattten now lives. James McQuaid, where Gawn Riddle now lives. The house was on the east side of the brook, on a knoll. George Orr, where the late Ann Orr, his daughter, lived and died.
At the Village Piscataquog, William Parker first built and lived near where the tavern house now stands. He after- wards built, lived, and died on the west side of the road, on the hill, where Lewis F. Harris, a son-in-law, now lives. The corner-store is the second one on the same place. Samuel Abbot, a celebrated scythe-maker, lived on the rise of ground, where the widow of the late Robert Parker, now lives. Abbot afterwards lived in Antrim and Frances- town, where he manufactured scythes for Peter and Mark Woodbury.
Samuel Moor lived in the mill-yard, a few rods west of the present mills, now owned by Widow David Hamlet. Thomas Parker built and lived where Gen. William P. Riddle now lives. Jonathan Palmer, son-in-law of Mr. Parker, a mer- chant, built, lived, and died, where Israel Fuller now lives. His funeral, July, 1825, was the second attended in this town by the present pastor ; Capt. Nathan Barnes, being the first.
James Parker, Esq., built, lived, and died, where James Walker now lives. Jotham Gillis lived a few rods south of Dr. H. C. Parker's; he kept a house of entertainment. Daniel Mack, Daniel Parker, Frederick G. Stark, Widow David Hamlet, Jonas B. Bowman, Benjamin F. Wallace, and Noyes Poor, built the houses they still occupy. Mace Moul- ton built and lived where Samuel Brown now lives. Doct William Wallace lived in the house opposite Daniel Mack, now occupied by Mr. Barnes. David Riddle built and lived
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where Widow Lund now lives. John Moor lived where Ephraim and James Harvill now live. Robert Gilmoor, where Dea. Samuel McQuesten lives. Matthew Little, where Adam Gilmoor lives. Capt. Thomas Mclaughlin, where Dea. Richard Dole lived, and at present Mr. Noyes. Col. John Goffe, on the Goffe farm, now owned by Jonas and Byron Bowman. Thomas Newman, where William Rundlet lives. Samuel Patterson, father of Samuel, who lived and died at the Stephen Goffe place, lived where Capt. Thomas Chandler now lives. He first built on the north line, a few rods south of Dea. Richard Dole's clothing-mill, He after- wards built on the east side of the road from Chandler's, where James Martin, the first deputy from Bedford, in the Revolutionary war, lived. Col. White, of Massachusetts, owned the land; he met Patterson in Boston, directly after he landed, from Ireland, and agreed with him to settle his land. Patterson had a number of sons. Zechariah Chandler descended from one of the original proprietors, lived where Sarah Chandler, a daughter, now lives. William McDougal lived where Samuel Chandler now lives; his house stood where Samuel Chandler's garden is now ; his barn stood on the opposite side of the brook, where William Patten now lives. McDougal kept Bachelor's Hall, did his own cooking, for two persons beside himself, and on the day of his death, he had bread enough baked to last the family till after his funeral ; he dropped dead, from his chair. A. Kidder lived a little east of the School house
Primas Chandler built the house he still occupies. Robert and James Walker, brothers, built, cleared, and lived, on the land where Josiah Walker, grandson of James, still lives. These two were the first settlers of Bedford. James Walker lived where William Walker now lives, and where Dea. Stephen Thurston once lived. Dea. Thurston's first wife was a sister of Rev. Dr. Parish, of Byfield, Massachusetts, and mother of Philomela, second wife of the missionary Newell, in India. Samuel Fugard lived where John G. Moor now does. Ephraim Bushnell, where Russell Moor lives. James Thompson on the knoll, a few rods north of John Patten. Moses Barron, where John Patten lives ; and here was born the first white, male child in town. Thomas Harris, where Orvil Giles lives. William Moor, where Thomas Wortley, a son-in-law, lives. John Vickery, where Daniel Ferguson lives ; known as the Samuel Smith place. Amos Martin, where Isaac McAllister lives. Hugh and
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