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 21
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The manufacturing operations at Manchester, likewise, have had a great influence in building up the Village, especially that part on the north side of the Piscataquog river, which now comprises one half of the whole number of dwelling- houses, is the most compact, and bids fair to increase more rapidly than the other part.
There are now in the village two stores, two taverns, one mill, carried by water power, for grinding meal and plaster and manufacturing lumber, and one steam-mill, two school- houses, and one Academy and meeting-house under the same roof. Its proximity to the growing city of Manchester, with which it is connected by the granite bridge, built in 1840 by an incorporated company, and made free by a vote of the town of Bedford and city of Manchester in 1848, renders it a desirable resort and pleasant retreat from the busy din of that city of spindles, and will afford some of the most pleasant country residences in the vicinity. The New Hampshire Central Railroad, intended to connect the Ver- mont Roads, by way of Claremont, Bradford and Henniker, with the Lawrence Road, passes through the heart of the village, and by a bridge across the Merrimac, connects at present with the Concord, affording hereby increased facilities for communication with all parts of the county.
But let us return to our narrative.
The business of the place continued to increase, and in 1811 Wm. P. Riddle opened a store in the building opposite his present residence and, in company with William Parker, purchased the mills then owned by a Mr. Dow, and com- menced the lumber trade in good earnest, sending down a vast amount of wood and lumber every year. The following year, 1812, boating on the Merrimac river was first extended up to this place, which for a number of years was the head of navigation on the Merrimac. During this year, Isaac Riddle, then a successful merchant at the centre of the town,
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and Caleb Stark of Dumbarton, alike at that time friends of internal improvements, conceived the design, in connection with the recent improvement of the river by locks, and the Middlesex Canal, of navigating the river by boats. Accord- ingly they built a boat at Bedford centre, and drew it a distance of three miles and a half to the Merrimac river, with forty yoke of oxen, and there launched it amid the shouts of the multitude assembled to witness the novel scene, and named it the Experiment.
It was loaded and navigated down the river, and through the Middlesex Canal, to Boston, where its arrival was hailed with cheers, the firing of cannon, and the following announce- ment in the Boston Centinel.
" Arrived from Bedford, N. H., Canal-Boat Experiment, Isaac Riddle Captain, via Merrimac river and Middlesex canal."
This introduced a new era into the trade of the place, by increasing the facilities of transportation, and reduction of freight on heavy articles. Previous to the commencement of boating, freight was eighteen dollars per ton; but after boats began to run, it was at first reduced to ten, and afterwards to four dollars per ton.
In 1816, finding his business so much increased, William P. Riddle built the large store and boating-house at Piscata- quog bridge ; and in order to facilitate his increasing boating business, in 1818 he built the locks at the mouth of Piscata- quog, and at one time it was seriously contemplated to unite the waters of the Merrimac and the Connecticut by a canal up the valley of the Piscataquog. William Parker, Isaac Riddle, and Isaac Riddle and sons, were the principal ones engaged in boating until the death of the former; after which, up to the time when the railroad was built, boating was mostly carried on by Wm. P. Riddle.
In 1817, the firm of Isaac Riddle & Sons was formed for mercantile, boating and manufacturing purposes, carrying on a very extensive business in various places, viz., Bedford centre, Piscataquog village, Souhegan village, Merrimac and Boston. The business of this firm in this place, amounted in some years to $30,000, supplying by way of boating and trade, in conjunction with the other stores, the towns of Goffstown, Weare, Dunbarton, Hopkinton, Warner, Sutton, New London, Fishersfield, now Newbury ; and probably more
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lumber has been boated and rafted from this landing, than upon all the rivers above Nashua.
In 1820, the year after the toleration-act, so called, was passed by the Legislature, the inhabitants of the village took measures to erect a meeting-house, which they did by a joint-stock company, dividing the stock into shares, the principal part of which was owned by James Parker, Esq., and the heirs of the late William Parker. The building- committee were James Parker, Jonathan Palmer, and William P. Riddle, Esqs. The house was planned and the architec- ture designed by Thomas Kennedy of Goffstown, and to the present day is considered one of the most beautiful specimens of architecture in the country ; the building of the house was let by contract to Isaac Heath, of Hooksett. Preaching was obtained several months at a time, for a number of years, by subscription. The Rev. Mr. Long and Rev. Mr. Miltimore at different times supplied the pulpit very acceptably to their hearers; at present it is frequently occupied for a third service, Sabbath-school and other religious exercises.
During this year, the bridge across Piscataquog was rebuilt, under the superintendence of W. P. Riddle.
The other traders in the place at different times have been, Thomas Parker, Riddle & Aiken, Charles Redfield, Ozias Silsbee, I. Riddle & Whittle, Wm. P. Riddle, Parker & Palmer, Kendrick & McGaw, Jonathan Palmer, James Walker, Abbot & Melvin, Aaron Gage, Kidder & Rundlett, Moor & French, Wm. French, French & Barr, Wm. & J. N. French, F. G. Stark, James Walker, R. V. Greely, James Wilson, A. W. Dickey.
In 1843, the meeting-house was purchased by an associa- tion of gentlemen, the upper part remodeled, and converted into convenient rooms for an Academy, which has very ably sustained itself without funds, under the instruction of Hiram Wason, who continued in it about a year; and Benjamin F. Wallace, under whose instruction it has been, since March, 1845, with the exception of about a year, while under the care of the Rev. Amos Abbott. A good apparatus has been furnished the Academy by the liberality of the ladies and gentlemen of the village. An act of incorporation was granted by the Legislature in 1848. The present board of directors (1850) consists of Hon. Frederick G. Stark, Esq., Jonas B. Bowman, Esq., Gen. William P. Riddle, and James Walker, Esq.
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This place has been probably the greatest depository of hops, for inspection, and boating, of any place in this State, - Gen. Riddle having inspected and forwarded to market, either by purchase or on freight, four or five hundred thousand pounds in a year. A great number of sleepers have also been furnished to various rail-roads in the country from this place, and even sleepers have been exported by some of the business men of this place to Cuba, in the West Indies.
Next to Mr. Moor, a Mr. Dow owned the mills in this place ; they were afterwards owned by Thomas Parker, Buzzell & Wm. Parker, Wm. Parker & Isaac Riddle, until they were again carried off by a freshet. They were rebuilt by Kendall & Gage, and sold to David Hamblett, who carried on a large business in grain, meal, plaster, and manufacturing lumber, until his death, in 1848; and there is still a good amount of business done there.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COL. JOHN GOFFE.
COL. JOHN GOFFE was a man of some consequence in his day. He was born in 1701, probably in Boston, and was the only son of John Goffe, Esq.,* who with his family came to Londonderry at an early period. The father was a man of property, as we learn by his will, a copy of which is still in existence. He died in 1748, and was buried in the old grave- yard, in Bedford. He bequeathed to his daughter Mary, £50, 10s., old tenor, and one cow. To his grandson Benja- min Litchfield, he gave one hundred acres of land in the township of Londonderry -"it being one hundred acres grant in the charter of said Londonderry." He also gave to his grandson, John Kidder, all his right, title, and interest to a fourth division in Londonderry. To a number of grand daughters he gave forty shillings each, and the remainder of his property he left to his son John, and his grand children, the heirs of his daughter Mary Woods. His son John was appointed executor.
The subject of this brief memoir settled at the mouth of Cohos brook, the outlet of Massabessic pond, at the Merrimac river, about three miles below the city of Manchester, at what is called Moore's Village. His occupation in early life was hunting, which in the new state of the country was no doubt delightful and profitable. He is designated in some old deeds, as " Hunter John." This mode of life with which he was familiar from early years, and which at that time was common among the hardy youth of New-England, qualified him for the service in which he was afterwards engaged. It brought him in frequent contact with Indians, and gave him a knowledge of their language, manners and customs, besides making him an excellent marksman. In
* The name of John Goffe appears on the records of Dr. Increase Mather's Church, Boston, as early as 1676.
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COL. JOHN GOFFE.
1746 he was Captain of a company of militia, and was sent to protect the frontier against the incursions of the Indians. While on this expedition he wrote the following letter to Gov. B. Wentworth -
" 5 May, 1746.
" May it please your Excellency : - I got to Pennycook on Saturday early in the morning, and notwithstanding I sent, the Monday after I left the Bank, yet my bread was not baked; but there was about 250 lb. weight which supplied 20 men, which I sent to Canterbury as soon as I got them - and I kept the Baker and several soldiers to baking all Sab- bath day, and proposed to march on Monday, as soon as pos- sible ; but about midnight, two men came down from Con- tookook and brought the unhappy news of two men being killed ; and the two men that came down told me that they saw the two men lie in their blood and one man more that was missing. And hearing I was here, desired me to assist in mak- ing search, so that I am with all expedition going up the Contoocook, and will do what I can to see the enemy. I shall take all possible care for the protection of the frontier and destruction of the enemy. The Indians are all about our frontiers. I think there was never more need of soldiers than now. It is enough to make one's blood cold in one's veins, to see our fellow creatures killed and taken upon every quarter ; and if we cannot catch them here, I hope the Gen- eral Court will give encouragement to go and give them the same play at home. The white man that is killed is one Thomas Cook, and the other is Mr. Stevens the minister's negro. These are found, and one Jones, a soldier, is not found. They have but few soldiers in the Fort ; have not as yet sought much for him. I am going with all possible expedition - and am
Your Excellency's most humble and
most dutiful subject and servant,
JOHN GOFFE.
Pennycook, about 2 o'clock in the morning, May 5, 1746."
In 1757, according to the annals of Portsmouth, Col. Goffe joined the army at Albany, under Gen. Webb, Colonel of the regiment raised by New Hampshire, of which he was Lieut. Colonel. This was in the "Seven Year's War " so called, waged by the French and Indians on one side, and the Eng- lish and Continental troops on the other. In 1761 he was at
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Ticonderoga, as we learn from a letter written by him to his only son, Lieut. John Goffe. He was stationed at Fort Wm. Henry, which surrendered to the French ; eighty out of two hundred of the New Hampshire regiment were murdered by the Indians, as they marched out of the Fort, unarmed, after they had capitulated. Primus Chandler's father lost his life here. Thomas Campbell, William Caldwell, and Josiah Warren, of New Boston, barely escaped with their lives.
He was appointed Colonel by Gov. Wentworth, and held his commission, as such, till the Revolutionary War. In the Register of New Hampshire, for 1768, we find him Colonel of the ninth regiment of militia.
At the time of the American Revolution, Col. Goffe was too old to take an active part as a soldier, but the country was not deprived of the benefit of that long experience in arms which he had acquired. His only son, already men- tioned, an inhabitant of Bedford, was a soldier in the army, and held a Major's commission.
The following is a letter from Col. Goffe, to his son Major Goffe : -
" Portsmouth, Sept. 24, 1777.
"SIR : - Col. Bellows goes off to-day to head as many vol- unteers as will push off to reinforce Gen. Gates. Our army are now in possession of Ticonderoga. In order to cut off Burgoyne's retreat, who was on the 17th of this month, within four miles of Stillwater, with his main body, as we are assured by Gen. Stark's letter of that date, pressing the State to exert every nerve, and to march at least half the militia of this State. And now is the time to cut off their whole army. And if we do but all go without hesitation, I verily believe it will put an end to the war. And if you could go yourself, for a fortnight or three weeks, I believe it would encourage many.
Every man and officer will have pay, as the last militia had. But it must be done without loss of time. And if your brother-in-law, Samuel Moor, would be forward in this affair, it would be to his everlasting honor. Pray show your- selves friends to the country this once.
I am your loving father,
JOHN GOFFE.
To Maj. John Goffe.
Pray let Capt. Moor see this after you have read it."
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COL. JOHN GOFFE.
Col Goffe was not only a military officer, but for years a civil officer. He was called to perform such duties as the following.
Record of a marriage by John Goffe, Esq.
[Copy of the Certificate.] " Province of New Hampshire.
" To either of the ordained ministers of the Gospel of said Province, or either of the Justices for said Province :- You are hereby empowered to join together in holy matrimony, James Martin and Sarah Parker, unless some legal impedi- ment appear to you to the contrary.
" Given at Portsmouth, Jan. 12, 1761.
B. WENTWORTH."
On the back of the certificate is the following.
" Joined together in holy matrimony, the within-named John Martin and Sarah Parker.
" April 6, 1761. JOHN GOFFE, J. of Peace."
In 1771, the towns in New Hampshire were divided into five counties, and consequently a general reorganization of the courts took place. Col Goffe was appointed Judge of Probate for Hillsborough County, which office he retained till 1776, when a general change took place among the officers of the courts. This was probably the last office he held. He removed to Bedford sometime previous to the Revolution, and represented Bedford and Amherst in General Court.
Col. Goffe was one of the most important men of this vicinity, often elected to offices of trust by his fellow citizens, and enjoying also the confidence of the Colonial Government. He was a religious man. While the country was new, and the towns around destitute of a stated ministry, he was accustomed to conduct divine service, on the Sabbath, in his own house. It is said, he sang and prayed, and read a selected discourse, to the edification of his audience. Some, who are now living, attended these meetings. Not only the people of Bedford, but of Goffstown, and probably Merrimac and Litchfield, resorted thither for public worship.
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MAJOR JOHN GOFFE.
SON of the preceding Col. John Goffe, on arriving at age, was set up in business in Bedford, by his father, who built the first saw-mill and grain-mill in the town on a small stream (Crosby's brook) about three miles below Manchester city, on the opposite side of the river. He was commissioned a Coroner by Gov. Benning Wentworth, in 1762. He also held a commission of Lieutenant in the 1st company, 9th regiment of militia, as early as 1761, and perhaps earlier. In 1764, Gov. Wentworth gave him a Captain's commission, and in 1768 he was promoted to the rank of Major.
He served in the Revolution, as did several of his sons, two, of whom lost their lives in that struggle. Stephen was lost at sea, and William was killed in an engagement. We have before us several letters of Stephen and William Goffe to their parents. Stephen's last is dated Boston, Sept. 4, 1777, in which he says: "I am going out in a brig from Boston for a five months' cruise." We believe he was never afterwards heard from. The last letter received from Wil- liam, was to his brother John, dated " Fort Miller, (N. Y.) July 16th, 1777," in which he says, he writes to let him know that he had lost his captain in battle, two sergeants, and eight privates. "I do not expect to come home very soon, for we have battles almost every day."
In the old grave-yard in Bedford, there rest, side by side, the mortal remains of John Goffe, Esq., Col. John Goffe, and Maj. John Goffe. At the right hand side of each, repose the ashes of their wives.
" Goffstown," and "Goffe's Falls," so named for Col. Goffe, will hand down the name to posterity.
Of "Goffe's Falls," now the name of a depot on the Bos- ton and Concord Railroad, there is a tradition or two among the old people in the neighborhood, which it may be well to relate, though for the authenticity we cannot be responsible.
It is said that one Bushnell, a hunter and early settler at Cohos brook, was one day out hunting in the immediate vicinage of Goffe's Falls, near a projecting rock, from which he discovered pieces of pure lead hanging like icicles or stylactites. He took his hatchet from his belt and severed them from their hold, and placed them in his pouch. At that instant, a deer rose from its ambush near by, when he
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hastily fired at it, wounding but not killing it. The deer dashed into the river, and Bushnell after him, with all possible speed.
Failing to secure his game, he returned to where he sup- posed he found the lead, but could discover no trace of it. He went home and told his story to Col. Goffe, who helped him run his lead into bullets.
Ever afterwards he was unable to find the exact spot, although he spent much time in hunting for it. We cannot explain the mystery of the story, but tell it to others as it was told to us.
Another incident is told of this Bushnell, in connexion with the early settlement at Goffe's Falls.
He had acquired the ill-will of an Indian, who determined upon his destruction. Bushnell was a single man, and boarded out. His sleeping apartment was on the first floor of the house, of which the Indian was aware. One night Bush- nell was absent, and the lady of the house occupied the bed. In the night she was aroused from her slumber by a hand passing over her. She demanded, " Who is this?" when an Indian replied, "Never fear ! Misssus, me no hurt you ! "
It is supposed the incidental absence of Bushnell was all that saved his life.
REV. JOSEPH GOFFE.
THE following extracts from the auto-biography of this individual, will not be deemed, it is hoped, too lengthy, considering the interest with which they will be read in his native town.
"I WAS born in Bedford, N. H., near the western bank of the Merrimac river, on the 6th day of August, 1766. My father's name was John Goffe, and my mother's maiden name was Jemima Holden, from Groton, Mass. They were mar- ried Sept. 17th, 1749, and settled in Bedford on a new farm, on which they lived and died in a good old age. My parents were respectable and pious people, -members of the Presby- terian Church, and of the good old Puritan stamp, who always maintained religious worship in the family, and brought up their family with a moral and religious strictness
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which is rarely to be found at the present day. They had a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of which I was the sixth son, and eighth child in succession ; and though their worldly circumstances were not affluent, but comfortable, they afforded their children all the oppor- tunity for learning, the state of the times and the newness of the country would then permit.
"My father was a farmer by profession, but bore military commissions under George II. and III., and served in their wars with the Indians and French in Canada. He was usually called Major John Goffe, and was the only son of Col. John Goffe of Derryfield, (now Manchester, ) N. H. My grandfather was a man of some eminence in his day as a military man, and commanded a regiment when Canada was surrendered to the British and Colonial arms. Besides his military commission, he held a variety of civil offices in the state, such as Judge of Probate, Justice of the Peace,-often a member of the state Legislature, and was an intimate friend of Gov. Wentworth and Col. Atkinson, and other public men of that day. But what is infinitely more for his honor, he was a man of distinguished piety, and did much for the promotion of religion in the new settlement around him. I can remember him well. He was rather above the middle stature, not corpulent, but of a commanding presence and aspect. His memory is perpetuated in the name of the large and respectable town of Goffstown, N. H., of which he was a large, and one of the original proprietors.
" There is one thing further respecting our family which I would just mention as a matter of curiosity, if nothing more, and that is their longevity, so far back as I can remem- ber. My grandfather, when he died, was 87 years old, my grandmother, 96, my father, 85, my mother, 91, two aunts on my father's side, between 93 and 100, and I have now brothers and sisters living far advanced in life.
"I was brought up on my father's farm, which was of considerable extent, where I worked on the farm, in the mills, and did considerable at lumbering and rafting on the Merrimac river, until I was more than 21 years of age. Thus early inured to labor and fatigue, I obtained a firmness and solidity of constitution, which but few of my brethren in the ministry, and especially at the present day, ever enjoyed. This enabled me to go through my studies with ease, and to labor in the ministry nearly double as much as
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REV. JOSEPH GOFFE.
was customary at that day. For nearly thirty years, I was very rarely absent from the pulpit on the Sabbath.
" My advantages for an early education were very limited. I enjoyed no more than two or three months in a year in a common school, and that of a low character, kept chiefly by foreigners, in which nothing was taught but reading and spelling, writing and arithmetic, and I believe nothing more was known by the masters themselves. At that time, and in that place, it was generally thought that no native Ameri- can was capable of teaching a common English school. Suitable books of instruction were very few and scarce, and Grammar, Geography, and other studies now common in schools, were then rarely heard of. I had, however, such a thirst after knowledge, that I improved every opportunity and means to obtain it, and while my playmates, on a rainy day, and on other occasions, were spending their time in idleness and folly, I was poring over such books as I could obtain, and particularly mathematical books, of which I was fond. Thus, by what I obtained at school, and what I picked up by myself, by the time I was 17 or 18 years old, I was thought qualified to keep a common English school, and actually engaged in this business for two or three of the succeeding winters. I then began to think in earnest of obtaining, if possible, a college education, and set about acquiring the means to defray the expense. My parents, having then a large family to maintain, could do but little to assist me, but through their kind indulgence and help, and the blessing of God, I soon obtained means sufficient, as I thought, to justify a beginning. Accordingly, in Nov., 1787, being then a little more than 21 years old, and there being then no Academies or High-schools in the country, to which I could go to pursue the] necessary pre- paratory studies, I went to Windham, and put myself under the care and instruction of the Rev. Simeon Williams, the minister of that town, who was in the habit of taking students and preparing them to enter college. With him I studied the Latin and Greek languages, and such other things as were necessary, for about seventeen months, or until May, 1789, when, with his recommendation, I went to Dartmouth College, where I was examined by the proper authorities, and received, as in good standing, into the Sophomore class, on the 15th of that month. I then applied myself with satisfactory diligence to the several classics then
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in use, until the Commencement, August 21st, 1791, when I graduated A. B., with a class of nearly fifty students, the largest class that then had ever been in that college. Thus, in three years and about nine months after I commenced my preparatory studies, I was honored with my first degree at the age of 25.
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