USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122
Later, Phineas C. French had a tannery near the junction of the Wallace and Meeting House roads in the south part of the town, near the Hugh Riddle brick house.
There was a bark mill on a branch of the Crosby brook, known as the Bark Mill brook, operated by Moses French, son of Stephen French.
There was a tannery on the east side of the River road, at the spring hole opposite the Thomas Chandler residence, operated by James Martin.
There was a peg shop on Horace Campbell's farm when John Orr Houston lived there. The pegs were made by hand.
There was also a peg shop on Holbrook hill on the Eben Hol- brook place.
There was a cooper shop carried on by Samuel Morrison, located across the road from the James Morrison place, where Lyman Kinson now lives. He made barrels and all kinds of packages. The business was carried on by him between 1830 and 1850. At his death, in 1851, the shop was closed. Deacon Gardner Nevens was a cooper by trade and had a shop on his farm in the Joppa district. He first came to Bedford from Hollis to work in Deacon
248
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
John French's cooper shop. Deacon John French had a large shop employing some three or four men.
There was also a cooper shop on Albert B. Corliss' farm in the south part of the town near the Thomas W. Moore place. The building was afterward burned.
Elijah C. Atwood had a cooper shop on his father's, Isaac At- wood, farm. It stood just below where Ervin R. French now lives, on the east side of the road.
Another cooper shop was in Squog, where Wallace's sawmill now is, about 1838. It was operated by Henry Farley who made hogs- heads, staves, and barrels, and sent them to Boston by boat.
Cooper John Parker lived on Mast road, a few rods west of South Main street, and worked at Farley's shop. The shop belonged to Gen. William P. Riddle. When last seen he was riding on a jack- ass ; 'the ass was in a two-horse sleigh. The shop was removed to make a place for General Riddle's sawmill.
BLACKSMITH SHOPS.
James Houston was the first blacksmith in town. He was a brother of Priest Houston. His shop was located on the Benjamin Dowse (Huskie) place, where he lived, raised his family, and died. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel, who carried on the business for many years. In his old age he became blind.
Mr. James Kendall, brother of Nathan Kendall, came from Litch- field and occupied a blacksmith shop which stood on the east side of the road running south from Dowse's corner nearly opposite where the house of Mr. Corliss used to stand.
There was a blacksmith shop on John Bell's farm, now Ester- brook's, where he did considerable work. It was located near the junction of the County road with the North and South road.
In the Centre, John Houston, son of Reverend John, built a black- smith shop where George F. Barnard's house now stands, just east of the Common. This was the first blacksmith shop at the Centre. It was moved by Rufus Merrill to a spot north of the town house, about where the present windmill stands, where it was used for stor- age. It was then removed to the site of the " Kendall shop" by Mr. Nathan Kendall, who came from Litchfield to carry it on. On that location David Gillis had built a shop at an early date which had burned down. After Mr. Kendall's death the shop was carried on by Thomas and James T., his sons. It was taken down and rebuilt
249
INDUSTRIES.
by Thomas Kendall in 1861. In 1898 it was taken to pieces and made into a house for John Welch. Mr. Kendall worked in Robert Houston's shop before he bought and moved the John Houston shop.
Isaac Riddle built a blacksmith shop south of his house, near the bars in the potash field. Robert Houston, son of Reverend John, built a blacksmith shop just west of the parsonage lot. David Gillis worked there.
There was a blacksmith shop on the north side of the brook, a few rods east of the river road on the Landing road, probably built by the Goffe's. Mr. Peabody carried it on. After his death it was abandoned.
There was also a blacksmith shop between the Gilmore place and Dunlap's on the old road. John Holt carried it on.
John E. Mullet had a shop at Barr's corner on the north side of the New Boston road, and the west side of the Goffstown road. The shop has not been in use for over forty years. It was built by subscription among the neighbors to induce Mr. Mullett to locate there.
A man named Hobart had a blacksmith shop near Sprague's cor- ner. It was afterwards owned by Clinton French. Hobart used to express his views on religious subjects with some freedom at town- meeting, late in the afternoon. He said he was not a Presbyterian, nor a Unitarian, or any other arian, he was a " nothingarian." The old shop was burned.
In the Joppa district Mr. John Shepard had a blacksmith shop near the store just above Deacon John French's on the north side of the road.
Milton Flint has a blacksmith shop where he does his own work; and near Jenness' corner, on the North Amherst road, Putnam Jen- kins had a shop.
Charles Farley, son of Center Farley, built a blacksmith shop near his wheelwright shop. It is still in use.
Center Farley built a shop near District No. 1 schoolhouse. It was first occupied by Mr. Albert Hill, afterwards by Putnam Jen- kins, now by Joseph S. Parkhurst. Wilder J. Prince, and after wards Walter Schneider, carried on the shop for a time. .
Charles Burns, son of William Burns, has a shop on the Thomas Moor farm in the south part of the town near the Merrimack line.
There was a potashery on the swamp east of the John Davis house on South Main street. John Davis was a pensioner of the War of 1812.
250
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
Three generations of the Smith family have been basket makers in Bedford. The first to locate there was Joseph B. Smith who came to Bedford about 1855 and located on the Solomon Gage place after Mr. Gage went West. His work was largely for the mills in Manchester. After his death, on September 5, 1861, he was succeeded by his son Benjamin, who continued the same busi- ness until he died in March, 1895. After this his grandson, George W., carried on the shop and still continues.
CIDER-MILLS.
There were a number of cider-mills in town from the earliest days ; most of them were what were called nutt mills. The apples were poured into a hopper sloping into two round pieces of hard wood called nutts that revolved into one another so closely as to mash the apples that came between. In one nutt were cut mortices, and in the other tenants. Power was furnished by a horse attached to a long sweep that turned the nutts. A small boy sat over the sweep and cleared the pomace from the revolving nutts with a forked stick. The pomace fell into a trough, and it was considered indispensable for it to remain there over night to give the cider the proper color. The next morning the pomace was placed on the press and built up with rye straw in layers. The screws of the press were wooden, some six or eight inches in diameter, and were run down by hand with a long lever. The same press was used for baling hops. After the first pressing was taken off the cheese was " cut down." That is, the screws were raised, and with a broad axe the edges of the cheese were cut off for three or four inches and the parings placed on top of the cheese.
The screws were then run down and another quantity of cider ob- tained. After the second pressing the screws were raised, holes punched in the top of the cheese, and hot water poured on and left over night. The next morning a barrel of water cider could often be obtained. When a farmer did not own a mill, he paid something for the use of his neighbor's, a day being set in advance for that pur- pose. This was probably the form of the first cider-mills in town. There was such a mill on the Dea. John Houston, Dea. John Aiken, John Barr, Seth Campbell, Thomas G. Holbrook, Samuel Adams, Beard McAllaster, George Hodgman, Theodore A. Goffe, John Orr, Esq., Daniel Ferguson, John Patten, and Willard Parker's farms, and possibly others.
251
INDUSTRIES.
When the Washingtonian temperance movement came, about 1840, some people, notably Robert Houston and William Patten, cut down their apple trees, that they might not contribute further to cider- making and drinking. On the west side of the back River road, a little south of the old graveyard, the Chandlers, who owned the land, ploughed a furrow and put in some apple pomace. Their intention was to have an apple tree hedge. When the young trees came up, some one pulled up enough of them to spoil the hedge. The remain- ing trees were then pruned for bearing and later on as many as four or five hundred barrels of cider apples were gathered from them in a season. Some of them are to be seen to this day, but the pines have grown up around them to a large extent.
SHOEMAKING.
The probabilities are that in the early days of the settlement each man made for himself and for his family the shoes that were needed, so far as he was able, and his additional wants were supplied by trav- eling shoemakers, who went from farm to farm to do work for the family. Later, there were several shops in town where shoes were made by hand. One was at the Benjamin Dowse place (now owned by Mr. Huskie). There James Amherst Parker and James Rollins worked, but Mr. Dowse was not himself a shoemaker.
Chandler Spofford, his son John T. Spofford, and John P. Connor made shoes in the Gillis house, which stood where Sylvanus Camp- bell now lives. Later, Mr. Spofford lived where Horace Townsend now lives, and carried on a shoemaking business there. John P. Connor later lived where Mrs. George French lives, and made shoes . there. Benjamin Gage and William Gage made shoes in the west end of the house where Charles Kendall now lives. Oliver and Charles Kendall at first worked there; also later at a shop nearly opposite the parsonage. Other shoemakers were John Armstrong, Joseph Marshall, John Parker, Greenleaf Walker, Abner C. Page, whose shop stood in the southwest corner of Horace Townsend's field near the town house, David Crowell, who lived where Elmer Esterbrooks now lives, and Allen Peabody, who lived on Tolford hill.
Daniel Cain went from house to house, in the way above cited, to make shoes for the family, about ninety years ago. He lived where Dwelly Mitchell used to live on the back River road, the last house in Bedford. Thomas Tay, called Tommy Trip, was also an itinerant shoemaker in town.
252
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
Stephen French made shoes on the farm where his grandson, James Edwards French, now lives. He also made whip lashes in the same shop. It stood on the north side of the road between the present buildings and the road. When Mr. French moved to the farm occupied by his son, Phineas French, and now owned by Fred A. French, he erected a shoe and whip shop, there carrying on busi- ness for a time. The lashes were cut and rolled out of ox hide, and the braided lashes were made of woodchuck skins. They were made up in the winter and taken to Boston by Mr. French in the spring, a hundred dozen to the load. After Mr French moved to the Fred A. French place, the shop on the old place continued to turn out whips until about 1850.
Shoes were so valuable in those days that people used to walk to meeting barefooted, carrying their shoes in their hands. A short distance before they came in sight of the meeting-house they stopped and put them on and then continued.
To show the fine quality of work done in town, a case is cited of a man who had a pair of boots tapped. After he got them home, he was waked up by a loud noise in the kitchen at night. He went down and what was his surprise to find the taps chewing the cud.
STORES.
The first store in Bedford was probably in Piscataquog village, but Samuel Chandler had a store on the River road at an early date, where he carried on business for many years. It was located just north of his house, on the west side of the road. He ceased to carry on his store when the railroad went through, about 1843.
There was a store in the Joppa district. It was first carried on by .. Dea. John French. Gilman Gardner, a one-armed man, came to get a bottle of rum, so he brought along two bottles, one of them filled with water. When the deacon had filled the empty one with rum, Gilman asked him to trust him for it.
" Can't do it," said the deacon. "Can't do it."
" Well," said Gilman, "then you must take it back."
So he handed him the bottle filled with water, which the deacon emptied into the rum barrel, while Gilman went on his way rejoicing. Deacon French ceased to keep this store about 1838. It was after- wards occupied by David Stevens, who had been clerk for Deacon French, for many years. He moved away in 1848. Afterwards, Stillman Shepard kept the store, a short time after which it was
253
INDUSTRIES.
closed as a store. The building is still standing, and is now occu- pied as a house by James Sargent. There was a hall over the store, with an entrance by a flight of stairs on the outside of the building. Here singing schools and dancing parties were frequently held.
The principal store within the limits of what is now Bedford was Riddle's store. It was built by Isaac Riddle in 1783. He had pre- viously kept a store in his mother's house, the Gawn Riddle house, which stood where Deacon Damon's now stands. The store build- ing was located just south of the Isaac Riddle house, now occupied by John A. Riddle, on land west of the dooryard. It was a large two-story building, painted white, facing east. In the upper story was a hall known as Washington hall, where dances and assemblies. of all kinds were held, and also sessions of a high school. The Riddles carried on an extensive business here, using this store as headquarters, making potash in the field just opposite, known as the " potash field," in consequence, and sending it to Boston. Later, they ran a line of boats on the Merrimack river and Middlesex canal to Boston. The canal followed a line about parallel with the present railroad track, entering Boston at Canal street. The Riddles dealt. in country produce of all descriptions. They had a branch store in Piscataquog village, carried on by William P. Riddle; another in the brick building in Souhegan village, where they carried on also an extensive manufactory of cotton, nails, and wool. The mills were destroyed by fire in 1829. This business was managed by James Riddle. There was also a store in Boston, managed by David Rid- dle. The goods carried down the river on boats were consigned to his store. The store in Bedford, occupied by Frederick Wallace in 1836-'37, and by O. L. Kendall from 1844-'46, was taken down in 1850, and the timbers used in building the house on the southwest corner of Granite and Turner streets in Piscataquog village.
About 1820 a son of Simeon Chubbuck and a Mr. McKenny started a store on what is now an abandoned road, leading from the Wallace road to the Joppa road, near the Chubbuck homestead. It was maintained but a short time.
Oliver Kendall also kept a store where his shop now stands, nearly opposite the parsonage. He did not open it until after Riddle's store had been removed. This was some time early in the 50's. Mr. Ken- dall went out of business about 1860. After he had done so, George W. Goffe opened a store in a little building located just west of the parsonage. He had moved the building from his father's, John
254
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
Goffe's, farm. He bought the land of Isaac Riddle. This was in 1859. Later he sold the store to James T. Kendall, who continued in business there until 1870.
About 1869 George W. Goffe and Quincy Barnard built the pres- ent store building and carried on a store there, as partners, for a year. Then Mr. Barnard sold his interest to James T. Kendall, and the business was continued under the name of Kendall & Goffe. The partnership was dissolved about two years later, and Mr. Ken- dall continued alone until his death in 1876. The store was then carried on by his sons, George and Elmer E., as agents for their father's estate. George went out of the business in 1885, moving to Manchester, and his brother continued until 1888. The business was then sold to James R. Leach, and he continued there until 1890, when he sold out to Fred A. French, the present occupant.
Jonathan Dowse, brother of Benjamin Dowse, kept a store where Thomas W. Moore now lives, in the south part of the town. He also drove a peddler cart for many years. The date is not now as- certainable, but in 1840 his canoe was borrowed to go to Concord in the "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" campaign. He peddled candy, gingerbread, oranges, filberts, etc.
Robert Wallace kept a store in the south part of the town, near Hale's mills. The building stood where the late Wilson Blood lived. He sold supplies to the brickmakers, as well as keeping a general store. He went out of business, moving to Goffstown, about 1840. He kept store in Bedford for about forty years.
SPINNING AND WEAVING.
One of the characteristic industries of the early settlement must have been the spinning and weaving of linen thread, a knowledge of which the settlers had brought from Londonderry. There are still to be found in town several specimens of linen cloth-table- cloths, sheets, etc., which were made from flax which was grown on the farms, beaten, hackled, spun into thread, and woven by the women of the families. There are still in existence two shirts which Josiah Gordon's mother made from linen raised and manufactured on her husband's farm, which she cut and fitted for her son when he went into the Continental army in 1776. He carried them in his knapsack throughout the war and brought them home when it was over.
The early inhabitants raised some wool, carding it, spinning it,
255
INDUSTRIES.
dyeing the thread, and weaving the cloth in hand looms, some of which are still in existence in town. There is one in complete working order on the Webster Atwood farm.
Some of the women, known as "spinsters," developed considera- ble skill as weavers and to them the yarn was brought. Among these we may enumerate Irena Patten, daughter of Joseph Patten, Hannah Atwood, who was the last one in town, Mary Bell, who was a weaver of linsey woolsey plaid, Mrs. Roby and Mrs. Martin (whose names were Smith before they were married), and who ex- celled in making cloth and weaving rag carpets.
With the discovery of the power loom and the concentration of weaving into factories, all traces of this former farm industry have disappeared.
Mrs. Theodore A. Goffe used to raise silk worms, feeding them upon the leaves of mulberry trees, planted for that purpose. From the cocoons she spun thread, and knitted stockings for members of her family and others. The cocoons in their boxes were considered a great natural curiosity, and were visited by her friends, who ob- served them with great interest. Mrs. Goffe also taught the making of wax flowers, which she skilfully colored. Some specimens of her work are still preserved in the town, and are highly prized. Her husband was the first and only Roman Catholic in town until a recent period. He walked to Boston and was admitted to the church by Bishop Fenwick.
Pounds.
By English common law, a township, lordship, or village was obliged to maintain a pound, or "place of strength to keep cattle which are distrained or put in for any trespass done by them until they are repleved or redeemed."
Following the practice in the old country, towns in the colonies early established their pounds and put them in charge of a pound- keeper. Any cattle, swine, horses, sheep, or other creatures doing damage and at large in a highway or common were liable to be taken to the pound and there kept at the owner's charge until claimed and taken away by him.
At the first town-meeting held in Bedford, on January the 8th, 1750, to accept the charter, it was " Voted to build a pound near Samuel Patten's." This pound was built of logs and stood about eight rods southwest of Samuel Patten's house on the second piece of land cleared in town. The last trace of this rude receptacle of strays is gone, and its location is probably not. within the recollec- tion of any person now (1850) living.
April 28, 1786, it was " Voted to build a new pound of stone on the southwest corner of the common by the meeting house, 32 feet square and 7 feet high. The building committee were James Wal- lace, John Riddle and John Houston, Jun. The committee to em- ploy such men as will answer to build said pound, and they be paid by order on the Treasurer."
On March 28, 1809, it was " Voted the selectmen shall be a com- mittee to fix the place and vendue the building of a new pound." The location selected is where the remains of the enclosure are still standing, north of Riddle or Damon's mills, and near where the school-house, known as the "Stone Jug," used to stand. The pound still stands in a dilapidated condition.
The present statute provides, "Every town shall maintain a good and sufficient pound. If any town neglects to do so, it shall forfeit $30 for each year it shall be destitute thereof for the person who will sue therefor, provided that any town may vote not to maintain
257
POUNDS.
a public pound and to dispose of any land held by it for that pur- pose."
Bedford voted not to maintain a pound at the annual meeting, March, 1879, but the land has not been sold. Therefore, stray cattle doing damage are now confined by any person interested, there be- ing no longer any public enclosure for that purpose.
18
Taverns.
It is not known exactly what was the location of the first tavern or house of public entertainment in Bedford. As early as March 9, 1806, we find that Capt. Thomas Chandler was licensed as a tavern keeper, with liberty to sell spirituous liquors. Prior to that date, however, and as early as 1793, Samuel Gilchrist, who married the daughter of John Aiken, moved to Bedford from Goffstown, and built the house now occupied by Arthur W. Holbrook on Hol- brook hill, and maintained a tavern there. Whether or no he kept a tavern there earlier than that date it is not possible to ascertain. Before the railroads were built, houses of entertainment were neces- sary not only for the passengers who went by stage from Concord or points north through to Boston, but also for the teamsters, who, winter and summer, drove heavy loads on sleds or wheels to the Boston market.
Two horses were called a "pod;" three a "spike;" four, a " screw," and six, a "team."
At one time there were as many as four taverns in Bedford. Piscataquog village, or as it is now known, West Manchester, was then included within the town limits. There was Parker's tavern, located at the northeast corner of Log and South Main streets. This house was built by William Parker, who kept tavern there for many years.1 Afterwards the house was occupied by William Walker, a Mr. Campbell, a Mr. Gowan, Ephraim C. Hardy, Moody Quimby; later, one Whittaker bought half of it from Mrs. Harris, daughter of William Parker, and kept tavern there for a time. Leonard W. Johnson and a man named Grout came from Boston and kept tavern there; then Cy. Walker, son of "old Cy;" then one Francis Day. The last occupant was Mr. Charles H. Wilkins. The house was burned during his occupancy, at 3: 30 in the morning of February 21, 1863. The Merrimack House, as it is now called,
1 As nearly as can now be ascertained, the house first built on the site of the Parker school, in 1785, was moved to the corner of Log and Main streets, enlarged and con- verted into a tavern and store, where West India goods were sold. This was 1787. The Parkers lived on the schoolhouse lot two years.
259
TAVERNS.
was used as a tavern after it was moved and built over. It formerly stood exactly where the North Weare track now runs west after crossing Main street. The house was moved from its location by Columbus Wyman in 1849. It was then owned by James Parker, Esq., father of Dr. Henry C. Parker. He sold it to Ben. Quimby, who was its owner when it was moved.
Chandler's tavern was first occupied by Zechariah Chandler, in the house now owned and occupied by Foster Rollins on the River road; afterwards the more famous Chandler tavern was kept by Thomas Chandler, at the corner of the River road and the Meet- ing House road, in the house afterwards occupied by Mr. George Foster. This tavern was known as the White Horse Tavern, from a sign of that description which hung on a bracket from the southeast corner of the house. Here President Jackson and his cabinet were entertained when they made their tour through New England in June, 1833. Gilman Palmer drove the stage, and the party stopped at Chandler's for dinner. The party included Martin Van Buren, Lewis Cass, Amos Kendall, and Levi Woodbury.
The Moore tavern on the South road from Bedford Center to Merrimack was kept by Col. William Moore, in the house now owned and occupied by Thomas Savage Burns. The line between Merrimack and Bedford ran through the house. The bar was in Merrimack.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.