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 54
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1 As we have seen the town at its meeting of March, 1850, appropriated $300 toward publishing a history of Bedford. There had been previously appointed by the town a committee of three men, consisting of Peter P. Woodbury, Thomas Savage, and William Patten to attend to the celebration of the one hundreth anniversary of the town's incorporation. But we do not find any direct vote of the town instructing them to prepare a history. Yet there is the vote of $300 above referred to toward publishing. We may suppose, therefore, that the committee considered it a part of their duty to prepare the history without further orders from the town. At any rate they did so. The sum of $300 was not sufficient to complete the work. The com- mittee, therefore, finished it at their own expense. And then the question as to who owned the history, when it had been printed, naturally arose. It had been
541
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
1861, March-"Voted to discount 8% on all taxes paid before the first of September."
October-" Voted to furnish an armory for the Bedford Light Infantry, and to remodel the lower room in the Town House for that purpose." The manner in which the lower room, by vote of said meeting to be remodelled, was as follows: "Level the floor, move the desk to the opposite side of the room, open the door where the window now is back of the desk, and finish an armory in the west end of the entry."
1862, March-It was "Voted to give the selectmen power to sell and convey the poor farm, if in their opinion it is for the best interests of the town.". The farm was sold to a Mr. Greenough for $5,000, and is now occupied by the heirs of George H. Wiggin.
After discussion it was voted to adopt the following : " Resolved that it is expedient to form a fire insurance company for the town of Bedford." 1
generally understood that each volume was to cost $1, but the additional expenses of the committee beyond what they had first anticipated made it necessary for them to fix the price at $1.25 per volume. Some feeling arose over the matter. One party feeling that the original appropriation should not have been exceeded, and so that the history should be obtainable for $1; the others feeling that the excess payments made by the committee were warranted, and that the price of $1.25 should be fixed so as to cover them.
In the printed town report of 1852-'53 is to be found this item in the account of O. L. Kendall, treasurer, on the side of funds received :
" To receipt of committee on History of Bedford, $232.61"
No further reference is found to the matter, until, in the report of 1858-'59, the treasurer, William B. Stevens, credits himself with this among other items: "Will- iam Patten and P. P. Woodbury's receipt, $232.61." In the same manner the item appears in the report of the following year. It disappears from the treasurer's report the next year, but in the selectmen's account of orders drawn are to be found these items:
" Balance due Book Committee, $67.69
"Selectmen of Bedford delivering up Book receipt, 232.61
"L. B. Bowman for committee settling with Book committee, 9.50 "
The sum of the first two items is 30 cents more than $300. The .69 may be a typo- graphical error for .19. It may be, therefore, that the treasurer paid Messrs. Patten and Woodbury, on account of the appropriation of $300, the sum of $232.61, for which the selectmen declined to give an order. The treasurer, therefore, kept the receipt as his voucher. After an investigation by a committee, of which L. B. Bowman was one, and who was paid $9.50 for its services, it seems that the selectmen gave an order for, not only the $232.61, to take up the receipt, but also one to pay to the book committeee the balance of the $300 appropriated. There has not been found any record of the money being returned to the town, although the histories were kept by the com- mittee as their private property. It is possible that it was decided in the settlement, that the appropriation by the town was merely in aid of the enterprise of preparing and publishing the history of the town., This is all the more probable since it is plain that the sum of $300 would go but a little way in the printing of a history, to say nothing of the work of preparation.
The histories were divided among the members of the committee. Of those awarded to William Patten a large number were burned in the fire which destroyed Patten's block in Manchester several years later, where they were stored. Those which fell to Dr. Woodbury were retained by members of his family.
1The Bedford Mutual Fire Insurance company was an organization of important the town for twenty-three years. It was organized in 1873 and continued until 1896, being served meanwhile by the following officers:
President Nathaniel Flint, 1873-'86; President Nathaniel B. Hull, 1886-'89; President Henry L. Peaslee, 1889-'96; Secretary Silas A. Riddle, 1873-'96; Treasurer James T. Kendall, 1873-'78; Treasurer Nathaniel Flint, 1878-'86; Treasurer Henry L. Peaslee, 1886-'96.
The largest amount of property at risk at any one time was $111,150 in 1891. For the first twenty years of its existence the company made but one assessment and but two losses occurred, which amounted to $1,147.66. Then meeting with heavy losses the members of the company became discouraged and disbanded, honorably, with all losses promptly paid as follows:
September, 1878. $1,060.26 to Mr. Rundlett; July, 1889, $87.40 to Mr. Weisback; Sep- tember, 1893, $2,000 to George O. Spencer; July, 1896, $1,900 to Worthley Bros .; Sep- tember, 1896, $2,000 to Charles B. Beal.
1
542
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
1865-A selectmen's census gave the following summary, as taken April 1-Males, 569; Females, 560; Horses, 259 ; sheep, 421, dogs, 78
1867, March-" Voted that all taxes paid prior to July 1 be given a discount of 3% ; prior to September 1, 1%."
1870, March 8-" Voted to allow a discount of 5% on all taxes paid on or before the first day of June ; 4% on all paid on or before the first day of July ; 3% on all paid on or before the first day of August."
1870-On the question of establishing the counties of Amoskeag and Monadnock, it was voted "inexpedient."
1871, March -- " Voted to raise $500 to purchase a new hearse and harness."
A committee consisting of William McAllister, Rodney M. Rol- lins and Silas Holbrook were chosen to purchase additional land for the burial ground at the Centre.
Theodore A. Goffe, Joseph H. Stevens and John Hodgman were chosen a committee to dispose of worthless books and papers in the Town Clerk's office.
1872, March-Voted to build a wall on the South side of the cemetery from the gate to the vestry and appropriated $1000 for that purpose.
1874, March-" Voted that collector of taxes shall give a bond that the taxes shall be collected and paid in before the first day of March, 1875."
1875, March-" Voted to pay the Moderator $5 a day for his services commencing with the present meeting."
1876, March-" Voted to raise a sum not to exceed $5,000, to build a new Town House."
1876, May-A special meeting was called "to see if the town will vote to locate the new Town House on land of Isaac N. Riddle, East of the vestry, and if so, instruct their building committee to purchase the land if it can be done at a reasonable price." The article was dismissed. The following resolution was adopted : "Resolved that the selectmen be instructed to have a photograph taken of the old Town House to be framed and hung up over the speaker's desk of the new Town House."
1876, October-The report of the Building Committee :
Foundation,
$261.
Grading, 56.50
Stone steps, 78.
Build. T. H. per contract,
5,850.
Extra work not in contract, 391.50 20.
Centrepiece in upper hall,
Architects' bill, 42.50
Total,
$6,699.50
Received for old Town House
$100.
543
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
" Voted that a sum of money not to exceed $200 be appropriated and put in the hands of Committee of arrangements for dedication of Town Hall."
" Voted $500 to furnish the house."
1876, November-The selectmen were instructed to have the Town House insured.
1877, March-Upon an article to see if the town will aid build- ing by subscription or otherwise, the railroad now chartered and known as The Manchester & Ashburnham Railroad, and make the appropriation for the same, etc., it was voted that the grantees have leave to withdraw.
An article to see if the town will build a tomb was dismissed.
The following resolution was adopted : "Whereas the people of the town of Bedford are indebted to Hon. Zechariah Chandler for the sum of $100 for enlarging and improving the cemetery at the center of the town, Resolved that a vote of thanks be extended him for his liberality."
Also, " Whereas, the town of Bedford, through the kindness and liberality of our former townsman, Freeman P. Woodbury, of the city of New York, and Col. George W. Riddle, of Manchester, is the recipient of a beautiful and substantial iron gate for the cem- etery at Bedford Centre, therefore Resolved, that a vote of thanks of the town be extended to Freeman P. Woodbury, Esq., and Col. George W. Riddle for this expression of the interest they have always manifested in our welfare."
1878-The annual meeting was adjourned, after voting for State and County officers and representative, all other articles. being indefinitely postponed. Upon petition, a special meeting was held March 28, at which the business not definitely acted upon at the earlier meeting was considered.
The reason for this unusual action was this. The chairman of the board of selectmen wrote the copies of the warrant and signed them with his own name. When the board met to post them, the other two members signed only one; that was posted at the Town House; another was posted at the Presbyterian church, and as it was in the evening, it was not noticed that it did not bear the names of a majority of the board. This observation was made by a citizen when he arrived to attend the Sabbath services on the following day, and attention was called to it but it was too late to remedy it. The meeting thus being improperly warned, all action that could be, was deferred until a special meeting could be duly warned and held.
At such meeting the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved that for the ensuing year and until otherwise ordered the compensa- tion of the town officers herein named shall be as follows, to wit: The selectmen shall receive $2 per day each; the Town Clerk shall receive $50 per year. The superintending School Committee shall receive $40 per year, and the taxes shall be collected by the lowest responsible bidder.
544
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
Also "that the Board of Health is from this time abolished, and that the Selectmen appoint no officers unless specially instructed by the town."
An article to see if the town would vote to maintain a public pound was dismissed.
1878, November-" Voted not to adopt the local option law in regard to the sale of cider by a vote of 25 to 22."
1879-The following is an inventory of the taxable polls and personal estate of the town for the year 1879,
Polls,
$34,400.
Horses,
17,218.
Cows, and other neat stock,
31,259.
Sheep,
77.
Hogs,
409.
Stock in banks,
3,700.
Carriages,
1,725.
Stock in trade,
4,555.
Money at interest,
81,118.
Mills,
4,325.
Stock in public funds,
9,100.
Dogs,
145.
Total, $188,031.
1879, March -- " Voted that the selectmen be authorized to dis- pense of the pound and dispose of the land."
The sum of $10 was appropriated for the decoration of soldiers' graves, and an annual appropriation has since been made for such purpose.
$75 was appropriated to provide curtains and stage fixtures for the Town Hall, suitable for school and other exhibitions.
1880, March-Another attempt to adopt the local option law in regard to the sale of cider was ineffective. A road machine was bought at a cost of $208.
1881, March-A proposition that the town provide a tomb was again denied.
1882, March-A resolution was adopted that the dog money, literary fund and railroad tax be divided equally among the eight outlying school districts without regard to poll or estate.
November-The selectmen were instructed to remove all adver- tising boards from the limits of the highway.
1883, March-The sum of $135 was appropriated to furnish maps, globes and dictionaries for the schools of the town. The following resolution was adopted: " Resolved that the Selectmen instruct the surveyors of highway to commence the use of the road machine by the 20th day of April."
1884, March-An article to see if the town will vote to raise a
545
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
sum of money and purchase a piano for the Town House was dismissed. Upon this action by the Town regarding the purchase of a piano the persons particularly interested raised the sum of $300 by subscription. With this they purchased from a dealer in Manchester a piano at a cost of $300. It is now in use, and is the . property of the subscribers.
The Selectmen were authorized to paint the Town House.
1884, November-" Voted to purchase a road machine."
1886, March-" Voted that the town be consolidated into two highway districts, and that the breaking out of roads in the winter be left with the selectmen."
1887, March-" Voted that the repairing of the highways be left with the selectmen."
1888, March-" Voted to raise $100 to entertain the 10th Regi- ment, and George W. Flint, Horace Townsend and Solomon Man- ning were named as a committee to spend the amount."
1888, March-Voted to accept the bequest of the late Adam Chandler in his last will and testament: Whereas, the late Adam Chandler, who was a native and for many years a citizen of the town of Bedford, has made a bequest in and by his last will and testament in favor of this town, in the following terms, to wit: I give and bequeath unto the town of Bedford, in said County of Hillsborough the sum of six hundred dollars, but in trust for the following uses and purposes and upon the conditions hereinafter set forth. That said town by its officers and agents shall annually for and during the period of twelve years from and after my decease expend the entire annual income of said sum upon the old burying ground at Bedford Center, in repairing and improving the paths and avenues therein, and for and during the next forty years succeeding said twelve years above mentioned, to annually expend the entire annual income of said sum of six hundred dollars in the purchase of miscellaneous books under the direction of officers and agents for said town, but with the approbation of some one of my descendants for the use of the citizens of said town; books of a sectarian and partisan character to be rejected ; after the expiration of said fifty- two years said sum of six hundred dollars to go to said town free of said trust forever. This bequest is upon the following conditions, to wit: that said town at a legal meeting of the voters therein shall within one year from my decease, vote to accept this legacy; that said town shall keep said sum of six hundred dollars constantly at interest at a rate of interest not less than the savings banks in this state or other similar institutions shall pay from time to time ; that the interest thereon shall be collected annually; that said town shall faithfully and justly expend annually said income for the said twelve years upon the grounds of the old burying ground at the Center as aforesaid; that said town shall faithfully and justly ex- pend annually said interest for the next forty years succeeding said
36
546
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
twelve years in the purchase of books as aforesaid, and shall provide or furnish a suitable place to keep such books as may be purchased as aforesaid and suitable provisions for delivering such books to per- sons entitled to use them, prior to the termination of said twelve . years. If said town shall reject or decline this bequest, or fail at any time to comply with these conditions then this bequest shall be immediately void."
And whereas an article has been inserted in the warrant for this meeting as follows to wit: "To see if the town will vote to accept the bequest made in its favor by the late Adam Chandler in his last will and testament and if so to take such action as may be neces- sary to comply with the provision of said will."
"And whereas the matter has been discussed and considered at length, therefore be it Resolved, that we, the voters of said town of Bedford in legal annual meeting assembled now within one year from the decease of said Adam Chandler, do vote to accept the said legacy so provided for this town as aforesaid. And that the town treasurer is hereby authorized to receive, in behalf of the town, the bequest aforesaid, and that he is hereby instructed to deposit the same, in the name of the town in the Amoskeag Savings Bank and to draw the interest thereof annually. And the selectmen are hereby authorized and instructed to fully comply with the provisions of said will." Voted to accept and adopt these resolutions.
1890, March-" Voted to authorize the selectmen to offer a reward, not exceeding $50, for the detection and conviction of any party or parties who maliciously or through criminal carelessness set fires in any forest, wood-lot, sprout lot, pasture, field or any other place, within the limits of the town of Bedford."
1891, March-" Voted to sell the road machine and to dismiss the article relative to buying a piano for the Town Hall." A reso- lution was adopted to pay the Moderator but $2 a day.
A layout was granted the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to erect poles and string wires on the direct main road from Manchester to Merrimack, via Bedford Centre.
1893, March-" Voted to leave the matter of purchasing a new road machine with the selectmen."
1895, March-"Voted to appropriate $100 to entertain the 10th Regiment, and Solomon Manning, Quincy Barnard, Thomas J. Wig- gin, Jacob P. Bursiel and Horace Townsend were named a commit- tee to expend the amount."
It was also voted that the school board be paid for their services out of the school money.
A resolution was adopted in support of a movement for a railroad from Milford to Manchester, and Solomon Manning and Stephen Goffe were chosen a committee to assist in locating said road.
1895, March 12-The following resolutions were offered :
Resolved That the citizens of Bedford are greatly indebted to
547
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
Mrs. C. H. Woodbury for the great improvement made through her efforts in our cemetery and its surroundings.
Resolved, That the citizens of the town of Bedford, recognizing these improvements, which have been so generally made ; recogniz- ing the fact that such improvements greatly enhance the beauty of our public grounds, and tend to promote the welfare and prosperity of our town; so: in meeting here assembled extend to said Mrs. Francis E. Woodbury a vote of thanks for said improvements, with our wishes for her future welfare and prosperity.
Resolved : that a copy of these resolutions be sent to Mrs. Wood- bury and that they also be spread upon the records of the town.
Voted that these resolutions be accepted and adopted. (Unani- mous.) Voted to extend to Mrs. Woodbury the privilege she asks, which was to improve and care for the East side of the Center cem- etery.
1896-The following is an inventory of the taxable polls and personal estate of the town for the year 1896:
Polls,
$27,900.
Land and buildings,
460,789.
456 Horses,
23,440.
14 Oxen, 710.
960 Cows,
25,820.
7 Other stock,
190.
8 Sheep,
30.
14 Hogs,
138.
398 Fowls,
199.
8 Carriages,
475.
Bank Stock,
1,000.
Money at interest,
89,585.
Stock in trade,
13,105.
Mills,
2,950.
Total, $646,331.
1896, March-The sum of $125 was appropriated to pipe the West side of Center cemetery.
It was voted not to make any discount on taxes, but at a special meeting April 10, a discount of 3% was voted on all taxes paid be- fore June 1.
Location of poles and wires was granted the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., on the Dole Road and the River Road, between the Dole road and the residence of Mrs. Freeman P. Woodbury.
1896, November-Resolutions were adopted in favor of the ex tension of the electric railroads in the State, and a steam road from Milford to Manchester.
1897, March -" Voted to authorize the selectmen to purchase an iron safe. During the previous years several articles on this subject had been dismissed.
548
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
A resolution was adopted in favor of a bill pending before the legislature for building the Manchester & Milford Railroad and de- claring the finding of the referees that "the public good does not require such road " as unfair and against the interests of the town.
Representative Edmund B. Hull was instructed to do all in his power to bring about action that will result in building such a road.
1898, March-Resolutions were adopted providing for the publi- cation of its history by the town and $75 was appropriated for de- fraying the expenses of the initial movement, the work to be in charge of a committee of five, to be appointed by the selectmen and moderator.
The committee subsequently named was : John A. Riddle, Quincy Barnard, Arthur W. Holbrook, William M. Patten, and Gordon Woodbury, who accepted the appointment and entered upon the discharge of their duties.
1899-Permission was given the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to locate three poles on the Worthley Road, beginning at Manchester line and extending West.
1899, March-" Voted to return to the old system of repairing highways, dividing the town into ten districts."' Also that the Ladies' Social Circle have the use of the Town Hall for entertain- ments free. Also to accept the Nancy Barr bequest of $300, the in- come to be used for the care of the John Barr lot in the Centre Cemetery.
Solomon Manning and Stephen Goffe were chosen agents of the town to act in locating the railroad and station, on the line from Milford to Manchester.
" Voted that the necessary disbursements of the committee col- lecting and compiling matter for the Town History be paid from the town treasury, not to include any compensation to the commit- tee for their services and the books when published to be the prop- erty of the town."
Permission to locate poles was granted the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. on the Pulpit Road from the Manchester line to Rollin H. Allen's residence.
1900, March-The sum of $500 was appropriated for the celebra- tion of the 150th anniversary, the anniversary committee to make all arrangements.
Permission was granted the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to locate poles on the road from Merrimack line to Burn's Corner, Bedford Centre, to Gordon place from the Manchester line over the Boynton road.
1901, March-" Voted to appropriate $1,500 towards the expense of producing 500 copies of the Town History," also to appropriate $225 for buying a new road machine.
The selectmen were instructed to enforce the law in regard to painting signs on stone or nailing boards on fences or putting up forms within the bounds of the highway.
549
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
Permission was granted N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to locate poles on South Main Street from the Kilton residence to the John B. Lodge residence.
1902, March-The sum of $600 was appropriated for repairs on the Town Hall.
Edmund B. Hull, Thomas J. Wiggin and Edward P. French were chosen a committee to promote the building of an electric rail- way between Manchester and Nashua on the West side of the Mer- rimack River, and it was voted to give a right of way through the town to the first railroad company that will so build.
Societies of Bedford.
The first agricultural society of this town and also of Hillsborough county was " The Agricultural and Mechanical Society of Bedford," formed in the spring of 1845, and continuing until November 21, 1849.
In the record book of the society is found this notice, which called the people together :
It is the opinion of many of the farmers of Bedford that an asso- ciation of those who take an active interest in that delightful occu- pation,-not only of making them more thorough farmers, but of cultivating their minds as well as their farms, (and the community in which they reside) by meeting often to discuss the various sub- jects connected with the farming interest.
Therefore, all those who think favorable towards the subject, are requested to meet at the Town-house in said town of Bedford, on Saturday, the third day of May next at 1 o'clock P. M.
A meeting was held June 4, 1845, with Peter P. Woodbury chair- man, at which time it was voted to form an agricultural society, and a committee was appointed to nominate officers for the same. The committee, Brooks Shattuck, James Walker, Capt. John Patten, William Patten, and Ebenezer Holbrook, decided that the officers consist of a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treas- urer. A nomination was made and accepted, and the following named persons were elected :
Dr. Peter P. Woodbury, president.
Capt. John Patten and Thomas Holbrook, vice-presidents. John Adams, secretary.
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