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 77
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Matthew Thornton, 1783.
James Martin, 1784-'85, 1791.
Stephen Dole, 1786, 1788-'90, 1792-'94.
Zachariah Chandler, 1787.
Isaac Riddle, 1798-'99, 1813.
David Patten, 1800-'02. Phinehas Aiken, 1803-'04, 1814. William Riddle, 1805-'07, 1825- '26, 1830-'31. Samuel Chandler, 1808-'10, 1815- '18.
Josiah Gordon, 1819-'20. Thomas Chandler, 1821. Thomas Aiken, 1822.
William Moor, 1823-'24, 1832- '33. Ebenezer French, 1827. Joseph Colley, 1828-'29, 1835. James McK. Wilkins, 1834, 1836-'37.
Jonas B. Bowman, 1838-'39. John French, 1840.
Thomas Chandler, 1841-'42. William Patten, 1843. Leonard C. French, 1844-'46.
Gardner Nevins, 1847-'48.
William P. Riddle, 1847-'48.
Adam N. Patten, 1849. Chandler Spofford, 1849. Andrew J. Dow, 1850. Leonard C. French, 2d, 1850. Benjamin F. Wallace, 1851.
Moody M. Stevens, 1851. James Morrison, 1852. Thomas W. Moore, 1852. Daniel K. Mack, 1853.
James French, 1854-'55. Russell Moor, 1856-57. Thomas G. Holbrook, 1858-'59.
Henry Hale, 1860-'61. William R. French, 1862-'63. George W. Riddle, 1864-'65. Silas Holbrook, 1866-'67. Samuel Patten, 1868. Charles H. Moore, 1869. John Hodgman, 1870.
1 Amherst was classed with Bedford for the choice of a representative to the general court, under the Provincial government. The first meeting for the choice of a representative from the classed towns of which a record has been found, was held at Bedford meeting-house March 4, 1762, at which Col. John Goffe received forty-six votes and Capt. Moses Barron, thirteen votes. Colonel Goffe having a majority of the votes was declared elected, and served as representative of the dis- trict, under this and subsequent elections, until the abrogation of the Provincial government.
794
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
George W. Goffe, 1871, 1876.
Thomas G. Worthley, 1872.
George Whitford, 1873.
No choice, 1874.
Paul T. Campbell, 1875.
No choice, 1877.
William McAlister, 1878.
Edmund B. Hull, 1896.
No choice November, 1878.
Charles B. Beal, 1880.
John A. Riddle, 1882.
Freeman R. French, 1884.
William M. Patten, 1886.
George F. Barnard, 1888. Gordon Woodbury, 1890. Perham Parker, 1892. James E. Gault, 1894.
TOWN CLERKS.
The list of clerks of the town follows, with the years of service presented after the manner in which the moderators have been given ; the few cases of a duplication of dates are occasioned by the resignation of the person elected before the term expired :
John Mclaughlin, 1750-'51. Matthew Patten, 1752-'72. John Bell, 1773-'76.
William White, 1777-'81.
Thomas Mclaughlin, 1782.
John Rand, 1783-'84.
Josiah Gillis, 1785-'87.
William Moor, 1788-'90, 1816- '17.
William McAfee, 1791, 1799- 1800.
David Patten, 1792-'96, 1807- '10.
Phinehas Aiken, 1797-'98, 1801- '04. Samuel Chandler, 1805-'06, 1827- '28.
Moody M. Stevens, 1811-'15. Alfred Foster, 1818-'26.
Leonard Walker, 1829-'30, 1833- '34.
Isaac Riddle, 1831-'32.
Daniel Moor, Jr., 1835.
Frederick Wallace, 1836-'37.
Daniel Gordon, 1838-'41, 1843.
John Parker, 1842.
Andrew J. Dow, 1844-'47, 1850- '51. Benjamin F. Wallace, 1848-'49. Matthew Barr, 1850.
Daniel K. Mack, 1852-'53.
Chandler Spofford, 1853-'57.
Benjamin Hall, 1857-'64. William W. Wilkins, 1865-'68. John Hodgman, 1869-'71.
Theodore A. Goffe, 1872.
George W. Flint, 1875.
Silas A. Riddle, 1873-'74, 1876- 1900.
Fred A French, 1900.
TAX COLLECTORS.1
1
Samuel Barr, 1799. David Stevens, 1800.
Nathan Cutler, 1801. David McQuesten, 1802.
1 It would appear that in the early history of the town an accepted duty of the con- stable, duly chosen, was the collection of taxes, as for many years the same man performed the duties of both positions. From 1779 to 1799 there were two constables formally chosen each year, and a tax list was committed to each of them, one for the "easterly " part and one for the " westerly " part. The names of the collectors pre- vious 'to 1799 can be found in the list of constables on another page, as above ex- plained, and are omitted here for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition.
Quincy Barnard, 1898. Solomon Manning, 1900. Ira Barr, 1902.
795
THE TOWN MEETING.
Samuel Moor, 1803.
Jesse Walker, 1833-'34.
William McAfee, 1804.
Thomas Wallace, 1805.
Robert Houston, 1806.
Moses Gage, 1842.
Andrew Walker, 1807.
Amos Martin, 1808.
Isaac Atwood, 1809, 1815, 1823, 1838, 1839.
Josiah Walker, 1810.
William Moor, 1811, 1827.
David McQuesten, 1812-'13.
George W. Goffe, 1859.
James Darrah, 1814.
James Moor, 1816, 1820.
Joseph Colley, 1817-'18, 1837.
James Riddle, 1819.
James T. Kendall, 1860-'64, 1868. John Hodgman, 1865-'67, 1869- '71, 1874-'79. Horace Holbrook, 1872.
Isaac Riddle, 1821-'22, 1830, 1840-'41, 1843.
Quincy Barnard, 1873, 1880, 1886-'92, 1902.
John McAllister, 1824.
Lowell Sprague, 1825.
Oliver L. Kendall, 1881-'82.
William Riddle, 1826.
Harris S. C. Ryder, 1883-'85.
Samuel Moor, Jr., 1828.
Jasper P. George, 1893-'97.
Mace Moulton, 1829.
Newton I. Peaslee, 1898-1901.
John Craig, 1831-'32.
Thomas J. Wiggin, 1903.
THE SCHOOL BOARDS.
1886. Arthur W. Holbrook, Charles B. Beal, N. B. Hull.
1893. William F. Conner,1 Edward P. French, Jasper P. George.
1887. Charles B. Beal, N. B. Hull, Frank H. Rowe.
1894. Edward P. French, Jasper P. George, Mary E. Manning.
1888. N. B. Hull, Frank H. Rowe, Charles B. Beal.
1895. Jasper P .. George, Mary E. Manning, William W. Darrah
1889. Frank H. Rowe, Charles B. Beal, Edward P. French.
1896. Mary E. Manning, William W. Darrah, Jasper P. George.
. 1890. Charles B. Beal, Edward P. French, Frank H. Rowe.
1897. William W. Darrah, Jasper P. George, Mary E. Manning.
1891. Edward P. French, Frank H. Rowe, William F. Conner.
1898. Jasper P. George,2 Mary E. Manning, Thomas J. Wiggin.
1892. Frank H. Rowe,
William F. Conner, Edward P. French.
1899. Mary E. Manning, Thomas J. Wiggin, William M. Patten.
1 Resigned; William S. Manning appointed.
2 Resigned; William M. Patten appointed.
Rodney Mclaughlin, 1835. Andrew Moor, 1836.
Daniel Barnard, 1843-'45.
Joseph C. Moore, 1847. Joseph Walker, 1848.
Joseph H. Stevens, 1849-'52, 1857-'58. Elijah C. Stevens, 1853-'56.
796
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
1900. Thomas J. Wiggin, William M. Patten, Mary E. Manning.
1901. William M. Patten, Mary E. Manning, Arthur W. Holbrook.
1902. Mary E. Manniug, Arthur W. Holbrook. William M. Patten.
1903. Arthur W. Holbrook, William M. Patten, Mary E. Manning.
PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
The public town library was established by action at the annual meeting of 1892, and the following have served as trustees :
A. D. Smith, 1892. Eddy W. Stevens, 1894-1903. George M. Davis, 1892-'93. George F. Barnard, 1894-1902.
John A. Riddle, 1892-'93. Joseph S. Parkhurst, 1898-1903.
Jasper P. George, 1893-'97. George H. Wiggin, 1903.
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
1788. Stephen Dole.
1791. Zachariah Chandler.
1850. John French.
1876. Charles H. Kendall. 1888. George H. Wiggin. 1902. Gordon Woodbury.
SUPERVISORS OF CHECK-LISTS.
1878. John Hodgman, Hugh R. French, Charles B. Beal. 1880. Charles B. Beal, Warren G. Currier, William W. Darrah.
1882. William M. Patten, George F. Shepard, Edmund Kendall.
1884. William M. Patten, George F. Shepard, Edmund Kendall. 1886. Willard C. Parker, Rodney F. Rollins,
~ William F. Conner. 1888. William F. Conner, Thomas J. Wiggin, Daniel W. Atwood.
1890. Thomas J. Wiggin, Daniel W. Atwood, George L. Walch.
1892. Daniel W. Atwood, Orra G. Kilton, George L. Walch. - 1894. Orra G. Kilton, George L. Walch, William H. Ryder. 1896. James R. Leach, Harry A. Shepard, William H. Ryder.
1898. Harry A. Shepard, James R. Leach, Fred F. Lane.
1900. James R. Leach, Fred F. Lane, Perham Parker.
1902. Lyman M. Kinson, Edward P. French, William S. Manning.
797
THE TOWN MEETING.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
1784. Meshech Weare, 46.
1789. John Pickering, 42.
1785. John Langdon, 23. Gen. Bellows, 4.
George Atkinson, 5.
1790. John Pickering, 42.
1786. John Langdon, 47. Judge Bartlett, 1.
George Atkinson, 6.
1791. Josiah Bartlett, 47.
1787. John Langdon, 107.
1788. John Langdon, 68.
1792. Josiah Bartlett, 67.
VOTE FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.1
1793. Josiah Bartlett, 79. John P. Gilman, 1. Stephen Dole, 1. John Bell, 1.
1794. John T. Gilman, 72. Stephen Dole, 1.
1795. John T. Gilman, 85. Stephen Dole, 1. Joseph Patten, 1.
1796. John T. Gilman, 56. Timothy Walker, 13. 1797. John T. Gilman, 60.
1798. John T. Gilman, 78.
1799. John T. Gilman, 76.
1800. John T. Gilman, 85. Timothy, Walker, 2. 1801. John T. Gilman, 106. John Langdon, 3. Timothy Walker, 2.
1802. John T. Gilman, 108. John Langdon, 21. David Riddle, 1. 1803. John T. Gilman, 100. John Langdon, 32.
1804. John T. Gilman, 98. John Langdon, 51. 1805. John T. Gilman, 107. John Langdon, 66.
1806. John Langdon, 73. Timothy Farrar, 60. Robert Mann, 1.
1807. John Langdon, 70. Levi Whitman, 1. 1808. John Langdon, 57. Timothy Farrar, 5. 1809. Jeremiah Smith, F., 122. John Langdon, D. R., 72. 1810. Jeremiah Smith, F., 122. John Langdon, D. R., 77. 1811. Jeremiah Smith, F., 118. John Langdon, D. R., 86. 1812. John T. Gilman, F., 137. William Plumer, D. R., 76.
1813. John T. Gilman, F., 155. William Plumer, D. R., 68. John Vose, 1. 1814. John T. Gilman, F., 160. William Plumer, D. R., 70. 1815. John T. Gilman, F., 165. William Plumer, D. R., 62. 1816. James Sheafe, F., 172. William Plumer, D. R., 77. 1817. James Sheafe, F., 157. William Plumer, D. R., 76. 1818. Jeremiah Mason, F., 95. William Plumer, D. R., 75. 1819. William Hale, F., 106. Samuel Bell, D. R., 56. William Plumer, D. R., 8. Levi Woodbury, 1. 1820. Samuel Bell, D. R., 51. David L. Morrill, 42.
1 In the above tabulation we have indicated the political party which the leading candidates represented, as far as the records show. It is a striking fact that news- paper files have to be depended upon almost entirely for this information, nothing of the character appearing in any official record or statistical publication. Of the designations: F. means Federalist party ; D. R., Democratic Republican, which later has been shortened to Democratic, and is indicated by D .; W., Whig; R., Republi- can; A., Abolitionist; P., Prohibitionist; S., Socialist.
798
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
1820 Richard Dole, 1. William P. Riddle, 1. 1821. Samuel Bell, D. R., 75. Levi Woodbury, D. R., 10. David L. Morrill, 2. 1822. Samuel Bell, D. R., 81. David L. Morrill, F., 24. Jeremiah Smith, 1. Gilbert Goffe, 1.
1823. Levi Woodbury, D. R., 122. Samuel Dinsmore, D. R., 51. 1824. Levi Woodbury, D. R., 95. David L. Morrill, D. R., 19. Judge Livermore, 2. 1825. David L. Morrill, D. R., 163. Benjamin Pierce, D. R., 1. Ephraim Abbott, Jr., 1.
1826. Benjamin Pierce, D. R., 108. David L. Morrill, D. R., 65. George Sullivan, 3. Jeremiah Smith, 1. Isaac Orr, 1.
1827. Benjamin Pierce, D. R., 140. David L. Morrill, D. R., 21. George Sullivan, 2. Isaac Orr, 2. Jonathan Harvey, 1. Matthew Harvey, 1.
1828. John Bell, F., 176. Benjamin Pierce, D. R., 84. 1829. John Bell, F., 172, Benjamin Pierce, D. R., 99.
1830. Timothy Upham, F., 158. Matthew Harvey, D.R., 102. 1831. Ichabod Bartlett, F., 199. Samuel Dinsmore, D.R., 108. Franklin Wallace, 1. Reuben Moors, 1.'
1832. Ichabod Bartlett, F., 142. Samuel Dinsmore, D.R., 121.
1833. Samuel Dinsmore,D.R., 101. William Goffe, 1. Jonathan Harvey, 1. 1834. William Badger, D. R., 128. Jack Downing, 17. William Goffe, 3. Samuel W. Abbott, 1. Isaac Moore, 1.
1835. Joseph Healey, F., 123. William Badger, D. R., 119. 1836. Isaac Hill, D. R., 137. William Badger, D. R., 3. Sherborn Dearborn, Jr., 3. Thomas Rundlett, 1. James Walker, 1.
1837. Isaac Hill, D. R., 85. 1838. James Wilson, Jr., F., 189. Isaac Hill, D. R., 122.
1839. James Wilson, F., 186. John Page, D. R., 140.
1840. Enos Stevens, F., 165. John Page, D. R., 139.
1841. Enos Stevens, F., 162. John Page, D. R., 165. Willard Parker, 1.
1842. Henry Hubbard, D. R., 172. Enos Stevens, F., 139. Daniel Hoyt, 10. John H. White, D. R., 8. 1843. Anthony Colby, F., 162. Henry Hubbard, D. R., 157. John H. White, D. R., 16. Daniel Hoyt, 14.
1844. John H. Steele, D. R., 170. Anthony Colby, F., 159. Daniel Hoyt, 17. Franklin Pierce, 1.
1845. No vote recorded, and no article for one in the warrant. 1846. Anthony Colby, F., 160. Jared W. Williams, D. R., 157. Nathaniel S. Berry, 18. 1847. Anthony Colby, F., 178. Jared W. Williams, D. R., 163. Nathaniel S. Berry, 18. Dudley H. Tufts, 1. 1848. Nathaniel S. Berry, F., 202. Jared W. Williams, D. R., 161. 1849. Levi Chamberlain, F., 184. Samuel Dinsmore,D.R.,158. Nathaniel Berry, 1. 1850. Samuel Dinsmore,D.R., 150.
799
THE TOWN MEETING.
1850. Levi Chamberlain, F., 150. Nathaniel S. Berry, 12.
1851. Thomas E. Sawyer, W .,157. Samuel Dinsmore, D.R.,112. John Atwood, A., 79.
1852. Thomas E. Sawyer, W ., 154. Noah Martin, D. R., 147. John Atwood, A., 33. 1853. James Bell, W ., 173. Noah Martin, D. R., 161. John H. White, A., 15. 1854. James Bell, W., 138. Nathaniel B. Baker, D. R., 109. Jared Perkins, 10. 1855. Ralph Metcalf, W., 145. Nathaniel B. Baker, D. R., 113. James Bell, 1.
1856. Ralph Metcalf, W., 145. John S. Wells, D. R., 109. Ichabod Goodwin, 6.
1857. William Hale, R., 161. John S. Wells, D. R., 94.
1858. William Hale, R., 157. Asa P. Cate, D. R., 109. 1859. Ichabod Goodwin, R., 176. Asa P. Cate, D. R., 112. 1860. Ichabod Goodwin, R., 168. Asa P. Cate, D. R., 119.
1861. Nathaniel S. Berry, R., 155. George Stark, D. R., 105. Levi Bartlett, 2.
1862. Nathaniel S. Berry, R., 156. George Stark, D. R., 103. Paul J. Wheeler, 8.
1863. Joseph A. Gilmore, R., 105. Ira A. Eastman, D. R., 112. Walter Harriman, 69.
1864. Joseph A. Gilmore, R., 195.
Edward W. Harrington, D. R., 113.
1865. Frederick Smith, R., 178. Edward W. Harrington, D. R., 107. 1866. Frederick Smith, R., 187. John G. Sinclair, D. R., 121. 1867. Walter Harriman, R., 167. John G. Sinclair, D. R.,118. 1868. Walter Harriman, R., 189. John G. Sinclair, D. R., 132 1869. Onslow Stearns, R., 166. John Bedell, D. R., 139. 1870. Onslow Stearns, R., 168. John Bedell, D. R., 138. 1871. James Pike, R., 160. James A. Weston, D., 152. 1872. Ezekiel A. Straw, R., 162. James A. Weston, D., 160. 1873. Ezekiel A. Straw, R., 177. James A. Weston, D., 144. John Blackmer, 2.
1874. Luther McCutchins, R., 168. James A. Weston, D., 134. John Blackmer, 6.
1875. Person C. Cheney, R., 163. Hiram B. Roberts, D., 158. Nathaniel White, 3.
1876. Person C. Cheney, R., 161. Daniel Marcy, D., 164. 1877. Benjamin F. Prescott, R., 159. Daniel Marcy, D., 138. Scattering, 1.
1878. Benjamin F. Prescott, R., 170. Frank A. McKean, D., 136.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.
1878. Natt Head, R., 169. Frank A. McKean, D., 110. Warren G. Brown, 49. Asa S. Kendall, 1. 1880. Charles H. Bell, R., 184. Frank Jones, D., 156.
1882. Samuel W. Hale, R., 173. Martin V. B. Edgerly, D., 143. 1884. Moody Currier, R., 157. John M. Hill, D., 148. Larkin D. Mason, P., 10.
800
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
1886. Charles H. Sawyer, R., 140. John M. Hill, D., 130. Joseph Wentworth, P., 10. 1888. David H. Goodell, R., 163. Charles H. Amsden, D., 150. Edgar L. Carr, P., 6. 1890. Hiram A. Tuttle, R., 164. Charles H. Amsden, D., 139. Josiah M. Fletcher, P., 3. 1892. John B. Smith, R., 166. Luther F. Mckinney, D., 140. William O. Noyes, 1. Edgar L. Carr, P., 1. 1894. Charles A. Busiel, R., 167. Henry O. Kent, D., 98.
Daniel C. Knowles, P., 4. George D. Epps, 1. Harry H. Acton, S., 3.
1896. George A. Ramsdell, R., 157.
1896. Henry O. Kent, D., 79. George W. Barnard, 5. John C. Berry, P., 3. 1898. Charles F. Stone, D., 162. Frank W. Rollins, R., 115. Augustus D. Stevens, 2. Gardner J. Greenleaf, 1. Benjamin T. Whitehouse, S., 1. Franklin Worcester, R., 1. 1900. Chester B. Jordan, R., 159. Frederick E. Potter, D., 81. Josiah M. Fletcher, P., 4. Sumner F. Claflin, S., 2. Franklin Worcester, R., 1.
1902. Henry F. Hollis, D., 134.
Nahum J. Bachelder, R., 131. Alonzo Elliott, R., 7. John C. Berry, P., 5. Michael H. O'Neil, S., 4.
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration.
Preparations for celebration of the 150th anniversary of the in- corporation of the town were as earnestly entered upon and as pop- ularly supported as had been those for the centennial celebration. At the annual town-meeting, March, 1900, there was an unanimous vote "To raise and appropriate $500 for the 150th anniversary, and that the anniversary committee make all the arrangements." It was at once seen that such action was not legal, the object being a special one not covered by the statutes. Nothing daunted, citizens set at work to raise the funds necessary to execute the plans, and it was readily done by the passing of subscription papers. The total was ample to meet every demand from the committee.
The celebration was held Wednesday, May 23, 1900. The fol- lowing detailed story of the event was taken from the Manchester Daily Union of the following morning :
The staid and quiet old town of Bedford had an "Old Home " day on Wednesday, which will long be remembered by her people and which gathered again within her borders such a number of her sons and daughters as is not often seen in a place of this size. The day marked nothing less than the one hundred and fiftieth anniver- sary of the incorporation of the town and the event was celebrated in a manner which did credit to Bedford and her citizens, and which was eminently in keeping with the nature of the day.
For a long time the people of the good old town had been prepar- ing for the celebration and the success which attended their efforts was due to the careful and conscientious work done by all con- cerned. There was a wise division of labor and no one shirked the part assigned.
A thousand invitations were sent out for the occasion and fully half of them were accepted. There were present the old Bedford boys and girls and their sons and daughters and grandchildren in large numbers. Family reunions and the meetings of old friends were the order of the day, and it was a time of joy and good will on all sides.
52
802
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
There were exercises both morning and afternoon, a dinner in the town house, band concerts, and other features. The day was one enjoyed by all who participated in its observance.
Many of those from other places, a large number of whom came from a great distance, arrived at the old home a day or two in ad- vance and were on hand to share in all the features of the celebra- tion.
The day's observance was begun with the ringing of the bell of the old church whose history is largely that of the town itself. At sunrise its voice went out announcing in unmistakable tones that the day for which all had been preparing and waiting expectantly had come at last, and that there was nothing left to do but participate in all its features and enjoy them to their utmost. It needed no second invitation to arouse most of the people, and the remainder of the day was filled with bustle and activity.
From 9:15 to 9:45 there was in front of the church a thoroughly enjoyable band concert by the First Regiment band, W. S. H. Jones, leader. During this time the people were gathering within the church for the exercises which followed shortly after the con- cert. An efficient corps of ushers attended to the seating of the people, and there was no delay in starting the exercises when the time came for the beginning of the programme.
When 10 o'clock came, and the exercises began, every seat in the church was filled, while it was necessary to place in the aisles as many chairs as could conveniently be placed there.
After an organ voluntary-Guilmant's "Grand Chorus," played by Miss Mary Spofford in her customarily admirable style, Gordon Woodbury, president of the day, called the gathering to order and called upon the Rev. Albert Newton of Haverhill, Mass., to invoke the Divine blessing.
The clergyman returned thanks for the honorable history of the town, the heritage of her sons and daughters, and asked a continu- ance of the Divine guidance for the place and its people, that the days to come might be as bright and still brighter than the days in the past. The prayer was closed by the recital of the Lord's Prayer by all the people.
The president of the day then stepped forward to deliver his ad- dress of welcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests and Visitors, Friends and Fellow-citizens of Bedford :
The committee who have been charged with the duty of arranging the celebration of this important occasion, have invited me to act as chairman of the day. And so it becomes my privilege to welcome you here and to ask you to rejoice together and with us all over the completion of one hundred and fifty full years of the incorporated existence of this miniature republic.
It is a privilege indeed, but it is also a task, and it is as well a pleasure and a duty. It is a task for it is ours to-day to recall as far
803
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
as may be the memory of the characteristics and the deeds of the good men and women now long gone to their reward, who were your ancestors and mine, and who with stout hearts and sturdy hands, with a clear and honest purpose to learn the right and to do it (no matter what the cost), first tamed this savage wilderness, and made it into the abundant farms and thrifty homes which we enjoy to-day.
To deal fully and justly with their achievements you will agree with me is not only a task but it is a heavy task as well. But it is a pleasure also to attempt it, for if you will pardon a word of per- sonal reference, when fifty years ago you marked the hundredth an- niversary of the town, it was my grandfather whom you selected to act as chairman of the day. But if there is truth in the maxim that to be as good as our fathers we must be better, I know that your present choice has not been as wise as your former, and I shall have to take refuge in the fact that there are too few now present who were present then to admit of a very extended comparison. And it is a duty also which we are discharging to-day. A duty which we owe not to our ancestors only, but to ourselves. We should assemble as we have done, we should call to mind as nearly as we can the times in which our fathers lived who laid the foundations of the political structure in which we live to-day so that by present com- parison we can learn whether we are rightly using the fabric which they reared for us and which it is ours to transmit uninjured to the coming generation. We should not be content with idle and amus- ing contrast between the comforts and luxuries which characterize our homes to-day and the bleak and rigorous conditions under which our great grandfathers and grandmothers lived.
We should continually remind ourselves that we are to-day, whether consciously or unconsciously, voluntarily or involuntarily, reaping the rewards of their toil and self-sacrifice.
That others beside them, if not we,
The pleasures of their toil shall see. * * * * * * *
While we, their children, gather as our own
The harvest that the dead have sown.
We are celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Bedford, which took place May 19, 1750. But we must go back in our history beyond that date. We must picture to ourselves what was the situation when the first white man set foot on soil now a part of our town. A company of Scotch people who had been induced to leave Scotland and settle in Ireland as colonists, had become dissatisfied with their surroundings there. The causes of their dissatisfaction, and their personal and social characteristics, and the incidents of their journey from Ireland, may be elaborated more fully in the stated address of the occasion. But it is enough now to say that these Scotch emigrants, sailing from the north of Ireland, found themselves at last settled at what they called Londonderry, from the name of their former home. The
1
804
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
name Londonderry was adopted because the settlement in Ireland was made under the auspices of the London company. As their families increased, and following the natural law of growth and change which has seemed to characterize them and their descendants ever since, some of them came across the Merrimack in canoe or dug- out, hewed a clearing in the forest that then stretched west in an unbroken and unexplored wilderness from where we now stand right across New Hampshire to the Connecticut river, and thence across Vermont to Lake George, where at Fort Edward a tiny blaze of scarlet marked the utmost limit of the military power of his sacred majesty, King George of England. North of them this wil- derness stretched grim and silent and full of deadly peril, past the lake of the great spirit and the frozen depths of the White moun- tains, clear to the St. Lawrence and the domain of his Catholic Majesty Louis, the well beloved fifteenth of the name, and king of France and Navarre, and to his settlement in the Canadas. Here these settlers, or as we should now describe them, squatters, felled the primeval giants that then formed our forests, built their log cabins, and by hunting and fishing and such scanty attempts at farm- ing as would be possible under such conditions, made their homes. But they had no legal title to the land they lived upon, and which they were improving, and they could obtain none.
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