USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Candia > History of Candia: once known as Charmingfare; with notices of some of the early families > Part 3
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
40
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
the selectmen shall order. Likewise, voted that Mr. Remington have liberty to cut what wood will be need- ed in addition to the above twenty cords, to support the fires in the Parsonage house yearly, and no more ; and timber to maintain the fences about said Parson- age." These terms being suitable, Mr. Remington sent a letter of acceptance, of which this is a copy.
" BRETHREN AND FRIENDS : It having Pleased God Since I have Preached among you as a Candidate to incline your hearts to unite in proposing my Settlement - to this purpose the Church and Congregation met on July 12th and being happily united as I was informed in Completing a Call - having Seriously Considered of the Call and of the union and friendship which appeared to Subsist, think it my Duty to Express my approbation and acceptance of it. Acknowledging at the Same time with gratitude your good Opinion of my fidelity and faithfulness in the Proposals of my taking the Pastoral Charge and Care of you in the Lord and also the Re- spect and friendship you have Shown me both in Publick and Private since our first acquaintance Desiring your Sincere and Daily Prayers to God that I may be Enabled to perform Every incumbent Duty as a minister and Preach so as by Divine assistance, to Save not only my Self but them that Hear me.
With Affection I am your Devoted friend and Brother in the fellowship of the Gospel.
JESSE REMINGTON.
Candia, August 20th 1790.
At the time when Mr. Remington entered on the
41
RETROSPECT.
duties of his sacred office, the settlement wanted five years of being half a century old, and twenty six years had passed since its incorporation. These had been no common years. Through the sufferings inci- dent to new settlements in frontier places, the people of Candia had struggled on into something like prosperity at the commencement of the war. To this new bur- den they did not hesitate to offer their willing shoulders, and though few in number, sent their full share of men to the battle field. They suffered for what we enjoy. They experienced those bitter sensations, which God grant we may never feel, when reverse after reverse fell thick and fast on American arms, when the South- erner was driven to the fastnesses of his inaccessible swamps, and the Northern army lay perishing amid the snows of Valley Forge. They too felt that joy which paid an hundred fold for all endurance, when the world saw the disgrace of British policy and the triumph of justice and the American cause. When the flush of victory had subsided, they helped endure the burdens of a Nation impoverished and weak, commencing its great experiment of self government.
Their industry and thrift in all this time had not for- saken them, and they had both ability and disposition to support decently their minister and schools, and to conduet civil affairs in a prosperous manner. They were not rich, but well enough off, as the saying is ; the yearly tax at this time, (period of Mr. Remington's set- 6
42
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
tlement,) from less than two hundred and twenty five payers, being about seven hundred and thirty dollars, four-fifths of which was for religious instruction, and for schools. The people of Candia were, and to this day are, a church going people. The sound principle and love of good order, the regard for things sacred which characterized the first Parish committee in their day of fasting and prayer, on account of the difficulty of pro- curing a suitable preacher, has not left them now. In respect to schools, it is but just to say that they have been for many years, in advance of all in their imme- diate vicinity.
March 9th 1802, the people being well united in Mr. Remington, and prosperous in worldly affairs, be- came desirous of building a steeple to their meeting house, not being content with the plain and simple structure their fathers had built a quarter of a century before; so they proceeded to add to it a porch and steeple, which, indeed, made a very fine appearance. On its dizzy, towering top rested that bird of birds - not the American eagle, but the "weather cock," whose watchful eye admonished, like a sentinel from his tur- ret, of the coming storm. Many a little boy firmly believed, that he crowed whenever he heard the morn- ing salutations of his friends and kindred in the humbler walks of life. It was voted then to assess on those who paid a minister tax, the sum of one hundred and twenty five dollars, which in addition to that already
!
43
THE BELL.
subscribed, should be used for the purchase of a bell. This bell was of a beautiful tone, as all who ever heard ' it, well know. It was rung three times a day, viz : at eight in the morning, twelve at noon, and nine at night, except the nights of Saturday and Sunday, when it was rung at eight. Mr. Nathan Fitts bid off the ringing the first year, for twenty four dollars and twenty five cents. The next year it was rung by Mr. Joseph Carr, by whom it was kept for many years. There was some- thing attractive, even in the very rattle of that old bell rope as it came through its long pine tube down to the floor, and jerked backward and forward, occasionally taking a little boy by the heels, when without fear of the sexton before his eyes he ventured too near, of a Sunday noon. The old sexton, with his peculiar gait and somewhat stooping form, as with the church key swinging in his hand, he moved daily to his task, is im- pressed strongly among the memories of boyhood, and to all my Sabbaths the presence and services of Mr. Carr, seemed indispensable as those of the minister himself.
The object of this brief notice of our father's doings is nearly accomplished. Whatever could be obtained from the records, or the voice of tradition, lias been faithfully written here. It is much to be lamented that the work had not been undertaken at an earlier period when there were more among the living who could have imparted valuable information on the subject.
-
44
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
It was not my purpose in commencing this sketch, to continue it as a narrative beyond the time when the town and parish ceased to be one in action. That may be the work of some future pen, when time shall have thrown around such events the charm of novelty. In this respect the memories of men and women in Candia will give them the history better than I can do it, while the full and complete records, since then kept of political and ecclesiastical action in town, will give - should they not be destroyed by accident or neglect, - satisfactory intelligence to the future seeker after information.
Every thing which in addition to this sketch, it was thought could illustrate or give it interest, is contained in the statistical part of this little volume. One event within all our memories is worth recording here.
On the morning of the 25th of January 1838, awak- ened by some noise, I saw on my chamber wall an uncertain and glimmering light, as of one passing with a lantern. While gazing dreamily upon it, the cry of fire! so startling to unaccustomed ears, was heard. The light on the wall grew brighter, as with a beating heart I sprang to the floor and threw open the window. A crazy column of smoke was pouring from the church, not a stone's throw distant. A neighbor on his steps was dressing by the light of the fire; every line of his countenance visible as he poured forth from stentorian lungs shout after shout. Some few people were already
45
1
THE FIRE.
astir. Contributing a small share to the increasing noise, I dressed, rushed out of doors, and down the walk in the rear of the meeting house. The flames were bursting from the eastern porch. The rosy red of the morning was just coming up in the cold grey sky, when the bell began to sound its last alarm. In twenty minutes the whole town was in motion. Men, women and children, as four score years before, their fathers came to its building, came now in haste to its downfall. Household goods that for many years had reposed in unmolested quiet, were dragged from endan- gered dwellings, and piled in the roads and fields. Wet blankets were hung on the roofs of sheds, and pails of water spilled over all the floors. Men staggering under enormous burdens, jostled and ran against one another in all sorts of narrow and impossible passages ; eloeks were carried off without respect to time ; babies seized by strange mothers, and in short everything was con- dueted with the admirable precision and wisdom peculiar to people unused to fires. Nothing was steady in its progress, except the destroying element. Fortunately, in this usually windy region, the air was still, and the as- cending flames - wreathed to the very steeple's top - presented a spectacle of the utmost sublimity. A church of molten gold glittering against the sky, there it stood. I looked in at the front door which had been torn from its hinges - above, around and below, all was fire, leap- ing and darting in forked tongues on the dry and
46
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
combustible material. The sacred book from which so many a message had been delivered to erring man by lips now cold in death, lay upon the cushioned desk, waiting its fate, while the flames like demons were creeping stealthily up and around to destroy it. I stepped back from impending danger. Hundreds of illumined faces were turned towards the burning stee- ple, while groups of men, with pails and tubs of water, armed with iron bars and levers, stood about the nearest dwelling, lest its tottering length of flame should fall in that direction. In such a case, their efforts might have done little good, but a kindlier fortune interposed. The blazing shaft for a moment wavering, fell inward.
That bird, emblem of all inconstancy and fickleness, yet true to one central point, through sunshine and storm - bravely fronting the northern snows or the gentle gales and vernal showers of a milder clime - ponderous weather cock, by height diminished to a very chick, took its last flight earthward, and with beak and head buried in the ground, seemed to bewail its " occu- pation gone."
The bell whose silvery tones had echoed so many times over the hills and valleys of Charmingfare - which so many times had sung a requiem over age and youth, now with one sad cry faintly heard amid the crash of falling timbers tolled its own, and was silent evermore. So in one poor hour perished the monu- ment of our fathers' strong hands.
47
THE NEW HOUSE.
Notice was given that morning from the burning ru- ins, for members of the society to meet in the evening at the hall of Mr. Peter Eaton, to take measures for the construction of a new house of worship. There the necessary arrangements were made, a committee chosen, and in due time a house finished. It was located where it now stands, some rods south west of the old spot.
In the course of time nothing will remind us of the past, save the moss grown tomb stonc.
" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
The breezy call of ineense breathing morn, The swallow twittering from her straw built shed, The eoek's shrill clarion or the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or busy housewife ply hier weary care, No children run to lisp their sire's return, Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share."
The houses they builded have decayed or are remov- ed; the trees they planted, grown old and fallen before the wind. The forests which surrounded them are cut down, and when a hundred years shall have passed, what mark will tell of us? There are monuments which even towns and small communities may raise, more enduring than costliest marble. It is not alone
48
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
the splendor of great actions, or the renown of battle fields within our border, which can entitle us to the just regard of posterity. We probably shall have no occasion to throw our lives into the balance of our country's fortunes, or sec renewed the days of Seventy Six. Other duties not less important are to be per- formed. The legacy of the fathers cannot remain without interest, and if in our hands it be not so enlarged as to meet the demands of a progressive age ; posterity may call us to account for the sum we hold in trust.
As one in the grand association which goes to form the body politic, the office of a town is by no means unimportant or vaguely defined. Specific responsibili- ties rest upon it. The firm foundation laid by the early men of Candia, still remains. It has secured the en- joyment of a wise civil and religious polity. It has preserved from visionary speculation, and moral bank- ruptcy.
Be ours the duty to enlarge and build upon that foundation. Where the struggling settler planted one month's school, we should have ten; where churches and societies were founded by toil and sacrifice, be ours the task to preserve them in their pristine vigor and purity. So living by the great golden rule, that when the passer by points to the mound that shall cov- er us at last, it may not be said we have misused the birthright of American citizens.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES,
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
ANDERSON, THOMAS
Came to Candia about 1751. He was a native of Ireland, and in 1756 married Jane Craige, of Lon- donderry. They had nine children : John, William, Thomas, Joseph, Allen, Samuel, David, Agnes, Mar- garet.
Mr. Anderson first moved on to the place now occupied by Mr. Levi Flint, and built his log house near what is now the west side of the orchard.
He was a very strong and courageous man, and once killed two bears with a pitch wood knot. While at work in the woods one day, one of the boys was sent out with the dinner in a pail ; a rough coated fellow, led by his keen seent to the spot, presented him- self in the path, as the boy attempted to return. The father being called on, hastened to where the bear lay crouched, and swinging his faithful shillalah in air, soon terminated the contest. " There," said he to the son, " now run along."
52
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
The sons, with the exception of William and Samuel, did not settle in Candia. Joseph is (in 1852,) living in Fayette, Me., David in Lebanon, N. H. John died in Springfield, Ohio, Thomas in Chester, now Auburn, N. H., Allen in Holden, Mass.
Samuel Anderson, deceased in 1850, was widely known by the travelling public, as an excellent land- lord. No man kept better cheer, a more open house, or could tell a better story, than Mr. Anderson. He was in some respects of uncommon ability, gifted with a kind of natural eloquence, which, added to his rather peculiar appearance, never failed to secure him the at- tention of his audience, be it in his bar room, or at the town meeting. Years have passed since he was in his prime, and the travel that once thronged the turnpike, is diverted into other channels.
In 1791 Mr. Anderson married Anna Sargent; they had eight children, seven of whom - Sally, Samuel, Jane, Nancy, Thomas, Mary and Eliza -are living, some in Candia, and some in other places. Mrs. An- derson died in 1817, after which he married Mary Sargent, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had three children.
In early life Mr. A. went with his brother Allen into Worcester County, Mass., and learned the cooper's trade. He was afterwards persuaded to return, and commenced keeping tavern in 1805. Oct. 1821, the block of buildings was burned. The alarm was given
53
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
at 12 o'clock, at night, and in an hour and a half, every thing was flat; 23 horses and 11 swine were de- stroyed, with nearly every article of furniture in the house. The loss was estimated at six or seven thousand dollars, sixteen or seventeen hundred of which was made up to them in cash and provision by the contributions of townsmen ; and on Christmas day, they moved into their rebuilt house. In prosperous times the business of the hotel was very good, averaging over forty horses the night, to be put up.
BEAN, DAVID.
About the year 1755, David Bean settled in the castern part of this town, at a place called the Island. He was a native of Kingston, N. H., from which place he removed to Epping, where his newly erceted buildings were consumed by fire. He then moved to Raymond, and soon after to Candia. Here he built a dwelling house and mills, which in a few years he had again the misfortune to lose by fire. He died in Can- dia in 1793, at the age of 68. Two only of his eleven children, Abraham and Reuben, settled in town, where their descendants now reside, to the fifth generation.
BROWN, AARON
Was the son of Jonathan Brown and Mercy Clough, of Kensington. He married Shuah Thurston, - they had
54
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
four children. He came into High Street, to the place now occupied by Mr. Aaron Brown, a few years after Mr Hubbard. A story is related of his once tree- ing a bear in his garden, or near it, on a tall pine. Whereupon he ran to one of the neighbors in such a hurry for a gun, that he could not say a word for some minutes, except the hurried ejaculation, h' gun ! h' gun ! After he had succeeded in making his wishes known, they went to the spot and the game was cap- tured. The Brown family in Candia are all lineal de- scendants of John Brown, who was born in London, and came to Ipswich, Mass., 1635 or 36.
BROWN, CALEB,
Son of John Brown and Ruth Kelley, from Hamp- ton Falls, came to Candia about 1762, and settled near where Joshua Fitts now lives. He married Mary Ly- ford, of Somersworth, -they had ten children : David, Elisabeth, Caleb, Abigail, Mary, Ruhama, Daniel, Dor- othy, Sarah and Hannah. He moved on to the place, in 1770, where Caleb Brown, his son, now lives, built a log camp, covered the top with poles, kept his cow and calf in one end, and himself and family in the oth- er. Mr. B., in his young days, went to learn the shoe- maker's trade, with a Mr. Thurston, of Epping Corner, but before his time was out, he enlisted in the French War, after which he came to Candia. Of the children,
55
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
Caleb kept the home farm, and at an advanced age, has a very clear recollection of past days. He tells a story of Mr. Nicholas Smith, who had a very neat wife, and while at work with his neighbors on the burnt land, they observed that he was very careful not to get his white shirt blacked ; so they, for mischief, often contrived to let some very black stick fall against him, for which he doubtless was duly reprimanded at home. It is said of this Nicholas Smith, that at one time, he was almost the only man left on High street, they hav- ing gone to the wars, and one day Mr. Henry Clark came riding up with news that the British were in Raymond woods advancing on the town. Mr. S.'s gun was gone, but he had a powder horn with powder in it, seizing which he boldly started out to meet the enemy.
BROWN, NEHEMIAH
Was the son of William Brown and Ann Heath, of Kensington. He married Ann Longfellow, had three sons : William, Sewell and Nathan. They came to Can- dia about the year 1765. Mr. B. had three sisters who married and had thirteen children each. Nathan married Ann Currier, and had seven children : Nancy, Sally, Polly, Dolly, Nehemiah, Nathan, Jonathan. Sew- ell married Susanna Turner - they had twelve children. William married Mary Sandborn, - they had four chil- dren.
56
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
BURPEE, NATHANIEL
Came to Candia about the year 1753, from Rowley, Mass. He married Esther Roth, of the same place, -- they had eight children : Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Nathan, Ezra, Mehitable, Sally, Esther, Patty. He bought the place now occupied by Jonathan Brown, his grandson, of Winthrop Wells, who, it seems, had been there a short time previous. Mr. Turner and Mr. Obed Hall were then the only neighbors ; there was no road ex- cepting a bridle path turning in where Mr. B.'s barn now stands, and so up by the brook to Mr. Hall's. Mr. Burpee seems to have been a man of note, for he was not only one of the first deacons, cotemporary with Dea. Palmer and Dea. Hills, but was a tailor and teacher of singing. His schools were in his own house, where the young people of that day assembled to learn the melodious trills that so charmed our grandfathers. The house then stood in the orchard north of the brook. It was burned and another was erected where the pres- ent one now stands.
Dea. B. was out in the old French War, and at the seige of Cape Breton. He died in 1815, at the age of 94. His son NATHANIEL married Dorothy Currier, and settled on the old place. They had four children: Nathaniel, Jonathan, Sally, Molly. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill and Sa- ratoga.
57
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
Dea. Burpee's wife is said to have been a very smart woman, and helped to raise Mr. Turner's barn. No doubt hands were scarce and she was a woman equal to the demands of the times.
BUSWELL, SAMUEL
Came to Candia from Salisbury, Mass., about 1763, and the next year married Betsey Underhill, of Chester. They had eight children : John, Moses, Sarah, Richard, Samuel, William, Hannah and David. John staid on the home farm, married Mehitable McCluer in 1792,- they had five children who attained years of maturity : Samuel, Jacob, Mahala, Nancy, Richard. He died in the summer of 1851, aged 84. His wife during the past season received a visit from her only surviv- ing sister, who came alone from a distance of over eighty miles, at the age of 81. The two then took the stage and visited some friends in Raymond. Moses, a physician, died in Maine, Sarah in Chester, Richard was drowned, William was, when last heard from, in Canada, supposed to have died there. Hannah lives in Canterbury, and David in Bradford.
Mr. Samuel Buswell was a carpenter by trade, and before he had served out his time enlisted in the French War, and was at Cape Breton. He is said to have been very small, not weighing over ninety pounds, but was as brave as many bigger men. He afterwards 8
58
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
served in the War of the Revolution, where he became acquainted with Gen. Stark, and after the peace help- ed finish off his house in Derryfield. One time, hav- ing occasion to carry a grist to mill, he visited the General. He was received with cordiality, and the cus- tomary hospitality of the times was by no means neg- Tected. Mrs. Stark, with busy hand, sat plying her wheel, while the General and his old comrade sipped their beverage and cracked jokes on olden times. - " I've been a thinking," says John, looking on his better half, "that if my wife should ever die, I should be obliged to have her coffin made large enough to put in her linen wheel, or she would never stay contented." " And what do you think," was the quick reply, " that I should do for John? I've been a thinking that his coffin should be made large enough to put in a keg of rum! or he would never stay."
CARR, JOHN
Was born in Chester in 1737. His father was a na- tive of Ireland, and we here give a copy of a certifi- cate still preserved in the house.
" That John Ker and his wife Elisabeth Wilson lived within the bounds of this Congregation from their Infancy behaving themselves Soberly honestly and piously free of any Public Scandall, so that they may be received as- members of any Christian Congregation or Society where
59
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
God in Providence may order their Lott is certified at Ballywollon June 23, 1736
by Ja : Thompson."
John Carr married Mary Wilson, of Chester, and came to Candia in 1764, where he built the house still occupied by Mr. Nathan Carr, supposed to be the old- est inhabited house in town. There was no clearing when he came, so that there was some work to be done. During the Revolution, he served three years, and came home with silver enough in the lining of his coat to pay for his farm. In his absence the family were exposed to some hardships ; the wolves and bears some- times destroyed their corn and took away their sheep. At night they barricaded their doors and windows. - Sometimes of an afternoon they had a social gathering to which dames Turner, Ramsey and Rowell came and brought their work. It was a tea party, with this dif- ference, that instead of tea they had a huge bowl of sweetened water, with the accompaniment of rye bread and butter. This bowl was of stone ware curiously figured, and when in after days the Colonel kept tav- ern, it occupied a conspicuous place as a punch bowl. It seems to have been a sort of heir-loom and fell to one of the daughters. The family was one of some wealth in Ireland, and the name has changed from Ker, Kerr and Karr, to Carr, of the present day.
Towards the close of the war, Mr. Carr was chosen captain of the Alarm List, composed of old men and
60
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
retired soldiers, who held themselves ready in case of need, and was ever after called Colonel. He died in 1813, and his wife in 1827. Of their six children, none of whom are now living, Joseph married Nancy Brown, and kept the home farm, where he died in 1842.
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.