History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 58

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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477

TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

Jolm Wingate was selectman in 1780 ; but when he located at Wakefield Corner I cannot say. He may have been the John Wingate born in 1739. The name is an honorable one in New Hampshire. His house was but a few steps from that of Philbrook, now standing; and the well, tradition says, is beneath the steps of the Sawyer office, next to the town hall. The large Wingate farm passed into the hands of Joseph Wiggin, whose family have long resided here.

John Wingate's brother (I think Joshua) is the reputed builder of the third house (sold and moved first to the orchard, this side of the Satchel Weeks place, which was his later home). He believed in witches. John was a marked man. So was the younger John, the merchant.

The Sawyer house was long the home of Timothy and Sarah Dearborn Sawyer and their sons and daughters, the latter of whom are enjoying a brisk and genial old age in the old homestead near the blacksmith shop, where Alvah Haven Sawyer wrought, mighty of brawn and mighty of brain.

Wakefield Corner seems now to be growing, for the new tavern was built by Captain Calder and bought by Captain Joseph Manson, of Kittery, whose daughter Lucy married William C. Frost in October, 1814. The Haven house below, Esquire Sawyer occupied when he first came. The "old tavern " and the Wiggin tavern, kept by Joseph Wiggin and his descendants, have become private dwelling-houses, and the days of their glory gone with the stage-and- four. The Corner became quite a centre of trade from 1800 on for an outlying population which had been spreading out over the town.

The "Scribner " road was a tributary. Richard Dow, from Kensington, had bought of Seribner in 1781, at twenty-eight. He had seven sons and three daughters, and was one of the church.1

His descendants live in the grand old mansion which crowns the eminence overlooking the waters of Lake Newichwannock. His neighbor at Kensington had a home near by, - Isaac Fellows, whose daughter married Levi Neal, - across on Tuttle's hill. Then Nathan Dearborn, father-in-law to Moses Gage, grandfather of the late Thomas J. Dearborn, lived where L. W. Lary does.

Beyond, about this time, Jacob Welch, Jonathan Binley, Ebenezer and John Hill, lived near East Wakefield station. The Pine-river settlement, now

1 We abstract from an article in a newspaper of twenty years ago this mention : -

" Richard Dow, born March 22, 1753, and wife, Mary, born September 25, 1758, came to Wakefield from Port- land, Maine. They had many children. The third one, Josiah, born December 27, 1782, went from Wakefield when a young man, with ' seventy- five cents and a fishhook in his pocket.' He began business in Salem, Mass .; its increasing magnitude carried him to Boston, thence to New York, where he did an immense business until the panic of 1837 nearly ruined him. He returned to Wakefield, where he died in 1850, previously losing one of his sons and a large amount of money by the burning of the steamer Lexington in 1840. Josiah was the founder of Dow's Academy, which went into operation in 1816. He furnished all the books and stationery necessary for the school for ten dollars a term, and boarded students for twenty-five dollars a term, and averaged seventy-five scholars during each of the four terms of the year. This academy was kept four years with a preceptor and two female assistants. The preceptors were Mr Thayer, Mr Alden, Mr Gordon, and Mr Aiken, under whose administration the school closed, many of the scholars following Mr Aiken to his next field of labor, Franklin Academy, Dover."

478

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

North Wakefield, had Jacob Clark, Simon, father of William Blake, Silvanus Wentworth, Lieutenant James Young, Nathaniel Cook, father of Colonel Ben- jamin Cook, the famous surveyor and militia officer, with a large family, and others.

Over the river descendants of Wentworth and Waldron families now live, while in the vicinity of Province pond in the northeast the farmer was found before 1800. Woodman's Mills is of perhaps recent origin. Passing through the Dow district we pass around East pond by Jude Allen perhaps, by the future home of Leavitt and Paul, over the bridge into Maine, course south by Horn pond to Horn's Mills, to which came Thomas Cloutman in 1799 from near the Piper house. He came from Rochester to Wakefield in 1780 ; at thirty- five married Sarah Gilman, daughter of Jeremiah, and died in 1833 at eighty- eight. But others came before ; of the Horn name Benjamin and David made use of the water-power, and the former kept tavern. Further on in the southeast, and at the head of Lovewell's pond, we find the home of the Wiggin families, Simeon and Isaiah, and I think also Jacob, quite promi- nent in town, a sealer of leather and a selectman ; James Hutchins, John Garlin, Samuel Chapman, who sold to David Spinney, Christopher Skinner, and William Blaisdell on the school lot, one-half mile to the west, to Jona- than Gilman's, where we started, and thus leave off at the bounds begun at.

Our " perambulation " is ended. Wakefield has been encompassed.

CHAPTER XLI.

Wakefield in the Revolution - Extraets from Records -Signers of Association Test - Captain Gilman - Militia Officers, Requirements and Supplies - Early Roads - Some Acts which make for Peace and Safety.

W AKEFIELD IN THE REVOLUTION. - Wakefield began its life as a town in the very midst of the fast-increasing shadows of the Revolu- tion. Only a few months went by before the war-cloud burst, and the nineteenth of April went into history written with blood. The hardy sons of New Hampshire, to the number of five thousand, were in the service before the end of that year, and Wakefield, like other towns of the province, responded promptly and gladly to the several calls for men and means to carry on resistance by force of arms of the rebellious daughter against the mother country. Her soldiers are found on the state rolls of honor. Special

479

TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

incetings were called early and late in the day, and the town was roused by successive alarms ; but the pen of the town clerk indulges in no eloquence nor ornament, but records the particular votes that correspond to the several calls.

May 12. " Two men, Samuel Sherborne and John Gilman, released from enlistment. Lt. Andrew Gilman to have liberty to enlist two men in lieu of those dismissed. The action of Apr. 24 to stand good. Lieut Gilman to have six pence added to his wages. Each soldier that shall neglect his duty shall pay a fine of two shillings. The selectmen that were chosen at the annual meeting should act in all cases as usual. Lt. Gilman to pay four shillings for every neglect of duty. Mr Balch impowered to buy & bbl Powder and 2 cut-lead, 2 gross flints ; to hire a man to come into town to mend the guns; and that the Town pay the extraor- dinary charge; to buy 12 fire-locks; the soldiers to meet at 4 o'clock each day of exercise." This sounds like war, and we can almost smell the powder and hear the click of the flintlock. Unfortunately, we have no record of the action of April 24, but without doubt it expressed that thrill which answered the tidings of Lexington and Concord. In July one article was to see what method the town will take with those men that " inlisted as minit-men, and it was voted to dismiss them." The minutemen of the Revolution are heroes in history, and those from New Hampshire responded with alacrity, and furnished over one half the troops at Bunker Hill, maintained their ground through the entire action, fought with bravery, and thrice hurled back and nearly annihilated British regulars. The old Indian hunters and rangers of the woods were " dead shots." Wakefield had a hand in that, and was proud of her Captain David Copp in command of a company, and Andrew Gihnan, his lieutenant, with very likely others of those "minit-men" dismissed in July whose services were not then called for. Following the battle of Bunker Hill many meetings must be held before peace siniles upon the young republic.

1775, October 30. The voters are requested to meet at dwelling-house of Captain David Copp to " choose an agent to petition the Congress for a new regiment, and also to see what men will inlist to join the army now raising at Portsmouth under Maj. Gen. Sullivan," and Simeon Dearborn, John Haven, Joseph Maleham are chosen "a committee to sign the petition to send by Nathaniel Balch to the Congress to divide Col. Badger's Regiment."

1776, July 10. They had likely not heard of the Declaration of Independence. They meet at Captain Copp's "to raise the men that are required for the present expedition into Canada." They vote $80 to the five men that went : Josiah Wiggin, Benjamin Horn, Samuel Scribner, Henry Wentworth, Jesse Wiggin.

Signers of the Association Test. - David Copp, Nathaniel Balch, Samuel Willey, John Wentworth, Joseph Perkins, Simeon Dearborn, John Horne, Joseph Maleham, Daniel Hall, Ebenezer Cook, Jacob Wiggin, William Moor, William Blaidell, Richard York, John Carr, John Hills, David Hains, Elisha Piper, Samuel Allen, Jr, Nathaniel Balch, Jr, Eliphalet Quimby, Nathan Mordogh, John Wingate, John Cook, Eliphalet Philbrook, Benjamin Phil- brook, Richard York, Samuel Haincs, Jeremiah Gilman, Jeremiah Gilman, Jr, Noah Kimball, Benjamin Perkins, Isiah Wiggin, John York, Andrew Gilman, John Gilman, Jonathan Gilman, Jonathan Gilman, Jr, Joseph Haines, Samuel Hall, Moses Copp, Stephen Hawkens, Joseph Sanborn, Joseph Leavit, Robert Hardy, Nathaniel Cook, Thomas Parkines, Jon. Palmer, Jonathan Copp, Samuel Scribner? John Kimball, Ben Kinnem (Gilman), Clemt Steel, Clemt Steel, Jr, Samuel Allen, Abner Allen, Josiah Page, Tobias Hanson, Simeon Wiggin, Reuben Davis, Henery Robens, Samuel Sherbourne. 62.

According to the request of the Honourable Committy of Safety for the Colony of New Hampshire this instrument has been presented to the inhabitants of this town and unavasely approved of and sind by them.

Jacob Wiggin, Nathan Mordogh, S

Selectmen

Wakefield, Septembr th 11 day 1776.

480

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

1777, March 2. " Voted to raise nine men including those already enlisted as the Quota." April 1, Quota, 17. Voted to give two dollars to each of the three who will enlist for three years. July 22. " The qualified voters of Wakefield, together with the whole train-band and alarm list in said town, agreeable to Court order, are hereby notified to meet at the meeting house on tuesday the 22d day to raise a number of men to go into the service of the United States; fail not, as you will answer to the contrary." Voted, "to take the men in course, they begin- ning at lower end of the town ; that Charles Hilton be added to Hardy's mess; that the list of messing the men be accepted." December 20. " At meeting house to see if town will vote to raise the money upon the poles and estates to defray the charge of raising the last 16 soldiers for to serve two months in the service of the united states or how much they will vote to raise for each, if not the whole sum it cost each class to hire said men." It was voted to raise $20 for each class that raised the sixteen soldiers that went with Colonel Stark in Captain Gilman's company. Ile was the hero that year. "An Indian fighter, and a captain in the old French and Indian war, he marched, armed with gun and sword, adopting largely the Indian methods of fighting. Among the incidents of his soldier-life he used to relate that at one time, exhausted by the heat and protracted fighting, he quenched his thirst by drinking from a pool of water reddened by the blood of the combatants." In 1777, when the descent of Burgoyne's army upon New York was imminent, he raised a company here, joined Stark's forces, and took part in the battle of Bennington. At that time he was fifty-eight years of age, and his wife, claiming that he had done his part as a soldier, endeavored to persuade him not to again enter the service; but on a July afternoon the little company was formed in front of the captain's house. The captain, stepping in front, said, "Come on, boys," and all hands started down the road on the double-quick, bivouacked that night in a barn in Rochester, and marched thence to Exeter, where they joined General Stark's forces. After a desperate fight of two hours at Bennington, the British entrenchments were carried, Gilman being, as his soldiers said. the second man to follow Stark over the breastworks of the enemy, where a hand-to-hand conflict was terminated by the utter rout of the enemy. Bennington was followed by the victory at Stillwater, when our boys came home at the close of their two months' service.

1778, June 15. In answer to order to send two men to Rhode Island from Colonel Badger, voted " two to serve till Jan. 1. Addition be made of 200 dollars as encouragement for two soldiers, Capt. Copp to enlist them."

1779, May 31. " Endeavor to raise the men called for by Col. Badger;" four, I think. Captain Copp to have Simeon Dearborn and Captain John Haven additional committee. Selectmen to pay the bounty to three continental soldiers. If raised get them for three years (no signs of the war closing) ; if not, for one, and one soldier for Rhode Island for six months. No war record of enlistments after this.

In this year the militia officers chosen were John Haven, Esq., captain, Mr Joseph Maleham, first lieutenant, Mr Jonathan Palmer, second lieutenant, Mr Daniel Hall, ensign. Before the war the organization was not kept up in all places according to the requirement of the old militia law, " that every inhab- itant from sixteen to sixty should be provided with a musket and bayonet, knapsack, cartridge-box, one pound of powder, twenty bullets, and twelve flints." This militia was organized into companies and regiments subject to frequent drills. The muster day and review was a great occasion. Every town was obliged to keep in readiness one barrel of powder, two hundred pounds of lead, and three hundred flints for every sixty men. To fill this requisition was doubtless the vote of June 10, 1775. But no list of militia officers is found before this one. This may be under the new law.

481

TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

1778, January 19. Ten pounds were voted for the support of the families in Continental army ; how many not given; Captain Copp to distribute it. This was the winter of Valley Forge. August 30. A committee chosen to lay out a road to Parsonstown and Leavittstown agreeably to a petition of Thomas Parsons and others. The laying out of roads now becomes quite a feature.

1780, February. Committee appointed to procure our quota of beef cattle for the army : Captain David Copp, Esq., and Jonathan Palmer and Samuel Hall. Voted, "the clother that shall be settled here shall be doomed for faculty," which, I interpret, " not taxed for business, to encourage a new industry," or the opposite, " shall be taxed for business." December 13. Plan of government proposed ; rejected by the state.

The minutemen, the train-bands, the alarm list, the regular soldiers of the Continental army each had their work, but the enthusiasm of 1775 would not be expected to burn so brightly in 1779, and without doubt the task of raising men became harder and harder, and the advent of peace ushered in by York- town was as welcome as Lexington.

Some of the acts which make for peace and safety .- 1781. Attempt perhaps to settle a clothier, followed same year by an article " to see if the town will give any encouragement for killing wolves." They preferred sheep to wolves. In 1780 they offered a minister the inducement of a salary of 400 bushels of corn. In 1779, September 13, voted that the " plan of government " be accepted. 14 in the affirmative, 8 in the negative, 4 neuters; 26 voters present. 1788, June 2. " The civil constitution for the state of New Hampshire " went into effeet. and Wakefield gave General John Sullivan 47 votes for president of the state. For senator, 1788-90, Captain David Copp was put up against Hon. Ebenezer Smith, 25 to 19; 43 or 48 to 35.

CHAPTER XLII.

Transition State - Petition for Repeal of Lumber Act - Petition Relative to Arrears of Taxes - Tax List of 1795 - Town Business - War of 1812 -John Paul - Wakefield in 1817 - Extracts from Town Records and Action of Town-From 1817 to 1842 -The Poor in Town - The Mexican War - War for the Union - Action of Town in the Rebellion - Town Debt.

0 F the transition state between the close of the war and the inauguration of the first President we get an occasional hint in the records. Without doubt Wakefield shared in the rejoicing of that hour. The next ten years was a period of development in peace. Men in taverns and stores discussed the French Revolution, and politics did not take the form of blood- shed, but men differed as to means and measures. Parson Piper is said to have been not averse to political discussion, and some years later had one

482

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

with his friend, Hon. Nathaniel Upham, of Rochester, son of the minister of Deerfield and a member of Congress, which was carried on for two or three days in the stores at Wakefield before interested listeners. Men's minds were sharpened.

Petition for a Repeal of the Lumber Act, Addressed to the Legislature. - The Petition of us, the Subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Wakefield, humbly sheweth that we are largely concerned in lumber, and understand Your Honours has passed some late acts at your last Session very hurtfull and injurious to us, and we believe to all other towns con- cerned in the lumber way. Therefore Humbly Request you would repeal the Act that requires all boards to [be an] inch thick and square edged, and other lumber in proportion -

And likewise to repeal the Act that prohibits any British vessel from carrying lumber to the British Islands in the West Indies that can procure British papers for that purpose, and to repeal the other act in regard to duty laid on tunnage on Ships or Vessels belonging to Foreigners which duty we look upon to be equal to shutting up our Ports against them. But if Your Honours dont see fit to grant the prayer of this Petition, we would request a Paper Currency on loan, or in such other way as your Wisdom may direct you to support the eredit of said money - As in duty bound we ever pray -

Wakefield, Augst 1785.

David Copp, Jeremiah Gilman, Jonathan Palmer, Andrew Gilman, Noah Kimball, John Wiggin, Isaiah Wiggin, John Garland, Solomon Huchins, James Hutchins, Josiah Moor, Samuel Chapman, William Blasdell, Simeon Blasdell, Phinehas Low, Clement Steel, John Chapman, Thomas Lindsay, Winthrop Wiggin, Jonas Rich, John Wingate, Nathan Mordogh, Porter Gilman, Elijah Allen, Nathan Watson, Dudley Gilman, Benja Gilman, Mayhew Clark, Benjamin Dodge, Benjamin Perkins, Jacob Welch, Eliphalet Philbrook, Reuben Gove Dearborn, John Kimball, Spencer Wentworth, Dudley Hardy, Sam" Hall, Daniel Hall, Joseph Chapman, Joseph Hlaines, Thomas Pirkins, Nathan Derborn, Richard Wintworth, Simeon Wiggin.

In 1791 the selectmen addressed a petition to the legislature relative to arrears of taxes thus : -

That Whereas the Expenses of hiring and paying Soldiers for the Continental Army in the course of the late War, amount to about ninety pounds more than have been already taxed on said Town ; therefore Your Petitioners pray the Honorable Gen1 Court may be pleased to pass some order impowering the Selectmen of said Town to Levy the same on the Inhabitants ; with a proportional part on the Non-resident Lands in said Town; with power also, to appoint a proper person to collect the said Tax; or otherwise relieve your petitioners as you, in your Wisdom, shall think most meet, and your petitioners will as in duty bound pray - Wakefield. 26th Novem' A.D. 1791.

Avery Hall Isaac Fellows Selectinen. Johu Wingate

Tax List of 1795. - Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Jr, Abner Allen, Josiah Allen, Charles Babb, William Blaisdell, Simeon Blaisdell, William W. Blais- dell, Thomas Bickford, Jolm Blake, James Bryant, Benony Brown, Jonathan Burley, Captain D. Clark, Jacob Clark, Estate of Mayhew Clark, Samuel

483

TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

Chapman, John Cloutman, Thomas Cloutman, Robert Calder, Ebenezer Cook, Nathaniel Cook, Nathaniel Cook, Jr, Peter Cook, Jonathan Cook, Captain David Copp, Dodavah Copp, Jonathan Copp, Moses Copp, Moses Colby, William Chamberlain, Esq., Lieutenant Joseph Dearborn, Benjamin Dearborn, Luther Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, Nathan Dearborn, Jeremiah Dearborn, Samuel Dearborn, Samuel Dame, Samuel Dinsmore, Captain Richard Dow, Miles Davis, Joshua Edgerly, Isaac Fellows, Moses Fellows, Samuel Fellows, Shadrach Folsom, Captain Andrew Gilman, Colonel John Gilman, Dudley Gilman, Samuel Gwin, Ebenezer Garvin, John Garlin, Joseph Gage, Moses Gage, Otis Goudy, John Goudy, Lieutenant Joseph Haines, Daniel Haines, Robert Hardy, Ebenezer Hill, John Hill, Reuben Hill, Avery Hall, Esq., Benjamin Hall, Major Daniel Hall, Captain Samuel Hall, Solomon Hutchins, James Hutchins, John Horn, Esq., David Horn, Daniel Horn, Joseph Hodg- son, Samuel Hodgson, Tobias Hanson, Samuel Hard, John Huggins, Stephen Hawkins, James Hawkins, Thomas Hawkins, David Jewell, John M. Johnson, Lieutenant John Kimball, Major Noah Kimball, Waldron Keniston, Joseph Leavitt, Captain Leavitt, Dr Lindsay, Reuben Lang, Jacob Lock, Simon Lock, Samuel Moody, Nathan Mordough, Dr John Manning, Robert Moulton, Thomas Nudd, Thomas Nudd, Jr, Simeon Nudd, Joseph Nudd, Ebenezer Neal, Esq., Anthony Nutter, Colonel Jonathan Palmer, Barnabas Palmer, Josiah Page, Benjamin Perkins, Benjamin Perkins, Jr, Thomas Perkins, Daniel Perkins, Joseph Perkins, Nathaniel Perkins, Eliphalet Philbrook, William Peare, Josiah Robinson, Jonathan Quinby, Jonathan Quinby, Jr, Joshua Rundlett, Henry Rollins, Nathaniel Roberts, Clement Steal, Jacob Sanborn, Reuben Sanborn, John Sanborn, Elisha Sanborn, Benjamin Safford, Timothy Sawyer, Samuel Sherborn, Christopher Skinner, Thomas Smith, Thomas Thurston, Benjamin Tuttle, Joshua Vickery, Widow Sarah Went- worth, Stephen Watson, John Watson, Jonathan Watson, Jacob Wiggin, Isaiah Wiggin, Simeon Wiggin, Jeremiah Wiggin, Henery Wiggin, Henery Wiggin, Jr, Nathaniel Willey, Colonel Wingate, Lieutenant Joshua Wingate, John Weeks, Jacob Welch, Spencer Wentworth, Sylvanus Wentworth, Lieu- tenant James Young, Joseph Young, Jonathan Young, Jonathan Yeaton.

In its civil capacity the town met at the meeting-house for fifty years or more, in its early days usually adjourning to Captain David Copp's for a half-hour, sometimes only a quarter or twenty minutes, for refreshments, and to "complete the slate." In 1811 it took but five hours to transact all the town business, and, adds the relieved town elerk, " the like of which was never known in this town before." Now that would be a long time. Politics sometimes ran high, and party lines were sharply drawn. Each of the two policies of the parties found warm advocates, to say the least. The fires were kept hot, and the air was filled with the resounding blows upon the iron. Tradition's voice has told us of the methods of warfare, but they need not be revealed. The Republicans, under lead of Captain Copp, admired Jeffer- son. The Federalists, or followers of Hamilton, were led by Jonathan Palmer; later by Joshua G. Hall and Luther Dearborn.

484

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

WAR OF 1812. - The second war with England may not have received much favor from Wakefield. The record is blind to it. We learn from other sources that when Portsmouth was threatened with an attack from the British in summer of 1814, a call or draft for ninety days was made, and some rushed to the front ; but the enemy did not come ; among these Major J. G. Hall and Lieutenant or Captain James Hardy stationed at Fort Constitution. The new Dr Russell went on the privateer "Polly " as surgeon, was captured and released, returned to practice and entered the state of double blessedness.

John Paul, a sailor boy from Maine, who was obliged by the embargo to leave his vessel at New Orleans, in company with three shipmates set out for home on foot and tramped fifteen hundred miles, part of the way among the Indian tribes of the Gulf states, and gladly reached his distant home in San- ford, Maine, in some three months, not having exactly served in the War of 1812; but he was always proud to tell of this incident, and since then his walks away from home have been few. He used to tell, too, of the " expected " growth of that locality where he settled in Wakefield near 1816. The disap- pointment he survived, and lived on the same quiet spot, near the outlet of East pond, seventy years, reaching the green old age of ninety-three, and saw his children's grandchildren.

In 1814 Mayhew Clark, then of Ossipee, was drafted and sent to Ports- mouth. He had been a licensed preacher some years, and wishing still to serve the Captain of his salvation, at daybreak one morning he went through the barraeks singing a religious song and summoning the soldiers to a prayer- meeting at the cook-house. The third morning he was called up by the com- manding officer and, instead of the rebuke expected, he received a request to hold a regular service and was exeused from all other duty. This he did, and also, at four in the afternoon, when clear, by the riverside, and quite a number of the soldiers became Christians.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 58

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124