History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 20

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 20
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 20

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).

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Theological Seminary, completing his studies there in 1875. He had a special fitness, however, as a teacher of mathematics and natural sciences, and deeming that he could do efficient service in that sphere, and follow a useful path of religious duty in that direction, he became the professor of natural sciences and mathematies at New London Academy. He showed great ability as an instructor, and, after two years' time, he removed to Keene, now his father's home. From 1879 until the time of his death, which occurred in Keene, March 24, 1884, he followed the profession of civil engineering and surveying.

Mr. Holbrook was a ready writer, and did much valuable work for the press during a pe- riod of several years, and was frequently called to preach. His sermons were carefully consid- ered and showed a deep religious spirit, which was the foundation of his character. He was favorably known in Keene and in the commu- nity as a successful business man of Christian integrity. He took an active interest in public affairs, and in his business was brought into a pleasant relationship with many citizens of this county, both in public and private matters. He was a devoted and beloved teacher in the Sab- bath-school of the Baptist Church, of which he had been a valued member and earnest worker for eighteen years.

There was never anything in Mr. Holbrook's life for his friends to regret, and there was much for them to bear in loving remembrance. He was exceptionally happy in his friends and asso- ciates, and signally so in the dear home circle, where his aged father and sisters now mourn his " going before."

The following extract from a letter written by `the Rev. J. L Seward, now a Unitarian clergy- man of Lowell, voices the sentiment of a large circle of sorrowing friends, " who knew him but to love him: "

"I cannot forbear a word of sympathy and an expression of esteem for one whom I so greatly respected. His fine presence, scholarly mind and gentlemanly deportment were all cal- culated to attract friends and call forth their respect and approbation. From my first ac- quaintance with him our relations were cordial

and agreeable. I valued his friendship and appreciated his worth. He was one of those noble men whose enjoyment is in the attainment of truth and knowledge; whose friends are not only their kins-people and acquaintances, but the great laws and truths which God has given for our study and contemplation in the great book of nature. I sympathized with his love for mathematies and natural science, and I respected his modesty, his manliness, his love of study and his devotion to duty."

ALGERNON SIDNEY CARPENTER, M.D.

Algernon Sidney Carpenter, M.D., after a long professional life, most of which was passed in Keene, died March 4, 1885. He was son of Dr. E. and Judith (Greene) Carpenter, and was born in Alstead, N. H., October 16, 1814. He descended from a somewhat noted medical family, his father having been an able and suc- cuecessful physician ; and several uncles and other relatives were celebrated for their profes- sional skill. After an academic course he read medicine with his father, and then entered the medical college at Middlebury, Vt., graduating about 1837. He. practiced his profession a short time in Gardner and Northfield, Mass., and then settled in Keene. In 1859, Novem- ber 30th, he married Jane F., daughter of Hon. Henry and Calista (Pond) Coolidge. They had two daughters,-Mary Algerniene and Caroline Sidney.

Apart from his professional duties, Dr. Car- penter felt a deep interest in all that pertained to the welfare of Keene, and was a prominent factor in social circles. He possessed rare con- versational powers, expressing his thoughts with well-balanced and discerning intellect and ready wit. Few surpassed him in repartee, and his satire was keen and cutting. He took a great interest in, and gave much of his time to, Free- Masonry. In 1855, the Social Friends Lodge of that order having been for some time dor- mant, he caused its revival, and at that time was the only Free Mason in town who knew the work. He was Master of the lodge in 1856, 1857 and 1859. He was a charter member and first Master of the Lodge of the Temple.

Algernon Sidney Carpenter

A.L.If TLE. PHIL:

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KEENE.

He was a member of Cheshire Royal Arch Chap- ter, St. John's Council of Royal and Select Masters, and Hugh de Payens Commandery of Knights Templar.

In politics Dr. Carpenter was a constitu- tional Democrat ; he held to the doctrines of Thomas Jefferson, and wished to preserve the integrity of those principles which he consid- ered the guiding stars of the republic, and be- lieved in and earnestly advocated the success of the Democratic party as the only way to consum- mate the perpetuity of our national existence.

But it is not as a citizen or politician that Dr. Carpenter demands our chief attention, but as the kind-hearted, successful physician. In his profession he occupied a foremost rank. He was a scholarly man, of quick perceptions, who made the case of his patients his own, and his success was due to his firmness, self-reliance, excellent judgment and discretion. He gained the confidence, esteem and regard of his pa- tients, and they believed in him thoroughly and completely. In those grave and desperate cases where life and death were struggling for the mastery, he was watchful and vigilant, skill- ful to meet any emergency or change, with the best remedial agencies. Although habitually cautious, he did not shrink from the responsi- bilities of his calling, and used the most heroic treatment if he deemed the case demanded it. Quackery, in all its forms, he most heartily de- spised.

Like most men of positive nature, strong will and generous impulses, he made many de- voted friends and some bitter enemies. He was, for years, a landmark in this city, kind and charitable to the poor, genial and pleasant in his home and society, courteous in his inter- course with his medical brethren, and in many ways was one of the strong representative pro- fessional men of Cheshire County.

EDWARD GUSTINE.

Edward Gustine was born in the town of Winchester September 2, 1819, the past twenty years of his life having been spent in Keene, 8

where he now resides. His father, Edward Gustine, was a merchant. He received a com- mon-school education, learned the business of a machinist and has been mainly engaged since entering active life as a gas and water engineer. He has had contracts for extensive works, both gas and water, at different places in this State, Massachusetts, Vermont and New York, all of which have been carried out in a thorough and satisfactory manner.

A decided Republican, though never an active politician, Mr. Gustine has not been largely in public life, but served as a member of the House in 1865 and again in 1875 and 1876, acting as chairman of the committee on State Prison the latter year, and was also a member of the Con- stitutional Convention. He subsequently repre- sented this district in the State Senate. He en- joys the full confidence of his fellow-citizens re- gardless of party, and whenever a candidate for office, receives many votes of those opposed to him upon political questions. In the Senate le served upon the committee on incorporations, banks and manufactures, being chairman of the latter. He frequently participated in debates, and, although making no pretensions to oratory, his suggestions, practical in their character, were not without influence.

Mr. Gustine married Miss Sarah H. Worces- ter, of Lebanon, Me., by whom he has two children,-a son and daughter. The son, Ed- ward W. Gustine, is engaged in mercantile bus- iness in Keene. In religion he is a Unitarian and an active member of the society in Keene. He has long been prominent in the Masonic or- ganizations, local and State, having been Master of both lodges and High Priest of the chapter at Keene, and was Grand High Priest for New Hampshire in 1870 and 1871, and has held va- rious other honorable positions in Masonic bodies. Thoroughly public-spirited and a friend of all progressive enterprises, he has contributed in no small degree to the prosperity of the flourishing city in which he resides.

DR. TWITCHELL. (See Appendix.)

HISTORY OF ALSTEAD.

CHAPTER I.

THIS town lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : North, by Sullivan county ; east, by Marlow; south, by Gilsum and Surry ; and west, by Walpole.

The town was first granted by Governor B. Wentworth to John Towle and sixty-three others, by the name of Newton, December 28, 1752; about the same time the first grant was made of Acworth, and probably for the same reason, as I believe no attempt was made to settle the town under this grant.

It was re-granted, August 6, 1763, to Samuel Chase and sixty-nine others, by the name of Alstead, and settlements commenced soon after. In 1771 there were twenty-five or more fami- lies in town ; but some of the provisions of the charter not having been fulfilled, it was " extended " by Governor John Wentworth, January 25, 1772, in answer to a petition from the inhabitants.

The Governor's reservation of five hundred acres was located in the northwest corner.

Among the prominent men prior to 1800 were General Amos Shepard, Nathaniel Sartell Prentice, Absalom Kingsbury and Rev. Levi Lankton. Captain Jason Wait commanded a company in Col. Bedell's regiment in the Rey- olution.

PETITION FOR A GRANT OF THE TOWNSHIP, 1750.

"To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Capt" General & Governour in Chief in and over His Majestyes Province of New Hampshire.

"The Humble Petition of us the subscribers for ourselves and our associates being in number Fifty one

Humbly Sheweth that your Petitioners are desireous of Setleing a Township in some of the unappropriated Lands in said province.

" Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly Pray that your Excellency will be pleased to grant to your Pe- titioners a Township of the Contence of Six Miles Square in some of his Majestyes Land, in said Prov- ince of New Hampshire that are not allready appro- priated, Subjected to such orders and restrictions as Your Excellency in Your Great Wisdom Shall See Meete. And as in Duty bound they will ever pray &c.

" JOHN FOWLE

" SETH BLOGGET

" Boston Sepr 10, 1750.

" Josiah Convers Archª McNeill

John Fullton Robert Hill

David Whiteing . Jason Winship Joseph Newhall

Thos. Draper

William Fild Jacob March

Samuel Winship Thos Bennett

Samuel Smith John Bishop

John Botherick James Pierce

David Comee John Skinner

Jonathan Briant

Jonª Bradish

Nathan Newhall

Benja Bellknap

Francis Whitemore

R. Cotton

Ebenezer Frances

John Hill

William Whitemore

Isaac Kidder

Abiel Richardson

Wm Dunlap

Ebenezer Shattuck

Caleb Brooks

Unite Moseley John Martin

Willm Maxwell

Noah Richardson

Sam1 Servise John Douglass

Benja Furness Frans Shaw

William Crombie Willm Fisher

Nath1 Wales

Timº Winship

Joseph Scott

Thº Lambert

Ebenezer Field

Isaac Fillebrown "

The grant was made December 28, 1752, to the foregoing persons and several others, but I

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ALSTEAD.

think no settlements were made under it, and none of these appear in the grant of 1763.

STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES, 1777.

" The Inhabitants of the Town of Alstead in Town meeting assembled Feb. 4, 1777 to consider of matters of grievance to themselves and others to lay before the Honb Committee of the Council and House of the State of New Hampshire : Do mention the following articles as grievous to them and needing redress .- That the present assembly was not called according to the direction of the Honble Continental congress by a. full and free representation thro. the State: for a number of Delegates from a part of the Towns of the State did without any previous notice, and before the advice of the Continental congress came to hand did set up a plan of representation, in our opinion, partial and defective, curtailing and abridging the privileges of many of the Towns in this part of the state, as the natural right of one Town is equal to that of another.

" Further the present assembly in our opinion is not set up as the great Lawgiver and Author of Gov- ernment requires : His order is that Rulers be fearers of Him, haters of covetousness : whereas the present plan requires no religious or moral, but only pecuni- ary qualifications for posts of office, which serves to discourage virtue and to promote vice as conjoined with wealth: The method of choosing Councillors and Representatives has a tendency this way likewise, as by just implication every person paying rates man, woman or child, however immoral and wicked, may vote in the choice of members of the assembly, by which means if the majority are evil, as like approves of its like, the vile will bear rule over a state profess- ing true religion. The present plan of Government was set up while we were under the King of Britain, but now we are independent of him, and therefore a new form of Government ought as soon as may be to be erected, by a full and equal representation of every incorporated Town thro the State, and that the plan of the same be sent to each Town for their approba- tion, and that which the majority agree to, be con- sidered as the constitution of this State. The act past Septembr 19 1776, we view as unintelligible, and by no means calculated to answer the end pretended of having an equal representation. The last assembly did not act a disinterested party or for the good of the State, in confining all places of trust as much as they could among themselves : or in rejecting Coll Hunt from being High Sheriff of this county, after his ap- pointment, even before he refused to accept, which, with the putting in of Coll Hale we suspect was done by the influence of a certain well known member in these parts.

" Lastly the giving commissions for war, is another article of grievance, which is a thing unprecedented in any free state, and sª commissions are kept from the eye of the people, and they are unacquainted with the unlimited powers given officers thereby, we have expressed these matters in a way to be understood, and hope that they will be attended to by your Honors as their importance and the Public good re- quires.

"At ye aforesaid meeting was chosen Absalom Kingsbury & Jonathan Shepherd Jur. a committee for sd Alstead to present ye above to ye Honble Com- mittee.

"Test ABSALOM KINGSBERY Town Clerk

"The foregoing is a True Copy of ye voate of the Town of Alstead as Matters of Grieveances to be laid before yr Hon" Committee from ye Hon" Assembly of ye State of New Hampshire

"Test ABSALOM KINGSBERY, Town Clerk " The Committees of Marlo Surry & Westmoreland concur with ye within matter of Agreevencis."

PETITION OF PRUDENCE, THE WIFE OF SIMON BAXTER.

"To the Honble Counsel and assembly for the State of New Hampshire-the humble petition of Prudence Baxter of Alstead in the County of Chesire humbly shews and gives your Honours to be informed that your petitioner dos not send this prayer to your hon- ours for riches nor honours-but for mercy and I may say forfited mercy might be extended to Simon Bax- ter the husband of your petitioner-who did in July 1777 go over to the enemy-but has ever sence the day he joined them been sorry for his fault-and has Repented his Erro with a flood of Tears-I dont mean to trouble your patiences with any thing but the Truth, and Capt Holmns of Walpole and Capt Gil- bert of Littleton Can and will if Called upon Testify that the sª Baxter has for a Long Time past ben a friend to america and Capt Wait of this Town who is now in the army and has ben a prisoner with the enemy Can Testify the kindness ye sª Baxter shew to the prisoners of the united states and ever sence has had a Desire to Return and sware aligence to the united states and is now Detained in a flag in Boston harbour-and their does earnestly pray for mercy -and as their is none that is guilty has Less then he so none a fairer plea for pardon-o spair him I humbly pray-I ask not for his Estate-only for his Life under such Limitation as you in your wisdom shall see proper to alow-the sd Baxter did while hear do his part in the war as my family has sense with- out complaining-suffer him I humbly pray to be once more a subject of this state and have the Liberty

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

of the oath of aligence to the united states-I Cair not how we Live or how we are fed, if he can but have authoritive Liberty to Live in this state, the small [property] that we did possess shall with pleasure go only spair him-and as mercy is the Dealing of god and the Brightest Virtue of the human mind-o Let Baxter be one subject of your mercy-the glory of a merciful Deed is in proportion to the Crime for which the Deed of mercy was Extended.

" The arms of america has spread Terrow thro the world-o that their mercy might not be Confined or Limeted-I do, in my husbands name, Lay myself and him att the foot stool of this state for mercy, and if we must perish we must perish there-as in duty bound shall ever pray

"Alstead, December ye 14th, 1778. " PRUDENCE BAXTER."

Capt. Lemnel Holmes, of Surry, and Capt. Jason Wait, of Alstead, the men referred to in the foregoing, were prisoners of war in New York when Simon Baxter and his son William were with the enemy, and, being old neighbors, probably received favors from them.

Simon Baxter's property was declared con- fiscated to the State ; and Isaac Temple, Timothy Fletcher and Absalom Kingsbury were ap- pointed commissioners on the same, with the latter as trustee, who made an inventory of his estate, which includes the following: " A part of the 5th Lot in the eighth Range, about 100 Acres, and one half of Lot Nº 17 in the North Range of Lots in Alstead, and two acres in the Citidale [?] Lots-one Dwelling House in the Highway." Mrs. Baxter petitioned, May 13, 1778, with the " approbation of Abram Brown, Nath' S. Prentice selectmen of Alstead," stat- ing that she had a large family of children, some of whom were small, and asked that the forfeiture of the estate might not be exacted.

It seems that Simon Baxter left the flag- ship in some way, as he and Benjamin Baxter were taken from Alstead to Exeter about January 21, 1779, and delivered to the Com- mittee of Safety by Absalom Kingsbury, and was there confined in jail for some time.

CONFESSION OF WILLIAM BAXTER.

changed and said I must go with him I told him I Did not Love to Leave my mother he said I had better go with him & I finally concluded to go with him to Rhode Island which I Did when I got to Rhode Island I worked with one . seaven or Eight Days my father Did not Do any Business that I know of then he and I went to N York and had the Small pox together and was in N. York about A month then he told me I must go to Long Island and look out for myself and Dr. Pomroy [Doctor Josiah Pomeroy was an 'absentee' from Keene] would get me a place to live at and I went to Long Island with Dr. Pomroy and left my father at N York and I Lived with one Abraham Brinkroff about a week and then my father come to me and told me he Intended to Return to Cambridge for they Meaning the Regulars would not exchange him unless he would go into their servis & he said he would not Do that-he had Drawn Rations till then and because he would not go into the Regular Servis they stopt his Rations then he worked in the same house with me till we went on board the Carteal that lay at newtown and went to N York before we went from Newtown my father & Dr Pomroy went Somewhere and then my father Gave me five hundred £ N York Currency and told me he had it of Dr Pomroy for which he told me he gave Dr Pomroy a note for twenty Pounds in hard money and my father told me to put it where the people of the house could not find it and said when we got back to Cambridge we could live well I told him we should be found out he was very angry with me & said he brought me to be a help to him but instead of that I was nothing but a plague and said he wished I was at home again-then we went to York and while we were waiting for the flag to come of I went to work to help Lode the Vesel and my father went Back to Dr. Pomroy at Newtown and when he came back he brought about A thousand Dollars More as near as I Can Remember and told me to hide it and said he was to have some more as soon as it was struck of and Signed-the Next Day he went of again and brought so much as with what he told me to hide the Day be- fore Made up A thousand pounds that I saw but how much more I Dont Know then he had some hard money and with that bought Cloathing to send by me to his famely-while we lay at N York one evening Benj" whiting Sam1 Tarbull Will Stark Robt L. Fowle - - Blair two Cummins Benj" Trow my father and myself ware togather at Jnº Strouts in New York and I see Benj" Whiting have one thousand Dollars in forty Dollar bills and offered my father if he would take the Money and put it of att Cambridge or any- where in ye Country he would give him five hundred

" I left home 28th of March 1778 & went to Cam- bridge there I found my father and he was to be ex- Dollars of it which my father took but told me he Re-

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ALSTEAD.

turned it Back then the said Benjamin Whiting Said if he could not get any Body to fetch it Meaning the money he would fetch it himself for all the Dd Rebels would be overcome before Next year was out -- the next Day we Sailed for Boston and after we had got to Boston I told my father I would not go back he said he believed I had as good go home and told me to take the Cloathing with me and carry it home to Mother and he counted some money to me vis ten forty Dollar Bills & Seaventeen twenty D° and about Ninety five Dollars in good Money and told me to be carefull I said I was afraid it would hurt me he said the money would do him no good and if I was like to be hurt by it I might burn it-and then I set of for Cambridge and went to Joseph Welches and he was going to Boston and said he wanted some paper money and Asked me if I had any that I could spare I told him yes and I gave him fifty six Dollars for a Joannes and he went to Boston and came and told me he had got a hors for me and a boy to Carry me to Littleton for twenty dollars and said if I would give him twenty more he would find another hors for my baggage and said he had some more hard money & if I would change fifty paper Dollars he would let me have another Joannes which I Did and if I would give him fifty six Dollars he would let me have two Guinnes which I Did I saw a hessian in Cambridge and changed fifty Paper Dollars for two Guinnes then I left Cambridge and went to Littleton and Capt Gil- bert & I went to boston to Get my father out of the flag but Gen1 Heath would not Permit him to come out & there I bought 3 yds of Salloon & 3 yds of Lace & Exchanged 3 twenty Dollar bills then I returned to Cambridge and there I Met a Negro fellow with a watch and I gave him four twenty Dollar bills and 2 Eight Dollar bills & one four Dollar bill for ye watch then I returned to Littleton & from there to Keen and got to Benj" Halls and his Son Annanias asked me if I had got any Catchett meaning counterfit money I told him yes he Looked on it and told me he would put it of for me & Return me two thirds of it in good money which I consented to Do after that Zibia Hall his Brother asked me if I had any Cat- chett I told him I had not for Anna' had got it he said he was the wrong Person to give it too for he would be to Ventersome I saw Anny after that he told me that Zibia wanted it for he had put of A large Some of it which if I mistake not was four Hundred Dollars & that 30 Dollars was returned Back which he could not put of So I went home and was Inme- diately taken up and then I sent my Brother Joseph to Anna hall for the money I left with him and he brought 7 forty Dol Bills & 1 twenty Do & 1 good Do & Keept two I had Left ten forty Dollar Bills with

him & one twenty-My Brother Joseph & I hid the money he brought from Annas Hall in the barn Namely 7 forty Dollar bills & 1 twenty Do all the Money I mentioned in the foregoing Account that I have not Called good I suppose was Counterfit-while I was at Cambridge at Joseph Welches Welch In- quired of me About the Monmouth Battle & about ye Brittish troops I told him they Suffered a Good Deal he said the Rebels had it in there papers that they ware beat but he Did not Believe it and said he wished to God that he was at New York with his famely and Enquired if there was any Houses to be Let I told him yes but they ware very Dear he Re- peated he Wished he was there Dear as they was- while I was in New-York I saw one Timothy Lovell of Rockingham and one Hubbard of Windsor in ye State of Vermont two Refugees and they have both stole out since and I saw Lovell in Littleton and he told me not to Mention to any Body that he was out of New York for it might hurt him and would not Do me any Good and he enquired where Majr Joseph Blanchard Lived & said he was going there to Holles but nobody suspected that Hubbard had been to N York that I know of and he now Lives peaceably at home as I have heard I Likewise saw one Joseph Durfey of New London in ye State of Connecticut in New York He said he Did not know what the Reb- ells would Do to him when he came out nor Did not care a Dª t-d.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 20

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200