History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 56

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 56
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 56

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).

The first town-meeting was held on the 20th of the July following when officers were chosen to hold office until the annual meeting in March.

CHURCH HISTORY .- The first efforts of our early settlers, after getting settled in their new homes, were directed to establishing and main- taining a Christian ministry.

Most of them had been religiously educated, and placed a high estimate upou religious institutions, and even those who made no pre- tension to piety never thought of living with- out some one to officiate for them in the sacred office.

Their first places of worship were rude, but their hearts were in their work, and their zeal, energy and personal sacrifices might be profita- bly studied by their descendants. The first meeting-house was built about 1815, and stood on what is now the North Park. The next year the proprietors, in consideration of the sum of twenty dollars, relinquished to the town all their interest in the same, excepting the pews which had been sold to individuals. Some years later this building was moved to its present situation, and fitted up for a town hall.

September 15, 1815, the Congregational Church was organized, ten men and their wives subscribing to articles of faith and covenant.

The organizing council consisted of Rev. H. Fisk, of Marlborough ; Rev. John Sabin, of Fitzwilliam ; and Rev. Ezekiel Rich, an evan- gelist, who became the first pastor. He gradu- ated at Brown University, 1808, and Andover Theological Seminary ; was installed Decem- ber 20, 1815, and remained pastor until July

18, 1818. He continued to reside in Troy until 1845. He died some years after at Deep River, Conn.

November, 1819, a new religious society was formed by the name of the First Congregational Society of Troy, and was a party with the church in supplying the pulpit until 1824, when a new constitution was adopted, the society taking the name of the Congregational Society of Troy.

Rev. Seth E. Winslow was employed as a stated supply three years, from 1820. After him Rev. Messrs. Peabody, Pitman and Erwin were employed for short periods.

Rev. Stephen Morse, a graduate of Dart- mouth College, 1821, was installed second pas- tor, August 26, 1829, and was pastor until January 31, 1833.

During this year preaching was maintained by supplies.

On December 16th a new society was formed, called the Trinitarian Congregational Society of Troy.

During the years 1834 and 1835 the present church was built.

Previous to this time the church worshipped in the town hall with the Baptist society ; Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy was installed third pastor and first of the new society, January 16, 1836, and was dismissed February 27, 1844. He was a graduate of Amherst College and Auburn Theological Seminary.

Rev. Luther Townsend was ordained and installed March 5, 1845, and dismissed May 22, 1860. He graduated at Dartmouthi Col- lege, 1839, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1842.

From this time until September, 1865, preach- ing was maintained by supplies, who were the Rev. Messrs. Easenon, Perry, Whitcomb, Jen- kins, Alexander, Miller, Brown, Spaulding, Roberts and Beckwith.

Rev. Daniel Goodhue came in the fall of 1865, and remained until about April 1, 1868, Rev. Levi Brigham taking his place. He was

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

born in Marlborough, Mass., October 14, 1806 ; graduated at Williams College, 1833, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1836; commenced preaching in Dunstable, Mass., September, 1836; left Dunstable and com- menced preaching in Saugus, May, 1850 ; left Saugus and commenced preaching here, 1868, and remained pastor until September 12, 1876, when he moved to Marlborough, Mass., where he now resides. The services of Rev. James Marshall were secured in February, 1877 ; he was pastor until his death, which occurred in April, 1878. Rev. David W. Goodale became pastor September, 1878. He was born in Doug- lass, Mass., December 28, 1847 ; graduated from Monson Academy, 1871 ; Amherst College, 1875; Andover Theological Seminary, 1878. Was ordained and installed October 1, 1878. He resigned in September, 1883, and moved to South Sudbury, Mass., where he now resides. He was succeeded by Rev. Josiah Merrill, the present pastor.

The Baptist Church was organized Novem- ber, 1789, with a membership of twenty-five, and was called the Fitzwilliam Baptist Church. From this time until 1791 they were without regular preaching, being supplied by preachers of the neighboring towns. In 1791 Mr. Rufus Freeman was licensed to preach and did so for an indefinite time. Until 1836 they held their meetings in schools and dwelling-houses. This year they united with the First Congregational Society in meeting at the town-house under the labors of Rev. Obed Sperry, and continued to do so until 1848, when their present house of worship was erected, and dedicated January 17, 1849. The following-named ministers have served as pastors for terms varying from one to fourteen years : Revs. Rufus Freeman, Aruna Allen, Darius Fisher, D. S. Jackson, Obed Sperry, John Woodbury, P. P. Sanderson, Phineas Howe, A. M. Piper, A. B. Egleston, April, 1854, to April, 1855 ; Joseph B. Mitchell, April, 1855, to April, 1856 ; Thos. Briggs, May, 1856, to June, 1857 ; John Fairman, July, 1857,

to February, 1859; C. D. Fuller, February, 1859, to March, 1860; - Bille, March, 1860, to July, 1861; W. H. Chamberlain, August, 1861, to September, 1862.

From this time until 1865 preaching was maintained by supplies, or by the individual members reading sermons. Rev. J. S. Herrick became pastor in 1865, and acted as such until failing health compelled him to resign, Feb- ruary 23, 1879, and was succeeded by his son, D. F. R. Herrick, who was ordained March 18, 1879. Failing health soon compelled him to resign, and preaching was again maintained by supplies ; Rev. Mr. Shaw supplying from August, 1880, until February, 1881 ; Rev. O. E. Brown was pastor from September, 1881, until November, 1884, and was succeeded by Rev. W. F. Grant, the present pastor.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY .- In the grant given these townships, one lot of one hundred acres was reserved in each for the benefit of the schools. These lots were disposed of at an early period, and the interest expended for schools. In 1778 the interest of the Fitzwil- liam lot was five pounds, two shillings.

There is no record showing that any money in addition to the above had been expended previous to this time, when one hundred pounds was voted to be raised by tax, and it was dealt out very sparingly, for two years after only twenty-five pounds had been expended.

The building of a meeting-house, the sup- port of the ministry and the war, so occupied the public mind that but little attention was paid to the support of schools. Twelve pounds were raised in 1782, twenty pounds in 1785 and fifteen pounds in 1787, and probably ex- pended under the direction of the selectmen.

In 1789 thirty pounds were raised. This year an effort was made to establish a grammar- school, but the article was "passed over" in town-meeting.

In 1777 the town (Fitzwilliam) was divided into four equal squadrons for schooling ; re- districted in 1788, and, having become more

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thickly settled, again re-districted in 1794. Up to this time there had been no school-houses, the schools having been kept in private rooms.

The first school-house on land now in Troy was built by Fitzwilliam in 1790, and stood on the east side of the road near the present resi- dence of Willard White.

At the first meeting after the incorporation of the town a committee was chosen to regulate the school-districts, and they reported six.

District No. 6 was so small that a school could be maintained but a few weeks in each year, and consequently little benefit was derived therefrom. It was united with No. 3 in 1831. In 1838 the town was again re- districted. District No. 1, or the Village Dis- trict, was divided, the northern half being called No. 1, and the southern half No. 2. No. 2 was changed to No. 3; No. 3 to No. 4; No. 4 to No. 5, and No. 5 to No. 6.

In 1878 the selectmen and superintending school committee were instructed by the town to again reorganize the districts, which they did by making four districts of the six, consti- tuting a Village District and three out-districts ; the Village District to consist of Nos. 1 and 2, together with a larger part of Nos. 5 and 6, adding a part of No. 5 to No. 4, and part of No. 6 to No. 3, thus making four districts, as they are at present; No. 1 to contain three schools-one grammar and two primary-the school-house in No. 1 to be used for the north primary, that in No. 2 for the south primary, the grammar school to be in the room under the town hall.

The citizens have at all times used their best efforts to promote the cause of popular educa- tion. For several years after the incorporation of the town the amount annually raised for the support of schools was two hundred and fifty dollars, in addition to the interest of the literary fund. This amount has been gradually raised until the present time, when the whole amount of school money is twelve hundred dollars.

The whole number of different scholars at-

tending school the past year was one hundred and sixty-two,-sixty-four boys, and ninety- eight girls,-with an average length of all schools for the year of twenty-one and nine- tenths weeks.

MILITARY HISTORY .- In everything calling for an exhibition of pure patriotism, disinter- ested benevolence, or the characteristics of good citizens, the names of the first settlers stand conspicuous. The following are the names of those from this town known to have enlisted in the American army during the War of the Revolution :

Benjamin Tolman. James Brewer.

Jacob Newell, Jr. Caleb Winch.

Ezekiel Mixer. John Farrar, Jr.

Pearson Newell. Peter Starkey.

At the time when the bugle sound was first heard upon the battle-field of Lexington there were not more than twenty-five male inhabit- ants over twenty-one years of age, within the limits of what is now Troy, capable of bearing arms. Most of them were heads of families, who had just settled upon this wild land, and, however much inclined, they could not have left their fields for the eamp, only at the expense of bringing upon their families a great amount of suffering.

No men were more ardently attached to liberty, or to the leading measures of those days, than the early settlers of this town. The small number of enlistments should not be at- tributed to any want of patriotism, or indiffer- ence, for there can be no stronger claims upon man's services than those of his family, and next to this is his country, and justice and humanity forbid that the former should be sacrificed to the latter.

In every instance where arrangements could be made to protect the families from extreme suffering, the opportunity was gladly accepted, and laying aside the implements of husbandry, the father hurried to the assistance of his coun- trymen.

Some of them arrived at Lexington just in

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

time to dispute the progress of the British forces. They were at Bunker Hill and Ben- nington, at Stillwater and Ticonderoga.

They all served honorably through the war, and fought nobly for the cause so dear to every heart.

Benjamin Tolman, Ezekiel Mixer, Pearson Newell and John Farrar, Jr., took part in the battle of Bunker Hill.

In the battle of Bunker Hill Tolman was in the thickest of the fight where, in a hand-to- hand conflict with a British soldier, his gun was wrenched from him ; but he stood his ground, defending himself as best he could with the weapons nature furnished him, until his com- mander, seeing his condition, brought him an- other musket, with which he continued to fight until ordered to retreat. Mixer served in the same company with Tolman, and by his side for over two years, both sharing alike the same pleasure and suffering. At the battle of Ben- nington, August 16, 1777, when the troops under General Stark made that ever memor- able charge which crowned the American army with victory, Mixer was shot in the body and carried from the field to a rude shelter, linger- ing in great agony until morning, when he expired.

Pearson Newell sustained the loss of his gun, powder-horn and cartridge-box, for which he was afterwards allowed by the State two pounds, fourteen shillings.

Toryism became so rife in the colonies that Congress, in March, 1776, took measures to dis- arm all persons disaffected to the canse of Ameri- can liberty, and passed a resolution upon the subject and sent it to all the colonies.

In this State the Committee of Safety had the resolutions printed in circular form, and sent to every town in the State; it read as follows :

"COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, &C. " Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776.

" To the selectmen of Monadnock, No. five :

" In order to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Honorable Continental Congress into execution,

you are requested to desire all Males above twenty- one years of age (lunaties, idiots, and negroes ex- cepted), to sign the DECLARATION on this paper, and when so done to make return thereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.

" M. WEARE, Chairman."

"IN CONGRESS, March 14th, 1776.

" Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United States immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMERICA or who have not associated and refuse to associate to defend by ARMS the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleet and Armies.

" Extract from the minutes. "CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary."

" In consequence of the above Resolution of the Continental Congress and to show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES :

"We the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with ARMS, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies, against the United American COLONIES."

This was signed by all the inhabitants in Troy except the following, and duly returned by the selectmen : William Barker, Jonathan Shaw, Icabard Shaw, Daniel Lawrence.

The citizens of Troy were not behind their fellow-citizens in manifesting their patriotism when the hostile cannon boomed upon Fort Sumter, but, in common with the great majority of the people of the North, gave their support to the government.

The following extraets taken from the records will show the action taken by the town :

"May 8, 1861 .- Voted, That the town guarantee to those that have or may enlist from this town, that their wages shall be made up to them so that the amount will equal twenty dollars per month, and that we will pay them ten dollars in advance at time of enlisting, said sum of ten dollars to be taken from their wages."

"October 21, 1861 .- Voted, To instruct the select-

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men to use any money, not otherwise appropriated, that may be in the treasury, or to borrow monies if necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act, in chapter 2480, Pamphlet Laws, 1861, authorizing cities and towns to aid the families of volunteers and for other purposes."

" July 20, 1862 .- Number of citizens liable to mili- tary duty, as enrolled by the selectmen, eighty-two. Number who were or had been in the U. S. service, twenty-eight."

" August 27, 1862 .- Voted, That we pay each re- cruit or volunteer who is accepted and mustered into the service of the U. S. for the war, unless sooner discharged, the sum of one hundred dollars.

" Voted, That we pay fifty dollars in addition to the one hundred dollars, providing the town is called upon to furnish men to fill up the old regiments.

" Voted, To limit the bounty to the number required to fill our quota and not to be paid until the men are mustered into the U. S. service.

" Voted, That no bounty be paid to any man who receives a commission before leaving the state."

The selectmen were authorized to borrow a sum of money sufficient to meet these calls, not to exceed three thousand dollars.

"September 21, 1863 .- Voted, That the town pay the drafted men, who are, or may hereafter be drafted, for three years, or their substitutes, on or after being mustered into the U. S. service ten days, three hun- dred dollars, and the selectmen were instructed to borrow a sum not to exceed four thousand dollars for the purpose of carrying the foregoing vote into ef- fect.

" Voted, That the selectman raised, if necessary, an additional sum not to exceed five thousand dollars for the same purpose."

" December 5, 1863 .- Voted, That the selectmen pay the citizens of the town who shall enlist for three years (until the quota is filled), the sum of three hun- dred dollars, on being accepted and mustered into service.

" Voted, That the town assume the responsibility of paying the United States and State bounties to citi- zens of the town who shall enlist, on being mustered into service, and the selectmen were instructed to borrow ten thousand dollars for the purpose.

" Voted, That the selectman hire recruits out of town, if it can be done satisfactorily, to help make up the quota of the town."

" May 7, 1864 .- Voted, To pay the men that have already enlisted into the U. S. service under the present call for two hundred thousand men, three hundred dollars."

" July 30, 1864 .- Voted, That we pay volunteers, or enrolled men, or their substitutes, one hundred dollars for one year, and a corresponding sum for the number of years they may enlist, not exceeding three, if they are accepted and mustered into service, to fill up the quota of the town under the present call for five hundred thousand men, to be paid when mustered into service.

"Voted, That we pay the drafted men or their substitutes, two hundred dollars, to be paid as soon as mustered into service.

" Voted, That the selectmen borrow a sum not ex- ceeding six thousand five hundred dollars for the purpose.

" Voted, To choose an agent to procure substitutes.

"Chose Elmund Bemis as said agent."

"September 5, 1864 .- Voted, To pay any that may volunteer from this town, to fill the quota under the late call for five hundred thousand men, the sum of three hundred dollars in currency for one year."

It is a matter of no little difficulty to obtain an accurate and authentic list of those who were citizens of the town who served during the four years' War of the Rebellion.

The following record gives the names and history so far as can be obtained :

John Amadon, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment ; enrolled at Keene, N. H., October 5, 1861; died at Hatteras Inlet January 15, 1862.

Henry J. Amadon, Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment; enrolled October 7, 1861; served three years and was in twenty-three battles ; discharged at Pegram House, Va., November 27, 1864; died at Troy July 27, 1867.

James O. Amadon, enlisted in Second Regiment, but was not accepted on reaching Portsmouth ; served all through the war in a private capacity.

Frank Amadon, Company I, Eighteenth Regiment. Oren S. Adams, Second Regiment.

Chas. H. Barrett, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment ; enlisted August 30, 1862; mustered out July 8, 1865 ; killed at Stoddard.

Lemuel W. Brown, Company F, Second United States Sharpshooters ; was transferred to Second Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863 ; discharged at Washington, D. C., November 26, 1864.

William O. Barns, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment; enlisted September 1, 1862 ; mustered out August 18, 1865.

Frank Barnes, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment ; enlisted August 25, 1862.

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

George I. Capron, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment; mustered in September 22, 1862; discharged at Savannah, Ga., July 8, 1865 ; died at Troy.

Joseph F. Capron, Company A, Second Regiment ; mustered in April 14, 1861 ; discharged October 22, 1861; re-enlisted in December, 1863, into First Regiment Connecticut Cavalry.

Frederick P. Cutler, Company D, Second Regiment ; recruit ; discharged March 22, 1863.

Albert Cobb, Fifth Company, Heavy Artillery : mus- tered in September 5, 1864. This company was mustered at Concord, N. H., by Captain W. H. Graham, U. S. A., for one year.

Nathan C. Carter, Company F, First New Hamp- shire Cavalry ; died at Troy, N. H., April 5, 1876.

Robert Cosgrove, Company F, Sixth Regiment.

George W. Clark, recruit, Second Regiment; dis- charged September 22, 1863; died at Troy Jan- uary 1, 1864.

Lewis Clement.

George W. Derby, sergeant, Company F, Sixth Regi- ment ; mustered in November 28, 1861 ; drowned at Aquia Creek. 1

Lorenzo Dexter, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment.

Luther W. Fassett, Company E, Second Regiment ; recruit ; killed by a rebel guerrilla at Evansport, Va., April 2, 1862. Fassett, with others, had been engaged in digging for a gun that had been abandoned and buried by the rebels. He, with a companion, started back from where the men were engaged in digging to procure some shovels which were stored in a building about a mile away. They were met by three rebels in citizens' clothes, who had been skulking in the bushes, and who confronted them with loaded carbines. Fassett immediately surrendered, but, notwith- standing this, they sent a bullet through his body, while his comrade made good his escape, and the guerrillas eluded all efforts to capture them.

Danvers C. Fassett, Fifth Company, Heavy Artillery. Daniel M. Fisk, Company F, Sixth Regiment.

Asa B. Fisk, Company F, Sixth Regiment.

Jonas R. Foster, Fifth Company, Heavy Artillery. Ezekiel Haskell, Company F, Sixth Regiment; mus- tered in November 28, 1861; was transferred to Company G, Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps; discharged at Washington, D. C., Novem- ber 28, 1864; re-enlisted into Company I, Third Regiment ; discharged at Goldsboro', N. C., July 20, 1865; died at Troy, September 23, 1884.

Nelson Haskell, Company F, Fifth Regiment ; en-

rolled September 19, 1861 ; discharged at Conva- lescent Camp, Va., December 20, 1862.

Edward Harvey, Second Regiment.

Jesse Hiscock, Company F, Sixth Regiment.

George H. Kinsman, Fifth Company, Heavy Artil- lery.

James Kaven, Company D, Third Regiment.

Houghton Lawrence, Company D, Second Regiment ; enrolled September 6, 1861 ; discharged at Wash- ington, D. C., July 15, 1862; died at Troy April 10, 1884.

Center H. Lawrence, sergeant Company A, Second Regiment ; promoted to assistant adjutant-gene- ral.

Alfred Lawrence, Company C, First New Hampshire Cavalry ; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 19, 1864.

Frederick Lang, Twentieth Indiana.

John Lang, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment.

Frank Laraby, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment; enlisted August 25, 1862.

Patrick McCaffrey, Company F, Second Regiment ; died July 8, 1862.

Simeon Merrifield, Company A, Fourteenth Regiment; enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged May 17, 1865.

Charles W. Philbrook, Company C, Fourteenth Reg- ment; enlisted August 11, 1862; discharged July 8, 1865.

William L. Price, First Regiment.

Albert Roby, Fifth Company, Heavy Artillery.

Silas S. Stickney, recruit, Second Regiment; died of wounds received July 2, 1863.

Charles H. Struter, recruit, Second Regiment; pro- moted to corporal; re-enlisted.

Charles Lyman Spooner, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment; enlisted December 29, 1863; died at Savannah, Ga., July 7, 1865.

Robert M. Silsby, Fifth Company, Heavy Artillery. Henry T. Smith, Fifth Regiment.

Patrick Shehan, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment.

George H. Stockwell, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment ; died at Troy July 20, 1863.

Lorenzo B. Tolman, corporal Company F, Sixth Regiment.

Samuel M. Thompson, first sergeant Company F, Sixth Regiment; died at Troy.

George W. Tupper, Fifth Company Heavy Artil- lery.

Sidney E. Tolman, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment; enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged at Washington, D. C., July 20, 1863.

Alonzo W. Tupper, Company A, Fourteenth Regi-

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ment; enlisted August 14, 1862; wounded at Cedar Creek October 19, 1864; discharged July 8, 1865 ; died at Miller's Fallls, Mass., June 2, 1874.

William H. Tenney, Company K, Second Regi- ment ; discharged October 8, 1862.

Robert A. Wheeler, Company F, Sixth Regiment. Curtis A. Whittemore, Company A, Fourteenth Reg- iment; enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged July 8, 1865 ; died at Fitchburg, Mass., Septem- ber 11, 1867.

Frank Shattuck, Company C, Fourteenth Regiment; enlisted August 28, 1862; discharged July 8, 1865.

PHYSICIANS .- The first physician to settle here was Dr. Justice Perry, who came in 1796 and practiced one year. He was a man of in- temperate habits, and after he decided to locate here he was persuaded to sign a temperance pledge, probably the first ever signed in town. By this he obligated himself to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks for one year, in con- sideration of which the citizens bound themselves to furnish him with a horse and all his medicines free of charge during the year. These condi- tions were faithfully fulfilled by both parties, but at the end of the year the doctor relapsed into his former habits, losing the confidence of the people, and in the following year he moved to Marlborough, where he died in 1799. He was succeeded by Dr. Ebenezer Wright, who came from Fitzwilliam in 1811, at the request of a few individuals of the village. He was here during the excitement attending the efforts to obtain the charter of Troy, and took an active part in those measures which resulted in the organization of the new town.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 56

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