USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of Hampton Falls, N.H., Volume II > Part 21
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232
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
anyone who would cut, and not eagerly sought at that. Corn and meal have been sold as high as $4.50 per hundred weight at retail. Other mill feeds sell in the same proportion.
At the annual meeting in March it was voted to make a survey of the clam flats, with the idea of leasing. This was done and the lease was sold at auction to Joseph Pelon of Hampton for $55. Under this lease the townspeople can dig for their own consump- tion and for bait, but not for sale or outside shipment.
James A. Cilley of Seabrook, aged seventeen, was drowned while bathing in what is known as "Jack's Hole," in the Falls River. On August 2 we were visited by thunder showers in which a great deal of damage was done by lightning at about 1 o'clock, p. m. The barn of Mr. Yeaton in the Guinea district in Hampton, filled with hay, was struck, and entirely consumed, together with the dwelling house. It was with great difficulty that barn No. 2, on the opposite side of the road, was saved. A. little after 6 o'clock barn No. 2 was struck and was entirely de- stroyed. Both were large barns filled with hay. They were probably a hundred years old.
CONDITIONS IN THE TOWN IN THE DECADE FROM 1840 TO 1850.
All the meeting houses were occupied. The families who did not go to meeting, or some of its members, were few as church attendance was more general than at the present time. It was not considered reputable to neglect church attendance on the Sabbath, and the different meeting houses were pretty well filled. They all had settled ministers. The Line Church had been organized under the name of the "First Evangelical Congrega- tional Church of Seabrook and Hampton Falls." The word Evangelical was put in to distinguish it from the First Congre- gational Church organized in 1826, which afterward became Unitarian, and to let people know that they were the real thing. The Line church was strictly Puritanic in its belief. If the shorter catechism erred it was too lenient in the treatment of the wicked. The wicked seem to have consisted not only of evil doers but those who attended the more liberal church, or held a less rigid belief. It believed in the straight and narrow way, the way very narrow.
The residence of those who attended the Line meeting were scattered over a large area: Joshua Pike near the Exeter line; Col. Jonathan Cram up over the river; Smith Prescott near Kensington line; Deacon Green and Levi Sanborn four miles away; Col. Jacob Noyes of Seab ook near the state line; Daniel Merrill of Salisbury; Stephen Brown from Kensington. Old time religious beliefs must have been very strong to attract fami- lies from such a distance. Mr. Pike afterward withdrew to Exeter; Smith Prescott to the Christian Baptist; Colonel Noyes died. A prayer meeting was usually held at Deacon Green's on Saturday evening. Sally Healy and Polly Dow, who lived near Deacon Green, were firm supporters of the Line church. Miss Healy often went down on Saturday and remained with Mr. Abbott's family over the Sabbath. Mr. Abbott built a house in 1848, on Thresher Lane, in Hampton Falls, the house now occu- pied by Mr. Milton. He lived here until his death in 1855.
The Calvin Baptist Church at the hill had a good attendance,
234
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
but not as scattered as the Line church. A number of families came from Seabrook: Stephen Johnson, Micajah Green and Joseph H. Weare, with their families; later they withdrew to organize the Baptist Church in Seabrook. The congregation was called to worship by the academy bell. Uncle Billy Brown, Richard and George H. Dodge were the main pillars. A firm belief in foreordination and close communion were expected and required before one could become a member in good standing of this church. The Rev. Zebulon Jones was pastor of the church from 1843 until 1851, the longest pastorate in the history of the society. He was a handsome man, with a sharp black eye. He wore a dress suit of black broadcloth which he kept scrupulously neat and clean. He was a man of great executive ability. He was principal of Rockingham Academy during his entire pastor- ate, school commissioner for Rockingham County, and chair- man of New Hampshire Educational Commission. He acted as superintendent of school of this town nearly all the time he lived here. At one time he lived in the tavern house and boarded the out-of-town students. He was handicapped by an invalid wife. In his farewell sermon he spoke plainly, and not altogether complimentary, to the society. He died at East Hub- bardton, Vt., in 1883, aged seventy-one years.
Elder George Moore Paine was ordained over the Christian Baptist Church in 1841 and continued for three years or more, and was the only settled minister over this society during this decade. He was much liked and respected by the people of the town. He preached here at other times until his death in 1882. The remainder of the time preaching was by supplies, and often not by men who were calculated to build up the society, not being sufficiently educated to attract young people to the fold. Preach- ers of this kind did much to cause the decline and end of this society. A Sabbath school was carried on during the noon hour. The exercises consisted in committing and repeating scripture from the New Testament. Rufus Johnson was said to have repeated the entire book of Matthew at one lesson. The majority never got through Matthew's Epistle. There was a Sabbath school library of biographical works, mostly biographies of good little boys who had not vitality enough to grow up but died young.
The Rev. Jacob Caldwell was ordained in 1841 over the
235
CONDITIONS IN TOWN FROM 1840 TO 1850
churches of Hampton Falls and Kensington. Meetings were held on alternate Sabbaths in each place for a number of years. He lived in the parsonage house in Hampton Falls. His wife was dead. His sister, Miss Fannie Caldwell, kept his house. She was much liked and was the leader in social affairs in the society. He was lame, having club feet, but was a man of some means and kept a horse and carriage. He had one son, George C. Caldwell, who became one of the foremost chemists in the country. Levi Lane, Esq., was clerk of the society for many years and did all in his power to advance the interests of the society.
The Unitarians did not make so much effort to be saved, in a crude condition, as did the other denominations, but tried to develop and improve themselves so as to be worth saving in the final round up, and to have a place in the celestial structure.
There were three schools in the town, the Hill, Cock Hill and the Exeter road. Jacob T. Brown, Charles H. Sanborn, Thomas L. Sanborn, Rhoda Batchelder, Harriet Cram, Catherine A. Cram, Mary T. Prescott and Sarah E. Sanborn, all natives and residents of the town, taught during this decade. Others who taught were Jonathan Severance and John J. Marshall of Kings- ton. The latter was very much liked by the scholars. He was afterward a professor in Tufts College. Morrill M. Coffin of Hampton taught a number of terms.
The writer went to school to all of these teachers. The three R's were taught. Spell ng matches were frequent; bad spelling was considered a disgrace. Colburn's Mental Arithmetic was used in all the schools. Many business men have told me that the discipline from this arithmetic had been of great value to them in after life, and that any one who could perform all the exam- ples in Colburn's did not need any more mathematical knowl- edge for a successful business career. From some cause this book was taken out of our schools, a thing which is condemned by all the older citizens. Adams' Arithmetic gave way to Green- leaf's National. The boys and girls, when they left school, could generally do all the examples in Greenleaf's. Worcester's series of readers were introduced, taking the place of the Young Reader, Introduction and National Readers previously in use. Worces- ter's were used a few years, when Town's Readers took their place and were a great improvement over any we had had before.
236
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
Peter Parley's Geography for beginners; Smith's Geography gave place to Mitchell's Geography and Atlas. Outline maps were provided, and the drawing of maps was done to some extent.
Steel pens came into use about this time. Before this quill pens had been in use. The teacher was expected to make and mend the pens. Many flocks of geese were kept and the feathers from their wings were used. Dutch quills, which had been treated with oil, were bought and were considered superior to the others. In some cases the teachers set the copies in the writing book; later books with copper plate copies were used. On the cover of some of these books was a picture of the State House at Concord. It would be interesting to know if this picture created a desire for a seat in that building in after life, a not uncommon ambition which could not always be gratified. There was at that time no schoolhouse on the South road, nor any road. The children came across fields and pastures, and were often wet to the knees.
During the time Morrill Coffin kept the Exeter road school, from 1848 to 1854, a number of exhibitions were held at the end of the winter term. We present on pages 237 and 238 the order of exercise of one held on February 24, 1851. There are now (1917) four persons living who took part in that exhibition.
It was against a great deal of opposition that a road was built from the schoolhouse to Nason's. Later a schoolhouse was built on the South road. Now, on a good road, children have to be carried who do not have so far to go, as the South road scholars had to come across lots. Cord wood was delivered to the schoolhouses; the larger boys cut and fitted it; the smaller ones carried it in and piled it. The older boys took turns in building the fire. The larger girls swept the room. The school- houses were not located in sheltered places, but in cold and wind- swept localities, especially the Exeter road schoolhouse. The Cock Hill schoolhouse was used long after it was a disgrace to the town, before the new house was built. "Baseball" was played at Cock Hill, and "Old Cat" at the Exeter road. In each case ball grounds were only obtained by trespass on private property. There was one prudential committee for each school, who hired and paid the teachers. The superintending com- mittees, usually of three, qualified the teachers, visited the schools, and wrote the report. They never received more than $3 each for their services.
237
CONDITIONS IN TOWN FROM 1840 TO 1850
ORDER OF EXERCISES
ÅT THẺ
EXHIBITION
OF THE
""UNION SCHOOL"
HAMPTON-FALLS,
MONDAY EVE., Feb. 24, 1851.
M. M. COFFIN, Instructor.
SMITH, HALL & CLARKE, Printers, EXETER, N. H.
238
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Mration.
"Come buv, uty roses, &c ..
FLORENCE F. TILTON.
INTRODUCTORY,
GEORGE. C. REFERS
Dialogue.
Preciseness.
f Mr. Quiddle, Mrs. Quiddle,
IRA N. BLARE FARAH C. BROWN.
JOSEPH WAHREN.
Oration.
The Young Orator,
Dialogue.
SAM'S, PRESCOTT.
Tankeciwm.
¿ Traveller,
JOHN C. SANBORN.
FRANK P. CR.AM,
Oration. Ode to Art,
W. A. CRASH
Mrs. Vestry, = Blunt,
CAROLINE O. POWELL,
Doctor Smart.
I. N. BLAKK
Doctor and
₹ Patient,
= Pill,
Y
= Squash,
SUSAN A. BROWN .
SARAH I. SANBORN.
Oration.
Casabianca, Dialogue.
Country
[ Blacksmith.
J. C. SANBORN.
Blacksmith.
Methodist Minister,
SAAN'L PRESCOTT.
Vratiou.
Ignorance in our country is a crime. JACOB A. CRAM.
Digit,
Sesequipedalia,
WM. A. CRAV. WARREN BROWN. I. N. BLAKK.
Dialogue.
.KAN A. GODFREY.
County.
f Esq. Meanwell, . ". [Ellery, { A Farmer,
I. N. . BLAKE.
Justice.
Neighbor Sprout, Bellflower,
J. E. BROWN.
tiration.
New England is dead. Dialogue.
J. E. BRWN.
School Ex-
Master Brown aud his Pupils.
S. C. BROWN.
»mination. 1
A. A. W. BROWN. S. A. BROWN
Oration.
[ Betty, Shocmaker,
L. T. SANBORN.
Pupils,
J. C. SANBORN. J. A. GODFREY. G. W. SHAW. C. C. BROWN.
F. P. CRAM.
Oration.
Fisherman,
W. BROWN.
Mrs. Smith,
C. O. POWELL ..
Hard names.
Miss Willowbough, " Rix,
S. WARREN.
" Vinegar,
S. A. BROWN.
Betty,
J. C. SAXBORN.
Oration.
Ode on Eloquence, Dialogue.
MUSIC AND SINGING BY
Yankee
( Lord Percy and his company.
J. E. RRowx.
Marksman. { Jonathan,
.J. C. SANBORN.
B. B. THOMPSON'S Juvende' Class>
C. E. BROWN. S. I. SANRORY.
C. Rich,
Village school { Lucy Heart,
Maria Ross, Sarah Small, ( Abby Mix.
Pupils.
Fanny Mill-, Martha Wellt.
Oration. Thriving family, Dialogue.
School f'ummittec.
Lucy, (Deaf.)
Prim,
SABRINA A. COFFIN
= ·Snap,
CHARLOTTE E. BROWN.
= Fairman,
S. C. BROWN.
Oration ..
Marco Bozarris,
Dialogue.
Pedantry.
Trill, [ Dronc, Works of God,
LEWIS T. SANBORN.
Oration.
Dialogue. ( Ned Madcap, Amanda, Aunt Mary, Mrs. Trimmins,
C. O. POWELL. . S. A. COPFIY. S. C. BROWN. S. I. SANBORN,
Tattleville Sewing so'ty
= Rackett,
Axx . A. W. BROWN.
Flambeaux, Bonion,
A. . M. GOFFIN.
44 Arrack,
C. E. Brown. M. E. BROWN. S. A. BROWN.
Lucy De Vero,
Dialoguc.
( Capt. Downing,
J. F. BROWN. W. Browx.
Pensioner.
( Nathan,
HORACE A. GODFREY.
( Mr White,
S. I. SANBORN.
S. C. BROWN.
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS BY W. BROWN.
Brief,
MARY E. BROWN.
ANN M. COFFIN.
his Patients. t Waiter,
J. (. BROWN. J. C. SANBORN.
W. BROWN,
S. PRESCOTT.
HENRY H. KNIQUIT.
GEO. W. SHAW.
I. T. SANBORN.
J. EMMONS BROWN.
G. W. SHAW.
Dialogue.
SARAN C. WARREN.
Dialogue.
Mrs. Weatherbox, Susanna,
Isebel Fox, Mary Spore, Jane Smith,
( Farmer,
239
CONDITIONS IN TOWN FROM 1840 TO 1850
If any wished to go farther than the town school, the Rocking- ham Academy offered them a good opportunity. Mr. Jones was capable of teaching the higher branches and the languages.
The wages paid the teachers were low; $375 was raised for the support of schools, with perhaps the addition of the literary fund of $50 or so. We had about thirty weeks of school. The summer term commenced about the 20th of May and closed sometime in August; the winter term, early in November and con- tinued until February 1. The larger boys were usually taken out in haying time and did not come in the winter until the ground closed up for the winter. By the law at the present time children of school age could not be kept out in this manner. Help at that time was plenty and could be had at a low price. It is strange that this practice prevailed to the extent it did. . Some of the older citizens believe that the schools were as good · in those days as they are today; that the education they got at that time enabled them to commence life successfully. They could reckon the price of a load of produce, know what consti- tuted a cord of wood or a ton of hay-what we have seen some of our high school graduates unable to do. They also believe that every town is capable of managing its own affairs without so much outside interference in school, highway and other matters. Up to the present time we have not seen much benefit from com- missioners and others we have been taxed to support. At that time there were no out-houses of any kind about the schoolhouses, and no play ground except at the hill. The North school has recently formed an association (known as the Neighborhood Club) for the improvement of the grounds and to promote a closer socia condition among those whose children attend school there.
In looking up the past history of the school they find some things in which they take a commendable pride. Since 1855 Frank B. Sanborn, Joseph L. Sanborn and Jacob A. Cram have graduated from Harvard College. George C. Caldwell studied in Germany, and become one of the foremost chemists in the country. Rev. William A. Cram, a Unitarian clergyman; Ralph Adams Cram, an architect of sufficient ability to get the contract to remodel the Military Academy at West Point; Alice Brown, the noted authoress; Elvin J. Prescott, liberal clergyman; Emma and Nellie Pearson, who entered the Salem Normal School with
240
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
no other schooling except what was obtained here. Others who attended school here have become respectable and valuable members of the community. All this was accomplished while the schools were managed by the town, without any help from the high salaried state officers. The town, since its earliest settlement, has done well by its schools.
People lived as much as possible upon things produced upon the farm. Money was not very plentiful and strict economy was the rule. There was but one butcher cart running in the town. Nahum Osgood of Amesbury came but not regularly. Those who are accustomed to the heavy Western beef of today would not care much for the meat he carried. It was a common saying that the hind end of a butcher cart was an expensive place. Nearly all farmers killed a beef creature every winter; what was to be eaten fresh was frozen and was used as needed; the re- mainder was salted to be eaten in summer. The hide was often sent away to be tanned and later made into boots and shoes for the family. At that time beef and pork barrels were in nearly every cellar in the town. Now there are few When a calf, lamb or pig was killed it was a common practice to lend a quarter, or a sparerib to a neighbor, to be repaid when he killed. Where a number of neighbors joined a constant supply of fresh meat was had at no great expense and of the best quality. Nearly every family made butter and cheese. At that time cheese was used much more as an article of food than at present. Mrs. Levi Sanborn had the name of making the best cheese in the com- munity, and there were others not far behind in producing cheese of an excellent quality. Those who can recollect the homemade cheese of that time consider it superior to anything that can be bought at the present time. It was a custom to use a great deal of rye and Indian meal in cooking so to save flour which had to be bought. When butter, cheese, eggs or any other farm product was sold it was not often for cash. It was taken to Newburyport or some other out-of-town store and exchanged for groceries or other needed articles, the storekeeper setting the price of the things brought in and of his own goods as well, thus having it all his own way. When eggs sold for twenty cents per dozen it was thought a very high price. They were often sold for twelve cents for months with no rise in price. Butter rarely sold for more than twenty cents per pound. At that time it was sold
241
CONDITIONS IN TOWN FROM 1840 TO 1850
from the town at a low price; now it is bought by nearly every family at a high price. Ice, now considered indispensable, was at that time not used. There was not an icehouse or icechest in the town. Many ate brown bread and milk for supper during the summer and autumn, with the addition of baked sweet apples and berries in their season. Many old people had done this since their childhood and seemed to enjoy perfect health. Could milk have been as dangerous as our modern high-priced professors tell us it is today? If it had been these old people would never have lived to grow up. Before the milk business came it was the custom to dry up the cows in the early winter. Some families were without milk for two or three months. Where this was the case kind neighbors who had milk would often send in a pail of milk to those who had none. Genesee flour, which came in barrels with flat hoops, and Ohio flour, in half round hoops, were the flours used. From lack of communication flour did not come much from west of Ohio. A boiled dinner, consist- ing of salt beef and pork with vegetables, and sometimes a pudding, were boiled together in a large pot. The older members of the family were fond of this kind of dinner, while the younger members were not. This was generally spoken of as "biled pot." Hasty pudding, made of corn meal was not an uncommon dish, with soups and bean porridge; all of these were palatable and nutritious, and were used to keep the cost of living as low as possible. The potatoes grown at that time were not nearly as good eating as those of the present time. They were often roasted in the hot ashes, covered with live coals and with a little salt were very palatable. Toasted cheese was another common and much-valued food. Sugar cost more than at present; the brown Havana was mostly used on the table and for other purposes. White sugar was bought in the loaf and reduced with a hammer and large knife to a condition for use. It sold for ten cents or more per pound; later the white sugar came crushed. It was used on the table when there was company. It was considered a luxury and was sweeter than the sugars of today.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
The Hampton Falls division, Sons of Temperance, was started on May 10, 1848. The names of forty-six men are on the books of that order and are here given:
17
242
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
May 10, 1848, G. H. Dodge, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, N. P. Cram, Hampton Falls, farmer.
May 10, 1848, C. H. Sanborn, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, E. Valentine, Hampton Falls, merchant. May 10, 1848, Charles F. Chase, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, Samuel Palmer, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, Charles T. Brown, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, John Robinson, Hampton Falls, teacher. May 10, 1848, Jeremiah Godfrey, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 10, 1848, John S. Cram, Hampton Falls, farmer. June 1, 1848, True M. Prescott, Hampton Falls, farmer. Charles N. Healey, farmer.
June 1, 1848, John Batchelder, Hampton Falls, farmer. June 1, 1848, Rufus C. Sanborn, Hampton Falls, farmer. June 16, 1848, Dean R. Tilton, Hampton Falls, farmer. June 1, 1848, Levi E. Lane, Hampton Falls, farmer.
June 1, 1848, Alfred Marsh, Hampton Falls, blacksmith. Andrew McKenny, laborer.
May 10, 1848, Zebulon Jones, Hampton Falls, clergyman. July 15, 1848, George A. Chase, Kensington, blacksmith. July 15, 1848, Samuel Lamprey, Kensington, farmer. September 21, 1848, Thomas L. Sanborn, Hampton Falls, farmer. September 21, 1848, James D. Dodge, Hampton Falls, farmer. September 21, 1848, Charles Hardy, Hampton Falls, farmer. September 21, 1848, Joseph T. Sanborn, Hampton Falls, farmer. December 14, 1848, Lemuel B. Willey, Hampton Falls, mechanic. February 8, 1849, Oliver A. Lane, Hampton Falls, mechanic. February 8, 1849, Lowell F. Merrill, Hampton Falls, farmer. February 22, 1849, John M. Marsters, Hampton Falls, student. February 22, 1849, Winthrop Y. Dow, Hampton Falls, mechanic. February 22, 1849, John C. Akerman, Hampton Falls, mechanic. March 8, 1849, Jacob Johnson, Jr., Hampton Falls, mechanic. March 22, 1849, Emery Batchelder, Hampton Falls, farmer. March 22, 1849, Charles E. Akerman, Hampton Falls, mechanic. April 19, 1849, Otis W. Tilton, Hampton Falls, mechanic. Joseph Cram, Hampton Falls, farmer.
Robert McNiel, Hampton Falls, farmer.
November 14, 1849, George Adams, Hampton Falls, laborer. November 14, 1849, Mark E. Pevear, Hampton Falls, farmer. February 7, 1850, William Bremner, Hampton Falls, farmer. February 21, 1850, John A. Merrill, Hampton Falls, shoemaker. April 11, 1850, William T. Merrill, Hampton Falls, physician. March 20, 1851, Ezekiel W. Twombly, Hampton Falls, farmer. March 20, 1851, Burnham Pevear, Hampton Falls, farmer. May 15, 1851, James Fogg, Hampton Falls, mechanic.
December 15, 1851, Allen G. Holway, Hampton Falls, farmer.
243
CONDITIONS IN TOWN FROM 1840 TO 1850
The Rockingham division held their meetings in a room over the store at the hill.
The Washingtonian (total abstinence) Temperance movement, which went over the country soon after 1840, was not without its influence in this town. Many signed the pledge and became total abstainers and active in carrying on the work. Moses Batchelder cut down his orchard, tore down his cider house and sold the cidermill for what it was worth for fire wood. Others active in the movement were not as radical as Mr. Batchelder. On July 4, 1844, a largely attended temperance meeting was held at Boars Head. Noted speakers were present and made addresses. The ladies of Portsmouth offered a banner for the town having the largest number present; it was won by Hampton Falls. Our people formed a procession at the yellow (haunted) house at Hampton and walked to the beach three miles away. This was a hard march for the little children who were in the procession. To this the writer can testify as he was less than eight years old and walked with another little boy who was six. George H. Dodge and Rev. Sereno T. Abbott appear to have been the prime means in getting up an interest in this celebration among the people of this town. A notable sight to the juveniles was a cake of ice on the head of a barrel of small beer which was being sold. To have seen ice on the 4th of July seemed to have been quite an event. There was no icehouse in Hampton Falls until some years later. The Rockingham division of Sons of Temper- ance was formed a little later, and continued for a time. We are able to give the names of the members which are here appended:
The Eastern Railroad was opened for travel in 1840. There was considerable controversy between the town and the railroad in relation to the damage to the town landing, which was settled by arbitration. Like other new things it was some time before it was used to any great extent. There were not a great many passengers, and little freight was offered. One freight train of a few cars did all the business between Boston and Portsmouth. A small building with a big piazza was used for a station house. A target was in use for those who wished to stop the train. As no one lived near, this building was much abused: the windows were broken and it was found impossible to keep any glass in the windows which were reglazed a number of times. The town
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