History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

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Benjamin Merrill was prominent in town and church affairs, was at one time a member of the Board of Selectmen, was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church and familiarly known as " Deacon Ben." A man of good judgment, honest in character, faithful in duty, of a kind and social disposition, he possessed many friends, and few, if any, enemies, preferring to bear an injury rather than to resort to any unpleasant measures. He never had a lawsuit, but his services were often sought as referee, and his wise and friendly counsel made him a peace-maker. Politically, he was a Whig. He died April 25, 1849, aged eighty-one years, leaving a record of a life well spent. His wife survived him but a few years, dying October 25, 1853, aged seventy-one years.

James B. Merrill™, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Plummer) Merrill, was born in Hudson, N. H., May 6, 1824. His education was gained at the schools of his native town. He remained with his father, work- ing on the farm, until he was twenty-one. He then learned the carpenter's trade, and carried on the business of carpenter and builder for about thirty years in Lowell, Nashua, Hudson and elsewhere, but of late years has been mostly occupied in farming .. He married, January 22, 1857, Persis A., daughter of William and Persis G. (Moore) Winn, of Hudson. They commenced house-keeping in the house where they now reside, and which Mr. Merrill built before his marriage. Their children are A. Gertrude, J. Everett and George A.

Mr. Merrill's affiliations are with the Republican party ; yet he never allows himself to be governed by partisan bias. He represented Hudson in the State Legislature in 1876. He has taken an active part in town affairs, having been a selectman for several terms, town clerk in 1873, and appointed to fill a vacancy in same office in 1879, to which he has been re-elected annually ever since ; he was town treasurer for the years 1873-74, and now holds that office, which he has had since 1879. He was a charter member of Hudson Grange, No. 11, and its first secretary, and has held nearly all the offices ; has been its master and is now its overseer. He is also a member of the order of Golden Cross. In his religious preferences Mr. Merrill is a Congregationalist, being a member of that church in Hudson and president of the society.

Mr. Merrill stands high in the esteem and regard of his fellow-townsmen, and in the discharge of the various offices entrusted to him he has acquitted himself honestly, conscientiously and creditably. Honorable in all his dealings, of exemplary character and habits, the reliance of home and friends, he is in all respects an estimable citizen, and is one of Hud- son's representative men and a worthy descendant of the early minister.

ELI HAMBLET.

Eli Hamblet, son of Thomas and Tamar (Gilson) Hamblet, was born in Hudson, (then Nottingham West), May 12, 1810. We find, from early genealogical records in Massachusetts Historical Society's collec- tion, that William Hamlet (or Hamblet), born 1614, emigrated to America about the middle of the seven- teenth century. Hewas a freeman in Cambridge, Mass., in 1651; removed to Billerica in 1658, and was a sub- stantial citizen of the town, and was one of the first Baptists of that place. He married widow Sarah Hubbard, who died at Woburn in 1689. His oldest son, Jacob, was three times married,-first to Hannah Parker in 1668, next to Mary Dutton, third to Mary Colburn. His children were Joseph, William, Jacob, Henry and others. It is not definitely shown, but probably his son Joseph's three sons,-Hezekiah,

Eli Humbler

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HUDSON.

Joseph and Jacob,-were the ones who respectively settled in Dracut, Mass., Hollis and Stratham, N. H.

Joseph, great-grandfather of Eli, was a farmer and miller in Dracut, Mass., on Beaver Brook; settled on lands which he conveyed, March 4, 1773, to his son, Joseph Hamblet, carpenter, and by him deeded to his wife in 1774, as he was in ill health. He died soon after. His son Thomas was probably born after his father's death, October 27, 1775. He was brought up as a farmer by Isaac Colburn (grandfather of Isaac Colburn, missionary to Burmah), a resident of the south part of Hudson. Thomas worked at farming and in various mills, particularly in Hale's mill, Chelmsford, Mass., for a number of years. His dil- igence, industry and economy raised him to a solid financial standing for those days. He married Tamar, daughter of Solomon and Tamar (Lawrence) Gilson, October 21, 1806. The young couple came to Hudson and settled at Pollard Mills, in which Mr. Hamblet purchased a half-interest ; but, in a few years after, the mill was carried off by a freshet, and he exchanged his interest in the mill property for a farm of sixty acres in the south part of the town, where he resided until his death, November 9, 1850, being about seven- ty-five years old. His wife survived him, dying March 5, 1866. Their children attaining maturity were Eli, Drusilla (Mrs. Joseph Phelps, deceased), Dorcas S. (married, first, Reuben Frost ; second, Joseph Skin- ner), Alvan (deceased), Joseph and Gilbert. Mr. Hamblet was a hard-working, economical and prudent man, a good, honest citizen, social friend and kind neighbor. He was an Universalist in his religious views ; politically, a Whig, and held some town offices.

Eli passed his boyhood's days, and until he was twenty-one, on the farm, and was early taught to know the value of good, honest labor, which he has never ceased to appreciate. His opportunities for early education were limited to those attainable in the old red school-house in Hudson, and studying at night, after his farm chores were finished, by the light of a pine-torch, thus gaining the knowledge which has been of so much practical value to him in later years. At the time of his majority Eli left the farm and went to Charlestown, Mass., where he engaged in brick-making; he worked at this business for ten years, slowly, surely and steadily accumulating the wages so hardly earned, and at the end of that time his savings amounted to one thousand dollars. About this time, however, he was prostrated by illness, which

incapacitated him for hard labor for nearly a year, and, with his capital somewhat retrenched by this sickness, he returned to Hudson, and purchased the place, of sixty acres, which has since been his home.

He married, first, Lucy Frost, of Tyngsborough, Mass., June 30, 1839; she died September 24, 1840; second, April 2, 1844, Rebecca, daughter of Enoch and Susan (Marsh) Butler. She was born in Pelham, February 13, 1819. They commenced house-keeping in the house where they now reside, and which they have occupied over forty years. Their children are R. Souvina and Arvilla, both living with their parents. About thirty years ago Mr. Hamblet's residence was struck by lightning. The shoe was torn from Mrs. Hamblet's foot, and from the shock she then received she has never fully recovered.

After his return to Hudson, Mr. Hamblet devoted himself to agriculture, and has been a faithful, dil- igent worker, and by industry, frugality and judicious judgment, has acquired a comfortable home. For ten years he has been agent of the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad at Hudson; selectman for six years, having been chairman of the board for most of the time; he has served on committee of roads and bridges ; as town clerk for nine years, and treasurer for the same period ; he has been postmaster at Hud- son Centre since the office was located. He has also been appointed administrator on several estates, and has done considerable probate business. Whig and Republican in politics, he represented his town in the State Legislature of 1865. He was enrolling officer for Hudson during the Rebellion, and was appointed by the Governor recruiting agent to fill the quota of enlistments for the town. He is a Baptist in his religious opinions, and has been deacon in that church for the three past years, and is a prominent teacher in the Sunday-school.

Mr. Hamblet is a strong temperance man, is a good member of society, unostentatious and esteemed in church and social circles, and favors everything which advances honesty, sobriety and the education, improvement and elevation of his native town. He is one of a class now, unfortunately, passing away,- the pleasant, social, unpretentious, and yet well- informed New England farmer of the last generation. He has worthily and honestly filled his place in life, conferred honor on all stations to which he has been called, and in his old age is the warm friend, trusted confidant and able adviser of a numerous circle.

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.

BY E. F. MCQUESTEN, M.D.

CHAPTER I.

LITCHFIELD, essentially an agricultural town, is situated upon the left bank of the Merrimack River. It is bounded on the north by Manchester, east by Londonderry and Hudson, south by Hudson and west and northwest by Merrimack. It is small in territory, containing about eight thousand five hundred acres. The surface is level ; the soil of the arable land is strictly alluvial and rich, producing excellent crops of grain, vegetables and grass. In the eastern section of the town the soil is light, unsuitable for cultiva- tion ; but it yields heavy growths of wood and tim- ber. A public road extends through the town a distance of nine miles, leading in one direction to Manchester, and in the opposite direction to Hudson and Nashua. This road was admirably located through the farming district, in close proximity to the river, as early as 1734, and along it nearly all the people of the town reside. Three roads lead to Londonderry and two via Thornton's ferry and Reed's ferry to Merrimack and stations upon the Concord Railroad.

In point of wealth, Litchfield ranks among the first farming towns in the State. In late years many of the farms have been seriously impaired by the inun- dations of banks during the annual rises of the Mer- rimack. Nearly one-half of the territory is well timbered, pine predominating, with oak, birch and maple in abundance. The timber trade is extensive. The greater portion cut during the winter is for the Lowell market ; it is hauled to the river's bank during the winter and rafted in the spring. There are two steam saw-mills manufacturing for other markets. Logs valued at $21,000 were eut in 1884. The inven- tory for 1885 shows the following values : Real estate, $177,130; bank stock, $17,800; money at interest, $22,388; horses, $5915; cattle, $7848 ; stock in trade, $20,515; deposited in savings-banks, $94,000; total valuation, $261,365; total tax, at forty cents on a hundred dollars, $1359. The town is free from debt, and has a surplus of $567.32.

CENSUS REPORTS IN 1767 AND 1775.

1767. Unmarried men from sixteen to sixty 27

Married men from sixteen to sixty . 20

Boys, sixteen years of age and under 47

Men, sixty years of age and over. 13 Females, unmarried 74

Females, married 33

Male slaves

Female slaves

Widows 3

Total . 229

1775. Males under sixteen years of age 62

Males between sixteen and fifty 44

Males over fifty years 19

Persons in the army. 13

Females .. 136

Negroes and slaves for life 10

Total . 284

The population at various periods since 1800 has been as follows: 1800, 372; 1820, 465; 1840, 481; 1850, 447; 1860, 352; 1870, 345; 1880, 291; 1885, 281.

The Brooks. - All the streams in Litchfield are tributaries of the Merrimack River. There are three of considerable size, viz .: Great Nesenkeag, com- monly called Brickyard; Little Nesenkeag, also known as Chase's; and Reed's. The first-named originates in Londonderry, and flows across the cen- tral part of Litchfield; it has a rapid current, and a sufficient fall at several points for improvements. The water supply is good all the year. Upon this stream the early settlers located their corn and saw- mills. The grain-mill was rebuilt and operated until 1830, when it was removed. Mills for the manufac- ture of powder were built in 1820, but they were shortly after converted into carding-mills ; there are no mills at present.

Little Nesenkeag rises in Hudson, and is fed along the course through the southerly part of Litch- field by numerous ponds. Grain and lumber-mills have been in operation upon this stream for forty years past; it now furnishes power for the only grist- mill in town.

Reed's, in the north part of the town, also has good facilities for milling, which for a time were partially improved. There are several ponds in the eastern section ; Darrah's and Half-Moon are the only ones of extensive area.

Ferries. - The first ferry was established by the town in 1740. The landing on the east side of the river was in the centre of the town, on the river line, and near the meeting-house. This ferry was leased by several parties until about 1790, when it was pur-

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chased by Hon. Matthew Thornton; it has been called successively Cummings's, Lutwyche's and Thornton's. At the annual town-meeting in 1779 it was voted "to join with the town of Merrimack in prosecuting in the civil law any person or persons who doth or may presume to carry over the river for pay any person or persons at the place where the said towns improve their ferry near Lutwyche's."

Within fifty years a great change has taken place at this ferry and in the immediate vicinity. More than forty rods of the Litchfield shore have been washed away by the freshets, and the sites of the old church and burial-ground are submerged. A broad alluvion of recent deposit on the Merrimack shore makes the change in the river's channel apparent. The charter for Reed's ferry, in the north part of the town, was obtained in answer to the following petition:

PETITION FOR A GRANT OF A FERRY.

"To His Excellency, John Wentworth, Esq., Captain-General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, In Council :

"The humble petition of Lucy Read of Litchfield, in the County of Hillsborough and Province aforesaid, Widow.

"Sheweth that your petitioner's late husband, Capt. William Read, was in his lifetime seized and possess'd of a Considerable tract of land on the Eastward side of Merrimac River in Litchfield, aforesaid, and did (without any Grant from His Majesty) improve a Ferry about three miles and half Above Colo Lutwyches, called and known by the name of Read's Ferry, for about twenty-five years before his death, which happened about four years ago.

" That the said William Read, in his lifetime, and the said Lucy, since his death, have been at a Considerable Expence in Boats and attendance to Expedite the same Ferry and make it commodious, agreeable to Law.

" Notwithstanding which premises your Petitioner is advised That the gd title under the said William is precarious, and shod Any stranger ob- tain a Grant thereof it wod Embarrass and greatly hurt your Petitioner, who bas also six children by said William, all now under age, to main- tain.

" She most humbly intreats your Excellency wise tender regard of the premises to Confirm unto her the aforesaid improved and accustomed Ferry by Grant from His Majesty.

" And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

" LUCY READ.

"Litchfield, 18th May, 1772."

Trade and Manufactures .- Before the completion of the Concord Railroad, in 1842, Litchfield had a prosperous trade. Two stores of general merchandise supplied a large country around. A fleet of twenty canal-boats carried its productions to Lowell, and ria the Middlesex Canal to Boston, returning with mer- chandise for all points along the river as far as Con- cord. These boats gave employment to a large num- ber of men, who were famous for their jollity and lib- erality. Nearly every man in the town was a " cap- tain," by reason of having at some time been in com- mand of a boat; sobriquets were common, and the river-man who failed to possess one had cause for congratulation. The selection of the west shore was a severe blow to the industries of Litchfield, which might have been prevented; with the thrift of its people, together with its rich farming districts, tim-

ber and abundant water-power, the town lacks only access to the business world to make it eminently prosperous.

The following comprises the traders for the last fifty years :

George Griffin, 1834 to 1850; Leonard Moore, 1851 and 1852; Moore (Leonard) & Kennard (Samuel), 1853 and 1854; Chase (Samuel) & McQuesten (Isaac), 1855 to 1858, also dealers in lumber from 1840 to 1860, when the firm was dissolved and business con- tinued by Isaac McQuesten till 1878; White (John) & Lydston (George), 1859 to 1862; John White, 1863 to 1865; George H. Lamprey, 1866 to 1868; George B. Griffin, 1868 to 1877; Norris C. Griffin, 1878 to. 1885.

The following are now (1885) engaged in business :

Lumber merchants : McQuesten (F. H.) & Chase (John F.), Charles McQuesten, Read Brothers (Wi !- liam T. and George S.). Carpenters : Rufus Saunders, Nathan H. Bulloch, German Kendall. Blacksmith : Rufus Saunders. Grist-mill : Frederick L. Center.

Brick was formerly manufactured in large quanti- ties. The following is a partial list of the sons of Litchfield now engaged in business elsewhere:

Samuel Kennard & Sons (Perley and Walter), shoe manufacturers ; Jonathan A. Griffin, shoe manufac- turer, Cleveland, O .; James Kennard, John Kennard, Diamond Kennard, Joseph F. Kennard, capitalists, Manchester; Charles H. Bixby, John McQuesten, mer- chants, Lowell, Mass .; George McQuesten, lumber mer- chant, East Boston, Mass .; J. B. McQuesten, grocer, Nashua, N. H .; Simeon Bixby, boot and shoe merchant, New York City; Samuel J. Lund, restaurateur, Nashua, N. H .; George B. Griffin, grocer, Merrimack ; Moses H. Chase, grocer, Boston, Mass .; Samuel C. Lund, grocer, Boston, Mass .; Frank Kendall, grocer, Bos- ton, Mass .; Freeling Tufts, civil engineer, Kansas City, Mo .; Benjamin McQuesten, trader, Pelham; Samuel Center, appraiser, San Francisco, Cal .; Samuel Center, mining, San Francisco, Cal .; Samuel Kendall, mining, Oakland, Cal .; Stephen C. Richard- son, Haverhill, Mass .; Alfred Campbell, Manchester, N. H .; Arthur S. Campbell, Manchester, N. H .; James Parker, Washington, D. C.

Schools .- Prior to the Revolution money was voted annually for the support of a school for two or three months at the centre of the town, in which the children were taught to "read and write," as the law then required. From 1790 to 1825 the town raised about one hundred and seventy-five dollars annually for school purposes. During this time three school- houses were erected. In 1823 the selectmen, who had heretofore had the management of the schools, re- ceived the following petition :

" To the Selectmen of the Town of Litchfield :

"We, your fellow-townsmen, find a weighty embarrassment in trans- acting business relative to schools in the town of Litchfield on account of the town not being regularly established into districts. We therefore wish you to warn a meeting in said town to see if the town will alter, if

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

need be, and define the limits of the districts, that every means right may be judiciously acted upon, as in duty bound we will ever pray.

"Signed by

" ABEL G. QUIGG. " JOSIAH RICHARDSON.

" JOSEPH HARVELL.

" NATHANIEL GILES.

"SIMEON HARVELL.

" SAMUEL CORNING.

" WILLIAM READ.

" Litchfield, N. H., Dec. 28, 1823."

Pursuant to the foregoing, a warrant was issued for a meeting to be held January 22, 1824. A plan to divide the town into four districts was presented by the petitioners, but the town rejected it. Joseph Chase, Jr., Thomas Bixby and Stephen Moor were chosen a committee to report at the next annual meeting upon the expediency of dividing the town into school districts with fixed boundaries. As a re- sult of their labors, the committee submitted a report giving the boundaries of three districts. The report closed as follows :

" And your committee believe that the districts are as nearly equal in point of valuation as it is possible to make them without dividing farms ; they have found it impossible to take the length of roads into view in connection with the valuation ; hence some districts where the inhabit- ants live remote from each other have a greater length of road than could be wished."

Subsequently the number of districts was increased to five by the sub-division of Nos. 1 and 3.

At present there are only four schools. These are under the direction of a superintendent elected an- nually. The yearly appropriation for school purposes is about seven hundred dollars. The school property is valued at two thousand dollars.

Graduates of Dartmouth College .- Edward L. Parker, 1807; William Ciaggett, 1808 ; William McQuestion, 1821 ; Rufus Claggett, 1826 ; Wil- liam Claggett, 1826 ; David Quigg, 1855 ; John N. Griffin, 1869 ; Alfred 11. Campbell, 1877 ; John N. Center, 1882.

Graduates of Yule College .- Simeon Chase, 1821 ; Benjamin Chase, 1821.

Church History .- Through the generosity of the proprietors of Naticook lands, the inhabitants secured the benefits of the gospel at an early date. At a meeting held in Boston, December 5, 1773, Mr. Dan- iel Dwight was allowed forty-five pounds, ten shil- lings " for his preaching at Naticook from the twen- tieth of September to the twentieth of March next." August 19, 1734, the town voted to build a meeting- house forty-five feet in length, thirty-five feet in width and twenty-five feet stud, on the east side of the Merrimack River, near Cummings' ferry (now Thornton's ferry). The house was completed in 1736 under the direction of Captain Joseph Blanchard, Christopher Temple, Benjamin Blodgett, Robert Rich- ardson and Samuel Moor as building committee. Mr. Josiah Brown and Mr. Isaac Merrill were successively called to settle in the ministry, and declined. In 1741 the town extended a call to Rev. Joshua Tufts, of Newbury, which was accepted, and he was ordained December 9th. Mr. Tufts' salary was fixed at one hundred and forty pounds (old tenor) per annum. He was dismissed in 1744.

Following the dismissal of Mr. Tufts, an unsuccess- ful attempt was made to establish a union church in Merrimack. The town of Litchfield voted to join with the town of Merrimack in settling a minister, provided Merrimack built a meeting-house within forty rods of the Merrimack River, between Thornton's ferry and the mouth of the Souhegan River. Annual appropriations were made for the support of the gos- pel ; but no settlement was effected until 1764, when the Rev. Samuel Cotton, of Newton, received a unanimous call. He was ordained in January, 1765, and received eighty pounds sterling for settlement ; his salary was forty pounds sterling. During his pastorate he was commissioned chaplain of the First New Hampshire Regiment, Revolutionary soldiers. Mr. Cotton, although of eccentric habits, was brave and generous, and knowu all over the country as the "jolly clergyman." He was dismissed in 1784, but retained his Litchfield residence for a number of years. His death occurred at Claremont in 1819. In August, 1800, the town voted to build a new meeting- house. At an adjourned meeting, in October, the vote was rescinded, and five hundred dollars were ap- propriated to repair the exterior of the old one. Captain Daniel Bixby, Colonel Samuel Chase and Lieutenant Simeon Kendall were appointed a com- mittee to superintend repairs. The following month an appropriation of seven hundred and fifty dollars was made for the interior of the church. Major Francis Chase was awarded the contract for repairs. In November, 1801, the committee reported an ex- penditure of $178.83 in excess of the appropriations. The town accepted the report, and voted to sell the pews by auction, the proceeds to be placed in the hands of the committee. The sum of one thousand and ninety-eight dollars was realized from the sale of pews. Mr. John Davies supplied the pulpit in 1806. He was invited to settle, but declined. February 25, 1809, it was voted "to give Mr. Nathaniel Kennedy a call to settle in this town in the work of the gospel ministry, on a salary of five hundred dollars annually for four years, and four hundred dollars annually after the expiration of four years during the time of his ministry in said town." Mr. Kennedy was or- dained by the Presbytery April 12, 1809, and contin- ued his pastoral relations until April, 1812, when he was dismissed. Mr. Kennedy was succeeded by Rev. Enoch Pillsbury, who was ordained in October, 1815. Mr. Pillsbury died in February, 1818, at the age of thirty years.

Rev. John Shearer was pastor for a number of years subsequent to 1825. From 1833 to 1845 the church was without a pastor, but had stated supplies for the most of the time. A new meeting-house was built by the society in 1844; the old house was the property of the town. At the time of dedication the Londonderry Presbytery established a Presbyterian Church. In 1845 the church and society united in extending a unanimous call to Mr. William H. Por-

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ter to become their pastor. He was ordained and continued in charge three years, when he was dis- missed. Rev. S. N. Howell supplied in 1852 and 1853. Rev. Ebenezer Newhall accepted a call made him in June, 1854; he was installed the September following. Mr. Newhall was advanced in years when he commenced his labors, yet his ministry was suc- cessful. He resigned in 1862, and removed to Cam- bridge, Mass., carrying the confidence and affection of his people. He was the last settled minister. Rev. Luther H. Angier supplied for two years, 1870 and 1871; Rev. L. Parsons in 1872; Rev. William Hart in 1873 and 1874; Rev. B. F. Emerson for three years, from 1875 to 1878; and Rev. Charles Scott from 1879 to 1882. Rev. Henry C. Robinson was en- gaged in September, 1884, to supply for one year. Among others who have labored in the service are these, whose terms of service cannot be definitely stated : Rev. Messrs. Wood, Miltemore, Fuller, Page, Blanchard and Tuttle.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168