History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 150

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

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Slavery in New Ipswich .- Slavery at one time existed in this town, and the minister, the doctor, the magistrate, the deacon and the captain all were slave- owners. The first one owned in town was a man belonging to Deacon Adams. Tradition says he was very discontented when comparing the solitudes of the wilderness with the cleared fields of old Ipswich. Soon after, Colonel Kidder had two, one of whom was a girl, who died young; Cæsar, the man, was purchased in Chelmsford, for ten pounds, when seven years old. Scipio, owned by Captain Hoar; Patience, by Rev. Stephen Farrar; Boston, by Doctor Preston, Sr .; and Grace, by Paul Prichard, died young.

The first Burial-Place in the town was near the first meeting-house.

Now in practice.

627

NEW IPSWICH.

Watatic Lodge of Odd-Fellows was instituted here about 1840.

Bethel Lodge, No. 24, F. and A. Masons, was chartered August 22, 1815, and John Everett was first Master. The present membership is about thirty-five, among whom is Silas Wheeler, who re- ceived his Entered Apprentice degree at the first meeting held for work, September 12, 1815.

Civil History .- The following is a list of town- clerks and representatives from the incorporation of the town to 1886:

1762 .- Moses Tucker, town clerk.

1763 .- Timothy Heald, town clerk.

1764 .- lehabod llow, town clerk.

1765 .- Benjamin Adams, town clerk.

1766 .- Interregnum.

1767 .- Isaac Appleton, town clerk.

1768 .- Benjamin Adams, town clerk.

1769 .- Benjamin Adams, town clerk.

1770 .- Benjamin Adamıs, town clerk.

1771 .- John Preston, town clerk.

1772 .- Benjamin Adams, town elerk.

1773 .- Benjamin Adams, town clerk.

1774 .- Timothy Farrar, town clerk.

1775 .- William Shattuck, representative ; Isaac How, town clerk. 1776 .- Joseph Bates, representative ; Isaac Ilow, town clerk.

1777 .- Benjamin Adams, representative ; Isaac How, town clerk.

1778, -- John Preston, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town clerk.

1779 .- Ebenezer Champney, representative; Isaac Appleton, town clerk.

1780 .- John Brown, representative ; Isaac How, town clerk.

1781 .- Timothy Farrar, representative ; Benjamin Adams, town clerk.

1782 .- Ephraim Adams, representative ; Isaac llow, town clerk.

1783 .- Ephraim Adams, representative ; James Horsley, town clerk. 1784 .- Ephraim Adams, representative ; James Horsley, town clerk. 1785 .- Ephraim Adams, representative ; James Horsley, town clerk. 1786 .- John Preston, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town clerk. 1787 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town clerk. 1788 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town clerk. 1789 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town clerk. 1790 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Isaac Appleton, town elerk.

1791 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1792 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1793 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1794 .- Jeremiah Prichard, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1795 .- Jeremiah Prichard, representative ; John Hubbard, town clerk.

1796 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1797 .- Jeremiah Prichard, representative ; Jeremiah Prichard, town clerk.

1798 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Seth Wheeler, town clerk.

1799 .- Jeremiah l'richard, representative ; Noah Bartlett, town clerk.

1800 .- Jeremiah Prichard, representative ; Noah Bartlett, town clerk. 1801 .- Ebenezer Champney, representative ; Noah Bartlett, town clerk.

1802 .- Jeremiah Prichard, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1803 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk.

1804 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1805 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; Jolin Preston, town clerk. 1806 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1807 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1808 .- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1809 .-- Noah Bartlett, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1810. - Isaiah Kidder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk.

1811 .- Samuel Batchelder, representative; John Preston, town clerk. 1812 .- Samnel Batchelder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk.

1813 .- Samuel Batchelder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1814 .- Samuel Batchelder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1815 .- Samuel Batchelder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1816 .- Samuel Batehelder, representative ; John Preston, town clerk. 1817 .- N. D. Gould, representative ; John Preston, town elerk.

1818 .- N. D. Gould, representative ; Samuel Batchelder, town elerk.

1819 .- Charles Barrett, representative; Samuel Batchelder, town clerk.

1820 .- N. D. Gould, representative; Samuel Batchelder, town clerk.

1821 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Samnel Batchelder, town clerk.

1822 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; Samuel Batchelder, town clerk.

1823 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; Samuel Batchelder, town clerk.

1824 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1825 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; E. Il. Farrar, town clerk. 1826 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk.

1827 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1828 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1829 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; Jeremiah Smith, town clerk. 1830 .- Charles Barrett, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town elerk.

1831 .- George F. Farley, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1832 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; E. Il. Farrar, town elerk. 1833 .- John Preston, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1834 .- Seth King, representative ; E. II. Farrar, town clerk.

1835 .- Seth King, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1836 .- Stephen Wheeler, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town elerk. 1837 .- Seth King, representative ; E. H. Farrar, town clerk. 1838 .- John Preston, representative ; John Gould, Jr., town clerk.

1839 .- Jeremiah Smith, representative ; John Gould, Jr., town clerk. 1840 .- Jeremiah Smith, representative ; John Gould, Jr., town clerk ; Edward M. Isaacs to fill vacancy.

1841 .- William Ainsworth, representative ; John Clark, town clerk.

1842. - William Ainsworth, representative ; Henry Isaacs to fill vacan . cy ; John Clark, town clerk.

1843 .- John Preston, representative ; John Clark, town clerk.

1844 .- John Preston, representative ; John Clark, town clerk.

1845 .- John Preston, representative ; John Clark, town clerk.

1846 .- John Preston, representative ; John Clark, town clerk.

1847 .- John Preston and Jeremiah Smith, representatives ; John Clark, town clerk.

1848 .- Jeremiah Smith and Samuel Lee, representatives ; John Clark, town clerk.

1849 .- Samnel Lee and Jeremiah Smith, representatives ; John Clark, town clerk.

1850 .- James Chandler and Frederick Jones, representatives ; John Clark, town clerk.

1851 .- James Chandler and John Preston, representatives ; John Clark, town clerk.

1852 .- llosea Eaton and John Preston, representatives; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1853 .- Hosea Eaton and Jonathan Hall, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1854 .- Hosea Eaton and Jonathan Hall, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1855 .- Hosea Eaton and Jonathan Hall, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1856 .- Christopher Whitney and Stephen Thayer, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1857 .- William W. Johnson and James Chandler, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1858 .- E. M. Isaacs and William W. Johnson, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1859 .- Charles B. Marshall and Henry O. Preston, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1860 .- Charles B. Marshall and Henry O. Preston, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town elerk.

1861 .- Nathan Sanders and George Bayden, representatives ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1862 .- Samuel Lee, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk. 1863 .- Hosea Eaton, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk. 1864 .- John U. Davis, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1865 .- John U. Davis, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1866 .- Hosea Eaton, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

1867 .- Hosea Eaton, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk. 1868 .- IIosea Eaton, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town elerk. 1869 .- William A. Preston, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1870,-William A. Preston, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1871 .- Francis N. Gibson, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1872 .- Francis N. Gibson, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1873 .- Frank W. Preston, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1874 .- Frank W. Preston, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1875 .- William W. Johnson, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1876 .- William W. Johnson, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1877 .- B. N. Seymour, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk.

1878 .- Peter H. Clark, representative ; Charles A. Whitney, town clerk ; Henry O. Preston to fill vacancy.

1879 .- Peter H. Clark, representative; Jolin W. Cummings, town clerk ; Ilenry O. Preston to fill vacancy.

1880 .- Charles Wheeler, representative ; Earl II. Farwell, town clerk. 1881 .- Charles Wheeler, representative ; Earl H. Farwell, town clerk.

1882 .- Edward O. Marshall, representative ; Earl II. Farwell and Eugene F. Adams, town clerks.

1883 .- Edward O. Marshall, representative ; Joseph E. F. Marsh, Jr., to fill vacancy from February to town meeting ; J. E. F. Marsh, Jr., town clerk.

1884 .- Warren Pratt, representative ; J. E. F. Marsh, Jr., town clerk. 1885 .- Warren Pratt, representative ; J. E. F. Marsh, Jr., town clerk.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN PRESTON.

The first of the name of Preston to come to New Ipswich was John, in 1760, at the age of twenty-two, son of Captain Samuel, of Littleton, Mass., who was a descendant of John, of Andover, and the name John seems to be a family heirloom from a time when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Captain Samuel Preston was a brave commander in the French and Indian War, and John, -so family legends tell us-was a fearless young sol- dier in his father's company. Little fighting was clone after the capture of Quebec by Wolfe in 1759, and the next year John laid aside the sword for the scalpel, and settled in this town as a physician. The doctor was a fortnight younger than the new minister, Rev. Stephen Farrar, who was ordained the same year, and the two young men became fast friends. That the doctor's frequent visits to the parsonage were not wholly due to his interest in theology is evident by his marriage, in 1764, to Rebecca, the min- ister's sister, of which marriage were born eleven children, of whom the eldest son- of course, named John-was born February 15, 1770. The doctor was a stanch Whig during the Revolution ; succeeded his brother-in-law, Judge Timothy Farrar, as member of the convention to frame the State Constitution; was one of the founders of the academy, and for many

years its secretary ; his son-in-law, John Hubbard, being its first preceptor. He filled the various town offices of town clerk, selectman and representative, and till his death, in 1803, was a leader of public opinion. The house which he built and always occu- pied has remained in the possession of the family, and is now owned by his granddaughter, Miss King.

His son John, born, as we have said, February 15, 1770, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1791, and, like his father, was a physician, a portion of his medical studies being with Dr. Holyoke, of Salem. He was a good townsman, was town clerk for sixteen years, was, like his father, secretary of the academy, and built the house now owned by his nephew, Henry O. Preston. In 1798 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Ebenezer Champney, and of this marriage were born ten children, of whom John, the subject of our sketeh, was born April 12, 1802. The doctor died in 1828. His mother, Rebecca (Farrar) Preston, died the following year. At the time of John's birth, April 12, 1802, the doctor had not finished his new house, and was living in the house built by Noah Cooke, grandfather of Professor J. P. Cooke, of Har- vard College, and now owned by the heirs of Edward F. Preston. A few years later, when he was living in the new house on the turnpike, and when John was about ten years old, the store of Samuel Batehelder, but a few rods distant, caught fire on a cold winter night, and John sprang from his bed, and without waiting for shoes or stockings, ran through the snow to awaken the neighbors. A severe illness followed this exposure, producing subsequent lameness and disease, from which he was a constant and acute suf- ferer for more than fifty years, resulting at last in his death, on the 5th of March, 1867. He fitted for col- lege at the academy, of which he, like his father and grandfather, was for many years secretary ; and en- tered Harvard College in 1819, in the time of Presi- dent Kirkland; a relative, Professor John Farrar, being one of the faculty. During the course he was obliged to use the strictest economy, and one year re- ceived but eighteen dollars aid from his father, earning the balance of his expenses by writing and school- keeping. He was a member of the Institute of 1770. of the Hasty Pudding and also of the Medical Fac- ulty, a noted society which was founded a year before he entered, and in which his ready wit made him a leading member. His classmate, Rev. George Ripley, of the New York Tribune, writes of him : "In college he was distinguished for his successful devotion to study, the rare kindness of his disposition and his friendly and winning manners." Other members of his elass were John P. Robinson, humorously assailed by Lowell in the Biglow Papers, and Governor Dorr, of Rhode Island, who, while in prison, read with emotion a speech in his behalf by Mr. Preston in the New Hampshire Senate. He was fond of his class- mates and fond of his college, and in after-years de- lighted to ramble through the college-grounds with

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629

NEW IPSWICH.

his sons, pointing out the various rooms he had occu- pied ; among them one in the noted Weasel Den, near the present location of College House. After gradu- ating he commenced the study of law, a portion of the time with George F. Farley, then at New Ipswich, and also with Judge Samuel Hubbard, at Boston. It was while in Boston that his winning ways, alluded to by Mr. Ripley, attracted the attention of an old Scotchman, who was but recently from Abbotsford, who said to Mr. Preston : " Ye mind me, lad, of the great Sir Walter, ye're aye sae cheerie." While in the office of Mr. Farley, a fellow-student and towns- man was John Appleton, Maine's famous chief justice.

On October 27, 1828, Mr. Preston married Elizabeth Smith French, born in Boston, March 1, 1808, and the daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Kidder) French, and for two or three years practiced law in Townsend, Mass., but in 1831 came back to New Ipswich and purchased the house in the Centre vil- lage once owned by his grandfather, Judge Champney, where he afterwards resided, and still later purchased his grandfather's farm, lying along the river.

In this connection we will quote a paragraph from the "Annual Report of the Trustees of the New Hamp- shire Insane Asylum," in reference to him, published soon after his death, he having been a member of the board for eleven years : "He was very fond of agri- culture, and the State had few more intelligent or successful farmers than Mr. Preston. His efforts to promote an intelligent, sound and practical agriculture were earnest and constant, and their influence will remain for generations to come."

Soon after his return to New Ipswich, in 1831, the questions of temperance and anti-slavery began to be discussed, and both reforms found a warm champion in Mr. Preston. He introduced and secured the adop- tion of resolutions in town-meeting, as early as 1835, to suppress the sale of liquor, was the president of the first total abstinence society in the town and his zeal for the cause ended only with his life.

In politics he was a strong Whig, and especially fond of Henry Clay, whose birth-day, like his own, was April 12th ; but although to ally one's self to the cause of anti-slavery at that time meant social os- tracism and insult, which was peculiarly trying to one of his genial nature, yet he turned away from his former associates and was one of the little band known as the Liberty party in 1844, and never faltered in the faith till he was rewarded by seeing the slave sys- tem overthrown. He was many years in the Legis- lature, was Senator from District No. 9 when all other members of the Senate were Democratic, was the Free-Soil candidate for Congress in 1848 and was 1 supported by the Free-Soilers in the Legislature for United States Senator in 1852.

Though not believing the course of William Lloyd Garrison to be wise in refusing to vote, he was a sub- scriber to the Liberator, and his house, as well as that

of his sister's husband, Elisha L. Hammond, was the home for the long array of Garrisonian speakers that went through the land arousing the sluggish con- sciences of the people.

Mr. Garrison was his guest and entertained for him a warm regard. A sonnet to Mr. Preston now lies before us, written by Mr. Garrison, bearing witness to his mental and moral worth. It perhaps should be stated here that in all schemes of reform he was not only supported, but perhaps incited, by his wife, who was as warm-hearted, clear-sighted and fearless as himself.

One who knew him well, being asked to give his own ideas with regard to him, says: " You ask me to describe Mr. Preston ; a pen-picture at first seems easy,-there is his figure, rather below the middle height, but broad-shouldered and muscular; quick and alert in his movements, with a smile almost al- ways playing round his features,-one whom Mr. E. D. Boylston, of the Amherst Cabinet, paints in a single line when he says ' He was a man whom the boys and the birds all loved,'-with a warm and im- pulsive nature, unable to harbor resentment against his bitterest foe if he saw him sick or in want. Not an orator like Gough, yet one of the readiest and most effective speakers in the Legislature. Not so deep a lawyer as Bell, Parker or Perley, but men- tioned by a judge of the Supreme Court as being a dan- gerous opponent. Not such a classical scholar as Everett, but helping his son with an ode of Ana- ereon that he hasn't seen for thirty years, or reading French or Spanish with his wife. Not a professional musician, but ready with voice or finte to please the home circle. Not a professional philanthropist, but at the time of the famine in Ireland, leaving the table, unable to eat till he had packed a box with ar- ticles for the starving Irish ; and seen one bitter day in winter toiling through the drifts to find if a poor family were warm. Very fond of a cigar, but giving up the habit for nearly forty years that his example might be good for others. So fearless that there may be a doubt if it should be called bravery or insensi- bility to peril. College-bred, as were his ancestors, but thoroughly democratic in his sympathy with the poor and ignorant, of whatever race or country. and with food and shelter for the slave on his way to Canada. Taking great pride in his town and its his- tory, and especially beloved and revered in the do- mestic circle. In saying all this, while perhaps few salient points are presented, it seems to me that Mr. Preston exhibited a well-rounded and wonderful sym- metry in all those points which go to make up a man in the highest and noblest sense,-such a type as, I fear, may be growing rarer every day, in view of the present craze for specialists."

As Mr. Preston advanced in life his sufferings from his lameness became more intense, until, as a last re- sort, amputation was performed, from which he ral- lied, and for more than a year seemed to enjoy vigor-

630

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ous health and to be wholly without pain, a feeling that had been unknown to him for more than fifty years.

It is probable, however, that the seeds of the dis- ease still lingered in his system, and were the occa- sion of the brief but fatal illness that ended on the 5th of March, 1867, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, his mother following him to the grave a few months later, at the age of eighty-eight.

Of seven children, two sons and a daughter only were living at his death, and the daughter died less than two years after.

In closing this sketch we append the following from the town records.

At the annual town-meeting in New Ipswich, N. H., March 12, 1867, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

" Whereas, It is fitting for public bodies to acknowledge the hand of God, especially in the marked events of their history ; therefore

" Resolved, That in the recent death of the Ilon. John Preston this town has lost a valued citizen,-one who had long been identified with the leading interests of the people, and often honored with important public trusts.

" Resolved, That we remember with gratitude to God, and commend to our young men as a worthy example, his energy and perseverance, his enterprising spirit, his love for his native town and country, his active sympathy in the cause of education and reform, his cheerful hos- pitality and the purity of his domestic life.

" Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the Town Records, and that a copy of them be sent to the family of the deceased."

LEAVITT LINCOLN.

Leavitt Lincoln is descended from two of Massa- chusetts' oldest and most honorable families, the Lin- colns and Cushings. Among the branches of his ancestral stock have been numbered men who have achieved distinction in almost all the walks of life. General Benjamin Lincoln, of Revolutionary fame, is noted in history as the man who received Lord Corn- wallis' sword upon the latter's surrender at Yorktown, while Abraham Lincoln will always be regarded as one of the most illustrious Presidents our republic has had. The Cushing family has produced some of our ablest jurists, statesmen and divines. On the paternal side, Mr. Lincoln traces his lineage in a di- rect line, through William, William, Jedediah, Sam- uel and Samuel again, to one of the first settlers of Hingham, Mass. They have been an honest, upright, strong, hardy, long-lived race. His great-grand- father, Jedediah, lived to be nearly ninety-two years of age, while most of the members of both families have been noted for their longevity and vigorous constitutions.

Leavitt Lincoln is the son of William and Jael (Cushing) Lincoln, and was born in Marlborough, N. H., June 22, 1797. To this place his father had re- moved in 1792, and was a tanner and an extensive far- mer, owning a farm of more than three hundred acres.

Leavitt learned in his youth the trade of a clothier and followed this trade until its decline, on account of the rise and development of cloth-making in the large factories. He then learned shoemaking with his brother-in-law, and carried on this industry for six years at Townsend, Mass. He then purchased a farm at Ashby, and carried on both shoemaking and farming for a period of more than twenty years. While in Townsend he married, May 29, 1821, Sibyl Heald, daughter of Colonel Thomas Heald, of New Ipswich, N. H. They had eight children, five of whom reached maturity, but only one, William L., is now living. He is a physician in Wabasha, Minn. Of the others, Maria died when twenty-two years of age; Henry Martin died in young manhood, after having graduated in the Medical Department of Har- vard College. He was at the time of his decease a rising young physician in Westminster, Mass. Cyrus Stone, another son, died at the age of twenty years, while fitting for college.

About 1852, Mr. Lincoln removed to Winchendon and purchased a farm, his principal object being to make a home for his son, William L., who had grad- uated in medicine and chose that town to practice in. He had been in practice there about two years when his father removed there. The son's health failed, however, and he went West, and was for three years physician to a hospital for the insane in the State of Missouri ; he then went to Wabasha, Minn., where he now resides.

Mr. Lincoln made his home in Winchendon about twelve years, until the death of his wife. He then came to New Ipswich, N. H., where he afterwards married his deceased wife's sister Mary, who was then the widow of Francis Shattuck. This Mrs. Lin- coln lived about twelve years, when she died, leaving no issue. In 1876, Mr. Lincoln married his present wife, Delia McDonough. They have no children.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 150

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