History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 39

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

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ment for the delivery of prisoners. Usually their ob- jective point was to surprise and make prisoners of the solitary fur-hunters who, late in autumn, found it profitable to set traps for the beaver, mink, musk-rat and otter, to be found on the banks of the Souhegan, Piscataquog, Contoocook or in the more northern waters of the lakes in Grafton and Belknap Counties. An illustration of the habits and daring enterprise of the young men of that time will be seen in the fol- lowing sketch of

A Tramp through the Wilderness .- In the fall of 1747 two explorers from Dunstable, Nehemiah Lovewell and John Gilson, started from the present site of Nashua for the purpose of examining the slope of the Merrimack Valley and of crossing the keight of land to Number Four (now Charlestown), which was then known as the most northern settlement in the Connecticut Valley. Knowing the difficulties in traversing hills and valleys covered with underbrush and rough with fallen timber and huge bowlders, they carried as light an outfit as possible,-a musket and camp-blanket each, with five days' provisions. Fol- lowing the Souhegan through Milford to Wilton, they then turned northward, and, crossing the height of land in the limits of the present town of Stoddard, had, on the afternoon of the third day, their first view of the broad valley westward, with a dim outline of the mountains beyond. The weather was clear and pleasant, the journey laborious, but invigorating. On their fourth afternoon they reached and camped for the night on the banks of the Connecticut, some ten miles below Charlestown. At noon of the next day they were welcomed at the rude fort, which had already won renown by the heroic valor of its little garrison. At this time the fort was commanded by Captain Phineas Stevens, a man of great energy and bravery. Lovewell and Gilson were the first visitors from the valley of the Merrimack, and their arrival was a novelty. That night-as in later years they used to relate-they sat up. till midnight, listening to a recital of the fierce struggles which the inmates of this rude fortress, far up in the woods, had encoun- tered within the previous eight months.

Tarrying several days at the fort, during which the weather continued clear and mild, the two explorers were ready to return homeward. In a direct line Dunstable was about ninety miles distant. With the needed supply of salt pork and corn bread, Lovewell and Gilson left Number Four at sunrise on the 16th of November. The fallen leaves were crisp with frost as they entered the deep maple forests which skirt the hills lying east of the Connectient intervales. The days being short, it was necessary to lose no time be- tween sunrise and sunset. The air was cool and stimulated them to vigorously hurry forward. Coming to a clear spring soon after midday, Gilson struck a fire, and resting for half an hour, they sat down to a marvelously good feast of boiled salt pork and brown bread. One who has never eaten a dinner under like

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conditions can have no idea of its keen relish and appreciation.

It was now evident that a change of the weather was at hand. The air was growing colder and the sky was overcast with a thick haze. In returning, it had been their purpose to cross the water-shed between the two valleys at a more northern point, so as to reach the Merrimack near the mouth of the Piscata- quog. Their course was to be only a few degrees south of east. Before night the sleet began to fall, which was soon changed to a cold, cheerless rain. Darkness came on early, and the two men hurried to secure the best shelter possible. With an axe this might have been made comfortable ; at least fuel could have been procured for a comfortable fire. As it was, no retreat could be found from the chilling rain, which now be- gan to fall in torrents. It was with difficulty that a smouldering fire, more prolific of smoke than heat, could be kindled. India-rubber blankets, such as now keep the scout and the sentry dry in the fiercest storm, would have been a rich luxury to these solitary pioneers. The owls, attracted by the dim light, perched themselves overhead and hooted incessantly. Before midnight the fire was extinguished, and the two men could only keep from a thorough drenching by sitting upright with their backs against a large tree, and with their half-saturated blankets drawn closely around them.

Daylight brought no relief, as the rain and cold rather increased, and the sleet and ice began to en- crust the ground. After ineffectual attempts to build a fire they ate a cold lunch of bread. A dark mist succeeded the heavy rain and continued through the day. Both felt uncertain of the direction they were traveling, and every hour the uncertainty became more perplexing. All day long they hurried forward through the dripping underbrush, which was wetting them to the skin. Night again set in, and although the rain and wind had somewhat abated, still it was impossible to build and keep a fire sufficient to dry their clothing, which was now saturated with water.

The third morning came with a dense fog still shrouding the hillsides and settling into the valley. Stiff with the effects of cold and fatigue, Lovewell and his companion felt that with their seanty supply of food, now mainly salt pork, they dared not await a change of weather. Yet there was a vague feeling that their journeying might be worse than useless. Deciding on what they believed a course due east, they again hurried forward over a broken region,-an alternation of sharp hills, ledges, low valleys and sometimes swamps,-until a little past midday, when, descending a hill, they came upon the very brook where they had camped forty hours before! One fact was now established,-they had been traversing in a cirele. Thinking it useless to go further till the sun and sky should appear, they set to work to build a fire sufficient to dry their clothing and to cook their raw pork. By dark they had thrown up a light frame-work,

and by a diligent use of their knives had procured a covering of birch bark. Piling the huge broken limbs in front, they lay down and fell asleep.

Scouts in the olden time were proverbial for awakening on the slightest provocation. Lovewell was aroused by what he thought the rustling of a bear. Reaching for his gun, he saw the outline of an animal climbing an oak just across the brook. The first shot was followed by a tumble from the tree. It proved a veritable raccoon, which, fattened on beech-nuts, was " as heavy as a small sheep."

The fourth morning was not unlike that of the day previous. The fog was still dense, but it soon became evident that the storm was past and that the sun would soon disperse the mists. Dressing the raccoon, whose meat was security against famine, they anx- iously watched the clearing up of the atmosphere. Suddenly the mists dissolved and the sunlight touched the tops of the trees. The pioneers hastened up a long slope eastward, and toward noon gained the crest of a high ridge. The sky was now clear, and, climbing to the top of a tree, Gilson announced that he could see, some miles to the east, a high and naked summit which must mark the height of land they were so anxiously seeking.

With this solution of their difficulties came the sense of hunger. Notwithstanding the hardships of the three past days they had eaten sparingly. The remnant of their bread had been accidently lost the day previous, but this was far more than compensated by the rich, tender meat of the raccoon. Luckily, a supply of fat spruce knots was near at hand. Gilson set himself to the work of furnishing fuel and water, while Lovewell attended to the culinary duties. The utensils of the modern hunter-frying-pan, coffee- pot, plate, spoon and fork-were wanting. The only implement in their outfit which could be of use was the jack-knife. The meat was cut into pieces two- thirds of an inch thick, and half the size of one's hand. Cutting several sticks, two feet long, and sharpening them at each end, a piece of the salt pork and then a piece of the coon's meat were thrust upon the stick alternately in successive layers, so that in roasting, the fat of the latter, as it dropped down, basted and furnished an excellent gravy to the for- mer. One end of each stick was thrust into the ground so as to lean over the glowing coals. With occasional turning, the dinner was in half an hour ready to be served. Seating themselves on the bowlder by the side of which they had built the fire, they fell to with sharp appetites, Rarely was a feast more heartily enjoyed.

NIGHT ON LOVEWELL'S MOUNTAIN .- It was past midday when the dinner was finished. Walking with renewed strength, they reached the base of the moun- tain. The ground was wet and slippery and the climbing at times difficult, but while the sun was yet an hour above the horizon the two men emerged from the low thicket which lies above the heavy

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growth, and stood upon the bald summit. Like all New Hampshire peaks whose altitude approaches three thousand feet, the crest of the mountain was of solid granite. The air had now grown quiet, and the clear sunlight illuminated the landscape. The two explorers had never looked upon so wide and magnifi- cent a panorama. Westward was the far-distant out- line of a range now known as the Green Mountains. To the northwest were the bald crests of Aseutney and Cardigan. On the north, Kearsarge was seen struggling to raise its head above the shoulders of an intervening range, and through the frosty atmosphere were revealed the sharp, snow-white peaks of Fran- conia. Eastward, the highlands of Chester and Nott- ingham bounded the vision, while nearer by reposed in quiet beauty the Uncanoonieks, at that time a well- known landmark to every explorer.

Warned by the frosty atmosphere, they hastened down to a dense spruce growth on the northeast side of the mountain, and built their camp for the night. For some eause, perhaps because it was a sheltered nook, the tenants of the forest gathered around. The grove seemed alive with the squirrel, rabbit and part- ridge. But the hunters were weary, and as their sacks were still laden with coon's meat, these new visitors were left unharmed. The curiosity with which these will tenants of the mountain lingered around led the two men to believe that they had never before ap- proached a camp-fire or seen a human form.

Just before daybreak Lovewell awoke, and, telling his companion to prepare for breakfast, returned to the summit of the mountain. It was important to reach the Merrimack by the nearest route, and he couldl better judge by reviewing the landscape at early dawn. In after-years he was wont to say that the stars never seemed so near as when he had gained the summit. The loneliness of the hour suggested to him what was probably the truth, that he and his companion were the first white men who had set foot on this mountain peak. It is situated in the eastern part of the present town of Washington, and its sym- metrical, cone-like form is familiar to the eye of many a resident of this eity. With the exception of Monadnock and Kearsarge, it is the highest summit in Southern New Hampshire, and to-day it bears the well-known name of Lovewell's Mountain.

Before Lovewell left the summit the adjacent woodlands became visible, and, looking eastward down into the valley, he saw, only a few miles away, a smoke curling up from the depths of the forest. It revealed the proximity either of a party of savages or a stray hunter. Returning to camp, breakfast was taken hurriedly, and, descending into the valley, they proceeded with the utmost caution. Reaching the vicinity of the smoke, they heard voices and soon after the rustling of footsteps. Both dropped upon the ground, and fortunately were sereened by a thick underbrush. A party of six Indians passed within a hundred yards. They were armed, and evidently on

their way to the Connecticut Valley. As soon as they were beyond hearing the two men proceeded can- tiously to the spot where the savages passed the night. They had breakfasted on parched acorns and the meat of some small animal, probably the rabbit.

Congratulating themselves on their Incky escape from a winter's captivity in Canada, Lovewell and his companion continued their route over the rolling lands now comprised in the towns of Hillsborough, Deering, Weare and Goffstown to the Merrimack. From thence they readily reached their home in Dunstable. It may be well to add that Lovewell was a son of the famous Captain John Lovewell, whose history we have narrated in the preceding chapter.

CHAPTER VII. NASHUA-(Continued).

COLONIAL HIOMES AND IIABITS.

Earliest Schools in Dunstable-New Meeting-House-Horseback Riding -Deep Snows and Snow-Shoes-Longevity-Last French and Indian War, 1755-Paper Currency-Effects of Rum-Drinking-Era of Peace and Prosperity-Improved Dwellings-Bannocks and Bean Porridge- Ilard Labor-Fording Streams-Roads and Bridges-Growth of Farms -Scarcity of Books, Newspapers and Luxuries.

IN 1750, the middle of the eighteenth century, the English colonies of North America, unknown to themselves, were preparing to enter upon a career of political, intellectual and social development of which the indications were not as yet apparent. The two historic events, the discovery of the western conti- nent and the invention of movable types, which Mr. Carlyle said would reconstruct human society, had for two and a half centuries been quietly doing their work, but had not yet acquired the momentum of later years. The colonies were still few in numbers, feeble in resources and mere appendages of the mother-country. Instead of the fifty-five millions of to-day, the colonial population at that time was one million eight hundred thousand. Printing had achieved much, for almost every man and woman could read the printed page, but there were few pages to be read.

Dunstable, where, in our time, more than two thon- sand daily newspapers are every day circulated, had at that time only a weekly circulation of three news- papers. But colonial thought was always in advance of the printed page. In the fall of 1749 the town voted to begin the coming year with a school for eight months ; one teacher only was to be employed, and the school was to be kept in different parts of the town alternately. The only studies tanght were the three "R's" and spelling. There was very little classifica- tion. Almost all the instruction was given to each scholar individually. No arithmetic was used, but the master wrote all the "sums " on the slate. The reading-books were the Psalms and the New Testa-

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ment, and on Saturday morning the Westminster Catechism. No spelling-book was used except the reading-books. The slates were rough, and when wanting, as they sometimes were, birch bark was used as a substitute. The remoteness of a part of the scholars occasioned irregularity of attendance. With no aids, not even a map or black-board, the improve- ment was slow and unsatisfactory. Schools existed, however, till the beginning of the French War, in 1755, when they were discontinued till 1761.

The strife between the old and new schools of reli- gious thinkers still continued. Rev. Samuel Bird continued to oppose the doctrine of "foreordination" and the harsh declarations of the Westminster Cate- chism. Having a call from Connecticut, he left in 1751; but the dissensions in the church continued. It is creditable to the town that at that early period there were those among its citizens who boldly avowed their disbelief of the absurdities of a traditional creed. Subsequently milder counsels prevailed, and the bel- ligerents agreed to disagree. The Bird meeting- house was taken down and its materials made into a dwelling-house, long known as the "Bowers place," at the Harbor. On December 21, 1753, the town voted to build a new meeting-house "at the crotch of the roads, as near as can be with convenience to the house of Jonathan Lovewell." Mr. Lovewell's house still exists, and is now the residence of Mrs. Alfred Godfrey, two miles south of the city hall. The meeting-house was built on the little triangular "green " which is nearly in front of Mrs. Godfrey's house. It was an improvement upon the previous struc- tures, having square pews, a spacious sounding-board, seats for deacons and tythingmen, two painted doors in front, with a suitable number of horse-blocks at The longevity of many of the early settlers is worthy of notice. In Judge Worcester's " History of Hollis," Widow Lydia Ulrich is authentically recorded as having died in that town in her one hundred and fifth, and Lieutenant Caleb Farley in his one hundred and third year. This great longevity and good health of convenient distances for the accommodation of those women and children of the congregation who rode to meeting upon a side-saddle or a pillion. This meet- ing-house had a long occupation, not having been abandoned till 1812. Several of the older citizens of Nashua remember to have attended services within the early settlers was no doubt due to the regularity its walls.

For a century after the first settlement of Dunstable no carriages were used, and journeys were per- formed on horseback. The only wheeled vehicles used were the cumbersome lumber-wagon and the two-wheeled cart. The good man and his wife were accustomed to ride to church on the same horse, she sitting on a pillion behind him, and not unfrequently carrying a child in her arms, while another and older child was mounted on the pommel of the saddle be- fore him. No person thought of buying or exchang- ing a horse without ascertaining whether the animal would "carry double," as some otherwise valuable horses were in the habit of elevating their heels when "doubly loaded." In winter, when the snow was deep, a pair of oxen were attached to a sled, and the whole family rode to meeting on an ox-sled. Some- times an entire honsehold, seated upon an ox-sled,

would start in the morning to spend the day with a friend five or six miles distant. In the eighteenth century greater quantites of snow fell in winter in Southern New Hampshire than now, and snow- shoes were in general use. The invention originated with the Indians. The snow-shoe was elliptical in shape, with its rim made of ash, and the space within the rim interwoven with strips of raw-hide, so that the large breadth of surface resting upon the snow would sink but slightly below the surface. The feet were attached to the snow-shoes by fastening a common shoe at the toe, leaving the heel loose, to the central part of the snow-shoe. The Indians and early settlers made constant use of them during the deep snows of the long winters. The snowfall usually reached the depth of five feet and continued from ten to twelve weeks.

In 1752 the elder John Lovewell, father of the hero of Pequawket, died at an advanced age. The current rumor of his extreme longevity (one hundred and twenty years) is a mistake. The error arose from confounding the events of his life with those of his father, who was a soldier under Cromwell, and whose bravery the son inherited. Born in England, and fighting under Church, in King Philip's War, he was among the earliest settlers of Dunstable. During the Indian attacks, about 1700, he was, on one occasion, spared by them on account of his kindness in time of peace. In his later years he lived on the north side of Salmon Brook, just below the Main Street bridge. He lived to be a centenarian, and was so vigorous at that age as to be a terror to the boys who attempted to steal his apples. The family name has now disap- peared from Nashua.

of their habits and the simplicity of their diet.

The Last French War, 1755 .- Near the close of 1748 a treaty of peace had been made between Eng- land and France. By this treaty, no question in dispute was settled. England yielded up Louisburg, whose conquest had shed such glory on the colonial arms, and received in return Madras. The English government had shown neither skill nor energy in the management of the war, but had left the colonies to protect themselves. King George the Third and his ministry had allowed a dangerous enemy to harass the colonies, that they might feel more keenly their dependence on the mother-country. They were already enforcing that restrictive policy in trade which subse- quently led to the Revolution. The fruit of this war to the colonies was only debt and disgrace. They felt that it was an inglorious surrender of their interests. The peace was only nominal. In the spring of

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1755 it was manifest that the French were aiming at the control of the Lakes and the Mississippi Valley, and, if successful in these designs, of the subjugation of the colonies. War was openly declared, and New Hamp- shire raised a regiment of five hundred men to join an expedition, under Sir William Johnson, for the capture of Crown Point. The command was given to Colonel Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable. One of the companies of this regiment was the famous "Rangers," of which Robert Rogers, of Dunbarton, was captain and John Stark lieutenant. Several members of the company were from this town.

This regiment was disbanded at the end of the year. After the failure of the campaign of 1755, and the death of General Braddock, Lord Loudon was ap- pointed to the chief command. Another New Hamp- shire regiment was called for and raised. But the campaigns of 1756, 1757 and 1758 were disastrous from the incapacity of the British commanders. No- thing saved Lord Loudon from an utter defeat but the brilliant and persistent efforts of the Rangers, under Rogers and Stark.

The war still continuing, New Hampshire was or- dered to furnish another regiment of a thousand soldiers, which, on the death of Colonel Blanchard, was commanded by Colonel Zaccheus Lovewell, brother of the famous John Lovewell. It did good service at the capture of Ticonderaga and Crown Point. The next year (1760) a regiment of eight hundred was raised by this State, under the command of Col- onel John Goffe, of Bedford. Dunstable furnished her full quota of soldiers, who were at the surrender of Montreal and Quebec, which wrested all Canada from France and closed the war.

This result, due to the statesmanship of the new British premier, William Pitt, decided whether Cath- olieism or Protestantism should prevail in North America. A different result would have changed the whole current of civilization on the western continent. It was a conflict of ideas, and not the mere encounter of brute forces. The New England colonies rang with exultation ; the hills were lighted with bonfires ; Legislatures, the pulpit and the people echoed the general joy. They felt it to be the triumph of truth over error. In this last of the French and Indian colonial wars, the men of Dunstable bore well their part in field and forest engagements. Besides the two colonels, Blanchardand Lovewell, and the commissary, Jonathan Lovewell, it is known that the sons of Noah Johnson, the last survivor of Lovewell's fight, were in the war, both of whom were killed. In all, about thirty Dunstable men served in the war, and the sur- vivors returned at its close to their farms.

War is attended with evils which are often felt long after its close. The colonies had very little of gold or silver coin, and issued paper currency to meet the ex- penses of the protracted struggle. Its deterioration caused much embarrassment and loss. During the active operations of the war the harvests were

bountiful, and there was little suffering for food at home or in the army. But during the years 1761 and 1762 a severe drought cut off the erops, so that corn was im- ported from Virginia, and the Dunstable farmers cut the wild, coarse grass which grew in the swamps to save their live-stock from starvation. The scarcity of feed compelled the slaughter of many sheep and cattle.

Another harmful effect to the colonies was the in- creasing use of intoxicating drinks. The soldiers, accustomed to camp-life and the daily use of liquors, carried their loose habits into rural life, and added to the growing tendency to drunkenness. Publie senti- ment was not at that time awake to the terrible effects of the use of intoxicating drinks. Not only did the town officers of Dunstable, in their charge for services, make a separate bill for " new rhum " for daily use, but on all public occasions-all meetings, whether of joy or sorrow-it was customary for all to drink freely. No wedding could be appropriately celebrated with- out a liberal distribution of stimulating drinks. Even at funerals it was thought necessary "to keep the spirits up by pouring spirits down." The evils of poverty, then severely felt, were greatly increased by the debased appetite for intoxicating liquors.

Two years before the elose of the war, on April 7, 1758, Colonel Joseph Blanchard died at the age of fifty-three. His grandfather, Deacon John Blanchard, was one of the first settlers of the town. His father was an active, useful eitizen, holding positions of trust and dying in 1727. On the death of his father, though young, Joseph Blanchard succeeded to his father's business. He became widely known as a surveyor of land, and in that capacity traversed the almost un- broken forests which now constitute the western and northern towns of Hillsborough County. He sketched the first published maps of New Hampshire, a work of great labor and much value to new emigrants. He was in command of the first regiment raised for the campaign of 1755 at the time of his death. His moss-stained monument in the old cemetery in the south part of the town reads thus,-

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 39

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