History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 61

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

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Foster Wyatt, 1849, '50.

Daniel Fletcher, 1850, '51.

Jonathan Knight, 1852, '53, '61, '62.

Abial Steele, 1853, '54.

Joseph Mace, 1854, '55, '56, '57.

Benjamin B. Whiting, 1855, '56, '57.

Willard Hayden, 1855. Willard Danforth, 1856, '57, '58.

William A. Mack, 1858, '59, '63, '64, '67, '68, '69. Joel F. Osgood, 1858, '59.

Josiah W. Pillsbury, 1860.

James G. Ilaseltine, 1860.

Charles Richardson, 1861. Asa Jaquith, Jr., 1862. Francis K. Bontell, 1863, '64, '65, '67, '68, '69, '70, '77. Daniel Cram, 1864, '65, '66.

Barnabas B. David, 1865, '66.

James U. Prince, 1866, '67, '68, 69.

Thomas M. Harvill, 1870, '71, '81. Charles L. Bradford, 1870, '71. Levi Hartshorn, 1871, '72. Joseph Byron Fay, 1872, '73, '74. Brooks R. Came, 1872, '73, '74, '75. Thomas Jones, 1873, '74, "75, '76. Aaron Smith Wilkins, 1875, '76, '77.

Isaac B. Dodge, 1876, '77, '78.

Daniel W. Trow, 1878, '79, '80, '81. Mark Putnam, 1878, '79, '80, '81.

Luther Coggin, 1879. William Pratt, 1880, '81.

Joseph B. Trow, 1882, '83, '84. Jolin H. Coggin, 1882, 183, '84, '85.

Joel II. Fisher, 1882, '83. F. A. Ilolbrook, 1884, '85. C. S. Parker, 1885.

Prior to 1803 five selectmen were chosen annually ; since that time, but three.

Representatives .- Amherst was classed with Bed- ford for the choice of a representative to the General Court, under the provincial government. The first meeting for the choice of a representative from the classed towns, of which a record has been found, was held at Bedford meeting-house, March 4, 1762, at which Colonel John Goffe received forty-six votes and Captain Moses Barron thirteen votes. Colonel Goffe, having a majority of the votes, was declared elected, and served as representative of the district, under this and subsequent elections, until the abro- gation of the provincial government.

Paul Dudley Sargent was the deputy from Amherst in the first Provincial Congress. His expenses were defrayed by private contributions.

Paul Dudley Sargent was chosen a delegate to the second Congress, which met January 25, 1775.

Paul Dudley Sargent and Moses Parsons repre- sented the town in the third Congress, which met April 21, 1775.

The same gentlemen represented the town in the fourth Congress, which met May 17, 1775.

Moses Nichols and Nahum Baldwin were chosen delegates to the fifth Congress, which met December 21, 1775.

On the 5th day of January, 1776, this Congress adopted a temporary constitution, to continue in force during the "present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain."

It then resolved itself into a "House of Represen- tatives for the Colony of New Hampshire." Provi- sion was made that precepts, in the name of the Council and Assembly, signed by the President of the Council and Speaker of the House of Represen- tatives, "should issue annually on or before the 1st day of November, for the choice of a Council and House of Representatives, to be returned by the third Wednesday of December, then next ensuing, in such manner as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter prescribe." Since the 18th day of December, 1776, the representatives have been as follows:

Moses Nichols, 1776, '77, '81, '82.

Peter Woodbury, 1776. Josiah Crosby, 1777, '78, '79, '82.

Reuben Mussey, 1778.

Stephen l'eabody, 1779.

Samuel Wilkins, 1780.

Nahum Baldwin, 1780.

Robert Means, 1783, '81, '85, '86, '89.

Thomas Burns, 1783.

William Peabody, Jr., 1787, '88.

Daniel Warner, 1790, '91, from June 10, 1793, '91, '95, '96, '97, tu August 23, 1798.

Joshua Atherton, 1702 (resigned, vacancy not filled,) '93, to June 10th, William Fisk, from August 23, 1798, '99, from August 27, 1804, '05 '06, '07, '08, '09. William Bradford, 1800, '01, '02. 1 Jedediah K. Smith, 1803, to August 27, 1804.

248

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

William Low, 1810, '12, '14.

Elmund Parker, 1-13, '15, '17, '18, '19. '20, '21, '22, '24, 25, to June 5, 1-20.

Clifton Claggett, 1×16.

('hurles 11 Atherton, 1823, '38, '39.

Robert Read, June, 1:26, 27, 28.

David MeG. Means, 1829, '30.

John Secombe, 1831, '32, '33.

Daniel Campbell, Jr., 183-4, '35.

David Stewart, 1:36, '43. Perley Dodge, 1537, '53, '54. Andrew Wallace, 1840, '11.

Barnabas B. David, 1512.

Richard Boylston, 1844, '45, 16.

Levi J. Secomb, 1847, '48.

Lemuel N. Pattre, 1849, '50.

Daniel Fletcher, 1:51.

William Wetherbee, 1855, '59, '60.

Charles II. Campbell, 1856, '57, 58, 13, 14.

In the censuses of 1767 and 1773 the ages of some of the inhabitants and the number of each sex are given as follows :

Males.

1767.

1773.

Boys of 16 years old and under .

200

330

Unmarried men between 16 and 60 years 63

109

Married 66

135

237

Frank Hartshorn, IST ..

Men above 60 years 17

Females.

Unmarried

270

412

Married

147

245

Widows 18

Slaves.

In the census of 1775 the population is classified as follows :

Boys under 16 years old .

343

Men 16 years old and under 50, not in the army 200

Men 50 years old and upward 53

Men in the army

Females .

747

Colored persons-sex not stated

In the census of 1790 the population was not classi- fied.

In 1800 there were 31 colored persons in the first parish. Of whites, 630 were under sixteen years of age, and 809 sixteen years old and upward.

At the same time there were 2 colored persons in the second parish, 325 white persons under sixteen years of age, and 353 sixteen years old and upward.

In 1810 and 1820 the white population was classi- fied thus :

Males.

1810.

1820.

Under 16 years of age

359

328

Of 16 and under 26 years

148

151

Of 26 and under 45 years

130

141

Of 15 years and upward

123

158

Females.

Under 16 years of age . 336

316

of 16 and under 26 years

153

176

Of 26 and under 45 years

130

141

of 15 years and upward 150

163

In 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 the differ- ent classes of population were as follows :

Males.

1830. 1840. 1850. 1860. 1870. 1880.

Under 20 years of age . . . 429 345 334 265

237

222

Of 20 and under 10 years . . 204

200 211

198

156 131

Of 40 and under 60 years . . 110 115 155

158

151 134

Of 60 years and upward . . 66

77 89 100 109

The whole population of the town in 1767 was 858; 1773, 1370 ; 1775, 1428 ; 1783, 1909 ; 1786, 1912; 1790, 2369 ; 1800, 2150 ; 1810, 1554; 1820, 1622; 1830, 1657 ; 1840, 1565 ; 1850, 1613 ; 1860, 1508; 1870, 1353; 1880, 1225.

In 1767 there were 121 males and 437 females.

In 1773 there were 692 males and 678 females.

In 1775 there were 697 white males and 747 white females.

In 1790 there were 1147 white males and 1204 white females.

In 1800 sexes not given in census.

In 1>10 there were 760 white males and 784 white females.

In 1820 there were 779 males and 8-10 females.

In 1:30 there were 809 while males and $12 white females.

10 1×ly there were 735 males and $30 females.

In 1850 there were 777 males and $36 females.

In Isto there were 710 males and 598 females.

1 1×70 there were 614 males and 709 females.

In laso there were 596 males and 629 females.

The number of families in 1810 was 235; in 1820, 251; in 1850, 328; in 1860, 345 ; in 1870, 355; in 1880,

Average number of persons in each family in 1810, 62 ; in 1880, 31.

Of the inhabitants in 1880, 965 were natives of New Hampshire, 118 of Massachusetts, 27 of Maine, 21 of Vermont, 16 of New York, 4 of Pennsylvania, 3 of Connecticut, 2 of Wisconsin, 1 each of New Jersey, Kentucky, Minnesota and California, 52 of Ireland, S of England, 3 of Canada and 1 each of Germany and Scotland.

The population of the village precinct in 1880 was 434; of the outer districts, 791. In the precinct were

181 males and 253 females. In the outer districts were 415 males and 376 females.

The whole white population of the town in 1830 was 1651. The whole population of the town in 1880 was 1225,-a loss in fifty years of 426.

Of the whole population in 1830, 1259 were under forty years of age and 392 were forty years old and upward.

Of the whole population in 1880, 704 were under forty years of age, and 521 were forty years old and upward, showing a loss of 555 in the population under forty years of age, and a gain of 129 in the population forty years old and upward, in fifty years.

Jotham Hartohorn, 1861, '62, '71, 72.

Aaron Lawrence, 1×65. '66.

William Clark, 1867, '68

William A. Mack, 1869, '70.

Harrison Eaton, 1873, '74.

Joseph B. Fay, 1875, '76.

Thomas Jones, 1878, '79.

Slaves .

Albert A Rotch, 1880, '81, 'N2.

Isaac B. Dodge, 1883, '84.

Harrison Eaton, 1885.

Population .- Fourteen families were settled in town at the time of Mr. Wilkins' ordination, Sep- tember 23, 1741.

Thirty-five families, in which were fifty-eight men above sixteen years old, remained in town May 13, 1747.

American Bank Note C'u.Boston.

249

AMHERST.

Females.

Under 20 years of age . . . 384 370 332 267 233 182

Of 20 and under 40 years . . 242 224 235 233 191 169

Of 40 and under 60 years . . 127

156 166 178 164 148

Of GO years and upward . . 89

80 103 120 121 130

In the census of 1783 the selectmen stated that there were in town two hundred and fifty-nine dwell- ing-houses and two hundred and forty-seven barns. In 1820, four hundred and four of the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture; one hundred and twenty-two in manufactures and ten in trade. The ministers, doctors and lawyers were classed as manu- facturers.

The censuses of 1767, 1775, 1778, 1783 and 1786 were taken by the selectmen ; those of 1790, 1800 and 1810, by Colonel Daniel Warner; that of 1820, by Captain John Secombe; 1830, by Stephen Peabody, Esq. ; 1850, by Robert Moore, Esq .; 1860, by Charles Richardson, Esq .; 1870, by J. Abbott Marsh, Esq .; 1880, by Isaac Brooks Dodge, Esq.

Copies of the censuses of 1810 and 1820 may be found in the library of the New Hampshire Historical Society ; of those of 1850, 1860 and 1870, in the State Library at Concord; and 1880, in the office of the clerk of the courts of Hillsborough County, Nashua.

The organization of the Hillsborough County Agri- cultural Society was completed at a meeting held at Hardy's tavern, February 8, 1848. Dr. Peter P. Woodbury was chosen president; Edward D. Boyls- ton, treasurer; and David Stewart, a member of the executive committee.

This society held a fair at Amherst October 1 and 2, 1851, which was considered one of the most success- ful ever held in the county.

The society held several fairs subsequently, at various places, but finally disbanded.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ISAAC BROOKS, ESQ.

Isaac Brooks, Esq., son of Isaac and Joanna (Holden) Brooks, was a native of Woburn, Mass., born August 16, 1757. Much interest attaches to his biography, as he was one of the early teachers in this and several of the neighboring towns, as also the fourth register of deeds in Hillsborough County. At the age of nineteen (December 2, 1776), Mr. Brooks entered the office of Dr. John Hale, of Hollis, N. H., as a student of medicine, where he remained but a short time, Dr. Hale having received an ap- pointment as surgeon in the United States army. At precisely what date he came to Amherst is not known, but a diary in the hands of his grandson, Isaac B. Dodge, Esq., makes it certain that it was previous to 1784, and that during 1787, 1788 and 1789 he was employed in teaching in several parts of

Amherst, and that he was also a student in the Aurean Academy here four months in the last named year. August 3, 1790, he commenced a school in New Boston, contracting for three months, at six dollars per month, one-half in money and the other half in grain, keeping a horse. April 6, 1791, he closed a school in Lyndeborough, of ten weeks, at thirty-six shillings per week, excluding horse-keeping. He also taught a day-school in Merrimack and a writing-school in Temple, his diary containing the names of all the scholars attending these several schools. He married Miss Abigail Kendrick, a most estimable lady, daughter of Benjamin Kendrick, Esq., of Amherst, and sister of the mother of President Franklin Pierce. Soon after, with her, he returned to Woburn, where he cul- tivated a farm, and in 1793 was elected elerk of that town, serving also as tax collector in 1794. In that year he removed to Wilton, N. H., with his family, having purchased a small place there of Luther Dana, Esq., a merchant of Amherst, who assisted him in opening a small store. Here he continued until November 30, 1801, when, becoming discouraged from the illiberality of his reception, supposed or real, and want of success in business, as well as depressed by the loss of his first-born, he disposed of his place to one Sampson Keyes, of Westford, Mass., a blacksmith, and took up his permanent residence in Amherst. Being a fine penman and having much reputation as a scholar, he soon obtained employment as a clerk in the office of Jonathan Smith, Esq., register of deeds for the county. Awaking on the morning of October 5, 1802, to find the office vacant, in consequence of the incumbent having departed to parts unknown, through the persevering efforts of his friends, in spite of much popular opposition, he secured the appoint- ment to fill the vacancy thus occasioned, and entered upon its duties October 9th, and continued therein for nearly twenty-six years, being annually re-elected thereto by the people, a majority of whom, for most of the time, were his opponents in politics. His long continuance in this office was due to the reputation he had attained as a teacher, his excellent chirography and his excellent business qualities. At the head of his diary, alluded to above, stands the key-note of his life, to which it was ever closely attuned : "Method in business is the surest guide; he who neglects it frequently stumbles, and always wanders perplexed, uncertain and in danger."

Soon after entering upon the duties of his office he purchased an unfinished house, recently erected by Ephraim Blanchard, being then centrally situated, the same as is now owned and occupied by his grand- son. This he finished for his own occupancy, and there resided until his decease. This was the first house to show glass larger than seven by nine, being furnished with crown-glass nine by twelve. Here the records of the county were kept.

Mr. Brooks was a gentleman of strict integrity and marked purity, a peculiar feature of his mind being

250

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

extreme conscientiousness and sensibility, which, in the diary alluded to, he thus accounts for, and probably with much correctness: "The want of health, and my early misfortunes, have so clouded my mind as to make me to be and appear the most singular being, let me be where I will."

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks united with the Congrega- tional Church in Amherst, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, September 6, 1807, and ever witnessed a good profession. He died December 20, 1840, at the age of eighty-three. His children were, Isaac, who died at Wilton, aged four years ; Luther Dana, died August 22, 1829, aged thirty-four; and Abigail, the widow of Ninian C. Dodge, died at Amherst, January 22, 1872, aged sixty-five. A fine monument has been erected upon the family lot, in the west cemetery, by his only grandson, Isaac Brooks Dodge, Esq.

HON. CHARLES H. CAMPBELL.1

Hon. Charles H. Campbell, the youngest son of Captain Daniel and Susan (Story) Campbell, was born in Amherst, April 24, 1827 ; received an academic edu- cation ; commenced teaching school at sixteen years of age ; followed teaching and farming several years ; settled on the ancestral farm and engaged in farming and cattle-dealing until 1866, when he disposed of the larger part of his real estate in Amherst, and re- moved to Nashua, where he now resides, engaged in the real estate and auction business, in which he has been quite successful, his sales aggregating, in some instances, two hundred thousand dollars in a single month, his business extending over most of New Eng- land and many of the Western States, and his sales having been of all kinds of property, the old Hills- borough County jail, the New Hampshire State Prison and the Manchester and Keene Railroad included.

He served on the Board of Selectmen and on the superintending school committee of Amherst ; was moderator of the annual town-meetings nine years, excelling as a presiding officer ; represented the town in the State Legislature in the years 1856, 1857, 1858, 1×63 and 1864, and the old Seventh Senatorial District in the Senate two years, of which body he was the president in the year 1872. He also represented Ward One, Nashua, in the Legislature of 1883, and presided at the organization of the House of Rep- resentatives in 1858 and 1883.

Among the many important measures originated by him und enacted by the Legislature may be mentioned the " Act limiting and defining the powers and duties of county commissioners in certain cases," the " Act providing for the distribution of the proceeds arising from the tax on savings-banks, among the towns within this State where the depositors reside," and the " Act for funding the indebtedness of the State."

I By lauiet F. secomb.

He took a deep interest in the success of the Union cause in the recent Civil War, and gave largely from his private means to encourage the enlistment of volunteers for service in the army from his native town, and was appointed by the Governor and Coun- cil one of the commissioners to revise the military en- rollment of the State.

He was one of the leading citizens in planning for the centennial celebration of the incorporation of his native town, in 1860, and was the presiding officer on that occasion.

Iu every position in which he has been placed by the town he was faithful to his constituents, particu- larly in local matters, and in the protracted political struggle in the Legislature of 1871 his untiring vigil- ance and devotion to his party did much to avert what at one time seemed an unavoidable defeat.

Of his four children, only one survives, Colonel George Hylands Campbell, of Boston, who was ad- mitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1874.

DANIEL CAMPBELL.2

The year 1719 brought a valuable accession to the inhabitants of New Hampshire, in the settlement at Londonderry of a colony of Scotch Presbyterian emi- grants from the north of Ireland, where their ances- tors had settled a century before. This first emigra- tion was followed in succeeding years by others of their countrymen, and, as the settlement increased in numbers, colonies went forth and commenced the settlement of other towns, and, at the close of a cen- tury, more than one-twentieth of the inhabitants of the State were numbered among their descendants, and one of the number was its Governor-elect.

Distinguished for their industry, perseverance, in- telligence and thrift, the descendants of these Scotch emigrants have done the State and nation good service, and acquitted themselves honorably in all the important stations in which they have been placed.

Among those who came over a few years after the first emigration was Henry Campbell and his family. His father, Daniel Campbell, born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1660, was (as a family tradition asserts) a descendant of one of the Earls of Argyle. He was an officer in the army of William, Prince of Orange, and took part in the battle of the Boyne Waters in 1690, the result of which seated William securely on the throne of Great Britain. After the close of the war he settled in Ireland.

Henry Campbell, born in 1697, married Martha Black, whose parents emigrated from near Aberdeen, Scotland, to Ireland. In 1731 or 1732 they emigrated to America with their family, and after some delay settled, in 1733, in that part of Londonderry after- ward incorporated as the town of Windham, where their youngest son, Daniel Campbell, was born, June 27,1739.

2 By Daniel F. Secomb.

Daniel Campbelly.

250 a

AMHERST.

He married Jane Hylands, of Londonderry, June 25, 1760, and one bright morning, near the close of April, 1761, the twain started on foot from London- derry to Amherst. At Lutwyche's ferry, in Litch- field, they crossed the Merrimack in a dug-out boat and proceeded on their journey to Amherst, which they reached on the evening of the same day. On the lot where their cabin was then erected they spent the remainder of their days.

He was one of the stalwart men of his time, pos- sessed of an iron frame, a strong will and decided opinions, which he was ever ready to express fully and freely. His manner of living was plain, his habits regular and he was temperate in all things. He rose with the sun and retired early. The use of ardent spirits was common in his time among all classes and on all occasions, but a wine-glassful twice a day sufficed him, and an invitation to partake of more was always declined.

In 1766 he received a commission as coroner from Governor Wentworth, and filled the office many years ; he also served a long time as a justice of the peace ; thirteen years he was a member of the Board of Selectnien of his adopted town, and was for years the senior survivor of those who had served the town in that capacity. He was also the last survivor of the town officers elected prior to the Revolution.

He was frequently employed as a land surveyor, and by that means became possessed of a better knowledge of the lots and farms in Amherst and the adjoining towns than was possessed by any other per- son of his time.

The town of Hillsborough was surveyed and divided into lots under his direction, and the adjoin- ing town of Windsor received its first name (Camp- bell's Gore) from him.

He was one of the four citizens of the town who re- fused to sign the " Association Test Paper " in 1776, as he doubted the ability of the colonies to resist successfully, by force of arms, the claims of the mother-country.

In his religious views he was, in early life, a de- eided Presbyterian, but shortly after the commence- ment of Mr. Lord's ministry he joined in the move- ment which resulted in the formation of the Liberal or Unitarian Society in Amherst, to which he adhered through the remainder of his life.

ile retained his physical and mental vigor wonder- fully. After he had passed his ninety-eighth birth- clay he held a breaking-up plow a long distance, his son and grandson walking on either side to assist him in case of accident.

He was a great reader, and kept well posted in the current events of the day. Ile also retained his interest in town and State affairs to the last, attending the annual town-meeting the March before his death, and voting the Whig ticket.

He died October 7, 1838, having attained to the age of ninety-nine years, three months and ten days.

CAPTAIN DANIEL CAMPBELL, JR.1

Captain Daniel Campbell, Jr., only son of Daniel and Jane (Hylands) Campbell, was born in Amherst, March 26, 1778. He taught school for a succession of winters in Amherst and the adjoining towns ; was a competent land surveyor, coroner for the county of Hillsborough, an officer in the militia, a director of the Farmers' Bank, moderator of the annual town- meetings three years, a member of the Board of Selectmien twelve years, and represented the town two years in the State Legislature.

He passed his entire life on the farm where he was born, which he managed to advantage and profit, being one of the most successful farmers and stock- growers in town.

He was a man of striet honesty and integrity, con- servative, but ever loyal to his convictions, of some judgment, and worthy of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. He died July 7, 1853.

HORACE GREELEY.

Horace Greeley, founder of the New York Tribune, was born in Amherst February 3, 1811, and spent the first ten years of his life here.

He was early noted for his love of reading and study, and, before the family left Amherst, there was scarcely a book within ten miles of his home, that he could borrow, which he had not read.

Driven from Amherst by the failure of his business plans, his father removed, with his family, to West Haven, Vt., in the spring of 1821, where, for five years, the future editor was engaged with the rest of the family in a struggle for the means of subsistence in a new settlement.

In 1826 he began to learn the printer's trade at Pultney, Vt. He followed this trade at Erie, Pa., and other places, and in 1831 went to New York City. In 1833 he commenced his career in journalism as part owner of the Morning Post, the first daily penny paper ever printed. Subsequently he was interested in the New Yorker, Daily Whig, Jeffersonian, Log Cabin and The Tribune, issued first April 10, 1841. His subso- quent career as editor of the Tribune is a part of our national history. He was elected to Congress in 1848, serving one session. In 1872 he was the Liberal candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated. His death occurred November 29, 1872, at Chappaqua, N. Y.

CAPTAIN JOHN SECOMBE.

Captain John Secombe, for many years one of the prominent citizens of Amherst, was a native, and through his whole life a resident, of the town.

In early manhood he took quite an interest in mili- tary matters, and at one time commanded the artil- lery company in the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Militia, whence he obtained the title of captain, by

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 61

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