History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 88

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 88

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).

The length of this sketch only leaves room to add a few words as to the literary ability of the subject of this article as a preacher and lecturer, whose genial soul shows itself in all he does. With all his ability, -of no ordinary cast,-his heart is ever orthodox, in the truest sense, as a preacher, and as a lecturer he is always welcome. His centennial address will be re- membered by all the citizens of Hancock, and also

the beautiful lecture on Longfellow by all who heard it.

TOWN OFFICERS.

1779 .- Jonathan Bennet, town clerk.

1780. - Robert Duncan, town clerk.

1781 .- Robert Duncan, town clerk.

1782 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk.

1783 .- Robert Duncan, town clerk.

1784 .- James Dunean, town clerk.

1785 .- Joseph Dodge, town clerk.

1786 .- Joseph Dodge, town clerk.

1787 .- James Hosley, town clerk.

1788 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk.

1789 .- James Duncan, town clerk.

1790,-James llosley, town clerk.

1791 .- James Hosley, town clerk.

1792 .- James Hosley, town clerk.

1793 .- James lJosley, town clerk.

1794 .- James llosley, town clerk.

1795.1-James Ilosley, town clerk ; Samuel Gordon, representative.

1796 .- James Hosley, town clerk; Samuel Gordon, representative.

1797 .- James ITosley, town clerk ; Samuel Gordon, representative.

1798 .- James Ilosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1799 .- James Hosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative.

1800. - James Hosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative.

1801 .- James Hosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1802 .- James Hosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1803 .- James Hosley, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1804 .- James Hosley, town clerk ; Willian Brooks, representative. 1805 -David Wood, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative.

1806 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative.

1807 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1808 .- Samuel Gates, town clerk ; William Brooks, representative. 1809 .- Samuel Gates, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative.

1810 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative.

1811 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative. 1812 .- Joseph Symonds, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative. 1813 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative. 1814 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Reed Paige, representative. 1815 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; David Nahor, representative. 1816 .-- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Reed Paige," representative. 1817 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; David Nahor, representative.

1818 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive.

1819 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive.

1820 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive.

1821 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive.

1822 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Andrew Wallace, representative. 1823 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Andrew Wallace, representative. 1824 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Andrew Wallace, representative. 1825 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Joseph Symonds, representa- tive.

1826 .- Jolin Whitcomb, town clerk ; Joseph Symonds, representative. 1827 .- Jolin Whitcomb, town clerk ; Ilenry Whitcomb, representa- tive.

1828 .- Jonas Iluchinson, town clerk ; Joseph Symonds, representa- tive.

1829 .- Jonas Huchinson, town clerk ; Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive.

1830 .- Jonas Huchinson, town clerk ; Joseph Symonds, representa- tive.

1831 .- llenry Whitcomb, town clerk ; Amos Whitemore, representa- tive.

1832 .- John Whitcomb, town clerk; Amos Whitemore, representa- tive.

1833. - John Whitcomb, town clerk ; Jonas Huchinson, representa- tive.

1 Prior to 1795, Hancock was classed with Antrim and other towns, and represented by lon. John Duncan, of Antrim, most of the time.

2 Rev. Reed Paige, the representative for 1816, died during the year, and David Nahor was chosen to fill the vacancy.

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

1. J hn Witom, town clerk ; Jonas Huchinson, representa-

I. - J hn What oud, town clerk, Jona- Hutchinson, representa- tive

1.0 -Joon Whitcomb, town clerk : Thatcher Bradford, representa- tive

1-7 -J. In Whitcomb, town clerk ; Kendall Gray, representative. I. - John Whitcomb, toown clerk ; Kendall Gray, representative. 1% .- J hn Whitcomb, town clerk ; Kendall Gray, representative. 1.10,-16h Whitcomb, town clerk : David Patton, representative. I-11 .- Goodyear Bassett, town clerk : David Patten, representative. 1.12-Goodyear Bassett, town clerk ; Goodyear Bassett, representa-

1-14 -JJoseph Davis, town clerk : Ebenezer Ware, representative. 1.14 -Joseph Davis, town clerk ; Ebenezer Ware, representative. Ishi -Jeph Davis, town clerk ; Abijah Hadley, representative. 1st .- Joseph Davis, 1 town clerk : Abijah Hadley, representative. 1-17 -Rodney S. Lakin, town clerk; Abijah Hadley, representative. If -Joseph Davis, town clerk ; Clark C. Boutwell, representative. 1.1 .- J seph Davis, town clerk : Clark C. Boutwell, representative. 1-1) -Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Joseph Davis, representative. 1-il - Ambrose V. Blood, town clerk ; Joseph Davis, representative. 1 -_ - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; William Gray, representative. 1. . - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; William Gray, representative. 1- 1 -Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; David Patten, representative. 1. . - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; no representative.

1.1. - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk : Benjamin Goodhue, represen- t.stiv.

1.57. - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Benjamin Goodhue, represen- tative

1.7%,-Ambrose d'. Blood, town clerk ; Joseph Knight, representative. 1-2 .- Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Joseph Knight, representative. 1-1,-Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Asa Simonds, representative. J-] .- Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk : Asa Simonds, representative. 1 wn _.- Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Hiram Fuller, representative. Iv : - Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk ; Hiram Fuller, representative.

1-64 .- Ambrose C. Blood, town clerk : Mark N. Spalding, representa-

1-64 .- Ambrose 6. Blood, town clerk ; Mark N. spalling, representa- tive.

1++ .- Adolphus D. Tuttle, town clerk : Lewis Symonds, representa- tive

1-67 .- Adolphus D. Tuttle, town clerk : Henry Knight, representa- tive.

I -Abdplus D. Tuttle, town clerk ; Avery M. Clark, representa- tive

1st .- Adolphus D. Tuttle, town clerk : Avery M. Clark, representa-

1-7 .- Adolphins D. Tuttle, town clerk ; Orland Eaton, representative. 1-71 - Volphus D. Tuttle, town clerk ; Joel Gales, representative. I-T- Adolphus D. Tuttle, town clerk : Joel Gates, representative. 1-", -Joseph Davis, town clerk ; Lewis Symonds, representative.

1-71 -Joseph Davis, Bown clerk ; Andrew B. Stone, representative. 1-7 -8 mph Davis, towne Jerk ; Andrew B. Stone, representative. 1-71 .- J seph Davis, town clerk ; Joshua $. Lakin, representative. 1-77 -Japh Dave, town clerk : Joshua s. Lakin, representative.

17- A phus D. Tuttle, town clerk ; John H. Felch, representa-

!-- ABphus D. Tuttle, town clerk : Adolphus G. Foster, repre-

1. Vilplans D. Tuttle, town clerk ; Zopher W. Brooks, represen- tativ.

I -- 1=Ad-Iphins D. Tuttle, town . leik.

1 -:- VI phos D Tuttle, Down clock ; Charles G. Matthews, repre-

Salplus D. Tuttle, town derk.

1 -- I-Adphos D. Tuttle, town clerk ; William F. Symonds, repre-

- VIiphone D. Tuttle, Down . brk

WJ Dava, towne lerk in 1-40, 1. gued, and Rodney $. Lakin was

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JOSEPH DAVIS.

Oliver, David and Jonas Davis, three brothers, came from Leominster, Mass., and settled in Han- cock, N. H., in 1794 or 1795, being the third gen- eration in this country. Eleazer Davis, their grand- father, emigrated from England about the year 1730. He served in the French and Indian War. When peace was declared, the body of troops with which he was connected was discharged far away from white settlement, and on their way home many died for want of food and clothing, subsisting for many days on bark, nuts and berries.

Eleazer Davis made his way home successfully, after enduring hardships and privations for many days, nearly famished. Oliver Davis, son of Eleazer, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War, being one of the Minute-Men of those days. When the intelligence came that the British were marching to Concord, he shouldered his old musket, and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, where, for lack of ammunition, they fought the red-coats with the butts of their guns. Oliver Davis, grandson of Elea- zer Davis and son of Oliver Davis, Sr., was born in Harvard, Mass., May 12, 1767; married Sally Pol- lard, by whom he had six daughters and one son. After the death of his first wife he married Relief Heath, by whom he had seven more children,-five sons and two daughters.

Having only a small farn and a large family to support, he found it advisable to sell and buy one where he could farm more extensively by giving em- ployment to his boys and maintain his family easier. He was successful in selling his place in Hancock, where he first settled, and moved to Acworth, N. H., in 1822, where he lived until his decease, in 1851. The older boys were hired out. while the younger ones were kept at home to help do the work on the home place. He exacted all the wages for labor of his boys till they became of age, when he would say, "Now, boys, I have nothing to give you ; go and do the best you can and be good boys," which was one of the best legacies ever bequeathed to children, for they all knew how to work, and succeeded in getting a good living.

Joseph Davis, the subject of this biographical sketch, was the fourth son and fifth child of the sec- ond marriage, born in Hancock, Hillsborough County, January 14, 1813; lived at home till he was sixteen, when he was let out to work for Dr. Stephen Carlton, of Acworth, a man of high attainments, sound judgment and good abilities, one who stood high in his profession. He represented his town in the Legislature the two years he lived with him. It was during these two years that he obtained much useful information from those who had received a

Josepho Davis avis

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HANCOCK.

liberal education by being in their society, observing their manners and listening to their discussions. These influences made a strong impression on his mind, and he determined he would some day teach a district school, if nothing more. The doctor had a large library, to which Joseph had access, and which he read every opportunity that presented, from which he received much knowledge and useful information.

The next three years of his minority Joseph was hired out to Hon. Amos Perkins, of Unity, N. H., one of the most influential men of the town, of strong mind, good abilities and sound common sense. From him he derived much knowledge in respect to trans- acting business, which information he was ever ready to give, as he was well posted, both in regard to men and parties of that time. He was a gentleman of the old school, whom every one loved and respected. Therefore, being in the society and under the advice and good influence of such men of business talent and learning, it only stimulated him to greater exer- tions to procure an education as soon as he could obtain means to do it. His father, being in humble circumstances, was not able to educate his children beyond what learning they could obtain from the com- mon district schools, which were only open six or eight weeks in summer and usually the same in winter. The next season after he was twenty-one he worked out, and earned money enough to pay his expenses to attend the academy at Cavendish, Vt., which was a very flourishing institution at that time. Among the students who attended that term was Dr. A. A. Miner, now of Boston. At the close of the term he received from the preceptor a certificate of recommendation as well qualified to teach, which was a great help to him in obtaining a school. He engaged a school that winter at ten dollars per month, for fifteen weeks, and boarded around with the parents of the scholars, which was usual in those times. Being successful in his first school, he was greatly encouraged and con- tinued to teach, working summers and teaching win- ters, earning money sufficient to pay his expenses of books, clothes and to go to school spring and fall terms. After the first term at Cavendish he attended the literary and scientific institution at Hancock, where he went three years at fall and spring terms. After closing his studies at that institution he devoted his early life to teaching, which was his delight, and the height of his ambition was to be in a school-room giving instruction to the young. He followed teach- ing for over thirty years, from six to eight months each year. Being successful in his employment, his wages increased from ten to fifty dollars per month, including board. He taught the graded school in Milford, Wilton and Greenfield, also a select school at Hillsborough Bridge. He was employed to take charge of the select school in South Orange, Mass., two years, and the graded school in Lincoln, Mass., one year. During the thirty years as a teacher he had from fifteen hundred to two thousand different schol-

ars, who went forth to different parts of the world to play their part in the great drama of life.

In 1840 he married Mrs. Eliza B. Wallace, widow of Dr. John Wallace, of Milford, N. Il. She was young and accomplished, endowed with a strong and active mind and of high moral and intellectual qual- ities. She was social, pleasant and dignified in every position she was called to fill. The sick and distressed were objects of her care and sympathy, never hesita- ting to go, when duty called, to watch with the sick or assist in helping to relieve the sorrows of those whose friends had died. Her maiden-name was Eliza Burns. She was of Scotch descent, being the third generation in this country. At the time Davis married her she had one son, by Dr. Wallace, by the name of John J. Wallace, who is now living in Peoria, Ill. By the second marriage she had two children,-Charles J. and Emma C. Davis. Emma C. died when two years old. Charles J. married Sarah Twiss, by whom he had three children when she died. He never married afterwards; went to Palatka, Fla., where he died July 2, 1883.

Soon after Joseph Davis married he settled in Hancock, N. H., his native town, opened a store, where he continued in the mercantile business some ten years, and at the same time continued to teach winters, while his clerk carried on the trade of the store.

In 1850 he sold out his stock of goods and pur- chased a small farm, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits, still continuing his school-teaching each year. He was elected town clerk, to which office he was elected eleven years at different times; was chairman of the Board of Selectmen three years. town treasurer and superintending school committee fifteen years, and, in 1850 and 1851, was chosen rep- resentative to the General Court. Such testimony to his fidelity and ability by his friends and fellow-citi- zens was highly appreciated. He endeavored to dis- charge the duties of the offices to which he was cho- sen faithfully and acceptably. He was employed doing business at the Probate Courts for many years in settling and helping others to settle estates. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1851, and now holds a commission of justice of the peace and quo- rum throughout the State.

Thus, by his own exertions, industry, perseverance and economy, he secured his own education, earned his own money, paid for his own schooling, and, in fact, he is what we call a self-made man, ever social, pleasant and jovial with his friends and neighbors, and one for whom they show much kindness and respect. By strict adherence to the discharge of his duty when business called he has been able to accumulate suffi- cient means to enable him to pass the remainder of his life with ease and comfort at his old homestead at Hancock, his native town, with his friends and fellow- citizens, passing quietly down the stream of life till he sleeps with his fathers.

HISTORY OF DEERING.

BY GEORGE C. PATTEN.

CHAPTER I.

DEERING is one of the border towns in the county, being bounded on the north by Henniker, which is in Merrimack County, and also by Hillsborough, the most northerly town in Hillsborough County. It is separated from Antrim, on the west, by Contoocook River, while Weare and Francestown bound it on the east and south, respectively. The surface, which is broken and hilly, is divided, topographically, into three sections-the westerly, central and easterly por- tions. The three post-offices-West Deering, Deering and East Deering-also mark those distinctions. Each section is separated from the other by high ranges of hills, extending north and south quite through the town, the only break in them being utilized by the main road leading from one section to the other. About one-third of the surface of the town, including the entire westerly portion, is drained by Contoocook River, the remainder forming the water-shed of the north branch of the Piscataquog River, which rises in this town. Its sources are Dudley Pond, in the northerly, and Gregg Pond, in the southerly part of the town. The Dudley Brook, flowing from the first- mentioned pond, unites with the one flowing from the latter near the easterly line of the town. These two ponds have a surface area of forty and one hundred acres respectively. Mud Pond, situated about one mile west of Dudley Pond, flows into Smith Brook, which, after receiving Patten Brook, forms the Stearns Brook, the latter uniting with the Dudley Brook above mentioned. The Piscataquog Water-Power Company have lately come into possession by pur- chase of the mill at the outlet of Gregg Pond and the adjacent tlowage to the extent of three hundred acres, and have built a dam one thousand feet long and twenty feet high, having a flowage capacity of seventeen feet, at a cost, including the land damage, of more than twelve thousand dollars. It is intended to supply water to the mills located on the Piscataquog River between North Weare and Manchester when the Supply from the natural sources fails or runs short. The water-shed of the reservoir, including the drain- as of the Lyon and Wilkins Brooks, embraces an

area of more than four square miles. Fulton Pond, located one-half mile south-west from Gregg Pond, is the highest elevation of water in Deering, being nearly one thousand feet above sea-level. Its over- flow runs south into Francestown. The old New Hampshire turnpike passed through the westerly section of the town, and is still the main traveled road. The old hotel of that period still dispenses hospitalities to the traveler that passes that way, through its venerable landlord, James M. Appleton. The extension of the Northern Railroad from Hills- borough Bridge to Hancock Junction passes directly through the old Cork muster-field. Here, for many years, during the palmy days of the old New Hamp- shire militia, were mustered, in the month of Sep- tember, the troops belonging to the Twenty-sixth Regiment, comprising those able-bodied citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty, from the towns of Hillsborough, Windsor, Antrim, Hancock, Francestown and Deering, for inspection and re- view. From early dawn until late in the afternoon the air resounded with the strains of martial music mingled with the shouts of the peddlers and hawkers crying their wares. Here also might be seen the " razor-strop man," known from Boston to New Orleans, always happy in his numerous sales and in the consolation of still having a "few more left of the same sort." The speeches and addresses of the reviewing officers were calculated to inspire the troops with the impression that it was not a burden, but a privilege and right, to bear arms; but, somehow, after years of successful application, the old militia law did become a burden, and, together with Cork muster has become a matter of history.

Geological Formation. - The principal roek for- mation is gneiss. No granite ledges fit for building purposes are known to exist within the limits of the town. A few granite boulders have been found evi- dently deposited during the glacial drift. One of these, found on the Grimes place, now owned by Wm. Mc- Neil, is worthy of special mention, since it furnished the building stone for several of the earlier constructed farm-houses in the town. These old houses are all of

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DEERING.

similar construction, as, for example, that one on the Grimes place; on the farm of Robert P. Cressey ; on the farm of Bartlett S. Brown ; on the farm of Josiah H. Loveren, etc. A quartz ledge is developed on the farm of Rodney Gove. and on land of Russell Tubbs, Esq., near the centre of the town, from which many fine specimens of crystallized quartz have been taken. 'A mine of plumbago on the farm of S. S. Clement, Esq., was worked for several seasons; but the vein or lode running constantly deeper into the hill, the en- gineering difficulties in working the mine became so great as to lead to its abandonment. The ore was of excellent quality, and would have paid liberally for the working, had it not been for the above conditions. The whole surface of the town bears marks of the glacial drift, the general direction of which was from north to south. The ridges of land extend in the same direction, the southerly slopes of which are smoother and better adapted to cultivation than the northerly portions of the same. The outlets or over- flow of all the ponds is in the same direction-from north to south.

Clay-beds exist in the west part of the town, near the river ; also on the farms of George C. Patten, Bart- lett S. Brown and Horace B. Cressey, from which brick were made to supply the wants of the earlier settlers.

Proprietary Records .- Deering originally formed a portion of Society Land. This territory became the property of the Masonian proprietors in 1746, by the purchase of the Masonian patent. Previous to this purchase the land titles in New Hampshire had been subjected to much litigation and dispute. John Tuf- ton Mason, the original grantee of all the lands within the Province, died without entering into possession of them. After his death the dispute was still carried on between New Hampshire and Massachusetts which claimed jurisdiction over the territory of the former, until finally settled by the arbitration of the crown in favor of the former province. The heirs of Mason then revived their claim and sold to a company of in- dividuals, mostly wealthy residents of Portsmouth and vicinity, all the right and title of John Tufton Mason to the lands within the province of New Hampshire. The individuals or shareholders of this company were styled the " Proprietors." They commenced business in 1748 by quit-claiming to actual settlers all those grants of land made by New Hampshire and Massa- chusetts during the period of dispute, and making new grants in their own right. This policy secured to them the possession of the vacant lands with little or no opposition. A large territory bounded on the south by Salem-Canada (now Lyndeborough), Peter- borough and Monadnock No. 3, (now Dublin) ; on the north by Nos. 6 and 7 in the line of towns. so called (now Henniker and Hillsborough) ; on the west by Monad- nock Nos. 6 and 7, (now Nelson and Stoddard) ; on the east by Weare's Town and New Boston, was vacant land, -that is, not covered by any previous grant. It there-

fore became the property of this company, as above stated. From the circumstance of its being owned in common, it gradually became known as Society Land, and the name of Cumberland, which had been previously applied to it, fell into disuse. The pro- prietors caused a survey to be made of the whole ter- ritory in 1753, under the direction of Colonel Joseph Blanchard, and at a meeting of the proprietors held at Portsmouth, October 17, 1753, Robert Fletcher, the surveyor who executed the work, made a report and presented a plan of the survey. The whole tract was divided into fifteen equal shares, corresponding with the number of shares in the company. There were also fifteen river or intervale shares of five hun- dred acres each, laid out between the great falls, so called (now Bennington village), and Keyes Farm, (a small reservation of five hundred acres laid out on the Contoocook River, joining on the line of towns). The large shares contained on an average four thou- sand acres ; but where the land was not so good, more land was taken to make each share equal in value. The report and plan of the surveyor were accepted and a drawing of the lots took place.

No. 1 was drawn by Mark H. Wentworth ; No. 2, by Samuel Solly and Clement March ; No. 3, by Colonel Joseph Blanchard, Nathaniel Meserve, Joseph Green and Paul March; No. 4, by John Wentworth, Esq. ; No. 5, by Daniel Pierce and Mary Moore; No. 6, by George Jaffery, Esq .; No. 7, by John Moffat, Esq. ; No. 8, by Thomas Wallingford,

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 88

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