USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of Hudson, N.H., formerly a part of Dunstable, Mass., 1673-1733, Nottingham, Mass., 1733-1741, District of Nottingham, 1741-1746, Nottingham West, N.H., 1746-1830, Hudson, N.H., 1830-1912 > Part 31
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
This matter came up for consideration at the annual town meeting in March, 1887, when the generous offer was gladly accepted. A committee consisting of Kimball Web- ster, Daniel M. Greeley and Henry C. Brown was chosen to build the wall and improve the yard. Later Mr. Foster increased his gift to twelve hundred dollars.
417
CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS
The committee contracted with Mr. Moses Davis, of Nashua, but a native of Hudson, to build a granite wall, laid in cement, every stone of which should reach through the wall, supported by a substantial foundation and capped with long stones. The wall was completed within the ex- pense of twelve hundred dollars, but without any profit to Mr. Davis, who made as good a wall as was possible with the money regardless of any benefit to himself, on account of his interest in the town.
The yard was cleared and made as attractive as possi- ble, and when Mr. Foster came with his only daughter to see it, he was entirely satisfied with the work in every re- spect. That he might express this satisfaction in a more substantial manner he soon after forwarded the committee three hundred dollars, to be divided equally among the members, to pay them for their services as building com- · mittee. The citizens of Hudson owe an enduring debt of gratitude to Mr. Foster for his patriotic generosity, and to Mr. Davis also.
The names most frequently found in this yard are Smith, Barrett, Haselton, Page, Marshall, Robinson, Cor- liss, Glover, Hale and Merrill.
THE SENTER BURYING GROUND
A small burial place containing about three-fourths of an acre, and called the Senter yard, is located in the north- easterly section of the town, at "Potash Corner," so called in years gone by. The home of Dea. Thomas Senter, from whom it probably derived its name, was near by. The yard lies in that part of the town annexed to Notting- ham West from Londonderry, in 1778, and from the dates of the inscriptions it appears to have been a place of burial for many years previous to the annexation, by several fam- ilies that formerly resided in the south-east corner of Lon- donderry, as well as others living in Nottingham West, now Hudson.
418
HISTORY OF HUDSON
The names most frequently found are Senter, An- drews, Greeley, Farley, Kidder and Hobbs. The most an- cient date is upon a stone roughly marked E L e. K I D. Feb. 24, 1759. This may be an abbreviated form for Kid- der. The next date reads as follows:
Here lyes the body of Mrs. Jean Senter, wife to Mr. John Senter. She died July 10, 1765. Aged 67 years.
The yard is situated upon very hard, gravelly ground, where the digging is difficult, but it seems to be nearly filled with graves, though only a small percentage of them are provided with head stones and inscriptions.
Many years since this little cemetery was inclosed by a very respectable stone wall, but as time passed on it was neglected, until some of the wall had fallen down, so that cattle from the adjoining pastures could enter here and feed at their pleasure. Bushes began to grow above the resting-places of the dead, and altogether the yard became forsaken and neglected. But in 1897 the selectmen, acting under the session laws of that year, repaired the wall, set an iron gate, and transformed the cemetery into a very re- spectable condition.
HUDSON CENTER CEMETERY
When the old cemetery at the Center had become nearly filled with graves, the necessity for a new yard in that vicinity became apparent. Accordingly an association was formed for that purpose in 1849, and at its first meet- ing, December 24, a permanent organization was effected. By-laws were adopted and officers chosen. The signatures to the by-laws were :
Eli Hamblet,
Reuben Greeley,
Jefferson Smith,
John M. Farnum,
Joseph B. Dane, Jeremiah Smith,
Daniel M. Greeley,
James Melvin,
Amory Burnham, Dustin B. Smith,
Thomas Smith, 2d, Henry Smith, Jr.,
419
CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS
James Smith, 2d, William F. Lewis,
Noyes Tenney, Kimball Smith.
The officers elected were:
Jefferson Smith, Joseph B. Dane, James Smith, 2d, Dustin B. Smith, Daniel W. Robinson, Directors; Amory Burnham, Treasurer; Eli Hamblet, Clerk.
Land for the use and purpose was donated by Reuben Greeley, Esq., and it was inclosed later by a substantial stone wall. Tastefully laid out into lots and streets, less than half a mile westerly from Hudson Center, the new cemetery is very convenient to the people of that vicinity. The expense incurred was paid from the sale of lots. After the Nashua and Rochester railroad was laid out, an addi- tion was made to the cemetery by the purchase of the land between the original bounds and the railroad land, making a total area of about three acres. This cemetery has been kept in an excellent condition, and a large number of beau- tiful monuments have been erected here.
SUNNYSIDE CEMETERY
This cemetery is situated on the northerly side of the road leading from the bridge to Hudson Center, about three-fourths of a mile from the former place. The first meeting of the Hudson Cemetery Association, as the soci- ety was named, was held at the house of Ethan Willough- by, December 6, 1845. Articles of association were signed at this meeting, and it was agreed to purchase a piece of land from William Hadley, situated on the north side of the road leading from the North meeting-house to Mr. Hadley's dwelling house. This plot was about two hun- dred feet deep and one hundred and thirteen feet wide, and designed to be used forever as a cemetery. The articles of association were signed by
Ethan Willoughby, Paul Colburn, Cyrus Warren,
David Burns,
Abiather Winn, Mark Willoughby,
420
HISTORY OF HUDSON
Nathan Marshall, Benjamin A. Merrill,
William Hadley, William Blodgett,
David Clement.
There is no record found of any meeting being held for several years after the organization of the association. Still it is probable that meetings were held, as the follow- ing account has been preserved :
MONEY PAID OUT
June 1, 1846, paid William Hadley for land $13.00 November 3, 1849, paid order of Cyrus Warren 4.00
7, " paid order of Charles W. Clement 19.00
January 5, 1852, paid order of Ethan Willoughby 257.00
interest on same 6.50
The money paid Mr. Willoughby was undoubtedly for the stone wall with which he inclosed the ground, as it ap- pears, in 1851, and incidental expenses.
The sale of the first lot recorded is Lot No. 17, to Al- fred Cummings, April 8, 1851. Previous to 1885 all the lots in the cemetery had been sold, and during that year one acre of land on the east side was purchased, and the wall removed so as to include this addition. The new ground was then laid out into lots, and since then all of these lots have been taken up. In 1910, a half acre of land was secured of George W. Marshall for a second addition, and this has been improved.
The incorporators at their meeting of organization voted that the yard should be called "The Hudson Ceme- tery," and therefore that is the legal name, but of late years it has been generally known as "Sunnyside Ceme- tery." It contains many fine monuments, but unfortu- nately the adjoining grounds do not offer, at present, very favorable opportunity for further enlargement.
CATHOLIC CEMETERY
This cemetery, situated on the east side of the Derry road, about three-fourths of a mile north-easterly of Tay-
421
CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS
lor's Falls bridge, was laid out and consecrated by the Church of the Immaculate Conception, of Nashua, in or about 1857.
Ten acres of land were bought for the purpose of a cemetery, extending easterly from the Derry road about three-fourths of a mile. Excepting about an acre on the east side that is swampy and unfit for cemetery purposes, nearly all of the lots of this yard have been taken up. With few exceptions, the interments made here are of persons who were non-residents, principally from Nashua, and num- ber several thousands. In 1907, a strip of land one hun- dred feet wide was secured on the north side and an en- largement made to this cemetery.
CEMETERY OF THE UNKNOWN
In addition to the eight burial places already described, there is one more in town, humble and unpretentious though it is, destitute of a monument or head stone to give an in- scription or record as to the names of those persons whose bodies filled the graves beneath the many mounds, which are still visible, but diminishing year by year. This yard formerly belonged to the old town poor farm, which, situated on the Derry road at the north-east part of the town, the second farm on that road south-westerly of the Londonderry line, was bought by Hudson in 1828, in the days when the resident poor were kept at the town farm. The town maintained this farm for forty years, when, in 1868, it was sold and the few paupers boarded out at the town's expense. So far as it is possible to ascertain from the records, the number of unfortunate inmates of the alms- house during those two score years, varied from six to sev- enteen, the average being from ten to twelve. Many of these eventually found their last resting-places in unmarked graves in this Potter's field. Not a few of them had been prosperous citizens at some time in their lives, but had met with reverses of fortune, and thus their declining years
422
HISTORY OF HUDSON
were passed in darkness, and the closing scene became one of pathos and lasting sadness.
The number of deaths at the alms-house during the forty years of its occupancy is impossible to be ascertained at this time, but the average was probably more than one a year. The remains of these, or at least a majority of them, were interred in the pasture, some distance west from the highway, without any identifying marks to dis- close the name of the person sleeping away the years in an unmarked grave, where the feeding cattle were allowed to roam at their will, trampling upon the mounds of those who once had their friends and loved ones, but whose mem- ories are now lost to the world.
Beyond dispute this was an inexpensive way to dispose of the poor worn-out bodies, but would it not have been much more creditable to the town of Hudson to have had these unfortunates interred in some ground set apart for that purpose? If there could have been no inscribed head stones, the town could at least have had the graves num- bered and recorded, so that in coming years the name of each occupant might be ascertained if nothing more.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE FOSTER FUND-SURPLUS REVENUE
In our description of the Center cemetery we have had occasion to speak of the generous assistance given its im- provement by Mr. John Foster, Jr. John Foster, Sr., who was an inhabitant of this town, kept a grocery store in the Eli Hamblet house at Hudson Center for about nineteen years, from 1811 to 1829 inclusive, where he was generally liked and seems to have had a good business, considering the size of the place. He removed from town prior to 1830.
Mr. Foster married for his second wife, Miss Lucy Hastings, of Bolton, Mass. Four children were born to them while they lived in this town: John Hastings Fos- ter, born December 11, 1811; Emily Foster, born August 25, 1813; John Foster, born December 30, 1817; George Foster, born September 23, 1821.
Of these children, the eldest, John Hastings Foster, died April 26, 1818, in his seventh year, and was buried in the old cemetery at Hudson Center.
John Foster, Jr., became a wealthy merchant in Bos- ton, where he died in 1897. Previous to his decease he executed a will under date of November 21, 1896, in which he provided for many very substantial bequests to cities, towns, public institutes, many of them charitable, and for other purposes. In this will he showed that he still re- membered his native town:
Twenty-third-"I give and bequeath to the town of Hudson, in the state of New Hampshire, the sum of five thousand dollars to be held and invested as a fund, the interest and income of which are to be expended under the direction of such person or persons as the inhabitants of said town may from time to time designate, in procuring any needed medicines and proper delicacies for sick or infirm inhabitants of said town, and in relieving the wants of worthy poor and needy inhabitants of said town who are not paupers."
423
424
HISTORY OF HUDSON
This came before the town as one of the articles to be acted upon at its regular town meeting March 8, 1898.
It was thankfully and unanimously accepted by the town, and Kimball Webster, Hiram Cummings and Henry O. Smith were appointed a committee to take charge of the same.
The amount of the legacy was soon after received from the executors and was invested by the committee in the town of Farmington, N. H., four per cent bonds. The income has since been distributed among the worthy poor of the town, according to the provisions of Mr. Foster's will. It has apparently been the means of relieving or pre- venting much suffering and has caused the happy smile of gladness to cover many despondent faces, as well as be- stowing sincere thankfulness for the thoughtful generosity of Mr. Foster.
SURPLUS REVENUE
In 1836 the United States Congress enacted a law transferring $37,468,859.97, the surplus revenue, to the sev- eral states. This money had accumulated from the sale of public lands.
The New Hampshire Legislature, at the November session, 1836, passed an act authorizing the state treasurer to receive the public funds and give a certificate in behalf of the state that the amount should be safely kept and re- paid whenever called for.
In accordance with the congressional provision, New Hampshire was to receive its share in four regular instal- ments, January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, 1837. The first three, amounting to $669,086.79, were received by the state, but the fourth was never paid. The state also passed an act to deposit this money with the several towns in the following compound ratio: One-half of each town's share was to be made out according to its proportion in the last assessment of public taxes, and the remaining half ac-
425
THE FOSTER FUND-SURPLUS REVENUE
cording to the number of ratable polls in 1836. The towns were to receive their several shares after voting to accept the money, pledging their faith to safely keep and repay it, and appointing an agent to receive it and execute a certifi- cate of deposit.
This certificate, to be signed by the town agent, re- cited, first, that the town had complied with the conditions of the law; second, that it had appointed an agent, and third, that the state treasurer had paid him the money. The agent also certified that the sum had been deposited with the town, and that the town was legally bound, and its faith solemnly pledged for the safe keeping and repayment of the same.
The law compelled the state treasurer to pay over the amounts on receipt of the certificate from the agent; made the towns accountable for the money, and provided that in case they did not repay it on request of the treasurer he could issue his execution for it and collect it of any citizen who could have redress from other citizens. It was made unlawful for the towns to appropriate or expend these funds; in case they did, double the amount could be recovered in an action of debt against them, one-half for the county and the other half for the complainant. However, they might loan the money, and appropriate the income for such pur- poses as they saw fit. Naturally the towns were eager for the money.
At a town meeting February 13, 1837, it was
Voted to accept their proportion of the public money of the United States which may be deposited with the State.
Voted that the Agent which the town shall choose be authorized to pledge the faith of the town for the safe keeping and repayment thereof, by executing a certificate of deposit agreeably to the form prescribed in an Act prescribing for the distribution of the Public money of the United States which shall be deposited with this state, passed January 13, 1837.
Chose David Burns agent for this town for to obtain the money of the State Treasurer and execute the certificate of deposit.
Chose David Burns, Amos Hills and James Pierce, a committee to put the above mentioned money to use, and to take care of the same; to continue in office until the annual meeting in March, 1838.
426
HISTORY OF HUDSON
On March 31, 1837, the town "Voted to authorize the selectmen to borrow two hundred dollars of the surplus money."
March 14, 1838, the town "Chose James Pierce, agent, to take care of the surplus money, and that the Inhabitants have the preference before others."
In town meeting assembled on March 13, 1839, it was
Voted to take $600. of the surplus money-principal-to pay town debts.
March 10, 1840, it was "Voted that James Pierce shall have charge of the surplus money.
"Voted to take all the interest money of our Surplus money for Schools.
"Voted to take $400. of the Surplus money to defray town charges."
On June 13, 1840, the town "Voted to repair the road leading from John Gillis' to Taylor's Falls Bridge .*
"Voted to appoint a committee to repair the road, build a fence and plant shrubbery, the expense to be defrayed by taking the Surplus money in connection with the tax from the Taylor's Falls Bridge.
"Chose William Hadley, Parker Smith & John Gillis as a committee."
On March 9, 1841, it was voted by the town "Not to expend any of the Surplus money, neither principal nor interest."
* The requirement for special repairs upon this road was occasioned by sand being blown into it to a considerable depth, from the land on the north side, which, at that time, was a veritable desert of blowing sand from this road to the Ferry road. A tight board fence was built on the north side of the road, extending from near the Gillis buildings on the east to near the top of the hill on the west, and a row of willow trees was set out on each side of the highway. The board fence as constructed was about six feet in height. These willows flour- ished abundantly, and in a few years became very beautiful as shade trees bordering the roadside.
Before many years, the south side row, owing to their rapid growth, became detrimental to the productiveness of the land abutting the road, owned by Mr. Gillis, and they were re- moved. Those on the north side were removed, a few at a time, as the abutting land was re- claimed and utilized for building lots. The remaining trees were removed in 1895, when the electric line was constructed over this road.
427
THE FOSTER FUND-SURPLUS REVENUE
March 8, 1842, "Voted that the surplus revenue be divided equally among the school districts which shall be kept as a permanent literary fund until called for by the state, using annually the interest accruing therefrom. The 2-3 of a District receiving 2-3 as much as a whole District. Each school District shall be responsible for the money received."
The school districts received some more than two hun- dred dollars each
The money was kept by the several districts for a time, and the interest from it expended annually for school purposes. After a longer or shorter time most of the dis- tricts expended their respective shares in constructing or repairing school buildings.
Number Six received about thirteen dollars interest annually from the agent who had the funds in charge, until 1853, when the district erected a new school house, and voted to use the surplus money in defraying the building expenses. Several other districts expended theirs in a similar manner, until, in 1885, when the town adopted the "Town System" of schools, only two of the ten districts retained their surplus revenue money-numbers Three and Five.
Collections from the sale of public lands having exten- sively fallen off about 1837, is said to have been the reason that the fourth instalment was never paid.
The United States has never called upon the states for the return of the surplus revenue, and it is not likely that it ever will do so.
CHAPTER XXXII
ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY
CONGREGATIONAL AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
Any original church records that may have once ex- isted, in relation to the two most ancient churches organ- ized in this town, of an earlier date than 1796, excepting such as are to be found in the town records, have been mislaid or lost.
The founding of the Congregational church November 30, 1737, has been traced in a former chapter. Its first minister, the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, was the son of Dea. Isaac Merrill, and was born in West Newbury, Mass., March 1, 1713, graduated at Harvard College in 1732, and was ordained as pastor over the infant church. The Pres- byterian church was probably organized at the North meeting-house as early as 1771, with the Rev. John Strick- land ordained as its pastor July 3, 1774.
The church records begin with the settlement in the pastorate of Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher, February 24, 1796. Elsewhere in this history may be found copious extracts from the town records relating to the building by the town of the first and second meeting-houses, the building of the North meeting-house, by the Presbyterians, and of the South meeting-house, by the Congregationalists.
At the time Mr. Fisher was ordained, the members of the Congregational church numbered a little over fifty, and while he was pastor, about five years, thirty-six were ad- mitted. At the end of his pastorate in 1801, it was found that there was an arrears on his annual salary of £310, over one thousand dollars, or to be exact, $1,013.92. He asked for a dismissal, which was granted, and the town paid the deficit, members of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches
428
429
ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY
being exempt from any part of this tax according to a vote of the town, passed October 30, 1797.
For fifteen years, following the close of Mr. Fisher's pastorate, the church was inactive and very few members were added. Preaching was sustained but a small part of the time, until October 15, 1816, when the Congregational church united with the members of the Presbyterian de- nomination and organized a Presbyterian church under the Londonderry Presbytery. The names of only eleven Pres- byterians and thirteen Congregationalists are given as form- ing the union. But soon after the new organization was accomplished many former members of the old churches were admitted.
Though there was no settled minister until 1825, preaching was maintained nearly all of the time, and this was divided between the two meeting-houses, twenty-four Sabbaths at the North meeting-house and the balance at the South house, so as to accommodate the people living in the different parts. During this period the pulpit was sup- plied by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, Rev. Samuel Harris, Rev. Mr. Starkweather, and others.
November 2, 1825, Rev. William K. Talbot was or- dained under an agreement that he should remain as pastor for five years at a salary of four hundred dollars annually. At this time the church had a membership of about ninety, but during Mr. Talbot's pastorate at the end of four years, more than one hundred new members had been admitted. But his salary was so much in arrears that he requested his dismissal. The church, claiming that he had agreed to re- main another year, refused to grant his request. There- upon he appealed to the Presbytery. The church, still op- posed to his release, chose Elder Jonathan Hills as a com- mittee to attend the Presbytery and there oppose his dis- charge by that body. A lengthy article was submitted showing why Mr. Talbot should not be allowed to go. Among these arguments were the following:
"The subject to which we have to call your attention is one of the deepest moment to us, one which tires our
430
HISTORY OF HUDSON
hearts and brings darkness and discouragement on our future prospects.
"After being destitute of the settled ministry for about thirty-six years, through your beneficence we were blessed with a faithful pastor, whose labors God has been pleased to own in a most wonderful manner, and we may safely say that, that union which marked our proceedings on the day of his consecration has not in the least been marred by a closer and more intimate acquaintance. . The Rev. Mr. Talbot commenced his ministry and nearly $350 was subscribed for his support.
"On the 2. of Nov. 1825 he was ordained to the pas- toral charge of the church and congregation, and the Pres- bytery then became responsible for only $50.
"The first year we were negligent in collecting the sum subscribed until the revival of religion commenced and then neither minister or people had much time to think of the consequence of an arrearage and another year passed before much was collected.
"By this time we began to see that unhappy conse- quences would attend.
"Many had died; out of the town sixty deaths had oc- curred in one year, and ten or more of the best families had providentially removed to other places of residence- five of whom were elders or elders elect.
"We also found that there was not the sum of $350 which could be annually collected by reason of failures, deaths and removals, and a portion that was subscribed, because of poverty, could not be collected" The request of Mr. Talbot was granted by the Presbytery, when he re- moved from town.
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.