USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 32
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"Joe English" came to his death in consequence of his fidel- ity to the whites. The hostile Indians determined upon his death, and kept constantly upon his path. At length, July 27, 1706, Lt. Butterfield and his wife, riding betwixt Dunstable and Chelmsford, on horse-back, with "Joe English" as com- panion and a guard, fell into an Indian ambuscade. The horse was shot upon the first fire, Butterfield and his wife falling to the ground. The main object of the Indians being to secure "Joe,"; Butterfield and the soldier made their escape, while the Indians, one of the party being left in charge of Mrs. Butter- field, went in pursuit of him. "Joe" made for the woods, with several Indians in full pursuit, and finding them gaining upon him, he turned about and presented his gun as if to fire. The Indians fearing his fatal aim, fell upon the ground, and "Joe" took to his heels for life. Again the Indians gained upon him, and "Joe" again presented his trusty gun and for fear of it, the Indians again threw themselves upon the ground. This was repeated several times, until "Joe" had almost gained the thick woods, when one of the Indians, despairing of taking him alive, and fearing he would escape them, fired upon him, break- ing the arm with which he held his gun. The gun fell to the ground and "Joe" redoubled his speed. But just as he gained the wood, a shot struck his thigh, and he fell to the ground. His fall was the signal for a yell of triumph, from the Indians in pursuit. When they came up to him they expressed their pleasure in no measured terms. "Now Joe," said they, "we got you, you no tell English again, we come ! "No," retorted "Joe" "Cap'n Butterfield tell that at Pawtucket." "Hugh ! ex- claimed the Indians, the thought just striking them, that the sol- diers at the Block Houses, at Pawtucket or Dunstable, alarmed by the whites who had escaped, would be upon them in a short time. There was no time for delay. Joe could not be carried away, and one of them buried his hatchet in the head of the prostrate Indian. Thus died "Joe English," the faithful friend of the white man. The services of "Joe English" were con- sidered so meritorious, that a grant was made to his wife and two children, by the Legislature of Massachusetts, because as the words of the grant have it, "he died in the service of his country."
The swamps and mountains of Goffstown afforded most ex-
255
A CATAMOUNT HUNT.
cellent hunting grounds, and they were well improved by the first settlers. Bears were frequent on the "Uncanoonucks," and Judge Kelly, a native of Goffstown informs us that within 45 years, as he was passing up the river road, above the village of Amoskeag, he saw two children crouching upon the river bank, as if in fear of some object, and turning his eye upon the bluff which overhung the road, a luge bear was leisurely viewing the group below !
At no great distance from this bluff, is the Great or Cedar Swamp. This swamp wa a famous resort in olden time of deer, moose, and other game. Of course it was much fre- quented by those expert leer hunters, wolves and catamounts." Long after the settlement of the town, Gen. Stark crossed the river with a friend fron "down below" to hunt in this swamp for deer. The gentlenan was anxious to get a shot at a deer, and Stark placed himon a good track for a shot. But for fear he might not be a sue shot, he kept witin hailing distance, that he might make sureof what his friend might miss. They had proceeded but a shot distance into the swamp before his friend cried out in a subdued voice, "Stark ! Stark ! come here !" Stark supposing he had discovered a deer or a moose, "replied what do you see ?" "The d-1 !" answered his friend. At the moment of his answer cane the report of nis gun! Stark rushed for- ward and there ay almost at the feet of his friend a hugh cata- mount, writhing in the agonies of death, while his friend was deliberately bading his gun! Discovering the catamount among the lover branches of a tree, his fierce eye balls glaring, and his tail Ishing the limbs, he called to Stark to come up to his assistanc. Startled at the voice, the catamount prepared to leap upor him, but the hunter was in time, and placed a ball very handømely between his eyes! Yet with a ball in his brain, this powerful animal made a bound of thirty feet to- wards hisintended victim ! Upon viewing the scene, Stark thus expressed his satisfaction of his friend's aptness as a shot under circumstances that had made stout hunters quail, "Well I guess you'll d !"
This animal was frequently killed in this neighborhood; Col. John Goffe was once returning from a hunting excursion up the Piscataquog valley, when he discovered a catamount upon his track. He immediately cut a part of a quarter of a buck he was bringing home, and threw it in his track, in hopes that his hunger satiated, the animal would leave his track. He could see the catamount throw the deer's leg into the air as if in play. Soon after he lost sight of him. Tired and jaded,
256
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
he camped on a small brock that empties into the Piscataquog from the north, below Goffstown Center. Here he slept till sunrise, when upon waking up and looking upon a tree nearly over him, he saw his companion of the day before, viewing the the group in the camp. Without moving from his position, he jostled his dog near him asleep which jumped up and com- menced barking. The catamouit upon this leaped upon an adjacent tree, but soon returned to its first position, lashing it- self into a rage. Upon this Goff raised his trusty gun and fired ; the catamount fell near to thecamp, was soon skinned and carried home by the fearles hunter. This brook then took, and is now known by the name of "Catamount Brook."
Subsequently, as Matthew Patten arl Robert Walker of Bed- ford were returning from a hunting excursion up the Pis- cataquog, in " The Bog," an extensive tract of swampy land, in the south west part of New Boston, teir dog took the track of a catamount. The animal soon tool to a tree and the dog commenced a furious barking. The trak showed the animal to be one of large size, and Patten propoed that they should pass along without attempting to kill him. Walker however, valued his dog highly and was unwilling to leave him in so * unequal a contest, and the hunters concluded to give him fight. They accordingly went into the thick woods, and found the catamount upon a branch of a large rock maple. Walker was one of the best shots in the region, but uder the excite- ment, he fired at the animal without touching lim. The cat- amount became completely aroused and lashel the tree at a furious rate. Upon this Walker said to his companion, "Mat- thew hand me your gun, fear has left me, and I will kill him." Matthew handed him his gun, he fired and the ajmal leaped upon the ground in the agony of death. The hunter had put a ball through his heart. He proved to be of imnense size. The skin of his tail was kept for a long time as atrophy ; it was so long that Deacon Walker could pass it around his body, and tie it in a beau-knot !
But the Cedar swamp in Goffstown now contains a curiosity as rare in the vegetable kingdom, as is the bear or catamount, in the animal kingdom. Here, in the dark recesses of the swamp, is found in all its luxuriant splendor, the Rose Bay, (Rhododendron Maximum,) a most superb flowering shrub, or tree, indigenous to America.
Here it grows, and "wastes its sweetness on the desert air," unnoticed and unvisited, save by a very few, while if it were
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THE RHODODENDRON.
to be found in the remotest bog of England, its praises would be heralded in every paper, its beauties would attract the atten- tion of the entire traveling community, and specimens, by royal command, would be transported to the royal gardens, and the ingenuity of a Paxton called in requisition to furnish it a home suited to its peculiar nature, without regard to expense. But here, we are so accustomed to the sublime and beautiful in nature, that the noblest specimens of either, attract less at- tention, and are passed with but a common-place remark.
The farmers of Goffstown have ever ranked in the first class, and they can show some noble farms. The "County Farm" is located upon the "Squog" in this town, about four miles from Manchester, and is probably unsurpassed by any other in the County. Considerable business was formerly done at the West Village, as is evident from the unoccupied stores and oth- er buildings there to be seen ; but Manchester has absorbed it almost entirely, perhaps to the injury of a few individuals. But the people of the town at large, are more than compensated by the ready market a manufacturing City affords for the produce of their farms.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
CHAPTER XIV.
Charter of Derryfield .- Difficulties at Chester .- Rev. Moses Hale,-Rev. John Wilson .- Rev. Ebenezer Flagg .- Arrest of Campbell and Tolford .- Chester consents to setting off a part of her territory to form Derryfield .- London- derry objects .- Notified of Petition .- Pays no attention to it .- Again noti- fied and a town-meeting called .- Vote .- Derryfield chartered .- Charter .- Description of township .- " Chester Old Line."-"The Peak."-" Derry Old Line."-Organization of the town .- First town. meeting .- Second town-meeting .- Laying out Highways .- Old Style and New Style .- Value of Money .- Old Tenor and New Tenor .- Contemplated armed possession of the Coos Country .- Proceed to examine and survey that country .- In- dians become exasperated .- Determine upon retaliation .- Attack Stark and his party on Baker's river .- Stark and Eastman carried to Canada .- Run the gauntlet .- Ransomed .- Sabatis and Plausawa at Canterbury .- Capture two negro slaves .- The Province still determined to take possession of Coos. Indians remonstrate .- Committee mark a road to Coos .- Sabatis and Plaus- awa killed at Contoocook,-Bowen and Morrill put in jail. - Jail broken open and they released .- Indians make an attack at Stevenstown .- Meloon and family taken .- Company ordered to Stevenstown under Capt. Webster of Derryfield .- The Roll .- Meloon and wife sold to a French Priest .-- Ran- somed .- Great Earthquake.
The people in the immediate neighborhood being so succes- ful in obtaining grants from the Masonian proprietors, and Charters from the Governor and Council, the subject began to agitated among the people of Amoskeag, upon the ungranted lands called Harrytown, of obtaining chartered privileges. The territory was altogether too small for a township, but the sub- ject was broached of severing portions of the neighboring townships of Chester and Londonderry, uniting them with Harrytown, and thus forming a township. It was a very op- portune time for such a project. There had existed for years a great deal of excitement in the adjoining town of Chester between the English Congregationalists and the Scotch Irish Presbyterians in relation to the settlement of a minister. As early as 1730, the people of Chester settled the Rev. Moses Hale as their minister. But he being a Congregationalist, was the minister of a part and not of the whole. The Presbyteri-
259
CHARTER OF DERRYFIELD.
ans were disinclined to hear him preach, or to pay taxes for his support. He left in 1734. The Presbyterians then settled the Rev. John Wilson as their pastor, and in 1738 built a meeting house for their accomodation. In 1736 the Congrega- tionalists, who were a majority, succeeded in settling another minister, the Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, though not without the most strenuous opposition on the part of the Presbyterians. The Presbyterians were taxed for Mr. Flagg's support, and of course refused to pay their taxes assessed for such purpose. The majority of course were equally determined that they should pay them, and the Collector arrested two of them, James Camp- bell, and John Tolford, and committed them to the jail in Ex- eter. A tedious lawsuit ensued, and in the end the Presby- terians won their case, and in 1740 each Society had the priv- ilege by Charter, of holding their own meetings, and paying their own ministers. As a usual result of religious feuds, the most bitter enmity existed betwixt the parties and continued for years. Accordingly when the subject was broached of set- ting off the south west section of Chester, for the purpose of forming a new township, a majority of the people favored it, as the most of the people upon the lands proposed to be sepa- rated, were Scotch Irish Presbyterians! And at the meeting of the town of Chester, holden March 28, 1750, there was an article in the warrant, "to see if the town would vote, that a cer- tain parcell of land laying at the south west corner of the town containing four miles and a half in length, and two miles and three quarters in width : begining at the south west corner of the 134th lot, in the fourth division, and running four miles and a half to the North East corner of the 71st lot, in said division, then Westward to the head line of the town, may be adjoined with part of Londonderry, and the lands about Amoskeag not incorporated into a parish or otherwise, as the town shall then think and judge best."
"It was voted that the land may be set off as a parish, upon the following conditions, to wit ; That any person who has land (which) falls within said tract, never pay any taxes for the same until they make settlement upon the same, and that this vote shall be of no effect unless they obtain a grant of the Governor and Council, for to be incorporated into a parish, tak- ing in this Amoskeag, and a part of Londonderry, as set forth in a plan presented at the meeting this day."
"Capt. John Tolford, Archibald Dunlop, William Crawford, Robert Wilson, descents againts the foregoing ; because it cuts off part of the parish already set off by the general court, and
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
further cuts them off from a privilige to their own land."
But the people of Londonderry were not so favorably dispos- ed towards the project, and took no action upon it at the annu- al meeting. Nevertheless, the petition was presented to the Governor and Council, on the 17th day of July, 1751, of Thomas George, Abraham Merrill and others, praying for a charter, for the proposed township.
The Council record shows the following action by that body upon the petition.
"Portsmouth, 17th of July, 1751.
Upon reading the petition of Thos. George, Abraham Mer- rill and others, praying to have the inhabitants of a tract of land, lying partly in Chester, partly in Londonderry, and part- ly land not heretofore incorporated, lying between those towns and Merrimack River, incorporated, and the Inhabitants thereon invested with the privileges of a Town &c., and it appearing by a vote of the Town of Chester, that they had consented so far as they were concerned ; but Londonderry not having sig- nified their consent; Ordered, that the Town of Londonderry be notified hereof that they may shew cause if any they have ; why the prayer of the said Petition, may not be granted on the first of August next, and that the petitioners serve the Select- men or Town Clerk of Londonderry with a copy of the pe- tition and this order."*
This notice was duly served doubtless, but the people of Londonderry seem to have taken no legal notice of it. There was no meeting of the Inhabitants called upon the subject, but when the Governor and Council met, Capt. Samuel Barr of Londonderry appeared on the part of the town. He may have appeared by request of the Selectmen or the Proprietors, or by some other improper authority, but was denied a hearing. The following action was had in the Council.
"Portsmouth 1st August, 1751.
Capt. Samuel Barr appeared in Council, and desired to be heared in behalf of Londonderry, on the Petition of Thomas George, Abraham Merrill and others, relating to a Parish as en- tered the 17th July last, but his power of appearing being in- sufficient, and he praying a further time to notify the Town, and to know their oppinion, &c; Ordered, that the affair of the said Petition be suspended till the first Tuesday in September next, and that the sd Town be notified accordingly and show
Council Minutes, Secretary's Office, N. H.
261
CHARTER OF DERRYFIELD.
cause if any they have why the prayer of the sd Petition should not be granted."*
Upon this, notice was again served upon the town of Lon- donderry, and on the 12th of August, a warrant was posted calling a town meeting on Wednesday the 28th inst., the 2d article of which was as follows :
"To see what they will do in regard to a petition presented by Thomas George, and one Merrill, with others, to have a strip off the side of this town to make a new parish at or near Amoskeag."+
At the meeting on the 2Sth of August, the following action was had on the 2d article in the warrant.
"Voted to grant the prayer of the petition of Thomas George and one Merrill with others, this far ; (viz.) begining at the pine tree No. 134, and run south a mile into Derry township and then a west line or point to Derry town line, providing that they of the new parish or town to be incorporated, shall not rule our land till settled, also that John McMurphy Esq. is to appear at Court to see that the thing may be done accord- ing to this vote."
Upon the meeting of the Governor and Council on the first Tuesday of September (the 3d inst, ) the parties appeared and no serious objections being made on the part of Londonderry, the Governor was directed to grant a charter, which was as follows :
LS. "Province of New Hampshire.
George the second by the grace of God, of Great Britian France and Ireland King, De- fender of the Faith, &c., and to all whom these presents shall come.
GREETING:
Whereas our loyal subjects, inhabitants of a tract of land within our province of New Hampshire aforesaid lying partly within that part of our province of New Hamp- shire called Londonderry in part, and in part in Chester, and in part of land not heretofore granted to any town within our province aforesaid, have humbly petitioned and requested to us that they may be erected and incorporated into a township, and infranchised with the same powers and privileges, which other towns within our said province by law have and enjoy ;
*Council Minutes, Secretary's Office, N. H.
+See records of Londonderry, p. 283.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
and it appearing to us to be conducive to the general good of our said province, as well as of said inhabitants in particular, by maintaining good order, and incouraging the cultivation of the land, that the same should be done; Know Ye therefore, that we of our especial grace, certain knowledge and for the in- couragement and promoting the good purposes and ends afore- said, by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor, and Commander in Cheif, and of our Council of onr Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, have erected and ordained, and by these presents for ourselves and successors, do will, and ordain, that the inhabi- tants of a (the) tract of land aforesaid, shall inhabit and im- prove thereon hereafter butted and bounded as follows; viz ; Beginning at a pitch pine tree standing upon the town line, be- tween Chester and Londonderry, marked one hundred and thirty-four, being the bounds of one of the sixty acre lots in said Chester, being the South West corner of said lot, thence running south into the township of Londonderry one hundred and sixty rods to a stake and stones, thence run- ning west to Londonderry North and South line, thence run- ning South upon Londonderry line to the Head line of Litch- field to a stake and stones, thence running upon the head line of Litchfield to the Bank of Merrimack river, thence running up said river, as the river runs, eight miles to a stake and stones, standing upon the bank of said river, thence run- ning East South East one mile and three quarters, through land not granted to any town, until it comes to Chester line, thence running two miles and a half and fifty-two rods on the same course into the township of Chester, to a stake and stones, thence running south four miles and a half to the bounds first mentioned, all which lands within said bounds which lies with- in the townships of Londonderry and Chester aforesaid, are not to be liable to pay any taxes or rates, but as they shall be set- tled, and by these presents are declared and ordained to be a town corporated, and are hereby erected and incorporated into a body politick, and a corporation to have continuance forever by the name of Derryfield, with all the powers, authorities priv- iliges, immunites and infranchises to them the said inhabitants and their successors forever, always reserving to us our heirs, and successors, all white pine trees growing, and being, or that shall hereafter grow and be on the said tract of land, fit for the use of our Royal Navy, reserving also the power of dividing said town to us, our heirs and successors, when it shall appear necessary and convenient for the benefit of the inhabitants,
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CHARTER OF DERRYFIELD.
thereof and as the several towns within our said province of New Hampshire, are by law thereof entitled and authorized to assemble, and by the majority of votes to choose all said offi. cers as are mentioned in the said laws.
We do by these presents nominate and appoint John McMur- phy to call the first meeting of the inhabitants to be held with- in the said town at any time within twenty days from the day hereof giving legal notice of the time, place, and design of holding said meeting, in said town, after which the annual meeting in said town shall be held for the choice of town offi- cers, and forever on the first monday in March annually. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Prov- ince to be hereto affixed.
Witness, Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Com- mander in Chief of our said Province, the third day of Sep- tember, in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one, and in the twenty fifth year of our Reign.
By His Excellency's Command
with advice of Council,
B. WENTWORTH.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy.
Province of New Hampshire.
Entered and recorded in the Book of Charter, this third day of September 1756, pages 79 & 80.
PER. THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y."
This charter covered about 18 square miles of the south west part of Chester, about 9 square miles of the north west part of Londonderry, including The Peak ; and the strip of land betwixt Londonderry, Chester, and the Merrimack River, called Harrytown, containing about 8 Square miles.
This charter did not embrace the whole of what was known as Harrytown, a nook at the north part betwixt Chester and the Merrimack being left ungranted. This contained about 2 square miles, was called Harrysborough, and was added to Derryfield at a subsequent period.
The west line of Chester commenced at a point about half a mile north of the Cohas a few rods east of the Nutt road, and extended north until it struck the Merrimack. It passed through that part of the city known as Hallsville, crossing the Halls- ville road betwixt the house of Josiah I. Hall, and that of Dr. Z. Colburn, and so north, crossing Hanover street near Wilson's ledge, and forming the division line betwixt the city
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
farm formerly owned by Moses Davis, and the one the proper- ty of the heirs of the late John Hall. This line at the initial point was about a mile and a half from the Merrimack, and this distance continued to lessen as it extended, until it met the Merrimack in what is now Hooksett. In the old deeds and in the language of the neighborhood it is known as "Chester old line."
The general form of Londonderry was diamond shape. Its west line commenced at a point in the present town of Hudson, and then extended north eleven miles and a half to what is known as the Griffin Tree. At this point it took a north east course, and extended three miles, forming the west side of that nook or tongue of land before spoken of, about three miles in length, and a mile in width, undoubtedly intended to conform to the course of the river, and to cover the fishing ground at Amoskeag Falls. Instead of this, the course of this nook or tongue of land was described in the charter as north north east, and upon being surveyed, it lapped over a portion of Chester. But as Chester was first granted, her limits held good, and her west line cut off' about one half of this nook or tongue of Lon- donderry, leaving to Londonderry, a piece of land in form of a triangle, its base being about a mile in width, opposite the south west corner of Chester, extending north about three miles, and terminating in a point on the west line of Chester, on the "Kid- der lot" so called, north of what is known as the Hall Farm. This tract of land was known as " The Peak." The west line of The Peak, commencing at a point about a mile north of the Cohas, at the "Griffin Tree" before named, on land now owned by Mr. Benjamin Mitchel, passed north north east, cross- ing the Nutt road near the house of Capt. Nathaniel Batchel- der, the "old Ferry road" a little east of the house of Mr. John H. Moore, the Hallsville road, near the east corner of the "rye field," Hanover street, just east of the Spofford house, Concord street where the house stands built by Mr. Ephraim Webster, Lowell street, at its junction with the "old Falls road," Bridge street, near where the mill or Hall brook crosses that street, and terminating in a point on "Chester old line" upon the "Kidder lot" as before named.
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