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 56
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Every man will have pay, as the last militia had. But it must be done without loss of time. And if your brother-in- law, Samuel Moor, would be forward in this affair, it would be to his everlasting honor. Pray show yourselves friends to the country this once.
I am your loving father, JOHN GOFFE. To Maj. John Goffe.
Pray let Capt. Moor see this after you have read it."
He was open and fearless in his advocacy of the cause of the people. Governor Wentworth, as he had favored him in the way of office and grants, thought to control him, and was much chagrined when Col. Goffe openly told him of his mis- conduct in attempting to control the Legislature. The Gov- ernor became so enraged as to lose his proprity, and used some abusive language towards Goffe. The Colonel, old as he was, was ready to resent an insult, and seizing the Govern- or, he would have ejected him from the room, had it not been for the interference of their friends! He was the military teacher of the Rogers, the Todds, the Hazens, the Stevens, the Starks, and that host of brave soldiers, that in the Seven Years War and the Revolution, so nobly upon the battle field, did honor to their teacher, themselves, and Amoskeag.
Although a military man and in actual service for years, Col. Goffe was a strictly religious man, and favored all attemps for
520
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
the support of the gospel in this town. For many years, when there was no regular preaching at the meeting house, he held meetings at his own house on sabbath evenings, leading in the exercises himself. It is said, that he was "apt in exhortation and prayer." And he practised what he preached, for aside from being examplary in his conduct as a man and christian, he con- tributed largely of his means towards religious and charitable objects. No man in town paid more towards the building and repairing of the meeting house, or for support of preaching in it, and no worthy person went from his door without experi- encing his hospitality. The memory of such a man should ever be held in the most grateful remembrance.
Very little had been said as to the Masonian claim, after the sale of it to the proprietors by John Tufton Mason in 1746. After the war was at an end in 1783, this claim was again brought into controversey. Mason, and the proprietors after him, claimed that their north west line was a course running parallel to and sixty miles distant from the sea-shore between the Rivers, Piscataqua, and Merrimack, which is a curve exten- ding north west into the land. Their opponents denied their claim, and contended that the noth west line of the Masonian claim was a straight one, extended from the northwest extremi- ty of the east line of Mason's line patent to the northwest ex- tremity of the west line of said patent. This controversy involv- ed the title to the land in some fifty or more towns and was one of grave importance. A large portion of the land was settled. the occupants derviing titles primarily from different claimants. Some claimed by grants from the king, some had purchased of the heirs of Samuel Allen, others held grants from the state, and others still had purchased from the Masonian proprietors. The State of New Hampshire had become the main party to the controversy, as against the Masonian proprietors.
The inhabitants upon the disputed territory naturally became excited, the title to their lands being in doubt, and at length the Legislature came to a determination to settle the contro- versy. Accordingly, January 16, 1787, they appointed John McDuffie, Josiah Bartlett, and Archibald McMurphy, Esqr's, a committee with full powers to run and determine the line in con- troversy.
The June following, they passed a law quieting all oc- cupants of the lands in controversy in their possession of the same, so far as that, the state should not disturb or interfere
521
FIRST ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
with their titles, whether obtained from the king, the heirs of Samuel Allen, or the Masonian proprietors. The committee appointed to run this line determined upon a straight line as the head line of Mason's patent, and reported their doings to the Legislature. Upon this the Masonian proprietors came for- ward and proposed to purchase the claim of the state to the land in controversy. Their proposition was acceded to, and the Legislature voted to sell the claim for forty thousand dollars in state securities, and eight hundred dollars in specie. The Ma- sonian proprietors obligated themselves to pay that sum, and the Legislature, June 18th, 1788, appointed Thomas Bartlett, Dud- ley Odlin, and Archibald McMurphy, Esqrs., a committee with full authority to transfer the title of the state to these lands, to the Masonian proprietors. Thus ended a long and trouble- some controversy as to "Masons's patent," that had existed in some shape or other, for one hundred and fifty years.
The Constitution of the United States having been adopted, elections were ordered in the several states by their legislatures, In this state it took place on the third Monday of December, 1788, the balloting in this town for Electors, was as follows :
Gen. John Stark,
12
Hon. Matthew Thornton,
8
John Bell, 10
Archibald McMurphy,
11
Hon. John Calf,
9
Gen. Peabody,
5
Mr. Foster,
3
His Excellency John Sullivan,
2
Mr. West,
1
The electoral vote of this state was thrown for General George Washington, and he was unanimously elected President of the United States.
In 1790, the population of this town amounted to 362, being an increase of only 77 inhabitants since the census of 1775. This small increase was doubtless attributable to the unsettled state of the country.
Enterprise had now begun to spring up in this hitherto neg- lected region, that ere long was to increase and flourish with an unprecedented growth.
In June 1792 the proprietors of the Amoskeag Bridge were incorporated. They organized and commenced operations with a great deal of energy. They commenced cutting the timber
522
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
for the bridge on the 3d day of August, and on the 20th day of the following month the bridge was passable. 'This was a great enterprise for the time, and was mainly accomplished through the energy of Robert McGregor Esq., who lived just across the river in Goffstown, and from whom the bridge was more gen- erally called "McGregor's Bridge." "This bridge crossed the Merrimack at the foot of Bridge street where the foundation of its abutments and piers can now be seen.
The presidential election took place in this state May 27, 1792, and in Derryfied the 2d article in the warrant calling the town, meeting coming up for action, viz ; "To bring in your votes for six persons to elect a President and Vice President of the United States," it was voted to dismiss the same. This vote shows that very little interest was taken in the election, as the people were unanimous in favor of Washington, who was again elected President of the United States.
In the Summer and Fall of this year, the small pox prevail- ed in town and caused great excitement.
The project was started of inoculating the inhabitants with the disease, and furnishing a house for the purpose. A town meeting was called for the purpose ; but the project was voted down.
Gen. Stark had his family inoculated, and some others in town went to his house and had the disease by inoculation. The excitement continued, and another meeting was called to "prevent the spreading of the small pox in this town," and to choose a committee "to enquire into the cause of the small pox coming into this town, and to punish the offenders." At the meeting, January 10, 1793, a committee was raised for the purpose, but the vote was afterwards reconsidered and the ar- ticle dismissed.
In the charter of the town, the west line extending but eight miles from Litchfield up the" Merrimack, there was a gore of land remaining betwixt the north line of Derryfield, and the south west line of Chester, and the Merrimack, unincorporated. This was a part of "Harrytown" and was called "Henrys- burg," or "Henrysborough " Settlers had entered upon, and occupied the gore, and came in for the advantages of the roads built by Chester and Derryfield without contributing anything therefor in the way of taxes. It was thought proper that this gore should be annexed to Derryfiold. Accordingly at the meeting, Oct, 30, it was
Te
t S th T
-
523
LINING THE PSALM.
"Voted, to have the Gore of land called Heneryburg an- nexed to this town." and measures were taken to effect the annexation. The town of Chester came into the arrangement and the annexation was consummated.
In the warrant, calling the annual meeting for 1793, there was the following article ;
"6thly, To see what method the town will take to provide singing the present year."
At the meeting March, 4, upon this article it was
"Voted, That Capt. Perham set the Psalm."
"Voted, That John Goffe, read the Psalm."
These votes were that Capt. Perham, should name the tune in which the psalm was to be sung, or that he should act as chorister, while John Goffe was to read or line the psalm, as it was called.
This was done generally by one of the deacons, hence lining the psalm, became to be called oftentimes "deaconing it." Li- ning or deaconing the psalm, was done in this manner. The minister named and read the psalm or hymn, the chorister named the tune in which it was to be sung, and the deacon in a loud, sonorous voice, read the two first lines of the psalm or hymn, to the congregation. The chorister then commenced singing the lines read, and all the congregation joined in singing them. The first lines disposed of, the deacon read the next two lines, and they were sung, and so on through the hymn. This lin- ing the psalm grew out of the necessity of the case. All in the congregation, who could, were expected to sing. Very few of them had books; in fact, the psalm books were often confined to the minister and deacon. Hence the necessity of lining, as an attentive congregation could repeat one or two lines after the deacon, very readily, and thus were able to join in the singing. Singing by choirs was a great innovation, and was not brought about without much opposition. In some in- stances the deacons objected to the innovation, and left the churches upon its introduction, and in others the ministers were opposed to it, and would not read psalms when on ex- change, where the practice of lining had been done away.
Under the Constitution of 1792, Derryfield was classed with Litchfield, for the choice of a representative and at the joint meeting of the inhabitants of the two towns held March, 25th, 1793, Major John Webster, of Derryfield was chosen repre-
I
he
524
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
sentative. It was voted that "the meeting for the choice of rep- resentative next year be at Capt. Corthorans (Cochran, ) in Litch- field and the year after at Capt. Moor's in Derryfield." And the meetings continued always to be held at these places al- ternately, as long as these two towns were classed for the choice of a representative. The meetings at Capt. Moor's were usually held at his barn, and in pleasant weather, in the barn yard, the ox-cart answering the purpose of the Modera- tor's desk ! There are persons living at the present time, who have attended town meetings at Capt. Moor's under such circumstances. Capt. Moor lived at Gofte's Falls or Moor's Village, on the south side of the Cohas, where John P. Moor now resides.
At these meetings for the choice of representatave for the two towns, there was usually a great deal of merrymaking. Wrest- ling was the usual sport and the best men in each town found ready backers for the ring. From wrestling they not unfre- quently came to blows, and sometimes had a fight that would have done no discredit to a Donnybrook fair. On one occa- sion the election wound up with a duel. There was a Blodget in Litchfield, nick-named Hegan Blodget, who boasted a very long and fine cue. While he was intently watching a wrest- ling match in Capt. Moor's barnyard, some roguish wag slip- ped behind him and cut off his cue. This gave mortal offence. He suspected Mr. Samuel Hall of this town of being the man who had perpetrated the foul deed, and in his anger challenged him to mortal combat. The challenge was accepted and the preliminaries arranged. They were to fight with muskets and at forty paces, to make sure work. It was doubted whether Blodget would fight, but he went upon the ground and met his combatant with a firm step. The muskets were handed them by their seconds, the word given, and both guns "flashed in the pan at the same moment."
Upon this, the guns were pronounced foul, and an arrange- ment of the difficulty, was proposed by mutual friends. After some little time Blodget consented to overlook the loss of his cue, if Major Hall "would treat the company." The Major accepted the proposition, and the combatants shook hands over a mug of flip. It soon became known that the guns were loaded with sand, and that Hall was in the secret ; this of course opened the wound of Blodget's honor afresh, which alone could be healed by extensive potations of flip.
The warrant and tax lists for repairing the highways in
RESIDENCE OF MAJ. J. G. CILLEY.
B. W. Thayer &.Ces Lith Boston.
HON. SAMUEL BLODGETT.
525
HON. SAMUEL BLODGET.
town, were first recorded in this year, but no definite limits were prescribed for the districts-such men only were grouped together, as could work most conveniently on certain roads designated in the warrants. There were seven of these lists.
The immense water power at Amoskeag had hitherto been considered only as a barrier, that served as a check to the salmon, shad, and eels in their annual migrations up the Merrimack, and by this means made one of the best fishing places upon this noble river. Few had thought, and no one had spoken of their priceless value, for hydraulic purposes.
But the time had come, when individual enterprise . and energy was to commence the development of furnishing thous- ands upon thousands with remunerative employment, instead of doling out a scanty subsistence to a few fishermen.
For years, there was one man who, as he had viewed the im- mense body of water, that then rushed over the fall, in such wild tumult, had conceived the idea of making them subser- vient to the wants, and conveniences of man. With him, to conceive was to plan, and to plan was to execute.
That man was
HON. SAMUEL BLODGET.
Samuel Blodget was born at Woburn, Mass., April 1, 1724. His great-grandfather, Samuel Blodget, (or Blogget, as it was then written,) resided at Woburn as early as 1655. Little is known of his early life. It was probably marked with all the vicissitudes of fortune usually incident to young men of that day ; the unremitting toil, exciting adventures, fearful mishaps, and savage incursions of an early frontier life.
His opportunities for education, must of necessity have been limited, yet by industriously improving those opportunities, and attentively studying his lessons, received in the great school of life, he became a fair scholar for the times ; had a passable knowledge of mathematicks; a smattering of philosophy ; composed with some force and correctness ; and wrote a plain fair hand.
With such attainments Mr. Blodget could have attained al- most any desirable position in life, at an early period, when well educated men were few, and opportunities many ; but young Blodget, as is too often the case, was possessed of a speculative mind, prone rather to theory than to practice, and
38
526
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER
which resorted to practice for the purpose of carrying out a favorite theory, for the benefit of the community, rather than with any idea of personal emolument.
We first find him at the siege of Louisburg, but in what ca- pacity, is now unknown. It is probable however that he was connected with the Commissary department, as he was after- wards connected with that department in various campaigns, his business acquirements fitting him for its duties, and his ac- tive mind loathing the monotony of the mere soldier's life.
For the succeeding ten years we know but little of the his- tory of Mr. Blodget, but it is certain that in the year 1751, he made a purchase of a farm, in Goffstown, and was doubtless in this neighborhood in 1753, and 4.
His farm was situated upon Black Brook, about two miles from Amoskeag Falls. The war that followed soon after, pre- vented any permanent or successful improvements on his farm, and Mr. Blodget again joined the army in the capacity of sut- tler to the N. H. Regiment. In 1757 he was at the siege of Fort William Henry, and narrowly escaped from the Indians with the loss of his goods, and the clothes from his back. Soon after, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston with much success. A portion of his capital and attention, was devoted to the manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, and he gradually extended this branch of his business into the interior. His main manufacture was at Haverhill, but he had "potash-works" in Hampstead, Goffstown, New Boston, and other places in this neighborhood. In 1766, this part of his business had become so extensive that he established a store in Haverhill, for the purpose of furnishing supplies to those in his employment. His manufacture, and the trade connected with it, naturally led him to engage more or less in the lumber business, and finding both profitable, about 1765 he made large purchases of lands in Hooksett and Goffstown, and built a saw-mill near his place upon Black Brook. He also in that year, sent large "supplies" to his farm in Goffstown, for the use of his people engaged in the manufacture of "pots and lumber." In a short time he opened a store in Goffstown, and extended his mercantile oper- ations in this region. His merchandise was exchanged for pot and pearl ashes, lumber and furs. His lumber was sold at Haverhill and Newbury, and his pot and pearl ashes and furs, were shipped to London, where he had extensive business ar- rangements with Sir William Baker, and others. During this time he was in Boston, where he traded, and was in public business, and was on terms of intimacy with some of its most
527
HON. SAMUEL BLODGET.
distinguishod citizens. In 1769, however, for the purpose of carrying on his business with more convenience, he removed his family to Goffstown and took up a permanent residence up- on his farm. Here he soon obtained an advantageous position in society, and upon the division of the State into Counties, he was appointed a Justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Hillsborough. It is probable, that he had in his mind the improving and canalling the falls at Amos- keag, for we find him purchasing such vast quantities of tim- ber lands, as his prospective means of manufacturing timber upon Black Brook, would by no means justify. His knowledge of the resources of the country, led him to foresee the advanta- ges of canalling the falls upon the river, while it required no great sagacity to foretell their advantages as a water-power. The difficulty of getting his own lumber to market, which had to be hauled past the falls or run over them at high water, doubtless first suggested to him the idea of a canal at these falls, and the idea once suggested, was entertained and at length be- came a ruling principle, if not passion with him. But the Rev- olution put a stop to any action in the matter. A patriot, he engaged in the cause, and was a Commissary or Suttler to Gen. Sullivan's Brigade, in 1775. When the army left Boston Judge Blodget retired to his farm. and took no further active part in the contest, other than to assist with his advice, and his purse, both of which were ready on all occasions. During the continuance of the war, he completed a machine for raising ships from the bottom of rivers, harbors, and the ocean. After the arrival of peace, he spent four years in Europe, in operating his machine, but with little success. But the project of canal- ling the Amoskeag Falls, was still in his mind, and the comple- tion of the Middlesex canal determined him to commence his long cherished project. He accordingly moved to Amoskeag in 1793, and took up his residence on the east bank of the Merrimack, in Derryfield.
He had made his calculations that he could accomplish the undertaking with his own means, and that the investment would be a good one for his children, and at the same time would be of very great importance to the people of the interior. We think his calculations were in the main correct; for if he had built the locks and canal after the usual method, he might have built them in half the time, very nearly if not quite, with his own means, and the investment would have been as it afterwards was, a profitable one, and of vast impor- tance to the people of the interior.
528
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
But he had a Lock of his own invention, and he made a trial of that and made a failure. In this failure, he involved a great portion of his own private fortune.
At this time he owned most of the land immediately ad- jacent to the Falls, on the east side of the river. The mill at the head of the Falls, which stood just above the Amoskeag Bridge was owned by him in common with General Stark. It was built sometime prior to the Revolution, was now old, and Judge Blodget purchased Stark's right in it, and thus complet- ed his title to the privilege on this side of the river. The title to this privilege was necessary to him, as his contemplated improments would flow it out.
BLODGET'S CANAL.
He commenced work upon his canal, May, 2. 1794, and in the course of the season, made considerable progress in blasting and other preparations for the dams and mill pond. From the spring of 1794, Judge Blodget seems to have concentrated all his capital and energies in this project.
In the spring of 1795 he had made such progress with his canal, that Col. William Adams of Londonderry, a skilful car- penter, commenced the wood work of the same on the 18th of May.
A line of dams was constructed from rock to rock, upon the east side of the channel of the river, from a point about fifty- seven rods above the Amoskeag Bridge, down the river, very nearly upon the line of the stone dams and bank wall of the basin of the Amoskeag Company, a distance of about thirty- three rods below the Amoskeag Bridge to a point nearly oppo- site the house now occupied by Samuel B. Kidder, Esq. ; thence it was extended east to the shore, making a basin about ninety rods in length and from four to six in width. The basin was intended to answer the purposes of a canal and mill pond. On the west bank of this basin, and about half way of the same, stood the mill "Industry,"-having a grist mill below it, and above it a saw mill belonging to William Blodget. Out of the south west corner of this basin, the water passed through a slip of three hundred feet in length and twenty feet in width, to the lower canal, commencing above and running immediately west of the Blodget house which part of the canal is now entire- to a point just below said house. From thence the canal fol- lowed the shore of the river down to a point just above the "boiler shop" of the Amoskeag Company, where it passed into the river.
529
BLODGET'S CANAL.
The west embankment of the canal from the Blodget house, downward, was of cobble work, filled with stones and covered with spiling of plank. At convenient distances along this canal check gates were placed so as to raise the water above them a foot or so, making as many slight resevoirs,as there were check gates. These gates were fastened by a hasp and opened down stream. As the raft or boat passed from the reservoirs through the slip, it gained considerable velocity, and as it came against the check gates, the momentum opened the gates and thus the raft or boat passed through the entire length of the canal of it- self. This was an invention of Judge Blodget's. It was found, that however plausible in theory, it did not work well, in practice. The rafts of timber "stove up," and had to be re- rafted, and shingles, staves and barrels were scattered along the shore. It was a failure. But it was attributed to the great descent of the slip. The rafts gained such velocity there, that they stove up at the check gates ! This difficulty was ob- viated by constructing two locks in its place. Accordingly, in 1799, these locks were completed. The upper one, of one hundred and fifty feet in length, was built upon the surface of the ground. The posts at the side, were tennated into the cross sills, while their tops were held together by cross cap timbers, and were still farther secured in their places by braces, extend- ing from near the top of each post, to the cross sill beneath. It was thought that such a precaution would secure the neccess- ary strength to the lock after it was properly planked. But the result showed, that neither Judge Blodget or his engineer, Col. Adams, had a correct knowledge of the element they were inteding to control. Upon letting the water into the lock, to the chagrin of the owner and builder, as well as to the disapoint- ment of the hundreds that were collected to witness the opening, the sides of the locks were lifted from their places, by the up- ward presure of the water, and the work of the season was the wreck of a moment ! In June of the following year, a high freshet carried off the locks and thus the labor of five years,- the expense of full $20,000 was brought to nought !
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