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 58
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"Voted, to have the annual meeting for the future on the Second Tuesday in March."
From the first Presidential election to that of 1800, the elec- tors had been chosen directly by the people. In that year the Legislature assumed to choose the electors, having altered the electoral law. But in June, 1804 the Legislature passed an act referring the Presidential election again directly to the people.
The election took place in this state November, 5, 1804, and the vote in this town was thus:
John Goddard 29,
Oliver Peabody, 19,
Levi Bartlett, 29,
John Prentice, 19,
John Steel, 29,
William Hale, 19,
Robert Allcock, 29,
Timothy Farrar, 19,
Tim'y Walker, 29,
Robert Wallace, 19,
Geo. Aldrich, 29,
Benjamin West, 19,
Wm. Tarleton, 29,
Charles Johnston. 19.
541
DIVISION OF TOWN INTO HIGHWAYS.
The electoral ticket receiving the highest vote in this town was elected in the state at large, and the electoral vote of the state was thrown for Thomas Jefferson, for President, and for George Clinton, for Vice President.
In the fall of 1804, certain individuals whose names are now unknown, attacked and tore down the house of Alexan- der Irwin, that stood beside the brook near the house of Mr. John Huse. It was but a mere hovel, but it was his castle, and the outrage produced considerable excitement. Irwin en- tered a formal complaint to the Selectmen of the town, and in the warrant of Oct. 20, 1804, calling a special meeting of the town, there was an article in reference to the abuse of Mr. Ir- win ; and at the meeting held Nov. 5, 1804, Isaac Huse and Samuel P. Kidder, were chosen a committee,
"To inquire into the complaint of Alexander Arwin, and pros- ecute the offenders if they think proper."
This committee inquired into the complaint, and had the parties arrested ; but upon a proposition to them to settle the affair, the committee stayed the prosecution, and paid the costs of the same, upon the respondents giving a bond for the pay- ment of the sum of two hundred dollars.
At the annual meeting, March 11, 1806, it was voted to di- vide the town into Districts for Highway work, and a commit- tee consisting of John Perham, Daniel Hall, Joseph Moore, David Flint, and Benjamin F. Clark, was chosen to make the division. The town was divided into Districts for Highway purpc ses before, but the division was annual, not permanent, and made according to the judgment of the Selectmen for the time being.
No record was made of the division save in the warrants di- rected to the highway Surveyors, and their warrants were not recorded even until 1793. At the adjourned meeting, March 18, 1806, the committee upon the division of the town, made their report and it was adopted, and the division into districts as then made remained substantially the same until the adoption of a City charter in 1846.
At the annual meeting March 10, 1807, the subject of lock- ing the Cohas was again before the town, and it was
"Voted, the town carry on five Shares in the Locking or Slipping Cohos Brook."
39
542
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
It was also
"Voted, To have a committee, consisting of Joseph Moor, Jonas Harvey, and Samuel Moor, Jr, to "dispose of the re- maining 145 Shares."
From this vote it seems the stock was divided into one hundred and fifty shares, but of the amount of stock, or what disposition was made of it, is not known.
A requisition having been made on the part of the General Government for troops, a special meeting was held in this town on the 30th day of October, to take into consideration the subject of a bounty to be paid those who should inlist in this town, and it was voted to raise one hundred dollars to be paid the soldiers if they should be called upon.
The militia company in the town mustered on the same day, and the number desired was immediately furnished by volun- teer enlistment. In view of such promptness and patriotism, it was
"Voted the Town give the Soldiers two Gallons of West In- dia Rum who turned out as Volunteers in defence of their Country."
At an adjourned meeting, in March, 1808, it was voted to redistrict the town for the purpose of schooling, and to divide the same into five districts. A committee was chosen for this purpose, who reported at the annual meeting in 1809, and the report was accepted. The same year a school house was built near the Centre at an expense of $217,02, and a tax to that amount was levied upon the inhabitants of that district.
At the Presidential election, holden on the first Friday of No- vember, 1808, the state of the balloting in this town was as follows :
Jeremiah Smith, 39,
Oliver Peabody, 39,
Samuel Hale, 39,
Timothy Farrar, 39, John Goddard, 33,
Robert Wallace, 39, Robert Allcock, 33,
Benjamin West,
39,
Nat. Shannon, 33,
Jona. Franklin, 39,
John Langdon, 33,
Samuel Bell, 33,
Amasa Allen, 33,
Wm. Tarleton, 33,
The ticket headed by Mr. Smith, was successful in the state at large, and the electoral vote of New Hampshire was thrown for Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, of South Carolina, in opposition to Mr. Madison, the successful candidate.
543
NAME OF TOWN CHANGED.
In 1810, the project was started of changing the name of the town to Manchester, and at the annual meeting held March 13th, of that year, the following vote was passed upon the subject :
"Voted, Thomas Stickney, John G. Moor, and Amos Wes- ton, be a Committee to petition the General Court to have the name of the town of Derryfield altered to Manchester."
The petition was duly presented, and the name of the town was changed to Manchester by the Legislature, at the June session of that year. This change of name was effected out of compliment to the opinion of Judge Blodget, who was wont to say, that the town was "destined to become the Manchester of America." At this time however, the first Factory on the Merrimack had been started at this place, and Mr. Stickney who was a grandson of Judge Blodget fully believed, and many of the people hoped that his prognostication was soon to be re- alized.
The population of the town this year was six hundred and fifteen, showing an increase of but fifty-eight in the last ten years,
544
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Commencement of Manufacturing at Bedford .- At Goffstown. - Benjamin Prich- ard .- Amoskeag Cotton and Wool Factory .- Its history .- Sold to Messrs. Dean, Sayles, and others .- Dr. Dean .- Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Plan of company .- Purchase of lands .- Willard Sayles .- Union of the Amoskeag with the Hooksett and Concord Companies .- Guard lock, weir, dam and section of canal built .- Appointment of new Treasurer and Agent. Wm. Amory, Esq .- Robert Read, Esq .- Incorporation of "Stark Mills."- No. 1. built .-- Laying out of the Town .- First land sale .- First houses built. Old houses then standing .- No. 2. Stark Mills built .- Machine Shop built. Nos. 1 & 2 Amoskeag New Mills built .- Foundries built .- Stark Mills en- larged .- No. 3. Amoskeag New Mills built .- Manchester Mills and Print Works incorporated .- Mills built .- Nos. 4 &5, Amoskeag New mills built .- Depart- ments of Amoskeag Manufacturing Company .- That of real estate and build- ing .- Amoskeag New Mills .- The Machine Shop .- Hooksett .- Amoskeag Village .- Works of the Corporations in detail .- Machine Shop .- Stark Mills. -Amoskeag New Mills .- Manchester Print Works.
The project of manufacturing cotton upon the Merrimack, was started at Amoskeag Falls, in 1809, by Benjamin Prichard and Messrs. Ephraim, David, and Robert Stevens. Mr. Prichard had been engaged in mill business in New Ipswich, where also he had to a limited extent become acquainted with cotton spin- ning, the first mill or Factory for the manufacture of cotton, built in New Hampshire, having been built in that town in 1803.
The precise date of Mr. Prichard's coming to this section of the County cannot be ascertained ; but as he paid taxes in New Ipswich until 1807, and paid his last tax in that year, it is probable that he left New Ipswich sometime in 1807. He first commenced the manufacture of cotton in Bedford at what is called the "Goffe Place," occupying for that purpose, a small building upon the west side of the bridge, which he fitted up for spinning cotton. This building is now standing, is owned by J. B. Bowman, Esq. and occupied as a lath mill. His ma- chinery was purchased at second hand of Mr. Samuel Slater, of Rhode Island. The machinery being old and worn, did not
ยท V. GNARN. ..
RESIDENCE OF COL. F. A. BROWN.
545
FIRST MILL AT AMOSKEAG.
operate well, and the water-power was not sufficient through the year for more extended operations. The enterprise might be considered thus far a failure, and Mr. Prichard determined upon removing to a more eligible location, where he could en- large his operations, and thus be warranted in obtaining better machinery. He accordingly obtained a privilege on the west side of Amoskeag Falls in Goffstown, probably in the early part of 1809, where he built a small mill, in connection with Messrs. Ephraim, David, and Robert Stevens. The water to propel this mill was taken from the dam of the Pollard or Harvey Mill, through a canal blasted in part out of the solid ledge, and which passed under the "ways," and west of that mill. Messrs. Ephraim and Robert Stevens, owned the Pollard, or Harvey mill, having bought it of Mr. Jonas Harvey, in 1804.
It is probable that Mr. Prichard owned the principal part of the mill, the Messrs. Stevens owning such part as was equiva- lent to the value of the land, and water-power occupied by the mill. After getting a portion of the machinery into the mill, the enterprise dragged so heavily, that the proprietors conclud- ed to enlarge the company, and drew up and signed a paper, embodying their proposals for the purpose as follows ;
"We the Subscribers, Owners, & proprietors of a large Tract of Land in Goffstown, in the county of Hillsborough, Joining on Amoskeag falls in the Merrimack river, with the water priv- ilege Sufficient for carrying on the Manufacturing of cotton & wool at all Seasons of the year, and having began the works by cutting a Canal for Carrying the water, erecting Buildings Convenient for Said Factory, & preparing a considerable part of the Machinery, have agreed to form a Company for improv- ing Said privilege, by dividing the Same into one hundred Shares, by receiving from Said Company a fair price for the privilege, and the Labour Expended, which if not agreed up- on by Said Subscribers, & the Company, to be apprised by men appointed by Said parties, and a Good Title by the Sub- scribers.
Signed by
Ephraim Stevens, Benjn. Prichard, Robert & David Stevens.
Goffstown, January, 18th, 1810."
To this paper was attached a caption of a subscription and signatures as follows ;
"We the Subscribers Agree to take the Several Shares in the
546
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
above mentioned privilege & factory annexed to our names respectively, agreeable to the above proposals.
Proprietor's Names. Place of abode.
No. of Shares.
Benj'n, Prichard,
Goffstown,
25
James Parker,
Bedford,
2
William Parker,
3
Jotham Gillis,
Goffstown,
1
William Parker, Jr.
Bedford,
1
William Walker,
Goffstown,
1
Ephraim Harvill,
Bedford,
1
Samuel P. Kidder, Robt. McGregore,
Goffstown,
L
Joseph Richards,
66
1
Seth Bartlett,
1
Ephraim Stevens,
66
1
David L. Morrill,
66
2
Isaac Hardy,
66
1
Moses Hall,
66
1 1
Benjamin Allcock,
Bedford,
Alenson Prichard,
Goffstown,
3
Elnathan Whitney,
66
2
David Sargent,
66
1
John G. Moor,
Manchester,
1"
The following notice was then issued ;
"Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the proprietors of the Amoskeag Cotton & wool Factory will be holden at Col. Robert McGregore's on Wednesday, the 31 day of January in- stant, at one of the clock P. M., for the purpose of taking in- to consideration the regulation of Said Factory, & dispose of Shares not sold. All persons who wish to become proprietors are requested to attend, when & where they may be accomo- dated with Shares.
Benj'n Prichard.
Goffstown, January. 25th, 1810."
On the day of meeting, January, 31st, 1810, the company was duly organized by the choice of Joseph Richards of Goffs- town as President, and Jotham Gillis of Goffstown as Clerk.
On the second day of March 1810, Messrs. Ephraim and Robert Stevens executed a bond to this company, agreeing to keep their dam in repair, and to furnish the "Wool & Cotton Manufactory" a certain quantity of water, at all seasons of the year.
The bond was as follows ;
Goffstown,
5
547
FIRST MILL AT ANOSKEAG.
"Know all men by these presents that we Ephraim Stevens of Goffstown, in the county of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire. Gentleman, And Robert Stevens of Goffs- town, yeoman, are holden and stand firmly bound Jointly & Severally unto the proprietors of the Amoskeag Cotton & wool Manufactury, in the sum of two thousand dollars, to be paid to the proprietors, their Agents, Attorneys, Executors, Admin- istrators or Assigns, firmly by these Presents, Sealed with our Seals, dated the Second day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & ten.
The Conditions of this obligation is such that if the Said Ephraim & Robert Stevens, their heirs, Executors, or adminis- trators Shall and do at all times keep in good repair at all times their mill dam at Amoskeag Falls, so as to turn into the chan- nel, Conveying the water to the cotton & wool Manufactory, so much water as shall be Sufficient for Carrying an old fash- ioned undershot Corn Mill, at all seasons of the year, & at all days in the year, so long as water is needed for carrying on the manufacturing of Cotton & wool in that place, by said pro- prietors paying annually to said Ephraim & Robert, ten dollars viz ; five dollars to each, then this obligation to be null & void otherwise to remain in full force &c.
Ephraim Stevens. Robert Stevens.
Attest David McGregore."
The company had then chosen a board of Directors, probably at its adjourned meeting in February.
The first meeting of the Directors was held March, 9, 1810, at which time there were present as Directors, James Parker, Samuel P. Kidder, John Stark, Jr., David McQueston, and Benjamin Prichard. James Parker, Esq., was chosen Presi- dent of the Company, and Jotham Gillis Clerk. The Com- pany was incorporated June, 15, of the same year, under the name of the Amoskeag Cotton & Woolen Manufacturing Com- pany.
The Machinery was finished up, and some additions made to the mill and the same put in operation in the summer of 1810, but the machinery being old, did not operate well, and in the spring of 1811, the company determined upon building new machinery. For this purpose they employed Preserved Robin- son, then of Smithfield R. I. now living at Loudon, N. H. an experienced machinist. Mr. Robinson, commenced work for the company in June, 1811.
The record of the agreement to employ Mr. Robinson under
548
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
date of June 22, 1811, reads thus ; "Agreed with Mr. Robin- son to build machinery and superintend the business in the Factory, for three dollars and fifty cents per day, including the labor of Harvey Robinson, and furnish said Robinsons with suitable boarding, they finding their own spirits."
At the same meeting of the Directors, Dr. Wm. Wallace of Bedford, was appointed Agent. Dr. Wallace did not accept the appointment, and at the next meeting of the Directors, July, 23, 1811, Mr. Jotham Gillis was appointed Agent in his place.
Mr. Robinson built for the Company, an Awkright Spinning Frame, and set it in operation, the first one built in the state, if not the first one used in it. He also built and put in opera- tion the first machine for "winding cotton balls of thread." In November 1812, Mr. Philemon Wolcott, was appointed Agent to superintend the operation of the machinery in the Factory, doing up and delivering out yarn, &c." April 26, 1813, Mr. Wolcott was "released from Working in the Factory," and John G. Moore, was appointed to superintend the factory until the annual meeting."
July 28, 1813, Mr. Moore was succeeded as Agent, by F. G. Stark, Esq., now of this City. Mr. Stark continued in office about one year.
There was no "picker," in those days, and the New Orleans and Demarara cotton, was picked by hand, being "let out," in the neighborhood, at four cents per pound.
The machinery was for spinning alone, and the yarn was sold at the country stores, or was let out to be woven by the women in the neighborhood, as was usual in those days. The price paid for weaving, averaged about 3 or 3 1-2 cents per yard, 2 cents per yard being paid for weaving coarse cottons, and as high as 7 cents for the fine cottons. A "smart weaver" would weave of course cottons, as many as eighteen yards in a day, "well tended," but the average was not over 10 or 12 yards per day, for good weavers.
The yarn brought ready cash and it appears from the books that the stockholders took their dividends, and the officers and workmen their pay in yarn.
The operating the mill, however, did not prove profitable to the proprietors, and after September, 1815, little or nothing was done in it, until 1822, when it was purchased by one Ol- ney Robinson from Rhode Island. He proved to be a man un- equal to the management of the mill, and it passed into the hands of Larned Pitcher, and Samuel Slater, of Pawtucket,
549
DR. OLIVER DEAN.
R. I., of whom Robinson had obtained money and machinery to prosecute his business. Messrs. Pitcher and Slater in 1825, sold out three fifths of the property to Messrs Oliver Dean, Ly- man Tiffany, and Willard Sayles, of Boston, and a new com- pany being formed, they commenced manufacturing forth with. Abundant means and great experience being thus brought to bear upon the enterprise-their operations were extended with unusual success. Dr. Dean, an extensive owner, and a man of energy and enterprise was appointed Agent, and moved to Amoskeag in April 1826. He immediately commenced ex- tending the operations of the company. Robinson put up the building, afterwards known as the Bell mill for a machine shop ; this was three stories in in height and SO feet in length, by 40 in width. This was enlarged by an addition of equal height, and 60 feet in length by 25 feet in width, and fitted up with
machinery for making ticking. Soon after another build- ing 80 feet in length and 40 feet in width, was built upon the Island for a Machine Shop ; and to this an addition was made, 50 feet in length by 30 in width, and the whole was converted into a mill for the manufacture of tickings, known as the Island mill. Boarding houses, stores, and shops, were built, and soon the flourishing manufacturing village of Amoskeag was in existence.
The cloths manufactured, were sheetings, shirtings and tick- ings, principally the latter, which became the best in the mar- ket, and held their high reputation as long as the mills were in operation, These mills were known as the "Old Mill,," the "Island Mill," and the "Bell Mill." The Bell Mill was so cal- led from the fact that the bell was upon it for calling the oper- atives to their work. The Island mill was destroyed by fire in 1840, and the Old and Bell mills, in 1847.
DR. DEAN.
Oliver Dean was born in Franklin, county of Norfolk, Mass. Feb .. 10, 1783. After getting a good academic education for the times, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Mann, of Wrentham, and finished his studies with Dr. Ingalls of Bos- ton, graduating at the Medical College of Massachusetts in 1809. He commenced the practice of his profession in Med- way the same year, where he continued about a year, moving into Boston in 1810. While in Boston, he married Miss Caro- line Francoeur, daughter of John Francoeur, Esq., a gentle- man of respectability and wealth, who had fled from France,
550
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
during the French Revolution. Dr. Dean tarried in Boston a year and a half, when in consequence of the stagnation ot bu- siness, incident to the war, he moved back to Medway, where he continued in the profitable practice of his profession until 1817. In that year, in connection with his brother-in-law, Willard Sayles, Esq., he commenced the business of manufac- turing in Medway. He continned in this business with suc- cess, until the fall of 1825, when he, in connection with Lyman Tiffany and Willard Sayles of Boston, and Larned Pitcher, and Samuel S!ater, of Pawtucket, R. I., purchased the proper- ty of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company at Amoskeag Village in Goffstown. This property had been purchased in 1822, by Mr. Olney Robinson of Pawtucket, who had operat- ed the mills. but to no advantage, and they had mainly passed into the hands of Messrs. Pitcher and Slater, to secure an in- debtedness to them, for money and machinery. Robinson had made purchases of the large farms known as the "McGregor farm," and the "Blodget farm"-and other real estate, and thus in connection with his other operations had become very much embarrassed. When the purchase was made of him, he expected to have been continued as Agent, but it was soon found that he was entirely inadequate to the business, and Dr. Dean was induced, though reluctantly, to take the agency of the com- pany. Accordingly, in the spring of 1826, he moved to Amos- keag and entered upon his duties as agent. This may be con- sidered as the successful starting point of manufacturing at this place. Possessed of competent knowledge as a manufacturer, and a man of enterprise and energy, every thing about the pre- mises soon began to assume a new aspect. The Bell Mill had been built for a machine shop, to be under the management of Mr. Ira Gay of Nashua ; this was immediately enlarged and fitted up with machinery for the manufacture of tickings, in which Dr. Dean had excelled in Medway, and Walpole. Soon the works were extended, and the Island mill was built, and fitted up for the manufacture of tickings.
The tickings manufactured here soon acquired a reputation unequalled,-which they retained under the name of - "A. C. A. Tickings." But Dr. Dean's time was not confined exclusively to manufacturing,-every other interest connected with the prosperity of the town and village, came in for his attention. He was a pattern farmer, and the large farm below the falls, and which had become impoverished, and overgrown with brambles and bushes, from bad husbandry, soon began to present a new face under his intelligent care, and from being one
551
DR. OLIVER DEAN.
of the poorest, became to be one of the best in the town. The success attending manufacturing under his charge, soon attract- ed the attention of other capitalists, and the project was started of occupying the entire water powe at this place, for manu- facturing purposes. It is needless to remark that Dr. Dean was the soul of this enterprise. In June 1831, the Amoskeag Man- ufacturing Company was chartered, Dr. Dean being the first grantee ; and at the organization of the company under this charter in July of the same year, he was chosen President of the corporation. He was continued Agent and Treasurer of the company until 1834, when he declined the agency, having determined to live a more quiet life, and retired upon a beauti- ful farm in Framingham, Mass. He was still treasurer of the corporation, but declined this office in 1836, and was succeed- ed by John A. Lowell, Esq., of Boston. He still continued on the board of direction, and in 1853, upon the death of Joseph Tilden, Esq .. he was again chosen President of the cor- poration, which office he retains at the present time. In 1847 he was chosen President of the Manchester Mills Corporation, and through its various changes has remained a director of the same, and its President.
In 1843, Dr. Dean moved from Framingham to Boston, where he now resides. Dr. Dean may be emphatically placed down as one of the fathers of the city of Manchester, as few men have done more for its existence, and its prosperity. Ac- tive, intelligent, and communicative ; dignified, yet courteous ; careful of his own interest, yet interested in the welfare of others ; in a word acting upon the principle of "live and let live," Dr. Oliver Dean's name stands prominent among the founders of our city,-and is ever retained in grateful remem- brance.
The gentlemen now having control of the company, had a proper estimate of the capacity of the hydraulic power at the Falls, and the ability to avail themselves of its advantages ; they therefore very quietly commenced the purchase of the lands in the neighborhood, and were soon the owners of the adjacent lands upon the west side of the Merrimack, that were likely to be needed for extensive manufacturing operations, or that would be enhanced in value by the building up of a manu- facturing city. Gradually some of the largest capitalists of Boston and its vicinity became identified with the enterprise, and it was determined to commence manufacturing upon an extended scale. Accordingly in 1831, the charter for "The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company," was obtained, with a
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