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 62
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Such a name needs no other monument.
In February 1823, was the first movement in this town in favor of building the famous "Mammoth Road," The project of having a more direct road from Concord to Lowell, had been some time before the public. A route from the Londonderry Turnpike, in Hooksett, through Manchester, Londonderry, Windham, Pelham and Dracut to Pawtuckt Bridge, had been surveyed, and found feasible, and much more direct. The pro- prietors of a line of stages, from Concord to Lowell, the people of those two places, and many people on the line of the pro- posed road, were making a powerful effort to have the road built. Their first aim was to have the road laid out by the several towns through which it was to pass. In Manchester and Londonderry, there was the most determined opposition to the road, as its construction would be attended with very great expense to those towns, and at the same time accommodated few individuals in those towns.
This opposition was participated in, to a greater or less ex- tent, through the entire length of the road. The contest at length waxed so warm, that this question of the Mammoth
HERRICK Se. NANO
GEN. STARK'S MONUMENT,
585
THE MAMMOTH ROAD.
Road controlled the local elections,-and interfered with our system of Courts.
In Manchester, in the warrant for the annual meeting bear- ing date February 20, 1823, the 11th article was in reference to this road. As it describes the "Mammoth Road," and indi- cates the route of it through this town, it is subjoined ;
"Whereas a road leading from Hooksett, leaving the L. Der- ry Turnpike, near to Jacob Farnum's, running through Man- chester, Londonderry, and to Dracut Bridge, would greatly con- vene the public, this article is inserted to see if the town will lay out (where it is not already laid out, ) their part of the said road, beginning or near Stark's bridge, so called, (meaning to meet that part of said road which belongs to the town of Hooksett to make) then southerly on the best ground practicable to the highway near David Steven's house, thence by the meet- ing-house to Derry line, wherever it may be necessary to ac- complish the object in view."
At the meeting March, 8, it was voted to dismiss the arti- cle.
The proposed road passed the house of Ephraim Stevens, Jr. and he was much in favor of building it. Being a man of ener- gy and influence he entered largely into the project, and suc- ceeded in getting the selectmen to call a special town meeting ; but although he could get petitioners, he failed in this instance to get voters to favor his views, for at the town meeting, held on the 8th of September, 1823,
"To consider the expediency of laying out and building th Mammoth Road, the question was put to the meeting as its expediency and there was
In favor of it 1 45"
Against it
It is said that Capt. Stevens was the one who voted in favor of the road.
It was then
"Voted Joseph Moor be an agent for this town to join the committee chosen by the town of Londonderry, to oppose the laying and opening a road through this town, Londonderry, &c in a direction from Hooksett to Pawtucket Bridge, as it is the opinion of the people of this town, that the public interest does not require said road to be laid out, and that the expenses of making the road, would greatly exceed the benefit to be deriv-
i
586
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ed from its bei g opened and that it would lay a burden upon the town, which they are unable to bear, therefore said agent is instructed to procure such counsel and make such defence against said road, as he shall think the interest of the town re- quires."
Those favoring the road, now applied to the County Court as their only alternative, and with such success, as that the Agent saw but little hope of preventing the laying out of the road. Another special town meeting was held on the 6th of December, 1823, to "hear the report of their Agent, Mr. Joseph Moor."
And the 3d article in the warrant was,
"To see if the town will discharge him and choose another."
The whole subject was postponed to the annual meeting in March,-and then the subject was not called up.
At the Presidential election, holden Nov. Ist. 1824, the vote in Manchester was thus ;
Josiah Bartlett,
31
William Fisk,
31
Hall Burgin, 31
William Badger,
31
Samuel Quarles,
31
Caleb Keith,
31
Moses White,
31
The above ticket was successful in the state, and its elector- al vote was thrown for John Quincy Adams, who, there being no choice by the electoral colleges, was chosen President by the House of Representatives.
In 1826 the subject was much discussed of building a meet- ing house, and at a special meeting held May 2, of that year, it was
"Voted to build a meeting house," and Nathaniel Moor, Ephraim Stevens, Jr., and Israel Merrill were chosen "a com- mittee to superintend the same." The meeting was then ad- journed to July 4th, when it was
"Voted that a committee be appointed to locate the meeting house."
"Voted that the said committee be instructed to purchase the
587
THE MAMMOTH ROAD.
pews in the old meeting house, and to see how much they can obtain by subscription for the purpose of building a new meet- ing house and that they report at the next meeting."
Nothing more appears upon the records, as to the new meeting house, and it is probable that the committee did nothing as to the matter.
In 1828, the subject of the Mammonth Road was again be- fore the public, and in the warrant of July 5th, calling a meet- ing of the town, on the 26th of July, the 2d article was
"To see if the town will choose an agent to oppose the "Mammoth Road."
On the 26th instant, the meeting organized and adjourned to the 16th day of August. At the adjourned meeting, the action upon the 2d article of the warrant was thus as recorded ;
"Proceeded to take the sense of this meeting to know how many are in favor of said road, and four rose in favor and about seventy rose against it."
"Voted to choose an Agent to oppose the said road, who is to be subject to the control of the selectmen,"
And "Daniel Watts was chosen an Agent to oppose the said road."
The Presidential election in this state occurred on the 3d of Nov. 1828. In Manchester the vote for electors was thus ;
John Harvey, 97
George Sullivan, 67
Benning M. Bean, 97
Samuel Quarles, 67
William Pickering, 97 Samuel Sparhawk, 67
Jesse Bowers, 97 William Bixby, 67
Aaron Matson, 97
Nahum Parker, 67
Jonathan Nye, 97
Thomas Woolson 67
Stephen P. Webster, 97
Ezra Bartlett, 67
Moses White, 97
William Lovejoy,
67
Of the above tickets, the one receiving the least number of votes in this town was successful in the state at large, and its electoral vote was thrown for John Quincy Adams, who was defeated, Andrew Jackson being chosen by the electorial col- leges.
At an adjourned meeting, held March 14, 1829, it was voted
588
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
that the Prudential Committee in the several school districts be chosen by the inhabitants of the districts. It was also voted, to divide the literary fund among the several districts, accor- ding to the proportion of the school money raised by the town. In this year a school house was built in District No. 7, (the Stark District, ) at a cost of $215.49.
The friends of the Mammoth Road were successful, and at the session of the court in October 1830, the report of the committee was accepted, and the road, so far as it was within the limits of the County, was ordered to be built. The people of the town continued their opposition, to the Mammoth road and at a town meeting held January, 15, 1831, the article in the war- rant "to see if the town will appoint a committee or Agent, to lay off into suitable lots or parcels, that part of the Mammoth Road within the limits of Manchester, to accommodate under- takers, & sell the making thereof at public auction, as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made, or take some other method to accomplish the object in view," was postponed to the annual Meeting in March.
In this year the First Methodist Episcopal Society, which had been organized in 1829, built a meeting-house, at Manches- ter Centre. It is located on the west side of the road, a few rods south of the old meeting-house.
In 1830, the population of Manchester was 887 showing an increase of 126 inhabitan ts in the last ten vears.
At the annual meeting, March, 8, 1831, it was voted that the Selectmen petition the Court to discontinue the Mammoth Road, "and if failing to accomplish this, to make an extension of time & liberty to alter the road as the interests of the town may require & the public good admit." This vote was evi- dently dictated by a policy of procrastination ; for after the decided action of the Court, there could have been no reasona- ble expectation that they would grant a prayer for its discontin- uance. However the Selectmen presented their petition, and the Court continued the matter from time to time, for consider- ation. Meantime, March, 13, 1832, the town without waiting the decision of the Court, "voted to discontinue the Mammoth Road, or that part described in a petition signed by the Select- men, or any part the Court may allow." The Court notwith- standing, decided adversely to the petition of the Selectmen, leaving the road to be built, and to be built as originally laid out.
The Presidential election was on the 5th of November, of
589
THE MAMMOTH ROAD.
in this year, in this state. The vote in Manchester stood thus ;
Benjamin Pierce, 107
Langley Boardman, 36
Phinehas Parkhurst, 107
Enoch Place, 37
Samuel Collins, 107 Joshua Darling, 37
John Holbrook, 107 Edmund Parker, 37
John Taylor,
107
Thomas Bellows, 37
Joseph Weeks,
107
George B. Upham, 37
Moses White,
107
John French, 37
The ticket headed by Benjamin Pierce was elected in the state at large, and its electoral vote was thrown for Andrew Jackson, the successful candidate for the Presidency.
On the 17th of August 1833, a meeting of the town was held, to see if the town would vote to build the Mammoth Road, and raise money to pay for the sale; and the whole subject was indefinitely postponed.
But at the October term of the Court, summary process was ordered by the same against the town in case of farther neglect to comply with the order of the Court. This was necessary, as most of the road was already built, and the neglect of this town was becoming a great inconvenience. Accordingly, there being no farther chance of delay, March 11, 1834, the town
Voted, to raise seven hundred and fifty dollars to be laid out on the Mammoth Road, and chose George Clark Agent to lay out the same."
They also
"Voted, that the Selectmen borrow two hundred and fifty dollars if necessary, to be laid out as aforesaid."
Upon this, the building of the road was commenced in. earnest.
In the spring of 1834 the small-pox again made its appear- ance in town and produced considerable excitement among the inhabitants. A town meeting was held upon the subject, April 28 1834, at which it was
"Voted that the Selectmen proceed to stop the spreading of the small-pox, or take such measures as they shall think prop- er to prevent it, as soon as possible."
The cases of the disease were in a family living in the brick house now owned by Mr. John Huse. Vaccination was rec-
590
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ommended to the people of the town, and no other cases oc- curred.
At the annual meeting in March, 1836, it was
"Voted to authorize the Selectmen to contract with some person to take down the old meeting house and convert it into a suitable building for a town house," and the sum of $500, was raised for that purpose.
The Selectmen, instead of taking down the meeting house, expended the appropriation in altering and repairing the house. It was divided into two stories by putting in a ceiling and floor ; and the outside was thoroughly repaired. The upper story «vas intended for a school room, and the lower story was finish- ed for a town Hall. Thus repaired, it presented a very res- pectable appearance, as seen in the annexed cut.
The Presidential election was Nov. 7, of this year, and the vote in this town was for
Jonathan Harvey, 82
Samuel Bell, 1
Isaac Waldron, 82
Wm. A. Kent, L
Tristam Shaw, 82 John Wallace, Jr. 1
Stephen Gale, 82 Samuel Grant, 1
Josiah Russell, 82
Joseph Healey, 1
Gawen Gilmore, 82 Jeremiah Wilson, 1
Ebenezer Carleton, 82
Joseph Sawyer, 1
The ticket headed by Jonathan Harvey was successful in the State, and its electoral vote was thrown for Martin Van Buren, who was elected President of the United States.
At this same meeting the subject of the Mammoth Road was before the town for the last time. The town had built the road, but a part of it had been built on a different route than the one laid out. This substitute commenced west of the McQueston house and extended "210 rods south to the old road." It was a more feasible route, and less expensive in construction than the original route as laid out by the commit- tee. The Court became convinced of this, accepted the substitute and gave the town leave to discontinue that part of the Mammoth Road, for which a substitute had been built and accepted. At this meeting it was discontinued, and thus ended the controversy as to this road, which had been continued for sixteen years, to the no small injury of the towns engaged in it, and to the entire ruin of individuals. And all of this con-
OLD MEETING HOUSE,
591
THE CANDIA ROAD.
tention was of no possible good to the public, for in consequence of the building of the Concord Railroad, and of the Manufac- turing city of Manchester, the road became deserted in a few years, and in many sections of it there is not travel enough to keep the grass from growing in it !
At the same meeting the subject of building a Hospital for the insane was acted upon by the town, the question as to building a Hospital having been sent to the towns by the Leg- islature. The vote stood in this town upon this subject,
In favor,
15
Against, 67
The expense of building the Mammoth Road made the peo- ple fear an increase of taxes, even for such an object of charity and humanity.
March 14, 1837, the town authorized the Treasurer to re- ceive its proportion of the surplus Revenue, and to loan it "at not less than 6 per cent." At the same meeting one hundred dollars was appropriated for painting the Town House, under the direction of the Selectmen.
A road had been laid out by a Committee from the Court, leading "from Amoskeag Bridge to Chester line." This is the road as now travelled from Merrimack street, through Hallsville to "Daniel Hall's corner," and from thence to Chester (now Au- burn,) past the Massabesic House, and known as the "Candia Road," The town was opposed to this road, and at a town meeting held October 27, 1837, it was "Voted to choose no Agent to build a road laid out by the Court, and to raise no money for building the same." However better counsel pre- vailed, and at a town meeting held November 18, 1837, it was voted to build the road, and Mr. Benjamin Mitchel was chosen Agent to build it. At the same meeting propositions to pur- chase a Town Farm, and "to finish the upper story of the Town Hall into a school room, or permit individuals to do it, and take pay in rent," were dismissed. At the annual town meeting March 13, 1838, an appropriation of $1300, was made to build the road from Chester line to Daniel Hall's, and the Se- lectmen were authorized to consider the expediency of pur- chasing a Town Farm and to report at the annual town meet- ing for 1839.
The building of the road to Chester line, or the Candia Road, proved more expensive than anticipated, and at a town meet- ing held Dec. 13, 1838, the Selectmen were authorized to bor- row $2300, to build said road.
592
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
The Selectmen made three additional Highway districts viz : Nos. 12, 13 and 14.
In 1838 died
MAJOR CALEB STARK.
Major Caleb Stark, the eldest son of General Stark, was born December 23, 1759. In the 16th year of his age, as a volun- teer in the 1st N. H. regiment, he was present at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, and soon after an Ensign in the Company of Capt. George Reid. He served with the regiment in New York, and in Canada, and after the retreat from that Province, in 1775, he was appointed Adjutant, in which capacity he serv- ed at Trenton, and in the actions of September, 19th, and October, 7th, 1777. In the latter engagement he was wounded in the left arm. Soon after he became the Aid de Camp and Brigade Major of General Stark, under whose immediate com- mand he continued to the end of the War. In 1778, and 1781, in addition to his other duties, he performed those of Ad- jutant General of the Northern Department. Upon the close of the war, he engaged in merchandise at Haverhill, Mass , and Dunbarton, N. H., and afterwards at Boston, Mass. In the course of his commercial transactions, he visited the West In- dies, and Great Britain. When the war of 1812, commenced, he closed his business in Boston, and turned his attention to manufacturing, at Pembroke, N. H. In 1830, he disposed. of his establishment and proceeded to Ohio to prosecute the claims of his family to lands granted for military services in the Revolution ; which after a tedious course of law suits, he recov- ered in 1837. He died in Ohio August 26, 1838. His re- mains repose in his family cemetery at Dunbarton, N. H. He possessed a strong memory, read much, and perseverance sup- plied the deficiencies of early education. Schooled in the stormy strife of the Revolution, he was well versed in the polit- ical and military history of his own country, and that of other nations. He was known through life as a man of energy and decision of character.
At the annual town meeting, March 12, 1839, the Selectmen made a report in favor of the purchase of a Town Farm, and a vote was carried to purchase one, and a committee, consisting of Moses Noyes, John Gamble and James McQueston, was chosen to make the purchase,
The sum of $1000 was appropriated "in part pay of town farm," and the committee was to give "town security" for the
593
NEW BUILDINGS.
balance of the purchase money, and were instructed to purchase such farm as they should think for the interest of the town, "without reference to cost." At the same meeting it was
"Voted to district the town anew as regards School Dis- tricts" and the following committee was chosen to district the same, and report at the next annual meeting, viz :
No. 1 John Hall,
2 Jos. B. Hall,
3 Joseph Moor,
4 James McQueston,
..
5 John Proctor,
6 Thomas Cheney,
7 George Clark,
8 Peter Mitchel.
This committee never made any report.
In the course of the summer of 1839, there was a large in- crease of the inhabitants of the town, in consequence of the laying out and sale of lots by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in the preceding year. These lots were fast being improved, and Elm, Amherst, and Hanover streets during the summer of 1839, assumed the appearance of an enterprising and thrifty village.
The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company had built the house for the Agent of the Stark Mills, on the corner of Hanover and Pine streets ; the one for the Superintendent of the Stark Mills upon Hanover street, then occupied by Mr. Warren, but now owned by Charles Richardson, Esq., and the "Manchester House," on the corner of Elm and Merrimack streets, now owned by William Shepherd, Esq.
The lot upon which the Manchester House was built was covered with a growth of pitch pines, in the spring of 1839, and Merrimack Square, just south of it, was covered with birch- es, pines, and alders. 'The pines were cut and the stumps removed by the roots, before digging the cellar, and putting in the foundation for the Manchester House, in May of 1839. Since Mr. Shepherd purchased the Manchester House, in 1845, he has enlarged and improved it so that it is now one of the largest, as it is one of the best hotels in the state.
The Hanover street church, Rev. Mr. Wallace's, built this year, is one of the most spacious churches in the city. It is of wood, after the Grecian style of architecture, 80 feet in length, by 64 in width, and is one of the most beautiful pub- lic buildings in the state.
594
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
The lot upon which this church was built, is the generous gift of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, it being their liberal policy to furnish each denomination in the city with a lot whereon to build a church. They have done this as yet in every instance, where religious societies have selected lots east of Elm street. Those lots for such purposes, on the west side of the street, have been purchased by the societies occupying them ; but it is understood at reduced prices.
Business took such a start, and there was such a demand for lots, that the Company decided upon a second sale, which took place October 8, 1839. The lots sold were situated between Hanover and Merrimack streets, and betwixt Elm and Union streets. They sold readily and at prices much higher than those of the first sale.
On the 24 of September, of this year, the people of the town were thrown into great excitement by an affray at Goffstown, in which Mr. Jeremiah Johnson of this town was killed. It was the day of the annual muster ; "Goffstown Muster," as the annual parade of the ninth Regiment was more generally known. Johnson was a member of the Manchester Rifle Com- pany, commanded by Capt. Ira W. Moore. After dinner, the Rifle Company marched upon the field for manoeuvre and drill. In their march they encountered a horde of gamblers, who had erected their tables for their various games, in one part of the field. Some of these they tumbled over, and broke down, and the gamblers making resistance, a general melee followed. In the affray, a man by the name of Elbridge Ford, struck John- son over the head with a club, and fractured his skull. John- son was taken from the field and his wound cared for ; but he died the day following, about 7 o'clock in the evening. Ford was arrested upon the 25th of September, upon a complaint for assault, but Johnson growing worse. he was arraigned, and the case was continued to the next day. On the 26th, Johnson having died the evening previous, Ford was arrested on a com- plaint for murder, and after an examination before Isaac Riddle, Esq., during three days, was committed on the 28th of Sep- tember. A bill was found against him by the Grand Inquest of the County at Amherst in October following; but the case was continued until October 1840, when he was tried and found guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to the state prison for a term of five years. Ford was originally from Nashua but was at work in Manchester for the Amoskeag Manufactur- ing Company. He was a daring, rough sort of a man, not
595
NEW MUNICIPAL REGULATORS.
particularly vicious, and it appearing that he was drawn into the affray without any sort of malicious intent, after a three years imprisonment, upon petition, he was pardoned by the Ex- ecutive. Johnson lived upon the Mammoth Road, upon the farm now belonging to his heirs, and known as the "Johnson Farm." He left a widow and four small children.
After the second land sale, there was a large accession of in- habitants, and building went on more rapidly than ever. Un- prepared for such progress, the people of the town in March of this year, had made no more than their usual preparations for town affairs, in the way of appropriations, municipal regula- tions, and municipal officers. 'l'he necessity for a different or- der of things was apparent to every one. Accordingly, a town meeting was called by the Selectmen to be held on the 26th of October to meet this necessity. As the transactions of that meeting were very important, the record of it is mainly tran- scribed, as follows :
"Voted on motion of Mr. Bell, That an an act, entitled an act to establish a system of Police in the town of Portsmouth, and for other purposes, passed June 28th, 1823, and "an act, entitled an act in addition to an act entitled an act to establish a system of Police for the town of Portsmouth, and for other purposes, passed June, 23d, 1823," passed July 1st 1831, be adopted in the town of Manchester,"
"Voted on motion of Mr. Bell, that "an act, entitled an act, defining the powers and duties of fire-wards and other per- sons in certain cases," passed December 16th, 1828, and 'an act, entitled an act, in addition to an act, defining the powers and duties of fire-wards, and other persons in certain cases, passed December 16th, 1828," passed July 3d, 1830, be adopt- ed and in force in the town of Manchester."
Provided however, that such inhabitants of said town of Manchester, as live remote from the compact part or said town, that is to say, more than one mile from the corner of Amherst and Elm streets, shall be exempted from the operation of the tenth section of said first mentioned act.
"Voted that the inhabitants of the New Village have the privilege of nominating Fire-wards and Health officers."
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