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 63
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"Chose accordingly
5 96
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Amory Warren.
Hiram Brown, David A. Bunton,
Henry S. Whitney, John H. Maynard,
William P. Farmer
Fire-Wards."
Timothy J. Carter, James Wallace,
Mace Moulton, George W. Tilden,
Issac N. Ford,
"Voted, to choose a board of Health officers, to consist of three in number."
Chose accordingly,
George B. Swift, Zaccheus Colburn,
Health Officers."
John D. Kimball,
"Voted on motion of Mr. Bell, to discontinue the Public Highway leading from the Amoskeag Bridge towards Manches- ter Meeting House, Beginning at said Bridge, and extending to the point where Manchester Street intersects the same, Provi- ded that the Court of Common Pleas shall consent thereto, if such consent is by law necessary."
"Voted that the public highway leading from said Amos- keag Bridge to the store in said Manchester, lately occupied by William P. Farmer, be discontinued, Provided that the Court of Common Pleas shall consent thereto, if such consent is by law necessary."*
"Voted on said motion of Mr. Bell, to discontinue the public highway leading from the house now occupied by David A. Bunton, near Amoskeag Falls to the Stark house so called, Provided that the Court of Common Pleas shall consent, if such consent is by law necessary."+
Also on motion of Mr. Bell,
"Voted to discontinue the road leading from said Amoskeag Bridge to the Barrett house, so called, beginning at the north line of the Phillip Stevens farm, and extending to the point below the Stark Mills, where Canal street intersects the same,
*Farmer's store was next west of the Steam Mill at Janesville.
+Mr. Bunton lived where S. B. Kidder, now lives.
597
NEW MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS.
Provided that the Court of Common Pleas shall consent thereto, if such consent is by law necessary."*
"Voted on motion of Mr. Bell, that the Selectmen & Fire- wards, be authorize I to borrow not exceeding one thousand dollars, to purchase engines and apparatus for extinguishing fires, provided the same can be obtained on reasonable terms, and on extended credit."
"Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to borrow one thousand dollars, for the purpose of building the remainder of the Candia road, and repairing that part already built."
The board of Fire-wards organized forthwith, and agreeably to the vote above, purchased an engine, and apparatus for the same. This was the first step towards our present efficient Fire Department. Prior to this, there had been an engine in the Stark yard ; but it was owned by that corporation, and this one now purchased, Merrimack, No. 1. was the first engine owned by the town. As early as 1818, there was a fire en- gine in Piscataquog, now a part of the city, but at the period treated of, a part of Bedford. This engine was obtained through the influence of Isaac Riddle, Esq., and the company having charge of it, was incorporated by a special act of the Legisla- ture.
The Candia Road was forthwith repaired, and finished in ac- cordance with the vote of the town, and on the 28th of No- vember, the Selectmen appointed Hiram Brown, Nehemiah Chase, James Wallace, and J. T. P. Hunt, Police officers of the town of Manchester.
Thus the "New Village" as it was called in the vote of the town, might be considered as fairly recognized and organized. But these "new comers," as the people of the "New Village" were often called, were looked upon as interlopers, by many of the old inhabitants of the town, and so great were their jealousies of them that had they been aware of their prospective power, in spite of their self interest, it is very doubtful whether the villagers could have got any sort of votes in their favor at this town meeting. These jealousies soon be- came mutual and produced confirmed opposition, which was exhibited in a decided manner on various occasions, soon after.
The Representative, the first paper printed in Manchester, was established this year by John Caldwell. The first num-
*The Barrett house stood on the south side of Granite street, nearly north of the Freight Depot.
598
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ber of the paper was issued on Friday, the 18th, of October, 1839. It was published every Friday, and advocated the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. The Representative was con- tinued until December, 1842, when it was sold to Kimball and Kidder, and merged with the Manchester Democrat, which is still published.
The Lowell Street Church, Rev. Mr. Tillotson's, which had been in the course of building through the previous season, was finished and dedicated in Feb. 1840. It is situated on the corner of Lowell and Church street, is of brick. originally was 80 feet in length, by 50 feet in width, and cost $6,500. It has since been much enlarged and repaired, being 80 feet in length, by 75 in width, and having a beautiful portico in front, while its interior is fitted up with elegance and taste.
The Memorial, the second paper that was published in Man- chester, was commenced with the new year, the first number being published Wednesday, the first day of January, 1840, by Joseph C. Emerson. The Memorial was a neutral paper at first and remained so till 1842, when it abandoned its neutral course upon the publication of the Democrat, and advocated the prin- ciples of the Whig party. Its name was subsequently changed to the Manchester American,-and more recently, after a union with the Messenger, it was changed to the American and Mes- senger, under which name it is still published.
Upon the appearance of the Memorial, Mr. Caldwell com- menced the publication of a neutral and literary paper of the same size. It was made up of the miscellaneous matter of the Representative, and was continued some six or eight months.
It had become apparent, that the inhabitants of the "New Village," would soon outnumber those of the town, if they did not at that time. The people of the village did not talk or act, with much moderation. They openly told their intention of controlling the affairs of the town,-and the nominations for town officers by the two parties, seem to have been made with this idea, as all the candidates for the important offices in the town, lived at the "New Village," or in its immediate vicinity. At the annual meeting, the votes of the first day showed con- clusively, that the people of the "New Village," predom- inated. Accordingly when about to adjourn on the evening of that day, a motion was made to adjourn to meet at Washington Hall on Amherst street, at ten o'clock, A. M., of the next day.
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EXCITING TOWN MEETING.
This motion at once produced a most stormy discussion .- Upon putting the question, the utmost confusion prevailed and a poll of the house was demanded. Finally it was proposed that the two parties to the question, should form in lines upon the common, in front of the Town House, and should be count- ed by the selectmen, thus taking the vote surely and in or- der. This suggestion met the views of all parties ; the quest- ion was put by the Moderator and a large portion of the voters went out and formed lines as suggested. While most of the vo- ters had thus left the house, some one made a motion to ad- journ the meeting to the next day, then to meet at the Town House ; the Moderator put the vote, it was carried, and the meeting was declared adjourned. When the "outsiders" heard of the vote, they rushed into the house-but to no purpose, the meeting was adjourned, and the Moderator would hear no mo- tion. After much confusion, the people left the house, and went home ; but on both sides, it was only to rally their forces for the contest the next day. The voters of the "New Village" met the same night in Washington Hall, and laying aside their political preferences, nominated a union ticket for town officers. The next day the parties were at the polls at an early hour,- all under much excitement : so much so, that it soon became apparent that they could not procceed with the meeting with- out an increase of the constabulatory force it was according- ly
"Voted to postpone the choice of Selectmen until constables be chosen."
They then made choice of thirty constables as follows, viz :
James McQuestion, J. L. Bradford, David Young, William P. Farmer, Mace Moulton, Matthew Kennedy, Walter French, John H. Copp, Levi Sargent, Adam Gilmore, Jonathan R. Cochran, Isaac C. Flanders, Joseph B. Hall, Jr., Alonzo Boyce, Nehemiah Chase, Taylor L. Southwick, Barton Munsey. Geo. W. Tilden, Josiah Stowell, Thomas Gamble, Jona. C. Furbish, E. W. Harrington, Hiram Brown, Alonzo Smith, Reuben Kim- ball, John H. Maynard, Henry S. Whitney, Jacob G. Cilley, Joseph M. Rowell, and Ebenezer P. Swain.
They then proceeded to elect the board of Selectmen, and made choice of the gentlemen nominated in the caucus at the "New Village," viz :
Amos Weston, Jr. Jona. T. P. Hunt.
Selecimen.
Hiram Brown.
600
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
After this ballot, the business of the meeting passed off quiet- ly, the village party, having things their own way. After choosing the usual town officers, they raised a committee, con- sisting of the selectmen, George Clark, and James Hall, to purchase a "Pauper Farm," without limitation as to the price, and authorised the selectmen to hire such a sum of money as might be necessary to pay for said farm. They also constitu- ted the selectmen a committee to take into consideration the subject of a new division of the town into districts for school purposes.
The villagers were triumphant,-but they seem to have been moderate as victors, as the selectmen called the very next meet- ing for the choice of electors at the Town House.
It may well be imagined that a people of as strong prejudices as those of Manchester, could not look upon these "new comers" over-riding them in a town meeting, with any great degree . of complacency, and many stories are told of their remarks, during the excitement. One is told of John Stark, Esquire, or "Just- ice Stark," as he was commonly designated. He went into the Moderator's desk, and addressed the people thus :
"Who are ye, that are here to act, and to tread upon us in this manner ? I'll tell ye who you are !- Your'e a set of in- terlopers come here to get a living upon a sand bank, and a d-d poor living you will get let me tell ye !"
Upon this, the "interlopers" made so much disturbance, that the "Justice" could not be heard and he left the desk. The re- sult was decisive. The people of the old part of the town saw at once that their power had departed, and that henceforth Manchester was to be controled by the people of the "New Vil- lage."
The various boards of Municipal officers were organized, and they proceeded at once to carry into effect the various contem- plated improvements. The fire engine having been purchased at an expense covering the appropriation, a house for its ac- commodation, was at once built upon individual responsibility, trusting to a future appropriation. This engine was the "Mer- rimack, No. 1," and the house for it, the first in our town, was built on the lot on Vine street, now occupied by that engine.
The selectmen performed their duties with promptness and energy. They at once appointed a board of police officers, con- sisting of Mace Moulton, Jacob G. Cilley, James Wallace, Hen- ry S. Whitney, Nehemiah Chase, Joseph M. Rowell. and Ste- phen C. Hall.
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601
SMALL POX.
On the 20th of May, upon petition, they laid out Elm, Bridge, Lowell, Concord, Amherst, Hanover, Manchester, Pine and Chestnut streets, as far as they had been laid out and made pas- able by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Upon laying out Bridge street, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, gave an obligation to the town to erect and maintain a bridge across their canal, and to indemnify the town against all damages for which the town might be liable in consequence of its want of repair or inefficiency.
On the 4th day of July of this year, Mr. J. C. Emerson, com- menced the publication of The Manchester Workman. It was a campaign paper, advocated the election of Gen. Harrison, and was discontinued after his election.
A Court's committee, upon a petition of Jonas Harvey and others, had laid out a public highway from the south line of the Company's land, in direction of the Harvey Bridge across the Cohas, k :. own as the "Nutt Road"; on the 22d day of September, upon petition, the Selectmen proceeded to lay out . the same, and it was built with all convenient dispatch.
In the summer of 1840, the small pox broke out in a family at Towlesville. A Mr. Aiken, of Hallsville took the disease from caressing a dog belonging to this family, and died of it. There was great excitement in the town, and no one could be obtained to bury the corpse. At length Dr. Thomas Brown took the body upon a wheel-barrow, and conveyed it to the cemete- ry and buried it in the north east corner of the same, where the solitary grave without a monument is still to be seen. The Board of Health recommended general vaccination, and large numbers were vaccinated at the expense of the city. The disease spread no farther however, and the excitement was soon allayed.
The population in 1840 was 3325, showing an increase of 2338 inhabitants in the last ten years, and this increase was principally in the two years last past.
The Presidential election took place November 2d, 1840. The vote in this town was thus :
John W. Weeks, 370
Stephen Perley, 369
Samuel Hatch, 370
Andrew Pierce, Jr. 370
Joseph Healey, 284
Geo. W. Nesmith, 284
Joseph Cilley, 284
Andrew Pierce, 284
T
602
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
John Scott, 370
Wm. Bixby, 284
Francis Holbrook, 370
Thos. M. Edwards, 284
Samuel Burns
370
Amos A. Brewster, 284
Samuel Griffin,
3
Isaac Crosby,
3
Albe Cady,
3
Asa Freeman,
3
Freeman Crosby,
3
John D. Quimby,
3
Jared Perkins,
3
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The ticket headed John W. Weeks, was elected in the State at large, and its vote was thrown for Martin Van Buren, who was unsuccessful, Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, being chosen Presi- dent of the United States.
At this meeting, a committee consisting of the Selectmen was raised "to ascertain where and upon what terms a site for a Town House and Burying Ground may be had of the Amos- keag Manufacturing Company, in the new village and report at the next annual meeting."
The Selectmen also made their report at this meeting, divi- ding the town into nine School Districts, and their report was accepted. [The report is given in full, in the Chapter in rela- tion to Schools. ]
This year was remarkable for the progress of the town in permanent improvements. Aside from the buildings built by the Corporations, many other buildings were erected that bespoke the healthy and permanent growth of the place. The second Methodist Episcopal Society built a Chapel of wood, upon Hanover street. The Calvinistic Baptist Society built a com- modious brick Church on Manchester street 80 feet in length by 60 feet in width, at an expense of $7000 ; and many houses were built by private individuals for residence or for rent. The Granite Bridge was also built across the Merrimack, at an expense of $10,000, being 480 feet in length. The Amoskeag Insurance Company, and the noted military company known as the "Stark Guards" were also organized during this year.
In January 1841, the first town meeting was called in the "New Village," at Washington Hall. The Warrant bore date date of January 16, notifying a meeting to be held "at Wash- ington Hall, in said Manchester on the first day of February
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SITES FOR TOWN HOUSE AND CEMETERY.
next." The objects of the meeting were to hear a report of the committee upon sites for a Town House and Burying ground; to authorize the building of a Town House and raise money for that purpose ; to discontinue certain highways ; and to see what the town would vote to do as to the Bald Hill and Calef roads, which had been laid out by the Court's Committees. At the meeting February 1, 1841, the Selectmen made their re- port as to sites for a town house and burying ground, submit- ting deeds of lots for those purposes, and one granting certain rights of way, to be delivered to the town upon their comply- ing with certain conditions named therein. One deed conveyed to the town about twenty acres of land for a Burying Ground, the same now known as the "Valley Cemetery." The main conditions of the deed were, that the town within two years should discontinue the parts of the old roads intersecting with the streets built and about to be built by the company, and that the land should revert if ever used for any other purpose than a cemetery. [The conditions of this deed are given in the Chap- ter containing the topography of the city, under the head of Valley Cemetery.] The second deed conveyed to the town ten thousand feet of land at the intersection of Merrimack and Elm streets, and constituting the Northeast corner of what is now Merrimack Square. The main conditions of this deed were, that the same highways should be discontinued as were described in the deed conveying the cemetery, within two years, and that it should revert in case it was used for any other buildings than thsoe for town purposes, and the buildings erect- ed thereon should be used for no other business than that pertain- ing to town and State affairs, such lectures as should be author- ized by the town alone being excepted. The third deed con- veyed to the town, provided certain roads were discontinued within two years the right of use of all streets built, or to be built by the Company south of Bridge street and betwixt Elm street and the upper canal, and stipulated to keep them in repair, unless they should at any time, one or all be laid out for pub- lic highways. After the deeds had been read, upon motion, it was voted, 166 ayes to 136 nays to accept the deed conveying the land for a cemetery and to discontinue the roads stipulated in it. The other two deeds submitted by the committee were accepted by a vote of 162 ayes to 91 nays.
At this day it is difficult to conceive what possible objections could have weighed against these measures in the minds of any individuals. These large and commodious lots were
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
given the town for certain purposes, upon the condition that certain parts of old roads that convened nobody, should be dis- continued to make room for streets and buildings for the con- venience of every body. Yet there was much opposition to these measures, and it is reasonable to suppose that the preju- dices of the people of the old parts of the town were brought to bear upon them, as opposition to them can be accounted for in no other manner. It is highly probable that most of the oppo- sition arose from that cause ; for this was the first town meeting held in the "New Village," and at this same meeting a resolu- tion was presented and carried, instructing the selectmen to call the next annual town meeting at some place in this village. The site for the town house appears not to have given satisfac- tion, and it was
"Voted that a committe of three be appointed to ascertain where and on what terms a site can be obtained for a Town House. Also to see if the Amoskeag Company will offer some other lot for a Town House in exchange for the one now granted to the town. Also to ascertain the probable expense of build- ing a suitable Town House, and make a report of the doings at the next annual meeting." and Mace Moulton, Thomas Hoyt, and Geo. W. Morrison, Esqrs., were chosen said committee.
The selectmen were instructed by vote to post the warrant calling the annual meeting in ten suitable places, also to pub- lish it "seasonably in the Representative and Memorial."
On the 19th day of February 1841, upon petition, the Select- men laid out that part of Orange street betwixt the house of Wilkins and Kidder on Chestnut street, and Elm street, and that part of Union street between Merrimack and Bridge street.
Very important matters were to be acted upon at the annual town meeting. The opposition to the project of a Burying Ground and a Town House ran high. Upon demand, articles were inserted in the warrant to see if the town would vote to rescind the proceedings of the town meeting of the first of February as to those subjects. The friends of those meas- ures had inserted in the warrant articles as to hearing and acting upon the report of the Committee appointed February 1, 1841 ; in relation to sites for a Burying Ground and Town House ; in relation to purchasing a lot for a town house, at the "north, west corner of Merrimack Square ;" also one on the "west side of Elm street, opposite of Hanover street," and also as to discon- tinuing certain roads stipulated in the deeds of those lots.
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DEEDS OF LOTS FOR TOWN HOUSE AND CEMETERY.
Thus those subjects were to be fully before the annual meeting, and the friends and enemies of the measures proposed, were in full feather for the contest. The annual meeting for 1841, came off at the Baptist Meeting House, on Manchester street, on the 9th day of March. Tuesday the 9th day was spent in balloting for State and County officers. On Wednesday the 10th day, after the choice of officers, and acting upon various articles, about which there was little excitement, a motion was. made to "pass over the 11th, 12th, 13th. 14th and 15th arti- cles in the warrant." These were the articles in relation to the discontinuing of roads and the rescinding certain proceedings of the meeting of February 1, 1841. It was then "voted to take up the 16th article in the warrant," which was to hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed in relation to a site for a Burying Ground and for a Town House. The committee made their report which was to the effect, that they had three deeds from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company ; one conveying the same lot as before, at the north west corner of Merrimack Square for a Town House with similar conditions ; another conveying the same lot as before for a Cemetery with similar conditions ; and a third, of a "lot on the west side of Elm street, opposite to Hanover street, containing ten thousand square feet, for twenty-five hundred dollars," with similar con- dit.ons as to the discontinuance of roads, with the other deeds ; and farther stipulating that the town release all interest in the lot at the north west corner of Merrimack Square, and build noth- ing upon this lot but a Town House, of brick or stone, and ne- cessary out buildings, and that they might use all parts not re- quired for town purposes, "for stores, offices or any other uses they may think proper ;" but the committee did not report as to the probable expense of building a Town House. The report of the Committee was accepted, and it was voted to accept the deeds submitted from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, "upon the conditions contained therein." It was then voted to discontinue the several roads named in the deed from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, and that the Selectmen apply to the Court of Common Pleas for liberty so to do ; and that the town release to said Company any claim they might have acquired to the lot "situate at the corner of Elm and Merrimack streets."
A committee of seven, consisting of Mesrs. Samuel D. Bell, Geo. Porter, Hiram Brown, Geo. B. Swift, Walter French, J. T. P. Hunt, and Alonzo Smith, were then chosen "to superintend and fit up the Cemetery." 43
606
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
It was then voted, "That the town build a Town House the present vear ;" that " the Selectmen be authorized to raise money by loan, not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, for the purpose of building a Town House," and paying for the lot ; they chose a committee, Messrs. John D. Kimball, Edward McQueston, and J. T. P. Hunt, to "superintend the building of the Town House, and out buildings." The articles passed over in relation to rescinding certain votes of the meeting held February 1, 1841, were then dismissed. It was then voted "to accept the deed from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, conveying to the town certain rights of way, and also to in- struct the committee on the subject of a Town Farm, to ascer- tain if such a farm could be purchased, "as would be for the in- terest of the town to purchase, and in that case to apply to the Selectmen to warn a meeting on that subject."
The meeting was then dissolved, and thus ended a town meet- ing of greater importance to our town, and city, than any other ever held within its limits.
The committee upon the town farm were unwilling to per- form their duties, so many farms were presented for their con- sideration, and at their request the Selectmen called a town meeting by warrant, of date March 19, 1841, to be holden on the third of April following. The objects of the meeting, as expressed in the warrant, were to choose a committee to pur- chase a town farm ; to hear the report of the old committee ; to authorize the Superintending committee to build a Town House forthwith ; to divide school district No. 3; and to build a Pound. At the meeting all these measures were carried. Messrs. Isaac C. Flanders, George Clark, and Israel Merrill were chosen a committee to purchase aTown Farm. They proceeded forth- with to perform their duties, and in a few days bought the farm of Mr. Moses Davis, being the one now known as the "old Town Farm." The price paid was four thousand dollars, and the deed bore date of April 22, 1841.
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