History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 123

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 123
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 123

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State, town and minister taxes, which were com- mitted to him for that purpose, and he also paid out all the money received. The selectmen's account upon the record-books was made through the consta- ble, he being credited with the bills paid and charged with all money received. In all the records of the town, only one person, while performing the duties of constable, was in any manner found to be dishonest. In the year 1795, Ensign Hanson Hoit was chosen to the office of constable, and an entry appears for that year, under the form of a certificate, signed by the selectmen, John Saoborn, Samuel Piper and John Clough, that the said Hanson Hoit refused to account for $375.54, which was in his pos- session as money belonging to the town.

The town purchased, for one dollar, a cane, which was known as the " Constable's Cane," which was car- ried by each successively, during their term of office, as the ensign of their authority, and the pointing of it to any disorderly person npon public occasions pro- duced quiet and order at once. The duties of tyth- ingman were somewhat similar to those of constable, so far as disorder was concerned. Their duties were upon the Sabbath-day, and they often removed from the house persons who disturbed the meeting by whispering or laughing ; also, they were required to arrest any one seen traveling, if he were a stranger, upon the Sabbath, and have him fined.

Respect for Titles and Titled Men .- In all the records of the town, for a period of more than fifty years, it is a very noticeable fact that great respect was shown the business men of the town, as well as all who were connected with the militia, and the title was invariably used in addressing them, and also in writing their names upon the tax-list and all matters of town affairs. The following instances are exam- ples : Esquire Ephraim Blunt, Captain John Sanborn, Ensign Samuel Piper, Quartermaster Smith, Lieuten- ant Ladd, Colonel Jonathan Rollins, General Richard Brown, Major Bachelder, Esquire Archelaus Moore. This respect and honor given and practiced by these ancient worthies toward each other was intended as a mark of true worth to the individual thus addressed, as everything to them partook of, and was built upon that noble and great characteristic and principle of their nature,-honesty of purpose. This feeling of respect was taught to their children, and when they arrived at manhood the parental restraint and advice often continued for a long time afterwards. The boys were taught to take off their hats and make their bow to respected men whenever they chanced to meet in the street. Scholars were taught to rise in their seats and stand during the entrance of the committee, or minister, and to perform the same act of courtesy upon their departure.

Burying-Grounds .- The first person who died iu Loudon was a mau who was a stranger, and being taken suddenly sick, died, and was buried in front of the old Dr. Tenney house. The building used

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

as the office of Dr. Tenney, when he resided in town, covers the grave. At that time no burying-ground was laid out. In the year 1773, Mr. Nathan Bachelder and Mr. Jethro Bachelder were chosen as a committee to lay out the burying- ground. Two and one-half acres were laid out at the southeast corner of the parsonage lot, and some years afterward it was inclosed with a stone wall, and upon the front side long hewed timber was laid upon the wall, and covered with boards, which were painted black. There was but one entrance to the ground, and that was through a door about six feet wide, in front. This door was painted black, and was hung upon stone posts upon either side, with a stone cap- piece connecting them at the top. The first person buried in the yard was a very tall man, the grave being at the right hand of the entrance and is now visible. The name of the man is not known.

One acre was reserved in the original laying out for future use, which was inclosed recently. .

A few years after the laying out of the ground at the Centre, the town hought of Philip Brown a piece of land at the village, for the burial of any who might wish, in that part of the town. This land was con- veyed to the town for a public burying-ground by a deed from Philip Brown to the town of Loudon, which is recorded at the register of deeds' office at Concord. These are the only public grounds in the town, and are repaired at the expense of the same. These two grounds contain the remains of nearly all the first and oldest settlers of the parish, several of whom were noted townsmen. Mr. Stephen Moore has recently given attention to the convenience and care of the dead, by laying out a ground at the village and the building of a tomb. Mr. Moore has made a very de- sirable and pleasant location, which in after-years will be filled, probably, with those of the present generation. There is also, besides, the Wells burying-ground. At the northerly part of the town is a new one, in a pleasant location and tastefully laid, and it contains some costly and elegant monuments.

There are at least twenty-three burial-grounds in the town, and a large part of them are in the west- erly portion. The public ground at the Centre was originally one of the most gloomy and dreaded places in town. The high stone wall on the front, and made still higher with large timber lain on the top, and painted black, with its high, gallows-like posts, and narrow, black door through which no car- riage ever entered for more than fifty years, certainly made it a terror to the children by day, as well as to men by night. The custom of beautifying these an- cient " cities of the dead " is most excellent and com- mendable. At the village there is also a new and very pleasantly laid-out ground, adjoining that of Stephen Moore, which contains many valuable and costly mon- uments of marble, among which are several of the Bachelder family, the descendants of Jethro Bachelder, one of the original settlers of the parish.

The Laying of the Lots in Loudon .- The lots in the town were laid in two divisions, called first and sec- ond division of hundred-acre lots. The first division includes that part of Loudon taken from Canterbury, and contains forty whole hundred-acre lots. The sec- ond division includes the north and easterly parts, and contains one hundred lots of one hundred acres each, besides several parts of lots. These lots were laid one hundred and sixty rods long and one hundred rods wide, and each contained one hundred acres of land. The settlers who first came into the town pitched up- on certain lots for their farms, and such lots were called pitched lots. There are thirty-two of this descrip- tion, and they were situated near the White School- house and upon Clough's Hill, and are those now owned by J. T. Sauborn, Benjamin Bachelder, C. H. Osgood, C. B. Green, G. Mason, J. M. Ladd, H. John- ston, Abner Clough, H. J. Osgood and others. Be- sides these, there were several granted lots (so called), which were given for some service rendered in the laying of lots or highways. In the southerly part of the town the lots were laid smaller, and contained but thirty-eight acres, and were called common lots. The laying of the lots were full measure, and most of them include one or more ranges, either upon the side or end, and if it were not for the pitched lots, would be parallel and regular in form.

Highways .- In the year 1761 a committee was chosen from the town of Canterbury to lay out a road from the Canterbury meeting-house the nearest way to some sea-port town. This was the first road laid, and was called the old Canterbury road. In the year 1774, Jethro Bachelder and Jacob Towle, selectmen, laid the road from Moses Ordway's, over Bear Hill, to Chichester line. The same year the road from the meeting-house to Samuel Morrill's corner was laid ; also one leading from Captain Sias' mill to John Moore's corner. In 1778, Nathan Bachelder and Ephraim Blunt, selectmen, laid the road from Gilman- ton line to Quartermaster Jonathan Smith's. March 22, 1774, Jethro Bachelder and Jacob Towle, select- men, laid the road leading from the meeting-house southeasterly to the Raccoon road (so called).

" DURHAM, July 26, 1779.

"This may sartify, hoom it may concern, that I have given a road the Selectmen have laid out throw one corner of my hundred-acre lot, No. 109, by me, in London, per me.

" JONATHAN WOODMAN, Juner."

"LOUDON, June 24, 1796.

" This day received a range-way at the west end of Lot No. 200, the whole width of said Lot and no further, in full satisfaction for the road that leads from my house to Bachelder's mills.

(Signed)

" LIRBE BACHELDER."

" August 24, 1796 .- Samuel Piper and John Clough, Selectmen, this day laid out a road from Lieut. Abner Clough's corner, by John Clough's, to John Moore's. Whereas, the above road runs through land of Jona- than Chase, John Clough, Moses Caverly, Dimond Furnald, we, the selectmen, agree to give them in compensation the following Ranges : Jonathan Chase to have the Range across his Lot, and no further ; also, one-half of the Range across his Lot No. 137. John Clough to have the other half of the range across Lot No. 137. Moses Caverly to have the range across his Lot No. 129, and no further. Dimond Furnald tu

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LOUDON.

have the range across his Lot No. 128, and no further. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

(Signed)

" JONATHAN CHASE,

" JOHN CLOUGH,

" MOSES CAVERLY,

" DIMONO FURNALD.

" SAMUEL PIPER,} " JOHN CLOUGH,

Selectmen."

"June 17, 1794 .- This day we, the Selectmen, laid out a road begin- ning R little northerly from the crotch of the road that leads from Bach- elder's mills to Moses Lovering's and Canterbury line.

(Signed) " JOHN SANBORN, " CHARLES SARGENT,

Selectmen."

"Whercas, a number of persoos have sigoified their desire to have a public Road laid out and established from Loudon to Canterbury meeting-house, which will not only conveue the public in general, but will be much shorter than the other south road ; Now, for the encour- agement of the same, and that so goud an undertaking may not be frus- trated, but pursued, We, whose names are underwritten, do severally promise to yield up, surrender, and forever quit-claim three rods of land for said road io width, Said road to begin at the Crotch of the road west of Bachelder's mills, running through part of Lieut. Abraham Bachelder's laod, Noah Sinclair's aod Mr. Philbrick's, and north of Mr. Durgin's, as the Selectmen may think best.

"November 27, 1797.

(Signed) "ABRAHAM BACHELDER (3d),

"GEORGE PEVERLY,

" JOSEPH PALMER,

"EDWARD PHILBRICK,

" THOMAS MOORE.

" A true copy. Attest :

"ENOCH WOOD, Towa Clerk."

" March 9, 1796 .- Joho Sanborn and Samuel Piper, selectmon, this day laid out a road beginoing at Loudon line a little easterly frou Lea- vitt Clough's dwelling-house ; thence running to Moses Lovering's house, laid three rods wide."

"September 9, 1799 .- Stephen Wells and David Eastman this day laid out a road three rods wide leading from Stephen and Nathaniel Max- field's to the road that leads from Henry Beck's to Samuel Hill's."

The return of this road reads as follows :

" We allow this road to be as much profit as it is damage to the owners of the land it goes through."

"LOUDON, July 28, 1779 .- This day the Selectmen laid out a road through my hundred-acre lot, No. 109, aud I, the subscriber, have given Baid road to the parish of Loudon, per me.

(Sigoed)

". ABRAHAM BACHELDER, ESQ."

" LONDON, July 28, 1779 .- This day received fifty dollars for a road the Selectmeo laid out through my land from Abraham Bachelder's to the Voted road. I say received in full by me.

(Signed)

" LEFT. JOHN SANBORN."

"July 8, 1779 .- Ephraim Blunt and Jonathan Clough, Selectmen, laid out the road from Canterbury line to Otis Hills."

" November 16, 1784 .- Joho Sanboro, Samuel Chamberlin and Joseph Tilton laid out the road from Jacob Osborn's to Gilmantoo road."

"June 17, 1790 .- John Saoboro and John Moore laid the road from Canterbury line, by William Wheeler's, to the road leading from Lover- ing's mill to Libbe Bachelder's house.""

"LOUDON, March 21, 1800 .- We, the present Selectmen of Loudon, agree with Leavitt Clough, of Canterbury, to give the said Clough the range at the west end of the Lot No. 100, beginning at the lower end of the pood, and to extend northerly to the line between Loudon and Can- terbury, in exchange for the road that goes by said Clough's house, and 1, the said Leavitt Clough, do agree to take the above range as full com- pensation for said road.

(Signed) " LEAVITT CLOUGH.

"STEPHEN WELLS, " DAVID EASTMAN, "JAMES THOMPSON,

Selectmen."

"June 23, 1806 .- Sammel French, Jr., David Eastman and Elkios Moore, Selectmen, Inid out a road beginning two rods south from Mr. Philip Brown's Well, southerly to Mr. Dearboro's house ; thence north to the easterly abutment of the stone Bridge over the Soucook river, near the tail of said Dearborn's saw-mill, to the road that leads to Con- cord and Canterbury."

The highway leading from Buswell's corner to Howarth Mills was laid as follows : One of the own- ers of the land through which this road was to be

laid became offended at the proceedings of some neighbor who was interested, and, as a matter of re- venge, gave the seleetmen one gallon of rum to lay it in the worst place they could find ; and they did ac- cordingly.

The laying out of most of the highways in town is generally on record, giving the location, distance and width laid out.

CHAPTER II.

LOUDON- ( Continued).

THE GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY OF MANY OF THE CITIZENS AND FAMILIES OF THE TOWN.

The Bachelder Family .- REV. STEPHEN BACH- ILOR,1 the founder of the family in this country, was probably from the southern part of England, as he certainly preached at a village a few miles north of South Hampton, in the county of Hants, England. The town of Hampton, N. H., was so named at his request. Rev. Stephen lived in Holland a number of years, and sailed from London to Boston, Mass., in 1632, and went directly to Lynn, where he planted the first church. His daughter, Theodate, wife of Christopher Hussey, also lived at that place. He lived at Lynn until 1636, and went from there to Newbury, Mass., and from there to Hampton, in 1638, and then to Portsmouth, about 1647 ; lived there until 1650, and went back to England about 1655, and died at Hackney (now London), in 1660, in his one hundredth year. His third wife, Mary -, whom he married in 1650, was a bad investment, and he could not live with her. She was a widow, whose real character he did not understand. This third wife, Mary, petitioned court for a divorce soon after, upon the ground that he had married a fourth wife, which there is no evidence of whatever, as he was ninety-four or ninety-five years of age when he went back. His son Nathaniel had three wives and seven- teen children ; was a man of prominence for many years; in faet, he held a leading position until his death, in 1710. The woman whom Mr. Bachilor was justified in leaving was soon convicted of immor- ality that brought a sentence of thirty lashes and marking her with the letter A.

There were at least six Bachelders who settled in Loudon, and with families, and were descendants of the Rev. Stephen Bachilor, of England, - 1st, Josiah, born in January, 1767, who was son of Deacon David, of Hampton Falls ; Deacon David was son of Josiah, of Hampton Falls; Josiah was son of Nathaniel, Jr., of Hampton; Nathaniel, Jr., was son of Nathaniel, Sr., of Hampton; and Nathaniel, Sr., was a grandson of the Rev. Stephen Bachilor.

1 The name Bachilor was changed to Bachelder in spelling it by all the descendants'uf the Rev. Stephen, who settled and have since lived in Loudvo.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MAJOR NATHAN BACHELDER was born October 25, 1734, and was son of Deacon Ebenezer, of East Kingston. Deacon Ebenezer was son of Deacon Nathaniel, Jr., of Hampton, Nathaniel, Jr., was son of Nathaniel, Sr., the grandson of Rev. Stephen Bachilor. Major Nathan was a brother to Rich- ard. Richard was born October 5, 1736. Nathaniel, brother to Major Nathan, was born February 21, 1740. Abraham and Jethro were sons of Jethro, Sr .; Jethro was the son of Nathaniel, Jr., who was the son of Nathaniel, Sr., who was grandson of the Rev. Stephen Bachilor. Abraham and Jethro were cousins of Major Nathan, Richard and Nath- aniel. Major Nathan settled at Loudon Ridge, N. H., where are living some of the descendants of this line. After the Major came to Loudon he took the name of Esquire Nathan in all the business mat- ters of the town. The descendants of the Bachelders who reside in Loudon are noted for being good citi- zens, are public-spirited, firm in their principles and honest in their purposes and aims.

ABRAHAM BACHELDER, EsQ., and Jethro, his brother, came to Loudon (then Canterbury) near the vear 1760, as Abraham Bachelder was chosen as constable in 1765 in the town of Canterbury.

Abraham Bachelder, Esq., was a man of large busi- ness capacity ; was a surveyor of land and was engaged in laying out the town of Loudon in lots. Also, he served as one of the selectmen of the town, and laid out and made the return of a large number of the highways. Abraham Bachelder settled on land near the White School-house, he having, while traveling iu the locality and looking for meadow-land with his son Abraham, Jr., found the swell of land bordering upon the pond, covered with a most beautiful growth of birch, oak and white ash, and, at the earnest request of his son, concluded to settle at this place. They built a log house just north of the one upon the Ira Osgood farm, and the land in the southeasterly direc- tion towards the school-house, was the first cleared. Afterwards Abraham, Jr., built the northeasterly half of the old red Bachelder mansion, as it now stands.

This lot of land was called a pitched lot, and con- tained one hundred acres. It was afterwards divided by the highway leading to Gilmanton, and that part lying westerly of said road passed into the ownership of another person. The irregularity of the line of the boundary of some of the adjoining lots is caused by the pitching of the owner. Several other lots were pitched upon in the same manner. During the first years of clearing the land many privations had to be endured. In the first year they were short of food for bread, and Mr. Bachelder was obliged to cut some of his rye before it was ripe, dry it as much as possible, and carry it upon his shoulder to Canterbury for grind- ing,a distance of several miles. The corn raised and used for bread was pounded in a wooden mortar into meal. This same mortar is still in existence, and consists of a maple log about two feet long, with the bark still

on, standing upon one end, while in the other is a cavity, made by burning out the wood by fire, in which corn or salt was placed and pounded with a wooden pestle. The mortar may be seen by examin- ing the attic of the old mansion.

JETHRO BACHELDER located at the village then known as Bachelder Mills. He was a large land-owner, the proprietors giving him four hundred acres as an inducement for him to build mills upon the privilege at that place. The land given embraced that tract now owned by Joseph P. Bachelder, and also the Cate farm. Mr. Bachelder built the first house at the vil- lage, and it is known as the Captain P. Robinson house. He was the ancestor of the race of Bachel- ders at the south part of the town, and Abraham was that of the line living at the Centre. The line of de- scent from Abraham was Abraham Bachelder, Jr., born in 1744. His wife, Anna Judkins, was born in 1750, married in 1772. Their children are Nathan Bachelder, born in 1773; Abraham and Josiah Bacbelder (twins), born in 1775; Hannah Bachelder, born in 1776; Josiah Bachelder (2d), born in 1779; Philip Bachelder, born in 1781; James Bachelder, born in 1783; John Bachelder, born in 1785; Sally Bachelder ; Jonathan Bachelder, boru in 1790; Judith Bachelder.

JONATHAN BACHELDER married Lois Wells and had a family of twelve children,-Abraham, Mary Ann, Stephen W., True, William T., Nathan, Nancy G., Sarah S., Hannah E., H. John, John (2d) and Benjamin.

Benjamin Bachelder married Mary E. Bachelder, of Meredith, N. H., and has a family of two children, named Martha E. and John. He resides upon the farm and occupies the original house in part that was built by Abraham Bachelder, Esq., his great-great- grandfather. He has held the office of postmaster at Loudon Centre, N. H., for a number of years.

CYRUS BACHELDER, who was the son of James, brother of Jonathan, lived in Loudon, and had two children, named James K. P. and Georgia, who mar- ried the Rev. Warren Applebee. Mr. Bachelder has been elected to the office of selectman, has held that of town treasurer and has represented the town in the Legislature.

JETHRO BACHELDER was born in 1723, married Abigail Lovering and had a family of eight children, named William, Abram, Jethro, Daniel, Libby, Na- thaniel, Jacob and Aaron.

Mr. Bachelder was at one time the largest tax-payer in the town, but from some reason lost and consumed his property, until he was in his old age provided for by his children, who built a small house upon the hill near Mr. Abram Bachelder's, where he died, and was buried in the old village burying-ground.

LIBBY BACHELDER and Esquire Nathaniel lived in Loudon and had large families, and were men of note in their day.

CAPTAIN ABRAHAM married Betsy Bachelder. She

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LOUDON.

was born in 1759, and they had a family of eleven children, named Smith, born 1785 ; Zephaniah, born 1786; Olive, born 1788 ; Nathaniel, born 1790: Gard- ner, born 1792; Betsy, born 1793; Asa, born 1795; Lois, born 1797; Enoch W., born 1798; Joseph, born 1800; and Clarisa, born 1802.

ZEPHANIAH BACHELDER married Mary Eastman and had seven children, named Harmon E., Abraham G., Mary, Arvilla, Genette, Martha and Louisa.

ABRAHAM G. BACHELDER married Rebecca Fi- field, and had five children, named Fred., Frank, Charles, Asa and Frank. Mr. Bachelder is a good representative of the family ; is a man of ability and judgment, and is often applied to for advice and as- sistance in public as well as private life. He has acquired a good property, and has been successful in the profession which he has chosen for a living.

DEACON HARMON E. BACHELDER married Clarisa Sanborn and has one daughter, who married Samuel M. True, and she has three children, named Nellie, Blanche and Mary. Mr. Bachelder resides upon the homestead of his father, Colonel Zephaniah, and is a large farmer, and is deacon of the Congregational Church at Loudon village.

GENETTE BACHELDER, daughter of Zephaniah, married William T. Wheeler and has no children. Mr. Wheeler is engaged extensively in farming, and has been successful in his avocation.

GARDNER BACHELDER married, first, Clarisa Brad- ley, and, second, Nancy Yonng, and had a family of sixteen children, named Nathaniel S., Emory B., Judith, Stephen, William, Abby, Henry F., William, Winthrop, Abram and other infant children.

HENRY F. BACHELDER married Lydia S. Rogers, and has three children, named Marion, Emma and Hellen. Marion married Fred. Lawrence and has one son, named Henry B. Emma married Frank E. Robinson. Hellen died in 1883. Henry F. Bach- elder has been a trader in groceries and dry-goods for a large number of years and has acquired a good property. He has held the office of postmaster at Loudon for twenty-four years. His life has been marked in his dealings with others by integrity and uprightness, and he is a respected citizen of his town. His business is now carried on under the firm-name of Bachelder & Robinson, and they are extensively engaged, in addition to their trade, in lumber busi- ness, and at present are the largest business firm in the town.

ABRAM BACHELDER married - Whitney, of Canterbury, and they have one child, named Ivy.

ASA BACHELDER, brother of Zephaniah, married, in 1795, Rachel True, and had a family of seven chil- dren, named Augustine, Abram, Roscoe G., Ancie and three others, who died in infancy.

ANCIE BACHELDER married Joseph Wiggin, and had two children, named Nattie and Gertrude. Mr. Wiggin married, first, Eliza Walker, daughter of Ruel Walker, and had four children, named Eddie, Willie,

Gertrude and -. Mr. Wiggin commenced the business of a tanner when a young man with Mr. Walker, and afterwards married his daughter. He soon became the owner and has since carried on an extensive business, and is a prominent and valuable citizen.

ASA C. BACHELDER, son of Abraham G., married Jennie Badger and has a family of five children, named Edwin, Emory, Kate, Genette and Lillian.

NATHAN BACHELDER married Margaret Bean, April 8, 1756, and had a family of seven children, named Richard, born December 8, 1756; Phineas, born November 16, 1760; William, born March 19, 1762; Joseph, born January 2, 1764; Ebenezer, born October 2, 1769; Dolly, born February 13, 1772; Josiah, born January 24, 1775. Esquire Nathan settled at Loudon Ridge.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 123

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520