History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 154

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 154
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 154

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But if the teacher had few books, the scholars had fewer ; none, in fact, unless, as a special indulgence, they were allowed the use of the family Bible or rude psalm-book of the day in the exercises of the school.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

A stray leaf from an old volume, or even a piece of a torn newspaper, often did duty in place of the modern invention of school-books. He was a severe disciplin- arian, and the slightest infraction of the laws of the school was visited upon the offender with as severe a punishment as birch could inflict with safety, causing the offender to feel that knowledge is indeed bought with suffering, and almost forcing him to believe that the cautionary threat given to the dwellers in Eden, "In the day that thou eatest of the tree of knowledge thou shalt surely die" would be literally fulfilled in his individual experience.

The following is an exact copy of one of Master Hogg's receipts :

" March 21, 1792.

" Then my son Robert Hogg received seventeen bushels of Rie from Simon Kezar, of Sutton, which was due to me for teaching schooliog two months in Sutton.

" Per me, ROBERT HOOG."

The following is a school-mistress' receipt :

" METHUEN, Feb. 1, 1791.

" Received of Jacob Mastin and Hezekiah Parker six bushels of Rye, it being in full for my keeping school for them and others last fall six weeks in Sutton.

" LYDIA PARKER."

In 1786, two years after incorporation, Sutton, in its corporate capacity, made its first appropriation, twelve pounds, for support of schools. Of this sum, each school, of course, received its proportionate share; but it is evident that private subscription was still needed to make the school terms long enough to he of much profit, and not unfrequently they were lengthened in this way. The " six weeks" and " two months " specified in the above receipts might have been additional to the time already paid for by the town appropriation. No district lines had been as yet established. The few school-houses that were built previous to 1808, had been placed where they would accommodate the most families. The first permanent division of the town into school districts was made by a committee chosen by the town for that purpose in 1808, in obedence to the new school law passed by the Legislature that year. The law also provided for the establishment of a superintending school committee, which, with the more liberal appropriations by the town for support of schools, produced decided advance- ment in discipline and acquirements of the scholars.

The right of land reserved by the proprietors for school purposes, according to a stipulation in their grant of the town, was sold under the direction of the town, and the proceeds of the sale constitute the orig- inal school fund.

Some teachers who are remembered were Benja- min Colby, Esq., late of Springfield ; Deacon Benja- min Fowler, late of Orange ; Hon. Jonathan Harvey ; Colonel Philip S. Harvey ; Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, late of Derry ; Captain John Pillsbury, late of Sutton ; Judge Moses S. Harvey, late of Painesville, Ohio; Hon. Charles Hudson, a late member of Congress from Massachusetts.

The first female school-teacher in Sutton was Olive

Whitcomb, afterwards wife of George Walker. She taught school in Deacon Asa Nelson's barn about the year 1788.

Deacon Benjamin Fowler taught school in a room in the house of Samuel Bean, an early settler.

For many years after the settlement of the town teachers' wages were from six to eight dollars per month, besides their board, which was given in by the families, each one giving according to the number of scholars sent, and the teacher "boarding around " among them.

Female teachers received from fifty cents to one dollar per week, which amount they sometimes added to by spinning between school-hours for the families where they boarded, often in this way earning another half-dollar a week.

The catechism spoken of as being in use, both in schools and in families, was the "Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly of Divines," and was . found in the " New England Primer."

"The Young Ladies' Accidence " was a grammar prepared by the Rev. Caleb Bingham, a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1782. He established a school for young ladies in Boston in 1785, soon after which, see- ing the great need of such a book, he prepared and issued this one, which had an immense sale, passed through twenty editions, one hundred thousand copies being sold. He also was author of "The American Preceptor," "The Columbian Orator " and other school-books; one million two hundred and fifty thousand copies of his books were sold.

Thomas Wadleigh Harvey, son of Moses S. Har- vey, who emigrated from Sutton to Painesville, Ohio, was for several years superintendent of schools for the State of Ohio.

Lydia Wadleigh, daughter of Judge Benjamin Wadleigh, eminent as a teacher during many years of her life, has, for a long period, held the position of superintendent of the Female Normal College in New York City.

General John Eaton, son of John Eaton, was for some time superintendent of education in Tennessee, and was subsequently appointed by General Grant superintendent of the National Board of Education, which post he still holds.

Adelaide Lane Smiley, daughter of Dr. James R. Smiley and granddaughter of Dr. Robert Lane, has been for many years the honored lady principal at Colby Academy, in New London.

William Taylor, a Baptist clergyman, and son of Captain James Taylor, of Sutton, was largely instru- mental in the establishment of the New Hampton Baptist Institution, and, at a later period, of a similar institution in Michigan.

SINGING-SCHOOL .- Captain Matthew Buell, of New- port, taught singing-schools in Sutton many years, about the close of the last century and afterwards. He used to teach three afternoons and three evenings in a week while the term continued-one day at Matthew

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SUTTON.

Harvey's tavern, one day at Enoch Page's tavern and one day at Caleb Kimball's tavern.

His schools became one of the greatest social in- stitutions of the winter season, and were looked for- ward to with much interest, at a period when young people in Sutton were so numerous that some school districts which are now so reduced as to be merged into others numbered one hundred scholars every winter.

The recess between the afternoon and evening school afforded a fine opportunity for the young men to display their gallantry to the girls by treating them to a supper of such good things as the tavern afforded. "On one occasion," says our informant, "Captain Buell's Newport school, by special invita- tion, came down to visit the Sutton school; had a supper together, and a fine entertainment, every way."

Military History - THE MILITIA, - When the new State Constitution was adopted, in 1792, it con- tained important provisions for regulating the mil- itia. At its next session the Legislature passed an act, December 27, 1792, for arranging it into companies, regiments, brigades, divisions, and these were to drill two days in a year. Each regiment was composed of two battalions, the regiment being commanded by a lieutenant-colonel and the battalions by majors. The Twenty-first Regiment was thus constituted: First Battalion,-Boscawen, Salisbury, Andover, New Lon- don, Kearsarge Gore (Wilmot); Second Battalion,- Hopkinton, Warner, Sutton, Fishersfield, Bradford.

As the population of the towns increased, a differ- ent arrangement, of course, became desirable. In 1797 the inhabitants of Sutton united with the in- habitants of the towns of Warner, Bradford, Kear- sarge Gore, Fishersfield and New London in a petition to the Legislature, showing that they all labored under many and great disadvantages by rea- son of the Twenty-first Regiment being so extensive, and asking relief. The petition states that they are,-

" By law obliged to meet a number of timea every year, and once in hattalion or regiment, which makea fatiguing journeys aod hardships for soldiers, and great expense for officers, to march to and from the ceo- tre of said regiment or battalion, and much time isspent and lost by rea- Boa of the Parade being at such a distance. Therefore, your petitioners humbly pray your honors to take thia their hard case into your wise consideration, and grant them relief by making a division of said regi- ment in the following manger : let. That the companies of the towna of Warner, Bradford and Kearsarge Gore make the first battalion. 2d. That the companies of the towns of Sutton, Fisherfield and New London make the second battalion. So that the above said companies may con- stitute and make ooe regiment. Or relieve your petitioners in some other way, as your honors, in your great wisdom, shall think best. And as in duty bound, etc."

Here follow, in the Sutton petition, the names of eighty-four men, most of whom were probably of suitable age to be enrolled (between sixteen and forty years), according to the modification of the mil- itia law, made June 19, 1795. In their petition, how- ever, they style themselves simply "inhabitants of Sutton." Some of the petitioners may have been too

old to be liable to do military duty, except in case of alarm; but no one of them, of course, could have been less than sixteen years,-

Benjamin Philbrick, Nathaniel Cheney, Henry Dearborn, John Adams, Samuel Kendrick, Joseph Adama, William Lowell, Jonathan Colburn, David Colburn, Nathaniel Cheney, John Philbrick, Mosea Nelson, Thomas Peaslee, John King, George King, Moses Davis, Joseph Clough, Samuel Peaslee, Amos Pressey, Samuel Bean, Silas Russell, Joseph Bead, Isaac Welle, Ezekiel Flanders, John Emerson, Philip Neleon, Isaac Peas- lee, Jease Peaslee, John Pressey, Simon Kezer, Jr., Willard Emerson, George Walker, Joshna Philbrick, Ezekiel Davis, Dudley Kendrick, David Davis, Caleb Kimball, Benjamin Williams, Philip Sargent, Joseph Greeley, John Peaslee, Joseph Chadwick, William Pressey, Ezra Little- hale, Peter Peasley, Reuben Gile, Ephraim Hildreth, Abraham Peasley, Enoch Page, Joha Harvey, Jonathan Roby, Phineas Stevene, Seth Rue- sell, Joseph Youriog, Joseph Johnson, Benjamin Stevens, Asa Stevens, Peter Cheney, Joseph Stevens, Jooathan Eaton, Theophilus Cram, Eli- phalet Woodward, Benjamin Wella, Joseph Flanders, Stephen Wood- ward, Jonathan Harvey, Matthew Harvey, Jr., Joseph Woodward, David Flanders, Zachariah Cross, Oliver Freach, David Eaton, Daniel Messer, Joseph Pearson, Jacob Mastia, Hezekiah Parker, John Pearson, Samuel Ambrose, Jr., Theophilus Cram, Eliphalet Woodward, Stephen Wood- ward, Matthew Harvey, Jonathan Davis, Josiah Nichols, William Hutchins.

Soon after this petition, and probably as a result of it, a division of the regiment was made, and then and afterwards Sutton constituted a part of the Thirtieth Regiment till the disbanding of the militia, in 1851.

The "Grenadiers" were organized by Captain John Harvey, perhaps about 1810, and until his promotion commanded by him, when his first lieu- tenant, Daniel Woodward, took the command. Their uniform consisted of white pants, scarlet coats and tall, conical-shaped, black, shiny, leather caps.

The uniform of the cavalry of the Thirtieth Regi- ment consisted of white pants, red coats with bell- buttons, a black leather cap ornamented with an eagle on a white shield, with chains and tassels, and a red and black plume.

For many of the first thirty years of this century musters were held at Jonathan Harvey's, in his field opposite his house,-a level field of twenty acres in extent, a high table-land, with not another possess- ing its peculiar characteristics in our hilly town, per- haps not in any town embraced in the regiment, or even the brigade, of which Sutton constituted a part.

At a later period some musters were held in the Wadleigh field, south of Kezar's Pond.

MILITIA OFFICERS .- As is well known, the rolls of the State militia are imperfect. The following list was furnished by Colonel Asa Page from his own recollection, he being at the time of his death-which occurred recently at Newbury-eighty-six years of age. His eyesight was entirely gone, but he retained his mental faculties to a wonderful degree. He possessed the highest integrity of character, and was universal- ly esteemed. Reference to the record of town-meet- ings shows him to have served as moderator for twenty- one different years; selectman, twelve years ; represen- tative, three sessions (1843, '44, '45); Senator, two sessions (1846-47).

The first company organized in Sutton was about

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

the year 1800. Thomas Wadleigh chosen captain and Joseph Wadleigh lieutenant.

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS FURNISHED BY SUTTON.

Philip S. Harvey, commissioned about 1818.

John Harvey, commissioned June 29, 1822 (date of John Harvey's commission as ensign of the Seventh Company, in the Thirtieth Regi- mant, December 24, 1805).

Asa Page, commissioned lieutenant-colonel September 6, 1827. Nathaniel A. Davis, commissioned lieutenant-colonel.

Nehemiah Emerson, commissioned major.

CAPTAINS.

Thomas Wadleigh (1800), Daniel Page (1803), Enoch Page, James Minot, William Kendrick, Joseph Pillsbury, John Pillabury, Daniel Woodward, Asa Nelson (1816), Levi Fowlar, Amos Pressey, Nathan Champ- lin (1820), Nathaniel Knowlton (1827), Samuel Dresser, Jr. (1827), Levi Gile, Jacob Harvey, Thomas Walker, Aaron Russell, John Pressey, Thomas Wadleigh, Jr.

NAMES OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.

(Most of these served for othar towna before they became residents of Sutton.)

Samuel Ambrose, Benjamin Colby, Daniel Messer, Philip Nelson, Daniel Emery, Jacob Mastin, David Peaslee, Nathaniel Cheney, Benja- min Critchett, Simeon Stevens, Philemon Hastings, Thomas Walker, George Walker, Francis Como, Silas Russell, Thomas Wadleigh, John Palmer, Joseph Chadwick, Anthony Clark, Jonathan Roby, Plummer Wheeler, Sen., Dudley Kendrick, James Harvey, Aquilla Wilkins, Jona- than Nelson, Solomon Austin, John Putney, Abraham Peaslee (first), David Peasles (second), Cornelius Bean, Nathanial Morgan, James Brocklebank, Jonathan Nelson.

Of the foregoing, Silas Russell and Benjamin Critchett are known to have served for Perrystown (Sutton), as it is found on the record of the town that a committee was appointed at a town-meeting to look after their families during their absence in the service.

NAMES OF SOLDIERS IN WAR OF 1812.

Moses Woodward, Caleb Kimball, Jr., John Kimhall, Daniel Emery, James Morgan, James Buswell, Hazen Putney, Thomas Cheney, John Peasles, Timothy Chellia, James Philbrook, Moses Davis, Samuel Roby, Thomas Davia, Gideon Wells, Joshua Flandera, Thomas Walker (second of the name), Levi Fowler, John McWilliams, Jacob Harvey (died in service), Daniel Woodward, Isaac Littlehale, Ephraim Fisk, Benaiah Woodward, James Wheeler (died in service), Plummer Wheeler, Jr., Samuel Wheeler, Amos Jones (diad in service), John French, Daniel Muzzy, John Colby, Daniel Cheney, James Minot (officer), Benjamin Wells, John Philbrook, Jr., Frederick Wilkins.

In 1812 Sutton offered a bounty of two dollars per month, and if called into actual service ten dollars per month, from the time of being called into service, additional to what they received of the State or gov- ernment, to be paid to the soldiers on demand after their return.

The War of the Rebellion .- The following sta- tistics regarding the men and money furnished by Sutton during the last war were supplied by Moses Hazen, Esq., several years since, and are reliable.

Sutton furnished for the last war in all one hun- dred and sixty-four men. This number includes the thirty-two men who enlisted without bounty. But as no men were credited by the government till they commenced paying bounties, the number credited to this town is reduced to one hundred and thirty-two men.

Sutton paid in bounty .

. $33,512.00

Average per man .

253.80

Recruiting expenses .

327.44

Recruiting expensea par man

2.48

Total

. $34,095.72

In 1868 the town debt was $37,029.80.

In 1883 this war debt of nearly forty thousand dol- lars was all paid.

CHAPTER III.

SUTTON-(Continued).

The Social Library .- This association was formed in 1796, men from Sutton, New London and Fishers- field uniting for the purpose. By the payment of $2.50 a man could purchase a share, and thus become entitled to the use of the books in the library. The money paid for the shares purchased the books. Sixty-nine names of original proprietors appear on the record, which indicates that they had less than two hundred dollars to commence with. All inter- ested in the library were warned to meet at the house - of Matthew Harvey.

" Met and chose Levi Harvey, moderator; Dr. John Cushing, clerk; and Matthew Harvey, libra- rian.

A committee of nine was chosen to draft a consti- tion,-viz .: Captain Jonas Hastings, Fishersfield ; Elder Job Seamans, Dr. John Cushing, Levi Harvey, Esq., and Lieutenant Thomas Pike, for New London ; Benjamin Wadleigh, Captain Thomas Wadleigh, Mr. David Eaton, Lieutenant Asa Nelson, for Sutton.

The following directors were chosen,-viz .: Levi Harvey, New London ; Jonas Hastings, Fishersfield ; David Eaton, Sutton.

"Voted to pay in the money, what the proprietors can, a fortnight from next Saturday." " Voted, that the Directors shall purchase the books and open the library as soon as $30 are paid in."

This association was incorporated by the Legisla- ture in 1799, and existed till 1868, when the proprie- tors gave up their rights to the town to help form a town library.

This Social Library contained between three hun- dred and four hundred volumes, and was of immense benefit to the people, the books being well selected, eagerly sought for and thoroughly read.

Books were scarce at that day, but there were not a few men and women who knew how to appreciate their contents. Many a hard-working man was glad to walk weary miles, and then climb the steep hills to Deacon Harvey's house for the privilege of having a book to read.

None can tell the influence that the perusal of those volumes has had in developing and shaping the minds and characters of Sutton's noblest sons and daughters.

King Solomon's Lodge, No. 14, Free and Ac- cepted Masons .- Date of its charter, January 27, 1802. First meeting in New London, June 16, 1802, at the hall of Jonathan and Daniel Woodbury : John Woodman, Worshipful Master, pro tem .; Levi Harvey,

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SUTTON.

Jr., Secretary ; Daniel Woodbury, Treasurer ; Richard Cressey, Senior Deacon; Moses Hills, Junior Dea- con; Enoch Hoyt, Steward; Joseph Harvey, Tyler ; Stephen Hoyt, Benjamin Swett, Ezra Marsh, Thomas G. Wells, John King, Caleb Lovering, Ebenezer Cressey, members.

Removed to Wilmot Flat December 3, 1851. Re- moved to Scytheville September 4, 1878.

The Great Tornado, September 9, 1821 .- The following description of the tornado was written by the late Erastus Wadleigh, of Sutton :

"Standing on the front of my father's house, Benjamin Wadleigh's, the day being Suoday, about 5 o'clock p.M., we observed black clouds rising rapidly, bearing southeasterly, in the vicinity of Sunapee Lake, accompanied with continuous lightning and roaring. Above and below every thing seemed in frightful commotion.

" The tornado struck Sutton westerly of Harvey's Mills, near the White Lot, passing through Dea. Josiah Nichols' farm, prostrating his entire wood lot, southeast of his buildings, and a short distance to the south, where resided Stephen Woodward and son. After it had passed here, Mr. Woodward and family, to their surprise, were in plain sight of New London Hills, which had ever been hid from them by the interven- ing woods. From Dea. Nichols' it passed by the south end of Chad- wick's meadow, near the bridge, thence a little south of Ira Rowell's, Dear Critchett's Hill, destroying all the wood oo the Edmund Chadwick farm. From Critchett's Hill it passed through the large dense pine forest of Hon. Jonathan Harvey, above North Sutton village, to the ad- joining farms of Dea. Benjamin Fowler and Elder Elijah Watson. At the residence of the latter was a religious meeting, and the room was filled with worshipers. The north door was wide open. Elbridge G. Kiog, theo a young man of twenty-two years, sat oear the door, and feeling the force of the wind, sprang with almost lightning speed, and with tremendous effort closed the door, and thus, io all probability, saved the house and its inmates from harol. The adjoining barn and out-buildings were entirely demolished and throwo in every direction. Fences, forests and all movable matter were scattered promiscuously. Dea. Fowler resided about 50 or 60 rods south. His was a large double two-story house, frouting to the west with an ell ou the east.

" The tornado crashed a hole through the north end of the front cham- bers, tearing away the partitions between the chambers, passiog ont at the south end, taking all the furniture and movables from them. Some of the furniture was afterwards found in the towns of Audover and Salis- bury. The family were io the ell part and were not injured. Near by were the large baro, cider-mill and other buildings, which were blown dowo end scattered in every direction; only a portion of the hay in the great bay was left. The forest, feuces and implements, and all kinds of personal property were destroyed or blowo away. The adjoining or- chards of Dea. Fowler and Isaac Mastin, near by, were blowo over, cattle and other stock were damaged, and everything lay exposed. The tornado then passed to the valuable and extensive wood-lots of Isaac and Jacob Mastin, prostrating as it went forests, fences aud everything in its way. Thence it went near the Parker farm, theoce southerly near Warner line, east of Daniel Mastin's, through Beojamio Wadleigh's mountain lot, near the 'Gore Road,' at Warder line. We, at home, had no jutimation of all its disastrous consequences till Monday morning. A military training was to take place at North Sutton that day, at 1 o'clock P.M. The writer of this, then a boy of thirteen years, attended with his father who was a soldier. After the company was brought into line, Capt. Levi Fowler, son of Dea. Benj. Fowler, informed them of the great need of help that the sufferers by the tornado were experiencing, and said that there would be no military duty required, and such as chose could go to their relief. The soldiers, boys and all, hastened to the place of distress, rendering such aid as they could. One party, of which the writer was a member, set to work to right up the apple-trees. Some of these trees are yet standing in a bearing condition, slanting to the southeast, in the direction in which they were blowo.

" The area passed over, doing damage io Sutton, was about ten thou- sand acres, extending from near the northwest corner of the town, pass- Ing almost the entire width diagonally, striking Waroer line a little south of the centre of the eastern line of Sutton, a distance of about six miles, which was the centre of the tornado. The damage done io this town could not be less thao from six to ten thousand dollars.

" We have merely referred to this remarkable tornado or cyclone through Sutton. Other portions of its course have often been described more accurately than we are able to do. Dea. Fowler, the one of all others who suffered most by the tornado, was then past the meridian of life, and, becomiog disheartened, soon efter disposed of his remaining property, and, leaving the scene of his great misfortune, removed to Orange with his son, Micajah, where he had several married daughters, and where he spent the remainder of his days. By his departure the town lost one of its ooblest citizens, and the Baptist Church a strong right arm.

"Governor Harrimao, io his ' History of Waroer,' says,-‘ The tornado passed across the northerly part of Sutton, cutting a swath through the forests which is visible to this day.' The woods where this hurricane did its worst damage have to this day been koown as 'The Hurricane Woods,'''

The Great August Freshet of 1826.1-The sum- mer of 1826 had been very dry. With the drought came innumerable grasshoppers, which were, however, swept away by the freshet. On Monday, August 28th, rain began to fall in the forenoon,-occasional showers, accompanied by thunder. From three o'clock till ten P.M. it fell in a continuous torrent, and did great damage to roads and bridges. At the White Moun- tains occurred the land-slide whereby the Willeys lost their lives. This freshet made great havoc in Sutton, especially in places near the foot of the moun- tain. The rain-storm lasted but a few hours, but it was more violent than any ever before known. It came down in sheets and floods. The grass and potato-fields in the intervales were quickly covered with water four feet deep, and so great a deposit of gravel-stones and rocks was left that the fields were then supposed to be ruined, and many of them were not cultivated for twenty years after.

A torrent came roaring down Kearsarge Mountain, bearing along whole trees and rocks weighing tons, tearing out a channel as wide as Connecticut River, and depositing all its frightful burdens in the valleys and intervales below. It changed the course of one of the main tributaries of Stevens Brook from the War- ner to the Blackwater River. It carried away a log house and a saw-mill from the base of the mountain so entirely that no vestige of them met the owner's eyes next morning. It filled Merrill Roby's yards with stones, washed away every part of the founda- tion stones of his house, and deposited a pair of cart wheels in place of them. The awful gulfs and ra- vines created by this freshet are not even now obliter- ated.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 154

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