History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 42

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 42
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"Allenstown Nov. 1787.

"Robert Bunten, Samel Kinstone, Clement McCoy, Dauel Daves, Ede Hall Bergin, Samuel (his X mark) fisk, Josiah Allen, Jacob Gay, John Trefethen, Moses Leavett, farik Luces, Samuel webster Junr., Philip Sargent, Zablon Davis, Josiah Johnson, Riley Smith, Roger Dugan, Leonard Harrington, Ichabod Clark, James kinniston, John Tomson, Jerimiah Jonson, John Hayes, Nathaniel Smith, Garshom Dugan, Icha- bod Clark, Charles Bamford, Samuel Rowe, Hall Bergin, Samuel kinneson, Samel york, John Jonson, John Robinson."

This petition was not granted.

Petition for Authority to Tax Land for Repairing Highways, etc.

"State of

New Hamp"

To the Honble General Assembly for said State convened at Exeter Jan- uary 7th 1789.

"Humbly Shew the Inhabitants of Allenstown in said State-That from the first settlement of said Town, the Inhabitants thereof (who are very few in uumber, not exceeding forty rateable polls) have

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been at the sole expense of maintaining all public roads in the same-that from the roughness of the land, the many streams running through said Town, and the small number of Inhabitants, they find it exceedingly burdensome to keep the roads and bridges (some of which are long and very often carried away by freshets) in barely passable repair-that unless said Inhabitants can have some assistance from the Non-resident Proprietors or owners of lands in said Town, (who are by far the greatest part of the pro- priety,) they cannot possibly keep said roads & bridges in proper repair. they therefore pray your Honours to take this their petition under your wise consideration, and alleviate their distress by granting them liberty to assess one penny per acre on all the lands in said Allenstown improved and unimproved for the term of three years, for the purpose of repair- ing and making passable and convenient the roads and bridges in said town, and as bound &c.

" JOHN LEONARD " JOSIAH ALLEN " NATHANIEL SMITH

) Select Men for and in behalf of the Inhabitants of Allenstown."

The foregoing petition was before the Legislature January 7th, and a hearing ordered for their next session. June 18, 1789, an act passed granting the request.

First Justice of the Peace.

"To His Excellency the President of the State of New Hampshire and the Honorable Privy Council Convened at Exeter May 1790.

"The petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Allenstown in said State Humbly Shews-

"That your petitioners are desirous that a Justice of the peace may be appointed in said Allenstown (as they never have as yet had the privilege of hav- ing one in said Town) and they beg leave to recom- mend to your Excellency & Honors Capt. George Evans as the most suitable person in said Town for that office and we pray that your Excelleucy & Honors would take the matter under your wise Con- sideration & appoint him yee said Evans a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Rockingham. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

"Allenstown 5th Feby. 1790.

" Ede Hall Bergin, Josiah Morse, John Clark, Jolın Woodward, John Bergin, John Leonard Juner. Na- thaniel Smith, John Johnson, Benjamin Mathies, Ze- bilon Daves, Joshua Cates, Samuel Kinneson Sr, Icha- bod Clark Jr, Walter Bergin, Hall Bergin, Amos Carl- ton, Capt. Staren Sargent, John Leonard, John Hayes, John Hartford, federch Luies [?], James Hartford, Samuel york, Daniel Daves Jr, Ichabod Clark Sr, Jo- seph Y. Bergin, Robert Bunten, Philip Sargent, Theod Shackford, Josiah Allen, Samuel webster, Samel fisk, Samuel gooken, Nathaniel Smith, Charles Bamford, Samuel Kinneson Jr."

This petition was granted, and Evans became Al- enstown's first magistrate.

Captain George Evans was a prominent citizen of the town and held various offices. He was born May 31, 1755, and died November 23, 1804. His wife, Louisa Williams, was born October 17, 1757. They had four- teen children, viz .: John, Daniel, Andrew O., Nancy, Eleanor, Betsey, George, Alfred, Samuel W., Robert, Asenath, Sophia, Alfred and Lucy P.

Captain Robert Buntin was also a prominent citizen. He was born December 1, 1767, and his wife (Betsy Hutchinson) was born January 20, 1770. Their first child, Mehitable, was born June 15, 1791, at "six o'clock in the forenoon."

The following petition relative to building bridges over Suncook River was presented in 1798:

"To the Honble the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court convened at Hopkinton, on the first Wednesday in June, A.D. 1798.

" Humbly Shews The Inhabitants of Allenstown in the County of Rockingham that in the year 1759 a Township was incorporated in said County by the name of Pembroke bounded westerly by Merrimac & Sowcook Rivers, Northerly upon Chichester & Epsom, & Easterly & Southerly by Suncook River : that when said Pembroke was incorporated, about one mile was taken off from the Westerly part of Allenstown & included in Pembroke: That the Inhabi- tants of Pembroke have unreasonably refused and still neglect and refuse to build or keep in Repair any part of the Bridges over Suncook River under pre- tence of their not being liable by Law to build said bridges nor any part of the same, said Town being bounded by Suncook River in the act of Incorporation ; by reason whereof your petitioners are iu danger of being Compelled to build & keep in Repair all the Bridges across said Suncook River, a burthen which your petitioners in their present situation are wholly unable to bear on account of the fewness of their Number & the great expence of maintaining & keep- ing in repair the other Roads & Bridges through their town-that the public have a long time suffered much inconvenience aud Danger for want of good Bridges over Suncook River, and that said Bridges are now in a Ruinous Condition, the lives of passengers being daily endangered in passing the same: Your peti- tioners further shew that if that part of Pembroke which was taken off from Allenstown with the In- habitants was to be Re-annexed to said Allenstown it would not be more than their Just proportion of the Highway tax of said Town to Build and keep in Repair the Bridges over Suncook River ;

Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly pray that that part of Allenstown with the Inhabitants thereof, which is included within Pembroke, by said Act of Incorporation, may be Disannexed from Pembroke, and Joined again to that Tract of land known and called by the Name of Allenstown, That they may

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Thereby be Enabled to build and keep in repair the Roads and Bridges aforesaid,-or that such other re- lief in the premises may be afforded to your peti- tioners as your Honors shall think just and Proper, And they as in Duty bound will ever pray

" Allenstown June 6th 1798.

"Israel Marden, John Leonard, Samnel Webster, Samuel Fisk, Philip Sargent, John Johnson, Robert Bunten, John Leonard, Jr., Moses Leavitt, Theod. Shackford, Jr., Simon Johnson, David Webster, George Evens, John Hayes, Theod. Shackford, John Fisk, James Bunten, John Hartford, James Clark, Daniel Kinneson, Nathaniel Smith, John Cate, Samuel Davis, Nathaniel Smith, Junr., Hall Burgin, Samuel Wells, Jur."

The result of this petition was an act extending the easterly and southerly line of the town of Pem- broke to the easterly and southerly bank of Suncook River. This act was approved December 24, 1798.

The "New Hampshire Gazetteer," published by Farmer & Morse, in 1823, says: "There is no settled minister iu Allenstown; their meeting-house is open to all religious sects, and they occasionally have preaching. Population, 433."

Roman Catholic Church. - There is but one church in Allenstown, the Catholic Church in the village of Suncook. The church building is a large and elegant edifice, beautifully located, and was erected at a cost of about forty thousand dollars. The church is under the care of Father J. H. C. Davignon, who is energetic in all efforts to advance the welfare of his people. He is a popular pastor, and his influence is widely felt.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MAJOR STERLING SARGENT.

Major Sterling Sargent was born in Allenstown March 20, 1794. He was the son of Philip and Sally Peirce Sargent. He early manifested a great interest in music, and became quite proficient as a drummer. When only sixteen years of age he wasstationed, with others, at Fort Constitution, in the War of 1812, and commissioned drum-major. He always resided in the town of his birth, and for many years was chosen to represent the same in General Court, and to fill various other offices in the interests of his fellow- citizens. He was born on and inherited the farm now owned by the China Manufacturing Company. He made the brick and built the house in which Colonel D. L. Jewell, the agent, uow resides.

In 1843 he sold this place to the Pembroke Mills Company, moving a short distance to land he owned, where he built a house and fitted up a home, in which he lived and died.

Mr. Sargent was always a decided Democrat, and was intensely loyal tothe government. He lived to see the triumph of the Federal army over the Rebellion, and died in the hope of peace and abounding pros- perity to every section of our fair country. He was for many years an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contributing freely for the build- ing of the late chapel in Suncook village, for the purchase of the organ, and for the support of the various institutions of religion. His democracy and piety were always well illustrated in his liberality and justice. Being for many years an esteemed mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, he met all men " on the level, and parted with them on the square." He was married, in 1815, to Sally Gault, of Hooksett. She proved to be a woman of uncommon domestic ability, and every way well qualified to preside over a family and a home. She died May 10, 1863. He died June 4, 1868. They lived together nearly fifty years. There were born to them eleven children,- seven sons and four daughters. Three sons died in infancy, and two became young men and then de- ceased. Six children are now living,-two sons and four daughters. Philip Sargent, the eldest son, re- sides in the finest brick mansion in the town, which he has erected close by the place where he was born.

Warren Sargent inherits, and now occupies, the old homestead, which is regarded as one of the best farms and pleasantest situations in Allenstown.

These brothers are known as the firm of P. & W. Sargent, brick-makers, Suncook, N. H.

Sallie S., the eldest daughter, first married George Hirsch, who soon after died, and she married Rev. H. H. Hartwell, a Methodist minister and mem- ber of the New Hampshire Conference, and now owns and dwells in a fine " cottage home," near the place of her birth.

Elsie K. is the esteemed wife of Henry W. For- bush, Esq., a merchant in Philadelphia.

Mary H. is the honored wife of W. F. Head, Esq., of Hooksett, a brother and a life-long partner in business, and now occupying the splendid residence of the late ex-Governor Natt. Head.

Abbie H. is the true and faithful companion of Natt. B. Emery, one of the long-known firm of Emery Brothers, and has a palatial residence in Suncook village.

These six children all revere the memory of their departed parents, and in talent and character are living to honor the family name.

REV. HENRY H. HARTWELL.

Rev. Henry H. Hartwell was born in Hillsborough, N. H., October 18, 1819. He was the eldest son of William and Betsy Wilkins Hartwell. They had nine sons and two daughters. Of these, six died in infancy, while five lived to reach manhood.

The family was poor, and at times destitute. When

Sterling Sargent

H.b. Hartwell

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he was about eight years old, young Henry was sent to Vermont to live with a friend (in order to lighten the burden of family expenses), where he remained for more than four years without seeing his mother, to whom he was greatly attached. He then returned to his native town, and found employment in differeut places, working during the summer and attending school in the winter-time.

When fourteen years of age he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, working, as before, in the busy season, and attending school or teaching in the fall and winter. At the age of eighteen he made a pro- fession of religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Immediately becoming very active iu all the social meetings and interests of the church, he was greatly impressed that it was his duty to take upon himself the work and office of the Christian ministry. He found two barriers in the way : the opposition of his father and friends, and his deep consciousness of unfitness for such an important work. Still, he kept steadily on in the discharge of what he felt to be his duty, and in the improvement of every opportunity, until in the spring of 1840, his zeal having daily increased and his father being less opposed to it, he gave up all, and, leaving home and friends, started on horseback, with saddle-bags, to carry the glad tidings to lost men.

He joined the New Hampshire Conference in 1841, and for thirty-five years performed effective work in the ministry. His educational advantages were lim- ited, but he was a ready extempore speaker, very original, always selecting some object in nature or some fact in history with which his hearers were familiar, that he might more clearly illustrate and forcibly apply the truth he sought to inculcate. He was full of what is called " mother wit," and has ever been regarded as a good student of human nature. He inherited a peculiar eccentricity, which added not a little to his popularity as a preacher. During his active ministry he filled many of the best positions in the Conference, and was always happy in his charge and his work. Under his ministry thousands have been converted and added to the Church of Christ.

Physically he was perfect, and the early muscular training he received was of much benefit at times during his ministry. He was assailed, when in his prime, by three men who had taken offense at some- thing he had said in a temperance-meeting, and with much profanity they informed him of their intention to thrash him. He replied solemnly, "Boys, I don't want my ministerial coat soiled; allow me to take it off and I am ready." When his coat dropped from his hand, the better of the three went to the ground also, and the second was treated in a like manner. Mr. Hartwell then said to the third, " David, if I strike you, you will never rise without help !" And David gave him his hand, and the two together got the others up, washed off the blood and assisted them

to their homes. This experience was to the three in after-years a source of merriment when they met together.

When Mr. Hartwell was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashua, in 1858, one night, in the midst of a powerful revival, some one made a disturbance in the back part of the congregation. He called upon an officer to still or remove the offender. The officer went to the man while Mr. Hartwell de- layed reading the hymn. At length he came back to the pulpit without his man. Mr. Hartwell then said, " The officer informs me that this is a desperate fel- low ; that he has a revolver and swears he won't go out. Now let all be perfectly quiet," and, turning his hymn-book upon the Bible, he walked decidedly up the aisle and said, "Jack Burns, will you go with me quietly out of this house?" The reply was, " Yes, Henry, I will ; but there ain't another man in this crowd that can take me out!" He led him out and down into the street, and returning to the pulpit, said, "Now let us worship God."

More than thirty years ago Mr. Hartwell was jour- neying from New Market to Concord in a sleigh with his wife and little daughter. In the town of North- wood he saw three young men from the leading fami- lies in Concord coming driving at a break-neck speed, and their sleigh lapped his about three inches. The driver said, " What now? my horse won't back." Mr. Hartwell said, "My horse will back if I want him to." After a moment one of them said, " What are you going to do?" Mr. Hartwell replied, “I will show you if you like to see," and, stepping out into the snow, he took hold of their sleigh and tipped it, with the men, into the ditch and then drove on. These are only a few of the many reminiscences of his life. He was never a bigot, but was an outspoken, old-fashioned Methodist minister.

He spoke of heaven and hell and called things by their proper names. He was of a very positive na- ture, making many warm friends and some bitter enemies. He cast his first vote in 1840 with the then despised Anti-Slavery party. His father wept and said to him, "I should rather have buried you than have you vote the nigger ticket !" But he replied, in his own peculiar style, "Old man, you have al- ways told us boys never to be anything because your father was, but investigate and then act as you con- scientiously believe to be right. That I have done." And his father never said anything more to him on that subject. Mr. Hartwell always seemed sanguine in the belief that he should live to see the doing away of American slavery, as the sum of all vil- lainies. After the abolishing of slavery he drifted into the Republican ranks, and for many years has been an earnest worker on that line. He has always been a most decided temperance advocate; has been associated with nearly all the temperance organiza- tions for the last fifty years, believing that all of them have done good. But his great stress has been on

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prohibition. He has always believed, preached, prayed and voted with the hope, and only hope, of the full and final suppression by law of this great curse. On account of his outspoken opposition to this traffic he has suffered in person, reputation and property. He has been greatly slandered, waylaid, horse-sheared, wagon and harness mutilated and an attempt has been to burn his house by night. But for his faithful dog, he and his family might have gone through the flames of his own dwelling to the rest promised to the people of God. For a few years past he has been so wounded with the duplicity of professed temperance men, and so disgusted with some of his brethren in the ministry who have preached temperance and voted for rum, that he has not taken as prominent a part in public demonstra- tions as formerly.

A now prominent man has said: "To be duly ap- preciated he must be thoroughly known. I have known Mr. Hartwell for fifty years intimately, and I would trust him with uncounted thousands of dollars."

He was married, in May, 1842, to Flora Ann Sweatt, of Webster, N. H., who proved every way worthy of

his hand and heart. They toiled together for sixteen years, and she died November, 1858, leaving three sons and one daughter. The sons are all living. The daughter was Mrs. Charles T. Daniels, of Lawrence, Mass., who, with her only son, nineteen years of age, was lost on the ill-fated steamer "City of Columbus," off Gay Head, January 18, 1884.

In April, 1861, he married Mrs. Sally Hirsch, a widow, and the eldest daughter of Major Sterling Sargent, of Allenstown. They have one daughter, Mrs. Pork Mitchel, now of Manchester. He has been for more than a quarter of a century a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. Fellows, having regularly passed the chairs and been Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of the State in both of these orders.

In 1868 he became a citizen of Allenstown, where he now resides. Although he has never acted or voted with the predominant party, he has been kept in office most of the time, showing the respect for and confidence reposed in him by his fellow-towns- men. He is now a man of sixty-six years, hale and hearty, and weighs two hundred pounds.

HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.1

CHAPTER I.

Geographical-The Original Grant-Contoocook-Incorporation of Town -First Proprietors' Meeting-Survey of the Plantation-First Settlers -First Birth-The Pioneer Mill- The First Fort-Indian Troubles -- First Town-Meeting-The Pioneer School-First Justice of the Peace -Population in 1767-The First Physician-Whipping-Post.

THE town of Boscawen is located near the centre of the county, and is bounded as follows :

North by Salisbury ; East by Northfield and Can- terhury; South by Concord and West by Webster.

The original grant of this town was made to John Coffin and eighty others, by the government of Mas- sachusetts Bay, June 6, 1733. It was named Contoo- cook, and bore that name until it was incorporated as a town, April 22, 1760, for a term of two years, hy the government of New Hampshire, and given its present name in honor of Admiral Edward Boscawen, of the British navy. This charter was continued for an indefinite term, by the same authority, October 7, 1763. The first proprietors' meeting was held in Newbury, Mass., in 1733, and thirty-three of the proprietors commenced.settlements in the town the following spring.

Mr. Richard Hazen, an experienced surveyor, who had been employed by the proprietors of Penacook to survey that plantation, was engaged to make the first survey of Contoocook. The original plot, as laid by him, is on file in the archives of the Secretary of State, Boston.

During the year 1734 thirty-three settlers came to Contocook, to begin, as it were, life anew in the wil- derness. Rev. Mr. Price has handed down the names of twenty-seven only ; but from a deposition made by Moses Burbank in 1792 the number is stated as being thirty-three, as follows : David Barker, Sinkler Bean, Jolin Bowen, Josiah Bishop, Andrew Bohon- non, Moses Burbank, Philip Call, Thomas Cook, John Corser, William Dagodon, William Danforth, Nathaniel Danforth, Joseph Eastman, Edward Em- ery, Edward Fitzgerald, Jacob Flanders, Richard Flood, John Fowler, Stephen Gerrish, Ambrose

Gould, Richard Jackman, George Jackman, Joel Manuel, Nathaniel Meloon, William Peters, Nathan- iel Rix, Daniel Rolfe.

It is not probable that many of the settlers' fami- lies came in the spring, but most, if not all, were there before the close of the year.

November 8, 1734, a meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of Archelaus Adams, in New- bury. It was voted that a saw-mill should be built at the charge of the proprietors, and Daniel Hale, Joseph Gerrish and Thomas Thoria were chosen a committee to attend to the matter. The same con- mittee was empowered to rectify any mistake made in the laying out of lots, and John Brown, the sur- veyor, was engaged to go to Contoocook to show the proprietors the location of the lots.

Five of the proprietors - Joseph Lunt, John Coffin, Thomas Thorla, Benjamin Lunt, Benjamin Coker, and Edward Emery-entered their dissent in regard to the power of the committee.

December 18th another meeting was held. It was voted that the intervale should be fenced by the 15th of May of the following year, at the expense of the owners of the lots, and any proprietor neglect- ing to build his proportion should make satisfaction. It was also voted that Joseph Tappan should obtain a grindstone for the common use of the proprietors.

At this meeting further action was taken towards building a saw-mill.

" It was put to vote by the moderator where [whether] there should be a grant of [land] made to those meu hereafter named, of the little stream [Mill brook] at Centoocook near the upper end of the lots or town, and fifty acres of land laid square adjoining to the mill for com- mencing thereof on both sides of the stream and also one whele right throughout the town or plantation on condition they build a saw-mill there by the first of September next ensuing the date bereof, and a good griet-mill eo soon as there ie settled twenty families on the said plantation in case there is water enough to accommodate both mills and the mills be built, and in the length of time by clearing the land or any other way it shall be judged that there is not water to anewer the end for said mill or mills or that the men are obliged to raise the dem so high to save water to saw or grind 60 as to be judged hurtfull: then the proprietors shall pay the men that built the mill or mills for them the price of what they shell thon be accounted worth, er else procure for the men that built the mill or mills the stream commonly called er known by the name of [Mill brook] Contoocook & the privileges thereof as was reserved as by record may appear-they taking the land 88 it was reserved by each [of the] falls for conveniency of the mills lor part of their rights."-(From the Records.)

1 The following history ie condensed from Charles Carleton Coffin's " History of Boscawen and Webster," an excellent work of six hundred and sixty-six pages, publisbed in 1878.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The above, evidently, was not drawn by the clear- headed clerk, Joseph Coffin.

The year opened auspiciously to the settlers, for, on January 7th a daughter was born to Nathaniel Danforth, the first birth in the plantation. The infant was named Abigail, grew to maidenhood and married Thomas Foss, whose name frequently appears in the records of the town.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 42

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