History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 74

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 74
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 74

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After the passage of the measure by Congress, in the winter of 1885, instituting the United States Bu- reau of Labor, Colonel Wright was appointed the commissioner, and has rendered service of great and lasting value in inaugurating the initiative work of this valuable agency to aid the industrial and labor- ing interests of the country.

HENRY LARCOM BURNHAM .- The only State Sena- tor the town has furnished is Henry Larcom Burn- ham, son of Bradford and Hannah Dane (Whipple) Burnham, who was born in Dunbarton November 25, 1814. He attended the district school, summer and win- ter terms, until twelve years ofage; then only winter terms for six years. He commenced teaching when eighteen years of age, and continued teaching some

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

part of each year for thirty years. He generally taught winter terms and was engaged in farming the rest of the year.

He was a student at Blanchard Academy, at Pem- broke, N. H., one and a half terms; was employed in land surveying more or less for forty-five years; was a justice of the peace nearly forty years, writing a large number of deeds, wills and other legal instru- ments; has held nearly all of the various town offices; represented the town in the House of Repre- sentatives in 1858; was on the Board of County Com- missioners from 1860 to 1863; a member of the State Senate in 1864 and 1865, and was sheriff of the county of Merrimack from 1867 to 1872.

In March, 1842, Mr. Burnham married Maria A. Bailey, only daughter of Josiah Bailey, late of Dun- barton. Their only child, Henry E. Burnham, is a lawyer in Manchester, N. H.

By reason of failing health, Mr. and Mrs. Burnham left the farm at Dunbarton nearly four years since and now reside with their son in Manchester.

The scenery from our hills is extensive and grand, the air pure and invigorating, and those who have gone out to fight the battle of life in other parts of the country and amid other surroundings ever remember their old ancestral home with kindly feelings of love and delight to return and revisit the scenes of their childhood, which can never, never be forgotten.

In the hurried preparation of this sketch we ac- knowledge the kindly aid of Rev. Mr. Bouton, also of Rev. Mr. Hopkins, who have proved themselves friends in need, and for our many omissions we ask the reader's indulgence.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MAJOR CALEB STARK.

On the 20th of August 1758, Captain John Stark, of His Britannic Majesty's corps of American rangers, while on a furlough from the army, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Caleb Page, Esq., who also held His Majesty's commission as captain of provin- cial militia, and was one of the original grantees of Starkstown (now known as Dunbarton, N. H.)

In the spring of 1759, his furlough having expired, and a new company having been enlisted, the hardy soldier returned to his post at Fort Edward, prepared to perform his part in the next campaign, which, un- der the vigorous direction of the Earl of Chatham, was destined to reduce Lonisburg and Quebec, and open the way to the entire conquest of Canada.

His wife was left at home with her father, one of the most prominent and wealthy pioneers of the settle- ment, under whose hospitable roof the subject of this notice was born December 3, 1759, during the absence

of his father. The capitulation of Canada, in 1760, ter- minated the war in the north, and the provincial troops returned to their homes.

Soon after these events, there being no immediate prospect of active service, Captain Stark resigned his commission in the army and withdrew with his wife to his paternal acres at Derryfield (now Manchester), N. H.

The good Captain Page, entertaining a strong af- fection for the child who had been born under his roof, and had received his Christian name, was desir- ons of retaining and adopting him. To this propo- sition his father made no objection, and he remained under the indulgent care of his maternal grandfather until June 16, 1775.1

The hest works of the time were procured for his improvement, and he obtained a good education for that period. The two principal books were Fenning's Dictionary and Salmon's Historical Grammar, which are still preserved in the family.

The tragedy enacted at Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775, having aroused the martial spirit of New England, Captain Stark abandoned his domestic oc- cupations, and hastened to the theatre of action, in the vicinity of Boston, followed by most of the old corps of rangers who had served under his orders dur- ing the previous war, and others from the province who were eager to prove their devotion to the cause of liberty.

The daring acts of valor which had so frequently distinguished the career of the veteran Stark, com- bined with his military experience and success, left him no competitor in the minds of his countrymen- in-arms, by whom he was unanimously elected colonel, and in a few hours a regiment of nearly nine hundred men was enlisted for one year.

These proceedings were soon known in the north- ern settlements, and his son, then under sixteen years of age, whose memoir we are writing, made an earn- est application to his grand-parent for permission to repair to the camp at Medford. The latter remon- strated with him on account of his extreme yonth, saying, that although his father was familiar with scenes of strife and carnage, the camp was not a fit place for one of his years ; and there the matter for a short time rested. Not, however, dissuaded by these repre- sentations, the young man resolved to go at all events ; and, having secretly collected his clothing in a valise, without the knowledge of the family, and before day- light on the morning of June 16, 1775, he mounted a horse which had been given him by his grandfather, and, with a musket on his shoulder, started for the American camp.

After traveling a few miles he was joined by an- other horseman. The stranger was a tall, well-formed,

1 This interest in the child of his adoption continued unabated until the close of his life, and in the division of his large estate his favorite grandson was assigned an equal portion with his own children.

Jabb Mark

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fine-looking person, wearing the undress uniform of a British officer. He inquired, politely, of our young adventurer who he was and where he was going, and upon being informed that he was proceeding to the camp at Medford, to join his father, Colonel Stark, the stranger said : " You are, then, the son of my old com- rade. Your father and I were fellow-soldiers for more than five years. I am traveling in the same direc- tion, and we will keep company."

The stranger was the celebrated Major Robert Rog- ers, of the "French War" notoriety. As they jour- neyed on, the major insisted on defraying all the road expenses, and toward evening took his leave, trans- mitting to his old associate-in-arms, Colonel Stark, a message soliciting au interview at a tavern in Medford.1

Upon the arrival of our youthful patriot at the reg- imental headquarters, his father's first greeting was : "Well, son, what are you here for? You should have remained at home." The answer was: " I can handle a musket, and have come to try my fortune as a volunteer." "Very well," said the colonel ; and, addressing Captain George Reid, he continued : " take him to your quarters; to-morrow may be a busy day. After that we will see what can be done with him."

The morrow, in truth, was a " busy day." A force, composed of detachments from the Massachusetts and Connecticut lines, under the command of Colonel William Prescott, moved on the evening of the 16th of June, with instructions to fortify Bunker Hill; but, misapprehending their orders, proceeded about one mile farther, and commenced an intrenchment on Breed's Hill, a lesser eminence, which was commanded by the guns of the opposite battery on Copp's Hill, in Boston, as well as exposed to the fire of the ships-of- war at anchor in the harbor. At daylight on the 17th a furious canuonade opened npon the half-finished "redoubt," and soon after, in compliance with an order from General Ward, two hundred men were de- tached by Colonel Stark to support the parties em- ployed on that rude field-work. Later in the day (about 2 P.M.) another order was received, directing him to march with his whole regiment to oppose the enemy, who were landing in great force at Morton's Point.

As previously stated, the New Hampshire line, under Colonel Stark, formed the left wing of the American force on this ever-memorable occasion, and gallantly repelled the reiterated attacks of some of the choicest battalions of the British light infantry.

Our young volunteer proceeded with the company under Captain George Reid (to whose care he had been so summarily assigned by his father the previous evening) to the position occupied by the regiment at the rail-fence, extending from the redoubt to the beach of Mystic River, where an opportunity was soon af- forded for testing the skill and facility with which he could "handle a musket" in his country's cause. Side by side with some of the veteran rangers of the old French War, he stood at his post on that event- ful afternoon ; and when their ammunition was nearly expended, and the occupation of the redoubt by the British marines and grenadiers had decided the fate of the day, he returned, unharmed,2 to Winter Hill, where the regiment subsequently intrenched.

On this pleasant eminence, a few miles from the city, were located the handsome residences of several wealthy Loyalists, whose opinions having rendered them obnoxious to the American party, on the com- mencement of hostilities, had abandoned their dwell- ings, and taken refuge in Boston. Among them was a gentleman named Royal, who, on retiring to the city, had left his lady with a family of beautiful and accom- plished daughters, in possession of his abode. The mansion being conveniently situated for his head- quarters, Colonel Stark called upon the family, and proposed, if agreeable to them, his occupancy of a few rooms for that purpose, to which Madame Royal most cheerfully assented, being well aware that the presence of an officer of his rank would afford her family and premises the best protection against any possible insult or encroachment, not only from those under his immediate command, but also from other detachments of the patriot forces. His proposal was made, not with the tone of authority, but rather as the request of a private individual; and it is almost unnecessary to add that, during the intercourse which ensued, the family were always treated by Colonel Stark and his officers with the utmost consideration and respect.

During the remainder of this campaign our young soldier was acquiring, as a cadet in Captain Reid's company, the principles and practice of the military discipline of the day ; and when not actually engaged with his new duties, many of his leisure hours were naturally passed at the headquarters of his father, where his association with the refined and well- educated ladies of the house could not but exert, at his age, the most favorable influence over the forma- tion of his habits and manners ; and when referring, in after-years, to this period of his life, the subject of this memoir has frequently acknowledged the advan- tages derived from the intercourse it was then his privilege to hold with this amiable and interesting family.

On the reorganization of the army, early in the

1 We have reason to suppose that the object of Major Rogers' visit to America, in 1775, was to sound public opinion and ascertain the relative strength of the opposing parties, to enable him, in the choice of service, to make the best personal arrangement which circumstances would per- mit. At this interview, as we have been informed, Colonel Stark assured him that no proffers of rank or wealth could induce him to abandon the cause of hie oppressed country. " I have," he said, "taken up arms in her defense and, God willing, I will never lay them down until she has become a free and independent nation." The veteran lived nearly forty years after this object of his most fervent wishes and laborious toils in the field of honor had been accomplished.

2 During the action a man was killed at his eide, and it was reported to his father that he had fallen.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

succeeding year (1776), young Stark received his first commission as ensign in Captain George Reid's com- pany, and proceeded with the regiment, which con- stituted a portion of Sullivan's brigade, to New York, and thence, in May, to Canada, where our New Hamp- shire troops, under that able and resolute general, rendered important service in checking the advance of Sir Guy Carleton, and covering the retreat of the force, which had invaded that province the preceding season under Montgomery and Arnold.

The retrograde movement of the army, always dis- couraging to the young soldier, was rendered more so on this occasion by the accompaniment of a dangerous and loathsome malady, the small-pox, which, as in- oculation was not in general use in those days, rap- idly spread among the officers and men, converting the camp into a vast hospital. Among the victims of this contagious disease was the adjutant of the First New Hampshire Regiment, who died at Chimney Point in July ; and Ensign Stark, who had been pre- viously performing, during a portion of the campaign, the duties of quartermaster, although then under seventeen years of age, was deemed qualified to suc- ceed to the vacancy, being already distinguished for his energy of character and promptness of action, as well as for the proficiency attained in all details of military discipline and duty. Promotion to the grade of lientenant accompanied this appointment.

After the retirement of Sir Guy Carleton to winter- quarters in Canada, the regiment, with others from the Northern Department, marched to reinforce the dispirited remnant of the main army, under General Washington, in Pennsylvania. Cheerfully sharing all the hardships and privations which were endured by the army at this gloomiest period of our Revolution- ary struggle, Adjutant Stark was also an active par- ticipator in the brilliant operations at Trenton and Princeton, with which the campaign was so success- fully closed in New Jersey.

In January, 1777, the army being cantoned on the high lands about Morristown, the First New Hamp- shire Regiment was dismissed, the term of enlistment of the men having expired. In company with his father, young Stark was now enabled to revisit his native State, where the next few months were em- ployed co-operating with the other officers of the reg- iment in raising recruits for the ensuing campaign.

Several junior officers having been promoted to the rank of brigadier over the heads of some of the veteran colonels of the army, Colonel Stark could not, con- sistently, with a decent self-respect, continue to retain a commission which compelled him to serve under officers of less experience than his own. On his resignation, the command of the regiment was assigned to Col- onel Joseph Cilley, an officer of undoubted courage and firmness, in every respect qualified to succeed him ; and Lieutenant Stark, having been reappointed adjutant, repaired with the troops to Ticonderoga in the spring of 1777.

Those who are conversant with military affairs will readily appreciate the important hearing of the adju- tant's duties on the discipline and efficiency of the regiment. It is no disparagement to the individual courage and conduct of the officers and men compos- ing the same to remark that the steadiness and precision with which all the evolutions of this reg- iment were performed, when in the presence of the enemy on various occasions during this campaign, afforded satisfactory evidence of the faithfulness with which the duties of his office were discharged by the subject of this memoir.

After the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and the re- treat of the American army to the North River, Gen- eral Schuyler was superseded in the command of the Northern Department by General Gates. Young Stark happened to be present, on duty at the headquarters of that general,1 when the intelligence of the Ben- nington success was received by express, and being permitted to accompany a small party sent to open a- communication with General Stark, he was soon en- abled to congratulate his father, personally, on that brilliant achievement ; and after a few days' absence, rejoined his regiment, which was the first to come into action on the 19th of September.

In the action of October 7, 1777, he was wounded in the left arm. Soon after the capitulation of Sara- toga, General Stark, having received from Congress the commission of brigadier-general, which had been justly dne to him the year previous, selected his son for his aid-de-camp. During the years 1778 and 1781 he discharged the duties of aid-de-camp, brigade major and adjutant-general of the Northern Depart- ment, then commanded by General Stark, He was a good writer for one of his years, and from the period of his appointment as aid-de-camp wrote the letters of the general's official correspondence. In the cam - paign in Rhode Island, in 1779, he acted as aid-de-

1 Wbile General Gates was rejoicing at the reception of tidings ao- nouncing the first success in the north, an aid-de-camp mentioned to him that a son of General Stark was awaiting an interview with a mes- sage from Colonel Cilley. " Is he ?" said Gates ; "call him in." When he appeared the General said : "I'm glad to see yon, my boy. Your father has opened the way for us nobly. In less than two months we shall capture Burgoyne's army. Don't you wish to see your father ?" The adjutant replied that "if his regimental duties would permit, he should be glad to visit him." "I will find an officer," said Gates, " to perform your duties, and you may go with the party I shall dispatch to Bennington, and convey a message from me to your father. I want the artillery he has taken for the brush I soon expect to have with Bur- goyne." He proceeded with the party. The houses along their route were deserted by their owners, but abounded in materials for good cheer. From the residences of fugitive Tories they obtained ample supplies for themselves and horses during their march. After the surrender he accompanied General Stark on a visit to General Gates, and at his head- quarters was introduced to all the British officers of rank who were there assembled as the guests of the American general-in-chief of the northern army. He said that Major Ackland and General Burgoyne were, in personal appearance, two of the best-proportioned and handsomest med of their age he had ever seen. General Burgoyne held a long conversa- tion with General Stark, apart from the other company, on the subject of the French War, of which the former then stated that he intended to write a history.

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camp to his father, in which capacity he was present at the battle of Springfield, in 1780.

After the close of the Revolutionary War his atten- tion was directed to mercantile pursuits,-first, at Haverhill, Mass., and afterwards at Dunbarton, N. H. He was for a time concerned in navigation, and owned several vessels.

In 1805-6 he became an importing merchant at Boston, in the English and East India trade. In the course of his commercial transactions he visited the West Indies in 1798 and Great Britain in 1810, where he spent a year, making purchases for himself and other merchants of Boston.

While in England he traveled through a large por- tion of the kingdom, and his observations furnished an interesting journal. He also kept a journal dur- ing his residence in the West Indies.

After the declaration of war, in 1812, he closed his mercantile affairs at Boston and purchased an establishment which a company had commenced at Pembroke, N. H., which he furnished with machinery for manufacturing cotton. To this he devoted his at- tention until 1830, when, having disposed of his interest in the concern, he proceeded to Ohio to prosecute his family's claims to lands granted for military services, which, in 1837, after a vexatious course of lawsuits, were recovered. He died upon his estate in Oxford township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, August 26, 1838, aged seventy-eight years, eight months and twenty-three days.

In 1787 he married Sarah, daughter of Dr. William Mckinstry, formerly of Taunton, Mass., who was, in 1776, appointed surgeon-general of the British hos- pitals at Boston. She died September 11, 1839, aged seventy-two. Of their eleven children (five sons and six daughters), five are now living. Major Stark's remains lie in his family cemetery at Dunbarton. His monument bears the following inscription :

" lo Memory of MAJOR CALES STARK, Eldest Son of Major-General John Stark,

under whose command be served his country in the War of the Ameri- can Independence. He entered the army at the age of sixteen, as quar- termaster of First New Hampshire Regiment ; was afterwards adjutant of the same, and subsequently brigade-major and aid-de-camp to General Stark. He was present at the battle of Bunker'e Hill in 1775, at Trenton in 1776, at Princeton, and in the actions of September 19th and October 7, 1777, which immediately preceded the surrender of Burgoyne.

" Born December 3, 1759 ; died Angust 26, 1838."

In person, Major Stark was rather above the middle height, of a slight but muscular frame, with strong features, deep-set, keen, blue eyes and a prom- inent forehead. He much resembled his father in personal appearance. His characteristics were in- domitable courage and perseverance, united with coolness and self-possession, which never deserted him on any emergency.1

1 When the pension act of 1820-21 was passed, Major Stark (as former brigade-major) being personally known to all the officers and meet of

He was the youngest survivor of the action who appeared to witness the ceremony of laying the cor- ner-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument by the Marquis de Lafayette, by whom he was recognized at once as a fellow-soldier.

During his tour to New Hampshire the illustrious guest of the nation and his suite were entertained at his mansion in Pembroke.

Major Stark was one of the twelve Revolutionary veterans who stood by General Jackson at the cere- mony of his first inauguration as President of the United States, and was personally acquainted with all the Presidents from General Washington to General Harrison, inclusive.

"PATRIOT DEPARTED,-Died, on Sunday evening last, at his residence, Dear New Comerstown, in this county, Major Caleh Stark, of New Hampshire. Though confident that on this occasion ample justice cao- not be done to the memory of Major Stark, yet entire silence on the suh- ject would not be tolerated by that portion of the community who know his public services and his worth.

"He was the son of General Stark, of New Hampshire, the hero of Benningtou. At the age of fifteen he entered the army of the Revolu- tion, and commenced his career at the battle of Bunker's Hill as a vol- unteer in hie father's regiment. Ila remained in service until the close of the war, which found him a brigade-major. In the engagements which resulted in the surrender of General Burgoyne he was adjutant of the regiment commanded by the brave Colonel Cilley, grandfather ot him who fell in the duel last winter at Washington.

" At the close of the war he retired to private life. He afterwards wae extensively engaged as an importing merchant at Boston, and sub88- quently as a manufacturer of cottons at Pembroke, N. H. He owned and cultivated a large farm, and contributed the results of many agricultural experiments to the public journale.

" He possessed a highly-cultivated and active mind, for the improve- ment of which he suffered no opportunity to pass neglected.

" His memory was strong, and his stores of intormation, derived from travel or extensive reading, were ever at command. He had the repu- tation of being one of the best military critics of the nation, and was often consulted, especially during the War of 1812, when our army had but few experienced officers.

" He came to Ohio to prosecute the claims of hie family to lands granted to General Stark for military services, in which, after a tedious litigation, he was successful. It was bis intention, after be had succeeded in recovering this valuable estate, to have returned to his family, in New Hampshire, but sudden indisposition and death prevented its being carried onl.

"Major Stark, in all his acts and movements, exhibited the prompt decision and energy of the soldier. Indeed, his whole course appeared to be influenced by the habits acquired while fighting the battles of freedom in the war of the Revolution. At the season of life when habits are generally formed, his education was acquired in the tented field, io the laborious marches, counter-marches and privations of that fearful struggle, devoting his moments of leisure lo useful study ; and in his duties abroad, pressing forward with indomitable resolution and confi- dence in himself.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 74

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