History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 88

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 88
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 88

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).

Mr. and Mrs. Childs have had no children, but they have cared for those of others.

Mr. Childs has taken an active part in the edn- cational interests of his native town, and has assisted young men in obtaining an education. In 1836 he was chosen one of a committee to report a plan for locating and building an academy. The site decided upon was given by Mr. Childs, and the academy was built by him under contract. He was also one of its incorporators. He has been all his life an earnest advocate of temperance, making it a point, when em- ploying men upon public works, that no ardent spirits should be used in or about the works. He is a stanch . Republican, and has always voted that ticket. In 1831 he united with the Congregational Church in Henniker, and has been one of the deacons of the church since February 19, 1855, and faithfully fulfilled the duties of that position. He has done much to sustain the church in all of its relations, and is a valuable member of the society. He has also been personally very active in making improvements about the church and vestry. He is a life-member of the American Board of Foreign Missions.

Mr. Childs is a man of strict integrity, marked generosity and liberality of character. As a business man successful, as a citizen respected and beloved, and as one who has done much to further and pro- mote the improvement and prosperity of his native town, he stands among her representative men, and is a worthy descendant of the "old pioneer."

HISTORY OF HOOKSETT.

BY SAMUEL HEAD, (2nd).

CHAPTER I.

HOOKSETT is located in the most southerly portion of Merrimack County, being bounded on the north by Bow and Allenstown, on the east by Deerfield, Candia, and Auburn, on the south by Auburn and Manches- ter, and on the west by Goffstown. The surface is very uneven and is not generally adapted for agriculture, but in some sections of the town, especially bordering the Merrimack River, the soil is fertile, of an alluvial and aluminous nature, which affords some well-culti- vated farms. The Merrimack River flows in a wind- ing manner through the westerly part of the town nearly its entire length from north to south. The river, from the early primitive times, has changed its channel in a number of instances according to the geographical and geological construction of the sur- face of the valley of the beautiful Merrimack. The banks of the river are high and dry above the surface of the water in a large portion of the territory that the river meanders through, thus protecting the ad- joining country from being overflowed with the turgid stream in times of floods and high water. Wher- ever such barriers exist the land is of a sandy nature, which is not successfully cultivated at the present time. Between the Merrimack River, back from the valley, and the eastern part of the town the soil is sandy, with a gravelly subsoil, and is almost entirely covered with scrub oaks and underbrush growing into a slight growth of woodland. Ahout three-fifths of the acreage of the town of Hooksett is wild, unfit for tilling or grazing, and consequently the land is de- voted to growing wood and timber. Throughout this whole territory solid ledges and high boulders of granite crop out in every direction, giving the land an ungainly and impracticable appearance. The early growth originally cut and marketed was mostly white and hard pine. Most of the original territory now embraced in the town of Hooksett, on the east side of the river, was formerly called Chester Woods. As early as October, 1719, about eighty persons, chiefly from Hampton and Portsmouth, associated for the purpose of obtaining a grant of a township in the "Chestnut Country." In every reference in early his- tory made to the northerly part of the old town of

Chester it was called "White Pine Country " or "Chester Woods." Thus, to this late day, the country remains the same, only the territory is at some points in a thorough state of denudation. This whole coun- try, according to the original map prepared by Benja- min Chase1 of the town of Chester, places it in the fifth and fourth divisions. The lots were made out running north and south, and numbered east and west. In the eastern part of the town there are a number of ponds, now called Lakin's Pond, Clay Pond and Sawyer's Pond, and they are interlinked by brooks at the north part, having their outlet from Lakin's Pond through Brown's Brook into the Merrimack River, and in the southerly part via Lake Massabesic. In the early history of old Cheshire, when the primeval forests were undisturbed, this part of the township abounded in beavers, that built dams across the various streams, and the growth of wood was destroyed by constant flowage, but when the country became settled the beavers were destroyed, and the land came into natural grass, which was of great use to the early set- tlers. These meadows extended into all parts of the original township, inelnding the territory lying be- tween the White Hall Mill, near Rowe's Corner, and old Derryfield (now Manchester).

Another most prominent meadow commenced in what is now the village of Auburn, and. extended to the Londonderry line, and was called the "Long Meadows." As late as February 5, 1721-22, the proprietors "Voted that the Lott Layers survey the principle meadows and Reserve them out of the Second Division for the Publick use until the Proprs See Cause to Divide 'em."

April, 1727, it was "Voted that the Inhabitants, and those that are coming to Settle, divide ye Cutting of ye meadows in Equal Proportion among Them- selves for ye Year Ensuing, and that none Cutt any before the Last day of July, on the penalty of 208., to be paid by each person for every day yt he or they shall offend, to be paid to the Selectmen for ye use of the Poor of the Town."

March 28, 1728, it was "Voted That there shall be

1 Benjamin Chase is the author of "Chase's History of the Town of - Chester," published in the year of 1869.

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

a Division of meadow to Every Right according as it will hold out in quantity & quality, according to ye goodness or badness of ye Meadow, to make every man's share as Equal as can be."

At the present time, whatever meadow there is in the town of Hooksett that could be classed in the above is not valued so much for cropping as then, for the farmers now devote more attention to English grass, and use meadow hay for cheap foddering purposes. In a number of instances the old original meadows are entirely obliterated, being now covered with a growth of trees, and if, in the march of modern prog- ress, the farmers should improve these lands, they would find, in time, land of great natural fertility. On the west side of the Merrimack River the land is very uneven, and rises to quite an elevation where the boundary line divides us from Goffstown, Dun- barton and Bow. The soil is good and farming is successfully carried on.

The origin of the name of Hooksett dates back to an early period in the history of this country. Isaac W. Hammond, in his compilation of State papers, says, "The name 'Isle an Hooksett' and 'Isle au Hooksett Falls' was attached to the locality many years before the incorporation and naming of the town, but it is impossible to ascertain its derivation." He refers to Captain Ladd's scouts, who camped near a pond in the north part of Chester, called Isle Hooks Pond, which is now supposed to be Lakin's Pond. The above facts were gleaned from Abner Clough's journal, containing an account of the march of Cap- tain Daniel Ladd and his men, who were sent by the Governor and Council of New Hampshire on July 14, 1746,-

" Marched from Exeter to Beach plain, in Kingston. On the 15th day marched to Chester and there touk more men. On the 16th day enlisted more men. On the 17th day marched from Chester town to a place called Isle Hooks pond, and scouted round the Pond and theo camped about 11 miles. On the 18th day, early in the morning, ranged the woods till almoet night, and could make no discovery of the Enemy then marched to Suncook and there camped."

During these years the early settlers were having much trouble from the small bands of Indians that were scouting the entire province. The French, through their mercenary modes of warfare, were the instigators of these scenes of devastation and cruelty, and during the years 1745, '46, '47, '48 and '49 a great many settlers were killed or taken captives. These proceedings were constantly taking place until the year 1749, when peace was declared.

Chase, in his " History of Chester," says that in the year 1748 there was a man killed by the Indians near Head's Mill (now Hooksett). This man was prob- ably a McQuade, who was going to mill with a bag of corn. He was shot from behind a tree. W. H. Otter- son, of Hooksett, remembers that in his boyhood, his mother knew the location of the stump when it was called the McQuade stump. At that time the old Gault house, now the premises of Norris C. Gault, was a garrison. From other historical sources we learn

that soon after 1745, the year that the French war broke out, a man by the name of Buntin was shot by the Indians near Head's tavern, in Hooksett. He was a Pelham man and was on his way to Pennacook. According to Jeremy Belknap, D.D., in his "History of New Hampshire," a man was killed at Suncook in the year 1747. Undoubtedly the circumstance to which Belknap refers is the same as that mentioned by Chase and other historians, but Belknap is more correct as to data, etc. In the year of 1772, according to Captain Pecker's journal, who was with a surveying-party prospecting in the Merri- mack Valley, after going up the Black Brook into Goffstown, where they camped, it says,-

"On Dec. 10th, Marched from Anna hookset hill, Crost Merrimack River & So, Steering a Sonth Easterly Course, marched to Great Massce- pescet pond, to the northermost part of Cheshire,-16 miles."

It seems by this record that some hill now in Hook- sett, west of the Merrimack River, had the appel- lation of Hooksett connected with its history. At an earlier period, in the journal kept by John Wain- wright, clerk of a committee appointed by the Great and General Court or Assembly to lay out a new township of seven miles square at Pennacook, it is said,-

" May 10th, 1726 .- Thie day the Committee met at the House of Eben- ezer Eastman, in Haverhill, in order to go to Penoy Cook to lay out the Township according to order.

" Wednesday, May 11th,-Present, The Honbls William Tailor, Esqr., Jnº. Wainwright, Esqr., Capt. Jnº. Shipley, Eleazer Tyngs, Esqr., and Mr. Joseph Wilder. This day the Committee received, of several of ye Settlers, forty shillings each, a liet where of was taken ; being to defray the charge of surveying the Lande, &c., and prepared the necessary pro- visions for their Journey and their Attendants to Penny Cook.

"Thursday, May 12 .- Lowry Weather with some rain . . At Amoskeag Falle we found several Irish people catching fish, which that place afforde in great abundance. We travelled in a cart path from Nutfield to Amioskeag, but it was very indifferent travelling. Cloudy Weather.

"Friday, May 13th, -This Morning we proceeded on our Journey. Verry Hilly and Mountainone Land. Ahout Eight a Clock we passed by a Fall called Onna hookline, in Merrimack River, which is taken from a Hill of the same name. About Nine a clock we forded a pretty deep Brook or Rivnlett called (a blank), 1 and soon after we came upon a large Tract of Intervale Land joining to Suncook River, where we baited and refreshed our selves and Horses. About ten or eleven a clock we forded Suncook River, which is a rapped Streaoi, and many loose Stones, of some Considerable Bigoess in it, making it dificult to pass, One of our men going over, having a heavy load on his Horse, was thrown off into the River and loet one of the Baggs of provisions which we lost, not hav- ing time to look after it. Another of our fell into ye River. Here we met with two men Colo. Tyng sent up before us with stores (Bena Nicolls and Eben". Virgin, two of ye Settlers), and about one a Clock we passed Penny Cook River (alias Shin Brook or Sow Cook), pretty deep and very rocky.

We find, by reading the above description, that the name Onna Hookline is applied to the falls, and other points are familiarly described iu this journey. Again, in the year of 1638, eighty-eight years before the above, and only nineteen after the landing of the Pilgrims, the General Court of Massachusetts or- dered a survey of the Merrimack River to be made, which was done by Nathaniel Woodward in the

1 This rivolet is supposed to be what is now called Bown's Brook, which empties from Lakin'e Pond into the Merrimack,

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spring of 1639, and made out as Gardner's map. On this map1 the Pinnacle or hills in the vicinity where Hooksett village now is was called Hanna-ko-Kees Hills. According to the map the whole country from the mouth of the river to the Lake Winnipiseogee is almost a perfect survey, and to the familiar eye, ex- cepting the early names, it looks reasonable. Thus we find, by the names early given our falls, that they were derived from Hanna-ko-Kees, a mountain in this vicinity. The hills of Hooksett are not prominently numerous, but in some parts of the town quite an elevation can be reached. In the early history of the State the Pennacook Indians were numerous and powerful. Their hunting-grounds were in the Merri- mack Valley. They were a very harmless people naturally, and friendly to the settlers. The writer of this has heard of some old people speak of recollect- ing of their fathers' telling about a number of Indian families living within the limits of Chester. The race has become extinct, excepting the transmitted inter- mixture of Indian and white blood. There are a few cases in this State where families have multiplied and become numerous and noted by partially spring- ing from the Pennacook Indian tribe.

In the southeast part of the town, near the boun- dary, is Hall's Mountain, which is elevated, and can he seen from the west a great distance. In the western part of the town is Hacket's Hill. At the south, east and north sides a very extended view can be obtained, reaching as far as Mount Chicorua, in Albany, Sand- wich Mountains and Mount Moosilunke.

From an eminence called the Pinnacle a delightful view of the Merrimack Valley is seen. At your feet is the thriving village of Hooksett, which makes an en- chanting scene. On the east side is an abrupt preci- pice more than two hundred feet high. At the foot of the mountain, on the west side, is a beautiful sheet of water, transparent, with a greenish tinge, and show- ing no visible outlet. In the year of 1859-60 about seven thousand dollars was expended in blasting and digging for silver and gold on the west side of the hill. Some was discovered, but not in such quanti- ties as to make it pay. Tradition says that this point was a lurking-place for the Indians, A fine view could be had of the river in both directions, so that the approach of a foe was discerned at once. Just op- posite, on the east side of the mountain, is Otterson's Hill. On this elevation a fine northwesterly view is enjoyed. This point also was a place of rendezvous for signal purposes. On the plain between this point and the river Indian relics of numerous varieties are found, and vestiges of their wigwams are very evident at the present day. Around Hooksett Falls was a famous place for salmon, and wherever those fish were abundant the Indians prevailed.

Of the early settlers little is known except what is

found in common with the towns that Hooksett was made from. In that part of Chester now Hooksett one of the early settlers was Daniel Martin, who had a grant from King George. His descendants live in Hooksett and elsewhere in large numbers. It is said when the road to Martin's Ferry was laid out, in 1776, it crossed land owned by "several of the Mar- tins." In the year of 1791 there was a tornado, which blew down the buildings of Daniel Martin, carrying him more than twelve rods. A large piece of timber was lodged on the body of Mr. Martin. David Mar- tin, then a child three weeks old, was held between the knees of an aunt, and saved from being blown away. This woman removed the timber from the body of Mr. Martin by her herculean strength. In the year of 1826, in July, two girls, daughters of David Martin, were drowned from the Dalton rock in the Merrimack River. They followed after their father to get the cows, but while playing, they slipped in, and the current carried them out. Mr. Martin narrowly escaped drowning himself in trying to save them.

Jesse Kimball lived near Martin's Ferry ; had a son Jedediah, who lived on lot 117, fourth division; his descendants are numerous throughout- New England. John Dustin was a physician and was at Martin's Ferry in 1775. He was probably the first doctor that ever located within our territory. Thomas Wicom lived on the Mammoth road, and some of the people now living, remember the old "Smoke-house," so called. D. Harper, on lot 82, and S. Rowell, on lot 81, Auburn road. On the old road now located between the river and the present highway were Dalton's and Arwine's taverns. On Samuel Holland's map, made about the year of 1784, a point is indicated near this location called Kars ; it is supposed to be an early set- tlement where travelers were put up. At the junc- tion of the White Hall and Londonderry turnpike was the J. Martin settlement. Further on was the White Hall, and Chase, in the History of Chester, places it on lot No. 123, fourth division, and J. Tal- ford beyond, on lot 121. According to investigation, the location of the White Hall was the original J. Talford settlement. Chase says "that in May, 1724, John Packer, of Haverhill, Mass., conveyed to Johu Talford, of Bradford, the home lot No. 66, and one- half of all of the other divisions, on condition that he should make a settlement. He accordingly settled on that lot on Walnut Hill. He was a major in the militia and held many civil offices. He became a large land-holder and was an enterprising man. He built the first saw-mill at White Hall, in Hooksett." This Talford lot, now called the Sawyer place, con- tained eight hundred acres, and it was heavily covered with white pine timber, and as Talford in that day was a speculator in land, it is presumed that he loca- ted here for the attractions it offered for speculation.

Mr. Talford died May, 1790, aged ninety years. Near the White Hall place the first path to Penna-

1 The copy of the original map is owned by William Little, Esq., Man- chester, and is a great curiosity.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

cook was traversed, following the same direction from that point as the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad was laid out. In the extreme eastern part of the fifth division, on lot 104, was the Wiggins settlement. On the old Chester turnpike, on lot 62, was the toll- house, but later the Langley tavern, which was a famous stopping-point for the stages. This building was burned in the year 1878. On lot No. 113, fourth division, Joseph Whittier settled at what is now Clark's tavern, or Stearns' hotel. He owned a large tract of land. Simeon Carr lived on the Boyes land, half a mile southeast of the Head tavern, in Hooksett, where is now the old Ledge boarding-house. He had a daughter born about 1778, who married Major Na- thaniel Head, who sold to Mark Whittier and moved West. The Head tavern was settled at a later date, about the year 1802, and a tavern was opened soon after by Samuel Head. It was formerly the Boyes lands. The original homestead is now owned by James Thompson. Just above was the Harriman place. Laban Harriman came from Hampstead about 1780; in a few years went back, and a brother, Rufus Har- riman took his place, and in a few years sold. After- wards Richard Head owned it, dying in 1831, leaving it to his son, John Head, who died about the year 1850. The place has since been owned by Henry H. Thompson, and the buildings were burned in Sep- tember, 1883.

There was a family named Abrams that settled in this vicinity, of which little is known. Then the R. Gor- don place, which is of a later date. He is remembered by many people living. Hon. Jesse Gault now lives on the old site. The Otterson place was settled by William Otterson, who bought of Robert Boyes No. 128, fifth division, where Martin L. Otterson now lives. William was drowned while crossing Lake Champlain in the year of 1760; he was a soldier in the army. He left one son, James, who served as a soldier at Rhode Island in 1778. The old original house was located a few rods north of the present Ot- terson house, which supplanted one that was burned iu the year 1860.

Samuel Brown settled on No. 28, fifth division, which is now owned by Hon. Jesse Gault; it was formerly the Hooksett poor farm. Joseph Brown settled near where is now Head's mill. William Brown located on lot No. 30, in that vicinity. Nathaniel Head came from Pembroke about 1780, and built a log house on the same spot where his grandson, the late ex-Gov- ernor, lived. He was an energetic business man, a good counselor, and was a much-respected justice of the peace. His daughter Polly married Thomas Cochrane, of Pembroke, who settled on Buck Street. One Sunday, about the year 1800, Thomas said to his wife, " Let us go and sce father and mother Head to- day." After the chores were finished they took an infant baby and crossed the Suncook River, taking a footpath through the woods. When arriving at the homestead the mother greeted them cordially. Mr. I

Cochrane went into the main room where Esquire Head sat studiously reading the Bible. The reception was not very cordial, as he soon turned his attention from the book and said,-" Thomas I shall be glad to have you come to our house on any week-day, but I do not want you to visit us on the Sabbath." Thomas imme- diately notified his wife, Polly, and they returned to their home, never to repeat again a visit to the Head place on the Lord's day. This characteristic sentiment prevailed to a larger degree with our forefathers than at the present time. It is said that Mr. Head kept a public inn at the time when the incident occurred, and if any person called for spirituous drams, he was sup- plied and it was drank on the premises, but the Bible- reading went right on with the same profound regard for its teachings and Puritanic respect for the Sabbath. Nathaniel Head died October 4, 1830. He was a trial justice, and many cases of litigation, etc., were left to him for decision. Noah M. Coffran, of Pembroke, now over eighty years old, relates that at one time,. when a mere boy, he was drawing logs with oxen to the Merrimack River. Esquire Head was there unload- ing some logs, but became greatly troubled about landing them. Young Coffran helped him out of the difficulty, and the esquire frankly acknowledged it was the first time in his life that he had learned any- thing from a boy. Mr. Coffran relates that he was surprised in receiving such a compliment from the respected, dignified man. There was a family by the name of Lakin, which Chase, in his " History of Ches- ter,"overlooked. Theirsettlement was on the east side of Lakin's Pond. Some of their descendants live in Hooksett at the present time. The pond was a famous one for pickerel. The original Lakin always spoke of it as his " Pork Barrel."

Just above the Head settlement was S. Gault's. He was born in Scotland; married Elsie Carlton, of Wales. They had three children born in Scotland. He moved to Londonderry, Ireland, and had two children born there. He came to this country, and settled on the land now owned by his great-great-grandson, Norris C. Gault.

The original house was a garrison, and the land was on the Suncook grant. The descendants of this fam- ily are numerous, becoming successful and noted. On the west side of the river, which was formerly Dunbarton, according to a plan drawn by David Ten- ney in October, 1803, and one drawn at Portsmouth in 1749, the lots were allotted as follows: 1st lot, 11th range, Mark H. Wentworth ; 12th range, lots 1 and 2, Jeremiah Page; 13th range, lots 1 and 2, com- mon lot 3, John Wallingford and John Wentworth ; Ist lot sold in 1764 to Bond Little; 2d lot sold in 1764 to - Martin ; 14th range, 1st lot sold to Alexan- der Todd; 2d lot, school lot; 3d lot, John Went- worth ; 4th lot, vacant. Lots running along the bank of the Merrimack : owners, Jacob Green, Jeremiah Page, Thomas Upham; sold in 1795 to Benjamin Noyes. The proprietors' meeting September, 1764, " Voted

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Jeremiah Page, Thomas Caldwell and John Hogg be a committee to plan out the common that lays on the Merrimack River." In June, 1771, " Voted, that Caleb Page go to Portsmouth and try to make a settlement with the Lords Proprietors about their common lands in Dunbarton." The most of these common lands were situated in what is now Hooksett. On the 11th day of September the proprietors of more than seven rights in the common and undivided lands in Dun- barton called a meeting "to see if the proprietors would vote that every proprietor who is settled on common land in said town shall have his share or shares laid out when they have done their work in quantity and quality as said proprietors shall vote, or that the proprietors shall make a division of the common lands as they shall think best when met." This was signed by Thomas Cochran, William Cochran, James McColley, James Cochran ye 3d, James Cochran, William Page, William Wheeler, Nicholas Dodge, Ephraim Kinsman, Ebenezer Hacket. These men were mostly inhabitants where Hooksett is now located. From 1751 to 1802 the proprietors were constantly having meetings, the records showing the names of those who were residents of the territory of Dunbarton (now Hooksett).

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 88

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