USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Boston > History of New Boston, New Hampshire > Part 21
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2 " Howbeit marriages increase the number of my 'loaves and fishes,' so let them marry who will, for my purse's sake."
4 So Francis preserved his identity, and lived a " bachelor," which caused many a damsel to mourn, and refuse to be com- forted.
5 Now Francis tarried many seasons, and departed for the plains of lawgivers and synagogues and prisons.
6 [ Now after Francis, came James, the son of Josiah, the lawyer, and he lodged in the inn of one Pharisee (Faris.)
7 Now James, whose surname was Danforth, rebelled against the monkish celibacy of his illustrious predecessor, and was smitten with the beauty of Israel, and took a wife of the daugh- ters of the house of William, of the tribe of Ninian.
8 And there was much mourning among the damsels of Is- rael, who exclaimed, " Alas for us ; for while we were busy here and there, he was gone !" And thus they wept, while James rejoiced, and gave heed unto the sick of the land.
9 Lastly there came one Nelson, whose surname is Clark, from the cold regions of the North, saying, " Come unto me, all ye sick, lame, and suffering, and I will give you rest, not by means of the nauseating drugs of the apothecary, but by the in- finitessimal saccharine globules whose taste is pleasant, and whose virtue is sure." And the people listened to Nelson and were healed.
CHAPTER XVIII. VALEDICTION.
Humble mansion, within whose portals we drew our first breath, and gazed with an infant's stare upon the morning
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light, and from whose altar the morning and evening incense arose, and from whose gates the beggar ne'er turned him away empty, farewell !
Farewell ! ye Elms of Zoar and Poplars of Hebron, against whose trunks the northern blasts have spent their strength for naught, and amid whose branches the evening breeze discoursed sweet music, and in whose shade we gambolled and fell asleep in childhood.
Humble school-house, farewell ! where first we lisped our a, b, abs, to the now venerable Jesse, whose surname was Beard, and in boyhood's rougher years we tugged at roots and felt the rod, and where at the noontide hour we joined the joyous throng at athletic games and sports, and with tactics military, purely original, we besieged, with boisterous shouts, that made the welkin ring, and took snow forts by storm.
Farewell ! ye forests and hunting-grounds ; where in days of yore, we, with sinewey arm and measured stroke, the " wood- man's axe " wielded, and brought to earth, with the thunder's crash, thy proudest monarchs; and where, with our grand ancestral fowling-piece, dropped the cunning fox and timid hare, as on swift foot they fled the thirsty blood-hound's deep- muttered bay, as in the fresh track he scents his game, and in mad haste pursues.
Ye meandering brooks and mountain streams, farewell ! where oft in boyhood's days, we, with the angler's rod and line, tempted with delusive bait the speckled tenants of thy bubbling waters.
Ye mountains of Gilboa, whose tops rend the clouds in twain, the theatre of those grand terrific seenes upon which we oft did gaze with mingled awe and admiration, as on thy gigantic front and sides the lightnings crashed and thunders echoed, farewell !
Farewell, old familiar hillside, where stood the first temple dedicated to the triune God, and at whose baptismal font the hand of Ephraim was placed upon our infant brow : and where in early childhood we repeated our first Sabbath-school lesson, and wondered with childlike curiosity at the meaning of the distribution of those symbolic elements to the sacramental host.
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Cave of Machpelah, farewell! where the polished marble tells the passer-by, that here repose the dead. During the past century a rich harvest has been gathered within thy sacred embrace. Here the loving and loved of earth sleep and know no waking, until mortal shall put on immortality. Here ma- ternal breasts, on which our infant head reposed, lie treasured in thy sacred urn until the " resurrection morn."
A sacred trust thou hast in keeping, and most sacredly art thou fulfilling thy pledge, O Grave ! Venerable and illustrious dead, loving and beloved, " peace to your ashes !" .
Old New Boston, all hail to thee ! home of our childhood how pleasant are thy gates, and thy temples how beautiful to the eye of the returning pilgrim ! The eagle buildeth her nest in thy high places ; the ox grazeth by thy river's bank, and the kid and fattlings feed upon thy hillsides, and the horse snuffeth the battle afar off. Thy sons go forth the third time to meet the enemy and return not empty-handed, and thy daughters are those whose children rise up and call them blessed. "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." Again, peace, and farewell ! (0)
CHAPTER XIX.
APPENDIX TO CHRONICLES.
Note a, Ch. 1. - " Build a city." The French settled Louisi- ana, Spain, Florida, English Jamestown, Dutch New York, etc.
Note b, Ch. 2. - " Meadows," etc. Beaver Meadows, vide Parker's History of Londonderry.
Note c, Ch. 3. - "Beyond Jordan." The Merrimac lies about midway between Derry and New Boston. "Joppa," a. small village in Bedford, between the river and New Boston.
Note (1), Ch. 4. - Some married cousins.
Note d, Ch. 4. - " Pewter." "An entire set of pewter platters and plates, consisting of fourteen pieces, now grace as a relic of antiquity the open, kitchen cupboard of Peggy Cochran, on Cochran Hill, which her mother brought from Londonderry, over a century ago, as part of her wedding dower. It was used as table-service at the "antiquarian picnic," on the Monday
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following the centennial, when some twenty-five descendants from that venerable, weather-beaten mansion, that has bravely withstood the storms of a century, representing four genera- tions and three States, held a social reunion to pay their re- spects to the aged tenant, who, with the exception of one sister, is the only living representative of her generation, whose name was once legion.
The old-fashioned pot of " baked beans," brown bread," and " mug of cider," were prominent items in the " bill of fare." Before partaking of the bountiful repast, a select portion of Scripture was read by one of the number, from an old family Bible, and a feeling and pertinent address made, and a blessing invoked by Rev. Mr. Cogswell, who, with his estimable lady, were invited guests.
Note e, Ch. 5. - " Derry Fair." An annual festival held at Derry, where stock and household manufactures were taken to be sold or exchanged.
Note f, Ch. 7. - " Hour-glass." As clocks and watches were rare in those days, the hour-glass was the only measure of time.
Note g, Ch. 8. - " Second advent." The numerous and in- dustrious family of Dodges. As they were mostly from towns bordering on the coast in the vicinity of Salem, Mass., and being an admixture of English and Welch and inheriting, by associa- tion, much of the peculiar phraseology of the fishermen of the coast, their mode of expression was, as might be supposed, different from that of the Scotch and Irish of the first families.
Note h, Ch. 9. - " Witch, etc." Many of the Scotch-Irish settlers were firm believers in the witch legends of father-land.
Note i, " Blazing fires." Jack O'Lanterns, Will O'Wisps, Ignis Fatuus.
Note i, Ch. 12. - " Without hands." The edifice is yet want- ing a clock to make it complete.
Note j, Ch. 14. - " Drank wine." It was a universal custom to furnish one or more kinds of spirits at funerals. The wife of Deacon Thomas Cochran, who died in 1829, was the first person of any note buried without that ceremony. The tem- peranec question began to be agitated about that time.
Note /, Ch. 16. - " Sacrificed." Roasted whole.
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Note m, Ch. 17. - " Whited Sepulchre," Medical . Buildings, Hanover.
Note n, " Have faith ; " homeopathic.
Note o, Ch. 18. - " Third time." Revolution, War of 1812, and the Rebellion of 1861.
BUSINESS AND INTERESTING LOCALITIES.
As the settlement of New Boston began in the northeast part of the town, for some years business was confined to that re- gion, though, of course, but little was done prior to 1760, yet there was a small stock of goods kept in a dwelling-house near Walker's Mills, as early as 1755. About this time, the settle- ments were being pushed into other parts, and Cochran Hill became a place of interest. A Mr. McGaw built a house here, and kept a tavern and store; and Joseph Towns traded near where the late John D. Cochran's house stands, sold to Thomas Stark, and removed to Hopkinton. Stark traded here some years, was burned out, resumed his business, and was suc- ceeded by Ira Wilkins. Wilkins continued for a few years, and was succeeded by James Ray, of Mount Vernon. For a while, Nathaniel Martin traded here. This Thomas Stark was a nephew of the elder General Stark, married the daughter of Dr. Jonathan Gove, ultimately failed in business, and died in Dunbarton. Near King's Mills, Samuel Worthly traded for several years. As carly as 1760, a store was opened on Brad- ford Hill. John McLaughlen carried on a large business here, for many years, keeping also a tavern, which was extensively patronized, the great thoroughfare through the town being over this hill. This was the grand central business locality, for a suc- cession of years. A store was kept many years by Mr. Lamson, in a part of the Dea. White house; and the tanning of hides was carried on for, years, traces of the pits being yet discover- able in Mr. Abraham Wason's field. He, also, kept a tavern. Mr. Joseph Lamson, a little to the south of this, for many years kept a tavern ; so it is evident that over this road, at the base of Joe English's, on the west, there must have been much travel. A public house and store were, for many years, kept near Mrs. John Lynch's, on the turnpike. Mr. John Moor did
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business for some years. A store was kept, for a while, near the residence of the late Dea. Issachar Andrews, by Samuel Morgan, with whose deatlı trade ceased here.
As we have said, the principal business locality was the cen- tral part of the town. Capt. John McLaughlen, who kept a store and tavern on Bradford's Hill, at length carried on the business of tanning, near the residence of Mr. Sidney Hills. Here he opened a slaughter-house, and killed a great many cat- tle, salting the flesh for a foreign market, and retaining the skins for tanning. And this soon became the centre of busi- ness. Several stores were opened, and two or three taverns were kept. Mr. James Sloan had a store in a part of the house now used for the parsonage of the Presbyterian church ; in which building was " Long Hall," which was often used for select schools, and other purposes deemed important in those days. It was here that Jonathan Cochran, John Goodhue, John and Nathaniel Safford, Nathaniel Cleeves, Levi Bixby, Moses Whitney, Rodney M'Collom, Samuel and Butler Trull, Parker Warren, and Nehemiah Trull, carried on mercantile business. It was here Capt. Geary Whiting, Samuel Trull, and Ira Clough prosecuted a large business in tanning. Here Water- man Burr, Esq., Micah Lawrence, Esq., and Amos W. Tewks- bury commenced their successful business career. About 1825, what is now called the " Lower Village " began to be built, and soon business was transferred from the "Upper Village " to this, as it had been from Bradford's Hill to the " Upper Vil- lage." The opening of new lines of travel liave produced great changes in business localities. Until within a few years, Burr, Lawrence, and Tewksbury continued, in the " Lower Village," the business which they began in the " Upper Village ;" here, also, traded David G. Fuller, Alexander Dickey, Stephen Whip- ple, John Gregg; and still later, James and Dexter Smith, James and David Gregg, Joseph Whipple, and Solomon Atwood. Nestled in this valley, on either side of the "South Branch " of the Piscataquog, is the principal village, consisting of some fifty dwelling-houses, three stores, one tavern, a large school- house, two stories in height, with ample halls, and modern im- provements, built in 1856, at the expense of nearly four thou- sand dollars, where the children are divided into two grades,
Bufforda Lithography Boston
RESIDENCE OF SIDNEY HILLS
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and called together, by the musical tones of a bell, the Baptist church and the Town House. This latter is the old Presbyte- rian meeting-house, that formerly stood on the hillside, just south of the burial-ground. It is of the same dimensions as formerly, except in its height. The lower part is used for meetings of the town, while the upper was finished for a school- hall, for which purpose it has been much used. In the upper part, also, is a room in which the selectmen transact their busi- ness.
Pending over this village, on the south, is the " Upper Vil- lage," the central graveyard, and the Presbyterian meeting- house with its lofty steeple and rich-toned bell.
To one standing on the highest part of Clark's Hill, a beau- tiful panorama unfolds itself on every hand. Some fourteen towns can be seen by the unassisted eye. Monadnock, Kear- sarge, and other eminences are prominent among the objects of interest. This locality is associated with the thriving and chris- tian families of Clarks, who lived and died here.
Cochran's Hill, like the Clark Hill, is in the western part of the town, not as high as the latter, yet a beautiful swell of land, with rich scenery around it, and associated with the carly fam- ilies of Cochrans and Crombies. These families were in afflu- ent circumstances, and remarkable for their hospitality and social propensities. Bradford's Hill is near the centre of the town, and nearly as high as any point of land by which it is surrounded. The hill was first settled by John McLaughilen, and here the Rev. Mr. Bradford lived for nearly forty years, and from him it takes its name. On the west, in the distance, Monadnock is seen struggling to raise its head above the shoul- der of an intervening range of hills. On the north, Kearsarge bares its head to the blast of the storm, and Mount Washington deigns at times to unveil his lofty peak. The Unconoonucs re- pose in quiet beauty on the east, beyond which are seen the heights around Laconia and Lake Winnipiseogee. To the south, the eye stretches indefinitely towards Ashby and Ash- burnham, Mass. The rising and setting of the sun in the sum- mer, and its setting through the entire year, are obscured by no material object; and the west winds come sweeping over a vast region of country, checked by no intervening barrier. The
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lungs can always expand and be filled here, while the eye never tires in beholding objects, whose attractions are so many and so varied, nor in watching the endless phenomena of clouds and winds. The stars seem nearer than on most elevations. The scenery in winter is indescribably rich. The pure snow- carpet on hill and valley, on a calm day, stretching in all direc- tions save one, as far as the eye can reach, with a thousand cot- tages embosomed, is a scene of rare attraction. And when the winds are abroad, and the snow is in high spirits, the ever- shifting snow-wave, the scowling face of the cloud, the cease- less sport of the wind, changing its form continually, present an ever-varying scene of thrilling interest to the spectator. We have seldom, or never, seen a location so well adapted to the large lungs, and larger heart of him, whose name is forever to be associated with it .. It is emphatically Bradford's Hill. " What God hath joined together let no man put asunder."
Wason's Hill is believed to be the highest point of cultivated land in the town, from which the prospect is beautiful in several directions. This elevation is pleasantly associated with Dea. Robert White, with whom Rev. S. Moor lived at the time of his installation, and also with many other influential families. " Joe English" stands in the southern part of the town, attain- ing a height of 572 feet from its base. On the north the ascent is not difficult, the slope extending a considerable distance, so that in this direction it might be ascended by carriages. On the east it is more abrupt, while on the south it presents a bold and seemingly perpendicular and craggy front. The top and parts of its sides are covered with trees. This hill over- looks a great region of country. Near it are nestled the vil- lages of Mont Vernon, Amherst, Francestown, Merrimac, and Dunbarton, and the cities of Manchester and Nashua. Ando- ver, Mass., and other towns in that direction may be seen, while the eye stretches indefinitely into Maine, in the direction of Saddleback Mountain, between Deerfield and Northwood, and Pawtuckaway, between Deerfield and Nottingham.
" Joe English" was an object of great interest to the early set- tlers, since it designated to their friends in Londonderry, Chester, Tyngsborough and other places, the locality of their humble homes ; and from this height they could easily trace the com-
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munities they had left for ruder dwellings in the " woods." This hill was, no doubt, a favorite resort of Indians, so long as they lingered in this region. It is known that remnants of tribes lingered long on the branches of the Piscataquog, in which fish abounded, and where lingered the mink, the beaver, and other game. The Indians that used to live along the Merrimac and its tributaries, were the Agawams, Wamesits or Pawtuckets, the Nashuas, the Sougans, the Namoskeags, the Penacooks, and the Winnepesaukees. In process of time, through various causes, these became merged into one tribe, and were indiscriminately called Penacooks. Namoskeag was the royal residence of the ancient Sagamores of this great tribe, while at the mouth of the Piscataquog River was a considerable village. The Sagamores most worthy of mention among the Penacooks, were Passaconaway, Wonnalancet, his son, and Kancamagus, usually called John Hodgkins, his grandson ; Passaconaway appears first in 1627 or 1628 ; he was a power- ful warrior, and died prior to 1669, being a faithful friend to the English. Wonnalancet was chief of the tribe in 1669, and was converted to Christianity in 1674, through the preaching of the Rev. John Eliot, and ever afterwards exhibited a meek and quiet spirit, and proved an abiding friend to the whites. Won- nalancet was succeeded in 1685 by Kancamagus, better known as John Hodgkins, son of Naunomocumuck, Passaconaway's eldest son. He was a brave and wise chieftain, and losing his respect for the English authorities, became a formidable enemy to the settlements in the neigborhood of the Merrimac River. He is last heard of in 1691, near which time it is believed he died in friendship with the English.
When the grant of New Boston was obtained, in 1763, no considerable tribe was to be found in the region, yet fragments of tribes temporarily abode both within the limits of the township, and at different points on the Merrimac and its tributaries, up to nearly that period ; and though New Boston never suffered much from depredations, yet the settlers lived in fear of roving squads of them.
Joe English has sometimes been called Ingall's Hill, or Indos. but its true name is " Joe English," which it received from a noted Indian of that name. In his History of Manchester, the
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Hon. C. E. Potter, alluding to this eminence, thus writes : -- " It is noted, and is of much curiosity as a freak of nature. It is precipitous and abrupt on its southern end, having the ap- pearance of the southern part of the hill being carried away by some convulsion of nature. In fact the hill terminates on the south in a rough precipice, presenting in the distance a height of some two or three hundred feet, and almost perpendicular. The hill took its name from an incident of olden time connected with this precipice. In 1705 or 1706, there was an Indian liv- ing in these parts, noted for his friendship for the English set- tlers upon the lower Merrimac. He was an accomplished warrior and hunter, but following the counsels of Passacona- way and Wonnalancet, he continued steadfast in his partiality for his white neighbors. From this fact the Indians, as was their wont, gave him the name, significant of this trait, of 'Joe English.' In course of time the Indians, satisfied that Joe gave information of their hostile designs to the English, deter- mined upon killing him upon the first fitting opportunity. Ac- cordingly, just. at twilight, they found Joe upon one of the branches of the 'Squog,' hunting, and commenced an attack upon him ; but he escaped from them, two or three in number, and made directly for this hill, in the southern part of New Boston. With the quick thought of the Indian, he made up his mind that the chances were against him in a long race, and he must have recourse to stratagem. As he ran up the hill, he slackened his pace, until his pursuers were almost upon him, that they might become more eager in the pursuit. Once near the top he started off with great rapidity, and the Indians after him, straining every nerve. As Joe came upon the brink of the precipice before mentioned, he leaped behind a jutting rock, and waited in breathless anxiety. But a moment passed, and the hard breathing and measured but light footsteps of his pursuers were heard, and another moment, with a screech and yell, their dark forms were rolling down the rocky precipice, to be left at its base, food for hungry wolves !
" Henceforth the hill was called Joe English, and well did his constant friendship deserve so enduring a monument.
"' Joe English' was the grandson of the Sagamon of Aga- wam (now Ipswich), whose name was Wosconnomet.
VIEW OF ICE EUCLIVHS HAL
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"' Joe English ' came to his death in consequence of his fidel- ity to the whites. The hostile Indians determined upon his death, and kept constantly upon his path. At length, July 27, 1706, Lieutenant Butterfield and his wife, riding betwixt Dun- stable and Chelmsford, on horseback, with Joe English as companion and a guard, fell into an Indian ambuscade. The horse was shot upon the first fire, Butterfield and his wife fall- ing to the ground. The main object of the Indians being to secure 'Joc,' Butterfield and the soldier made their escape, while the Indians (one of the party being left in charge of Mrs. Butterfield) went in pursuit of him. 'Joe' made for the woods, several Indians in full pursuit, and finding them gaining upon him, he turned about and presented his gun as if to fire. The Indians, fearing his fatal aim, fell upon the ground, and Joc took to his heels for life. Again the Indians gained upon him, and 'Joc' again presented his trusty gun, and for fear of it the Indians again threw themselves upon the ground. This was repeated several times, until 'Joc' had almost gained the thick woods, when one of the Indians, despairing of taking him alive, and fearing he would escape them, fired upon him, break- ing the arm with which he held the gun. The gun fell to the ground and ' Joc' redoubled his speed. But just as he gained the wood, a shot struck his thigh and he fell to the ground. His fall was the signal for a yell of triumph from the Indians in pursuit. When they came up to him, they expressed their pleasure in no measured terms. 'Now, Joc,' said they, 'we got you ; you no tell English, again, we come!' 'No,' retorted Joc, 'Cap'n Butterfield tell that at Pawtucket.' 'Hugh !' exclaimed the Indians, the thought just striking them that the soldiers at the block-houses, at Pawtucket or Dunstable, alarm- ed by the whites who had escaped, would be upon them in a short time. There was no time for delay. Joe could not be carried away, and one of them buried his hatchet in the head of the prostrate Indian. Thus died 'Joe English,' the faithful friend of the white man. The services of 'Joe English' were considered so meritorious that a grant was made to his wife and two children, by the Legislature of Massachusetts, because, as the words of the grant have it, 'he died in the service of his country !'"
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MRS. SARAH THERESA WASON.
She is the daughter of Capt. John Lamson, born March 18, 1821. Mrs. Wason was educated at the district school, and at New Ipswich Academy. Feb. 22, 1843, she became the wife of Mr. Abram Wason, a worthy farmer residing near Joe Eng- lish, on a farm once owned by Dea. Robert White. Mr. Wason was the son of James Wason, a brother of the late Dea. Robert Wason. The children of the late James Wason are : Thomas, who married Mary Emeline Cowdry, of Lunenburg, Mass., Jan. 5, 1836. His second wife was Mary Ann Lawton, of Shirley, Mass., who was married April 2, 1851. He married, for his third wife, Harriet Lawton, of Shirley, Mass., Feb. 22, 1855, and resides in Mount Vernon, N. H. Robert married Martha F. Murray, of Charlestown, Mass., April 8, 1841. He married, for his second wife, Harriet Hall, of Charlestown, Mass., in 1852. Alcinda married Perley Batchelder, of Mount Vernon, N. H., July 8, 1841, where they reside. David married Julia M. Leeland, of Somerville, Mass., Dec. 25, 1843, and resides in California. William married Frances Hazeltine, of Am- herst, N. H., Sept. 30, 1847, and resides in Watertown, Mass. James Putnam married Eliza Baker, of Billerica, Mass., Oct. 1847, and resides in California. John died Dec. 25, 1845, aged 20 years. Horace died Nov. 13, 1847, aged 29. William died Oct. 12, 1855, aged 43.
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