USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 37
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Previous to 1882 services were held several years in private houses and the town hall. During that year a beautiful house of worship was erected at a cost of about $17,000. It was built under the supervision of Rev. J. R. Powers who was in charge in Epping and Newfields, and spared no pains in making preparations for the structure which should supply a long-felt need. The building is a parallelogram 75 feet long and 35 wide, substantially made, of simple and tasty exterior, with high- peaked roof on each end of which is a gilt cross, and stands on a commanding eminence. The windows are of stained glass donated by Rev. Father Power, M. J. Buckley, Michael Sheehy, in memory of Honora L. Liddy, Thomas Kelly, Thomas Phelan, P. J. Quinn, C. G. Murphy and Peter Lyons. The large one over the gallery was the gift of C. Coffey and Thomas Coffey. The interior is appropriately finished and furnished with every- thing needful for its ritual of service, and will seat about two hundred people. The society may well be proud of the beauty and convenience of its church. It was designed by P. W. Ford of Boston, Mass., and built by Thomas Phelan of Haverhill, Mass. It goes by the name of "The Church of the Sacred Heart." It was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1882 by Bishop Healey of Portland, Me.
Rev. John R. Powers was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. John Canning who remained till 1898, when he was followed by Rev. James Hogan. In 1902 Rev. Fabian Deshaies assumed the charge thus left vacant and continued his pastorate till May, 1907, when Rev. Herbert Hennon was appointed to the place.
Chapter XXVI.
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND MISCELLANY.
Golden Cross .- The Newfields Commandery, No. 238, United Order of the Golden Cross, was instituted in this town June 4, 1883, with twelve charter members, being among the first commanderies to be chartered in New Hampshire by the Supreme Commandery which was organized and incorporated at Knoxville, Tenn., July 4, 1876, as a Fraternal Beneficiary Order of temperance people. It was the first to admit women on equal privilege with men. It is licensed to do business by the Insurance Departments of the several states. On account of its restricted principles its growth has been less rapid then that of other orders which do not stand on such lofty moral grounds. Its growth, however, has been steady and uniform. In the first thirty-three years of its existence it paid the families of departed members, on death claims, over $10,000,000, and it meets every obligation promptly. It has never lost a dollar by bad investment, nor has it had a dollar stolen.
The members make twelve payments per year. No assess- ment is made on account of death in the local commandery.
The meetings of the order are entertaining, elevating, instruc- tive and uplifting.
Newfields' Commandery starting with twelve charter members has continued to grow in membership until 114 have joined its ranks.
The order has paid on death claims to the families of departed members of this Commandery during the first twenty-seven years of its existence $12,500.
Members of the order are pleased to furnish any information at all times.
Grange .- The South Newmarket Grange was organized March 17, 1892, by Deputy White with twenty-one charter members. In December, 1904, the name was changed to Piscassic Grange. Land near Littlefield's Crossing for a new hall was given by Charles E. Smith April 14, 1904. A building
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formerly occupied by Charles Lane and John C. Hanson for a store was given by the Misses Paul through Frank P. Neal, taken down and the timbers hauled by the members to the building site. The building was completed and dedicated January 18, 1905. Electric lights were furnished by the gener- osity of Arthur J. Conner and Herbert W. Smith. Contribu- tions to the building fund were also made by George L. Chase and George W. Paul. The regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. The membership now numbers fifty-eight and the society is in a very flourishing condition. It has always manifested a great deal of interest and enthusiasm, and is still an important factor in the social life of the vicinity.
Within the past three years the losses by death have been many.
A lodge of "Good Templars" had a flourishing existence from 1868-74, also the "Rockingham Guards" organized in 1867 with John E. Simpson, captain, was for a time a popular military company.
Odd Fellows .- An organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has existed for many years. They have a very attractive hall, and in the days of the greater prosperity of the town were a strong and active society.
We give here many miscellaneous items-the recollections of Rev. John Lane and others-which are deemed of sufficient importance to be included in this history, but do not easily fall into connected narrative. No special order has been fol- lowed in their arrangement.
The hay scales that stood in the triangle at the junction of Piscassic and Exeter roads are described by Mr. Lane as "look- ing like a lighthouse whose roof extended over a shed through which loads of hay were driven and, in the shed with a strong wooden frame under the loads, with chains attached to a roller above, were raised by turning a crank in the lighthouse side, and weighed."
The stone pound, between the old burying ground and the Exeter road, was built in 1825. The stones of which it was made were taken by the town in 1900 to construct a new culvert under the highway for Cobbey's brook-so named for a family
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
that long lived on the north side of it, just west of the Exeter road.
Deacon Drowne had a store and wharf near the toll bridge. The toll-house was moved back and forth across the bridge, as the toll-takers lived on one or the other side of the river. On the creek just above the bridge on the Stratham side was a tide-mill with gates which the tide opened as it rose and closed as it ran out. The water thus shut in was used to grind corn. This mill was bought by Charles Lane, and some of its timbers were used in building his store, with hall above, on the main street in Newfields. It has since been taken down, removed and rebuilt for Grange Hall.
James Perkins, Esq., of Williamsport, Pa., a native of New- fields, in 1885 recalled the time when all the houses facing the river at "the Landing" were owned and occupied by members of the Shute family. . They were all in good condition and with pleasant surroundings. He also remembered two houses where the foundry now stands. One was the "Coffin house," later occupied by John C. Rider, who was one of the owners and managers of the foundry, and the other, a large, pretentious house on the bank of the river, having a large entrance hall with open fireplace, and a dance hall at the rear of the house. Dudley Watson was, perhaps, the last owner. It was probably erected by one of the earliest ship-builders.
In Epping, just across the Newfields line on the Piscassic road, was the famous stage tavern of James Pike. Travelers from the north bound for Portsmouth would spend the night there, proceed to Portsmouth the next day, and spend the night there on the return trip. It was said the stable had housed 100 oxen and horses in a single night. Its use as a tavern was discontinued after the opening of the Portsmouth & Concord Railroad. It was destroyed by fire in June, 1907.
The Stinson tavern near the Junction was remodeled and a piazza built across the front of the house-the first one remembered in this section.
Previous to the building of the Boston & Maine Railroad raw materials for manufacture were transported by water conveyance. Packets and schooners from Boston and gondolas from Portsmouth did a lively business on the Pascataqua River, across Great Bay, and up Lamprey and Squamscot rivers.
It having proved a difficult matter to fix upon a satisfactory
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site for the "depot" at Newfields, it was first located on the river side of the track at the right, then moved across the street to the left, and then across the track. Levi Kelly was the first "depot master." The new station, built in the early seventies, was located farther from the street toward the north.
Coal for fuel was introduced into Newfields about 1850, and has to a considerable extent taken the place of wood.
Street lights were first introduced in November, 1886. Kerosene lamps were used and the lamplighter made a nightly round.
In the first foundry were huge leather-sided bellows blown by horse power.
One evening Joseph Smith and his wife, living on the Piscassic road very near the Epping line, visited a neighbor taking with them the twins, Polly and Betsey. On the way home, meeting a bear, Mr. Smith dropped the twin he was carrying and ran for his gun which was in the house a few rods distant. His wife then seized both of the twins and ran back to the house where they had been calling, followed by the bear, and screaming as she ran. The neighbor opened the door, which was in two parts, and as she entered, closed the lower part, but before they could shut the upper half, the bear put his head in and prevented their closing it. Meanwhile Mr. Smith, having secured his gun, shot the bear. Taking it home he dressed it, and put both children in the cavity. Ever after they boasted they had been inside a bear.
When the "musters" were the principal events of the year and were attended by all the community, they were usually held in Piscassic, in any field available, but by 1837 or 1838 a new generation looked upon the "military training" as an irksome task to be avoided if possible. The last ones were held on the school house hill and were attended with little interest or enthusiasm. It is remembered that at probably the last of these occasions the inexperienced and sadly embar- rassed officer of the day, forgetting his military phrases, shouted frantically, "Attention the whole, spectators and all! Training's begun!"
A "Note" in the town records gives the following statement:
This is to call the attention of the people in the future to the fact that some- time in the Anniversary year, 1876, Amos Paul, Esq., caused to be planted in
26
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
the Square near the Universalist Church in this town an Elm tree-and Mr. Paul wishes this record made that future Generations may know the exact age of said tree.
The record was made October 15, 1884, as affirmed by H. J. Paul, town clerk.
The most destructive fire that has occurred in Newfields broke out about midnight September 23-24, 1894, in a stable on the main street owned by J. C. Hanson. The house adjoin- ing, the old "Kennard house," a two-tenement house built by Brackett Jones, the "Shute House" with its stable and various sheds, were burned. With the limited water supply only the persistent and praiseworthy efforts of the men of the town kept the fire in check until timely assistance from Exeter and Dover arrived.
The Methodists of Dover district held their annual camp- meetings from 1857 to 1863 in Fowler's grove near the Junction, at the rear of the cemetery. Since 1863 the meeting has been held at the Hedding grounds in Epping.
The daughters of Rev. Curtis Coe were most estimable maiden ladies of the old school. They spent much time cultivat- ing their beautiful garden just south of the house, through which the brook ran, known later as Coe's brook. They had also mulberry trees and silk worms. The number of cocoons of silk the worms, feeding on the mulberry leaves, produced is unknown.
But few young men of Newfields have entered the ministry, but it is a noteworthy fact that eight "elect ladies," members of the Methodist Church, became wives of ministers.
Chapter XXVII.
CEMETERIES.
Necessity at first compelled the settlers to bury their dead where best they could, beneath some spreading oak or towering pine, perhaps on rising ground, in garden or field. Because of failure to rear some permanent memorial all trace of these graves became obliterated, and it is greatly to be regretted that the pioneer forefathers of the hamlet sleep in unknown and unhonored graves in field or pasture. Somewhat later it became the custom to bury in a lot reserved for the purpose upon their own grounds. For nearly one hundred years there was no public burying ground in Newfields. The Hilton "grave- yard" is the oldest of the private lots and upon the stone erected to the memory of Col. Winthrop Hilton is the oldest legible inscription in the town. Another inscription of interest in this lot is that of "Ichabod Hilton grandson of Col. Winthrop Hilton who was grandson of Edward Hilton the first settler of New Hampshire."
Burial lots are also found upon the Hersey, Burley, Bennett, Brackett, Pickering, Thing and other farms, some of which have passed from the families of the original owners. In some instances-as the Colcords-the bodies have been removed to the public cemeteries.
Cemetery at the Junction. The first parish meeting-house was built upon land that was included in Edward Hilton's "upland ground." In the division of the estate it fell in the northern half, beyond the second creek and Cobbey's brook, to his son, Capt. William Hilton. In 1694 it became the inher- itance of his sons, Richard and Jonathan. "One acre on which the meeting house standeth" was deeded March 26, 1734, to the parish "for a burying ground." Here rest the mortal remains of many whose names often appear on the pages of this book.
The oldest tomb-stones now standing were erected in 1744 to "Mary, wife of Jeremiah Folsom;" in 1749 to "Nathaniel,
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
son of Josiah & Eunice Parsons;" in 1752 to "Susannah Clark, dau. of Caleb & Mary;" in 1755 to "Capt. Josiah Parsons, mariner;" in 1757 to "Sarah, wife of Lt. John Burleigh;" and in 1759 to "Ann Tash, wife of Maj. Thomas Tash." This cemetery was enlarged in 1893.
Piscassic Cemetery. In this cemetery rest generations of those who lived in this locality, Neals, Sanborns, Smiths, Pikes, Peases. Many inscriptions are not legible. "Nathaniel Pease, 1799," being one of the oldest that can be read. This cemetery has also been enlarged in accordance with a vote of the town at the annual town meeting in March, 1893.
Locust Grove Cemetery. About 1855 a new cemetery was laid out by Hon. Amos Paul, who devoted a part of one of his hill- side fields for the purpose, and was sole manager. All the lots have now been sold, and unless more land shall be added, burials must soon be largely in the extension of the old burying ground near Rockingham Junction. In 1886 the town received $1,000 from the estate of William L. Walker for the Care of Locust Cemetery.
The body of Rev. John Brodhead rested for many years in the Methodist churchyard, but was finally removed to this cemetery.
In 1879 the town purchased a hearse and built a hearse house in this cemetery upon land given for the purpose by Hon. Amos Paul.
The following is a copy of the bequest of the late William L. Walker:
I give, devise and bequeathe as follows: To the Selectmen of the town of South Newmarket, in trust, the sum of one thousand dollars. This sum I direct shall be held by the Selectmen of said town as a perpetual trust, to be by them invested in the note of said town, if practicable, but in any event in safe security; permanence and safety being the object and not high rate of interest; and from such income from time to time annually to expend such sum as may be regarded as a judicious amount in the care, protection, repair, renewal and adornment of my lot in Locust Grove Cemetery at said South Newmarket and of such sum any amount not needed for such outlay, I direct to be in like manner judiciously and economically expended in the general care, repair and permanent improvement of said cemetery forever.
Since 1882 the town has annually appropriated $25 for decor- ating the soldiers' graves Memorial Day.
The cemetery trust funds are invested as follows: The
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CEMETERIES.
Walker Fund of $1,000 in City of Newton bond; the Fowler Fund of $200 bequeathed by the will of the late G. Clark Fowler "to the town of Newfields in trust to keep my burial lot in order," and received in 1903, Portsmouth Trust and Guarantee Com- pany; and the Allen Fund of $200 received in 1909, Portsmouth Trust and Guarantee Company.
Chapter XXVIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Rev. John Osborne, son of George Jerry Osborne, who com- manded the Raleigh in 1777, was a popular school teacher at Portsmouth, Newcastle, and afterwards at Lee where he was chosen on the superintending school committee in 1813 and was its chairman in later years. He was ordained over the Congregational church in Lee November 26, 1800, and is thought to have relinquished his salary during the years of the war, 1813-15. He was town clerk, 1816-18; several years repre- sentative, and tithingman, 1818. He was immersed in Lam- prey River by Elder Eliphalet Merrill of Northwood, and with Elias Smith became a pioneer and champion of the Christian Connection. His favorite text in neighboring pulpits was I Sam. 17:45. He held meetings at Joseph Colcord's, Win- throp Thing's in the Oak-Lands and at Peter Hersey's, Piscas- sic, where he baptized Mrs. Hersey. About 1827 he was among the first to take a stand for temperance as a total abstainer. He was twice married, second to Mary Frost of Portsmouth, and had fifteen children. His daughter, Abigail Smith, born February 7, 1792, married August, 1808, Hon. Andrew Pierce, of the seventh generation from John Pierce, and died March 5, 1875. He was born December 18, 1785, and died in Dover September 14, 1862.
Mr. Osborn's last sickness was an influenza brought on while laboring in a protracted meeting at Lamprey River. Rev. Henry Pottle of Stratham preached his funeral sermon, and a funeral procession a mile in length extended from the church at Lee Hill where he had so long been settled. His tombstone bears the following inscription:
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
To the memory of the Rev. John Osborne late Pastor and Teacher of the town of Lee. Ordained Nov. 26, 1800. Died Feb. 28, 1832. Aged 63 years.
As a Christian he was eminent for piety; As a minister faithful in his office; And the people over whom he was settled for more than thirty years, erect this Stone as a token of their lasting affection and respect.
Mary, wife of Eld. John Osborne, Died October 8, 1840. AEt. 69.
Rev. Curtis Coe, took up his residence at Newfields in 1809. He was born in Middletown, Conn., July 21, 1750; graduated at Brown University, 1776, and was ordained pastor at Durham, November 1, 1780, having previously preached there as early as August 18, 1779, joining the church October 31, 1780. He continued pastor till May 1, 1806, when he entered the mis- sionary field in the employ of the New Hampshire and Massa- chusetts Missionary Societies, laboring in the remote parts of New Hampshire and Maine from 1807, as long as he was able to preach. He often preached at Stratham where he administered the rite of baptism, May 30, 1809, May 20, 1819 and May 13, 1821. He preached at Newfields July 1, 1810, January 13, April 15, May 6, 1811, Sept. 29, 1816, March 9, 1817, June 16, and fun- erals September 20, 1818, and April 1, 1820. When Mr. Coe was not publicly employed on the Sabbath, he conducted a service in his own family. We have memoranda of such ser- vices, May 6, 1810, March 1, September 27, October 4, 1812, August 8 and 15, October 2, 1813, March 27, May 8 and 15, August 27, December 1, Fast Day, 1814, April 9 and 16, 1815, May 26, June 2, September 22, 1816, March 2, 1817, May 3, December 30, 1818, April 18, 1819, January 19, March 21, December 16, 1821, March 19, 1823. He died June 7, 1829, and lies buried in the old cemetery at the center. He married in 1781 Anne, daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Thompson, who died October 11, 1829.
Rev. John Brodhead, was born in Pennsylvania, October 22, 1770, ordained to the ministry by Bishop Francis Asbury in 1796, sent at once to Maine, and became one of the "pioneers of Methodism" in New England. It was no "settled minis- try" to which he was called, but he joined the "itinerants" in name and fact. For twelve years as "circuit rider" and 'presiding elder" he rode many hundred miles yearly on horse- back, and experienced great hardship and exposure. In 1801 he married at Lisbon, N. H., Mary, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Ruth (Giddings) Dodge formerly of Ipswich, Mass.
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REV. CURTIS COE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
In 1809 he was appointed to Portsmouth, Durham and the Pascataqua region, and made his home at Newfields village. In 1814, during the epidemic of "typhus fever," he contracted the disease and was dangerously ill for sixty days. His strength had been overtaxed during his early ministry and he never recovered from the effects of his illness. Heart disease devel- oped at that time and he was never after able to give full and continuous service to his chosen life-work, but preached and took appointments as he was physically able to the end of life.
In 1817 Elder Brodhead entered political life as senator from District No. 2, and continued in the service of the state as senator and chaplain of the legislature about ten years. From 1829 to 1833 he was representative in Congress under Jackson's administration. He afterwards declined to stand as candidate for the governership of New Hampshire. He spent about forty-five years in the ministry, forty-two in New England, and died of heart disease from which he had long suffered. His end was peaceful, even triumphant. His monument is thus inscribed:
In memory of the Rev. John Brodhead, born in Lower Smithfield, Pennsyl- vania, 1770. Died in this place April 7, 1838, aged 67 years, Having been an Itinerant Minister in the Methodist Episcopal church 45 years; Senator and Chaplain to the Legislature of this state & a member of the Congress of the United States. He was beloved as a husband & father, honored as a citizen, esteemed as a stateman & venerated as a minister.
"Peace to the just man's memory, let it grow Green with years blossom through the flight of ages."
Rev. Abel Stevens, LL.D., in his History of Methodism says "he was a fine looking man; large in person, six feet in stature, erect and finely built, slight when young, in mature years robustly stout and towards the end of his life somewhat corpulent, forehead high, eye dark, large and glowing, a man of extraordinary power in the pulpit."
He drew all New Hampshire unto himself, and redeemed his church from obloquy by the public preferment with which he was honored. While in civil office he retained unabated the fervency of his spiritual zeal. In Washington he maintained at his lodgings a weekly prayer meeting, and on the Sabbath preached more or less in the neighboring churches.
He "was a good man, deeply pious, ardently and sincerely devoted to the interests of the church and world."
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HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
The Boston Post paid him this tribute, "Possessing natually a strong mind, warm affections and an imposing person, he was a popular as well as an able and pious preacher and, prob- ably no man in New England had more personal friends, or could exercise a more widely extended influence. . The soundness of his judgment and the known purity of his life, gave much weight to his opinions. In the early days of his ministry he endured almost incredible fatigue and hardship in carrying the glad tidings of the gospel to remote settlements, often swimming rivers on horseback, and preaching in his clothes saturated with water, till he broke down a naturally robust constitution, and laid the foundation of disease which affected him more or less during his after life. In his last days the gospel which he had so long and faithfully preached to others, was the never-failing support of his own mind." His widow died, Newfields, August 28, 1875, aged 93.
Rev. David Sanford, son of Elisha and Rachel (Strong) Sanford, was born in Medway, Mass., August 23, 1801; gradu- ated at Brown University, 1825, and was student for a time in Andover Theological Seminary, class of 1828; was licensed to preach by the Pascataqua Association, January 16, 1828; ordained pastor at Newmarket, May 22, 1828; dismissed June 22, 1830. He died December 17, 1875.
Rev. James Pike, D.D., son of Caleb and Mary (Pike) Pike, was born November 10, 1818, in Salisbury, Mass., on the farm which has been in the family in unbroken succession since 1638. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, the Franklin Academy of Newmarket (Newfields), and Wes- leyan University. He married Mary R., daughter of Rev. John Brodhead, in Newfields, April 19, 1840.
He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841 and served faithfully and acceptably in the itinerant ranks until 1853 when he was appointed presiding elder of the Dover district. While serving in that position and living in Newfields he was elected in 1855 to the 34th Congress, and re-elected to the succeeding Congress in 1857. Of this period a contemporary wrote :- "While in Congress he never lowered his standard as an advocate of freedom, truth, righteousness and good government, nor did he forsake the higher office of a minister of the gospel, few Sundays passing when he was not
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