USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Northwood > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 14
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Nottingham > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 14
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Deerfield > History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches > Part 14
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living (1875). Gordon died when 88 years old, Mary when 69, and John when nearly 92. The ages of the four living are 88, 85, 82, 77, making an average, of the dead and living, of 83 years.
This John Haley and Sarah Cotta Butler lived together more than sixty-three years. She died January 17, 1872, aged eighty-six years and five months. He was born Feb- ruary 17, 1783, and died November 28, 1874. Their chil- dren were : (1) George, born February 22, 1810, married Betsey Jane Knowlton, December 16, 1840, and, after her death, Alice Smith, January 10, 1860, and lives in North- wood ; (2) Henry, born July 20, 1812, married Jane Ches- ley, April 4, 1844, and lives in Northwood; (3) Samuel Abbot, born July 24, 1815, married Mary Ann French, August 9, 1838, who died December 8, 1871 ; Mr. Haley resides in Newmarket, is cashier of the Newmarket Na- tional Bank and treasurer of the Newmarket Savings Bank ; has been selectman, town treasurer, county treasurer, United-States assessor of internal revenue, and railroad commissioner ; Mr. Haley has three sons, Clinton, Henry, and John, a daughter having died in infancy ; (4) Almira, born February 18, 1818, married Caverly Knowles, Novem- ber 16, 1842, a merchant in Northwood, laving one daugh- ter and a son ; (5) John Parkman, born October 24, 1820, married Lydia Ann Gile of Nottingham, June 22, 1843, and lives on the homestead in Lee ; (6) Benjamin Frank- lin, born April 30, 1823, married Abbie L., daughter of Mr. Mark Hill of Northwood, January 10, 1860; they have two sons, Charles and Herbert; Mr. Haley is a mer- chant in Newmarket, has served his town as selectman, and representative in the state legislature ; (7) Harrison, born May 30, 1825, married Isabella S., daughter of Judge Hurd of Dover ; after her death he married Jennie Gordon of Lynn, Mass., September 6, 1860; Mr. Haley was for many years a merchant in Dover, is now cashier of the Cocheco National Bank, and has been a member of the city government.
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
All the children of John Haley and Sarah Cotta Butler are living to-day. There was never a severe sickness in the family, nor did any of the children occasion serious trouble to the parents, but gladdened their hearts to the last.
Dorcas married, February 11, 1812, William Furber of Nottingham, where they both lived and died. Their chil- dren were Henry, Ward C., Isabella, and Abigail.
Ward Cotton married, September 29, 1820, Margaret Anderson of Philadelphia, Penn., where they lived and died. They had three children.
Samuel Abbot, son of General Henry Butler, enlisted as a soldier in his country's cause in the war of 1812, in a cavalry company commanded by Captain John Butler, of Notting- ham, a cousin to General Henry Butler. He was after- wards made first sergeant and clerk of his company, and stationed at Burlington, Vt. While there on duty, he was ordered, with a command of about eighteen men, to deteet smugglers, who were feeding the enemy in Canada ; and, when in the town of Highgate, near the line, January 16, 1814, they met a company of the enemy's infantry from Canada, eseorting drovers with a large lot of cattle. The brave, patriotie nature of Sergeant Butler was victorious in the fight which ensued. The British were routed, many eattle taken and driven several miles to a bivouae, where the British infantry, re-enforced with cavalry, came upon them. The result was the killing of four of Sergeant But- ler's men, while he received three mortal wounds and a broken leg ; yet he disdained the summons to surrender, and, with his pistols and sword, killed two of the enemy before they could take him. He never surrendered. Though weak and bleeding, the strength of his intelleet and the power of his courage so controlled his enemies that, as was after- wards said by one of them, " We were afraid of him after we had him ; " and another, in speaking of him, said, " We all aeted like cowards before him." He refused to receive
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any services from the British surgeon, as was said, and died a few hours after the fight, his intellect all the while being perfectly clear. The body " of Sergeant Butler was afterwards brought to Burlington and buried ; he was much lamented by his officers and soldiers."
CILLEY FAMILY.
Thomas Cilley came to Hampton about 1694, and mar- ried Ann, a daughter of John Stanyan and Mary Bradbury ; and they had a son Joseph, born October 4, 1691, who went from Hampton to Salisbury, Mass., where he married, in 1724 - 25, Alice Rawlins, born in 1701, died 1801. He had a brother John, born June 7, 1699, who is believed to have settled in Chester ; and another, Thomas, who settled in Andover, where some of liis descendants now live. This Joseph, with his wife, removed to Nottingham about 1727, and scttled on Rattlesnake Hill, erecting for himself at first a log cabin. He brought with him all his effects of every description upon the back of one horse, himself and family accompanying on foot. A clearing was soon effected ; and, through industry and economy, with blessings on his labors, his means increased, and he built a large house near where the red house stood on the farm now owned by Theodore Edgerly's family. He multiplied his acres, built other houses, and became noted for his possessions among the dwellers of Nottingham. In his old age, his father, Thomas Cilley, came to spend his last days with a son whose filial affections had not grown cold through lapse of time or uninterrupted prosperity, and fell asleep in the arms of that son, and amid the tender ministrations of an affectionate household, whom the old man blessed, " leaning on his staff." Capt. Cilley was of medium height, compact frame, active temperament, with great powers of endurance and quickness of perception. With these he combined great cheerfulness and generous hospitality, as well as remarkable fearlessness in danger and hopefulness
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under discouragements. Such a man seemed indispensable to a new settlement like that of Nottingham. Capt. Cil- ley, born October 6, 1701, died about 1786, aged eighty- five. His wife was a strong, vigorous, healthy woman, of more than ordinary weight, yet quick of step, strong of will, and methodical in her household arrangements. Her home, whether a log cabin or a house two stories high with " gable windows," was a model of neatness and order " from turret to foundation-stone." During life, she drank neither tea nor coffee, nor tasted of the intoxicating bowl, nor smoked the ugly pipe, nor snuffed the yellow poison. She dicd in 1801, aged one hundred years, fresh in coun- tenance, fair in features, and young in heart.
The children of Capt. Cilley and his wife Alice were : (1) Anna, who became the wife of Mr. Mills, the father of the late Joseph Mills, Esq., of Deerfield Parade; (2) Polly, who married Richard Sinclair of Barnstead, one of whose descendants is the present Hon. John G. Sinclair of Littleton ; (3) Alice married a Mr. Enoch Page, and lived in Cornville, Me., died leaving children, one of whom became the wife of Enoch Butler, son of Zephaniah Butler, and afterwards married Capt. Enoch Moore of Loudon ; and the wife of Hon. Jacob H. Ela is her daughter by Mr. Moore.
(4) Joseph, known as Gen. Joseph Cilley, was born in 1734, and died August 25, 1799, aged sixty-five. He mar- ried, November 4, 1756, Sarah Longfellow, born November 17, 1739, and died May 23, 1811, aged seventy-five. She was daughter of Jonathan Longfellow, who was born May 23, 1714, married Mercy Clark, October 28, 1731; she was born December 26, 1714. Their children were : Stephen, born July 19, 1733 ; Mary, born June 15, 1735 ; Jacob, born November 6, 1737 ; Saralı, born November 17, 1739; Eliza- beth, born July 17, 1741; Nathan, born December 30, 1743; Anna, born October 15, 1745; Hannah, born De- cember 1, 1747; Daniel, born December 16, 1749; David,
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born December 16, 1751; Enoch, born August 14, 1753; and Jonathan, born April 28, 1756.
Gen. Joseph Cilley lived where Thomas B. Bartlett resides, on the Square. He was of medium height and weight, erect, quick in movement as well as in perception, and dauntless in danger. He was engaged in the attack upon Fort William and Mary in 1774. He was leader of that immortal company of men from Nottingham, Deerfield, and Epsom, who, as soon as the news of the battle of Lexington
· reached them, marched for the scene of action. He was appointed major in Poor's (Second) regiment by the Asscm- bly of New Hampshire. He was made licutenant-colonel in 1776, and, April 2, 1777, was appointed colonel of the First New Hampshire Regiment of three-years men, in the Con- tinental army, in place of Col. Stark, resigned. He fought with his regiment bravely at Bemus Heights, was at the surrender of Burgoyne, storming of Stony Point, Mon- mouth, and other hard-fought battles of the Revolution.
The following letter to his friend, Col. Thomas Bartlett, is characteristic : -
CAMP 4 MILES ABOVE WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., July 22, 1778.
DEAR SIR, - Your favor of the 10th of July came safe to hand by Maj. Titcomb; am much obliged to you for its contents. I left Valley Forge the 18th of June, with the right wing of the army under the command of Gen. Lee, in pursuit of the enemy, who left Philadelphia the 10th. The whole of our army pursued with His Excellency Gen. Washington. Crossed the Delaware at a ferry called Corell's, where it was thought best to send out several parties to harass the enemy's rear. Gen. Scott was sent first, with sixteen hundred picked men from the whole army, in order to watch the enemy's mo- tions. I was ordered on this party, soon after it was thought best to give the enemy battle. Gen. Lee was sent on this errand. He called in Gen. Scott; in short, he had five thousand Continental troops, be- sides a number of militia. On the 28th of June he was ordered to attack the enemy with his party, and that Gen. Washington with the whole army would support him. We were at a small town called Englishtown, about four miles from Monmouth Court House, where the enemy lay. We begun our march before sunrise; proceeded toward
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
the field of battle; came to the plain ; the enemy gave way ; seemed to be in great confusion, without making any opposition, except some scattering musketry and a few field-pieces playing on both sides at long shot, when, to my great surprise, I saw the right wing of our party giving way in great confusion. There was a morass in our rear ; I thought whether it was not intended to cross that, in order to take better ground. There was a wood in the rear of the party I was with. We were ordered to cross and form in that wood, where we lay some time. The enemy, observing this, halted, came to the right-about, and pursued us about two miles, when Gen. Washington came up, ordered our party to make a stand to check the enemy, whilst the army could form, which was done immediately. The severest cannonading ensued as ever was in America. Our men behaved with great fortitude. The cannonading lasted between two and three hours. I was in the front line of our army, in the left wing. His Excellency ordered me take the battalion that I then commanded, consisting of three hundred and fifty, rank and file, detailed from Poor's, Glover's, Patterson's, Lar- nard's, and Varnum's brigades, with Lieut .- Col. Dearborn and Maj. Thair (who were with me), to go and see what I could do with the enemy's right wing, which was formed in an orchard in our front. Marched on toward them until I came within about forty rods, when I ordered my battalion to form the line of battle, which was done. The enemy began a scattering fire. I ordered my men to advance, which they did in good order. When the enemy saw that we were determined to push close on them, they gave way, and took post in a scout of wood, and gave me a very heavy fire, under the cover of sev- eral pieces of artillery. I advanced within a few rods, gave them a heavy fire, which put them in confusion. They run off. I killed a munber on the field. Took between twenty and thirty prisoners. Should have pursued further, but the extreme heat of the weather was such that several of iny men died with the heat. We took possession of the field, found, left on the field, about three hundred of the enemy's dead, with several officers. Amongst them was Col. Moncton, who commanded the First Battalion of Grenadiers. They retreated that night about eleven o'clock in great confusion. Left at the Court House five wounded officers and about forty soldiers. We should have pursued, but our army were so overcome with the heat that the gen- eral thought not advisable to pursue. Desertions still continue from the enemy at the least confusion. Their army is weakened two thou- sand five hundred since they left Philadelphia. I think Clinton has brought himself into a fine hobble. He has now a strong French fleet in his front and Gen. Washington in his rear. I think we shall Bur- goyne him in a few weeks, which God grant may be the case. Doubt-
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less the particulars of the strength of the French fleet will come to your hand long before this, or I would give some account of them. This may suffice. They are able to flog all the British sheep in America.
My love to your wife and mother.
I am, sir, with respect,
Your friend and humble servant, (Signed) J. CILLEY.
N. B. Gen. Lee's behavior is now on trial for his conduct. How it will turn is uncertain. It is my opinion, that, if he had behaved well, we should have destroyed the major part of Clinton's army.
To COLONEL THOMAS BARTLETT.
Sir, hurry Mr. Odihorne about my collar.
That Gen. Cilley's services were appreciated by New Hampshire is evident from the following action of the Assembly.
Saturday, March 19, 1779, the New-Hampshire Assembly voted unanimously " that the worthy Col. Jos. Cilley be presented with a pair of pistols as a token of this state's good intention to reward merit in a brave officer."
After the war, he was appointed major-general of the First Division of New-Hampshire militia, June 22, 1786, and, as such, headed the troops that quelled the insurrection of that year, arresting the leader of the rebels, in the midst of his armed followers, with his own hand. He was distin- guished for bravery and patriotism, beloved by his soldiers for his humanity, and trusted by other officers in the army for his integrity, decision of character, and promptness in action. He was repeatedly elected representative, senator, and councilor ; he was successively treasurer, vice-presi- dent, and president of the Order of Cincinnati in New Hampshire. And, when he died, he was sincerely lamented by his family circle, and his associates in arms and in the councils of state.
His wife is represented as a lady of high culture for her times and universally beloved, suffering patiently for twenty years prior to her death.
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
The children of Gen. Joseph Cilley were : (1) Sarah, born October 16, 1757, who married Judge Thomas Bartlett, whose record may be consulted ; (2) Bradbury, born Fcb- ruary 1, 1760, who married, November 19, 1772, Martha, daughter of Gen. Enoch Poor of Exeter, well known for his patriotism in the. Revolutionary war ; this Bradbury had no children ; was a member of Congress in 1813, was aid on the staff of Gov. Gilman in 1814, and United-States mar- shal in 1817; died December 17, 1831; he was wealthy, and a man of sterling integrity, and highly esteemed as a citizen ; he lived on the homestead ; (3) Jonathan, born March 3, 1752, who married Dorcas Butler, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Butler of Nottingham; he settled first in Nottingham, and subsequently removed to Coleraine, near Cincinnati, where he reared an interesting family of children, - Joseph, Benjamin, Sally, Henry, Jonathan, Bradbury, and Mary ; (4) Joseph, born November 19, 1764, and died young ; (5) Greenleaf, born March 1, 1767, married Jenny Nealley, daughter of Joseph, the son of Mathew, the son of William. This Greenleaf lived near the Square, and his children werc : (1) Susannah, born October 8, 1791, who married David Bartlett, son of Judge Thomas B., and died in Epping, leaving two sons, Greenleaf Cilley, now a law- yer in Derry, and David F., living in Epping ; (2) Joseph, born January 4, 1791, who married, December 15, 1824, Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Williams of Nottingham, a merchant at the Square. This Joseph was in the war of 1812, first as an ensign, and then as brevet captain of a company in the Twenty-first Regiment of infantry, com- manded by Col. Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, afterwards by Col. James Miller. Miller's regiment composed a part of the Army of the Center, under Gen. Wilkinson, on the Niagara River, while the Army of the North was under Gen. Hampton, along Lake Champlain, and the Army of the West was under Gen. Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, all three being designed in due time to invade Canada,
1
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
now defended by Proctor, the Britishi general, aided by Tecumseh with his Indian forces. During this year, York, , in Upper Canada, was taken ; the British were repulsed with great loss at Sackett's Harbor and Craney Island ; Proctor was routed and Tecumsehi killed on the Thames, and Detroit was wrested from the enemy, and Perry achieved his victory on the 10th of September, on Lake Erie. Still all was not accomplished that had been anticipated. But Miller's regi- ment was in constant service at Fort McClarey, at Green- buslı, and Sackett's Harbor, where they embarked in boats and went down to Chrysler's Fields, where a battle was fought with success ; and thence they went to French Mills for winter quarters, and, early in the spring, marched to Buf- falo, which had been entirely burnt, except one little build- ing from whichi an old woman refused to remove, and boldly told the enemy to fire her dwelling if they would, but her gray hair and her enfeebled body should burn with it. The enemy slirank from the deed, and spared the house and the woman, who with joy welcomed our army. From Buffalo this regiment crossed the Niagara River again to invade Canada. Fort Erie having been taken, the battle of Chip- pewa was fought, July 5, and a brilliant victory gained. On the 25th of the same July was fought the bloodiest battle of the war at Lundy's Lane, opposite Niagara Falls and within sound of that mighty cataract. A battery was located by the British on a height, which must be taken before the enemy could be driven from their position. General Brown, who led the advance, calling Colonel Mil- ler to him, asked him if he could take that battery. "I'll try, sir," was the reply of the hero ; then, in a deep tone, he said to his men : " Twenty-first, attention ! Form into column, advance up the hill, storm that battery!" In an instant that gallant regiment, followed by the Twenty-third, obeyed the order. Not an officer, not a private, wavered. They marclied up the height and secured the coveted posi- tion. Tliree times the British rallied for its recapture, but
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as many times were hurled baek. In one of these rallies, Capt. Cilley, who had borne a conspicuous and brave part in all the other engagements, received a compound fracture of the thigli-bone from a musket-ball, the enemy eoming close up to our men and discharging their muskets. By this, Cilley was compelled to lie on his bed for five months, and from which he has not yet ceased to suffer, and several large pieces of the bone have, from time to time, been re- moved, together with a part of the leaden ball. In due time, he resigned his position in the army and returned to his quiet home in Nottingham. He was made division in- spector by Maj .- Gen. Timothy Upham, and, afterwards was appointed governor's aid by Gov. Benjamin Peirce. When Hon. Levi Woodbury resigned his seat in the United-States Senate, during the reeess of the New-Hampshire legisla- ture, the governor appointed the Hon. Benning W. Jenness to fill the vacancy until the next session of the legisla- ture in June, 1846. Then, by the legislature, Col. Joseph Cilley was chosen to serve out the unexpired term of Mr. Woodbury in the Senate, where the veteran soldier showed his claim to respect and the gratitude of his country in the absence of an eye, and tlie distorted limb, - proofs of suf- ferings few have endured. Col. Cilley still lives at the age of eighty-seven years (1878), retaining mueh of mental vigor and physical endurance, cheerful and happy, surrounded by an affectionate family, and a host of friends who appreciate his worth and know the warmth of his heart and the extent of his hospitality.
Col. Cilley's children are : (1) Nathaniel Williams, born September 10, 1825, died October 4, 1855; (2) Martha Ann, born April 2, 1827, married Dr. Charles S. Downs, May 4, 1853, now living in Nottingham, having one son, Joseph Cilley ; (3) Enoch Poor, born June 4, 1829, died July 11, 1873 ; (+) Greenleaf Longfellow, born June 4, 1829, died January 11, 1836; (5) Victoria E. W., born September 24, 1831, and married Thomas Bradbury Bart-
A
Joseph Really
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lett, son of Judge Bradbury B., April 29, 1857, lives on the Square, having six children (for whom consult Bartlett fam- ily); (6) Josepli Nealley, born February 15, 1834, married, August 19, 1874, Mary L., daughter of Judge James Butler, lives with his father at the homestead, having one daugh- ter, Elizabeth Williams ; (7) Jenny Osborn, born October 28, 1835, at home, nobly filling the position occupied by her venerable grandmother until her death, September 11, 1876 ; (8) Jonathan, born July 19, 1838, died January 15, 1858; (9) Frederick Williams, born February 21, 1841, died April 17, 1861.
The wife of Col. Joseph Cilley died January 25, 1843, aged forty-seven, an estimable lady who made her home de- lightful, and herself the center of happiness to those around her.
Col. Cilley's mother died March 26, 1866, aged ninety- three years, a pattern of domestic excellence. After the death of Col. Cilley's wife, his mother took charge of the household, caring for tender children in all their various wants, and holding them all bound to her by tenderest affec- tion and unquestioning obedience to the last. With com- plexion fair, voice melodious, intellect vigorous, and affec- tions strong, she lived to be ninety-three years old, with the hearts of all who had known her life, and shared in her dcl- icate ministrations, still clinging to her as in earlier years.
(3) Greenleaf, son of Greenleaf C., and brother of Col. Joseph Cilley, born January 10, 1793, died December 8, 1811.
(4) Frederick Augustus, born October 28, 1796, died Oc- tober 6, 1815.
(5) Sarah Longfellow, born August 14, 1799, married Abraham Plumer of Epping, and is still living, having, for children : Sarah Jane, who died young; Greenleaf B. and Bradbury G., twins ; the former died in California, the lat- ter lives in Warsaw, Wis., having been highly successful in the lumber business ; her daughter, Elizabeth Ann, mar-
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ried Caleb F. Edgerly of Epping ; and her next son, Daniel Longfellow, married and lives in Warsaw, Wis., a broker ; has, as well as his brother, represented his town in the state legislature ; and her youngest son living resides with his mother ; her son, James Shrigley, was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, being in Col. Harriman's Eleventh Regi- ment.
(6) Jonathan, brother of Col. Joseph Cilley, was born July 2, 1802, graduated from Bowdoin College, 1825 ; mar- ried Deborah, born July 6, 1808, died August 14, 1844, daughter of Hon. Hezekiah Prinee of Thurston, Me., where he settled in business ; was member of the legislature in 1831, 1833, 1834, 1835; and in 1835 and 1836 was elected speaker of the House ; and in 1837 was elected a represent- ative to the Twenty-fifth Congress ; and was killed February 24, 1838, in a duel near Washington, leaving a wife and three children ; viz., (1) Greenleaf, born October 27, 1829, married, in Montevideo, S. A., Malvina, daughter of Gov. Louis Vernet ; entered the navy as midshipman in 1841, sailed in the United-States frigate "Cumberland " and sloop-of-war " Plymouth " on the Mediterranean and Brazil stations ; served during the Mexican war in the United- States ship-of-the-line " Ohio," being present at the capture of Vera Cruz ; graduated at the naval school, Annapolis, in 1848 ; served as passed midshipman in the United-States fri- gates " Raritan," "Lexington," "Jefferson," "Relief," and " Legare," in the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico ; Mediter- ranean, eoast-survey, and south-east coast of America. He also was acting master in the "Fredonia " and " Saratoga," Pacific and Havre squadron ; as lieutenant in the " Sara- toga," West Indies, " Hetzel," North Carolina Sounds, " Melaeomet," Paraguay expedition, " Dolphin," " Pulas- ki," and " Congress," coast of Brazil and River La Plata ; and as lieutenant-commander during the war of the Rebel- lion in the " Anadilla " and monitor " Catskill," " New Hampshire and Vermont," South-Atlantie squadron, and
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