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 6
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 6
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 6
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Bright be the hearth and plentiful the board of every one. Calm be the life and tranquil the death of all who are here to-day and of all whom you severally represent. In all things, my friends, may the blessings of our Father in heaven be with you and follow you evermore.
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NORTHWOOD CENTENNIAL.
RESPONSE OF REV. H. B. WIGGIN.
" They that tarry at home, - success is theirs; 'though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.'"
MR. PRESIDENT, - When the patriarch Jacob was com- pelled to leave his native home that he might be secure from the violence of his enraged brother, he stopped for the night at the close of the first day's journey at Bethel. God met him therc, and, among other promises, made one, the most welcome to him, one which he never forgot, that he should return to his native country and to his kindred. More than twenty years had passed away, but the family ties which had been formed, the accumulation of large property, the protest of his father-in-law, and the fear of meeting his brother, who threatened his life, were not suffi- cient to prevent liim from sighing for and seeking the promised return to his native land. He did return, and again inhaled his native air, and looked upon the scenes familiar to him when a boy, and felt, in all its fresliness and fullness, the sentiment of him who, in later time, sang,
"Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said This is my own, my native, land ?"
As I stood upon one of the lofty peaks of Colorado and beheld the grandeur and the beauty which the view pre- sented, and then looked down into the rich mines with which Colorado abounds and saw the shining ore which the delving miners were bringing to the light, my pleasure was enhanced by the reflection, that all I saw of beauty, sublimity, and wealth was within the territorial limits of my own native land. And, again, as I have looked upon
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some of the broad prairies of the West, waving with luxu- riant harvests, and then upon the mighty rivers upon whose current are borne these rich and varied products to their appropriate markets, I felt thankful that my birth was in a country so highly favorcd. But, when I stand, as I now do, within the limits of this small town of the Gran- ite State, and once more look upon its mountains, its rocks, hills, valleys, streams, into the faces of those I knew when a boy, and, last, though not least, its cemeteries, I feel emotions of pleasure such as I do not from any other stand- point. It was here I first looked upon created objects, and learned to call their names. It was here I learned to speak the names of their and my Creator. It was here I was taught to pray. Here I sported, here I toiled ; and it was here that I was subjected to a discipline which has been to me my richest legacy, paying compound interest all through my life till the present hour. And, if I have been success- ful in any small degree, those who remained at home and administered this discipline to me should have much of the credit. Though most of my life has been spent far from here, I have never forgotten the place of my birth. I have never been ashamed of it. I would not have been born in any other place in this wide world in preference to this. Many a time, when in a climate not as salubrious as this, as I have been the victim of a burning fever, have I turned to the place of my nativity, and thought of and sighed for the privilege of moistening my parched tongue and lips, and quenching my raging thirst, from a spring by which, when a boy, I was accustomed to lie down in the hot summer days, and imbibe from it refreshing draughts. I have often been in sympathy with one of New England's gifted poets when he sang, -
" How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view, -
The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood, And every loved spot which my infancy knew ;
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The wide-spreading pond and the parade that is near it, The old oaken bucket that hangs in the well."
The old well-sweep and well-pole as well.
" To those who remain at home, success is sure," is the sentiment to which I have been invited to respond. I accept the invitation most cheerfully, with the understand- ing that I have the privilege of defining and qualifying a little the language which expresses the sentiment.
Success is a word of frequent use and varied meaning. All should aspire to make life a success. Many young men, and young women too, enter upon active life with this high aim and noble purpose, but I regret to say, that very many, owing either to a mistake as to the meaning of the word, or a deficiency of the necessary elements of character, fail. It is one of the prevailing mistakes of the age that success consists in the accumulation of a large fortune. Among the saddest failures in life are those who have acquired large wealth at the expense of health or of the Christian virtues. Worldly riches are often made the handmaid to genuine success. This is the use to which they are always put by their possessor who has a higher aim than their mere possession. How frequently is the man who has attained distinction as a scholar or statesman, or in any of the professions, reported as a successful man, but he is very often wrongly reported. Distinction is not always success. It is never so when attained at the expense of justice and truth. Before wc decide that a man has been successful in the just sense of the word, we must submit his words and acts to a severe analysis, ascertain as far as possible the motives and principles which have influenced and guided him, then observe his influence upon his family, upon the community in which he moves, upon the country in which he lives, and upon the race to which he belongs. Apply to him the test given by the Great Teacher, -" By their fruits shall ye know them," -and, if, doing this, we find he has reared and educated a family of children who
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are licalthy, temperate, honest, industrious, whose lives are consecrated to truth, justice, and benevolence, we are ready to pronounce his life a success. For he who has done this has, in almost every instance, done more. He has not only elevated liis own family, but has thereby put in motion forces to elevate others, even in a world-wide circle.
But his immediate influence is not confined to his own family. If it were, in many instances it would be circum- scribed indeed. But he, like Him from whom he draws his inspiration, gocs about doing good. He, like an old king we read about, serves his generation by the will of God. And, when life's battle is about over, he looks back, and, although the conflicts have been many and severe, he has many a conquest to record ; among the first he notes that he was better than the mighty, because he was slow to anger, that he was superior to him that taketh a city, because he ruled his own spirit ; and, after the review of his life, he adopts the language of another who made life emi- nently successful and at its close proclaimed his success as follows : "I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faitlı. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day."
There are many men and women who have lived, re- mained at home, and died in Northwood during the last hundred years to whom success has been sure, - surer and more complete even than they were aware of. They sowed sometimes in tears, but their posterity is reaping the har- vest. And, as I survey the assembly before me to-day, I see many testimonials of the assured success of those who, being dead, yet speak, who are resting from their labors, and their works do follow them. I doubt not that those who have come from abroad to participate in the services of this centennial will cordially unite with me in ascribing to those who remained at home a large share of the credit of the success to which we have attained.
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But the young people of this place often inquire, no doubt, if they remain at home can they enjoy the comforts of life and secure a competency for old age. Industry, honesty, and economy - these three - will insure success as far as this life is concerned, here and elsewhere. I do not pre- sume to say who should remain at home or wlio should go abroad. That they who remain have some advantages that those who go have not is very evident. Success in life depends very much upon what a man knows and what is known of him. Knowledge is power ; knowledge is capi- tal, -a very essential part of it, at least.
A man knows more of his native town, of its climate, soil, inhabitants, and resources, if he has lived in it twenty years, than he does of any other; consequently he knows better how to apply his skill and bestow his labor to advan- tage. He is also among those who know him; and, if his character has in it the elements of success, he is appre- ciated most by those who know him best, and the confi- dence reposed in him by this life-knowledge of him is a necessary part of his capital.
Again : those who remain at home are secure from many dangers to which those are exposed who go abroad. Many a lamentable failure is the consequence of one act com- mitted while exposed to some new and untried tempta- tion.
But those who go and those who remain, each, have their mission. Those who left their homes a century ago and settled this town, and those who have left it and made the wilderness blossom with their new homes elsewhere, have both contributed to the prosperity of our country, by in- creasing its population and enlarging its habitable boun- daries. The most important question is, not where shall I live, but how shall I live. I leave you with the following sentiment: May the lives and success of those who remain and of those who leave be such that the one shall never have just cause to be ashamed of the other, that our native
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town may be ever honored by those at home and those abroad; and, one hundred years hence, may the success of each one of us here to-day be so assured that we shall each be the possessor of a crown, a fadeless crown, a crown of life.
HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
THE HISTORY.
A T the centennial celebration in Northwood, September 6, 1873, it was frequently remarked, that a history of that event, and something more, ought to be written ; and meetings of the sons who had come from their homes in other places were held for conference on this matter, and it was decided something should be written, but what or how it was difficult to say. The writer was requested to give such shapc to the book as he thought best.
Northwood was a part of Nottingham from 1722 until 1773, and Deerfield, also, was a part of Nottingham from the date of her charter until 1766.
Northwood, since her incorporation, has moved on in a quiet manner, having nothing startling in her history ; and that history would seem incomplete without the history of the mother town, while that of Nottingham and North- wood would be incomplete without a due notice of the other daughter and sister, Deerfield. Therefore, though the task might be more than threefold, it was resolved to give a brief history of " Old Nottingham," as the parent town, to be followed by separate histories of her two daugh- ters, according to their respective births into corporate ex- istences. Nottingham boasts of two worthy children, wliom she well cherished so long as they remained contented un- der the parental roof, and, when they desired a portion of the inheritance, she cheerfully divided, and sent them forth
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with benedictions, even though they coveted and obtained the better portions of the homestead, and left the parent poorer than the children. At the same time, the children claim a share in the honor that adheres to the names of distinguished men and families that made Nottingham prominent among the towns of early origin. The Bart- lctts, Cilleys, Butlers, Dearborns, Williams, Harveys, Mc- Clarys, and others are names never to be forgotten, and can never be effaced from the page of New-Hampshire or American history. Will it be a reproach to the descend- ants of these illustrious patriots and statesmen, that in 1872 it did not occur to them, that, after the lapse of one hundred and fifty years, it would be well to bring before the minds of the present generation the names and virtues of their noble ancestors ? A century and a half since they began the history of the town ! And for nearly a century many of them have slept in their quiet graves! We have sought to rescue some of these names and their noble deeds from oblivion. These are fast fading from the recol- lection of the living and the records of their municipality. The present effort may induce a more thorough research and better development; and we hope that he who per- forms the task will find, within the present limits of Not- tingliam and among her absent sons, more than fifty men to encourage the enterprise and desire to possess the re- sults of such cffort.
We have extended our work far beyond our original pur- pose, but we hope not too far to be read with interest by those into whose liands it may chance to comc.
HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
CHAPTER I.
Motive to settle new Towns. - Petitioners. - Petition for a Township. - Names of Petitioners. - Act of Council. - First called New Boston. - Action of Proprie- tors. - Royal Charter. - Names of Proprietors. - Bridge. - Size of Town. - First Settlement. - The Plan. - Block - house. - Mill. - Streets. - Sliem Drown's Mill. - Gift of Timber to George Second. - Division of Lots.
V ARIOUS motives prompted men to engage in the set- tlement of some of our towns. Some were actuated by a spirit of enterprise. They delighted in seeing high- ways cut through the wilderness, smoke ascending from many a hill-top, - sign that the woodman's ax was effecting clearings and rude dwellings were being constructed for those who were willing to dare and endurc. It was for the greater safety of the lower towns to have the frontiers cx- tended further from the coast-line, and the towns that were the centers of trade and influence encouraged every attempt to effect a new settlement.
Others were influenced by the spirit of speculation. True, most new parishes organized brought little or no gain to the proprietors ; still, to many, there remained the hope of advantage from such schemes. They could obtain titles to lands for a nominal sum and settle on them their sons and relatives, while the enterprise gave them some grateful notoriety and importance among their fellows.
But a greater number hoped to derive advantage from
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chartered towns as a partial remuneration for unrequited services donc for the province or the crown. Many had rendered aid to officers in the discharge of their duties in the defense of the colonies; in discovering the savages, whose depredations exhausted and endangered the colonists, and in bringing them to grief. Some led companies far into the forests, and others scrved under them in long and tedious marches in which they suffered fearful privations, and returned to be forgotten, or to be paid in Continental money, which but impoverished, instead of enriching, the possessor. Now, many of thesc complained of their hard lot, and the relatives of such as fell in any unrequited mili- tary service united with them and sought to derive some partial compensation through gifts of tracts of uncultivated lands, which the government were glad to give to si- lence complaints and to promote good feelings. Hence, it will be found, that not a few charters were given to the men who served in some disastrous campaign or their relatives, and those that in some way rendered essential aid in the same. This explains why women united with men in ask- ing for charters. They are the widows and daughters of men that perished in such campaigns or had subsequently died. And this also explains why it happened that these charters were given to men so widely separated and in dif- ferent provinces. They had served in the same companies, under the same officers, but gathered from different towns quite remote from cach other. The petitioners for a char- ter for the tract of land known as Nottingham seem to have resided chiefly in Boston and Newbury, Mass., and in New Hampshire. While it is apparent that the men whom they afterwards voted into the corporation were mostly such as had fellow-interests with themselves, it is true they make no mention of their grievances, - yet these grievances were well understood, - and they appeal only to the desire to bring new tracts of land under culture, and give no occasion for a discussion of their claims to favor.
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The petitioners asked for a tract of land, without suggest- ing for it a name. But, after the petition was assented to by the general court at Portsmouth and before the royal charter was received, the proprietors at Boston, at a legal meeting, voted, that that tract of land petitioned for shall be called New Boston, if accepted by the other proprietors; and, subsequently, the proprietors in Newbury acquiesced in their act and confirmed it. And it does not appear why that name was not given it in the charter instead of Nottingham.
BOSTON, April 28, 1721. We, the dwellers at Boston, being in num- ber a considerable part of the persons entered in a petition late granted by the authority of New Hampshire, April 21, 1721, for settling a town norwestward of Exeter, etc., at a meeting among ourselves duly warned,
It is voted, That the tract of land contained and set forth in the said petition shall be called New Boston, if our brethren at Newbury and elsewhere are of the same mind, and the gentlemen of the prov- ince of New Hampshire approve of ye same to whom we submit the matter .*
NEWBURY, May 3, 1721. At a meeting of the proprietors, dwellers at and near Newbury, duly warned, Col. Henry Somerby chosen mod- erator,
It is voted (by us), That the six votes [which included the above] before and above entered shall stand good, and they have our full con- currence.
EXETER, December 20, 1721. At a general meeting of the proprie- tors of New Boston, the Hon. Thomas Packer, Esq., chosen moderator, John Calfe chosen clerk to the society and sworn,
It is voted, That the foregoing votes [passed at Boston, April 25, 1721] relating to the settlement of New Boston shall stand good and be of full force.
PETITION.
A Petition exhibited April 21, 1721, as followeth :
To His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., Capt .- general and Gov- ernor-in-chief in and over His Majestie's Province of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and Admiral of the same, and the Honora-
* In 1721, Mary Cottle gave to John Calf, for Moses Little, a deed of a right of settlement in land lying westward of Exeter, called New Boston.
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
ble His Majestie's Council assembled at New Hampshire : The petition of us, the subscribers, most humbly showeth, That,
Whereas, there is a certain tract of land lying norwestward from Exeter, lying partly between Cheshire and New Portsmouth, and partly above New Portsmouth, adjoining to Cheshire line, containing the quantity of ten miles square, on which may be settled a compact town. Forasmuch, therefore, as the setling and improving wast lands tends to His Majestie's service in general, and more especially to the interest and advantage of His Majestie's province, and not doubting but Your Excellency and Honors will incourage His Majestie's good subjects in so laudable undertaking, most humbly pray Your Excellency and Honors will be pleased to grant unto us liberty and encouragement to settle a town on the said tract of land, and we will, on our part, fulfill and perform the articles following, or submit ourselves to such further or other regulations as Your Excellency and Honors in your great wisdom shall think meet, and, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
1. Each person to be obliged to build a dwelling-house, and plow up and fence at least three acres of land, within four years.
2. To settle the town compact and in as defensive a posture as the land will allow.
3. To lay out three lotts, - one for the first minister that shall settle there, one for the ministry, and one for the school.
4. To draw the house lotts of the town indifferantly.
5. To build a meeting-house within five years, etc., etc.
1 Joseph Malem.
19 Ebenezer Burges.
2 Ezekiel Walker.
20 James Stringer.
3 Elisha Story.
21 John Brown.
4 James Pitson.
22 James Wright.
5 Nath1. Martin.
23 David Dolbear.
6 John Walker.
24 John Brock,
7 Peregrin White.
25 Stephen Luff.
8 Thomas Mandsly.
26 John Russel.
9 Francis Hatton.
27 Stephen Pearks.
10 Richard Greggory.
28 William Young.
29 Nath1. Hasy.
14 John Warrin.
15 Zach. Fitch.
16 David Chapin.
17 William Pearse.
18 Nich8. Belknap.
31 Jeremiah Haniford.
32 Ebenezer Messenger.
33 Edward Richards.
34 Peter Gibbins.
35 Benjamin Harris.
36 William Briggs.
11 William Pitson.
12 John Grainger.
30 John Pratt.
13 Samuel Whitewell.
HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
81
37 John Goodman.
69 Jonathan Clement.
38 John Allen.
70 Faun Clement.
39 Joseph Dodge.
71 Daniel Sawyer.
40 Thomas Creese.
72 Beniah Titcomb.
41 William Creese.
73 Nathan Hale.
42 Stephen Cleferton.
74 John Calfe, jun.
43 Richard Heard.
75 John Bayly.
44 Samuel Durant.
76 Job Gidins.
45 John Procter.
77 Mary Cottle.
46 Thomas Clark.
78 Richard Williams.
47 James Cumming.
79 Sarah Boardman.
48 Robert Auchmuty.
80 John Wiat.
49 John Steel.
81 Thomas Atkinson.
50 Nath1. Joslin.
51 Jabez Joslin.
83 Ann Smith.
52 Samuel Story.
84 Benj. Woodbridge.
85 Richard Kent.
86 Jacob Knowl.
55 Joseph Calfe.
87 Samuel Jones.
88 Aaron Morril.
89 Stephen Sawyer, jun.
90 Philips Hodgkins.
91 Cutting Noyes.
92 Abraham Rowel.
93 Mary Somerby.
62 Joseph Chandler.
94 Stephen Ackerman.
63 John Calfe.
95 Mary Wheeler.
64 Mary Plumer.
96 John Faver.
97 Ostins Boardman.
98 Thomas Dean.
99 Moses Stickney.
67 John Tuft.
100 John Wadleigh.
101 Stephen Coffin.
AT PORTSMOUTH, April 19, 1721.
IN COUNCIL.
A petition signed by about one hundred persons was prefered to this board by Messrs. Ezekiel Walker, John Calf, and Elisha Story, praying for liberty and Encouragement to settle a town on a certain tract of land North westward from Exeter, lying partly between Cheshire and New Portsmouth and partly above New Portsmouth, adjoining Cheshire line, containing the Quantity of ten miles Square, upon such condi-
5
82 Joshua Moody.
53 William Langdon.
54 Clement Renough.
56 Thoms. Ward.
57 Jeremiah Calfe.
58 Samuel Kindal.
59 William Partridge.
60 Henry Somerby.
61 Edward Sargent.
65 Sarah Bradstreet (alias Sargent).
66 Robert Addams.
68 Thomas Arnold.
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HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM.
tions as in said petition as is on file is contained. Wherefore it is ordered in Council that the petitioners have liberty To build and Settle upon the said tract upon the Conditions in said petition mentioned, provided it in no way infringe on or Interfere with any former grants or possessions or propertys.
RICHARD WALDRON, Cle. Cou.
New Portsmouth was the tract of land now known as Barrington. It was granted to the tax-payers of Ports- mouth, May 10, 1722, upon which they endeavored to sct- tle the poor of the town.
The proprietors at once proceed to carry out their plan of settlement.
BOSTON, April 25, 1721. It is voted that Mr. John Calfe of New- bury be the Clerk of ye Proprietors. Also, that Major John Gilman, Esq., of Exeter, Benjamin Gambling, Esq., at Portsmouth, Capt. John Wadleigh of Salisbury, Mr. John Calfe of Newbury, Mr. Thomas Mandsly and Mr. Elisha Story of Boston be a Committee to act ac- cording to the best of their discretion for interest of the Proprietors, who are desired to view and give report of the above Said Tract of Land and lay out the Town for Settlement agreeable to the conditions in Said Petition expressed, who have power to call a meeting of the Proprietors when and so often as they shall se needfull. Also the Committee is desired and impowered to notify the Towns adjoining to Run their lines, that we may know our bounds of said Tract of Land.
PORTSMOUTH, May 16, 1721. Then Recd advice from Mr. Gamb- ling as follows : Entered proprietors,-Samuel Penhallow, Esq., Thomas Packer, Esq., Richª Wilborn, Esq., Shedreck Walton, Esq., Benjamin Gambling, Esq., Capt. Thos Peirce, Clement Hughes, Capt. Thos Phipps, Joseph Richards, Benjamin Bickford, jun', Major John Gill- man, Esq., Captain John Gillman ; and thinks it advisable to take in Eight more, so as to make Twenty of ye Province to joyn with the Peti- tioners to bring forward a Settlement, &c., to be decided ye next meeting.
And thus, at Exeter, December 20, 1721, at a general meeting of the proprietors in New Boston, "It is voted, that the foregoing votes [those of April 25 at Boston] stand good and be of full force, and that Twenty persons of New Hampshire be added to thic Proprietors, to have equal Right with the original Petitioners."
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