History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 47

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 47

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The Town of Hampstead lies in the southwestern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Sandown and Danville, on the east by Kingston and Plaistow, on the south by Atkinson, and on the west by Derry. Hampstead contains 8,350 acres, 400 of which is covered with water. This town lies partly on the ridge of land between the Merrimac and Piscataqua rivers. The soil is generally fertile. Population 796.

Petition for a Parish .- The first measures taken for the formation of Hampstead as a parish was a petition presented to the Governor and Council, January 1, 1743-44, signed by fifty-four inhabitants, as follows :

To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Governor and Commander in Chief In and Over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England, And to the Honourable His Majesties Council and house of Rep- resentatives in General Court Assembled, January 1, 1743-4.

The Humble petition of the subscribers Inhabitants in the Province aforesd, Sheweth.

That the greater part of your Petitioners are Inhabitants of the Land in Controversie between Kingstown and Haverhill-That one part of us hold our Land of Haverhill and the other of Kingstown. That However the Right of the soil may be disputed, we are without Dispute of New Hamp- shire Government. That your Petitioners are at such a Distance from every Parish Meeting house as Renders our attending publick Worship upon the Sabbath in any of our Neighbouring Congregations Exceeding Difficult. and to many of us quite Impracticable. That we are therefore obliged to pro- cure some person to preach to us or else to live without the Benefit of that Ordinance. May it therefore please your Excellency and Honours to take our case under your Wise consideration, and either Vest us with Parish Powers with the following bounds, viz. Beginning at a Crockred red oak tree standing in London Derry line from thence running eastwardly three miles on Bryants line Thence Northwardly to a bridge called Capt Ingalls Bridge thence westerly so as to comprehend the Dwelling house of one Jacob Wells from thence to the Corner Beach tree on Chester line and from thence upon London Derry line to the bounds first mentioned, Or If this may not at present be granted at least to pass an Act to Impower us for a time to assess and Levie Taxes upon the inhabitants within the bounds above sd

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for the support of the Gospel and other Incident Charges and your Petition- ers as in Duty bound shall every pray.

SUBSCRIBERS

John Hoog, William Moulton, William Stevens, Peter Easman, Michell Johnson, Hugh Tallant, John Atwood, Israel Huse, Nathaniel Harriman, Samuel Worthen, Jr., George Little, Jr., Samuel Watts, Benjamin Philbrick, Jonathan Kimball, Ezekiel Little, Jeremiah Eatton, Samll Stevens, Jr., John Johnson, William Eastman, David Copps, John Muzzy, Joseph Stevens, Jr., Daniel Roberds, Daniel Roberds, Jr., Ebenezer Gill, Nathaniel Heath, Joseph Stevens, Daniel Johnson, Thomas Croford, James Mills, Zecheriah Johnson, William Hancock, James Heath, Steven Emerson, Benjamin Emerson, Caleb Heath, David Heath, William Heath, Robert Ford, John Kezar, George Kezar, Otho Stevens, James Johnson, Obediah Davis, Josiah Davis, Joseph Little, Moses Tucker, John Bond, Jonathan Bond, Daniel Hebbard, James Graves, James Cook, Jonathan Gile, Samuel Stevens.

In the House of Representatives April 18th 1744. The within Petition Read and Voted that the Petitioners (at their own charge) serve the Select- men of Kingston with a Coppy of this Petition and the Votes thereon that they may appeare the third day of the sitting of the General Assembly after the first day of May next.

JAMES JEFFREY, Cler. Assm

VOTE OF KINGSTON SETTING OFF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR A NEW PARISH. ETC.

Prov. of New Hamp.

At a Legall meeting of the Inhabitants & freeholders of Kingstown held the 24th of September, 1746,

Ist Levt John Swett was chosen moderator of that meeting. 2d Voted, That we do hereby as far as in us lieth sett off

Moses Tucker, Israel Huse, James Huse, James Graves, John Bond, Jacob Wells. Meshach Gurdy, John Straw, Jr., William Straw, Philip Wells, Jacob Tucker, Joseph Dow, John Straw, Jonathan Colby, Daniel Hibbard, Daniel Kidd. Jacob Gurdy, David Straw, Reuben Clough, Israel Huse, Jr., John Pressey, Benjamin Tucker, John Hogg & Orlando Colby

of Kingstown above 'sd with a certain Tract of Land in sd town for a Distinct Parish or Precinct Bounded as followeth viz: beginning at the Beach tree which is the Dividing Boundary between London Derry and Chester sd tree standing on ye west line of sd Kingstown and Running South- erly on sd Kingstown said Line as heretofore settled between sd London Derry & sd Kingstown to the Islands Pond (so called) then Running East and B South three miles. Then Northerly Till a North & B West Course will strike sd Kingstown line where it crosses the mill Brook (so called) as heretofore settled between sd Kingstown & sd Chester & from thence viz where sd Line Crosses sd mill Brook to run Southerly on sd line to the Beach tree first mentioned.

This is a true copy, taken out of Kingstown Book of Records.

JED. PHILBRICK, Town Clerk. Attest

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PETITION OF RICHARD HAZZEN, ETC., ABOUT SUPPORT OF REV. JAMES CUSHING

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Governour & Commander in Cheif in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire in New Eng- land & to the Honble his Majesties Councill & House of Representatives in Generall Court assembled at Portsmouth for sd Province, May 1748. Hum- bly Shews.

Richard Hazzen for himself and in behalfe of the Inhabitants of that Part of Haverhill district commonly called Timberlane,

That the inhabitants of said Timberlane have for the greatest part of fifteen years past at a verry great cost and charge hired a minister to preach amongst them and at the same time been Excused from paying any thing towards the support of the Revd Mr James Cushing.

That the Revd Mr Cushing Hearers ( Exclusive of said Timberlane) live about two thirds of them on the North Side of the Boundary Line and in this Province and the other third on ye other side on which side lyes also the greatest part of his Personage or Glebe Lands.

That at a meeting of the District in November last Pursuant to the select- mens warrant it was agreed & Voted that the inhabitants living on this side of ye line (meaning those who lived out of Timberlane limits) should pay the Revd Mr Cushing Two Hundred pounds for his support this year, Old Tenor on consideration of the Depreciating of the money &c which would have been a small matter more than what they paid last year.

That some time afterwards at a Legall meeting of the afore sd Districts, The inhabitants of Timberlane were by vote set off from Mr Cushings Parish and near the same lines which a committee Sent By your Excellency & the Honble Council thought proper to be done as appears by their Report.

That notwithstanding the meaning & intent of the afore sd Vote respect- ing Mr Cushings Support by which the inhabitants of Timberlane ought to have they were set off from Mr Cushings Parish as much as the District had a power to do, The assessors have rated us to Mr Cushing and thereby made their own Taxes much less than last year, & taken away our money from us which we should have had to pay our own minister.

That we have been thereby necessitated to make a Rate amongst Our selves to pay our minister but as we had no legall power to do it some refuse to pay, so that we are now in a verry deplorable Condition unless your Ex- cellency & Honours will Interpose on our behalfe.

We therefore Humbly & Earnestly request your Excellency & Honours to compassionate our circumstances & give Such Orders that we may be ex- cused from paying to ye Revd Mr James Cushing & at the same time that he may not be cheated and defrauded of his honest due, & that we may be Impowered to raise a Tax amongst our Selves to pay our own minister or that you will afford us Such other Relief as to your Excellency & Honours shall think best for us.

And for your Excellency & Honours your Humble petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray &c RICHARD HAZZEN. for himself & in behalfe of ye Inhabitants of Timberlane. May 12th 1748.

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PETITION OF EDWARD FLINT AND OTHERS TO BE ANNEXED TO HAMPSTEAD

To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Governour & Commander in Chief in & over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England & to the Honble the Councill of said Province,

Humbly Shews,

The petition of Edward Flynt, Samuel Stevens & others the Subscribers that your petitioners Liveing in that part of Haverhill District commonly called Timberlane have always together with the other Inhabitants chearfully paid their Taxes & when a petition was preferrd by the said Inhabitants to your Excellency & Honours to be incorporated into a Township, your petition- ers signed ye said petition & hoped that when the Township was incorporated that not only your petitioners Houses but their estates also would have been taken within ye charter being much more for the Interests of your petitioners than to be put any where Else.

But so it is may it please your Excellency & Honours that by the Charter of Hampstead lately Granted, your petitioners Estates are so Divided that near one half lye within the Town of Hampstead & the other half is left out notwithstanding these lands have for many years past been fenct in and im- proved & being so Divided & Split by the said Lines it is to the very great damage of your petitioners.

We therefore earnestly request your Excellency & Honours to annex our whole lands to Hampstead according to our first petition.

And for your Excellency & Honours your Humble petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

EDWD FLINT. SAML STEVENS. NEHEMIAH STEVENS. DAVID STEVENS. SEMA STEVENS. WM STEVENS. JOSEPH STEVENS.

Hampstead, February 14th, 1749.

The first settlement by white men in Hampstead was made prior to the year 1728 by a Mr. Ford, who is supposed to have been the pioneer. In 1728 a Mr. Emerson settled in the south part of the town. Prior to the division line between the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire this territory was embraced in Amesbury and Haverhill, Mass. It was granted January 19, 1749, and named after the pleasant Village of Hampstead, in England, a short distance north of London. It included within its grant a portion of Kingston, which created a long dispute between the two towns, which was finally settled by Hampstead paying one thousand pounds, old tenor.

The town is well supplied with railway facilities, the Boston & Maine road passing the western part.

The resources of the town are principally from the productions of the soil and mechanical labor.

The Congregational Church was organized June 3, 1752, with sixty-eight members. The first pastor was Rev. Henry True, who served (till the day

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of his death ) thirty years. The church was then without a pastor ten years. The second pastor was Rev. John Kelly, who served forty-four years, from 1792 to 1836; third pastor, Rev. J. M. C. Barkley, served twenty years to 1856; fourth pastor, Rev. Theodore C. Pratt, served ten years; fifth pastor, Rev. Ebenezer W. Bullard, served five years. The following succeeded Mr. Bullard : Albert Watson, 1876-1893; Rufus P. Gardner, 1893-1901 ; Walter H. Woodsum, 1902-1906; Lynn V. Farnsworth, 1907-1912; Halah H. Loud, 1913-1914.

The church first worshiped in an edifice built by the town over one hun- dred years ago. In 1837 the society built a new church and dissolved partner- ship with the State. The old church was then remodeled and made available for town purposes. The church built in 1837 was found to be in an unsafe condition after being used a little over twenty years. In the year 1860 it was taken down, and the following year the present commodious edifice was built upon the same site.

Military Record, 1861-65 .- The following is a list of soldiers, residents of the town, who served during the late Rebellion :

Charles E. Frost, Henry A. Noyes, John H. Pingree, Charles M. New- begin. Daniel L. Sawyer, George W. Keeser, Charles W. Clowe, Simeon S. Clayton, William H. Clayton, William R. Cowel, George Clayton, Simeon D. Hinds, David B. Hinds, Samuel Morse, Thomas W. Morse, E. Jones Collins, Marquis J. Brewster, Leander Harris, James T. Hall, Horace Barney. Nathaniel H. Bushbey, John Wast, George W. Conner, George R. Dow, Thomas O'Connell, John L. Woodsum, Josiah C. Eastman, M. D., Elbridge G. Wood, Leonard Hutchings, Joseph J. Calef, Benjamin G. Currier, Warren A. Kimball, William H. Johnson, Lucian M. Nichols, Avender Carson, Wil- liam H. Minot, Adin T. Little, Aaron H. Davis, John C. Kimball, Caleb J. Hoyt. Thomas D. Barter, Charles H. Shannon, James Johnson. George Allen, Allen B. Martin, Horace R. Sawyer, Charles H. Grover, Frank S. Eastman, George W. Bickford, Nathaniel Corson, Samuel Johnson, Frank H. Little. George H. McDuffee, Henry C. Little, Albert C. Brickett, Linus H. Little, Henry B. Thorne, Thomas M. Arnold, William Barrett, O. D. Nichols, Hazen L. Hoyt. William H. Davis, Nathaniel Frost, David L. N. Hoyt, William L. S. Tabor, Albert H. Ayer, Charles E. Atwood, Lewis Legacy; Daniel J. Wilson, Charles W. Williams, John F. Johnson, Charles Stevens. Fred P. Shannon.

The town also hired thirty-eight substitutes.

Hampstead Public Library was established in 1888. It is a public library although it did not receive state aid. It has a separate building, a permanent fund and 4,000 volumes on its shelves. M. Lillian Hoyt is librarian.

CHAPTER XXXIV

HAMPTON

Geographical-The First Settlement-Names of Early Settlers-Documentary

History-Witchcraft-Tea Act Resolves-Revolutionary Soldiers- Soldiers of 1861-5-Ecclesiastical.

'Hampton is located on the coast, and is bounded as follows : on the north by North Hampton, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the south and west by Hampton Falls. The surface is level and the soil fertile. The area is about eight thousand acres. The population in 1910 was 1,215. Hampton is connected by electric railways to Exeter, Amesbury and to Portsmouth via Rye Beach.

The Town of Hampton was incorporated May 22, 1639, by a "court holden at Boston." It had previously been called Winnacunnet, but the court ordered that it "shall be called Hampton."

It embraced, in addition to its present territory, the present towns of North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Kensington, and South Hampton, having an area of about forty-five thousand five hundred acres.

It was originally a portion of Massachusetts, and remained as such until 1680, when it was joined to New Hampshire.

The settlement of this ancient town dates back to 1638, when the Rev. Stephen Batchelor and a company of adventurous pioneers located upon its fertile lands.

Johnson, in his "Wonder-Working Providence," which was the first his- tory of New England ever published, in referring to the settlement here, says :

"Much about this time ( 1638) began the town of Hampton, in the county of Norfolk, to have the foundation-stone laid, situate near the sea coast not far from the famous River of Merrimack, the great store of salt marsh did intice the people to set down their habitation there, for as yet Cowes and Cattell of their kinde were not come to the great downfall in their price, of which they have about 450 head; and for the form of the Town it is like a Flower de luce, two streets of houses wheeling off from the main body thereof; the land is fertile, but filled with swamps and some store of rocks, the people are about 60 Families, being gathered together in Church cove- nant. they called to office the reverend, grave, and gracious Mr. Doulton, hav- ing also for some little space of time the more ancient Mr. Batchelder to preach unto them also; here take a short remembrance for the other :

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"Doulton doth teach perspicuously and sound,

With wholesome truths of Christ thy flock doth feed. Thy honor with thy labor doth abound,

Age crownes thy head, in righteousness proceed To battle downe, root up, and quite destroy

All Heresies and Errors that drew back Unto perdition, and Christ's flocks annoy ; To warre for him those weapons dost not lack.

Long days to see that long'd for day to come Of Babel's fall and Israel's quiet peace ;

Thou yet maist live of days so great a sum,

To see this work let not thy warrfare cease."

This was the "one and twentieth town" settled within the bounds of the ancient County of Norfolk.

In 1636 Massachusetts, with a view of securing the valuable meadows in this vicinity, empowered Mr. Drummond and John Spencer, of Newbury, to build a "bound house" here at the expense of the colony. It was built in 1638, the architect being Nicholas Easton, who subsequently removed to Rhode Island and erected the first English house in Newport. This "bound house" was the first structure erected by whites within the bounds of the ancient town. (See Hampton Falls.)

The following is a list of the first settlers who accompanied Mr. Batchelor : John Browne, Christopher Hussey, Edmund Johnson, Robert Pucke, Thomas Jones, Robert Saunderson, James Davis, Richard Swaine, Samuel Green- field, Abraham Perkins, Francis Peabody, Philemon Dalton, John Huggins, Jeoffrey Mingay, Thomas and John Moulton, William Palmer, Thomas Marston, William Eastowe, Lieut. William Hayward, Isaac Perkins, Wil- liam Wakefield, William Fifield, Moses Cox, Thomas King, Anthony Taylor, Thomas Ward, Silas Fuller, William Saunders, Daniel Hendrick, John Wedgewood, Thomas Chase, William Fuller, Robert Carwell, John Cross, William Sargent, and Arthur Clark.

The following were here the second summer of the settlement: Robert Page, Joseph Austin, John Philbrick, Walter Roper, William Marston. Joseph Smith, William English, Henry Ambrose, and William Parker.

The following additional settlers are found in 1643: James Davis, Jr., William Marston, Jr., William and Stephen Sanborn, A. Chase, Edward Tucke, Francis Swaine, Thomas Linnet, John Sanborn, William Huntington, and Richard Knight.

Early Settlers .- Henry Ambrose was granted lands in 1640. He assisted in building the first pound in the town. It stood on the meeting-house green.

Francis Austin was one of the earliest proprietors of Hampton. He was here in 1741. He had two children, Isabella and Jemima. Isabella married Philip Towle, and was charged with being a witch. George Aborne was here prior to 1650. The name was sometimes spelled Eborne, or Ebourne. Rev. Stephen Bachiler.

Jasper Blake was here in 1650, when he and his wife had seats assigned to them in the meeting-house. He died in 1673, leaving a widow, Deborah.

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She died in 1678, and among the articles of her estate which were appraised were "a pike well headed, 5 shillings; a sword, 5s .; and a gun barrel, 5s."

Nathaniel Boulter was here in 1644. It is related of him that "he was a quarrelsome, litigous fellow, always in the law, and very unpopular." What doubtless rendered him peculiarly odious to the inhabitants of Hampton was the fact of his taking an active part against them in the celebrated suits of Mason, which involved the title to the lands in New Hampshire. He died in 1693.

John Brown was one of the first company who settled here. He was here in 1640. He built the first "barque" that was built in Hampton in 1641-42, at the river near Perkins Mill. He was a prominent man, became one of the largest land-owners in the town, was one of the selectmen in 1651 and 1656, and in 1663 was chosen "to see that the boys do not play in the gallery." He died in 1686.

John Cass came to Hampton, and married Martha, the daughter of Thomas Philbrick, before 1650. He died "suddenly in his bed," April 7, 1675. His estate, as appraised by Edward Gove and Joseph Dow, was valued at £940 I IS. His property was of more value than that of any person who died in Hampton prior to 1680. The Hon. Lewis Cass was a direct descendant of the above.

Aquila Chase was here in 1640. He was born in 1618, and died in 1670. He was the ancestor of Hon. Dudley Chase, Bishop Chase, and of the Chase families of Portsmouth and New Castle.

Thomas Chase was one of the first settlers who came here the first summer. He died in 1652.

John Clifford and wife came to Hampton prior to 1650. He was a select- man in 1660, and a signer to Weare's petition to the king in 1683. He had three wives, and died in 1694.

Edward Colcord settled here prior to 1645. A son, Edward, was killed by the Indians in that part of North Hampton known as Pagetown. "Ould Edward Colcord died in 1681." His wife and family having been abused by him, and feaful of their personal safety, had him confined in jail. He gave bonds to keep the peace, and was discharged. He and his wife Ann having complained of each other for fighting, were both bound over to keep the peace, April 22, 1686.

William Cole was one of the witnesses to Wheelright's Indian deed, and was in Exeter in 1638. He came to Hampton soon after. He died in 1662, aged about eighty years. He was the husband of Eunice Cole, the reputed witch.

Thomas Coleman was here prior to 1650.

Moses Cox was one of the earliest settlers. In 1657 he lost his wife and only son, John, by drowning. This event is thus related in the town records : "20, 8, 1657. The sad Hand of God upon Eight persons going in a vessell by Sea from Hampton to boston who were all swallowed up in the osian sone after they were out of the Harbor, the persons wear by name as fol- loweth. Robert Nead, surgent, Willim Swaine, Manewell Hilyard, John Philbrick, and Ann Philbrick his wife and Sarah Philbrick the daughter, Alise the wife of Moses Corks, three sons, who were all Drowned this 20th 25

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of the 8 mo 1657." This was the most distressing event which occurred during the early settlement of the town.

John Cross was one of Bachiler's friends, who came here in the first company.

Philemon Dalton was one of the fifteen persons to whom Hampton was granted. He came here with his brother Timothy in 1638.

Rev. Timothy Dalton, a brother of the above, came here with Bachiler in 1638, Bachiler being the pastor, and Dalton the teacher, of the church.

James Davis, Sr., came in 1640, and "lived on the landing road."

James Davis, Jr., was also a pioneer.

Godfrey Dearborn came here from Exeter between the years 1645 and 1650. Maj .- Gen. Henry Dearborn was a descendant. He was a prominent man in the town, and was selectman, representative, etc.

William Fuller came in 1640. Liberty was given him "to come and sitt downe here as a Planter and Smith in case he bring a certificate of approba- tion from ye magr or Elders." He was selectman and representative. He was one of the signers to Weare's petition. By his will he gave to the church at Hampton "my Porter Flagon."

John Garland came to Hampton before 1653. He died in 1671.

Samuel Getchell came from Exeter here prior to 1645.

Deacon William Godfrey was admitted a freeman in 1640.

Henry Green, Esq., came to Hampton before 1645, and was one of the most prominent men for many years. He was one of the assistant judges who tried the Reverend Mr. Moody. He died in 1700.

Daniel Hendrick was one of the young men who came here the first summer.

Barnabas Horton was also one of the pioneers.

E. Hilliard was here before 1650.

Maurice Hobbs, one of the pioneers, left England in consequence of dis- appointed love. The course of true love failing to run smooth, he sailed for the Western world, and became an inhabitant of Hampton soon after 1640. He married Sarah, daughter of William Easton.

Lieut. William Howard was one of the earliest settlers, and one of the most prominent men during his residence in the town. He came in 1640. He was the first commander of the militia of Hampton, and was one of the leading business men, being chosen to nearly all the offices, both in church and town.

John Huggens came the first summer.

Christopher Hussey was a son-in-law of Reverend Mr. Bachiler, and came here with him. He was a prominent and influential citizen, and held various offices.

Edmund Johnson was one of the first company of settlers. In 1648 he is chosen to ring the bell, keep the meeting-house clean, and keep out the dogs for a year. His son Thomas was the first white child born in Hampton.

Thomas Jones was one of the first prospectors. He was not here after 1641.

John Legatt was an inhabitant in 1640. He was a schoolmaster.

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Thomas Marston was among the married men who came to Hampton the first summer of its settlement. He was a surveyor.

William Marston was also an early settler. He remained here until about 1651, when he removed to North Hampton.

Joseph Merry came to Hampton prior to 1653, and was a carpenter.

Jeffrey Mingay was among the first company of settlers. He is said to have been a very active and useful man, both in church and town affairs.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 47

Author: Hazlett, Charles A Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390