History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 52

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

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In 1842 and 1843 some good members believed the Lord would come in 1843, and when he did not come they left the church and had meetings by themselves. But that soon passed away. The church still held on for some years with regular meetings and regular preaching. They practiced immersion regularly before one could join the church.

The Universalists for many years had occasional preaching in the town. In 1864 Rev. Roland Conner was ordained over the Universalist societies of Kensington and Hampton Falls, followed by Rev. Willis Bradley in 1866 and 1867. Many different ministers occupied the pulpit after this, services being held once in two weeks during the summer months until 1892 when Rev. J. H. Little, of Amesbury, preached Sunday afternoons weekly. Rev. Francis W. Gibbs succeeded him and in 1900 Rev. F. W. Whippen, of Kingston, became the supply and who has continued services each summer.

Quakers .-- There were quite a number of families of Quakers in the town who belonged to the meeting in Seabrook, though we do not learn that they often held meetings in Kensington, or that any one of their number was an approved minister. In 1761 the parish voted that the third selectman should be a Quaker, and for many years Jonathan Purington held that office. In 1776 the Quakers refused to sign the test act, but most probably not because they were loyalists, but because their ideas of the Christian religion would not permit them to bear arms. Some people doubtless joined the Quakers, as that was the only way by which they could avoid paying parish rates.

MEETING-HOUSES

The first meeting-house was built on the west side of the brook, near the residence of Miss Lizzie E. Tuck, but was taken down and removed to a place nearer the center of the town. Elihu Chase, who gave the land for the meeting-house and graveyard, was disappointed because he could not have a desirable pew, and joined the Quakers. May 12, 1771, being the last Sunday in the meeting-house, the Rev. Jeremiah Fogg preached, the CXXVI Psalm, "We wept when we remembered Zion."

The second meeting-house was built in 1771, on the same spot. Ezekiel

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Worthen, Jonathan Brown, Moses Shaw, and Ebenezer Lovering were the building committee. The plan was made by Ezekiel Worthen. This house was taken down Saturday, March 28, 1846. The present town-house, which was built from its timbers, was placed on the same spot in August, 1846.

The first Christian ( Baptist) meeting-house was a plain, unpainted struc- ture, without pews or pulpit. It was sold and became the dwelling house of Jeremiah Dow.

The second Christian ( Baptist) meeting-house was built on the place of the first in 1838. It was sold and is now owned and occupied by Grange No. 173, which was instituted February 23, 1892.

The Union meeting-house was built in 1839, on the old meeting-house lot, by the Unitarians, Universalists, and Congregationalists. It was dedicated in the morning by the Unitarians, when the Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, of Ports- mouth, preached the sermon. In the afternoon it was dedicated by the Uni- versalists, when the Reverend Mr. Bacon, of Providence, preached the sermon. The bell was given by Asa Gove and Emory Brown.

The Congregational Church was built on a lot to the north of the town- house in 1865, and dedicated March 28, 1866. The bell was given by John Locke, of New York. He came to Kensington in 1822, where he died August 10, 1845, aged sixty-three. He was interested in agriculture and moral reforms, and in literary studies. The only work which he left in print was an oration, delivered July 4, 1810, in the Rocky Hill Church, at Salisbury, Mass.

Slaves .- When Parson Fogg, July 17, 1739, was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Salisbury, he brought his wife on a pillion behind him to the new manse. Deacon Abraham Moulton carried behind him Phyllis Parsons, a small black girl, who was her slave. Phyllis was bright and intelligent, and as she grew up was engaged to William Mingo, a colored soldier who died on the frontier. After his death she was engaged to his brother, Eben Mingo, but refused to be married until she should be free, for she declared that "she would never bring a slave into the world." Phyllis then went to Salisbury, in the Province of Massachusetts, and lived a year and a day (probably keeping dark), when the selectmen came and warned her out of town, lest she should become a public charge. Then she made a polite courtesy and said, "Gentlemen, you are one day too late"; for by the laws of the time she had not only gained her freedom but also her residence. She taught school among the white people, saying very proudly, "It is no small thing to be brought in a minister's family."

Military History .--- While Kensington was a part of Hampton, some of its inhabitants were in scouting-parties or in building forts on the frontier. Jonathan Prescott, who was born in 1675, labored at Crown Point in 1696, and was in a scouting-party under Capt. John Gilman in 1710. John Prescott was in a scouting-party in 1707 and in 1710. Nathaniel Prescott was in his Majesty's service in 1707. Doubtless many others were engaged in defend- ing the early settlements from the attacks of the French and Indians, or in ranging the borders, though we may not find the records of their deeds.

May 2, 1747, it was voted at the parish-meeting "that all those men who went to Cape Breton and stayed all winter should be quit from paying rates for their heads that year in the Parish."

In the seven years' war with the French and Indians the soldiers of Ken-

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sington took an active part. In 1755, Samuel Prescott, who was born June 26, 1729, was lieutenant-colonel in Col. Peter Gilman's regiment, that was raised to reinforce the army near Lake George. He died November 20. 1797. Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, Moses Blake, Ebenezer Lovering, Isaac Fellows, Melcher Ward, Paine Blake, Israel James, David James, Nathan Dow, Joseph Weare, and doubtless many others were engaged in these frontier campaigns.

Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, who was born March 18, 1710, was one of the most prominent men in the history of the town. At the siege of Louisburg he was ensign and lieutenant in Capt. Jonathan Prescott's company, and is said to have done good service as an engineer, building works against the enemy, probably the battery on Light-house Cliff. Louisburg was taken June 17, 1745, just thirty years before the battle of Bunker Hill.

Capt. Ezekiel Worthen commanded a company in Colonel Meserve's Regi- ment in 1756. In 1775 he was the engineer in building Fort Washington and Fort Sullivan at the Narrows, about a mile below Portsmouth ; and about the same time was selected to build a bridge to Newcastle. In the Continental army he was lieutenant, captain, and paymaster, while in civil life he held places of honor and trust. After serving in three wars, after honorable service in civil life, at the close of the war that gave independence to the country he died. October 17, 1783, aged seventy-three years. In the years of the Revolu- tion recruits were sent to the regiments in the field ; soldiers were sent to man the forts at Portsmouth, and committees were chosen to supply the families of the Continental soldiers.

March 26, 1779, voted to choose a committee to overhaul the charges of the war from Bunker Hill fight to this day.

Voted to enlist twenty men to serve in the Continental Army.

July 5. 1779, Capt. Joseph Clifford and Lieut. Joseph Dow were chosen to hire the quota of soldiers to fill the Continental battalions.

January 29, 1781, the parish chose a committee to hire soldiers for the Continental Army with provisions, hard money, or paper currency.

The writer regrets that no full list of the soldiers of the Revolution is within his reach. The following list has been gathered from various sources : Maj. Jeremiah Fogg, Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, Capt. Winthrop Rowe, Capt. Joseph Clifford, Lieut. Moses Shaw, Lieut. Abram Sanborn, Second Lieut. Jeremiah Bachelder, Benjamin Rowe, surgeon's mate; Daniel Fogg, surgeon's mate; Joseph Fogg, quartermaster; Enoch Rowe, quartermaster's sergeant ; Privates Winthrop Wiggin, Jude Hall, William Fogg, Henson Hodgdon, Jonathan Fellows, Nathan Fellows, Edward Lock, John Sanborn, Thomas Cook, Jabez Dow, Jonathan Prescott, Marston Prescott, and Edward Smith, who was shot October 15, 1777.

Capt. Winthrop Rowe commanded a company, Colonel Poor's Regiment, and Abram Sanborn was his second lieutenant.

In 1775, Capt. Joseph Clifford and Second Lieut. Moses Shaw were sta- tioned on Pierce's Island.

In 1777, Second Lieut. Jeremiah Bachelder was in Colonel Drake's Regi- ment. He was one of the most prominent citizens of the town, and in 1796 was colonel in the militia.

In 1777, Capt. Robert Pike was in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion. Benjamin Rowe was surgeon's mate in Colonel Nicholas' Regiment in 1778.

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Daniel Fogg was surgeon's mate. Enoch Rowe was quartermaster's sergeant in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion in 1777.

Joseph Fogg, the son of Rev. Jeremiah and Elizabeth ( Parsons ) Fogg, was born April 16, 1753. He was quartermaster in Colonel Poor's Regiment in 1775, and quartermaster in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion in 1777. He was appointed sub-clothier and commissary in 1779.

Maj. Jeremiah Fogg, the son of Rev. J. and Elizabeth ( Parsons ) Fogg, was born October 16, 1749, graduated at Harvard College, 1768, taught school in Newburyport, where he commenced the study of law with Theophilus Parsons, one of the most eminent jurists of the time. He was adjutant of Colonel Poor's Regiment, which was encamped on Winter Hill at the siege of Boston. In 1776 he was aide-de-camp to General Poor, who died in his arms at Hackensack, N. J. In 1777 he was paymaster in Colonel Hale's Regi-' ment, and captain in Colonel Reid's Regiment. In 1781, after the war, he retired to Remington, where he took an active part in the political movements of the time. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention, representa- tive and senator in the General Court, and adjutant-general of New Hampshire.

List of Minute-Men .- We, the subscribers, hereby enlist ourselves, and promise and engage to serve as militia soldiers in defense of our country's rights, to be ready at a minute's warning to march to any part of the New England States to oppose the encroachments of our enemies, and we promise to obey such officers as are appointed to command us during the time we are in the service. Joseph Clifford, Jesse Tucke, Joseph Brown, Jr., Benjamin Moulton, Benjamin James, Jr., Hezekiah Blake, Ephraim Fellows, Jewett Sanborn, Daniel Shaw, Benjamin Tilton, John Shaw, Joseph Wadleigh (4th), Richard Dow, Levi Brown, Samuel Batchelder, Nathaniel Gove, Josiah Batchelder, Richard Sanborn, Samuel Prescott, John Lane, Samuel Lampre, David James, Ephraim Eastman, Nathaniel Sherburne, Caleb Shaw, Jr., Simon Prescott, Jeremiah Moulton, Nathaniel Ward, Jonathan Ward, Edward Melchar, Benjamin Melchar, Abram Shaw, Newell Healey, Benjamin Rowe, Jr., Surgeon Joseph Rowe, Martin Prescott, Caleb Brown, John Glidden, Weare Nudd, Elisha Blake, Jr., Nathaniel Dow, John Graves, Henry San- born. Abel Brown, Henry Swain, Levi Blake, Stephen Fogg, Jonathan Tilton, Jonathan Prescott.

(This paper belongs to the opening of and was probably signed in, 1775.)

THE WAR OF 1812-14

We do not learn that any soldiers from this town were enlisted in the regular army, but in 1814 the militia were ordered to defend Ports- mouth from the English, whose fleet was cruising along the coast. The soldiers wore their citizens' dress, and as the company left the old church, the music was so slow and solemn that some one suggested that they have quick and lively tunes, to keep up their courage and the courage of the friends they left behind them. They were stationed near the south rope- walk, and lodged in a schoolhouse. Down a report came that the enemy had landed at York, and the troops were formed in a line of battle, but the alarm was false. An English officer, disguised as a fisherman, visited

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Portsmouth, but finding the defenses very strong the fleet moved away. The troops were enlisted September IIth, and discharged September 29th.

Lieut .- Col. Thomas Lovering commanded the regiment. Josiah Blake was sergeant-major. Capt. Stephen Brown, Lieut. Stephen Kimball, Ens. Richard Dow; sergeants, Jonathan Morrison, Benjamin Prescott, Nathan Dow, Caleb Brown; corporals, Jacob Felch, David Prescott, Sewell Philbrick, Jeremy Bachelders ; musicians, Caleb Hodgdon, Millard Tilton ; privates, John Nudd, Benjamin Moulton, Jr., Jonathan Hobbs, John W. Shaw, Jonathan James, Thomas P. Fogg, Samuel Fellows, Daniel Prescott, Abraham Rowe, David Barter. Edward M. Blaisdell, Caleb F. Sanborn, Samuel Tilton, Ira Fellows, William H. Wadleigh, Ephraim Dow, Jeremiah Wadleigh, Sewell Wadleigh, John Blaisdell, Moses F. King, Joseph W. Healey, Edward True, Jr.

The following were in the War of 1812-14: Lowell Lock, Porter Rowe, Jonathan Shaw, Theo. M. White, Benjamin Odlin, Joseph D. Wadleigh, Lewis Gove, Nathaniel Fellows, William S. Gale, Parker H. Willson, Joel Lane, Smith Lamprey, Gilman Lamprey, Newell Dow, Wadley Dow, Timothy Palmer, Sewell Dow, Stephen R. Brown, Levi Veasey, Jeremiah Eaton, Wil- lard Davis, Reuben Currier. John Weare, Abel Page, Samuel Currier, John Page. Samuel Tucker, Jr., Amos Gove, Joseph Rowe, Moses Sanborn, George Day, Bradbury Pervier, Oliver James, Samuel Caverly, John Scribner, Henry Eaton.

Artillery .- Lieut. Jonathan Hilliard, Sergts. Wells Healey, Samuel Tuck.

THE MEXICAN WAR

Ferdinand L. Blake; John V. Hodgdon was leader of the band on the Ohio, Commodore Connor's flagship, at the bombardment of Vera Cruz.

WAR OF THE REBELLION

Kensington sent seventy-one men to the army during the Rebellion, a part of whom were substitutes hired in the place of drafted men. The expenses in Kensington were $19,940.09; average bounty per man was $269.70; aver- age recruiting expenses per man, $1.28. The state aid to the soldiers' fami- lies would increase this sum. The following list contains most of the soldiers' names belonging to this town, with the names of some who were natives of the town but enlisted from other places :

Navy .- George Baston, Thomas Bunker, and Jeremiah Leroy Hilliard (who died in Philadelphia at the hospital in 1862).

Army .- Charles Rowe ( was killed in Virginia, July, 1864), William H. Walton ( was wounded, and died at Fortress Monroe, July, 1864), Charles E. Bachelder, James Davis (was a prisoner at the time of Lee's surrender ), John M. Mallen, Frank H. Wadleigh (was killed in Virginia, October 8, 1864), George Blake, Jeremiah K. Leavitt, Ira C. Brown (was wounded), Amos Rowell, Hyld D. Peacock, Capt. Caleb Warren Hodgdon, Jonathan B. Rowe (was wounded, and died in Virginia), David C. Smith, Rufus East- man, George R. Cilley, Stephen Henry Brown, Joseph N. Austin, John E. Col- lins, William F. Blake, Andrew Gove, Warren H. Chase, James W. M. Brown, Joseph C, George, George P. Rowe, Ferdinand L. Blake, Franklin

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Tilton (was wounded at Kelly's Ford), Samuel Lamprey (was taken pris- oner), Lewis E. Gove, Charles Hull (was a prisoner at Andersonville), Stephen Hart Brown, Edward E. Fellows, John Brown (wounded), Amos Brown, Moses D. Dresser, Edmund M. Rowell (died of sickness), John T. Hilliard (wounded), George E. Ramsdell, Rufus Spaulding, George A. P. Wadleigh, Albert A. Bachelder, Benjamin F. Austin, John P. M. Green, John A. Currier, Edward P. Austin, James S. Austin, Weare N. Shaw, Silas M. Chase, Capt. James Mallon (colored regiment ; was killed in North Carolina ), Jeremiah Franklin Dearborn, N. Jackson Shaw (was in United States Mounted Rifles before the war), Capt. Elijah Shaw (in Maine regiment ), John H. Shaw (marched with Sherman through Georgia), William Nudd, John V. Hodgdon, George W. Hodgdon.

Much of interest must be omitted for the want of space, and our readers must be referred to the full reports of the adjutant-general, which gives not only the names of the soldiers, but very interesting histories of all the regi- ments.

On the "Main Road" to the Hampton Falls Line is a barn which may well be termed a land-mark. Built near the brook some time in the eighteenth century, it was drawn by sixty-eight pairs of oxen to its present position in 1798. All of its timbers were hewn, and those of oak are now in a good state of preservation.

The house across the road, built in 1806, is the home of Miss Sarah A. Green, who represents the sixth generation of the family of Abraham Green, Quaker, the first settler. This farm is the only one owned and occupied by a direct descendant of the same name as the original settler. Here some- times came Harriet Livermore, to whom Whittier refers in "Snowbound," in the lines :

"Another guest that winter night Flashed back from lustrous eyes the light."

Along these ways our ancestors took their journeys on horseback, often with a pillion. "carrying double." Later they rejoiced in the "one-hoss shay."

The stage-coach brought the mail and passengers, providing transporta- tion between this town and Portsmouth, Concord and Boston, besides inter- mediate and far distant places. Seventy years ago six stage-coaches, their coming announced by the music of the horn, passed daily over these roads, where the comfortable, rubber-tired carriage and the swift automobile go in this year 1914.

KENSINGTON-"THE CITY"

Five dwelling houses, two stores, a church and library, clustered together, provoke a smile from the stranger when he hears them designated as "the city." But such is the name long attached to the little Kensington village that nestles by the roadside between Newell's Hill and the old Hog-pen meadow on one side, and the woods that stretch away on the other. And it's no mean city, either, in the importance it has played in Kensington's history.

Kensington Schoolhouses .- Originally Kensington had four schoolhouses, quite probably of log structure, and one of them was located near the first

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house in Kensington at Green's Brook. These were disposed of in 1798, and three new ones built; one at Lovering's corner, one at Mace's corner and one on the site of the present brick schoolhouse.

They were all of similar pattern, wooden frame buildings thirty-eight feet square, windows on three sides, with a narrow room to keep the stove wood on the fourth side. They were originally heated by a fireplace, but later by an iron frame stove, before which was a narrow passage, and then came the four rows of benches and seats for the scholars.

The back seats for the larger pupils were nearly four feet higher than the front ones. The brick schoolhouse replaced the one at the North Road in 1842, the first session of school being held on May I of that year ; and in 1873 the new East and West schoolhouses were built to accommodate the south side of the town.

Kensington Free Public Library .- In 1893 the town voted to establish a public library, thus availing themselves of the gift of 100 books from the state. The Kensington Social Library Building, which had been built in 1895 by Joseph Hillard as a gift to the people of his native town, was opened to the public and the public library books were moved to the new building. While the two libraries are separate they are essentially the same, have the same rules and one librarian, Mr. George Osgood. There are 2,000 in the Social Library, and 1,000 in the Public Library. The late Langley Boardman Brown willed his books and book case to the library. The Kensington Social Library was established by grant of the Legislature in 1798 and the constitu- tion adopted June 30, 1800. It was active as a library for sixty years and some of its old books are in the new building in the old book case. Mr. Hilliard left a permanent fund for its maintenance.

CHAPTER XXXVII

KINGSTON

Geographical-Topographical-Original Charter-Occupations of the People -Ecclesiastical History-The Epidemic-Educational-Military Record

The Town of Kingston lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Brentwood, on the east by East Kingston and Newton, on the south by Newton and Plaistow, and on the west by Plaistow, Hampstead, and Danville. The surface of the town is rolling, and the soil very fertile. The population is 1,016.

Original Grant or Charter .- The Town of Kingston was granted in 1694 by the following charter :

"William & Mary by the Grace of God of England, Scotland France & Ireland King and Queen, Defendr. of the Faith, &c.

"To all people To whom these presents shall come, greeting know ye that we of our special Grace certain knowledge & mere motion for the due encour- agement of settling a new plantation by & with the advice & consent of our Council have given & granted & by these presents as far as in us Lies Do Give & Grant unto our beloved subjects, James Prescott Sen. Isaac Godfrey Gershom Elkins Thos. Phibrick Jr. Samuel Colcord, Thomas Webster Sam'l Dearborn William Godfrey, Jacob Garland John Mason Ebenezer Webster, Nathaniel Sandburn Benjamin Sandburn John Moulton Daniel Moulton & Francis Toule and several others of their Majestys Loving Subjects that Inhabit within the said Grant, within our province of New Hampshire all That Tract of Land to begin seven miles Westward of the meeting house now stand- ing in Hampton from thence to run a Due course West & by North Ten miles into the country for its breadth, four miles Northerly from the Head point of the West Line from said Meeting house & Southerly within three miles of the Northermost side of Merrimack river. & that the same be a town corporated by the name of Kingstown to the persons above named or other of their Majestys Subjects that do and shall forever, & we do by these presents give & grant unto the said men & Inhabitants of our said Town of Kingstown & to such others that shall hereafter inhabit all & every the streets & Lanes & Highways within the said Town for the publick use & service of the men & Inhabitants thereof & Travelers there Together with full power License and authority to the said men & Inhabitants & such as shall inhabit within the said Town forever to establish appoint order & direct the establishing making Laying out ordering amending & Repairing of all streets, Lanes High- ways Ferries places & Bridges in & throughout the said Town necessary need- ful & convenient for the men & Inhabitants of the sd Town & for all Travellers & Passengers there provided always that our said License to as above granted for the establishing making & Laying out of such Lanes Highways, Fences places & Bridges be not extended nor Construed to Extend to the taking away

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

of any person or persons Rights or property without his or their consent, or by Some Law of our said province To have & to hold & Enjoy all & Singular the premises as aforesaid to the said men & Inhabitants or those that shall inhabit the said Town of Kingstown & their successors forever. Render- ing & paying therefor to us our Heirs & Successors, or to such other officer or officers as shall be appointed to Receive the same yearly the annual Quitt Rent or acknowledgment of one pepper Corn in the said Town on the 25th of October, yearly forever & for the Better order, Rule & Government of our Said Town. We do by these Presents, Grant for us our heirs & successors unto the said men & Inhabitants of those that shall inhabit the said Town that yearly and every year upon the first Tuesday in March for ever They the said men & inhabitants & such as shall inhabit the said Town shall elect & chuse by the Major part of them Two sufficient & able men, Householders of the said Town to be constables for the year Ensuing, which said men so chosen & elected shall be presented to the next Quarter sessions of the Peace to be held for said province there to take the accustomed oaths appointed by Law for the Execution of their offices under such penalties as the Law in our said province shall direct upon refusal or neglect therein & We Do by these presents Grant for us our Heirs & Successors unto the said persons & Inhabitants & such as shall inhabit in said town. That yearly & every year upon the first Tuesday in March forever, then the said men & Inhabitants or the Major part of them shall elect & chuse Three Inhabitants & Householders within our said Town, To be overseers of the Poor & Highways or selectmen of our said Town for the year ensuing, with such powers Privileges & authority as any Overseers or select men, within our said province, have & enjoy or ought to have & enjoy.

"In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said province to be hereunto affixed. Witness John Usher Esqr. our Lieutenant Governor & Com- mander in Chief of our said Province at our Town of New Castle the 6th Day of August in the sixth year of our Reign Anno que Domini, 1694.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 52

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