History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 61

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

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for their attack. Some women and children went into the field without a guard to gather strawberries. Some men coming in from work fired a gun to cause the women to return to the garrison. The alarm reached not only the strawberry party, but spread quickly through the community, bringing the people together in arms. The Indians supposed themselves discovered and beat a hasty retreat, killing one individual, wounding another, and cap- turing a child.

The Piscataqua plantations felt the whole strength and fury of the French and Indians in Queen Anne's war, 1703-13.

Winthrop Hilton was the eldest son of the second Edward Hilton, and became the personal friend and firm supporter of his uncle, Gov. Joseph Dudley. After the death of Col. Richard Waldron, June 27, 1689, Hilton became the principal military chieftain in New Hampshire. As early as March 4, 1702, he kept out a scout of two men between Exeter and Lamprey River. He offered his service to the Provincial Council to go eastward against the enemy, January 27, 1704. Governor Dudley requested him to raise volunteers March 12, 1704. The council instructed him in the matter March 27, 1704. Though the expedition accomplished but little, the council call it "an honorable service." Edward Taylor was killed, and his wife Rebecca and a son were captured near Lamprey River April 26, 1704. The captives were taken to Canada, whence Mrs. Taylor was afterwards re- deemed, having endured severe hardship. Major Hilton joined the expedi- tion of Col. Benjamin Church in May, 1704, and was gone all summer, marching as far as the Penobscot.

January 8, 1705, Governor Dudley wrote Lieutenant-Colonel Hilton to get ready to march against the Indian headquarters. Hilton led his com- mand of 270 men, including twenty friendly Indians, to Norridgewock on snowshoes. They found no enemy, but burnt the deserted wigwams and chapel. In September, 1705, Hilton was obliged to reduce his scout of twenty men, marching every ten days, to ten effective men, because of the failure of the towns to comply with the requirement of the law. This gave offense to the governor, who tutored the colonel severely for it.

July of the following year, 1706, was a stirring month at Newfields. Hilton was so brave and active an officer that the Indians marked him for destruction. For this purpose a party of twenty "French Mohawks" lurked about his house, watching all who went in and out. On the morning of July I, as they lay in ambush, they saw ten men with scythes leave the house, go into the field, and put aside their arms to mow. Stealthily they crept between the mowers and their guns, intercepting their return to the garrison, and suddenly rushed on the men. Joseph Hall and one other only of the whole number escaped harm. Richard Mattoon and his son, Hubertas Mattoon, Robert Barber, and Samuel Pease were killed. John Taylor was sorely wounded, but recovered. Edward Hall, Samuel Mighels, and a mulatto were captured. After a time Hall and Mighels made their escape. But the fatigue, privation, and terror of recapture which they underwent are almost incredible. For three weeks together they had nothing to subsist on except lily roots and the rind of trees.

The council now ordered that ammunition, pork, and biscuit be forwarded from Portsmouth and Hampton to Lieutenant-Colonel Hilton, who in July

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led a company of sixty-four men as far as Kingston and Amesbury without meeting the enemy.

Governor Dudley made known to Lieutenant-Colonel Hilton, December 9, 1706, his further designs against Norridgewock. Her Majesty's Council, December 23, 1706, sent Hilton to Boston to consult his excellency in the affair. The expedition consisted of 220 men with ninety Massachusetts troops, and the chief command fell upon Hilton. About twenty Indians were slain,-a successful campaign, considering the difficulty of finding their haunts. Tradition relates that a squaw, who, with her papoose, was cap- tured at this time, became an inmate of Hilton's family, and lived with them till her death.

The governor commissioned Hilton as colonel for the expedition to Port Royal, April 23, 1707. Arrived at the place of destination May 26, 1707, the army after some ineffectual attempts to bombard it broke up in a disor- derly manner. Colonel Hilton, with as many officers and men as did not choose to run away, retired to Casco Bay, and there waited further orders. Governor Dudley was much displeased at this unexpected result. But Hilton had the good fortune to secure his approbation and to receive his character- istic compliments.

On the point of sailing a second time to Port Royal, Hilton wrote home to his wife, July 16, 1707. But the second attempt also failed through the sickness, fatigue, and discouragement of the army.

Our own frontier was kept in continual alarm. In September Colonel Hilton set out with fifty-four men as a scout after the enemy, whom he traced from Kingston to Cocheco, and so towards Winnipiseogee. Return- ing he discovered traces of a new party of Indians, and followed them to within two miles of Cocheco. Arrived home, he sent out a second scout of fifty-six fresh men, who were to tarry out five days. The next year, on Feb- ruary 19, 1708, council ordered Hilton out with a good scout; on August 2d, to Fort William and Mary, with soldiers, and out with a scout of sixteen men; and on August IIth, to call out the troop and eighteen men for scout- ing. During the winter of 1708-9, Colonel Hilton made a tedious march with 170 men to Pequawket and places adjacent, but without discovery. During the summer of 1709 our people kept close in garrison, and Colonel Hilton performed his usual tour of duty in scouting. In 1710 the Indians still hov- ered on our frontier. Hilton's garrison was commanded by Capt. Nicholas Gilman. He was out upon scout duty frequently through the summer,- June 2Ist, with twelve men, two days; June 23d, with twenty-eight men, two days; July 5th, with twenty-one men, two days.

The Indians succeeded, July 23, 1710, in their cherished plan of killing Colonel Hilton, who had so long been their terror. This was the most sur- prising and afflictive stroke of the war. This worthy officer was largely engaged in the masting business. Having several valuable trees felled the previous winter beyond Piscassic, he went out with seventeen men to peel off the bark. It is thought the party was less watchful than usual. While at work they were ambushed by the Indians, who rushed suddenly upon them. They were unable to make any defense, as their guns were useless from the storm of the day. At first fire Colonel Hilton and two others fell. Dudley Hilton, brother of Colonel Winthrop, and another man were captured, and heard from no more. The rest fled without firing a gun or making the least

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reprisal. Flushed with this success the Indians then insolently appeared in the open road, and took four children at their play. They also captured John Wedgewood and killed John Magoon, near his brother's barn. The next day after Colonel Hilton fell a company of 100 men marched in pursuit of the Indians, but found only the mangled remains of their neighbors. With barbarous triumph the savages had scalped Colonel Hilton, struck hatchets into his head, and left a lance in his breast. One of the slain was buried on the spot. The other two were brought home. When, on the 16th of August, another company of ninety-one men, under Capt. John Gilman, went five days in pursuit of the enemy, they had fled beyond reach.

Thus died Col. Winthrop Hilton, one of our most estimable citizens, and one of the bravest defenders of New Hampshire. "He was a gentleman of good temper, courage, and conduct, respected and lamented by all who knew him."-Penhallow.

He was buried with the honors due to his rank and character. A large military escort did duty on the melancholy occasion. He was in his thirty- ninth year, and left a widow and children. His elegant silver-headed cane is preserved as a precious memorial by his descendants. He was succeeded in Her Majesty's Council by his kinsman, John Wentworth. His tombstone bears upon it the earliest date of any monument in town :

"Here Lieth Interd the Body of Colol. Winthrop Hilton, Esq., Who Departed this Life June 23d, A. D. 1710, In ye 39th year of his Age."

But our community had no rest. In 1711, besides exerting themselves to the utmost in the common cause abroad, they were obliged at home to keep a scout of forty men continually on the march. In 1712 new depredations were committed. April 16th, Mr. Cunningham was killed as he traveled the road from Mr. Hilton's to Exeter. On May 5th additional soldiers were sta- tioned at Richard Hilton's garrison. The killed and captured in old Exeter during the war numbered between thirty and forty individuals. When a treaty was made with the chiefs at Portsmouth, July 11, 1713, our people most joyfully left their garrisoned houses and betook themselves to the peace- ful pursuits of industry in their own dwellings and fields.

Ten years later and Lovewell's war ( 1722-25) brought nameless terror to our people. In 1719 Jeremiah Folsom built his two-story brick garrison house on the hill between Newfields and Lamprey River, where it stood till 1874, more than a century and a half.

In 1722 the enemy appeared at Lamprey River. Again, August 23, 1723, eighteen Indians attacked the garrisoned house of Aaron Rawlins. Mr. Raw- lins was shot through the walls of the house he was defending and afterwards scalped, while the head of his eldest daughter, twelve years of age, was cut off. Mrs. Rawlins was the daughter of Edward Taylor, who was killed, and of his wife Rebecca, who was captured from the same farm, April 26, 1704. She was made prisoner while attempting to escape from the house with a son and daughter who followed her. The mother was redeemed in a few years. The son was adopted by the Indians, and lived with them all his days.

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The daughter married a Frenchman, and when nearly sixty years old visited with her husband her native place, hoping to recover the patrimony which she supposed was left at the death of her father.

In September, 1724, Peter Colcord with others was seized and carried to Canada. He soon returned, bringing important information respecting the Indian settlements and proceedings. In November he went on an expe- dition against the Indians, and the Provincial Assembly made him a present of ten pounds for his patriotism. In 1725 hostilities ceased, peace was rati- fied the following year, and proclaimed in town by beat of drum.

The colonists enjoyed unusual tranquillity for twenty years. In the war of George Il, 1744-49, Indians prowled continually through the Piscataqua, Merrimac, and Connecticut valleys. But new settlements had sprung up. Souhegan, Amoskeag, Suncook, Contoocook, Pemaquid now constituted the frontier. Newfields and Lamprey River soldiers enlisted in defense of other distressed communities. They were found in the command of Capt. John Gage, June and July, 1744, "to guard the mast-men;" of Capt. Benjamin Mathes, January II, 1745, "to scout up the western branches of the Pisca- taqua ;" of Sergt. Joseph Rawlins, June 3, 1746, "men and horses impressed and sent to Canterbury to carry provisions for thirty men a month ;" of Capt. Daniel Ladd, June I to October 30, 1746, whose timely arrival, August 10th, reinforced and saved Rumford; of Col. Samuel Moores, 1744-46, against Louisburg, where William Hilton died; of Col. Theodore Atkinson, July I, 1746, for the reduction of Canada; of Capt. Joseph Thomas, September 29 to October 13, 1747, "twenty-eight men, scouting from Durham to Chester, Epping, and Nottingham." The story of Mrs. Fanny Shute falls into the narrative somewhere about this time. She was much esteemed, not only for her excellent qualities, but for her youthful adventures. When eighteen months old she was carried by the Indians to Canada and sold to the French. She was educated in a nunnery, and after remaining thirteen years in cap- tivity was redeemed and restored to her friends. "In Memory of Mrs. Frances Shute, consort of Mr. John Shute, died Sept. 7, 1819, aged seventy- seven." -- Tombstone.

What is known as the last French and Indian war, 1754-60, again threw the colonies into anxiety and distress. Robert Barber, who had lately removed to Salisbury, was captured by the St. Francis Indians, August, 1753, and afterwards redeemed. Other stories of Indian depredations still are told at our firesides which are doubtless true, but they do not have the requisite name, place, and date to secure narrative here. Newmarket had officers and men in the various campaigns against the French Forts Du Quesne, Niagara, and Crown Point in 1755, under Col. Joseph Blanchard, where they won dis- tinction by a well-directed and prolonged attack; in 1756 and 1757, under Col. Nathaniel Meserve, in expeditions against Crown Point; in 1757, under Maj. Thomas Tash, posted at Number Four; in 1758, under Col. John Hart, in another expedition against Crown Point; in 1760, under Col. John Goff, in the invasion of Canada.

Hostilities ended with the fall of Montreal in 1760. Great and universal joy spread through the colonies. From this time may be dated the flourish- ing condition of New Hampshire. Population and cultivation progressed with unprecedented rapidity.

Capt. Edward Hall was, after the death of Col. Winthrop Hilton, the

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principal man of affairs at Newfields. He headed a petition to the Legisla- ture praying 'that a parish be set off by metes and bounds from the north part of Exeter, and that the inhabitants be excused paying to the ministry of the old parish. The petition was granted December 15, 1727, and the new parish was called Newmarket. About ten years after, September 2, 1737, the parish was granted town privileges. When incorporated is not definitely stated. South Newmarket was afterwards detached from Newmarket by act of the Legislature, June 27, 1849.

Capt. Edward Hall was deacon of the church, justice of the peace, repre- sentative for Exeter in 1736, and for Newmarket in 1739, lot-layer, and surveyor of highways and of the boundaries of towns. Arthur Slade, Walter Bryant, and James Hersey, Esqs., were the king's surveyors. The eastern boundary of New Hampshire was a subject of hot dispute from 1737 to 1766. Walter Bryant, Esq., was ordered by Gov. Jonathan Belcher to run the line between the Province of New Hampshire and that part of Massa- chusetts Bay called the County of York. About half a century later, October 9, 1790, Esquire Bryant was living to correspond with Reverend Dr. Belknap respecting this matter. He set out from Newmarket with eight men to assist him on Friday, March 13, 1741. He proceeded by way of Cocheco, with snow-shoes and logging-sleds, through Upper Rochester, up Salmon Falls River to the head of Nechawannock River. Here, on Thursday, March 19th, he set his compass north two degrees west, making an allowance of ten degrees for its easterly variation. At the end of every mile he marked a tree, where the place would admit of it. Thus he traced the line for about thirty miles. He was prevented from proceeding farther, partly by the melt- ing of the snow and breaking up of the ice, and partly by meeting unfriendly Indians and the backwardness of his men to proceed. On Friday, March 27th, he turned back, and he reached Newmarket Wednesday, April Ist. His return to the Council was made May 22d, and his account of £116 14s. was allowed February 12, 1742.

ROADS AND STAGES

The Newmarket settlers had such easy communication with other towns up and down the Squamscot and Lamprey by their boats that they were slow in adopting other methods of conveyance. The roads to neighboring towns were only narrow bridle-paths through the forests. There were no car- riages, but considerable distances were traveled on foot and on horseback. They forded the Squamscot previous to 1700. That year Richard Hilton established a ferry at Newfields. There was no bridge across the river till the time of the Revolution.

The road to Piscassic is described in 1731 as "already a pretty good cart- way, commonly called Hallsway, four or five miles from the landing-place at (South) New Market towards Nottingham." In 1733 a highway was laid out along this cart-path, and extended to Nottingham. The Hall's Mill Road was laid out in 1763. In 1768 a road was laid out from the bridge at Lam- prey River to Durham.

When Governor Jonathan Belcher, of Boston, contemplated a visit to New Hampshire he wrote Richard Waldron, September 19, 1734: "I am told there is between Haverhill and Exeter 10 miles of very bad Road and

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that Govrs Shute or Burnet could not pass that way with wheels, and the Cavalcade will not look so well with the Govr o' Horseback." Three-fourths of a century later came the era of turnpikes and stages. The incorporated turnpike, though a great convenience, was never a very popular institution. It was looked upon as a sort of monopoly, and the toll was evaded with no compunctions of conscience.

Two lines of stages passed through here daily from Dover to Boston, one line going by way of Haverhill and the other through Newburyport. They passed about 9 o'clock A. M., changed horses at the tavern of John Emery, of Exeter, and dined at Haverhill and at Newburyport. Horses were changed again between these places and Boston, which they reached between 4 and 5 o'clock P. M. They returned through here about 5 P. M. The fare to Boston was $2.50, except when competition sometimes reduced it to fifty cents. Each driver was furnished with a tin horn, which hung by the side of his seat, with which he announced his coming at the enrtance to the village. The blowing of the horn was always a signal for the gathering of the village quidnuncs, who were interested in the arrival of travelers and the mails. This was before the era of railroads. The opening of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1840 cut off the drivers as fast as the rails were laid from place to place.

SHIP-BUILDING AND COMMERCE

New Hampshire, with only eighteen miles of sea-coast, and but one com- modious harbor, yet bears for its seal a ship on the stocks. And previous to 1784, when the Constitution and seal were adopted, ship-buidling was a prom- inent branch of business on the Piscataqua and its tributaries. It is not ascertained when this business first began. Robert Moulton was appointed commissioner of the navy at Portsmouth, April 5, 1651. He had come to America at the head of six ship-carpenters in 1629. At first only vessels of small size were constructed, such as sloops, pinnaces, ketches, shallops, barks, and skiffs. Sometimes these were framed and set up in the woods where the timber grew. Then they were taken down and hauled to some suitable landing on the river, completed and launched. Navigators two and a half centuries ago traversed the seas in the merest cockle-shells.

The early settlers on the Piscataqua availed themselves of the facilities offered by the natural advantages of the place to engage in ship-building. The "Falkland," of fifty-four guns, in 1690, was the first war ship launched on this side of the Atlantic. Richard, Earl of Bellamont, governor of New Hampshire in 1698, credits the state with "eleven ships of good burthen, five brigantines, four ketches, and four sloops."

To what extent ship-building was carried on in Newmarket down to the Revolution it is impossible to tell. No record of the business is known to exist. The owners and tonnage of the craft built are not fully ascertained. The Lamprey River meets the tidewater over falls of more than twenty feet. At high tide vessels of 120 tons freight land, bringing coal, salt, and other heavy articles. Seven vessels, some of them of large size for the times, have been seen on the stocks together in process of building. A score of all kinds have been built here in a single year.

The Squamscot is navigable at high tide for vessels of over two hundred

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tons burden. Heavy freights of iron, coal, and moulding-sand still sail up the river. In times past ship-building flourished on its banks. At Exeter twenty-two vessels, large and small, have been seen on the stocks in a single year. At Newfields the people were busily engaged in lumbering and ship- ping. Her landing was occupied by ship-yards. The busy hum of the ship- wright's hammer and awl was heard from morning till night. So pressing was this work that in the busy season he was exempted from military train- ing. Masting required a large number of men and oxen to move the mas- sive king's pines. One of them is .said to have been eight feet in diameter at the butt end and I10 feet long, requiring seventy yoke of oxen to draw it to the river's side. From the landing these masts were floated to Ports- mouth and shipped abroad. In 1746 objection was urged against a bridge over the Squamscot at Newfields, on the ground that it would obstruct vessels, masts, and rafts passing along the river.

The Squamscot abounded in fish, which furnished subsistence for the inhabitants and also an important article of commerce. In 1665 exports to France, Spain, and the Straits consisted of fish, lumber, pitch, tar, and tur- pentine, for which were brought back salt, preserved fruits, tea, and coffee. Shipments to Virginia embraced pork, beef, and peltry, and returns were received of rice, sugar, and tobacco. Great quantities of deal boards, masts, pipe-staves, and shooks were sent to Barbadoes and the West Indies, for which were returned logwood, sperm oil, molasses, and spirits. Before the Revolution this foreign trade with the West Indies was very profitable. So great were the gains that vessels of all sizes and description were pressed into the service. Vessels of fifteen tons burden and upwards were used.

During the Revolution New Hampshire fitted out several private armed vessels. The privateer "General Sullivan" was overhauled and refitted at Newfields' Landing in 1778. After the Revolution, ship-building on the Squamscot again became profitable. Commerce, however, never reached its former extent.

A brigantine was built at Portsmouth, and had made a cruise previous to 1778. At a meeting of her proprietors at Portsmouth, April 9, 1778, "Voted This proprietary pay Capt [ Eliphalet] Ladd twelve hundred and fifty pounds lawfl money, for which the said Ladd agrees to take the brigt 'Genl Sullivan' from Portsmouth to Exeter, and lengthen her for two more guns on a side, in a proper manner, and return her here again as soon as may be, the proprietary to pay the iron bill, joiners' bill, oakum, pitch, and turpentine." A fortnight later, April 23, 1778, "Voted, To stop Capt Ladd's proceeding any further with the 'General Sullivan,' and agree with Messrs Hackett, Hill & Paul for the lengtheng the said vessel, and pay Capt Ladd the charges he has been at. Accordingly have agreed with Messrs Hackett, Hill, & Paul to take said vessel at Newmarket, where she now lies, and lengthen her for two more guns on a side, caulk, iron and fix her for a ship, complete in a proper manner, lengthen her forecastle agreeable to Capt Dalling's instructions, and deliver her at Portsmouth by the first of June next; for which the proprietors agree to pay the said Hackett, Hill & Paul fifteen hundred pounds lawl money in cash, and give them one barrel of New England rum; proprietors to find iron-work, pitch, turpentine, and oakum." The "General Sullivan" made several cruises, and captured some valuable prizes. Among these were the "Caledonia," the "Mary," and the

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"Charlotte." It is understood that the career of the "General Sullivan" was terminated in the year 1780, by her being captured by two British ships of vastly superior force, after a spirited resistance. Maj. Nathaniel McClintock was in command of her marines, and was killed in the engagement by a ball through the head.

The ship-building and commercial interests of Newmarket were seriously injured by the War of 1812. Her population was nearly two hundred more in 1767 than in 1820. The decrease was owing to the decline in ship- building. Very little had ever been done by the general government for defense of our harbors. The embargo well-nigh annihilated all our com- merce. After the spring of 1813, our sea coast, thousands of miles in extent, was blockaded by a British squadron. A few enterprising captains ran the blockade, and privateers were fitted out which were successful in escaping English cruisers. But the relief was only partial. Three years of blockade destroyed ship-building on the Squamscot.

Among the last to engage in ship-building at Newfields were Zechariah Beals, Dudley Watson, Samuel Tarlton, and George Hilton. The last vessel built here was the "Nile," in 1827. She was of about three hundred tons burden, and built for parties in Salem, Mass.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 61

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