History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 64

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

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CHAPTER XLII

NEWMARKET

Geographical-Topographical-The Settlement-Manufacturing-Ecclesias- tical History-The National Bank-Rebellion Record-Public Library

Newmarket is situated in the northeast corner of Rockingham County, at the head of tide-water, on the Lamprey River and on Great Bay. It is thirty-six miles southeast from Concord, fourteen miles west from Ports- mouth, eight miles north from Exeter, and nine miles south from Dover. It is fifty-seven miles from Boston, on the Boston and Maine Railroad, which passes directly through the town. The Portsmouth and Concord Railroad also passes on and near the southern boundary, crossing the Boston and Maine at the "Junction."

About one and a half miles northwest of the village is what is known as the Chapman Spring; it issues through a large aperture under the roots of a white oak tree at the foot of a gentle declivity. The water is very pure, soft, and limpid. Its flow of water has been gauged, and it was found to dis- charge 149,610 gallons of water every twenty-four hours, or over one hundred gallons per minute. As far back as tradition can trace its history it is said that there has not been any perceptible variation in the quantity of water discharged. Whether the seasons are wet or dry, cold or not, the quantity does not vary.

The waters fall into the Piscassic River, a branch of the Lamprey, about one mile above the village, and constitute one of the main sources of supply to that stream, especially during dry seasons.

Tradition has it that the name was derived from the abundance of lam- prey eels that formerly thronged its waters.

The geological formation of Newmarket is mostly a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. Near Rockingham Junction is quite a large area of drift, from which the Boston and Maine Railroad take sand for repairing and building the bed of the road. Ledges of granite crop out here and there with great frequency. There are also ledges of dike or trap-rock, with some quartz and feldspar. A short distance south of the village, near the highway leading to Exeter, is a granite formation known here as Great Hill.

What is now Newmarket and Newfields was formerly, and down to the year 1737, a part of Exeter, and its history prior to that date belongs to the annals of the latter town. Newmarket has no official records extending back further than the year 1784. These records, prior to that date, were in 1875, destroyed by fire.

Prior to the incorporation of Newmarket as a separate town, Exeter ex- tended to the line of Dover, which latter town included Madbury and Dur- ham. For many years quite a controversy existed between Dover and Exeter

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as to where the boundary line between the two was or should be located, Exeter claiming that the line was the Oyster (now Durham) River, while Dover claimed that the Lamprey River was the dividing line. Finally a com- mittee was appointed to settle the question of the boundary, which they de- cided to be Lamprey River.

There is now no means of determining who erected the first house or commenced the first settlement here. The most that can now be ascertained is that at an early date, probably about the time of the settlements at Exeter, Dover, and Durham, a small settlement was made here. Afterwards a saw- mill, grist mill, and carding mill were erected, and the place became quite a lumber mart. Much ship timber was cut and carried from here, and at one time, for quite a period, a large shipyard was in active operation, and ships of the capacity of 500 tons were built here and floated to Portsmouth, where they were rigged and put in order for sea.

Seven vessels, some of them quite large for those times, have been on the stocks here in process of building at one time, and twenty-one of all kinds have been built here in a single year. Shipbuilding was also carried on at Newfields village (then a part of Newmarket) by Zechariah Beals, Dudley Watson, George Hilton and others, and lumber and shooks were shipped there direct from the West Indies.

The first official reference we have been able to find to the site and organ- ization of this town is in the proceedings of the Provincial Legislature, and in the legal proceedings, as found in the records of the courts, for fixing the boundary between Exeter and Dover.

In 1668 one Edward Colcord testifies that the northerly bounds of Exeter, mentioned in an agreement made with We-han-now-now-it, the chief saga- more of the Indians located here, was the westerly part of Oyster River, about four miles northerly beyond Lamperiele River. This (Oyster) river is several times mentioned as the boundary between Exeter and Dover, Exeter claiming to own a strip of land northerly of the river. Like many early names of localities, rivers, and mountains, we find the name of this river spelled in various ways, as Lamperiele, Lampreele, Lampreel, Lampeill, and Lamprele. It was claimed to be six miles from Exeter, and six miles from Dover. It is, in fact, about eight miles from Exeter and about nine from Dover.

In 1652 one H. Nutter makes a deposition that in the year 1636 the land about Lamprill River was in possession of the inhabitants of Dover, on both sides the river, both for fishing and planting and felling timber. One William Furber also testifies to the same. John Baker testifies that he was one of a committee to fix the bounds between Exeter and Dover, and that Lamprey River was the bounds. Here we find the name of this river spelled Lamprey for the first time.

In 1719 a committee was appointed to renew the line of a tract of land granted by Massachusetts to Portsmouth, and that two miles were added to the six miles before granted; which two miles to be appropriated to the en- couragement of the ironworks building at Lamprill River, for cole, wood, etc., and for settling people thereon, to be imported for that service, and set- tled in such order as a committee appointed for that purpose shall direct, and that Mark Hunking, Geo. Jaffry, and Richard Waldron, Esqs., and Col. James Davis, Capt. Timothy Gerrish, and Capt. Samuel Tibbetts be the com-

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mittee for laying out and building said land, and that Samuel Penhallow, Esq., be added for directing the settlement.

The next mention we find of this river and settlement is also in connec- tion with the line between Dover and Exeter, in the same year. It is therein provided that those holding the eldest grants of land shall be good to them that have them, always excepting highways and such land sufficient to mills or works set up on Lamprile River.

The next mention found of this place is that a petition was presented to the legislature, praying for the erection or establishment of a parish in the north part of Exeter. Upon this petition the following action was had :

In council, December 14, 1727, it was ordered that the prayer of the peti- tioners be granted, and that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill accord- ingly, and that the name of the parish be Newmarket. In the House of Rep- resentatives the same day, "Read and concurred."

In the proceedings of the Provincial Legislature, August 18, 1737, it was voted that Newmarket have liberty to bring in a bill, and to have the privilege of choosing their town officers as other towns have. Newmarket, then, seems to have been formed into a parish in 1727, and in 1737, ten years later, given town privileges, or incorporated as a town.

Prior to June 27, 1849, what is now the town of Newfields, constituted a part of Newmarket. At that time South Newmarket was set off and incor- porated into a separate town. Before this the village here was called "Lam- prey River," the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad at Rockingham Junction being at that point, on or near the line of separation. Newmarket remained as then constituted till June, 1870, when a portion of Durham was annexed to and became a part of this town. By this annexation the population of Newmarket was increased to about two thousand three hundred, being, by the census of 1870, 1,987. In 1880 the census gives us a population of 2,369, which has since increased, so that in 1910 we had a population of 3,348.

At one time Newmarket was the sixth town in the state in population, and is now the fourth in Rockingham County.

Manufactures .- As before stated, the principal business of the town in its early days was fishing, lumbering, and shipbuilding. In 1822 the New- market Manufacturing Company was incorporated, and the building of No. I mill was commenced the next year, and completed in 1824. This mill had 2,560 spindles. No. 2 was built in 1825, and had 4,096 spindles. No. 3 was built in 1827, and the machinery put in two years afterwards. This mill had 1,034 spindles. In 1832 the company ran 13,824 spindles in the whole. No. 2 was destroyed by fire the Ist of September, 1857, and rebuilt the next year. No. 4 was completed in 1869. After the erection of this mill the company ran 39,000 spindles, 906 looms, employed 500 operatives, and turned out about one hundred and sixty thousand yards of different kinds of cotton cloth per week. Their pay roll then amounted to about eleven thousand dollars per month. These mills are all built of stone, the three first of large blocks of granite, and the fourth of a kind of trap-rock or slate. In 1881 a fifth mill was built. This is built of brick, is 363 feet long, 94 feet wide, and two stories high, with a tower and basement.

The sixth mill was built in 1892. This is 160 feet long, 94 feet wide and has three stories with basement. The seventh mill was built in 1900, and is about one hundred and thirty-three feet square. An addition to No. 5 mill,

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120 feet by 58 feet, was erected in 1910. The manufacture of silk goods was introduced by Mr. Nichols during his term as agent; this department has been under the management of Mr. Gallant, the present agent, for the last nine years. It has developed from a few looms, making pongee, to 1,100 looms, now making all classes of silk, including box-loom work, Jacquards, fancy silk shirting, etc. The value of the silk production is over two million dollars per annum. The manufacture of cotton goods exceeds in value one million dollars per annum.

The company now run 70,000 spindles, turn out 300,000 yards of cloth per week, employ 1,500 operatives, and their monthly pay roll amounts, on an average, to about forty thousand dollars.

Hon. Daniel M. Durell was the first president of the company. The agents have been, first, Stephen Hanson; he was succeeded by Stephen A. Chase, and he by Benjamin Wheatland; after him came John Webster, who was succeeded by George W. Frost. Mr. Frost held the office of agent about thirty years, and down to July 1, 1879, when he died very suddenly while bathing. He was succeeded by Ambrose J. Nichols, 1879-1903; John M. Burton, 1903; William H. Gardner, 1903-1911; George E. Spofford, 1911- 1913; Walter M. Gallant, 1913.

In 1862 Lafayette Hall erected a machine shop nearly a mile out of the village, on the Packer's Falls road. The water of the Piscussic River fur- nished most of the motive power for the machinery. When the water falls short he had steam power to supply the demand. The first mill or shop was built in 1862. In 1876 this shop and machinery was destroyed by fire. This was immediately rebuilt, and again burned to the ground in 1877. With characteristic energy, Mr. Hall again rebuilt. The site of Hall's machine shop is now the pumping station of the Newmarket waterworks.

Churches and Religious History .- Prior to 1730 a meeting house had been erected a few rods north of where the hotel now stands at the "Junc- tion." The minister was supported by public taxation. The first preacher settled here was Rev. John Moody in 1730, who died in 1778, having sup- plied the pulpit forty-eight years, the last five years of which he seems to have been assisted by Rev. Nathaniel Ervin, who was settled in 1773, and dis- missed in 1797, and who died in 1806. Rev. Samuel Tombs, as colleague of Mr. Ervin, was settled in 1792, and dismissed in 1797. Rev. S. M. Natell was employed to supply the pulpit six months in 1798.

In 1799, Rev. James Thurston was settled over this church, and dismissed about the year 1808. He was the last minister settled by the town and church. This was then called the Established Church, but was classed as Congrega- tional.

There seems here to have been a kind of religious interregnum or hiatus of about twenty years, during which the church must probably have employed a preacher without the aid of the town or public support. For some little time prior to 1828 the Congregationalists held their meetings in the New- market Manufacturing Company's wooden warehouse. The first sermon was preached there by the Rev. John P. Cleaveland, and the first Sabbath school in town was organized there.

May 22, 1828, Rev. David Sanford was installed pastor of this church. Immediately thereafter the society took measures to build a meeting house, which was dedicated December 20th the same year. Rev. Mr. Cleaveland,

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who had preached the first sermon in the old warehouse, preached the ded- icatory sermon here from the text (Neh. ii. 18), "So they strengthened their hands for the good work."

Mr. Sanford continued their pastor till June 22, 1830, a period of a little over two years, when he was dismissed. He was succeeded by Rev. Ossimus Tinker, who was ordained and installed December 8, 1830, and dismissed October 29, 1833. He was succeeded by the Rev. Constantine Blodgett, who was installed December 2, 1834, and dismissed June 15, 1836.

Following him was the Rev. J. Gunnison, who was installed February 22, 1837, and preached till October 9th the same year, a period of about eight months. Rev. T. T. Richmond was acting pastor of said church from 1838 to 1842.

Rev. S. S. N. Greeley was installed as pastor December 15, 1842, and dismissed February 23, 1847. Rev. C. Chamberlain was acting pastor one year, from 1847 to 1848. He was succeeded by Rev. E. C. Coggswell, who acted as pastor from 1848 to 1854. His successors have been Rev. James Palmer, 1855-58; Rev. Elias Chapman, 1859-62; Rev. Geo. D. Blodgett, 1862; Rev. S. D. Bowker, 1863-64. In June, 1865, Rev. Isaac C. White began and continued for twenty-two years-a pastorate four times longer than any of his predecessors. In 1907 the Congregationalists and Methodists agreed to worship together with Rev. C. C. Babcock as pastor. Rev. Wm. Ramsden is the present pastor.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in this town in 1827, and a meeting house built the same year. The Rev. Samuel Kelly was their first preacher, and ministered to this church during the years 1828 and 1829. He was succeeded by Rev. Ezra Sprague, who remained only one year, 1830. Rev Ezekiel Stickney, 1832-33. Rev. William Hatch was their preacher in 1834. Rev. James M. Fuller, 1835-36; Rev. James E. Marey, 1837-38; Rev. Elisha Scott, 1839; Rev. Silas Greene, 1840; Rev. Wm. Hatch, 1841-42; Rev. Samuel Kelley, 1843-44; Rev. Lorenzo D. Burrows, 1845-46; Rev. James Pike, 1847-48; Rev. James Thurston, 1849; Rev. Henry H. Hartwell, 1850-51; Rev. Newell Culscer, 1852-53; Rev. Charles R. Harding, 1854-55; Rev. Cadford M. Dinsmore, 1856-58; Rev. Samuel Beedle, 1859; Rev. Wil- liam H. Jones, 1860-61; Rev. Robert Stubbs, 1862; Rev. John L. Trefren, 1863-64; Rev. George W. H. Clarke, 1865; Rev. Henry P. Copp, 1866-67; Rev. O. H. Call, 1868-69; Rev. Thomas L. Flood, 1870-72. Under his ad- ministration the old meeting house was abandoned and sold and the new one now occupied by the society on Main Street was built at an expense of about twenty-five thousand dollars. Rev. Elijah R. Wilkins, 1872; Rev. Orange W. Scott, 1873-74; Rev. George J. Judkins, 1875-76; Rev. Henry Dorr, 1877-78; Rev. T. Cilley, 1879-80; Rev. Charles B. Pitblado, 1881-83 ; Harvey Woodward, 1883-84; David Webster Downs, 1884-87; Fred E. White, 1887- 90 ; Silas E. Quimby, 1890-91 ; Daniel J. Smith, 1891-96; Charles N. Tilton, 1896-99; Frank O. Tyler, 1899-1901; Charles W. Taylor, 1901-04; Charles D. Hills, 1904-06; Daniel C. Babcock, 1906-08. In April, 1907, the two societies federated, and to this time continued. John C. Prince, 1908-10; William Ramsden, 1910-14.

In 1827 the Free-Will Baptists built a meeting house a little west of the village. In this the Rev. John Osborne preached for a short time. He was not a Free-Will Baptist, but belonged to the Christian Baptist order. He

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was followed by Rev. Daniel P. Cilley, the first Free-Will Baptist minister settled here. The Free-Will Baptist meeting house in the village was erected in 1840 and remodeled in 1881 and 1883. In this Cilley also preached a number of years. He was succeeded by Rev. Elias Hutchins. Their next minister was Rev. Sidney Frost.

After him came Rev. Maxy W. Burlingame, and he was succeeded by Rev. Allen Eastman, who was followed by Rev. Levi B. Tasker, and he by Rev. Willett Vary, and after him came Rev. A. J. Davis. Then they employed Rev. Edwin Marison, who was succeeded by Sullivan Cicero Kimball. After him Rev. John A. Lowell ministered to this church. He was succeeded by Rev. DeWitt C. Durgin, who was followed by Rev. J. H. Durkee.

Then followed Rev. John Malvern, and after him came Rev. David A. Adams, and next Rev. B. F. Jefferson.

The second pastorate of Rev. D. W. C. Durgin was from 1888 to 1893; B. M. Briggs, 1893-94; A. P. Davis, 1894-99; E. E. Osgood, 1899-1901; J. C. Osgood, 1901-02; J. A. Wiggin, 1902-07; W. L. Phillips, 1907-09; T. M. Sparks, 1909-12; L. L. Chase, 1912-13; Eugene D. Dolloff, 1913-14.

The Catholic Church .- Mass was said for the first time in Newmarket in 1848, at which date Rev. John T. McDonnell of Haverhill officiated. In 1865 a stone meeting house on "Zion's Hill" was secured by Father Walsh, the first pastor. In 1878 Newmarket was made an independent parish under the jurisdiction of Father McDonnell, who thirty years previously had said the first mass in town, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Healy.

Father Walsh was succeeded by Rev. Father Charles Egan, and he by Rev. Father Lewis. Then Rev. Father McDonald ministered to this church, and he was succeeded by Rev. Father C. W. Calligan and Rev. Father Dennis Ryan. In 1886 he was replaced by the present pastor, Rev. Thomas E. Reilly.

In 1891 and 1897 land was purchased and in the center of a handsome square of nearly four hundred feet the St. Mary's Church was built and ded- icated in October, 1898.

Banks .- Newmarket Bank was first incorporated in 1855. In 1865 it was changed to Newmarket National Bank. The presidents of the bank have been Z. Dow Creighton, Joseph S. Lawrence, William B. Small, Joseph C. Burley, Joseph M. Cilley and Benj. F. Lang. At its first organization Samuel A. Haley was elected cashier. The present officers are: J. Langley, presi- dent ; F. H. Durgin, vice president ; A. C. Haines, cashier ; Ella Tuttle, assist- ant cashier. The capital is $50,000.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Among those who have been prominent in business and held important positions are Geo. W. Kittredge, David Murray, A. P. Stinson, Samuel A. and B. F. Haley, John S. Bennett, Wm. B. Small, J. B. Creighton, Arthur Branscombe and Rev. John Broadhead.

The first newspaper printed here was in 1841, by J. L. Beckett, called the Granite State Democrat. It was moved from Exeter here, and continued but a short time. In 1842, Brackett Palmer, Esq., started a paper here called the Argus, which also soon died out. In 1873, J. D. P. Wingate started the Newmarket Advertiser here. It has changed hands two or three times, and is now owned, printed, and published by Frank H. Pinkham.

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Physicians .- The physicians who have lived and practiced in this town are as follows: Nathaniel Kidder, George W. Gale, Perly Blodgett, George W. Kittredge, John R. Sanborn, William Folsom, Bugbee, Henry Hayes, Nathaniel B. Chace, Reuben M. Gray, -- Holmes, Benjamin N. Towle, Isaac N. Perley, James Bassett, H. B. Haskell, Clinton A. Ricker, Lafayette Chesley, - Horr, Chace Moulton, Samuel H. Greene, Joseph I. Elkins, Charles A. Morse. Of these, Bugbee, Perley, Bassett, Holmes, Haskell, Ricker, Chesley and Horr each remained but a short time. Kitt- redge, Kidder, Sanborn, Folsom, Green and Elkins were all long residents and practitioners, and all died here. The present physicians are G. H. Towle, C. A. Morse, J. D. Butler, L. P. Beaudet and A. J. Mouge.

Attorneys .- Before the settlement of any attorney in this town, Went- worth Cheswell, one of the early settlers, and an educated business man of good judgment, ability, and discretion, and a justice of the peace, drew deeds, leases, agreements, contracts, wills, and other instruments for his neighbors, and also acted as a justice in the trial of causes. The first practicing attorney that settled here was - Huntson; after him William Tinney. Since then there have been attorneys here as follows: Amos A. Parker, Gilbert A. Grant, Hezekiah B. Stevens, - Eldridge, James M. Chapman, William B. Small, Augustus B. Clay, Amos W. Towle, Aaron L. Mellows, Charles H. Knight, Charles H. Smith, I. T. George, and Elisha A. Keep. Of these, Grant, Stevens, Eldridge and Towle remained only temporarily. Parker at first went West, and afterwards married for a second wife one of the cele- brated "Smith sisters," of Glastonbury, Conn., who have given the local authorities considerable trouble by refusing to pay their taxes unless they can be allowed to vote. Mr. Clay died here, after having been in practice some three or four years. Hon. Mr. Small died here, after having been in practice over thirty years. The present attorneys are A. L. Churchill, I. T. Dodge, A. P. Sherry and H. G. George.

MILITARY

Revolutionary War .- Newmarket gave liberally of her sons in the great struggle for independence. Immediately on receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington her men hastened to the field, and by June 1, 1775, she had twenty-eight men in the service. Her men were present at Bunker Hill and took part in practically all the important battles of the war. Newmarket furnished one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, one adjutant, seven captains and 130 men. The total male population eligible for service in 1775 was 212 men between the ages of sixteen and fifty.

Soldiers of the War of the Rebellion .- Newmarket furnished more than the quota required in the late war between the states. The record of their names is somewhat incomplete. As correctly as can now be ascertained the names of those who went in the army to fill the quota of Newmarket are as follows :

Charles C. Sanders, Charles Basso, Charles Daly, Joseph Magilio, Fred- erick Morgan, John Travers, James Wheelan, James H. Littlefield, James O. Watson, William Noyes, Moses E. Colley, James Riley, Calvin H. Wey- mouth, John C. Caswell, George K. Rollins, George Brown, Andrew Calli- reer, James Kelpie, Samuel Moore, Lewis Schwarts, George F. Lord, Robert

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E. Foster, John Mendum, William McKenly, George A. Gay, John Kingsley: William Smith, Stephen W. Bailey, Samuel Drake, John Cleaves, Charles H. Willey, William Fitzgerald, Frederick Koch, Henry Rahn, William Gill, John Ray, William H. Huckins, James Hall, John F. Gibbs, Charles W. Greene, O. T. Smith, George Black, David Brackett, James M. Caswell, Wil- liam Chapman, William H. Dackum, Warren S. French, Warren Glover, John H. Harvey, James Hughs, George A. Jenkins, Edward F. Keniston, Charles Keniston, Joseph Watson, Cornelius O'Brien, Charles F. Dockum, William B. Taylor, Woodbridge W. Tuttle, Henry B. Hill, Edwin H. Good- win, Charles A. Jones, William Alexander, Melville P. Judkins, James D. Nealley, Alexander L. Abbott, John J. Hanson, George W. Frost, Charles W. Eaton, William B. Morrill, Jacob C. Wentworth, Henry C. Howard, Wil- liam S. Keniston, Timothy Caswell, Andrew J. Knowlton, Benjamin F. San- born, George W. Ellison, Henry W. Bryant, Francis Coggswell, William Gartside, William P. Huckins, Ezra Bean, William Gile, Alexander Segdler, Henry Schulter, George K. Keniston, Fred Ritcher, John Gregory, James M. Durell, Henry H. Murray, Charles F. Chapman, Nathaniel S. French, Sam- uel B. Brackett, George K. Caswell, David W. Chapman, Augustus H. Davis, Charles A. French, John B. Greene, David Hogan, Franklin Valley, James F. Keniston, George K. Smart, John T. Young, Otto Arndt, Morris Shehan, Eben Joy, Richard E. Wyman, Henry B. Haley, George L. Floyd, George W. Taylor, Warren P. Jones, Royal T. Snell, Charles B. Jenness, John O. Davis, Nathaniel Willey, John Palmer, John Goodrich, Alanson C. Haines, Woodbridge W. Durell, David Bassett, Albert Foell, Michael McCarty, M. Norgan, David Allen, Alexander Sydler, William Littlefield, Flavius Souse- man, Freeman Clemment, Joseph Gould, Arren D. Shaw, Patrick Hannegan, Charles W. Perkins, Joseph Watson, Orrin Holden, Edward Osborne, Daniel Moore, George T. Parker, Bernard Casey, Nathaniel Robinson, Thomas Lees, Joseph Chapman, John Pinkham, George WV. Tibbitts, Albert G. Furber.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 64

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