History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 126
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 126

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The number and social position of these "gentle- men Tories" suggest one of the great trials that beset the patriot canse. Secret enemies, opponents at home, were like thorns in the side or serpents in the bosom. It cost a severe struggle to overcome these patrician sentiments. It was not all done at once. It was achieved only through provocations long endured. But nothing was suffered ultimately to mar the pa- triotic enthusiasm. At length royalist and rebel re-

joiced together in the emancipation of their country from a foreign sceptre.

Newmarket contributed her full quota of men and money for the war. When the first mutterings of the storm were heard, she sided generally, not unani- mously, with the colonists. About the middle of December, 1774, Paul Revere rode express from Bos- ton to Portsmouth, bringing word that royal troops had been ordered to the harbor to secure Fort William and Mary. The regulars were already out, and some- thing must be done. On the night of December 14th honest yeomanry along the branches of the Piscataqua visited the fort. They imprisoned Capt. John Coch- ran and his garrison of five men, broke open the magazine, and seized one hundred barrels of powder and sixty stand of arms, and took from the ramparts sixteen pieces of cannon. The powder was distrib- uted among the up-river towns. A portion was stored under the pulpit of the meeting-house in Durham, some was brought to Newmarket, and some carried to Exeter. This bold expedition of the Piscataqua patriots was the first overt act of resistance to British encroachment. It was the prelude to the Revolution. The patriots were none too early. A day or two after two English ships of war arrived in the harbor and dismantled the fort. Maj. John Demeritt afterwards hauled an ox-load of the powder seized to Medford, where it was dealt out to our troops and used at the battle of Bunker Hill.

The battle of Lexington, on the 19th of April, 1775, aroused our people to a more vivid sense of their danger. Couriers bringing the startling news reached Newmarket about daybreak, April 20th. At once the drum beat to arms. In less than three hours minute-men were on the march for Boston. Tradi- tion includes among those first to enlist the names of Colcord, Folsom, Hilton, and Pike. At Exeter they joined other volunteers under Capt. John Taylor Gilman. That night they reached, by way of Haver- hill, Bragg's tavern, in Andover. On the night of the 21st they reached Cambridge, and were assigned quarters in the college buildings.

Detachments to and from the Continental army frequently passed through Newmarket.

By the 3d of May, 1775, all the men being gone from the southward an } westward of this place, the Durham company paused at Exeter, and the Pro- vincial Congress resolved that they should return home and keep themselves in readiness to respond when called.

The Newmarket soldiers were " minute-men" who started at the alarm from post-rider and beat of drum. They left shop, field, or home at once, in shirt, and frock, and apron, with cold victuals from the cupboard, and a few Yankee notions in sack or pillow-case, and the old ducking-gun, fowling-piece, or shaky king's arm that had seen service against game in the woods or Indian skulking in the thicket. The convention at Exeter, May 17, 1775, organized

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

this ununiformed, undisciplined, yet enthusiastic yeo- manry into a brigade of three regiments. Nathaniel Folsom was appointed major-general; the colonels were John Stark, Enoch Poor, and James Reid. The regiments of Stark and Reid had their headquarters at Medford, while Poor's regiment remained on duty at home. Israel Gilman, of Newmarket, was lieuten- ant-colonel of Reid's regiment, and led many of his townsmen in the glories of the battle on Breed's Hill. The preceding day, June 16th, he wrote home to the Committee of Safety, describing the position and plans of the opposing armies. On the memorable 17th of June the New Hampshire troops fought with their accustomed bravery and force. Their position was behind the rail fence between the redoubt and Mystic River. The old Indian hunters and rangers of the woods were " dead shots." Thrice they hurled back and nearly annihilated the gaudy British grena- diers sent against them. They maintained their ground during the entire action, and were the last to leave the field, retiring with the order of veteran troops.

After the battle of Bunker Hill Col. Poor's regiment was ordered to the seat of war. But New Hampshire had her own harbor and frontier to defend, as well as to furnish men for the Continental army. Some sol- diers were employed in building fire-rafts on the Squamscot, others in guarding the sea-coast or scout- ing with boats up and down the Piscataqua. Thirty- four Newmarket men under Col. Joseph Smith were thus employed. We have their " Acco't of Labor on Fire Rafts built at Newington Oct. 22, 1775." We have also the pay-roll of twenty-five others, "Men and Oxen Percuring Pich wood & other Combusta- bles for Fire Rafts."

The next month, Nov. 5, 1775, a Newmarket com- pany of forty men, rank and file, James Hill, captain, Samuel Baker, first lieutenant, Samuel Gilman, sec- ond lieutenant, Zebulon Barber, ensign, under Col. Joshua Wingate, of Stratham, joined the forces in the harbor, and were stationed on Pierce's Island.

Those who remained at home, as well as those who went into actual service, were called upon for military duty. British fleets were expected at our landing. If a strange vessel appeared in the harbor below, the alarm quickly spread far into the country. Many times the minute-men were called out on the appear- ance of an armed force or the rumor of one. In fact, however, the invader's foot never touched New Hamp- sbire's soil.

An express arrived, Dec. 1, 1775, from Brig .- Gen. John Sullivan, who was in command at Winter Hill, stating that the Connecticut regiments refused to tarry longer, and requesting urgently that troops might be sent from New Hampshire to fill their place. These detachments were called "six weeks' men." A Newmarket company under Samuel Baker, captain, Zebulon Barber, first lieutenant, John Allen, second lieutenant, responded to the call. They re-

mained with Gen. Sullivan till the British evacuated Boston, when they were discharged.

But space does not allow us to narrate the whole history of Newmarket in the noble struggle of the Revolution. The town was represented by true and determined men on nearly every battle-field of the war. The Committee of Safety compliment our se- Jectmen, July 12, 1776, upon "the truly forward and patriotic disposition often shown by the inhabitants of Newmarket in the common cause."

The following is a partial list of the men who bore military commissions and served in the Revolution : Colonels, Jeremiah Folsom, John Folsom, Thomas Tash ; Lieutenant-Colonels, Israel Gilman, Winthrop Hilton ; Adjutants, Joseph Smith, Walter Bryant ; Captains, Samuel Baker, James Hill, Samuel Gilman, Zebulon Gilman, Edward Hilton, Robert Barber, Samuel Shackford, Asa Folsom, Levi Folsom, Peter Drowne, Robert Pike, Jonathan Leavitt ; Lieuten- ants, Nathaniel Gilman, John Colcord, Bradstreet Doe, Andrew Gilman, David Gilman, John Burleigh, Joseph Hilton, Robert Clark, Zebulon Barber.

War of 1812-15 .- With the opening of the nine- teenth century the business interests of Newmarket had revived and she recovered her former prosperity. But Napoleon I. was disturbing the peace of Europe, and war-clouds soon appeared between England and America. Bonaparte promulgated the Milan Decree Dec. 17, 1806. It declared every vessel denational- ized and subject to seizure which had submitted to be searched by a British cruiser or had traded at an English port. This was the prelude to the war of 1812. As early as 1806 the depredations of British cruisers on American commerce commenced. In 1807 Congress prohibited the sailing of vessels from Amer- ican ports, and the year 1808 became the era of the general embargo. Non-intercourse with Great Britain and France was established March 1, 1809. So effectual was the blockade that it was about impossible for ves- sels to leave or enter our ports. Now and then a pri- vateer would slip by or through the blockading squad- rons. The embargo acts of Congress were severely denounced and resisted in almost all of New England. At length long-continued aggressions, without apol- ogy or redress, led the American government to pre- pare for another conflict with Great Britain. Con- gress declared war on the 18th of June, 1812.

Soon after Governor William Plumer called the at- tention of the general government to the defenseless condition of our seaboard and the public works in Piscataqua Harbor, and ordered a portion of the militia into service. The Fourth Regiment of New Hampshire militia in 1812 was commanded by Lieut .- Col. Winthrop Hilton, and the First Battalion was under Maj. Joseph Pease, both of Newmarket. A company was drafted for thirty days, and placed under Capt. Joseph Towle, of Epping. It entered the service July 3d, and was discharged Aug. 31, 1812, and contained several Newmarket non-commissioned

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SOUTH NEWMARKET.

officers and men. A second company under the same command from September 1 to Nov. 30, 1812, included nearly the same individuals.

Varied success attended the American forces on land, sea, and lake. The army in some cases per- formed prodigies of valor. The fleet immortalized itself upon the ocean. But when peace was con- cluded between France and the allied European powers at Fontainebleau, April 4, 1814, it relieved the larger part of the British army for active service in America. England's forces were turned now more effectively against the United States. They captured Washington, Aug. 23, 1814, burning the capitol, Presi- dent's house, and executive offices,-public buildings which were the ornament and pride of the nation. Meantime a British squadron was committing depre- dations upon the Atlantic coast and spreading alarm far into the interior. An all-pervading apprehension that Portsmouth would be attacked led to renewed calls for the mnstering of the militia. On the 20th of May, 1814, Governor Gilman issued orders for raising eight companies to march in five days for the defense of Portsmouth. The Newmarket company of fifty-three officers and men under Capt. Peter Ilersey responded to the call. It was mustered May 24th, and discharged July 6, 1814. Other soldiers in Capt. Wil- liam Marshall's company were credited to New- market. While the Newmarket soldiers were quar- tered at Portsmouth expresses came riding into town on the night of June 21st with the alarming intelli- gence that the British were landing at Rye, and about to march upon the town. Alarm-bells were rung, drums beat, and signal-guns fired. The militia turned out and hastily prepared for defense. The report was unfounded, but the alarm spread into the interior and was not allayed for some days.

On the 7th of September, 1814, Governor Gilman again called for soldiers to defend Portsmouth. The call was obeyed with the greatest alacrity. Newmarket is eredited with nine commissioned officers and men in Capt. Jacob Dearborn's company, enlisted Septem- ber 26th for sixty days. Maj. Nathaniel Lias, of Newmarket, commanded a battalion of detatched militia, enlisted September 9th, and discharged Sept. 27, 1814. It included a Newmarket company of forty- one officers and men under Capt. Peter Hersey, also fifty-one officers and men under Capt. John Colcord. Thus by October, 1814, about three thousand drafted soldiers were at Portsmouth, and Governor Gilman had his headquarters among them. We have it on British authority that the English made every preparation to destroy the navy-yard and the town of Portsmouth. But the defenses were so formidably manned that the intended attack was accounted too hazardous. The danger to Portsmouth and its harbor soon passed away. By October, 1814, the major part of our forces were discharged. A treaty of peace was signed at Ghent Dec. 14, 1814. It was ratified by the Senate February 18th, and signed by the president Feb. 23,

1815. Nowhere were the people more grateful for the return of peace than on the Piscataqua and its branches. It is related as a singular fact that not a man of New Hampshire was killed in this war.

War of the Rebellion .- The patriotism of South Newmarket was again manifested in the late struggle to perpetuate the Federal union. Immediately on the news of the firing on Sumter the spirit of 1776 fired the hearts of her citizens. She furnished her full quota of soldiers for the struggle. Many of our noblest young men offered their services. Enlist- ments proceeded with enthusiasm. Companies were raised and equipped first for three months, then for three years or during the war. We cannot mention here all the noble hearts which beat for the honor of our flag and volunteered for its defense. The history of the gallant Second and Eleventh New Hampshire Regiments would tell the story of many South New- market soldier-boys. This town gave some of her most promising young men as a sacrifice to sustain the government in the hour of peril. The blood of her heroes enriched the soil from the heights of Arlington to the remote southern boundary.

CHAPTER LXXXI.

SOUTII NEWMARKET .- (Continued.) ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Congregational Church-The Methodist Church-The Universalist Church-Roman Catholic Church,

THE Rev. John Moody, A.M., belonged to a family that well may be called remarkable. He was born at Byfield Parish, Newbury, Mass., Jan. 10, 1705. Ile was the son of John Moody, the grandson of Samuel and Mary (Cutting) Moody, and the great- grandson of William and Sarah Moody. These pa- triarchs of the family had emigrated from Wales, England, to Ipswich, Mass., in 1633, and to Newbury with its first settlers in 1635. From the sturdy New- bury blacksmith, there has descended a long line of distinguished ministers.

The first pastor of Newmarket was graduated at Ilarvard College in 1727, his name standing the fourteenth in a class of thirty-six. He also received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Harvard. Having studied theology, he was invited to settle at Biddeford, Me., in 1728, but modestly declined the invitation that he might have further time for study. Ile was ordained at Newmarket, Nov. 25, 1730.

Mr. Moody preached the sermon at the ordination of Robert Cutter, a graduate of Harvard, 1741, the first minister of Epping, Dec. 9, 1747. Text, Ephe- sians iv. 11, 12. The phrase so common in the okdl town charters, "a learned orthodox ministry," is a very expressive one. Mr. Moody was a patron of sound learning, and evinced a marked interest in

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

general and higher education. He was an original member of the New Hampshire Ecclesiastical Con- vention, and bore an active part in establishing a collegiate institution in New Hampshire previous to the granting of the charter for Dartmouth College.

The Newmarket parsonage of those days dispensed its simple and generous hospitality to all ministerial travelers. The Rev. Timothy Walker, of Pennacook, in his visits on horseback to Portsmouth, the State capital, often dined or spent the night with his old college companion at Newmarket. Mr. Moody mar- ried, April 5, 1730, Ann, daughter of Deacon Edward and Mary ( Wilson) HIall, of Newmarket. This pas- tor's wife was a descendant of Thomas Dudley, the second Governor of Massachusetts, and also of John Winthrop, the first Governor of New Hampshire. She died July 14, 1771, seven years before the de- cease of her husband. Their daughter Mary, and, as far as appears, their only child, was born March 4, 1732; married, Nov. 9, 1756, Winthrop, son of Col. Joseph Smith, and died Feb. 13, 1815.

Mr. Moody continued in the pastoral office in New- market till his death, Oct. 15, 1778, at the age of seventy-three years. His only settlement in the min- istry covered a period of half a century lacking two years. To his manly integrity and intelligent piety Newmarket owes much of her social, civil, educa- tional, and religious character.

The second minister of Newmarket was the Rev. Nathaniel Ewer. His ministry overlapped that of Mr. Moody about five years, and he is generally thought to have been a colleague with his predecessor. He was born April 17, 1726, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Stuart) Ewer, of Barnstable, Mass. He mar- ried, before leaving Barnstable, Drusilla Covill, by whom he had a large family of children. Mr. Ewer was not a graduate of college. He was a member of the Congregational Church, but became a follower of Whitefield and a New Light preacher. He preached at Durhanı about one year, and commenced preach- ing at Newmarket Plains in 1773. He joined the Presbytery over which Rev. John Murray, the friend of Whitefield, presided, May 31, 1774. The " East and West Societies" in Newmarket united June 29, 1789, and Mr. Ewer was accepted as minister for the whole town. In 1792 the old meeting-house which stood near the burying-ground had become dilapidated, and a stately new edifice was built near the present railroad junction. Mr. Ewer continued in the pastor- ate here nearly a quarter of a century, and was dis- missed by vote of the parish July 10, 1797. Ile still resided in town, and showed himself interested in its welfare. He died in April, 1806, aged eighty years. He was slightly affected with paralysis some years before his death. His wife died in 1810, aged eighty- three. They were buried at the Plains, close by the west meeting-house he had so long occupied. It is sad that this resting-place of the fathers should remain so neglected.

The Rev. Samuel Tomb was the colleague of Mr. Ewer in the pastorate. He was born at Wallhill, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1767. He studied at Columbia Col- lege without graduation, and with Rev. Dr. Mason. The church at Newmarket extended to him a call July 28th, and he was ordained Oct. 22, 1794. But the connection of the two pastors was not a harmo- nious and cordial relation. A mutual council, April 27, 1797, failed to reconcile the parties, and Mr. Tomb was dismissed by vote of the parish, July 10, 1797. He was afterwards installed over the Second Church in Newbury, Mass., Nov. 28, 1798, where he remained about ten years. He removed to his native place, where his stormy but efficient ministry closed. He died March 28, 1832, aged sixty-five years. Among his printed discourses was an oration on the death of Washington, pronounced Feb. 22, 1800, and a sermon which he delivered at the annual fast, April 7. 1803.

The Rev. James Thurston was born at Exeter, N. H., March 17, 1769, the son of Capt. James and Mary (Jones) Thurston. He entered the first class at Phillips' Academy, but did not pursue a collegiate course. He taught school a year or two, and entered business in Exeter and in Boston. After some years, by the advice of friends, he entered the ministry. He preached at Raymond 1798-99, and was ordained at Newmarket, Oct. 15, 1800. Parsonage land and buildings for the use of Mr. Thurston and successors in office were deeded to the parish, May 30, 1803. During the summers of 1805, 1806, and 1807, he was in the employ of the Piscataqua Missionary Society to the northern parts of New England and Canada. He was dismissed Jan. 6, 1808.

After leaving Newmarket, Mr. Thurston was in- stalled at Manchester, Mass., April 19, 1809. Here he continued in the pastorate more than ten years, and was dismissed, June, 1819. From Manchester he returned to Exeter, his native place, where he died, Dec. 12, 1835, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. His wife, whom he married Oct. 9, 1791, was Eliza- beth, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Peabody. She survived him about ten years, and died Oct. 15, 1845, aged seventy-one.

Mr. Thurston possessed a truly Christian spirit, thoroughly devoted to his calling and giving to it his undivided powers. His efforts were blessed and his ministry was a successful one.

The Rev. John Brodhead was born in Smithfield, Northumberland Co., Pa., Oct. 5, 1770. He entered the itinerant service of the Methodist Church in 1794. In 1796 he came to New England. As early as 1809 he settled at Newmarket, and in 1810 moved into the parsonage, receiving the use of it as a portion of his salary. He entered political life as State sen- ator in 1817. From 1829 to 1832 he was representa- tive to Congress under Jackson's administration. During the latter years of his life his work in the ministry was very irregular. He died of a disease of

SOUTH NEWMARKET.

the heart, from which he had suffered many years. His end was peaceful, even triumphant. His monu- ment is inscribed :

" In memory of the Rev. John Brodhead, born in Lower Smithfield, Pennsylvania, 1770. Died in this place, April 7, 1838, aged 67 years, having been nu Itinerant Minister in the Methodist Church 45 years, Senator and chaplain to the Legislature of this State, and a member of the Congress of the United States.

"He was beloved as a hn-band and father, honored as a citizen, es- teemed as a statesman, and venerated as a minister.

" Peace to the just man's memory, let it grow greener with years and blossom through the flight of years."

With the close of the first century in the religions history of Newmarket, there came a change in the administration of ecclesiastical affairs. New busi- ness interests sprung up at the villages of Newfields and Lamprey River, and it was found impossible to gather the people for worship at the old centre near the railroad junction. Both villages had occasional preaching services by various denominations from 1810 onward. As early as 1825 regular congrega- tional services were held at Lamprey River, and in 1826 assistance was asked in erecting a house of wor- ship. The church was organized there May 27, 1828. Newfields contributed means and members to this enterprise. Meanwhile the Lamprey River pastors, from 1827 onward, maintained a third service on the Sabbath, or a weekly lecture at Newfields. The Rev. David Sanford, from May 22, 1828, to June 22, 1830, abounded in labors of this kind here. During the spring of 1829 the Piscataqua Association appointed several of the neighboring pastors to preach at New- fields.

The old parish was reorganized Jan. 16, 1829, and took the form of an incorporated religious society, and annually raised money for the salaries of their ministers. Among these were the Revs. Bezaleel Smith, 1828-29; William M. Cornell, M.D., LL.D., 1829-30; Orsamus Tinker, 1831-32; Samuel Harris, 1833; --- Barton, 1834; Constantine Blodgett, D.D., 1835-36 ; Charles D. Jackson, 1836 ; William F. Row- land, 1836-37 ; Thomas T. Richmond, 1839. These ministers preached in the old meeting-house and old academy. In 1839 a new house of worship was erected at Newfields, and the old house was practi- cally abandoned.

The church was reorganized Feb. 12, 1840. The ministers were John E. Farwell, 1840; John Le Bos- qnet, 1840; John L. Ashby, 1840-41 ; Henry Kings- ley, 1841 ; John C. Hurd, 184] ; Elijah W. Tucker, pastor, 1841-45; Preston Pond, 1845-46.

The old meeting-house, which had stood sixty years and of late used only as a town-house, was taken down in 1852.

Charles E. Lord became stated supply in 1851-52; Winthrop Fifield, acting pastor, 1852 till his death, May 9, 1862. In 1853-55 the parsonage property was transferred to Newfields, and the present buildings erected. Jesse H. Bragg, minister, 1862; Elias Chap- man, stated supply, 1862-67; Israel T. Otis, 1868;

Joseph Bartlett, acting pastor, 1869-77. The meet- ing-house was enlarged and refurnished in 1871. Alexander C. Childs, acting pastor, 1877-79; James H. Fitts, 1880. The vestries were refitted 1880, and the parsonage enlarged 1882.

The Methodist Church .- The year 1808 is proba- bly the date of the formation of a Methodist class in Newmarket. In 1811 there is mention of the New- market, Durham, and Portsmouth Circuit. In 1828, Matthew Newhall was sent by Conference to Durham and Newmarket. It is probable that this is the real date of the full organization of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in Newmarket. There is nothing in its records, however, concerning its organization at any time. The meeting-house was erected in 1835, and dedicated in the spring of 1836. The earliest register of church members now to be found was made in 1842. It contains the names of the class of 1808. The parsonage was built in 1854-55. In 1870 the church edifice was raised an I vestries placed under- neath. The house was again reseated in 1880. The following is a roll of the preachers, beginning with the year 1828 :

1828, Matthew Newhall ; 1829, Caleb Lamb ; 1830, Daniel J. Robinson; 1831-32, Elijah Mason; 1833, Samuel A. Cushing ; 1834, William J. Kidder; 1835, J. II. Patterson ; 1836, John Brodhead ; 1837, William Padmun; 1838, G. W. Stearns; 1839, William Pad- mun ; 1840, "Reformation" John Adams; 1841, A. HI. Worthen ; 1842, Franklin Furber ; 1843, G. W. T. Rogers ; 1844 45, H. N. Taplin ; 1846-47, C. N. Smith ; 1848-49, Frederick A. Hewes; 1850, Charles Green- wood ; 1851, William Hewes ; 1852, Samuel Beedle ; 1853, Matthew Newhall; 1854-56, N. L. Chase; 1857 -58, William Hewes; 1859-60, F. R. Stratton ; 1861- 62, John W. Adams; 1863-65, Eleazer Smith ; 1866- 67, W. P. Ray ; 1868, George N. Bryant ; 1869, David W. Downs; 1870, M. T. Cilley ; 1871, A. A. Cleave- land; 1872-73, H. A. Mattesson; 1874-76, C. H. Chase ; 1877-78, C. S. Baketel ; 1879, L. C. Earnham ; 1880-81, Otis Cole ; 1882, Mellen IToward.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714