History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 151

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 151
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 151

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Charles A. Osgoodl, Co. I, Ist Cav .; enl. March 29, 1864; killed June 13, 1804.

Daniel W. Fuiber, Co. K, Ist Cav .; enl. Sept. 6, 18G2; disch. June 28, 1865.

Jolin Crystal, Co. K, Ist Cav. ; enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. June 3, 1865. Charles Webster, Ist Cav. ; enl. Sept. 15, 1862.

William II. Babb, Co. D, D. Art .; ent. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 13, 1865.

James II. P. Batchelder, Co. D, II. Art .; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, 1865.

John W. Cheswell, Co. D, II. Art .; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, 1865.

Plummer Fall, Co. D, II. Art .; en], Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, ISC5. Trueman W. McLatchay, Co. D, HI. Ait .; en]. Sept 4, 1864.

George W. Young, Co. D, II. Art .; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, 1865.

Julius Hawkins, U. S. C. T .; enl. Jan. 2, 1865; date of discharge un- known.

In the House of Representatives Ang. 24b 1744. The within petition read and the Parties on both sides heard, And the Return of the Com- mittee appointed by the Gen1 Assm for the viewing of the Town of Dover. Read, and the Ilonse having considered thereon, Voted provided the petitioners procure an Orthodox minister or ministers to preach to them at that part of the Town of Dover called Madhury, Six months or more in a yeare duriog ye space of three years to commence from the first of ye next. That then there be Raised by the town of Dover & paid by the select men or Town Treasurer of the said Town of Dover annu- ally to the said Minister or Ministers the sum of one hundred & twenty pounds (Old Tenor) after the Rate of twenty pounds p month as the preaching is Performed annually for the said three years and that the petitioneis have liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly.

James Jeffry Clr. Assm

In Council Decemb. 21, 1744.

The parties heard on the within Petition & the Vote of the Houses above Considered & non concur'd. Nemine contradicente. Theod. Atkinson Secy

The First Parish-Meeting .- The first parish-meet- ing was held June 23, 1755, when the following officers were chosen : Moderator, Solomon Emerson ; clerk, Ebenezer Demeritt; selectmen, John Wingate, Paul Gerrish, and James Davis; assessors, Daniel Hayes and John Roberts; commissioners, Daniel Young and James Tasker, Jr. John Demeritt was chosen the first representative to the General Assembly, held at Exeter in December, 1776. Rev. Samuel Hyde was settled as minister of the parish soon after it was in- corporated, and was succeeded by Rev. William Hooper, who was the last settled minister in the town. A meeting-house was erected soon after Mr. Hyde came into the parish, but it has long since been used for a town-house. This town, not unlike its neigh-

bors, suffered severely by Indian wars; and when the Revolution broke out it gave its mite towards gaining our independence. The surface is undulating; the soil in the valleys is a mixture of elay, while on the hills are found sandy loam, with very few stones. " Mahorrimet's Hill," now "Hiek's Hill," derives its name from an Indian chieftain of that name. Bellamy River drains the north part of the town, and Barbadoes, on the line between this town and Dover, is the only pond, being one hundred and twenty rods long and fifty wide.

Madbury Station, on the Boston and Maine Railroad, supplies the town with all the conveniences of railway communication.

Job Demerett.

Jonathan Hanson

0 0

Julın Tasker.

Robert Evans.

David Daniel

16 11

William Twonibly 3rd

Zachariah Pitman

Isaac Twombly

Joseph Hicks.

1 17

lohn Evens.

James Huckins

10 11

Henery Bickfoul

11 8

Azarjah Boody.

Jonathan Daniel

Daniel Meserve.

William Hill.

Francis Drew.

9 Stephen Pinkham

10 1

Thomas Bickford

Henry Bussell

Ralph Hall

16 11 Benjamin Willey

John Foy Jr.

John Row .

llenry Tebbets

Heiknles Mooney.

Dery Pitman

1 13

Joseph Twombly

Jobin Bussell

Abraham Clark.

William Bussell

10 11

Joseph Jackson

William Demerett.

13 11

James Clements

kli Demerett, Jr

Reuben Chesley

Joseph Rines

Jacob Daniel.

13 11

40 10 1

Timothy Moses

11 3

Solomon Emerson

.Juseph Evens, Jr.

13 11

Joseph Danjel.

James Chesley

Charle y Alcarls

643

MADBURY.

Charles A. Berry, V. R. C .; enl. Dec. 22, 18G3; date of discharge un- known.

William II. Foss, V. R. C .; en1. Dec. 22, 1863; date of dl scharge un- known.

John Vallelly, V. R. C .; enl. Dec. 22, 1863 ; date of flischarge unknown. Charles Bedel, V. R.C .; ent. Dec. 22, 1863 ; date of discharge unknown. Samuel C. Davis, Strafford Guards; eul. May 5, 1864; disch July 28, 1864.

Tichnor Miles. Straffurd Guards; enl. May 5, 1864; disch. July 28, 1864. William II. II. Twombley, Strafford Guards; enl. May 5, 1864; disch. July 28, 1864.

William Galbraith, enI. Feb. 2, 1865; date of discharge unknown. William Haines, enl. Sept. 11, 1863 ; date of discharge unknown. Almond Stacy, enl. Sept. 17, 1863 ; date of discharge unknown. James Thompson, enl. Sept. 17, 1863; date of discharge unknown. John Smith, enl. Sept. 17, 1865 ; date of discharge unknown.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLES W. HAYES.

James Davis, who was one of the earliest settlers of Madbury, which was a part of Dover till 1755, was married Oct. 1, 1688, and lived near what is now the central part of the town. Samuel Davis, third son of James, was born Sept. 26, 1692, and at maturity took a grant of land in the north part of the town from one of the kings of England, which he left to his daughter Betsey, and died Feb. 13, 1771.

Betsey Davis was born in Madbury, March 2, 1753; married Elihu Hayes April 28, 1772, who was born in Barrington, Aug. 29, 1751. Jonathan Hayes, oldest son of Elihu and Betsey Hayes, was born April 25, 1774, married Mary Ham July 3, 1794, who was born in Barrington, July, 1773, and lived in New Durham about three years, then settled in Madbury. Samuel Davis Hayes, second child and oldest son of Jonathan and Mary Hayes, was born in New Durham, April 8, 1796, and moved to Madbury the following year with his parents, where he has lived ever since, and is now in his eighty-seventh year. In 1814 he went as drum- mer with the Madbury company of State militia to de- fend Portsmouth, where he remained fourteen days, afterwards served in all the company offices of the mili- tia, was elected seven times as selectman, and held other town offices. Married Comfort Chesley, third child of Samuel and Nancy Chesley, of Madbury, July 1, 1827, who was born Oct. 8, 1806, and died Aug. 6, 1870. Moved July 3, 1827, to a new and commodious dwelling, being the first after the log garrison, on a farm adjoining the old homestead, which, until now, had been three generations in the name of Daniels by grant of one of the kings of England.

The children of Samuel D. and Comfort Hayes were Ann Sophia, born Nov. 4, 1829, married John S. F. Ham, and resides in Dover ; Samuel Chesley, born Feb. 18, 1834, married Elizabeth S. Hoitt, and lives in Boston, Mass .; and Charles Woodman, born Sept. 11, 1836.

When Charles W. Hayes was but two years and nine months old, while out in the pasture with his

brother, he got lost about four o'clock in the after- noon, and was found the next day abont eleven o'clock one and a half miles from home in a swamp stuck in the mud, within a few rods of the Bellamy River. He fitted for college at the Military Gym- nasium at Pembroke, N. H., and graduated from the Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth Col- lege, July, 1858. Then taught school in various places about ten years. While teaching in Elliot and Bar- ing, Me., he took an active part in religious matters, filling the position of leader of the choir and super- intendent of the Sunday-school one year in Elliot and three years in Baring. Married Nov. 8, 1866, Ellen Marie Weeks, daughter of William and Marie Weeks, born at Strafford Corner, April 29, 1843. In 1866 he resigned his position as teacher, and returned to Madbury to care for the old folks and cultivate the farm. He immediately took an active interest in the welfare of the town, especially in educational and re- ligious matters. HIeld the office of superintending school committee in 1866-68, 1871-72. In June, 1869, canvassed the town for a religious meeting and Sab- bath-school at Madbury town-house, and united with the Congregational Society at Lee Hill in the support of a minister. Became leader of the choir, and was elected superintendent of the Sabbath-school, chair- man and treasurer of the finance committee, which positions he held till 1879, when Rev. J. W. Lees resigned his pastorate, and the meeting and Sunday- school closed. He was elected superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Congregational Society of Bar- rington, 1881-82; practiced engineering and land- surveying in Madbury and adjoining towns since 1858 ; held the office of collector of taxes in 1872, and treasurer of the town in 1881-82. Children: Nellie Marie, born May 4, 1870; Anne Lillian, born Oct. 11, 1873 ; and Cora Enniétte, born Dec. 25, 1877, died April 27, 1879.

DANIEL TIBBETTS.

The Tibbetts family, particularly this branch of it, are of Welsh origin. The first authentic record we find of them is of Jeremialı Tibbetts, great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, who came to this country about the year 1700, and settled on the farm at present occupied by Frank E. Tibbetts, who is in the fifth generation that has lived there since its set- tlement. At the time of Jeremiah's settlement, a gar- rison occupied a site but a short distance from the house of Frank E., which was the scene of many bloody encounters between the Indians and whites. Jeremiah was captured, and carried off by the In- dians, who put him to death for refusing to reveal to them what he knew of the contents of the garrison. Daniel, his son, then took the place, and from him Israel inherited it. Then came Daniel, the subject of this memoir. He was one of a family of six children, but two of whom are now living,-Joannah Chesley,

644

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

of Epsom, N. H., and Lydia S. Snell, widow of Paul Snell. Mr. Tibbetts was born March 2, 1809, and in- herited the characteristics of his progenitors, who were frugal and industrious to a great degree ; that he enjoyed the confidence of his friends and towns- men, the fact of their having eleeted him to the high- est positions in their gift is sufficient proof. Ile was elected representative to the Legislature, and held the offices of selectman and moderator several terms.

He was married to his young wife but a short time when she sickened and died with the typhoid fever, leaving him with an infant son, Frank E., who was but a few months old. He was taken with the malady and died in September, 1857, but a few days after his wife. The property fell to the infant, Frank E., who grew up to manhood and attended school in his native town, with the exception of a few terms spent at the Dover Academy. He was born July 8, 1857, and was married to Lizzie Whitehouse, Jan. 22, 1880; one child has been born to them, Sarah E., born Dec. 17, 1880. The home-farm now contains two hundred and fifty aeres, and is in a high state of cultivation, pleas- antly situated, and the fact that it has been handed down through five generations makes a mention of it of more than common interest. Mr. Tibbetts was a Baptist, as were all of his ancestors. By his untimely death (a faet well remembered by many of his friends who are still living) the town lost a good and influen- tial citizen.

CHAPTER XCVII. MIDDLETON.

THIS town lies in the extreme northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Carroll County, on the east by Carroll County and the town of Milton, on the south by Milton, and on the west by New Durham.

Middleton was settled a short time prior to the The early history of this town is identified with that of Rochester, it having formed a part of that ish prior to June 11, 1802, at which time it was in- eorporated into a separate town by legislative enaet- ment. Revolution, and among the pioneers was Thomas Morgan. The early settlers were mainly from Lee, | town under the name of the Third or Northeast Par- Somersworth, and Rochester. The surface of the town is rough and roeky. The principal elevation is Moose Mountain, which separates it from Brook- field.

The town was incorporated Mareh 4, 1778, and in December, 1794, the town of Brookfield was severed from it. For many years these two towns united in sending a representative to the Legislature. In 1826 David Davis, Esq., who represented these towns in the Legislature, eaused a special act to be passed, al- lowing each town a member, neither of which had the constitutional number of votes.

The first settled minister was Rev. Nehemiah Ord- way (orthodox). Ilis successor, Elder John Buzzell, a Free-Will Baptist, established a church, since which time this has been the prevailing religious sentiment.

The southern and central parts of Middleton have

a level surface, but while looking north, Great Moose, Bald, and Parker Mountains tower up before the eye of the beholder, forming a natural bulwark between this and the town of Brookfield. The soil yields scant returns, yet by that perseverance and industry which characterizes the people of New England, many are in prosperous circumstances.

Middleton Corners, a little hamlet south of the centre of the town, is the principal place of business. Here is the post-office, the stores, a hotel, a public hall, and one Free-Will Baptist Church edifice.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

MILTON.1

THIS is the northeasterly town in Strafford County, and is situated upon the Salmon Falls River, which forms its entire easterly boundary, and separates it from Aeton and Lebanon in the State of Maine. It is bounded southerly by Rochester, westerly by Farm- ington, and northerly by Middleton and Wakefield.

The west branch of the Lebanon Falls River also runs through the town, making a junetion with the east branch at the head of Northeast Pond.

The town has a territorial extent of about eighteen thousand acres. The surface is somewhat broken, but the soil is generally good and well adapted to farming purposes. The Teneriffe Mountain is a bold, roeky elevation, near the centre of the town, affording excellent pasturage. The town is abund- antly watered, being traversed by numerous streams and brooks beside those already named.

The three ponds from which the principal village takes its name are a trio of beautiful ponds spread out at the base of the mountain, affording excellent boating and fishing, and are a favorite resort of the disciples of the immortal Isaac.

On account of the destruction of the records by fire, it has been found somewhat difficult to determine just when, where, or by whom the first permanent settlement was made in this town. It is, however, very certain that it was in the southern part of the town, and probably as early as 1760, or very near that time.

The writer is of opinion that Jonathan Twombly is entitled to the honor of making the first settlement near the Twombly Brook, and upon the farm' now owned by Hon. Luther Hayes, and sometimes called the Bragdon farm, Samuel Bragdon having purchased

1 By Charles C. Hayes.

615

MILTON.

the farm from a son of Mr. Twombly in about 1800. Mr. Twombly and his wife and some of their chil- dren were, no doubt, buried upon this farm. An an- cient headstone records that IIannah Twombly died in February, 1769. She was doubtless a daughter of Jonathan, and this is believed to be the oldest grave in Milton.

Richard Walker was also a very early settler and a near neighbor of Mr. Twombly; probably there was very little difference in the time of their settlement. Mr. Walker died in 1813 at the age of seventy-seven years, and he and his wife are buried very near their old neighbors. The date of Mr. Twombly's settle- ment is obtained from the birth of his daughter, Betsey, who afterwards married James C. Ilayes. She was born June 4, 1862, and is believed to have been the first white child born in town.

John Twombly, not supposed to be a near relative of Jonathan, made a settlement in what is now known as the Varney neighborhood in 1771 or 1772, and had for nearest neighbor one Jenkins, who lived upon the Goodwin hill at that time. The Christian name of Mr. Jenkins is not known, and no subsequent knowl- edge is had of him. Mr. Twombly very soon removed to and made a permanent settlement in the Lyman neighborhood, where he and his good wife died at a ripe old age. Our respected townsman, Theodore C. Lyman, was an adopted son of this worthy couple, and always spoke of them with much affection.

The next settlement is believed to have been made upon Plumer's Ridge in 1772 or 1773, or very near that time, and probably by Benjamin Scates. Beard 1 Plumer and his brother Joseph, sons of the Hon. John Plumer, of Rochester, however, were very early settlers, and it has been sometimes questioned whether they were not the first in this locality. James C. Hayes, David Wallingford, William Palmer, Elijah Horn, Moses Chamberlain, and others, very soon fol- lowed and opened up settlements in this neighbor- hood. This was soon followed by quite a rush of settlers to the west side of the town, Daniel Hayes, Caleb Wakeham, Enoch Varney, Samuel Nute, Wil- liam Wentworth, William Tuttle, Ichabod Hayes, James Ilayes, Ebenezer Coursan, and Stephen Mes- eron being among the first, Jeremiah Cook, Dudley Burnham, Jotham Nute, Otis Pinkham, Ephraim Plumer, John Twombly, James Varney, John Varney, William Mathes, and others coming soon after.

Early in the summer of 1776, Samuel Twombly, a nephew of the first settler, Jonathan Twombly, could have been seen, with a pack well strapped upon his back, wending his way up the side of Teneriffe, to search out a home for his lady love, returning and bringing her to this wild region the next year. Stephen Wentworth very soon became a neighbor of the Twomblys.

It does not appear that any settlement was made east of the West Branch River prior to about 1785 or 1786, and among the earlier settlers there may be named, among others, Reuben Jones, Paul Jewett, Amos Witham, the Berrys, the Millers, Ephraim Twombly, Paul Wentworth, Caleb Wingate, David Coursan, John MeDuffee, and soon after Ifatwell Nutter, Thomas Applebee, William Applehee, John Hart, John Remick, Jr., Nathaniel Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, and many others.

Among the first who settled at Three Ponds were Samuel Palmer, Levi Burgen, John Fish, Paul Jewett, Pelatiah llanscom, Robert McGeoch, and others.

Daniel Door and Jonathan Door settled at the head of the Pond quite early. The old tavern-house at Three Ponds, burned a few years ago, was built by Robert McGeoch in 1786 or 1787, and was perhaps the first tavern in town.

April 9, 1787, the town of Rochester "voted to raise a tax on the supposed first parish, to pay Rev. Joseph Haven his salary, and also voted to raise an equivalent tax on the out parts of the town, to be laid out by them at such time and place as they may agree." This was doubtless the origin of the dif- ferent parishes which were afterwards established.

On Oct. 15, 1787, Rochester "voted to lay out a road from the Branch bridge to Palmer's mill." This was the first publie road laid out in Milton, and was from some bridge in the present town of Roch- ester, and not from what is now known as the Branch bridge in Milton, for, at a meeting held the 31st day of the following March, they "voted to lay out a road from Palmer's mill to Wakefield line, if the owners will give the land." This road extended over Plumer's Ridge, the Branch River, and what has since been known as the Branch Hill, thus establish- ing a thoroughfare through the entire town from Rochester to Wakefield.

March 7, 1792, "Voted to lay out a road from Moses Chamberlin's to Haines' Mills." This is the old road leading from the Branch to Union village.

March 5, 1793, "Voted to lay out a road from Shap- leigh Upper Mill to Wakefield line, in accordance with the petition of Thomas Cloutmenn."

James Hartford is said to have been the first trader or merchant in Milton. He was located at Three Ponds, but in what year is not known. He has been succeeded by something more than one hundred dif- ferent merchants in that village.

Elijah Horn was doubtless the first blacksmith, but was soon followed by Isaac Worster at the Ponds, and later by Solomon Land and Joseph Rines at Milton Mills.

Stephen Drew settled at Milton Mills in 1818 or 1819, and after a year or two moved to the Three Ponds. He is supposed to liave been the first resi- dent physician in town. Before his time doctors were called from other towns when needed.

1 The writer has adhered to the ancient manver of spelling this and many other names.

646

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Owing to the destruction of the post-office records and papers by fire, it has been found impossible to determine who was the first postmaster in Milton. John Nutter, however, was the first at Milton Mills, and the post-route was from Emery's Mills through Milton Mills to Middleton, and the mail was carried once in two weeks by a Mr. Horne.

It has been determined who the first merchant was in this village, but the ladies have had the privilege of buying their tea and spices from about one hundred different traders. Asa Fox has doubtless been in trade longer than any other person in town, having been in business forty-eight years in succession, and forty-six years upon the same location.

Corporate Seal .- Very soon after the organization of the town it was voted to use the letter M as a seal for the town of Milton.

The first town-meeting in Milton was called by William Palmer, Esq., and held at the dwelling- house of Lient. Elijah Horn (now the dwelling- house of Lewis B. Twombly), on the 30th day of August, 1802; at which meeting Beard Plumer was chosen moderator; Gilman Jewett, town clerk; and William Palmer, John Fish, John Remick, Jr., select- men.

The first official act of the selectmen is shown by the record, as follows, viz .:

"STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, STRAFFORD, S8.

" We, the Selectmen of Milton, do by these presents license Mr. Elijah Horn to keep a Public Tavern at his house in Milton from this date un- der such Rules and Regulations as the Law chrects.

" Given under our hands at Milton this 30th day of August, 1>02.

" William Palmer, " John Fish, " John Remick, Jr., " Selectmen.

" A true copy.

" Attest,

" Gilman Jewett, T. Clerk."

At the first annual meeting, held March 14, 1803, Beard Plnmer was chosen moderator; Gilman Jewett, clerk; William Palmer, John Fish, Ezekiel Hayes, selectmen ; and Beard Plumer, representative. One hundred and thirty-four votes were cast for Governor, of which John J. Gilman had one hundred and three ; John Langdon had thirty-one.

At this meeting a committee was chosen to fix upon the centre of the town and a location for a meeting- house. This committee consisted of Capt. Daniel Hayes, John Fish, Timothy Roberts, John Remick, Jr., William Palmer, and Beard Plumer, who being unable to agree called in council Joshna Allen, Daniel Wingate, and Luther Dearborn, who selected the site of the present town-house. To this the committee did agree, and so reported at an adjourned meeting, which report was accepted and adopted by vote of the town.

The town also voted to build a house fifty-two by forty-two feet, with a porch at each end cleven feet . 1841-51. Robert Mathes.

square, and a portico in front. A building committee was chosen, consisting of John Fish, Gilman Jewett, and Beard Plumer. This committee was authorized to let the building of the house at "public vendue," and also to sell the pews.

On the 4th day of July, 1803, three separate con- tracts were made : first, the construction and erection of the frame (the timber to be cut on the school-lot) was let to Caleb Wingate, for the sum of three hun- dred and ninety-eight dollars; second, the outside fin- ish complete to Gilman Jewett, for six hundred and eighty dollars; third, all the inside work to Daniel Hayes, for nine hundred and forty dollars. The house was to be completed on or before Oct. 31, 1804.

Upon the completion of the house each of the con- tractors presented charges for extra work done, which, with committee's fees, cost of lot, two gallons of rum for the raising, interest, etc., brought the whole cost up to two thousand three hundred and fifty-two dollars and twenty-eight cents. The pews sold for nineteen hundred and eighty-three dollars and seventy-five cents, thus leaving the town a property interest in the house of three hundred and sixty-eight dollars . and fifty-three cents.

The first town-meeting was held in the new house on the 27th day of August, 1804, for the election of town representatives to Congress. At this meeting James C. Hayes was chosen moderator.

On the 1st day of May, 1850, at a proprietors' meet- ing called for that purpose, it was voted to sell this meeting-house, and a committee consisting of Charles C. Hayes, Enoch W. Plumer, and Joseph Plumer was chosen to sell and convey the same.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 151

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