History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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 159
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 159

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).

In religious faith Mr. Rollins was reared a Con- gregationalist, and when in Rollinsford he attends worship at the old First Parish Church in Dover, where Rev. Dr. Spalding officiates. Mrs. Rollins is an Episcopalian, and in Concord the family attend upon the services of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Ile has long been a member of the Masonic frater- nity, of the Blazing Star Lodge, Trinity Chapter, and Mount Horeb Commandery, at Concord, of which he has been Eminent Commander.

Mr. Rollins is very fond of agricultural pursuits, and works on his farm in the haying and harvesting seasons, with great benefit to himself physically. Though constitutionally not very strong, and of a highly nervous temperament, his excellent personal habits, his rural tastes and simplicity of life, have en- abled him to do a prodigious amount of work with- out suffering anything beyond an occasional derange- ment of health, always restored by relaxation from official duties and physical labor on the farm, where he was wont to take similar exercise in boyhood. He is now in the full vigor and strength of his powers, and may reasonably look forward to many years more of active usefulness to the State and nation.

AUGUSTUS ROLLINS.

The name of Rollins, or Rawlins, as it was once written, is one of the most ancient in the history of England, and has been a fixed surname for more than five hundred years. It is an old family in Cornwall, and more ancient still in Hertfordshire, where persons of the name were for many generations officially con- nected with the principal city of that county, and they have spread into almost every county in England, as well as to Ireland, Scotland, and America. The ear- liest mention of the name which has been found dates back to 1363, when Gilbert Rawlin, or Rawlyn, was viear of Marshworth, in Buckinghamshire. He ex- changed this for the vicarage of Kensington, where he remained until 1370.

The family in this country traces its ancestry to James Rawlins, who came from Ipswich, England, in 1632, and settled in Dover, living on the ancient Rol- lins homestead in what is now Newington.

The father of the subject of this memoir, Hiram Rollins, was descended from the emigrant James as follows: The emigrant's son Ichabod was father of Jeremiah, whose son Ichabod was many years a judge ; Judge Ichabod's son John was father of Hiram.

Capt. Hiram Rollins was for many years a success- fnl shipmaster. Dee. 4, 1790, he married Joanna, daughter of Paul, and granddaughter of Col. John Wentworth. His second wife was Mary H. (Noble) Simes, of Portsmouth, whom he married Jan. 21, 1804. During a portion of his life he took considerable in- terest in the militia of the State, and was aide to Maj .- Gen. Samuel Hale, Second Division New Hampshire militia, in 1808. He died at Somersworth (now Rol- linsford), Aug. 24, 1843, aged seventy-six years.

Augustus Rollins, the subject of this memoir, was born in the part of Somersworth now set off as Rol- linsford, Aug. 29, 1797. Early in life he manifested a decided interest in agricultural pursuits, and became one of the leading farmers and progressive agricul-

turists in the State. He was ever mindful of the welfare of his native town, and labored zealously to promote its interests. He held the various town offices, and also represented Rollinsford in the Legis- lature. It may truly be said that he was one of the most active and influential citizens of the town. He was a Republican in politics, and very energetic during the late Rebellion, contributing liberally in both time and money to the cause.

May 24, 1824, be united in marriage with Abiah Winkley, of Barrington, N. H., and their family con- sisted of the following: Samuel Winkley, Oliver E., Augustus W., Mary, Ellen, and Lydia Hale, all of whom survive except Ellen and Augustus W.

Samuel W., who graduated at Dartmouth in 1846, is a lawyer, and judge of probate of Belknap County, residing at Meredith village. He is a prominent citizen of that county, and has been county solicitor and United States assistant assessor. He read law with Hon. Charles W. Woodman, and later with the late Hon. Daniel M. Christie, one of the Nestors of the bar, and commeneed practice in Farmington in 1849, and in Meredith village in 1855, where he has since re- sided. He married Mary A., daughter of the late Dr. D. T. Livy, of Wolfborough, N. 11.

Col. Augustus W. entered the Union service Nov. 7, 1861, as captain of Company F, Seventh New Hamp- shire Regiment. He was promoted to major July 23, 1863; to lieutenant-colonel Sept. 30, 1864; and was subsequently breveted colonel, and at the close of the war was commissioned colonel of the Second New Hampshire Regiment, which office he held at the time of his death. He was a brave and gallant officer, and participated in the battles of Olustee, Fla., Chester Hill, Drury's Bluff, Deep Run, Newmarket Heights (under the fortifications of Richmond his horse was shot under him, and was severely injured by the fall), Laurel Hill, Darbytown road, two assaults on Forts Wagner and Gregg in the bloody days in front of Petersburg, and at the storming of Fort Fisher. It was for gallantry at this contest that he was breveted colonel. Col. Rollins was a member of the Legisla- ture in 1869. He died Feb. 16, 1870. The three surviving sisters occupy the old homestead. Mrs. Rollins died Feb. 24, 1881.

WILLIAM H. MORTON.

William H. Morton, son of William and Saralı Griffith Morton, was born in Portsmouth, N. II., Feb. 14, 1814. He remained in his native town until 1823, when his parents removed to Salmon Falls, and young William's education, which was begun in Portsmouth, was completed at South Berwiek Acad- emy. He pursued bis studies with diligence and at- tention, and succeeded in acquiring an education that well qualified him for his subsequent successful busi- ness career.

In 1830 he went into the Salmon Falls Manufactur-

Claycitus Rollins

Il je Morton

Converse

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ROLLINSFORD.

ing Company's employ to learn the art of wool-sort- ing, where he remained four years. In 1834 the mills were destroyed by fire, and young Morton then went to Massachusetts, and commenced work in a woolen- mill at Grafton, where he remained about two years, and then engaged in the mercantile business in the same town. In 1842 he removed to Blackstone, Mass., and began trading, which he continued until 1845, when he returned to Salmon Falls, and opened a store in this town. He continued in the mercantile busi- ness here until the organization of the Salmon Falls Bank, in 1851, when he disposed of his business and became cashier of the bank, a position which he has held to the present time, a period of over thirty years. He was also one of the incorporators and trustees of the Rollinsford Savings-Bank, and has been its secre- tary and treasurer from its organization to the pres- ent time.

Mr. Morton is one of the most active and influen- tial citizens of the town, and the confidence in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen is evidenced by the fact that he has held the office of town treasurer since the incorporation of Rollinsford in 1849, clerk since 1853, and justice of the peace since 1857. He was also selectman of the town of Somersworth two years (before Rollinsford was set off), and has been select- man of Rollinsford three years. In all these various offices which he has been called upon to occupy, he has discharged the duties with eminent credit to him- self and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Politically he is a Republican, and attends the Con- gregational Church.

In 1841 he united in marriage with Sarah P. Mer- rianı, a native of Grafton, Mass., and their family con- sisted of three children, only one of whom is living, -Etta, widow of John Merriam. Mrs. Morton died in 1849, and in 1851 he married Armine Leavitt, a native of York, Me., and their family consisted of the following: Frederick II., deceased; William A., a resident of Portland, Me. ; and Sarah J., now attend- ing school at Exeter, N. H. Mr. Morton's second wife died in 1866, and in 1867 he united in marriage with Mary Shackford, a native of Portsmouth, N. H.

JOSHUA CONVERSE.

The Converse family traces its ancestry back to the sixteenth century. The original seat of the family was in Navarre, France, from whence was Roger de Coigniers, who emigrated to England near the end of the reign of William the Conqueror, and to whom the Bishop of Durham gave the constableship of Durham. Among his descendants, Conyers, of Horden, Dur- ham, was created a baronet July 14, 1628. Sir Humphry, the eighth generation, wrote the name Coigners, and Sir Christopher, the twentieth gener- ation, adopted the orthography of Conyers.

In Navarre, in the sixteenth century, the residence of a family of this name was known as the Chateau

de Coigniers. Those bearing the name were Ilugue- nots, and in the massacre on St. Bartholomew's Day, in 1572, many of the family fell victims to the rage of the Papists, and Pierre Coigniers, who was at- tached to the conrt of Henry IV., of France, having witnessed the assassination of his kinsman, Admiral Colligney, and fearful of his own safety, escaped with his wife and two infants to England, and settled in the county of Essex, where his son married a lady of considerable possessions in that and an adjoining county. It was Ralph, a son of this marriage, who was created a baronet by King Charles II. The name has passed through various modifications from Coigniers, Conyers, Convers, and Converse.

The Converse family in this country dates its an- cestry to Deacon Edward Convers, or Converse, who arrived in New England in the fleet with Governor Winthrop, in 1630, and settled in Charlestown.

Joshua Converse, the subject of this sketch, son of Joshua and Polly Piper Converse, was born in Rindge, N. H., June 15, 1813. In early life he engaged in the manufacture of cotton fabrics, and was superin- tendent of the Suffolk corporation, of Lowell, sev- eral years. In 1859 he removed to Salmon Falls, N. H., and accepted the appointment of agent, in which position he was eminently successful. While a resident of Lowell he was a member of the Mas- sachusetts Legislature, and of the common council and board of aldermen. He was a director and sub- sequent president of the Traders' and Mechanics' In- surance Company, a director of the Prescott Bank, and a trustee of the Lowell Five-Cent Savings-Bank, from the organization of these associations until he removed from Lowell. Since 1860 he has been a director of the Salmon Falls Bank, and vice-presi- dent of the Rollinsford Savings-Bank. In the dis- charge of these important trusts, and in the manage- ment of the business of an extensive manufacturing corporation, the ability and integrity of Mr. Converse have commanded the unqualified respect of his asso- ciates.

In 1875. Mr. Converse purchased a tract of land on the eastern slope of Garrison Hill, and erected a residence and here intended to pass the remainder of his days in retirement. But having pursued an ac- tive life from an early day, he found inactivity irk- some, and so purchased a wharf in Dover, and es- tablished a lumber business. This business from a small beginning has increased from year to year until at the present time the annual sales amount to one hundred thousand dollars. In 1879, Charles C. Hobbs . became associated with him, and the business is now conducted under the firmn-name of Converse & Hobbs. Mr. Converse is one of the leading citizens of Rol- linsford, and represented that town in the Legislature in 1877 and 1878; Republican in politics.

Oct. 18, 1835, he united in marriage with Jane B., daughter of Galen and Jane Barker Damon, and their family consisted of three children, a son and

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

two daughters, only one of whom survives,-Mary Jane, wife of James A. Place, of South Berwick, Me .; William Henry, and Josephine (deceased). Mrs. Converse died March 4, 1868, and Ang. 30, 1869, he married II. Jennie Dearborn, daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Drew) Dearborn.

WILLIAM R. GARVIN.

The Garvin family date their ancestry in this coun- try to James Garvin, who came from Ireland and set- tled in what is now the town of Rollinsford in about the year 1700. He was a sea-captain and an active man of that day. He built a store at what is now known as the lower landing, where he sold West India goods. A son, Thomas, was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

William R. Garvin, son of Samuel and Susan Rob- erts Garvin, was born on the premises he now occu- pies in the town of Rollinsford, March 15, 1830. His early education was obtained at the common schools, and he subsequently attended the Berwick Academy, and later we find him teaching school during the winter and working on the farm during the summer season. Reared on the farm, he soon manifested a landable ambition to excel in agricultural pursuits, and he has kept pace with the progress of the age. He was an active member of the old agricultural society, and labored earnestly in its behalf. Mr. Garvin has also manifested an interest in improving the stock of this region, and is known as a successful breeder of the celebrated Ayreshire cattle. System- atic, energetic, and possessed of progressive ideas, he ranks among the most successful agriculturists of the town of Rollinsford, well known as one of the best and most attractive agricultural sections in this old commonwealth. Mr. Garvin is ranked among the substantial citizens of the town, and has held the various town offices, such as selectman, school com- mittee, etc., and during the last election was the can- didate of his party for county commissioner. He is Democratic in politics, and an earnest advocate of the principles of that party. In religious matters he also takes a deep interest ; is a member of the Baptist Church at South Berwick, Me .; is active in the Sab- bath-school, and for a long time was one of its officers.

April 2, 1862, he united in marriage with Frances H. Yeaton, a native of Rollinsford, and their family consists of seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters,-Annie Bertha, Clara W., William R., Susie, Homer, Gertrude, and Samuel R.

On his maternal side Mr. Garvin traces his lineage to the Wentworth family, his mother, Susan, born April 19, 1804, being the daughter of Deborah Went- worth Roberts, who was the daughter of Bartholomew and Ruth Hall Wentworth. Mrs. Garvin is a sister of the late Judge Hiram Roberts, of this town. Samuel, father of William R., was born in Rollins- ford, Sept. 12, 1804.

LORENZO STACKPOLE.

Lorenzo Stackpole is a descendant of Joshua Stack- pole; married, in 1740, Lucy Baker; settled in Somersworth (now Rollinsford). His ancestors came from Sligo, Ireland, and they named that part of Somersworth where they settled Sligo, and the name clings to that locality to-day.

Joshna's second wife was Abigail Hobbs. He was the father of thirteen children. Three of the first wife's sons were sea-captains at one time. Andrew was lost at sea.

Tobias, the youngest son of the second wife, was born August, 1766, in Somersworth. He married, when in his twentieth year, Eunice Roberts. He settled in Somersworth, near St. Alban's Cove, on the banks of the Piscataqua. They had twelve children, eight lived and were married. Nearly all had chil- dren.

Tobias Stackpole was a sea-captain. He died of a fever in his fifty-third year.

Moses, the sixth child, married Nancy Leighton, of Somersworth. They settled in Somersworth, near Great Falls ..

They had three children,-Lorenzo, the eldest, was born Sept. 21, 1824. He married, Nov. 7, 1849, El- vira C. Wentworth, of Rollinsford ( Rollinsford was taken from Somersworth, and incorporated July 3, 1849). They settled in South Berwick, Me. They had Annie Wentworth, born Dec. 10, 1850 ; Edgar C., born May 1, 1852, died Aug. 24, 1852.

Lorenzo bought a farm in the lower part of Rol- linsford, near the home of his ancestors, moved there in July, 1858. He has made milk business a spec- ialty.

Annie W. married, first, Joshua H. Lame, of New Jersey, July 6, 1869. He died Sept. 10, 1869; second, Bernhard Baer, of Germany, Jan. 3, 1872. They had Lorenzo E., born July 10, 1876, in Rollinsford.

CHAPTER CIII.

SOMERSWORTH.1

Geographical-Topographical-First Settlements-Indian Depredations -Documentary Ilistory-War of the Revolution-Incorporation of the Parish-Names of Petitioners-Act passed in 1729-Incorporation of Town-Names of Petitioners-Incorporation of Rollinsford-Som- ersworth " Army," 1746.

THE town of Somersworth lies in the southeastern part of Strafford County, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Rochester, on the east by Salmon Falls River, which separates it from Maine, on the south by Rollinsford and Dover, and on the west by Dover. The surface is rolling, and the soil generally fertile.

1 The editor acknowledges his indebtedness for much valuable assist- ance in the compilation of the history of this town to Joseph A. Stick- ney, Esq., aud Mr. Edward O. Lord.

N.R. Garvin

Larengo Sticafall

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SOMERSWORTH.

The territory embraced within the present town of Somersworth was settled some time after Waldron began the settlement of Cocecho Lower Lalls (1640), probably about the year 1670, at or near Humphrey's (now Hussey's) Pond. The people gradually pushed farther and farther into the wilderness. The Heard family had commenced a clearing and built a garri- son northwest of Varney's (now Garrison) Hill. Others found their way still farther into the north of Dover, seldom going beyond two or three miles from a garrison-house, to which they could fly in time of peril. About 1675 a family settled two miles north of Salmon Falls, on the Indigo Hill road, and tradi- tion says they built a garrison.

During the earlier Indian wars Somersworth ex- perienced very little of the desolating effects that befell her other more populous neighbors. The In- dians roamed the country in small bands, and on their way to some larger community often attacked the lonely farm-houses lying in their track. George and Martin Rieker, Jabez Garland, and Gershum Downs are mentioned among those who fell vietims to the prowling savages.

Ebenezer Downs, a Quaker, living on Indigo Hill, who, like his brethren, refused to arm himself or seek protection from the savages, was captured, taken to Canada, and sold with a number of others. Around the camp-fires at night the Indians gathered, and for pastime brought forth their prisoners to dance. On their way to Canada, Friend Downs refused to gratify their desires, and consequently was subjected to ill usage. He was taken by the same band that captured the family of John Hanson, of Knox-Marsh, in Dover, and the following summer Mr. Hanson re- deemed his family, together with Mr. Downs.

It was about 1750 that Andrew Horn came from Dover and purchased the land where Great Falls is now located, erected a house near the present site of the Boston and Maine Railroad depot, and shortly afterwards a saw- and grist-mill at the falls. Those who had explored this region years before had re- turned with glowing accounts of the beauty of the scenery and of the magnificence of a fall, where the water dashed from ledge to ledge down a distance of a hundred feet or more, and from its being the largest on the Salmon Falls River they termed it the "great falls," hence the origin of the name of one of the most beautiful villages in New England.

In 1772 a new meeting-house was ordered to be built, and a committee appointed " to see to ye Build- ing Thereof." (The reader must bear it in mind that the meeting-house, the "training-lot," and the centre of business was by the graveyard, near the present location of Rollinsford Junction. For a more thorough account, see history of Rollinsford, in this work.) Among the men who took an active part in the publie business of the town at that time were Hon. John Wentworth, Hon. Ichabod Rollins, Dr. Moses Carr (for many years town clerk), Lieut. Yea- |

ton, Joshua Roberts, Thomas Stackpole, Richard Philpot, and their beloved pastor, Rev. James Pike.

From the conclusion of the French and Indian wars to the opening of the Revolution the history of Somersworth was one of uninteresting progression. From a few scattering farms in a wilderness she had sprung up into a populous town. The first breath of wind that bore the news of the tyrannical aets of the mother-country to the hills of New Hampshire stirred the blood of the hitherto quiet people of Somersworth. The colonists had been cradled in warfare by their many bloody fights with the savages, and again the time had come that would test their courage, for their liberty, that was as dear as life, was at stake. Two delegates-John Wentworth and Jehabod Rollins -were elected by a general town-meeting to rep- resent the town in the provincial "Congress" at Exeter, and to unite with men from other towns in the State in sending a delegate to the General Con- gress then summoned at Philadelphia. Somersworth was requested to raise, by subscription or otherwise, four pounds, as her share of a fund to defray the ex- penses of the delegates to Philadelphia and back ; more than the amount required was subscribed in a short time. For the long struggle that followed Somersworth was found ready, and in it her full pro- portion of men and means was embarked. True, there were some who opposed the measures of the colonists, but they were usually overpowered. At one time a vote to give a bounty of six dollars to those who enlisted was defeated at a town-meeting, but soon after another meeting was called, and the vote passed by a large majority. Friday, April 21, 1775, nearly the whole population of the town gath- ered at their little meeting-house and "voted that twenty men immediately march from town to meet the enemy, and those who shall go shall have wages." We can imagine those twenty brave fellows gathered on the "training-lot," with tearful eyes, bidding their friends adieu, and we follow them with our mind's eye over the winding roads,-through Dover, through Durham, Newmarket, and Exeter,-and we see others grasping the musket and joining the ranks until it had swelled to hundreds, and we lose sight of them as they disappear in the smoke of the battle. After- wards the town voted ten dollars bounty ; again, twenty dollars; and still again, before the elose of the war, thirty dollars were offered to those who would enlist. At those times of contracted currency these were very liberal sums. The town furnished more than fifty men during the war.

Nothing worth recording occurred in Somersworth from the close of the Revolution to 1820. In this year Isaac Wendell came from Dover, built a mill, and began the manufacture of cotton goods. Three years after the Great Falls Manufacturing Company was incorporated the old mill was soll, torn down, and taken to Farmington. The new company under the direction of Mr. Wendell purchased a traet of

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

land of Gershom Horn, ereeted several new mills, and commenced manufacturing cotton and woolen goods. At that time two houses only stood on the present site of Great Falls.

Incorporation of a Parish .- In 1729 the following petition was presented by the inhabitants in the north- eastern part of Dover for the formation of a new parish :

To his Exeelleney William Burnet Esqr. Captain General and Governour in Cheif in and over his Majesties province of New Hamp' the Honourable his Majesties Couneil and the Representatives of the sª province in General Assembly Convened.

The Petition of the Subseribers Inhabitants of the North East part of the Town of Dover, humbly sheweth-That the Dwelling places of yor Petitioners are at a great distance from the houses of the Public Worship of God in the Town of Dover where your Petitioners live by which their attendance thereon is rendered very difficult more especially to the women and children of their families and that in the Winter Season and in Stormy weather So yt they cannot pay that Honour and Worship to God in publiek as it is their hearts desire they could. therefore for the advaneing the Interest of Religion and for the Ac- commodation of yor Petitioners It is humbly prayed by them that Your Excellency and the Honourable Assembly will please to sett them off as a Parrish for the Maintaining the Public worship of God amongst themselves and that they be dismiss'd from the Town of Dover as to the Supporting of the Settled Minister there, And that the Bounds of that their Parish may begin at the Gulfs a place so called at Cochecho river, and from thenee to run to Varney's Hill and from thence the Town bounds on a North West point of the Compass & Your Petitioners Shall ever Pray as in duty bound &c

Samuel Roberts John Roberts

Paul Wentworth Samuel Randall

Thomas Alden

Samuel Cosen

Elazer Wyer? -? Ricker Lowe Roberts Ephraim Ricker

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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