History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

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 31
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 31

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).

Dr. Moses Clarke, son of Greenleaf Clarke, Esq., studied medicine with Dr. Josiah Crosby and Profs. Dixi Crosby and E. R. Peaslee ; attended lectures at Hanover; M.D. at D. C. 1843; settled in Cambridge, Mass. ; died 1864, aged forty-six.

Dr. William Cogswell, son of Joseph B. Cogswell,- Esq., studied medicine with Dr. George Cogswell, of Bradford, Mass .; attended lectures at Hanover and Boston ; M.D. at D. C. 1845 ; practices at Bradford, Mass. ; member of Governor's Council, and president of Massachusetts Medical Society.

Elbridge Gerry Bassett, son of Capt. John Bassett, B. C. 1838, attorney in New Castle, Ky .; died 1850.

Dr. William Knight, son of Col. Joseph Knight, studied medicine with Dr. N. K. Kelly, of Plaistow ; M.D. at the Berkshire Medical School ; practiced in Marlboro' and Medway ; died 1869.

Paul Porter Todd, son of Mr. Ebenezer Todd, D. C. 1842; attorney in Kentucky, Blackstone, R. I., 1 and New York City.

William Cleaves Todd, brother of above. (See pre- ceptors.)

Dr. Richard Page, son of Mr. Aaron Page, studied medicine with Dr. Hovey, of Atkinson; M.D. at the Berkshire Medical School; practiced in Candia ; died 1876.

ough; D. C. 1855; teacher in business in Haver- hill ; died 1875.

Dr. John Henry Gilbert, son of Deacon Franklin Gilbert; M.D. at Harvard 1853; practiced in Quiney, Mass.

Francis Cogswell, son of Joseph B. Cogswell, Esq., became distinguished as a teacher at Cambridge, Mass. Superintendent of schools in that city since 1874. Iu 1881 received from Harvard the degree of M.A.

Rev. John B. Merrill, son of Mr. P. D. Merrill. Baptist minister at Kingston and Candia.

John Vose IIazen. (See preceptors.)

Mr. James Noyes, son of Mr. Ilumphrey Noyes, Jr., though not a professional nor a liberally- educated man, was a person in some respects distinguished for education as being the author of the third arithmetic ever written and published in New England by an American ; the title of the work is "Federal Arith- metic."

CHAPTER XVII.

ATKINSON .- ( Continued.)

Lawyers-Physicians-Sketches of Individuals-Longevity-Miscella- neous-Military Record-Representatives.

THE only lawyer who ever practiced in the town was John Kelly, who had formerly been preceptor in the academy. He removed here from Chester, and practiced till his death. He was also distinguished as a surveyor.

Physicians .- Dr. Nathaniel Peabody was the first

John Badger Clarke, brother of the above, D. C. , physician who ever settled in Atkinson, where he soon 1843, studied law with his brother, W. C. Clarke; ad- acquired a very extensive business, and was accounted an able and successful practitioner. (See sketches.) mitted to the bar ; editor ( Mirror and Farmer), Man- ehester.

Dr. Kendall Osgood was born at Andover in 1757, and was settled as a physician in Atkinson about 1785. He removed to Peterboro' in the summer of 1788, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was one of the original Fellows of the New HIamp- shire Medical Society. He died Aug. 19, 1801, aged forty-four.

Dr. William Cogswell. (See sketch.)

Dr. Thomas Wallace, born at Bedford, Jan. 14, 1793, commenced practice in Middleton, Mass. ; prac- ticed for a time in Atkinson ; soon removed to Derry.

Dr. Isaac Burnham Hovey, born in Derry, May 1, 1790, pursued a partial course at Dartmouth, received his medical degree at Brown University, Sept. 6, 1820. His license to practice was obtained from Massachu- setts Medical Society July 3, 1822. He removed to Atkinson, October, 1822, and continued in the prac- tice of his profession for nearly half a century, till his death, Jan. 6, 1872. He was a man of strong good sense, an excellent practitioner, and, aside from the practice of his profession, took a marked interest in education, in farming, and in civil affairs. He was

Elbridge Gerry Grenough, son of Mr. John Gren- | a magistrate, and served the town for many years as

Jesse Page

211

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ATKINSON

town clerk and represented it one year in the Legis- lature. He lived and died much respected. It may be worthy of remark that during his whole profes- sional career, his charge was only fifty cents a visit.

Sketches of Individuals .- Nathaniel Peabody, the first physician of the town, was born in Tops- field, Mass., that cradle of the Peabody family, March 1, 1741. He was the son of Dr. Jacob Pea- body, and by his mother, Susannah Rogers, daughter of Rev. John Rogers, of Boxford, a descendant of Nathaniel Rogers, of Ipswich, Mass. As a physician he was successful and prominent in the organization of the New Hampshire Medical Society. At the out- break of the Revolutionary war he took an active part and was appointed, Oct. 27, 1774, lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh New Hampshire Regiment. March 25, 1779, he was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress. Subsequently he was Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, State senator and councilor, and major-general of the militia. About the commencement of the present century he became involved in debt, and for many of the last years of his life he was imprisoned at Exeter, and died within the limits of the jail-yard June 27, 1823, aged eighty-two years. He was a man of much energy and ability, and prominent in the carly his- tory of New Hampshire. He took much interest in education, and in 1791 he received the degree of Master of Arts from the trustees of Dartmouth Col- lege.

REV. STEPHEN PEABODY was born in Andover, Mass., Nov. 11, 1741 ; was graduated at Harvard Col- lege 1769, a classmate of Theophilus Parsons. He died May 23, 1819. He was chaplain in the army during the Revolutionary war. His first wife was Miss Polly Haseltine, of Bradford, Mass., aunt of the distinguished teacher of that name, also of the first Mrs. Judson. His second wife was the widow of Rev. John Shaw, of Haverhill, Mass., daughter of Rev. John Smith, of Weymouth, Mass., and sister of Mrs. President John Adams, a lady of great accomplish- ments, whose influence in refining the people of her husband's parish is still felt. By her first husband she was the mother of William Smith Shaw, long connected with the Boston Athenaeum, and of Mrs. Abigail Adams Felt, wife of Rev. Joseph B. Felt, well known for his historical and genealogical researches.

tect home industry, a trait carefully handed down in the old Bay State. Parson Peabody, or Sir Peabody, as he was usually termed, was a pastor of the old school, kind and affable, yet always in dress and manner preserving the dignity of his profession. Every Sunday he announced what families he would visit during the week to catechize the children, and at the appointed hour with much trembling the little ones were gathered by their parents into the best room in their Sunday clothes, to pass the trying ordeal of an examination in the Westminster Cate- chism, happy if successful, covered with unspeakable shame if they failed. At the church the whole con- gregation rose as the minister and his lady entered, and at the close of the services all remained standing till they had left, bowing as they passed along the aisle and out of the sanctuary. He kept open doors, and was known to all the countrymen who from Ver- mont and the upper part of New Hampshire passed through the village with country produce to exchange for groceries. A large fire burned in his sitting-room, and often it is said the stranger would enter, warm himself by the grateful fire, talk with his host, and depart, the face of the guest unseen, and, with the courtesy of the old days of chivalry, his name unasked. The name of the good pastor is still green in the town of his long labors, and a fine monument has recently been placed over his remains. Requiescat in pace.

DR. WILLIAM COGSWELL was born in Haverhill, Mass., July 11, 1760. He was a descendant of Jobn Cogswell, who came from London and settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1635. He was appointed surgeon's mate at West Point in 1781, and continued in the service till the close of the war. In 1784 he was promoted to the charge of the hospital at West Point, where he remained till Sept. 1, 1785, when he com- menced practice in Atkinson. He was active in his profession, in the cause of education, and in public affairs. An excellent citizen, he was decided in his opinions and energetic in every good work ; he tol- erated no wrong in the community around him, and trained up a large family of children by obedience at home to be good men and women. He died Jan. 1,1831.

To Mr. Peabody more than to any other one man the academy is indebted for its establishment. He he- came personally liable for its debts, and to secure funds obtained an act of the Legislature authorizing a lottery, no unusual method in those days of procur- | His early life was marked by sobriety and applica- ing money for benevolent objects. Application was made to the Legislature of Massachusetts for permis- sion to sell tickets in that State, as by an. act of the Legislature in February, 1801, the sale of lottery tickets from other States was forbidden except by legislative consent. This permission was refused, not from any moral scruples but from a desire to pro-

REV. JESSE PAGE was born in Atkinson, N. H., Feb. 23, 1805. His great-grandfather was Edmund Page, one of the first settlers of the town ; his grand- father, Capt. Jesse Page, was a brave soldier in the Revolution, and his father, Col. William Page, for thirty years a deacon in the Congregational Church. tion. July 10, 1827, he united with the Congrega- tional Church in Atkinson with his younger brother, Rev. William Page, for twenty years an earnest and successful minister. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1831, when he was appointed to deliver an English oration and public oration before the theo- logical society. Immediately after graduation he

124

IHISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

took charge of the academy at Limerick, Me., for one year. He then entered Andover Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1835, and the next week was ordained over the Trinitarian Congregational Church in North Andover, Mass. Jan. 14, 1837, he married Ann Poor Little, daughter of Ezekiel Little, Esq., many years a teacher of one of the public schools of Boston, Mass. They had four children,-one daughter, Mary Ann, and three sons who died in infancy. The mother, a superior woman, died Dec. 8, 1846. He was dismissed from North Andover, Mass., June 7, 1843, at his request in impaired health. lle removed to South Andover, Mass., and supplied at Litchfield, where a new meeting- house was erected and a church reorganized which had been disbanded. In June, 1845, he became stated supply of the Congregational Church in At- kinson, his native place, which continued till the spring of 1869, when he was prostrated with the pneumonia, which disabled him from constant preach- ing. During this time in 1860 he was called to preach to a Methodist society in Lynn, Mass., which he organized into the Chestnut Street Congregational Church, and in 1862 he took charge of the Rutgers Female College, New York City, while the president went to the army.

His first care has ever been for the cause of re- ligion, to which everything else has been subordinate ; earnest and orthodox as a preacher, faithful as a pastor, no minister has done so much to strengthen the church. His feeling has always been that on religion alone must a community depend for its safety and prosperity. Far-seeing in his plans, he has been wise and persistent in their execution. To but few persons has the town been so much indebted, and no one has been more anxious to have it known and re- spected. During his long life he has not only been interested in what relates to the church, but has been active in the cause of education, and in all that could benefit the town. He has been president of the board of trustees of the academy since 1848, and no other one has done so much to sustain it. Nor have his sympathies been alone with his native town, but he has ever been anxious to promote the welfare of his alma mater, and other educational and religious in- stitutions. He has a large acquaintance, and his ad- vice is always much sought and prized. He has been foremost in every good work, not only by his counsels but by liberal contributions. His interest in young men is especially worthy of mention. Fluent in speech, with fine conversational powers, social and even in his temperament, he is attractive as a host ! and welcome as a guest. He has filled a large space in the history of his native town, and when he passes away he will leave a large void behind him.

bard's staff in 1842 with the rank of colonel; was member of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1842- 43 and 1877; was member of Governor's Council in 1850-51; was member of the Constitutional Con- vention of New Hampshire in 1876; member of the Senate in 1879; was appointed by the Governor and Council special commissioner on the Boston and Maine Railroad from 1846 to 1856, and again in 1880, which office he still holds. He is treasurer of the board of trustees of Atkinson Academy.

Longevity .- The town embraces an area of six thousand eight hundred acres, was incorporated as late as 1767, and has never contained at one time more than six hundred inhabitants. It has ever been accounted a remarkably healthy place. During four- teen consecutive months there was not a single death. For the two years preceding the date of this history the death-rate has been only twelve in a thousand, and the average age of the deceased has been over seventy. No child has died between the ages of one and eighteen, and but one child has died in twenty years between the ages of one and fifteen. The fol- lowing persons lived to the advanced age affixed to their respective names : Hannah Belknap, 106; Eze- kiel Belknap, 100; Elizabeth Jewell, 100 ; Moses Bel- knap, 993; Moses Belknap, Jr., 99}; William Web- ster, 97; Benjamin Richards, 96; Mary Merrill, 96 ; Susannah Grovet, 953 ; Lydia Sawyer, 95; Ruth Wright, 94; Joshua Richards, 94; Sarah Webster, 93; Sarah Currier, 93; Elizabeth L. Page, 93 ;. Judith Cogswell, 93; Elizabeth Noyes, 92; Betsey Atwood, 92; Josiah Grover, 92; Relief Whittaker, 92; Samuel Knight, 92; William Johnson, 92; Ste- phen Page, 91; Abigail Little, 91; Eunice Knight, 91; Mary Merrill, 91 ; Moses Greenough, 90; Joseph Chandler, 90 ; Joseph Whittaker, 90; Hepzibah Green- ough, 89; Hannah L. Noyes, 89; Peter Noyes, 89 ; Lydia Clark, 89, and Sally Richards, 89 (twins) ; Ste- phen Webster, 89; Jonathan Perere, 89; Ednah Greenough, 88; Abiah Curriet, 88; Sarah Webster, 88; Ezekiel Little, 88; Anna Webster, 88; Nathaniel Foote, 88; Susannah Page, 87 ; Hannah Richards, 87; James Noyes, 87 ; James Merrill, 87 ; Jonathan Whittaker. 87; Samuel Basset, 87 ; Judith Cogswell, 86; Elizabeth Clement, 86; Betsey Brickett, 86; Lydia B. Nonrse, 86; John Greenough, 86 ; John Kelly, 85; Sarah Webster, 85; Nathan Dons, 85; Tristram Knight, 85; Abigail Knight, 85; Betsey Richards, 85; Abraham Richards, 85; Henry Noyes, 85; John Webster, 84; Hannah Poor, 84; Sarah Page, 84; Reuben Mills, 84; Nathan Page, 84; Ju- dith Chandler, 84; Hezekiah Merrill, 84; Rosana Whittaker, 84; Hannah Knight, 84; Bethiah Web- ster, 83; James White, 83; Dorothy Little, 83; Su- sannah Knight, 83; Richard Wheeler, 83; Silas 83; Lucy Noyes, 83; David M. Wheeler, 83; Daniel Page, 82; William Page, 82; William Webster, 82; Tristram Knight, 82; Rebecca Jacques, 82; Tamar

HON. GREENLEAF CLARKE, son of Greenleaf ' Noyes, 83; Jonathan Tilton, 83; John Pettingill, Clarke, grandson of Dr. William Cogswell, has for many years been one of the most influential citizens of Atkinson. He was appointed on Governor Hub-

125

ATKINSON.

Noyes, 82; Sarah Little, 82; Thomas Knight, 82; Ruth Knight, 82; Judith Little, 82; Isaac Hale, 82; Caleb Noyes, 81; James Dow, 81 ; Anthony Smith, 81; Hannah Wood, 81; Job Dow, 81; Betsey Mor- rison, 81; Ellenor Page, 81; Elizabeth Knight, 81; Moses Dow, 81; Isaac B. Hovey, M.P., 81; Ruth Johnson, 80; Dorcas Page, 80; Jonathan Page, 80; Samuel Little, 80; Abigail Little, 80; Hannah Web- ster, 80 ; Joseph Knight, 80; Sarah Knight, 80 ; Anna Knight, 80; Abigail Knight, 80; Susannah Dow, 80; Jonathan Poor, 80; Sarah Poor, 80; Stephen Merrill, 80; James Merrill, 80; Mary White, 80; Caleb Richards, 80; James Conley, 80 ; James Noyes, 80; John Kelly, 80; John Noyes, 80.

The following persons (1882) still living and resid- ing in Atkinson have arrived at the great age affixed to their respective names: Prudence Bradley, 90; Lydia Clough, 89; William Noyes, 85; Clarissa Dow, 85; Sally Little, 84; Abigail Pettingill, 84; Harriet W. Roberts, 82; Dorcas Noyes, 81. Three persons have died the present year whose ages were 83, 76, and 72.

Miscellaneous Matters .- The first house in the town was built by Benjamin Richards, at the end of the lane leading from the main street, a little north of the burying-ground. In this same house Lieut. Ezekiel Belknap died, Jan. 5, 1836, aged one hun- dred years and forty days. He was a soldier of the old French war, afterwards an officer in the Revolu- tionary war, and was present at the execution of André.

For many years since the incorporation of the town, and for several years preceding 1882, there has been no pauper maintained by the town.

A temperance society was formed about 1830, and means taken to prosecute all who sold spirits ille- gally, and no intoxicating drinks have been sold since 1836.

As a proof of the general good morality, it is said no one from the town has ever been imprisoned for crime.

Of late years much attention has been paid to raising milk, some farmers keeping as many as fifty cows; and although the town is one of the smallest in the county in area and population, it sells annu- ally about thirty thousand dollars' worth of milk. It sells, in addition, about eighteen thousand pounds of butter and thirteen thousand dozen of eggs.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1837-83.1

1837. John Bassett. 1851. No choice.

1838-39. John Greenough.

1840-41. Henry Knight.

1842-43, Greenleaf Clark. 1855-56. Moses II. Johoson.

1844-45. Laban Sawyer.

1846. Sammuel Noyes.

1847-48. Enoch Bassett.

1849-50. Jonathan P. Taylor.

1850. Richard Greenough, dele-

gate Constitutional Convention.

1863. Dr. Praal B. Hovey.

1864. John Dou.

1871. Jeremiah T. Poor.

1872. Wm. R. Littla.

1866. Henry D. Moody.

1873. No choice.

1874. No choice.

1868, Wm. R. Little.

1875-76. Albert Little.

1876. Greenleaf Clarke chosen del-

1870. W'nı. R. Little.

1871. J. T. Poor.

1872. J. T. Poor was declared elect- 1877. Greenleaf Clarke.

ed. His seat was contested, and 1878. Samuel B. Mason.

uo one held a seat that term or , 1879. Jesse A Sawyer. year. 1880. Herman Noyes.

The present town clerk is S. B. Mason.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.

Edward B. Murray, Co. C, 3d Regt .; enl. Dec. 23, 1861 ; disch. July 20, 1865.

James Carroll, Co. F, 3d Regt .; enl. Dec. 6, 1864.

Jacob Van Dunran, Co. C, 4th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.

George W. Heath, Co. E, 4th Regt .; enl. Sept. 18, 1861 ; re-enl. Feb. 25, 1864 ; disch. Jan. 27, 1865.

Edmund F. McNeil, Co. H, 4th Regt .; enl. Sept. 18, 1861 ; re-enl. Jan. 1, 1864, and pro. to Ist sergt. ; killed Aug. 16, 1864.

John E. Austin, corp. Co. H, Ist Regt. ; enl. May 3, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 9, 1861; corp. Co. H, 4th Regt .; enl. Sept. 18, 1861; pro. to 1st sergt. · Feb 20, 1864; disch. Ang. 23, 1865.

George Hlopper, Co. G, 5th Regt .; eul. Ang. 17, 1864; disch. June 28, 1865.

Jolın Mniligan, Co. G, 5th Regt .; enl. Ang. 29, 1864.

John Conley, Co. H, 5th Regt .; enl. Aug. 13, 1864.

Julın HeDrys, -, 5thı Regt .; enl. Aug. 9, 1863

Harry Blake, Co. H, 5th Regt .; enl. Aug. 13, 1864; pro, to corp. April 18, 1865 ; disch. June 28, 1865.

Henry Hall, Co. C, 7th Regt .; eul. Jan. 3, 1865; disch. July 20, 1865.

John Smith, Co. C, 7th Regt .; enl. Jan. 3, 1865 ; disch. July 20. 1865.

William Lovell, Co. C, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864; died at Jones' Landing, Va., date noknown.

Andrew Mack, Co, K, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864 ; pro. to corp. July 3, 1865 ; disch. July 20, 1865.

Frederick W. Sleeper, Co. C, 7th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 20, 1861 ; re-enl. Feb. 28, 1864; disch. July 20, 1865.

James Richmond, Co. H, 9th Regt .; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.

Maunel Silver, Co. K, 9th Regt .; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.

Andrew Coleman, Co. K, 9th Regt .; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.

Lafayette Tebbetts, Co. C, 10th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1864; disch. June 3, 1865.

James Harper, Co. G, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 29, 1863 ; date of discharge unknown.

Lorenzo Frost, Co. K, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 16, 1862: disch. Ang. 13, 1863.

Frank P'. Ireson, Co. K, 15th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 16, 1862; disch. Aug. 13, 1863.

A. Noyse, Co. K, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 16, 1862 : died July 24, 1863.

Charles G. Perkins, Co. K, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 16, 1862 ; disch. Ang. 13, 1863.

Orrin F. Richards, Co. K, 15th Kegt .; enl. Oct. 16, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 13, 1863.

Arthnf L. Merrick, Co. K, 15th Regt. ; eul. Oct. 16, 1862, sergt. ; dischi. Aug. 13, 1863.

Robert King, Co. A, 17th Regt .; enl. Dec. 10, 1862; pro. to corp .; disch. April 16, 1863.

J. 11. Smith, -, 17th Regt .; eul. Feb. 4, 1863; date of disch. uuknown. Patrick Mack, Co. C, 1st Cav .; enl. March 31, 1864.

John Roberts, Co. C, Ist Cav .; enl. March 31, 1864.

Ebenezer Buck, V. R. C .; enl. Nov. 10, 1663; date of disch. unknown.

Patrick Dunn, -; enl. July 29, 1864 ; date of disch. unknown.

Patrick K. Norton, -; enl. July 3, 1863 ; date of disch. unknown. Philip G. Lord, -; eol. July 3, 1863 ; date of disch. unknown. Andrew M. Dunning, -; enl. July 3, 1863 ; date of disch. unkoown.

Joseph Vedo, - , enl. July 3, 1863 ; date of disch. noknown.

George Hughes, -; enl. Ang. 29, 1864 ; date of disch. unknown.

Marcus M. Merrick, Co. H, 1st Regt .; enl. May 3, 1861 ; disch. Ang. 9, 1861.

Gilman Noyes, Co. H, Ist Regt .; epl. May 3, 1861; disch. Ang. 9, 1861.

David O. Clarks, sergt. Co. K, 5th Regt. ; eal. Oct. 12, 1861; disch. March 16, 1863.

1 Contributed by S. B. Masoo.

1852. Amos H. Noyes.

1853-54, No choice.

1857-58. Philip D. Merrill.

1859. Samuel Noyes.

1860. Benjamin W. Presoo.

1861. Daniel W. Goodnon.

1862. No choice.

1865. No choice.

1867. Moses Dow (2).

1869 W'm. C. Noyes.

egate to Constitutional Conven- tion.

126

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Joseph A. Carlton, Co. K, 5th Regt .; enl. Oct. 12, 1861; disch. Feb. 7, , school-house in 1827, on the site of the present one, 1863.

James Hahir, Co. G, 10th Regt .; enl. Dec. 29, 1863; trans. 2d N. H. Regt. June 21, 1865.

John C. Ryan, Co. K, 5th Regt .; enl. Oct. 12, 1861 ; disch. Jan. 7, 1863. Samuel B. Mason, sergt. Co. H, 4th Regt .; enl. Sept. 18, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 27, 1864.

Byron Noyes, sergt. Co. H, 4th Regt .; enl. Sept. 18, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 27, 1864.

Nathaniel G. Scott, marine; enl. March 15, 1864 ; date of discharge un- known.

Lorin Ileath, marine ; enl. Aug. 11, 1864; date of discharge unknown.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AUBURN.I

Geographical-Topographical-First Settlers-Ecclesiastical-First Con- gregational Church-Methodist Episcopal Church-Civil and Military History-Petitioo for Incorporation-" West Chester"-The Opposition -The Town Incorporated-The First Town-Meeting-Moderators- Town Clerks-Representatives-Military History.

AUBURN lies in the western part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Candia and Hoopsett, on the east by Chester, on the south by Derry and Londonderry, and on the west by Hillsborough and Merrimack Counties. The surface is broken but the soil is fertile.

Lake Massabesic, the largest body of water in Rockingham County, is rapidly gaining in popular favor, and is one of the most enchanting summer resorts within the bounds of the "Granite State." The first settler in Auburn was John Smith.

First Congregational Church .- For some reason it was deemed expedient to dissolve the Presbyterian parish and church, and organize a Congregational one. Accordingly, agreeably to an act passed July 3, 1827, " The Second Congregational Society in Chester" was organized June 1I, 1842, and a code of by-laws adopted, one article of which was that all moneys should be raised by voluntary subscription. The condition of membership was signing the by-laws and paying one dollar annually. On the 1st day of January, 1843, sixteen members of the Presbyterian Church adopted articles of faith and a covenant, and were organized into a church by the Rev. Samuel Ordway, and assumed the name of The Second Con- gregational Church in Chester. After the town of Auburn was incorporated, in 1845, the name of the society and church was altered to the First in Auburn. Rev. Samuel Ordway remained until 1846. Subse- quent pastors have been James Holmes, Josiah L. Jones, J. S. Guy, Charles E. Houghton, Theodore C. Pratt.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- Methodism began to make its appearance in what is now Auburn about the year 1800. The first Methodist sermon be- lieved to have been preached in Chester was in 1807 by Rev. George Pickering. Upon the erection of the new

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

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