History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 43

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 43
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 43

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).

town hall, the Taylor Library, the first church on the Ilill, and the burial-place of the old and later gener- ations; and around here cluster many of the memo- ries and traditions of the fathers. The beauty of the place and the high character of the people invite the stranger from abroad during the summer months. The one store here is kept by Frank W. Parker, grandson of the historian of the town.

Mr. Samuel Clark, born Dec. 27, 1798, a lifelong resident of the town, is conceded to be the best-in- formed man in the old township in family history

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and antiqnarian matters generally. He lives at the northeastern shore of Beaver Pond, on the lot origi- nally Samuel Hauston's.

Derry Village .- There were but few houses in this turnpike in 1804, and but little business was trans- acted. The turnpike was built soon after the charter was granted, and immediately thereafter stores were erected and various kinds of business gravitated there, so that in a few years the village became a centre of considerable importance. Jonathan Bell, son of Hon. John Bell, had some years before kept a store in a building now the residence of Mrs. Ithamar Hub- bard, which then stood in front of the Thornton house. In 1806, James and Peter Patterson, of the West Parish, built a store in which they traded a few years. They were succeeded by Peter Patterson and Capt. William Choate, and they again by the Nes- miths,-Thomas, John, and Col. James. This store is now the residence of Mr. William Butterfield. No store in its day was better known than that of Adams & Redfield, built about 1810. A very large and profit- able trade was carried on by them for several years. As an illustration how modern ways have supplanted the old, it may be stated that all of their heavy goods, such as salt, molasses, and rum, were brought from Boston to Lowell by way of the Middlesex Canal, and thence up the Merrimac River by boat to a landing below Thornton's Ferry, and thence across the sands and through the woods of Litchfield ten miles to the store. Col. Samuel Adams was a man of note in his day. He was born in Newbury, Mass., April 2, 1779, came to Londonderry with his father when quite young, and died there Sept. 12, 1861. The building used for mercantile purposes by Seneca Pattee was built by Leonard Hale, and has been occupied by James V. Dickey, John A. Pinkerton, McGraw & Hodge, Porter & Pinkerton, F. W. Bailey, George H. Taylor, Warner & Brown, Barker & Poor, and Couch & Brown. In 1861, George F. Adams became pro- prietor, and continued in trade until 1869, when he sold to the present occupant. Capt. William Choate erected a store about 1825 where Association Hall, built in 1875, now stands. The traders in this store were Capt. Choate and two or three others, William Anderson, Esq., being the last. The store built by Robert Hall on the west side of the street was used by him as such, and also by Hall & Anderson, A. F. Hall, William Leach, Charles Adams, and the present proprietor, Henry Bradford. The "Derry Cash Store," occupied by Frank G. Howe, was previously occupied by Arthur T. Learned, George W. Barker, and others.

In 1868, Benjamin Chase, Jr., from Auburn, N. H., began the manufacture of reed ribs, used in making loom reeds for weaving cloth, and harness shafts, on which loom harness is made. He also manufactures heddle frames, which are used in weaving woolen warps. The business has increased upon his hands

until it is now one of the most prosperous industries in town. There is but one other manufactory of this sort in. the United States. Nathan B. Prescott, a resident of the village, is largely engaged in the ice

village prior to the incorporation of the Londonderry ; business in Boston, Mass., and vicinity. W. W. Poor is proprietor of the historic Gregg MEill, in which he grinds and sells many thousand bushels of corn annually. His mill stands a few feet north of the "alder-bush," the first point of departure the sur- veyors made in laying out the land of that locality. The village has always enjoyed the services of the physician and the lawyer. In the past generations Dr. Matthew Thornton, a hundred years gone by, and in later years Dr. Luther V. Bell held high promi- nence. Dr. James HI. Crombie and Dr. David S. Clark are now in successful practice. Hon. John Porter, horn in Bridgewater, Mass., Feb. 26, 1776, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1803, a resident of Derry from 1806 till his death, Dec. 4, 1857, held high rank as a counselor-at-law. He was many years a member of the House of Representatives, and in 1827-28 he served on the commission that revised the laws of New Hampshire. Ilon. David A. Gregg, nearly a lifelong resident of the village, was held in high esteein as a lawyer and a citizen. In the department of law the profession is represented by Greenleaf ('il- ley Bartlett and G. K. Bartlett, father and son. The former comes of Revolutionary stock on both sides of the house, and has long been a resident of Derry. The firm enjoy an extensive practice at the Rocking- ham bar.

Derry Depot .- Before the construction of the Lon- donderry turnpike the business centre of the town was on the hill in the East Parish. There were the leading hotels and stores, and there the post-office. If any of the townspeople were unfortunate enough to need a physician, a lawyer, or a sheriff, all these were to be found within the limits of what is now East Derry village. But the turnpike changed all this, and the lower village became the centre. In like manner measurably has business been diverted to Derry Depot by the building of the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad, which opened Nov. 13, 1849. The land occupied by the western part of the village was laid out in 1722 "to John McClurg, Elizabeth Wilson, and Mary, her daughter;" other portions to William Ayres, James Alexander, and John Goffe. At the time the railroad went into operation there was but one house between the dwelling of Alfred Boyd, on the east, and that of Jonathan (now John) Holmes, on the west, near the brook. That small, gambrel-roofed, one-story house, surrounded by its lawn of green, was for many years the home of Sam- nel Remick, a volunteer soldier from Bedford, N. H., at Bennington. It stood between the present honses of Alden B. Smith and Thomas Tarbell, the well of the Remick house being the same nsed by Mr. Tar- bell. At the battle Remick stood near St. Orr, also of Bedford, saw him fall from the effects of a wound

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

in the knee, and assisted him from the field. Upon his return to the front he was himself shot, and while upon the ground loaded and discharged his gun sev- eral times at the enemy. Ile recovered, and came to Derry, where he spent the remainder of life in the enjoyment of a pension from a grateful country.

In due time after the cars commenced running, Benjamin Eastman, a resident of East Derry, and a man of remarkable capacity for business, erected the hotel of Mr. Smith and the large store of L. H. & W. S. Pillsbury, which were destroyed by fire, Aug. 19, 1882. Mr. Eastman also built the extensive shoe manufactory of Col. W. S. Pillsbury. Boyd & Currier occupied this building for making boots; Hodges & Davis followed in the manufacture of shoes; and after them N. Sylvester in making army shoes. Nov. 12, 1870, Col. Pillsbury became the owner. E. P. Phillips & Co., Clement, Colburn & Co., Colburn, Fuller & Co. have successively been occupants of the building, the latter firm now doing a very large business, of which Col. Pillsbury has the sole charge. The rapid growth and prosperity of the village is due to him more than to any one else. He has made four additions to the original manufactory, built a shop for the making of shoes by the "Compo method," and erected several houses. Ile manufactures not less than six hundred different styles of ladies' boots and shoes, great quantities going to all parts of the world. Shipments are annually made round Cape Horn in boxes lined with tin. In a few years the sales have increased from $75,000 per year to $600,000. About four hundred and fifty persons find employ- ment here, receiving in the aggregate about $20,000 per month. In the packing department 300,000 feet of boards are used annually for boxes.

Kit Manufactory .- Mr. James Frederick Coburn, who manufactures "half- and quarter-barrels and kits," came to Derry Depot from Townsend, Mass., in 1874. He employs about fifty men. The business has increased from 20,000 barrels per year to over 100,000. lle uses annually 1,000,000 hoops and 1500 cords of pine lumber.

The Milk Business .- This is carried on by Harvey P. Ilood, is extensive, and is the source of much pros- perity to Derry, Londonderry, and Windham. Mr. Hood runs a car daily to Boston, carrying 150 cans each day. He uses for his own stock, and sells 250 tons of shorts, 50 tons of cotton-seed meal, and about 130 tons of meal yearly. Three hundred and fifty tons of ice are required annually in preserving the milk on the way to market. Mr. Hood's farm, in Derry village, is one of the best farms in town.

The Horne Brothers at their new steam mill have a flourishing business in the manufacture of boxes for boots, shoes, and fish. They employ ten or twelve men. The Manchester and Lawrence Railroad brings into Derry about one hundred and fifty car-loads of various sorts of grain, and takes five thousand to seven thousand barrels of apples annually.

There are three stores in the village, which are doing a large business. They are kept by L. H. & W. S. Pillsbury, Smith & Rollins, and G. F. Putnam. Aug. 19, 1882, a fire in the heart of the village de- stroved property to the amount of about 875,000. The buildings burned were the hotel of A. B. Smith, in which the fire began, the store owned by A. P. Hardy and W. S. Pillsbury, the store of Smith & Rollins, the depot of the Manchester and Lawreuee Railroad, and several other places of business. Sev- eral houses were burned, and fourteen families made homeless. The village contains over ninety houses, and a population of five hundred people. Dr. Ira H. Adams, a native of. Pomfret, Vt., and a graduate of the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, estab- lished himself here March 15, 1882.

Mexican War .- There were two Derry men in this war :

John G. Bond and Hiram Rowell.

The former, whose health was broken down in the service, died at Concord, N. H., in 1876.

Derry in the Rebellion. 1861-65 .- This town, like most New Hampshire towns, promptly responded to the call of the United States government for troops, and all through the unhappy contest contributed its full share of means and men. The first year of the war about thirty men volunteered in the service of the United States. In August, 1862, the town sent ten men, paying each $200 bounty. Under the draft of Aug. 11, 1863, Derry paid each of the drafted men $300. Oct. 17, 1863, twenty-two men were enlisted, costing the town $13,276. February, 1864, thirteen volunteers were paid $2502, and three were drafted, who received $900. July 18, 1864, nineteen three years' men were "put in,"sat the cost of $11,400, one two years' man, $600, and thirteen one year men, at an expense of $6000. Dec. 19, 1864, the town paid $7350 for seventeen enlisted men, making in all one hundred and fourteen men, at the aggregate cost of $48,828.

ROLL OF MEN WHO ENLISTED.

In the First Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, three months' men, Col. Tappan, were Melvin Chase and Frank A. Flint, who were must. in May 2, 1861, and must. out Aug. 9, 1861 ; Marlan P. Clark and William J. Bassett, must. in May 3, 1861, and out Ang. 9, 186I.

FOURTH REGIMENT, COL. LOUIS BELL.

Nathaniel H. Brown, capt., com. Sept. 20, 1861 ; res. Oct. 6, 1862.

John Christie, George W. Carr, Albion K. Goodwin, George S. Greenough, Joseph Johnson, Lonis Loudean, Horace Tilton, Horace F. Abbott, Joseph Anderson, Patrick Colbert, Thomas Grimes, James Kane, John G. Oates, Robert Wellington, John S. Lovering, Charles M. Ordway, and George E. Fitch, captured at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864.

FIFTH REGIMENT, COL. CROSS.

William W. Cook, maj., com. Sept. 24, 1861 ; res. July 17, 1862. Edwin Brickett, died of disease June 2, 1864. .

Isaac L. Gardner, wounded June 17, 1864. Juhn Otto.

Nehemiah Robinson, wounded June 3, 1864.

SIXTH REGIMENT, COL. GRIFFIN.

Isaiah A. Dustin, capt., hon. disch. May 17, 1864.

George E. Upton, Ist'lieut., killed near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Charles Bodwell.

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Benjamin D. Foster, killed ut Bull Run, Va., Ang. 20, 1862. Issachar O. Foster, wounded June 24, 1864.

Dwight E. H le, Charles Rlack, Daniel Drew, John W. Law, Charles Miller, and James Flanders.

SEVENTH REGIMENT, COL. ABBOTT.

William A. Hill, Ist lient., wounded June 18, 1864. Thomas Simuington.

EIGHTII REGIMENT, COL. FEARING.

Thomas S. Dustin, died at Baton Rouge, La , Jan. 19, 1863.

Stephen Mills, Warren P. Ilorne, George McKruny.

James W. Novell, died at Baton Rouge, La., April 14, 1863. George F. Boyd, Matthew Senter.

NINTHI REGIMENT, COL. FELLOWS.

George W. Randall, Charles Larooi, Alexander Morrison, Lafayette Deeker, John H. MeGibbon, Nelson Foster.

TENTII REGIMENT, COL. DONOHOE.

J. T. G. Dinsmore, Jr.

David H. Adams, died at Falmouth, Va., Jan. 18, 1863. Decatur McCarter.

ELEVENTH REGIMENT, COL. HARRIMAN.

J. Charles Currier, capt. ; Henry G. Dillenback, Charles L. Reynolds, Charles R Rogers, Edward Armond, James Blake, J. C. Barron, Thomas McGuire, J. McGovern, James Parker, Michael Sorbew.

TWELFTH REGIMENT, COL. POTTER.

Robert W. McMurphy, Adam Debas, F. Markhoff, Audrew J. Goodwin.

THIRTEENTII REGIMENT, COL. STEVENS.

Col. Aaron F. Stevens was born in Derry. He was com. col. Ang. 26, 1862, having served as maj. in the 1st N. H. Regt. He was wounded June 1, 1864, and again, severely, Sept. 29, 1864.

Marcellus C. Shattuck, Tenny Major, John H. Parker.

SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT, COL. KENT.

George O. Everett.

EIGHTEENTII REGIMENT.

John Bowley, George E. Merill, William Marshall, George Reed, Edgar H. Shepard. The last named was son of Hoo. W. H. Shepard, of Derry. He died at Concord, N. H., March 6, 1865.

NEW HAMPSHIRE BATTALION, FIRST REGIMENT NEW ENG- LAND CAVALRY, MAJ. NELSON.

William A. McMurphy, Charles R. Radcliff, E. L. Currier.

FIRST REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE CAVALRY, COL. THOMPSON.

N. H. Browa, captain of Troop F; Henry Forger, Samuel Harvey, John Smith, Thomas Tyrie, Warren E. Clark, Alfred Clifton, Frederick Davis, James Evans, Frank A. Lincoln, John H. Low, Henry M. Moulton, John R. Moulton, Daniel Shattuck, George B. Tuttle, C. F. Whidden, and John E. Webster.

FIRST REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTILLERY, COL. LONG.

Daniel Owens, Francis Owens, George Major, Jeremiah Garvin, Charles Aldrich, James E. Morrill, Nathan Morse, George R Barker, Theo- dore Dinsmore, W. K. Hayes, Charles A. Howell, H. A. G. Stover, Kimball J. Wilson, Charles T. Wheeler.

There were several men from Derry who served jo the war, but their names are unknown to the writer.

Enrollment of Derry April 30, 1865 ... 155

Total of quuta under all calls for men from July, 1863. 95 Total credits by enrollment and draft. 102

7 Surplus.

Mr. Daniel G. George, a resident of Derry, enjoys the honor of being the man who pulled the lanyard of the torpedo that destroyed the rebel boat " Albemarle" during the late war. . Ile has received ten thousand dollars from the United States government as a reward for his bravery. He has also a beautiful medal, the gitt of government, in acknowledg- ment of his services.

Londonderry Celebration. - June 10, 1869, one hundred and fifty years from the settlement of the

town, a vast concourse of people from all parts of the country assembled on the plains a few rods east of Derry Depot, and celebrated the occasion with feast- ing, speech, and song. Many thousands of the citizens of Old Londonderry and other towns in the vicinity assembled in a large tent, raised for the purpose, and listened to speeches from some of the eminent men of the day. Hon. George W. Patterson, of Westfield, N. Y., a native of the town, presided, and Hon. Charles H. Bell, of Exeter, N. H., now Governor, made the leading address. Ile was followed by Hon. James W. Patterson, of Hanover, N. H., Horace Greeley, Dr. S. H. Taylor, Hon. E. H. Derby, Gen. Aaron F. Stevens, Rev. C. M. Dinsmore, and Hon. A. H. Cragin.

A little after noon the vast assembly was provided with a generous entertainment by the ladies of Derry, Londonderry, and Windham.

It was an occasion of rare enjoyment to all who participated in the services of the day.

A compilation of the exereises was made by R. C. Mack in a volume of one hundred and twenty-four pages.

Nutfield Grange, No. 37 .- The Patrons of Hus- bandry organized Sept. 23, 1874, a grange, to which the appropriate name of " Nutfield" was given. The first Master was W. O. Noyes, and his successors are Isaiah A. Duston, Edward L. Jones, and Joseph R. Clark.

There are at present eighty-seven members.

Newspapers and Printing .- A printing-office was " set up" many years ago by Isaiah Thomas or his brother on Doak's Plains, now Boyd's Plains, a little east of Derry Depot. How long he was there or just where his office was situated is not known. In the summer of 1876, Charles Bartlett opened a printing- office in Derry village, and uniting with this the sale of books and stationery, he has carried on a suc- eessful business sinee. In connection with N. C. Bartlett, in 1880, he commenced the publishment of the Derry News. At the end of the year Mr. N. C. Bartlett retired, leaving the control of the paper to Mr. Charles Bartlett, who in April, 1882, enlarged it to a twenty-four-column folio. The paper is a sue- cess, and is much appreciated by the citizens of Derry and Londonderry and former residents of both towns.

Town Hall .- In 1876 the town erected a large and handsome building for town purposes. It is located just east of the store of F. W. Parker, in East Derry, and cost $7000. In the upper story a convenient room is fitted for the " Taylor Library."

First Library .- A few of the leading people in town a little before 1800 established a library of sev- eral hundred volumes. It was kept at first at the house of Capt. James Aiken, otherwise known as Deacon Aiken, now the residence of John Folsom, in the Aiken's Range, Derry. When the village began to assume importance the books were removed to

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

the Thornton House, and Maj. Peter Patterson served as librarian. They were mostly of an histori- cal and religious character, were well read, and were kept together till the division of the town in 1827, when they were divided among the stockholders. John Porter, Esq., for those who lived in the new town, ! and Robert Mack, for Londonderry, made the division. The rule they adopted was to give the interested par- ties each a pile of books of about equal size. Many volumes of that old library are yet to be found in various families in both towns.

Taylor Library .- Upon the death of Miss Har- riet Taylor the town secured from her estate $1000 to found a library. It went into operation Feb. 23, 1878, with about one thousand volumes. The library now contains about fourteen hundred volumes. Miss Elizabeth F. Billings has been librarian from the time the books were first placed upon the shelves. There . annually distributed in this way. Dr. Brown also left are libraries belonging to both of the academies.

Telegraph .- A line between Derry Depot via Derry village and East Derry to Chester, N. II., a distance of five miles, was established in 1877. The business has been sufficient to make the stock profita- ble.

Grand Army .- George E. Upton Post, No. 45. This post is named after Lieut. George E. Upton, who enlisted as a private Nov. 28, 1861, in Co. G, Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers, and was promoted to first lieutenant Oct. 30, 1863, and was killed near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. The post was char- tered Sept. 4, 1879. Following are the names of the charter members : David S. Clark, James H. Crom- bie, Charles H. Cummings, Isaiah A. Dustin, James Evans, Charles F. Fields, Isaac N. Hunt, Francis Owens, A. A. Pressey, George Richards, C. M. Til- ton, George B. Tuttle, Henry C. Vining, Caleb F. Whidden, and Amos M. Young. Number of mem- bers, thirty-four.

Odd-Fellowship .- ECHO LODGE. April 17, 1879, a lodge of Odd-Fellows by the above name was insti- tuted in Derry. The initial meeting numbered nine- teen persons, eight being charter members and eleven by admission. The first officers were Henry S. Warner, N. G .; R. R. Merrick, V. G .; F. A. Cross, Sec .; Charles L. Cutler, Treas.

Robie, V. G .; F. M. Stearns, Sec .; G. P. Taylor, Treas .; G. W. Clark, Ward .; C. G. Kimball, Con .;

O. U. Turner, I. G .; G. H. Harlon, O. G .; J. E. " Derry village via Derry Depot with Manchester, Merrill, R. S. N. G .; J. E. Tabor, L. S. N. G .; C. O. N. II., and all lines therefrom, was put in operation Buttrick, R. S. V. G .; D. G. Bodwell, L. S. V. G .; by the " Granite State Telephone Company," the cost being guaranteed by Pettee & Co., of the village, and Rollins & Smith, of Derry Depot. W. W. Payne, R. S. S .; J. F. Hall, L. S. S .; A. S. Stowell, Chaplain. The lodge has seventy-four mem- bers.

Public Bequests in Derry .- This town has en- joyed a larger share of public bequests than falls to the lot of most towns. As early as 1722 the hard-pressed settlers were generously aided by gentlemen of Ports- mouth in the building of their church. In 1815, Maj. $730,606.

John Pinkerton endowed the Pinkerton Academy with a fund of twelve thousand dollars, and his brother, Deacon James Pinkerton, added fifteen hundred to this amount. Mr. Jacob Adams, who died in 1823, by his will devised about four thousand dollars to the Adams Female Academy. Mr. Adams ' also donated eight hundred dollars to the East Church in Derry, to aid in purchasing a bell for that meeting- house. The late Mrs. Abby C. McGregor left the sum of one thousand dollars to the Adams Female Acad- emy. In 1870, Richard Melvin gave the First Con- gregational Society a fund of one thousand dollars. Dr. Sylvanus Brown bequeathed about seven thousand dollars to the town, the yearly income of which is to be expended in the purchase of flannel for the desti- tute people of the town as the selectmen for the time being >hall designate. About fifteen hundred yards are

five hundred dollars, the annual interest to be used in "picking the small stones from the public highways." He devised likewise a small sum to remain at interest until 1919, at which time the whole shall be used in payment for " nuts and cider" for all persons present at the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the town's settlement. Hon. E. H. Derby, of Boston, an eloquent and sincere friend of the town, lately de- ceased, gave to Pinkerton Academy one thousand dollars for a library, available upon the death of Mrs. Derby. The academy also received about five hundred dollars from various persons at its semi-cen- tennial in 1878. Miss Harriet Taylor, daughter of Deacon James Taylor, formerly an honored citizen of Derry, bequeathed in 1876 one thousand dollars to found a public library in town. The elegant clock in the steeple of the East Derry Church, whose two broad faces may be seen far and wide, was placed there by her generous bounty. Mrs. Philip Nowell, who lately died, left two thousand dollars to the town, to be expended in the erection of a town hall. She also gave five hundred dollars to the Cemetery Asso- ciation, and the same sum for the benefit of the old part of the cemetery, and also one thousand dollars to the Adams Female Academy. The late David Bassett left three thousand dollars to repair the East Derry Church. But the most munificent bequest is Academy by the late John M. Pinkerton.

Present officers: G. A. Wheeler, N. G .; T. R. . that of two hundred thousand dollars to the Pinkerton

Telephone .- Aug. 15, 1882, a telephone connecting

Population and Valuation .- The United States census of 1880 makes the number of inhabitants of Derry 2140. The enumeration of 1882 makes the number about 2300. There were in town, April, 1882, 595 polls, and the valuation of the town was

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DERRY.

CHAPTER XXVI.

DERRY .- (Continued.)

First Meeting-House .- From the town records the initial steps towards the erection of a house of wor- ship appear to have been in a vote taken in general town-meeting June 3, 1720: "The Town voated that there shall be a small house built that may be conve- nient for the inhabitants to meet in for the worship of God, & that it shall be built as sune as it can with conveniency ; allso that the house shall be built as near the center of the one hundred & five lots as can be with convenience." A few days later a location was agreed upon. It was " voated that the meeting-house shall be built within seven rods of a black stake set up either upon or near unto Mr. McGregor's lott." The matter rested till the January following, when the town " voated that a meeting-house shall be built as speedily as may be, & that the said house shall be 50 feet in length, forty-five feet broad, and so high as may be conveneant for one set of galeryes." The galleries of this house were reached by steps or stairs built on the outside, at the side or end. 1728, " Voted that the stairs to go up to our galleries for the meet- ing-house shall be brought to the inside, & that there shall be windows strnke out in the north side, one on each side of the pulpit." It appears from this that steps to reach the galleries were on the north side of the house, and that the pulpit faced the south. The difficulty arising from inability to procure the neces- sary materials delayed the work, and two years elapsed before the house was finished and ready for occupancy. Its location was between the present church in East Derry and the leading highway through the village, a little nearer the church than the road. This house answered the purpose of the parish till 1769, when a new one, the present edifice, sixty-five by forty-five feet, was built. The high and massive steeple, with its immense timbers used at that time, made the erec- tion of churches an affair of great importance, es- pecially the raising. To accomplish this ropes and machinery were brought from afar, the most resolute and energetic men were summoned to the task, and often several days were needed to get the building ready for the boards. It is no wonder that "four 100 weight of cheas, 2000 Bisket, 3 barl of Rhum, & 5 barl of Syder" were used at the raising of the first church. Matthew Thornton, Moses Barnet, and James Wallace were the building committee.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 43

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