USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 15
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This, with a portion of Dunbarton and Goffstown, was incorporated into a town by the name of Hooksett, July 2, 1822. Previous to this, the farthest inhabitants had to travel more than seventeen miles to Chester two-thirds of the time, to town meeting, and fourteen miles the other third, to the Long Meadows.
A very able and elaborate report of the committee chosen at the last annual meeting to take into consideration the subject of a change in the mode of supporting the poor be- longing to the town of Chester, was received and adopted.
At a meeting, April 2, the town voted to purchase a farm for the poor. (See History of Pauperism.)
1824. There was an effort this year to have the courts removed from Portsmouth to Exeter. The sense of the voters in Chester was taken, and there were one hundred seventy-eight in favor, and none against.
Upon a settlement with Hooksett, $173.42 was paid in full for all funds.
The Presbyterian parish chose Dr. Nathan Plummer and Samuel Dinsmore ruling elders. They were ordained.
1825. There was an effort this year to have the sessions of the courts removed from Exeter to Chester, and seven hundred dollars were appropriated towards erecting a court- house, provided the Legislature should by law direct the holding the courts, or any of them, at Chester.
There was a committee, consisting of John Folsom,
-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Samuel D. Bell and Daniel French, chosen, and one hundred dollars appropriated, " to aid persons in defining or regaining their rights, who have been, or may be, taken undue advant- age of." The reason of this measure was that there were some men, of whom Rufus Wilson was the principal, who would buy up demands against poor people, institute suits, and by settling and taking notes for larger sums and then suing again, greatly oppressed them, and endangered their becoming paupers. Wilson was afterwards convicted of forgery for crasing a clause from a mortgage deed, which secured possession for a limited time to the mortgager, and he forfeited his recognizance and left the State, which broke up the gang.
A valuable large Bible for the desk had been donated by Capt. Moses C. Pillsbury, then warden of the New Hamp- shire state prison, and a vote of thanks was passed by the Presbyterian parish ; also a vote of thanks to Joseph Blanchard, Esq., for the many services he had rendered the parish. There was a meeting of the Presbyterian par- ish July 13, when it was voted to dissolve the connection between the Rev. Clement Parker and the parish on the first day of March next.
1826. The law for dividing towns into school districts required that the territory should be divided, but the division heretofore had been of the inhabitants, and inhab- itants had been changed from one district to another. At the annual meeting, John Folsom, Josiah Chase and Jolin S. Brown were chosen a committee " to survey the town, and divide it into school districts." They divided the town into eighteen districts, and their report was accepted.
Two hearses for funeral purposes were purchased this year, for which $225 were paid. Previous to this the dead had been carried on a bier on men's shoulders, to the grave. They were sometimes, in case of deep snows, carried on a sleigh. I have heard my grandfather say that he was one to carry John Craig to Londonderry, a distance of at least nine or ten miles. I helped, in 1817, to carry Lydia Dear- born to Chester, four miles and a half.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
, The Presbyterian parish hired Rev. Abel Manning at $300, and the use of the parsonage. He supplied the desk until March, 1831.
There was a very long storm in August, injuring a great deal of hay and grain, and then a very heavy southerly rain, which caused a slide at the White Mountains.
1828. The bell was broken and a new one procured, raised May 29.
1829. An act was passed, June, 1821, to establish a literary fund by taxing the banks half of one per cent. of their circulation or capital stock, to be invested for the endowment of a college. By an act passed December 31, 1829, the fund was to be divided between the towns in pro- portion to their State tax, for the support of common schools. The selectmen of Chester received $407. At the annual meeting it was
" Voted, that one-fourth part of the Literary Fund re- ceived by this town from the State Treasury, be annually distributed to the several school districts, in proportion to their respective valuations, for the support of schools for four years ensuing, and that the interest which shall have accrued on said fund at the time of such annual distribu- tion be distributed in the same manner."
A fire engine was purchased by individuals on Chester street. At a town meeting, held July 24, it was
" Voted to adopt the first fourteen sections of 'an act entitled an act defining the powers and duties of firewards in certain cases.' "
Firewards were chosen.
At the annual meeting of the Congregational parish Samuel D. Bell, Jethro Sleeper and Samuel Aiken were chosen a committee to report by-laws for the government of this society at an adjourned meeting. At the adjourn- ment, April 6, the committee reported a code containing sixteen sections. The first was that any person subserib- ing his name to the parish book should become a member, and liable to taxation. The fourteenth provided that any person who should become a member before the first day
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
of June, 1829, should be exempt from paying any higher tax than one dollar on the poll, and in that proportion on his estate. The report was accepted and adopted. Some persons signed the book after the first day of June and were not taxed, but claimed the right to vote. A meeting was called September 22, " to see if the parish will admit such persons to vote before the next annual meeting." The article was dismissed.
At a meeting September 22 it was
" Voted, that the contract between the Congregational parish in Chester and the Rev. Joel R. Arnold be dissolved at the expiration of six months from the time Mr. Arnold shall receive this vote."
At the annual meeting, 1830, a proviso was added to the by-laws, "that no person shall be allowed to vote in any matter coming before the parish, without the consent of the parish, until he shall become actually liable to pay a parish tax."
1830. At a meeting of the Congregational parish, August 2d, a committee of nine persons was chosen to present the parish book to persons for their signatures to the following, to become members of the parish, viz. : " The subscribers promise the Congregational parish in Chester that so long as they continue members of said parish they will pay all parish taxes assessed upon their polls and estates, provided the same does not exceed the rate of eighty-four cents upon the single poll, and in the same proportion upon their taxable property."
At an adjournment August 7, the parish invited the Rev. Jonathan Clement to become their minister on the follow- ing terms : "That the parish will pay him so long as he continues to be their minister the sum of five hundred dol- lars annually, and that he shall at all times have the right to put an end to said contract, giving six months' notice of his intention so to do, and that said parish shall in like manner have the right to put an end to said contract, giv- ing six months' notice."
Mr. Clement accepted the call, and the second Wednes- day of October was appointed for the ordination.
183
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1831. August 20, Stephen Heath and Oliver Welch having been to Derry with a team, Welch for some cause struck Heath with a stake so as to cause his death. He was convicted of manslaughter and sent to the state prison, and in a few years was pardoned.
August 15, the Presbyterians voted to hire the Rev. Ben- jamin Sargent.
November 22, William M. Richardson and others formed the " Chester Musical Society " and assumed corporate powers.
1832. The representatives were instructed to use their efforts in the legislature to have the courts removed from Exeter to Chester.'
1833. The Presbyterian parish voted to give a call to the Rev. Benjamin Sargent, and offer him the use of the parsonage and two hundred dollars. He was installed the last Wednesday in May.
1834. The town voted to purchase of Jonathan Dear- born half an acre of land for an addition to the burying- place, and pay one hundred and fifty dollars.
1836. A record of marriages and births had been kept in an unbound book from 1726 to about 1806, when a bound book was procured for the purpose. The old book was much worn and at the annual meeting, 1836, the town clerk was authorized to copy the old book into the new one. This was done in a good bold hand by Mrs. Tompkins, the town clerk's wife.
November 7, voted, ninety-two yeas, two nays, that it is expedient for the State to grant an appropriation to build an insane hospital. It was also voted to authorize the se- lectmen to cause the accounts of the town to be printed, which has since been done, I think, annually.
1837. There had accumulated in the treasury of the United States a large surplus of revenue beyond the lia- bilities of the government, which by act of Congress had been apportioned among the several States. At a town
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
meeting February 1, it was voted to receive it, and an agent was chosen to receive it and directed to loan enough to the town to pay their debts, and the residue to individu- als, and the interest of the money to be divided equally among the several school districts.
1838. At a town meeting Aug. 28, the agent reported that he had of surplus revenue $4,718.67.
The selectmen reported that when they came into office the town owed
. $2724 06
Liabilities for roads, bridges, &c. 4933 66 .
Total indebtedness . . $7657 72
It was voted to appropriate all the surplus revenue and interest, excepting one year's interest to be added to the school money, to defray town charges.
1839. In the warning of the annual meeting of the Congregational parish for 1836 was an article " To see if the parish will consent to alter or repair or otherwise dis- pose of the meeting-house," and similar articles were in the warnings for 1837 and 1838, all of which were dis- missed. This year was an article "To see if the Parish will alter the meeting-house, and choose a Committee to do the same, or to authorize John Picket, John W. Noyes, Nathaniel F. Emerson, and others, members of the Parish, to alter the meeting-house, provided they will give satisfac- tory bonds to the Parish." On motion of Henry F. French, Esq.,
" Voted, That the Parish authorize a Committe to alter the meeting house, provided they give a bond satisfactory to the Wardens of said Parish to indemnify said Parish against the expenses of said alteration ; and complete said alteration by December 1, 1839, and pay over the amount received by them above the expenses of said alteration to the Parish ; Yeas 34, Nays 17."
John Picket, Nathaniel F. Emerson, Thomas J. Melvin, John W. Noyes and Benjamin White were chosen for the said committee. John Lane of Candia, Nathaniel Parker of Derry, and Isaac Smith of Hampstead, were chosen to appraise the pews when the house is altered.
185
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
The noble structure built in 1773, which faced the south- west, with a steeple at the northwest end and a porch at the southeast end, was turned around, the spire cut away, the posts cut down, the whole interior altered, having only a singing gallery. It was finished into seventy-eight pews, which were appraised at from fifteen to eighty-five dollars each.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN CHESTER, REMODELED IN 1839.
1840. Seventy-five dollars were appropriated to pur- chase a grave-yard near the Methodist meeting-house.
Oct. 10, the Presbyterian parish voted to dissolve the contract with the Rev. Benjamin Sargent.
186
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1843. This year was remarkable for the lateness of the spring. There was a great snow storm March 16, and sledding till about the middle of April. Pike Chase sled- ded down the Dearborn mill-pond April 21.
1844. By a statement of the treasurer, the town owed more than was due to it, $4,300.25.
A motion was made at the meeting of the Congregational parish that it is expedient to dissolve the connection be- tween the parish and Mr. Clement ; negatived. Mr. Clem- ent took a strong interest in the alteration of the meeting- house, and that and other things raised so strong an oppo- sition that he gave notice, Dec. 1, to dissolve the contract after six months.
A town meeting was holden for the choice of electors Nov. 4. The Whig candidates, headed by Gen. Joseph Low, received one hundred votes; the Democratic, headed by William Badger, one hundred and seventy-one votes ; the Abolition, by Jesse Woodbury, twenty-three votes. The Democrats prevailed in the State, and voted for James K. Polk, who was elected. The question was taken respect- ing the abolition of capital punishment : affirmative, thirty- one ; negative, one hundred and twenty-two.
1845. The town voted to instruct the selectmen not to grant licenses to retail spirituous liquors.
A petition by John Clark and others having been pre- sented to the Legislature in 1844 to have the town divided, the west part to be named " West Chester," and an order of notice having been served on the town, there was a com- mittee, consisting of John White, Jacob Chase, David Cur- rier, Stephen Palmer, Abel G. Quigg and James Brown, chosen to report a line for the division at an adjourn- ment. The question was taken by ayes and noes, whether the meeting would consent to a division provided the com- mittee should report a satisfactory line : ayes one hundred and forty-eight; noes eighty-three. There seem to have been two reports, and the one made by that part of the committee from the westerly part of the town was adopted : ayes two hundred and ten ; noes fifty-nine.
187
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
There was a strong opposition from individuals in the west part, headed by Jesse Patten and Pike Chase, a re- monstrance sent in and counsel employed before the com- mittee, but the petitioners prevailed, and an act passed June 23, 1845, that all that part of Chester "lying westerly of the following lines, to wit: beginning on the line between Chester and Candia at a stake and stones in the reserve between lots numbered forty-three and fifty-two in the second division of lots in Chester ; thence south seven- teen degrees thirty minutes west, five hundred and sixty- two rods to a spruce tree marked; then south twenty-seven degrees west, two hundred and ninety-eight rods to a stake on the northerly side of the road leading from Jesse Wood's to Chester turnpike; thence south sixty-eight de- grees east, seventy rods, to a stake on the northerly side of said road; thence south twenty-five degrees west, two hun- dred and eighty-seven rods, to a stone set in the ground, on the southerly line of the road leading from Concord, N. H., to Haverhill, Mass. ; thence north seventy-one degrees west, twenty-four rods by the southerly line of said road to a stake and stones ; thence south twenty-three degrees west, seven hundred and seventy-two rods, to the line be- tween Chester and Derry ;- be, and the same is hereby, sev- ered from the town of Chester, and made a body politic and corporate by the name of Auburn." Samuel D. Bell of Manchester, Nathaniel Parker and William Choate of Derry, were named in the act to divide the property and debts. Auburn was to pay two dollars and twenty-six cents and Chester four dollars and two cents, of State tax.
The first meeting of Auburn was notified by John Clark, David Currier and Stephen Palmer, and holden July 28, and officers chosen at an adjournment.
1846. There had accumulated a surplus of revenue in the treasury of the United States, and Congress had passed an act for dividing it among the States, and the question was laid before the towns whether it should be received. Chester voted unanimously to receive it, and Auburn forty- six to seven to receive it.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
The Congregational parish voted unanimously to give the Rev. Lauren Armsby a call, with a salary of five hun- dred dollars. The Congregational society in Auburn voted that it is expedient to sell the old meeting-house and ap- propriate the proceeds towards building a new house.
1847. The building of the new house was taken in thirty shares of fifty dollars each. The share-holders and society chose David Currier, Pike Chase and Graham Hall, building committee. Miles Burnham gave the land. J .. W. Spofford took the contract of the wood-work and David Hall gave the bell. The house was raised October 5, 1847, and dedicated February, 1848.
1848. The question of a prohibitory liquor law having been submitted to a vote of the people, Chester voted : yes, ninety-six ; no, 33. Auburn voted in the affirmative.
1850. A convention to revise the State constitution having been ordered, John White was chosen delegate by Chester and David Currier by Auburn.
The snow laid till April 20, and some drifts till the 26th. Froze hard the 24th and froze May 19.
1741. The Constitutional Convention having been held, and many alterations proposed, fifteen questions were sub- mitted to the towns. In Chester the highest affirmative vote was twenty-four ; the lowest, nine. In the negative the highest was one hundred ninety-eight; the lowest, one hundred eighty-two.
In Auburn the highest affirmative was thirty-seven ; the lowest, eleven ; the highest negative, one hundred and five ; the lowest, one hundred and four. The whole work of the Convention was rejected by the State.
Chester voted, sixty-eight to forty, that it is expedient for the Legislature to pass a law exempting a homestead to the value of five hundred dollars, from attachment.
From September 8th to 13th was the warmest weather of the season ; 15th and 16th, frost ; 23d, the ground froze.
189
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1852. April 15th, a severe snow-storm ; 19th and 20th, a great rain, carrying off all the snow, and causing a great freshet, the water being over the bridges at Auburn Village, and up above the base of the great rock at the pond shore.
October 18th, a heavy thunder shower. There were ser- eral barns burnt by lightning.
1853. The Legislature had proposed the question of a new county, Manchester to be the shire town. Chester in- definitely postponed the article.
At a meeting of the town of Chester, July 19, adjourned to September 13, it was voted to erect a town-house two stories high, thirty by fifty feet, the upper story for a school- room, provided that $500 be furnished by donation, and the expense to the town not to exceed $1000. Passed, seventy-five to fifty-one.
1854. In 1854 the building was erected by a few indi- viduals, at an expense of $2500, including furniture. In 1855 the building and land were sold to the town of Ches- ter for a town-house, for $1250, reserving forever the sec- ond story for school purposes, to be under the control of the trustees of Chester Academy. A high school has been kept in it a portion of each year since that time.
The question of building a town-house has several times come before the town of Auburn, but has always been neg- atived.
The town of Auburn voted, seventy-one to thirty-seven, to instruct their representative, in case the famous Ne- braska Bill, repealing the Missouri Compromise, should come before the next Legislature for approval or disap- proval, to exert his influence against it.
Nathan Griffin and a Mr. Kendall had the small-pox.
May 7, ice froze an eighth of an inch. No rain from July 26th to September 1st.
1855. Chester appropriated $200 to purchase a piece of land for a burying-ground, and a committee was chosen to purchase and lay out the same. Auburn appropriated
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
$250 for a hearse and house at the burying-ground near the village.
February 6th, the thermometer 19º below ; December 25, there was a cold rain, and there was no more rain till April 2, 1856.
1856. December 18th, thermometer 10° below ; 19th, 8° below.
1857. January 12th, thermometer 19º below, and at night a very severe snow-storm ; a gale, which did a great deal of damage to shipping. January 23d, 22º below ; 24th, 20° below ; 25th, 6° below; 26, 2º below at Auburn, and in many places it was from 30° to 40°, freezing the mercury. Portsmouth harbor froze over, which was never known before.
1858. The question of purchasing a county farm for the support of the poor was submitted to a popular vote. Chester, yeas, four; noes, ninety-four. Auburn, yeas, thirty-five ; noes, forty-two.
1860. The question of a new county was again taken. Chester voted, yeas, thirteen ; noes, two hundred sixty-six. Auburn voted, yeas, forty ; noes, one hundred forty-seven.
1861. The question of a convention to revise the Con- stitution, to be limited in its compensation to travel and ten days' attendance, and in its action to diminish the num- ber of representatives, to increase the number of senators, and to make provision for future amendments to the Con- stitution, was taken. Chester voted, yes, forty-six ; no, fourteen. Auburn voted to dismiss the article.
Several town meetings were held about raising men for the army, the proceedings of which are given in the Mil- itary History. There is nothing more of much interest on the records.
The summer and fall of 1865 were remarkable for the drouth. There was no rain but some small showers till September 17. The Bald Hill in Manchester was burnt over, destroying large quantities of wood. The fire got
191
HISTORY OF ROADS.
into the spruce swamp in Auburn, and burnt three weeks, burning out large trees by the roots. It remained, com- paratively dry through the winter and ensuing summer.
The spring of 1868 is remarkable for the quantity of foul weather and rain. May 8th, six inches of snow fell. From May 13th to 27th was a continued storm, with very little sunshine, and large quantities of rain fell, causing more than an ordinary spring freshet. There was little plowing and planting done before June.
At a town meeting, September 12, the town voted to in- struct the selectmen to subscribe for two hundred shares in the Rochester and Nashua Railroad, and appropriated $20.000.
CHAPTER IX.
HISTORY OF ROADS.
Most of the roads were cut out and traveled before they were formally laid out,- some of them on reserves, others across lots, and many of them are described in the returns as " where, or near where, the path now goes."
The first travel from " Walnut Hill " was down the hill by the Jack place, and through Hall's Village, and up by the Presbyterian meeting-house and the Rev. Mr. Wilson's to the Derry road. In laying out Governor Shute's home lot, the cross-road is called " the road to Haverhill."
The first that is said in the records about laying out roads, was at a meeting, January 14th, 1729-30. It was voted to choose a committee " to View two Squeers of lotts, one that lays by John Boyd's, & ye Squeer that m' Blunt's Saw Mill is built on." Blunt's mill was probably below the tan-yard, and Boyd lived on lot No. 69, between John Hazelton's and Edwin Hazelton's. Ichabod Robie, Alex- ander Craig, Jonathan Blunt and Wm. Powel dissented.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
The first road laid out and recorded was June, 1730. The selectmen say, " There being a grate necessity of an highway across 6 homb Lotts," proceeded to lay one out " three rods wide by marked trees, as the path or rode now goes, " First threw James Boid's homb Lott [No. 59] ; 2is, threw John Aiken's homb Lott [No. 145 where John Hazelton now lives]; gly, threw Jonathan Marshes homb Lott [No. 56]; 4ly, threw Zachariah Chandler's homb Lott [No. 146, where Mr. Aiken subsequently lived] ; 51y, threw John Powel's homb Lott [No. 57, Daniel Wilson lived on this lot]; Gly, threw Robert Wilson's homb Lott " [No. 147, Mr. Wilson and his son John lived on this l'ot].
The next laid out was March 6th, 1730-31, " Three rods wide, for conveniency to goe to meeting, and General Ben- efit of the town ; which highway begins first over against Enoch Colby's, Southwest corner of his homb Lott, and so goes a litel anguling across six homb Lotts, running nor- norwest, or thereabouts, by marked trees, across Jonathan Emerson's homb Lott, and William Powel's homb Lott, and across Alexander crage's and Jonathan Blunt's home Lotts; then north and by west by marked trees and staks, across Ichabod Roby's homb Lott, and Morice Hobbs and Richard Taylor's homb Lotts, and bringing out sd highway to the Ten Rod highway about 40 rods to ye south cast of ye meting house, at the norwest corner of hobbs and Tay- lor's homb lott." The terminus of this road was between James Bell's and Deacon Lane's, but probably was never built there.
In 1756 it was " Voted, That the Highway that was Laid out acrost Taylor's Lot So called may be Exchanged for a Highway by the Side of Sam' Robie's land, where the Cart way now Goes, whom Taylor's Land So Called."
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