USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 14
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TAYLOR, ABRAHAM, and Mary, his wife. Born about 1690; from Concord, Mass. His children were, I. Abraham; 2. Samuel; 3. Timothy, born Sept. 1, 1718; 4. Alice; 5. Amos, born Sept. 10, 1725.
TAYLOR, JONATHAN, and Hannah, his wife. His children were, David, born Jan. 1, 1723; Jonathan and Ephraim, born Sept. 8, 1725; Hannah; Esther; Sarah; Nathan, born Oct. 9, 1734; Oliver, born April 6, 1737; Sampson, born Dec. 6, 1739.
TAYLOR, SAMUEL .- Son of Abraham. His children were, Reuben. born March 8, 1733; Samuel, born Oct. 13, 1734; Susannah.
TEMPLE, CHRISTOPHER .- Probably from Concord, Mass .; married Alice, daughter of Joseph Hassell, Dec. 3 1685; killed by the Indians, Sept. 23, 1691. His children were Jeremiah, born Oct. 6, 1686; Alice, born Jan. 3, 1689; Christopher, born Oct. 3, 1690.
TYNG, HON. EDWARD .- From Boston, where he was rep. assistant, and major general; removed to Dunstable in 1679, and died Dec. 28, 1681, aged 81. His children were, Jonathan, born Dec. 15, 1642; Ed. ward, governor of Annapolis, etc .; Hannah ; who married Habijah Savage, and for a second husband, Rev. Thomas Weld; Eunice, wife of Rev. Samuel Willard, president of Harvard College; Rebecca, wife of Gov. Joseph Dudley; and another daughter who married a Searle.
TYNG, HON. JONATHAN,-Son of Hon, Edward; married Sarah, daughter of Hezekiah Usher; died January 9, 1724; his children were John, born about 1670; graduated Harvard College, 1691;killed by Indians in August, 1710; William, born April 22, 1679; Jonathan, born Sept- 29, 1685; Eleazer, born April 30, 1690; graduated Harvard Col lege, 1712; Bersheba, (a son) born February 5, 1694; Mary.
TYNG, ELEAZER .- Son of Jonathan; born April 3, 1690: graduated Harvard College 1712. His children were, Jonathan, born September, 10, 1717; Sarah, bo.n April 22, 1720, who married John Winslow ; Benjamin, born January 26, 1722; John Alford, [Judge Tyng,] born August 29, 1729; James, born March 6, 1731.
USHER, ROBERT .- Son or relative of Hezekiah Usher ; from Charles- town, Mass. His children were, John, born May 31, 1696; Robert, born June, 1700; killed in Pigwacket fight.
USHER, JOHN .- Son of the preceding, born May 31, 1696; his children were, John, born May 2, 1728; Robert, born April 9, 1730; Rachel. Habijah, born August 8, 1734.
WALDO, JOHN .- From Chelmsford: son of Dea. Cornelius Waldo; removed to D. His children were, John, born about 1682; Catherine; Rebecca.
WALDO, DANIEL .- Son of Dea. Cornelius. He had two daughters, born 1684, and 1687.
WARNER, SAMUEL. - Married Mary Swallow, May 4, 1684. His children were, Eleazer, born Jan. 27, 1686; Priscilla.
WELD, REV. THOMAS .- First minister of Dunstable : son of Thomas Weld of Roxbury, Mass .; married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Wilson of Medfield, Nov. 9, 1681, who died July 29, 1687; his second wife was widow Hannah Savage, daughter of Hon. Edward Tyng. He died in 1702; she died at the residence of her son, Rev. Habijah S. Weld, in Attleboro', Mass., in 1731. His children were, Elizabeth, born Oct. 13, 1682; Thomas, born Feb. 7, 1684; by his first wife: and Samuel, born March 4, 1701 ; and Habijah Savage, born in September, 1702, by his second wife; ordained at Attleboro', Mass., 1727, and died there in 1782, aged So .*
WHITING, SAMUEL .- Probably a son of Rev. Samuel Whiting of Billerica : born January 19, 1652; died March 14, 1715, aged 51. His children were, Samuel, born Oct. 22, 1687; who was in the Pigwacket fight; Elizabeth ; Catherine; Leonard, born August, 12, 1693 ; Joseph, born Dec. 14, 1695; Mary ; Dorcas ; John, born March 11, 1706.
WHITING, JOSEPH .- Born about 1735; grandson of preceding ; mar- ried Abigail, Chamberlain, June 11, 1761 ; she died April 19, 1779. His children were, 1. Joseph, born Nov. 13, 1761 ; died Aug. 21, 1778; 2. Samuel, born June 30, 1763; died at Amherst in March, 1805, aged 42 ; 3. Susanna, born March 20, 1765; 4. Leonard, born Jan. 16, 1767; 5. Oliver, born Jan. 29, 1769; 6. William, born Sept. 28, 1770; died in Merrimack ; 7. Elizabeth, born July 16, 1772 ; 8. Thomas, born Oct. 20, 1774; died at Amherst ; 9. Abigail, born Aug. I8, 1776; 10. Jonathan, born Feb. 14, 1778; died at Amherst.
*Of Mr. Weld it is said, that he "was distinguished for his usefulness in the ministry and highly respected as a man, both at home and abroad. He united to an uncommon degree the affections of his people for a period of fifty-five years, during which he was their pastor." - White's Early History of N. E., 271.
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74
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.
APPENDIX II.
HISTORY OF THE POSTOFFICE IN NASHUA .*
T HE POSTOFFICE in this town was established sometime between April Ist, and July Ist, 1803, and Gen. Noah Lovewell appointed postmaster. The office was opened in the tavern of Cummings Pollard, who was appointed assistant postmaster, and had the charge of the office until 1811. Up to that time it was located in the tavern lately owned and occupied by by Silas Gibson. In 1811 the office was removed to the "Harbour," so called, and placed under the charge of Israel Hunt, who was appointed assistant postmaster, and in whose dwelling house it was stationed. After its removal to the latter place, it being located near the residence of General Lovewell, he continued to superintend the duties of the office personally until his death, which took place in May, 1820. Upon his death, John M. Hunt, Esq., was appointed and commissioned in June, 1820. He established the office in the office of I. and J. M. Hunt, (at the Harbor), where it remained until 1826, when it was removed to Nashua Village, soon after the erection of the cotton mills. Since its establishment in 1803, the receipts of the office have increased to an astonishing and almost incredible degree.
The receipt for the first quarterly balance of postage, for the quarter ending June 30, 1803, is still on file in the office, and acknowledgedges the sum of twenty cents !! For the quarter ending Sep- temper 30, 1805, the receipts of the office had increased to the sum of two dollars, eighty-seven cents. yielding a commission as compensation for discharging the various duties of the office of eighty-six cents per quarter, or three dollars, forty-four cents per annum.
But a glance at the finances of the office at periods of ten years will best show its rapid advancement :
In 1810 the net receipts to the general postoffice were .
66
$31.86: gross $46.00 80.00
1830 “
.. 1845 "
1715-53 : " 2450.00
1902.30 :
" 2679.20
First six months of 1845 under the old postage law,
997.18:
"' 1406.61
Last six months under the new law,
905.12 :
" 1272.41
Difference,
$ 92.06 $ 134.20
The present facilities for travelling, when compared with those of by-gone days, have placed the expedition of the mails on a par with their advancement in amount of business and increase of revenue. In former times, Wheat's old mail stage occupied two days in travelling from Amherst to Boston, and "put up" regularly for the night in Billerica. Now by the aid of steam power and railroad accommodation, we can receive a mail from Boston in less than two hours!
Forty years ago there was not a single letter or newspaper brought into this town by mail conveyance. For the quarter ending Sept. 30, 1840, the amount of postage collected on letters was five hundred and twenty-three dollars, and on newspapers and pamphlets one hundred and thirteen dollars, eighty cents.
*This sketch was prepared for the Nashua Directory by John M. Hunt, Esq., in 1846.
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1820 " 66
..
55.95 : 356.64 : 510.00
1840 "
..
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
75
APPENDIX III.
STATISTICS OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
T HE TOWN was first divided into school districts, five in number, and school houses erected in 1775. Previously one teacher had been employed by the town to "keep school " in different places alternately. The sum raised never exceeded and rarely equalled one hundred dollars. There are now (1840) eleven districts, and the whole amount of money raised and expended during the fiscal year 1840, for schools and school houses, was $4,000.95; of which $263.93 only were expended for the latter. The amount required by law to be raised by the town was only $2,627.10.
From the following table we learn that there were eleven districts, seventeen schools, and twenty- six teachers. The amount of money expended for the support of teachers and for fuel was $3,41I. The whole number of scholars in all the districts was 1452. Of these 1268 (viz: six hundred and thirteen males and six hundred and fifty-five females) attended school in summer; and 1188 (viz: six hundred and ninety-six males and four hundred and ninety-two females attended school in winter. The average attendance in summer was only seven hundred and twenty-two, however, and in winter only seven hundred and eighty-eight; showing that almost one-half of all the children in town were constantly absent from school.
STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHUA FOR 1840.
( Previous to the division of the Town. )
No. of District.
Terms.
No. of Schools.
`cluding board.
Length sch. in weeks.
attending school.
Whole No. scholars
Whole No. Males.
Whole No. Females.
Average Attendance.
Census of Scholars.
Amount of money ap-
Sum.
I.
I female teacher,
$10.33
16
27
13
1.1
18
40
$131.00
Win.
I.
I male,
26.00
12
40
27
13
35
25
45
131.00
Win.
1.
I male,
25.00
9
36
25
141
15I
185
358
758.16
3
Win.
3.
I m. and 3 f .; $29, $17, $14 and $14.
19
288
164
124
183
16
29
131.00
5
Win.
I.
I male,
20.00
IC
20
13
7
9
36
131.CO
Sum.
I
I female,
12.00
1.4
40
17
23
23
47
131.70
Win.
I.
I male,
24.00
13
47
26
21
32
8
Win.
I.
I female,
12.00
29
3I
1.4
17
30
88.77
9
Win.
3.
I male, $42 ; 6 females, $13 each,
12
415
250
165
274
2.
2 females; wages, $14 and $13,
26
169
66
IO3
90
IC
Win.
2.
I male, $26; I female, $14,
12
114
53
Sum.
2.
2 females; wages, $14 each,
20
I57
72
85
91
II
Win.
2.
I male, $27; I female, $14,
13
138
80
58
83
Summer.
I268
613
655
772
II
Winter.
1188
696
492
788
1452
$3411.00
14
24
8
26
2I
5
20
I.
I female,
II.32
9
20
IO
IO
18
22
88.77
Sum.
I.
r female,
10.00
16
22
13
Win.
1.
I male,
21.68
1.4
33
23
IO
26
Sum.
I.
I female,
12.00
Sum.
3.
I male, $42 ; 6 females, $13 each,
23
441
227
214
275
556
1177.47
Sum.
I.
I female,
11.00
16
45
28
I7
II
28
Sum.
3.
4 females ; $17, $14, $14 and $13,
2]
292
Sum.
I.
I female,
4
Win.
I.
I male,
23.00
11.60
12
I2
18
6
NUMBER OF TEACHERS,
Wages per month in.
propriated.
I
Of the scholars in all the schools, 1,000 attended to reading, nine hundred and forty-nine to spelling, eight hundred and thirty-one to arithmetic, two hundred and seventy-three to geography, one hundred and fifty-two to grammar, fifty-four to history, seventeen to moral philosophy, sixteen to natural philosophy, eight to chemistry, and seven to algebra.
I 35
316.69
61
80
154
326.14
22 TEACHERS.
2
Sum.
Sum.
76
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.
STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHUA FOR 1845.
Table of Teachers, Scholars, Attendance, etc.
-
District.
Term.
Room.
month.
Wages and Board per
Number of Weeks.
Number of Scholars.
M.tles.
Females.
Average Attendance.
Money Expended.
SIst
I female,
$10.12
14
19
9
JO
15
$101.34
I
1 211
I male,
26.00
9
31
20
11
25
2
{ 2d
I male,
21.00
IO
35
20
15
25
I
I female,
12.00
16
47
19
28
24
Ist
2
I female,
12.00
16
61
30
31
.38
302.3I
3
I
I male,
26.00
14
50
26
24
35
2
I female,
13.00
12
57
35
22
39
I
I male and 2 females,
68.00
26
188
90
98 78
60
Ist
2 females,
26.00
26
26
74
I26
6 1
65
93
2d
3
2 females,
26.00
II
97
46
19
29
33
5
Ist
1
I female,
10.00
IO
20
9
II
IO
25.00
6 ) Ist
I female,
10.00
I2
18
IC
8
98.34
1 2d
I male,
22.67
8
29
19
IC
23
# Ist
I female,
11.00
I7
29
15
14
22
107.34
7 | 2d
[ male.
23.00
12
36
18
18
30
STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHVILLE FOR 1845.
Table of Teachers, Scholars, Attendance, etc.
District.
Term.
Room.
Wages and Board per
Number of Weeks.
Number of Scholars.
Males.
Females.
Average Attendance.
Census of Scholars.
Money Expended.
Ist
2
[ female,
14.00
20
54
2.1
30
37
I
I
I male,
30.00
16
65
27
36
52
2d
2
I female,
14.00
16
56
30
26
40
I
I male,
35.00
25
90
42
48
50
Ist
I female,
16.00
25
70
36
55
2
T
I male and female,
49.00
17
86
45
41
59
2d
I female,
16.00
17
60
33
27
47
4
I female,
16.00
17
77
35
42
56
[ Ist
I female,
10.80
II
22
16
6
16
31 2d
I male,
21.00
IO
18
16
2
12
S Ist
I female,
12.00
15
16
7
9
I 2
4 ) 2d
I female,
13.25
12
22
IO
12
17
19
139.39
2
2 females,
26.00
26
136
157
75
28
46
40
1416.97
4
-
I male and 2 females,
68.00
II
II
98
46
52
38
68
4
I female,
14.00
II
44
20
24
26
160
$386.38
2
I female,
16.00
25
65
30
35
42
3
I female,
16.00
25
85
39
34 46
52
442
1032.95
2
I female,
16.00
17
59
27
32
45
There are two academies in Nashua. "The Nashua Literary Institution," David Crosby, A. M., and Mrs. Louisa S. H. Crosby, principals, and the Nashua Academy, Zuinglius Grover, A. M., and Miss Caroline Wood, principals. These academies were both incorporated in 1840. "Abbot's High School," in Nashville, is under the charge of Charles Abbot. Beside the usual branches taught in high schools, daily instruction is given in vocal and instrumental music.
There are also numerous private schools in the village, for small scholars.
I
I female,
$14.00
20
3
I female,
14.00
1
2
2 females,
26.00
59
82
81
1
I female,
10.00
[2
35
25
90.19
f Ist
No. OF TEACHERS.
No. OF TEACHERS.
month.
4
3
20
91.75
80
58
77
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
APPENDIX IV.
THE NAME-ITS ORIGIN.
2
I N September, 1673, the proprietors of the farms already laid out and others who were disposed to settle in this vicinity, presented a petition to the general assembly, asking that all the grants be consolidated into one plantation, that they might enjoy the privileges and immunities of an incorporated township. In the following year the boundaries having been extended, the town was called Dunstable, in compliment to Mrs. Mary Tyng, who came from Dunstable, England, and who with her husband, Hon. Edward Tyng, then one of the magistrates of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shortly afterwards removed to the new township.
JUSTITIA FIET Inquiring into the origin of the name as first OMNIBUS applied to the English town, lying thirty miles northwest of London in Bedfordshire, we find (ac- cording to Sanborn's History of Dunstable, Eng.) that while the ancient Priory is now entirely "ARMS OF THE PRIORY OF DUNSTABLE." destroyed, there is to be seen in the garden wall of the old farmhouse, occupying its site, a curiously carved stone, bearing the original "Armes of the Priory of Dunstable," which are here reproduced. In the records which were kept at the Priory are found the following :
"VERSES CONCERNINGE THE NAME AND ARMES OF DUNSTAPLE, 1558."
"By Houghton Regis, there, where Watlinge Streete
Is cross'd by Icknell way, once grew a wood With bushes thick orespred ; a covert meete
To harbor such as lay in waite for blood, There lurkte of ruffians bolde an hideous route
Whose captaine was one Dunne, of courage stoute.
"No travailer almost coulde passe that way But either he was wounded, rob'd, or kil'd By that leude crewe, which there in secreete law ;
With murthers, theftes, and rapes, their hands were fil'd, What booties ere they tooke, ech had his share; Thus yeere by yeere they liv'd without all care.
"At last king Henrie, first king of that name,
Towards the northern partes in progresse rode ;
And hearinge of those greate abuses, came
Came unto the thicket where the theues abode; Who on the comminge of the kinge did flie Each to his house, or to his freinde did hie.
"Wherefore the kinge, such mischiefes to prevent,
The wood cut down; the way all open layde That all trew men, which that way rode or wente,
Of sodaine sallyes might be lesse affrayde ; And might descrie their danger ere it came, And so by wise foresighte escape the same.
78
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
"This done, he rear'd a poull both houge and longe
In that roade-highway, where so manie passe ;
And in the poul let drive a staple stronge,
Whereto the kinge's owne ringe appendant was; And caus'd it to be publisht that this thinge
Was done to see what thiefe durst steale the ringe.
"Yet for all that, the ring was stol'n away, Which, when it came to learned Beauclerke's eare, By skylful arte to finde, he did assay Who was the theife, and first, within what shyre His dwellinge was, which this bould act had done, And found it to be Bedffordshire, anon.
"Next in what hundred off that shyre might dwell
This vent'rous wighte, kinge Henrie caste to find ; And upon Mansfield Hundred, straight it fell,
Which being founde, he after bent his minde
To learn the parish, and by like skyll tride
That he in Houghton Regis did abide.
"Lastlie, the parish knowne, he further soughte To find the verie house where he remaynde; And by the precepts of his arte he toughte, That by one Widow Dun he was retayned ; The widowe's hoase was searched, so wil'd the kinge, And with her sonne was founde, staple and ringe.
"Thus Beauclerke by his arte, found out the thiefe,
A lustie tall younge man of courage goode, Which of the other ruffians was the Chiefe ; That closlie lurked in that waylesse wood.
Then Dunne, this captain thiefe, the widowe's sonne,
Was hanged for the factes which he had done.
"And where the thicket stoode, the kinge did build A market towne for saulfetie of all those Which travail'd that way, that it might them yielde A sure refuge from all thievishe foes ; And there King Henrie, of his great bountie, Founded a church, a schole, and priorie.
"And for that Dunne, before the wood was downe,
Had there his haunte, and thence did steal away The staple and the ring, thereof the towne Is called Dunstaple untill this day ; Also in armes, that corporation, The staple and the ringe give thereupon."
Other authorities claim that the word is of Anglo-Saxon origin, the first syllable, "Dun," is Anglo-Saxon for "hill," as seen in Dundee, Dunwhich, Dune, etc. ; that formerly certain goods could not be exported without first being brought to one of the "Royal Staples" or markets and there charged with a duty ; that the second part, "Staple," grew out of the fact that Henry, the First, when re-erecting the town, desiring to give it commercial importance, established a "Staple" or "Market" there, and named the town "Dunstaple-meaning the Market on the Hill."
As a result of the readjustment of our state lines in 1746, Old Dunstable was divided and there came into existence two Dunstables, one in Massachusetts-the other in New Hampshire-divided only by the state line.
During, and after the Indian wars, the settlement at Salmon brook became known as "The Harbor," through being a harbor-or place of safety-while in the Indian attack in 1724 occurred the circumstances through which the settlement at the mouth of the Nashua received the name of Indian Head.
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PART II
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
80
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
THE LAST OF THE NASHAWAYS .*
R. B. PRESCOTT.
Toward the close of a late summer's day about the year is[2 or 1843, a band of Indians with their ponies, dogs and carts suddenly appeared in the main street of the then village of Nashua, coming from the southward. They halted a few moments on the bridge and gazed carnestly about, lwing especially interested in the green meadows opposite the Nashua company's mills. They passed the night in what is now called Railroad square, where Hon. Daniel Abbot addressed to them a few words of inquiry and welcome, The writer, then a small child, distinctly remembers being lifted upon the shoulders of his father to witness the novel spectacle.
The gathering shadows, lengthening to the east,
Proclaimed the sun well down the western sky. Wearily along the hot and dusty street, Heralded by all the noisy village boys, Moved a strange procession. At its head, Feathered and tinselled' as became his rank,
Rode the venerable chief. A motley crew
Of painted braves and beaded squaws In number several score in silence followed.
Ponies, rough and unkempt, rude wagons drew
With dusky children filled, and household goods;
While 'tween the wheels with drooping heads
And lolling tongues, walked the gaunt Indian dogs.
Stolid and silent along the street they passed, Nor heeded aught of all the curious eyes Which wonderingly from every door and window
--
The unwonted sight surveyed. Upon the bridge Which spans the placid waters of the Nashua At length arrived, the cavalcade made pause, While through the ranks a sudden impulse ran. With outstretched hand the chief their glances drew
To where, above, the stream makes sudden curve
And laps the edge of broad, green meadow lands;
Where now, from underneath the wheel's dark pit The foaming torrent plunges madly forth. With earnest words and feelings deeply moved
His hearers' minds he seeming much impressed.
It was as when some long forgotten scene,
Suddenly reappearing, floods the heart With cherished memories, and, like spring-time torrents,
Bears all else impetuously away.
A moment thus they gazed, then moving on To where the street first verges to the right, Beneath two giant Balm-of-Gilead trees Whose spreading branches overarched the way,
A final halt was made. The village folk,
Curious, yet timid, a gradual circle formed, Which, as it grew, to narrower limits pressed,
Till some, more bold than others, dared to feel With cautious touch the strangers' quaint attire.
And now the circle parts and entering in Approached the chief a portly man and wise ; Whose face, dress, speech, and general air, proclaimed A man of power and weight within the town.t With proffered hand and kindly tone he asked, "Who and whence are ye, and with what intent Come ye here thus to camp within our town?" The swarthy chief a moment him surveyed, Then glancing o'er the throng thus made reply.
*Prize poem; written in response to an offer, on the part of the managers of this history, of fifty dollars in gold for the best original poem written for the work; the author to be either a native or resident of Nashua. There were several competitors, and, by unanimous consent of the committee of award, the above obtained the prize.
tIlon. Daniel Abbot.
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8I
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
"Oh, pale-face, many, many years are flown Since these fair lands our fathers called their own ; Ere yet these whirring wheels the silence broke, Or shriek of iron horse the echoes woke, Freely they roved where e'er their fancy drew, Guiding their course by Nature's instincts true. Their broad domain on every hand was seen, From Nashua's source to Penacook's meadows green ;
From where the Merrimack meets the Atlantic tide
Westward to far Wachusett's rugged sides. Six tribes here dwelt in peace, or banded, fought Their common foe, the wily, fierce Mohawk, And each and all were subject to the sway Of that proud sachem, Passaconaway. We the descendants are-a feeble band, Of those same Nashaways that possessed this land. From distant shores we hitherward are come To view once more our father's ancient home ; To note again the streams they loved so well, To mark the ground where in fierce strife they fell. These have we seen, and to our children told The wrongs ye did their sires in days of old. Yet in our hearts we bear no thought of hate, But only see the o'erruling hand of fate. Poor and unskilled, the red man must give place, And own the white man the superior race." He ceased. The throng in silence moved away ; The village youth no more resumed their play ; And when again returned the morning light, The Indian band had vanished from the sight.
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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JESSE ESTEY.
Jesse Estey was born in Middletown, Mass., in 1780, died in Nashua, Sept. 12, 1846. Mr. Estey was educated in the public schools of his native place and early in life
JESSE ESTEY.
moved to Mont Vernon. In 18If he settled in Nashua and bought what was then known as the Pollard house, changing the name to Estey house, and continuing it as a hotel till 1827, when he gave up the occupation of land- lord and removed to the north side of the river, taking up his residence in the house now standing at the corner of Concord and Laton streets. From that time until 1846 he was engaged in the grain business. In 1830 Mr. Estey built the house now 217 Main street and resided there until his death. In his day Mr. Estey was one of the prominent men of Nashua and closely identified with those who were enthusiastic in effort to develop its resources and advance its prosperity. He was a director in the Nashua State bank and one of the original stock- holders in the Washington house and Worcester & Nashua railroad, both of which enterprises had his endorsement. In a word he was a stirring citizen who had the confidence of the business community and the esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Estey was united in marriage June 19, 1808, with Anna Peabody, daughter of Deacon Benjamin Peabody of Middletown. Deacon Peabody was a captain in the Con- tinental army during the war of the Revolution and after peace was declared was commissioned colonel of a militia
regiment. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Estey's marriage were Hannah F., Augustus, Willis Hall, Julia A., Maria, who married Col. Harvey F. Courser, (see sketch of his career elsewhere in this work), Caroline and George P. The last named removed in early life to Toledo, O., and, when the Civil War broke out, was employed on the edi- torial staff of the Toledo Blade. The day Fort Sumter was fired on he was visiting his relatives in Nashua. He immediately telegraphed his friends in Ohio to muster a company of voiunteers and include his name on the roll. His suggestion was acted upon and he went to the front in the Fourteenth regiment, Ohio volunteers, in which command he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Before the war was closed he was brevetted, for gallantry, brigadier-general. General Estey was united in marriage June 3, 1868, with Emma Lindsey, daughter of Louis Lindsey of Winchester, Va., at Washington, D. C. Mrs. Estey died Oct. 9, 1870. General Estey died in New York city Feb. 6, 1881, and his body was buried in the family lot in the Nashua cemetery.
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