History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 5

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

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*Petition in two Province Papers-Towns-253, in office of N. H. Secretary of State.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

public worship, the selectmen just chosen being appointed agents to carry the vote into effect. A " thirty acre right," as it was called, entitling the owner to about six hundred acres on the subsequent divisions of the common lands, was granted for a " ministerial lot," as a farther encouragement to the ministry. Upon this Mr. Weld resided, and it is probably a part of the Fletcher farm now owned by John Little.

It would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain the exact bounds of the lots set off to these early settlers after the lapse of so many years. There has been no doubt, however, but that Mr. Weld's settlement embraced the farms adjoining the above mentioned, owned for a generation by the late John Harwood and sold by him to Hon. V. C. Gilman in 1872, who added to and greatly im- proved the buildings and the farm generally. As it extended westerly from the Merrimack river to and included a portion of the highest range of land between Nashua and Lowell, he gave it the name of Highland Farm, by which name it has since been known.

As evidence that Rev. Mr. Weld once owned and cultivated these acres, it may be mentioned that in widening the street leading to the station on the Nashua & Lowell railway known as "Littles," now as South Nashua, a stone was turned up having the letters "T. W." roughly cut upon its quite smooth surface, and beneath it was an old iron padlock and a small lead hatchet such as country school boys of fifty or seventy-five years ago were accustomed to run in molds and use for ruling their letter paper. What the significance of these articles was is left to conjecture; but, in view of the great perils through which they had apparently passed, the losses of property and of life by not a few of their number, until brighter days seemed to have dawned, may not the lock have symbolized security, and the buried hatchet peace ?

The farm has a history full of interest. Mr. Harwood bought it at the assignees' sale of Josephus and Edwin Baldwin in 1837. The assignees were Stephen Kendrick, Thomas Chase and Charles J. Fox. It was upon the identical spot where now stands the cattle barn, that the Baldwin's bobbin factory stood until destroyed by fire. When Mr. Gilman bought the farm the barn stood on the east side of the highway and opposite the dwelling house. It obstructed the view of the railway station and the fine view beyond the river, and he employed Mr. David Stevens to remove it to where it now stands, but the most singular part of it was that, after it was placed in what was adjudged to be the most desirable spot upon the side of the hill, the work of excavation for a cellar commenced, and, to the great surprise to the owner, he uncovered the foundation wall of the former bobbin factory, of which he knew nothing at the time, but subsequently learned its history, and of its destruction by fire. The cellar was filled and all indications of its former occupation removed by cultivation. Instead of rebuilding they came to the village as will appear elsewhere.

There is another interesting fact connected with this farm relating to the Baldwin apple. In 1873 a claim was made that this apple originated in Maine. This led to the publication of its history, which seems to be fully established. Mr. Gilman found upon investigation that the apple was discovered in the present town of Wilmington in 1790, by the engineers when surveying for the Mid- dlesex canal. Loami Baldwin, who lived upon this farm, had charge of the corps of engineers in connection with Samuel Thompson, Esq. The apple had such merits as to induce him to take scions and place them in a tree upon this farm. That tree stood upon the lot east of the highway and nearly opposite the house. It was in an advanced state of decay when Mr. Gilman bought the farm and soon after yielded up its historic fame. Colonel Baldwin gave it wide dissemination, it having been given his name. Mr. Gilman published in the Nashua Telegraph this claim for the origin of the apple, which was supported by the late Judge Geo. Y. Sawyer, who had learned the story of the discovery when he was a resident of Wakefield, Mass., and well remembered the notoriety it very soon attained.

As an illustration of the character and manners of the early inhabitants of the town, the laws of the colony at this period, as an exponent of public opinion, form perhaps the best criterion. In 1651 " dancing at weddings" was forbidden, and in 1660, " William Walker was imprisoned a month for courting a maid without the leave of her parents." In 1675, because " there is manifest pride appearing in our streets," the wearing of "long hair or periwigs," and also " superstitious ribands," used to tie up and decorate the hair, were forbidden under severe penalties. Men, too, were forbidden to " keep Christmas," because it was a Popish custom. In 1677, an act was passed to prevent "the profaneness" of "turning the back upon the public worship before it is finished, and the blessing pronounced." Towns

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.

were directed to erect "a cage" near the meeting house, and in this all offenders against the sanctity of the Sabbath were confined.

At the same time children were directed to be placed in a particular part of the meeting house, apart by themselves, and tythingmen were ordered to be chosen, whose duty it should be to take care of them. So strict were they in their observance of the Sabbath, that "John Atherton "* a soldier of Col. Tyng's company, was fined by him " forty shillings " for "wetting a piece of an old hat to put into his shoes," which chafed his feet upon the march, and those who neglected to attend meeting for three months were publicly whipped. Even in Harvard College students were whipped for grave offences in the chapel, in presence of students and professors, and prayers were had before and after the in- fliction of the punishment. As the settlers of Dunstable are described in the petition as "of sober and orderly conversation," we may suppose that these laws and customs were rigidly observed.

We ought not to wonder at the seeming austerity of the Puritans : still less should we blame or ridicule, for to them does New England owe her peculiar elevation and privileges. Scouted at by the licentious courtiers, whether Episcopalian or Catholic, for their strictness and formality, nicknamed "Crop-ears," ridiculed for their poverty and want of education, they naturally clung tenaciously to those peculiarities for which they had suffered, and prized them most dearly. As naturally did they dislike all which savored of the offensive worship or customs of their persecutors, and strive sedulously to differ from them.

They would have no proud " Churches," for " the Church of Christ is a living Temple," so in their plain, unsteepled, barn-like " Meeting Houses " they worshipped God with a prouder humility. The Establishment was the mystic "Babylon," and all its forms, rituals and tastes of course anti- Christian. No band or surplice added dignity to the minister, for he was but the equal, nay, the servant of all. Long hair or a wig was an abomination, and a crime against all laws human and divine. No sound of bells summoned them to worship, and no organ lifted their prayers and praises to Heaven upon the wings of music. They placed no shrub or flower over the graves of the dead, but instead the plain slab with quaint carving of death's head or cross bones, or hourglass, and solemn inscription. All ornament was a vain show and beauty a Delilah.

They believed their wilderness homes to be "the New Jerusalem," and, taking the Bible as their standard, labored in all things outwardly and inwardly to be " a peculiar people." And they were so. They did really believe in God and religion, and they strove to practice what they believed at any sacrifice. The world has seen few such men, and it will be well for New England if she forget not the principle, the real, living FAITH, which inspired and exalted the Puritans.

No records exist of any meeting from November, 1677, to April, 1680, when Joseph Cummings, Jr., was chosen a selectman in the place of Captain Hutchinson; Joseph Parker, Jr., constable ; "Captain Parker, Robert Paris, Joseph Parker and John Sollendine a committee to assign lotts." At a subsequent meeting they also "chose these men to run the line between Groton and us." In the spring of this year lands were improved upon the north side of the Nashua.

In November, 1680, a great comet appeared at which, says Holmes, "the people were greatly sur- prised and terrified."t It continued to be visible until February, 1681, and was "the largest that had ever been seen." So great and general was the alarm excited, that a "general fast" was appointed by the governor and council, and one reason assigned in the proclamation was, " that awful, porten- tous, blazing star, usually foreboding some calamity to the beholders thereof." This fast was observed with great strictness. We may smile at the ignorant and superstitious terror of even the dignitaries 'and wise men of the land in those days, but our smile must be checked a little when we remember the alarm excited in 1833, in our own community by a similar cause.

June 14, 1681, "Jona. Blansher [Blanchard] and Thomas Lun [Lund] were chosen fence fewers [viewers, ] and an order was passed commanding all persons 'to take care of and yook yr. hogs on penilty of paing double damiges.' "

December 28, 1681, died Hon. Edward Tyng, aged 81. Where he settled is unknown, but prob- ably not far from the " Haunted House," so called, in Tyngsborough. He was born in Dunstable in England in 1600, settled in Boston as a merchant, 1639, was representative 1661 and 1662, assistant

*He was of Lancaster, Mass.

+Holmes' Annals, 45I.

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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.

from 1668 to 1681, and colonel of the Suffolk regiment. It appears that he was elected major-general after Leverett, but it is not known that he served in that office. He removed to Dunstable in 1679.

He left six children :- Jonathan, who settled in this town (see notice ;) Edward, who was one of Sir Edmund Andros's council, 1687, and Governor of Annapolis, (see notice ;) Hannah, who married Habijah Savage, (son of the celebrated Major Thomas Savage, commander-in-chief in Philip's war,) who afterward married Rev. Thomas Weld, and resided here ; Eunice, wife of Rev. Samuel Willard, pastor of the Old South church, Boston, and vice president of Harvard college ; Rebecca, wife of Gov- ernor Dudley; and another daughter who married a Searle. He was buried in the family tomb in Tyngsborough, and a monument with an inscription points out the spot .*

In 1682, the inhabitants seemed to have increased considerably, and the settlement to have ac- quired a firm footing. The records assume a new form, and become more numerous and town-like .- "Captain Brattle, Captain Parker, Mr. Tinge, Sargeant John Cummings, and Robert Parris, were chose selectmen." Provision was made for the collection of taxes, by ordering that the allotments of such as neglect or refuse to pay their taxes, should " be sould at an outcry on the next public meeting day after such neglect or refus." Even at this early day there were some, to whom "religion was as twelve and the world as thirteen," or even more.t Trespasses were committed upon the common lands, and the town found it necessary to order that "every man that felleth any wood or tre in the comon shall pay five shillings for such offence." . The cattle, also, seem to have become equally unruly, for it was found necessary to heighten their fences to a " saffisient five raile or equivalent."

May 8, 1682, "at a selectmen's meeting, it was ordered that the hogs of Dunstable of three months ould and upward, be soficiently yoked and rung at or before the twentieth of the present month, and John Ackers be appointed and Imployed to pound, youke and Ringe such hogs ; and for so doing it is ordered that the owner of every such hog shal pay to the said Swinyard twelv penc, and John Acres is appointed HOGE CONSTABLE to se this order exsicuted." So early was the necessity for this ancient and respectable office recognized by our wise forefathers, and the trust committed to one who was qualified to "EXSICUTE " it.

August 28, 1682, " Mine Islands " were laid out to Hezekiah Usher.# The islands at the foot of "Mine Falls" had acquired this name already, on account of mines which were supposed to exist there. The rumor was that they had been long worked by the Indians, who obtained from them their supply of lead. The banks of the Nashua, Souhegan and the Merrimack had been carefully explored, and "Mr. Baden, an ingenious miner and assayer, was sent over to New England for this purpose. Lead ore was found, but not plenty, and so intermixed with rock and spar as to be not worth working."§

Usher was an original proprietor, a man of wealth and enterprise, and uncle of John Usher, lieu- tenant governor of New Hampshire in 1692. He seems to have been a speculator, and to have imbibed the extravagant ideas then prevalent among that class of emigrants, respecting the great mineral wealth of New England. They had read of Mexico and Peru. They had listened to the Indians as they told of " the Great Carbuncle," which dazzled the eyes of the beholder, upon the summit of the White or " Crystal Hills," where no human foot had ever trodden or dared to tread, and the Great Spirit had his home. Visions of gold and silver, lying hidden in the bowels of the hills in untold quantities, floated before their distempered fancies by night and by day. Every sparkling rock, every discolored spot of earth was to them an El Dorado, and such, without doubt, were our own Mine Islands in the eyes of Usher.

He made excavations there and found lead and iron, it is said, in small quantities, but the enter- prise proved a profitless one and was abandoned. This was probably not long after they were granted to him as we find that May 15, 1686, Mason, the proprietor of New Hampshire, "farmed out to Hez. Usher, and his Heirs all the mines, minerals, and ores within the limits of New Hampshire, for the

*Farmer's Genealogical Register, to which I am largely indebted in this way.

+Higginson's Election sermon, 1663.

#Usher was something of a wit. The converted Indians were commonly called "praying Indians," but Usher, having heard of some outrage said to have been committed by them, called them "preying Indians." In 1685, he was hunting for mines in Deerfield .- Mass. Records, 4685, page 485.

§2 Douglass' Summary, 108. 5 N. H. Hist. Coll. 88. Lead ore, containing a minute proportion of silver, has been discovered at Mine Falls by Dr. Jackson, in his geological survey of the State.

HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.

term of one thousand years, reserving to himself one fourth of the royal ores, and one seventeenth of all the baser metals."* Of such a character and extent, however, were his explorations at these islands, that they were familiarly called " the Mines" in all letters, records and journals of scouting parties for half a century afterwards. t

Although this was a period of peace, and the Indians were committing no depredations, there was danger from roving and lawless parties, and a small mounted guard was deemed expedient. Daniel Waldo and John Waldo were employed for this purpose.#

December 3, 1682, the town "let out to goodman Akers to cut ten cords of wood for two shillings a cord, country pay, and Sargt. Cummings is to cart the same for two shillings a cord, same paye." This was probably for the minister, Mr. Weld, who was married not long previous, and from it we may learn something of prices in those days .- Corn was worth about two shillings per bushel in 1683, and the relative price of labor and provisions was nearly the same as at present.

At the same time a committee was appointed, consisting of John Parker, Robert Paris, and John Sollendine, to "lay out a Highway from Groton Meeting House to Dunstable Meeting House." The main river road, down the Merrimack, had been laid out long previously, and bridges built over the small streams. This road passed easterly of the present road, crossing Salmon brook at the bridge near Miss Allds' house ; thence running northerly near the old Allds' road below Judge Parker's house, and crossing the Nashua at a ford way near its mouth, not far from the Concord railroad bridge.

Judge Edmund Parker was at this time of writing agent of the Jackson Company and occupied the house built by the company for the use of the agent. Subsequently while occupied by Agent Benj. Saunders it was externally modernized and is an attractive residence, now occupied by Mr. Charles H. Webster, a clerk of the company.

The proprietorship of the township was divided into "thirty acre rights," as they were termed, or house lots of that size, with the privilege of an equal share in all subsequent divisions of the com- mon lands in the township. Of these there were about eighty, and the proportion of each such right was about six hundred acres. The market value of these lands at this period may be estimated from the fact, that the proprietors, being indebted to Mr. Tyng in the sum of £23, (about $75.00,) they gave him three "thirty acre rights," or about 1800 acres, in full discharge of his claim. §

Of these proprietors, according to a certificate of the selectmen dated November 30, 1682, twenty- one persons resided out of town in Boston, Salem, Marblehead, Cambridge and Chelmsford, and four- teen in Dunstable, viz : "Jona. Tyng, widow Mary Tyng, John Cummings, senior, Thomas Cum- mings, John Blanchard, Abraham Parker, Joseph Wright, Samuel Warner, Joseph Parker, senior, John Sollendine, Obadiah Perry, Thomas Lund, Joseph Hassell, and John Acres." Most of the inhabitants were not proprietors.

October 9, 1682, "a twenty acre right " was granted to Rev. Mr. Weld as an additional encour- agement to the ministry. At the same time a tax was imposed of "twenty shillings in mony" upon every thirty acre right, "toward the building of a meeting-house, which is to be built within one year after the date hereof, according to the dimensions of the meeting-house at Groton." A committee was chosen, also, to collect contributions for this purpose, "of such as have ffarmes within the town," and "to agree with a purson or pursons for the doing of said work." This meeting-house, the second in town, was built probably in 1683, of a larger size and better finish, to accommodate the increasing wants of the inhabitants, and must have cost three or four hundred dollars.

"Money," as specie was called at that day, was difficult to be obtained as in all new settlements, and possessed a comparative value far superior to that of produce or "country pay." It is recorded that "Mr. Weld is not willing to accept of one-third advance from those that pay him in money as proposed, but accepts to have double the sum of such as pay not in money."

"In 1683, Major Bulkley, (Hon. Peter Bulkley of Concord, one of the council, ) Captain Hutch- inson, Mr. Tinge, Jno. Blanchard, Sargeant Cummings and Robert Parris were chosen selectmen for

*I Belknap 116. Royal ores were gold and silver. These were reserved to the Crown.

+See original journals of Fairbanks, Blanchard, and others, 1700 to 1725 in "Journals of Scouts." Mass. Records.

#They were inhabitants of the town, and sons of Dea. Cornelius Waldo, the ancestor of nearly all the Waldos in New England. Farmer's Genealogical Register.

§These rights include the greater part of the town of Tyngsborough, and are still in possession of the family.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

the year ensuinge. John Sollendine was chosen constable, Christopher Temple and Andro Cooke war chosen veioers of fenses, Sam'1 Warner and John Cummings war choes Servaires of Hyways."

The taxes upon each "thirty acre right" for the four years together, from 1679 to 1683, were about thirty-six shillings.

John Cummings seems to have been town clerk for many years previous to 1700, although there is no record of any choice. For several years after 1683 the town officers were nearly the same as in the years preceding, whose names have been recorded. Many of their posterity still dwell here, and it was thought it might not be uninteresting to know who in its days of weakness and peril and suffering were the "fathers of the town."

We have seen how "zealously affected " the proprietors of Dunstable were toward building a meeting-house and settling a minister in 1677. Religious motives, however, were not the only ones which actuated them, since their pecuniary interests were benefited thereby. By an agreement dated May 21, 1684, setting forth their desire for the "increase and flourishing of said plantation, one chief means whereof, under God, is the settling a pious and able minister thereof," they therefore bound them- selves to pay 15s. annually on each thirty acre right for this purpose, till the inhabitants can pay £50 per annum.

In the summer of 1685 the inhabitants were thrown into a new alarm by the suspicious move- ment of the Penacook Indians and many retired to the garrisons. The alarm was soon, however, discovered to be unnecessary, the Penacooks themselves, fearing an attack from the Mohawks, and taking precautions against it .* Such was the life of the early settler even in time of peace. The inhabitants generally lived in garrisons or fortified houses, and scouts were abroad constantly to detect the approach of the lurking foe. The farmer tilled his fields with his arms ready for self defence, and as the lonely wife heard the frequent story of massacre and captivity, her ear detected, with trembling apprehension, in every unusual sound, the footsteps of the "Indian enemy."

*I Belknap, II5.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

CHAPTER IV.

NEW MEETING-HOUSE BUILT. ORDINATION OF MR. WELD. CHURCH FORMED. NAMES OF MEMBERS. COVENANT. OTHER CHURCHES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. INDIANS SELL THEIR LANDS AND REMOVE FROM THE VICINITY. BRIDGE BUILT OVER CONCORD RIVER AT BILLERICA. DOG WHIPPER APPOINTED. IMPORTANT MEETING OF DELEGATES IN BOSTON. FIRST TYTHINGMAN CHOSEN. INDIAN RAVAGES IN EASTERN PART. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOWN. SETTLERS FORFEIT RIGHTS BY REMOVAL. STATE TAX ABATED AND GRANT FOR SUPPORT OF MINISTRY MADE. MRS. HANNAH DUSTON TAKEN CAPTIVE AT HAVERHILL, MASS. KILLED HER CAPTORS AND RETURNED. MONUMENT TO HER MEM- ORY. FREQUENT ALARMS PREVENT GROWTH OF SETTLEMENT. GRIST MILL AT MOUTH OF STONY BROOK. REV. MR. WELD'S COMPENSATION. MEETING-HOUSE GLAZED. LIST OF INHABITANTS. AID ASKED TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY. DEATH OF REV. MR. WELD. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY.

U P TO this period Mr. Weld had been preaching here but had never been ordained. In 1684, however, a new meeting-house was erected, and having consented to settle, he was ordained, December 16, 1685. At the same time a church was formed, consisting of seven male members, viz: Jonathan Tyng, John Cummings, senior, John Blanchard, Cornelius Waldo, Samuel Warner, Obadiah Perry and Samuel French. John Blanchard and Cornelius Waldo were chosen the first deacons.

The following is the Covenant which was adopted in the neighboring churches at that period, and which undoubtedly was adopted here. It is substantially the same as that which was framed for the First Church in Salem, by the associated churches of the colony, in 1629, and promulgated by the General Assembly in 1680, for the use of the colony .*

"We covenant with our Lord and with one another, and we do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to walk together in all his ways according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us, in his blessed word of truth, and do explicitly profess to walk as followeth, through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"We avouch the Lord to be our God, and ourselves to be his people in the truth and simplicity of our spirits.

"We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and the word of His grace for teaching, ruling and sanctifying of us in the matters of worship and conversation, resolving to cleave unto him alone for life and glory, and to reject all contrary ways, canons, and constitutions of men in his worship.

"We promise to walk with our brethren with all watchfulness and tenderness, avoiding jealous- ies, suspicions, backbitings, censurings, provocations, secret risings of spirit against them; but in all cases to follow the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ to bear and forbear, to give and forgive, as He hath taught us.

"In public or in private we will willingly do nothing to the offence of the church; but will be willing to take advice for ourselves and ours as occasion may be presented.

"We will not in the congregation be forward either to shew our own gifts and parts in speaking, or scrupling, or there discover the weakness and failings of our brethren, but attend an orderly call thereto, knowing how much the Lord may be dishonored, and His Gospel and the profession of it slighted, by our distempers and weakness in public.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 5

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652