History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 7

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

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 7

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"Inasmuch also as his Excellency, in his great wisdom and providence for the security of this eminently frontier place, and of this part of the Province so much exposed to the invasion of the bloody salvages, hath been pleased to post a considerable force of soldiers here, the great advantage whereof hath been experienced in these parts, but they can never hear a sermon without travelling more than twelve miles from their principal post, which is to them no small discouragement :#

" We are therefore humbly bold to lay before the wise and compassionate consideration of this Great and General Assembly the sorrowful circumstances of her Majesty's good subjects in said town, and do most humbly implore that such a supply may be ordered, out of the Treasury of the Province, towards the support of the ministry in Dunstable, as to your great wisdom and candor shall appear meet, we being found, (as we are in duty bound, ) to contribute to such a service for our souls to the uttermost of our ability, and much beyond the proportion of others in greater congregations for the ordinances of God's worship among themselves ;- And your poor Petitioners are the more encouraged thus to pray in hope, since their former applications of this kind have ever been compassionately regarded and bountifully answered by former Great and General Assemblies of this Province."

" Your obedient and humble servants, SAMUEL WHITING, Selectmen WILLIAM TYNG, in behalf JOSEPH BLANCHARD, ) of the Town."

In 1704 a block house was erected somewhere in town by Colonel Tyng, by the direction and at the expense of the colony, but the place of its location is not designated. §

It may be a matter of some interest and curiosity, as illustrating the manners and customs of the times, to insert the following account of the expenses of the funeral of James Blanchard, who died in 1704. He was a farmer in tolerable circumstances.

"Paid for a winding sheet,

£0-18s .- od.

Paid for a coffin, Paid for digging grave, 0" 7 "6 " O Paid for the use of the pall, 5 '

Paid for gloves, (to distribute at the funeral, )

Paid for wine, segars, and spice, (at the funeral, ) I" 5 "9 Paid for the Doctor, 0"14 " 9

Paid for attendance, expenses, &c. I "17 " 5 £6 "19 " 5"

*Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1704, page 191.

+This was 8th. March, 1703-4, or 1704.

#This garrison was at Salmon brook, and the nearest meeting-house, (except in town,) was at Chelmsford, then twelve miles distant.

§Mass. Military Records, 1704.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

CHAPTER V.

TOWN RECORDS IMPERFECT. GRANT FOR SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. REV. SAMUEL HUNT. HIS PETITION. REV. SAMUEL PARRIS. MEETING HOUSE REPAIRED. REV. AMES CHEEVER. SALARY. REV. MR. TREAT. PARSONAGE. REV. JONA. PIERPONT. REV. MR. COFFIN. REV. MR. PRENTICE. HIS MARRIAGE. SALARY. DEATH OF REV. MR. PRENTICE. HIS GRAVE.

F OR many years after the death of Rev. Mr. Weld the ecclesiastical affairs* of the town are involved in much obscurity. No minister was settled here during the war, and no records remain of the proceedings of the town until 1710. Yet during this long struggle, although the settlement was nearly deserted, the public services of the church were not neglected in their distress and care for self-preservation. In June, 1705, the General Court granted {26 to the town for the support of the ministry for the year ensuing.t Who was the minister at this period is not known certainly, but probably it was Rev. Samuel Hunt, as in September, 1706, he was desired by the Governor and Council to continue at Dunstable by the following order :-

"Boston Sept. 4th, 1706. I am ordered by his Excellency the Governor and Council to acquaint you that your service as minister at Dunstable is acceptable to them and desire a continuance thereof, and they will endeavor to promote yr. encouragement by the General Assembly as formerly, and hope they will be prevailed with to make it better: I am, sir,

your humble servant,

ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sec'y."

" Mr. Samuel Hunt, Clerk."

Mr. Hunt continued his ministry at Dunstable until the spring of 1707, when he was ordered to accompany the expedition against Port Royal as chaplain of the forces, as appears by the following petition, § upon which the sum of £18 was allowed :

"The petition of Samuel Hunt, Clerk, sheweth :

"That your petitioner has served as minister at Dunstable ever since the fourth of Sept., 1706, having received a signification from this Honorable Board, under the hand of Mr. Secretary Adding- ton, that the same was desired by your Excellency and Honorables; intimating withal that your petitioner should have the same encouragement as formerly, (or better,) which your petitioner under- stood to be the same as he had at Casco Bay, which was 452 per annum and his board. And on the 23d of April last past, yr. petitioner was dismissed from that service in order to go to Port Royal, when he had served thirty-three weeks at Dunstable aforesaid, for which your petitioner has not yet received any salary-and yr. petitioner prays that the same may be allowed as aforesaid.

"Dec. 5, 1707."

SAMUEL HUNT."

As early as the first of October, 1708, Rev. Samuel Parris commenced preaching in Dunstable, and the General Court granted him {20 per annum for three years or more toward his support. | He remained here until the winter of 1711 or the spring of 1712, but how much longer is unknown. Mr. Parris was previously settled at Salem village, (or Danvers,) and in his society and in his family, it is said, commenced the famous " Salem Witchcraft " delusion of 1691, which led to the death of so many innocent persons, and which filled New England with alarm, sorrow and shame .**

"Sept. 12, 1711. [It was] agreed upon to repayr the meeting-house, it being left to the selectmen to let out the work and take care for the boards and nails."

After Mr. Parris left Dunstable public worship still continued and the pulpit was supplied

*This subject finds a separate place and extended treatment elsewhere in this volume, nevertheless, by reason of the connection in which it stands it may be found acceptable.

+Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1705.

+Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707, page 239. Mr. Hunt graduated at Harvard College, 1700.

§Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707, page 239.

Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1709, 1710, 1711.

** Upham's Lectures on the Salem Witchcraft. Mr. Parris died in Sudbury, Mass.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.

constantly, for in June, 1712, the General Court granted " gro to Dunstable for the support of the ministry the last half year," and in June, 1713, 61o more "for the year past." This is the last record of any assistance granted to the town by the colony. With the return of peace, prosperity smiled upon the settlement. New settlers thronged in, farms were extended and the inhabitants were enabled to bear their own burdens.

In 1713 Rev. Ames Cheever, who graduated at Harvard in 1707, was preaching in Dunstable. Nov. 20th, 1713, it was voted, "that the resident proprietors of Dunstable pay Mr. Cheever 640 a year." How much earlier Mr. Cheever commenced his labors is uncertain, but he continued preach- ing here until June, 1715, at which time he received a call. "At a general town meeting of the inhabitants legally warned at Dunstable, on June the 6th, 1715, Then voted and agreed that Joseph Blanchard is to pay to Mr. Cheever his money that is due him, and upon discoursing with him, if he seems to incline to settle with us, then to declare to him, that the town at a meeting voted that they would readily consent that he should come and settle with us, and have the same encouragements as to settlement and salary as was voted him at our last meeting concerning him. Also, voted that Joseph Blanchard shall deliver a letter to Mr. Short, (Rev. Matthew, who graduated at Harvard, 1707, ) or some other minister, to come and preach with us for some time."

In those days ministers were settled for life, and it was customary for the town to give them a ministerial farm, or a certain sum of money by way of deficit, which was called a settlement. He received an annual salary in addition. This settlement was usually, in a town like Dunstable, from £80 to fico in value, while the salary ranged from £50 to fico per annum.

Mr. Cheever, however, did not accept the call to settle, and soon after a Mr. Treat was preaching here. "Nov. 2d, 1715, it was voted for to desier Mr. Treat to continue with us sum time longer, and to give him as before, which was twenty shillings a Sabbath. Also, voted that Sarg't Cumings should be looking out for a minister in order for settlement."

"Jan. 16th, 1717, voted that Henry Farwell and Sarg't Cummings are to endever to get a minister as soon as they can, and to see after Mr. Weld's place (the old parsonage, ) to by it if it be to be had. Also, Joseph French is to entertain the minister." French lived at the first house on the main road northerly of the state line.

" Ist May, 1717, voted that there be a day of fast kept sum time this instant May. Voted that ye 15th day of this instant May, be the day appointed to be kept as a day of Fast. At the same time Decon Cumings was chosen for to discourse Mr. Stoder (Rev. Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford,) concerning the Fast." This was a fast ordained by Governor Shute,* and was, probably, in conse- quence of the alarming threats and depredations which were made at this time by some of the Indian tribes against the frontier settlements.t

"Sept. 26th, 1717, voted that the Rev. Jona. Parepoint (Peirpont of Reading, Mass., graduate Harvard, 1714, ) should have a call in order for settlement. Also, voted that the minister should have £80 a year salary, and one hundred pounds for his settlement. Voted that Major Eleazer Tyng and Ensign Farwell should acquaint Rev. Mr. Pairpont with what is voted at this meeting."

This call was equally unsuccessful with the former, and "Sept. 2d, 1718, chose a committee to go to discourse with Mr. Coffin, (Enoch, graduate Harvard, 1714,) in order for a settlement." It is stated by Mr. Farmer, so noted for his accuracy, that the Rev. Mr. Prentice was settled here this year. This is a mistake, and the same error occurs in all other notices of Dunstable. #

"Dec. Ist, 1718, voted that the Rev. Enoch Coffin should have £80 a year salary in money. Also, voted to give him land which cost the town £80, and ten acres of meadow for his settlement ; and also two hundred acres of the common lands." Both the church and the town unanimously agreed "to give Rev. Mr. Enoch Coffin a call to be our settled minister."

It would seem that Mr. Coffin accepted the call, for May 18th, 1719, "a committee was chosen with Mr. Coffin to lay out his meadows," which were offered him in case of settlement and during this year, in the records of land laid out, he is styled the present minister of said town. Something, however, occurred to prevent his legal ordination at that time, as nearly a year after, March 7th, 1720,

*Belknap, 186.

+Penhallow. I N. H. Hist. Coll., 89.

#I N. H. Hist. Coll. 150, 5. 109, Rev. Mr. Sperry's Sketch.

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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.

a committee was chosen "to go to our neighboring ministers, and to discourse them all in order for the ordination of Rev. Mr. Coffin." But he was not settled at all, for May 20th, 1720, " a commity was chosen to compound matters with Mr. Coffin concerning the town's settlement money, and Mr. Coffin's offer to the town concerning his place."

Mr. Coffin resided here for some time with his family, and Nov. 5th, 1719, a daughter, Mehitabel, was born. He left town June, 1720, and returned to his native place, Newbury, Mass. He after- wards went as chaplain with the first band of settlers to Concord, N. H., and settled there May, 1726, where he died August 17th, 1727, aged thirty-two .*

The ecclesiastical affairs of the town were for many years involved in so much confusion and difficulty, as almost to warrant the facetious remark of Colonel Taylor to Governor Burnet. The governor, who was no friend to long graces before meals, on his first journey from New York to take upon him the government of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, enquired of Colonel Taylor when the graces would shorten. He replied, " The graces will increase in length until you come to Boston ; after that they will shorten until you come to your government of New Hampshire, when your excellency will find no grace at all. t

In June, 1720, Rev. Nathaniel Prentice began to preach here. August 20, 1720, the town gave Mr. Prentice a call with the offer of fico settlement and {80 a year salary; but warned by their premature grants of land to Mr. Coffin before ordination, they prudently inserted a proviso, that he was "not to enter upon said {80 salary till after he is our ordained minister."

Mr. Prentice accepted the call, and was probably ordained during the fall of 1720. He probably claimed a larger salary, as Nov. 13, 1720, it was voted, "That when Mr. Prentice comes to keep house and have a family, and stands in need of a larger supply, then to ad -Reasonable Aditions to his salary, if our abilities will afford it." They also voted, Dec. 8th, 1720, "That Mr. Prentice after marriage should have a sufficient supply of wood, or ten pounds of passable money in lew thereof yearly." He was soon after married to Mary Tyng of Dunstable, and died here, according to Mr. Farmer, Feb. 27th, 1737.# He was buried, it is said, in the old south burying ground, beside his children, but there is no monument or inscription to mark the place of his interment.

Of the character and talents of Mr. Prentice, we have little information. "It is said of him," says Mr. Sperry, "that he was a man of wit and a good sermonizer." That he was popular we may conjecture from the fact that the people here were contented under his preaching for so many years, and additions from time to time after his settlement, were made to his salary. In 1730, and perhaps earlier, {90 were raised for him ; in 1731, the non resident taxes added; in 1732 he received £105 and the non resident taxes ; and in 1733 the same. The town also voted to build a new meeting-house near the old one. The value of money, in comparison with other articles, however, had then depreciated so much, in consequence of the emission of large quantities of paper money by the colony, that perhaps his compensation at this time was worth little more than his original salary. This, though it may seem to us a small sum, [{80, or $270.00], was no mean salary in those days, when the colony gave the Governor but {100 a year, and when Portsmouth, the capital, and which had been settled a century, gave its minister a salary of only £130.$

January 19th, 1724, died Hon. Jonathan Tyng, aged 81. He was the oldest son of Hon. Edward Tyng, and was born Dec. 15th, 1642, He was one of the original proprietors of the town, and the earliest permanent settler, having remained here alone during Philip's war, when every other person had deserted the settlement for fear of the Indians. That he was a man of much energy and decision of character we may judge from this fact. That he was a man of probity and of considerable distinction at an early period, we may infer from his appointment as guardian over the Wamesit Indians in 1676, and from the numerous other important trusts confided to him from time to time by the colony.

In 1687, he was appointed (as well as his brother, Edward Tyng*) in the royal commission of James II. as one of Sir Edmund Andros's Council. In 1692 he was chosen representative of

*N. H. Hist. Coll., 160. f1 Belknap, 223: note. #Others say in 1735- §Adams' Annals of Portsmouth.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. HI.

Dunstable, and for many years as selectman, and otherwise was much engaged in the public business of the town. For many years during the wars of 1703, he was colonel of the upper Middlesex regi- ment, and was entrusted with the care of all the garrisons within its bounds.

Colonel Tyng married Sarah, daughter of Hezekiah Usher, who died in 1714. After her death he married Judith Fox of Woburn, who died June 5th, 1736, aged 99. His children were : I, John, graduate of Harvard College, 1691, who was killed by the Indians in 1710; 2, William, born 22d April, 1679, the first child born in the town; 3, Elcazar, graduate of Harvard College, 1712; 4, Mary, who married Rev. Nathaniel Prentice, minister of the town; and others who died at an early age.

*Edward Tyng was appointed Governor of Annapolis, but sailing for it, was taken prisoner and carried into France, where he died. His children were :- 1, Edward, a brave naval commander, born 1683 and died at Boston Sept. 8th, 1755. 2, Jonathan, who died young. 3, Mary, who married Rev. John Fox of Woburn. 4, Elizabeth, who married a brother of Dr. Franklin. Edward Tyng was a Lieutenant in the great Narraganset swamp fight, Dec. I)th, 1675, and commanded the company after Captain Davenport was killed.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

CHAPTER VI.

GROWTH OF TOWN. NEED OF AID. BILLS OF CREDIT ISSUED. FARWELL AND BLANCHARD, TRUSTEES FOR TOWN'S SHARE. SECOND ISSUE. REV. MR. PRENTICE RECEIVES IT. DEPRECIATION IN VALUE. No REPRESENTATIVE CHOSEN. RECORDS. THE MEETING HOUSE. PEWS ERECTED. FIRST PAUPER. GRAND JURYMEN CHOSEN BY TOWN. TYTH-

INGMAN CHOSEN. BRIDGE AT BILLERICA. VOTING BY BALLOT. CUSTOMS OF THE

TIMES. FERRY-BOAT. EARTHQUAKE. INNKEEPERS LICENSED. BOOM ACROSS THE MER- RIMACK. JURISPRUDENCE. TAXES. EDUCATION. LAWS RELATING TO IT. DIFFICULTY OF OBSERVING THEM. TOWN INDICTED. SMALL AMOUNT RAISED. FELL INTO NEGLECT. VARIOUS DISPUTES. NEW SETTLEMENTS. NOTTINGHAM, (HUDSON.) MERRIMACK. LITCH- FIELD. VOTE TO BUILD NEW MEETING HOUSE. HOLLIS. TOWNSEND. STATE LINE FIXED. REV. MR. SWAN SETTLED. "NEW LIGHTS." MEETING HOUSE BUILT.

T HE settlement of the town which had been so much and so long retarded,-which for forty years had scarcely advanced at all, now increased rapidly. But the inhabitants were extremely poor. In addition to the heavy public taxes occasioned by the long and expensive Indian wars, they had suffered much from the incursions of the enemy-from the loss of the ransoms paid for the release of their captive friends, and from the obstruction of all regular employment.

In consideration of the universal scarcity of money, the General Assembly of Massachusetts issued bills of credit in 1721 to the amount of £50,000 to be distributed among the several towns in proportion to the public taxes. They answered the purpose of money for the time. Nov. 7, 1721, Lieut. Henry Farwell and Joseph Blanchard were appointed trustees to receive and loan out "the share " of this town, in such sums that "no man shall have more than five pounds and no man less than three pounds," and " shall pay five per cent. interest for the use of the same to the town."

In 1727 the General Assembly, finding this mode of making money popular, issued £60,000 more. The share belonging to this town was received and loaned to Rev. Mr. Prentice, to be applied in payment of his future salary as it should become due. Thus early and easily did men discover and adopt the practice of throwing their debts upon posterity. The consequence of these issues was a ruinous depreciation in their value-a nominal rise in the value of every species of property, speculation, and at last universal distress. In 1750 the bills were worth but twelve per cent.

The general poverty of the, inhabitants may also be inferred from the fact that no representative was sent to the General Assembly, although directed so to do, the town voting regularly from 1693 to 1733 "not to send." Whenever the interests of the town were in danger, however, a special agent was sent to see that they were protected. As an illustration of the feelings and peculiarities of those times it may be added, that, February 1, 1731, it was "voted notto choose any person as representative, deeming ourselves not obliged by Law." But in order to be certain as to their rights and duties, the next year they took legal advice upon this subject and again voted " not to send, finding the town not obliged by Law." At that time the representative received no compensation for attendance, but his expenses were paid by the town. In 1718 the compensation was fixed by statute at three shillings per day. At one period the General Assembly hired an inn-keeper to board all of the members at a stipu- lated price per day, including wine, "but not to exceed one cup of sack each." This was done not only for economy, but for the greater despatch of business.

For many years little occurred here which would be of general interest. The records are chiefly valuable as serving to show the contrast between the past and the present, and the slow and painful steps by which towns arrive at maturity. Some memoranda of this period, therefore, may serve to amuse and perhaps instruct the curious reader.

In 1716 a committee was appointed by the town to lay out a road to Dracut, and "to state the Country road from Capt. Tyng's to Nashaway river." Its width was declared to be "four rods."

"Sept. 2, 1718, voted, that John Lovewell, Sr., and his son John, [the hero of Pequawkett,] should hav liberty to bild a dam in the highway over Salmon brook, not to incommodate the

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. Il.

highway." This was at the little bridge near the house of Miss Allds, where the mud sills are still visible and the " highway" was the " Country road " just mentioned.

"March 31, 1719, Joseph French was chosen to make coffins where there be need for the year ensuing." Friendly Indians still lived here, and this singular vote may have referred to them, as we find a charge made by him not long after, " for Jacob Indian's coffin 7s."

The selectmen and other persons in the employment of the town at this period charged 5s. per day for their services.

The humble meeting-house which had served for the worship of all the inhabitants, since no division into sects existed, was a rude, one story, unsteepled edifice, and would show but poorly beside the erections of the present day. It was divided by an aisle in the center, with rows of benches on either side, one of which was appropriated for the use of the women, and the other for the use of the men. Such a separation was not unfrequent in those primitive days .*

But even among our grave and simple forefathers, luxury and ambition crept in. March 2, 1720, it was "Voted that Lieutenant Henry Farwell and Joseph Blanchard should hav the libety to erect for themselves two Pewes on there own charge at the west end of the Meeting House." The example was contagious, so dangerous is a precedent. If Lieutenant Farwell and Captain Blanchard could afford "Pewes," why might not others? May 18, 1720, it was "Voted that there be four Pewes erected in our Meeting House; one on the back side of the lowermost seats, and one seat to be taken up; Sargeant Colburn, one pew; Sargeant Perham, one pew; Nathaniel Cummings, one pew; Oliver Farwell, one pew."

The first pauper in town appears to have been Joseph Hassell, a son probably of him who was slain by the Indians in 1691. He was supported by the town, which appointed a person "to take care of" him in 1722 or 1723.

In 1723 Grand Jurymen were chosen by the town at the annual meeting by ballot. This was probably done as a precaution against the encroachments of the officers of the crown, and as a safeguard of popular rights. One tribunal was secure from royal influence, and no individual could be unjustly condemned. This mode of choice continued till after the revolution, and was a source of great annoyance to the enemies of America, who complained that the towns chose the most active opponents of England for their grand jurors, so that those guilty of political offences could not be indicted.t

In 1723 the choice of a tything man, Thomas Blanchard, is recorded. The town raised £20 [about $70] to defray all town expenses, and the collector had "3 pence in the pound [114 per cent. ] for gathering all town rates for ye year."

In 1724 the town was again called upon to assist in keeping "the great bridge in Billerica in good repare," and chose Henry Farwell "to jine with the committy appinted " for that purpose. In 1729 they united with Dracut, Chelmsford and Billerica in further repairs, and in 1731 expended £3 Ios. for the same purpose. This bridge was over the Concord river on the main road to Boston, and of great importance.

The method of voting for all the more important officers was " by ballot," while others of less importance were chosen "by holding up of ye hands." So early did our forefathers recognize that truly republican principle and safeguard of popular rights, the secret ballot.

In those days offices were not only places of honor and profit, but also of good cheer. Those

*The following is a description of the early meeting houses as drawn up by Rev. Leonard Bacon of New Haven :- "Immediately before the pulpit, and facing the Congregation, was an elevated seat for the ruling elder, and before that, somewhat lower, was a seat for the Deacons behind the Communion Table. On the floor of the house there were neither pews nor slips, but plain seats. On each side of what we may call the centre aisle were nine seats of sufficient length to accommodate five or six persons. On each side of the pulpit at the end were five cross seats, and another shorter than the five. Along each wall of the house, between the cross seats and the side door, six seats.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 7

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