USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 33
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442
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Moses B. Stewart, were by vote of the town exempted from paying any part of the expense of the new grave-yard laid out west of the vestry. At the same meeting the selectmen were authorized to sell and convey a piece of the land lying west of the vestry, lately pur- chased for a burying-ground, and they were appointed a committee to cause a suitable fence to be erected in front of the remainder.
9 May, 1830. The town voted that the selectmen purchase a grave- yard at Chestnut Hill, and suitable grave-cloths, to be used in that place, and to do what else they may think proper relating thereto, at the expense of the town. The selectmen were also constituted a com- mittee to repair the fence around the old burying-ground.
22 November, 1831. The town voted not to receive the land pro- posed to be given by Maj. Joseph Fletcher for a burying-ground. This lot lay on the old road south of land of Timothy Nichols, and it was stipulated in the offer that Maj. Fletcher and others should have liberty to build tombs therein, and that it should be fenced at the expense of the town.
14 March, 1832. Voted to purchase a piece of ground from one half to one acre in area, in the south-east part of the town, in School District No. 3, for a public burying-ground, and fence the same, and give those that wish so to do leave to build tombs therein.
1 September, 1834. Voted that the selectmen procure a new hearse and one or more burying-cloths, for the use of the town.
The subject of building tombs in front of the burying-ground was brought before the town at the annual meeting in March, 1827, on petition of Lemuel Blood, for leave so to do. The town voted to refer the matter to the selectmen.
9 May, 1836. The selectmen were empowered to lot out the ground in front of the old burying-ground for building tombs, and sell the same, subject to such restrictions as they saw fit to impose, to the highest bidder, at auction.
The above lots, six in number, were sold 28 May, 1836, for fifty cents each, the purchasers agreeing to build and keep in repair a good and substantial stone wall, of split stone, in front of the tombs, free of expense to the town.
March, 1840, a small piece of ground on the pauper farm was ap- propriated for a burial-place, and the selectmen were authorized to fence the same.
21 June, 1842. Voted to sell the ground in front of the burying- ground, commencing thirty feet south of the south wing of the court house, for ten tombs, at auction. This vote was carried into effect 23 February, 1844.
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443
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
XXIII.]
At the annual meeting, in March, 1851, the selectmen were authorized to purchase land adjoining the new burying-ground, should they deem it expedient so to do, which being done, it was voted, at a meeting held 2 November, 1852, to authorize the selectmen to dispose of the lots in the new part of the burying-ground, and appropriate the proceeds of the sales toward making improvements in the yard.
In March, 1857, the selectmen were directed to purchase a receiving tomb, or cause one to be built.
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
About 1778. Charles Black, drowned in Babboosuck brook, near Samuel Wyatt's house.
23 April, 1800. Aaron Wilkins, killed by a falling tree.
29 December, 1803. A child of John Mussey, burnt to death.
May, 1805. A child of Henry Howard, by drinking a large quantity of rum.
9 May, 1805. Joel Hagar, killed by a fall.
12 September, 1805. Capt. Levi Adams, killed by a kick from a horse.
29 May, 1806. Daniel Stevens, killed by falling into a well.
12 January, 1808. James Farnum perished in the cold while intox- icated.
22 August, 1812. Samuel Wyatt, drowned in Babboosuck brook. October, 1812. Harriet Danforth, burnt to death at school, in dis- trict No. 5.
16 May. 1815. A child of Daniel Lyon, killed by falling into a well.
9 Angust, 1818. John Clark, drowned while bathing.
10 August, 1820. Capt. Samuel Morrison, killed by falling from a roof.
4 July, 1826. Charles Haseltine, accidentally shot at a company training of the Lafayette riflemen.
December, 1828. Joel Worcester burnt to death in a coal pit.
7 November, 1829. Adolph Lange, killed by falling on a hay fork while sliding from a hay-mow.
18 December, 1830. Ninian C. Dodge, killed by falling from a win - dow at Boston.
2 February, 1834. A child of David Stratton, burnt to death.
10 April, 1834. Rodney Wheeler, accidentally shot.
December, 1834. George Prince, killed by a wheel of a loaded wagon, crushing his head.
30 May, 1837. Mrs. Lucy Hartshorn, killed by being thrown from her carriage while returning from meeting.
444
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
14 January, 1840. An insane person, a stranger, perished in the cold.
26 July, 1842. Mary, wife of Daniel Phelps, burnt to death.
2 March, 1849. William Danforth, killed by a falling tree.
14 March, 1849. Lummus Shepard, killed by a falling tree.
19 October, 1849. Hiram F. Jewett, killed by a fall from a chestnut tree.
24 September, 1854. Stephen Holbrook, killed by a runaway horse.
24 April, 1856. Dana F. Bills, killed by falling into a hole in a hay- mow.
Winter of 1866-67. Woodbury Roby, drowned in Pulpit brook.
10 December, 1867. Daniel Wheeler, killed by a fall.
1 September, 1868. Timothy Patch, choked to death while eating. 30 July, 1870. John Lovejoy, killed by falling from a roof.
20 September, 1870. Mrs. Cynthia Jones, killed by being thrown from a carriage.
9 January, 1871. Mrs. Pamelia Brown, burnt to death at town farm.
20 August, 1872. Daniel Weston, died from injuries received in a fall.
6 December, 1872. Farnum Clark, died from injuries received in falling from his wagon, a few days before.
16 July, 1879. Henry F. Colston, died from injuries received in the collision of two carriages.
23 July, 1880. Ed. Creany, of Boston, drowned in Babboosuck pond.
BELLS AND CLOCKS.
At a meeting of the first parish, held 3 May, 1788, a com- mittee was appointed to dispose of "two back seats on the lower floor of the meeting-house," and appropriate the money received from their sale to the purchase of a bell for the use of the parish.
A further grant of forty pounds for the same purpose was made at a meeting held 28 October, 1793, and the committee was authorized to borrow the money until it could be as- sessed and collected.
The bell was purchased shortly after, as we find in the record of the meeting of the parish, held 24 March, 1794, that William Low was appointed "Saxon," to ring and toll the bell on the Sabbath, and other
445
BELLS AND CLOCKS.
XXIII.]
days, take care of the meeting-house, and sweep it, for doing which he was to have fifteen dollars a year. He was also to dig graves, when applied to, at the expense of the applicants.
Mr. Low served as "Saxon" four years, and was succeeded by Samuel Foster, who was directed to ring the bell at nine o'clock in the evening, of each week day, in addition to the other duties required of the "Saxon," for which an addition of ten dollars a year was made to his salary.
The next year the nine o'clock bell-ringing was dispensed with, and in the third year of Mr. Foster's service his salary was reduced to nine dollars.
In 1801 Capt. Josiah Converse was appointed sexton, and agreed to ring the bell at one o'clock and nine o'clock each week day, for doing which he was to receive seven dollars a year.
But the job was too good to last, and the next year Dr. Samuel Cur- tis succeeded Capt. Converse as bell-ringer, and the records show that he received twenty-four dollars for his services that year.
9 September, 1805, an elegant clock was presented to the town by Perkins Nichols, Esq., and placed in the meeting-house directly in front of the desk.
When the house was remodeled, in 1837, it was placed in the town- hall, under the church, where it remained until the court-room was fitted up for a town-hall, when it was removed to the place it now occupies.
At the annual meeting in March, 1812, William Fisk, William Low, William Read, Col. Robert Means, Capt. William Dole, Ebenezer Tay- lor, and Capt. John Secombe, were appointed a committee to view the meeting-house, and see what part of the seats could be spared for pew- ground. and build pews on the same, dispose of them when completed, and appropriate the money received to the purchase of a town-clock, provided the same shall be done without any expense to the town.
The committee attended to the duty assigned them, caused some pews to be built. and disposed of them, but it would seem that not enough money was received to pay for the clock, as the town voted at the annual meeting in March, 1819, "that unless the committee re- ceive donations in money sufficient to pay the balance due on the clock within sixty days, they should have liberty to sell it, and after paying the balance due, they should pay the balance into the town treasury.
This vote settled the matter. The clock was saved by contributions received, and still remains in its place. It is said to have been made under the direction of Thomas Woolson, jr., who at that time carried on the clock and watch-making business on the Plain.
446
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
The clock proved to be an excellent one. After doing duty sixty years it was repaired by Mr. John Carleton, and is now (1882) one of the best time-keepers in the country.
The old bell being cracked, the town, at a meeting held 1 Nov., 1824, authorized the selectmen to exchange it for a new one, provided the expense of so doing should not exceed three hundred dollars. This was accordingly done, and a new bell was procured which was brought to the Plain and suspended temporarily to give it a trial. While in this condition it was broken, it is said, by a heavy blow struck on the outside by a sledge.
3 January, 1825, the town authorized the selectmen to pay the damage occasioned by breaking the bell lately purchased for the meet- ing-house. And they were directed to exchange it for another one, weighing from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds.
This bell did service until 1839, when it was cracked, it is said, in ringing it on the fourth of July. On the twelfth of October of that year, the town empowered the selectmen to sell it and pay the pro- ceeds of the sale, and a sun not exceeding fifty dollars, for a new one. At another meeting, held 13 November, the town anthorized the select- men to purchase a bell weighing fourteen hundred pounds, provided they did not expend more than one hundred dollars, in addition to the sum received for the the old bell, in so doing.
The selectmen, however, expended one hundred and fifty dollars, and their action was ratified by the town.
With this sum, and the proceeds of the sale of the old bell, they purchased the bell now in use.
THE POST-OFFICE.
The post-office department was organized by the legisla- ture of the state in March, 1786.
Jeremiah Libby was appointed superintendent by the President and Council, agreeably to a resolve of the legislature, passed 4 March, 1786, and he was "required to put the several Posts in motion through the state as soon as possible, as far as circumstances will admit." Nahum Ackerman and Samuel Bean seem to have been appointed post-riders at the same time; the former on the "Northern," the latter on the " Western " route, at a salary of £100 per annum, each. Libby was reappointed 6 July, 1786, and the post-riders, as finally arranged, were
Thomas Smith, of Surry, for the first route.
John Lathrop, of Lebanon, for the second route.
447
TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
XXIII.]
Ozias Silsby, of Acworth, for the third route.
Eben Cram, of Pittsfield, for the fourth route.
William Gordon was appointed post-master at Amherst, by the President and Council, 16 February, 1791.
Post-masters were appointed the same day at Concord, Charlestown, Dover, Exeter, Ilanover, Haverhill, Keene, Plaistow, Plymouth, and Portsmouth.
Since the organization of the post-office department, by the general government. the post-masters have been-
Samuel Curtis. 1811 Aaron Lawrence.
1803 Daniel Prior.
1849 Charles B. Tuttle.
1808 Samuel Foster. 1852 David Russell.
1809 Eli Brown.
1853 Timothy Danforth.
1812 Aaron Whitney.
1855 Nathaniel H. George.
1819 Jedidiah K. Smith.
1861
Hollis E. Abbott.
1826 Isaac Spalding.
1868 Charles Richardson.
1827 John Prentiss.
1869 Horace E. Woodberry.
1829 David Underhill.
1876 Wilson D. Forsaith.
The compensation of the post-master, as stated in the " blue book" in 1817, was $119.26; in 1822, $113.96; in 1877, $626.95; in 1879, $660.13; and in 1881, 8815.19.
A post-office was established at Amherst station in August, 1881, under the name of "Danforth" P. O., and Charles H. Mackay was appointed post-master.
TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
A telegraph office was established in Amherst, in connec- tion with the post-office, in 1859 or 1860, of which N. H. George was the manager. N. H. George and Miss Laura H. George were the operators. Afterward Hollis E. Abbott was the operator. From him it was transferred to Horace E. Woodberry. After Mr. Forsaith was appointed post-mas- ter the office was discontinued for six months.
From January to April, 1877, it was in charge of Dr. Edward Aiken. It was then transferred to George L. Pal- mer, whose connection with it ceased in January, 1878, since which time it has been in the charge of Dr. Aiken.
Another office was established at Amherst station in the autumn of 1881, under the charge of Charles H. Mackay.
450
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Shortly after, in consequence of the course the government thought proper to adopt in reference to the troubles with Great Britain, the commerce of the country was destroyed and its business paralyzed. It became difficult to turn property into money, and the bank suffered in consequence. The holders of its obligations were clamorous for their money; but the bank found it difficult to obtain its dues from its debtors to meet them.
The banks in the commercial centers, which had contracted their cir- culation to some extent before the storm, were better prepared to meet it. Viewing the country banks as rivals, they pursued an unfriendly course toward them. Finally the bill holders, losing confidence in them, disposed of their bills to speculators at a discount, who at once presented them for payment.
In this emergency, after redeeming its bills until its specie was ex- hausted, the Hillsborough Bank, 23 August, 1809, suspended payment. 26 September, 1809, its bills were at 10 and 12g per cent; 17 October, 1809, at 50 per cent discount. Many of the active business men of the place suffered severely by its failure, and some terribly bitter pamphlets were written and published in regard to its management. For years any connection with the management of the "Old Hills- borough Bank" was deemed a reproach by many of the citizens of Amherst.
FARMERS' BANK.
A charter for a new bank at Amherst was granted by the legislature at its session held in June, 1822. The grantees, under this charter, met at Ray's Hotel, 31 January, 1825. At this mecting they voted to carry the provisions of their charter into effect as soon as practicable. The capital stock, $65,000, was subscribed for at once, and 12 February, 1825, the corporation was organized by the choice of Charles H. Atherton, James Wallace, Edmund Parker, Robert Means, Robert Read, Daniel Adams, and Aaron F. Sawyer, as direc- tors. The board of directors organized immediately after by the choice of Charles H. Atherton as president, and Jolm Prentiss, cashier, who served in those offices during the whole period of the existence of the bank.
451
BANKS.
XXIII.]
The affairs of the institution were well managed, and the corpora- tion sustained few losses during the whole term of its existence. Its obligations were promptly met, even through the money crisis of 1837, and at the close of its business, in 1843, the following statement was published in the "Cabinet " :
" At a meeting of the stockholders, held 23 January, 1813, the direc- tors were instructed to proceed forthwith to close the concerns of the bank by collecting its debts, paying its liabilities, and dividing its stock as they lawfully may.
The bank went into operation 11 April, 1825. The capital of $65,000 was fully paid in, and during its existence it furnished for circulation nearly $5,000,000, the whole of which has been redeemed in specie, or in what the holders preferred to specie, at the rate of $800 per day, except $21,000 outstanding at this time. This sum, with $1458 of deposits, constitutes its whole liabilities.
In 1837-'8, when most of the banks in the Union suspended specie payment, such was the call for specie that the circulation of the bank was reduced to less than $4000, which was less by $1000 than the specie then in the vault. Aside from this crisis, the least amount of its bills in circulation at any one time has been $21,000, the greatest $65.000,-the average being about $45,000.
The highest amount of notes discounted at any one time was $134,000, the lowest $74,000,-the average amount from $100,000 to $110,000.
The average amount of circulation (845,060) has been returned to the bank once in about seventy days, or between five and six times a year.
Ten suits only have been instituted by the bank, and all but two of these at the request of sureties, to save the debt from a failing principal.
The losses of the bank from counterfeit bills, failure of other banks, and fraud, amounted to $1503. No counterfeit bill of the bank ever came to the knowledge of its officers.
It paid to the school fund $5450, and made its regular dividends, averaging three and one half per cent annually, and had, 23 January, 1843, a surplus of $10,000."
12 March, 1847, Charles H. Atherton gave notice that he was pre- pared to make a final close of the affairs of the "Farmers' Bank," by paying the stockholders their stock in full, with a small surplus.
1 May, 1839, an attempt was made to rob the Farmers' Bank, by an Englishman who gave his name as John Jones. The cashier was awakened and succeeded in securing the burglar before he had accom- plished his object.
450
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Shortly after, in consequence of the course the government thought proper to adopt in reference to the troubles with Great Britain, the commerce of the country was destroyed and its business paralyzed. It became difficult to turn property into money, and the bank suffered in consequence. The holders of its obligations were clamorous for their money; but the bank found it difficult to obtain its dues from its debtors to meet them.
The banks in the commercial centers, which had contracted their cir- culation to some extent before the storm, were better prepared to meet it. Viewing the country banks as rivals, they pursued an unfriendly course toward them. Finally the bill holders, losing confidence in them, disposed of their bills to speculators at a discount, who at once presented them for payment.
In this emergency, after redeeming its bills until its specie was ex- hansted, the Hillsborough Bank, 23 August, 1809, suspended payment. 26 September, 1809, its bills were at 10 and 12} per cent ; 17 October, 1809, at 50 per cent discount. Many of the active business men of the place suffered severely by its failure, and some terribly bitter pamphlets were written and published in regard to its management. For years any connection with the management of the "Old Hills- borough Bank" was deemed a reproach by many of the citizens of Amherst.
FARMERS' BANK.
A charter for a new bank at Amherst was granted by the legislature at its session held in June, 1822. The grantees, under this charter, met at Ray's Hotel, 31 January, 1825. At this meeting they voted to carry the provisions of their charter into effect as soon as practicable. The capital stock, $65,000, was subscribed for at once, and 12 February, 1825, the corporation was organized by the choice of Charles H. Atherton, James Wallace, Edmund Parker, Robert Means, Robert Read, Daniel Adams, and Aaron F. Sawyer, as direc- tors. The board of directors organized immediately after by the choice of Charles H. Atherton as president, and John Prentiss, cashier, who served in those offices during the whole period of the existence of the bank.
451
BANKS.
XXIII.]
The affairs of the institution were well managed, and the corpora- tion sustained few losses during the whole term of its existence. Its obligations were promptly met, even through the money crisis of 1837, and at the close of its business, in 1843, the following statement was published in the "Cabinet ":
" At a meeting of the stockholders, held 23 January, 1843, the direc- tors were instructed to proceed forthwith to close the concerns of the bank by collecting its debts, paying its liabilities, and dividing its stock as they lawfully may.
The bank went into operation 11 April, 1825. The capital of 865,000 was fully paid in, and during its existence it furnished for circulation nearly $5.000,000, the whole of which has been redeemed in specie, or in what the holders preferred to specie, at the rate of $800 per day, except 821,000 outstanding at this time. This sum, with 81458 of deposits, constitutes its whole liabilities.
In 1837-'8, when most of the banks in the Union suspended specie payment, such was the call for specie that the circulation of the bank was reduced to less than $4000, which was less by $1000 than the specie then in the vault. Aside from this crisis, the least amount of its bills in circulation at any one time has been 821,000, the greatest 865,000,-the average being about $45,000.
The highest amount of notes discounted at any one time was $134,000, the lowest $74,000,-the average amount from $100.000 to $110,000.
The average amount of circulation (845,000) has been returned to the bank once in about seventy days, or between five and six times a year.
Ten suits only have been instituted by the bank, and all but two of these at the request of sureties, to save the debt from a failing principal.
The losses of the bank from counterfeit bills, failure of other banks, and fraud, amounted to $1503. No counterfeit bill of the bank ever came to the knowledge of its officers.
It paid to the school fund $5450, and inade its regular dividends, averaging three and one half per cent annually, and had, 23 January, 1843, a surplus of $10,000."
12 March, 1847, Charles H. Atherton gave notice that he was pre- pared to make a final close of the affairs of the "Farmers' Bank," by paying the stockholders their stock in full, with a small surplus.
1 May, 1839, an attempt was made to rob the Farmers' Bank, by an Englishman who gave his name as John Jones. The cashier was awakened and succeeded in securing the burglar before he had accom- plished his object.
452
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
At the session of the court held in September following, he was sentenced to ten days of solitary confinement, and imprisonment for life at hard labor in the State prison. His real name was said to be John Honeyman.
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES RICHARDSON, EsQ. Built by the Hillsborough Bank, and used as a banking house; also used as a banking house by the Farmers" Bank from 1825 to 1843.
THE SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE TURNPIKE.
Application having been made to the legislature by parties interested in building a turnpike from Amherst to Newport for an act of incorporation, the town voted, at a meeting held 18 November, 1799, "to oppose the granting of the petition, unless the old roads, as now traveled, should re- main free for ever, notwithstanding the turnpike may go partly in them or across them, and that where they go through private property and the associates can not agree with the owner or owners of the land, the appraisal of
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COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
XXIII.]
damages shall be made by the selectmen of the town in which the land lies."
The turnpike company was incorporated 26 December, 1799, for the purpose of building and managing a road from "lottery bridge," in Claremont, to Amherst Plain, near the court-house.
It was provided in the act of incorporation that at the end of every ten years from the time of setting up the first toll-gate, an account of the receipts and expenses of the corporation should be laid before the judges of the Superior Court, and if the profits exceeded twelve per cent they might reduce the tolls so that they should not exceed that amount, and if they were not six per cent they might raise them so that the profits should not be less than six nor more than twelve per cent. It was also provided that the road should be built within ten years from the passage of the act, and that the State might at any time, after forty years from the time of granting the charter, take possession of the road by paying the corporation the cost of its construction and twelve per cent of the same additional, from which was to be deducted the amount of the dividends which had actually been received by the proprietors.
The road was promptly built in as nearly a direct line as possible from Amherst Plain, through the village of Mont Vernon, making a hilly, uncomfortable route. The judges had no occasion to reduce the tolls, and the proprietors were willing to relinquish the road years before the time expired, when, by the terms of the charter, the State might take possession.
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