USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Antrim > History of the town of Antrim, N.H. for a period of one century from 1744 to 1844 > Part 7
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JOHN BURNS, from New-Boston, began, 1774, the place in the high range now owned in part by Widow Weston; remained here but one summer, being succeeded, in 1775, by his brother Robert, who resided in town till his death, 1829, aged eighty-one.
- - - HUTCHINSON came here from Amherst, 1774, labored one season on land afterwards the Boutell farm, west of Mr. Webster's, now converted into pasturage. As related on another page, he was mortally wounded by a cannon ball, on Charlestown neck, the day after Bunker-hill battle.
Samuel Nichols emigrated from the county of Antrim in Ireland, about 1754, resided in other towns many years, came to Antrim in his old age, and died, 1804, at the house of Daniel Nichols, Esq. He was the father of four sons, early settlers of Antrim, viz : THOMAS, born in Ireland, brought to America when an infant at the breast, came to this town when a lad, 1767, lived with Dea. Aiken, and after a few years settled on the place now Josiah W. Christie's. He was an enterprising, influential citizen, served in various town offices, and was captain of the militia ; an office of more consideration then than at this day. In the dysentery of 1800, Capt. Nichols buried three children in one day. He removed to Lake Erie, 1808, and died soon after of the lake fever. Of his grand-children, one was a mis- sionary, and another a female teacher among the Seneca Indians. DANIEL, afterwards Esq., came here a young, single man, 1774, and in a few years after settled on the farm at this day Mr. Turner's. He was much employed in town business, was a magistrate, an elder of the church, and the delegate of Antrim to the Convention which revised the Constitution of New-Hampshire, 1792. His death, of spotted fever, 1812, was much lamented. His son, John, a young man of much promise, was a missionary to India, and died near Bombay, in 1824. A heathen native, having conducted a succeeding missionary to Mr. Nichols' grave, said with emotion, " He was a good man." His widow married an Episcopal missionary in Ceylon, and is deceased. Mary, youngest daughter of Daniel, a young lady of superior talents and education, was a successful teacher of female select schools, and died in early life, 1823. ADAM came here with his brother Daniel, began the McCoy farm, removed, 1805, to New- York, afterwards to Kentucky, where he died, 1846, in his ninetieth year. John, another brother of Daniel, and a soldier under Stark,
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at Bennington battle, came here somewhat later than his brothers ; removed first to Francestown, and thence about 1812, to Genessee County, New-York ; died there, 1849, aged almost ninety. His posterity are in the far west.
MATTHEW TEMPLETON, from Londonderry, began, 1775, to sub- due the Ira Cochran farm, lived there nine or ten years, removed thence to Peterboro', where he died at an advanced age. He was an upright man, but remarkable for his strong antipathy to instrumental music in churches. The pitch-pipe used in olden time, he called the whistle ; the bass-viol, Dagon. At Peterboro', on a certain Sab- bath, the chorister, John Smith, a brother of Gov. Smith, gave the key with the pitch-pipe ; the choir began to sing the psalm, but be- came confused and stopped ; old Mr. Templeton, who sat near the pulpit, turned his head slowly round to the choir, and exclaimed aloud, " Ah, Johny Smith, ye maun blaw your whastle again !"
THOMAS STUART, from Merrimac, long known as Capt. Stuart, settled, 1775, on the farm now Esquire Flint's. His sound judgment and exemplary life commanded respect, and procured his election to various town offices. He died, 1803, aged 55. His wife, Sarah Mc- Auley, a woman of excellent character, survived her husband many years. Having lost their children by death, their nephew, Capt. David McAuley, inherited their property. He became one of the leading citizens of the town, much employed in town business, but died in the prime of life, 1817. Capt. Stuart had a brother, Francis, who settled near the Branch Village, but after some years removed his family to Canada.
RICHARD MCALISTER built a house, 1775, on the north side of Meeting-house Hill, on or near the spot where now stands a small house owned by Isaac Barrett; brought under cultivation a farm ; removed, about 1793, to Alstead, and thence to Springfield, Vt. His brother James came to Antrim about the same time with Rich- ard; began the farm at this day Miles Tuttle's ; died 1823, advanced in years. His wife, daughter of John McClary, died about 1845, very aged ; much respected for her uniform piety and exemplary life. When their barn was raised, help was scarce in those early days; the men, having raised a band half way up, came to a stand; raise it higher they could not, and to let it fall back threatened broken bones. Their calls alarmed Mrs. McAlister, who with two other women there on a visit, ran to their help; the addition of the women's strength barely enabled the men to raise the band to its place, though with the utmost exertion; and perhaps prevented a sad catastrophe. Another brother of Richard, John, a blacksmith, came here in the course of the revolutionary war; settled at first on the north side of Meeting-house Hill, afterwards on the Woodburn Wallace farm, and removed, about 1814, to Vermont.
JOHN MCCLARY, the first settler on the Madison Tuttle farm, 1775, was from Ireland, brought here a considerable family, was a linen
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weaver, an occupation then followed by men, and deemed respectable ; died, 1796. His son John married a McNeil of Hillsboro', and soon removed to that town, and afterwards to Vermont. Another son, Thomas, was frozen to death, about 1790. He went on a cold January evening to a little store in Hillsboro', asked permission to stay over night, was refused, and in the attempt to return home, be- came bewildered and perished. Another son of first John, William, lived on a place west of Elijah Gold's, and was frozen to death on or near the old Turnpike, in December, 1811. David McClary, who lived long in the Woodbury family, and died, 1850, was the son of second John.
ALEXANDER JAMESON, from Dunbarton, established himself on the Temple farm, certainly as early as 1776, resided there over twen- ty years, and removed, 1798, to Cherry Valley, N. Y. Hugh, his brother, came here a little later, built a house on the old Turnpike, and died in early life, 1795. His widow, who was a Steele, removed to Allegany County, N. Y., and died there, 1848, aged ninety-five. Thomas, brother of Hugh and Alexander, settled in Antrim, about 1785, on the farm inherited from him by his son, the present Alex- ander Jameson ; was known as Capt. Jameson, was an active and valuable citizen, and died, 1839, aged seventy-nine. The Jameson families, though immediately from Dunbarton, originated from Lon- donderry.
Those names in the preceding list, printed in SMALL CAPITALS, comprise the resident freeholders in the town at the date of the in- corporation, 1777.
Jonathan Nesmith, son of James, who was born before the emi- gration of the family to America, or as some say on the passage, and the grandson of Elder James Nesmith, an early and respectable set- tler of Londonderry, who emigrated 1718, from the valley of the river Bann, in the north of Ireland; settled in Antrim, 1778, hav- ing previously labored on his land a part of two or three preceding summers. He was among the most respectable citizens, was select- man, one of the first board of elders, and representative for four years. Deacon Nesmith was eminently social and hospitable, had a great flow of spirits, and withal a sound judgment and a blameless reputation. No man enjoyed a larger share of public confidence. He was present as an elder in the church at each communion, save one, for half a century ; died, 1845, aged eighty-six. His son, Capt. Thomas D. Nesmith, inherited the paternal estate, but died in the prime of life, leaving the old homestead to his son, the present Jona- than Nesmith. Another son of Dea. Nesmith, George W., is a dis- tinguished attorney at Franklin, N. H., and was for some years President of the Northern Railroad.
James Nesmith, a cousin of Dea. Jonathan N., began, 1778, the farm now owned by Chandler Boutell, and lived afterwards on the north declivity of Meeting-house Hill. He had been in the revolutionary
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service ; was an honest useful man, an elder of the church, select- man for some years, for twenty-seven successive years town-clerk, generally chosen by a unanimous vote, even in times of high party excitement, and would have been continued longer in the office, had he not become legally disqualified by ceasing to be a freeholder. He used pleasantly to remark that the perquisites of his office about found him in his tobacco. Intentions of marriage were not then, as now, posted in writing, but published orally by the town-clerk in the church. A multitude of such publications were made by Dea. Nes- mith, in his loud and sonorous voice. He died, 1845, aged eighty- seven.
Arthur Nesmith came to Antrim a few years later than his brother James, and began to subdue the farm at this day owned by Jonathan Carr. The mother of the two brothers was Elizabeth Reid, sister of Gen. George Reid of Londonderry, an officer of distinction in the revolutionary war, and a frequent correspondent of Washington. Arthur was a man of good talents, amiable and unassuming in his manners ; was frequently chosen selectman; was an elder in the church ; led the church music more than a quarter century, by an- nual reelections by the town, and succeeded in preserving in the choir an almost uninterrupted harmony of feeling. To the regret of the citizens he removed to Ohio, 1816, under the impression that a mild- er climate would be more congenial to his health. He was the sub- ject of deep religious impressions in early life, but association with thoughtless companions almost effaced them for a time. The remark- able northern lights in the revolutionary war, and the dark day of 1780, recalled those impressions, which happily resulted in an abid- ing moral change. His cheerful and uniform piety was an ornament to the christian profession. In 1823, on his way to church on Sab- bath morning, in apparent health, he fell down in the road and im- mediately expired, at the age of sixty-three.
It will be seen from the above, that at one time there were three Deacon Nesmiths here, who were distinguished in common parlance as Deacon Jonathan, Deacon James, and Deacon Arthur.
Daniel Miltimore, from Londonderry, established himself on the John Blanchard farm certainly as early as 1778; perhaps a year or two sooner. He was a man of capacity, had much influence among the early citizens, was selectman and town-clerk. After some years residence, he returned to Londonderry, was well known afterwards as Col. Miltimore, and died there many years ago.
James Carr, afterwards known as Deacon Carr, was the son of John, an emigrant from Ireland, 1722, who married Isabella Walker, a domestic who came to America in the family of Rev. James Mc- Gregor, and settled in Merrimac. John had a brother James, killed by the Indians at Bow, 1748, whose faithful dog, though stunned by the blow of a hatchet, revived, guarded the corpse of his master all night, and the next day would hardly allow his neighbors to remove
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the body. Dea. Carr came to Antrim, 1778, and began the farm now his grandson's, Reed Carrs. Though his parents resided in Goffstown, yet he was born in Litchfield, his mother happening to be there at the time on a visit. He was a kind, cheerful, good man, respected for his exemplary life ; died 1834, aged 86. His sons have deceased or emigrated ; only a daughter, Mrs. Brackett, remains here.
Two brothers of Deacon Carr settled in Antrim : David, who lived in a house once standing on the present Keene road north of Reed Carr's, resided here some years, and removed to Holderness ; and John, who came a few years later than James, began the Oren Carr place. Died 1822, aged 63. His aged widow, once Sarah Hickson, of Sharon, Ms., survives, and lives with her son Jonathan Carr. Her retentive memory has been a help in the preparation of some of these notices.
John Stuart came here, it is believed, from Londonderry, or the vi- cinity, 1778, lived at first in a house once standing south of Mr. Stacey's, removed with a son to Unity, about 1810, and died there not long afterwards. His wife was Abigail Phipps, said by tradition to have been great grand-daughter of the celebrated Sir William Phipps, first Governor of Massachusetts under the second royal Char- ter. She had a slight tinge of African, as her husband was said to have had of Indian blood. Mrs. Stuart, familiarly known of old as Granny Stuart, was a kind, neighborly woman, an excellent nurse, a self-taught Doctress, ready to aid the sick by day or night, and often useful, before there was a regular physician in the place. She died, 1800.
Robert Mc Kean, grandson of Justice Mckean, one of the patriarchs of Derry, came hither about 1778, began the John Dodge farm, which he exchanged with Col. McClure for the Raymond farm. He was an upright, worthy man. Having buried three out of five children here, he removed, about 1800, to Corinth, Vt. Soon after his removal, his wife and his only daughter died of fever. Two persons from Canada coming to the place, communicated to Mr. McKean the small-pox in- fection ; his neighbors in alarm carried him to a little camp in the woods, remote from inhabitants ; he had the disease of the confluent and malignant kind; and destitute of suitable attendance, died, 1809, his head being frightfully swollen and disfigured. His brother, Rev. Joseph Mckean, of Beverly, afterwards President of Bowdoin Col- -lege, hearing of his death, and that his only child, Joseph, was left a destitute orphan, made a journey to Vermont, took the orphan under his protection, and gave him a liberal education. The nephew, a na- tive of Antrim, afterwards went to New-York, acquired distinction, and became Superintendent of the Public Schools of the State. Such are the mutations and vicissitudes of human life !
Elias Cheney came here about 1778, lived in an old house, now or lately standing on the west side of the road from William Duncan's to Cork bridge, and after a residence of many years removed his fam- ily to Cabot, Vt. Tristram Cheney, perhaps a brother of Elias, and
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one of the first Deacons of the Church in Hillsboro', resided, at least for a time, within the limits of Antrim, near Hillsboro' line, and af- terwards removed to Marlow.
John Mc Coy, from Windham, emigrated to Antrim, 1779, began the farm on the Turnpike afterwards occupied as a tavern stand, now Elijah Gould's, removed after some years to the farm now Milton McCoy's, died 1823, aged 73. In the war of Independence he served in a privateer, sailed round the North Cape of Europe, and put into a port of Russian Lapland, the ship's crew and the inhabitants hav- ing no communication except through the medium of the Surgeon of the vessel and the Russian priest, both of whom understood something of latin. His son, Thomas McCoy, an influential and useful citizen, who held important town offices for many years, died 1851, aged 69.
Philip Coffin was an early settler, coming here about 1779, and living near Elijah Gould's. Little is known of him, except that after some year's residence he removed from the town.
John Campbell, son of Hugh, an emigrant from England, who fixed his abode at New-Salem, N. H., prior to 1755, emigrated to Antrim, 1779, began the farm at present owned by James Woods, died 1843, aged 88. With the exception of James, his numerous family of sons have deceased or emigrated.
Samuel Gregg was the grandson of Capt. James Gregg, an emi- grant from Ireland, and one of the first sixteen settlers of London- derry. Samuel came to Antrim, 1779, with a family of six children, and subdued the farm at the Centre, owned in part at this day by Charles Gates. He was a man of enterprise and laborious industry. Coming home one evening from the place now Dea. Nichols', with a jug of milk in his hand, a bear attacked him ; he struck him a power- ful blow with the jug, breaking it and scattering the milk over bruin's face, who, not relishing his reception, quickly made off. Mr. Gregg removed, 1793, to the Buswell place, built the first set of mills there, and gave his name to the adjoining pond. Between his death, 1809, and that of his wife, was an interval of only a few days; his age be- ing 69, hers 66. His son Robert began the place now David Hill's, Jun., enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen, was town-clerk, and for many years chairman of the board of selectmen; removed to the State of New-York about 1832, died there 1849, aged more than 80. Another son of Samuel, was Daniel, a captain in the regular service in the war of 1812, who afterwards removed to Ohio and died there. Another son, David, resides in Antrim, quite aged.
Benj. Gregg, a cousin of Samuel, came here as a resident, 1779, and began the Edward L. Vose place, at the Centre. Both he and Samuel had probably worked on their land a year or two before their permanent residence. He remained here about twelve years, sold his farın to Samuel Caldwell, and returned to Londonderry.
William McDole came from Goffstown, 1779, began the farm of
6
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Wm. S. Foster, having bought the land at a quarter of a dollar per acre, resided there till 1808, then removed his family to Lansgrove, Vt. He has since died.
Thomas English took up his abode in Antrim, 1779 or 1780; lived on the Tuttle hill, on the old road from Branch Village to Madison Tuttle's; had been a fifer in the revolutionary service; absconded, 1782, with a sum of money belonging to the town, who laid an attachment on his land, and afterwards made some sort of a compro- mise with his friends.
Samuel Dinsmoor, a son of John D., of Windham, and a grand- son, on his mother's side, of Justice McKean, one of the earliest mag- istrates of Londonderry, came here, 1780; was working on his land on the dark day of that year. Died, 1822, aged 66. He was cousin of the elder Gov. Dinsmoor ; was succeeded on his farm, first, by his son, Col. Silas Dinsmoor, now of Stoddard; afterwards by another son, Samuel, the present owner.
He had a brother, James, who began, 1779, the Zadoc Dodge farm, and was killed by a fall from the first meeting-house, 1786.
Another brother, Silas, a man of wit and shrewdness, was em- ployed by government as an agent in Indian affairs. He is said to have lost his office by a witticism. Receiving in a letter from the Head of his Department, the inquiry, "How far Tombigbee river ran up into the country ?"-he replied, " The river ran down, and not up at all." The next communication from the seat of government brought him a dismissal from his office.
Major Riley, son of Philip, the first settler, began about 1780, the original Elijah Gould farm, removed to a place within the limits of Deering, and died, years ago, at an advanced age.
Nathan Austin, who had lived in Pelham and Hudson, commenced the clearing of the Danforth farm, west of Elijah Gould's, 1780, re- sided there at least twenty years, removed to Rochester, Vt., and died a few years since. Many of his descendants are at the west.
Samuel Patten emigrated to Antrim from Bedford, 1780, made a farm on the lofty hill still bearing his name, and lived there, it is be- lieved, not far from fifteen years. He was well known as Capt. Patten ; was a respectable citizen and selectman ; was a grandson of John Patten, an emigrant from Ireland to America, 1728, and a brother of Hon. Matthew Patten, of Bedford, the second judge of probate for the county of Hillsboro'. Capt. Patten, finding his resi- dence on the hill lonely, and in winter almost inaccessible, removed his family into the State of Maine.
James Steele, son of Thomas, one of the first sixteen settlers of Londonderry, removed his family from that place to Antrim, 1780, began the cultivation of the farm now owned by his grandson, Dea. Robert Steele, lived to the great age of almost 95, and died, 1820. Two of his sons emigrated, many years ago, to Carolina. Two other
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sons became permanent inhabitants of Antrim ; James, who for many years was the owner of the Asa Goodell farm, died, 1826, aged 68; and Samuel, the father of Dea. Robert S., who died, 1843, aged 80 : -both were respectable, substantial citizens. Several of the daugh- ters of the first James married and resided in Antrim, of whom, Su- sannah, widow of the late Dea. Spaulding, of Hillsboro', was the last survivor, dying 1850, and leaving bequests of several hundred dollars to religious charities.
Simeon George removed from Newburyport to Antrim, 1781, and lived at first in a log-house near the rose-bushes still flourishing a little west of Dea. Nichols'. Several adult sons came here with him; David, who lived near a clump of apple-trees, in the north-west corner of Stevens Paige's pasture; Michael, who began the Dea. Wilkins farm ; and Simeon, who lived in a log-house once standing in Geo. F. Par- menter's field, and afterwards built a frame house on the spot at this day occupied by Dea. Nichols' dwelling. Mr. George, and his sons, David and Michael, had served in the war of Independence. The various branches of the George family removed, about 1795, to the State of New-York.
Samuel and Daniel Downing, brothers, came here from Newbury- port, probably about 1781. Samuel began the Stephen Butterfield farm, lived afterwards in a log-house south-west of Mr. Bond's, and removed from town. Daniel commenced the cultivation of the farm now occupied by the widow of Wm. Wilkins, and not far from 1792 removed to Marlow.
John and William McIlvaine, brothers, were sons of Daniel, an emigrant from Ireland, who settled in Windham more than a century ago. They came to Antrim about 1782; John settled on the farm occupied at present by Robert Hopkins, and William planted himself on the place now John Barker's. After a residence of some years, both sold their farms and removed to Francestown. Their brother, Daniel, came here a few years later, settled on the farm occupied at this date by his grandson, the present Daniel McIlvaine, and died, 1833, aged 84. His son, Lieut. Daniel McIlvaine, a worthy and respected citizen, died the same month, in the prime of life. He was once bitten in the heel by a large adder, and supposed that the bite had ever after an unfavorable influence on his health.
Thomas Day came from New-Salem, Ms., was in the revolutionary service, became an inhabitant of this town, 1783, lived at first in a log-house south-east of Mr. Dinsmoor's, afterwards in a house once standing between Oren Carr's and Jesse Combs'; died at New-Salem, 1824, aged 75. None of his children remain in town except the widow Thompson.
Reuben Boutell was from Amherst or the vicinity, and settled in 1783 or 1784, first on the Benj. Symonds farm, afterwards on land, once cultivated as a farm, adjoining to Mr. Webster's. He was a la-
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borious, valuable citizen ; died, 1816, aged about 60. Two of his sons, Chandler and William, reside in town.
James Hopkins, afterwards Esq., was from Windham, began, in 1783 or 1784, the clearing of the farm owned by Silas Hardy, soon exchanged this place for the farm now Lyman Dow's, became a prom- inent citizen and a large land-holder; was selectman and justice of the peace. He had served for a time in the revolutionary war. Died, 1843, aged 81. He married, for his first wife, Catherine, a daughter of Dea. Aiken, a woman of more than ordinary benevolence and ex- cellence of character, who died, 1820. Only one of his children, Clark Hopkins, remains in town. Another son of Esq. James, was Deacon James, who died 1838, in the meridian of life. Dea. Hop- kins' son, Luther, died not long since at Key West, in Florida, and was buried in a grave dug out of a rock, to prevent the body being washed away by the waves. The precaution was suggested by the previous occurrence of a tropical tempest, producing so violent an in- flux of the sea as to wash away many of the graves.
James Wallace, a grandson of John, an early emigrant from Col- raine, Ireland, married Jennet Walker, and came to Antrim, 1784. He had been a soldier under Stark at Bennington; settled on the Stacey farm ; at one time kept a small store of foreign goods ; was a man of respectable and christian character, selectman and represent- ative. In the early part of his residence here, he was once pursued by a bear, and forced to climb a tree, for safety ; the bear sat watch- ing him an hour or more, and then slowly walked off .. He died at Bedford, about 1848, some years over four-score. Of his sons, John is the only one remaining in Antrim; James resides in Manchester, and Benj. F., late editor of the Manchester Messenger, in Bedford.
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