USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New-Hampshire, from the grant by Mason's assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860 > Part 15
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As he approached the box, with his hand's each con- taining a stone, concealed under his coat skirts, his partisans called to others to " make room for him, for he knew all about snakes," and room was accordingly made. The reptiles were coiled together, and with the exclama- tion, " The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpant's head," he discharged both stones through the glass, breaking both of their backs. A sharp scuffle ensued, but the vigor and activity of his backers enabled him to retreat without much difficulty.
While on his way from a store with refreshment for his hay-makers, in crossing a pasture, he was chased by a cross bull, and took refuge in an old apple tree, where he was blockaded until a party of friends, summoned by his shouts, appeared with clubs and drove away the animal.
The tree, of which we have often tasted the fruit, leaned towards the ground so far that a person could easily run up the trunk. It was planted by Samuel Stin- son, the first owner of the lot, in 1752 or 1753, uncle of the individual who, in the instance above stated, was perhaps indebted for his life to its protecting branches.
The parent tree fell two years ago, but a sprout from the root produces similar apples. It was called the " old sweet apple tree," and near it, of the same age, stood the " old sour apple tree." A few rods north of their position are the remains of Samuel Stinson's cellar. They are situated upon lot No. 13, 2d range, now owned by the heirs of Major C. Stark.
JEREMIAH STINSON, Esq., son of Archibald, before named, graduated at Dartmouth college; read law ; opened an office in Dunbarton, and married a daughter of the Rev. Walter Harris. He was several years town- clerk and a member of several important committees employed by the town.
His death was occasioned by sliding down from his hay- mow and coming in contact with a pitchfork-handle con-
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cealed in the hay, which, he being quite corpulent, en- tered his body nearly eleven inches. After lingering a few days in great distress, he died Sept. 28, 1809, aged 60 years. His widow afterward became the wife of William Green, then a trader in town, and afterward cashier of the Pemigewasset Bank at Plymouth.
William Stinson, elder brother of the foregoing, was a farmer, and resided many years upon his father's home- stead. The farm is now the freehold of Mr. William Caldwell. Mr. Stinson was born May 25, 1772, and died March, 1847, aged 75 years.
JAMES STINSON, brother of Archibald, senior, whose name often occurs in the early records as connected with public affairs, was an ingenious man, and an industrious farmer. We remember him well, as "uncle Jamie," his familiar cognomen.' His language distinctly indicated his North British descent, from the land of Wallace, Bruce, and the " bonny Dundee." He was wont to complain of persons for stealing his " good chough white oak timmer." He lived and died upon the land where he first pitched his tent and established his abode. He was born March 21, 1745, and died April 5, 1827, in the 83d year of his age. His wife was Janette Allison, daughter of Samuel Allison, who died Dec. 10, 1843, aged 92, and survived her husband sixteen years.
His son JOHN, many years a town officer, and colonel of the ninth regiment N. H. militia, now occupies the farm of his father. He is a public spirited, liberal minded, intelligent man.
Children of James and Janette Stinson : William S., b. Oct. 6, 1783 ; Mary, b. Nov. 30, 1785; Samuel, b. Sept. 17, 1787; John, b. Nov. 13, 1789 ; Archibald, b. March 14, 1791; James, jr., b. July 20, 1794; Jeremiah Page, b. July 20, 1798.
Capt. JONATHAN BURBANK was an officer of the Rangers, and killed in a skirmish in 1759, during the French war.
14
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We are not certain that he was a resident of this town, but infer the fact from the following receipt :
"STARKSTOWN, 1st August, 1758. Then received of Capt. John Stark eighty-one pounds, eighteen shillings, New-York currency, being the money that was delivered to me by Capt. Shephard for the use of Capt. Burbank.
RUTH BURBANK."
STEPHEN BURBANK, we presume a son of the above, was a well-known carpenter, and died in this town nearly fifty years ago.
The money mentioned in the foregoing receipt was intended for the recruiting service of the Ranger corps. This was just before the time Capt. John Stark came home from the army on furlough, at which time he mar- ried Elizabeth Page.
SAMUEL STINSON, brother of Capt. William Stinson, was the first person of the early settlers who died a natural death in this town, and his remains were the first depos- ited in the central grave-yard. As we have been informed, his grave is near the hearse-house, although no inscribed stone denotes the spot.
He owned and died upon lot No. thirteen, in the second range. The property descended to his son John, who, during the Revolution, joined the British army, and his estate was confiscated. He, after the war, returned and died at New-London. He was blind in one eye, and was familiarly known as " one-eyed Johnny."
JOHN STINSON, brother of Samuel, above named, owned lot No. twelve, in the second range. He and his son went over to the enemy during the Revolution, and the farm was confiscated.
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REV. WALTER HARRIS.
"Dr. Harris was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, June 8th, 1761. His parents were Nathaniel and Grace Harris, who had two sons and three daughters. The subject of this discourse was the youngest child of his parents, and was born shortly after the death of his father. The name of his only brother was Nathaniel, who was two years older than himself. From about the time of his birth till the death of his mother, which occurred in the six- teenth year of his age, the family consisted of only three persons-the mother and her two sons-provision having been elsewhere made for the daughters. ·
" Dr. Harris, a short time before his death, mentioned some circumstances which, as connected with the religious character and habits of a beloved parent, he recollected with the tenderest emotion. His mother was pious, and her house was a little sanctuary, in which she regularly maintained the worship of God. The manner in which she performed this duty was truly affecting. After read- ing a portion of the Scripture, she took each of her little sons by the hand, and in this position of her entire house- hold, offered her fervent prayers to Him of whom it is written, 'a father of the fatherless, and judge of the widow is God in his holy habitation.'
" To a cold hearted sceptic, this would probably seem unworthy of notice, but not so to those who, like our departed father and friend, believe that God directs to important results all the circumstances of our lives.
" By the death of the mother, the two sons were left in the sixteenth and eighteenth years, respectively, of their ages, without parent or guardian, and with only a pittance of worldly substance. Their situation was now afflictive, and, for a short time, they were in suspense in relation to the choice of their future course."-Rev. Mr. Bradford's Discourse.
Circumstances originating in the troubled situation of their country soon disposed of that question. The cam-
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paign of 1777 had commenced. The most gloomy and doubtful period of the revolutionary contest had arrived, the events of which were destined to decide, "in favor of the revolted colonies, the cause for which they had ap- pealed to the God of armies.
Energetic exhortations, setting forth the dangers and distress of the country, were addressed to the people from the halls of legislation, as well as pronounced from the pulpit, in almost every hamlet throughout the land, urgently calling for volunteers to fill the ranks of the continental army, in anticipation of the approaching fear- ful crisis.
With other young patriots, the Harris brothers re- sponded to the appeal of their country, and in May, 1777, became soldiers. Nathaniel Harris (while, in that year, acting as an aid to Gen. Brigham, of Vermont, so says the legend of his family), was killed by a cannon ball, when the British attacked Mud Fort, * near Philadelphia. If we understood him correctly, Mr. Harris informed us that he was at his brother's side when he fell, at the battle of Brandywine, in 1777. The subject of this notice passed uninjured through three years of service, al- though several times exposed to danger, and received, in 1780, an honorable discharge. He returned to peaceful life, uncontaminated by the licentious examples and cus- toms which usually abound in camps, as in all other posi- tions in military service. Soon after leaving the army he purchased a lot of land at Lebanon, in the vicinity of Dartmouth College. The tract was nearly in a state of nature. This he intended to clear, and convert into a flourishing farm. During the severe winter of 1780-81, with an axe on his shoulder, he commenced his solitary journey on foot for the scene of his intended operations. He was then nineteen years of age.
In due time he reached his place of destination, and engaged in the task he had undertaken. There he toiled
* Red Bank.
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for a time in felling trees, but the slow progress which attended his simple exertions induced a sudden "change to come over the spirit of his dream," and an opinion to be generated as speedily in his mind, that he could render himself a more useful member of society in some differ- ent occupation from that which he had so recently com- menced.
He foresaw the difficulties he was liable to encounter in procuring means to support himself while acquiring an education, dependent as he was solely upon his own efforts, with no wealthy or influential friends to assist him by aid of funds and counsel. These, with other circumstances and considerations in connection, were discussed aloud, while he sat alone in the forest, upon the tree he had last felled. There, soliloquizing within hearing of no other human ear than his own, he argued, by proposition and answer, the subject in which he had become so deeply interested. The case was in a short time summed up, and in a louder tone than he had used during his monologue, the verdict was declared in these words : " I will go to col- lege." Suiting the action to the words, he stuck his axe into the fallen tree, leaving it there as a prize to the finder, and departed to prepare for the execution of his deter- mined resolve.
He graduated with reputation at Dartmouth College, in 1787, and studied divinity under the direction of Dr. Em- mons, an eminent scholar and divine, at Franklin, Mass., where he probably became acquainted with Miss Fisher, whom he afterward married.
October 30, 1788. A committee from the town of Dun- barton engaged Mr. Harris to preach for a year, or a shorter tern, upon probation ; and on the 26th of Au- gust, 1789, he was ordained as pastor of the church in that town. He soon afterward took possession of the val- uable lot of land set apart by the proprietors to become the property, in fee simple, of the first settled minister, upon which he became an exemplary practical farmer. His land was well cultivated and abundantly productive.
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One season, when few people in this part of the country raised corn suitable to plant, he raised a fine crop, and sold seed corn for four dollars per bushel. Economy and neatness were leading characteristics of his agricultural operations .*
The ministry of Mr. Harris was eminently successful. He gathered and kept united a numerous church, and his society was large, considering the limited sphere of his exertions, over whom he exercised a powerful influence, which indeed extended generally throughout the town.
He possessed much natural talent, a prominent-featured, strongly marked, grave and thoughtful countenance; a person dignified and commanding, with corresponding manners. His presence was sufficient to command and preserve order in public assemblies, even when the pas- sions of the people were excited by political or other in- terests. His pulpit oratory was fervent and impressive, his voice powerful, and his language unadorned by rhetor- ical flourish, was distinct, bold and effective.
" A man severe he was, and stern to view."
He was a good husband; kind in his domestic circle, firm in his friendship, of undoubted integrity, and reso- lute in the performance of what he considered his duty. He was endowed with shrewdness, address, self-posses- sion, and courage. Thrown into active life amid the troubled scenes of revolutionary strife, the two latter characteristics would naturally acquire strength and sta- bility from his early service in the war-fields of that eventful drama.
When the eulogy upon the Marquis de la Fayette was delivered before the legislature, by Hon. Nathaniel G.
* He allowed no poor walls and fences to stand upon his farm, nor weeds to over-top the corn in his fields. When, during his rides, he observed any of these indications of bad husbandry, he advised the owners to abate the nuisance. The zeal exhibited in his rural occupations, and the good husbandry manifested in the appearance of his own farm, house, barn, and outbuildings, contributed much toward establishing the influence he possessed over the dwellers in this agricultural town.
Dr. Harris published several sermons, one of which, on the subject of " False Teachers," delivered in Dunbarton in 1811, we have in possession.
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Upham, in 1835, Dr. Harris, the "veteran of Brandy- wine," sat in the pulpit of the " old north church," at Concord, beside the orator; who, in the course of his address, alluded to his " venerable friend " as having been present in arms at the battle of Brandywine, where that illustrious friend of the United States received his first wound in the cause of liberty.
Dr. Harris was respected through life, and retired from his labors at a patriarchal age. During the latter portion of his ministry he was assisted by the Rev. John M. Putnam as a colleague, for a short time, when he retired entirely from his pastoral connection with the church, and Mr. Putnam became his successor. Mr. Harris died Dec. 25, 1843, aged 82 years, 6 months, and 17 days. He was thrice married, and in each instance his selection was
very fortunate. His first consort was Jemima Fisher, daughter of Nathaniel Fisher, of Franklin, Mass., born April 13, 1770 ; who was the mother of his children, and a superior woman. She died March 12, 1815, in the 45th year of her age. His second was Elizabeth E. Cleave- land, born Sept. 5, 1767; died Jan. 20, 1830, aged 62 years, 4 months, 15 days. His third wife was Jane Aiken, born Feb. 12, 1776.
The children of Walter and Jemima Harris were : Clarissa, b. June 17, 1790 ; d. April 18, 1817, aged 26 y., 10 mo., 1 day ; Jemima, b. Feb. 12, 1792 ; d. April 15, 1811, aged 19 y., 2 mo., 3 days ; Mary, b. Feb. 4, 1794 ; d Nov. - , 1856, aged 62 y., 10 mo. ; Nathaniel Fisher, b. May 12, 1797 ; d. May 3, 1844, aged 46 y., 11 mo., 22 days; Elijah Lyman, b. Nov. 18, 1798; d. March 17, 1854; Lewis F., b. May 16, 1801; Walter, b. Nov. 26, 1803. Lewis Fisher and Walter Harris, Jr., are now the only surviving children of the Rev. Walter Harris. The former is a merchant, residing at the South, and the latter in New-Jersey.
Elijah Lyman Harris received a good education, and commenced his career, at the age of seventeen, as a clerk in the store of William Green. He was afterward a
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traveler, seaman, soldier and teacher. His adventures by sea and land, in different portions of the United States, the southern Atlantic coast of the same, the West-Indies, the Spanish Main, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South Pacific seas, are recorded in a journal written by himself, for a period of about forty years, which is now in the possession of his family. It contains much interesting matter, and is well written. He was accidentally drowned at Maysville, Kentucky, in the Ohio river, March 16-17, 1854. The following communication from a coroner de- scribes the circumstances of his death. It was directed to his niece, Miss Lizzie Tenney, whose letter, found in his trunk, informed him of the residence of his friends :
MAYSVILLE, March 26, 1854.
Dear Miss :- I held an inquest on the 17th instant on the body of a man, from papers found in his trunk, to be of the name of Elijah L. Harris. He was a passenger who came down the river on the steamer "Falls City," just before day, and a few minutes after was drowned off the wharf boat. On going to the "Goddard House," and missing his baggage, he returned to the wharf-boat to seek for it. It is supposed that the glare of the moon on the water deceived him, and he stepped overboard.
The three large fingers of his left hand are off .* His papers show him to be a pensioner. His money ($47.17), out of which were paid the expenses of a decent burial, his trunk and carpet-bag, with their contents ($23.50), you will please write what to do with them.
Yours respectfully, CARTER BELL.
Miss Lizzie Tenney.
Since writing the foregoing notice of Dr. Harris, we
* While a party of his regiment were practicing at targets, Mr. Harris, being in the front rank, this accident was caused by a mistake of the man in his rear, who, as he fired, instead of stepping one foot to the right, stepped one foot back, by which movement his bullet carried away the fingers of Mr. Harris. This circumstance secured him a life pension of three dollars per month.
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have received a communication, which we insert in the writer's own words:
" Rev. Walter Harris was born at Lebanon, Connecti- cut, June 8, 1761. He was grandson of Walter Harris, of Connecticut, and son of Nathaniel Harris, of the same place, who died in 1751. His only brother, Nathaniel, was killed by a cannon shot, while the enemy were attacking Mud Fort (Red Bank) near Philadelphia. He acted as aid to Gen. Brigham, who was afterward Lieut. Governor of Vermont. Dr. Harris was a fellow soldier with his brother, and witnessed his death.
" While in the army, near Newport, his commander made a retreat from the British (who had made their appearance on the hill), by sending the troops and bag- gage all day across the river in sight of the enemy. These retreating troops passed up the river into the woods, and by this means regained their camp-a ruse of our general to blind the enemy, causing them to suppose the troops were gathering for battle next day, when our soldiers were next morning safe in their camp, thirty miles distant. This masterly effort and brilliant achieve- ment of our general was in consequence of the neglect or refusal of Count de Estainge, the French Admiral, to support us in the conflict unless he could be commanding officer of the day .*
"Dr. Harris was bold, as became a soldier of the cross ; scarcely inferior to Dr. Emmons in clearness, discrimina- tion, argumentation, and, as a close disciplinarian, ever valiant for the truth. In the pulpit he used short notes, holding in his hand a small bible, to which he turned for references. His gestures were prompted by the nature of his subject ; his tones clear and penetrating. Often, when
* The above probably alludes to the siege of Newport, Rhode-Island, in 1778, where, instead of remaining to support General Sullivan, Count de Estainge sailed from his position at Newport, to engage the British fleet ; in consequence of which Sullivan was compelled to retreat to the main land. Mr. Harris was, during his latter years, an honorable pen- sioner of the United States.
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preaching a doctrinal discourse, he rose to a pitch of sub- lime and subduing eloquence. The conversion of sinners to God was the great aim of his ministry. His old age was serene-his death peaceful, happy, triumphant."
Dr. Harris possessed a vein of dry humor, which occa- sionally manifested itself, notwithstanding his generally grave demeanor. An old Concord friend related the fol- lowing instance :
In the early days of our State government it was cus- tomary for all clergymen, who saw fit, to attend the meet- ing of the Legislature, and they were allowed by that body a dinner with the person appointed to deliver the election sermon. The dinner at the time to which we allude was at the house of Deacon John Kimball, where Governor Langdon had his quarters.
The Rev. Mr. - was well known as " a good trencher man." He consumed more food at a meal than would satisfy the appetites of two ordinary persons. He had his plate heaped on this occasion with salmon and other accompaniments, until it could hold no more.
Dr. Harris, who sat next him, called to Mrs. Kimball, saying: "Do be so good, Mrs. K., as to furnish brother with another plate, for he has no room on the one before him to begin to eat his dinner."
The remark called forth many smiles from the guests, as the good lady ordered him an extra plate.
MAJOR JOHN MILLS, son of Thomas Mills, was born January 7, 1756. He was a soldier at Bunker's Hill, and probably engaged in other actions of the Revolutionary war.
In all his transactions he was known as a plain-dealing, honest, and upright man. He attained the rank of major (N. H. M.), and filled for years offices of trust and honor. He was moderator four times, representative eight years, selectman twenty-two years, and treasurer thirty-five years, . besides being appointed upon many important committees.
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He was generally respected, and performed well the part assigned him in the scene of existence where Providence placed him.
His son, JOHN MILLS, Jr., Esq., was a town officer and representative. He removed to Michigan in 1835-6, where he died. The Mills family were staunch old-fashioned Federalists .*
Children of Major John and Margaret Mills: John Mills, Jr., b. November 6, 1786; Thomas, b. September 21, 1788; Polly, b. September 24, 1790 ; Peggy, b. Sep- tember 15, 1792; James, b. September 4, 1794 (died Jan- uary 28, 1805); Betsey, b. December 20, 1795; William, b. March 30, 1798; Thankful, b. July 11, 1800.
THOMAS, father of Major John Mills and others of the name, died November 21, 1795, aged 70.
Lieut. THOMAS MILLS, son of Thomas, above named, born January 7, 1761, was a volunteer at Bennington, where he was detained several weeks after the action, to attend upon the wounded men.
He stated that the night after the battle the prisoners (wounded included) were shut up in a meeting-house, around which sentinels were posted. During the night several of them, attempting to escape, were fired upon by the guard. Mr. Mills died November 5, 1848, in the 88th year of his age.
The children of Thomas and Mary Mills were : Betsey, b. January 3, 1789; Peggy, b. May 16, 1791; Tamar, b. December 6, 1792 ; Sally, b. January 2, 1795; Thomas, b. May 7, 1798; Thankful, b. June 17, 1800; Ruth, b. July 9, 1802 ; Emily, b. April 15, 1805.
CALEB MILLS, brother of the foregoing, was a wealthy farmer. His youngest son, CALEB MILLS, Jr., was edu- cated at Dartmouth College. He is now a clergyman and a professor of Wabash College, Indiana.
PETER MILLS, brother of Caleb Mills, senior, settled at Zanesville, Ohio, where he died a few years ago, leaving a
* John, son of Caleb Mills, and his sons, were the only Democrats in the Mills family.
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considerable estate acquired by traffic in Revolutionary Army lands. He was once employed by John Jacob Astor in the fur trade, and in that capacity traveled much in Canada and the far Northwest. He left no children. He was born September 25, 1769.
Family Record of Caleb Mills : John, b. December 30, 1786; Sarah, b. October 20, 1793 ; Nancy, b. May 4, 1797 ; Polly, b. March 14, 1800; Elizabeth, b. July 15, 1803; Caleb Mills, Jr., and Fanny Mills, b. July 18, 1806. Caleb Mills, senior, was born June 8, 1765, and died Jan- uary 8, 1834.
WILLIAM BEARD, born June 4, 1758, was a soldier of the Revolution at the age of sixteen, and served in the Canada campaign in 1775 ; also at Ticonderoga in 1776-7.
He related, as an anecdote, that in the vicinity of that fortress was a fine spring of clear, cool water, near which hard fighting had taken place in the attack of 1758. The soldiers there found a human skull, which they cleansed and used for a drinking cup.
He was a man of large stature, a good farmer and an extensive cultivator of hops. He died August 10, 1838, in the 81st year of his age. In 1811 his name is recorded as a tythingman, as follows :
" Tythingmen chose. 1. Lieut. Thomas Mills. 2. Wil- liam Beard; do refuse to take the oath. 3. Major Wil- liam Brown."
Mr. Beard served in several town offices, and was a firm Jeffersonian Republican. His children were two daughters : Rachel, born Feb. 16, 1789, and Mary E., born March 16, 1791. Rachel was married to Moses Mar- shall and Mary to James Stone.
Both of Mr. Beard's sons-in-law have ever been consid- sidered " good men and true." Mr. Marshall has been dead some years, but Mr. Stone is now living. He is a worthy example of a good farmer, and a firm supporter of republican institutions, as are all his sons.
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