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 16
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
On his [Mr. Beard's] grave-stone are the words, " A soldier of the Revolution."
JOHN BUNTEN was an early inhabitant of this town, and often employed in public affairs. According to the fol- lowing record he was blessed with a numerous progeny. He died March 26, 1833, aged 76.
John and Elsie Bunten's children : Robert, b. August 5, 1777 ; Mary, b. August 30, 1779 ; Sarah, b. August 9, 1781; John, b. August 7, 1783; Samuel, b. September 25, 1785; Andrew, b. September 12, 1787; Elsie, b. January 23, 1790; Anne, b. December 15, 1792; Burnham, b. February 26, 1795 ; Jenny, born February 6, 1797 ; James, b. August 29, 1799.
The name of JOHN FULTON occurs several times in the proprietors' records and in those of the town, as a public officer. He became an inhabitant at an early date. His children were: Elizabeth, b. March 15, 1774; Samuel, b. May 22, 1776 ; Robert, b. November, 22, 1778 ; John, born February 9, 1781; Janette, b. February 22, 1783.
JOSEPH PUTNEY AND JAMES ROGERS.
Joseph Putney and James Rogers were the first settlers of Dunbarton. The time of their settlement is not known, but we are induced, from several circumstances, to suppose it to have been made several years prior to 1746.
Hunting, in the infancy of our country, was the most profitable employment of its inhabitants. While en- gaged in an expedition of this character, Putney and Rogers discovered the "Great Meadow" in this town, then covered with a luxuriant growth of natural grass.
The apparent facilities there afforded for procuring fodder for cattle induced the hunters to regard this as a desirable situation for a permanent location. They ac- cordingly erected log houses, and removed their families from their former abodes in Londonderry, through an
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almost unbroken wilderness, to their new homes. Bow was probably at that time without an inhabitant, and Rumford (Concord), the nearest settlement.
The only access to that town was by the rude footpath which these hardy foresters themselves formed through the woods, spotting the trees as they advanced. No nearer than Concord were to be found stores for traffic, mills, schools, or places of worship. None of the privi- leges they had formerly enjoyed followed them to their lonely retreat. Their dependence for subsistence and comfort was upon the improvements which their industry alone could accomplish, of the rude, but, in many respects, bountiful materials which nature offered them. The forest furnished occupation for their axes; their wild occupants of beast and fowl, and the fish of the streams, offered abundant opportunities for proving their skill in the use of the musket, trap, hook or spear, to procure for themselves the enjoyment of sportsmen, and provision for their families.
In their isolated position, braced with firm nerves, good health, and determined resolution, they struggled onward, clearing land, rearing stock, and planting orchards, until 1746, when a body of hostile Indians appeared in the Merrimack valley, to destroy the property of the settle- ments, and slay, or "captivate" the inhabitants.
Two persons from a Concord garrison, well knowing the defenceless condition of the two families in Dunbar- ton woods, proceeded thither in the night, to notify them of their danger; and in the course of the same night the families of Rogers and Putney returned with them to the garrison at Rumford.
Rogers and Putney returned the next day for their cat- tle. The ruins of their still smoking dwellings, their slaughtered cattle lying scattered around, their fruit trees destroyed, the result of laborious years thus rendered of no avail, told them that the remorseless savage had been there.
Who cannot sympathize with these worthy parents, or
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imagine their feelings when returning to the garrison to inform their anxious relatives and friends that their all had, within a few hours, been laid waste by the hands of their ruthless invaders. One subject of consolation was theirs-the timely warning of friends had preserved their lives.
Miss MARY CLARK, of Concord, a lady of talent and lite- rary acquirements, whose residence was a short distance from the Bradley monument, composed a ballad in the an- tique style, which was read or sung at the ceremonial of erecting the same, from which we extract the following :
" The fierce Canadians (Frenchmen they), . Had set the Indians on :
'Twas sad to see for many a day, The mischief that was done.
Houses were burnt and cattle slain, And smiling fields laid waste-
To seek the lurking foe was vain- His steps might not be traced ;
For the dark, trackless woods concealed Him ; issuing whence, he seized
The unwary laborer in the field, A captive, if he pleased."
* * * *
" A hundred Indians, near about, Blood-thirsty, fierce and strong,
Seen, now and then, in straying scout, As they had passed along,-
In August, '46, came down Direct from Canada,
Bent to destroy the embryo town, If in their course it lay : Yet did the people not forget The holy Sabbath day :
In their log meeting-house they met, To hear, and praise, and pray.
Each carrying his gun, went in, For fear what might betide,
And parson Walker there was seen With musket by his side.
* * *
"But, oh ! the morrow came ; and then In Penacook was seen
Such slaughter of their bravest men, As never yet had been."
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Rogers and Putney remained at Rumford until the depredations of the enemy had ceased in that vicinity. During the time of his residence there, Putney, while at work upon the interval, was fired upon by a party of Indians and his arm broken. He escaped, and the ball which occasioned his wound was preserved in the family, until, by a thoughtless boy, without the knowledge of his elder relatives, it was melted for some childish purpose.
When the community became more tranquil, and fears of Indian depredation had subsided, in 1749, Putney and Rogers rebuilt their log houses, and removed their fami- lies to their former homes.
A few years afterward, while Rogers was driving cattle a distance back into the woods for feed, being dressed in clothing of bear's skin, he was observed by a person en- gaged in running lines, who, supposing that a bear was before him, fired with fatal effect at the object in view. Rogers survived the wound but a few hours.
Joseph Putney passed the remainder of his life in the place hallowed by so many exciting events, where he died at an advanced age. At the house of his son, Henry Putney, were for several years held the meetings of the towns of Dunbarton and Bow, while classed for the choice of a Representative to the General Court. David Putney, son of Henry, before named, resided on the same prem- ises, and died a few years ago.
His son Henry, now the only one of the name, as head of a family, residing in Dunbarton, is of the fourth gene- ration from Joseph Putney. He has been elected to all the offices of importance in town ; has been two years representative to the Legislature ; was a delegate to the Convention for amending the Constitution of New-Hamp- shire, and has the last and present year been elected chairman of the board of selectmen. David Putney, his brother, has been for several years an officer and repre- sentative of the town of Bow.
For the information contained in the foregoing state- ment we are indebted to Henry Putney, Esq.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
No family record of Joseph Putney or his son Henry appearing upon the town books, we insert that of David Putney and his wife, Rebecca.
Children : Molly, b. March 23, 1791 ; Rebecca Sawyer, b. July 10, 1793; Adna, b. July 10, 1796; Fanny, b. February 27, 1799; David, b. Sept. 6, 1801; Fanny, b. September 22, 1805; Henry, b. June 11, 1807 ; Louisa, b. December 5, 1810.
As Mr. Asa Putney was an early settler in town, we here insert his family record :
The children of Asa Putney : James Putney, b. Decem- ber 21, 1756 ; Hannah, b. April 14, 1758 ; Phebe, b. Octo- ber 5, 1759 ; Jeremiah, b. April 7, 1761 ; Rachel, b. Sep- tember 4, 1762; Abigail, b. October 12, 1764 ; Asa, Jr., b. Nov. 12, 1776 ; Sarah Putney, b. January 19, 1769 ; Joseph, b. May 9, 1771 ; Molly and Joseph, b. May 22, 1773 ; Martha Putney, b. Sept. 3, 1775; Susy, b. April 20, 1778.
THOMAS HUSE, mentioned in the proprietors' records, was quite an important personage in the early days of the town. He was among the first grantees, in 1752. His family record is as follows :
Sarah Huse, b. Nov. 4, 1778 ; Seth, b. June 30, 1782 ; Betty, b. August 4, 1784 ; James, b. August 10, 1786 ; Thomas, Jr., b. July 30, 1788 ; Hannah, b. November 11, 1790 ; Lydia, b. February 19, 1793 ; Anna, b. March 2, 1795 ; Cyrene, b. November 13, 1798 ; Seth, 2d, b. June 5, 1802.
CAPT. WILLIAM PARKER, from Bradford, Mass., was for many years a man of note in this town. He located him- self on the Page road, where he established a tannery, and carried on, for the times, a large business. In com- pany with his brother Phinehas, he established a store at the central village, near the meeting-house. He was a prominent leader of the Federal party in this place, and was a man of business as well as intelligence. He died
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in 1815, generally respected. His children were all re- spectable and well educated. Three of his daughters married clergymen. His daughter Anne is the wife of the Rev. Mr. Bird, who was a missionary to Palestine, and for several years stationed at Beyroot. She was there enabled to acquire information in respect to that highly interesting portion of the eastern world, from actual ob- servation.
His sons were Leonard, (drowned while young, near Raymond's mill) William, Daniel H. and Leonard, 2d. Daniel H. now resides on the homestead of Major John Mills, whose daughter was his first wife. He is a good farmer, deacon of the church, has been several years, and is at present, a town-officer, as well as a respected citizen.
EBENEZER WOODBURY, an old inhabitant of this town, was born in 1762, and died in 1853, aged 91 years. He voted at the Presidential election in 1852 for Pierce electors. We conversed with him at that time, and, if our recollection is correct, he stated that he had voted at every Presidential and at every Annual election since his 21st year. He once owned the mills now possessed by Ebenezer P. Kimball. He said he had lived "through ninety cold winters." Children of Ebenezer and Hannah Woodbury : David, b. May 10, 1785 ; Ebenezer, b. April 11, 1788 ; Jonathan, b. January 1, 1790 ; Hannah, b. Jan- uary 23, 1792; John, b. February 10, 1794; Polly, b. July 29, 1798 ; Gardner, b. September 9, 1800.
Hazadiah and Anna Woodbury's children : Anna, b. August 15, 1817 ; Ira, b. January 20, 1820 ; Lyman, b. June -, 1825 ; Jane, b. February 27, 1828.
CAPT. MOSES CARR was a. person well known to the elderly inhabitants of this place. He was tall in person, possessed great strength, and was a hard working farmer, as also, in his younger days, a successful hunter ; when valuable game, such as beavers, otters and other animals,
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the fur of which commanded high prices, were plenty. He owned more than seventy-five traps ; was an excellent marksman, as well as fisherman. He worked as " foreman of the crop" for twenty-three years on the farm of Major Stark. With the accumulated wages of his day labors, and the profits of his attention to his traps at night, (for his strong constitution enabled him to turn night and day to profit) he settled, in 1811, upon one of his farms obtained by mortgage, with an estate of six thousand dollars-a great property at that period for a farmer. He died in 1838, at an advanced age.
The daughter of Moses Carr was married to Robert Chase, Jr., who, after her decease, sold the farm to Capt. Nathan Gutterson.
JOHN CHURCH came to this town as a protegee of " Master Robert Hogg," among the first settlers. We have understood that his name was derived from the cir- cumstance of his being found at the door of a church, as an abandoned infant. He was located, by Mr. Hogg's aid, upon lot No. 18, in the first range, in the north- western part of the town. He was an economical farmer, was selectman, collector, constable, and a deacon of the church. He was first called John Hogg and afterwards John Church.
He divided his farm with his son-in-law, James George. He afterwards incurred much trouble and expense on account of an insane daughter, so that in his old age, when past labor, his expenses consumed the value of his estate, and he was forced to apply to the town for assist- ance. It was a pitiable sight to witness, as we did, the arrival of a man of his respectability at the town farm. He died there Dec. 27, 1842, aged 97. He and Mrs. Joseph Leach (102) were the oldest persons who ever died in this town.
CAPT. JOHN DUKE is a native of France. He sailed while young to the East Indies on board a French vessel.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
He came from the East to Salem in an American vessel. Afterwards he made several voyages as an officer on board vessels belonging to the Messrs. Gardner, of Salem. He brought with him to Dunbarton a considerable amount of property about 1813-14. He is now living in good health, which he has thus far enjoyed during his life. His age is more than 80, and his memory has failed.
MR. JOB ROWELL was born in Goffstown, Feb. 24, 1771. His father and grandfather came to that town from Salis- bury, Mass., in 1760, and settled on the Benjamin Blais- dell farm, now owned by Jacob A. Flanders. His grandfather died in 1768. His father moved to Derryfield in 1777. There Mr. Rowell occupied the farm of his father, holding for a time a commission in the New- Hampshire militia, and being also elected to several town offices. He was a Democrat and a Universalist.
In 1837, he purchased the farm of Robert Chase, in Dunbarton, where he resided until his death, July 12, 1848. His second wife was the widow of Robert Dins- more, and daughter of the late Daniel Jameson, Esq. After Mr. Rowell's decease she became the wife of Capt. Oliver Bailey, whom she survives.
Leonard Rowell, Esq., son of the above, is a magistrate, and has for several years held the offices of town-clerk and selectman.
JOHN HOGG (or Hoog), and Samuel, his elder brother, · from Hampstead, of Scottish descent, were among those to whom lands were assigned at the proprietors' meeting, held at Londonderry on Monday, March 7, 1752. Robert Hogg, probably their cousin, became an inhabitant of the township afterwards. He was chosen chairman of the board of selectmen at the first meeting held under the charter, Sept. 3, 1765. He was called "Master Hogg." John was a leading man in the settlement, and held many important offices in early times. After residing upon it several years he sold a considerable portion of his Dun-
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barton estate to Mr. Robert Alexander, of Bedford, and removed to a large tract of timber land which he had purchased, on Piscataquog river, in Weare, where he made a permanent location, and erected mills. He also purchased a large tract of wild land in Thornton. He was an active man of business, a good scholar for the time, and became wealthy. By the authority of a legis- lative act he assumed the name of Raymond. His estate in Weare is still possessed by his descendants. He was born October 29, 1739, and died in 1803, aged 64 years.
The following is a copy of the record, made in the hand writing of his father, in the old family bible, printed in 1734. The writer was a good penman :
" My own birth and marriage; the names and ages of my children.
I, myself, born September, Anno Domini 1704. I was married to Elizabeth Hambleton, Nov. 6, 1729.
My son, Samuel Hoog, born August 13, 1730; my daughter, Elizabeth Hoog, born April 29, 1732; my daughter, Agnes Hoog, born Sept. 2, 1734; my daughter, Anne Hoog, born July 4, 1736; my son, John Hoog, born October 29, 1739 ; my daughter, Mary Hoog, born May 7, 1742 ; my son, David Hoog, born March 5, 1745 ; my son, Abasser Hoog, born May -; my son, Caleb Hoog, born Nov. ye 22, 17 -.
John Hogg and Agnes Hogg married Feb. 19, 1767. Age of their children :
Jean Hogg was born Jan. 21, 1768; John Hogg was born June 17, 1770 ; Sarah Hogg was born May 6, 1773; Thomas Hogg was born July 8, 1775; Caleb Hogg was born August 8, 1779; Jeremiah Paige Hogg was born March 17, 1785."
The names of the above were by act of the legislature exchanged for that of Raymond.
CALEB RAYMOND, third son of John, senior, was an officer of the U. S. Navy. He was on board the frigate
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Constitution, in the West Indies, in 1799, when that ship, for the first time, failed to overhaul the antagonist she pursued. She came in sight of the French frigate "La Insurgente," of 54 guns, on the 8th of Feb., 1799, and chased her throughout the day. Her officers (with one exception), and the noble frigate herself (if her mind could be judged by her after achievements), were eager for the contest. Her commander, however, apprehensive of a tornado, so common in the West India seas, ordered the sails to be reduced, and the French frigate escaped in the night. From another work we quote the following : " The only events of this war (that against France, 1799, 1800), were the two brilliant victories obtained over the French frigates 'Insurgente' (Feb. 9, 1799), and 'Ven- geance ' (Feb. 1, 1800), by the U. S. frigate Constellation, rated at 36 guns, while her antagonist's mounted more than fifty guns each. For the capture of the former, which escaped the Constitution, the merchants of Lloyd's Coffee House Insurance Company presented Commodore Thomas Truxton a silver pitcher, with an appropriate inscription, and Congress voted him a gold medal for his triumph over the 'Vengeance.' " The pitcher we have seen in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ben- bridge, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Lieut. THOMAS STICKNEY was once a prominent person- age in town. He came here as an agent and farmer for John White, Esq., of Haverhill, who owned large tracts of land in this vicinity. He (Stickney) resided many years on the farm now owned by Nathan and William W. Gutterson. In his old age he became blind, and was sup- ported by the town. His children were Thomas and Nancy.
Lieut. Stickney was a good horseman, and very much disposed to trading horses ; swapping being then the term used in speaking of such traffic in common parlance. He came once to a store in his vicinity, where he usually found a party of kindred spirits, mounted upon a fine
.
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horse, whose good points he exhibited to the company as he rode about the ground near the store, and boasted of his good qualities. One of the company, Ebenezer Chase, observed, " You have a good horse, 'Uncle Stickney,' but I will bet a dollar Joe Healey can jump up behind you three times before you can ride to the corner" (a distance of fifteen rods). "I'll stand it," said Stickney. The bet money was placed in the hands of Col. Robert Holmes. Stickney dismounted and proceeded to a willow tree a few rods distance, and cut a switch, six feet long, which he trimmed out, and then remounted his horse. At the word to start, he drove his spur-rowels into the flanks of the horse and rode forward, swinging in rapid exercise behind him his long switch. The parties laughed so much at the turn of the joke, that the bet was almost lost. Just in time to save it, Joseph Healey stepped into the road, and jumped up three times. Stickney returned, claiming the money, but was told by the umpire that he had lost, for Joe Healey had jumped up behind him three times before he reached the corner. He swore roundly at what he called a cheat, but the matter was ended by applying the money in a general treat to all present.
Most people in his time used ardent spirits. He did not, however, desire the quantities he purchased to appear. upon his store accounts, to be commented upon by his wife, and directed, after settling an account containing *many such entries, that in future his grog charges should be set down as tea. When his account for next year exhibited such charges as, "a pint of tea," "a gallon of tea," &c., he declared his wife never purchased so much tea in all her life. He was reminded of his injunction of the preceding year, acknowledged the bill, and liberally treated the company, who were amused at a joke so well carried out.
THOMAS HAMMOND, from Newburyport, was an ingeni- ous pump-maker. He laid down the first aqueducts in town. In one of them, on our farm, for a distance of
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fifteen rods, the pine sapling logs are sound, and the water of the well-spring flows through them. They were laid by him more than forty-two years ago .* His grandson, Samuel B. Hammond, was once colonel of the ninth regi- ment N. H. Militia. He has also been selectman and moderator.
Thomas Hammond's children: Jonathan, b. at New- buryport, Oct. 5, 1794 ; Esther, b. at Rowley, June 23, 1776 ; John, b. at Rowley, Oct. 18, 1777 ; Thomas, Jr., b. Feb. 22, 1780 ; Nathan, b. Sept. 26, 1781 ; Susannah, b. July 20, 1783 ; Huldah, b. July 1, 1785; Phebe, b. March 31, 1788 ; Mary, b. March 21, 1790; Nathaniel, b. March 4, 1792; Timothy, b. Aug. 27, 1797. Thomas Hammond, senior, died June 8, 1827, aged 80 years.
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STEPHEN PALMER for many years had charge of the first saw-mill erected in town, by Gen. Stark (1760). He died at a great age. His son, Simeon, an excellent carpenter, rebuilt the Stark mills in 1810, and had charge of them until his removal to Unadilla, New-York, where he died a few years ago, at a good old age.
PERLEY P. RAY, and his brother AARON, were both su- perior workmen as coopers. For a time, a large portion of the casks required by the Boston liquor dealers and fish- packers were made by them. They were both patriotic, public-spirited, honest men.
JOEL WHEELER was one of those who refused to pay the minister tax, and was in consequence carried to jail. He was a thrifty farmer and accumulated a good estate. We observed, when once engaged in taking the town inventory, that he appeared proud of his handsome stock
* Mr. Hammond onee proposed to General Stark to replace in his mill- pond, by some hydraulic contrivance, all the water which passed through the gates to turn the wheels of his mill, and thus compel the water con- stantly to perform its work. The General replied that if such a project was possible, " he had no desire to make a slave of the water."
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of cattle, and was desirous that they should be appraised at their full value. His son, Nathaniel H. Wheeler, now occupies the land cultivated by his industrious father. He lias served several times as selectman, and twice been elected to the legislature.
JONATHAN IRELAND, Esq., came to this town more than forty years ago. He was a blacksmith, but carried on a large farm ; was a superior agriculturist, and a man of intelligence. His son Jonathan now occupies his recent homestead. Mr. Ireland was born at Salem, Mass., and died December 29, 1854, aged 84 years and 7 months.
ROBERT and EBENEZER CHASE, sons of Colonel Samuel Chase, of Litchfield, settled in this town several years prior to 1800. Robert was a hard-working man and good farmer. His large family of sons and daughters, as they came upon the stage of action, with great industry assisted his exertions. He sold his farm, in 1836, to Mr. Job Rowell. His family all made out well. One of his sons, Thomas, is reputed a wealthy citizen of Nashua. Mr. Robert Chase held several town offices. He died in 1839.
EBENEZER CHASE, brother of the foregoing, settled here more than sixty years ago. He covenanted with Samuel Stewart to carry on the farm of the latter, for one half of the annual produce, during the joint and several lives of Stewart and his wife, after whose decease the land was to become his own, or that of his heirs. He established in the vicinity a blacksmith's shop, and conducted an ex- tensive business in window-springs, locks, hammers and edge tools, beside performing the custom work of the surrounding inhabitants. His wife was a daughter of Captain John Parker, of revolutionary memory. He was well-informed, good-humored, and hospitable. He pos- sessed a fund of anecdotes to amuse his customers. In those days stores, mills and smith shops were the princi- pal depôts of news and country gossip. His house has
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been the scene of many a country ball, and we have no doubt the participators therein enjoyed as much pleasure as falls to the lot of Terpsicore's votaries in the more fashionable saloons of modern times.
Mr. Chase was several times appointed to town offices and committees. He died September 21, 1831, aged 68 years. His sons were all ingenious machinists. John is probably the ablest projecting engineer for manufactur- ing establishments in New-England. In that capacity he has been employed in all sections of our country. He has acquired a fortune by his own abilities and exertions, and resides at Chicopee, Mass. The Stewart farm now belongs to John C. Ray, grandson of Mr. Chase. He has been several years one of the selectmen, and twice re- turned to the Legislature.
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