USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Durham > History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes, Volume 1 > Part 26
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Mr. Stevens occupied the rest of the house for a residence. The post office was first lighted by electricity in the spring of 1900. Mr. Stevens served sixteen years as town clerk and is justice of the peace. He was prominent as an officer in the Scammell Grange and in Sullivan Lodge of the Knights of Pythias having filled the chairs and been chancellor commander. He was born
GEORGE D. STEVENS
16 November 1860, son of David and Hannah (Lee) Stevens, and married, 14 September 1892, Gertrude Isabelle Davis. They have two daughters, Marjorie Pearley Stevens, born 6 November 1896, and Louise Esther Stevens, born 21 June 1907.
The income of the post office greatly increased after the re- moval of the college to Durham, and by order of the Post Office
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Department at Washington it became a third-class post office on and after I January 1904. The rural free delivery route was inaugurated I December 1902. Previous to this time Dover rural route, No. 6, served Pascataqua Bridge section and con- tinues to do so.
Owing to need of more suitable quarters for the rapidly in- creasing amount of mail the post office department agreed with Mr. Lucien Thompson that if he would build and equip a new post office building, not connected with any other building and not used in part for dwelling or store, and suitably furnish the same, they would lease it for a long term of years. The build- ing was erected in 1907 and occupied on the first day of November of that year. It is an up-to-date building with first class furnish- ings for postal business, electric lights, steam heat, and flagpole.
SOME OLD HOUSES
In deeds cited on page 59 it is shown that Dr. Samuel Adams built the Sullivan house previous to the year 1741, on land deed d to him by his father, the Rev. Hugh Adams, in 1743. Here Dr. Samuel Adams lived till his death, in 1762, and his widow, Rebecca (Hall) Adams, sold the house and three acres of land to John Sullivan, 19 December 1764. Here lived Gen. Sullivan till his death, in 1795, and his widow lived here till her death, in 1820. Mr. Amory described it as "a large square house of two stories, with handsome carved balusters to the staircase, and other richly moulded wood work. It was the center of a cluster of attached or surrounding buildings, his library and office, dairy, granary, stables and bee-hives, some of which have been removed. Here he had his council chamber, as President Governor, and here public affairs were transacted. Various distinguished persons from all parts of the country and Europe were his guests."
The road leading to the wharf ran between this house and the old meeting house. Maples and poplars surround the house now, and probably did in the early days. The land sloping down to the wharf was terraced long ago. The house contains fourteen rooms, and a sun-parlor has recently been added to the rear. The large rooms have fireplaces about the central chimney, and in some rooms the wall-paper of Revolutionary times has been preserved. Ornamental panelings and carvings attest the taste and luxury of original owners.
There was a dilapidated building in the rear of this house, which some say was the abode of Gen. Sullivan's slaves. Others think it was his law office.
About 1834 Capt. Ebenezer Thompson bought the house and here he and his wife died the same night, 26-27 January 1853. His son, Charles A. C. Thompson, inherited the place and died here 4 December 1868. It then passed into the possession of Miss Lucetta M. Davis. After her death it belonged to Charles H. Mitchell of Dover. In 1912 it was purchased and thoroughly repaired by Mr. Lynde Sullivan, a lawyer of Boston and great- grandson of Gov. James Sullivan of Massachusetts, who was
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RESIDENCE OF GEN. JOHN SULLIVAN
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brother to Gen. John Sullivan. Since Gov. James Sullivan married Hetty Odiorne, grand-daughter of the Rev. Hugh Adams, it follows that Mr. Lynde Sullivan has acquired his own ancestral estate, which the Rev. Hugh Adams bought in 1717. Long may the Sullivan family own, preserve and enjoy the house and land made famous by occupants of two centuries.
About three rods south of the Sullivan house is the site of the house built between 1717 and 1720 by the Rev. Hugh Adams, for at the latter date John Drew, carpenter, of Portsmouth sued said Adams for twelve pounds, wages of himself and son, John.
INN OF MASTER JOHN SMITH Built soon after 1700
Here lived the Rev. Hugh Adams and later it was the home of the Rev. Alvan Tobey, D. D., when he first came to Durham. It was called a parsonage, though it seems never to have been owned by the town or the church. Valentine Smith lived in this house when he removed from Lubberland. Many years ago it was hauled to its present location, on the road from the Falls to .Newmarket, on the north side of Denbow's brook, on land that once belonged to Benjamin Thompson, Sr. In his will, 1838, he called it his "Long Marsh Farm." The house has been repaired and slightly remodeled and is in good condi- tion. Israel P. Church once lived in it.
A little south of where the Rev. Hugh Adams lived there is a
RESIDENCE OF MISS MARGARET B. FFROST A part of it was built by Valentine Hill, about 1649
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house, the rear part of which, or L, has the appearance of being very old. There was a house here in 1682, when John Mighell sold it to Samuel Burnham. See page 58. James, son of Samuel Burnham, sold it to Dr. Jonathan Crosby in 1718. Capt. Daniel Rogers, blacksmith, bought this place, or a place near by, of Peter Mason, in 1735. He died in 1785.
On the west side of the road is a very old house. James Smith was licensed to keep a public house here in 1686. His grandson, John, is called "innkeeper," and he died in 1739. Master John Smith lived here in Revolutionary times, and his daughter, Sarah, married Seth S. Walker in 1810. This location was reckoned within the region called "Broth Hill" and the rhyme has been handed down :
"Broth Hill, the city of Seth ; Were it not for Joe Coe, They would all starve to death."
Joseph Coe was a ship-builder, and many of his workmen lived in cottages on Broth Hill. After Walker's time the old Smith mansion was dwelt in by John Drew. It now belongs to the Ffrost family.
Next north of the old Smith inn is a stone house, built in recent times by Howard and James Paul. James was killed in taking down the staging. Here lived Rev. Mr. Barnum and Rev. C. H. Chapin. Next to this is the house built by Lieut .- Col. Winborn Adams, who acquired land here of Derry Pitman. Here he and his wife, Sarah, kept an inn, and town meetings were sometimes held here. The place is now owned by Fred E. Jenkins. The frame and the foundation for the chimney are about all that remains of the old house. The latter is of massive stone and fills about half of the cellar. The first meetings of the pro- prietors of Holderness were held in this inn, from 1762 to about 1768. Later they were held in the inn of John Layn at New- town, in Lee.
Evidence abundant has been cited in the chapter on Early Settlers and Estates, page 70, to prove that Valentine Hill built a house on the north side of the river and not far from his mill as early as 1649. In the Dover rate-list for 1661 is found "Mr. Hills mill and house and lands." Capt. Nathaniel Hill, son of Valentine, lived here. Bartholomew Stevenson built a house on the hill, not far from Hill's house, about 1687. Tradition
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says that the house built by Valentine Hill is now the so-called Ffrost house. Additions and repairs have been made, but the appearance of the oldest part of the house warrants the belief that here is the original house built by the leading man of Oyster River, about 1649. Its location, both for defence and for com- manding view, was the only suitable place for the wealthy mill- owner to live. There is no record that the Indians even attempted to capture it in 1694. The house and land about it passed into the possession of Jonathan Woodman, who sold it to George Ffrost after 1796, and it has been occupied by the Ffrost family
INTERIOR OF RESIDENCE OF MISS MARGARET B. FFROST
The portraits on the wall are of her great-great-grandfather, John Frost and his wife, Mary (Pepperrell) who was sister of Sir William Pepperrell
until now. The rare, antique furniture well befits the abode. Here for over two centuries and a half has been the home of comparative wealth, comfort and beautiful surroundings.
The house once owned by Capt. Joseph Richardson was a licensed hotel. Here town and jury meetings have been held. Capt. Richardson was born in Boston, 25 December 1756. He served six years in the Revolutionary War and was twice wounded. His son, John A. Richardson, lived and died in this house. His daughter, Mrs. Frances P. Treadwell, sold the place and after extensive repairs it became the residence of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Mendell. Mrs. Mendell was formerly Miss Mary B.
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Smith, daughter of Hon. Hamilton Smith, grand-daughter of Judge Valentine Smith.
The Hamilton Smith house was built by the Rev. John Blyden- burgh and afterward was owned by his daughter, Margaret. It has been owned by Prof. John S. Woodman, George Ffrost, Joshua B. Smith, Irene Cheney, Mary H. Chesley, Mary E. Smith and Hamilton Smith, who bought it 2 December 1895. He made extensive improvements in the place, adding quite a portion of the Buzzell field in the rear as well as the Mary H.
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. GEORGE H. MENDELL
Chesley lot in front, making it the most valuable homestead in Durham. The house is known as "Red Tower" and is owned by Mrs. Shirley Onderdonk, daughter of Mrs. Hamilton Smith by her first marriage. The spacious garden in front, on the opposite side of the road, is free to all lovers of the beauti- ful. The accompanying picture describes the exterior of the house far better than words can do. The interior is the abode of comfort, artistic elegance, peace and happy memories. The village school was located on the vestry lot east of this house
RED TOWER, RESIDENCE OF THE LATE HAMILTON SMITH
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until 1854, when the schoolhouse was built where now the grange hall is located. When the Mary H. Chesley lot was sold, in 1895, the house thereon was removed to a lot near the college, owned by Dea. W. S. Meserve, and was ex- tensively repaired. This old house was located very near the Joshua B. Smith house and was owned by Ephraim Folsom, who died in 1785. Robert Lapish, Jr., Dr. John Angier and Jacob Odell, lived here. There was a house on the east side of the Mary H. Chesley house until 1867, when it was destroyed by fire. It was then owned by Mrs. Alfred Chesley. Judge Jonathan Steele owned this place and lived here till he built the present Coe house. Steele sold the place, 17 February 1813, to James Durgin, Jr. Dr. Jedediah Ingalls once owned and oc- cupied this house.
The house now owned by Joshua B. Smith and his sister, Miss Mary E. Smith, was bought by their father, Hon. Valen- tine Smith, at auction sale, 7 December 1814. It had been previously owned by William Ballard, who was born 6 February 1787, and died 26 October 1811. Prior to him it was owned by Stephen Cogan, and before him James Drisco, a mariner from Portsmouth, owned the place. He died 31 January 1778. Before Drisco the place was owned by John Layn, blacksmith, who bought it of Nathaniel Hill, 23 May 1763. Tradition in the Layn family says the house was built in 1735. When the Rev. George Whitefield passed through Durham, he dined in the cast front room.
The land where the Ebenezer Smith house stands was originally owned by Valentine Hill and was sold by Nathaniel Hill to Jonathan Clough, 16 January 1761. After being owned by various members of the Clough family it was sold by Zaccheus and Love Clough to Thomas Pinkham, 7 June 1777, when men- tion is made of a dwelling house thereon. Thomas Pinkham sold to Ebenezer Smith, 10 November 1783. Smith built the present house, which long has remained in the Smith family. Here have visited many of the notable men of a century ago.
The Mary P. Thompson house was owned by Abraham Per- kins, born 20 January 1771, who died 16 January 1863, and before him by Mrs. Mehitable (Sheafe) Smith. Oliver C. De- merit acquired it in 1837, and he and wife, Sarah, sold it to Miss Mary P. Thompson, 2 November 1860, for $1,035. Through
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RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JUDGE VALENTINE SMITH
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her will it was inherited by Hon. Lucien Thompson. Here Miss Thompson lived and wrote her Landmarks in Ancient Dover and pursued her genealogical and historical researches. William Ballard traded in a little shop on this lot.
The Benjamin Thompson house was purchased by Benjamin
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Thompson, Sr., 2 April 1790, of his brother-in-law, James Leigh- ton. Benjamin Thompson, Jr., inherited it by will of his father, in 1838. Here he was born and died. He bequeathed this place, in 1890, to the State of New Hampshire for the use of the college. Miss Lucetta M. Davis remained in the house a short time. It was afterward repaired and was occupied by President
RESIDENCE OF EBENEZER SMITH
HOUSE BUILT BY JAMES JOY, FATHER OF THE HON. JAMES F. JOY Afterwards residence of Deacon Abraham Perkins
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C. S. Murkland till 1895. It was then used as a girls' dormitory until it was destroyed by fire, Sunday, 12 December 1897.1
The house now owned by Charles E. Hoitt was built by Joshua Ballard, who bought the land I October 1782. The land had been previously owned in succession by Valentine Hill, Nathaniel Hill, Dea. Hubbard Stevens, Moses Emerson, Capt. Abednego Leathers, Daniel Hardy. The house passed from Joshua Ballard to his daughter, Elizabeth Smith, and has since been owned by Joshua B. Smith, Eugene Thurston and Gen. Alfred Hoitt. The Rev. Alvan Tobey, D. D., lived in this house during the last of his long pastorate in Durham.
The house now owned by Mrs. Ann M. Jenkins was built by Stephen Mitchell, Esq., who began practice as a lawyer in Dur- ham in 1805. It was afterward owned by a Mr. Flanders, who died in 1833. It has since been owned and occupied Dr. Thomas Flanders, Dr. Alphonso Bickford, Zilla B. Burbank, and Mrs. Silas Jenkins.
The Mathes-Talbot-Parsons house is said to have been built by Daniel Mathes, because his wife would not live at Durham Point. Daniel Mathes married, 26 January 1806, Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Curtis Coe. She died II January 1807, aged 23, and he married Betty Folsom, and moved back to the Point. The house was afterward owned and occupied by Maj. Benjamin Mathes, John McDaniel, Rev. Henry L. Talbot, and Prof. Charles L. Parsons. The last two made extensive improvements in the house and grounds, making it one of the best residences in town. It is now occupied by a club of students.
The first house below J. W. Coe's, going toward Pascataqua bridge, was brought up the river from "Franklin City by John T. Emerson, " he having bought the same from Ballard Pinkham in 1821. The land once belonged to the Jackson and Leathers families, and was bought by Mr. Emerson of Philip and Joseph Chesley. It has recently been acquired by Prof. C. Floyd Jackson and extensively repaired.
Not far from the Falls, in the low ground called Follett's swamp or Moharimet's swamp, Eli Demeritt built his log cabin on land granted before 1700. It had one room and no cellar. Later he built a log house of two rooms. His grandson, Capt. Samuel Demeritt, built upon the same spot a framed house of two stories
1 A picture of this house appeared in Granite Monthly, vol. xxxiii, page 429.
RESIDENCE OF ALBERT DEMERITT
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
in front with a lean-to. The brick for the chimney were from old England, and the bottom of the oven was of tiles, eight inches square, which had a crown stamped on one side with lettering. In the present house, in possession of Albert DeMeritt, the doors of the cupboards in the kitchen and dining room were from the old house, and the upper part of the beaufet is in the attic. In the sitting room and dining room hearths the tiles may still be seen. Some of the windows were of diamond-shape, leaded panes. The house was unpainted, ceiled and paneled. From Capt. Samuel Demeritt the place was inherited by his son, Israel, who built the present house in 1808. The brick were made on the farm. Israel Demeritt was succeeded in ownership by his son, Stephen, and from him it passed to the present owner, who has added many acres to the farm. He is the great-great- great-grandson of the Eli Demeritt to whom the land was granted and laid out 31 May 1699. The farm is one of the largest and most productive in Durham, and the house and well-shaded lawn, with outlook upon broad meadows, are a delight to one who appreciates home comforts and rural scenery.
Across the fields another Demeritt house was built by Capt. Nathaniel Demeritt, brother of Israel above named. It was rebuilt by Capt. Nathaniel and his son, the Rev. William De- meritt, about 1819. . The first was a one story and a half house. The present house, beneath the old elms, is owned by George P. Demeritt, son of the Rev. William.
The Bunker garrison house was probably built by James Bunker soon after 1652, when he bought the land on which its ruins now lie. The walls, except the gable ends, were of hewn hemlock legs, nine inches in thickness. There were loopholes for defence, afterward enlarged into windows. This was the last remaining garrison of Oyster River that was attacked by the Indians in 1694. It seems to be decayed and fallen beyond the power of restoration. `The plan of this garrison is pre- sented through the courtesy of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. See page 63.
Woodman's garrison was built by Capt. John Woodman soon after 1656, when he came to Oyster River. In 1660 he had a grant of twenty acres between lands of William Beard and Valentine Hill. Miss Mary P. Thompson thus describes it: "It is beautifully situated on the eastern slope of a hill at the
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head of Beard's creek, with brooks and deep ravines on every side of the acclivity, except at the west. It has a fine outlook for an approaching enemy, as well as a charming view in every direction, except in the rear, where the rise of land intercepts
the prospect. Durham village, which did not exist when this garrison was built, lies at the south in full view, embosomed among trees; and at the east may be traced the windings of Oyster River on its way to the Pascataqua. At the north, through
WOODMAN GARRISON
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an opening between the hills, can be seen the spot where the Huckins garrison stood; and nearer at hand, but separated from
WOODMAN GARRISON Destroyed by fire November 1896
it by a profound ravine, is the field where occurred the massacre of 1689."1
This garrison was destroyed by fire, 8 November 1896, a I Landmarks in Ancient Dover, p. 179. 23
RESIDENCE OF COL. LUCIEN THOMPSON
LIBRARY OF COL. LUCIEN THOMPSON
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loss that caused sadness to every lover of the town's historic memorials. Fortunately good photographs exist of the garrison as it was in its best days, and some thoughtful and prompt artist secured snap shots of it while it was burning.
The garrison built by David Davis at Lubberland in 1695 is probably the same as the Smith garrison, having been acquired by Lieut. John Smith some time after David Davis was killed by Indians, 27 August 1696. Later it was known as Frost's garrison and Blydenburgh's garrison. It was taken down only a few years ago and the road now runs over its site. A good picture of it has been preserved. See page 34.
Another garrison was built by David Davis, son of the above named, at Packer's Falls, early in the eighteenth century, where five generations of David Davises have lived. The original garrison was located on a knoll in the center of the field back of its present location, to which it was moved prior to 1790 in order to be on the highway. Additions have been made by later generations, so that the garrison of pre- Revolutionary times forms but a part of the present building, occupied by Eben Meserve Davis.
The Pendergast garrison is still standing and occupied. It was probably built by Stephen Pendergast, who acquired land here near Packer's Falls, in 1735.
Half a mile from Durham village, toward Madbury, on an elevated space to which the road gently ascends, is the house built by Judge Ebenezer Thompson soon after the Revolution on land that has been in possession of the Thompson family from the first grant, in 1694. The house was erected on the site of an older one, in which Judge Thompson was born. It is a typical rural dwelling of the well-to-do persons of that time, squarely built around a huge chimney, with large rooms of low ceiling, a fireplace in every room, heavy mouldings and cornices and a lot of wainscoting. It is still painted white, with green blinds, the best combination of house colors New England has ever had. It was a year's work for a carpenter to prepare the exterior and interior finishing material. In the hall-chamber, specially reserved for guests, the same paper is on the walls that was there a century ago. On this spot Judge Thompson entertained many of the leading men of the Revolutionary period, and in this house he was often consulted on politics, medicine and law. It
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was in the "hall-room," or parlor that he fell from his chair and instantly expired, in 1802.
An east two-story wing was added to the house by its present owner, Col. Lucien Thompson, in 1895, and in it he has the rare library, photographs and souvenirs that his aunt, Mary P. Thompson, gathered during her years spent in Europe. Here is a very valuable collection of historical and genealogical ma- terial that several generations have been acquiring. One would have to search long in New Hampshire to find its equal in any private house.
The spacious lawn and shade trees, the commodious barn, stable and carriage house, the fertile acres and the orchard of five hundred trees, make the visitor envy or congratulate the owner. If the visitor has the true riches of the soul, then it is congratulation and not envy.
The residence of Forrest S. Smith was built in 1803 by Major Daniel Smith and his son, Major Winthrop Smith. The former house stood farther back from the turnpike, on ascending ground down the lane which led to the Dover road. It was a two-story house in front, sloping off to one story in the rear. Tradition says that Major Daniel Smith insisted on having the big chimney in the center of this house after the style of those days, so that at the gatherings of the militia they could march around the chimney at the evening festivities, after the training was over. This was the grand promenade that preceded the dancing.
The present house is beautifully situated among shade trees and affords a fine view of Oyster River and Little Bay. It has been extensively repaired. Heat, running water and bathroom bring the modern conveniences of the city to the roominess, quiet, restfulness and hospitality of the country. At many a week's end a party from Boston alights from a large touring car at the front gate, for the old-fashioned front yard, filled with flowers and shrubs and protected by ornamental fence, still preserves one of the best rural traditions. Several hundred acres of fertile land certainly add to the attractiveness of the place. It is said that the difference between the farmer and the agriculturalist is this, that the farmer makes his money in the country to spend it in the city, while the agriculturalist makes his money in the city to spend it in the country; but Forrest S. Smith was a successful farmer before he began to be an agriculturalist. Here the re-
RESIDENCE OF FORREST S. SMITH
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markably youthful mother of four score years finds rest and offers it to friends, contented to linger longer amid beautiful earthly surroundings before moving into the mansion in the skies.
The last illustration of this chapter is presented, not because it is one of the old houses, but it is a new house on an old site and serves to contrast former days with the present. It is the
SUMMER CAMP OF ELISHA R. BROWN Near site of Meader Garrison
summer camp of Elisha R. Brown of Dover, president of the Strafford National Bank. It is built near the site of the Meader garrison, at what was first known as "Hills Neck." The land was long in the possession of the Meader family. On this neck of land, between Royall's Cove and the mouth of Oyster River, the three towns, Dover, Madbury and Durham, meet at Tickle Point. The view from Mr. Brown's camp takes in Little Bay and its islands and the Newington and Durham shores. Dover
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Neck is in the distance toward the east. Mr. Brown married Frances, daughter of Dr. Alphonso and Mary Joanna (Smith) Bickford, and thus is connected with two of the oldest families of Durham, as may be seen in the genealogical part of this history. It may be added that on this neck of land was once
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