USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Exeter > History of the town of Exeter, New Hampshire > Part 38
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His eldest son, John Taylor Gilman, next owned and occupied the mansion, and it was during his tenancy, no doubt, that the narrow street upon which it is situated received the designation of "Governor's lane." About the year 1815 he removed to the dwelling on the south side of Front street, which was afterwards his home, and the old house came into the occupation of Colonel Peter Chadwick, a native of Deerfield, it is believed. He long held the office of Clerk of the Courts. An honorable, high minded gentleman, he was much respected, and is pleasantly remembered by the older residents. He died in 1847, but his family resided in the house for many years after.
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The old mansion at length came into the possession of the present owner, a descendant of Treasurer Gilman, who appre- ciates it, and has improved and adorned it without sacrificing its antique character. It is a remarkable coincidence that Mr. Perry moved into the dwelling in April, 1883, just one hundred years to a day after the death of his great-grandfather there.
THE ROWLAND HOUSE.
The square edifice on the northwest corner of Park and Summer streets, which is surmounted by a hipped roof with overhanging eaves, was erected quite early in the last century and was occupied for two or three generations by families of the name of Giddinge. Zebulon Giddinge was married in 1724 at the age of twenty-one, and probably lived in the house from that time to his death in 1789. He was chosen representative to the Assembly nine years, and clerk of the town thirty-nine. He was an innkeeper, and his house stood by the road over which all the lumbermen hauled their logs to the river side. Naturally, he did a large business in dis- pensing liquid refreshments. It was at his house that the partici- pants in the mast-tree riot in 1734 assembled to put on their disguise of Natick Indians, and perhaps to prime themselves for their illegal undertaking. At a much later date meetings used to be held there for a more creditable purpose ; - for consultations on the irritating course of the British Parliament towards the colonists, and how best to unite the whole people in measures of resistance.
Dr. John Giddinge was a son of Zebulon, as was also Colonel Eliphalet, who continued to live in the house after his father's death. The colonel was engaged in ship-building and lumbering. He had a son Nathaniel who, while quite young, exhibited superior talents for business. His father naturally encouraged him and pushed him forward. He was popular and was early appointed a colonel of the fourth regiment of militia, a rank which conferred distinction, but cost no small amount of time and expense to meet the expectations of the officers of his command. His father built for him the stately house on the plains, which was subsequently occupied by Jeremiah Smith, and after him by Joseph L. Cilley. But the young man was a fast liver, and died before he reached middle age.
Eliphalet Giddinge survived until 1830, and his successor in the paternal residence was the Rev. William F. Rowland, who
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was his son-in-law. Mr. Rowland had resigned the pastorship of the First church in 1828, and was never again settled over a society. He died in 1843, and his children continued to live in the house until the death of the last surviving daughter in 1886. The house is now the property of Dr. Charles H. Gerrish.
THE ODIORNE IIOUSE.
On the corner opposite to the house just described is another which for more than fifty years past has been occupied by Mrs. Bickford, and was built about 1737 by Major John Gilman, whose losses at Fort William Henry are recorded on pages 236 and 237. It has the gambrel roof characteristic of its time, and is a fine specimen of colonial architecture. Major Gilman spent the residue of his life in it. He was the owner of a slave whose three sons were the colored preachers of the name of Paul, referred to in a former chapter.
Major Gilman had twelve children, the eldest of whom became the wife of Deacon Thomas Odiorne who lived in the house after the death of its first owner, until his own death in 1819. The deacon was a worthy, patriotic citizen and had the respect of all. His widow survived him about ten years. Not long after her decease, the house came near being the scene of a double tragedy. It was in one of its rooms that Charles G. Tash, as has already been related, attempted to take the life of Sally Moore, a white girl, and of himself, but fortunately failed to inflict a fatal hurt upon either.
THE HILDRETHI IIOUSE.
Upon the triangular lot at the intersection of Front and Linden streets is a large dwelling which evidently belongs to two periods. The easterly portion of it is the older, and was built about the year 1730 by Daniel, son of Judge Nicholas Gilman. Twenty- five years afterwards he was commissioned colonel of the militia, and, according to tradition, then enlarged his house with the western addition, in order to receive as a guest Governor Benning Wentworth, who was about to pay a visit to Exeter. Colonel Daniel Gilman was a large farmer and trader, and employed as a servant John Dudley, afterwards judge of the Superior Court, who owed to his employer the encouragement and assistance that enabled him to develop his native powers and attain his high posi-
.
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tion. The Rev. George Whitefield had in Colonel Gilman a stanch friend and admirer. When he visited Exeter for the last time, and preached there his final sermon, on the twenty-ninth of Sep- tember, 1770, it is recorded that he "dined with Captain [Col.] Gilman." Whitefield commenced his service in the forenoon of that day in the church of the Second parish, but as it was found altogether insufficient to accommodate the throng who assembled to hear him, he was obliged to preach outside. In order to avoid the shining of the sun in his face he crossed the street, and mounted upon a board laid upon a couple of hogsheads, from which he addressed his congregation. In the afternoon he rode with the Rev. Mr. Parsons to Newburyport. But he had long overtaxed his strength, and his hours were numbered. The next morning he breathed his last.
Colonel Gilman died suddenly in church, of apoplexy, in 1780. Ilis son, Dr. Nathaniel Gilman, succeeded to the ownership of the house, but survived his father a few years only. The house then passed through several hands into the possession of the Rev. Hosea Ilildreth, who resided in it during his stay in Exeter.
It is now occupied by two families, those of Mrs. Samuel Tilton and of the Rev. Noah Hooper.
THE PEABODY HOUSE.
The house on the south side of Water street now owned by Warren F. Putnam was erected by Samuel Gilman, who moved into it November 3, 1725, and lived there during the succeeding sixty years. Ile was an innkeeper, a colonel and a judge. In 1734 he entertained the party sent by Surveyor General David Dunbar from Portsmonth to Exeter to discover what mast trees had been illegally felled, when the stalwart woodsmen broke in upon them and gave them entertainment of a very different nature.
After the death of the worthy builder, the habitation was pur- chased by Oliver Peabody, and he with his interesting family lived there till 1831. Jeremiah Dow, a tanner, and a man of much force of character, succeeded to the occupancy of the house. Since his time the property has had several owners, and has undergone such transformations that it is difficult now to realize that the house has seen a hundred and sixty-three years.
THE GILMAN IIOUSE.
The large gambrel roofed house on Front street nearly opposite the Baptist church is above one hundred and fifty years old, and
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HISTORY OF EXETER.
was erected by Dr. Dudley, son of the Rev. John Odlin. Dying in middle life he devised it to his kinsman Dr. John Odlin. After occupying it twenty years or more, the latter transferred his residence to Concord, and sold the house to Colonel Nathaniel Gilman. His home it was until his death. It was truly the abode of plenty and good cheer. The colonel was a public spirited citizen, interested in trade, in manufactures and in agri- culture, and with a large acquaintance in the State. His wife was the impersonation of hospitality. Their children were numerous, and popular. They literally kept open house. On public occa- sions, especially, their rooms and table overflowed with guests.
Colonel Gilman died in 1847, and the house was, afterwards, the home of his widow, and of his youngest son Joseph T. Gilman, until his decease in 1862. His widow married Charles H. Bell, and they now occupy the house.
THE TILTON HOUSE.
On the southeast corner of Water street and Court square, is a house which enjoys the distinction of having once sheltered the Father of his country. It was built by Colonel Samuel Folsom, in 1770 or the following year, to replace a former house which had been burned, on the same spot. The account of Washing- ton's visit to Exeter in 1789 is given on a previous page. Colonel Folsom died the year following, and his family continued to reside there. One of his daughters was afterwards married to Joseph Tilton, an Exeter lawyer, who lived in the house until his decease in 1872. It is now owned by Dr. George W. Dearborn.
There are other houses in the town of perhaps equal antiquity with those named, but space is wanting to describe them. The Peavey house on the Newmarket road is one of the most ancient and curious ; the Colcord house on the plains is covered with plank for the purpose of defence, and has been styled a half garrison house ; the Leavitt house on the corner of Front and Winter streets is very early, and contains a good deal of panelling. Unfortunately for the lover of antiquity many of the older dwell- ings have been so much modernized that their real age can hardly be detected.
STATISTICS ; SOCIETIES ; LOCALITIES.
The town of Exeter is situated in the southeastern part of New Hampshire, a little east of the centre of the county of Rock-
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ingham. It is nine miles from the sea, and fifty miles almost northerly from Boston, with which it is connected by the Boston and Maine Railroad opened in 1840. It is a half shire town, and is the seat of the county offices, of the clerk of the Judicial Courts, the Registry of Deeds, and of Probate. They contain the records of the entire province up to the year 1771, when it was divided into counties, and of the county of Rockingham since that date. Two terms of the Supreme Judicial Court are held in the town annually, and a term of the Court of Probate monthly.
The census shows that the population has about doubled, since the beginning of the century. In 1800 it was 1727; in 1820, 2114 ; in 1850, 3274 ; in 1880, 3569. The assessed value of the taxable property in 1887 was $3,197,884.
The public buildings of the town are a town-house containing a county court-room, another used for the public library and other purposes, eight houses of public worship, the buildings of the Phillips Exeter Academy, the Robinson Female Seminary and the High School, and Opera House, the county record offices and the jail.
Three weekly newspapers are published in the town, besides a weekly paper and monthly journal issued by the students of the Academy during term time.
The Washington Lodge of F. and A. Masons was established in the town early in the century, and was discontinued some years after, but was revived about 1820 under the name of the Phoenix Lodge. This was kept up ten or twelve years.
Star in the East Lodge No. 59 was instituted in 1857, and has furnished the following officers of the Grand Lodge : Charles H. Bell and John J. Bell, Grand Masters ; Charles G. Conner, Samuel M. Wilcox, Jeremiah D. Parker and Joseph S. Parsons, Deputy Grand Masters. The present chief officers of Star in the East Lodge are, George N. Cross, W. M., Joseph E. Knight, S. W., Edmund E. Freeman, J. W., William F. Rundlett, Sec., and William H. C. Follansby, Tr.
St. Albans Royal Arch Chapter was constituted in 1869. Its present chief officers are Charles G. Conner, H. P., John P. P. Kelly, K., Winthrop N. Dow, S., George W. Weston, Sec., Robert C. Thomson, Tr.
Sagamore Lodge No. 9, I. O. O. F., was established in 1845. It became dormant in 1864, but was revived in 1873. It has furnished one Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, James W.
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Odlin. The present chief officers of Sagamore Lodge are S. Abbott Lawrence, N. G., Charles L. Palmer, V. G., G. W. Wetherell, Sec., John P. Elkins, Tr.
Swamscot Lodge No. 2, K. of P., was instituted April 6, 1870. Its present chief officers are F. E. Rollins, C. C., Adolphus Smart, V. C., J. Warren Tilton, K. of R. & S., John S. Hayes, M. of E.
Moses N. Collins Post No. 26, G. A. R., was established in 1870. Its chief officers are A. J. Gilman, Com., B. F. Rowe, S. V. C., G. L. Stokell, J. V. C., G. W. Gadd, Adj't, Lewis E. Gove, Q. M.
Jady Hill is the eminence rising from the east bank of salt river, just below the village. From the earliest times it has been called by that name. The derivation of it cannot be learned. Some have fancied it was a corruption of shady hill, but for no better reason than the resemblance of the words.
Bride Hill is an elevation on the Hampton road about three miles from the Great bridge, and is in fact just over the line in the town of Hampton. A romantic story of the marriage of a pair of lovers in the olden time under the " bridal elm," a sym- metrical tree on the side of the hill, is told, but not verified. The hill has long borne the name.
Ass Brook, which crosses the road to Hampton about two miles east from the village, has been so styled from the very earliest times, but from what circumstance is unknown. The claim that it was originally Ash brook is unsupported by early documents.
Wheelwright's Creek, which crosses the road to Stratham, within a mile from the village, received its name from the founder of Exeter.
Powell's Point is a projection of the east bank into the salt river between Wheelwright's creek and the village. Its name came from Robert Powell, an early settler.
The Roundabout is a bend in the salt river, a couple of miles below the village, in the shape of a horse-shoe.
The Oak Lands is the name affixed to a large tract of woodland containing many oaks, in the northern part of the town.
Beech Hill is an elevation in the northwestern part of the town, about four miles from the village.
Bloody Brook crosses the road to Epping about two and a half miles from the village. Its name is probably derived from the dark color of the bed of the stream.
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HISTORY OF EXETER.
Fresh Meadow is the name given to a tract of low land adjoin- ing the Brentwood line about midway between its two extremities.
The Mast Swamp Road leads from the western part of the town towards Epping.
Great Hill is a commanding eminence at the point where the corners of the townships of Exeter, East Kingston and Brentwood come together.
Rocky Hill is on the road to Hampton, about three-fourths of a mile from the Great bridge.
Tower Hill is an ascent on the east side of the river nearest the Great bridge.
Town Hill is in the village, near the intersection of Main and Water streets.
The Plains is the name given to the level stretch of land in the northwestern part of the village.
Other names of localities, that have not become obsolete in Exeter and in the towns which once belonged to it, have been heretofore referred to. There were, however, in the earlier times places whose designations were then familiar as household words, but have long been disused and forgotten. Who now can tell where was the Nursery, the Temple, or the Patent land, -places doubtless well known a century ago? Probably no man living.
Does not this render it likely that other things, well under- stood by the fathers, have since their time perished from memory, and should it not make us distrustful of passing upon their con- duct, judgments liable to be based upon inadequate knowledge?
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX I.
THE INDIAN DEED OF 1629 TO WHEELWRIGHT & ALS.
WHEREAS wee the Sagamores of Penacook, Pentucket, Squam- squot & Nuchawanick are Inclined to have ye English Inhabitt amongst us, as they are amongst our Countrymen in the Massa- chucets bay, by wch means wee hope in time to be strengthned against our Enemyes the Tarratens who yearly doth us Damage : Likewise being Perswaided yt itt will bee for the good of us and our Posterety &ct. To that end have att a generall meeting (att Squamsquot on Piscataqua River) wee the aforesd Sagamores wth a universall Consent of our subjects doe Covenant and agree wth the English as followeth : Now Know all men by these Presents that wee Passaconaway Sagamore of Penacook, Runawitt Sagamore of Pentucket, wahangnonawitt Sagamore of Squamscott, and Rowls Sagamore of Newchawanick, for a Compitent Valluation in goods allready Received in Coats, Shurts & victualls, and alsoe for ye Considerations aforesª doe (according to ye Limits and bounds hereafter granted) give, grant, bargaine, sell, Release Rattafie and Confirme, unto John Whelewright of ye Massachucets baye Late of England, A minister of ye Gospel, Augustin Story, Thoms Wite, Wm Wentworth and Thoms Levitt, all of ye Massachusetts baye in New England, to them their heires and Assignes forever, all that part of ye maine Land bounded by the River of Piscataqua and the River of Merrimack, that is to say, to begin att Newchewanack ffalls in Piscataqua River aforesd, and soe Doune sd River to the sea, and soe alongst the sea shore to merrimack River, and soe up along sd River to the falls att Pentucett aforesd, and from sd Pen- tucett ffalls upon a Northwest Line twenty English miles into the woods, and from thence to Run upon a Streight line North East & South West till meete wth the maine Rivers that Runs down to Pentucket falls & Newchewanack ffalls, and ye sd Rivers to be the bounds of the sd Lands from the thwart Line or head Line to ye aforesd ffalls, and ye maine Channell of each River from Pentucket
431
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HISTORY OF EXETER.
& Newchewanack ffalls to the maine sea to bee the side bounds, and the maine Sea betweene Piscataqua River And Merrimack River to be the Lower bounds, and the thwart or head Line that runs from River to river to be ye uper bound ; Togeather wth all Ilands wth in sd bounds, as alsoe the Iles of Sholes soe Called by the English togeather wth all Proffitts, Advantages and Appurte- nances whatsoever to the sd tract of Land belonging or in any wayes appertaineing ; Reserveing to our Selves Liberty of makeing use of our old Planting Land, as alsoe ffree Liberty of Hunting, ffishing and fowling ; and itt is Likewise wth these Proviseos ffol- lowing vizt.
First, that ye sª John Wheelewright shall wth in ten years after the date hereof sett Doun wth a Company of English and begin a Plantation att Squamscott ffalls In Piscataqua River aforesd.
Secondly, that what other Inhabitants shall Come & Live on sd Tract of Land Amongst them from Time to Time and att all times shall have and Enjoye the same benefitts as the sd Whelewright . aforesd.
Thirdly, that If att any time there be a numbr of People amongst them that have a mind to begin a new Plantation that they be Encouraged soe to doe, and that noe Plantation Exceede in Lands above ten English miles Squaire, or such a Proportion as amounts to ten miles Squaire.
Fourthly, that ye aforesd granted Lands are to be Divided into Tounshipps as People Increase and appeare to Inhabitt them, and that noe Lands shall be granted to any p'ticular p'son but what shall be for a Township, and what Lands wthin a Township is granted to any Perticular Persons to be by vote of ye major part of ye Enhabitants Legally and ord'ly settled in sd Township.
Fifthly for manageing and Regulateing, and to avoide Conten- tions amongst them, they are to be under the Goverment of the Collony of the Massachusetts (their neighbours) and to observe their Laws and ordrs untill they have a settled Goverment Amongst themselves.
Sixthly wee the aforesd Sagamores and our Subjects are to have free Liberty (wthin the aforesd granted tract of Land) of ffishing, fowling, hunting & Planting &c.
Sevently and Lastly every Township wthin the aforesaid Limits or tract of Land that hereafter shall be settled shall Paye to Passaconaway our Cheife Sagamore that now is, & to his succes- sors forever, If Lawfully Demanded one Coate of Trucking Cloath
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a year & every yeare for an Acknowledgment, and also shall Paye to M' John Whelewright aforesd his heires and successors forever, If Lawfully Demanded, two bushills of Indian Corne a yeare for and in consideration of said Whelewright's great Paines & Care as alsoe for ye Charges he have been att to obtain this one grant for himselfe and those aforementioned, and the Inhabitants that shall hereafter settle In Townships on ye aforesaid granted Prem- ises : And wee the aforesd Sagamores, Passaconaway Sagamore of Penecook, Runawitt Sagamore of Pentucet, Wahangnonawitt Sag- amore of Squaamscott and Rowls Sagamore of Newchewanack doe by these Presents Rattafie and Confirme all ye afore granted and bargained Premises and Tract of Land aforesd (excepting & Reserving as afore Excepted & Reserved & the Proviseos aforesd fullfilled) wth all the meadow and Marsh grounds therein. Togeather wth all the mines Mineralls of what Kind or Nature soever, with all the Woods Timber and Timber Trees, Ponds, Rivers, Lakes, runs of Water or Water Courses thereunto belong- ing, with all the ffreedome of flishinge, ffowlinge, and Hunting as ourselves with all other benefitts, Proffitts, Privledges and Appur- tenances whatsoever thereunto, of all and any Part of the said Tract off Land belonging or in any wayes Appertaineinge, unto him the said John Whelewright, Augustin Storer Thomas Wite, William Wentworth and Thomas Levitt and their heires forever as aforesd. To have and to hold ye same As their owne Proper Right and Interest, without the Least Disturbance Mollestation or Troble of us, our heires, Execcutors, and Administrators, to and with the said John Whelewright Augustin Storer Thomas Wite William Wentworth and Thomas Levitt their heires Execcutors, Administrators and assignes and other the English that shall Inhabitt there And their heires and assignes forever, shall Warrant Mainetaine and Defend. In Wittnes whereof wee have Hereunto sett our hands and seales the Seventeenth day of May 1629 And in the fifth yeare of King Charles his Reigne over England &ct.
Signed Sealed & Delivered
In Presents off us.
WADARGASCOM mark
MISTONOBITE mark
JOHN OLDHAM 28
PASSACONAWAY mark
RUNAWIT mark
WAHANGNOWNAWIT mark
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HISTORY OF EXETER.
SAMLL SHARPE
ROWLS mark *
Memorandm ; on ye Seventeenth day of maye one thousand six hundred twenty & nine, In the ffifth year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Charles King of England, Scotland ffrance & Ireland, Defende of ye ffaith &ct. Wahangnownawit Sagamore of Squamscot in Piscataqua River, did in behalfe of himselfe and the other Sagamores aforementioned then Present, Delivr Quiett & Peaceable Possession of all ye Lands mentioned in the wthin writen Deed, unto the wthin named Jolin Whelewright for the ends wthin mentioned in Presents of us Walter Nele Governer Geo. Vaughan ffacktor and ambros Gibins Trader for ye Company of Laconia, Richª Vines Governer and Richd bonithan Assistant of ye Plantation of Sawco, Thoms Wiggin agent and Edward hilton Steward of the Plantation of Hiltons Point, and was signed sealed & Delivered In our Presents.
In Wittness whereof we have hereunto sett our hands the day & yeare above Written.
RICHD VINES
WALTER NEALE
RICHD BONITIION
GEO. VAUGIIAN
THONS WIGGIN
AMBROSE GIBBINS
EDWARD HILTON
Entered and Recorded According to the originall the 20th may 1714.
Pr. WM. VAUGHAN Record".
* The marks or totems of the Indians are affixed to their names as follows: Passa- conaway, a man with extended arms; Runawit, a deer's antlers; Wahangnownawit, a bow and arrow; Rowls, a one-armed man. What the marks of the two Indian witnesses, Wadargascom and Mistonobite, are intended to represent, it is not easy to say.
APPENDIX II.
TRANSCRIPTS OF THE EXETER RECORDS, 1639 TO 1644.
CERTAINE ord's made at the Cote houlden in Exeter the 4th day of the first weake in the 10th Month, 1639.
Imprimis. That Mr. Edward Hilton his vpland ground is bounded in Breadth from the Creeke next from his house towards Exeter on the one side & a Certaine point of Land ovr against Captaine Wiggins his howse between the Mash and the vpland that his bounds one the oth" side and it is to extend into the maine the same distance in Length as it is in Breadth, and that he shall have all the meadowes wch hee formerly ocupied from his howse to the mouth of Lamprell River.
2ª Lye. That all the Meadowes weh belonge vnto the Tonne of Exeter, leying betweene the Townes and mr. Hilton's howse, as Likewise the Meadowes from Lamprell River vnto the head of the little Baye shall be equally devided into foner parts whereof the 4th pte shall be devided by lott to such of the inhabitants of the Towne of Exeter as have noe Cattle or fower Goats, and the profitt of the haye weh [now] growes thereupon shall bee devided amongst them weh have the [three] othr pts ontill such tyme as they have Cattle of there owne or [till] they sell the Grounds to those that have Cattles.
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