USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of the town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire : from the time of the first settlement within its borders, 1640 until 1900 > Part 21
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The assembly of which Gove was a member was dissolved on the 20th of January, according to Dr. Belknap and according to Randolph's letter. The rising was on the 21st and he was appre- hended soon after. He was in irons in Portsmouth on the 29th, and had his trial on the 1st day of February, being only six days after the commission of the crime. Now he could not have been present at the session of the assembly, have had the drinking match at his house, and been one of the company for the twelve days preceding his apprehension.
The pardon of Gove by Lord Sunderland, with the royal seal attached, is now in the possession of his descendants living in Sea- brook. After his return to this country he brought an action against Governor Cranfield in 1686, for £?00, it being for his estate sequestered. We have seen no record of the result.
IIe did not lose the good opinion of his townsmen in consequence of his treason, but on the contrary he was chosen a commissioner with five others to meet those from the other towns to agree upon a form of government, January 20, 1681. This was the highest trust which they could bestow upon him. Ile was in 1680, with Joseph Dow, chosen to prepare and draw up the state of the case to assert the town's right to their land, and present the same to the council at this next meeting, March 21. 1680. The time of his
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death is uncertain. Ilis wife was named Hannah Titcomb. She was living in 1:11.
His descendants are very numerous in Hampton Falls, Seabrook, and Kensington. When he returned from England, after his im- prisonment, he is said to have brought some pear trees, which he planted upon his farm, some of which were in existence within the memory of persons now living.
An English fowling piece, which was owned by Edward Gove, is now in the possession of Miss S. Abbie Gove of this town, and is in a good state of preservation.
The pardon of Edward Gove was framed, and can now be seen in the library building at Seabrook.
Edward Gout
COL. JONATHAN BURNHAM.
Among the many eccentric men of early times who are still re- membered as having lived in this vicinity, there comes upon the panorama the commanding figure of Col. Jonathan Burnham. He was a patriot of the Revolution, and as he rode into the village (Salisbury) on horseback, his long, flowing white hair streaming behind, the boys looked upon him with veneration and respect, for even in his old age it was said that Colonel Burnham made a splendid appearance in his continental costume. His last appear- ance on the stage of action was at a celebration of the nation's anniversary of the elders, on Powwow hill. The colonel on this occasion appeared in full uniform and rode to the top of the hill, and the hero of many battles and sieges was greeted with a royal salute. Among his comrades were "Uncle Dudley Maxfield" and Captain Nowell. A toast in his honor was given. The reply was characteristic of the man, "Our country must live and fill her destiny. Our distinguished soldier and friend, George Washing- ton, said so, and I, Colonel Burnham, with the blue heavens above, and the broad ocean before me, call upon all true sons of America, upon this broad sword which did service at Bunker Hill. to swear it shall be so." This rousing sentiment, uttered by the colonel as he sat upright upon his horse swinging his sword about him, as if he would repel the enemy, was greeted with loud applause and a national salute. While the punch was stirred the hearts of
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the patriots were stirred as well. Many are the anecdotes related of our hero, but it is evident that while a little vain-glorious he was a good soldier, possessed of true courage and much natural ability. His life is best told in his own words, as published in 1814 in a pamphlet entitled, "The life of Col. Jonathan Burnham. now living in Salisbury, Mass., being a narration of a long and useful life, containing a recital of interesting incidents relative to the Revolutionary services and private life of this distinguished soldier and friend of the departed and beloved George Washington." In the pamphlet bearing this remarkable title he commences as follows:
I Jonathan Burnham the fourth was born at Chebago June the 9th 1738, Where I saw many remarkable things. I went first with my parents to hear the Rev. Mr. Pickering preach, and as I got to the meeting house the minister and people ran out for fear the house would fall on them, for the earth did shake. After some time the minister says to the people, We will go in for we are as safe there as anywhere, and the whole of them went in, and was very attentive to hear him preach and pray, and were greatly alarmed and was con- eerned what they should do to be saved, and went from house to house to pray with one another, and the Lord sent two brothers John and Ebeneazer Cleavland, and the people built a house and set- tled Ebeneazer Cleavland, whose labors were greatly blessed for in one year ninety persons were taken into the Church, and many more wonderful things happened .- When I was fifteen years old I went to live at Ipswich with Samuel Ross to learn a blacksmith's trade and was bound to him,-A good old man who built his house upon a roek, and brought his family up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,-Where I lived until I was nineteen years of age, and then I bought my time and enlisted in the service of King George the Sec- ond, and flung my pack and marched to Fort Edward where I slept sweetly, and the next day I flung my pack and followed my Colonel 7 miles to half way brook Fort, half way to Lake George where my Colonel was ordered to halt and keep that Fort and guard the teams to Lake George, that sold provisions to General Abacrombie's army. Early one morning the Indians gave us battle and killed 26 of our brave men and sealped them, and ran into the woods to Canada, and sold their sealps for a guinea a scalp, to the French, who were worse than the Indians themselves as it was said. Then Gen. Aba- erombie ordered my Colonel to lead on his men to Lake George and he crossed the Lake of a Thursday, and landed. On Friday, Marched his army to take Ticondoroga Fort, where he was beat and did re- treat baek to his old eneampment, with his weed on his hat dragging to the ground, with the loss of more than nineteen hundred men, Where I tarried until my time was out 1759, And then I enlisted again with the brave General Wolfe, who went and did take Canada. En-
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listed again in the year '60 to finish the war which gave me much pleasure, and I was honorably discharged at Louisburg, and shipped with Capt. John Porter of Ipswich for home. On Friday lost our sails in a gale of wind, and on Sunday was close to the Isle of Sables, where we dropped anchor and rode until our windlass bits gave way, and cut our cable, and ashore we went, on the 5th of December, '60. By God's goodness all were saved, and at night all found sleep in a sand hole. For food I shot a wild boar and sent a part to Capt. Furlong's men of Newbury, who was east ashore three weeks before we were. The Lord and King Ilooper sent good old Archelans Sil- man, to come to the Isle of Sables after us, and the Lord rewarded him for his good works, for he took seventy men and women, but while we waited on the island for the good old Silman, I shouldered my gun and went 14 miles toward the northwest bar. Up jumped a sow and I shot her through the heart, and had the liver and lights for supper and it was sweet as honey, and then I killed a bull 18 miles from our house, and carried it home which was January 6th And then I shouldered my gun and shot S balls into a great bull who tried to kill me. I had it tough, and fought and was near beat out but conquered. My messmates hauled the critter home on a handsled, and three days after. Jan. 18, came the good old Silman and took us all off the Isle of Sables and carried us to Halifax and left Furlong and his 60 men and women. And then good old Arehelaus Silman brought Capt. Porter and his crew, ten in number, into Marblehead, Where we rejoiced and were glad, and gave the good old man one hundred silver dollars, and as many thanks. When we arrived home at Ips- wieh we had gladness and joy for God's preserving care.
My good old master who built his house upon a rock, Says to me Jonathan. We read that a faithful Servant shall be a dutiful son at length, and gave me his eldest daughter to wife, who was a beauty and loved me as her eyes, Where we lived until July '63 And then we moved to Hampton falls in New Hampshire on a place I bought, where we lived and did prosper for nearly 40 years. As I had been in the British Service three years to learn the art of war, The town of Hampton falls chose me to be their Captain and I received my com- mission, Signed by Gov. Wentworth and sealed with King George's Seal .- All things went well until King George sent that foolish Gage to Boston, Who had neither weight or measure, to our towns, to kill our men at Lexington. Gov. Wentworth joined the British, And I was angry, and raised a Liberty pole on the hill, as high as Haman's gallows was to hang Mordacai on, Which was my alarm post. In the morning the news came to me that the British had marched to Lexington and killed our men, and I ordered my drums to beat and gave my company something to drink, and marched on to Ipswich that night, twenty miles in half a day, And in the morning we mus- tered about two hundred men, who chose me Captain .- The town was alarmed because two Men of war tenders were in the river full of men, and would land and take twenty soldiers out of a Goal that
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was taken prisoners at Lexington battle and would burn the town. So we stayed that day and night. The night was rainy and the British landed at Marshfield to steal cattle and left the woods on fire. The Newbury people heard that Ipswich was burned and that I and my men were all killed. and that the British were coming to burn Newbury. The people were alarmed and got boats to go over the river into the woods. The news went to Exeter, and Coneord, That I and my men were all killed.
In a few days I had a Colonel's commission to raise one quarter part of Portsmouth, Dover, Hampton, and Exeter Militia as minute men. Gen. Sullivan ordered me to march off to Portsmouth with a thousand men to fortify and defend it from being burned as the British had burned Falmouth.
In twenty four hours I was at Fort Washington with one thousand men to give the British battle. We stayed there three months. A fifty gun ship came to anchor one night but she went off. In a few days the committee of safety that set at Portsmouth, in recess of Congress, sent for me to bear two letters, ree'd from Gen. Washing- ton and Gen. Sullivan. The contents that they expected the British would give them battle, and for the committee to send me to Mistic with thirty one companies of New Hampshire Militia. We marehed that day and three days after were in Mistic with four companies from the fort, and twenty seven companies to follow on. The com- mittee delivered me two letters to carry to the two Generals at Winter hill and Cambridge. I mounted my horse and rode to headquarters and delivered my letters. Washington smiles and says "New Hamp- shire forever" and orders Sullivan to mount his horse and ride with Col. Burnham to Mistie and open all your stores to New Hampshire Militia without weight or measure, And go to the good men in Mistic who will be glad of Col. Burnham's men, for they are afraid that the British who burned Charlestown will come and burn Mistic And Says to Col. Burnham "do your best for the honor of Newhampshire and kill the British if they dare come." But they were affraid of my Brigade-Toward the last of January '76 I received orders from Gen. Washington that he would meet Newhampshire Militia tomorrow at Winter hill to review them. I mounted my horse at 9 o'clock, Formed my Brigade and marched to Winter hill with my band of music, Fifty fifes and drums that the British might hear and see we were come to Winter hill to try our skill, Which gave the British a fright to quit Bunker hill in the night, and the British army and fleet made a quick retreat. And the Boston people were glad to see it .- We re- mained till honorably dismissed by our Hon. Gen. Washington and received his thanks for our services and love, being ready at his call from Newhampshire. and his blessings that we might return home to our families and friends in Safety.
We rested awhile at our homes, and then a part of us went to help take Burgoine, Cornwallis, and their armies and then we had our in- dependence from Great Britain, And peace and plenty, and the love
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of the whole world, But God must have all the glory,-and our min- isters were worthy like Jacob, who wrestled till break of day That God would bless Washington and America and the world of man- kind. Amen and Amen. And now I am an old man, This day more than Seventy years old, and but just alive, and what I have wrote I have seen and know to be true.
Salisbury Nov. 27th 1814.
JONATHAN BURNHAM.
Chebago, where Col. Burnham was born, was a parish in the town of Ipswich, Mass., now the town of Essex. He was first rated here in 1763. when he bought the Swett tavern, which he continued to keep until sometime during the Revolutionary War, when he sold it to Capt. Joseph Wells. The liberty pole he speaks of rais- ing upon the hill was probably near the Swett tavern. He after- wards owned and kept a tavern on the site now occupied by George C. Healey's cottage, on the cross road (which was the house formerly occupied by Deacon Benjamin Sanborn). His name does not appear upon our record after 1797. when he had probably sold out and removed to Salisbury, Mass., where he died about 1815. While living here he was very prominent in military matters, and figures somewhat in the new meeting-house controversy, but does not appear to have had much to do with the town business. He was moderator in 1:26, and again in 1793, which is all the elective office he appears to have held. Colonel Burnham had no children. A niece, Lucy Burnham, married Michael Tilton, December 30, 1722. She was the mother of Mrs. Reuben Batchelder and Mrs. Josiah Prescott. It is fortunate that we are able to present so full a sketch of one of our citizens, the memory of whom is unknown to many living at the present time, who will be pleased to learn of one who figured so conspicuously and well in the Revolutionary War.
CAPT. BENJAMIN SWETT.
Capt. Benjamin Swett was the son of John Swett, one of the grantees of Newbury, and settled in Hampton before 1664. In 1665 and 1668 he was chosen a commissioner for the county rate. In 1665, 1669, and 1675 he was a selectman. In 1670 he had a grant (No. 56) of one hundred acres.
He was a celebrated Indian warrior. In 1675, one Goodman Robinson of Exeter, with his son, was traveling towards Hampton when. as they passed along, they were waylaid by three Indians,
15
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viz., John Sampson, Cromwell, and John Lynde, who shot the old man and left him dead upon the plain. His son, hearing the guns, escaped their hands by running into the swamp, whither the Indians pursued him, but could not overtake him. So he got safe into Hampton about midnight, when he related what had happened to him by the way, how narrowly he avoided the danger; intimating, likewise. that he feared his father was killed, which was found too true by Lieutenant Swett, who the next day, with twelve sol- diers of the town, went to search the woods, where they found the old man shot through the back. The bullet passed through his body and was stopped by the skin on the other side.
October 12, 1676, he had the command of the Hampton soldiers then stationed in the garrison at Black Point. April 29, 1677, he commanded the garrison at Wells. An Indian showed himself near Wells on purpose, as was judged, to draw out the English into a snare. Lieutenant Swett, who commanded the garrison at that time left for securing the town, sent out eleven of the soldiers under his command to lie in wait in some convenient place, but as they passed along they fell into an ambush of the Indians, who shot down two of them and mortally wounded a third. The lieutenant, hearing the guns, sent with all speed upon the enemy, and shot down five or six of them, but was prevented from doing any con- siderable spoil upon them by the folly of an Irishman who was in his company, who gave the notice of the lieutenant's approach by calling out aloud, "Here they be, here they be," for upon that alarm they ran away out of sight and too fast to be pursued.
For the defense of Black Point and the security of Winter harbor, the General Court. ordered a company of forty men to be recruited, two hundred Christian Indians taken into service, and all such able-bodied men enlisted or impressed as could be found who had migrated from the province of Maine. The command of the forces, including the Indians, was given to Captain Swett and Lieutenant Richardson. They arrived at Black Point on the 28th of June in high spirits. It is a rule of policy in fighting the Indians to gain time. Aware of this maxim, and informed of the fact that the savages had been seen hovering around the place, Swett at the head of one division and Richardson the other, joined by some of the inhabitants, led out the whole force the next morning upon the declivities of a neighboring hill. A large decoy, supposed to be the main body of the Indians, feigned a retreat, and were pursued by Swett and Richardson till they found themselves between a
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thieket and a swamp in a most exposed situation. Instantly, from an ambush on each side, great numbers rose with a warwhoop, fired at once upon the two divisions, in which there were inany young men or inexperienced soldiers, and the whole were thrown into confusion. But though the ranks were broken the engagement was sharp and protracted. Richardson was presently slain and many on both sides soon shared the same fate. Swett fought the enemy hand to hand, displaying upon the spot and in a retreat of two miles great presence of mind as well as personal courage in repeated rallies of his men in his exertions to bring off the dead and wounded and in defense of his rear, upon which the savages hung with destructive fury. At last, wounded in twenty places and ex- hausted by loss of blood and by fatigue. he was grappled, thrown to the ground, and barbarously cut in pieces at the gates of the garrison. With this brave officer fell sixty of his men, forty Eng- lish and twenty Indians, being two thirds of the whole number in the engagement. Seldom is the merit of a military officer more genuine. Seldom is the death of one more deeply lamented.
His wife was Hester, daughter of Nathaniel Weare, Senior, of Newbury, and a sister of Nathaniel Weare, Esq., who was sent com- missioner to England. She married, second, Stephen Greenlief of Newbury. Capt. Benjamin Swett lived in Hampton Falls on the premises afterward known as the Swett tavern. He was the an- eestor of all by the name of Swett who lived in this town. The name disappears from the records sometime previous to 1187. Black Point, where Captain Swett was killed, is in the town of Scarborough, Maine.
Benjamin Swett's children:
BENJAMIN, married Theodate Hussey. 1682.
ESTHER, married Abraham Green, September 5, 1668. JOSEPH, born 1658; wife, Hannah.
MOSES, born 1661; wife, Mary.
The above four were born in Newbury.
SARAH, married Morris Hobbs, April 13, 1678.
HANNAH, born March 16, 1664.
ELIZEBETH, born May 2, 1667.
JOHN, born February 17, 1670; married Bertha Page December 3, 1696. STEPHEN.
His inventory amounted to £558 19s.
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
JOSEPH SWETT, son of Capt. Benjamin Swett, was born in New- bury in 1658. He was one of the signers of Weare's petition, was one of the selectmen in 1693 and 1698, and representative in 1693. Captain Swett was a very active man, and took a warm interest in organizing the parish of Hampton Falls. He died about 1721. His will was dated September 29, 1720; proved July 7, 1722. His inventory amounted to £1167 8s.
His wife, Hannah. His children:
HANNAH, born September 13, 1682; married John Rust May 12, 1703.
JOSEPH, wife, Hannah.
MARY, married Richard Waterhouse, December 3, 1701.
MARGARET, born July 21, 1690; married - Sherburne.
ABIGAIL, born March 29, 1692.
His first wife, Hannah, died August 14, 1701. His second wife, Sarah. Her children were,-
LYDIA, born March 22, 1704.
HANNAHI, born May 23, 1708.
BENJAMIN, born May 2, 1710.
NATHAN, born November 17, 1712.
MOSES, born December 12, 1716.
ESTHER. married --- Eaton.
BENJAMIN SWETT, son of Joseph, was born May 5, 1710; mar- ried. July 20, 1:32, Elizabeth Jenness, daughter of Bonus Norton. He kept what was known as Swett's tavern. He was called Cap- tain Swett. He was rated for the last time in 1761, and probably died about that time.
· His children:
SARAH, born in 1736; married, first, Dr. Levi Dearborn, son of Joseph; second, Hon. Philip White of South Hampton.
MOSES, born in 1738; married - Rogers.
LYDIA, born in 1740.
ELIZABETHI, born in 1742; married Deacon David Batchelder.
The Swett family were prominent in the early times, were large property holders. They owned the premises now occupied by Miss Sarah A. Gove, by Edwin Janvrin (who is a lineal descendant), the Baptist parsonage, and probably other landed property. Jon-
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athan Swett was selectman in 1:48, 1:51, 1755, and 1262. Ben- jamin Swett, Jr., was selectman in 1749, 1753, and 1756.
NATHANIEL HEALEY.
Nathaniel Healey was the son of William Healey, who came here from Cambridge, Mass. He was born February 8, 1687. He was a man of activity and enterprise, and appears by the records to have been a dealer in lands as early as 1:16. He was captain of the military company and was usually called by that title. Ile was in town office nearly twenty years, being selectman of Hampton Falls in 1426, 1730, 1742, 1743, 1:46, and 1749; assessor in 1737, 1:38, 1:45, and 1:51; auditor, moderator, etc. He was a leader in the controversy relative to the new meeting-house at the Centre, against Col. Meshech Weare and Rev. Paine Wingate, his name being first upon the petition. He continued to live on the homestead of his father in Hampton Falls, and left it to his grand- son Levi, son of his deceased son Stephen, by will. His will was dated March 31, 1474. His death occurred soon after. He must have been eighty-seven years old at the time of his death. He was twice married: First, to Hannah, daughter of Daniel Tilton, December 12, 1712; second, March 6, 1722, to Susanna, daughter of Col. Peter Weare. He lived upon the place now occupied by William A. Cram. He was the ancestor of the Healey families in this town and Kensington. Major Levi Healey died May 19, 1812.
HENRY GREEN.
HIenry Green came to Hampton before 1645, when he had two of the 147 shares. He and his wife had seats assigned them in the church in 1650. In 1653 his tax was 18s. ? d. He was living then on the south side of Taylor's river. February 2, 1657, he and three others were chosen to settle the Salisbury line. On October 20, 1660, he was chosen a fence viewer: in 1662 and 1680, a select- man. In 1665 he dissented against the choice of a committee to assert the town's rights before the royal commissioners in opposition to the claim of Mason. IIe probably took an active part against the town in the Mason disputes, as his name is not appended to Weare's petition to the king, which embraced the names of those who were opposed to Mason's claim in 1683. In 1668 he complains of William Fifield's bounds, etc. March 29, 1669,
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he is chosen to run the south line. April 12, 1669, the town vote that the suit of theirs against Henry Green "is not gott ripe enough for trial." (Perhaps the suit might want a little rain.) March 3. 1670, he received a grant of one hundred acres (lot No. 21). December 9, 1670, he dissents to the town limiting the num- ber of staves to be made from each share of cow common to not exceed five hundred. It does not appear that Green was ever a representative from Hampton, although he was one of the most prominent men for many years. He was one of the assistant judges who tried the celebrated Mr. Moody. At first he and Judge Robie were for acquitting him, but that night some one threatened and hectored him at such a rate that the next morning the court decided Moody to be guilty, and they sentenced him to six months' impris- onment, without bail or mainprise. This decision of the court caused much odium to be thrown upon the judges, which Green could not endure. He was much afflicted at the course he had taken and repented and made acknowledgment to Mr. Moody, who frankly forgave him. The other judges were Barefoote, Coffin, and Robie.
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