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 40
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The monument was placed upon the lower end of the common, about thirty rods east of the Weare mansion, and very near the spot occupied by the first meeting-house, the place in the old cemetery where his body lay not being considered a suitable place to put the monument erected by the state. The surviving relatives, who made objection to the removal of his remains, have since put up a small monument near his grave.
The area about where the monument stands was graded and fenced at the expense of the town, which was one of the conditions when the appropriation was made. The work of grading was done by Thomas L. Sanborn, and was quite an undertaking, as the place had been used for a gravel pit and required considerable filling. It was then fenced with granite posts and wooden rails. About fifty square rods were enclosed, which, by vote of the town, was deeded to the state of New Hampshire. The expense of the town for grading and fencing was $274.80.
The foundation was put in by Col. Jeremiah Lane of this town. Those who were acquainted with Colonel Lane and his method of
441
442
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
doing substantial work will not be surprised to learn that it has never moved or caused the monument to settle out of place. The monument and base were furnished by Allen Treat of Portsmouth. The granite base and marble blocks composing the monument were moved from Portsmouth with oxen under the direction of Charles Hardy, and although this was done in dry weather in September, the stones moved were so heavy that the wheels cut into the hard gravel road a number of inches.
In 1875, the fence enclosing the lot was removed, and the state made an appropriation and erected an iron fence, making a small enclosure about the monument, so that visitors have no difficulty in coming near enough to read the inscriptions. On the front is the inscription:
GOV. WEARE.
He was one of those good men Who dared to love their country and be poor.
On the shaft above, within a shield, is inscribed the state seal. On the right side are the words-
Erected 1853, By the State of New Hampshire to perpetuate the memory of her illustrious son, whose early efforts, sage counsels, and persevering labors contributed largely towards establishing his country's independence and shaping the future destiny of his native state.
Over this is a laurel wreath and a shield, both in relief. On the left side was inscribed-
HON. MESHECH WEARE.
Born in Hampton Falls Jan. 16, 1713; Graduated at Harvard College, 1735; Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1752; Commissioner to Congress at Albany, 1754; Prest. of New Hampshire from 1776-1784;
At the same time Councilor from Rockingham; Chairman of the Committee of Safety; Prest. of the Council, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
In public service 45 years.
Died Jan. 14, 1786.
443
WEARE MONUMENT.
On the back side was a laurel wreath, in relief, with shield, and the following-
The following were the committee chosen by the state to erect this monument:
George H. Dodge, J. Everett Sargent, John H. Wiggins.
The appropriation for the Weare monument was one of the first made by the state for anything of the kind. The monument was made from Italian marble. Granite would have been better, more appropriate and durable. Some who are more nice than wise have objected to the inscription, Governor Weare, which they claim should have been President Weare. Since the name of the execu- tive has been changed to governor, the title Governor Weare has come into common use, and every one knows who is meant when he is thus spoken of.
In 1897 the Village Improvement Society, by the efforts of Sen- ator Chandler, secured and placed in position four thirty-two-pound guns from the United States navy. One of these guns does duty at each corner of the enclosure about the monument.
WARNING OUT.
BY an act passed May, 1719, it was enacted,-
"That if any person come to sojourn in any town in the province, and be there received and entertained by the space of three months, and not having been warned by the constable to leave the place, and the names of such persons, with the time of their abode there, and when such warning was given, returned to the quarter sessions, such person shall be reputed an inhabitant of such town, and the town be liable to maintain such person. It is also enacted that any person so warned out, and neglecting for fourteen days to remove, may by warrant from the next justice of the peace, be sent from constable to constable into the town where he properly belongs, or had his last residence, at his own charge, if able to pay the same, or otherwise, at the charge of the town sending him."
In the early days the selectmen exercised a watchful care to pre- vent persons who came into the parish from becoming town charges. If a newcomer was warned out and notified to leave within a cer- tain time after coming into a town, in case they should become poor and require assistance, the town was not obliged to assist or sup- port them, but they must look for assistance in the place from whence they came. A great many notices are recorded upon our town books. Some of them appear to have been persons who were employed here temporarily. Any stranger who happened to be stopping here was liable to a notice of this kind if the powers in authority could not see any particular reason for their presence in the town. Sometimes people of means were warned out by over- zealous officials. We do not understand that the constable had any power to cause the persons notified to leave the town, but in case of need they were to receive no assistance. The following is taken from the invoice book of 1747:
Oct. 27, 1747, There was a meeting of three of the selectmen, viz., Fifield, Weare, & Batchelder, upon a representation that a young lad named Francis Ireland was sent by the selectmen of Hampton to live with Tobias Lakeman in this Parish. The selectmen went to Mr.
444
445
WARNING OUT.
Lakeman and inquired into the affair, and found it as represented, whereupon they ordered said lad to return back to Hampton, old par- ish, and Mr. Lakeman not to entertain him any longer unless the selectmen of said Hampton would give Bond to secure this Parish from any trouble or cost on account of said Ireland coming into it.
Nov. 2d, The selectmen mett all except Mr Collins and the Selectmen of Hampton met with them and gave Bond to secure this Parish from all cost and trouble on account of the above mentioned Francis Ire- land coming to live in it, etc., which Bond is on file.
Dec. 3d 1747. At a meeting of the Selectmen, Gave an order to the Constable to warn Mary Bragdon forthwith to Depart out of this Parish. The Constable the same Day made Return that he had so done.
Oct. 29th 1788. Gave a warrant to the constable to warn Charles Chase, Rachel his wife, John Leach, Betty his wife and child, Ensley Page, Molly his wife & two children, also Joseph Page & Molly his wife to Depart this Place.
Notices of this kind are recorded nearly every year until about 1800, when by some change in the law, or something else in relation to pauper settlements, this practice came to an end.
The poor were treated with great kindness and consideration.
Ap. 15th 1771. At a meeting of the Selectmen to sel to the Lowest Bidder, John Tredwell & Abigail Crosby, John Tredwell Bid off by Benj. Leavitt, to keep for one year from the 20th instant, as has been: usual for him to be kept, and taken care of in years past for the sum. of £3 7s. Lawful.
Abigail Crosby Bid off by Nathan Rowe for 10 shillings lawful money.
Pain Row agreed to take John Tredwell for the same that Benja Leavitt was to keep him for. Benjamin Leavitt agreed to take Abigail Crosby for the same that Nathan Row was to keep her for.
29
THE EASTERN STAGE COMPANY.
FROM the earliest settlement of the country until the present time the road leading from Newburyport to Portsmouth, passing through Hampton Falls, and known as the "country road," has been an important and much used thoroughfare. Many distinguished persons have passed over it. December 13, 1774, Paul Revere made his historie ride, riding from Boston to Portsmouth to inform the committee of safety of the British order that no military stores should be exported to America. The reception of this news caused Maj. John Langdon and John Sullivan to secure and remove the stores in Fort William and Mary at Newcastle. The ammunition thus obtained did good service to the colonists at the battle of Bunker Hill.
President Washington rode over this road in his carriage from Newburyport to Portsmouth October 31, 1789. James Monroe, president of the United States, passed over this road on his north- ern visit June, 1817. The Marquis Lafayette went over this road in passing from Newburyport to Portsmouth September 1, 1824. He did not pass over what is now known as the Lafayette road, or stop at the Lafayette house in North Hampton, as many have been led to suppose, as neither were in existence until after that time. Gen. Winfield Scott passed over this road in the spring of 1839, and paused for a time at the tavern in Hampton Falls. He was on his way to Maine to effect, if possible, some settlement of what was known as the "Aroostook war," which was a dispute over the boundary line between this country and New Brunswick, which was afterward adjusted by the treaty of 1842.
Previous to 1761, when the first stage began to run, the United States mail was carried from Portsmouth to Boston on horseback, and later, when carried by stage, it took five days to make the round trip, owing to the poor condition of the roads. Probably the peo- ple living along the line did not then receive and read regularly the Boston morning papers.
446
447
THE EASTERN STAGE COMPANY.
The first stage ever run in America, as it is supposed, began its regular trips from Portsmouth, passing over our country road, to Boston, April 20, 1761. It was a curricle and span of horses with room for three passengers. It made Ipswich the first day, and reached Charlestown ferry the second. It left on its return Thurs- day morning, and reached Portsmouth on Friday evening. The fare from Portsmouth to Boston was thirteen shillings, six pence, sterling, which was equivalent to three dollars in federal money. John Stavers was proprietor. The advent of the stage coach was considered a great event. The mail was carried by this stage. The driver was found to be carrying many letters privately, from which he received considerable revenue, at the expense of his em- ployer. To correct this the driver was taken into partnership.
In the earliest days the stages came into Hampton Falls through the "old mill road," having forded the river below the mill, passing up to the Exeter road, and then down to Hampton Falls hill. At that time there was not much of a road between this town and Hampton, where the turnpike was afterward built. Stages con- tinned to run from Portsmouth to Boston, gradually increasing their business, until the Eastern Stage Company, a regularly organ- ized and incorporated company, acquired the business and con- ducted a systematic business of staging from Boston to Portland.
We do not know when the Eastern Stage Company began to do business under that name, but it was probably by 1800 or before. It was a strong and vigorous corporation, and run a number of coaches daily each way, varying the number by the amount of busi- ness at different seasons of the year. There were two classes of coaches, the mail and accommodation. The mail stage ran express, and carried through passengers and such as could get on where the horses were changed and cause no delay. The fare from Ports- month to Boston by the mail stage was four dollars. The accom- modation stage took up and left passengers anywhere along the road. The fare by the accommodation was three dollars from Portsmouth to Boston. It was two dollars and a half from Hamp- ton Falls to Boston.
The running time from Portsmouth to Newburyport was three hours ; from there to Boston five hours. The mail stage, by having less delay, was enabled to shorten the time somewhat. The New- buryport turnpike, which was an extension of State street in a straight line to Salem, was commenced in 1803, and completed in 1808. This was one of the most thoroughly built roads in the
448
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
country. Over this, when completed, the Eastern Stage Company did its business. The coaches stopped at Topsfield to allow the passengers to take dinner.
There was considerable competition between this company and the one known as the "upper route" through Dover and Exeter. That was known as the Northern and Eastern Company. The Eastern Stage Company ran its coaches to Dover, passing through Greenland and Newington, over the Piscataqua bridge. As an in- ducement to passengers to patronize the lower route, they were given a dinner at Topsfield and warranted to be landed in Boston before the stage over the upper route arrived. In case they failed to do this the money paid for fare would be refunded. By their superior equipment and the better roads the Eastern Company was enabled to do this, and in this way secured a great deal of business which would appear to belong to the other and rival line. The competition thus begun continued long after the two lines of rail- road were built, to the great injury of both, and did not come to an end until the Boston & Maine and Eastern railroads were consoli- dated.
Hampton Falls was the stage town where the horses were kept and the changes made. People came from other places to take the stage here, a great many coming from Exeter. From one hun- dred to one hundred and twenty-five horses were kept here at one time. Caleb Tilton had charge of the stables. The keeping of so many horses here was a great advantage to our farmers, as it made a good demand and a ready cash market for hay and grain at good prices.
At first the stage house was kept by Capt. Joseph Wells, and later by his son Moses, in the house now occupied by Miss S. Abbie Gove. After the tavern house was built in 1808, that was the stage house. This house was kept for fifteen years after it was opened by Edward Langmaid. and afterward by a number of others till the stages ceased to run in 1840.
The stage driver was an important personage in those days, and invested with a great deal of authority. He did errands and ex- press business, marketed butter, poultry, and other things sent by him, and appeared to be licensed to shower profanity upon those who got in his way, or in any way offended him. Every one was sup- posed to get out of the road and allow the stage to pass. This was not a privilege given them by law, but had from use become a cus- tom. Those who did not do this received a salutation from the
449
THE EASTERN STAGE COMPANY.
driver which was more forcible than elegant. The driver would then rein his team as near to the offending individual as possible, to give him the benefit of the long stage whiffle-trees, which would not lightly brush against the private team.
The stage company was never very friendly to the Hampton Turnpike Company. They ran their stages over the shun pike for a short time until they obtained some concessions in the rates of toll. It was the stage company that was the instigator and power which caused the roads across Hampton and Hampton Falls to be laid ont by the court against the wishes and protests of the inhabitants of those towns, and which required a great effort to have discon- tinued, which was only done when the towns bought the turnpike and made it a free road.
When the Eastern Railroad was completed to Salem the stage company delivered their passengers there instead of in Boston, and the same thing happened when the road was completed to Newbury- port and Portsmouth. When their occupation as stage drivers ceased, many of them became conductors upon the steam roads. Most of the early conductors had at some time been stage drivers. There is not now known to be any person living who was employed in any official capacity or whose name appeared upon the Eastern Stage Company's pay-roll. Enoch Tilton of Newburyport was the last representative of the company known. He was a driver and died in 1897, aged ninety-three years. Moses Colman, now living at Boston at the age of eighty years, was the son of Col. Moses Col- man of Newburyport, who was the agent of the company. He did some work for his father for the company, but his name does not appear upon the list of employees. No one else is known to be liv- ing at the present time who had any connection with the company.
The Eastern Stage Company was financially successful. Its stock sold for quite a premium, and it paid large dividends. The stockholders were visited and paid their dividends and signed the books at their homes. Moses Colman told the writer that he, when a boy, had taken the books and three thousand dollars in money in the chaise box and driven to Newburyport, Portsmouth, Exeter, and other places where the stockholders lived and paid them their dividends. This would be a very dangerous thing to attempt to do at the present time.
In stage times our little village was said to have presented a very lively appearance. The frequent eoming of the coaches, the arrival of passengers desiring to take passage, the departure of those landed
450
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
here for their destination, made a great deal of business. Those who witnessed these things have nearly all passed away, and what was done here at that time is little realized by those of the present day.
Six sleek, well-fed horses, neatly groomed, with harness on, stood on the road to take the place of a like number which would bring in the coach, and it was but the work of a moment to change the tired horses for the fresh team, when the coach with little delay was on its way again.
The hay scales, with a roof over them, stood not far from the stable. The loads of hay were pried up and suspended, and weighed upon a beam much like the one used in steelyards.
Inside the house, in addition to food served in the dining-room, was the bar, where hot and other drinks were freely served, which made it an attractive place to many, and added not a little to the profits of the landlord. This would at the present time be regarded as an iniquitous practice, but it was at that time considered as a legitimate and respectable business. There is no record of prop- erty accumulated by the sale of liquor ever being returned to those from whom it was taken, although the possessors express a great deal of holy horror as to money got in that way. Yet they do not allow their tenacious grip upon the illgotten gains to slip, thus "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel."
.
EMIGRANTS FROM HAMPTON FALLS.
A LIST of some of those who have emigrated from Hampton Falls follows:
Jedediah Brown and Jonathan settled in Raymond about 1760, as did some of the sons of Abraham Brown about the same time.
John, Ebenezer, and Benjamin Cram settled in Raymond soon after 1760.
Samuel Healey removed to Raymond in 1743, and was one of the first settlers.
Richard Moulton, who married Hannah Thresher, moved to Ray- mond about 1771.
Stephen Prescott was born in 1740, married Elizabeth Healey, and settled in Raymond, where he died in 1828, aged eighty-seven years.
Ebenezer Prescott, his brother, settled in Raymond, where he died in 1800.
Daniel Robie was born in 1735, settled in Raymond in 1760, and died in 1795.
Jonathan Swain was born in 1726, and settled in Raymond, where his first child was born in 1750.
David, John, Josiah, and Jonathan Batchelder settled in Ray- mond from 1760 to 1770.
Henry Thresher and his family moved to Raymond about 1775.
Reuben Tilton removed to Raymond about 1771, and died in 1826.
Daniel Pervear, from Hampton Falls, was an early settler in Ray- mond.
Nathaniel Batchelder was born in 1690, and settled in Kingston, where he died in 1724.
John Batchelder, son of Nathaniel, was born in 1692, and settled in Kingston.
Jethro Batchelder, son of Nathaniel, was born in 1698, and lived in Exeter, where he died in 1758.
451
452
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
Nathan Batchelder was born in 1700, settled in East Kingston, and died in 1755.
Phineas Batchelder was born in 1701, and settled in East King- ston.
Ebenezer Batchelder was born in 1710, settled in East Kingston, and died in 1784.
All the above Batchelders were brothers, sons of Nathaniel, who was born in 1659 and died in 1745.
Reuben Batchelder, son of Dea. Josiah, was born in 1:33, set- tled in Hawke (now Danville), and died in 1777.
Benjamin Brown, son of Benjamin, was born in 1683, settled in South Hampton, and died in 1766. He married Sarah Gove, daughter of Ebenezer.
Stephen Brown, son of Benjamin, was born in 1693, married Martha Heath, settled in Kingston, and died in 1723.
Josiah Brown, son of Nathan, was born in 1765, married Sarah Clark, lived in Stratham, and died in 1833.
Jonathan Leavitt was born in 1756, and settled in Eastport, Me.
Reuben Leavitt married Ruth Norris, and settled in Pittsfield.
Brackett Leavitt married Mitty Prescott, and settled in Pittsfield.
These were sons of Benjamin Leavitt.
Jacob Basford removed to Chester about 1730.
Benjamin Prescott, son of John, was born in 1708, married a daughter of Ichabod Robie, settled in Kingston, and died in 1789.
James Prescott, brother of Benjamin, was born in 1711, married Sarah Butler, settled in Kingston, and died in 1754.
Nathaniel Prescott, son of John, was born in 1715, married Sarah Tuek, and lived in Brentwood.
Abraham Prescott, son of John, was born in 1717, married Sarah Clifford, lived in Kingston, and died in 1789.
Jedediah Prescott, son of John, was born in 1719, married Han- nah Batchelder, and lived in Monmouth, Me.
Richard Fifield removed to Piermont in 1819 with his family.
John Cram, son of Thomas Cram and Elizabeth Weare, was born in 1686, removed to Lyndeborough in 1737, and was the first set- tler in that town.
The family of Cornet Jonathan Lane, after his decease, removed to Piermont in 1819.
Benjamin Prescott, son of Benjamin, appears to have removed to Raymond about 1764, when he sold his farm to Nathan Brown.
453
EMIGRANTS FROM HAMPTON FALLS.
Page and Benjamin Batchelder, sons of Benjamin Batchelder of Hampton Falls, settled in Chester.
Cornet David Shaw, son of Hilliard Shaw, lived in Chester, where he died in 1825.
Joseph Cilley, son of Thomas Sillia and Ann Stanyan, was born October 4, 1691, moved to Nottingham, and was the grandfather of Gen. Joseph Cilley of the Revolutionary War.
LIST OF RATES, 1747.
School rate.
Minister.
Province.
£
S.
d.
£
s.
d.
£
s. d.
Jonathan Brown.
0
7
8
0
19
2
0
7
1
Lieut. Joseph Batchelder
1
11
4
3
18
4
1
9
4
John Batchelder
0
8
4
1
0
10
0
0
9
4
Abraham Brown
1
10
0
3
15
0
1
8
1
Daniel Brown.
0
15
2
1
17
6
0
14 2
Dea. Josiah Batchelder
2
19
2
7
7
6
2
15 5
Caleb Bennett.
0
13
0
1
12
6
0
21
1 9
Joshua Blake
1
11
0
3
17
6
1
9
0
Israel Blake.
1
4
0
3
0
0
1
2
6
Nathaniel Bussell
0
6
6
0
15
10
0
6
0
Theophilus Batchelder
0
17
4
2
3
4
0
16
3
John Brown
0
5
10
0
14
2
0
5
5
Thomas Boyd
0
5
0
0
12
6
0
4
7
Enoch Barker
0
6
8
0
16
8
0
6
3
Jeremiah Bennett
0
7
6
0
18
4 6
1
11 0
Jeremiah Brown
1
5
0
3
2
6
1
3
4
Thomas Brown
1
13
4
4
3
4
1
11
3
Ebenezer Blake
0
4
10
0
11
8
0
4
6
Ralph Butler.
0
18
0
2
5
0
0
16
10
Benjamin Butler
0
2
0
17
6
0
8
John Brown, Quaker
1
18
10
Israel Clifford.
0
10
4
1
5
10
0
5
0
0
12
6
0
4
7
John Clifford.
0
9
6
1
3
4
0
8
11
Benjamin Cram
1
0
0
2
10
0
0
18 9
Jonathan Cram
2
1
10
5
4
2
1
19 2
Widow Sarah Cram
0
2
4
0
5
10
0
2
1
Peter Clifford
0
11
10
1
9
2
0
11 0
John Cooper
0
5
6
0
13
4
0
5
2
Daniel Cram
0
5
6
0
13
4
0
5
2
Amos Cass
0
8
2
0
7
8
Joseph Cass.
0
6
6
0
6
0
1
4
4
3
0
10
1
2
7
0
Jacob Brown.
1
13
2
4
2
Lieut. Edmon Brown.
0
12
6
1
10
10
1 0
7
Abram Clifford.
6 16 9
454
9
Jonathan Batchelder
0
10
0
1
5
0
0
5
Samuel Blake
455
LIST OF RATES, 1747.
School rate.
Minister.
Province.
€
S.
d.
£
S.
d.
£
S. d.
Nason Cass
0
2
0
0
5
0
0
1 10
John Chase
0
2
0
0
5
0
0
1 10
Daniel Chase alias Green.
0
12
10
12 0
Capt. Thomas Cram
1
8
0
3
10
0
1
6
3
Ezekiel Carr
0
6
4
0
15
10
0
5
10
Stephen Cram.
0
9
4
1
3
4
0
8
9
Jonathan Chase.
1
9
0
3
12
6
1
1
Hezekiah Carr.
0
11
8
Tristram Collins
0
16
0
Benjamin Collins
0
10
4
Samuel Collins
1
3
4
Winthrop Dow
0
14
4
0
13
4
Gideon Dow.
0
5
8
0
5
3
Jeremiah Dow
0
9
0
0
8
4
Benjamin Dow
0
16
6
0
15
5
Abram Dow
0
16
10
0
15
7
Bildad Dow
0
7
10
Judah Dow
0
S
4
Noah Dow
0
S
4
Elihu Dow
0
15
6
John Eaton
0
16
8
2
1
8
0
9
4
1
3
4
0
5
2
0
12
6
Thomas Eaton
0
6
2
0
15
0
Ephraim Eaton
1
0
0
2
10 0
Samuel Eaton
0
15
2
1
17
6
Lieut. Jabez Eaton
1
0
6
2
10
10
John Flood, Jr
0
5
2
0
12 0
6 4 9
Thomas Fuller
1
2
0 4
0
3
4 0
1
3
Widow Sarah French.
0
2
0
0
5
0
0
1 10
Dea. Jonathan Fifield.
1 17
10
4
14
2
1
15
5
Simon Fogg
0
16
6
2
0
0
15 5
Samuel Fowler.
0
10
10
Widow Anne French
0
19
15
4
0
13
4 0
0
David Fowler
0
6
4
0
15
10
Jacob Green
1
3
10
2
19
2
1
2
3
Jonathan Green.
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