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 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
The tavern house was built in 1808 by Moses Wells, and was the stage house as long as the stages continued to run. It was kept by Edward Langmaid from the time it was opened until he removed from the town in 1823. He was the first postmaster of the town from the time it was established until 1823. After Langmaid the house was kept by a number of different landlords,-Towle, Leavitt, Matthew Merriam, and lastly, by Newman Brown. After it ceased to be a public house it was occupied most of the time by two or more families. A boarding-house had been kept by a Mr. Lovering for
577
HOMESTEADS.
a number of years at the time Mr. Whittier took his meals here just previous to his death. The house was extensively repaired in 1894 and 1895. The house was then called the Wellswood, and was kept for two seasons by Mr. George W. Jacobs of Somerville, Mass. It has not been opened to the public since 1895.
Capt. Benjamin Swett lived upon the place now occupied by Miss Sarah A. Gove. He married a daughter of Nathaniel Weare. Tra- dition says that Nathaniel Weare brought the big elm tree with two others from England when he returned from his mission to the king. Captain Swett was engaged in the Indian wars and was killed at Blackpoint in the town of Scarboro, Me., in 1677. His son, Lieut. Joseph Swett, was born in 1659, and succeeded to the homestead. He was representative in 1693 and for several succeed- ing years. His son Benjamin, born in 1710, married Mrs. Eliza- beth Jenness, daughter of Bonus Norton, in 1732. He kept what was known as Swett's tavern for many years, and owned considerable land in the vicinity. He died soon after 1760. His daughter Eliza- beth married Dea. David Batchelder. The name of Swett appears upon our record from the beginning until 1772 or later. After Mr. Swett's death he was succeeded by Col. Jonathan Burnham, who came from Ipswich, and kept the house for a number of years, until he disposed of it to Capt. Joseph Wells, who came from Ipswich and kept what was known as the Wells tavern. He was first rated in 1771 and until his death in 1791. The house was then kept by his wife, Mrs. Eunice Wells. Under the management of Captain Wells and his wife the house was noted far and wide for its excellence. The first Wells tavern stood back of the big elm. Moses Wells, son of Capt. Joseph, married Hannah Dow of Seabrook and kept the house until the tavern house was built in 1808. The house now occupied by Miss Gove was built in 1787, and used as a public house until the other was occupied. This house has been made memorable by being the place where the poet Whittier died. John H. Gove, a native of Weare, married Sarah, daughter of Moses Wells, in 1856. They had one daughter, Sarah Abbie, who is unmarried. He died in 1887. Moses Wells died in 1825.
On land of Sarah A. Gove, between Morton hill and Swett's bridge, was the malt house of Daniel Swett, the site of which can be seen at the present time. Mr. Swett was rated from 1754 till 1758. How long before and after this date the business was carried on here we have no means of knowing, but probably for many years. The lot on which the malt house stood (forty by forty-five feet) was
578
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
conveyed by deed in 1784 by Abner Sanborn to Dr. Joshua Chase for twenty shillings. Beer was considered in those days to be indis- pensable in the family, and was made in considerable quantities. We do not know how it compared with modern XXX. Malt, like some other products, had a legal tender value and was to be received at a stipulated price in the payment of taxes and of the minister's salary. Rev. John Cotton settled in Hampton in 1696, and was to receive malt if offered at four shillings per bushel. This would not be thought proper at the present time, although money from the sale of beer may in some rare instances find its way into the church treasury. As it bears a close resemblance to other money its pres- ence is hard to detect.
Dr. Samuel Smith, whose name appears upon the record from 1794 until 1815, lived with Moses Wells. He was a regularly edu- cated physician, but from ill health or some other cause he did not practice a great deal.
Near the top of the hill toward the Falls river, on the east side of the road, back of the lilac bush on the roadside, was a house occu- pied by a man named Morton, for whom the hill was named. We find that John Morton married Isabella Anderson in 1746. John and Matthew Morton were rated in 1747, which is the only time the name appears upon the record. They were probably employees of Mr. Swett. When the parsonage house was burned in 1749, the Rev. Mr. Whipple moved into a house owned by Benjamin Swett, innkeeper, formerly occupied by Mr. Morton.
Where Edwin Janvrin built the cottage in 1896, near the bridge on the south side of Falls river, now occupied by David Simpson, was the homestead of Henry George Seaman, commonly called "Skipper" George. He was rated from 1791 till 1825. The place remained in possession of his descendants for many years, and was rented. A family named Fairbanks lived here from 1850 to 1860 who were shoemakers. The house was removed to Seabrook a few years ago and is now used for a stable. Mr. George owned a vessel and was engaged in the coasting business. He was said to have been a smuggler at times.
What now comprises the premises of George L. Brown, John A. Dow, heirs of Jefferson Janvrin, Henry McDevitt, Joseph Brown, and Hugh Brown was the farm of Christopher Hussey, and was one of the five farms spoken of in the early history of Hampton. Deacon Hussey was a captain in the militia, a magistrate, town clerk, selectman, and representative. When New Hampshire became a
579
HOMESTEADS.
royal province he was one of the councilors named in the royal commission. He moved to the farm about 1650, and died in 1686. His descendants appear to have lived here for some time after his death. John G. Whittier was a descendant of Christopher Hussey. Mr. Hussey married, first, a daughter of Rev. Stephen Bachiler. Joseph Worth occupied the premises soon after 1730. He married Mary, daughter of Caleb Shaw, in 1733. He was dismissed from Dr. Colman's church in Boston and admitted to the church here March 3, 1736. He was prominent both in church and town mat- ters; he was deacon of the church for many years, and selectman in 1733, 1:35, 1737, 1:49, and 1757. His son Obadiah was select- man in 1755. The name of Worth appears upon the record until 1794. Philip Burns married Mary Worth in 1:66. Nathaniel Healey, the ship builder, was the next owner. He built the house now occupied by Mr. Dow in 1794. He commenced suits against Aaron Wells and others for trespass in crossing his land in going to the marsh. The suits were decided against him. Capt. Joseph Hoyt succeeded Mr. Healey for a few years. He came from Ames- bury ; he was rated here in 1809, and a few years later. He appears to have owned the place some time before coming here to live. After Captain Hoyt came Abraham Dow, who had previously been a blacksmith in Seabrook. He was a Quaker, and lived here until after 1825. From that time until 1840 the farm had a number of owners. It was then purchased by James Brimner, a Scotchman, who had been engaged as a contractor in building the Eastern Rail- road. He moved the drift-road from the south side to the center of the farm. He was rated here from 1840 till 1854, when he sold the farm in lots and removed to Iowa. His daughter Helen mar- ried Enoch J. Tilton of this town, and now lives in Newburyport. His son William is a civil engineer living in the west.
Jefferson Janvrin bought a part of the original Hussey farm and built a substantial stand of buildings in 1855. He was a good farmer. He came from Seabrook, was representative in 1862, and 1863, and died in 1879. He had one son, George A., who was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion ; he was wounded at Cold Harbor June 3, and died June 11, 1864. He had two daughters. Miranda married Henry McDevitt, and died in 1895; Eliza married Joseph T. Sanborn.
Jean Janvrin, a native of the Isle of Jersey, was a seafaring man. He sailed as captain of his own ship, the "Four Friends." August 6, 1696, from Lisbon to Portsmouth, N. H. The "log" of this and
580
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
subsequent voyages is in possession of the family of Jefferson Jan- Trin. He became a citizen of Portsmouth. His son John married Elizabeth Stickney of Newbury, Mass., and was schoolmaster at Hampton Falls from 1756 to 1762. Afterward he bought a farm and settled in Seabrook. His son George was father of Jefferson Janvrin. Another son, James, was father of David and Joshua Janvrin.
The cottage house on the west side of the road, nearly opposite the Janvrin place, was built by Henry MeDevitt, who came from New Brunswick, and married Miranda, daughter of Jefferson Jan- vrin. He was a soldier in the Third New Hampshire Regiment, and is now at the Soldiers' Home in Togus, Me. He has one son, Wil- liam H., who has been clerk at the Farragut house, Rye beach, for a number of years.
The house where John A. Dow lives was built by Nathaniel Healey in 1794, and has been since occupied by Capt. Joseph Hoyt, Abraham Dow, Dunklee, Brimner, and others. Stacy L. Nudd, who built and kept the Ocean house at Hampton beach, owned the place at the time of his death in 1865. He was succeeded by John A. Dow, son of George Dow of Seabrook. He built the shoe shop in 1868, and now operates a grist and cider mill. Mr. Dow married, second, a daughter of Charles F. Chase.
On the corner on the east side of the road lives George L. Brown, son of Lowell. He married Johanna Perkins of Hampton, and built the house in which he lives in 1862. He is a successful farmer and market gardener and understands the raising of fruit. His house is on the spot once occupied by the Hussey house, the old cellar having been cleared out. On the road to the marsh, on the south side, are the buildings erected by James Janvrin about 1856. He afterward moved to the Dearborn Lane place, selling his place to Joseph Brown, who came from Scotland in 1856. Mr. Brown's son Hugh lives in Hampton; George H., in Pittsfield.
Below the railroad Charles F. Chase built a set of buildings after leaving the employ of the Eastern Railroad as station agent in 1874. Hle was very unfortunate. having his buildings burned soon after by tramps. After rebuilding, his barn again burned. He died in 1882. His house was burned soon after his death by fire set by the engine. Mrs. Chase was a daughter of Josiah Smith of this town. Ilis son Josiah P. is engaged about the Union station in Boston, and Charles H. was killed in a railroad accident out west.
581
HOMESTEADS.
He had four daughters, all of whom are married. The place is now owned by Hugh Brown, who came from Scotland.
Michael Brown had a house on the island below Mr. Chase's. He lived there for a number of years. He was a grandson of Abraham Brown, 2d. He married Ruth Ellard of this town, and died in 1797. The island has since been called "Mike island." His widow was supported by the town. He had a son Michael.
The house now owned by Charles Fogg on the west side of the main road was built in 1787 by Christopher Toppan Chase, com- monly called Capt. Toppan Chase. He was born in Hampton in 1763, and rated here for the last time in 1832. The house has been owned for many years by Charles Fogg, son of Richard, and rented at times.
The house on the east side of the road opposite the Chase house was built by John Marston Brown, son of Isaac. He married Jo- anna Clifford, and was a tanner. He was rated from 1806 to 1811, when he removed to Maine. Charles Chase, son of Capt. Toppan Chase, succeeded him. He married a sister of Elisha Johnson of Hampton. He was a blacksmith and worked with his son Charles in a shop near the house: father and son were reputed to have been good workmen. He had four children. Charles removed to Lawrence, Mass .; Adna S., shoemaker and musician, died in 1890; his daughter Harriet married Richard Fogg of this town, and Han- nah died unmarried. The premises were sold a few years since to John A. Brown, and are now rented.
Charles Stewart came here from Wenham, Mass., soon after 1727. He was a blacksmith, and lived and carried on the business not far from where Christopher T. Chase afterward lived just south of the Hussey farm on the country road. His daughter Mehitable married Abner Philbriek in 1:31; Susannah married Jacob Satterby in 1739, and his son Jonathan married Anna Correy in 1740. Charles Stewart was rated for the last time in 1747. Jonathan Stewart was a blacksmith. He was a Revolutionary soldier from this town, and a seleetman in 1774. His daughter Lydia married Nathan Robie in 1994. The name of Stewart (sometimes written Steward) disappears from the record after 118".
Where John A. Brown lives was the homestead of Jacob Brown, son of Benjamin, born in 1691. He married, first, Mary Green, and sceond, Mrs. Jemima Rowell, in 1:37. He had two sons, and died in 1762. Nathan, already mentioned, lived where George C. Brown now lives. Isaac, who succeeded to the homestead, was
582
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
born in 1739, and married Agnes Fifield in 1165. His sons were Isaac, Jacob, Jonathan, John Marston, and Levi. They sold the farm to Lowell Brown, son of John, who lived in Seabrook and removed to Chesterville or Sandy River in Maine. Jacob's daugh- ter Mehitable married Daniel Brown and lived where Charles John- son now lives. Martha married Benjamin Cram of Exeter. Mary married Henry Thresher and removed to Raymond. Abigail mar- ried John Marston of Hampton. The barn struck by lightning a few years ago and burned was the one used by Jacob Brown. His house stood near it. Lowell Brown was a farmer and dealer in live stock. He was at one time engaged in the Labrador and other fisheries, fitting out vessels for this purpose at Newburyport, Ports- mouth, and Hampton Falls. He was also interested in the mack- erel fishery to some extent. Hle had a vessel, called "The Peace and Plenty," captured by the French in the bay of Naples, to- gether with her cargo of fish. This was during Napoleon's wars. He was afterward paid in part by the French government, but not fully compensated for his loss. He married, first, a daughter of Benjamin Green, and had one daughter that married Benjamin F. Brown of Seabrook; married, second, Lorana Janvrin, and had three sons and two daughters. Of these, George L. has already been men- tioned. Moses went to California in 1849, and is now living in the state of Washington. John A. lives upon the homestead. He married Clara Hatch of Wells, Me., and they have four children : Rufus married Emma Littlefield of Wells, Me .: Albert J. married Lizzie Hurd of North Berwick, Me .; Charles Bell married Marietta Dow of Seabrook; Harry Porter is unmarried. Isaac Brown polled into Seabrook in 1768. He built the present house, and died about 1800.
The house which stands at the top of Butler's hill was built by John A. Brown for his son about 1886, and sold, in 1895, to Nelson Copeland, the present occupant. Butler's hill was named from Ralph Butler, who lived here as early as 1727. He was a royalist, and at the commencement of the Revolutionary War removed to the British provinces, where he died. Robert H. Butler, who lives at Fogg's corner, is a descendant of Ralph Butler.
The house fitted up in 1896 by Clarence Brown, near the Line meeting-house, was the homestead of Benjamin Green, who was the son of Jonathan, the grandson of Benjamin, the great-grandson of Abraham, and the great-great-grandson of Henry. Benjamin Green was rated for the last time in 1814. IIe had a large farm
583
HOMESTEADS.
extending back to the road leading from Ram hill to Fogg's cor- ner. The house was built about 1790. He had two daughters. One married Lowell Brown and had one daughter, who married Benjamin F. Brown of Seabrook. She succeeded to her mother's portion. Clarence Brown is her grandson. The other daughter married Isaiah Page, a Quaker who came from Haverhill and was rated here for the first time in 1829. They had no children. Mr. Page died about 1864. The house had been occupied by tenants for many years previous to Mr. Brown's purchase.
The house on the opposite side of the road at first stood just over the line in Seabrook, and was a Dow homestead, afterward occupied for a time by John G. Chase. It was moved across the line into Hampton Falls and repaired by Stacy L. Nudd, who came from Hampton. This was a part of the Dow farm. His wife was a Dow. The premises were sold in 1853 to Newell Brown of Seabrook. His son Frank lived here for a number of years. It was sold in 1864 to David M. Whittier, who came from Scotland. His son David A. is the present occupant.
Henry Thresher lived on the road leading from the Line meeting- house to Fogg's corner. His house was very near where the Abbott house is now located. On the early records this road was called "Thresher's lane." He married Mary, daughter of Jacob Brown, in 1750. He, and his sons who were minors, polled into Seabrook in 1768. About 1776 he and his family removed to Raymond, where the descendants continue to reside. Rev. Sereno T. Abbott was born in Andover, Mass., and was for many years pastor of the Line church. About 1848 he built the present house and build- ings. He died in 1855. The place was afterward owned by Moses Brown, son of Lowell, and has since changed owners a number of times. It is at present owned and occupied by a Mr. Milton.
On the west side of the road on Morton hill is the house built by Edwin Janvrin in 1867, where he lived for a time. It is now occu- pied by his son Bertram T. who married Mary, daughter of Charles T. Brown.
John F. Jones built the house next to the blacksmith shop in 1856. He lived there and carried on the blacksmith business until his death in 1889. He married a daughter of Charles Johnson, who came from Greenland, and had two sons, who were blacksmiths in Amesbury. Afterward they removed to Connecticut. John F. Jones was representative in 1876 and 1877, and was one of the charter members of Rockingham Lodge of Odd Fellows at its organ-
584
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
ization in 1848. He was son of Moses, who came from Seabrook, and grandson of John Falls.
The house and land where the Gove house now stands was at one time a part of the Swett property. Walter Williams lived there, and married Rachel Hilliard in 1734. He was a seaman and owned a coasting vessel. His son, Edward Williams, was captain of a company who went to Louisburg in 1745, and died there. Walter Williams, who died here fifty years ago, was a grandson. When the Williams family left here we have no means of knowing. Chase Williams, son of Walter, 1st, appears to have lived here. John Falls, who married Eliza, daughter of Gideon Marshall, lived here and owned the place. He was rated from 1796 to 1819. Charles C. Gove, carpenter, son of Jeremiah, lived here until his death in 1893. He built the present house in 1846. His shop was burned in 1840. It was set on fire by varnish boiling over upon a hot stove. Alexander Cochran occupied the shop after Mr. Gove's decease. The shop was burned again in 1896; it was supposed to have been the work of an ineendiary. The Davidsons, rated a few years after 1764, appear to have lived there. William was select- man in 1771. The place is now owned by Charles Harrison, black- smith, who came from New Brunswick.
Where the brick house occupied by the Browns stands is sup- posed to have been the site of the Georges tavern, where the legis- lature of New Hampshire met that of Massachusetts, in 1737, for the purpose of establishing the boundary line between the states. It was for many years afterward the home of Job Haskell, who united with the church here in 1737. He was dismissed from the church in Gloucester. He married Merey Leavitt, daughter of Thomas, in 1738. He took care of the church at one time. He was a Revolutionary soldier from this town. Probably he kept a public house a part of the time, as he had a license from the select- men to mix and sell spirituous liquors. He polled into Seabrook in 1768, but appears to have remained here as he continued to be taxed as a resident. His name disappears from the record before 1787. He had a number of children, but they do not appear to have lived in this town. Benjamin Brown came from Seabrook, married a daughter of John Brown, also of Seabrook. and settled here early in the present century. He built the brick house in 1823. The house removed was called the Banks house from a man who was a carpenter and had previously lived there. Benjamin's son John A. lived in Portsmouth. Newman was a coal dealer in
585
HOMESTEADS.
Newburyport. Lowell was a shoemaker, lived upon the homestead, and was postmaster for a long time. For many years he did not go away from home. He died in 1887. Cyrus kept a store and did a large business previous to 1846. He was also engaged in brick making. His store and barn were burned in 1866. A building upon the site of the store had been burned many years before. Cyrus married Mary Weldon of Providence, R. I., and had three sons. Cyrus W. married Abbie, daughter of Emery Batchelder. is a shoemaker, and lives in Pittsfield. Benjamin, a shoemaker, lives in Lynn. Stanton L., a shoemaker, lives upon the homestead. Cyrus Brown was postmaster from 1848 until 1853, and died in 1889.
What is known as the Weare farm appears to have been owned by John Crosse, and then by Roger Shaw. It was one of the five farms. Joseph Shaw, son of Roger, lived there. He was born in 1635, and married Elizabeth Partridge. He was succeeded by Sam- nel, his son, who married Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Batchelder. He was chosen deacon of the Hampton church, when the new church was formed at Hampton Falls. He resigned the office to become deacon here. He died about 1723. His brother Caleb, who had a large family, lived here also. Samuel's daughter Elizabeth married Hon. Meshech Weare in 1738. He appears in this way to have become possessor of the landed property of Deacon Shaw, and lived here the remainder of his life. He had two children by his first wife. He married, second, Mrs. Mehitable Wainwright in 1746, by whom he had eight children. Meshech Weare died in 1786 ;. his wife, in 1781. The house was built in 1:35, probably by the Shaws, as Mr. Weare did not come here until three years later. Maj. Joseph Dow, who came from Kensington, was a Revolutionary soldier. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Governor Weare, in 1784, and lived here until his death in 1829. Major Dow was an eccentric man whose sayings were often quoted fifty years ago. John Porter married Hannah Weare, and occupied the homestead with Major Dow. John Porter died in 1847, aged seventy years. His wife died in 1849, aged ninety-five years. Nabby Lang, daughter of Stephen Lang and Abigail Weare, lived here and died in 1864, aged ninety years. She was the last lineal descendant of Meshech Weare who lived in the town. Zebulon Dow, who came from Seabrook, bought the place from the heirs of Major Dow and the Porters, and lived here until his death in 1858. William H. Brown, who came from Scotland, son of William, married Ellen,
586
HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
daughter of Zebulon Dow, and is the present occupant. They keep a sanitarium for the treatment of nervous diseases. The barn was destroyed by fire in 1879. There is a well authenticated tradition that Washington once passed a night at this house in consultation with Governor Weare, coming down from Cambridge for that purpose in 1715. He took command at Cambridge July 2, 1775.
In a house which stood near where the schoolhouse now stands on the common lived Joseph Pervear, son of Philip. He was bap- tized in 1727, married Lydia Noyes in 1748, and was rated here from 1758 to 1790. His sons, Noyes and Josiah, were Revolution- ary soldiers. Josiah Pervear lived here and was rated from 1771 to 1801. He had eleven children, all but one of whom moved to Maine. His son Philip lived to be one hundred and five years old. Joseph Pervear owned the lot between the parsonage house and the Wellswood and exchanged it for a lot on the common where he lived.
In 1656, Anthony Stanyan lived on the place now owned by Charles N. Dodge. He had been given liberty and kept an ordinary or tavern. He was succeeded by his son John, and later by his grandson Jacob. They do not appear to have been prominent in town matters. Jacob was a selectman in 1723. The name of Stan- yan disappears from our record after 1773 and before 1787. The present house was built by Caleb Sanborn for his son Meshech, who probably kept a public house for a time. Capt. Nathaniel Dodge, afterward Dodge & Quarles, kept tavern here for a number of years after 1790. Capt. Nathaniel Dodge was a Revolutionary soldier, and was rated for the last time in 1805, when he removed to Ohio. His brother Stephen afterward kept tavern here. He married Mary Diman, and died about 1843. His son James D. occupied the place until his death in 1887. He was succeeded by his only son, Charles N., who has been engaged in trade at the store for a number of years. Stephen's son Stephen was a soldier in the Mexican War. Capt. Nathaniel and Stephen Dodge were sons of Nathaniel Hub- bard Dodge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.