History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire, Part 6

Author: Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Concord, N.H. : Rumford press]
Number of Pages: 838

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire > Part 6

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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

At a proprietors meeting in 1763, it was voted that Morse be allowed to have pitch Number One in the Meadow, which later bore his name, the meadow below the Oxbow which was given to Captain Hazen. This was accorded him in consideration of his services in boarding the men who came up in 1762, and as being the head of the first white family in town. After a few years residence in Haverhill, Morse removed to Newfane, Vt., where other descendents of Samuel Morse had settled. The name of Morse has been prominent in the history of Haverhill, but with the exception of Uriah it is believed that all others bearing the name were descendants of Anthony Morse who settled in Newbury in 1635. [See Genealogy, Morse.]

JOSHUA HOWARD, born in Haverhill, Mass., April 24, 1740, was a grantee of Newbury, but by consent of Colonel Bayley entered the employ of Captain Hazen and settled in Haverhill. He came in April, 1762, by the Baker's River and Oliverian Indian trail. He purchased land of Abraham Dow and John White, original proprietors in 1764, and subse- quently of John Hazen, John Wentworth and Hezekiah Hutchins. He established his home on the large island in the Connecticut just north of the county farm, an island which still bears his name.1 He was a quiet man, of the strictest integrity, liberal in his religious views and became one of the most highly respected and substantial citizens of the town, liv- ing to the advanced age of ninety-eight years and nine months. He filled most of the various town offices, and with Col. Timothy Bedel was a member from Haverhill in April, 1781, of the Assembly held under what was known as the Second Vermont Union at Charlestown, an assembly or legislature in which thirty-five New Hampshire and thirty-six Vermont towns were represented. This abortive attempt to establish a state com- posed of the towns in the Connecticut Valley on both sides of the river will be described in another chapter. Colonel Howard, who rendered good service during the struggle for independence, was a member of the Com- mittee of Safety in 1776, and was lieutenant in a company of Rangers.

1 Grant Powers in his "History of the Coös County," says of him: He was a man of strict veracity, and at the time when he gave his narration of events in the earlier settle- ment of these towns (July 27, 1824), he was of sound mind and good memory. I am much indebted to him for material in these sketches. Howard labored that first season, 1762, in preparing the timbers for the mills and was present at the raising of them. He relates one providential escape from death at the raising of those mills which deserves notice. One of their company, John Hughs, an Irishman, fell from the frame, sixteen feet, and struck perpendicularly upon the mud sill, head downwards, without anything to abate the force of the fall. He was taken up without sign of life, but Glazier Wheeler from Newbury, found a penknife with the company and opened a vein, and after the loss of blood, he revived and soon recovered from the tremendous blow. Physicians and surgeons, those comfortable adjuncts to an improved state of society, were then out of the question, and every mind in such an emergency was put upon its own resources. [History Coos, p. 44.]

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

He was much interested in the militia from service in which he obtained his title of Colonel. [See Genealogy, Howard.]

Bittinger in his history of Haverhill states that TIMOTHY BEDEL Was one of the 1762 company that came up with Captain Hazen, his authority probably being the statement of Grant Powers that "Bedel boarded with the family of Uriah Morse in the autumn of 1762." Bedel was unques- tionably with Jacob Bayley, John Hazen and Jacob Hunt in the autumn of 1760 when they spent a few days at the Oxbows and vicinity on their return from the seige and surrender of Montreal. It is, however, un- likely that he came to Haverhill for any permanent stay until 1764 when he came up with his family and settled at first on Poole Brook, a little later near the Oliverian. He could hardly have come in 1762, since he went to Havana with the Royal Provincials in that year and was present at the six weeks' siege and capture of that place. He was commissioned captain under Sir Jeffrey Amherst April 13, 1762, and remained in the service until peace was made in 1763. A grantee of Bath as well as of Haverhill and Newbury and with the intention of becoming a settler at the earliest possible moment, his deep and abiding interest in the town dates from the beginning. From 1764 till his death in 1787, he was a dominant personality not only in the affairs of Haverhill and of Bath,- in which town he had his residence for a part of the time between 1770 and 1778,-but of the entire Coos County. He was in his fortieth year when he set up his home in Haverhill, and his large experience and strenuous service in pioneer and military life gave him a peculiar fitness for leader- ship. He had been in Captain Goffe's scouting campaign from the Merrimac and Connecticut rivers in 1745. In 1754 he was with Colonel Blanchard's regiment raised for service on these rivers, and was in the detachment of this regiment posted at Charlestown under Major Benja- min Bellows. In 1755 he saw service in the expedition against Crown Point and the next year was with William Stark's company of rangers in the second expedition against that post. In 1757 he had left his native town, Haverhill, Mass., becoming a resident of Salem, N. H., and that same year went to Halifax as lieutenant under Colonel Meserve. In 1758, he was with General Amherst at the capture of Louisburg, in 1759 he was at the taking of Quebec, and in 1760 was lieutenant in Captain Hazen's company in the campaign which ended with the surrender of Montreal. In 1762, as has already been noted, he was again with General Amherst at Havana. His distinguished service in the War of the Revo- lution will be noted in another chapter. He was a born soldier and his descendants followed in his footsteps. This varied service, coupled with great force of character, untiring energy, indomitable will and courage eminently fitted him to be a co-worker with Bayley and Johnson of New- bury and Hazen of Haverhill in the settlement and development of the new Coos County.

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

The records of Haverhill and Bath bear testimony to a constant activity in all the affairs of the settlement. He is supposed to have built the first mill on the Oliverian, at what afterwards came to be called "The Brook." He was the first on the committee appointed by the town to secure the settlement of Mr. Peter Powers as the first minister of Haverhill and Newbury; he was selectman with Jonathan Elkins and Jonathan Sanders in 1766, and in later years filled with efficiency and credit to himself every position of trust and responsibility within the gift of his fellow townsmen; he was a leader in the attempt to unite the Connecticut Valley towns into a separate commonwealth, but when this attempt failed, he gave his hearty and unswerving allegiance to New Hampshire. In 1784 he was representative in the General Court from Haverhill at that time classed with Piermont, Warren and Coventry for representation. There is due his memory more honorable recognition of patriotic service to his country in war, to his town and state in peace that has been awarded him. "His dust rests in the old cemetery near the Corner on that commanding eminence which overlooks the broad valley of the Connecticut which was the centre of his struggles, his leadership and his power." The inscrip- tion on the modest stone which originally marked his grave has been rendered nearly illegible by exposure to the storms of more than one hun- dred and thirty years, but this has been remedied by the Hannah Morrill Whitcher Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Woods- ville, which unveiled with simple but appropriate ceremonies on Saturday, May 29, 1915, a memorial tablet over his grave. The tablet, of United States standard bronze is inserted in a rough boulder, cut from new West- erly granite and was placed on the lot beside the original headstone.

The day was an ideally perfect one and the large company present found the occasion an inspiring one. The lot was appropriately decorated with evergreens and flags. Among the specially invited guests were many descendants of Colonel Bedel, members of Oxbow Chapter, D. A. R., Newbury, Vt., Coosuck Chapter, North Haverhill, Ellen I. Sanger Chap- ter, Littleton, the National Westgate Post, G. A. R., and Woman's Relief Corps of Haverhill.

Mrs. Norman J. Page, Regent of the Hannah Morrill Whitcher Chap- ter, presided. Prayer was offered by the Rev. C. E. Eaton of North Haverhill and the tablet was unveiled by Miss Barbara Aldrich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Aldrich of Brookline, Mass, granddaughter of Judge Edgar Aldrich of the United States Court, and sixth in lineal de- scent from Colonel Bedel. Miss Luvia E. Mann of Woodsville recited most appreciatively and effectively Kipling's Recessional and this was followed by commemorative addresses by Judge Edgar Aldrich of Little- ton, descendant of Colonel Bedel in the fourth generation, and by William F. Whitcher of Woodsville. Following the exercises at the grave, lunch

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

was served members of the Chapter and invited guests in the Ladd Street schoolhouse hall. [See Genealogy, Bedel.]

JOHN PAGE came to the Coos Meadows in September, 1762, and with one other man and a boy took charge of General Bayley's cattle on the Great Oxbow during that autumn and the following winter. For this service, coupled with his promise to become a settler, his name was in- cluded among the grantees of Haverhill. In 1763 he went to Lancaster and worked for his Uncle David Page for a time, for which service he was deeded another right in Haverhill. His uncle was one of the grantees of Haverhill, but was dissatisfied with the methods adopted by the pro- prietors in dividing the lands and pushed on to Upper Coös where he began a settlement in what is now Lancaster, incorporated in July, 1763. John Page built his first house on a little knoll on the meadows just south of the Bedel bridge road. Later he built a more substantial home on the site of the present Page homestead. He was born in Lunenburg, Mass., and came to Coös from Rindge where his family then lived. He had just passed his majority, and his earthly possessions consisted of an ax and a small bundle of clothing. He was, however, endowed with remark- able physical strength, sound common sense and rare tact which gave him great influence among the Indians yet remaining in Coös, and which made him from the first a valuable accession to the new settlement. He was thrice married. His first wives each died without issue. [See Genealogy, Page.] He married third, in 1786, Mrs. Hannah Green, widow of William Green, and daughter of Samuel Royce of Landaff. She was a woman of great superiority of mind and character and left her im- press on the young community, and especially on the lives and char- acter of her four sons, two of whom, as will be noted later, lived to old age, an honor to her memory and to the family name. Of the earliest settlers of the town, he alone with a single exception has descendants, bearing the family name, still living in town, his great grandsons, Charles P. and Frederick W. Page. The homestead farm at his death came into the possession of his eldest son, John-governor and United States Sen- ator-thence to the youngest son and is now owned by his widow, Mrs. Edward L. Page. The farm is a valuable one, and, so far as known, furnishes the only instance where the farm and homestead of a first settler has not been alienated from the family.

In the Page family lot in the old cemetery at the Corner may be read epitaphs, which have the merit of being strictly truthful, something which is not always to be said of tombstone inscriptions.

Among the accession to the settlers in 1763, were Maxi Haseltine (name spelled in list appended to charter, Maxey), Elisha Locke, Jonathan Sanders, Uriah Stone and James Woodward.

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

MAXI HASELTINE was a grantee, came from Haverhill and entered at once actively into the affairs of the settlement. Aside from his own right, he purchased that of John Harriman a few weeks after the issue of the charter, and two years later added to his holdings by purchase from Hezekiah Hutchins. He was prominent in town affairs, served twice as selectman, filled various other town offices and in 1775 was chosen as one of the Committee of Safety "to see that the results of the Continental Congress were carried out." He served again on the Committee of Safety in 1778, but after the war he removed to Bath. While he seems to have enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen, he may have found himself in straightened circumstances, since there is a record of sale for taxes to Asa Porter and Jonathan Hale in 1771 of his one hundred acre lot and all subsequent divisions of his original right.

JAMES WOODWARD came from Hampstead at the age of twenty-two, and purchased the one hundred acre lot on the meadow below Ladd Street, which was a part of the right of William Page, a grantee. He was one of the young men whom John Hazen was successful in inducing to become a settler, and who was destined to have large influence in the community. He built his first house on the bank of the river, in which he lived for three years alone, engaged in clearing his land, and walking to what is now the Keyes farm for his meals. He married December 30, 1766. Grant Powers says it was the first marriage in town, but the record shows that John Page was married to Abigail Sanders, the daughter of his neighbor Jonathan Sanders, December 18, 1766, twelve days earlier, the first marriage of which there is record in town. He lived in his small log house on the Meadow until the flood of 1771 drove him back to the upland where he built his second house, a part of which is still standing, known as the Judge Woodward place, the second north of the residence of the late James Woodward on Ladd Street. He lived here until his death in his eightieth year in 1821. He became one of the most substantial citizens of the town and county, was the first representative from Haverhill to the New Hampshire legislature, elected in 1783, and on the reorganization of the Grafton County courts after the war, was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas, an office he held for many years. He served five times on the Board of Selectmen, held many positions of · trust and responsibility and enjoyed during his long and useful life the confidence and respect of all with whom he was associated. [See Geneal- ogy, Woodward.]

ELISHA LOCKE is described in the deed of land which he purchased of Jacob Kent, a Haverhill grantee, November 14, 1763, as of Chester, but he was born in Rye, where the Locke family was numerous. [See Genealogy, Locke.] He was married in 1743 and six of his seven children

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

were born before coming to Haverhill. He probably came to Haverhill in 1763, though he may not have brought his family till the summer of 1764. He at once became prominent in the affairs of the town, was moderator of the annual town meeting in 1765, and was elected with John Hazen and Jonathan Elkins selectman that same year. He held other offices during the next few years but he was one of the older settlers, and the records give but little information concerning him after 1771. He was one of the committee appointed at the special town meeting in January, 1765, to secure the settlement of Peter Powers as minister and was a loyal supporter of religious services. He was town clerk in 1766 and 1767, and the records indicate that his education in penmanship had been somewhat neglected, and his spelling would delight those of the present time who believe in simplified methods. He was associated with Timothy Bedel in building and operating the mills early erected at the Brook.

JONATHAN SANDERSWas a native of Hampton (see Genealogy, Sanders), but came to Haverhill in 1763, and purchased land for his farm a little to the south of that on which John Page established himself. His one hundred acre meadow lot and house lot he purchased of Ebenezer (Eleazor) Hale of Hampstead, a grantee, August 4, 1763. His purchase lay in the territory in dispute between Haverhill and Piermont, and he suffered much annoyance from this until his death January 1, 1775. The Haver- hill proprietors, as has been seen, rendered him such assistance as they were able to do to protect his interests. He had a large family and two of his sons rendered service in the War of the Revolution. His eldest daughter, Abigail, became the first wife of John Page. He was selectman in 1766.

URIAH STONE came from Hampstead and built a log cabin for himself and wife on the bank of the river near the present Bedel's bridge. His house was carried away by high water about two years later, and tradi- tion says it was landed on Piermont meadows. Be that as it may he followed his house and established himself in Piermont where he cleared and cultivated a large farm, conducted a tannery and established the first ferry for the accommodation of Haverhill and Piermont settlers, and those of Moretown, now Bradford, Vt. He reared a large family, and had numerous descendants in both Piermont and Haverhill. One of the sons of Uriah, George Washington Stone, removed to Canada. A daughter of his, Melvina, became the wife of Rev. William Arthur, and mother of Chester A. Arthur, twenty-first President of the United States.

JONATHAN ELKINS was, like his neighbor, Jonathan Sanders, of a family numerous in Hampton, and was fourth in descent from Henry Elkins who came to New England previous to 1635, lived for a time in

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

Boston, was among the first settlers of Exeter, but removed to Hampton about 1650. [See Genealogy, Elkins.] Jonathan came to Haverhill in the early summer of 1764, and settled near what was afterwards known as the Dr. Carleton homestead. He had a large family of children six of whom were born in town. In 1775 he removed to Peacham, Vt., where he built the first house in town, and where, as during his residence in Haverhill he was an influential and prominent citizen. He was the first deacon of the Congregational Church there, and was the leading spirit in its organization and support. A man of deep religious convictions and consistent Christian character he was a valuable acquisition to the settlement. He was selectman in 1765 and 1766.

EDWARD and JAMES BAILEY, third in descent from James Bailey who settled in Rowley, Mass., about 1640, were among the new comers in 1764. Edward was constable in 1765 and selectman in 1767. His name does not appear on the records subsequent to 1768. James, born in Newbury, Mass., February 21, 1722, lived on what was later the Dow farm, now the Keyes farm, and was prominent in town matters during the War of the Revolution. He also lived in Newbury for a time, but later with his family removed to Peacham where he died about 1807. He was selectman in Haverhill in 1770-71, 1774-75 and held other town offices and was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1777. His service in the French and Indian War was especially notable, and in the early years of the Revolutionary War he had charge of several scouting parties sent out from Haverhill.

JAMES ABBOTT, born in Andover, Mass., January 12, 1717, third in descent from the emigrant George Abbott who came from Yorkshire, England, and was one of the first settlers of Andover, Mass., in 1643, came to Coos in November, 1763. He settled first on the Great Oxbow, but later sold his land to Rev. Peter Powers, and came to Haverhill where he lived till the close of the Revolutionary War when he returned to Newbury and bought the farm which has remained in the family since. While in Haverhill he was active in town affairs, was town clerk, select- man, member of the Committee of Safety. He and his wife and two of his ten children were original members of the Newbury and Haverhill Church, and he was one of its first deacons. Many of his descendants have at various times lived in Haverhill, and a daughter Abigail married Major Asa Bailey of Haverhill and Landaff. An autobiography published by her is in many respects a remarkable work, and has become one of the scarce volumes of American biography. [See Genealogy, Abbott.]

THE GOODWINS. Jonathan and Simeon who came from Hampstead were of good New England stock. Jonathan came in 1764, and is set up in the deed of land which he sought of Richard Potter of Salem as of Chester. He was elected to the then important office of tithing man in

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

1765, but he probably returned soon after to his old home in Hampstead since he went in 1777 from that town as a member of Capt. John Goffe's company to Ticonderoga and Saratoga. Simeon Goodwin purchased his land of John Mills of Haverhill, Mass., a grantee, and came to Haverhill to begin clearing and building a home in the latter part of 1764, or early in 1765. He probably spent a part of his time in Hampstead for two years or more and did not bring his family to Haverhill till 1767, as his son Philip was born in that town in February, 1767, and Susanna, the first of his children born in Haverhill, is recorded among the births February 28, 1769. He was selectman that year, also in 1772 and 1776, was re- peatedly called to posts of responsibility. He served on the Committee of Safety, and on special comittees of conference with like committees of other towns for the protection and defence of Coos during the Revolution. On the reorganization of county affairs after the war, he was appointed coroner for Grafton County.

NATHANIEL MERRILL, born March 2, 1747, was one of the grantees of Haverhill. He was from Plaistow, and came early to town. Just when is not certain, but there is a tradition that he came with the family of John Hazen whose daughter, Sarah, he married in 1771. He was then published as of Bath. He soon afterwards removed to Newbury of which town he was also a grantee, and settled on the farm afterwards owned for a long time by Moses Swasey and his son, George Swasey. He came to Haverhill about 1778, and settled on a farm on the plain, a part of which is now the homestead farm of Wilbur F. Eastman. In 1816 he removed to Vermont where he died in 1825. He was a man of strong character, and became one of the most influential citizens of the town. He served as selectman several times and represented the town in the legislature in 1794, '95, '96 and 1806. He was eccentric, brusque in his manner but possessed of strong common sense, and marked business ability. His education was limited, but the Rev. Ethan Smith said of him, "He knew more than any man who hadn't more education than he had." He was not an ardent believer in foreign missions. When asked for a contribution to civilize the heathen, he replied, "I'll give $20 to civilize the heathen within five miles of my house." He rendered valuable service in the War of the Revolution and was also a major in the Militia. He was noted for the possession of a voice of great volume and it has been stated on good authority that Major Merrill and Capt. Joshua Hale of Newbury could carry on conversation when a mile apart with the greatest ease, and this in the days before the telephone had been dreamed of.

He had a family of twelve children, eleven of whom were daugh- ters, all of whom are said to have been of rare attractiveness and charm. The son died at the early age of twelve. Nine of the daughters

HISTORY OF HAVERHILL

married and had children. Through the daughters of Major and Mrs. Merrill, the descendants of Captain Hazen became numerous. [See Merrill Genealogy.]

Perhaps the most prominent of the arrivals in town in 1765 was that of EZEKIEL LADD, who was soon followed by his six brothers, Daniel, Samuel, John, David, James and Jonathan, who settled near each other in that part of the town bearing their name, Ladd Street. The Ezekiel Ladd homestead was on the east side of Ladd Street, between the schoolhouse and the residence of Henry S. Bailey, where he lived until his death in 1818. His brothers settled near him. He was born in Haverhill, Mass., April 10, 1738, the third of twelve children of Daniel and Mehitable (Roberts) Ladd. His wife was Ruth Hutchins, also of Haverhill. Sam- uel Ladd lived on what is known as the James Woodward place, John Ladd built the Henry S. Bailey house, David Ladd lived in the Clifford house, James Ladd lived opposite the home of his sister who married Samuel Cross, and Jonathan Ladd's house was what in recent years has been known as the old gristmill house. The Ladd family was a numerous one, and for many years was a prominent one in the history of the town. No representative of the family is now in town. Ezekiel Ladd was the most prominent member of the family. He was active in all the affairs of the town, served several years as one of the selectmen, was town treasurer, judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1787 till 1812 for Grafton County, and rendered valuable service in the War of the Revolution holding a commission as captain. His brothers James, David and Jonathan also served as soldiers, David rendering service during almost the entire war and James serving as lieutenant in the company commanded by his brother. Judge Ladd was one of the earliest innholders in town and was a pioneer in the tannery business. [See Ladd Genealogy.]

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History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire, Part 6

Author: Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: [Concord, N.H. : Rumford press] Number of Pages: 838

Author: Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Concord, N.H. : Rumford press]
Number of Pages: 838