USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 11
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A company of men and women, having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united, in order to pray together, to re- ceive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another, in love, that they may help each other to work out their salva- tion."
-A very simple, yet beautiful expressional creed. The de- nomination made rapid strides in growth, and was first recog- nized in this state, by law, June 15, 1807.
The first Methodist meeting in this town was held in the town-house during the summer of 1814, Rev. Mr. Bates be- ing the preacher, who was then the preacher for this circuit, which included Henniker, Deering, and Unity. But few meetings were held until 1817, when Rev. Zenas Adams, of Canada, preached at the house of Zadoc Duston, where
I36
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
George Colby now resides. At this time there were no open and avowed Methodists in town. Mr. Duston was his first convert, his wife being a Free-will Baptist. Meetings were now held often at the house of Mr. Duston, at the town- house, in the school-house upon the south side of the river near the town-house, and in the westerly part of Hopkinton.
In 1832 the first Methodist church in this town was em- bodied, one of the circuit-riders acting as pastor. The first class formed in town consisted of the following persons : Zadok Duston, Elizabeth Duston, Epha Sawyer, Charlotte Tucker, William Brooks, Isaac Brooks, Gardner Brooks,- seven in number. These, together with Isaac Harriman and his wife, and Joshua Colby and his wife, were some of the first members of the church when it was embodied. In 1834 (April 29) a house for public worship was erected upon the south side of the river, on the little knoll southerly from Henry C. Carter's. Isaac Harriman and Joshua Colby were the building committee. William Cressey was the master- builder. William Smith drew the timber for the building, and for the Congregational church, also, the winter previous, from "Wallace swamp," so called, Zadok Duston, Jr., assist- ing him. The house was built very plain, without a belfry or any ornamentation whatever, costing about fifteen hun- dred dollars. The pews were straight slips, without doors. The little plain pulpit stood in the north end, and quite small singing-seats were in the south end. The house seat- ed about three hundred people. In was dedicated in Sep- tember of the same year. From this time on, for twenty-two years, this house was the home of the church, which grew and became quite prosperous, and contained a large number of the most substantial men and women of the town. Dur- ing most of this time it was the wealthiest church of the town. The church was always filled upon the Sabbath. Watch-meetings, to watch the old year out and the new year in, were held for a large number of years, but, like many another form, has now become extinct. In 1856, the society
I37
NAMES OF PREACHERS.
having purchased the brick church upon the north side of the river, erected by the Baptist denomination, sold their meeting-house to Rufus S. Howe, which was converted into a barn upon the Noyes farm, where it still continues to do most excellent service. The neat and comfortable brick edifice has been the home of the church since that date.
Formerly, the preachers were allowed but two years' res- idence in one place, which rule has now been changed to three years, if the preacher and the church so desire.
Rev. George Pickering was the second preacher, and Rev. Dr. Snelling the third. The following circuit-riders succeed- ed them: Ezekiel Stickney, David Stickney, John Harriman, and David Harriman. The following are the names of those who have been preachers in this town : Rev. George Putnam, in 1834-35, preaching here when the meeting-house was built. Rev. Messrs. Scott and Howe preached at intervals before the erection of the meeting-house.
Caleb Duston. 1835-36
Michael Quinby 1837-38
Moses Chase . 1839-40
William T. Cass 1841-42
Abram Folsom. 1843-44
John C. Haseltine 1845-46
Samuel Prescott 1847-48
Joseph Palmer. 1849-50
Abram M. Osgood 1851-52 John Gould. 1853-54
Elijah Wilkins 1855-56
William Iscariott. 1857-58
G. W. S. Rogers. 1859-60
L. H. Gordon. 1860
G. W. Norris (Sept.). 1861
Josiah Hooper 1862-63
N. M. Bailey 1864-65
Otis Cole. I866-67
G. W. T. Rogers (in part) 1867
H. S. Ward. 1868
William H. Jones 1869-70
Watson W. Smith
1871-73
George C. Powell. 1874-75
George H. Hardy 1876-77
John H. Steele.
1878-79
RECAPITULATION.
Whole number of members to 1877 356
Removed, by letter. I26
Withdrawn 20
Expelled
7
Died
I26
Present membership 77
Total
356
IO
138
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
FRIENDS OR QUAKERS.
The founder of the sect known as Quakers was George Fox, of England, who commenced to promulgate his pecul- iar tenets of faith about 1650. The name Quaker was given by Justice Burnet, of Derby, England, in 1650, who was ad- monished by Mr. Fox, when cited before him, "to tremble and quake at the word of the Lord."
Intense opposition was manifested against them upon their first arrival in New England, in July, 1656. Some were sent back to England; others suffered imprisonment and general contempt. In a few years, however, a better spirit prevailed, and they no longer suffered for their opin- ions' sake.
A Friends' meeting was established in this town, as a branch of the meeting in Weare, in 1799. Timothy Peas- ley, Pelatiah Purington, Nath'l Chase, Hezekiah Purington, Daniel Newhall, Aaron Foster, Daniel B. Alley, Joseph Hus- sey, and Samuel Morrison were the founders. The meeting flourished for a large number of years; but the older mem- bers died, or moved from town, and many of their children partook of the ways of those outside the sect. The meeting has been quite small for years, though meetings are still reg- ularly held. The members of this sect have at all times been some of the most worthy people of the town, and have ever maintained the highest character for morality and practical Christianity, which are the foundation stones of their belief.
Whole number of members from the commencement of the meeting to January 1, 1880, 336; present membership, 16. Ephraim Morrison and Daniel Alley have been preach- ers; Pelatiah Purington, John Page, and Lydia Page have been elders.
UNIVERSALISTS.
Although there has never been any regularly organized church of this denomination in town, the adherents of this
139
FREE-WILL BAPTISTS.
faith, with many others, have held many meetings here during the last seventy years. The meetings have largely been held in the old meeting-house. Among the clergy- men of the denomination, who have preached here at differ- ent times, were Rev. Sebastian Streeter, one of the founders of the faith with Rev. Mr. Murray (he was here as early as 1811), Rev. Edward Evans, Rev. Adin Ballou, Rev. A. A. Miner, and others more or less eminent as preachers. A strong effort was made to organize a church, about the time of the dismission of Mr. Sawyer; but Mr. Scales proved very popular, and united the people in a remarkable degree.
FREE-WILL BAPTISTS.
An attempt was made at one time to establish a society and embody a church here, under the auspices of this de- nomination. There were at one time quite a number of persons in town who were believers in this faith, members of various churches, but sufficient encouragement was not given, and nothing ever came of the effort.
CHAPTER X.
EARLY SETTLERS.
HOUSES-FIRES-WELLS-FOOD-CLOTHING-RELIGION- SICKNESS AND DEATH-SERVING LIQUORS AT FUNE- RALS-ENDURANCE OF MEN AND WOMEN-WRESTLING MATCHES-SPINNING BEES-BELIEVERS IN SIGNS AND WARNINGS-ANECDOTE-FRIENDSHIP FOR EACH OTH- ER -ANECDOTE-ADDITIONS TO THE POPULATION - CONTRAST-TOWNS AND TOWN GOVERNMENT.
T HE desire for and love of home is characteristic of all races and nations of people. However royal and mag- nificent, or however humble, each is alike dear to its occu- pants. However rude were the first home structures in this township, within were comfort and good cheer. The houses of the first settlers were mainly constructed of logs, the roofs of which were covered with thatch or bark. As soon as saw-mills were put in operation, these gave way to larger and more substantial structures. Some were one and some two stories in height, and all constructed in the most faith- ful manner. There were generally two large square rooms in front, the kitchen, like too many in our dwellings of to- day, being in the rear of them, and in the most gloomy part of the house, extending nearly or quite its entire length. A huge fire-place generally occupied one third of one side of the room. Many of these fire-places were of great size, the "jambs" affording room for the whole family to warm them- selves in. Great logs were rolled into them, which, with
I4I
FIRES, WELLS, FOOD, AND CLOTHING.
finer wood, when well lighted, sent out a cheerful blaze that illumined the entire room.
Pine knots were the only lights for years. Before the fire all the meals for the family were cooked, bread being baked in tin or iron bakers. Their potatoes were roasted in the ashes, and their meats in the "tin kitchen," or by turning them upon the "spit" before the fire. The pots and kettles were suspended over the fire by "pot-hooks and trammels" attached to the crane in the fire-place. The dishes were placed upon the shelves on the "dressers," which usually oc- cupied some corner of the room. The floors were scoured with sand, and swept with hemlock brooms. No room save the kitchen was ever warmed, except when some one was ill, or some gathering was had in the house. In the rest of the house the temperature was at zero, and below, many nights during the winter, and it was colder than many of our barns and sheds to-day; but no complaint was heard. There were no matches in those days; and the penalty for allowing the fire to die out upon the hearth was to go to some neighbor, often a mile away, for a burning brand. The tinder-box was to be found in some families, but it could not be relied upon to again light the fire.
Close by the house was the spring, or well of water, with its long sweep creaking upon its pivots, as the "moss-cov- ered bucket arose from the well." Their barns and out- buildings were of the rudest construction, and afforded but little warmth to the inmates within them.
The food of these early settlers was of the simplest kind. Rye was the chief crop for years, and with rye-meal bread and stewed pumpkin and milk they were for the most part content. Boiled pork and beef were their meats, save what wild meats they were able to procure. For a change they sometimes had a basin of sweetened cider, with toasted bread in it, and a piece of cheese. On the Sabbath the more fortunate ones had tea or chocolate for breakfast, with doughnuts or pie. For luncheon at noon, on Sunday, cold
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
boiled potatoes and cold boiled meat were often used. Milk was a great article of food for them during the summer-time.
Their clothing was as simple and as scant as was their living. The men usually had but one suit of clothes. The old men had, in addition, a great-coat and a pair of boots, which lasted them a life-time. The men wore flannel shirts, and in the winter-time, shoes, always going barefooted through the warmer season. A silk handkerchief lasted a quarter of a century. The women wore flannel gowns in winter. The young ladies wore "wrappers" in summer, and when about their usual duties wore neither shoes nor stockings. They usually had one calico dress, and some had an extra one made of poplin or camlet. The sleeves were short, and did not come below the elbow : when dressed for Sundays they usually wore one or more ruffles on each arm, of nine or ten inches wide. They wore long gloves, secured at the elbow by "glove tighteners," made of black horse-hair. When in full dress, they wore caps on their heads.
These old settlers were hospitable, kind, devoted, and full of humor of a genuine type. The meeting-house and the minister always accompanied the settler. The old settlers of this town were strict observers of the Sabbath, all work ceasing with the going down of the sun on Saturday night. Every one that could be spared from home attended public worship when there was any service. It was also the custom to read the Bible, morning and evening, in most of the fam- ilies, whether professors of religion or not. Their religion was of the pure Puritanical type, and they were most bitter- ly intolerant to those whose faith did not square with theirs. But from their doors no person was ever turned away hun- gry. Their humble fare was always ready to be divided among the needy. In times of sickness, their kindness was unbounded. When a death occurred in a population so small, it cast a gloom over the settlement, and the bereaved family received the sympathy of all. All work ceased
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WRESTLING MATCHES.
throughout the settlement until the body was buried. The exercises of the funeral rarely consisted of other than a prayer and reading of the Scriptures, and such a thing as a discourse at a funeral was rarely known until this century. There were generally twelve bearers: six of them were des- ignated as " under-bearers," it being their duty to lower the coffin into the grave, and the bier was always placed over the grave when filled up. The mourners and the under- bearers always returned to the house of mourning. The practice of serving liquors at funerals was observed in this town for over half a century. All were seated, and it was passed around in little glasses. It is related, that at a fune- ral in this town, nearly a century ago, as the beverage was being passed around, one of the attendants was heard to caution several to be sparing in their libations, when Mr. Duncan, a sturdy old Scotchman, who was present as a mourner from a neighboring town, sang out, "Let 'em have a dram, and if ther's nae rum enough I will get enough ;" and the good old man was ready to make his word good, for it soon transpired that he had brought a good supply with him.
The old settlers were mostly of a powerful frame and build, both men and women. Many of the women took their end of the log, when clearing the land, and could put a barrel of cider into a cart as readily as could the men. Many of the men were accustomed to shoulder a bushel of corn, carry it to Rumford-near where St. Paul's School is now-and return with the meal the same day. At all of the log-rollings, raisings, and huskings, of the men, humor abounded, and of such a kind, so serious, much of it, that there was a strangeness about it unknown to us in these days. The great game at all of these gatherings was the " wrestling match," in which hours were spent to show their skill and their strength. How close and exciting must have been many of these contests !- such large, powerful, withy, bony men, "for there were giants in those days." Men that could roll huge logs, kill bears, and carry heavy burdens for
144
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
miles upon their shoulders, were not men to be easily over- come in the wrestling-match. The women had their gath- erings as well as the men. All the cloth worn by men and women was manufactured in the house, and it was an unusual thing to find a house that had not in it the flax- wheel, the spinning-wheel, and the loom. It was the delight of the women to meet at some neighbor's, carrying with them always the wheel and the flax, and spend a portion of the day in social intercourse. The merits and demerits of all were discussed, and the whole settlement was tried "as with fire in a crucible."
The early settlers were great believers in signs, warnings, and premonitions. Settled, as they were, in the wilderness, with few if any neighbors near them, every sound, almost, seemed to them supernatural. From a grand-daughter of Capt. Jonas Bowman, I have the fact, that on a terribly dark, windy, stormy night, shortly after the settlement of the township, he was awakened from sleep by a loud rap upon his cabin door, and a voice exclaimed, " A man has been drowned in the river!" Mr. Bowman arose, lighted a pine torch, opened the only door to his little cabin, but no one was to be seen. He examined around the door outside, but there were no foot-prints visible. He en- tered his cabin, looked at his clock, the fingers of which pointed at twelve, and thinking it too dark and stormy to venture out, he lay down again, but not to sleep. During the remainder of the night he reflected upon the strange voice he had heard. He arose with the early dawn, went to his neighbors,-Howe, Gould, and Stone,-told them his story, and together they went down to the ford of the river, close by, and there, just below the crossing, the dead body of a man was found, apparently drowned in an attempt to cross the river. The body was proved to be that of Nathan Reed, of Hopkinton, who was on his way to Hillsborough to see some friends. Who can blame them for believing in premo- nitions, after witnessing such scenes as this ?
145
ADDITIONS TO THE POPULATION.
One of the most prominent characteristics of these early settlers was the friendship they had for each other, and their ever-ready kindness to assist each other in times of distress. They vied with each other in furnishing the necessary relief. The new settler was assisted in commencing his clearing and building his cabin. While the men were doing this, the women were busy spinning the flax and manufacturing the necessary articles of comfort for the family,-and all this as freely as though for themselves.
Thus the old settlers toiled and thus they lived, surround- ed with discouragements that seemed like mountains before them, and the only wonder is that they bore up as bravely, as they did. It is related of Capt. Jonas Bowman, that, be- ing in the field one day, hoeing a little corn he was trying to raise, and meditating upon his lot and upon the prospect before him, he stood his hoe up in the field, went into the house, and announced to his wife his determination to aban- don his farm and go back to Lexington, where he came from. His wife counselled with him, and assured him that better days were in store for them ; that they must not murmur against a kind Providence ; and announced herself ready to make any sacrifice for his good, but advised that they re- main where they were, and trust the Lord. It is useless to add, that, under such a heroic, beautiful inspiration, he went back to his work contented with his lot, and for forty years afterward was one of the most prosperous and honored men of the town.
With the building of the log meeting-house and the dawn- ing of the Revolution, and afterward, this township received a large addition to its population. Then came the Wallaces, the Gibsons, the Connors, the Whitneys, the Rices, the Colbys, the Woods, the Darlings, the Bowmans, the Cloughs, the Howes, the Whitmans, the Noyeses, the Harrimans, the Chases, the Miricks, the Rays, the Goulds, the Sawyers, the Marshes, the Morses, the Pages, the Plummers, the Browns, the Kimballs, the Adamses, the Goodenows, and
I46
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
other families,-all good men and true, and all of whom made the town the better for their living in it, and whose descendants are to-day some of the best and most highly respected men and women that reside upon the hillsides and in the valleys of this good old town.
But few towns of its population have furnished a larger number of able and faithful men and women than has Hen- niker. They have been, and still are, found in all the de- partments of life, occupying positions of honor and trust. As a striking contrast between the times we have been con- sidering and the present, I give the following from an address delivered by the author of this history, upon the 4th of July, 1876, the centennial year :
For a moment, consider the contrast between the olden times and the new. The dwellings upon the hillsides and in the val- leys of the town are, most of them, large and spacious, painted, and with blinds, surrounded by capacious barns and out-houses, the whole circled with neat and tasty fences. Inside of your dwellings you have carpets upon your floors, pictures upon your walls, sofas and lounges in your parlors and your sitting-rooms, and, instead of the music of the " loom, the wheel, and the dis- taff," you have that of the sewing-machine, the piano, and the organ. You have the church, with its organ, its clock, and its comfortable seats. You have the post-office, the telegraph, and the rail-car which carries you in one short hour to Con- cord, in twelve to New York, and in forty-eight to Chicago, eleven hundred miles away. The busy hum of machinery is heard upon your river, one manufactory alone sending to mar- ket some of the very best book paper manufactured in all New England. You have the most improved implements of industry upon your farms, and the most improved machinery in your shops and mills. Your children have most excellent means for obtaining an education. You have an intelligent, thrifty pop- ulation, whose hearts beat loyally for that liberty the old settlers vouchsafed them. How the hearts of those old settlers would have been touched, could they have rolled up the curtain one hun- dred years ago, and have seen what we see to-day,-a continent stretching from ocean to ocean, wrenched from the hand of Na- ture, teeming with forty millions of busy people ; the lightning in harness, flashing thought after thought instantaneously, as it were, around the earth ; miles upon miles of cotton and woollen fabrics woven daily from the little thread upon the spindle ; the
147
CONTRAST.
printing-press, throwing off its millions of sheets daily for the information of the people ; white-winged commerce, bearing to our shores the products of every clime in exchange for our own ; education within the reach of all, both white and black ; the arts and the sciences carried to a high state of perfection ; this republican form of government, which they helped to shape, and for which they pledged " their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors," carried to a successful completion ! Aye, how amazed would they have been, could they have seen the loco- motive and the rail-car coming up through these valleys and passing over these hills, through which and over which they bore their heavy burdens while struggling for their lives and for their homes !
CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS-SCHOOL-HOUSES-VOTERS IN 1800-ACADEMY -OTHER SCHOOLS-TEACHERS.
PREVIOUS to 1773 there had been but few schools taught in town. No money had yet been raised by the town for the purpose of schooling. A private school of a few weeks had been taught by Mrs. Josiah Ward, in her kitchen, while she was attending to her household duties. This was the first school taught in town, and must have been about 1767. A private school was also taught soon after this time, in the south-east part of the town, probably at the house of Capt. Eliakim How.
The first money raised by the town for the purpose of schooling was at the annual meeting held March I, 1773, when the town
Voted Nine Pounds Raised to support a Schule.
Voted to have a Schule this year.
The year following more money was raised, which was schooled out, as will appear by the following receipts :
Feby 18 1774, this Day Received of Ezekiel Smith Constable, the sum of one pound eighteen shillings, and five pence, three farthings of the towns money which is due to me for my wifes keeping school. I say received by me,
Alexander Patterson.
Henniker Octr 26 1774. Then Received of Aaron Adams
149
SCHOOL-HOUSES.
twelve shillings lawful money for my wife's teaching school. I say received by me, Otis Howe.
Henniker, December 10 1774. This day received of the Se- lectmen, one pound one shilling of the towns money which is in full for seven weeks schooling done by my sister. I say re- ceived by me, Thomas Johnson.
During the Revolution but little money was raised for schooling, all the energies of the people being required to meet the continual drafts that were made upon them for men and money necessary for the successful prosecution of the war. For the first eighteen years of the incorporation of the town, only two hundred and thirty dollars was raised for schooling-less than thirteen dollars per year. During this time, however, some private schools of a few weeks at a time were occasionally taught.
The first school-house in town was built of logs, and was situated on the bank of the river near the "Bend," in an easterly direction from the Plummer place. This was built during the Revolution. Another was soon afterwards erected in the westerly part of the town, near the present four-corners at the foot of Goss hill. Still another one was built in the south-west part of the town, near the present school-house in the Patten district, so called. It will be re- membered that one of the terms under which the township was granted was, "one right of land should be reserved for the support of schools." At a meeting held January 9, 1786, the town
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