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 20
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Aaron Ray was hired in place of Lieut. Bowman, and began riding November 14, 1809. He rode but a short time, then relinquished the contract, and Thomas Bartlett became the rider, who continued upon the route until stage- coaches were put upon the road, when it was given up.
July 23, 1811, Mr. Bartlett issued a message to his cus- tomers, which was full of good things. Party spirit was beginning to run high; and the Cabinet, being too outspoken to suit all classes, some of the old subscribers discontinued it. The following is an extract from this singular message :
I have executed the limited powers that I possess for the equal distribution of early and correct information among you.
Gentlemen, it is truly astonishing and alarming to me, to be- hold the embarrassments of the times ; when I see some of those with whom I have been mostly connected in my concerns, and heretofore thought the most favorably of. falling into ruin, and in the greatest distress (and I fear I shall be in a sad dilemma when the printer calls for his pay for those papers I have deliv- ered and gotten no pay for.)
Those of you who have paid me, punctually, are entitled to my thanks ; and you, with those who will pay me for the past, are solicited to continue their patronage. My best wishes at- tend you, that you may have bountiful crops, satisfied minds, and hearts and hands ever ready and willing to pay the Printer. Thomas Bartlett.
Mr. Bartlett was the last of the post-riders.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
RAILROADS.
The first intimation of surveying and laying out a railroad in or through this town was at a meeting held at Windsor, Vt., September 5, 1835. The railroad fever had just begun to take root in this state: the Boston & Lowell road was built, and the line to Nashua, and thence to Concord, had been under consideration to such a degree that its building was assured. The people north of this town, reaching to Windsor, Vt., were seeking an outlet to Boston. The old stage route through this town from Windsor to Boston be- ing considered the nearest and most direct, public attention was turned in the same direction when a railroad was con- templated. Three routes from Windsor to Boston were dis- cussed at this meeting. One was through this town, to follow the old stage road through Weare and Amherst to Nashua, there to unite with the Nashua & Lowell road, then nearly completed. Another was through this town to Weare and Goffstown to the Merrimack river. Manchester had not yet been thought of; but it was designed to connect with the Concord Railroad about where that city now stands. The building of the Northern road upon one side, and the Sulli- van following up the Connecticut river, gave the people above an outlet in two different directions ; and all talk of a road through this place ceased for the time being.
In 1849 a road was built from Lawrence to Manchester. Public attention was once more turned in this direction for a road that should make a direct and more convenient line from the points above than was then offered by either the Northern or the Sullivan. The agitation in regard to the new road assumed shape in 1848, when a charter was ob- tained for a road, to be called "The New Hampshire Central Railroad," to run from Manchester through this town to Claremont, and thence to Windsor, Vt. Meetings were held at different places on the line of the projected road,
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RAILROADS.
one of the largest being held in the Academy hall at this place, November 1, 1848. The meeting was addressed by several speakers, prominent among whom was Samuel H. Price, Esq., of Windsor, Vt., who was one of the most zeal- ous friends of the road. So much of the stock for the build- ing of the road had been secured by this time, that this meet- ing urged the necessity of putting the road under contract to this town from Manchester at the earliest practicable moment.
The survey of the road was commenced on the 17th of August, 1848. It was continued until a permanent location was made for it in this town ; thence a preliminary survey was made from here to Claremont. In January, 1849, the road to this town was placed under contract. John T. Ca- hill contracted for the grading; John S. Dawson, Eliphalet Richards, and J. M. Batchelder & Co., for the masonry ; and Horace Childs & Co., for the bridges. The road, when in running order, cost $15,000 per mile. Hathaway & Spofford contracted to lay the iron on the track, and to take one half their pay in the stock of the road at par. The en- tire length of the road from Manchester, as surveyed, was 253 miles to Henniker, and from Henniker to Claremont, 373 miles,-making the whole distance 623 miles. The road was hurried to completion, being constructed in a substan- tial manner ; and the first passenger car reached the "Cen- tral depot" in the village in the spring of 1850.
The road soon did a large amount of business, two passen- ger trains being run daily from here to Manchester. Envi- ous of the road and its good prospects, should it go on to Claremont and Windsor, the Concord and Northern railroads combined to stop its going beyond this town. As a result of that combination, a road was pushed up through Warner to Bradford. That movement was an injury to this road. The managers of it became embarrassed, and the stockhold- ers were called upon for an extra assessment. Finally, the road passed into the hands of Joseph A. Gilmore, superin-
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
tendent of the Concord road, and Robert N. Corning, a con- ductor upon the same road. They were the nominal own- ers, though it was supposed the Concord road stood behind them. Determined still further to cripple the business inter- ests of Henniker, on the bright, beautiful Sabbath morning of October 31, 1858, Mr. Gilmore, with a swarm of hands, ap- peared in this town and commenced tearing up the rails and track. Before the sun went down, the track from this place to North Weare, a distance of seven miles, was torn up, and one hundred thousand dollars of the hard earnings of our people was forever lost. This was the most dastardly act ever perpetrated upon the citizens of this town. The most damning feature in connection with this affair was, that the very man who had ridden rough-shod over the good people of this town, and had taken from them their railroad, was afterwards a candidate for governor of this state, and the men whom he had injured felt obliged to give him their votes to elevate him to that position.
In 1871 a charter was obtained to again lay the rails be- tween this town and North Weare, but nothing has as yet been done in the matter, and probably will not be, until the people upon the line of this road have justice done them, and a track shall be laid from here to Bradford, there to unite with the Sugar River Railroad to Claremont.
The first board of directors of the Central road were,- David Steele, of Goffstown ; Perry Richards, of Weare ; John S. Craig, of Henniker ; Moses Sawyer, of Weare; and Sam- uel H. Price, of Windsor, Vt. The engineer was Francis Chase.
At the session of the legislature for 1848, on the 24th day of June, a railroad was chartered from Contoocook to Hills- borough Bridge, through this town, a distance of fourteen and a half miles, which was opened to this town in Decem- ber, 1849, a short time before the New Hampshire Central, which has been in operation since that time. There is a large amount of business done upon the road, for a short
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COMMON.
one, which has been a source of much profit to the road operating it.
COMMON.
At a town-meeting held Aug. 25, 1794, an article in the warrant was "to hear the report of a committee appointed at a former meeting to sell the centre lot." The committee at this meeting reported in favor of selling a part of the lot, and the town
Voted to have the common at the meeting-house consist of six acres.
The town also
Voted that the road running North and South on the centre lot and the road leading from the meeting-house easterly Shall Be four rods wide and the allowance land on said Lot Shall Be Excepted from Being Sold.
Capt. Joseph Gibson, Lt. Samuel Wadsworth, and Moses Connor were the committee. At this meeting the commit- tee were empowered to sell the land in any manner they might think proper. They concluded to sell it by auction, and on the 17th of September following they advertised it for sale under the following regulations :
Ist Said lot shall be struck of at the highest Bider.
2ª By the Acer 6ª per Bid.
3ª Any person Biding. off said lot shall pay one Dollar with- in ten minits, or give good Security for the same, or the lot shall be set up again, he paying one Dollar for such Neglect.
4th The Dollar mentioned to be paid down shall be paid out of the first years Interest.
5th The Purchaser shall be entitled to a good deed within one week after the vendue, he procuring good Bondsmen for the payments.
6th The purchaser shall have one years pay Day.
7th In Case a Dispute arise Between Two or more Biders, which Bid first, the lot shall be set up again.
Sth If any person Biding off said lot and agreeing to take a deed at the time appointed, in the fifth article, and refusing to comply, shall pay the cost of vendue.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
9th The Principal is not to Be called for unless the purchas- ers ability is Disputed, then it lieth with the town to collect when they please, but the Interest to Be paid yearly without fail.
The sale took place Sept. 29, 1794.
A deed was given Nov. 19, 1794, for part of Lot No. 10, 7th Range, joining the graveyard. Jasper Temple was the purchaser. The deed was given in behalf of the town, by Joseph Gibson, Samuel Wadsworth, and Moses Connor. The last-named person did not sign the deed. Probably he was not present, a majority of the committee being sufficient.
ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES.
Nathan Reed, drowned in the river while crossing the same at the ford in the south-east part of the town, northerly from the present residence of Jonathan W. Dodge and son. The date of his death is not known, but it must have been very early in the settlement of the town, as his name ap- pears fourth on the list of deaths from 1761 to 1775, which was kept by John Harthorn, son of Dea. Ebenezer Har- thorn. He was drowned upon a terribly wild, stormy night, on his way from Hopkinton to reach the little settlement in Hillsborough.
John Arnold, killed by the falling of a tree while at work for Dea. Daniel Rice. No date given, but it was quite early in the settlement of the town, and appears the eleventh death in the township.
Nathan Parker, killed by a falling tree, near the brook southerly from the present residence of A. D. L. F. Connor. He was killed April 19, 1775, and tradition says that he came to this town a short time before from Lexington, Mass., to escape being drawn into the struggle which he saw was coming between the colonies and the mother coun- try. If correct, it was a very singular circumstance that he should be killed upon the morning of the first skirmish for liberty.
William Peters, son of James, the first settler, killed by a
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ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES.
falling tree July 5, 1775, while at work felling trees for Lieut. Samuel Wadsworth, upon the farm now owned and occupied by Franklin Goss, and a little easterly from his present res- idence. Lieut. Wadsworth was at work with him at the time.
Dudley Ladd was drowned July 4, 1787, in the river in the easterly part of the town.
Jesse Ross was burned to death at the time his log house was burned, Dec. 17, 1785.
Esther Wood, daughter of Jonathan, was choked to death with a bean, Nov. 29, 1790.
Lucy Childs, daughter of Solomon, sen., was scalded to death, Feb. 12, 1790.
Child of Bela Butler, scalded to death, Jan. 7, 1798.
Edna Huse, daughter of John, scalded to death Sept. 23, 1799.
Nathan Blanchard, drowned in the river about half a mile easterly from the village, on the plain, Sept. 24, 1806.
Thomas Stuart, drowned Sept. 8, 1806, by falling from a raft of logs he was assisting in taking to the saw-mill of Bela Butler.
Child of Solomon Sanders, drowned in the river June 8, 1804, aged two years.
Aaron, son of Capt. Aaron Adams, aged 26 years, was drowned in Portsmouth, N. H., June 31, 1804. While bath- ing, he went beyond his depth, and as he could not swim, he sank and died before help could reach him.
Child of William Livingston, scalded to death in a tub of beer. No date given.
William Wallace, killed while blasting rocks, in 1809.
Thomas, son of Silas and Sally Whitcomb, scalded to death when quite young, by falling into a kettle of boiling water.
William Wallace cut his foot badly while at work in " Wallace swamp," from which he died very shortly after, on March 22, 1824.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Louisa, daughter of Capt. James Yaulding, burned to death Sept. 21, 1818. She fell into the fireplace, and al- though there was but little fire, she was so badly burned that she lived but a short time.
Elisha Webber broke his back at the raising of a barn upon the Gould Harriman place, and died shortly after.
Son of Abram Gove, killed by a cart falling upon him.
Carroll and Alexander Whitney, sons of Eleazer Whitney, drowned in the river one half mile south-easterly from the village, June 3, 1819, aged 9 and II years.
David W., son of David and Hannah Cogswell, scalded to death Dec. 28, 1821, by falling into a tub of boiling water, aged 2 years, 9 months, and 8 days.
Edward Hemphill, son of James and Ruth, was mortally injured by a premature explosion of a charge of powder while blasting rocks upon the new road from this town to Bradford, then building, Nov. 8, 1824. He received a frac- ture of the skull, from which he died, Nov. 22, 1824.
John Huse, aged 58 years, was found dead on the door- step of the clothing-mill at West Henniker, Oct. 26, 1825.
Captain Benjamin Whitcomb received a fracture of the spine, and died Oct. 23, 1828.
Henry Thorndike, a tailor, living in this town, was drowned in " Howe's mill-pond " on Sabbath morning, July I, 1827. He was seized with violent cramp while bathing, died immediately, and was buried that evening. Rev. Mr. Nye, Congregational clergyman of Claremont, then a rep- resentative in the legislature, preached in town that day for Mr. Scales. He attended the funeral, and in the course of his remarks said that his own observation confirmed the opinion that more people were drowned upon the Sabbath than on any other day.
William Baker, drowned in the little brook near John Chase's, June 24, 1829, aged 40 years.
Jonathan Hutton, killed June 14, 1837.
Paul Barnes, killed by falling from a hay-mow in Captain
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ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES.
Thomas Kirk's barn, where Moody Tucker now resides, July 20, 1827. Mr. Barnes and Mr. Kirk were unloading hay, and were conversing about a man who had been killed a short time before, in the same place, by falling from a hay- mow, when Mr. Barnes made a misstep, and slid down from the hay-mow, striking his feet so hard upon the floor as to in- jure him so severely internally that he died in one hour after.
Maria, daughter of Elisha Rice, scalded to death Oct. 29, 1827.
Esther, daughter of Widow Hepsebath Kimball, burned by falling into the fire, and died April 6, 1834, aged 5 years.
Widow Joseph Plummer, drowned in the river, in the south-easterly part of the town, Sept. 12, 1842, aged 82 years.
John Gould, killed by falling down cellar stairs, March 29, 1845, aged 77 years.
John Rollins, son of Samuel, choked to death Feb. I, 1846.
Widow John Smith, died Sept. 14, 1848, from the fracture of a thigh-bone, aged 90 years.
Patty R., wife of Asa Whitney, killed by a fall received in the barn, Jan. 6, 1850, aged 46 years.
John Carter, son of Cyrus, was drowned Aug. 30, 1851, in the brook, near John K. Connor's, aged 14 years.
George Davis, son of Hiram M., killed by the bursting of a swivel, Monday morning, July 5, 1852, aged 18 years.
Frank Page, son of John M., drowned in the river, in the south-east part of the town, July 25, 1858.
Amanda L., daughter of John G. Duston, burned to death with fluid, by her clothes taking fire from the breaking of a lamp, Feb. 5, 1866, aged 26 years.
John Ordway, broke his back at the raising of Abram Gove's barn.
A Frenchman, drowned in the river, in the south-east part of the town. His body was recovered by Squire Dow, from the bottom of the river, by diving.
18
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Hannah, wife of Enoch Heath, died in a fainting fit June 27, 1851.
Charles, son of Alonzo R. and Nancy Flanders, drowned July 12, 1852, in the Ammi brook, near the bridge, close by the slaughter-house of Jacob S. Whitney. Was in bathing, and stepped into a deep hole. The body was rescued by Gilbert D. Gould, by diving. Several attempts were made before the body was recovered, as the water was very deep and cold.
David Chase, of Contoocook, was killed in the east part of the town, on the Frazer lot, Saturday, Jan. 11, 1873. He was struck on the head by a limb, felled to the ground, and lived but a few hours.
John D. Albin stepped accidentally into the corn-cracker of his grist-mill in October, 1869, crushing his leg so as to require amputation, from the effects of which he died the next day.
Sidney Felch, drowned in Long pond, July 15, 1874.
Child of Parker Patch, scalded to death Sept. 13, 1871.
David Osborne, a Friend, fell from a chair Jan. 15, 1873, and broke his left arm below the shoulder, besides injuring him internally, from which injuries he died, Jan. 19, 1873. He was aged 84 years. He had stepped into a chair to oil his clock, and, losing his balance, fell. He was a large- framed man, and was quite heavy.
A. M. Moore, killed by a falling tree, Jan. 22, 1875, in the easterly part of the town.
The following is copied from the Farmers' Cabinet of July 27, 1807 :
On Saturday, the 11th inst., about four o'clock P. M., Mr. Joseph Noyes, of Hampstead, was found dead in the road (his horse standing by him) about two miles north of Henniker meeting-house. A coroner's inquest was summoned. The re- sult of their inquiry was that he died of an epileptic fit, which was rendered highly probable by previous complaints where he dined and rested about three hours. He was in his 75th year. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people, when
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SUICIDES.
an ingenious, solemn, and pertinent discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Sleighs of Deering.
Mr. Noyes was a resident of Hampstead, this state, and was on his way to spend a few days with some friends in War- ner.
Samuel M. Currier, drowned May 14, 1862, aged 56 years.
SUICIDES.
Ruth Stone, sister of Elijah, jumped into the river in 1818. She lived on the plain east of the village, where was formerly the barn belonging to D. W. Cogswell.
Mary Marsh, daughter of Joseph, hung herself Jan. 28, 1833, aged 47 years.
Levi C. Rice, son of Silas, hung himself Oct. 11, 1835, aged 29 years, in Parker Smith's cider-mill.
Richard Alley hung himself Nov. 25, 1836, aged 30 years, in Wm. Adams's sheep-barn.
Harriet Wood, daughter of Eli, hung herself Feb. 25, 1837, aged 22 years.
William Abbott hung himself in his shoemaker's shop, Dec. 12, 1840, aged 52 years.
Moses Morrill drowned himself in the river in Hills- borough.
Thomas Barnes hung himself in the Wallace grist-mill, which he had tended for a large number of years, Aug. 27, 1851, aged 48 years.
Maj. George Adams, son of Aaron, hung himself March 3, 1852, aged 56 years.
Alvin Whitman hung himself April 25, 1858, aged 70 years.
David L. Cogswell hung himself in the cider-mill on the place where Levi C. Newton now resides, Jan. 12, 1866, aged 68 years.
David Stevens hung himself to a tree near Mud pond, in the southerly part of the town, June 29, 1868, aged 61 years.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Mrs. Wm. Cheney hung herself.
Adam Stuart drowned himself in the river in the south- west part of the town, Sept. 17, 1839, aged 43 years.
Harrison M. Colby hung himself in his barn, July 1, 1870.
Solomon O. Hanson hung himself in his barn, March 15, 1871, aged 59 years.
Betsey D. Harwood drowned herself in the north-east part of the town, May 18, 1872.
Mrs. Lewis hung herself.
David W. Bowman cut his throat with a razor, Nov. 8, 1877.
BUILDINGS BURNED.
The log meeting-house was burned on or about the night of the Dark Day, May 19, 1780. It was supposed to have been set on fire, as some of the inhabitants wished to repair it, and another part wished to build a frame one.
Jesse Ross's log house, situated in a field now owned by F. T. Huntington, was burned December 17, 1785. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Joseph Amsden's house and barn were burned upon a Fast Day, near the close of the last century. The family were absent from home. These buildings stood near the present residence of Andrew D. Favor. Supposed incendiary.
Uriah Amsden's house was burned about the same time. This house stood easterly from the present residence of Cy- rus R. Bacon. Supposed incendiary.
Capt. R. M. Wallace's grist-mill was burned Thursday night, September 16, 1819. Set on fire.
Daniel Campbell's blacksmith shop was burned, which stood near the Bickford place.
Matthias Heath's house, situated westerly of the present residence of S. W. Morrison, was burned near the commence- ment of this century.
Joshua Heath's house, situated on Craney hill, near the present residence of Ezra Chase, was burned in June, 1821.
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BUILDINGS BURNED.
Mr. Black's barn, situated on Craney hill, was burned in 1835. Struck by lightning.
Winthrop Chase's barn, on Craney hill, was burned in the summer of 1830. Everything was moved out of it, even a duck that was sitting.
Andrew Bancroft's house, situated above Cyrus Goss's, was burned, with all its contents.
Nathaniel Chase's house and barn, situated on Craney hill.
Ira Whitcomb's house and barn, situated on Craney hill.
John Gibson's house, situated where Mr. Courser now re- sides, was burned January 28, 1819, in the daytime. Origin of the fire unknown. A few articles, only, were saved from the house.
Joseph Welch's blacksmith shop, which stood where D. W. Cogswell's now stands.
The Congregational meeting-house, situated westerly from the present residence of Hiram Rice, was burned August 23, 1833. The following is taken from the Farmers' Cabinet of August 30, 1833 :
FIRE. The Congregational Meeting House in Henniker, together with a small Library belonging to the Sabbath School in that place, and the tier of sheds near the house, were destroy- ed by fire on the morning of the 23d inst. The fire was discov- ered about 3 o'clock, when the flames were ascending the tower of the Church inside, and in a few minutes the whole interior of the building was on fire : no attempt to save the building could be of any avail, and the efforts of the citizens were directed to the dwelling houses and barns adjoining, several of which, par- ticularly the house of Mr. Isaac Rice, the Post Master, repeat- edly took fire from the showers of cinders falling on the roof. The Meeting House was undergoing repairs, but no fire had been used in the building for months. It is supposed to have been set by an Incendiary.
Everything in the building was destroyed, including Bibles, hymn-books, the Communion service (six pieces), singing- books, a large bass viol, and quite a large amount of carpen- ters' tools, left in the building by the workmen. The repairs upon the building were nearly completed.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
J. C. & A. Winship's tin shop, situated on the site of W. O. Folsom's residence, was burned during the night of Saturday, June 3, 1837. It is supposed to have been struck by lightning. One of the most terrific thunder-storms ever experienced in the town commenced just before dark on Saturday, and continued all night. The buildings were burned about midnight.
Jonathan Page's black house, situated easterly from the present residence of Rufus S. Howe, was burned in the summer of 1841. It was struck by lightning, about mid- night. His oldest child was saved by taking him out of the second-story window. Nearly everything in the house was destroyed.
Nathaniel Clough's saw-mill, and a little house adjoining, situated on the Ammi brook, being the same that were built by Goss & Barnes, were burned in September, 1829, at the time the great fire swept down over the north part of the town.
Joseph Ray's cooper shop, situated in the woods souther- ly from the present residence of John O. Folsom, was burned in 1835.
Sylvanus Sumner's house, situated where George W. S. Dow now resides, was burned in 1838. Cause of the fire unknown.
Hiram M. Davis's house and barn, situated on the site of Mr. Sumner's house, were burned some time after. Cause unknown.
Levi Kemp's barn, situated where Fred. Rogers now re- sides, was burned while a husking-bee was going on in it.
Dickey & Andrews's dye-house at West Henniker.
School-house in District No. 8.
School-house in District No. 7.
School-house in District No. 4, January, 1834.
John Barker's blacksmith shop at West Henniker.
Darius Whitcomb's house and barn, situated on Craney hill. Cause unknown.
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